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Background The Schreiber’s bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, is adapted to long-distance flight, yet long distance movements have only been recorded sporadically using capture-mark-recapture. In this study, we used the hydrogen isotopic composition of 208 wing and 335 fur specimens from across the species' European range to test the hypothesis that the species migrates over long distances. Results After obtaining the hydrogen isotopic composition (δ2H) of each sample, we performed geographic assignment tests by comparing the δ2H of samples with the δ2H of sampling sites. We found that 95 bats out of 325 showed evidence of long-distance movement, based on the analysis of either fur or wing samples. The eastern European part of the species range (Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia) had the highest numbers of bats that had moved. The assignment tests also helped identify possible migratory routes, such as movement between the Alps and the Balkans. Conclusions This is the first continental-scale study to provide evidence of migratory behaviour of M. schreibersii throughout its European range. The work highlights the need for further investigation of this behaviour to provide appropriate conservation strategies.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is a significant source of mineral resources. Recycled concrete aggregate fraction 0/63 mm is among the most used materials. The present study aims to evaluate the influence of impurities such as asphalt, bricks, soil, and lightweight materials on the properties of recycled aggregate. Two types of blended recycled materials are composed – one, representative for recycled aggregate from CDW generated at road projects and another type, representative for recycled materials from buildings rehabilitation and demolition. The main characteristics of blended recycled aggregate with different amounts of impurities are being investigated according to EN 13 242. The maximum dry density and optimum water content according to EN 13286-2 and the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) according to EN 13286-47 are also determined. The source of CDW is found to have a significant impact on the performance of the recycled material. The rule of mixtures and some testing methods are not always appropriate for the recycled materials. Based on the results, some recommendations regarding the management of CDW and the appropriate use of recycled aggregates in civil engineering and road construction are made.

Recycled concrete aggregate fraction 0/63 mm is used as unbound materials in several construction works, for which the environmental soundness is of a great importance. The present study aims to evaluate the influence of impurities such as asphalt, bricks, soil, and lightweight materials on the environmental properties of recycled concrete aggregate. The chemical characteristics are determined as per EN 13242+A1 requirements. The environmental performance is evaluated based on a batch leaching test according to EN 12457-1 (L/S =2) and on the content of organic materials such as PAHs, PCBs, C10-C40. The two sets of tests were found to give conflicting results: no problematic chemical characteristics were found even at a high percentage of impurities in the recycled concrete aggregate, while the environmental performance was not satisfactory; the recycled aggregates were found not inert because of the significant amounts of sulphates, chlorides and total dissolved solids, sometimes heavy metals and, when blended with ground asphalt, organic compounds such as hydrocarbons. Thus, backfills and road facilities can be a source of soil and groundwater pollution if a pre-demolition audit, identification of contaminated CDW, decontamination activities and selective demolition are not implemented. Some improvements in the regulatory framework are proposed.

AIM: We investigated the effects of disease on the local abundances and distributions of species at continental scales by examining the impacts of white‐nose syndrome, an infectious disease of hibernating bats, which has recently emerged in North America. LOCATION: North America and Europe. METHODS: We used four decades of population counts from 1108 populations to compare the local abundances of bats in North America before and after the emergence of white‐nose syndrome to the situation in Europe, where the disease is endemic. We also examined the probability of local extinction for six species of hibernating bats in eastern North America and assessed the influence of winter colony size prior to the emergence of white‐nose syndrome on the risk of local extinction. RESULTS: White‐nose syndrome has caused a 10‐fold decrease in the abundance of bats at hibernacula in North America, eliminating large differences in species abundance patterns that existed between Europe and North America prior to disease emergence. White‐nose syndrome has also caused extensive local extinctions (up to 69% of sites in a single species). For five out of six species, the risk of local extinction was lower in larger winter populations, as expected from theory, but for the most affected species, the northern long‐eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), extinction risk was constant across winter colony sizes, demonstrating that disease can sometimes eliminate numerical rarity as the dominant driver of extinction risk by driving both small and large populations extinct. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Species interactions, including disease, play an underappreciated role in macroecological patterns and influence broad patterns of species abundance, occurrence and extinction.

While Bulgaria has a rich bat fauna, with large colonies found in caves, mines and other underground roosts, only a small proportion of bat nursery colony roosts have been documented in buildings. During recent field research in the Madzharovo region, however, we discovered the world’s largest nursery colony of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and Geoffroy’s bats (Myotis emarginatus). About 15 000 to 18 500 individuals of eight species use the complex of anthropogenic structures (an abandoned water reservoir and two buildings) as a summer roost, representing around half of all the bat species registered in the region. We strongly suggest that regular monitoring programmes and Species Action Plans are established in Bulgaria, which will ensure the conservation of nursery colonies, not only in Madzharovo, but also in the entire Eastern Rhodope mountains and help prevent future bat population declines.

Non-essential “heavy” metals such as cadmium tend to accumulate in an organism and thus are a particular threat for long-lived animals. Here we show that two unrelated, short-lived groups of mammals (rodents and shrews, separated by 100 Mio years of evolution) each have independently acquired mutations in their metal-responsive transcription factor (MTF-1) in a domain relevant for robust transcriptional induction by zinc and cadmium. While key amino acids are mutated in rodents, in shrews an entire exon is skipped. Rodents and especially shrews are unique regarding the alterations of this region. To investigate the biological relevance of these alterations, MTF-1s from the common shrew ( Sorex araneus ), the mouse, humans and a bat ( Myotis blythii ), were tested by cotransfection with a reporter gene into cells lacking MTF-1. Whereas shrews only live for 1.5–2.5 years, bats, although living on a very similar insect diet, have a lifespan of several decades. We find that bat MTF-1 is similarly metal-responsive as its human counterpart, while shrew MTF-1 is less responsive, similar to mouse MTF-1. We propose that in comparison to most other mammals, the short-lived shrews and rodents can afford a “lower-quality” system for heavy metal homeostasis and detoxification.

The Roach’s mouse-tailed dormouse (Myomimus roachi) is an endangered mammal in Europe with poorly known distribution and biology in Bulgaria. Cranial remains of 15 specimens were determined among 30532 mammals in Barn Owl (Tyto alba) pellets in 35 localities from 2000 to 2008 and 32941 mammals in Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) pellets in 59 localities from 1988 to 2011 in SE Bulgaria. This dormouse was present with single specimens in 11 localities and whit 4 specimens in one locality. It is one of the rarest mammals in the region that forms only up to 1% by number of mammalian prey in the more numerous pellet samples. The existing protected areas ecological network covers six out of 15 (40%) localities where the species has been detected in the last two decades. We discuss the necessity of designation of new Natura 2000 zones for the protection of the Roach’s mouse-tailed dormouse in Bulgaria.

A chromium/amorphous carbon (Cr/(Cr/a-C)ml) nanostructured multilayer coating with a chromium sublayer was deposited on 42CrMo4 (1.7225,BDS EN ISO 683-2:2018), 100Cr6 (1.3505, BDS EN ISO 683-17:2024), and HS18-0-1 (1.3355, BDS EN ISO 4957:2018) alloy steels, selected for their use in contact-loaded components subjected to cyclic fatigue and intense wear. The coating was sputter deposited by MF pulsed magnetron sputtering under consistent process parameters. The resulting coating, approximately 1.8 μm thick, can significantly enhance the service life of these components. Adhesion was evaluated via the Daimler–Benz test, while coating homogeneity was confirmed through energy-dispersive spectroscopy, revealing a consistent chemical composition across sample surfaces. Raman spectroscopy indicated a high sp3/sp2 ratio, confirming a dominant diamond-like carbon structure. Nanoindentation measurements verified the coating’s hardness, aligning with the observed structural properties. These results validate the process parameters for depositing a Cr/(Cr/a-C)ml coating on these alloy steels, achieving this study’s objectives.

This work presents the results of deposition by magnetron sputtering nanostructured multilayer Cr/(Cr/a-C)ml coatings on AISI 316L and AISI 321 steel substrates. Chemical compositions were confirmed through EDX analysis with scanning electron microscopy. The coating thickness was measured with Calotester (KaloMAX II) and the total thickness of the coatings obtained ranged from 1.684 ± 0.193 μm for AISI 316L to 1.749 ± 0.123 μm for AISI 321. A Daimler-Benz Rockwell indentation test for adhesion quality and a nanoindentation test with a Berkovich indenter were carried out. According to the Raman spectroscopy analysis and in agreement with mechanical tests, it is supposed that it is the formation of a diamond-like carbon phase which enhances the mechanical properties. The hardness values obtained for the nanostructured multilayer Cr/(Cr/a-C)ml coatings were improved compared to those of the base stainless steels.