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Powassan/Deer Tick Virus (POWV/DTV) is an emerging cause of arboviral neuroinvasive disease in the upper Midwest. These studies describe the prevalence and geographic distribution of Wisconsin ticks carrying POWV/DTV as well as the high frequency of Ixodes scapularis ticks coinfected with both POWV/DTV and Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. These findings suggest that concurrent transmission of POWV/DTV and B. Burgdorferi from coinfected ticks is likely to occur in humans.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant mortality, is caused by the loss of the survival motor neuron-1 (SMN1) gene, which leads to motor neuron loss, muscle atrophy, respiratory distress, and death. Motor neurons exhibit the most profound loss, but the mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that motor neuron extrinsic influences, such as those arising from astrocytes, contribute to motor neuron malfunction and loss. Here we investigated both loss-of-function and toxic gain-of-function astrocyte mechanisms that could play a role in SMA pathology. We had previously found that glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is reduced in SMA astrocytes. However, reduced GDNF expression does not play a major role in SMA pathology as viral-mediated GDNF re-expression did not improve astrocyte function or motor neuron loss. In contrast, we found that SMA astrocytes increased microRNA (miR) production and secretion compared to control astrocytes, suggesting potential toxic gain-of-function properties. Specifically, we found that miR-146a was significantly upregulated in SMA induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes and SMNΔ7 mouse spinal cord. Moreover, increased miR-146a was sufficient to induce motor neuron loss in vitro, whereas miR-146a inhibition prevented SMA astrocyte-induced motor neuron loss. Together, these data indicate that altered astrocyte production of miR-146a may be a contributing factor in astrocyte-mediated SMA pathology.

Accurate anatomical localisation of specific white matter tracts and the quantification of their tract-specific microstructural damage in conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can contribute to a better understanding of symptomatology, disease evolution and intervention effects. Diffusion MRI-based tractography is being used increasingly to segment white matter tracts as regions-of-interest for subsequent quantitative analysis. Since MS lesions can interrupt the tractography algorithm’s tract reconstruction, clinical studies frequently resort to atlas-based approaches, which are convenient but ignorant to individual variability in tract size and shape. Here, we revisit the problem of individual tractography in MS, comparing tractography algorithms using: (i) The diffusion tensor framework; (ii) constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD); and (iii) damped Richardson-Lucy (dRL) deconvolution. Firstly, using simulated and in vivo data from 29 MS patients and 19 healthy controls, we show that the three tracking algorithms respond differentially to MS pathology. While the tensor-based approach is unable to deal with crossing fibres, CSD produces spurious streamlines, in particular in tissue with high fibre loss and low diffusion anisotropy. With dRL, streamlines are increasingly interrupted in pathological tissue. Secondly, we demonstrate that despite the effects of lesions on the fibre orientation reconstruction algorithms, fibre tracking algorithms are still able to segment tracts that pass through areas with a high prevalence of lesions. Combining dRL-based tractography with an automated tract segmentation tool on data from 131 MS patients, the cortico-spinal tracts and arcuate fasciculi could be reconstructed in more than 90% of individuals. Comparing tract-specific microstructural parameters (fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity and magnetisation transfer ratio) in individually segmented tracts to those from a tract probability map, we show that there is no systematic disease-related bias in the individually reconstructed tracts, suggesting that lesions and otherwise damaged parts are not systematically omitted during tractography. Thirdly, we demonstrate modest anatomical correspondence between the individual and tract probability-based approach, with a spatial overlap between 35 and 55%. Correlations between tract-averaged microstructural parameters in individually segmented tracts and the probability-map approach ranged between \ud \ud \ud \ud \ud \ud r=.53\ud (\ud \ud \ud \ud \ud \ud \ud p

I ricercatori di Harvard che l’hanno individuata sono certi che sia di origine extraterrestre, l’hanno chiamata emolitina e ritengono che risalga alle origini del Sistema solare. Ma lo studio che descrive la scoperta è ancora in attesa di peer review, e non mancano le perplessità sull’effettiva natura della macromolecola. John Brucato (Inaf): «Si tratta piuttosto di un oligomero, cioè di una semplice catena di amminoacidi»

Spathipheromyia Bigot, 1884 Diagnosis. Dichoptic, eyes bare, 1 pair of reclinate orbital seta, frons broader than long; dorsocentral setae 1+3, prealar absent, proepimerals 1-2, katepisternals 1+1+1, forming an equilateral triangle, prosternum bare; wing with veins bare and some species with white spots; hind tibia with one supramedian anterodorsal, 4 preapical setae (posterodorsal, posterior, anterodorsal, and anteroventral surfaces, the anteroventral one smaller) (Fig. 2j), sternite 1 bare. Male terminalia: cercal plate longer than wide, surstylus longer than wide with several microscopic setulae on lateral surface and with a preapical process, hypandrium tubular with the lateral wall narrow towards the distal end exposing the phallapodeme., Published as part of Patitucci, Luciano Dami��n, Olea, Mar��a Sof��a & Mulieri, Pablo Ricardo, 2019, A review of Spathipheromyia (Diptera: Muscidae) from Argentina with the description of an extra-large new species, pp. 168-178 in Zootaxa 4701 (2) on page 169, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3557955, {"references":["Bigot, J. M. F. (1884) Bulletin bimensuel de la Societe Entomologique de France, 188 (13), 123 - 124. [note in Seance of 9 July 1884]"]}

Spathipheromyia albiceps Malloch, 1934 For a complete list of references, see the catalogue by Carvalho et al. (2005). Information subsequent to this catalogue: L��werberg-Neto et al. 2011 (biogeography); L��werberg-Neto & Carvalho 2013 (checklist); Couri & Rodrigues de Sousa 2019 (key, diagnosis). Male. Abdomen. Sternite 5 with square shape and two apical lobes, sclerotized; with several long setae on the whole surface. Basal margin straight; apical margin ���U��� shape with a rectangular process in the middle line of the plate, with strong short setae (Fig. 1a). Terminalia. Cercal plate setulose, strongly sclerotized, with apical margin bilobate (Fig. 1b). Surstylus slightly curved and surpassing the tip of cercal plate at the apical end in lateral view. Hypandrium longer than wide. Phallus with phallapodeme curved strongly sclerotized, dilated at apex, with the bifurcated base that articulates with epiphallus, and same length as hypandrium in lateral view (Fig. 1c); pregonite developed, kidney-shaped, ventrally fused with the hypandrium; postgonite developed; epiphallus sclerotized, and distiphallus tubular, strongly sclerotized and not surrounding the acrophallus (Fig. 1d). Material examined. ARGENTINA. Chubut: PN Lago Puelo, R��o Azul, -42.0916, -71.6155, 200 m. a.s.l., 17.I. 2011, Patitucci leg., 1 female, 1 male (MACN); PN Lago Puelo, R��o Azul II -42.0908, -71.6821, 200 m. a.l.s., 13.I. 2011, Mulieri leg., 1 male (MACN); PN Lago Puelo, Gendarmer��a, -42.0994, -71.6821, 200 m. a.l.s., I.2012, Malaise, Mulieri & Patitucci leg., 1 male (MACN); PN Los Alerces, Caba��a La Cascada, -42.88861, -71.5927, 500 m. a.l.s., II.2013, Olea leg., 1 male (MACN), same data except Mulieri leg., 1 female (MACN), same data except, Patitucci leg., 3 females, 2 males (MACN), same data except, Malaise, 4 females, 6 males (MACN); PN Los Alerces, Cabecera sur L. Futalaufquen, -42.8847, -71.6, 500 m. a.l.s. 6.II.2013, Patitucci leg. 6 females, 6 males (MACN); PN Los Alerces, Delta R��o Stange, -42.872, -71.773, 500 m. a.l.s., 6.II.2013, Patitucci leg., 1 female, 1 male (MACN). Neuqu��n: Alumin��, -39.2338, -70.9125, 900 m. a.l.s., I.2013, Patitucci, Mulieri & Olea leg., 6 females, 7 males (MACN); Jun��n de los Andes, -39.943, -71.068, 16.XII.2013, Mulieri & Patitucci leg., 1 female (MACN); PN Lan��n, Arroyo Correntoso, Tromen, -39.6086, -71.4033, 1100 m.a.l.s., 15.XII.2013, Mulieri leg., 1 male (MACN). Santa Cruz: Lago Argentino, -50.3193, -72.818, 21.I.1952, Liebermann & Hall leg., 15 females, 7 males (MACN); Lago Argentino, La Cristina, 21-I-1953, Willintks leg., 1 female, 1 male [erroneously identified as S. guttipennis in Patitucci et al. 2013] (IFML). Tierra del Fuego: Lago Fagnano -54.537, -67.2232, I.1982, Gondell leg., 1 female (MACN); PN Tierra del Fuego, -54.834, -68.4466, XII.1995, Mariluis leg., 1 female, 1 male (MACN); Puerto Harberton, -54.877, -67.328, 26.I.1967, Willink leg., 1 female, 1 male (IFML). CHILE. Ancar (probably Ancud), 10.I.1952, Pe��a leg., 1 female, 1 male (MNRJ). Distribution in Argentina (Fig. 3a): Chubut (new record), Neuqu��n (new record), Santa Cruz (new record), Tierra del Fuego (new record). Remarks. Malloch (1934) described S. albiceps from a single male specimen from Castro, Chile. After that, Couri (1982) provided a detailed description of male and female from two specimens from Ancar, Chile. We registered the species for the first time for Argentina., Published as part of Patitucci, Luciano Dami��n, Olea, Mar��a Sof��a & Mulieri, Pablo Ricardo, 2019, A review of Spathipheromyia (Diptera: Muscidae) from Argentina with the description of an extra-large new species, pp. 168-178 in Zootaxa 4701 (2) on page 170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3557955, {"references":["Malloch, J. R. (1934) Muscidae. In: Diptera of Patagonia and South Chile, 7 (2), 171 - 346.","Carvalho, C. J. B. de, Couri, M. S., Pont, A. C., Pamplona, D. & Lopes, S. M. (2005) A Catalogue of the Muscidae (Diptera) of the Neotropical Region. Zootaxa, 860 (1), 1 - 282. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 860.1.1","Lowerberg-Neto, P., Carvalho, C. J. B. de & Hawkins, B. A. (2011) Tropical niche conservatism as a historical narrative hypothesis for the Neotropics: a case study using the fly family Muscidae. Journal of Biogeography, 38, 1936 - 1947. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2699.2011.02540. x","Lowerberg-Neto, P. & Carvalho, C. J. B. de (2013) Muscidae (Insecta: Diptera) of Latin America and the Caribbean: geographic distribution and check-list by country. Zootaxa, 3650 (1), 1 - 147. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3650.1.1","Couri, M. S. & Rodrigues De Sousa, V. (2019) On Spathipheromyia Bigot (Diptera: Muscidae) - diagnosis and key to species, Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 54, 73 - 79. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 01650521.2019.1626594","Patitucci, L. D., Mulieri, P. R., Olea, M. S. & Mariluis, J. C. (2013) Muscidae (Insecta: Diptera) of Argentina: revision of Buenos Aires province fauna, with a pictorial key to species. Zootaxa, 3702 (4), 301 - 347. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3702.4.1","Couri, M. S. (1982) Insulamyia, gen. n., e notas sobre Spathipheromyia Bigot, 1884 (Diptera, Muscidae, Coenosiinae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 26, 29 - 36."]}

Spathipheromyia guttipennis (Thomson, 1869) For a complete list of references, see the catalogue by Carvalho et al. (2005). Information subsequent to this catalogue: L��werberg-Neto et al. 2011 (biogeography); L��werberg-Neto & Carvalho 2013 (checklist); Patitucci et al. 2013 (Argentina new records); Pont 2013 (type specimens); Perez & Carvalho 2016 (Colombia new record); Couri & Rodrigues de Sousa 2019 (type specimens, key, diagnosis). Male. Abdomen. Sternite 5 with square shape and two apical lobes, sclerotized; with several long setae at apical middle. Basal margin straight; apical margin ���U��� shape with a triangular process in the middle line of the plate (Fig. 1i). Terminalia. Cercal plate setulose, strongly sclerotized, with apical margin bilobated (Fig. 1j). Surstylus l slightly curved in apical tip and longer than cercal plate in lateral view, and with a slight preapical process. Hypandrium longer than wide. Phallus with phallapodeme curved strongly sclerotized, dilated at apex, with the bifurcated base that articulates with epiphallus, and longer than hypandrium in lateral view (Fig. 1k); pregonite developed, kidney-shaped, ventrally fused with the hypandrium; postgonite developed; epiphallus sclerotized, and distiphallus tubular, strongly sclerotized and not surrounding the acrophallus (Fig. 1l). Material examined. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: CABA, -34.645, -58.4711, 08.IX.2016, Patitucci leg., 1 female (MACN); Campana, RNE Otamendi, -34.2359, -58.891, 21.X.2015, Mulieri & Patitucci leg., 1 female, 2 males (MACN); same data except 07.XI.2017, Patitucci leg., 1 female (MACN); Ea. San Claudio, -35.944, -61.2048, 15.XI.2016, Mulieri leg., 1 male (MACN); Ensenada, Punta Lara, -34.799, -58.0072, XII.2016, Cazorla leg., 29 females, 14 males (MACN); Mar Chiquita, -37.746, -57.433, I.2016, Mulieri leg., 20 females, 9 males (MACN); Mar del Plata, Pque. Camet, -37.9410, -57.534, XII.2016, Mulieri leg., 1 male (MACN); RP76, Ao Atravezado, - 38.021, -61.858, 21.II.2016, Patitucci leg., 1 female (MACN), same data except 30.X.2016, 1 male (MACN); Part. Puan, Berraondo, -38.398, -62.837, 25.X.2016, Mulieri & Olea leg., 1 female (MACN); P.P.E. Tornquist, Est. Meteorol��gica, -38.055, -61.978, 26.X.2016, Mulieri & Olea leg., 2 females, 2 males (MACN); Reta, -38.893, -60.318, 16.II.2018, Mulieri leg., 4 females, 1 male (MACN); Saldungaray, Rio Rivera, -38.231, -61.800, 28.X.2016, Mulieri & Olea leg., 3 females, 2 males (MACN); Saldungaray, Ao. Sauce Grande, -38.231, -38.231, I.2017, Patitucci leg., 1 female, 1 male (MACN); Villa Ventana, Ao. Belisario, -38.0901, -61.933, 27.X.2016, Mulieri & Olea leg., 2 females (MACN). Chubut: PN Lago Puelo, La Playita, -42.097, -71.615, 200 m. a.l.s., 09.I.2012, Patitucci leg., 3 females (MACN); PN Lago Puelo, Rio Azul II, -42.090, -71.682, 200 m. a.l.s., 13.I.2012, Mulieri leg., 2 females (MACN). Neuqu��n: Las Ovejas, -36.992268, -70.749453, 13.II.2018, Patitucci leg., 1 female, 1 male (MACN). R��o Negro: Bariloche, XII.1926, Shannon leg., 1 female (MNRJ); PN Nahuel Huap��, Mall��n, Playa Negra, -41,3578, -71,5716, 797 m. a.l.s., II.2009, Garr�� & Montes de Oca leg., 1 female (MLP). Santa F��: Rafaela, INTA, -31.1978, -61.497, XII.2011, Mulieri leg., 1 female (MACN). Tucum��n: Tafi del Valle, 6-12-XII-1947, Golbach leg., 1 male, (IFML). CHILE. Regi��n de Magallanes: Ultima Esperanza, Laguna Azul, 1.II.1952, Cekalovic leg., 2 females (MNRJ), same data except Punta Arenas, 18.IV.1971, Flint & Hevel leg., 1 male (MNRJ). Distribution in Argentina (Fig. 3d): Buenos Aires, Chubut (new record), Neuqu��n (new record), R��o Negro, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe (new record), Tucum��n. Remarks. S. guttipennis was originally described by Thomson (1868) with a female specimen from Buenos Aires, Argentina. This species has a widely distribution in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay), and was redescribed by Couri (1982) based on male and female specimens., Published as part of Patitucci, Luciano Dami��n, Olea, Mar��a Sof��a & Mulieri, Pablo Ricardo, 2019, A review of Spathipheromyia (Diptera: Muscidae) from Argentina with the description of an extra-large new species, pp. 168-178 in Zootaxa 4701 (2) on page 175, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3557955, {"references":["Thomson, C. G. (1869) Diptera. Species nova descripsit. In: Kongliga svenska fregatten Eugenies Resa omkring jorden under befal af C. A. Virgin, aren 1851 - 1853. Part 2. Zoologi. 1. Insecta. \" 1868 \". Norstedt, Stockholm, pp. 443 - 614.","Carvalho, C. J. B. de, Couri, M. S., Pont, A. C., Pamplona, D. & Lopes, S. M. (2005) A Catalogue of the Muscidae (Diptera) of the Neotropical Region. Zootaxa, 860 (1), 1 - 282. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 860.1.1","Lowerberg-Neto, P., Carvalho, C. J. B. de & Hawkins, B. A. (2011) Tropical niche conservatism as a historical narrative hypothesis for the Neotropics: a case study using the fly family Muscidae. Journal of Biogeography, 38, 1936 - 1947. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2699.2011.02540. x","Lowerberg-Neto, P. & Carvalho, C. J. B. de (2013) Muscidae (Insecta: Diptera) of Latin America and the Caribbean: geographic distribution and check-list by country. Zootaxa, 3650 (1), 1 - 147. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3650.1.1","Patitucci, L. D., Mulieri, P. R., Olea, M. S. & Mariluis, J. C. (2013) Muscidae (Insecta: Diptera) of Argentina: revision of Buenos Aires province fauna, with a pictorial key to species. Zootaxa, 3702 (4), 301 - 347. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3702.4.1","Pont, A. C. (2013) The Fanniidae and Muscidae (Diptera) described by Paul Stein (1852 - 1921). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 89, 31 - 166. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / zoos. 201300004","Perez, S. & Carvalho, C. J. B. de (2016) Family Muscidae. In: Wolf, M., Nihei, S. S. & Carvalho, C. J. B. de (Eds), Catalogue of Diptera of Colombia. Zootaxa, 4122 (1), 814 - 853. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4122.1","Couri, M. S. & Rodrigues De Sousa, V. (2019) On Spathipheromyia Bigot (Diptera: Muscidae) - diagnosis and key to species, Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 54, 73 - 79. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 01650521.2019.1626594","Couri, M. S. (1982) Insulamyia, gen. n., e notas sobre Spathipheromyia Bigot, 1884 (Diptera, Muscidae, Coenosiinae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 26, 29 - 36."]}

Introduction Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a life-limiting condition with a poor prognosis. Whilst current treatments slow disease progression, relief from symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough, remains paramount to improving quality of life. The exact pathogenesis of cough is not known but there is evidence of altered cough neurophysiology and sensitisation[1]. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the brain is increasingly used to investigate respiratory symptoms, which can be discordant with markers of disease severity[2]. fMRI could be a valuable modality to evaluate neural networks in IPF and to our knowledge, no MRI brain imaging has been performed in patients with IPF. We aim to (i) evaluate the feasibility of brain MRI at 3T in patients with IPF and (ii) investigate brain structure and cerebrovascular function in patients with IPF. Methods 10 stable non-hypoxaemic patients with IPF (62–82 years) and 7 healthy volunteers matched for age (52–74 years) and sex were assessed for demographic characteristics, disease severity and comorbidities. All participants underwent MRI session including structural T1 weighted image (MPRAGE) and pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (pCASL) sequence to assess resting grey matter cerebral blood flow (CBF). Results No group differences in brain structure (grey matter volume, GMV (t(14.98)=1.24; p=0.24); white matter volume, WMV (t(10.47)=0.64; p=0.54)) and in whole-brain grey matter perfusion (CBF (t(10.82)=0.9651; p=0.36)) were observed but a trend towards reduced GM and lower perfusion in IPF was noticed. (See table 1). Conclusions These results show a trend towards atrophy and reduced brain perfusion in IPF. Resting oxygen saturations did not differ significantly between groups but changes could be due to intermittent hypoxaemia on exertion or differences in comorbidities and smoking status. Brain MRI was well tolerated in patients with IPF supporting more detailed research in a larger cohort and more complex testing of the neural pathways of respiratory sensations. References Hope-Gill B.D.M., Hilldrup S., Davies C., Newton R.P., Harrison N.K. A Study of the Cough Reflex in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 168 ( 2003) 995–1002. doi:10.1164/rccm.200304-597OC. Pattinson K. Functional brain imaging in respiratory medicine. Thorax. 70 ( 2015) 598–600. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206688.

Spathipheromyia Bigot is a small group of predaceous muscids endemic of the Neotropical region. Currently, the genus includes 14 species of which only Spathipheromyia atra Malloch, 1934, S. magellani Malloch, 1934 and S. guttipennis (Thomson, 1869) are listed for Argentina. We present a new species Spathipheromyia goliat sp. nov. for Argentina and registered S. albiceps Malloch, 1934 for the first time for Argentina. Also we present a more detailed description of male and female terminalia of S. albiceps, S. atra, and S. guttipennis, notes on their habitat, new records, a key to species, and a discussion on structure of male terminalia. Fil: Patitucci, Luciano Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Olea, María Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Mulieri, Pablo Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina

Uvulifer Yamaguti, 1934, is a genus of diplostomoidean digeneans that parasitizes kingfishers worldwide. Species have a Neascus-type metacercaria that encysts in or on fish intermediate hosts, often causing black spot disease. Only 3 prior studies published DNA sequence data for Uvulifer species with only 1 including a single named species (Uvulifer spinatus López-Jiménez, Pérez-Ponce de León, & García-Varela, 2018). Herein we describe 2 new species of Uvulifer from the green-and-rufous kingfisher, Chloroceryle inda (Linnaeus), collected in Peru (Uvulifer batesi n. sp. and Uvulifer pequenae n. sp.). Both new species are readily differentiated from their New World congeners by a combination of morphological characters including distribution of vitelline follicles and prosoma:opisthosoma length ratios. In addition, we used newly generated nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI gene sequence data to differentiate among species and examine phylogenetic affinities of Uvulifer. This includes the 2 new species and Uvulifer ambloplitis (Hughes, 1927), as well as Uvulifer elongatus Dubois, 1988, Uvulifer prosocotyle (Lutz, 1928), and Uvulifer weberi Dubois, 1985, none of which have been part of prior molecular phylogenetic studies. Our data on Uvulifer revealed 0.1–2.2% interspecific divergence in 28S sequences and 9.3–15.3% in COI sequences. Our 28S phylogeny revealed at least 6 well-supported clades within the genus. In contrast, the branch topology in the COI phylogenetic tree was overall less supported, indicating that although COI sequences are a great tool for species differentiation, they should be used with caution for phylogenetic inference at higher taxonomic levels. Our 28S phylogeny did not reveal any clear patterns of host association between Uvulifer and particular species of kingfishers; however, it identified 2 well-supported clades uniting Uvulifer species from distant geographical locations and more than 1 biogeographic realm, indicating at least 2 independent dispersal events in the evolutionary history of the New World Uvulifer. Our results clearly demonstrate that the diversity of Uvulifer in the New World has been underestimated.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Before the advent of modern antibiotics, microbial infections were treated with herbal medicine or cauterization. Literature from the latter half of the nineteenth to the early mid-twentieth century, when antibiotics became widely available, arguably holds the most progressive information about herbal remedies to treat bacterial skin diseases. The corpus of literature produced in Italy during that period is not easily accessible and mostly out of print. Material and methods Plant-based remedies utilized in popular Italian medicine to treat anthrax, boils, erysipelas, impetigo, pustules, and whitlow were sourced from literature indexed in and available through the National Library Service website of the Italian Libraries Network. The remedies are assessed for their antimicrobial potential based on a detailed search of the herbal drug species in scientific databases. Results A considerable part of the reviewed recipes included specific excipients (41 out of 139) and others were produced with fresh plant material (48 out of 139). Out of the 52 identified herbal drug species used in popular Italian medicine against dermatologic infections, extracts of 43 were shown to have moderate in vitro activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion The antibacterial activity of the extracts and pure compounds as reported in the reviewed literature is mostly based on in vitro assays and generally does not encourage follow up studies. The effectiveness of the reported recipes, which include fresh plant material and excipients can only be assessed through in vivo studies. Those remedies including herbal drugs with reported antimicrobial activity might have the potential as complementary therapies. The reviewed plant based antimicrobial recipes might serve as inspirations in the search for alternative topical antibacterial strategies and the search for their synergistic and potentiating ingredients.

Como em Mayers (1998), verifico se o uso de convertible bonds é aderente à hipótese de sequential finance. Mayers os aponta como instrumentos buscados por empresas cujos gestores verificam oportunidades de investimento que acreditam que serão atraentes no futuro, e que requererão financiamentos adicionais quando realmente se mostrarem lucrativas. Assim, analiso uma amostra de 1768 emissões de convertibles, ocorridas entre 1990 e 2018, e comparo alguns indicadores financeiros dos emissores com os indicadores das empresas que compõem o índice SPX - S&P 500. Essa comparação é segmentada por empresas que fazem parte dos mesmos subsetores da indústria. Os resultados encontrados indicam aumentos excepcionais de CAPEX e de dívida de longo prazo dos emissores ao redor da data de conversão. Esse estudo confirma as evidências verificadas por Mayers e, novamente, corrobora com a hipótese de sequential finance.