books and software
Diving into BioassessmentTechniques Manual of Bioassessment of Aquatic Sediment Quality Edited by Alena Mudroch, José M. Azcue, and Paul Mudroch CRC Press 2000 Corporate Blvd., N.W. Boca Raton, FL 33431 1999, 236 pp, $79.95 This book serves as a companion to the Manual of Physio-Chemical Analysis of Aquatic Sediments, which was compiled by the same editors. Sediment quality has received significant attention in recent years as a source of pollutants in the aquatic environment. When evaluating an ecosystem for baseline assessment or remediation and restoration, the project manager has many different and often conflicting analytical tools from which to choose. The Manual of Bioassessment of Aquatic Sediment Quality can be used as a reference guide for evaluating the strengths and limitations of bioassessment techniques. Although the references are current, it is unclear at times how they apply to the discussion in the text. However, the authors do a good job of recommending the most appropriate and alternative methods. The first four chapters would be useful to the field project manager, who has some basic knowledge of chemistry and biology. The last two chapters are more applicable to the laboratory manager who analyzes sediments. The first chapter provides a lot of current information, but the organization is somewhat unclear. However, it contains good references for metal speciation and discusses the limitations of the generated data. The second chapter offers a good introduction to the many types of bacterial populations found within sediment, a short discussion of methods of analysis, and finishes with a strong caution about data interpretation. The third chapter, which deals with laboratory test methods—primarily bioassays—is well referenced and raises many good questions that must be considered when performing these tests. The title of the fourth chapter, “Field Methods and Interpretation,” is somewhat misleading. Rather than provide test methods that can be performed in the field, the chapter looks at the system as a whole—more specifically, at the health of individuals or communities living in the sediment and surrounding waters. Chapter 5 offers a good discussion of how reference materials fit into a good laboratory QA/QC program, along with a very good listing of certified reference materials and their suppliers. It also contains a guide for preparing an in-house reference material. The final chapter, “Safety in the Laboratory,” offers some important safety reminders.
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Reviewed by Donna M. Beals, Savannah River Technology Center, Westinghouse River Company
LIMS Simplified with Nautilus Nautilus LabSystems St. George’s Court, Hanover Business Park Altrincham, Cheshire WA145TP, Great Britain +44 (161) 942 3000 http://www.labsystems.com £10,000 sterling ($16,000) Requires: Windows 95, 98, or NT for client computers; Windows NT for server Nautilus is a laboratory information management system (LIMS) that controls data processing, analysis, and reporting by assigning protocols and even operators to each sample. The software’s list price includes the latest version; basic Oracle software; a high-specExample of “workflow” for ification PC server system, includsample processing and ing a printer and Microsoft Office; report generation. two days of on-site, computerbased training and three days of on-site consultation; and 90 days of telephone support. This review covers the 1999 version. The 2000 version will be launched at Pittcon 2000. Unlike any previous LIMS, in which a certain amount of source-code programming knowledge was required to make modifications to the program, Nautilus is marketed as a ready-to-use product. This reviewer found the installation of the program, with its Windows-style “wizard”, relatively straightforward. Once the databases in Oracle were set up, Nautilus was ready to use. Because this was a pre-release of Nautilus 99, no documentation was supplied. The two days of initial consultation were enough for this reviewer, who is new to LIMS, to get started, but further training was essential to get the most from the program. Three days of such additional instruction is part of the package; after that, the user is charged for on-site assistance from LabSystems. Navigating the program is easy because Nautilus, like most programs today, has received the Microsoft treatment. The layout resembles the Explorer interface, whose “point-and-click” technology should be instantly familiar to most users. Pre-set toolbars, including the standard cut and paste functions, are standard with Nautilus, and custom toolbars can also be designed.
