Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are intracellular aliphatic polyesters synthesized as energy reserves, in the form of water-insoluble, nano-sized discrete and optically dense granules in cytoplasm by a diverse bacteria and some archae under conditions of limiting nutrients in the presence of excess carbon source. Bacteria synthesize different PHAs from coenzyme A thioesters of respective hydroxyalkanoic acid, and degrade intracellularly for reuse and extracellularly in natural environments by other microorganisms. In vivo, PHAs exist as amorphous mobile liquid and water-insoluble inclusions but in vitro, exhibit material and mechanical properties, ranging from stiff and brittle crystalline to elastomeric and molding, similar to petrochemical thermoplastics. Further, they are hydrophobic, isotactic, biocompatible and exhibit piezoelectric properties. But as commodity plastics their applications are limited by high production cost, low yield, in vivo degradation, complexity of technology and difficulty of extraction. Therefore, to replace the conventional plastic with PHAs, it is prerequisite to standardize the PHA production systems.

This study attempts to advance the current research debate on corporate social responsibility (CSR) at the micro-level by empirically examining the effect of perceived CSR on employee behaviors such as turnover intention and workplace deviance with the mediation mechanism of organizational identification. The boundary condition of group-level abusive supervision also enhances the novelty of this research. Social identity theory is used for hypotheses development. Multilevel data is collected from 410 middle managers working in thirteen commercial banks in Pakistan by conducting three surveys with temporal breaks. Our results suggest that employees’ perceived CSR is statistically and inversely related to their turnover intention and deviant behavior, along with the mediation mechanism of organizational identification. Further, this relationship is weakened with the moderation of abusive supervision. Specifically, our findings indicate that employees’ positive CSR perceptions minimize their undesired workplace behaviors through the mediation of organizational identification. But this effect becomes less effective with the contingency of abusive supervision. Our results reveal several means by which organizations can manage their CSR initiatives and human resources, for instance by concentrating on abusive supervision while evaluating their employees’ behavior.

Bacterial alginate genes are chromosomal and fairly widespread among rRNA homology group I Pseudomonads and Azotobacter. In both genera, the genetic pathway of alginate biosynthesis is mostly similar and the identified genes are identically organized into biosynthetic, regulatory and genetic switching clusters. In spite of these similarities,still there are transcriptional and functional variations between P. aeruginosa and A. vinelandii. In P. aeruginosa all biosynthetic genes except algC transcribe in polycistronic manner under the control of algD promoter while in A. vinelandii, these are organized into many transcriptional units. Of these, algA and algC are transcribed each from two different and algD from three different promoters. Unlike P. aeruginosa, the promoters of these transcriptional units except one of algC and algD are algT-independent. Both bacterial species carry homologous algG gene for Ca(2+)-independent epimerization. But besides algG, A. vinelandii also has algE1-7 genes which encode C-5-epimerases involved in the complex steps of Ca(2+)-dependent epimerization. A hierarchy of alginate genes expression under sigma(22)(algT) control exists in P. aeruginosa where algT is required for transcription of the response regulators algB and algR, which in turn are necessary for expression of algD and its downstream biosynthetic genes. Although algTmucABCD genes cluster play similar regulatory roles in both P. aeruginosa and A. vinelandii but unlike, transcription of A. vinelandii, algR is independent of sigma(22). These differences could be due to the fact that in A. vinelandii alginate plays a role as an integrated part in desiccation-resistant cyst which is not found in P. aeruginosa.

We investigated biocompatible, nonimmunogenic and nontoxic pharmacological agents for treatment and attenuation of degenerative, inflammatory, autoimmune disease, and metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes.

This preliminary study aims to collect information about elementary school students’ learning styles and preferences that are useful for developing reading literacy books to strengthenthe socio-cultural values in elementary schools in order to be effective for the School Literacy Movement. This is as based on the fact that there are cases of elementary school students committing violence against their own friends. The development model of reading literacy for elementary school students was Plomp’s model with the steps of preliminary research, prototyping, and assessment. The research findings in the preliminary analysis show that students tend to have less motivation to read due to reading materials which are not interesting enough. The needs analysis results show that elementary school students really like folklore. The folklore to be developed comprises traditional Indonesian folklore spreading throughout the country in every province. It is expected that educational practitioners use a book about folklore in the learning process and the School Literacy Movement. The results of the teaching materials validation show that reading literacy learning materials using folklore are valid and can be tried out.