New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (April 2015)

The Collective Article ‘New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records’ of the Mediterranean Marine Science journal offers the means to publish biodiversity records in the Mediterranean Sea. The current article is divided in two parts, for records of native and alien species respectively. The new records of native fish species include: the slender sunfish Ranzania laevis and the scalloped ribbonfish Zu cristatus in Calabria; the Azores rockling Gaidropsarus granti in Calabria and Sicily; the agujon needlefish Tylosu¬rus acus imperialis in the Northern Aegean; and the amphibious behaviour of Gouania willdenowi in Southern Turkey. As regards molluscs, the interesting findings include Ischnochiton usticensis in Calabria and Thordisa filix in the bay of Piran (Slovenia). The stomatopod Parasquilla ferussaci was collected from Lesvos island (Greece); the isopod Anilocra frontalis was observed parasit¬izing the alien Pteragogus trispilus in the Rhodes area. The asteroid Tethyaster subinermis and the butterfly ray Gymnura altavela were reported from several localities in the Greek Ionian and Aegean Seas.The new records of alien species include: the antenna codlet Bregmaceros atlanticus in Saronikos Gulf; three new fish records and two decapods from Egypt; the establishment of the two spot cardinal fish Cheilodipterus novemstriatus and the first record of the marble shrimp Saron marmoratus in semi-dark caves along the Lebanese coastline; the finding of Lagocephalus sceleratus, Sargocentron rubrum, Fistularia commersonii and Stephanolepis diaspros around Lipsi island (Aegean Sea, Greece); the decapod Penaeus Hathor in Aegean waters; the decapod Penaeus aztecus and the nudibranch Melibe viridis in the Dodecanese islands; the finding of Pinctada imbricata radiate in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Italy) and the Maliakos Gulf (Greece)

New Mediterranean biodiversity records (March 2016)

In this Collective Article on “New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records”, we present additional records of species found in the Mediterranean Sea. These records refer to eight different countries mainly throughout the northern part of the basin, and include 28 species, belonging to five Phyla. The findings per country include the following species: Spain: Callinectes sapidus and Chelidonura fulvipunctata; Monaco: Aplysia dactylomela; Italy: Charybdis (Charybdis) feriata, Carcharodon carcharias, Seriola fasciata, and Siganus rivulatus; Malta: Pomacanthus asfur; Croatia: Lagocephalus sceleratus and Pomadasys incisus; Montenegro: Lagocephalus sceleratus; Greece: Amathia (Zoobotryon) verticillata, Atys macandrewii, Cerithium scabridum, Chama pacifica, Dendostrea cf. folium, Ergalatax junionae, Septifer cumingii, Syphonota geographica, Syrnola fasciata, Oxyu- richthys petersi, Scarus ghobban, Scorpaena maderensis, Solea aegyptiaca and Upeneus pori; Turkey: Lobotes surinamensis, Ruvettus pretiosus and Ophiocten abyssicolum. In the current article, the presence of Taractes rubescens (Jordan & Evermann, 1887) is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean from Italy. The great contribution of citizen scientists in monitoring biodiversity records is reflected herein, as 10% of the authors are citizen scientists, and contributed 37.5% of the new findings.peer-reviewe

Synthesis of well-defined second-generation dendritic polymers of isoprene (I) and styrene (S): (S2I)3, (SI′I)3, (I″I′I)3, and (I′2I)4

The synthesis of second-generation (G-2) dendritic polymers of isoprene (I) and styrene (S) was achieved with anionic polymerization high-vacuum techniques and by performing the following steps: (1) selective reaction of a living chain with the chlorosilane group of 4-(chlorodimethylsilyl)styrene (a dual-functionality compound) to produce a macromonomer, (2) addition of a second living chain (same or different) to the double bond of the macromonomer, (3) polymerization of I with the anionic sites, and (4) reaction of the produced off-center living species with trichloromethyl silane or tetrachlorosilane (CH3SiCl3 or SiCl4). The combined characterization results showed that the G-2 dendritic macromolecules synthesized-(S2I)3, (SI′I)3, (I″I′I)3, (I′I)4 a high molecular and compositional homogeneity

Anionic polymerization of styrenic macromonomers

A new methodology for the anionic polymerization of styrenic macromonomers is proposed. By using this methodology, a new family of well-defined complex macromolecular architectures, having macromonomers as building blocks, can be synthesized. A few examples are PsMMI-b-PsMMB, PsMMI-co-PsMMB, PsMMI-b-PS-b-PsMMI, (PsMMI)3, and PsMMSIM, among others

Controlled free-radical polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine in the presence of nitroxides

Bulk free-radical polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine (2VP) in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) was studied under different conditions (temperature and presence of additives). Linear poly-(2-vinylpyridine) with a narrow molecular weight distribution and controllable molecular weight was prepared in the presence of acetic anhydride at 95°C up to a conversion of 66%. At higher conversions side reactions became very important (pseudoliving polymerization). By applying this procedure, well-defined random copolymers of 2VP with styrene or tert-butylmethacrylate as well as block copolymers of 2VP with styrene were synthesized

Micellar behavior of a well-defined dendritic polymer (PS 2PI)3: The effects of architecture and solvent selectivity

The micelles formed when a dendritic polymer of polystyrene (PS) and polyisoprene (PI), having the overall structure (PS2PI)3, were examined in two solvents, dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylacetamide (DMA). Both solvents are good solvents for polystyrene and non-solvents for polyisoprene. The aggregation behavior was studied by a combination of static and dynamic light scattering and viscometry. In both systems star-like micelles were formed which followed the hard sphere model. The aggregation number was much lower for the micelles formed in DMA. The polymer-solvent interaction parameters indicate that the interactions are stronger between both PS-DMA and PI-DMA than for either polymer block with DMF. The effects of solvent selectivity are exacerbated by the structure of the polymer. With each polymer molecule contributing six soluble arms to the micelle, in the better solvent (DMA) increased repulsive interactions between the extended polystyrene lead to lower aggregation numbers. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Design, synthesis and anti-HBV activity evaluation of new substituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines

The design and synthesis of a number of new imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines is described. The heterocyclic scaffold possesses 6-chloro- or 5,6-dichloro-substitution and bears various 2-alkylamino-methyl or ethyl groups. The corresponding N1 and N3-tosylates are also presented. The anti-HBV activity of the compounds was evaluated in HBV infectious system at the level of HBV rcDNA secretion and CC50, EC50 and selectivity index values were determined. The tosylates showed low antiviral potency and relatively high cytotoxicity, on the contrary, a number of 2,5 and/or-6-substituted imidazopyridines, mainly those belonging to the 6-chloroimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine series, were endowed with a very interesting profile and were further investigated. The most promising among them, along with the reduction of the secreted HBV rcDNA, also caused a reduction in HBV cccDNA and pgRNA levels, with a concomitant accumulation of the intracellular encapsidated rcDNA. Surprisingly, the most active 2-diethylaminoethyl-substituted derivative (21d), was highly competitive to interferon. © 2020 Elsevier Inc

Body mass index and outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients not treated by targeted temperature management

Background Obesity has been demonstrated to increase the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and may influence the quality and effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Our aim was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the outcome of OHCA victims not treated by targeted temperature management. Methods This was a prospective observational study of OHCA patients. The patients were categorized according to BMI into two groups: the normal BMI group (nBMI) and the elevated BMI group (eBMI). The primary endpoint was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), while secondary outcomes were survival to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and survival to ICU discharge. Results Of the initial 99 patients who were transported to the Emergency Department, 84 (85%) were included in the study. Mean BMI was 29.8 kg/m2. Thirteen (15.5%) patients achieved ROSC and were admitted to the ICU, with the mean duration of ICU length of stay being 6.7 ± 4.9 days. Survival to ICU admission and ICU discharge were higher in the eBMI group (17.6% vs. 6.25%, p = 0.010 and 10.3% vs. 6.25%, p = 0.021, respectively). Survival to ICU discharge was higher in ventricular fibrillation patients compared to patients with non-shockable rhythms, irrespectively of their BMI (p = 0.002). All patients that survived to ICU discharge did so with a cerebral performance category score of 2. Conclusions Survival to ICU admission and ICU discharge were higher in the eBMI group. © 2017 Elsevier Inc

Preoperative factors affecting the intraoperative core body temperature in elective hysterectomy under general anesthesia

Background: Hypothermia is common in patients undergoing anesthesia surgery and it may increase the potential risk of post-operative complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the intraoperative factors that affect the core temperature of women after hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: One hundred and four female patients aged 18 and older, who were treated with elective open hysterectomy, were studied. The authors evaluated the incidence of hypothermia with respect to demographics, clinical, and anesthesia characteristics in two patients groups (hypothermic vs. normothermic). Results: The incidence of intraoperative hypothermia was 53.8. Advanced age (OR=6.449; 95% CI 3.603-14.397, p < 0.001), higher BMI (OR=5.879; 95% CI 5.122-7.325), higher intraoperative core body temperature (OR=0.483; 95% CI 0.432-0.578), large surgeries (OR=4.149; 95% CI 3.549-5.881, p < 0.001), and the number of opioids (OR=0.199; 95% CI 0.084-0.428) were found to be the most important predictors for hypothermia intraoperatively. There was significant statistical difference between the two groups with respect to American Society of Anaesthesiologists’ (ASA) score, induction to anesthesia with propofol and sevoflurane, and the administration of muscle relaxants perioperatively. Conclusions: The application of an appropriate, simple, and low-cost heating method, either by administrating warmed intravenous fluids or using an air-heating flow device, can help to prevent surgical patients’ hypothermia and its possible dangerous complications. © 2019 S.O.G. CANADA Inc.. All rights reserved