Protein–Protein Docking: Past,Present, and Future

The Protein Journal - The biological significance of proteins attracted the scientific community in exploring their characteristics. The studies shed light on the interaction patterns and functions...     

Russia–UK Collaboration in Paleontology: Past,Present, and Future

There is a long history of collaboration between Russia and the United Kingdom in paleontology. This began, arguably, in 1821, with the seminal work by William Fox-Strangways, who produced a geological map of the area around St Petersburg. Most famously, Roderick Murchison carried out extensive surveying and observations throughout European Russia in 1840 and 1841, and published a major monograph on geology and paleontology of European Russia in 1845. Since then, and continuing today, there have been many fruitful collaborations on Precambrian life, Paleozoic marine organisms, terrestrialization of plants and vertebrates, the Permian–Triassic mass extinction, fossil mammals, human evolution, and conservation paleobiology.     

Super Hybrid Rice Breeding in China：Achievements and Prospects

Hybrid rice has contributed greatly to the self-sufficiency of food supply In China. To meet the future demand for rice production, a national program on super rice breeding was established In China In 1996. The corresponding targets, breeding strategies and most significant advances are reviewed In this paper. New plant type models have been modified to adjust to various rice growing regions. In recognition of the Importance of applying parents with Intermediate subspecies differentiation In Increasing F1 yield, medium type parental lines were selected from populations derived from Inter-subspecies crosses with the assistance of DNA markers for subspecies differentiation. Results also indicate that a substantial increase of blomass Is the basis for further enhancement of the grain yield potential, and amelioration of leaf characteristics Is helpful In Increasing the photosynthetic rate. Thirty-four super hybrid rice varieties have been released commercially, growing In a total area of 13.5 million hm2 and producing 6.7 thousand million kg more rice In 1998-2005. Although remarkable progress has been made In super hybrid rice breeding In China, selections on the root system and Integration of more blotechnologlcal tools remain a great challenge.     

Huntington’s Disease: The Past,Present, and Future Search for Disease Modifiers

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder thatspecifically causes neurodegeneration of striatal neurons, resulting in a triadof symptoms that includes emotional, cognitive, and motor disturbances. The HDmutation causes a polyglutamine repeat expansion within the N-terminal of thehuntingtin (Htt) protein. This expansion causes aggregate formation within thecytosol and nucleus due to the presence of misfolded mutant Htt, as well asaltered interactions with Htt’s multiple binding partners, and changes inpost-translational Htt modifications. The present review charts efforts toward atherapy that delays age of onset or slows symptom progression in patientsaffected by HD, as there is currently no effective treatment. Although silencingHtt expression appears promising as a disease modifying treatment, it should beattempted with caution in light of Htt’s essential roles in neural maintenanceand development. Other therapeutic targets include those that boost aggregatedissolution, target excitotoxicity and metabolic issues, and supplement growthfactors.     

中国植物激素研究:过去、现在和未来

为了迎接2006年10月在北京召开的“植物激素与绿色革命”香山会议,使其更具影响力,本刊组织了一期“植物激素专辑”。本文作为此专辑的序言,对我国在该领域研究作了概述和评论,以帮助读者全面地了解我国在该领域的研究历史、现状和未来发展趋势。本文回顾了中国植物激素研究在二十世纪八十年代之前的工作发展历程中的重要成果,主要集中在生理学研究方面的成果。随着植物分子遗传学技术与原理的不断成熟以及我国经济的飞速发展,特别是研究队伍的迅速成长,我国科学家近年来在植物激素代谢调控、转运及激素信号转导等领域取得了重要进展,特别是激素受体基因分离鉴定、激素控制株型以及激素间的相互作用等方面取得的突破性进展。基于国际植物激素总体研究前沿和我国优势领域,我们展望提出了我国在植物激素研究领域的未来发展方向与趋势。     

Pineapple Nematode Research in Hawaii: Past,Present, and Future

The first written record of pineapple in Hawaii is from 1813. In 1901 commercial pineapple production started, and in 1924 the Experiment Station for pineapple research was established. Nematode-related problems were recognized in the early 1900s by N. A. Cobb. From 1920 to approximately 1945 nematode management in Hawaiian pineapple was based on fallowing and crop rotation. During the 1920s and 1930s G. H. Godfrey conducted research on pineapple nematode management. In the 1930s and 1940s M. B. Linford researched biological control and described several new species of nematodes including Rotylenchulus reniformis. In 1941 nematology and nematode management were advanced by Walter Carter''s discovery of the first economical soil fumigant for nematodes, D-D mixture. Subsequently, DBCP was discovered and developed at the Pineapple Research Institute (PRI). Since 1945 soil fumigation has been the main nematode management strategy in Hawaiian pineapple production. Recent research has focused on the development of the nonvolatile nematicides, their potential as systemic nematicides, and their application via drip irrigation. Current and future research addresses biological and cultural alternatives to nematicide-based nematode management.     

Bone Allografts: Past, Present and Future

Bone allograft transplantation has been performed in humans for more than one hundred and twenty years. During the first one hundred years (1880–1980), the major problem in bone allograft transplantation was availability. Most of the bone grafts used during this time were autografts. Allografts were not available due to a lack of legislation protecting procurers and processers. In addition, surgical procedures requiring allografts were not being performed. During the next twenty years (1980–2000), as allografis began to be used, the major issue was safety. Diseases transmitted during this period included AIDS and hepatitis. Avoidance of disease transmission became paramount. Sensitive blood tests and extensive efforts by bone banks to develop ways to clean. bone and clear it of infectious agents helped provide safe transplants. With concerns of availability and safety receding, the major issue in the future (2000–? ) will be the efficacy of the transplant. How allograft bone remodels in the host, how it incorporates and heals to host bone and how it integrates with the host skeleton will be the most important concerns of bone bankers and tissue transplant surgeons. Future research efforts will be applied to bone allograft transplantation to ensure that bone transplants heal quickly and sufficiently to be able to function as part of the weight-bearing skeletal system.     

Nitrogen Cycles: Past, Present, and Future

This paper contrasts the natural and anthropogenic controls on the conversion of unreactive N₂ to more reactive forms of nitrogen (Nr). A variety of data sets are used to construct global N budgets for 1860 and the early 1990s and to make projections for the global N budget in 2050. Regional N budgets for Asia, North America, and other major regions for the early 1990s, as well as the marine N budget, are presented to Highlight the dominant fluxes of nitrogen in each region. Important findings are that human activities increasingly dominate the N budget at the global and at most regional scales, the terrestrial and open ocean N budgets are essentially disconnected, and the fixed forms of N are accumulating in most environmental reservoirs. The largest uncertainties in our understanding of the N budget at most scales are the rates of natural biological nitrogen fixation, the amount of Nr storage in most environmental reservoirs, and the production rates of N₂ by denitrification.     

Human Adaptability: Past, Present, and Future

Human Adaptability: Past, Present, and Future. Stanley J. Ulijaszek and Rebecca A. Huss-Ashmore. eds. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.326 pp.