A decision support tool for response to global change in marine systems: the IMBER‐ADApT Framework

Global change is occurring now, often with consequences far beyond those anticipated. Although there is a wide range of assessment approaches available to address‐specific aspects of global change, there is currently no framework to identify what governance responses have worked and where, what has facilitated change and what preventative options are possible. To respond to this need, we present an integrated assessment framework that builds on knowledge learned from past experience of responses to global change in marine systems, to enable decision‐makers, researchers, managers and local stakeholders to: (i) make decisions efficiently; (ii) triage and improve their responses; and (iii) evaluate where to most effectively allocate resources to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience of coastal people. This integrated assessment framework, IMBER‐ADApT is intended to enable and enhance decision‐making through the development, a typology of case‐studies providing lessons on how the natural, social and governance systems respond to the challenges of global change. The typology is developed from a database of case‐studies detailing the systems affected by change, responses to change and, critically, an appraisal of these responses, generating knowledge‐based solutions that can be applied to other comparable situations. Fisheries, which suffer from multiple pressures, are the current focus of the proposed framework, but it could be applied to a wide range of global change issues. IMBER‐ADApT has the potential to contribute to timely, cost‐effective policy and governing decision‐making and response. It offers cross‐scale learning to help ameliorate, and eventually prevent, loss of livelihoods, food sources and habitat.     

Treatment of chenevotte, a co-product of industrial hemp fiber, by water or hydrochloric acid: impact on polymer mobility in the lignified cell walls

The impact of water- and of mild acid impregnation with hydrochloric acid (HCl) on the viscoelastic and breaking properties of woody hemp core (chenevotte) was studied from the polymer to the macroscale level. We have shown that transition temperature (T _g) values of lignin and hemicelluloses were not affected by the acid treatment, whereas the relaxation mechanism of hemicelluloses, expressed by the apparent activation energy, was modified. The opposite impacts were observed in the water extraction. Changes in the sample strength were also noted, as the chenevotte treated with mild HCl became more brittle, as opposed to the samples extracted with water. It is suggested here that the moderate HCl treatment impacts chenevotte micro- and macro-properties through acid depolymerization of polysaccharides and extraction of low molecular mass entities, whereas water immersion contributes solely to the later mechanism.     

In Vitro Chemopreventive Potential of Phlorotannins-Rich Extract from Brown Algae by Inhibition of Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced P2X7 Activation and Toxic Effects

Phlorotannins are polyphenols occurring exclusively in some species of brown algae, known for numerous biological activities, e.g., antioxidant, antiproliferative, antidiabetic, and antiallergic properties. Their effects on the response of human lung cells to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) has not been characterized. Our objective was to in vitro evaluate the effects of a phlorotannin-rich extract obtained from the brown algae Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus on B[a]P cytotoxic effects. The A549 cell line was incubated with B[a]P for 48 and 72 h in the presence or absence of the brown algae extract. Cytochrome P450 activity, activation of P2X7 receptor, F-actin disorganization, and loss of E-cadherin expression were assessed using microplate cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Relative to control, incubation with the brown algae extract was associated with lower B[a]P-induced CYP1 activity, lower P2X7 receptor activation, and lower reactive oxygen species production. The brown algae extract inhibited the alterations of F-actin arrangement and the downregulation of E-cadherin expression. We identified a phlorotannins-rich extract that could be deeper investigated as a cancer chemopreventive agent to block B[a]P-mediated carcinogenesis.     

Major phenolic compounds in olive oil modulate bone loss in an ovariectomy/inflammation experimental model

This study was conducted to determine whether the daily consumption for 84 days of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, the main olive oil phenolic compounds, and olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW), a byproduct of olive oil production, rich in micronutrients, may improve bone loss in ovariectomized rats (an experimental model of postmenopausal osteoporosis) and in ovariectomized rats with granulomatosis inflammation (a model set up for senile osteoporosis). As expected, an induced chronic inflammation provoked further bone loss at total, metaphyseal, and diaphyseal sites in ovariectomized rats. Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol prevented this osteopenia by increasing bone formation ( p < 0.05), probably because of their antioxidant properties. The two doses of OMWW extracts had the same protective effect on bone ( p < 0.05), whereas OMWW did not reverse established osteopenia. In conclusion, polyphenol consumption seems to be an interesting way to prevent bone loss.     

Requirement for caspase-2 in stress-induced apoptosis before mitochondrial permeabilization

A current view is that cytotoxic stress, such as DNA damage, induces apoptosis by regulating the permeability of mitochondria. Mitochondria sequester several proteins that, if released, kill by activating caspases, the proteases that disassemble the cell. Cytokines activate caspases in a different way, by assembling receptor complexes that activate caspases directly; in this case, the subsequent mitochondrial permeabilization accelerates cell disassembly by amplifying caspase activity. We found that cytotoxic stress causes activation of caspase-2, and that this caspase is required for the permeabilization of mitochondria. Therefore, we argue that cytokine-induced and stress-induced apoptosis act through conceptually similar pathways in which mitochondria are amplifiers of caspase activity rather than initiators of caspase activation.     

Larval instars determination for the European Grapevine Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) based on the frequency distribution of head-capsule widths

Morphological measurements such as head-capsule (HC) width can be very useful and accessible tools that may be employed for classifying Lepidopteran larval instars according to stage of life history. The availability of such measures is crucial in the management of larval pests, because their control relies upon making accurate assessment of the life history stage at which larvae has reached in various environmental conditions. Such forecasts are then used in order to estimate the timing of emergence for future adult populations. Previous studies investigated the use of head-capsule widths from field larvae of European Grapevine Moth (EGVM), Lobesia botrana Den. and Schiff., to describe the distributions of the five instars during three generations of the insect. The observations were performed in 1998 and 2002 in a vineyard near Bordeaux. The results presented here increase the scope of earlier methods by providing statistical confidence. Our method was calibrated on a large number of individuals (N = 552) issued from our insect culture and uses a nonlinear least-squares parameter estimation to describe the distribution of each larval instar inside each generation. The model was tested on a wild larval population (n = 3007) occurring in our experimental vineyard during two complete years. The instar class ranges and boundaries were characterized with the associated probabilities of misclassification. A final classification statistical model is developed for each instar and each generation. From this study, we conclude that larval HC sizes increase statistically according to the generation of the year, and thus is influenced by grape phenology.     

Mapping the drivers of parasitic weed abundance at a national scale: a new approach applied to Striga asiatica in the mid-west of Madagascar

The parasitic weed genus Striga causes huge losses to crop production in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated to be in excess of $7 billion per year. There is a paucity of reliable distribution data for Striga; however, such data are urgently needed to understand current drivers, better target control efforts, as well as to predict future risks. To address this, we developed a methodology to enable rapid, large-scale monitoring of Striga populations. We used this approach to uncover the factors that currently drive the abundance and distribution of Striga asiatica in Madagascar. Two long-distance transects were established across the middle-west region of Madagascar in which S. asiatica abundance in fields adjacent to the road was estimated. Management, crop structure and soil data were also collected. Analysis of the data suggests that crop variety, companion crop and previous crop were correlated with Striga density. A positive relationship between within-field Striga density and the density of the nearest neighbouring fields indicates that spatial configuration and connectivity of suitable habitats is also important in determining Striga spread. Our results demonstrate that we are able to capture distribution and management data for Striga density at a landscape scale and use this to understand the ecological and agronomic drivers of abundance. The importance of crop varieties and cropping patterns is significant, as these are key socio-economic elements of Malagasy cropping practices. Therefore, they have the potential to be promoted as readily available control options, rather than novel technologies requiring introduction.     

大豆重迎茬条件下土壤多糖提取时间及含量比较研究

本文对大豆重迎茬条件下土壤多糖的含量,土壤多糖提取条件进行了探讨,研究发现,不同的提取时间对土壤多糖提取量的多少影响很大,通过我们确定了最佳的提取时间。在研究中我们还发现大豆重迎茬的时间长短对土壤多糖含量影响是不一样的。随着重茬时间的延长土壤多的含量降低。同时我们还研究了土壤多糖与土壤团粒结构关系。研究中土壤多地土壤的团粒结构也产生不利的影响,使土壤结构趋于恶化,从而影响了大豆产量。     

Stabilization of aroma compounds through sorption-release by packaging polymers

Plastic packaging materials are often associated to aroma losses and to a decrease of the organoleptic quality of foods. This work defines situations where, on the contrary, plastics play a regulating role on the concentration of reactive aroma compounds in foods. These systems can be described by a two step mechanism; first, aroma is sorbed in the polymer, while the fraction in solution degrades quickly; in a second step, as the concentration is close to zero in the solution, the polymer liberates progressively the sorbed aroma back to the food. A simple numerical model is proposed, describing competitive processes of aroma degradation in solution and sorption by a polymer in contact with a homogeneous aqueous food. The classical limonene/low density polyethylene (LDPE) system is studied experimentally for the validation of the model: in an acidic medium, limonene both degrades quickly and is sorbed quickly, with a large solubility in LDPE. To define which aroma packaging systems could also display this interesting behavior, all types of possible interactions, using thermodynamic and kinetic parameters describing most practical situations, are simulated. For that purpose, 35 values of reference diffusion coefficients and 35 partition coefficients of usual aroma compounds between polymers and water have been measured and combined with the few available data from literature. The situations where polymers regulate the aroma concentration in food correspond to large partition coefficients (above 10), large diffusion coefficients (>10(-9) cm2 x s(-1)), and large degradation constants.