Fifteen species in one: deciphering the Brachionus plicatilis species complex (Rotifera, Monogononta) through DNA taxonomy

Understanding patterns and processes in biological diversity is a critical task given current and rapid environmental change. Such knowledge is even more essential when the taxa under consideration are important ecological and evolutionary models. One of these cases is the monogonont rotifer cryptic species complex Brachionus plicatilis, which is by far the most extensively studied group of rotifers, is widely used in aquaculture, and is known to host a large amount of unresolved diversity. Here we collate a dataset of previously available and newly generated sequences of COI and ITS1 for 1273 isolates of the B. plicatilis complex and apply three approaches in DNA taxonomy (i.e. ABGD, PTP, and GMYC) to identify and provide support for the existence of 15 species within the complex. We used these results to explore phylogenetic signal in morphometric and ecological traits, and to understand correlation among the traits using phylogenetic comparative models. Our results support niche conservatism for some traits (e.g. body length) and phylogenetic plasticity for others (e.g. genome size)

A Learning Model Based on the Elderly Philosophy for A Happy Life in Thai Social Context

The objectives of this research were divided into two phases: Phase 1: To synthesize and design learning activities based on the elderly philosophy for a happy life in Thai social context; the target group consisted of 8 key informants, 6 casual Informants, and 6 general informants; instruments used were an unstructured interview form, a non-participant observation form, and a diary form, data were analyzed by content analysis and thematically analysis. Phase 2: To study a learning model based on the elderly philosophy for a happy life in Thai social context, key informants consisted of 9 experts selected by purposive sampling, instruments used were a draft model and an evaluation form, data were analyzed by mean and standard deviation. The research results were as follows: Phase 1: The synthesis and designed results consisted of 4 aspects, 4 relationships, 4 developing dimensions, 5 standards, and 6 indicators in learning activities based on the elderly philosophy. Phase 2: The learning model based on the elderly philosophy for a happy life in Thai social context consisted of POCO&A+L(PAORS). The details were: a principle (P), an objective (O), conditions for achievement (C), operations and activities (O&A), and learning processes based on the elderly philosophy consisted of planning (P), action (A), organizing (O), reflection (R), and sustainability (S). The suitability and the possibility of the learning model were at the highest level (mean = 4.76 and 4.68) respectively

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation improves the outcome of adults with t(1;19)/E2A-PBX1 and t(4;11)/MLL-AF4 positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results of the prospective multicenter LALA-94 study.

International audienceAdult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and t(1;19)/E2A-PBX1 or t(4;11)/MLL-AF4 have a poor outcome. We have evaluated the impact of an intensified post-remission therapy using a high-dose chemotherapy course followed by allogeneic or autologous SCT on the outcome of 58 patients with t(1;19)/E2A-PBX1 (E2A group, n=24) or t(4;11)/MLL-AF4 (MLL group, n=34) treated in the LALA-94 multicenter prospective study. Patients in the MLL group had higher WBC counts and more frequent DIC. CR rates achieved by MLL and E2A groups were similar to other B-cell ALL (87, 82 and 86% respectively). While in CR, patients with a donor were assigned to alloSCT (n=22), the remaining patients with were randomized between autoSCT (n=15) or chemotherapy (n=8). Five-year overall survival was 31 and 45% for E2A and MLL groups, respectively. In both groups, DFS was higher in the alloSCT arm as compared to autoSCT and chemotherapy arms. The results of this study show that chemotherapy intensification did not overcome the poor prognosis of adults with t(1;19)/E2A-PBX1. Allogeneic SCT should thus be offered in first CR to patients with t(1;19)/E2A-PBX1 or t(4;11)/MLL-AF4. New therapeutic approaches are needed for patients without donor