Sites of interest on the World Wide Web
Virtual “Reading Room” with Full-Length Texts
The National Academies serve as advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine. At the Web site for the National Academies Press (www.nap.edu/), the publishing arm of the academies, a wonderful and rich resource of reference and popular texts exists. A virtual reading room (books.nap.edu) has been established that allows readers to peruse full-length texts online, or download a PDF version of the text for free! The topic areas include all aspects of science from Agriculture to Transportation, but MI’s readership will likely be quickly drawn to the Biology and Life Sciences section. Here, one can find full texts of books such as “Microbial Evolution and Co-Adapatation: A Tribute to the Life and Scientific Legacies of Joshua Lederberg,” and “Advancing 21st Century Biology: Catalyzing Transformative Research.” Also available from this Web site is a collection of podcasts, “The Sounds of Science,” that encompass such diverse topics as Breast Cancer treatments to the Hidden Costs of Energy. Surfing to this Web site is worth your time.
Parasitic Resources
In this month’s MI, Sharlow and colleagues write about new strategies for anti-leishmanial drug discovery that might ameliorate a devastating disease that infects millions yearly. The Centers for Disease Control hosts an informative Web site, DPDx CDC Parasitology Diagnostic Web Site (www.dpd.cdc.gov/DPDx/) that is a great reference for learning more about parasitic diseases and the organisms that cause them. Inside, you’ll find images of parasites, illustrations of disease progression, and parasite life cycles. Additionally, your fancy might be tickled with information on diagnostic procedures, risk factors, treatment, and geographic distribution of parasitic diseases. This Web site provides excellent teaching aids for lectures or other presentations.
Improved and Updated: Protein Lounge
The new and much more user-centric protein lounge Web site can be found at www.proteinlounge.com. Although ProteinLounge: Redefining Biology has been around for a while, it now focuses more on user-generated content and networking for science professionals. The free Web site (requires registration) has one of the easiest online pathway-building tools available. High-quality graphics and bright colors really draw attention to maps and pathways that researchers can use to highlight their areas of interest. Also included is a BioShare section containing educational animations, pre-published pathways for download, and an extensive set of online tools. The online tools include a protein hydroplotter, a “clone-easy” tool for restriction enzyme cloning, and siRNA tools. In the “social networking” mode, users can upload lists of reagents and other materials that are available for their online friends to share. The Protein lounge offers a nice interface, a great pathbuilding tool, and the opportunity to share reagents with other researchers.
In Brief: Pancreatitis
In this issue of MI, Chvanov and colleagues discuss future therapies for acute pancreatitis (AP), involving the use of molecular tags that would specifically bind to pancreatic cells, flagging them for removal without causing inflammation of surrounding tissue. Further information on the disease can be obtained from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm). Information on AP can be obtained by using the search box, searching for pancreatitis. Information about support groups, in addition to the latest research and therapies, is well presented.
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