Tennouke to Seibutsugaku
This book sheds light on a little-known aspect of the Imperial family of Japan: For three generations, members of the family have devoted themselves to biological research. Emperor Showa (Hirohito) was an expert on hydrozoans and slime molds. His son, Emperor Akihito, is an ichthyologist specializing in gobioid fishes, and his research is highly respected in the field. Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito's son, is known for his research on giant catfish and the domestication of fowl, while Prince Hitachi, Emperor Akihito's brother, has conducted research on cancer in animals. The book shows how they became interested in biology, how seriously they were committed to their research, what their main scientific contributions are, and how their achievements are valued by experts at home and abroad. To commemorate the 60-year reign of Emperor Showa and his longtime devotion to biology, the International Prize for Biology was founded in 1985. The prize seeks to recognize and encourage researches in basic biology. A list of winners and a summary of their research are presented in the last part of the book. The author, an eminent biologist who has given lectures to the Imperial Family, explains their research and tells the fascinating story of biology and the Imperial Family of Japan. The book is a valuable resource, not only for biology students and researchers, but also for historians and anyone interested in science and the Royal and Imperial families.
Pleiotropic Action of Selenium in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer, and Related Diseases
Gene cloning and sequence has provided the opportunity to identify and characterize the functional role of biomarkers expressed in and on tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Molecular and immunologic heterogeneity of cells in the tumor microenvironment contributes to instability, enhanced angiogenesis, and drug resistance of the tumor cell. Since tumor cells are the ultimate therapeutic targets for drugs and therapy development, the tumor microenvironment that regulates the growth and the delivery of effective drug concentrations to tumor cells is the gatekeeper. Thus, to have a significant impact on the overall survival and cure of patients with advanced cancer, the stabilization of the tumor microenvironment should be the initial treatment, followed by treatment that targets and kills tumor cells.Antiangeogenic therapies hold considerable promise in the treatment of a subset of cancer patients and are reported to have a significant impact on the stabilization of the tumor microenvironment. More recently, selenium-containing molecules, such as se-metylselenocysteine, seleno-L-methionine, and selenized yeast, among others, have been shown to target and modulate biomarkers associated with tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. The effects are selenium type-, dose-, and schedule-dependent. The pleiotropic actions of selenium are necessary for tumor cell sensitization, and synergy with mechanism-based combinations. This Special Issue is devoted to highlighting evidence for the potential role of specific types, doses, and schedules of selenium alone and in combination with mechanism-based biologic and cytotoxic therapies for the prevention and treatment of cancer and related diseases. The collection of contributions should provide a comprehensive overview of the pharmacology, metabolism, and delineation of the pleiotropic action of different types of selenium molecules, relevant to the use of selenium as a potential modulator of the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of biologic and cytotoxic therapies for cancer and related diseases. The pleiotropic action of specific types of selenium, doses, and schedule, as a selective and efficacious modulator of genetic, immunologic, and epigenetic biomarkers, should stimulate expanded preclinical research that could ultimately impact the development of new and novel approaches for the treatment of cancer.
Wine Fermentation
Wineries are facing new challenges due to actual market demands for the creation of products exhibiting more particular flavors. In addition, climate change has lead to the requirement for grape varieties with specific features, such as convenient maturation times, enhanced tolerance towards dryness, osmotic stress, and resistance against plant-pathogens. The next generation of yeast starter cultures should produce wines with an appealing sensory profile and less alcohol. This Special Issue comprises actual studies addressing some of the problems and solutions for the environmental, technical, and consumer challenges of wine making today: Development of sophisticated mass spectroscopic methods enable the identification of the major metabolite spectrum of grapes/wine and deliver detailed insights in terroir and yeast-specific traits; Knowledge of the origin and reactions of reductive sulphur compounds facilitates the avoidance of unpleasant wine odors; Innovative physical-chemical treatments support effective and sustainable color extraction from red grape varieties; Enological enzymes from yeasts used directly or in the form of starter cultures are promising tools to increase the juice yields, color intensity, and aroma of wine; Natural and artificial Saccharomyces hybrids as well as collections of adapted wild isolates from various ecological niches will extend winemakers repertoire, allowing individual fermentations; Exact process control of wine fermentations by convenient computer programs will guarantee consistently high product quality.
Microbiology for Dummies
Microbiology For Dummies (9781119544425) was previously published as Microbiology For Dummies (9781118871188). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. Microbiology is the study of life itself, down to the smallest particle Microbiology is a fascinating field that explores life down to the tiniest level. Did you know that your body contains more bacteria cells than human cells? It's true. Microbes are essential to our everyday lives, from the food we eat to the very internal systems that keep us alive. These microbes include bacteria, algae, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. Without microbes, life on Earth would not survive. It's amazing to think that all life is so dependent on these microscopic creatures, but their impact on our future is even more astonishing. Microbes are the tools that allow us to engineer hardier crops, create better medicines, and fuel our technology in sustainable ways. Microbes may just help us save the world. Microbiology For Dummies is your guide to understanding the fundamentals of this enormously-encompassing field. Whether your career plans include microbiology or another science or health specialty, you need to understand life at the cellular level before you can understand anything on the macro scale. Explore the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells Understand the basics of cell function and metabolism Discover the differences between pathogenic and symbiotic relationships Study the mechanisms that keep different organisms active and alive You need to know how cells work, how they get nutrients, and how they die. You need to know the effects different microbes have on different systems, and how certain microbes are integral to ecosystem health. Microbes are literally the foundation of all life, and they are everywhere. Microbiology For Dummies will help you understand them, appreciate them, and use them.
Close Encounters With Humankind
What can fossilized teeth tell us about our ancient ancestors' life expectancy? Did farming play a problematic role in the history of human evolution? And what do we have in common with Neanderthals? In this captivating bestseller, Close Encounters with Humankind, paleoanthropologist Sang-Hee Lee explores our greatest evolutionary questions from new and unexpected angles. Through a series of entertaining, bite-sized chapters that combine anthropological insight with cutting-edge science, we gain fresh perspectives into our first hominin ancestors and ways to challenge perceptions about the traditional progression of evolution. With Lee as our guide, we discover that we indeed have always been a species of continuous change.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signalling
Starting from a kinase of interest, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has gone far beyond an average biomolecule. Being expressed in all mammalian cell types and probably having a counterpart in every eukaryotic cell, AMPK has attracted interest in virtually all areas of biological research. Structural and biophysical insights have greatly contributed to a molecular understanding of this kinase. From good old protein biochemistry to modern approaches, such as systems biology and advanced microscopy, all disciplines have provided important information. Thus, multiple links to cellular events and subcellular localizations have been established. Moreover, the crucial involvement of AMPK in human health and disease has been evidenced. AMPK accordingly has moved from an interesting enzyme to a pharmacological target. However, despite our extensive current knowledge about AMPK, the growing community is busier than ever. This book provides a snapshot of recent and current AMPK research with an emphasis on work providing molecular insight, including but not limited to novel physiological and pathological functions, or regulatory mechanisms. Up-to-date reviews and research articles are included.
An Elegant Defense
National Bestseller"Gives you all the context you need to understand the science of immunity. ... An Elegant Defense left me with [a] sense of awe." --Bill Gates, Gates Notes Summer Reading ListThe Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist "explicates for the lay reader the intricate biology of our immune system" (Jerome Groopman, MD, New York Review of Books)From New York Times science journalist Matt Richtel, An Elegant Defense is an acclaimed and definitive exploration of the immune system and the secrets of health. Interweaving cutting-edge science with the intimate stories of four individual patients, this epic, first-of-its-kind book "give[s] lay readers a means of understanding what's known so far about the intricate biology of our immune systems" (The Week).The immune system is our body's essential defense network, a guardian vigilantly fighting illness, healing wounds, maintaining order and balance, and keeping us alive. It has been honed by evolution over millennia to face an almost infinite array of threats. For all its astonishing complexity, however, the immune system can be easily compromised by fatigue, stress, toxins, advanced age, and poor nutrition--hallmarks of modern life--and even by excessive hygiene. Paradoxically, it is a fragile wonder weapon that can turn on our own bodies with startling results, leading today to epidemic levels of autoimmune disorders.An Elegant Defense effortlessly guides readers on a scientific detective tale winding from the Black Plague to twentieth-century breakthroughs in vaccination and antibiotics, to today's laboratories that are revolutionizing immunology--perhaps the most extraordinary and consequential medical story of our time. Drawing on extensive new interviews with dozens of world-renowned scientists, Richtel has produced a landmark book, equally an investigation into the deepest riddles of survival and a profoundly human tale that is movingly brought to life through the eyes of his four main characters, each of whom illuminates an essential facet of our "elegant defense."
The Human Body Book
An all-in-one visual guide to human anatomy with encyclopedic coverage from bones and muscles to systems and processes. This in-depth manual to the human body's physical structure, chemical workings, and potential problems is a must-have reference to help further your studies or knowledge of how our bodies work. Each page of The Human Body Book, updated to reflect the latest medical information, is illustrated with colorful and comprehensive diagrams, which are thoroughly annotated to take you right into the cells and fibers that are responsible for keeping the human body ticking. The opening chapter, Integrated Body, explains how the parts of the body work together at various levels of size and hierarchy to produce the living whole. It also contains an overview of the major body systems, enlivened by real-life 3-D medical scans of the entire body. The chapters that follow provide coverage of the body function by function, system by system. Eleven main body systems are covered in turn, with each section ending on common injuries, diseases, and disorders afflicting that system. The book concludes with a chapter on Growth and Development which looks in detail at how the body changes over the course of a human lifespan.
Biological and Biogenic Crystallization
The intention of the Special Issue "Biological and Biogenic Crystallization" was to create an international platform aimed at covering a broad field of results involving the crystallization of biological molecules, including virus and protein crystallization, biogenic crystallization including physiological and pathological crystallization taking place in living organisms (human beings, animals, plants, bacteria, etc.), and bio-inspired crystallization. Despite many years of research on biological and biogenic crystals, there are still open questions as well as hot and timely topics. This Special Issue contains seven articles that present a cross-section of the current research activities in the of field of biological and biogenic crystals. The authors of the presented articles prove the vibrant and topical nature of this field. We hope that this Special Issue will serve as a source of inspiration for future investigations, and will be useful for scientists and researchers who work on the exploration of biological and biogenic crystals.
Vitamin D and Human Health
Over the past decades, researchers have gathered data demonstrating that vitamin D and its metabolites possess activities far beyond the classic regulation of calcium-phosphate homeostasis. It is now well established that vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. Furthermore, vitamin D and its analogs were shown to regulate proliferation and differentiation of keratinocyte, immune cells, and numerous cancer-derived cells, both in vivo and in vitro. On the other hand, population base studies have provided evidence that global vitamin D deficiency is correlated with the occurrence and aggravation of symptoms of skeletal, cardiovascular autoimmune, and skin disease; infections; metabolic and cognitive disorders; multiple types of cancers; as well as overall mortality. This Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences, entitled "Vitamin D and Human Health", summarizes recent advances in our understanding of pleiotropic activity of vitamin D with a focus on its protective role against cancer, hypertension, viral infections, and neurological diseases, as well as its impact on the immune system and mitochondria. Furthermore, eight research papers provide new insight into vitamin D research and highlight new directions and targets in the prevention and treatment of human diseases.
Who We Are and How We Got Here
A groundbreaking book about how ancient DNA has profoundly changed our understanding of human history. Geneticists like David Reich have made astounding advances in the field of genomics, which is proving to be as important as archeology, linguistics, and written records as a means to understand our ancestry. In Who We Are and How We Got Here, Reich allows readers to discover how the human genome provides not only all the information a human embryo needs to develop but also the hidden story of our species. Reich delves into how the genomic revolution is transforming our understanding of modern humans and how DNA studies reveal deep inequalities among different populations, between the sexes, and among individuals. Provocatively, Reich's book suggests that there might very well be biological differences among human populations but that these differences are unlikely to conform to common stereotypes. Drawing upon revolutionary findings and unparalleled scientific studies, Who We Are and How We Got Here is a captivating glimpse into humankind--where we came from and what that says about our lives today.
Extracellular Matrix in Development and Disease
The extracellular matrix in development and disease deals with the molecular and cellular aspects of development and disease. Cells exist in three-dimensional scaffolding called the extracellular matrix. The matrix holds together the millions of cells that make up our blood vessels, organs, skin, and all tissues of the body. The matrix serves as a reservoir of signaling molecules as well. In bacterial cultures, biofilms form as an extracellular matrix and play essential roles in disease and drug resistance. Topics such as matrix structure and function, cell attachment and cell surface proteins mediating cell-matrix interactions, synthesis, regulation, composition, structure, assembly, remodeling, and function of the matrix are included. A common thread uniting the topics is the essential nature that the matrix plays in normal development and pathophysiology. Providing new knowledge will lead us to improved diagnostics, the preventions of disease progression, and therapeutic strategies for the repair and regeneration of tissues. Topics such as the extracellular matrix in hereditary diseases, reproduction, cancer, muscle, and tissue engineering applications, and diverse roles for integrins, are included in this collection.
Plant Mitochondria
The primary function of mitochondria is respiration, where the catabolism of substrates is coupled to ATP synthesis via oxidative phosphorylation. In plants, mitochondrial composition is relatively complex and flexible and has specific pathways to support photosynthetic processes in illuminated leaves. Plant mitochondria also play important roles in a variety of cellular processes associated with carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur metabolism. Research on plant mitochondria has rapidly developed in the last few decades with the availability of the genome sequences for a wide range of model and crop plants. Recent prominent themes in plant mitochondrial research include linking mitochondrial composition to environmental stress responses, and how this oxidative stress impacts on the plant mitochondrial function. Similarly, interest in the signaling capacity of mitochondria, the role of reactive oxygen species, and retrograde and anterograde signaling has revealed the transcriptional changes of stress responsive genes as a framework to define specific signals emanating to and from the mitochondrion. There has also been considerable interest in the unique RNA metabolic processes in plant mitochondria, including RNA transcription, RNA editing, the splicing of group I and group II introns, and RNA degradation and translation. Despite their identification more than 100 years ago, plant mitochondria remain a significant area of research in the plant sciences. This Special Issue, "Plant Mitochondria", will cover a selection of recent research topics and timely review articles in the field of plant mitochondrial research.
Bodyology
-17 gripping stories about the human body -Popular science from the Wellcome health charityEver wondered what it's like to be struck by lightning, what happens when lose your sense of smell, or if we will ever cure baldness? Heard about the woman who was saved by bees -or the window cleaner who fell 472ft from a skyscraper and lived?It's time for some Bodyology. Originally written for Wellcome, the global health charity, Bodyology's stories explore the mysteries of the human body. They follow the scientists investigating our limbs, organs and senses: how our eyes and ears work, how we respond to allergies, and how some people survive disaster. Each chapter is packed with insight.Tuck into some thrilling science that reveals more about you and your family and friends.StoriesWhat's it like to be struck by lightning? - Charlotte HuffWhy do we colour hair? - Rebecca GuenardThe man with the golden blood - Penny BaileyWhy dieters can't rely on calories - Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley3D printers can now make body parts - Ian BirrellHow to fall to your death and live to tell the tale - Neil SteinbergThe quest to explain miscarriages - Holly Cave Can the power of thought slow ageing? - Jo MarchantSeeking a 'cure' for male baldness - Rhodri MarsdenHow a bee sting saved a woman's life - Christie WilcoxThe global trend for 'kangaroo' babies - Lena CornerWhat it means to lose your sense of smell - Emma YoungThe doctor aiming to end eye pain - Bryn NelsonAre allergies a defence against noxious chemicals? - Carl ZimmerWhy business is going slow on the male pill - Andy ExtanceHow virtual reality headsets aid remote surgery - Jo MarchantShhh! What exactly is the menopause? - Rose George All these stories were commissioned by Mosaic Science, a project founded by the health charity Wellcome. Using a Creative Commons licence, Mosaic Science has published dozens of stories exploring the science people care about. Canbury Press has curated the best stories into this book and a companion volume, Brainology.
The Secret Life of Genes
An illustrated introduction to genetics. The Secret Life of Genes is the story of genetic science and how it makes each of us unique. It spans the discovery of the gene and the all-encompassing role it plays in biology: from controlling the inner workings of cells and the development of embryos, through patterns of inheritance, to the evolution of new forms of life. From there developed the vast and boundless field of genetic science and research. Readers will get a sneak peek into the Human Genome Project, the international scientific research project with the goal of determining the sequence of nucleotide base pairs that make up human DNA. From this, scientists identified and mapped all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint, and opened a Pandora's box of secrets: the hidden workings of the human genome; how gene switching, junk DNA, and genetic mutation might be affecting our everyday lives; and why patents are soaring for genetic inventions. The Secret Life of Genes is written in accessible language and organized for easy comprehension. It opens with the basics and the key theories, goes on to describe DNA sequencing and what we can do with it. It then looks at the history of the world's DNA and gives readers an exciting glimpse of the future of the field.
Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield
Agricultural production must increase substantially to meet the increasing per capita demand for food, feed, fuel, and fiber of a rising human census. The amount of arable land is limited due to soil type, weather, and ecosystem considerations; therefore, it is necessary to increase yields on current fields. To obtain the greatest maize (Zea mays L.) yield, a farmer needs to nurture the crop as much as possible. Weather and nitrogen availability are well- known as two factors that normally have the greatest influence on maize yields and grain quality. Some management factors a producer may need to consider while growing a maize crop are mineral fertilization, genotype, plant population, and protection from insects and diseases. Additionally, there are numerous biological and chemical compounds that can stimulate plant growth, such as in-furrow mixes and foliar fungicides. Field management also plays a role in final grain yield, including crop rotation, tillage, soil pH and nutrient levels, weed control, and drainage. This Special Issue Book focuses on weather, soil, and other maize crop management factors and their relative independent and/or interactive influence on maize growth and yield.]
The Tumor Microenvironment of High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
The Special Issue on high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and the contribution of the tumor microenviroment (TME) consists of reviews contributed by leaders in the OC field. As HGSOC metastases have a highly complex TME, there is an urgent need to better understand the TME in general, its distinct components in particular, and the role of the TME in the context of disease recurrence and development of chemoresistance. The Special Issue incorporates the current understanding of the different parts of thd TME components, including the cancer cells themselves, the cells surrounding the cancer cells or stromal cells, and the cells of the immune system, which are attracted to the site of metastases. In addition to these cells of the TME, the role of various cellular factors made by the cells of the TME are also the subject of the reviews. In addition, reviews in this Special Issue cover the complex relationships between the molecular mechanisms of HGSOC progression, including genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic changes and changes in the immune cell landscape, as these may provide attractive new molecular targets for HGSOC therapy.
A Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Nick Hadjiliadis Metal Complex Interactions with Nucleic Acids and/or DNA
This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Science comprises a comprehensive study on "Metal Complex Interactions with Nucleic Acids and/or DNA". This Special Issue has been inspired by the important contribution of Prof. Nick Hadjiliadis to the field of palladium or/and platinum/nucleic acid interactions. It covers a selection of recent research and review articles in the field of metal complex interactions with nucleic acids and/or DNA. Moreover, this Special Issue on "Metal Complexes Interactions with Nucleic Acids and/or DNA" provides an overview of this increasingly diverse field, presenting recent developments and the latest research with particular emphasis on metal-based drugs and metal ion toxicity.
A Code for Carolyn
Carolyn's parents did not, after all, make genomics history by synthesizing her genome in a lab. She has known she is the "Human Hoax" ever since a high school genetics exercise revealed she has trisomy X--a chromosomal abnormality--yet no synthetically constructed genome would have such clear traces of natural conception. Many years later, as molecular biologist, she hopes her colleagues never learn of her embarrassing origins. But when someone ransacks her office and lab, she finds professional embarrassment is the least of her worries. Someone believes she has the results of her parents' last, secret experiments, and is willing to kill to get them. But all she has from her parents are their genes--can she find what else they may have left her before somebody else does? In a not-so-distant society, where corporations wield as much power as nations and the line between corporate employee and state authority is blurred, the chase is on. Carolyn may have just too little time at hand to unravel the mystery of her parents' final days and to realize the deep consequences for the future of mankind. This fast-paced novel is followed by an extensive science chapter where the author provides a non-technical primer on modern genetics and on the speculative biology behind Carolyn's code.
Calcium Signaling in Human Health and Diseases
Intracellular Ca2+ signaling is witnessing an amazing resurgence of interest. In addition to traditional Ca2+ aficionados, an astonishing (and growing) number of colleagues from all around the world have started to devote a large part of their research to gain insights into the role of Ca2+ signaling in health and disease. This is why calcium ions interact with virtually every signal transduction pathway not only in mammalian cells, but also across the phylogenetic tree, thereby, driving or modulating most, if not all, cellular functions, ranging from fertilization to apoptosis, passing through learning and memory, cardiac contractility, and immune response. This book gathers a collection of original research articles and reviews by a number of renowned experts who aim to present the state of the art of many pathophysiological aspects of intracellular Ca2+ signaling, such as embryonic development, immune response, extracellular Ca2+ signaling, neoplastic transformation, muscle hypertrophy, pulmonary inflammation, and P2X receptor gating.
Advances in Anthocyanin Research 2018
Anthocyanins are natural plant pigments, responsible for many of the orange/red/purple/blue colors of many flowers, fruits, and vegetables. These colorants play important roles in plants, such as conferring UV protection and antimicrobial properties, and they are also implicated to have many potential human health-promoting properties. Research works and epidemiological studies have indicated these plant pigments to be beneficial in the reduction of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For these reasons, there is increasing interest in their incorporation in foods, drugs, cosmetics, and dietary supplements as naturally derived colorants and health-promoting compounds. There is a large natural diversity in the chemical composition of anthocyanin pigments. More than 700 unique anthocyanin structures have been identified, and each has unique colorimetric, reactivity, and health-promoting properties. With such a great number of unique anthocyanins and increasing interest in their use, there is a considerable need to better understand the factors affecting their production and accumulation in plants, the factors affecting their stability and colorimetric properties, and their metabolism and mechanisms for disease alleviation. This Special Issue includes several new research works dedicated to these topics and a review of the current knowledge of anthocyanin chemistry affecting their application in food and nutrition.
Biotin and Other Interferences in Immunoassays
Biotin and Other Interferences in Immunoassays: A Concise Guide is aimed at clinical laboratory scientists, medical technologists and pathologists who are often the first individuals contacted by a clinician when a laboratory test result does not correlate with clinical presentation. Research scientists working in diagnostics companies will also find this information essential. Sources of errors in non-immunoassay based methods used in clinical chemistry and toxicology laboratory are also discussed so readers can get all important information from one concise guide. This succinct, user-friendly reference provides the necessary information to address high levels of biotin in clinical laboratory results.
Mesothelioma Heterogeneity Potential Mechanisms
Mesothelioma is a rare aggressive cancer that develops from the mesothelium. Recent molecular analyses have defined four different types of mesothelioma based on gene expression and two major molecularly-defined groups based on prognosis. In this volume, potential mechanisms causing this heterogeneity are explored. The different chapters include heterogeneity learned from experimental animal models in NF2/Hippo pathway signaling, stem cell signaling pathways, the tumor microenvironment, and micro RNA secretome. Novel aspects deserving attention such as the implication of long, non-coding RNA in disease heterogeneity are described. The volume also includes the description of tools useful to address some specific questions such as an assessment of the copy number variations of two tumor suppressors frequently mutated in mesothelioma or an investigation of Macrophage Inhibition Factor signaling in mesothelioma.
Fifty Years of Science
Fifty Years of Science - Being the address delivered at York to the British Association, August 1881 is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1882. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.
Antioxidants and Second Messengers of Free Radicals
The history of science can teach modern men that our understanding of life is to a great extent based on the accuracy of the analytical methods that we use and, on our readiness to oppose dogmatic opinions, which are based on outdated methods and black/white approaches to the major questions raised by mankind in the past. The recent decades have brought a lot of new insights into the fundamentals of the active principles of reactive oxygen species that are necessary for living cells, but which also cause dangerous pathophysiological processes. Accordingly, although they were previously considered to be the most undesired toxic compounds generated as the final products of the oxidative degradation of lipids, reactive aldehydes are now considered to play important roles both in health and in major diseases. Represented mostly by 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a substance discovered only fifty years ago, reactive aldehydes are the focus of research not only because of their toxicity but also because of their positive effects regulating the most important metabolic processes such as growth of living cells or the death of cells. Better understanding the interactions between reactive aldehydes and natural or synthetic antioxidant substances might eventually help us to better monitor, prevent and control modern diseases, thus building pillars for the development of the modern, multidisciplinary life sciences and integrative medicine of the 21st century.
Recent Changes in Drug Abuse Scenario The Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Phenomenon
In parallel with a decrease/stabilization in the use of internationally controlled drugs, the market of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) continues increasing, year after year, with the Internet playing a pivotal role in contributing to this complex scenario. At times, although misleading, the terms 'legal highs' or 'research chemicals' have been used to describe these molecules. Overall, about 5% of 19-24-year-old European people have already experimented with them, because both NPS' intense psychoactive effects and their virtual non-detectability in routine drug screenings. Although 'novel' typically refers to molecules that have recently become a reason of current/potential public health concern, at times, the NPS scenario may indeed focus on pharmaceutical molecules. These may have either not entered the market, or are currently prescribed, with their potential for misuse resulting from the relating high dosages/idiosyncratic ways of self-administration. A concurrent use of a range of different NPS, and/or medications, is frequently being reported and this may be a reason of further clinical complications. Given their complex pharmacodynamics, there are increasing levels of concern about the onset of acute/chronic psychopathological associated with NPS intake. This Special Issue aims at providing an overview of a range of NPS-related issues, e.g., preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical pharmacological; the medical and psychopathological consequences associated with their intake; and, finally, the analytical chemistry and forensic analysis challenges associated with the NPS phenomenon.
Protein Crystallization under the Presence of an Electric Field
This book entitled "Protein Crystallization under the Presence of an Electric Field" covers recent trends and original contributions on the use of electric fields (internal and external) for applications for nucleation control and the effect on the kinetics of crystallization processes. This book also includes basic strategies for growing crystals of biological macromolecules for characterization via X-ray and neutron diffraction as well as using modern X-ray-free electron-lasers. There are six main topics covered on this book, including recent insights into the crystallization process from nucleation and growth peculiarities, when using different kinds of electric fields; the effect of external electric fields on the kinetics of the dislocation-free growth of model proteins; the use of very strong external electric fields for the crystallization of a model protein glucose isomerase; and the use of alternant electric fields using different kinds of pulses and their combination with strong magnetic fields. There are also contributions related to applications in developing electron-transfer devices as well as graphene-based platforms for electrocrystallization and in situ X-ray diffraction characterization.
Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses in Crop Plants
While the demand for crop products continues to increase strongly, agricultural productivity is threatened by various stress factors, often associated with global warming. To sustain and improve yield, it is necessary to understand how plants respond to various stresses, and to use the generated knowledge in modern breeding programs. Most knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms associated with stress responses has been obtained from investigations using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Stress hormones, such as abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid, have been shown to play key roles in defense responses against abiotic and biotic stresses. More recently, evidence that growth-regulating plant hormones are also involved in stress responses has been accumulating. Epigenetic regulation at the DNA and histone level, and gene regulation by small non-coding RNAs appear to be important as well. Many approaches have used mutant screens and next generation sequencing approaches to identify key players and mechanisms how plants respond to their environment. However, it is often unclear to which extent the elucidated mechanisms also operate in crops. This Special Issue Book, therefore, aims to close this gap and contains a number of contributions from labs that work both, on Arabidopsis and crops. The book includes contributions reporting how crop plant species respond to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, heat, cold, flooding, and salinity, as well as biotic stimuli during microbial infections. It contains reviews, opinions, perspectives, and original articles, and its focus is on our molecular understanding of biotic and abiotic stress responses in crops, highlighting, among other aspects, the role of stress hormones, secondary metabolites, signaling mechanisms, and changes in gene expression patterns and their regulation. Approaches and ideas to achieve stress tolerance and to maintain yield stability of agricultural crops during stress periods can be found in most chapters. These include also perspectives on how knowledge from model plants can be utilized to facilitate crop-plant breeding and biotechnology.
PPARs in Cellular and Whole Body Energy Metabolism
At no other time in its history has humankind been as concerned about good health. Lifestyle habits are promoted as indispensable allies for the daily prevention against so-called metabolic diseases. Paradoxically, the world has never been so obese, while the beauty canons have never been so skinny! However, there is more to energy balance than alterations in body weight. In the 1990s, it was found that fatty acids not only function as fuel molecules only, but also serve as signaling molecules. They bind nuclear hormone receptors, the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors, commonly referred to by the acronym PPARs. PPARs are transcription factors that directly control the expression of genes of metabolism, thereby impacting a multitude of pathways crucial for whole body physiology. PPARs are also activated by synthetic agonists, which are drugs used for lowering triglycerides and blood sugar. This book features articles that address tools for the identification of novel PPAR ligands, as well as the roles of the receptors in several organs, such as the brain, heart, liver, adipose tissue, gut, and muscle. As such, this book documents the multifaceted roles of these nuclear receptors that continue to attract significant attention, not least because of their still not fully realized potential to treat several health conditions.
The Whole-body Microbiome
Modern-day science has allowed us to prolong and improve life in astonishing ways, often by fending off germs and other invisible foes. But there's no "immunity" to the inevitable signs of aging . . . or is there? In The Whole-Body Microbiome, the father-daughter team of Dr. Brett Finlay (a microbiologist) and Dr. Jessica Finlay (a specialist on aging) offers a different--and truly revolutionary--solution to the quest for the fountain of youth. While much has been written about bacteria in the gut, exciting new research shows that there are millions of microbes both inside our bodies--supporting our brain, teeth, heart, lungs, bones, immune system, and more; plus the microbes on our bodies, coming from the air we breathe and the things we touch all day long--cell phones and kitchen sponges, pets and doorknobs, and even other humans. These microbial "lifelong companions" have an immense impact on our daily health--and, as groundbreaking research is showing, they have the power to help prevent and reverse the most common age-related diseases. In this eye-opening new take on the significance of the microbiome, the Finlays offer empowering knowledge, surprising myth-busters, and simple yet effective daily tips that prove "dirty" is the new clean. Whether it's by changing your diet, enjoying a glass of wine, getting more exercise, trading your antibacterial gel for good old soap and water, or spending more time outdoors, you can change your life today; so that you and your microbes live long--and prosper.
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common neurological disease that can affect all ages. Although the majority of people with epilepsy can have excellent seizure control with medication, about 30% will fail anti-epileptic drugs. For those with medically intractable epilepsy, recurrent seizures lead to elevated mortality and injury risks, and the seizures themselves are socially disabling. Fortunately, for many people with intractable epilepsy, epilepsy can be cured or seizures better controlled with surgery. Localization of the seizure focus followed by surgical resection provide the best opportunities to cure epilepsy. Having a better understanding of the neuro-anatomy and physiology of epilepsy improves our ability to define the epileptic network and effectively treat epilepsy. Minimal access surgical approaches result in more rapid recovery from surgery, less pain, and more satisfied patients. For individuals without an opportunity to cure their epilepsy, new and emerging technologies can improve their quality of life by preventing injuries and reducing seizure frequency and severity. This Special Issue will highlight advances in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of epilepsy, including imaging and electroencephalography (EEG) approaches to defining the epileptic focus, understanding the epileptic network, and characterizing the anatomical substrate of epilepsy.
Transform Your Life and Save the World
This is the Second Edition of Transform Your Life And Save The World following significant additions in June 2019.The world is in crisis! What is the solution?Ultimately, we have to find the redeeming, and thus transforming, understanding of our psychologically troubled human condition. And it is precisely that dreamed-of insight, and its now desperately needed transformation of our lives, that Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith presents in this book.Titled Transform Your Life And Save The World - Through The Dreamed Of Arrival Of The Rehabilitating Biological Explanation Of The Human Condition, this book is a very short but powerful condensation of Griffith's definitive treatise of the human condition that is presented in his book FREEDOM: The End Of The Human Condition.The genesis of Transform Your Life And Save The World lay in Griffith's address at the June 2016 launch of FREEDOM at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Commencing with very brief extracts from Tim Macartney-Snape's Introduction at the launch, and Sir Bob Geldof's keynote address, it goes on to summarise FREEDOM's content in 3 powerful chapters: 'The Dishonest Biology', 'The Truthful Biology', and 'The Resulting Transformation Of The Human Race'.In fact, in just over 100 pages of sensational world-shaking but at the same time spectacular world-saving TRUTH about human behaviour, Griffith delivers a presentation that is so profoundly liberating, relieving and transforming of your life that this little book may be all you need to read!As Professor Harry Prosen, a former President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, has said, "I have no doubt this biological explanation of the human condition is the holy grail of insight we have sought for the psychological rehabilitation of the human race."This book is supported by a very informative website.
Amazing Transformations
When you're trying to introduce a new concept a child, the best means would be to employ the use of effective learning tools like coloring. So for this coloring book, the topic discussed would be human evolution. Expect to receive comments and questions from your young learner as he/she works on this book. Be prepared with some answers.
Power, Sex, Suicide
Mitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small collection of genes, separate from those in the cell nucleus. It is thought that they were once bacteria living independent lives. Their enslavement within the larger cell was a turning point in the evolution of life, enabling the development of complex organisms and, closely related, the origin of two sexes. Unlike the DNA in the nucleus, mitochondrial DNA is passed down exclusively (or almost exclusively) via the female line. That's why it has been used by some researchers to trace human ancestry daughter-to-mother, to 'Mitochondrial Eve'. Mitochondria give us important information about our evolutionary history. And that's not all. Mitochondrial genes mutate much faster than those in the nucleus because of the free radicals produced in their energy-generating role. This high mutation rate lies behind our ageing and certain congenital diseases. The latest research suggests that mitochondria play a key role in degenerative diseases such as cancer, through their involvement in precipitating cell suicide. Mitochondria, then, are pivotal in power, sex, and suicide. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Nick Lane brings together the latest research findings in this exciting field to show how our growing understanding of mitochondria is shedding light on how complex life evolved, why sex arose (why don't we just bud?), and why we age and die. This understanding is of fundamental importance, both in understanding how we and all other complex life came to be, but also in order to be able to control our own illnesses, and delay our degeneration and death. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.
Cellular Senescence
This book describes current methods for the identification and characterization of the major hallmarks of senescent cells. Chapters focus on the high heterogeneity of the senescence phenotypes, and techniques to induce and identify specific senescence programs. Additional chapters describe cellular and mouse models in which is possible to study the complex cell and non-cell autonomous functions of senescent cells. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Cellular Senescence: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.
Tumble Hitch
Jessie Aitkin, the long-time Editor-in-Chief of a leading life sciences journal, receives a fantastic job offer. A young animal rights activist requests an interview with her husband, Peter Dahl, a research scientist at a prestigious institute. An unexpected revelation sets in motion a series of events that shifts the course of their careers and their relationship. In this novel, another page turner by the author of Raw Data: A Novel on Life in Science (Springer 2016), enthusiasm for basic research and for how science is - and could be - communicated combine in a thoughtful reflection on the impact of ambition on personal relationships. In a non-technical appendix, the author discusses the use of narrative in scientific papers and considers alternative modes of science publishing, one of which is featured in the novel. Storytelling in science has the potential to enhance communication, but may also have unintended consequences. This novel and the appendix explore these timely and important issues for the scientific community.
Chronic Pain
This book successfully explores cellular and molecular mechanisms of chronic pain based on recent basic neurobiological investigations. By focusing on major breakthroughs in basic neurosciences, it is believed to contain the promise for future new pain drug discovery.Instead of repeating extensive reviews of basic animal and clinical observations, the book provides a novel neuronal model that is believed to be the key target for treating chronic pain. In addition, it reviews and validates animal models developed for studying basic mechanisms of pain and chronic pain, and the current medicine used to treat chronic pain as well as alternative pain treatment. The final few chapters also cover how pain may interfere with other high brain functions, such as fear, anxiety, sleep, memory, etc.
Atlas of Virus Diagrams
Authored by electron microscopists and leading members of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), this book includes chapters on virus classification and provides 270 diagrams and 238 references.
Echinoderm Studies 6 (2001)
This study is part of a series dedicated to the publication of reviews by experts of important topics in all areas of echinoderm studies, from molecular biology to ecology, palaeontology, biology and taxonomy. It addresses a range of topics in depth. The reviews seek to provide access to the field and to give direction to further study and research.
Immunogold-Silver Staining
This book discusses the principles, methods, and applications of immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) to biomedical areas. It provides a history of IGSS methodolody and IGSS's foundation in biochemical concepts. It covers methods for light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, nonmicroscopical applications of IGSS, and the use of thin and semi-thin resin sections and thin cryosections. It addition, the book discusses the advantages of 1nm colloidal gold particles and nanogold and udecagold.
Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Crustacea
Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Crustacea presents a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of the field, beginning with a discussion of the implications of the typological Bauplan and phylum concepts versus historical concepts such as ground pattern and monophylum for the formulation of conceptual questions in evo-devo. Following this, the authors present the results of Hox gene expression in various crustacean taxa, aspects of segment formation at the cellular and genetic levels, the formation of segmental structures such as neurons, ganglia, and limbs, and the role of morphological ontogenetic characters in resolving phylogenetic relationships.
The Dependent Gene
A masterful guide to human development that redefines the nature versus nurture debate A much-needed antidote to genetic determinism, The Dependent Gene reveals how all traits-even characteristics like eye and hair color-are caused by complex interactions between genes and the environment at every stage of biological and psychological development, from the single fertilized egg to full-grown adulthood. How we understand the nature versus nurture debate directly affects our thoughts about such basic issues as sex and reproduction, parenting, education, and crime, and has an enormous impact on social policy. With life-and-death questions in the balance surrounding stem-cell research, cloning, and DNA fingerprinting, we can no longer afford to be ignorant of human development. An enlightening guide to this brave new world, The Dependent Gene empowers us to take control of our own destiny.
Functional and Bioactive Properties of Food
Diet and nutrition are key tools in promoting health and reducing the comorbidities of chronic diseases. There are thousands of biomolecules in fruits, vegetables, wild and medicinal plants, other land and marine organisms, which can exert functional and health-promoting effects through bioactivity beyond nutrition. From the enormous amount of knowledge generated from different natural bioactive ingredients present in foods, we are aiming to bring together experts working in different fields of food, nutrition, and health, in order to work on this Special Issue, with a comprehensive collection of papers to gain insight into the most promising bioactive compounds in different foods, to improve the preservation of bioactivity during the food processing chain, and to provide scientific evidence of the efficacy of key bioactives in foods in preventing disease and improving health and wellbeing.
Sexual Selection: A Very Short Introduction
What is responsible for the differences between the sexes in so many animals, from the brilliant plumage of birds-of-paradise to the antlers on deer? Why are the traits that distinguish the sexes sometimes detrimental to survival? Ahy do males and females sometimes behave differently? Questions like these have intrigued scientists and the public alike for many years. New discoveries are showing us both how wildly variable the natural world is, and how some basic principles can help explain much of that variation. Like natural selection, sexual selection is a process that results from differential representation of genes in successive generations. Under sexual selection, however, the crucial characteristics that determine whether an individual reproduces depend on sexual competition rather than survival ability. This Very Short Introduction uncovers the history of our understanding of sexual selection, from Darwin's key insights to the modern day. Considering the investment animals place on reproduction, variation in mating systems, sexual conflict, and the origin of sexual dimorphism, Marlene Zuk and Leigh Simmons discuss questions such as whether females can really choose between males on aesthetic grounds, and how sexual conflict is resolved in different species. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Adaptation and Natural Selection
Biological evolution is a fact--but the many conflicting theories of evolution remain controversial even today. When Adaptation and Natural Selection was first published in 1966, it struck a powerful blow against those who argued for the concept of group selection--the idea that evolution acts to select entire species rather than individuals. Williams's famous work in favor of simple Darwinism over group selection has become a classic of science literature, valued for its thorough and convincing argument and its relevance to many fields outside of biology. Now with a new foreword by Richard Dawkins, Adaptation and Natural Selection is an essential text for understanding the nature of scientific debate.
You
What are you? Obviously, you are a person with human ancestors that can be plotted on a family tree, but you have other identities as well. According to evolutionary biologists, you are a member of the species Homo sapiens and as such have ancestral species that can be plotted on the tree of life. According to microbiologists, you are a collection of cells, each of which has a cellular ancestry that goes back billions of years. A geneticist, though, will think of you primarily as a gene-replication machine and might produce a tree that reveals the history of any given gene. And finally, a physicist will give a rather different answer to the identity question: you can best be understood as a collection of atoms, each of which has a very long history. Some have been around since the Big Bang, and others are the result of nuclear fusion that took place within a star. Not only that, but most of your atoms belonged to other living things before joining you. From your atoms' point of view, then, you are just a way station on a multibillion-year-long journey. You: A Natural History offers a multidisciplinary investigation of your hyperextended family tree, going all the way back to the Big Bang. And while your family tree may contain surprises, your hyperextended history contains some truly amazing stories. As the result of learning more about who and what you are, and about how you came to be here, you will likely see the world around you with fresh eyes. You will also become aware of all the one-off events that had to take place for your existence to be possible: stars had to explode, the earth had to be hit 4.5 billion years ago by a planetesimal and 65 million years ago by an asteroid, microbes had to engulf microbes, the African savanna had to undergo climate change, and of course, any number of your direct ancestors had to meet and mate. It is difficult, on becoming aware of just how contingent your own existence is, not to feel very lucky to be part of our universe.
Cell Death
A million cells in our bodies die every second--they commit suicide by activating a process called apoptosis or other forms of programmed cell death. These mechanisms are essential for survival of the body as a whole and play critical roles in various developmental processes, the immune system, and cancer. In this second edition of Douglas Green's essential book on cell death, Green retains the bottom-up approach of the first edition, starting with the enzymes that carry out the execution (caspases) and their cellular targets before examining the machinery that connects them to signals that cause cell death. He also describes the roles of cell death in development, neuronal selection, and the development of self-tolerance in the immune system, as well as how the body uses cell death to defend against cancer. The new edition is fully updated to cover the many recent advances in our understanding of the death machinery and signals that control cell death. These include the mechanisms regulating necroptosis, mitophagy, and newly identified processes, such as ferroptosis. The book will thus be of great interest to researchers actively working in the field, as well as biologists and undergraduates encountering the topic for the first time.
God’s Code
The word God is used by many religions to refer to an invoked or summoned one; Theos or Deus. Other Biblical scholars derive the word God from Babylonian gad which was their god of fortune.Many ancient African languages associate God with the sky, "Spirit Possession", and heaven above: "The ancient Egyptians, and other African nations, also saw God in very similar terms.On the other hand, to comprehend God as a Being which means, reality itself: existence, change, properties, space, time and causality is to add form, mass and movement to a reality that is not formless. So, this book illustrates God's power and force from gene expression (thought) to nucleus, to single cell to organ, to embryo to male and female. Elucidating how male and female represent an extension of God's DNA from the y to x chromosome is the aim of this 44 page book.
