Resting-state functional connectivity and cognitive performance in aging adults with cognitive decline: A data-driven multivariate pattern analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairments occur on a continuous spectrum in multiple cognitive domains showing individual variability of the deteriorating patterns; however, often, cognitive domains are studied separately. METHODS: The present study investigated aging individual variations of cognitive abilities and related resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) using data-driven approach. Cognitive and neuroimaging data were obtained from 62 elderly outpatients with cognitive decline. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on the cognitive data to determine patterns of cognitive performance, then data-driven whole-brain connectome multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was applied on the neuroimaging data to discover neural regions associated with the cognitive characteristic. RESULTS: The first component (PC1) delineated an overall decline in all domains of cognition, and the second component (PC2) represented a compensatory relationship within basic cognitive functions. MVPA indicated rsFC of the cerebellum lobule VIII and insula with the default-mode network, frontoparietal network, and salience network inversely correlated with PC1 scores. Additionally, PC2 score was related to rsFC patterns with temporal pole and occipital cortex. CONCLUSIONS: The featured primary cognitive characteristic depicted the importance of the cerebellum and insula connectivity patterns in of the general cognitive decline. The findings also discovered a secondary characteristic that communicated impaired interactions within the basic cognitive function, which was independent from the impairment severity.

Sphingomicrobium sediminis sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment in the Republic of Korea.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, bright-orange coloured bacterium without flagellum, designated as strain GRR-S6-50T, was isolated from a tidal flat of Garorim bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells grew aerobically at 20-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 1-5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain GRR-S6-50T was closely related to Sphingomicrobium aestuariivivum AH-M8T with a sequence similarity of 97.80 % followed by Sphingomicrobium astaxanthinifaciens CC-AMO-30BT (97.44 %), Sphingomicrobium marinum CC- AMZ-30MT (97.16 %), Sphingomicrobium arenosum CAU 1457T (96.37 %), Sphingomicrobium flavum CC-AMZ-30NT (95.31 %) and Sphingomicrobium lutaoense CC-TBT-3T (95.23 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with related strains ranged from 74.5 to 77.3% and 21.1 to 35.0 %, respectively. The G+C content of strain GRR-S6-50T was 63.30 mol%. The strain has ubiquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the major fatty acids were C18 : 3 ω6c (54.57 %) and C17 : 1 ω6c (10.58 %). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified lipids and one glycolipid. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic studies, strain GRR-S6-50T is regarded to represent a novel species within the genus Sphingomicrobium, for which the name Sphingomicrobium sediminis sp. nov. (KACC 22562T=KCTC 92123T=JCM 35084T) is proposed.

Tenacibaculum tangerinum sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat sediment.

An orange-coloured bacterium, designated as strain GRR-S3-23T, was isolated from a tidal flat sediment collected from Garorim Bay, Chuncheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells of GRR-S3-23T were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile. GRR-S3-23T grew at 18-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 2-4 % NaCl (optimum, 2-3 % w/v). Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that GRR-S3-23T was closely related to Tenacibaculum aiptasiae a4T (97.6 %), followed by Tenacibaculum aestuarii SMK-4T (97.5 %), Tenacibaculum mesophilum MBIC 1140T (97.4 %), Tenacibaculum singaporense TLL-A2T (97.3 %), Tenacibaculum crassostreae JO-1T (97.2 %),and Tenacibaculum sediminilitoris YKTF-3T (97.1 %). The average amino acid identity values between GRR-S3-23T and the related strains were 86.8-72.8 %, the average nucleotide identity values were 83.3-74.1 %, and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 27.0-19.6 %. GRR-S3-23T possessed menaquinone-6 (MK-6) as major respiratory quinone and had summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 20.6 %) and iso-C15 : 1G (10.8 %) as major fatty acids (>10.0 %). The polar lipid profiles of GRR-S3-23T contained phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid, three unidentified lipids, one unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of GRR-S3-23T was 33.7%. On the basis of the results of the polyphasic analysis involving phylogenetic, phylogenomic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analyses described in this study, GRR-S3-23T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Tenacibaculum, for which the name Tenacibaculum tangerinum is proposed. The type strain is GRR-S3-23T (=KCTC 102029T=KACC 23271T=JCM 36353T).

Clinical and Mechanistic Implications of R-Loops in Human Leukemias.

Genetic mutations or environmental agents are major contributors to leukemia and are associated with genomic instability. R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures consisting of an RNA-DNA hybrid and a non-template single-stranded DNA. These structures regulate various cellular processes, including transcription, replication, and DSB repair. However, unregulated R-loop formation can cause DNA damage and genomic instability, which are potential drivers of cancer including leukemia. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of aberrant R-loop formation and how it influences genomic instability and leukemia development. We also consider the possibility of R-loops as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Neural effects of a short-term virtual reality self-training program to reduce social anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by anxiety regarding social situations, avoidance of external social stimuli, and negative self-beliefs. Virtual reality self-training (VRS) at home may be a good interim modality for reducing social fears before formal treatment. This study aimed to find neurobiological evidence for the therapeutic effect of VRS. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with SAD were randomly assigned to a VRS or waiting list (WL) group. The VRS group received an eight-session VRS program for 2 weeks, whereas the WL group received no intervention. Clinical assessments and functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning with the distress and speech evaluation tasks were repeatedly performed at baseline and after 3 weeks. RESULTS: The post-VRS assessment showed significantly decreased anxiety and avoidance scores, distress index, and negative evaluation index for 'self', but no change in the negative evaluation index for 'other'. Patients showed significant responses to the distress task in various regions, including both sides of the prefrontal regions, occipital regions, insula, and thalamus, and to the speech evaluation task in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex. Among these, significant neuronal changes after VRS were observed only in the right lingual gyrus and left thalamus. CONCLUSIONS: VRS-induced improvements in the ability to pay attention to social stimuli without avoidance and even positively modulate emotional cues are based on functional changes in the visual cortices and thalamus. Based on these short-term neuronal changes, VRS can be a first intervention option for individuals with SAD who avoid society or are reluctant to receive formal treatment.

Halomonas getboli sp. nov., a halotolerant bacteria isolated from a salt flat.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, cream-coloured, motile, halotolerant bacterium, designated as YJPS3-2T, was isolated from saltern sediment of the Yellow sea in Yongyu-do, Republic of Korea. Strain YJPS3-2T grew at pH 5.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0), 4-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and with 1-15% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain YJPS3-2T was closely related to those of Halomonas halophila F5-7T (98.75 %), Halomonas salina F8-11T (98.74 %), Halomonas smyrnensis AAD6T (98.66 %), Halomonas organivorans G-16.1T (98.34 %), Halomonas koreensis SS20T (97.98 %) and Halomonas beimenensis NTU-107T (96.93 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between YJPS3-2T and related type strains were 86.9-91.6 % and 32.0-44.8 %. Strain YJPS3-2T was characterized as having Q-9 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the principal fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0 (31.4 %), C19 : 0 ω8c cyclo (16.3 %), C17 : 0 cyclo (11.9 %) and C12 : 0 3-OH (10.4 %). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content of strain YJPS3-2T is 68.1mol %. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic evidence presented in this study, YJPS3-2T should be classified as representing a novel species within the genus Halmonas, for which name Halomonas getboli is proposed, with the type strain YJPS3-2T (= KCTC 92124T=KACC 22561T=JCM 35085T).

Aurantiacibacter sediminis sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a tidal flat.

A yellow-coloured bacterium, designated as strain JGD-13T, was isolated from a tidal flat in the Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and rod-shaped. Growth was observed at 4-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0-12.0 (pH 7.0-8.0) and at 1-7 % (w/v) NaCl concentration (3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JGD-13T was closely related to Aurantiacibacter gangjinensis K7-2T with a sequence similarity of 98.2 %, followed by Aurantiacibacter aquimixticola JSSK-14T (98.1 %), Aurantiacibacter atlanticus s21-N3T (97.6 %), Aurantiacibacter zhengii V18T (97.6 %) and Aurantiacibacter luteus KA37T (97.5 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with related strains were 70.3-76.2 % and 18.5-20.3 %. The genomic DNA G+C content was 60.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using the maximum-likelihood method showed that strain JGD-13T formed a clade with A. aquimixticola JSSK-14T and A. gangjinensis K7-2T. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (39.7 %) and C17 : 1 ω6c (14.4 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one sphingoglycolipid and three unidentified lipids. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain JGD-13T represents a novel species within the genus Aurantiacibacter, for which the name Aurantiacibacter sediminis JGD-13Tsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JGD-13T (=KCTC 72892T=KACC 21676T=JCM 33995T).

Changes in Archaeal Community and Activity by the Invasion of Spartina anglica Along Soil Depth Profiles of a Coastal Wetland.

Invasion of Spartina spp. in tidal salt marshes may affect the function and characteristics of the ecosystem. Previous studies reported that the invasion alters biogeochemical and microbial processes in marsh ecosystems, yet our knowledge of changing archaeal community due to the invasion is still limited, whereas archaeal communities play a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycles within highly reduced marsh soils. In this study, we aimed to illustrate the influences of the Spartina anglica invasion on soil archaeal community and the depth profile of the influences. The relative abundance of archaeal phyla demonstrated that the invasion substantially shifted the characteristics of tidal salt marsh from marine to terrestrial soil only in surface layer, while the influences indirectly propagated to the deeper soil layer. In particular, two archaeal phyla, Asgardaeota and Diapherotrites, were strongly influenced by the invasion, indicating a shift from marine to terrestrial archaeal communities. The shifts in soil characteristics spread to the deeper soil layer that results in indirect propagation of the influences of the invasion down to the deeper soil, which was underestimated in previous studies. The changes in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon and salinity were the substantial regulating factors for that. Therefore, changes in biogeochemical and microbial characteristics in the deep soil layer, which is below the root zone of the invasive plant, should be accounted for a more accurate illustration of the consequences of the invasion.

Altererythrobacter lutimaris sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a tidal flat and reclassification of Altererythrobacter deserti, Altererythrobacter estronivorus and Altererythrobacter muriae as Tsuneonella deserti comb. nov., Croceicoccus estronivorus comb. nov. and Alteripontixanthobacter muriae comb. nov.

A yellow-coloured bacterium, designated strain JGD-16T, was isolated from a tidal flat in Janggu-do, Garorim Bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and short ovoid to coccoid-shaped. Growth was observed at 10-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0-9.0 (pH 8.0) and with 1-5% (w/v) NaCl (2%). Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JGD-16T was closely related to Altererythrobacter xiamenensis LY02T (97.1 %), Altererythrobacter aurantiacus O30T (96.3 %), Altererythrobacter ishigakiensis JPCCMB0017T (95.8 %), Altererythrobacter epoxidivorans JCS350T (95.7 %) and Altererythrobacter insulae BPTF-M16T (95.3%). Phylogenomic analysis using the maximum-likelihood algorithm showed that strain JGD-16T formed a clade with the genus Altererythrobacter. The genomic DNA G+C content was 57.8 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, a sphingoglycolipid, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The major fatty acids were C18:1 ω7c (31.5 %) and C18:3 ω6c (19.6 %). On the basis of its phylogenomic, physiological and chemotaxonomical characteristics, strain JGD-16T represents a novel species within the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter lutimaris JGD-16Tsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JGD-16T (=KCTC 72632T=KACC 21405T=JCM 33750T). We also propose the reclassification of Altererythrobacter deserti as Tsuneonella deserti comb. nov., Altererythrobacter estronivorus as Croceicoccus estronivorus comb. nov. and Altererythrobacter muriae as Alteripontixanthobacter muriae comb. nov.

Novosphingobium aureum sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from salt flat sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, pale yellow-coloured, rod-shaped marine bacterium designated strain YJ-S2-02T was isolated from salt flat sediment sampled in Yongyu-do, Republic of Korea. Strain YJ-S2-02T grew at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0), 10-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and with optimum 1 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain YJ-S2-02T was closely related to Novosphingobium naphthalenivorans NBRC 102051T (97.8 %) followed by Novosphingobium mathurense SM117T (97.5 %), Novosphingobium indicum H25T (97.3 %), Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1T (96.8 %), Novosphingobium fontis STM-14T (96.6 %), Novosphingobium endophyticum EGI60015T (96.5 %), Novosphingobium naphthae D39T (96.5 %) and Novosphingobium malaysiense MUSC 273T (95.9 %). The average nucleotide identity and estimated DNA-DNA hybridization values between YJ-S2-02T and related type strains were 77.0-77.9 % and 19.1-24.0 %. Strain YJ-S2-02T was characterized as having Q-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the principal fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω6c/ω7c, 20.7 %), C18 : 3 ω6c (16.3 %) and C17 : 1 ω6c (11.8 %). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingolipids and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain YJ-S2-02T was 65.6 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic evidence presented in this study, YJ-S2-02T should be classified as representing a novel species within the genus Novosphingobium, for which name Novosphingobium aureum is proposed, with the type strain YJ-S2-02T (=KACC 21677T =KCTC 72891T=JCM 33996T).

Chemical constituents from basidiomycete Basidioradulum radula culture medium and their cytotoxic effect on human prostate cancer DU-145 cells.

Eight new naphtho[1,2-c]furan derivatives (1-8) along with six known analogues (9-14) were isolated from culture medium of the basidiomycete Basidioradulum radula. The structures of these compounds were identified using spectroscopic analysis, and their absolute configurations were resolved using X-ray diffraction, ECD, and VCD. Compounds 7 and 14 inhibited the cell viability of human prostate cancer DU-145 cells with IC50 values of 7.54 ± 0.03 µM and 5.04 ± 0.03 µM, respectively. At 8 µM, compounds 7 and 14 increased the percentage of apoptotic cells and upregulated the protein expression related to the apoptosis caspase pathways in DU-145 cells. Furthermore, the hallmarks of cells undergoing apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation, were also observed at this concentration. However, compound 7 and 14 showed no effect on the proliferation of splenocytes isolated from cyclophosphamide-induce immunosuppressed mice.

A neural mechanism of the relationship between impulsivity and emotion dysregulation in patients with Internet gaming disorder.

Impulsivity and emotion dysregulation have been known to be risk factors for Internet gaming disorder (IGD), but their underlying neural mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Given that the prefrontal cortex has a key role in higher order cognition and addiction, the present study aimed to investigate emotional influences on response inhibition in situations with different cognitive demands. A total of 41 young male adults (20 with and 21 without IGD) were scanned while performing two versions of an emotional go/no-go task with demands on low and high working memory load. Patients with IGD showed a failure in response inhibition and increased activation of widespread brain regions, including prefrontal, motor-sensory, parietal, occipital, insula, and striatal regions across tasks. Among these regions, involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum was observed only during the task with high demands on working memory. Moreover, it was also only during the high-load task that interaction between response inhibition and emotional states was observed in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, with observations revealing that its alteration in patients with IGD was associated with number of hours spent on Internet gaming. Our findings highlight a failure of response inhibition and dysfunction within the inhibitory control network. The special significance of our study is that dysfunctional dorsomedial prefrontal cortex may mediate abnormal emotional influences on response inhibition in patients with IGD.

Differences in the modulation of functional connectivity by self-talk tasks between people with low and high life satisfaction.

Self-respect is a practical way to promote life satisfaction through gratifying basic psychological needs, whereas self-criticism is associated with life dissatisfaction. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of two positive and negative self-talks on the functional connectome with respect to life satisfaction and its relationships with basic psychological needs. Forty-eight individuals with low life satisfaction (LLS, n â€‹= â€‹24) and with high life satisfaction (HLS, n â€‹= â€‹24) were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging at a baseline state and during and after self-respect or self-criticism tasks. Functional connectivity analysis was conducted to identify the modulatory effects of the tasks on the self-referential, default mode, and reward-motivation networks. We found that self-respect changed only the connection between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and frontoparietal network, whereas self-criticism changed almost all of the connections examined. The group x condition interaction effect of self-respect was identified only in connection between the PCC and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, while that of self-criticism was observed in various connections based on the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. In respect to basic psychological needs, functional connectivity after self-criticism was significant in predicting the needs of autonomy and relatedness only in the LLS group, whereas functional connectivity after self-respect could predict the needs of autonomy and competence only in the HLS group. Overall, self-criticism produces more noticeable negative changes in the brain than the positive changes of self-respect. Individuals with low life satisfaction may be more vulnerable to be negatively affected not only by self-criticism but also self-respect than individuals with high life satisfaction. The satisfaction of basic psychological needs can play a mediating role in the effects of self-talk tasks differently concerning life satisfaction.

Muricauda ochracea sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat in the Republic of Korea.

A yellowish-brown-coloured bacterium, designated strain JGD-17T, was isolated from a tidal flat of Janggu-do, Garorim bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and long-rod-shaped. Growth was observed at 20-45 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), at pH 6.0-10.0 (9.0) and with 1-5 % (w/v) NaCl (1-3 %). Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JGD-17T was closely related to Muricauda nanhaiensis SM1704T (96.1 %), Muricauda olearia CL-SS4T (95.0 %), Muricauda beolgyonensis BB-My12T (94.9 %), Muricauda marina H19-56T (94.7 %) and Muricauda indica 3PC125-7T (94.5 %). The ranges of values for the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization analyses with related strains were 71.3-74.1 % and 16.9-18.2 %. The genomic DNA G+C content was 41.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using the neighbour-joining method showed that strain JGD-17T formed a clade with Muricauda nanhaiensis SM1704T, Muricauda lutaonensis CC-HSB-11T, Muricauda lutea CSW06T and Muricauda pacifica SM027T. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (26.9 %), iso-C15 : 1 G (19.5 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (12.7 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified lipids. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain JGD-17T represents a novel species within the genus Muricauda, for which the name Muricauda ochracea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JGD-17T (=KCTC 72732T=KACC 21486T=JCM 33817T).

Marinobacter halodurans sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from sediment of a salt flat.

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, cream-coloured, marine bacterium, with rod-shaped cells, designated strain YJ-S3-2T, was isolated from salt flat sediment of Yongyu-do, Republic of Korea. YJ-S3-2T grew at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0), 4-45 °C (optimum 30 °C) and with 1-18 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 6 %). The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that YJ-S3-2T was closely related to Marinobacter segnicrescens SS011B1-4T (97.0 %) followed by, 'Marinobacter nanhaiticus' D15-8W (96.7 %), Marinobacter bryozoorum 50-11T (96.7 %), Marinobacter koreensis DSMZ 179240T T (96.5 %) and Marinobacter bohaiensis T17T (96.5 %). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the genome to genome distance calculator (GGDC) estimate values between YJ-S3-2T and related type strains were 73.7-79.8 and 19.9-22.5 %, and also 73.5 and 20.7 % with Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus. YJ-S3-2T was characterized as having Q-9 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the principal fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0 (22.3 %), summed feature 9 (C17 : 1iso ω9c/C16 : 0 10-methyl, 13.8 %) and 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, 11.9 %). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of YJ-S3-2T is 60.9 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic evidence presented in this study, YJ-S3-2T should be classified as representing a novel species within the genus Marinobacter, for which name Marinobacter halodurans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YJ-S3-2T (=KACC 19883T=KCTC 62937T=JCM 33109T).

A proposed stepwise screening framework for the selection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading white rot fungi.

This study suggests a simple three-step screening protocol for the selection of white rot fungi (WRF) capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which combines easily applicable bioassay techniques, and verifies that protocol by evaluating the PAH degradation activity, ligninolytic enzyme secretion, and relevant gene expressions of the selected PAH-degraders. Using 120 fungal strains, a sequence of bioassay techniques was applied: Bavendamm's reaction (Step 1), remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) decolorization (Step 2); assays for tolerance to four mixed PAHs-phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene (Step 3). This stepwise protocol selected 14 PAH-degrading WRF, including Microporus vernicipes, Peniophora incarnata, Perenniporia subacida, Phanerochaete sordida, Phlebia acerina, and Phlebia radiata. Of these, P. incarnata exhibited the highest PAH degradative activity, ranging from 40 to > 90%, which was related to the time-variable secretions of three extracellular ligninolytic enzymes: laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP). Laccase and MnP production by P. incarnata tended to be greater in the early stages of PAH degradation, whereas its LiP production became intensified with decreasing laccase and MnP production. Pilc1 and pimp1 genes encoding laccase and MnP were expressed, indicating the occurrence of extracellular enzyme-driven biodegradation of PAH by the fungal strains.

Hyperspectral Raman Line Mapping as an Effective Tool To Monitor the Coating Thickness of Pharmaceutical Tablets.

Protective chemical coatings are deposited on drugs during the manufacturing process for the purpose of controlling the pharmacokinetics of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Although manufacturers attempt to coat all the tablets uniformly, the film thickness of an individual drug is statistically different and depends on the measuring position of the anisotropic structure, and analytical methods for measuring coating thickness must be robust to statistical and geometrical aberrations. Herein, we demonstrate that a spatially offset Raman-spectroscopy-based line mapping method offered excellent calibration and prediction of the coating thickness of 270 acetaminophen ( N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, paracetamol) tablets. Raman-scattered light resurfaced back from the coating and APIs, and offset-resolved spectra were projected according to the vertical positions in an imaging sensor. The Raman intensity ratio between the coating substance and the inner APIs is a key parameter in the analysis, and its variation with respect to the spatial offset is proportional to the coating thickness and duration. The results of this study have implications for the rapid spectroscopic thickness measurement of industrial products coated with transparent or translucent materials.

Serinicoccus sediminis sp. nov., isolated from tidal flat sediment.

A novel Gram-strain-positive, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated GP-T3-3T, was isolated from sediment sampled at a tidal flat in Gopado, Republic of Korea. Cells were aerobic, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive, non-motile cocci that occurred singly, in pairs or in clusters. Strain GP-T3-3T grew at 4-45 °C (optimum, 28-37 °C), at pH 4.0-12.0 (pH 8.0-9.0) and in the presence of 0-15 % (w/v) NaCl (3-5 %). Colonies of strain GP-T3-3T were deep-yellow, circular, smooth and pulvinate. The results of the phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain GP-T3-3T was closely related to Serinicoccus profundi MCCC 1A05965T (99.1 %), Serinicoccus chungangensis CAU 9536T (99.0 %) and Serinicoccus marinus JC1078T (98.0 %). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-8(H4) and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphadidylglycerol, phosphadidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 72.9 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain GP-T3-3T and type strains of the genus Serinicoccus ranged from 28.9 to 50.5 %. On the basis of the phenotypic differences and DNA-DNA relatedness data, the isolate represents a new species of the genus Serinicoccus, for which the name Serinicoccussediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GP-T3-3T (=KCTC 49173T=JCM 32825T=KCCM 43309T=KACC 19850T).

Gemmobacter lutimaris sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a tidal flat.

A novel cream-pigmented marine bacterium, designated strain YJ-T1-11T, was isolated from a tidal flat at Yeongjong-do, Republic of Korea. Cells were rod-shaped, non-motile, aerobic, Gram-reaction-negative, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YJ-T1-11T clustered with Gemmobacter fontiphilus JS43T (98.3 %) within the genus Gemmobacter and its closest neighbours were G.emmobacter aquatilis DSM 3857T (98.5 %), Gemmobacter aquaticus A1-9T (98.4 %), Gemmobacterlanyuensis Orc-4T (98.4 %), Gemmobacterfontiphilus JS43T (98.3 %), Gemmobactercaeni DCA-1T (98.2 %), Gemmobacternanjingensis Y12T (97.5 %) and Gemmobactertilapiae Ruye-53T (97.2 %). Average nucleotide identity values between the genome sequences of strain YJ-T1-11T and the related type strains ranged from 77.08 to 90.48 %. The predominant fatty acid of strain YJ-T1-11T was summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10 and the DNA G+C content was 65.6 mol%. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol and three unidentified lipids. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain YJ-T1-11T and the type strains of the 12 phylogenetically related species of the genus Gemmobacter were 23.6-53.7 %. On the basis of the genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain YJ-T1-11T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Gemmobacter, for which the name Gemmobacter lutimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YJ-T1-11T (=KCTC 62715T=JCM 32828T).

A sample wetting strategy to overcome differences in physical morphology between lab-prepared training samples and pharmaceutical process samples for reliable quantitative Raman spectroscopic analysis.

As a training set for multivariate quantitative analysis, lab-blended powder samples are frequently used due to the facile concentration variation of the individual components. Real pharmaceutical process samples, however, are often granular in form. The different morphologies between training and process samples result in dissimilar Raman spectral features, thereby seriously deteriorating the accuracy of the analysis. To overcome this hurdle, an effective and simple strategy to make physical presentations of both training and process samples similar, called water wetting, was demonstrated in this study. Wetting potentially dismantles process granule samples into smaller aggregates, whereas lab powder samples could be somewhat aggregated by water-bridging. Thus, water wetting would produce similar morphologies of both samples. To evaluate the strategy, samples containing esomeprazole magnesium dihydrate (EMD) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and five additional components were employed. Initially, training samples were mixed with the individual components at the intended concentration ranges. A partial least squares (PLS) model developed using the Raman spectra of the training samples was inaccurate in determining EMD concentrations in the real process samples. When both training and process samples were wetted prior to analysis, accurate concentration determination was realized due to no significant difference in Raman spectral features between samples. The similar morphologies and crystallinities of the two types of wetted samples were confirmed by analyzing the corresponding SEM images and XRD patterns. The proposed strategy is versatile and expandable for further vibrational spectroscopic analysis of various other samples with different morphologies.