An exon-centric perspective1Canadian Society of Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) Senior Investigator Award

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Blencowe
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Computational Methods ◽  
Large Datasets ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
The Past ◽  
Human Genes ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Discrete Networks ◽  
Made In

During the past ten years, remarkable progress has been made in our understanding of the complexity and regulation of alternative splicing. The generation of large datasets of quantitative alternative splicing profiling information has revealed that transcripts from at least 95% of multi-exon human genes undergo alternative splicing, and that thousands of exons in mammalian transcriptomes are subject to striking regulatory patterns. Together with advanced computational methods, these datasets have enabled the inference of a predictive code for tissue-dependent alternative splicing. This code has further provided new insight into splicing regulatory mechanisms. Collectively, these approaches are revealing the existence of discrete networks of exons that are coordinately regulated in diverse biologically normal and disease contexts. A major challenge ahead is to systematically determine the functions of exons comprising these exon networks as well as the factors and mechanisms responsible for their regulation. This perspective provides an account of progress in these areas and also discusses future avenues of exon-centric exploration.

Formation, translocation and resolution of Holliday junctions during homologous genetic recombination

1995 ◽  
Vol 347 (1319) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Holliday Junctions ◽  
The Novel ◽  
E Coli ◽  
The Past ◽  
Endonucleolytic Cleavage ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

Over the past three or four years, great strides have been made in our understanding of the proteins involved in recombination and the mechanisms by which recombinant molecules are formed. This review summarizes our current understanding of the process by focusing on recent studies of proteins involved in the later steps of recombination in bacteria. In particular, biochemical investigation of the in vitro properties of the E. coli RuvA, RuvB and RuvC proteins have provided our first insight into the novel molecular mechanisms by which Holliday junctions are moved along DNA and then resolved by endonucleolytic cleavage.

New insight into the preparation of flame-retardant thermoplastic polyether ester utilizing β-cyclodextrin as a charring agent

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luchong Zhang ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Jia Hui Li ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Testing Machine ◽  
Laser Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Limiting Oxygen Index ◽  
Laser Raman ◽  
The Past ◽  
Charring Agent ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Remarkable Progress

The past decade has witnessed remarkable progress of the development and amelioration of thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer (TPEE), showing its promising wide-range utility. Herein we unraveled an unprecedented research to utilize β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with perfect charring ability in TPEE in substitution of toxic halogen flame retardants. The TPEE/phosphorous–nitrogen flame retardants (P-N FR) (aluminum diethylphosphinate and melamine polyphosphate)/β-CD system was created and the flame retardance effects were determined using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and the vertical burning test (UL94), while the charring effects of β-CD were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Besides, the mechanical properties and the morphology were tested by the universal testing machine and SEM. Results indicate that with 10 wt% of β-CD added to the TPEE/25 wt% P-N FR systems, the UL94 can reach to V-0 grade and the tensile strength of this blend was kept above 10 MPa, which can be applied in practice. To our delight, β-CD promoted the formation of stable and compact carbonaceous char, preventing the melt dripping and enhancing the properties and the charring mechanism was better studied by real-time Fourier transform infrared spectra. Being easy to construct, sustainable, and economic, the TPEE composite modified by β-CD and P-N FR is a reliable and widely applicable novel fire retardation material.

The State of Democracy in Africa and the Middle East 2021: Resilient Democratic Aspirations and Opportunities for Consolidation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Democracy Assistance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Bright Spots ◽  
The World ◽  
Democratic Principles ◽  
Political Turmoil ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Made In

Recent declines in democracy have undermined some of the remarkable progress made in Africa over the past three decades, although bright spots remain. The Covid-19 pandemic, though seemingly less damaging to public health than elsewhere in the world, has added pressure on governance, rights, and social inequality. The report also covers the Middle East and North Africa which is one of the least democratic regions in the world. The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the erosion in democratic principles and the deepening authoritarianism that has accompanied a decade of economic, social and political turmoil in the region. This Report provides lessons and recommendations that governments, political and civic actors, and international democracy assistance providers should consider in order to counter the concerning trends in the erosion of democracy, and to foster its resilience and deepening.

The application of proteomics to plant biology: a review

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 883-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christof Rampitsch ◽  
Murali Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Oryza Sativa L ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Total Proteome ◽  
Microbe Interactions ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Made In

The term proteomics, although still less than a decade old, is becoming commonplace in the vocabulary of biologists. Advances made in yeast and humans have been remarkable, sustained by equally remarkable progress in mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, and separation techniques. Progress in plants has been more recent, much of it in the model organisms Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and rice ( Oryza sativa L.), reflecting the tremendous advantage of a complete genomic sequence for proteomics endeavours. Other plants have also been the subject of investigation and this review deals with recent progress in proteomics under three main subheadings: total proteome studies, stress and post-translational modifications, and symbiotic plant–microbe interactions. Examples from the current literature are used to illustrate how proteomics can be used by itself or as part of a larger strategy to gain insight into the functioning of plants at the molecular level.

scholarly journals Session 3: Joint Nutrition Society and Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Symposium on ‘Nutrition and autoimmune disease’

2009 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conleth F. Feighery ◽  
Ross McManus
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Coeliac Disease ◽  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Pathogenic Mechanisms ◽  
The Past ◽  
Inflammatory Pathways ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

Over the past 20 years major advances have been made in the diagnosis and understanding of pathogenic mechanisms relating to coeliac disease. Recently-identified genetic markers support the immunological–inflammatory nature of the disease. It is hoped that these newly-identified genes will assist further dissection of the inflammatory pathways in coeliac disease and give insight into why certain individuals develop intolerance to dietary gluten.

scholarly journals Tracing the footsteps of autophagy in computational biology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipanka Tanu Sarmah ◽  
Nandadulal Bairagi ◽  
Samrat Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Computational Methods ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
System Of Differential Equations ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
The Core ◽  
Regulatory Machinery ◽  
Extracellular Environment ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis through the degradation of unwanted materials like damaged mitochondria and misfolded proteins. However, the contribution of autophagy toward a healthy cell environment is not only limited to the cleaning process. It also assists in protein synthesis when the system lacks the amino acids’ inflow from the extracellular environment due to diet consumptions. Reduction in the autophagy process is associated with diseases like cancer, diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, etc., while uncontrolled autophagy may facilitate cell death. We need a better understanding of the autophagy processes and their regulatory mechanisms at various levels (molecules, cells, tissues). This demands a thorough understanding of the system with the help of mathematical and computational tools. The present review illuminates how systems biology approaches are being used for the study of the autophagy process. A comprehensive insight is provided on the application of computational methods involving mathematical modeling and network analysis in the autophagy process. Various mathematical models based on the system of differential equations for studying autophagy are covered here. We have also highlighted the significance of network analysis and machine learning in capturing the core regulatory machinery governing the autophagy process. We explored the available autophagic databases and related resources along with their attributes that are useful in investigating autophagy through computational methods. We conclude the article addressing the potential future perspective in this area, which might provide a more in-depth insight into the dynamics of autophagy.

scholarly journals Trends, patterns, and differentials in Canadian mortality over nearly a century, 1921-2011

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bourbeau ◽  
Nadine Ouellette
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
The Past ◽  
Demographic Indicators ◽  
Specific Mortality ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Made In

In the past 90 years, remarkable progress was made in substantially improving survival and longevity in Canada, establishing it as a member of today’s group of very low mortality countries. We use several demographic indicators of all-cause and cause-specific mortality to illustrate the nature of these major advances throughout the life span. Reviewing the literature on trends in Canadian mortality, we also uncover various challenges for the next decades. Reducing or even eliminating important disparities in mortality that persist with regards to geography and several socioeconomic factors is one of the greatest challenges ahead. Keywords: Mortality, longevity, health, trends, Canada 

Post-1990 Documentary

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Film Industry ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Traditional Media ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Production Distribution ◽  
Global Understanding ◽  
Exhibition Strategies ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

This book presents in-depth case studies focusing on the major aspects of post-1990 documentary practices and styles. The book questions the meanings of ‘independence’ for documentaries made in the post-1990 context, a period of unrivalled disruption and creativity in the field. Written from a wide range of academic perspectives, the book sheds new light on historical, theoretical, and empirical issues pertaining to the independent documentary, in order to better comprehend the radical transformations of the form over the past twenty years. The book focuses on works and practitioners existing at the margins of the traditional media, the mainstream film industry, and the prevailing economic and socio-political systems. In doing so, it addresses an important gap in the global understanding of documentary practices and styles. The book provides critical and detailed insight into contemporary independent documentary makers and their varied works, practices and uses and offers a variety of perspectives and interpretations of under studied contemporary subject matters and styles, as well as production, distribution, and exhibition strategies.

scholarly journals The changing face of a rare disease: lymphangioleiomyomatosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1471-1485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Harari ◽  
Olga Torre ◽  
Roberto Cassandro ◽  
Joel Moss
Keyword(s):  
Rare Disease ◽  
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Lymphatic Abnormalities ◽  
Abdominal Tumours ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Made In

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disease characterised by cystic destruction of the lung, lymphatic abnormalities and abdominal tumours. It affects almost exclusively females and can occur sporadically or in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.In the past decade remarkable progress has been made in understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease leading to a new therapeutic approach. This review summarises recent advances regarding pathogenic mechanisms and clinical manifestations, and highlights the current and the most promising future therapeutic strategies.

Increasingly Intelligent Micromachines

2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Yun Huang ◽  
Hongri Gu ◽  
Bradley J. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Autonomous Systems ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
The Past ◽  
Water Cleaning ◽  
Information Media ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Made In

Intelligent micromachines, with dimensions ranging from a few millimeters down to hundreds of nanometers, are miniature systems capable of performing specific tasks autonomously at small scales. Enhancing the intelligence of micromachines to tackle the uncertainty and variability in complex microenvironments has applications in minimally invasive medicine, bioengineering, water cleaning, analytical chemistry, and more. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the construction of intelligent micromachines, evolving from simple micromachines to soft, compound, reconfigurable, encodable, multifunctional, and integrated micromachines, as well as from individual to multiagent, multiscale, hierarchical, self-organizing, and swarm micromachines. The field leverages two important trends in robotics research—the miniaturization and intelligentization of machines—but a compelling combination of these two features has yet to be realized. The core technologies required to make such tiny machines intelligent include information media, transduction, processing, exchange, and energy supply, but embedding all of these functions into a system at the micro- or nanoscale is challenging. This article offers a comprehensive introduction to the state-of-the-art technologies used to create intelligence for micromachines and provides insight into the construction of next-generation intelligent micromachines that can adapt to diverse scenarios for use in emerging fields. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, Volume 5 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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