Neuroscience. A ruckus over releasing images of the human brain

A plan to have scientists deposit functional magnetic resonance images of the brain in a public center at Dartmouth College as a condition of publication has drawn a flurry of objections. Brain scientists warn that if the project goes forward as planned, it could compromise the privacy of research subjects, get tangled up in technical knots, and rob authors of the credit they deserve. A new task force is attempting to elicit a consensus and draft a set of data-sharing guidelines supported by the entire field.     

Gene therapy guidelines revised

The Working Group on Human Gene Therapy, a subcommittee of the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC), has revised its draft guidelines, published in the 22 January 1985 Federal Register, for researchers submitting protocols for human gene therapy experiments. The major revisions in the "Points to Consider" are the elimination of a required response in the protocol to complex social and ethical questions and a greater flexibility in requirements for animal testing prior to human experimentation. Other modifications include provisions for public review of protocols, a requirement of patient agreement to long term follow-up and autopsy, and the limiting of review to only somatic cell therapy for the present. The stages of protocol review will involve local ethics and biosafety committees, then the Working Group, the full RAC, and finally the director of NIH.     

Ethics panel looks at human gene splicing

Holden briefly summarizes a draft report on the implications of gene-splicing technology that was presented at a July 1982 hearing held by the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. The report is concerned with the potential human applications of gene therapy and surgery and the questions these interventions raise about the nature of humanness and reproductive responsibilities. Testifying at the hearing was New York Times editorialist Nicholas Wade, who criticized the report for reflecting the vested interests of scientists and the Commission for failing to discuss guidelines on genetic intervention.     

Ethical concerns and risk perceptions associated with different applications of genetic engineering: Interrelationships with the perceived need for regulation of the technology

The development of genetic engineering and its plausible consequences raises a level of controversy that can be identified at the level of public rather than scientific debate. Opposition to genetic engineering may manifest itself in rejection of the technology overall, or rejection of specific aspects of the technology, where public attitudes may be defined by a complex set of perceptions incorporating risk, benefit, control, and ethical concerns. One hundred and seventy six members of the public responded to questionnaires about genetic engineering that were framed in terms of either food production or medical application. The first section assessed perceived risks, benefits, and control of genetic engineering where the targets of the potential application and the location of control were varied. The second section assessed the relationship between objections to application of the technology to different types of organisms (plants, microorganisms, animals, or human genetic material). Questions were directed at either perceived risk or ethical objections. The applications of genetic engineering were seen as riskier and less beneficial when applied to food production than medicine, although perceived control was independent of application. Optimistic bias was observed. Ethical and risk related objections were greater for applications to food than to medicine, and again dependent on the type of organism manipulated. The transfer of genetic material between “dissimilar” types of organism (for example, between plants and animals) were not associated with greater risk or ethical concern than transfers between “similar” types of organism (for example, between animals and animals). The public requirement for legislative control was also dissociated into risk or ethical objections to the technology, and found to be greater for risk-related concerns, although ethical considerations were also important.     

开放科学创新生态构建中的数据处理伦理准则框架研究

[目的/意义]开放科学发展仍面临着诸多数据伦理难题,亟需探究与开放科学创新生态相适应的数据处理伦理准则。建立与开放科学创新生态构建相匹配的数据处理伦理准则,指导开放科学创新生态中的参与主体在数据创造、共享、传播、利用过程中按照法律规定和伦理规范开展行动,约束数据处理行为向好向善、造福社会,对于营造良好开放科学创新生态至关重要。[方法/过程]本研究首先运用文献调研、内容分析法,立足数据处理伦理的相关法律、指南、框架草案、政策以及典型数据管理模型,从普适的角度出发,立足数据获取、存储、管理、使用和销毁的实践,面向广义的社会性数据,同时兼顾一部分科研数据,关联整合不同的准则内容,寻求现有准则间的共有主题和内容,归纳数据处理伦理准则的一般维度和认可度较高的准则内容。其次,本研究结合开放科学理念和国家社会发展需要,从国内最新规划政策与开放科学内涵中,提炼出开放科学创新生态环境下的数据处理伦理准则需求。最后,本研究通过矩阵分析综合比较两项结果,从共性和特性、准则内容与政策及理念协同等角度,分析得出开放科学创新生态构建中的数据处理伦理准则框架。[结果/结论]现有的数据处理伦理准则在开放科学创新生态中具有较高的适用性,但仍需动态拓展。本研究结合开放科学理念和国家社会发展需要,提出开放科学创新生态数据处理伦理准则框架,包括长治久安、协调有序和系统科学3个维度和15个要素,旨在服务于适应中国开放科学创新生态发展的数据处理伦理准则文本的进一步制定,并为机构的数据管理提供一定参考。     

中医儿科诊疗指南·流行性腮腺炎(修订)第二轮专家调查问卷结果分析

目的 筛选和评价中医儿科专家对《中医儿科诊疗指南·流行性腮腺炎》草稿框架以及诊疗意见的集中程度与协调程度,修订科学实用的《中医儿科诊疗指南·流行性腮腺炎》。方法 采用德尔菲法,在文献研究总结及第一轮问卷调查反馈的基础上制定第二轮专家调查问卷（内容包括术语和定义、诊断、辨证、辨证要点、治疗、预防和调护）,向全国17省36位专家进行问卷调查,采用专家积极系数、专家意见集中程度（均数、等级和、不重要百分比）、专家意见协调程度（变异系数）对问卷进行统计分析。结果 调查问卷收回有效问卷36份,回收率100%。专家对于流行性腮腺炎（修订）草稿中大部分指标意见的集中程度和协调程度较高,中药注射剂部分意见集中程度偏低,变异性较大,未达成共识。结论 专家的积极性和专业水平均较高,分布地区广,具有代表性,《中医儿科诊疗指南·流行性腮腺炎（修订）》框架涉及的条目基本得到专家的认可。     

The case against bGH

In the voluminous literature on the subject of bGH we have yet to find an attempt to frame the issue in specifically moral terms or to address systematically its ethical implications. I argue that there are two moral objections to the technology: its treatment of animals, and its dislocating effects on farmers. There are agricultural biotechnologies that deserve funding and support. bGH is not one of them.     

杆式除草器的土壤反作用力

为了改进杆式除草器的入土性能并减少其牵引阻力,在实验室土槽内对四种不同形状的除草器的土壤反作用力进行了测试。本试验采用了裂区实验设计;土壤类型为主区,除草器的形状,转速、前进速度及耕深在小区内。实验数据是由一个计算机化六分力式数据采集系统采集的。在测试的四种形状中,十字形截面的除草器所受到的牵引阻力和垂直支反力最小,具有良好的入土性能,优于圆形、方形和三角形截面的除草器。     

深松机具与耕作阻力

本文分析了影响深松机具牵引阻力的因素。深松作业的牵引阻力与作业速度的平方以及松土深度成正比。铲头形状影响切土、碎土阻力,铲柄形状影响土壤惯性阻力、土壤与铲柄的摩擦阻力及碎土阻力。在粘土地上,园孤形铲柄较前倾直线形铲柄的牵引阻力小,但在沙壤土中,则前倾45度的直线形铲柄较园孤形铲柄的牵引阻力小。因此,应根据土壤类型合理选用深松部件的形状以减小牵引阻力。     

Measurements of Mouldboard Plow Draft: II. Draft-Soil-Crop and Yield-Draft Associations

The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate some potential causal associations between draft derived from a 3-bottom mouldboard plow during normal fall field operations and soil-crop properties at a field site near Winchester, Ontario, Canada. A secondary objective was to investigate, in a preliminary manner, associations between draft and crop yield (corn, soybean, and wheat). Regression tree analysis indicated that draft variability was best explained by field location, crop type, soil cone penetration resistance in the plow layer, and soil texture in the plow layer. Draft was found to generally increase with cone penetration resistance in the plow layer and soil clay content. Corn yields were negatively associated with draft. The reverse was true for the soybean yields, and a combination of negative and positive draft vs. yield relationships existed for the wheat plots. The overall results indicated that draft data collected during normal field operations can be useful for producers interested in identifying areas in the field where soil strength/compaction might be problematic with regard to crop yields.     

‘Objection’ mapping in determining group and individual concerns regarding genetic engineering

Whilst there has been much debateregarding the importance of public acceptance ofgenetic engineering and its applications, there isevidence to indicate that objections to the technologyare likely to focus on specific applications of thetechnology, rather than genetic engineering per se.Thus it becomes important to examine the extent ofobjections associated with individual applications,rather than to assess public feeling regarding thetechnology overall. Survey data were collected from200 respondents regarding their objections to generalapplications of genetic engineering (where thetangible benefits were not obvious). Similar objectiondata were collected from 200 different respondents,who were presented with specific applications withmore obvious tangible benefits. Overall patterns ofobjection to different applications were identifiedusing a novel method of objection mapping, inconjunction with analysis of variance to identifyindividual differences in the samples. For generalapplications, the results indicate that mostrespondents object less to applications involvingplants and microorganisms than to those involvinganimals or human genetic material. Individualdifferences in objection focus on applicationsinvolving animals or human genetic material, withwomen and those who are very concerned with theenvironment having greatest objections to theseapplications. Individual differences tend to reducewhen specific applications are used as stimuli,although the focus of concern is still on applicationsinvolving animals and human genetic material. However,gender differences were not statistically significant,and those respondents who have high levels ofenvironmental concern are differentiated by increasedobjections to large-scale agricultural applications.It is argued that effective communication regardingthe technology should focus on specific applications,and address issues of environmental impact within thecontext of these applications, if the public is tomake an informed choice regarding their acceptance ofthe products of the technology.     

透过“图解思考”看室内设计快速表现

图解思考是一种用速写形式的草图来帮助思考的一种方法。室内设计快速表现借助于图解思考的思维模式，可以成功地将图形结合多种技巧快速的将其表现为外在的思想。透过图解思考的应用，我们看到室内设计快速表现无论在构思、形式美感及视觉交流方面，对于设计人员来说都能获得一种捷径。     

台湾农业金库对农渔会信用部的支持分析

台湾农业金库是台湾农渔会信用部的上级主管机关,该金库成立以来,积极改善信用部经营状况,并已取得良好成效.以农业金库成立的背景及功能为出发点,探讨分析其对信用部的支持措施和支持困境,并从制度先行、政策支持、创新模式、构建体系等4个方面为大陆农村金融机构的改革和发展提供相关借鉴.     

Randomization and social affairs: the 1970 draft lottery

Randomization has played an important role in social affairs, going back at least to biblical days. The drawing of lots, one of the simplest forms of randomization, has been used publicly in many different contexts. Although the legal use of randomization techniques and lotteries in the United States dates back at least to the mid-19th century, only recently have the federal courts recognized the need for proper randomization to assure fairness, lack of bias, and lack of discrimination. A recent presidential commission has supported the call for all-volunteer armed forces (29), but it appears that the recommendations of this commission are at least several years away from becoming law. In fact, it has been suggested that the present lottery system is retarding any moves toward allvolunteer armed forces by reducing the number of draft-induced volunteers, and thereby necessitating an increase in the number of draftees. So, in the short run, it appears that the draft lottery will be the means by which the United States will man much of itsarmed forces. Since this is the case, it is important that future lotteries achieve equity in selection and that the lack of randomization present in previous lotteries be eliminated. [Indeed, it is interesting to note that several young men have filed suit in federal court, seeking to void the 1970 drawing and to force a new lottery. The basis of these suits is the lack of proper randomization (30).] The 1917 and 1940 Selective Service draft lotteries have served in the past as indications that the commonly held notion of "randomness" is often at variance with the strict statistical meaning. The 1970 draft lottery has not helped to mitigate the doubts of many regarding the equity and fairness of random drawings, although the recent 1971 draft lottery sets a very positive example, which, it is hoped, will counteract the effects of the earlier lotteries. Since randomization does have a role in the everyday workings of society, it is important that the public be educated to accept the proper use of randomization, while rejecting attempts to use chance as a disguise for inequity, bias, and unlawful discrimination. As one step toward this end, future draft lotteries should adhere to a reasonable definition of randomness, and the public should be well informed of the precautions taken to preclude arbitrary features that have marred previous draft lotteries. In addition, it is clearly desirable that the Selective Service provide the public with an official statement giving all relevant details on the design and execution of the lotteries. The most recent draft lottery serves as an admirable model in this regard. Note added in proof: Professor Hans Zeisel has brought to my attention the details of the draft procedure used in Austria-Hungary between 1889 and the start of World War I. This draft procedure was also based on a lottery, with every person liable for the draft (or a representative) drawing a slip of paper on which was recorded a number indicating a place in the draft list. It is conceivable that Selective Service officials, in charge of the World War I lottery in the United States, were familiar with the details of this draft lottery procedure.     

福州市高架桥空间景观综合评价

根据高架桥空间植物景观自身特点,对福州市高架桥14个空间植物景观的物种多样性、生活型结构多样性、与生境和谐度、绿视率、空间层次丰富度、色彩形态丰富度、展现地域特色、与背景和谐度等因子进行调查,运用层次分析法构建层次结构模型,从视觉景观效果和生态效益共8个评价因子建立高架桥空间景观美感度评价指标体系,对福州市高架桥14个空间植物景观进行综合评价。结果表明:福州市高架桥空间植物景观等级达到Ⅰ级的有4个,占28.6%;达到Ⅱ级的有9个,占64.3%;达到Ⅲ级的有1个,占7.1%。说明福州市高架桥空间植物景观的整体水平较好,植物能够适应高架桥环境,物种多样、长势良好,立体绿化较为完善,绿视率较高,雕塑小品、园建等景观要素结合较好,景观较为丰富。     

农区役畜需要数量的计算模式及其应用——海伦县农业生产需要役畜量的调查研究

本文为农区建立了役畜需要量的计算模式。海伦县四个农区按模式计算役畜余缺不同。总的,全县以马为单位的存栏数上下限为8.8、2.9万头,如机械动力能替换1/3作业量,需要马5.9万头,按现有数尚缺万头左右。     

AutoCAD软件在园林设计二次开发中的应用

利用AutoCAD软件进行园林设计工作。常需不断插入或复制、粘贴各类园林制图图标，既繁琐又不标准。笔者利用AutoCAD软件标准菜单开放的功能，结合幻灯片制作和图像控件菜单定制等技术，进行AutoCAD软件的二次开发。通过建立园林设计元素图标图库。修改AutoCAD软件的主菜单文件，制作出标准化的园林设计元素图标下拉菜单，将普通AutoCAD软件改制成园林设计专用软件，从而提高园林设计的工作效率。     

4S-80马铃薯振动挖掘机牵引阻力的测试分析

振动挖掘铲可大幅降低其入土阻力,4S-80马铃薯挖掘机采用铲筛一体的振动式结构。为了探知振动铲筛的实际降阻效果,设计了动态测试装置,并进行了几种不同作业状况下的牵引阻力测试。结果表明,铲筛振动状态下可显著降低挖掘作业时的机具牵引阻力和拖拉机牵引功率;低速作业时作业速度变化对振动挖掘铲作业的牵引阻力影响不大;机具挖掘深度增加时,拖拉机牵引阻力和牵引功率会明显增大。     

Human genome. Storm erupts over terms for publishing Celera's sequence

A dispute has been raging behind the scenes for weeks over the conditions under which Celera Genomics is prepared to make its human genome sequence data publicly available. The argument went public on 6 December, when geneticist Michael Ashburner e-mailed an open letter to Science's board of reviewing editors and members of the press slamming an agreement on data release that Science had reached with Celera as a condition for accepting its paper for review. This spat is the latest round in an intense rivalry between Celera president J. Craig Venter and leaders of the Human Genome Project, a publicly funded consortium that has produced its own draft human genome sequence.     

Measurements of Mouldboard Plow Draft: I. Spectrum Analysis and Filtering

Measurements of mouldboard plow draft can potentially provide a useful tool for continuously mapping, as a surrogate variable, crop limiting soil properties such as soil strength/compaction. Numerous researchers have shown that loading on tillage tools can be periodic. One source of higher frequency periodic loading has been related to failure modes in the soil. Lower frequency periodic loading on tillage tools, assuming tillage depth is relatively constant, more often reflects local spatial variability in soil physical properties such as soil moisture, soil texture, organic matter, and/or soil strength/compaction. This study presents a spectrum and cross-spectrum analysis of mouldboard draft recorded during normal fall plowing operations along adjacent transects. One objective of this study was to determine the dominant periodic components in order to elucidate meaningful frequencies which might be better related to variation in soil physical properties. Spectral densities were generally dominated by signals with a few cycles per 300-m transect. The cross-amplitude and squared coherency between draft recorded on adjacent transects provided further indication of the frequencies which characterized the signals because they provide an indication of correlation as a function of frequency. Spatial dependence in the data was quantified using spatial autocorrelation and cross-correlation. An additional objective was to use the spectral information to help design more physically meaningful filters for the raw draft data. Taking the Fast Fourier Transform of the raw draft data and filtering in the frequency domain using an optimal filter informed via the spectrum and cross-spectrum analysis, provided a convenient method for isolating a more physically meaningful signal.