Transforming scientific evidence into better consumer choices

Translational research using evidence-based and comparative effectiveness research continues to evolve, becoming a useful tool in improving informed consent and decision-making in the clinical setting. While in development, emerging technologies, including cellular and molecular biology, are leading to establishing evidence-based dental practices. One emerging technology, which conjoins bench proteomic findings to clinical decision-making for treatment intervention, is the Translational Evidence Mechanism. This mechanism was developed to be a foundation for a compact between researcher, translational researcher, clinician, and patient. The output of such a mechanism is the clinical practice guideline (CPG), an interactive tool for dentists and patients to game evidence in reaching optimum clinical decisions that correspond to individual patient preferences and values. As such, the clinical practice guideline requires the vesting of decision, utility, and cost best evidence. Evidence-based research provides decision data, a first attempt at supporting decision-making by providing best outcome data. Since then comparative effectiveness research has emerged, using systematic review analysis to compare similar treatments or procedures in maximizing the choice of the most effective cost/benefit option within the context of best evidence. With innovation in the clinical practice guideline for optimizing efficacy and comparative effectiveness research, evidence-based practices will shape a new approach to health-based systems that adhere to shared decision-making between bench scientists, healthcare providers and patients.     

A spatial panel statistical analysis on cultivated land conversion and chinese economic growth

The conflict between cultivated land protection and economic development has become increasingly acute in recent years. Despite, intensive researches made on this conflict, little attention has been paid to the spatial correlation of variables. In view of this, the paper introduces the spatial panel regression model to estimate, and test whether the relationship between economic growth and cultivated land conversion conforms to Kuznets curve. Research results show that the area of converted cultivated land in China exhibits strong spatial auto-correlation; the spatial panel model with time effect and fixed effect is more stable and significant than conventional panel mode, and that the relationship between economic growth and cultivated land conversion agrees with the inverted U-shape of Kuznets curve, with inflection point occurring when average per capita GDP reaches ¥31330.93 (calculated at comparable price of 1999). On the basis of analysis, it is suggested that the government, with a view to developing economy alongside protecting cultivated land, should attach more importance to land use and planning in the future, pay more attention to the spatial correlation of cultivated land planning in adjacent areas and make greater efforts to increase the input–output ratio of land.     

Levels of IL-17F and IL-33 correlate with HLA-DR activation in clinical-grade human bone marrow–derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell expansion cultures

Background aims

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based medicines are extensively investigated for use in regenerative medicine and immunotherapy applications. The International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) proposed a panel of cell surface molecules for MSC identification that includes human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR as a negative marker. However, its expression is largely unpredictable despite production under tightly controlled conditions and compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices. Herein, we report the frequency of HLA-DR expression in 81 batches of clinical grade bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs and investigated its impact on cell attributes and culture environment.

持续城镇化对中国推进实施联合国可持续发展目标的作用

中国过去40年城镇化发展迅速,从数字指标上看,不仅走过了一条迅速提升工业化水平的道路,也走过了一条快速城镇化道路。然而,中国城镇化发展重"量"而轻"质",偏重于城镇数量增多和城镇化速度的提升,而对城镇化的质量和效益的提升、人民生活水平和文明程度的共同提高、资源生态环境的保护、城镇就业、第三产业发展等城镇化的本质问题关注不够。2015年,联合国通过的2030年全球可持续发展目标(SDGs)明确要求建设包容、安全、有抵御灾害能力和可持续的城市和人类住区,中国新型城镇化应以可持续发展目标为导向,如何将SDGs的具体要求用于中国新型城镇化的发展显得尤为重要。为此需要构建城市可持续发展水平评估机制,测评中国城市可持续发展目标实施状况;通过推进城市绿色创新实践,拓宽中国城市可持续发展目标践行路径。     

硕士研究生参与本科生组织学与胚胎学实验课教学的体会

硕士研究生通过参与本科生组织学与胚胎学实验课教学,可加深对本专业知识的理解,建立更合理的知识结构,完善自身的思维体系,提高综合能力,从中发现自身不足之处并积极弥补。硕士研究生参与本科生教学具有独特的优势,对提升其综合素质有所助益。     

Parallel declines in abundance of insects and insectivorous birds in Denmark over 22 years

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Application of fuzzy VIKOR for evaluation of green supply chain management practices

Environmentally sustainable activities have received an increasing interest among the firms to improve their practices in the supply chain. Although environmental regulations force firms consider these issues, but, green issues are new, evolving every day, and requires a continuous study in the field to gain a complete understanding of the problems. In this study, we illustrate the case of a laptop manufacturer in Malaysia that pursues to evaluate green supply chain management (GSCM) indicators among its practitioners. This paper develops a quantitative evaluation model to measure the uncertainty of GSCM activities and applies an approach based on Vlsekriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method which is an extension of intuitionistic fuzzy environment aiming to solve the green multi-criteria decision making (GMCDM) problem. The triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs) were used to handle imprecise numerical quantities. Then, a hierarchical multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) model was proposed based on fuzzy sets theory and VIKOR method to deal with the problem. The results show the alternative ranks of the four evaluated companies which was based on their performance in GSCM initiatives. The results also indicated that the main criteria of the research ranked as follows respectively: eco-design, green production, green purchasing, green recycling, green transportation and green warehousing. Finally, a comparative analysis of results by fuzzy VIKOR is presented. Additionally the scope for future studies is provided at the end of the paper.     

Indicator species for avian biodiversity hotspots: Combination of specialists and generalists is necessary in less natural environments

In this work, I tested the premise that the distribution of a group of few common bird species can be used to predict bird species hotspots in Central Italy. The data on bird observations were collected on 530 sampled sites (150 in cultivated, 150 in forest, 150 in grassland and 80 in urban and peri-urban environments). In each environment, sampled sites with values of bird species richness in the upper than third quartile were classified as high species richness spots (HSRS), while sites with lower bird species richness were classified as non-HSRS (binary classification system).Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were applied using HSRS or non-HSRS as binomial response variable and bird species occurrence was used as the predictor variable. All selected models showed “fair” or “good” capacities to predict the avian hotspots, using only few common birds (4–6) species. However, bird species selected as predictors were different on each environment. In more natural environments (grassland, forest), specialist species were selected, while in most disturbed environments (cultivated and urban) both generalist and specialist species were selected. The results are in agreement with other studies which show how homogenization of bird communities is strongly correlated to landscape disturbance. The findings supports the hypothesis that indicators have to incorporate both specialists and generalist’s species simultaneously. Furthermore, the groups of birds selected as surrogates are easy to detect and this makes it possible to involve citizen-science programmes in obtain data. This approach can be a cheap and efficient and can help to significantly speed up the process of assessing ecosystems that might be under threat.     

Gender and ecological restoration: time to connect the dots

Although the human dimension of ecological restoration has increasingly been recognized in recent years, the gender dimension thereof remains largely unexplored. This article aims to fill this gap in the literature by providing an overview of the current knowledge on gender and ecological restoration. Our analysis of selected academic literature on ecological restoration revealed that scholars have only marginally addressed gender issues in their publications. However, in restoration practice, various initiatives that highlight the importance of including a women's rights and gender perspective can be found. These initiatives seem to indicate that applying a gender approach to restoration practice creates a double benefit. First, integrating gender considerations into restoration efforts is desirable from a human rights and gender equality perspective. Second, different case studies suggest that integrating gender considerations can promote the efficiency and effectiveness of restoration work. Integrating a social and gender dimension into restoration policy and practice should therefore be recommended. This integration process can learn from a wide range of literature on gender and the environment, and from existing practices of gender mainstreaming in this field. Furthermore, international law provides useful policy intentions on gender and restoration that could be used as entry points. To conclude, this article summarizes the main challenges for “connecting the dots” between gender and ecological restoration and formulates some recommendations for the Society for Ecological Restoration.