Analysis Of Genera Research Articles

Consumers and food safety: Application of metataxonomic analyses and multivariate statistics in order to identify behaviours affecting microbial contaminations in household kitchens

Microbial contamination of the domestic environment can lead to food spoilage, food waste and food-borne illness generating public health concern. The present study was aimed at evaluating: microbiological contamination of domestic refrigerators using both traditional microbiological and metataxonomic methods, linking these results with consumers' characteristics, observed/stated practices in food handling and storage in households. Data were collected by means of an online survey focused on consumer habits and characteristics, and by direct observation of practices, through consumers' kitchens inspections where surface samples from refrigerators (n = 64). Microbiological and metataxononimc analyses on those samples allowed the evaluation of microbial contamination and its composition. Multivariate analysis was applied to the core Amplicon Sequence Variants composition in order to highlight relations between contamination agents and consumer practices. Consumer analysis evaluated correlation among stated/observed practices with respondents' objective knowledge of hygiene practices. Finally, multivariate dimensions derived by genera analysis were used to evaluate the role of consumer characteristics and habits in domestic contamination. The results indicated a low level of contamination. Metataxonomic analysis provided a set of microbial genera, of which, 12 were the main responsible for fridge contaminations. The respondents' objective knowledge of hygiene practices was found to be significantly related to stated practices, whereas there was no significant result in combination with observed ones. Therefore, with limited sample dimension, theoretical knowledge showed a stronger relation to stated practices, whereas it did not always reflect real-life habits. However, the direction of correlations suggests that improving consumer knowledge of good hygiene practices through more practical awareness-raising actions, could reduce food contamination and the risk of food-borne illnesses. Finally, the application of the multivariate analyses allowed the observation of two clusters with different characteristics in terms of genera composition and consumers habits (such as refrigerator's temperature checking and food arrangement in it). Thus, such an innovative approach led to identifying the putative factors which are the most in relation with microbial contamination/general composition of fridges. Nonetheless, the combination of microbiological methods with the social evaluation of consumers could provide useful insights to tackle the causes of food contamination.

Microbiome Diversity Analysis of the Bacterial Community in Idah River, Kogi State, Nigeria

The analysis of bacterial diversity in aquatic systems particularly in rivers, lakes, and streams can provide useful data on the effect of anthropogenic activities on such water bodies to humans and fishes. Idah River, the focal point of this study, is an offshoot of the two major Nigerian rivers characterized by observed human activities and pollution sources. Water samples were collected from four designated sites and assessed for their bacterial assemblages and structure, using PacBio Single-Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing technology. The full length of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced, and Amplicon Sequence Variants were generated using the DADA2 workflow optimised for PacBio long-read amplicons in Rstudio. A total of 8751 high-quality reads obtained were taxonomically classified as 24 phyla, 42 classes, 84 orders, 125 families, 156 genera, and 106 species. Taxonomical composition revealed Proteobacteria as the most abundant phyla across all sample sites. At the genera level, Azospira (57.03%) was the most dominant ASV in Docking Point A, while Acinetobacter (66.67%) was the most abundant ASV in Docking Point B. In Idah Axis Confluence, hgcl clade (65.66%) was the most prevalent ASV, whereas Holophaga (42.86%) was the most common ASV in Idah Axis Midstream. Genera analysis also revealed that 12.9% of the total ASVs were discovered across all sample sites. Among these were pathogenic bacteria, reducers, and degraders of domestic and animal wastes. Observed results provide evidence that sampled sites of Idah River are contaminated, most likely through constant human activities and thus, could have an impact on resident fishes as well. This study, therefore, agrees with a previous report from the river, which used standard microbial procedures. However, next-generation sequencing techniques employed revealed more bacterial community than the former, including unresolved taxonomic sequences that may be novel.

Changes in microbial communities of a passive coal mine drainage bioremediation system.

Drainage from abandoned mines is one factor greatly affecting the streams and vegetation in and around Pittsburgh and the Appalachian Mountains where coal mining occurred. This drainage may be more acidic, alkaline, or metal based. Different methods for remediation exist. Passive remediation is one method used to naturally allow the metals to precipitate out and aid in cleaning up the water. The goal of this study is to sample different holding ponds in a sequential passive remediation system and determine microbial communities present at each site of an abandoned coal mine drainage site. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the sediment indicated the most abundant phyla at each of the 5 ponds and wetland area included Proteobacteria (36%-43%), Bacteroidetes (12%-37%), Firmicutes (3%-11%), and Verrucomicrobia (6%-11%). Analysis of genera between the first, and most polluted, pond included Solitalea, Pedosphaera, and Rhodocyclus, whereas the microbial community from the wetland site at the end of the remediation system included Ignavibacterium, Pelotomaculum, and Petrimonas. The results of our microbial community composition study of sediment from a passive treatment system are in line with organisms commonly found in sediment regardless of iron oxide precipitation, while others are preferentially found in the less polluted wetland site.

Spatial Analysis of Forest Damage in Central Massachusetts Resulting from the December 2008 Ice Storm

Abstract Ice storms are severe meteorological events that often result in damage to forested areas in the mid-latitudes. On 11 December 2008, an ice storm affected northern New York and New England and caused extensive damage to forested areas. We examined topographical and biological factors influencing the spatial distribution of forest damage due to the 2008 ice storm. We assessed 57 forest plots in 7 locations. Forest impacts from the storm were highly variable across the study area. Analysis of genera indicated that Prunus (cherry), Fraxinus (ash), Fagus (beech), and Acer (maple) were particularly susceptible to damage, while Tsuga (hemlock), Pinus (pine), and Carya (hickory) were more resistant. Elevation, latitude, and topographic exposure to post-storm winds after ice-loading were the dominant factors influencing damage levels.

Impact of damming on the Chironomidae of the upper zone of a tropical run-of-the-river reservoir.

We examined the effects of the Mogi-Guaçu river damming (São Paulo State, Brazil) on the Chironomidae fauna. Pre, during, and post-filling sampling was carried out in the main channel and margins of one site in the upper zone of the reservoir, using a modified Petersen grab (325 cm2). We evaluated the total, subfamily, and tribe densities and also their relative abundance. Analysis of genera included densities, relative abundance, richness, and dominance. The Rosso's ecological value index (EVI) determined the ecological importance of each genus. There was a tendency of decrease of the total Chironomidae density, increase in the percentage of Chironomini, and decrease in densities and percentages of Orthocladiinae and Tanytarsini. These changes in percentage were respectively related to Polypedilum, Lopescladius, and Rheotanytarsus, the genera with the highest EVI values. After-filling richness was lower in the margins and dominance of genera did not change significantly. Chironomidae in the margins was more sensitive to damming than in the main channel. This difference in sensibility sustains the use of Chironomidae as bioindicators. Damming impact was indicated by the reduction of both genera richness in the margins and relative abundance of groups typical of faster waters. The results have highlighted the need for multi-habitat analysis combined with a before-after sampling approach in the environmental impact studies concerning the damming impact on the benthic fauna.

Classification of plants in the south drying bottom of the Aral Sea

This work presents the results of floristic investigations of the dry seafloor of Aral Sea in its south part. For the first time 216 species of the higher plants have been shown to be growing in the south drying seafloor of Aral Sea. Analysis of genera and species according to the family shows that the large 7 families: Chenopodiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Polygonaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Boraginaceae unite make up 158 species. The largest family is Chenopodiaceae includes 24 genera and 59 species. Other 6 large families compose 58 genera and 99 species; 20 families have only one genus and one species. Refs 43. Figs 2.

Spiritual and Ceremonial Plants in North America: An Assessment of Moerman's Ethnobotanical Database Comparing Residual, Binomial, Bayesian and Imprecise Dirichlet Model (IDM) Analysis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEthnobotanical research and the study of plants used for rituals, ceremonies and to connect with the spirit world have led to the discovery of many novel psychoactive compounds such as nicotine, caffeine, and cocaine. In North America, spiritual and ceremonial uses of plants are well documented and can be accessed online via the University of Michigan's Native American Ethnobotany Database. Aim of the studyThe objective of the study was to compare Residual, Bayesian, Binomial and Imprecise Dirichlet Model (IDM) analyses of ritual, ceremonial and spiritual plants in Moerman's ethnobotanical database and to identify genera that may be good candidates for the discovery of novel psychoactive compounds. Materials and methodsThe database was queried with the following format “Family Name AND Ceremonial OR Spiritual" for 263 North American botanical families. Spiritual and ceremonial flora consisted of 86 families with 517 species belonging to 292 genera. Spiritual taxa were then grouped further into ceremonial medicines and items categories. Residual, Bayesian, Binomial and IDM analysis were performed to identify over and under-utilized families. ResultsThe 4 statistical approaches were in good agreement when identifying under-utilized families but large families (>393 species) were underemphasized by Binomial, Bayesian and IDM approaches for over-utilization. Residual, Binomial, and IDM analysis identified similar families as over-utilized in the medium (92–392 species) and small (<92 species) classes. The families Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Ericacea, Pinaceae and Salicaceae were identified as significantly over-utilized as ceremonial medicines in medium and large sized families. Analysis of genera within the Apiaceae and Asteraceae suggest that the genus Ligusticum and Artemisia are good candidates for facilitating the discovery of novel psychoactive compounds. ConclusionsThe 4 statistical approaches were not consistent in the selection of over-utilization of flora. Residual analysis revealed overall trends that were supported by Binomial analysis when separated into small, medium and large families. The Bayesian, Binomial and IDM approaches identified different genera as potentially important. Species belonging to the genus Artemisia and Ligusticum were most consistently identified and may be valuable in future studies of the ethnopharmacology.

Composition of Barrow Island Collembolan fauna: analysis of genera

Collembola have been collected from Barrow Island for the first time; a maximum of seventy one species were detected, of which a high proportion are undescribed. Only four non- indigenous species (NIS) species have been collected, three in very small numbers but one was a large population introduced to the island in lengths of timber which were subsequently sent off the island. Despite few of the species being described, most have been collected before and endemism is low. One new genus record for Australia, Calx, was found. The presence of a species of Temeritas is unusual in that the males showed strong sexual dimorphism, and a species of Acanthocyrtus that lacked any pigment was collected in reasonable numbers. Collections from bore holes were rich in species. Five species were recorded only from bore holes and may be island endemics. The intertidal fauna was also rich in species with 14 found, all restricted to this habitat. Soil fauna density of Collembola was found to be high, with a mean average potential density of nearly 47,000/m 2 . A proportion of the terrestrial Collembola fauna is active under all weather conditions but other species are only active after rain. In general, the terrestrial fauna shows a dominance of the families Isotomidae and Bourletiellidae, which is typical for the wet/dry tropics where trees are absent.

Monitoring Microbial Populations on Wide-Body Commercial Passenger Aircraft

Although exposure to bacteria has been assessed in cabin air previously, minimal numbers of samples have been collected in-flight. The purpose of this research was to comprehensively characterize bacterial concentrations in the aircraft cabin. Twelve randomly selected flights were sampled on Boeing-767 aircraft, each with a flight duration between 4.5 and 6.5 h. N-6 impactors were used to collect sequential, triplicate air samples in the front and rear of coach class during six sampling intervals throughout each flight: boarding, mid-climb, early cruise, mid-cruise, late cruise and deplaning. Comparison air samples were also collected inside and outside the airport terminals at the origin and destination cities. The MIXED procedure in SAS was used to model the mean and the covariance matrix of the natural log-transformed bacterial concentrations. A total of 513 airborne culturable bacterial samples were collected. During flight (mid-climb and cruise intervals), a model-adjusted geometric mean (GM) of 136 total colony-forming units per cubic meter of air sampled (CFU x m(-3)) and geometric standard deviation of 2.1 were observed. Bacterial concentrations were highest during the boarding (GM 290 CFU x m(-3)) and deplaning (GM 549 CFU x m(-3)) processes. Total bacterial concentrations observed during flight were significantly lower than GMs for boarding and deplaning (P values <0.0001-0.021) in the modeled results. Our findings highlight the fact that aerobiological concentrations can be dynamic and underscore the importance of appropriate sample size and design. The genera analysis indicates that passenger activity and high occupant density contribute to airborne bacterial generation. Overall, our research demonstrates that the bacteria recovered on observed flights were either common skin-surface organisms (primarily gram-positive cocci) or organisms common in dust and outdoor air.

(1472) Proposal to conserve the name Dicrastylis against Lachnocephalus and Mallophora (Prostantheroideae, Lamiaceae)

TAXONVolume 49, Issue 4 p. 815-816 Proposal to Conserve or Reject (1472) Proposal to conserve the name Dicrastylis against Lachnocephalus and Mallophora (Prostantheroideae, Lamiaceae) Barbara L. Rye, Barbara L. Rye Barbarar@calm.wa.gov.au Western Australian Herbarium, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia, 6983 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author Barbara L. Rye, Barbara L. Rye Barbarar@calm.wa.gov.au Western Australian Herbarium, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia, 6983 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 November 2000 https://doi.org/10.2307/1223985AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume49, Issue4November 2000Pages 815-816 RelatedInformation

Evolution in corals

This article is a summary of the main points about the evolution of corals put forward in Veron (1995). The main points presented are first, a family tree of the Scleractinia; second, an analysis of genera and their present-day global distributions, age patterns and diversity, including the Cenozoic fossil record; third, coral species and their global distributions, species determination in fossils of Pliocene to Recent age, their geologic history and geographic characteristics; fourth, the theoretical aspects of coral evolution based on surface circulation vicariance, reticulate evolution, and the nature and origin of species. For non-biologists, important concepts and terms are noted in bold and are defined in a glossary at the end of the text.

Taxonomy of the tribe Triticeae (Poaceae) using various numerical techniques. II. Classification

The paper reports on a study that consists of various numerical taxonomic analyses of genera of Triticeae aimed at finding intergeneric relationships based on maximum information and proposing a classificatory scheme. The data consist of morphological features, genetic relationships expressed in terms of successful crosses, and relationships assessed from the occurrence of intergeneric hybrid 'genera.' The morphological data were analysed separately in order to find out if they reflect by themselves the relationships between the genera before the data were combined with the information on crosses and on parentages of intergeneric hybrid 'genera.' The morphologic data consist of a set of 35 characters and one of 45 characters, both with equidistant states, and a set of 35 characters with weighted states. The combinations of data (morphology, crosses, and parentages) were effected through the merging of dissimilarity matrices using a few approaches such as squaring of elements of the matrices, adding the squares and taking their averages, and then taking the square roots of these averages. The relationships between the various matrices (original and combined) were assessed with Gower's technique of comparison of multivariate analyses. To find classifications, the various matrices were processed through cluster analyses. Admissible phenograms and admissible classifications were selected on the basis of a set of criteria. Subsequently, the admissible classifications were assessed using Estabrook's information theory model; a best classification was chosen. A new system of Triticeae is presented even though the data indicate clinal relationships among its members.