Urban Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology: Patterns, Processes and Planning

Effective planning for biodiversity in cities and towns is increasingly important as urban areas and their human populations grow, both to achieve conservation goals and because ecological communities support services on which humans depend. Landscape ecology provides important frameworks for understanding and conserving urban biodiversity both within cities and considering whole cities in their regional context, and has played an important role in the development of a substantial and expanding body of knowledge about urban landscapes and communities. Characteristics of the whole city including size, overall amount of green space, age and regional context are important considerations for understanding and planning for biotic assemblages at the scale of entire cities, but have received relatively little research attention. Studies of biodiversity within cities are more abundant and show that longstanding principles regarding how patch size, configuration and composition influence biodiversity apply to urban areas as they do in other habitats. However, the fine spatial scales at which urban areas are fragmented and the altered temporal dynamics compared to non-urban areas indicate a need to apply hierarchical multi-scalar landscape ecology models to urban environments. Transferring results from landscape-scale urban biodiversity research into planning remains challenging, not least because of the requirements for urban green space to provide multiple functions. An increasing array of tools is available to meet this challenge and increasingly requires ecologists to work with planners to address biodiversity challenges. Biodiversity conservation and enhancement is just one strand in urban planning, but is increasingly important in a rapidly urbanising world

The effects of knee-ankle-foot orthoses in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: review of the literature.

Objective: A systematic review of the available literature on the effectiveness of knee-ankle-foot orthoses in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Design: A computer search was carried out (MEDLINE 1966-97, CINAHL 1982-97) using the key words muscular dystrophy, rehabilitation, locomotion, braces or orthotic devices. References in relevant publications and nonindexed journals were also examined. Criteria to include and exclude articles were formulated. We used a systematic review procedure to evaluate the literature. Seven methodological criteria were formulated. Results: Thirty articles describing 35 studies met the inclusion criteria for our review, nine studies were selected based on completeness of information on study population, treatment and quantitative presentation of the effect outcome. Operations on the lower limbs were performed on most patients. A concomitant programme of rehabilitation was not described thoroughly. A percentage success of treatment was calculated for eight studies. Median percentage after one year was 75.1, after two years 47.9 and after three years 24.3. The median for the means of independent walking was 24 months, the median for the means of assisted walking was 36.2 months and the median for the means of standing ability was 50.5 months duration. Conclusion: The scientific strength of the studies reviewed is poor. It seems that the use of knee-ankle foot orthoses can prolong assisted walking and standing, but it is uncertain whether it can prolong functional walking. The boys that benefit most have a relatively low rate of deterioration, are capable of enduring an operation and are well motivated

Duchenne muscle activity evaluation and muscle function preservation: is it possible a prophylactic strategy?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy yields pervasive and progressive muscle mass loss. In the current measures relating to the monitoring of disease progression the following are relevant (i): the type of scale used, (ii) the clinical significance of the attribute being measured and (iii) the mathematical properties of the data provided. The high prevalence of obesity at an early stage of this pathology could result not only from reduced physical activity, but also from low resting energy expenditure, abnormal nutrient utilization or overfeeding. This muscle weakness may be attenuated by regular low-intensity exercise. However, there is a critical lack of data to support appropriate exercise prescription. Because inappropriate activity may exacerbate the dystrophic process, a systematic analysis of muscle function to determine potential exercise load thresholds to avoid injury in dystrophic mice and dogs, and then in humans is recommended