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Research Field (research + field)
Kinds of Research Field Selected AbstractsAn active role for patients in clinical research?DRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 3 2006Deirdre O'Connell Abstract In the context of stricter control of clinical research, more informed patients, and a growing number of patient organizations, an active role for patients in clinical research has more than one meaning. Patient involvement in research as subjects is insufficient and can be improved by the information provided by patient groups and by better collaboration between the research community and patient groups. Knowledge about and understanding of clinical trials is central to greater participation. Involvement in the research process provides another role for patients and patient groups and a number of studies have examined such involvement. Patient advocacy groups are involved in training initiatives to enable effective patient involvement in the administration and conduct of clinical research. Various national and European research and regulatory organizations now work with patient representatives, often providing training for them. A third role for patient organizations lies in supporting the research community in lobbying for increased funding, especially for independent clinical research. The area of clinical research outside randomized clinical trials needs also to be carefully considered, in particular the Outcomes Research field. Drug Dev. Res. 67:188,192, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Developmental anatomy of reeler mutant mouseDEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 3 2009Yu Katsuyama The reeler mouse is one of the most famous spontaneously occurring mutants in the research field of neuroscience, and this mutant has been used as a model animal to understand mammalian brain development. The classical observations emphasized that laminar structures of the reeler brain are highly disrupted. Molecular cloning of Reelin, the gene responsible for reeler mutant provided insights into biochemistry of Reelin signal, and some models had been proposed to explain the function of Reelin signal in brain development. However, recent reports of reeler found that non-laminated structures in the central nervous system are also affected by the mutation, making function of Reelin signal more controversial. In this review, we summarized reported morphological and histological abnormalities throughout the central nervous system of the reeler comparing to those of the normal mouse. Based on this overview of the reeler abnormalities, we discuss possible function of Reelin signal in the neuronal migration and other morphological events in mouse development. [source] Vulnerability of community businesses to environmental disastersDISASTERS, Issue 1 2009Yang Zhang Business plays important roles in community functioning., However, disaster research has been disproportionately focused on units of analysis such as families, households and government agencies. This paper synthesises the major findings within the business development research field and the disaster research field. It constructs a framework for evaluating business vulnerability to natural disasters. Our theoretical integration of the research conducted to date addresses five major issues. First, it defines the ways in which businesses are subject to the impacts of natural disasters. Second, it identifies the factors that determine the magnitude of business impacts after a disaster. Third, it identifies how and when businesses return to their pre-disaster level in the disaster stricken community. Fourth, it describes measures that can be taken by individual firms and community planners to reduce the impacts of environmental disasters. Fifth, it identifies needs for public policy and future research to reduce business vulnerability to environmental disasters. [source] Prevention programs in the 21st century: what we do not discuss in publicADDICTION, Issue 4 2010Harold Holder ABSTRACT Prevention research concerning alcohol, tobacco and other drugs faces a number of challenges as the scientific foundation is strengthened for the future. Seven issues which the prevention research field should address are discussed: lack of transparency in analyses of prevention program outcomes, lack of disclosure of copyright and potential for profit/income during publication, post-hoc outcome variable selection and reporting only outcomes which show positive and statistical significance at any follow-up point, tendency to evaluate statistical significance only rather than practical significance as well, problem of selection bias in terms of selecting subjects and limited generalizability, the need for confirmation of outcomes in which only self-report data are used and selection of appropriate statistical distributions in conducting significance testing. In order to establish a solid scientific base for alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention, this paper calls for discussions, disclosures and debates about the above issues (and others) as essential. In summary, the best approach is always transparency. [source] Entrepreneurship Research in Europe: Taking Stock and Looking ForwardENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2008Friederike Welter With this article, as introduction to a special issue on entrepreneurship research in Europe, we hope to initiate a discussion about the importance of grounding entrepreneurship research in its national context. Different European researchers, all knowledgeable about the entrepreneurship research scene in their respective country, present the state of the research field for France, Germany, the United Kingdom (Blackburn & Smallbone, 2008); and Scandinavia. Two articles from U.S. authors complement this issue, reviewing differences in how entrepreneurship scholars measure the phenomenon and assessing the European approach(es). This special issue sets out to demonstrate the value of variety in the field,variety that very much depends on the different national, methodological, and thematic contexts entrepreneurship research takes place in. [source] Researching Small Firms and Entrepreneurship in the U.K.: Developments and DistinctivenessENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2008Robert A. Blackburn This article charts the development of research on small firms and entrepreneurship in the U.K. over the last 30 years or so and identifies distinctive characteristics of the current orientation of the research field. The paper analyses the rapid increase in the number of researchers contributing to the field over the period, together with its growing legitimacy and institutionalization. One of the key underlying themes is the rich diversity of approaches, reflecting the origins and development path, with clusters of researchers ranging from those with normative objectives to those who view the phenomenon as an object of study. Specific features of the U.K. research field identified include its policy orientation; a rich empirical tradition, with methodological diversity; an emphasis on small firms, and entrepreneurship as a subject for study, rather than an object for promotion; aspects of the boundaries and language of small business and entrepreneurship research; and pre-paradigmatic and middle range theory development i.e., somewhere between grand theory and empirical findings. [source] SOFA database temporarily out of orderEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Kurt Aitzetmüller Readers are informed about temporary problems with the database "Seed Oil Fatty Acids" (SOFA). Because industrial oil crops with unusual fatty acids are currently a hot research field, many requests for information reached the author, particularly often from ICON-Partners worldwide (http://icon.slu.se/ICON/Part icon.htm). SOFA should be online again later in 2010. The nature of SOFA and some potential applications of SOFA are briefly discussed. [source] Molecular Mimetic Self-Assembly of Colloidal ParticlesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010Zhengwei Mao Abstract This article presents an overview of the current progress in molecular mimetic self-assembly of colloidal particles. Firstly, the recent study of colloidal particles at interfaces is highlighted, underlining the mesoscopic mimicry of the surface activity of amphiphilic molecules using colloidal particles. Secondly, various strategies developed thus far to impart colloidal particles with anisotropy in terms of chemical composition, surface chemistry and particle morphology, which are regarded as mesoscopic atoms and molecules, are reviewed. Thirdly, an overview of the current theoretical and experimental results of using the rules of molecular synthesis and self-assembly to direct self-assembly of colloidal particles is presented. Finally, the experimental challenges associated with molecular mimetic self-assembly of colloidal particles are outlined, giving a rather conservative conclusion of the status quo of this new research field with a very optimistic outlook. [source] Geographies of Corporate Decision-Making and Control: Development, Applications, and Future Directions in Headquarters Location ResearchGEOGRAPHY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2010Murray D. Rice This article surveys the body of investigation related to the location of headquarters and other elite corporate decision-making activities, a research field known as quaternary location studies. The discussion includes four main sections following an introduction. The first reviews the initial development of headquarters location research from the early 20th century to 1980. The second section discusses contemporary developments and criticisms of the field that have diversified the field beyond its early focus on large-firm headquarters alone to examine the geography of all activities related to corporate decision making. We posit that incorporation of rapidly growing firms in quaternary research is a key element of this diversification. The third section examines the possibilities for further headquarters location research by making a connection between decision-making location and the literature of techno-economic paradigms. The article concludes by summarizing the current state of the field, and argues that a continued diversification of research interests and perspectives is vital to the advancement of quaternary location studies as an important contributor to improved corporate strategies and more effective public policy. [source] Reference Minerals for the Microanalysis of Light ElementsGEOSTANDARDS & GEOANALYTICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2-3 2001M. Darby Dyar tourmaline; danburite; spodumène; muscovite; isotopes The quantitative determination of light element concentrations in geological specimens represents a major analytical challenge as the electron probe is generally not suited to this task. With the development of new in situ analytical techniques, and in particular the increasing use of secondary ion mass spectrometry, the routine determination of Li, Be and B contents has become a realistic goal. However, a major obstacle to the development of this research field is the critical dependence of SIMS on the availability of well characterized, homogeneous reference materials that are closely matched in matrix (composition and structure) to the sample being studied. Here we report the first results from a suite of large, gem crystals which cover a broad spectrum of minerals in which light elements are major constituents. We have characterized these materials using both in situ and wet chemical techniques. The samples described here are intended for distribution to geochemical laboratories active in the study of light elements. Further work is needed before reference values for these materials can be finalized, but the availability of this suite of materials represents a major step toward the routine analysis of the light element contents of geological specimens. La détermination quantitative des concentrations en éléments légers dans les échantillons géologiques représente un défi analytique majeur, la sonde électronique ne convenant généralement pas pour ce travail. Avec le développement de nouvelles techniques analytiques in situ, en particulier l'utilisation grandissante de la spectrométrie ionique secondaire, la détermination en routine des teneurs en Li, Be et B est devenue un objectif réaliste. Toutefois, un obstacle majeur dans le développement de cette recherche subsiste : la technique SIMS est dépendante de la disponibilité de matériaux de référence bien caractérisés et homogènes proches en composition et en structure de l'échantillon étudié. Nous rapportons ici les premiers résultats obtenus à partie d'un groupe de grands cristaux de qualité gemme recouvrant un large spectre de minéraux composés essentiellement d'éléments légers. Nous avons caractérisé ces matériaux en utilisant à la fois des techniques in situ et par voie humide. Les échantillons décrits ici vont être distribués dans les laboratoires de géochimie spécialisés dans l'étude des éléments légers. Avant la conclusion des valeurs de référence de ces matériaux, des travaux ultérieurs seront nécessaires, mais la disponibilité de l'ensemble de ces matériaux représente une étape importante vers l'analyse en routine des teneurs en éléments légers d'échantillons géologiques. [source] Preparation of Inorganic Materials Using Ionic LiquidsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 2 2010Zhen Ma Abstract Conventional synthesis of inorganic materials relies heavily on water and organic solvents. Alternatively, the synthesis of inorganic materials using, or in the presence of, ionic liquids represents a burgeoning direction in materials chemistry. Use of ionic liquids in solvent extraction and organic catalysis has been extensively studied, but their use in inorganic synthesis has just begun. Ionic liquids are a family of non-conventional molten salts that can act as templates and precursors to inorganic materials, as well as solvents. They offer many advantages, such as negligible vapor pressures, wide liquidus ranges, good thermal stability, tunable solubility for both organic and inorganic molecules, and much synthetic flexibility. In this Review, the use of ionic liquids in the preparation of several categories of inorganic and hybrid materials (i.e., metal structures, non-metal elements, silicas, organosilicas, metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, metal salts, open-framework structures, ionic liquid-functionalized materials, and supported ionic liquids) is summarized. The status quo of the research field is assessed, and some future perspectives are furnished. [source] Improving Parsing of ,BA' Sentences for Machine TranslationIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2008Dapeng Yin Non-member Abstract The research on Chinese-Japanese machine translation has been lasting for many years, and now this research field is increasingly thoroughly refined. In practical machine translation system, the processing of a simple and short Chinese sentence has somewhat good results. However, the translation of complex long Chinese sentence still has difficulties. For example, these systems are still unable to solve the translation problem of complex ,BA' sentences. In this article a new method of parsing of ,BA' sentence for machine translation based on valency theory is proposed. A ,BA' sentence is one that has a prepositional word ,BA'. The structural character of a ,BA' sentence is that the original verb is behind the object word. The object word after the ,BA' preposition is used as an adverbial modifier of an active word. First, a large number of grammar items from Chinese grammar books are collected, and some elementary judgment rules are set by classifying and including the collected grammar items. Then, these judgment rules are put into use in actual Chinese language and are modified by checking their results instantly. Rules are checked and modified by using the statistical information from an actual corpus. Then, a five-segment model used for ,BA' sentence translation is brought forward after the above mentioned analysis. Finally, we applied this proposed model into our developed machine translation system and evaluated the experimental results. It achieved a 91.3% rate of accuracy and the satisfying result verified effectiveness of our five-segment model for ,BA' sentence translation. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Magnonics: Spin Waves on the NanoscaleADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 28 2009Sebastian Neusser Abstract Magnetic nanostructures have long been in the focus of intense research in the magnetic storage industry. For data storage the nonvolatility of magnetic states is of utmost relevance. As information technology generates the need for higher and higher data-transfer rates, research efforts have moved to understand magnetization dynamics. Here, spin waves and their particle-like analog, magnons, are increasingly attracting interest. High-quality nanopatterned magnetic media now offer new ways to transmit and process information without moving electrical charges. This new functionality is enabled by spin waves. They are confined by novel functioning principles, which render them especially suitable to operate at the nanoscale. Magnonic crystals are expected to provide full control of spin waves, similarly to what photonic crystals already do for light. Combined with nonvolatility, multifunctional metamaterials might be formed. We report recent advances in this rapidly increasing research field called magnonics. [source] Nanoindentation Studies Reveal Material Properties of VirusesADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 10-11 2009Wouter H. Roos Abstract Over the last years, a paradigm shift has occurred from approaching viruses solely as disease-bringing agents toward regarding them as functional nanoparticles, and a perfect example of Nature's capability to self-assemble complex, multicomponent materials at the nanoscale. Viruses are now used as templates for constructing specific nanocontainers, either by changing the properties of the viruses themselves or by copying their compact, shelled structure into engineered materials, which are able to encapsulate various agents. To exploit the mechanisms used by nature to create functional nanocontainers, we need to understand what their material and biomechanical properties are. Nanoindentation, a technique based on atomic force microscopy, is perfectly suited to determine these characteristics. Here, we discuss the advances this research field has achieved, exploring prokaryotic (bacteriophages) as well as eukaryotic viruses. The material properties of viral shells (capsids) and of more complex viral assemblies are analyzed and compared. We discuss the Young's modulus of capsids, the maximal forces viruses can withstand, and explore the occurrence of material fatigue in nanosize objects. Finally, the impact of internalized materials and of specific alterations to the capsid proteins on the particle's mechanical strength is analyzed. [source] Some Empirical Evidence to Support the Relationship Between Audit Reports and Stock Prices , The French CaseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 3 2000Bahram Soltani Acting as an independent intermediary, the auditor facilitates market transactions by providing an ,opinion' on financial statements which should help to reduce the information asymmetry between the company and its potential investors. Whether audit qualifications have informational value to investors is a question that needs further investigation, as previous empirical studies on this issue yield mixed results. Moreover, a majority of the research papers in this area have been conducted in Anglo-Saxon countries, in contrast to continental European countries where very little attention has been paid to the auditors' role in stock markets. The present study is based on a large sample of qualified opinions (543 for the period 1986,1995), using different expected event dates and market models. The results of the study demonstrate the significant negative abnormal returns around the announcement dates of audit opinions. The empirical part of this study was carried out in the French market which has some significant differences from the UK and the USA markets. The author believes that the differences, in the area of reporting, level of disclosure, and accounting and auditing practices, can play an important role in the research field of event studies. [source] Capacity building: A concept analysis of the term applied to researchINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2007Sarah L Condell RGN RM RNT BNS MA Recent policy developments in Ireland have led to a focus on research capacity building as a means of consolidating nurse and midwifery education in the Irish academic setting. This follows similar initiatives in the United Kingdom and Australia. However, sparse literature and a lack of clarity of the term ,research capacity building' leads to some confusion. A concept analysis using Rodgers' framework was conducted. The literature examined included ,grey' literature, policy documents and indexed papers across a range of disciplines, derived from CINAHL/PubMed searches. The concept of research capacity building was deemed to imply a funded, dynamic intervention operationalized through a range of foci and levels to augment ability to achieve objectives in the research field over the long-term, with aspects of social change as an ultimate outcome. This is presented as an interim statement because of the evolutionary nature of the concept and the limitations of the exercise. [source] Nanoparticles as tools to study and control stem cellsJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2009L. Ferreira Abstract The use of nanoparticles in stem cell research is relatively recent, although very significant in the last 5 years with the publication of about 400 papers. The recent advances in the preparation of some nanomaterials, growing awareness of material science and tissue engineering researchers regarding the potential of stem cells for regenerative medicine, and advances in stem cell biology have contributed towards the boost of this research field in the last few years. Most of the research has been focused in the development of new nanoparticles for stem cell imaging; however, these nanoparticles have several potential applications such as intracellular drug carriers to control stem cell differentiation and biosensors to monitor in real time the intracellular levels of relevant biomolecules/enzymes. This review examines recent advances in the use of nanoparticles for stem cell tracking, differentiation and biosensing. We further discuss their utility and the potential concerns regarding their cytotoxicity. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 746,752, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Paradoxical roles for lysyl oxidases in cancer,A prospectJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2007Stacey L. Payne Abstract Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) enzyme that catalyzes the cross-linking of collagens or elastin in the extracellular compartment, thereby regulating the tensile strength of tissues. However, recent reports have demonstrated novel roles for LOX, including the ability to regulate gene transcription, motility/migration, and cell adhesion. These diverse functions have led researchers to hypothesize that LOX may have multiple roles affecting both extra- and intracellular cell function(s). Particularly noteworthy is aberrant LOX expression and activity that have been observed in various cancerous tissues and neoplastic cell lines. Both down and upregulation of LOX in tumor tissues and cancer cell lines have been described, suggesting a dual role for LOX as a tumor suppressor, as well as a metastasis promoter gene,creating a conundrum within the LOX research field. Here, we review the body of evidence on LOX gene expression, regulation, and function(s) in various cancer cell types and tissues, as well as stromal,tumor cell interactions. Lastly, we will examine putative mechanisms in which LOX facilitates breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Taken together, the literature demonstrates the increasingly important role(s) that LOX may play in regulating tumor progression and the necessity to elucidate its myriad mechanisms of action in order to identify potentially novel therapeutics. J. Cell. Biochem. 101: 1338,1354, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Production of activated carbon from agricultural by-productsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Panagiota Paraskeva Abstract The production of activated carbon from agricultural by-products is a research field of increasing interest as it deals with the problem of the disposal of agro-residues, at the same time producing an added-value product that can be used in a number of environmental applications. The paper presents an overview of the latest developments in processes for the production of activated carbon from agricultural by-products, with emphasis on the methodology applied, the effect of critical process parameters such as retention time, temperature, chemical to material ratio, as well as the adsorbing capacity of the activated carbons produced in removing select compounds from synthetic and real wastewaters. Agricultural by-products can be a source for activated carbon production with high surface areas and high adsorption capacity. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Brains and brands: developing mutually informative research in neuroscience and marketingJOURNAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR, Issue 4-5 2008Tyler K. Perrachione Advances in neuroimaging technology have led to an explosion in the number of studies investigating the living human brain, and thereby our understanding of its structure and function. With the proliferation of dazzling images from brain scans in both scientific and popular media, researchers from other fields in the social and behavioral sciences have naturally become interested in the application of neuroimaging to their own research. Commercial enterprises have long been interested in the prospects of literally "getting inside the heads" of customers and partners, with a variety of goals in mind. Here we consider the ways in which scholars of consumer behavior may draw upon neuroscientific advances to inform their own research. We describe the motivation of neuroscientific inquiry from the point of view of neuroscientists, including an introduction to the technologies and methodologies available; correspondingly, we consider major questions in consumer behavior that are likely to be of interest to neuroscientists and why. Recent key discoveries in neuroscience are presented which will likely have a direct impact on the development of a neuromarketing subdiscipline and for neuroimaging as a marketing research technique. We discuss where and how neuroscience methodologies may reasonably be added to the research inventory of marketers. In sum, we aim to show not only that a neuromarketing subdiscipline may fruitfully contribute to our understanding of the biological bases of human behavior, but also that developing this as a productive research field will rest largely in framing marketing research questions in the brain-centric mindset of neuroscientists. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Calorie restriction mimetics: an emerging research fieldAGING CELL, Issue 2 2006Donald K. Ingram Summary When considering all possible aging interventions evaluated to date, it is clear that calorie restriction (CR) remains the most robust. Studies in numerous species have demonstrated that reduction of calories 30,50% below ad libitum levels of a nutritious diet can increase lifespan, reduce the incidence and delay the onset of age-related diseases, improve stress resistance, and decelerate functional decline. A current major focus of this research area is whether this nutritional intervention is relevant to human aging. Evidence emerging from studies in rhesus monkeys suggests that their response to CR parallels that observed in rodents. To assess CR effects in humans, clinical trials have been initiated. However, even if results from these studies could eventually substantiate CR as an effective pro-longevity strategy for humans, the utility of this intervention would be hampered because of the degree and length of restriction required. As an alternative strategy, new research has focused on the development of ,CR mimetics'. The objective of this strategy is to identify compounds that mimic CR effects by targeting metabolic and stress response pathways affected by CR, but without actually restricting caloric intake. For example, drugs that inhibit glycolysis (2-deoxyglucose), enhance insulin action (metformin), or affect stress signaling pathways (resveratrol), are being assessed as CR mimetics (CRM). Promising results have emerged from initial studies regarding physiological responses which resemble those observed in CR (e.g. reduced body temperature and plasma insulin) as well as protection against neurotoxicity (e.g. enhanced dopamine action and up-regulated neurotrophic factors). Ultimately, lifespan analyses in addition to expanded toxicity studies must be accomplished to fully assess the potential of any CRM. Nonetheless, this strategy clearly offers a very promising and expanding research endeavor. [source] The relationships between stocking density and welfare in farmed rainbow troutJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002T. Ellis There is increasing public, governmental and commercial interest in the welfare of intensively farmed fish and stocking density has been highlighted as an area of particular concern. Here we draw scientific attention and debate to this emerging research field by reviewing the evidence for effects of density on rainbow trout. Although no explicit reference to ,welfare' has been made, there are 43 studies which have examined the effects of density on production and physiological parameters of rainbow trout. Increasing stocking density does not appear to cause prolonged crowding stress in rainbow trout. However, commonly reported effects of increasing density are reductions in food conversion efficiency, nutritional condition and growth, and an increase in fin erosion. Such changes are indicative of a reduced welfare status,although the magnitude of the effects has tended to be dependent upon study-specific conditions. Systematic observations on large scale commercial farms are therefore required, rather than extrapolation of these mainly small-scale experimental findings. There is dispute as to the cause of the observed effects of increasing density, with water quality deterioration and/or an increase in aggressive behaviour being variously proposed. Both causes can theoretically generate the observed effects of increasing density, and the relative contribution of the two causes may depend upon the specific conditions. However, documentation of the relationship between density and the effects of aggressive behaviour at relevant commercial densities is lacking. Consequently only inferential evidence exists that aggressive behaviour generates the observed effects of increasing density, whereas there is direct experimental evidence that water quality degradation is responsible. Nevertheless, there are contradictory recommendations in the literature for key water quality parameters to ensure adequate welfare status. The potential for welfare to be detrimentally affected by non-aggressive behavioural interactions (abrasion, collision, obstruction) and low densities (due to excessive aggressive behaviour and a poor feeding response) have been largely overlooked. Legislation directly limiting stocking density is likely to be unworkable, and a more practical option might be to prescribe acceptable levels of water quality, health, nutritional condition and behavioural indicators. [source] Bioinformatics-based discovery and identification of new biologically active peptides for GPCR deorphanization,JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 9 2007Jean Colette Abstract Owing to their involvement in many physiological and pathological processes, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are interesting targets for drug development. Approximately, 100 endoGPCRs lack their natural ligands and remain orphan (oGPCRs). Consequently, oGPCR deorphanization appears a promising research field for the development of new therapeutics. On the basis of the knowledge of currently known GPCR/ligand couples, some oGPCRs may be targeted by peptides. However, to find new drugs for GPCRs, Genepep has developed a dedicated bioinformatics platform to screen transcriptomic databases for the prediction of new GPCR ligands. The peptide lists generated include specific data, such as chemical and physical properties, the occurrence of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and an annotation referring to the location and expression level of the related putative genes. This information system allows a selection through series of biological criteria of ,10 000 natural peptides including already known GPCR ligands and potential new candidates for GPCR deorphanization. The most promising peptides for functional assay screening and future development as therapeutic agents are under evaluation. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Future Prospects for Biomarkers of Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-Induced DisordersALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2010Willard M. Freeman The lack of reliable measures of alcohol intake is a major obstacle to the diagnosis, treatment, and research of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Successful development of a biomarker that allows for accurate assessment of alcohol intake and drinking patterns would not only be a major advance in clinical care but also a valuable research tool. A number of advances have been made in testing the validity of proposed biomarkers as well as in identifying potential new biomarkers through systems biology approaches. This commentary will examine the definition of a biomarker of heavy drinking, the types of potential biomarkers, the steps in biomarker development, the current state of biomarker development, and critical obstacles for the field. The challenges in developing biomarkers for alcohol treatment and research are similar to those found in other fields. However, the alcohol research field must reach a competitive level of rigor and organization. We recommend that NIAAA consider taking a leadership role in organizing investigators in the field and providing a common set of clinical specimens for biomarker validation studies. [source] Effects of Straight Chain Alcohols on Specific Isoforms of Adenylyl CyclaseALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2010Mohammad Hasanuzzaman Background:, Our previous studies showed that the activity of adenylyl cyclase (AC) was enhanced by pharmacologically relevant concentrations of ethanol, that this enhancing effect of ethanol on AC activity was AC isoform specific, and that the alcohol cutoff effect for n -alkanol potentiation of AC activity was also AC isoform specific. Therefore, we hypothesized that within the cyclic AMP-generating system, AC is the target of ethanol's action and that alcohols interact directly with the AC molecules. To characterize the interaction between alcohols and AC proteins, the effects of a series of straight chain alcohols would be very valuable in understanding alcohol action at the molecular level. To our knowledge, straight chain alcohols other than n- alkanols and 1,,-diols have not been used extensively to study alcohol effects on the activity of AC or other proteins important in the alcohol research field. Methods:, The effects of a series of straight chain alcohols on D1A dopamine receptor-stimulated activity of AC isoforms type 6, 7, and 9 (AC6, AC7, and AC9) were examined in transfected Hela cells by a cAMP accumulation assay. Results:, In general, all 3 AC isoforms responded to a series of straight chain alcohols in a similar manner. The order of responsiveness is as follows: monoalcohol > diol > triol and tetraol. Within monoalcohols, 1-alcohols had larger effects than 2-alcohols. Two of 3 stereoisomers of 2,3-butanediol, [D-(-)-2,3-butanediol and meso -2,3-butanediol] showed similar enhancing effects on all 3 AC isoforms. However, the third stereoisomer, L-(+)-2,3-butanediol, inhibited AC7 activity, while it stimulated AC6 and AC9. Conclusion:, The number and the position of hydroxyl groups in straight chain alcohols play an important role in the magnitude of the enhancement on AC activity. Regardless of AC isoforms, the most effective of the straight chain alcohols seems to be the 1-alcohol (n -alkanol) for a given chain length. We found that one of the stereoisomers of 2,3-butanediol had opposite effects on AC activity depending on the AC isoform. Overall, the results are consistent with the hypotheses and demonstrate that a series of straight chain alcohols can be a valuable tool to study AC-alcohol interactions. [source] Polyfluorenes: Twenty years of progressJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 17 2001Mario Leclerc Abstract Polyfluorenes are an important class of electroactive and photoactive materials. In the last three years this research field has literally exploded because of polyfluorenes' exceptional electrooptical properties for applications in light-emitting diodes. This is the only family of conjugated polymers that emit colors spanning the entire visible range with high efficiency and low operating voltage. Other unusual optical and electrical properties are made possible with polyfluorene derivatives, such as thermochromism and conducting base-doped polyelectrolytes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2867,2873, 2001 [source] Recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy II,JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 12 2008W. Kiefer Abstract Following the first review on recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy, the present review summarizes papers mainly published in the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy during 2007. This serves to give a fast overview of recent advances in this research field as well as to provide readers of this journal a quick introduction to the various subfields of Raman spectroscopy. It also reflects the current research interests of the Raman community. Similar reviews of highly active areas of Raman spectroscopy will appear in future issues of this journal. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Recent Advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy IJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 12 2007W. Kiefer Abstract Raman spectroscopy has advanced considerably in the last several years due to rapid developments in instrumentation and the availability of theoretical methods for accurate calculation of Raman spectra, thus enormously facilitating the interpretation of Raman data. This review is restricted to cover papers mainly published in the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, which serve to give a fast overview of recent advances in this research field as well as to provide readers of this journal a quick introduction to the various subfields of Raman spectroscopy. It also reflects the current research interests of the Raman community. Similar reviews of highly active areas of Raman spectroscopy will appear in future issues of this journal. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with ultraviolet excitationJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 6-7 2005Xu-Feng Lin Abstract Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy excited with a UV laser was successfully developed and the UV,SER spectra of various adsorbates, including pyridine and SCN,, on different transition metal electrodes were obtained. The experimental requirements for obtaining UV,SERS in an electrochemical system are given. The surface enhancement factor of a roughened Rh electrode covered with thiocyanate as a model molecule was estimated to be about two orders of magnitude in the UV region, consistent with our preliminary theoretical calculation based on the electromagnetic model. The investigation of SERS in the UV region will improve the understanding of the SERS enhancement mechanism and broaden the research field of SERS in areas such as surface science and the life sciences. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Functional evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) of morphological novelties in plantsJOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS EVOLUTION, Issue 2 2010Jisi ZHANG Abstract The origin of morphological and ecological novelties is a long-standing problem in evolutionary biology. Understanding these processes requires investigation from both the development and evolution standpoints, which promotes a new research field called "evolutionary developmental biology" (evo-devo). The fundamental mechanism for the origin of a novel structure may involve heterotopy, heterochrony, ectopic expression, or loss of an existing regulatory factor. Accordingly, the morphological and ecological traits controlled by the regulatory genes may be gained, lost, or regained during evolution. Floral morphological novelties, for example, include homeotic alterations (related to organ identity), symmetric diversity, and changes in the size and morphology of the floral organs. These gains and losses can potentially arise through modification of the existing regulatory networks. Here, we review current knowledge concerning the origin of novel floral structures, such as "evolutionary homeotic mutated flowers", floral symmetry in various plant species, and inflated calyx syndrome (ICS) within Solanaceae. Functional evo-devo of the morphological novelties is a central theme of plant evolutionary biology. In addition, the discussion is extended to consider agronomic or domestication-related traits, including the type, size, and morphology of fruits (berries), within Solanaceae. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||