The future of South East Asian rainforests in a changing landscape and climate

With a focus on the Danum Valley area of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, this special issue has as its theme the future of tropical rainforests in a changing landscape and climate. The global environmental context to the issue is briefly given before the contents and rationale of the issue are summarized. Most of the papers are based on research carried out as part of the Royal Society South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme. The issue is divided into five sections: (i) the historical land-use and land management context; (ii) implications of land-use change for atmospheric chemistry and climate change; (iii) impacts of logging, forest fragmentation (particularly within an oil palm plantation landscape) and forest restoration on ecosystems and their functioning; (iv) the response and resilience of rainforest systems to climatic and land-use change; and (v) the scientific messages and policy implications arising from the research findings presented in the issue.     

The Issue of Jurisdiction Over Mixed Disputes in the Chagos Marine Protection Area Arbitration and Beyond

The real issue in the Chagos Marine Protection Area Arbitration should have been the dispute concerning the Lancaster House Undertakings, over which the Arbitral Tribunal had no jurisdiction. The UNCLOS has no express provision respecting the jurisdiction over mixed disputes—disputes involving territorial sovereignty and maritime boundary delimitation. Thus, a court or tribunal facing a mixed dispute should refrain from exercising its jurisdiction over the maritime issue if its resolution is premised on the resolution of the sovereignty issue involved.     

Stem cell tensions mount

The US has been a major battle-ground amongst legislators coming to grips with the issue of embryonic stem cell research but the issue is reaching new heights in Italy. Nigel Williams reports.     

Genome-scale evidence of the nematode-arthropod clade

Background  

The issue of whether coelomates form a single clade, the Coelomata, or whether all animals that moult an exoskeleton (such as the coelomate arthropods and the pseudocoelomate nematodes) form a distinct clade, the Ecdysozoa, is the most puzzling issue in animal systematics and a major open-ended subject in evolutionary biology. Previous single-gene and genome-scale analyses designed to resolve the issue have produced contradictory results. Here we present the first genome-scale phylogenetic evidence that strongly supports the Ecdysozoa hypothesis.     

Letter from the Editor

mAbs’ September/October 2009 issue highlights the promise and challenges of antibody therapeutics development. Representing promise, our mini-review series on novel antibodies currently undergoing regulatory review or recently approved continues in this issue. Previously published articles include mini-reviews of denosumab and ustekinumab (May/June 2009 issue) and ofatumumab (July/August 2009 issue). The September/October issue features articles on golimumab, tocilizumab and motavizumab. The mini-reviews present overviews of the completed and on-going clinical studies of these molecules. Anti-TNFα golimumab was approved in April 2009 by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis; anti-IL6R tocilizumab is approved in Japan and the European Union (EU), and is currently undergoing FDA review as a treatment for RA. The juxtaposition of these two mini-reviews provides an opportunity to easily compare summaries of the available clinical results. Future issues of mAbs will include mini-reviews of catumaxomab, canakinumab and raxibacumab, as well as any additional antibodies that enter regulatory review in 2009 and beyond.     

Offline perception: an introduction

Experiences that are self-generated and independent of sensory stimulations permeate our whole life. This theme issue examines their similarities and differences, systematizes the literature from an integrative perspective, critically discusses state-of-the-art empirical findings and proposes new theoretical approaches. The aim of the theme issue is to foster interaction between the different disciplines and research directions involved and to explore the prospects of a unificatory account of offline perception in general.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Offline perception: voluntary and spontaneous perceptual experiences without matching external stimulation’.     

The forest issue in post-UNCED international negotiations: conflicting interests and fora for reconciliation

The article is concerned with the international deliberations for a follow-up mechanism of the UNCED Statement of Forest Principles. The forest issue is complicated by the different scientific approaches to the deforestation problem, as represented by climate change and biodiversity respectively. From the former perspective, reforestation may seem an adequate remedy to solve the problem, while from the latter, biodiversity, much more weight must be put on conservation and sustainable utilization. An additional complication is presented by the political divide between developing and industrialized countries concerning the approach to the problem of deforestation. The focus of the article is on the current three main international arenas in which the issue is being discussed: (i) addressing the forest issue within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, (ii) enlarging the scope of the International Agreement on Tropical Timber (ITTA) to include all types of forests, and (iii) pursuing the forest issue in a World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development. The feasibility of achieving agreement and effective implementation within the framework of the various options is the focal point of the discussion.     

Sustainable management of grassland ecosystems for controlling Asian dusts and desertification in Asian continent and a suggestion of Eco-Village study in China

Asian dusts, yellow sand, or dust and sand storms (DSS) in Asian continent are the end products of desertification, which became a regional environmental problem being aggravated by time. It is closely related to an issue of sustainability in the region. As the desertification is caused not only by natural factors, such as the climate change, strong wind, and low precipitation, but also by rapidly increasing human activities, such as overgrazing, misuse of water resources, and irrational land use, it is urgent to make efforts to combat desertification in Asian continent including China. In this regard, it is necessary to consider socio-economic aspects as well as ecological aspects and, consequently, the project for the construction of a Demonstration Model Village for eco-environmental rehabilitation should be paid to a special attention. The authors deal with this regional issue in consideration of three Es, which are represented by ecology, economy, and environment in providing the perspectives in sound approach to the issue. As an approach to the issue of Asian dusts and desertification in Asian continent, this Eco-Village study provides one way forward.     

Monitoring drug efficacy and early detection of drug resistance in human soil-transmitted nematodes: a pressing public health agenda for helminth control

Control of soil-transmitted helminth infection and elimination of lymphatic filariasis by periodic chemotherapy increase drug pressure for possible occurrence of resistance against single dose anthelminthics. In veterinary practice, frequent treatment of closed populations has led to a serious problem of anthelminthic drug resistance which is now largely irreversible. Reduced efficacy of single dose drugs against nematodes of humans should be taken as early warnings to tackle the issue in due time. Research and development of sensitive tools for monitoring and early detection of drug resistance is urgently needed to sustain the benefits of helminth control programs gained so far. A concerted action with international partners and the creation of a network of scientists to address this issue is the next pressing public health issue for helminth control.     

Fries所著Observationes Mycologicae(cancellans issue再版)中虫草属及其相关种的名称(英文)

Fries 1818年所著Observationes Mycologicae(cancellans issue再版)中,发表了虫草属Cordyceps及该属13个新组合(11个种,2个变种)。而在这部著作的原始版本中,它们是以Cordylia nom.illegit.和Cordylia属的13个组合记载的。17个在原始版本中缺失的名称,再版时处理为7个新种、5个新组合、2个不合法名称和3个裸名。     

On a density-dependent model of competition for one resource

We use the concept of steady-state characteristic of a population using a single limiting resource, in order to discuss the issue of the competition of many species for the same resource. The steady-state characteristic is a curve that is associated to each species, likely to be determined empirically. Once one knows the steady-state characteristics and the dynamic of the renewal of the resource, it is possible to predict to some extent the issue of the competition and to give sufficient conditions for coexistence.     

Introduction to special issue on RNA

In this introduction to the special issue on RNA, we provide a brief overview of some of the novel and exciting biological discoveries concerning diverse roles played by RNA, and subsequently we give a rapid summary of some algorithmic aspects of RNA structure and alignment. Each of the contributions to this special issue is briefly described. This work is funded in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DBI-0543506.     

Patently not obvious

Patenting a technology is an increasingly important issue for biometrics companies around the world. On the surface, the reason for obtaining a patent seems obvious: to register a unique invention and in doing so, to stop others from copying a design which may have taken years of dedicated work and investment to complete. In actual fact, patenting is a complex issue, which requires time, money and a clear idea of what the patent may achieve.     

PRIME-XS,a European Infrastructure for Proteomics

The PRIME-XS consortium is a pan-European infrastructure for proteomics. As a prologue to this special issue of Molecular &; Cellular Proteomics on the research activities of the PRIME-XS consortium, we, as the guest editors of this issue, provide an overview of the structure and activities of this consortium, which is funded by the European Union's 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.     

News and notices

This section is collated by Steve Dudley (BOU Senior Administrator). Requests for the publication of information, and other assistance which is considered to be of interest to our readers, will be considered sympathetically. Publicity will be given to relevant grants and awards that can be applied for and to new societies operating within the field of ornithology, birds and birding. Details of conferences, meetings and other events will be included if sent at least six months in advance of the event, and news of members' activities is particularly welcome. All contributions are restricted to 500 words, and should be sent by email to: steve.dudley@bou.org.uk
Deadlines for contributions: 15 September (January issue); 15 December (April issue); 15 March (July issue); 15 June (October issue).     

To cross or not to cross: alternatively spliced forms of the Robo3 receptor regulate discrete steps in axonal midline crossing

How growth cones grow toward and then away from intermediate targets is a key issue in axon guidance. In this issue of Neuron, Tessier-Lavigne and colleagues demonstrate that two different spliced isoforms of the Robo3 receptor act sequentially in commissural neuron growth cones to mediate this process at the ventral midline in the vertebrate spinal cord.     

The multiple faces of RIM

Rab3 interacting molecules (RIMs) are highly enriched in the active zones of presynaptic terminals. It is generally thought that they operate as effectors of the small G protein Rab3. Three recent papers, by Han et al. (this issue of Neuron), Deng et al. (this issue of Neuron), and Kaeser et al. (a recent issue of Cell), shed new light on the functional role of RIM in presynaptic terminals. First, RIM tethers Ca2+ channels to active zones. Second, RIM contributes to priming of synaptic vesicles by interacting with another presynaptic protein, Munc13.     

News and notices

This section is collated by Steve Dudley (BOU Administrator). Requests for the publication of information, and other assistance which is considered to be of interest to our readers, will be considered sympathetically. Publicity will be given to relevant grants and awards that can be applied for and to new societies operating within the field of ornithology, birds and birding. Details of conferences, meetings and other events will be included if sent at least six months in advance of the event, and news of members' activities is particularly welcome. All contributions are restricted to 500 words, and should be sent by email to: steve.dudley@bou.org.uk
Deadlines for contributions: 15 September (January issue); 15 December (April issue); 15 March (July issue); 15 June (October issue).     

Integrating ecology and genetics to address Acari invasions

Because of their small size and tolerance to many of the control procedures used for a wide variety of commodities, Acari species have become one of the fastest, unwanted pest travelers since the beginning of this century. This special issue includes eleven studies on adventive and invasive Acari species affecting major crops and livestock around the world. The nucleus for this special issue is formed by the presentations in the symposium on invasive mites and ticks organized at the International Congress of Acarology in Recife, Brazil (ICA-13), in the summer of 2010. This special issue illustrates the increased concerns about domestic and international invasive mites and ticks worldwide.