Saker Falcon in the Karatau Mountains and surrounding territories (Kazakhstan) – results of 2022 research

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is one of the most threatened falcon species of Northern Eurasia, the range and the number of which has fallen catastrophically over the last four decades. One large breeding group was concentrated in the Karatau Mountains in southern Kazakhstan. Based on the results of studies in 2010 and 2022, we modeled Saker Falcon distribution in Google Earth Engine using the image classification method – Random Forest (probability + regression). The area of Saker Falcon breeding biotopes in Karatau and adjacent territories is calculated at 4222.64 km2, area of habitats – 9084.3 km2. Saker Falcon population in the study area for 2010 is estimated at 128–281 pairs, 200 pairs on average; in 2022 – 28–66, 46 pairs on average, with a decrease by 77%. The “catalyst” for the collapse of the Saker Falcon population in Karatau is a prolonged depression in the number of rodents. Pairs that survive while nesting almost exclusively feed on birds. The preserved resource is important for population recovery, and the further fate of the species will depend both on restoration of rodent populations and on the pressure of other negative factors, such as poaching and mortality on overhead power lines

A Randomized Phase II/III Study of Naptumomab Estafenatox + IFNα versus IFNα in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Final Analysis with Baseline Biomarker Subgroup and Trend Analysis

Purpose: To prospectively determine the efficacy of naptumomab estafenatox (Nap) þ IFNa versus IFN in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Experimental Design: In a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II/III study, 513 patients with RCC received Nap (15 mg/ kg i. v. in three cycles of four once-daily injections) + IFN (9 MU s. c. three times weekly), or the same regimen of IFN monotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: This phase II/III study did notmeetits primary endpoint. Median OS/PFS for Nap + IFN patients was 17.1/5.8 months versus 17.5/5.8 months for the patients receiving IFN alone (P = 0.56; HR, 1.08/P = 0.41; HR, 0.92). Post hoc exploratory subgroup and trend analysis revealed that the baseline plasma concentrations of antiSEA/E-120 (anti-Nap antibodies) for drug exposure and IL6 for immune status could be used as predictive biomarkers. A subgroup of patients (SG; n = 130) having concentrations below median of anti-SEA/E-120 and IL6 benefitted greatly from the addition of Nap. In SG, median OS/PFS for the patients treated with Nap þ IFN was 63.3/13.7 months versus 31.1/5.8 months for the patients receiving IFN alone (P = 0.02; HR, 0.59/P = 0.02; HR, 0.62). Addition of Nap to IFN showed predicted and transient immune related AEs and the treatment had an acceptable safety profile. Conclusions: The study did not meet its primary endpoint. Nap + IFN has an acceptable safety profile, and results from post hoc subgroup analyses showed that the treatment might improve OS/PFS in a baseline biomarker-defined RCC patient subgroup. The results warrant further studies with Nap in this subgroup

Rapid optimisation of a lactate biosensor design using soft probes scanning electrochemical microscopy

We report the mapping of biocatalytically active surfaces, particularly on an express search for optimal immobilization conditions of the enzyme lactate oxidase by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). With this aim, soft stylus SECM probes containing a carbon paste ultramicroelectrode were modified with Prussian Blue yielding reproducible hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensors with a sensitivity of 1.6 ± 0.5 A·M–1·cm–2 for screening applications. The ultramicroelectrode response was stable under harsh conditions of 1 mM H2O2 during the first hour, while the response decay during the second hour was less than 4 % providing sensor suitability for long-term experiments. SECM imaging in contact mode of different lactate oxidase spots containing membranes allowed for a straightforward optimization of the enzyme immobilization conditions on rough screen-printed carbon paste substrates. The resulting lactate biosensor was characterized by improved analytical performance characteristics: a four times enhanced sensitivity (up to 0.3 A·M–1·cm–2) in comparison to previous reports and a remarkably increased operational stability

Red-Footed Falcon and Amur Falcon in the Tyva Republic, Russia

In this short report contains modern information about breeding Red-Footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) and Amur Falcon (F. amurensis) in the Republic of Tyv

Филогеография чёрного коршуна на основе полиморфизма митохондриального гена Цитохрома В

Мы собрали образцы тканей около 550 особей чёрного коршуна 4-х подвидов из разных точек Евразии (включая страны Европы, Россию, Казахстан, Монголию, Пакистан и Индию), а также из Австралии. Используя данные по полиморфизму митохондриального гена cytochrome b (CytB), мы показали, что географическое распределение гаплотипов евразийских коршунов хорошо согласуется с данными фенотипического анализа и соответствует ареалам трёх подвидов: M. m. migrans, M. m. lineatus, M. m. govinda. Таким образом, можно утверждать, что полиморфизм CytB позволяет разделить эти подвиды

Ultramicrosensors based on transition metal hexacyanoferrates for scanning electrochemical microscopy

We report here a way for improving the stability of ultramicroelectrodes (UME) based on hexacyanoferrate-modified metals for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. The most stable sensors were obtained by electrochemical deposition of six layers of hexacyanoferrates (HCF), more specifically, an alternating pattern of three layers of Prussian Blue and three layers of Ni–HCF. The microelectrodes modified with mixed layers were continuously monitored in 1 mM hydrogen peroxide and proved to be stable for more than 5 h under these conditions. The mixed layer microelectrodes exhibited a stability which is five times as high as the stability of conventional Prussian Blue-modified UMEs. The sensitivity of the mixed layer sensor was 0.32 A·M−1·cm−2, and the detection limit was 10 µM. The mixed layer-based UMEs were used as sensors in scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) experiments for imaging of hydrogen peroxide evolution

Turning cellulose waste into electricity: hydrogen conversion by a hydrogenase electrode.

Hydrogen-producing thermophilic cellulolytic microorganisms were isolated from cow faeces. Rates of cellulose hydrolysis and hydrogen formation were 0.2 mM L(-1) h(-1) and 1 mM L(-1) h(-1), respectively. An enzymatic fuel cell (EFC) with a hydrogenase anode was used to oxidise hydrogen produced in a microbial bioreactor. The hydrogenase electrode was exposed for 38 days (912 h) to a thermophilic fermentation medium. The hydrogenase activity remaining after continuous operation under load was 73% of the initial value

A Randomized Phase II/III Study of Naptumomab Estafenatox + IFNα versus IFNα in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Final Analysis with Baseline Biomarker Subgroup and Trend Analysis

Purpose: To prospectively determine the efficacy of naptumomab estafenatox (Nap) þ IFNa versus IFN in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Experimental Design: In a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II/III study, 513 patients with RCC received Nap (15 mg/ kg i. v. in three cycles of four once-daily injections) + IFN (9 MU s. c. three times weekly), or the same regimen of IFN monotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: This phase II/III study did notmeetits primary endpoint. Median OS/PFS for Nap + IFN patients was 17.1/5.8 months versus 17.5/5.8 months for the patients receiving IFN alone (P = 0.56; HR, 1.08/P = 0.41; HR, 0.92). Post hoc exploratory subgroup and trend analysis revealed that the baseline plasma concentrations of antiSEA/E-120 (anti-Nap antibodies) for drug exposure and IL6 for immune status could be used as predictive biomarkers. A subgroup of patients (SG; n = 130) having concentrations below median of anti-SEA/E-120 and IL6 benefitted greatly from the addition of Nap. In SG, median OS/PFS for the patients treated with Nap þ IFN was 63.3/13.7 months versus 31.1/5.8 months for the patients receiving IFN alone (P = 0.02; HR, 0.59/P = 0.02; HR, 0.62). Addition of Nap to IFN showed predicted and transient immune related AEs and the treatment had an acceptable safety profile. Conclusions: The study did not meet its primary endpoint. Nap + IFN has an acceptable safety profile, and results from post hoc subgroup analyses showed that the treatment might improve OS/PFS in a baseline biomarker-defined RCC patient subgroup. The results warrant further studies with Nap in this subgroup