Human leukocyte interferon subtypes have different antiproliferative and antiviral activities on human cells

The antigrowth effects of 5 different cloned human leukocyte IFN subtypes (IFN-alpha A, B, C, D, F) and 2 molecular hybrids between them (IFN-alpha AD(Bg1II) and IFN-alpha DA(Bg1II)) were examined on 6 different human cell lines. The results indicate that the interferons sort into two distinct groups: IFN-alpha B, C and F showed comparable antiproliferative activity which was greater than that of IFN-alpha A, D, AD(Bg1II) and DA(Bg1II). The interferons could also be assigned to one of two groups on the basis of their antiviral activity. IFN-alpha A, D and AD(Bg1II) were observed to be more protective than IFN-alpha B, C and F against HSV-2 and EMCV infections, i.e. the relative antiviral efficacies of the cloned IFN subtypes were the reverse of their antiproliferative activities.     

Conservation,protected areas and the global economic system: how debt,trade, exchange rates,inflation and macroeconomic policy affect biological diversity

The main characteristics of the dominant economic system, including the increasing use of markets and money are described. The global system has expanded trade, including international trade, and production tremendously. While this system has the potential to favour nature conservation, in practice the opposite has occurred. Difficulties raised for conservation of biodiversity by short-term economic crises such as deficits in a country's international payments, the adoption of policies for structural economic adjustment, international capital flows, international loans and foreign aid as well as debt-for-nature swaps are discussed. As explained, it is politically difficult in market economies to support nature conservation at the expense of economic growth and as more economies develop and become market economies this problem spreads. Given global interdependence of nations, an important issue is the distribution of net benefits from biodiversity conservation between developed and less developed countries. Possible distributions of benefits and related issues are discussed. In conclusion, the importance of political lobbying by nature conservation groups in developed market economies is emphasised as a means of ensuring correction of market failures. Unfortunately, no economic system is likely to prove satisfactory in itself in conserving biodiversity so political action by conservationists is always required.     

中欧组织间合作研究项目MIX-UP助力实现“碳中和”

随着全球塑料循环体系的变革升级,提高塑料的回收利用不仅可以减少塑料在生命周期中的碳排放,还可以解决废塑料潜在的生态环境危害。文中介绍了2019年国家自然科学基金组织间国际 (地区) 合作研究项目“废塑料资源高效生物降解转化的关键科学问题与技术 (MIXed plastics biodegradation and UPcycling using microbial communities,MIX-UP)”。该项目聚焦“塑料污染”这一全球化的问题,围绕中欧双方确定的“塑料生物降解菌群”研究领域,联合中欧双方14家优势科研单位,开展实质性的重大前沿合作研究。针对废塑料生物降解中存在的解聚与重塑两个难题,项目以难降解石油基塑料 (PP、PE、PUR、PET和PS) 以及生物可降解塑料 (PLA和PHA) 的混合废塑料作为研究对象,从塑料微生物降解途径解析及关键元件的挖掘与改造、塑料高效降解混菌/多酶体系的构建与功能调控、塑料降解物的高值化炼制途径设计与利用策略3个方面展开研究。本项目将突破废塑料生物降解转化中高效降解元件挖掘、塑料降解物高值化利用的关键科学问题与技术,探索一条废塑料资源化、高值化、循环化、低碳化的新塑料循环路线,建立以“降塑再造”为核心理念的废塑料生物炼制体系,丰富我国固废资源化生物技术利用平台。项目的实施不仅有助于提升我国塑料 (生物) 循环经济的理论基础和关键技术水平,还可以推动我国与国际科研院所的多边交流与合作,促进我国在生物技术领域的创新发展,助力我国碳中和目标的实现。     

Entomophagous insects – an introduction

This special issue contains papers presented at the 6th International Entomophagous Insects Conference. Entomophagous insects consume other insects. They are a fundamental component of ecosystems and are extensively used as biocontrol agents. The first article reviews the role of ladybirds in biological control and the second reviews the biological control of stink bugs. The following nine research articles cover the rearing, behavior, life history, and ecology of parasitoid and predator species.     

How to Deal with Resource Productivity

Resource productivity enhancement stands at the center of tackling issues on environmental pollution and resource scarcity. Identifying influential socioeconomic factors should be the first step in establishing and improving resource management policy. This study compares and analyzes data from multiple countries to construct a resource productivity simulation model. The socioeconomic factors and their characteristic patterns are discussed in detail. The results demonstrate that the major factors influencing resource productivity include income level, population density, economic structure, energy structure, and raw material trade. Among these factors, the three most important are income level, population density, and economic structure. The influencing patterns can be summarized as follows: (1) Resource productivity increases with increasing income levels. (2) Countries with high population density are inclined to demonstrate high resource productivity. (3) The economic structure shows a biphase influence on resource productivity, that is, during industrialization, decreased agricultural activity and increased industrial activity lead to higher resource productivity. On the other hand, after industrialization, decreasing industrial activity and an expanding service sector become the major impetus of resource productivity enhancement. (4) Raw material export demonstrates a negative effect on resource productivity. Countries that depend heavily on raw material export show a unique resource productivity evolution pattern. For these countries, relatively high resource productivity in low income phases and relatively low resource productivity in high income phases show only small increases in resource efficiency and economic growth. Finally, insights from the study are transformed into suggestions for sustainable resource management and resource productivity enhancement.     

Selling transracial adoption: families,markets, and the colour line

This short review looks at the implications of the title of The Age of Migration. It argues that most ages, not specifically our own time, could be defined as ‘ages of migration’. It argues that the specific characteristics of our particular age are those of internal more than international migrations and a dramatic rise in a series of forms of non-permanent population movements that can better be captured under the term ‘mobility’. In terms of longer-term forms of migration, it is also deceptive to assume that they will necessarily continue to increase. The piece focuses on forms of internal migration and on mobility.     

Delimitation of the maritime boundary in the gulf of Maine area

The compulsory dispute settlement regime included in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention is recognized as one of the most comprehensive in a modern international convention. Yet, in the recent application of this regime, the question has arisen as to whether the procedural prerequisites associated with the LOS Convention's compulsory dispute settlement mechanism are so arduous as to avoid binding and compulsory jurisdiction in most instances. This article addresses that question by examining, in particular, the reasoning of the Southern Bluefin Tuna arbitration tribunal, which found Article 281 of Section 1 of the LOS Convention to bar jurisdiction to the compulsory dispute settlement mechanism prescribed by the Convention, and offers suggestions as to how states might distinguish or overcome the barriers imposed by the Southern Bluefin Tuna tribunal in future cases.     

Submarine Communications Cables and Law of the Sea: Problems in Law and Practice

Submarine communications cables laid on the seabed of the ocean are the foundation of the world's international telecommunications network. International law, in particular, the law of the sea, has recognized the freedom to lay submarine cables and perform associated operations and has placed certain obligations on states related to the protection of submarine cables. This article examines the international law with respect to submarine cables and discusses the various problems with both the law and state practice on submarine cables. It argues that these problems are illustrations of the traditional challenges that face the law of the sea; that is, the balancing and accommodation of competing uses of ocean space. It concludes that an important step toward resolving these problems is enhanced consultation and cooperation between cable companies and governments and that efforts should focus on creating such mechanisms.