Cross-Sectional Exploration of Plasma Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome: Early Data from the Longitudinal Investigation for Enhancing Down Syndrome Research (LIFE-DSR) Study

With improved healthcare, the Down syndrome (DS) population is both growing and aging rapidly. However, with longevity comes a very high risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The LIFE-DSR study (NCT04149197) is a longitudinal natural history study recruiting 270 adults with DS over the age of 25. The study is designed to characterize trajectories of change in DS-associated AD (DS-AD). The current study reports its cross-sectional analysis of the first 90 subjects enrolled. Plasma biomarkers phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau), neurofilament light chain (NfL), amyloid β peptides (Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were undertaken with previously published methods. The clinical data from the baseline visit include demographics as well as the cognitive measures under the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) and Down Syndrome Mental Status Examination (DS-MSE). Biomarker distributions are described with strong statistical associations observed with participant age. The biomarker data contributes to understanding DS-AD across the spectrum of disease. Collectively, the biomarker data show evidence of DS-AD progression beginning at approximately 40 years of age. Exploring these data across the full LIFE-DSR longitudinal study population will be an important resource in understanding the onset, progression, and clinical profiles of DS-AD pathophysiology

Directions for Research on Climate and Conflict

The potential links between climate and conflict are well studied, yet disagreement about the specific mechanisms and their significance for societies persists. Here, we build on assessment of the relationship between climate and organized armed conflict to define crosscutting priorities for future directions of research. They include (1) deepening insight into climate-conflict linkages and conditions under which they manifest, (2) ambitiously integrating research designs, (3) systematically exploring future risks and response options, responsive to ongoing decision-making, and (4) evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to manage climate-conflict links. The implications of this expanding scientific domain unfold in real time

Can productivity and post-pruning growth of Jatropha curcas in silvopastoral systems be regulated by manipulating tree spacing/arrangement without changing tree density?

The potential of tree spacing/arrangement to alleviate effects of interspecific competition of hedgerow intercropping systems on productivity and response to pruning of Jatropha curcas (Jatropha) was investigated using a Jatropha e Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) silvopastoral system at Ukulinga (KwaZulu Natal, South Africa). Treatments were differentiated by presence/absence of kikuyu and arrangement/spacing of Jatropha trees (one, two and three tree hedgerows on either side of the alley) and had the same tree density (1110 ha 1). When high water availability and kikuyu dormancy coincided, tree growth rates did not significantly differ across treatments. Trees of the treatment without interspecific competition (tree-only) were the tallest. Even when rainfall was high, post-pruning tree height growth rate was affected by belowground (BG) interspecific competition and tree spacing/arrangement. Treatment with a single tree hedgerow between alleys had the most frequent maximum stem growth rate and was the most efficient during limited water availability. Its trees showed slow initial response to pruning due to a high tree-grass interface, followed by compensatory growth when competition for water with grass was low. Generally, length of tree-grass interfaces affected yield inversely especially as trees matured toward their maximum-yield age (4e5 years). BG competition reduced tree yield more than tree biomass, while tree spacing/arrangement did not affect tree harvest index. Manipulation of tree arrangement/spacing without changing tree density had no consistent effects on tree productivity.Water Research Commission (WRC) and National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa for funding the project (K5/1480/1/12).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/biombioe2016-03-31hb201