Improved Tropical Forest Management for Carbon Retention

Using reduced-impact timber-harvesting practices in legally logged tropical forests would reduce global carbon emissions by 0.16 Gt/year at a modest cost and with little risk of "leakage" (increased carbon emissions elsewhere)

Active restoration accelerates the carbon recovery of human modified-tropical forests

More than half of all tropical forests are degraded by human impacts, leaving them threatened with conversion to agricultural plantations and risking substantial biodiversity and carbon losses. Restoration could accelerate recovery of aboveground carbon density (ACD), but adoption of restoration is constrained by cost and uncertainties over effectiveness. We report a long-term comparison of ACD recovery rates between naturally regenerating and actively restored logged tropical forests. Restoration enhanced decadal ACD recovery by more than 50%, from 2.9 to 4.4 megagrams per hectare per year. This magnitude of response, coupled with modal values of restoration costs globally, would require higher carbon prices to justify investment in restoration. However, carbon prices required to fulfill the 2016 Paris climate agreement [$40 to$80 (USD) per tonne carbon dioxide equivalent] would provide an economic justification for tropical forest restoration

Population matrix models and palm resource management

Abstract Population structures of numerous palm species have been described and discussed in the last 20 years. Population growth and stability have been analyzed with matrix models. In this paper we review matrix models and discuss methodological issues specific to estimating palm life history parameters. Generalizations drawn from previous studies are presented and implications for palm resource management, specifically for thatch, fruit, and stem harvest, are discussed.Matrices de populations et mise en valeur des palmiers Résumé Au cours des 20 dernières années, les structures de population de nombreuses espèces de palmiers ont été décrites et discutées. La croissance et la stabilité des populations ont été analysées à l'aide de matrices. Dans cet article, nous reprenons un modèle et en discutons les aspects méthodologiques en vue d'une estimation des paramètres de l'histoire de la vie des palmiers. Les généralisations résultant de précédentes études sont présentées et les conséquences pour la mise en valeur des palmiers, concernant en particulier la confection de toitures, les fruits, la récolte des stipes, sont discutées.Matrices de poblaciones y manejo de palmeras Resumen En los últimos 20 años, las estructuras de población de numerosas especies de palmeras han sido descritas y discutidas. El crecimiento y la estabilidad de las poblaciones han sido analizadas, utilizando matrices. En el presente artículo, presentamos un modelo y discutimos los aspectos metodológicos específicos para hacer una estimación de los parámetros de la historia de la vida de las palmeras. Son presentadas las generalizaciones diseñadas por estudios previos, y discutidas las implicancias en el manejo de las palmeras, en cuanto a techado, frutas, cosecha de los estípites.Pinard Michelle A., Putz Francis E. Population matrix models and palm resource management. In: Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines, tome 21, N°2, 1992. Les palmiers des forêts tropicales. pp. 637-649

Comparative Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Companion Animals: Immuno-Oncology as a Relevant Translational Model for Cancer Therapy

Despite the important role of preclinical experiments to characterize tumor biology and molecular pathways, there are ongoing challenges to model the tumor microenvironment, specifically the dynamic interactions between tumor cells and immune infiltrates. Comprehensive models of host-tumor immune interactions will enhance the development of emerging treatment strategies, such as immunotherapies. Although in vitro and murine models are important for the early modelling of cancer and treatment-response mechanisms, comparative research studies involving veterinary oncology may bridge the translational pathway to human studies. The natural progression of several malignancies in animals exhibits similar pathogenesis to human cancers, and previous studies have shown a relevant and evaluable immune system. Veterinary oncologists working alongside oncologists and cancer researchers have the potential to advance discovery. Understanding the host-tumor-immune interactions can accelerate drug and biomarker discovery in a clinically relevant setting. This review presents discoveries in comparative immuno-oncology and implications to cancer therapy