TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Распространенность Helicobacter pylori среди медицинских работников Москвы и Казани по данным ¹³С-уреазного дыхательного теста

Rationale: The relevance of the problem is related to the lack of data on Helicobacter pylori (HP) prevalence in Russia, which is associated with the risk of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, and also, on the other hand, to the non-adherence of the doctors to the existing expert guidelines on diagnosis of this infection and HP eradication therapy.Aim: To assess the prevalence of HP among medical workers and their willingness to undergo eradication therapy.Materials and methods: A total of 315 medical workers (61 men and 254 women) aged 18 to 76 years were examined, among them 221 in Moscow and 94 in Kazan. To assess the HP contamination rate, all participants performed a ¹³С-urease breath test with the “HELICARB” test kit according to the “four-point” technique. All participants were asked to complete the questionnaires to access the impact of social and occupational factors on the prevalence of HP.Results: HP was identified in 54.9% of the examined subjects, including 45.9% of men and 57.1% of women. The prevalence of HP in Moscow was substantially lower (49.8%) than in Kazan (67%). The proportion of HP-positive subjects increased with age from 41.8% in those below 25 years of age to 76.9% in those above their 60s. 60.2% of married participants and 49% of the singles were HP-positive. Among doctors, HP prevalence rate was the largest in the endoscopy specialists (61.5%) and internists (60.9%). Only 61.4% of HP-positive medical workers expressed their willingness to undergo eradication therapy.Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of HР in medical workers increasing with age. It is presumably related to hygiene habits and conditions during childhood of each generation; however, one cannot exclude their potential contamination during their occupational activities.Актуальность обусловлена, с одной стороны, недостатком данных о  распространенности в  России Helicobacter pylori (HP), ассоциированного с риском развития язвенной болезни и рака желудка, и, с другой стороны, несоблюдением врачами рекомендаций экспертов по диагностике этой инфекции и проведению эрадикационной терапии.Цель – изучение распространенности НР у  медицинских работников и их готовности пройти эрадикационную терапию.Материал и методы. Обследованы 315 медицинских работников (61 мужчина и 254  женщины) в возрасте от 18 до 76 лет, в том числе в Москве – 221, в Казани – 94. Для определения инфицированности НР всем респондентам выполнен ¹³С-уреазный дыхательный тест с тест-набором «ХЕЛИКАРБ» по «четырехточечной» методике. Все участники заполнили анкеты, на основании анализа которых оценивалось влияние социальных и  профессиональных факторов на распространенность НР.Результаты. НР выявлен у 54,9% обследованных: 45,9% мужчин и 57,1% женщин. Частота выявления НР в Москве существенно ниже (49,8%), чем в Казани (67%). Доля инфицированных НР нарастала с возрастом: с 41,8% у лиц в возрасте до 25 лет до 76,9% в возрасте старше 60 лет. НР-позитивными были 60,2% состоящих в браке и 49% – не состоящих. В  группе обследованных врачей наибольшая доля инфицированных наблюдалась среди эндоскопистов (61,5%) и терапевтов (60,9%). Лишь 61,4% НР-позитивных медицинских работников выразили готовность к  проведению эрадикационной терапии.Заключение. Проведенное исследование выявило высокую распространенность НР у  медработников, нарастающую с  возрастом. Предположительно, это связано с гигиеническими условиями в детском возрасте каждого поколения, однако нельзя исключить возможность заражения в ходе профессиональной деятельности