Microbiological Examination Methods of Food and Water (2nd edition) is an illustrated laboratory manual that provides an overview of current standard microbiological culture methods for the examination of food and water, adhered to by renowned international organizations, such as ISO, AOAC, APHA, FDA and FSIS/USDA. It includes methods for the enumeration of indicator microorganisms of general contamination, indicators of hygiene and sanitary conditions, sporeforming, spoilage fungi and pathogenic bacteria. Every chapter begins with a comprehensive, in-depth and updated bibliographic reference on the microorganism(s) dealt with in that particular section of the book. The latest facts on the taxonomic position of each group, genus or species are given, as well as clear guidelines on how to deal with changes in nomenclature on the internet. All chapters provide schematic comparisons between the methods presented, highlighting the main differences and similarities. This allows the user to choose the method that best meets his/her needs. Moreover, each chapter lists validated alternative quick methods, which, though not described in the book, may and can be used for the analysis of the microorganism(s) dealt with in that particular chapter. The didactic setup and the visualization of procedures in step-by-step schemes allow the user to quickly perceive and execute the procedure intended. Support material such as drawings, procedure schemes and laboratory sheets are available for downloading and customization. This compendium will serve as an up-to-date practical companion for laboratory professionals, technicians and research scientists, instructors, teachers and food and water analysts. Alimentary engineering, chemistry, biotechnology and biology (under)graduate students specializing in food sciences will also find the book beneficial. It is furthermore suited for use as a practical/laboratory manual for graduate courses in Food Engineering and Food Microbiology.

Ponencia invitada en el congreso. Resumen disponible en varios idiomas. La presentación puede ser consultada en Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/antonio_tb/invertebrados-agua-dulce-monitorizacin-y-estado-ecolgico | Verbatim: A la hora de evaluar el estado de conservación de de una zona concreta, resulta necesario evaluar la situación en la que se encuentran sus masas de agua continentales (lagos y ríos). Para ello, deberemos remitirnos en la Unión Europea a la Directiva Marco de Aguas (Directiva 2000/60/CE) un cambio significativo de conceptos al integrar el estado del ecosistema acuático en el concepto de calidad de las agua. En esta Directiva se introducen con carácter legal como indicadores de calidad del estado ecológico a los organismos que habitan estas masas de agua. Entre estos indicadores biológicos (o bioindicadores) recogidos en la DMA se encuentran el fitobentos, los macrófitos, los peces y los macroinvertebrados acuáticos. El uso de estos últimos como bioindicadores, presenta diversas ventajas, tanto por ser parte fundamental de las redes tróficas y ser sensibles al estrés ambiental producido por las perturbaciones antrópicas, como por estar presentes en la gran mayoría de las masas de agua continentales, incluidas aquellas que de forma natural no presentan peces o éstos son muy raros. Esto ha hecho que los invertebrados acuáticos hayan sido muy utilizados en Europa y en la Península Ibérica para valorar, anteriormente, la calidad de las aguas y actualmente el estado ecológico de los ecosistemas acuáticos. Se comentan los grupos más importantes de macroinvertebrados empleados relacionados con su sensibilidad a las perturbaciones antrópicas y los distintos métodos de muestro e índices empleados en la Península Ibérica para monitorizar y valorar el estado ecológico de las aguas continentales, desde el IBMWP, ampliamente utilizado en gran parte de la Península, hasta los métodos multimétricos actualmente en aplicación y desarrollo. | ATB disfruta de un contrato PTA-MICINN cofinanciado por Plan Nacional de I+D+i,Fondo Social Europeo y el PCTI Asturias (PTA2010-4108-I).

Se presenta la comparación entre dos metodologías para el diseño de un tanque de almacenamiento de agua lluvia; La primera utiliza un análisis estadístico y determina el volumen óptimo de la estructura, a partir de, la aplicación de estadística inferencial sobre los datos de precipitación. La segunda metodología combina dos tipos de análisis: determinista y estadístico, en esta, el volumen óptimo se determina a través de la estadística inferencial, aplicada sobre los datos de tipo determinista. | The comparison between two methodologies for the design of a rainwater storage tank is presented; The first uses a statistical analysis and determines the optimal volume of the structure, from the application of inferential statistics on the precipitation data. The second methodology combines two types of analysis: deterministic and statistical, in this, the optimal volume is determined through inferential statistics, applied to deterministic data.

El presente proyecto de grado se enfoca en el desarrollo de un método in vitro de bioacumulación de hierro (Fe (III)) para disminuir su contenido mediante el uso de Bacillus subtilis en muestras de agua del río Chicú, aprovechando las características propias de este microorganismo que le permiten incorporar metales como el hierro debido a su afinidad con este elemento. En torno a este objetivo, la metodología planteada se enfoca en corroborar el potencial de reducción en la concentración de hierro trivalente (Fe (III)) por parte del microorganismo Bacillus subtilis, según lo reportado en la literatura, así como constatar que existe una reducción significativa de este elemento, de igual manera mediante el uso del microorganismo anteriormente mencionado, en muestras de agua del río Chicú, bajo sus condiciones físico-químicas particulares. Lo anterior, con el fin de establecer las distintas condiciones de la metodología propuesta. En primer lugar, se llevó a cabo una contextualización del problema, junto a una revisión bibliográfica de los antecedentes en cuanto al potencial de B. subtilis para la reducción en la concentración de Fe (III). Luego, se procedió a determinar los parámetros físico-químicos en muestras de agua tomadas directamente de la fuente hídrica en cuestión, a la altura del sector “el Chacal” en el municipio de Tenjo, Cundinamarca. A partir de las muestras recolectadas se determinó: pH, sólidos disueltos totales (TDS), concentración inicial de hierro (Fe (III)), DBO y DQO. Más adelante, se precisó la pureza de la cepa de Bacillus subtilis obtenida, la cual fue donada por el laboratorio de Ingeniería Ambiental de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín. Posteriormente, se propuso un diseño experimental factorial, para ratificar la capacidad del microorganismo para reducir la concentración de Fe (III) en medios químicamente definidos, de acuerdo con lo reportado en la literatura; estableciendo dicha reducción como variable de interés. Para este diseño, se relacionaron dos factores a evaluar con respecto a la variable de salida, cada uno de los cuales dispone de tres niveles: el pH (3.5, 5 y 7) y la concentración inicial de hierro (Fe (III)) (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L y 9 mg/L), obteniendo un total de 9 tratamientos experimentales. Una vez definidos los tratamientos, se prepararon medios de cultivo químicamente definidos de acuerdo con las características especificadas en el diseño experimental. Tras la inoculación del microorganismo durante un periodo de 7 días a 28 °C con agitación constante a 100 rpm, se determinó la concentración final de hierro tanto en los controles negativos como en cada una de las réplicas, verificando el crecimiento del microorganismo y cuantificando la biomasa por peso seco. Seguidamente, se repitió el proceso de inoculación en muestras de agua provenientes del río Chicú para evaluar el porcentaje de bioacumulación y consecuente reducción en la concentración de Fe (III) en este medio, determinando nuevamente la concentración final del elemento y la biomasa. Por último, se plantearon los análisis estadísticos pertinentes: un análisis de varianza ANOVA con un nivel de significancia de 0.05 y una diferencia mínima significativa (LSD) de Fisher, con un nivel del 95% de confiabilidad. El valor de pH encontrado en las muestras de agua de río fue de 6.87 en promedio, el cual se encuentra dentro del rango usual de pH para cuerpos de agua superficiales, según lo establecido por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Adicionalmente, se estableció que la concentración de hierro (Fe (III)) fue de 0.94 mg/L, la cual supera en más de un 100% el límite establecido por la norma. Se reportó una DBO de 109 mg/L y una DQO de 696 mg/L, valores que exceden el límite máximo permisible descrito por la normativa correspondiente (50 mg/L para DBO5 y 150 mg/L para DQO). En cuanto al diseño experimental, en general se obtuvieron porcentajes de reducción de Fe (III) mayores al 50%, encontrando que los valores de pH entre 5 y 7 favorecen el crecimiento del microorganismo. De igual manera, se relacionó una mayor concentración inicial de Fe (III) con una cantidad reducida más elevada. La mayor cantidad de hierro (Fe (III)) reducida fue de 8.78 mg/L, o bien un porcentaje de 97.56% de reducción, el cual se dio en condiciones de concentración inicial de Fe (III) de 9 mg/L y pH 7. En el caso particular del agua del río, la cantidad promedio de Fe (III) reducida, fue de 0.83 mg/L, que representa un porcentaje de reducción de hierro de 88.3%. Se verificó la viabilidad en el crecimiento del microorganismo en agar nutritivo luego de ser sometido al medio con concentraciones de hierro diferentes. Adicionalmente, la determinación de la biomasa por peso seco indicó que la mayor cantidad obtenida fue 0.36 ± 0.04 g/ml, en condiciones de concentración de Fe (III) de 1mg/L y ph7. En general, los resultados indican el potencial de B. subtilis para la reducción de diferentes concentraciones de Fe (III) en medios de cultivo específicamente definidos para el microorganismo, así como en muestras de agua del río Chicú, las cuales poseen características físico-químicas propias. | Bioingeniero | Pregrado | The present degree project focuses on the development of an in vitro method of bioaccumulation of iron (Fe (III)) to reduce its content through the use of Bacillus subtilis in water samples from the Chicú River, taking advantage of the characteristics of this microorganism, that allow it to incorporate metals such as iron due to its affinity with this element. Around this objective, the proposed methodology focuses on corroborating the potential for reduction in the concentration of trivalent iron (Fe (III)) by the microorganism Bacillus subtilis, as reported in the literature, as well as verifying that there is a significant reduction of this element, through the use of the aforementioned microorganism, in water samples from the Chicú River, under its particular physical-chemical conditions. The foregoing, in order to establish the different conditions of the proposed methodology. First, a contextualization of the problem was carried out, together with a bibliographic review of the antecedents regarding the potential of B. subtilis for the reduction in the concentration of Fe (III). Then, we proceeded to determine the physicochemical parameters in water samples taken directly from the water source in question, by the “El Chacal” sector in the municipality of Tenjo, Cundinamarca. From the collected samples, the following were determined: pH, TDS, initial concentration of iron (Fe (III)), BOD and COD. Later, the purity of the Bacillus subtilis strain obtained was specified, which was donated by the Environmental Engineering Laboratory of the National University of Colombia, on Medellín. Subsequently, a factorial experimental design was proposed to ratify the ability of the microorganism to reduce the concentration of Fe (III) in chemically defined media, according to what was reported in the literature; establishing said reduction as a variable of interest. For this design, two factors to evaluate with respect to the output variable were related, each of which has three levels: pH (3.5, 5 and 7) and the initial concentration of iron (Fe (III)) (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L and 9 mg/L), obtaining a total of 9 experimental treatments. Once the treatments were defined, chemically defined culture media were prepared according to the characteristics specified in the experimental design. After inoculation of the microorganism for a period of 7 days at 28 °C with constant stirring at 100 rpm, the final iron concentration was determined both in the negative controls and in each of the replicates, verifying the growth of the microorganism and quantifying the biomass by dry weight. Then, the inoculation process was repeated in water samples from the Chicú river to evaluate the percentage of bioaccumulation and consequent reduction in the concentration of Fe (III) in this medium, again determining the final concentration of the element and the biomass. Finally, the relevant statistical analyzes were proposed: an ANOVA analysis of variance with a significance level of 0.05 and a Fisher's least significant difference (LSD), with a 95% level of reliability. The pH value found in the river water samples was 6.87 on average, which is within the usual pH range for surface water bodies, as established by the World Health Organization. Additionally, it was established that the concentration of iron (Fe (III)) was 0.94 mg/L, which exceeds the limit established by the standard by more than 100%. A BOD of 109 mg/L and a COD of 696 mg/L were reported, values that exceed the maximum permissible limit described by the corresponding regulations (50 mg/L for BOD5 and 150 mg/L for COD). Regarding the experimental design, in general, Fe (III) reduction percentages greater than 50% were obtained, finding that pH values between 5 and 7 favor the growth of the microorganism. Similarly, a higher initial concentration of Fe (III) was related to a higher reduced amount. The highest amount of iron (Fe (III)) reduced was 8.78 mg/L, or a percentage of 97.56% reduction, which occurred under conditions of initial Fe (III) concentration of 9 mg/L and pH 7. In the particular case of river water, the average amount of reduced Fe (III) was 0.83 mg/L, which represents a percentage of iron reduction of 88.3%. The viability in the growth of the microorganism in nutrient agar was verified after being subjected to the medium with different iron concentrations. Additionally, the determination of biomass by dry weight indicated that the highest quantity obtained was 0.36 ± 0.04 g/ml, under conditions of Fe (III) concentration of 1mg/L and ph7. In general, the results indicate the potential of B. subtilis for the reduction of different concentrations of Fe (III) in culture media specifically defined for the microorganism, as well as in water samples from the Chicú River, which have their own physicochemical characteristics.

A stochastic study of long-term forecasts of seawater intrusion with an application to the Korba aquifer (Tunisia) is presented. Firstly, a geostatistical model of the exploitation rates was constructed, based on a multi-linear regression model combining incomplete direct data and exhaustive secondary information. Then, a new method was designed and used to construct a geostatistical model of the hydraulic conductivity field by combining lithological information and data from hydraulic tests. Secondly, the effects of the uncertainties associated with the pumping rates and the hydraulic conductivity field on the 3D density-dependent transient model were analysed separately and then jointly. The forecasts of the impacts of two different management scenarios on seawater intrusion in the year 2048 were performed by means of Monte Carlo simulations, accounting for uncertainties in the input parameters as well as possible changes of the boundary conditions. Combining primary and secondary data allowed maps of pumping rates and the hydraulic conductivity field to be constructed, despite a lack of direct data. The results of the stochastic long-term forecasts showed that, most probably, the Korba aquifer will be subject to important losses in terms of regional groundwater resources.

The process of accounting for heterogeneity has made significant advances in statistical research, primarily in the framework of stochastic analysis and the development of multiple-point statistics (MPS). Among MPS techniques, the direct sampling (DS) method is tested to determine its ability to delineate heterogeneity from aerial magnetics data in a regional sandstone aquifer intruded by low-permeability volcanic dykes in Northern Ireland, UK. The use of two two-dimensional bivariate training images aids in creating spatial probability distributions of heterogeneities of hydrogeological interest, despite relatively ‘noisy’ magnetics data (i.e. including hydrogeologically irrelevant urban noise and regional geologic effects). These distributions are incorporated into a hierarchy system where previously published density function and upscaling methods are applied to derive regional distributions of equivalent hydraulic conductivity tensor K. Several K models, as determined by several stochastic realisations of MPS dyke locations, are computed within groundwater flow models and evaluated by comparing modelled heads with field observations. Results show a significant improvement in model calibration when compared to a simplistic homogeneous and isotropic aquifer model that does not account for the dyke occurrence evidenced by airborne magnetic data. The best model is obtained when normal and reverse polarity dykes are computed separately within MPS simulations and when a probability threshold of 0.7 is applied. The presented stochastic approach also provides improvement when compared to a previously published deterministic anisotropic model based on the unprocessed (i.e. noisy) airborne magnetics. This demonstrates the potential of coupling MPS to airborne geophysical data for regional groundwater modelling.

Closed basins are catchments whose drainage networks converge to lakes, salt flats or alluvial plains. Salt flats in the closed basins in arid northern Chile are extremely important ecological niches. The Salar del Huasco, one of these salt flats located in the high plateau (Altiplano), is a Ramsar site located in a national park and is composed of a wetland ecosystem rich in biodiversity. The proper management of the groundwater, which is essential for the wetland function, requires accurate estimates of recharge in the Salar del Huasco basin. This study quantifies the spatio-temporal distribution of the recharge, through combined use of isotopic characterization of the different components of the water cycle and a rainfall-runoff model. The use of both methodologies aids the understanding of hydrological behavior of the basin and enabled estimation of a long-term average recharge of 22 mm/yr (i.e., 15 % of the annual rainfall). Recharge has a high spatial variability, controlled by the geological and hydrometeorological characteristics of the basin, and a high interannual variability, with values ranging from 18 to 26 mm/yr. The isotopic approach allowed not only the definition of the conceptual model used in the hydrological model, but also eliminated the possibility of a hydrogeological connection between the aquifer of the Salar del Huasco basin and the aquifer that feeds the springs of the nearby town of Pica. This potential connection has been an issue of great interest to agriculture and tourism activities in the region.