Biphonation May Function to Enhance Individual Recognition in the Dhole, Cuon alpinus

Biphonation (two independent fundamental frequencies in a call spectrum) represents one of the most widespread nonlinear phenomena in mammalian vocalizations. Recently, the structure of biphonations was described in detail; however, their functions are poorly understood. For the dhole (Cuon alpinus), biphonic calls represent a prominent feature of vocal activity. In this species, the biphonic call is composed of two frequency components – the high‐frequency squeak and the low‐frequency yap, which also occur alone as separate calls. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the complication of call structure, resulting from the joining of these calls into the biphonic yap–squeak may enhance the potential for individual recognition in the dhole. We randomly selected for analysis 30 high‐frequency squeaks, 30 low‐frequency yaps and 30 biphonic yap–squeaks per animal from five subadult captive dholes (450 calls in total). Discriminant analysis, based on 10 squeak parameter values, showed 80.7% correct assignment to a predicted individual. For 10 yap parameters, the correct assignment was only 44.7%. However, the analysis based on 10 parameters of the biphonic yap–squeak, selected as best contributing to discrimination, showed 96.7% correct assignment to a predicted individual. The results provide strong support for the hypothesis tested showing that the joining of two independent calls into a common vocalization may function to enhance individual recognition in the dhole.     

Dynamics of potentially pathogenic microflora of the water and pike perch in the Volga Delta

On the basis of long-term (1995–2010 and 2013–2014) microbiological monitoring of water and pike perch in the various water areas of the Volga Delta, four dominant groups of bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae and genera Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, and Pseudomonas were identified. The results of studies on the species composition of water microflora and fish from natural populations and artificial breeding are summarized. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic microflora in the water and fish over the indicative ones has been shown. Water temperature influences the seasonal cycles of microorganisms and their pathogenicity factors, which determine their fast adaptation to living in different ecological niches.     

Acoustic structure of alarm calls in Indian sambar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rusa unicolor</Emphasis>) and Indian muntjac (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Muntiacus vaginalis</Emphasis>) in South Vietnam

The alarm call acoustic structure and nonlinear vocal phenomena of the Indian sambar (Rusa unicolor) and northern Indian muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) have been analyzed in detail as well as their vocal behavior in response to mobbing humans under natural conditions of southern Vietnam. The alarm calls of sambars, tonal barks separated by large intervals, were produced by animals standing on the place and gazing at a potentially dangerous object. Muntjacs flee off in danger and produced a series of dull barks interrupted with short intervals from a distance. The alarm call frequencies were characterized for sambars and muntjacs. The results of our study have been compared with the published data on alarm calls of other Cervidae species.     

Ralstonia eutropha H16 in progress: Applications beside PHAs and establishment as production platform by advanced genetic tools

Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 is a Gram-negative non-pathogenic betaproteobacterium ubiquitously found in soils and has been the subject of intensive research for more than 50 years. Due to its remarkable metabolically versatility, it utilizes a broad range of renewable heterotrophic resources. The substrate utilization range can be further extended by metabolic engineering as genetic tools are available. It has become the best studied “Knallgas” bacterium capable of chemolithoautotrophic growth with hydrogen as the electron donor and carbon dioxide as the carbon source. It also serves as a model organism to study the metabolism of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), a polyester which is accumulated within the cells for storage of both carbon and energy. Thermoplastic and biodegradable properties of this polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) have attracted much biotechnical interest as a replacement for fossil resource-based plastics. The first applications of R. eutropha aimed at chemolithoautotrophic production of single cell protein (SCP) for food and feed and the synthesis of various PHAs. The complete annotated genome is available allowing systematic biology approaches together with data provided by available omics studies. Besides PHAs, novel biopolymers of 2-hydroxyalkanoates and polythioesters or cyanophycin as well as chemicals such as alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, and further interesting value added chemicals significantly recently extended the range of products synthesized by R. eutropha. High cell density cultivations can be performed without too much effort and the available repertoire of genetic tools is rapidly growing. Altogether, this qualifies R. eutropha strain H16 to become a production platform strain for a large spectrum of products.     

Recombinant human alfa2-interferon (reaferon) in ointment form in the treatment of various diseases of the skin and mucosa

Clinical trials of the gene engineered human alpha 2-interferon as ointment were performed. The ointment was used in the treatment of patients with relapsing herpes of various localization, relapsing aphthous stomatitis and pemphigus vulgaris. It was shown that the ointment was harmless and its therapeutic effect was favourable. The preparation is recommended for introduction into the practice of public health.     

Casein kinase 2, the versatile regulator of cell survival

Casein kinase 2 (CK2), a highly conservative, multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase, is critically important for the regulation of a plethora of processes in eukaryotes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and death. CK2 is expressed in all tissues; in particular, its amount and activity are elevated in tumor cells. Unlike many regulatory proteins CK2 permanently adopts an active conformation. Of the utmost importance are the anti-apoptotic functions of CK2. This protein kinase is capable of regulating cell survival at multiple levels including DNA repair, NF-kappaB, Wnt, PI3K/Akt and JAK-STAT signaling cascades, chaperones, activation of anti-apoptotic proteins and down-regulation of pro-apoptotic counterparts, in particular, caspases. The versatility of CK2-mediated phosphorylation ensures the survival of tumor cells exposed to stimuli that differ in the origin and mechanisms of cytotoxicity. This manifold mode of CK2-dependent survival makes this enzyme an important target for antitumor therapy.     

Examination of pair-duet stability to promote long-term monitoring of the endangered red-crowned crane (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Grus japonensis</Emphasis>)

Acoustic-based monitoring has proved useful for many birds and seems promising for the endangered red-crowned crane. However, its validity in crane conservation is unclear in the absence of knowledge concerning the long-term stability of pair-specific duets. The red-crowned crane is monogamous and long-lived, with stable pair bonding both within and between years. Pair mates perform loud duets—a succession of male and female calls emitted with definite temporal coordination. We examined the stability of duets for five captive pairs over five years (2003–2007) on the basis of analysis of the syllables within the duets. MANOVA showed that the effect of pair identity on syllable characteristics was always stronger than the effect of the year of recording. Cross-validation of duets from 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 with discriminant analysis (DFA) functions derived, respectively, from pooled samples from 2003, 2003–2004, 2003–2005, and 2003–2006 resulted in comparably high percentages of correct classification into pairs. The pairs could be reliably identified by their duets and pair-specific differences in syllable characteristics were stable with time. These data suggest acoustic monitoring is a feasible alternative to more invasive methods of identification.     

Interaction of E. coli cells with ascorbic acid and sodium nitrite studied by ESR method]

Ascorbic acid, an effective modulator and regulator of cell metabolism, was shown to induce the production of nitric oxide in E. coli cells. This process was detected by EPR spectroscopy as the generation of a spectral signal typical of nitrosyl-iron-sulfur centers (Fe-S-NO) under anaerobic conditions. Incubation of E. coli cells in the presence of ascorbic acid under aerobic conditions was shown to be accompanied by sodium nitrite formation. It is suggested that ascorbic acid is capable of supporting the system of energy supply to cells in hypoxia caused by reduced oxygen content or treatment with sodium nitrite.