The effectiveness of aquatic plants as surrogates for wider biodiversity in standing fresh waters

1. Freshwaters are among the most globally threatened habitats and their biodiversity is declining at an unparalleled rate. In an attempt to slow this decline, multiple approaches have been used to conserve, restore or enhance waterbodies. However, evaluating their effectiveness is time‐consuming and expensive. Identifying species or assemblages across a range of ecological conditions that can provide a surrogate for wider freshwater biodiversity is therefore of significant value for conservation management and planning. 2. For lakes and ponds in three contrasting landscapes of Britain (lowland agricultural, eastern England; upland, north‐west England; urban, central Scotland) we examined the link between macrophyte species, macrophyte morpho‐group diversity (an indicator of structural diversity) and the richness of three widespread aquatic macroinvertebrate groups (molluscs, beetles, and odonates) using structural equation modelling. We hypothesised that increased macrophyte richness and, hence, increased vegetation structural complexity, would increase macroinvertebrate richness after accounting for local and landscape conditions. 3. We found that macrophyte richness, via macrophyte morpho‐group diversity, was an effective surrogate for mollusc, beetle, and odonate richness in ponds after accounting for variation caused by physical variables, water chemistry, and surrounding land use. However, only mollusc richness could be predicted by macrophyte morpho‐group diversity in lakes, with no significant predicted effect on beetles or odonates. 4. Our results indicate that macrophyte morpho‐group diversity can be viewed as a suitable surrogate of macroinvertebrate biodiversity across diverse landscapes, particularly in ponds and to a lesser extent in lakes. This has important implications for the restoration, conservation, and creation of standing water habitats and for assessing their effectiveness in addressing the decline of global freshwater biodiversity. Management actions prioritising the development of species‐rich and structurally diverse macrophyte assemblages will be likely to benefit wider freshwater biodiversity

Eliciting reflections on caring theory in elderly caring practice

Caring theories are the description and conceptualization of the care that is given in caring practise by nurses and other professional caregivers with the aim of verbalizing and communicating caring phenomena. Intermittently, a theory –practice gap is given expression- that theory does not go along with clinical practice in caring

Visual Analysis of a Cold Rolling Process Using Data-Based Modeling

International Conference on Engineering Applications of Neural Networks (13th. 2012. Coventry Univ, Otaniemi, Finland

Systematic evaluation of pembrolizumab dosing in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

International audienceBACKGROUND: In the phase I KEYNOTE-001 study, pembrolizumab demonstrated durable antitumor activity in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We sought to characterize the relationship between pembrolizumab dose, exposure, and response to define an effective dose for these patients. METHODS: Patients received pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W) (n=55), 10 mg/kg Q3W (n=238), or 10 mg/kg Q2W (n=156). Response (RECIST v1.1) was assessed every 9 weeks. The relationship between the estimated pembrolizumab area under the concentration-time curve at steady-state over 6 weeks (AUCss-6weeks) and the longitudinal change in tumor size (sum of longest diameters) was analyzed by regression and nonlinear mixed effects modeling. This model was simultaneously fit to all tumor size data, then used to simulate response rates, normalizing the trial data across dose for prognostic covariates (tumor PD-L1 expression and EGFR mutation status). The exposure-safety relationship was assessed by logistic regression of pembrolizumab AUCss-6weeks versus occurrence of adverse events of interest based on their immune etiology. RESULTS: Overall response rates were 15% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7%-28%) at 2 Q3W, 25% (18%-33%) at 10 Q3W, and 21% (95% CI 14% to 30%) at 10 Q2W. Regression analyses of percentage change from baseline in tumor size versus AUCss-6week indicated a flat relationship (regression slope P\textgreater0.05). Simulations showed the exposure-response relationship to be similarly flat, thus indicating that the lowest evaluated dose of 2 mg/kg Q3W to likely be at or near the efficacy plateau. Exposure-safety analysis showed the adverse event incidence to be similar among the clinically tested doses. CONCLUSIONS: No significant exposure dependency on efficacy or safety was identified for pembrolizumab across doses of 2 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. These results support the use of a 2-mg/kg Q3W dosage in patients with previously treated, advanced NSCLC.ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT0129582

Nuclear DNA content variation in life history phases of the Bonnemaisoniaceae (Rhodophyta)

Nuclear DNA content in gametophytes and sporophytes or the prostrate phases of the following species of Bonnemaisoniaceae (Asparagopsis armata, Asparagopsis taxiformis, Bonnemaisonia asparagoides, Bonnemaisonia clavata and Bonnemaisonia hamifera) were estimated by image analysis and static microspectrophotometry using the DNA-localizing fluorochrome DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, dilactate) and the chicken erythrocytes standard. These estimates expand on the Kew database of DNA nuclear content. DNA content values for 1C nuclei in the gametophytes (spermatia and vegetative cells) range from 0.5 pg to 0.8 pg, and for 2C nuclei in the sporophytes or the prostrate phases range from 1.15-1.7 pg. Although only the 2C and 4C values were observed in the sporophyte or the prostrate phase, in the vegetative cells of the gametophyte the values oscillated from 1C to 4C, showing the possible start of endopolyploidy. The results confirm the alternation of nuclear phases in these Bonnemaisoniaceae species, in those that have tetrasporogenesis, as well as those that have somatic meiosis. The availability of a consensus phylogenetic tree for Bonnemaisoniaceae has opened the way to determine evolutionary trends in DNA contents. Both the estimated genome sizes and the published chromosome numbers for Bonnemaisoniaceae suggest a narrow range of values consistent with the conservation of an ancestral genome

The genera Melanothamnus Bornet & Falkenberg and Vertebrata S.F. Gray constitute well-defined clades of the red algal tribe Polysiphonieae (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales).

Polysiphonia is the largest genus of red algae, and several schemes subdividing it into smaller taxa have been proposed since its original description. Most of these proposals were not generally accepted, and currently the tribe Polysiphonieae consists of the large genus Polysiphonia (190 species), the segregate genus Neosiphonia (43 species), and 13 smaller genera (< 10 species each). In this paper, phylogenetic relationships of the tribe Polysiphonieae are analysed, with particular emphasis on the genera Carradoriella, Fernandosiphonia, Melanothamnus, Neosiphonia, Polysiphonia sensu stricto, Streblocladia and Vertebrata. We evaluated the consistency of 14 selected morphological characters in the identified clades. Based on molecular phylogenetic (rbcL and 18S genes) and morphological evidence, two speciose genera are recognized: Vertebrata (including the type species of the genera Ctenosiphonia, Enelittosiphonia, Boergeseniella and Brongniartella) and Melanothamnus (including the type species of the genera Fernandosiphonia and Neosiphonia). Both genera are distinguished from other members of the Polysiphonieae by synapomorphic characters, the emergence of which could have provided evolutionarily selective advantages for these two lineages. In Vertebrata trichoblast cells are multinucleate, possibly associated with the development of extraordinarily long, photoprotective, trichoblasts. Melanothamnus has 3-celled carpogonial branches and plastids lying exclusively on radial walls of the pericentral cells, which similarly may improve resistance to damage caused by excessive light. Other relevant characters that are constant in each genus are also shared with other clades. The evolutionary origin of the genera Melanothamnus and Vertebrata is estimated as 75.7-95.78 and 90.7-138.66 Ma, respectively. Despite arising in the Cretaceous, before the closure of the Tethys Seaway, Melanothamnus is a predominantly Indo-Pacific genus and its near-absence from the northeastern Atlantic is enigmatic. The nomenclatural implications of this work are that 46 species are here transferred to Melanothamnus, six species are transferred to Vertebrata and 13 names are resurrected for Vertebrata

Delivering cognitive analytic consultancy to community mental health teams: Initial practice-based evidence from a multi-site evaluation.

Objectives: This study sought to employ the hourglass model to frame the methodological evolution of outcome studies concerning 5-session cognitive analytic consultancy (CAC). Design: Pre-post mixed methods evaluation (study one) and mixed methods case series (study two). Methods: In study one, three sites generated acceptability and pre-post effectiveness outcomes from N = 58 care dyads, supplemented with qualitative interviewing. The client outcome measures included the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure, Personality Structure Questionnaire, Work and Social Adjustment Questionnaire, Service Engagement Scale, and the Working Alliance Inventory. Study two was a mixed methods case series (N = 5) using an A/B phase design with a 6-week follow-up. Client outcome measures were the Personality Structure Questionnaire, Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure, and the Working Alliance Inventory, and the staff outcome measures were the Working Alliance Inventory, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Perceived Competence Scale. Results: In study one, the cross-site dropout rate from CAC was 28.40% (the completion rate varied from 58 to 100%) and full CAC attendance rates ranged from 61 to 100%. Significant reductions in client distress were observed at two sites. Qualitative themes highlighted increased awareness and understanding across care dyads. In study two, there was zero dropout and full attendance. Clients were significantly less fragmented, and staff felt significantly more competent and less exhausted. Potential mechanisms of change were the effective process skills of the consultant and that emotionally difficult CAC processes were helpful. Conclusions: Cognitive analytic consultancy appears a promising approach to staff consultation, and testing in a clinical trial is now indicated. Practitioner Points: CAC is a suitable method of consultation for care dyads struggling to work effectively together in CMHTs. Staff feel more competent and clients feel less fragmented following CAC, and the benefits of CAC appear to be maintained over follow-up time. CAC processes can be difficult for care coordinator and client, but this is not an impediment to change

Climate Change, Coral Reef Ecosystems, and Management Options for Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) provide place-based management of marine ecosystems through various degrees and types of protective actions. Habitats such as coral reefs are especially susceptible to degradation resulting from climate change, as evidenced by mass bleaching events over the past two decades. Marine ecosystems are being altered by direct effects of climate change including ocean warming, ocean acidification, rising sea level, changing circulation patterns, increasing severity of storms, and changing freshwater influxes. As impacts of climate change strengthen they may exacerbate effects of existing stressors and require new or modified management approaches; MPA networks are generally accepted as an improvement over individual MPAs to address multiple threats to the marine environment. While MPA networks are considered a potentially effective management approach for conserving marine biodiversity, they should be established in conjunction with other management strategies, such as fisheries regulations and reductions of nutrients and other forms of land-based pollution. Information about interactions between climate change and more “traditional” stressors is limited. MPA managers are faced with high levels of uncertainty about likely outcomes of management actions because climate change impacts have strong interactions with existing stressors, such as land-based sources of pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing practices, invasive species, and diseases. Management options include ameliorating existing stressors, protecting potentially resilient areas, developing networks of MPAs, and integrating climate change into MPA planning, management, and evaluation