A perspective on the diversity of human adaptability

Certain perspectives of morphological and functional diversities molded to adapt to highly technological environments remain to be evaluated, which leads us to consider what a truly healthy and comfortable environment is by focusing on the diversity of human adaptability based on the keywords of physiological anthropology, or physiological polymorphism, functional potentiality and whole body coordination. Each of the three keywords is outlined here, as well as the mutual relationship between them. A re-evaluation of the significance of polymorphism in the current living environment is also discussed here.     

Approach to human adaptability to stresses of city life

Interest of human adaptability to city life is one of the most principal topics of physiological anthropology. Especially, cultural adaptation and flowing stresses by itself is the most important viewpoint of human adaptability in the recent modern life. In this paper, the authors reviewed the keywords of physiological anthropology, especially with the focus on techno-adaptability, and presented our experimental trials to study physiological polymorphism of cardio-vascular reactivity to mental stresses. We scoped the psychological stresses by means of mental tasks as an experimental model of techno-stress. Techno-stress was defined as not only from inadequate interface of man-machine system, but also from increased social complexity owing to highly advanced technological social system. In the experimental trial, we observed different types of cardio-vascular responses to several mental tasks. Blood pressure rose significantly during the tasks. However, contribution of change in cardiac output and total peripheral resistance on it was not the same between subgroups of the subjects.     

Interrelationships among whole-body coordination, functional potentiality, and environmental adaptability

The term "adaptability" or "capacity of adaptation" is the central concept in the general advancement and promotion of research in physiological anthropology. Throughout the history of Homo sapiens, mankind has adapted itself to environmental stress. As a result, numerous physiological polymorphisms in humans are present in our planet-wide distribution. Totally regulated physiological function by integration and coordination is referred to as whole-body coordination and is associated with a high degree of adaptability in humans. Functional potentiality also affects environmental adaptability. Thus, whole-body coordination and functional potentiality are necessary for adaptation to environmental changes. There is an interrelationship among functional potentiality, whole-body coordination, physiological polymorphisms, and environmental adaptability.     

The development of conceptual framework in physiological anthropology

From an international viewpoint, the physiological anthropology had always developed in a mosaic-like structure until the end of the nineteen-sixties. Some of the pieces of the mosaic then started to create significant elements of the theoretical concepts of this science. Generally speaking, research in physiological anthropology consists of the process of individual biology and the process of population biology. Through using these processes, physiological anthropologists have come to realize the importance of individual thinking and the inadequacy of essentialistic concept such as the ideal man, and now infer that all populations are polytypic. Physiological anthropologists have refined the conceptual framework of their science and composed a set of keywords characterizing it. These are technological adaptability, environmental adaptability, functional potentiality, whole body coordination, and physiological polytypism. These keywords are mutually interdependent and do not form any orthogonal relations.     

Prospect of manufacturing and design based on physiological polymorphism

Modern manufacturing and design should satisfy not only the requirements of high cost performance but also of the user. Besides that, the social environment which surrounds manufacturing is rapidly changing depending on new technologies. To create future products with user satisfaction, the effective use of human physiological data is essential. This is where knowledge of physiological anthropology can be applied. Physiological anthropologists have been pointing out a limit to the interpretation of the physiological data based on its average value. They have begun to notice that the physiological functions of humans show various types according to the blended effect of heredity and the surroundings. Adequate consideration of physiological polymorphism is indispensable to accomplish manufacturing that is well devised for human. In this study the concept of manufacturing and design based on physiological polymorphism is expressed. The target and the methodology for new manufacturing are discussed in seven fields, that is, welfare equipment, clothes, artificial tissue, sporting gear, furniture, building materials, and human interface. Through the above discussion, a procedure to achieve manufacturing and design based on physiological polymorphism is proposed.     

节杆菌环境适应性的基因组学研究进展

节杆菌分布广泛,能适应多种环境条件,而且多数节杆菌具有营养多功能性,能降解多种环境污染物,因而受到人们的广泛关注。近年来,随着多株节杆菌基因组的测序完成,人们对节杆菌环境适应性的分子机制有了全面的认识。基因组学研究结果表明,节杆菌在σ因子、氧化应激、渗透应激、饥饿应激、温度应激等胁迫应激反应相关基因方面的特点使其能够在多种环境条件下生存。本文挑选部分具有代表性的节杆菌基因组学研究,对其环境适应性的基因组学基础进行综述,以期为利用节杆菌进行环境污染修复提供理论基础,并为其它细菌的环境适应性机制研究提供参考。     

Natural variation in germination responses of Arabidopsis to seasonal cues and their associated physiological mechanisms

Background and Aims

Despite the intense interest in phenological adaptation to environmental change, the fundamental character of natural variation in germination is almost entirely unknown. Specifically, it is not known whether different genotypes within a species are germination specialists to particular conditions, nor is it known what physiological mechanisms of germination regulation vary in natural populations and how they are associated with responses to particular environmental factors.

Methods

We used a set of recombinant inbred genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, in which linkage disequilibrium has been disrupted over seven generations, to test for genetic variation and covariation in germination responses to distinct environmental factors. We then examined physiological mechanisms associated with those responses, including seed-coat permeability and sensitivity to the phytohormones gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA).

Key Results

Genetic variation for germination was environment-dependent, but no evidence for specialization of germination to different conditions was found. Hormonal sensitivities also exhibited significant genetic variation, but seed-coat properties did not. GA sensitivity was associated with germination responses to multiple environmental factors, but seed-coat permeability and ABA sensitivity were associated with specific germination responses, suggesting that an evolutionary change in GA sensitivity could affect germination in multiple environments, but that of ABA sensitivity may affect germination under more restricted conditions.

Conclusions

The physiological mechanisms of germination responses to specific environmental factors therefore can influence the ability to adapt to diverse seasonal environments encountered during colonization of new habitats or with future predicted climate change.     

A physio-anthropological approach in evaluation of human adaptability to living environment: in the case of artificial light environment

Attention has been focused on human adaptability to human-adopted artificially modern and comfortable environments which may not always match the adaptability by the physiological state of humans. This discrepancy was found to induce a slight tension in the human body on evaluation with a physio-anthropological approach. Although a standard methodological approach has yet to be established, the present study attempted to evaluate human adaptability to artificial light environment, based on evaluations from three major possible perspectives: a) central nervous system, b) autonomic nervous system and c) biological rhythm. In order to detect the slight tension, human volunteers were exposed to an artificial light environment, and the appropriate physiological parameters were then examined from photic signal pathways in a brain. The findings revealed that a higher color temperature of fluorescent lamps induced a slight tension, although many other factors remained to be elucidated.     

HLA—DRB1等位基因的多态性及其应用

HLA系统参与和调节机体免疫功能,是人类重要叫遗传标志,具有种族、地域差异。HLA—Ⅱ类系统中DRB1等位基因的多态性最丰富,它的准确分型直接影响器官移植的供体选择、法医学个体认定、HLA与疾病相关性及人类学等研究。本文综述了HLA—DRB1分型检测方法,不同种族人群HLA-DRB1等位基因的多态性,HLA—DRB1多态性研究在探讨人类起源、民族融合方面的价值,HLA—DRB1与肝炎、系统性红斑狼疮等疾病的相关性等。     

发酵法生产γ-亚麻酸的研究进展

γ-亚麻酸是一种人体必需的多不饱和脂肪酸,具有多种重要的生理功能。最初γ-亚麻酸主要来源于植物种子油,如黑醋栗、月见草和琉璃苣等的种子油。但是从植物中提取γ-亚麻酸受到诸多因素的限制,远不能满足市场需求,采用微生物发酵法生产γ-亚麻酸具有广阔的应用前景。本文综述了目前发酵生产γ-亚麻酸的菌株,对其代谢途径进行了分析,重点总结了国内外有关菌种选育及发酵调控方面的研究,并探讨了今后的研究方向。     

SENSUAL ATTACHMENT AND INCEST AVOIDANCE IN HUMAN EVOLUTION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

The authors take issue with the critique of psychoanalysis and the depiction of human sexuality and incest avoidance in evolutionary psychology. Drawing on human neurobiology and evolutionary anthropology, they show that human beings have an evolved disposition toward pair-bonding and evolved capacities for self-regulation of sexual and aggressive impulses. The realization that these characteristics are not only important but also interrelated leads to a reassessment of the Oedipus complex, a new model of incest avoidance in humans, and a fresh perspective on the relation between reproductive behaviour and environmental conditions.     

General Stress in Anthropological Fieldwork

Human stress reactions are responses to physical, biotic, and sociocultural stimuli that lead to appraisal of the need for adaptive activity. Commonly used measures of stress in anthropology, such as questionnaires, are subjective in nature and inappropriate for cross-cultural comparisons. Physiological measures of stress, such as urinary levels of catecholamines and corticosteroids, are applicable for these comparisons and may have wide utility in anthropological fieldwork, particularly for: studies of culture change, identification of highly stressed groups or individuals within groups, and observations of temporal patterns of stress in human populations . [stress, biocultural anthropology, adaptation, physiological anthropology, human ecology]     

生态适应性在植物水生诱导上的运用

本文通过论述植物普遍存在的生态适应性与环境变化对适应性形成及进化上的影响,以及植物生态适应性形成过程中胁迫环境的重要性,分析了植物水生诱导过程中相关的生理生化及生态方面的变化规律,提出了利用人工环境模拟技术来促进植物通气组织形成的技术路线,形成一套完整可操作的植物水生诱变操作流程,并展现了植物水生诱变技术在生产、生活、生态上的广阔应用前景。     

谈农林害虫的自然控制

人类的发展面临着许多问题,其中包括环境污染与害虫暴发失控等, 对策应是人类谋求与自然协调共存。人类必须学会既要和众多的非生命物又要和数千万种生物包括100多万种昆虫协调共存。天敌昆虫是大害虫的克星; 人类赖以生存的经济植物是由昆虫传播花粉的; 昆虫是人类的美味佳肴和医病良药; 有些昆虫是重要工业原料。所以人类要锐意合理利用昆虫资源。对于农林害虫要尽可能谋求自然控制; 提倡利用植物的抗害性、利用害虫的天敌、利用昆虫生长调节剂、种间信息物质、昆虫辐射不育技术控制害虫。尽量利用植物性杀虫剂控制害虫。尽量采用不杀伤或少杀伤天敌、不污染环境的化学杀虫剂或方法防治害虫。我国创造了很多行之有效的利用农业技术防治害虫的方法。     

Clonal plants as cooperative systems: Benefits in heterogeneous environments

All natural environments are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. Consequently, their ability to provide essential resources for the growth of plants is variable. Modular plant species produce repeated basic structures which, in the case of clonal species, are called ramets. Ramets belonging to the same clone are distributed throughout the environment in space and time, and therefore they may be located in sites which differ in resource-providing quality. The connections between ramets may allow resources to be shared, enabling the clone to behave as a cooperative system. As a result of such physiological integration, ramets can survive in conditions where there is lethal shortage of a resource because they are connected to, and supported by, ramets located in conditions where there is ample supply of the same resource. Physiological integration between connected ramets presents opportunities for heterogeneous environments to be exploited to an extent that is only just becoming apparent. As heterogeneity is ubiquitous in natural environments, it may be expected that plants, as relatively immobile organisms, will have evolved the capacity to cope with it by making appropriate localized morphological and/or physiological plastic responses. Recent studies suggest that such responses not only enable clonal species to cope with environmental heterogeneity, but that under some circumstances they can benefit more from environments which are heterogeneous rather than homogeneous, even when both types of environment contain the same amount of resources. Studies on Glechoma hederacea (Lamiaceae) that illustrate this phenomenon are described.     

Adaptation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enterica</Emphasis> Hadar under static magnetic field: effects on outer membrane protein pattern

Background  

Salmonella enterica serovar Hadar (S. Hadar) is a highly prevalent foodborne pathogen and therefore a major cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide. Outer membrane proteins whose production is often regulated by environmental conditions also play important roles in the adaptability of bacterial pathogens to various environments.     

Looking at physiological anthropology from a historical standpoint

As one way of thinking about physiological anthropology, let us survey it from a historical viewpoint. At the beginning of the 19th century, Blumenbach, considered the father of Physical Anthropology, wrote his "Handbook of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology." The subsequent research conducted and papers written by researchers such as Broca and Martin pointed in the direction of physiological anthropology; furthermore, the research carried out by the American researchers Demon and Baker had a physiological anthropology "feel." The courses in Physiological Anthropology taught by Tokizane exerted a major influence on physiological anthropology in Japan. The precursor of the Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology, organized by Sato in 1978, was extremely significant in the effect that it had on the subsequent development of physiological anthropology. The holding of the biennial International Congress of Physiological Anthropology, along with the allocation of the Research sub-field of Physiological Anthropology in the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, would seem to suggest that the field of physiological anthropology is set to increasingly grow and evolve.