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DOE OSTI2022

Recovery of DNA from fired and unfired cartridge casings: comparison of two DNA collection methods

For over 10 years, various studies have attempted to increase the recovery of DNA from ammunition by modifying the DNA collection, extraction, purification, and amplification procedures, with varying levels of success. This study focused on the “soaking” method of Montpetit & O’Donnell [1] and the “rinse-and-swab" method of Bille et al. [2]. First, testing for the presence of exogenous DNA, 210 boxed cartridges (brass, steel, and nickel-plated) from nine manufacturers were swabbed and DNA was extracted, concentrated, and quantified. Extracts that quantified > 0 ng/µL (44 of 210) were amplified and genotyped with GlobalFiler™. Of those, only one extract yielded two alleles indicating that the manufacturing and packaging of ammunition was virtually DNA free. Next, to obtain a baseline comparison of two DNA collection methods on a non-metallic substrate and identify a suitable number of cells to spot on cartridges, different DNA input amounts of primary human adult epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa) were tested. Thereafter, 300 brass and 300 nickel-plated, cartridges were spotted with HEKa cells containing ~5 ng of DNA, fired or unfired, and processed with either method. Finally, five methods representing hybrids of the soaking and rinse-and-swab methods were tested to determine if variations of those methods could be used to increase DNA yield and recovery. The results show that the soaking method consistently yielded more DNA than the rinse-and-swab method from a non-metallic substrate. However, the comparison study demonstrated that both methods performed comparably for cartridges. On average, the soaking method recovered 0.25 ng of DNA (5.1% recovery) and the rinse-and-swab method recovered 0.28 ng (5.8% recovery). However, average recoveries were significantly different among three analysts and considerable variation in yields were observed, possibly due to storage time. Furthermore, consistent with prior reports, the DNA recovered from brass casings was only 16% of that recovered from nickel-plated casings and the average yield of DNA from fired casings was reduced to 67% of unfired casings. Moreover, DNA extracts from brass or nickel-plated casings did not appear to contain amplification inhibitors and only 30/596 appeared severely degraded. Finally, both the published rinse-and-swab and soaking methods yielded more DNA than all modifications of the two methods. Overall, both methods yielded equivalent DNA quantities. Additionally, recovery of DNA from any given cartridge casing may be dependent on storage time as well as the skill, proficiency, and experience of the analyst and may reflect stochastic effects, particularly for casings containing low copy and/or degraded DNA.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Persistent, “Mysterious” Seismoacoustic Signals Reported in Oklahoma State during 2019

Here, we report on the source of seismoacoustic pulses that were observed across the state of Oklahoma (OK) during summer of 2019, and the subject of national media coverage and speculation. Seismic network data collected across four U.S. states and interviews with witnesses to the pulse’s effect on residential structures demonstrate that they were triggered by routine ammunition disposal operations conducted by McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (McAAP). During these operations, conventional explosives destroy obsolete munitions stored in pits through a controlled sequence of electronically timed shots that occur over tens of minutes. Despite noise-abatement efforts that reduce coupling of acoustic energy with air, some lower frequency, subaudible (infrasonic) sound radiates from these shots as discrete pulses. We use nine months of blast log documents, seismic network records, analyst picks, and physical modeling to demonstrate that seismic stations as far as 640 km from McAAP sample these pulses, which record seasonal patterns in stratospheric and tropospheric winds, as well as the dynamic formation of waveguides and shadow zones. Digital short-term average to long-term average detectors that we augment with dynamic thresholds and time-binning operations identify these pulses with a fair probability, when compared with visual observations. Our analyses thereby provide estimates of observation rates for both partial and full sequences of these pulses, as well as single shots. We suggest that disposal operations can exploit existing, composite seismic networks to predict where residents are likely to witness blasting. Crucially, our data also show that dense seismic networks can record multiscale atmospheric processes in the absence of infrasound arrays.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Lead Contamination Differences in the Muscle of Wild Turkeys Harvested with Lead and Copper-Plated Lead Shot

Abstract Despite the known deleterious effects lead exposure can have on humans, lead remains the most common type of ammunition used to harvest big game and upland game birds. We sampled wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo breast muscle shot with standard lead and copper-plated lead pellets to quantify lead residue concentrations within the wound channel, and we sampled multiple adjacent locations to measure the extent lead contamination spreads through tissue of harvested turkeys. We found that samples taken from the wound channel contained more lead (mean = 3.76 μg/g dry weight) than both samples taken adjacent to the wound channel (mean = 0.20 μg/g dry weight) and samples taken from >5 cm away (mean = 0.15 μg/g dry weight). Additionally, we found that birds harvested with standard lead ammunition did not differ in lead concentrations from those shot with copper-plated lead, suggesting that copper plating does not aid in reducing lead exposure. Our findings suggest that wild turkeys harvested with either lead or copper-plated lead shot have the potential to expose consumers, especially children due to their lower tolerance, to low levels of lead that could exceed daily consumption limits set by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control. However, elevated lead levels were confined to the wound channel, and thus proper preparation of game to remove tissue surrounding wound channels may eliminate or substantially reduce lead exposure from harvested game birds.

Biodiversity & Conservation↗

DOE OSTI2018

Soil Sorting Technology Process System - 18620

FUSRAP is currently using a ScanSortSM system at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) FUSRAP site that has demonstrated the ability to consistently detect and isolate distinct, singular DU fragments. Prior to using the ScanSortSM system, a pilot study was performed to test the variability in detection sensitivity with DU fragments at different soil depths, belt lateral locations, and belt speed; and evaluate, calibrate, and optimize system parameters for maximizing system production efficiency. The physical treatment was initially expected to allow for a 20 percent reduction in the volume of soil requiring off-site disposal. So far, the system has achieved an 82-92 percent volume reduction during the first four years of use. This volume reduction is resulting in cost savings that more than offset the initial cost of the physical treatment system. The findings of this sorting process may be useful at other FUSRAP sites. (author)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2019

TATB Sensitivity to Shocks from Electrical Arcs

Use of insensitive high explosives (IHEs) has significantly improved ammunition safety because of their remarkable insensitivity to violent cook–off, shock and impact. Triamino–trinitrobenzene (TATB) is the IHE used in many modern munitions. Previously, lightning simulations in different test configurations have shown that the required detonation threshold for standard density TATB at ambient and elevated temperatures (250 °C) has a sufficient margin over the shock caused by an arc from the most severe lightning. In this paper, the Braginskii model with Lee–More channel conductivity prescription is used to demonstrate how electrical arcs from lightning could cause detonation in TATB. The steep rise and slow decay in typical lightning pulse are used in demonstrating that the shock pressure from an electrical arc, after reaching the peak, falls off faster than the inverse of the arc radius. For detonation to occur, two necessary detonation conditions must be met: the Pop–Plot criterion and minimum spot size requirement. The relevant Pop–Plot for TATB at 250 °C was converted into an empirical detonation criterion, which is applicable to explosives subject to shocks of variable pressure. The arc cross–section was required to meet the minimum detonation spot size reported in the literature. Furthermore, one caveat is that when the shock pressure exceeds the detonation pressure the Pop–Plot may not be applicable, and the minimum spot size requirement may be smaller.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

DOE OSTI2023

A study of examiner accuracy in cartridge case comparisons. Part 1: Examiner error rates

This report describes a study undertaken to estimate examiner (not laboratory) error rates for false Identifications and false Eliminations when comparing an unknown to a collection of three known cartridge cases. Volunteer active examiners with Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) membership or working in laboratories that participate in the Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) were provided with 15 sets of three known and one questioned cartridge cases fired from a collection of 25 new Ruger SR9 handguns. Remington 9-mm Luger (manufacturer designation L9MM3) ammunition was used and comparison sets were made up of cartridge cases fired within 100 cartridges of each other for each gun. Examiners were provided with a background survey, an answer sheet allowing for the AFTE Range of Conclusions, and return shipping materials. In addition to determining whether the known and questioned cartridge cases were fired with the same handgun, examiners were also asked to assess how many of the three knowns in each set were suitable for comparison, providing an estimated rate of how often each firearm used in the study produces useable, quality marks. The participating examiners were provided with both same-source and different-source comparison sets allowing the study to assess both error rates. Responses were received from 218 participating examiners. The overall rate of false Eliminations was estimated as 0.367% from comparisons known to be from the same firearm but reported as Eliminations. The overall rate of false Identifications was estimated as 1.01% from comparisons known to be from different firearms but reported as Identifications. The rates are not uniform across the sample population with a few examiners providing most of the false Identification responses. Rates of poor-quality mark production varied across the 25 sample handguns; those rates were 2.3% (±1.4%). Both false Elimination and false Identification rates are comparable to or lower than the rate of production of poor-quality marks by the firearms used in this study.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2023

A study of examiner accuracy in cartridge case comparisons. Part 2: Examiner use of the AFTE range of conclusions

Here, this report describes an analysis of how examiners used the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) Range of Conclusions in a controlled study undertaken to estimate examiner error rates in comparing cartridge cases. Results of the error rate analysis are reported in [1]; this paper focuses on a broader analysis of how the entire collection of classification categories, especially those in the Inconclusive range, were used by the participating examiners. Volunteer active examiners with AFTE membership or working in laboratories that participate in Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) were provided with 15 sets of three known and one questioned cartridge cases fired from a collection of 25 new Ruger SR9 handguns. Remington 9-mm Luger (manufacturer designation L9MM3) ammunition was used and comparison sets were made up of cartridge cases fired within 100 cartridges of each other for each gun. Examiners were provided with a background survey, an answer sheet allowing for the AFTE Range of Conclusions, and return shipping materials. The participating examiners were provided with both same-source and different-source comparison sets allowing the study to assess both error rates. Responses were received from 218 participating examiners. The overall rate of false-negatives was estimated as 0.367 % from comparisons known to be from the same firearm but reported as eliminations. The overall rate of false-positives was estimated as 1.01 % from comparisons known to be from different firearms but reported as identifications. In the case of true different-source examinations, it is clear that the three Inconclusive categories and the Elimination category are not used consistently by all examiners. We identify five different apparent patterns of use of the AFTE Range of Conclusions scale, and discuss possible reasons for and implications of these differences.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2020

AmeriFlux US-DFC US Dairy Forage Research Center, Prairie du Sac

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-DFC US Dairy Forage Research Center, Prairie du Sac. Site Description - Former US ammunition plant converted to dairy farm in 1980 with annual and perennial croplands mostly comprised of alfalfa, corn, soybean and wheat, with natural vegetation (forest, grass and shrubland), as well as pastures and and hedgerows surrounding the fields. During spring and summer months, dry cows and heifer graze on pastures.

Duff, Alison↗

DOE OSTI2023

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F US-DFC US Dairy Forage Research Center, Prairie du Sac

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site US-DFC US Dairy Forage Research Center, Prairie du Sac. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site US-DFC US Dairy Forage Research Center, Prairie du Sac produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - Former US ammunition plant converted to dairy farm in 1980 with annual and perennial croplands mostly comprised of alfalfa, corn, soybean and wheat, with natural vegetation (forest, grass and shrubland), as well as pastures and and hedgerows surrounding the fields. During spring and summer months, dry cows and heifer graze on pastures.

Duff, Alison↗

DOE OSTI2021

Stakeholder Support for Wildlife Conservation Funding Policies

State wildlife management agencies in the United States have depended on a “user-pay” funding model for conservation efforts that relies on revenue from hunting license sales and a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Declines in hunting participation, however, jeopardize sustainability of the current funding model. Ensuring support among stakeholders for wildlife management and conservation may require expanding sources of funding and incorporating the perspectives and values of a diversifying constituency into decision making processes. We used a web-based survey of wildlife-associated recreationists in Michigan, USA to evaluate support for a range of conservation funding policies. Respondents self-identified primarily as hunters (n = 2,558) or wildlife watchers (n = 942). We used binary logistic regression to evaluate support for four conservation funding policy options: state sales tax, lottery proceeds, extractive industry revenue, and a user-based tax on outdoor gear (i.e., “backpack tax”). Determinants of support varied by type of policy and stakeholder characteristics. We found no statistically significant differences between hunters and wildlife watchers in their support for conservation funding policies when accounting for other variables such as wildlife value orientations, engagement in stewardship behaviors, age, and gender. The industry-based policy achieved the greatest level of approval, while the backpack tax had the lowest. Respondents were mixed in their support of the sales tax and lottery proceeds options. Cluster analysis revealed three homogenous groups related to conservation funding policies: “strong support,” “mixed/opposed,” and “anti-backpack tax.” Clusters differed in their support for conservation funding policies and on psychological and demographic variables. The “strong support” and “anti-backpack tax” groups differed in their levels of stewardship engagement, knowledge of conservation funding mechanisms, and support for the backpack tax option. The “mixed-opposed” group tended to be older, less educated, and less likely to be a member of a conservation organization. Results suggest support for conservation funding differs by policy type and social and psychological characteristics of stakeholders. Based on differences in policy support revealed in this study, we suggest a multi-tiered approach to funding conservation and building on support among wildlife stakeholders to mitigate the looming funding crisis for state wildlife agencies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2018

Depleted Uranium Discrimination Using Spectral Ratios from Data-Starved Spectra - 18619

The Institute for Clean Energy Technology (ICET) has developed mobile surveying platforms for the retrieval of fired depleted uranium (DU) munitions. ICET surveying platforms are fitted with differential global positioning system (GPS), scintillation detectors, and central processing units (CPUs). The surveying technology has historically been used to assist facilities where DU contamination is a concern to locate, retrieve, and remediate DU-contaminated areas. Residence times over DU sources for mobile systems normally do not produce enough data to use gamma ray spectroscopy to verify the source type. Discussed is a potential method used to discriminate DU signatures in data-starved gamma ray spectral data collected during field surveys. Laboratory tests have shown that data-starved gamma ray spectra for zero-valence, oxide, and uranium ores can be distinguished from each other and from background by spectral ratioing. Zero-valence DU and DU oxide gamma ray signatures differ due to the attenuation of low-energy gammas emitted from U-238 daughters. DU signatures can be differentiated from naturally occurring uranium spectra due to the presence of daughters below U-234, primarily bismuth (Bi)-214, in the uranium decay series. Three primary regions of interest (ROI) within the analyzed test spectra are used to roughly characterize the shape of each test spectrum and compare them to background. The three ROIs are focused around the gamma-emitting daughters of U-238: thorium (Th)-234, protactinium (Pa)-234 metastable (m), and Bi-214. One of the three regions is considered the base region. This region is used to estimate what the counts in the other two regions should be by multiplying the counts in the ROIs by a ratio of background counts from an area previously found to be impacted. Using this spectral ratioing technique, a non-zero difference in spectral ratio values indicates a shift in the test spectra away from background. Calculating ratios between the base region and the other two regions allows for a graphical representation of the data in a two-dimensional spectral ratioing space, which is used to differentiate between the types of uranium sources previously mentioned. Surveying processes that are based on gross counts from scintillation counters can result in a large number of false positives as a result of shifting background signals or the presence of naturally occurring uranium. Application of the spectral ratioing technique can further assist in site characterization by analyzing all of the data-starved survey spectra to identify false positives or the need for additional data collection. Accurate surveys of DU testing and training ranges reduces the costs associated with range clean-up by discriminating clean areas from those requiring remediation. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗