Microorganisms Collected from the Surface of Freshwater Lakes Using a Drone Water Sampling System (DOWSE)

New tools and technology are needed to study microorganisms in freshwater environments. Little is known about spatial distribution and ice nucleation activity (INA) of microorganisms in freshwater lakes. We developed a system to collect water samples from the surface of lakes using a 3D-printed sampling device tethered to a drone (DOWSE, DrOne Water Sampling SystEm). The DOWSE was used to collect surface water samples at different distances from the shore (1, 25, and 50 m) at eight different freshwater lakes in Austria in June 2018. Water samples were filtered, and microorganisms were cultured on two different media types, TSA (a general growth medium) and KBC (a medium semi-selective for bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas). Mean concentrations (colony forming units per mL, or CFU/mL) of bacteria cultured on TSA ranged from 19,800 (Wörthersee) to 210,500 (Gosaulacke) CFU/mL, and mean concentrations of bacteria cultured on KBC ranged from 2590 (Ossiachersee) to 11,000 (Vorderer Gosausee) CFU/mL. There was no significant difference in sampling distance from the shore for concentrations of microbes cultured on TSA (p = 0.28). A wireless bathymetry sensor was tethered to the drone to map temperature and depth across the sampling domain of each of the lakes. At the 50 m distance from the shore, temperature ranged from 17 (Hinterer Gosausee, and Gosaulacke) to 26 °C (Wörthersee), and depth ranged from 2.8 (Gosaulacke) to 11.1 m (Grundlsee). Contour maps of concentrations of culturable bacteria across the drone sampling domain revealed areas of high concentrations (hot spots) in some of the lakes. The percentage of ice-nucleation active (ice+) bacteria cultured on KBC ranged from 0% (0/64) (Wörthersee) to 58% (42/72) (Vorderer Gosausee), with a mean of 28% (153/544) for the entire sample set. Future work aims to elucidate the structure and function of entire microbial assemblages within and among the Austrian lakes.

Download Full-text

Remote collection of microorganisms at two depths in a freshwater lake using an unmanned surface vehicle (USV)

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4290 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4290 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Craig Powers ◽

Regina Hanlon ◽

David G. Schmale III

Keyword(s):

Ice Nucleation ◽

Selective Medium ◽

Freshwater Lake ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Culturable Bacteria ◽

Water Sampling ◽

Sampling System ◽

Unmanned Surface Vehicle ◽

Sampling Locations ◽

Significant Difference

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in freshwater aquatic environments, but little is known about their abundance, diversity, and transport. We designed and deployed a remote-operated water-sampling system onboard an unmanned surface vehicle (USV, a remote-controlled boat) to collect and characterize microbes in a freshwater lake in Virginia, USA. The USV collected water samples simultaneously at 5 and 50 cm below the surface of the water at three separate locations over three days in October, 2016. These samples were plated on a non-selective medium (TSA) and on a medium selective for the genusPseudomonas(KBC) to estimate concentrations of culturable bacteria in the lake. Mean concentrations ranged from 134 to 407 CFU/mL for microbes cultured on TSA, and from 2 to 8 CFU/mL for microbes cultured on KBC. There was a significant difference in the concentration of microbes cultured on KBC across three sampling locations in the lake (P= 0.027), suggesting an uneven distribution ofPseudomonasacross the locations sampled. There was also a significant difference in concentrations of microbes cultured on TSA across the three sampling days (P= 0.038), demonstrating daily fluctuations in concentrations of culturable bacteria. There was no significant difference in concentrations of microbes cultured on TSA (P= 0.707) and KBC (P= 0.641) across the two depths sampled, suggesting microorganisms were well-mixed between 5 and 50 cm below the surface of the water. About 1 percent (7/720) of the colonies recovered across all four sampling missions were ice nucleation active (ice+) at temperatures warmer than −10 °C. Our work extends traditional manned observations of aquatic environments to unmanned systems, and highlights the potential for USVs to understand the distribution and diversity of microbes within and above freshwater aquatic environments.

Download Full-text

Adaptive Water Sampling Device for Aerial Robots

Drones ◽

10.3390/drones4010005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cengiz Koparan ◽

A. Bulent Koc ◽

Charles V. Privette ◽

Calvin B. Sawyer

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Dissolved Oxygen ◽

Water Samples ◽

Sensor Node ◽

Activation Mechanism ◽

Water Sampling ◽

Sampling Device ◽

Sampling Locations

Water quality monitoring and predicting the changes in water characteristics require the collection of water samples in a timely manner. Water sample collection based on in situ measurable water quality indicators can increase the efficiency and precision of data collection while reducing the cost of laboratory analyses. The objective of this research was to develop an adaptive water sampling device for an aerial robot and demonstrate the accuracy of its functions in laboratory and field conditions. The prototype device consisted of a sensor node with dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, turbidity, and depth sensors, a microcontroller, and a sampler with three cartridges. Activation of water capturing cartridges was based on in situ measurements from the sensor node. The activation mechanism of the prototype device was tested with standard solutions in the laboratory and with autonomous water sampling flights over the 11-ha section of a lake. A total of seven sampling locations were selected based on a grid system. Each cartridge collected 130 mL of water samples at a 3.5 m depth. Mean water quality parameters were measured as 8.47 mg/L of dissolved oxygen, pH of 5.34, 7 µS/cm of electrical conductivity, temperature of 18 °C, and 37 Formazin Nephelometric Unit (FNU) of turbidity. The dissolved oxygen was within allowable limits that were pre-set in the self-activation computer program while the pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature were outside of allowable limits that were specified by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Therefore, the activation mechanism of the device was triggered and water samples were collected from all the sampling locations successfully. The adaptive water sampling with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-assisted water sampling device was proved to be a successful method for water quality evaluation.

Download Full-text

Distribution of Some Heavy Metals in Tigris River middle of Iraq

Baghdad Science Journal ◽

10.21123/bsj.11.2.983-990 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 983-990 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Baghdad Science Journal

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Water Samples ◽

Tigris River ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Concentrations

This study was conducted from February 2010 to December 2010. Water Samples were collected every two months in three stations in Baghdad city. The study involved the assessment of concentrations of some heavy metals such as: Chromium, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. the values of chromium were undetected for the entire of the study, while the rest of the heavy metal were ranged between 0.001 -0.438 mg / l, ND -0.077 mg / L, ND -0.778 mg / l, 0.36 - 0.011 mg / l, 0.011-0 .08mg/ l, ND - 0.1985 mg / l, ND -0.0416 mg / l, respectively. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals were fluctuated during the study period, except Lead which have high concentrations and exceeded the permit limits in all stations. Result reveled that station 3 was more polluted than other stations. Also, for more confirm results the SPSS program was used to test the significant difference between the stations.

Download Full-text

Fabrication of a Portable Large-Volume Water Sampling System To Support Oil Spill Nrda Efforts

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1999-1-1179 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 1999 (1) ◽

pp. 1179-1184 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James R. Payne Payne ◽

Timothy J. Reilly ◽

Deborah P. French

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Oil Spill ◽

Water Samples ◽

Detection Limits ◽

Water Sampling ◽

Sampling System ◽

Oil Droplets ◽

Early Stages ◽

Dispersed Oil ◽

Dissolved Components

ABSTRACT A field-portable water-sampling system was designed and fabricated for collecting adequate volumes of seawater to meet the quantitation requirements to support Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) toxicity determinations and modeling efforts following an oil spill. This system is a significant improvement to conventional water sampling equipment and includes the ability to filter water samples at the time of collection, thereby providing critical differentiation between truly dissolved constituents and dispersed oil droplets. The system can be quickly and easily deployed from shoreline structures (piers and breakwaters) and/or vessels of opportunity to provide essential data during the early stages of a spill. Likewise, data collected with the system can be used to document dispersant effectiveness and provide information relating to seafood exposure, tainting, and toxicity issues. In many oil-spill NRDA efforts, water-column effects from dissolved components and dispersed oil droplets have not been adequately quantified or documented because: (1) samples are not obtained early enough after the spill event; (2) insufficient volumes are collected; and (3) the wrong constituents are analyzed. Generally, EPA hazardous-materials sampling approaches are followed, leading to inadequate sample sizes (e.g., 40 mL for volatile component analyses and 1-L samples for dissolved/dispersed constituents). Analytically, EPA semivolatile gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) SW-846 Method 8270 is often specified for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These sample sizes are not large enough to meet the detection limits required for most marine hydrocarbon analyses (de Lappe et al., 1980; Payne, 1997 and references therein), and the EPA PAH target analyte list does not include the majority of alkyl-substituted one-, two-, and three-ring aromatics that are the primary dissolved constituents actually present in the water column following an oil spill (Sauer and Boehm, 1991). As a result, water column effects are often written off as being short-lived or insignificant. Alternatively, impacts are often assessed by computer modeling efforts with limited field validation. In either event, there is inadequate profiling of the extent and duration of petroleum hydrocarbon exposure to marine organisms. Furthermore, when adequate volumes of water have been collected and the proper target analytes have been specified, provisions have not been taken to differentiate between truly dissolved components and dispersed oil droplets. Consequently, later data analyses are unreliable in their ability to reflect conditions as they actually existed during the early stages of the spill. For example, PAH analyses of unfiltered water samples are confounded by the facts that: (1) a significant, but unknown fraction of discrete oil droplets in the water column will rise to the surface with time; (2) high levels of dispersed oil droplets will raise detection limits of dissolved PAH; and (3) it is impossible to determine how much of the PAH is in the truly dissolved state where it will persist as a toxic fraction to exposed organisms and how much is simply associated with slightly less toxic oil droplets that are subject to relatively rapid removal by resurfacing. The equipment and field implementation approach described in this paper can provide samples that are not subject to the aforementioned problems.

Download Full-text

Spatial Variation of Water Chemistry in Aries River Catchment Western Romania

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11146592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 6592

Author(s):

Ana Moldovan ◽

Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽

Anamaria Iulia Török ◽

Marius Roman ◽

Ionut Cornel Mirea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Water Quality ◽

Water Chemistry ◽

Water Samples ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Pollution Indices ◽

Mining Activities ◽

River Catchment ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Impact

This study aims to investigate the quality and vulnerability of surface water (Aries River catchment) in order to identify the impact of past mining activities. For this purpose, the pollution and water quality indices, Piper and Durov plots, as well vulnerability modeling maps were used. The obtained results indicate that the water samples were contaminated with As, Fe, Mn, Pb and have relatively high concentrations of SO42−, HCO3−, TDS, Ca, K, Mg and high values for the electrical conductivity. Possible sources of the high content of chemicals could be the natural processes or the inputs of the mine drainage. Generally, according to the pollution indices, which were correlated to high concentrations of heavy metals, especially with Pb, Fe and Mn, the water samples were characterized by heavy metals pollution. The water quality index classified the studied water samples into five different classes of quality, namely: unsuitable for drinking, poor, medium, good and excellent quality. Similarly, medium, high and very high vulnerability classes were observed. The Durov and Piper plots classified the waters into Mg-HCO3− and Ca-Cl− types. The past and present mining activities clearly change the water chemistry and alter the quality of the Aries River, with the water requiring specific treatments before use.

Download Full-text

Seasonal ice nucleation activity of water samples from alpine rivers and lakes in Obergurgl, Austria

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149442 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 149442

Author(s):

Philipp Baloh ◽

Regina Hanlon ◽

Christopher Anderson ◽

Eoin Dolan ◽

Gernot Pacholik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Ice Nucleation ◽

Rivers And Lakes ◽

Nucleation Activity ◽

Alpine Rivers ◽

Ice Nucleation Activity

Download Full-text

Determination of essential and non-essential element contents of drinking water and baby water for infant’s nutrition

Main Group Metal Chemistry ◽

10.1515/mgmc-2021-0021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 194-202

Author(s):

Funda Demir ◽

Meral Yildirim Ozen ◽

Emek Moroydor Derun

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Infant Nutrition ◽

Tap Water ◽

Essential Element ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Local Market ◽

Drinking Waters ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Element Contents

Abstract In this study, essential (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Zn), and non-essential (Al, Ni, Pb) element contents of the drinking and baby water samples which are sold in the local market and tap water samples in Istanbul were examined. It was determined that elements of Cr, Cu, Fe, P, Zn, Al, and Ni were below detection limits in all water samples. Among the non-essential elements analyzed in water samples, Pb was the only detected element. At the same time, the percentages that meet the daily element requirements of infants were also calculated. As a result of the evaluations made, there is no significant difference in infant nutrition between baby waters and other drinking waters in terms of the element content.

Download Full-text

Activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 in the peritoneal membrane of uremic patients

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.00617.2014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 308 (11) ◽

pp. F1247-F1258 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Daniel Kitterer ◽

Joerg Latus ◽

Christoph Ulmer ◽

Peter Fritz ◽

Dagmar Biegger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Nuclear Factor ◽

Activated T Cells ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Ccl2 Mrna ◽

Uremic Patients ◽

High Concentrations

Peritoneal inflammation and fibrosis are responses to the uremic milieu and exposure to hyperosmolar dialysis fluids in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Cells respond to high osmolarity via the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT5). In the present study, the response of human peritoneal fibroblasts to glucose was analyzed in vitro. Expression levels of NFAT5 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL2) mRNA were quantified in peritoneal biopsies of five nonuremic control patients, five uremic patients before PD (pPD), and eight patients on PD (oPD) using real-time PCR. Biopsies from 5 control patients, 25 pPD patients, and 25 oPD patients were investigated using immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of NFAT5, CCL2, NF-κB p50, NF-κB p65, and CD68. High glucose concentrations led to an early, dose-dependent induction of NFAT5 mRNA in human peritoneal fibroblasts. CCL2 mRNA expression was upregulated by high concentrations of glucose after 6 h, but, most notably, a concentration-dependent induction of CCL2 was present after 96 h. In human peritoneal biopsies, NFAT5 mRNA levels were increased in uremic patients compared with nonuremic control patients. No significant difference was found between the pPD group and oPD group. CCL2 mRNA expression was higher in the oPD group. Immunohistochemistry analysis was consistent with the results of mRNA analysis. CD68-positive cells were significantly increased in the oPD group. In conclusion, uremia results in NFAT5 induction, which might promote early changes of the peritoneum. Upregulation of NFAT5 in PD patients is associated with NFκB induction, potentially resulting in the recruitment of macrophages.

Download Full-text

Effects of cryoprotectants and low temperatures on hatching and abnormal embryo development of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/1982-0224-20170043 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Raphael S. Costa ◽

Fabrício M. S. de Souza ◽

José A. Senhorini ◽

Rosicleire Veríssimo-Silveira ◽

Alexandre Ninhaus-Silveira

Keyword(s):

Embryonic Development ◽

Low Temperatures ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Ice Nucleation ◽

Small Bodies ◽

Prochilodus Lineatus ◽

Morphological Alterations ◽

Membrane Rupture ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Chilling Sensitivity

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of the cryoprotectants and the low temperatures on the embryonic development of Prochilodus lineatus, describing their main morphological alterations. On chilling sensitivity test, the survival rates at the twenty somites stage (20S) were 53.6% at 0ºC, and 100% in 5ºC. To test toxicity, the embryos were exposed to a graded series of 1,2-Propanediol (PROP), dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO4) and glycerol (GLY), terminating in a solution of high osmolarity. There was no significant difference in the embryos survival of toxicity test between series of PROP and Me2SO4 in the 6S and 20S. In the cooling protocols, were evaluated the effects of low temperature associated with cryoprotectants. At 5ºC, PROP showed survival rates above 75% in the gastrula stage (G) and above 90% in the 6S and 20S stages. High rates of abnormalities were observed, and the most recurrent were: small bodies, fins presenting uncontrolled cell growth, membrane rupture, and retraction. These results demonstrate the need to use cryoprotectant solutions, even when there is no ice nucleation, and, on the other hand, shows that high cryoprotectant concentrations promote numerous morphological lesions, compromising normal embryonic development.

Download Full-text

Development of an ultra-sensitive human IL-33 biomarker assay for age-related macular degeneration and asthma drug development

Journal of Translational Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12967-021-03189-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elaine Mai ◽

Joyce Chan ◽

Levina Goon ◽

Braeden K. Ego ◽

Jack Bevers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Interleukin 1 ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Reduced Form ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Interleukin 33 ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Concentrations

Abstract Background Over the past decade, human Interleukin 33 (hIL-33) has emerged as a key contributor to the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory diseases. Despite the existence of several commercial hIL-33 assays spanning multiple platform technologies, their ability to provide accurate hIL-33 concentration measurements and to differentiate between active (reduced) and inactive (oxidized) hIL-33 in various matrices remains uncertain. This is especially true for lower sample volumes, matrices with low hIL-33 concentrations, and matrices with elevated levels of soluble Interleukin 1 Receptor-Like 1 (sST2), an inactive form of ST2 that competes with membrane bound ST2 for hIL-33 binding. Results We tested the performance of several commercially available hIL-33 detection assays in various human matrices and found that most of these assays lacked the sensitivity to accurately detect reduced hIL-33 at biologically relevant levels (sub-to-low pg/mL), especially in the presence of human sST2 (hsST2), and/or lacked sufficient target specificity. To address this, we developed and validated a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) capable of detecting reduced and total hIL-33 levels even in the presence of high concentrations of sST2. By incorporating the immuno-polymerase chain reaction (iPCR) platform, we further increased the sensitivity of this assay for the reduced form of hIL-33 by ~ 52-fold. Using this hIL-33 iPCR assay, we detected hIL-33 in postmortem human vitreous humor (VH) samples from donors with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and found significantly increased hIL-33 levels when compared to control individuals. No statistically significant difference was observed in aqueous humor (AH) from AMD donors nor in plasma and nasosorption fluid (NF) from asthma patients compared to control individuals. Conclusions Unlike existing commercial hIL-33 assays, our hIL-33 bioassays are highly sensitive and specific and can accurately quantify hIL-33 in various human clinical matrices, including those with high levels of hsST2. Our results provide a proof of concept of the utility of these assays in clinical trials targeting the hIL-33/hST2 pathway.

Download Full-text