TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Glenn E. Schweitzer A2 - Rita S. Guenther TI - Innovating for Profit in Russia: Summary of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/11418 PY - 2006 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11418/innovating-for-profit-in-russia-summary-of-a-workshop PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The National Research Council hosted an interacademy workshop in Yekaterinburg, Russia together with the Russian Academy of Sciences in October 2004 as a means of exploring various aspects of industrial innovation in the Urals region of Russia. Workshop presenters focused on the establishment of cooperative business partnerships between Russian industrial companies and Russian research organizations, particularly those in the closed nuclear cities of Russia. The concept of "market pull" was therefore an important aspect of the workshop, including partnerships between Russian researchers and international companies, as well as those with international research centers. However, given the complex economic and research climates in Russia, which are intensified in the nuclear cities, cooperation between Russian industry and Russian researchers were of primary during the workshop presentations and subsequent discussions as captured in this workshop summary. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The Unique U.S.-Russian Relationship in Biological Science and Biotechnology: Recent Experience and Future Directions SN - DO - 10.17226/18277 PY - 2013 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18277/the-unique-us-russian-relationship-in-biological-science-and-biotechnology PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - In the fall of 2010, the U.S. National Academies (consisting of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine) and the Russian Academy of Sciences (in cooperation with the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences) initiated a joint study of U.S.-Russian bilateral engagement in the biological sciences and biotechnology (hereinafter collectively referred to as bioengagement). The U.S. Department of State and the Russian Academy of Sciences provided support for the study. The academies established a joint committee of 12 leading scientists from the two countries to assess bioengagement activities since 1996 and to provide recommendations as to collaborative efforts in the near future. The Unique U.S.-Russian Relationship in Biological Science and Biotechnology: Recent Experience and Future Directions summarizes the principal conclusions and recommendations of the study. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Successes and Difficulties of Small Innovative Firms in Russian Nuclear Cities: Proceedings of a Russian-American Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/10392 PY - 2002 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10392/successes-and-difficulties-of-small-innovative-firms-in-russian-nuclear-cities PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This workshop report focuses on successes and failures of small innovative firms in five science cities in Russia. The workshop was organized by the NRC with the cooperation of Minatom. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The Role of Theory in Advancing 21st-Century Biology: Catalyzing Transformative Research SN - DO - 10.17226/12026 PY - 2008 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12026/the-role-of-theory-in-advancing-21st-century-biology-catalyzing PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Although its importance is not always recognized, theory is an integral part of all biological research. Biologists' theoretical and conceptual frameworks inform every step of their research, affecting what experiments they do, what techniques and technologies they develop and use, and how they interpret their data. By examining how theory can help biologists answer questions like "What are the engineering principles of life?" or "How do cells really work?" the report shows how theory synthesizes biological knowledge from the molecular level to the level of whole ecosystems. The book concludes that theory is already an inextricable thread running throughout the practice of biology; but that explicitly giving theory equal status with other components of biological research could help catalyze transformative research that will lead to creative, dynamic, and innovative advances in our understanding of life. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Safeguarding the Bioeconomy SN - DO - 10.17226/25525 PY - 2020 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25525/safeguarding-the-bioeconomy PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Research and innovation in the life sciences is driving rapid growth in agriculture, biomedical science, information science and computing, energy, and other sectors of the U.S. economy. This economic activity, conceptually referred to as the bioeconomy, presents many opportunities to create jobs, improve the quality of life, and continue to drive economic growth. While the United States has been a leader in advancements in the biological sciences, other countries are also actively investing in and expanding their capabilities in this area. Maintaining competitiveness in the bioeconomy is key to maintaining the economic health and security of the United States and other nations. Safeguarding the Bioeconomy evaluates preexisting and potential approaches for assessing the value of the bioeconomy and identifies intangible assets not sufficiently captured or that are missing from U.S. assessments. This study considers strategies for safeguarding and sustaining the economic activity driven by research and innovation in the life sciences. It also presents ideas for horizon scanning mechanisms to identify new technologies, markets, and data sources that have the potential to drive future development of the bioeconomy. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences A2 - John C. Avise A2 - Francisco J. Ayala TI - In the Light of Evolution: Volume IV: The Human Condition SN - DO - 10.17226/12931 PY - 2010 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12931/in-the-light-of-evolution-volume-iv-the-human-condition PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The Human Condition is a collection of papers by leading evolutionary biologists and philosophers of science that reflect on the Darwinian Revolution as it relates to the human condition at levels ranging from the molecular to the theological. The book focuses on understanding the evolutionary origin of humans and their biological and cultural traits. The Human Condition is organized into three parts: Human Phylogenetic History and the Paleontological Record; Structure and Function of the Human Genome; and Cultural Evolution and the Uniqueness of Being Human. This fourth volume from the In the Light of Evolution (ILE) series, based on a series of Arthur M. Sackler colloquia, was designed to promote the evolutionary sciences. Each volume explores evolutionary perspectives on a particular biological topic that is scientifically intriguing but also has special relevance to contemporary societal issues or challenges. Individually and collectively, the ILE series interprets phenomena in various areas of biology through the lens of evolution, addresses some of the most intellectually engaging as well as pragmatically important societal issues of our times, and fosters a greater appreciation of evolutionary biology as a consolidating foundation for the life sciences. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Harry William Hutchinson TI - Field Guide to Brazil DO - 10.17226/18401 PY - 1960 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18401/field-guide-to-brazil PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This guide to field research in Brazil is one of a series being issued under the auspices of the Committee on International Anthropology, which was established in 1957 by the Division of Anthropology and Psychology of the National Academy of Sciences — National Research Council. The proposal that such field guides be prepared came from a conference of anthropologists held at Columbia University in December, 1956. The Committee has treated the project as an experimental one, recognizing that the audiences to be addressed are rather diverse, e.g., the research worker with a project and area in hand, graduate training seminars, the social scientist wanting to make professional contacts, and that the materials would have to be stated mostly in general terms. The purpose of Field Guide to Brazil is to provide information which the research worker, entering an area for the first time, should have in order to plan his trip get clearances from governments, deal with interested scientific institutions and scholars, comport himself properly in relations with local leaders, and establish generally a favorable working status for himself prior to the point where he applies his professional techniques to the problem in hand. ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Richard F. Thompson A2 - Stephen A. Madigan TI - Memory: The Key to Consciousness DO - 10.17226/10746 PY - 2005 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10746/memory-the-key-to-consciousness PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Memory is perhaps the most extraordinary phenomenon in the natural world. Every person’s brain holds literally millions of bits of information in long-term storage. This vast memory store includes our extensive vocabulary and knowledge of language; the tremendous and unique variety of facts we’ve amassed; all the skills we’ve learned, from walking and talking to musical and athletic performance; many of the emotions we feel; and the continuous sensations, feelings, and understandings of the world we term “consciousness.” And we routinely access this tremendous volume of data in the blink of an eye. Without memory there can be no mind as we understand it. Focusing on cutting edge research in behavioral and neuroscience, Memory, the second title in the Science Essentials series, is a primer of our current scientific understanding of the mechanics of memory and learning. During the past two decades, memory research has accelerated and we have seen an explosion of new knowledge about the brain. For example, there now exists a wide-ranging and successful applied science devoted specifically and exclusively to the study of memory that has yielded better procedures for eliciting valid recollections in legal settings and improved our track record for diagnosing and treating memory disorders. Everyone fascinated by the cutting-edge scientific research that is revealing the incredible scope and power of the human brain will find this to be an unforgettable book. ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Ann B. Parson TI - The Proteus Effect: Stem Cells and Their Promise for Medicine SN - DO - 10.17226/11003 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11003/the-proteus-effect-stem-cells-and-their-promise-for-medicine PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Stem cells could be the key that unlocks cures to scores of diseases and illnesses. Their story is at once compelling, controversial, and remarkable. Part detective story, part medical history, The Proteus Effect recounts the events leading up to the discovery of stem cells and their incredible potential for the future of medicine. What exactly are these biological wonders – these things called stem cells? They may be tiny, but their impact is earth shaking, generating excitement among medical researchers – and outright turmoil in political circles. They are reported to be nothing short of miraculous. But they have also incited fear and mistrust in many. Indeed, recent research on stem cells raises important questions as rapidly as it generates new discoveries. The power of stem cells rests in their unspecialized but marvelously flexible nature. They are the clay of life waiting for the cellular signal that will coax them into taking on the shape of the beating cells of the heart muscle or the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. With a wave of our medical magic wand, it’s possible that stem cells could be used to effectively treat (even cure) diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and even baldness. But should scientists be allowed to pick apart four-day-old embryos in order to retrieve stem cells? And when stem cells whisper to us of immortality – they can divide and perpetuate new cells indefinitely – how do we respond? Stem cells are forcing us to not only reexamine how we define the beginning of life but how we come to terms with the end of life as well. Meticulously researched, artfully balanced, and engagingly told, Ann Parson chronicles a scientific discovery in progress, exploring the ethical debates, describing the current research, and hinting of a spectacular new era in medicine. The Proteus Effect is as timely as it is riveting. ER - TY - BOOK A2 - E.O. Wilson A2 - Harvard University TI - Biodiversity DO - 10.17226/989 PY - 1988 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/989/biodiversity PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This important book for scientists and nonscientists alike calls attention to a most urgent global problem: the rapidly accelerating loss of plant and animal species to increasing human population pressure and the demands of economic development. Based on a major conference sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution, Biodiversity creates a systematic framework for analyzing the problem and searching for possible solutions. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - James V. Neel A2 - William J. Schull TI - The Children of Atomic Bomb Survivors: A Genetic Study SN - DO - 10.17226/1800 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1800/the-children-of-atomic-bomb-survivors-a-genetic-study PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Do persons exposed to radiation suffer genetic effects that threaten their yet-to-be-born children? Researchers are concluding that the genetic risks of radiation are less than previously thought. This finding is explored in this volume about the children of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki—the population that can provide the greatest insight into this critical issue. Assembled here for the first time are papers representing more than 40 years of research. These documents reveal key results related to radiation's effects on pregnancy termination, sex ratio, congenital defects, and early mortality of children. Edited by two of the principal architects of the studies, J. V. Neel and W. J. Schull, the volume also offers an important comparison with studies of the genetic effects of radiation on mice. The wealth of technical details will be immediately useful to geneticists and other specialists. Policymakers will be interested in the overall conclusions and discussion of future studies. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences, Second Edition DO - 10.17226/6024 PY - 1999 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6024/science-and-creationism-a-view-from-the-national-academy-of PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Education AB - While the mechanisms of evolution are still under investigation, scientists universally accept that the cosmos, our planet, and life evolved and continue to evolve. Yet the teaching of evolution to schoolchildren is still contentious. In Science and Creationism, The National Academy of Sciences states unequivocally that creationism has no place in any science curriculum at any level. Briefly and clearly, this booklet explores the nature of science, reviews the evidence for the origin of the universe and earth, and explains the current scientific understanding of biological evolution. This edition includes new insights from astronomy and molecular biology. Attractive in presentation and authoritative in content, Science and Creationism will be useful to anyone concerned about America's scientific literacy: education policymakers, school boards and administrators, curriculum designers, librarians, teachers, parents, and students. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences TI - Biographical Memoirs: Volume 87 SN - DO - 10.17226/11522 PY - 2005 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11522/biographical-memoirs-volume-87 PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biography and Autobiography KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Biographic Memoirs Volume 87 contains the biographies of deceased members of the National Academy of Sciences and bibliographies of their published works. Each biographical essay was written by a member of the Academy familiar with the professional career of the deceased. For historical and bibliographical purposes, these volumes are worth returning to time and again. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - U.S. and International Perspectives on Global Science Policy and Science Diplomacy: Report of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/13300 PY - 2012 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13300/us-and-international-perspectives-on-global-science-policy-and-science-diplomacy PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Policy for Science and Technology KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The United States and other countries around the world face problems of an increasingly global nature that often require major contributions from science and engineering that one nation alone cannot provide. The advance of science and engineering is an increasingly global enterprise, and in many areas there is a natural commonality of interest among practitioners from diverse cultures. In response to challenges, the National Academies held a workshop in Washington, DC, in February 2011, to assess effective ways to meet international challenges through sound science policy and science diplomacy. U.S. and International Perspectives on Global Science Policy and Science Diplomacy summarizes issues addressed during this workshop. Participants discussed many of the characteristics of science, such as its common language and methods; the open, self-correcting nature of research; the universality of the most important questions; and its respect for evidence. These common aspects not only make science inherently international but also give science special capacities in advancing communication and cooperation. Many workshop participants pointed out that, while advancing global science and science diplomacy are distinct, they are complementary, and making them each more effective often involves similar measures. Some participants suggested it may sometimes be more accurate to use the term global science cooperation rather than science diplomacy. Other participants indicated that science diplomacy is, in many situations, a clear and useful concept, recounting remarkable historical cases of the effective use of international scientific cooperation in building positive governmental relationships and dealing with sensitive and urgent problems. To gain U.S. and international perspectives on these issues, representatives from Brazil, Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, and Syria attended the workshop, as well as two of the most recently named U.S. science envoys, Rita Colwell and Gebisa Ejeta. ER - TY - BOOK TI - Intellectual Property Rights and U.S.-Japan Competition in Biotechnology: Report of a Workshop DO - 10.17226/9531 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9531/intellectual-property-rights-and-us-japan-competition-in-biotechnology-report PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Industry and Labor KW - Biology and Life Sciences ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Thomas Eisner A2 - Jerrold Meinwald TI - Chemical Ecology: The Chemistry of Biotic Interaction SN - DO - 10.17226/4979 PY - 1995 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/4979/chemical-ecology-the-chemistry-of-biotic-interaction PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Chemical signals among organisms form "a vast communicative interplay, fundamental to the fabric of life," in the words of one expert. Chemical ecology is the the discipline that seeks to understand these interactions-to use biology in the search for new substances of potential benefit to humankind. This book highlights selected research areas of medicinal and agricultural importance. Leading experts review the chemistry of: Insect defense and its applications to pest control. Phyletic dominance—the survival success of insects. Social regulation, with ant societies as a model of multicomponent signaling systems. Eavesdropping, alarm, and deceit—the array of strategies used by insects to find and lure prey. Reproduction—from the gamete attraction to courtship nd sexual selection. The chemistry of intracellular immunosuppression. Topics also include the appropriation of dietary factors for defense and communication; the use of chemical signals in the marine environment; the role of the olfactory system in chemical analysis; and the interaction of polydnaviruses, endoparasites, and the immune system of the host. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Animal Research in a Global Environment: Meeting the Challenges: Proceedings of the November 2008 International Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/13175 PY - 2011 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13175/animal-research-in-a-global-environment-meeting-the-challenges-proceedings PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Agriculture AB - Animal research will play an essential role in efforts to meet increasing demands for global health care. Yet the animal research community faces the challenge of overcoming negative impressions that industry and academia engage in international collaborations in order to conduct work in parts of the world where animal welfare standards are less stringent. Thus, the importance of ensuring the international harmonization of the principles and standards of animal care and use cannot be overstated. A number of national and international groups are actively working toward this goal. The Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR), a program unit of the US National Research Council, is committed to promoting both the welfare of animals used in research and the quality of the resulting science. In 2008, to follow up on the 2003 event, ILAR convened a workshop which brought together 200 participants from 17 countries. Their mission was to identify and promote better understanding of important challenges in the conduct of animal research across country boundaries. These challenges include: the sourcing of animals; the quality of veterinary care; competent staff; the provision of a suitable environment (including nutritious food and potable water) for animals; and ongoing oversight of the animal program; among others. Animal Research in a Global Environment summarizes the proceedings of the 2008 workshop. The impact of this 2008 workshop has extended beyond the oral presentations conveyed in these proceedings. It has been a vital bridge for diverse colleagues and organizations around the world to advance initiatives designed to fill gaps in standards, professional qualifications, and coordination of animal use. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Engineering AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Microbiomes of the Built Environment: A Research Agenda for Indoor Microbiology, Human Health, and Buildings SN - DO - 10.17226/23647 PY - 2017 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23647/microbiomes-of-the-built-environment-a-research-agenda-for-indoor PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Engineering and Technology AB - People's desire to understand the environments in which they live is a natural one. People spend most of their time in spaces and structures designed, built, and managed by humans, and it is estimated that people in developed countries now spend 90 percent of their lives indoors. As people move from homes to workplaces, traveling in cars and on transit systems, microorganisms are continually with and around them. The human-associated microbes that are shed, along with the human behaviors that affect their transport and removal, make significant contributions to the diversity of the indoor microbiome. The characteristics of "healthy" indoor environments cannot yet be defined, nor do microbial, clinical, and building researchers yet understand how to modify features of indoor environments—such as building ventilation systems and the chemistry of building materials—in ways that would have predictable impacts on microbial communities to promote health and prevent disease. The factors that affect the environments within buildings, the ways in which building characteristics influence the composition and function of indoor microbial communities, and the ways in which these microbial communities relate to human health and well-being are extraordinarily complex and can be explored only as a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem by engaging the fields of microbial biology and ecology, chemistry, building science, and human physiology. This report reviews what is known about the intersection of these disciplines, and how new tools may facilitate advances in understanding the ecosystem of built environments, indoor microbiomes, and effects on human health and well-being. It offers a research agenda to generate the information needed so that stakeholders with an interest in understanding the impacts of built environments will be able to make more informed decisions. ER - TY - BOOK TI - (NAS Colloquium) Neuroimaging of Human Brain Function SN - DO - 10.17226/6236 PY - 1998 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6236/nas-colloquium-neuroimaging-of-human-brain-function PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Health and Medicine KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The colloquium on "Imaging of Cognitive Function" speaks to the many audiences whose interests relate to efforts to map cognitive processes in the human brain. There are things of great interest in this collection of papers for specialists in cognition and neuroscience and imaging science as well as in disciplines interested in human development through education and training and others with intrinsic interest in the latest information on how the human brain supports thought. The papers were presented at a meeting sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences in its western home the Beckman Center at the University of California, Irvine. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Science and Technology in Armenia: Toward a Knowledge-Based Economy SN - DO - 10.17226/11107 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11107/science-and-technology-in-armenia-toward-a-knowledge-based-economy PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Industry and Labor AB - An NRC ad hoc committee analyzed the current status and future development potential of Armenia's science and technology base, including human and infrastructural resources and research and educational capabilities. The committee identified those fields and institutions offering promising opportunities for contributing to economic and social development, and particularly institutions having unique and important capabilities, worthy of support from international financial institutions, private investment sources, and the Armenian and U.S. governments. The scope of the study included both pure and applied research as well as education in science-related fields. The committee's report addresses the existing capacity of state and private research institutions, higher education capabilities and trends, scientific funding sources, innovative investment models, relevant success stories, factors hindering development of the science sector, potential domestic Armenian customers for scientific results and products, and opportunities for regional scientific collaboration. An Armenian language version of the report is also available. ER -