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Developing Field (developing + field)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	50%
Chemistry	50%

Selected Abstracts

Graphene Based Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors: A Review

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 10 2010
Yuyan Shao
Abstract Graphene, emerging as a true 2-dimensional material, has received increasing attention due to its unique physicochemical properties (high surface area, excellent conductivity, high mechanical strength, and ease of functionalization and mass production). This article selectively reviews recent advances in graphene-based electrochemical sensors and biosensors. In particular, graphene for direct electrochemistry of enzyme, its electrocatalytic activity toward small biomolecules (hydrogen peroxide, NADH, dopamine, etc.), and graphene-based enzyme biosensors have been summarized in more detail; Graphene-based DNA sensing and environmental analysis have been discussed. Future perspectives in this rapidly developing field are also discussed. [source]

BROADENING THE APPLICATION OF EVOLUTIONARILY BASED GENETIC PEST MANAGEMENT

EVOLUTION, Issue 2 2008
Fred Gould
Insect- and tick-vectored diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Lyme disease cause human suffering, and current approaches for prevention are not adequate. Invasive plants and animals such as Scotch broom, zebra mussels, and gypsy moths continue to cause environmental damage and economic losses in agriculture and forestry. Rodents transmit diseases and cause major pre- and postharvest losses, especially in less affluent countries. Each of these problems might benefit from the developing field of Genetic Pest Management that is conceptually based on principles of evolutionary biology. This article briefly describes the history of this field, new molecular tools in this field, and potential applications of those tools. There will be a need for evolutionary biologists to interact with researchers and practitioners in a variety of other fields to determine the most appropriate targets for genetic pest management, the most appropriate methods for specific targets, and the potential of natural selection to diminish the effectiveness of genetic pest management. In addition to producing environmentally sustainable pest management solutions, research efforts in this area could lead to new insights about the evolution of selfish genetic elements in natural systems and will provide students with the opportunity to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the role of evolutionary biology in solving societal problems. [source]

Source connectivity analysis with MEG and EEG

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 6 2009
Jan-Mathijs Schoffelen
Abstract Interactions between functionally specialized brain regions are crucial for normal brain function. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) are techniques suited to capture these interactions, because they provide whole head measurements of brain activity in the millisecond range. More than one sensor picks up the activity of an underlying source. This field spread severely limits the utility of connectivity measures computed directly between sensor recordings. Consequentially, neuronal interactions should be studied on the level of the reconstructed sources. This article reviews several methods that have been applied to investigate interactions between brain regions in source space. We will mainly focus on the different measures used to quantify connectivity, and on the different strategies adopted to identify regions of interest. Despite various successful accounts of MEG and EEG source connectivity, caution with respect to the interpretation of the results is still warranted. This is due to the fact that effects of field spread can never be completely abolished in source space. However, in this very exciting and developing field of research this cautionary note should not discourage researchers from further investigation into the connectivity between neuronal sources. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Soluble protein oligomers as emerging toxins in alzheimer's and other amyloid diseases

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 4-5 2007
Sergio T. Ferreira
Abstract Amyloid diseases are a group of degenerative disorders characterized by cell/tissue damage caused by toxic protein aggregates. Abnormal production, processing and/or clearance of misfolded proteins or peptides may lead to their accumulation and to the formation of amyloid aggregates. Early histopathological investigation of affected organs in different amyloid diseases revealed the ubiquitous presence of fibrillar protein aggregates forming large deposits known as amyloid plaques. Further in vitro biochemical and cell biology studies, as well as studies using transgenic animal models, provided strong support to what initially seemed to be a solid concept, namely that amyloid fibrils played crucial roles in amyloid pathogenesis. However, recent studies describing tissue-specific accumulation of soluble protein oligomers and their strong impact on cell function have challenged the fibril hypothesis and led to the emergence of a new view: Fibrils are not the only toxins derived from amyloidogenic proteins and, quite possibly, not the most important ones with respect to disease etiology. Here, we review some of the recent findings and concepts in this rapidly developing field, with emphasis on the involvement of soluble oligomers of the amyloid-, peptide in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies suggesting that soluble oligomers from different proteins may share common mechanisms of cytotoxicity are also discussed. Increased understanding of the cellular toxic mechanisms triggered by protein oligomers may lead to the development of rational, effective treatments for amyloid disorders. IUBMB Life, 59: 332-345, 2007 [source]

Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 1 2007
Katja Dettmer
Abstract This review presents an overview of the dynamically developing field of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Metabolomics aims at the comprehensive and quantitative analysis of wide arrays of metabolites in biological samples. These numerous analytes have very diverse physico-chemical properties and occur at different abundance levels. Consequently, comprehensive metabolomics investigations are primarily a challenge for analytical chemistry and specifically mass spectrometry has vast potential as a tool for this type of investigation. Metabolomics require special approaches for sample preparation, separation, and mass spectrometric analysis. Current examples of those approaches are described in this review. It primarily focuses on metabolic fingerprinting, a technique that analyzes all detectable analytes in a given sample with subsequent classification of samples and identification of differentially expressed metabolites, which define the sample classes. To perform this complex task, data analysis tools, metabolite libraries, and databases are required. Therefore, recent advances in metabolomics bioinformatics are also discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 26:51,78, 2007 [source]

Design of a Functional Nitric Oxide Reductase within a Myoglobin Scaffold

CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 8 2010
Valentin Köhler Dr.
One site fits all: Yi Lu and co-workers have reported the conversion of sperm-whale myoglobin into a functional nitric oxide reductase. For this purpose, they designed a second metal binding site in the wild-type holo-protein and demonstrated NO reduction with the structurally characterized model, making thereby a significant contribution to the rapidly developing field of artificial metalloenzymes. [source]