Tracking the Elephant (Lexodonta Africana) Corridor and the Human-­‐Wildlife Conflict in Esilalei Village, A Continuation Study

Elephants are threatened and their habitat, wildlife corridors and overall space to roam is diminishing due to an increasing human population. As more and more space is being utilized for human development, it has begun to interfere with existing migratory corridors. This is a problem because elephants tend to destroy farmlands on their route, destroying villagers’ livelihoods, and also on occasion, may kill or hurt humans. As a result, there is a human elephant conflict. This study focused on human elephant conflict in Esilalei as well as GPS mapping evidence of elephant migration along the projected corridor between Lake Manyara National Park and Manyara Ranch, and from Tarangire National Park to Manyara Ranch, sometimes passing through Esilalei before traveling to the Losimangori Mountains. In the village of Esilalei, 40 interviews were conducted with Maasai warriors and babas. The findings of these interviews reflected an ongoing human elephant conflict, and the leading conflict that most villagers had with elephants was crop-­‐ raiding. Opportunistic interviews were also conducted during tracking with farmers, pastoralists, rangers and one key informant interview at Manyara Ranch. With the help of an expert, evidence of elephant presence was found and marked using a GPS to attempt to construct a corridor. Findings can conclude that elephants do travel to Manyara Ranch, both from Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. There was an abundance of evidence found leading from Manyara Ranch and Esilalei area to the Losimangori Mountains. Interviews confirmed that elephants travel outside of protected areas or National Parks during the rainy, or wet, season. The goal of our study is to complete mapping the corridor and find the direction of travel within the iv Tarangire-­‐Manyara ecosystem. In the future, we hope our findings will be of assistance to help conserve this migratory route and species, but more importantly, we hope our study can serve as a little piece in the much bigger puzzle that is: human elephant conflict

El rol de los actores sociales y sus implicancias en la configuración territorial de Moquehue

Moquehue es un pequeño asentamiento poblacional de montaña al oeste de la provincia del Neuquén, Argentina. Surge en la década del ́40, por el desarrollo de la ganadería y la forestación. A partir de estas actividades se inicia el poblamiento permanente de la zona y aparecen los primeros comercios, a fin de cubrir las nuevas demandas. La naturaleza dotó a la región de una belleza paisajística que es puesta en valor desde la década del ́70, cuando la población de localidades cercanas empieza a usufructuar turísticamente la región. Las tierras pertenecen al Estado Provincial pero desde 1984 están bajo el dominio de la Corporación Interestadual Pulmarí (CIP), ente que regula el uso de las mismas. En 1980 se incentiva la actividad turística con políticas estatales que llevan al crecimiento y expansión de las localidades de Villa Pehuenia y Moquehue, definiendo una nueva configuración territorial, en la que se destaca un rol activo de diferentes actores sociales. En la última década, este dinamismo se acentúa en Moquehue, sin regulación de la ocupación y en un área con escasa dotación de servicios. A partir de esta situación se plantea como objetivo el análisis de las transformaciones territoriales impulsadas por distintos actores sociales, que definen los usos actuales del suelo y sus consecuencias ambientales, considerando el rol del gobierno municipal y provincial en dichas transformaciones. El trabajo plantea recopilación de información, entrevistas y relevamiento de campo de las nuevas ocupaciones del área y su digitalización. Se reconocen cuatro actores sociales relevantes en el desarrollo y crecimiento de Moquehue, vinculados especialmente a la actividad turística: el municipio que define loteos para uso residencial permanente y de servicios; actores privados que incrementan la oferta de alojamientos, pobladores locales históricos que subdividen y venden las tierras de manera irregular, y nuevos actores que se instalan en la zona con residencia permanente, vinculados a otras actividades y eligen además este lugar por sus valores ambientales. Como resultado se identifican zonas con distinto tipo de transformación en las que dichos actores tienen un rol decisivo otorgando características y dinámicas diferentes a cada una. Se puede concluir que el desarrollo del turismo en la región ha impulsado la expansión de Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, pero no ha estado acompañada de políticas de gestión y ordenamiento orientadas a preservar el ambiente. La superposición de jurisdicciones y tenencia de las tierras ha dificultado el control y regulación del crecimiento urbano y los usos del suelo. Producto de ello se evidencia además, una falta de infraestructura y dotación de servicios básicos que tiendan a mejorar la calidad de vida de la población, y respondan al crecimiento sostenido y demandas turísticas.Fil: Torrens, Celia Viviana. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Humanidades. Departamento de Geografía; Argentina.Fil: Jurio, Elsie Marcela. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Humanidades. Departamento de Geografía; Argentina.Fil: Cappelletti, Vanesa Yanina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Humanidades. Departamento de Geografía; Argentina

The clinical use of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enumeration for staging of metastatic breast cancer (MBC): International expert consensus paper

BACKGROUND: The heterogeneity of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) necessitates novel biomarkers allowing stratification of patients for treatment selection and drug development. We propose to use the prognostic utility of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for stratification of patients with stage IV disease. METHODS: In a retrospective, pooled analysis of individual patient data from 18 cohorts, including 2436 MBC patients, a CTC threshold of 5 cells per 7.5\u2009ml was used for stratification based on molecular subtypes, disease location, and prior treatments. Patients with 65 5 CTCs were classified as Stage IVaggressive, those with < 5 CTCs as Stage IVindolent. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log rank test. RESULTS: For all patients, Stage IVindolent patients had longer median overall survival than those with Stage IVaggressive (36.3 months vs. 16.0 months, P\u2009<\u20090.0001) and similarly for de novo MBC patients (41.4 months Stage IVindolent vs. 18.7 months Stage IVaggressive, p\u2009<\u20090.0001). Moreover, patients with Stage IVindolent disease had significantly longer overall survival across all disease subtypes compared to the aggressive cohort: hormone receptor-positive (44 months vs. 17.3 months, P\u2009<\u20090.0001), HER2-positive (36.7 months vs. 20.4 months, P\u2009<\u20090.0001), and triple negative (23.8 months vs. 9.0 months, P\u2009<\u20090.0001). Similar results were obtained regardless of prior treatment or disease location. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the identification of two subgroups of MBC, Stage IVindolent and Stage IVaggressive, independent of clinical and molecular variables. Thus, CTC count should be considered an important tool for staging of advanced disease and for disease stratification in prospective clinical trials

Exploring new grounds: Arboreal sugar gliders frequently observed spending time on the ground as seen on camera traps

We provide the first quantitative evidence of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) being detected by ground-based camera traps. We speculate that this may represent occasional movement or foraging on the ground, which has not been fully appreciated previously

El rol de los actores sociales y sus implicancias en la configuración territorial de Moquehue, Neuquén, Argentina

Moquehue is a small mountain settlement located in Aluminé department, Neuquén, Argentina. It aroses in the 40's, as a product of the development of cattle raising and forestation. Since these activities began, the permanent settlement and first commercial activities appeared, in order to cover the new demands. Nature has given the region a beautiful landscape that acquires value since the 70's, when the population of nearby localities began to usufruct tourism in the region. Even though the lands belong to the Provincial State, since 1984 they are under the control of the Pulmarí Interstate Corporation (PIC), which regulates their use.In 1980, tourism was stimulated by state politics that lead to the growth and expansion of Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue, defining a new territorial configuration, in which different social actors have an active role. In the last decade, this dynamism was accentuated in Moquehue, a zone without regulation of the occupation and in an area with limited provision of services. The objective of this paper was the analysis of territorial transformations promoted by social actors that established the current uses of the land and its environmental consequences, considering the role of municipal and provincial government in these transformations.Research includes compilation of information, interviews and field survey of new occupations. This information was digitized. Four relevant social actors are recognized in the development and growth of Moquehue, linked especially to tourism activity: the municipality, that defines parcels for permanent residential use and services; private actors, that increase accommodation supply; historical local people who subdivide and sell land irregularly, and new actors who settle in the area with permanent residence, linked to other activities that made them choose this place because of its environmental values. As a result, zones with different types of transformation are identified, in which these actors have a decisive role giving different characteristics and dynamics to each one.It can be concluded that the development of tourism in this region has promoted the expansion of Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, however it has not been accompanied by management and ordering politics aimed in order to preserve the environment. Overlapping jurisdictions and land tenure have placed difficulties in control and regulation of urban growth and land use. This is also evidenced by the lack of infrastructure and provision of basic services in order to improve the life quality of the population, and respond to sustained growth and tourism demands.Moquehue es un pequeño asentamiento poblacional de montaña al oeste de laprovincia del Neuquén, Argentina. Surge en la década del ́40, por el desarrollo de la ganadería y la forestación. A partir de estas actividades se inicia el poblamiento permanente de la zona y aparecen los primeros comercios, a fin de cubrir las nuevas demandas. La naturaleza dotó a la región de una belleza paisajística que es puesta en valor desde la década del ́70, cuando la población de localidades cercanas empieza a usufructuar turísticamente la región. Las tierras pertenecen al Estado Provincial pero desde 1984 están bajo el dominio de la Corporación Interestadual Pulmarí (CIP), ente que regula el uso de las mismas.En 1980 se incentiva la actividad turística con políticas estatales que llevan al crecimiento y expansión de las localidades de Villa Pehuenia y Moquehue, definiendo una nueva configuración territorial, en la que se destaca un rol activo de diferentes actores sociales. En la última década, este dinamismo se acentúa en Moquehue, sin regulación de la ocupación y en un área con escasa dotación de servicios. A partir de esta situación se plantea como objetivo el análisis de las transformaciones territoriales impulsadas por distintos actores sociales, que definen los usos actuales del suelo y sus consecuencias ambientales, considerando el rol del gobierno municipal y provincial en dichas transformaciones.El trabajo plantea recopilación de información, entrevistas y relevamiento decampo de las nuevas ocupaciones del área y su digitalización.Se reconocen cuatro actores sociales relevantes en el desarrollo y crecimientode Moquehue, vinculados especialmente a la actividad turística: el municipio quedefine loteos para uso residencial permanente y de servicios; actores privados queincrementan la oferta de alojamientos, pobladores locales históricos que subdivideny venden las tierras de manera irregular, y nuevos actores que se instalan en la zona con residencia permanente, vinculados a otras actividades y eligen además este lugar por sus valores ambientales. Como resultado se identifican zonas con distinto tipo de transformación en las que dichos actores tienen un rol decisivo otorgando características y dinámicas diferentes a cada una.Se puede concluir que el desarrollo del turismo en la región ha impulsado la expansión de Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, pero no ha estado acompañada de políticas de gestión y ordenamiento orientadas a preservar el ambiente. La superposición de jurisdicciones y tenencia de las tierras ha dificultado el control y regulación del crecimiento urbano y los usos del suelo. Producto de ello se evidencia además, una falta de infraestructura y dotación de servicios básicos que tiendan a mejorar la calidad de vida de la población, y respondan al crecimiento sostenido y demandas turísticas

EL ROL DE LOS ACTORES SOCIALES EN LA CONFIGURACIÓN TERRITORIAL DE MOQUEHUE

Moquehue is a small mountain settlement located in Aluminé department, Neuquén, Argentina. It aroses in the 40's, as a product of the development of cattle raising and forestation. Since these activities began, the permanent settlement and first commercial activities appeared, in order to cover the new demands. Nature has given the region a beautiful landscape that acquires value since the 70's, when the population of nearby localities began to usufruct tourism in the region. Even though the lands belong to the Provincial State, since 1984 they are under the control of the Pulmarí Interstate Corporation (PIC), which regulates their use. In 1980, tourism was stimulated by state politics that lead to the growth and expansion of Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue, defining a new territorial configuration, in which different social actors have an active role. In the last decade, this dynamism was accentuated in Moquehue, a zone without regulation of the occupation and in an area with limited provision of services. The objective of this paper was the analysis of territorial transformations promoted by social actors that established the current uses of the land and its environmental consequences, considering the role of municipal and provincial government in these transformations. Research includes compilation of information, interviews and field survey of new occupations. This information was digitized. Four relevant social actors are recognized in the development and growth of Moquehue, linked especially to tourism activity: the municipality, that defines parcels for permanent residential use and services; private actors, that increase accommodation supply; historical local people who subdivide and sell land irregularly, and new actors who settle in the area with permanent residence, linked to other activities that made them choose this place because of its environmental values. As a result, zones with different types of transformation are identified, in which these actors have a decisive role giving different characteristics and dynamics to each one. It can be concluded that the development of tourism in this region has promoted the expansion of Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, however it has not been accompanied by management and ordering politics aimed in order to preserve the environment. Overlapping jurisdictions and land tenure have placed difficulties in control and regulation of urban growth and land use. This is also evidenced by the lack of infrastructure and provision of basic services in order to improve the life quality of the population, and respond to sustained growth and tourism demands

El rol de los actores sociales y sus implicancias en la configuración territorial de Moquehue, Neuquén, Argentina

Moquehue is a small mountain settlement located in Aluminé department, Neuquén, Argentina. It aroses in the 40's, as a product of the development of cattle raising and forestation. Since these activities began, the permanent settlement and first commercial activities appeared, in order to cover the new demands. Nature has given the region a beautiful landscape that acquires value since the 70's, when the population of nearby localities began to usufruct tourism in the region. Even though the lands belong to the Provincial State, since 1984 they are under the control of the Pulmarí Interstate Corporation (PIC), which regulates their use.In 1980, tourism was stimulated by state politics that lead to the growth and expansion of Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue, defining a new territorial configuration, in which different social actors have an active role. In the last decade, this dynamism was accentuated in Moquehue, a zone without regulation of the occupation and in an area with limited provision of services. The objective of this paper was the analysis of territorial transformations promoted by social actors that established the current uses of the land and its environmental consequences, considering the role of municipal and provincial government in these transformations.Research includes compilation of information, interviews and field survey of new occupations. This information was digitized. Four relevant social actors are recognized in the development and growth of Moquehue, linked especially to tourism activity: the municipality, that defines parcels for permanent residential use and services; private actors, that increase accommodation supply; historical local people who subdivide and sell land irregularly, and new actors who settle in the area with permanent residence, linked to other activities that made them choose this place because of its environmental values. As a result, zones with different types of transformation are identified, in which these actors have a decisive role giving different characteristics and dynamics to each one.It can be concluded that the development of tourism in this region has promoted the expansion of Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, however it has not been accompanied by management and ordering politics aimed in order to preserve the environment. Overlapping jurisdictions and land tenure have placed difficulties in control and regulation of urban growth and land use. This is also evidenced by the lack of infrastructure and provision of basic services in order to improve the life quality of the population, and respond to sustained growth and tourism demands.Moquehue es un pequeño asentamiento poblacional de montaña al oeste de laprovincia del Neuquén, Argentina. Surge en la década del ́40, por el desarrollo de la ganadería y la forestación. A partir de estas actividades se inicia el poblamiento permanente de la zona y aparecen los primeros comercios, a fin de cubrir las nuevas demandas. La naturaleza dotó a la región de una belleza paisajística que es puesta en valor desde la década del ́70, cuando la población de localidades cercanas empieza a usufructuar turísticamente la región. Las tierras pertenecen al Estado Provincial pero desde 1984 están bajo el dominio de la Corporación Interestadual Pulmarí (CIP), ente que regula el uso de las mismas.En 1980 se incentiva la actividad turística con políticas estatales que llevan al crecimiento y expansión de las localidades de Villa Pehuenia y Moquehue, definiendo una nueva configuración territorial, en la que se destaca un rol activo de diferentes actores sociales. En la última década, este dinamismo se acentúa en Moquehue, sin regulación de la ocupación y en un área con escasa dotación de servicios. A partir de esta situación se plantea como objetivo el análisis de las transformaciones territoriales impulsadas por distintos actores sociales, que definen los usos actuales del suelo y sus consecuencias ambientales, considerando el rol del gobierno municipal y provincial en dichas transformaciones.El trabajo plantea recopilación de información, entrevistas y relevamiento decampo de las nuevas ocupaciones del área y su digitalización.Se reconocen cuatro actores sociales relevantes en el desarrollo y crecimientode Moquehue, vinculados especialmente a la actividad turística: el municipio quedefine loteos para uso residencial permanente y de servicios; actores privados queincrementan la oferta de alojamientos, pobladores locales históricos que subdivideny venden las tierras de manera irregular, y nuevos actores que se instalan en la zona con residencia permanente, vinculados a otras actividades y eligen además este lugar por sus valores ambientales. Como resultado se identifican zonas con distinto tipo de transformación en las que dichos actores tienen un rol decisivo otorgando características y dinámicas diferentes a cada una.Se puede concluir que el desarrollo del turismo en la región ha impulsado la expansión de Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, pero no ha estado acompañada de políticas de gestión y ordenamiento orientadas a preservar el ambiente. La superposición de jurisdicciones y tenencia de las tierras ha dificultado el control y regulación del crecimiento urbano y los usos del suelo. Producto de ello se evidencia además, una falta de infraestructura y dotación de servicios básicos que tiendan a mejorar la calidad de vida de la población, y respondan al crecimiento sostenido y demandas turísticas

Circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: We conducted a meta-analysis in nonmetastatic breast cancer patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) to assess the clinical validity of circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection as a prognostic marker. METHODS: We collected individual patient data from 21 studies in which CTC detection by CellSearch was performed in early breast cancer patients treated with NCT. The primary end point was overall survival, analyzed according to CTC detection, using Cox regression models stratified by study. Secondary end points included distant disease-free survival, locoregional relapse-free interval, and pathological complete response. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Data from patients were collected before NCT (n = 1574) and before surgery (n = 1200). CTC detection revealed one or more CTCs in 25.2% of patients before NCT; this was associated with tumor size (P < .001). The number of CTCs detected had a detrimental and decremental impact on overall survival (P < .001), distant disease-free survival (P < .001), and locoregional relapse-free interval (P < .001), but not on pathological complete response. Patients with one, two, three to four, and five or more CTCs before NCT displayed hazard ratios of death of 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65 to 1.69), 2.63 (95% CI = 1.42 to 4.54), 3.83 (95% CI = 2.08 to 6.66), and 6.25 (95% CI = 4.34 to 9.09), respectively. In 861 patients with full data available, adding CTC detection before NCT increased the prognostic ability of multivariable prognostic models for overall survival (P < .001), distant disease-free survival (P < .001), and locoregional relapse-free interval (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: CTC count is an independent and quantitative prognostic factor in early breast cancer patients treated by NCT. It complements current prognostic models based on tumor characteristics and response to therapy