SignificanceAgricultural methane emissions must be decreased by 11 to 30% of the 2010 level by 2030 and by 24 to 47% by 2050 to meet the 1.5 °C target. We identified three strategies to decrease ...product-based methane emissions while increasing animal productivity and five strategies to decrease absolute methane emissions without reducing animal productivity. Globally, 100% adoption of the most effective product-based and absolute methane emission mitigation strategy can meet the 1.5 °C target by 2030 but not 2050, because mitigation effects are offset by projected increases in methane. On a regional level, Europe but not Africa may be able to meet their contribution to the 1.5 °C target, highlighting the different challenges faced by high- and middle- and low-income countries.
Benralizumab is an anti-eosinophilic monoclonal antibody that reduces exacerbations and improves lung function for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma with eosinophilic inflammation. We ...evaluated the impact of baseline factors on benralizumab efficacy for patients with severe asthma.This analysis used pooled data from the SIROCCO (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01928771) and CALIMA (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01914757) Phase III studies. Patients aged 12-75 years with severe, uncontrolled asthma receiving high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting β
-agonists received benralizumab 30 mg subcutaneously every 8 weeks (Q8W, first three doses every 4 weeks (Q4W)), Q4W or placebo. Baseline factors that influenced benralizumab efficacy were evaluated, including oral corticosteroid (OCS) use, nasal polyposis, pre-bronchodilator forced vital capacity (FVC), prior year exacerbations and age at diagnosis. Efficacy outcomes included annual exacerbation rate and change in pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s at treatment end relative to placebo.Benralizumab Q8W treatment effect was enhanced with each baseline factor for all patients and those with ≥300 eosinophils·μL
relative to the overall population. OCS use, nasal polyposis and FVC <65% of predicted were associated with greater benralizumab Q8W responsiveness for reduced exacerbation rate for patients with <300 eosinophils·μL
Baseline clinical factors and blood eosinophil counts can help identify patients potentially responsive to benralizumab.
Background Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are heterogeneous diseases. Objective We sought to determine, in terms of their sputum cellular and mediator profiles, the extent to ...which they represent distinct or overlapping conditions supporting either the “British” or “Dutch” hypotheses of airway disease pathogenesis. Methods We compared the clinical and physiological characteristics and sputum mediators between 86 subjects with severe asthma and 75 with moderate-to-severe COPD. Biological subgroups were determined using factor and cluster analyses on 18 sputum cytokines. The subgroups were validated on independent severe asthma (n = 166) and COPD (n = 58) cohorts. Two techniques were used to assign the validation subjects to subgroups: linear discriminant analysis, or the best identified discriminator (single cytokine) in combination with subject disease status (asthma or COPD). Results Discriminant analysis distinguished severe asthma from COPD completely using a combination of clinical and biological variables. Factor and cluster analyses of the sputum cytokine profiles revealed 3 biological clusters: cluster 1: asthma predominant, eosinophilic, high TH 2 cytokines; cluster 2: asthma and COPD overlap, neutrophilic; cluster 3: COPD predominant, mixed eosinophilic and neutrophilic. Validation subjects were classified into 3 subgroups using discriminant analysis, or disease status with a binary assessment of sputum IL-1β expression. Sputum cellular and cytokine profiles of the validation subgroups were similar to the subgroups from the test study. Conclusions Sputum cytokine profiling can determine distinct and overlapping groups of subjects with asthma and COPD, supporting both the British and Dutch hypotheses. These findings may contribute to improved patient classification to enable stratified medicine.
Pollinating species are in decline globally, with land use an important driver. However, most of the evidence on which these claims are made is patchy, based on studies with low taxonomic and ...geographic representativeness. Here, we model the effect of land-use type and intensity on global pollinator biodiversity, using a local-scale database covering 303 studies, 12,170 sites, and 4502 pollinating species. Relative to a primary vegetation baseline, we show that low levels of intensity can have beneficial effects on pollinator biodiversity. Within most anthropogenic land-use types however, increasing intensity is associated with significant reductions, particularly in urban (43% richness and 62% abundance reduction compared to the least intensive urban sites), and pasture (75% abundance reduction) areas. We further show that on cropland, the strongly negative response to intensity is restricted to tropical areas, and that the direction and magnitude of response differs among taxonomic groups. Our findings confirm widespread effects of land-use intensity on pollinators, most significantly in the tropics, where land use is predicted to change rapidly.
Most current research on land‐use intensification addresses its potential to either threaten biodiversity or to boost agricultural production. However, little is known about the simultaneous effects ...of intensification on biodiversity and yield. To determine the responses of species richness and yield to conventional intensification, we conducted a global meta‐analysis synthesizing 115 studies which collected data for both variables at the same locations. We extracted 449 cases that cover a variety of areas used for agricultural (crops, fodder) and silvicultural (wood) production. We found that, across all production systems and species groups, conventional intensification is successful in increasing yield (grand mean + 20.3%), but it also results in a loss of species richness (−8.9%). However, analysis of sub‐groups revealed inconsistent results. For example, small intensification steps within low intensity systems did not affect yield or species richness. Within high‐intensity systems species losses were non‐significant but yield gains were substantial (+15.2%). Conventional intensification within medium intensity systems revealed the highest yield increase (+84.9%) and showed the largest loss in species richness (−22.9%). Production systems differed in their magnitude of richness response, with insignificant changes in silvicultural systems and substantial losses in crop systems (−21.2%). In addition, this meta‐analysis identifies a lack of studies that collect robust biodiversity (i.e. beyond species richness) and yield data at the same sites and that provide quantitative information on land‐use intensity. Our findings suggest that, in many cases, conventional land‐use intensification drives a trade‐off between species richness and production. However, species richness losses were often not significantly different from zero, suggesting even conventional intensification can result in yield increases without coming at the expense of biodiversity loss. These results should guide future research to close existing research gaps and to understand the circumstances required to achieve such win‐win or win‐no‐harm situations in conventional agriculture.
To determine the responses of species richness and yield to conventional land‐use intensification, we conducted a global meta‐analysis. Across all production systems (food, fodder, wood), intensification increases yield (+20.3%), but also leads to a loss of species (−8.9%). Within low intensity systems, intensification did not affect yield or richness, while within medium intensity systems, the highest yield increase (+84.9%) and largest richness loss (−22.9%) were found. Conventional intensification often drives a trade‐off between richness and production. However, this meta‐analysis also highlights that—even conventional—intensification can result in yield increases without coming at the expense of biodiversity loss.
The 22 γ-Protocadherin (γ-Pcdh) cell adhesion molecules are critical for the elaboration of complex dendritic arbors in the cerebral cortex. Here, we provide evidence that the γ-Pcdhs negatively ...regulate synapse development by inhibiting the postsynaptic cell adhesion molecule, neuroligin-1 (Nlg1). Mice lacking all γ-Pcdhs in the forebrain exhibit significantly increased dendritic spine density in vivo, while spine density is significantly decreased in mice overexpressing one of the 22 γ-Pcdh isoforms. Co-expression of γ-Pcdhs inhibits the ability of Nlg1 to increase spine density and to induce presynaptic differentiation in hippocampal neurons in vitro. The γ-Pcdhs physically interact in cis with Nlg1 both in vitro and in vivo, and we present evidence that this disrupts Nlg1 binding to its presynaptic partner neurexin1β. Together with prior work, these data identify a mechanism through which γ-Pcdhs could coordinate dendrite arbor growth and complexity with spine maturation in the developing brain.
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•γ-Protocadherins (γ-Pcdhs) regulate dendritic spine morphogenesis in the cerebral cortex•γ-Pcdhs interact with neuroligin-1 (Nlg1) and inhibit its interaction with neurexin1β•γ-Pcdhs inhibit Nlg1’s ability to induce presynaptic differentiation in vitro•γ-Pcdhs inhibit Nlg1’s ability to increase dendritic spine density in vitro
Using conditional mutant and overexpression mouse lines, Molumby et al. demonstrate that γ-Protocadherins negatively regulate cortical dendritic spine morphogenesis in vivo. The γ-Protocadherins interact physically with neuroligin-1 and inhibit its ability to bind neurexin1β, to promote presynaptic differentiation, and to increase dendritic spine density in hippocampal neurons in vitro.
•PBP can be used as low-input and sustainable feeds for ruminant meat production.•Transport and processing of PBP are vital hotspots for gaining eco-benefits.•Some PBP contain bioactive compounds ...such as unsaturated FA and phytochemicals.•Feeding bioactive-rich PBP may decrease GHG emissions while improving meat quality.•PBP-based feeding strategies could positively impact global food security.
Ruminant meat production is associated with a large environmental cost compared to other livestock products. Feed production, transport, and utilisation play a major role in global food security and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production. Replacement of edible feed crops with human-inedible biomass in animal diets is a potential strategy that could reduce food-feed competition and mitigate the environmental impacts of livestock. Globally, plant by-products (PBP) represent an important human-inedible feed resource for livestock production. These waste streams can be obtained from agro-industrial processes such as distillery and biofuel production, oilseed processing, fruit and vegetable processing, sugar production, root and tuber processing, and herb, spice and tree processing. The microbial population in the forestomach (rumen) of ruminants allow PBP to be used effectively compared to monogastric livestock. Assessing and improving the utilisation of PBP may enhance the environmental sustainability of ruminant meat production without compromising the quality attributes and consumer acceptability of meat. Some PBP contain a considerable amount of residual bioactive compounds such as vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, and phytochemicals. Feeding innovations based on the utilisation of bioactive-rich PBP may reduce enteric methane and nitrogen emissions in ruminants while improving the nutritional composition and shelf-life quality of meat and meat products. This review examines the dual-impact of dietary PBP on environmental sustainability and meat quality attributes in ruminant production. In addition, the paper highlights the implications of this alternative feeding strategy on meat safety and the strategic interventions pertinent to its practical application for ruminant meat production.
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