Characterizations of how species mediate ecosystem properties require more comprehensive functional effect descriptors

The importance of individual species in mediating ecosystem process and functioning is generally accepted, but categorical descriptors that summarize species-specific contributions to ecosystems tend to reference a limited number of biological traits and underestimate the importance of how organisms interact with their environment. Here, we show how three functionally contrasting sediment-dwelling marine invertebrates affect fluid and particle transport - important processes in mediating nutrient cycling - and use high-resolution reconstructions of burrow geometry to determine the extent and nature of biogenic modification. We find that individual functional effect descriptors fall short of being able to adequately characterize how species mediate the stocks and flows of important ecosystem properties and that, in contrary to common practice and understanding, they are not substitutable with one another because they emphasize different aspects of species activity and behavior. When information derived from these metrics is combined with knowledge of how species behave and modify their environment, however, detailed mechanistic information emerges that increases the likelihood that a species functional standing will be appropriately summarized. Our study provides evidence that more comprehensive functional effect descriptors are required if they are to be of value to those tasked with projecting how altered biodiversity will influence future ecosystems

Facial-muscle weakness, speech disorders and dysphagia are common in patients with classic infantile Pompe disease treated with enzyme therapy

Classic infantile Pompe disease is an inherited generalized glycogen storage disorder caused by deficiency of lysosomal acid α-glucosidase. If left untreated, patients die before one year of age. Although enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) has significantly prolonged lifespan, it has also revealed new aspects of the disease. For up to 11 years, we investigated the frequency and consequences of facial-muscle weakness, speech disorders and dysphagia in long-term survivors. Sequential photographs were used to determine the timing and severity of facial-muscle weakness. Using standardized articulation tests and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, we investigated speech and swallowing function in a subset of patients. This study included 11 patients with classic infantile Pompe disease. Median age at the start of ERT was 2.4 months (range 0.1-8.3 months), and median age at the end of the study was 4.3 years (range 7.7 months −12.2 years). All patients developed facial-muscle weakness before the age of 15 months. Speech was studied in four patients. Articulation was disordered, with hypernasal resonance and reduced speech intelligibility in all four. Swallowing function was studied in six patients, the most important findings being ineffective swallowing with residues of food (5/6), penetration or aspiration (3/6), and reduced pharyngeal and/or laryngeal sensibility (2/6). We conclude that facial-muscle weakness, speech disorders and dysphagia are common in long-term survivors receiving ERT for classic infantile Pompe disease. To improve speech and reduce the risk for aspiration, early treatment by a speech therapist and regular swallowing assessments are recommended

Resource Quantity Affects Benthic Microbial Community Structure and Growth Efficiency in a Temperate Intertidal Mudflat

Estuaries cover <1% of marine habitats, but the carbon dioxide (CO2) effluxes from these net heterotrophic systems contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle. Anthropogenic eutrophication of estuarine waterways increases the supply of labile substrates to the underlying sediments. How such changes affect the form and functioning of the resident microbial communities remains unclear. We employed a carbon-13 pulse-chase experiment to investigate how a temperate estuarine benthic microbial community at 6.5°C responded to additions of marine diatom-derived organic carbon equivalent to 4.16, 41.60 and 416.00 mmol C m−2. The quantities of carbon mineralized and incorporated into bacterial biomass both increased significantly, albeit differentially, with resource supply. This resulted in bacterial growth efficiency increasing from 0.40±0.02 to 0.55±0.04 as substrates became more available. The proportions of diatom-derived carbon incorporated into individual microbial membrane fatty acids also varied with resource supply. Future increases in labile organic substrate supply have the potential to increase both the proportion of organic carbon being retained within the benthic compartment of estuaries and also the absolute quantity of CO2 outgassing from these environments

First Cold Powering Test of REBCO Roebel Wound Coil for the EuCARD2 Future Magnet Development Project

EuCARD-2 is a project partly supported by FP7-European Commission aiming at exploring accelerator magnet technology for 20 T dipole operating field. The EuCARD-2 collaboration is liaising with similar programs for high field magnets in the USA and Japan. EuCARD-2 focuses, through the work-package 10 'Future magnets,' on the development of a 10 kA-class superconducting, high current density cable suitable for accelerator magnets, for a 5 T stand-alone dipole of 40 mm bore and about 1 m length. After standalone testing, the magnet will possibly be inserted in a large bore background dipole, to be tested at a peak field up to 18 T. This paper starts by reporting on a few of the highlight simulations that demonstrate the progress made in predicting: dynamic current distribution and influence on field quality, complex quench propagation between tapes, and minimum quench energy in the multitape cable. The multiphysics output importantly helps predicting quench signals and guides the development of the novel early detection systems. Knowing current position within individual tapes of each cable we present stress distribution throughout the coils. We report on the development of the mechanical component and assembly processes selected for Feather-M2 the 5 T EuCARD2 magnet. We describe the CERN variable temperature flowing helium cold gas test system. We describe the parallel integration of the FPGA early quench detection system, using pickup coils and temperature sensors, alongside the standard CERN magnet quench detection system using voltage taps. Finally we report on the first cold tests of the REBCO 10 kA class Roebel subscale coil named Feather-M0

German evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of Psoriasis vulgaris (short version)

Psoriasis vulgaris is a common and chronic inflammatory skin disease which has the potential to significantly reduce the quality of life in severely affected patients. The incidence of psoriasis in Western industrialized countries ranges from 1.5 to 2%. Despite the large variety of treatment options available, patient surveys have revealed insufficient satisfaction with the efficacy of available treatments and a high rate of medication non-compliance. To optimize the treatment of psoriasis in Germany, the Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft and the Berufsverband Deutscher Dermatologen (BVDD) have initiated a project to develop evidence-based guidelines for the management of psoriasis. The guidelines focus on induction therapy in cases of mild, moderate, and severe plaque-type psoriasis in adults. The short version of the guidelines reported here consist of a series of therapeutic recommendations that are based on a systematic literature search and subsequent discussion with experts in the field; they have been approved by a team of dermatology experts. In addition to the therapeutic recommendations provided in this short version, the full version of the guidelines includes information on contraindications, adverse events, drug interactions, practicality, and costs as well as detailed information on how best to apply the treatments described (for full version, please see Nast et al., JDDG, Suppl 2:S1–S126, 2006; or http://www.psoriasis-leitlinie.de)

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Sea Turtle Conservation on Bonaire. Sea Turtle Club Bonaire 1995 Project Report and Long Term Proposal

Bonaire (12°12’N, 68°77’W), Netherlands Antilles, is famous for its unspoiled coral reefs. Reefs and lush sea grass provide forage and refuge for two species of endangered sea turtle, the green turtle ( Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta ) and leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea) turtles are less common but are occasionally encountered. In the local language (Papiamentu) these species are known as ‘turtuga blanku’, ‘turtuga karet’, ‘turtuga kawama’ and ‘turtuga drikil’, respectively. Until recently, turtles were routinely captured and processed. This continues at a low level, despite the fact that it is illegal under the Marine Environment Ordinance (A.B. 1984, no. 21), as amended on 27 June 1991. Turtles are killed mainly for their meat and, in the case of karet, for their shell. This, in addition to egg poaching has led to a decline of the local populations on Bonaire. The Sea Turtle Club Bonaire (STCB) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, it’s main goal being the conservation of the sea turtles around the island of Bonaire. After the pioneer project in 1993 (Van Eijck & Eckert, 1994), a follow-up of this project was executed in 1995. In cooperation with WIDECAST, The University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and various local organisations such as the Bonaire Marine Park, an extensive sea turtle research and conservation project has taken place from June to December 1995. Main sponsors of this project were the World Wildlife Fund of The Netherlands, the Dutch National Postcode Lottery, and the Bonaire Trading Company. A main part of the activities in 1995 consisted of in-sea research on the local juvenile green and hawksbill sea turtles residing in Bonairian coastal waters. Through a large sighting network of divers and snorklers, the juvenile populations have been monitored continuously for six months. More detailed information was collected through direct observations on several locations, where turtles are known to be present regularly (most probably being foraging areas), and through a photoidentification trial. The sighting network is working well on Bonaire. As a result of the publicity given to the project and the enthusiasm of the local diveshops, the STCB is receiving a huge amount of day-to-day information. The studies in 1993 and 1995 revealed that a large group of juvenile sea turtles resides in (mainly east-) Bonairian waters, inhabiting certain fixed locations different periods of time. Photo-identification studies promise to be valuable as a database in the long run. Also included in the 1995 Project was a thorough monitoring of the nesting activity on Bonairian beaches. Former research revealed that nesting by hawksbill and loggerhead turtles occurs on a small scale (Van Eijck & Eckert, 1994). The nesting activity was examined by ground surveying the nesting beaches regularly. Nesting still occurs by hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, mainly on Klein Bonaire (39 of the total number of 44 crawls found in 1995). Unfortunately, nothing can be said about any decrease or increase in nesting activity. The total number of crawls documented in 1995 (44) was similar to the number found during the 1993 Project (40). However, new nesting beaches were identified on Klein Bonaire during the 1995 Project. Neither the number of nesting females nor the number of successful nests could be determined, but the data suggests an annual nesting population of 5-12 turtles. Twelve nests were excavated, showing a hatch rate of 0 to 94%. Since Klein Bonaire is the main location for nesting activity, this islet should retain its unspoiled state. The STCB is urging the Antillean and Dutch Governments to take further action on this point, for example by a ‘Debt for Nature Swap’. A very important part of the STCB 1995 project consisted of enhancing the public awareness about the endangered status of sea turtles. To inform the public, folders were distributed, posters were sold, information about sea turtle conservation was placed in the museum of the national park and weekly slide shows were given. Also, regular press updates, radio and television interviews and a weekly column in the islands main Papiamentu newspaper were published. Special attention was paid to the local children. Every school on the island received an information package about sea turtles, consisting of a video, various folders, a booklet, posters, and a slide presentation. In cooperation with the Bonaire Marine Park, children were taken on regular snorkel trips to educate them on underwater life in general. Finally, the STCB organised the coastal cleanup as a part of the World Cleanup Day on 16 September, during which several potential nesting beaches were cleaned. After the first project in 1993, awareness about sea turtle conservation did increase on Bonaire. This is measured by the increasing enthusiasm and participation of the local people, especially the children. Furthermore, the media proved more interested and cooperative towards the 1995 Project, as compared to 1993. However, still a lot needs to be done. In order to achieve its goals, the STCB is recommended to continue and extend the research and public awareness activities in future years. The beach and snorkel surveys in future projects can be performed in a similar manner. However, the research should be more focused on the photo-identification study and resident juvenile sea turtles along the east coast. The initiatives to enhance the public awareness must also be extended. Firstly, more educational material must be produced, like mini-posters, booklets and folders, to distribute among the schools. Secondly, the STCB should cooperate with other local organisations to establish an environmental centre. Finally, the search for new sponsoring and fundraising must be continuated, to enable the STCB to extend its activities