Towards a duty of care for biodiversity

The decline in biodiversity is a worldwide phenomenon, with current rates of species extinction more dramatic than any previously recorded. Habitat loss has been identified as the major cause of biodiversity decline. In this article we suggest that a statutory duty of care would complement the current mix of policy options for biodiversity conservation. Obstacles hindering the introduction of a statutory duty of care include linguistic ambiguity about the terms 'duty of care' and 'stewardship' and how they are applied in a natural resource management context, and the absence of a mechanism to guide its implementation. Drawing on international literature and key informant interviews we have articulated characteristics of duty of care to reduce linguistic ambiguity, and developed a framework for implementing a duty of care for biodiversity at the regional scale. The framework draws on key elements of the common law 'duty of care', the concepts of 'taking reasonable care' and 'avoiding foreseeable harm', in its logic. Core elements of the framework include desired outcomes for biodiversity, supported by current recommended practices. The focus on outcomes provides opportunities for the development of innovative management practices. The framework incorporates multiple pathways for the redress of non-compliance including tiered negative sanctions, and positive measures to encourage compliance. Importantly, the framework addresses the need for change and adaptation that is a necessary part of biodiversity management.

Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders

Research on the adoption of rural innovations is reviewed and interpreted through a cross-disciplinary lens to provide practical guidance for research, extension and policy relating to conservation practices. Adoption of innovations by landholders is presented as a dynamic learning process. Adoption depends on a range of personal, social, cultural and economic factors, as well as on characteristics of the innovation itself. Adoption occurs when the landholder perceives that the innovation in question will enhance the achievement of their personal goals. A range of goals is identifiable among landholders, including economic, social and environmental goals. Innovations are more likely to be adopted when they have a high ‘relative advantage’ (perceived superiority to the idea or practice that it supersedes), and when they are readily trialable (easy to test and learn about before adoption). Non-adoption or low adoption of a number of conservation practices is readily explicable in terms of their failure to provide a relative advantage (particularly in economic terms) or a range of difficulties that landholders may have in trialing them.

Protein–Surface Interactions: An Energy-Based Mathematical Model

This article describes an energy-based approach to protein adsorption, focusing on the energies involved in the interactions between a protein and a surface. Mathematical modeling and simulation based on this approach allow an improved understanding of the conditions that favor or prevent adsorption of a protein onto a surface and that can play a significant role in the design of material surfaces that interact with biological tissues according to specific needs. Biocompatibility with respect to fluids in motion, such as blood, is the main foreseeable application of our work. The considered energies are the van der Waals energy, the electrostatic energy, and the hydrophobic or hydrophilic energy. Moreover, the motion of the medium in which particles are immersed is also taken into account, considering the drag effect of the motion of the fluid on the particle, leading to a kinetic contribution to the total energy. It is shown that the adsorption behavior is not mainly determined by the van der Waals energy and by the double layer energy, but that a significant role is also played by the hydrophobic or hydrophilic energy. These results support the findings of experimental studies.

Identification of a mutation in synapsin I, a synaptic vesicle protein, in a family with epilepsy

A four generation family is described in which some men of normal intelligence have epilepsy and others have various combinations of epilepsy, learning difficulties, macrocephaly, and aggressive behaviour. As the phenotype in this family is distinct from other X linked recessive disorders linkage studies were carried out. Linkage analysis was done using X chromosome microsatellite polymorphisms to define the interval containing the causative gene. Genes from within the region were considered possible candidates and one of these, SYN1, was screened for mutations by direct DNA sequencing of amplified products. Microsatellite analysis showed that the region between MAOB (Xp11.3) and DXS1275 (Xq12) segregated with the disease. Two point linkage analysis demonstrated linkage with DXS1039, lod score 4.06 at theta = 0, and DXS991, 3.63 at theta = 0. Candidate gene analysis led to identification of a nonsense mutation in the gene encoding synapsin I that was present in all affected family members and female carriers and was not present in 287 control chromosomes. Synapsin I is a synaptic vesicle associated protein involved in the regulation of synaptogenesis and neurotransmitter release. The SYN1 nonsense mutation that was identified is the likely cause of the phenotype in this family.

Micro and nano-structured surfaces

The study of cell reaction to micro and nanotopography is dependent on the method of manufacture available. Several methods of manufacture have been developed: polymer demixing, embossing and photolithography. Surfaces obtained with these different techniques, having micro and/or nanodomains, have been studied toward the same type of cells, i.e. human endothelial cells (HGTFN) and mouse fibroblasts (3T3). Polymer demixing of polystyrene (PS) and poly(4-bromostyrene) (PBrS) producing nanometrically islands of 18, 45 and 100 nm height, polycarbonate (PC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) grooved with grooves 450 nm wide and 190 high, the natural polysaccharide hyaluronic acid (Hyal) and its sulfated derivative (HyalS) photoimmobilized on silanized glass as grooves 250 nm high and 100, 50, 25 or 10 microm wide have been obtained. The morphology and polarization of the cells has been studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Cells respond in different way to the topography of the materials, but the surface chemistry is dominant in inducing different cell behavior.

Successful umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation for chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) causes growth failure, inflammatory lung damage and often early death. Prophylactic cotrimoxazole improves medium-term survival, but cannot prevent inflammatory sequelae. We report the first patient with CGD who underwent successful HLA identical sibling umbilical cord stem cell transplantation (UCSCT) after myeloablative conditioning. The patient presented with colitis, confirmed as CGD at 2 years of age. Following BU16/CY200 conditioning, he had UCSCT from his unaffected HLA identical sister. A year post-transplant, his colitis had resolved clinically and on radioisotope scan growth has improved. Neutrophil oxidative burst was 92% normal with full donor lymphocyte reconstitution.

Prevalence of R117H mutation in the cationic trypsinogen gene in patients with hereditary pancreatitis

Background

The R117H mutation of the cationic trypsinogen (CT) gene (G to A mutation in exon 3), located on chromosome 7q35, is one of the known mutations that is linked to hereditary pancreatitis (HP) and is thought to alter a trypsin recognition site responsible for the breakdown of inappropriately activated trypsinogen so resulting in pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this mutation in patients with HP and to correlate presence of the mutation with disease characteristics.

Methods

Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the third exon of the CT gene was performed on blood DNA. This was digested by the restriction endonuclease Afl III and fragments were sized by agarose gel electrophoresis. Haplotype analysis was carried out using three short tandem repeat markers in the region of the CT gene.

Results

Seven discrete families with HP (three to seven generations) were identified (22 affected individuals). The mutation was present in individuals from three of the seven families. It was absent in all affected individuals from the other four families. A higher proportion of patients requiring pancreatic surgery was seen in families expressing this mutation (eight of 14 versus one of eight, P = 0·016). Mean(s.d.) age of onset was similar in both groups (7·9(5·8) versus 6·3(10·1) years, P = 0·13). In the affected families, the same high-risk haplotype was present in two families, suggesting a common ancestor. The third family carried a unique haplotype.

Conclusion

A single G to A mutation in the third exon of the CT gene was found in three families with HP originating from this region and appears to be associated with more severe disease. Further work is being undertaken to analyse the CT gene more fully in families in which this common first mutation was not identified.

CAMPATH-1M T-cell depleted BMT for SCID: long-term follow-up of 19 children treated 1987-98 in a single center

BACKGROUND

SCID can be cured by BMT. Depletion of mature T cells from BM has enabled HLA non-identical stem-cell transplantation. We report the outcome of 30 patients treated with 37 T-cell depleted BMT procedures using CAMPATH-1M in vitro between 1987-98 in a single center.

METHODS

Immune reconstitution and quality-of-life were assessed in 19 longterm survivors. All but two received pre-transplant conditioning. T- and B-cell chimerism, numbers and function were analyzed during a median follow-up of 5.3 years (range 1.33-12).

RESULTS

The overall engraftment rate was 59%, six children required repeated BMT and the survival rate was 63%. All have donor T cells, 58% normal T-cell numbers and 74% normal T-cell function. Of 17 evaluated, 16 patients (94%) have normal IgM and IgG levels, and production of specific Abs to protein Ags, but only 5/16 (31%) have a good response to pneumococcal polysaccharide. Early and late post-BMT complications were rare and there were no delayed deaths. Only one child continues on long-term i.v. Ig 4-years post-BMT. Eleven children died (37%).

DISCUSSION

CAMPATH-1M T-cell depleted BMT for SCID resulted in 63% survival. Deaths of 11 children were mainly due to pre-existing infections. Seventeen of 19 long-term survivors have normal immune function and good quality-of-life.