Effect of oil palm sustainability certification on deforestation and fire in Indonesia.

Many major corporations and countries have made commitments to purchase or produce only "sustainable" palm oil, a commodity responsible for substantial tropical forest loss. Sustainability certification is the tool most used to fulfill these procurement policies, and around 20% of global palm oil production was certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in 2017. However, the effect of certification on deforestation in oil palm plantations remains unclear. Here, we use a comprehensive dataset of RSPO-certified and noncertified oil palm plantations (∼188,000 km2) in Indonesia, the leading producer of palm oil, as well as annual remotely sensed metrics of tree cover loss and fire occurrence, to evaluate the impact of certification on deforestation and fire from 2001 to 2015. While forest loss and fire continued after RSPO certification, certified palm oil was associated with reduced deforestation. Certification lowered deforestation by 33% from a counterfactual of 9.8 to 6.6% y-1 Nevertheless, most plantations contained little residual forest when they received certification. As a result, by 2015, certified areas held less than 1% of forests remaining within Indonesian oil palm plantations. Moreover, certification had no causal impact on forest loss in peatlands or active fire detection rates. Broader adoption of certification in forested regions, strict requirements to avoid all peat, and routine monitoring of clearly defined forest cover loss in certified and RSPO member-held plantations appear necessary if the RSPO is to yield conservation and climate benefits from reductions in tropical deforestation

Securing tropical forest carbon: the contribution of protected areas to REDD

Forest loss and degradation in the tropics contribute 6-17% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Protected areas cover 217.2 million ha (19.6%) of the world's humid tropical forests and contain c. 70.3 petagrams of carbon (Pg C) in biomass and soil to 1 m depth. Between 2000 and 2005, we estimate that 1.75 million ha of forest were lost from protected areas in humid tropical forests, causing the emission of 0.25-0.33 Pg C. Protected areas lost about half as much carbon as the same area of unprotected forest. We estimate that the reduction of these carbon emissions from ongoing deforestation in protected sites in humid tropical forests could be valued at USD 6,200-7,400 million depending on the land use after clearance. This is >1.5 times the estimated spending on protected area management in these regions. Improving management of protected areas to retain forest cover better may be an important, although certainly not sufficient, component of an overall strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD

Time-lapse ultrashort pulse microscopy of infection in three-dimensional versus two-dimensional culture environments reveals enhanced extra-chromosomal virus replication compartment formation

The mechanisms that enable viruses to harness cellular machinery for their own survival are primarily studied in cell lines cultured in two-dimensional (2-D) environments. However, there are increasing reports of biological differences between cells cultured in 2-D versus three-dimensional (3-D) environments. Here we report differences in host-virus interactions based on differences in culture environment. Using ultrashort pulse microscopy (UPM), a form of two-photon microscopy that utilizes sub-10-fs pulses to efficiently excite fluorophores, we have shown that de novo development of extra-chromosomal virus replication compartments (VRCs) upon murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) infection is markedly enhanced when host cells are cultured in 3-D collagen gels versus 2-D monolayers. In addition, time-lapse imaging revealed that mCMV-induced VRCs have the capacity to grow by coalescence. This work supports the future potential of 3-D culture as a useful bridge between traditional monolayer cultures and animal models to study host-virus interactions in a more physiologically relevant environment for the development of effective anti-viral therapeutics. These advances will require broader adoption of modalities, such as UPM, to image deep within scattering tissues

Estimating the Potential for Conservation and Farming in the Amazon and Cerrado under Four Policy Scenarios

Since 2013, clearing rates have rapidly increased in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. This acceleration has raised questions about the efficacy of current regional public and private conservation policies that seek to promote agricultural production while conserving remnants of natural vegetation. In this study, we assessed conservation and agricultural outcomes of four potential policy scenarios that represent perfect adherence to private sector, zero-deforestation commitments (i.e., the Amazon soy moratorium—ASM and the Amazon cattle agreements—CA) and to varying levels of implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code (FC). Under a zero-clearing scenario, we find that the extent of croplands as of 2017 within the two biomes (31 MHa) could double without further clearing if agriculture were to expand on all previously cleared land that is suitable for crops. Moreover, at least 47 MHa of land that is already cleared but unsuitable for crops would remain available for pasture. Under scenarios in which only legal clearing under the FC could occur, 51 MHa of additional natural vegetation could be cleared. This includes as many as 1 MHa of nonforest vegetation that could be cleared in the Amazon biome without triggering the ASM and CA monitoring systems. Two-thirds of the total vegetation vulnerable to legal clearing is located within the Cerrado biome, and 19 MHa of this land is suitable for cropland expansion. Legal clearing of all of these areas could reduce biodiversity persistence by 4% within the two biomes, when compared with the zero-clearing scenario, and release up to 9 PgCO2e, with the majority (75%) coming from the Cerrado biome. However, when we considered the potential outcomes of full implementation of the FC, we found that 22% (11 MHa) of the 51 MHa of vegetation subject to legal clearing could be protected through the environmental quotas market, while an additional 1 MHa should be replanted across the two biomes, predominantly in the Amazon biome (73% of the area subject to replanting). Together, quotas and replanting could prevent the release of 2 PgCO2e that would otherwise be emitted if all legal clearing occurred. Based on our results, we conclude that ongoing legal clearing could create additional space for cropland and cattle production beyond the substantial existing stocks of cleared areas but would significantly impair local carbon and biodiversity stocks.</jats:p

Mapping vulnerability of tropical forest to conversion, and resulting potential CO2 emissions: A rapid assessment for the Eliasch Review

This report is a rapid assessment analysis undertaken to inform the UK's Eliasch Review on the role of international finance mechanisms to preserve global forests in tackling climate change. The results should be used with an understanding of the caveats specified at the end of the report

The changing landscape of conservation science funding in the United States

To understand the changing role of funding sources in shaping conservation science in the United States, we analyzed acknowledgments from published studies, trends in research funding, and survey responses from conservation scientists. Although the U.S. federal government was the most frequently acknowledged source of support overall, U.S. foundations and NGOs were the predominant sources for tropical and socioeconomic research. Acknowledgments of foundation support for conservation research increased over the last two decades, while recognition of federal funds declined. Concordant trends in funding and acknowledgments indicated a changing landscape for conservation science, in which federal support has not kept pace with the growth in conservation research efforts or needs. Survey responses from conservation scientists about their funding sources were consistent with acknowledgment data, and most (64%) indicated that shifts in funding sources and amounts affected the type of research they conduct. Ongoing changes in the funding landscape shape the direction of conservation research and may make conservation science more vulnerable to economic recessions

948-46 Preserved Cardiac Baroreflex Control of Renal Cortical Blood Flow in Advanced Heart Failure Patients: A Positron Emission Tomography Study

Cardiac baroreflex (CBR) control of forearm blood flow (FBF) is blunted or reversed in humans with heart failure (HF). but little is known about CBR control of renal cortical blood flow (RCBF) in HF due to technical limitations. Positron emission tomography (PET) 0–15 water is a new, precise method to measure RCBF quantitatively. We compared CBR control of RCBF and FBF (venous plethysmography) in 8 patients with HF (mean age, 47±3 y, ejection fraction 0.25±0.02) and 10 normal humans (mean age 35±5 y) during CBR unloading with phlebotomy (450ml). In 5 normals, cold pressor test was used as a strong, non-baroreflex mediated stimulus to vasoconstriction.ResultsPhlebotomy decreased central venous pressure (p &lt;0.001), but did not change mean arterial pressure or heart rate in HF patients or controls. The major findings of the study are: 1) At rest, RCBF is markedly diminished in HF vs normals (2.4±0.1 vs 4.3±0.2ml/min/g, p &lt; 0.001). 2) In normal humans during phlebotomy, FBF decreased substantially (basal vs phlebotomy: 3.3±0.4 vs 2.6±0.3 ml/min/100 ml, p=0.021, and RCBF decreased slightly, but significantly (basal vs phlebotomy: 4.3±0.2 vs 4.0±0.3 ml/min/g, p=0.01). 3) The small magnitude of reflex renal vasoconstriction is not explained by the inability of the renal circulation to vasoconstrict since the cold pressor stimulus induced substantial decreases in RCBF in normals (basal vs cold pressor: 4.4±0.1 vs 3.7±0.1 ml/min/g, p=0.003). 4) In humans with heart failure during phlebotomy, FBF did not change (basal vs phlebotomy: 2.6±0.3 vs 2.7±0.2 ml/min/100 ml, p=NS), but RCBF decreased slightly but significantly (basal vs phlebotomy: 2.4±0.1 vs 2.1±0.1 ml/min/g, p=0.01). Thus, in patients with heart failure, there is an abnormality in cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of the forearm circulation, but not the renal circulationConclusionThis study 1) shows the power of PET to study physiologic and pathophysiologic reflex control of the renal circulation in humans, and 2) describes the novel finding of selective dysfunction of cardiac baroreflex control of the forearm circulation, but its preservation of the renal circulation, in patients with heart failur

Pressurized metered-dose inhalers using next-generation propellant HFO-1234ze(E) deposit negligible amounts of trifluoracetic acid in the environment

Pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) deliver life-saving medications to patients with respiratory conditions and are the most used inhaler delivery device globally. pMDIs utilize a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA), also known as an F-gas, as a propellant to facilitate the delivery of medication into the lungs. Although HFAs have minimal impact on ozone depletion, their global warming potential (GWP) is more than 1,000 times higher than CO2, bringing them in scope of the F-Gas Regulation in the European Union (EU). The pharmaceutical industry is developing solutions, including a near-zero GWP “next-generation propellant,” HFO-1234ze(E). At the same time, the EU is also evaluating a restriction on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a persistent PFAS and a potential degradation product of HFO-1234ze(E). We quantified yield of TFA from HFO-1234ze(E) using a computational model under Europe-relevant atmospheric conditions. The modeling suggests that most HFO-1234ze(E) degrades into formyl fluoride within 20 days (≥85%) even at the highest examined altitude. These results suggest that TFA yield from HFO-1234ze(E) varies between 0%–4% under different atmospheric conditions. In 2022, France represented the highest numbers of pMDI units sold within the EU, assuming these pMDIs had HFO-1234ze(E) as propellant, we estimate an annual rainwater TFA deposition of ∼0.025 μg/L. These results demonstrate negligible formation of TFA as a degradation product of HFO-1234ze(E), further supporting its suitability as a non-persistent, non-bioaccumulative, and non-toxic future propellant for pMDI devices to safeguard access for patients to these essential medicines

Quantitative systems modeling approaches towards model-informed drug development: Perspective through case studies

Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) modeling has become an increasingly popular approach impacting our understanding of disease mechanisms and helping predict patients’ treatment responses to facilitate study design or development go/no-go decisions. In this paper, we highlight the notable contributions and opportunities that QSP approaches are to offer during the drug development process by sharing three examples that have facilitated internal decisions. The barriers to successful applications and the factors that facilitate the success of the modeling approach is discussed