For cultural and traditional reasons, homosexuality is hardly a prominent issue in Chinese society. However, as a phenom- enon, homosexuality has a long history in human society, and the population of gay people is no...For cultural and traditional reasons, homosexuality is hardly a prominent issue in Chinese society. However, as a phenom- enon, homosexuality has a long history in human society, and the population of gay people is not negligible. On October 2, 2012, a special wedding in southeast China＇s Fujian Province provoked a 6restorm of debate on the legalization of gay and lesbian marriage. The cause of all this controversy is the gay couple, Lu Zhong, 24, and Liu Wanqiang, 20, who committed themselves to each other in a public wedding ceremony.展开更多
Sexual reproduction is prevalent in eukaryotic organisms and plays a critical role in the evolution of new traits and in the generation of genetic diversity.Environmental factors often have a direct impact on the occu...Sexual reproduction is prevalent in eukaryotic organisms and plays a critical role in the evolution of new traits and in the generation of genetic diversity.Environmental factors often have a direct impact on the occurrence and frequency of sexual reproduction in fungi.The regulatory effects of atmospheric relative humidity(RH)on sexual reproduction and pathogenesis in plant fungal pathogens and in soil fungi have been extensively investigated.However,the knowledge of how RH regulates the lifecycles of human fungal pathogens is limited.In this study,we report that low atmospheric RH promotes the development of mating projections and same-sex(homothallic)mating in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans.Low RH causes water loss in C.albicans cells,which results in osmotic stress and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)and trehalose.The water transporting aquaporin Aqy1,and the G-protein coupled receptor Gpr1 function as cell surface sensors of changes in atmospheric humidity.Perturbation of the trehalose metabolic pathway by inactivating trehalose synthase or trehalase promotes same-sex mating in C.albicans by increasing osmotic or ROS stresses,respectively.Intracellular trehalose and ROS signal the Hog1-osmotic and Hsf1-Hsp90 signaling pathways to regulate the mating response.We,therefore,propose that the cell surface sensors Aqy1 and Gpr1,intracellular trehalose and ROS,and the Hog1-osmotic and Hsf1-Hsp90 signaling pathways function coordinately to regulate sexual mating in response to low atmospheric RH conditions in C.albicans.展开更多
One of the major changes that has taken place over the past twenty to thirty years has been the extension of the legal recognition and protections for same-sex relationships in a wide range of countries. A number of j...One of the major changes that has taken place over the past twenty to thirty years has been the extension of the legal recognition and protections for same-sex relationships in a wide range of countries. A number of jurisdictions, including China, are considering the approach that they will adopt. This article seeks firstly to consider the justifications for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships by the state. Three main, compelling rationales are identified which are rooted in notions of the equality of all persons, the dignity and liberty of individuals to form close personal relationships, and the social benefits of recognizing close, personal relationships of same-sex couples. The second part of this article then turns to consider the maimer in which same-sex relationships should be recognized. Four models are identified： a ＂Partial Rights＂ model; a ＂Civil Partnerships＂ model; a ＂Marriage Equality＂ model, and a ＂Diversity of Relationships＂ model. Reasons for and against these particular models will be examined. In the conclusion, it shall be argued that the choice of model that has been adopted can be seen to depend on a number of factors： the manner in which equality is conceived in that society; the understanding of same-sex relationships therein, and the religious and cultural opposition to same-sex relationships in that society. The models are also not states of affairs that are fixed for all time and many countries have progressed from less extensive forms of recognition to wider recognition over time. Ultimately, it shall be argued that the rationales underlying the recognition of close personal relationships in the law support the ＂Marriage Equality＂ model or the ＂Diversity of Relationships＂ model. This article thus seeks to provide an understanding of the rationales and models for recognizing same-sex relationships that have been adopted around the world： Its focus is thus comparative but may, in this way, be useful to lawmakers and advocates for legal reform in this area in China and other jurisdictions around the world.展开更多
This paper examines early nineteenth century legal cases in which Qing jurists had to determine a just way to punish a male offender who had murdered a man in order to defend himself against rape. Earlier, in the eigh...This paper examines early nineteenth century legal cases in which Qing jurists had to determine a just way to punish a male offender who had murdered a man in order to defend himself against rape. Earlier, in the eighteenth century, jurists judging such cases exhibited considerable skepticism that same-sex rape had occurred. They regarded the claim of rape as an excuse offered by the murderer, demanded an extraordinary measure of proof that there had been a rape, and pun- ished the murderers harshly. But over time, as illustrated in model cases gathered together in the Xing＇an huilan ~lj~ or Conspectus of Punishment Cases, various officials pursuing their judicial responsibilities came to acknowledge a broader range of possible circumstances in which same-sex rape might have occurred and hence showed greater leniency to males who claimed to have tour- dered because they had been raped or judicial practice came to a climax in 1825 threatened with rape. This evolution in when the Court of Revision petitioned the Emperor to approve even greater leniency but the Board of Punishments refuted the argument.展开更多
文摘For cultural and traditional reasons, homosexuality is hardly a prominent issue in Chinese society. However, as a phenom- enon, homosexuality has a long history in human society, and the population of gay people is not negligible. On October 2, 2012, a special wedding in southeast China＇s Fujian Province provoked a 6restorm of debate on the legalization of gay and lesbian marriage. The cause of all this controversy is the gay couple, Lu Zhong, 24, and Liu Wanqiang, 20, who committed themselves to each other in a public wedding ceremony.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2300400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31930005 and 32170194)+2 种基金Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(HS2021SHZX001)supported by the National Institutes of Health(NIH)National Institute of General Medical Sciences(NIGMS)award R35GM124594by the Kamangar family in the form of an endowed chair to C.J.N.
文摘Sexual reproduction is prevalent in eukaryotic organisms and plays a critical role in the evolution of new traits and in the generation of genetic diversity.Environmental factors often have a direct impact on the occurrence and frequency of sexual reproduction in fungi.The regulatory effects of atmospheric relative humidity(RH)on sexual reproduction and pathogenesis in plant fungal pathogens and in soil fungi have been extensively investigated.However,the knowledge of how RH regulates the lifecycles of human fungal pathogens is limited.In this study,we report that low atmospheric RH promotes the development of mating projections and same-sex(homothallic)mating in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans.Low RH causes water loss in C.albicans cells,which results in osmotic stress and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)and trehalose.The water transporting aquaporin Aqy1,and the G-protein coupled receptor Gpr1 function as cell surface sensors of changes in atmospheric humidity.Perturbation of the trehalose metabolic pathway by inactivating trehalose synthase or trehalase promotes same-sex mating in C.albicans by increasing osmotic or ROS stresses,respectively.Intracellular trehalose and ROS signal the Hog1-osmotic and Hsf1-Hsp90 signaling pathways to regulate the mating response.We,therefore,propose that the cell surface sensors Aqy1 and Gpr1,intracellular trehalose and ROS,and the Hog1-osmotic and Hsf1-Hsp90 signaling pathways function coordinately to regulate sexual mating in response to low atmospheric RH conditions in C.albicans.
文摘One of the major changes that has taken place over the past twenty to thirty years has been the extension of the legal recognition and protections for same-sex relationships in a wide range of countries. A number of jurisdictions, including China, are considering the approach that they will adopt. This article seeks firstly to consider the justifications for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships by the state. Three main, compelling rationales are identified which are rooted in notions of the equality of all persons, the dignity and liberty of individuals to form close personal relationships, and the social benefits of recognizing close, personal relationships of same-sex couples. The second part of this article then turns to consider the maimer in which same-sex relationships should be recognized. Four models are identified： a ＂Partial Rights＂ model; a ＂Civil Partnerships＂ model; a ＂Marriage Equality＂ model, and a ＂Diversity of Relationships＂ model. Reasons for and against these particular models will be examined. In the conclusion, it shall be argued that the choice of model that has been adopted can be seen to depend on a number of factors： the manner in which equality is conceived in that society; the understanding of same-sex relationships therein, and the religious and cultural opposition to same-sex relationships in that society. The models are also not states of affairs that are fixed for all time and many countries have progressed from less extensive forms of recognition to wider recognition over time. Ultimately, it shall be argued that the rationales underlying the recognition of close personal relationships in the law support the ＂Marriage Equality＂ model or the ＂Diversity of Relationships＂ model. This article thus seeks to provide an understanding of the rationales and models for recognizing same-sex relationships that have been adopted around the world： Its focus is thus comparative but may, in this way, be useful to lawmakers and advocates for legal reform in this area in China and other jurisdictions around the world.
文摘This paper examines early nineteenth century legal cases in which Qing jurists had to determine a just way to punish a male offender who had murdered a man in order to defend himself against rape. Earlier, in the eighteenth century, jurists judging such cases exhibited considerable skepticism that same-sex rape had occurred. They regarded the claim of rape as an excuse offered by the murderer, demanded an extraordinary measure of proof that there had been a rape, and pun- ished the murderers harshly. But over time, as illustrated in model cases gathered together in the Xing＇an huilan ~lj~ or Conspectus of Punishment Cases, various officials pursuing their judicial responsibilities came to acknowledge a broader range of possible circumstances in which same-sex rape might have occurred and hence showed greater leniency to males who claimed to have tour- dered because they had been raped or judicial practice came to a climax in 1825 threatened with rape. This evolution in when the Court of Revision petitioned the Emperor to approve even greater leniency but the Board of Punishments refuted the argument.
