Bladder cancer is lethal in its advanced, muscle-invasive phase with very limited therapeutic advances
. Recent molecular characterization has defined new (epi)genetic drivers and potential targets ...for bladder cancer
. The immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown remarkable efficacy but only in a limited fraction of bladder cancer patients
. Here, we show that high G9a (EHMT2) expression is associated with poor clinical outcome in bladder cancer and that targeting G9a/DNMT methyltransferase activity with a novel inhibitor (CM-272) induces apoptosis and immunogenic cell death. Using an immunocompetent quadruple-knockout (Pten
; Trp53
; Rb1
; Rbl1
) transgenic mouse model of aggressive metastatic, muscle-invasive bladder cancer, we demonstrate that CM-272 + cisplatin treatment results in statistically significant regression of established tumors and metastases. The antitumor effect is significantly improved when CM-272 is combined with anti-programmed cell death ligand 1, even in the absence of cisplatin. These effects are associated with an endogenous antitumor immune response and immunogenic cell death with the conversion of a cold immune tumor into a hot tumor. Finally, increased G9a expression was associated with resistance to programmed cell death protein 1 inhibition in a cohort of patients with bladder cancer. In summary, these findings support new and promising opportunities for the treatment of bladder cancer using a combination of epigenetic inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockade.
Context
Connectivity is a parameter that plays a fundamental role in highly fragmented ecosystems, such as the seasonal tropical dry forest.
Objectives
The objective of this research is to calculate ...the evolution of fragmentation and the functional connectivity of the Ecuadorian seasonal dry forest from 1990 to 2018, and to compare the Ecuadorian state's reforestation plan with our reforestation plan, which is based on maximising connectivity with the smallest possible reforested area.
Methods
The land cover changes, fragmentation and functional connectivity, measured by employing cumulative cost analyses at three different distances (0.5, 5 and 10 km), that occurred in Ecuadorian seasonal dry forests between 1990 and 2018 were verified using GIS environments, vector layers and Graphab software. A reforestation plan was also developed using various connectivity metrics and was then compared with that proposed by the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment.
Results
Between 1990 and 2018, 2647 km2 of dry forest was lost in the study area. Former forest areas were put mainly to agricultural uses, which increased by 12.96%. The total number of patches decreased from 6908 to 5357, signifying a loss of 30% of the forest area and leading to losses of up to 75% of connectivity. Areas with low connectivity and a risk of disappearance were identified, and a new reforestation plan was proposed, which was based on maximising connectivity with small patches.
Conclusions
Because of the fragmentation, the connectivity of the seasonal dry forest in Ecuador is dramatically decreasing in the last decades. Therefore, the reforestation plans should prioritise areas whose reforestation increases habitat functional connectivity, which could provide more benefits than increasing the forest area without considering the global connectivity.
The Ecuadorian dry forest in the last 28 years has been deforested (mainly for agriculture), fragmented and has lost connectivity at worrying levels. Large patches have been fragmented and small patches and other types of forest that are essential for connectivity have been deforested. A reforestation plan was prepared to maximise connectivity with the smallest area possible.
RESUMEN El objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar un análisis descriptivo y explicativo del número de artículos publicados por los países de América Latina y el Caribe en Scopus dentro de las ...categorías Agricultura y Ciencias Biológicas, y Veterinaria para el período 1996-2016. Los países con más artículos publicados fueron Brasil, México, Argentina y Chile; sin embargo, Uruguay fue el país con más artículos publicados por cada millón de habitantes. Se obtuvo una relación positiva entre el número de artículos publicados por millón de habitantes en cada país y su renta per cápita, el porcentaje del producto interno bruto (PIB) destinado a investigación y desarrollo (I+D) y el número de investigadores por millón de habitantes. Además, los países con mayor porcentaje de población rural y donde la agricultura aporta más al PIB tuvieron menos producción científica, debido a que ambas variables están negativa mente relacionadas con la renta per cápita. Por lo tanto, se concluye que los países con más artículos en esta área de conocimiento son aquellos con mayores recursos económicos, y no aquellos donde las actividades agropecuarias tienen mayor importancia.
As the second largest cause of biodiversity loss worldwide, there is an urgent need to study the dynamics of biological invasions and identify factors limiting the distribution of invasive alien ...species. In the present study we analyze national-scale hunting bag data from Germany to predict the dispersal of raccoons in the largest non-native population of the species. Our focus is (1) to document changes in the distribution and abundance of raccoons, (2) to identify the species–environment relationship and predict which areas will be suitable for future colonization and (3) to apply a dispersal model to predict how fast the raccoon will spread to these areas. The increase from about 9000 harvested raccoons in 2000/01 to about 71,000 in 2011/12 reflects the extensive amount of suitable habitat for this omnivorous species in Central Europe. The best model for explaining range expansion in Germany identified coverage of agriculture and fragmentation and coverage of forests as the most important explanatory variables. The range of raccoons (area with harvest index >0.1 per 100 ha) increased from 26,515 km² in 2001 to 111,630 km² in 2011, and is predicted to expand to 252,940 km² by 2061, 71 % of the area of Germany. This vast area encompasses strategically important areas for conservation biology, such as wetlands with endangered native terrapins. The combination of merging of separated introduced populations and accelerating population growth highlights the potential for future impacts of raccoons on native communities, ecosystems and economic life in Germany and Central Europe.
El tráfico ilegal de vida silvestre tiene repercusiones negativas en la conservación de la biodiversidad a nivel global y también local. Por ello, el establecimiento de medidas oportunas de ...conservación requiere de estudios locales que cuantifiquen dicho problema. El objetivo de este trabajo fue cuantificar y caracterizar las especies de aves y mamíferos incautadas en el periodo 2016-2017, en el Centro de Rescate y Refugio de Vida Silvestre Valle Alto (Manabí, Ecuador). El estudio mostró que 212 ejemplares pertenecientes a 41 especies diferentes fueron confiscados. Se decomisaron más aves que mamíferos y una mayor proporción de aves estaban incluidas en alguna categoría de amenaza a nivel nacional e internacional. Se encontró una clara preferencia por primates, loros y ardillas. Además, la presencia de especies con un rango de distribución fuera del área de estudio reveló la existencia del transporte de especies desde otras zonas del país. Si bien estos datos son solo una muestra de lo que realmente se trafica en el país, dan una aproximación del tipo de especies que se trafican ilegalmente en este hotspot de biodiversidad.
Este artículo revisa la inclusión social de la mujer en el fortalecimiento y eficiencia de la cadena de valor del maíz en Ecuador. Para cumplir este propósito se analiza las limitaciones y ...oportunidades de la mujer en la gestión administrativa, procesos de producción y otras actividades, y como incide en el desempeño de la cadena de valor del maíz. Utilizando los resultados de las encuestas aplicadas a setenta y un mujeres agricultoras, comerciantes agrícolas, procesadoras de alimentos, emprendedoras y/o amas de casa—, se estima un modelo Logit para evaluar la incidencia de las características sociales y económicas de las mujeres de la región en la cadena de valor del maíz. Los resultados permiten evidenciar que la participación de la mujer en actividades relacionadas con el maíz han mejorado la posición social, el empoderamiento y la participación comunitaria, a pesar de la mayor participación de los hombres en todos los nodos de la cadena, a la vez que han generado una mejora en la cadena de valor.
Farmers´ situation aligns macro objectives, conditions and their own daily living activities.
Variables interact in different scenarios developed by hard-corn growers in Manabí-Ecuador; variables ...have an effect on the country´s productive development. This work started from the application of a multivariate model, which was based on a multipurpose study. This generated an interrelated conglomerates concerning social, economic, political, productive and environmental variables. A high grouping similarity was presented in results, both in observation techniques and between the analyzed variables. The high impact of influential variables, especially those related to economic and to productive variables was demonstrated. Productive variable includes planting time, planting area and irrigation water availability. The economic variable includes annual invoicing and employee number. Observation diversity is affected by shorter distances for social, political and environmental variables related to decision-taking; a positive impact is generated by hard-corn growers.
La situación de los agricultores alinea objetivos macro, condiciones y actividades propias en su diario convivir; las variables interactúan en los diferentes escenarios que desarrollan los productores de maíz duro en Manabí-Ecuador, teniendo un efecto en el desarrollo productivo del país. Este trabajo se realizó a partir de la aplicación del modelo multivariante basado en un estudio multipropósito, obteniéndose conglomerados interrelacionados de las variables sociales, económicas, políticas, productivas y ambientales. Los resultados presentan una alta similitud de agrupamiento tanto en las observaciones y entre variables, demostrando el alto impacto que tienen las variables influyentes, especialmente las relacionadas a la producción (época de siembra, superficie de siembra, disponibilidad de agua de riego) y económicas (facturación anual, cantidad de empleados), en tanto la diversidad en las observaciones están afectadas con menores distancias, para las variables relacionadas en la toma de decisiones, sociales, políticas y ambientales generando un impacto positivo en los productores.
Super high-density olive groves (>800 trees ha−1) are rapidly expanding in olive oil producer countries, which entails a strong modification of the olive growing system with important agronomic, ...economic, sociocultural, and environmental consequences. Among them, the latter is particularly unknown. The aim of this paper is to bring the attention on the environmental impacts of super high-density olive groves, by systematically reviewing the current evidence and identifying knowledge gaps yet to be filled. As a result, we can argue that new super high-density olive plantations reduce habitat heterogeneity and complexity, and the younger trees of these plantations impoverish habitat quality for farmland biodiversity. In addition, the high input use (e.g. phytosanitary treatments, fertilisers and water supply) may entail ecological impacts as well. Therefore, we conclude that i) new highly intensive olive groves should be limited to areas with lower ecological value; ii) consumers should have more information concerning how is produced the olive oil they buy, including the environmental impacts produced; iii) agricultural policies should be reformulated following the provider-gets principle; iv) input use (fertilisers, pesticides, water, etc.) should be gradually optimised to reduce the environmental impact; and finally, v) more research is necessary to foster decisions based on science.
Display omitted
PDF
