bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Argument-Sharing II: Control
Authors: Anderson John M.
Published: September 2007

This chapter extends the free-absolutive (or argument-sharing) analysis of ‘raising’ to what are claimed to be ‘control’ structures of various kinds, including causatives, tough-movement structures (e.g., in The lock was easy to pick), passives, and modals (deontic may etc., which, when epistemic, also show ‘raising’). The discussion of syntactic, morphological, and lexical causatives involves a comparison of English, French, and Turkish. ‘Control’ involves the association of a free absolutive with other relations rather than, as in ‘raising’, its having an independent role. ‘Controllers’of different types are recognized: ‘agentive’, ‘experiencer’, and locative (in tough-movement structures), so that a free absolutive is associated with a source and so on. Various restrictions associated with the ‘controllers’ that contract these different semantic relations are also explored.
The telecommunication industry: A turnaround in Japan's global presence
Authors: Cole Robert E.
Published: September 2007

This chapter shows how former strengths became debilitating weaknesses in the Japanese telecoms industry. NTT was the ‘locomotive’ which powered the industry with its ‘family’ of equipment suppliers in the 1980s. In the 1990s, however, it placed its bets on ‘competency enhancing’ ATM and ISDN, and fell victim to the ‘disruptive’ technology of TCP/IP. Strong relational ties with its suppliers led them as well to be weak competitors in the emergent Internet networking equipment industry, and a lack of new entrants forestalled alternatives from emerging within Japan. Japanese problems in international standard setting are identified, again betting on the established committee process and failing to engage in the fluid IETF process.
Technology management and competitiveness in the Japanese semiconductor industry1
Authors: Yunogami Takashi
Published: September 2007

This chapter argues that the quality regime ultimately deriving from NTT (and the Japanese government, as customer) may have been vital in the ascent of DRAMs in the 1980s, as in telecoms, but it created a path dependent approach to innovation which proved disastrous when the main use of DRAMs switched from mainframes to personal computers. As the market share plummeted, Japanese semiconductor engineers continued to take solace in the fact that they were ‘not beaten in technology’, an attitude which further condemned them to failure. They failed to develop cost-competitive technology and restructuring efforts proved ineffective.
Managing creativity and control of knowledge workers1
Authors: Brown Clair
Published: September 2007

This chapter looks at the HRM (human resource management) and knowledge system dimensions of open innovation, highlighting the rising importance of externally-derived knowledge. It establishes a link between the internal-external orientation of HRM systems and the type of external knowledge accessed. Internally/externally-oriented HRM systems are associated with public/private external knowledge, respectively. The latter type of knowledge tends to be closer to the cutting edge, as it takes time to codify knowledge. Once again, this analysis points to difficulties Japanese companies face in participating in global knowledge networks. However, it also points to tradeoffs between support for individual creativity on the one hand, and team work and control on the other.
Innovation policy for Japan in a new era
Authors: Arimoto Tateo
Published: September 2007

Among the most prominent policy attempts to reshape Japan's innovation system has been moves to create an environment conducive to basic research and breakthrough innovations. This chapter reminds us that this is not simply a matter of strengthening university research and forging closer links between universities and industry, but requires universities to address a broad range of skill needs, particularly in professional fields like law and management, which individual companies can no longer address on their own. It is shown that social issues must also be addressed, including greater efforts to promote public understanding of and support for science and technology. This requires directing science and technology and innovation policies towards the needs of the many rather than the few. Ultimately, the necessary values and creativity have to reside in individuals.
AWTY (are we there yet?): a system for graphical exploration of MCMC convergence in Bayesian phylogenetics
Authors: Nylander Johan A.A. , Wilgenbusch James C. , Warren Dan L. , Swofford David L.
Published: September 2007

Summary: A key element to a successful Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inference is the programming and run performance of the Markov chain. However, the explicit use of quality assessments of the MCMC simulations—convergence diagnostics—in phylogenetics is still uncommon. Here, we present a simple tool that uses the output from MCMC simulations and visualizes a number of properties of primary interest in a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, such as convergence rates of posterior split probabilities and branch lengths. Graphical exploration of the output from phylogenetic MCMC simulations gives intuitive and often crucial information on the success and reliability of the analysis. The tool presented here complements convergence diagnostics already available in other software packages primarily designed for other applications of MCMC. Importantly, the common practice of using trace-plots of a single parameter or summary statistic, such as the likelihood score of sampled trees, can be misleading for assessing the success of a phylogenetic MCMC simulation.

Availability: The program is available as source under the GNU General Public License and as a web application at http://ceb.scs.fsu.edu/awty

Contact:  jwilgenb@scs.fsu.edu
Intersession reproducibility of mass spectrometry profiles and its effect on accuracy of multivariate classification models
Authors: Pelikan Richard , Bigbee William L. , Malehorn David , Lyons-Weiler James , Hauskrecht Milos
Published: September 2007

Motivation: The ‘reproducibility’ of mass spectrometry proteomic profiling has become an intensely controversial topic. The mere mention of concern over the ‘reproducibility’ of data generated from any particular platform can lead to the anxiety over the generalizability of its results and its role in the future of discovery proteomics. In this study, we examine the reproducibility of proteomic profiles generated by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) across multiple data-generation sessions. We analyze the problem in terms of the reproducibility of signals, reproducibility of discriminative features and reproducibility of multivariate classification models on profiles for serum samples from early lung cancer and healthy control subjects.

Results: Proteomic profiles in individual data-generation sessions experience within-session variability. We show that combining data from multiple sessions introduces additional (inter-session) noise. While additional noise can affect the discriminative analysis, we show that its average effect on profiles in our study is relatively small. Moreover, for the purposes of prediction on future (previously unseen) data, classifiers trained on multi-session data are able to adapt to inter-session noise and improve their classification accuracy.

Contact:  milos@cs.pitt.edu
Persistence of Phytophthora ramorum in Soil Mix and Roots of Nursery Ornamentals
Authors: Shishkoff Nina
Published: September 2007

Although most Phytophthora species have a soilborne phase that is crucial for infection of roots and for survival away from the host, the details of the soil phase of Phytophthora ramorum are not yet fully understood. As mycelium ages, it becomes resistant to sterilization by acidic electrolyzed water (AEW), a product of the electrolysis which can be used as a disinfectant. Colonies of P. ramorum could be recovered from moist potting mix or sand for many months, whether buried as infected plant leaf tissue or as mycelium bearing chlamydospores, and the buried material was also resistant to treatment by AEW. There was no significant difference in recovery over time among treatments (sand or potting mix; infected plant tissue or mycelium); after approximately a year, colonies could be recovered at 0.8 to 14.3%. When excised roots were inoculated with P. ramorum sporangia and buried in mesh bags in potting mix, the pathogen was recovered from buried roots for at least 8 to 11 months, but it was not clear whether it was surviving as mycelium or chlamydospores. The roots of living plants of Acer macrophyllum, Buxus sempervirens, Camellia oleifera, C. sinensis, C. sasanqua, Lonicera hispidula, Taxus baccata, Umbellularia californica, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Viburnum davidii, V. tinus, V. × pragense, Rhododendron ‘Gloria’, and Syringa vulgaris were drenched with a sporangial solution of P. ramorum and incubated for a month; the pathogen could be recovered from roots of all plants except those of Buxus sempervirens and Lonicera hispidula. Recovery on selective agar medium (P5ARP) was from both washed and surface-sterilized roots, suggesting that the roots were internally infected. When chlamydospores were placed near roots and observed directly, they were seen to germinate, forming sporangia. Nearby roots became infected, the tips covered with sporangia. Therefore, P. ramorum appears to have a soil phase, at least under greenhouse and nursery conditions.
Resistance to Boscalid Fungicide in Alternaria alternata Isolates from Pistachio in California
Authors: Avenot Herve F. , Michailides Themis J.
Published: September 2007

Boscalid is a new carboxamide fungicide recently introduced in a mixture with pyraclostrobin in the product Pristine for the control of Alternaria late blight of pistachio. In all, 108 isolates of Alternaria alternata were collected from pistachio orchards with (59 isolates) and without (49 isolates) prior exposure to boscalid. The sensitivity to boscalid was determined in conidial germination assays. The majority of isolates from two orchards without a prior history of boscalid usage had effective fungicide concentration to inhibit 50% of spore germination (EC50) values ranging from 0.089 to 3.435 μg/ml, and the mean EC50 was 1.515 μg/ml. Out of 59 isolates collected from an orchard with a history of boscalid usage, 52 isolates had EC50 values ranging from 0.055 to 4.222 μg/ml, and the mean EC50 was 1.214 μg/ml. However, in vitro tests for conidial germination and mycelial growth also revealed that seven A. alternata isolates, originating from the orchard exposed to boscalid were highly resistant (EC50 > 100 μg/ml) to this fungicide. Furthermore, in vitro tests showed no significant differences between wild-type and boscalid-resistant mutants in some fitness parameters such as spore germination, hyphal growth, sporulation, or virulence on pistachio leaves. Experiments on the stability of the boscalid-resistant phenotype showed no reduction of the resistance after the mutants were grown on fungicide-free medium. Preventative applications of a commercial formulation of boscalid (Endura) at a concentration which is effective against naturally sensitive isolates failed to control disease caused by the boscalid-resistant isolates in laboratory tests. To our knowledge, this is first report of field isolates of fungi resistant to boscalid.
First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Basil (Ocimum basilicum) in Italy
Authors: Garibaldi A. , Rapetti S. , Rossi J. , Gullino M. L.
Published: September 2007

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an economically important herb in several Mediterranean countries. Approximately 80 ha are grown annually in Italy for fresh consumption and processing. In 2006, a damaging foliar disease of sweet basil cv. Genovese gigante was observed in several greenhouses located in the Liguria Region of northern Italy. A disease incidence of more than 50% was observed. Leaves of infected plants initially showed dark brown-to-black, 1 to 3 × 1.5 to 5.3 mm in diameter, circular spots surrounded by a chlorotic halo. Within 2 to 3 days, the spots coalesced, leading to extensive leaf necrosis with occasional shot holes. Stem lesions were brown, elongated, and irregularly dispersed. Although the distribution of the disease generally became uniform, it usually appeared originally in a patchy pattern at the central areas of the greenhouses, where temperatures and relative humidity were highest. Basal leaves were most severely affected by the disease when air circulation was apparently poor. Microscopic observations revealed light brown conidiophores, ending in sterigmata with conidia borne singly or in chains. Conidia were 31.9 to 212.2 μm (average 68.1 μm) long and 4.3 to 11.6 μm (average 7.8 μm) wide, with longitudinal cross walls. Such morphology is typical of Corynespora cassiicola (3). The fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic leaves onto potato dextrose agar. The ITS region (internal transcribed spacer) of rDNA was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 215 bp obtained showed an E-value of 0.0 with C. cassiicola and the nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. EF 545008. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying leaves of 10 healthy 30-day-old potted O. basilicum plants cv. Genovese gigante with a 105 conidia per ml aqueous suspension. Plants in 10 pots sprayed with water only served as controls. Plants were covered with plastic bags for 24 h after inoculation and maintained at 20 to 25°C. The first foliar lesions developed on leaves 3 to 4 days after inoculation, whereas control plants remained healthy. C. cassiicola was consistently reisolated from these lesions. The pathogenicity test was completed twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. cassiicola on O. basilicum in Italy. Other previous records of this disease were from India (2) and Brunei (4).

References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) L. R. Devi et al. Indian Phytopathol. 32:150, 1979. (3) M. B. Ellis. CMI Mycol. Pap. No. 65, 1957. (4) W. T. H. Peregrine and K. B. Ahmad. Phytopathol. Pap. 27:1, 1982.
First Report of Burkholderia glumae Isolated from Symptomless Rice Seeds in China
Authors: Luo J. , Xie G. , Li B. , Lihui X.
Published: September 2007

Burkholderia glumae causes grain rot and seedling rot of rice (Oryza sativa L.). It is seedborne and has caused severe damage in Japan (1). Since 1997, efforts have been made to detect the pathogen in rice seeds in China (2), where no typical symptoms have been observed in the rice paddy fields. Isolation from 623 symptomless rice seed samples yielded two samples, originally produced in Hainan province, with possible B. glumae (0.32%). Six bacterial strains isolated from these two samples showed characteristics similar to those of the standard reference strain of B. glumae, LMG 1837T from Belgium, in phenotypic tests including the Biolog identification system (version 4.2; Hayward, CA), pathogenicity tests, and gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) using the Microbial identification System (MIDI Company, Newark, DE) with aerobic bacterial library (TABA50). All strains were gram-negative aerobic rods, 1.5 to 2.5 μm × 0.5 to 0.7μm, and had 1 to 7 polar flagella. No green fluorescent diffusible pigment was produced on King's medium B. Colonies were gray-white, slightly raised with smooth margins, and appeared within 3 days on nutrient agar. A hypersensitive reaction was observed on tobacco cv. Benshi 24 h after inoculation. All isolates were identified as B. glumae with Biolog similarity of 0.68 to 0.87 and FAMEs similarity of 0.65 to 0.91. Identification as B. glumae was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (3) primers BG1: 5′-ACACGGAACACCTGGGTA-3′; and BG2: 5′-TCGCTCTCCCGAAGAGAT-3′. Inoculation of intact plants of cv. Jiayue with cell suspensions containing 108 CFU/ml of the six strains individually produced seedling rot and grain rot symptoms. The bacterium was reisolated from symptomatic rice plants. B. glumae was first reported from Japan as the cause of grain rot of rice in 1967 (1) and was isolated from symptomatic rice seeds in 1987 in Taiwan, China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. glumae being isolated from healthy-looking rice seeds in China. This indicates that the pathogen is already in the mainland of China and there is a risk of a seedling rot outbreak if rice seedlings are raised indoors on a large scale for transplantation as it is in Japan.

References: (1) T. Kurita and H. Tabei. Ann. Phytopathol. Soc. Jpn. 33:111,1967. (2) G. L. Xie et al. Acta Phytopathol. Sin. 32:114, 2002. (3) M. Yukiko et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 56:1031, 2006.
Shewanella canadensis sp. nov. and Shewanella atlantica sp. nov., manganese dioxide- and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine-reducing, psychrophilic marine bacteria
Authors: Zhao Jian-Shen , Manno Dominic , Thiboutot Sonia , Ampleman Guy , Hawari Jalal
Published: September 2007

Two strains belonging to the genus Shewanella, HAW-EB2T and HAW-EB5T, were isolated previously from marine sediment sampled from the Atlantic Ocean, near Halifax harbour in Canada, for their potential to degrade explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). In the present study, strains HAW-EB2T and HAW-EB5T were found to display high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (90–99.5 %) to species of Shewanella, but their gyrB sequences were significantly different from each other and from species of Shewanella (79–87.6 %). Furthermore, DNA–DNA hybridization showed that the genomic DNA of the two strains was only 22 % related and showed less than 41 % relatedness to closely related species of Shewanella. In comparison to other species of Shewanella, strains HAW-EB2T and HAW-EB5T were also unique in some phenotypic properties such as activities of β-galactosidase and tyrosine arylamidase and the ability to metabolize certain organic acids and sugars. Both strains HAW-EB2T and HAW-EB5T utilize malate, valerate, peptone and yeast extract as sole carbon and energy sources. The major membrane fatty acids of the two strains were C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 1
ω7, C18 : 1
ω7 and C20 : 5
ω3 and their major quinones were Q-7, Q-8 and MK-7. On the basis of these results, strain HAW-EB2T (=NCIMB 14238T =CCUG 54553T) is proposed as the type strain of Shewanella canadensis sp. nov. and strain HAW-EB5T (=NCIMB 14239T =CCUG 54554T) is proposed as the type strain of Shewanella atlantica sp. nov.
Rhodococcus kyotonensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from soil
Authors: Li Bing , Furihata Keiko , Ding Lin-Xian , Yokota Akira
Published: September 2007

A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the taxonomic position of an isolate, strain DS472T, from soil in Kyoto, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that this strain constitutes a new subline within the genus Rhodococcus, with Rhodococcus yunnanensis YIM 70056T and Rhodococcus fascians DSM 20669T as its nearest phylogenetic neighbours (98.2 and 97.8 % sequence similarity, respectively). DNA–DNA hybridization experiments revealed 36 and 29 % relatedness between the isolate and its phylogenetic relatives, R. yunnanensis and R. fascians, respectively. Chemotaxonomic characteristics, including the major quinone MK-8(H2), predominant fatty acids C16 : 0, C18 : 1
ω9c and 10-methyl C18 : 0, the presence of cell-wall chemotype IV and mycolic acids, were consistent with the properties of members of the genus Rhodococcus. The DNA G+C content was 64.5 mol%. On the basis of both phenotypic and genotypic evidence, strain DS472T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which the name Rhodococcus kyotonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain DS472T (=IAM 15415T=CCTCC AB206088T).
Nocardioides panacihumi sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field
Authors: An Dong-Shan , Im Wan-Taek , Lee Sung-Taik , Yoon Min-Ho
Published: September 2007

A novel bacterial strain designated Gsoil 616T was isolated from a soil sample of a ginseng field in Pocheon province (South Korea) and was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The isolate was Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod- or coccoid-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Nocardioides in the family Nocardioidaceae but was clearly separated from established species of this genus. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain Gsoil 616T and the type strains of Nocardioides species with validly published names ranged from 91.8 to 96.1 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 73 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data [major menaquinone MK-8(H4) and major fatty acid iso-C16 : 0] supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 616T to the genus Nocardioides. However, the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of the isolate from other Nocardioides species. Therefore, strain Gsoil 616T represented a novel species within the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides panacihumi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 616T (=KCTC 19187T =DSM 18660T).
Methylibium fulvum sp. nov., a member of the Betaproteobacteria isolated from ginseng field soil, and emended description of the genus Methylibium
Authors: Yoon Min-Ho , Ten Leonid N. , Im Wan-Taek , Lee Sung-Taik
Published: September 2007

Two bacterial strains, designated Gsoil 322T and Gsoil 328, were isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon province (Republic of Korea). The strains were Gram-negative, motile, aerobic rods that showed nearly identical physiological profiles and similar chemotaxonomic profiles. The two strains were oxidase-positive but catalase-negative, reduced nitrate to nitrite and had fatty acid profiles in which C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C16 : 1
ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH were predominant. The DNA G+C contents of Gsoil 322T and Gsoil 328 were 66.6 and 66.7 mol%, respectively. Q-8 was observed as the major quinone. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain Gsoil 322T belongs to the class Betaproteobacteria and was most closely related to Methylibium petroleiphilum ATCC BAA-1232T (97.5 % sequence similarity). On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain Gsoil 322T (=KCTC 12591T =LMG 23394T) was classified in the genus Methylibium as the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Methylibium fulvum sp. nov. is proposed.
Syntrophomonas palmitatica sp. nov., an anaerobic, syntrophic, long-chain fatty-acid-oxidizing bacterium isolated from methanogenic sludge
Authors: Hatamoto Masashi , Imachi Hiroyuki , Fukayo Sanae , Ohashi Akiyoshi , Harada Hideki
Published: September 2007

A mesophilic, syntrophic, fatty-acid-oxidizing anaerobic strain, designated MPAT, was isolated from granular sludge in a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor used to treat palm oil mill effluent. Cells were slightly curved, non-motile rods. Spore formation was not observed. The optimal temperature for growth was around 37 °C and optimal pH for growth was 7.0. Strain MPATwas able to grow on crotonate or pentenoate plus butyrate in pure culture. In co-culture with the hydrogenotrophic methanogenMethanospirillum hungatei, strain MPATwas able to oxidize straight-chain saturated fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of C4–C18. The strain was unable to utilize sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, nitrate, fumarate, iron(III) or DMSO as an electron acceptor. The G+C content of the DNA was 45.0 mol%. Based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain MPATwas found to be a member of the genusSyntrophomonasand was most closely related to the type strains ofSyntrophomonas curvataandSyntrophomonas sapovorans(sequence similarities of 94 %). Genetic and phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that strain MPATrepresents a novel species, for which the nameSyntrophomonas palmitaticasp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MPAT(=JCM 14374T=NBRC 102128T=DSM 18709T).
Marinobacter segnicrescens sp. nov., a moderate halophile isolated from benthic sediment of the South China Sea
Authors: Guo Bin , Gu Jun , Ye Yu-Guang , Tang Yue-Qin , Kida Kenji , Wu Xiao-Lei
Published: September 2007

A Gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming and moderately halophilic ellipsoid-shaped marine coccobacillus, designated strain SS011B1-4T, was isolated from benthic sediment of the South China Sea. Optimum growth occurred at 30–37 °C, pH 7.5–8.0 and 4–8 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain SS011B1-4T utilized a variety of organic substrates as sole carbon sources, but did not utilize toluene, n-tetradecane or crude oil. Strain SS011B1-4T had ubiquinone-9 as the major respiratory quinone and C18 : 1
ω9c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 3-OH as the predominant fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 62.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SS011B1-4T belonged to the genus Marinobacter of the Gammaproteobacteria. The results of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic analyses revealed that strain SS011B1-4T represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacter. The name Marinobacter segnicrescens sp. nov. is therefore proposed, with strain SS011B1-4T (=LMG 23928T=CGMCC 1.6489T) as the type strain.
Terrabacter aerolatus sp. nov., isolated from an air sample
Authors: Weon Hang-Yeon , Schumann Peter , Kroppenstedt Reiner M. , Kim Byung-Yong , Song Jaekyeong , Kwon Soon-Wo , Go Seung-Joo , Stackebrandt Erko
Published: September 2007

A Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, motile, rod- or coccoid-shaped bacterium, strain 5516J-36T, was isolated from an air sample from Jeju region, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The organism grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.0–8.0. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that this strain was highly related phylogenetically to Terrabacter terrae PPLBT and Terrabacter tumescens DSM 20308T, showing 98.9 % sequence similarity to both strains. However, the DNA–DNA reassociation values between 5516J-36T and the type strains of Terrabacter terrae and Terrabacter tumescens were low (51 and 48 %, respectively). The peptidoglycan type was A3γ, the predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4), the polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified phosphoglycolipid and the whole-cell sugars were glucose, ribose, rhamnose, xylose and galactose. Mycolic acids were absent. The major fatty acids (>5 % of total fatty acids) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 71.7 mol%. On the basis of the above data, it is proposed that strain 5516J-36T represents a novel species, Terrabacter aerolatus sp. nov. The type strain of Terrabacter aerolatus is 5516J-36T (=KACC 20556T =DSM 18562T).
Natronococcus jeotgali sp. nov., a halophilic archaeon isolated from shrimp jeotgal, a traditional fermented seafood from Korea
Authors: Roh Seong Woon , Nam Young-Do , Chang Ho-Won , Sung Youlboong , Kim Kyoung-Ho , Lee Ho-Jae , Oh Hee-Mock , Bae Jin-Woo
Published: September 2007

A novel halophilic archaeon (strain B1T) belonging to the genus Natronococcus was isolated from shrimp jeotgal, a traditional fermented food from Korea. Colonies of this strain were orange–red and cells were non-motile cocci that stained Gram-variable. Strain B1T grew in 7.5–30.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at 21–50 °C and pH 7.0–9.5, with optimal growth occurring in 23–25 % (w/v) NaCl and at 37–45 °C and pH 7.5. Strain B1T was most closely related to the type strain of Natronococcus occultus, with which it shared 97.91 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Within the phylogenetic tree, this novel strain shared a branching point with N. occultus and occupied a phylogenetic position that was distinct from the main Natronococcus branch. The degree of DNA–DNA hybridization with the type strain of N. occultus, the most closely related species phylogenetically, was 16.4 %. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that strain B1T represents a novel species of the genus Natronococcus, for which the name Natronococcus jeotgali is proposed. The type strain is B1T (=KCTC 4018T=DSM 18795T=JCM 14583T=CECT 7216T).
Photobacterium kishitanii sp. nov., a luminous marine bacterium symbiotic with deep-sea fishes
Authors: Ast Jennifer C. , Cleenwerck Ilse , Engelbeen Katrien , Urbanczyk Henryk , Thompson Fabiano L. , De Vos Paul , Dunlap Paul V.
Published: September 2007

Six representatives of a luminous bacterium commonly found in association with deep, cold-dwelling marine fishes were isolated from the light organs and skin of different fish species. These bacteria were Gram-negative, catalase-positive, and weakly oxidase-positive or oxidase-negative. Morphologically, cells of these strains were coccoid or coccoid-rods, occurring singly or in pairs, and motile by means of polar flagellation. After growth on seawater-based agar medium at 22 °C for 18 h, colonies were small, round and white, with an intense cerulean blue luminescence. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity placed these bacteria in the genusPhotobacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on seven housekeeping gene sequences (16S rRNA gene,gapA,gyrB,pyrH,recA,rpoAandrpoD), seven gene sequences of theluxoperon (luxC,luxD,luxA,luxB,luxF,luxEandluxG) and four gene sequences of theriboperon (ribE,ribB,ribHandribA), resolved the six strains as members of the genusPhotobacteriumand as a clade distinct from other species ofPhotobacterium. These strains were most closely related toPhotobacterium phosphoreumandPhotobacterium iliopiscarium. DNA–DNA hybridization values between the designated type strain,Photobacterium kishitaniipjapo.1.1T, andP.phosphoreumLMG 4233T,P.iliopiscariumLMG 19543TandPhotobacterium indicumLMG 22857Twere 51, 43 and 19 %, respectively. In AFLP analysis, the six strains clustered together, forming a group distinct from other analysed species. The fatty acid C17 : 0cyclo was present in these bacteria, but not inP.phosphoreum,P.iliopiscariumorP. indicum. A combination of biochemical tests (arginine dihydrolase and lysine decarboxylase) differentiates these strains fromP.phosphoreumandP.indicum. The DNA G+C content ofP. kishitanii pjapo.1.1Tis 40.2 %, and the genome size is approximately 4.2 Mbp, in the form of two circular chromosomes. These strains represent a novel species, for which the namePhotobacterium kishitaniisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain,pjapo.1.1T(=ATCC BAA-1194T=LMG 23890T), is a luminous symbiont isolated from the light organ of the deep-water fishPhysiculus japonicus.
Bacillus chagannorensis sp. nov., a moderate halophile from a soda lake in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Carrasco I. J. , Márquez M. C. , Xue Y. , Ma Y. , Cowan D. A. , Jones B. E. , Grant W. D. , Ventosa A.
Published: September 2007

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, spore-forming bacterium, designated strain CG-15T, was isolated from a soda lake, Lake Chagannor, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The cells were found to be motile short rods with ellipsoidal, terminal and deforming endospores. Strain CG-15T, a facultatively anaerobic bacterium, grew at pH 5.8–11.0 (optimally at pH 8.5), at 6–40 °C (optimally at 37 °C) and at salinities of 3–20 % (w/v) total salts (optimally at 7 % w/v). On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CG-15T was shown to belong to the genus Bacillus (phylum Firmicutes), showing the greatest phylogenetic similarity with respect to Bacillus saliphilus (96.0 %). The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was found to be 53.8 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CG-15T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0, and its polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three different unidentified phospholipids. The analysis of the quinones showed that MK-7 was the major menaquinone. The peptidoglycan type was A1γ, with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic study, strain CG-15T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus chagannorensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CG-15T (=CCM 7371T=CECT 7153T=CGMCC 1.6292T=DSM 18086T).
Halobacillus campisalis sp. nov., containing meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, and emended description of the genus Halobacillus
Authors: Yoon Jung-Hoon , Kang So-Jung , Jung Yong-Taek , Oh Tae-Kwang
Published: September 2007

A Gram-positive or variable, motile and coccoid or oval-shaped bacterial strain, ASL-17T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern of the Yellow Sea in Korea and its exact taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Strain ASL-17T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0 and 37 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ASL-17T is most closely affiliated phylogenetically to the genus Halobacillus. Strain ASL-17T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.7–98.6 % to the type strains of recognized Halobacillus species. Interestingly, strain ASL-17T had cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid, unlike other Halobacillus species. It contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 42.1 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness data and differential phenotypic properties demonstrated that strain ASL-17T can be differentiated from recognized Halobacillus species. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strain ASL-17T represents a novel species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus campisalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ASL-17T (=KCTC 13144T =CCUG 54360T).
Cysteinyl-Leukotriene Receptors and Cellular Signals
Authors: Rovati G. Enrico , Capra Valérie
Published: September 2007

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cysteinyl-LTs) exert a range of proinflammatory effects, such as constriction of airways and vascular smooth muscle, increase of endothelial cell permeability leading to plasma exudation and edema, and enhanced mucus secretion. They have proved to be important mediators in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria. The classification into subtypes of the cysteinyl-LT receptors (CysLTRs) was based initially on binding and functional data, obtained using the natural agonists and a wide range of antagonists. CysLTRs have proved remarkably resistant to cloning. However, in 1999 and 2000, the CysLT1R and CysLT2R were successfully cloned and both shown to be members of the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily. Molecular cloning has confirmed most of the previous pharmacological characterization and identified distinct expression patterns only partially overlapping. Recombinant CysLTRs couple to the Gq/11pathway that modulates inositol phospholipids hydrolysis and calcium mobilization, whereas in native systems, they often activate a pertussis toxin-insensitive Gi/o-protein, or are coupled promiscuously to both G-proteins. Interestingly, recent data provide evidence for the existence of an additional receptor subtype that seems to respond to both cysteinyl-LTs and uracil nucleosides, and of an intracellular pool of CysLTRs that may have roles different from those of plasma membrane receptors. Finally, a cross-talk between the cysteinyl-LT and the purine systems is being delineated. This review will summarize recent data derived from studies on the molecular and cellular pharmacology of CysLTRs.
Leukotriene Receptors: Crucial Components in Vascular Inflammation
Authors: Bäck Magnus
Published: September 2007

The accumulation of immune cells during vascular inflammation leads to formation of leukotrienes (LTs). While macrophages represent a major source of LT biosynthesis in the proximity of the vascular wall, activated T lymphocytes may, in addition, play a key regulatory role on macrophage expression of LT-forming enzymes. Within the vascular wall, LTs activate cell surface receptors of the BLT and CysLT subtypes expressed on vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. The LT receptor expression on those cells is highly dependent on transcriptional regulation by pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. LT receptor activation on vascular smooth muscle cells is associated with both directly and indirectly induced vasoconstriction, as well as intimal hyperplasia through stimulation of migration and proliferation. On the other hand, endothelial LT receptors induce vasorelaxation and leukocyte recruitment and adhesion. Results fromin vitroandin vivostudies of LT receptor antagonists indicate potential beneficial effects in atherosclerosis and other inflammatory cardiovascular diseases.
Endogenous Receptor Agonists: Resolving Inflammation
Authors: Bannenberg Gerhard , Arita Makoto , Serhan Charles N.
Published: September 2007

Controlled resolution or the physiologic resolution of a well-orchestrated inflammatory response at the tissue level is essential to return to homeostasis. A comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular events that control the termination of acute inflammation is needed in molecular terms given the widely held view that aberrant inflammation underlies many common diseases. This review focuses on recent advances in the understanding of the role of arachidonic acid and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)–derived lipid mediators in regulating the resolution of inflammation. Using a functional lipidomic approach employing LC-MS-MS–based informatics, recent studies, reviewed herein, uncovered new families of local-acting chemical mediators actively biosynthesized during the resolution phase from the essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These new families of local chemical mediators are generated endogenously in exudates collected during the resolution phase, and were coined resolvins and protectins because specific members of these novel chemical families control both the duration and magnitude of inflammation in animal models of complex diseases. Recent advances on the biosynthesis, receptors, and actions of these novel anti-inflammatory and proresolving lipid mediators are reviewed with the aim to bring to attention the important role of specific lipid mediators as endogenous agonists in inflammation resolution.
Low-Affinity Na+ Uptake in the HalophyteSuaeda maritima
Authors: Wang Suo-Min , Zhang Jin-Lin , Flowers Timothy J.
Published: September 2007

Na+ uptake by plant roots has largely been explored using species that accumulate little Na+ into their shoots. By way of contrast, the halophyte Suaeda maritima accumulates, without injury, concentrations of the order of 400 mm NaCl in its leaves. Here we report that cAMP and Ca2+ (blockers of nonselective cation channels) and Li+ (a competitive inhibitor of Na+ uptake) did not have any significant effect on the uptake of Na+ by the halophyte S. maritima when plants were in 25 or 150 mm NaCl (150 mm NaCl is near optimal for growth). However, the inhibitors of K+ channels, TEA+ (10 mm), Cs+ (3 mm), and Ba2+ (5 mm), significantly reduced the net uptake of Na+ from 150 mm NaCl over 48 h, by 54%, 24%, and 29%, respectively. TEA+ (10 mm), Cs+ (3 mm), and Ba2+ (1 mm) also significantly reduced 22Na+ influx (measured over 2 min in 150 mm external NaCl) by 47%, 30%, and 31%, respectively. In contrast to the situation in 150 mm NaCl, neither TEA+ (1–10 mm) nor Cs+ (0.5–10 mm) significantly reduced net Na+ uptake or 22Na+ influx in 25 mm NaCl. Ba2+ (at 5 mm) did significantly decrease net Na+ uptake (by 47%) and 22Na+ influx (by 36% with 1 mm Ba2+) in 25 mm NaCl. K+ (10 or 50 mm) had no effect on 22Na+ influx at concentrations below 75 mm NaCl, but the influx of 22Na+ was inhibited by 50 mm K+ when the external concentration of NaCl was above 75 mm. The data suggest that neither nonselective cation channels nor a low-affinity cation transporter are major pathways for Na+ entry into root cells. We propose that two distinct low-affinity Na+ uptake pathways exist in S. maritima: Pathway 1 is insensitive to TEA+ or Cs+, but sensitive to Ba2+ and mediates Na+ uptake under low salinities (25 mm NaCl); pathway 2 is sensitive to TEA+, Cs+, and Ba2+ and mediates Na+ uptake under higher external salt concentrations (150 mm NaCl). Pathway 1 might be mediated by a high-affinity K transporter-type transporter and pathway 2 by an AKT1-type channel.
The SnRK1A Protein Kinase Plays a Key Role in Sugar Signaling during Germination and Seedling Growth of Rice
Authors: Lu Chung-An , Lin Chih-Cheng , Lee Kuo-Wei , Chen Jyh-Long , Huang Li-Fen , Ho Shin-Lon , Liu Hsin-Ju , Hsing Yue-Ie , Yu Su-May
Published: September 2007

Sugars repress α-amylase expression in germinating embryos and cell cultures of rice (Oryza sativa) through a sugar response complex (SRC) in α-amylase gene promoters and its interacting transcription factor MYBS1. The Snf1 protein kinase is required for the derepression of glucose-repressible genes in yeast. In this study, we explored the role of the yeast Snf1 ortholog in rice, SnRK1, in sugar signaling and plant growth. Rice embryo transient expression assays indicated that SnRK1A and SnRK1B act upstream and relieve glucose repression of MYBS1 and αAmy3 SRC promoters. Both SnRK1s contain N-terminal kinase domains serving as activators and C-terminal regulatory domains as dominant negative regulators of SRC. The accumulation and activity of SnRK1A was regulated by sugars posttranscriptionally, and SnRK1A relieved glucose repression specifically through the TA box in SRC. A transgenic RNA interference approach indicated that SnRK1A is also necessary for the activation of MYBS1 and αAmy3 expression under glucose starvation. Two mutants of SnRK1s, snrk1a and snrk1b, were obtained, and the functions of both SnRK1s were further studied. Our studies demonstrated that SnRK1A is an important intermediate in the sugar signaling cascade, functioning upstream from the interaction between MYBS1 and αAmy3 SRC and playing a key role in regulating seed germination and seedling growth in rice.
Gender‐egalitarian culture and differences in strategic integration among women and men in HR director positions
Authors: Brandl Julia , Mayrhofer Wolfgang , Reichel Astrid
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how differences in strategic integration between women and men in HR director positions vary in an international comparison and particularly how gender‐egalitarian cultural values influence the level of these differences.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross‐country comparison of HR managers involving 22 countries based on the 2004 Cranet survey.

Findings

Consistent with the hypothesis, findings show a negative relationship between gender‐egalitarian values and sex differences in strategic integration.

Practical implications

Enhanced understanding of impact of cultural egalitarianism on cross‐national differences in segregation of women in the HR profession.

Originality/value

Level of segregation of women in HR director positions varies with the prevalence of gender‐egalitarian cultural values.
Drivers and sources of supply flexibility: an exploratory study
Authors: Mendonça Tachizawa Elcio , Giménez Thomsen Cristina
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Many researchers have studied manufacturing flexibility, but supply chain flexibility is still an under‐investigated area. This paper aims to focus on supply flexibility, the aspects of flexibility related to the upstream supply chain. Its purpose is to investigate why and how firms increase supply flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory multiple case study was conducted. Seven Spanish manufacturers from various sectors (automotive, apparel, electronics and electrical equipment) were analysed.

Findings

The results show that firms need supply flexibility for a number of important reasons (manufacturing schedule fluctuations, JIT purchasing, manufacturer slack capacity, low level of parts commonality, demand volatility, demand seasonality and forecast accuracy), and that companies increase this type of flexibility by implementing two main strategies: “improved supplier responsiveness” and “flexible sourcing”. The results also suggest that the supply flexibility strategy selected depends on the type of uncertainty (mix, volume or delivery).

Research limitations/implications

This paper has the limitations common to all case studies, such as the subjectivity of the analysis, and the questionable generality of the results. Moreover, there may be some sort of country bias because only Spanish firms have been analysed.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature by empirically investigating the main reasons for companies needing to increase supply flexibility and how they increase this flexibility, and suggesting some factors that could influence the selection of a particular supply flexibility strategy.
Product lifecycle information acquisition and management for consumer products
Authors: Yang Xiaoyu , Moore Philip R. , Wong Chi‐Biu , Pu Jun‐Sheng , Kwong Chong Seng
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to capture and manage the product lifecycle data for consumer products, especially data that occur in distribution, usage, maintenance and end‐of‐life stages, and to use them to provide information and knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

A lifecycle information acquisition and management model is proposed, and an information management system framework is formulated. The information management system developed is then used in actual field trials to manage lifecycle data for refrigeration products and game consoles.

Findings

It has been demonstrated that valuable services can be delivered through a lifecycle information management system.

Practical implications

Lifecycle information management systems can open new horizons for product design which are sustainable and environmentally sensitive. They also contribute to the wider exploration of eco‐design and development of next generation consumer products (e.g. smart home appliances).

Originality/value

Existing lifecycle information systems cannot support all phases of the product lifecycle. They mainly manage the lifecycle data only during the design and manufacture stages. Lifecycle data during distribution, usage, maintenance and end‐of‐life stages are usually hard to acquire and in most cases lost. The lifecycle information management system developed can capture them, and manage them in an integrated and systematic manner to provide information and knowledge.
Supply chain product co‐development, product modularity and product performance
Authors: Lau Antonio K.W. , Yam Richard C.M. , Tang Esther P.Y.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how an organization can achieve higher performance through integrating supply chain product co‐development (SCPC) and modular product design.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a comprehensive review of literature on product development, supply chain management and system theory, the four proposed hypotheses concerning the relationships among SCPC, product modularity (PM), manufacturing capabilities and product performance (PP) were tested empirically through a sample of 251 Hong Kong manufacturers.

Findings

SCPC is found to have a direct and positive relationship with PM and PP. PM improves flexibility and customer service and in turn PP.

Research limitations/implications

Given the cross‐sectional nature of the study and the focus on manufacturing industry, future research should replicate this study in different industries with more longitudinal studies.

Practical implications

The study provides solid evidence that managers should involve their suppliers, internal functional units and customers early in their design stages, especially in the decisions relating to PM. The study has also demonstrated that product co‐development affects PP in both direct and indirect ways.

Originality/value

The present study empirically verifies the relationships between supply chain integration and modular product design by means of SCPC and PM. Similar empirical research is absent from the literature on relevant disciplines.