Integrated framework for identifying transformative adaptation in agri-food systems

Climate change adaptation measures and practices may induce fundamental changes i.e. transformations in socio-ecological systems. Adaptation that intentionally aims for transformation is often intended to increase benefits and synergies with other broader societal development goals such as sustainability. Adaptation measures also have possible unintended negative effects that, in the case of system transformations, may be difficult to reverse. This study seeks to identify characteristic features of the adaptation processes that may result in agrifood system transformations. We introduce an integrated framework to identify these features and 'adaptation activity spaces', and apply this framework to the Nordic context, analysing stakeholder interviews that integrated serious gaming. The results show how transformations may result from adaptation measures targeted towards climate risks with an objective of changing either current practices or surrounding supportive structures. This study addresses reasons why transformative adaptation is not occurring in Nordic agri-food systems and presents novel information that may contribute to policymaking and further research needs on transformations in relation to adaptation decision-making.Peer reviewe

Bacterial MgrB peptide activates chemoreceptor Fpr3 in mouse accessory olfactory system and drives avoidance behaviour

Innate immune chemoreceptors of the formyl peptide receptor (Fpr) family are expressed by vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) in the accessory olfactory system. Their biological function and coding mechanisms remain unknown. We show that mouse Fpr3 (Fpr-rs1) recognizes the core peptide motif f-MKKFRW that is predominantly present in the signal sequence of the bacterial protein MgrB, a highly conserved regulator of virulence and antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. MgrB peptide can be produced and secreted by bacteria, and is selectively recognized by a subset of VSNs. Exposure to the peptide also stimulates VSNs in freely behaving mice and drives innate avoidance. Our data shows that Fpr3 is required for neuronal detection and avoidance of peptides derived from a conserved master virulence regulator of enteric bacteria

No supportive evidence for TIA1 gene mutations in a European cohort of ALS-FTD spectrum patients

We evaluated the genetic contribution of the T cell-erestricted intracellular antigen-1 gene (TIA1) in a European cohort of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Exonic resequencing of TIA1 in 1120 patients (693 FTD, 341 ALS, 86 FTD-ALS) and 1039 controls identified in total 5 rare heterozygous missense variants, affecting the TIA1 low-complexity domain (LCD). Only 1 missense variant, p.Met290Thr, identified in a familial FTD patient with disease onset at 64 years, was absent from controls yet received a combined annotation-dependent depletion score of 11.42. By contrast, 3 of the 4 variants also detected in unaffected controls, p.Val294Glu, p.Gln318Arg, and p.Ala381Thr, had combined annotation-dependent depletion scores greater than 20. Our findings in a large European patient-control series indicate that variants in TIA1 are not a common cause of ALS and FTD. The observation of recurring TIA1 missense variants in unaffected individuals lead us to conclude that the exact genetic contribution of TIA1 to ALS and FTD pathogenesis remains to be further elucidated

Plasma extracellular vesicle tau and TDP-43 as diagnostic biomarkers in FTD and ALS

Minimally invasive biomarkers are urgently needed to detect molecular pathology in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain quantifiable amounts of TDP-43 and full-length tau, which allow the quantification of 3-repeat (3R) and 4-repeat (4R) tau isoforms. Plasma EV TDP-43 levels and EV 3R/4R tau ratios were determined in a cohort of 704 patients, including 37 genetically and 31 neuropathologically proven cases. Diagnostic groups comprised patients with TDP-43 proteinopathy ALS, 4R tauopathy progressive supranuclear palsy, behavior variant FTD (bvFTD) as a group with either tau or TDP-43 pathology, and healthy controls. EV tau ratios were low in progressive supranuclear palsy and high in bvFTD with tau pathology. EV TDP-43 levels were high in ALS and in bvFTD with TDP-43 pathology. Both markers discriminated between the diagnostic groups with area under the curve values &gt;0.9, and between TDP-43 and tau pathology in bvFTD. Both markers strongly correlated with neurodegeneration, and clinical and neuropsychological markers of disease severity. Findings were replicated in an independent validation cohort of 292 patients including 34 genetically confirmed cases. Taken together, the combination of EV TDP-43 levels and EV 3R/4R tau ratios may aid the molecular diagnosis of FTD, FTD spectrum disorders and ALS, providing a potential biomarker to monitor disease progression and target engagement in clinical trials.</p

The FLUXNET2015 dataset and the ONEFlux processing pipeline for eddy covariance data

The FLUXNET2015 dataset provides ecosystem-scale data on CO2, water, and energy exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere, and other meteorological and biological measurements, from 212 sites around the globe (over 1500 site-years, up to and including year 2014). These sites, independently managed and operated, voluntarily contributed their data to create global datasets. Data were quality controlled and processed using uniform methods, to improve consistency and intercomparability across sites. The dataset is already being used in a number of applications, including ecophysiology studies, remote sensing studies, and development of ecosystem and Earth system models. FLUXNET2015 includes derived-data products, such as gap-filled time series, ecosystem respiration and photosynthetic uptake estimates, estimation of uncertainties, and metadata about the measurements, presented for the first time in this paper. In addition, 206 of these sites are for the first time distributed under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) license. This paper details this enhanced dataset and the processing methods, now made available as open-source codes, making the dataset more accessible, transparent, and reproducible.Peer reviewe

Governance and everyday adaptations? Examining the disconnect between planned and autonomous adaptation through justice outcomes

Much of the current attention in research has focused on planned adaptation, i.e., public policy, but this overlooks the fact that human and societal responses to changes in the climate are ubiquitous. Thus, autonomous adaptation, the so-called everyday adaptation, continues to be largely unaccounted for. This obscures the understanding to what extent autonomous and planned adaptation are synergistic or conflicting, resulting in maladaptive, unjust, and unequal outcomes. We approach adaptation as a commons issue and integrate existing frameworks and concepts to show how planned and autonomous adaptation can be understood together to break down the dichotomy. This integrated approach, combined with a focus on the outcome of actions through the dimensions of climate justice, can support understanding of the actions and institutions that support equality and justice. We draw on examples from recent studies on everyday adaptations by farmers and urban dwellers in light of the framework

Adoptive T Cell Therapy Is Complemented by Oncolytic Virotherapy with Fusogenic VSV-NDV in Combination Treatment of Murine Melanoma

Cancer immunotherapies have made major advancements in recent years and are becoming the prevalent treatment options for numerous tumor entities. However, substantial response rates have only been observed in specific subsets of patients since pre-existing factors determine the susceptibility of a tumor to these therapies. The development of approaches that can actively induce an anti-tumor immune response, such as adoptive cell transfer and oncolytic virotherapy, have shown clinical success in the treatment of leukemia and melanoma, respectively. Based on the immune-stimulatory capacity of oncolytic VSV-NDV virotherapy, we envisioned a combination approach to synergize with adoptive T cell transfer, in order to enhance tumor cell killing. Using the immune-competent B16 melanoma model, we demonstrate that combination treatment has beneficial effects on the suppressive microenvironment through upregulation of MHC-I and maintaining low expression levels of PD-L1 on tumor cells. The approach led to additive cytotoxic effects and improved the recruitment of T cells to virus-infected tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. We observed substantial delays in tumor growth and evidence of abscopal effects, as well as prolongation of overall survival time when administered at clinically relevant dosing conditions. Our results indicate that treatment with oncolytic VSV-NDV, combined with adoptive T cell therapy, induces multi-mechanistic and synergistic tumor responses, which supports the further development of this promising translational approach

The use of legumes - Nature-compatible cultivation practices

The tool wants to encourage farmers to grow and use legumes and to be aware of the positive environmental effects they can produce by doing so. The book describes examples from organic and conventional farms and thus aims at both kinds of farmers

Leguminosen nutzen - Naturverträgliche Anbaumethoden aus der Praxis

Das Praxishandbuch gibt einblicke in den vielfältigen und nachhaltigen Leguminosenanbau. Aus der Praxis werden unterschiedlichste Anbaukonzepte auf verschiedenen Standorten und mit verschiedensten Leguminosen veranschaulicht. Dabei wird deutlich, dass es für (fast) jeden Betrieb eine passende Leguminose gibt, die in das Anbau- und Verwertungskonzept integriert werden kann. Das Handbuch soll vor allem Lust darauf machen, den Leguminosenanbau in seinen unterschiedlichen Varianten auszuprobieren und in den Betrieb zu integrieren