生命科学研究前沿的若干问题

当今的生命科学研究可归纳为 3类 8个生命科学发展研究前沿问题 ,通过对这些问题的讨论 ,使研究者全面了解整个生命科学研究现状 ,明确今后发展研究方向和目的     

Microgravity materials and life sciences research applications of digital holography

We investigate the utility of digital holographic interferometry for analyzing gravity-dependent mass transport phenomena as applicable to materials and life science research topics. Digital holography is useful for measurement of parameters that introduce phase changes in light traversing the material of interest, such as temperature or concentration variations in an aqueous environment. We have constructed, tested, and verified a compact, portable digital holographic monitor (DHM) suitable for characterization of transparent samples. It has proved useful for the study of systems such as protein crystal growth solutions and has been proposed for further application into studies involving microbial metabolism. The DHM is also sufficiently rugged for field operation in challenging environments a s may be encountered in a spacecraft or industrial setting. We discuss some system capabilities and limitations.     

Authorship patterns in life sciences,preclinical basic and clinical research papers

The present paper examines the multiple authorship in research papers in biomedical sciences from the more basic aspects to clinically oriented research. Seventeen journals were chosen for analysis — nine from the general and life sciences categories and eight from medical sciences group with clinical orientation. All these were high impact journals as per the Science Citation Index and come in the top ten journals in their respective desciplines. The average authors/paper was significantly higher (P<0.001) in medical journals –4.299 (range 3.21–5.35) as compared to general biomedical journals –3.298 (range 3.21–5.35). Data from highly cited papers (1961–78) also indicate that papers in clinical sciences have higher average authors (2.71) as compared to preclinical basic research (2.25: P<0.26) and more basic research areas like biochemistry and molecular biology (2.208; P<0.02). The team size in research in clinical subjects is therefore appreciably larger as compared to basic biomedical sciences. Also the general and biomedical sciences articles were relatively longer (average 7.75 pages; range 2.69–10.07) as compared to medical papers with a clinical orientation (avarage 4.24 pages; range 1.80–12.92; P<0.001).     

Compact laser light-scattering instrument for microgravity research

NASA has developed a compact laser light-scattering instrument that employs both static and dynamic light-scattering techniques for microgravity research. The first use of this instrument was to study the behavior of colloidal hard spheres in a reduced gravity environment during the Second United States Microgravity Laboratory space shuttle mission. We discuss the instrument design and possible improvements based on our observations of significant differences between hard-sphere behavior in Earth's gravity and microgravity.     

Life sciences research in Venezuela

The development, current status and dynamics of research in biology related domains in Venezuela is examined through the study of demographic, academic distribution, scientific output and productivity, for two sets of investigators that fit a profile outlined for life sciences researchers or scientists. The first group corresponds to biologists extracted from the ranks of the official Program for the Promotion of Researchers (PPI), the other, pulled out from those that publish in biologically oriented journals, indexed by the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI). Both sets of biology scientists, PPI researchers or Web of Science/ISI scientists, show similar characteristics. The number (absolute and relative) of PPI member that are supposedly dedicated to biological research but do not publish in ISI indexed journals was found to be very similar to the number of supposedly non biologist members of the PPI Program that do publish biological articles in ISI indexed journals. There is also an ongoing feminization process, of academic hierarchies. Female biologists predominate in lower academic ranks and in research cadres, as many as 70% in some areas of biology. This contrasts with the pattern of male predominance observed during the second half of twentieth century in the country. Productivity of Venezuelan biologists seems to depend on gender; men are more productive that their female counterparts. From the bibliometric standpoint, it is found that, on average, 30% of all publications produced in the country are related to biology (or life sciences). The Venezuelan biologists network qualifies neither as a ‘Small World’ nor it follows the ‘Scale Free’ model. Finally, in a country rich in renewable natural resources, it seems that the Venezuelan community of researchers in biology is in decline, despite the fact that they constitute its most productive group of investigators.     

Research activities in life sciences in Japan

The purpose of this survey is to study the present state and an evaluation of research activities in the field of life sciences in Japan. Based on the 5,107 papers from Japan in 1989 CD-ROM ofExcerpta Medica, a quantitative analysis to determine the present state of research activities in life sciences was conducted. There were 7 journals in which more than 50 papers by Japanese authors were published.Brain Research stood first. The ranking list of contributed papers demonstrates a preference of Japanese researchers' interest in international journals from commerical publishers rather than in society journals for the publication of their papers overseas. In view of the number of papers and the paper output per head, research activities of organizations were evaluated. The three national medical schools in Kyushu, Osaka, and Kyoto hold ranked high. A comparison between national medical schools and private medical schools shows that the former have higher productivities. Private medical schools were generally inactive, and they emphasized clinical activities more than research activites.     

Multipurpose facility for opticophysical research in wind tunnels

The results of studies in the design and fabrication of a major opticophysical facility for the new TsAGI (Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute) wind tunnels are briefly summarized together with examples of its application in the solution of presentday aerodynamic and aeroacoustical problems.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 9, pp. 49–53, September, 1994.     

First-principles quantum chemistry in the life sciences

The area of computational quantum chemistry, which applies the principles of quantum mechanics to molecular and condensed systems, has developed drastically over the last decades, due to both increased computer power and the efficient implementation of quantum chemical methods in readily available computer programs. Because of this, accurate computational techniques can now be applied to much larger systems than before, bringing the area of biochemistry within the scope of electronic-structure quantum chemical methods. The rapid pace of progress of quantum chemistry makes it a very exciting research field; calculations that are too computationally expensive today may be feasible in a few months' time! This article reviews the current application of 'first-principles' quantum chemistry in biochemical and life sciences research, and discusses its future potential. The current capability of first-principles quantum chemistry is illustrated in a brief examination of computational studies on neurotransmitters, helical peptides, and DNA complexes.     

The geographic distribution of Mexican health sciences research

The distribution of Mexican health science publications according to the states of origin, institutions, main cities has been measured in four main health science bibliographic databases. The results showed that Mexican health sciences research activities are highly skewed.     

Measuring institutional research productivity for the life sciences: the importance of accounting for the order of authors in the byline

Accurate measurement of institutional research productivity should account for the real contribution of the research staff to the output produced in collaboration with other organizations. In the framework of bibliometric measurement, this implies accounting for both the number of co-authors and each individual’s real contribution to scientific publications. Common practice in the life sciences is to indicate such contribution through the order of author names in the byline. In this work, we measure the distortion introduced to university-level bibliometric productivity rankings when the number of co-authors or their position in the byline is ignored. The field of observation consists of all Italian universities active in the life sciences (Biology and Medicine). The analysis is based on the research output of the university staff over the period 2004–2008. Based on the results, we recommend against the use of bibliometric indicators that ignore co-authorship and real contribution of each author to research outputs.     

Vital signs for basic research in the behavioral and social sciences

Notably missing fromScience Indicators are output measures of the status of basic research in the behavioral and social sciences. Two such measures are suggested. Citation indexes appear to yield estimates of quality as well as productivity that are comparable to peer judgments in various fields of science. A variety of measures of employment of scientific personnel may indicate the growth or decline of scientific activity in specific fields.     

Generating process of emerging topics in the life sciences

Scientometrics - Clarifying the mechanism of how emerging topics in science and technology research fields are generated is useful for both researchers and agencies to identify potential emerging...     

Aquacells — Flagellates under long-term microgravity and potential usage for life support systems

The motile behavior of the unicellular photosynthetic flagellate Euglena gracilis was studied during a two-week mission on the Russian satellite Foton M2. The precision of gravitactic orientation was high before launch and, as expected, the cells were unoriented during microgravity. While after previous short-term TEXUS flights the precision of orientation was as high as before launch, it took several hours for the organisms to regain their gravitaxis. Also the percentage of motile cells and the swimming velocity of the remaining motile cells were considerably lower than in the ground control. In preparatory experiments the flagellate Euglena was shown to produce considerable amounts of photosynthetically generated oxygen. In a coupling experiment in a prototype for a planned space mission on Foton M3, the photosynthetic producers were shown to supply sufficient amounts of oxygen to a fish compartment with 35 larval cichlids, Oreochromis mossambicus.     

Artificial intelligence adoption in the physical sciences,natural sciences,life sciences,social sciences and the arts and humanities: A bibliometric analysis of research publications from 1960-2021

Analysing historical patterns of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption can inform decisions about AI capability uplift, but research to date has provided a limited view of AI adoption across different fields of research. In this study we examine worldwide adoption of AI technology within 333 fields of research during 1960–2021. We do this by using bibliometric analysis with 137 million peer-reviewed publications captured in The Lens database. We define AI using a list of 214 phrases developed by expert working groups at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). We found that 3.1 million of the 137 million peer-reviewed research publications during the entire period were AI-related, with a surge in AI adoption across practically all research fields (physical science, natural science, life science, social science and the arts and humanities) in recent years. The diffusion of AI beyond computer science was early, rapid and widespread. In 1960 14% of 333 research fields were related to AI (many in computer science), but this increased to cover over half of all research fields by 1972, over 80% by 1986 and over 98% in current times. We note AI has experienced boom-bust cycles historically; the AI “springs” and “winters”. We conclude that the context of the current surge appears different, and that interdisciplinary AI application is likely to be sustained.     

Indicators of basic research in the physical sciences

Information on basic research in the physical sciences is not readily available inScience Indicators — 1976, but it can be synthesized from many chapters of the report. The indicators show that there has been a greater decline in real support by the federal government for the physical sciences than for engineering, the social sciences, or the life sciences. Additional information is needed on the response to this reduction in funding. The author concludes by calling for an accounting of the costs and benefits to basic research of reduced funding and suggests items which should be included in such an accounting.     

The impact of basic research in the social sciences: The case of education

Recent expert evaluations of the condition and funding of educational research in the USA assume that basic research in the social sciences is a crucial factor in increasing our understanding and ultimately improving the practice of education (see, for example, the 1977 report¹ of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Fundamental Research Relevant to Education). Past tests of this assumption, however, have generally relied upon argument by example or anecdote. In the present study, we analyze citation patterns in the education literature to test the corollary proposition that basic research in the social sciences has had a substantial impact on the literature in education. Empirical data collected on citation patterns in the education literature are found to be largely consistent with this proposition.     

Micro-instruments for life science research

Microsystem technology is rapidly becoming a key element in the development of advanced instrumentation for bioanalytical research. The use of microtechnology for the realization of complex instruments offers a reduction in required resources (e.g., volume, mass, and power), as well as an improved performance. Microfluidic components allow the precise and rapid handling of nanoliter volumes and chemical sensors permit high-speed measurement and control of environmental conditions. As these instruments usually operate with liquid samples, interfacing the microfabricated components to the entire system presents a major challenge. A hybrid solution that merges silicon technology with classical fine mechanical machining is most suited. As an example, a miniature bioreactor that has been used aboard Spacelab is described. It is shown that this technology now has reached a certain maturity that enables instrument performance far superior to what would be achievable with conventional methods