High Moisture-Barrier Performance of Double-Layer Graphene Enabled by Conformal and Clean Transfer.

Graphene films that can theoretically block almost all molecules have emerged as promising candidate materials for moisture barrier films in the applications of organic photonic devices and gas storage. However, the current barrier performance of graphene films does not reach the ideal value. Here, we reveal that the interlayer distance of the large-area stacked multilayer graphene is the key factor that suppresses water permeation. We show that by minimizing the gap between the two monolayers, the water vapor transmission rate of double-layer graphene can be as low as 5 × 10-3 g/(m2 d) over an A4-sized region. The high barrier performance was achieved by the absence of interfacial contamination and conformal contact between graphene layers during layer-by-layer transfer. Our work reveals the moisture permeation mechanism through graphene layers, and with this approach, we can tailor the interlayer coupling of manually stacked two-dimensional materials for new physics and applications.

Land use diversification may mitigate on-site land use impacts on mammal populations and assemblages.

Land use is a major cause of biodiversity decline worldwide. Agricultural and forestry diversification measures, such as the inclusion of natural elements or diversified crop types, may reduce impacts on biodiversity. However, the extent to which such measures may compensate for the negative impacts of land use remains unknown. To fill that gap, we synthesised data from 99 studies that recorded mammal populations or assemblages in natural reference sites and in cropland and forest plantations, with or without diversification measures. We quantified the responses to diversification measures based on individual species abundance, species richness and assemblage intactness as quantified by the mean species abundance indicator. In cropland with natural elements, mammal species abundance and richness were, on average, similar to natural conditions, while in cropland without natural elements they were reduced by 28% and 34%, respectively. We found that mammal species richness was comparable between diversified forest plantations and natural reference sites, and 32% lower in plantations without natural elements. In both cropland and plantations, assemblage intactness was reduced compared with natural reference conditions, but the reduction was smaller if diversification measures were in place. In addition, we found that responses to land use were modified by species traits and environmental context. While habitat specialist populations were reduced in cropland without diversification and in forest plantations, habitat generalists benefited. Furthermore, assemblages were impacted more by land use in tropical regions and landscapes containing a larger share of (semi)natural habitat compared with temperate regions and more converted landscapes. Given that mammal assemblage intactness is reduced also when diversification measures are in place, special attention should be directed to species that suffer from land use impacts. That said, our results suggest potential for reconciling land use and mammal conservation, provided that the diversification measures do not compromise yield.

Reconciling global priorities for conserving biodiversity habitat.

Degradation and loss of natural habitat is the major driver of the current global biodiversity crisis. Most habitat conservation efforts to date have targeted small areas of highly threatened habitat, but emerging debate suggests that retaining large intact natural systems may be just as important. We reconcile these perspectives by integrating fine-resolution global data on habitat condition and species assemblage turnover to identify Earth's high-value biodiversity habitat. These are areas in better condition than most other locations predicted to have once supported a similar assemblage of species and are found within both intact regions and human-dominated landscapes. However, only 18.6% of this high-value habitat is currently protected globally. Averting permanent biodiversity loss requires clear, spatially explicit targets for retaining these unprotected high-value habitats.

The in-vitro effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormones, GnRH-I and GnRH-II, on the motility, vitality and acrosome integrity of Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) spermatozoa.

Two isoforms of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), GnRH-I and GnRH-II, are expressed in mammals, and the presence of one or more GnRH-like peptides has been demonstrated in the male reproductive tract. GnRH and its receptors (GnRHR) are present in human and non-human primate testis, prostate, epididymis, seminal vesicle, spermatozoa and seminal human plasma. GnRH-II is site-specific and acts directly in an inhibitory or stimulatory fashion. Previous studies speculated that GnRH-II could disrupt specific sperm processes, such as sperm motility or capacitation and could be utilized as an effective contraceptive agent. Our study aimed to investigate the in-vitro effects of GnRH-I and GnRH-II on Vervet monkey sperm function. Electro-ejaculated semen samples from 10 Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) were used to select motile sperm populations. Sperm aliquots were incubated with GnRH-I and GnRH-II at different concentrations for 1 h, where after sperm motility and kinematic parameters were assessed using the automated Sperm Class Analyser. Additional sperm aliquots were incubated with two 10-amino acid control peptides, a non-related peptide and an inactive peptide to exclude the possible influence on sperm motility from other peptides with a structure similar to GnRH. Additionally, a GnRHR-I antagonist (GnRHR-A), Cetrorelix, was tested to establish its antagonistic capability on GnRH. The effect of selected concentrations of GnRH-I and GnRH-II on sperm vitality and acrosome intactness was also evaluated after 10- and 60 min exposure. Analysis of the percentage total sperm motility revealed that different concentrations for GnRH-I and GnRH-II inhibited sperm motility significantly. While sperm progressiveness was also notably affected and a trend of decreased sperm kinematics were evident, no effect was found on sperm vitality or acrosome intactness. The non-related and inactive peptides had no impact on sperm motility. The GnRHR-A demonstrated no effect on sperm motility and effectively blocked the inhibitory outcome on the motility of both GnRH isoforms. While GnRH-I or GnRH-II at low-dose concentrations resulted in in-vitro inhibition of sperm motility, it appears to have no adverse effects on other sperm functional parameters evaluated. These collective observations possibly indicate an essential role for GnRH in the in-vivo process of sperm selection in the female reproductive tract.

Evaluating the Intactness of Persistent Viral Genomes in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Macaques after Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy within One Year of Infection.

The major obstacle to more-definitive treatment for HIV infection is the early establishment of virus that persists despite long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and can cause recrudescent viremia if cART is interrupted. Previous studies of HIV DNA that persists despite cART indicated that only a small fraction of persistent viral sequences was intact. Experimental simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections of nonhuman primates (NHPs) are essential models for testing interventions designed to reduce the viral reservoir. We studied the viral genomic integrity of virus that persists during cART under conditions typical of many NHP reservoir studies, specifically with cART started within 1 year postinfection and continued for at least 9 months. The fraction of persistent DNA in SIV-infected NHPs starting cART during acute or chronic infection was assessed with a multiamplicon, real-time PCR assay designed to analyze locations that are regularly spaced across the viral genome to maximize coverage (collectively referred to as "tile assay") combined with near-full-length (nFL) single-genome sequencing. The tile assay is used to rapidly screen for major deletions, with nFL sequence analysis used to identify additional potentially inactivating mutations. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from animals started on cART within 1 month of infection, sampled at least 9 months after cART initiation, contained at least 80% intact genomes, whereas those from animals started on cART 1 year postinfection and treated for 1 year contained intact genomes only 47% of the time. The most common defect identified was large deletions, with the remaining defects caused by APOBEC-mediated mutations, frameshift mutations, and inactivating point mutations. Overall, this approach can be used to assess the intactness of persistent viral DNA in NHPs.IMPORTANCE Molecularly defining the viral reservoir that persists despite antiretroviral therapy and that can lead to rebound viremia if antiviral therapy is removed is critical for testing interventions aimed at reducing this reservoir. In HIV infection in humans with delayed treatment initiation and extended treatment duration, persistent viral DNA has been shown to be dominated by nonfunctional genomes. Using multiple real-time PCR assays across the genome combined with near-full-genome sequencing, we defined SIV genetic integrity after 9 to 18 months of combination antiretroviral therapy in rhesus macaques starting therapy within 1 year of infection. In the animals starting therapy within a month of infection, the vast majority of persistent DNA was intact and presumptively functional. Starting therapy within 1 year increased the nonintact fraction of persistent viral DNA. The approach described here allows rapid screening of viral intactness and is a valuable tool for assessing the efficacy of novel reservoir-reducing interventions.

Global human influence maps reveal clear opportunities in conserving Earth's remaining intact terrestrial ecosystems.

Leading up to the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties 15, there is momentum around setting bold conservation targets. Yet, it remains unclear how much of Earth's land area remains without significant human influence and where this land is located. We compare four recent global maps of human influences across Earth's land, Anthromes, Global Human Modification, Human Footprint and Low Impact Areas, to answer these questions. Despite using various methodologies and data, these different spatial assessments independently estimate similar percentages of the Earth's terrestrial surface as having very low (20%-34%) and low (48%-56%) human influence. Three out of four spatial assessments agree on 46% of the non-permanent ice- or snow-covered land as having low human influence. However, much of the very low and low influence portions of the planet are comprised of cold (e.g., boreal forests, montane grasslands and tundra) or arid (e.g., deserts) landscapes. Only four biomes (boreal forests, deserts, temperate coniferous forests and tundra) have a majority of datasets agreeing that at least half of their area has very low human influence. More concerning, <1% of temperate grasslands, tropical coniferous forests and tropical dry forests have very low human influence across most datasets, and tropical grasslands, mangroves and montane grasslands also have <1% of land identified as very low influence across all datasets. These findings suggest that about half of Earth's terrestrial surface has relatively low human influence and offers opportunities for proactive conservation actions to retain the last intact ecosystems on the planet. However, though the relative abundance of ecosystem areas with low human influence varies widely by biome, conserving these last intact areas should be a high priority before they are completely lost.

Can agricultural intensification help to conserve biodiversity? A scenario study for the African continent.

Globally, the production of food, feed, bioenergy, and biomaterials has increased considerably during the past decades. This was achieved by the expansion of agricultural land and the intensification of agricultural management. Due to the conversion of natural ecosystems and the increasing use of pesticides and fertilizers, these processes are recognized as important causes of biodiversity loss. This study focuses on the African continent and analyses the potentials to achieve a stable food provision for a growing population, and at the same time, reduce further losses of biodiversity. These targets are important elements of the UN Agenda 2030. Using the spatially explicit land-use model LandSHIFT, we assessed the effectiveness of different land-sparing and land-sharing strategies to achieve these targets until the year 2030. The simulation results indicate that under the assumptions tested, the land sparing approach yields the most desirable results both, on the continental and the regional level. However, the land sharing/sparing framework in general, and the research presented here only analyse the effect of two factors of many (food production and biodiversity conservation). Hence, this study should not be understood to provide specific management recommendations. Further studies, from the regional to the local level, are required that apply a systems approach to understand and explain the multiple dimensions of sustainable food production on the African continent.

Assessing the impacts of livestock production on biodiversity in rangeland ecosystems.

Biodiversity in rangelands is decreasing, due to intense utilization for livestock production and conversion of rangeland into cropland; yet the outlook of rangeland biodiversity has not been considered in view of future global demand for food. Here we assess the impact of future livestock production on the global rangelands area and their biodiversity. First we formalized existing knowledge about livestock grazing impacts on biodiversity, expressed in mean species abundance (MSA) of the original rangeland native species assemblages, through metaanalysis of peer-reviewed literature. MSA values, ranging from 1 in natural rangelands to 0.3 in man-made grasslands, were entered in the IMAGE-GLOBIO model. This model was used to assess the impact of change in food demand and livestock production on future rangeland biodiversity. The model revealed remarkable regional variation in impact on rangeland area and MSA between two agricultural production scenarios. The area of used rangelands slightly increases globally between 2000 and 2050 in the baseline scenario and reduces under a scenario of enhanced uptake of resource-efficient production technologies increasing production [high levels of agricultural knowledge, science, and technology (high-AKST)], particularly in Africa. Both scenarios suggest a global decrease in MSA for rangelands until 2050. The contribution of livestock grazing to MSA loss is, however, expected to diminish after 2030, in particular in Africa under the high-AKST scenario. Policies fostering agricultural intensification can reduce the overall pressure on rangeland biodiversity, but additional measures, addressing factors such as climate change and infrastructural development, are necessary to totally halt biodiversity loss.

Association of CagPAI integrity with severeness of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastritis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) is involved in delivery of CagA effector protein and peptidoglycan into host cells and also in IL-8 induction in the human gastric tissue. Diversity of cagPAI may affect disease status and clinical outcome of the infected patients. Our study was aimed to investigate diversity of this island and its intactness in Iranian patients to investigate possible associations between cagPAI integrity and pathological changes of the infected tissue. MATERIAL/PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of the 75 patients, H. pylori strains were obtained from 30 patients with severe active gastritis (SAG) (n=11), moderate chronic gastritis (CG) (n=14) and intestinal metaplasia/dysplasia (IM) (n=5). Intactness of the cagPAI was determined using 12 sets of primer pairs specific for functionally important loci of cagPAI by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The cagPAI positive strains were significantly observed in patients with SAG (52.4%) in comparison to those presenting CG (33.3%) and IM (14.3%). In addition, the presence of intact cagPAI was 87.5% in H. pylori strains isolated from patients with SAG, which was higher than those obtained from patients with CG (12.5%) or IM (0%). A significant increase in the frequency of cagα-cagY and cagW-cagT segments, as exterior proteins of the CagPAI, was illustrated in strains from SAG patients compared with those from patients with CG. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results strongly proposed an association between the severity of histopathological changes and intactness of cagPAI in the gastric tissue of patients infected with H. pylori.

Glycerol-Free Equilibration with the Addition of Glycerol Shortly before the Freezing Procedure: A Perspective Strategy for Cryopreservation of Wallachian Ram Sperm.

This study investigated the effect of glycerol added in different phases of sperm equilibration on CASA and flow cytometry parameters of thawed ram spermatozoa. Sperm was collected from adult Wallachian rams. The freezing extender was glycerol-free ANDROMED® (Minitub GmbH, Tiefenbach, Germany) supplied by 6% exogenous glycerol at different stages of the cryopreservation process. The purpose of this study was to compare two strategies of glycerol addition for sperm cryopreservation. The first strategy included the use of a glycerol-free extender for the procedure of glycerol-free equilibration and chilling, with the glycerolation of the extender by 6% glycerol shortly before sperm slow freezing (GFA). The second strategy included the use of a freezing extender already glycerolated by 6% glycerol before the equilibration and chilling of sperm and following slow freezing (GA). Sperm samples were analyzed after equilibration (but before freezing) and after thawing (at T0, T1 h, and T2 h time points). iSperm® mCASA (Aidmics Biotechnology Co., LTD., Taipei, Taiwan) was used for the evaluation of sperm kinematics. Flow cytometry was used to measure sperm viability (plasma membrane/acrosome intactness) and mitochondrial membrane potential. The obtained results significantly demonstrated that the glycerol-free equilibration with the addition of glycerol shortly before freezing is a perspective strategy for cryopreservation of Wallachian ram sperm.

Ecological integrity and conservation challenges in a rapidly changing Arctic: A call for new approaches in large intact landscapes.

Intactness is a commonly used measure of ecological integrity, especially when evaluating conservation status at the landscape scale. We argue that in the large and relatively unfragmented landscapes of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, intactness provides only partial insight for managers charged with maintaining ecological integrity. A recent landscape assessment suggests that 95% of Alaska shows no measured direct or indirect impacts of human development on the landscape. However, the current exceptionally high levels of intactness in Alaska, and throughout the Arctic and sub-Arctic, do not adequately reflect impacts to the region's ecological integrity caused by indirect stressors, such as a rapidly changing climate and the subsequent loss of the cryosphere. Thus, it can be difficult to measure, and manage, some of the conservation challenges presented by the ecological context of these systems. The dominant drivers of change, and their associated ecological and socioeconomic impacts, vary as systems decline in ecological integrity from very high to high, and to intermediate levels, but this is not well understood in the literature. Arctic and sub-Arctic systems, as well as other large intact areas, provide unique opportunities for conservation planning, but require tools and approaches appropriate to unfragmented landscapes undergoing rapid climate-driven ecological transformation. We conclude with possible directions for developing more appropriate metrics for measuring ecological integrity in these systems.

Transport of marine tracer phage particles in soil.

Marine phages have been applied to trace ground- and surface water flows. Yet, information on their transport in soil and related particle intactness is limited. Here we compared the breakthrough of two lytic marine tracer phages (Pseudoalteromonas phages PSA-HM1 and PSA-HS2) with the commonly used Escherichia virus T4 in soil- and sand-filled laboratory percolation columns. All three phages showed high mass recoveries in the effluents and a higher transport velocity than non-reactive tracer Br-. Comparison of effluent gene copy numbers (CN) to physically-determined phage particle counts or infectious phage counts showed that PSA-HM1 and PSA-HS2 retained high phage particle intactness (Ip > 81%), in contrast to T4 (Ip < 36%). Our data suggest that marine phages may be applied in soil to mimic the transport of (bio-) colloids or anthropogenic nanoparticles of similar traits. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) thereby allows for highly sensitive quantification and thus for the detection of even highly diluted marine tracer phages in environmental samples.

Long-Term Increase in Cholesterol Is Associated With Better Cognitive Function: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study.

Background: Higher visit-to-visit cholesterol has been associated with cognitive decline. However, the association between long-term increase or decrease in cholesterol and cognitive decline remains unclear. Methods: A total of 4,915 participants aged ≥45 years with normal cognition in baseline were included. The participants were divided into four groups, namely low-low, low-high, high-low, and high-high, according to the diagnostic thresholds of total cholesterol (TC), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) after 4 years of follow-up. Cognitive function was assessed by episodic memory and mental intactness. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the association of cholesterol variation with cognitive decline. Results: Among the participants, 979 (19.9%) experienced global cognitive decline. The odds ratio (OR) of global cognitive and memory function decline were remarkably lower in participants in the low-high NHDL-C group than those in the low-low group [OR and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50 [0.26-0.95] for global cognitive decline, 0.45 [0.25-0.82] for memory function decline]. The lower OR was also significant in females (OR [95% CI]: 0.38 [0.17-0.87] for global cognitive decline; 0.44 [0.19-0.97] for memory function decline) and participants without cardiovascular disease (OR [95% CI]: 0.31 [0.11-0.87] for global cognitive decline; 0.34 [0.14-0.83] for memory function decline). The increases in other cholesterol were also negatively associated with the risk of cognitive decline although not significantly. Conclusions: A longitudinal increase in NHDL-C may be protective for cognition in females or individuals without cardiovascular disease.

Cell Wall Integrity of Pulse Modulates the in Vitro Fecal Fermentation Rate and Microbiota Composition.

The physical structure of type 1 resistant starch (RS 1) could influence the metabolite production and stimulate the growth of specific bacteria in the human colon. In the present study, we isolated intact cotyledon cells from pinto bean seeds as whole pulse food and RS 1 model and obtained a series of cell wall integrities through controlled enzymolysis. In vitro human fecal fermentation performance and microbiota responses were tested, and we reported that the cell wall integrity controls the in vitro fecal fermentation rate of heat-treated pinto bean cells. The concentration of butyrate produced by pinto bean cell fermentation enhanced with weakened cell wall integrity, and certain beneficial bacterial groups such as Blautia and Roseburia genera were remarkably promoted by pinto bean cells with damaged cell wall integrity. However, the intact cell sample had a shape more similar to microbiota composition with the purified cell wall polysaccharides, rather than the damaged cells.

High Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in Iranian Helicobacter pylori Isolates: Importance of Functional and Mutational Analysis of Resistance Genes and Virulence Genotyping.

The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori has become a great challenge in Iran. The genetic mutations that contribute to the resistance have yet to be precisely identified. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and virulence markers in Iranian H. pylori isolates and to analyze if there is any association between resistance and genotype. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 68 H. pylori isolates were investigated against metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and tetracycline by the agar dilution method. The frxA, rdxA, gyrA, gyrB, and 23S rRNA genes of the isolates were sequenced. The virulence genotypes were also determined using PCR. Metronidazole resistance was present in 82.4% of the isolates, followed by clarithromycin (33.8%), ciprofloxacin (33.8%), rifampicin (32.4%), amoxicillin (30.9%), levofloxacin (27.9%), and tetracycline (4.4%). Overall, 75% of the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics tested and considered as a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. Most of the metronidazole-resistant isolates carried frameshift mutations in both frxA and rdxA genes, and premature termination occurred in positions Q5Stop and Q50Stop, respectively. Amino acid substitutions M191I, G208E, and V199A were predominantly found in gyrA gene of fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates. A2143G and C2195T mutations of 23S rRNA were found in four clarithromycin-resistant isolates. Interestingly, significant associations were found between resistance to metronidazole (MNZ) and cagA-, sabA-, and dupA-positive genotypes, with p = 0.0002, p = 0.0001, and p = 0.0001, respectively. Furthermore, a significant association was found between oipA "on" status and resistance to amoxicillin (AMX) (p = 0.02). The prevalence of H. pylori antibiotic resistance is high in our region, particularly that of metronidazole, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and MDR. Simultaneous screening of virulence and resistance genotypes can help clinicians to choose the appropriate therapeutic regime against H. pylori infection.

The Location and Protection Status of Earth's Diminishing Marine Wilderness.

As human activities increasingly threaten biodiversity [1, 2], areas devoid of intense human impacts are vital refugia [3]. These wilderness areas contain high genetic diversity, unique functional traits, and endemic species [4-7]; maintain high levels of ecological and evolutionary connectivity [8-10]; and may be well placed to resist and recover from the impacts of climate change [11-13]. On land, rapid declines in wilderness [3] have led to urgent calls for its protection [3, 14]. In contrast, little is known about the extent and protection of marine wilderness [4, 5]. Here we systematically map marine wilderness globally by identifying areas that have both very little impact (lowest 10%) from 15 anthropogenic stressors and also a very low combined cumulative impact from these stressors. We discover that ∼13% of the ocean meets this definition of global wilderness, with most being located in the high seas. Recognizing that human influence differs across ocean regions, we repeat the analysis within each of the 16 ocean realms [15]. Realm-specific wilderness extent varies considerably, with >16 million km2 (8.6%) in the Warm Indo-Pacific, down to <2,000 km2 (0.5%) in Temperate Southern Africa. We also show that the marine protected area estate holds only 4.9% of global wilderness and 4.1% of realm-specific wilderness, very little of which is in biodiverse ecosystems such as coral reefs. Proactive retention of marine wilderness should now be incorporated into global strategies aimed at conserving biodiversity and ensuring that large-scale ecological and evolutionary processes continue. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

A Prospective Study on the Association between Uric Acid and Cognitive Function among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Uric acid (UA) is a powerful antioxidant that may have neuroprotective properties, yet it is also a risk factor of vascular disease that predisposes individuals to cognitive impairment. Results from longitudinal studies on UA and cognitive decline remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations of baseline plasma UA level with follow-up cognitive function as well as cognitive decline over time among a large sample of middle-aged and older Chinese. METHODS: Data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were used. Cognitive function, including episodic memory, mental intactness, and global cognition, were tested twice with 2-year interval. Plasma UA was measured at baseline. Basic demographics, life habits, and health status were considered as potential confounders. Multiple linear regression models and mixed-effects regression models were fitted. RESULTS: A total of 12,798 individuals aged above 45 years were eligible with the follow-up time ranging from 1.33 to 2.42 years. Both global cognitive function and mental intactness declined, while episodic memory remained stable over time. In multiple linear regression models, compared with the lowest baseline UA level, 3rd baseline UA quartile was associated with better follow-up global cognitive function (b = 0.425, p = 0.041) and episodic memory (b = 0.413, p = 0.004), and highest baseline UA quartile was associated with better follow-up mental intactness (b = 0.253, p = 0.041) in males; highest baseline UA level was associated with better follow-up cognition for each measure (b = 0.281∼0.768, p≤0.046) in females. Mixed-effects regression models suggested no significant baseline UA-by-time interactions on any cognitive measure. CONCLUSION: Higher baseline UA level was associated with better cognition in later life but not with rates of cognitive decline among middle-aged and older Chinese.

The last frontiers of wilderness: Tracking loss of intact forest landscapes from 2000 to 2013.

An intact forest landscape (IFL) is a seamless mosaic of forest and naturally treeless ecosystems with no remotely detected signs of human activity and a minimum area of 500 km2. IFLs are critical for stabilizing terrestrial carbon storage, harboring biodiversity, regulating hydrological regimes, and providing other ecosystem functions. Although the remaining IFLs comprise only 20% of tropical forest area, they account for 40% of the total aboveground tropical forest carbon. We show that global IFL extent has been reduced by 7.2% since the year 2000. An increasing rate of global IFL area reduction was found, largely driven by the tripling of IFL tropical forest loss in 2011-2013 compared to that in 2001-2003. Industrial logging, agricultural expansion, fire, and mining/resource extraction were the primary causes of IFL area reduction. Protected areas (International Union for Conservation of Nature categories I to III) were found to have a positive effect in slowing the reduction of IFL area from timber harvesting but were less effective in limiting agricultural expansion. The certification of logging concessions under responsible management had a negligible impact on slowing IFL fragmentation in the Congo Basin. Fragmentation of IFLs by logging and establishment of roads and other infrastructure initiates a cascade of changes that lead to landscape transformation and loss of conservation values. Given that only 12% of the global IFL area is protected, our results illustrate the need for planning and investment in carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation efforts that target the most valuable remaining forests, as identified using the IFL approach.

What Predicts Adolescent Delinquent Behavior in Hong Kong? A Longitudinal Study of Personal and Family Factors.

Using four waves of data from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 (N = 3328 students at Wave 1), this study examined the development of delinquent behavior and its relationships with economic disadvantage, family non-intactness, family quality of life (i.e., family functioning) and personal well-being (i.e., positive youth development) among Hong Kong adolescents. Individual growth curve models revealed that delinquent behavior increased during this period, and adolescents living in non-intact families (vs. intact families) reported higher initial levels of delinquent behavior while those living in poor families (vs. non-poor families) showed a greater increase in delinquent behavior. In addition, with the demographic factors controlled, the initial levels of family quality of life and personal well-being were negatively associated with the initial level of delinquent behavior, but positively associated with the growth rate of delinquent behavior. Regression analyses showed that family quality of life and personal well-being were related to the overall delinquent behavior concurrently at Wave 4. However, Wave 1 family quality of life and personal well-being did not predict Wave 4 delinquent behavior with the initial level of delinquent behavior controlled. Lastly, we discussed the role of economic disadvantage and family non-intactness as risk factors and family functioning and positive youth development as protective well-being factors in the development of adolescent well-being indexed by delinquent behavior.

Catastrophic Declines in Wilderness Areas Undermine Global Environment Targets.

Humans have altered terrestrial ecosystems for millennia [1], yet wilderness areas still remain as vital refugia where natural ecological and evolutionary processes operate with minimal human disturbance [2-4], underpinning key regional- and planetary-scale functions [5, 6]. Despite the myriad values of wilderness areas-as critical strongholds for endangered biodiversity [7], for carbon storage and sequestration [8], for buffering and regulating local climates [9], and for supporting many of the world's most politically and economically marginalized communities [10]-they are almost entirely ignored in multilateral environmental agreements. This is because they are assumed to be relatively free from threatening processes and therefore are not a priority for conservation efforts [11, 12]. Here we challenge this assertion using new comparable maps of global wilderness following methods established in the original "last of the wild" analysis [13] to examine the change in extent since the early 1990s. We demonstrate alarming losses comprising one-tenth (3.3 million km2) of global wilderness areas over the last two decades, particularly in the Amazon (30%) and central Africa (14%). We assess increases in the protection of wilderness over the same time frame and show that these efforts are failing to keep pace with the rate of wilderness loss, which is nearly double the rate of protection. Our findings underscore an immediate need for international policies to recognize the vital values of wilderness and the unprecedented threats they face and to underscore urgent large-scale, multifaceted actions needed to maintain them.