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Objective: The aim of the current study is to investigate the chemical composition, cytotoxic effect, and leishmanicidal activity of propolis collected in the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil. Methods: EtOH extract, hexane, EtOAc and MeOH fractions from propolis were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The identification was based on the exact mass, general fragmentation behaviors and UV absorption of the flavonoids. The in vitro cytotoxic effect and leishmanicidal activity of ethanolic extract, hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanolic fractions of propolis were evaluated. Results: Five triterpenes and twenty-four flavonoids were identified. The propolis did not present toxicity to the host cell up to the maximum concentration tested. In addition, all tested samples showed statistically significant activity against promastigotes of Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania amazonensis. Regarding the activity against amastigote forms of L. amazonensis , the hexane fraction, presented statistically significant activity with IC50 of 1.3 ± 0.1 μg/ml. Conclusion: The results support the idea that propolis can be used for future antileishmania studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study intends to explore the shared meanings of organizational change inside informal and internal organizational social networks. This study was conducted in a sector of a large scale petrochemical organization in Polo Petroquímico de Camaçari in the Brazilian state of Bahia undergoing a privatization process. Questionnaires were applied on a sample of 52 workers to obtain the relationships of friendship, trust and information making up the informal relationship network. Open questions allowed obtaining knowledge about the change taking place in the organization, The networks were identified through Ucinet and Net Draw software's, and characterized as macro and micro structural dimensions. The data about perceptions were analyzed with a qualitative methodology and descriptive categories were created. The results show a mostly positive vision of the change and low levels of density and cohesion of the informal networks. In the only clique identified, more shared meanings attributed to changes were observed. This study provides a useful methodological strategy that can be very resourceful to new researchers adopting a cognitivist perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harvestman genus Propachylus Roewer, 1913 is herein revalidated from the synonymy of Discocyrtus Holmberg, 1878. Its type species, Propachylus singularis Roewer, 1913 has a convoluted taxonomic history, connected to Discocyrtus fornicatus Sørensen, 1884 (currently known as Metadiscocyrtus fornicatus). The monotypic genus Metadiscocyrtus Roewer, 1929 is herein considered a junior subjective synonym of Propachylus. Propachylus singularis (known only from males) is herein considered a junior subjective synonym of M. fornicatus (Sørensen, 1884) (known only from a single female). Accordingly, this species is herein newly combined as Propachylus fornicatus (Sørensen, 1884) comb. nov. The males and females of this species are considered congeneric for the first time. As this species does not possess diagnostic characteristics of the concept of Pachylinae stricto sensu, it is here removed from Pachylinae but is left unplaced. The geographical distribution of this species is updated to the Brazilian state of Bahia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]