Explore the vast range of titles available.

The dairy farm and on-farm production processes are the subject of numerous evaluations. These are not only evaluations of the economic efficiency of milk production. Opinions expressed by various social groups are also an important contribution to improving the approach to milk production on the farm. As a result of such opinions, a vision of an ideal dairy farm may be formed. The aim of the study was to develop the thematic area of an ideal dairy farm in the opinion of two groups of students who were learning remotely (in the distance learning system) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first group consisted of six Erasmus+ students. The second group consisted of 70 full-time Polish students. As part of their homework, the students answered three questions about the ideal dairy farm. Students had 4 weeks to do their homework. Erasmus+ students’ homework was used to propose a ranking method for assessing the answers to three questions by the students themselves. Homework of Polish students was used to analyze the frequency of using certain keywords. Polish students, in their homework on the ideal dairy farm, mainly used the basic concepts related to dairy production. Unfortunately, a very small number of students used terms that represent a responsible approach to dairy production, including ethical aspects, freedom, sustainability, animal pain, antibiotics, and organic milk production. In conclusion, it was indicated that the curriculum should be structured in such a way as to raise students’ awareness of dairy production and its current challenges.

The accurate quantification and delivery of odorant concentrations remain a significant challenge. Traditional methods estimate stimulus intensity based on the amount of odorant in the source, but this does not reflect the actual concentration sent due to variable evaporation rates and delivery devices. This leads to inconsistencies in stimulus delivery, complicating cross-laboratory comparisons, threshold evaluations, and the replication of natural olfactory conditions in the lab. To address this, we present a model based on mass transfer theory to predict the concentration of odorants delivered by a simple and versatile odor delivery system commonly used in insect electrophysiological experiments. The present model, built with adaptable compartments, accounts for airflow, source size, and the physicochemical properties of odorants. It helps to better design and use odor delivery systems, especially for stimuli required to mimic natural odor environments. Calibration uses known partition coefficients. The model also considers the dynamic shape of odor stimuli, which affects neuronal responses and must be carefully interpreted, especially when using tools like photoionisation detectors (PID). This approach was applied to study the impact of a plant volatile known to activate pheromone-sensitive neurons, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, on pheromone detection in Agrotis ipsilon moths. While interference occurs in laboratory conditions at 160 ppb, such concentrations are unlikely in natural settings, suggesting these effects are less relevant ecologically.

Oenococcus oeni is the main bacterial species that drives malolactic fermentation in wine. Most O. oeni strains produce capsular exopolysaccharides (EPS) that may contribute to protect them in the wine hostile environment. In O. oeni genome sequences, several genes are predicted to encode priming glycosyltransferases (pGTs). These enzymes are essential for EPS formation as they catalyze the first biosynthetic step through the formation of a phosphoanhydride bond between a hexose-1-phosphate and a lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate. In many microorganisms, mutations abolishing the pGT activity also abolish the EPS formation. We first made an in silico analysis of all the genes encoding putative pGT over 50 distinct O. oeni genome sequences. Two polyisoprenyl-phosphate-hexose-1-phosphate transferases, WoaA and WobA, and a glycosyltransferase (It3) were particularly examined for their topology and amino acid sequence. Several isoforms of these enzymes were then expressed in E. coli, and their substrate specificity was examined in vitro. The substrate specificity varied depending on the protein isoform examined, and several mutations were shown to abolish WobA activity but not EPS synthesis. Further analysis of woaA and wobA gene expression levels suggests that WoaA could replace the deficient WobA and maintain EPS formation.

Abstract Olfaction allows insects to communicate with pheromones even in complex olfactory landscapes. It is generally admitted that, due to the binding selectivity of the receptors, general odorants should weakly interfere with pheromone detection. However, laboratory studies show that volatile plant compounds (VPCs) modulate responses to the pheromone in male moths. We used extracellular electrophysiology and calcium imaging to measure the responses to the pheromone of receptor and central neurons in males Agrotis ipsilon while exposed to simple or composite backgrounds of VPCs. Maps of activities were built using calcium-imaging to visualize which areas in antennal lobes (ALs) were affected by VPCs. To mimic a natural olfactory landscape short pheromone puffs were delivered over VPC backgrounds. We chose a panel of VPCs with different chemical structures and physicochemical properties representative of the odorant variety encountered by a moth. We evaluated the intrinsic activity of each VPC and compared the impact of VPC backgrounds at antenna and antennal lobe levels. Then, we prepared binary, ternary and quaternary combinations to determine whether blend activity could be deduced from that of its components. Our data confirm that a VPC background interfere with the moth pheromone system in a dose-dependent manner. Interference with the neuronal coding of pheromone signal starts at the periphery. VPCs showed differences in their capacity to elicit Phe-ORN firing response that cannot be explained by differences in stimulus intensities because we adjusted the source concentrations to vapor pressures. Thus, these differences must be attributed to the selectivity of ORs or any other olfactory proteins. The neuronal network in the ALs, which reformats the ORN-input, did not improve pheromone salience. We postulate that the AL network might have evolved to increase sensitivity and encode for fast changes over a wide range of concentrations, possibly at some cost for selectivity. Comparing three- or four-component blends to binary blends or single compound indicated that a blend showed the activity of its most active compound. Thus, although the diversity of a background might increase the probability of including a VPC interacting with the pheromone system, chemical diversity does not seem to be a prominent factor per se. Global warming is significantly affecting plant metabolism so that the emissions of VPCs and resulting odorscapes are modified. Increase in atmospheric mixing rates of VPCs will change olfactory landscapes which, as confirmed in our study, might impact pheromone communication. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

Lorsque tout le monde sait une chose, que tout le monde sait que tout le monde la sait, que tout le monde sait que tout le monde sait que tout le monde la sait et ainsi de suite, cette chose est dite connaissance commune. Aumann [1976] fut le premier à proposer une caractérisation formelle de la notion de connaissance commune dans l’article « Agreeing to Disagree ». Ce formalisme a soulevé un certain nombre de questions passionnantes. Peut-on expliquer les différences de comportements ou de croyances au sein d’un groupe par des asymétries d’information lorsque ces différences sont connaissance commune dans le groupe ? Des joueurs ont-ils besoin d’une forme de connaissance commune pour se coordonner sur un profil d’actions ? La communication permet-elle de faire émerger la connaissance commune au sein d’un groupe d’individus ? L’objectif de cet article est de passer en revue les travaux ayant proposé des réponses à ces questions.

Nous avons mené une recherche dans trois régions au Québec entre 2018 et 2020 avec 39 organismes sans but lucratif et plusieurs représentants de fondations philanthropiques dans le secteur de l’aide à domicile. Nous les avons questionnés sur : l’évolution des relations entre philanthropie et organismes communautaires, le rôle de l’État et les besoins de la population (les aînés et leurs proches aidants) depuis une vingtaine d’années voire plus, ainsi que sur les impacts de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur leurs activités et leur planification récentes. Le secteur s’est développé de façon importante mais demeure relativement peu financé par rapport à d’autres secteurs des services sociaux.

The doctrine of the three orders which distinguishes and hierarchizes flesh, spirit and charity is obviously one of the major themes of Pascal’s thought. But it appears that Pascal meditates as much on the disorder – and dis-order – induced by sin and the corruption of our nature as on the hierarchy and the heterogeneity of these three kinds of reality. In the world he describes, in fact, not only is everything overturned – the lowest order, that of the flesh, now dominating the other two – but also everything is confused – pleasure, for example, obtaining the credence that normally belongs to science, and the flesh invading the order of the spirit through custom and imagination. To maintain then, as several commentators do, that no interference between the orders is possible, so that tyranny can only exist in the state of desire, is in our view to adopt a more Stoic than Pascalian point of view. For to deny disorder is also, according to Pascal, to deny sin by projecting into the second nature the memory of the first. La doctrine des trois ordres qui distingue et hiérarchise chair, esprit et charité constitue à l’évidence l’un des thèmes majeurs de la pensée pascalienne. Il apparaît cependant que Pascal médite autant le désordre – et le dés-ordres – induit par le péché et la corruption de notre nature que la hiérarchie et l’hétérogénéité de ces trois genres de réalité. Dans le monde que décrivent les Pensées, en effet, non seulement tout est renversé – l’ordre le plus bas, l’ordre de la chair, dominant désormais les deux autres –, mais encore tout est confondu – l’agrément, par exemple, obtenant la créance qui revient normalement à la science et les corps, plus largement, s’invitant dans l’ordre de l’esprit par le biais de la coutume et de l’imagination. Soutenir, comme le font plusieurs commentateurs, que la tyrannie ne peut exister qu’à l’état de désir, parce qu’aucune interférence entre les ordres n’est possible, revient ainsi à adopter un point de vue au fond plus stoïcien que pascalien. Car d’après Pascal au contraire les hommes doivent cesser de projeter dans la seconde nature le souvenir de la première en reconnaissant humblement que l’ordre qui aurait dû prévaloir n’est plus.