Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums

The acquisition and display of material artefacts is the raison d’être of museums. But what constitutes a museum artefact? Contemporary medicine (biomedicine) is increasingly producing artefacts that do not fit the traditional museological understanding of what constitutes a material, tangible artefact. Museums today are therefore caught in a paradox. On the one hand, medical science and technologies are having an increasing pervasive impact on the way contemporary life is lived and understood and is therefore a central part of the contemporary world. On the other hand, the objects involved in medical diagnostics and therapies are becoming increasingly invisible and intangible and therefore seem to have no role to play as artefacts in a museum context. Consequently, museums are at risk of becoming alienated from an increasingly important part of contemporary society. This essay elaborates the paradox by employing Gumbrecht’s (2004) distinction between ‘presence’ and ‘meaning’.     

Practicality, Positionality, and Emancipation: Reflections on Participatory Action Research with a Watershed Partnership

In the last few decades, there has been a trend towards increased stakeholder and public participation in natural resource management in North America. To a certain extent, the rationale for this trend is found in the complexity and uncertainty of environmental issues, which confront us with the coexistance of multiple legitimate values and perspectives in society. Recognizing this “epistemological plurality” has important implications for both policy and science. In this paper, I critically reflect on my experiences as a doctoral student engaged in participatory action research (PAR) with a watershed partnership in Ontario, Canada. In providing this biographical account, I seek to make a contribution to ongoing discussions regarding the nature, challenges and benefits of this methodological approach for academic research, as well as to emerging debates on PAR in the context of environmental governance and “post-normal” approaches to natural resource management.

国际临界带研究发展回顾与美国临界带研究进展介绍

基于对临界带国际发展态势的分析,梳理了临界带的概念;回顾了国际临界带研究的发展历程;并重点对美国在临界带研究方面的进展及其已经部署的6个临界带观测站进行了详细的介绍。     

Types of cladoceran species described by Sven Ekman in the Swedish Museum of Natural History,with redescription of Daphnia cavicervix Ekman, 1900 (Daphniidae,Anomopoda, Cladocera)

In the course of our examination of samples of Cladocera from South America and subantarctic islands in the collection of the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, we found some type material of Sven Ekman, unrecognized earlier, as well as other samples described in his publications (Ekman 1900 Ekman, S. 1900. Cladoceren aus Patagonien, gesammelt von der schwedischen Expedition nach Patagonien 1899.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 14: 62–84.  [Google Scholar], 1905 Ekman, S. 1905. Cladoceren und Copepoden aus antarktischen und subantarktishen Binnengewässern.. Wissendchaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Südpolar‐Expedition 1901–1903, Zoologie, 5: 1–40.  [Google Scholar]). A single specimen of Pleuroxus scopuliferus Ekman, 1900 Ekman, S. 1900. Cladoceren aus Patagonien, gesammelt von der schwedischen Expedition nach Patagonien 1899.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 14: 62–84.  [Google Scholar], apparently seen by its author, is re‐deposited as the lectotype, while the neotype of this taxon earlier selected by Frey (1993 Frey, D. G. 1993. Species of Pleuroxus (Anomopoda, Chydoridae) from the subantarctic islands and southernmost South America: a partial unravelling of the Pleuroxus aduncus problem.. Hydrobiologia, 262: 145–188.  [Google Scholar]) must be rejected according to ICZN (2000 ICZN. 2000. International code of zoological nomenclature , 4, 306London: International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature.  [Google Scholar]). Daphnia cavicervix Ekman, 1900 Ekman, S. 1900. Cladoceren aus Patagonien, gesammelt von der schwedischen Expedition nach Patagonien 1899.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 14: 62–84.  [Google Scholar] is redescribed based on numerous parthenogenetic, ephippial females and males, and lectotype and paralectotypes are selected. Some recent problems of systematics of Daphnia in South America are discussed.     

Microstructures and nanostructures of high Andean Penaincisalia lycaenid butterfly scales (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): descriptions and interpretations

The scales of one high Andean eumaeine lycaenid butterfly species with pale dorsal coloration and four species with vivid dorsal colour were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The micro‐ and nanostructures are illustrated, described, measured, and interpreted. The vivid colours in the species are caused by a pepper‐pot nanostructure of Urania‐type scales. This nanostructure is a three‐dimensional lattice within the body of the individual scale. The scales of the non‐vivid orange species are lacking this nanostructure and the surfaces of their scales show high microstructure irregularities. This absence of vivid colour may be correlated with thermal regulation. The irregularity of the scale microstructures suggests a heavy environmental pressure on the populations sampled. Previously unknown structural variations of Urania‐type scales are also described. The existence of closed scale microcell structures, explained as an apomorphic character in the tribe Eumaeini, most probably evolved independently several times. It is hypothesized that scale micro‐ and nanostructure modifications develop syntopically within a population, which in turn can lead to rapid diversification.     

Two new earthworm species from Belize (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae)

In 2001 the Soil Biodiversity Group of the Natural History Museum, London collected Oligochaeta material from bromeliad epiphytes and litter samples in Belize. This material remained unidentified until being passed to the Annelida curator in 2010. Elaborating this material resulted in discovery of two earthworm species new to science Eutrigaster (Graffia) georgei sp. nov. and Kaxdrilus sherbutti sp. nov. belonging to the family Acanthodrilidae (Benhamiinae) and Acanthodrilidae (Acanthodrilinae) respectively. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6BEB9E5A-7D54-4E48-913D-EF76D7DACC16     

21世纪初主要发达国家科技人才政策新动向

在对本世纪初美、日、德、英、法发达国家主要的人才战略规划和计划进行梳理的基础上,分析其在科技人才政策方面的新思路和新措施,为促进我国科技人才队伍的建设提供参考。     

古村镇在当代中国社会的“再发现”

集中讨论了当前中国社会出现的关注古村镇的社会性热潮。在指出古村镇热潮的全球化、都市化发展之大背景的同时，分析了古村镇在当前中国社会中得以“再发现”的意义，以及古村镇之被赋予的历史与文化价值。古村镇的热潮及其相关的社会文化动向，反映了都市居民对于“乡土中国”的眷恋，意味着现当代中国社会对于“传统”的某种回归，以及对于文化“故乡”的重新认同。此外，还对古村镇在当前的新农村建设运动中以及在旅游开发中所面临的一些问题进行了论述，并指出了古村镇同时也作为现代村镇可能会发生的变迁及其机制。     

美国高校教师入职门槛及启示

教师的优劣被认为直接影响到孩子的学业成功与否。美国十分重视教师的聘用与选拔。文章拟从美国高校教师的入职要求，教育专业博士课程的设置，以及高校教师的入职培训等来看美国高校教师的入职门槛，以期为我国高校教师的选拔与培养提供借鉴。     

美国重返亚洲战略下的中国对外政策调整

当前,全球经济复苏问题凸显,亚洲作为世界经济新的引擎,出现整体性复兴的迹象。在新的国际局势下,积极寻找经济复苏途径、重塑美国领导形象的奥巴马政府与以和平发展为目标的复兴中的最大发展中国家中国的关系,就不仅仅是中美的双边关系,或是亚太区域的国家关系,而是涉及到全球政治战略、经济秩序、安全生态的大国关系。奥巴马上任不久,就提出美国会提高对亚太区域的关注,随后,美国重返亚洲成为国际社会热议的话题。