bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPUTER‐BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS: THEIR ROLE IN REVITALISING THE UNITED STATES MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Authors: Yong Kaw Wu , Malley John C.
Published: March 2008

The United States has been a dominant force in industrial and economic affairs worldwide. Recently, this dominance has eroded to a point which concerns most US manufacturers. What has happened to the US dominant position in manufacturing? Why has this competitiveness crisis emerged? This crisis is analysed the use of computer technology and computer integrated manufacturing are examined as possible solutions to the crisis. Final remarks concerning the major technical and behavioural problems are presented in the conclusions.
EVALUATION OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES
Authors: Goonatilake Lalith
Published: March 2008

Consumers in developing countries often complain that the quality of locally manufactured consumer goods is far below their expectations. The general remedies suggested to improve product quality are to adopt the latest quality control concepts that are being applied in more industrialised countries. However, few attempts have been made to understand the underlying causes of low product quality in developing economies. This article analyses the causes of low product quality in developing nations, first of all by examining the background factors influencing the setting up of import substitution industries. Shortcomings in the education policies in developing economies are identified, which have created a shortage of personnel qualified to perform the required quality management functions. It is also shown that the restrictions placed on imports to safeguard local industries have contributed to the development of monopoly industries in developing countries. In the analysis the quality assurance mechanism is considered to be made up of two separate components; one purely the internal quality assurance mechanism and the other, which takes into consideration the influence of external parameters. The internal mechanism is considered a static situation, where the quality levels are fixed on the short term and the main task is to ensure that internal resources are efficiently utilised to ensure compliance to the standards set. The external mechanism represents the dynamic situation, where the quality standards themselves are changed periodically, based on customer evaluation of product quality and competitor influence. The models developed show clearly that perfect competition is a key determinant in the quality assurance process and under conditions of monopoly this natural mechanism breaks down and product quality suffers.
DIRECTIONS OF STRUCTURED APPROACHES IN SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Gupta Yash P.
Published: March 2008

The challenge of reducing the development time while increasing the quality of new information systems is becoming more urgent with the growing demands on data processing (DP) services. Structured methodologies for system development provide a means to improve stagnant DP professionals' productivity, overcome communication problems and reduce the risks of systems failure. These methodologies can only be implemented with active management participation and changes in the roles of users and DP professionals. In this article we examine the above issues and suggest methods of how management can facilitate the implementation of these methodologies.
RETAIL BRANCH COST CONTROL THROUGH HIGH TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Gray Colin
Published: March 2008

The control of remote sites is a time consuming and difficult task. Speedy and relevant data are required for control. It is possible to install systems which provide summarised comparative performance reports the day after. Less time is therefore spent on administrative tasks and more on looking at the results with the aim of improvement.
FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTIVITY: PERCEPTIONS OF INDIAN MANAGERS
Authors: Mohanty R.P.
Published: March 2008

A survey was conducted in India to try to understand the factors that affect the productivity of Indian organisations. The perceptions of managers were sought and it is believed that more productive organisations would result from involving managers in the creation, design and maintenance of systems. Productivity is interpreted as creating maximum welfare for the maximum number of employees.
CONFLICT BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS MANAGERS' OPINIONS
Authors: Bloch Brian
Published: March 2008

Interdepartmental conflict is a vital but frequently underrated cause of organisational inefficiency and sub‐optimal performance. The views are presented of a number of practising managers in large manufacturing enterprises on the issue of interdepartmental conflict. Managers' comments are reported in the following categories: personality of managers, communication, objectives and interdepartmental priorities and perspectives. The comments indicate the prevalence of interdepartmental conflict, and suggest that the essence of the problem is limited managerial effectiveness and a paucity of mutual interdepartmental understanding.
COMPUTER AWARENESS AMONG FUNCTIONAL MANAGERS
Authors: Rowe Christopher J.
Published: March 2008

Reports on computer innovation in companies suggest that, in general, awareness lags behind application, and that there is considerable variation between functional areas. Why this should be is considered and five key factors are focused on which suggest that different specialisms lack awareness for different reasons. It is concluded that all managers must move from “ignorance” to “omniscience”.
HOMEWORKING THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY: OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPOSITION — PART TWO
Authors: Connolly Sean
Published: March 2008

The employment trend of working at home with computers in the United Kingdom is investigated, covering what computer homeworking is, who is involved, the form it takes and the types of organisations that have shown interest in it. Information is then provided concerning the extent of the growth in homeworking, and why there has not been the explosion of computer homeworking — as might have been expected as a result of the technological opportunities offered by the microcomputer — is explained.
OFFICE AUTOMATION SYSTEMS: PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Cheng T.C.E.
Published: March 2008

This article attempts to present an overview of the state‐of‐the‐art of office automation systems. It is aimed at making the office administrator aware of the transformation currently taking place in the practice of office management caused by the computer revolution.
THE MARKETING POWER OF PICTURES
Authors: Sciama Alberto
Published: March 2008

We are all bombarded, each day, with a plethora of communications messages from newspapers, radio and television, posters, shop displays, mail‐shots, commercial vehicles and other increasingly ingenious methods. When planning a marketing campaign, how do you ensure that your commercial message cuts through the defence mechanisms of scepticism and indifference? The judicious use of photography commands a power greater than even the pearliest of prose…yet you do not have to send a complete creative team to a far‐flung corner of the globe to achieve the desired stunning effect. Abstract concepts such as momentum, far‐sightedness, flexibility, co‐operation and growth can be conveyed visually to subliminally influence your target market. Yet so many managers resort to the drab shot of HQ and “photo‐booth” snaps of key personnel when overseeing the production of company literature.
THE ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS 1913–1988
Authors: Mitchell C.M.
Published: March 2008

The objectives and growth of the Association of Consulting Engineers since its inception in 1913 is described. The role of the consulting engineer in this country and abroad, both in developing and developed countries, is discussed. How can the Association and its members best prepare themselves to meet the challenges of the future?
Constitutive activation of a CC‐NB‐LRR protein alters morphogenesis through the cytokinin pathway in Arabidopsis
Authors: Igari Kadunari , Endo Sachiko , Hibara Ken‐ichiro , Aida Mitsuhiro , Sakakibara Hitoshi , Kawasaki Tsutomu , Tasaka Masao
Published: March 2008

Possible links between plant defense responses and morphogenesis have been postulated, but their molecular nature remains unknown. Here, we introduce the Arabidopsis semi‐dominant mutant uni‐1D with morphological defects. UNI encodes a coiled‐coil nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich‐repeat protein that belongs to the disease resistance (R) protein family involved in pathogen recognition. The uni‐1D mutation causes the constitutive activation of the protein, which is stabilized by the RAR1 function in a similar way as in other R proteins. The uni‐1D mutation induces the upregulation of the Pathogenesis‐related gene via the accumulation of salicylic acid, and evokes some of the morphological defects through the accumulation of cytokinin. The rin4 knock‐down mutation, which causes the constitutive activation of two R proteins, RPS2 and RPM1, induces an upregulation of cytokinin‐responsive genes and morphological defects similar to the uni‐1D mutation, indicating that the constitutive activation of some R proteins alters morphogenesis through the cytokinin pathway. From these data, we propose that the modification of the cytokinin pathway might be involved in some R protein‐mediated responses.
A male sterility‐associated mitochondrial protein in wild beets causes pollen disruption in transgenic plants
Authors: Yamamoto Masayuki P. , Shinada Hiroshi , Onodera Yasuyuki , Komaki Chihiro , Mikami Tetsuo , Kubo Tomohiko
Published: March 2008

In higher plants, male reproductive (pollen) development is known to be disrupted in a class of mitochondrial mutants termed cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) mutants. Despite the increase in knowledge regarding CMS‐encoding genes and their expression, definitive evidence that CMS‐associated proteins actually cause pollen disruption is not yet available in most cases. Here we compare the translation products of mitochondria between the normal fertile cytoplasm and the male‐sterile I‐12CMS(3) cytoplasm derived from wild beets. The results show a unique 12 kDa polypeptide that is present in the I‐12CMS(3) mitochondria but is not detectable among the translation products of normal mitochondria. We also found that a mitochondrial open reading frame (named orf129) was uniquely transcribed in I‐12CMS(3) and is large enough to encode the novel 12 kDa polypeptide. Antibodies against a GST–ORF129 fusion protein were raised to establish that this 12 kDa polypeptide is the product of orf129. ORF129 was shown to accumulate in flower mitochondria as well as in root and leaf mitochondria. As for the CMS‐associated protein (PCF protein) in petunia, ORF129 is primarily present in the matrix and is loosely associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane. The orf129 sequence was fused to a mitochondrial targeting pre‐sequence, placed under the control of the Arabidopsis apetala3 promoter, and introduced into the tobacco nuclear genome. Transgenic expression of ORF129 resulted in male sterility, which provides clear supporting evidence that ORF129 is responsible for the male‐sterile phenotype in sugar beet with wild beet cytoplasm.
A transgenic dTph1 insertional mutagenesis system for forward genetics in mycorrhizal phosphate transport of Petunia
Authors: Wegmüller Sarah , Svistoonoff Sergio , Reinhardt Didier , Stuurman Jeroen , Amrhein Nikolaus , Bucher Marcel
Published: March 2008

The active endogenous dTph1 system of the Petunia hybrida mutator line W138 has been used in several forward‐genetic mutant screens that were based on visible phenotypes such as flower morphology and color. In contrast, defective symbiotic phosphate (Pi) transport in mycorrhizal roots of Petunia is a hidden molecular phenotype as the symbiosis between plant roots and fungi takes place below ground, and, while fungal colonization can be visualized histochemically, Pi transport and the activity of Pi transporter proteins cannot be assessed visually. Here, we report on a molecular approach in which expression of a mycorrhiza‐inducible bi‐functional reporter transgene and insertional mutagenesis in Petunia are combined. Bi‐directionalization of a mycorrhizal Pi transporter promoter controlling the expression of two reporter genes encoding firefly luciferase and GUS allows visualization of mycorrhiza‐specific Pi transporter expression. A population of selectable transposon insertion mutants was established by crossing the transgenic reporter line with the mutator W138, from which the Pitransporter downregulated (ptd1) mutant was identified, which exhibits strongly reduced expression of mycorrhiza‐inducible Pi transporters in mycorrhizal roots.
WORDSWORTH and LAKE DISTRICT TOURISM: ROMANTIC RESHAPING OF LANDSCAPE
Authors: SQUIRE SHELACH J.
Published: March 2008

Creative literature colours popular perception of landscape and place. An analysis of English romanticism, Wordsworth's poetry in particular, illustrates how the transformation of an actual landscape into a literary landscape helped change attitudes toward wilderness and natural beauty. The romantic ideology fostered impressions of an idyllic, untamed eden. In response to public fascination with this mythologized and emotional portrait of place, a tourist landscape emerged. Thus even those unfamiliar with romantic literature are encouraged to see particular landscapes from a literary perspective.

Dans la formation d'une perception envers un paysage ou un endroit, un élément important est souvent la littérature imaginaire. Une analyse du romantisme anglais, en particulier la poésie de Wordsworth, démontre comment la transformation d'un paysage actuel sous une forme littéraire contribua fortement à un changement d'attitude envers la nature. Cette idéologie romantique encouragea la notion d'un jardin d'Eden encore sau‐vage. la fascination entretenue par ce portrait mythique créa finalement un environnement touristique. Même ceux qui n'ont guère connaissance en littérature romantique ont une vision d'un paysage particulier qui dérive dune perception littéraire.
FROM THE ECONOMIC TO THE POLITICAL: REGIONAL PLANNING IN WEST GERMANY
Authors: ROMSA GERALD , BLENMAN MORRIS , NIPPER JOSEPH
Published: March 2008

The resolution of regional disparities within the Federal Republic of Germany entails a complex redistributive process. Regional assistance policies initiated as wartime relief measures have, over time, incorporated classical incentive programs and revenue‐sharing. Revenue transfers among the three levels of government are dynamic, arising from changes in the socioeconomic and political environment. Much of the spatial effect of regional policies is overshadowed by more extensive sectoral benefits.

La détermination des inégalités régionales au sein de la République fédérale allemande fait appel à un procédé complexe de redistribution. Des politiques d'aide régionale, introduites comme des mesures de secours en temps de guerre, sont devenues avec le temps des programmes classiques d'incitation et de partage des reVenus. Les transferts de revenu entre les trois niveaux de gouvernement constituent un mécanisme dynamique répondant aux changements dans le milieu socioéconomique et politique. L'influence spatiale résultant des politiques régionales est en grande partie éclipsée par l'expansion des avantages sectoriels.
WEST EDMONTON MALL AS A CENTRE FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION
Authors: Hopkins Jeffrey S.P.
Published: March 2008

The emergence of a mega‐mall ‐ with its increased scale, size, and ensuing annexation of much of a city's retail and social life ‐ intensifies the need for research about the social functions of shopping centres. Profiles of mall social life are necessary to understand the larger geographical, legal, political, and social issues accompanying the proliferation of such privately owned, publicly used indoor urban environments. Social interaction at West Edmonton Mall (wem) is characterized through an examination of its physical design and operation and an assessment of attitudes and uses of its local patrons, including adolescent ‘ma/ies. wem is not as successful in orchestrating visitor satisfaction as one might expect, due partly to the amplification of tension between mall owners I designers and the desire of local residents to engage the mega‐mall on their own terms.
CANADIAN ENERGY FUTURES: POLICY SCENARIOS AND PUBLIC PREFERENCES
Authors: KUHN RICHARD G.
Published: March 2008

Alternative Canadian energy futures as articulated by forecasting agencies and as perceived by a sample of the Albertan public are examined. The use of environmental world views as a conceptual framework facilitates the analyses of both the energy scenarios and public perspectives in an analogous manner in order to establish areas of congruence and disagreement.

The results indicate that energy projections were consistent with the forecasting methodology selected, as well as the attitudes, values, and assumptions incorporated into the forecasting models. A relationship between environmental attitudes, energy preferences, and reasons expressed for those preferences was also found amongst the public sample.
Comparison of Home Monitoring Methods for Feline Urine pH Measurement
Authors: Raskin Rose E. , Murray Kelly A. , Levy Julie K.
Published: March 2008

Background —Monitoring of urine pH, often done in the patient's home, is essential for proper clinical treatment and management of conditions such as urolithiasis.

Objective —The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement in pH readings between a standard laboratory method and methods readily available for home monitoring. The influence of refrigerated storage on urine pH was also examined.

Methods —Urine samples were obtained by cystocentesis from 40 clinically healthy cats, and pH was measured within 2 hours of collection. Each sample was evaluated using pH paper, urinalysis reagent strip, 2 brands of portable pH meters (Chek‐Mite, Corning, Corning, NY, USA; and Checker 1, Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI, USA), and a standard laboratory benchtop pH meter. Urine samples were refrigerated, and a second pH reading was obtained with the laboratory benchtop meter after 24 hours. The degree of agreement was assessed among the different methods, with the laboratory benchtop pH meter as the reference method.

Results —The closest agreement was obtained with the Chek‐Mite portable pH meter and least agreement with the Checker 1 portable pH meter, which had a constant negative bias of 0.31 units due to expiration of the electrode. As expected, pH paper and reagent strips had poor and intermediate agreement, respectively. The reagent strip method had a negative bias of 0.12 units when compared with the benchtop pH meter and wide disagreement at the low pH end. The reagent strip did not agree strongly with the reference method; only 50% of values were within 0.25 pH units of each other. The difference in pH between 0 hours (6.57 ± 0.54) and 24 hours of refrigeration (6.61 ± 0.53) was not considered clinically significant.

Conclusion —Portable pH meters are excellent for monitoring urine pH at home as long as attention is given to electrode maintenance. Urine can be collected at home and kept refrigerated, and pH may be measured reliably within 24 hours using the reference method or a portable pH meter.
RNA interference shows interactions between mouse brainstem angiotensin AT1 receptors and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2
Authors: Lin Zhanyi , Chen Yanfang , Zhang Wenfeng , Chen Alex F. , Lin Shuguang , Morris Mariana
Published: March 2008

Angiotensin (Ang) AT1 receptors and Ang‐converting enzymes (ACE and ACE2) are expressed in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of the brainstem. The aim of this study was to examine in vivo interactions between brainstem Ang AT1 receptors, ACE and ACE2 using small, hairpin RNA (shRNA) gene‐silencing methods. The study takes advantage of the bilateral brainstem expression of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) markers. Adenovirus vectors (Ad, 2.0 × 109 c.f.u. ml−1, 200 nl) carrying interference small hairpin RNA (shRNA) for either AngAT1a (Ad‐AT1a‐shRNA) or AngAT1b (Ad‐AT1b‐shRNA) were microinjected into the right side of the brainstem DVC. The Ad‐LacZ control was injected into the left side. Brainstems were processed with in situ hybridization and immunochemistry. Results showed that: (1) Ad‐AT1a‐shRNA downregulated Ang AT1a mRNA by 61.2 ± 6.8% (P < 0.01) and Ad‐AT1b‐shRNA downregulated Ang AT1b mRNA by 51.6 ± 5.2% (P < 0.01); (2) downregulation of Ang AT1a mRNA was associated with decreased ACE2 mRNA expression (decrease of 29.0 ± 14.5%, P < 0.01), while reduction in Ang Ad‐AT1b mRNA had no effect; (3) ACE mRNA expression was not altered by either RNA interference (RNAi) treatment; and (4) immunochemical staining for Ang AT1 receptors, ACE and ACE2 were in agreement with the mRNA changes observed. These results demonstrate the utility of in vivo gene silencing to examine functional specificity. Both Ad‐AT1a‐shRNA and Ad‐AT1b‐shRNA induced site‐ and subtype‐specific downregulation of receptor expression. Gene silencing showed that there were interactions between brainstem Ang AT1a receptors and the RAS regulatory enzyme, ACE2.
Recent advances in the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2–angiotensin(1–7)–Mas axis
Authors: Santos Robson A. S. , Ferreira Anderson J. , Simões e Silva Ana Cristina
Published: March 2008

In the past few years, the classical concept of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has experienced substantial conceptual changes. The identification of: the renin/prorenin receptor; the angiotensin‐converting enzyme homologue, ACE2, as an angiotensin peptide‐processing enzyme and a virus receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome, the Mas as a receptor for angiotensin (1–7) [Ang(1–7)], and the possibility of signaling through ACE have contributed to switch our understanding of the RAS from the classical limited‐proteolysis linear cascade to a cascade with multiple mediators, multiple receptors and multifunctional enzymes. With regard to Ang(1–7), the identification of ACE2 and of Mas as a receptor implicated in its actions contributed to decisively establish this heptapeptide as a biologically active member of the RAS cascade. In this review, we will focus on the recent findings related to the ACE2–Ang(1–7)–Mas axis and, in particular, on its putative role as an ACE–Ang II–AT1 receptor counter‐regulatory axis within the RAS.
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Eukaryotic and Bacterial Communities Found in Vernal Pools
Authors: Carrino-Kyker Sarah R. , Swanson Andrew K.
Published: March 2008

In this study, we examined the effects of physicochemical variability on the microbial communities of vernal pools. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed temporal changes to be more pronounced than spatial changes in eukaryotic and bacterial communities. Sequencing revealed high degrees of richness in decomposers, which supports the notion that vernal pools are heterotrophic habitats.
Responses of
Bacillus subtilis
to Hypotonic Challenges: Physiological Contributions of Mechanosensitive Channels to Cellular Survival
Authors: Hoffmann Tamara , Boiangiu Clara , Moses Susanne , Bremer Erhard
Published: March 2008

Mechanosensitive channels are thought to function as safety valves for the release of cytoplasmic solutes from cells that have to manage a rapid transition from high- to low-osmolarity environments. Subsequent to an osmotic down-shock of cells grown at high osmolarity,
Bacillus subtilis
rapidly releases the previously accumulated compatible solute glycine betaine in accordance with the degree of the osmotic downshift. Database searches suggest that
B. subtilis
possesses one copy of a gene for a mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (
mscL
) and three copies of genes encoding proteins that putatively form mechanosensitive channels of small conductance (
yhdY
,
yfkC
, and
ykuT
). Detailed mutational analysis of all potential channel-forming genes revealed that a quadruple mutant (
mscL yhdY yfkC ykuT
) has no growth disadvantage in high-osmolarity media in comparison to the wild type. Osmotic down-shock experiments demonstrated that the MscL channel is the principal solute release system of
B. subtilis
, and strains with a gene disruption in
mscL
exhibited a severe survival defect upon an osmotic down-shock. We also detected a minor contribution of the SigB-controlled putative MscS-type channel-forming protein YkuT to cellular survival in an
mscL
mutant. Taken together, our data revealed that mechanosensitive channels of both the MscL and MscS types play pivotal roles in managing the transition of
B. subtilis
from hyper- to hypo-osmotic environments.
Comparison of Microbial and Photochemical Processes and Their Combination for Degradation of 2-Aminobenzothiazole
Authors: Bunescu Andrei , Besse-Hoggan Pascale , Sancelme Martine , Mailhot Gilles , Delort Anne-Marie
Published: March 2008

The transformation of 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT) was studied under various conditions: (i) a photodegradation process at a λ of >300 nm in the presence of an Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetic acid complex (FeNTA), (ii) a biodegradation process using
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
OBT18 cells, and (iii) the combined processes (FeNTA plus
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
in the presence or absence of light). The transformation of ABT in the combined system, with or without light, was much more efficient (99% degradation after 25 h) than in the separated systems (37% photodegradation and 26% biodegradation after 125 h). No direct photolysis of ABT was observed. The main result seen is the strong positive impact of FeNTA on the photodegradation, as expected, and on the biotransformation efficiency of ABT, which was more surprising. This positive impact of FeNTA on the microbial metabolism was dependent on the FeNTA concentration. The use of UV high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and in situ
1
H nuclear magnetic resonance provided evidence of the intermediary products and thus established transformation pathways of ABT in the different processes. These pathways were identical whether the degradation process was photo- or biotransformation. A new photoproduct was identified (4OH-ABT), corresponding to a hydroxylation reaction on position 4 of the aromatic ring of ABT.
Polysaccharides Cellulose, Poly-β-1,6-
N
-Acetyl-
d
-Glucosamine, and Colanic Acid Are Required for Optimal Binding of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 Strains to Alfalfa Sprouts and K-12 Strains to Plastic but Not for Binding to Epithelial Cells
Authors: Matthysse Ann G. , Deora Rajendar , Mishra Meenu , Torres Alfredo G.
Published: March 2008

When
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 bacteria are added to alfalfa sprouts growing in water, the bacteria bind tightly to the sprouts. In contrast, laboratory K-12 strains of
E. coli
do not bind to sprouts under similar conditions. The roles of
E. coli
O157:H7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), capsular polysaccharide, and exopolysaccharides in binding to sprouts were examined. An LPS mutant had no effect on the binding of the pathogenic strain. Cellulose synthase mutants showed a significant reduction in binding; colanic acid mutants were more severely reduced, and binding by poly-β-1,6-
N
-acetylglucosamine (PGA) mutants was barely detectable. The addition of a plasmid carrying a cellulose synthase gene to K-12 strains allowed them to bind to sprouts. A plasmid carrying the Bps biosynthesis genes had only a marginal effect on the binding of K-12 bacteria. However, the introduction of the same plasmid allowed
Sinorhizobium meliloti
and a nonbinding mutant of
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
to bind to tomato root segments. These results suggest that although multiple redundant protein adhesins are involved in the binding of
E. coli
O157:H7 to sprouts, the polysaccharides required for binding are not redundant and each polysaccharide may play a distinct role. PGA, colanic acid, and cellulose were also required for biofilm formation by a K-12 strain on plastic, but not for the binding of
E. coli
O157:H7 to mammalian cells.
Covariability of
Vibrio cholerae
Microdiversity and Environmental Parameters
Authors: Zo Young-Gun , Chokesajjawatee Nipa , Arakawa Eiji , Watanabe Haruo , Huq Anwar , Colwell Rita R.
Published: March 2008

Fine-scale diversity of natural bacterial assemblages has been attributed to neutral radiation because correspondence between bacterial phylogenetic signals in the natural environment and environmental parameters had not been detected. Evidence that such correspondence occurs is provided for
Vibrio cholerae
, establishing a critical role for environmental parameters in bacterial diversity.
Temporal Transcriptomic Microarray Analysis of “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes” Strain 195 during the Transition into Stationary Phase
Authors: Johnson David R. , Brodie Eoin L. , Hubbard Alan E. , Andersen Gary L. , Zinder Stephen H. , Alvarez-Cohen Lisa
Published: March 2008

“Dehalococcoides” bacteria can reductively dehalogenate a wide range of halogenated organic pollutants. In this study, DNA microarrays were used to monitor dynamic changes in the transcriptome as “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes”strain 195 transitioned from exponential growth into stationary phase. In total, 415 nonredundant genes were identified as differentially expressed. As expected, genes involved with translation and energy metabolism were down-regulated while genes involved with general stress response, transcription, and signal transduction were up-regulated. Unexpected, however, was the 8- to 10-fold up-regulation of four putative reductive dehalogenases (RDases) (DET0173, DET0180, DET1535, and DET1545). Another unexpected finding was the up-regulation of a large number of genes located within integrated elements, including a putative prophage and a multicopy transposon. Finally, genes encoding the dominant hydrogenase-RDase respiratory chain of this strain (Hup and TceA) were expressed at stable levels throughout the experiment, providing molecular evidence that strain 195 can uncouple dechlorination from net growth.
Monolayer Adsorption of a “Bald” Mutant of the Highly Adhesive and Hydrophobic Bacterium
Acinetobacter
sp. Strain Tol 5 to a Hydrocarbon Surface
Authors: Hori Katsutoshi , Watanabe Hisami , Ishii Shun'ichi , Tanji Yasunori , Unno Hajime
Published: March 2008

The affinity of microbial cells for hydrophobic interfaces is important because it directly affects the efficiency of various bioprocesses, including green biotechnologies. The toluene-degrading bacterium
Acinetobacter
sp. strain Tol 5 has filamentous appendages and a hydrophobic cell surface, shows high adhesiveness to solid surfaces, and self-agglutinates. A “bald” mutant of this bacterium, strain T1, lacks the filamentous appendages and has decreased adhesiveness but retains a hydrophobic cell surface. We investigated the interaction between T1 cells and an organic solvent dispersed in an aqueous matrix. During a microbial-adhesion-to-hydrocarbon (MATH) test, which is frequently used to measure cell surface hydrophobicity, T1 cells adhered to hexadecane droplet surfaces in a monolayer, whereas wild-type cells aggregated on the droplet surfaces. The adsorbed T1 cells on the hexadecane surfaces hindered the coalescence of the droplets formed by vortexing, stabilizing the emulsion phase. Following the replacement of the aqueous phase with fresh pure water after the MATH test, a proportion of the T1 cells that had adsorbed to the hydrocarbon surface detached during further vortexing, suggesting a reversible adsorption of T1 cells. The final ratio of the adhering cells to the total cells in the detachment test coincided with that in the MATH test. The adhesion of T1 cells to the hydrocarbon surface conformed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, which describes reversible monolayer adsorption. Reversible monolayer adsorption should be useful for green technologies employing two-liquid-phase partitioning systems and for bioremediation because it allows effective reaction and transport of hydrophobic substrates at oil-water interfaces.
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase Enhances
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
-Mediated Gene Transfer into Plant Cells
Authors: Nonaka Satoko , Sugawara Masayuki , Minamisawa Kiwamu , Yuhashi Ken-ichi , Ezura Hiroshi
Published: March 2008

Agrobacterium
-mediated gene transfer is widely used for plant molecular genetics, and efficient techniques are required. Recent studies show that ethylene inhibits the gene transfer. To suppress ethylene evolution, we introduced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase into
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
. The ACC deaminase enhanced
A. tumefaciens
-mediated gene transfer into plants.
Removal of Odors from Swine Wastewater by Using Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Kim Jung Rae , Dec Jerzy , Bruns Mary Ann , Logan Bruce E.
Published: March 2008

A single-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used to reduce 10 chemicals associated with odors by 99.76% (from 422 ± 23 μg/ml) and three volatile organic acids (acetate, butyrate, and propionate) by >99%. The MFC produced a maximum of 228 mW/m
2
and removed 84% of the organic matter in 260 h. MFCs were therefore effective at both treatment and electricity generation.
Requirement of a Plasmid-Encoded Catalase for Survival ofRhizobium etliCFN42 in a Polyphenol-Rich Environment
Authors: García-de los Santos Alejandro , López Erika , Cubillas Ciro A. , Noel K. Dale , Brom Susana , Romero David
Published: March 2008

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria collectively called rhizobia are adapted to live in polyphenol-rich environments. The mechanisms that allow these bacteria to overcome toxic concentrations of plant polyphenols have not been clearly elucidated. We used a crude extract of polyphenols released from the seed coat of the black bean to simulate a polyphenol-rich environment and analyze the response of the bean-nodulating strainRhizobium etliCFN42. Our results showed that the viability of the wild type as well as that of derivative strains cured of plasmids p42a, p42b, p42c, and p42d or lacking 200 kb of plasmid p42e was not affected in this environment. In contrast, survival of the mutant lacking plasmid p42f was severely diminished. Complementation analysis revealed that thekatGgene located on this plasmid, encoding the only catalase present in this bacterium, restored full resistance to testa polyphenols. Our results indicate that oxidation of polyphenols due to interaction with bacterial cells results in the production of a high quantity of H2O2, whose removal by thekatG-encoded catalase plays a key role for cell survival in a polyphenol-rich environment.
Multiphasic Approach Reveals Genetic Diversity of Environmental and Patient Isolates of
Mycobacterium mucogenicum
and
Mycobacterium phocaicum
Associated with an Outbreak of Bacteremias at a Texas Hospital
Authors: Cooksey Robert C. , Jhung Michael A. , Yakrus Mitchell A. , Butler W. Ray , Adékambi Toidi , Morlock Glenn P. , Williams Margaret , Shams Alicia M. , Jensen Bette J. , Morey Roger E. , Charles Nadege , Toney Sean R. , Jost Kenneth C. , Dunbar Denise F. , Bennett Vickie , Kuan Marcella , Srinivasan Arjun
Published: March 2008

Between March and May 2006, a Texas hospital identified five
Mycobacterium mucogenicum
bloodstream infections among hospitalized oncology patients using fluorescence high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of mycolic acids. Isolates from blood cultures were compared to 16 isolates from environmental sites or water associated with this ward. These isolates were further characterized by
hsp65
, 16S rRNA, and
rpoB
gene sequencing,
hsp65
PCR restriction analysis, and molecular typing methods, including repetitive element PCR, random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of large restriction fragments. Three of five patient isolates were confirmed as
M. mucogenicum
and were in a single cluster as determined by all identification and typing methods. The remaining two patient isolates were identified as different strains of
Mycobacterium phocaicum
by
rpoB
sequence analysis. One of these matched an environmental isolate from a swab of a hand shower in the patient's room, while none of the clinical isolates of
M. mucogenicum
matched environmental strains. Among the other 15 environmental isolates, 11 were identified as
M. mucogenicum
and 4 as
M. phocaicum
strains, all of which were unrelated by typing methods. Although the 16S rRNA gene sequences matched for all 14
M. mucogenicum
isolates, there were two each of the
hsp65
and
rpoB
sequevars, seven PCR typing patterns, and 12 PFGE patterns. Among the seven
M. phocaicum
isolates were three 16S rRNA sequevars, two
hsp65
sequevars, two
rpoB
sequevars, six PCR typing patterns, and six PFGE patterns. This outbreak represents the first case of catheter-associated bacteremia caused by
M. phocaicum
and the first report of clinical isolates from a U.S. hospital. The investigation highlights important differences in the available typing methods for mycobacteria and demonstrates the genetic diversity of these organisms even within narrow confines of time and space.
Cloning and Heterologous Production of Hiracin JM79, a Sec-Dependent Bacteriocin Produced by
Enterococcus hirae
DCH5, in Lactic Acid Bacteria and
Pichia pastoris
Authors: Sánchez Jorge , Borrero Juan , Gómez-Sala Beatriz , Basanta Antonio , Herranz Carmen , Cintas Luis M. , Hernández Pablo E.
Published: March 2008

Hiracin JM79 (HirJM79), a Sec-dependent bacteriocin produced by
Enterococcus hirae
DCH5, was cloned and produced in
Lactococcus lactis
,
Lactobacillus sakei
,
Enterococcus faecium
,
Enterococcus faecalis
, and
Pichia pastoris
. For heterologous production of HirJM79 in lactic acid bacteria (LAB), the HirJM79 structural gene (
hirJM79
), with or without the HirJM79 immunity gene (
hiriJM79
), was cloned into the plasmid pMG36c under the control of the constitutive promoter P
32
and into the plasmid pNZ8048 under the control of the inducible P
NisA
promoter. For the production of HirJM79 in
P. pastoris
, the gene encoding the mature HirJM79 protein was cloned into the pPICZαA expression vector. The recombinant plasmids permitted the production of biologically active HirJM79 in the supernatants of
L. lactis
IL1403,
L. lactis
NZ9000,
L. sakei
Lb790,
E. faecalis
JH2-2, and
P. pastoris
X-33, the coproduction of HirJM79 and nisin A in
L. lactis
DPC5598, and the coproduction of HirJM79 and enterocin P in
E. faecium
L50/14-2. All recombinant LAB produced larger quantities of HirJM79 than
E. hirae
DCH5, although the antimicrobial activities of most transformants were lower than that predicted from their production of HirJM79. The synthesis, processing, and secretion of HirJM79 proceed efficiently in recombinant LAB strains and
P. pastoris
.
Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Neurotoxin Gene Expression in NonproteolyticClostridium botulinumType E
Authors: Artin Ingrid , Carter Andrew T. , Holst Elisabet , Lövenklev Maria , Mason David R. , Peck Michael W. , Rådström Peter
Published: March 2008

Carbon dioxide is an antimicrobial gas commonly used in modified atmosphere packaging. In the present study, the effects of carbon dioxide on the growth of and neurotoxin production by nonproteolyticClostridium botulinumtype E were studied during the growth cycle. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantify expression of the type E botulinum neurotoxin gene (cntE) and the formation of type E neurotoxin. The expression levels ofcntEwere similar in two strains, with relative expression peaking in the transition between exponential phase and stationary phase. In stationary phase,cntEmRNA expression declined rapidly. ThecntEmRNA half-life was calculated to be approximately 9 minutes. Neurotoxin formation occurred in late exponential phase and stationary phase. High carbon dioxide concentrations delayed growth by increasing the lag time and decreasing the maximum growth rate. The effects of carbon dioxide concentration on relative neurotoxin gene expression and neurotoxin formation were significant. Expression ofcntEmRNA and the formation of extracellular neurotoxin were twofold higher with a headspace carbon dioxide concentration of 70% (vol/vol) compared to 10% (vol/vol). This finding sheds a new, cautionary light on the potential risks of botulism associated with the use of modified atmosphere packaging.
Multiple Pathways for Triacylglycerol Biosynthesis in
Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Arabolaza Ana , Rodriguez Eduardo , Altabe Silvia , Alvarez Hector , Gramajo Hugo
Published: March 2008

The terminal reaction in triacylglyceride (TAG) biosynthesis is the esterification of diacylglycerol (DAG) with a fatty acid molecule. To study this reaction in
Streptomyces coelicolor
, we analyzed three candidate genes (sco0958, sco1280, and sco0123) whose products significantly resemble the recently identified wax ester synthase/acyl-coenzyme A (CoA):DAG acyltransferase (DGAT) from
Acinetobacter baylyi
. The deletion of either sco0123 or sco1280 resulted in no detectable decrease in TAG accumulation. In contrast, the deletion of sco0958 produced a dramatic reduction in neutral lipid production, whereas the overexpression of this gene yielded a significant increase in de novo TAG biosynthesis. In vitro activity assays showed that Sco0958 mediates the esterification of DAG using long-chain acyl-CoAs (C
14
to C
18
) as acyl donors. The

K
m

and
V
max
values of this enzyme for myristoyl-CoA were 45 μM and 822 nmol mg
−1
min
−1
, respectively. Significantly, the triple mutant strain was not completely devoid of storage lipids, indicating the existence of alternative TAG-biosynthetic routes. We present strong evidence demonstrating that the residual production of TAG in this mutant strain is mediated, at least in part, by an acyl-CoA-dependent pathway, since the triple mutant still exhibited DGAT activity. More importantly, there was substantial phospholipid:DGAT (PDAT) activity in the wild type and in the triple mutant. This is the first time that a PDAT activity has been reported for bacteria, highlighting the extreme metabolic diversity of this industrially important soil microorganism.
MORN1 Has a Conserved Role in Asexual and Sexual Development across the Apicomplexa
Authors: Ferguson David J. P. , Sahoo Nivedita , Pinches Robert A. , Bumstead Janene M. , Tomley Fiona M. , Gubbels Marc-Jan
Published: March 2008

The gene encoding the membrane occupation and recognition nexus protein MORN1 is conserved across the Apicomplexa. In
Toxoplasma gondii
, MORN1 is associated with the spindle poles, the anterior and posterior rings of the inner membrane complex (IMC). The present study examines the localization of MORN1 during the coccidian development of
T. gondii
and three
Eimeria
species (in the definitive host) and erythrocytic schizogony of
Plasmodium falciparum
. During asexual proliferation, MORN1 is associated with the posterior ring of the IMCs of the multiple daughters forming during
T. gondii
endopolygeny and schizogony in
Eimeria
and
P. falciparum
. Furthermore, the expression of
P. falciparum
MORN1 protein peaked in late schizogony. These data fit a model with a conserved role for MORN1 during IMC assembly in all variations of asexual development. An important new observation is the reactivity of MORN1 antibody with certain sexual stages in
T. gondii
and
Eimeria
species. Here MORN1 is organized as a ring-like structure where the microgametes bud from the microgametocyte while in mature microgametes it is present near the flagellar basal bodies and mitochondrion. These observations suggest a conserved role for MORN1 in both asexual and sexual development across the Apicomplexa.
The Heterotrophic DinoflagellateCrypthecodinium cohniiDefines a Model Genetic System To Investigate Cytoplasmic Starch Synthesis
Authors: Deschamps Philippe , Guillebeault Delphine , Devassine Jimi , Dauvillée David , Haebel Sophie , Steup Martin , Buléon Alain , Putaux Jean-Luc , Slomianny Marie-Christine , Colleoni Christophe , Devin Aline , Plancke Charlotte , Tomavo Stanislas , Derelle Evelyne , Moreau Hervé , Ball Steven
Published: March 2008

The nature of the cytoplasmic pathway of starch biosynthesis was investigated in the model heterotrophic dinoflagellateCrypthecodinium cohnii. The storage polysaccharide granules were shown to be composed of both amylose and amylopectin fractions with a chain length distribution and crystalline organization very similar to those of green algae and land plant starch. Preliminary characterization of the starch pathway demonstrated thatC. cohniicontains multiple forms of soluble starch synthases and one major 110-kDa granule-bound starch synthase. All purified enzymes displayed a marked substrate preference for UDP-glucose. At variance with most other microorganisms, the accumulation of starch in the dinoflagellate occurs during early and mid-log phase, with little or no synthesis witnessed when approaching stationary phase. In order to establish a genetic system allowing the study of cytoplasmic starch metabolism in eukaryotes, we describe the isolation of marker mutations and the successful selection of random recombinant populations after homothallic crosses.
Novel Arrangement of Enhancer Sequences for NifA-Dependent Activation of the Hydrogenase Gene Promoter in
Rhizobium leguminosarum
bv. viciae
Authors: Martínez Marta , Colombo Maria-Victoria , Palacios Jose-Manuel , Imperial Juan , Ruiz-Argüeso Tomás
Published: March 2008

The transcriptional activation of the NifA-dependent σ
54
promoter of the
Rhizobium leguminosarum
hydrogenase structural genes
hupSL
(P
1
) has been studied through gel retardation analysis and detailed mutagenesis. Gel retardation analysis indicated the existence of a physical interaction between NifA and the promoter. Extensive mutagenesis followed by in vivo expression analysis showed that three sequences of 4 bases each (−170 ACAA −167, −161 ACAA −158, and −145 TTGT −142) are required for maximal stimulation of in vivo transcription of the P
1
promoter. The arrangement of these upstream activating sequences (ACAA N
5
ACAA N
12
TTGT) differs from the canonical 5′ACA N
10
TGT 3′ UAS structure involved in NifA-dependent activation of
nif/fix
genes. Mutant promoter analysis indicated that the relative contribution of each of these sequences to P
1
promoter activity increases with its proximity to the transcription start site. Analysis of double mutants altered in two out of the three enhancer sequences suggests that each of these sequences functions in NifA-dependent activation of the P
1
promoter in an independent but cooperative mode. The similarities and differences between
cis
elements of
hup
and
nif/fix
promoters suggest that the structure of the P
1
promoter has adapted to activation by NifA in order to coexpress hydrogenase and nitrogenase activities in legume nodules.