Speed rate (SR) as a new dynamic index of melanoma behavior

Melanomas are skin tumors that show a variety of biological behavior. Some develop very fast and some other grow extremely slow, with metastasis appearing, eventually, many years after the diagnosis. The number of mitoses in primary melanoma has been related to a more aggressive tumor and may have a potential as predictive factor for cutaneous melanoma survival. However, tumor mitotic rate is a static measure and in multivariate analysis on tumor survival, it has scored less than other tumor characteristics. We tried to evolve tumor mitotic rate from a static parameter to a time‐dependent one. Similar to the already described growth rate (GR), we propose the speed rate (SR). SR is defined as the ratio of tumor mitotic rate to time to melanoma development. A prospective series of 345 patients with melanoma was investigated for the role of SR as predictive factor for sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity and tumor progression. We calculated the best threshold for SR and GR to predict the risk of recurrence. Melanoma clinical and histological characteristics as well as GR were correlated in a multivariated analysis with SR. SR values >0.2 mitoses/month were associated with negative prognostic factors such as ulceration (82.8%), SLN positivity (80%), progression (82.8%), and death (85.7%). The association of GR > 0.3 mm/months and SR > 0.2 mitoses/month had a significant predictive value in terms of SLN positivity, progression, and recurrence‐free survival. We propose SR as a new “dynamic” predictor of histological SLN positivity and melanoma recurrence risk. We think that he association with this new feature with GR may be helpful in improving the accuracy of predicted clinical outcome of patient especially with thin melanomas.     

A new balance index for phylogenetic trees

Several indices that measure the degree of balance of a rooted phylogenetic tree have been proposed so far in the literature. In this work we define and study a new index of this kind, which we call the total cophenetic index: the sum, over all pairs of different leaves, of the depth of their lowest common ancestor. This index makes sense for arbitrary trees, can be computed in linear time and it has a larger range of values and a greater resolution power than other indices like Colless’ or Sackin’s. We compute its maximum and minimum values for arbitrary and binary trees, as well as exact formulas for its expected value for binary trees under the Yule and the uniform models of evolution. As a byproduct of this study, we obtain an exact formula for the expected value of the Sackin index under the uniform model, a result that seems to be new in the literature.     

The fuzzy index of ecosystem integrity (FINE): a new index of environmental integrity for transitional ecosystems

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) requires assessing the ecological quality status of water bodies, and gives great importance to the biological components of the ecosystem. Within this framework, a multimetric, fuzzy-based index for the evaluation of environmental quality (FINE: fuzzy index of ecosystem integrity) has been developed using data from several Italian coastal lagoons, gathered with seasonal frequency at diverse sites in each lagoon. The rationale of FINE is that certain attributes, selected on the basis of established principles of benthic ecology, are fundamental for lagoon ecosystem function. FINE is composed of seven ecosystem attributes (variables) each of which have ecological relevance for lagoon ecosystems. Individually, all these attributes are themselves useful indices of environmental conditions. However, the combination of these attributes into a single fuzzy index, provides a more robust, overall index of the response of the natural communities to environmental perturbations and avoids misleading or ambiguous results. Each variable is not represented by a single numerical value, but by several categories that describe its properties: in the present model we considered a total of seven variables: two with four modalities (low–medium–high–very high), one with three (low–medium–high) and three with two (low–high), plus a qualitative variable (yes–no), that altogether generate 768 rules. FINE is a low-cost, flexible and robust routine index of lagoon ecosystem impairment and could be of particular benefit to environmental managers and policymakers who require tools capable of expressing the degree of degradation or environmental quality of different lagoon habitats. For its relative simplicity in the application, FINE could be a good candidate to assess the environmental quality of Mediterranean transitional ecosystems. Guest editors: A. Razinkovas, Z. R. Gasiūnaitė, J. M. Zaldivar & P. Viaroli European Lagoons and their Watersheds: Function and Biodiversity     

A new species ofPsilocybe (Agaricales)

Psilocybe laetissima sp. n. of the sect.Merdariae is close toP. sabulosa s.l. and known to us from Austria, Hungary, and West Germany.     

A new species ofCrepidotus (Crepidotaceae)

Crepidotus ehrendorferi spec. nova (sect.Sphaerula) is similar to the North AmericanC. sinuosus and differs mainly by the anatomy of pileicutis with unseptated, long, slender terminal hyphae and some macroscopical characters. It is compared also withC. applanatus andC. crocophyllus. C. ehrendorferi is a very conspicuous, wood-inhabiting species known up to now from a very old forest reserve close to the city of Vienna (Austria).     

Poly(A): A new evolutionary probe

The poly(A) segment increases in length as the complexity of the organism increases. The shortest poly(A) size (10–15 AMP units) exist on mRNA from bacteria. The largest poly(A) segments (180–200 AMP units) exist in highly differentiated tissue. The natural log of average poly(A) size has evolved in a linear manner with the time of evolution of different organisms. This relationship places the origin of mRNA, and possibly life, at 3·85 ± 0.2 billion years ago. The poly(A) length of mitochondrial mRNA places the origin of mitochondria within eucaryotes at 2· 1 billion years ago.     

城市可持续发展能力的能值评价新指标

能值理论、方法克服了传统能量与经济分析方法的诸多缺憾,为城市可持续发展的研究提供了全新的视角。但作为一种新兴的理论,其评价指标,尤其是针对城市可持续发展能力的综合评价指标尚不完善。从生态经济效益及环境影响的全面表达角度,剖析了国际现行可持续发展能值指标(ESI)的不足之处,并在此基础上拓展构建了新的可持续发展能值指标(EISD)。以珠江三角洲中山市1996～2000年的发展动态为例进行了案例研究。结果表明,新拓展的可持续发展能值指标．在系统效益评价中考虑了系统能值产出的实际经济效果,在环境影响评价中同时考虑了系统的消耗影响和排放影响,可以更全面明晰的评价城市系统的可持续发展能力、状态及其成因,为系统的优化指明方向。     

A new subspecies and new combinations in Comarostaphylis (Ericaceae)

Comarostaphylis spinulosa subsp.glandulifera is described from the mountains of Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. Four new combinations inComarostaphylis are also made:C. arbutoides subsp.costaricensis, C. discolor subsp.rupestris, C. polifolia subsp.minor, andC. spinulosa.Arctostaphylos glabrata, A. rupestris, andA. spinulosa are lectotypified and the status ofC. polifolia is discussed.     

A new catostemma (Bombacaceae) from Colombia

A new tree species from Colombia, closely resembling other members of the neotropical genusCatostemma in its large one-seeded fruits, is described and illustrated.Catostemma digitata has palmately compound leaves, previously unknown in mature individuals of this genus.     

A new Senecio (Compositae) from California

Senecio ganderi is described as new from San Diego County, California. It is referable to theAurei species-group and is distinguished by its orange-yellow corollas, cordate to subcordate basal leaves, and its restriction to chaparral and recently burned areas.     

A new BF variant (F025)

A rare variant of Factor B exhibiting a mobility intermediate between BF F and BF S was described. After comparison with the mobilities of BF F and F075, this variant was designated BF F025. The allele was transmitted together with C2*C, C4A*3, and C4B*1.     

A new Hibiscadelphus (Malvaceae) from Kauai

Hibiseadelphus distans is described. The validity of the generic concept is considered, a key to the species is provided, and the status of each species is discussed.