Sexual health education interventions for young people: a methodological review.

OBJECTIVES--To locate reports of sexual health education interventions for young people, assess the methodological quality of evaluations, identify the subgroup with a methodologically sound design, and assess the evidence with respect to the effectiveness of different approaches to promoting young people''s sexual health. DESIGN--Survey of reports in English by means of electronic databases and hand searches for relevant studies conducted in the developed world since 1982. Papers were reviewed for eight methodological qualities. The evidence on effectiveness generated by studies meeting four core criteria was assessed. Judgments on effectiveness by reviewers and authors were compared. PAPERS--270 papers reporting sexual health interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--The methodological quality of evaluations. RESULTS--73 reports of evaluations of sexual health interventions examining the effectiveness of these interventions in changing knowledge, attitudes, or behavioural outcomes were identified, of which 65 were separate outcome evaluations. Of these studies, 45 (69%) lacked random control groups, 44 (68%) failed to present preintervention and 38 (59%) postintervention data, and 26 (40%) omitted to discuss the relevance of loss of data caused by drop outs. Only 12 (18%) of the 65 outcome evaluations were judged to be methodologically sound. Academic reviewers were more likely than authors to judge studies as unclear because of design faults. Only two of the sound evaluations recorded interventions which were effective in showing an impact on young people''s sexual behaviour. CONCLUSIONS--The design of evaluations in sexual health intervention needs to be improved so that reliable evidence of the effectiveness of different approaches to promoting young people''s sexual health may be generated.     

Difficulties with anonymous shortlisting of medical school applications and its effects on candidates with non-European names: prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of anonymous shortlisting of applications for medical school and its effect on those with non-European names.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingLeeds school of medicine, United Kingdom.Subjects2047 applications for 1998 entry from the United Kingdom and the European Union.InterventionDeletion of all references to name and nationality from the application form.ResultsDeleting names was cumbersome as some were repeated up to 15 times. Anonymising application forms was ineffective as one admissions tutor was able to identify nearly 50% of candidates classed as being from an ethnic minority group. Although scores were lower for applicants with non-European names, anonymity did not improve scores. Applicants with non-European names who were identified as such by tutors were significantly less likely to drop marks in one particular non-academic area (the career insight component) than their European counterparts.ConclusionsThere was no evidence of benefit to candidates with non-European names of attempting to blind assessment. Anonymising application forms cannot be recommended.

Key messages

• It is cumbersome to anonymise the current Universities and Colleges Admissions Service form as a candidate''s name may appear up to 15 times
• Anonymised application forms may still be identified as being from candidates from ethnic minority groups
• More thorough anonymising of application forms, such as deletion of cultural activities, would edit out some personal attributes and may disadvantage these candidates
• Anonymous assessment of applications cannot be recommended

     

基于文献计量学的直链藻属的研究进展

基于1975—2014年Web of Science数据库中有关直链藻的学术论文,进行了文献计量学分析。研究发现,每年发表论文数呈明显上升趋势,但增幅不大;单篇论文的作者数增长缓慢,近5年每篇论文的作者数开始大于4名;发表论文的学术杂志的影响因子中等偏下,学术影响力不大;以上也映射出此研究方向的冷门性。欧美发达国家对直链藻学术论文的贡献最大,在国际合作方面也处于领先地位。有关直链藻的研究内容仍偏重于基础性研究,分类、多样性和种群生态学方面的研究仍保持一定的热度。淡水湖泊和江河流域是开展直链藻研究的主要区域。     

Citation Patterns of a Controversial and High-Impact Paper: Worm et al. (2006) “Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services”

Citation patterns were examined for Worm et al. 2006 (Science 314∶787–790), a high-impact paper that focused on relationships between marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. This paper sparked much controversy through its projection, highlighted in the press release, that all marine fisheries would be collapsed by 2048. Analysis of 664 citing papers revealed that only a small percentage (11%) referred to the 2048 projection, while 39% referred to fisheries collapse in general, and 40% to biodiversity and ecosystem services. The 2048 projection was mentioned more often in papers published soon after the original paper, in low-impact journals, and in journals outside of fields that would be expected to focus on biodiversity. Citing papers also mentioned the 2048 projection more often if they had few authors (28% of single-author papers vs. 2% of papers with 10 or more authors). These factors suggest that the more knowledgeable the authors of citing papers were about the controversy over the 2048 projection, the less likely they were to refer to it. A noteworthy finding was that if the original authors were also involved in the citing papers, they rarely (1 of 55 papers, 2%) mentioned the 2048 projection. Thus the original authors have emphasized the broader concerns about biodiversity loss, rather than the 2048 projection, as the key result of their study.     

Incorrect Citations Give Unfair Credit to Review Authors in Ecology Journals

The number of citations that papers receive has become significant in measuring researchers'' scientific productivity, and such measurements are important when one seeks career opportunities and research funding. Skewed citation practices can thus have profound effects on academic careers. We investigated (i) how frequently authors misinterpret original information and (ii) how frequently authors inappropriately cite reviews instead of the articles upon which the reviews are based. To reach this aim, we carried a survey of ecology journals indexed in the Web of Science and assessed the appropriateness of citations of review papers. Reviews were significantly more often cited than regular articles. In addition, 22% of citations were inaccurate, and another 15% unfairly gave credit to the review authors for other scientists'' ideas. These practices should be stopped, mainly through more open discussion among mentors, researchers and students.     

Invalidly published names inJanchen's “Catalogus florae Austriae”: Survey,analysis, and notes

Names of species and subspecies fromJanchen's Catalogus were revised with regard to their validity; invalidly published names were compiled in a commented list of 120 names. About sixty of them were analyzed at length from nomenclatural and taxonomical viewpoints. The cause of the invalidity of these names were discussed; omission of citations of basionyms to proposals of new nomenclatural combinations is the main reason for the invalidity ofJanchen's names. Taxonomic reclassifications and nomenclatural revisions resulted in 23 new nomenclatural combinations, five of these proposals representing direct validations ofJanchen's invalidly published names. Some more general problems of nomenclature are discussed: indirect validation of invalidly published names; omission of infraspecific homonymy; the correctness and necessity to attach neglected authors' names to the names of plants based on those names distinctly taken over from such authors; problems of autonyms in the ICBN Code. The use of the category “convarietas” in cultivated plants (instead of subspecies) is emphasized. Names validated byJanchen himself in his paper of 1959 should be used with this publication place instead of their invalid publication in the Catalogus. Some propositions for future research by other authors are also added.     

RNA binding proteins of the large subunit of bovine mitochondrial ribosomes.

RNA binding properties of proteins from the large subunit of bovine mitochondrial ribosomes were studied using four different approaches: binding of radiolabeled RNA to western blotted proteins; disassembly of the intact 39 S ribosomal subunits with urea; binding of ribosomal proteins to RNA in the presence of urea; and binding of proteins extracted with lithium chloride to RNA. Results from these four approaches allowed us to identify a set of six proteins (L7, L13, L14, L21, L26, and L44) which appear to be strong RNA binding proteins. Seven additional proteins (L8, L11, L28, L35, L40, L49, and L50) were identified as secondary RNA binding proteins. RNA binding properties of the proteins in both of these sets were compared with the topographic disposition and susceptibility towards lithium chloride extraction of the individual proteins. Proteins from the first set are good candidates for early assembly proteins since they have a high affinity for RNA, are generally found in 4M lithium chloride core particles, and are among the most buried proteins in the 39 S subunit.     

Haemorrheological response to plasma exchange in Raynaud's syndrome.

Eight patients with Raynaud''s syndrome were treated by weekly plasma exchange for four weeks using a Haemonetics Model 30 Blood Processor. The mean whole-blood viscosity at a shear rate of 0.77/s was significantly lower after treatment, and the mean index of red-cell deformability was significantly improved. In four patients studied serially the mean percentage fall in whole-blood viscosity after a single plasma exchange was 49% at 0.77/s but only 14% at 91/s. All patients noticed symptomatic improvement including healing of ischaemic digital ulcers. In six patients the number of digital arterial segments containing detectable blood flow was measured by directional Doppler; in all six the number increased. It is concluded that plasma exchange is an effective means of haemorrheological treatment and may be beneficial in patients with digital ischaemia.     

Rank and sequence in Caspar Bauhin's Pinax

CAIN, A. J., 1994. Rank and sequence in Caspar Bauhin's Pinax. Bauhin's consistent use of genera, species and binominals, applauded by historians as anticipating Linnaeus's theory and practice, does not appear on closer examination to be intended as anything of the sort. His use of the terms genus and species is as in Aristotelian logic, with a shifting reference, at all taxonomic levels. His typographical layout, emphasizing (but far from invariably employing) single-word names for effectively generic entities, often qualified by ‘and its species’, gives the impression of Linnaean practice, and coincides with it not infrequently, but not with Linnaean theory. The main entities for which it can be said that Bauhin uses fairly consistently a biverbal binominal name-phrase, like Linnaeus' trivial names, were in fact in Linnaeus's eyes two levels of supraspecific groupings. The main entities in Bauhin which Linnaeus recognized as species, as is shown by his quotations in the Species plantarum, are subdivisions of his biverbally or nearly biverbally named groupings, but themselves have multiverbal names. These correspond closely to Linnaeus's diagnostic specific names, not at all to his biverbal trivial names. Bauhin probably had no conception of the species and genus as ranks in the modern sense, first adumbrated by Tournefort and utilized by Linnaeus. Bauhin certainly tried to group forms by natural affinity, as did Theophrastus before him and Linnaeus afterwards. Not being alerted to the importance of the details of the flower and fruit, he used what characters he could find, notably, but not by any means exclusively, leaf shape. He composed the Pinax as a nomenclatural concordance to earlier authors, notably Dioscorides, Theophrastus and Pliny. He retained the sequence of major groups of Theophrastus (as the greatest authority on plants) but reversed it to start with the best-known plants, grasses. Where Theophrastus gave no help, in the cryptogams, Bauhin inserted as a pendant his own series from ferns down to fungi, using the Aristotelian principles of the gradation of forms. His overall arrangement, therefore, is not a simple progression but a chain with pendants. Bauhin is far closer to earlier authors than to Linnaeus, but his typography, along with other authors, may well have helped to incite Linnaeus to a more rigorous and consistent use of ranked groups and biverbal names.     

Accuracy of registration of invasive cervical cancer.

The quality of the data recorded by the British Columbia Cancer Registry for 521 new cases of invasive cervical cancer was evaluated. The registry''s pathological diagnosis in all new registrations of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in British Columbia between 1977 and 1979 was compared with a best estimate of the true diagnosis, which was determined from the results of the provincial cervical cytology screening program and the clinical charts at the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia. The registry''s data overestimated the true incidence of invasive cervical cancer by approximately 55%, since 184 (35%) of the cases were incorrectly registered. Of the 184, 141 (77%) were cases of preinvasive cervical cancer, 26 (14%) did not meet the criteria for a true case (i.e., they were not newly diagnosed in British Columbia between 1977 and 1979) and 17 (9%) were cases of invasive cancer of another primary site. In addition, 28 cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in the province during the study period had not been reported to the registry. Thus, both over-reporting and under-reporting occurred. There is a need for constant evaluation of registry data if cancer registries are to fulfil their potential contribution to cancer control programs and research.     

Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin—a new era of evolution (2007–2013)

The paper considers the history of how the scientific journal Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin (MUBSB) evolved during the last 7 years. It is the English edition of the Russian scientific peer-reviewed journal of the School of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University MSU Vestnik (Herald). Series 16. Biology. MUBSB is published by Allerton Press, a member of the Nauka/Interperiodica International Academic Publishing Company since 2007. The rapid progress of MUBSB in recent years is apparently due to the journal having been distributed since 2007 by the internationally renowned Springer publishing consortium that places electronic versions of all articles on its website, which has, to all appearances, led to a manifold increase in the number of journal subscribers. As a result, the number of downloads of MUBSB papers from the publishing company website also raised by an order of magnitude from 2007 to 2013. The growing popularity of the journal is noted to have lead to its inclusion in a number of international databases, and this, in turn, has increased its attractiveness for a large number of authors, including Russian nonmembers of Moscow State University, as well as scientists from research institutes and universities of other countries. The main features of the spectrum of the papers published in MUBSB are briefly considered.     

A critique of 'countryside biogeography' as a guide to research in human‐dominated landscapes

Proliferation of redundant terms in ecology and conservation slows progress and creates confusion. ‘Countryside biogeography’ has been promoted as a new framework for conservation in production landscapes, so may offer a replacement for other concepts used by landscape ecologists. We conducted a systematic review to assess whether the 'countryside biogeography' concept provides a distinctive framing for conservation in human‐dominated landscapes relative to existing concepts. We reviewed 147 papers referring to countryside biogeography and 81 papers that did not. These papers were divided into categories representing three levels of use of countryside biogeography concepts (strong, weak, cited only) and two categories that did not use countryside biogeography at all but used similar concepts including fragmentation and matrix. We revealed few distinctions among groups of papers. Countryside biogeography papers made more frequent use of the terms 'ecosystem services', 'intensification' and 'land sparing' compared with non‐countryside biogeography papers. Papers that did not refer to countryside biogeography sampled production areas (e.g. farms) less often, and this related to their focus on habitat specialist species for which patch‐matrix assumptions were reasonable. Countryside biogeography offers a conceptual wrapper rather than a distinctive framework for advancing research in human‐modified landscapes. This and similar wrappers such as ‘conservation biogeography’ and ‘agricultural biogeography’ risk creating confusion among new researchers, and can prevent clear communication about research. To improve communication, we recommend using the suite of well‐established terms already applied to conservation in human‐modified landscapes rather than through an interceding conceptual wrapper.     

Selected subspecies names from Richter,Plantae Europeae,Vol. 1, 1890

The bookK. Richter, Plantae europeae, Vol. 1, 1890, is analyzed from the viewpoint of nomenclature of subspecies names. 264 subspecies names interesting from the standpoint of contemporary taxonomy and nomenclature are selected from the total number of 840 subspecies names for a commented list. Seventeen important cases are dealt with separately in greater detail. Eleven new nomenclatural combinations (two for species, nine for subspecies) are proposed in the Appendix. Types for two generic names (Acorellus Palla andJuncellus C. B. Clarke) are proposed. A new term “parabasionym” is applied for names establishing the priority of infraspecific epithets in the rank in question. The need to respect the newly accepted principle of priority of autonymic subspecies names at proposing new nomenclatural combinations is stressed. Examples ofRichter’s subspecies names having priority, subspecies names with necessary changes in their authorship and names having a possible importance as parabasionyms are enumerated in separate lists.     

浙江土壤中的暗色丝孢菌研究I.

从浙江省采集的42份土壤样品中,分离出50个暗色丝孢菌分离物,鉴定为26属39种。其中拟苍白弯孢Curvulariasubpallescens为新种。侧多隔孢属Pleurophragmium,疣瓶孢属Eladia,拟葡萄孢属Pseudobotrytis和棘瓶孢属Echinobotryum为中国新记录属。鞘孢霉ChalarastateofCeratocystisadiposa,紫棕毛束霉Doratomycespurpureofuscus,黑棘瓶孢Echinobotryumatrum,小囊疣瓶孢Eladiasaccula,隘缩小内多隔孢Endophragmiellaconstricta,青霉状粘束孢Graphiumpenicillioides,黑侧多隔孢Pleurophragmiumactum,土栖拟葡萄孢Pseudobotrytisterrestris,腐植齿梗孢Scolecobasidiumhumicola和虎尾兰葡萄穗霉Stachybotryssansevierae为中国新记录种。其余28种为国内已报道种。     

浙江土壤中的暗色丝孢菌研究I.(英文)

从浙江省采集的42份土壤样品中,分离出50个暗色丝孢菌分离物,鉴定为26属39种。其中拟苍白弯孢Curvulariasubpallescens为新种。侧多隔孢属Pleurophragmium,疣瓶孢属Eladia,拟葡萄孢属Pseudobotrytis和棘瓶孢属Echinobotryum为中国新记录属。鞘孢霉ChalarastateofCeratocystisadiposa,紫棕毛束霉Doratomycespurpureofuscus,黑棘瓶孢Echinobotryumatrum,小囊疣瓶孢Eladiasaccula,隘缩小内多隔孢Endophragmiellaconstricta,青霉状粘束孢Graphiumpenicillioides,黑侧多隔孢Pleurophragmiumactum,土栖拟葡萄孢Pseudobotrytisterrestris,腐植齿梗孢Scolecobasidiumhumicola和虎尾兰葡萄穗霉Stachybotryssansevierae为中国新记录种。其余28种为国内已报道种。     

A nomenclatural analysis of the generic names of phanerogams proposed byF. M. Opiz in his Seznam rostlin květeny české

The authors have examined the nomenclatural status of the generic names proposed byF. M. Opiz in his work “Seznam Rostlin Květeny ?eské” (A list of Bohemian plants) and of names which have been regarded in later literature as first published in that book. Many of the generic names proposed byOpiz in his Seznam were not in fact validly published in that book; on the other hand the valid publication of several names is conditioned by various types of indirect indication of an earlier effectively published diagnosis. Of the 80 generic names analysed 36 were validly published byOpiz in various works (not all in the Seznam), but only 13 to 15 are legitimate in the sense of the International Code 1966. The legitimate names are:Cenekia, Ceranthe, Duschekia, Euacer, Jovibarba, Kablikia, Lamiopsis, Liebichia, Plethiosphace, Pseudolysimachion, Spirocarpus, Swida, Weitenwebera and perhapsMargarospermum andNenningia. Of these legitimate names four are considered by the authors as correct i.e.Duschekia, Jovibarba, Pseudolysimachion andSwida; in the Appendix some new combinations with these generic names are proposed. In the text some mistakes concerningOpiz's generic names in Index Kewensis are corrected. For 14 ofOpiz's generic names the lectotypes are seleced. A special notice is given to the nomenclatural problems of the group “Avenastrum”.     

Type specimens and identity of the described species of Conus.

During the third decade of the 19th century, 21 authors described 35 Recent and 11 fossil species of Conus , in 26 separate publications. This brought to 532 the number of species-group names in the genus introduced up to 1830. Only five fossil and seven Recent species are now considered valid. Two additional valid Recent species were described but were given preoccupied names. The remaining nominal species are concluded to be junior or contemporaneous synonyms (19), nomina dubia (11), of infrasubspecific rank (1), or not now considered Conus (1). At present 160 valid species of Conus are recognized from the species-group names described between 1758 and 1830. Of these, 138 are extant and 22 are known only as Tertiary fossils. Nine otherwise valid species, six Recent and three fossil, were described but were given preoccupied names.