Coupled land use and ecological models reveal emergence and feedbacks in socio‐ecological systems

Understanding the dynamics of socio‐ecological systems is crucial to the development of environmentally sustainable practices. Models of social or ecological sub‐systems have greatly enhanced such understanding, but at the risk of obscuring important feedbacks and emergent effects. Integrated modelling approaches have the potential to address this shortcoming by explicitly representing linked socio‐ecological dynamics. We developed a socio‐ecological system model by coupling an existing agent‐based model of land‐use dynamics and an individual‐based model of demography and dispersal. A hypothetical case‐study was established to simulate the interaction of crops and their pollinators in a changing agricultural landscape, initialised from a spatially random distribution of natural assets. The bi‐directional coupled model predicted larger changes in crop yield and pollinator populations than a unidirectional uncoupled version. The spatial properties of the system also differed, the coupled version revealing the emergence of spatial land‐use clusters that neither supported nor required pollinators. These findings suggest that important dynamics may be missed by uncoupled modelling approaches, but that these can be captured through the combination of currently‐available, compatible model frameworks. Such model integrations are required to further fundamental understanding of socio‐ecological dynamics and thus improve management of socio‐ecological systems.     

Finger Prick Dried Blood Spots for HIV Viral Load Measurement in Field Conditions in Zimbabwe

BackgroundIn the context of a community-randomized trial of antiretrovirals for HIV prevention and treatment among sex workers in Zimbabwe (the SAPPH-IRe trial), we will measure the proportion of women with HIV viral load (VL) above 1000 copies/mL (“VL>1000”) as our primary endpoint. We sought to characterize VL assay performance by comparing results from finger prick dried blood spots (DBS) collected in the field with plasma samples, to determine whether finger prick DBS is an acceptable sample for VL quantification in the setting.MethodsWe collected whole blood from a finger prick onto filter paper and plasma samples using venipuncture from women in two communities. VL quantification was run on samples in parallel using NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v2.0. Our trial outcome is the proportion of women with VL>1000, consistent with WHO guidelines relating to regimen switching. We therefore focused on this cut-off level for assessing sensitivity and specificity. Results were log transformed and the mean difference and standard deviation calculated, and correlation between VL quantification across sample types was evaluated.ResultsA total of 149 HIV-positive women provided DBS and plasma samples; 56 (63%) reported being on antiretroviral therapy. VL ranged from undetectable-6.08 log₁₀ using DBS and undetectable-6.40 log10 using plasma. The mean difference in VL (plasma-DBS) was 0.077 log₁₀ (95%CI = 0.025–0.18 log₁₀; standard deviation = 0.63 log₁₀,). 78 (52%) DBS and 87 (58%) plasma samples had a VL>1000. Based on plasma ‘gold-standard’, DBS sensitivity for detection of VL>1000 was 87.4%, and specificity was 96.8%.ConclusionThere was generally good agreement between DBS and plasma VL for detection of VL>1000. Overall, finger prick DBS appeared to be an acceptable sample for classifying VL as above or below 1000 copies/mL using the NucliSENS assay.     

Age‐at‐onset‐dependent effects of sulfur amino acid restriction on markers of growth and stress in male F344 rats

Trade‐offs in life‐history traits are clinically and mechanistically important. Sulfur amino acid restriction (SAAR) extends lifespan. But whether this benefit comes at the cost of other traits including stress resistance and growth is unclear. We investigated the effects of SAAR on growth markers (body weight, IGF1, and IGFBP3) and physiological stresses. Male‐F344 rats were fed control (0.86% Met) and SAAR (0.17% Met) diets starting at 2, 10, and 20 months. Rats were injected with keyhole‐limpet‐hemocyanin (KLH) to measure immune responses (anti‐KLH‐IgM, anti‐KLH‐IgG, and delayed‐type‐hypersensitivity [DTH]). Markers of ER stress (FGF21 and adiponectin), detoxification capacity (glutathione [GSH] concentrations, GSH‐S‐transferase [GST], and cytochrome‐P₄₅₀‐reductase [CPR] activities), and low‐grade inflammation (C‐reactive protein [CRP]) were also determined. SAAR decreased body weight, liver weight, food intake, plasma IGF1, and IGFBP3; the effect size diminished with increasing age‐at‐onset. SAAR increased FGF21 and adiponectin, but stress damage markers GRP78 and Xbp1_s/us were unchanged, suggesting that ER stress is hormetic. SAAR increased hepatic GST activity despite lower GSH, but CPR activity was unchanged, indicative of enhanced detoxification capacity. Other stress markers were either uncompromised (CRP, anti‐KLH‐IgM, and DTH) or slightly lower (anti‐KLH‐IgG). Increases in stress markers were similar across all ages‐at‐onset, except for adiponectin, which peaked at 2 months. Overall, SAAR did not compromise stress responses and resulted in maximal benefits with young‐onset. In survival studies, median lifespan extension with initiation at 52 weeks was 7 weeks (p = .05); less than the 33.5‐week extension observed in our previous study with 7‐week initiation. Findings support SAAR translational studies and the need to optimize Met dose based on age‐at‐onset.     

The eyes don't have it: lie detection and Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Proponents of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) claim that certain eye-movements are reliable indicators of lying. According to this notion, a person looking up to their right suggests a lie whereas looking up to their left is indicative of truth telling. Despite widespread belief in this claim, no previous research has examined its validity. In Study 1 the eye movements of participants who were lying or telling the truth were coded, but did not match the NLP patterning. In Study 2 one group of participants were told about the NLP eye-movement hypothesis whilst a second control group were not. Both groups then undertook a lie detection test. No significant differences emerged between the two groups. Study 3 involved coding the eye movements of both liars and truth tellers taking part in high profile press conferences. Once again, no significant differences were discovered. Taken together the results of the three studies fail to support the claims of NLP. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Systems and synthetic biology of the vessel wall

Atherosclerosis is intimately coupled to blood flow by the presence of predilection sites. The coupling is through mechanotransduction of endothelial cells and approximately 2000 gene are associated with this process. This paper describes a new platform to study and identify new signalling pathways in endothelial cells covering an atherosclerotic plaque. The identified networks are synthesized in primary cells to study their reaction to flow. This synthetic approach might lead to new insights and drug targets.     

Infection of Potato Tubers with the Common Scab Pathogen Streptomyces scabiei in a Soil‐less System

A novel soil‐less method was developed to define susceptibility of developing potato tubers accurately to infection with Streptomyces scabiei the causal agent of common scab disease. Hydroponic production enabled precise identification of individual tuber development. Direct inoculation of tubers with a spore suspension of S. scabiei resulted in disease development, demonstrating that infection could be initiated in a soil‐less media. Tubers were most susceptible to infection between 3 and 20 days after tuber initiation, confirming that this early period of tuber formation is critical to disease development.     

Waste management and adult neurogenesis

Dying cells are common in adult neurogenic niches, but how these cells are cleared remains uncertain. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Sierra et al. (2010) show that unactivated microglia assume the role of waste managers to eliminate cellular debris from apoptosing newborn cells in the hippocampus.