We present the argument that the majority of low-molecular-weight organic compounds made and secreted by microbes play roles as cell-signalling molecules in the environment. Of the large number of compounds isolated to date, only a small fraction have been shown to possess useful therapeutic antibiotic activity. However, most microbial metabolites modulate gene transcription at low concentratio...

Molecular recognition is central to all biological processes. For the past 50 years, Koshland's 'induced fit' hypothesis has been the textbook explanation for molecular recognition events. However, recent experimental evidence supports an alternative mechanism. 'Conformational selection' postulates that all protein conformations pre-exist, and the ligand selects the most favored conformation. F...

MaSE provides a detailed approach to the analysis and design of MAS. MaSE combines several established models into a comprehensive methodology and provides a set of transformation steps that shows how to derive new models from the existing models. Thus MaSE guides the developer in the analysis and design process. Future work on MaSE will focus on specializing it for use in adaptive multiagent a...

This study surveyed Dutch adolescents and adults about their video gaming behavior to assess the prevalence of problematic gaming. A representative national panel of 902 respondents aged 14 to 81 took part in the study. The results show that gaming in general is a wide-spread and popular activity among the Dutch population. Browser games (small games played via the internet) and offline casual ...

Within the past few years, studies on microRNA (miRNA) and cancer have burst onto the scene. Profiling of the miRNome (global miRNA expression levels) has become prevalent, and abundant miRNome data are currently available for various cancers. The pattern of miRNA expression can be correlated with cancer type, stage, and other clinical variables, so miRNA profiling can be used as a tool for can...

Along with the success of the massively multiplayer role-playing gaming industry in Asia, online gaming-related crimes have grown at an amazing rate. Most of the criminal cases are related to virtual properties since markets have developed for the virtual properties giving them real world values. There has been little research and resulting technologies for MMRPG virtual property protection. In...

Relationship is one of the most basic needs of human being. When our relationship suffers, we tend to turn to online game as an alternative to fulfill our unmet need. Massive Multi-user Online Role-playing Games (MMORPGs) environment is an ideal platform for multiple players to interact, to make friends, and to complete a task together. Social Learning Theory deposits that behaviors are learned...

Comment on: Tazumi A, et al. Genes Dev 2012; 26:2050-62.

Although trust is widely acknowledged as critical in virtual settings, little is known regarding the antecedents and consequences of trust in leaders of virtual groups. Adopting a multi-level perspective, we propose the leadership’s communication behavior and the broader cultural context in which the group operates determine trust in leaders of virtual groups, which in turn affects the performa...

Pirh2 is a p53 inducible gene that encodes a RING-H2 domain and is proposed to be a main regulator of p53 protein, thus fine tuning the DNA damage response. Pirh2 interacts physically with p53 and promotes its MDM2-independent ubiquitination and subsequent degradation as well as participates in an auto-regulatory feedback loop that controls p53 function. Pirh2 also self-ubiquitinates. Interesti...