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During 2016 and 2017, we observed 4 nests of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) in the middle of the Tien Shan Mountains, the west of China, and tried to follow them by the GPS/GSM dataloggers. We continuously observed nesting birds and recorded their behavior. The duration of the field works was about 40 days that makes in total more than 500 hours. The results showed that all nests of the vultures were located on the eastern slope of cliffs on the altitude of 2 300 – 2 900 meters, with the distance between nests is 1–3 km. Nests were built on the open and steep ledges with the outer diameter of the nest is 1.1–1.6 m. All clutches consists of only one egg (n=4), the incubation period was 52–56 days, and the nestlings hatched in the middle of April; the medium weight of newly hatched nestlings was 160 g. In May 17th, their weight increased to 1.50 kg, in June 14th – to 5.65kg, and in July 14th the weight of young birds was about 8.56kg (close to the adult’s weight). The brooding period in this species is very long – nestlings stayed for 90–105 days in the nest, and continued to be fed by adult birds till October. Lack of food is one of the main reasons for low reproductive success in this species.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether a Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract, FraxiPure[TM] (0.5% in the diet), limits weight gain and hyperglycemia in mice. In a previous report, we identified several secoiridoids in FraxiPure[TM], some of which activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR[alpha]) in vitro and inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. In a separate study, FraxiPure[TM] reduced glycemia in healthy volunteers, following an oral glucose tolerance test. These findings suggest that FraxiPure[TM] has antiobesity and antihyperglycemia effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FraxiPure[TM] was tested in mice that were fed a high-fat diet over 16 weeks and compared with low-fat and high-fat diet controls. Weight gain, omental and retroperitoneal fat, fasting blood glucose, and fasting blood insulin were measured. RESULTS: FraxiPure[TM] reduced gains in body weight by 32.30% (p<0.05), omental fat by 17.92%, and retroperitoneal fat by 17.78%. FraxiPure[TM] also lowered fasting blood glucose levels by 76.52% (p<0.001) and plasma insulin levels by 53.43% (p<0.05) after 16 weeks. Moreover, FraxiPure[TM] lowered liver weight gains by 63.62% (p<0.05) and the incidence of fatty livers by 66.67%. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel results demonstrate the antiobesity effects of chronic administration of an F. excelsior seed extract and confirm its ability to regulate glycemia and insulinemia. In addition, this extract, which is rich in secoiridoid glucosides, protects against obesity-related liver steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the breeding seasons of 2010-2016, we have found seven nests of the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) in Xinjiang, the west of China. We used a method of focal sampling and infrared cameras to continually observe behaviors and nestlings’ growth. Nestling behaviors were different between nestling period and post-nestling period. Attendance at the nests by both adults decreased as the nestling aged. The female brooded significantly more than the male did during daylight hours (P=0.016, F= 8.38, df =1). The daily mean number of food items delivered to the nests by adults was 3.2 times/day in nestling period, and 0.96/day in post-nestling period. Seven orders of wild birds, three orders of mammals and domestic poultry were documented as prey.

Human malignant mesotheliomas are induced almost exclusively by fibrous dusts. The nature of interactions between fibers and target cells, and the molecular mechanisms leading to tumorigenesis, are not yet understood. Here, the mRNA expression patterns at different stages of asbestos-induced carcinogenesis in rats were monitored by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and array assay. Several genes were upregulated in pretumorous tissues from asbestos-treated rats, in asbestos-induced tumors and in cells treated with asbestos in vitro. The upregulation of the proto-oncogene c-myc, fra-1 and egfr in fiber-induced carcinogenesis was demonstrated at different stages of carcinogenesis. A possible role of Fra-1 as one of the dimeric proteins generating the AP-1 transcription factor was substantiated by its dose-dependent expression in mesothelial cells treated with asbestos in vitro. The upregulation of osteopontin (an extracellular matrix protein) and of zyxin and integrin-linked kinase (intracellular proteins associated with the focal adhesion contact), indicate that fibers may affect integrin-linked signal transduction and extracellular matrix proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the present work, a tire model is derived based on geometrically exact shells. The discretization is done with the help of isoparametric quadrilateral finite elements. The interpolation is performed with bilinear Lagrangian polynomials for the mid-surface as well as for the director field. As time stepping method for the resulting differential algebraic equation a backward differentiation formula is chosen. A multilayer material model for geometrically exact shells is introduced, to describe the anisotropic behavior of the tire material. To handle the interaction with a rigid road surface, a unilateral frictional contact formulation is introduced. Therein a special surface to surface contact element is developed, which rebuilds the shape of the tire.

Intratracheal instillation of several non-fibrous dusts induced tumour rates of between 3 and 65% in female Wistar rats. Diesel soot showed a relatively high tumourigenic potency. However, carbon black with a high specific surface area and an extremely low PAH content was just as carcinogenic. The surface properties of elemental carbon seem to be much more effective than dusts from iron oxides, titanium dioxide and silicon carbide. There are indications of a rat specific ‘overload carcinogenesis’, but this term may oversimplify a mechanism which does not seem to exist in hamsters. Polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide inhibited the development of severe siltcosis after treatment with quartz DQ 12 and prolonged the life-span; the total tumour incidence and especially the rate of malignant tumours increased. This supports the assumption that benign lung tumours, which seldom occur in humans are, in animals, precursors of malignant tumours and should be combined for toxicologic evaluation. Relatively low masses of man-made mineral fibres from silicon carbide and glass induced tumours and confirmed the conclusion from earlier experiments that there is an s reaction of the serosa and lung tissue to mineral fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Мы изучали гнездовую биологию кумая (Gyps himalayensis) в горах Центрального Тянь-Шаня в течение двух лет 2012–2013 гг. Для выявления гнездовых участков вели исследования на линейных трансектах. Гнездовое поведение исследовалось с точек хорошего осмотра и на известных гнездовых участках во время посещения гнёзд, а также с помощью видео, полученного с камер, установленных на гнёздах. Характеристики гнёзд и гнездовых биотопов, степень насиженности яиц и возраст птенцов, размер яиц и птенцов определялись во время посещений гнёзд. В ходе работы сделана оценка численности кумая: на 7 территориях в 14 колониях от 89 до 122 гнёзд. Кумай предпочитает гнездиться на южных склонах (78,6%). Гнезда располагаются в нишах, небольших гротах или на уступах. Гнездовой материал состоит в основном из мелких стеблей злаков, таких как мятлик (Poa spp.) и ковыль (Stipa spp.). Максимальная протяженность одной колонии составила 7,3 км, а две ближайших колонии располагались в 47 км друг от друга. Сезон размножения растянут от 6 до 9 месяцев – с января по сентябрь. Продолжительность периода выращивания птенцов является наибольшей среди сипов (представителей рода Gyps). Возможные причины этого обсуждаются и будущие исследования на эту тему рекомендуется.