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

Relationship between functional fitness, medication costs and mood in elderly people

Objective: to verify if functional fitness (FF) is associated with the annual cost of medication consumption and mood states (MSt) in elderly people. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 229 elderly people aged 65 years or more at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Coimbra, Portugal. Seniors with physical and psychological limitations were excluded, as well as those using medication that limits performance on the tests. The Senior Fitness Test was used to evaluate FF, and the Profile of Mood States - Short Form to evaluate the MSt. The statistical analysis was based on Mancova, with adjustment for age, for comparison between men and women, and adjustment for sex, for comparison between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles. The association between the variables under study was made with partial correlation, controlling for the effects of age, sex and body mass index. Results: an inverse correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and the annual cost of medication consumption was found (p < 0.01). FF is also inversely associated with MSt (p < 0.05). Comparisons between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles showed higher medication consumption costs in seniors with lower aerobic endurance, as well as higher deterioration in MSt (p < 0.01). Conclusion: elderly people with better FF and, specifically, better cardiorespiratory fitness present lower medication consumption costs and a more positive MSt

Impact of the funding reform of teaching hospitals in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of funding reform on the productivity of teaching hospitals. METHODS: Based on the Information System of Federal University Hospitals of Brazil, 2003 and 2006 efficiency and productivity were measured using frontier methods with a linear programming technique, data envelopment analysis, and input-oriented variable returns to scale model. The Malmquist index was calculated to detect changes during the study period: "technical efficiency change," or the relative variation of the efficiency of each unit; and "technological change" after frontier shift. RESULTS: There was 51% mean budget increase and improvement of technical efficiency of teaching hospitals (previously 11, 17 hospitals reached the empirical efficiency frontier) but the same was not seen for the technology frontier. Data envelopment analysis set benchmark scores for each inefficient unit (before and after reform) and there was a positive correlation between technical efficiency and teaching intensity and dedication. CONCLUSIONS: The reform promoted management improvements but there is a need of further follow-up to assess the effectiveness of funding changes.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da reforma de financiamento na produtividade de hospitais de ensino. MÉTODOS: A partir do Sistema de Informações dos Hospitais Universitários Federais, foram construídas fronteiras de eficiência e produtividade em 2003 e 2006 com técnicas de programação linear, por meio de análise envoltória de dados, considerando retornos variáveis de escala e orientação a input. Calculou-se o Índice de Malmquist para identificar mudanças de desempenho ao longo dos anos quanto à eficiência técnica (razão entre os escores de eficiência em tempos distintos) e eficiência tecnológica (deslocamento da fronteira no período considerado). RESULTADOS: Houve aumento do aporte financeiro em 51% e da eficiência técnica dos hospitais de ensino (de 11, passaram a ser 17 na fronteira empírica de eficiência), o mesmo não ocorrendo com a fronteira tecnológica. O uso de análise envoltória de dados estabeleceu os benchmarks para as unidades ineficientes (antes e depois da reforma) e os escores de eficiência mostraram uma possível correlação entre a eficiência técnica encontrada e a intensidade e dedicação de ensino. CONCLUSÕES: A reforma permitiu o desenvolvimento de melhorias gerenciais, mas é necessário maior tempo de acompanhamento para observar mudanças mais efetivas do modelo de financiamento.OBJETIVO: Evaluar el impacto de la reforma de financiamiento en la productividad de hospitales de enseñanza. MÉTODOS: A partir del Sistema de Informaciones de los Hospitales Universitarios Federales de Brasil, se construyeron fronteras de eficiencia y productividad en 2003 y 2006 con técnicas de programación linear, por medio de análisis envoltorio de datos, considerando retornos variables de escala y orientación a input. Se calculó el Índice de Malmquist para identificar cambios de desempeño a lo largo de los años con relación a la eficiencia técnica (cociente entre los puntajes de eficiencia en tiempos distintos) y eficiencia tecnológica (desplazamiento de la frontera en el período considerado). RESULTADOS: Hubo aumento del aporte financiero en 51% y de la eficiencia técnica de los hospitales de enseñanza (de 11, pasaron a ser 17 en la frontera empírica de eficiencia), no ocurriendo el mismo con la frontera tecnológica. El uso del análisis envoltorio de datos estableció los benchmarks para las unidades ineficientes (antes y después de la reforma) y los puntajes de eficiencia mostraron una posible correlación entre la eficiencia técnica encontrada y la intensidad y dedicación de enseñanza. CONCLUSIONES: La reforma permitió el desarrollo de mejoras gerenciales, pero es necesario mayor tiempo de acompañamiento para observar cambios más efectivos del modelo de financiamiento

Dynamics of a Quantum Phase Transition and Relaxation to a Steady State

We review recent theoretical work on two closely related issues: excitation of an isolated quantum condensed matter system driven adiabatically across a continuous quantum phase transition or a gapless phase, and apparent relaxation of an excited system after a sudden quench of a parameter in its Hamiltonian. Accordingly the review is divided into two parts. The first part revolves around a quantum version of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism including also phenomena that go beyond this simple paradigm. What they have in common is that excitation of a gapless many-body system scales with a power of the driving rate. The second part attempts a systematic presentation of recent results and conjectures on apparent relaxation of a pure state of an isolated quantum many-body system after its excitation by a sudden quench. This research is motivated in part by recent experimental developments in the physics of ultracold atoms with potential applications in the adiabatic quantum state preparation and quantum computation.Comment: 117 pages; review accepted in Advances in Physic

Population‐based cohort study of outcomes following cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases

Background The aim was to describe the management of benign gallbladder disease and identify characteristics associated with all‐cause 30‐day readmissions and complications in a prospective population‐based cohort. Methods Data were collected on consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy in acute UK and Irish hospitals between 1 March and 1 May 2014. Potential explanatory variables influencing all‐cause 30‐day readmissions and complications were analysed by means of multilevel, multivariable logistic regression modelling using a two‐level hierarchical structure with patients (level 1) nested within hospitals (level 2). Results Data were collected on 8909 patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 167 hospitals. Some 1451 cholecystectomies (16·3 per cent) were performed as an emergency, 4165 (46·8 per cent) as elective operations, and 3293 patients (37·0 per cent) had had at least one previous emergency admission, but had surgery on a delayed basis. The readmission and complication rates at 30 days were 7·1 per cent (633 of 8909) and 10·8 per cent (962 of 8909) respectively. Both readmissions and complications were independently associated with increasing ASA fitness grade, duration of surgery, and increasing numbers of emergency admissions with gallbladder disease before cholecystectomy. No identifiable hospital characteristics were linked to readmissions and complications. Conclusion Readmissions and complications following cholecystectomy are common and associated with patient and disease characteristics

Cultural singularities: indigenous elderly access to Public Health Service

OBJECTIVEDescribing how Kaingang seniors and their primary caregivers experience access to public health services.METHODA qualitative study guided by ethnography, conducted with 28 elderly and 19 caregivers. Data were collected between November 2010 and February 2013 through interviews and participative observation analyzed by ethnography.RESULTSThe study revealed the benefits and difficulties of the elderly access to health services, the facility to obtain health care resources such as appointments, medications and routine procedures, and the difficulties such as special assistance service problems and delays in the dispatching process between reference services.CONCLUSIONThe importance of knowing and understanding the cultural specificities of the group in order to offer greater opportunities for the elderly access to health services was reinforced

Social representations of needlestick injuries

OBJECTIVES: understand the Social Representations about needlestick injuries elaborated by Nursing Technicians and analyze how these representations influence their conducts. METHOD: the data, obtained by interviews, were processed using ALCESTE software and their analysis was based on Serge Moscovici's Social Representations Theory. RESULTS: it was evidenced that, after the accident, these professionals take care of the affected area. Then, they report the accident, motivated by the fear of catching HIV and hepatitis. The different feelings experienced are due to this fear and the way they were forwarded by the institution, reflecting in the cause they attribute to their accident. CONCLUSIONS: it was verified that knowledge about the accident as a whole is very incipient in this professional group, demanding continuing education and greater emphasis on this subject in professional training. It is expected that this study draws public authorities and health institutions' attention to the problem and that it modifies Nursing Technicians' Social Representations about percutaneous exposure.OBJETIVOS: Comprender las Representaciones Sociales de los accidentes con materiales corto-punzantes, elaboradas por Técnicos de Enfermería, así como analizar de que modo esas representaciones influencian las conductas de eses profesionales. MÉTODO: Los datos, logrados por medio de entrevistas, fueron procesados por el software ALCESTE y el análisis de los mismos fue basado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales de Serge Moscovici. RESULTADOS: se evidenció que, después de accidentarse, los Técnicos de Enfermería cuidan del área afectada. Enseguida, notifican el accidente, motivados por el miedo de que contraigan HIV y hepatitis. Los diversos sentimientos vividos son consecuentes de ese miedo y de la manera como fueron encaminados por la institución, reflejando en la causa que ellos atribuyen a su accidente. CONCLUSIONES: se constató que hay un conocimiento bastante incipiente por parte de esa clase profesional sobre el accidente como un todo, habiendo necesidad de una educación continuada y mayor énfasis en cuanto a ese asunto durante la formación profesional. Se espera que ese estudio llame la atención de los órganos gubernamentales e instituciones de salud sobre el problema y modifique las Representaciones Sociales de la exposición percutánea de los Técnicos de Enfermería.OBJETIVOS: compreender as representações sociais dos acidentes com materiais perfurocortantes, elaboradas por técnicos de enfermagem, bem como analisar de que modo essas representações influenciam as condutas desses profissionais. MÉTODO: os dados, obtidos por meio de entrevistas, foram processados pelo software Alceste e a análise dos mesmos foi baseada na Teoria das Representações Sociais de Serge Moscovici. RESULTADOS: evidenciou-se que, após se acidentarem, os técnicos de enfermagem cuidam da área afetada. Em seguida, notificam o acidente, motivados pelo medo de contraírem HIV e hepatite. Os diversos sentimentos vivenciados são decorrentes desse medo e da forma como foram encaminhados pela instituição, refletindo na causa que eles atribuem ao seu acidente. CONCLUSÕES: constatou-se que há conhecimento bastante incipiente por parte dessa classe profissional sobre o acidente, como um todo, havendo necessidade de educação continuada e maior ênfase quanto a esse assunto, durante a formação profissional. Espera-se que este estudo chame a atenção dos órgãos governamentais e instituições de saúde sobre o problema e modifique as representações sociais da exposição percutânea dos técnicos de enfermagem

Fatores associados à não adesão aos antirretrovirais em adultos com AIDS nos seis primeiros meses da terapia em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

O controle da replicação viral é essencial na terapia antirretroviral altamente potente (TARV) e a adesão ao tratamento é o fundamento para esse controle. Fatores individuais e externos influenciam a adesão aos antirretrovirais (ARV). Estudo transversal para investigar fatores associados à não adesão à TARV, em indivíduos com AIDS em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, com idade ≥ 13 anos e primeira prescrição em 2009. Dados coletados em prontuários e registros da farmácia. Dos 216 pacientes, 65,3% eram homens; idade média 37,8 ± 9,5 anos, solteiros 67,9%; heterossexuais 64%; > 8 anos de estudo 65,3%, etilistas 61,5% e não relatou tabagismo 75,1% ou uso de drogas 93,7%. Iniciaram a TARV com TCD4+ < 350 células/mm3 94%, 61,8% sintomáticos e 68,4% apresentaram reação adversa ao medicamento. Prevalência de não adesão 25%. Variáveis associadas: maior tempo entre o diagnóstico de infecção pelo HIV e a AIDS (aOR = 3,9), reação adversa ao medicamento (aOR = 2,4), idade menor que 34 anos (aOR = 2,2), menos que 8 anos de estudo (aOR = 2,2) e uso de drogas (aOR = 2,6). A alta taxa de não adesão é um problema importante nos seis primeiros meses da TARV