Framework for strategic wind farm site prioritisation based on modelled wolf reproduction habitat in Croatia

In order to meet carbon reduction targets, many nations are greatly expanding their wind power capacity. However, wind farm infrastructure potentially harms wildlife, and we must therefore find ways to balance clean energy demands with the need to protect wildlife. Wide-ranging carnivores live at low density and are particularly susceptible to disturbance from infrastructure development, so are a particular concern in this respect. We focused on Croatia, which holds an important population of wolves and is currently planning to construct many new wind farms. Specifically, we sought to identify an optimal subset of planned wind farms that would meet energy targets while minimising potential impact on wolves. A suitability model for wolf breeding habitat was carried out using Maxent, based on six environmental variables and 31 reproduction site locations collected between 1997 and 2015. Wind farms were prioritised using Marxan to find the optimal trade-off between energy capacity and overlap with critical wolf reproduction habitat. The habitat suitability model predictions were consistent with the current knowledge: probability of wolf breeding site presence increased with distance to settlements, distance to farmland and distance to roads and decreased with distance to forest. Spatial optimisation showed that it would be possible to meet current energy targets with only 31% of currently proposed wind farms, selected in a way that reduces the potential ecological cost (overall predicted wolf breeding site presence within wind farm sites) by 91%. This is a highly efficient outcome, demonstrating the value of this approach for prioritising infrastructure development based on its potential impact on wide-ranging wildlife species

Session 17 Ecophysiology

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Shooting Errors Simulations Initiated by Barrel Jumping of 40 mm Turret Guns

Model considered estimations of isolated shooting errors initiated by barrel jumping after each particular bullet as the research of particular characteristic important for gun mounting on the mobile platforms. Sequential influences of barrel disturbances are included in the initial ballistics derivations independent of vehicle turret and undercarriage. Expected disturbance magnitudes are analyzed during and beyond shooting for the particular bullet in the ripple. Shooting ripple errors are analyzed according to the angular disturbances transposed to the projectile initial ballistic elements. Rate of barrel impeachments during firing is taken as the element of projectile spin disturbance. Barrel system with appropriate recoil equipment is taken as the rigid body model in the first approximation. Behaviour of 40 mm automatic gun as the possible concept aimed at the shooting with small elevation angles, as mounted on the mobile combat platforms was tested. Ballistic testing of real projectiles on the proving ground is used as reference to selected gun particular errors. Further extended research was directed to the system’s acceptable accuracy and stability in the cases of gun mounting on the Armour Personal Carrier (APC)

Effects of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren on oxidative stress in isolated rat heart

© 2015 University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Increased activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a significant role in the development and progression of various cardio-metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart failure. Aliskiren is the newest antihypertensive drug and the first orally active direct renin inhibitor to become available for clinical use. This study investigated the acute and direct effects of Aliskiren on different parameters of oxidative stress on isolated rat heart. The hearts of male Wistar albino rats (n = 24, 8 per experimental group, age 8 weeks, body mass 180–200 g), were excised and retrogradely perfused according to the Langendorff technique at a gradually increasing perfusion pressure (40-120 cmH2O). Markers of oxidative stress (NO2-, TBARS, H2O2 and O2-) were measured spectrophotometrically after perfusion with three different concentrations of Aliskiren (0.1 μM, 1 μM, and 10 μM). The results demonstrated possible dose-dependent cardioprotective properties of Aliskiren, particularly with higher CPP. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) levels decreased with the highest dose of Aliskiren and higher CPP, and the same trend was observed in nitrite (NO2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. These findings indicate that the acute effects of Aliskiren do not likely promote the production of reactive oxygen species upon higher pressure with the highest dose. Aliskiren may exert beneficial effects on oxidative stress biomarkers

Garlic derived diallyl trisulfide in experimental metabolic syndrome: Metabolic effects and cardioprotective role

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This study aimed to examine the effects of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), the most potent polysulfide derived from garlic, on metabolic syndrome and myocardial function in rats with metabolic syndrome (MetS). For that purpose, we used 36 male Wistar albino rats divided into control rats, rats with MetS and MetS rats treated with 40 mg/kg of DATS every second day for 3 weeks. In the first part, we studied the impact of DATS on MetS control and found that DATS significantly raised H2 S, decreased homocysteine and glucose levels and enhanced lipid and antioxidative, while reducing prooxidative parameters. Additionally, this polysulfide improved cardiac function. In the second part, we investigated the impact of DATS on ex vivo induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) heart injury and found that DATS consumption significantly improved cardiodynamic parameters and prevented oxidative and histo-architectural variation in the heart. In addition, DATS significantly increased relative gene expression of eNOS, SOD-1 and-2, Bcl-2 and decreased relative gene expression of NF-κB, IL-17A, Bax, and caspases-3 and-9. Taken together, the data show that DATS can effectively mitigate MetS and have protective effects against ex vivo induced myocardial I/R injury in MetS rat

Fractals Model of Technology Efficiencies Probabilities for Flexible Use in Combat Units

Recent uncertain war challenges and innovative war games are strongly determined with combat and non-combat defense technologies. From the point of view of the missions tasks, these contents are usually composed of a combination of several particular capabilities such as the ability to defeat the enemy, capability to stabilize an operation, capability to lead peace keeping operations, etc. (Milinović et al., 2013). Whether a unit has relevancies as a combat power is obvious from the capability first expected, which includes organization and technology system capabilities to reliably defeat enemy forces to the level of disintegration and destruction. This capability is also a guaranty that the enemy’s action will be deterred, which is a presupposition for the successful execution of the stabilization role that in addition to other tasks, contains the role of preventing the spreading and development of war. Also, preventive missions include actions of peace keeping in the area of responsibilities on the risk level proportional to the employed combat power and its efficiency that a unit exposes. This indicates that tasks in missions of new military units could have opposite requirements, which reflects on the technology performances a unit needs to be equipped with. Combat power and efficiency of a unit are guaranties to stop the enemy and to maintain peace by the represented and exposed military power based on trained and effective technology with good performances