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

Coulomb energy differences of mirror nuclei in the sd shell

The Carlson-Talmi shell-model theory for Coulomb energies of mirror nuclei indicates an appreciable discontinuity of the harmonic oscillator parameter e2(v/π)1 2 and the nuclear radius parameter r0 at A = 29. To be more realistic, configuration mixing within the sd shell at least should be taken into account. Considerations of a qualitative nature suffice to show that thereby the discontinuity loses its significance. © 1970.Articl

Fisieke aktiwiteit, lewenstyl en enkele sosio-ekonomiese aspekte se verband met die gesondheidstatus van mans in Potchefstroom

Epidemiologic studies have shown that a low socio-economic status (SES) is related to negative lifestyle choices and a higher tendency for premature disease and all-cause mortality. Individuals with a high level of socio-economic status (SES) report the best lifestyles and health status. These relationships are, however, influenced by the race and sex of the individual. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of two socio-economic factors namely income and educational attainment with the lifestyle, physical activity profile and health status of a group of men. The subjects of this study were 525 caucasion male inhabitants of Potchefstroom, a city in the North West Province of South Africa. Subjects between the ages of 30 and 60 were selected at random according to street addresses. The quality of participation in physical activity was determined with Sharkey's physical activity index, the quality of lifestyle was determined by using the seven Belloc and Breslow habits and Walker's health promoting lifestyle profile, while health status was measured by Wyler's seriousness of illness rating scale. Educational attainment showed a direct and statistically significant (p_0.05) relationship with lifestyle, participation in physical activity and health status. The higher the educational attainment of the participants the better the lifestyle, quality of participation in physical activity and state of health. However, income showed only a direct and statistically significant (p_0.05) relationship with the quality of participation in physical activity. No statistically significant (p>0.05) relationship was found between income, lifestyle and health status. Two-way analysis of variance showed no relationship between educational attainment and health status, independent from lifestyle and participation in physical activity. Although the active (moderate and high) individuals showed the best lifestyle, participation in physical activity and health status throughout the study, educational attainment seems to have an effect on the health status of inactive individuals. The results of this study therefore seem to indicate that socio-economic status (SES), and in particular educational attainment, influences health through the effect it has on the individuals lifestyle and quality of participation in physical activity. (S. African J. for Research in Sport, Physical Ed. and Recreation: 2001 23 (2): 35-50

The accuracy of 3D virtual bone models of the pelvis for morphological sex estimation

It is currently unknown whether morphological sex estimation traits are accurately portrayed on virtual bone models, and this hampers the use of virtual bone models as an alternative source of contemporary skeletal reference data. This study determines whether commonly used morphological sex estimation traits can be accurately scored on virtual 3D pelvic bone elements. Twenty-seven intact cadavers from the body donation program of the Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, were CT scanned; this data was used to produce virtual bone models. Thereafter, the dry bones were obtained. Three traits by Klales (2012) and five traits from the Workshop of European Anthropologists (WEA) (1980) were scored on the virtual bone models and their dry skeletal counterparts. Intra- and inter-observer agreement and the agreement between the scores for each virtual bone model-dry bone pair were calculated using weighted Cohen’s kappa (K). For all Klales (2012) traits, intra- and inter-observer agreement was substantial to almost perfect for the virtual- and dry bones (K = 0.62–0.90). The agreement in scores in the virtual-dry bone pairs ranged from moderate to almost perfect (K = 0.58–0.82). For the WEA (1980) traits, intra-observer agreement was substantial to almost perfect (K = 0.64–0.91), but results were less unambiguous for inter-observer agreement (K = 0.24–0.88). Comparison of the scores between the virtual bone models and the dry bones yielded kappa values of 0.42–0.87. On one hand, clinical CT data is a promising source for contemporary forensic anthropological reference data, but the interchangeability of forensic anthropological methods between virtual bone models and dry skeletal elements needs to be tested further.http://link.springer.com/journal/414hj2020Anatom

The geometrical precision of virtual bone models derived from clinical computed tomography data for forensic anthropology

Almost all European countries lack contemporary skeletal collections for the development and validation of forensic anthropological methods. Furthermore, legal, ethical and practical considerations hinder the development of skeletal collections. A virtual skeletal database derived from clinical computed tomography (CT) scans provides a potential solution. However, clinical CT scans are typically generated with varying settings. This study investigates the effects of image segmentation and varying imaging conditions on the precision of virtual modelled pelves. An adult human cadaver was scanned using varying imaging conditions, such as scanner type and standard patient scanning protocol, slice thickness and exposure level. The pelvis was segmented from the various CT images resulting in virtually modelled pelves. The precision of the virtual modelling was determined per polygon mesh point. The fraction of mesh points resulting in point-to-point distance variations of 2 mm or less (95% confidence interval (CI)) was reported. Colour mapping was used to visualise modelling variability. At almost all (>97%) locations across the pelvis, the point-to-point distance variation is less than 2mm(CI = 95%). In >91% of the locations, the point-to-point distance variation was less than 1 mm (CI = 95%). This indicates that the geometric variability of the virtual pelvis as a result of segmentation and imaging conditions rarely exceeds the generally accepted linear error of 2 mm. Colour mapping shows that areas with large variability are predominantly joint surfaces. Therefore, results indicate that segmented bone elements from patient-derived CT scans are a sufficiently precise source for creating a virtual skeletal database.http://link.springer.com/journal/414am2017Anatom

Efficacy of cypermethrin on the control of Struthiolipeurus spp. (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) in ostrich Eficácia da cipermetrina no controle de Struthiolipeurus spp. (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) em avestruz

<abstract language="por">Duzentos e quarenta avestruzes, com idades entre 12 e 24 meses, foram examinados quanto ao parasitismo por Struthiolipeurus spp. Destes, 168 apresentavam-se infestados por piolhos (70%). Todas as aves foram tratadas com solução de cipermetrina a 15%, na diluição de 1ml/l, por pulverização com auxílio de uma bomba costal. Os animais positivos foram reexaminados nos dias 7, 14 e 21 após o tratamento, e não foram mais encontrados piolhos. A cipermetrina apresentou 100% de eficácia no controle de piolhos do gênero Struthiolipeurus em avestruz