Accomplishments of the Trustees and laboratory staff of the Biological Stain Commission, 2002–2013

During the 12 years from 2002 to 2013, the Trustees and laboratory personnel of the Biological Stain Commission (BSC) can claim many accomplishments. These accomplishments are itemized under 11 categories: continuous publication of the official journal, Biotechnic & Histochemistry; production of four special issues of Biotechnic & Histochemistry devoted to specific dyes or stains; standardization of staining and dye purity; mechanisms of staining and prediction of dye behavior; publication of books or book chapters; effects of fixation and processing on staining; cancer research; immunohistochemistry; BSC Laboratory activities; miscellaneous publications; and administrative accomplishments.     

Michael Ter-Avanesyan (1949-2018) - life in science

This commentary describes scientific path and accomplishments of our late colleague, Prof. Michael D. Ter-Avanesyan, who made several seminal contributions into prion research.     

Testosterone in biosociology: A memoir

A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition.The author looks back at his four decades of research on testosterone in the context of biosociology – its accomplishments, pitfalls, outstanding questions, and future directions.     

Medaka as a research organism: past, present and future

This introductory review briefly describes the history of medaka as a research organism and the previous accomplishments of the medaka field. The medaka genome project currently underway through the efforts of an international consortium, the Medaka Genome Initiative, and the future prospects for medaka research, particularly for genomic analyses, are also discussed.     

A schistosomiasis research agenda

There is a long and rich history of research and control in the field of schistosomiasis that has resulted in major scientific and public health accomplishments. Examples of such findings and accomplishments include immunologic regulation in chronic infections, the association of helminth infections with Th1-regulating Th2-type immune responses, the critical role of interleukin-13 in fibrogenesis, and the development and validation of the "dose pole" for determining praziquantel dosages in the field. Perhaps in part because of this broad and successful history, those who work on schistosomiasis come from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. While such variety is enriching to the field, it sometimes results in diverse opinions about which of the many research opportunities should be pursued. Such diversity, we believe, has at times led to a divisiveness that has harmed overall progress in the field. Partly in response to such events, we have worked with as many of those interested in schistosomiasis as we could identify to develop what we feel is a comprehensive and cohesive agenda for schistosomiasis research.     

C. elegans neuroscience: genetics to genome

From their earliest experiments, researchers using Caenorhabditis elegans have been interested in the role of genes in the development and function of the nervous system. As the C. elegans Genome Project completes the genomic sequence, we review the accomplishments of these researchers and the impact that the Genome Project has had on their research. We also speculate on future directions in this research that are enabled by the efforts of the Genome Project.     

The history of glycobiology in Japan

This mini review surveys the major accomplishments in the field of glycoconjugates research in Japan, which were made after World War II. It describes early movements in the field of glycoconjugate research in Japan, development of the new techniques to investigate structures of the sugar chains of glycoconjugates, studies of the functions of the sugar chain moieties, and the political movement in Japan to support the basic research necessary for the development of glycotechnology. As introduced in this short article, important groundwork for glycobiology was made by Japanese researchers.     

Cancer modeling in the modern era: progress and challenges

Genetically engineered mouse models have contributed extensively to the field of cancer research. The ability to manipulate the mouse germline affords numerous approaches toward understanding the complexities of this disease, possibly providing accurate preclinical models for therapeutic and diagnostic advances. This review highlights some of the current strategies for modeling cancer in the mouse, recent accomplishments, and key remaining challenges.     

Engineered cyanobacteria: teaching an old bug new tricks

Cyanobacteria have played an important role in the development of the Earth and have long been studied as model organisms for photosynthesis and the circadian rhythm. Recent developments have led to increased interest in the use of engineered cyanobacteria for the production of protein and chemical products. This review highlights the genetic tools and strategies for manipulation of cyanobacteria as well as previous accomplishments in the development of engineered cyanobacteria for applied use. Particular attention is given to the engineering of cyanobacteria for biofuel production, including both hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuels. Genetic engineering efforts to enhance cyanobacterial fitness are reviewed with an emphasis on physiological improvements for large-scale production. Lastly, a future outlook on engineered cyanobacteria is presented, highlighting the future areas of focus and technical challenges in this field. With the uncertainty of future energy security, it is an exciting time in applied cyanobacterial research, but we must take the time to learn from these past accomplishments before we can capitalize on the potential of these photosynthetic microorganisms.     

Trends in dermatoglyphic research

A brief update of recent developments and trends in dermatoglyphic research is presented, based on a 1980–87 literature review. The discussed topics include anthropological, genetic, medical and developmental studies of the epidermal ridge patterns and flexion creases, including dermatoglyphic variability, new methodological and classification approaches, studies of nonhuman primates and of other experimental animals. Rather than an exhaustive survey of the existing literature, the purpose of this communication is to point out specific accomplishments, novel approaches, and emerging trends in various fields of dermatoglyphic research.     

Puerto Rican High Achievers: An Example of Ethnic and Academic Identity Compatibility

Although research finds that members of some involuntary minority ethnic groups tend to develop oppositional identities, Puerto Rican students studied in this research project at an urban high school did not associate school success with "whiteness." These students were academically successful while still maintaining their ethnic identity. They were not accused of acting white, did not mask their academic accomplishments, and did not assume raceless personas. Different conceptualizations of ethnicity, sociohistorical context, and class may account for their maintenance of ethnic identity while achieving success in school.     

Dieter Eckstein – A cornerstone of European dendrochronology

On November 10th 2021, Dieter Eckstein passed away at age 82. Born and raised as a forester’s child, his entire life was connected to trees and wood. He grew up to become a dedicated scientist and teacher. His legacy includes both his own considerable research accomplishments as well as his founding of a growing network of tree biologists and wood scientists. From his doctoral degree onwards, the concepts and applications of dendrochronology were his passion, motivated by great curiosity in environmental influences on tree growth. He proved that dendroarchaeology can be accurate and precise, even for timber grown in the mild European maritime climate. He pioneered both techniques and concepts of xylogenesis and quantitative wood anatomy and advanced the potential for tropical dendrochronology. In all of these accomplishments, Dieter collaborated with students and colleagues from all over the world. His Dendrochronological Laboratory at the University of Hamburg hosted both young and experienced scientists from many countries. The European Working Group on Dendrochronology, which he founded in the early 1990s, was his natural habitat and playground to invent and present new research activities. We and the entire dendrochronology community have lost an inspiring colleague and visionary.     

Translational Bioinformatics:Past,Present, and Future

Though a relatively young discipline, translational bioinformatics (TBI) has become a key component of biomedical research in the era of precision medicine. Development of high-throughput technologies and electronic health records has caused a paradigm shift in both healthcare and biomedical research. Novel tools and methods are required to convert increasingly voluminous datasets into information and actionable knowledge. This review provides a definition and contex-tualization of the term TBI, describes the discipline’s brief history and past accomplishments, as well as current foci, and concludes with predictions of future directions in the field.     

Introduction: Haunting Images

As institutions such as the Institute for Scientific Film in Göttingen, Germany, look back on their accomplishments and look forward to what their role may be in the future, it is worthwhile to untangle some of the strands involved in the practice of “visual anthropology” and to clarify our thinking on the shared and distinctive characteristics of ethnographic films and of visual research material.     

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine: Warfighter research focusing on the past 25 years

The United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 1, 2011. This article reviews its history, evolution, and transition of its research programs as well as its scientific and military accomplishments, emphasizing the past 25 yr. During the 1990s, USARIEM published a series of pocket guides providing guidance for sustaining Warfighter health and performance in Southwest Asia, Somalia, the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Haiti. Issues identified during Operation Desert Storm elicited research that improved nutritional guidelines for protracted desert operations; safer use of nuclear, chemical, and biological protective clothing; equipment, development, and fielding of efficient microclimate cooling systems; and effective evaluation of pharmaceuticals to protect soldiers from chemical and biological threats. During the first decade of the 21st century, USARIEM and the Department of the Army published official medical/performance doctrines for operations in the heat and cold and at high altitude. The current Global War on Terrorism focused research to improve doctrines for hot, cold, and high-altitude operations, reduce musculoskeletal training injuries, provide improved field nutrition, more efficient planning for operational water requirements, and improve both military clothing and materiel. This article also describes the critically important interactions and communications between USARIEM and deployed units and the benefits to Warfighters from this association. This report presents USARIEM's unique and world-class facilities, organizational changes, scientific and support personnel, and major research accomplishments, including the publication of 2,200 scientific papers over the past 25 yr.     

Automated cytology and histology, A historical perspective

The current status of the techniques of image analysis, morphometry and DNA measurements of human cells and tissue samples is reviewed, and the goals of these various techniques, in terms of the detection, diagnosis and prognosis of human cancer, are briefly summarized. Some of the accomplishments and problems of this research are discussed, and targets of future investigations are proposed. It is quite evident that the full value of objective assessment of human cells has not yet been achieved and that many years of additional research may be required to evaluate fully their significance as a scientific tool of objective diagnostic and prognostic value.     

The legacy of a founding father of modern cell biology: George Emil Palade (1912-2008)

George Emil Palade's scientific contributions significantly advanced the field of modern cell biology. He pioneered a multidisciplinary approach, combining cell fractionation, biochemistry, and electron microscopy, which led to the identification of the ribosome as the site of protein synthesis and elucidated the eukaryotic secretory pathway. For these accomplishments, Palade, along with Albert Claude and Christian de Duve, won the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This article provides an overview of Palade's seminal research in the context of the early developments in the field.     

The legacy of Hans Molisch (1856–1937), photosynthesis savant

Hans Molisch (1856–1937) was an exceptionally gifted and productive researcher who had broad interests in plant biology, physiology and biochemistry. In addition, he pioneered in isolating a number of species of purple photosynthetic bacteria in pure culture (including Rhodobacter capsulatus), which facilitated his discovery of basic aspects of bacterial photosynthesis. Molisch demonstrated conclusively that molecular oxygen is not produced by photosynthetic bacteria, and discovered the photoheterotrophic growth mode. The range of Molisch's research accomplishments was impressive, and he emerges as a major figure in the history of photosynthesis research. This essay reviews the numerous research contributions made by Molisch, particularly in regard to advancing knowledge of the several forms of photosynthetic metabolism. An English translation of his 1914 paper on the photosynthetic creation of visual images on leaves is included as an Appendix.     

History of protein crystallography in China

China has a strong background in X-ray crystallography dating back to the 1920s. Protein crystallography research in China was first developed following the successful synthesis of insulin in China in 1966. The subsequent determination of the three-dimensional structure of porcine insulin made China one of the few countries which could determine macromolecular structures by X-ray diffraction methods in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After a slow period during the 1970s and 1980s, protein crystallography in China has reached a new climax with a number of outstanding accomplishments. Here, I review the history and progress of protein crystallography in China and detail some of the recent research highlights, including the crystal structures of two membrane proteins as well as the structural genomics initiative in China.     

实验小鼠在癌症研究中的应用及其进展

小鼠是生物医学研究中使用数量最多的哺乳类实验动物。人类利用小鼠模型进行癌症研究已有100多年的历史,小鼠大量的遗传变异可作为研究人类癌症的借鉴。特别是近年来,培育成功的转基因、基因敲除等遗传工程小鼠模型,使我们对人类癌症发生有了深刻的认识,为评估癌症的诊断方法,革新预防和治疗方案提供了一个很有价值的平台。本文着重介绍了癌症研究中常用的小鼠模型、GEM模型及取得的最新进展等,分析了小鼠肿瘤模型的局限性,并对其发展趋势进行展望。