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The aim of our study was to compare the force steadiness and the discharge characteristics of motor units in the tibialis anterior (TA) during ankle dorsiflexion and foot adduction produced by submaximal isometric contractions with the dominant and non-dominant foot. Fifteen young men performed maximal and submaximal contractions at five target forces with both legs, and motor unit activity in TA was recorded using high-density electromyography. Maximal force and the fluctuations in force during submaximal contractions were similar between the two legs (p > 0.05). Motor unit activity was characterized by measures of mean discharge rate (MDR), coefficient of variation for interspike interval (CoV for ISI), and standard deviation of the filtered cumulative spike train (SD of fCST). There were no statistically significant differences in motor unit activity between legs during ankle dorsiflexion. In contrast, the MDR and the CoV for ISI but not the SD of fCST, were greater for the non-dominant foot compared with the dominant foot during foot adduction. Nonetheless, these differences in motor unit activity were not sufficient to influence the force fluctuations during the submaximal contractions. These results indicate that control of the force produced by TA during the two actions was not influenced by limb dominance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans strain MPOB(T) is the best-studied species of the genus Syntrophobacter. The species is of interest because of its anaerobic syntrophic lifestyle, its involvement in the conversion of propionate to acetate, H2 and CO2 during the overall degradation of organic matter, and its release of products that serve as substrates for other microorganisms. The strain is able to ferment fumarate in pure culture to CO2 and succinate, and is also able to grow as a sulfate reducer with propionate as an electron donor. This is the first complete genome sequence of a member of the genus Syntrophobacter and a member genus in the family Syntrophobacteraceae. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 4,990,251 bp long genome with its 4,098 protein-coding and 81 RNA genes is a part of the Microbial Genome Program (MGP) and the Genomes to Life (GTL) Program project.

Methanohalophilus mahii is the type species of the genus Methanohalophilus, which currently comprises three distinct species with validly published names. Mhp. mahii represents moderately halophilic methanogenic archaea with a strictly methylotrophic metabolism. The type strain SLP(T) was isolated from hypersaline sediments collected from the southern arm of Great Salt Lake, Utah. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 2,012,424 bp genome is a single replicon with 2032 protein-coding and 63 RNA genes and part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project. A comparison of the reconstructed energy metabolism in the halophilic species Mhp. mahii with other representatives of the Methanosarcinaceae reveals some interesting differences to freshwater species.

Terephthalate (TA) is one of the top 50 chemicals produced worldwide. Its production results in a TA-containing wastewater that is treated by anaerobic processes through a poorly understood methanogenic syntrophy. Using metagenomics, we characterized the methanogenic consortium tinside a hyper-mesophilic (i.e., between mesophilic and thermophilic), TA-degrading bioreactor. We identified genes belonging to dominant Pelotomaculum species presumably involved in TA degradation through decarboxylation, dearomatization, and modified ?-oxidation to H2/CO2 and acetate. These intermediates are converted to CH4/CO2 by three novel hyper-mesophilicmethanogens. Additional secondary syntrophic interactions were predicted in Thermotogae, Syntrophus and candidate phyla OP5 and WWE1 populations. The OP5 encodes genes capable of anaerobic autotrophic butyrate production and Thermotogae, Syntrophus and WWE1 have the genetic potential to oxidize butyrate to CO2/H2 and acetate. These observations suggest that the TA-degrading consortium consists of additional syntrophic interactions beyond the standard H2-producing syntroph ? methanogen partnership that may serve to improve community stability.

In this research, the calorific value and ash content of wood and bark of some fast-growing hardwood species, such as tree-of-heaven, (Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle), empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa (Thunberg) Steudel), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux), oriental plane (Platanus orientalis Linnaeus) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia Linnaeus) were investigated in order to comprehend their behaviour during combustion and estimate their utilization potential as solid biofuels (pellets). Beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) wood was used for comparative reasons. Different ratios of all the studied species in mixture were examined in order to investigate the material ratio that provides a satisfactory calorific value, while parallelly meeting the ash content requirements of the pellet production standard (ISO 17225-2:2014). Black locust bark seems to greatly increase the calorific value of the material. Empress tree wood had the lowest ash content, meeting the requirements of the best class (ENplus A1 - residential use), while tree-of-heaven and poplar were classified into ENplus B class (third class of residential use). By using the appropriate proportions, all the materials examined could be utilized in pellet production.

Sequencing of bacterial and archaeal genomes has revolutionized our understanding of the many roles played by microorganisms. There are now nearly 1,000 completed bacterial and archaeal genomes available, most of which were chosen for sequencing on the basis of their physiology. As a result, the perspective provided by the currently available genomes is limited by a highly biased phylogenetic distribution. To explore the value added by choosing microbial genomes for sequencing on the basis of their evolutionary relationships, we have sequenced and analysed the genomes of 56 culturable species of Bacteria and Archaea selected to maximize phylogenetic coverage. Analysis of these genomes demonstrated pronounced benefits (compared to an equivalent set of genomes randomly selected from the existing database) in diverse areas including the reconstruction of phylogenetic history, the discovery of new protein families and biological properties, and the prediction of functions for known genes from other organisms. Our results strongly support the need for systematic phylogenomic efforts to compile a phylogeny-driven Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea in order to derive maximum knowledge from existing microbial genome data as well as from genome sequences to come. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Thermobifida fusca is a moderately thermophilic soil bacterium that belongs to Actinobacteria. 3 It is a major degrader of plant cell walls and has been used as a model organism for the study of 4 secreted, thermostable cellulases. The complete genome sequence showed that T. fusca has a 5 single circular chromosome of 3642249 bp predicted to encode 3117 proteins and 65 RNA6 species with a coding density of 85 percent. Genome analysis revealed the existence of 29 putative 7 glycoside hydrolases in addition to the previously identified cellulases and xylanases. The 8 glycosyl hydrolases include enzymes predicted to exhibit mainly dextran/starch and xylan 9 degrading functions. T. fusca possesses two protein secretion systems: the sec general secretion 10 system and the twin-arginine translocation system. Several of the secreted cellulases have 11 sequence signatures indicating their secretion may be mediated by the twin-arginine12 translocation system. T. fusca has extensive transport systems for import of carbohydrates 13 coupled to transcriptional regulators controlling the expression of the transporters and14 glycosylhydrolases. In addition to providing an overview of the physiology of a soil 15 actinomycete, this study presents insights on the transcriptional regulation and secretion of16 cellulases which may facilitate the industrial exploitation of these systems.

e-Government services have evolved significantly over the last decade, from a paper-based bureaucratic procedure to digital services. Electronically processed transactions require limited physical interaction with the public administration, and provide reduced response times, increased transparency, confidentiality and integrity. Blockchain technology enhances many of the above properties as it facilitates immutability and transparency for the recorded transactions and can help establish trust among participants. In this paper, we conduct a literature review on the use of blockchain technology in e-government applications to identify e-government services that can benefit from the use of blockchains, types of technologies that are chosen for the proposed solutions, and their corresponding maturity levels. The aim is to demonstrate blockchain’s potential and contribution to the field, provide useful insights to governments who are considering investing in this innovative technology, and facilitate researchers in their future activities in blockchain-enabled e-government services.

The aim of this study was to assess the biological resistance of Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea L.) wood against two fungal species. Two sources of wood materials were used, one from a naturally grown population and the other from a cultivated area on the island of Syros in Cyclades, Greece. The study tested sapwood and heartwood from both sources against cultures of Coniophora puteana and Rhodonia placenta basidiomycetes. The heartwood from both sources was categorised as class 1: very durable, whereas the sapwood from both sources was classified as class 5: not durable due to their high susceptibility to both C. puteana and R. placenta. The mass loss of the heartwood showed only a small variation due to the activity of fungi, while the variability for sapwood was higher. Comparing the biological resistance of cultivated and natural J. phoenicea wood, no significant differences in their heartwood or sapwood were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ehrlichia canis, a small obligately intracellular, tick-transmitted, gram-negative, α-proteobacterium is the primary etiologic agent of globally distributed canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Complete genome sequencing revealed that the E. canis genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 1,315,030 bp predicted to encode 925 proteins, 40 stable RNA species, and 17 putative pseudogenes, and a substantial proportion of non-coding sequence (27 percent). Interesting genome features include a large set of proteins with transmembrane helices and/or signal sequences, and a unique serine-threonine bias associated with the potential for O-glycosylation that was prominent in proteins associated with pathogen-host interactions. Furthermore, two paralogous protein families associated with immune evasion were identified, one of which contains poly G:C tracts, suggesting that they may play a role in phase variation and facilitation of persistent infections. Proteins associated with pathogen-host interactions were identified including a small group of proteins (12) with tandem repeats and another with eukaryotic-like ankyrin domains (7).