History Of Discovery Research Articles

«La Chimie en Couleurs»: Socially Relevant & Original Research in Chemistry in High Schools Using Modest Resources.

Teaching chemistry at high school level has the potential of playing a major role for the development of our society, in particular, to form future leaders in chemistry who will address social challenges such as the need for better healthcare, improved agricultural techniques and more efficient use of energy resources. In general, high school chemistry teaching programs tend to illustrate the great historic discoveries and glorious past of chemical research. It is hoped that this historical perspective will help to provide students with the basic understanding necessary for the development of the chemistry of tomorrow. Unfortunately, in general, the emphasis on established chemical research and on the reassuringly solid foundations of the field is ubiquitous, not only in the theoretical classes, but also in more practical aspects of teaching, such as in the 'maturity projects' of students: These small, often laboratory-oriented 'research projects' are generally limited to reproducing the scientific literature - often printed in black & white - and/or are adding minor modifications to established scientific protocols, instead of exploring the colourful world of current scientific discoveries and the excitement of pushing back the boundaries of knowledge. Practicing innovative and original research with chemistry students is therefore a challenge for the mentor of any 'maturity project'. Here, we describe the implementation of a practical program - nicknamed 'La Chimie en Couleurs' - for carrying out original research in chemistry, making science lively, colourful and vivid to students. Science that has not already been done by others before, but that students can pursue themselves and that is totally new and original. The program is taught during high-school courses and carried out by students, using inexpensive equipment, easily accessible and non-toxic chemicals and simple chemical concepts. Part of the research work was presented by students at the Swiss Chemical Society Fall Meeting and won a poster prize in the inorganic chemistry runner up category (2016). The 'La Chimie en Couleurs' program presented here shows that up-to-date and socially-relevant chemistry (not just historically relevant chemistry!) can be taught to teenagers in a creative way through the implementation of inexpensive, albeit serious, scientific research at high school level.

The History of Discovery of Adult Neurogenesis.

The scientific community's understanding of neuronal plasticity has evolved considerably over recent decades, thanks largely to Josef Altman. Altman's findings laid the groundwork for an entire subfield of neuroscience research dedicated to exploring the potential of the adult brain to create new neurons, which until then had been considered impossible. From the formative years of this field until the 1990s, when adult neurogenesis was finally accepted as a legitimate topic of study, Altman's work was followed by a series of pivotal discoveries by a handful of other dedicated neuroscientists such as Shirley Bayer, Michael Kaplan, and Fernando Nottebohm. In any sphere of activity, some wish to maintain the status quo when change occurs; science is no different. For many years, influential figures in neuroscience dismissed and marginalized the concept of adult neurogenesis, sometimes going so far as to censor the studies and launch personal attacks against their proponents. Nevertheless, despite obstacles to their research, these scientists persisted and built upon one another's work. During the 1970s, Kaplan confirmed neurogenesis in the adult mammalian neocortex and also performed some of the first neurogenesis studies on primates. During the 1980s, Nottebohm drew on his fascination with the songs of canaries and finches to show that neurogenesis happens on a grand scale in the avian brain as well, regardless of age. Today, more than half a century after Altman's discovery, the adult neurogenesis field is growing rapidly and new research is realizing its potential to revolutionize treatment for neurodegenerative disorders and brain injuries. Clin. Anat. 32:41-55, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PROPOSTA DIDÁTICA PARA O ENSINO DE BIOLOGIA CELULAR NO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL: A HISTÓRIA DA CIÊNCIA, EXPERIMENTAÇÃO E INCLUSÃO

The first general competence described in the National Curricular Common Base emphasizes the importance of the valorization and use of historically constructed knowledge about the world, recognizing the importance of teaching about the History and Nature of Science. These are fundamental components for a scientific school formation, where along aspects related to the theme of inclusion, potentiate the teaching process, allowing a greater interaction between science - classroom - students. In this proposal our objective is to guide, collaborate and facilitate the teaching of Cell Biology in the final years of elementary school, through a didactic sequence called "Knowing the history of cell discovery", "Knowing cells through didactic models" and "Building a Microscope", the methodology used was based on the researches developed by the authors in their dissertations in the area of Science Education, seeking to answer the following research problem "How to make scientific concepts about the teaching of cellular biology exceed the students' ability to abstract and become understandable?". Since many times the teaching of Cell Biology happens in a theoretical way and without contextualization, and because it is difficult to understand due to the high degree of abstraction of the students, we propose the didactic sequences to facilitate the teaching and learning of this subject. Each of these actions will be developed through active learning methodologies, valuing student participation and making them think about what they are learning. The use of the didactic sequence proposed in the teaching of Cell Biology uses the active methodologies, providing the students to awaken through the microscopic world, in a playful and fun way, providing students with active agents in their teaching and learning process.

Rare and common variant discovery in complex disease: the IBD case study.

Complex diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which consists of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are a significant medical burden-70 000 new cases of IBD are diagnosed in the United States annually. In this review, we examine the history of genetic variant discovery in complex disease with a focus on IBD. We cover methods that have been applied to microsatellite, common variant, targeted resequencing and whole-exome and -genome data, specifically focusing on the progression of technologies towards rare-variant discovery. The inception of these methods combined with better availability of population level variation data has led to rapid discovery of IBD-causative and/or -associated variants at over 200 loci; over time, these methods have grown exponentially in both power and ascertainment to detect rare variation. We highlight rare-variant discoveries critical to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of IBD, including those in NOD2, IL23R, CARD9, RNF186 and ADCY7. We additionally identify the major areas of rare-variant discovery that will evolve in the coming years. A better understanding of the genetic basis of IBD and other complex diseases will lead to improved diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and surveillance.

Nuclear and chemical characterization of heavy actinides

Abstract Recent progress in the production of heavy nuclei far from stability and in the studies of nuclear and chemical properties of heavy actinides is briefly reviewed. Exotic nuclear decay properties including nuclear fission of heavy nuclei, measurements of first ionization potentials of heavy actinides, and redox studies of heavy actinides are described. Brief history of discovery of the transuranium elements is also presented.

Curving Cells Inside and Out: Roles of BAR Domain Proteins in Membrane Shaping and Its Cellular Implications.

Many cellular processes rely on precise and timely deformation of the cell membrane. While many proteins participate in membrane reshaping and scission, usually in highly specialized ways, Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain proteins play a pervasive role, as they not only participate in many aspects of cell trafficking but also are highly versatile membrane remodelers. Subtle changes in the shape and size of the BAR domain can greatly impact the way in which BAR domain proteins interact with the membrane. Furthermore, the activity of BAR domain proteins can be tuned by external physical parameters, and so they behave differently depending on protein surface density, membrane tension, or membrane shape. These proteins can form 3D structures that mold the membrane and alter its liquid properties, even promoting scission under various circumstances.As such, BAR domain proteins have numerous roles within the cell. Endocytosis is among the most highly studied processes in which BAR domain proteins take on important roles. Over the years, a more complete picture has emerged in which BAR domain proteins are tied to almost all intracellular compartments; examples include endosomal sorting and tubular networks in the endoplasmic reticulum and T-tubules. These proteins also have a role in autophagy, and their activity has been linked with cancer. Here, we briefly review the history of BAR domain protein discovery, discuss the mechanisms by which BAR domain proteins induce curvature, and attempt to settle important controversies in the field. Finally, we review BAR domain proteins in the context of a cell, highlighting their emerging roles in cell signaling and organelle shaping.

Neuronal Circuit-Based Computer Modeling as a Phenotypic Strategy for CNS R&D.

With the success rate of drugs for CNS indications at an all-time low, new approaches are needed to turn the tide of failed clinical trials. This paper reviews the history of CNS drug Discovery over the last 60 years and proposes a new paradigm based on the lessons learned. The initial wave of successful therapeutics discovered using careful clinical observations was followed by an emphasis on a phenotypic target-agnostic approach, often leading to successful drugs with a rich pharmacology. The subsequent introduction of molecular biology and the focus on a target-driven strategy has largely dominated drug discovery efforts over the last 30 years, but has not increased the probability of success, because these highly selective molecules are unlikely to address the complex pathological phenotypes of most CNS disorders. In many cases, reliance on preclinical animal models has lacked robust translational power. We argue that Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP), a mechanism-based computer model of biological processes informed by preclinical knowledge and enhanced by neuroimaging and clinical data could be a new powerful knowledge generator engine and paradigm for rational polypharmacy. Progress in the academic discipline of computational neurosciences, allows one to model the effect of pathology and therapeutic interventions on neuronal circuit firing activity that can relate to clinical phenotypes, driven by complex properties of specific brain region activation states. The model is validated by optimizing the correlation between relevant emergent properties of these neuronal circuits and historical clinical and imaging datasets. A rationally designed polypharmacy target profile will be discovered using reverse engineering and sensitivity analysis. Small molecules will be identified using a combination of Artificial Intelligence methods and computational modeling, tested subsequently in heterologous cellular systems with human targets. Animal models will be used to establish target engagement and for ADME-Tox, with the QSP approach complemented by in vivo preclinical models that can be further refined to increase predictive validity. The QSP platform can also mitigate the variability in clinical trials with the concept of virtual patients. Because the QSP platform integrates knowledge from a wide variety of sources in an actionable simulation, it offers the possibility of substantially improving the success rate of CNS R&D programs while, at the same time, reducing both cost and the number of animals.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТА РАНКА-ХИЛША ДЛЯ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ВИХРЕВЫМИ ЭНЕРГОРАЗДЕЛИТЕЛЯМИ

The subject matter in the article processes in control systems using vortical energy separators. The goal is an analysis of a vortical energy separator where the Ranque-Hilsch effect is considered. The tasks to be solved are consideration of the discovery history, the essence and using of the Ranque-Hilsch effect; main structures of vortical energy separators review; the possibilities of vortical energy separator consideration and its control features; highlighting relevant research areas. The following results were obtained. The paper considers the device of the vortical energy separator in which the Ranque-Hilsch effect is manifested. A number of basic parameters are described that determine the operating efficiency of the vortical energy separator and calculations are made to increase its efficiency. The results of the research are presented that related to the influence of the overall dimensions of the vortical energy separator, form, size and number of the inlet nozzles on its effectiveness. The main types of vertical energy separator design are described: counter-flow and uni-flow. The most popular option for obtaining a descriptive model of a vortical energy separator is to use the equations of thermal and hydrodynamics. However, for further control of systems based on the use of the Ranque-Hilsch effect, this approach is not practical. For this, other methods are used to determine the mathematical model of a vortical energy separator, related to the processing of its experimental frequency characteristics. In order to obtain accurate and adequate results of the correction system with the vortical energy separator, the method of interval logarithmic amplitude-frequency characteristics is used and its mathematical model has fractional exponents. The relevant research directions of the vortical energy separators and the variants of their practical use in the world are presented: engine building, medicine, acoustic systems, industry, thermoregulation systems, aviation. Conclusions. The scientific significance of the review is as follows: the definition of relevant areas in various kinds of scientific research.

Regulation of arginine biosynthesis, catabolism and transport in Escherichia coli.

Already very early, the study of microbial arginine biosynthesis and its regulation contributed significantly to the development of new ideas and concepts. Hence, the term "repression" was proposed by Vogel (The chemical basis of heredity, The John Hopkins Press, Baltimore, 1957) (in opposition to induction) to describe the relative decrease in acetylornithinase production in Escherichia coli cells upon arginine supplementation, whereas the term "regulon" was coined by Maas and Clark (J Mol Biol 8:365-370, 1964) for the ensemble of arginine biosynthetic genes dispersed over the E. coli chromosome but all subjected to regulation by the trans-acting argR gene product. Since then, unraveling of the molecular mechanisms controlling arginine biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport in and out the cell, have revealed moonlighting activities of enzymes and transcriptional regulators that generate unexpected interconnections between at first sight totally unrelated cellular processes, and have continued to replenish scientific knowledge and stimulated creative thinking. Furthermore, arginine is much more than just a common amino acid for protein synthesis. It may also be used as sole source of nitrogen by E. coli and a source of nitrogen, carbon and energy by many other bacteria. It is a substrate for the synthesis of polyamines, and important for the extreme acid resistance of E. coli. Furthermore, the guanidino group of arginine is well suited to engage in multiple interactions involving hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions with proteins and nucleic acids. Here, we combine major historical discoveries with current state of the art knowledge on arginine biosynthesis, catabolism and transport, and especially the regulation of these processes in E. coli, with reference to other microorganisms.

A lesson from the history of scientific discovery of measuring the pressure of light

A lesson from the history of scientific discovery of measuring the pressure of light

50 ЛЕТ ТОМУ НАЗАД Ю.А. ИВАНОВ И ЕГО КОЛЛЕГИ ОТКРЫЛИ АНТИЛО-ГВИАНСКОЕ ТЕЧЕНИЕ

A brief history of the Antilles-Guiana Current discovery during cruise 5 of the scientific research vessel (R/V) “Akademik Kurchatov” in 1969 in the Atlantic Ocean is presented. This expedition of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the USSR Academy of Sciences was targeted for experimental study of the Western Boundary Current System in the tropical Atlantic. The previous studies in this region revealed signs of the Southern flow within the system, which overall meridional velocity component was of the Northern direction. However, the traces of Southern currents in all such cases were usually interpreted as a manifestation of a large-scale eddy activity in the velocity field of the main North-Western water transport. In the expedition of 1969, for the first time in the Russian oceanography a non-trivial method for the direct measurements of a current velocity was applied. It is based on the results of an immediate preliminary hydrographic survey of the area, which proposed by Y.A. Ivanov. This method has made possible to determine in details the actual system of the Western boundary flows, in which the previously unknown to science the Antilles-Guiana Current was discovered. The other Russian expeditions, which have been carried out in 1970 and 1972 during 9 and 12 cruises of the R/V “Akademik Kurchatov”, revealed the interannual stability of this flow, including the mass transport, approximately equal to 30 Sv, i.e. almost half of the volume of water carried by the Gulf Stream.

Elements of the Fifth Group of the Periodic System of D.I. Mendeleev – the Elements of Life

In the popular science review, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the first publication of the Periodic Table of chemical elements by D.I. Mendeleev, the elements of the 5th (main) Group (namely nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth) are considered. The history of these elements discovery and some their properties are shortly described. The elements of the fifth group are also called “the elements of life”, which is linked with both the development of living organisms themselves and their compounds importance for human life. The review confirms this thesis in a popular-science form, using the available literature data on the role of chemical compounds of Group 5th elements in the development of living nature as well as in the progress of human civilization.

Science and education are essential to Brazil's well-being.

Brazil has a long history of important scientific discoveries that have contributed to the overall wealth and well-being of the country. Paulo Boggio argues that these can only be sustained if the government stops cutting the research and education budget and starts investing in human intellect and science.

ENDOCRINE HISTORY: The history of discovery, synthesis and development of testosterone for clinical use.

As the most important male hormone, testosterone has an impact on almost all organs and body functions. The biological effects of testosterone and the testes have been known since antiquity, long before testosterone was identified as the active agent. Practical applications of this knowledge were castration of males to produce obedient servants, for punishment, for preservation of the prepubertal soprano voice and even for treatment of diseases. Testes were used in organotherapy and transplanted as treatment for symptoms of hypogonadism on a large scale, although these practices had only placebo effects. In reaction to such malpractice in the first half of the 20th century science and the young pharmaceutical industry initiated the search for the male hormone. After several detours together with their teams in 1935, Ernst Laqueur (Amsterdam) isolated and Adolf Butenandt (Gdansk) as well as Leopold Ruzicka (Zürich) synthesized testosterone. Since then testosterone has been available for clinical use. However, when given orally, testosterone is inactivated in the liver, so that parenteral forms of administration or modifications of the molecule had to be found. Over 85 years the testosterone preparations have been slowly improved so that now physiological serum levels can be achieved.

The Excavated Fragments from Qumran: Steps Toward A Reappraisal

After a brief survey of the early history of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery from the perspective of the provenance of archaeological artifacts, this article offers a table of the so-called “E” series fragments from Qumran, that is to say those PAM photos containing only fragments coming from controlled excavations. What remains to be done is to identify each fragment of each text contained in the “E” series photographs.

Women who contributed to past research in multiple sclerosis

Background: The history of multiple sclerosis (MS) is dominated by the discoveries of famous men. However, women would like to feel part of the story and to know that women have contributed to MS research. Objective: To identify women who contributed to the history of discovery in MS. Method: This was a personal survey from my knowledge of previous work. Results: There were no women participants in the early stages of MS research. However, since 1950 there are many women who have contributed to MS research. In the 20th century, there were famous women who contributed to the scientific fields that form the basis of MS research. In the 21st century, more women participate in MS research but studies suggest that they are under-represented in positions of prominence. Conclusion: Women have been part of the effort to understand MS, but are not well recognized.

Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters.

In recent years, it has become evident that a generational gap has developed in the community of arbovirus research. This apparent gap is due to the dis-investment of training for the next generation of arbovirologists, which threatens to derail the rich history of virus discovery, field epidemiology, and understanding of the richness of diversity that surrounds us. On the other hand, new technologies have resulted in an explosion of virus discovery that is constantly redefining the virosphere and the evolutionary relationships between viruses. This paradox presents new challenges that may have immediate and disastrous consequences for public health when yet to be discovered arboviruses emerge. In this review we endeavor to bridge this gap by providing a historical context for the work being conducted today and provide continuity between the generations. To this end, we will provide a narrative of the thrill of scientific discovery and excitement and the challenges lying ahead.

Ion channels and signaling pathways used in the fast polyspermy block.

Fertilization of an egg by multiple sperms, polyspermy, is lethal to most sexually reproducing species. To combat the entry of additional sperm into already fertilized eggs, organisms have developed various polyspermy blocks. One such barrier, the fast polyspermy block, uses a fertilization-activated depolarization of the egg membrane to electrically inhibit supernumerary sperm from entering the egg. The fast block is commonly used by eggs of oviparous animals with external fertilization. In this review, we discuss the history of the fast block discovery, as well as general features shared by all organisms that use this polyspermy block. Given the diversity of habitats of external fertilizers, the fine details of the fast block-signaling pathways differ drastically between species, including the identity of the depolarizing ions. We highlight the known molecular mediators of these signaling pathways in amphibians and echinoderms, with a fine focus on ion channels that signal these fertilization-evoked depolarizations. We also discuss the investigation for a fast polyspermy block in mammals and teleost fish, and we outline potential fast block triggers. Since the first electrical recordings made on eggs in the 1950s, the fields of developmental biology and electrophysiology have substantially matured, and yet we are only now beginning to discern the intricate molecular mechanisms regulating the fast block to polyspermy.

Representations in the History of Discoveries

Representations in the History of Discoveries

DPYD and Fluorouracil-Based Chemotherapy: Mini Review and Case Report.

5-Fluorouracil remains a foundational component of chemotherapy for solid tumour malignancies. While considered a generally safe and effective chemotherapeutic, 5-fluorouracil has demonstrated severe adverse event rates of up to 30%. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil can improve the precision medicine approaches to this therapy. A single enzyme, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), mediates 80% of 5-fluorouracil elimination, through hepatic metabolism. Importantly, it has been known for over 30-years that adverse events during 5-fluorouracil therapy are linked to high systemic exposure, and to those patients who exhibit DPD deficiency. To date, pre-treatment screening for DPD deficiency in patients with planned 5-fluorouracil-based therapy is not a standard of care. Here we provide a focused review of 5-fluorouracil metabolism, and the efforts to improve predictive dosing through screening for DPD deficiency. We also outline the history of key discoveries relating to DPD deficiency and include relevant information on the potential benefit of therapeutic drug monitoring of 5-fluorouracil. Finally, we present a brief case report that highlights a limitation of pharmacogenetics, where we carried out therapeutic drug monitoring of 5-fluorouracil in an orthotopic liver transplant recipient. This case supports the development of robust multimodality precision medicine services, capable of accommodating complex clinical dilemmas.