Adaptive latitudinal variation in Common Blackbird Turdus merula nest characteristics

Nest construction is taxonomically widespread, yet our understanding of adaptive intraspecific variation in nest design remains poor. Nest characteristics are expected to vary adaptively in response to predictable variation in spring temperatures over large spatial scales, yet such variation in nest design remains largely overlooked, particularly amongst open-cup-nesting birds. Here, we systematically examined the effects of latitudinal variation in spring temperatures and precipitation on the morphology, volume, composition, and insulatory properties of open-cup-nesting Common Blackbirds’ Turdus merula nests to test the hypothesis that birds living in cooler environments at more northerly latitudes would build better insulated nests than conspecifics living in warmer environments at more southerly latitudes. As spring temperatures increased with decreasing latitude, the external diameter of nests decreased. However, as nest wall thickness also decreased, there was no variation in the diameter of the internal nest cups. Only the mass of dry grasses within nests decreased with warmer temperatures at lower latitudes. The insulatory properties of nests declined with warmer temperatures at lower latitudes and nests containing greater amounts of dry grasses had higher insulatory properties. The insulatory properties of nests decreased with warmer temperatures at lower latitudes, via changes in morphology (wall thickness) and composition (dry grasses). Meanwhile, spring precipitation did not vary with latitude, and none of the nest characteristics varied with spring precipitation. This suggests that Common Blackbirds nesting at higher latitudes were building nests with thicker walls in order to counteract the cooler temperatures. We have provided evidence that the nest construction behavior of open-cup-nesting birds systematically varies in response to large-scale spatial variation in spring temperatures

Mechanisms and patterns of neuronal degeneration in the spastic Han-Wistar mutant :

The spastic Han-Wistar rat suffers from an autosomal recessive mutation that is manifested by neurodegeneration in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Behaviorally, these mutants display hyperactivity, progressive ataxia and fore limb tremor, culminating in death at approximately 65 days of age. Like many other neurological disorders, glutamate excitotoxicity has been implicated as the responsible mechanism. In this study, I determined which pathway of neuronal cell death (apoptosis or necrosis) occurred in the cerebellum and hippocampus of spastic Han-Wistar rat. In the cerebellum, three different assays were utilized: 1. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess differential morphologies of degenerating Purkinje cells. 2. The TUNEL assay was utilized to label fragmented DNA in apoptotic cells. 3. An immunohistochemical assay was performed to detect caspase-3 in apoptotic neurons. Based on the evidence provided by H&E stains, degenerating Purkinje cells contained eosinophilic cytoplasms with unfragmented nuclei , fitting the profile of necrotic cell death. H&E results were corroborated with negative results from the TUNEL assay and caspase-3 immunoassay, further suggesting that these neurons degenerate by necrosis. In addition, a progressive pattern of neurodegeneration was identified utilizing H&E stains. Purkinje cell death was first observed at 40 days of age with 2% of cells degenerating. The percentage of dying neurons increased as mutants aged: 9% at 50 days and 13% at 60 days of age. The expression of neuronal degeneration was most prominent in the anterior cerebellum with 45% of all degenerating Purkinje cells found here. The medial cerebellum had about 34% of dying cells, and the posterior cerebellum contained 21 % of all dying Purkinje cells. These results suggested that there exists a division of function among Purkinje cells in different regions of cerebellum. In the hippocampus, the degenerating pyramidal cells (H&E stains) were accompanied by formation of apoptotic bodies, suggesting that apoptosis may be the mechanism of cell death. Neuronal degeneration in the mutant hippocampus appeared to be initiated at 30 days of age and was strictly localized to CA3 pyramidal cells. Further, pyramidal cell death exhibited an opposite pattern of degeneration from that observed in the cerebellum. Dying cells appeared to be most abundant at 30 days of age, and their density decreased as the mutants aged . Thus; based on the evidence provided in this study, glutamate excitotoxicity induced dual cell death pathways in the brain of the spastic Han-Wistar mutant. Understanding the cell death and the pathways that are invoked may lead to the development of effective therapeutic strategies that can result in prevention of many neuronal disorders.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-72)California State University, Northridge. Department of Biology

Re-emergence of tularemia in Germany: Presence of <it>Francisella tularensis </it>in different rodent species in endemic areas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tularemia re-emerged in Germany starting in 2004 (with 39 human cases from 2004 to 2007) after over 40 years of only sporadic human infections. The reasons for this rise in case numbers are unknown as is the possible reservoir of the etiologic agent <it>Francisella (F.) tularensis</it>. No systematic study on the reservoir situation of <it>F. tularensis </it>has been published for Germany so far.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated three areas six to ten months after the initial tularemia outbreaks for the presence of <it>F. tularensis </it>among small mammals, ticks/fleas and water. The investigations consisted of animal live-trapping, serologic testing, screening by real-time-PCR and cultivation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 386 small mammals were trapped. <it>F. tularensis </it>was detected in five different rodent species with carrier rates of 2.04, 6.94 and 10.87% per trapping area. None of the ticks or fleas (n = 432) tested positive for <it>F. tularensis</it>. We were able to demonstrate <it>F. tularensis-</it>specific DNA in one of 28 water samples taken in one of the outbreak areas.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of our study stress the need for long-term surveillance of natural foci in order to get a better understanding of the reasons for the temporal and spatial patterns of tularemia in Germany.</p

Experimental studies of ecologically-clean thermal insulation non-autoclave composites based on flax shive and different kinds of lime containing binders

ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНЫЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ЭКОЛОГИЧНЫХ ТЕПЛОИЗОЛЯЦИОННЫХ НЕАВТОКЛАВНЫХ КОМПОЗИТОВ НА ОСНОВЕ КОСТРЫ ЛЬНА И ИЗВЕСТКОВОГО ВЯЖУЩЕГО. д-р техн. наук, проф. В.В. ТУР, А.И. ПИКУЛА (Брестский государственный технический университет)The main object of the this paper is to study the effect of the mix proportions with flax shive as filling agent in composite system on selected physico-mechanical properties of the light weight composites in influence of new kind of lime-silica binder. The article presents eco-friendly composite thermal insulation materials designed as an alternative to traditional cement-lime binders. When adapted to local raw material resources of a particular region the structural materials can prove to be a promising material for eco-friendly timber frame housing construction in the Republic of Belarus, which is to some extent a revival of the millennial experience in the use of crop waste when constructing low-rise buildings.= Исследуется влияние льняной костры как наполнителя в легких композитах на различные физико- механические свойства материалов на основе кальциево-силикатного связующего вещества. Рассматриваются варианты разработанных экологичных составов композитных теплоизоляционных материалов на альтернативных вяжущих в сравнении с традиционными цементно-известковыми. Сделан вывод о том, что представленные варианты после адаптации к местным сырьевым ресурсам конкретного региона могут быть перспективным материалом для экологичного каркасного домостроения в условиях Республики Беларусь, что в определённой степени является возрождением тысячелетнего опыта применения отходов растениеводства при строительстве малоэтажных зданий

Hyperthymic affective temperament and hypertension are independent determinants of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has neuroprotective, proangiogenic and myogenic effects and, therefore, possibly acts as a psychosomatic mediator. Here, we measured serum BDNF (seBDNF) level in hypertensive patients (HT) and healthy controls (CONT) and its relation to affective temperaments, depression and anxiety scales, and arterial stiffness parameters. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, affective temperaments, anxiety, and depression were studied with questionnaires (TEMPS-A, HAM-A, and BDI, respectively). SeBDNF level and routine laboratory parameters were measured as well. Arterial stiffness was evaluated with a tonometric method. RESULTS: Allover, 151 HT, and 32 CONT subjects were involved in the study. SeBDNF level was significantly higher in HT compared to CONT (24880 +/- 8279 vs 21202.6 +/- 6045.5 pg/mL, p < 0.05). In the final model of regression analysis, hyperthymic temperament score (Beta = 405.8, p = 0.004) and the presence of hypertension (Beta = 6121.2, p = 0.001) were independent determinants of seBDNF. In interaction analysis, it was found that in HT, a unit increase in hyperthymic score was associated with a 533.3 (95 %CI 241.3-825.3) pg/mL higher seBDNF. This interaction was missing in CONT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a complex psychosomatic involvement of BDNF in the pathophysiology of hypertension, where hyperthymic affective temperament may have a protective role. BDNF is not likely to have an effect on large arteries

Інформаційне забезпечення транскордонного співробітництва України: практичні аспекти

У колективній монографії сформовано концепцію транскордонного співробітництва (ТКС) як елемента державної політики, що сьогодні займає достатньо важливе місце і в системі пріоритетів соціально-економічного розвитку, і в напрямі європейської інтеграції України. Видання рекомендоване широкому колу фахівців із міжнародної інформації, спеціалістів, які працюють у структурних підрозділах органів державної влади, інформаційно-аналітичних відділах місцевих органів державної влади й управління, у відділах зв’язків із громадськістю державних і приватних структур тощо

Rapid Mass Spectrometric Study of a Supercritical CO2-extract from Woody Liana Schisandra chinensis by HPLC-SPD-ESI-MS/MS

Woody liana Schisandra chinensis contains valuable lignans, which are phenylpropanoids with valuable biological activity. Among green and selective extraction methods, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was shown to be the method of choice for the recovery of these naturally occurring compounds. Carbon dioxide (CO2) was the solvent with the flow rate (10&minus;25 g/min) with 2% ethanol as co-solvent. In this piece of work operative parameters and working conditions were optimized by experimenting with different pressures (200&ndash;400 bars) and temperatures (40&ndash;60 &deg;C). The extraction time varied from 60 to 120 min. HPLC-SPD-ESI -MS/MS techniques were applied to detect target analytes. Twenty-six different lignans were identified in the S. chinensis SC-CO2 extracts

The Composition and properties of Straight-Run and Mechanoactivated 360-400 °C Distillate from Yakut Petroleum

The group hydrocarbon composition of 360-400 °C straight-run distillate of the petroleum from Talakanskoye oil-field (Yakutia − Republic of Saha) has been studied in detail using clathrate formation, liquid adsorption chromatography, thermodiffusion methods and mass spectrometric analysis of obtained thermodiffusion fractions. The fundamental physical constants of all isolated narrow hydrocarbon fractions were measured. The regularities of thermodiffusion separation of saturated hydrocarbons having different amounts of rings in molecules as well as the relations between properties and composition of the concentrates obtained were traced. It is established that a mechanoactivation of petroleum distillate leads to a change of its hydrocarbon composition, first of all to a decrease of its paraffin content, as well as to respective changes of its physicalchemical characteristics (to a decrease in pour point and an increase in density and viscosity values)

Structure and magnetic properties of Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics prepared by sintering, mechanical activation and EDAMM process. A comparative study

Three different methods were used to obtain Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics, i.e. solid-state sintering, mechanical activation (MA) with subsequent thermal treatment, and electrical discharge assisted mechanical milling (EDAMM). The structure and magnetic properties of produced Bi5Ti3FeO15 samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The purest Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics was obtained by standard solid-state sintering method. Mechanical milling methods are attractive because the Bi5Ti3FeO15 compound may be formed at lower temperature or without subsequent thermal treatment. In the case of EDAMM process also the time of processing is significantly shorter in comparison with solid-state sintering method. As revealed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, at room temperature the Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics produced by various methods is in paramagnetic state

Toxicity bioassay of waste cooking oil-based biodiesel on marine microalgae

The world biodiesel production is increasing at a rapid rate. Despite its perceived safety for the environment, more detailed toxicity studies are mandatory, especially in the field of aquatic toxicology. While considerable attention has been paid to biodiesel combustion emissions, the toxicity of biodiesel in the aquatic environment has been poorly understood. In our study, we used an algae culture growth-inhibition test (OECD 201) for the comparison of the toxicity of B100 (pure biodiesel), produced by methanol transesterification of waste cooking oil (yellow grease), B0 (petroleum diesel fuel) and B20 (diesel-biodiesel blended of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel by volume). Two marine diatoms Attheya ussuriensis and Chaetoceros muelleri, the red algae Porphyridium purpureum and Raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo were employed as the aquatic test organisms. A sample of biodiesel from waste cooking oil without dilution with petroleum diesel (B100) showed the highest level of toxicity for the microalgae A. ussuriensis, C. muelleri and H. akashiwo, compared to hexane, methanol, petroleum diesel (B0) and diluted sample (B20). The acute EC50 in the growth-inhibition test (96 h exposure) of B100 for the four species was in the range of 3.75–23.95 g/L whereas the chronic toxicity EC50 (7d exposure) was in the range of 0.42–16.09 g/L