Evolutionary history and species delimitations: a case study of the hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius

Robust identification of species and significant evolutionary units (ESUs) is essential to implement appropriate conservation strategies for endangered species. However, definitions of species or ESUs are numerous and sometimes controversial, which might lead to biased conclusions, with serious consequences for the management of endangered species. The hazel dormouse, an arboreal rodent of conservation concern throughout Europe is an ideal model species to investigate the relevance of species identification for conservation purposes. This species is a member of the Gliridae family, which is protected in Europe and seriously threatened in the northern part of its range. We assessed the extent of genetic subdivision in the hazel dormouse by sequencing one mitochondrial gene (cytb) and two nuclear genes (BFIBR, APOB) and genotyping 10 autosomal microsatellites. These data were analysed using a combination of phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation methods. Multilocus analyses revealed the presence of two genetically distinct lineages (approximately 11 % cytb genetic divergence, no nuclear alleles shared) for the hazel dormouse in Europe, which presumably diverged during the Late Miocene. The phylogenetic patterns suggests that Muscardinus avellanarius populations could be split into two cryptic species respectively distributed in western and central-eastern Europe and Anatolia. However, the comparison of several species definitions and methods estimated the number of species between 1 and 10. Our results revealed the difficulty in choosing and applying an appropriate criterion and markers to identify species and highlight the fact that consensus guidelines are essential for species delimitation in the future. In addition, this study contributes to a better knowledge about the evolutionary history of the species

GAINS-Asia Deliverable D15: Final Report on Policy Analysis with the GAINS-Asia model

This report describes initial policy analyses with the Greenhouse gas – Air pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model. It summarizes the exogenous projections on energy and agricultural activities up to 2030 and discusses the resulting implications on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. An illustrative scenario explores the health benefits from a substitution of solid fuels in households by LPG and explores the side-effects on greenhouse gas emissions. The paper summarizes the optimization methodology that has been developed for the GAINS-Asia model and presents a range of alternative strategies to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It shows that with a targeted approach, emission control costs can be reduced by up to 80 percent compared to an across-the-board application of technologies. Furthermore, the paper presents systematic analyses of the costs (i.e., cost curves) for reducing health impacts from fine particulate matter as well as for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract on haematological parameters, immune function and the antioxidant defence system in breeder hens fed aflatoxin contaminated diets

1. The study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract (SC) on haematological parameters, immune function, and the antioxidant defence system in breeder hens fed a diet contaminated with low level aflatoxin (AF)

Ketamine or propofol anesthesia in dogs: how do they affect cytokines, antioxidants and neutrophil functions?

The objective of the study is to investigate the effects of ketamine and propofol on cytokines, antioxidant defense system, and neutrophil functions in dogs. A total of 24 dogs were used. Dogs were divided into two groups as ketamine and propofol. The ketamine group received ketamine (5 mg/kg) intravenously while the propofol group received propofol (4 mg/kg) intravenously.Blood samples were collected before sedation and 30 minutes after induction of anesthesia.Serum antioxidant and cytokine levels were analyzed and neutrophil functions were determined. Respiration rate, serum malondialdehyde, IL-4, IL-6 levels, and phagocytic and chemotaxic activity of neutrophils were decreased (P=0.001, P=0.010, P=0.014, P=0.039, P=0.008, and P=0.037, respectively), oxygen saturation were increased (P=0.025) in the ketamine group. Serum IL-6 and IFN-gamma level were decreased (P=0.015 and P=0.032 respectively), chemotactic activity of neutrophils were increased (P=0.049) in propofol group. The administration of ketamine was found to have a positive effect both on the antioxidant system and the neutrophil. On the other hand, positive and negative effects of propofol on different parts of the immune system were observed. Therefore, the results should be taken into account when designing an anesthesia protocol for dogs to predict possible defense system reactions during the postoperative period

Genotypic and phenotypic presentation of transthyretin-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) in Turkey.

Transthyretin-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations of the transthyretin (TTR) gene. The mutant amyloidogenic transthyretin protein causes the systemic accumulation of amyloid fibrils that result in organ dysfunction. TTR-associated FAP is a progressive and fatal disease, if left untreated, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any person presenting with a progressive polyneuropathy, particularly with accompanying autonomic involvement. The clinical, electrophysiological, histopathological, and genetic characteristics of 17 patients from Turkey (5 female, 13 male) from nine families with polyneuropathy and mutations in TTR were evaluated. Sequence analysis of the TTR gene revealed five mutations (Va130Met, Glu89Gln, Gly53Glu, Glu54Gly and Gly47Glu). Mean age at disease onset was 40.4 +/- 13.9 years (range 21-66 years). The most commonly reported initial complaint was paresthesia in the feet (asymmetric in three patients). Three patients (2 male) with the Glu89Gln mutation presented with carpal tunnel syndrome. Two patients with the Gly53Glu mutation showed episodes of dysarthria and hemiparesis, consistent with this genotype. Seven patients died during the period of follow-up as a result of systemic involvement. Our study suggests that a cohort of patients from Turkey with TTR-FAP exhibits clinical and genetic heterogeneity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

New insight in the evolutionary history of the common dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius: a new cryptic species?

Robust identification of species entities and evolutionary units is essential to implement appropriate conservation strategies for endangered species. However, definitions of species or evolutionary units are numerous and sometimes controversial, which might lead to biased conclusions, with serious consequences for the management of endangered species. The hazel dormouse, an arboreal rodent of conservation concern throughout Europe is an ideal model species to investigate the relevance of species identification for conservation purposes. This species is a member of the Gliridae family, which is protected in Europe and seriously threatened in the northern part of its range. We assessed the extent of genetic subdivision in the hazel dormouse by sequencing one mitochondrial gene (cytb) and two nuclear genes (BFIBR, APOB) and genotyping 10 autosomal microsatellites. These data were analysed using a combination of phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation methods. Multilocus analyses revealed the presence of two genetically distinct (approximately 11% cyt b genetic divergence, no nuclear alleles shared) lineages for the hazel dormouse in Europe, which presumably diverged during the Late Miocene. The phylogenetic patterns suggests that M. avellanarius populations could be split into two cryptic species respectively distributed in western and central-eastern Europe and Anatolia. However, the comparison of several species definitions and methods estimated the number of species between 1 and 10. Our results revealed the difficulty in choosing and applying an appropriate criterion and markers to identify species and highlight the fact that consensus guidelines are essential for species delimitation in the future. In addition, this study contributes to a better knowledge about the evolutionary history of the species