A framework for developing an evidence-based, comprehensive tobacco control program

BACKGROUND: Tobacco control is an area where the translation of evidence into policy would seem to be straightforward, given the wealth of epidemiological, behavioural and other types of research available. Yet, even here challenges exist. These include information overload, concealment of key (industry-funded) evidence, contextualization, assessment of population impact, and the changing nature of the threat. METHODS: In the context of Israel's health targeting initiative, Healthy Israel 2020, we describe the steps taken to develop a comprehensive tobacco control strategy. We elaborate on the following: a) scientific issues influencing the choice of tobacco control strategies; b) organization of existing evidence of effectiveness of interventions into a manageable form, and c) consideration of relevant philosophical and political issues. We propose a framework for developing a plan and illustrate this process with a case study in Israel. RESULTS: Broad consensus exists regarding the effectiveness of most interventions, but current recommendations differ in the emphasis they place on different strategies. Scientific challenges include integration of complex and sometimes conflicting information from authoritative sources, and lack of estimates of population impact of interventions. Philosophical and political challenges include the use of evidence-based versus innovative policymaking, the importance of individual versus governmental responsibility, and whether and how interventions should be prioritized.The proposed framework includes: 1) compilation of a list of potential interventions 2) modification of that list based on local needs and political constraints; 3) streamlining the list by categorizing interventions into broad groupings of related interventions; together these groupings form the basis of a comprehensive plan; and 4) refinement of the plan by comparing it to existing comprehensive plans. CONCLUSIONS: Development of a comprehensive tobacco control plan is a complex endeavour, involving crucial decisions regarding intervention components. "Off the shelf" plans, which need to be adapted to local settings, are available from a variety of sources, and a multitude of individual recommendations are available. The proposed framework for adapting existing approaches to the local social and political climate may assist others planning for smoke-free societies. Additionally, this experience has implications for development of evidence-based health plans addressing other risk factors

Figure 1 in The northward extension of reptiles in the Palearctic, with the Jordan Valley (Israel) as a model: snakes outrace lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)

Figure 1. The geographical distribution of all records of lizards in the study area, solid circles. Also indicated are the approximate locations of some key localities for orientation, open squares.Published as part of Shacham, Boaz, Federman, Roy, Lahav-Ginott, Shimrit & Werner, Yehudah L., 2015, The northward extension of reptiles in the Palearctic, with the Jordan Valley (Israel) as a model: snakes outrace lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), pp. 1017-1033 in Journal of Natural History 50 on page 1021, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1083057, http://zenodo.org/record/399011

Venous blood gases, plasma biochemistry, and hematology of wild-caught common chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

The purpose of this study was to determine a wide range of selected hematologic, venous blood gases, and plasma biochemistry analytes in common chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon). Blood samples were collected from the ventral tail vein of 41 common chameleons to determine reference intervals for 30 different blood analytes. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, packed cell volume (PCV), refractometric total solids (TS), blood cell counts, and differentials were also determined. The microscopic evaluation of blood smears revealed inclusion bodies in monocytes in 7 of the samples. Females showed significantly higher values of plasma proteins and calcium and cholesterol concentrations and males showed significantly higher values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) plasma concentrations. Significant differences were found between similar analytes determined by different testing methodologies in the PCV/hematocrit, electrolytes (sodium, potassium), and plasma proteins [TS, total protein (TP) and albumin]. Blood analytes determined in this study can provide baseline data that may be useful when evaluating the health status of common chameleons, taking into consideration the potential effects of gender and the type of analyzer used

Figure 3 in The northward extension of reptiles in the Palearctic, with the Jordan Valley (Israel) as a model: snakes outrace lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)

Figure 3. The geographical distribution of all records of snakes in the study area, solid circles. Some key localities for orientation are shown in Figure 1.Published as part of Shacham, Boaz, Federman, Roy, Lahav-Ginott, Shimrit & Werner, Yehudah L., 2015, The northward extension of reptiles in the Palearctic, with the Jordan Valley (Israel) as a model: snakes outrace lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), pp. 1017-1033 in Journal of Natural History 50 on page 1023, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1083057, http://zenodo.org/record/399011

Taxonomic revision of the Tropiocolotes nattereri(Squamata, Gekkonidae) species complex, with the description of a new species from Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia

We examined the taxonomy of the minute desert geckos of the Tropiocolotes nat-tererispecies complex using the largest morphological sampling, and the first mo-lecular assessment of intraspecific diversity within this complex. We examined variation in mitochondrial and nuclear markers (12S, ND2, c- mosand MC1R) of 30 samples and analyzed the external morphology of 202 specimens, from across the entire distribution range of the complex from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We recognize two species under the name T. nattereri. We thus hereby describe a new species, T. yomtovisp. n., and we redefine and redescribe T. nattereri, for which we designate a neotype. The species diversity in the genus Tropiocolotes increases to 15.This work was supported by the Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Inc. [M.A.R- J. grant], SYNTHESYS+, Synthesis of Systematic Resources funded by the European Commission [M.A.R- J. grants: ES- TAF- 1276; GB- TAF- 2393; CZ- TAF- 1260; DE- TAF- 2418], the Rector scholarship, Tel Aviv University [M.A.R- J. postdoctoral fellowship] and the Alexander and Eva Lester Fund scholarship, I. Meier Segals Garden for Zoological Research [M.A.R- J. postdoctoral fellowship].Peer reviewe

The northward extension of reptiles in the Palearctic, with the Jordan Valley (Israel) as a model: snakes outrace lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)

Figure 2. The geographical distribution, in the study area, of the records of two lizard species: Mesalina guttulata (Lacertidae), open circles, and Tropiocolotes nattereri (Gekkonidae), solid circles. Some key localities for orientation are shown in Figure 1.Published as part of Shacham, Boaz, Federman, Roy, Lahav-Ginott, Shimrit & Werner, Yehudah L., 2015, The northward extension of reptiles in the Palearctic, with the Jordan Valley (Israel) as a model: snakes outrace lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), pp. 1017-1033 in Journal of Natural History 50 on page 1022, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1083057, http://zenodo.org/record/399011

Conservation status of the world's skinks (Scincidae): taxonomic and geographic patterns in extinction risk

Our knowledge of the conservation status of reptiles, the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates, has improved dramatically over the past decade, but still lags behind that of the other tetrapod groups. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive evaluation (~92% of the world's ~1714 described species) of the conservation status of skinks (Scincidae), a speciose reptile family with a worldwide distribution. Using International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, we report that ~20% of species are threatened with extinction, and nine species are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. The highest levels of threat are evident in Madagascar and the Neotropics, and in the subfamilies Mabuyinae, Eugongylinae and Scincinae. The vast majority of threatened skink species were listed based primarily on their small geographic ranges (Criterion B, 83%; Criterion D2, 13%). Although the population trend of 42% of species was stable, 14% have declining populations. The key threats to skinks are habitat loss due to agriculture, invasive species, and biological resource use (e.g., hunting, timber harvesting). The distributions of 61% of species do not overlap with protected areas. Despite our improved knowledge of the conservation status of the world's skinks, 8% of species remain to be assessed, and 14% are listed as Data Deficient. The conservation status of almost a quarter of the world's skink species thus remains unknown. We use our updated knowledge of the conservation status of the group to develop and outline the priorities for the conservation assessment and management of the world's skink species