Background and Objective: Microorganisms, including bacteria, serve as major players in various processes affecting both the quality of aquatic sediment as well as the fate of pollutants released into such matrix. This study, evaluated the similarity in bacterial community structure between sediments collected from aquaculture and non aquaculture sites of a tropical lake. Describing and comparing the bacterial community present in each site may provide clues on the impact of aquaculture practices on aquatic ecosystems.
Methodology: Microbial DNA was extracted using PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit for all sediment samples. DNA isolates were used as template in the analysis of the hypervariable region of 16S rDNA through nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Excised representative 16S rDNA DGGE bands were sequenced and identified through BLAST analysis.
Results: Based on the generated mean Dice similarity coefficient of 57.77%, the bacterial community structure between aquaculture and non-aquaculture sediments was highly similar but certain taxa were found unique for each site. Bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated the aquaculture sediments while Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi dominated the non-aquaculture sediments. Certain physicochemical parameters operating in the two sites may have influenced the shift in representative microbes. Shewanella baltica and Trichococcus sp. were found only in aquaculture sediment owing to their ability to tolerate quantities of ammonia and high organic matter from their environment.
Conclusions: This study described the applicability of 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE as a culture-independent technique for describing and comparing the similarity between bacterial communities in sediment. Based on the generated similarity index, the bacterial community between aquaculture and non-aquaculture sediments of Taal Lake was highly similar but interestingly, harbored unique bacterial populations as seen in the DGGE profiles. The shift in dominant taxa and unique representatives per site may have been influenced by certain differences between each site's physico-chemical parameters.

Aquaculture

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemic status of brucellosis in the occupational population in Yuxi, China, and to develop effective prevention and control strategies.

METHODSSerological test was performed for 2320 employees involved in breeding, slaughtering, meat and dairy product processing, veterinary medicine, and sales in counties and districts where brucellosis was detected from 2008 to 2014 in Yuxi; pathogenic detection was performed for those in the occupational population who were suspected of brucellosis.

RESULTSThe results of serological test showed that the infection rate of brucellosis reached 3.32% , and 15 cases of brucellosis had clinical symptoms. The employees involved in breeding had the highest infection rate (4.89%) (χ2=25.75, P<0.05). From 2008 to 2014, the infection rate of brucellosis was 0.37%~4.93% and tended to increase; 67.85% of the occupational population did not take personal protective measures and had a significantly higher infection rate than those who took personal protective measures (4.45% vs 0.94%; χ2=19.42, P<0.05). Among the 161 patients suspected of brucellosis, 42 cases were diagnosed as current brucellosis confirmed by laboratory pathogenic detection.

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate of brucellosis and the number of newly diagnosed cases tend to increase in the occupational population in Yuxi, and the employees involved in breeding are the major infected population.

Animal Husbandry ; Brucellosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Dairying ; Humans ; Meat ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Veterinary Medicine

The dried roots of Panax ginseng are used as medicines. In this paper,multi-time satellite sensing image data are used for image registration by radiometric correction,atmospheric pressure correction,the data of different years were compared. The multiscale segmentation of the sensing image was successively carried out by using object-oriented method. Combining with the characteristics of the sensing image participated in the field survey,the objective was to understand the speckles of the environmental parameters distribution map of Changbai county in 2017 and 2018. The parameter area of Changbai county was calculated by using GIS spatial analysis tools. The union,erase and intersect tools of " analysis to OLS" overlay in " Arc Toolbox" were used to analyze the parametric area of Changbai county from 2017 to 2018. The results showed that the parameter area of Changbai county in 2017 was 27 400 mu( 1 mu≈667 m²),and the parameter area in 2018 was 13 900 mu. The parameter area of the new park in Changbai County in 2018 was 12 500 mu,and the harvested area in 2017 was 27 000 mu. Through the analysis and study of the regional change of the park participating in the training area,it has significance for guiding the park participating in the actual production planning and layout in Changbai county in the next step.
Gardens ; Panax ; Remote Sensing Technology

OBJECTIVES: Presenteeism is currently recognized as a significant global health issue that can potentially cause productivity losses. Hence, many studies have analyzed the relationships between workplace factors and presenteeism. However, few studies have considered non-occupational factors. This study examined the associations between presenteeism and activities outside work, including volunteering, self-development, leisure/sports, and gardening and house repair activities, in Korean wage workers. METHODS: This study analyzed the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey, in which a total of 19 294 wage workers participated. To identify relationships between presenteeism and activities outside work, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used after adjusting for general and occupational characteristics. RESULTS: Self-development and leisure/sports activities significantly increased the odds ratio (OR) of presenteeism (OR, 1.166; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.061 to 1.282 and OR, 1.276; 95% CI, 1.181 to 1.379, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Certain activities outside work, such as self-development or leisure/sports, were related to presenteeism among Korean wage workers. Although many previous studies have emphasized the positive effects of those activities on health, this study documented negative effects of these activities outside work on health.
Agriculture ; Efficiency ; Gardening ; Global Health ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Presenteeism ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

We investigated the effects on various crops of inoculation with species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils from different sources and selected AMF species suitable for domestic environment-friendly farming. Effects on plants varied with the AMF species used. In carrot, Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora longula, and Funneliformis mosseae had a positive effect on growth of the host, whereas AMF had only weak effects on the growth of red pepper and leek. AMF inoculation had positive effects on the growth of carrot and sorghum. The results of this study indicate the nature of the relationship between soil, plants, and AMF; this study therefore has important implications for the future use of AMF in environment-friendly agriculture.
Agriculture ; Capsicum ; Daucus carota ; Fungi* ; Onions ; Organic Agriculture ; Plants* ; Soil* ; Sorghum

Aims: Food security and safety are current issues around the world. Rice is a staple food for a large portion of the world’s population, and in Malaysia around 2.2 million tonnes of rice were consumed annually. Fertilizer input is the key to increase rice production. Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) has developed multifunctional biofertilizer products in an effort to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers for crop production. Methodology and results: Multifunctional biofertilizer products contain indigenous microorganisms that have desired characteristics, which include plant growth promoting, phosphate solubilising, potassium solubilising and enhancing N2- fixing activity were used in this study. These products were formulated as liquid inoculants, which is suitable for rice production. A greenhouse trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of multifunctional biofertilizer on rice. Multifunctional biofertilizer products were applied singly and in combination with rock phosphate, feldspar and irradiated oligochitosan from a project by Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA), Japan. Plants that were given chemical fertilizers and plants not receiving fertilizer or biofertilizer products were used as controls. Fresh and dry weights of rice seedlings were determined. Application of multifunctional biofertilizer combined with irradiated oligochitosan (T3) resulted in significantly higher fresh weights (97.12 g) and dry weights (84.16 g) as compared to non-treated plants (77.39 g fresh weights and 69.56 g dry weights). The results suggested that application of multifunctional biofertilizer in combination with irradiated oligochitosan could increase rice growth. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Combination of biofertilizer with oligochitosan increased rice growth in greenhouse trial. Further investigation of this interaction phenomenon should be carried out.
Crop Production ; Oryza

Cultivated ginseng in the farmland would become the mainly planting mode of Panax ginseng. However,there are relatively few cultivation ginseng varieties for farmland in China. Correlative analysis of qualitity and agronomic traits of P. ginseng cultivation in the farmland could provide a reference for the selection of excellent germplasm and new variety breeding of P. ginseng. In this study,the main index of saponin and agronomic traits of 4-6 years' samples were analyzed by UPLC and measured. The results show that there was significant difference in agronomic indexes of Damaya. The coefficient of variation of the root length( CV = 41. 97%) and fresh weight( CV = 31. 81%) were maximum,and the coefficient of variation of the stems thickness( 16. 72%) and root thickness were minimum. There was a significant correlation between yield and root thickness( P<0. 05). There was significant difference in drug yield of different harvest years( P<0. 05),and the yield of 6-years was 31. 52%-39. 69% higher than 4-years. However,there wasn't significant difference in total ginsenosides between 4 and 6 years old P. ginseng,but there was significant difference in ginseng Rg2,Rc and Rb2( P<0. 05),and the ginsenoside contents of different harvesting years were accorded with the criterion standards of 2015 Chinese Pharmacopoeia. There was no significant correlation between the saponin and the agronomic trait,while there was positive correlation with root thickness( P < 0. 05). Therefore,the stem diameter was positive correlation with yield of P. ginseng. Selection of the stem thickness of seedlings is beneficial to the increase of the yield and breeding of P. ginseng.
China ; Crop Production ; Ginsenosides/analysis* ; Panax/chemistry* ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/growth & development* ; Plant Stems/growth & development*

OBJECTIVES: Cases of human brucellosis in Korea have recently increased due to the increasing incidence of bovine brucellosis. The authors conducted this study to elucidate the status of brucellosis through seroepidemiologic study. METHODS: We selected our study population from a high risk group. We conducted a questionnaire survey and obtained blood samples to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis antibodies for 10 days in February, 2005. The titers of brucellosis were measured by the combination of standard tube agglutination test (STA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. RESULTS: Our study subjects comprised 1,075 cases: 971 livestock workers, 51 veterinarians, and 53 artificial inseminators. In the STA test, 27 cases (2.5%) had titers of greater than or equal to 1:20. Of 1,068 cases (7 cases were excluded due to previous brucellosis), 7 cases of brucellosis were diagnosed with titers of 1:160, giving a seroprevalence of brucellosis of 0.66%. The seroprevalence in the male group was 0.95%, and that of livestock workers, veterinarians, and artificial inseminators was 0.52%, 4.17%, and 0.00%, respectively. The Spearman's correlation coefficient between the positive rate of bovine brucellosis per capita and household and human brucellosis was 0.806 and 0.744, respectively. The concordance rate between the Korea National Institute of Health and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment by the STA and ELISA tests was 94.7% and 100.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicated in higher seroprevalence rate among veterinarians than among livestock workers and artificial inseminators. Because veterinarians may be exposed to this high risk, effective working guidelines for veterinarians to guard against brucellosis must be developed. Moreover, more extensive epidemiologic research for laboratory workers and meat handlers is needed.
Adult ; Aged ; Agriculture ; Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Brucellosis/*epidemiology ; Brucellosis, Bovine/epidemiology ; Cattle ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Veterinarians

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders and depression/anxiety disorders are long-standing and significant problem for mental health. Also there are already known so many negative health effect of these disorders. But there were few studies to examine the association between activities outside work and forementioned disorders. So this study aimed the association of those things by using the Republic of Korean data. METHODS: Data from 32,232 wage workers were used in the 4th Korean Working Condition Survey. General and occupational characteristics, sleep disorders, depression/anxiety disorders and activities outside work are included in questionnaire. To find the relationship between activities outside work and sleep, depression/anxiety disorders, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used after adjusting for general and occupational characteristics. RESULTS: We observed that volunteer activities increased the odds ratio of both sleep disorders and depression/anxiety disorders(Odds ratio[OR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.03–1.78 and OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.29–1.84, respectively). And self-development activities increase the odds ratio of sleep disorders(OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17–1.57). Gardening activities lowered the odds ratio of depression/anxiety disorders(OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59–0.94). CONCLUSION: Some of activities outside work were related to sleep disorders and depression/anxiety disorders among Korean wage workers. Our results showed negative health effect of some kinds of activities outside work such as volunteering and self-devlopment compared to other studies that emphasized positive effect of those activities for health.
Agriculture ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Gardening ; Leisure Activities ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health ; Odds Ratio ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Volunteers

Aims: Aquaculture has grown tremendously in Malaysia over the past decades. However, guaranteeing aquaculture sustainability is a big challenge in terms of maintaining continuous output with a safe environment. Furthermore, the cultured species should be free from antibiotic resistance bacterial and antibiotic residue. This study aimed to monitor the existence and prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria associated with aquaculture farms in Sarawak. Methodology and results: Samples of water, sediment and fish were collected from five aquaculture farms within Sarawak. The samples were plated on trypticase soy agar and incubated at 28 °C for 24 h. A total of 204 bacterial isolates were isolated and analysed by (GTG)5-fingerprinting to determine genetic similarity among the bacterial isolates, so that representatives could be selected from similar clonal isolates. Based on the (GTG)5 profiles, 50 representative isolates were chosen for species identification using 16S rRNA sequencing. The identified bacteria were tested against 25 antibiotics using standard disk diffusion method. The 16S rRNA analysis revealed that the isolates constitute of 14 genera of bacteria including Bacillus (38%), Exiguobacterium (16%), Enterobacter (14%), Aeromonas (6%), Acinetobacter (4%), Citrobacter (4%), Staphylococcus (4%), Achromobacter (2%), Chitinophaga (2%), Fictibacillus (2%), Plesiomonas (2%), Pseudomonas (2%), Pseudoxanthomonas (2%) and Stenotrophomonas (2%). The antibiotic resistance analysis revealed that the highest percentage of resistance was recorded against streptomycin (75.0%), followed by ampicillin (66.0%), ceftriaxone (50.0%), rifampin (43.3%), aztreonam (36.8%) and ceftazidime (31.6%). Resistance to more than two antibiotics was observed in 40.0% of isolates with an overall multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) index ranging from 0 to 0.79. Conclusion, significant and impact of study The variability of antibiotic resistance patterns exhibited by different bacterial species suggests a dependence on selective pressures exhibited in different geographical locations. Our results show that the occurrence of MAR bacteria in an aquaculture environment with unknown history of antibiotics usage in the aquaculture system is possible, indicating a need to continuously monitor the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the aquaculture system.
Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Aquaculture ; Malaysia