bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in the composition of British butterfly assemblages over two decades
Authors: GONZÁLEZ‐MEGÍAS ADELA , MENÉNDEZ ROSA , ROY DAVID , BRERETON TOM , THOMAS CHRIS D.
Published: March 2008

Changes in the abundance and distribution of individual species have been widely documented in Britain and other countries in recent decades, but little has been done to determine changes in community composition over broad geographic areas. Here, we studied species turnover in 51 butterfly assemblages in Britain since 1976, examining extinction and colonisation events together with variation in the abundances of the species. We showed that the species turnover that occurred over 20 years in Britain was associated with colonisation and extinction events and also with variability in the abundance of the species. These changes in community composition differed according to the habitat requirements of the species and their previous distributions, being more evident for habitat specialists and for southerly distributed species. Colonising species often became abundant components of the communities they joined, although this was more evident for generalist than for specialist species. The abundance of species following their arrival, increased with time since colonisation. Species turnover associated with southerly species expanding northwards is consistent with being a response to climate change. The results suggest that climate‐ and habitat‐driven changes in the identity and abundance of species within communities are widespread, and probably ubiquitous. Similar changes are likely to be occurring in other groups of organisms that are similarly undertaking major range shifts associated with climate change.
Rice production in a changing climate: a meta‐analysis of responses to elevated carbon dioxide and elevated ozone concentration
Authors: AINSWORTH ELIZABETH A.
Published: March 2008

Rice is arguably the most important food source on the planet and is consumed by over half of the world's population. Considerable increases in yield are required over this century to continue feeding the world's growing population. This meta‐analysis synthesizes the research to date on rice responses to two elements of global change, rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) and rising tropospheric ozone concentration ([O3]). On an average, elevated [CO2] (627 ppm) increased rice yields by 23%. Modest increases in grain mass and larger increases in panicle and grain number contributed to this response. The response of rice to elevated [CO2] varied with fumigation technique. The more closely the fumigation conditions mimicked field conditions, the smaller was the stimulation of yield by elevated [CO2]. Free air concentration enrichment (FACE) experiments showed only a 12% increase in rice yield. The rise in atmospheric [CO2] will be accompanied by increases in tropospheric O3 and temperature. When compared with rice grown in charcoal‐filtered air, rice exposed to 62 ppb O3 showed a 14% decrease in yield. Many determinants of yield, including photosynthesis, biomass, leaf area index, grain number and grain mass, were reduced by elevated [O3]. While there have been too few studies of the interaction of CO2 and O3 for meta‐analysis, the interaction of temperature and CO2 has been studied more widely. Elevated temperature treatments negated any enhancement in rice yield at elevated [CO2], which suggests that identifying high temperature tolerant germplasm will be key to realizing yield benefits in the future.
Convergence in the relationship of CO2 and N2O exchanges between soil and atmosphere within terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: XU XIAOFENG , TIAN HANQIN , HUI DAFENG
Published: March 2008

Ecosystem CO2 and N2O exchanges between soils and the atmosphere play an important role in climate warming and global carbon and nitrogen cycling; however, it is still not clear whether the fluxes of these two greenhouse gases are correlated at the ecosystem scale. We collected 143 pairs of ecosystem CO2 and N2O exchanges between soils and the atmosphere measured simultaneously in eight ecosystems around the world and developed relationships between soil CO2 and N2O fluxes. Significant linear regressions of soil CO2 and N2O fluxes were found for all eight ecosystems; the highest slope occurred in rice paddies and the lowest in temperate grasslands. We also found the dominant role of growing season on the relationship of annual CO2 and N2O fluxes. No significant relationship between soil CO2 and N2O fluxes was found across all eight ecosystem types. The estimated annual global N2O emission based on our findings is 13.31 Tg N yr−1 with a range of 8.19–18.43 Tg N yr−1 for 1980–2000, of which cropland contributes nearly 30%. Our findings demonstrated that stoichiometric relationships may work on ecological functions at the ecosystem level. The relationship of soil N2O and CO2 fluxes developed here could be helpful in biogeochemical modeling and large‐scale estimations of soil CO2 and N2O fluxes.
Alkaptonuria – a review of surgical and autopsy pathology
Authors: Helliwell T R , Gallagher J A , Ranganath L
Published: March 2008

Alkaptonuria is a rare, inherited defect of homogentisic acid 1,2‐dioxygenase that leads to the widespread deposition of polymeric homogentisic acid, and clinical symptoms from degeneration of joints and the aortic valve. Pathological descriptions are few and mainly those of late‐stage changes related to joint or valve failure. In this review, the macroscopic and histopathological changes in the tissues in alkaptonuria are illustrated by the detailed autopsy study of a 74‐year‐old female who died from disseminated ovarian carcinoma. The pathology is discussed in the context of the literature and in relation to potential pathogenic mechanisms of tissue damage. This review highlights the heterogeneity of some of the manifestations. In symptomatic patients, degenerative changes in synovial and intervertebral joints are usually well advanced, while early changes include diffuse cartilage pigmentation and chondrocyte necrosis. The initial stage of pigment deposition in the cardiovascular system may be influenced by intravascular pressure and flow disturbances, whereas more intense pigmentation affects fibrolipid components of atheromatous plaques. Pigmentation of the aortic and mitral valve cusps and valve rings is a result of intracellular and extracellular pigment deposition and is associated with calcification and clinically significant aortic stenosis.
Applying relationship theories to web site design: development and validation of a site‐communality scale
Authors: Tomiuk Daniel , Pinsonneault Alain
Published: March 2008

Our study investigates whether relationship theories can be of help in designing web sites which foster greater customer loyalty. Based on literature reviews of Communal‐Relationship Theory from Social Psychology, communality from marketing research and related concepts (e.g. commercial friendships), we develop and refine a multidimensional measure of ‘site communality’ using a sample of 305 participants. Each visited one among several real web sites chosen across three industries (i.e. banking, pharmaceuticals and insurance). We define site communality as the extent to which web site content signals that a company's relationship with its customers goes beyond the formal, ‘tit for tat’ business dealings that are typically expected from purely commercial exchanges, and instead, more closely abide by the norms and behaviours evocative of friendships and/or family relations. Our results indicate that demonstration of caring, role spanning and authenticity/genuineness
are its most important dimensions. Preliminary, findings also show that site communality is positively related to the benevolence dimension of online trust which is an important antecedent of loyalty. The practical implications of our study are discussed in the form of recommendations to help companies in designing web sites high in site communality.
Pluralist action research: a review of the information systems literature*
Authors: Chiasson Mike , Germonprez Matt , Mathiassen Lars
Published: March 2008

Action research (AR) has for many years been promoted and practised as one way to conduct field studies within the information systems (IS) discipline. Based on a review of articles published in leading journals, we explore how IS researchers practise AR. Our review suggests that AR lends itself strongly towards pluralist approaches which facilitate the production of both theoretical and practical knowledge. First, on the level of each study we analyse how research and problem‐solving activities are mixed, in three ways: the research dominant, the problem‐solving dominant and the interactive approaches. Second, in the context of the wider research programme in which the study is situated, we analyse how AR is mixed with other research methods, in two ways: the dominant and the sequential approaches. We argue that these pluralist practices of mixing types of research activities and types of research methods provide IS action researchers with a rich portfolio of approaches to knowledge production. This portfolio helps them address the risks involved in AR to ensure their efforts contribute to the literature as well as to practical problem‐solving.
Dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors is related to abnormality of left ventricular geometry and function in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic minipigs
Authors: Lu Lin , Zhang Qi , Pu Li Jin , Peng Wen Hui , Yan Xiao Xiang , Wang Lin Jie , Chen Qiu Jing , Zhu Zheng Bing , Michel Jean‐Baptiste , Shen Wei Feng
Published: March 2008

This study aimed to characterize matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in relation to changes in left ventricle (LV) geometry and function in a porcine model with streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes. In 15 Chinese Guizhou minipigs with STZ‐induced diabetes (diabetic group) and 15 age‐matched normal controls (control group), Doppler tissue imaging was performed at 6 months of diabetes. Serum MMP‐2, ‐9, TIMP‐1, ‐4 and B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were determined. Expression of MMPs, TIMPs, urokinase type‐plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) in aortic intima and LV myocardium was evaluated, with gelatinolytic activities of tissue MMP‐2, ‐9 accessed by zymography. Left ventricle end‐diastolic septum thickness (P < 0.05) and mass (P < 0.05) were increased, whereas peak systolic mitral annulus velocity (Sm, P < 0.001), LV systolic (P = 0.01) and diastolic strain (P < 0.001) were significantly decreased in diabetic group than in controls. Diabetic group showed higher expression of TIMP‐1, ‐4 in aortic intima and LV myocardium (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), with increased collagen content and elevated serum BNP level (P = 0.004) and lower gelatinolytic activities of tissue MMP‐2, ‐9 (all P < 0.05). Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR of those diabetic tissues revealed elevated mRNA levels of major TIMPs, uPA, uPAR and PAI‐1. Reduction of serum MMP‐2 and ‐9 levels was observed in diabetic group vs. control group (both P < 0.05). This study features elevated levels of TIMP‐1, ‐4, uPA, uPAR and PAI‐1, and decreased activities of MMP‐2, ‐9 in aorta and myocardium in STZ‐induced diabetic minipigs, indicating that MMP–TIMP dysregulation is associated with LV hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction and increased cardiovascular fibrosis in diabetes.
Serum FLT‐3 ligand in a busulphan‐induced model of chronic bone marrow hypoplasia in the female CD‐1 mouse
Authors: Molyneux Gemma , Gibson Frances M. , Whayman Matthew , Turton John A.
Published: March 2008

The concentration of the cytokine fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐3 ligand (FL) is elevated in the plasma of patients treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy for malignant conditions. In addition, plasma FL is increased in patients with bone marrow failure resulting from stem‐cell defects (e.g. aplastic anaemia). Our goal in the present study was to measure the concentration of serum FL in mice treated with the chemotherapeutic agent busulphan (BU) to induce bone marrow depression and relate changes in FL to effects on haemopoiesis. Female CD‐1 mice were treated with BU (9.0 mg/kg) or vehicle by intraperitoneal injection on 10 occasions over 21 days. Animals were autopsied on days 1, 23, 72, 119 and 177 postdosing. A full blood count was performed, and serum prepared for FL analysis. Femoral marrow cell suspensions were prepared to assess the total femoral nucleated cell count (FNCC) and the number of committed haemopoietic progenitor cells (CFU‐C). On days 1 and 23 postdosing, significant decreases were evident in many peripheral blood parameters; the FNCC and CFU‐C were also reduced in BU‐treated mice, in conjunction with increases in serum FL levels. On days 72, 119 and 177 postdosing, several peripheral blood and bone marrow parameters remained reduced and the concentration of serum FL continued to be significantly increased. Linear regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations between the concentration of serum FL in BU‐treated mice and peripheral blood and bone marrow parameters; this suggests the possible use of serum FL as a potential biomarker for drug‐induced bone marrow injury.
Understanding the biodiversity consequences of habitat change: the value of secondary and plantation forests for neotropical dung beetles
Authors: Gardner Toby A. , Hernández Malva I.M. , Barlow Jos , Peres Carlos A.
Published: March 2008

Secondary and plantation forests are becoming increasingly widespread in the tropics. A recent meta‐analysis on the impacts of land‐use change on tropical forest dung beetles concluded that regenerating forests can be effective in helping to offset species loss following deforestation. However, our understanding of the extent to which these results can be generalized to new locations remains very poor.

We attempted to overcome many of the design limitations that characterize previous studies by collecting spatially independent dung beetle samples from primary, secondary andEucalyptusplantation forests in north‐east Brazilian Amazonia across a large quasi‐experimental landscape that minimized confounding edge and fragmentation effects.

We recorded 9203 dung beetles, comprising 85 species. Species richness was significantly higher in primary forest and the majority of species were more abundant there than elsewhere, whereas secondary and plantation sites harboured an impoverished subset of primary forest species.

Our data illustrate the low value of tropical secondary and plantation forests for dung beetles in our study area, and our conclusions are more pessimistic than those of earlier studies.

Because of differences in the order of species rank‐abundance and rank‐biomass patterns, re‐coding community data from abundance to biomass significantly altered the analytical weight of individual species in determining community patterns. Larger bodied beetles were more prone to local extinctions and abundance declines and this effect was consistent both within and between genera.

Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates that secondary and plantation forests in a large neotropical landscape host exceptionally impoverished dung beetle communities. Furthermore, the depletion of beetle abundance combined with a reduction in average body mass in converted forests is likely to have detrimental consequences for the maintenance of dung beetle‐mediated ecosystem services in these habitats. Differences in biogeographical and landscape context, and the influence of common limitations in sampling design, may explain why many other studies have painted a more optimistic picture of the conservation value of anthropogenic habitats. In the absence of further evidence we caution strongly against the claim that forest regeneration schemes on degraded land can effectively offset the loss of species following deforestation, and urge that conservation strategies prioritize the protection of remaining areas of primary forest.
THE MODIFIED HOTIS TEST FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CONTAGIOUS BOVINE MASTITIS
Authors: MCLEOD D. H. , WATTS P. S.
Published: March 2008

The modified Hotis test is of great value in reducing the amount of labour and material required for the large‐scale diagnosis of contagious bovine mastitis. It yields a higher number of positives than is obtained by plating non‐incubated samples, and it is probably more accurate than the simple enrichment technique, for in this technique the results obtained are open to doubt owing to the ease by which contamination from teats or hands can occur.

The use of sodium azide as a means of combating accidental contamination of milk samples cannot be recommended since azide‐sensitive strains of the organism were encountered.
MALTY TAINT IN MILK
Authors: DAVIS J. G. , JONES V. E. , WILBY F. W. , GRANFIELD M. A.
Published: March 2008

The organism producing a malty taint in milk closely resembles S. lactis. It enters the milk from outside sources and is in some instances also present within the cow's udder. An outbreak of malty milk was effectively controlled by rigorous attention to hygiene, including chlorination of milkers' hands, cows' udders, and all milking utensils, combined with efficient cooling at the farm to delay the development of malty flavour. Pasteurisation kills the organisms and early treatment prevents the appearance of the taint in the processed milk.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PASTEURIZATION OF MILK AND RINSE SOLUTIONS
Authors: Murray J. G.
Published: March 2008

Summary. It has been shown that the effect of heating rinses of Ringer solution alone varies with their source, and a t the temperature tested the addition of protective colloids, like milk, is ineffective only with a minority of rinses. It is suggested that in order to obtain a more correct estimation of the number and types of heat‐resistant organisms present in rinses of equipment, sterile skim miIk should be added prior to heat treatment in the proportion of 9 parts skim milk to 1 part Ringer solution.
THE INFLUENCE OF STERILITY OF FARM DAIRY EQUIPMENT ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF RAW AND LABORATORY PASTEURIZED MILK
Authors: Clegg L. F. L. , Wohlgemuth J. L. , Crossley E. L. , Andrews L. E.
Published: March 2008

Summary. A series of experiments was carried out to ascertain which test or combination of tesrs in common use would provide the best indication of thc keeping quality, methods of production, and adequacy of cooling of milk.

Monthly tests were made of milk as produced by two groups of farms (“good” and “poor”) in two widely separated areas. The good farms practised twice daily. sterilisation and efficient cooling; thc poor farms practised neither.

The tests examined were: (1) colony count (4 days at 30°C.) on fresh (4 hr.) and aged (22 hr. at 18°C.) raw milk, and (in laboratory pasteurized fresh and aged milk; (b) clot‐on‐boiling (storage a t 18°C.); (c) resazurin to complete reduction at 37°C. on fresh raw and aged raw milk: (d) methylene blue reduction time at 18°C. on laboratory pasteurized fresh and aged milk; (e) methylene blue reduction time at 37°C. on laboratory pasteurized fresh and aged milk.

No single test gave complete differentiation between good and poor production mcthods; the colony count of laboratory pasteurized aged milk was the nearest approach. In general the thermoduric colony count increased very little in raw milk aged at 18°C. for 24 hr.: the inean increases after ageing mere only 8.4% and 10.O% in the two areas.

In all, 36 combinations of tests were considered, althouglh it has not been possible to present in either graphical or tabular form those combinations which showed promise; this is done for what is considered the most suitable combination‐the tiiermoduric count of aged milk and the clot‐on‐boiling time.

Visual evidence of poor production methods was frequently associated with poor keeping quality, but lack of evidence of poor production gave no guarantee of good keeping quality. The keeping quality test alone was not entirely reliable as an index of production methods.
TEMPERATURE COMPENSATED TESTS FOR RAW MILK SUPPLIES II. THE METHYLENE BLUE TEST
Authors: Clegg L. F. L.
Published: March 2008

Summary. To determine whether a time‐temperature compensation scale can be applied to the methylene blue test samples of fresh raw milk from nearby farms and local creameries were examined at regular intervals throughout a twelve‐month period. Each sample was divided into seven sub‐samples which were stored for approximately 24 hr. in water baths controlled at 37.5°, 42.5°, 47.5°, 52.5°, 57.5°, 62.5° and 67.5° F.; decolourisation of methylene blue at 37°C. was observed at regular intervals.

Average times of reduction of methylene blue following storage at different temperatures are given saparetely for the various keeping quality groups (time to endpoint with clot‐on‐boiling at 15.5°C.). The mean times for samples of all keeping quality groups to reduce methylene blue at all pre‐test storage temperatures are found to lie on a straight line.
BACTERIOLOGICAL TESTING OF ICE‐CREAM IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Authors: PATTON J.
Published: March 2008

Solid carbon dioxide is recommended as a refrigerant for samples of ice‐cream while en route to the laboratory in insulated boxes. Ice‐cream mix should be heated to a temperature of 165° F. for a minimum of 10 min. The gravimetric sampling method appeared to be more accurate than the volumetric method in the routine bacteriological examination of ice‐cream. During ageing of pasteurized icecream mix at 34–37° F. the bacterial content decreased, but as the results were obtained on the product of one manufacturer only, further work is needed on this point. The methylene blue reduction time was sometimes unduly short in view of the bacterial content and it is suggested that this test should be used only for screening purposes and that the colony count and coli‐aerogenes tests are still the best measures of the hygienic quality of ice‐cream.
THERMODURIC ORGANISMS IN MILK. PART II. PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON TESTING TECHNIQUES
Authors: CLEGG L. F. L. , EGDELL J. W. , THOMAS S. B. , McKENZIE D. A. , CUTHBERT W. A.
Published: March 2008

To define a suitable technique for estimating thermoduric bacteria in raw milk supplies, experiments were made to determine whether any difference could be detected between colony counts after laboratory pasteurization at 145 or 150° F. (62.8 or 65.5°) and whether colony counts are affected by temperature and period of storage of samples before laboratory pasteurization. Temperatures above 63.5±0.5° occasionally gave underestimates of the thermoduric population. Within limits time and temperature of storage generally had no effect on numbers of thermoduric bacteria and samples to be examined for thermoduric content can be aged at temperatures between 4 and 20° and examined at any time up to 24–26 hr.

It is recommended that the pasteurizing bath shall be capable, under working load, of heating the samples to 63.5° within 5 min. To ensure this with certain types of bath it may be necessary to circulate the water, or to avoid overloading.

A limited study of types of thermoduric organisms predominating after different incubation periods and temperatures of storage revealed that the type initially predominant was generally present in greatest numbers after the milk had been aged for 24 hr. Occasionally Gram‐positive sporing rods overgrew other types and some micrococci were not favoured by storage at 20°.
SOME MICRO‐ORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM THE ROTTED SURFACES OF WATERPROOFED SISAL ROPE
Authors: ALLAN RUTH E. A.
Published: March 2008

After soil burial of sisal rope and baler twine treated with a water repellent, the aerobic microflora was examined. Ten fungi and 71 bacteria capable of growth on an inorganic basal medium with the water repellent as the sole source of organic carbon were isolated. Six of the fungi were penicillia. All the bacteria were rod shaped and all except five were Gram‐negative; they comprised members of the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Bacterium and Achromobacter, in decreasing numerical order.

In studies of the interactions between the bacteria and the ten fungi on potato dextrose agar, bacteria actively suppressed fungal growth in only 9% of cases, the most readily inhibited fungus of the cultures studied thoroughly being a member of the genus Paecilomyces. Fungi completely overgrew the bacteria in 34% of cases, the most aggressive fungus being a Penicillium. In the remaining 57% of tests neither bacterium nor fungus was seriously affected by the other. The fungi did not suppress one another.

The reduction in mean tensile strength of single fibres taken from waterproofed baler twine was not significantly different from that of fibres from untreated twine, after soil burial for 7 days at 30°.
ASPECTS OF STERILIZATION BY CANDLE FILTRATION
Authors: ROYCE A. , SYKES G.
Published: March 2008

With unglazed porcelain or diatomaceous earth candle filters the bubble‐pressure test proved a reliable index of efficiency. A minimum of about 17 lb./in.2 was necessary to ensure sterile filtrates over periods of 6–7 hr. Variations in wall thickness did not affect the ultimate efficiency of the filter, but only influenced the delay in passage of organisms. Some degradation of low bubble‐pressure filters resulted from repeated sterilization and use; high bubble‐pressure filters did not behave in this way.
A NOTE ON THE PREPARATION OF A PECTATE GEL MEDIUM
Authors: JONES G. ELIS
Published: March 2008

The strength of calcium pectate gels depends on the relative amounts of calcium chloride and 1% (w./v.) sodium pectate solution used to produce them, as well as on the manner of mixing. The strength decreases when excess calcium chloride is used. A method of preparing a neutral firmly‐gelled medium is described.
TRACING INEFFICIENT PASTEURIZATION IN HOLDER PLANTS
Authors: LOMAX KATHLEEN L. , CLEGG L. F. L.
Published: March 2008

Examination of a holder pasteurizing plant giving occasional apparently inexplicable phosphatase test failures proved that excessive froth on the surface of the milk during holding, resulting from an unsuitable type of pre‐heater, was causing the trouble. Uninsulated lids allowed considerable loss of heat from the froth. Other plants of the same make were examined and the same inherent faults found.

Two other makes of holder plant with well insulated lids were also tested. There was a large air space under the lid in one plant in which phosphatase test failures occurred in the froth and surface milk, whereas the other plant, with no air space, gave no failures.

One hundred bacterial cultures from two bulked froth samples from two plants were tested for heat resistance. A number of these, including a streptococcus, a sarcina, a micrococcus, and several Gram‐negative rods, were found to have heat resistance similar to that of tubercle bacilli.
THE OCCURRENCE OF A FLAVOBACTERIUM SPECIES IN CHILLED WATER
Authors: JONES G. ELIS , THOMAS S. B.
Published: March 2008

during the examination of chilled water from a churn immersion cooler it was observed that when the water was not changed at frequent intervals the colonies on standard nutrient agar incubated at 22° became entirely composed of a Flavobacterium sp. Colony counts greater than 106/ml. were obtained at 3–5° and 22°. Although the dominant organism produced no visible change in litmus milk yet 0.1 ml. of chilled water clotted the milk within 48 hr. at 22°.
ROUTINE RESAZURIN TEST RESULTS AND THERMODURIC BACTERIAL CONTENT OF MILK SAMPLES AS A MEASURE OF MILK PRODUCTION CONDITIONS
Authors: McKENZIE D. A. , DRUCE R. G. , LAMBERT JEAN
Published: March 2008

The milk production conditions on 44 farms (18 designated and 26 non‐designated) have been assessed by score‐card marks for visual conditions, facilities, equipment, and methods. Over a period of one year fortnightly samples from these farms were subjected to routine resazurin tests and laboratory pasteurized counts. The results were compared with the total score‐card marks and the equipment assessments of the farms. It was found that neither test alone sufficed to detect unsatisfactory production, but failure on the two tests combined agreed well with the production conditions and facilities.

The relation of season and mean shade atmospheric temperature to the thermoduric bacterial content of the milk was studied but no clear association was observed.
THE CLASSIFICATION OF COLI‐AEROGENES BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM FARM WATER SUPPLIES
Authors: THOMAS S. B. , JONES G. ELIS , FRANKLIN PATRICIA M.
Published: March 2008

The methods suggested in the Report of the Coliform Sub‐Committee of the Society for Applied Bacteriology (Report, 1949) have been used in isolating and studying the coli‐aerogenes content of 142 samples of farm water supplies in two distinctive areas of Britain. The Gram‐negative cultures were grouped into typical, anaerogenic, non‐lactose‐fermenting and ‘unclassifiable’types, forming 54.2, 2.9, 10.9 and 32.0% of the 384 cultures respectively. Among the 261 coli‐aerogenes cultures, Bact. coli, intermediate and aerogenes‐cloacae organisms were found with frequencies of 32.2, 19.5 and 48.3% respectively. The majority of anaerogenic coli‐aerogenes organisms resembled Bact. coli type II while the predominant non‐lactose‐fermenters resembled Bact. cloacae and Bact. aerogenes type I. The reactions of 123 ‘unclassifiable'strains were such that very few could be regarded as Bact. coli types owing to the high incidence of gelatin liquefaction and growth in citrate broth.
EXPERIMENTAL TUBERCULOSIS IN MICE AND ITS CHEMOTHERAPY
Authors: CROSHAW BETTY
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: While developing a standard mouse test for anti‐tuberculosis activity using intracerebral infection and a subjective criterion for assessing activity based on visual estimates of the extent of the lung lesions, young mice were found to be less resistant than older mice but male and female mice of similar ages and weights were equally susceptible. The bovine Ravenel and the human H418 strains of M. tuberculosis were selected as being more virulent and reliable than the H37Rv strain. Kirchner's medium was chosen out of three media equally good for yielding virulent cultures from which to grow cultures for inoculation. The ability of the standard mouse test devised, notwithstanding the use of a subjective criterion for assessment, to reveal activity in drugs whose effectiveness has been revealed by other methods, was demonstrated. A brief description is given of the disease produced in mice following intracerebral inoculation.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ION‐EXCHANGE METHOD OF PREPARING SILICA SOLS
Authors: SMITH W. K.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: An improved ion‐exchange column for producing stable silica sols is described. Best results were obtained with a sulphonic‐polystyrene resin. The storage life of sols so produced may be extended to as much as two months by refrigeration and acidification with hydrochloric acid. Silica sol has a buffering action in the region of pH 2. Silica gel media prepared from such sols are comparable in cost with agar media.
A COMPARISON OF ROLL‐TUBE AND PETRI DISH COLONY COUNTS ON RAW MILK
Authors: CLEGG L. F. L. , THOMAS S. B. , COX C. P.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: A co‐ordinated experiment was carried out at two centres, in which colony counts from raw milk samples determined by the roll‐tube and Petri dish methods were compared. A bulk medium was standardized for both laboratories, as also were details of technique. Statistical analyses showed that roll‐tube counts were generally lower than the corresponding Petri dish counts, but the difference varied considerably from milk to milk. The variation between replicate sub‐samples was about the same for both methods. Experience and the results both indicate that roll‐tubes were slightly more difficult to count than Petri dishes.
A SMALL‐SCALE CHLORINATOR FOR FARM USE
Authors: CLEGG L. F. L. , CUTHBERT W. A.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Laboratory trials of a small‐scale chlorinator, in which water contaminated with Bacterium coli was super‐chlorinated at 5 and 10 p.p.m., with a contact time of 4.5 min. and subsequently dechlorinated with sodium thiosulphate, showed a reduction from 7 × 103/ml. to 0/100 ml. Sterile 1 ml. plates were obtained when the water was contaminated with 0.15% of soil, a concentration which coloured the water. It was estimated that this was achieved within the contact period with 65% of the available chlorine.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FOLPMERS' GLUTAMIC ACID MEDIUM FOR THE DETECTION OF BACT. COLI IN WATER
Authors: BURMAN N. P. , OLIVER C. W.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Folpmers' glutamic acid medium and certain modifications of it have been compared with MacConkey's broth for the detection of organisms of the coli‐aerogenes group in water. Very satisfactory results were obtained with the glutamic acid medium made up in tubes and incubated in the same way as with MacConkey's broth. Less satisfactory acid were obtained when lactose was substituted for glucose in the glutamic acid medium, although both were superior to MacConkey's broth. The anaerobic method as described by Folpmers had too many disadvantages to be practicable for the routine examination of large numbers of samples.
THE REMOVAL OF BACTERIA FROM GLASS SURFACES WITH CALCIUM ALGINATE, GAUZE AND ABSORBENT COTTON WOOL SWABS
Authors: BARNES JOAN M.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Calcium alginate wool swabs were no more efficient or reliable than gauze or absorbent cotton wool swabs when tested on drinking glasses infected with known numbers of bacteria. The number of bacteria left on the glass after swabbing was determined by a modified roll tube method.
COLI‐AEROGENES BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM GRASS
Authors: THOMAS S. B. , McQUILLIN JOYCE
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: The numbers of coli‐aerogenes bacteria on ungrazed herbage and on intensively grazed pasture were determined by inoculation into MacConkey's broth incubated at 30°, 37° and 44°. From the cultures producing acid and gas at 30° organisms were isolated on eosin methylene blue agar and classified according to the recommendations of the Coliform Sub‐Committee. These micro‐organisms were abundant in grass from both habitats, and sometimes exceeded 107/g. The numbers were much lower at 37°, 80% of the samples of ungrazed herbage and 37% of those from grazed pasture containing less than 103/g.

Bacterium coli, intermediate and aerogenes‐cloacae types were found with frequencies of 4, 19 and 77% respectively on ungrazed harbage, compared with 9, 17 and 73% on grazed pasture. Aerogenes‐cloacae types were dominant among the 37° positive cultures.

A high proportion (53%) of the 249 classifiable cultures did not produce acid and gas in MacConkey's broth within 2 days at 37°. Anaerogenic and paracolon types at 30° were infrequent (5%) of ungrazed herbage, but constituted 18% of the classifiable cultures from grazed pasture. Unclassifiable cultures, mainly paracolons giving —–+ IMViC reactions and liquefying gelatin rapidly, were infrequent.

There was no appreciable difference in the incidence of different types of coli‐aerogenes bacteria on flowering heads of grass examined during summer to that for the herbage samples examined throughout the year.

Only 6 of the cultures picked from eosin methylene blue agar plates developed the golden‐yellow pigment on nutrient agar characteristic of the so‐called Bacterium herbicola, though lactose‐negative strains producing golden‐yellow or lemon‐yellow pigments were common in the epiphytic microflora of the herbage.
SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION IN OUTBREAKS OF FOOD POISONING CAUSED BY SALMONELLA BACTERIA FROM MEAT IN THE NETHERLANDS
Authors: CLARENBURG A.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: In outbreaks of food poisoning from meat, caused by Salmonella organisms, intravital infection and post‐mortem contamination of the meat must be distinguished. Man and different species of animals suffering from Salmonella infection may be a source of infection or contamination. In the Netherlands this is especially the case with carriers of Salm. dublin in adult cattle. In the National Salmonella Centre, 41 Salmonella types were isolated from man and animals in the years 1946–1952. In 1949–1952, eighteen outbreaks of food poisoning due to meat products and only one due to fresh meat were examined. In 4 cases an intravital infection of the meat was established; in the remaining cases the source of contamination remained unknown. The causative types were: Salm. dublin, Salm. typhi‐murium, Salm. paratyphi B, Salm. oregon, Salm. newport and Salm. bovis‐morbificans.
THE USE OF GLUCOSE INORGANIC SALTS MEDIA IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE COLI‐AEROGENES BACTERIA. I. THE METHYL RED AND VOGES‐PROSKAUER REACTIONS
Authors: FOUAD M. T. A. , RICHARDS T.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: A chemically defined glucose ammonium phosphate medium gave methy red and Voges‐Proskauer reactions which were superior to those in glucose peptone phosphate. Optimum condition for both tests require a starting pH of 6·8 and incubation for 3 days at 30°. The medium gave a negative correlation between the two reactions with 34 out of 35 strains that were positive to both tests in the peptone medium. The addition of glutamic acid helped to eliminate doubtful positive M. R. reactions but seemed to suppress acetylmethylcarbinol production by weakly V.‐P. positive strains.
THE SURVIVAL OF MICROBES IN MODULATED HIGH‐FREQUENCY VOLTAGE FIELDS
Authors: INGRAM M. , PAGE L. J.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Resting suspensions of baker's yeast, Bact. coli, tabacco mosaic virus, and a bacteriophage, were subjected to high frequency electric fields in cells which kept the temperature below 30°, very energetic cooling being necessary. The fields applied were of two kinds: (i) frequency 10 Mc/s., modulated with a half‐sine wave of frequency 50 c/s.; modulated at frequencies from 10 to 120 Kc/s. with rectangular pulses varied from 1/3 to 1/15 of the complete cycle. The voltage gradients used were up to 2,000 V/cm. and were applied for aggregate periods up to 12 min., but no significant kills were observed. It is computed that any specific lethal effect too small to be detected in these experiments could have little pracrtical value.
CONTINUOUS STERILIZATION OF FERMENTATION MEDIA
Authors: WHITMARSH J. M.
Published: March 2008

Media have been sterilized by continuous flow through a heat exchanger and holding tank in shorter time at a given temperature than by conventional batchwise sterilization. Economies of steam and cooling water were obtained, and the less drastic heating minimized changes in the media, giving higher penicillin titres.
MICROBIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CARBOHYDRATE MEDIA: EFFECT OF AERATION ON pH VALUE AND ON OXIDATION AND ASSIMILATION
Authors: ALLEN L. A. , COOPER A. H. , ROSE J. NAOMI
Published: March 2008

Chemical changes resulting from microbial growth in a simple medium containing glucose as the only source of carbon, and ammonia as the only source of nitrogen, depended not only upon the concentration of nutrient materials and the rate of supply of air, but on the shape and size of the container, the depth of liquid and the method of aeration. If, by the time all the glucose was destroyed, the pH value had not fallen below about 3.0, continued aeration resulted in a substantial rise in pH value, due to oxidation to carbon dioxide of organic acids formed in the earlier stages.

Initial growth in a simple medium was suppressed not only by aeration of a pure culture with a current of CO2‐free air, but also by violent aeration of a mixed culture with air with a normal content of carbon dioxide.

Changes occurring in a complex organic medium, a sterile extract of red beet, were similar in character to those observed in the simple medium, but were much less affected by irregularities in growth.
THE EFFECT OF FLAMING OF TAPS BEFORE SAMPLING ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF FARM WATER SUPPLIES
Authors: THOMAS S. B. , SCARLETT C. A. , CUTHBERT W. A. , CLEGG L. F. L. , OXLEY C. D. , WESTWATER C. H. , BARKWORTH H. , EGDELL J. W. , HOBSON PHYLLIS M. , JONES G. ELIS , NICHOLS AGNES A.
Published: March 2008

The flaming of taps before sampling caused no significant differences in the most probable numbers of coli‐aerogenes organisms or Bact. coli in water samples, or in the colony counts at 37 or 22°, though there was a tendency for the bacterial content to be lowered.
THERMODURIC ORGANISMS IN MILK. PART IV. COLONY COUNTS OF THERMODURIC ORGANISMS OBTAINED WITH DIFFERENT INCUBATION TIMES AT 30°
Authors: CUTHBERT W. A. , THOMAS S. B. , EGDELL J. W. , NICHOLS AGNES A. , COX C. P.
Published: March 2008

Statistical analysis of the results from four laboratories, on the effect of incubation time at 30° on the number of colonies from laboratory pasteurized milk, showed a marked increase between the second and third day, but little subsequent increase. Incubation of Petri plate cultures for 3 days at 30° was sufficiently accurate for routine purposes. In about 70% of cases the 3 day colony count exceeded 95% of the count obtained after 5 days and most samples gave values exceeding 85% of this.

The same types of colonies formed within 2 days at 30° as developed subsequently.

The mean shelf temperatures did not depart materially from 30° in three incubators. The general level of temperatures was much higher in the fourth incubator, where on one occasion 33° was recorded, and this may have been the reason for non‐significant differences between colony counts at the four incubation times in that case.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHEMICAL DISINFECTION OF AN AUTO‐RECORDER MILKING MACHINE
Authors: CUTHBERT W. A. , BIRD ELIZABETH R. , BATESON MARGARET
Published: March 2008

A cleansing routine using chemical sterilization by sodium hypochlorite solution, periodic steaming and fortnightly dismantling was adopted for a 2‐point auto‐recorder milking machine. Milk of good keeping quality was consistently produced when the plant was steamed twice weekly and hypochlorite was used in both the morning and evening cleansing. The consistency and thoroughness of the cleansing methods used and of their application by the dairy workers were considered important factors in the success obtained.
COLI‐AEROGENES BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM EARS AND PANICLES OF CEREAL CROPS
Authors: THOMAS S. B. , HOBSON PHYLLIS M. , ELSON K. , PRICE‐ROBERTS GLENYS
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Aerogenes‐cloacae and Intermediate types of coli‐aerogenes bacteria were found to be normal inhabitants of ears and panicles of growing cereals. Coli‐aerogenes bacteria, producing acid and gas in MacConkey's broth within 5 days at 30°, were isolated from 73% of the 148 samples, the number being as high as 105/g in a third. The number of organisms increased during the growing season.

Less than a third of the samples contained 37° positive strains, but approximately 10% were positive in 10‐3g or less at this temperature.

A high proportion (71.1%) of the 180 classifiable cultures did not produce acid and gas in MacConkey's broth in 2 days at 37°. Organisms of the aerogenes‐cloacae types were dominant, constituting 80.6% of the classifiable strains at 30° and 80.8% of the 37° positive strains. Intermediate type I, particularly 37° negative and gelatin liquefying variants, was the next most common type.
STUDIES OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BACTERIUM COLI TYPE I CONTENT OF FARM WATER SUPPLIES
Authors: THOMAS S. B. , CLEGG L. F. L. , CUTHBERT W. A. , OXLEY C. D. , SCARLETT C. A. , WESTWATER C. H. , JONES G. ELIS , McCLEMONT J. , MORRIS C. S. , NICHOLS AGNES A.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: A – comparison of the suitability of brilliant green bile broth and MacConkey's broth at 44° for the detection of Bacterium coli type I in farm water supplies, showed that 83.1% of the samples had no difference in the number of positive tubes at 44°, and only 5 samples (1.7%) had a significantly higher number of positive tubes in MacConkey's broth.

Of 707 strains of coli‐aerogenes bacteria isolated from 44° positive tubes of both media, 94.5% were Bact. coli type I. Strains of Bact. coli type II and Bact. aerogenes type I which were 44° positive constituted 3.7% and 0.4% respectively, all of which were indole negative at 44°. In addition there were 10 strains (1.4%) of 44° positive Intermediate type II, 9 of which were indole positive at 44°.

An appreciable number (6.6%) of Bact. coli type I strains failed to give a positive indole reaction in 24 hr at 44°.
OBSERVATIONS ON YELLOW ROT IN HENS’EGGS
Authors: McKENZIE D. A. , THOM VALERIE M. , GETTY J.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: A yellow rot of fresh hens’eggs has been investigated and it is concluded that the fault is not of bacterial origin. Enlarged yolks with a high pH were frequently encountered, constituting 34% of the yellow rot eggs examined.
BACTERIAL GROWTH ON HEART DIGEST MEDIA IN RELATION TO THE TRYPSIN PREPARATION USED
Authors: BARNES ELLA M.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Batches of heart digest media, both optimal and deficient for the growth of several test organisms, have been obtained by varying the method of preparation of the trypsin used in the digestion. Broths prepared with alcoholic extracts of pancreas had better growth promoting properties than those prepared with acid‐extracted trypsin or commercial trypsin. This may be due to substances produced by the action of the non‐proteolytic enzymes present in alcoholic extracts during the digestion of the heart.
THE GROWTH OF LACTIC ACID STREPTOCOCCI IN MIXED STARTER CULTURES
Authors: LIGHTBODY LORNA G. , MEANWELL L. J.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: An attempt has been made so to combine rapid acid‐producing streptococci that on daily subculture the individual components in the mixture will remain present in even proportions. Some such combinations have been made, but frequently the proportions of the components alter until one culture becomes dominant. When one culture dominates rapidly this is due to the production of antibiotic factors.
THE RESISTANCE OF TWO STRAINS OF BACTERIUM COLI TYPE I TO DRYING UNDER ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
Authors: GARVIE ELLEN I.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Suspensions of two strains of Bacterium coli type I were dried as thin films under atmospheric conditions and the numbers of organisms determined before and after drying. Three methods were used to grow the culture; in two the culture was grown in broth and in the other on agar slopes.

Strain 28.D.10 was less sensitive than strain NCTC 5934. After culturing in broth NCTC 5934 showed irregular daily fluctuations in sensitivity to drying; 28.D.10 became more sensitive for the first 2–3 weeks and thereafter less sensitive. Suspensions prepared from 18 hr plate cultures were more sensitive than from 24 hr plate cultures; a change from peptone water to Lemco broth for daily culturing slightly decreased the sensitivity to drying. With both strains suspensions prepared from broth cultures were more sensitive than those from agar slopes.

Continuous daily culturing of 28.D.10 on a solid medium as compared with broth decreased the sensitivity of suspensions and over a long period the culture appeared to be more stable. When strain NCTC 5934 was grown on a solid medium the suspension was as sensitive to drying as that obtained when broth was used but the daily fluctuation of results appeared to be less.

A decrease in the number of cells in the 24 hr broth culture of 28.D.10 coincided in time with an increase in the sensitivity to drying of the suspension prepared from the same culture.
A CONVENIENT SHAKING MACHINE FOR GROWING MICRO‐ORGANISMS
Authors: WEBLEY D. M. , DUFF R. B.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Details are given for the construction of a simple reciprocal shaking machine for use in small constant temperature rooms. It is particularly useful for the uniform growth of pellicle forming organisms.
A COMPARISON OF SOME MILK REJECTION TESTS
Authors: JONES G. ELIS , THOMAS S. B.
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY: Examination of 202 samples of raw milk showed that the combination of a pH paper strip test with a second sorting test (80 or 76% alcohol or rapid acidity) provided a basis to select milk which required a more time‐consuming test before grading accurately.

Samples of pasteurized milk at the yellow‐green stage of fluorescence when examined in ultraviolet light did not clot on boiling and possessed long methylene blue reduction times, whereas at the purple stage of fluorescence the samples clotted on boiling and reduced methylene blue almost instantaneously.