The full electron structure of the FKBP12/FK506 complex

We present a study of FKBP12/FK506 using an electron structure calculation. These calculations employ a novel technique called eCADD on the protein’s full electron structure along with its hydrophobic pocket and the frontier-orbital-perturbation theory. We first obtain the energy bands and orbital coefficients of protein FKBP12. On this basis, we found that the activity atoms and activity residues of FKBP12 were in good agreement with X-ray crystallography experiments. The results indicate that the interactions occur only between the LUMOs of FKBP12 and the HOMO of FK506, not between the HOMOs of FKBP12 and the LUMO of FK506. In other words, the activity sites of protein FKBP12 are located on its LUMOs, not HOMOs. The electron structures of FKBP12/FK506 give us a clearer understanding of their interaction mechanism and will help us design new ligands of FKBP12.     

Reduced order multiport parallel and multidirectional neural associative memories

This paper proposes multiport parallel and multidirectional intraconnected associative memories of outer product type with reduced interconnections. Some new reduced order memory architectures such as k-directional and k-port parallel memories are suggested. These architectures are, also, very suitable for implementation of spatio-temporal sequences and multiassociative memories. It is shown that in the proposed memory architectures, a substational reduction in interconnections is achieved if the actual length of original N-bit long vectors is subdivided into k sublengths. Using these sublengths, submemory matrices, T _s or W _s , are computed, which are then intraconnected to form k-port parallel or k-directional memories. The subdivisions of N-bit long vectors into k sublengths save of interconnections. It is shown, by means of an example, that more than 80% reduction in interconnections is achieved. Minimum limit in bits on k as well as maximum limit on subdivisions in k is determined. The topologies of reduced interconnectivity developed in this paper are symmetric in structure and can be used to scale up to larger systems. The underlying principal of construction, storage and retrieval processes of such associative memories has been analyzed. The effect of complexity of different levels of reduced interconnectivity on the quality of retrieval, signal to noise ratio, and storage capacity has been investigated. The model possesses analogies to biological neural structures and digital parallel port memories commonly used in parallel and multiprocessing systems.     

Polysaccharide-polynucleotide complexes VIII. Cation-induced complex formation between polyuridylic acid and schizophyllan

Raman spectroscopy has recently been applied ex vivo and in vivo to address various biomedical issues such as the early detection of cancers, monitoring of the effect of various agents on the skin, determination of atherosclerotic plaque composition, and rapid identification of pathogenic microorganisms. This leap in the number of applications and the number of groups active in this field has been facilitated by several technological advancements in lasers, CCD detectors, and fiber-optic probes. However, most of the studies are still at the proof of concept stage. We present a discussion on the status of the field today, as well as the problems and issues that still need to be resolved to bring this technology to hospital settings (i.e., the medical laboratory, surgical suites, or clinics). Taken from the viewpoint of clinicians and medical analysts, the potential of Raman spectroscopic techniques as new tools for biomedical applications is discussed and a path is proposed for the clinical implementation of these techniques.     

生态系统服务价值评估研究进展

生态系统服务价值评估是当前生态经济学和环境经济学的研究热点和焦点。在系统回顾国内外生态系统服务价值评估研究进展的基础上，从研究对象、价值构成、研究方法、时空过程等4个方面对生态系统服务价值评估的当前特征进行了分析，探讨了价值评估中评估基础、评价方法以及结论应用等问题。指出国内必须加强生态系统服务理论和方法研究。展望了未来生态系统服务价值评估研究和工作的重点领域。     

Investigating the Effectiveness of an Inquiry-Based Intervention on Human Reproduction in Relation to Students’ Gender,Prior Knowledge and Motivation for Learning in Biology

Despite the importance of understanding how the human reproductive system works, adolescents worldwide exhibit weak conceptual understanding, which leads to serious risks, such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Studies focusing on the development and evaluation of inquiry-based learning interventions, promoting the knowledge of human reproduction, are very few. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an inquiry-based intervention on human reproduction in relation to students’ gender, prior knowledge and motivation for learning in biology. Data collection methods included students’ pre- and post-tests, evaluating students’ conceptual understanding regarding human reproduction, and measurements of students’ motivation employing the Motivational Learning Environment survey. The sample for the pre- and post-test conceptual understanding data included the whole population of the 7th graders in Cyprus (n = 6465). Students’ motivation data were collected from a representative sample of the entire 7th graders population (n = 946 students). Statistical analyses indicated a statistically significant increase in students’ conceptual understanding as well as in their motivation for learning in biology. However, students’ gender, prior knowledge and initial motivation for learning in biology seemed to mediate the effectiveness of the inquiry-based intervention. All of these variables are deemed, therefore, as of great importance for the design, implementation and evaluation of biology teaching interventions.     

Ethical issues raised by uterus transplantation: A report from the People's Republic of China

The recent advances in assisted reproductive technology, such as hormonal stimulation, IVF, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), have made it possible to circumvent many causes of male and female factor infertility. However, uterine infertility is still considered an ‘‘unconditionally infertile’’ condition. Owing to the continued advances in organ transplantation, microvascular anastomosis techniques, and immunosuppressive medicine, the transplantation of organs is no longer restricted to the ones necessary for continued life. Quality-of-life enhancing types of transplantation, such as uterine transplantation, in recent years, have also entered the clinical arena. This undoubtedly brings new hope to such women, but also creates ethical challenges. Selection of the donor, the impact on the recipient and offspring, as well as challenges to moral and social norms are issues that cannot be ignored. In the present review, the ethical issues of transplantation of the uterus will be discussed in light of recent progress in the procedure.     

Proteomics technologies and challenges

Proteomics is the study of proteins and their interactions in a cell. With the completion of the Human Genome Project, the emphasis is shifting to the protein compliment of the human organism. Because proteome reflects more accurately on the dynamic state of a cell, tissue, or organism, much is expected from proteomics to yield better disease markers for diagnosis and therapy monitoring. The advent of proteomics technologies for global detection and quantitation of proteins creates new opportunities and challenges for those seeking to gain greater understanding of diseases. High-throughput proteomics technologies combining with advanced bioinformatics are extensively used to identify molecular signatures of diseases based on protein pathways and signaling cascades. Mass spectrometry plays a vital role in proteomics and has become an indispensable tool for molecular and cellular biology. While the potential is great, many challenges and issues remain to be solved, such as mining low abundant proteins and integration of proteomics with genomics and metabolomics data. Nevertheless, proteomics is the foundation for constructing and extracting useful knowledge to biomedical research. In this review, a snapshot of contemporary issues in proteomics technologies is discussed.     

Advances in cell culture: anchorage dependence

Anchorage-dependent cells are of great interest for various biotechnological applications. (i) They represent a formidable production means of viruses for vaccination purposes at very large scales (in 1000–6000 l reactors) using microcarriers, and in the last decade many more novel viral vaccines have been developed using this production technology. (ii) With the advent of stem cells and their use/potential use in clinics for cell therapy and regenerative medicine purposes, the development of novel culture devices and technologies for adherent cells has accelerated greatly with a view to the large-scale expansion of these cells. Presently, the really scalable systems—microcarrier/microcarrier-clump cultures using stirred-tank reactors—for the expansion of stem cells are still in their infancy. Only laboratory scale reactors of maximally 2.5 l working volume have been evaluated because thorough knowledge and basic understanding of critical issues with respect to cell expansion while retaining pluripotency and differentiation potential, and the impact of the culture environment on stem cell fate, etc., are still lacking and require further studies. This article gives an overview on critical issues common to all cell culture systems for adherent cells as well as specifics for different types of stem cells in view of small- and large-scale cell expansion and production processes.     

German law on circumcision and its debate: How an ethical and legal issue turned political

The article aims to illuminate the recent debate in Germany about the legitimacy of circumcision for religious reasons. The aim is both to evaluate the new German law allowing religious circumcision, and to outline the resulting conflict between the surrounding ethical and legal issues. We first elucidate the diversity of legal and medical views on religious circumcision in Germany. Next we examine to what extent invasive and irreversible physical interventions on infant boys unable to given their consent should be carried out for non‐medical reasons. To this end, the potential benefits and harms of circumcision for non‐medical reasons are compared. We argue that circumcision does not provide any benefits for the ‘child as a child’ and poses only risks to boys. We then set out to clarify and analyse political (rather than ethical) justifications of the new circumcision law. We demonstrate through this analysis how the circumcision debate in Germany has been transformed from a legal and ethical problem into a political issue, due at least in part to Germany's unique historical context. Although such a particular political sensibility is entirely comprehensible, it raises particular problems when it comes to framing and responding to medical ethical issues – as in the case of religious circumcision.