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Background: Prioritisation instruments were developed for patients on waiting list for hip and knee arthroplasties (AI) and cataract surgery (CI). The aim of the study was to assess their convergent and discriminant validity and inter-observer reliability.Methods: Multicentre validation study which included orthopaedic surgeons and ophthalmologists from 10 hospitals. Participating doctors were asked to include all eligible patients placed in the waiting list for the procedures under study during the medical visit. Doctors assessed patients' priority through a visual analogue scale (VAS) and administered the prioritisation instrument. Information on socio-demographic data and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (HUI3, EQ-5D, WOMAC and VF-14) was obtained through a telephone interview with patients. The correlation coefficients between the prioritisation instrument score and VAS and HRQOL were calculated. For the reliability study a self-administered questionnaire, which included hypothetic patients' scenarios, was sent via postal mail to the doctors. The priority of these scenarios was assessed through the prioritisation instrument. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between doctors was calculated.Results: Correlations with VAS were strong for the AI (0.64, CI95%: 0.59-0.68) and for the CI (0.65, CI95%: 0.62-0.69), and moderate between the WOMAC and the AI (0.39, CI95%: 0.33-0.45) and the VF-14 and the CI (0.38, IC95%: 0.33-0.43). The results of the discriminant analysis were in general as expected. Inter-observer reliability was 0.79 (CI95%: 0.64-0.94) for the AI, and 0.79 (CI95%: 0.63-0.95) for the CI.Conclusion: The results show acceptable validity and reliability of the prioritisation instruments in establishing priority for surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our objective was to explore various biomarkers for predicting suboptimal responses to disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in patients with MS (pwMS)., Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, bicentric study with pwMS stratified based on their DMTs responses. Treatment failure (TF) was defined as the onset of a second relapse, presence of two or more T2 new lesions, or disability progression independent of relapse during the follow-up period. We evaluated intrathecal synthesis (ITS) of IgG and IgM using OCB, linear indices, and Reibergrams. Free kappa light chains ITS was assessed using the linear index (FKLCi). NfL and GFAP in serum and CSF, and CHI3L1 in CSF were quantified. Quantitative variables were dichotomized based on the third quartile. Predictive efficacy was assessed through bivariate and multivariate analyses, adjusting for age, sex, EDSS, acute inflammatory activity (AI) -defined as the onset of a relapse or gadolinium-enhancing lesions within a 90-day window of lumbar puncture-, treatment modality, study center, and time from disease onset to treatment initiation. In case of collinearity, multiple models were generated or confounding variables were excluded if collinearity existed between them and the biomarker. The same methodology was used to investigate the predictive potential of various combinations of two biomarkers, based on whether any of them tested positive or exceeded the third quartile., Results: A total of 137 pwMS were included. FKLCi showed no differences based on AI, no correlation with EDSS and was significantly higher in pwMS with TF (p = 0.008). FKLCi>130 was associated with TF in bivariate analysis (Log-Rank p = 0.004). Due to collinearity between age and EDSS, two different models were generated with each of them and the rest of the confounding variables, in which FKLCi>130 showed a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 2.69 (CI: 1.35-5.4) and 2.67 (CI: 1.32-5.4), respectively. The combination of either FKLC or sNfL exceeding the third quartile was also significant in bivariate (Log-Rank p = 0.04) and multivariate (HR=3.1 (CI: 1.5-6.5)) analyses. However, when analyzed independently, sNfL did not show significance, and FKLCi mirrored the pattern obtained in the previous model (HR: 3.04; CI: 1.51-6.1). Treatment with highefficacy DMTs emerged as a protective factor in all models., Discussion: Our analysis and the fact that FKLCi is independent of EDSS and AI suggest that it might be a valuable parameter for discriminating aggressive phenotypes. We propose implementing high-efficacy drugs in pwMS with elevated FKLCi., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this research. There are no financial, personal, or professional relationships that could potentially bias or influence the interpretation of the results presented in this study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D (also known as 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), improves the phenotype and increases frataxin levels in cell models of Friedreich ataxia (FRDA)., Objectives: Based on these results, we aimed measuring the effects of a calcitriol dose of 0.25 mcg/24h in the neurological function and frataxin levels when administered to FRDA patients for a year., Methods: 20 FRDA patients where recluted and 15 patients completed the treatment for a year. Evaluations of neurological function changes (SARA scale, 9-HPT, 8-MWT, PATA test) and quality of life (Barthel Scale and Short Form (36) Health Survey [SF-36] quality of life questionnaire) were performed. Frataxin amounts were measured in isolated platelets obtained from these FRDA patients, from heterozygous FRDA carriers (relatives of the FA patients) and from non-heterozygous sex and age matched controls., Results: Although the patients did not experience any observable neurological improvement, there was a statistically significant increase in frataxin levels from initial values, 5.5 to 7.0 pg/μg after 12 months. Differences in frataxin levels referred to total protein levels were observed among sex- and age-matched controls (18.1 pg/μg), relative controls (10.1 pg/μg), and FRDA patients (5.7 pg/μg). The treatment was well tolerated by most patients, and only some of them experienced minor adverse effects at the beginning of the trial., Conclusions: Calcitriol dosage used (0.25 mcg/24 h) is safe for FRDA patients, and it increases frataxin levels. We cannot rule out that higher doses administered longer could yield neurological benefits. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society., (© 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.)

The European green woodpecker, Picus viridis, is a widely distributed species found in the Western Palearctic region. Here, we assembled a highly contiguous genome assembly for this species using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing and scaffolded with chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C). The final genome assembly was 1.28 Gb and features a scaffold N50 of 37 Mb and a scaffold L50 of 39.165 Mb. The assembly incorporates 89.4% of the genes identified in birds in OrthoDB. Gene and repetitive content annotation on the assembly detected 15,805 genes and a ∼30.1% occurrence of repetitive elements, respectively. Analysis of synteny demonstrates the fragmented nature of the P. viridis genome when compared to the chicken (Gallus gallus). The assembly and annotations produced in this study will certainly help for further research into the genomics of P. viridis and the comparative evolution of woodpeckers. Five historical and seven contemporary samples have been resequenced and may give insights on the population history of this species., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The author(s) declare no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Genetics Society of America.)

Background: Intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis (ITS) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Traditionally, the gold standard method for detecting ITS has been through the analysis of oligoclonal bands (OCB). However, the paradigm has shifted with the introduction of the free kappa light chains (FKLC) method. In fact, a recent consensus recommends evaluating FKLC index (FKLCi) as the primary approach and reserving oligoclonal bands with borderline results. The objective of our study is to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of combining FKLC with other methods to predict ITS while minimizing the reliance on OCB., Methods: A total of 192 patients were included in the study, consisting of 145 individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and 46 with other neurological diseases (controls). Among the MS cases, 100 patients were assigned to the Training Cohort (TC), while an external Validation Cohort (VC) comprised of 45 MS patients was established. Diagnostic efficiency was assessed for FKLCi, OCB, Link index, and the Reiber formula for IgG and FKLC. Optimal cutoff values for Link index and FKLCi were also determined. The last procedure was developed for diverse algorithms using the parameters mentioned above, which included the optimal cutoffs previously obtained. The calculations were conducted independently for both the TC and the VC, as well as for a composite cohort formed by combining data from all patients (OC) RESULTS: One algorithm, named KRO, was developed based on the determination of FKLCi and Reiber Formula as the primary diagnostic parameters. For cases where the FKLCi result was mildly increased, OCB was utilized as a supplementary test. The KRO algorithm demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy in the OC (89%), resulting in a reduction of OCB consumption by 91%., Discussion: The KRO algorithm demonstrated superior sensitivity and accuracy although lower specificity and NPV compared to the use of FKLCi and OCB alone. The present research aligns with the new consensus recommendations regarding the diagnostic approach. Our findings indicate that employing a combined marker approach via KRO could prove to be a proficient screening tool for multiple sclerosis. This approach also holds the potential to address inherent limitations associated with each individual marker. However, to further validate and solidify the efficacy of our algorithm, additional studies involving larger cohorts are warranted., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this research. There are no financial, personal, or professional relationships that could potentially bias or influence the interpretation of the results presented in this study., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This paper aims to map the research landscape in equity and justice in transport and mobility, identifying key publications, authors, institutions, and interdisciplinary connections to inform future research and policy development. A systematic search of scientific articles on equity and justice in transport and mobility was conducted in the Web of Science, resulting in 759 selected articles that were analyzed using bibliometric and network analysis methods. The analysis reveals a growing trend in scientific production since 2013, with the Journal of Transport Geography, Transport Research Part A: Policy and Practice, and the Journal of Transport Policy being the most prominent journals. The most influential authors and institutions are identified, along with the most cited works. Keyword usage trends and thematic analysis show a shift in focus from environmental equity to urban transport, congestion, and accessibility. Cluster analyses highlight focal points and themes, such as accessibility, mobility, social aspects, transport and spatial equity, environmental justice, transport planning, active transport, and methodological evaluations. Co-citation networks reveal three major clusters with differing research focuses: Lukas K. & Martens K.; Litman T. and Currie, G., and Scwanen T. and Cresswell, T. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the existing knowledge in equity and justice in transport and mobility, enabling researchers and policymakers to identify areas requiring further exploration. Additionally, the paper fosters interdisciplinary connections and sets priorities for future research and policy development., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) forms with the Mediterranean flycatcher (Muscicapa tyrrhenica) a newly recognized species pair of trans-Saharan migratory passerines. These flycatchers present a nested peripatric distribution, a pattern especially unusual among high dispersal species that questions the eco-evolutionary factors involved during the speciation process. Here, we present a genome assembly for M. striata assembled using a combination of Nanopore and Illumina sequences. The final assembly is 1.08 Gb long and consists of 4,779 contigs with an N50 of 3.2 Mb. The completeness of our M. striata genome assembly is supported by the number of BUSCO (95%) and ultraconserved element (UCE) (4889/5041; 97.0%) loci retrieved. This assembly showed high synteny with the Ficedula albicollis reference genome, the closest species for which a chromosome-scale reference genome is available. Several inversions were identified and will need to be investigated at the family level., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

The spatial distribution of the COVID-19 infection rate in the city of Palma (Balearic Islands) is analyzed from the geolocation of positive cases by census tract and its relationship with socioeconomic variables is evaluated. Data on infections have been provided by the Health Service of the Ministry of Health and Consumption of the Government of the Balearic Islands. The study combines several methods of analysis: spatial autocorrelation, calculation of the Gini index and least squares regression, and weighted geographical regression. The results show that the pandemic comprised five waves in the March 2020-March 2022 period, corresponding to the months of April 2020, August 2020, December 2020, July 2021, and January 2022. Each wave shows a particular geographical distribution pattern, however, the second and third waves show higher levels of spatial concentration. In this sense, the second wave, affecting the peripheral neighborhoods of the eastern part of the city. The Gini index confirms geographical imbalances in the distribution of infections in the first waves of the pandemic. In addition, the regression models indicate that the most significant socioeconomic variables in the prediction of COVID-19 infection are average income, percentage of children under 18 years of age, average size of the household, and percentage of single-person households. The study shows that economic imbalances in the city have had a clear influence on the spatial pattern of pandemic distribution. It shows the need to implement spatial justice policies in income distribution to balance the effects of the pandemic., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this study., (© 2023 The Authors. GeoHealth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Geophysical Union.)

Due to the omnipresence of chiral organofluorine compounds in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material chemistry, the development of enantioselective methods for their preparation is highly desirable. In the present study, the enantioselective organocatalyzed acylation of α,α-difluorohydrins using a commercially available chiral isothiourea is reported through a kinetic resolution (KR) process. It reveals that the difluoromethylene moiety (C(sp 3 )F 2 ) can serve as a directing group through electrostatic fluorine-cation interactions, greatly improving the enantioselectivity of the KR. In this context, a broad range of fluorinated alcohols such as valuable 4,4-difluoro-1,3-diols could be synthesized with exquisite enantiocontrol (typically >99:1 er). Turning to 2,2-difluoro-1,3-diols, we also demonstrated that aromatic and fluorinated groups were mutually compatible to provide the expected enantioenriched adducts with >99:1 er., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Mask image projection based on stereolithography is an additive manufactured technology based on a Frontal Photopolymerization Process. Therefore, photocurable resins are used to build-up parts layer by layer. In this paper, alumina particles have been used as a reinforcement filler in order to improve the material stress-strain behaviour. In addition, the increment of the photoconversion ratio is a key factor to enhance the mechanical properties. Consequently, a numerical model has been used to determine the optimal printing parameters to enhance the elastic mechanical properties of printed parts according to the characteristics of photocurable materials. Stable and homogeneous reinforced materials have been obtained with an alumina content ranging from 5 to 15 wt%. Furthermore, the compression behaviour of reinforced materials has been analysed by means of experimental tests. The results show an enhancement of mechanical properties after the addition of reinforcement fillers, obtaining a maximum improvement in 10 wt% of solid load content. Finally, the influence of the sample's orientation on the construction platform has been discussed.

The stereocontrol of tertiary alcohols represents a recurrent challenge in organic synthesis. In the present paper, we describe a simple, efficient, and indirect method to enantioselectively prepare tertiary alcohols through a chiral isothiourea catalyzed selective acylation of adjacent secondary alcohols. This transformation enables the kinetic resolution (KR) of easily prepared racemic diastereoenriched secondary/tertiary diols providing both monoesters and starting diols in highly enantioenriched forms ( s -value >200).

Each year, billions of songbirds cross large ecological barriers during their migration. Understanding how they perform this incredible task is crucial to predict how global change may threaten the safety of such journeys. Earlier studies based on radar suggested that most songbirds cross deserts in intermittent flights at high altitude, stopping in the desert during the day, while recent tracking with light loggers suggested diurnal prolongation of nocturnal flights and common non-stop flights for some species. We analyzed light intensity and temperature data obtained from geolocation loggers deployed on 130 individuals of ten migratory songbird species, and show that a large variety of strategies for crossing deserts exists between, but also sometimes within species. Diurnal stopover in the desert is a common strategy in autumn, while most species prolonged some nocturnal flights into the day. Non-stop flights over the desert occurred more frequently in spring than in autumn, and more frequently in foliage gleaners. Temperature recordings suggest that songbirds crossed deserts with flight bouts performed at various altitudes according to species and season, along a gradient ranging from low above ground in autumn to probably >2000 m above ground level, and possibly at higher altitude in spring. High-altitude flights are therefore not the general rule for crossing deserts in migrant songbirds. We conclude that a diversity of migration strategies exists for desert crossing among songbirds, with variations between but also within species.

Habitat destruction is the single greatest anthropogenic threat to biodiversity. Decades of research on this issue have led to the accumulation of hundreds of data sets comparing species assemblages in larger, intact, habitats to smaller, more fragmented, habitats. Despite this, little synthesis or consensus has been achieved, primarily because of non-standardized sampling methodology and analyses of notoriously scale-dependent response variables (i.e., species richness). To be able to compare and contrast the results of habitat fragmentation on species' assemblages, it is necessary to have the underlying data on species abundances and sampling intensity, so that standardization can be achieved. To accomplish this, we systematically searched the literature for studies where abundances of species in assemblages (of any taxa) were sampled from many habitat patches that varied in size. From these, we extracted data from several studies, and contacted authors of studies where appropriate data were collected but not published, giving us 117 studies that compared species assemblages among habitat fragments that varied in area. Less than one-half (41) of studies came from tropical forests of Central and South America, but there were many studies from temperate forests and grasslands from all continents except Antarctica. Fifty-four of the studies were on invertebrates (mostly insects), but there were several studies on plants (15), birds (16), mammals (19), and reptiles and amphibians (13). We also collected qualitative information on the length of time since fragmentation. With data on total and relative abundances (and identities) of species, sampling effort, and affiliated meta-data about the study sites, these data can be used to more definitively test hypotheses about the role of habitat fragmentation in altering patterns of biodiversity. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper and the associated Dryad data set if the data are used in publications., (© 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of America.)

The concept of a synergistic double catalytic kinetic resolution (DoCKR) as described in this article was successfully applied to racemic acyclic anti-1,3-diols, a common motif in natural products. This process takes advantage of an additive Horeau amplification involving two successive enantioselective organocatalytic acylation reactions, and leads to diesters and recovered diols with high enantiopurities. It was first developed with C 2 -symmetrical diols and then further extended to non-C 2 -symmetrical anti diols to prepare useful chiral building blocks. The protocol is highly practical as it only requires 1 mol % of a commercially available organocatalyst and leads to easily separable products. This procedure was applied to the shortest reported total synthesis of (+)-cryptocaryalactone, a natural product with anti-germinative activity., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Molecular phylogenetic studies of woodpeckers (Picidae) have generally focused on relationships within specific clades or have sampled sparsely across the family. We compared DNA sequences of six loci from 203 of the 217 recognized species of woodpeckers to construct a comprehensive tree of intrafamilial relationships. We recovered many known, but also numerous unknown, relationships among clades and species. We found, for example, that the three picine tribes are related as follows (Picini, (Campephilini, Melanerpini)) and that the genus Dinopium is paraphyletic. We used the tree to analyze rates of diversification and biogeographic patterns within the family. Diversification rate increased on two occasions during woodpecker history. We also tested diversification rates between temperate and tropical species but found no significant difference. Biogeographic analysis supported an Old World origin of the family and identified at least six independent cases of New World-Old World sister relationships. In light of the tree, we discuss how convergence, mimicry, and potential cases of hybridization have complicated woodpecker taxonomy., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The dynamics of species accumulation of African terrestrial vertebrates over time remains underexplored in comparison with those in the New World, despite Africa hosting about 25% of the world's avian diversity. This lack of knowledge hampers our understanding of the fundamental processes that drive biodiversity and the dynamics of speciation. To begin to address this gap, we reconstructed species-level phylogenies of two unrelated clades of African woodpeckers (12 species of Geocolaptes/Campethera and 13 species of Chloropicus/Mesopicos/Dendropicos/Ipophilus) that diverged from their closest Indo-Malayan relatives at similar times. Our results demonstrate that the current taxonomy is misleading: three (Campethera, Dendropicos and Mesopicos) out of four polytpic genera/subgenera are not monophyletic. Our results also show that current estimates of diversity at the species level are significantly understated, as up to 18 species for the 'Campethera clade' and 19 for the 'Dendropicos clade' could be recognized. The first splits within both clades involve species that are largely restricted to the Guineo-Congolian biogeographic regions, followed by later adaptations to particular habitats (forest versus savannah) and colonization of other regions (e.g. Southern Africa), each of which occurred multiple times in both clades. Assuming a conservative species delimitation scheme, our results indicate that diversification rates are decreasing through time for both clades. Applying a more extreme species recognition scheme (18 and 19 species for the Campethera and Dendropicos clades, respectively), our results support a decrease in diversification rates only for the Dendropicos clade and thus underline the importance of the number of species included in our diversification analyses. Greater ecological diversity of the Campethera clade where multiple species exhibit either an arboreal or terrestrial foraging strategy might explain the constant diversification rates through time we found under the eighteen species scheme., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Species complexes that have undergone recent radiations are often characterized by extensive allele sharing due to recent ancestry and (or) introgressive hybridization. This can result in discordant evolutionary histories of genes and heterogeneous genomes, making delineating species limits difficult. Here we examine the phylogenetic relationships among a complex group of birds, the white-headed gulls (Aves: Laridae), which offer a unique window into the speciation process due to their recent evolutionary history and propensity to hybridize. Relationships were examined among 17 species (61 populations) using a multilocus approach, including mitochondrial and nuclear intron DNA sequences and microsatellite genotype information. Analyses of microsatellite and intron data resulted in some species-based groupings, although most species were not represented by a single cluster. Considerable allele and haplotype sharing among white-headed gull species was observed; no locus contained a species-specific clade. Despite this, our multilocus approach provided better resolution among some species than previous studies. Interestingly, most clades appear to correspond to geographic locality: our BEAST analysis recovered strong support for a northern European/Icelandic clade, a southern European/Russian clade, and a western North American/canus clade, with weak evidence for a high latitude clade spanning North America and northwestern Europe. This geographical structuring is concordant with behavioral observations of pervasive hybridization in areas of secondary contact. The extent of allele and haplotype sharing indicates that ecological and sexual selection are likely not strong enough to complete reproductive isolation within several species in the white-headed gull complex. This suggests that just a few genes are driving the speciation process., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The mitochondrial genome of the white-browed piculet Sasia ochracea (Piciformes, Picidae) and the pale-billed woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis (Piciformes, Picidae) were sequenced using a mixed strategy of Sanger and next-generation sequencing methods. The size of the circular mitochondrial genomes were 16 908 and 16 856 bp, respectively, and include 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer tRNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, a control region and a reduced pseudo control region. The functional control region was located between the tRNAThr and tRNAPro, as found in the two other Piciformes for which complete mtDNA data are available. The length of the pseudo-control region in the white-browed piculet (103 bp) and pale-billed woodpecker (87 bp) is similar to the size of that region in Dryocopus pileatus (60 bp) and much shorter that the length of this region in Pteroglossus azara (1493 bp), suggesting that size reduction occurred before the last common ancestor of the piculets and woodpeckers.

The pied woodpecker assemblage historically included the widespread genera Picoides and Dendrocopos. The assignment of species to either of these two genera has for long puzzled systematists due to their overall plumage similarity. Recent molecular studies not only suggested that both of these genera are not monophyletic, but also that four other genera, the African Dendropicos the South American Veniliornis and two Asian monospecific genera (Hypopicus and Sapheopipo) are nested within the Dendrocopos-Picoides clade. Yet, our current understanding of the phylogeny and taxonomy of this group is still very partial because several distinctive Old World species that have been assigned to different genera throughout their taxonomic history have not been sampled yet. Here, using DNA sequence data gathered from four loci, we reconstructed a species level phylogeny of the Indo-Malayan and Palearctic Pied Woodpeckers to understand the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of the Eurasian species with respect to African and New World lineages. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed nine strongly supported clades within the Dendropicini. Noticeably, two species that had disputed affinities at the genus level clustered in clades with species from the same biogeographical region: the Brown-backed Woodpecker (D. obsoletus) is nested in Dendropicos and the Arabian Woodpecker (D. dorae) is related to two Eurasian species, the Brown-fronted (D. auriceps) and Middle-spotted woodpeckers (D. medius). The nine clades have a strong biogeographic component and very few dispersal event among bioregions occurred. For example, the African species formed a clade, suggesting that only one dispersal event is needed to explain the presence of Dendropicini in Africa. Based on our phylogenetic results, we propose a new classification of the Dendropicini that recognizes nine genera., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A general and highly efficient organocatalyzed desymmetrization of acyclic meso 1,3-diols through acyl transfer using chiral isothioureas is described. The introduction of π-systems in the acyclic substrates provided new opportunities in terms of reactivity, enantioselectivity and synthetic potential. To reach this high level of enantioselectivity (up to er >99:1), the reaction proceeds through a synergistic mechanism involving a desymmetrization reaction and a chiroablative kinetic resolution process. This methodology was used with success as the sole enantioselective catalytic step (developed on a gram scale) to achieve the total synthesis of the antiosteoporotic diarylheptanoid (-)-diospongin A (7 steps).

Undersampling is commonplace in biodiversity surveys of species-rich tropical assemblages in which rare taxa abound, with possible repercussions for our ability to implement surveys and monitoring programmes in a cost-effective way. We investigated the consequences of information loss due to species undersampling (missing subsets of species from the full species pool) in tropical bat surveys for the emerging patterns of species richness (SR) and compositional variation across sites. For 27 bat assemblage data sets from across the tropics, we used correlations between original data sets and subsets with different numbers of species deleted either at random, or according to their rarity in the assemblage, to assess to what extent patterns in SR and composition in data subsets are congruent with those in the initial data set. We then examined to what degree high sample representativeness (r ≥ 0·8) was influenced by biogeographic region, sampling method, sampling effort or structural assemblage characteristics. For SR, correlations between random subsets and original data sets were strong (r ≥ 0·8) with moderate (ca. 20%) species loss. Bias associated with information loss was greater for species composition; on average ca. 90% of species in random subsets had to be retained to adequately capture among-site variation. For nonrandom subsets, removing only the rarest species (on average c. 10% of the full data set) yielded strong correlations (r > 0·95) for both SR and composition. Eliminating greater proportions of rare species resulted in weaker correlations and large variation in the magnitude of observed correlations among data sets. Species subsets that comprised ca. 85% of the original set can be considered reliable surrogates, capable of adequately revealing patterns of SR and temporal or spatial turnover in many tropical bat assemblages. Our analyses thus demonstrate the potential as well as limitations for reducing survey effort and streamlining sampling protocols, and consequently for increasing the cost-effectiveness in tropical bat surveys or monitoring programmes. The dependence of the performance of species subsets on structural assemblage characteristics (total assemblage abundance, proportion of rare species), however, underscores the importance of adaptive monitoring schemes and of establishing surrogate performance on a site by site basis based on pilot surveys., (© 2014 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2014 British Ecological Society.)

We study static black hole solutions in Einstein and Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the topology of the product of two spheres, [Formula: see text], in higher dimensions. There is an unusual new feature of the Gauss-Bonnet black hole: the avoidance of a non-central naked singularity prescribes a mass range for the black hole in terms of [Formula: see text]. For an Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet black hole a limited window of negative values for [Formula: see text] is also permitted. This topology encompasses black strings, branes, and generalized Nariai metrics. We also give new solutions with the product of two spheres of constant curvature.

Recent genetic studies have shown that introgression rates among loci may greatly vary according to their location in the genome. In particular, several cases of mito-nuclear discordances have been reported for a wide range of organisms. In the present study, we examine the causes of discordance between mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA introgression detected in North American populations of the Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), a Holarctic species, from the Nearctic North American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus). Our results show that extensive unidirectional mtDNA introgression from Larus smithsonianus into Larus marinus in North America cannot be explained by ancestral polymorphism but most likely results from ancient hybridization events occurring when Larus marinus invaded the North America. Conversely, our nuclear DNA results based on 12 microsatellites detected very little introgression from Larus smithsonianus into North American Larus marinus. We discuss these results in the framework of demographic and selective mechanisms that have been postulated to explain mito-nuclear discrepancies. We were unable to demonstrate selection as the main cause of mito-nuclear introgression discordance but cannot dismiss the possible role of selection in the observed pattern. Among demographic explanations, only drift in small populations and bias in mate choice in an invasive context may explain our results. As it is often difficult to demonstrate that selection may be the main factor driving the introgression of mitochondrial DNA in natural populations, we advocate that evaluating alternative demographic neutral hypotheses may help to indirectly support or reject hypotheses invoking selective processes.

The symmetry breaking of meso primary diols bearing a tetrahydropyran ring was employed, using catalytic asymmetric acyl transfer, to control all-carbon quaternary stereocenters. The planar chiral Fu DMAP catalyst was used in this reaction to reach a high degree of enantioselectivity (up to 97:3 e.r.) through a synergic effect combining a desymmetrization step and a kinetic resolution. Moreover, a beneficial effect was exhibited by C6F6 solvent, yielding the first example of an organocatalyzed asymmetric acyl transfer. The desymmetrized monoesters were then used to obtain, after a straightforward ring opening sequence, complex polyketide building blocks bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters., (Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Introduction: The study aims to illustrate the impact of Spanish research in clinical decision making. To this end, we analysed the characteristics of the most significant Spanish publications cited in clinical practice guidelines (CPG) on mental health., Material and Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study on the characteristics of ten articles cited in Spanish CPG on mental health, and selected for their "scientific quality". We analysed the content of the articles on the basis of the following characteristics: topics, study design, research centres, scientific and practical relevance, type of funding, and area or influence of the reference to the content of the guidelines., Results: Among the noteworthy studies, some basic science studies, which have examined the establishment of genetic associations in the pathogenesis of mental illness are included, and others on the effectiveness of educational interventions. The content of those latter had more influence on the GPC, because they were cited in the summary of the scientific evidence or in the recommendations. Some of the outstanding features in the selected articles are the sophisticated designs (experimental or analytical), and the number of study centres, especially in international collaborations. Debate or refutation of previous findings on controversial issues may have also contributed to the extensive citation of work., Conclusions: The inclusion of studies in the CPG is not a sufficient condition of "quality", but their description can be instructive for the design of future research or publications., (Copyright © 2012 SEP y SEPB. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

The ever increasing number of analysed loci in phylogenetics has not only allowed resolution of some parts of the Tree of Life but has also highlighted parts of the tree where incongruent signals among loci were detected. Previous molecular studies suggested conflicting relationships for the New World genus Campephilus, being either associated to the Megapicini or Dendropocini. Yet, the limited number of analysed loci and the use of the concatenation approach to reconstruct the phylogeny prevented the disentanglement of lineage sorting and introgression as causal explanation of this topological conflict. We sequenced four mitochondrial, nine autosomal and three Z-linked loci and used a method that incorporates population level processes into the phylogenetic framework to understand which process (lineage sorting of genetic polymorphism or hybridization/introgression) best explains this conflict. Our analyses revealed that the autosomal FGB intron-7 and to a lesser extent the Z-linked loci have a different phylogenetic history from the mitochondrial loci and some other nuclear loci we analysed. We suggest that this conflicting pattern is the result of introgression consecutive to a hybridization event at the time when members of the Campephilus and melanerpine (Melanerpes and Sphyrapicus) lineages colonized the New World. The case of Campephilus highlights that the mitochondrial genome does not always carry the 'wrong' phylogenetic signal after a past hybridization event. Indeed, we here emphasise that the signature of such event can also be detected in the nuclear genome. With the ongoing increase in the number of loci analysed in phylogenetic studies, it is very likely that further cases will be discovered. Our current results indicate that (1) the genus Campephilus is related to the Asian genera Blythipicus, Chrysocolaptes and Reinwardtipicus, in accordance with morphological data and (2) that the nuclear genome of Campephilus is likely the mixture of two unrelated lineages. Yet, further work with a denser sampling of loci is necessary to evaluate the extant of the Sphyrapicus/Melanerpes lineage nuclear genome that introgressed into the Campephilus genome., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This article reports on the impact assessment experience of a funding program of non-commercial clinical and health services research. The aim was to assess the level of implementation of results from a subgroup of research projects (on respiratory diseases), and to detect barriers (or facilitators) in the translation of new knowledge to informed decision-making., Methods: A qualitative study was performed. The sample consisted of six projects on respiratory diseases funded by the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia between 1996 and 2004. Semi-structured interviews to key informants including researchers and healthcare decision-makers were carried out. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed on an individual (key informant) and group (project) basis. In addition, the differences between achieved and expected impacts were described., Results: Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted. Most participants indicated changes in health services or clinical practice had resulted from research. The channels used to transfer new knowledge were mainly conventional ones, but also in less explicit ways, such as with the involvement of local scientific societies, or via debates and discussions with colleagues and local leaders. The barriers and facilitators identified were mostly organizational (in research management, and clinical and healthcare practice), although there were also some related to the nature of the research as well as personal factors. Both the expected and achieved impacts enabled the identification of the gaps between what is expected and what is truly achieved., Conclusions: In this study and according to key informants, the impact of these research projects on decision-making can be direct (the application of a finding or innovation) or indirect, contributing to a more complex change in clinical practice and healthcare organization, both having other contextual factors. The channels used to transfer this new knowledge to clinical practice are complex. Local scientific societies and the relationships between researchers and decision-makers can play a very important role. Specifically, the relationships between managers and research teams and the mutual knowledge of their activity have shown to be effective in applying research funding to practice and decision-making. Finally the facilitating factors and barriers identified by the respondents are closely related to the idiosyncrasy of the human relations between the different stakeholders involved.

The key is symmetry! A convergent synthetic approach of the highly cytotoxic natural product (-)-callystatin A was developed assembling three fragments through Julia-Kocienski olefination and Stille cross-coupling. The new strategy relies on a pivotal local symmetry of the target molecule. In this preliminary study, particular attention was devoted to facilitate the catalytic enantiocontrol of strategic stereogenic centers present in each of the fragments (see scheme)., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Medical activities are increasingly performed with preventive purposes, as part of community programs for secondary prevention but also as part of many clinical activities. However, there are few evaluations of preventive and health promotion activities and, in general, these evaluations only assess aspects of efficacy/effectiveness with little consideration of cost and cost-effectiveness and even less of the ethical, legal, social or organizational consequences. Given the growing interest in evaluation of these interventions from different perspectives, health technology assessment (HTA) has emerged as a multidisciplinary analysis strategy with distinct methodological approaches that may be useful to health administrations and policy-makers for decision making at different levels (micro, meso and macro). This manuscript discusses the characteristics and differential aspects related to assessment of preventive and health promotion activities. This type of evaluation poses constraints, limitations and challenges that should be considered during the process of HTA. In the case of public health there are additional challenges, because the evidence must satisfy a diverse audience, including public health professionals, clinicians, politicians, managers, economists and consumers. The challenge is even greater when evaluating complex, integrated community interventions in which local and contextual aspects are of tremendous importance. In addition, assessment of ethical issues is of the utmost importance since these issues comprise the origin of health services and the target populations are usually healthy., (Copyright © 2011 Sociedad Española de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To review respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), passive immunoprophylaxis (PI) trials and meta-analysis (MA)., Methods: A literature review., Results: Two MA of PI were found. Overall 3927 patients were randomized. PI reduces RSV hospitalization in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.41, 0.82) and with acyanotic congenital heart disease (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.14, 0.62). In patients with cyanotic heart disease or premature infants without bronchopulmonary dysplasia, results are inconclusive. Passive immunoprophylaxis has a null effect in mechanical ventilation and death., Conclusion: Passive immunoprophylaxis reduces RSV hospitalization in a subset of patients. However, it has no effect in harder endpoints of RSV disease severity., (© 2010 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2010 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.)

Objectives: The objectives of this study is to review the set of criteria of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for priority-setting in research with addition of new criteria if necessary, and to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of the final priority score., Methods: Based on the evaluation of 199 research topics, forty-five experts identified additional criteria for priority-setting, rated their relevance, and ranked and weighted them in a three-round modified Delphi technique. A final priority score was developed and evaluated. Internal consistency, test-retest and inter-rater reliability were assessed. Correlation with experts' overall qualitative topic ratings were assessed as an approximation to validity., Results: All seven original IOM criteria were considered relevant and two new criteria were added ("potential for translation into practice", and "need for knowledge"). Final ranks and relative weights differed from those of the original IOM criteria: "research impact on health outcomes" was considered the most important criterion (4.23), as opposed to "burden of disease" (3.92). Cronbach's alpha (0.75) and test-retest stability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.66) for the final set of criteria were acceptable. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for overall assessment of priority was 0.66., Conclusions: A reliable instrument for prioritizing topics in clinical and health services research has been developed. Further evaluation of its validity and impact on selecting research topics is required.

A highly convergent and protecting-group-free synthesis of (+)-crocacin C, featuring an enzymatic enantioselective desymmetrization of a meso-diol, a base-induced ring opening of a THP ring, and a one-pot hydrostannylation/Stille coupling as the key steps, is reported. The natural product was obtained in 11 steps and 22.3% overall yield starting from readily available oxabicycle 1. Finally, a unique enantioselective step, an enzymatic desymmetrization, revealed four stereogenic centers and created one in C4 of the THP furnishing the dense building block 4 with high enantioselectivity (ee >98%).

Background: Surgery is an essential element of breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the progress and current practice in oncological breast surgery in Catalonia and Andalusia., Material and Method: An observational study was conducted, collecting data from the Minimum Basic Data Set at Hospital Discharge., Results: A total of 37,537 women from Catalonia and 24,186 from Andalusia were studied. The rate of admission due to breast cancer in women increased substantially during the study period, as well as the percentage of women who underwent breast-conserving surgery. However, the increase in breast-conserving surgery has not been consistent among age groups and hospital levels., Conclusions: As a whole, the increase in breast-conserving surgery has shown the need for interventions to promote the use of procedures of proven effectiveness.

The synthesis of various heterocycles and carbocycles (tetrahydrofurans, pyrrolidines, cyclopentanes) has been achieved by using new and efficient ionic addition/cyclization sequences. Nitroolefins play an important role in the Michael addition induced ring-closing reactions (MIRC) reported in the present article, with various substituted alcohols, amines, Grignard reactants, or malonate derivatives acting as the nucleophile partner. The optimized cascade reactions were high yielding in most cases and highly stereoselective, creating up to three stereogenic centers starting from achiral substrates.

The enantioselective enzymatic desymmetrization of several highly substituted meso-tetrahydropyranyl diols is described. This transformation leads to valuable building blocks containing up to five stereogenic centers, which are revealed in a single step with both high yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses. Moreover, it was shown that this kind of building blocks could provide an easy access to both enantiomers of highly functionalized stereotetrads.

Background: most studies that analyze the influence of structure factors on clinical outcomes are retrospective, based on clinical-administrative databases, and mainly focusing on surgical volume., Objective: to study variations in the process and outcomes of oncologic surgery for esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver metastases and rectum cancers in Catalonia, as well as the factors associated with these variations., Patients and Method: a retrospective (2002) and prospective (2003-05) multicenter cohort study. Data forms were designed to collect patient, process, and care outcome characteristics before surgery, at hospital discharge, and at 3 and 6 months after discharge. Main outcome measures were hospital and follow-up mortality, complications, re-interventions, and relapse rates., Results: 49 hospitals (80%) participated in the retrospective phase, 44 of which (90%) also participated in the prospective phase: 3,038 patients (98%) were included. No differences were observed in the profile of operated patients according to hospital level of complexity, but clinical-pathological staging and other functional status variables could not be assessed because of over 20% of missing values. There was significant variability in the volume of interventions as well as in certain aspects of the healthcare process depending on type of cancer and center complexity. High rates of esophageal cancer mortality (18.2% at discharge, 27.3% at 6 months) and of complications and re-interventions for all cancers assessed, especially rectal cancer (18.4% re-interventions at 6 months), were identified., Conclusions: the study of the variability identified will require adequate risk-adjustment and should take into account different structure factors. It is necessary that information included in medical records be improved.

Introduction and Objectives: Little is known about the long-term outcomes of coronary surgery and their determinants in Spain. The objectives of this study were to evaluate clinical outcomes, quality of life and survival in a cohort of patients 5 years after undergoing a first aortocoronary bypass operation without any other associated procedure., Methods: Patients who survived the operation and whose pre- and postoperative data had been collected prospectively were followed up by telephone interview after 5 years., Results: Information was available after 5 years on 1,300 (85.2%) of the 1,525 patients who survived until hospital discharge. Of these, 13.6% had died, while 24% had either died, undergone revascularization or were readmitted because of a cardiac complaint. The cumulative survival rate (excluding the period of hospitalization) was 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.89). Mortality varied significantly with the level of preoperative risk (i.e. the EuroSCORE), to the extent that mortality in the low-risk group was equivalent to that in the general reference population., Conclusions: Three-quarters of patients who survived until hospital discharge after coronary surgery did not experience a major cardiac event within 5 years and their level of functioning and quality of life were good. The survival rate after the immediate postoperative period varied according to the patient's preoperative risk profile and, in low-risk patients, was equivalent to that in the general reference population.

We investigated the role of selection in generating and maintaining species distinctness in spite of ongoing gene flow, using two zones of secondary contact between large gull species in Europe (Larus argentatus and Larus cachinnans) and North America (Larus glaucescens and Larus occidentalis). We used the pattern of neutral genetic differentiation at nine microsatellite loci (F(ST)) as an indicator of expected changes under neutral processes and compared it with phenotypic differentiation (P(ST)) for a large number of traits (size, plumage melanism and coloration of bare parts). Even assuming very low heritability, interspecific divergence between L. glaucescens and L. occidentalis in plumage melanism and orbital ring colour clearly exceeded neutral differentiation. Similarly, melanism of the central primaries was highly divergent between L. argentatus and L. cachinnans. Such divergence is unlikely to have arisen randomly and is therefore attributed to spatially varying selection. Variation in plumage melanism in both transects agrees with Gloger's rule, which suggests that latitude (and associated sun and humidity gradients) could be the selective pressure shaping differentiation in plumage melanism. We suggest that strong species differentiation in orbital ring colour results from sexual selection. We conclude that these large gull species, along with other recently diverged species that hybridize after coming into secondary contact, may differ only in restricted regions of the genome that are undergoing strong disruptive selection because of their phenotypic effects.

Objectives: Registers have proven to be a valuable instrument in the evaluation of arthroplasty procedures and the performance of implants. The aim of this study was to describe the structure, functioning, and content of arthroplasty registers in Europe and other parts of the world., Methods: A search of technical reports was carried out through the Internet and in Medline/PubMed. The exhaustiveness of the information was confirmed using the links to Web pages of other registers and contacts with key people. Aims, methods in data collection and evaluation, internal structure and organization, participants, validity of the data, and other variables were assessed for each arthroplasty register using a qualitative content analysis of the texts., Results: Fifteen arthroplasty registers were identified which published sufficient information to conduct a comparative analysis. Eight additional registers were identified but no information was available on the Internet or in English. Most registers were initiatives of an orthopaedic society receiving governmental funding. Data were collected using standardized clinical forms and additional information from clinical-administrative datasets or other registers (mortality, implant costs, hip fractures). The main outcome measure of these registers is survival of the prostheses. Registers use the Internet and their annual reports as the main strategy for the dissemination and feed-back of their results., Conclusions: Scientific or professional societies and the public health administration should collaborate in the development of arthroplasty registers. To adequately assess the results of observational data information on the structure, the process of arthroplasty interventions and patients characteristics should be collected.

Objective: Hip and knee arthroplasties are the most frequent surgical procedures in Catalonia. The aim of this study was to describe changes in the rates of these procedures and in their characteristics between 1994 and 2005., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of total hip (THR) and knee (TKR) primary and revision joint replacement discharges using the Minimum Data Set (ICD-9-CM codes 81.51, 81.53, 81.54 and 81.55). Standardized THR and TKR rates by age and sex and revision burden were calculated and changing trends were analyzed through joinpoint regression. Four time periods were defined and patient and hospital stay characteristics were analyzed by comparing period 4 with period 1 through logistic regression models., Results: In THR, the rates per 10,000 inhabitants increased from 4.1 to 6.6 between 1994 and 2000. In TKR, rates increased from 2.6 to 15.5 between 1994 and 2005. Hip revision burden increased until 2001, whereas knee revision burden increased for the entire period. The main reason for surgery was osteoarthritis. In both THR and TKR, the number of patients aged 75 or older and comorbidity increased., Conclusions: The increase in the rates and the change in patients' profile may reflect broadening of the indication criteria for these procedures. The impact of the foreseeable increase in revision surgery could be reduced by developing systems to evaluate prosthesis survival and clinical practice guidelines.

Introduction and Objectives: The aim was to determine the usefulness of the hospital discharge Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) for predicting in-hospital mortality with coronary bypass surgery by using data from a prospective observational study as a reference., Methods: The observational study involved collecting data on all patients undergoing first coronary bypass surgery at five hospitals in Catalonia, Spain between November 2001 and November 2003. In addition, data covering the same period and hospitals were obtained from the MBDS for procedure code 36.1. We investigated the concordance between the information from the two data sources and logistic regression was used to derive predictive models for in-hospital mortality. The model derived using MBDS data was validated using data from the prospective observational study and MBDS data for the years 2004-2006. Model validity was evaluated using discrimination and calibration indices., Results: Some 4.1% of cases in the observational study could not be found in the MBDS. The concordance between the two data sources was highly variable and generally low (kappa values ranged from 0.16 to 0.79). The discriminative ability of the MBDS model was equivalent to that of the observational study model (c=0.80 vs. c=0.79), but when the validity of the former was tested using prospective data and MBDS data for 2004-2006, the discrimination c-index decreased to 0.76 and 0.65, respectively, and the calibration worsened significantly (P< .001)., Conclusions: The risk of in-hospital mortality following coronary surgery cannot be accurately evaluated using MBDS data. However, our results indicate that their use as a predictive tool could be improved.

Background: The island of Madagascar and surrounding volcanic and coralline islands are considered to form a biodiversity hotspot with large numbers of unique taxa. The origin of this endemic fauna can be explained by two different factors: vicariance or over-water-dispersal. Deciphering which factor explains the current distributional pattern of a given taxonomic group requires robust phylogenies as well as estimates of divergence times. The lineage of Indian Ocean scops-owls (Otus: Strigidae) includes six or seven species that are endemic to Madagascar and portions of the Comoros and Seychelles archipelagos; little is known about the species limits, biogeographic affinities and relationships to each other. In the present study, using DNA sequence data gathered from six loci, we examine the biogeographic history of the Indian Ocean scops-owls. We also compare the pattern and timing of colonization of the Indian Ocean islands by scops-owls with divergence times already proposed for other bird taxa., Results: Our analyses revealed that Indian Ocean islands scops-owls do not form a monophyletic assemblage: the Seychelles Otus insularis is genetically closer to the South-East Asian endemic O. sunia than to species from the Comoros and Madagascar. The Pemba Scops-owls O. pembaensis, often considered closely related to, if not conspecific with O. rutilus of Madagascar, is instead closely related to the African mainland O. senegalensis. Relationships among the Indian Ocean taxa from the Comoros and Madagascar are unresolved, despite the analysis of over 4000 bp, suggesting a diversification burst after the initial colonization event. We also highlight one case of putative back-colonization to the Asian mainland from an island ancestor (O. sunia). Our divergence date estimates, using a Bayesian relaxed clock method, suggest that all these events occurred during the last 3.6 myr; albeit colonization of the Indian Ocean islands were not synchronous, O. pembaensis diverged from O. senegalensis about 1.7 mya while species from Madagascar and the Comoro diverged from their continental sister-group about 3.6 mya. We highlight that our estimates coincide with estimates of diversification from other bird lineages., Conclusion: Our analyses revealed the occurrence of multiple synchronous colonization events of the Indian Ocean islands by scops-owls, at a time when faunistic exchanges involving Madagascar was common as a result of lowered sea-level that would have allowed the formation of stepping-stone islands. Patterns of diversification that emerged from the scops-owls data are: 1) a star-like pattern concerning the order of colonization of the Indian Ocean islands and 2) the high genetic distinctiveness among all Indian Ocean taxa, reinforcing their recognition as distinct species.

Objective: To revalidate a local model for prediction of in-hospital mortality after coronary surgery several years after its introduction and the EuroSCORE in a specific area within its original scope. To assess the specific advantages of one type of instrument over the other in a definite context., Study Design and Setting: Data from consecutive patients undergoing a first isolated coronary artery bypass between November 2001 and November 2003 in five hospitals in Catalonia were prospectively collected., Results: The study included 1,605 patients. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristics curves were around 0.75 for both models. Calibration was low for both models and the local model significantly overestimated risk. The ordering of operating centers by performance was identical with each strategy but the centers labeled as outliers differed., Conclusion: (1) Evaluation of performance of individual hospitals was consistent using both systems and almost identical when they were internally recalibrated, (2) The impact of the benchmark population characteristics on model performance may be greater than that of risk factors considered for score calculation, (3) Promoting the use of a widely used instrument as the EuroSCORE might be sufficient for most evaluations. Local scales can be useful to highlight locally relevant features and temporal trends.

Previous studies have suggested that the woodpecker genus Picus (Aves: Picidae) may not be monophyletic. In order to evaluate this hypothesis, we analyzed DNA sequences from all but two species of Picus, as well as from representatives of all genera in the tribe Malarpicini, within which Picus is nested. We sequenced seven loci (four autosomal, one Z-linked and two mitochondrial) with different evolutionary dynamics. The species currently placed in Picus fall into two subclades that may not form a monophyletic assemblage. Consequently, we propose to place miniaceus Pennant 1769, flavinucha Gould 1834 and mentalis Temminck 1825 in the genus Chrysophlegma Gould, 1850, while the remaining species are retained in Picus. The inclusion in our study of representatives of all genera included in the tribe Malarpicini, a group of woodpeckers which has proven difficult to resolve in several previous molecular studies, also allowed us to determine the earliest divergences within this clade. The results suggest that the low level of basal resolution in Malarpicini is attributable to multiple cladogenetic events in a short period of time rather than insufficient character sampling. This conclusion is supported by the observation of nucleotide insertion-deletions that support mutually exclusive phylogenetic hypotheses in different gene trees. We attribute this pattern of incongruent indels, together with short internodes in the tree, to incomplete lineage sorting.