Name: using deuterium oxide as a non-invasive, non-lethal tool for assessing body composition and water consumption in mammals
Uploaded: 2020-02-20T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using Deuterium Oxide as a Non-Invasive, Non-Lethal Tool for Assessing Body Composition and Water Consumption in Mammals at JoVE.com

This research was supported by MDC Cooperative Agreement (#416), US Forest Service Cooperative Agreement (16-JV-11242311-118), American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition and Waltham/Royal Canin, USA Grant (grant number: 00049049), NIH training grant (grant number: T32OS011126), and the University of Missouri Veterinary Research Scholars Program. The authors thank Shannon Ehlers for pre-reviewing this manuscript. We thank Dr. Robert Backus for providing the D2O standards and allowing use of his laboratory.

All experiments described here were approved by the University of Missouri Animal Care and Use Committee and conducted under the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Wildlife Scientific Collection permit (Permit #16409 and #17649).
1. Preparation of sterile, isotonic, salinated D2O stock solution
<ol>
	<li>Make a 50 mL stock solution of 9.0 g/L salinated D2O.
	<ol>
		<li>Weigh 450 mg of pharmaceutical grade NaCl and transfer all NaCl into a 100 mL, sterilized beake...

<ol>
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T., van Tets, I. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual-Energy+X-Ray+Absorptiometry+(DXA)+Can+Accurately+and+Nondestructively+Measure+the+Body+Composition+of+Small,+Free-Living+Rodents.">Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Can Accurately and Nondestructively Measure the Body Composition of Small, Free-Living Rodents.</a> Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 81 (3), 373-382 (2008).</li><li>Jennings, G., Bluck, L., Wright, A., Elia, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+use+of+infrared+spectrophotometry+for+measuring+body+water+spaces.">The use of infrared spectrophotometry for measuring body water spaces.</a> Clinical Chemistry. 45 (7), 1077-1081 (1999).</li><li>Beuth, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Body Composition, movemement phenology and habitat use of common eider along the southern new england coast. Master of Science in Biological and Environmental Sciences (MSBES) thesis. , (2013).</li><li>Coplen, T. B., Hopple, J., Peiser, H., Rieder, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Compilation+of+minimum+and+maximum+isotope+ratios+of+selected+elements+in+naturally+occurring+terrestrial+materials+and+reagents.">Compilation of minimum and maximum isotope ratios of selected elements in naturally occurring terrestrial materials and reagents.</a> U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4222. , (2002).</li><li>Karasov, W. H., Pinshow, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Changes+in+lean+mass+and+in+organs+of+nutrient+assimilation+in+a+long-distance+passerine+migrant+at+a+springtime+stopover+site.">Changes in lean mass and in organs of nutrient assimilation in a long-distance passerine migrant at a springtime stopover site.</a> Physiological Zoology. 71 (4), 435-448 (1998).</li><li>Hood, W. R., Oftedal, O. T., Kunz, T. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Variation+in+body+composition+of+female+big+brown+bats+(Eptesicus+fuscus.)+during+lactation.">Variation in body composition of female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus.) during lactation.</a> Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 176 (8), 807-819 (2006).</li><li>Backus, R. C., Havel, P. J., Gingerich, R. L., Rogers, Q. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Relationship+between+serum+leptin+immunoreactivity+and+body+fat+mass+as+estimated+by+use+of+a+novel+gas-phase+Fourier+transform+infrared+spectroscopy+deuterium+dilution+method+in+cats.">Relationship between serum leptin immunoreactivity and body fat mass as estimated by use of a novel gas-phase Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy deuterium dilution method in cats.</a> American Journal of Veterinary Research. 61 (7), 796-801 (2000).</li><li>Moore, F. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+Total+Body+Water+and+Solids+with+Isotopes.">Determination of Total Body Water and Solids with Isotopes.</a> Science. 104 (2694), 157-160 (1946).</li><li>Voigt, C., Cruz-Neto, A., Parsons, S., Kunz, T. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Ecological and Behavioral Methods in the Study of Bats. , 621-645 (2009).</li><li>International Atomic Energy Agency. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Assessment of Body Composition and Total Energy Expenditure in Humans Using Stable Isotope Techniques. , (2009).</li><li>International Atomic Energy Agency. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Introduction to Body Composition Assessment Using the Deuterium Dilution Technique with Analysis of Saliva Samples by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. , (2011).</li><li>Shimamoto, H., Komiya, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Turnover+of+Body+Water+as+an+Indicator+of+Health.">The Turnover of Body Water as an Indicator of Health.</a> Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science. 19 (5), 207-212 (2000).</li></ol>

The use of deuterium oxide to determine TBW has been used since the 1940s17 and is used in humans and a variety of domestic and wildlife species4,6,7. Other non-destructive techniques have been developed including bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), DXA, and quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR). Each method has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before selecting a particular metho...

Body condition scoring systems and body condition indices are common techniques used for assessing the health status or fitness of a species1,2. Many domestic and zoological species have unique body condition scoring (BCS) systems that are used to assess an animal&#39;s muscle and superficial fatty tissue3. However, BCS assessment relies upon the evaluator&#8212;meaning that BCS is an objective or semiquantitative measurement when assessed by a trained evaluator. In wildlife species, body condition indices are commonly used rather than BCS and are based upon a ratio of body mass to body size or body mass to forearm2. Body condition indicis are often confounded by the effects of foraging and can be confounded by body size as well as statistical and inferential problems4.
An alternative to body condition scoring systems and body condition indices is using a stable isotope to determine body composition. One commonly used stable isotope is deuterium oxide (D2O), a non-radioactive form of water in which the hydrogen atoms are deuterium isotopes. The deuterium oxide dilution method described in this study can be a non-subjective, quantitative, and repeatable technique used to estimate body composition in humans5 and a wide range of species4,6,7. This technique can be advantageous for studying the body composition in wildlife. For example, it can be used to assess longitudinal changes in body composition, such as before and after a management action. However, in some wildlife species deuterium oxide can overestimate the actual water content8. Therefore, when adapting the technique for a species, it is important to validate the method by comparing the deuterium oxide method to carcass analysis for non-endangered species. For threatened and endangered species, a non-destructive method such as dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) should be considered as an alternative comparison method to the gold-standard destructive method of complete carcass analysis.
In addition to body composition, the D2O dilution technique can be used to determine the water consumption of an individual animal9. This unique application of D2O can be used to answer not only research questions, but can be useful for assessing the water consumption of individual animal(s) housed in large social settings.
Here, we describe the adaption of the D2O dilution technique for assessing body composition in an insectivore, big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), and for assessing water consumption in a carnivore, cats (Felis catis).

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>0.2 micron non-pyrogenic disk filter</td>
			<td>Argos Technologies</td>
			<td>FN32S</td>
			<td>nylon, 30mm diameter, 0.22um, sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.5 mL conical microcentrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>USA Scientific</td>
			<td>1415-9701</td>
			<td>1.5 ml self-standing microcentrifuge tube, natural with blue cap</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL sterile glass vial for injection</td>
			<td>Mountainside Medical Equipment</td>
			<td>MS-SEV10</td>
			<td>clear, sterile glass injection unit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL syringe</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>305219</td>
			<td>sterile 10 mL syringe individually wrapped</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mL sterile glass vial for injection</td>
			<td>Mountainside Medical Equipment</td>
			<td>AL-SV10020</td>
			<td>clear, sterile glass injection unit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20 gauge needle</td>
			<td>Exel</td>
			<td>26417</td>
			<td>needles hypodermic 20g x 1&#34; plastic hub (yellow) / regular bevel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>22 gauge needle</td>
			<td>Exel</td>
			<td>26411</td>
			<td>needles hypodermic 22g x 1&#34; plastic hub (black) / regular bevel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>deuterium oxide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>151882-25G</td>
			<td>99.9 atom % D</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>isofluorane</td>
			<td>Vetone</td>
			<td>3060</td>
			<td>fluriso isoflurane, USP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>OMNIC Spectra Software</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>833-036200</td>
			<td>FT-IR standard software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>petroleum jelly</td>
			<td>Vaseline</td>
			<td>305212311006</td>
			<td>Vaseline, 100% pure petroleum jelly, original, skin protectant</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>plastic capillary tubes</td>
			<td>Innovative Med Tech</td>
			<td>100050</td>
			<td>sodium heparin anticoagulant, 50 &#956;L capacity, 30 mm length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sealed liquid spectrophotometer SL-3 FTIR CAF2 Cell</td>
			<td>International Crystal Laboratory</td>
			<td>0005D-875</td>
			<td>0.05 mm Pathlength</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>sodium chloride</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore</td>
			<td>1.37017</td>
			<td>suitable for biopharmaceutical production</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermo Electron Nicolet 380 FT-IR Spectrometer</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>269-169400</td>
			<td>discontinued model, newer models available</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

using deuterium oxide as a non-invasive, non-lethal tool for assessing body composition and water consumption in mammals

Body condition scoring systems and body condition indices are common techniques used for assessing the health status or fitness of a species. Body condition scoring systems are evaluator dependent and have the potential to be highly subjective. Body condition indices can be confounded by foraging, the effects of body weight, as well as statistical and inferential problems. An alternative to body condition scoring systems and body condition indices is using a stable isotope such as deuterium oxide to determine body composition. The deuterium oxide dilution method is a repeatable, quantitative technique used to estimate body composition in humans, wildlife, and domestic species. Additionally, the deuterium oxide dilution technique can be used to determine the water consumption of an individual animal. Here, we describe the adaption of the deuterium oxide dilution technique for assessing body composition in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and for assessing water consumption in cats (Felis catis).

The deuterium oxide dilution technique can be used to assess the body composition of a variety of species. To demonstrate the adaptability, we are reporting the first use of the deuterium oxide dilution technique in a North American insectivorous bat species, Eptesicus fuscus, the big brown bat for representative results. A timing plateau was completed by taking pre- and post-D2O injection blood samples as should be done with any species where the equilibration period ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using Deuterium Oxide as a Non-Invasive, Non-Lethal Tool for Assessing Body Composition and Water Consumption in Mammals at JoVE.com

Using Deuterium Oxide as a Non-Invasive, Non-Lethal Tool for Assessing Body Composition and Water Consumption in Mammals

This article describes the deuterium oxide dilution technique in two mammals, an insectivore and carnivore, to determine total body water, lean body mass, body fat mass, and water consumption.

Body condition scoring systems and body condition indices are common techniques used for assessing the health status or fitness of a species. Body ...

Using this protocol, deuterium oxide, or D2O, a nonradioactive, stable isotope of water, can be used to estimate body composition and water consumption. This technique is noninvasive and therefore can be used to assess body composition in endangered species, as well as in humans and domestic species. A unique application of the deuterium oxide dilution technique is the ability to measure the water consumption of free-ranging wildlife with high recapture rates or of socially housed animals.While anesthesia is not required, it may be easier for those unfamiliar with giving subcutaneous injections to sedate the animals before delivering the deuterium oxide. Demonstrating the procedure with Sarah Hooper and me will be Amanda Eshelman and Ashley Cowan, veterinary students, and Alicia Roistacher, a graduate student from my laboratory. To make a 50-milliliter stock solution of nine grams per liter salinated deuterium oxide, first weigh 450 milligrams of pharmaceutical-grade sodium chloride, and record the exact amount to four decimal places.Transfer all of the salt into a sterilized 100-milliliter beaker, and measure out 50 grams of greater than or equal to 99.8%deuterium oxide in a sterile, graduated cylinder. Record the exact amount of deuterium oxide to four decimal places, and transfer the deuterium oxide to the sterile beaker of sodium chloride. Next, attach a 20-gauge needle to a nonpyrogenic, sterile disk filter with submicron pores fitted with a 10-milliliter syringe barrel, and insert the needle into the septum of a sterile, empty, 100-milliliter vial.Attach a vacuum tube to a 22-gauge needle, and insert the needle into the septum of the 100-milliliter vial. Then load 10 milliliters of isosmotic strength sodium chloride into the syringe barrel, and slowly turn on the vacuum until the deuterium oxide solution begins to slowly filter into the vial. Continue pouring the deuterium oxide stock solution into the syringe barrel until the entire 50-milliliter volume has been filtered.After confirming a lack of response to toe pinch in an anesthetized bat, use an alcohol prep pad to clean the uropatagium over the interfemoral vein, and allow the disinfected tail membrane to dry. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the interfemoral vein, and use a 29-gauge needle to puncture the dorsal portion of the interfemoral vein. Then use plastic sodium heparin capillary tubes to collect 100 microliters of blood.To ensure an adequate mixing of the whole blood with the sodium heparin, gently roll each tube after the blood collection before labeling. After determining the mass of deuterium oxide in grams to inject, load an insulin syringe equipped with a 29-gauge needle with the appropriate volume of deuterium oxide. Weigh the deuterium-loaded insulin syringe and needle, recording the weight to four decimal places, and inject the entire volume of deuterium oxide subcutaneously over the dorsal hip region of the anesthetized bat.We recommend using a precision scale with an antistatic draft shield and to make sure to pull back on the plunger to ensure negative pressure prior to injecting. Immediately after the injection, weigh the now-empty insulin syringe and needle, and record the weight to four decimal places. Within 30 minutes post-blood collection, use a hematocrit centrifuge to spin down each capillary tube at 10, 000 times g for five minutes.Using sharp scissors, cut the plastic capillary tube between the whole blood and the plasma, and use a 200-microliter pipette to expel the plasma directly into a labeled, 500-microliter storage tube. After the equilibration period, collect and store another 100 microliters of blood from the interfemoral vein as just demonstrated. For FTIR spectrophotometry analysis, set the temperature of a sand bath to 60 degrees Celsius to facilitate distillation, and add 50 microliters of each plasma sample and standard into individual 1.5-milliliter conical microcentrifuge caps.Keeping the microcentrifuge cap upside down, screw the 1.5-milliliter conical microcentrifuge tube onto the cap, and place the inverted tube in contact with the sand in the sand bath for a minimum of 12 hours. The next morning, place a new, clean cap onto each tube, and pulse the microcentrifuge tubes for 10 seconds in a microcentrifuge. Install a liquid transmission cell into the FTIR spectrometer, and fill the cell with methanol.Connect the injection port, and slowly fill the cell with background water while carefully removing the methanol syringe to reduce the risk of air bubbles. Attach tubing to the output port to allow removal of the samples post-analysis, and open the FTIR spectrometer software. Set the parameters according to the table, and collect a background sample using the diluent, 0.22-micrometer-filtered, distilled water.Inject 40 microliters of a zero parts per million deuterium oxide standard, and record and save the spectra as a comma-separated values file. After injecting and saving the spectra of all of the standards to create a standard curve, inject 40 microliters of each distilled sample into the liquid transmission cell, and save the spectra. With a known equilibration time, the total body water, lean body mass, and body fat mass for wild-caught big brown bats and captive big brown bats can be determined.A negative body fat mass can be calculated due to one or more of the following reasons:not receiving the entire dose of deuterium oxide, becoming torpid during the equilibration phase, having abnormally large fat masses and minimal lean masses, or having under three to 5%body fat as determined by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Here, a representative percentage of body fat determined by the deuterium oxide dilution technique compared to dual x-ray absorptiometry is shown. The two techniques are well correlated, with the body fat mass showing strong correlations between the body fat and body weight and with the deuterium oxide dilution technique not consistently over or underestimating the body fat mass.The deuterium oxide dilution method has been previously validated in cats, and the technique was adapted to allow measurement of the daily water consumption of socially housed cats during each dietary block of the experiment. Remember that this technique should be performed only on healthy animals and that you should accurately weigh, record, and deliver the full dose of deuterium oxide to each animal. A secondary method for determining body composition, such as complete carcass analysis or DEXA, can be completed to validate the deuterium oxide technique.This technique allowed us to identify a socially housed cat that was consuming abnormally high quantities of water without separating each cat to measure their water consumptions.

using-deuterium-oxide-as-non-invasive-non-lethal-tool-for-assessing

Research

JoVE Journal

Environment

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Eutrophication is a water quality issue in lakes worldwide, and there is a critical need to identify and control nutrient sources. Internal phosphorus (P) loading from lake sediments can account for a substantial portion of the total P load in eutrophic, and some mesotrophic, lakes. Laboratory determination of P release rates from sediment cores is one approach for determining the role of internal P loading and guiding management decisions. Two principal alternatives to experimental determination of sediment P release exist for estimating internal load: in situ measurements of changes in hypolimnetic P over time and P mass balance. The experimental approach using laboratory-based sediment incubations to quantify internal P load is a direct method, making it a valuable tool for lake management and restoration.
Laboratory incubations of sediment cores can help determine the relative importance of internal vs. external P loads, as well as be used to answer a variety of lake management and research questions. We illustrate the use of sediment core incubations to assess the effectiveness of an aluminum sulfate (alum) treatment for reducing sediment P release. Other research questions that can be investigated using this approach include the effects of sediment resuspension and bioturbation on P release.
The approach also has limitations. Assumptions must be made with respect to: extrapolating results from sediment cores to the entire lake; deciding over what time periods to measure nutrient release; and addressing possible core tube artifacts. A comprehensive dissolved oxygen monitoring strategy to assess temporal and spatial redox status in the lake provides greater confidence in annual P loads estimated from sediment core incubations.

Lake eutrophication is a water quality issue worldwide, making the need to identify and control nutrient sources critical. Laboratory determination of phosphorus release rates from sediment cores is a valuable approach for determining the role of internal phosphorus loading and guiding management decisions.

Eutrophication is a water quality issue in lakes worldwide, and there is a critical need to identify and control nutrient sources. Internal phosphorus (P) ...

Use of Chironomidae (Diptera) Surface-Floating Pupal Exuviae as a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Water Bodies

Rapid bioassessment protocols using benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages have been successfully used to assess human impacts on water quality. Unfortunately, traditional benthic larval sampling methods, such as the dip-net, can be time-consuming and expensive. An alternative protocol involves collection of Chironomidae surface-floating pupal exuviae (SFPE). Chironomidae is a species-rich family of flies (Diptera) whose immature stages typically occur in aquatic habitats. Adult chironomids emerge from the water, leaving their pupal skins, or exuviae, floating on the water&#8217;s surface. Exuviae often accumulate along banks or behind obstructions by action of the wind or water current, where they can be collected to assess chironomid diversity and richness. Chironomids can be used as important biological indicators, since some species are more tolerant to pollution than others. Therefore, the relative abundance and species composition of collected SFPE reflect changes in water quality. Here, methods associated with field collection, laboratory processing, slide mounting, and identification of chironomid SFPE are described in detail. Advantages of the SFPE method include minimal disturbance at a sampling area, efficient and economical sample collection and laboratory processing, ease of identification, applicability in nearly all aquatic environments, and a potentially more sensitive measure of ecosystem stress. Limitations include the inability to determine larval microhabitat use and inability to identify pupal exuviae to species if they have not been associated with adult males.

Use of Chironomidae Diptera Surface-Floating Pupal Exuviae as a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Water Bodies

Rapid bioassessment protocols using benthic macroinvertebrates are often used to monitor and assess water quality. An efficient protocol involves collections of Chironomidae surface-floating pupal exuviae (SFPE). Here, techniques for field collection, laboratory processing, slide mounting, and identification of Chironomidae SFPE are described.

Rapid bioassessment protocols using benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages have been successfully used to assess human impacts on water quality. ...

EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. Part III. Virus Detection by RT-qPCR

EPA Method 1615 measures enteroviruses and noroviruses present in environmental and drinking waters. This method was developed with the goal of having a standardized method for use in multiple analytical laboratories during monitoring period 3 of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Herein we present the protocol for extraction of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) from water sample concentrates and for quantitatively measuring enterovirus and norovirus concentrations using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Virus concentrations for the molecular assay are calculated in terms of genomic copies of viral RNA per liter based upon a standard curve. The method uses a number of quality controls to increase data quality and to reduce interlaboratory and intralaboratory variation. The method has been evaluated by examining virus recovery from ground and reagent grade waters seeded with poliovirus type 3 and murine norovirus as a surrogate for human noroviruses. Mean poliovirus recoveries were 20% in groundwaters and 44% in reagent grade water. Mean murine norovirus recoveries with the RT-qPCR assay were 30% in groundwaters and 4% in reagent grade water.

Here we present a procedure to quantify enterovirus and norovirus in environmental and drinking waters using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Mean virus recovery from groundwater with this standardized procedure from EPA Method 1615 was 20% for poliovirus and 30% for murine norovirus.

EPA Method 1615 measures enteroviruses and noroviruses present in environmental and drinking waters. This method was developed with the goal of having a ...

Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

In situ recovery (ISR) is the predominant method of uranium extraction in the United States. During ISR, uranium is leached from an ore body and extracted through ion exchange. The resultant production bleed water (PBW) contains contaminants such as arsenic and other heavy metals. Samples of PBW from an active ISR uranium facility were treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). CuO-NP treatment of PBW reduced priority contaminants, including arsenic, selenium, uranium, and vanadium. Untreated and CuO-NP treated PBW was used as the liquid component of the cell growth media and changes in viability were determined by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells. CuO-NP treatment was associated with improved HEK and HEP cell viability. Limitations of this method include dilution of the PBW by growth media components and during osmolality adjustment as well as necessary pH adjustment. This method is limited in its wider context due to dilution effects and changes in the pH of the PBW which is traditionally slightly acidic&#160;however; this method could have a broader use assessing CuO-NP treatment in more neutral waters.

Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

Production bleed water (PBW) was treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and cellular toxicity was assessed in cultured human cells. The goal of this protocol was to integrate the native environmental sample into a cell culture format assessing the changes in toxicity due to CuO-NP treatment.

In situ recovery (ISR) is the predominant method of uranium extraction in the United States. During ISR, uranium is leached from an ore body and extracted ...

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Studying co-evolution of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in the subsurface of natural landscapes can enhance the understanding of coupled Earth-system processes. Such knowledge is imperative in improving predictions of hydro-biogeochemical cycles, especially under climate change scenarios. We present an experimental method, designed to capture sub-surface heterogeneity of an initially homogeneous soil system. This method is based on destructive sampling of a soil lysimeter designed to simulate a small-scale hillslope. A weighing lysimeter of one cubic meter capacity was divided into sections (voxels) and was excavated layer-by-layer, with sub samples being collected from each voxel. The excavation procedure was aimed at detecting the incipient heterogeneity of the system by focusing on the spatial assessment of hydrological, geochemical, and microbiological properties of the soil. Representative results of a few physicochemical variables tested show the development of heterogeneity. Additional work to test interactions between hydrological, geochemical, and microbiological signatures is planned to interpret the observed patterns. Our study also demonstrates the possibility of carrying out similar excavations in order to observe and quantify different aspects of soil-development under varying environmental conditions and scale.

This study presents an excavation method for investigating subsurface hydrological, geochemical, and microbiological heterogeneity of a soil lysimeter. The lysimeter simulates an artificial hillslope which was initially under homogeneous condition and had been subjected to approximately 5,000 mm of water over eight cycles of irrigation in an 18-month period.

Studying co-evolution of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in the subsurface of natural landscapes can enhance the understanding of coupled ...

Screening for Endocrine Activity in Water Using Commercially-available In Vitro Transactivation Bioassays

In vitro transactivation bioassays have shown promise as water quality monitoring tools, however their adoption and widespread application has been hindered partly due to a lack of standardized methods and availability of robust, user-friendly technology. In this study, commercially available, division-arrested cell lines were employed to quantitatively screen for endocrine activity of chemicals present in water samples of interest to environmental quality professionals. A single, standardized protocol that included comprehensive quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) checks was developed for Estrogen and Glucocorticoid Receptor activity (ER and GR, respectively) using a cell-based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assay. Samples of treated municipal wastewater effluent and surface water from freshwater systems in California (USA), were extracted using solid phase extraction and analyzed for endocrine activity using the standardized protocol. Background and dose-response for endpoint-specific reference chemicals met QA/QC guidelines deemed necessary for reliable measurement. The bioassay screening response for surface water samples was largely not detectable. In contrast, effluent samples from secondary treatment plants had the highest measurable activity, with estimated bioassay equivalent concentrations (BEQs) up to 392 ng dexamethasone/L for GR and 17 ng 17&#946;-estradiol/L for ER. The bioassay response for a tertiary effluent sample was lower than that measured for secondary effluents, indicating a lower residual of endocrine active chemicals after advanced treatment. This protocol showed that in vitro transactivation bioassays that utilize commercially available, division-arrested cell &#34;kits&#34;, can be adapted to screen for endocrine activity in water.

Screening for Endocrine Activity in Water Using Commercially-available In Vitro Transactivation Bioassays

A protocol to screen for endocrine activity in organic extracts of water samples, including treated wastewater effluent and surface (receiving) water, was adapted using commercially available division-arrested ("freeze and thaw") in vitro transactivation bioassays.

In vitro transactivation bioassays have shown promise as water quality monitoring tools, however their adoption and widespread application has been ...

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

Cervid phenotype can be placed into one of two categories: efficiency, which promotes survival over extravagant morphometric growth, and luxury, which promotes growth of large weaponry and body size. Populations of the same species display each phenotype depending on environmental conditions. Although antler and body size of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) varies by physiographic region in Mississippi, USA and is strongly correlated with regional variation in nutritional quality, the effects of population-level genetics from native stocks and previous re-stocking efforts cannot be disregarded. This protocol describes how we designed a controlled study, where other factors that influence phenotype, such as age and nutrition, are controlled. We brought wild-caught pregnant females and six-month-old fawns from three distinct physiographic regions in Mississippi, USA to the Mississippi State University Rusty Dawkins Memorial Deer Unit. Deer from the same region were bred to produce a second generation of offspring, allowing us to assess generational responses and maternal effects. All deer ate the same high-quality (20% crude protein deer pellet) diet ad libitum. We uniquely marked each neonate and recorded body mass, hind foot, and total body length. Each subsequent fall, we sedated individuals via remote injection and sampled the same morphometrics plus antlers of adults. We found that all morphometrics increased in size from first to second generation, with full compensation of antler size (regional variation no longer present) and partial compensation of body mass (some evidence of regional variation) evident in the second generation. Second generation males that originated from our poorest quality soil region displayed about a 40% increase in antler size and about a 25% increase in body mass when compared to their wild harvested counterparts. Our results suggest phenotypic variation of wild male white-tailed deer in Mississippi are more related to differences in nutritional quality than population-level genetics.

Phenotypic differences among cervid populations may be related to population-level genetics or nutrition; discerning which is difficult in the wild. This protocol describes how we designed a controlled study where nutritional variation was eliminated. We found that phenotypic variation of male white-tailed deer was more limited by nutrition than genetics.

Cervid phenotype can be placed into one of two categories: efficiency, which promotes survival over extravagant morphometric growth, and luxury, which ...

Composition and Properties of Aquafaba: Water Recovered from Commercially Canned Chickpeas

Chickpea and other pulses are commonly sold as canned products packed in a thick solution or a brine. This solution has recently been shown to produce stable foams and emulsions, and can act as a thickener. Recently interest in this product has been enhanced through the internet where it is proposed that this solution, now called aquafaba by a growing community, can be used a replacement for egg and milk protein. As aquafaba is both new and being developed by an internet based community little is known of its composition or properties. Aquafaba was recovered from 10 commercial canned chickpea products and correlations among aquafaba composition, density, viscosity and foaming properties were investigated. Proton NMR was used to characterize aquafaba composition before and after ultrafiltration through membranes with different molecular weight cut offs (MWCOs of 3, 10, or 50 kDa). A protocol for electrophoresis, and peptide mass fingerprinting is also presented. Those methods provided valuable information regarding components responsible for aquafaba functional properties. This information will allow the development of practices to produce standard commercial aquafaba products and may help consumers select products of superior or consistent utility.

Aquafaba is a viscous juice from canned chickpea that, when stirred vigorously, produces a relatively stable white froth or foam. The primary research goal is to identify the components of aquafaba that contribute viscosifying/thickening properties using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultrafiltration, electrophoresis, and peptide mass fingerprinting.

Chickpea and other pulses are commonly sold as canned products packed in a thick solution or a brine. This solution has recently been shown to produce ...

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

Many of the Everglades tree islands have lost elevation over the past century and most of their trees have died such that they are now covered with herbaceous plants. This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective tree planting technique needed for restoring degraded Everglade tree islands. The design is patterned after a natural Everglades process that creates floating peat islands, which allows tree survival and growth in flooded conditions and often leads to the development of tree islands. Commercially available peat bags were used as the medium for the growth and establishment of potted native tree saplings. The pop-up configuration floated initially and provided additional elevation to minimize inundation, with a single native tree species sapling and a single tree fertilizer spike. During a 3 year study involving 105 pop-ups, most plants survived (80%) and many thrived. Determining whether this technique can establish trees on a degraded tree island will require longer studies and extensive field tests.

This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective tree planting technique for restoring degraded Everglades tree islands that experience inundation. The design creates an island (pop-up) which floats initially and adds elevation to promote tree survival and growth under flooded conditions.

Many of the Everglades tree islands have lost elevation over the past century and most of their trees have died such that they are now covered with ...

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

This paper introduces a procedure to investigate the adsorption of phosphonates onto iron-containing filter materials, particularly granular ferric hydroxide (GFH), with little effort and high reliability. The phosphonate, e.g., nitrilotrimethylphosphonic acid (NTMP), is brought into contact with the GFH in a rotator in a solution buffered by an organic acid (e.g., acetic acid) or Good buffer (e.g., 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid) [MES] and N-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxyl-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid [CAPSO]) in a concentration of 10 mM for a specific time in 50 mL centrifuge tubes. Subsequently, after membrane filtration (0.45 &#181;m pore size), the total phosphorus (total P) concentration is measured using a specifically developed determination method (ISOmini). This method is a modification and simplification of the ISO 6878 method: a 4 mL sample is mixed with H2SO4 and K2S2O8 in a screw cap vial, heated to 148-150 &#176;C for 1 h and then mixed with NaOH, ascorbic acid and acidified molybdate with antimony(III) (final volume of 10 mL) to produce a blue complex. The color intensity, which is linearly proportional to the phosphorus concentration, is measured spectrophotometrically (880 nm). It is demonstrated that the buffer concentration used has no significant effect on the adsorption of phosphonate between pH 4 and 12. The buffers, therefore, do not compete with the phosphonate for adsorption sites. Furthermore, the relatively high concentration of the buffer requires a higher dosage concentration of oxidizing agent (K2S2O8) for digestion than that specified in ISO 6878, which, together with the NaOH dosage, is matched to each buffer. Despite the simplification, the ISOmini method does not lose any of its accuracy compared to the standardized method.

This paper introduces a procedure to investigate the adsorption of phosphonates onto iron-containing filter materials, particularly granular ferric hydroxide, with little effort and high reliability. In a buffered solution, the phosphonate is brought into contact with the adsorbent using a rotator and then analyzed via a miniaturized phosphorus determination method.

This paper introduces a procedure to investigate the adsorption of phosphonates onto iron-containing filter materials, particularly granular ferric ...