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Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for three strains isolated from soil collected in Thailand. The three strains, AC37(T), AC38, and AC39, were included within a lineage comprising the genera Asaia, Kozakia, Swaminathania, Neoasaia, Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, and Saccharibacter in a phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, but formed a quite different, independent cluster. Pair-wise sequence similarities of strain AC37(T) were 96.5-92.1% to the type strains of Acetobacter aceti, Gluconobacter oxydans, Acidomonas methanolica, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens, Asaia bogorensis, Kozakia baliensis, Swaminathania salitolerans, Saccharibacter floricola, Neoasaia chiangmaiensis, and Granulibacter bethesdensis. The three strains had DNA base compositions comprising respectively 65.6, 64.5, and 65.6 mol % G+C with a range of 1.1 mol %, and formed a single species. Phenotypically, the three strains did not oxidize acetate or lactate, but grew on 30% D-glucose (w/v). Chemotaxonomically, they had Q-10. The type strain is AC37(T) (= BCC 15772(T) = NBRC 103193(T)).

Strain NBRC 12467 T was examined genetically, phylogenetically, phenotypically, and chemotaxonomically. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 59.5 mol%. The strain represented low levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 49-9% to the type strains of eight Gluconobacter species. The strain formed a cluster along with the type strains of G. albidus and G. kondonii in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. In a phylogenetic tree based on 165-23S rRNA gene ITS sequences, however, the strain formed an independent cluster from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species. Such phylogenetic relationships were supported by the calculated pair-wise 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS sequence similarities. The strain was distinguished from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species by 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS restriction analysis using five restriction endonucleases. The strain produced a water-soluble brown pigment and 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate from D-glucose, differing from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species, and acid from meso-erythritol very weakly, differing from the type strains of the remaining seven Gluconobacter species except for the type strain of G. roseus, but not from maltose, differing from the type strain of G. oxydans, and had Q-10. For the strain, which was once classified as G. oxydans subsp. sphaericus, Gluconobacter sphaericus (Ameyama 1975) comb. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBRC 12467 T , which is also deposited as BCC 14448 T .

119‒125 (2008) * Address reprint requests to: Dr. Yuzo Yamada, BIOTEC Cul-ture Collection, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phaholyothin Road, Klong 1, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand. E-mail: yamada333@kch.biglobe.ne.jp

The taxonomic positions of two bacterial strains, MBIC01146(T) and MBIC01099, isolated from marine environments of Japan and Palau, respectively, were determined by using a polyphasic approach. The bacteria were aerobic, motile, Gram-negative rods and formed star-shaped aggregations. The G+C content of the genomic DNA ranged from 58.5 to 58.7 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were C(16 : 0), C(18 : 1)omega6c and C(18 : 1)omega7c. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses based on both neighbour-joining and maximum-parsimony methods revealed that strains MBIC01146(T) and MBIC01099 were positioned within the cluster comprising Ruegeria atlantica and Silicibacter lacuscaerulensis within subgroup alpha-3 of the Proteobacteria. The phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the novel strains were similar to those of Ruegeria atlantica; however, DNA-DNA hybridization tests showed that the isolates represented an independent species. The isolates could be differentiated from Ruegeria atlantica based on several characteristics. Therefore, strains MBIC01146(T) and MBIC01099 are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ruegeria, for which the name Ruegeria mobilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MBIC01146(T) (=NBRC 101030(T)=CIP 109181(T)). An emended description of Ruegeria atlantica Uchino et al. 1999 is also given.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, coccobacillus-shaped, non-endospore-forming, pink-pigmented bacterium, designated PN2T, was isolated from an olive leaf. The strain grew at 15–35 °C with an optimum temperature for growth at 30 °C, and at pH 5.0–7.5 with an optimum pH for growth at 6.0. Growth was observed in the presence of up to 1.02 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, unknown aminolipids, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown lipid. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The DNA G+C content of strain PN2T was 70.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain PN2T was closely related to members of the genus Roseomonas and shared highest similarity with Roseomonas mucosa ATCC BAA-692T (96.5 %), Roseomonas gilardii subsp. gilardii ATCC 49956T (96.2 %) and Roseomonas gilardii subsp. rosea ATCC BAA-691T (96.2 %). Furthermore, the DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain PN2T and the closest related species R. mucosa ATCC BAA-692T was 27 %. These data allowed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain PN2T from its closest phylogenetic neighbour (R. mucosa ATCC BAA-692T). Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain PN2T is classified as representing a novel species of the genus Roseomonas for which the name Roseomonas elaeocarpi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PN2T ( = BCC 44864T = NBRC 107871T).

By immunoblotting with anti-human integrin beta polyclonal antibodies (beta1, beta3 or beta5), a single distinct band of about 60 kDa was detected in total protein extracts from mature leaves of the seagrass Zostera marina L., but no band was detected in total protein extracts from immature seagrass leaves, freshwater grass leaves or Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. leaves. This integrin-like protein was detected by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy on the surface of non-spherical protoplasts of epidermal cells isolated from mature seagrass leaves using an anti-integrin beta3 polyclonal antibody. Electron-microscopic analyses with the same antibody indicated that this integrin-like protein was localized specifically in the invaginated plasma membrane of epidermal cells in mature seagrass leaves. Therefore, this integrin-like protein of about 60 kDa may be involved in the developmentally regulated invagination of the plasma membrane in epidermal cells of the seagrass Z. marina.

A multi-view video makes it possible for users to watch video contents, for example, live concerts or sports events, more freely from various viewpoints. However, the users need to select a camera that captures a scene from their own preferred viewpoint at each event. In this paper, we propose a video generation method based on the user's View Tendency, which is a tendency of viewpoint selection according to the user-dependent interest for multi-view video content. The proposed method learns the View Tendency by Support Vector Machine (SVM) using several measures such as the geometric features of an object. Then, this method estimates the consistency of each viewpoint with the learned View Tendency and integrates the estimation results to obtain a temporal sequence of the viewpoints. The proposed method enables the users to reduce the burden of viewpoint selection and to watch the viewpoint sequence that reflects the interest as viewing assistance for the multi-view video content.

A Gram-negative, coccobacilli, non-spore forming and non-motile bacterium, designated PN1(T), was isolated from a banana leaf collected in Mattra island, Thailand. This isolate was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.0, and to grow with 0-3 % NaCl. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain PN1(T) is closely related to members of the genus Roseomonas, exhibiting the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Roseomonas aestuarii JC17(T) (96.5 %). The DNA G + C content of strain PN1(T) was determined to be 69.7 mol %. Based on physiological and biochemical tests, and genotypic differences between strain PN1(T) and the validly named species of the genus Roseomonas, it is proposed that the strain be classified as a new species of Roseomonas for which the name Roseomonas musae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PN1(T) (= BCC 44863(T) = NBRC 107870(T)).

Two aerobic, Gram-negative, orange pigmented and irregular rod-shaped bacteria, designated S1-05 and S1-08(T), were isolated from seawater from the Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic analysis based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel isolates could be affiliated with the genus Nonlabens of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The strains S1-05 and S1-08(T) shared 100 % pairwise sequences similarity with each other and showed less than 96.8 % similarity with the cultivated members of the genus Nonlabens. The novel isolates are phenotypically and physiologically different from strains described previously. The strains were found to be non-motile, oxidase positive, catalase positive and hydrolyzed gelatin and aesculin. The G+C contents of the DNA were determined to 41.4 and 41.7 mol% and MK-6 the predominant menaquinone. Anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0 were found to be the major two cellular fatty acids. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic studies, it was concluded that strains S1-05 and S1-08(T) represent a novel species within the genus Nonlabens, for which the name Nonlabens marina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of N. marina is S1-08(T) (=KCTC 23432(T) = NBRC 107738(T)).

While the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in groundwater has typically been reported in bank filtration sites, irrigated fields, septic tanks, and sewage disposal practices, fewer studies have been conducted in highly urbanized areas, where infiltration of treated or untreated sewage is not supposed to be a source of groundwater recharge. Furthermore, little is known about the occurrence of various kinds of PPCPs in relation to microbial indicators in groundwater from different types of aquifers. Thus, we examined the city-wide occurrence of selected PPCPs (diethyltoluamide, crotamiton, ethenzamide, propyphenazone, carbamazepine, and caffeine) and E. coli in 50 groundwaters from unconfined aquifers (

The highly efficient locomotion of birds, insects and fish is based on unsteady dynamics. The central mechanism in their locomotion is related to the unsteady behaviour of vortices such as the formation and shedding of boundary layers developed on their bodies. The relation between an object and vortex movement was first noticed in the field of aeronautics. The problem of a thin aerofoil performing small lateral oscillations in a uniform stream of an incompressible fluid, which is at the heart of all flutter prediction, has received interest for many years. A great deal of research within the scope of the linear perturbation theory has been published in past times. Well-documented summaries can be seen in Bisplinghoff et al. (1955). Recently, significant attention has been given to the lift-sustaining flight of insects and birds despite their weight, and many fruitful discoveries have been made. Flow unsteadiness was found to play an important role in the flights. However, the unsteady mechanism in swimming propulsion has received relatively little interest. The first important contribution related to the mechanism of propulsion in a swimming stroke was made by Counsilman (1971), who divided the force of a swimming stroke into two components: a lift component normal to the hand motion and a drag component parallel to it. He pointed out the greater importance of lift force rather than drag force. The next critical contribution was made by Schleihauf (1979), who measured the lift and drag forces on hand models for various geometrical configurations of flow. Berger et al. (1995) carried out similar measurements using hand and arm models in fixed geometrical configurations within a flow and obtained the results consistent with those of Schleihauf. Subsequently, Bixler and Riewald (2002) used a numerical approach under a scenario similar to the experiments described above. Each of the approaches mentioned above can be termed a quasi-steady analysis, which depends on the assumption that the flow at each instance is nearly steady. Studies using flow visualisation have revealed the importance of a rotating water mass (Ungerechts (1981)), which focused attention on the contribution of vortices in propulsion.

Surgical-site infection (SSI) is a major contributor to patient mortality rates and health care costs. Due to the high risk of bacterial contamination, colorectal surgery is associated with a particularly high risk of postoperative infection. The surveillance reported here was conducted at Aichi Medical University Hospital on 304 patients who underwent elective colorectal resection—total or partial—from June 2006 to May 2009. To determine risk factors for SSI, multivariate analysis was used. Forty-six (15.1%) patients were diagnosed with SSI. Patients who received cefotiam for prophylaxis showed the highest incidence of SSI (26.6%), and patients who were administered flomoxef showed the lowest incidence (8.1%). Patients who developed SSI were more likely to intraoperative blood loss (308.1 ± 29.8 vs. 153.9 ± 12.2; p < 0.05), longer postoperative antimicrobial administration (5.3 ± 2.2 vs. 4.5 ± 1.5; p < 0.05), and longer operative time (3.3 ± 1.6 vs. 2.7 ± 1.2; p < 0.05). Intraoperative bleeding, antimicrobial choices to cover both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, and length of antimicrobial administration were independently predictive of SSI development according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. These results suggest that the degree of operative invasion and anaerobic bacteria contribute to SSI following colorectal surgery.

Isolates AH11(T) and AH13(T) were isolated from flowers of lantana and candle bush respectively collected in Thailand. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the two isolates formed an independent cluster, which was then connected to the type strain of Saccharibacter floricola. The calculated pair-wise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of isolate AH11(T) were 95.7-92.3% to the type strains of the type species of the 12 genera of acetic acid bacteria. The DNA base composition was from 51.2 to 56.8 mol % G+C, with a range of 5.6 mol %. When isolate AH11(T) was labeled, DNA-DNA similarities were 100, 12, 4, 5, and 4% respectively to isolates AH11(T) and AH13(T) and the type strains of Saccharibacter floricola, Gluconobacter oxydans, and Acetobacter aceti. The two isolates were non-motile and did not oxidize either acetate or lactate. No growth was found in the presence of 0.35% acetic acid w/v. The two isolates were not osmophilic but osmotolerant, produced 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate from D-glucose, and did not oxidize lactate, thus differing from strains of Saccharibacter floricola, which showed weak lactate oxidation. The two isolates contained unsaturated C(18:1)ω7c fatty acid as the major fatty acid, and were unique in the presence of a considerable amount of straight-chain C(18:1)2OH fatty acid. Q-10 was present as the major isoprenoid quinone. Neokomagataea gen. nov. was proposed with the two species, Neokomagataea thailandica sp. nov. for isolate AH11(T) (=BCC 25710(T)=NBRC 106555(T)), which has 56.8 mol % G+C, and Neokomagataea tanensis sp. nov. for isolate AH13(T) (=BCC 25711(T)=NBRC 106556(T)), which has 51.2 mol % G+C.

Three strains, RBY-1T, PHD-1 and PHD-2, were isolated from fruits in Thailand. The strains were Gram-negative, aerobic rods with polar flagella, produced acetic acid from ethanol and did not oxidize acetate or lactate. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and 16S–23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, the strains formed a cluster separate from the type strains of recognized species of the genus Gluconobacter. The calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence and 16S–23S rRNA gene ITS sequence similarities were respectively 97.7–99.7 % and 77.3–98.1 %. DNA G+C contents ranged from 57.2 to 57.6 mol%. The strains showed high DNA–DNA relatedness of 100 % to one another, but low DNA–DNA relatedness of 11–34 % to the tested type strains of recognized Gluconobacter species. Q-10 was the major quinone. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data obtained, the three strains clearly represent a novel species, for which the name Gluconobacter nephelii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RBY-1T ( = BCC 36733T = NBRC 106061T = PCU 318T), whose DNA G+C content is 57.2 mol%.

Two isolates, AC04(T) and AC05, were isolated from the flowers of red ginger collected in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the two isolates were included within a lineage comprised of the genera Acidomonas, Gluconacetobacter, Asaia, Kozakia, Swaminathania, Neoasaia, Granulibacter, and Tanticharoenia, and they formed an independent cluster along with the type strain of Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis. The calculated pair-wise sequence similarities of isolate AC04(T) were 97.8-92.5% to the type strains of the type species of the 11 genera of acetic acid bacteria. The DNA base composition was 66.0-66.1 mol % G+C with a range of 0.1 mol %. A single-stranded, labeled DNA from isolate AC04(T) presented levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 100, 85, 4, and 3% respectively to DNAs from isolates AC04(T) and AC05 and the type strains of Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens. The two isolates were unique morphologically in polar flagellation and physiologically in intense acetate oxidation to carbon dioxide and water and weak lactate oxidation. The intensity in acetate oxidation almost equaled that of the type strain of Acetobacter aceti. The two isolates had Q-10. Isolate AC04(T) was discriminated from the type strains of the type species of the 11 genera by 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis using restriction endonucleases TaqI and Hin6I. The unique phylogenetic, genetic, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics obtained indicate that the two isolates can be classified into a separate genus, and Ameyamaea chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is isolate AC04(T) (=BCC 15744(T), =NBRC 103196(T)), which has a DNA G+C content of 66.0 mol %.

Five strains, NBRC 3271(T), NBRC 3272, NBRC 3263, NBRC 3260 and NBRC 3269 were examined genetically, phylogenetically, phenotypically and chemotaxonomically. The DNA G+C contents of the five strains were 55.1-56.4 mol%. The five strains had low levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 13-51 % to the type strains of Gluconobacter frateurii, Gluconobacter thailandicus, Gluconobacter oxydans, Gluconobacter cerinus, Gluconobacter albidus and Gluconobacter kondonii and formed a cluster that was separate from the type strains of the six Gluconobacter species given above in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer sequences. The five strains weakly produced dihydroxyacetone from glycerol, but not 2,5-diketo-d-gluconate or a water-soluble brown pigment from d-glucose and contained ubiquinone-10. The five strains were assigned as representing a novel species of the genus Gluconobacter, for which the name Gluconobacter japonicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBRC 3271(T) (=BCC 14458(T)=strain 7(T), K. Kondo). Cells of the type strain are motile by means of polar flagella and the DNA G+C content is 56.4 mol%.

Strain NBRC 12467T was examined genetically, phylogenetically, phenotypically, and chemotaxonomically. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 59.5 mol%. The strain represented low levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 49-9% to the type strains of eight Gluconobacter species. The strain formed a cluster along with the type strains of G. albidus and G. kondonii in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. In a phylogenetic tree based on 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS sequences, however, the strain formed an independent cluster from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species. Such phylogenetic relationships were supported by the calculated pair-wise 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS sequence similarities. The strain was distinguished from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species by 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS restriction analysis using five restriction endonucleases. The strain produced a water-soluble brown pigment and 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate from D-glucose, differing from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species, and acid from meso-erythritol very weakly, differing from the type strains of the remaining seven Gluconobacter species except for the type strain of G. roseus, but not from maltose, differing from the type strain of G. oxydans, and had Q-10. For the strain, which was once classified as G. oxydans subsp. sphaericus, Gluconobacter sphaericus (Ameyama 1975) comb. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBRC 12467T, which is also deposited as BCC 14448T.

Plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPase and H(+) transport activity were detected in PM fractions prepared from Zostera marina (a seagrass), Vallisneria gigantea (a freshwater grass) and Oryza sativa (rice, a terrestrial plant). The properties of Z. marina PM H(+)-ATPase, specifically, the optimal pH for ATPase activity and the result of trypsin treatment, were similar to those of authentic PM H(+)-ATPases in higher plants. In V. gigantea and O. sativa PM fractions, vanadate-sensitive (P-type) ATPase activities were inhibited by the addition of NaCl. In contrast, activity in the Z. marina PM fraction was not inhibited. The nitrate-sensitive (V-type) and azide-sensitive (F-type) ATPase activities in the Z. marina crude microsomal fraction and the cytoplasmic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity, however, were inhibited by NaCl, indicating that not all enzyme activities in Z. marina are insensitive to salt. Although the ratio of Na(+) to K(+) (Na(+)/K(+)) in seawater is about 30, Na(+)/K(+) in the Z. marina cells was about 1.0. The salt-tolerant ATPase activity in the plasma membrane must play an important role in maintaining a low Na(+) concentration in the seagrass cells.