Protecting biodiversity in British Columbia: Recommendations for developing species at risk legislation

British Columbia has the greatest biological diversity of any province or territory in Canada. Yet increasing numbers of species in British Columbia are threatened with extinction. The current patchwork of provincial laws and regulations has not effectively prevented species declines. Recently, the Provincial Government has committed to enacting an endangered species law. Drawing upon our scientific and legal expertise, we offer recommendations for key features of endangered species legislation that build upon strengths and avoid weaknesses observed elsewhere. We recommend striking an independent Oversight Committee to provide recommendations about listing species, organize Recovery Teams, and monitor the efficacy of actions taken. Recovery Teams would evaluate and prioritize potential actions for individual species or groups of species that face common threats or live in a common area, based on best available evidence (including natural and social science and Indigenous Knowledge). Our recommendations focus on implementing an adaptive approach, with ongoing and transparent monitoring and reporting, to reduce delays between determining when a species is at risk and taking effective actions to save it. We urge lawmakers to include this strong evidentiary basis for species recovery as they tackle the scientific and socioeconomic challenges of building an effective species at risk Act

Protecting biodiversity in British Columbia: Recommendations for developing species at risk legislation

British Columbia has the greatest biological diversity of any province or territory in Canada. Yet increasing numbers of species in British Columbia are threatened with extinction. The current patchwork of provincial laws and regulations has not effectively prevented species declines. Recently, the Provincial Government has committed to enacting an endangered species law. Drawing upon our scientific and legal expertise, we offer recommendations for key features of endangered species legislation that build upon strengths and avoid weaknesses observed elsewhere. We recommend striking an independent Oversight Committee to provide recommendations about listing species, organize Recovery Teams, and monitor the efficacy of actions taken. Recovery Teams would evaluate and prioritize potential actions for individual species or groups of species that face common threats or live in a common area, based on best available evidence (including natural and social science and Indigenous Knowledge). Our recommendations focus on implementing an adaptive approach, with ongoing and transparent monitoring and reporting, to reduce delays between determining when a species is at risk and taking effective actions to save it. We urge lawmakers to include this strong evidentiary basis for species recovery as they tackle the scientific and socioeconomic challenges of building an effective species at risk Act

Uptake and Metabolism of the Novel Peptide Angiotensin-(1-12) by Neonatal Cardiac Myocytes

Angiotensin-(1-12) [Ang-(1-12)] functions as an endogenous substrate for the productions of Ang II and Ang-(1-7) by a non-renin dependent mechanism. This study evaluated whether Ang-(1-12) is incorporated by neonatal cardiac myocytes and the enzymatic pathways of ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) metabolism in the cardiac myocyte medium from WKY and SHR rats.The degradation of ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) (1 nmol/L) in the cultured medium of these cardiac myocytes was evaluated in the presence and absence of inhibitors for angiotensin converting enzymes 1 and 2, neprilysin and chymase. In both strains uptake of ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) by myocytes occurred in a time-dependent fashion. Uptake of intact Ang-(1-12) was significantly greater in cardiac myocytes of SHR as compared to WKY. In the absence of renin angiotensin system (RAS) enzymes inhibitors the hydrolysis of labeled Ang-(1-12) and the subsequent generation of smaller Ang peptides from Ang-(1-12) was significantly greater in SHR compared to WKY controls. ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) degradation into smaller Ang peptides fragments was significantly inhibited (90% in WKY and 71% in SHR) in the presence of all RAS enzymes inhibitors. Further analysis of peptide fractions generated through the incubation of Ang-(1-12) in the myocyte medium demonstrated a predominant hydrolytic effect of angiotensin converting enzyme and neprilysin in WKY and an additional role for chymase in SHR.These studies demonstrate that neonatal myocytes sequester angiotensin-(1-12) and revealed the enzymes involved in the conversion of the dodecapeptide substrate to biologically active angiotensin peptides

CCQM-K55.b (Aldrin) : Final report: october 2012. CCQM-K55.b key comparison on the characterization of organic substances for chemical purity

Under the auspices of the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière (CCQM) a key comparison, CCQM K55.b, was coordinated by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in 2010/2011. Nineteen national measurement institutes and the BIPM participated. Participants were required to assign the mass fraction of aldrin present as the main component in the comparison sample for CCQM-K55.b which consisted of technical grade aldrin obtained from the National Measurement Institute Australia that had been subject to serial recrystallization and drying prior to sub-division into the units supplied for the comparison. Aldrin was selected to be representative of the performance of a laboratory's measurement capability for the purity assignment of organic compounds of medium structural complexity [molar mass range 300 Da to 500 Da] and low polarity (pKOW < −2) for which related structure impurities can be quantified by capillary gas phase chromatography (GC). The key comparison reference value (KCRV) for the aldrin content of the material was 950.8 mg/g with a combined standard uncertainty of 0.85 mg/g. The KCRV was assigned by combination of KCRVs assigned by consensus from participant results for each orthogonal impurity class. The relative expanded uncertainties reported by laboratories having results consistent with the KCRV ranged from 0.3% to 0.6% using a mass balance approach and 0.5% to 1% using a qNMR method. The major analytical challenge posed by the material proved to be the detection and quantification of a significant amount of oligomeric organic material within the sample and most participants relying on a mass balance approach displayed a positive bias relative to the KCRV (overestimation of aldrin content) in excess of 10 mg/g due to not having adequate procedures in place to detect and quantify the non-volatile content—specifically the non-volatile organics content—of the comparison sample. There was in general excellent agreement between participants in the identification and the quantification of the total and individual related structure impurities, water content and the residual solvent content of the sample. The comparison demonstrated the utility of 1H NMR as an independent method for quantitative analysis of high purity compounds. In discussion of the participant results it was noted that while several had access to qNMR estimates for the aldrin content that were inconsistent with their mass balance determination they decided to accept the mass balance result and assumed a hidden bias in their NMR data. By contrast, laboratories that placed greater confidence in their qNMR result were able to resolve the discrepancy through additional studies that provided evidence of the presence of non-volatile organic impurity at the requisite level to bring their mass balance and qNMR estimates into agreement.Fil: Westwood, Steven. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM); FranciaFil: Josephs, Ralf. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM); FranciaFil: Choteau, Tiphaine. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM); FranciaFil: Daireaux, Adeline. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM); FranciaFil: Mesquida, Charline. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM); FranciaFil: Wielgosz, Robert. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM); FranciaFil: Rosso, Adriana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI); ArgentinaFil: Ruiz de Arechavaleta, Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI); ArgentinaFil: Davies, Stephen. National Measurement Institute (NMIA); AustraliaFil: Wang, Hongjie. National Measurement Institute (NMIA); AustraliaFil: Pires do Rego, Eliane Cristina. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Marques Rodrigues, Janaína. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: de Freitas Guimarães, Evelyn. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Barreto Sousa, Marcus Vinicius. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Monteiro, Tânia Maria. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Alves das Neves Valente, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Marques Violante, Fernando Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Rubim, Renato. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Almeida, Ribeiro. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Baptista Quaresma, Maria Cristina. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Nogueira, Raquel. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMetro); BrasilFil: Windust, Anthony. Institute for National Measurement Standards. National Research Council Canada (NRC-INMS); CanadáFil: Dai, Xinhua. National Institute of Metrology (NIM); ChinaFil: Li, Xiaomin. National Institute of Metrology (NIM); ChinaFil: Zhang, Wei. National Institute of Metrology (NIM); ChinaFil: Li, Ming. National Institute of Metrology (NIM); ChinaFil: Shao, Mingwu. National Institute of Metrology (NIM); ChinaFil: Wei, Chao. National Institute of Metrology (NIM); ChinaFil: Wong, Siu-kay. Government Laboratory of Hong Kong SAR (GLHK); ChinaFil: Cabillic, Julie. Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d’Essais (LNE); FranciaFil: Gantois, Fanny. Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d’Essais (LNE); FranciaFil: Philipp, Rosemarie. Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung (BAM); AlemaniaFil: Pfeifer, Dietmar. Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung (BAM); AlemaniaFil: Hein, Sebastian. Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung (BAM); AlemaniaFil: Klyk-Seitz, Urszula-Anna. Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung (BAM); AlemaniaFil: Ishikawa, Keiichiro. National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ); JapónFil: Castro, Esther. Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM); MéxicoFil: Gonzalez, Norma. Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM); MéxicoFil: Krylov, Anatoly. D. I. Mendeleev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM); RusiaFil: Lin, Teo Tang. Health Sciences Authority (HSA); SingapurFil: Kooi, Lee Tong. Health Sciences Authority (HSA); SingapurFil: Fernandes-Whaley, M. National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA); SudáfricaFil: Prévoo, D. National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA); SudáfricaFil: Archer, M. National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA); SudáfricaFil: Visser, R. National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA); SudáfricaFil: Nlhapo, N. National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA); SudáfricaFil: de Vos, B. National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA); SudáfricaFil: Ahn, Seonghee. Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS); Corea del SurFil: Pookrod, Preeyaporn. National Institute of Metrology of Thailand (NIMT); TailandiaFil: Wiangnon, Kanjana. National Institute of Metrology of Thailand (NIMT); TailandiaFil: Sudsiri, Nittaya. National Institute of Metrology of Thailand (NIMT); TailandiaFil: Muaksang, Kittiya. National Institute of Metrology of Thailand (NIMT); TailandiaFil: Cherdchu, Chainarong. National Institute of Metrology of Thailand (NIMT); TailandiaFil: Gören, Ahmet Ceyhan. National Metrology Institute (TUBITAK UME); TurquíaFil: Bilsel, Mine. National Metrology Institute (TUBITAK UME); TurquíaFil: LeGoff, Thierry. LGC Limited; Reino UnidoFil: Bearden, Dan. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Bedner, Mary. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Duewer, David. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Hancock, Diane. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Lang, Brian. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Lippa, Katrice. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Schantz, Michele. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados UnidosFil: Sieber, John. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Estados Unido

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Recent approaches in designing bioadhesive materials inspired by mussel adhesive protein

Marine mussels secret protein-based adhesives, which enable them to anchor to various surfaces in a saline, intertidal zone. Mussel foot proteins (Mfps) contain a large abundance of a unique, catecholic amino acid, Dopa, in their protein sequences. Catechol offers robust and durable adhe-sion to various substrate surfaces and contributes to the curing of the adhesive plaques. In this article, we review the unique features and the key functionalities of Mfps, catechol chemistry, and strategies for preparing catechol-functionalized poly- mers. Specifically, we reviewed recent findings on the contributions of various features of Mfps on interfacial binding, which include coacervate formation, surface drying properties, control of the oxidation state of catechol, among other features. We also summarized recent developments in designing advanced biomimetic materials including coacervate-forming adhesives, mechanically improved nano- and micro-composite adhesive hydrogels, as well as smart and self-healing materials. Finally, we review the applications of catechol-functionalized materials for the use as biomedical adhesives, therapeutic applications, and antifouling coatings

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]

Targeting DNA Damage Response and Replication Stress in Pancreatic Cancer

Background and aims: Continuing recalcitrance to therapy cements pancreatic cancer (PC) as the most lethal malignancy, which is set to become the second leading cause of cancer death in our society. The study aim was to investigate the association between DNA damage response (DDR), replication stress and novel therapeutic response in PC to develop a biomarker driven therapeutic strategy targeting DDR and replication stress in PC. Methods: We interrogated the transcriptome, genome, proteome and functional characteristics of 61 novel PC patient-derived cell lines to define novel therapeutic strategies targeting DDR and replication stress. Validation was done in patient derived xenografts and human PC organoids. Results: Patient-derived cell lines faithfully recapitulate the epithelial component of pancreatic tumors including previously described molecular subtypes. Biomarkers of DDR deficiency, including a novel signature of homologous recombination deficiency, co-segregates with response to platinum (P &lt; 0.001) and PARP inhibitor therapy (P &lt; 0.001) in vitro and in vivo. We generated a novel signature of replication stress with which predicts response to ATR (P &lt; 0.018) and WEE1 inhibitor (P &lt; 0.029) treatment in both cell lines and human PC organoids. Replication stress was enriched in the squamous subtype of PC (P &lt; 0.001) but not associated with DDR deficiency. Conclusions: Replication stress and DDR deficiency are independent of each other, creating opportunities for therapy in DDR proficient PC, and post-platinum therapy

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