Characterization of a novel plant acyl-CoA synthetase that is expressed in lipogenic tissues of Brassica napus L.

A cDNA encoding a novel isoform of acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS6) was isolated from embryos of oilseed rape. Homology searches show it is most closely related to ACS4 from rat and human brain rather than the other oilseed rape ACSs. The ACS6 is strongly expressed in embryos and flowers, tissues of Brassica napus that synthesize lipids at high rates. The activity of recombinantly expressed ACS6 was recovered in the insoluble fraction (214000×g, 1 h pellet). CHAPS-solubilized recombinant ACS6 protein preferred utilising long-chain fatty acids that contained a cis-9 double bond, i.e. palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Western blot analysis showed that the ACS6 protein is membrane-bound.     

A simple system for monitoring biodiversity in protected areas of a developing country

The achievements of initiatives to strengthen biodiversity conservation in developing countries may be difficult to assess, since most countries have no system for monitoring biodiversity. This paper describes a simple and cost-effective, field-based biodiversity monitoring system developed specifically for areas where specialist staff is lacking. We discuss the preliminary lessons learned from protected areas in the Philippines. Whilst the monitoring system aims to identify trends in biodiversity and its uses so as to guide management action, it also promotes the participation of local people in the management, stimulates discussions about conservation amongst stakeholders and builds the capacity of park staff and communities in management skills. In addition, it seeks to provide people with direction regarding the aims of protected areas, and reinforces the consolidation of existing livelihoods through strengthening community-based resource management systems. The field methods are: (1) standardised recording of routine observations, (2) fixed point photographing, (3) line transect survey, and (4) focus group discussion. Both bio-physical and socio-economic data are used and given equal importance. The system can be sustained using locally available resources. The approach is useful in countries embarking on shared management of park resources with local communities, where rural people depend on use of natural ecosystems, and where the economic resources for park management are limited. We hope this paper will encourage other countries to develop their own biodiversity monitoring system, letting its development become a means for capacity building whilst at the same time supporting the creation of ownership.     

银杏开发造园模式的探讨

根据银杏生物学特性和生产栽培目的的不同以及目前银杏的生产状况,阐述了银杏开发的重要意义,概述了叶材兼用银杏园、果叶兼用银杏园、果材兼用银杏园的立地选择、栽培密度和抚育管理等方面的技术要求,分析了各类园的利弊,并对低效的银杏园提出了改造的建议。     

The complete sequence and expression patterns of the atrial myosin heavy chain in the developing chick

We have earlier reported partial cloning of a cDNA of a chick atrial myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene, CCSV2 and its expression pattern in embryonic chick hearts (Oana et al (1995) Eur J Cell Biol 67, 42-49). In this study, five overlapping cDNA clones (including CCSV2) which together encode the entire open reading frame of the chick atrial MHC gene were characterized, and both the entire nucleotide sequence consisting of 5825 bases and the deduced amino acid sequence consisting of 1931 amino acids determined. Reinvestigation of the nucleotide sequence of the previously reported and presumably different chick atrial specific MHC cDNA clone, AMHC1 (Yutzey et al (1994) Development 120, 871-883), revealed that our clone and AMHC1 encoded the same MHC. The chick atrial MHC gene was strongly expressed in developing chick atria from a very early stage (Hamburger and Hamilton stage 9, 29-33 h) to the adult stage. This gene was also expressed, although weakly, in the ventricle, somite (the precursor to skeletal muscle) and skeletal muscle during embryonic stages but not in adults.     

MISCONDUCT IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Medical students, subject to unique challenges and stressors, frequently engage in misconduct. In this observational study, carried out in a medical school in Colombia, we developed a survey to explore the association between misconduct and stress, potential stressors and other possible contributing factors, such as sex, age and academic year. Of the 433 students that responded to our survey, 97.9% did not fully disagree with at least one of the mentioned misconducts and 99.8% admitted to at least one transgression. Based on a scale we developed, 61.4% of the students consistently agreed with misconduct and 44.9% frequently engaged in misconduct. A logistic regression model suggests that being male (OR 1.90, CI 95% 1.27–2.84) and stress (OR 1.04, CI 95% 1.01–1.06) may increase the likelihood of misconduct. In a subgroup of students, excluding those in their last year of studies, higher academic semester (OR 1.25, CI 95%: 1.10–1.42) may also be a risk factor for misconduct. Most of the observed variation in the data, however, is not explained by these factors. Other modifiers, such as student personality and sub‐culture, may play a greater role in determining misconduct. The proportion of medical students that engage in misconduct is very high and warrants the attention of the medical education community.     

害虫趋光性及其应用技术的研究进展

本文简要概述了害虫趋光性的特性、在生产上的主要应用途径和应用技术研究进展现状,并进行了相关分析,提出了今后需要进一步重视解决和明确的若干问题。     

Decoupling Analysis of the Environmental Mountain—with Case Studies from China

The resource‐development trajectory of developed countries after the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries can be portrayed as an “environmental mountain” (EM). It is important for developing countries to decouple their resource use from economic growth and tunnel through the EM. In this study, we embedded the decoupling indicators for resource use and waste emissions into EM curves to quantify China's progress in tunneling through the EM over a specific time period. Five case studies regarding the conditions required for decoupling energy consumption, crude steel production, cement production, CO₂ emissions, and SO₂ emissions from economic growth in China were conducted. The results indicated that during 1985–2010 the trajectories of energy consumption, and CO₂ and SO₂ emissions in China met the requirements for tunneling through the EM, but the trajectories of cement and steel production did not. Based on these results, suggestions regarding China's environmental policies are provided to enable the country to tunnel through the EM.     

Ethics and Rationing Access to Dialysis in Resource‐Limited Settings: The Consequences of Refusing a Renal Transplant in the South African State Sector

Resource constraints in developing countries compel policy makers to ration the provision of healthcare services. This article examines one such set of Guidelines: A patient dialysing in the state sector in South Africa may not refuse renal transplantation when a kidney becomes available. Refusal of transplantation can lead to exclusion from the state‐funded dialysis programme. This Guideline is legally acceptable as related to Constitutional stipulations which allow for rationing healthcare resources in South Africa. Evaluating the ethical merit of the Guideline, and exploring the ethical dilemma it poses, proves a more complex task. We examine the actions of healthcare professionals as constrained by the Guideline. From a best interests framework, we argue that in these circumstances directing patient decision making (pressurising a patient to undergo renal transplantation) is not necessarily unethical or unacceptably paternalistic. We then scrutinise the guideline itself through several different ethical ‘lenses’. Here, we argue that bioethics does not provide a definitive answer as to the moral merit of rationing dialysis under these circumstances, however it can be considered just in this context. We conclude by examining a potential pitfall of the Guideline: Unwilling transplant recipients may not comply with immunosuppressive medication, which raises questions for policies based on resource management and rationing.     

实蝇共生菌研究进展

实蝇类昆虫(双翅目Diptera:实蝇科Tephritidae)是重要的农业害虫,为害农作物茎秆和水果,严重影响农业生产和果蔬贸易,被许多国家列为重要的检疫性有害生物。实蝇共生菌对宿主实蝇的取食、生殖、发育及环境适应能力具有重要作用。目前,已有21个属的共生细菌(Enterobacter、Klebsiella、Citrobacter、Pseudomonas、Providencia、Erwinia、Acetobacter、Serratia、Proteus、Hafnia、Cedecea、Arthrobacter、Lactobacillus、Micrococcus、Streptococcus、Staphylococcus、Vibrio、Hafnia、Deinococcacea、Bacillus、Wolba-chia)以及1个属的共生真菌(Candida)被鉴定。其中,肺炎杆菌Klebsiella pneumoniae、产酸克雷伯氏菌Klebsiella oxytoca、成团泛菌Pantoea agglomerans、费氏柠檬酸杆菌Citrobter freundii、阴沟肠杆菌Enterobacter cloaca...