Springtail (Collembola) response to the 2019-2020 megafires in Blue Mountains swamps

Swamps are ecologically important environments where macroinvertebrates perform essential roles in nutrient cycling and maintaining interactions between different trophic levels. However, very little is known about how their diversity could be used as indicators of ecosystem health and recovery following disturbance. The recent 2019-2020 bushfires destroyed more than 50% of Blue Mountains swamps (NSW) and are expected to have severely affected macroinvertebrate communities. We, therefore, assessed the impact that the 2019-2020 bushfires had on collembola assemblages collected from Blue Mountains swamps using a DNA metabarcoding approach. Specifically, we assessed shifts in springtail (Collembola) taxonomic diversity, richness, and composition among swamps, between fire status (burnt and unburnt), and year (2019 and 2020). We found that the diversity of springtails was affected by fire disturbance and nearly all swamps showed a unique taxonomic composition of Collembola. While some taxonomic groups were not detected in burnt swamps after the fire, other taxa were found in greater abundance in both burnt and unburnt swamps after the fire. Overall, we found that the burnt sites had lower taxonomic richness and diversity of Collembola compared to the unburnt sites both before (2019) and after (2020) the fire. The results have implications for carrying out future assessments of the extent of taxonomic biodiversity shifts in invertebrates due to fire and providing the initial source of information for conservation and management indicating the need for considering actions to minimize the effects of climate change and future bushfire events on these critical ecosystems.</p

Atypical chromatin structure of immune-related genes expressed in chicken erythrocytes

The major biological role of red blood cells is to carry oxygen to the tissues in the body. However, another role of the erythroid cell is to participate in the immune response. Mature erythrocytes from chickens express Toll-like receptors and several cytokines in response to stimulation of the immune system. We previously reported the application of a biochemical fractionation protocol to isolate highly enriched transcribed DNA from polychromatic erythrocytes from chickens. In conjunction with next-generation DNA, RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation-DNA sequencing, and formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements (FAIRE) sequencing, we identified the active chromosomal compartments and determined their structural signatures in relation to expression levels. Here, we present the detailed chromatin characteristics of erythroid genes participating in the innate immune response. Our studies revealed an atypical chromatin structure for several genes coding for Toll-like receptors, interleukins, and interferon regulatory factors. The body of these genes had nucleosome-free regions intermingled with nucleosomes modified with H3K4me3 and H3K27ac, suggesting a dynamic unstable chromatin structure. We further show that human genes involved in cell identity have gene bodies with the same chromatin-instability features as the chicken polychromatic erythrocyte genes participating in the innate immune response.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effect of nonpharmacological interventions on dietary practices, energy expenditure and biochemical parameters of hypercholesterolemic type 2 diabetic subjects

Nonpharmacological interventions play an important role in the management of diabetes and its complications. This study analyzed the effect of nonpharmacological interventions on dietary practices, energy expenditure and management outcome in terms of glycemic and lipidemic status of type 2 diabetic subjects with hypercholesterolemia. These interventions included dietary advice, leaflets, televised lectures, booklets, posters and a bimonthly publication in Bangla. Eighty newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects (male: female ratio 47:33, age 46 ± 8 years) with hypercholesterolemia (fasting serum total cholesterol >200 mg/dl) were selected from BIRDEM by purposive sampling. The first interview was taken before any intervention while the second interview was taken after a minimum interval of 8 weeks. The daily intake of macro- and micro- nutrients was assessed by 24-hr recall method. Energy expenditure of the subjects was calculated by factorial method using physical activity level (WHO/FAO/UNU 1985). After intervention, the proportion of carbohydrate, protein and fat intake of the study subjects did not differ significantly compared to values before intervention. The daily intake of micronutrients also did not differ compared to those before intervention. No significant difference was found between pre and post intervention values of per day energy intake (kcal, 1621 ± 426 vs 1645 ± 623). Total energy expenditure after intervention was significantly higher (1649 ± 340) compared to before intervention (1519 ± 353, p<0.002). After intervention, fasting serum glucose level (7 ± 1.43 mmol/l), serum glucose 2 hrs after breakfast (11 ± 4.1 mmol/l) and total cholesterol (217 ± 35 mg/dl) were significantly reduced compared to before intervention values (9 ± 4, 16 ± 7, 231 ± 32 respectively; p=0.001 for FSG, p=0.001 for SGABF, p<0.001 for total cholesterol). Nonpharmacological intervention was found to be effective in improving the management of diabetes and its complications. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2009; 3(2): 75-7

Original Article EFFECT OF NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS ON DIETARY PRACTICES, ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC TYPE 2 DIABETIC SUBJECTS

Nonpharmacological interventions play an important role in the management of diabetes and its complications. This study analyzed the effect of nonpharmacological interventions on dietary practices, energy expenditure and management outcome in terms of glycemic and lipidemic status of type 2 diabetic subjects with hypercholesterolemia. These interventions included dietary advice, leaflets, televised lectures, booklets, posters and a bimonthly publication in Bangla. Eighty newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects (male: female ratio 47:33, age 46 ± 8 years) with hypercholesterolemia (fasting serum total cholesterol&gt;200 mg/dl) were selected from BIRDEM by purposive sampling. The first interview was taken before any intervention while the second interview was taken after a minimum interval of 8 weeks. The daily intake of macro- and micro- nutrients was assessed by 24hr recall method. Energy expenditure of the subjects was calculated by factorial method using physical activity level (WHO/FAO/UNU 1985). After intervention, the proportion of carbohydrate, protein and fat intake of the study subjects did not differ significantly compared to values before intervention. The daily intake of micronutrients also did not differ compared to those before intervention. No significant difference was found between pre and post intervention values of pe

German literature and culture in Moravian Wallachia as the research object of literary germanistics: background, goals and methodology

The paper presents a description of German literature and culture in Moravian Wallachia as the research object of literary Germanistics. It provides an outline of research methodology, significant literary topics and author personalities originating in the given area in the period of the second half of 19(th) century and the first half of the 20(th) century. Wallachia is seen as a distinctive multicultural area including both, the Czech culture and also significant traces of the German and Jewish cultural elements. It is viewed as a spiritual space manifesting a number of conflicting tendencies and paradoxes. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Wallachia is considered a laboratory of multiculturalism, in which modern European cultural movements, their influence on regional conditions, and regional impulses later expanding into European cultural centers were tested at the beginning of the 20(th) century. Wallachia was a bastion of conservatism but also a terrain suitable for possible cultural experiments. It is thus an epitome of cultural hybridity.Czech Science Foundation [16-11983S

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hypercholesterolemic Type 2 Diabetic Subjects on Dyslipidemia

This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of hypercholesterolemic type 2 diabetic subjects on dyslipidemia and to analyze the influence of some demographic and socioeconomic factors on the level of KAP.It was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. One hundred eleven newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects (male 61%, female 39%, age 45±9 years, BMI 24±4.8 Kg/m2) with hypercholesterolemia (fasting plasma total cholesterol >200 mg/dl) were selected from the out patient department of BIRDEM by purposive sampling method. Data were collected by a pre-designed, pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Three categories were defined on the basis of the score obtained by each subject namely low, medium and high as follows: knowledge-score 60%; attitude-score 80%; and practice-score 70% respectively. The levels of knowledge were low in 42%, medium in 35% and high in 23% of the study subjects. The corresponding attitude levels were low in 1%, medium in 31% and high in 68%, and the levels of practice were low in 80%, medium in 14% and high in 6% of the subjects. The knowledge score was higher in secondary and graduate (53.4±8.9%, and 54.9±10.1%) groups compared to illiterate-primary group (48.9±9.9%). Practice score of illiterate-primary group (34.5±16.8%) was lower than secondary and graduate (43.1±13.9% and 46.7±18.1%) groups, but they did not differ on attitude. The various income groups did not differ on knowledge. Attitude score of high-income group (78.7±8.4%) was better than low-income group (70.9±11.8%). Practice score in high-income group (44.7±16.0%) was better than medium income and low-income groups (31.3±14.5% and 28.6±15.0%). Knowledge and practice score in Bangladeshi hypercholesterolemic type 2 diabetic subjects are not satisfactory although they have fairly good attitude levels. Education and income status are the major determinants of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dyslipidemia in diabetes. A coordinated policy is required to promote knowledge and attitude on healthy lifestyle and to translate those into practice. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2011; 5(2): 37-4

MOESM9 of The chicken erythrocyte epigenome

Additional file 9. Primers for RT-qPCR analyses

MOESM5 of The chicken erythrocyte epigenome

Additional file 5. Sense and antisense transcript reads for the 1095 genes from the galGal3 RefSeq database belonging to the first 20th-percentile