Evolution of the pathogen content during co-composting of winery and distillery wastes

The aim of this study was to monitor some microbial indicators and pathogen contents (sulphite reducers clostridia, total enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, faecal coliforms (Escherichia coli), enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.) throughout the co-composting of wastes from the winery and distillery industry with other organic residues, as well as the effect of the composting system used. Seven different piles using mixtures of winery-distillery wastes with other organic materials were prepared. P1 and P2 were made using grape stalk (GS), grape marc (GM), exhausted grape marc (EGM) and sewage sludge (SS), whereas in P3 and P4 were also used exhausted grape marc with cow manure (CW) and poultry manure (PM), respectively, using the Rutgers system. Additionally, P2 was watered with vinasse (V). The rest of piles (P5, P6 and P7) were prepared with grape marc, exhausted grape marc, cow manure and poultry manure, using the turning system. The effectiveness of the composting process to reduce the pathogen content was higher in the static aerated piles than in those elaborated with the turning. The relatively high temperatures (50-60 degrees C) reached in some of the piles produced a notable decrease in some microbial groups, such as total and faecal coliforms (E. coli), but the characteristics of the raw materials used notably influenced the pathogen contents of the end-product.     

Rapid discrimination of commercial strawberry cultivars using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data combined by multivariate analysis

To determine whether pattern recognition based on metabolite fingerprinting for whole cell extracts can be used to discriminate cultivars metabolically, leaves and fruits of five commercial strawberry cultivars were subjected to Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. FT-IR spectral data from leaves were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and Fisher’s linear discriminant function analysis. The dendrogram based on hierarchical clustering analysis of these spectral data separated the five commercial cultivars into two major groups with originality. The first group consisted of Korean cultivars including ‘Maehyang’, ‘Seolhyang’, and ‘Gumhyang’, whereas in the second group, ‘Ryukbo’ clustered with ‘Janghee’, both Japanese cultivars. The results from analysis of fruits were the same as of leaves. We therefore conclude that the hierarchical dendrogram based on PCA of FT-IR data from leaves represents the most probable chemotaxonomical relationship between cultivars, enabling discrimination of cultivars in a rapid and simple manner. The authors Suk Weon Kim and Sung Ran Min contributed equally to this work.     

DGGE和T-RFLP在堆肥微生物群落结构研究中的应用

对堆肥微生物种群分布及其动态变化的研究进行了分析,论述了分子生物技术中的变性梯度凝胶电泳和末端标记限制性片段长度多态性的原理和特点,以及用于研究堆肥微生物的群落结构演变规律,为分析和筛选堆肥中的微生物提供更加有效、快速的信息,促进堆肥技术的发展。     

Application of multivariate resolution methods to the study of biochemical and biophysical processes

Multivariate resolution methods make up a set of mathematical tools that may be applied to the analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic data recorded when monitoring a physical or chemical process with multichannel detectors. The goal of resolution methods is the recovery of chemical and/or physical information from the experimental data. Such data include, for example, the number of intermediates present in a reaction, the rate or equilibrium constants, and the spectra for each one of those intermediates. Multivariate resolution methods have been shown to be useful for the study of biophysical and biochemical processes such as folding/unfolding of proteins or nucleic acids. The present article reviews the most frequently used resolution methods, the limitations on their use, and their latest applications in protein and nucleic acid research.     

Plant and animal wastes composting: Effects of the N source on process performance

The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of different N-rich animal wastes on the composting of ligno-cellulosic wastes by a range of classical and novel methods, with particular emphasis on microbial community composition.     

Spatial structure of fish assemblages in a tropical estuarine lagoon: combining multivariate and geostatistical techniques

The spatial structure and seasonal changes of estuarine fish assemblages in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) were analysed based on four seasonal comprehensive surveys conducted in 1993-1994 and 1997. Geostatistical and multivariate techniques were used to: (a) determine seasonal changes in spatial distribution of the species richness, and (b) identify assemblages of estuarine fish and their relation to abiotic factors. Potential biotic interactions affecting the assemblage structure were also explored. A total of 11075 individuals representing 39 species were collected, with Eugerres plumieri, Diapterus rhombeus, Micropogonias furnieri, Mugil incilis, Cathorops spixii, Elops saurus and Anchovia clupeoides as dominant species between seasons. Spatial distribution of fish richness differed between rainy and dry seasons in each year, whereas species mapping showed spatial patchiness in 1993-1994 and gradients during 1997. Strong evidence of species saturation was found in all seasons, suggesting biotic interactions limiting species richness at a threshold density of ca. 50 ind./5000 m². Marine, marine-estuarine and freshwater species were classified in each season according to their capability to cope with salinity fluctuations. Associations defined by functional feeding guilds were also identified. Empirical and statistic evidence showed that fish assemblages differed between seasons within each year, and each assemblage was always dominated by a small number of species, notably E. plumieri in both years 1993-1994 and 1997. Between-season differences in fish assemblage structure in the CGSM seem to be driven by abiotic factors; however, evidence of species saturation could suggest the existence of density-dependent factors operating together.     

Effects of moisture content and initial pH in composting process on heavy metal removal characteristics of grass clipping compost used for stormwater filtration

Heavy metals are common contaminants in stormwater runoff. One of the devices that can be used to effectively and economically remove heavy metals from runoff is a yard waste compost stormwater filter. The primary goal of composting is to reduce waste volume rather than to produce stormwater filter media. Moisture content (MC) and initial pH, the two important parameters in composting, were studied for their effects on yard waste volume reduction and heavy metal adsorption performances of the compost. The main objective of this investigation was to examine whether the conditions that provided high yard waste volume reduction would also result in compost with good heavy metal removal performances. Manila grass was composted at different initial pHs (5–9) and MCs (30–70%) and the composts were used to adsorb cadmium, copper, lead and zinc from water. Results indicated that MC is more critical than initial pH for both volume reduction and production of compost with high metal adsorption performances. The most optimal conditions for the two attributes were not exactly the same but lower MCs of 30–40% and pH 7 or higher tended to satisfy both high volume reduction and effective metal adsorption.     

Vertical distribution of bacterial community structure in the sediments of two eutrophic lakes revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and multivariate analysis techniques

Vertical distribution of bacterial community structure was investigated in the sediments of two eutrophic lakes of China, Lake Taihu and Lake Xuanwu. Profiles of bacterial communities were generated using a molecular fingerprinting technique, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) followed by DNA sequence analysis, and the results were interpreted with multivariate statistical analysis. To assess changes in the genetic diversity of bacterial communities with changing depth, DGGE banding patterns were analysed by cluster analysis. Distinct clusters were recognized in different sampling stations of Lake Taihu. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was carried out to infer the relationship between environmental variables and bacterial community structure. DGGE samples collected at the same sampling site clustered together in both lakes. Total phosphorus, organic matter and pH were considered to be the key factors driving the changes in bacterial community composition.     

Optimization of the pelletization process in a fluid-bed rotor granulator using experimental design

This study examined the effect of rotor speed, amount of water sprayed, and atomizing air pressure on the geometric mean diameter and geometric standard deviation of pellets produced in a fluid-bed rotor granulator using a 2³ factorial design and an optimization technique. Pellets were prepared by wet granulation. Equal amounts of microcrystalline cellulose, α-lactose monohydrate, and distilled water were used as the granulation liquid. The size and the size distribution of the pellets were determined by sieve analysis. The size of the pellets was found to be dependent on the amount of water added, while an increase in rotor speed decreased their size. Both factors were found to be statistically significant (P<.05). The effect of atomizing air pressure on pellet size was not statistically significant. None of the 3 factors significantly affected the geometric standard deviation of the pellets. The rotor speed and the amount of water sprayed were further selected in order to construct a mathematical model that correlates these factors with the geometric mean diameter of the pellets. For this purpose, the optimization technique 3² was used. The derived equation described the relationship between the the experimental design techniques applied were found to be suitable in optimizing the pelletization process carried out in a fluid-bed rotor granulator.     

Relationships between biological and chemical parameters on the composting of a municipal solid waste

The aim of this work was to study the combined relationships between biological and chemical parameters with the humification index (HI) and degree of polymerisation (DP) during the composting of a municipal solid waste. During the composting, biological parameters increased during the first 15 days. After the second week, the dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities decreased 64%, 50.1%, 49.6%, 24.1% and 58.3%, respectively, compared with their initial values, possibly due to the decreasing of the water-soluble carbon content (WSC). The WSC contents decreased possibly due to the degradation of the microorganisms as carbon and energy sources. The HI increased (66% compared to the initial values) indicating an increase in the structural complexity of the humic substances. The factorial analysis indicates a relationship between the biological properties, WSC and HI and DP. The linear regression analysis indicates the high correlation coefficients found between the HI and DP with chemical and biological properties, and therefore, it can be concluded that combination of chemical and biological parameters can be used to determine the compost maturity.     

Dermatoglyphics of schizophrenics, patients with Down's syndrome and mentally retarded males as compared with Australian Europeans using multivariate statistics.

Dermatoglyphics of schizophrenics, patients with Down's syndrome and mentally retarded males were compared with those of normal Australian Europeans. A computer programme of multivariate analysis of fifteen dermatoglyphic features was utilized. This analysis produces two significant variates of each of the populations plotted in two-dimensional space. The distance, measured in arbitrary units, between any two populations was studied for its significance. It was noticed that the patients with Down's syndrome separated significantly from the rest of the groups. The importance of multivariate analysis in the study of dermatoglyphics in comparing two or more populations is discussed.     

Early detection of premalignant changes in cell cultures using light-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

Light-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy has demonstrated ability as a novel, noninvasive and sensitive technology for early detection of cancer. The goal of the present study is to examine the potential of this spectroscopic method for early detection and characterization of premalignant changes. As a model we used both cell lines and primary cells, which were transformed to malignant by retrovirus. Fluorescence measurements and morphological observations of the infected cells were performed at various postinfection times. Our results showed gradual attenuation of fluorescence intensities due to cancer progression which corresponds to aromatic amino acids and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) molecules. In order to obtain grading and supervised classifications of the spectral premalignant changes we used approaches of linear discriminant analysis. The classifications based on Mahalanobis distances allowed us to demonstrate that the accuracy of identification of premalignant stages varied between 83.1% and 96.4%. In summary, we conclude that LIF in tandem with proper statistical tools may be a promising technique for early detection of malignant progression.     

A multivariate study of the relationship between the genetic code and the physical-chemical properties of amino acids

Summary The 20 naturally occurring amino acids are characterized by 20 variables: pK_{NH 2}, pK_COOH, pI, molecular weight, substituent van der Waals volume, seven¹H and¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance shift variables, and eight hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity scales. The 20-dimensional data set is reduced to a few new dimensions by principal components analysis. The three first principal components reveal relationships between the properties of the amino acids and the genetic code. Thus the amino acids coded for by adenosine (A), uracil (U), or cytosine (C) in their second codon position (corresponding to U, A, or G in the second anticodon position) are grouped in these components. No grouping was detected for the amino acids coded for by guanine (G) in the second codon position (corresponding to C in the second anticodon position). The results show that a relationship exists between the physical-chemical properties of the amino acids and which of the A (U), U (A), or C (G) nucleotide is used in the second codon (anticodon) position. The amino acids coded for by G (C) in the second codon (anticodon) position do not participate in this relationship.     

Allometric and multivariate analysis of sex and caste polymorphism in the neotropical stingless bee,Scaptotrigona postica

Summary Morphometric data obtained from natural andin vitro-rared queens, workers, and drones of the stingless bee.Scaptotrigona postica were subjected to allometric and multivariate tests to study sex- and caste-related growth patterns. As imaginai phenotype variation appears to be restricted in members of a normal colony, the inclusion ofin vitro-reared individuals permitted an analysis of a considerably wider size range for each morph, and proved important for the calculation of reliable regression statistics in the allometric analyses. Our results show that essentially no individuals with a mixture or transition of sex or caste traits are produced, and, consequently, that for most morphometric characters, queens, workers, and drones lie on different regression lines. Hence, workers cannot be considered as masculinized females, as has been suggested in studies based exclusively on multivariate analyses. Instead, the various morphs may result from a stepwise programming and reprogramming of a few growth rule parameters during critical stages of preimaginal development, and complex hypothetical shifts in the balance of maleness and femaleness genes need not be assumed. A multivariate discriminant analysis, on the other hand, proved to be an efficient tool for the selection of diagnostic size characters.Dedicated to Warwick Estevam Kerr, the Brazilian pioneer of stingless bee genetics, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, September 9, 1992.     

Ordination and significance testing of microbial community composition derived from terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms: application of multivariate statistics

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) is increasingly being used to examine microbial community structure and accordingly, a range of approaches have been used to analyze data sets. A number of published reports have included data and results that were statistically flawed or lacked rigorous statistical testing. A range of simple, yet powerful techniques are available to examine community data, however their use is seldom, if ever, discussed in microbial literature. We describe an approach that overcomes some of the problems associated with analyzing community datasets and offer an approach that makes data interpretation simple and effective. The Bray-Curtis coefficient is suggested as an ideal coefficient to be used for the construction of similarity matrices. Its strengths include its ability to deal with data sets containing multiple blocks of zeros in a meaningful manner. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling is described as a powerful, yet easily interpreted method to examine community patterns based on T-RFLP data. Importantly, we describe the use of significance testing of data sets to allow quantitative assessment of similarity, removing subjectivity in comparing complex data sets. Finally, we introduce a quantitative measure of sample dispersion and suggest its usefulness in describing site heterogeneity. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic study on the interaction between isoprenaline and DNA using multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares

Interaction of isoprenaline (ISO) with calf-thymus DNA was studied by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The behavior of ISO was investigated at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV); ISO was oxidized and an irreversible oxidation peak was observed. The binding constant K and the stoichiometric coefficient m of ISO with DNA were evaluated. Also, with the addition of DNA, hyperchromicity of the UV-vis absorption spectra of ISO was noted, while the fluorescence intensity decreased significantly. Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) chemometrics method was applied to resolve the combined spectroscopic data matrix, which was obtained by the UV-vis and fluorescence methods. Pure spectra of ISO, DNA and ISO-DNA complex, and their concentration profiles were then successfully obtained. The results indicated that the ISO molecule intercalated into the base-pairs of DNA, and the complex of ISO-DNA was formed.     

Discrimination of intact mycobacteria at the strain level: a combined MALDI-TOF MS and biostatistical analysis

New methodologies for surveillance and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are required to stem the spread of disease worldwide. In addition, the ability to discriminate mycobacteria at the strain level may be important to contact or source case investigations. To this end, we are developing MALDI-TOF MS methods for the identification of M. tuberculosis in culture. In this report, we describe the application of MALDI-TOF MS, as well as statistical analysis including linear discriminant and random forest analysis, to 16 medically relevant strains from four species of mycobacteria, M. tuberculosis, M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. kansasii. Although species discrimination can be accomplished on the basis of unique m/z values observed in the MS fingerprint spectrum, discrimination at the strain level is predicted on the relative abundance of shared m/z values among strains within a species. For the 16 mycobacterial strains investigated in the present study, it is possible to unambiguously identify strains within a species on the basis of MALDI-TOF MS data. The error rate for classification of individual strains using linear discriminant analysis was 0.053 using 37 m/z variables, whereas the error rate for classification of individual strains using random forest analysis was 0.023 using only 18 m/z variables. In addition, using random forest analysis of MALDI-TOF MS data, it was possible to correctly classify bacterial strains as either M. tuberculosis or non-tuberculous with 100% accuracy.