Range-wide breeding habitat use of the critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting after population collapse.

The population of the Yellow-breasted Bunting , a formerly widely distributed and abundant songbird of northern Eurasia, suffered a catastrophic decline and a strong range contraction between 1980 and 2013. There is evidence that the decline was driven by illegal trapping during migration, but potential contributions of other factors to the decline, such as land-use change, have not yet been evaluated. Before the effects of land-use change can be evaluated, a basic understanding of the ecological requirements of the species is needed.

Tantalum oxide nanoparticles as an advanced platform for cancer diagnostics: a review and perspective.

The development of new safe and effective contrast agents (CAs) is a crucial factor to increase the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT). For now, tantalum oxide-based nanoparticles (TaOx NPs) are among the most promising CAs for CT due to their superior properties: high X-ray attenuation coefficient, excellent biocompatibility, and easily modifiable surface chemistry. Compared to the commercially available analogs (iodine-based CAs), TaOx NPs provide better contrast performance, long-circulation, and high safety profiles (reduced exposure of X-rays and CA dosage).

Age-adjusted cut-off values of lipid accumulation product (LAP) for predicting hypertension.

Among the many factors considered relevant to hypertension, obesity and metabolic disturbances play an important role in the development of this pathology. Therefore, lipid accumulation product (LAP), an index of visceral adiposity, is a simple and effective indicator of hypertension risk. To date, the reference and cut-off values for LAP have not been defined.

Apple Pectin as a New Component for Cryopreservation of Nucleated Cells.

This study explored the ability of apple pectin AU-701 to change the freezing point of water in cryoprotectant solutions with different penetrating abilities using glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD), dimethyl acetamide (DMAC), hydroxyethyl starch (HES), hexamethylenebistetraoxyethylurea (or substance A-378), and in biological fluid (human venous blood). An effective interaction was used to protect human blood leukocytes at ultrafreezer temperature (-80°C). Apple pectin affects the freezing temperature of water in different ways and it depends on the medium in which it is dissolved, as it either slows down the freezing process (in glycerol) or accelerates it (venous blood).

Data on taxa composition of freshwater zooplankton and meiobenthos across Arctic regions of Russia.

We present the presence/absence species list (Table 1) of rotifer, cladoceran, and copepod (Calanoida, Harpacticoida, and Cyclopoida) fauna from seven Arctic regions of Russia (the Kola Peninsula, the Pechora River Delta, the Bolshezemelskaya tundra, the Polar Ural, the Putorana Plateau, the Lena River Delta, and the Indigirka River Basin) based on our own and literature data. Our own records were obtained by analyzing samples of zooplankton, meiobenthos, and two cores of bottom sediments (from the Kola Peninsula and the Bolshezemelskaya tundra lakes) that we collected once in July or August in 1992, 1995-2017. To supplement the list, we used relevant literature with periods of research from the 1960s to the 2010s.

Plant CSR types in the north: comparing the morphological and morpho-physiological approaches.

Unlabelled: Grime's competition-stress-ruderal (CSR) theory is widely used to study plant species' responses to multiple environmental factors. We compared two models to allocate CSR types the global "StrateFy" model (Pierce et al. Funct Ecol, 31:444-457, 2017) and a locally developed morpho-physiological model (Novakovskiy et al.

Determination of adenine nucleotides by the modified method of high-performance liquid chromatography.

Adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP and AMP) play a central role in the regulation of metabolism and energy: they provide the energy balance of the cell, determine its redox state, act as allosteric effectors of a number of enzymes, modulate signaling and transcription factors and activate oxidation or biosynthesis substrates. A large number of methods have been developed to determine the level of ATP, ADP and AMP, but the most universal and effective method for the separation and analysis of complex mixtures is the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method (RP-HPLC). The aim of this study is to determine the optimal conditions for the qualitative separation and quantitative determination of standard solutions of ATP (1 mmol/l), ADP (0,5 mmol/l) and AMP (0,1 mmol/l) by RP-HPLC.

Physiological response of the moderately halophilic psychrotolerant strain sp. N1 to salinity change and low temperature.

The available information on synthesized compatible solutes in response to high medium salinity by bacteria of the genus is limited to studies of the mesophilic moderately halophilic strain DSM 3043. Therefore, there is a need for studies of representatives of other species of the genus of the family. A moderately halophilic psychrotolerant bacterium, strain N1, closely related to the species was isolated from the salt crust of a rock salt waste pile in Berezniki, Perm Krai, Russia.

State-of-the-Art of Eggshell Waste in Materials Science: Recent Advances in Catalysis, Pharmaceutical Applications, and Mechanochemistry.

Eggshell waste is among the most abundant waste materials coming from food processing technologies. Despite the unique properties that both its components (eggshell, ES, and eggshell membrane, ESM) possess, it is very often discarded without further use. This review article aims to summarize the recent reports utilizing eggshell waste for very diverse purposes, stressing the need to use a mechanochemical approach to broaden its applications.

[The effect of pectin of tansy, L., on anxiety and overeating food rich in fats and sugars in mice in modelling binge eating].

Binge eating is repeated episodes of eating large amounts of sweet and fatty food in short periods. Dietary fibers, including pectin, significantly reduce the subjective ratings of hunger, and the amount of food eaten. However, studies showing the effect of dietary fibers on satiety use juices or yoghurts with added dietary fiber, or a kissel-like food.

Sex differences in the association between obesity and hypertension.

Background: Hypertension and obesity often coexist. There are sex differences in the mechanisms of obesity-related hypertension but the reasons for these differences are still not fully understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in the development of hypertension associated with obesity.

Study of heteroaggregation and properties of sol-gel AlOOH-FeO composites.

In this work, AlOOH-FeO powder nanocomposites for Cr(VI) adsorption were obtained for the first time using oppositely charged boehmite and citric acid modified magnetite sols. The process of heteroaggregation of oppositely charged AlOOH and FeO nanoparticles was also studied as one of the stages in the preparation of adsorption active material. Сomposition, surface area, porous structure, thermal and surface properties, adsorption efficiency, and regenerability of nanocomposites were investigated using a wide range of analytical methods.

Food preferences and YFAS/YFAS-C scores in schoolchildren and university students.

Purpose: Food addiction (FA) is one of the causes of widespread obesity in modern society. It was shown that there is an age-associated increase in incidence rate of FA in adolescents/young adults. The purpose of this study was to analyze food preferences in schoolchildren and university students with FA.

The analcime-bearing rock immobilized microalgae: Stress resistance, psychrotolerance, phenol removal.

The development of synergetic biogeocomplices for biodegradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants is an urgently needed to achieve the environmental sustainability. The biogeosorbent based on the analcime-bearing rock immobilized Chlorella vulgaris f. globosa was developed to remove phenol from polluted waterbodies.

Involvement of DNA Repair Genes and System of Radiation-Induced Activation of Transposons in Formation of Transgenerational Effects.

The study of the genetic basis of the manifestation of radiation-induced effects and their transgenerational inheritance makes it possible to identify the mechanisms of adaptation and possible effective strategies for the survival of organisms in response to chronic radioactive stress. One persistent hypothesis is that the activation of certain genes involved in cellular defense is a specific response of the cell to irradiation. There is also data indicating the important role of transposable elements in the formation of radiosensitivity/radioresistance of biological systems.

Soil invertebrates occurrences in European North-East of Russia.

Background: The European North-East of Russia is the territory which includes the Nenets Autonomous District, represented by the East European tundra (from Kanin Peninsula to Vaigach Island), Komi Republic with its taiga ecosystems and the Urals (Northern, SubPolar and Polar). Over 20 years of systematic studies of soil fauna in the studied region has resulted in a huge amount of data being accumulated that can be analysed from different positions. Considering that the representation of Russian soil biota data, especially from European North-East of Russia in the GBIF database is not large, our data are of great interest to the scientific world community.

Transgenerational effects in offspring of chronically irradiated populations of Drosophila melanogaster after the Chernobyl accident.

The zone of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster represents the largest area of chronic low-intensity radioactive impact on the natural ecosystems. The effects of chronic low-dose irradiation for natural populations of organisms and their offspring are unknown. The natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster sampled in 2007 in Chernobyl sites with different levels of radiation contamination were investigated.

Small G-protein RhoA is a potential inhibitor of cardiac fast sodium current.

Small G-proteins of Rho family modulate the activity of several classes of ion channels, including K channels Kv1.2, Kir2.1, and ERG; Ca channels; and epithelial Na channels.

Bryophytes Occurrences Dataset Based On SYKO Herbarium Moss Collection.

Background: The dataset with 49,726 bryophytes occurrences (49,261 moss occurrences and 465 liverworts occurrences), located predominantly on the territory European north-east Russia, is described in this data paper. The dataset was based on the digitised moss labels from the Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Сenter of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences herbarium (SYKO). The information from the labels was recognised, cleaned and brought into compliance with the Darwin Core.

Cardiophysiological responses of the air-breathing Alaska blackfish to cold acclimation and chronic hypoxic submergence at 5°C.

The Alaska blackfish () remains active at cold temperatures when experiencing aquatic hypoxia without air access. To discern the cardiophysiological adjustments that permit this behaviour, we quantified the effect of acclimation from 15°C to 5°C in normoxia (15N and 5N fish), as well as chronic hypoxic submergence (6-8 weeks; ∼6.3-8.

Dispersion of ventricular repolarization: Temporal and spatial.

Repolarization heterogeneity (RH) is an intrinsic property of ventricular myocardium and the reason for T-wave formation on electrocardiogram (ECG). Exceeding the physiologically based RH level is associated with appearance of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. In this regard, an accurate and comprehensive evaluation of the degree of RH parameters is of importance for assessment of heart state and arrhythmic risk.

Environmentally friendly Au@CNC hybrid systems as prospective humidity sensors.

Both cellulose nanocrystals and gold nanoparticles show immense potential for biological and chemical applications. Gold nanoparticles, which tend to aggregate, are hybridized with cellulose nanocrystals to form stable inorganic-organic hybrids in which nanocellulose acts as a green supporting material for the catalytically active gold nanoparticles. A green synthesis approach was taken, and hydrothermal treatment was used to reduce electrostatic repulsion between the gold nanoparticles and the cellulose nanocrystals to promote heteroaggregation instead of homoaggregation.

Radioresistance, DNA Damage and DNA Repair in Cells With Moderate Overexpression of RPA1.

Molecular responses to genotoxic stress, such as ionizing radiation, are intricately complex and involve hundreds of genes. Whether targeted overexpression of an endogenous gene can enhance resistance to ionizing radiation remains to be explored. In the present study we take an advantage of the CRISPR/dCas9 technology to moderately overexpress the gene that encodes a key functional subunit of the replication protein A (RPA).

Warmer, faster, stronger: Ca cycling in avian myocardium.

Birds occupy a unique position in the evolution of cardiac design. Their hearts are capable of cardiac performance on par with, or exceeding that of mammals, and yet the structure of their cardiomyocytes resembles those of reptiles. It has been suggested that birds use intracellular Ca stored within the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to power contractile function, but neither SR Ca content nor the cross-talk between channels underlying Ca-induced Ca release (CICR) have been studied in adult birds.

Hybrid cellulose nanocrystal/magnetite glucose biosensors.

There exists a high demand for simple and affordable blood glucose monitoring methods. For this purpose, new generations of biosensors are being developed for possible in vivo or dermal use. We present (non)sulphated cellulose nanocrystal/magnetite thin films to act as dermal and oral glucose biosensors.