The blood-testis barrier: the junctional permeability, the proteins and the lipids

The elucidation of how individual components of the Sertoli cell junctional complexes form and are dismantled to allow not only individual cells but whole syncytia of germinal cells to migrate from the basal to the lumenal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium without causing a permeability leak in the blood-testis barrier is amongst the most enigmatic yet, challenging and timely questions in testicular physiology. The intriguing key event in this process is how the barrier modulates its permeability during the periods of formation and dismantling of individual Sertoli cell junctions. The purpose of this review is therefore to first provide a reliable account on the normal formation, maintenance and dismantling process of the Sertoli cells junctions, then to assess the influence of the expression of their individual proteins, of the cytoskeleton associated with the junctions, and of the lipid content in the seminiferous tubules on the regulation of the their permeability barrier function. To help focus on the formation and dismantling of the Sertoli cell junctions, several considerations are based on data gleaned not only from rodents but from seasonal breeders as well because these animal models are characterized by exhaustive periods of junction assembly during development and the onset of the seasonal re-initiation of spermatogenesis as well as by an extensive junction dismantling period at the beginning of testicular regression, something unavailable in normal physiological conditions in continual breeders. Thus, the modulation of the permeability barrier function of the Sertoli cell junctions is analyzed in the physiological context of the blood-epidydimis barrier and in particular of the blood-testis barrier rather than in the context of a detailed account of the molecular composition and signalisation pathways of cell junctions. Moreover, the considerations discussed in this review are based on measurements performed on seminiferous tubule-enriched fractions gleaned at regular time intervals during development and the annual reproductive cycle.     

Globalizing forms of elite sociability: varieties of cosmopolitanism in Paris social clubs

This article examines the cultivation of transnational connections, cosmopolitanism and global class consciousness among members of elite social clubs in Paris. Drawing from interviews with members, it compares how – according to their respective characteristics – various social clubs promote different kinds of bourgeois cosmopolitanism, while rejecting the more recent internationalism of upper-middle-class service clubs such as the Rotary. Each club's peculiar ethos, practice and representations of social capital are related to the features of competing clubs through relations of mutual symbolic distinction; for example, some clubs emphasize the ‘genuineness’ of links while stigmatizing others for the accent they put on utility. The varied forms of cosmopolitanism that they promote partly replicate these logics of distinction, eliciting struggles over the authenticity or inauthenticity of transnational connections. Yet, clubs also oppose each other according to the unequal emphasis that they place on international ties per se, which creates a competing axiology within the symbolic economy of social capital accumulation.     

Has multiculturalism failed in Britain?

Abstract

This paper subjects the criticisms advanced against multiculturalism to empirical test. It asks whether ethno-religious groups lead ‘parallel lives’ and, in consequence, fail to integrate with the wider society. It looks in particular at the alleged corrosive effects of multiculturalism, specifically at the maintenance of an ethnic rather than a British identity, social distance from white people and willingness to contemplate violent protest, but finds that all groups alike have displayed major change across the generations in the direction of a British identity and reduced social distance. It finds no evidence that rates of intergenerational change have been slower among ethno-religious groups that have made successful claims for cultural recognition. In contrast, lower levels of integration are associated with perceptions of individual or group discrimination.     

Construction of an Affordable and Easy-to-Build Zebrafish Facility

In vivo biomedical research is pivotal to translate in vitro findings into clinical advances. Small academic institutions with limited resources find it virtually impossible to build and maintain typical rodent facilities for research. Zebrafish research has been demonstrated to be a valuable alternative for in vivo research in pharmacology, physiology, development and genetic studies. This article demonstrates that a functional zebrafish facility can be built in an easy and affordable manner. We demonstrate that such a facility could be built in about one working day with minimal tools and expertise. The cost of the 27 1.8 L fish tank zebrafish facility constructed in this study was approximately $1,500. We estimate that the maintenance of an initial working 150 fish colony for 3 months is $1,000. This project involved students, who were introduced to aquaculturing of zebrafish for research proposes.     

Focus: Health Equity: Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Based on the Human Capital Model Approach: Findings From the Indonesia Family Life Survey

Depression is the leading factor of disability and the overall global burden of diseases. The human capital model provides an appropriate conceptual model for managing human health. This study aimed to determine the association between human capital (including social, emotional, physical, financial, and intellectual capital) and depressive symptoms among productive age groups in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted by analyzing data of 9,858 respondents aged 15-59 years that were obtained from the Indonesia Family Life Survey 5 (IFLS 5). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between human capital components and depressive symptoms. Among respondents, 23.65% had higher depressive symptoms. Social trust and social networks (part of social capital) were significantly related to depressive symptoms. Self-reported satisfaction (part of emotional capital) were also related to depressive symptoms, as well as self-rated health, sleep quality, a number of chronic disease, body mass index (BMI), and physical functioning (part of physical capital). Log income (part of financial capital) and education level (part of intellectual capital) were related to depressive symptoms after controlling for other variables. Of all the components of human capital, physical capital has the most attributes associated with the risk of depressive symptoms. Therefore, depression prevention programs can be prioritized on attributes related to physical capital.     

生态资产核算与生态系统服务评估:概念交汇与重点方向

面向“山水林田湖草”统一管理的现实目标,对生态资产的准确刻画加深了资源管理者和使用者对生态系统服务的认识,是生态系统服务理论从学术研讨向决策实践过渡的重要桥梁。然而,当前的生态资产核算结果仍存在着较大的不确定性,使其决策支持作用受到质疑。基于对生态资产研究近今进展的总结,生态资产实际核算一般取自然资本与生态系统服务的交集分别作为存量和流量。如若将生态资产作为干部离任审计依据,则须把握先实物量后价值量的原则。在当前国际研究中,生态资产已经成为区域景观管理和农户生计决策的重要绩效评估与情景优选工具。完善生态系统服务评估模型、明晰生态系统服务供需关系、规范生态资产价值核算方法、提升生态资产决策支持能力4项内容应引起未来生态资产研究的重点关注。     

生态系统服务与自然资本价值评估

生态系统服务是生态系统提供的商品和服务,是人类生态和发展的物质基础和基本条件,是人类拥有的关键自然资本。概述了生态系统服务的内涵及类型,介绍了当前国内外有关生态系统服务及自然资本的价值理论、价值评估的各种方法及其类型;评述了研究的主要进展,存在的主要问题、难点和研究的主要趋向。认为生态系统服务及自然资本的价值评估研究是建立生态－环境－经济综合核算体系（可持续发展核算体系）的重要内容和关键环节,完善价值评估的理论与经济技术方法是生态系统服务价值评估研究亟待解决的问题。     

海洋生态资本价值结构要素与评估指标体系

针对海洋生态系统的特点,构建了海洋生态资本价值的结构要素及其评估指标体系。海洋生态资本的价值是指海洋生态资本的存量价值及其产生的收益流价值,包括各类海洋生态资源的现存量价值及其组成海洋生态系统整体而产生的生态系统服务价值。其中,海洋生态资源的现存量价值由海洋生物资源存量价值和海洋生境资源存量价值构成。海洋生态系统服务价值包含海洋供给服务、海洋调节服务、海洋文化服务和海洋支持服务等4个子要素的价值。     

山东近海生态资本价值评估——近海生物资源现存量价值

海洋生态资本是沿海地区社会经济活动的重要生产要素,海洋生物资源是海洋生态资本的关键构成要素之一。采用《海洋生态资本评估技术导则》中的方法,评估了山东近海生物资源现存量价值。结果表明,2006年山东近海生物资源现存量为100.20万吨,价值184.45亿元。生物资源以鱼类资源为主,资源量为76.50万吨,价值约131.73亿元,占全省近海生物资源总价值的71.4%;甲壳类资源量为13.98万吨,价值38.88亿元,占总价值的21.1%;头足类资源量为3.52万吨,价值4.47亿元,占总价值的2.4%;其他类海蜇资源量为6.46万吨,价值9.37亿元,占总价值的5.1%。全省近海生物资源现存量价值平均为58.4万元/km²。山东近海生物资源存量价值与近海供给服务价值、气候调节服务价值和物种多样性维持服务价值之间表现出互相促进的关系。本研究结果有助于提高人们对海洋生物资源重要性的认识,为海洋生物资源的可持续利用提供决策依据。     

基于土地覆盖/利用模式的云南省抚仙湖流域生态资产评估

利用Landsat7 TM遥感影像和MODIS卫星影像获取生态系统类型、质量状况等参数,并计算出抚仙湖流域各类生态系统的净第一性生产力（Net Primary productivity,NPP）,结合地理属性数据及统计数据,计算出抚仙湖流域各类生态系统的生态资产。结果表明：2001—2004年抚仙湖流域生态资产分别为：827824．96、799563．89、703491．09、700806．18万元。灌丛对流域生态资产价值的贡献量最大,是生态资产构成中重要组成部分,贡献效率最高的生态系统类型是水田,水土保持价值在流域生态资产构成中占有很大比重。抚仙湖流域生态资产价值量呈下降趋势,需要加大生态建设力度,文章提出了流域生态资产的相关管理对策。