bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tunnel-induced injection field-effect transistor with steep subthreshold slope and high on-off current ratio
Authors: Zhan Zhan , Huang Qianqian , Huang Ru , Jiang Wenzhe , Wang Yangyuan
Published: March 2012

In this letter, a tunnel-induced injection field-effect transistor (TI-FET) is proposed and demonstrated. Compared with conventional tunneling field-effect transistor, by changing N-type drain into P-type and inserting a N-type pocket layer into the underlap region, off-state current is appreciably reduced, due to higher hole barrier induced by the inserted N-type pocket layer which can prevent hole leakage current from the drain. During the switching process, the gate controlled tunneling electrons from the source are trapped in the N-type pocket region and simultaneously decrease the hole barrier of the drain, which can increase hole injection current much more rapidly than the hole diffusing over a barrier directly controlled by a gate as in P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor and thus ensure a very steep subthreshold slope. When the device is switched on, on-state current can be enhanced due to the dominant hole current diffusing from the drain, which is higher than pure tunneling current. Therefore, this TI-FET can obtain high on-current, low off-current, as well as steep subthreshold slope.
Note: Circuit design for direct current and alternating current electrochemical etching of scanning probe microscopy tips
Authors: Jobbins Matthew M. , Raigoza Annette F. , Kandel S. Alex
Published: March 2012

We present control circuits designed for electrochemically etching, reproducibly sharp STM probes. The design uses an Arduino UNO microcontroller to allow for both ac and dc operation, as well as a comparator driven shut-off that allows for etching to be stopped in 0.5–1 μs. The Arduino allows the instrument to be customized to suit a wide variety of potential applications without significant changes to hardware. Data is presented for coarse chemical etching of 80:20 platinum-iridium, tungsten, and nickel tips.
Gate metal induced reduction of surface donor states of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure on Si-substrate investigated by electroreflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Hoon Shin Jong , Je Jo Young , Kim Kwang-Choong , Jang T. , Sang Kim Kyu
Published: March 2012

The surface donor state of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure on Si-substrate was investigated at the presence of Schottky gate metal (Au,Ni) on the surface by using electroreflectance spectroscopy. The sheet carrier density of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) decreased significantly from 1.03×1013cm-2 to 5.74×1012cm-2 for Au and from 1.03×1013cm-2 to 3.68×1012cm-2 for Ni upon the introduction of Schottky gate metal. Through the analysis of the depletion of 2DEG, which is attributed to both Schottky junction and the lowered energy of Schottky barrier height, it was concluded that the diminished sheet carrier density of 2DEG originated from the reduction of surface donor state induced by gate metal.
Measurement of sodium-argon cluster ion recombination by coherent microwave scattering
Authors: Wu Yue , Sawyer Jordan , Zhang Zhili , Shneider Mikhail N. , Viggiano Albert A.
Published: March 2012

This present work demonstrates a non-intrusive measurement of the rate constant for sodium-argon cluster ions (Na+·Ar) recombining with electrons. The measurements begin with resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization of the Na followed by coherent microwave scattering (radar) to monitor the plasma density. The Na+·Ar adduct was formed in a three-body reaction. The plasma decay due to recombination reactions was monitored as a function of time and modeled to determine the rate constant. At 473 K, the rate constant is 1.8−0.5+0.7×10−6cm3/s in an argon buffer at 100 Torr and initial Na number density of 5.5 × 1010 cm−3.
Insights into Ni-filament formation in unipolar-switching Ni/HfO2/TiN resistive random access memory device
Authors: Yin Chen Yang , Pourtois G. , Adelmann C. , Goux L. , Govoreanu B. , Degreave R. , Jurczak M. , Kittl J. A. , Groeseneken G. , Wouters D. J.
Published: March 2012

In this letter, CMOS-compatible Ni/HfO2/TiN resistive random access memory stacks demonstrated attractive unipolar switching properties, showing >103 endurance and long retention at 150 °C. The Ni bottom electrode (BE) improved the switching yield over the NiSiPt BE. To better understand the unipolar forming mechanism, ab initio simulation and time of flight-secondary ion mass spectroscopy were utilized. Compared to the NiSiPt BE, Ni BE gives larger Ni diffusion in the HfO2 and lower formation enthalpy of Ni2+ species during electrical forming. Both the electrical and physical results supported a Ni-injection mechanism for the filament formation.
Exchange anisotropy in the nanostructured MnAl system
Authors: Jiménez-Villacorta F. , Marion J. L. , Sepehrifar T. , Daniil M. , Willard M. A. , Lewis L. H.
Published: March 2012

In this letter, we report on the achievement of exchange anisotropy magnitude in a nanostructured Mn55Al45 alloy fabricated by rapid solidification with large exchange bias values (HE ≈ 13 kOe at 10 K) and a blocking temperature of TB ∼ 95 K. Field-cooled magnetization loops show a prominent exchange bias for T < TB signaling the simultaneous presence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases at these temperatures. Structural probes confirm a majority presence of the high-temperature metastable hexagonal ɛ-MnAl in the as-solidified state with an intriguing double-Bragg peak structure indicative of phase separation. The observed exchange bias is hypothesized to originate from an intimate mixture of antiferromagnetic and nanoscaled ferromagnetic phases or dual mictomagnetic phases, approximating a cluster glass with well-defined variations in the local Mn concentration of the composition and leading to Mn-rich and Mn-poor regions with antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic characters, respectively.
Influence of barrier thickness on the performance of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well solar cells
Authors: Wierer J. J. , Koleske D. D. , Lee S. R.
Published: March 2012

The performance of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) solar cells containing 15 periods of 2.7 nm thick In0.21Ga0.79N wells and three different GaN barriers thicknesses of 3.0 nm, 6.3 nm, and 10.0 nm is investigated. Increasing barrier thickness results in absorption at lower energies, consistent with piezoelectric polarization induced electric fields tilting the energy bands of the MQW and changing the transition energy of well states. The internal quantum efficiency and leakage currents are additionally affected by GaN barrier thickness, resulting in the 6.3 nm barrier structure achieving the highest power conversion efficiency (1.66%, 1 sun AM1.5G).
Study of the impedance mismatch at the output end of a THz parallel-plate waveguide
Authors: Mbonye Marx , Mendis Rajind , Mittleman Daniel M.
Published: March 2012

We study the reflection of terahertz (THz) radiation at the end of a parallel-plate waveguide (PPWG), due to the impedance mismatch between the propagating transverse-electromagnetic mode and the free-space background. We find that, for a PPWG with uniformly spaced plates, the reflection coefficient at the output face increases as the plate separation decreases, consistent with predictions by early low frequency ray optical theory. We also study the reflection coefficient for tapered PPWGs where the plate spacing is tapered, for which no analytical theory exists, and quantify the reflection coefficient as a function of the plate separation and the THz frequency.
A nitrogen-related deep level defect in ion implanted 4H-SiC pn junctions—A spin dependent recombination study
Authors: Aichinger Thomas , Lenahan Patrick M. , Tuttle Blair R. , Peters Dethard
Published: March 2012

Nitrogen implantation creates a high density of recombination centers in SiC which can degrade the performance of ion implanted pn junctions. We use spin dependent recombination (SDR) to identify deep level defects associated with these centers. We find a dominating SDR spectrum with three strong lines of equal intensity. The SDR pattern indicates that the observed center is a defect complex involving nitrogen.
Communication: Impact of inertia on biased Brownian transport in confined geometries
Authors: Martens S. , Sokolov I. M. , Schimansky-Geier L.
Published: March 2012

We consider the impact of inertia on biased Brownian motion of point-size particles in a two-dimensional channel with sinusoidally varying width. If the time scales of the problem separate, the adiabatic elimination of the transverse degrees of freedom leads to an effective description for the motion along the channel given by the potential of mean force. The possibility of such description is intimately connected with equipartition. Numerical simulations show that in the presence of external bias the equipartition may break down leading to non-monotonic dependence of mobility on external force and several other interesting effects.
Temporal dynamics of all-optical switching in quadratic nonlinear directional couplers
Authors: Schiek R. , Solntsev A. S. , Neshev D. N.
Published: March 2012

We study the temporal dynamics of all-optical switching in nonlinear directional couplers in periodically poled lithium niobate. The characteristic features of such switching, including asymmetric pulse break-up and back-switching were measured in full agreement with the theoretical predictions. Based on the time-resolved measurement of intensity-dependent switching, finally the theoretically long-known continuous-wave switching curve has experimentally been confirmed.
Long-range mechanical force enables self-assembly of epithelial tubular patterns
Authors: Guo Chin-Lin , Ouyang Mingxing , Yu Jiun-Yann , Maslov Jordan , Price Andrew , Shen Chih-Yu
Published: March 2012

Enabling long-range transport of molecules, tubules are critical for human body homeostasis. One fundamental question in tubule formation is how individual cells coordinate their positioning over long spatial scales, which can be as long as the sizes of tubular organs. Recent studies indicate that type I collagen (COL) is important in the development of epithelial tubules. Nevertheless, how cell–COL interactions contribute to the initiation or the maintenance of long-scale tubular patterns is unclear. Using a two-step process to quantitatively control cell–COL interaction, we show that epithelial cells developed various patterns in response to fine-tuned percentages of COL in ECM. In contrast with conventional thoughts, these patterns were initiated and maintained by traction forces created by cells but not diffusive factors secreted by cells. In particular, COL-dependent transmission of force in the ECM led to long-scale (up to 600 μm) interactions between cells. A mechanical feedback effect was encountered when cells used forces to modify cell positioning and COL distribution and orientations. Such feedback led to a bistability in the formation of linear, tubule-like patterns. Using micro-patterning technique, we further show that the stability of tubule-like patterns depended on the lengths of tubules. Our results suggest a mechanical mechanism that cells can use to initiate and maintain long-scale tubular patterns.
GOHTAM: a website for ‘Genomic Origin of Horizontal Transfers, Alignment and Metagenomics’
Authors: Ménigaud Sabine , Mallet Ludovic , Picord Géraldine , Churlaud Cécile , Borrel Alexandre , Deschavanne Patrick
Published: March 2012

Motivation: This website allows the detection of horizontal transfers based on a combination of parametric methods and proposes an origin by researching neighbors in a bank of genomic signatures. This bank is also used to research an origin to DNA fragments from metagenomics studies.

Results: Different services are provided like the possibility of inferring a phylogenetic tree with sequence signatures or comparing two genomes and displaying the rearrangements that happened since their separation.

Availability and implementation:  http://gohtam.rpbs.univ-paris-diderot.fr/

Contact:  patrick.deschavanne@univ-paris-diderot.fr; ludovic.mallet@jouy.inra.fr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online http://gohtam.rpbs.univ-paris-diderot.fr:8080/Data/bin/GOHTAM_bin.tgz
Proteus: a web-based, context-specific modelling tool for molecular networks
Authors: Gnad Florian , Estrada Javier , Gunawardena Jeremy
Published: March 2012

Summary: Molecular networks are often studied in diverse cellular or experimental contexts, with highly context-specific details. Modelling introduces further choices as to levels of mathematical description. The resulting possibilities are difficult to explore rapidly, hampering the integration of modelling and experiment. We have developed Proteus, a web-based, context-specific tool for building compartmentalized, ordinary differential equation (ODE) models. It is inspired by the idea of a molecular ‘toolkit’ for Ca2+ signalling. Toolkits in Proteus are context-independent representations of biological systems as sets of components, which may correspond to mechanisms of differing levels of complexity. Users pick and choose components from a toolkit and, for each component, pick and choose from different mechanisms, each of which describes a different instantiation of the component's mechanism. Proteus combines these choices into a system of ODEs, which may then be downloaded in SBML (Systems Biology Markup Language), Matlab or Fortran format and independently analyzed. Toolkits, components and mechanisms are user-constructible, either de novo or by cannibalizing existing models, including all those in the Biomodels database. A wide variety of context-specific models may thereby be rapidly built, modified and explored.

Availability and implementation: Proteus, implemented in C#, and a prototype toolkit for modelling calcium signalling are freely and universally available at www.modularmodeling.com

Contact:  gnad.florian@gene.com; jeremy@hms.harvard.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Protecting health care workers from tuberculosis in China: a review of policy and practice in China and the United States
Authors: Chai Shua J , Mattingly Daniel C , Varma Jay K
Published: March 2012

Tuberculosis causes >1.7 million deaths worldwide each year and is frequently transmitted in hospitals. Outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis have led to illness and death among health care workers (HCWs) in many countries. Some countries, such as the United States, implemented occupational health policies that substantially reduced tuberculosis rates among HCWs. Inadequate tuberculosis infection control in China may contribute to its high burden of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, which are both the second highest worldwide. Occupational health policies in China for tuberculosis control can be strengthened.

We reviewed the development and content of tuberculosis infection control policies in the United States and China. Sources included published academic literature, Chinese Ministry of Health policies, US government agency reports, legal databases, personal observations of hospitals, review of internet discussion sites, and discussions with HCWs and health care and law experts.

In the United States, slow acceptance of the tuberculosis problem in HCWs resulted in decades of inaction. Tuberculosis infection control policies, based mostly on expert opinion, were implemented only after tuberculosis resurged in the 1980s. Effective evidence-based policies were developed only after multiple cycles of policy implementation, evaluation and revision. These policies have now substantially reduced occupational tuberculosis. In China, tuberculosis has not been formally recognized as an occupational disease, and data regarding the burden in HCWs are sparse. Vagueness of current labour laws and suboptimal alignment of infection control authority and expertise result in varied and sometimes absent protection of HCWs against tuberculosis. Formal evaluations of occupational tuberculosis policies have not been reported.

By collecting data on its current HCW tuberculosis burden and infection control practices, refining policies, continually evaluating its policies based on accumulated evidence and rapidly identifying unsuspected tuberculosis cases, China can develop a more comprehensive strategy to ensure the health of HCWs and reduce transmission of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
How to Write Effective Referral Letters
Authors: Xiang Ally , Smith Helen
Published: March 2012

Referral letters are the key mode of communication between GPs and hospital specialists for routine and acute management of conditions. While verbal communication skills are strongly emphasized in undergraduate training, written communication is relatively neglected. Medical students and postgraduate doctors are rarely formally taught to write referral letters; it is a skill learnt on the job through opportunistic and informal tuition and by reading referral letters written by others. Consequently, the style, content and quality of referral letters differ greatly among doctors. This article discusses professional expectations, outlines components of effective referral writing and provides a referral letter template.
Paediatric Surgery: An Overview for GPs
Authors: Barnett Adam
Published: March 2012

Most paediatric surgical conditions are rarely seen in general practice. However, identifying a surgically unwell child is of vital importance as delays in diagnosis can have dire consequences. Some of the less acute paediatric surgical conditions (e.g. inguinal hernia) are encountered relatively frequently, and so GPs need to be familiar with these. As such, this article has two aims. The first is to provide a framework for the formulation of a differential diagnosis of an acutely unwell child who may have an underlying surgical pathology. The second aim of the article is to give an overview of some of the more common surgical conditions which may not present acutely but of which a working knowledge is useful.
Stereospecificity of ginsenoside Rg3 in promotion of the immune response to ovalbumin in mice
Authors: Wei Xiaojie , Chen Jian , Su Fei , Su Xiaoyan , Hu Tingjun , Hu Songhua
Published: March 2012

Our previous investigation demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg3 was active in promotion of the immune response. In this study, two epimers, 20(R)-Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3, were compared for their adjuvant effects on the immune response against ovalbumin (OVA). BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with 10 μg of OVA alone or with 10 μg of OVA mixed in 20(R)-Rg3 (50 μg) or 20(S)-Rg3 (50 μg) on days 1 and 15. Two weeks after the last immunization, blood was sampled to test IgG and the IgG subclasses as well as IFN-γ and IL-5; splenocytes were prepared to measure proliferative responses to stimulations with Con A, LPS and OVA and mRNA expressions of cytokines and transcription factors by reverse transcription–PCR. Results indicated that both 20(R)-Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3 exhibited the adjuvant effect on OVA-induced immune responses. 20(R)-Rg3 promoted significantly higher serum-specific IgG and the IgG isotype responses in association with highly up-regulated serum IFN-γ and IL-5 than 20(S)-Rg3. In addition, 20(R)-Rg3 significantly enhanced splenocyte proliferative responses to Con A, LPS and OVA as well as mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4 and IL-10 and transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 by splenocytes when compared with the 20(S)-Rg3. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg3 is stereospecific in stimulation of the immune response, and 20(R)-Rg3 has more potent adjuvant activity than 20(S)-Rg3.
Description of Riemerella columbipharyngis sp. nov., isolated from the pharynx of healthy domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica), and emended descriptions of the genus

Riemerella

,

Riemerella anatipestifer

and

Riemerella columbina
Authors: Rubbenstroth Dennis , Ryll Martin , Hotzel Helmut , Christensen Henrik , Knobloch Johannes Karl-Mark , Rautenschlein Silke , Bisgaard Magne
Published: March 2012

A group of 11 bacterial strains was isolated during microbiological investigations of pharyngeal swabs collected from domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica). Phenotypic properties of the isolates closely resembled those of members of the genus

Riemerella

within the family

Flavobacteriaceae

. The genus presently contains two species,

Riemerella anatipestifer

and

Riemerella columbina

. The pigeon isolates differed from

R. columbina

by their lack of pigment production and negative CAMP co-haemolysis reaction. They grew more slowly at 37 °C under microaerobic conditions and showed reduced viability during storage under aerobic conditions at different temperatures, compared with both

Riemerella

species. Comparisons of protein profiles with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS analysis allowed differentiation between the new pigeon isolates and both

R. anatipestifer

and

R. columbina

. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and rpoB gene (encoding RNA polymerase beta subunit) sequences supported the affiliation of the 11 strains to a novel species within the genus

Riemerella

, for which we propose the name Riemerella columbipharyngis sp. nov. The type strain is 8151T ( = DSM 24015T  = LMG 26094T). Emended descriptions of the genus

Riemerella

and of its species

Riemerella anatipestifer

and

Riemerella columbina

are also presented.
Description of Cobetia amphilecti sp. nov., Cobetia litoralis sp. nov. and Cobetia pacifica sp. nov., classification of Halomonas halodurans as a later heterotypic synonym of Cobetia marina and emended descriptions of the genus Cobetia and Cobetia marina
Authors: Romanenko Lyudmila A. , Tanaka Naoto , Svetashev Vassilii I. , Falsen Enevold
Published: March 2012

A group of five Gram-negative, aerobic, halotolerant, non-pigmented bacteria isolated from shallow sediment samples and invertebrate specimens collected from the Gulf of Alaska and the Sea of Japan was subjected to taxonomic study. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the novel isolates were affiliated to the genusCobetia, sharing the highest sequence similarity of 99.3–99.9 % withCobetia marinaDSM 4741T. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments between and among the novel strains andC. marinaDSM 4741TandCobetia crustatorumJCM 15644Trevealed that the five strains represent three separate genospecies, which could be differentiated in their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics.Halomonas haloduransNBRC 15607Twas included in this study as it has recently been reported to exhibit high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity toC. marinaDSM 4741T, and it showed a high DNA relatedness value of 96 % withC. marinaDSM 4741T, indicating that they belong to the same species. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic characterization, three novel species are proposed, namedCobetia amphilectisp. nov. (type strain KMM 1561T = NRIC 0815T = CCUG 49560T),Cobetia litoralissp. nov. (type strain KMM 3880T = NRIC 0814T = CCUG 49563T) andCobetia pacificasp. nov. (type strain KMM 3879T = NRIC 0813T = CCUG 49562T). It is also proposed thatHalomonas haloduransis a later heterotypic synonym ofCobetia marina, and emended descriptions of the genusCobetiaand the speciesCobetia marinaare provided.
Mycobacterium yongonense sp. nov., a slow-growing non-chromogenic species closely related to

Mycobacterium intracellulare
Authors: Kim Byoung-Jun , Math Renukaradhya K. , Jeon Che Ok , Yu Hee-Kyung , Park Young-Gil , Kook Yoon-Hoh , Kim Bum-Joon
Published: March 2012

A slow-growing non-chromogenic mycobacterium was isolated from a patient with pulmonary disease. Phenotypically, strain 05-1390T was similar to

Mycobacterium intracellulare

ATCC 13950T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence (1385 bp) of strain 05-1390T showed a high degree of similarity to those of the

M. intracellulare

complex, namely

Mycobacterium marseillense

5351974T (100 %),

M. intracellulare

ATCC 13950T (99.8 %) and

Mycobacterium chimaera

DSM 44623T (99.9 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and the hsp65 gene indicated that strain 05-1390T was closely related to

M. intracellulare

ATCC 13950T, but that it was a distinct phylogenetic entity. Of particular interest, an analysis based on the rpoB gene (701 bp) showed that it is closely related to

Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum

ATCC BAA-614T (99.4 %), a scotochromogenic strain, rather than to the

M. intracellulare

-related strains. Unique MALDI-TOF MS profiles also supported the taxonomic status of this strain as a distinct species. These data support the conclusion that strain 05-1390T represents a novel mycobacterial species, for which the name Mycobacterium yongonense sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 05-1390T ( = DSM 45126T = KCTC 19555T).
Silanimonas mangrovi sp. nov., a member of the family

Xanthomonadaceae

isolated from mangrove sediment, and emended description of the genus

Silanimonas
Authors: Srinivas T. N. R. , Kailash T. B. , Anil Kumar Pinnaka
Published: March 2012

A novel Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, designated strain AK13T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from mangrove of Namkhana, Sunderbans, West Bengal, India. Strain AK13T was positive for oxidase, DNase and lipase activities and negative for catalase, gelatinase, ornithine decarboxylase, lysine decarboxylase, nitrate reductase, aesculinase and urease activities. The fatty acids were dominated by iso-C11 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). Strain AK13T contained Q-8 as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, two unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified lipid as the polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AK13T was 55.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the type strain of

Silanimonas lenta

, of the family

Xanthomonadaceae

(phylum

Proteobacteria

), was the closest neighbour of strain AK13T, with 95.2 % sequence similarity. Other members of the family showed sequence similarities <94.4 %. Based on the phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic inference, strain AK13T is proposed as a member of a novel species of the genus

Silanimonas

, Silanimonas mangrovi sp. nov.; the type strain is AK13T ( = MTCC 11082T  = DSM 24914T). An emended description of the genus Silanimonas is also provided.
Description of Kordiimonas aquimaris sp. nov., isolated from seawater, and emended descriptions of the genus

Kordiimonas

Kwon et al. 2005 emend. Xu et al. 2011 and of its existing species
Authors: Yang Seong-Hyun , Kim Mi-Ree , Seo Hyun-Seok , Lee Sung Hyuk , Lee Jung-Hyun , Kim Sang-Jin , Kwon Kae Kyoung
Published: March 2012

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped (0.6–0.9×0.7–1.2 µm), motile marine bacterium, designated MEBiC06554T, was isolated from seawater collected from the East Sea, Korea (also known as the Sea of Japan). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC06554T was affiliated to the order

Kordiimonadales

and showed high similarity to

Kordiimonas gwangyangensis

GW14-5T (95.4 %), but formed a distinct phyletic line. Growth was observed at 10.5–35.0 °C (optimum 20 °C), at pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0–13 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0–3.5 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (14.9 %), iso-C17 : 1ω9c (44.6 %), iso-C17 : 0 (6.3 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c; 13.9 %). The DNA G+C content was 50.3 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. Phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, six unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminophospholipid were detected as major polar lipids. On the basis of the data from our polyphasic taxonomic study, strain MEBiC06554T should be classified within a novel species of the genus

Kordiimonas

, as Kordiimonas aquimaris sp. nov. The type strain is MEBiC06554T ( = KCCM 42940T  = JCM 16665T). Emended descriptions of the genus

Kordiimonas

and of its species

Kordiimonas gwangyangensis

and

Kordiimonas lacus

are also proposed.
Pedobacter ruber sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from soil
Authors: Margesin Rosa , Zhang De-Chao
Published: March 2012

A Gram-staining-negative, red-pigmented, psychrophilic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated W1T, was isolated from soil and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain W1T grouped with members of the genus

Pedobacter

and formed a distinct cluster with the type strain of

Pedobacter composti

(97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain W1T and the type strains of all other recognized species of the genus

Pedobacter

available at the time of writing were <97.0 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids (≥10 %) of strain W1T were summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and anteiso-C15 : 0. The only menaquinone was MK-7. The genomic DNA G+C content was 39.0 mol% (HPLC). Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that strain W1T is a representative of a novel species of the genus

Pedobacter

, for which we propose the name Pedobacter ruber sp. nov. The type strain is W1T ( = DSM 24536T = LMG 26240T).
Gordonia alkaliphila sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from tidal flat sediment
Authors: Cha Ju-Hee , Cha Chang-Jun
Published: March 2012

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, aerobic actinobacterium, designated strain CJ10T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment from the Yellow Sea in South Korea. Strain CJ10T grew on tryptic soy agar in the presence of 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum growth in the absence of NaCl) and at pH 6–11 (optimum pH 9). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CJ10T belonged to the genus

Gordonia

and showed the highest sequence similarity to

Gordonia hirsuta

DSM 44140T (97.9 %) and

Gordonia hydrophobica

DSM 44015T (97.6 %). DNA–DNA relatedness levels of strain CJ10T were 47.4 % (CJ10T as probe) and 42.2 % (

G. hirsuta

DSM 44140T as probe) to

G. hirsuta

DSM 44140T and 8.6 % (CJ10T as probe) and 9.3 % (

G. hydrophobica

DSM 44015T as probe) to

G. hydrophobica

DSM 44015T. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9(H2). The polar lipid profile of strain CJ10T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c (38.0 %), C16 : 0 (30.1 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c; 17.4 %). The DNA G+C content was 67.7 mol%. Therefore, the results from our polyphasic taxonomic study suggest that strain CJ10T represents a novel species in the genus

Gordonia

, for which the name Gordonia alkaliphila sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is CJ10T ( = KACC 16561T  = JCM 18077T).
Pontibacter lucknowensis sp. nov., isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane dump site
Authors: Dwivedi Vatsala , Niharika Neha , Lal Rup
Published: March 2012

A Gram-negative, orange-pigmented, rod-shaped, motile and aerobic bacterial strain designated DM9T was isolated from hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-contaminated soil (Lucknow, India) and its taxonomic position was determined using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate belonged to the phylum

Bacteroidetes

and confirmed its placement in the genus

Pontibacter

, with sequence similarity ranging from 93.92 to 96.21 % with other members of the genus

Pontibacter

. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel strain were iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (6.00 %), iso-C15 : 0 (21.54 %) and summed feature 4 (comprising C17 : 1 iso I/anteiso B; 32.3 %). The polar lipid profile of strain DM9T showed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unknown aminolipids and four unknown polar lipids. Strain DM9T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and its DNA G+C content was 49.2 mol%. sym-Homospermidine was the major polyamine observed in the cell. The results obtained on the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis, biochemical and physiological tests clearly distinguished DM9T from closely related members of the genus

Pontibacter

. It is proposed that DM9T represents a novel species, Pontibacter lucknowensis sp. nov.; the type strain is DM9T ( = CCM 7955T = MTCC 11079T).
Algimonas porphyrae gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family

Hyphomonadaceae

, isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis
Authors: Fukui Youhei , Abe Mahiko , Kobayashi Masahiro , Saito Hiroaki , Oikawa Hiroshi , Yano Yutaka , Satomi Masataka
Published: March 2012

Three Gram-negative, stalked, motile bacteria, designated 0C-2-2T, 0C-17 and LNM-3, were isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the three novel strains belonged to the family

Hyphomonadaceae

, and were closely related to

Litorimonas taeanensis

G5T (96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and

Hellea balneolensis

26III/A02/215T (94.3 %). The DNA G+C contents of the novel isolates (58.5–60.2 mol%) were clearly distinguished from those of

L. taeanensis

G5T (47.1 mol%) and

H. balneolensis

DSM 19091T (47.9 mol%). The G+C content of

L. taeanensis

G5T obtained in this study was quite different from a previous report (63.6 mol%). DNA–DNA hybridization experiments showed that the novel strains constituted a single species. Eleven phenotypic features of the three isolates differed from those of both related genera. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, the novel strains represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Algimonas porphyrae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Algimonas porphyrae is 0C-2-2T ( = LMG 26424T  = NBRC 108216T).
A high-coverage artificial chromosome library for the genome-wide screening of drug-resistance genes in malaria parasites
Authors: Iwanaga Shiroh , Kaneko Izumi , Yuda Masao
Published: March 2012

The global spread of drug-resistant parasites is a serious problem for the treatment of malaria. Although identifying drug-resistance genes is crucial for the efforts against resistant parasites, an effective approach has not yet been developed. Here, we report a robust method for identifying resistance genes from parasites by using a Plasmodium artificial chromosome (PAC). Large genomic DNA fragments (10–50 kb) from the drug-resistant rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei were ligated into the PAC and directly introduced into the drug-sensitive (i.e., wild-type) parasite by electroporation, resulting in a PAC library that encompassed the whole genomic sequence of the parasite. Subsequently, the transformed parasites that acquired resistance were selected by screening with the drug, and the resistance gene in the PAC was successfully identified. Furthermore, the drug-resistance gene was identified from a PAC library that was made from the pyrimethamine-resistant parasite Plasmodium chabaudi, further demonstrating the utility of our method. This method will promote the identification of resistance genes and contribute to the global fight against drug-resistant parasites.
ThemicroRNA156-SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE3Module Regulates Ambient Temperature-Responsive Flowering viaFLOWERING LOCUS Tin Arabidopsis
Authors: Kim Jae Joon , Lee Jeong Hwan , Kim Wanhui , Jung Hye Seung , Huijser Peter , Ahn Ji Hoon
Published: March 2012

The flowering time of plants is affected by modest changes in ambient temperature. However, little is known about the regulation of ambient temperature-responsive flowering by small RNAs. In this study, we show that the microRNA156 (miR156)-SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE3 (SPL3) module directly regulates FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) expression in the leaf to control ambient temperature-responsive flowering. Overexpression of miR156 led to more delayed flowering at a lower ambient temperature (16°C), which was associated with down-regulation of FT and FRUITFULL expression. Among miR156 target genes, SPL3 mRNA levels were mainly reduced, probably because miR156-mediated cleavage of SPL3 mRNA was higher at 16°C. Overexpression of miR156-resistant SPL3 [SPL3(−)] caused early flowering, regardless of the ambient temperature, which was associated with up-regulation of FT and FRUITFULL expression. Reduction of miR156 activity by target mimicry led to a phenotype similar to that of SUC2::rSPL3 plants. FT up-regulation was observed after dexamethasone treatment in GVG-rSPL3 plants. Misexpression and artificial microRNA-mediated suppression of FT in the leaf dramatically altered the ambient temperature-responsive flowering of plants overexpressing miR156 and SPL3(−). Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that the SPL3 protein directly binds to GTAC motifs within the FT promoter. Lesions in TERMINAL FLOWER1, SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE, and EARLY FLOWERING3 did not alter the expression of miR156 and SPL3. Taken together, our data suggest that the interaction between the miR156-SPL3 module and FT is part of the regulatory mechanism controlling flowering time in response to ambient temperature.
A study measuring the performance of electronic resources in academic libraries
Authors: Noh Younghee
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an input‐output analysis of electronic resources in academic libraries by verifying evaluation indicators and applying them to the digital library environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study measures the performance of electronic resources in academic libraries in Korea. To measure the efficiency of the input‐output ratio, evaluation indicators were divided into inputs and outputs. Inputs refer to the e‐resource use environment as well as the acquisition of e‐resources such as web DB, e‐books, e‐journals, and so on. Outputs quantify the use of each resource.

Findings

First, the results of this study show that a large share of academic library budgets is spent on e‐resource purchases and e‐resource environment improvement for better use. Second, the measurement shows that web DB subscription, annual e‐resource development, and education for e‐resource exhibit higher efficiency, while e‐resource use, web DB and e‐journal download exhibited relatively high efficiency. Third, when the input‐output ratio is calculated in percentage terms, the efficiency of e‐resources of Korean academic libraries reaches 88.20 per cent.

Research limitations/implications

First, to measure performance accurately, results/effectiveness must be included. However, this study focused on quantifiable input and output factors. It is recommended that future research include user satisfaction and learning effects. Second, this study was conducted in a particular country (Korea). So it is advisable to conduct research to compare the results of this study to results in other countries.

Originality/value

This study is the first research to consider the performance of electronic resources in depth. This paper contributes to improving the reliability of library evaluation.
The impact of e‐mail on work‐life balance
Authors: Waller Aaron David , Ragsdell Gillian
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate how a company's current 24‐hour e‐mail culture impacts on employees' lives outside of their contracted working hours. There are two objectives of the study – first, to calculate the average time spent on work e‐mails by employees per day outside of working hours and, second, to identify what impact e‐mail had on employees' work‐life balance by addressing three research questions. These questions aims to focus on the relationships between: employees' thoughts about company culture and their belief that their work is dependent on them checking their e‐mails outside of working hours; employees' urges to check e‐mails out of working hours and their belief that spending time on e‐mails outside of work means they are neglecting their social life; and employees sending e‐mails out of office hours and their expectation of a quick reply or action.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was taken. Employees from a multinational service organisation were invited to complete an online questionnaire and a seven‐day diary so as to collect qualitative and quantitative data about their use of e‐mail.

Findings

Data were analysed with respect to respondents' gender, role and length of service in the organisation and discussed with respect to the current literature.

Research limitations/implications

Although the limitations of exploring a single organisation are recognised, it is likely that some of the insights and lessons generated by the study will be transferable to other organisational settings.

Practical implications

This study identified some short‐term recommendations as to how a particular company could limit the negative impact that e‐mails have on its employees' lives outside of contracted working hours. In addition, this study will also raise awareness of the pervasion of work‐related communications into employees' personal lives and, hopefully, trigger further research into the long‐term psychological and sociological effects of a 24/7 communication culture.

Originality/value

There are two novel aspects to this study: the use of diaries as a method of data collection and the notion of exploring e‐mail use “out of hours”.
Accessibility of online resources cited in scholarly LIS journals
Authors: Sadat‐Moosavi Ali , Isfandyari‐Moghaddam Alireza , Tajeddini Oranus
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This research aims to study the state of online resources cited in scholarly library and information science (LIS) journals which are ranked in ISI and available in the Emerald database in terms of accessibility and decay.

Design/methodology/approach

Four LIS journals published by Emerald were selected from Thomson Reuters' JCR. The journals' issues from 2005 to 2008 were downloaded directly from the publisher web site and checked in terms of decay and availability of individual cited URLs.

Findings

Original accessibility of studied online resources was 64 percent, which improved to 95 percent. The main adopted strategies that returned more results were using the Wayback Machine and Google, which revived online resources by 17 percent and 12 percent respectively.

Practical implications

To increase the rate of web citations accessibility, some recommendations, including avoiding long URLs, citing documents found in digital collections availability on the web, working through systematic checking of the web citations before publication, getting backup of cited information, using the more stable file formats and domains, and utilizing tools like WebCite®‐enhanced reference and a digital object identifier (DOI®) system are suggested.

Originality/value

A study which examines the accessibility and decay of web citations used by authors of articles published in ISI‐ranked LIS journals available in the Emerald database has not been already done. This paper can thus contribute to the knowledge of this field as well as quality of such literature for web content providers and publishers, authors and researchers.
Library service as theatre
Authors: Cherry Jane , Calvert Philip
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Librarians have traditionally followed a model of service based on a professional ethic. Attempts to introduce a retail model of service have generally met with staff resistance. The study aims to ask librarians about their attitudes to the retail and professional models of service and what they did not like about the retail model.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were drawn from focus groups consisting of experienced reference librarians.

Findings

Results suggest that librarians behave differently while front‐stage and backstage. They resist the retail model because it is perceived to replace service based upon knowledge with fake behaviour.

Practical implications

Managers can draw on the results when considering how best to improve the service provided by library staff who prefer the professional model of service over the retail model.

Originality/value

The use of Goffman's theory of dramaturgy has highlighted previously unknown attitudes to service held by reference librarians that will slow or stop the introduction of the retail model of service.
Attitude and heading reference system with acceleration compensation
Authors: Hemerly Elder M. , Maciel Benedito C.O. , de P. Milhan Anderson , Schad Valter R.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to employ an extended Kalman filter for implementing an AHRS (attitude and heading reference system) with acceleration compensation, thereby improving the reliability of such systems, since this removes the usual restrictive assumption that the vehicle is undergoing a non‐accelerated maneuver.

Design/methodology/approach

MARG (magnetic, acceleration and rate gyros) sensors constitute the basic hardware, which are integrated by the Kalman filter. The error dynamics for attitude and gyro biases is obtained in the navigation frame, providing a much simpler approach than usually taken in the literature, since it relies on direct quaternion differentiation. The state vector associated to the error dynamics possesses six components: three are associated to the quaternion error and three concern gyro bias estimates.

Findings

The AHRS is implemented in an ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) processor and tested with experimental data. The accelerated case is treated by two complementary approaches: by changing the noise variance in the Kalman filter, and by obtaining an acceleration information from GPS (global positioning system) velocity measurements. Experimental results are presented and the performance is compared with commercial ARHS systems.

Practical implications

The proposed AHRS can be implemented with low cost MARG sensors, and GPS aiding, with use for instance in UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and small aircrafts' attitude estimation, for navigation and control applications.

Originality/value

Usually the AHRS designs employ as states total gyro bias and Euler angles, or quaternion, and do not consider the accelerated case. Here the state is comprised by gyro bias and quaternion error variables, which attenuates the effect of nonlinearities, and two complementary procedures tackle the accelerated case: acceleration correction by using a GPS derived acceleration signal and change in the output noise covariance used by the Kalman filter.