To prevent this sneak path current, various selection devices are

To prevent this sneak path current, various selection devices are introduced. Selection

devices have very a high resistance at low voltage levels (VLow) and low resistance at high voltage levels (VHigh). Therefore, the use of a selection device and ReRAM integration can reduce the leakage current in cross-point array operation. However, they are structurally and compositionally complex for one-selector one-ReRAM (1S1R) integration [9, 10]. Therefore, selector-less ReRAMs with non-linear ILRS behavior and without complex compositional and structural integration have been learn more investigated [11, 12]. However, the origin of the selector-less ReRAM has not been investigated, and its switching reliability has not been considered for cross-point array operation. Most researches have focused only on the selectivity of the selector-less ReRAM. In this research, the multi-functional role of the TiOx tunnel barrier which can be integrated with ReRAM www.selleckchem.com/products/SB-525334.html was analyzed. We significantly improved the selectivity and switching uniformity by designing the device with a simple triple-layer structure of a tunnel-barrier-layer-inserted ReRAM. The tunnel barrier can act as an internal resistor whose resistance changes with the applied bias. Direct tunneling (DT) of the tunnel

barrier shows high resistance at VLow, whereas Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FNT) shows low resistance at VHigh. DT of the tunnel barrier reduces the sneak-path current of the Vildagliptin ReRAM and controls the filament formation in the HfO2 switching layer for selectivity and uniformity. Thus, the multi-functional

tunnel barrier plays an important role buy Thiazovivin in the selectivity and switching uniformity of ReRAMs. Experiments We fabricated Ti/HfO2/multi-layer TiOy-TiOx/Pt devices in a 250-nm via-hole structure. For the isolation layer, a 100-nm-thick SiO2 sidewall layer was deposited on a Pt bottom electrode (BE)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Subsequently, a 250-nm via-hole was formed by a KrF lithography process, followed by reactive-ion etching. First, a 6-nm TiOx tunnel barrier was deposited in an Ar-and-O2 mixed plasma (Ar/O2 = 30:1 sccm) by radio frequency (RF) sputtering (working pressure 5 mTorr, RF power 100 W). To form the multi-layer TiOy/TiOx (y > x), a tunnel barrier was annealed in O2 ambient by rapid thermal annealing at 300°C. We varied the thermal oxidation time to evaluate the role of the tunnel barrier in the ReRAM (0 to 10 min). Then, a switching layer of 4-nm-thick HfO2 was deposited using an atomic layer deposition system using TEMAH as a precursor and H2O as an oxidizer at 250°C. The Ti oxygen reservoir and a top electrode (TE) of 50 μm were deposited using direct current (DC) sputtering and a shadow mask. Discussion Figure 1a shows the DC current–voltage (I-V) curve, which shows the highly non-linear I-V characteristics of the TE/Ti/HfO2/multi-layer TiOy-TiOx/BE device.

Concentration of amino acids and their enantiomeric ratios were a

Concentration of amino acids and their enantiomeric ratios were also determined by HPLC and GC/MS. Significant enzymatic activities were detected in both some of the hydrothermal sub-vent systems, chimney rocks and Antarctica soils, which is crucial evidence of the presence of vigorous microbial activities. It is www.selleckchem.com/products/EX-527.html consistent with the fact that large enantiomeric excess of L-form amino acids were found in the same core sequences. Chimney phosphatases showed optimum at higher temperature than E-coli

phosphatase, while Antarctica phosphatases showed maximum activities at lower temperature. In order to detect individual microorganisms, fluorescence microscopy technique was applied. It was proved that most of terrestrial microorganisms could be detected when we dyed soil samples with CFDA-AM, a substrate of esterases. We are developing a portable fluorescence microscope for in situ detection of extant organisms in the field.

We express our thanks to members of Archaean Park Project for the samples of hydrothermal systems. We also thank Dr. Manamu Fukui, Hokkaido University and the members of the 47th and 49th Japan Antarctic exploration missions. E-mail: JNK-IN-8 kkensei@ynu.​ac.​jp Organic Molecules in Class I Protoplanetary Disk Yi-Jehng Kuan1,2, Yo-Ling Chuang1, Chian-Chou Chen1,Kuo-Song Wang2, Hui-Chun Huang1 1Department learn more of Earth Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 116, Taiwan; 2Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 106, Taiwan A number of Class 0 sources have been found to filipin be rich in organic molecules, which are present in hot corinos. Since most of the material accreted during the Class 0 phase is consumed by the forming protostar, a meaningful comparison between interstellar, nebular and comet chemistries can only be made by studying the

composition of the envelopes and disks of Class I sources. Recently Spitzer has surveyed more than 100 Class I and II YSOs and only detected hot organic molecules in IRS 46, a Class I source. We have thus used the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) to observe IRS 46 and we have detected H2CO and CH3OH toward IRS 46. The successful detection of these two organic molecules indicates recent icy mantle evaporation, hence the presence of an organically rich hot corino environment. Further high angular-resolution observations with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) will not only allow us to determine the organic inventory of IRS 46 but also enable us to compare the chemistry of nominal Class I hot corinos with those at the Class 0 phase. Some of the preliminary results from our SMT and SMA observations will be presented. E-mail: kuan@ntnu.​edu.

g [10, 11]] During this protocol, measures of power (W) and for

g. [10, 11]]. During this protocol, measures of power (W) and force (N) were measured using a force plate (AccuPower, Athletic Republic, Fargo, ND, USA). Blood variables Blood samples were collected via an indwelling catheter placed in the antecubital forearm vein at the beginning of each day of exercise testing. Samples were Barasertib price obtained before exercise testing began, immediately following vertical jump, following squat testing, immediately post all exercise testing, and fifteen minutes following cessation of exercise, for a total of five blood

timepoints. After whole blood analyses, blood plasma was obtained via centrifugation (Hettich Centrifuge, Beverly, MA) at 3200 RPM, 4°C, 20 minutes, and stored at -80°C until further analysis. Betaine was analyzed in EDTA preserved plasma samples. ITF2357 nmr High performance liquid chromatography was utilized with a silica column in a mixed partition and ion exchange mode following

a method previously described [12]. Hematocrit (International Equipment Co., Needham Heights, MA, microcapillary reader) and hemoglobin concentration (Hemocue 201+ Analyzer, Lake Forest, CA) were obtained from whole blood, plasma osmolality was measured with an osmometer (Advanced Instruments, Inc., Norwood, MA, Model 3250) prior to sample storage. Glucose and lactate concentrations were analyzed using a glucose/lactate analyzer (2300 YSI Stat Plus, Yellow Springs, OH). All this website blood

variables were measured in respective SI units. Other variables Subjects submitted self-administered 3-day diet records and six week activity records to verify consistency in diet and activity during study participation. Urine specific gravity (USG) (ATAGO clinical refractometer, Cole-Parmer, Vernon Hills, IL), osmolality, and C1GALT1 body mass were measured prior to each exercise testing session to verify hydration status. Statistical analysis All variables were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA with supplement treatment (placebo or betaine, two levels) and the appropriate number of time points as within subject factors. The sphericity assumption was met and significance was set at p < 0.05. Post hoc comparisons were t tests with Bonferroni corrections applied. The main effects of supplement were evaluated in the statistical model, and time effect and supplement × time interaction effects were also evaluated. Data are presented as means ± standard deviation for all variables. Results Subjects reported that they could not distinguish which treatment (P or B) they received in either of the two phases of supplementation. All subjects reported similar physical activity and diet prior to each exercise test and throughout study participation.

A large German, statewide cross-sectional study of colonoscopy fo

A large German, statewide cross-sectional study of colonoscopy found the Akt inhibitor prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasms strongly reduced by 67% in left-sided lesions, but this protection did not extend when the lesions were right-sided [6]. A later study by the same authors, which emphasized high-quality

colonoscopy, found the procedure to be associated with a reduced risk of 56% for right colonic lesions, which is an improvement over earlier reports, but is less than the 84% reduced risk for CRC the authors observed for Selleckchem MLN8237 left colonic lesions [7]. A number of suggestions have been advanced to explain why colonoscopy may be less effective in the right colon than in the left. The technology is operator-dependent and requires complete endoscopic evaluation, https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2874455.html which is more difficult to complete in the right side of the colon. Bowel cleansing and preparation for colonoscopy may be less adequate on the right side, making lesions more difficult to visualize. Nonpolypoid flat or depressed lesions are more prevalent in the right than in the left side of the colon, and these are more challenging to identify and remove [8]. There may also be differences in biology between proximal and distal lesions; for example, distal and proximal CRCs show

genetic and molecular differences [9]. We previously reported a seven-gene, blood-based biomarker panel Methamphetamine for CRC detection [10]. For this current study, we hypothesize that this gene panel, which is a blood-based test, not dependent on localization, preparation or operator technique, can provide a non-biased method for detecting CRC arising in either the right or the left side of the colon. The test is intended as a pre-screening tool and convenient companion diagnostic test to help those patients who are averse to colonoscopy and to the fecal occult blood test to make an informed decision based on their individual molecular profile. Because of

its narrow focus, the test is not expected to alter clinical practice for patients who comply with recommended screening schedules. Methods Sample collection procedures and details of methodology for identification of the seven-gene blood-based biomarker panel for CRC were reported in our earlier study [10]. Briefly, 9,199 blood samples were taken from screening colonoscopy subjects at twenty-four centers located in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions and in the United States, between March 2005 and March 2008. Uniformity of collection procedures at the different sites was ensured by the use of identical study protocols, uniform training of personnel, and periodic site monitoring. Informed consent was obtained according to protocols approved by the Research Ethics Board of each of the participating twenty-four clinics and hospitals.

The activity of efflux inhibitors, such as diamine compounds, has

The activity of Selleck GF120918 efflux inhibitors, such as diamine compounds, has been demonstrated in animal models of P. aeruginosa infections and two of them are in preclinical development [26]. In B. cenocepacia the significance of RND efflux

systems has not been determined. However, a salicylate-regulated efflux pump that is conserved among members of the Bcc has been identified [27, 28]. We are focusing our research in the B. cenocepacia J2315 strain. This strain is a prototypic isolate belonging to an epidemic clone that has spread by cross infection to CF patients in Europe and North America [29]. Previously, we identified 14 genes encoding putative RND efflux pumps Tariquidar datasheet in the genome of B. cenocepacia J2315 [30]. After the completion of the whole genome sequence [31], two additional genes encoding RND pumps selleck chemicals llc were discovered. Reverse transcriptase analyses showed that some of these genes are indeed transcribed at detectable levels.

As a first step towards understanding the contribution of RND pumps to B. cenocepacia antibiotic resistance we deleted genes encoding putative efflux pumps, RND-1, RND-3, and RND-4, containing the genes BCAS0591-BCAS0593 (located on chromosome 3), BCAL1674-BCAL1676, and BCAL2822-BCAL2820 (located on chromosome 1), respectively. In a previous publication, the genes encoding the membrane transporter component of the efflux pump, BCAS0592, BCAL1675, and BCAL2821 were referred to as Orf1, Orf3, and Orf4, respectively [30]. In this investigation we show that deletion of rnd-3 and rnd-4 genes is associated with increased sensitivity to certain antibiotics and reduced secretion of quorum sensing molecules. Results and Discussion B. Fossariinae cenocepacia BCAS0592, BCAL1675, and BCAL2821 encode RND-type transporters We characterized 3 efflux systems of B. cenocepacia J2315 by deletion mutagenesis. These systems were selected based on

their high homology to the well-characterized Mex efflux pumps in P. aeruginosa. One of the identified operons, located on chromosome 3, encodes RND-1 and comprises the genes BCAS0591-BCAS0592-BCAS0593 that span nucleotides 645029 to 650880 [Fig. 1]. BCAS0591 encodes a predicted 418-aa membrane fusion protein, followed by the RND transporter gene predicted to encode a 1065-aa protein, and BCAS0593 encoding a 475-aa outer membrane protein. Amino acid sequence analysis of the BCAS0592 gene product revealed conserved motifs and the characteristic predicted structure common to the inner membrane proteins of the RND efflux complex. Topologically BCAS0592 is a polypeptide with 12 predicted transmembrane alpha helices and two large periplasmic loops between transmembrane helices 1-2 and 7-8 [30].

Collectively, these data indicated that the rumen of domesticated

Collectively, these data indicated that the rumen of domesticated Sika deer harbored unique TPCA-1 bacterial populations for the fermentation of plant biomass and concentrate diet. Small molecule library in vitro Interestingly, in both clone libraries, none of the sequences were 100% identical. Rather, most clones were in the range of 83-98% identify to known species in both libraries. These results suggested that the rumen bacteria of domesticated Sika deer were not previously characterized and that these clones related to Prevotella spp. in the rumen represented

new species. This agrees with previous findings suggesting that most of the bacterial species in rumen of other cervids (96% for Hokkaido Sika deer and 100% for Svalbard reindeer) are unknown [26, 40]. Despite the diets and geographic location are important factors affecting bacterial diversity in the rumen, however, the presence of these unknown or unidentified species may be the result of co-evolution between microbial communities Sapanisertib order and the host. PCR-DGGE analysis showed that the bacterial diversity in domesticated Sika deer fed corn stalks differed from the domesticated Sika deer consuming oak leaves (Figure 5), indicating forage affected the relative abundance and composition of the bacteria. Moreover, the difference in the Prevotella species between the

two groups was very apparent (Table 3). For instance, the results of clone library showed that the proportion of P. ruminicola-like clones (27%) was abundant in the CS group comparing with those in the OL group, and sequences analysis of PCR-DGGE also indicated that P. ruminicola was only presented in CS group. Interestingly, Prevotella species in the rumen could contribute to cell wall degradation through synergistic interactions with species of cellulolytic bacteria [41]. Therefore, considering the GNA12 relatively high fiber content (about 36%) in corn stalks,

these P. ruminicola-like clones in the CS group may play a role in the degradation of cellulose. This explanation is partly supported by recent metagenomics data from the Svalbard reindeer rumen microbiome, where the presence of polysaccharide utilizing glycoside hydrolase and other carbohydrate-active enzyme families target various polysaccharides including cellulose, xylan and pectin [18]. In the OL group, the distribution of P. shahii-like clones (16.5%), P. veroralis-like clones (23.8%) and P. salivae-like clones (12.3%) were several times higher in the OL library than in the CS library, and several bands in the PCR-DGGE analysis showed sequence similarities to P. salivae (Table 3). Previous study reported that P. ruminicola may tolerate condensed tannins [22]. Considering the genetic diversity of Prevotella spp. [27, 42], it is assumed that the tolerance to tannins of domestic Sika deer may be related to the abundance of Prevotella spp. in the OL group. In addition, we found two bands (O-3 and O-18) were identified as St.

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2005, 15:537–549 PubMed 31 Hill RJ,

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2005, 15:537–549.PubMed 31. Hill RJ, Davies PSW: The validity of self-reported energy intake as determined using the doubly labeled water technique. Selleck MI-503 Br J Nutr 2001, 85:415–430.PubMedCrossRef 32. Johnson RK: Dietary intake – How do we measure what people are CAL-101 price really eating? Obes Res 2002,10(Suppl 1):63S-68S.PubMedCrossRef 33. Economos CD, Bortz SS, Nelson ME: Nutritional

practices of elite athletes: practical recommendations. Sports Med 1993, 16:381–399.PubMedCrossRef 34. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies: Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 1997. 35. Ziegler P, Hensley S, Roepke JB, Whitaker SH, Craig BW, Drewnowski A: Eating attitudes and energy intakes of female skaters. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998, 30:583–586.PubMedCrossRef 36. Swanson SA, Crow SJ, Le Grance D, Swendson J, Merikangas KR: Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in adolescents: results

from the national comorbidity survey replication adolescent supplement. Arch Gen Psych 2011, 68:714–723.CrossRef Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Authors’ contributions JD, AE and KP drafted and revised the manuscript. WS performed the statistical analysis. KS helped draft the manuscript. PZ conceived of the Crenigacestat solubility dmso study and participated

in its design and data collection. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
“Background Olympic sailing classes were first used in sailing (also known as yachting) during the 1896 Olympic Summer Games. Since then, 46 different classes have Doxacurium chloride been used. As of this writing, 8 Olympic classes are currently used. Apart from tactical and strategic factors, performance in Olympic sailing relates directly to the sailors’ ability to overcome the external forces imposed on the boat. For obvious reasons (i.e., competition on the open seas), studies have examined sailing conditions, and most of them examined the physiological background of athletes involved in Laser sailing, the most popular Olympic class [1–13]. In short, the energy demand is mainly satisfied by aerobic metabolism, as indicated by reduced levels of oxygen uptake (approximately 35% VO2max) and high heart rates (approximately 75% HRmax). However, the overall psychophysiological demands of Olympic sailing are most specifically related to sailing competitions and the consequent training regime. Official competitions consist of 8 to 14 races, each with a target time of 60 to 80 minutes, over a 6-day period. During the competition, the athletes often spend several hours (often 5 to 7 hours) on the open sea with a limited supply of food and water while being exposed to different climate and weather conditions.

g Eggleton et al 1997; Gathorne-Hardy et al 2002; Donovan et a

g. Eggleton et al. 1997; Gathorne-Hardy et al. 2002; Donovan et al. 2007). Apart from Macrotermes gilvus, Borneo lacks termite species that are adapted to drier, disturbed conditions PRI-724 (Jones et al. 2003; Hassall et al. 2006) and so species are lost as habitat disturbance increases, but are not replaced

by others. We found that the functional group composition of ant communities varied with habitat degradation, in association with variables linked to disturbance. Of these, slope was positively associated with forest quality because steep slopes are less intensively logged. Overall, ant functional groups showed variable associations with habitat disturbance. Species within the functional groups of Opportunists and Dominant Dolichoderinae thrive in hot and open areas (Andersen 2000) and were most abundant in oil palm plantation—a very open and thermally favourable habitat. Cryptic species were more abundant in logged forest than old growth forest. This may be due to increased dead wood levels in logged forest compared with old growth forest (e.g. 50 % greater in Amazon forests; Palace et al. 2007) providing additional microhabitats. In contrast, occurrence of Specialist Predators and Generalised Myrmicinae was correlated with variables associated with old growth forest,

with Generalised Myrmicinae being numerically dominant in old growth forest. Generalised Myrmicinae are often outcompeted by Dominant Dolichoderinae in open areas. Greater shade tolerance may therefore allow Generalised Myrmicinae to escape competition MRT67307 inside forests (Andersen 2000).

This pattern of loss of forest specialist canopy ants and replacement by open-habitat species when forests are logged has been observed by Widodo et al. (2004). Specialist Predators may decline in modified habitats because they feed on prey such as termites, which are lost with disturbance. The Specialist Predator genera, Pachychondyla and Leptogenys, SPTBN5 are believed to predate termites, and had highest occurrence rates in old growth forest and logged forest respectively. However, although some studies have considered foraging behaviour that includes termite predation (Maschwitz and Schönegge 1983; Wilson and Brown 1984; Johnson et al. 2003), there are few quantitative data for termite predation by ants in forest systems. Termite feeding group composition was strongly correlated with variation in habitat disturbance, with all groups being most abundant in old growth forest. The RDA analysis confirmed that factors associated with habitat disturbance were significantly associated with variation in feeding group structure. Degree of exoskeleton sclerotisation and therefore potential resistance to desiccation, decreases FK228 in vitro across feeding groups from groups I to IV, i.e. from dead wood to soil feeders (Eggleton et al. 1997). Humus feeders in Group III showed significant decreases in occurrence in disturbed habitats.

The MCF-7 cells were used to test

the cytotoxicity Four

The MCF-7 cells were used to test

the cytotoxicity. Four kinds of selleckchem alginate particles varying from alginate viscosity and CaCl2 concentration were tested. After a 24-h exposure to alginate particles ranging from 5 to 1,000 μg/mL, the cell viability was assayed. Results show that there was no significant difference among the control (without adding alginate particles) and the samples. Furthermore, the differences among the four kinds of alginate particles were rather indistinguishable. R788 solubility dmso These results ensure the low cytotoxicity of prepared particles on the MCF-7 cells. Therefore, Pt NPs@alginate bubbles obtained in this study can be safely applied for biomedical applications in the future, such as the scaffold for cartilage

tissue engineering [39]. Figure 8 Cytotoxicity induced by Pt@alginate bubbles on MCF-7 cells. Alginate is 150 cp (A and B) and 350 cp (C and D). The concentrations of CaCl2 are 10% (A and C) and 20% (B and D). Particle morphology Table 1 shows the particle morphology of chitosan and alginate materials in different pH conditions. The three particles, chitosan, alginate, and NPs@alginate bubbles, were compared along the immersion time. The results indicate that chitosan particles disintegrated in acid solution after 1 h immersion but the alginate material still had an entire particle shape. Although alginate ABT-888 research buy displayed swelling in alkaline solution, the particles still remained. Therefore, NPs@alginate bubbles can provide more applications for wide pH ranges than conventional

NPs@chitosan bubbles. Table 1 Particle morphology of chitosan and alginate immersed in different solutions Material Solution Immersion time (hour)     0 0.5 1 2 Chitosan Gastric juice (pH 1.2) PBS (pH 7.81) Intestinal juice (pH 9.02) Alginate Gastric juice (pH 1.2) PBS (pH 7.81) Intestinal juice (pH 9.02) Clomifene Pt@alginate bubbles Gastric juice (pH 1.2) PBS (pH 7.81)   Intestinal juice (pH 9.02) Conclusions This paper developed a facile method to synthesize platinum nanoparticles within alginate bubbles. Sodium borohydrate was utilized to generate platinum NPs and gaseous hydrogen by reduction reaction and hydrolysis reaction, respectively. Bubbles entrapped within around 2-mm alginate particles increased with the borohydrate concentration and alginate viscosity. This proposed one-step method to prepare Pt NPs@alginate bubbles has advantages of low cost, easy operation, and effective pore formation. Compared with conventional Pt NPs@chitosan bubbles, Pt NPs@alginate bubbles provide more applications for wide pH ranges. Acknowledgements This work was financially supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, Republic of China. References 1. Huang X, Neretina S, El-Sayed MA: Gold nanorods: from synthesis and properties to biological and biomedical applications. Adv Mater 2009, 42:4880–4910.CrossRef 2.

For confirmation, both bands were cut out, extracted with a Mache

For confirmation, both bands were cut out, extracted with a Macherey-Nagel gel extraction kit and used as a template for PCR amplification with the primer pair pHW126-11/Kan rev. The amplification product was cleaned and directly sequenced employing the same primers as used for PCR. As a control pHW15-2ori, which possesses two pHW15 origins of replication in tandem repeat, was tested in the same way. pB15In(NsiI) was constructed by inserting pHW15 [6] linearised with NsiI into pBKanT. Subsequently, this construct was linearised with HindIII and PstI and ligated with the 1218 bp fragment obtained by digesting pBKanT-pHW15Δ(ORF1+2+3)

[6] with HindIII and NsiI. This led to construct pB15-2ori which was finally digested with SalI and self-circularised to GSK458 datasheet LY294002 solubility dmso obtain pHW15-2ori. Southern blot analysis Approximately 3 μg

genomic DNA were digested with an appropriate restriction enzyme and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. After denaturation with 0.5 M NaOH, neutralisation with 5× TBE and equilibration with 1× TBE the DNA was transferred to a Hybond-N+ membrane (GE Healthcare, Buckinghamshire, UK) by semi-dry electroblotting using 1× TBE as transfer buffer. Cross linking was achieved by irradiation with 120 mJ/cm2 UV of 254 nm. Subsequently, the membrane was pre-hybridised with Church buffer [58] containing 100 μg/ml freshly denaturated herring sperm DNA. The probe was prepared by PCR: a 50 μl reaction contained 1 U GoTaq (Promega, Madison, WI), 10 μl 5× buffer containing Mg2+, 1 ng pHW4594 as template, 1 μl primer mix (pHW4594-fwd/pHW4595-rev; each 5 μM), 1 μl nucleotide mix (0.5 mM each of dATP, dGTP and dTTP

and 0.05 mM dCTP) and 30 μCi [α-32P]-dCTP (3000 Ci/mmol; PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA). After an initial denaturation step at 94°C for 5 min 35 cycles of 94°C for 30 sec, 50°C for 1 min and 72°C for 2 min were performed prior a final extension step at 72°C for 10 min. The denaturated amplicon (95°C, 10 min) was added to the blocked membrane Thiamine-diphosphate kinase and hybridised for 18 h at 60°C. The membrane was washed 5 times with 0.05% SDS in 1× SSC [51] at 60°C and once with distilled water at room temperature. Signals were detected by autoradiography. Determination of genomic G+C contents The genomic DNA G+C contents of selected strains were AZD1152-HQPA determined by HPLC analysis as described previously [6]. Nucleotide sequence accession numbers Plasmids sequences obtained in this study were deposited in the EMBL nucleotide sequence database with the following accession numbers: [EMBL:FN429021], pHW42; [EMBL:FN429022], pHW114A; [EMBL:FN429023], pHW114B; [EMBL:FN429024], pHW120; [EMBL:FN429025], pHW4594; [EMBL:FN429026], pHW30076; [EMBL:FN429027], pHW66; [EMBL:FN429028], pHW121; [EMBL:FN429029], pHW104; [EMBL:FN429030], pHW126. Accession numbers retrieved from databases are listed in Additional file 5.