Geoturystyka i geoedukacja w rezerwacie przyrody nieożywionej „Prządki” im. prof. Henryka Świdzińskiego

Rezerwat przyrody nieożywionej „Prządki” to jeden z najlepiej rozpoznawalnych i udokumentowanych geostanowisk Karpat Zewnętrznych. Historia badań, ochrony i turystyki ma tutaj długą tradycję. Jest to także obiekt o dużym potencjale geoturystycznym ze względu na dobrze zachowane i wyeksponowane krajobrazowo piaskowcowe formy skalne, czytelnie wypreparowaną mikrorzeźbę, powiązania kulturowe i ekologiczne, a także łatwy dostęp i zwiedzanie geostanowiska. W pracy przedstawiono możliwości wykorzystania geoedukacyjnego rezerwatu na tle jego budowy geologicznej, geomorfologii, walorów biotycznych oraz wpływu na lokalną historię . Zaproponowano zakres tematów do prowadzenia dydaktyki, wskazano najbardziej czytelne cechy oraz dalsze możliwości zagospodarowania i udostępnienia obiektu.Rezerwat przyrody nieożywionej „Prządki” to jeden z najlepiej rozpoznawalnych i udokumentowanych geostanowisk Karpat Zewnętrznych. Historia badań, ochrony i turystyki ma tutaj długą tradycję. Jest to także obiekt o dużym potencjale geoturystycznym ze względu na dobrze zachowane i wyeksponowane krajobrazowo piaskowcowe formy skalne, czytelnie wypreparowaną mikrorzeźbę, powiązania kulturowe i ekologiczne, a także łatwy dostęp i zwiedzanie geostanowiska. W pracy przedstawiono możliwości wykorzystania geoedukacyjnego rezerwatu na tle jego budowy geologicznej, geomorfologii, walorów biotycznych oraz wpływu na lokalną historię . Zaproponowano zakres tematów do prowadzenia dydaktyki, wskazano najbardziej czytelne cechy oraz dalsze możliwości zagospodarowania i udostępnienia obiektu

Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae infections in Ixodes ricinus ticks from urban and natural forested areas of Poland

BACKGROUND: Ixodes ricinus is a major vector for a range of microbial pathogens and the most prevalent and widely distributed tick species on the European continent, occurring in both natural and urban habitats. Nevertheless, little is known about the relative density of ticks in these two ecologically distinct habitats and the diversity of tick-borne pathogens that they carry. METHODS: We compared densities of questing I. ricinus nymphs and adults in urban and natural habitats in Central and Northeastern Poland, assessed the prevalence and rate of co-infection with A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and ‘Ca. Neoehrlichia spp.’ in ticks, and compared the diversity of tick-borne pathogens using molecular assays (PCR). RESULTS: Of the 1325 adults and nymphs, 6.2% were infected with at least one pathogen, with 4.4%, 1.7% and less than 0.5% being positive for the DNA of Rickettsia spp., A. phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Ca. N. mikurensis, respectively. Although tick abundance was higher in natural habitats, the prevalence of the majority of pathogens was higher in urban forested areas. CONCLUSION: We conclude that: (i) zoonotic genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum are widely distributed in the Polish tick population, (ii) although the diversity of tick borne pathogens was higher in natural habitats, zoonotic species/strains were detected only in urban forests, (iii) and we provide the first description of Ca. N. mikurensis infections in ticks in Poland

Criteria of geotourism valorization specified for various recipients // Kryteria waloryzacji geoturystycznej na potrzeby różnego rodzaju odbiorców

The following paper presents methodology of valorization of geotourism objects adapted to meet the expectations and needs of various groups of potential recipients: tourists (casual, witting, hobbyist), educators (school teachers, academic staff, guides, organizers) and investors (owners, managers). Any geotourism object can be valorized using four principal categories of criteria: visual, cognitive, functional and investing. Each category is evaluated separately and selection of particular criteria depends on the needs of given recipient. //W artykule zaproponowano sposób waloryzacji obiektów geoturystycznych uwzględniający potrzeby potencjalnych odbiorców: turystów (przypadkowy, świadomy, pasjonat), edukatorów (nauczyciel szkolny i akademicki, przewodnik, organizator turystyki specjalistycznej), inwestorów (właściciel, zarządca). Na ocenę obiektu składają się cztery główne kryteria: wartość wizualna, wartość poznawcza, wartość użytkowa oraz warunki i potrzeby inwestycyjne. Każde z kryteriów oceniane jest osobno, a o ważności i doborze kryterium decyduje samodzielnie odbiorca waloryzacji

Signatures of balancing selection in toll-like receptor (TLRs) genes – novel insights from a free-living rodent

Correction to: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26672-2, published online 30 May 2018 “The work was supported by grant no. DEC-2012/07/B/NZ8/00058 from the Polish National Science Centre to A.K. Field studies were funded by grant MNiI 2P04C09827 „Badania naturalnych źródeł zarażenia mikropasożytów patogennych dla człowieka” to AB. We are thankful to Dr. hab W. Babik who provided access to an Illumina MiSeq platform, and to K. Dudek who prepared the Nextera library. Special thanks to A. Biedrzycka for her valuable comments on the final version of the manuscript. We also would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments that helped to improve the manuscript.”Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Long-term spatiotemporal stability and dynamic changes in the haemoparasite community of spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) in four montane wadis in the St. Katherine Protectorate, Sinai, Egypt

Background: Long-term field studies of parasite communities are rare but provide a powerful insight into the ecological processes shaping host-parasite interactions. The aim of our study was to monitor long-term trends in the haemoparasite communities of spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) and to identify the principal factors responsible for changes over a 12 year period. Methods: To this end we sampled four semi-isolated populations of mice (n= 835) in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 in four dry montane valleys (wadis) located in the Sinai Massif, Egypt. Results: Overall 76.2 % of spiny mice carried at least one of the five haemoparasite genera (Babesia, Bartonella, Haemobartonella, Hepatozoon, Trypanosoma) recorded in the study. Prevalence of haemoparasites varied significantly between the sites with the highest overall prevalence in Wadi Tlah and the lowest in W. El Arbaein, and this changed significantly with time. In the first two surveys there was little change in prevalence, but by 2008, when the first signs of a deepening drought in the region had become apparent, prevalence began to drift downwards, and by 2012 prevalence had fallen to the lowest values recorded from all four sites over the entire 12-year period. The overall mean species richness was 1.2 ± 0.03, which peaked in 2004 and then dropped by more than 50 % by 2012. Species richness was highest among mice from Wadi Tlah and peaked in age class 2 mice (young adults). Site was the most significant factor affecting the prevalence of individual parasite species, with Trypanosoma acomys and Hepatozoon sp. occurring mainly in two wadis (W. Tlah & W. Gharaba). In four of the five genera recorded in the study we observed a significant drop in prevalence or/and abundance since 2004, the exception being Hepatozoon sp. Conclusions: During the 12-year-long period of study in the Sinai, we observed dynamic changes and possibly even cycles of prevalence and abundance of infections which differed depending on parasite species. Although the exact reasons cannot be identified at this time, we hypothesize that the effects of a 15-year-long scarcity of rainfall in the local environment and a fall in host densities over the period of study may have been responsible for a drop in transmission rates, possibly by a negative impact on vector survival

Soil carbon stock impacts following reversion of Miscanthus x giganteus and short rotation coppice willow commercial plantations into arable cropping

There are posited links between the establishment of perennial bioenergy, such as Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow and Miscanthus x giganteus, on low carbon soils and enhanced soil C sequestration. Sequestration provides additional climate mitigation, however, few studies have explored impacts on soil C stocks of bioenergy crop removal, thus the permanence of any sequestered C is unclear. This uncertainty has led some authors to question the handling of soil C stocks with carbon accounting e.g. through LCA. Here we provide additional data for this debate, reporting on the soil C impacts of the reversion (removal and return) to arable cropping of commercial SRC willow and Miscanthus across four sites in the UK, two for each bioenergy crop, with 8 reversions nested within these sites. Using a paired‐site approach, soil C stocks (0–1 m) were compared between 3 and 7 years after bioenergy crop removal. Impacts on soil C stocks varied, ranging from an increase of 70.16 ± 10.81 Mg C ha‐1 7 years after reversion of SRC willow to a decrease of 33.38 ± 5.33 Mg C ha‐1 3 years after reversion of Miscanthus compared to paired arable land. The implications for carbon accounting will depend on the method used to allocate this stock change between current and past land use. However, with, published life cycle assessment values for the lifetime C reduction provided by these crops ranging from 29.50 to 138.55 Mg C ha‐1, the magnitude of these changes in stock are significant. We discuss the potential underlying mechanisms driving variability in soil C stock change, including the age of bioenergy crop at removal, removal methods, and differences in the recalcitrant of the crop residues, and highlight the need to design management methods to limit negative outcomes

Differences in serum IL-6 response after 1°C rise in core body temperature in individuals with spinal cord injury and cervical spinal cord injury during local heat stress

Objectives: Passive rise in core body temperature achieved by head-out hot water immersion (HHWI) results in acute increases in serum interleukin (IL)-6 but no change in plasma adrenaline in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). The purpose of the present study was to determine the mechanism of heat stress-induced increase in serum IL-6. Setting: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The study subjects were 9 with CSCI, 10 with thoracic and lumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) and 8 able-bodied (AB) subjects. Time since injury was 16.4±4.1 years in TLSCI and 16.1±3.4 years in CSCI. Subjects were subjected to lower-body heat stress (LBH) by wearing a hot water-perfused suit until 1°C increase in core temperature. The levels of serum IL-6, plasma adrenaline, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and counts of blood cells were measured at normothermia and after LBH. Results: Serum IL-6 concentrations increased significantly immediately after LBH in all the three groups. ΔIL-6% was lower in CSCI subjects compared with AB subjects. Plasma adrenaline concentrations significantly increased after LBH in AB and TLSCI subjects, but did not change throughout the study in CSCI subjects. Cardiac output and heart rate increased at the end of LBH in all three groups. Conclusion: Under a similar increase in core temperature, ΔIL-6% was lower in the CSCI group compared with the AB group. These findings suggest that the observed rise in IL-6 during hyperthermia is mediated, at least in part, by plasma adrenaline

Modulation of Klotho expression in injured muscle perturbs Wnt signalling and influences the rate of muscle growth

Skeletal muscle injuries activate a complex programme of myogenesis that can restore normal muscle structure. We tested whether modulating the expression of klotho influenced the response of mouse muscles to acute injury. Our findings show that klotho expression in muscle declines at 3 days post‐injury. That reduction in klotho expression coincided with elevated expression of targets of Wnt signalling (Ccnd1; Myc) and increased MyoD+ muscle cell numbers, reflecting the onset of myogenic cell differentiation. klotho expression subsequently increased at 7 days post‐injury with elevated expression occurring primarily in inflammatory lesions, which was accompanied by reduced expression of Wnt target genes (Ccnd1: 91%; Myc: 96%). Introduction of a klotho transgene maintained high levels of klotho expression over the course of muscle repair and attenuated the increases in Ccnd1 and Myc expression that occurred at 3 days post‐injury. Correspondingly, transgene expression reduced Wnt signalling in Pax7+ cells, reflected by reductions in Pax7+ cells expressing active β‐catenin, and reduced the numbers of MyoD+ cells at 3 days post‐injury. At 21 days post‐injury, muscles in klotho transgenic mice showed increased Pax7+ and decreased myogenin+ cell densities and large increases in myofibre size. Likewise, treating myogenic cells in vitro with Klotho reduced Myod expression but did not affect Pax7 expression. Muscle inflammation was only slightly modulated by increased klotho expression, initially reducing the expression of M2‐biased macrophage markers Cd163 and Cd206 at 3 days post‐injury and later increasing the expression of pan‐macrophage marker F480 and Cd68 at 21 days post‐injury. Collectively, our study shows that Klotho modulates myogenesis and that increased expression accelerates muscle growth after injury

Muscle-specific ablation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) does not impair basal or overload-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose uptake

Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is believed to solely mediate basal (insulin-independent) glucose uptake in skeletal muscle; yet recent work has demonstrated that mechanical overload, a model of resistance exercise training, increases muscle GLUT1 levels. The primary objective of this study was to determine if GLUT1 is necessary for basal or overload-stimulated muscle glucose uptake. Muscle-specific GLUT1 knockout (mGLUT1KO) mice were generated and examined for changes in body weight, body composition, metabolism, systemic glucose regulation, muscle glucose transporters, and muscle

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

Background: Free-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods. Results: Ticks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade. Conclusions: The findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.Fil: Kazimírová, Mária. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Hamšíková, Zuzana. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Spitalská, Eva. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; EslovaquiaFil: Minichová, Lenka. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; EslovaquiaFil: Mahríková, Lenka. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Caban, Radoslav. Široká ; EslovaquiaFil: Sprong, Hein. National Institute for Public Health and Environment.Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; Países BajosFil: Fonville, Manoj. National Institute for Public Health and Environment.Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; Países BajosFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kocianová, Elena. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; Eslovaqui