Plant rarity in fire-prone dry sclerophyll communities.

Understanding the responses of rare species to altered fire disturbance regimes is an ongoing challenge for ecologists. We asked: are there associations between fire regimes and plant rarity across different vegetation communities? We combined 62 years of fire history records with vegetation surveys of 86 sites across three different dry sclerophyll vegetation communities in Booderee National Park, south-east Australia to: (1) compare associations between species richness and rare species richness with fire regimes, (2) test whether fire regimes influence the proportion of rare species present in an assemblage, and (3) examine whether rare species are associated with particular fire response traits and life history. We also sought to determine if different rarity categorisations influence the associations between fire regimes and plant rarity. We categorised plant rarity using three standard definitions; species' abundance, species' distribution, and Rabinowitz's measure of rarity, which considers a species' abundance, distribution and habitat specificity. We found that total species richness was negatively associated with short fire intervals but positively associated with time since fire and fire frequency in woodland communities. Total species richness was also positively associated with short fire intervals in forest communities. However, rare species richness was not associated with fire when categorised via abundance or distribution. Using Rabinowitz's measure of rarity, the proportion of rare species present was negatively associated with fire frequency in forest communities but positively associated with fire frequency in woodland communities. We found that rare species classified by all three measures of rarity exhibited no difference in fire response traits and serotiny compared to species not classified as rare. Rare species based on abundance differed to species not classified as rare across each life history category, while species rare by distribution differed in preferences for seed storage location. Our findings suggest that species categorised as rare by Rabinowitz's definition of rarity are the most sensitive to the effects of fire regimes. Nevertheless, the paucity of responses observed between rare species with fire regimes in a fire-prone ecosystem suggests that other biotic drivers may play a greater role in influencing the rarity of a species in this system.

O estruturalismo na obra de Jacques Lacan: um retorno a questão da linguagem / Structuralism in Jacques Lacan's work: returning to the question of language / Estructuralismo en el trabajo de Jacques Lacan: un regreso a la cuestión del lenguaje / Le structuralisme dans l´oeuvre de Jacques Lacan: un retour á la question du langage

Este artigo busca analisar as contribuições do movimento estruturalista para o avanço da psicanálise lacaniana. Para isso, apresentamos um breve histórico sobre as origens desse pensamento e suas principais filiações. Tanto a antropologia de Lévi-Strauss quanto a linguística de Jakobson possibilitaram que Lacan realizasse o seu projeto freudiano atravessado por uma nova forma de produzir ciência. No entanto, destacamos que a relação de Lacan com a linguística saussuriana teve um impacto singular para os rumos da psicanálise. Lacan encontrou na linguística estrutural uma possibilidade de trazer a psicanálise de volta para o seu campo específico - o da linguagem. Desse modo, o estruturalismo ocupa um lugar importante na história da psicanálise, fato este que tentamos demonstrar nesse trabalho.

This article analyzes the contributions of the structuralist movement to the advance of Lacanian psychoanalysis. The study presents a brief history of the structuralism and its main affiliations. Both Lévi-Strauss's anthropology and Jakobson's linguistics enabled Lacan to carry out his Freudian project characterized by a new way of producing science. However, the study highlights that Lacan's relationship with Saussurian linguistics had a unique impact on the direction of psychoanalysis. Lacan found in structural linguistics a possibility of bringing psychoanalysis back to its specific field - language. Thus, structuralism occupies an important place in the history of psychoanalysis, a fact that we try to demonstrate in this work.

Este artículo analiza las contribuciones del movimiento estructuralista al avance del psicoanálisis lacaniana. Para esto, presentamos una breve historia sobre los orígenes de este pensamiento y sus principales afiliaciones. Tanto la antropología de Lévi-Strauss como la lingüística de Jakobson le permitieron a Lacan realizar su proyecto freudiano atravesado por una nueva forma de producir ciencia. Sin embargo, destacamos que la relación de Lacan con la lingüística saussuriana tuvo un impacto único en la dirección del psicoanálisis. Lacan encontró en la lingüística estructural la posibilidad de devolver el psicoanálisis a su campo específico: el del lenguaje. Así, el estructuralismo ocupa un lugar importante en la historia del psicoanálisis, un hecho que intentamos demostrar en este trabajo.

Cet article cherche à analyser les contributions du mouvement structuraliste pour le développement de la psychanalyse lacanienne. Pour ce faire, nous présentons un bref historique des origines de cette pensée et ses filiations plus importantes. Aussi bien l'anthropologie de Lévi-Strauss que la linguistique de Jakobson ont permis à Lacan de réaliser son projet freudien coupé par une nouvelle façon de produire de la science. Nous signalons, cependant, que le rapport de Lacan avec la linguistique saussurienne a frappé, particulièrement, la marche de la psychanalyse. Lacan a trouvé, dans la linguistique structurelle, une possibilité de faire revenir la psychanalyse à son domaine spécifique, celui du langage. Ainsi, le structuralisme occupe une place importante dans l'histoire de la psychanalyse, un fait que nous essayons de démontrer dans cet ouvrage.

A construção das políticas públicas de saúde: competências administrativas, solidariedade processual e desafios para o fortalecimento do sus / The development of public health care policy: administrative competences, procedural joint liability, and challenges to improving Brazilian National Public health system

O artigo apresenta uma reflexão sobre a posição do Poder Judiciário brasileiro em reconhecer a responsabilidade solidária dos entes federativos na prestação dos serviços no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Pretende-se demonstrar a necessidade de não generalizar essa interpretação nos casos de ações judiciais que tenham a força de alterar uma política pública. A questão da solidariedade não deve ser vista aqui pelo ângulo processual, mas sim, de maneira inversa, em relação ao ente da federação que sozinho continuará a não dar conta de atender a demanda. Diante das incontestáveis limitações orçamentárias e de recursos humanos e estruturais, o fortalecimento da promoção do diálogo institucional criará um sistema coerente, transparente e com qualidade crescente, e estimulará a construção de políticas públicas de saúde planejadas de modo legítimo e durador.

This study presents a reflection on the position of the Brazilian Judicial Branch in recognizing joint liability of government entities in providing services as part of the Brazilian NationalPublich Health Systems (SUS). This study aims to demonstrate the need to avoid generalizing this interpretation in cases of judicial actions that have the power to change public policy. The question of joint liability should not be considered only from the proceduralangle, but conversely, in terms of the fact that the federal government cannot continue to meet demands alone. In light of these unquestionable limitations in terms of the budget, human resources, and structure, strengthening institutional dialog will create a consistent, transparent, and improved system and it will stimulate the legitimate and long-lasting development of public health policies.

Incidence and relevance of proteinuria in bevacizumab-treated patients: pooled analysis from randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: This analysis evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for bevacizumab-related proteinuria and assessed for any associated clinical sequelae, including renal function changes. METHODS: Patient-level adverse event and laboratory data from a pooled safety database were used to characterize alterations in urine protein excretion following interventional therapy ± bevacizumab in 17 randomized trials across multiple tumor types. Severity of renal function change was assessed using changes in serum creatinine concentration from baseline values. Potential predictors of proteinuria and the association between proteinuria and other adverse events were also investigated. RESULTS: Among 14,548 patients, the incidence of any-grade proteinuria was 8.2% (733/8,917) and 4.6% (257/5,631) in the bevacizumab and control groups, respectively; rates of grade ≥3 proteinuria were 1.4 and 0.2%. Post-baseline proteinuria grade and bevacizumab were associated with increased rates of renal dysfunction. Patients developing proteinuria had an increased rate of any-grade infection but not thromboembolic events. History of diabetes was the only examined risk factor that appeared to have a significant association with proteinuria development. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis confirmed a significant increase in the development of proteinuria during bevacizumab treatment. We also observed an increased rate of renal dysfunction associated with bevacizumab treatment and among subjects with proteinuria, although the dysfunction was generally mild. The development of proteinuria was also associated with a modest increase in risk of infection.

O direito social e o direito público subjetivo à saúde: o desafio de compreender um direito com duas faces / The social right and subjective health right: the challenge of comprehensing a two faces right

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a posição da jurisprudência sobre o grau de eficácia do direito à saúde no Brasil. Por meio da exposição dos problemas enfrentados pelos intérpretes nos casos concretos, procura-se demonstrar a necessidade de mudança dos paradigmas de interpretação, uma vez ser imperiosa a conjunção e harmonização de valores aparentemente paradoxais, como direitos sociais, direito público subjetivo, dignidade da pessoa humana, igualdade, universalidade e investimentos públicos. Não se pode ignorar a existência de um plano de cunho social e legítimo mais valioso do que demandas individuais, sendo que, estas devem apenas prevalecer com justificativas plausíveis. É preciso aprofundar os institutos que compõem o direito à saúde em sua plenitude, com ênfase na compreensão do Direito Sanitário e das políticas públicas. (AU)

Energy balance in early-stage Huntington disease.

BACKGROUND: Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic neurologic disorder. Weight loss is common in HD and is related to progression of the disease, but the cause of weight loss remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare 24-h energy expenditure (EE) and energy intake in persons with early midstage HD with those of matched control subjects to determine how HD affects energy balance. DESIGN: EE was assessed in 13 subjects with early-stage HD and in 9 control subjects via indirect calorimetry in a human respiratory chamber. Energy intake was determined by weighing all food provided and all leftovers from an ad libitum diet. Body composition was measured via air-displacement plethysmography. Stage of disease was estimated on the basis of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale and modified Mini-Mental Status examinations. Regression analysis included all 13 HD subjects; t tests were used for the comparisons between matched HD and control subjects. RESULTS: 24-h EE was 11% higher in the HD subjects than in the control subjects (NS). This difference was due to a higher (P = 0.043) waking metabolic rate, which was related to a significantly greater displacement of the center of mass by HD subjects than by control subjects (P = 0.028). On average, both groups were in positive energy balance and exceeded their energy expenditure by 2510-2929 kJ. CONCLUSIONS: Higher 24-h EE in persons with early midstage HD is due to increased physical activity, both voluntary and involuntary. However, HD subjects are able to maintain positive energy balance when offered adequate amounts of food in a controlled setting.

Measurement of human daily physical activity.

OBJECTIVES: To validate a new device, Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA), for the measurement of duration, frequency, and intensity of various types of human physical activity (PA). RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The ability of IDEEA to identify and quantify 32 types of PA, including the most common daily exercise and nonexercise PA, was tested in 76 subjects: Subjects included males (N = 33) and females (N = 43) ranging in age from 13 to 72 years with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.7 kg/m(2) (range: 18.4 to 41.0) [43 females: 13 to 72 years old and BMI 18.4 to approximately 41.0 kg/m(2) (mean = 24.7 kg/m(2)); 33 males: 15 to approximately 72 years old and BMI 21.0 to approximately 38.4 kg/m(2) (mean = 25.9 kg/m(2))]. Postures, limb movements, and jumping were tested using a timed protocol of specific activities. Walking and running were tested using a 60-meter track, on which subjects walked and ran at 6 self-selected speeds. Stair climbing and descending were tested by timing subjects who climbed and descended a flight of stairs at two different speeds. RESULTS: Correct identification rates averaged 98.9% for posture and limb movement type and 98.5% for gait type. Pooled correlation between predicted and actual speeds of walking and running was high (r = 0.986, p

The effects of size of opening in vegetation and litter cover on seedling establishment of goldenrods (Solidago spp.).

We investigated the effects of size of opening in the vegetation and litter cover on seedling establishment of two species of goldenrods (Solidago spp.) in an abandoned field in southwestern Michigan, U.S.A. Seeds of S. canadensis and S. juncea were sown into clipped plots, ranging from 0 cm (control, unclipped) to 100 cm in diameter, with and without litter. Seedling emergence, survival and growth were followed for one year. Soil moisture was not significantly different among the opening sizes, but, within a size, tended to be lower when litter was removed. Light intensity at the soil surface was positively related to opening size early in the growing season, but later in the growing season reached a maximum in intermediate-sized openings and then leveled off.Litter strongly inhibited seedling emergence in both species. Emergence of S. canadensis seedlings was lower in 0 and 10 cm openings than in the larger openings, while emergence of S. juncea seedlings was lower in the largest openings (100 cm) than in all the smaller openings. In contrast, seedling growth and probability of survival increased with diameter of opening for both species. Some seedlings of S. juncea did survive in complete vegetation cover (controls, 0 cm openings) while seedlings of S. canadensis survived only in openings of at least 30 cm diameter. Thus, S. juncea had a smaller minimum opening size for seedling establishment than S. canadensis, although both species grew and survived best in the largest openings made in the experiment.

Predictions of fate from rosette size in teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.).

In field populations of the biennial plant (Dipsacus fullonum L.) the probability that an individual will die, remain vegetative, or flower during a particular growing season is highly correlated with the size of its vegetative rosette at the end of the growing season of the preceding year. Further, a rosette forms a flowering stalk only after attaining a critical size. Correlations of various plant fates with rosette size are independent of rosette age; hence size provides better predictions of plant fate than age.