The secondary sex ratio in Israel: 1980–1995

Abstract

This study deals with models and hypotheses that attempt to explain the underlying mechanisms determining the sex ratios at birth in human populations. Since the factors responsible are still questionable and research results are contradictory, we examine data available in Israel on the sex ratios at birth among two different sociodemographic groups, Jews and Moslems. Results suggest a difference between Jewish and Moslem patterns of secondary sex ratios with respect to parental age, education, and birth number. The difference may be described as a more regular and, by existing models, a more predictable pattern of secondary sex ratio among Moslems than among Jews. The possibility that Jewish religious laws play a role in this difference is discussed.     

Graduate students in conservation biology: Bridging the research–implementation gap

There is a growing consensus that a gap exists between research conducted at academic institutions and information available to practitioners that implement research into conservation policy and practice. Here, I review common recommendations for bridging the Research–Implementation Gap in conservation biology, highlight the unique abilities of graduate students to contribute solutions to this problem, and propose ways research institutions and professionals can encourage graduate students to participate in this process. While some appropriately point out that the main purpose of graduate school is to focus on research, I argue that being exposed early to the broader issues of research and implementation enhances the graduate research experience, helps train students to become leaders in conservation science, and contributes both immediate and long-term solutions to the research–implementation problem.     

Photosynthesis research in Greece: a historical snapshot (1960–2001)

The origin of photosynthesis research in Greece can be traced to the early 1960s, and the first dedicated laboratory was established by George Akoyunoglou in the Nuclear Reseach Center (now National Center for Scientific Research) Demokritos, in Athens. More photosynthesis groups subsequently emerged, in Demokritos and in the universities. Research in Greece benefited greatly from the links of Greek scientists with laboratories and personalities, primarily in the USA and western Europe. The local research output is a proportional part of global research and, more or less, in tune with the shifting priorities of the latter. The list of references provided includes only a sample of publications: it is not inclusive. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Current status on genome–metabolome-wide associations: an opportunity in nutrition research

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have become a very important tool to address the genetic origin of phenotypic variability, in particular associated with diseases. Nevertheless, these types of studies provide limited information about disease etiology and the molecular mechanisms involved. Recently, the incorporation of metabolomics into the analysis has offered novel opportunities for a better understanding of disease-related metabolic deregulation. The pattern emerging from this work is that gene-driven changes in metabolism are prevalent and that common genetic variations can have a profound impact on the homeostatic concentrations of specific metabolites. A particularly interesting aspect of this work takes into account interactions of environment and lifestyle with the genome and how this interaction translates into changes in the metabolome. For instance, the role of PYROXD2 in trimethylamine metabolism points to an interaction between host and microbiome genomes (host/microbiota). Often, these findings reveal metabolic deregulations, which could eventually be tuned with a nutritional intervention. Here we review the development of gene–metabolism association studies from a single-gene/single-metabolite to a genome-wide/metabolome-wide approach and highlight the conceptual changes associated with this ongoing transition. Moreover, we report some of our recent GWAS results on a cohort of 265 individuals from an ethnically diverse population that validate and refine previous findings on gene–urine metabolism interactions. Specifically, our results confirm the effect of PYROXD2 polymorphisms on trimethylamine metabolism and suggest that a previously reported association of N-acetylated compounds with the ALMS1/NAT8 locus is driven by SNPs in the ALMS1 gene.     

Misconceptions in biology: a meta-synthesis study of research, 2000–2014

Abstract

Teachers need to be aware of biology misconceptions in their classrooms and how to address them. In response, researchers and science educators have suggested and examined effective practices to prevent and ameliorate misconceptions. An extensive review of the literature gives researchers and educators insights into trends, practices, and gaps in the misconceptions research and helps decide which issues to address and why. The current study shares how researchers in Turkey conduct a content analysis of published misconception research in Turkey by using a form. The analysis resulted in a meta-synthesis (thematic content analysis) that inventoried and compared the purposes, research methods, data collection instruments, and findings of the selected publications. Biology educators in other regions of the world can inform their practice by using this instrument and research methods to learn about trends and patterns in misconception research. Researchers will gain insights into effective methods that have been used to examine misconceptions and will be able to identify biology misconceptions that have been under-investigated and need further analysis.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac ischemia–reperfusion injury: ROS from complex I,without inhibition

A key pathologic event in cardiac ischemia reperfusion (I–R) injury is mitochondrial energetic dysfunction, and several studies have attributed this to complex I (CxI) inhibition. In isolated perfused rat hearts, following I–R, we found that CxI-linked respiration was inhibited, but isolated CxI enzymatic activity was not. Using the mitochondrial thiol probe iodobutyl-triphenylphosphonium in conjunction with proteomic tools, thiol modifications were identified in several subunits of the matrix-facing 1α sub-complex of CxI. These thiol modifications were accompanied by enhanced ROS generation from CxI, but not complex III. Implications for the pathology of cardiac I–R injury are discussed.     

Cancer patient survival in Estonia 1995–2009: Time trends and data quality

BackgroundSurvival from most cancers in Estonia has been consistently below European average. The objective of this study was to examine recent survival trends in Estonia and to quantify the effect on survival estimates of the temporary disruption of the Estonian Cancer Registry (ECR) practices in 2001–2007 when death certificates could not be used for case ascertainment.Patients and methodsECR data on all adult cases of 16 common cancers diagnosed in Estonia during 1995–2008 and followed up for vital status until 2009 were used to estimate relative survival ratios (RSR). We used cohort analysis for patients diagnosed in 1995–1999 and 2000–2004; and period hybrid approach to obtain the most recent estimates (2005–2009). We compared five-year RSRs calculated from data sets with and without death certificate initiated (DCI) cases.ResultsA total of 64 328 cancer cases were included in survival analysis. Compared with 1995–1999, five-year age-standardized RSR increased 20 percent units for prostate cancer, reaching 76% in 2005–2009. A rise of 10 percent units or more was also seen for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (five-year RSR 51% in 2005–2009), and cancers of rectum (49%), breast (73%) and ovary (37%). The effect of including/excluding DCI cases from survival analysis was small except for lung and pancreatic cancers.ConclusionsRelative survival continued to increase in Estonia during the first decade of the 21st century, although for many cancers, a gap between Estonia and more affluent countries still exists. Cancer control efforts should aim at the reduction of risk factors amenable to primary prevention, but also at the improvement of early diagnosis and ensuring timely and optimal care to all cancer patients.     

Towards more equal footing in north–south biodiversity research: European and sub-Saharan viewpoints

Research collaboration between developed countries from the northern hemisphere and developing countries in the southern hemisphere is essential for the understanding and protection of the major proportion of biodiversity located in the tropics. Focusing on the case of sub-Saharan Africa, we here assess the real involvement of northern versus southern contributors, and caution against unequal academic benefit sharing arising from non-commercial biodiversity research that may ultimately hamper sustainable knowledge transfer and long-term biodiversity conservation. We discuss possible drivers that may have led to a business of raw biodiversity data. While we fully support the current efforts to stamp out biopiracy through international biodiversity policies and agreements, we illustrate that such legislative frameworks may further constrain biodiversity research, especially in countries where regulations are poorly streamlined and bureaucracy remains rather inert. We therefore ask for workable solutions towards more equal footing in north–south biodiversity research, and propose a number of steps to transgress the current barriers towards a more fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from biodiversity research.