Old views and new insights: taxonomic revision of the Bukovina blind mole rat, Spalax graecus (Rodentia: Spalacinae)

As a result of their rather uniform external appearance and gross cranial morphology, the systematics of blind mole rats has been hotly debated over the last century; however, the separation of the large-bodied and small-bodied blind mole rats at the genus level (Spalax and Nannospalax, respectively), suggested earlier on morphological grounds, is strongly supported by recent molecular biological evidence. The species of Spalax have so far been distinguished from each other by cranial traits only, especially the outline of sutures of the cranium, and the shape and relative size of the nasal and parietal bones. Based on mitochondrial DNA sequences (with the widest taxonomic and geographic coverage so far) and detailed anatomical comparisons of museum specimens, we herewith provide a revision of the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of the westernmost representative of the genus, Spalax graecus s.l. We clarify that antiquus and istricus – presently regarded as synonyms of graecus – are well-defined species, and they together form a separate clade within Spalax. The robustness of our conclusions is supported by the combined evidence of morphology, multilocus phylogeny, species distribution, and taxon history (species congruence with past tectonic and climate events)

Vékonyrétegkromatográfia, mint határértékmódszer peszticidek maradványanalitikájában

Unter Berücksichtigung der bei der Dünnschichtchromatographie der chlorierten Kohlenwasserstoffe und Phosphorsäureester neuerdings angewandten Arten der Elutionstechnik, aer chromogenen Reagenzien, der Empfindlichkeit der Methoden und der Reproduzierbarkeit der Bestimmungen werden die zur Qualifizierung der Lebensmittel pflanzlicher und tierischer Herkunft verbreitet benützten analytische Verfahren bewertet. Es wurde dabei festgestellt, dass zur Anwendung der Dünnschichtchromatographie als Grenzwertmethode im Fall von chlororganischen Pestizidrückständen das Laufmethode m it verkehrten Phasen auf mit Silbernitrat imprägnierten Folien, bei der Bestimmung von Thiophosphorsäurederivaten das N — Chlor —2,6 —dibrombenzochinonimin, und im Fall von Phosphorsäureester im allgemeinen das 4-(4-N itrobenzyI) pyridin am meisten geeignet sind. The various analytical methods applied more and more widely for the evaluation of foods of plant and animal origin are evaluated, on taking into account the elution techniques, chromogene reagents, sensitivities of methods and reproducibilities of determinations recently applied in the thin layer chromatography of chlorinated hydrocarbons and phosphoric acid esters. It was found that on using thin layer chromatography as lim it value method in case of residues of organochlorine pesticides the running in a reversed phase on sheets impregnated with silver nitrate whereas for the determination of thiophosphoric acid derivatives the use of N-chIoro-2,5 —dibromobenzoquino- neimine and for that of phosphoric acid esters in general the use of 4 —(4 —nitrobenzyl) pyridine proved to be the most suitable

Tiokarbamát herbicidmaradványok meghatározása növényi eredetű élelmiszerekben

Die Mustervorbereitungsmethoden bei der Rückstandsbestimmung von Herbiziden vom Thiocarbamat-Typ in Lebensmitteln wurden untersucht. Zum Nachweis der Thiocarbamat-Verunreinigung (EPTC, Butylat) bzw. zu ihrer quantitativen Bestimmung in Lebensmittelmustern unterschiedlichen Ursprungs wurden die Farbreagenzien N-,2,6-Trichlorbenzochinonimin und N-Chlor-2,6-dibrombenzochinonimin verwendet. Die von den Verfassern entwickelte Methode erwies sich anwendbar zur Kontrolle der chemischen Verunreinigung von Obst- und Gemüseprodukten. The methods of sample preparation at the determination of residues of herbicides of thiocarbamate type in foods were investigated. The colour reagents N,2,6- trichlorobenzoquinoneimine and N-chloro-2,6-dibromobenzoquinoneimine were used for the detection of the thiocarbamate contaminants (EPTC, butylate) and of their quantitative determination of food samples of various origin. The method developed by the authors proved to be suitable for control of the chemical contaminants in fruit and vegetable products

Disrupted Neural Regeneration in Dry Eye Secondary to Ankylosing Spondylitis - With a Theoretical Link between Piezo2 Channelopathy and Gateway Reflex, WDR Neurons, and Flare-Ups

This study aimed at analyzing the corneal neural regeneration in ankylosing spondylitis patients using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy in correlation with Langerhans cell density, morphology, and dry eye parameters. Approximately 24 ankylosing spondylitis subjects and 35 age- and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled. Data analysis showed that all corneal nerve-fiber descriptives were lower in the ankylosing spondylitis group, implicating disrupted neural regeneration. Peripheral Langerhans cell density showed a negative correlation with nerve fiber descriptions. A negative correlation between tear film break-up time and corneal nerve fiber total branch density was detected. The potential role of somatosensory terminal Piezo2 channelopathy in the pathogenesis of dry eye disease and ankylosing spondylitis is highlighted in our study, exposing the neuroimmunological link between these diseases. We hypothesized earlier that spinal neuroimmune-induced sensitization due to this somatosensory terminal primary damage could lead to Langerhans cell activation in the cornea, in association with downregulated Piezo1 channels on these cells. This activation could lead to a Th17/Treg imbalance in dry eye secondary to ankylosing spondylitis. Hence, the corneal Piezo2 channelopathy-induced impaired Piezo2-Piezo1 crosstalk could explain the disrupted neural regeneration. Moreover, the translation of our findings highlights the link between Piezo2 channelopathy-induced gateway to pathophysiology and the gateway reflex, not to mention the potential role of spinal wide dynamic range neurons in the evolution of neuropathic pain and the flare-ups in ankylosing spondylitis and dry eye disease

Javaslat a hazai láptalajok osztályozásának megújítására

A szerves talajok összetétele, képződési körülményei, és földrajzi, ill. domborzati elterjedése jelentősen eltér az ásványi talajokétól. A tömegükben megőrzött hatalmas mennyiségű szerves szén és környezetük biológiai sokfélesége (biodiverzitása) kapcsán a klímaváltozás által leginkább érintett talajok, ezért megkülönböztetett figyelem irányul e talajokra. Kiterjedésükre, lebomlottsági fokukra, szerves szénkészletükre igen eltérő irodalmi és térképi adatok állnak rendelkezésre. Ugyanakkor éppen a klímaváltozás vonatkozásában óriási a globális és helyi megbízható adatigény az említett kérdésekben. Hazai láptalajaink osztályozási, felvételezési és mintavételi módszereinek megújítására teszünk javaslatot a nemzetközi standardok figyelembe vételével. A megújított Láptalaj meghatározásban a legfontosabb követelmények a 20% szerves széntartalomra, a 40 cm vastagságra és az alacsony térfogattömegre vonatkoznak. Az altípus és változati tulajdonságok a lebomlottság fokát, a mélységi, kémhatás viszonyokat, ill. sók jelenlétét adják meg. A szervesanyag meghatározásra az izzítási veszteség módszerét, a térfogattömeg meghatározás mintavételezésére a rostosság függvényében a lápfúró alkalmazását vagy feltárt szelvényből nagytérfogatú bolygatatlan mintákat javasolunk. | The composition, genesis and geographical distribution of organic soils are significantly different from mineral soils. Because of the huge amount of organic carbon preserved in the mass of these soils and biodiversity of their environment, they are the most vulnerable soils to climate change, calling special attention to them. There are wide range of values for their spatial extent and organic carbon stock in the literature, but at the same time there is a great need for reliable global and local data especially in regard of climate change. In this paper recommendation is made for updating the classification of organic soils in Hungary with consideration of international standards. In the modified definition of the “Peat soils” the major classification requirements are the minimum 20% organic carbon content, the 40 cm depth and the low bulk density. On the subtype and variety level the degree of decomposition, the depth, pH and saturation conditions and the presence of salts are defined. For the determination of organic carbon content, the loss on ignition method is recommended. The size, the amount, and the technique of sampling of the undisturbed samples for the bulk density measurements should be determined according to the fiber content, and the variability