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

This article has 730 authors, of which I have only listed the lead author and myself as a representative of University of HelsinkiPlant 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.Peer reviewe

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

Outcomes of elective liver surgery worldwide: a global, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study

Background: The outcomes of liver surgery worldwide remain unknown. The true population-based outcomes are likely different to those vastly reported that reflect the activity of highly specialized academic centers. The aim of this study was to measure the true worldwide practice of liver surgery and associated outcomes by recruiting from centers across the globe. The geographic distribution of liver surgery activity and complexity was also evaluated to further understand variations in outcomes. Methods: LiverGroup.org was an international, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study following the Global Surgery Collaborative Snapshot Research approach with a 3-month prospective, consecutive patient enrollment within January–December 2019. Each patient was followed up for 90 days postoperatively. All patients undergoing liver surgery at their respective centers were eligible for study inclusion. Basic demographics, patient and operation characteristics were collected. Morbidity was recorded according to the Clavien–Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications. Country-based and hospital-based data were collected, including the Human Development Index (HDI). (NCT03768141). Results: A total of 2159 patients were included from six continents. Surgery was performed for cancer in 1785 (83%) patients. Of all patients, 912 (42%) experienced a postoperative complication of any severity, while the major complication rate was 16% (341/2159). The overall 90-day mortality rate after liver surgery was 3.8% (82/2,159). The overall failure to rescue rate was 11% (82/ 722) ranging from 5 to 35% among the higher and lower HDI groups, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first to our knowledge global surgery study specifically designed and conducted for specialized liver surgery. The authors identified failure to rescue as a significant potentially modifiable factor for mortality after liver surgery, mostly related to lower Human Development Index countries. Members of the LiverGroup.org network could now work together to develop quality improvement collaboratives

Sulodexide improves endothelial dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Physiol Res

Summary Diabetes mellitus is associated with many complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and angiopathy. Increase

THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO IMPROVE THE CLINICAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF CARE FOR PROSTATE CANCER

Objective. Improving health outcomes in prostate cancer by developing optimal approaches to early detection, staging and treatment of disease. Materials and methods. Urologic care for patients with prostate cancer in the Voronezh region is divided according to the conception of the Program "Urology" into 4 of standardized, integrated stages. The first stage are primary care physicians. The purpose of this stage is a screening questionnaire for men of Voronezh region between the ages of 45 to 74 years using a modified international questionnaire lower urinary tract symptoms (IPSS) and nomograms individual risk of prostate cancer (SWOP №1).            In case of identification of risk groups for prostate cancer, patients were sent to the urologist at the place of residence, which is conducting special examinations (FRA, ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder, TRUS, UFW), forming a risk group for verification of diagnosis. Then the patient is directed to the second stage of inter-regional urology center (ITC), whose task in the diagnostic phase is to verify the diagnosis.    In case of confirmation of the diagnosis by an urologist of ITC there was created the interactive consultation on the basis of remote Advisory portal Nethealth.ru together with leading research Institute of urology and regional urology center they identified the clinical significance of the disease and subsequent treatment strategy. In case of the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer patient is sent to the third stage - Regional or an optional fourth stage (center providing PMF) - the Federal urology center, where he is treated with highly specialized medical care and conducted quality control.   In case of detection of clinically insignificant PC assistance was provided at the level of ITC (active surveillance, watchful waiting, hormone therapy on the recommendations of the oncourologist of regional urology center).Results. During the realisation of the Programme on the territory of theVoronezh region they deployed 7 Interdistrict (ITC) and 1 regional centre. The most difficult clinical cases were sent to the Federal urology center - research Institute of urology. They humiliated 140 experts from the region, with 80 of them they studied using remote sensing technology. For the realisation of the Program it was established an Advisory portal NetHealth.ru, which considered 498 clinical cases of prostate cancer, with 28 of specialists in various stages of the region took an active part in distance counseling.      From 2009 to 2013 an improvement of a number of indicators was marked: increase in the absolute number of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer from 451 to 603 cases, a localized increase in the share stages with 60.3% to 71.2 %, a decrease of deaths within one year from the date of diagnosis for prostate cancer from 14.6% to 6.5% and deaths among all registered patients with prostate cancer from 10.4% to 5.5%, reducing the proportion of clinically insignificant PCA from 36.4 to 14.1%.Conclusions. "PC module" of integrated phased standardized program "Urology" is a universal tool for solving the problems of improving the organization of medical care for prostate cancer, as well as the principles of operation can be used in other diseases of urology and other medical fields. Clinical and economic efficiency and the versatility of the basis for its recommendations as a priority in the organization of medical care at a cancer on the entire territory of the Russian Federation

System dynamics model of crises in small and medium enterprises

The article aims to improve existing theories of business development and crisis management with a special emphasis on inner dynamics of crises in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For these purposes, combined perspectives of system dynamics, company life cycles, crisis management, resilience and business continuity management in SMEs have been used. Based on data of about 554 crises from 183 companies collected in the Czech Republic, the most common crises types and their combinations have been identified using association rules mining method. Then, a simulation system dynamics model synthesizing the main findings and allowing scenario analysis to explain and avoid some of the crises in SMEs has been developed for a case study of manufacturing company. Such a simulation model enriches the present knowledge and explains complex dynamics of crises in SMEs in a novel way. When properly calibrated, this model could be used as a supporting tool for decision-making in manufacturing SMEs

LOTVS: A global collection of permanent vegetation plots

Analysing temporal patterns in plant communities is extremely important to quantify the extent and the consequences of ecological changes, especially considering the current biodiversity crisis. Long-term data collected through the regular sampling of permanent plots represent the most accurate resource to study ecological succession, analyse the stability of a community over time and understand the mechanisms driving vegetation change. We hereby present the LOng-Term Vegetation Sampling (LOTVS) initiative, a global collection of vegetation time-series derived from the regular monitoring of plant species in permanent plots. With 79 data sets from five continents and 7,789 vegetation time-series monitored for at least 6 years and mostly on an annual basis, LOTVS possibly represents the largest collection of temporally fine-grained vegetation time-series derived from permanent plots and made accessible to the research community. As such, it has an outstanding potential to support innovative research in the fields of vegetation science, plant ecology and temporal ecology