Evaluation of Two Portable Hyperspectral-Sensor-Based Instruments to Predict Key Soil Properties in Canadian Soils.

In contrast with classic bench-top hyperspectral (multispectral)-sensor-based instruments (spectrophotometers), the portable ones are rugged, relatively inexpensive, and simple to use; therefore, they are suitable for field implementation to more closely examine various soil properties on the spot. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two portable spectrophotometers to predict key soil properties such as texture and soil organic carbon (SOC) in 282 soil samples collected from proportional fields in four Canadian provinces. Of the two instruments, one was the first of its kind (prototype) and was a mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectrophotometer operating between ~5500 and ~11,000 nm.

Multicenter Evaluation of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy-Based Method for Rapid Identification of Clinically Relevant Yeasts.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has demonstrated applicability as a reagent-free whole-organism fingerprinting technique for both microbial identification and strain typing. For routine application of this technique in microbiology laboratories, acquisition of FTIR spectra in the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode simplifies the FTIR spectroscopy workflow, providing results within minutes after initial culture without prior sample preparation. In our previous central work, 99.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Study Milk Composition Changes in Dairy Cows Attributed to Housing Modifications to Improve Animal Welfare.

Animal welfare status is assessed today through visual evaluations requiring an on-farm visit. A convenient alternative would be to detect cow welfare status directly in milk samples, already routinely collected for milk recording. The objective of this study was to propose a novel approach to demonstrate that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can detect changes in milk composition related to cows subjected to movement restriction at the tie stall with four tie-rail configurations varying in height and position (TR1, TR2, TR3 and TR4).

Diagnosis of idiopathic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of patient-derived skin.

One of the great challenges in identifying effective therapy in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is the lack of reliable biomarkers. In this study, we applied infrared imaging microspectroscopy, a valuable technique to investigate biomolecule fingerprints and secondary structure of proteins within biological tissue. We hypothesized that, since skin and CNS have the same embryonic origin, spectral differences associated with ALS-specific pathological events will be readily detectable through skin testing using this technique.

Reagent-Free Identification of Clinical Yeasts by Use of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

Invasive fungal infections by opportunistic yeasts have increased concomitantly with the growth of an immunocompromised patient population. Misidentification of yeasts can lead to inappropriate antifungal treatment and complications. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is a promising method for rapid and accurate identification of microorganisms.

Development of an NDIR CO₂ sensor-based system for assessing soil toxicity using substrate-induced respiration.

The eco-toxicological indicators used to evaluate soil quality complement the physico-chemical criteria employed in contaminated site remediation, but their cost, time, sophisticated analytical methods and in-situ inapplicability pose a major challenge to rapidly detect and map the extent of soil contamination. This paper describes a sensor-based approach for measuring potential (substrate-induced) microbial respiration in diesel-contaminated and non-contaminated soil and hence, indirectly evaluates their microbial activity. A simple CO2 sensing system was developed using an inexpensive non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensor and was successfully deployed to differentiate the control and diesel-contaminated soils in terms of CO2 emission after glucose addition.

Rapid identification of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

The emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin is a worldwide problem. Their identification is based currently on costly and complicated molecular methods. This article describes a simple method for differentiating CA-MRSA from hospital-associated (HA) epidemic MRSA pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Effect of dissolved oxygen on two bacterial pathogens examined using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, microelectrophoresis, and potentiometric titration.

The effects of dissolved oxygen tension during bacterial growth and acclimation on the cell surface properties and biochemical composition of the bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Yersinia enterocolitica are characterized. Three experimental techniques are used in an effort to understand the influence of bacterial growth and acclimation conditions on cell surface charge and the composition of the bacterial cell: (i) electrophoretic mobility measurements; (ii) potentiometric titration; and (iii) ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Potentiometric titration data analyzed using chemical speciation software are related to measured electrophoretic mobilities at the pH of interest.

Evaluation of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the rapid identification of glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: To evaluate Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a rapid method for distinguishing glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) from glycopeptide-susceptible methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and to compare three data analysis methods.

Methods: First-derivative normalized spectra of dried films of bacterial growth on Que-Bact Universal Medium No.

Epidemiological typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

A rapid and simple typing system is needed for controlling the spread of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), currently one of the most widespread multi-resistant nosocomial pathogens in Canadian hospitals. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to subtype 85 isolates representing five strains of epidemic Canadian MRSA (CMRSA). Spectral fingerprints of whole cells grown on Que-Bact(R) Universal Medium No.

Differentiation of group I and group II strains of Clostridium botulinum by focal plane array Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

A method was developed for whole-organism fingerprinting of Clostridium botulinum isolates by focal plane array Fourier transform infrared (FPA-FTIR) spectroscopy. A database of 150,000 infrared spectra of 44 strains of C. botulinum was acquired using a FPA-FTIR imaging spectrometer equipped with a 16 x 16 array detector to evaluate the ability of FTIR spectroscopy to differentiate the 44 strains.

Rapid identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), frequently associated with both community-acquired and nosocomial bloodstream infections, must be distinguished from Staphylococcus aureus for clinical purposes. Conventional methods are too laborious and time-consuming and often lack sensitivity to CNS. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with the use of a universal growth medium (Que-Bact Universal Medium No.

Heterospectral two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy of mid-infrared and Fourier self-deconvolved near-infrared spectra of sugar solutions.

The mid- and near-infrared (mid-IR and NIR) spectra of aqueous solutions of glucose and fructose, fructose and galactose, and glucose and galactose were recorded and analyzed by heterospectral two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (H2D-CS) to determine characteristic NIR wavelengths for each sugar. Fourier self-deconvolution (FSD) was applied to the NIR spectra prior to H2D-CS analysis to help resolve the strongly overlapping sugar absorptions. Examination of the H2D-CS data gave characteristic absorption wavelengths for glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Accelerating bacterial identification by infrared spectroscopy by employing microarray deposition of microorganisms.

A microarray method for the deposition of bacteria onto an agar slide was developed to accelerate the formation of microcolonies. Representative microarrays each consisting of 40 micro-spots of five replicates of eight foodborne bacteria (Yersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli) were printed on a Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar slide using a contact micro-spotting robotic system. Within 3 h, sufficient bacterial cells were obtained to allow accurate identification of the microorganism by infrared spectroscopy.

Investigation of the potential utility of single-bounce attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the analysis of distilled liquors and wines.

A new Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method based on single-bounce attenuated total reflectance (SB-ATR) spectroscopy was developed for the analysis of distilled liquors and wines. For distilled liquors, a partial least-squares (PLS) calibration was developed for alcohol determination based on the SB-ATR/FTIR spectra of mixtures of ethanol and distilled water. An independent set of 12 different distilled liquor samples was predicted from the PLS calibration, and a standard deviation of the differences for accuracy (SDD(a)) between actual and predicted values of 0.