A scenario‐guided strategy for the future management of biological invasions

Future dynamics of biological invasions are highly uncertain because they depend on multiple social–ecological drivers. We used a scenario-based approach to explore potential management options for invasive species in Europe. During two workshops involving a multidisciplinary team of experts, we developed a management strategy arranged into 19 goals relating to policy, research, public awareness, and biosecurity. We conceived solutions for achieving these goals under different plausible future scenarios, and identified four interrelated recommendations around which any long-term strategy for managing invasive species can be structured: (1) a European biosecurity regime, (2) a dedicated communication strategy, (3) data standardization and management tools, and (4) a monitoring and assessment system. Finally, we assessed the feasibility of the management strategy and found substantial differences among scenarios. Collectively, our results indicate that it is time for a new strategy for managing biological invasions in Europe, one that is based on a more integrative approach across socioeconomic sectors and countries

Mechanical Property Evaluation of CuNb Composites Manufactured with High-Pressure Torsion

Abstract Copper is under consideration as the optimum material for both high heat flux applications and high-frequency pulsed magnets. One challenge is that copper has low strength which is problematic to deployment in these applications. One solution is to alloy copper with body center cubic (BCC) elements to improve its mechanical properties. However, the limited solubility of the BCC elements in copper requires high deformation processes to be used in order to manufacture these 3D composites. In this work high-energy ball milling combined with high-pressure torsion was used to manufacture 3D Cu-Nb composites. After the consolidation, the mechanical properties of the composites were measured using micro-and nano-hardness testing at room and elevated temperatures. The results indicated that after 10 turns during the high-pressure torsion consolidation, the mechanical properties of the composites were completely saturated, displaying uniform properties across the manufactured disk. Performing the high-pressure torsion at elevated temperature further improved the consolidation of the disk. The high-temperature nanoindentation also indicated a change in the deformation mechanism between 200°C and 500°C

Groucho/transducin-like Enhancer-of-split (TLE)-dependent and -independent transcriptional regulation by Runx3

Regulation of gene expression by tissue-specific transcription factors involves both turning on and turning off transcription of target genes. Runx3, a runt-domain transcription factor, regulates cell-intrinsic functions by activating and repressing gene expression in sensory neurons, dendritic cells (DC), and T cells. To investigate the mechanism of Runx3-mediated repression in an in vivo context, we generated mice expressing a mutant Runx3 lacking the C-terminal VWRPY, a motif required for Runx3 interaction with the corepressor Groucho/transducin-like Enhancer-of-split (TLE). In contrast with Runx3(−/−) mice, which displayed ataxia due to the death of dorsal root ganglia TrkC neurons, Runx3(VWRPY−/−) mice were not ataxic and had intact dorsal root ganglia neurons, indicating that ability of Runx3 to tether Groucho/TLE is not essential for neurogenesis. In the DC compartment, the mutant protein Runx3(VWRPY−) promoted normally developed skin Langerhans cells but failed to restrain DC spontaneous maturation, indicating that this latter process involves Runx3-mediated repression through recruitment of Groucho/TLE. Moreover, in CD8(+) thymocytes, Runx3(VWRPY−) up-regulated αE/CD103-like WT Runx3, whereas unlike wild type, it failed to repress αE/CD103 in CD8(+) splenocytes. Thus, in CD8-lineage T cells, Runx3 regulates αE/CD103 in opposing regulatory modes and recruits Groucho/TLE to facilitate the transition from activation to repression. Runx3(VWRPY−) also failed to mediate the epigenetic silencing of CD4 gene in CD8(+) T cells, but normally regulated other pan-CD8(+) T cell genes. These data provide evidence for the requirement of Groucho/TLE for Runx3-mediated epigenetic silencing of CD4 and pertain to the mechanism through which other Runx3-regulated genes are epigenetically silenced

A scenario-guided strategy for the future management of biological invasions

Publication status: PublishedFuture dynamics of biological invasions are highly uncertain because they depend on multiple social–ecological drivers. We used a scenario‐based approach to explore potential management options for invasive species in Europe. During two workshops involving a multidisciplinary team of experts, we developed a management strategy arranged into 19 goals relating to policy, research, public awareness, and biosecurity. We conceived solutions for achieving these goals under different plausible future scenarios, and identified four interrelated recommendations around which any long‐term strategy for managing invasive species can be structured: (1) a European biosecurity regime, (2) a dedicated communication strategy, (3) data standardization and management tools, and (4) a monitoring and assessment system. Finally, we assessed the feasibility of the management strategy and found substantial differences among scenarios. Collectively, our results indicate that it is time for a new strategy for managing biological invasions in Europe, one that is based on a more integrative approach across socioeconomic sectors and countries.</jats:p