Response to Comments on "Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness"

Pan et al. claim that our results actually support a strong linear positive relationship between productivity and richness, whereas Fridley et al. contend that the data support a strong humped relationship. These responses illustrate how preoccupation with bivariate patterns distracts from a deeper understanding of the multivariate mechanisms that control these important ecosystem properties

Elucidation of the mass fragmentation pathways of the polyether marine toxins, dinophysistoxins, and identification of isomer discrimination processes

RATIONALE Most of the liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods that have been developed for the analysis of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in shellfish and algae samples have been unable to differentiate the isomers okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2), unless separated by chromatography. Since there are many bioconversion products of these compounds it is imperative to determine characteristic product ions, which can provide unequivocal identification of OA and DTX2 and their analogs. METHODS Using electrospray ionization, the fragmentation processes for two types of precursor ions, [M+Na] and [M-H] , of the polyether marine toxins, dinophysistoxins (DTXs), were studied using a hybrid linear ion trap Orbitrap mass spectrometer which provided high mass accuracy data in combination with multiple tandem mass (MS ) spectra. Three structurally related toxins were compared; okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2) and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1). A quick multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) LC/MS/MS method was developed utilizing the characteristic precursor/product ion mass transitions. RESULTS Comparison of the high-resolution product ion, [M-H] , spectra of these toxins featured dominant signals that resulted from two six-centered rearrangements and previously proposed fragmentation pathways for the ion of m/z 321 and 293 have been corrected and identified. By contrast, the [M+Na] product ion spectra only revealed distinctive ions for the isomers, OA (m/z 595, 443 and 151) and DTX2 (m/z 581, 429 and 165). To illustrate the benefits of this study, a mass selective LC/MS/MS method was developed in which the isomers OA and DTX2 co-eluted but were distinguished using the mass transitions, m/z 827/595, 827/443 (OA) and m/z 827/581, 827/429 (DTX2). CONCLUSIONS Comparison of OA, DTX2 and DTX1 led to the correction of proposed negative ion mode fragmentation pathways. Through extensive study and comparison of the [M+Na] product ion spectra, distinctive product ions were identified which allowed for these compounds to be identified and distinguished without separation for the first time

Association between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of prevalent type 2 diabetes and incident prediabetes: A prospective cohort study using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

Background It is hypothesized that vitamin D contributes to the aetiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes). This study’s objective was to examine the relationships between baseline vitamin D status (as measured by plasma 25- hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and both prevalent diabetes and prospective risk of developing diabetes, including prediabetes, in a population with historically low levels of vitamin D. Methods In this prospective cohort study, data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), a nationally representative cohort of adults aged ≥50 years residing in Ireland were analysed, including wave 1 (October 2009 −June 2011) (n = 5272) and wave 3 (March 2014−October 2015) (n = 3828). Those aged Findings Deficient baseline vitamin D concentration was cross-sectionally associated with an increased likelihood of having prevalent diabetes (Relative Risk Ratio [RRR] 1.5, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.18; p = 0.037). In longitudinal analyses evaluating diabetes status 4 years later, there was a 62% increased likelihood (RRR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.35; p = 0.011) of developing prediabetes for those with vitamin D Interpretation Those with lower concentrations of vitamin D, as measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D, may have different risk profiles with regards to their glycaemic status. Our study had limited power due to the low incidence of diabetes but showed strong associations with incident prediabetes, so further research is required. Optimising vitamin D status at a population level may significantly reduce diabetes.  </p

Disputatio gradualis de facie imperii Sveogothici antiqua, quam annuente ampliss. facult. philos. in regia academia Upsaliensi, sub præsidio celeberrimi viri, mag. Andreæ Grönwall ... publicæ bonorum censuræ modeste subjicit s:æ r:æ m:tis alumnus Johannes Ramner Westmannus. In auditorio Carolino majori, die XXIX. Maji anno MDCCXXV. horis ante meridiem solitis

International audienc

Biophysical considerations in forestry for climate protection

Forestry – including afforestation (the planting of trees on land where they have not recently existed), reforestation, avoided deforestation, and forest management – can lead to increased sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and has therefore been proposed as a strategy to mitigate climate change. However, forestry also influences land-surface properties, including albedo (the fraction of incident sunlight reflected back to space), surface roughness, and evapotranspiration, all of which affect the amount and forms of energy transfer to the atmosphere. In some circumstances, these biophysical feedbacks can result in local climate warming, thereby counteracting the effects of carbon sequestration on global mean temperature and reducing or eliminating the net value of climate-change mitigation projects. Here, we review published and emerging research that suggests ways in which forestry projects can counteract the consequences associated with biophysical interactions, and highlight knowledge gaps in managing forests for climate protection. We also outline several ways in which biophysical effects can be incorporated into frameworks that use the maintenance of forests as a climate protection strategy

Identifying Critical Issues in Smart City Big Data Project Implementation

Many cities across the globe are adopting smart city initiatives, as smart city holds the promise of better quality of life and equity for city\u27s residents, more efficient use of city\u27s infrastructure, and more effective city planning. Big data analytics is the backbone of smart city and the drive engine to achieve smart city\u27s promises. However, statistics indicate that more than 50% of big data projects fail; they either never finish or do not offer the expected value. Resulting in severe consequences as such projects tends to be expensive and require allocating the organization\u27s best resources while doing the project. This is even more crucial in the case of smart city, as cities usually have limited budget and resources. This paper conducted literature review and perspectives analysis to identify challenges, which can cause big data projects to fail, with focus on smart city related big data projects. The goal is to offer a list of challenges, that a project manager can consider as an initial list of risks for the upcoming project, and evaluate the city\u27s readiness against each of them

Status of the SPIRE photometer data processing pipelines during the early phases of the Herschel mission.

We describe the current state of the ground segment of Herschel-SPIRE photometer data processing, approximately one year into the mission. The SPIRE photometer operates in two modes: scan mapping and chopped point source photometry. For each mode, the basic analysis pipeline - which follows in reverse the effects from the incidence of light on the telescope to the storage of samples from the detector electronics - is essentially the same as described pre-launch. However, the calibration parameters and detailed numerical algorithms have advanced due to the availability of commissioning and early science observations, resulting in reliable pipelines which produce accurate and sensitive photometry and maps at 250, 350, and 500 µm with minimal residual artifacts. We discuss some detailed aspects of the pipelines on the topics of: detection of cosmic ray glitches, linearization of detector response, correction for focal plane temperature drift, subtraction of detector baselines (offsets), absolute calibration, and basic map making. Several of these topics are still under study with the promise of future enhancements to the pipelines

Productivity is a poor predictor of plant species richness

For more than 30 years, the relationship between net primary productivity and species richness has generated intense debate in ecology about the processes regulating local diversity. The original view, which is still widely accepted, holds that the relationship is hump-shaped, with richness first rising and then declining with increasing productivity. Although recent meta-analyses questioned the generality of hump-shaped patterns, these syntheses have been criticized for failing to account for methodological differences among studies. We addressed such concerns by conducting standardized sampling in 48 herbaceous-dominated plant communities on five continents. We found no clear relationship between productivity and fine-scale (meters−2) richness within sites, within regions, or across the globe. Ecologists should focus on fresh, mechanistic approaches to understanding the multivariate links between productivity and richness

Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Before 2020, mental disorders were leading causes of the global health-related burden, with depressive and anxiety disorders being leading contributors to this burden. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment where many determinants of poor mental health are exacerbated. The need for up-to-date information on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 in a way that informs health system responses is imperative. In this study, we aimed to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and burden of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders globally in 2020. Through a systematic review of data reporting the prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic and published between Jan 1, 2020, and Jan 29, 2021 and using the assembled data in a meta-regression to estimate change in the prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders between pre-pandemic and mid-pandemic (using periods as defined by each study) via COVID-19 impact indicators (human mobility, daily SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, and daily excess mortality rate) by age, sex, and location. Final prevalence estimates and disability weights were used to estimate years lived with disability and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders

Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness

For more than 30 years, the relationship between net primary productivity and species richness has generated intense debate in ecology about the processes regulating local diversity. The original view, which is still widely accepted, holds that the relationship is hump-shaped, with richness first rising and then declining with increasing productivity. Although recent meta-analyses questioned the generality of hump-shaped patterns, these syntheses have been criticized for failing to account for methodological differences among studies. We addressed such concerns by conducting standardized sampling in 48 herbaceous-dominated plant communities on five continents. We found no clear relationship between productivity and fine-scale (meters−2) richness within sites, within regions, or across the globe. Ecologists should focus on fresh, mechanistic approaches to understanding the multivariate links between productivity and richness.This article is from Science 333, no. 6050 (2011): 1750–1753, doi:10.1126/science.1204498.</p