Burgeoning Area (burgeoning + area)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Life Sciences33%
Humanities and Social Sciences33%

Selected Abstracts

A compendium of human mitochondrial gene expression machinery with links to disease

ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 5 2010
Timothy E. Shutt
Abstract Mammalian mitochondrial DNA encodes 37 essential genes required for ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation, instability or misregulation of which is associated with human diseases and aging. Other than the mtDNA-encoded RNA species (13 mRNAs, 12S and 16S rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs), the remaining factors needed for mitochondrial gene expression (i.e., transcription, RNA processing/modification, and translation), including a dedicated set of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, are products of nuclear genes that are imported into the mitochondrial matrix. Herein, we inventory the human mitochondrial gene expression machinery, and, while doing so, we highlight specific associations of these regulatory factors with human disease. Major new breakthroughs have been made recently in this burgeoning area that set the stage for exciting future studies on the key outstanding issue of how mitochondrial gene expression is regulated differentially in vivo. This should promote a greater understanding of why mtDNA mutations and dysfunction cause the complex and tissue-specific pathology characteristic of mitochondrial disease states and how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to more common human pathology and aging. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

New directions and interactions in metagenomics research

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Naomi Ward
Abstract Metagenomics, which aims to access the genomic potential of an environmental sample directly, is a burgeoning area that is generating enormous amounts of biological information. An examination of recent metagenomics literature reveals the discipline to be heading in new and interesting directions, including the investigation of the normal flora of mammals, analysis of ancient genomes, and exploration of the distribution of novel pathways. In addition, the development of new bioinformatics approaches and tools is allowing innovative mining of both existing and new data. Finally, there are indications that the integration of metagenomics with complementary approaches in microbial ecology is beginning. [source]

What some recent research tells us about planned giving (legacy marketing) in North America

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 1 2005
Donna Richardson
The transformation of fundraising from an ,emerging profession' to a ,true profession' is contingent on the continual development of a formal body of knowledge based on theory and research. To further that goal, this paper, written from a Canadian perspective, reviews current and recent research studies in both Canada and the USA, focusing specifically on the areas of legacy marketing and bequest gifts. The aim of this paper is two-fold: first, to bring forward ,established knowledge' in this relatively new and burgeoning area of fundraising; and second, to draw attention to areas where there is a knowledge gap, thereby laying the groundwork for further research and progress in this area. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

CONGRESSIONAL PARTISANSHIP, BIPARTISANSHIP AND PUBLIC OPINION: AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

POLITICS & POLICY, Issue 1 2001
Jonathan Morris
There has been extensive research concerning Congress and how partisan attachments and attitudes affect views toward it. In addition, a burgeoning area of research has developed concerning how media influences a person's attitudes and beliefs. In our study we test three hypotheses: viewing partisan House rhetoric will increase partisanship, negative attitudes toward Congress, and negative attitudes toward the federal government as a whole. We test these hypotheses with an experimental design in which we manipulate the independent variable at two levels: viewing partisan speeches and viewing bipartisan speeches. We find that direct exposure to congressional partisan rhetoric leads to lower levels of support and increased partisan polarization. Surprisingly, we also find that exposure to bipartisan floor rhetoric, while decreasing party polarization fails to generate increased levels of support for Congress or the government as whole. [source]

Understanding the Psychological Impact of Terrorism on Youth: Moving Beyond Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007
Annette M. La GrecaArticle first published online: 23 JUL 200
Comer and Kendall's (2007) comprehensive review of the impact of terrorism on youth organizes this important and burgeoning area of research. The present commentary focuses on youth outcomes associated with proximal contact with terrorist attacks, and highlights several important issues that merit attention. Specifically, the commentary emphasizes the importance of examining youths' postattack outcomes broadly (in addition to posttraumatic stress disorder and its symptoms), assessing traumatic grief and bereavement when mass casualties occur, and evaluating issues of comorbidity and functional impairment. Future research on the impact of terrorism on youth would benefit from adopting a developmental psychopathology perspective in understanding variables that may influence and be influenced by youths' reactions to terrorist events. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed. [source]

Can Traditions Emerge from the Interaction of Stimulus Enhancement and Reinforcement Learning?

AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Issue 2 2010
An Experimental Model
ABSTRACT, The study of social learning in captivity and behavioral traditions in the wild are two burgeoning areas of research, but few empirical studies have tested how learning mechanisms produce emergent patterns of tradition. Studies have examined how social learning mechanisms that are cognitively complex and possessed by few species, such as imitation, result in traditional patterns, yet traditional patterns are also exhibited by species that may not possess such mechanisms. We propose an explicit model of how stimulus enhancement and reinforcement learning could interact to produce traditions. We tested the model experimentally with tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella), which exhibit traditions in the wild but have rarely demonstrated imitative abilities in captive experiments. Monkeys showed both stimulus enhancement learning and a habitual bias to perform whichever behavior first obtained them a reward. These results support our model that simple social learning mechanisms combined with reinforcement can result in traditional patterns of behavior. RÉSUMÉ, L'étude de l'apprentissage social en captivité et les traditions behavioristes à l'état sauvage sont deux domaines de recherche en plein essor, mais peu d'études empiriques ont mis à l'essai comment les mécanismes de l'apprentissage produisent des schémas émergents de tradition. Des études ont examiné comment les mécanismes de l'apprentissage social qui sont d'une complèxité cognitive et qui sont possédés par peu d'espèces, telle que l'imitation, résultent en schémas traditionnels; cependant, les schémas traditionnels sont aussi exposés par des espèces qui ne possèdent peut-être pas tels mécanismes. Nous proposons un modèle explicite de la façon dont le stimulus renforcé et l'apprentissage de renforcement puisse réagir afin de produire des schémas traditionnels. Nous avons mis à l'essai le modèle avec des singes capucins touffus (Cebus apella), qui exhibent des traditions à l'état sauvage, mais qui ont rarement démontré des aptitudes imitatives dans les expériences en captivité. Les singes ont montré aussi bien l'apprentissage de stimulus renforcé qu'une tendance habituelle à exécuter n'importe quelle manière d'agir qui leur a premièrement rapporté une récompense. Ces résultats soutiennent notre modèle, que les mécanismes simples de l'apprentissage social combinés avec le renforcement peuvent résulter en schémas behavioristes traditionnels. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG, Die Studie des sozialen Lernens durch Laborversuche und Freilandstudien von Verhaltenstraditionen sind zwei weit verbreitete Forschungsgebiete, aber nur wenige empirische Studien haben geprüft, wie Lernmechanismen traditionelle Verhaltensmuster hervorrufen können. Studien haben überprüft, wie kognitiv komplexe soziale Lernmechanismen wie etwa Imitation, die nur wenige Tierarten aufweisen, Verhaltenstraditionen hervorrufen können, dennoch werden Verhaltenstraditionen auch bei Tierarten gesehen, die solch komplexe Mechanismen wahrscheinlich nicht besitzen. Wir beschreiben ein detailliertes Modell, in dem eine Wechselwirkung von Reizverstärkung und verstärkendem Lernen traditionelles Verhalten erwirken kann. Wir testeten unser Modell mit Gehaubten Kapuzinern (Cebus apella), die Traditionen in freier Wildbahn aufweisen, aber nur selten Imitationsfähigkeiten in Laborexperimenten gezeigt haben. Die Affen zeigten Lernen durch Reizverstärkung und eine Gewohnheitstendenz die Verhaltensvariante durchzuführen, die ihnen zuerst dazu verhalf ein Stück Futter zu erhalten. Diese Ergebnisse sind mit unserem Modell in Einklang und unterstützen die Ansicht, dass einfache soziale Lernmechanismen kombiniert mit verstärkendem Lernen zu traditionellen Verhaltensmustern führen können. [source]