Response of microbial communities of Lake Baikal to extreme temperatures

The survival rate, metabolic activity, and ability for growth of microbial communities of Lake Baikal have been first studied after exposure to extremely low temperatures (freeze-thawing) for different lengths of time. It has been shown that short-term freezing (1–3 days) inhibits the growth and activity of microbial communities. The quantity of microorganisms increased after 7-and 15-day freezing. In the periods of maximums, the total number of microorganisms in the test samples was twice as high as in the control. It was established that after more prolonged freezing the microorganisms required more time after thawing to adapt to new conditions. In the variants with 7-and 15-day freezing, the activities of defrosted microbial communities were three or more times higher than in the control. The survival rate and activity of Baikal microorganisms after freeze-thawing confirms the fact that the Baikal microbial communities are highly resistant to this type of stress impact.     

Extreme climatic events drive mammal irruptions: regression analysis of 100‐year trends in desert rainfall and temperature

Extreme climatic events, such as flooding rains, extended decadal droughts and heat waves have been identified increasingly as important regulators of natural populations. Climate models predict that global warming will drive changes in rainfall and increase the frequency and severity of extreme events. Consequently, to anticipate how organisms will respond we need to document how changes in extremes of temperature and rainfall compare to trends in the mean values of these variables and over what spatial scales the patterns are consistent. Using the longest historical weather records available for central Australia – 100 years – and quantile regression methods, we investigate if extreme climate events have changed at similar rates to median events, if annual rainfall has increased in variability, and if the frequency of large rainfall events has increased over this period. Specifically, we compared local (individual weather stations) and regional (Simpson Desert) spatial scales, and quantified trends in median (50th quantile) and extreme weather values (5th, 10th, 90th, and 95th quantiles). We found that median and extreme annual minimum and maximum temperatures have increased at both spatial scales over the past century. Rainfall changes have been inconsistent across the Simpson Desert; individual weather stations showed increases in annual rainfall, increased frequency of large rainfall events or more prolonged droughts, depending on the location. In contrast to our prediction, we found no evidence that intra‐annual rainfall had become more variable over time. Using long‐term live‐trapping records (22 years) of desert small mammals as a case study, we demonstrate that irruptive events are driven by extreme rainfalls (>95th quantile) and that increases in the magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfall events are likely to drive changes in the populations of these species through direct and indirect changes in predation pressure and wildfires.     

Extreme winter warming events more negatively impact small rather than large soil fauna: shift in community composition explained by traits not taxa

Extreme weather events can have negative impacts on species survival and community structure when surpassing lethal thresholds. Extreme winter warming events in the Arctic rapidly melt snow and expose ecosystems to unseasonably warm air (2–10 °C for 2–14 days), but returning to cold winter climate exposes the ecosystem to lower temperatures by the loss of insulating snow. Soil animals, which play an integral part in soil processes, may be very susceptible to such events depending on the intensity of soil warming and low temperatures following these events. We simulated week‐long extreme winter warming events – using infrared heating lamps, alone or with soil warming cables – for two consecutive years in a sub‐Arctic dwarf shrub heathland. Minimum temperatures were lower and freeze‐thaw cycles were 2–11 times more frequent in treatment plots compared with control plots. Following the second event, Acari populations decreased by 39%; primarily driven by declines of Prostigmata (69%) and the Mesostigmatic nymphs (74%). A community‐weighted vertical stratification shift occurred from smaller soil dwelling (eu‐edaphic) Collembola species dominance to larger litter dwelling (hemi‐edaphic) species dominance in the canopy‐with‐soil warming plots compared with controls. The most susceptible groups to these winter warming events were the smallest individuals (Prostigmata and eu‐edaphic Collembola). This was not apparent from abundance data at the Collembola taxon level, indicating that life forms and species traits play a major role in community assembly following extreme events. The observed shift in soil community can cascade down to the micro‐flora affecting plant productivity and mineralization rates. Short‐term extreme weather events have the potential to shift community composition through trait composition with potentially large consequences for ecosystem development.     

研究生在基础与临床相结合科研项目中培养方法的几点思考

随着我国科研创新的开展与推进,学生进入实际科研项目已逐渐成为研究生培养的重要方式。基础与,临床相结合的科研项目立论均来自于临床问题,把在患者身上无法实现的方法通过基础实验的手段加以实施和验证,从而达到发现和揭示病因与发病机制的目的,结果甚或对临床产生指导意义。首都医科大学病理与病理生理学系研究生培养点结合这类研究项目的推进,在规范的方法和流程中引导和培养研究生从临床现象中设问、从海量数据中分析和论证的能力,并通过这些训练,使研究生为进一步深入研究奠定基础,共同为转化医学研究做出贡献。     

PBL 法应用于留学生精神科临床教学中的体会与总结

随着医学教育的革新,PBL(Problem-based Learning)作为以问题为基础、学生为中心、培养学生自主学习能力的一种新型教学模式,逐渐成为国际现代医学教学改革的核心。本文在简单介绍PBL教学模式的衍生发展的基础上,结合笔者几年来的留学生教学经验和目前留学生教学的现状,阐述了在留学生精神病学教学中开展PBL教学的必要性,进而提出了适合留学生教学的PBL教学具体方案。     

应用心理学专业研究生实践能力培养策略研究

实践能力是应用心理学专业研究生重要的素质,培养应用心理学研究生实践能力需要构建有利于实践能力培养的专业课程体系;优化应用心理学专业课程的教学方法;转变应用心理学研究生教育管理观念;发挥导师在应用心理学研究生实践能力培养上的影响;研究生自身加强实践能力的培养。     

The application of the entropy-based statistic for genomic association study of QTL

An entropy-based statistic TPE has been proposed for genomic association study for disease-susceptibility locus.The statistic TPE may be directly adopted and/or extended to quantitative-trait locus (QTL)mapping for quantitative traits.In this article,the statistic TPE was extended and applied to quantitative trait for association analysis of QTL by means of selective genotyping.The statistical properties (the type I error rate and the power) were examined under a range of parameters and population-sampling strategies (e.g.,various genetic models,various heritabilities,and various sample-selection threshold values) by simulation studies.The results indicated that the statistic Tee is robust and powerful for genomic association study of QTL.A simulation study based on the haplotype frequencies of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of angiotensin-I converting enzyme genes was conducted to evaluate the performance of the statistic TPE for genetic association study.     

An Inquiry Safari: What Can We Learn From Skulls?

In this article, we describe an 8- to 10-day inquiry safari designed for middle/high school students to investigate hominid evolution using replica skulls of extant and extinct vertebrates. Students begin the unit using their own skulls and proceed to use the replica skulls of extant vertebrates to construct an understanding of how skulls can be used to interpret and infer diets, dentition, dental formulae, bipedal or quadrupedal locomotion, and the social structure of animals. They are then able to use this knowledge to construct similar inferences for extinct fossil hominids. Using radiometric dating data, the students develop possible phylogenetic pathways for hominid evolution. The lessons promote the use of inquiry skills including journaling, observing, drawing, puzzle-making, using taxonomic keys, and investigating into deep geological time.     

Microbial sulphate reduction at a low pH

It is now well established that microbial sulphate-reduction can proceed in environments with a pH<5. This review summarizes existing reports on sulphate reduction at low pH and discusses possible pH effects on sulphate-reducing bacteria. Microbial sulphate reduction has been observed in acidic lakes, wetlands, mesocosms, acidic sulphate soils and bioreactors. Possible inhibitory factors include the metabolites H(2)S and organic acids, which can be toxic depending on pH. Metal sulphide precipitation and competition with other bacteria, namely iron-reducing bacteria, can inhibit sulphate reduction. Theoretical considerations show that normal sulphate reduction rates are too low to maintain a neutral micro niche in an acidic environment. The first acidotolerant sulphate-reducing bacteria have been isolated recently.     

精心设计教学活动,激发学生的学习兴趣

在生物学教学中通过设疑引起学生对知识的好奇;通过增加学生的认知冲突引起学生对知识的关注;以形象、生动的手段展示知识的魅力,让学生感受到知识的趣味：使学生在积极的情绪体验中产生兴趣。