A survey of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in New Zealand for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus

A microbiological survey was conducted to determine the levels of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) and Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) collected from commercial growing areas in the North Island, New Zealand.The survey was intended to be geographically representative of commercial growing areas of Pacific oysters in New Zealand, while selecting the time frame most likely to coincide with the increased abundance of pathogenic vibrio species. Vp was detected in 94.8% of oyster samples examined (n = 58) with a geometric mean concentration of 99.3 MPN/g, while Vv was detected in 17.2% of oyster samples examined with a geometric mean concentration of 7.4 MPN/g. The frequency of Vp positive samples was 1.7 fold greater than reported in a study conducted three decades ago in New Zealand. Potentially virulent (tdh positive) Vp was detected in two samples (3.4%, n = 58) while no trh (another virulence marker) positive samples were detected. 16 S rRNA genotype could be assigned only to 58.8% of Vv isolates (8:1:1 A:B:AB ratio, n = 10). There was a good agreement [98.2% of Vp (n = 280) and 94.4% of Vv (n = 18) isolates] between molecular tests and cultivation based techniques used to identify Vibrio isolates and there was a significant (R² = 0.95, P < 0.001, n = 18) linear relationship between the MPN estimates by real-time PCR and cultivation. There was no significant correlation between any of the environmental parameters tested and Vp or Vv concentrations.     

UV resonance Raman detection and quantitation of domoic acid in phytoplankton

Cultures of the phytoplankton diatom, Pseudonitzschia multiseries, have been harvested under controlled growth conditions ranging from late logarithmic to late stationary phase (17-58 days). The amount of domoic acid (DA) present in the growth media and in the homogenized cells has been determined by HPLC. Defined samples of media, homogenized cells, whole cells, and whole cells in media have been laser excited at 251 nm for the purpose of selectively exciting intense UV resonance Raman spectra from DA in the samples. Neither media nor cell component spectra from algae seriously interfere with DA spectra. The spectral cross sections for the dominant 1652-cm-1 mode of DA have been determined for 242-, 251-, and 257-nm excitation. Maximum sensitivities are achieved with 251-nm excitation because cross sections for DA are a maximum, and interference from other algal components becomes very small. DA concentrations that have been determined with 251-nm excitation by resonance Raman methods correlate closely with values determined independently with HPLC, especially at higher DA concentrations. The UV resonance Raman analysis of DA in phytoplankton algae is shown to be very sensitive and quantitative as well as rapid and nonintrusive.     

Exploring the role of espoused values on e-service adoption: A comparative analysis of the US and Nigerian users

Technology adoption in developing and developed countries needs to be studied and contrasted in order to identify similar and unique factors which impact adoptions. Information technology acceptance and the influence of espoused values (EV) have been investigated in developed countries but such studies are rare for developing countries. The present study surveyed 201 Nigerians and 188 Americans using constructs based on accepted theories, with the aim of comparing the influence of national culture on the acceptance of e-services in each country. The combined data indicate that user satisfaction with e-services is affected by perceived usefulness and information/system quality (with R² = 0.64). User satisfaction, in turn, affects users’ behavioral intention to continue to use e-services (R² = 0.50). EVs moderate the effect of perceived usefulness and information/system quality on satisfaction. In general, the moderating effects of EVs are more pronounced for Nigerian respondents than for US respondents, due to national cultural differences.     

The impact of price decreases on telephone and cell phone diffusion

The diffusion process (the degree of penetration within a region) of telephones and cell phones has proceeded rapidly in most regions, but the factors influencing diffusion rates are still unknown. Using data from six regions (which varied in terms of economic wealth, stage of diffusion, technological and social infrastructures, and institutional policies), and two different technologies (telephone and cell phone) we showed that price-adjusted diffusion models had better explanatory power than pure diffusion models, validating Gurbaxani and Mendelson's model. We found that the impact of price decreases was positive and significant in all regions and for both technologies. Additionally the study showed that the impact of price decreases was stronger for less wealthy regions and for nations with higher developed social infrastructure (as measured by educational level) and greater political stability (as measured by Mauro's composite index) after controlling for GDP. We also found that, in general, the price effect was stronger for telephones (an older technology) than for cell phones.     

Production of volatile phenols by Pichia manshurica and Pichia membranifaciens isolated from spoiled wines and cellar environment in Patagonia

In order to detect spoilage yeast species in wines showing off-odors, different yeast isolation protocols were evaluated. Independently of the isolation method, only Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia manshurica were detected. The spoilage capacity of P. manshurica regional isolates was evaluated in red wine and the production of volatile phenols was evidenced. To evaluate the possible source of contamination, yeasts from both grapes and cellar surfaces were obtained. Hanseniaspora uvarum and Zygoascus hellenicus were detected in both sound and damaged grapes from sunny areas. The most frequent species in cellar surfaces was Candida boidinii, Pichia membranifaciens and P. manshurica were detected in filters. The intra-specific genetic characterization of the P. manshurica isolates by mtDNA-RFLP demonstrated that the same strain was detected in both wine and filter. Most P. membranifaciens isolates produced 4-EP (maximum level of 1.895 mg/L) and particularly high levels of 4-EG (maximum level of 10.260 mg/L) were produced by P. manshurica isolates in synthetic wine-like medium. In this work the capacity of P. manshurica and P. membranifaciens species to produce volatile phenols was shown for the first time.     

Groundwater contamination by azinphos methyl in the northern Patagonic Region (Argentina)

Approximately 30 groundwater monitoring wells, under a fruit production field, in the Valley of the Neuquen River (Northern Patagonic, Argentina), to which different pesticides have been applied, were sampled eleven times between October 1995 and March 1997. Azinphos methyl was the main pesticide applied and it was detected with the highest frequency in groundwater wells during the period of intensive pesticide application in the Southern Hemisphere. Dimethoate, methidathion, fosmet, cipermethrin, carbaryl, propoxur, carbofuran, benomyl and carbendazim were also detected with lower frequency. The characteristic of the area under study was alkaline soil, with an organic matter content below 2.5% and texture sandy clay loam. The half life of azinphos methyl in soils was 166.2 days in the sun light for horizon A and 194.15 in the dark for horizon B. Leaching of azinphos methyl through the different soil horizons was minimum. On the basis of our lysimeter laboratory data, in which most of the pesticide was adsorbed into the soil column and only small quantities leachate, we inferred that the impact of azinphos methyl on groundwater would be minimal. However, field data indicates that there is a persistence of azinphos methyl in groundwater during the application season.