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

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

Terapêutica fotodinâmica com ácido delta-aminolevulínico em neoplasias queratinocíticas superficiais Photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolevulinic acid for superficial keratinocytic neoplasms

FUNDAMENTOS: A terapêutica fotodinâmica (TFD) é técnica de tratamento em que são aplicadas, nos tecidos, substâncias fotossensibilizantes, posteriormente ativadas com luzes de comprimentos de onda específicos, com a finalidade de produzir destruição celular, por meio da ação de produtos citotóxicos fotoativados. Tal método tem sido utilizado em diversos tipos de neoplasias cutâneas, com resultados bastante entusiasmadores. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o efeito de uma única sessão de terapêutica fotodinâmica (TFD) com ácido delta aminolevulínico (ALA) tópico, estimulado por luz não coerente, em ceratoses actínicas (CAC), carcinomas basocelulares (CBC) superficiais e doenças de Bowen (DB). MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Utilizando uma fonte de luz não coerente, emitida por protótipo desenvolvido no Serviço de Engenharia Biomédica do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), para ativar o ácido delta-aminolevulínico (ALA) a 20%, aplicado com oclusão, foram tradadas 80 lesões cutâneas, em 52 pacientes. Entre as lesões, 32 (40%) eram carcinomas basocelulares superficiais, 37 (46,3%) ceratoses actinícas e 11 (13,7%) doenças de Bowen. Em 23 casos (28,7%), além das características clínicas, o diagnóstico foi confirmado por biópsia e exame histopatológico. RESULTADOS: Não foi possível obter o seguimento de cinco lesões tratadas. Das 75 lesões que puderam ser avaliadas, 41 (54,6%) apresentaram cura, 22 (29,4%) apresentaram melhora, e 12 (16,0%) permaneceram inalteradas, tendo o tratamento sido considerado ineficaz nestas últimas. Das 35 ceratoses actínicas, 23 (65,7%) obtiveram cura, 7 (20%) melhoraram, e cinco (14,3%) não responderam ao tratamento.Trinta carcinomas basocelulares superficiais foram tratados, com cura em 10 (33,3%), melhora em 13 (43,4%) e sem alterações em sete (23,3%). Dos 10 casos de doença de Bowen avaliados, oito (80%) curaram e dois (20%) melhoraram. Os efeitos colaterais observados foram ardência em 24 lesões (32%), dor em cinco (6,7%) e prurido em um caso (1,3%). A maioria dos casos (60%) apresentou boa tolerância ao tratamento, não havendo efeitos paralelos dignos de nota. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados obtidos no trabalho assemelham-se, em parte, aos relatados na literatura com aplicação única da terapêutica fotodinâmica com ácido delta-aminolevulínico em neoplasias queratinocíticas superficiais, principalmente nas ceratoses actínicas e na doença de Bowen.<br>BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment technique in which photosensitizing substances are applied in tissues and excited with specific wavelengths of light energy to obtain cell destruction through photoactive cytotoxic substances. This method has been used in several skin neoplasms, with quite successful results. OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of one single session of topical delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) irradiated with incoherent light, in actinic keratosis (AK), superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and Bowen's disease (BD). PATIENT AND METHODS: Eighty skin lesions, in 52 patients, were treated with an incoherent light source prototype built by the Service of Biomedical Engineering of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), after the application of 20% ALA under occlusion. Thirty two (40%) were superficial BCC, 37 (46.3%) AK, and 11 (13.7%) BD. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy and histology in 23 cases (28.7%). RESULTS: Follow up was not available in five lesions. From the remaining 75, 41 (54.6%) were completely resolved, 22 (29.4%) showed partial remission, and 12 (16.0%) were considered as treatment failures. Considering the 35 treated AK, 23 (65.7%) presented complete response, 7 (20%) improved, and 5 (14.3%) showed no benefit after treatment. Thirty BCC were treated, 10 (33.3%) completely resolved, 13 (43.4%) improved, and 7 (23.3%) remained unaffected. From 10 treated BD, 8 (80%) resolved and 2 (20%) improved. Observed side effects were burning sensation in 24 lesions (32%), pain in 5 (6.7%), and itch in one case (1.3%). Most patients (60%) did not experience any important side effects. CONCLUSION: The results of this study are similar, in part, to the results of other studies present in the literature that used a single treatment with ALA/PDT for superficial keratinocytic neoplasms, especially for actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease