Evidence of two deeply divergent co-existing mitochondrial genomes in the Tuatara reveals an extremely complex genomic organization

Animal mitochondrial genomic polymorphism occurs as low-level mitochondrial heteroplasmy and deeply divergent co-existing molecules. The latter is rare, known only in bivalvian mollusks. Here we show two deeply divergent co-existing mt-genomes in a vertebrate through genomic sequencing of the Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), the sole-representative of an ancient reptilian Order. The two molecules, revealed using a combination of short-read and long-read sequencing technologies, differ by 10.4% nucleotide divergence. A single long-read covers an entire mt-molecule for both strands. Phylogenetic analyses suggest a 7–8 million-year divergence between genomes. Contrary to earlier reports, all 37 genes typical of animal mitochondria, with drastic gene rearrangements, are confirmed for both mt-genomes. Also unique to vertebrates, concerted evolution drives three near-identical putative Control Region non-coding blocks. Evidence of positive selection at sites linked to metabolically important transmembrane regions of encoded proteins suggests these two mt-genomes may confer an adaptive advantage for an unusually cold-tolerant reptile

The influence of apolipoproteins on the interaction of hepatic lipase with high density lipoproteins / Neil J. Hime

Includes bibliographical references (leaves [138]-186)xiii, 186 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.Describes the kinetics of the hepatic lipase mediated hydrolysis of phospholipids and triacylglycerol in spherical, apolipoprotein-specific reconstituted high density lipoproteins. The results show that apolipoproteins have a major impact on these processes.Thesis (Ph.D.)--Adelaide University, Dept. of Medicine, 200

A Comparison of the Health Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter Air Pollution from Five Emission Sources

This article briefly reviews evidence of health effects associated with exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution from five common outdoor emission sources: traffic, coal-fired power stations, diesel exhaust, domestic wood combustion heaters, and crustal dust. The principal purpose of this review is to compare the evidence of health effects associated with these different sources with a view to answering the question: Is exposure to PM from some emission sources associated with worse health outcomes than exposure to PM from other sources? Answering this question will help inform development of air pollution regulations and environmental policy that maximises health benefits. Understanding the health effects of exposure to components of PM and source-specific PM are active fields of investigation. However, the different methods that have been used in epidemiological studies, along with the differences in populations, emission sources, and ambient air pollution mixtures between studies, make the comparison of results between studies problematic. While there is some evidence that PM from traffic and coal-fired power station emissions may elicit greater health effects compared to PM from other sources, overall the evidence to date does not indicate a clear ‘hierarchy’ of harmfulness for PM from different emission sources. Further investigations of the health effects of source-specific PM with more advanced approaches to exposure modeling, measurement, and statistics, are required before changing the current public health protection approach of minimising exposure to total PM mass

Evidence that apolipoprotein A-I facilitates hepatic lipase-mediated phospholipid hydrolysis in reconstituted HDL containing apolipoprotein A-II

Neil J. Hime, Philip J. Barter, and Kerry-Anne Ry

Evidence that cholesteryl ester transfer protein-mediated reductions in reconstituted high density lipoprotein size involve particle fusion

Kerry-Anne Rye, Neil J. Hime, and Philip J. Barte

Climate change, health and wellbeing: challenges and opportunities in NSW, Australia

The NSW (New South Wales) Climate Change Policy Framework, launched by the NSW Government in 2016, recognises that climate change presents risks to health and wellbeing. Risks to health and wellbeing come from direct impacts of extreme weather events, and from indirect impacts through effects on air, water, food and ecosystems. Responding to these challenges offers an opportunity to protect and promote health by enhancing environmental amenities, and building adaptive capacity and resilience in populations and systems. To develop policy that effectively protects and promotes health in the face of climate change in NSW it is necessary to define the expected impacts of climate change on health and wellbeing in NSW

Differences in nurses’ knowledge, behavior and patient falls incidents and severity following a falls e-learning program

Background: Continuing high rates of falls was a major concern to senior nurses within our health service. Researchers and educators came together to develop and evaluate an on-line falls e-learning program to increase nurses’ knowledge and falls prevention behaviors and therefore reduce falls incidents and severity. Methods: Using a pre-post test design, nurses’ knowledge and behaviour (N = 71) were measured prior to undertaking the education program and three months after, using the Nurses’ Falls Knowledge Test and the Falls-Prevent Scale. Patient falls incidents and severity were compared for 8 months prior to and 8 months following completion of the education program. Results: Falls knowledge was high at pre (20/21 correct) and post testing (20) with no significant difference (P = .24) found. Falls prevention behaviors significantly increased from 198.5 pre-test to 211 post-test (P < .001). There was no change in rates of falls (mean falls rates per 1000 occupied bed days [OBD] were 8.9 pre and 8.8 post, hospital 1; 3.5 pre and 5.5 post; hospital 2). A reduction in the severity of falls occurred in hospital 1 but the changes were too small for significance testing. Conclusions: This e-learning falls education program has demonstrated increases in nurses’ preventive falls behaviors. Although falls incidents were not reduced the best practice approaches promoted by this program are supported in national health policy and some systematic reviews. This program is being distributed to our hospitals

A conceptual framework for climate change, health and wellbeing in NSW, Australia

Changes in natural hazards related to climate change are evident in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and are projected to become more frequent and intense. The impacts of climate change may adversely affect health and wellbeing, directly via extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storms and floods, and indirectly via impacts on food security, air and water quality, and other environmental amenities. The NSW Government’s Climate Change Policy Framework recognises the need to reduce the effects of climate change on health and wellbeing. A conceptual framework can support the aims and objectives of the policy framework by depicting the effects of climate change on health, and individual and social wellbeing, and areas for policy actions and responses. A proposed conceptual framework has been developed, modelled on the Driving force, Pressure, State, Exposure, Effect and Action (DPSEEA) framework of the World Health Organization – a framework which shows the link between exposures and health effects as well as entry points for interventions. The proposed framework presented in this paper was developed in consultation with researchers and policy makers. The framework is guiding current research examining vulnerabilities to climate change and the effects of a range of exposures on health and wellbeing