The Application of Multivariate Statistical Methods for the Evaluation of Soil Profiles (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Contamination of soils does not only occur on their surface over large areas, but also in depth. Therefore a characterization of soil state after pollution demands a three-dimensional soil sampling, by what a large number of samples has to be analyzed. Analytical results could be evaluated by multivariate statistical methods, which have already been used for the evaluation of data sets containing results from soil sampling of two dimensions like areas or single profiles. In this case study, multivariate statistical methods were applied to investigate structure and interactions between features in a data set containing results of three-dimensional soil sampling. The investigated soil profiles were contaminated by emissions of a former cement and phosphate fertilizer plant. The aim of this study was to determine the remaining extent of contamination and to analyze whether pollutants are mobilized and vertically transported within the profiles. Materials and Methods: Three soil profiles were sampled in the surroundings of the plant. Grain size, organic and carbonatic bonded carbon, pH value, and the total contents of Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, F, Fe, K, Mn, Mg, Na, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn were determined. The resulting data set was evaluated by cluster analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and principal components analysis. The sequential extraction procedure according to Zeien and Brümmer was applied to analyze the binding properties of Ca, Cd, Cu, Na, Pb, and Zn from selected samples. Results: Cd was identified as contaminant of the top soils. The pH values of the bottom soils were determined to be in alkaline range, which is unnaturally high. Variables were clustered according to enrichment of variables in top soils. The samples were classified regarding their pollution state and their substrate by cluster analysis, which was confirmed by linear discriminant analysis. Geogenic and anthropogenic sources of variables as well as relationships between variables like the binding of heavy metals at organic matter were detected by using principal components analysis. The binding of heavy metals at organic matter in the top soils was confirmed by the results of the applied sequential extraction. A vertically altered distribution of Na binding was determined. Discussion: According to the current soil conditions, the uptake of heavy metals had probably occurred by the over ground part of plants during the deposition. The distribution of Na should likely result from the vertical transport of Na, which would also explain the high pH values of the bottom soils by ion exchange. Altogether, the main amount of deposited Ca, F, Na, P, and heavy metals is likely nearly insoluble bound in the top soils. Conclusions: Ten years after the end of production, the pollution of top soils in the surroundings of the former plant is still high. However, regarding the ecotoxicological relevance the now explored interactions between several soil features and elements strongly indicate that there is no short-term to medium-term risk of a mobilization of the deposited elements with the exception of Na. Recommendations and Perspectives: The results of this case study prove that multivariate statistical methods are powerful tools to explore interactions of variables and relationships in a data set derived from three dimensional soil sampling. The methods applied in this work can be highly recommended for evaluations of large data sets resulting from two- or three-dimensional samplings. Multivariate statistical methods enable the characterization of soils and their pollution state in a simple and economic way.     

Identification of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae by flow cytometry

Immunofluorescence and flow cytometric methods were examined to detect and distinguish Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae. The procedure employed 24-hr broth cultures of each organism, direct immunofluorescence staining with either homologous or heterologous antiserum, and analyses by flow cytometry. The organisms were distinguishable on the basis of fluorescent profiles when stained with the appropriate antiserum.     

A systems analysis of the guyanese livestock industry

This paper attempts to contribute to the capability for livestock sub-sector analysis. A model structure which offers potential for evaluation of changes of policy, available production technology, or factor and product market conditions is described. The structure integrates a multi-year biological cattle simulator with a price endogenous model of the cattle sub-sector to yield a model designed to simulate aggregate behaviour of profit maximising cattle producers interacting through competitive factor and product markets. The general model structure is specified to reflect conditions in Guyana, South America. The model, specified for Guyanese conditions, is used to evaluate the probable impact of a number of technical and economic changes in the system.     

Identification of hindleg lameness

The use of markers placed over the tuber coxae on each side of a horse to aid identification of the relative movement of these structures at the trot, for teaching and research purposes, is described. In each case of hindleg lameness studied, the tuber coxae on the lame side showed a consistent increase in vertical displacement relative to that of the contralateral limb, and a characteristic pattern of movement throughout the stride irrespective of the site or cause of pain.     

Inflammation: a clinical perspective. The Ciba-Geigy Prize for Research in Animal Health

The cardinal signs of acute inflammation have been recognised for almost 2000 years, but it is only in the last hundred years that significant progress has been made in understanding the underlying cellular response. Our knowledge of the chemical messengers which regulate and in some cases lead to persistence of the inflammatory process is, as yet, incomplete, but it is hoped that further research at this level will lead to the development of more effective therapeutic agents.     

Harvest-pruning and trellising of ‘Sultana’ vines. I. Effects on yield and vegetative growth

Yield reductions averaging 10% are reported from 2 experiments in which ‘Sultana’ vines were continuously harvest-pruned for 11 and 9 years respectively. Over the period of the study there was no evidence of the yield reduction increasing with time.Differences between treatments in bunch number, berry weight and total soluble solids did not account for the reduction in yield. However, berry number per bunch was consistently, if not always significantly, lower on treated vines. Harvest-pruned vines had lower pruning-weights than the control vines.Increases in trellis width from 0.30 to 0.45 m to 0.90 m generally led to increases in yield caused by increases in bunch number. A 0.30 m wide T-trellis, with foliage wires added to support the shoots vertically to a height of 2 m, also gave yield increases over the standard 0.30 m trellis in most seasons. Harvest-pruned vines on the 0.90 m wide trellis gave similar yields to control vines on the standard 0.30 m trellis.     

Harvest-pruning and trellising of ‘Sultana’ vines. II. Effects on early spring development

The yield reductions associated with the harvest-pruning system of drying sultanas could not be attributed to a consistent effect on any of the components of yield. However, in several experiments berry number per bunch was reduced on harvest-pruned vines and in others there was a trend in this direction. The cause of this reduction appeared to be flower number per inflorescence. A hypothesis is proposed to explain the effect.Harvest-pruning and associated trellising treatments had only small effects on bud-burst and early shoot growth.     

Differentiation of infectious laryngotracheitis virus strains using restriction endonucleases

Strains of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) were examined using an indirect immunofluorescent test (IIF) and with restriction endonucleases for detecting intratypic differences. Electrophoretic analysis of ILTV DNA fragments cleaved with restriction endonuclease Hind 111 clearly distinguished between strains. The IIF test did not discriminate between strains. A molecular weight estimate of ILTV DNA was made by summation of restriction endonuclease fragments cleaved with BamH1 (102.1 X 10(6)) and Hind111 (97.35 X 10(6)). Differences between the estimates may indicate the presence of submolar fragments.