From research to implementation: Nature conservation in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains (Greece and Bulgaria), European Green Belt

Nature conservation should ideally build on the scientific recommendations that are concluded from applied conservation research, as well as on monitoring schemes that evaluate the effectiveness of recommendations. We considered as a case study a system of six protected areas located in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains in the southern part of the European Green Belt (EGB). To investigate nature conservation effectiveness, we reviewed 196 articles from scientific journals and books, eight doctoral and master theses, and 39 scientific reports regarding the Greek (one protected area, 428 km²) and the Bulgarian (five protected areas, 904 km²) part of the study area. We extracted 743 conservation recommendations, and through questionnaires completed by 10 local experts, we found that 74% of the recommendations were familiar for the experts. In the Greek (GR) and the Bulgarian part (BG) only 52% and 16%, respectively, of the recommendations were implemented, and only 15% (GR) and 3.1% (BG) were implemented and evaluated regarding their effectiveness. According to the experts, the main reasons for non-implementation and non-evaluation were absence or incompetence of the responsible authorities. Some recommendations obtained a remarkable low rate of implementation, such as those regarding agriculture and livestock rearing practices (GR: 29%, BG: 16%) or mammal conservation (GR: 0%, BG: 16%). Some other recommendations obtained rather high rates at least for Greece, such as tourism and environmental education (GR: 57%, BG: 42%) and bird conservation (GR: 57%, BG: 11%). We found that researchers and conservation managers at both sides of the Greek-Bulgarian border face similar implementation problems, related often to the lack of political will for nature conservation and establishment of competent authorities. The role of the EGB is crucial in enhancing the established cross-border collaborations between stakeholders involved in nature conservation.     

Phenolics removal from transgenic Lemna minor extracts expressing mAb and impact on mAb production cost

Transgenic Lemna minor has been used successfully to produce several biotherapeutic proteins. For plant-produced mAbs specifically, the cost of protein A capture step is critical as the economic benefits of plant production systems could be erased if the downstream processing ends up being expensive. To avoid potential modification of mAb or fouling of expensive protein A resins, a rapid and efficient removal of phenolics from plant extracts is desirable. We identified major phenolics in Lemna extracts and evaluated their removal by adsorption to PVPP, XAD-4, IRA-402, and Q-Sepharose. Forms of apigenin, ferulic acid, and vitexin comprised ～ 75% of the total phenolics. Screening of the resins with pure ferulic acid and vitexin indicated that PVPP would not be efficient for phenolics removal. Analysis of the breakthrough fractions of phenolics adsorption to XAD-4, IRA-402, and Q-Sepharose showed differences in adsorption with pH and in the type of phenolics adsorbed. Superior dynamic binding capacities (DBC) were observed at pH 4.5 than at 7.5. To evaluate the cost impact of a phenolics removal step before protein A chromatography, a mAb purification process was simulated using SuperPro Designer 7.0. The economic analysis indicated that addition of a phenolics adsorption step would increase mAb production cost only 20% by using IRA-402 compared to 35% for XAD-4 resin. The cost of the adsorption step is offset by increasing the lifespan of protein A resin and a reduction of overall mAb production cost could be achieved by using a phenolics removal step.     

Flavonol glycosides from Chenopodium foliosum Asch

Three new flavonol glycosides, namely 6-methoxykaempferol-3-O-β-gentiobioside, gomphrenol-3-O-β-gentiobioside and gomphrenol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside as well as the known patuletin-3-O-β-gentiobioside and spinacetin-3-O-β-gentiobioside were isolated from the aerial parts of Chenopodium foliosum Asch. The structures of the compounds were determined by means of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR, and HRMS). DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the new compounds was low or lacking.     

Short and intense tailor-made notched music training against tinnitus: the tinnitus frequency matters

Tinnitus is one of the most common diseases in industrialized countries. Here, we developed and evaluated a short-term (5 subsequent days) and intensive (6 hours/day) tailor-made notched music training (TMNMT) for patients suffering from chronic, tonal tinnitus. We evaluated (i) the TMNMT efficacy in terms of behavioral and magnetoencephalographic outcome measures for two matched patient groups with either low (≤8 kHz, N = 10) or high (>8 kHz, N = 10) tinnitus frequencies, and the (ii) persistency of the TMNMT effects over the course of a four weeks post-training phase. The results indicated that the short-term intensive TMNMT took effect in patients with tinnitus frequencies ≤8 kHz: subjective tinnitus loudness, tinnitus-related distress, and tinnitus-related auditory cortex evoked activity were significantly reduced after TMNMT completion. However, in the patients with tinnitus frequencies >8 kHz, significant changes were not observed. Interpreted in their entirety, the results also indicated that the induced changes in auditory cortex evoked neuronal activity and tinnitus loudness were not persistent, encouraging the application of the TMNMT as a longer-term training. The findings are essential in guiding the intended transfer of this neuro-scientific treatment approach into routine clinical practice.     

Malnutrition inflammation complex syndrome in maintenance haemodialysis patients

Malnutrition inflammation complex syndrome (MICS) occurs in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients and is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of inflammation on the biochemical and anthropometrical parameters of the nutritional status in MHD patients. Our study was made on 154 patients (93 men and 61 women, mean age=54.7 yrs. and mean time on dialysis 84 months) over a period of 6 months. The indicator of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), was measured monthly at the central laboratory by nephelometry. The assessment tools used to evaluate the influence of inflammation on the nutritional status in MHD patients were: serum albumin and cholesterol level, midarm circumference (MAC), midarm muscle circumference (MAMC), triceps skin fold thickness (TSF) and body mass index (BMI). Student's t-test was used for group mean comparison between men and women. Person's correlation r was used to determine the significance and the strength of associations. The CRP level was significantly greater in men than in women (12.9 vs. 7.97, p < 0.04). The CRP level showed a strong correlation only with the serum concentration of cholesterol (r=0.49, p < 0.000), and did not correlate with the serum albumin of the MHD patients. There was no correlation between the CRP level and the anthropometrical parameters of the MHD patients in our study. Two separate processes, inflammation and reduced protein intake, each separately contributed to causing a decrease in serum albumin concentration and anthropometrical measurements. The levels of acute phase proteins vary widely as opposed to the serum albumin level; for that reason, changes in the albumin catabolic rate or synthesis require a considerable time to become visible. The average value of the protein catabolic rate of the patients in our study was 1.01 g/kg/d, a value that showed adequate protein intake. These findings would suggest that clinical attention to the maintenance of adequate nutrition could blunt the effects of inflammation on both somatic and visceral protein stores.     

Taxonomic revision of the cestodes of the family Progynotaeniidae (Cyclophyllidea) parasitising stone curlews (Charadriiformes: Burhinidae)

The type series of Progynotaenia evaginata Fuhrmann, 1909 from Burhinus senegalensis in Sudan, P. foetida Meggitt, 1928 from B. oedicnemus in Egypt and Angularia australis Maplestone, 1921 from B. grallarius in Australia are redescribed. As a comparative material, specimens of P. evaginata from B. oedicnemus in Kazakhstan were studied. The type-series of P. evaginata and P. foetida were found to be heterogeneous due to the presence of scoleces and fragments of cestodes of the genus Stenovaria Spasskii & Borgarenko, 1973 (Dilepididae). For P. foetida, a lectotype is designated. P. foetida is recognised as a synonym of P. evaginata (new synonymy). Angularia australis, previously considered a member of the Dilepididae, is transferred to the Progynotaeniidae as a synonym of P. evaginata (new synonymy). The synonymy of P. indica Johri, 1963 with P. evaginata, proposed by Ryzhikov & Tolkacheva (1981), is supported. The host range and the geographical distribution of P. evaginata are restricted to birds of the genus Burhinus from the Eastern Hemisphere.     

Volatiles from four Astragalus species: phenological changes and their chemotaxonomical application

This paper shows the changes of the volatile compounds from four Astragalus species at three phenological stages: leaf development, flowering and fructification, which might be connected with the plant defense. After GC/MS analyses of Astragalus glycyphyllos L., A. hamosus L., A. cicer L. and A. spruneri Boiss., different groups of volatile compounds were found: hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, esters, terpenes, chlorinated compounds, etc. Identified volatiles were used for a cluster analysis in order to make chemotaxonomic conclusions for these evolutionary different species.