First estimation of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) abundance and density using digital cameras and capture–recapture techniques in a German national park

Primera estima de la abundancia y de la densidad del lince euroasiático (Lynx lynx) utilizando cámaras digitales y técnicas de captura–recaptura en un parque nacional alemán Al lince euroasiático se le puede identificar individualmente mediante las marcas de su pelaje, que son únicas, lo que le convierte en un candidato ideal para los estudios de captura–recaptura (CMR). Hemos evaluado el uso de la fotografía digital para estimar la abundancia y la densidad de la población del lince euroasiático en el Parque Nacional Forestal Bávaro. Desde noviembre del 2008 a enero del 2009 establecimos 24 lugares de trampeo, cada uno de ellos provisto de dos cámaras encaradas entre sí, en lugares de paso frecuentados. Colocamos las unidades basándonos en una cuadrícula sistemática de 2,7 km. Capturamos cinco linces independientes y tres jóvenes, y calculamos las estimas de abundancia utilizando el programa Mark. También comparamos las estimas de densidad mediante el método MMDM (distancia media máxima recorrida) de datos telemétricos (½MMDMGPS) y de datos de las cámaras trampa (½MMDMCAM). Hallamos que en un área muestreada eficazmente de 664 km2 la densidad del lince euroasiático era de 0,9 individuos/100 km2 mediante ½MMDMCAM. La densidad del lince euroasiático calculada mediante el método ½MMDMGPS fue de 0,4 individuos/100 km2 en una zona muestreada eficazmente de 1.381 km2. Nuestros resultados sugieren que un muestreo fotográfico CMR a largo plazo y a gran escala puede ser una herramienta muy útil para monitorizar las tendencias poblacionales del lince euroasiático, según la Directiva de Hábitat, Flora y Fauna de la Unión Europea.Primera estima de la abundancia y de la densidad del lince euroasiático (Lynx lynx) utilizando cámaras digitales y técnicas de captura–recaptura en un parque nacional alemán Al lince euroasiático se le puede identificar individualmente mediante las marcas de su pelaje, que son únicas, lo que le convierte en un candidato ideal para los estudios de captura–recaptura (CMR). Hemos evaluado el uso de la fotografía digital para estimar la abundancia y la densidad de la población del lince euroasiático en el Parque Nacional Forestal Bávaro. Desde noviembre del 2008 a enero del 2009 establecimos 24 lugares de trampeo, cada uno de ellos provisto de dos cámaras encaradas entre sí, en lugares de paso frecuentados. Colocamos las unidades basándonos en una cuadrícula sistemática de 2,7 km. Capturamos cinco linces independientes y tres jóvenes, y calculamos las estimas de abundancia utilizando el programa Mark. También comparamos las estimas de densidad mediante el método MMDM (distancia media máxima recorrida) de datos telemétricos (½MMDMGPS) y de datos de las cámaras trampa (½MMDMCAM). Hallamos que en un área muestreada eficazmente de 664 km2 la densidad del lince euroasiático era de 0,9 individuos/100 km2 mediante ½MMDMCAM. La densidad del lince euroasiático calculada mediante el método ½MMDMGPS fue de 0,4 individuos/100 km2 en una zona muestreada eficazmente de 1.381 km2. Nuestros resultados sugieren que un muestreo fotográfico CMR a largo plazo y a gran escala puede ser una herramienta muy útil para monitorizar las tendencias poblacionales del lince euroasiático, según la Directiva de Hábitat, Flora y Fauna de la Unión Europea.ABC_35-2_2012 First estimation of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) abundance and density using digital cameras and capture–recapture techniques in a German national park Weingarth, K., Heibl, C., Knauer, F., Zimmermann, F., Bufka, L., Heurich, M. Abstract Eurasian lynx are individually identifiable by their unique coat markings, making them ideal candidates for capture–recapture (CMR) surveys. We evaluated the use of digital photography to estimate Eurasian lynx population abundance and density within the Bavarian Forest National Park. From November 2008 to January 2009 we placed 24 camera trap sites, each with two cameras facing each other on well–used walking tracks). The units were placed based on a systematic grid of 2.7 km. We captured five independent and three juvenile lynx and calculated abundance estimates using Program Mark. We also compared density estimates based on the MMDM method (Mean Maximum Distance Moved) from telemetry data (½MMDMGPS) and from camera trapping data (½MMDMCAM). We estimated that in an effectively sampled area of 664 km2 the Eurasian lynx density was 0.9 individuals/100 km2 with ½MMDMCAM. The Eurasian lynx density calculated with ½MMDMGPS was 0.4 individuals/100 km2 in an effectively sampled area of 1,381 km2. Our results suggest that long–term photographic CMR sampling on a large scale may be a useful tool to monitor population trends of Eurasian lynx in accordance with the Fauna–Flora–Habitat Directive of the European Union

Предопухолевая патология молочных желез в различных этнических популяциях населения Крыма

Серед жіночого населення АРК виявлені популяції із украй високою захворюваністю РМЖ (армянки - 114,25); з високою захворюваністю (слов’янки - 65,21); а також з відносно низькою захворюваністю (кримські татарки - 41,99 на 100 тис. відповідного жіночого населення; р < 0,001). Порівняльний аналіз поширеності доброякісної патології в 531 пацієнтки (399 слов’янок, 69 татарок, 63 армянки) показав, що вірогідно найбільш частими захворюваннями у вірменській популяції з високою захворюваністю РМЖ є кисты молочних залоз (Р=0,033) і вузлова форма фиброзно-кистозной хвороби (Р=0,040), які, очевидно, можна відносити до предраковой патології.In Crimean woman there are populations with very high Breast Cancer incidence (Armenians - 114,25); with high incidence (Slavs - 65,21); and with lowest incidence (Tatars - 41,99 in 100 000 woman populations; р < 0,001). In 531 patients (399 Slavs, 69 Tatars, 63 Armenians) more freqwently was diagnosed Breast Cysts (Р=0,033) and Nodular Fibrocystic disease (Р=0,040) in Armenian ethnic group with very high Breast Cancer incidence. Breast Cysts and Nodular Fibrocystic disease only are precancerous diseases of the Breast

Структурные изменения в системе гемостаза у больных меланомой кожи на ранней стадии ее развития

Мета дослідження – оцінка показників системи гемостазу у 27 хворих на меланому шкіри. Виявлено подовження активованого часткового тромбопластинового часу, подовження часткового тромбопластинового часу, подовження часу рекальцифікації, зниження рівня антитромбіну III, підвищення рівня розчинних фібрін-мономерних комплексів. Таким чином, мають місце серйозні структурні зміни системного гемостазу - гіпокоагуляція і гіперфібриноліз. Діагностика та корекція цих змін допоможе поліпшити клінічний перебіг і прогноз захворювання.A research aim is an estimation of indexes of the system of hemostasis at 27 patients by the melanoma of skin. Lengthening of the activated partial tromboplastin time, lengthening of partial tromboplastin time, lengthening of time of recalcification, decline of level of antithrombin of III, increase of level of soluble fibrinmonomers complexes is educed. Thus, the serious structural changes in the system of hemostasis - incoagulability and hyperfibrinolysis take place. Diagnostics and correction of these changes will help to improve a clinical flow and prognosis of disease

Українські народні думи: феномен пародіювання

The article is about specific features of functioning of the Ukrainian national mock ballads, which originate from epic and mock traditions. The author distinguishes and analyses 4 plots of the mock ballads

Ionic liquids containing tricyanomethanide anions: physicochemical characterisation and performance as electrochemical double-layer capacitor electrolytes

We investigated the use of fluorine free ionic liquids (ILs) containing the tricyanomethanide anion ([C(CN)3]) as an electrolyte in electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). Three cations were used; 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([Im1,4]), N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium ([Pyr1,4]) and N-butyl-N-methylpiperidinium ([Pip1,4]). Their physicochemical properties are discussed alongside with their performance as electrolytes. We found that the cyano-based ILs present higher ionic conductivity (9.4, 8.7 and 4.2 mS cm−1 at 25 °C for [Im1,4], [Pyr1,4] and [Pip1,4], respectively) than the widely studied IL containing the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion, namely [Pyr1,4][Tf2N] (2.7 mS cm−1 at 25 °C). Of the three ILs investigated, [Pip1,4][C(CN)3] presents the widest electrochemical stability window, 3.0 V, while [Pyr1,4][C(CN)3] is stable up to 2.9 V and its [Tf2N] analogue can operate at 3.5 V. Despite operating at a lower voltage, [Pyr1,4][C(CN)3] EDLC is capable of delivering up to 4.5 W h kg−1 when operating at high specific power of 7.2 kW kg−1, while its [Pyr1,4][Tf2N] counterpart only delivered 3.0 W h kg−1 when operated at similar power

Chimeric Peptidomimetic Antibiotic Efficiently Neutralizes Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and Bacteria-Induced Activation of RAW Macrophages

Peptide antibiotics have gathered attention given the urgent need to discover antimicrobials with new mechanisms of action. Their extended role as immunomodulators makes them interesting candidates for the development of compounds with dual mode of action. The objective of this study was to test the anti-inflammatory capacity of a recently reported chimeric peptidomimetic antibiotic (CPA) composed of polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN) and a macrocyclic β-hairpin motif (MHM). We investigated the potential of CPA to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, we elucidated which structural motif was responsible for this activity by testing CPA, its building blocks, and their parent compounds separately. CPA showed excellent LPS neutralizing activity for both smooth and rough LPSs. At nanomolar concentrations, CPA completely inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-10 secretion. Murepavadin, MHM, and PMBN were incapable of neutralizing LPS in this assay, while PMB was less active compared to CPA. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed strong binding between the CPA and LPS with similar binding characteristics also found for the other compounds, indicating that binding does not necessarily correlate with neutralization of LPS. Finally, we showed that CPA-killed bacteria caused significantly less macrophage activation than bacteria killed with gentamicin, heat, or any of the other compounds. This indicates that the combined killing activity and LPS neutralization of CPA can prevent unwanted inflammation, which could be a major advantage over conventional antibiotics. Our data suggests that immunomodulatory activity can further strengthen the therapeutic potential of peptide antibiotics and should be included in the characterization of novel compounds

Liver and Adipose Expression Associated SNPs Are Enriched for Association to Type 2 Diabetes

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated the ability to identify the strongest causal common variants in complex human diseases. However, to date, the massive data generated from GWAS have not been maximally explored to identify true associations that fail to meet the stringent level of association required to achieve genome-wide significance. Genetics of gene expression (GGE) studies have shown promise towards identifying DNA variations associated with disease and providing a path to functionally characterize findings from GWAS. Here, we present the first empiric study to systematically characterize the set of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with expression (eSNPs) in liver, subcutaneous fat, and omental fat tissues, demonstrating these eSNPs are significantly more enriched for SNPs that associate with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in three large-scale GWAS than a matched set of randomly selected SNPs. This enrichment for T2D association increases as we restrict to eSNPs that correspond to genes comprising gene networks constructed from adipose gene expression data isolated from a mouse population segregating a T2D phenotype. Finally, by restricting to eSNPs corresponding to genes comprising an adipose subnetwork strongly predicted as causal for T2D, we dramatically increased the enrichment for SNPs associated with T2D and were able to identify a functionally related set of diabetes susceptibility genes. We identified and validated malic enzyme 1 (Me1) as a key regulator of this T2D subnetwork in mouse and provided support for the association of this gene to T2D in humans. This integration of eSNPs and networks provides a novel approach to identify disease susceptibility networks rather than the single SNPs or genes traditionally identified through GWAS, thereby extracting additional value from the wealth of data currently being generated by GWAS

Mode of action of teixobactins in cellular membranes

The natural antibiotic teixobactin kills pathogenic bacteria without detectable resistance. The difficult synthesis and unfavourable solubility of teixobactin require modifications, yet insufficient knowledge on its binding mode impedes the hunt for superior analogues. Thus far, teixobactins are assumed to kill bacteria by binding to cognate cell wall precursors (Lipid II and III). Here we present the binding mode of teixobactins in cellular membranes using solid-state NMR, microscopy, and affinity assays. We solve the structure of the complex formed by an improved teixobactin-analogue and Lipid II and reveal how teixobactins recognize a broad spectrum of targets. Unexpectedly, we find that teixobactins only weakly bind to Lipid II in cellular membranes, implying the direct interaction with cell wall precursors is not the sole killing mechanism. Our data suggest an additional mechanism affords the excellent activity of teixobactins, which can block the cell wall biosynthesis by capturing precursors in massive clusters on membranes

An antibiotic from an uncultured bacterium binds to an immutable target

Antimicrobial resistance is a leading mortality factor worldwide. Here, we report the discovery of clovibactin, an antibiotic isolated from uncultured soil bacteria. Clovibactin efficiently kills drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial pathogens without detectable resistance. Using biochemical assays, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and atomic force microscopy, we dissect its mode of action. Clovibactin blocks cell wall synthesis by targeting pyrophosphate of multiple essential peptidoglycan precursors (C 55PP, lipid II, and lipid III WTA). Clovibactin uses an unusual hydrophobic interface to tightly wrap around pyrophosphate but bypasses the variable structural elements of precursors, accounting for the lack of resistance. Selective and efficient target binding is achieved by the sequestration of precursors into supramolecular fibrils that only form on bacterial membranes that contain lipid-anchored pyrophosphate groups. This potent antibiotic holds the promise of enabling the design of improved therapeutics that kill bacterial pathogens without resistance development. </p