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Urban expansion and agriculture intensification are relevant drivers in Land Degradation (LD) processes in Europe due to net loss of land, soil sealing, landscape fragmentation and other negative effects on the environment. This paper explores changes (or "trajectories" of change) in land use and cover (LULC) and their relationship with the consumption of soils in Em ilia-Rom agna (northern Italy) over a 55-years period from 1954 to 2008, and separately over three time periods (1954-1976,1976-1994 and 1994-2008) characterized by distinctive processes of urban and agricultural development. Four high-resolution LULC maps for 1954, 1976, 1994, and 2008 were analysed together with a 1:50,000 scale land capability map used as an indicator of soil quality. Out of an investigated area of around 12.000 km2, 34% underwent changes in LULC over the entire study period. "Agriculture internal conversions" accounted for 46% of the changes and "urban expansion" for as much as 35%. The first period was characterized by "agriculture internal conversions" associated with intensification processes. In the second period internal agricultural conversions became even more important. In the third period the most relevant conversion process was agricultural extensivation, with urban expansion also becoming relevant. During the entire period, the area consumed by urban expansion took around 41 % of the high-quality soils. Other trajectories consumed soils of lower quality, with the exception of internal agricultural conversions (accounting for another 46%). The suggested approach can provide valuable indications for assessing quantity and quality of soils taken by urban expansion, thus orienting sustainable land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extreme polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA class I) proteins enable the presentation of diverse peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The canonical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) HLA class I assembly pathway enables presentation of cytosolic peptides, but effective intracellular surveillance requires multi-compartmental antigen sampling. Endo-lysosomes are generally sites of HLA class II assembly, but human monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) also contain significant reserves of endo-lysosomal HLA class I molecules. We hypothesized variable influences of HLA class I polymorphisms upon outcomes of endo-lysosomal trafficking, as the stabilities and peptide occupancies of cell surface HLA class I molecules are variable. Consistent with this model, when the endo-lysosomal pH of moDCs is disrupted, HLA-B allotypes display varying propensities for reductions in surface expression, with HLA-B*08:01 or HLA-B*35:01 being among the most resistant or sensitive, respectively, among eight tested HLA-B allotypes. Perturbations of moDC endo-lysosomal pH result in accumulation of HLA-B*35:01 in LAMP1 + compartments and increase HLA-B*35:01 peptide receptivity. These findings reveal the intersection of the vacuolar cross-presentation pathway with a constitutive assembly pathway for some HLA-B allotypes. Notably, cross-presentation of epitopes derived from two soluble antigens was also more efficient for B*35:01 compared to B*08:01, even when matched for T cell response sensitivity, and more affected by cathepsin inhibition. Thus, HLA class I polymorphisms dictate the degree of endo-lysosomal assembly, which can supplement ER assembly for constitutive HLA class I expression and increase the efficiency of cross-presentation., Competing Interests: EO, TC, MR No competing interests declared, (© 2023, Olson et al.)

Despite growing milk demand and imports, market-oriented milk production and formal processing in Ethiopia is limited to areas around Addis Ababa, notwithstanding its competing land use demand. This study assessed biophysical and market potential for developing the dairy sector, characterizing Ethiopian dairy clusters. Biophysical data from geographic information system (GIS) sources and information from key informants were combined in mapping and ranking these clusters on milk production potential. Twenty-four indicators in six major categories were applied for this assessment: feed availability, environmental conditions for dairy cattle, current production status, access to inputs and services, output market access, and production expansion potential. Feed availability (fodder, crop residues, and agro-industrial by-products as well as land availability and affordability) were the main drivers for dairy development, followed by the current production status, mainly driven by number of (improved) dairy cattle and (formal) milk volumes. Dairy clusters close to Addis Ababa had the highest overall scores for development potential, mainly determined by local demand and access to inputs. For dairy sustainable dairy development in Ethiopia, companies seeking long-term opportunities may avoid the Addis Ababa area and develop dairy production and processing in other clusters especially in Amhara and Tigray regions, with good milk production potential but less developed market infrastructure. The combination of biophysical data and key informant knowledge offered key strengths in delivering valuable results within a short time span. It however requires a careful selection of knowledgeable key informants whose expertise cover a broad scope of the dairy value chain.