Tropical dry woodland loss occurs disproportionately in areas of highest conservation value

Tropical and subtropical dry woodlands are rich in biodiversity and carbon. Yet, many of these woodlands are under high deforestation pressure and remain weakly protected. Here, we assessed how deforestation dynamics relate to areas of woodland protection and to conservation priorities across the world's tropical dry woodlands. Specifically, we characterized different types of deforestation frontier from 2000 to 2020 and compared them to protected areas (PAs), Indigenous Peoples' lands and conservation areas for biodiversity, carbon and water. We found that global conservation priorities were always overrepresented in tropical dry woodlands compared to the rest of the globe (between 4% and 96% more than expected, depending on the type of conservation priority). Moreover, about 41% of all dry woodlands were characterized as deforestation frontiers, and these frontiers have been falling disproportionately in areas with important regional (i.e. tropical dry woodland) conservation assets. While deforestation frontiers were identified within all tropical dry woodland classes of woodland protection, they were lower than the average within protected areas coinciding with Indigenous Peoples' lands (23%), and within other PAs (28%). However, within PAs, deforestation frontiers have also been disproportionately affecting regional conservation assets. Many emerging deforestation frontiers were identified outside but close to PAs, highlighting a growing threat that the conserved areas of dry woodland will become isolated. Understanding how deforestation frontiers coincide with major types of current woodland protection can help target context-specific conservation policies and interventions to tropical dry woodland conservation assets (e.g. PAs in which deforestation is rampant require stronger enforcement, inactive deforestation frontiers could benefit from restoration). Our analyses also identify recurring patterns that can be used to test the transferability of governance approaches and promote learning across social–ecological contexts

The heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) soil INTA Delta of Paraná (Campana, Buenos Aires). Spatial and temporal variation of the cast of species in different land uses

A list of 32 species of Heteroptera captured with pitfall traps at INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria) Delta del Paraná (Partido de Campana, Buenos Aires) is presented in this paper. Two species are mentioned as a first record for the province: Fulvius bisbistillatus (Stål) (Miridae) and Pselliopus ornaticeps (Stål) (Reduviidae). Also an analysis of Spearman rank correlation ® and correspondence analysis is made, to assess the spatial and temporal variation of Heteroptera communities of different selected land uses

Detection of a wide range of phytoplasmas using a qPCR methodology developed for mycoplasmas

The available methodologies for quantitative PCR (qPCR) amplification of phytoplasmas are very often group specific and not very sensitive, therefore having a generic qPCR assay to verify the presence of these prokaryotes when they are at very low concentrations, such as in propagation materials or under the presence of inhibition factors (cultivation broths), is of relevance to the researches in this field. Total DNAs extracted from the micropropagated phytoplasma-infected periwinkle collection maintained at the University of Bologna were used. They were preliminary tested in conventional PCR using 16S ribosomal primers. DNA samples (100 ng/\u3bcl) used belonged to groups 16SrI-B, 16SrII-C and \u2013D, 16SrIII-A, 16SrV-A, 16SrVI-C, 16SrVII-A, 16SrIX-C, 16SrX-A, -B and C, 16SrXI-C, 16SrXII-A and 16SrXV. Botes (Botes et al., 2005) and van Kuppeveld (van Kuppeveld et al., 1992) primers developed for mycoplasmas were used in qPCR. The results were consistent for all the phytoplasma groups tested with both primers, they showed a very high sensitivity also for phytoplasmas as it is known already for other Mollicutes, both in qPCR and in conventional PCR assays. Repetition for validation was then carried out only with primers Botes that confirmed the phytoplasma specific melting temperature at 84.5\ub0C and Ct values enclosed between 21 and 24. System sensitivity was tested on European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) phytoplasma DNA template at the concentrations of 20, 10, 5, 2, 0.2 and 0.02 ng/\u3bcl, only the latter concentration gave negative results, while other concentrations gave Ct values ranging from 24 to 30. Moreover, the qPCR assay with Botes primers showed positive result also for DNA extracted from leaves of corn deriving from seeds produced by phytoplasma infected plants, and from leaf material from field collected symptomatic apricot with Ct values of 31 and 27 respectively

A Review on Artificial Intelligence in Special Education

Abstract. Innovative educational technologies have started to open new ways of interacting with students with special educational needs (SEN). Amongst the most effective approaches during the last decade (2001-2010) are those based on Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) techniques. The effective application of A.I. methods is seen as a means of improving the quality of life of SEN learners. Hence, a need for introducing A.I. techniques arises in order to develop both diagnosis and intervention processes. This paper presents a brief overview of the most representative studies of the past ten years, used for the above purposes

Evaluation of the antitumoral effect mediated by IL-12 and HSV-tk genes when delivered by a novel lipid-based system

In the present work, we used a novel albumin-associated lipoplex formulation, containing the cationic lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine (EPOPC) and cholesterol (Chol), to evaluate the antitumoral efficacy of two gene therapy strategies: immuno-gene therapy, mediated by IL-12 gene expression, and "suicide" gene therapy, mediated by HSV-tk gene expression followed by ganciclovir (GCV) treatment. Our data show that, in an animal model bearing a subcutaneous TSA (mouse mammary adenocarcinoma) tumor, intratumoral administration of the albumin-associated complexes containing the plasmid encoding IL-12 results in a strong antitumoral effect, as demonstrated by the smaller tumor size, the higher T-lymphocyte tumor infiltration and the more extensive tumor necrotic and hemorrhagic areas, as compared to that observed in animals treated with control complexes. On the other hand, the application of the "suicide" gene therapy strategy results in a significant antitumoral activity, which is similar to that achieved with the immuno-gene therapy strategy, although involving different antineoplastic mechanisms. For the tested model, albumin-associated complexes were shown to efficiently mediate intratumoral delivery of therapeutic genes, thus leading to a significant antitumoral effect. This finding is particularly relevant since TSA tumors are characterized for being poorly immunogenic, aggressive and exhibiting high proliferation capacity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T1T-4MS9RH3-1/1/f38229393d64061d6859bfebb61b8d8