Large-scale grid-based detection in occupancy surveys of a threatened small mammal: A comparison of two non-invasive methods

Monitoring the status and trends of wildlife is key to understand how species respond to natural and human- derived threats, and to evaluate and improve conservation planning and management. Large-scale, grid-based assessment of species distribution, abundance, and population trends over time is an important component of biodiversity monitoring. However, such assessments still present important challenges related, for instance, to how the choice of the sampling method may affect species detectability and thus, overall data accuracy. Here, we address this issue, focusing on the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae), a threatened small mammal, listed in the Habitats Directive (Annexes II and IV), hence requiring regular evaluation of its population status and trends. We used occupancy modelling to estimate method-specific detection probability of the species over large-scale, grid- based (10 × 10 km2) surveys relying on two non-invasive sampling techniques: sign surveys and owl pellet analysis. Results provided evidence for a greater cost-effectiveness of sign surveys compared to owl pellet analysis for detecting the species in occupancy surveys, suggesting that large-scale population monitoring of Cabrera voles (or other species also producing easily identifiable signs of their presence) may fairly rely on sign- surveys. Overall, our study supported the view that while owl pellet analysis provides a valuable option when the aim is to assess small mammal assemblages (i.e. multiple species) in a region, other complementary methods may be required to increase the detection probability of certain species that because of their secretive behaviour or rarity remain less predated by owls. We thus argue that the choice of the sampling method should be context- dependent and evaluated based on the study aims, the surveyed area (i.e. local factors), the target species (i.e. life history traits) and the available resources. Based on our results we recommend that researchers and managers explore survey-design trade-offs to ensure the proposed designs have sufficient power to detect real population trends

Anti-IL-7 receptor α monoclonal antibody (GSK2618960) in healthy subjects - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

AIM: Interleukin (IL)-7 signalling modulates T cell activity and is implicated in numerous autoimmune diseases. The present study investigated the safety, pharmacokinetics, target engagement, pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity of GSK2618960, an IL-7 receptor-α subunit (CD127) monoclonal antibody. METHODS: A double-blind (sponsor-unblind) study of a single intravenous infusion of either GSK2618960 (0.6 mg kg-1 or 2.0 mg kg-1 ) or placebo was carried out in 18 healthy subjects over 24 weeks. RESULTS: GSK2618960 was well tolerated; there were no serious or significant adverse events. The observed half-life was 5 (±1) days (2.0 mg kg-1 ), with nonlinear pharmacokinetics. Full receptor occupancy (>95%) was observed until day 8 (0.6 mg kg-1 ) and day 22 (2.0 mg kg-1 ). Maximal inhibition of IL-7-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) phosphorylation was observed in 5/6 subjects until day 22 (2.0 mg kg-1 ). Mean circulating IL-7 and soluble receptor (CD127) levels were increased above baseline during days 2 and 15 (0.6 mg kg-1 ) and days 2 and 22 (2.0 mg kg-1 ). No meaningful changes were observed in absolute numbers or proportions of immune cell populations or inflammatory cytokine profiles (IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, IL-2). Persistent antidrug antibodies (ADAs) were detected in 5/6 subjects administered a dose of 0.6 mg kg-1 (neutralizing in 2/6) and in 6/6 subjects administered 2.0 mg kg-1 (neutralizing in 5/6). CONCLUSION: GSK2618960 was well tolerated and blocked IL-7 receptor signalling upon full target engagement. Although there was no discernible impact on peripheral T cell subsets in healthy subjects, GSK2618960 may effectively modulate the autoinflammatory activity of pathogenic T cells in diseased tissue. A relatively short half-life is likely the result of target-mediated rather than ADA-mediated clearance.GS

Analysis Domain Model for Shared Virtual Environments

International audienceThe field of shared virtual environments, which also encompasses online games and social 3D environments, has a system landscape consisting of multiple solutions that share great functional overlap. However, there is little system interoperability between the different solutions. A shared virtual environment has an associated problem domain that is highly complex raising difficult challenges to the development process, starting with the architectural design of the underlying system. This paper has two main contributions. The first contribution is a broad domain analysis of shared virtual environments, which enables developers to have a better understanding of the whole rather than the part(s). The second contribution is a reference domain model for discussing and describing solutions - the Analysis Domain Model

Spatial variability of the physical quality of soil from management zones

International audienc

Acta Reumatologica Portuguesa: perspectives in 2017

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Anti‐IL‐7 receptor α monoclonal antibody (GSK2618960) in healthy subjects – a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

AIM: Interleukin (IL)-7 signalling modulates T cell activity and is implicated in numerous autoimmune diseases. The present study investigated the safety, pharmacokinetics, target engagement, pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity of GSK2618960, an IL-7 receptor-α subunit (CD127) monoclonal antibody. METHODS: A double-blind (sponsor-unblind) study of a single intravenous infusion of either GSK2618960 (0.6 mg kg-1 or 2.0 mg kg-1 ) or placebo was carried out in 18 healthy subjects over 24 weeks. RESULTS: GSK2618960 was well tolerated; there were no serious or significant adverse events. The observed half-life was 5 (±1) days (2.0 mg kg-1 ), with nonlinear pharmacokinetics. Full receptor occupancy (>95%) was observed until day 8 (0.6 mg kg-1 ) and day 22 (2.0 mg kg-1 ). Maximal inhibition of IL-7-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) phosphorylation was observed in 5/6 subjects until day 22 (2.0 mg kg-1 ). Mean circulating IL-7 and soluble receptor (CD127) levels were increased above baseline during days 2 and 15 (0.6 mg kg-1 ) and days 2 and 22 (2.0 mg kg-1 ). No meaningful changes were observed in absolute numbers or proportions of immune cell populations or inflammatory cytokine profiles (IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, IL-2). Persistent antidrug antibodies (ADAs) were detected in 5/6 subjects administered a dose of 0.6 mg kg-1 (neutralizing in 2/6) and in 6/6 subjects administered 2.0 mg kg-1 (neutralizing in 5/6). CONCLUSION: GSK2618960 was well tolerated and blocked IL-7 receptor signalling upon full target engagement. Although there was no discernible impact on peripheral T cell subsets in healthy subjects, GSK2618960 may effectively modulate the autoinflammatory activity of pathogenic T cells in diseased tissue. A relatively short half-life is likely the result of target-mediated rather than ADA-mediated clearance.GS

Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.Peer reviewe