Angiogenesis inhibitors in clinical development; where are we now and where are we going?

Angiogenesis is crucial for tumour growth and the formation of metastases. Various classes of angiogenesis inhibitors that are each able to inhibit one of the various steps of this complex process can be distinguished. Results from clinical studies with these agents are summarised. In general, it has been shown that most angiogenesis inhibitors can be safely administered, but that tumour regressions are rare. Combining angiogenesis inhibitors with cytotoxic chemotherapy can enhance anticancer activity. Recently, some promising data with regard to clinical efficacy have been presented. While performing clinical studies with angiogenesis inhibitors, defining biological activity is crucial, but thus far no validated techniques are available. It is conceivable that in the near future various classes of angiogenesis inhibitors will be combined in an attempt to further improve antiangiogenic and anticancer activity

Technical and economic evaluation of different types of control of Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in citrus leprosies management

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of acaricide applications and pruning of symptomatic branches in citrus leprosis management in Brazil. It was conducted in an orange plantation of the 'Pera' variety, grafted onto the 'Cleopatra' tangerine, in two seasons (2006-2007 and 2007-2008). The experimental design was randomized blocks in a factorial scheme consisting of the following factors: (A) acaricide, in three levels: spirodiclofen and cyhexatin applied in rotation, lime sulphur; no acaricides; (B) pruning to remove branches that showed symptoms of leprosis, with two levels: with pruning, without pruning. We carried out periodic assessments of Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) populations (vector of the leprosis virus), leprosis incidence and severity, fruit yield, and the economic feasibility of the applied strategies. Based on the results, we concluded that spirodiclofen and cyhexatin were more effective than lime sulphur in B. phoenicis control. Control with lime sulphur required more applications than spirodiclofen and cyhexatin in rotation, making it more expensive. Pruning of symptomatic branches used in isolation was not sufficiently effective to control leprosis and significantly increased control costs. Profits were higher when the control involved sprayings of spirodiclofen and cyhexatin in alternation, with or without pruning

Live nearby, be different, work apart? Some learnings from action spaces discrepancies in Santiago de Chile

International audienceThis article examines macro-level contextual parameters and individual-based factors deemed in the literature to directly influence individuals’ daily mobility practices. It considers urban structure, place of residence, situation in the social hierarchy, and position in the life course. Taking its inspiration from approaches highlighting segregation at destination place and studies focusing on mobility biographies, it enquires whether systematic discrepancies may be detected between the places frequented for work or study on a daily basis by groups of individuals residing in the same neighborhood. It also looks at whether home location (in a central area, inner suburb, or outskirt) influences how action spaces are configured. The analysis relies on a three-phase integrated method. First, a typology of individuals is assembled so as to put together homogenous socio-demographic groups. Second, the action spaces of these groups are calculated and mapped. Third, the significance of spatial differences in action spaces is assessed using a bivariate colocation test, hitherto used primarily in spatial epidemiology. This three-phase method is applied to data collected in Santiago de Chile during a survey of 1000 households, designed to capture spatial mobility from a biographical perspective.En este artículo se examina un conjunto de parámetros contextuales y factores individuales que aparecen en la bibliografía como los que influyen directamente en las prácticas cotidianas de movilidad de los individuos. Considera la estructura urbana, el lugar de residencia, la posición de los individuos en la jerarquía social y el ciclo de vida. Basándose en enfoques que ponen de relieve la segregación en el lugar de destino y en estudios sobre la movilidad desde una perspectiva biográfica, trata de ver si se pueden detectar discrepancias sistemáticas entre los lugares frecuentados diariamente para el trabajo o el estudio por grupos de personas que viven en el mismo barrio. También trata de determinar si la ubicación de la vivienda (en una zona central, un suburbio cercano o una periferia) influye en la configuración de los espacios de acción. El análisis se basa en un método de tres fases. En primer lugar, se establece una tipología de individuos para formar grupos sociodemográficos homogéneos. Luego se calculan y cartografían los espacios de acción de estos grupos. En tercer lugar, la importancia de las diferencias espaciales entre los espacios de acción se evalúa mediante una prueba de colocación bivariada, que hasta ahora se ha utilizado principalmente en la epidemiología espacial. Este método se aplica a datos recogidos en Santiago de Chile en una encuesta de 1000 hogares, diseñada para captar la movilidad espacial desde una perspectiva biográfica.Cet article examine un ensemble de paramètres contextuels et de facteurs individuels qui apparaissent dans la littérature comme influençant directement les pratiques quotidiennes de mobilité des individus. Il considère la structure urbaine, le lieu de résidence, la position des individus dans la hiérarchie sociale et le cycle de vie. S'inspirant d'approches mettant en évidence la ségrégation sur le lieu de destination et d'études sur la mobilité appréhendée dans une perspective biographique, il cherche à voir si des divergences systématiques peuvent être détectées entre les lieux fréquentés quotidiennement pour le travail ou les études par des groupes d'individus résidant dans un même quartier. Il cherche également à savoir si la localisation du domicile (dans une zone centrale, une proche banlieue ou une périphérie) influence la configuration des espaces d'action. L'analyse repose sur une méthode en trois phases. Tout d'abord, une typologie des individus est établie de manière à constituer des groupes sociodémographiques homogènes. Ensuite, les espaces d'action de ces groupes sont calculés et cartographiés. Troisièmement, la significativité des différences spatiales entre les espaces d'action est évaluée à l'aide d'un test de colocalisation bivarié, utilisé jusqu'à présent principalement en épidémiologie spatiale. Cette méthode est appliquée à des données recueillies à Santiago du Chili lors d'une enquête auprès de 1000 ménages, conçue pour saisir la mobilité spatiale sous un angle biographique

Landslide susceptibility analysis using remote sensing and GIS in the western Ecuadorian Andes

In this paper we created and validated a predictive model for assessing the susceptibility of landslides along highway E-20 in Ecuador, by measuring the degree of spatial association of a landslide inventory with a set of spatial factors in an empirical way. The main aims of this paper are to: (1) determine what spatial factors are most associated with landslide occurrence, (2) determine whether the E-20 has any type of influence on landslide occurrence and, if so, up to what distance. For this, we created a landslide inventory based on multi-temporal images from different sources and used the Yule coefficient and the distance distribution analysis, which enabled us to determine which spatial factors are more closely related to the occurrence of landslides. The findings support the idea that landslides are not randomly distributed, but are associated (positively or negatively) to the different geo-environmental conditions of the study area; in this case, landslides have shown positive association with areas of active erosive processes, granitic rocks, volcanic sandstone and rainfall ranging from 1500 to 1750 mm. The statistical significance of the model was tested in two different ways; thus, it can be considered as valid, showing that each spatial factor has some influence on the occurrence of landslides