Exile and the undestroyable perpetuity of stigmatizations--some critical (medical) anthropological reflections

The writing of this paper has been stimulated by the observable widening dichotomy between present pluralist discourses of multiculturalism, which claim the future of mutual understanding and harmony vs. the true prevalence of a dramatically growing discordance in human relations world-wide. Given the experience of working in the long-term exile fieldwork, as well as coming from a geographically interesting and highly media-presented country, ones capacity to rethink and self-detect the modes of treating alterity seems to grow together with the imposed self-reflexivity. It remains to be seen whether the decades in which many have been on the receiving end of approaches that address the Other--the perceptual fields of "race" vs. race and visible vs. non-visible ethnicity's, etc.--will yield an output of constructive scientist voices. The potential dialogue could bring us closer to apprehending the simplistic nature of multicultural discourses, as well as expose better the reasons why they yield such slow results. Namely, we need deeper levels of understanding, and although the psychoanalytic approaches to these issues have been often discarded as reductionist, only they can orientate us, after making us painfully aware that prejudice and tolerance can present themselves side by side, and are not solely dependent on the processes of our becoming more conscious and knowledgeable citizens. The many scientists that equally engage in stereotyping, testify this claim. Thus, this is an insider's meta-narrative that joins the list of present approaches that firstly engage in tracing one's own stigmatization processes rather than solely deconstructing others.     

Some reflections on microbial competitiveness among heterotrophic bacteria

The results of a large number of studies on microorganisms subjected to various degrees of substrate limitation have led to the idea that many species are particularly well adapted to growth at a very low rate at extremely low nutrient concentrations. The possible similarity between this type of bacteria and oligotrophic species is discussed. Some attention is paid to the problem of predicting the competitiveness of microbial species. To this end the apparent specific affinity of an organism for a given substrate is discussed in some detail. It is attempted to bring terminology used in describing this parameter in line with that commonly used in microbial physiology and ecology. Using one particular field study as an example the possible usefulness and limitations of this concept in field studies are discussed.     

Some reflections concerning host erythrocyte-malarial parasite interrelationships

During the intraerythrocytic development of the malarial parasite, the host cell's structure and function are altered to such an extent that the infected red blood cell may be regarded as a finely tuned, although imperfect, symbiotic organism. Problems such as the control of the parasite's life and cell cycles, volume regulation of the malaria-infected erythrocyte, the energy metabolism of the malaria-infected red blood cell, and the possible metabolic purpose for parasite oxidative stressing of its host cell, seem worth addressing at the outset.     

Some reflections on the mechanism of renal tubular potassium transport.

Analysis of the driving forces acting on the movement of potassium across individual membranes of tubule cells shows that both active and passive components play an important role in the regulation of potassium transport. Distal and cortical collecting tubule and papillary collecting duct elements are the key nephron sites participating in a complex fashion to translate a wide variety of metabolic challenges into the appropriate excretory response. The latter involves both secretory and reabsorptive activity. The analysis of the factors modulating tubular potassium transfer has shown that the potassium concentration in the cells of the distal nephron is a dey factactors involved in setting the cellular potassium concentration are active potassium uptake at the peritubular and luminal membrane of the cells as well as electrogenic solium extrusion across the peritubular boundary of the cells. Additional factors regulating potassium transport involve the electrical potential difference, sensitive to changes in the sodium concentration in the lumen, the flow rate past the late distal tubular site of potassium secretion, and the activity of a reabsorptive potassium pump in the luminal membranes of the cells. In the cortical collecting tubule, active potassium secretion is also present at the luminal membrane of the cell, but the role of such an additional secretory mechanism in the late distal tubule is presently unknown. Most of these individual transport mechanisms exist along the whole distal nephron, but their relative prominence varies among the late distal tubule, the cortical collecting tubule, and the papilary collecting duct.     

Some reflections on evolutionary theories,With a classification of fitness

Using a classical life history model (the Smith & Fretwell model of the evolution of offspring size), it is demonstrated that even in the presence of overwhelming empirical support, the testability of predictions derived from evolutionary models can give no guarantee that the underlying fitness concept is sound. Non-awareness of this problem may cause considerable justified but avoidable criticism. To help understanding the variable use of fitness in evolutionary models and recognizing potentially problematic areas which need careful consideration, a hierarchical classification of definitions of fitness used in evolutionary models is presented. As a conclusion, it is advocated to use the term fitness more conscientiously than currently often practised and to think more about ways to develop fitness-free evolutionary theories compatible with Darwin's ideas.     

Some reflections on the relationship between endogenous hormones and light-mediated seed dormancy

The relationships between phytochrome and endogenous hormones in the light-mediated control of seed dormancy are discussed. It is concluded that gibberellins are primarily involved in post-dormancy metabolic processes leading to embryo growth and radicle emergence, such as food reserve mobilisation and endosperm softening. Evidence is considered that germination inhibitors, particularly abscisic acid, are involved in the establishment and maintenance of primary dormancy. The role of cytokinins not fully elucidated but there is considerable evidence to suggest that phytochrome control may involve cytokinin effects on transmembrane ion fluxes. In terms of hormonal control, phytochrome mediated dormancy is a complex phenomenon. There is a need for molecular studies of processes controlled by phytochrome, GAs, CKs and ABA during dormancy and germination to unravel the complexities of the dormancy mechanisms. Such studies would be facilitated by the availability of CK-deficient mutants of classical light-sensitive species.     

由结合疫苗产品历史沿革带来的思考

由于优异安全性和有效性数据,结合疫苗已成为细菌性疫苗研制的一个方向,但因不同团体独立研发,产生了不同的结合技术,也带来了一些困惑。通过对几个具有代表性的结合疫苗研发团队的研究历程的回顾,探讨了结合方法、载体蛋白质、剂型等热点话题,以期对结合疫苗的研制有所帮助。