Ethical Issues in Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Research in Nigeria

There is increasing interest in the need to address the ethical dilemmas related to the engagement of adolescents in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research. Research projects, including those that address issues related to STIs and HIV, adverse pregnancy outcomes, violence, and mental health, must be designed and implemented to address the needs of adolescents. Decisions on when an individual has adequate capacity to give consent for research most commonly use age as a surrogate rather than directly assessing capacity to understand the issues and make an informed decision on whether to participate in research or not. There is a perception that adolescents participating in research are more likely to be coerced and may therefore not fully comprehend the risk they may be taking when engaging in research. This paper examines the various ethical issues that may impact stakeholders' decision making when considering engaging adolescents in SRH research in Nigeria. It makes a case for lowering the age of consent for adolescents. While some experts believe it is possible to extrapolate relevant information from adult research, studies on ethical aspects of adolescents' participation in research are still needed, especially in the field of sexual and reproductive health where there are often differences in knowledge, attitudes and practices compared to adults. The particular challenges of applying the fundamental principles of research ethics to adolescent research, especially research about sex and sexuality, will only become clear if more studies are conducted.     

Importance of basic research in applied phycology

Utilization of algae has extended considerably from the middle of this century, with the consequence of more and more applied research in various directions and fields, the most important of which deals with phycocolloid production and algal cultivation to provide raw material and foodstuff. It is noteworthy that this research can not avoid the use of knowledge obtained by basic research; applied phycology is especially indebted to basic research in adopting biotechnologies which are typically coming from basic research. In counterpart, such a situation is beneficial to basic research. According to the dependence of applied phycology to basic research and the fact that restricted research programs only are nowadays financially supported, the fate of all research seems to be questionable.     

非模式植物蛋白质组学研究进展

蛋白质组学研究是对基因组学研究的重要补充,它是在蛋白质水平定量、动态、整体性研究生物体。该文简要介绍了蛋白质组学的含义,蛋白质组学及植物蛋白质组学产生的科学背景,蛋白质组学的研究内容。概述了非模式植物蛋白质组学的研究进展,主要包括非模式植物个体及群体蛋白质组学,组织和器官蛋白质组学,亚细胞蛋白质组学,响应环境变化的蛋白质组学以及非模式植物生物环境因子的蛋白质组学的研究情况,同时对植物蛋白质组学的发展前景进行了展望。     

Synthetic biology: an emerging research field in China

Synthetic biology is considered as an emerging research field that will bring new opportunities to biotechnology. There is an expectation that synthetic biology will not only enhance knowledge in basic science, but will also have great potential for practical applications. Synthetic biology is still in an early developmental stage in China. We provide here a review of current Chinese research activities in synthetic biology and its different subfields, such as research on genetic circuits, minimal genomes, chemical synthetic biology, protocells and DNA synthesis, using literature reviews and personal communications with Chinese researchers. To meet the increasing demand for a sustainable development, research on genetic circuits to harness biomass is the most pursed research within Chinese researchers. The environmental concerns are driven force of research on the genetic circuits for bioremediation. The research on minimal genomes is carried on identifying the smallest number of genomes needed for engineering minimal cell factories and research on chemical synthetic biology is focused on artificial proteins and expanded genetic code. The research on protocells is more in combination with the research on molecular-scale motors. The research on DNA synthesis and its commercialisation are also reviewed. As for the perspective on potential future Chinese R&D activities, it will be discussed based on the research capacity and governmental policy.     

Justifying Community Benefit Requirements in International Research

It is widely agreed that foreign sponsors of research in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are morally required to ensure that their research benefits the broader host community. There is no agreement, however, about how much benefit or what type of benefit research sponsors must provide, nor is there agreement about what group of people is entitled to benefit. To settle these questions, it is necessary to examine why research sponsors have an obligation to benefit the broader host community, not only their subjects. Justifying this claim is not straightforward. There are three justifications for an obligation to benefit host communities that each apply to some research, but not to all. Each requires a different amount of benefit, and each requires benefit to be directed toward a different group. If research involves significant net risk to LMIC subjects, research must provide adequate benefit to people in LMICs to avoid an unjustified appeal to subjects’ altruism. If research places significant burdens on public resources, research must provide fair compensation to the community whose public resources are burdened. If research is for profit, research sponsors must contribute adequately to the upkeep of public goods from which they benefit in order to avoid the wrong of free‐riding, even if their use of these public goods is not burdensome.     

国内医院转化医学发展动态分析

从机构建设和科学研究两个角度分析国内医院转化医学发展现状。机构建设方面,美国转化医学中心的依托单位多为大学,组织架构较完善。但国内的依托单位多为医院或临床中心,较为分散,多为自发成立,缺乏国家层面的规划部署,难以形成比较高效的转化医学研究体系。但机构建设的迅速发展带来了转化研究成果的增多。国内转化医学研究多为从基础医学的角度探索疾病的致病机制和干预措施,如将实验室技术、细胞生物学、生物化学与分子生物学、药理学、应用生物技术等和临床问题的整合,特别是肿瘤、心血管病、内分泌与代谢病、消化系与腹部疾病等临床领域的转化研究受到了国内较多的关注。最后提出国内医院转化医学发展的策略和建议。     

Debating Ethics in HIV Research: Gaps between Policy and Practice in Nigeria

HIV prevention is a critical health issue in Nigeria; a country that has one of the worst HIV epidemic profiles in the world. With 270,000 new infections in 2012, Nigeria is a prime site for HIV prevention research. One effect of the HIV epidemic has been to revolutionalise ethical norms for the conduct of research: it is now considered unethical to design and implement HIV related studies without community engagement. Unfortunately, there is very little commensurate effort in building the capacity of local persons to engage actively with researchers, and there is no existing platform to facilitate dialogue between researchers and communities engaged in research in Nigeria. In an effort to address this gap, we undertook a series of three community dialogues (Phase One) and two community‐researcher interface meetings (Phase Two) in Nigeria. This paper aims to give an empirical account of the dialogue from these community engagement processes and provide a resulting critique of the implementation of research ethics practices in Nigeria. It is anticipated that the outputs will: (i) support researchers in designing community‐based research protocols; (ii) inform ethics committees of key considerations during research protocol reviews from a community perspective; and (iii) inform policy makers and research sponsors about issues of primary concern to communities with respect to HIV research.     

军队医院科研创新存在的问题及对策分析

科学技术是第一生产力,科技的进步是医学不断发展的基础。随着我国医疗卫生体制改革的不断推进,医院科研管理的作 用越来越突出。近年来,军队医院的科研实力和水平面临着巨大的挑战。因此,建立完善的科研机制,实施科研创新战略是推动卫 生事业改革与发展的动力。科研创新是指在立项、论证、研究方法、数据处理等科研活动中所表现出的与前人不同的思维方式和 行为方式。科研活动本身是以现有的现象、认知和习惯为基础的活动,凭借知识和经验预测科研可能达到的科学目的。在不同层 次对人们熟悉的思维方式高度抽象或转换,是科研创新的主要特征。本研究分析现阶段军队医院科研管理存在的问题,探讨科研 创新的必要性,强调医院科研管理应贯彻系统化思想,建立多元化科研模式。     

施氮时期对高产夏玉米氮代谢关键酶活性及抗氧化特性的影响

选用玉米品种登海661和郑单958为材料,研究了高产条件下施氮时期对夏玉米产量、氮素利用率、氮代谢相关酶及抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明： 拔节期一次性施氮不利于夏玉米产量提高和氮素积累,分次施氮且增施花粒肥显著提高了植株和籽粒的吸氮量,并提高了籽粒产量.拔节期、10叶期、花后10 d按2∶4∶4施氮,登海661产量最高可达14123.0 kg·hm^-2;基肥、拔节期、10叶期、花后10 d按1∶2∶5∶2施氮,郑单958产量最高可达14517.1 kg·hm^-2,这2种施氮方式较拔节期一次性施氮分别增产14.5%和17.5%.花前分次施氮可以显著提高开花期硝酸还原酶活性;登海661和郑单958在花后0~42 d中,施氮处理的谷氨酰胺合成酶、谷氨酸合成酶、谷氨酸脱氢酶活性分别平均提高了32.6%、47.1%、50.4%和145%、61.8%、25.6%,减缓了其下降趋势;超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶活性提高了22.0%、36.6%和13.4%、62.0%,丙二醛含量显著降低.在高产条件下,分次施氮且适当增加花粒肥施入比例可以提高氮代谢相关酶活性,延缓植株衰老,促进氮素吸收利用,进而提高籽粒产量.     

谈中国植物科学基础研究与农业发展

该文讨论了加强植物科学基础研究的必要性及其对我国农业发展的重要影响。为了更好地为中国的农业发展服务,进一步加强植物科学基础研究非常重要。为了促进植物科学的发展,我国既要积极参与国际竞争,又要重视知识创新、技术发展以及技术平台建设等多个方面,还要重视传统学科如植物分类学等的发展。过去10年间,我们见证了中国科学家在植物科学领域取得的重要成就,随着越来越多的高水平人才回国,建议国家增加投入支持我国的植物科学基础研究。     

亚热带山区红壤地碳平衡研究进展

碳平衡研究日益成为全球变化与地球科学研究领域的热点问题.亚热带红壤区是我国发展粮食作物和各种热带、亚热带经济作物与林木的重要基地,因该区特殊的生态地理位置,在我国碳平衡研究中占有重要地位.本文论述了亚热带山区红壤地碳平衡研究的重要性,对碳平衡研究中植被、凋落物、土壤碳库和土壤呼吸的研究现状和主要结论等进行阐述,总结了碳平衡的综合研究方法,并对亚热带山区红壤地碳平衡研究中存在的问题和今后的发展方向进行探讨.     

植物功能基因组研究进展

随着植物基因组计划的深入,植物基因组学研究的重点已经转变为基因组功能的研究,即利用基因组序列的信息和高通量的系统分析技术,在基因组水平研究植物结构和组织与植物功能在细胞、有机体和进化上的关系.对功能基因组学研究的内容、方法以及最新研究进展进行了综述.     

谈中国植物科学基础研究与农业发展

该文讨论了加强植物科学基础研究的必要性及其对我国农业发展的重要影响。为了更好地为中国的农业发展服务, 进一步加强植物科学基础研究非常重要。为了促进植物科学的发展, 我国既要积极参与国际竞争, 又要重视知识创新、技术发展以及技术平台建设等多个方面, 还要重视传统学科如植物分类学等的发展。过去10年间, 我们见证了中国科学家在植物科学领域取得的重要成就, 随着越来越多的高水平人才回国, 建议国家增加投入支持我国的植物科学基础研究。     

TV is Moving in

Visual arts teachers engage in complex work on a daily basis. This work is informed by practical knowledge that is rarely examined or drawn on in research or in the development of policy. Focusing on the work of secondary visual arts teachers, this article reports on a research program conducted in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia. The research engages in a collaborative process of educational connoisseurship and educational criticism to examine and discuss classroom practice. The process is underpinned by a belief in research as an act of discovery and is guided by a framework that provides a language and grammar of practice. Drawing on qualitative data, discussion focuses on how the collaborative process enables the mobilization and generation of new knowledge. The article concludes by considering the relationship between teaching practice, research, and policy development and by recommending support for collaborative research-based initiatives that foreground the knowledge of teachers.     

Current perspectives in cancer proteomics

Proteome technology has been used widely in cancer research and is a useful tool for the identification of new cancer markers and treatment-related changes in cancer. This article details the use of proteome technology in cancer research, and laboratory-based and clinical cancer research studies are described. New developments in proteome technology that enable higher sample-throughput are evaluated and methods for enhancing conventional proteome analysis (based on two-dimensional electrophoresis) discussed. The need to couple laboratory-based proteomics research with clinically relevant models of the disease is also considered, as this remains the next main challenge of cancer-related proteome research.     

Ethical framework for observational studies of medicinal drug exposure in pregnancy

BACKGROUND: The conduct of human research in the teratogenicity of drugs, chemicals, radiation and infections is needed in order to close critical gaps in knowledge. METHODS: We reviewed the various aspects of the ethics of conducting prospective human research in teratogenicity. RESULTS: Such research should respect the confidentiality of pregnant women and their families. Because this research is observational, interpretation of results is difficult, and the study design should strive to meet the highest possible scientific standards attainable in the particular research conditions. It should also be acknowledged that confidentiality cannot be always adhered to (e.g., if the interview reveals risks to minors). CONCLUSIONS: In general, the benefit risk ratio in this type of research is very favorable, although in specific cases the research follow-up may induce fears (e.g., drugs of abuse) in the woman being interviewed.     

Visual neuroscience research in China

Historically,vision research in China was one of a few distinct research programs within the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).With improved funding opportunities and research environment in neuroscience,vision research at several research institutes within the academy has made significant progress not only in the quantity of publications,but also in the quality of the work.Based on our own expertise,this review is mainly focused on the findings that have advanced the understanding of visual processing in th...     

Radiobiological problems in space

Summary An overview is presented on radiation problems in space, with emphasis on aspects of major interest for manned space exploration. A classification of the radiation hazards is presented and strategies for their evaluation are discussed. Space radiation problems are compared with characteristic aspects of radiation research in other disciplines, in order to provide further insight into those aspects that are unique to space.The research described in this paper was carried out while the author was a NASA VisitingThe research described in this paper was carried out while the author was a NASA VisitingThe research described in this paper was carried out while the author was a NASA VisitingThe research described in this paper was carried out while the author was a NASA Visiting     

天然可降解生物材料在组织工程中的应用研究进展

细胞培养支架材料是组织工程学的重要研究内容之一 ,是实现产业化的关键。天然可降解生物材料是细胞培养支架材料中的重要组成部分 ,目前用于细胞培养支架的天然可降解生物材料主要有多糖类和蛋白质类。多糖类主要包括壳多糖、透明质酸 ;蛋白质类主要包括胶原纤维蛋白和血纤维蛋白。     

模式植物蛋白质组研究进展

蛋白质组学是后基因组时代研究的热点,而植物蛋白质组是此研究领域的一块奇葩。这主要归功于模式植物蛋白质组的成就。本文综述了模式植物拟南芥、大豆、水稻、大麦、小麦、玉米蛋白质组的研究进展,并简要介绍了本实验室的工作.最后展望了植物蛋白质组学今后的发展前景。