Visual recognition of the elderly concerning risks of falling or stumbling indoors in the home: -comparison of visual attention points among elderly, middle aged and young individuals-.

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the recognition of dangers and obstacles within a house in the elderly when walking based on analyses of gaze point fixation.

Materials And Methods: The rate of recognizing indoor dangers was compared among 30 elderly, 14 middle-aged and 11 young individuals using the Eye Mark Recorder.

Results: 1) All of the elderly, middle-aged and young individuals showed a high recognition rate of 100% or near 100% when ascending outdoor steps but a low rate of recognizing obstacles placed on the steps.

Thioprofundum hispidum sp. nov., an obligately chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium isolated from the hydrothermal field on Suiyo Seamount, and proposal of Thioalkalispiraceae fam. nov. in the order Chromatiales.

A novel mesophilic, facultatively anaerobic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterial strain, designated gps61(T), was isolated from a surface rock sample collected from the hydrothermal field of Suiyo Seamount on the Izu-Bonin Arc in the Western Pacific Ocean. Cells of the isolate were rod-shaped with a single sheathed polar flagellum. Neither extensive internal membranes nor storage materials were present in the cells.

Candida potacharoeniae sp. nov. and Candida spenceri sp. nov., two novel galactose-containing ascomycetous anamorphic yeast species isolated in Thailand.

Fifteen strains of anamorphic yeasts isolated from various natural substrates collected in various places in Thailand were found to represent two novel species of anamorphic yeast genus Candida based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA genes, chemotaxonomic and conventional properties used for the classification of yeasts. These strains are located in the clade including Candida etchellsii and Candida magnoliae. Fourteen strains represented by ST-490(T) (BCC 15176(T)=NBRC 106439(T)= CBS 11674(T)) are closely related to Candida sorbosivorans in the D1/D2 sequences but 11 nucleotides (2.

Pichia porticicola sp. nov., a novel ascomycetous yeast related to Pichia acaciae isolated from galleries of ambrosia beetles in Japan.

Eleven strains of yeasts, isolated from galleries of ambrosia beetles in Japan, formerly identified as Pichia acaciae were found to have different sequences in the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. After detailed taxonomic studies including a DNA-DNA reassociation experiment, 11 strains were found to represent a novel species of the genus Pichia. It is described as Pichia porticicola sp.

Iron corrosion activity of anaerobic hydrogen-consuming microorganisms isolated from oil facilities.

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that anaerobic hydrogen-consuming microorganisms generally promote iron corrosion. We isolated 26 hydrogen-consuming microorganisms (acetogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and methanogens) from oil facilities in Japan using hydrogen as an electron donor. The iron corrosion activities of these microorganisms were examined using iron (Fe0) granules as the sole electron donor.

Candida xylanilytica sp. nov., a xylan-degrading yeast species isolated from Thailand.

Xylan is a major component of hemicellulose, which constitutes about 40 % of plant biomass. Hydrolysis of xylan into simple sugars is one of the important steps in the conversion of lignocellulosic material to value-added products. During an investigation of cellulose- and xylan-degrading yeasts, two yeast strains that were able to use cellulose and xylan as sole carbon source were found to represent a phylogenetically distinct species in the Spathaspora clade.

Actinophytocola burenkhanensis sp. nov., isolated from Mongolian soil.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile actinomycete, strain MN08-A0203(T), that formed pale yellow to orange-brown colonies and non-fragmented branched substrate mycelium is described. The strain, which produced very scanty aerial mycelium-like structures and scanty formation of spherical bodies on the aerial mycelium on Bennett's agar medium, was studied in detail to determine its taxonomic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies, strain MN08-A0203(T) grouped with the genus Actinophytocola, being most closely related to the type strain of Actinophytocola oryzae (97.

Actinophytocola timorensis sp. nov. and Actinophytocola corallina sp. nov., isolated from soil.

Two actinomycete strains, ID05-A0653(T) and ID06-A0464(T), were isolated from soils of West Timor and Lombok island, respectively, in Indonesia. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis clearly demonstrated that the isolates belonged to the family Pseudonocardiaceae and were closely related to the genus Actinophytocola. Strains ID05-A0653(T) and ID06-A0464(T) exhibited 98.

Streptomyces aomiensis sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample using the membrane-filter method.

A Gram-positive actinobacterium, designated M24DS4(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from Aomi, Tokyo, Japan, using the membrane-filter method. Strain M24DS4(T) exhibited low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (96.1 %) with Streptomyces scabrisporus NBRC 100760(T).

Pseudonocardia mongoliensis sp. nov. and Pseudonocardia khuvsgulensis sp. nov., isolated from soil.

Two actinomycetes, designated MN08-A0270(T) and MN08-A0297(T), were isolated from soil from the area around Khuvsgul Lake, Khuvsgul province, Mongolia, and subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization. They produced well-developed, branched substrate hyphae and, similar to closely related species of the genus Pseudonocardia, produced zigzag-shaped aerial hyphae by acropetal budding and blastospores. A comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains MN08-A0270(T) and MN08-A0297(T) formed two distinct clades within the genus Pseudonocardia and were respectively most closely related to Pseudonocardia yunnanensis NBRC 15681(T) (97.

Oleibacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium that degrades petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons in a tropical marine environment.

Three Gram-negative, motile, mesophilic, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated 2O1(T), 1O14 and 1O18, were isolated from Indonesian seawater after enrichment with crude oil and a continuous supply of supplemented seawater. The strains exhibited high n-alkane-degrading activity, which indicated that the strains were important degraders of petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons in tropical marine environments. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of members of the Gammaproteobacteria showed that the isolates formed a coherent and distinct cluster in a stable lineage containing Oceanobacter kriegii IFO 15467(T) (96.

Methanobacterium petrolearium sp. nov. and Methanobacterium ferruginis sp. nov., mesophilic methanogens isolated from salty environments.

Two methane-producing archaea, designated Mic5c12(T) and Mic6c05(T), were isolated from sludge deposited in a crude oil storage tank and a tubercle on the interior of a pipe transporting natural gas-containing brine, respectively. The isolates were Gram-staining-variable, non-motile rods and grew only on H(2)/CO(2). Strain Mic6c05(T) produced methane from some alcohols without showing any growth; strain Mic5c12(T) did not utilize alcohols.

Iron-corroding methanogen isolated from a crude-oil storage tank.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion of steel in anaerobic environments has been attributed to hydrogenotrophic microorganisms. A sludge sample collected from the bottom plate of a crude-oil storage tank was used to inoculate a medium containing iron (Fe(0)) granules, which was then incubated anaerobically at 37 degrees C under an N(2)-CO(2) atmosphere to enrich for microorganisms capable of using iron as the sole source of electrons. A methanogen, designated strain KA1, was isolated from the enrichment culture.

Streptomyces tateyamensis sp. nov., Streptomyces marinus sp. nov. and Streptomyces haliclonae sp. nov., isolated from the marine sponge Haliclona sp.

Three Gram-positive, NaCl-requiring actinobacteria were isolated from a marine sponge, Haliclona sp., collected from the coast of Tateyama City, Japan. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these strains represent novel members of the genus Streptomyces, exhibiting low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.

Methanospirillum lacunae sp. nov., a methane-producing archaeon isolated from a puddly soil, and emended descriptions of the genus Methanospirillum and Methanospirillum hungatei.

A mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen, designated strain Ki8-1(T), was isolated from soil. Cells were strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-sporulating, motile by means of a single flagellum or tufted flagella, and curved or wavy rod-shaped (11-25 μm long). The temperature and pH for optimum growth were 30 °C and 7.

Pseudonocardia babensis sp. nov., isolated from plant litter.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain VN05A0561(T), was isolated from plant litter collected at Ba Be National Park, Vietnam. The substrate mycelia and spore chains fragmented in a manner similar to nocardioform actinomycetes; the spores had smooth surfaces and were rod-shaped. Strain VN05A0561(T) had the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, arabinose and galactose as characteristic sugars, MK-8(H₄) as the major isoprenoid quinone, phosphatidylcholine as the diagnostic phospholipid and iso-C₁₆:₀ as the major cellular fatty acid.

Euzebya tangerina gen. nov., sp. nov., a deeply branching marine actinobacterium isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria edulis, and proposal of Euzebyaceae fam. nov., Euzebyales ord. nov. and Nitriliruptoridae subclassis nov.

A tangerine-coloured, Gram-positive actinobacterial strain, designated F10(T), was isolated from the abdominal epidermis of a sea cucumber, Holothuria edulis, collected in seawater off the coast of Japan. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain F10(T) was a member of the class Actinobacteria and was most closely related to Nitriliruptor alkaliphilus ANL-iso2(T) (87.4 % sequence similarity).

Phycisphaera mikurensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a marine alga, and proposal of Phycisphaeraceae fam. nov., Phycisphaerales ord. nov. and Phycisphaerae classis nov. in the phylum Planctomycetes.

Three strains, FYK2301M01(T), FYK2301M18 and FYK2301M52, all being Gram-negative, spherical, motile and facultatively anaerobic, were isolated from a marine alga (Porphyra sp.) collected on Mikura Island, Japan. Colonies of the strains were circular and pink-pigmented on Marine Agar 2216 (Difco) at 25 degrees C.

Ignavibacterium album gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic anaerobic bacterium isolated from microbial mats at a terrestrial hot spring and proposal of Ignavibacteria classis nov., for a novel lineage at the periphery of green sulfur bacteria.

A moderately thermophilic chemoheterotrophic bacterium, strain Mat9-16(T), was isolated from microbial mats developed in hot spring water streams from Yumata, Nagano, Japan. Cells of strain Mat9-16(T) were strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-sporulating, non-motile and short to long rods (2.0-15.

Actinoplanes toevensis sp. nov. and Actinoplanes tereljensis sp. nov., isolated from Mongolian soil.

Two novel actinomycetes, designated MN07-A0368(T) and MN07-A0371(T), were isolated from soil of Terelj, Töv Province, Mongolia, and subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization. They produced well-developed, non-fragmenting, extensively branched substrate hyphae from which oval to irregular sporangia were produced. Chemotaxonomic characteristics, i.

Luteipulveratus mongoliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterial taxon in the family Dermacoccaceae.

A novel actinobacterial strain, MN07-A0370(T), was isolated from Mongolian soil and its taxonomic status was determined using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies revealed that strain MN07-A0370(T) represented a novel lineage within the actinobacteria. Strain MN07-A0370(T) formed a distinct clade in the family Dermacoccaceae and was most closely related to the members of the genera Dermacoccus (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 96.

Paraoerskovia marina gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from marine sediment.

A Gram-positive-staining, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, CTT-37T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from Tottori city, located on the shore of the Sea of Japan. A 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison indicated that the isolate represents a novel clade that clusters with members of the families Cellulomonadaceae and Sanguibacteraceae. Strain CTT-37T shared maximum 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.

Streptomyces baliensis sp. nov., isolated from Balinese soil.

The taxonomic positions of actinomycete strains ID03-0915T and ID03-0825, isolated from soil on the Indonesian island of Bali, were examined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of these organisms are typical of the genus Streptomyces. Phylogenetic analyses performed using almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the strains were closely related to Streptomyces glauciniger and Streptomyces lilacinus.

Oceanobacter-related bacteria are important for the degradation of petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons in the tropical marine environment.

Petroleum-hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were obtained after enrichment on crude oil (as a 'chocolate mousse') in a continuous supply of Indonesian seawater amended with nitrogen, phosphorus and iron nutrients. They were related to Alcanivorax and Marinobacter strains, which are ubiquitous petroleum-hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in marine environments, and to Oceanobacter kriegii (96.4-96.