农业四大生态环境问题亟待解决

农业四大生态环境问题亟待解决农业部近期列举了农业亟待解决的四大生态环境问题：耕地数量减少、质量下降,渔业环境恶化,草原破坏严重,乡镇企业污染突出。“八五”期间,我国每年净减少耕地超过１４０万ｈｍ２,全国遭受“三废”污染的农业面积已达１．５万ｈｍ２,每...     

绿色食品与普通食品有何区别?

问 :绿色食品与普通食品有何区别 ?答 :绿色食品是无污染的安全、优质和营养类食品的总称。食品所受污染主要有 :工业“三废”污染农田、水源和大气 ;大量化肥和农药的使用 ;食品加工中不适当地使用合成色素、化学添加剂等。这些因素造成化学物质在食品中积聚 ,严重威胁人们的身体健康。1 989年农业部研究制定农业经济与社会发展“八五规划”和2 0 0 0年设想时 ,认为开发无公害污染的食品是一项推动农业经济发展、满足人民需要、治理环境污染的战略措施。由于与环境保护有关的事物都冠之以“绿色”的称号 ,因而将无公害污染的食品定名为“绿…     

2001—2018年典型南北过渡带地区农业生态效率测度及时空特征分析

农业生态效率是评价农业可持续发展与生态经济性的重要指标,对衡量农村环境改善及农业生态系统稳定具有重要意义。以安徽省为例,运用单元调查和清单分析法测算农村面源污染,使用投入导向型的超效率DEA—SBM模型测算南北过渡带农业生态效率,对其空间相关性与差异性进行评估。结果表明:农村面源污染相对稳定, COD、TN、TP污染物的变化幅度较小,在5%以内,禽畜养殖和化肥使用带来的环境压力大,地区农村面源污染差异具有明显南北特征;农业生态效率呈“倒N”型趋势,受“空间邻近效应”和“马太效应”作用,农业生态效率具有空间集聚特征,存在空间上的正相关关系,地域内部差异显著,异质性增强,南部地区差异性最大,北部地区其次,中部地区最小,但地域间差异波动性较小。环境资源要素合理配置有利于农业经济与环境保护协调发展,为农业生态可持续发展和农业生态系统长效稳定创造更好条件。     

关于发展我国秸秆菌业的思考——2023年福建漳州蘑菇节报告

针对秸秆资源浪费和环境污染等问题,同时为促进秸秆有效转化、优化循环经济模式、促进“三物融合”生产,围绕“秸秆菌业”这个新命题,从中国秸秆资源化利用现状、秸秆菌业概述、秸秆菌业的挑战与机遇、秸秆基质化利用、秸秆菌业高效转化和秸秆菌业与“双碳”这6个方面对其进行了阐述。秸秆菌业循环农业模式具有再利用、再循环的特点,通过这种模式发展农业生产,可以有效缓解当前农业污染问题,同时还能够有效节约资源,促进农业经济可持续发展。     

农业植保污染与减排途径

植保污染是植物实施保护的过程中产生的,使农业生态环境发生劣变。为了保护环境,降低农业污染,需要加大力度推进生态农业植保建设。本文分析植保污染的主要因素及其原因、农业污染减排途径,期望切实落实植保减排,减少农业污染,维持生态平衡。     

抗污染植物和污染指示植物

近年来,随着工业生产的发展,“三废”日益增加,农业大量施用化肥、农药,使周围的生态环境受到不同程度的污染,危害动植物的生长。也危害人类的生活和安全。因此,如何控制环境污染,保护生态环境,成为全世界各国人民日益关心与担忧的问题。环境污染,基本上可以归纳为3类:即大气污染、水质污染和土壤污染。这3类污染又常常是互相联系的,污染物质可以在空气、水和土壤之间互相转移。而空气,水、土壤又是     

农业面源污染对水体富营养化的影响及其防治措施

随着点源污染得到逐步的治理,农业面源污染已成为水体富营养化的主要污染源,并引起了人们的极大关注,简要地概述了农业面源 水体富营养化中所起的重要作用,同时了国内外防治农业面源污染的主要措施,指出了防治农业面源污染的难点和建立稳定、和谐与良性循环的农业生态系统是治理农业面源污染的长久之针。     

流域单元景观格局与农业非点源污染的关系

农业非点源污染日益成为影响地表环境的主要污染方式之一,正确理解景观格局和农业非点源污染过程的关系是进一步认识农业非点源污染发生机制的关键。本文应用去趋势典范对应分析方法（DCCA）对石头口门水库控制流域13个流域单元的景观格局与农业非点源污染关系进行定量分析。结果表明:DCCA排序前2轴分别与森林比率、植被指数、景观聚集度指数、多样性指数和耕地及居民建设用地比率显著相关,累计解释了景观格局与农业非点源污染关系的92%,证明此方法对研究目标具有较高显示度。各流域单元农业非点源污染养分径流输出特征沿景观因子梯度具有明显空间变异。     

减少农业对水体污染的对策与措施

水体富营养化是一个全球关注的问题。逐渐增加的化肥施用量和畜禽养殖业产生的粪便进一步引起营养流失,进而产生了N、P营养物质的不平衡。因此农业面源污染已被视为水体富营养化的主要污染源。本文简要地概述了农业面源污染对造成水体富营养化的危害,同时介绍了国内外防治农业面源污染的主要措施,包括面源控制措施和转移转化措施。指出了建立稳定、和谐与良性循环的农业生态系统是治理农业面源污染的长久之计。     

苏南太湖水系农业非点源氮污染及其控制对策研究

控制农业非点源对水体的污染是实现区域水质管理的必要组成部分。为此,设计了一系列水田、旱地田间试验和室内模拟实验。试验结果表明,渗漏水硝态氮污染与氮肥施用量呈正相关,同时通过统计处理获得农业非点源氮素污染负荷量,并提出了农业非点源氮素污染的几种有效的控制对策。     

Comparative aspects of the area postrema: fine-structural considerations help to determine its function

The area postrema is a circumventricular organ of the fourth ventricle of the mammalian brain. Although there are distinct gross anatomical differences in the appearance of this organ between "lower" mammals such as rodents and lagomorphs and "higher" mammals such as carnivores and primates, its fine structure is remarkably similar in all species studied. There are many suggestions in the literature for a specific function for this area of the brain, ranging from its being a chemoreceptive trigger zone for the emetic response to its being a regulatory nucleus for the sleep cycle. The present report describes some comparative studies on the ultrastructure of this organ. This information is discussed in relation to what is known about the neurochemistry of the area postrema and its connections with other brain regions and visceral structures. A suggestion is offered that our current knowledge of the area postrema is consistent with its performing many of its proposed functions in the context of a regulatory ("fine-tuning") center for many autonomic functions.     

Neo-rationalism versus neo-Darwinism: Integrating development and evolution

An increasing number of biologists are expressing discontent with the prevailing theory of neo-Darwinism. In particular, the tendency of neo-Darwinians to adopt genetic determinism and atomistic notions of both genes and organisms is seen as grossly unfair to the body of developmental theory. One faction of dissenteers, the Process Structuralists, take their inspiration from the rational morphologists who preceded Darwin. These neo-rationalists argue that a mature biology must possess universal laws and that these generative laws should be sought within organismal development. Such a rational biology will only be possible once the neo-Darwinian paradigm, with its reliance on inherently stochastic processes, is overthrown.To facilitate this revolution, process structuralism launches a broad attack on the theoritical adequacy of its opponent. It is charged that neo-Darwinism is untestable and therefore its hypotheses are nothing more than adaptive stories. Further, the lamentable tendencies toward genetic determinism and atomism by modern biologists is seen as the inescapable consequences of adopting the neo-Darwinian outlook.I allow that neo-Darwinism is untestable but argue that this does not pose a major difficulty for the theory. Further, it is not clear to what extent genetic determinism and atomism result from sloppy methodology as opposed to fundamental theoritical commitments. But the process structuralist critique does reveal some deep-seated problems with orthodox evolutionary theory and some of its suggestions may be employed to good effect.     

Exploring the oxidation and iron binding profile of a cyclodextrin encapsulated quercetin complex unveiled a controlled complex dissociation through a chemical stimulus

Background

Flavonoids possess a rich polypharmacological profile and their biological role is linked to their oxidation state protecting DNA from oxidative stress damage. However, their bioavailability is hampered due to their poor aqueous solubility. This can be surpassed through encapsulation to supramolecular carriers as cyclodextrin (CD). A quercetin- 2HP-β-CD complex has been formerly reported by us. However, once the flavonoid is in its 2HP-β-CD encapsulated state its oxidation potential, its decomplexation mechanism, its potential to protect DNA damage from oxidative stress remained elusive. To unveil this, an array of biophysical techniques was used.

Non-equivalent interactions between amino-terminal domains of neighboring lambda integrase protomers direct Holliday junction resolution

The bacteriophage lambda site-specific recombinase (Int), in contrast to other family members such as Cre and Flp, has an amino-terminal domain that binds "arm-type" DNA sequences different and distant from those involved in strand exchange. This defining feature of the heterobivalent recombinases confers a directionality and regulation that is unique among all recombination pathways. We show that the amino-terminal domain is not a simple "accessory" element, as originally thought, but rather is incorporated into the core of the recombination mechanism, where it is well positioned to exert its profound effects. The results reveal an unexpected pattern of intermolecular interactions between the amino-terminal domain of one protomer and the linker region of its neighbor within the tetrameric Int complex and provide insights into those features distinguishing an "active" from an "inactive" pair of Ints during Holliday junction resolution.     

Translating the message

The "one gene = one protein" model for understanding the genome is well-known. But, as with most biological "rules", it has its exceptions. The viral family that brings polio, the common cold and foot-and-mouth disease translates its entire genome into one long "polyprotein". The study of this translation strategy is bringing to light new targets for fighting disease and new techniques for the biotech industry.     

Vascular endothelial cells express a functional fas-receptor due to lack of hemodynamic forces

The fas system is present in atherosclerotic lesions. However, its role in the initiation and progression is still unclear. Here we show that in endothelial cells (EC) the expression of the fas receptor is regulated by flow conditions. The EC of the vascular system are regularly exposed to a range of hemodynamic forces with great impact on cellular structures and functions. Recently it was reported that in endothelial cells the lack of hemodynamic forces as well as irregular flow conditions trigger apoptosis by induction of a mechanosensitive autocrine loop of thrombospondin-1 and the _V3 integrin/integrin-associated protein complex. Here we show that EC cultivated under regular laminar flow conditions are devoid of the fas-receptor whereas cultivation under static conditions as well as under turbulence leads to its expression. Stimulation of the fas-receptor by its ligand increases the amount of apoptotic cells by twofold; the increase can be prevented by blocking the fas-receptor. The availability of the expressed fas receptor for stimulation by its ligand hints at a role as a tool for progression of atherosclerosis.     

A review on melatonin action as therapeutic agent in cancer

Background

Melatonin is a hormone which is produced from pineal gland in human and is said to have various impacts in human body like controlling sleep wake cycle, regulating the immune and cardiovascular system and regulating the peripheral organ functioning to name a few. Researchers have reported that the melatonin levels correlates with cancer risks.

Objective

In this review article, focus has been given to the therapeutic applications and impact of melatonin hormone in human behavior and physiologic activities. Through this article we aim in compiling the scattered information regarding melatonin and its various aspects of importance in human system.

Methods

We made an analysis of existing hypothesis and studies published on melatonin and circadian rhythm, factors effecting Melatonin secretions in body, sleep disturbances and cancer risks and melatonin therapy in cancer patients.

Results

Melatonin’s role as an endogenous synchronizer, growing evidence suggests its anti-oxidative activity as well as its having a role in modulating immune responses. Fluctuating melatonin levels can be boosted by ingesting products containing melatonin. A large portion of the examinations detailed by the researchers clearly conclude that keeping up an impeccable sleep-wake cycle and having a healthy diet is extremely important to keep up the regular melatonin levels and in order to stay fit.

Conclusions

Melatonin is considered as a critical hormone that controls and regulates many functions in our body. Melatonin production is emphatically related to the night time duration. Its most absolute biological role is to convey information to the body about day length for a variety of physiologic functions. In addition to melatonin’s role as an endogenous synchronizer, growing evidence suggests its anti-oxidative activity as well as its having a role in modulating immune responses. At present, a growing interest is focused on the validity of the anti-tumor mechanisms of melatonin.

     

The philosophical "mind-body problem" and its relevance for the relationship between psychiatry and the neurosciences

Parallel to psychiatry, "philosophy of mind" investigates the relationship between mind (mental domain) and body/brain (physical domain). Unlike older forms of philosophy of mind, contemporary analytical philosophy is not exclusively based on introspection and conceptual analysis, but also draws upon the empirical methods and findings of the sciences. This article outlines the conceptual framework of the "mind-body problem" as formulated in contemporary analytical philosophy and argues that this philosophical debate has potentially far-reaching implications for psychiatry as a clinical-scientific discipline, especially for its own autonomy and its relationship to neurology/neuroscience. This point is illustrated by a conceptual analysis of the five principles formulated in Kandel's 1998 article "A New Intellectual Framework for Psychiatry." Kandel's position in the philosophical mind-body debate is ambiguous, ranging from reductive physicalism (psychophysical identity theory) to non-reductive physicalism (in which the mental "supervenes" on the physical) to epiphenomenalist dualism or even emergent dualism. We illustrate how these diverging interpretations result in radically different views on the identity of psychiatry and its relationship with the rapidly expanding domain of neurology/neuroscience.     

A bone remodelling model coupling microdamage growth and repair by 3D BMU-activity

Bone as most of living tissues is able, during its entire lifetime, to adapt its internal microstructure and subsequently its associated mechanical properties to its specific mechanical and physiological environment in a process commonly known as bone remodelling. Bone is therefore continuously renewed and microdamage, accumulated by fatigue or creep, is removed minimizing the risk of fracture. Nevertheless, bone is not always able to repair itself completely. Actually, if bone repairing function is slower than microdamage accumulation, a type of bone fracture, usually known as stress fracture, can finally evolve. In this paper, we propose a bone remodelling continuous model able to simulate microdamage growth and repair in a coupled way and able therefore to predict the occurrence of stress fractures. The biological bone remodelling process is modelled in terms of equations that describe the activity of basic multicellular units. The predicted results show a good correspondence with experimental and clinical data. For example, in disuse, bone porosity increases until an equilibrium situation is achieved. In overloading, bone porosity decreases unless the damage rate is so high that causes resorption or stress fracture.Research partially supported by Diputación General de Aragón project P–008/2001) and National Network IM3 (Molecular and Multimodal Medical Imaging, Spanish Ministry of Health, Associated Partner, 300++, 2003-2005)