Science and fate: Lina Stern (1878-1968), a neurophysiologist and biochemist

Lina Stern (1878-1968), a neurophysiologist and biochemist, was born in Russia. She studied at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where, after graduating, she conducted original research in physiology and biochemistry. In 1918, Stern was the first woman to be awarded a professional title at the University of Geneva and headed the department of Physiological Chemistry. She is deservedly considered to be one of the first scientists to entertain the concept of a blood-brain barrier. In 1929, Stern founded the Institute of Physiology in Moscow, of which she was director until 1948, when it was discontinued. Under her leadership, multidisciplinary groups of colleagues worked on the problems of the blood-brain and tissue-brain barriers and homeostasis of the brain. In 1939, Stern was elected full member of the Academy of Sciences and became its first female member ever. Most scientists manage to conduct their research by adjusting to the political and social situations surrounding them. Lina Stern did not follow this path. This small woman of complete devotion to science took the drastic decisions that altered her life. Though destiny was not kind to her, Lina Stern did not compromise. Despite a threat of execution, prolonged imprisonment, and exile she was never broken as a scientist and always maintained her dignity.     

1997-1999年史学评论状况评析

统计资料表明,近年来史学评论及其理论研究越来越受到史学界的重视,出现了学术书评建设、学风与学术规范建设、世纪末中国史学回顾等史学评论热潮.但从整体来看,史学评论在数量上还远远低于专业学术文章,在质量上则参差不齐,相当一部分评论学术质量不高;在史学评论学科与理论建设方面,则存在着明显不利于自身发展的思想倾向.因此,当代中国的史学评论尚不能真正实践其矫正史学发展方向和规范史学活动的学科目标,史学评论理论建设和学科建设依然任重而道远.     

Recent Work on Nordic Neo-Latin Literature (1997-2000)

Ancient Nubia—alias the Kingdom of Kush alias Aithiopia alias the Napatan and Meroitic empires—though as a Randgebiet in constant interchange, through Egypt, with the Mediterranean world, is still largely neglected by‐students of Ancient History. This need not be so; the present review article discusses six new books on Nubian civilization in antiquity and argues that ‘ the deficient integration of archaeological and textual evidence that has marred much of the modern interpretation of Nubian history is now beginning to be replaced by fruitful interdisciplinarity.     

杜勒斯与美国的琉球政策(1950-1951)

如何处理琉球群岛,是美国战后对日和约中需要解决的主要问题之一。1950年4月,杜勒斯被杜鲁门总统任命为国务卿顾问,负责对日和约问题。当时,美国政府内部特别是军方和国务院之间对此存在争论和分歧。杜勒斯因应美国遏制共产主义发展的亚洲政策主要目标,与美国政府内部各方、美国各盟国、苏联、日本等折冲博弈,基本上界定了琉球政策的框架。为满足各方需求,杜勒斯创造了“剩余主权”这一全新概念,通过《旧金山和约》确保了在联合国托管的名义下,美国对北纬29度以南的琉球群岛进行排他性战略控制。同时,杜勒斯主导了《美日安保条约》《美澳新安全条约》《美菲共同防御条约》的形成,初步构建了美国在亚太地区以琉球群岛军事基地为核心的防卫体系。