Diversity of plant communities in coastal salt marshes habitat in Kuwait

Integration phytosociology combined with traditional measures of diversity is used to describe the patterns of vegetation diversity along the coastal salt marshes of Kuwait. This study assesses the plant communities and the environmental factors that govern species diversity and distribution in the coastal salt marshes using TWINSPAN, DCA, and regression analysis. The results focus on: (1) the environmental gradients observed are very complex; (2) stressful environments support low plant species diversity but high dominance; also, (3) natural factors (substrate and climate) are important at the zonation and diversity of plant community by changing in the habitat formation. Six vegetation groups were identified at level 3 of TWINSPAN. (I)Halocnemum strobilaceum-Juncus arabicus, (II)Halocnemum strobilaceum-Suaeda vermiculata, (III)Nitraria retusa-Zygophyllum qatarense, (IV)Zygophyllum qatarense-Haloxylon salicomicum, (V)Nitraria retusa, (VI)Tamarix aucherana. The community diversity is negatively correlated with soil salinity, moisture, organic matter, fine texture, minerals, and plant cover and positively correlated with sand. Community diversity is consistently affected by the result of active sand deposition and process of hummock formation (Nabkas). These results are discussed in terms of competition adaptation theory. © 2006 Springer

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues experiences and published evidence. Methods: In late 2020, BJS contacted colleagues across the global surgical community and asked them to describe how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had affected their practice. In addition to this, the Commission undertook a literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on surgery and perioperative care. A thematic analysis was performed to identify the issues most frequently encountered by the correspondents, as well as the solutions and ideas suggested to address them. Results: BJS received communications for this Commission from leading clinicians and academics across a variety of surgical specialties in every inhabited continent. The responses from all over the world provided insights into multiple facets of surgical practice from a governmental level to individual clinical practice and training. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered a variety of problems in healthcare systems, including negative impacts on surgical practice. Global surgical multidisciplinary teams are working collaboratively to address research questions about the future of surgery in the post-COVID-19 era. The COVID-19 pandemic is severely damaging surgical training. The establishment of a multidisciplinary ethics committee should be encouraged at all surgical oncology centres. Innovative leadership and collaboration is vital in the post-COVID-19 era

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues' experiences and published evidence