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The morphology and hierarchical organization of crystals formed during confined solvent evaporation from solutions of polylactide mixed (1 : 1 wt) with amorphous linear ladder polysilsesquioxanes (LPSQ-R) were investigated. The complex crystallization process depends on the type of the functional group R (OH, COOH, COOMe), suggesting the importance of both supramolecular interactions and miscibility of the components. In addition, complementary spectroscopic data showed that the crystallization process may be related to conformational changes of the polyester backbone in the presence of LPSQ-R. The spontaneously formed flat spherulites of PLA crystallized in the presence of LPSQ-OH were organized into hierarchical macrostructures, due to their unusual anisotropic shape. The observed effects indicate that the evaporative crystallization process in polylactide-based blends may be used for fabrication of self-organized biocompatible materials of three-dimensional architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers of Islam in the West have noticed that imams working since the 1950s in Western Europe or the United States assume far more responsibilities than their counterparts in traditional Muslim societies. Consequently, further research had to identify and specify the types of imams who perform their service in the West - their most complete typology is the one developed by Niels Valdemar Vinding. However, besides Finland where the Muslim Tatars have lived since the nineteenth century, the classification does not include imams from areas inhabited by the indigenous Muslims. This study is an attempt to check if the Polish-Lithuanian Tatars living in Poland who have had their imams for centuries would fit into Vinding's typology and if this typology also would work in a diachronic perspective. Literature on the subject was the basis for the research into the situation of imams in the past. Interviews with representatives of particular Muslim organizations served as the basis for the research into the present-day situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of the Islamic presence in Poland goes back over 300 years. In the past, Muslim Tatar women played an important role in their communities by preserving and passing on the faith. In the twentieth century their role expanded, with a substantial number of women present at the highest levels of Muslim leadership. The article presents a case study of seven Polish Tatar women who have held the post of official elected presidents of local Muslim communities. These examples are presented in order to research the source of authority on which female leadership is based. The article uses three kinds of authority distinguished by Max Weber: legalrational, charismatic and traditional authority. The article is based on interviews with these female presidents and other members of their communities in order to reconstruct their authority as social and religious leaders and their impact on their respective communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islam in some EU countries is a traditional religion, which has existed in their territories for centuries, while in other it constitutes a new phenomenon. In countries where there is a traditional Muslim presence, Islam is officially recognised by the state and its functioning is defined by the law concerning traditional religions. The functioning patterns differ from country to country due to different models of state-church relations, confessional laws and legal traditions. Sometimes Islam as a religion and its spiritual functionaries are financed by the state (e.g. in Romania), but there are countries where the state funding of religion is prohibited by law (e.g. in Poland). This paper collects some characteristic cases of the legal situation of Muslims in various European states and presents the extent to which the Muslim religion is financed, or the lack of such financing resulting from the legal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relations between the Polish state and Muslims living in its territory have a long history dating back to the fourteenth century, when a Muslim presence was first established in the area. The first Muslims to arrive in Poland were Tatars from the Golden Horde. Their influx continued for a few centuries and they were granted land in exchange for military service. The nature of mutual relations changed with time, along with changes in the structure of the state. Initially, there was a Polish-Lithuanian monarchy, but after 1795 the area inhabited by the Tatars fell under the rule of the Russian Empire. In 1918-1939, the reborn Polish state granted its inhabitants religious freedom and, even though Catholicism was privileged, Islam was officially recognized in 1936. The socialist state, in existence between 1944 and 1989, took an ideological stance against all religions. Since 1989, Poland has been a democratic state under the rule of law characterized by separation of state and religion. Thanks to the centuries-long presence of Tatars in Poland, Islam is an officially recognized denomination and the position of Muslims is much better than that of other religious minorities. This article details the historical development of relations between the Polish state and Muslims. The section on the twentieth century provides an analysis of relations between the state and religion and a description of Islam-related legislation in the Constitution and religious law, focusing on regulations concerning religious practices including marriage, dress code, ritual slaughter and religious instruction in school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising atmospheric CO2 levels are predicted to have major consequences on carbon cycling and the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Increased photosynthetic activity is expected, especially for C-3 plants, thereby influencing vegetation dynamics; however, little is known about the path of fixed carbon into soil-borne communities and resulting feedbacks on ecosystem function. Here, we examine how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) act as a major conduit in the transfer of carbon between plants and soil and how elevated atmospheric CO2 modulates the belowground translocation pathway of plant-fixed carbon. Shifts in active AMF species under elevated atmospheric CO2 conditions are coupled to changes within active rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities. Thus, as opposed to simply increasing the activity of soil-borne microbes through enhanced rhizodeposition, elevated atmospheric CO2 clearly evokes the emergence of distinct opportunistic plant-associated microbial communities. Analyses involving RNA-based stable isotope probing, neutral/phosphate lipid fatty acids stable isotope probing, community fingerprinting, and real-time PCR allowed us to trace plant-fixed carbon to the affected soil-borne microorganisms. Based on our data, we present a conceptual model in which plant-assimilated carbon is rapidly transferred to AMF, followed by a slower release from AMF to the bacterial and fungal populations well-adapted to the prevailing (myco-)rhizosphere conditions. This model provides a general framework for reappraising carbon-flow paths in soils, facilitating predictions of future interactions between rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Acidobacteria represent the most abundant bacterial phylum in many soils, knowledge of acidobacterial diversity is still rather incomplete. We, therefore, examined the diversity of 16S rRNA genes affiliated with this phylum in a former arable soil via three independent approaches: (1) screening of a fosmid metagenome library for inserts containing Acidobacteria-like 16S rRNA genes; (2) PCR-cloning using general bacterial primers; and (3) PCR-cloning with acidobacterial-specific primers. Bacterial-specific libraries compared rhizosphere versus bulk soil samples, revealing a higher proportion of acidobacterial sequences in bulk soil libraries (P<0.001). Bacterial libraries recovered the greatest diversity, and sequence examination suggested that sequence mismatches with the Acidobacteria-specific primers limited the coverage of the metagenome library screening and specific library approaches. Together, these results expand knowledge of the distribution and diversity of Acidobacteria in soil environments and highlight important technical considerations in the molecular analysis of Acidobacteria diversity.The ISME Journal (2009) 3, 378–382; doi:10.1038/ismej.2008.113; published online 20 November 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the relationship between plant species composition and microbial community diversity and structure, we carried out a molecular analysis of microbial community structure and diversity in two field experiments. In the first experiment, we examined bacterial community structure in bulk and rhizosphere soils in fields exposed to different plant diversity treatments, via a 16S rRNA gene clone library approach. Clear differences were observed between bacterial communities of the bulk soil and the rhizosphere, with the latter containing lower bacterial diversity. The second experiment focused on the influence of 12 different native grassland plant species on bacterial community size and structure in the rhizosphere, as well as the structure of Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia community structures. In general, bacterial and phylum-specific quantitative PCR and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed only weak influences of plant species on rhizosphere communities. Thus, although plants did exert an influence on microbial species composition and diversity, these interactions were not specific and selective enough to lead to major impacts of vegetation composition and plant species on below-ground microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-secreted particles conceived as natural vehicles for intercellular communication. The capacity to entrap heterogeneous molecular cargoes and target specific cell populations through EV functionalization promises advancements in biomedical applications. However, the efficiency of the obtained EVs, the contribution of cell-exposed receptors to EV interactions, and the predictability of functional cargo release with potential sharing of high molecular weight recombinant mRNAs are crucial for advancing heterologous EVs in targeted therapy applications. Methods: In this work, we selected the popular EV marker CD81 as a transmembrane guide for fusion proteins with a C-terminal GFP reporter encompassing or not Trastuzumab light chains targeting the HER2 receptor. We performed high-content imaging analyses to track EV-cell interactions, including isogenic breast cancer cells with manipulated HER2 expression. We validated the functional cargo delivery of recombinant EVs carrying doxorubicin upon EV-donor cell treatment. Then, we performed an in vivo study using JIMT-1 cells commonly used as HER2-refractory, trastuzumab-resistant model to detect a more than 2000 nt length recombinant mRNA in engrafted tumors. Results: Fusion proteins participated in vesicular trafficking dynamics and accumulated on secreted EVs according to their expression levels in HEK293T cells. Despite the presence of GFP, secreted EV populations retained a HER2 receptor-binding capacity and were used to track EV-cell interactions. In time-frames where the global EV distribution did not change between HER2-positive (SK-BR-3) or -negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines, the HER2 exposure in isogenic cells remarkably affected the tropism of heterologous EVs, demonstrating the specificity of antiHER2 EVs representing about 20% of secreted bulk vesicles. The specific interaction strongly correlated with improved cell-killing activity of doxorubicin-EVs in MDA-MB-231 ectopically expressing HER2 and reduced toxicity in SK-BR-3 with a knocked-out HER2 receptor, overcoming the effects of the free drug. Interestingly, the fusion protein-corresponding transcripts present as full-length mRNAs in recombinant EVs could reach orthotopic breast tumors in JIMT-1-xenografted mice, improving our sensitivity in detecting penetrant cargoes in tissue biopsies. Conclusions: This study highlights the quantitative aspects underlying the creation of a platform for secreted heterologous EVs and shows the limits of single receptor-ligand interactions behind EV-cell engagement mechanisms, which now become the pivotal step to predict functional tropism and design new generations of EV-based nanovehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change will strongly affect the developmental timing of insects, as their development rate depends largely on ambient temperature. However, we know little about the genetic mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity of embryonic development in insects. We investigated embryonic development rate in the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), a species with egg dormancy which has been under selection due to climate change. We used RNA sequencing to investigate which genes are involved in the regulation of winter moth embryonic development rate in response to temperature. Over the course of development, we sampled eggs before and after an experimental change in ambient temperature, including two early development weeks when the temperature sensitivity of eggs is low and two late development weeks when temperature sensitivity is high. We found temperature‐responsive genes that responded in a similar way across development, as well as genes with a temperature response specific to a particular development week. Moreover, we identified genes whose temperature effect size changed around the switch in temperature sensitivity of development rate. Interesting candidate genes for regulating the temperature sensitivity of egg development rate included genes involved in histone modification, hormonal signalling, nervous system development and circadian clock genes. The diverse sets of temperature‐responsive genes we found here indicate that there are many potential targets of selection to change the temperature sensitivity of embryonic development rate. Identifying for which of these genes there is genetic variation in wild insect populations will give insight into their adaptive potential in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary blends of polylactide (PLA, 90 wt.%) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, 10 wt.%) with functionalized polysilsesquioxanes (LPSQ-R) were obtained by solution blending. R groups in LPSQ containing hydroxyethyl (LPSQ-OH), methylglycolic (LPSQ-COOMe) and pentafluorophenyl (LPSQ-F5) moieties of different chemical properties were designed to modify PLA blends with PMMA. The effect of the type of LPSQ-R and their content, 1–3 wt.%, on the structure of the blends was studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and Raman spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile tests also showed various effects of LPSQ-R on the thermal and mechanical properties of the blends. Depth-sensing indentation was used to resolve spatially the micro- and nano-scale mechanical properties (hardness and elastic behaviour) of the blends. The results showed clearly that LPSQ-R modulate the structure and properties of the blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear ladder polysilsesquioxanes (LPSQ-R) bearing fluoroaryl groups [R: p -fluorophenyl (F), p -trifluoromethylphenyl (F 3) or pentafluorophenyl (F 5)] were used to modify polylactide (PLA). Vibrational spectroscopy analysis suggested specific, non-covalent interactions between C O of PLA and fluoroaryl groups of LPSQ-R while quantum-chemical modelling performed for representative models indicated that the pattern of possible preferred contacts differs for LPSQ-F 3 in respect to LPSQ-F and LPSQ-F 5 (H····F hydrogen bonding against n→π* attractive interactions). It may affect interface phenomena in PLA/LPSQ-R systems. Thermal characteristics of PLA/LPSQ-R depended on the type of R and LPSQ-R content. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) studies revealed one relaxation process present in PLA and related to the glass transition. However, for PLA/LPSQ-R blends two processes were identified: glass transition and normal–mode relaxation. The modification with fluorinated macromolecules increased hydrophobicity of amorphous PLA and improved its mechanical and gas barrier properties, which can be of importance for packaging applications. Image 1 • Modification of PLA with linear ladder polysilsesquioxanes bearing fluoroaryl substituents. • Hydrogen bonding involving F atoms and modification of relaxation processes in PLA. • Unique thermal behaviour and improved drawability of the blends. • Large reduction of oxygen transmission rate and hydrophobicity for amorphous matrix. • Thermal characteristics dependent on the type of fluoroaryl groups and their content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of cross-linkable and hydrophilic silicone formulations is described. Noncatalyzed addition of some mercaptoalcohols to vinyl-groups of organosilicon macromolecules proceeds smoothly on exposure to sunlight. No detrimental side reactions on remaining unsaturated residues were noted. The products can be crosslinked and may be applied as silicone inks in stretchable electronics and in microfluidics. Addition of thiol compounds bearing electron-withdrawing substituents linked to sulphur atom to vinyl-group containing organosiloxane polymers may be achieved without any catalyst or initiator, only on exposure to visible light. This approach allows for preparation of silicone copolymers with desired amount of unsaturated residues and hydrophilic groups. No detrimental side reactions involving vinyl substituents were observed. The copolymers can be easily cross-linked, as it was shown in model experiments carried out with tetrafunctional pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate). Specific surface energy of the obtained cross-linked films and their linear precursors is relatively low despite the presence of –OH groups, irrespectively of their amount and the nature of the support. It makes the prepared copolymers interesting materials to be used as silicone inks for stretchable and wearable electronic devices as well as in microfluidics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligomeric ladder silsesquioxanes (LPSQ-R) with side substituents (R = COOH, COOMe, OH) capable of acceptor/donor interactions through hydrogen bonds were used for the preparation of blends with polylactide (PLA). Depending on the strength of their interactions with the PLA, LPSQ-R were differently dispersed in the polyester matrix. The blends exhibited different properties and crystallization behaviour depending on the type and content of LPSQ-R. PLA/LPSQ-COOMe exhibited good transparency. Owing to very good dispersion of the modifier, PLA with 5 wt% of LPSQ-COOMe was ductile, which was reflected in nearly 230% elongation at break, retaining however relatively high yield strength of nearly 40 MPa. Moreover, the spherulite growth rate was accelerated in PLA/LPSQ-COOMe, which caused enhancement of the cold-crystallization. In turn, cold-crystallization of PLA/LPSQ-OH was enhanced by strong nucleation. Image 1 • Polylactide blends with novel oligomeric ladder silsesquioxanes were studied. • Spherulite growth was accelerated in blends of polylactide with LPSQ-COOMe. • Cold-crystallization was enhanced in blends of PLA with LPSQ-COOMe and LPSQ-OH. • Polylactide with 5 wt% of LPSQ-COOMe exhibited very good drawability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid polylactide stereocomplexes of increased thermal stability at T > 260 °C. • Effect of polysilsesquioxanes with hydrogen bond donating/accepting side groups. • Templating of stereocomplex structures. • Synergistic enhancement of thermal stability of the components. Hybrid blends of poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide) (PLLA/PDLA) and hydrogen bonds donating/accepting oligomeric ladder silsesquioxanes (LPSQ-R; R OH, (OH)2, COOH, COOMe) exhibited higher thermal stability at T > 533 K. Temperature of decomposition (T d) increased by 20–30 K comparing to neat PLLA/PDLA, even when small amounts of the additives were used. Stereocomplexation in PLLA/PDLA blends was improved with the addition of H-bond donating LPSQ-R, even in the presence of substantial amounts of the additives, and only slightly disturbed by LPSQ-COOMe. Vibrational spectroscopic analysis was used to follow the crystal structure evolution at 448 K. The modes characteristic of 3 1 β-helical structures were observed in the studied samples. LPSQ-R grafted with thioglycerol moieties, significantly increased the stereocomplexation rate. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements confirmed the stereocomplex structure of the hybrid blends. All the observed effects may be related to the specific structure of polysilsesquioxanes and R groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is a versatile anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent known for its low bioavailability, which could be improved by developing materials capable of binding and releasing drug in a controlled fashion. The present study describes the preparation of magnetic nano-sized Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (nanoMIPs) for the controlled delivery of curcumin and their high throughput characterisation using microtitre plates modified with magnetic inserts. NanoMIPs were synthesised using functional monomers chosen with the aid of molecular modelling. The rate of release of curcumin from five polymers was studied under aqueous conditions and was found to correlate well with the binding energies obtained computationally. The presence of specific monomers was shown to be significant in ensuring effective binding of curcumin and to the rate of release obtained. Characterisation of the polymer particles was carried out using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to establish the relationship between irradiation time and particle size. The protocols optimised during this study could be used as a blueprint for the development of nanoMIPs capable of the controlled release of potentially any compound of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 16S rRNA gene is the gold standard in molecular surveys of bacterial and archaeal diversity, but it has the disadvantages that it is often multiple-copy, has little resolution below the species level and cannot be readily interpreted in an evolutionary framework. We compared the 16S rRNA marker with the single-copy, protein-coding rpoB marker by amplifying and sequencing both from a single soil sample. Because the higher genetic resolution of the rpoB gene prohibits its use as a universal marker, we employed consensus-degenerate primers targeting the Proteobacteria. Methodology/Principal Findings: Pyrosequencing can be problematic because of the poor resolution of homopolymer runs. As these erroneous runs disrupt the reading frame of protein-coding sequences, removal of sequences containing nonsense mutations was found to be a valuable filter in addition to flowgram-based denoising. Although both markers gave similar estimates of total diversity, the rpoB marker revealed more species, requiring an order of magnitude fewer reads to obtain 90% of the true diversity. The application of population genetic methods was demonstrated on a particularly abundant sequence cluster. Conclusions/Significance: The rpoB marker can be a complement to the 16S rRNA marker for high throughput microbial diversity studies focusing on specific taxonomic groups. Additional error filtering is possible and tests for recombination or selection can be employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In an earlier study we reported the apparent stabilization of a low fungal biomass in ex-arable lands during the first decades after abandonment. It was hypothesized that the lack of increase in fungal biomass was due to constraints on development of fungi with persistent hyphae such as lignocellulolytic basidiomycetes and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. With respect to the former group, the slow increase of the pool of lignocellulose-rich organic matter was expected to be the major constraint for their development. To study this, we enriched soil samples of one arable land, of two recently abandoned arable lands, of one older abandoned arable land and of heathland with carbon substrates that differed in composition (glucose, cellulose and sawdust). In addition, we combined the effect of carbon addition on fungal biomass development in arable and recently abandoned lands with inoculation of 1% of soil from the older abandoned site and the heathland. All treatments induced a fast increase and a subsequent rapid decline in fungal biomass in the arable and ex-arable fields. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) band patterns and enzyme activities did show differences between the carbon treatments but not between the recent and older abandoned field sites, indicating a similarly responding fungal community even after three decades of land abandonment and irrespective of soil inoculation. Identification of fungi by sequencing and culturing confirmed that decomposition processes were mostly dominated by opportunistic fungi in arable and ex-arable fields. In the heathland, only a very slow increase of microbial activity was observed after addition of carbon and sequencing of DGGE bands showed that ericoid mycorrhiza (ERM) fungi were responsible for carbon decomposition. We conclude that an increase of enduringly present fungal hyphae in ex-arable land may only be possible when a separate litter layer develops and/or when suitable host plants for ERM fungi become established. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The BRCA1 gene is responsible for a high number of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers that cluster in families with a strong genetic predisposition. Despite intense investigation, the accumulating findings on BRCA1 biological functions have not yet been translated into specific therapeutic approaches, also due to the lack of suitable experimental models. The purpose of this study was to establish and characterize cell cultures and xenografts from patients with BRCA1 -/- ovarian cancers. We derived two ovarian cancer cell lines, termed PD-OVCA1 and PD-OVCA2, both from patients previously treated with chemotherapy, that propagate in SCID mice as well as in vitro for a limited number of passages. Both cell lines expressed cytokeratins and the CA125 tumour marker. A detailed molecular characterization highlighted both constitutive and somatic genetic events that abrogate BRCA1 gene function. Both cell lines were shown to lose the wild type BRCA1 allele; intriguingly, these deletions were apparently accompanied by gain of one or more copies of the mutant alleles. Finally, a genomic profile of major chromosomal aberrations was obtained by the Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) technique, which disclosed chromosomal imbalances targeting specific genes in each cell line. The PD-OVCA1 and PD-OVCA2 ovarian cancer cell lines will provide a valuable tool for new experimental models for the study of BRCA1-associated tumour biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex- and age-dependence in recruitment and dispersal are often explained by costs arising from competition for holding a breeding territory over the years-a typical feature of species living in stable habitats. For instance, long-lived birds with male territoriality often exhibit large variation in recruitment age and higher dispersal in females and young individuals. As a corollary, we expected that species with ephemeral habitat suitability, and hence nomadic breeding, would show weak age- and sex-dependence in dispersal and low variation in recruitment age, because territory ownership is not maintained over the years. In addition, the higher cost of reproduction in females might not be (over)compensated for by costs of territoriality in males. Accordingly, females would recruit later than males. We explored these variations using multievent capture-recapture models over 13 years, 3479 (2392 sexed) slender-billed gulls ( Chroicocephalus genei) and 45 colony sites along the French Mediterranean coast. As expected, variability in recruitment age was low with males recruiting earlier than females. Nonetheless, dispersal in and out of the study area decreased with age and was slightly higher in males than in females. Decreased dispersal with age might result from foraging benefits associated with increased spatial familiarity. Higher dispersal in males might be explained by a male-biased sex ratio or higher philopatry benefits in females (arising from their higher cost of reproduction). Sex- and age-dependent dispersal and recruitment may thus occur in the absence of year-to-year breeding territory ownership, which stresses the importance of considering other processes in shaping recruitment and dispersal patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wintermoth (Operophtera brumata) belongs to one of themost species-rich families in Lepidoptera, the Geometridae (approximately 23,000 species). This family is of great economic importance asmost species are herbivorous and capable of defoliating trees. Genomeassembly of the wintermoth allows the study of genes andgene families, such as the cytochrome P450gene family,which is known to be vital in plant secondary metabolite detoxification and host-plant selection. It also enables exploration of the genomic basis for female brachyptery (wing reduction), a feature of sexual dimorphism in winter moth, and for seasonal timing, a trait extensively studied in this species. Here we present a reference genome for the winter moth, the first geometrid and largest sequenced Lepidopteran genome to date (638Mb) including a set of 16,912 predicted protein-coding genes. This allowed us to assess the dynamics of evolution on a genome-wide scale using the P450 gene family.We also identified an expanded gene family potentially linked to female brachyptery, and annotated the genes involved in the circadian clock mechanism asmain candidates for involvement in seasonal timing. The genome will contribute to Lepidopteran genomic resources and comparative genomics. In addition, the genome enhances our ability to understand the genetic and molecular basis of insect seasonal timing and thereby provides a reference for future evolutionary and population studies on the winter moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the marine realm, the tropics host an extraordinary diversity of taxa but the drivers underlying the global distribution of marine organisms are still under scrutiny and we still lack an accurate global predictive model. Using a spatial database for 6336 tropical reef fishes, we attempted to predict species richness according to geometric, biogeographical and environmental explanatory variables. In particular, we aimed to evaluate and disentangle the predictive performances of temperature, habitat area, connectivity, mid-domain effect and biogeographical region on reef fish species richness. We used boosted regression trees, a flexible machine-learning technique, to build our predictive model and structural equation modeling to test for potential 'mediation effects' among predictors. Our model proved to be accurate, explaining 80% of the total deviance in fish richness using a cross-validated procedure. Coral reef area and biogeographical region were the primary predictors of reef fish species richness, followed by coast length, connectivity, mid-domain effect and sea surface temperature, with interactions between the region and other predictors. Important indirect effects of water temperature on reef fish richness, mediated by coral reef area, were also identified. The relationship between environmental predictors and species richness varied markedly among biogeographical regions. Our analysis revealed that a few easily accessible variables can accurately predict reef fish species richness. They also highlight concerns regarding ongoing environmental declines, with region-specific responses to variation in environmental conditions predicting a variable response to anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the impact of land-use changes and agricultural management of soybean in Amazon forest soils on the abundance and composition of the acidobacterial community. Quantitative real-time PCR ( q-PCR) assays and pyrosequencing of 16 S r RNA gene were applied to study the acidobacterial community in bulk soil samples from soybean croplands and adjacent native forests, and mesocosm soil samples from soybean rhizosphere. Based on qPCR measurements, Acidobacteria accounted for 23% in forest soils, 18% in cropland soils, and 14% in soybean rhizosphere of the total bacterial signals. From the 16 S r RNA gene sequences of Bacteria domain, the phylum Acidobacteria represented 28% of the sequences from forest soils, 16% from cropland soils, and 17% from soybean rhizosphere. Acidobacteria subgroups 1-8, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 22, and 25 were detected with subgroup 1 as dominant among them. Subgroups 4, 6, and 7 were significantly higher in cropland soils than in forest soils, which subgroups responded to decrease in soil aluminum. Subgroups 6 and 7 responded to high content of soil Ca, Mg, Mn, and B. These results showed a differential response of the Acidobacteria subgroups to abiotic soil factors, and open the possibilities to explore acidobacterial subgroups as early-warning bioindicators of agricultural soil management effects in the Amazon area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon ( C) uptake by terrestrial ecosystems represents an important option for partially mitigating anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Short-term atmospheric elevated CO2 exposure has been shown to create major shifts in C flow routes and diversity of the active soil-borne microbial community. Long-term increases in CO2 have been hypothesized to have subtle effects due to the potential adaptation of soil microorganism to the increased flow of organic C. Here, we studied the effects of prolonged elevated atmospheric CO2 exposure on microbial C flow and microbial communities in the rhizosphere. Carex arenaria (a nonmycorrhizal plant species) and Festuca rubra (a mycorrhizal plant species) were grown at defined atmospheric conditions differing in CO2 concentration (350 and 700 ppm) for 3 years. During this period, C flow was assessed repeatedly (after 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years) by 13 C pulse-chase experiments, and label was tracked through the rhizosphere bacterial, general fungal, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal ( AMF) communities. Fatty acid biomarker analyses and RNA-stable isotope probing ( RNA- SIP), in combination with real-time PCR and PCR- DGGE, were used to examine microbial community dynamics and abundance. Throughout the experiment the influence of elevated CO2 was highly plant dependent, with the mycorrhizal plant exerting a greater influence on both bacterial and fungal communities. Biomarker data confirmed that rhizodeposited C was first processed by AMF and subsequently transferred to bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil. Over the course of 3 years, elevated CO2 caused a continuous increase in the 13 C enrichment retained in AMF and an increasing delay in the transfer of C to the bacterial community. These results show that, not only do elevated atmospheric CO2 conditions induce changes in rhizosphere C flow and dynamics but also continue to develop over multiple seasons, thereby affecting terrestrial ecosystems C utilization processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain insight into the factors driving the structure of bacterial communities in soil, we applied real-time PCR, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoreses, and phylogenetic microarray approaches targeting the 16 S r RNA gene across a range of different land usages in the Netherlands. We observed that the main differences in the bacterial communities were not related to land-use type, but rather to soil factors. An exception was the bacterial community of pine forest soils ( PFS), which was clearly different from all other sites. PFS had lowest bacterial abundance, lowest numbers of operational taxonomic units ( OTUs), lowest soil p H, and highest C : N ratios. C : N ratio strongly influenced bacterial community structure and was the main factor separating PFS from other fields. For the sites other than PFS, phosphate was the most important factor explaining the differences in bacterial communities across fields. F irmicutes were the most dominant group in almost all fields, except in PFS and deciduous forest soils ( DFS). In PFS, A lphaproteobacteria was most represented, while in DFS, F irmicutes and G ammaproteobacteria were both highly represented. Interestingly, B acillii and C lostridium OTUs correlated with p H and phosphate, which might explain their high abundance across many of the Dutch soils. Numerous bacterial groups were highly correlated with specific soil factors, suggesting that they might be useful as indicators of soil status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unfortunately, Table 1 was incorrectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiofilm strategies may be based on the prevention of initial bacterial adhesion, the inhibition of biofilm maturation or biofilm eradication. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), widely used in medical treatments, offers an interesting approach to biofilm destruction. However, many Eubacteria strains are able to enzymatically decompose the NAC molecule. This is the first report on the action of two hybrid materials, NAC-Si-1 and NAC-Si-2, against bacteria isolated from a water environment: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter soli, Janthinobacterium lividum and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The NAC was grafted onto functional siloxane polymers to reduce its availability to bacterial enzymes. The results confirm the bioactivity of NAC. However, the final effect of its action was environment- and strain-dependent. Moreover, all the tested bacterial strains showed the ability to degrade NAC by various metabolic routes. The NAC polymers were less effective bacterial inhibitors than NAC, but more effective at eradicating mature bacterial biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]