scholarly journals Microbial Functional Responses in Marine Biofilms Exposed to Deepwater Horizon Spill Contaminants

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Mugge ◽  
Jennifer L. Salerno ◽  
Leila J. Hamdan
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Steel Structures ◽  
Functional Redundancy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Chemical Dispersant ◽  
Marine Biofilms ◽  
And Function

Marine biofilms are essential biological components that transform built structures into artificial reefs. Anthropogenic contaminants released into the marine environment, such as crude oil and chemical dispersant from an oil spill, may disrupt the diversity and function of these foundational biofilms. To investigate the response of marine biofilm microbiomes from distinct environments to contaminants and to address microbial functional response, biofilm metagenomes were analyzed from two short-term microcosms, one using surface seawater (SSW) and the other using deep seawater (DSW). Following exposure to crude oil, chemical dispersant, and dispersed oil, taxonomically distinct communities were observed between microcosms from different source water challenged with the same contaminants and higher Shannon diversity was observed in SSW metagenomes. Marinobacter, Colwellia, Marinomonas, and Pseudoalteromonas phylotypes contributed to driving community differences between SSW and DSW. SSW metagenomes were dominated by Rhodobacteraceae, known biofilm-formers, and DSW metagenomes had the highest abundance of Marinobacter, associated with hydrocarbon degradation and biofilm formation. Association of source water metadata with treatment groups revealed that control biofilms (no contaminant) harbor the highest percentage of significant KEGG orthologs (KOs). While 70% functional similarity was observed among all metagenomes from both experiments, functional differences between SSW and DSW metagenomes were driven primarily by membrane transport KOs, while functional similarities were attributed to translation and signaling and cellular process KOs. Oil and dispersant metagenomes were 90% similar to each other in their respective experiments, which provides evidence of functional redundancy in these microbiomes. When interrogating microbial functional redundancy, it is crucial to consider how composition and function evolve in tandem when assessing functional responses to changing environmental conditions within marine biofilms. This study may have implications for future oil spill mitigation strategies at the surface and at depth and also provides information about the microbiome functional responses of biofilms on steel structures in the marine built environment.

scholarly journals Synthesis of photochemical transformations of oil in the sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Collin P. Ward ◽  
Edward B. Overton
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Photochemical Oxidation ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Weathering Processes ◽  
Photochemical Transformations ◽  
Chemical Dispersant ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Abstract: In this presentation and article, we synthesize findings from a workshop about our understanding of the interplay between crude oil photochemical oxidation and oil spill response, emphasizing how this understanding has evolved since the 2010 DWH spill. Our discussion is guided by one overarching questions: what role does photochemical oxidation play towards informing effective oil spill response operations? We show that prior to the DWH spill, our understanding of the relative importance of oil weathering processes, specifically photochemical weathering, was incomplete. We further explore how accounting for photochemical changes to oil's properties (physical and chemical) could improve the effectiveness of oil spill response operations, specifically chemical dispersant applications. Lastly, we identify priority knowledge gaps related to this guiding research question.

EFFORT TO RESCUE OTTERS AFTER SPILL IS IN DISPUTE

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-661
Author(s):  
J. F. L.
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Exxon Valdez ◽  
Sea Otters ◽  
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽  
Rehabilitation Centers ◽  
Government Contract

ANCHORAGE, April 20—Sea otters rescued from waters fouled by the Exxon Valdez oil spill fared poorly after their return to the wild last fall, and scientists working under Government contract say at least half may have perished over the winter. Nearly 900 dead otters were found after the tanker spilled almost 11 million gallons of crude oil in March 1989. An additional 360 were netted alive and brought to rehabilitation centers at Valdez, Seward, Homer and Kodiak. About 200 were later returned to Prince William Sound but some scientists say that as many as half may have perished and that the rehabilitation effort has been largely futile... The withholding of scientific information on the spill for legal reasons by all the parties is becoming a major source of controversy as research projects begin to generate at least preliminary data.

Experimental simulation of crude oil-water partitioning behavior of BTEX compounds during a deep submarine oil spill

2017 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aprami Jaggi ◽  
Ryan W. Snowdon ◽  
Andrew Stopford ◽  
Jagoš R. Radović ◽  
Thomas B.P. Oldenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Experimental Simulation ◽  
Water Partitioning ◽  
Oil Water ◽  
Partitioning Behavior ◽  
Btex Compounds

scholarly journals Sacrificial amphiphiles: Eco-friendly chemical herders as oil spill mitigation chemicals

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. e1400265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deeksha Gupta ◽  
Bivas Sarker ◽  
Keith Thadikaran ◽  
Vijay John ◽  
Charles Maldarelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Marine Biota ◽  
Polar Group ◽  
Branched Chain

Crude oil spills are a major threat to marine biota and the environment. When light crude oil spills on water, it forms a thin layer that is difficult to clean by any methods of oil spill response. Under these circumstances, a special type of amphiphile termed as “chemical herder” is sprayed onto the water surrounding the spilled oil. The amphiphile forms a monomolecular layer on the water surface, reducing the air–sea surface tension and causing the oil slick to retract into a thick mass that can be burnt in situ. The current best-known chemical herders are chemically stable and nonbiodegradable, and hence remain in the marine ecosystem for years. We architect an eco-friendly, sacrificial, and effective green herder derived from the plant-based small-molecule phytol, which is abundant in the marine environment, as an alternative to the current chemical herders. Phytol consists of a regularly branched chain of isoprene units that form the hydrophobe of the amphiphile; the chain is esterified to cationic groups to form the polar group. The ester linkage is proximal to an allyl bond in phytol, which facilitates the hydrolysis of the amphiphile after adsorption to the sea surface into the phytol hydrophobic tail, which along with the unhydrolyzed herder, remains on the surface to maintain herding action, and the cationic group, which dissolves into the water column. Eventual degradation of the phytol tail and dilution of the cation make these sacrificial amphiphiles eco-friendly. The herding behavior of phytol-based amphiphiles is evaluated as a function of time, temperature, and water salinity to examine their versatility under different conditions, ranging from ice-cold water to hot water. The green chemical herder retracted oil slicks by up to ~500, 700, and 2500% at 5°, 20°, and 35°C, respectively, during the first 10 min of the experiment, which is on a par with the current best chemical herders in practice.

scholarly journals Dicer1-mediated miRNA processing shapes the mRNA profile and function of murine platelets

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 127 (14) ◽  
pp. 1743-1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse W. Rowley ◽  
Stéphane Chappaz ◽  
Aurélie Corduan ◽  
Mark M. W. Chong ◽  
Robert Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Responses ◽  
Mirna Processing ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Mrna Profile ◽  
And Function

Key Points Dicer1 deletion in MKs alters platelet miRNA and mRNA profiles. Dicer1-deficient platelets display increased integrins αIIb and β3 levels and enhanced in vitro and in vivo functional responses.

scholarly journals Functional redundancy between RAP1 isoforms in murine platelet production and function

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (18) ◽  
pp. 1951-1962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Stefanini ◽  
Robert H. Lee ◽  
David S. Paul ◽  
Ellen C. O'Shaughnessy ◽  
Dorsaf Ghalloussi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Adhesion ◽  
Functional Redundancy ◽  
Mechanical Trauma ◽  
Vascular Integrity ◽  
Platelet Production ◽  
Key Points ◽  
And Function

Key Points Deletion of both Rap1a and Rap1b impairs platelet production and abolishes platelet adhesion at sites of mechanical trauma. Platelet RAP1 signaling is dispensable for vascular integrity during development and at sites of inflammation.

Enhanced Expression and Function of Renal SGLT2 (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2) in Heart Failure: Role of Renal Nerves

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Katsurada ◽  
Shyam S. Nandi ◽  
Neeru M. Sharma ◽  
Kaushik P. Patel
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Sglt2 Inhibitor ◽  
Renal Nerves ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Sodium Glucose Cotransporter ◽  
And Function ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

Background: Recent clinical studies demonstrate that SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors ameliorate heart failure (HF). The present study was conducted to assess the expression and function of renal SGLT2 and the influence of enhanced renal sympathetic tone in HF. Methods: Four weeks after coronary artery ligation surgery to induce HF, surgical bilateral renal denervation (RDN) was performed in rats. Four groups of rats (Sham-operated control [Sham], Sham+RDN, HF and HF+RDN; n=6/group) were used. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the renal SGLT2 expression. One week after RDN (5 weeks after induction of HF), intravenous injection of SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin were performed to assess renal excretory responses. In vitro, human embryonic kidney cells were used to investigate the fractionation of SGLT2 after norepinephrine treatment. Results: In rats with HF, (1) SGLT2 expression in the proximal tubule of the kidney was increased; (2) the response of increases in urine flow, sodium excretion, and glucose excretion to dapagliflozin were greater; and (3) RDN attenuated renal SGLT2 expression and normalized renal functional responses to dapagliflozin. In vitro, norepinephrine promoted translocation of SGLT2 to the cell membrane. Conclusions: These results indicate that the enhanced tonic renal sympathetic nerve activation in HF increases the expression and functional activity of renal SGLT2. Potentiated trafficking of SGLT2 to cell surface in renal proximal tubules mediated by norepinephrine may contribute to this functional activation of SGLT2 in HF. These findings provide critical insight into the underlying mechanisms for the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on HF reported in the clinical studies.

Utilization of recycled polyester nonwovens as sorbent for oil spill cleanups

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viju Subramoniapillai ◽  
G. Thilagavathi
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Vegetable Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Nonwoven Fabric ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oil Sorption ◽  
Nonwoven Fabrics ◽  
Oil Retention ◽  
Static Contact ◽  
Polyester Fibers

Purpose The most widely recycled plastic in the world is recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). To minimize the environmental related issues associated with synthetic fibers, several researchers have explored the potential use of recycled polyester fibers in developing various technical textile products. This study aims to develop needle-punched nonwoven fabrics from recycled polyester fibers and investigate its suitability in oil spill cleanup process. Design/methodology/approach According to Box and Behnken factorial design, 15 different needle-punched nonwoven fabrics from recycled polyester fibers were prepared by changing the parameters, namely, needle punch density, needle penetration depth and fabric areal weight. Several featured parameters such as oil sorption, oil retention, oil sorption kinetics, wettability and reusability performance were systematically elucidated. Findings The maximum oil sorption of recycled nonwoven polyester is found to be 24.85 g/g and 20.58 g/g for crude oil and vegetable oil, respectively. The oil retention is about 93%–96% in case of crude oil, whereas 87%–91% in case of vegetable oil. Recycled polyester nonwoven possesses good hydrophobic–oleophilic properties with static contact angle of 138° against water, whereas 0° against crude oil and vegetable oil. The reusability test results indicate that recycled polyester nonwoven fabric can be used several times because of its reusability features. Originality/value There is no detailed study on the oil sorption features of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics developed from recycled polyester fibers. This study is expected to help in developing fabrics for oil spill cleanups.

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