Documentation of the presence of Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) and the native benthic fauna in the Volga River at Tver (Tver Region,Russia)

In the Volga Basin, the small Baikalian amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus was introduced in 1965 into the Gorky reservoir in order to enhance fish production; it appeared in 1986 in the Rybinsk reservoir and we recorded it during monitoring activities in 2006 at Tver. In total, at the monitoring site Tver/Migalovo 69 benthic invertebrate taxa were identified. We compared data from three summer seasons. During summer low flow period Gmelinoides fasciatus did not exceed a share of 12.6% considering individual (ind) densities (mean abundance 165 ± 104 ind m^?2) and 14.2% considering biomass (mean biomass 0.39 ± 0.44 g m^?2). Abundances and biomass of G. fasciatus were shown to be stable over three years and no increase was observed. The monthly dataset (March–November 2008) revealed dynamics in relation to the native benthic communities and it was shown that the maximal densities of Gmelinoides did not exceed 587 ind m^–2. Understanding the effects on benthic communities caused by the invasive amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus is crucial in order to predict further developments in European inland waters and to establish management strategies.     

Group versus population level demographics: An analysis of comparability using long term data on wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus imitator)

Primates have long been used as indicator species for assessing overall ecosystem health. However, area‐wide census methods are time consuming, costly, and not always feasible under many field conditions. Therefore, it is important to establish whether monitoring a subset of a population accurately reflects demographic changes occurring in the population at large. Over the past 35 years, we have conducted 15 area‐wide censuses in Sector Santa Rosa, Costa Rica. These efforts have revealed important trends in population growth patterns of capuchin monkeys following the protection and subsequent regeneration of native forests. During this same period, we have also intensively studied a subset of the capuchin groups. Comparing these two datasets, we investigate whether the population structures of the closely monitored groups are reliable indicators of area‐wide demographic patterns. We compare the overall group size and the individual age/sex class compositions of study groups and nonstudy groups (i.e., those contacted during area‐wide censuses only). Our study groups contained more individuals overall with a larger proportion of infants, and there were indications that the proportion of adult and subadult males was lower. These differences can be ascribed either to sampling errors or real differences attributable to human presence and/or better habitat quality for the study groups. No other sex/age classes differed, and major demographic changes were simultaneously evident in both study and nonstudy groups. This study suggests that the Santa Rosa capuchin population is similarly impacted by large‐scale ecological patterns observable within our study groups.     

In vitro binding to and in vivo effect on the cytosol and nuclear progesterone receptors of various progestins,and their relationship to synthesis of uteroglobin in rabbit uterus

In vitro binding affinities of various progestins to cytosol and nuclear progesterone receptors of rabbit uterus were determined and correlated with the biological potency of these steroids. In addition, cytosol and nuclear progesterone receptor levels were measured after a 5-day administration of different progestins (0.5 mg/kg daily) with variable biologic activites. The receptor levels were compared with the bilological response; the induction of uteroglobin synthesis. Cytosol and nuclear progesterone receptors had identical steroid binding properties (r = 0.98). The correlation between the in vitro binding affinity (cytosol or nuclear) and the in vivo biologic activity of the steroids was good (r = 0.73). After a 5-day treatment with progestins, the nuclear receptor concentration correlated in an inverse manner (r = ?0.84) with the uterine fluid unteroglobin concentration. A similar, but slightly weaker correlation (r = ?0.81) was also found for the cytosol receptor content and uteroglobin secretion. These data indicate that not only nuclear, but also cytosol progesterone receptor levels decrease in the rabbit uterus during chronic hormone action. Decline in the nuclear progesterone receptor content seemed to occur during treatment with all progestational steroids, while onlyi progestins with high biological potency were capable of decreasing the cytosol receptor content.     

Selectivity is an Important Characteristic of Lipases (Acylglycerol Hydrolases)

Lipases are enzymes that usually hydrolyze acylglycerols, but will hydrolyze the carboxylic esters in many other compounds. They also catalyze esteriftcations and transesterifications. In addition to specificity for carboxylic esters, the lipases are selective for lipid classes and show selectivity for primary vs. secondary alcohols (positional or regio-), fatty acids, enantiomers (chirality of either the acid or alcohol residue) and combinations of these. Uses of the enzymes have depended to some extent on regio- and fatty acid selectivities. Newer applications, such as ester synthesis and asymmetric hydrolysis, may not be based on selectivities. Factors affecting selectivities are discussed and some areas for research are mentioned.     

Synthesis of phosphorylated 3,4-branched trisaccharides corresponding to LPS inner core structures of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae

2-(N-Benzyloxycarbonyl)aminoethyl 7-O-acetyl-6-O-allyl-2-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-l-glycero-α-d-manno-heptopyranosyl-(1→3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-6,7-di-O-acetyl-2-O-benzyl-l-glycero-α-d-manno-heptopyranoside, a spacer-equipped protected derivative of the common 3,4-branched diheptoside trisaccharide structure of the lipopolysaccharide core of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae has been synthesized. The protecting group pattern installed allows regioselective introduction of phosphoethanolamine residues in the 3- and 6-position of the second heptose unit in accordance with native structures. From this intermediate the 3-and 6-monophosphoethanolamine as well as the non-phosphorylated deprotected trisaccharides have been synthesized to be used in evaluation of antibody binding specificity and in investigation of the substrate specificity of glycosyl transferases involved in the biosynthesis of LPS core structures.     

Use of autonomous audio recordings for the rapid inventory of birds in the white‐sand forests of the Peruvian Amazon

White‐sand forests are patchily distributed ecosystems covering just 5% of Amazonia that host many specialist species of birds not found elsewhere, and these forests are threatened due to their small size and human exploitation of sand for construction projects. As a result, many species of birds that are white‐sand specialists are at risk of extinction, and immediate conservation action is paramount for their survival. Our objective was to evaluate current survey methods and determine the relative effect of the size of patches of these forests on the presence or absence of white‐sand specialists. Using point counts and autonomous recorders, we surveyed avian assemblages occupying patches of white‐sand forest in the Peruvian Amazon in April 2018. Overall, we detected 126 species, including 21 white‐sand forest specialists. We detected significantly more species of birds per survey point with autonomous recorders than point counts. We also found a negative relationship between avian species richness and distance from the edge of patches of white‐sand forest, but a significant, positive relationship when only counting white‐sand specialists. Although we detected more species with autonomous recorders, point counts were more effective for detecting canopy‐dwelling passerines. Therefore, we recommend that investigators conducting surveys for rare and patchily distributed species in the tropics use a mixed‐method approach that incorporates both autonomous recorders and visual observation. Finally, our results suggest that conserving large, continuous patches of white‐sand forest may increase the likelihood of survival of species of birds that are white‐sand specialists.     

Effect of dolichyl monophosphate on the permeability properties of lipid membranes

The effect of dolichyl monophosphate on the permeability properties of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers to alkaline cations, Ca²⁺ and glucose has been determined by stop-flow spectrophotometry. The results show that, in con trast to free dolichol effects, the monophosphate derivative increased the permeability following a decreasing order of the permeating particle size. Phase diagrams indicate that dolichyl monophosphate is fully incorporated into the phosphatidylcholine bilayer around 0.75% weight/weight ratio. For these ratios, the permeation of ions is higher in the gel than in the liquid crystalline state.     

What Do We Know About Metal Recycling Rates?

The recycling of metals is widely viewed as a fruitful sustainability strategy, but little information is available on the degree to which recycling is actually taking place. This article provides an overview on the current knowledge of recycling rates for 60 metals. We propose various recycling metrics, discuss relevant aspects of recycling processes, and present current estimates on global end‐of‐life recycling rates (EOL‐RR; i.e., the percentage of a metal in discards that is actually recycled), recycled content (RC), and old scrap ratios (OSRs; i.e., the share of old scrap in the total scrap flow). Because of increases in metal use over time and long metal in‐use lifetimes, many RC values are low and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Because of relatively low efficiencies in the collection and processing of most discarded products, inherent limitations in recycling processes, and the fact that primary material is often relatively abundant and low‐cost (which thereby keeps down the price of scrap), many EOL‐RRs are very low: Only for 18 metals (silver, aluminum, gold, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, niobium, nickel, lead, palladium, platinum, rhenium, rhodium, tin, titanium, and zinc) is the EOL‐RR above 50% at present. Only for niobium, lead, and ruthenium is the RC above 50%, although 16 metals are in the 25% to 50% range. Thirteen metals have an OSR greater than 50%. These estimates may be used in considerations of whether recycling efficiencies can be improved; which metric could best encourage improved effectiveness in recycling; and an improved understanding of the dependence of recycling on economics, technology, and other factors.