Research ethics capacity development in Africa: exploring a model for individual success

The Johns Hopkins-Fogarty African Bioethics Training Program (FABTP) has offered a fully-funded, one-year, non-degree training opportunity in research ethics to health professionals, ethics committee members, scholars, journalists and scientists from countries across sub-Saharan Africa. In the first 9 years of operation, 28 trainees from 13 African countries have trained with FABTP. Any capacity building investment requires periodic critical evaluation of the impact that training dollars produce. In this paper we describe and evaluate FABTP and the efforts of its trainees. Our data show that since 2001, the 28 former FABTP trainees have authored or co-authored 105 new bioethics-related publications; were awarded 33 bioethics-related grants; played key roles on 78 bioethics-related research studies; and participated in 198 bioethics workshops or conferences. Over the past nine years, trainees have collectively taught 48 separate courses related to bioethics and have given 170 presentations on various topics in the field. Many former trainees have pursued and completed doctoral degrees in bioethics; some have become editorial board members for bioethics journals. Female trainees were, on average, less experienced at matriculation and produced fewer post-training outputs than their male counterparts. More comprehensive studies are needed to determine the relationships between age, sex, previous experience and training program outputs.     

高浓度CO2对红松(Pinus koraiensis)针叶光合生理参数的影响

以开顶箱内经过6个生长季高浓度CO2处理的原位土壤种植的红松幼树为实验对象,研究了500umolmol-1CO2对针叶光合作用及相应光合参数的影响.实地条件下测定了净光合速率(PN)对光合有效辐射(PAR)及胞间CO2浓度(Ci)的响应曲线,根据光合作用的生化模型,推算出了Rubisco活性或数量限制的最大羧化速率(VCmax)和光饱和条件下由RuBP再生能力限制的最大电子传递速率(Jmzx),以及表观量子产量(AQY)和最大净光合速率(Pmzx)等.5001umolmol-1 CO2使红松针叶的VCmzx降低了4%,Jmzx和Jmzx/VCmzx比分别增加了27%和18%,均与对照差异不显著,所以红松针叶经过6个生长季高浓度C02处理仍未发生光合驯化.在各自生长条件下测定的PN-PAR响应曲线表明,500pumolmol-1CO2使Pmzx增加了94%,AQY增加了21%,Pmzx增长高于AQY和Jmzx的增加比例,说明500umolmol-1CO2使红松针叶对光的利用效率增强.500umolmol-1CO2下的最大气孔导度(gcmzx)和最大蒸腾速率(Emzx)与对照比增加了一倍,与Pmzx增加的幅度接近.500ummol mol-1 CO2下和对照条件下的Ci/C2比均随环境CO2浓度(C2)增加呈非线性下降趋势,在较低Ca处(Ca≤200umol mol-1),500umol mol-1CO2使Ci/Ca比下降了l%-7%,较高Ca处(Ca≥300umol mol-1),500umol mol-1CO2使Ci/Ca比增加了5%-20%.CO2浓度变化会改变Ci/Ca比,由于气孔的调节作用,Ci/Ca比最终还是要维持在一恒定范围,且气孔对较低的CO2浓度更敏感.     

Changing attitudes in nature conservation: the Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy Council

An official organization responsible for ecological research and nature conservation was formed in 1949. This paper traces its development and vicissitudes, first as an independent Nature Conservancy, then as a part of the Natural Environment Research Council, and finally as the Nature Conservancy Council. Much has been achieved: ecology is now a household word; there is a strong voluntary tide for nature conservation in the country; and there have been notable achievements in practical conservation. But the dangers to nature in Britain have proved to be much greater than anticipated.     

基于CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的本科教学实验体系的创建与实践

CRISPR/Cas9是新兴的基因编辑技术,在生命科学研究中发挥着重要的作用。将它引入本科生的实验教学,使本科生了解这项前沿科研技术很有意义。我们创建了一个基于CRISPR/ Cas9技术的本科教学实验体系。该实验体系侧重CRISPR/Cas9技术在哺乳动物细胞中的应用,选用一株基因组上被插入mCherry基因的小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞为实验材料,命名为STO-82。首先设计靶向mCherry的sgRNA,构建CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA共表达质粒。经测序验证无误后,转染到STO-82细胞。采用流式细胞仪分析检测mCherry阴性和阳性两群细胞,分选出阴性单细胞并扩大培养。最后用测序检验单克隆细胞中靶标DNA序列的编辑情况。结果显示,靶位点有插入或缺失突变,说明体系创建成功。该实验体系将sgRNA设计、CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA共表达质粒的构建、细胞转染、单细胞分选、单克隆细胞培养、测序序列分析等内容融合为一个综合实验,用于高年级本科生的实验教学。根据实际情况,将教学实践内容分解分块教学,也可以做完整性项目教学。本教学实践采用10人左右的小班分块教学,2人一组,经过3个班（共13组）的实践,绝大部分学生都能完成实验,得到预期结果。通过这个实验,学生加深了对CRISPR/Cas9技术的原理和实验流程的理解,锻炼了实验操作能力和严谨的科研思维,也使学生对该技术的医疗应用风险有了一些认识。     

The identification of dysfunctional crosstalk of pathways in Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, affecting 1–2% of the population over the age of 65. Both genetic and environmental factors trigger risks of and protection from PD. However, the molecular mechanism of PD is far from being clear. In this study, we downloaded the gene expression profile of PD from Gene Expression Omnibus and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and dysfunctional pathways in PD patients compared with controls. To further understand how these pathways act together to account for the initiation of PD, we constructed a pathway crosstalk network by calculating the Jaccard index among pathways. A total of 873 DEGs and 16 dysfunctional pathways between PD patients and controls were identified. Through constructing a network of pathways, the relationships among PD pathways were visually presented by their interactions. Our results demonstrate the existence of crosstalk between different pathways in PD pathogenesis. These results not only may explain the causes of PD, but could also open the door to new therapeutic approaches for this disease.     

毛翅目化石研究进展

本文详细总结和回顾了世界毛翅目化石研究简史,列出已发表的化石种类名录、分布及年代,共37科、193属、661种(包括中国发现的4科9属15种),描述了不同地质时期主要毛翅目化石的分类单元和分布地区。简要介绍了毛翅目分类系统及系统发育、不同地质时期毛翅目化石的产地及时代。初步分析了目前该类群所存在的一些问题,并对今后的研究工作进行了展望。     

植物来源抗虫基因的研究进展

植物抗虫基因工程为农林业生产中的害虫防治提供了新的途径,随着研究的不断深入,已经获得了很多抗虫基因。本文综述了目前源于植物的抗虫基因的种类,归纳了研究较多的抗虫基因的作用机制及其在转基因植物中的应用,提出了植物抗虫基因在虫害防治中面临的问题及相应的解决策略,展望了植物抗虫基因工程研究发展的方向和前景。     

长期不同施肥方式对稻油轮作制水稻田杂草群落的影响

为揭示长期不同施肥方式下农田生态系统中杂草群落的变化规律,于2006年10月在太湖地区一个长期肥料试验定位监测田,运用群落生态学方法研究了7种长期不同施肥处理持续20a后对水稻-油菜轮作制水稻田杂草群落的影响.试验区共记录到杂草11种,隶属于6个科.其中,节节菜(Rotala indica)、陌上菜(Lindernia procumbens)、鸭舌草(Monochoria vaginalis)、异型莎草(Cyperus difformis)等4种杂草在所有施肥处理区发生密度较大.莎草科杂草牛毛毡(Eleocharis yokoscensis)只在不施肥区和纯氮肥区出现,而球穗扁莎(Pycreus globosus)和萤蔺(Scirpus juncoides)仅在不施肥区出现.长期不同施肥措施下,田间杂草群落的物种多样性有明显差异:全年秸秆区的物种丰富度(7.3种)最小,不施肥区(10.7种)最大;不施肥区、常规区、秋季秸秆区Shannon-Wiener指数显著大于其他处理区;不施肥区和常规区Simpson指数显著小于其他处理区;不施肥区和纯氮肥区Pielou均匀度指数显著小于其他处理区.田间杂草群落的优势种组成也发生了一定变化, Whittaker指数表明,与不施肥处理相比,单施化肥、化肥配施猪粪对杂草群落结构及物种组成的影响最显著,化肥配施油菜秸秆和化肥配施油菜水稻秸秆次之,而纯施氮肥和化肥配施水稻秸秆的影响较小.Srensen群落相似性指数及聚类分析结果也得到相似的结论.结果表明,单施化肥(平衡施用N、P、K肥)、化肥配施猪粪、化肥配施夏季、秋季和全年秸秆处理均能显著改变田间杂草群落的组成,改变某些杂草在群落中的优势地位,从而抑制其发生危害程度.     

Local above‐ground persistence of vascular plants: Life‐history trade‐offs and environmental constraints

Questions: 1. Which plant traits and habitat characteristics best explain local above‐ground persistence of vascular plant species and 2. Is there a trade‐off between local above‐ground persistence and the ability for seed dispersal and below‐ground persistence in the soil seed bank? Locations: 845 long‐term permanent plots in terrestrial habitats across the Netherlands. Methods: We analysed the local above‐ground persistence of vascular plants in permanent plots (monitored once a year for ca. 16 year) with respect to functional traits and habitat preferences using survival statistics (Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox’ regression). These methods account for censored data and are rarely used in vegetation ecology. Results: Local above‐ground persistence is determined by both functional traits (especially the ability to form long‐lived clonal connections) and habitat preferences (especially nutrient requirements). Above‐ground persistence is negatively related to the ability for dispersal by wind and to the ability to accumulate a long‐term persistent soil seed bank (‘dispersal through time’) and is positively related to the ability for dispersal by water. Conclusions: Most species have a half‐life expectation over 15 years, which may contribute to time lags after changes in habitat quality or ‐configuration (‘extinction debt’). There is evidence for a trade‐off relationship between local above‐ground persistence and below‐ground seed persistence, while the relationship with dispersal in space is vector specific. The rate of species turnover increases with productivity.     

土壤多样性理论在欧美的实践及在我国土壤景观研究中的应用前景

介绍了土壤多样性理论的基本概念与研究方法以及在西班牙、美国等欧美国家的研究实践 ,包括在欧盟 CORINE数据库和美国 STATSGO数据库支持下进行的多样性主要指数 (多样性指数、均匀度指数和多度指数等 )的算法、主要模型 (多度分布模型、幂律模型等 )的分析、GIS和地统计学方法的应用等。通过这些研究实践 ,可以看出土壤多样性理论在研究土壤的空间可变性、土壤景观格局的相互关系 ,土地利用与城市化过程对土壤多样性的影响等方面确有独到之处 ,为解决当前我国土壤学面临的环境资源可持续发展、环境监控、基因保护、城市化过程等热点问题提供了一个崭新的研究思路 ,展现出良好的应用前景