Testing alternative decision approaches for identifying cleanup priorities at contaminated sites

This exploratory study compares two approaches for involving nonexpert stakeholders in difficult policy choices. Both approaches have as their goal informing members of the public about contaminated sites and involving them in decisions regarding their cleanup. The first approach focuses on technical information and seeks to improve the available knowledge base so that participants can make choices informed by detailed scientific data. This approach is similar in intent to many of the science-based initiatives in public involvement now being undertaken by EPA, DOE, and other federal or state agencies. The second approach, in contrast, focuses on values-oriented information and seeks to improve stakeholders' ability to make difficult choices in light of required tradeoffs across a variety of technical and nontechnical concerns. The results demonstrate that although both approaches help to increase participants' knowledge level, a values-based approach is more successful in terms of helping nonexpert participants to make decisions aboutwhat have historically been viewed as primarily technical problems.     

Demonstration of a method for the direct determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in submerged sediments

We describe the development of a novel method for real-time in situ characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in submerged freshwater sediments. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy, a mature technique for PAH characterization in terrestrial sediments, was adapted for shipboard use. A cone penetrometer-type apparatus was designed for probe penetration at a constant rate (1 cm/s) to a depth of 3 m. A field-portable LIF system was used for in situ measurements in which the output of a pulsed excimer laser was transmitted by optical fiber to a sapphire window (6.4-mm o.d.) in the probe wall; fluorescent emission was collected by a separate optical fiber for transmission to the spectrometer on deck. Four wavelengths (340, 390, 440, 490 nm) were selected via optical delay lines, and multiple-wavelength waveforms were created. These multiple-wavelength waveforms contain information on the fluorescence frequency, intensity, and emission decay rate. Field testing was conducted at 10 sites in Milwaukee Harbor (total PAH concentrations ranged from approximately 10 to 650 microg/g); conventional sediment core samples were collected concurrently. The core samples were analyzed by EPA methods 3545 (pressurized fluid extraction, PFE) and 8270C (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, GC-MS) for PAHs. A partial least-squares regression (PLSR) model wasthen created based on laboratory LIF measurements and PFE-GC-MS of the core samples. The PLSR model was applied to the in situ field test data, and 13 of the 16 EPA-regulated PAHs were quantified with a relative error of <30% overall (the remaining three PAHs were found at levels insufficient to quantify). We additionally describe preliminary source apportionment relationships that were revealed by the PLSR model for the in situ LIF measurements.     

Reduction of poliovirus 1, bacteriophages,Salmonella montevideo,and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on strawberries by physical and disinfectant washes

The efficacy levels of different physical and chemical washing treatments in the reduction of viral and bacterial pathogens from inoculated strawberries were evaluated. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Montevideo, poliovirus 1, and the bacteriophages PRD1, phiX174, and MS2 were used as model and surrogate organisms. Chemicals readily available to producers and/or consumers were evaluated as antimicrobial additives for the production of washes. The gentle agitation of contaminated strawberries in water for 2 min led to reductions in microbial populations ranging from 41 to 79% and from 62 to 90% at water temperatures of 22 and 43 degrees C, respectively. Significant reductions (> 98%) in numbers of bacteria and viruses were obtained with sodium hypochlorite (50 to 300 ppm of free chlorine), Oxine or Carnebon (200 ppm of product generating "stabilized chlorine dioxide"), Tsunami (100 ppm of peroxyacetic acid), and Alcide (100 or 200 ppm of acidified sodium chlorite) washes. Overall, 200 ppm of acidified sodium chlorite produced the greatest reductions of microorganisms. Hydrogen peroxide (0.5%) was slightly less effective than free chlorine in a strawberry wash and caused slight fruit discoloration. Cetylpyridinium chloride (0.1%) was effective in the reduction of bacterial species, while trisodium phosphate (1%) was effective against viruses. The consumer-oriented produce wash Fit was very effective (> 99%) in reducing the numbers of bacteria but not in reducing the numbers of viruses. Another wash, Healthy Harvest, was significantly less effective than Fit in reducing bacterial pathogens but more effective for viruses. The performance of automatic dishwashing detergent was similar to that of Healthy Harvest and significantly better than that of liquid dishwashing detergent. Solutions containing table salt (2% NaCl) or vinegar (10%) reduced the numbers of bacteria by about 90%, whereas only the vinegar wash reduced the numbers of viruses significantly (ca. 95%).     

Survivability of Salmonella and Shigella spp. in sodium lauryl sulfate and tween 80 at 22 and 40 degrees C

Fresh produce has been implicated in several foodborne disease outbreaks. A primary site of contamination during production and handling is the surface of produce. One approach to reducing contamination is to treat fresh produce with rinsing agents. Studies have examined the efficacies of detergents and other rinses in recovering pathogens from produce surfaces. The determination of how these detergents affect bacterial cells may aid in understanding the mechanisms behind their removal. This study examines the survivability of Salmonella and Shigella in two detergents. A 0.1% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) solution, a 0.1% Tween 80 solution, and water were inoculated with a cocktail of stationary-phase organisms (3 log CFU/ml) and incubated for up to 32 h at 22 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Samples were taken over time and plated on tryptic soy agar supplemented with 50 ppm of nalidixic acid. Salmonella survived in all solutions and exhibited significant growth in water (0.8 log CFU/ml at 22 degrees C and 1.9 log CFU/ml at 40 degrees C) and Tween 80 (1.0 log CFU/ml at 40 degrees C). Shigella survived in all solutions at 22 degrees C and exhibited a growth level of 2.0 log CFU/ml in SLS. Shigella also survived in all solutions at 40 degrees C, although its populations decreased significantly in Tween 80 over time. Elevated temperatures may allow Tween 80 to kill Shigella spp. over time. Overall, the detergents tested were not detrimental to the cells; therefore, if these solutions were to be used as produce rinse agents, they would aid in removal of organisms from surfaces rather than kill the cells.     

Growth kinetics and cell morphology of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A as affected by temperature,NaCl, and EDTA

Growth kinetics and morphological characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A grown under stress conditions induced by increasing levels of NaCl and EDTA were studied as a function of temperature. L. monocytogenes Scott A was inoculated into brain heart infusion broth (pH 6) at 19, 28, 37, and 42 degrees C. Test cultures contained NaCl (at concentrations of 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5%) or EDTA (at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mM); control cultures contained 0.5% NaCl. Growth curves were fitted from plate count data by the Gompertz equation, and growth kinetics parameters were derived. Stationary-phase cells were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Generation times (GTs) and lag phase duration times (LPDs) increased as additive levels were increased. The bacterium grew at all NaCl levels. At 37 and 42 degrees C, growth was slow in media containing 7.5% NaCl, and no growth occurred in media containing 0.3 mM EDTA. Temperature was a major factor in certain stress conditions that led to cell elongation and loss of flagella. Cells in control media at 28 degrees C grew as short rods (0.5 by 1.0 to 2.0 microm), while at 42 degrees C most cells were 4 to 10 times as long. Higher levels of NaCl at higher temperatures resulted in longer and thicker cells. At 28 degrees C, 0.1 mM EDTA had little effect on growth kinetics and morphology; however, 0.3 mM EDTA caused a sixfold increase in GT and LPD and loss of flagellae, with most cells being two to six times as long as normal. Cell length did not correlate with growth kinetics. The results of this study suggest that the effect of altered morphological characteristics of L. monocytogenes cells grown under stress on the virulence and subsequent survival of these cells should be investigated.     

Low-Power Log-Domain CMOS Filter Bank for 2-D Sound Source Localization

This paper proposes the design of a novel current-mode front-end for the extraction of localization spectral cues from two audio signals, together with test results. The front-end consists of two parallel filter banks, envelope extraction and comparison circuitry, together with an AGC loop. The extracted cues are intended to be further processed in order to determine the source azimuth and elevation. A current-mode log-domain implementation using subthreshold MOS operation is used for micropower operation while still achieving a good bandwidth and linearity. A current-mode solution is also preferred because of the ease of implementation of certain mathematical operations. The front-end splits the input signals into different frequency bands and computes monaural and interaural spectral cues from the resulting signal envelopes for each band. The front-end has been optimized to operate at a supply voltage of 1.8 V and most blocks have been designed using a differential architecture. To our knowledge, this is the first log-domain implementation of a front-end for 2-D localization cues extraction. The design has been carried out using a standard double-poly double-metal 0.8 m CMOS process with V _T = 0.8 V. The bandpass filters which form the main core of the chip exhibit a measured dynamic range of 62 dB corresponding to 1.9% THD, while the total power dissipation is 890 W.     

A Markov-Based Channel Model Algorithm for Wireless Networks

Techniques for modeling and simulating channel conditions play an essential role in understanding network protocol and application behavior. In [11], we demonstrated that inaccurate modeling using a traditional analytical model yielded suboptimal error control protocol parameters choices. In this paper, we demonstrate that time-varying effects on wireless channels result in wireless traces which exhibit non-stationary behavior over small window sizes. We then present an algorithm that extracts stationary components from a collected trace in order to provide analytical channel models that, relative to traditional approaches, more accurately represent characteristics such as burstiness, statistical distribution of errors, and packet loss processes. Our algorithm also generates artificial traces with the same statistical characteristics as actual collected network traces. For validation, we develop a channel model for the circuit-switched data service in GSM and show that it: (1) more closely approximates GSM channel characteristics than traditional Markov models and (2) generates artificial traces that closely match collected traces' statistics. Using these traces in a simulator environment enables future protocol and application testing under different controlled and repeatable conditions.