Narrow Results

With the rapid urbanization worldwide and ever-increasing impacts of human activities since at least 200 years ago, we are now facing a harsh situation of our biosphere. Building a global-level network model on ecological systems is of great importance, which would be able to provide us predictive and quantitative responses to human activities, leading to viable suggestions to policymakers. In this paper, we propose a multi-layer model for the global ecological network, where a number of local networks are connected via long-range interactions associated with migrant species, which can be induced by human activities or natural migration of wildlife, and each local network is generated by a trophic-level-based stochastic model. Predator–prey dynamics is described by a networked Lotka–Volterra model that accounts for the self-suppression effects on basal species, and the negative feedback loops. Impacts of human activities are modeled by investigating the quantitative changes of biodiversity under certain protecting strategies. We reveal that the global ecological network is organized in a clustered small-world manner, with in-degree distribution more heterogeneous than out-degree distribution. Protecting endangered species, popular preys and predicted-to-be-extinct species is more effective than randomly selected species or influential predators. Protecting after entering the fast extinction stage is more effective than at the beginning for some high trophic level species.

Global biodiversity loss and its consequences for human welfare and sustainable development have become major concerns. Economists have, therefore, given increasing attention to the policy issues involved in the management of genetic resources. To do so, they often apply empirical methods developed in behavioral and experimental economics to estimate economic values placed on genetic resources. This trend away from almost exclusive dependence on axiomatic methods is welcomed. However, major valuation methods used in behavioral economics raise new scientific challenges. Possibly the most important of these include deficiencies in the knowledge of the public (and researchers) about genetic resources, implications for the formation of values of supplying information to focal individuals, and limits to rationality.

These issues are explored for stated-preference techniques of valuation (e.g., contingent valuation) as well as revealed preference techniques, especially the travel cost method. They are illustrated by Australian and Asian examples. Taking into account behavioral and psychological models and empirical evidence, particular attention is given to how elicitation of preferences, and supply of information to individuals, influences their preferences about biodiversity. Policy consequences are outlined.

The precautionary principle was included in 1992 in the Rio Declaration and is part of important international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. Yet, it is not a straight-forward guide for environmental policy because many interpretations are possible as shown in this paper. Its different economic versions can result in conflicting policy recommendations about resource conservation. The principle does not always favor (natural) resource conservation (e.g., biodiversity conservation) although it has been adopted politically on the assumption it does. The principle's consequences are explored for biodiversity conservation when the introduction of new genotypes is possible.

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem integrated in the human body. Its relevance in the host’s health is by now well established. For this reason, several studies are currently focusing their attention on its composition and ecological properties. Among such properties, biodiversity is indeed a key one, being an indicator of the health of an ecosystem. Despite that, the choice of the optimal metric to measure biodiversity in an effective way is still a matter of debate. Here, we discuss the main approaches proposed for this purpose, considering both classical statistical indices and model-based ones. We describe the relevance of the Relative Species Abundance distribution and the main probabilistic and ecological models that have been used to fit it. Finally, we report results obtained on the gut microbiota of three groups of subjects for which differences are expected: healthy Italian adults, Down Syndrome Italian adults, and Tanzanian Hadza hunter-gathers. Our results show the utility of considering a hybrid niche-neutral model to evaluate the biodiversity of this meaningful ecosystem.

Both the weighted entropy, which generalizes the Shannon entropy, and the weighted quadratic index, which generalizes the Gini-Simpson index, are used for getting a unified treatment of some diversity measures proposed recently in ecology. The weights may reflect the ecological importance, rarity, or economic value of the species from a given habitat. The weighted measures, being concave functions, may be used in the additive partition of diversity. The weighted quadratic index has a special advantage over the weighted entropy because its maximum value has a simple analytical formula which allows us to introduce a normed measure of dissimilarity between habitats. A special case of weighted quadratic index is the Rich-Gini-Simpson index which, unlike the Shannon entropy and the classic Gini-Simpson index, behaves well when the number of species is very large. The weighted entropy and the weighted quadratic index may also be used to measure the global diversity among the subsets of species. In this context, Rao's quadratic index of diversity between the pairs of species, based on the phylogenetic distance between species, is obtained as a particular case and is generalized to measure the diversity among the triads of species as well.

The article is about the legal framework, intellectual property aspects and biosafety committees in India. It touches on the roles and responsibilities of the biosafety committees as well as the government's stand on intellectual property.

Australia's Biodiversity Crisis – For all of Australia's weird and different organisms, the richness of the country's biodiversity has never been under greater threat.

A Life Devoted to Botany – APBN speaks to the executive director of Sydney's Botanic Gardens Trust, Dr Tim Entwisle, about his passion for plant life and the challenges facing botany.

Saving the Shark – There are less than 500 Grey Nurse Sharks off Australia's coasts and this species is in danger of slipping into extinction.

Who's Who – William Burns tells APBN about the latest ongoings at top Australian research center, the Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine.

Trading Currency – Treat flora and fauna as economic currency to prevent their deterioration, says Australia 21.

The Wark™: At the Interface of Nano and Bio-materials.

Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre.

Pressing On – Scientists at Sydney's Centenary Institute are working to improve health outcomes for the community at large.

Redrawing the Map – Donald Hobern takes a look at the challenges of managing biodiversity data.

Fostering the Good Drop – Businesses like Foster's Wine Estates show that they can thrive while committing themselves to stronger conservation standards.

Biodiversity Conservation is Everyone's Business.

Search for ASEAN Champions of Biodiversity is On.

Drug Companies Reduce Prices of Medicines.

SWS: Make Health A Priority, Filipinos Ask Next Leaders.

New Vein Harvesting Technology.

Mobile Health Records in Malaysia.

Faster, Accurately Targeted Radiation Cancer Patients.

SingHealth Selects IBM and SAP To Transform HR Processes.

Biotechnology unveils secrets of Chinese medicine.

Climate change a mixed blessing for wheat, say experts.

NTOU identified germ cells and somatic cells in coral bodies for the first time in the world.

Researchers tabulate disturbing changes and disappearance in biodiversity in Southern Taiwan coral reefs over last 26 years.

NCKU research team discovers new complex in treating cancer.

Chinese scientists successfully crack the genome of diploid cotton.

Taiwan's healthcare market boosted by aging population.

Researchers develop mouse model of common motor neuron disease pinpointing TDP-43 protein as likely cause.

INDIA — Asianhhm.com introduces innovative print and digital advertising solutions.

INDONESIA — IMCD acquires leading Indonesian food ingredients distributor Alam Subur.

JAPAN — VITAL Corporation to distribute Imagine Eyes' rtx1™ Adaptive Optics Retinal Camera in Japan.

SINGAPORE — Global threat of multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis.

SINGAPORE — APAC breeding ground for Anti-bacterial household product innovation.

AUSTRALIA — In defence of the humble ant, champion of biodiversity.

AUSTRALIA — Senz Oncology initiates VAL-1000 clinical trial in patients with acute leukemias.

AUSTRALIA — ABRAXANE^® demonstrates significant improvement in advanced melanoma patients.

AUSTRALIA — Alzheimer's, cancer and rare disease research to benefit from landmark MRC-AstraZeneca compound collaboration.

AUSTRALIA — Nine Sydney researchers to receive funding for biomedical research projects.

AMERICAS — How blind mole rats keep cancer at bay.

AMERICAS — No assembly required for new micro particles.

AMERICAS — Caribbean sardine collapse linked to climate change.

EUROPE — Radioembolization using sir-spheres significantly improves overall survival for patients with inoperable colorectal cancer.

NCKU researcher develops new use of reservoir sediment.

WILEX Inc. and GeneDiagnostics Inc. enter into partnership for the IVD approval and distribution of the serum HER-2/neu test.

Celsion Corporation and Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Company enter into technology development agreement for ThermoDox® for the Greater China Territory.

SFDA grants approval for clinical studies to benapenem.

UroFlex now CE-marked; Chinese SFDA approval for Cellvizio.

China National Genebank and Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History collaborate on biobanking to advance biodiversity research.

New analytical method for uleine alkaloids having anticancer activity.

Zhifei Biological's vaccine approved for clinical test.

EntreMed files new drug clinical trial application for ENMD-2076 with China SFDA to advance global development strategy.

INDIA – South Asia waters harbor drug-resistant bugs.

JAPAN – Daiichi Sankyo initiates phase 3 ENSURE-AF study, investigating patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardioversion.

SINGAPORE – Scientists discover a number of novel genetic defects which cause esophageal cancer.

SINGAPORE – NUS researchers develop world's first fluorescent sensor to detect common illicit date rape drug.

SINGAPORE – Genome Institute of Singapore partners Nutricia Research to investigate human gut microbiome.

SINGAPORE – Singapore-developed drug coated balloon enrolls its first patients in clinical study.

THE PHILIPPINES – Biodiversity loss linked to outbreaks of diseases.

VIETNAM – Mosquito genes could be key to halting dengue spread.

EUROPE – Curetis obtains key patent for Unyvero™ technology.

NEPAL – Fly ash waste used as water purifier.

UNITED STATES – Researchers discover genetic markers that may predict when people with heart disease are likely to have heart attacks.

UNITED STATES – Celluar ‘counting’ of rhythmic signals synchronizes changes in cell fate.

UNITED STATES – Potential lung cancer vaccine shows renewed promise.

UNITED STATES – Shrink wrap used to enhance detection of infectious disease biomarkers.

UNITED STATES – Triple negative breast cancer's progression and relapse pinned to a gene.

UNITED STATES – Seaweed forests could help power tropical islands.

Singapore-Based AAMG To Lead Project Management to Establish Zhuhai-Singapore Life Science Park which will offer World-Class Health & Medical Services in Southern China

Boston Therapeutics’ Hong Kong Affiliate Advance Pharmaceutical’s BTI-320 Clinical Trial Reaches Mid-Point by Enrolling 30 Patients at the Chinese University of Hong Kong

China Green Agriculture’s Online Sales Platform Begins Operations

Mixed-species Flocks Important for Biodiversity Conservation in Tropics

LICP Designs Hydrogels with Extraordinary Mechanical Properties and Good Self-recovery

AstraZeneca and Ironwood Report Positive Top-Line Data from Phase III IBS-C Trial Designed to Support Linaclotide Approval in China

GE to Build Wind Education Centre in China

Chinese Scientists Edit Genes to Produce Artificial Sperm Capable of Creating “army of half-cloned mice”

Brain ‘switch’ can Turn off Drug Addiction, Say Shanghai Scientists

Mindray Medical Completes Acquisition of Wuhan Dragonbio

China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. Announces Formation of Special Committee to Consider “Going Private” Proposal

BioNano Genomics Announces Addition of Gene Company as China Mainland and HK/Macau Distributor

Novel Imaging Technology REFI takes Clinicians closer to detecting Stage 0 Tumour Lesions

The International Peptide Symposium Held in Singapore for the First Time.

Inspirations from 2015 FWIS L'Oréal Winners.

Emerging Opportunities in Myanmar's Diagnostic Imaging and In Vitro Diagnostics.

Infinitus Establishes Three Additional Scientific Research Platforms to Facilitate Its Product Innovation.

BGI Partners with NRGene to Provide Broadest Genomic Analysis Available.

CHINA AID - A Platform for Chinese Senior Care Industry.

Modern Biotechnological Tools Contribute to Biodiversity Conservation.

Older Adults Use Brain Regions Involved in Speaking to Compensate for Bad Hearing.

Chinese Scientists Discover Molecules to Repair Organs.

CAS Sits Atop of Nature Index 2016 Rising Star List.

Chinese Researchers to Develop 3D Skin Printing Technology.

Varian Chosen to Equip First Government Owned Proton Centre in China.

HONG KONG NEWS – Amgen Launches Commercial Office in Hong Kong.

One Step Closer to Predicting Cancer Risk.

China Reveals Plans for National Lab System.

CSA Group Grants Philips Suzhou its First CPC Laboratory Qualification in China.

China-Myanmar Established Biodiversity Research Institute Unveiled in Nay Pyi Taw.

Athenex and Beijing Sciecure Pharmaceutical Announce Binding Agreement to Launch and Market Five Injectable Pharmaceutical Products in North America.

MicuRx Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Trial for MRX-I, A New Potent Oral Antibiotic Against Gram-positive Bacteria, Including MRSA.

WuXi AppTec Receives Inaugural "Company of the Year" Award from BayHelix.

The US FDA Granted Orphan Drug Designation to Yisheng Biopharma's Biological Product for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

China Promotes Sci-Tech Cooperation Along Belt and Road.

Infinitus launches Joint Laboratory for the Research of Modern Preparation Technology with Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

WuXi NextCODE Selected as Genomics Platform for Singapore Precision Medicine Effort.

Chinese Scientists Reveal Why Giant Pandas and Red Pandas Evolve to Eat Bamboo.

Two Scientists Share China’s Top Science Award.

Vice Premier Liu Urged to Accelerate Innovation-driven Development in China.

New Study Analyses Biggest Threats to Southeast Asian Biodiversity.

Mercury Pollution May Worsen with Melting Glaciers.

Water Tower of Central Asia Keeps Shrinking.

China Donates Mobile Clinics to Kenya.

Global Exchange Program Looks to Spur Scientific Collaboration.

China Establishes Technological Cooperation with 158 Countries.

Scientists Discover Molecular Mechanism of Cancer Cell Metastasis in Melanoma.

HONG KONG NEWS – OrbusNeich Expands Portfolio with a Next Generation Coronary Scoring Balloon.

The symbiosis between corals and Symbiodinium dinoflagellates is considered a major driver of the distribution and health of reefs worldwide. This study investigated the genetic identities and diversity of Symbiodinium in seven coral species (Porites lutea, Porites lobata, Acropora millepora, Merulina ampliata, Diploastrea heliopora, Pachyseris speciosa, Pocillopora acuta) from three shallow reefs around Singapore (Kusu Island, Pulau Tekukor, Pulau Satumu). Analyses of 31 colonies using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region indicated the dominance of C and D Symbiodinium clades. The latter clade was the predominant symbiont in Pachyseris speciosa collected from Pulau Tekukor but those sampled from Pulau Satumu hosted C27, providing evidence for variable symbiosis in this species. The prevalence of the D clade – noted for their stress tolerance (e.g. to elevated temperatures and sedimentation) – in three of seven coral species examined could underlie the importance of this particular symbiotic relationship for the persistence of Singapore’s impacted reefs. Further characterisation of Symbiodinium communities may provide insights into corals’ response to stress and their bleaching patterns in the future.

Metagenomics is the collective sequencing of co-existing microbial communities which are ubiquitous across various clinical and ecological environments. Due to the large volume and random short sequences (reads) obtained from community sequences, analysis of diversity, abundance and functions of different organisms within these communities are challenging tasks. We present a fast and scalable clustering algorithm for analyzing large-scale metagenome sequence data. Our approach achieves efficiency by partitioning the large number of sequence reads into groups (called canopies) using hashing. These canopies are then refined by using state-of-the-art sequence clustering algorithms. This canopy-clustering (CC) algorithm can be used as a pre-processing phase for computationally expensive clustering algorithms. We use and compare three hashing schemes for canopy construction with five popular and state-of-the-art sequence clustering methods. We evaluate our clustering algorithm on synthetic and real-world 16S and whole metagenome benchmarks. We demonstrate the ability of our proposed approach to determine meaningful Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) and observe significant speedup with regards to run time when compared to different clustering algorithms. We also make our source code publicly available on Github.^a

This paper provides an overview of the way biodiversity issues are dealt with in strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for spatial plans in the Netherlands. Spatial plans are selected as subject of study because 50 percent of all SEA studies executed in the Netherlands are carried out for spatial plans. Secondly, these plans provide an overarching framework for multiple interventions with potential impacts on biodiversity. It is, therefore, important to pay particular attention to biodiversity at the strategic level of a spatial plan. The evaluation is based on five spatial plans that have been subject to SEA, two national plans, two provincial plans and one local plan. Based on these assessments a number of conclusions are presented on the assessment of biodiversity in SEA for spatial plans in the Netherlands. The evaluation of case studies on which this paper is based was undertaken to produce a submission to the Convention on Biological Diversity for the drafting of international guidelines on biodiversity in SEA.