Navigating interdisciplinary research:Historical progression and contemporary challenges

Interdisciplinary research plays a crucial role in addressing complex problems by integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines.This integration fosters innovative solutions and enhances understanding across various fields.This study explores the historical and sociological development of interdisciplinary research and maps its evolution through three distinct phases:pre-disciplinary,disciplinary,and post-disciplinary.It identifies key internal dynamics,such as disciplinary diversification,reorganization,and innovation,as primary drivers of this evolution.Additionally,this study highlights how external factors,particularly the urgency of World War II and the subsequent political and economic changes,have accelerated its advancement.The rise of interdisciplinary research has significantly reshaped traditional educational paradigms,promoting its integration across different educational levels.However,the inherent contradictions within interdisciplinary research present cognitive,emotional,and institutional challenges for researchers.Meanwhile,finding a balance between the breadth and depth of knowledge remains a critical challenge in interdisciplinary education.

Developing phase of China's system of nature reserves in perspective

Up until 2009, 2541 nature reserves had been established in China. However, the process of developing this system of nature reserves was not quite smooth. Various kinds of information related to nature reserves, such as annual growth, the type of nature reserves established, motives behind building a nature reserve, legal instructions and the constitution of government sectors, were collected and analyzed in order to highlight the characteristics of the development of our nature reserve system. As a result, we identify three phases and their characteristics, i.e., the initial phase from 1956 to 1978, the establishment phase from 1979 to 1996 and the management standardization phase from 1997 to 2009, could be clearly identified. It is suggested that since the establishment of this comprehensive structural framework in China, the system should be entering a new developing phase. We recommend that more attentions should be paid on how to guarantee effective management and how nature reserves are able to maintain their value and fulfill their objectives in the future.

Transforming Molecules into Medicines: Role of CDMOS in Phase-Appropriate Technology Transfers in Advancing Pharmaceutical Innovation

CDMOs are emerging as critical drivers of innovation within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see CDMOs play an increasingly important role in drug development and manufacturing. Many companies within these sectors are now leveraging the expertise of CDMOs through technology transfers to foster innovation and enhance the development of new drug products. In the extensive field of drug development, technology transfer plays a crucial role at multiple stages, ranging from preclinical phases to commercialization. By working closely with drug developers, CDMOs can ensure that technologies are transferred seamlessly between phases of drug development, allowing for a more efficient and cost-effective development process. CDMOs also bring a wealth of experience in various areas of drug development, including process development, analytical testing, quality control, and manufacturing. This expertise, combined with a focus on innovation, can help drug developers to overcome technical challenges and optimize their drug development programs. CDMOs can provide drug developers with various manufacturing capabilities, from small-scale clinical trials to large-scale commercial production. This flexibility allows drug developers to focus on their core competencies while relying on CDMOs to provide the necessary infrastructure and support for drug manufacturing. The critical role of CDMOs in advancing pharmaceutical innovation in phase-appropriate technology transfer where there will be a lot of effort and patience with strong technical expertise is required. This article explores the various types of Technology transfer from preclinical to commercial stages and successful strategies to foster innovation.

Stand structure, phenology and litterfall dynamics of a subtropical mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza

We evaluated the phenology and litterfall dynamics of the mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza（L.）Lamk along the Okukubi River, Okinawa Island, Japan.Over 3 years, this species showed the highest litterfall of leaves and stipules in summer and the lowest litterfall in winter. From Kendall＇s coefficient of concordance, the monthly changes in leaf, stipule, and branch were strongly and significantly concordant among years. Leaf and stipule litterfall could be governed by monthly maximum wind speed, monthly day length, and monthly mean air temperature. Branch litterfall depended on monthly maximum wind speed and monthly rainfall, and increased exponentially with increasing monthly maximum wind speed. Mean total litterfall was 11.8 Mg ha^（-1）yr^（-1）, with the largest component being leaf litterfall（65.8 %）. Annual leaf litterfall per plot was almost constant regardless of the tree density of the plot. Mean leaf longevity was 18 months.Flower and mature propagule litterfall might be influenced by monthly mean air temperature, monthly day length and monthly mean air temperature. The average development periods from flower buds to flowers and flower buds to mature propagules were 1 and 8 months, respectively.Except for leaf and branch, all vegetative and reproductive organ litterfall had clear annual cycles. B. gymnorrhiza showed a positive correlation between leaf production and reproductive organ production.

Periodical Development Trend of Vertical Greening

The research reviewed the development trend of vertical greening industry and divided it into four stages as follows： demand exploring phase, theory and technology development and application phases, and ripening phase of vertical greening system. The characteristics in different phases were detailed, providing ref- erences for development of vertical greening industry in future.

Is it time to rethink the Alzheimer's disease drug development strategy by targeting its silent phase?

Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） is the most frequent cause of dementia in the western world. In clinical terms, AD is characterized by progres- sive cognitive decline that usually begins with memory impairment. As the disease progresses, AD inevitably affects all intellectual functions including executive functions, leading to complete dependence for basic activities of daily life and premature death.

The 2022 record-breaking high temperature in China:Sub-seasonal stepwise enhanced characteristics,possible causes and its predictability

In the summer of 2022,an unprecedented and long-lasting high temperature swept central-eastern China,causing significant societal effects.However,the sub-seasonal characteristics,causes and predictability of this extreme high temperature event are not well explored.Based on the locations,intensities and causes of the high temperature,we divided it into three stages:early(13 June-3 July),sustained(4-28 July),and enhancement(29 July-30 August)stages.The high temperature during the early stage mainly occurred in north-central China with an anomaly of 2.5℃compared with climatology(1981-2010),while the last two stages occurred in the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin with anomalies of 2.8 and 3.8℃respectively.The high temperature during the three stages were all regulated by the strengthening and westward extension of the western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH)but involved different physical process.In the early stage,it was mainly caused by the anticyclones over the Mongolia and Northwest Pacific and enhanced by the minor impact of WPSH.In the sustained stage it was influenced by relatively more stronger WPSH and South Asia high(SAH)and the relatively minor impact of the anticyclone over the north-western South Asia.In the enhancement stage,the high temperature was mainly caused by a combination of the record-breaking WPSH and SAH and the strong European blocking high.Inside,the exceptionally powerful WPSH was well correlated with the sea surface temperature gradient induced by the developing La Niña.The ECMWF and NCEP models reasonably predicted the location and intensity of the high temperature in the early stage,but poorly predicted that in the sustained and enhancement stages partly because of the failure prediction of the WPSH's enhancement and westward extension.The ECMWF model's more accurate prediction of the WPSH may contribute to its better forecasting of the heatwaves.