Ecology of Infectious Disease: Forging an Alliance

The Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) program is a joint National Science Foundation–National Institutes of Health initiative to produce predictive understanding of disease dynamics, with a focus on diseases with an environmental component. The interdisciplinary research projects funded by this program take advantage of the wide range of theoretical and methodological advances developed over the past 30 years. The challenge for disease ecology is to unravel these systems, discover how complex they truly are, and to determine if they can be predicted and controlled using targeted environmental, public health, or medical interventions. Between 1999 and 2005, a total of 42 research awards were made under the EID program. EID projects have had affects on policy in two areas: adoption of novel interventions on a local scale and use of models by government agencies for the purpose of allocating public health resources. The past 6 years have been an exciting time for the field of disease ecology; we expect the coming years to be even more exciting and productive. As US federal government employees writing an article as part of our official duties, copyright of all publications is retained by the US government. The views expressed here by Samuel M. Scheiner and Joshua P. Rosenthal are those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, or the United States Government.     

Modeling insect dispersal and estimating parameters when mark-release techniques may cause initial disturbances

We consider the problem of quantitatively modeling movements of marked flea beetles in cultivated arrays of the cole crop, collards (Brassica oleraceae). Methods for the estimation of temporally and spatially dependent parameters in general dispersal models are outlined and a summary of our findings using these methods with flea beetle data is given.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under NSF # MCS-8205335 and by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research under contract AFOSR 81-0198. Part of the research was carried out while this author was a Visiting Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Southern Methodist UniversityThis research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under NSF # DEB-8207117This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under NSF # MCS-8200883. Part of the research was carried out while the first and third authors were visitors at the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering (ICASE), NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia which is operated under NASA contracts NAS1-15810 and NAS1-16394     

国家自然科学基金资助微生物组研究的现状与效果分析*

国家自然科学基金项目对科学研究具有扶持、引导作用,其资助和成果情况可在一定程度上反映出我国前沿科技领域的研究重点和发展趋势。选取2010—2021年国家自然科学基金资助微生物组基础研究情况为分析对象,对资助年度、资助金额、资助类别、资助单位、项目成果等内容进行统计分析,反映国家自然科学基金资助微生物组基础研究的现状、特点以及资助效果,为微生物组相关领域的研究和管理人员提供参考和支撑。     

国家自然科学基金资助20年皮肤性病学基础研究发展概况

概述了近20年来国家自然科学基金在皮肤性病学领域的资助情况和布局,对资助项目的重要研究成果进行了总结和分析,反映了国内皮肤性病学的研究现状和存在的问题,展示了国家自然科学基金在学科发展上的重要引领作用。     

中美生物医学合作研究计划及其前景

中美生物医学合作研究计划实施3年来,收到了来自中美双方科学家共657项申请.这些申请在研究内容上涉及肿瘤、感染性疾病(包括HIV感染和艾滋病相关研究)、过敏性疾病、医学免疫学、精神健康及神经性疾病(中风和帕金森病).经过国家自然科学基金委员会和美国国立卫生研究院的联合评审程序,有109项申请项目获得了资助.联合评审的机制和获资助的109个研究项目的合作研究为今后中美双方的进一步合作奠定了基础.     

A review of important concepts in the trophic organization of pelagic ecosystems

The physical environment has an important influence on the size composition of primary producers in plankton communities. This effect is transmitted through the trophic structure by size selective feeding processes at each level. A pictorial representation of trophic organization in pelagic ecosystems is presented which illustrates the complex involvement of individual species in the food web and the dynamic nature of ecosystem development along alternate pathways.This research was supported in full by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. NSF OCE76-02035.     

中国昆虫学发展透视

2006—2010年5年来,我国昆虫学工作者获得了国家自然科学基金736项、国家科技支撑计划2项19个课题,公益性行业科研专项34项,"973"项目6项;共发表与昆虫有关的学术论文13772篇,其中SCI收录论文2625篇,Science6篇,Nature1篇,PNAS6篇,Annual Review of Entomology1篇,Nature Bioteachnology4篇;获得了国家科技进步奖二等奖13项。本文分析了2006—2010年我国昆虫学研究项目、研究成果在不同昆虫学分支学科和不同研究区域的分布特征,透视了我们昆虫学研究前沿,旨在为制定我国昆虫学未来发展战略提供基础信息。     

Effect of high nonexchangeable aluminium on nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a humus-rich acid forest soil

The effect of high nonexchangeable aluminum on availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) was studied in a Cryptopodzolic soil (Cademario) derived from mica schist in southern Switzerland. The research involved a greenhouse pot experiment comparing growth of barley on soil samples of three soil layers (10- to 25-, 40- to 60- and 70- to 90 cm) of the Cademario profile, representing a range of Al and organic matter properties, with the 10- to 40 cm layer of a profile of an acidic brown earth (Haplumbrept), derived from cherty limestone. The experiment, which included four nutrient treatments [check, N₀ (PKS), P₀ (NKS) and full (NPKS)], lime and no lime treatments and four replicates, was supplemented by soil chemical analysis. Results showed that liming alone produced greater yield responses in the Cademario soil than N or P added singly or together. On unlimed soils, barley yield for check, N₀, and P₀ treatments showed a positive linear relation with exchangeable Ca of soils and a negative linear relation with organically-complexed Al. Failure of liming to influence P_av, especially when combined with P fertilization, suggests that P was quickly absorbed on highly active surfaces formed from initially exchangeable Al.This research is a cooperative effort of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Stations, Journal Article No. 7100 and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape; it was supported by the National Science Foundation, USA, Grant No. INT-8304490, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, Grant No. 2.919-803.This research is a cooperative effort of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Stations, Journal Article No. 7100 and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape; it was supported by the National Science Foundation, USA, Grant No. INT-8304490, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, Grant No. 2.919-803.     

Determination of the ionization potential and the electron affinity of various biologically active substances by polarography

The electron affinity and ionization potential of various biological substances were measured by polarography and compared with their effect on growth ofE. coli.This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant GM 10383, the Josephine B. Crane Foundation, and the Thayer Lindsley Foundation.     

Pioneering Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives for Oceans and Human Health

Following the release of the report From Monsoons to Microbes by the National Research Council in 1999, efforts began to promote federal sponsorship of research and education in a new scientific discipline focusing on how the ocean affects human health. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiated a joint program to establish and sustain several research Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH) at nonfederal institutions. Shortly thereafter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mounted a similar initiative to establish intramural centers at existing NOAA facilities as well as an extramural grants program. This profile reviews the history and current state of these developments. The statements and opinions in this report are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent the position of, or imply commitments by, any agency of the United States Government.     

Phenolic Compounds from the Fruits of Prunus davidiana (Rosaceae) and Their Antioxidant Activities

This research was supported by Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ014204032019) and the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2020R1A6A3A01100042).     

What can conservation strategies learn from the ecosystem services approach? Insights from ecosystem assessments in two Spanish protected areas

Biodiversity conservation strategies that overlook the interests of local people are prone to create conflicts. The ecosystem service approach holds potential for more comprehensively integrating the social dimension into decision-making in protected areas, but its implementation in conservation policies is still in its infancy. This research assesses the extent to which ecosystem services have been implemented in conservation strategies in protected areas. The study was conducted in two outstanding Spanish protected areas, covering a wetland (Doñana Natural and National Parks) and a Mediterranean mountain system (Sierra Nevada Natural and National Parks). Data were collected from deliberative workshops with managers and researchers, face-to-face surveys with users and a review of management plans. We found that, beyond intrinsic values of ecosystems and biodiversity, these areas provide multiple ecosystem services that deserve further attention to ensure their sustained delivery. Our research shows that environmental managers and researchers have different perceptions and priorities regarding ecosystem services management compared with ecosystem service users. Environmental managers and researchers in both protected areas perceived that human-nature relationships and ecosystem services are already widely included in management plans, if often not explicitly. We found that different ecosystem service categories receive uneven attention in management plans. These contained measures to manage provisioning and cultural services whereas measures for managing regulating services were perceived to be largely absent. We conclude by summarizing insights on how the ecosystem service approach may enhance the consideration of social interests in the management of management protected areas.     

2011-2015年度国家自然科学基金微生物学学科项目申请与资助情况分析

本文总结了国家自然科学基金委员会生命科学部微生物学学科2011-2015年度各类项目的申请和资助概况,统计分析了五年来项目依托单位和主要研究方向的变化情况,并从鼓励学科交叉、优化资助格局和加强人才培养的角度对微生物学科资助方向进行展望,以期为微生物学领域的科研工作者提供参考。     

The Funding of Research in Social-Cultural Anthropology at the National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is the largest single source of finds for research targeted in cultural anthropology. The patterns of funding for "senior" research (post-Ph.D.) since 1956 are described and analyzed. Total dollars spent have increased, but the average grant size has decreased in recent years. The chances of getting funding are found not to be different if one is female or more senior, has resubmitted a previously declined proposal, or has a Ph.D. from an "elite" program. Smaller proposals and proposals from "elite" institutions have a slightly higher probability of getting funded. Differences in funding across research areas (geographical and substantive) are also discussed.     

中欧环境和微生物科学家：共同担当起保护地球家园的责任

国际科技合作是促进科技进步和人类社会文明发展的重要举措,在环境保护和维护地球生态系统良好运行的目标下,最容易达成共识。中国国家自然科学基金委员会和欧盟委员会2018年和2019年分别发布了在环境生物技术领域合作的项目指南,共同支持环境生物修复技术和塑料降解微生物菌群相关领域的基础研究和成果转化。本专刊邀请了相关项目负责人介绍合作框架内项目的设计思想、主要内容以及获得的进展,并收录了在环境生物修复技术领域的基础研究和成果转化方面的论文23篇。     

国家自然科学基金微生物学学科2000-2006年度资助面上项目概况及分析

对国家自然科学基金2000～2006年度资助微生物学各分支学科面上项目的数量和经费情况进行了总结分析,试图详细地展示我国微生物学各分支学科基础研究概况,指明了在未来一段时间里国家自然科学基金资助微生物学学科的重点研究方向。     

国家自然科学基金微生物学学科2000~2006年度资助面上项目概况及分析

对国家自然科学基金2000~2006年度资助微生物学各分支学科面上项目的数量和经费情况进行了总结分析,试图详细地展示我国微生物学各分支学科基础研究概况,指明了在未来一段时间里国家自然科学基金资助微生物学学科的重点研究方向。     

Complex biomedical systems: from basic science to translation

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) of the University of Southern California (BME@USC) has a longstanding tradition of advancing biomedicine through the development and application of novel engineering ideas. More than 80 primary and affiliated faculty members conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of areas, such as neuroengineering, biosystems and biosignal analysis, medical devices (including biomicroelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS) and bionanotechnology), biomechanics, bioimaging, and imaging informatics. Currently, the department hosts six internationally recognized research centers: the Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research Center (funded by the National Science Foundation), the Biomedical Simulations Resource [funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)], the Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Center (funded by NIH), the Center for Neural Engineering, the Center for Vision Science and Technology (funded by an NIH Bioengineering Research Partnership Grant), and the Center for Genomic and Phenomic Studies in Autism (funded by NIH). BME@USC ranks in the top tier of all U.S. BME departments in terms of research funding per faculty.     

The concepts of elasticity, invulnerability and invadability

Users of mathematical models in ecological research have emphasized mathematical elegance in elucidating the dynamics of ecosystem models with fixed collections of state variables instead of addressing the equally important question of what effects a changing ecosystem structure has on the system's dynamics. Our work addresses the effect of invasion on the species composition of communities. In the context of a linear model, we found that as communities were made more complex (in terms of the number of species they contained and the number of interactions among these species) the probability of their being stable decreased, but the probability of their being invulnerable to invasion by other species increased. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that, through time, communities approach an intermediate complexity at which the influences of environmental stochasticity (which tends to destabilize complex communities) and invasion pressure (which tends to add species to simple communities) counterbalance one another. At this intermediate complexity the average rate of change of species composition is low.     

Seed dispersal in a patchy environment with global age dependence

A model of seed population dynamics proposed by S. A. Levin, A. Hastings, and D. Cohen is presented and analyzed. With the environment considered as a mosaic of patches, patch age is used along with time as an independent variable. Local dynamics depend not only on the local state, but also on the global environment via dispersal modelled by an integral over all patch ages. Basic technical properties of the time varying solutions are examined; necessary and sufficient conditions for nontrivial steady states are given; and general sufficient conditions for global asymptotic stability of these steady states are established. Primary tools of analysis include a hybrid Picard iteration, fixed point methods, monotonicity of solution structure, and upper and lower solutions for differential equations.This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grants MCS-7903497 and MCS-790349701