Scientific Journey Research Articles

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Presents Abstracts from Its Annual Meeting “Biobanking: Shaping the Scientific Journey”In‐Person: May 17 – 20, 2022Atlanta, Georgia, USAVirtual: June 14 – 15, 2022

Biopreservation and BiobankingAhead of Print The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Presents Abstracts from Its Annual Meeting “Biobanking: Shaping the Scientific Journey”In‐Person: May 17 – 20, 2022Atlanta, Georgia, USAVirtual: June 14 – 15, 2022The abstracts that follow demonstrate the broad range of timely issues addressed in the contributed oral and poster presentations at ISBER's 2022 Annual Meeting & Exhibits.Published Online:5 May 2022https://doi.org/10.1089/bio.2022.29104.abstractsAboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 0Issue 0 InformationCopyright 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Presents Abstracts from Its Annual Meeting “Biobanking: Shaping the Scientific Journey”In‐Person: May 17 – 20, 2022Atlanta, Georgia, USAVirtual: June 14 – 15, 2022.Biopreservation and Biobanking.ahead of printhttp://doi.org/10.1089/bio.2022.29104.abstractsOnline Ahead of Print:May 5, 2022PDF download

New archives definition

This paper aims to give a new definition of the word “Archives” as a result of an accurate survey of doctrinal orientations on this specific subject, analyzing - word by word – each particular lemma which makes up the new proposal. Even though there is no definition that is valid in every context, but archival theory seems to suffer largely from a heterogeneous vision, downstream of a rigorous scientific journey, but dense of conceptual and lexical unexpected contingencies. Each term - with meanings and contexts - does not constitute a simple signifier, but refers to a specific baggage of every disciplinary and cultural tradition. For these reasons, we will attempt to provide an overview of the definitions of archives, from the particular to the general.

How to Use the Italian Astronomical Heritage for the Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge in the Society

Astronomical Observatories are the most ancient scientific institutes in Italy. They preserve an incredible treasure made by rare books, astronomical sketches, documents and letters, and a noteworthy instrument collection used to realize discoveries and studies in the fields of classical astronomy and astrophysics. In the last few years the National Institute for Astrophysics has promoted a project to preserve, catalogue, and present a great part of the Italian astronomical heritage on the web with “Polvere di stelle”, the gate to arrive at the origin of modern astronomy in Italy. The studies made by some Italian researchers on the history of observatories, on the development of the astronomical instruments, on astronomers and their discoveries, activities, and scientific journeys, have revealed a complex pattern of relationships with other scientific and cultural communities, politicians and the society of their time. So you can study the foundation of Padua and Naples Observatories and you have to talk of Napoleon, Murat, and the Congress of Vienna. You can trace the birth of astrophysics and run into the events of the unification of Italy. Or you can be involved in the biographical study of Schiaparelli and you find yourself talking about archeology and fashion. And vice versa.To disseminate the scientific culture, and valorize the Italian astronomical heritage in a much wider context, we have realized exhibits, laboratories, and theatrical experiences to give life to cultural heritage. Through a powerful emotional involvement, these methods of non-formal communication of science establish a strong relationship between performers and spectators and give a more homogeneous view of the work of astronomers, and the cultural heritage they have left behind.This paper illustrates the projects we have created and the results obtained to transform the history of astronomy into the men’s stories.

A reflection of life - my tale of microdiversity, equity and inclusion in cell biology (and beyond).

A reflection of life - my tale of microdiversity, equity and inclusion in cell biology (and beyond).

My journey studying plant immunity

Our understanding of plant immunity has taken exciting and surprising turns over the past two decades. Here, I look back on my scientific journey studying plant immunity with three publications in Cell Host &Microbe, which have provided me perspectives on future research in the area of plant-pathogen interactions.

Peran Surau dan Tradisi Ziarah Tarekat Naqsyabandiyah Syekh Arsyad Batuhampar

This article presents research on the role of surau in transmitting Islamic scholarship in Indonesia, especially in West Sumatra. Educational activities in surau usually indicate a desire to understand the teachings of Islam in depth by studying Sufism. One part of Sufism is tariqa which means the way to lead to God. The Naqsabandiyah Order is widely followed by the Minangkabau community which has been disseminated by Sheikh Arsyad Batuhampar. He is a murshid who has a relic of written works that are still read by his students, namely the manuscript Min Makkah ila Misr. The manuscript is an adventure story carried out by Sheikh Arsyad as the author in the tradition of pilgrimage in the Middle East. The formulation of the problem in this article is about the role of surau in Batuhampar and why the tradition of pilgrimage of the Naqsabandiyah order to the tomb of Sheikh Arsyad Batuhampar still survives. This research uses historical methods, namely heuristics, by collecting relevant sources such as manuscripts, verification, interpretation, and historiography. The conclusion of research on the text is that Sufis from the Batuhampar region have a tradition of pilgrimage after the pilgrimage from Mecca to Egypt. This pilgrimage was led by Sheikh Arshad to visit the tombs of Muslim saints as a journey of worship and also a scientific journey. The manuscript of Min Makkah ila Misr was written by Sheikh Arshad himself in the late 19th century. Sheikh Arsyad is one of the leading figures of the Naqshbandiyah Order in the Batuhampar region. Sheikh Arsyad continued what had been started by his father, Sheikh Abdurrahman Batuhampar, namely the surau pesantren system in Batuhampar

The Extent of the Influence of Imam al-Bukhari on the Iraqi School of Hadith and his Influence on it: An Analytical and Critical Study

Objectives: To show the extent to which Imam Al-Bukhari influenced and influenced by the Iraqi School of Hadith, by exploring his scientific trips to the main cities and metropolises of Iraq. Another objective is to mention the most prominent Iraqi sheikhs and their impact on shaping Al-Bukhari’s Hadith personality, and to show the most prominent of his students who learned from him in this pioneering school and its impact on the formulation and refinement of their scientific personalities. Methods: It is represented by tracing the threads of the issue in the books that are concerned with mentioning the scientific journeys of scholars in their pursuit for hadith. An analytical and critical approachs are applied by analyzing and criticizing that information to find out the extent of Imam Bukhari’s influence on and being influenced by the Iraqi school. Results: Imam Al-Bukhari seemed independent in his unique critical mentality, as he relied on himself more than on his sheikhs in judging the narrators and their narrations. Conclustions: The study recommends that the scientific and academic circles pay attention to what is related to the Iraqi Hadith School, in terms of identifying it’s approaches, its most prominent scholars, and its influence and impact on other schools.

Concluding remarks: next generation nanoelectrochemistry - next generation nanoelectrochemists.

The aim of this paper is to describe the scientific journey taken to arrive at present-day nanoelectrochemistry and consider how the area might develop in the future, particularly in light of papers presented at this Faraday Discussion. By adopting a generational approach, this brief contribution traces the story of the nanoelectrochemistry family within the broader electrochemistry field, with a focus on scientific capability and themes that were important to each generation. I shall consider research questions and the impact of technology that was developed or available in each period. Nanoelectrochemistry is still somewhat niche, but is attracting increasing numbers of researchers. It is set to become a major part of electrochemistry and interfacial science. It is studied by people with a fairly unique skillset, and I shall speculate on the skills and expertise that will be needed by nanoelectrochemists to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I conclude by asking: who will be the nanoelectrochemists of the future and what will they do?

How a first research experience had an impact on my scientific journey.

As I look back to my scientific trajectory on the occasion of being the recipient of the E. B. Wilson Medal of the American Society for Cell Biology, I realize how much an early scientific experience had an impact on my research many years later. The major influence that the first scientific encounters can have in defining a scientist’s path makes the choice of the training environment so important for a future career.

The story of science: successes, failures, luck, privilege, and bias.

I am incredibly honored to receive the 2021 WICB Junior Award for Excellence in Research in WICB’s golden jubilee year. In this essay, I traverse my scientific journey starting with my PhD, highlighting the highs and the lows and how these intersect with luck, privilege, and bias.

Science, Innovation, and Society in the Age of Pandemics: Reflections From the Inaugural Sir Alasdair Breckenridge Lecture.

Science, Innovation, and Society in the Age of Pandemics: Reflections From the Inaugural Sir Alasdair Breckenridge Lecture.

Living the best of both worlds: A personal scientific journey.

Opportunity is the essence of a career in science or medicine and this continues to be a major source of satisfaction for the many scientists and health care providers worldwide. Having trained as a PhD scientist, the world of clinical medicine seemed to be a galaxy away. I could not have been more wrong in that assumption. Here, I tell the story of my career trajectory so that those new to the sciences understand the potential and the opportunities afforded by a career in clinical laboratory medicine.

Scientific journeys to one of the oldest copper cementation sites in Central Europe (Smolník, Slovakia)

Abstract. The process of copper cementation has already been known since the period of antiquity in Europe. Nevertheless, the first historically relevant reports come from the 14th century from the mining town of Smolník in Upper Hungary (present-day Slovakia), which makes this site the oldest place of the commercial production of copper using cementation in Europe. It is one of the oldest known sites in the world after China, where this process has been used since the 11th century. The cementation copper from Smolník was considered to be a high-quality copper in the period between the 14th and 19th century and was an important export product of Hungary. The study processes the history of cementation and discusses the production process of the artificial cementation water, as well as its subsequent mining and sedimentation. A detailed description of the technological progress of cementation from the earliest times up to the first half of the 19th century is given. The study is based upon the historical works of medieval alchemists and the first miners and naturalists, which were published as early scientific books in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century. These findings are complemented by original archival research.

Dr. Edith H. Quimby: A pioneering medical physicist and educator with outstanding contributions in radiation dosimetry

Dr. Edith H. Quimby: A pioneering medical physicist and educator with outstanding contributions in radiation dosimetry

Sulfur Biogeochemical Cycle of Marine Sediments

Complex interactions between microbial communities and geochemical processes drive the major element cycles and control the function of marine sediments as a dynamic reservoir of organic matter. Sulfate reduction is globally the dominant pathway of anaerobic mineralisation and is the main source of sulfide. The effective re-oxidation of this sulfide at the direct or indirect expense of oxygen is a prerequisite for aerobic life on our planet. Although largely hidden beneath the oxic sediment surface, the sulfur cycle is therefore critical for Earth’s redox state. This Geochemical Perspectives begins with a brief primer on the sulfur cycle of marine sediments and a description of my own scientific journey through nearly fifty years of studies of sulfur geochemistry and microbiology. Among the main objectives of these studies were to quantify the main processes of the sulfur cycle and to identify the microbial communities behind them. Radiotracers in combination with chemical analyses have thereby been used extensively for laboratory experiments, supported by diverse molecular microbiological methods. The following sections discuss the main processes of sulfate reduction, sulfide oxidation and disproportionation of the inorganic sulfur intermediates, especially of elemental sulfur and thiosulfate. The experimental approaches used enable the analysis of how environmental factors such as substrate concentration or temperature affect process rates and how concurrent processes of sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation drive a cryptic sulfur cycle. The chemical energy of sulfide is used by chemolithotrophic bacteria, including fascinating communities of big sulfur bacteria and cable bacteria, and supports their dark CO2 fixation, which produces new microbial biomass. During the burial and aging of marine sediments, the predominant mineralisation processes change through a cascade of redox reactions, and the rate of organic matter degradation drops continuously over many orders of magnitude. The main pathways of anaerobic mineralisation and the age control of the organic matter turnover are discussed. In the deep methanic zone, only a few percent of the entire degradation process remains, which provides a small boost of substrate for sulfate reduction through the process of anaerobic methane oxidation. The stable isotopes of sulfur provide an additional tool to understand these diagenetic processes, whereby the combination of microbial isotope fractionation and open system diagenesis generate a differential diffusion flux of the isotopes. In relation to the organic carbon cycle of the seabed and the contribution of methane, the paper discusses the global sulfur budget and the role of sulfate reduction for organic matter mineralisation in different depth regions of the ocean – from coast to deep sea. The published estimates of these parameters are evaluated and compared. Finally, the paper looks at future perspectives with respect to gaps in our current understanding and the need for further studies.

A scientific journey from discovery to validation of efficacy in cancer patients: HAMLET and alpha1-oleate

ABSTRACT The protein-lipid complex alpha1-oleate, derived from HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells), is identified as a molecular entity with significant therapeutic potential. Structural characterization of the complex and results of a successful placebo-controlled clinical trial are presented.

Mucosal vaccines: wisdom from now and then.

The oral and nasal cavities are covered by the mucosal epithelium that starts at the beginning of the aero-digestive tract. These mucosal surfaces are continuously exposed to environmental antigens including pathogens and allergens and are thus equipped with a mucosal immune system that mediates initial recognition of pathogenicity and initiates pathogen-specific immune responses. At the dawn of our scientific effort to explore the mucosal immune system, dental science was one of the major driving forces as it provided insights into the importance of mucosal immunity and its application for the control of oral infectious diseases. The development of mucosal vaccines for the prevention of dental caries was thus part of a novel approach that contributed to building the scientific foundations of the mucosal immune system. Since then, mucosal immunology and vaccines have gone on a scientific journey to become one of the major entities within the discipline of immunology. Here, we introduce our past and current efforts and future directions for the development of mucosal vaccines, specifically a rice-based oral vaccine (MucoRice) and a nanogel-based nasal vaccine, with the aim of preventing and controlling gastrointestinal and respiratory infectious diseases using the interdisciplinary fusion of mucosal immunology with agricultural science and biomaterial engineering, respectively.

Mapping eminence and expertise of talented STEM students – A study of talent development from India

Achieving eminence in STEM domains requires the development of intellectual and academic abilities, creativity, and the cultivation of psychological and social skills. The value of talent development, nurture, and training is key to achieve success in science. Using the mega-model of talent development as the theoretical basis and embedded mixed-method design, the present study examines attainment levels of 622 STEM professionals aged between 29 to 77 years who are awardees of Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS), India's oldest science talent search organization. The efficacy of the program towards nurturing pathways of eminence and expertise amongst scholars is explored through mapping longitudinal archival data and analyzing scholar interviews across four generations and three talent development stages. Findings throw light on key factors and experiences highlighting the role played by JBNSTS in facilitating the scientific journeys of its scholars over six decades. Differences in career trajectories and life choices of JBNSTS scholars are explained in terms of contributing factors related to their overall experience including transformational moments.

A century of insulin: from lifesaving discovery to a journey of scientific evolution!

AbstractBefore 1922, treatments for type 1 diabetes were limited, including the Allen plan (a diet based on minimising calorific intake), and the prognosis was bleak. Although the pancreas was already thought to produce a substance that, when lacking, resulted in diabetes it was not until the unlikely combination of an orthopaedic surgeon, Frederick Banting, and a medical student, Charles Best, came together with the guidance and support of physiologist Prof John Macleod that progress into clinical practice became a reality. Initial laboratory work in dogs confirmed the biological effect of the endocrine function of the pancreas. The realisation that insulin could be extracted from bovine pancreas made it a realistic prospect for treatment, but only after the involvement of James Collip, a biochemist who helped refine the purification process. The first injection of insulin as a treatment happened on 11 January 1922. Since then, it has been a scientific journey driven by the need for large‐scale production, processes allowing initially for better extraction and purification of bovine, then porcine insulin, before recombinant DNA technology allowed for the production of human insulin from 1978. Throughout the use of animal and human insulins, research efforts have concentrated on finding ways of prolonging the insulin time‐action profile to meet basal insulin requirements while at the same time shortening it to be more convenient for prandial insulin needs. The development of insulin analogues from 1996 has allowed an even better ability to mimic normal physiological function with longer‐acting basal insulins and shorter‐acting prandial insulins. This approach will continue to be a driver for evolution in addition to exploring the possibility of different routes of delivery. Copyright © 2021 John Wiley & Sons.

Optical cloaking and invisibility: From fiction toward a technological reality

Optical invisibility, which started in the pages of fiction before becoming an intriguing quest of humankind for over a century, has blossomed into a remarkable scientific journey toward reality over the last two decades. Perfect optical cloaking requires the total scattering of electromagnetic waves around an object at all angles, all polarizations, over a wide frequency range, irrespective of the medium. Such a device is still far-fetched, requiring the transformation of space around a cloaked region such that the phase velocity is faster than other areas to preserve the phase relationships. However, by simplifying the invisibility requirements, pioneering work on spherical transformation cloaks, carpet cloaks, plasmonic cloaks, and mantle cloaks has been realized in narrowband microwave, infrared, and even optical wavelengths. In this Tutorial, we review the theoretical basis for invisibility cloaking, from spherical transformational optics to non-Euclidian cases, and discuss their limitations. Subsequently, we highlight the recent trends in realizing reconfigurable intelligent cloaks to overcome the traditional limitations of wideband operation and parallel efforts in unidirectional cloaking. Because the human eye is insensitive to the phase and polarization of visible light, a class of ray optics cloaking devices has been recently developed by eliminating phase preservation requirements. Notably, we focus on the recent progress achieved on invisibility cloaks that function in natural incoherent light and can be realized using standard optical components. We conclude this Tutorial with a prospective of potential applications and the practicality of optical cloaks in everyday life.