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

Cuidadores informais de idosos em pós-operatório de cirurgia de fêmur proximal: prevenção de novas quedas

The objectives of this study were to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of informal caregivers of elderly persons who had undergone surgery for hip fractures caused by a fall, explore the level of caregiver's knowledge regarding fall prevention, and assess the relationship between this knowledge and the use of preventative measures in practice. This investigation consists of a cross-sectional study using nonprobability sampling methods conducted over a period of 12 months and involving 89 caregivers. The majority of caregivers were female (76.4%) and sons or daughters of the patients (64%). Environmental modification was the predominant preventative measure used by caregivers (88.2%). 58.1% of caregivers believed it was possible to prevent falls in the elderly and there was a significant association (p = 0,002) between believing it was possible to prevent falls and carrying out modifications in the home and/or to the daily routine of the older person. Informal caregivers with wide or partial knowledge of fall prevention put preventative measures into practice. These findings demonstrate that the number of falls among older persons could be significantly reduced if health care programmes widened their actions to include the guiding principles of the WHO falls prevention model.Os objetivos foram caracterizar sociodemograficamente os cuidadores informais de idosos vítimas de queda seguida por fratura de fêmur proximal e verificar o conhecimento mínimo que possuíam acerca da prevenção de novas quedas, assim como caracterizar a relação entre esse conhecimento e o emprego de medidas preventivas. Trata-se de estudo transversal, com amostragem intencional, realizado em 12 meses, incluindo 89 cuidadores. Predominaram cuidadores do sexo feminino (76,4%) e filhas(os) (64%). A modificação ambiental foi a medida preventiva predominante apontada por eles (88,2%). Houve associação significativa (p = 0,002), entre os 58,1% dos cuidadores que achavam ser possível prevenir quedas e os relatos sobre mudanças na casa e/ou rotina do idoso. Observou-se que cuidadores informais que apresentavam conhecimento sobre prevenção de quedas em idosos, mesmo que incompletos, empregavam medidas de prevenção para novos eventos. Esses achados sinalizam que o número de quedas entre idosos pode ser reduzido significantemente se os programas de atenção à saúde ampliarem suas ações apoiando-as no modelo de prevenção de quedas da Organização Mundial de Saúde.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (FMB), Distrito de Rubião Júnior snº, Centro. 18618-970, Botucatu SP BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Cirurgia e Ortopedia, FBM, Unesp.Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (FMB), Distrito de Rubião Júnior snº, Centro. 18618-970, Botucatu SP BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Departamento de Cirurgia e Ortopedia, FBM, Unesp

Quality of life of caregivers for patients of cerebrovascular accidents: association of (socio-demographic) characteristics and burden

OBJECTIVE Investigating the association between quality of life with socio-demographic characteristics and the burden of caregivers for individuals with cerebrovascular accident sequelae. METHOD A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a sample composed of 136 caregivers. For data collection, a semi-structured questionnaire, the Barthel, Burden Interview and Short-Form-36 scales were used. Correlation analysis, t-Student test and F-test were used for the analysis in order to compare averages. RESULTS Significant averages in quality of life were demonstrated in association with female caregivers and those over 60 years in the field 'functional capacity,' and in the domains of 'mental health' and 'vitality' for those with higher income. Regarding burden association, the highlighted areas were 'functional capacity,' 'physical aspects,' 'emotional aspects' and 'pain.' CONCLUSION The creation of public policies and social support to effectively reduce the burden on caregivers is a necessity

Acidente ocupacional por material perfurocortante entre profissionais de saúde de um Centro Cirúrgico

O acidente ocupacional por material perfurocortante constitui uma preocupação para instituições e trabalhadores de saúde, devido à elevada frequência de procedimentos invasivos, e a dinâmica do trabalho. Objetivou-se identificar a incidência dos acidentes, dos materiais envolvidos, dos fatores contribuintes e das condutas tomadas pós-acidente. Participaram de um estudo transversal 127 funcionários do centro cirúrgico. Registraram-se 23,6% (30/127) acidentes com envolvimento de agulha (73,3%), lâmina de bisturi (6,7%) e eletrocautério (6,7%). Os fatores contribuintes para o acidente foram: falta de atenção (36,7%), más condições de trabalho (20,0%), descuido (13,3%), pressa (10%) e acaso/azar (6,7%). Somente 15,4% dos acidentes foram registrados. A subnotificação deveu-se à irrelevância do acidente, desconhecimento do protocolo de rotina, displicência e sobrecarga de trabalho. Os resultados alertam para a importância de se implementar estratégias para adoção/revisão de protocolos pós-acidentes, visando a redução dos acidentes e de sua subnotificação.El accidente laboral por elementos corto-punzantes constituye una preocupación para instituciones y trabajadores de la salud, debido a la elevada frecuencia con la que se realizan procedimientos invasivos y por la dinámica del trabajo. Se objetivó identificar la incidencia de los accidentes, los materiales involucrados, los factores contribuyentes y las conductas tomadas con posterioridad al accidente. Participaron de un estudio transversal 127 trabajadores de un centro quirúrgico. Sobre un porcentaje de accidentados del 23,6% (30/127), el 73,3% sufrió accidentes involucrando agujas, 6,7% se accidentó con hojas de bisturí y 6,7% se accidentó con electrocauterizador. Los factores que contribuyeron a los accidentes fueron: falta de atención (36,7%), malas condiciones de trabajo (20,0%), descuido (13,3%), prisa (10,0%) y casualidad / azar (6,7%). Sólo el 15,4% de los accidentes fueron registrados. La falta de notificación se debió a la irrelevancia del accidente, desconocimiento del protocolo de rutina, displicencia y sobrecarga de trabajo. Los resultados alertan sobre la importancia de implementar estrategias para adopción / revisión de protocolos post accidentes, apuntando a la reducción de la cantidad de accidentes y a evitar la ausencia de registro de los mismos.Occupational accidents involving piercing-cutting material are a concern for institutions and health workers due to the high frequency of invasive procedures and the dynamics involved in their practice. The objective of the present study was to identify the incidence of accidents, devices involved, contributing factors and post-accident behaviors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 127 healthcare workers from the operating center. Of the total number of accidents reported, 23.6% (30/127) involved piercing-cutting materials, including needles (73.3%), scalpels (6.7%) and electrocautery (6.7%). The factors contributing to the accident were: lack of attention (36.7%), poor working conditions (20.0%), neglect (13.3%), rushing (10%) and accident/chance (6.7%). Only 15.4% of the accidents were recorded. Underreporting was due to: irrelevance of the accident, unaware of the protocol of routine, negligence and work overload. Results show the importance of implementing strategies for adopting/reviewing post-accident protocols aiming at reducing accidents and their underreporting

Escutando as mães de portadores de fissuras orais

Estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa. Objetivou a escuta e o relato sobre a etiologia da malformação e conhecer as crenças atribuídas pelos familiares à manifestação das fissuras orais. Os dados foram coletados de março a junho de 2009 por entrevista semi-estruturada e analisados por análise de conteúdo. Resultou em cinco categorias: reação da mãe, sentimentos das mães e da família, comportamento da equipe, conhecimento da causa e crenças. Os resultados permitiram conhecer as crenças sobre o tema e adequar as orientações da enfermagem e dos demais profissionais às mães de portadores de fissuras orais, auxiliando os familiares em todas as fases de desenvolvimento da criança durante o processo terapêutico

Dietary Fiber and Saturated Fat Intake Associations with Cardiovascular Disease Differ by Sex in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Cohort: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine associations between intake of macronutrients and dietary fiber and incident ischemic cardiovascular disease (iCVD) in men and women. METHODS: We used data from 8,139 male and 12,535 female participants (aged 44-73 y) of the Swedish population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. The participants were without history of CVD and diabetes mellitus, and had reported stable dietary habits in the study questionnaire. Diet was assessed by a validated modified diet history method, combining a 7-d registration of cooked meals and cold beverages, a 168-item food questionnaire (covering other foods and meal patterns), and a 1-hour diet interview. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected by questionnaire. iCVD cases, which included coronary events (myocardial infarctions or deaths from chronic ischemic heart disease) and ischemic strokes, were ascertained via national and local registries. Nutrient-disease associations were examined by multivariate Cox regressions. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 13.5 years, we identified 1,089 male and 687 female iCVD cases. High fiber intakes were associated with lower incidence rates of iCVD in women and of ischemic stroke in men. In post-hoc analysis, we discovered statistically significant interactions between intake of fiber and saturated fat; these interactions also differed between men and women (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this well-defined population, a high fiber intake was associated with lower risk of iCVD, but there were no robust associations between other macronutrients and iCVD risk. Judging from this study, gender-specific nutrient analysis may be preferable in epidemiology