Genomic consequences of population decline in critically endangered pangolins and their demographic histories

Pangolins are among the most critically endangered animals due to heavy poaching and worldwide trafficking. However, their demographic histories and the genomic consequences of their recent population declines remain unknown. We generated high-quality de novo reference genomes for critically endangered Malayan (Manis javanica, MJ) and Chinese (M. pentadactyla, MP) pangolins and re-sequencing population genomic data from 74 MJs and 23 MPs. We recovered the population identities of illegally traded pangolins and previously unrecognized genetic populations that should be protected as evolutionarily distinct conservation units. Demographic reconstruction suggested environmental changes have resulted in a population size fluctuation of pangolins. Additionally, recent population size declines due to human activities have resulted in an increase in inbreeding and genetic load. Deleterious mutations were enriched in genes related to cancer/diseases and cholesterol homeostasis, which may have increased their susceptibility to diseases and decreased their survival potential to adapt to environmental changes and high-cholesterol diets. This comprehensive study provides not only high-quality pangolin reference genomes, but also valuable information concerning the driving factors of long-term population size fluctuations and the genomic impact of recent population size declines due to human activities, which is essential for pangolin conservation management and global action planning.     

论文化互动教育研究的价值取向、对象与方法

在联合国教科文组织大力推进文化互动教育走向国际化的进程中,愈来愈多的国家开始关注并积极助推文化互动教育的现代发展。纵观当前我国学界关于文化互动教育的研究成果,价值取向上,理论价值与实践价值并举;研究对象上,宏观、中观与微观相联结;研究方法上,时间—历史研究与空间—比较研究相互演进。然而,文化互动教育研究依然存在着理论研究的“薄弱化”、实践研究的“片段化”、综合研究的“浅表化”等问题。为此,今后的相关研究需要注重丰富更多视域的理论研究、畅显文化互动教育的具体实践研究、开展三观互联的综合性研究。     

Genomic diversity and post-admixture adaptation in the Uyghurs

Population admixture results in genome-wide combinations of genetic variants derived from different ancestral populations of distinct ancestry, thus providing a unique opportunity for understanding the genetic determinants of phenotypic variation in humans. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing of 92 individuals with high coverage (30–60×) to systematically investigate genomic diversity in the Uyghurs living in Xinjiang, China (XJU), an admixed population of both European-like and East-Asian-like ancestry. The XJU population shows greater genetic diversity, especially a higher proportion of rare variants, compared with their ancestral source populations, corresponding to greater phenotypic diversity of XJU. Admixture-induced functional variants in EDAR were associated with the diversity of facial morphology in XJU. Interestingly, the interaction of functional variants between SLC24A5 and OCA2 likely influences the diversity of skin pigmentation. Notably, selection has seemingly been relaxed or canceled in several genes with significantly biased ancestry, such as HERC2–OCA2. Moreover, signatures of post-admixture adaptation in XJU were identified, including genes related to metabolism (e.g. CYP2D6), digestion (e.g. COL11A1), olfactory perception (e.g. ANO2) and immunity (e.g. HLA). Our results demonstrated population admixture as a driving force, locally or globally, in shaping human genetic and phenotypic diversity as well as in adaptive evolution.     

我国区域高等教育资源配置差异性分析

区域经济发展的不平衡,使我国的高等教育在区域之间呈现较大的差异性。分析区域高等教育资源配置的差异性,指出其对区域经济社会发展所产生的影响,从政策、资源的利用及分配三个方面提出促进区域高等教育发展的策略。     

历史学术地理刍议——以20世纪80年代以来的历史学术地理研究为例

20多年来,在中国历史地理的研究中,关于学术相关问题的地理学研究取得了很多成果。在总结这些研究成果的基础上,对历史学术地理的内涵、研究对象及研究内容诸项进行分析、厘定及理论性的阐释,并因此建立完整的历史学术地理学术分支,已经成为可能。惟有如此,才能推动历史学术地理研究的进一步深入。     

Creating a more inclusive journal: the Journal of the Medical Library Association's evolving process for selecting editorial board members

The Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) selects new editorial board members every year. In the spring of 2021, JMLA used a new process for reviewing and selecting applicants for the limited number of open editorial board positions. This reevaluation of the selection process was spurred by a desire to create a more diverse and representative board. Changes to the procedures for selecting new editorial board members included having an open call for editorial board members, creating an application form, creating a selection committee to screen applicants, creating a form for the selection committee to extract data from applications, and creating a two-step process for screening and then selecting board members. As part of construction of this new process, areas for continued improvement were also identified, such as refining the application form to allow more specific answers to areas of interest to the selection committee. The newly created selection process for editorial board members constitutes a significant change in JMLA processes; however, more can be done to build on this work by further refining the selection process and ensuring that new members are selected in a transparent and streamlined manner.     

Understandings of national identity and outgroup attitudes in culturally diverse Mauritius

This study investigated understandings of national group belonging in relation to attitudes toward foreign and established outgroups in Mauritius. Representative data were collected among the three numerically largest ethno-cultural groups (Hindus, Muslims, and Creoles; N_total = 1770) and results confirmed a distinction between “being,” “doing,” and “feeling” Mauritian among all three groups, with some small differences for Creoles compared to Hindus and Muslims. Furthermore, “being” Mauritian was not significantly related to attitudes toward established and foreign outgroups. In contrast, the “doing” understanding was negatively associated with both attitudes, and the “feeling” understanding showed positive associations with both outgroup attitudes among all three participant groups. The findings make a novel contribution to the literature on how people understand national identity, how these understandings differ between ethno-cultural groups within a nation, and how these relate to attitudes toward foreign as well as established outgroups.     

Ethno-national boundaries in the construction of “dirty-work” occupational identity: The case of nursing care workers in diversified workplaces

Diversified domains, such as workplaces, are suitable social fields for the study of ethnic identities, because identities are constructed through comparison and negation, that is, by identifying what or who the “other” is. In the present study I explore the talk of hands-on nursing care work, a stigmatized occupational field, to illuminate ethnic identities and the strategic boundary work that care workers conduct. The study is based on 14 months of field work and 51 interviews and observations at two Israeli geriatric wards with highly diverse staff. I show that actors negotiate their care worker identity by the opposite strategies of making and unmaking ethno-national boundaries. The first strategy denies and erases ethno-national boundaries by stressing universal professional values and individual virtues; the second one demarcates boundaries between ethno-national groups, using perceived cultural differences. The discussion addresses these antithetical evaluation frameworks in relation to theories of boundary making and unmaking.     

美术教育让民族文化由"遗产"转向"资源"

在全球化的今天,要实现中华民族文化的繁荣,首先应客观了解我国民族文化形成过程中出现的多样性文化特点,实现文化自觉,坚定文化自信,才能真正激活民族性格中的文化基因。美术学科涉及中华民族物质文化与非物质文化的形态,从多样性文化的角度出发,通过引入图像学、艺术人类学等相关学科的专业知识与观察方法,将丰富的民族文化遗产实现当代文化资源的转变,在传承优秀民族文化的基础上拓展学生解决实际问题的创新能力,为美术学科实现社会价值提供更多样的思考。     

Coach humility and player creativity: The roles of knowledge sharing and group diversity

In this study, the authors examine how coach humility impacts creativity among the football players. The sample included players and their coaches from nonprofessional football clubs in Vietnam. Our data analyses supported the positive relationships between coach humility and player creativity via knowledge sharing as a mediator. Group diversity in terms of extroversion and openness to experience traits served as a moderator to fortify the effect of coach humility on knowledge sharing among the players.