Journal Of Biology Research Articles

The Forest of Biologists - for biologists, for biology.

The Forest of Biologists - for biologists, for biology.

ECR Spotlight – Ralph Lacerda de Albuquerque

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Ralph Lacerda de Albuquerque is an author on ‘ Lower-level predictors and behavioral correlates of maximal aerobic capacity and sprint speed among individual lizards’, published in JEB. Ralph conducted the research described in this article while a PhD student in Theodore Garland, Jr’s lab at University of California, Riverside. He is now a postdoc in the lab of Daniel Oliveira Mesquita at Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil, investigating how animal morphology and physiology have been shaped by past natural and sexual selection and how they limit animals’ capacities and influence their behavior.

ECR Spotlight – Luke Flewwelling

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Luke Flewwelling is an author on ‘ Thermoregulatory trade-offs underlie the effects of warming summer temperatures on deer mice’, published in JEB. Luke conducted the research described in this article while a graduate student (MSc) in Dr Graham Scott's lab at McMaster University, Canada. He is now a PhD student in the lab of Dr Arthur Cheng at York University, Canada, investigating muscle physiology and the mechanisms by which exercise can create physiological change in individuals. Currently he is studying how various types of exercise training impact muscle fatigue tolerance and calcium signalling in single muscle fibres.

The Forest of Biologists – for biologists, for biology

The Forest of Biologists – for biologists, for biology

Welcome Matt and farewell Ken.

Welcome Matt and farewell Ken.

50 Years since Kaufman and Phillips’ Groundbreaking Trilogy Elucidating Ion and Water Homeostasis in Ixodid Ticks

The enormous volume of blood ingested by hard ticks during their long attachment period is without a doubt the hallmark of their biology. Maintaining a homeostatic balance between ion and water intake and loss during their feeding is critical to preventing osmotic stress and death. Exactly 50 years ago, Kaufman and Phillips published a series of three consecutive papers on "Ion and water balance in the ixodid tick Dermacentor andersoni", Journal of Experimental Biology (1973): I. Routes of ion and water excretion, 58: 523-36; II. Mechanism and control of salivary secretion 58: 537-547; and III. Influence of monovalent ions and osmotic pressure on salivary secretion 58: 549-564. This classic series significantly expanded our knowledge of the unique regulatory processes governing ion and water balance in fed ixodid ticks, highlighting its uniqueness among the blood-feeding arthropods. Their pioneer work had an enormous impact on understanding the vital role of salivary glands in these actions, and ultimately provided a consequential stepping stone for a new era of hard tick salivary gland physiological research.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Biology and Life Scienc, Vol. 14, No. 1

Journal of Biology and Life Science (JBLS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JBLS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 14, Number 1Arshia Tabassum, University of Karachi, PakistanBratko Filipic, (CIETO), SloveniaHoe Yin Chen, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, MalaysiaHomyra Tasnim, Louisiana State University, BangladeshMemoona Ramzan, University of Miami, USANatalia Tkachuk, T.H. Shevchenko National University “Chernihiv Colehium”, UkraineRagab A. El-Mergawi, National Research Centre, EgyptRajaa Ahmed Mahmoud, University of Basrah, IraqSridhar Mandali, UCLA, USAXiaohuang Cao, Guangdong Ocean University, China Kelvin LeeEditorial AssistantJournal of Biology and Life Science-------------------------------------------Macrothink Institute5348 Vegas Dr.#825Las Vegas, Nevada 89108United StatesTel: 1-702-953-1852 ext.510Fax: 1-702-420-2900E-mail 1: jbls@macrothink.orgE-mail 2: jbls@macrothink.comURL: http://jbls.macrothink.org

Emerging biological insights enabled by high-resolution 3D motion data: promises, perspectives and pitfalls.

Deconstructing motion to better understand it is a key prerequisite in the field of comparative biomechanics. Since Marey and Muybridge's work, technical constraints have been the largest limitation to motion capture and analysis, which, in turn, limited what kinds of questions biologists could ask or answer. Throughout the history of our field, conceptual leaps and significant technical advances have generally worked hand in hand. Recently, high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) motion data have become easier to acquire, providing new opportunities for comparative biomechanics. We describe how adding a third dimension of information has fuelled major paradigm shifts, not only leading to a reinterpretation of long-standing scientific questions but also allowing new questions to be asked. In this paper, we highlight recent work published in Journal of Experimental Biology and influenced by these studies, demonstrating the biological breakthroughs made with 3D data. Although amazing opportunities emerge from these technical and conceptual advances, high-resolution data often come with a price. Here, we discuss challenges of 3D data, including low-throughput methodology, costly equipment, low sample sizes, and complex analyses and presentation. Therefore, we propose guidelines for how and when to pursue 3D high-resolution data. We also suggest research areas that are poised for major new biological advances through emerging 3D data collection.

ECR Spotlight – Juan Zuluaga

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Juan Zuluaga is an author on ‘ Acute stress and restricted diet reduce bill-mediated heat dissipation in the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia): implications for optimal thermoregulation’, published in JEB. Juan is a PhD student in the lab of Raymond Danner at University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA, investigating the evolution of birds' adaptations to thermoregulatory challenges, and how these adaptations will fare against climate change.

ECR Spotlight – Amit Rana

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Amit Rana is an author on ‘ Parasitoid wasp venom re-programs host behavior through downmodulation of brain central complex activity and motor output’, published in JEB. Amit is a PhD student in the lab of Frederic Libersat at Zlotowski Center for Neurosciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel, investigating neuroparasitoids, nociception, navigation and hibernation.

ECR Spotlight – Caleb Loughran

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Caleb Loughran is an author on ‘ Evaporative cooling via panting and its metabolic and water balance costs for lizards in the American Southwest’, published in JEB. Caleb conducted the research described in this article while a PhD Student in Blair Wolf's lab in the Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, USA. He is now a Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology at New Mexico Highland University, USA, investigating the physiological ecology and thermal biology of reptiles, particularly with regard to how climate change will affect species distribution and persistence.

2023 update of template tables for reporting biomolecular structural modelling of small-angle scattering data.

In 2017, guidelines were published for reporting structural modelling of small-angle scattering (SAS) data from biomolecules in solution that exemplified best-practice documentation of experiments and analysis. Since then, there has been significant progress in SAS data and model archiving, and the IUCr journal editors announced that the IUCr biology journals will require the deposition of SAS data used in biomolecular structure solution into a public archive, as well asadherence to the 2017 reporting guidelines. In this context, the reporting template tables accompanying the 2017 publication guidelines have been reviewed with a focus on making them both easier to use and more general. With input from the SAS community via the IUCr Commission on SAS and attendees of the triennial 2022 SAS meeting (SAS2022, Campinas, Brazil), an updated reporting template table has been developed that includes standard descriptions for proteins, glycosylated proteins, DNA and RNA, with some reorganization of the data to improve readability and interpretation. In addition, a specialized template has been developed for reporting SAS contrast-variation (SAS-cv) data and models that incorporates the additional reporting requirements from the 2017 guidelines for these more complicated experiments. To demonstrate their utility, examples of reporting with these new templates are provided for a SAS study of a DNA-protein complex and a SAS-cv experiment on a protein complex. The examples demonstrate how the tabulated information promotes transparent reporting that, in combination with the recommended figures and additional information best presented in the main text, enables the reader of the work to readily draw their own conclusions regarding the quality of the data and the validity of the models presented.

ECR Spotlight – Veronica Rivi

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year, but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Veronica Rivi is an author on ‘ Invertebrates as models of learning and memory: investigating neural and molecular mechanisms’, published in JEB. Veronica is a post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Joan M. C. Blom and Fabio Tascedda at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy, investigating the conserved molecular mechanisms that promote maladaptive behaviors and psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia. In doing so, she hopes to improve treatment options and outcomes for individuals suffering from such disabling disorders.

Neutrophils and their friends.

Neutrophils and their friends.

Why and how do Y chromosome stop recombining?

Why and how do Y chromosome stop recombining?

Preface: MatBio 2021 Special Section.

Journal of Computational BiologyVol. 30, No. 2 MatBio 2021 Special SectionPreface: MatBio 2021 Special SectionGUEST EDITORS: Mai Alzamel, Christopher Hampson, Costas Iliopoulos, and Fatima VayaniGUEST EDITORS: Mai AlzamelAddress correspondence to: Dr. Mai Alzamel, Department of Informatics, King's College London, Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG, United Kingdom, [Also: Department of Computer Science, King Saud University] Department of Informatics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, Christopher HampsonAddress correspondence to: Dr. Christopher Hampson, Department of Informatics, King's College London, Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG, United Kingdom Department of Informatics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, Costas IliopoulosAddress correspondence to: Prof. Costas Iliopoulos, Department of Informatics, King's College London, Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG, United Kingdom Department of Informatics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, and Fatima VayaniAddress correspondence to: Dr. Fatima Vayani, Department of Informatics, King's College London, Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG, United Kingdom Department of Informatics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:7 Feb 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/cmb.2023.29080.preAboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View article"Preface: MatBio 2021 Special Section." Journal of Computational Biology, 30(2), p. 117FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 30Issue 2Feb 2023 InformationCopyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:GUEST EDITORS: Mai Alzamel, Christopher Hampson, Costas Iliopoulos, and Fatima Vayani.Preface: MatBio 2021 Special Section.Journal of Computational Biology.Feb 2023.117-117.http://doi.org/10.1089/cmb.2023.29080.prePublished in Volume: 30 Issue 2: February 7, 2023Online Ahead of Print:January 18, 2023PDF download

Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of International Journal of Plant Biology in 2022

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]

ECR Spotlight – Derek Jurestovsky

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year, but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Derek Jurestovsky is an author on ‘ Blood python (Python brongersmai) strike kinematics and forces are robust to variations in substrate geometry’, published in JEB. Derek conducted the research described in this article while a PhD student in Henry Astley's lab at University of Akron, USA. He is now a Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab of Jonas Rubenson and Steve Piazza at Pennsylvania State University, USA, investigating squamate skeletal morphology, biomechanics and their distributions in the past, present and future.

ECR Spotlight – Elisa Thoral

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Elisa Thoral is an author on ‘ Temperature-dependent metabolic consequences of food deprivation in the European sardine’, published in JEB. Elisa conducted the research described in this article while a graduate student and PhD student with Loïc Teulier, Claire Saraux and Damien Roussel at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France and MARBEC (Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD), Sète, France. She is now a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Andreas Nord at Lund University, Sweden, investigating the effect of several environmental stresses on the mitochondrial metabolism in different animal species.

Language Barriers in Organismal Biology: What Can Journals Do Better?

In the field of organismal biology, as in much of academia, there is a strong incentive to publish in internationally recognized, highly regarded, English-language journals to promote career advancement. This expectation has created a linguistic hegemony in scientific publishing, whereby scholars for whom English is an additional language face additional barriers to achieving the same scientific recognition as scholars who speak English as a first language. Here, we surveyed the author guidelines of 230 journals in organismal biology with impact factors of 1.5 or greater for linguistically inclusive and equitable practices and policies. We looked for efforts that reflect first steps toward reducing barriers to publication for authors globally, including the presence of statements that encouraged submissions from authors of diverse nationalities and backgrounds, policies regarding manuscript rejection based on perceived inadequacies of the English language, the existence of bias-conscious reviewer practices, whether translation and editing resources or services are available, allowance for non-English abstracts, summaries, or translations, and whether journals offer license options that would permit authors (or other scholars) to translate their work and publish it elsewhere. We also directly contacted a subset of journals to verify whether the information on their author guidelines page accurately reflects their policies and the accommodations they would make. We reveal that journals and publishers have made little progress toward beginning to recognize or reduce language barriers. Counter to our predictions, journals associated with scientific societies did not appear to have more inclusive policies compared to non-society journals. Many policies lacked transparency and clarity, which can generate uncertainty, result in avoidable manuscript rejections, and necessitate additional time and effort from both prospective authors and journal editors. We highlight examples of equitable policies and summarize actions that journals can take to begin to alleviate barriers to scientific publishing.