Soil biodiversity is of great importance for the maintenance of multifunctionality in terrestrial ecosystems. Due to the complexity of belowground biodiversity, novel insights about the combined... Show moreSoil biodiversity is of great importance for the maintenance of multifunctionality in terrestrial ecosystems. Due to the complexity of belowground biodiversity, novel insights about the combined influences of plant-soil interactions have been rarely empirically examined under realistic field conditions. To cope with this challenge, a soil inoculation approach in a field experiment was conducted to manipulate soil community composition. This thesis aims to shed light on the impacts of plant-soil interactions on the aboveground and belowground processes in primary dune ecosystems examined with the aid of such manipulation. Show less
The studies described in this thesis deal with glycosidases, in particular alpha-galactosidases. Activity-based probes are a versatile research tool in many of the investigations on glycosidases... Show moreThe studies described in this thesis deal with glycosidases, in particular alpha-galactosidases. Activity-based probes are a versatile research tool in many of the investigations on glycosidases and are examined regarding diagnostic application. A specific element of the thesis investigations is the focus on plants, either as source of endogenous glycosidases as well as production platform for therapeutic human enzymes. Show less
Microbial biofilms causing elevated resistance to both most anti-microbial drugs and the host defense systems, which often results in persistent and difficult-to-treat infections. The discovery of... Show moreMicrobial biofilms causing elevated resistance to both most anti-microbial drugs and the host defense systems, which often results in persistent and difficult-to-treat infections. The discovery of anti-infective agents which are active against planktonic and biofilm microorganisms are therefore urgently required to deal with these biofilm-mediated infections. Plants are a rich source of new molecules with pharmacological properties for the development of new drugs. Indonesia is one of the countries which has a very diverse flora and a rich tradition in the use of medicinal plants. Since several Indonesian medicinal plants contain anti-microbial compounds it was considered conceivable that they might also be a source of new anti-biofilm compounds. The research present in this thesis has been focused on the screening and identification of Indonesian medicinal plant extracts and essential oils for their anti-microbial and anti-biofilm activity towards P. aeruginosa PAO1, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Preparative thin layer chromatography along with GC-MS and 1H-NMR elucidation were used to isolate and identify the active compound, and the result revealed that massoia lactone, the active compound of massoia oil, displayed potent activity against microbial biofilms in vitro and therefore has potential therapeutic implication for biofilm-associated microbial infections. Show less
In this study, the plant metaphors of the Septuagint of Isaiah are analyzed in order to gain further insight into the translation technique of this unique book. This study suggests that the... Show moreIn this study, the plant metaphors of the Septuagint of Isaiah are analyzed in order to gain further insight into the translation technique of this unique book. This study suggests that the translator had some concern for Greek style in his use of metaphors, but interpreted primarily as a Jewish scribe.Chapter two examines metaphors with terminology from the various parts of plants, and LXX-Isa’s translations are compared with the Targum’s renderings. In general, this chapter demonstrates how the LXX-Isa translator did not follow the example of other LXX translators, yet carefully renders each verse in its context. Chapter three examines metaphors using terms for different kinds of plants, and LXX-Isa’s translations are compared with the Targum’s renderings. In this chapter, while many metaphors are rendered literally, in many cases the translator adjusts the language of metaphors to communicate clearly what he believes the image means.The concluding chapter categorizes all the metaphors examined in this study by their translation strategy. LXX-Isa’s rendering of metaphors is next compared to the Targum of Isaiah. Finally, evidence is given for the translator using some of his Hellenistic rhetorical training concerning metaphors to improve the style of his translation Show less
Photosynthesis is the physico-chemical process by which plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria use light energy to drive the synthesis of organic compounds. Light-induced electron transfer in... Show morePhotosynthesis is the physico-chemical process by which plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria use light energy to drive the synthesis of organic compounds. Light-induced electron transfer in photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) is highly efficient, having a quantum yield close to unity. In RCs of Rhodobacter (R.) sphaeroides wild type (WT), the primary electron donor is a bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl) dimer, called the Special Pair P, comprising two dimer halves PL and PM. Two additional BChl cofactors called accessory BChls (BA and BB), two bacteriopheophytins (_A and _B), two quinones and a non-heme iron are organized into two pseudo-symmetric branches named A and B. After the photo excitation the electron is transferred only via the active __A__ branch. On the other hand, in structurally similar RCs, as that of photosystem I, the electron transfer occurs equally over both branches. Neither the reason for the high efficiency nor that of the directionality of the electron transfer has been elucidated so far. To solve these questions, the solid-state photo-chemically induced nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) effect with its dramatic enhancement of local NMR signals provides an analytical tool especially suited for studying electron transfer in photosynthetic RCs. In fact, photo-CIDNP MAS NMR has been applied to explore electronic structures of the electron donors and acceptors in RCs Show less
