An industry picture of u.s. Science policy

With regard to promoting the competitiveness of U.S. industry, federal science policy is performing unevenly. Federally supported basic research is not well aligned with industrial needs, although the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Centers and similar programs are improving matters. Large-scale federal undertakings in science and technology, such as the Apollo program and now the Strategic Defense Initiative, actually tend to divert resources away from commercial research and development. Needed are federal and industrial leaders who will work together to serve the interests of both competitive industry and efficient government in the United States.     

Research policy. Report tracks federal funding in each state

Maryland is the most research-intensive state in the country, according to a new report that describes in unprecedented detail where the federal government's annual $80 billion research budget is spent. Its authors hope the report will raise public awareness about research as well as inform politicians.     

微流控技术在解决猪体外受精中多精入卵问题中的应用进展

凭借自动化、高灵敏度和高精确度的优势,微流体技术可以实现复杂精细的生物学实验流程控制,保证对试验现象与试验结果的实时准确获取。通过检索近年来微流体装置在哺乳动物卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精以及胚胎体外培养中的研究报道,总结了微流控技术在哺乳动物胚胎学研究中的应用,提出了将微流控技术应用于猪体外受精技术,目的在于解决并克服猪体外受精中存在的多精入卵,为完善猪体外受精技术提供可行的解决方案,同时为人类医学辅助生殖技术的优化完善提供新思路。     

Animal research. Activists win big on rodent, bird rules

A federal judge last month ruled that animal-rights activists have the legal right to challenge U.S. Department of Agriculture rules that exempt the vast majority of research animals from federal regulation. Observers say that the ruling almost guarantees that the agency will extend regulations governing animal handling and housing to thousands of academic and industry laboratories that work with rodents and birds. Those new rules, say animal-care experts, could impose costly new requirements on labs that don't meet standards set by the private Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.     

Genetic testing. Families sue hospital, scientist for control of Canavan gene

A successful partnership between parents and a scientist to combat a deadly genetic disease has dissolved into a bitter legal battle over the commercial tests used to identify people with dangerous mutations in their genes. The lawsuit, filed on 30 October in Chicago federal court, is the latest dispute in the growing controversy over who controls and who benefits from human genetics research.     

Human insulin from recombinant DNA technology

Human insulin produced by recombinant DNA technology is the first commercial health care product derived from this technology. Work on this product was initiated before there were federal guidelines for large-scale recombinant DNA work or commercial development of recombinant DNA products. The steps taken to facilitate acceptance of large-scale work and proof of the identity and safety of such a product are described. While basic studies in recombinant DNA technology will continue to have a profound impact on research in the life sciences, commercial applications may well be controlled by economic conditions and the availability of investment capital.     

The other frontiers of science

Frontiers of science are usually considered as those areas where the boundares of human knowledge are being pushed most vigorousl into the unknown. These are the intemal frontiers. But no less important are the external frontiers. Those bordering on the federal govermment, on education, on private industry and on intemational affairs and the developing world are among the most critical and demanding. Some of the outstanding problems facing science, and scientists in these extemal interactions, are discussed within the context of our changing national and international priorities.     

Research misconduct. Texas scientist admits falsifying results

A University of Texas (UT) immunologist has admitted to federal officials that he falsified research results over at least a 5-year period, leaving a trail of retracted papers and disgruntled collaborators. The scientist, who resigned and has been barred from receiving federal research grants, was found to have repeatedly duped colleagues by spiking test tubes with doses of a radioactive marker that produced positive results, according to detailed reports by UT and federal investigators.     

Four years of reagan science policy: notable shifts in priorities

Administration priorities for federal support of nondefense research and development emphasize basic research and the concomitant training of students. In 4 years basic research has moved from the smallest to the largest component in nondefense R & D expenditures, and basic research specifically to universities has grown by 26 percent in real terms during that period. New programs for fiscal year 1985 emphasize engineering education and research, as well as improved interactions between universities, federal laboratories, and industry.     

RESEARCH COSTS: Canada to Begin Funding Overhead on Projects

Last week federal Finance Minister Paul Martin announced a $268 million outlay for future equipment awards provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), a $1.3 billion entity created in 1997 to rejuvenate labs in universities and research hospitals. The money is the first direct federal outlay for overhead costs, which up to now have been met by a combination of provincial operating grants to universities and federal transfer payments for postsecondary education. School administrators say it meets a desperate need.     

Antagonistic Synergy: Process and Paradox in the Development of New Agricultural Antimicrobial Regulations

There is currently great controversy over the contribution antimicrobial use in animal agriculture has made to antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria with negative consequences for human health. In light of this, the approval process for antimicrobials used in US animal agriculture, known as New Animal Drug Application or NADA, is currently being revised by the federal government. We explore the public deliberations over the development of these new policies focusing our attention on the interaction between pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What appears to be an antagonistic public discourse is examined in terms of its ability to simultaneously legitimate the roles of the Food and Drug Administration as the official arbiter of policy on antimicrobial use in animal agriculture and as a protector of the public welfare, as well as the role of pharmaceutical companies as the producers of safe and effective products necessary for the protection of public well-being. Wesley R. Dean is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy at Texas A & M University. His PhD is in Sociology from the University of Alberta where he wrote a dissertation on the Canadian HIV-tainted blood scandal. He is currently engaged in research on USDA-CSREES National Integrated Food Safety Initiative, a project to systematically characterize antimicrobial decision-making in US animal agriculture. H. Morgan Scott earned a DVM from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Guelph. He is an assistant professor at Texas A&M University in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences. He is currently conducting epidemiological research on the transference of resistant genes from swine to human host populations and he is the principal investigator on the USDA-CSREES National Integrated Food Safety Initiative.     

谷胱甘肽（GSH）对牛卵母细胞体外受精胚胎发育的影响

［目的］研究谷胱甘肽（GSH）对牛体外受精胚胎发育的影响。［方法］通过对牛卵母细胞进行体外受精和受精卵体外培养，研究了谷胱甘肽（GSH）对牛胚胎体外发育的影响。［结果］添加谷胱甘肽组的桑囊率分别比对照组高3.34%和2.26%，囊胚发育率分别比对照组高4.57%和4.05%，但差异不显著（P〉0.05）。［结论］GSH在牛体外受精的胚胎发育过程中有一定的保护和促进作用。     

The process values of university research. A new research funding system is needed for federal support of the process values of university research

The process values of university research are important in the context of several significant social and economic trends in American life. These values are being taken into account in the design and administration of federal programs. Federal programs to support these values should be distinguished from programs to support the product values of research. Failure to distinguish between these two types of programs will lead to a further dilution of quality in programs designed to advance science as a legitimate end in itself. The scientific community can best protect its own interests by helping federal agencies and universities and colleges develop a funding system to support the process values of university research on a cooperative, regional basis.     

Another threat to fetal research

A bill introduced in the 97th Congress by Representative William Dannemeyer would prohibit the use of federal funds for experimentation on living fetuses except to insure the survival of the fetus or infant. Pro-life groups are supporting the bill; critics claim it is poorly worded, will prevent needed research, and is unnecessary because existing NIH regulations on fetal research are adequate.     

家畜体外受精技术研究进展

综述了家畜卵母细胞的采集和体外成熟培养,体外受精及胚胎培养的研究进展,指出了家畜体外受精技术存在的问题和发展前景。     

Federal funding in materials research

The performance of the 20 materials research laboratories (MRL's) at universities funded with institutional grants by the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration is evaluated in comparison with 15 other universities (non-MRL's) receiving individually funded projects for materials research. Performance is measured by peer review and citation frequency analysis of publications, subjective evaluation of research achievements and researcher reputation by a panel of experts, review of equipment purchases and utilization, and analysis of administrative costs. The study concludes that there are no significant differences between the MRL's and non-MRL's with respect to innovation, interdisciplinarity, utilization of specialized equipment, concentration of funding, rate of tumover, duration of research areas, and level of effort per research paper. The MRL's have a greater number of major achievements and attract researchers with higher reputations. The MRL's tend to emphasize experimental work, and in about 70 percent of the materials research areas sponsored by the National Science Foundation there is no overlap between the two groups. Institutional grants involve much less total (federal plus university) administrative cost per grant dollar than project grants.     

巴西生物安全立法与转基因作物的应用

巴西目前有37个转基因品种获准商业化,转基因性状包括除草剂抗性、昆虫和病毒抗性。《巴西生物安全法》对科研及市场产品研发过程中如何安全运用遗传工程技术建立了指导准则,该法设立了新的机构并让高校与政府机构参与共同制定生物安全指导方针、进行风险评估和行政监督。根据该法,巴西设立了"国家生物安全理事会"(CNBS),并重组了"国家生物安全技术委员会"(CTNBio)。CTNBio负责建立生物安全指导准则,并向所有从事转基因生物相关机构颁发"生物安全许可证"(CQB)。《生物安全法》将所有违反其准则的行为或不作为均视为违法。在注册与监督机构(OERF)确定制裁标准、规定罚金数额并提交给联邦政府后,即可对违法行为实施制裁。除此之外,巴西有关转基因生物的重要法规还有第8078号法,该条款赋予国内所有消费者知情权。依据该法律,巴西司法部建立了食品标识体系,规定人体食用或饲料用食品或食品成分若含有超过1%的转基因生物成分,必须在商品标签上注明并附转基因标志(正中间含有字母T的黄色三角形)。不可否认,在这部新的《生物安全法》颁布实施后,遗传工程技术在巴西农业中的应用呈现快速增长。毫无疑问,在各机构的协作参与下,生物安全立法框架中的法律、规定和指导准则联合作用,让投资者、科研工作者、公私营机构及其他所有巴西农业的利益相关者重拾信心。     

国内外土地利用／土地覆盖变化研究综述

土地利用／土地覆盖变化是目前全球变化研究的核心主题之一。它不仅影响到了人类生存与发展的自然基础,而且影响到地球生物化学圈层的结构、功能及地球系统能量与物质循环等方面。本文通过分析国内外土地利用／土地覆盖变化,以便为推动我国在土地利用和土地覆被变化领域研究工作的进展,促进我国土地利用变化研究工作与世界全球变化研究相衔接发挥积极作用。     

Federal funding of basic research: the red tape mill

Federal regulations and concerns about accountability for public funds have added greatly to the administrative burden associated with federal support of research at universities. Much of the added burden is viewed as unnecessary and counterproductive by the scientists and administrators who must bear the load. They feel that funds and effort intended for research are being diverted and wasted. The various types of costs are reviewed, including some thoughts as to their origin and estimates of their magnitude. Topics covered include project versus programmatic support, the indirect cost game, accountability, federal regulations, and the bureaucratic syndrome. There are no simple solutions, but several promising initiatives have been taken and more should be forthcoming.     

不同冷冻方法对牛体外胚胎ATP含量与ROS水平的影响

【目的】探讨冷冻保存对牛体外生产胚胎能量代谢、有氧代谢造成的影响。【方法】采用常规法或玻璃化法（open pulled straw,OPS法）冷冻保存牛体外受精（in vitro fertilization,IVF）囊胚和体细胞核移植（somatic cell nuclear transfer,SCNT）囊胚,利用ATP Bioluminescence Assay Kit HS II 和 GENMED ROS Assay Kit检测了冷冻-解冻后囊胚ATP含量和ROS水平。【结果】（1）IVF和SCNT囊胚OPS法冷冻-解冻后存活率（（93.25±5.17）%和（77.56±3.52）%）均显著高于常规冷冻法（（81.25±4.98）%和（49.41±2.24）%）（P＜0.05）;（2）IVF囊胚和SCNT囊胚OPS法冷冻-解冻后ATP含量（（0.63±0.05）和（0.33±0.02）pmol）均显著高于常规冷冻法（（0.45±0.03）和（0.22±0.01）pmol）（P＜0.05）;但是均显著低于相应的IVF或SCNT新鲜囊胚（（0.76±0.04）和（0.40±0.02）pmol）（P＜0.05）;（3）玻璃化冷冻IVF囊胚、SCNT囊胚ROS水平（（74.34±4.24）和（43.21±3.35）cps）高于新鲜IVF囊胚（（48.52±2.65）cps）、SCNT囊胚（（27.36±2.23）cps）（P＜0.05）,常规冷冻组则与此相反（（35.61±4.32）和（16.56±2.52）cps）（P＜0.05）。【结论】玻璃化冷冻较适用于牛IVF、SCNT囊胚冷冻保存;玻璃化冷冻和常规冷冻均显著影响牛IVF囊胚、SCNT囊胚中ATP含量和ROS水平。