Cultural and biochemical diversity of pink-pigmented bacteria isolated from paper mill slimes

A study of 25 paper mill slime deposits and one additive revealed nine pink-pigmented bacterial isolates, eight of which were different from pink-pigmented bacteria identified in the paper industry in the middle 1900s. The pink-pigmented bacteria described previously in pulp and paper included Micrococcus agilis, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia sp. and Alcaligenes viscosus. With the exception of one isolate, Micrococcus sp., these isolates possessed many cultural, biochemical and chemical properties which were different from the ones previously reported for paper mills. Eight of these bacteria were Gram-negative rods or filamentous, aerobic and positive for catalase production. Two isolates were methylotrophic, oxidizing methanol and identified as Methylobacterium zatmanii. Cellular fatty acid analysis and other characteristics showed one isolate to be Roseomonas sp. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, one isolate which was a Gram-negative rod was identified as Deionococcus grandis. Four bacteria had cells that were long or filamentous and these were isolated from mills with pink slime problems. The identity of one of the filamentous bacteria was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to be close to Flectobacillus sp. strain MWH38. Most of the isolates were susceptible to 11 industrial biocides. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 25, 74–80. Received 28 January 2000/ Accepted in revised form 09 June 2000     

Feasibility of utilizing Rhizoclonium in pulping and papermaking

Material of Rhizoclonium from brackish water in Taiwan was investigated for its possible use in pulping and papermaking. After beating, this filamentous alga produced a pulp with a length to width ratio of about 10, much less than that of a typical wood pulp. Handsheets made from this pulp had a moderate breaking length of 4.02 km. Cooking pre-beaten pulp with a low chemical charge (5–25%NaOH) at a low cooking temperature (100 ^°C), and for a short time (30–120 min) gave high algal pulp yields (70–80%). This cooking process was sulfur-free, but the water requirement was high. After cooking and further caustic soda and bleaching treatments, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy showed that the crystallinity of the algal pulp increased substantially, but type I cellulose conformation was retained. The best pulp mechanical strengths (breaking length 5.23 km,zero-span tensile strength 79.2 Nm g^-1, bursting index of 2.2 kpa m² g^-1) were obtained after cooking for 1 h with 20% NaOH. Because of the morphological characteristics of the algal strands, the pulp generally lacked bursting, tearing and folding strengths, but proper blending with softwood pulp increased the tensile breaking length to8.40 km, the tearing index to 14.5 mNm² g^-1, the bursting index to 6.42 kpam² g^-1 and the folding endurance to 4299 double folds, i.e. levels comparable to a typical kraft pulp. The algal pulp thus showed clear potential as a supplement for traditional medium strength wood pulps. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

造纸废水灌溉对黄河三角洲盐碱地土壤酶活性的影响

造纸废水含有大量有机营养物质,经生物塘处理后灌溉退化滨海盐碱地可以有效改善土壤化学性质。分析了不同灌溉方式对土壤脲酶、磷酸酶、脱氢酶活性的影响。结果表明：在废水灌溉、清污轮灌和清水灌溉3种处理下,棉田土壤的脲酶、磷酸酶和脱氢酶活性均有显著提高;同样,清污轮灌模式下,轻度、中度及重度盐碱化土壤的脲酶、磷酸酶和脱氢酶活性也均有较显著的提高。较之棉田土壤和轻度盐碱化土壤,中度和重度盐碱化土壤酶活性的提高更为显著,具体表现为,与对照相比,中度盐碱化土壤的脲酶、磷酸酶以及脱氢酶活性分别提高了44.7%、15.6%、12.4%, 重度盐碱化土壤分别提高了823%、551%、320%。研究证明造纸废水灌溉不但可以提升退化盐碱地的土壤肥力,还可以显著提高退化盐碱地的土壤酶活性。     

Evaluation of filter paper as a means of transporting inactivated Gram-negative non-fermentative bacteria and Haemophilus spp. for identification using the MALDI-TOF MS system

This study aimed to evaluate the filter paper as a means to transport inactivated Gram-negative non-fermentative (GNNF) bacteria and Haemophilus spp. for analysis using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 133 isolates were evaluated and the analysis of each isolate was performed directly from original bacterial colony and in filter paper after the processing. To evaluate the agreement between the identification performed directly from the colony and after impregnation in filter paper, we assign the scores: >2·3 as excellent (E); 2·0 to 2·3 as very good (VG); 1·7–1·99 as good (G); <1·7 as unidentified (U). The divergences were classified as: Minor Divergence, Intermediate Divergence and Major Divergence. A total of 80 isolates transported in the filter paper disks presented full category concordance; 39 isolates presented Minor Divergence; 4 isolates present Intermediate Divergence; 4 isolates present Major Divergence and 6 isolates present better results after impregnation in filter paper. The proposed methodology of bacteria transportation presented a sensitivity of 96·9% and a specificity of 100%. The filter paper as a means to transport and storage of inactivated GNNF and Haemophilus spp. may be considered a potential tool for faster, more accurate, biosafe and less-expensive identification.     

Chromosome-specific segment size alterations are determinants of prognosis in prostate cancer

Currently, risk stratification is the most difficult problem in prostate cancer (PCa) management. Gleason grading cannot adequately predict cancer progression. This study aimed to identify chromosome-specific segment size alterations that could aid risk stratification and predict metastasis using a retrospective cohort-study strategy. A binary logistic regression model was generated using 16 chromosome-specific segments with size alterations (deletions and amplifications) that showed associations with disease stage (primary versus metastatic). The regression model was trained with the MSKCC PIK3R1 PCa cohort (n = 1417), and validated with the TCGA Firehose Legacy (n = 500), MSKCC Prostate Oncogenome Project (n = 218), and the SU2C/PCF Dream Team (n = 150) PCa cohorts. Furthermore, the capacity of the model to predict metastasis between primary tumours with metastasis (n = 54) and primary tumours without metastasis (n = 54) was tested. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the model at disease stage stratification ranged from 69.02% to 88.55%, 72.8% to 86.00% and 66.30% to 89.50%, respectively. The model also showed good performance at metastasis prediction with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 57.41%, 62.96% and 51.85%, respectively. The study conclusion was that chromosome-specific segment size alterations can aid risk stratification and metastasis prediction. The significance of the study findings is that in combinations with clinical, biochemical, and histopathological variables, chromosome-specific alterations could improve current risk stratification and prediction models for PCa.     

Study of enteric pathogens among children in the tropics and effects of prolonged storage of stool samples

The study was performed to compare real-time PCR after nucleic acid extraction directly from stool samples as well as from samples stored and transported on Whatman papers or flocked swabs at ambient temperature in the tropics. In addition, the possible suitability for a clear determination of likely aetiological relevance of PCR-based pathogen detections based on cycle threshold (Ct) values was assessed. From 632 Tanzanian children <5 years of age with and without gastrointestinal symptoms, 466 samples were subjected to nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR for gastrointestinal viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens. Equal or even higher frequencies of pathogen detections from Whatman papers or flocked swabs were achieved compared with nucleic acid extraction directly from stool samples. Comparison of the Ct values showed no significant difference according to the nucleic acid extraction strategy. Also, the Ct values did not allow a decision whether a detected pathogen was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms.     

Age and social experience induced plasticity across brain regions of the paper wasp Polistes fuscatus

Developmental studies of brain volumes can reveal which portions of neural circuits are sensitive to environmental inputs. In social insects, differences in relative investment across brain regions emerge as behavioural repertoires change during ontogeny or as a result of experience. Here, we test the effects of maturation and social experience on morphological brain development in Polistes fuscatus paper wasps, focusing on brain regions involved in visual and olfactory processing. We find that mature wasps regardless of social experience have relatively larger brains than newly emerged wasps and this difference is driven by changes to mushroom body calyx and visual regions but not olfactory processing neuropils. Notably, social wasps invest more in the anterior optic tubercle (AOT), a visual glomerulus involved in colour and object processing in other taxa, relative to other visual integration centres the mushroom body calyces compared with aged socially naive wasps. Differences in developmental plasticity between visual and olfactory neuropil volumes are discussed in light of behavioural maturation in paper wasps, especially as it relates to social recognition. Previous research has shown that P. fuscatus need social experience to develop specialized visual processing of faces, which is used to individually recognize conspecifics. The present study suggests that the AOT is a candidate brain region that could mediate facial processing in this species.     

Sorption of phosphorus by the iron oxide-impregnated filter paper (Pi soil test) embedded in soils

Incubation experiments were carried out to evaluate the feasibility of extracting phosphorus from soil by embedding iron oxide-impregnanted filter paper strips (P_i strips) in soils having a wide range in pH, texture, and extractable-P contents. Under flooded conditions, the amount of P extracted by the P_i strips increased with the period of submergence and embedding time of the P_i strips. Under unsaturated conditions, the P_i strips were found to extract P from soils over a wide range in moisture conditions; however, keeping the soil at moisture level between saturation and field capacity was found to result in maximal sorption of P by the strips. An embedding time of 16 h was found to be adequate.Phosphorus extracted by embedding P_i strips in soil columns for 16 h at field capacity moisture level correlated significantly with P extracted by shaking the soil with 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution and a P_i strip for 16 h in the laboratory (r=0.94^**). The P extracted by embedding P_i strips correlated best with Bray 1 P in acid soils (r=0.97^**) and with Olsen P in alkaline and calcareous soils (r=0.96^**). The results of the studies demonstrate the feasibility of developing a nondestructive method of monitoring changes in plant-available P in situ under field conditions.