Plant community responses to experimental warming across the tundra biome

Recent observations of changes in some tundra ecosystems appear to be responses to a warming climate. Several experimental studies have shown that tundra plants and ecosystems can respond strongly to environmental change, including warming; however, most studies were limited to a single location and were of short duration and based on a variety of experimental designs. In addition, comparisons among studies are difficult because a variety of techniques have been used to achieve experimental warming and different measurements have been used to assess responses. We used metaanalysis on plant community measurements from standardized warming experiments at 11 locations across the tundra biome involved in the International Tundra Experiment. The passive warming treatment increased plant-level air temperature by 1-3 degrees C, which is in the range of predicted and observed warming for tundra regions. Responses were rapid and detected in whole plant communities after only two growing seasons. Overall, warming increased height and cover of deciduous shrubs and graminoids, decreased cover of mosses and lichens, and decreased species diversity and evenness. These results predict that warming will cause a decline in biodiversity across a wide variety of tundra, at least in the short term. They also provide rigorous experimental evidence that recently observed increases in shrub cover in many tundra regions are in response to climate warming. These changes have important implications for processes and interactions within tundra ecosystems and between tundra and the atmosphere.     

Lumbar instrumented fusion compared with cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic back pain after previous surgery for disc herniation: a prospective randomized controlled study

The effectiveness of lumbar fusion for chronic low back pain after surgery for disc herniation has not been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of lumbar fusion with posterior transpedicular screws and cognitive intervention and exercises. Sixty patients aged 25-60 years with low back pain lasting longer than 1 year after previous surgery for disc herniation were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups. Experienced back surgeons performed transpedicular fusion. Cognitive intervention consisted of a lecture intended to give the patient an understanding that ordinary physical activity would not harm the disc and a recommendation to use the back and bend it. This was reinforced by three daily physical exercise sessions for 3 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Outcome data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Ninety-seven percent of the patients, including seven of eight patients who had either not attended treatment (n=5) or changed groups (n=2), completed 1-year follow-up. ODI was significantly improved from 47 to 38 after fusion and from 45 to 32 after cognitive intervention and exercises. The mean difference between treatments after adjustment for gender was -7.3 (95% CI -17.3 to 2.7, p=0.15). The success rate was 50% in the fusion group and 48% in the cognitive intervention/exercise group. For patients with chronic low back pain after previous surgery for disc herniation, lumbar fusion failed to show any benefit over cognitive intervention and exercises.     

Introducing PACS to the Late Majority. A Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this study was to study whether the benefits from introducing a picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) reported by innovators and early adopters also can be achieved by a hospital belonging to the “late majority” and to see whether such benefits are sustained, using report turnaround time (RTAT) as an indicator. Activity-related data was retrieved from the radiology information system (RIS) over a 2-year period. The median RTAT for preliminary reports was initially reduced from 12 to 2 h then increased to 3 h. For final reports, the median RTAT was initially reduced from 23 to 13 h then gradually reverted back to 22 h. Innovators and early adopters demonstrate not only that positive results can be achieved but also the importance of involving key personnel. We believe that such involvement and the focus on wider organizational concerns are important when introducing PACS to the late majority, both for achieving and sustaining positive results.     

Associations between plasma insulin-like growth factor-I and the markers of inflammation interleukin 6, C-reactive protein and YKL-40 in an elderly background population

Background and objective  

The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are inversely associated with inflammatory processes in an elderly background population.     

Effects of a conductive education course in young children with cerebral palsy:A randomized controlled trial

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a conductive education (CE) course followed by conventional practice, on gross motor function, other functional skills, quality of life, and parents’ experiences of family-centered services in young children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Twenty-one children with CP, 3–6 years old, were randomized to one 3-week CE course followed by conventional practice or conventional practice on a waiting list. Outcomes were measured 4 months after baseline. A web-based log collected data on the conventional practice. Results: No additional improvements in the children’s outcome were found. However, parents in the CE group reported that they received more information than parents in the waiting list group (p = 0.01). Children in both groups performed high amount of conventional practice at home. Conclusions: A 3-week CE course did not add any improvements in the children’s functioning, possibly explained by the large amount of conventional practice reported of both groups.