Correlation between Serbian aspect in adjectives and articles in English and Spanish

This essay aims to illustrate the phenomenon of (in-)definiteness in three languages – them being English, Spanish, and Serbian. Not many similarities could be found among the three languages. While English and Spanish recognise the notion of definite-indefinite article, there is no article in the Serbian language. However, what Serbian does have is the concept of definite and indefinite aspect in adjectives – which, it is assumed, could serve as a compensation for the definite-indefinite article on many occasions. With this in mind, a brief survey among Serbian native speakers who study both English and Spanish was conducted. The results it yielded showed that Serbian speakers do recognise, though to a certain extent only, the difference between definite and indefinite aspect in adjectives in their mother tongue. The lack of full awareness of the mentioned aspects leads to them not using this potential of Serbian when dealing with Spanish and English articles.Este ensayo tiene como objetivo ilustrar el fenómeno de la (in)definición en tres idiomas: inglés, español y serbio. No se pudieron encontrar muchas semejanzas entre los tres idiomas. Si bien el inglés y el español reconocen el concepto de artículo definido-indefinido, no existe ningún artículo en el idioma serbio. Sin embargo, lo que sí tiene el serbio es el concepto de aspecto definido e indefinido en los adjetivos, lo que, se supone, podría servir como compensación del artículo definido-indefinido en muchas ocasiones. Teniendo esto en cuenta, se realizó una breve encuesta entre hablantes nativos de serbio que estudian inglés y español. Los resultados que arrojó la encuesta mostraron que los hablantes de serbio reconocen, aunque solo hasta cierto punto, la diferencia entre el aspecto definido e indefinido de los adjetivos en su lengua materna. La falta de pleno conocimiento de los aspectos mencionados hace que no utilicen este potencial del serbio cuando se trata de artículos en español e inglés.Este ensayo tiene como objetivo ilustrar el fenómeno de la (in)definición en tres idiomas: inglés, español y serbio.No se pudieron encontrar muchas semejanzas entre los tres idiomas. Si bien el inglés y el español reconocen el concepto de artículo definido-indefinido, no existe ningún artículo en el idioma serbio. Sin embargo, lo que sí tiene el serbio es el concepto de aspecto definido e indefinido en los adjetivos, lo que, se supone, podría servir como compensación del artículo definido-indefinido en muchas ocasiones. Teniendo esto en cuenta, se realizó una breve encuesta entre hablantes nativos de serbio que estudian inglés y español. Los resultados que arrojó la encuesta mostraron que los hablantes de serbio reconocen, aunque solo hasta cierto punto, la diferencia entre el aspecto definido e indefinido de los adjetivos en su lengua materna. La falta de pleno conocimiento de los aspectos mencionados hace que no utilicen este potencial del serbio cuando se trata de artículos en español e inglés

Pollinators, pests and soil properties interactively shape oilseed rape yield.

[EN] Pollination, pest control, and soil properties are well known to affect agricultural production. These factors might interactively shape crop yield, but most studies focus on only one of these factors at a time. We used 15 winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) fields in Sweden to study how variation among fields in pollinator visitation rates, pollen beetle attack rates and soil properties (soil texture, pH and organic carbon) interactively determined crop yield. The fields were embedded in a landscape gradient with contrasting proportions of arable and semi-natural land. In general, pollinator visitation and pest levels were negatively correlated and varied independently of soil properties. This may reflect that above- and below-ground processes react at landscape and local spatial scales, respectively. The above-ground biotic interactions and below-ground abiotic factors interactively affected crop yield. Pollinator visitation was the strongest predictor positively associated with yield. High soil pH also benefited yield, but only at lower pest loads. Surprisingly, high pest loads increased the pollinator benefits for yield. Implementing management plans at different spatial scales can create synergies among above- and below-ground ecosystem processes, but both scales are needed given that different processes react at different spatial scales.[GER] Bestäubung, Schädlingskontrolle und Bodeneigenschaften beeinflussen die Agrarproduktion. Diese Faktoren könnten interagierend den Ernteertrag beeinflussen, aber die meisten Studien konzentrieren sich auf nur einen Faktor. Wir untersuchten auf 15 Winterrapsfeldern (Brassica napus L.) in Schweden, wie die von Feld zu Feld variierenden Bestäuberbesuchsraten, Rapsglanzkäfer-Befallsraten und Bodeneigenschaften (Bodentextur, pH, organischer Kohlenstoff) wechselwirkend den Ertrag bestimmten. Die Felder repräsentierten einen Landschaftsgradienten mit unterschiedlichen Anteilen von Agrarflächen und naturnahen Arealen. Allgemein waren Bestäuberbesuch und Schädlingsbefall negativ miteinander korreliert, und sie variierten unabhängig von den Bodeneigenschaften. Dies könnte anzeigen, dass oberirdische Prozesse und Prozesse im Boden auf der Landschaftsebene bzw. der lokalen Ebene reagieren. Die oberirdischen biotischen Interaktionen und die abiotischen Bodenfaktoren beeinflussten wechselwirkend den Ertrag. Der Bestäuberbesuch war der stärkste positiv mit dem Ertrag verknüpfte Faktor. Ein hoher pH-Wert begünstigte ebenfalls den Ertrag, aber nur bei geringem Schädlingsbefall. Überraschenderweise, steigerte hoher Schädlingsbefall die positive Wirkung des Bestäuberbesuchs auf den Ertrag. Das Aufstellen von Bewirtschaftungsplänen auf unterschiedlichen räumlichen Skalen kann Synergien zwischen oberirdischen und unterirdischen Ökosystemprozessen freisetzen, aber beide Skalen werden benötigt, da unterschiedliche Prozesse auf unterschiedlichen Skalen reagierenPeer reviewe

Towards Understanding Photoperiodic Response in Grasses

In many plants, day length is the critical environmental parameter that controls flowering time. In long day plants, such as Arabidopsis and ryegrass (Lolium perenne), increasing day length in spring signals flowering, while in short day plants like rice, flowering is accelerated when days become shorter. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular genetic mechanisms that govern this response. Most results have been obtained in the model plant Arabidopsis where CONSTANS (CO) is a critical candidate gene. Upstream of it is the GIGANTEA (GI) gene which is associated with the circadian clock mechanism (1). The FT gene is the immediate downstream genetic target of CO, and is a direct promoter of flowering (2). Characteristically, all three genes show circadian expression, albeit in different phases, and both the CO and FT genes are up-regulated under long-day (inductive) conditions. Work in ryegrass should help reveal both the conserved and divergent segments of the photoperiod response between different plant species

Differential Responses of Bird Species to Habitat Condition in a Coastal Kenyan Forest Reserve: Implications for Conservation

The management of assemblages of species across many taxa is a common concern in conservation. Consequently, the use of one or a few surrogate or indicator species to represent an entire assemblage has become an increasingly important tool in conservation science. However, conservation schemes based on the needs of one or two focal species often fail to account for individualistic responses of larger assemblages of species. Data from bird point counts along with vegetation characteristics from a coastal tropical dry forest in Kenya that is subject to elephant disturbance were used to explore the differential responses of bird species to environmental conditions in a forest reserve where wildlife management includes both endangered birds and mammals. Results revealed that even birds with similar foraging habits had idiosyncratic responses to both environmental traits and elephant disturbance. While overall species responded to important characteristics such as percent canopy cover and leaf litter depth, individualistic responses of different species trait diversity defied easy characterization of optimal forest management schemes. Taken together, our analyses highlight the difficulty in basing the development of management plans for entire assemblages of species on the response of a single or a few species. Implications for wildlife conservation in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and similar forest reserves are discussed, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of individual species’ responses to forest conditions

Controlled Flowering Project for Lolium Perenne at Agresearch: an Overview

Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is an important forage crop in New Zealand. The work presented here has the goal of developing a system for complete and arbitrary control of the transition from vegetative to floral development. For this, we have pursued an integrated approach utilising genomics with both forward and reverse genetics. Like other model plants, photoperiodic and vernalization pathways are presumed to be operating in ryegrass and control the activity of the meristem identity/floral patterning genes. The candidate gene approach targeting the photoperiodic pathway is described in an accompanying abstract (Gagic et al.). Other candidate genes include the meristem identity gene LEAFY and a range of the MADS box transcription factors. Relevant expression profiles are established for these genes, i.e. vernalization time course at weekly intervals, and daily and circadian collections during the secondary induction. A detailed genetic map of ryegrass has been developed at AgResearch (see abstract by Faville et al.) which we are using to map candidate genes. We are also conducting detailed phenotypic analysis of the flowering behaviour variation within this population in an effort to isolate relevant QTLs. Ryegrass transformation has been used to ascertain functions of the candidate genes and to manipulate flowering time control directly. We are developing a universal switch to turn on the flowering that consists of a cassette of the arabidopsis genes under a control of a chemically inducible promoter

The use of natural products in the leather industry: Depilation without damage

Content: Sheepskin, a by-product of the meat industry, is then often processed to leather, primarily for the clothing industry. Where the tanneries are distant from the abattoirs and freezing works, the raw skins have to be transported long distances to be processed. In warm weather, there is the potential for putrefaction of the skins which then have to be disposed of at a cost. Depilation, the first step of leather processing, is designed to remove the wool from the skin without damaging it. Conventional depilation involves the use of strong alkali and sulfides, that are harmful to both the environment and the personnel carrying out the process due to the potential production of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic, flammable gas. To solve this problem, scientists have been looking to depilate skins using enzymes as these are environmentally friendly. Various enzymes, such as collagenase, keratinase, protease and lipase have been shown to be able to remove hair from skin, but unfortunately usually damage it. Furthermore, at present, they are not cost effective at an industrial level. We have found a simple solution, a derivative of a dairy by-product, that prevents putrefaction, preserving the skin for days at room temperature. In addition, it allows easy removal of the wool from the skin. Scanning electron microscopy showed there was no obvious damage to the surface of the depilated skin and that the wool is cleanly removed from the hair follicle. To assess any less visible damage that may have occurred as a result of soaking the skin, biochemical analyses were carried out to measure the changes to the amino acid composition, collagen crosslinks and proteoglycan concentrations of the depilated skins. Sheepskin depilated with this method was processed to leather and its physical properties such as tear, and tensile strength analysed. Culture dependent methods were used to isolate the microorganisms present in the solution after depilation, showed that only four main species were consistently found in the depilation fluid and on the skins. Metagenomic analysis, confirmed these findings and was used to follow the changes in the microbiome during the course of depilation. This presentation will describe the progress that has been made to understand the science behind these observations and compare the properties of skins depilated using this method with those depilated using the traditional beamhouse process. Take-Away: We are using a natural product to depilate sheepskin. The sheepskin is also preserved while depilation. Microscopy, chemical analyses, physical tests, and metagenomics analysis were done to understand the process

Metasecretome-selective phage display approach for mining the functional potential of a rumen microbial community

BACKGROUND: In silico, secretome proteins can be predicted from completely sequenced genomes using various available algorithms that identify membrane-targeting sequences. For metasecretome (collection of surface, secreted and transmembrane proteins from environmental microbial communities) this approach is impractical, considering that the metasecretome open reading frames (ORFs) comprise only 10% to 30% of total metagenome, and are poorly represented in the dataset due to overall low coverage of metagenomic gene pool, even in large-scale projects. RESULTS: By combining secretome-selective phage display and next-generation sequencing, we focused the sequence analysis of complex rumen microbial community on the metasecretome component of the metagenome. This approach achieved high enrichment (29 fold) of secreted fibrolytic enzymes from the plant-adherent microbial community of the bovine rumen. In particular, we identified hundreds of heretofore rare modules belonging to cellulosomes, cell-surface complexes specialised for recognition and degradation of the plant fibre. CONCLUSIONS: As a method, metasecretome phage display combined with next-generation sequencing has a power to sample the diversity of low-abundance surface and secreted proteins that would otherwise require exceptionally large metagenomic sequencing projects. As a resource, metasecretome display library backed by the dataset obtained by next-generation sequencing is ready for i) affinity selection by standard phage display methodology and ii) easy purification of displayed proteins as part of the virion for individual functional analysis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-356) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Global expansion of Vibrio parahaemolyticus threatens the seafood industry: Perspective on controlling its biofilm formation

As global warming increases the geographical range and frequency of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections, its formation of biofilms providing bacteria greater resistance to stress and contributing to the persistence of pathogens, is threatening the seafood industry. V. parahaemolyticus has a number of advantages leading to biofilm formation. This study reviews recent advances in understanding V. parahaemolyticus biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic surfaces, discusses research gaps in the mechanism of biofilm formation and examines promising biofilm control strategies to overcome current limitations of chemical disinfectant. This information will deepen our understanding of V. parahaemolyticus biofilm formation, as well as help design and optimize V. parahaemolyticus biofilm control strategies for the seafood industry

A global synthesis reveals biodiversity-mediated benefits for crop production

Human land use threatens global biodiversity and compromises multiple ecosystem functions critical to food production. Whether crop yield–related ecosystem services can be maintained by a few dominant species or rely on high richness remains unclear. Using a global database from 89 studies (with 1475 locations), we partition the relative importance of species richness, abundance, and dominance for pollination; biological pest control; and final yields in the context of ongoing land-use change. Pollinator and enemy richness directly supported ecosystem services in addition to and independent of abundance and dominance. Up to 50% of the negative effects of landscape simplification on ecosystem services was due to richness losses of service-providing organisms, with negative consequences for crop yields. Maintaining the biodiversity of ecosystem service providers is therefore vital to sustain the flow of key agroecosystem benefits to society.EEA ConcordiaFil: Dainese, Matteo. Eurac Research. Institute for Alpine Environment; ItaliaFil: Dainese, Matteo. University of Würzburg. Biocenter. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology; AlemaniaFil: Martin, Emily A. University of Würzburg. Biocenter. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology; AlemaniaFil: Aizen, Marcelo Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Aizen, Marcelo Adrian. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina.Fil: Albrecht, Matthias. Agroscope. Agroecology and Environment; SuizaFil: Bartomeus, Ignasi. CSIC. Estación Biológica de Doñana. Integrative Ecology; EspañaFil: Bommarco, Riccardo. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Department of Ecology; SueciaFil: Carvalheiro, Luisa G. Universidade Federal de Goias. Departamento de Ecologia; BrasilFil: Carvalheiro, Luisa G. Universidade de Lisboa. Faculdade de Ciencias. Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C); PortugalFil: Chaplin-Kramer, Rebecca. Stanford University. Natural Capital Project; Estados UnidosFil: Gagic, Vesna. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); AustraliaFil: Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones de Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cavigliasso, Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Concordia; ArgentinaFil: Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf. University of Würzburg. Biocenter. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology; Alemani

Exploring rumen microbe-derived fibre-degrading activities for improving feed digestibility

Ruminal fibre degradation is mediated by a complex community of rumen microbes, and its efficiency is crucial for optimal dairy productivity. Enzymes produced by rumen microbes are primarily responsible for degrading the complex structural polysaccharides that comprise fibre in the plant cell walls of feed materials. Because rumen microbes have evolved with their ruminant hosts over millions of years to perform this task, their enzymes are hypothesised to be optimally suited for activity at the temperature, pH range, and anaerobic environment of the rumen. However, fibre-rich diets are not fully digested, which represents a loss in potential animal productivity. Thus, there is opportunity to improve fibre utilisation through treating feeds with rumen microbe-derived fibrolytic enzymes and associated activities that enhance fibre degradation. This research aims to gain a better understanding of the key rumen microbes involved in fibre degradation and the mechanisms they employ to degrade fibre, by applying cultivation-based and culture-independent genomics approaches to rumen microbial communities of New Zealand dairy cattle. Using this knowledge, we aim to identify new opportunities for improving fibre degradation to enhance dairy productivity. Rumen content samples were taken over the course of a year from a Waikato dairy production herd. Over 1,000 rumen bacterial cultures were obtained from the plant-adherent fraction of the rumen contents. Among these cultures, two, 59 and 103 potentially new families, genera and species of rumen bacteria were identified, respectively. Many of the novel strains are being genome sequenced within the Hungate 1000 rumen microbial reference genome programme, which is providing deeper insights into the range of mechanisms used by the individual strains for fibre degradation. This information has been used to guide the selection of rumen bacterial strains with considerable potential as fibrolytic enzyme producers in vitro, with the intent of developing the strains so that their enzymes may be used as feed pre-treatments for use on farm. Culture-independent metagenomic approaches were also used to explore the activities involved in fibre degradation from the rumen microbial communities. Functional screening has revealed a range of novel enzymes and a novel fibre disrupting activity. Enrichment for the cell-secreted proteins from the community revealed evidence of a diverse range of cellulosomes, which are cell-surface associated multi-enzyme complexes that efficiently degrade plant cell wall polysaccharides. Biochemical and structural characterisation of these proteins has been conducted. In conclusion, cultivation and culture-independent genomic approaches have been applied to New Zealand bovine rumen microbial communities, and have provided considerable new insights into ruminal fibre degradation processes. Novel activities and bacterial species that display desirable activities on fibrous substrates in vitro are now being explored for their potential to improve ruminal fibre degradation, to allow the development of new technologies that will enhance dairy productivity