Detection and Recognition of Voice Commands by a Distributed Acoustic Sensor Based on Phase-Sensitive OTDR in the Smart Home Concept.

In recent years, attention to the realization of a distributed fiber-optic microphone for the detection and recognition of the human voice has increased, whereby the most popular schemes are based on φ-OTDR. Many issues related to the selection of optimal system parameters and the recognition of registered signals, however, are still unresolved. In this research, we conducted theoretical studies of these issues based on the φ-OTDR mathematical model and verified them with experiments.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis in the Russian Caucasus: Virus Was Detected for the First Time on the Border of Europe and Asia Minor.

The tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus has been confirmed by molecular analysis in the Caucasus region for the first time. The virus obtained from a tick ex Caspian green lizard belongs to the Zausaev strain of the Siberian subtype (not to a strain of the European subtype highly distributed in the territories adjacent to the Caucasus). This unusual record indicates the need to study the role of lizards in the circulation of natural focal infections.

New geographical and host records of bat fleas (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae) in Russia.

To better understand the distribution and host-parasite relationships, we explored 12 large regions of Russia and recorded new bat fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae) for Dagestan, Bashkiria, Mordovia, Khakassia and Buryatia Republics. Also we curate previously known data and registered new host-parasite associations for species belonging to genus Ischnopsyllus (Ischnopsyllus octactenus and I. variabilis ex Pipistrellus pygmaeus, I.

A review of mites and ticks parasitizing rock lizards (Lacertidae: ).

Rock lizards of the genus are interesting research models due to their asexual reproduction. Ectoparasitic mites and ticks of these lizards are poorly known, despite some of these chelicerates being vector pathogens of humans and wildlife. Here we document and curate previously known data on ectoparasitic Acari of rock lizards and, based on our extensive survey, provide an annotated list of these ectoparasitic arthropods (six tick species, one macronyssid species, and seven chigger species).

New findings of spinturnicid mites (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Spinturnicidae) from the Caucasus.

The Caucasus is a large region in Eurasia consisting of four countries: Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Although it is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world, the bat ectoparasite fauna has been poorly studied. To promotionally fill in the gaps regarding bat ectoparasites, we conducted five field surveys on bats and their ectoparasites at nine localities within the region between April 2016 and March 2021.

New records of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae), with an updated checklist of the nycteribiids of Russia.

We assembled a checklist by documenting and curating previously published data as well as previously unpublished records of bat flies from the Russian Federation. A total of 20 bat fly species are listed, belonging to 4 genera. Basilia mongolensis nudior Hůrka, 1972 and Basilia nattereri (Kolenati, 1857) are recorded from Russia for the first time.

First record of Eyndhovenia (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Spinturnicidae) from Vietnam.

Eyndhovenia is one of the twelve genera of Spinturnicidae which are highly specialised parasites of bats. Previously known hosts of this genus comprised 17 species of Old World bats: Eptesicus serotinus, Hipposideros larvatus, Miniopterus schreibersi, Myotis blythi, M. emarginatus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P.

The first finding of parasitic mite, Parasteatonyssus nyctinomi (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Macronyssidae), in Namibia.

Sixty-four individuals of a macronyssid mite, Parasteatonyssus nyctinomi (Zumpt, Patterson 1951), were identified from Egyptian free-tailed bats Tadarida aegyptiaca (É. Geoffroy 1818) (Chiroptera: Molossidae) captured in the Kunene region of Namibia (southern Africa). This is the first report on P.

Conservation genetics of the pond bat () with special focus on the populations in northwestern Germany and in Jutland, Denmark.

Conservation genetics is important in the management of endangered species, helping to understand their connectivity and long-term viability, thus identifying populations of importance for conservation. The pond bat () is a rare species classified as "Near Threatened" with a wide but patchy Palearctic distribution. A total of 277 samples representing populations in Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Hungary, and Russia were used in the genetic analyses; 224 samples representing Denmark, Germany, and Russia were analyzed at 10 microsatellite loci; 241 samples representing all areas were analyzed using mitochondrial D-loop and cytochrome B sequences.

Genomics and Biochemistry of Metabolic Pathways for the C Compounds Utilization in Colorless Sulfur Bacterium D-402.

The metabolic pathways of one-carbon compounds utilized by colorless sulfur bacterium D-402 were revealed based on comprehensive analysis of its genomic organization, together with physiological, biochemical and molecular biological approaches. Strain D-402 was capable of aerobic methylotrophic growth with methanol as a sole source of carbon and energy and was not capable of methanotrophic growth because of the absence of genes of methane monooxygenases. It was established that methanol can be oxidized to CO in three consecutive stages.

New records of ectoparasitic Acari (Arachnida) and Streblidae (Diptera) from bats in Jalisco, Mexico.

Ectoparasites of bats in the Neotropics are diverse and play numerous ecological roles as vectors of microbial pathogens and endoparasites and as food sources for other cave fauna living both on their hosts and in bat roosts. The ectoparasites of bats in Jalisco State of western Mexico have not been as well described as those of other states with recent checklists that have focused primarily on the Yucatan Peninsula. We captured bats from 2011-2015 on the south coast and Sierra de Amula, Jalisco using mist nets, and we removed ectoparasites by hand.

Genomic insights into metabolic versatility of a lithotrophic sulfur-oxidizing diazotrophic Alphaproteobacterium Azospirillum thiophilum.

Diazotrophic Alphaproteobacteria of the genus Azospirillum are usually organotrophs, although some strains of Azospirillum lipoferum are capable of hydrogen-dependent autotrophic growth. Azospirillum thiophilum strain was isolated from a mineral sulfide spring, a biotope highly unusual for azospirilla. Here, the metabolic pathways utilized by A.

Ecology of Bats, Their Ectoparasites, and Associated Pathogens on Saint Kitts Island.

Ectoparasites of bats and bat-associated pathogens are poorly studied in the Lesser Antilles Islands. We report on an 11-mo field study on Saint Kitts Island of bat populations, their associated ectoparasites, and pathogens. We report on five ectoparasite species, including four Streblidae (Diptera) and a Spinturnicidae (Acari).

Interaction of ectoparasites in cohabitating colonies of pond bats Myotis dasycneme (Boie, 1825) and species of genus Pipistrellus from northern Poland.

The article presents data on ectoparasites of pond bat (rare in Europe bat species) in northern Poland region. We discuss the species composition and relationship between ectoparasites of several bat species in mixed colonies. Temporary ectoparasites of pipistrelle bats suppress permanent ectoparasites of pond bats it the cohabitating colonies.