Integrating sign surveys and telemetry data for estimating brown bear (Ursus arctos) density in the Romanian Carpathians

Accurate population size estimates are important information for sustainable wildlife management. The Romanian Carpathians harbor the largest brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in Europe, yet current management relies on estimates of density that lack statistical oversight and ignore uncertainty deriving from track surveys. In this study, we investigate an alternative approach to estimate brown bear density using sign surveys along transects within a novel integration of occupancy models and home range methods. We performed repeated surveys along 2‐km segments of forest roads during three distinct seasons: spring 2011, fall‐winter 2011, and spring 2012, within three game management units and a Natura 2000 site. We estimated bears abundances along transects using the number of unique tracks observed per survey occasion via N‐mixture hierarchical models, which account for imperfect detection. To obtain brown bear densities, we combined these abundances with the effective sampling area of the transects, that is, estimated as a function of the median (± bootstrapped SE) of the core home range (5.58 ± 1.08 km²) based on telemetry data from 17 bears tracked for 1‐month periods overlapping our surveys windows. Our analyses yielded average brown bear densities (and 95% confidence intervals) for the three seasons of: 11.5 (7.8–15.3), 11.3 (7.4–15.2), and 12.4 (8.6–16.3) individuals/100 km². Across game management units, mean densities ranged between 7.5 and 14.8 individuals/100 km². Our method incorporates multiple sources of uncertainty (e.g., effective sampling area, imperfect detection) to estimate brown bear density, but the inference fundamentally relies on unmarked individuals only. While useful as a temporary approach to monitor brown bears, we urge implementing DNA capture–recapture methods regionally to inform brown bear management and recommend increasing resources for GPS collars to improve estimates of effective sampling area.     

Synthesis, mesomorphism and luminescence properties of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with dimeric Schiff base liquid crystals

A series of ortho-metallated Pd and Pt complexes containing dimeric liquid crystals Schiff base as cyclometallated ligands and N-benzoyl thiourea derivatives as co-ligands were prepared and investigated for their liquid crystalline properties. Their structures were assigned based on elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy while the mesogenic properties were investigated by DSC and polarising optical microscopy. The complexes show either monotropic or enantiotropic transitions with nematic and smectic A phases being displayed, with the mesomorphic behaviour strongly related to the type of N-benzoyl thiourea as well as the metal center used. The structure of a palladium(II) complex has been solved by X-ray diffraction.The platinum(II) complexes show photoluminescence properties both in solution and in solid state at room temperature, with the emission band centered around 600 nm. These are the first examples of metallomesogens based on Schiff base cyclometallated ligands that display luminescence properties.     

The viral bronchiolites diagnosis in children by PCR multiplex

The aim of the study was to determine the etiology of the viral bronchiolites in children by using direct immunofluorescence test and 3 RT-PCR Multiplex (S.Bellau-Pujol) The study was performed on 122 nasal inspirations collected from 3 weeks-6 month old children hospitalizated in the pediatrics service of CH Rouen. The results were that the majority (53%) of bronchiolites in children had like etiology RSV and a lot of these infections had double viral etiology (26% RSV+ Rhinovirus; 2,7% RSV+HMPV and 1% RSV+Coronavirus 229E). An important viral factor which gives bronchiolitis in children is HMPV (11%). We also find respiratory infections with triple viral etiology: RSV+Influenza A virus + Rhinovirus.     

Refinements in the Upper Permian to Lower Jurassic stratigraphy of Karakorum, Pakistan

New sampling on critical intervals of the uppermost Permian and Triassic successions of the Northern Karakorum Terrain in the Karakorum Range (Pakistan) has refined the stratigraphy. Two types of successions may be distinguished in the Karakorum Range: a carbonate platform succession, spanning the whole interval from Upper Permian to Upper Triassic, possibly with several gaps; and a basinal succession, deposited from the Middle Permian to Early Carnian (Late Triassic), when the carbonate platform prograded into the basin. With the approaching and later docking of the Karakorum Block against the Asian margin closing the Paleo-Tethys, a portion of Karakorum emerged while another part subsided as a fore-deep, receiving clastics from the emerging Cimmerian Range. Molassic sediments filled the basin, whilst shallow-water carbonates transgressed over the emerged carbonate platform sometime between the latest Triassic and the Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic), with Cimmerian deformation occurring to the north. The age control is provided by conodonts, with assemblages of late Wuchiapingian, Changhsingian, Induan (Griesbachian and Dienerian), late Olenekian, early Anisian, late Ladinian, and early Carnian ages, respectively. Some information on the section around the P/T boundary is provided by palynology and isotopic C¹³ values. The dating of the Norian/Rhaetian platform is provided by foraminifers.     

Serodiagnosis of environmental mycobacterial infections

To demonstrate the usefulness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of mycobacterioses due to environmental mycobacteria we utilized a panel of glycolipid antigens selective for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium xenopi, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum and Mycobacterium gordonae. The levels of circulating antibodies were determined against the environmental mycobacteria, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus-negative and -positive patient sera. The method used immunomagnetic separation of the antigens, with covalent immobilization of antibodies to superparamagnetic amine and carboxyl terminated particles in solutions of the specific antigens. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on 195 patient sera: 34 with infections due to environmental mycobacteria, 114 with tuberculosis, 47 with other respiratory diseases. There were 46 human immunodeficiency virus-1 infected individuals. Among the 34 infections due to environmental mycobacteria, 9 patients were singularly infected with an environmental mycobacterium, and 25 co-infected with both M. tuberculosis and an environmental mycobacterium. Sensitivity, specificity and false positivity ranges were determined for each of the volunteer groups: tuberculosis positive, human immunodeficiency virus negative; tuberculosis positive, human immunodeficiency virus positive; those with infections due to individual environmental mycobacteria (such as M. scrofulaceum and M. kansasii); and those with other respiratory diseases. We demonstrate that such multiple assays, can be useful for the early diagnosis of diverse environmental mycobacterial infections to allow the start of treatment earlier than henceforth.     

The potential of large carnivores as conservation surrogates in the Romanian Carpathians

Conservation shortcuts such as umbrella species have been long used for regional protection of species whose distributions are poorly known. Although the European large carnivores—brown bear, gray wolf, and Eurasian lynx—might seem to be robust candidates as umbrella species, their actual effectiveness has been challenged. We used 10-km resolution distribution maps of mammals (n = 10) and birds (n = 55) of European conservation concern in the Romanian Carpathians, and a temporal sequence of land cover maps (1990, 2000, and 2006) to examine: (1) the spatial overlap in distribution between large carnivores and bird and mammal species of conservation concern, (2) changes in forest cover for the Romanian Carpathians during the post-communist period in relation to the distribution of species, and (3) priority conservation areas using carnivores as umbrella species. Approximately 55% of the bird and 80% of mammals species included in this study would potentially benefit from using large carnivores as conservation surrogates. The changes in forest cover during 1990–2006 were concentrated in the Eastern Carpathians, where up to 45% of the forest per mapping unit was clearcut during the study period. Implicitly, the areas of occupancy of the background species were most disturbed by clearcutting in the Eastern Carpathians. We propose that the large carnivores could act temporary as umbrella species in areas that are still relatively undisturbed, such as Southern and Southwestern Carpathians. This alternative conservation strategy will allow time for (1) the new established protected areas to start efficiently and (2) the forestry practices to switch from mostly uncontrolled clearcutting, lacking landscape scale management to ecologically-based practices.