Whole-genome sequencing of chronic lymphocytic leukemia identifies subgroups with distinct biological and clinical features

The value of genome-wide over targeted driver analyses for predicting clinical outcomes of cancer patients is debated. Here, we report the whole-genome sequencing of 485 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients enrolled in clinical trials as part of the United Kingdom’s 100,000 Genomes Project. We identify an extended catalog of recurrent coding and noncoding genetic mutations that represents a source for future studies and provide the most complete high-resolution map of structural variants, copy number changes and global genome features including telomere length, mutational signatures and genomic complexity. We demonstrate the relationship of these features with clinical outcome and show that integration of 186 distinct recurrent genomic alterations defines five genomic subgroups that associate with response to therapy, refining conventional outcome prediction. While requiring independent validation, our findings highlight the potential of whole-genome sequencing to inform future risk stratification in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Making water policy work in the United Kingdom: A case study of practical approaches to strengthening complex, multi-tiered systems of water governance

We propose a suite of actions for strengthening water governance in contexts with complex, multi-tiered arrangements. In doing so, we focus on the collective water policies and approaches of the United Kingdom (UK), including those of devolved governments, which confront a host of serious water-related challenges—from massive flooding of urban areas and agricultural lands, to pressure on aquifers from rising water demand and drought. Further complexity in addressing these challenges has emerged in the wake of the June 2016 vote to leave the European Union (EU), so-called ‘Brexit’, and the ensuing ‘separation process’ with uncertainties for institutional and governance arrangements to follow. We make ten proposals for improving and reinvigorating water policy in complex, multi-layered situations, and comment specifically on their application in the UK setting. These are: put in place a system-wide water policy; fully embrace community-led nested river basin planning and management; fully fund river basin planning and management; re-focus the policy framing; use best-available data and information; create conversational spaces and become a more water-literate society; mobilise people; support and sustain core community networks; underpin river basin plans with regulatory provisions and effective monitoring and enforcement; and address systemic institutional amnesia. Individually and collectively, we contend that these actions will have a marked effect on transforming the planning and management of water resources. A system-wide water policy that maintains and builds on the substantive biophysical and socio-economic benefits delivered through implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, together with the more recent Floods Directive, will galvanise stewardship of water in the UK. We urge more active engagement with and empowerment of the multiplicity of system ‘actors’, and highlight the role of non-government actors in a post-Brexit world as conduits for reaching out to and connecting directly with a wide range of water-related actors, especially across the EU. While attention to-date has focused on a plethora of specifically water-related projects, initiatives, plans and regulations, what is really needed is a systemic, long-term view of water resource management

Alterações morfológicas e alocação de biomassa em plantas jovens de espécies florestais sob diferentes condições de sombreamento Morphologic alterations and biomass allocation in young plants of forestry species under different conditions of shading

A seleção de espécies nativas e/ou exóticas para recuperação de ambientes degradados ou alterados pode ser baseada no potencial de aclimatação das espécies a diferentes níveis de luminosidade. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do sombreamento (0%, 30% e 50% de interceptação da radiação solar incidente) no crescimento, na alocação de biomassa e nos teores de clorofila total de plantas jovens de quatro espécies florestais de diferentes grupos ecológicos: Maclura tinctoria (L.) D. Don ex Steud. (moreira), Senna macranthera (Collad.) Irwin et Barn. (fedegoso), Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. (jatobá) e Acacia mangium Willd. (acácia). Os maiores teores de clorofila total foram observados em condições sombreadas, para todas as espécies. A espécie clímax exigente em luz (moreira), apresentou os maiores resultados de crescimento. Em condições de pleno sol, a espécie pioneira (acácia) alocou mais biomassa em folhas enquanto que a espécie clímax exigente em luz (moreira) produziu mais raízes. Estas observações evidenciam o potencial de aclimatação a diferentes condições de disponibilidade de irradiação, que deve ser considerado em programas de recuperação de ambientes degradados e manejo de áreas naturais.<br>The selection of native and/or exotic species for recovery of degraded or perturbed environment can be associated with the acclimatation potential of species in different conditions of shading. In this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of shading (0%, 30% and 50% of interception of the incident solar radiation) on growth, biomass allocation and chlorophyll levels in young plants of forestry species from different ecological groups: Maclura tinctoria (L.) D. Don ex Steud. (moreira), Senna macranthera (Collad.) Irwin et Barn. (fedegoso), Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. (jatobá) e Acacia mangium Willd. (acácia). The results obtained showed that the higher chlorophyll levels were observed in shaded conditions for all species. The climax lighting demanding specie (moreira) showed the highest growth. In sunny conditions, the pioneer species (acacia) produced more leaves while the climax light demanding species (moreira) produced more roots. These observations indicated that these species are capable of acclimation to different conditions of radiation availability, a result that should be considered in regeneration programs of degraded environment and management of natural areas

Crescimento inicial de plantas de Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. submetidas a níveis de radiação solar Early growth of plants of Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. submitted to radiation solar levels

O plantio de essências nativas, seja com finalidade econômica ou conservacionista, requer uma série de cuidados que dependem do conhecimento prévio de suas características fisiológicas e exigências ecológicas nas diversas etapas de seu ciclo vital. O estudo do crescimento e desenvolvimento de uma planta, em diferentes condições ambientais, oferece ao pesquisador bom indício sobre quais as melhores condições para se cultivar determinada espécie. Objetivou-se avaliar o crescimento inicial e as concentrações de clorofilas em plantas jovens de Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. (Canela-Batalha), submetidas a níveis de redução da radiação solar: 0% (Pleno Sol), 30%, 50% e 70%. Os resultados demonstram que o teor de clorofila total foi maior nas plantas cultivadas em 70% de sombreamento, o mesmo ocorrendo com a razão clorofila a/b. A maior altura foi apresentada pelas plantas cultivadas em 50% de sombreamento. Do ponto de vista de acúmulo de matéria seca total e matéria seca de raízes, a melhor performance foi observada nas plantas em 30% de sombreamento e o maior acúmulo de matéria seca de folhas verificado nas plantas cultivadas em 30 e 50% de sombreamento. Conclui-se que as melhores condições de cultivo para mudas de Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. (Canela-Batalha) foram os níveis de 30 e 50% de redução da radiação solar incidente.<br>The cultivation of native essences with economical or conservacionist purpose needs a serie of cares that need some previous knowledgment of the physiological and ecologic characteristics of the diverses phases of the life cycle. The study of the growth and development of a plant under different environmental conditions offers to the researcher a good clue on which the best conditions to grow a particular species. It was aimed at to evaluate the initial growth and the concentration of chlorophylls in young plants of Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. (Canela-Batalha) submitted to levels of reduction of solar radiation: 0% (full sunlight), or 30, or 50 or 70%. The results demonstrate that the concentration of total chlorophyll was larger in the plants grown under 70% of shading, the same happened with the ratio of chlorophyll a/b. The greatest plant height was observed in the plants grown in 50% of shading. From the standpoint of total biomass accumulated and root dry matter, the best performance was observed in the plants under 30% of shading and the higher leaves dry matter accumulation was verified in the plants grown under 30 and 50% shading. It is ended that the best ones growing conditions for seedlings of Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. (Canela-Batalha) were the levels of 30 and 50% of reduction of the incident solar radiation