Comparative analyses of the scaling diversity index and its applicability

As well as the newly developed scaling diversity index, there are also eleven traditional diversity indices to be found in the literature. Analyses show that these eleven traditional indices are unable to formulate the richness component of diversity. In particular, the most widely used index, the Shannon-Weiner index, cannot express the evenness component. On the contrary, the scaling diversity index is able to formulate both the richness aspect and the evenness aspect of diversity. The scaling diversity index has been applied to developing scenarios of ecological diversity at different spatial resolutions and spatial scales. A case study in Fukang in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China shows that the scaling diversity index is sensitive to spatial resolution and is easy to understand. It is scientifically sound and could be operated at affordable cost

Macrophage Activation and Polarization: Nomenclature and Experimental Guidelines.

Description of macrophage activation is currently contentious and confusing. Like the biblical Tower of Babel, macrophage activation encompasses a panoply of descriptors used in different ways. The lack of consensus on how to define macrophage activation in experiments in vitro and in vivo impedes progress in multiple ways, including the fact that many researchers still consider there to be only two types of activated macrophages, often termed M1 and M2. Here, we describe a set of standards encompassing three principles-the source of macrophages, definition of the activators, and a consensus collection of markers to describe macrophage activation-with the goal of unifying experimental standards for diverse experimental scenarios. Collectively, we propose a common framework for macrophage-activation nomenclature

Resistance trends in gram-negative bacteria: surveillance results from two Mexican hospitals, 2005–2010

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hospital-acquired infections caused by multiresistant gram-negative bacteria are difficult to treat and cause high rates of morbidity and mortality. The analysis of antimicrobial resistance trends of gram-negative pathogens isolated from hospital-acquired infections is important for the development of antimicrobial stewardship programs. The information obtained from antimicrobial resistant programs from two hospitals from Mexico will be helpful in the selection of empiric therapy for hospital-acquired gram-negative infections.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Two thousand one hundred thirty two gram-negative bacteria collected between January 2005 and December 2010 from hospital-acquired infections occurring in two teaching hospitals in Mexico were evaluated. <it>Escherichia coli</it> was the most frequently isolated gram-negative bacteria, with >50% of strains resistant to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. <it>Klebsiella</it> spp. showed resistance rates similar to <it>Escherichia coli</it> for ceftazidime (33.1% vs 33.2%), but exhibited lower rates for levofloxacin (18.2% vs 56%). Of the samples collected for the third most common gram-negative bacteria, <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it>, >12.8% were resistant to the carbapenems, imipenem and meropenem. The highest overall resistance was found in <it>Acinetobacter</it> spp. <it>Enterobacter</it> spp. showed high susceptibility to carbapenems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>E. coli</it> was the most common nosocomial gram-negative bacilli isolated in this study and was found to have the second-highest resistance to fluoroquinolones (>57.9%, after <it>Acinetobacter</it> spp. 81.2%). This finding represents a disturbing development in a common nosocomial and community pathogen.</p