Control Theory in Biomedical Engineering
Control Theory in Biomedical Engineering: Applications in Physiology and Medical Robotics highlights the importance of control theory and feedback control in our lives and explains how this theory is central to future medical developments. Control theory is fundamental for understanding feedback paths in physiological systems (endocrine system, immune system, neurological system) and a concept for building artificial organs. The book is suitable for graduate students and researchers in the control engineering and biomedical engineering fields, and medical students and practitioners seeking to enhance their understanding of physiological processes, medical robotics (legs, hands, knees), and controlling artificial devices (pacemakers, insulin injection devices). Control theory profoundly impacts the everyday lives of a large part of the human population including the disabled and the elderly who use assistive and rehabilitation robots for improving the quality of their lives and increasing their independence.
Magnesium in Human Health and Disease
Section A - Introduction and mechanism of action 1 Clinical Assessment of Magnesium Status in the Adult: An Overview Adel A. A. Ismail Yasmin Ismail, MD, MRCP Abbas A Ismail, MSc, MD, FRCP 2 Dietary Mg Intake and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction Simin Liu Sara A. Chacko 3. Magnesium Role in Cytokine Regulation of Hypoxic Placentas Related to Certain Placental Pathology Tamar Eshkoli Valeria Feinshtein Alaa Amash Eyal Sheiner Mahmoud Huleihel Gershon Holcberg Section B - Magnesium Status in Disease 4 Magnesium Links to Asthma Control Alexandra Kazaks 5 Magnesium and Kidney Disease Ioannis P Tzanakis Dimitrios G Oreopoulos 6 Magnesium Intake, Genetic Variants, and Diabetes Risk Yiqing Song Cuilin Zhang Lu Wang Qi Dai Simin Liu 7. Magnesium Deficiency in Type 2 Diabetes Dharam Paul Chaudhary Section C - Magnesium Supplementation and Disease 8 Magnesium and Metabolic Disorders Abby Duffine Stella Lucia Volpe 9 Magnesium and diabetes prevention Akiko Nanri Tetsuya Mizoue 10 Magnesium Supplementation and Bone Hasan Aydin 11 Protective Functions of Magnesium Salts in Cancer Patients Gabriel Wcislo Lubomir Bodnar Section D - Cardiovascular Disease and Magnesium 12 Magnesium and Hypertension Mark Houston 13 The Role of Magnesium in the Cardiovascular SystemMichael Schecter Alon Schecter 14 Vascular biology of magnesium- implications in cardiovascular disease Tayze T AntunesGlaucia CalleraRhian M Touyz 15 Intravenous Magnesium for Cardiac Arrhythmias in Humans: A Role? Kwok Ho Section F - Magnesium and Neurological Function 16 Magnesium in inflammation-associated fetal brain injury Christopher Wayock Elisabeth Nigrini Ernest Graham Michael V. Johnston Irina Burd 17 Magnesium and Its Interdependency with Other Cations in Acute and Chronic Stressor States Babatunde O. Komolafe, MD M. Usman Khan, MD Rami N. Khouzam, MD Dwight A. Dishmon, MD Kevin P. Newman, MD Jesse E. McGee, MD Syamal K. Bhattacharya, PhD Karl T. Weber, MD 18 Magnesium and traumatic brain injury Renee J Turner Robert Vink 19 Magnesium in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - from Bench to Bedside J. H. Zhang Jack Hou
Carbohydrate-Active EnzymesStructure, Activity and Reaction Products
Carbohydrate-active enzymes are responsible for both biosynthesis and the breakdown of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. They are involved in many metabolic pathways; in the biosynthesis and degradation of various biomolecules, such as bacterial exopolysaccharides, starch, cellulose and lignin; and in the glycosylation of proteins and lipids. Carbohydrate-active enzymes are classified into glycoside hydrolases, glycosyltransferases, polysaccharide lyases, carbohydrate esterases, and enzymes with auxiliary activities (CAZy database, www.cazy.org). Glycosyltransferases synthesize a huge variety of complex carbohydrates with different degrees of polymerization, moieties and branching. On the other hand, complex carbohydrate breakdown is carried out by glycoside hydrolases, polysaccharide lyases and carbohydrate esterases. Their interesting reactions have attracted the attention of researchers across scientific fields, ranging from basic research to biotechnology. Interest in carbohydrate-active enzymes is due not only to their ability to build and degrade biopolymers-which is highly relevant in biotechnology-but also because they are involved in bacterial biofilm formation, and in glycosylation of proteins and lipids, with important health implications. This book gathers new research results and reviews to broaden our understanding of carbohydrate-active enzymes, their mutants and their reaction products at the molecular level.
Biomechanical Spectrum of Human Sport Performance
Writing or managing a scientific book, as it is known today, depends on a series of major activities, such as regrouping researchers, reviewing chapters, informing and exchanging with contributors, and at the very least, motivating them to achieve the objective of publication. The idea of this book arose from many years of work in biomechanics, health disease, and rehabilitation. Through exchanges with authors from several countries, we learned much from each other, and we decided with the publisher to transfer this knowledge to readers interested in the current understanding of the impact of biomechanics in the analysis of movement and its optimization. The main objective is to provide some interesting articles that show the scope of biomechanical analysis and technologies in human behavior tasks. Engineers, researchers, and students from biomedical engineering and health sciences, as well as industrial professionals, can benefit from this compendium of knowledge about biomechanics applied to the human body.
Genetics of Biodegradation and Bioremediation
Many biodegradation pathways, both aerobic and anaerobic, have already been characterised, and the phylogenetic relationships among catabolic genes within them have been studied. However, new biodegradation activities and their coding genes are continuously being reported, including those involved in the catabolism of emerging contaminants and those generally regarded as non-biodegradable. Gene regulation is also an important issue for the efficient biodegradation of contaminants. Specific induction by the substrate and over-imposed global regulatory networks adjust the expression of the biodegradation genes to meet bacterial physiological needs. New biodegradation pathways can be assembled in a particular strain or in a bacterial consortium by recruiting biodegradation genes from different origins through horizontal gene transfer. The abundance and diversity of biodegradation genes, analysed by either genomic or metagenomic approaches, constitute valuable indicators of the biodegradation potential of a particular environmental niche. This knowledge paves the way to systems metabolic engineering approaches to valorise biowaste for the production of value-added products.
Rice By-Products: Phytochemicals and Food Products Application
Rice is a vitally important staple food for almost half of the world's population. As the global population increases, the demands for rice are expected to remain high. Since the rice industry will remain sustainable for a long time, the production of rice by-products will remain high. Substantial evidence suggests that rice by-products such as rice husk, rice straw, broken rice, rice germ, rice bran, and brewers' rice may possess beneficial effects against oxidative stress and metabolic disorders. These beneficial effects have been linked to the phytochemicals present in rice by-products such as vitamin E, dietary fiber, γ-oryzanol, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and phytosterols. Despite this evidence, the literature pertaining to rice by-products and its derived components has not well been compiled. To this end, Rice By-products: Phytochemicals and Food Products Application provides full coverage of issues pertaining to rice by-products, namely rice demands and riceby-products production, phytonutrients and antioxidant properties of rice by-products, potential health benefits, application in food products, and future prospects. By summarizing all the information in a lucid and comprehensive manner, authors provide a cohesive representation of the literature on the molecular mechanisms involved in the pharmacological effects of the bioactive components that present in rice by-products, as well as plausible means for the prevention of metabolic disorders for readers and allied stakeholders.
Advancement in Dietary Assessment and Self-Monitoring Using Technology
New Horizons in Time-Domain Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging
J繹bsis was the first to describe the in vivo application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), also called diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS). NIRS was originally designed for the clinical monitoring of tissue oxygenation, and today it has also become a useful tool for neuroimaging studies (functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS). However, difficulties in the selective and quantitative measurements of tissue hemoglobin (Hb), which have been central in the NIRS field for over 40 years, remain to be solved. To overcome these problems, time-domain (TD) and frequency-domain (FD) measurements have been tried. Presently, a wide range of NIRS instruments are available, including commonly available commercial instruments for continuous wave (CW) measurements, based on the modified Beer-Lambert law (steady-state domain measurements). Among these measurements, the TD measurement is the most promising approach, although compared with CW and FD measurements, TD measurements are less common, due to the need for large and expensive instruments with poor temporal resolution and limited dynamic range. However, thanks to technological developments, TD measurements are increasingly being used in research, and also in various clinical settings. This Special Issue highlights issues at the cutting edge of TD DOS and diffuse optical tomography (DOT). It covers all aspects related to TD measurements, including advances in hardware, methodology, the theory of light propagation, and clinical applications.
Mitogen Activated Protein KinasesFunctions in Signal Transduction and Human Diseases
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are a large family of enzymes that function as signal transducers to regulate a diverse range of physiological responses. However, signaling via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK also underpin many disease processes. This Special Issue provides new insights into how MAPK signaling contributes to specific pathological processes across a range of conditions, including disorders of lung development, type 2 diabetes, proliferative skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological diseases.
Peptides for Health Benefits 2019
In recent years, peptides have received increased interest from the pharmaceutical industry. The high potency, specificity, and safety profile are the main strengths of bioactive peptides as new and promising therapies that may fill the gap between small molecules and protein drugs. These positive attributes have renewed interest in the discovery, optimization, and development of peptides as pharmacological therapy. Among bioactive peptides, those released from food sources have acquired importance as nutraceutical and active components in functional foods because they possess regulatory functions that can lead to health benefits. This Special Issue covers a selection of recent research papers and reviews in the field of bioactive peptides. It covers all aspects of peptide research in relation to health promotion. In particular, it emphasizes current knowledge and research trends concerning bioactive peptides, including identification and quantification of peptides from new sources, methods for their production and purification, structure-function relationships, mechanisms of action, in vitro and in vivo assays for the evaluation of their bioactivity, physiological evidence to support health benefits, and peptide stability and bioavailability. Papers regarding the development of new drugs, functional foods, or nutraceuticals based on bioactive peptides were also considered.
Natural Products and Neuroprotection
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are the most common pathologies of the central nervous system currently without a cure. They share common molecular and cellular characteristics, including protein misfolding, mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate toxicity, dysregulation of calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and ageing, which contribute to neuronal death. Efforts to treat these diseases are often limited by their multifactorial etiology. Natural products, thanks to their multitarget activities, are considered promising alternatives for the treatment of neurodegeneration. This book deals with two different forms of natural products: extracts and isolated compounds. The study of the bioactivity of the extracts is extremely important as many studies have demonstrated the synergistic effect of the combination of different natural products. On the other hand, the investigation of the activity of specifically isolated natural products can be also important to understand their cellular and molecular mechanisms and to define the specific bioactive components in extracts or foods. This book can be considered an important contribution to knowledge of the neuroprotective effect of natural products and presents a great deal of information, related to both the benefits but also the limitations of their use in counteracting neurodegeneration.
Peptides for Health Benefits 2019 Volume 2
In recent years, peptides have received increased interest from the pharmaceutical industry. The high potency, specificity, and safety profile are the main strengths of bioactive peptides as new and promising therapies that may fill the gap between small molecules and protein drugs. These positive attributes have renewed interest in the discovery, optimization, and development of peptides as pharmacological therapy. Among bioactive peptides, those released from food sources have acquired importance as nutraceutical and active components in functional foods because they possess regulatory functions that can lead to health benefits. This Special Issue covers a selection of recent research papers and reviews in the field of bioactive peptides. It covers all aspects of peptide research in relation to health promotion. In particular, it emphasizes current knowledge and research trends concerning bioactive peptides, including identification and quantification of peptides from new sources, methods for their production and purification, structure-function relationships, mechanisms of action, in vitro and in vivo assays for the evaluation of their bioactivity, physiological evidence to support health benefits, and peptide stability and bioavailability. Papers regarding the development of new drugs, functional foods, or nutraceuticals based on bioactive peptides were also considered.
Nature-Based Solutions for Restoration of Ecosystems and Sustainable Urban Development
This volume examines the applicability of nature-based solutions in ecological restoration practice and in contemporary landscape architecture by bringing together ecology and architecture in the built environment. Green infrastructure is used to address urban challenges such as climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and stormwater management. In addition, thermal comfort nature-based solutions reintroduce critical connections between natural and urban systems. In light of ongoing developments in sustainable urban development, the goal is a paradigm shift towards a landscape that restores and rehabilitates urban ecosystems. The ten contributions to this book examine a wide range of successful cases of designing healthier, greener and more resilient landscapes in different geographical contexts, from the United States of America and Brazil, through various European regions, to Singapore and China. While some chapters attempt to conceptualize the interconnections between cities and nature, others clearly have an empirical focus. Therefore, this volume provides a rich body of work and acts as a starting point for further studies on restoration of ecosystems and integrative policies such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Plant Responses and Tolerance to Metal/Metalloid Toxicity
This Special Issue provides 15 research articles and 4 comprehensive review articles on various aspects of plant-metal/metalloid interactions. - Up-to-date information on plant responses to metals/metalloids are published. - Various mechanisms of plant tolerance to metals'/metalloids' toxicity are presented. - Exogenous applications of mitigating metals'/metalloids' toxicity are discussed. - Sustainable technologies in growing plants in metal/metalloid-contaminated environments are discussed. - Phytoremediation techniques for the remediation of metals/metalloids are discussed.
Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and Human Nutrition
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the omega-3 family, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are physiologically important for many animals and humans. Moreover, fatty acids play an important roles in numerous contexts reflecting various levels: from their producers in natural ecosystems, microalgae, through to invertebrates and fish, and to culinary treatments of fish products for human consumption. Environmental threats such as anthropogenic pollution and its effects on PUFA yield in aquatic ecosystems as well as their transfer to terrestrial ecosystems are highlighted. Assumptions and challenges that are important for the study of PUFA in trophic webs of aquatic ecosystems as well as in human nutrition are discussed.
Crosstalk between MicroRNA and Oxidative Stress in Physiology and Pathology
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that are 19-24 nucleotides in length, following maturation. Recent evidence has demonstrated their key role as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression through the binding of specific sequences within target messenger RNA (mRNA). miRNAs are involved in the synthesis of a very large number of proteins, and it is speculated that they could regulate up to 30% of the human genome. They control virtually every cellular process and are essential for animal development, cell differentiation, and homeostasis. Altered miRNA expression has been linked to such pathological events as inflammatory, degenerative, or autoimmune processes and have been associated with several diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatic and neurological disorders. Recently, miRNAs have been found in many different biological fluids, and this observation suggests the potential of miRNAs as new candidate biomarkers for diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and responsiveness in the treatment of different pathological conditions. Furthermore, the development of therapeutic strategies that involve either restoring or repressing miRNAs expression and activity has attracted much attention. Significant progress has been made in the systems for delivery of miRNAs, even if substantial improvements in this area are still necessary. Although they have been extensively studied, a number of interesting questions regarding the physiological and pathological role of miRNAs have been postulated, and their potential diagnostic and therapeutic role remain yet unanswered. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are free radical-containing oxygen molecules derived from cellular oxidative metabolism, including enzyme activities and mitochondrial respiration, and play a pivotal role in many cellular functions. Whereas ROS are essential for normal cellular processes, their aberrant production, or failure of the capacity to scavenge excessive ROS, induces an altered redox status with excessive synthesis of free radicals, leading to an imbalance in the redox environment of the cell. The loss of normal ROS levels causes lipid, protein, and DNA damage, which contribute to the development of various pathologies including neurological disorders, rheumatic and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Increasing evidence highlights that there is crosstalk between miRNAs and components of redox signaling, even if this complex and the characteristics of mutual interaction need to be amply elucidated. Hence, both miRNAs and oxidative stress are involved in the multifactorial development and progression of acute and chronic diseases by influencing numerous signaling and metabolic pathways. The Special Issue entitled "Crosstalk between MicroRNA and Oxidative Stress in Physiology and Pathology" of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences includes original articles and reviews that provide new insights into the interaction between miRNAs and oxidative stress under normal and pathological conditions which can assist in the development of new therapeutic strategies. Finally, I would like to thank all the authors for their excellent contribution. I hope this Special Issue will provide readers with updated knowledge about the role of miRNAs and oxidative stress in physiology and pathology.
Drug Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics
The new frontier of pharmaceutical sciences is gene therapy, which is the use of molecules able to interact directly with the expression of the genetic material of the patient as well as of the disease-causing guest (bacteria, virus, parasites, and tumor cells). Among the molecules of interest for gene therapy, a relevant role is played by small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules able to interfere with the expression of genes of interest for some diseases. However, siRNA molecules, even if they are powerful as drugs, are difficult to deliver since they are sensitive to enzymes present in plasma and they are large and negatively charged, so are difficult to administer into the cell nuclei, since the cell walls are scarcely permeable to large molecules and are also negatively charged. Therefore, the focus of research on siRNA-based therapies is their delivery, which can be performed by chemical modification, association with aptamers or polycations, or embedding them into properly designed liposomes. This book is centered on the more recent development in siRNA delivery techniques toward the clinical applications of this potent class of drugs.
Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health
There is unequivocal experimental, epidemiological, and clinical evidence demonstrating a correlation between diet and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While nutritionally-poor diets can have a significant negative impact on cardiovascular health, dietary interventions with specific nutrients and/or functional foods are considered cost-effective and efficient components of prevention strategies. It has been estimated that nutritional factors may be responsible for approximately 40% of all CVD. Indeed, in one of the seminal studies conducted on modifiable risk factors and heart health (the INTERHEART study), >90% of all myocardial infarctions were attributed to preventable environmental factors with nutrition identified as one of the important determinants of CVD. There is an increasing public interest in and scientific investigation into establishing dietary approaches that can be undertaken for the prevention and treatment of CVD. This Special Issue provides an insight into the influential role of nutrition and dietary habits on cardiovascular health and disease, as well as their mechanisms of therapeutic and preventive action.
Pharmaceutical Particulates and Membranes for Delivery of Drugs and Bioactive Molecules
Stem Cells Heterogeneity in Cancer
This book presents a comprehensive discussion on the heterogeneity existing between different types of stem cells within the same tissue, for several types of cancers, e.g. glioblastoma stem cells. Recent developments have revealed completely different roles of distinct stem cells within the same organ.Thus, Stem Cells Heterogeneity in Cancer provides a timely update us on the current information on stem cells heterogeneity in various tissues. It also provides a solid foundation of the history of stem cells from specific tissues and the current applications of this knowledge in regenerative medicine. When taken as a whole, alongside its companion volumes Stem Cells Heterogeneity - Novel Concepts, and Stem Cells Heterogeneity in Different Organs, these three books present a comprehensive reference on stem cell heterogeneity in various tissues and current and future applications for regenerative medicine. It is essential reading for advanced cell biology students as well as researchers in stem cells and clinicians.
Agricultural Law in Bulgaria
Agricultural law is a modern discipline that contains elements of public and private law. It imposes the direction in which rules are developed to determine in turn the economic effects and the real issues of the farmers.This book focuses on the current state of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. In this way, the important but indirect dependence between agricultural lands, food sovereignty and bio-security is highlighted. It will be interesting for all those who are looking for new and non-conservative approaches in agriculture. Agricultural land is a primary factor of production. It must be distributed fairly in order to make the system in which farmers exist favorable and competitive. Accordingly, it determines long-term stability in all related markets. Food sovereignty is associated with the ability to use cheap and environmentally friendly resources. Bio-security in agriculture is mandatory. At the same time, it should not be excessive. The balance between preventive measures and economic benefits should help small and medium farmers as well as their families. The book presents a new methodology for assessing the proportionality of precautionary measures in agriculture.
Nutritional Value of Grain-Based Foods
Grains are fundamental in the daily diet of many people worldwide. They are used for the production of popular foods, such as bread, bakery products, breakfast cereals, pasta, couscous, bulgur, snacks, etc. Botanically, they are the seeds of plants-mainly cereals, pseudocereals and legumes. They contribute macronutrients to the human diet, mainly carbohydrates, but also proteins and lipids, and micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. They are also an important source of dietary fibre and bioactives, particularly wholegrains, which are important for the manufacture of high-value foods with enhanced health benefits. They can be used for the production of gluten-containing but also gluten-free products. A key objective of the food industry in producing grain-based foods is to manufacture safe, attractive products with enhanced nutritional value, to respond to consumer expectations. This book, Nutritional Value of Grain-Based Foods, contributes to existing knowledge on important ingredients such as fat substitutes and on the technological quality and nutritional role of grains and grain-based foods, such as bread, muffins and muesli bars, both gluten-containing and gluten-free.
Genetic Suspects
As DNA forensic profiling and databasing become established as key technologies in the toolbox of the forensic sciences, their expanding use raises important issues that promise to touch everyone's lives. In an authoritative global investigation of a diverse range of countries, including those at the forefront of these technologies' development and use, this book identifies and provides critical reflection upon the many issues of privacy; distributive justice; DNA information system ownership; biosurveillance; function creep; the reliability of collection, storage and analysis of DNA profiles; the possibility of transferring medical DNA information to forensics databases; and democratic involvement and transparency in governance, an emergent key theme. This book is timely and significant in providing the essential background and discussion of the ethical, legal and societal dimensions for academics, practitioners, public interest and criminal justice organisations, and students of the life sciences, law, politics, and sociology.
Safety, Quality and Processing of Fruits and Vegetables
Nowadays, one of the main objectives of the fruit and vegetable industry is to develop innovative novel products with high quality, safety, and optimal nutritional characteristics in order to respond, with efficiency, to increasing consumer expectations. Various unconventional technologies (e.g., pulsed electric field, pulsed light, ultrasound, high pressure, and microwave drying) have emerged and enable the processing of fruits and vegetables in a way that increases their stability while preserving their thermolabile nutrients, flavour, texture, and overall quality. Some of these technologies can also be used for waste and byproduct valorisation. The application of fast noninvasive methods for process control is of great importance for the fruit and vegetable industry. The following Special Issue "Safety, Quality, and Processing of Fruits and Vegetables" consists of 11 papers which represent a high-value contribution to the existing knowledge on safety aspects, quality evaluation, and emerging processing technologies for fruits and vegetables.
The Design of MammalsTheDesign of MammalsA Scaling Approach
Despite an astonishing 100 million-fold range in adult body mass from bumblebee bat to blue whale, all mammals are formed of the same kinds of molecules, cells, tissues and organs and to the same overall body plan. A scaling approach investigates the principles of mammal design by examining the ways in which mammals of diverse size and taxonomy are quantitatively comparable. This book presents an extensive reanalysis of scaling data collected over a quarter of a century, including many rarely or never-cited sources. The result is an unparalleled contribution to understanding scaling in mammals, addressing a uniquely extensive range of mammal attributes and using substantially larger and more rigorously screened samples than in any prior works. An invaluable resource for all those interested in the 'design' of mammals, this is an ideal resource for postgraduates and researchers in a range of fields from comparative physiology to ecology.
Asymmetry Indexes, Behavioural Instability and the Characterization of Behavioural Pattern
The structure of sequential behavior and its patterns have attracted the attention of researchers from various disciplines, such as game theory, human and animal behavior, evolutionary ecology, psychology, behavioral economy, and cognitive sciences. Sequential behavior seems to be involved in the processes of sequential learning, decision-making processes, and exploratory behavior. There are, however, competing hypotheses regarding the mechanisms involved in the complexity of the behavioral responses of organisms when exposed to changing environments. The behavioral response to different environmental conditions is often utilized in behavioral ecology studies, where the changes in behavior are quantified in terms of probability of dispersal, distance, and speed of movements or time budget, where the time spent on different activities (foraging, resting, explore, etc.) is registered and analyzed in terms of cost-benefit. This book represents a series of articles covering a broad spectrum of organisms and proposes the analysis of sequential behavior utilizing indices commonly applied in the estimation of developmental instability (fluctuating asymmetry, directional asymmetry, and antisymmetry) toward estimating the degree of "Behavioral Instability". Deviations from symmetry will be interpreted in ecological and evolutionary terms, where the cost and benefits of changes of the degree of behavioral instability will be analyzed in terms of overall costs and benefits and its evolutionary significance. Presented in this collection are multidisciplinary studies (theoretical and computational as well as experimental and empirical approaches) that validate the proposed approach and pave the way for future investigation in the novel field of what is best described as behavioral instability.
Plant Polyamines
Polyamines are small organic compounds found in all living organisms. In recent years, there have been many exciting advances in our understanding of plant polyamines, such as the determination of the biosynthetic and catabolic pathways of plant polyamines and the identification of the roles that plant polyamines play in cellular processes. This Special Issue contains six original research papers and three review articles, providing valuable insights and information for future polyamine-related research.
Free Radical Research in Cancer
Cancer is a great challenge to efficient therapy due to biological diversity. Disturbed oxidative homeostasis in cancer cells certainly contributes to differential therapy response. Further, one of the hallmarks of cancer cells is adaptation which includes fine tuning of the cellular metabolic and signalling pathways as well as transcription profiles. There are several factors which contribute to the tumor diversity and therapy response, and oxidative stress is certainly one of them. Changes in oxygen levels due to hypoxia/reoxygenation during tumor growth modulate antioxidative patterns finally supporting increased cell diversity and adaptation to stressing conditions. Additionally, cancer chemotherapy based on ROS production can also induce also adaptation. To counteract these negative effects natural products are often used for their antioxidant activities as well as photodynamic therapy supported by novel chemosensitizers. Understanding of possible pathways which can trigger antioxidant defence at a certain time during cancer development can also provide possible strategies in fighting cancer.
Consanguinity in Context
An essential guide to this major contemporary issue, Consanguinity in Context is a uniquely comprehensive account of intra-familial marriage. Detailed information on past and present religious, social and legal practices and prohibitions is presented as a backdrop to the preferences and beliefs of the 1100+ million people in consanguineous unions. Chapters on population genetics, and the role of consanguinity in reproductive behavior and genetic variation, set the scene for critical analyses of the influence of consanguinity on health in the early years of life. The discussion on consanguinity and disorders of adulthood is the first review of its kind and is particularly relevant given the ageing of the global population. Incest is treated as a separate issue, with historical and present-day examples examined. The final three chapters deal in detail with practical issues, including genetic testing, education and counseling, national and international legislation and imperatives, and the future of consanguineous marriage worldwide.
Protein-Ligand-, Protein-Inhibitor- Und Protein-Protein-Wechselwirkungen
Sabine Helmsen stellt die Untersuchung von Interaktionen der Hitzeschockproteine (Hsp) mit Liganden, wie ATP, und potenziellen Inhibitoren in den Fokus ihrer Studie. Diese dienen im Besonderen zur Aufkl瓣rung des Bindungsverhaltens mit Hinweisen zu m繹glichen strukturellen Eigenschaften, welche hinsichtlich der Wechselwirkungen mit Natur- und Wirkstoffen als Inhibitoren eine Rolle spielen. Unter Verwendung der Microarray-Technologie erfolgen schnelle und pr瓣zise Analysen, welche ebenfalls den Einfluss bestimmter isolierter Naturstoffe und Extrakte des Pilzes Hypoxylon rickii auf die Wechselwirkung zwischen Hsp70 und Hsp90 zeigen.​Die Autorin: Sabine Helmsen absolvierte den Bachelor of Science in Chemie an der Leibniz Universit瓣t in Hannover und schloss den Master Analytik dort am BMWZ, Biomolekulares Wirkstoffzentrum, bei Herrn Professor Kirschning und Herrn PD Zeilinger an.
Molecular & Cell Biology for Dummies
Your insider guide to the stuff of life 3.8 billion years old and counting, there's more than a little to know about the fundamentals of how life works. This friendly guide takes you from the primordial soup to the present, explaining how specialized cells have given rise to everything living, from the humblest amoeba to walking, talking human beings. Whether you're enrolled in a cell or molecular biology course and need a straightforward overview, or are just curious about the latest advances, this fully updated edition is your all-access ticket to our inner world. Molecular & Cell Biology For Dummies decodes jargon and theories that can tax even the most devoted student. It covers everything from basic principles to how new technology, genetic testing, and microarray techniques are opening up new possibilities for research and careers. It also includes invaluable tips on how to prepare for--and ace--your exams! Explore the structure and function of the cells--and find out why cellular context is crucial to the study of disease Discover how molecular biology can solve world problems Understand how DNA determines traits and is regulated by cells Enhance your knowledge and results with online resources and study tips From microscopic details to macro concepts, this book has something for you.
Slime
"No organisms are more important to life as we know it than algae. In Slime, Ruth Kassinger gives this underappreciated group its due." -- Elizabeth Kolbert Say "algae" and most people think of pond scum. What they don't know is that without algae, none of us would exist. There are as many algae on Earth as stars in the universe, and they have been essential to life on our planet for eons. Algae created the Earth we know today, with its oxygen-rich atmosphere, abundant oceans, and coral reefs. Crude oil is made of dead algae, and algae are the ancestors of all plants. Today, seaweed production is a multibillion-dollar industry, with algae hard at work to make your sushi, chocolate milk, beer, paint, toothpaste, shampoo, and so much more. In Slime we'll meet the algae innovators working toward a sustainable future: from seaweed farmers in South Korea, to scientists using it to clean the dead zones in our waterways, to the entrepreneurs fighting to bring algae fuel and plastics to market. With a multitude of lively, surprising science and history, Ruth Kassinger takes readers on an around-the-world, behind-the-scenes, and into-the-kitchen tour. Whether you thought algae was just the gunk in your fish tank or you eat seaweed with your oatmeal, Slime will delight and amaze with its stories of the good, the bad, and the up-and-coming.
Outshining Darwin
Jean Baptiste Lamarck did not receive the respect, prestige or recognition for his contributions to science during his life long struggle with poverty, yet was still a brilliant mind in pursuit of the discovery of Evolution.In the year 1809, the year that Darwin was born, Lamarck published his three-volume work, Phylosophie Zoologique, in which was explained his theory of the evolution of life on this planet from the simplest, single-celled infusoria, to Man. He discussed not only gradual physical evolution, over countless millennia, but the evolution of our minds and our emotions too.Too far ahead of his time, Lamarck's ideas were ridiculed or forgotten.Now we understand - or think we do! Time to take another look - we still have a lot to learn.
Understanding Monoclonal Antibodies
The book attempts to present the topic of monoclonal antibodies, a biotechnological innovation that holds immense potential in the field of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine in a nutshell. The various aspects like the development of mAbs through hybridoma and phage display technologies, therapeutic applications in various fields of medicine and potential serious adverse effects are presented in a concise, interesting manner. Complex technical detail has been curtailed in an effort to make reading the book more enjoyable and less tedious. Nonetheless, a basic knowledge of human biology would be of help in understanding the material. For readers who require a more detailed and extensive understanding of the subject and for further reading, the references provided would serve as useful resources. A modicum of information regarding the therapeutic potential for mAbs in the treatment of COVID 19 has been provided on account of the currently raging pandemic which is causing a global frenzy of effort for a cure.
Die BryozoenGesammelt w瓣hrend der dritten und vierten Polarfahrt des Willem Barents
Die Bryozoen - Gesammelt w瓣hrend der dritten und vierten Polarfahrt des Willem Barents ist ein unver瓣nderter, hochwertiger Nachdruck der Originalausgabe aus dem Jahr 1884. Hansebooks ist Herausgeber von Literatur zu unterschiedlichen Themengebieten wie Forschung und Wissenschaft, Reisen und Expeditionen, Kochen und Ern瓣hrung, Medizin und weiteren Genres. Der Schwerpunkt des Verlages liegt auf dem Erhalt historischer Literatur. Viele Werke historischer Schriftsteller und Wissenschaftler sind heute nur noch als Antiquit瓣ten erh瓣ltlich. Hansebooks verlegt diese B羹cher neu und tr瓣gt damit zum Erhalt selten gewordener Literatur und historischem Wissen auch f羹r die Zukunft bei.
Weltgeschichte zwischen Wissenschaft und Glaube
Auf jeden Fall "ein hei?es Eisen"! Evolution aus naturalistischer Sicht oder Sch繹pfung? Das naturwissenschaftliche Establishment aller Fachgebiete h瓣lt die sich auf reinen Zufall und Selbstorganisation gr羹ndende Urknall- und Evolutionstheorie f羹r eine bewiesene Tatsache. Auf ihrer Basis hat man versucht, eine rein naturalistische Erkl瓣rung f羹r den Ursprung und die Entwicklung des Universums zu finden. Das bedeutet, dass diese Lehre das Wirken eines Designers kompromisslos ausschlie?t. Einem der Wissenschaft gem瓣?en Anspruch auf Objektivit瓣t entspricht dies nicht, weil die Frage nach Gott gar nicht gestellt werden darf. Wissenschaftlich ist dies deshalb unhaltbar. So ist die kritische Auseinandersetzung damit "ein hei?es Eisen". ?ber lange Zeit versuchte ich, mir zun瓣chst lediglich als aufmerksamer Beobachter eine ?bersicht zu verschaffen. Dabei stellte sich aber sehr bald heraus, dass die Indizien f羹r das Walten eines allm瓣chtigen Sch繹pfers so 羹berzeugend sind, dass sie manchmal sogar schon den Charakter von Indizienbeweisen besitzen. So entstand schlie?lich die Idee, die Erkenntnisse schriftlich festzuhalten und in ein Buch einzubringen, woraus inzwischen drei B羹cher entstanden sind. Im nun vorliegenden Teil 1 meines Buches geht es in Kapitel 1 um die naturalistische Evolutionslehre und um die Sch繹pfungslehre, die auf gleicher Augenh繹he zum Zuge kommt und in Kapitel 2 um die sich aus dem Alleinvertretungs-Anspruch der Evolutionslehre ergebenden besonderen Erkl瓣rungs-Probleme.
Response in the Living and Non-living
At one stage of his long career, Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose undertook an examination of inorganic matter in the same way as a biologist examines a muscle or a nerve. He subjected metals to various kinds of stimulus-mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical. He found that all sorts of stimulus produce an excitatory change in them. This excitation sometimes expresses itself in a visible change of form, and sometimes not; but the disturbance produced by the stimulus always exhibits itself as an electric response. His investigations showed that, in the entire range of response phenomena (regardless of whether the subject is metallic, plant or animal in origin) there is no breach of continuity; that "the living response in all its diverse modifications is only a repetition of responses seen in the inorganic" and that the phenomena of response "are determined, not by the play of an unknowable and arbitrary vital force, but by the working of laws that know no change, acting equally and uniformly throughout the organic and inorganic matter."
The Blood and its Third Element
What Dr. B矇champ is describing is a foundational concept.According to his experiments and observations, these tiny particles he named 'microzymas' have an active role in sustaining and also in terminating life. Using the syllable '-zyme' (now also used in the word 'enzyme') to indicate this principle of causing 'fermentation' (activity) B矇champ searched for and found the same particles and activity even in limestone, apparently from the ancient shelled creatures whose bodies were incorporated into the stone. They still retained their activity. The only factor that stopped these particles was heat.As Dr. B矇champ expressed it, "Life is the prey of life" i.e. as the organizing life-principle of a complex body ceases to operate, the microzymas take up their role of breaking it down and returning its elements to nature to be taken up by other life forms.Unfortunately Pasteur first tried to steal B矇champ's work, then when he objected, Pasteur set out to use his political clout to destroy the career and reputation of the great French doctor. This is why we don't hear much about this alternative school of science.A complete history of this scientific and political conflict was written early in the 20th century, by a woman doing meticulous research into the historical records of the French Academy of Science. Please see Bechamp or Pasteur?: A Lost Chapter in the History of Biology by Ethel Hume. Her book is another must-read for grasping the significance of this concept and why certain interests wanted it deleted from the scientific record.The same discovery of tiny active particles was repeated in the 20th century, first by Royal Rife using a very complex microscope to observe the particles changing into four different types. Later, working independently and with a different powerful microscope of his own invention, the French scientist Gaston Naessens observed these particles morph into sixteen different forms including bacterial and fungal. The significance of this is that what we think of as pathogens are not necessarily 'infectious' (or 'exogenous', or from outside), but can be 'endogenous' (from within).Christopher Bird's detailed account of this concept which has been named "pleomorphism" - and which is still being attacked by the chemical-based medical authorities - is in his very instructive book The Persecution and Trial of Gaston Naessens: The True Story of the Efforts to Suppress an Alternative Treatment for Cancer, AIDS, and Other Immunologically Based Diseases.Like Ethel Hume, the late Christopher Bird was fluent in French, and attended the French-language trial in Quebec. A version of this story in French is titled Le Galil矇e du microscope" (Galileo of the Microscope). In reference to the infamous behaviour of Galileo's critics who refused to look into his telescope, the critics of Naessens refused to look through this powerful microscope that could resolve images in angstrom resolution, without first killing or staining the samples.As the science of "psychoneuroimmunology" begins to gain traction in clinical practice, I entertain the hope that the role of the endogenous (driven by the psyche) aspects of dis-ease will become more respected. (For a detailed account of that field of understanding I'd recommend reading Dr. Gabor Mat矇's book When the Body Says No (also in print).)Then perhaps B矇champ may be restored to the status he deserves as a medical pioneer far ahead of his time.
Bechamp or Pasteur?
This volume contains new editions of two books. R. Pearson's Pasteur, Plagiarist, Imposter, originally published in 1942, serves as the introduction. It details some of the reasons for the rancorous relationship between Louis Pasteur and Antoine B矇champ. Pearson points out many of the problems in Pasteur's work, and provides details, statistics and evidence to support his case. Some of the frauds which were eventually admitted by the Pasteur Institute are mentioned here. Ethel Hume's B矇champ or Pasteur?, originally published in 1923, is the larger work, and provides the main body of evidence, in three parts: 1. The Mystery of Fermentation 2. The Microzymas 3. The Cult of the MicrobeThis book is a compelling and thorough account of Pasteur's plagiarism and scientific fraud. It contains the evidence of the false grounds on which the germ theory of disease was elevated to its current status as a dogma, and beyond question. In this forgotten chapter of the history of biology and medicine, we are shown how powerful interests and agendas have prevailed over genuine science. Here are strong reminders of the powers which control the pharmaceutical and regulatory industries to this day. Hume details the contention between B矇champ and Pasteur, and presents ample references to the original source material and supporting evidence. No claim is left undocumented or unsupported. Both authors are clearly not fans of Pasteur or his corruption of the principles of science, and they declare their intentions openly. They seek to undo a massive medical and scientific fraud. This new edition of their work is presented with the same intent. The real facts, which have been suppressed for so long, should be revealed to the world. Modern science needs to return to this bifurcation point, and take the pleomorphic path. When this phenomenon is truly understood, many aspects of modern medical thought will disappear, as do all things which outlive their usefulness. In B矇champ's work, we can see on display the foundations of the quantum biology and epigenetics which inform the work of such modern researchers as Joe Dispenza, Gregg Braden, and Bruce Lipton. This is a foundational text of the new biology, and should be required reading for anyone seeking to understand how the body actually functions and heals. This book should be read by every doctor, health professional, nutritionist, and biologist."Nothing is lost, nothing is created... everything is transformed. Nothing is the prey of death. Everything is the prey of life." - Antoine B矇champCONTENTSPasteur: Plagiarist, Imposter / R. PearsonB矇champ or Pasteur? / Ethel HumePart 1: The Mystery of FermentationPart 2: The MicrozymasPart 3: The Cult of the Microbe
The Problem of Increasing Human Energy
NIKOLA TESLA was one of the most influential inventors of the last century. Eventually holding over 700 patents, Tesla worked in a number of fields, including electricity, robotics, radar, and the wireless transmission of energy. His discoveries laid the groundwork for many of the twentieth century's greatest technological advances.This book explains Tesla's thoughts on humanity's relationship with the universe, and also his explanation and scientific extrapolation on the technological advancements embodied in his work.This text, first published in Century Illustrated Magazine in June 1900, is yet another example of the genius of Nikola Tesla.ContentsIntroductionThe onward movement of humanityThe energy of the movementThe three ways of increasing human energy1The first problem: how to increase human massThe burning of atmospheric nitrogen2The second problem: how to reduce the force retarding the human massThe art of telautomatics3The third problem: how to increase the force accelerating the human massThe harnessing of the Sun's energy4The source of human energyThe three ways of drawing energy from the Sun5Great possibilities offered by iron for increasing human performanceEnormous waste in iron manufacture6Economical production of iron by a new process7The coming of age of aluminiumThe doom of the copper industryThe great civilizing potency of the new metal8Efforts toward obtaining more energy from coalElectric transmissionThe gas engineThe cold-coal battery9Energy from the mediumThe windmill and the solar engineMotive power from terrestrial heatElectricity from natural sources10A departure from known methodsThe possibility of a 'self-acting' engine or machineThe ideal way of obtaining motive power11First efforts to produce the self-acting engineThe mechanical oscillatorThe work of Dewar and LindeLiquid air12Discovery of unexpected properties of the atmosphereStrange experimentsTransmission of electrical energy through one wire without returnTransmission through the Earth without any wire13Wireless telegraphyThe secret of tuningErrors in the Hertzian investigationsA receiver of wonderful sensitivity14Development of a new principleThe electrical oscillatorProduction of immense electrical movementsThe Earth responds to manInterplanetary communication now probable15Transmission of electrical energy to any distance without wires now possibleThe best means of increasing the force accelerating the human mass
Emperors of the DeepSharks--The Ocean`s Most Mysterious- Most Misunderstood- and Most Impo
In this remarkable groundbreaking book, a documentarian and conservationist, determined to dispel misplaced fear and correct common misconceptions, explores in-depth the secret lives of sharks--magnificent creatures who play an integral part in maintaining the health of the world's oceans and ultimately the planet.From the Jaws blockbusters to Shark Week, we are conditioned to see sharks as terrifying cold-blooded underwater predators. But as Ocean Guardian founder William McKeever reveals, sharks are evolutionary marvels essential to maintaining a balanced ecosystem. We can learn much from sharks, he argues, and our knowledge about them continues to grow. The first book to reveal in full the hidden lives of sharks, Emperors of the Deep examines four species--Mako, Tiger, Hammerhead, and Great White--as never before, and includes fascinating details such as: Sharks are 50-million years older than trees;Sharks have survived five extinction level events, including the one that killed off the dinosaurs;Sharks have electroreception, a sixth-sense that lets them pick up on electric fields generated by living things;Sharks can dive 4,000 feet below the surface;Sharks account for only 6 human fatalities per year, while humans kill 100 million sharks per year.McKeever goes back through time to probe the shark's pre-historic secrets and how it has become the world's most feared and most misunderstood predator, and takes us on a pulse-pounding tour around the world and deep under the water's surface, from the frigid waters of the Arctic Circle to the coral reefs of the tropical Central Pacific, to see sharks up close in their natural habitat. He also interviews ecologists, conservationists, and world-renowned shark experts, including the founders of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior, the head of the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, and the self-professed "last great shark hunter."At once a deep-dive into the misunderstood world of sharks and an urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep celebrates this wild species that hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the ocean--if we can prevent their extinction from climate change and human hunters.
The Role of MicroRNAs in PlantsTheRole of MicroRNAs in Plants
Discovered in plants at the turn of the century, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be fundamental to many aspects of plant biology. These small (20-24 nt) regulatory RNAs are derived via processing from longer imperfect double-stranded RNAs. They are then incorporated into silencing complexes, which they guide to (m)RNAs of high sequence complementarity, resulting in gene silencing outcomes, either via RNA degradation and/or translational inhibition. Some miRNAs are ancient, being present in all species of land plants and controlling fundamental processes such as phase change, organ polarity, flowering, and leaf and root development. However, there are many more miRNAs that are much less conserved and with less understood functions. This Special Issue contains seven research papers that span from understanding the function of a single miRNA family to examining how the miRNA profiles alter during abiotic stress or nutrient deficiency. The possibility of circular RNAs in plants acting as miRNA decoys to inhibit miRNA function is investigated, as was the hierarchical roles of miRNA biogenesis factors in the maintenance of phosphate homeostasis. Three reviews cover the potential of miRNAs for agronomic improvement of maize, the role of miRNA-triggered secondary small RNAs in plants, and the potential function of an ancient plant miRNA.
Zoonotic Diseases and One Health
Humans are part of an ecosystem, and understanding our relationship with the environment and with other organisms is a prerequisite to living together sustainably. Zoonotic diseases, which are spread between animals and humans, are an important issue as they reflect our relationship with other animals in a common environment. Zoonoses are still presented with high occurrence rates, especially in rural communities, with direct and indirect consequences for people. In several cases, zoonosis could cause severe clinical manifestations and is difficult to control and treat. Moreover, the persistent use of drugs for infection control enhances the potential of drug resistance and impacts on ecosystem balance and food production. This book demonstrates the importance of understanding zoonosis in terms of how it allows ecosystems to transform, adapt, and evolve. Ecohealth/One Health approaches recognize the interconnections among people, other organisms, and their shared developing environment. Moreover, these holistic approaches encourage stakeholders of various disciplines to collaborate in order to solve problems related to zoonosis. The reality of climate change necessitates considering new variables in studying diseases, particularly to predict how these changes in the ecosystems can affect human health and how to recognize the boundaries between medicine, veterinary care, and environmental and social changes towards healthy and sustainable development.
Practical Anatomy
Reprint of the original, first published in 1869.
Traditional Fermented Foods as Probiotic Functional Foods - A Review
Traditional fermented foods are foods that have been acted upon by a consortium of microorganisms with improved nutritional values, organoleptic qualities, extended shelf-life, digestibility etc. Lactic acid bacteria are a large group of closely related bacteria that are involved in food fermentation and have similar properties such as lactic acid production. Some moulds and yeasts are also involved in food fermentation. The live microorganisms consumed together with fermented foods are called probiotics and they possess beneficial effects such as improvement of the health of intestinal tract, enhancement of the immune system, synthesis and enhancement of bio-availability of nutrients. Fermented foods have nutritional advantages as well as prophylactic and therapeutic potentials collectively known as functional properties. Functional foods are produced by the inclusion of probiotic organisms and prebiotics. This review looks at the functional properties of traditional fermented foods especially cereals.
Readings in biological science
This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.
Bioactive Components in Fermented Foods and Food By-Products
Food fermentation is one of the most ancient processes of food production that has historically been used to extend food shelf life and to enhance its organoleptic properties. However, several studies have demonstrated that fermentation is also able to increase the nutritional value and/or digestibility of food. Firstly, microorganisms are able to produce huge amounts of secondary metabolites with excellent health benefits and preservative properties (i.e., antimicrobial activity). Secondarily, fermented foods contain living organisms that contribute to the modulation of the host physiological balance, which constitutes an opportunity to enrich the diet with new bioactive molecules. Indeed, some microorganisms can increase the levels of numerous bioactive compounds (e.g., vitamins, antioxidant compounds, peptides, etc.). Moreover, recent advances in fermentation have focused on food by-products; in fact, they are a source of potentially bioactive compounds that, after fermentation, could be used as ingredients for nutraceuticals and functional food formulations. Because of that, understanding the benefits of food fermentation is a growing field of research in nutrition and food science. This book aims to present the current knowledge and research trends concerning the use of fermentation technologies as sustainable and GRAS processes for food and nutraceutical production.
