Biographical reflection and readiness to master age-related changes at a senior age

The article presents the results of an empirical study of psychological readiness to master age.related changes and biographical reflection in the elderly in the context of professional employment. A comparison of the level of biographical reflection and readiness for age.related changes in working and non.working pensioners was carried out, and the nature of the relationship between these phenomena was described.This study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research Grant № 19‑013‑00431

Behavioural observations of reintroduced Takhi or Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Mongolia

During 1992 and 1993, 14 reintroduced Przewalski Horses or Takhi (Equus ferus przewalskii) were studied in the Hustain Nuruu Mountain Steppe reserve in Mongolia. Most of the individuals did not know each other before reintroduction. These Takhi were the first of five groups due to be released in the reserve after an acclimatisation period of at least 1 year. During acclimatisation the Takhi, lived visually and acoustically separately, in fenced enclosures of approximately 45 ha each. The observations, mostly scan-sampling, were carried out in each season. The observation bouts were divided over six periods and over two harem herds. Two of the periods were in the Same consecutive seasons, so comparison over the years was possible. Social integration within the Takhi herds was very high from the beginning, as described by the spatial relation and synchronisation data. Between 50 and 89% of the observation time, the behaviour of all herd members was synchronised, The amount of time spent grazing by the Takhi (30-68% of the daylight period) was similar to that of feral horses and Takhi in captivity and semi-reserves. The Takhi tended to rest in the morning and have a bimodal period of grazing at dawn and in the afternoon. The Takhi displayed clear habitat preferences for certain activities, They had a strong preference to rest at the highest point in their enclosure. They fed preferably on two or three different vegetation types (with five types available in each enclosure), The amount of time spent grazing during the non-growing seasons (49 +/- 15%) indicates that the feeding value and availability of food were sufficient. Health changes were detected adequately using condition scoring sheets. No supplementary food or water was supplied during the harsh winters. Moreover, low mortality rates and high reproductive success show that the mountain steppe is a habitat which is potentially suitable for establishing a healthy Takhi population. Takhi is the first species to return to its native habitat after living only in toes for so many generations

Optimisation of batch culture conditions for cell-envelope-associated proteinase production from lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ATCC® 7830™

Using a combination of conventional sequential techniques, the batch growth conditions for the production of cell-envelope-associated proteinases have for the first time been studied and optimised in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis 313 (ATCC 7830; LDL 313). Concentrations of inoculum (0.1 < X < 10 % vol/vol), agitation speed (0 < S < 200 rpm), varying incubation temperature (30 < T < 50 °C), starting pH (4.5 < pH < 7) and carbon/nitrogen ratio of production medium (0.2 < r < 5) had an individual effect on proteinase yield (p < 0.01). Optimal conditions for proteinase production included an initial pH of 6.0, 45 °C incubation temperature, 2 % (v/v) inoculum size of OD560 = 1, 150 rpm agitation speed, and growth medium carbon/nitrogen ratio of 1.0. Maximum proteinase activity obtained for whole cells was 0.99 U/ml after 8 h of incubation. The variables studied are very relevant due to their significance in improving the productivity of proteinase synthesis from LDL 313, under process and, likely, economic optimum conditions