Misuses of biology in the context of the paranormal

Public suspicion of science stems from science's challenging of perceptions and myths about reality, and a public fear of new technology. The result is a susceptibility to pseudoscience. In claiming that creation 'science' is as valid as evolution the creationists misquote scientists and seek to spread their own 'scientific' myths concerning a young age for the earth, an act of creation based on a particular literalist interpretation of the Christian Bible and a single worldwide flood. They use methods of debate and politics, rather than scientific research. A selection of their arguments is examined and the nature of the evidence for evolution is discussed. Problems with the creation 'science' model are noted. In the myth of the hundredth monkey phenomenon, original research is misquoted to denigrate scientific research and support sentimental ideas of paranormal events. The misuse of science is seen as damaging to society because it reduces the effective gathering and application of scientific information. However, pseudoscience provides a valuable guide to gaps in public scientific education.     

Structural biology of the purine biosynthetic pathway

Purine biosynthesis requires ten enzymatic transformations to generate inosine monophosphate. PurF, PurD, PurL, PurM, PurC, and PurB are common to all pathways, while PurN or PurT, PurK/PurE-I or PurE-II, PurH or PurP, and PurJ or PurO catalyze the same steps in different organisms. X-ray crystal structures are available for all 15 purine biosynthetic enzymes, including 7 ATP-dependent enzymes, 2 amidotransferases and 2 tetrahydrofolate-dependent enzymes. Here we summarize the structures of the purine biosynthetic enzymes, discuss similarities and differences, and present arguments for pathway evolution. Four of the ATP-dependent enzymes belong to the ATP-grasp superfamily and 2 to the PurM superfamily. The amidotransferases are unrelated, with one utilizing an N-terminal nucleophileglutaminase and the other utilizing a triad glutaminase. Likewise the tetrahydrofolate-dependent enzymes are unrelated. Ancestral proteins may have included a broad specificity enzyme instead of PurD, PurT, PurK, PurC, and PurP, and a separate enzyme instead of PurM and PurL. Received 26 May 2008; received after revision 30 June 2008; accepted 9 July 2008     

Histories of molecules: Reconciling the past

Molecular data and methods have become centrally important to evolutionary analysis, largely because they have enabled global phylogenetic reconstructions of the relationships between organisms in the tree of life. Often, however, molecular stories conflict dramatically with morphology-based histories of lineages. The evolutionary origin of animal groups provides one such case. In other instances, different molecular analyses have so far proved irreconcilable. The ancient and major divergence of eukaryotes from prokaryotic ancestors is an example of this sort of problem. Efforts to overcome these conflicts highlight the role models play in phylogenetic reconstruction. One crucial model is the molecular clock; another is that of ‘simple-to-complex’ modification. I will examine animal and eukaryote evolution against a backdrop of increasing methodological sophistication in molecular phylogeny, and conclude with some reflections on the nature of historical science in the molecular era of phylogeny.     

Nuclear science and technology in the Malaysian context: Three phases of technoscientific knowledge transfer (ETTLG)

This essay considers the development of the nuclear science programme in Malaysia from a transnational perspective by examining the interactions between state agents and other external nuclear-knowledge/technology related actors and agents. Going beyond the model of knowledge diffusion that brings together concerns articulated in Harris’s (2011) geographies of long distance knowledge and Reinhardt's (2011) role of the expert in knowledge transfer, the proposed three-phase model of knowledge transfer theorises the pathways undertaken by a late-blooming participant of modern science and technology as the latter moves from epistemic dependency to increasing independence despite the hurdles encountered, and the underdevelopment of many areas of its technoscientific economy. The model considers tensions stemming from the pressures of expediency for meeting national developmental goals on the one side, and the call to support the objectives of basic science on the other. The three phases of the model are epistemic transition, epistemic transplantation and localisation, and epistemic generation (ETTLG). As additional support for the proposed model, three arguments are proffered as deeper explanations of the epistemic goal by using Malaysia as a case study: knowledge transfer for political legitimization, knowledge transfer for countering agnotology, and knowledge transfer for social engineering and science diplomacy.     

Epigenetic mechanisms in the context of complex diseases

Complex diseases arise from a combination of heritable and environmental factors. The contribution made by environmental factors may be mediated through epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that occur without a change in DNA sequence and are meiotically or mitotically heritable. Such changes in gene expression are achieved through the methylation of DNA, the post-translational modifications of histone proteins, and RNA-based silencing. Epigenetics has been implicated in complex diseases such as cancer, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and systemic lupus erythematosus. The prevalence and severity of these diseases may be influenced by factors that affect the epigenotype, such as ageing, folate status, in vitro fertilization and our ancestors’ lifestyles. Although our understanding of the role played by epigenetics in complex diseases remains in its infancy, it has already led to the development of novel diagnostic methods and treatments, which augurs well for its future health benefits. Received 6 December 2006; received after revision 29 January 2007; accepted 15 March 2007     

大数据背景下的信号处理

宽带信号、高维信号、高分辨信号以及多传感器组网技术的快速发展,使得信号采集数据增长率高于数据存储增长率和信号处理速度增长率,信号处理进入了大数据时代．本文指出了大数据背景下的信号处理的关键问题．对于多传感器组网具有的多样性和复杂性的海量信号数据,必须进行信息融合．本文介绍了信号融合的主要模型方法,分析了信息融合技术的发展趋势．智能传感网技术能降低对信号处理和通信容量的要求,有效地在大数据中提取有价值数据．本文给出了智能传感器的基本结构,阐述了智能传感器的计算方法．结合大数据容量信号对高速实时处理的要求,介绍了高速数字信号处理芯片以及高性能硬件平台发展现状,展望了高速信号处理核心技术的发展动向．     

Incommensurabilities in the work of Thomas Kuhn

I distinguish between two ways in which Kuhn employs the concept of incommensurability based on for whom it presents a problem. First, I argue that Kuhn’s early work focuses on the comparison and underdetermination problems scientists encounter during revolutionary periods (actors’ incommensurability) whilst his later work focuses on the translation and interpretation problems analysts face when they engage in the representation of science from earlier periods (analysts’ incommensurability). Secondly, I offer a new interpretation of actors’ incommensurability. I challenge Kuhn’s account of incommensurability which is based on the compartmentalisation of the problems of both underdetermination and non-additivity to revolutionary periods. Through employing a finitist perspective, I demonstrate that in principle these are also problems scientists face during normal science. I argue that the reason why in certain circumstances scientists have little difficulty in concurring over their judgements of scientific findings and claims while in others they disagree needs to be explained sociologically rather than by reference to underdetermination or non-additivity. Thirdly, I claim that disagreements between scientists should not be couched in terms of translation or linguistic problems (aspects of analysts’ incommensurability), but should be understood as arising out of scientists’ differing judgments about how to take scientific inquiry further.     

Role of proline in the imprinting developed by dipeptides — in Tetrahymena Possible role in hormone evolution

The effects of proline and serine dipeptides containing phenylalanine, alanine and leucine on the behaviour of receptors of Tetrahymena were investigated. Only proline-containing dipeptides were able to develop positive imprinting, and the activity depended on which other amino acid was present in the dipeptide. In contrast to the positive imprinting effect of the dipeptides Pro-Phe and Pro-Ala, the dipeptide Pro-Pro and Pro-Leu caused negative imprinting. Serine dipeptides produced negative imprinting in all cases. The possible importance of proline in the evolution of hormone specificity is discussed.     

The comparative biology of neuromelanin and lipofuscin in the human brain

Neuromelanin and lipofuscin are two pigments produced within the human brain that, until recently, were considered inert cellular waste products of little interest to neuroscience. Recent research has increased our understanding of the nature and interactions of these pigments with their cellular environment and suggests that these pigments may, indeed, influence cellular function. The physical appearance and distribution of the pigments within the human brain differ, but both accumulate in the aging brain and the pigments share some structural features. Lipofuscin accumulation has been implicated in postmitotic cell aging, while neuromelanin is suggested to function as an iron-regulatory molecule with possible protective functions within the cells which produce this pigment. This review presents comparative aspects of the biology of neuromelanin and lipofuscin, as well as a discussion of their hypothesized functions in brain and their possible roles in aging and neurodegenerative disease.     

Prediction in context: On the comparative epistemic merit of predictive success

The considerations set out in the paper are intended to suggest that in practical contexts predictive power does not play the outstanding roles sometimes accredited to it in an epistemic framework. Rather, predictive power is part of a network of other merits and achievements. Predictive power needs to be judged differently according to the specific conditions that apply. First, predictions need to be part of an explanatory framework if they are supposed to guide actions reliably. Second, in scientific expertise, the demand for accurate predictions is replaced with the objective of specifying a robust corridor of estimates. Finally, it is highly uncertain to predict the success of research projects. The overall purpose of the paper is to enlarge the debate about predictions by addressing specifically the roles of predictions in application-oriented research.     

Modelling the daily banknotes in circulation in the context of the liquidity management of the European Central Bank

The main focus of this paper is to model the daily series of banknotes in circulation. The series of banknotes in circulation displays very marked seasonal patterns. To the best of our knowledge the empirical performance of two competing approaches to model seasonality in daily time series, namely the ARIMA‐based approach and the Structural Time Series approach, has never been put to the test. The application presented in this paper provides valid intuition on the merits of each approach. The forecasting performance of the models is also assessed in the context of their impact on the liquidity management of the Eurosystem. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kant and the scope of analogy in the life sciences

In the present paper I investigate the role that analogy plays in eighteenth-century biology and in Kant's philosophy of biology. I will argue that according to Kant, biology, as it was practiced in the eighteenth century, is fundamentally based on analogical reflection. However, precisely because biology is based on analogical reflection, biology cannot be a proper science. I provide two arguments for this interpretation. First, I argue that although analogical reflection is, according to Kant, necessary to comprehend the nature of organisms, it is also necessarily insufficient to fully comprehend the nature of organisms. The upshot of this argument is that for Kant our understanding of organisms is necessarily limited. Second, I argue that Kant did not take biology to be a proper science because biology was based on analogical arguments. I show that Kant stemmed from a philosophical tradition that did not assign analogical arguments an important justificatory role in natural science. Analogy, according to this conception, does not provide us with apodictically certain cognition. Hence, sciences based on analogical arguments cannot constitute proper sciences.     

A comparison of the activity of flight interneurones in locusts,crickets, dragonflies and mayflies

Summary The activity patterns of interneurones in the flight systems of dragonflies and mayflies were investigated using standard intracellular recording and staining techniques, and were compared with those of crickets and locusts. The results show several basic similarities in the operation of a central motor pattern generator for flight in all four groups of insects. These similarities can be explained as resulting from conservative evolution of flight pattern generating circuitry within the central nervous system.     

基于文献计量的我国及世界光电材料研究比较分析

通过采集科学引文索引中所收录的世界1990年~2005年光电材料研究论文,并对数据进行二次处理,对论文数量排名前10位的国家进行了多项指标分析,比较了世界在该领域论文的机构分布(部分国家的主要机构)和我国在该领域论文的机构分布(部分科研机构和大学),得出了有价值的研究结果,并提出一些建议。     

Inductive reasoning in the context of discovery: Analogy as an experimental stratagem in the history and philosophy of science

Building on Norton's “material theory of induction,” this paper shows through careful historical analysis that analogy can act as a methodological principle or stratagem, providing experimentalists with a useful framework to assess data and devise novel experiments. Although this particular case study focuses on late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century experiments on the properties and composition of acids, the results of this investigation may be extended and applied to other research programs. A stage in-between what Steinle calls “exploratory experimentation” and robust theory, I argue that analogy encouraged research to substantiate why the likenesses should outweigh the differences (or vice versa) when evaluating results and designing experiments.     

On the existence of cytokines in invertebrates

Based on the assumption that invertebrates, like vertebrates, possess factors regulating responses to infection or wounding, studies dealing with the evolution of immunity have focussed on the isolation and characterisation of putative cytokine-related molecules from invertebrates. Until recently, most of our knowledge of cytokine- and cytokine receptor-like molecules in invertebrates relies on functional assays and similarities at the physicochemical level. As such, a phylogenetic relationship between invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and vertebrate counterparts could not be convincingly demonstrated. Recent genomic sequence analyses of interleukin-1-receptor-related molecules, that is Toll-like receptors, and members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily suggest that the innate immune system of invertebrates and vertebrates evolved independently. In addition, data from protochordates and annelids suggest that invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and vertebrate factors do not have the same evolutionary origin. We propose instead that the convergence of function of invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and vertebrate counterparts involved in innate immune defences may be based on similar lectin-like activities. Received 27 November 2000; received after revision 11 December 2000; accepted 13 December 2000     

世界主要海洋国家海洋发展战略分析

对美国、英国、加拿大、日本、俄罗斯以及中国周边海洋国家的海洋发展战略进行了不同程度的分析。美、英、加等海洋国家从海洋科技发展入手,实施了中长期海洋行动计划,推动海洋高科技发展;日本强调海洋立法、重视海洋技术的提升;俄罗斯、中国周边国家则注重海洋军事的发展,海洋军事的发展依赖并带动海洋科技的发展。北极海域的争夺成为环北极国家新一轮海洋发展战略的重点。     

A cryptic intermediate in the evolution of chameleon tongue projection

Summary An incipient form of tongue projection occurs inPhrynocephalus helioscopus, a generalized agamid lizard. We argue that this condition represents a functional intermediate between typical lingual prehension and chamaeleontid tongue projection, and that tongue projection evolved in chameleons by augmentation of ancestral mechanisms still operating in related, generalized lizards.     

浅议新加坡科技发展态势

在知识经济背景下,新加坡日益重视科技对于经济的推动作用。本文尝试从5个方面分析了新加坡科技发展的态势：科技投入和产出持续高增长,研发人力不断加强,研发基础设施日益完善,企业的研发和创新备受重视,相对竞争优势逐渐形成。     

Expansion of amino acid homo-sequences in proteins: Insights into the role of amino acid homo-polymers and of the protein context in aggregation

Expansion of amino acid homo-sequences, such as polyglutamines or polyalanines, in proteins has been directly implicated in various degenerative diseases through a mechanism of protein misfolding and aggregation. However, it is still unclear how the nature of the expansion and the protein context influence the tendency of a protein to aggregate. Here, we have addressed these questions using spinocerebellar ataxia type-3 (ATX3) protein, the best characterised of the polyglutamine proteins, chosen as a model system. Using a transfected mammalian cell line, we demonstrate that ATX3 aggregation is noticeably reduced by deletion or replacement of regions other than the polyglutamine tract. The nature of the amino acid homo-sequences also has a strong influence on aggregation. From our studies, we draw general conclusions on the effect of the protein architecture and of the amino acid homo-sequence on pathology. Received 3 March 2006; received after revision 19 April 2006; accepted 22 May 2006