Sex-Biased Dispersal Obscures Species Boundaries in Integrative Species Delimitation Approaches.

Accurate delimitation of species is crucial for a stable taxonomy, which provides the foundation for the study of evolutionary biology, ecology, and essentially all biological disciplines. Several approaches toward impartial and repeatable taxonomic practices are available but all existing methods have potentially unacceptable shortcomings. In particular, problems can arise when the underlying model assumptions are violated, for instance, in the presence of reduced gene flow. This is observed in the context of sex-biased dispersal, which is a common but underappreciated feature in many groups of organisms. Previously, simulations have indicated that sex-biased dispersal may lead to erroneous estimations of the true species numbers. However, this phenomenon has never been examined using empirical data. We evaluate the bias introduced by extreme female philopatry on a range of de novo [GMYC, PTP, ABGD, statistical parsimony, trinomial distribution of triplets model (tr2)] and validation (STACEY, iBPP) approaches to species delimitation in the scarab beetle genus Pachypus. Since female philopatry exhibited in this genus in particular can affect mitochondrial gene flow, we compared the results from analyses of single loci, mitochondrial loci, nuclear loci and combined data, as well as the performance of morphometric data as a secondary data source in a fully integrative Bayesian framework. Large overestimation of species numbers was observed across all analyses of combined and mitochondrial DNA data sets, suggesting specimens from nearly every sampling location as separate species. The use of nuclear data resulted in more reasonable estimations of species boundaries, which were largely supported by morphometrics of linear measurements, while geometric morphometrics of body outlines resulted in stronger splitting. Simulations of population divergence with migration, corresponding to the biology of Pachypus, showed that female philopatry strongly increases reciprocal monophyly of mitochondrial markers and may substantially contribute to over-splitting in species delimitation. Robust results recovered using nuclear DNA and morphological data nevertheless enabled us to reach novel conclusions about species boundaries in Pachypus. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial DNA will be less suited to species delimitation in many cases, in particular in the presence of sex-biased dispersal.

Political determinants of Health: Lessons for Pakistan.

There is much concern about the capacity of the health system of Pakistan to meet its goals and obligations. Historically, the political thrust has been absent from the health policy formulation and this is reflected in the low and stagnant public allocations to health. Successive political leaderships have averred from considering healthcare is a common good rather than a market commodity and health has not been recognized as a constitutional right. Over 120 of world's nation states have accepted health as a constitutional right but the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan does not mandate health or education as a fundamental right and the recently adopted 18th constitutional amendment missed the opportunity to extend access to primary health care as an obligation of the State. It is argued in this communication that missing from the calculations of policy formulation and agenda setting is the political benefits of providing health and other social services to underserved populations. Across the developing world, many examples are presented of governments undertaking progressive health reforms that bring services where none existed and subsequently reaping electoral benefit. The political determinant of healthcare will be realized when the political leaders of poorly performing countries can be convinced that embracing distributive policies and successfully bringing healthcare to the poor can be major factors in their re-elections.

The genus Dedalopterus Sabatinelli & Pontuale, 1998 (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Leucopholini) in Laos and Vietnam, with description of a new species.

The genus Dedalopterus Sabatinelli & Pontuale, 1998 from Laos and Vietnam is reviewed: three species are present of which Dedalopterus lexuanhuei Pham, Ahrens & Sabatinelli, new species from Central Vietnam (Ngoc Linh Mts., Annamite Range) is here described. Dedalopterusmalyszi Bunalski, 2001 is present in North Vietnam (Lao Cai, Hoang Lien Son Range), and Dedalopterus pulchellus Sabatinelli & Pontuale, 1998 (= D.bezdekorum Zdek & Krajk, 2007, new synonymy) is known from Northeast Laos (Mt. Xiangkhouang and Mt. Phou Pan). Additional records, an updated checklist, and an identification key of the genus Dedalopterus are provided. All species treated are abundantly illustrated.

Eulasia (Rudeulasia) daccordii, a new species from southern Levant, with notes on E. pietschmanni Breit and E. baumanni Mitter (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaphyridae).

Eulasia daccordii new species is described from Jordan, West Bank, and Israel, where it is known from the Jordan Valley and the Negev. It was previously confused with E. pietschmanni Breit, to which it is very similar and from which it can be recognized mainly for the structure and distribution of the pronotal setae and the shape of the protibia of males. Remarks on distribution and colour range of E. pietschmanni Breit are provided, and its year of description is corrected from 1919 to 1920. In addition, taxonomic and diagnostic remarks on the poorly known sympatric species E. baumanni Mitter are presented: it is clarified that this poorly known taxon is related to E. papaveris (Sturm), whose Levantine populations require a taxonomic reassessment.

Revision of the subgenus Hemiglaphyrus Champenois, 1903 of Glaphyrus Latreille, 1807, with description of three new species and Atticoglaphyrus new subgenus (Coleoptera: Glaphyridae).

The subgenus Hemiglaphyrus Champenois, 1903 of Glaphyrus Latreille, 1807 is revised. It currently includes four species: G. (H.) caucasicus Kraatz, 1882 (type species), G. (H.) armeniacus Ghrejyan, Kalashian & Sabatinelli, new species from Armenia, G. (H.) urartu Sabatinelli, Ghrejyan & Kalashian, new species from East Turkey and Iran and G. (H.) schweigeri Ghrejyan, Kalashian & Sabatinelli, new species from Iran and Iraq, here described and illustrated. A key to Hemiglaphyrus species is provided. Atticoglaphyrus Ghrejyan, Kalashian & Sabatinelli, new subgenus is established for G. modestus Kiesenwetter, 1858 originally included in Hemiglaphyrus. Lectotypes of Glaphyrus caucasicus Kraatz, 1882 and Glaphyrus modestus Kiesenwetter, 1858 are designated.

Eulasia (Eulasia) ozdikmeni and Pygopleurus ozguri, two new species of Glaphyridae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from south western Turkey.

Two new species of Glaphyridae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are described from south western Turkey. Eulasia (Eulasia) ozdikmeni Uliana, Bollino & Sabatinelli, new species is distributed from the Isparta vilayet in the west, to the Mersin vilayet in the east, and was previously confused with Eulasia (Eulasia) montana (Reitter, 1890), a poorly known species from Diyarbakir area for which a lectotype is designated. Pygopleurus ozguri Uliana, Bollino & Sabatinelli, new species is an early-flying species only known from the surroundings of Karaman city (Karaman vilayet), and is peculiar for the shape of the male clypeus and paramera.

Low infant mortality among Palestine refugees despite the odds.

OBJECTIVE: To present data from a 2008 infant mortality survey conducted in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and analyse infant mortality trends among Palestine refugees in 1995-2005. METHODS: Following the preceding birth technique, mothers who were registering a new birth were asked if the preceding child was alive or dead, the day the child was born and the date of birth of the neonate whose birth was being registered. From this information, neonatal, infant and early child mortality rates were estimated. The age at death for early child mortality was determined by the mean interval between successive births and the mean age of neonates at registration. FINDINGS: In 2005-2006, infant mortality among Palestine refugees ranged from 28 deaths per 100 000 live births in the Syrian Arab Republic to 19 in Lebanon. Thus, infant mortality in Palestine refugees is among the lowest in the Near East. However, infant mortality has stopped decreasing in recent years, although it remains at a level compatible with the attainment of Millennium Development Goal 4. CONCLUSION: Largely owing to the primary health care provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and other entities, infant mortality among Palestine refugees had consistently decreased. However, it is no longer dropping. Measures to address the most likely reasons - early marriage and childbearing, poor socioeconomic conditions and limited access to good perinatal care - are needed.

Characterization of large mumps outbreak among vaccinated Palestinian refugees.

During a large mumps virus (MuV) outbreak which occurred in the Palestinian refugee camps of the West Bank, 68.1% (2,636/3,871) of the cases were vaccinated with one dose of trivalent measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Attack rates by camp ranged from less than 1 case per 1,000 people in the population to 43/1,000 (overall, 11/1,000). The outbreak lasted from December 2003 to June 2005, with two peaks, one from April to May 2004 and the other from March to April 2005. To control the outbreak, a mass MMR vaccination campaign was conducted in May 2005. Evaluation of the immune status of cases (n=59) and healthy controls (n=51) revealed high levels of mumps immunoglobulin G (IgG) and a low MuV-specific IgM in clinical cases indicative of a booster immune response. This suggested a secondary rather than a primary infection due to the insufficient protection conferred by the single vaccine dose included in the vaccination program. This prediction was further confirmed by the low seroprevalence (68.6%) found in the healthy control group, which was below the threshold level required for MuV herd immunity. Mumps diagnosis was established mainly by reverse transcription-PCR in clinical samples obtained within 48 h from the onset of disease. Of the parotid fluids and nasopharyngeal aspirates analyzed, 92% were positive for MuV RNA, while only 33% of the urine samples were positive. Phylogenetic analysis of the MuV SH gene identified the outbreak strain as the H genotype, which has been in circulation worldwide at least since 1989.

The Pygopleurus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaphyridae) of mainland Greece: taxonomy, faunistics and ecological notes.

The present contribution revises the taxonomy of the Pygopleurus Motschulsky, 1860 species from the mainland Greece, introducing substantial changes to the last taxonomic work by Baraud (1989). Pygopleurus humeralis (Brullé, 1832) is recognized as a junior synonym of P. apicalis (Brullé, 1832). Specimens up to date identified as P. humeralis actually belong to five different taxa, of which two are new: P. brullei brullei Bollino, Uliana Sabatinelli, new species and P. brullei taygetanus Bollino, Uliana Sabatinelli, new subspecies, two are resurrected from synonymy: P. viridisuturatus (Reitter, 1903) from Greece, and P. isikdagensis (Petrovitz, 1963) from Turkey, and one species, P. bulgaricus (Nedelkov, 1905) is resurrected. Pygopleurus pseudopsilotrichius (Petrovitz, 1958) is resurrected from unwarranted synonymy with P. anemoninus (Brullé, 1832). Pygopleurus chrysonotus (Brullé, 1832) is removed from the synonymy with P. anemoninus and treated as senior synonym of Pygopleurus diffusus (Petrovitz, 1958). Pygopleurus anemoninus, P. chrysonotus and P. hirsutus (Brullé, 1832) are endemic to Greece, and absent from the fauna of Turkey. Previous records of these species from Turkey result from misidentifications. Neotypes of Pygopleurus chrysonotus and P. bulgaricus are designated. Neotype of Amphicoma apicalis designated by Baraud (1989) and lectotype of A. humeralis selected by Baraud (1989) in 1988 are considered invalid and set aside. For all species, ecological notes are presented and geographical distributions are mapped.

Synopsis of the genus Pharaonus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae), with descriptions of new taxa.

An overview of the genus Pharaonus Blanchard, 1851 is presented. Pharaonus farsensis new species and P. adelphus new species are described from Iran, P. lederi turcmenius Ohaus, 1941 is recognized as new synonym of P. lederi (Reitter, 1888), and the subgenus Tamerlanius new subgenus is proposed for the two central-Asian species. New distribution records and systematic notes are presented: P. caucasicus (Reitter, 1888) is removed from the fauna of Iran and P. varicoloreus (Burmeister, 1844) from that of Israel; P. fasciculatus (Burmeister, 1844) is reported for the first time from Israel, P. semenowi (Reitter, 1888) from Tajikistan. All known species are illustrated and a key to species is presented.

Clinical efficacy of chloroquine followed by primaquine for Plasmodium vivax treatment in Azerbaijan.

Efficacy of chloroquine followed by primaquine has been monitored in 153 patients in seven districts of Azerbaijan. Chloroquine is fully effective over the first 14 days and the combination of chloroquine and primaquine is 100% effective over 28 days.

Setting up an early warning system for epidemic-prone diseases in Darfur: a participative approach.

In April-May 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) implemented, with local authorities, United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), an early warning system (EWS) in Darfur, West Sudan, for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The number of consultations and deaths per week for 12 health events is recorded for two age groups (less than five years and five years and above). Thresholds are used to detect potential outbreaks. Ten weeks after the introduction of the system, NGOs were covering 54 camps, and 924,281 people (IDPs and the host population). Of these 54 camps, 41 (76%) were reporting regularly under the EWS. Between 22 May and 30 July, 179,795 consultations were reported: 18.7% for acute respiratory infections; 15% for malaria; 8.4% for bloody diarrhoea; and 1% for severe acute malnutrition. The EWS is useful for detecting outbreaks and monitoring the number of consultations required to trigger actions, but not for estimating mortality.