Biological invasions are a population-level rather than a species-level phenomenon.

Biological invasions pose a rapidly expanding threat to the persistence, functioning and service provisioning of ecosystems globally, and to socio-economic interests. The stages of successful invasions are driven by the same mechanism that underlies adaptive changes across species in general-via natural selection on intraspecific variation in traits that influence survival and reproductive performance (i.e., fitness). Surprisingly, however, the rapid progress in the field of invasion science has resulted in a predominance of species-level approaches (such as deny lists), often irrespective of natural selection theory, local adaptation and other population-level processes that govern successful invasions. To address these issues, we analyse non-native species dynamics at the population level by employing a database of European freshwater macroinvertebrate time series, to investigate spreading speed, abundance dynamics and impact assessments among populations. Our findings reveal substantial variability in spreading speed and abundance trends within and between macroinvertebrate species across biogeographic regions, indicating that levels of invasiveness and impact differ markedly. Discrepancies and inconsistencies among species-level risk screenings and real population-level data were also identified, highlighting the inherent challenges in accurately assessing population-level effects through species-level assessments. In recognition of the importance of population-level assessments, we urge a shift in invasive species management frameworks, which should account for the dynamics of different populations and their environmental context. Adopting an adaptive, region-specific and population-focused approach is imperative, considering the diverse ecological contexts and varying degrees of susceptibility. Such an approach could improve and refine risk assessments while promoting mechanistic understandings of risks and impacts, thereby enabling the development of more effective conservation and management strategies

Recent advances in hydrothermal carbonisation:from tailored carbon materials and biochemicals to applications and bioenergy

Introduced in the literature in 1913 by Bergius, who at the time was studying biomass coalification, hydrothermal carbonisation, as many other technologies based on renewables, was forgotten during the "industrial revolution". It was rediscovered back in 2005, on the one hand, to follow the trend set by Bergius of biomass to coal conversion for decentralised energy generation, and on the other hand as a novel green method to prepare advanced carbon materials and chemicals from biomass in water, at mild temperature, for energy storage and conversion and environmental protection. In this review, we will present an overview on the latest trends in hydrothermal carbonisation including biomass to bioenergy conversion, upgrading of hydrothermal carbons to fuels over heterogeneous catalysts, advanced carbon materials and their applications in batteries, electrocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis and finally an analysis of the chemicals in the liquid phase as well as a new family of fluorescent nanomaterials formed at the interface between the liquid and solid phases, known as hydrothermal carbon nanodots

Hidden inequalities amongst the international workforce

This chapter focuses on low status expatriates who have been largely ‘hidden’ from managerial scholarship. They are ‘hidden’ because they are ignored by the migrant literature which looks at people trying to remain in their new society and gain citizenship; and ignored by the expatriation literature which is mainly concerned with high-status ‘top’ talent. These hidden expatriates are typically maids, drivers, security guards, and construction workers - low status and low paid, unable to obtain citizenship, and liable to be sent home, unemployed, at the whim of their employer. If we, as scholars, are to contribute to the betterment of society by elevating the health and well-being of those who live in it, then we must recognise the existence of and address the management issues and concerns of those at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’. We use Organisational Justice theory and draw on examples from Turkey, Singapore and the Middle East to examine the position, the concerns, and the issues of such workers and their often-unequal place in the workforce

Enterekoklarda antibiyotik direnci ve antibiyotik dışı ilaçların bu dirence etkisi

ÖZETBu çalışma, çeşitli klinik örneklerden üretilen enterokok kökenlerinin antibiyotik direnç paternlerini belirlemek ve belirli direnç profiline sahip kökenlerde klasik beta-laktam+aminoglikozid kombinasyonlarına, infeksiyon hastalıklarının semptomatik tedavisinde sıklıkla kullanılan analjezik, antipiretiklerin ne türde etkileşiminin olduğunu gözlemlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla Haydarpaşa Numune Hastanesi Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Laboratuvarına gelen çeşitli klinik örneklerden izole edilen 200 enterokok kökeni ve standart E. faecalis ATCC 29212 kökeni ile çalışılmıştır. Tür düzeyinde identifikasyon yapılmamıştır.Beta-laktam+aminoglikozid sinerjisinde enterokokların aminoglikozidlere yüksek düzey direnç göstermesi önemli bir sorun olduğundan yüksek düzey gentamisin direnci ( YDGD ) ni saptamak amacıyla Brain Heart İnfusion ( BHİ ) agar besiyerine 500 mg/ml gentamisin ilavesi ile gentamisin tarama testi, BHİ agar besiyerine 6 mg/ml vankomisin ilavesi ile vankomisin tarama testi yapılmıştır. Kökenlerin tümünde beta-laktamaz aktivitesi araştırılmıştır. Antibiyotik dışı ilaçların ( asetil salisilik asit ( ASA ), asetominofen ) ampisilin ( AMP ) ve ampisilin+ gentamisin ( GEN ) kombinasyonu ile elde edilen antimikrobiyal aktiviteye katkısını belirlemek amacıyla, AMP minimal inhibisyon konsantrasyon ( MİK ) değerlerine göre 2 duyarlı ( 1 mg/ml - 2 mg/ml ), 2 düşük düzeyde dirençli ( 32 mg/ml - 64 mg/ml ) ve 1 yüksek düzeyde dirençli ( 256 mg/ml ) 5 enterokok kökeni seçilmiş ve bu kökenlerin YDGD'li olmamasına özen gösterilmiştir. Bu kökenler üzerinde dama tahtası ( checkerboard ) ve zamana bağlı ölüm ( time-kill curve ) yöntemleriyle sinerji araştırılmıştır.Çalışmamızda, mikrodilüsyon yöntemi ile saptanan MİK değerlerine göre kökenlerin %76.5 AMP'e duyarlı bulunmuş olup, bu kökenlerin MİK50 konsantrasyonu 2 mg/ml , MİK90 ise 128 mg/ml saptanmıştır. Gentamisinin ise MİK aralığı 8 - >128 mg/ml olup kökenlerin %32 sinde YDGD saptanmıştır. Tüm kökenler vankomisine duyarlı bulunmuş ve hiçbir kökenin beta-laktamaz enzimi üretmediği saptanmıştır. Parasetamolün MİK değerinin ( >4096 ) toksik serum konsantrasyonunun ( 300 mg/ml ) çok üstünde olması nedeniyle, dama tahtası ve zamana bağlı ölüm yöntemleriyle kombinasyon çalışmasında sadece ASA kullanılmıştır. Dama tahtası yönteminde ASA+AMP, ASA+GEN, AMP+GEN, ASA+AMP+GEN kombinasyonları çalışılmıştır. Bu kombinasyonda Fraksiyonel inhibisyon konsantrasyonu (FİK) değerleri 0.5-4.0 arasında kalmış olup, etkileşim saptanmamıştır. Zamana bağlı ölüm yöntemi ile yaptığımız çalışmada AMP MİK'ları değişik 5 kökende de ½ MİK değerlerinde gentamisin ile sinerjizm gözlenmistir. AMP'in 1/4 MİK değerlerinde AMP duyarlı kökenlerde sinerjizm gözlenmezken, AMP düşük düzey direnç gösteren kökenlerde halen sinerjizm olduğu saptanmıştır. AMP MİK değeri yüksek düzeyde dirençli olan kökende ise sinerjizm AMP 1/8 MİK değerinde dahi gözlenmiştir. ASA ilavesi bu yöntemlerle yapılan sinerji çalışmalarının sonuçlarında hiçbir değişiklik yapmamıştır. ANTİBİOTİC RESİSTANCE İN ENTEROCOCCİ AND THE EFFECT OF NON- ANTİBİOTİC DRUGS ON THİS RESİSTANCESUMMARYThe objective of this study is to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of enterococci strains isolated from various clinical specimens and to investigate the effect of commonly used antipyretics and painkillers on the classical combination therapy ( namely, beta lactams and aminoglycoside antibiotics ) in the symptomatic treatment of infectious diseases.Two hundred strains enterococci of isolated from clinical materials admitted to the clinical microbiology laboratory of Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 standard strain were included in this study.Since high level aminoglycoside resistance in enterococci results in failure of beta-lactam aminoglycoside combinations, strains were screened for high level gentamicin resistance in brain heart infusion agar ( BHIA ) by adding 500 mg/ml gentamicin in to the medium and a vancomycin screening test was also performed by adding 6mg/ml vancomycin into the BHIA. None of the strains showed beta-lactamase activity.The influence of non-antibiotic drugs ( acetyl salycylic acid (ASA ) and acetominophene ) on the antimicrobial activity of ampicillin ( AMP ) alone and in combination with gentamicin ( GEN ) was investigated with two ampicillin-sensitive strains ( MIC values 1 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml ), two low level resistant strains ( MIC values 32 mg/ml and 64 mg/ml ) and one high level resistant ( MIC values 256 mg/ml ) strain, all five strains having HLGR. Synergism was tested with checkerboard and time-kill curve methods. MIC values determined with the microdilution method revealed that 76.5 % of the strains were sensitive to ampicillin with MIC50 value being 2mg/ml whereas MIC 90 is 128 mg/ml. MIC range of gentamicin on the other hand was 8 - >128 mg/ml and 32 % of the strains had HLGR. All of the strains were sensitive to vancomycin and none of them produced beta-lactamase.Paracetamol has not been taken into the antibiotic combination investigations, since its MIC level was found to be much higher ( >4096 mg/ml ) than its toxic serum level ( 300 mg/ml ). ASA+AMP, ASA+GEN, AMP+GEN, ASA+AMP+GEN combinations were studied with checkerboard and time-kill methods. Fractional inhibitory concentration ( FIC ) index was found between 0.5 and 4.0 and no interaction was determined. Time-kill curve studies performed on five strains of enterococci with different ampicillin MIC values. All five strains revealed synergy between gentamicin and ½ MIC's of ampicillin. Low-level ampicillin resistant strains showed synergism at even Þ MIC of ampicillin while ampicillin susceptible ones did not exhibit such an interaction at those concentrationsof ampicillin. Strains with high level ampicillin resistance continued to be synergistic at even 1/8 MIC values of ampicillin. Adding of ASA had no effect on synergism as measured with the above-mentioned methods