New Releases by Andrew Griffiths

Obligate micro-parasites must enter and compromise a living host cell in order to reproduce. Distinct from symbiosis and commensalism, parasitism results in host mortality or morbidity; the severity of which may be expressed in terms of virulence. Bacteriophage and viruses are ubiquitous in the environment, and localised co-existence of host with parasite is a priori evidence for mechanisms which act to mitigate virulence. When physical separation of host-parasite is not possible, molecular immunity to infection may be selected. The phage growth limitation (Pgl) system of soil bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor confers resistance to temperate phage [Phi]C31 and clear plaque (virulent) derivatives. A key component of the Pgl mechanism (pglX) is a putative methyltransferase, which resembles a type I restriction modification protein. Phase variable regulation represents an elegant mechanism for generating bi-directional genetic polymorphism; reversible phenotypic diversity. At ca. 10-3 - 10-4 DNA replications, translational phase variation of pglX results from slipped strand mispairing within a polyG-tract. Potential costs associated with the phage-resistant allele were considered. It was hypothesised that the Pgl phenotypes would be distinct in the absence of [Phi]C31. Growth differences were observed between phase variant S. coelicolor populations in the absence of [Phi]C31, indicative of Pgl-derived pleiotropy. Liquid infection studies were executed using virulent phage [Phi]C31c[Delta]25, designed to exert various degrees of selective pressure on independent cultures of each host phase variant. Under conditions designed to maximise phage-host encounter, the population and evolutionary dynamics of phage and host were interrogated. It was hypothesised that selection for the Pgl-positive allele would be rapid when host seeds were predominantly Pgl-negative. Shaken liquid microcosms were seeded with host, and exposed to [Phi]C31c[Delta]25 at various densities (MOI 10, 0.1, 0.001 and 0). Surviving host were purified of exogenous phage, processed, and progeny spores used to inoculate fresh microcosms. Phage selection was maintained at each respective MOI using ancestral (stock) [Phi]C31c[Delta]25. Phage adaptation was predictably constrained, however it was hypothesised that pglX phase variation would prevent ancestral [Phi]C31c[Delta]25 extinction at an intermediate MOI. At selected microcosm cycles, host populations were screened for phenotypic resistance to [Phi]C31c[Delta]25, and a novel adaptation of dHPLC (Transgenomic Inc) was used to resolve and make semi-quantitative the N+/-1 sized pglX alleles within a mixed PCR product. Using host total community DNA, the contribution of Pgl to supporting free [Phi]C31c[Delta]25 in addition to host phage-resistance was ascertained. [Phi]C31c[Delta]25 mutants bearing lysogenic characteristics emerged during the first infection cycle; a phenomenon reproduced in soil microcosms. While temperance often gives rise to lytic phage mutants in vitro, the converse was most unexpected, particularly during experimental regimes designed to direct evolution in favour of the host. Mutant [Phi]C31c[Delta]25 microcosm isolates produced turbid plaques when assayed using S. lividans TK24, and subsequent S. lividans lysogenic spores were superimmune to infection when screened on [Phi]C31c[Delta]25-impregnated agar.

The concept of network marketing is sound: build relationships with like-minded people and sell quality products and services within this network. Some people make amazingly high incomes from their network marketing businesses, while others unexpectedly fall by the wayside. Why do some fail while others prosper? This insightful business guide gives smart, practical tips on how to succeed at network marketing. It explains simple and commonsense ways to treat any network marketing business like a mainstream business. By taking away the mystery, it illustrate.

The simple, practical and easy-to-apply ideas in this guide will help business owners identify the main reasons behind their lack of work-life balance and, most importantly, how to fix it. The experiences, tips, and coping mechanisms of thousands of business owners around the world who were consulted in the writing of the book are compiled into one easy reference that can get even the most out of control business owner back on track. The tips can be implemented quickly and with little or no cost, allowing readers to become the boss in both their businesses and their lives.

From the author of the bestselling 101 Ways to Market Your Business comes a book full of advice to help you guide your business on the road to success. INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL BY READING THIS BOOK Running a business is difficult and demanding at the best of times. The trick to surviving is avoiding the common hazards that all business operators face along the way. These 101 practical survival tips will show you how you can successfully navigate your way through these hazards, and help your business to reach its full potential. Each survival tip is based on years of experience and sound advice from successful businesses around the world. SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY AVOIDING COMMON BUSINESS MISTAKES Choose and apply a new tip each week or use this book as a source of inspiration and guidance when setting up a new business. There are tips to help you build better relationships with your suppliers, your staff and your customers as well as financial, legal, marketing and personal survival tips. All are designed to highlight common problems and to give you a clear course of action that will increase your chances of business survival. ** INCLUDES 20 BONUS SURVIVAL TIPS TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS SURVIVE AND PROSPER **

This book surveys the main issues in Company Law relating to contracts made by or with companies.

It was hypothesized that employees' perceptions of an organizational culture strong in human relations values and open systems values would be associated with heightened levels of readiness for change which, in turn, would be predictive of change implementation success. Similarly, it was predicted that reshaping capabilities would lead to change implementation success, via its effects on employees' perceptions of readiness for change. Using a temporal research design, these propositions were tested for 67 employees working in a state government department who were about to undergo the implementation of a new end-user computing system in their workplace. Change implementation success was operationalized as user satisfaction and system usage. There was evidence to suggest that employees who perceived strong human relations values in their division at Time 1 reported higher levels of readiness for change at pre-implementation which, in turn, predicted system usage at Time 2. In addition, readiness for change mediated the relationship between reshaping capabilities and system usage. Analyses also revealed that pre-implementation levels of readiness for change exerted a positive main effect on employees' satisfaction with the system's accuracy, user friendliness, and formatting functions at post-implementation. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical contribution to the readiness for change literature, and in relation to the practical importance of developing positive change attitudes among employees if change initiatives are to be successful.

Practical tips on advertising products and services simply, effectively, and without a big budget abound in this conversational business book. Step-by-step advice is offered on creating an advertisement, buying advertising space, and ensuring that advertisements are effective. Advertising in newspapers, magazines, on the radio, television, the Internet, and on billboards are covered. Easily digested tips that take only one minute to read make sure advertisers get the most bang for their buck. A glossary of advertising terms, a guide to smart advertising words and phrases, and black forms and checklists round out this easy-to-use volume.

This paper discusses the forces that are encouraging corporations and their boards andchief executives to adopt sustainability strategies - strategies that combine financial, environmental and social goals and responsibilities. It provides many examples of the costs associated with perceived socially or environmentally irresponsible behaviour and the benefits enjoyed by corporations adopting sustainability strategies. The paper describes the processes of change that enable corporations to move towards sustainable practices, focussing on business strategies that support rather than diminish global ecology and human/social capabilities. This unified approach is designed to bring about a change in the interpretation of corporate sustainability and to support the activities of change agents (managers, consultants, and community activists) in managing the massive corporate change needed to move corporations toward sustainable practices in a systematic way.

These top business, financial, legal, marketing, and personal tips will enable small businesses to avoid the common mistakes that result in the failure of 80 percent of new businesses within their first two years. Included are creative ideas for owners to help build better relationships with suppliers, staff, and customers, as well as motivational advice to successfully navigating through the most common business hazards. A source of inspiration and guidance, each survival tip and recommended course of action is based on years of experience and the successes of businesses around the world.

A teacher's manual designed to help inject a sense of fun and excitement into routine classroom activities. Included are over 70 short stories, 140 creative writing exercises and a set of workshops on drafting, proofreading and desktop publication. Intended as a resource for primary school teachers. Illustrated throughout by Terry Denton.

This study examines organisational change at the lower management and shop-floor levels of organisations in the manufacturing and construction industries and highlights the role of first-line supervision. This work gives an overview of the different approaches to team-based work design and appropriate implementation processes, describing the experiences of five Australian organisations.