Improving water quality in a hypereutrophic lake and tributary through agricultural nutrient mitigation: A Multi-year monitoring analysis.

Anthropogenic eutrophication remains a critical global issue, significantly impacting surface water quality. Numerous regions have implemented beneficial management practices to combat agricultural nonpoint pollution, often evaluating efficacy at the field scale, but not downstream. In this study, we conducted an extensive, 11-year (2010-2020), all-season, weekly monitoring program in a small, shallow, hypereutrophic lake and main tributary located in a cold climate, northern temperate zone, within a predominantly agricultural-forested mesoscale watershed. The monitoring took place before and after the implementation of field-scale agricultural nutrient mitigation measures in the catchment, allowing assessment of changes over time in the downstream tributary and lake. We analyzed long-term trends and temporal change points for nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, aquatic trophic status, and nutrient stoichiometric ratios. The results revealed significant reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, improved lake trophic status from hypereutrophic to eutrophic, and an increase in total nitrogen : total phosphorus ratios following the implementation of field-scale agricultural nutrient mitigation measures. Notably, both the lake and its main tributary exhibited significant temporal change points for these parameters. Our findings offer evidence of a relatively rapid, positive effect of the implementation of field-scale agricultural nutrient mitigation measures contributing to subsequent improvements in downstream water quality.

Oh it's me again: Déjà vu, the brain, and self-awareness.

Déjà vu and involuntary autobiographical memories (IAMs) are differentiated by a number of factors including metacognition. In contrast to IAMs, déjà vu activates regions associated with self-awareness including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

The medial prefrontal cortex: a potential link between self-deception and affect.

The Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) is crucial for normal social functioning in humans. Because of its involvement in social monitoring, self-awareness, and self-enhancement, the MPFC may be critical to buffering negative affect and establishing a positive self-esteem. For example, we have previously found that disruption of the MPFC leads to more honest responses, which implies that the MPFC may be critically involved in self-deception. We therefore hypothesized that disrupting the MPFC would lead to a decrease in affect. Employing a virtual lesion TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) technique, we disrupted the MPFC while participants rated their mood based on two anchor affect terms. During TMS, the participants rated their current emotional mental state. Compared to sham TMS, it was found that mood was reduced immediately following single-pulse MPFC stimulation. The results supported the hypothesis the MPFC mood reduction occurs when the MPFC is disrupted. Because this study replicated the conditions employed in previous self-deception studies, we suggest that the results may indicate that lack of self-enhancement may lead to a decrease in mood. Further studies should examine this possibility.

Understanding stoichiometric mechanisms of nutrient retention in wetland macrophytes: stoichiometric homeostasis along a nutrient gradient in a subtropical wetland.

Nutrient homeostasis relates ambient stoichiometric conditions in an environment to the stoichiometry of living entities of that ecosystem. Plant nutrient sequestration in wetland ecosystems is a key process for downstream water quality. However, few studies have examined stoichiometric homeostasis of aquatic vegetation despite the importance of stoichiometry to plant nutrient uptake efficiency. This study investigated stoichiometric homeostasis of dominant emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation (EAV and SAV, respectively) within two treatment flow-ways of Everglades Stormwater Treatment Area 2 (STA-2). These flow-ways encompass a large gradient in plant nutrient availability. This study hypothesizes that wetland vegetation is homeostatic relative to ambient nutrients and consequently nutrient resorption does not vary along the nutrient gradient. We developed a framework to investigate how vegetation uptake and resorption of nutrients contribute separately to homeostasis. Overall, we determined that the wetland vegetation in this study was non-homeostatic with respect to differential uptake of nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P). In EAV, P resorption was relatively high and N resorption was moderate, and resorption efficiency did not vary significantly along the gradient. In separating the proportional contribution of resorption and uptake to the degree of homeostasis, resorption did not affect overall homeostatic status in EAV.

From lake to estuary, the tale of two waters: a study of aquatic continuum biogeochemistry.

The balance of fresh and saline water is essential to estuarine ecosystem function. Along the fresh-brackish-saline water gradient within the C-43 canal/Caloosahatchee River Estuary (CRE), the quantity, timing and distribution of water, and associated water quality significantly influence ecosystem function. Long-term trends of water quality and quantity were assessed from Lake Okeechobee to the CRE between May 1978 and April 2016. Significant changes to monthly flow volumes were detected between the lake and the estuary which correspond to changes in upstream management. and climatic events. Across the 37-year period, total phosphorus (TP) flow-weighted mean (FWM) concentration significantly increased at the lake; meanwhile, total nitrogen (TN) FMW concentrations significantly declined at both the lake and estuary headwaters. Between May 1999 and April 2016, TN, TP, and total organic carbon (TOC), ortho-P, and ammonium conditions were assessed within the estuary at several monitoring locations. Generally, nutrient concentrations decreased from upstream to downstream with shifts in TN/TP from values > 20 in the freshwater portion, ~ 20 in the estuarine portion, and < 20 in the marine portion indicating a spatial shift in nutrient limitations along the continuum. Aquatic productivity analysis suggests that the estuary is net heterotrophic with productivity being negatively influenced by TP, TN, and TOC likely due to a combination of effects including shading by high color dissolved organic matter. We conclude that rainfall patterns, land use, and the resulting discharges of runoff drive the ecology of the C-43/CRE aquatic continuum and associated biogeochemistry rather than water management associated with Lake Okeechobee.

Mercury accumulation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacépède) within marsh ecosystems of the Florida Everglades, USA.

This study evaluates factors, particularly water quality related, that may influence mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in largemouth bass (LMB, Micropterus salmoides Lacépède) within the Everglades marshes of South Florida. The investigation is an empirical analysis of ambient data from both long-term fish monitoring and marsh water quality monitoring sites across the Everglades Protection Area. Previous Hg studies of Everglade's marsh biota have focused on the role that sulfate plays in Hg bioaccumulation. While sulfate can be important under some environmental conditions, this empirical analysis in Everglades marshes showed that sulfate has little association with Hg concentrations in LMB. It is suggested that other water quality variables including water pH, alkalinity and specific conductance may have as much or more influence in the accumulation of Hg in LMB. Furthermore, tissue Hg concentration normalized to body-weight and age-specific growth rates were significantly correlated with Water Conservation Area (WCA)-1, WCA-2 and Everglades National Park (ENP) but not WCA-3. However, body condition was correlated negatively with Hg concentration only within WCA-2, WCA-3 and ENP; the relationship was not significant within WCA-1. This disparity between Hg concentration and body condition could be attributed to ecological effects including water quality and quantity conditions within each compartment of the system that are significant driving forces for biota abundance, trophic structure and distribution within the Everglades ecosystem. While water quality and quantity are important, trophic position of LMB has the potential to influence Hg accumulation dynamics. In spite of documented biogeochemical linkages to Hg accumulation, this empirical analysis did not demonstrate enough quantitative interaction to be useful for Hg management in the Everglades ecosystem.

Comment on and reinterpretation of Gabriel et Al. (2014) 'fish mercury and surface water sulfate relationships in the everglades protection area'.

Mercury (Hg) methylation and bioaccumulation is a major environmental issue in the Everglades Protection Area (EvPA). Therefore, it is critical to improve our predictive understanding of Hg dynamics. This commentary critically reviews a recently published manuscript concerning the possible relationship between Hg in fish tissue and surface water sulfate within EvPA marshes. The commentary addresses fundamental issues with the authors' data analysis, results and interpretation as well as highlights inconsistencies with published literature and the lack of support for their suggested ecosystem management actions. A number of chemical, biological, and physical factors influence Hg methylation and bioaccumulation, and water sulfate is sometimes viewed as a keystone factor, Gabriel et al. (2014) conclude that Hg bioaccumulation is favored at elevated sulfate concentrations, and suggest mitigation strategies to reduce sulfate inputs to the EvPA. A careful review of their data and conclusions reveals major flaws and in fact, a more straightforward and defensible interpretation of their data would be that no predictable relationship exists between fish tissue Hg and surface water sulfate concentrations in south Florida. Given the complexity of Hg cycling and the influence of trophic and habitat characteristics on aquatic consumer Hg accumulation, expecting one parameter to predict Hg accumulation dynamics within fish species within a dynamic marsh environment is unrealistic. Furthermore, proposing any management guidance from this relationship with little to no quantitative statistical analysis is inappropriate and misleading.

South Florida Coastal Sediment Ecological Risk Assessment.

This study evaluated the degree of sediment contamination in several South Florida estuaries. During the 2010 National Condition Assessment, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute collected water column, sediment and biotic data from estuaries across the entire state of Florida. Sediments were analyzed for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, zinc and total polychlorinated biphenyls and were compared relative to empirically derived sediment quality guidelines. As a result of this data collection and assessment effort, it was determined that the degree of contamination with respect to sediment was low for all southern Florida estuaries assessed, except the Miami River which was determined to be considerably contaminated. However only one monitoring location was used to assess the Miami River, and as such should be viewed with caution. A low degree of contamination was determined for Biscayne Bay sediments, possibly indicating a recovery from its previously reported higher contaminant level.

Mercury bio-concentration factor in mosquito fish (Gambusia spp.) in the Florida Everglades.

The aim of this study was to evaluate Gambusia spp. (mosquito-fish) mercury bio-concentration factor in relation to marsh surface water sulfate concentration. As part of the everglades regional environmental monitoring and assessment marsh biogeochemical parameters were collected by the US Environmental Protection agency between 1995 and 2005 within the Everglades Protection Area and Everglades National Park (ENP). Surface water sulfate and methyl-mercury concentration data in combination with mosquito-fish total mercury concentration data was used to elucidate the gambusia mercury bio-concentration and surface water sulfate relationship. Previous studies hypothesized that the relationship of biota mercury and surface water sulfate concentrations is unimodal. However this study shows that the relationship of biota mercury and sulfate surface water concentrations in mosquito-fish adheres closely with a log-log relationship. Furthermore mosquito-fish bio-concentration factor were similar for Water Conservation Area (WCA) 1 and WCA2, while WCA3 and ENP were significantly different between all pairs throughout the study period. This difference in hypothesized relationships versus the relationship defined in this study could be the result of life span (extent of exposure) or life history of mosquito-fish.

The Neural Correlates of Narcissism: Is There a Connection with Desire for Fame and Celebrity Worship?

(1) Objective: Narcissism is characterized by emotional regulation deficits, a lack of empathy for others, and extreme self-focus. Narcissism has also been linked to an increased desire for fame and celebrity worship. Here, the neuroscience underlying narcissism is examined in order to determine what regions and networks of the brain are altered when non-narcissistic individuals are compared to participants with both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. (2) Methods: The behavioral relationships between grandiose narcissism and desire for fame and vulnerable narcissism and celebrity worship are explored, along with a possible relationship at the neural level between these constructs. In this paper, we review research demonstrating that increased levels of grandiose narcissism are associated with an increase in obsession with fame, while vulnerable narcissism is associated with celebrity worship. (3) Results: Based on current data, the frontal regions underlie narcissism and also likely underlie celebrity worship and desire for fame. This tenuous conclusion is based on a limited number of studies. (4) Conclusions: The brain areas associated with grandiose narcissism may be associated with an intense desire for fame as well, while brain regions associated with vulnerable narcissism may be similar in celebrity worshipers. Future research studies on the brain that are specifically designed to test these relationships at a neurological level are needed.

Excitatory Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Increases Social Anxiety.

Social exclusion refers to the experience of rejection by one or more people during a social event and can induce pain-related sensations. Cyberball, a computer program, is one of the most common tools for analyzing social exclusion. Regions of the brain that underlie social pain include networks linked to the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Specifically, self-directed negative socially induced exclusion is associated with changes in DLPFC activity. Direct manipulation of this area may provide a better understanding of how the DLPFC can influence the perception of social exclusion and determine a causal role of the DLPFC. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to both the left and right DLPFC to gauge different reactions to the Cyberball experience. It was found that there were elevated exclusion indices following right DLPFC rTMS; participants consistently felt more excluded when the right DLPFC was excited. This may relate to greater feelings of social pain when the right DLPFC is manipulated. These data demonstrate that direct manipulation of the DLPFC results in changes in responses to social exclusion.

Recent Advances in the Microencapsulation of Essential Oils, Lipids, and Compound Lipids through Spray Drying: A Review.

In recent decades, the microcapsules of lipids, compound lipids, and essential oils, have found numerous potential practical applications in food, textiles, agricultural products, as well as pharmaceuticals. This article discusses the encapsulation of fat-soluble vitamins, essential oils, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and structured lipids. Consequently, the compiled information establishes the criteria to better select encapsulating agents as well as combinations of encapsulating agents best suited to the types of active ingredient to be encapsulated. This review shows a trend towards applications in food and pharmacology as well as the increase in research related to microencapsulation by the spray drying of vitamins A and E, as well as fish oil, thanks to its contribution of omega 3 and omega 6. There is also an increase in articles in which spray drying is combined with other encapsulation techniques, or modifications to the conventional spray drying system.

Alterations in Brain Activity Induced by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Their Relation to Decision Making.

Understanding the intricate dynamics between conscious choice and neural processes is crucial for unraveling the complexity of human decision-making. This study investigates the effects of inhibitory Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on choice bias, shedding light on the malleability of cognitive-motor functions involved in decisions. While reaction times remained unaffected, inhibitory TMS to either the left or right motor cortex led to a significant bias in screen side preference during a choice task. These findings suggest that our cognitive-motor processes underlying decision-making can be unconsciously influenced by TMS. Furthermore, analysis of choice attribution categories revealed individual variability, emphasizing the complex nature of the decision-making process. These insights contribute to the ongoing exploration of the neural mechanisms governing human choice. As the neural basis of free will continues to captivate scientific inquiry, this research advances our understanding of the intricate relationship between neural circuits and conscious intention.

Self-Conscious Emotions and the Right Fronto-Temporal and Right Temporal Parietal Junction.

For more than two decades, research focusing on both clinical and non-clinical populations has suggested a key role for specific regions in the regulation of self-conscious emotions. It is speculated that both the expression and the interpretation of self-conscious emotions are critical in humans for action planning and response, communication, learning, parenting, and most social encounters. Empathy, Guilt, Jealousy, Shame, and Pride are all categorized as self-conscious emotions, all of which are crucial components to one's sense of self. There has been an abundance of evidence pointing to the right Fronto-Temporal involvement in the integration of cognitive processes underlying the expression of these emotions. Numerous regions within the right hemisphere have been identified including the right temporal parietal junction (rTPJ), the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). In this review, we aim to investigate patient cases, in addition to clinical and non-clinical studies. We also aim to highlight these specific brain regions pivotal to the right hemispheric dominance observed in the neural correlates of such self-conscious emotions and provide the potential role that self-conscious emotions play in evolution.

Evaluation of Candida rugosa Lipase Immobilized on Magnetic Nanoparticles in Enzymatic/Chemical Hydroesterification for Biodiesel Production.

This study aimed to (i) prepare functionalized maghemite nanoparticles for immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) by covalent binding, (ii) evaluate the application of the immobilized derivative in the hydrolysis of waste cooking oil (WCO) to fatty acids, and (iii) assess the potential of the hydrolyzed material for biodiesel production by hydroesterification. Maghemite (γFe2O3) obtained by precipitation of Fe3Cl2 with NH4OH served as an efficient support for covalent immobilization of CRL. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and hydrolytic activity analysis indicated that CRL was covalently immobilized on the surface of the maghemite support. The derivative showed an activity of 166.62 ± 8 U g-1 in WCO hydrolysis at 40 °C and pH 6. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that, after lipase immobilization, nanoparticles became more dispersed, which is advantageous for biocatalysis reactions, as it increases the contact area with the substrate. WCO hydrolysis afforded 96 ± 0.2 wt% free fatty acids. In the second step, free fatty acids were subjected to chemical esterification with sulfuric acid, affording 94.4 ± 0.02 wt% fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel). The findings of this study contribute to the field of biotechnology and may promote the development of enzymatic technologies for the synthesis of products of economic and social interest.

Protection of Mono and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Grapeseed Oil by Spray Drying Using Green Biopolymers as Wall Material.

One of the most common ways to protect oils is microencapsulation, which includes the use of encapsulating agents. Due to the environmental problems facing humanity, this study seeks to combine green biopolymers (microcrystalline cellulose and whey protein isolate) that function as encapsulating agents for grapeseed oil. Grapeseed oil that is obtained from agro-industrial waste has shown health benefits, including cardioprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These health benefits have been mainly associated with monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids. In this sense, it has been observed that grapeseed oil can be easily modified by environmental factors such as oxygen, high temperatures, and light, showing the instability and easy degradation of grapeseed oil. In this study, grapeseed oil was encapsulated using the spray-drying technique to conserve its lipidic profile. Powder recovery of the grapeseed oil microcapsules ranged from 65% to 70%. The encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules varied between 80% and 85%. The FTIR analysis showed chemical interactions that demonstrate chemisorption between the grapeseed oil and the encapsulating material, while the SEM micrographs showed a correct encapsulation in a spherical shape. Gas chromatography showed that the lipid profile of grapeseed oil is preserved thanks to microencapsulation. Release tests showed 80% desorption within the first three hours at pH 5.8. Overall, whey protein and microcrystalline cellulose could be used as a wall material to protect grapeseed oil with the potential application of controlled delivery of fatty acids microcapsules.

Employing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in a Resource Limited Environment to Establish Brain-Behavior Relationships.

Neuroimaging is typically perceived as a resource demanding discipline. While this is the case in certain circumstances, institutions with limited resources have historically contributed significantly to the field of neuroscience, including neuroimaging. In the study of self-deception, we have successfully employed single-pulse TMS to determine the brain correlates of abilities including overclaiming and self-enhancement. Even without the use of neuro-navigation, methods provided here lead to successful outcomes. For example, it was discovered that decreases in self-deceptive responding lead to a decrease in affect. These methods provide data that are reliable and valid, and such methods provide research opportunities otherwise unavailable. Through the use of these methods, the overall knowledge base in the field of neuroscience is expanded, providing research opportunities to students such as those at our institution (Montclair State University is a Hispanic-Serving Institute) who are often denied such research experiences.

Self-Enhancement and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex: The Convergence of Clinical and Experimental Findings.

Self-enhancement (SE) is often overlooked as a fundamental cognitive ability mediated via the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC). Here, we present research that establishes the relationship between the PFC, SE, and the potential evolved beneficial mechanisms. Specifically, we believe there is now enough evidence to speculate that SE exists to provide significant benefits and should be considered a normal aspect of the self. Whatever the metabolic or social cost, the upside of SE is great enough that it is a core and fundamental psychological construct. Furthermore, though entirely theoretical, we suggest that a critical reason the PFC has evolved so significantly in Homo sapiens is to, in part, sustain SE. We, therefore, elaborate on its proximate and ultimate mechanisms.

Enzymatic synthesis of capric acid-rich structured lipids and their effects on mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

The objective of this study was to produce structured lipids (SLs) by enzymatic acidolysis using Rhizopus oryzae lipase covalently immobilized in a low-cost material. Grape seed oil was used to synthesize SLs containing the medium-chain fatty acid (C10:0) capric acid. SL synthesis led to 38.8% medium-chain fatty acid incorporation with 5 reuses of the enzymatic derivative. The reaction conditions for the synthesis of MLM-TAGs (triacylglycerols with one long- and two medium-chain acyl residues) were at a molar ratio of fatty acid:oil of 3:1, performed at 40 °C and lipase immobilized load of 5% (w/w). The in vivo effects of SLs were studied in Swiss mice fed premade diets: control (C) diet, high-fat diet (HFD) with 100% lipid content as lard, HFD with 50% lipid content as grape seed oil (HG) or HFD with 50% lipid content as capric acid-containing SLs produced from grape seed oil (HG-MCT). Mice from HG and HG-MCT groups had decreases in body weight gain and reductions in the weights of white adipose tissues. In addition, HG and HG-MCT mice had low plasma levels of glucose and total cholesterol, and improvements in the glucose tolerance. HG and HG-MCT diets have remarkable antioxidant properties, since low plasma levels of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, biomarkers of lipid peroxidation) were found in mice fed these diets. Interestingly, TBARS levels in HG-MCT mice were further decreased than values of HG mice. Mice fed HG and HG-MCT diets also showed preservation in the activity of the antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase 1. Both HG and HG-MCT diets promoted reduction of IL-6 and IL-10 production by splenocytes. The capric acid-containing SLs produced from grape seed oil emerges as a functional oil capable to mitigate obesity complications resulting from oxidative stress and inflammation.

Corticospinal Excitability during a Perspective Taking Task as Measured by TMS-Induced Motor Evoked Potentials.

Only by understanding the ability to take a third-person perspective can we begin to elucidate the neural processes responsible for one's inimitable conscious experience. The current study examined differences in hemispheric laterality during a first-person perspective (1PP) and third-person perspective (3PP) taking task, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Participants were asked to take either the 1PP or 3PP when identifying the number of spheres in a virtual scene. During this task, single-pulse TMS was delivered to the motor cortex of both the left and right hemispheres of 10 healthy volunteers. Measures of TMS-induced motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) of the contralateral abductor pollicis brevis (APB) were employed as an indicator of lateralized cortical activation. The data suggest that the right hemisphere is more important in discriminating between 1PP and 3PP. These data add a novel method for determining perspective taking and add to the literature supporting the role of the right hemisphere in meta representation.