Foreword

The Eighth International Symposium on Tardigrada was hosted by the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and held at the August Krogh Institute from 30 July to 5 August 2000. There were 65 participants at the symposium. Like its predecessors, the symposium presented oral presentations and posters on a wide variety of tardigradological themes, and several invited speakers gave special keynote lectures about molecular biology, computer cladistics, phylogeny, cryptobiosis and palaeontology. Fifty four abstracts were published in the “Booklet of Abstracts” edited by Jesper G. Hansen. The 41 papers appearing in this special issue of Zoologischer Anzeiger represent most of the contributions presented in Copenhagen. Furthermore, a workshop on Arctic Tardigrades was held at Danish Arctic Station, Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland from, 7 to 18 August 2000. There were 15 participants on this Greenlandic Adventure.     

Feasibility for the establishing a carrageenan industry in Mexico

Mexico has been an exporter of carrageenophytes for the last 30 years, but to date there is no commercial production of carrageenan. In the last 10 years the carrageenan consumption in Mexico has increased significantly. During this same period, an increasing number of studies related to carrageenophytes and their industrialization in Mexico have been performed. In this paper, the feasibility of a carrageenan industry in Mexico is analyzed utilizing available information. Future necessary research is suggested where data is lacking. The analysis includes the availability of seaweed biomass, carrageenan types, extraction technology, national demand and possibilities of joint ventures under the NAFTA treaty.     

Four decades of DNA repair: from early insights to current perspectives

A brief history of the evolution of the DNA repair field over the past four decades is presented, as documented through the Proceedings from a selected series of five scientific meetings, beginning with the 1965 Radiation Microbiology Conference, held at the University of Chicago with only 40 participants, and extending through the 1988 UCLA Symposium on "Mechanisms and Consequences of DNA Damage Processing", convened in Taos, New Mexico, with over 400 participants. The published proceedings and recorded discussions from these early conferences contain notable insights, of which many have turned out to be remarkably clairvoyant while others must be reevaluated in light of recent discoveries and developments in the field.     

Sharing science: characteristics of effective scientist-teacher interactions

Despite national guidelines to reform K-12 science education, our students are not learning science any better. Conducted under the auspices of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a symposium examined several programs where professional scientists interact with classroom teachers to improve science education. Symposium participants described their projects and discussed the factors that contribute or detract from each project's success. The events of this symposium are critically analyzed. Four themes emerged as issues that affect the successful implementation and continuation of science education reform projects: scientific literacy as a primary goal, personal characteristics and commitment of project partners, curricular change built on social and developmental goals, and the incentive/reward structures in universities and school systems. This review of the emergent themes places the opinions of the symposium participants into the larger context of a growing science education research literature to inform others about synergy between professional scientists and classroom teachers. Our aim is to help others learn about the characteristics of effective partnerships to improve science education.     

Skeletal biological distance studies in American physical anthropology: recent trends

Biological distance analysis, the dominant type of skeletal biological research during the 19th century, has become less visible in recent years. Although the proportion of American Journal of Physical Anthropology articles and published abstracts focusing on biodistance has remained fairly constant over the three decades between 1955 and 1985, the proportion of biodistance contributions relative to other skeletal biology studies has decreased. Emphasis in skeletal biology has shifted from the analysis of biological variation to investigations of health and diet, and within biodistance studies methodological issues have assumed prominence over purely analytical approaches. This paper investigates trends in biological distance analysis through a survey of articles and meetings abstracts published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology from 1955 to 1985. The survey provides the historical context for five symposium papers on skeletal biological distance presented at the 1986 meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.     

A longitudinal study of medication exposure and xerostomia among older people

Objective: To describe the incidence of xerostomia among a population of older people over a 6‐year period, with particular attention to medications as risk factors. Background: Understanding the natural history of xerostomia requires longitudinal epidemiological research, but only one study has examined changes in xerostomia over time. While medication is a recognised risk factor for dry mouth, the role of particular medication categories continues to be controversial. Materials and methods: Older South Australians (aged 60+) underwent an interview and dental examination at baseline, and these assessments were repeated 2, 5 and 11 years afterward. Medication data were collected at baseline, 5 and 11 years. Xerostomia data were collected at 5 and 11 years using the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and a standard question. Results: Of the 1205 dentate participants assessed at baseline, 669 remained after 5 years, and 246 were assessed at 11 years. Medication prevalence increased over the observation period, such that 94.8% of the cohort were taking at least one medication by 11 years. The prevalence of xerostomia increased from 21.4% to 24.8% between 5 and 11 years (p > 0.05), and the mean XI score increased from 20.0 (SD, 6.7) to 21.5 (SD, 7.9; p < 0.001). Some 14.7% of participants were incident cases of xerostomia, while 11.4% were remitted cases; 10.1% were cases at both 5 and 11 years. After controlling for gender and ‘baseline’ xerostomia severity (represented by the XI score at 5 years), participants who commenced taking daily aspirin after 5 years had over four times the odds of becoming incident cases, while those who commenced taking a diuretic after 5 years had nearly six times the odds of doing so. Conclusions: While the overall prevalence of xerostomia increased during the observation period, there was considerable instability, with one‐quarter of the cohort changing their status. Medication exposure was strongly associated with the incidence of the condition, with recent exposure to diuretics or daily aspirin strongly predicting it.     

RNA today. Molecular Evolution of Introns and Other RNA Elements: a Keystone Symposium, Taos, NM, USA, February 2-8, 1991.

RNA research is alive and well. The joyride for those studying the biochemistry and molecular biology of RNA continues, although perhaps not at the thrill-a-month pace of recent years. The Keystone Symposium provided an opportunity to gain deeper insight into RNA-based biological phenomena by attempting to place current research in an evolutionary context. In this sense the meeting was an unqualified success. The meeting participants, having been warmed by the New Mexico sun and the chile-laden cuisine, now return to their laboratories determined to pursue not only the details of RNA biochemistry and molecular biology, but also the evolutionary implications of their work.     

American society for biochemistry and molecular biology 83rd annual meeting,Houston, Texas, 12th February, 1992, education symposium: Some reflections on the state of biochemistry teaching

A symposium on educational topics, organised by Professor A H Mehler, was one of two sessions that dealt with aspects of teaching in a program that traditionally has been concerned only with scientific research. The session was well attended and, because of the obvious interest in spite of competing attractions, we hope that this area will be represented in futute meetings. The texts of the talks given by the four speakers are printed below.     

Infectious diseases affecting mass production of the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

During recent years, investigations on decrease ofrotifer density in culture tanks from severalhatcheries have shown that infectious diseases mightbe associated with abnormal mortality. The firstreported infection was caused by an unusual birnavirusreferred as rotifer birnavirus (RBV). Viral lesionsappeared in cells of gastric glands and spread toother epithelia. Virus particles were also foundwithin ovarian cells. Highly infected rotifersexhibited abnormal behavior and died. The secondimportant pathogen found in Brachionusplicatilis has been provisionally related to theLagenidiaceae. The fungus developed in up to 85% ofrotifers and caused sudden, precipitous decrease inanimal density. The occurrence of these diseases showsthat in the future infectious agents will have to beconsidered as important factors capable of reducingthe productivity of rotifer mass cultures.     

Axenic culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> using antibiotics

The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis culture is composed of complex microcosms including bacteria, protozoans, algae, and fungi. Previous studies reported methods to establish axenic rotifer cultures, but further refinement of these techniques is needed, for molecular biological research which requires pure culture to isolate nucleic acids from rotifers only. In order to render rotifer culture axenic, we tested five antibiotics: ampicillin (Amp), chloramphenicol (Cp), kanamycin (Km), nalidixic acid (Na), and streptomycin (Sm) at 30–100 μg/ml. Except for Cp, which reduces rotifer reproduction, all other antibiotics at the tested concentrations did not affect rotifer reproduction or show any toxic effects. A rotifer disinfection method was finally established by treating the resting eggs with 0.25% (w/v) sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 3 min, washing with sterilized sea water, and then exposing the neonates to an Amp, Km, Na, and Sm mixture. Using four nutrient media, we confirmed that this protocol renders the rotifer culture bacterial and fungus free. The axenic rotifer culture generated here is useful not only for genetic analysis of Brachionus plicatilis, but for studying the rotifer life cycle without bacterial influence.     

The fourteen International Symposia on Biological Control of Weeds, 1969–2014: Delegates,demographics and inferences from the debate on non-target effects

Since 1969, weed biological control (WBC) practitioners have met at a series of 14 International Symposia on Biological Control of Weeds (ISBCWs). These gatherings have had no societal organization, thus the published proceedings are the main source of information on the recent history of this sub-discipline. Only 1144 individuals (mostly entomologists and plant pathologists) have ever attended an ISBCW: 338 (29.6%) have been at more than one symposium, bringing the total number of attendees to 1972. About 75% of these have come from the main WBC implementing nations, the USA, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand. The present analysis of ISBCW attendees has led to estimates that the global WBC research and development effort over the last 50 years has been the domain of about 450–550 WBC practitioners. WBC is presently beleaguered in the USA, Canada and Australia and attendance figures at recent ISBCWs are in decline. A case is made that these trends are largely due to the negative perceptions and damaging consequences of two decades of debates that have exaggerated the risks of non-target impacts and impeded progress in WBC. Further procrastination seems inevitable but in the interests of agriculture and conservation, WBC will need to be deployed more extensively if invasive alien (i.e., introduced, non-indigenous) plants are to be suppressed. In this context, the recent releases of WBC agents in Europe are signal events. It is mooted that a more formal and structured organization for the ISBCW meetings and perhaps a ‘rebranding’ of the sub-discipline is needed to champion and rekindle the practice of WBC.     

ASLA年会与博览会的概况与分析—兼论行业会议的影响力

ASLA年会与博览会是美国乃至世界最具影响力的风景园林行业会议之一。通过有限的亲身经历和后期调查，本文作者对年会的参加方式、近年来的主题和主要项目内容做了详细介绍，并对其特征和趋势进行了较为深入的分析，试图为中国潜在的参会从业者、学者和学生提供参考。本文作者从会议组织方式的角度对ASLA年会何以具有如此巨大的影响力进行了讨论，主要从3个方面展开：综合的目标和内容、强烈的会员服务意识、以及逐渐完善的组织策略，希望可以为中国相关会议的举办提供一些借鉴。     

Trench connection

'Trench Connection' was the first international symposium focusing primarily on the hadal zone (depths greater than 6000 m). It was held at the University of Tokyo's Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute in November 2010. The symposium was successful in having attracted an international collective of scientists and engineers to discuss the latest developments in the exploration and understanding of the deepest environments on Earth. The symposium sessions were categorized into three themes: (i) new deep-submergence technology; (ii) trench ecology and evolution; and (iii) the physical environment. Recent technological developments have overcome the challenges of accessing the extreme depths, which have in turn prompted an international renewed interest in researching physical and biological aspects of the hadal ecosystems. This bringing together of international participants from different disciplines led to healthy discussions throughout the symposium, providing potential opportunities and realizations of where the future of unravelling hadal ecology lies. Hadal science is still at relatively rudimentary levels compared with those of shallower marine environments; however, it became apparent at the symposium that it is now an ever-expanding scientific field.     

Prevention of Falls Network Europe: a thematic network aimed at introducing good practice in effective falls prevention across Europe. Four years on

ProFaNE, Prevention of Falls Network Europe, is a four-year thematic network co-ordinated by the University of Manchester, UK, with 25 partners across Europe and funded by the European Community Framework 5. There are also Network Associates from a number of EU and non-EU countries who give their advice and experience at steering meetings, seminars and conferences. There are four main themes (taxonomy and co-ordination of trials; clinical assessment and management of falls; assessment of balance function; psychological aspects of falling). The work of ProFaNE is practical, in terms of developing the evidence base for implementation of effective interventions, standardising the health processes for people with a history of falls and encouraging best practice across Europe. Over the four years of the Network many key publications by the members have been regularly cited, the web membership has increased to over 2,000 members from 30 countries, there is an active discussion board and there are nearly 1,000 resources available to download. The success of the networking and relationship building in these four years has meant that many countries have adopted new national strategies to prevent falls and injuries.     

The socioecological complexity of ecological restoration in Mexico

Almost half of Mexican territory has been classified as environmentally degraded. The main response for the last 60 years has been reforestation to combat soil erosion and loss of forest cover, mostly carried out on private lands where negotiations with local stakeholders were critical. Despite four legal instruments referring to ecological restoration, no specific instrument that defines basic concepts, criteria and standards, required actions, or regulations to implement and evaluate ecological restoration exists. The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources is now solely in charge of restoration and only recently have external scientists been invited to be part of the process. Following important national and international events in Latin America and the Caribbean region, the First Mexican Symposium on Ecological Restoration was held in November, 2014. This historic event was the first action undertaken in Mexico to meet Objective 3 of the Global Strategy of Plant Conservation, coordinated in Mexico by the National Council for the Use and Knowledge of Biodiversity. Although mangrove ecosystems are the most endangered ecosystem type in Mexico, they were not well represented at the symposium. In contrast, several other ecosystem types, such as tropical dry forest and islands, have received increased attention. Overall, while the Symposium and above‐cited policy initiatives are important steps, Mexico needs to increase its institutional capacities and social organization of the rural sector with regard to ecological restoration. Better integration of social and natural scientists and increased participation of Mexico internationally is also needed.     

基于rDNAITS序列分析莲塘湖萼花臂尾轮虫两种形态型的分类地位

轮虫的周期变形是指种群内出现的轮虫形态随时间推移而发生的周期性变化,包括轮虫个体大小的变化、轮虫后棘刺或后侧棘刺的有无及长度的变化等。广泛存在的周期变形使轮虫的分类更加复杂。利用分子标记对不同形态型轮虫的遗传分化进行研究将有助于正确认识它们的分类地位。为此,研究对采自芜湖市莲塘湖水体中萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)30个有棘刺型(Spined morphotype)的克隆(S1-S30)和18个无棘刺型(Unspined morphotype)的克隆(U1-U18)进行了rDNA ITS序列分析;以十指臂尾轮虫(B.patulus)为外群,构建了48个克隆的系统发生树(NJ、MP、ML和贝叶斯树)。结果表明,所测48个克隆共包括16个单元型。在ITS序列中,T、C、A、G碱基的平均含量分别为28.6%、18.7%、35.9%、16.8%,其中A+T含量为64.5%,C+G含量为35.5%。单元型U12与其他单元型间的序列差异百分比为26.2%-26.6%,平均为26.47%;其中,发生在ITS1、5.8S和ITS2区间的序列差异百分比分别为26.9%-27.8%、2.9%-3.5%和44.4%-45.0%,平均依次为27.27%、3.09%和44.48%。而其他单元型间平均序列差异百分比为0.41%。4个系统树均支持将48个克隆分为2个支系:无棘刺型克隆U12独成一支,无棘刺型的其余克隆与所有有棘刺型克隆构成另一支系。单元型U12与其他单元型应分别属于两个不同的姐妹种;但两种形态型并非不同的亚种或互为姐妹种,它们间的形态差异主要由表型可塑性引起。       

Preface: Biology of skates

Synopsis Skates have become a concern in recent years due to the preponderance of these elasmobranchs that are caught as bycatch or as a directed fishery. This has raised concern because skates have life history characteristics that may make them vulnerable to over-exploitation. It was due to this increasing awareness and concern about these batoids that prompted us to organize an international symposium on the “Biology of Skates”. The aims and goals of the symposium were to bring together an international group of researchers to meet, discuss, perhaps develop collaborations, and present their most recent findings. The symposium was held over two days, on 13–14 July, 2006, in conjunction with the 22nd annual meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society in New Orleans, LA. A total of 31 authors from four countries contributed 16 papers that appear in this special issue. The papers are broadly arranged into four separate categories: systematics and biogeography, diet and feeding ecology, reproductive biology, and age and growth. To the best of our knowledge this is the first dedicated book on the biology of skates. We hope that readers will find this issue of interest and that it helps encourage and stimulate future research into these fascinating fishes.     

Vitamin E: an overview of major research directions

During the last 90 years since the discovery of vitamin E, research has focused on different properties of this molecule, the focus often depending on the specific techniques and scientific knowledge present at each time. Originally discovered as a dietary factor essential for reproduction in rats, vitamin E has revealed in the meantime many more important molecular properties, such as the scavenging of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species with consequent prevention of oxidative damage associated with many diseases, or the modulation of signal transduction and gene expression in antioxidant and non-antioxidant manners. Research over the last 30 years has also resolved the biosynthesis and occurrence of vitamin E in plants, the proteins involved in the cellular uptake, tissue distribution and metabolism, and defined a congenital recessive neurological disease, ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED), characterized by impaired enrichment of -tocopherol in plasma as a result of mutations in the liver -tocopherol transfer gene. This review is giving a brief introduction about vitamin E by following the major research directions since its discovery with a historical perspective.     

Symposium Introductory Remarks: A Brief History of Aquatic Microbial Ecology

ABSTRACT This report serves to introduce the symposium on food chains and food webs that is jointly sponsored by the Society of Protozoologists and the Phycological Society of America. A brief history of the field of aquatic microbial ecology is presented with an emphasis on the development of theoretical models that have directed the course of research — research that has shaped the development of new and more complex models of the present. the paper aims to provide historical background for all symposium participants and an introduction to the specific presentations of the four guest speakers.