Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus

In 2014 a DNA-based phylogenetic study confirming the paraphyly of the grass subtribe Sporobolinae proposed the creation of a large monophyletic genus Sporobolus, including (among others) species previously included in the genera Spartina, Calamovilfa, and Sporobolus. Spartina species have contributed substantially (and continue contributing) to our knowledge in multiple disciplines, including ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biogeography, experimental ecology, environmental management, restoration ecology, history, economics, and sociology. There is no rationale so compelling to subsume the name Spartina as a subgenus that could rival the striking, global iconic history and use of the name Spartina for over 200 years. We do not agree with the arguments underlying the proposal to change Spartina to Sporobolus. We understand the importance of taxonomy and of formalized nomenclature and hope that by opening this debate we will encourage positive feedback that will strengthen taxonomic decisions with an interdisciplinary perspective. We consider the strongly distinct, monophyletic clade Spartina should simply and efficiently be treated as the genus Spartina

Plasma lipid profiles discriminate bacterial from viral infection in febrile children

Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection ar

Fine scale population structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Galician waters, NW Spain

Bottlenose dolphins are known to have high dispersal capabilities that could lead to genetic connectivity. However, local resident populations are found worldwide as happens in southern Galicia (NW Spain). The aim of this research is to explore whether population substructure and habitat segregation do exist within the Galician bottlenose dolphin community. In the present study, samples from 43 bottlenose dolphins stranded or by-caught in Galicia between 1994 and 2008 were genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci and sequenced at the highly variable mitochondrial control region. In addition, variability of stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) was assessed for 43 dolphins (5 calves, 38 juveniles and adults) stranded or by-caught in Galicia between 1998 and 2007. Genetic results highlighted the existence of two populations in the area and dolphins from southern Galicia were assigned to a single genetic group. Seven dolphins were classified as possible migrants between putative populations as their genetic makeup did not correspond with their geographical stranding location. Values of δ13C and δ15N were significantly different between the two populations, suggesting resource specialization and partitioning. Dolphins from southern Galicia (inhabiting coastal inlets) showed more variation in their diet, higher trophic levels and greater δ13C compared to animals from northern Galicia (present in more open waters). The existence of fine scale population substructure should be considered in the future designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for the species as required by the European Habitats Directive

Antimicrobial and antitumor activity of S-methyl dithiocarbazate Schiff base zinc(II) complexes

Schiff bases (SB) obtained from S-methyl dithiocarbazate and aromatic aldehydes: salicylaldehyde (H2L1), o-vanillin (H2L2), pyridoxal (H2L3) and 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol (H3L4), and their corresponding Zn(II)-complexes (1-4), are synthesized. All compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, UV-Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The structures of H2L2 and [Zn2(L1)2(H2O)(DMF)] (1a) (DMF = dimethylformamide) are solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The SB coordinates the metal center through the Ophenolate, Nimine and Sthiolate atoms. The radical scavenging activity is tested using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with all ligand precursors showing IC50 values ~40 μM. Cytotoxicity studies with several tumor cell lines (PC-3, MCF-7 and Caco-2) as well as a non-tumoral cell line (NHDF) are reported. Interestingly, 1 has relevant and selective antiproliferative effect against Caco-2 cells (IC50 = 9.1 μM). Their antimicrobial activity is evaluated in five bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and two yeast strains (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis) with some compounds showing bacteriostatic and fungicidal activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of HnL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also reported, with H2L2 and H3L4 showing very high activity (MIC90 < 0.6 μg/mL). The ability of the compounds to bind bovine serum albumin (BSA) and DNA is evaluated for H3L4 and [Zn2(L4)(CH3COO)] (4), both showing high binding constants to BSA (ca. 106 M-1) and ability to bind DNA. Overall, the reported compounds show relevant antitumor and antimicrobial properties, our data indicating they may be promising compounds in several fields of medicinal chemistry.FCT (projects UIDB/00100/2020, UIDP/00100/2020, PTDC/QUI-QAN/32242/2017, UID/Multi/00709/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDB/04378/2020 , SAICTPAC/0019/2015; PD/BD/128320/2017), Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007317) e FEDER POCI-COMPETE 2020-Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalisation (Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491). Yemataw Addis and Israel Tekamo thank the Erasmus Mundus program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antimicrobial and antitumor activity of S-methyl dithiocarbazate Schiff base zinc(II) complexes

Schiff bases (SB) obtained from S-methyl dithiocarbazate and aromatic aldehydes: salicylaldehyde (H2L1), o-vanillin (H2L2), pyridoxal (H2L3) and 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol (H3L4), and their corresponding Zn(II)-complexes (1-4), are synthesized. All compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, UV-Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The structures of H2L2 and [Zn2(L1)2(H2O)(DMF)] (1a) (DMF = dimethylformamide) are solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The SB coordinates the metal center through the Ophenolate, Nimine and Sthiolate atoms. The radical scavenging activity is tested using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with all ligand precursors showing IC50 values ~40 μM. Cytotoxicity studies with several tumor cell lines (PC-3, MCF-7 and Caco-2) as well as a non-tumoral cell line (NHDF) are reported. Interestingly, 1 has relevant and selective antiproliferative effect against Caco-2 cells (IC50 = 9.1 μM). Their antimicrobial activity is evaluated in five bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and two yeast strains (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis) with some compounds showing bacteriostatic and fungicidal activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of HnL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also reported, with H2L2 and H3L4 showing very high activity (MIC90 < 0.6 μg/mL). The ability of the compounds to bind bovine serum albumin (BSA) and DNA is evaluated for H3L4 and [Zn2(L4)(CH3COO)] (4), both showing high binding constants to BSA (ca. 106 M-1) and ability to bind DNA. Overall, the reported compounds show relevant antitumor and antimicrobial properties, our data indicating they may be promising compounds in several fields of medicinal chemistry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How ‘bad apples’ spoil the bunch: Faultlines, emotional levers and exclusion in the workplace

Just as a rotten apple makes other apples around it begin to decay, so too can people influence others within their vicinity, particularly in terms of destructive emotions and behaviors. Trevino and Youngblood (1990) adopted the term ‘bad apples’ to describe individuals who engage in unethical behaviors and who also influence others to behave in a similar manner. In this chapter, the ‘bad apple’ metaphor is adopted to describe the employee whose actions and interactions create and maintain destructive faultlines and unethical exclusion behaviors that negatively impact the emotional well-being and effective and ethical performance of the team. In particular, the chapter examines the way in which ‘bad apples’ use destructive emotion management skills through the manipulation of emotional levers of others, what motivates them to do so and the implications it may have on management

Management practices for postdural puncture headache in obstetrics: a prospective, international, cohort study

Background: Accidental dural puncture is an uncommon complication of epidural analgesia and can cause postdural puncture headache (PDPH). We aimed to describe management practices and outcomes after PDPH treated by epidural blood patch (EBP) or no EBP. Methods: Following ethics committee approval, patients who developed PDPH after accidental dural puncture were recruited from participating countries and divided into two groups, those receiving EBP or no EBP. Data registered included patient and procedure characteristics, headache symptoms and intensity, management practices, and complications. Follow-up was at 3 months. Results: A total of 1001 patients from 24 countries were included, of which 647 (64.6%) received an EBP and 354 (35.4%) did not receive an EBP (no-EBP). Higher initial headache intensity was associated with greater use of EBP, odds ratio 1.29 (95% confidence interval 1.19–1.41) per pain intensity unit increase. Headache intensity declined sharply at 4 h after EBP and 127 (19.3%) patients received a second EBP. On average, no or mild headache (numeric rating score≤3) was observed 7 days after diagnosis. Intracranial bleeding was diagnosed in three patients (0.46%), and backache, headache, and analgesic use were more common at 3 months in the EBP group. Conclusions: Management practices vary between countries, but EBP was more often used in patients with greater initial headache intensity. EBP reduced headache intensity quickly, but about 20% of patients needed a second EBP. After 7 days, most patients had no or mild headache. Backache, headache, and analgesic use were more common at 3 months in patients receiving an EBP. © 2020 British Journal of Anaesthesi

Adherence to antithrombotic therapy guidelines improves mortality among elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from the REPOSI study

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a substantial risk of thromboembolism and mortality, significantly reduced by oral anticoagulation. Adherence to guidelines may lower the risks for both all cause and cardiovascular (CV) deaths. Methods: Our objective was to evaluate if antithrombotic prophylaxis according to the 2012 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines is associated to a lower rate of adverse outcomes. Data were obtained from REPOSI; a prospective observational study enrolling inpatients aged 6565&nbsp;years. Patients enrolled in 2012 and 2014 discharged with an AF diagnosis were analysed. Results: Among 2535 patients, 558 (22.0&nbsp;%) were discharged with a diagnosis of AF. Based on ESC guidelines, 40.9&nbsp;% of patients were on guideline-adherent thromboprophylaxis, 6.8&nbsp;% were overtreated, and 52.3&nbsp;% were undertreated. Logistic analysis showed that increasing age (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.01), heart failure (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.04), coronary artery disease (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.013), peripheral arterial disease (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.03) and concomitant cancer (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.003) were associated with non-adherence to guidelines. Specifically, undertreatment was significantly associated with increasing age (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.001) and cancer (p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.001), and inversely associated with HF (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.023). AF patients who were guideline adherent had a lower rate of both all-cause death (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.007) and CV death (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.024) compared to those non-adherent. Kaplan\u2013Meier analysis showed that guideline-adherent patients had a lower cumulative risk for both all-cause (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.002) and CV deaths (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.011). On Cox regression analysis, guideline adherence was independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.019 and p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.006). Conclusions: Non-adherence to guidelines is highly prevalent among elderly AF patients, despite guideline-adherent treatment being independently associated with lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths. Efforts to improve guideline adherence would lead to better outcomes for elderly AF patients