Is children’s referential informativity associated with their visual or linguistic abilities?

4-year-old and 7-year-old children took part in a referential communication task. Their referring expressions were measured for informativity, and their eye movements were analysed to investigate whether fixations to a contrast object predict referential informativity. Performance on a battery of standardised tests was also measured. In line with previous work, we found a developmental trajectory towards greater informativity as children mature. The eye tracking data suggest that even though 4-year-olds engage in comparison activity to a similar extent as 7-year-olds and adults, their scanning behaviour is not linked to their ensuing referential informativity. Like adults, older children appear to make greater use of information gleaned from their visual scanning, supported by their more advanced linguistic skills. Results support a processing-based (cf. pragmatic-based) account of referential informativity

Can speaker gaze modulate syntactic structuring and thematic role assignment during spoken sentence comprehension?

Knoeferle P, Kreysa H. Can speaker gaze modulate syntactic structuring and thematic role assignment during spoken sentence comprehension? Frontiers in Psychology. 2012;3:538.During comprehension, a listener can rapidly follow a frontally seated speaker’s gaze to an object before its mention, a behavior which can shorten latencies in speeded sentence verification. However, the robustness of gaze-following, its interaction with core comprehension processes such as syntactic structuring, and the persistence of its effects are unclear. In two “visual-world” eye-tracking experiments participants watched a video of a speaker, seated at an angle, describing transitive (non-depicted) actions between two of three Second Life characters on a computer screen. Sentences were in German and had either subjectNP1-verb-objectNP2 or objectNP1-verb-subjectNP2 structure; the speaker either shifted gaze to the NP2 character or was obscured. Several seconds later, participants verified either the sentence referents or their role relations. When participants had seen the speaker’s gaze shift, they anticipated the NP2 character before its mention and earlier than when the speaker was obscured. This effect was more pronounced for SVO than OVS sentences in both tasks. Interactions of speaker gaze and sentence structure were more pervasive in role-relations verification: participants verified the role relations faster for SVO than OVS sentences, and faster when they had seen the speaker shift gaze than when the speaker was obscured. When sentence and template role-relations matched, gaze-following even eliminated the SVO-OVS response-time differences. Thus, gaze-following is robust even when the speaker is seated at an angle to the listener; it varies depending on the syntactic structure and thematic role relations conveyed by a sentence; and its effects can extend to delayed post-sentence comprehension processes. These results suggest that speaker gaze effects contribute pervasively to visual attention and comprehension processes and should thus be accommodated by accounts of situated language comprehension

Revised Guidance on the Detection of Genetically Modified Rice Originating from China Using Real-Time PCR for the detection of P-35S, T-nos and Cry1Ab/Ac

In support to the Commission Implementing Decision 2013/287/EU , amending Decision 2011/884/EU , the European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) prepared a revision of the previously published guidance document. This document provides further guidance on the correct use of the methods indicated in the Decision, including measures aimed at improving the specificity of the detection approach. This revised guidance, as its previous version, is exclusively meant for the implementation of Decision 2013/287/EU and should not be used for other screening activities. Laboratories should apply it only in conjunction with good standard practices for testing for the presence of GMOs (e.g. use of appropriate controls).JRC.I.3-Molecular Biology and Genomic

Report on the Verification of the Performance of MS8, RF3 and GT73 Event-specific PCR-based Methods Applied to DNA Extracted from GM Stack MS8xRF3xGT73 Oilseed Rape

A joint application was submitted by Bayer CropScience AG and Monsanto Company to request the authorisation of genetically modified stack (GM stack) MS8xRF3xGT73 oilseed rape (tolerant to glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate) and all sub-combinations of the individual events as present in the segregating progeny, for food and feed uses, and import and processing, in accordance with articles 5 and 17 of Regulation (EC) NoN° 1829/2003 on GM Food and GM Feed. The unique identifier assigned to GM stack MS8xRF3xGT73 oilseed rape is ACS-BNØØ5-8xACS-BNØØ3-6xMON-ØØØ73-7. The GM stack MS8xRF3xGT73 oilseed rape has been obtained by conventional crossing between three genetically modified oilseed rape events: MS8, RF3 and GT73, without any new genetic modification. The EU-RL GMFF has previously validated individually, and declared fit for purpose, the detection methods for the single events MS8, RF3 and GT73 (see http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/StatusOfDossiers.aspx). In line with the approach defined by the ENGL (http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/doc/Min_Perf_Requirements_Analytical_methods.pdf) the EU-RL GMFF has carried out only an in-house verification of the performance of each validated method when applied to genomic DNA extracted from GM stack MS8xRF3xGT73 oilseed rape. The results of the in-house verification led to the conclusion that the individual methods meet the ENGL performance criteria also when applied to genomic DNA extracted from the GM stack MS8xRF3xGT73 oilseed rape.JRC.I.3-Molecular Biology and Genomic

Dust emission and star formation toward a redshift 5.5 QSO

We report observations of the low-luminosity z = 5.50 quasar RD J030117+002025 (RD0301 hereafter) at 250 GHz (1.20mm) using the Max-Planck Millimeter Bolometer (MAMBO) array at the IRAM 30-meter telescope. The quasar was detected with a 1.2mm flux density of 0.87 +-0.20 mJy. The lack of detectable 1.4 GHz radio emission indicates that the millimeter emission is of thermal nature, making RD0301 the most distant dust-emission source known. When matching a 50K grey body thermal far-infrared (FIR) spectrum to the observed millimeter flux we imply a FIR luminosity ~4x10^12 L_sun, which is comparable to the quasar's optical luminosity. If the FIR luminosity arises from massive star formation, the implied star formation rate would be ~600 M_sun/yr, comparable to that of the starburst galaxies which dominate the average star formation and FIR emission in the early Universe. The FIR luminosity of RD0301 is close to the average of that found in optically far more luminous high-redshift quasars. The comparably high millimeter to optical brightness ratio of RD0301 is further evidence for that there is no strong correlation between the optical and millimeter brightness of high-redshift quasars, supporting the idea that in high-redshift quasars the dust is not heated by the AGN, but by starbursts.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter

Report on the use of EU Reference Methods and JRC decision tools for GMO analysis

To ensure harmonised scientific and technical approaches for GMO detection the European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EURL GMFF) at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a freely accessible database, called “GMOMETHODS" providing a state-of-the-art catalogue of EU reference methods for GMO analysis. The EURL GMFF launched in 2015 a survey to assess the use of these EU reference methods by the official GMO control laboratories in the EU and to collect information on non-EU reference methods possibly employed for the same purpose. The survey aimed also to verify if, and to which extent, laboratories use two decision supporting tools, the JRC GMO-Matrix and Event-Finder which are available on the web site of the EURL GMFF. The survey was also directed to verify the types and frequencies of modifications possibly implemented in the protocols of the validated methods used by the official control laboratories. Results from the survey indicate that almost all official control laboratories (98 %) are using event-specific EU reference methods for quantifying GMOs while a lower number of laboratories is using EU reference methods for qualitative analyses (55 % for element-specific methods and 40 % for construct-specific methods). The use of qualitative non-EU reference methods for screening purposes may reflect the laboratory needs when facing rapid alert emergencies of quickly implementing analytical strategies for detecting non-authorised GM events. Indeed genetically modified crops have continued to increase globally, both in terms of approval status and event/trait diversification. In those cases methods validated in collaborative studies and having the status of EU-reference methods are generally not yet available. In the survey close to half of the respondents (41 %-47 %) declared also to employ to different extents the two JRC decision supporting tools, GMO-Matrix and Event-Finder. Interestingly the survey shows that almost half of the protocols of the reference methods used by the laboratories are somewhat adapted to laboratory specific conditions, mainly with respect to the master mix and the reaction volume of the polymerase chain reactions (PCR) while the primers and probes are never modified. In all cases, the impact of these modifications had been verified by the control laboratory to ensure the equivalence between the adapted and the original protocols. Without such proof, the laboratory would lose its mandatory accreditation. Moreover, participants in Comparative Testing schemes have achieve generally high score performance using those adapted methods suggesting that the modifications implemented do not affect analytical sensitivity, trueness and precision of the original protocols. The outcome of the 2015 survey reveals therefore that the combined efforts of the EURL GMFF and ENGL have been successful for enhancing harmonisation in quantitative GMO analysis by the adoption of scientific and technical approaches. This achievement allows the consistency of results for GM labelling and an equal-level playing field in the EU Member States.JRC.F.5-Food and Feed Complianc

Report on the Single-laboratory Validation of a PCR-based Detection Method for Identification of Florigene™ 26407 GM Carnation

Suntory Holdings Ltd has submitted an application for marketing (C/NL/09/02) of a genetically modified carnation line 26407 (Unique identifier: IFD-26407-2). In this context, the European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) was asked to carry out a singlelaboratory validation of the performance of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for detecting and identifying the carnation GM line 26407, developed by the applicant. This report describes the results of this validation, carried out by the EU-RL GMFF with control samples provided by the applicant. The method is a duplex end-point PCR, where a carnation (taxon) target and a transgenic sequence are detected simultaneously. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method has been established to be at least 10 copies for the taxon-specific target and between 50 and 10 copies for the GM target, based on haploid genome copy number. The event-specificity of the method was assessed by the applicant as being sufficient. The EU-RL could verify that the taxon-specific primers correctly detect the endogenous gene target in genomic DNA of a conventional carnation line (negative control) and in the genomic DNA of the GM carnation line, while the GM target is detected by the GM specific primers only in genomic DNA of 26407 GM line (positive control).JRC.I.3-Molecular Biology and Genomic

Report on the In-house Validation of a DNA Extraction Method from Oilseed rape Grains and Validated Method

In accordance with relevant EU legislation , Pioneer Overseas Corporation provided to the European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) a DNA extraction method for oilseed rape grains and the relevant samples (ground oilseed rape grains). In line with its mandate , the EU RL GMFF has conducted an in-house validation of this DNA extraction method. To this end it tested the DNA extraction method on the samples provided and evaluated its performance in terms of DNA yield, integrity and quality. The in-house validation study confirmed that the method meets the method performance requirements as established by the EU-RL GMFF and the ENGL , and that it satisfies the provisions of Annex I-2.C.2 to Regulation (EC) No 641/2004. The method is therefore fit for the purpose of producing rapeseed DNA of suitable quantity and quality for subsequent PCR-based analysis. This report is published at http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/StatusOfDossiers.htm.JRC.I.3-Molecular Biology and Genomic

Online-Bestimmungshilfe für Schadorganismen im ökologischen Acker- und Obstbau: http://pflanzenschutz.oekolandbau.de

Informationsbeschaffung über ökologischen Pflanzenschutz bedeutet besonders für vielseitige oder neu umgestellte Betriebe einen enormen Aufwand. Ein Konzept für eine anwenderfreundliche Bestimmungshilfe für wichtige Schadorganismen im Ökolandbau wird vorgestellt, das auf einer simplen und flexible Filterstruktur aufbaut. Ein Review aktueller Forschungsergebnisse und der Marktverfügbarkeit und Zulassung ökologischer Regulierungsmöglichkeiten fließt in die Informationsbereitstellung ein. Bisher wurden die Bereiche zum Vorratsschutz, Ackerbau und Beikrautregulierung veröffentlicht, ein Bereich zum Obstbau erscheint 2018

Report on the In-house Validation of a DNA Extraction Method from Soybean Grains and Validated Method

In accordance with relevant EU legislation , Dow AgroSciences LLC provided to the European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) a DNA extraction method for soybean grains and the relevant samples (ground soybean grains). In line with its mandate , the EU RL GMFF has conducted an in-house validation of this DNA extraction method. To this end it tested the DNA extraction method on the samples provided and evaluated its performance in terms of DNA yield, integrity and quality. The in-house validation study confirmed that the method meets the method performance requirements as established by the EU-RL GMFF and the ENGL , and that it satisfies the provisions of Annex I-2.C.2 to Regulation (EC) No 641/2004. The method is therefore fit for the purpose of producing soybean DNA of suitable quantity and quality for subsequent PCR-based analysis.JRC.I.3-Molecular Biology and Genomic