Paenibacillus albiflavus sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil.

Strain 18JY21-1T, a Gram-positive, endospore-forming, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from soil in South Korea and was characterised to determine its taxonomic position. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain 18JY21-1T revealed that the strain 18JY21-1T belongs to the genus Paenibacillus in the family Paenibacillaceae in the class Bacilli. The highest degree of sequence similarities of strain 18JY21-1T was found with Paenibacillus doosanensis CAU 1055T (97.7%) and Paenibacillus protaetiae KACC 19327T (94.4%). In genome analysis, the calculated average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) values between strain 18JY21-1T and Paenibacillus protaetiae KACC 19327T were 66.3% and 22.8%, respectively. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that the predominant fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (38.7%) and C16:0 (18.0%). A complex polar lipid profile consisted of major amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). The cell wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data, strain 18JY21-1T (= KCTC 3396T = JCM 33183T) should be classified as a type strain of a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus albiflavus sp. nov. is proposed.

Flavisolibacter longurius sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A novel Gram-negative bacterial strain BT320T was isolated from soil collected in Uijeongbu city, Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BT320T belong to a distinct lineage within the genus Flavisolibacter (family Chitinophagaceae, order Chitinophagales, class Chitinophagia). The strain BT320T was closely related to Flavisolibacter galbus 17J28-26T (97.6% 16S rRNA gene similarity), Flavisolibacter nicotianae X7XT (96.7%), Flavisolibacter ginsengiterrae Gsoil 492T (96.2%), and Flavisolibacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 643 T (96.1%). The genome size of strain BT320T was 5,664,094 bp. Bacterial growth was observed at 10-37 °C (optimum 25 °C) and pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) on R2A agar. The major cellular fatty acids of strain BT320T were iso-C15:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c/C16:1 ω7c), and summed feature 1 (iso-C15:1 H/C13:0 3OH). Its predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipid of strain BT320T was identified to be phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Based on the biochemical, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic analysis, strain BT320T can be suggested as a novel bacterial species within the genus Flavisolibacter and the proposed name is Flavisolibacter longurius. The type strain of Flavisolibacter longurius is BT320T (= KCTC 72422T = NBRC 114375T).

Flaviaesturariibacter aridisoli sp. nov., A Bacterium Isolated from Dry Soil.

A novel bacterial strain, designated 17J68-15T, was isolated from dry soil collected in Jeju Island, South Korea. Cells of strain 17J68-15T are Gram-negative, pale-yellow-colored, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped was able to grow at 18-42 °C with 0-1% NaCl on R2A agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain was distinct from any previously known species of the genus Flaviaesturariibacter. The highest degrees of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity found with Flaviaesturariibacter terrae HY03T (97.6%), Flaviaesturariibacter amylovorans (96.2%) and Flaviaesturariibacter luteus AW305T (96.0%). The DNA G + C content of the novel strain, 17J68-15T, was 9.3 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that the major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, iso-C17:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c); the major polar lipid was identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, and the major quinone was identified as MK-7. Based on polyphasic characterization, strain 17J68-15T represents a novel species of the genus Flaviaesturariibacter for which the name Flaviaesturariibacter aridisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 17J68-15T (= KCTC 62220T = JCM 19635T).

Pontibacter fetidus sp. nov. and Pontibacter burrus sp. nov., isolated from the soil.

Two novel strains, BT213T and BT327T, were isolated from the soil collected in Uijeongbu city, Korea. Cells of strains were Gram negative, aerobic, and non-motile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains BT213T and BT327T formed two distinct lineages within the family Hymenobacteraceae (order Cytophagales, class Cytophagia). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain BT213T and BT327T belonged to the genus Pontibacter. Strain BT213T showed the highest similarities of 97.8% with Pontibacter deserti JC215T. Strain BT327T showed the highest sequence similarity of 96.5% with Pontibacter mucosus PB3T. Optimal growth occurred at 25 °C, pH 7, and in the absence of NaCl. The major cellular fatty acid of strains BT213T and BT327T were iso-C15:0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I/anteiso-C17:1 B). Strains BT213T and BT327T had MK-7 as major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine as major polar lipids. The genome size of strains BT213T and BT327T were 4,072,018 bp and 4,314,171 bp, respectively. The genomic G + C mol% of strains BT213T and BT327T are 45.6% and 46.1%, respectively. Based on biochemical, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic analysis, two novel species Pontibacter fetidus BT213T (KCTC 72345T = NBRC 114379T) and Pontibacter burrus BT327T (KCTC 72412T = NBRC 114376T) are proposed as type strains.

Noviherbaspirillum galbum sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and yellow-colored bacterium, strain 17J57-3 T, was isolated from soil collected in Pyeongchang city, Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 17J57-3 T formed a distinct lineage within the family Oxalobacteraceae (order Burkholderiales, class Betaproteobacteria). Strain 17J57-3 T was the most closely related to Noviherbaspirillum humi U15T (96.4% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Noviherbaspirillum massiliense JC206T (96.2%). The draft genome size of strain 17J57-3 T was 6,117,206 bp. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 7.0 without NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c/C16:1 ω7c) and C16:0. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain 17J57-3 T represents a novel bacterial species within the genus Noviherbaspirillum, for which the name Noviherbaspirillum galbum is proposed. The type strain of Noviherbaspirillum galbum is 17J57-3 T (= KCTC 62213 T = NBRC 114384 T).

Adhaeribacter soli sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil in Korea.

Strain MA2T was isolated from a soil sample from Gijang-gun, Busan in Korea. The strain, a Gram-stain-negative aerobic bacterium, is non-motile, ovoid- or rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and grows at NaCl concentrations 1% (w/v), at 15-30 °C (optimum 25 °C) and at pH 6-8.5 (optimum pH 7.5). The 16S rRNA gene sequence indicates that it belongs to the genus Adhaeribacter in the family Hymenobacteraceae. Phylogenetically, its closest relatives are Adhaeribacter terrae HY02T and Adhaeribacter terreus DNG6T, to which the strain shows 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 96.6 and 96.0%, respectively. The major fatty acids (> 5% of the total fatty acids) of strain MA2T are C15:0 iso, C15:0 iso-G and summed feature 4 (anteiso-C17:1 B and/or iso-C17:1 I). The only detected isoprenoid quinone of strain MA2T is MK-7. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The draft genome sequence of strain MA2T has a size of 4.9 Mkb. The genomic DNA G + C content was 46.9 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Adhaeribacter, for which the name Adhaeribacter soli sp. nov. is proposed. Strain MA2T (= KCTC 72630T = NBRC 114192T) is the type strain.

Spirosoma aureum sp. nov., and Hymenobacter russus sp. nov., radiation-resistant bacteria in Cytophagales order isolated from soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, nonmotile, yellow-colored strain BT328T and Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, red-colored strain BT18T were isolated from the soil collected in Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain BT328T formed a distinct lineage within the family Spirosomaceae (order Cytophagales, class Cytophagia) and was most closely related to a member of the genus Spirosoma, Spirosoma terrae 15J9-4T (95.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Optimal growth occurred at 25 °C, pH 7.0 and in the absence of NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c/C16:1 ω7c) and C16:1 ω5c. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BT18T formed a distinct lineage within the family Hymenobacteraceae (order Cytophagales, class Cytophagia, phylum Bacteroidetes) and was most closely related to members of the genus Hymenobacter, Hymenobacter knuensis 16F7C-2T (97.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Optimal growth occurred at 25 °C and pH 7.0 without NaCl. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 and anteiso-C15:0. The major menaquinone was MK-7. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that strains BT328T and BT18T represents a novel bacterial species within the genus Spirosoma and Hymenobacter, respectively. For which the name Spirosoma aureum and Hymenobacter russus is proposed. The type strain of S. aureum is BT328T (=KCTC 72365T = NBRC 114506T) and the type strain of H. russus is BT18T (=KCTC 62610T = NBRC 114380T).

Rhodocytophaga rosea sp. nov. and Nibribacter ruber sp. nov., two radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from soil.

Two bacterial strains, 172606-1T and BT10T, were isolated from soil, Korea. Both strains were Gram-stain-negative and rod-shaped bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 172606-1T formed a distinct lineage within the family Cytophagaceae (order Cytophagales, class Cytophagia, phylum Bacteroidetes). Strain 172606-1T was most closely related to a member of the genus Rhodocytophaga (93.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Rhodocytophaga aerolata 5416T-29T). The complete genome sequence of strain 172606-1T is 8,983,451 bp size. Optimal growth occurred at 25 °C and pH 7.0 without NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C15:0 and C16:1 ω5c. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BT10T belongs to the genus Nibribacter and is closely related to Nibribacter koreensis GSR 3061T (96.5%), Rufibacter glacialis MDT1-10-3T (95.7%), Rufibacter sediminis H-1T (95.1%) and Rufibacter quisquiliarum CAI-18bT (94.9%). The complete genome sequence of strain BT10T is 4,374,810 bp size. The predominant (> 10%) cellular fatty acids of strain BT10T were iso-C15:0 and summed feature 4 (anteiso-C17:1 B/iso-C17:1 I) and a predominant quinone was MK-7. In addition, strain BT10T has phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as the major polar lipid. On the basis of biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain 172606-1T represents a novel bacterial species of the genus Rhodocytophaga, for which the name Rhodocytophaga rosea is proposed and strain BT10T represents a novel species of the genus Nibribacter, for which the name Nibribacter ruber is proposed. The type strains of Rhodocytophaga rosea and Nibribacter ruber are 172606-1T (= KCTC 62096T = NBRC 114410T) and BT10T (= KCTC 62607T = NBRC 114383T), respectively.

Pontibacter pudoricolor sp. nov., and Pontibacter russatus sp. nov. radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from soil.

Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, red-colored strains BT214T and BT326T were isolated from soil collected in Uijeongbu city, Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains BT214T and BT326T formed a distinct lineage within the family Hymenobacteraceae (order Chitinophagales, class Chitinophagia) and were most closely related to members of the genus Pontibacter, Pontibacter populi HLY7-15T (96.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Pontibacter amylolyticus 9-2T (96.1%), respectively. Optimal growth of two strains occurred at 25 °C, pH 7.0 and in the absence of NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I/anteiso-C17:1 B) and iso-C15:0. The major respiratory quinone of two strains was MK-7. The major polar lipid of two strains was phosphatidylethanolamine. Biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that strains BT214T and BT326T represent novel bacterial species within the genus Pontibacter, for which the names Pontibacter pudoricolor and Pontibacter russatus are proposed. The type strains of Pontibacter pudoricolor and Pontibacter russatus are BT214T and BT326T, respectively.

Development and Validation Study of the Internet Overuse Screening Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: Concerns over behavioral and emotional problems caused by excessive internet usage have been developed. This study intended to develop and a standardize questionnaire that can efficiently identify at-risk internet users through their internet usage habits. METHODS: Participants (n=158) were recruited at six I-will-centers located in Seoul, South Korea. From the initial 36 questionnaire item pool, 28 preliminary items were selected through expert evaluation and panel discussions. The construct validity, internal consistency, and concurrent validity were examined. We also conducted Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis to assess diagnostic ability of the Internet Overuse Screening-Questionnaire (IOS-Q). RESULTS: The exploratory factor analysis yielded a five factor structure. Four factors with 17 items remained after items that had unclear factor loading were removed. The Cronbach's alpha for the IOS-Q total score was 0.91, and test-retest reliability was 0.72. The correlation between Young's internet addiction scale and K-scale supported concurrent validity. ROC analysis showed that the IOS-Q has superior diagnostic ability with the Area Under the Curve of 0.87. At the cut-off point of 25.5, the sensitivity was 0.93 and specificity was 0.86. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study supports the use of IOS-Q for internet addiction research and for screening high-risk individuals.

The relationship of problematic internet use with dissociation among South Korean internet users.

This study examined patterns of problematic internet use (PIU) among South Korean internet users to investigate the association between PIU and dissociative experiences. Five hundred and eight participants between 20 and 49 years old were recruited through an online panel survey. Using logistic regression analysis with PIU as the dependent variable, we observed that the participants with PIU were more likely to have alcohol-related behaviors or problems, higher levels of perceived stress, and dissociative experiences. Participants' scores on the Korean version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale were positively correlated with the severity of PIU. Individuals with PIU and dissociation had more severe PIU and more severe mental-health problems than those with PIU but without dissociation. These findings suggest that treatment programs for persons with PIU should focus on helping them tolerate negative affect and increase their level of awareness to prevent the occurrence of dissociative experiences.

A facile approach to synthesize uniform hydrogel shells with controllable loading and releasing properties.

We present a facile and straightforward method to synthesize uniform poly(vinyl amine) hydrogel shells with excellent loading capability for active materials and controllable responsiveness to applied stimuli, providing tunable releasing properties.