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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Efficacy and Costs of Restoring Wetland Breeding Habitat for Imperiled Amphibians in the Southeastern U.S.

Herbaceous isolated wetlands in the North American Southeastern Coastal Plain are important breeding sites for many imperiled amphibians. However, most are degraded from alterations to historic fire disturbance and hydrologic regimes. Without fire, encroaching woody vegetation can transition wetlands to more terrestrial conditions and negatively impact amphibian breeding habitat, yet few studies have experimentally tested the efficacy, cost, or temporal requirement of current methods to restore herbaceous wetland vegetation. Here, we tested the interaction of manipulating wetland canopy and leaf litter/duff to promote herbaceous vegetation within one year (i.e., one breeding season) in degraded herbaceous wetlands in South Carolina. We assessed plant response via herbaceous cover, composition, and species similarity to the wetland seed bank and then related treatment performance to treatment cost. Removing trees combined with burning, disturbing, or removing duff significantly increased herbaceous cover and proportions of wetland plants and graminoids. Removing trees alone did not improve herbaceous cover compared to closed-canopy controls, and manipulating duff alone had limited positive effects on plant cover and composition. The most expensive yet effective treatment was Tree Removal-Duff Removal, while Tree Removal-Duff Disturbance was the most cost-effective. At a minimum, we recommend removing trees and burning to kickstart herbaceous recovery. Promisingly, comparisons of our data with previous seed bank studies from these same wetlands indicate there was limited seed bank attrition during 30 years of woody encroachment. Results from this study should aid practitioners in choosing wetland restoration techniques to better conserve at-risk species in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Home range and resource selection of Virginia opossums in the rural southeastern United States

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) has a rapidly expanding distribution in North America, but many aspects of its ecology remain relatively understudied, particularly in rural areas of its core range. We collected GPS telemetry data from 93 opossums in a rural, non-agricultural landscape in South Carolina, USA (2018–2019) to examine factors influencing space use and resource selection. Estimated male home ranges (99% utilization distributions) were on average 50% larger than those of females (mean home range 115.9 ± 103.7 ha vs 76.7 ± 75.0 ha). The home range size decreased on average by 20% with each 20% increase in deciduous land cover but was not affected by season or other landscape factors. Core area sizes (65% utilization distributions) were not influenced by sex (mean core area size 29.1 ± 23.7 ha and 22.4 ha ± 13.8 for males and females, respectively) or season, but the core area size decreased by 14% with each 400 m increase in distance from a permanent water source. Resource selection by opossums primarily occurred at the landscape level. Both males and females generally selected for wetlands while avoiding pine forests and developed/open areas, likely the result of differences in resource availability and predation risk between habitats. Opossums also tended to select for linear features such as unpaved roads and edge habitat, which may facilitate movement across the landscape. Finally, the home ranges we documented are among the largest recorded for opossums in the USA, likely the result of the relatively low resource abundance throughout our study area due to comparatively minimal anthropogenic influence.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Interspecific oral rabies vaccine bait competition in the Southeast United States

Here, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) has coordinated the use of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) to control the spread of raccoon rabies virus variant west of the Appalachian Mountains since 1997. Working with state and local partners, the NRMP deploys ORV baits containing a rabies vaccine, primarily targeting raccoon populations (Procyon lotor). Bait competition between raccoons and non-target species may limit the effectiveness of ORV programs, but the extent of bait competition remains poorly quantified, particularly in the southeastern United States. We placed placebo ORV baits in bottomland hardwood (n = 637 baits) and upland pine (n = 681 baits) habitats in South Carolina, USA during August-December 2019 and used remote cameras to examine bait competition between raccoons and non-target species. The estimated proportion of bait consumed by raccoons was 18.8 ± 2.1% in bottomland hardwood and 11.6 ± 2.1% in upland pine habitats. Vertebrate competition appeared to have a minimal effect on raccoon uptake as estimated consumption did not exceed 5% for any species or 8% of bait uptake events cumulatively. We estimated that raccoons were the primary consumer of baits in bottomland hardwood, whereas invertebrates were the primary consumer in upland pine (26.7 ± 1.3% of baits). Our results indicate a need to closely consider the effects of invertebrates on bait consumption to minimize their potential impact on ORV bait uptake by target species. Uptake probabilities by raccoons were relatively low but not primarily driven by competition with vertebrates. As such, strategies to increase the specificity of raccoon uptake may be needed to enhance the effectiveness of ORV baiting programs.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nth-plant scenario for blended pellets of Miscanthus, Switchgrass, and Corn Stover using multi-modal transportation: Biorefineries and depots in the contiguous U.S.

The sustainability of the biofuel industry depends on the development of a mature conversion technology on a national level that can take advantage of the economies of scale: the nth-plant. Here, this study addresses the logistic challenge of mobilizing national cellulosic feedstock supplies for a sustainable bioenergy industry. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model was developed and updated to deliver on-spec biomass that considers both a desired quantity and quality at the biorefinery. Our supply chain analysis includes multi-modal transport (truck and rail), varying depot and biorefinery sizes, and feedstock blends of corn stover (harvested by either a two- or three-pass method), switchgrass, and miscanthus. The following US states: Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Texas were identified as key locations for producing accessible miscanthus. Based on our most optimistic scenario, using trucks as the only transportation mode in 2040 with a cost target of $\$$79/dt, corn stover, switchgrass, and miscanthus could help meet 48% of the EPA target, 173 million dry tons that translate into 7.8 billion GGE. The addition of rail transportation for biomass delivery to biorefineries could help meet 79% of the EPA target, 283 million dry tons that translate into 12.7 billion GGE.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Timing and extent of crop damage by wild pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) to corn and peanut fields

The global expansion of wild pigs over the last few decades has resulted in an increase in extent and distribution of damages to crops, placing a growing strain on agricultural producers and land managers. Despite the extent of wild pig damage to agriculture, there is little data regarding timing and spatial variability of damage to corn (Zea mays Linnaeus) and we found no data regarding the effect of these factors on peanuts (Arachis hypogaea Linnaeus). Our objective was to determine the timing and extent of wild pig damage to corn and peanut fields, as well as the extent to which local habitat attributes are useful predictors of damage to these crops. During 2017–2018 we performed ground-based surveys throughout the growing season for 29 corn and 41 peanut fields in South Carolina, USA to determine the most important growth stages for wild pig depredation in both crops. Damage to corn peaked shortly after planting during the seedling stage, fell to nearly zero during V4–V6 stages, and resumed during the silk and mature stages. Peanut damage was almost exclusively limited to the seedling stage. Landscape models for both crops identified the extent of forested and wetland areas surrounding crop fields as the most important attributes positively associated with wild pig damage, while the amount of adjacent agricultural area and paved roads were associated negatively. The number of wild pigs identified by remote cameras also was an important indicator of the extent of damage to peanut fields. Results suggest management efforts to limit crop depredation by wild pigs should be targeted shortly prior to planting. Further, because damage was positively associated with the availability of wetland and forest habitats, our results suggest agricultural damage by wild pigs may be most severe near areas of preferred native habitats.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2027

Nodal capacity expansion planning with flexible large-scale load siting

We propose explicitly incorporating large-scale load siting into a stochastic nodal power system capacity expansion planning model that concurrently co-optimizes generation, transmission, and storage expansion. The potential operational flexibility of some of these large loads is also taken into account by considering them as consisting of a set of tranches with different reliability requirements, which are modeled as a constraint on expected served energy across operational scenarios. We implement our model as a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer optimization problem with cross-scenario expectation constraints. To overcome the challenge of scalability, we build upon existing work to implement this model on a high performance computing platform and exploit scenario parallelization using an augmented Progressive Hedging Algorithm. The algorithm is implemented using the bounding features of mpisppy, which have shown to provide satisfactory provable optimality gaps despite the absence of theoretical guarantees of convergence. We test our approach and assess the value of this proactive planning framework on total system cost and reliability metrics using realistic testcases geographically assigned to San Diego and South Carolina, with datacenter and direct air capture facilities as large loads.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Stochastic scheduling of generating units with weekly energy storage: A hybrid decomposition approach

We propose a solution method for the large-scale stochastic unit commitment (SUC) problem with weekly-dispatched energy storage and significant weather-dependent stochastic generating capacity. Weekly storage facilities that mostly charge during weekends and discharge during weekdays require a weekly scheduling of generating units, which result in a large-scale optimization problem. This SUC problem is formulated as a two-stage stochastic model and we use the conditional value-at-risk as a risk measure. Using a Benders framework, the proposed solution method decomposes the problem into a mixed-integer linear master problem and linear and continuous subproblems. The master problem corresponds to the first-stage decisions throughout the week and includes all the commitment (binary) variables and their corresponding constraints. The subproblems correspond to the actual dispatch of the generating units on a weekly basis. Based on the success of column-and-constraint generation algorithms to solve robust optimization problems, we improve the low communication between the master problem and the subproblems in the standard Benders decomposition by adding primal variables and constraints from the subproblems to the master problem, which provides a better approximation of the recourse function. Furthermore, our computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed decomposition method using an instance of the South Carolina synthetic system with 90 generating units under 40 scenarios.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Uptake and elimination of 137Cs in aquatic biota inhabiting a contaminated effluent canal

Radiocesium (137Cs) is among the most prevalent and concerning radionuclide released from anthropogenic activities due to its relatively slow decay time and high bioavailability. Numerous studies have reported activity concentrations of 137Cs in exposed biota, but few have assessed detailed toxicokinetics. The objective of our study was to quantify and compare the uptake and elimination of 137Cs in aquatic taxa from multiple classes with different ecological roles inhabiting a canal contaminated from nuclear production activities on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA. We tracked accumulation and elimination of 137Cs in four understudied aquatic species: one aquatic macrophyte [American white water lily (Nymphae odorata), two benthic associated omnivorous species (American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), and one pelagic carnivorous fish (Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)]. We monitored accumulation of 137Cs from initial exposure until equilibrium for biota restricted within the canal and subsequently tracked elimination of 137Cs over time by moving organisms from the canal to a nearby reference pond. Results indicated bullfrog tadpoles reached 95 % equilibrium in approximately 9 days, the fastest among the species evaluated. After bullfrog tadpoles, the next fastest time to equilibrium was achieved by red swamp crayfish (51 days) followed by mosquitofish (86 days). At equilibrium, bullfrog tadpoles were found to have similar 137Cs activity concentrations to mosquitofish (3.16 and 3.57 Bq/g, respectively), and both were significantly higher than red swamp crayfish (1.77 Bq/g). For elimination, we found biological half-lives to range between 8 and 43 days with bullfrog tadpoles eliminating 137Cs the fastest followed by water lilies, mosquitofish, and red swamp crayfish. Overall, we found the uptake and elimination of 137Cs to vary widely among our studied species, but benthic organisms are not at an increased risk to accumulate 137Cs compared to organisms in less frequent contact with the sediment.

Benthic organism Bioaccumulation Bioindicator Elim↗
DOE OSTI2023

Using SWMM for emergency response planning: A case study evaluating biological agent transport under various rainfall scenarios and urban surfaces

To assist in emergency preparedness for a biological agent terrorist attack or accidental pathogen release, potential contaminant levels and migration pathways of spores spread by urban stormwater were evaluated using a Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The high temporal-spatial resolution SWMM model was built using spore concentrations in stormwater runoff from asphalt, grass, and concrete collected from a point-scale field study. The subsequent modeled contamination scenarios included a notional plume release and point releases mimicking the field study under three rainfall conditions. The rainfall scenarios included a 6-hour natural rainfall event on Dec. 8, 2021 and two design storms (2-year and 100-year events). The observed spore concentrations from asphalt and concrete from the actual field experiment were applied to calibrate the washoff parameters in the SWMM model, using an exponential washoff function. The calibrated washoff coefficient (c 1 ) and exponent (c 2 ) were 0.01 and 1.00 for asphalt, 0.05 and 1.45 for grass, and 2.45 and 1.00 for concrete, respectively. The calibrated SWMM model simulated spore concentrations in runoff at times and magnitudes similar to the field study data. In the point release modeled scenario, the concrete surface generated 55.6% higher average spore concentrations than asphalt. Similarly, in the field experiment, a 175% (p < 0.05) higher average spore concentration in surface runoff was observed from concrete than from asphalt. Here, this study demonstrates how SWMM may be used to evaluate spore washoff from urban surfaces under different precipitation amounts, intensities, and durations, and how visualized spatial migration pathways in stormwater runoff may be used for emergency planning and remediation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Intercomparison of flood inundation models across land use types and hydrological flood stages

Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) model selection is a key operational decision because accurate, rapid mapping underpins early warning and resource allocation. FIM performance is context-dependent and can vary with hydrograph phase, land-use/land-cover (LULC), and the evaluation benchmark. Intercomparison studies typically assess a single near-peak snapshot against one reference dataset. Here, we provide a context-stratified intercomparison across (i) multiple hydrograph phases, (ii) LULC classes, and (iii) benchmark types, for five FIM approaches spanning a wide range of physical complexity and operational cost (TRITON, LISFLOOD-FP, HEC-RAS 2D, ARC-Curve2Flood, and OWP HAND-FIM). We use the Hurricane Matthew flood (2016) in the Neuse River Basin, North Carolina, USA, as a case study. Using high-resolution remote sensing-derived flood inundation maps, hand-labeled points, and building footprints, we assess model skill across two rising and two falling hydrograph limbs and across major LULC types. Results show that model rankings shift systematically across contexts: LISFLOOD-FP ranks highest in three of four flood phases, while TRITON leads during one rising limb phase; LISFLOOD-FP performs best in vegetated areas, whereas HEC-RAS improves relative performance in agricultural and urban areas; and benchmark choice influences conclusions, with LISFLOOD-FP performing best for flooded-building detection in the late falling limb, while TRITON ranks highest against hand-labeled points. We also report representative wall-clock runtimes for each workflow to provide use-case context for operational feasibility. Together, these results offer transferable guidance for model selection and for designing large-scale, benchmark-aware FIM intercomparison studies.

Nikrou, Parvaneh [University of Alabama]↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development and Implementation of a CTF Code Verification Suite.

CTF is a thermal hydraulic subchannel code developed to predict light water reactor (LWR) core behavior. It is a version of Coolant Boiling in Rod Arrays (COBRA) developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) and used in the Consortium for the Advanced Simulation of LWRs (CASL). Here, the existing CTF code verification matrix is expanded, which ensures that the code is a faithful representation of the underlying mathematical model. The suite of code verification tests are mapped to the underlying conservation equations of CTF and significant gaps are addressed. As such, five new problems are incorporated: isokinetic advection, conduction, pressure drop, convection, and pipe boiling. Convergence behavior and numerical errors are quantified for each of the tests and all tests converge at the correct rate to their corresponding analytic solution. A new verification utility that generalizes the code verification process is used to incorporate these problems into the CTF automated test suite.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Relationships between maternally-transferred mercury and hatchling development, behavior, and survival in the American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis )

Mercury is a toxic and pervasive environmental contaminant that can be transferred from mother to offspring during development. Consequences of maternally-transferred mercury have been observed in vertebrate taxa, including reduced clutch viability, reduced offspring size, and behavioral alterations. These sublethal effects have been assumed to decrease survivorship, though this is seldom assessed. Here, we examined how maternally-transferred mercury interacts with incubation temperature to influence reproductive success, offspring behavior, and subsequent survival in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). We collected nine clutches of eggs from a mercury contaminated reservoir on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and incubated eggs at either female- or male-promoting temperatures. Clutch-averaged mercury in egg yolk was high relative to other studies in crocodilians and ranged from 0.248 to 0.554 ppm compared to 0.018–0.052 ppm at a site with low levels of mercury contamination; mercury levels in hatchling blood ranged from 0.090 to 0.490 ppm ($\overline{x}$= 0.240 ppm, n = 158). We found few, mostly negligible correlations between life history traits and mercury but noted a positive relationship with egg mass, possibly mediated by correlated maternal effects such as resource provisioning. Incubation temperature exerted strong effects on hatchling phenotypes, with warmer, male-promoting temperatures producing larger and bolder hatchlings. Presumptive females, produced from cooler incubation temperatures, spent more time in warm areas during behavior trials. Hatchlings were released 10–15 days post-hatch and surveyed over eight months to assess survival. Survivorship was positively correlated with hatchling size and negatively correlated with proportional time spent in warm areas. Presumptive females had much lower survival, and overall survivorship for the eight-month period was 0.185–0.208, depending on the modelling approach. Finally, our study suggests that, within the range of concentrations we observed, incubation temperature has a stronger effect on offspring behavior and survival than maternally-transferred mercury pollution in American alligators.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bioaccumulation of contaminants in Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at sites polluted by coal combustion residuals and radiocesium

Anthropogenic contamination from coal-fired power plants and nuclear reactors is a pervasive issue impacting ecosystems across the globe. As a result, it is critical that studies continue to assess the accumulation and effects of trace elements and radionuclides in a diversity of biota. In particular, bioindicator species are a powerful tool for risk assessment of chemically contaminated habitats. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and auto-gamma counting, we analyzed trace element and radiocesium contaminant concentrations in Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles (Order: Coleoptera), important taxa in decomposition and nutrient cycling, at contaminated and reference sites on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, U.S. Our results revealed variability in trace element concentrations between Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at uncontaminated and contaminated sites. Compared to Scarabaeidae, Silphidae had higher levels of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Unexpectedly, concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Ni were higher in both taxa at the uncontaminated sites. Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at the coal combustion waste site consistently had high concentrations of arsenic (As), and Scarabaeidae had high concentrations of selenium (Se). Of the 50 beetles analyzed for radiocesium levels, two had elevated radioactivity concentrations, both of which were from a site contaminated with radionuclides. Furthermore, our results suggest carrion beetles may be particularly sensitive to bioaccumulation of contaminants due to their trophic position and role in decomposition, and thus are useful sentinels of trace element and radionuclide contamination.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Trace metal transfer to passerines inhabiting wastewater treatment wetlands

Wastewater treatment wetlands are cost-effective strategies for remediating trace metals in industrial effluent. However, biogeochemical exchange between wastewater treatment wetlands and adjacent environments provides opportunities for trace metals to cycle in surrounding ecosystems. The transfer of trace metals to wildlife inhabiting treatment wetlands must be considered when evaluating wetland success. Using passerine birds as bioindicators, we conducted a multi-tissue analysis to investigate the mobilization of zinc, copper, and lead derived from wastewater to terrestrial wildlife in treatment wetlands and surrounding habitat. In addition, we evaluate the strength of relationships between metal concentrations in non-lethal (blood and feathers) and lethal (muscle and liver) sample types for estimation of toxicity risk. From July 2020 to August 2021, 177 passerines of seven species were captured at two wetlands constructed to treat industrial wastewater and two reference wetlands in the coastal plain of South Carolina. Feather, blood, liver, and muscle samples from each bird were analyzed for fourteen metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and direct mercury analysis. Passerines inhabiting wastewater treatment wetlands accumulated higher concentrations of zinc in liver, copper in blood, and lead in feathers than passerines in reference wetlands, but neither blood nor feather concentrations were correlated with internal tissue concentrations. Of all the detected metals, only mercury in the blood showed a strong predictive relationship with mercury in internal tissues. This study indicates that trace metals derived from wastewater are bioavailable and exported to terrestrial wildlife and that passerine biomonitoring is a valuable tool for assessing metal transfer from treatment wetlands. Furthermore, regular blood sampling can reveal proximate trace metal exposure but cannot predict internal body burdens for most metals.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effect of seasonal anoxia on geochemical cycling in a stratified pond: Comparison to cooler pond conditions 40 years ago

Seasonal stratification in temperate lakes deeper than a few meters creates favorable conditions for pronounced vertical redox zones, often resulting in anaerobic hypolimnions and significant geochemical changes. Here, this study examined thermocline formation and trace element behavior in a seasonally stratified pond amid rising air temperatures. Over two years, data were collected from Pond B at the US Department of Energy Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. Pond B, a man-made monomictic reservoir, received cooling water from a nuclear reactor from 1961 to 1964. Strong thermal stratification forms a distinct thermocline in May and progresses downward until November. Compared to the 1980s, this study shows a delayed onset and extended duration of stratification. The prolonged summer stratification reduces deep water oxygen replenishment, extending hypoxic conditions. Trace and major elements sampled in the water column revealed strong correlations between As, Fe, and Mn profiles, with concentrations increasing by 1–2 orders of magnitude in the anaerobic hypolimnion. This period captured the seasonal transition from winter mixing to summer stratification to fall overturn. Under anoxic conditions, Fe(III) reduces to Fe(II) in the sediment, releasing dissolved iron into the water column. The extended anoxic periods likely promoted arsenic release from sediments. Prolonged anoxia may enhance arsenic mobilization and solubility in the lake. This study illustrates how climate-induced changes in seasonal stratification of contaminated waters can convert contaminant sinks into sources, offering insights into the cycling of arsenic and other dissolved ions in stratified lakes and their implications for water quality management.

Anoxic conditions↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Markov framework for generalized post-event systems recovery modeling: From single to multihazards

State-dependent models can be used to represent the system recovery process as a series of stochastic transitions from lower to higher functional states. However, the applications of these models have been limited in scope and there is a lack of a generalized recovery modeling framework. A generalized framework would permit a robust forecasting of systems and system-of-systems recovery under multiple hazards, and more broadly, would contribute to community disaster preparedness. This paper develops a generalized post hazard-event recovery modeling framework based on state-dependent Markov-type processes. We then apply the proposed framework to solve a spectrum of problems that range from hind-casting single-system recovery following a single hazard event to forecasting post-event trajectories under multiple hazards and modeling the recovery of a system-of-systems. First, Markov chains are used to hind-cast the observed recovery for a portfolio of buildings affected by the 2014 South Napa, California, earthquake. Next, Markov processes are used to formulate a parametric post hazard-event recovery model, which can be updated using Bayesian statistics when relevant datasets become available. Semi-Markov processes are then used to develop a more general model of single hazard recovery, which accounts for the intensity of the loading and level of damage caused by the event. Semi-Markov processes with non-renewal features are then used to account for multihazard interactions in a post-event recovery model, and applied to a case study that involves a community in Charleston, South Carolina. Lastly, Markov-type processes are combined with Bayesian networks to model the recovery of residential, commercial, educational, and industrial buildings (system-of-systems) following a hazard event. Overall, these applications demonstrate the versatility of the Markov framework towards handling recovery problems with varying levels of complexity.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Microbe of the month: Methanococcus maripaludis

Methanococcus maripaludis was first isolated in 1983 from the anoxic sediment of a salt marsh in South Carolina, USA. M. maripaludis grows by using H 2 or formate to reduce CO 2 to CH 4 and is an autotroph that assimilates CO 2 via the archaeal version of the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway. In some strains, supplementation of growth medium with acetate or propionate can increase biomass yield. Furthermore, this microorganism is strictly anaerobic, has a pleomorphic coccoid shape, and forms translucent, pale yellow, smooth colonies within 3 days on agar plates. The optimum temperature for growth is 38°C with optimal pH between 6.8 and 7.2.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Driving in the dark: Deciphering nighttime driver detection of free-ranging roadside wildlife

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are dangerous for motorists; however, few studies have addressed driver detection of roadside animals, and none have evaluated detection of free-ranging wildlife. Here, we used 24 volunteer drivers, infrared videography, a 75-km route, and free-ranging wildlife to quantify factors influencing (1) probability of wildlife detection, (2) detection distance, and (3) probability of dangerous encounters (i.e., detection distance < distance required for braking) for multiple species at night in South Carolina, USA. Detection probability of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was impacted by multiple driver, animal, and roadside factors. Deer detection distances increased by 20.99 m when drivers used high-beam headlights and 23.36 m when deer were moving but decreased by 0.71 m for every minute into a drive. Every encounter with wild pigs (Sus scrofa) and most encounters with small mammals were considered dangerous. Our findings suggest most drivers cannot safely detect deer, wild pigs, and small mammals at night.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗