Sex Is a Spectrum
Why human biology is far more expansive than the simple categories of female and male Being human entails an astonishingly complex interplay of biology and culture, and while there are important differences between women and men, there is a lot more variation and overlap than we may realize. Sex Is a Spectrum offers a bold new paradigm for understanding the biology of sex, drawing on the latest science to explain why the binary view of the sexes is fundamentally flawed--and why having XX or XY chromosomes isn't as conclusive as some would have us believe. In this lively and provocative book, leading biological anthropologist Agust穩n Fuentes begins by tracing the origin and evolution of sex, describing the many ways in the animal kingdom of being female, male, or both. Turning to humans, he presents compelling evidence from the fossil and archaeological record that attests to the diversity of our ancestors' sexual bonds, gender roles, and family and community structures, and shows how the same holds true in the lived experiences of people today. Fuentes tackles hot-button debates around sports and medicine, explaining why we can acknowledge that females and males are not the same while also embracing a biocultural reality where none of us fits neatly into only one of two categories. Bringing clarity and reason to a contentious issue, Sex Is a Spectrum shares a scientist's perspective on why a binary view of sex and gender is not only misguided but harmful, and why there are multitudes of ways of being human.
Stem Cell-based Biosystems
Recognizing the demand for knowledge in stem cell applications, this book aims to provide comprehensive information on stem cell technology and its application in biosystems.
Biomedical Application of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
This Special Issue, Biomedical Applications of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, explores the transformative role of AI and big data in biomedical research and healthcare. This volume features 14 rigorously reviewed studies covering topics such as disease diagnosis, medical image processing, survival prediction, cognitive load assessment, and medical knowledge extraction. By integrating AI-driven methodologies with big data analytics, these studies aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy, medical efficiency, and personalized treatment planning.Bridging the gap between AI-driven analytics and real-world medical applications, this reprint provides researchers, practitioners, and healthcare professionals with cutting-edge insights and methodologies. By collating studies exploring research areas including deep learning models for pathology segmentation, wearable ECG systems, or graph-based neural networks for patient monitoring, this collection presents a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in AI-powered biomedical solutions. It is an essential resource for those interested in the intersection of data science, AI, and medicine, paving the way for future breakthroughs in healthcare technology.
Potential of p70S6 kinase in regulating dynamics of actin cytoskeleton
Microbial Biostimulants for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Bioremediation
This book assembles an expert team of authors to detail the benefits, challenges and practical application of ecofriendly, innovative and biocompatible biotechnological techniques using biostimulants derived from beneficial microorganisms.
Advances in Ocean Mapping and Nautical Cartography
The Special Issue of Geomatics on "Advances in Ocean Mapping and Nautical Cartography" addresses emerging methodologies, technologies, and applications in ocean mapping. This collection includes studies on the development of high-resolution seabed mapping techniques, innovative data processing for marine cartography, and advancements in hydrographic surveying. It highlights the importance of integrating geospatial data from sources such as remote sensing, autonomous underwater vehicles, and satellite-based observations. Additionally, articles discuss challenges and strategies for ensuring data accuracy and accessibility, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable marine resource management and navigation safety enhancements.
Life’s Devices
An entertaining and informative book that explores how living things contend with nonbiological reality Life on Earth is subject to the pull of gravity, the properties of air and water, and the behavior of diffusing molecules, yet such physical factors are constraints that drive evolution and offer untold opportunities to creatures of all sizes. In this lively introduction to the science of biomechanics, Steven Vogel invites you to wonder about the design of the plants and animals around us. You will learn why a fish swims more rapidly than a duck can paddle, why healthy trees more commonly uproot than break, how sharks manage with such flimsy skeletons, and why a mouse can easily survive a fall onto any surface from any height. With an illuminating foreword by Rob Dunn, this Princeton Science Library edition of Life's Devices includes examples from every major group of animals and plants along with illustrative problems and suggestions for experiments that require only common household materials.
Abiotic Stresses, Biostimulant and Plant Activity
Biotic and abiotic stresses, intensified by climate change, pose significant challenges to cropping systems by reducing both productivity and product quality. With the global population steadily increasing, agriculture must adopt sustainable practices and strategies to meet the rising demand for food while mitigating the impacts of these stresses. Salt, drought, and heat stress have the most severe impacts on agricultural systems, making it essential to implement sustainable measures to enhance crop resilience and ensure stable or improved production. Biostimulants have garnered growing attention for their ability to boost plant stress tolerance, productivity, and product quality in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. These materials primarily enhance plant performance, nutrient acquisition and use efficiency, and end-product quality traits. Within this frame, this Special Issue collates research on the role of biostimulants and other innovative materials and techniques for promoting plant growth, yield, and product quality under abiotic stress conditions. This Special Issue also investigates the mechanisms of action of biostimulants, highlighting their economic and environmental benefits. Additionally, it examines novel substances with biostimulant properties, broadening the scope of sustainable solutions for modern agriculture.
Brain Injury and Neurodegeneration
The brain encompasses numerous kind of cells, such as, neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, pericytes, and endothelial cells, etc., which have specific structures and functions, as well as an integrated role in CNS homeostasis. For example, glial cells-especially astrocytes and microglia-respond to immunological clues, secrete chemokines/cytokines/growth factors, perform phagocytosis, and support the neurons and vasculature of the CNS. Any insult to the brain, such as in the case of a traumatic brain injury, causes neuroinflammation that leads to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Environmental and occupational factors, such as blast, can also cause neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Addiction to alcohol and tobacco or hormones can afflict brain health in many ways. In addition, the health of other organs such as oral health and microbiota has a great impact on neurological and cardiovascular health, and has garnered much attention recently. With rapid advances in neuroimaging, improved diagnostic tools, and the identification of biomarkers, we have improved our understanding of brain pathologies and their chronic impact. This Special Issue is the second in the series on the topic and has brought together interesting research on cellular functions, environmental impacts, and therapeutic interventions for brain pathologies, providing a comprehensive overview of the current progress in neuroscience. With a compilation of 16 articles, this Special Issue will be a fascinating read for the readers.
Bioanalytical Chemistry
Bioanalytical chemistry plays today a central role in various fields, from healthcare to food and environmental control. This book presents the main methodologies for analyzing biomacromolecules, with a focus on methods based on molecular recognition. The six chapters move from fundamentals to the most recent advances, achieved by a synergetic combination of bio and nanotechnologies. The need for rapid and reliable analytical tools able to perform a large number of quantitative analyses, not only in centralized laboratories and core facilities but also for point-of-care testing, has been dramatically stressed by the recent crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the authors is to provide graduate students and young researchers with the elements of interdisciplinary knowledge necessary not only to use the wide arsenal of bioanalytical tools available today but also to contribute to the development of even more effective devices and methods.
Birds, Sex and Beauty
"Matt Ridley is one of our finest science writers. This book is a treat for bird lovers and evolutionary biologists alike." --Richard Dawkins, author of The Genetic Book of The Dead and The God DelusionThe New York Times bestselling author of Genome and The Evolution of Everything revisits Darwin's revelatory theory of mate choice through the close study of the peculiar rituals of birds, and considers how this mating process complicates our own view of human evolution.In all animals, mating is a deal. But few creatures behave as if sex is a simple, even mutually beneficial, transaction. Many more treat it with reverence, suspicion, angst, and violence. In the case of the Black Grouse, the bird at the center of Matt Ridley's investigation, the males dance and sing for hours a day, for several exhausting months, in an arduous and even deadly ritual called a "lek." To prepare for the ordeal, they grow, preen and display fancy, twisted, bold-colored feathers. When achieved, consummation with a female takes seconds. So why the months of practice and preparation that is elaborate, extravagant, exhausting and elegant?The full answer remains a mystery. Evolutionary biologists can explain why males are generally the eager sellers, females the discriminating buyers. But they struggle to explain why, in some species, this extravagance goes beyond the mere gaudy, taking on bizarre shapes, postures, and behavior. And further, why these bird displays seem beautiful to us humans, a species with seemingly no skin in the game.Using an early morning "lek" as his starting point, Ridley explores the scientific research into the evolution of bright colors, exotic ornaments, and elaborate displays in birds around the world. Charles Darwin thought the purpose of such displays was to "charm" females. Though Darwin's theory was initially dismissed and buried for decades, recent scientific research has proven him newly right--there is a powerful evolutionary force quite distinct from natural selection: mate choice. In Birds, Sex and Beauty, Ridley reopens the history of Darwin's vexed theory, laying bare a century of disagreement about an idea so powerful, so weird, and so wonderful, we may have yet to fully understand its implications.
Developmental Oncology: Principles and Therapy of Cancers of Children and Young Adults
Life Science - Genetics & Genomics;Medical Immunology, Oncology
Adaptable
A new understanding of how our bodies work, how to keep them healthy, and how our biological diversity unites us rather than divides us How does the body work--and why does it seem to work so differently for each of us? Why do we grow tall or short, obese or slim? Why do some of us stay healthy despite our bad habits while others who do all the right things fall ill? When we look around the planet, why do people vary in skin color, facial features, stature, body proportions, and disease risk? The answer is both simple and powerful: We're different because we're adaptable. Over the past 100,000 years, as humans expanded into every biome on the planet, our bodies were fine-tuned to our local environments. Adaptability is at the heart of being human and the engine of our diversity - our species' original superpower. As an evolutionary anthropologist working with human populations around the globe, Herman Pontzer has conducted research that embraces our incredible diversity, documenting the connections among lifestyle, landscape, local adaptations, and health. Adaptable takes us on a tour of the human body. In each chapter, we learn how our bodies navigate an uncertain world: how we grow and mature; how our brains develop and learn; how our hearts, lungs, and digestive systems deliver oxygen and nutrients; how we manage toxins, temperature, and water balance; how we move and reproduce; how our immune system keeps invaders at bay; and how we age and decline. Along the way, we learn how to take care of our remarkable bodies, and that the universe of healthy lifestyles is vast (we don't need the latest fad diet or cleanse!). Crucially, we come to see how understanding our bodies helps us make sense of the big issues we face today, from vaccines to heart disease, IQ to athletic excellence, diets and obesity to sex and gender, and what we can do to live longer and healthier.
Navigating the Business Side of Biomedicine and Biotechnology
The Curious Human Knee
Winner, 2023 Choice Outstanding Academic TitleBronze Winner, 2024 Nonfiction Book Awards Where would we be without the knee? This down-to-earth joint connecting the thigh and the lower leg doesn't receive the attention it deserves. Yet, as The Curious Human Knee reveals, it is crucial to countless facets of science, medicine, culture, and history--and even what makes us human. The science writer Han Yu provides an informative, surprising, and entertaining exploration of the human knee across time and place. She begins with our earliest ancestors, emphasizing that walking upright separates us from the apes and bipedal knees appeared long before big brains and sophisticated tools. Yu considers the intricate anatomy of the knee, its evolutionary history, and the complexity of treating knee pain, including her own. She examines why women's knees might be more prone to damage than men's and addresses the roles of race and class in ailments such as osteoarthritis. This book gets knee-deep into an astonishing range of topics--fashion from flappers to miniskirts and ripped jeans, cultural practices spanning Japanese knee walking and Thai boxing, and more. Yu reflects on the symbolic power of kneeling from the imperial court in China to the football field in the United States and shows why the knee figures into so many social and political phenomena. Distilling a vast amount of research in a style that is engaging, conversational, and even personal and witty, this book opens readers' eyes to the complexity and significance of the humble knee.
Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of TLR-2 and IL-33 Gene
The Ocean's Menagerie
An elegantly written exploration of the cutting edge science of the strangest and most remarkable creatures on our planet by a leading marine biologist Hundred-year-old giant clams, coral kingdoms that rival human cities, and jellyfish that glow in the dark: ocean invertebrates are among the oldest and most diverse organisms on earth, seeming to bend the "rules" of land-based biology. Although sometimes unseen in the deep, the spineless creatures contain 600 million years of adaptation to problems of disease, energy consumption, nutrition, and defense. In The Ocean's Menagerie, world-renowned marine ecologist Dr. Drew Harvell takes us diving from Hawaii to the Salish Sea, from St. Croix to Indonesia, to uncover the incredible underwater "superpowers" of spineless creatures: we meet corals many times stronger than steel or concrete, sponges who create potent chemical compounds to fight off disease, and sea stars that garden the coastlines, keeping all the other nearby species in balance. As our planet changes fast, the biomedical, engineering, and energy innovations of these wonderous creatures inspire ever more important solutions to our own survival. The Ocean's Menagerie is a tale of biological marvels, a story of a woman's passionate connection to an adventurous career in science, and a call to arms to protect the world's most ancient ecosystems.
A bacteriological study of ham souring
Unlock the Secrets of Ham Souring: A Collector's Edition Dive into the fascinating world of microbiology with Charles Neil McBryde's groundbreaking work, ""A Bacteriological Study of Ham Souring."" This captivating exploration, originally published in the early 20th century, unravels the mysterious processes behind the spoilage of one of our most beloved meats. With meticulous research and insightful analysis, McBryde sheds light on the bacterial culprits and their impact on food preservation. Out of print for decades, this seminal work has been lovingly republished by Alpha Editions, making it accessible to both current and future generations. Whether you're a food scientist, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the science behind your favorite foods, this book is a must-have addition to your collection. More than just a book, this is a collector's edition-a timeless piece of scientific literature that bridges the past and the present. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of history and enrich your understanding of the microscopic world that shapes our culinary experiences.
Andreas Vesalius, the Reformer of Anatomy
Discover the riveting journey of Andreas Vesalius, the visionary who revolutionized the world of anatomy, in ""Andreas Vesalius, the Reformer of Anatomy"" by James Moores Ball. This captivating narrative unveils the life and legacy of a man who dared to challenge the medical conventions of his time, laying the foundation for modern anatomy. With meticulous detail and engaging storytelling, Ball brings to life Vesalius's relentless pursuit of knowledge and his groundbreaking contributions that forever changed the course of medical history. Out of print for decades, this timeless masterpiece has been lovingly republished by Alpha Editions, ensuring that both current and future generations can delve into the extraordinary story of a true pioneer. More than just a book, this is a collector's edition-a treasure trove for history enthusiasts, medical professionals, and anyone fascinated by the triumph of human curiosity and innovation. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of history and be inspired by the man who dared to see the human body in a whole new light.
The Anatomy of the Human Peritoneum and Abdominal Cavity Considered from the Standpoint of Development and Comparative Anatomy
Dive into the intricate world of human anatomy with George S. Huntington's timeless masterpiece, ""The Anatomy of the Human Peritoneum and Abdominal Cavity."" This extraordinary work, now republished by Alpha Editions after being out of print for decades, offers a captivating exploration of the human body's most complex systems. Huntington's insightful approach, blending developmental and comparative anatomy, provides readers with a profound understanding of the peritoneum and abdominal cavity. This collector's edition is not just a book; it's a journey through the marvels of human biology, meticulously detailed and beautifully illustrated. Whether you're a medical professional, a student, or an enthusiast of anatomical science, this book is an essential addition to your library. Rediscover a classic that has educated and inspired generations, now available for the current and future generations to cherish. Don't miss the opportunity to own a piece of medical history that continues to illuminate the wonders of the human body.
New Insights into Cardiovascular and Exercise Physiology
This reprint aims to provide insights into recent knowledge on the cardiovascular system and its adaptation to different diseases and exogenous conditions. Considering the increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases, a major cause of death worldwide, and the need to attain treatment strategies, knowledge of the physiological processes behind them remains the basis for future research and is a prerequisite for improved clinical studies. Physical exercise is increasingly being regarded as one of the potentially beneficial measures to improve cardiovascular health, interfering with numerous elements of the cardiovascular system and affecting a multitude of potential mechanisms. Its long-term beneficial effects are well known; nevertheless, a lot of questions remain unresolved. Where is the line between benefit and harm? How do different types of exercise affect the cardiovascular system in health and disease, what is the most appropriate measure regarding duration, repetition, and recovery, and if and how can an exercise regime be individually adjusted? In addition, a proper evaluation of physical parameters and cardio-pulmonary and training status is crucial, both in light of a sportsperson's achievements and improvements and from the clinical point of view. In this reprint, scientists from various fields of cardiovascular and/or exercise physiology have presented their new findings, conducting investigations on humans, each importantly contributing to discuss potential controversies and open challenges and questions for future research.
Advances in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a versatile and non-invasive imaging modality that accurately diagnoses and characterizes cardiovascular disease. CMR is widely accepted as the gold standard for the evaluation of cardiac function. CMR can also characterize various conditions affecting myocardial tissue such as inflammation, edema, necrosis, and fibrosis. Recently, new techniques including T1 mapping, extracellular volume fraction, myocardial strain, 4D flow, DWI/DTI, and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) have further expanded the role of CMR in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of cardiovascular diseases. In this Special Issue entitled "Advances in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance", we collected one interesting images, two reviews and eleven research articles in the areas of MRI in the area of evaluating cardiac function, various types of cardiomyopathy, etc. The published studies in this Special Issue provide great insights into the latest knowledge about the application of CMR.
Advances in Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma
This is a Special Issue on bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Despite advances in clinical and basic research, soft tissue and bone sarcomas remain clinically challenging. This Special Issue highlights the latest discoveries in soft tissue and bone cancers from the laboratory through to the clinics, bench to bedside, and beyond. It brings together original research and reviews covering bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The topics range from detection and diagnosis methods using histopathology, imaging, and molecular advances through to treatment and prognosis, including epidemiological studies, outcome analysis, and surgical and adjunct treatments. Sarcomas from human and veterinary patients as well as models are investigated.
Biodiversity and Ecology of Organisms Associated with Woody Plants
Woody plants serve as habitats for a diverse range of organisms, including herbivores and pathogenic species, which are often considered to be both harmful and beneficial organisms that support plant health and ecosystem stability. For instance, natural enemies of pests are essential for preserving the health of wild woody plants, managed forests, and ornamental trees in urban green spaces such as parks, gardens, and urban forests. While the interactions between woody plants and herbivores have been well documented, much less is understood about the complex relationships among the various organisms that inhabit these plants. In this Special Issue, the different contributions by the authors provide critical insights into the multifaceted roles of invertebrates and microorganisms in diverse ecosystems, significantly enhancing our understanding of ecological dynamics and pest management. As such, this Special Issue offers valuable examples of recent research activities in this global discipline.
Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering
Slaughter animals are transported, lairaged and stunned before slaughter. The welfare of animals can be compromised during this period. It is expected that all animals be protected from avoidable sources of disturbance, pain, or suffering during transport, lairage, restraint, stunning, slaughter, or killing. Slaughter animals include horses, ruminants, pigs, poultry, and species of fish. The different aspects involved in handling these animals are described in each chapter.
Some Key Topics in Chemistry and Biochemistry for Biotechnologists
Patternism
Redefine intelligence. Rethink evolution. Discover the patterns that connect it all.Patternism: How Patterns Define Intelligence, Consciousness, and Evolution challenges the traditional, human-centric approach to intelligence, offering a revolutionary framework that unifies biological, cognitive, and technological phenomena under one universal principle: the recognition and utilization of patterns. It argues that intelligence must be expanded beyond human definitions to fully encompass the processes driving life, evolution, and artificial intelligence.This paradigm-shifting book: Expands the definition of intelligence to include all systems capable of pattern recognition and adaptation.Reframes evolution as an inherently intelligent process that explores solutions through patterns.Explains consciousness as a self-referencing system of pattern recognition and manipulation.Bridges the gap between biological intelligence, artificial neural networks, and universal principles of adaptation.Establish a "Philosophy of Patterns," defining knowledge and existence in terms of patterns.Packed with vivid examples and interdisciplinary insights, Patternism is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the underlying forces that drive intelligence, consciousness, and evolution. This book offers a bold vision for correcting the human-centric flaws in our understanding of intelligence and provides a unifying theory to explore its manifestations across all systems.Whether you're a scientist, philosopher, technologist, or simply curious, Patternism will reshape how you view the nature of intelligence and our place in the universe.
The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire
By the award-winning author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth: a history of humanity on the brink of decline. We are living through a period that is unique in human history. For the first time in more than ten thousand years, the rate of human population growth is slowing down. In the middle of this century population growth will stop, and the number of people on Earth will start to decline - fast. In this provocative book, award-winning science writer Henry Gee offers a concise, brilliantly-told history of our species--and argues that we are on a rapid, one-way trip to extinction. The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire narrates the dramatic rise of humanity, how a scattered range of small groups across several continents eventually inbred, interacted, fought, established stable communities and food supplies, and began the process of dominating the planet. The human story is relatively brief--the oldest fossils of H. Sapiens date to approximately 300,000 years ago--yet the spread of our species has been unstoppable...until recently. As Gee demonstrates, our population has peaked, and is declining; our environment is becoming inimical to human life in many locations; our core resources of water, arable land, and air are diminishing; and new diseases, simmering conflicts, and ambiguous technologies threaten our collective health. Can we still change our course? Or is our own extinction inevitable? There could be a way out, but the launch window is narrow. Unless Homo sapiens establishes successful colonies in space within the next two centuries, our species is likely to stay earthbound and will have vanished entirely within another ten thousand years, bringing the seven-million-year story of the human lineage to an end. With assured narration, dramatic stories, and his signature sprightly humor, Henry Gee envisions new opportunities for the future of humanity--a future that will reward facing challenges with ingenuity, foresight, and cooperation.
Antimicrobial Resistance in Veterinary Science
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complicated issue that threatens human and animal health and welfare, the economy, and security worldwide. The imprudent use of antibiotics in human clinical practice, veterinary medicine, and farmed animals is the leading source of the problem. There is mounting evidence that the non-judicious use of antibiotics for prophylactic and growth promotion purposes in animal agriculture significantly contributes to the development of AMR in animal-associated bacteria. The impact is immense; O'Neal's report eminently predicted severe mortality, morbidity, and catastrophic economic losses due to AMR across the globe by 2050. There is a consensus that AMR should be managed from a One Health perspective, incorporating comprehensive information about antibiotic usage in humans, animals, the food chain, and the environment. Animals and wildlife ecosystems are potential reservoirs for multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms and antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) that can be transmitted to humans through the food chain or direct contact. The presence of plasmid-encoded resistant genes escalates the risk of the rapid dissemination of ARGs. It is essential to include and utilize the information collected from animal pathogens in AMR surveillance programs as a part of the One Health framework, since human and animal health is interconnected. This can reduce the acceleration of AMR and offer more options for antimicrobials for treating human disease.
Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization
Ensiling is a technique for the long-term preservation of feed; it is both effective and widespread, and is characterized by its low cost and ease of operation. At the initial stage of ensiling, water-soluble carbohydrates are broken down into carbon dioxide, water, and energy under the respiration of aerobic bacteria. As oxygen is depleted, lactic acid bacteria attached to forage multiply and convert WSC into organic acids, thereby creating an anaerobic and acidic environment, which, in turn, inhibits the activities of undesirable bacteria, such as clostridia, and reduces the risk of forage spoilage. Ensilage is a complex process involving the actions of microbes and biochemical variations. It is one of the most significant methods of preserving herbages. Animals that consume silage have been shown to enhance the bioavailability of animal protein and decrease methane emissions. A plethora of silage resources are available on Earth. However, the utilization rates remain low, resulting in significant resource wastage and substantial environmental degradation. Conversely, the accelerated growth in animal production has resulted in a persistent annual deficit of animal roughage. Consequently, there is a need to investigate the recent situations of silage preparation, processing, and efficient utilization. This reprint, entitled "Silage Preparation, Processing and Efficient Utilization", comprises one editorial and eleven original research articles. Collectively, these contributions illustrate the promising future of silage application, with the objective of advancing the field of animal feed.
Biodiversity and Conservation of Forests
Forests are extremely valuable ecosystems that are associated with a number of ecosystem services of significant importance for human wellbeing, with biodiversity being among the most highly desired of them. However, global forests currently face multifarious and often contradicting challenges. In Europe, North America, and elsewhere, the abandonment of land, which is associated with socioeconomic changes during the 20th century, provides an opportunity for degraded or even damaged forests to recover and reoccupy their pre-human areas. While this may result in a significant increase in forest cover and a decrease in forest fragmentation, it may also lead to an increased degree of landscape homogeneity with negative impacts on local biodiversity. If the extensive deforestation of the globally important tropical forests and land conversion of agriculture continues to occur, it will threaten the long-term sustainability of these biodiversity hotspots. This deforestation often occurs at large spatial scales without necessarily ensuring significant economic benefits, while the loss of habitats and biodiversity is undoubtedly huge. All the above issues stress the need for sustainable forest management and for reconciling land management and socioeconomic development with the need for conserving the global biodiversity at all levels from genetic variants, including species, populations and ecosystems. In this Special Issue, we present a collection of state-of-the-art studies on various aspects of forest biodiversity conservation and protection.
Basic Types of Life
To date, no agreement has been reached on the definition of taxonomic categories such as species, genus and family. This means that there are no generally accepted definitions for terms that biologists deal with on a daily basis.The authors of Basic Types of Life draw attention to the previously little-noticed possibility of characterizing kinship relationships in an experimentally verifiable manner through interspecific crossings. The genetically based Basic Type category based on this is superior to the species category and, in the case of the organisms from the animal and plant kingdoms studied so far, lies between genus and family. Basic Types represent clearly demarcated groups.Species concepts are usually based on the assumption that speciation is correlated with development from a lower to a higher order. By contrast, the distribution of characteristics within the species ranges of individual Basic Types is interpreted within the framework of the hypothesis of genetically polyvalent ancestral forms from which genetically less flexible descendants have arisen through speciation processes.Basic Types of Life is a translation of the German classic biological work, Typen des Lebens. This translated volume also incorporates new hybridization and other data that sheds further light on previous studies.
Bioprocess Engineering Principles
Bioprocess Engineering Principles, Third Edition provides a solid introduction to bioprocess engineering for students with a limited engineering background. The book explains process analysis from an engineering perspective using worked examples and problems that relate to biological systems. Application of engineering concepts is illustrated in areas of modern biotechnology, such as recombinant protein production, bioremediation, biofuels, drug development, and tissue engineering, as well as microbial fermentation. With new and expanded material, this remains the book of choice for students seeking to move into bioprocess engineering
Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Treatment Strategies for Osteoporosis
Natural Antioxidants and Aquatic Animal Health
This Special Issue comprises 12 original research articles focusing on the relationship between antioxidants and the health of aquatic animals. It provides valuable insights into the mechanisms by which aquatic animals respond to oxidative stress and how dietary antioxidants influence their health. Aquatic animals are often exposed to fluctuating environments, which can induce oxidative stress, potentially compromising their health, performance, and productivity. As such, enhancing their oxidative status is crucial for maintaining normal physiological functions. Numerous studies within this Special Issue reveal the beneficial roles of antioxidants, when added to diets, in promoting growth, enhancing antioxidant capabilities, and improving metabolic functions. Antioxidants have also shown potential in mitigating negative environmental impacts and boosting the health of aquatic species. The articles in this Special Issue not only underline the advantages of using antioxidants as dietary supplements but also provide a theoretical foundation for their application in aquaculture. This collection aims to stimulate further scientific investigation into the effects of natural antioxidants on the health of aquatic animals, thereby advancing knowledge and fostering innovation in this field.
Bioeconomy of Streptomyces
This book provides an overview of Streptomyces, highlighting their habitats, diversity, genetic structure, and metabolic engineering techniques to enhance the production of secondary metabolites.This book is of interest to researchers, and professionals working in the fields of microbiology, industrial microbiology, and biotechnology.
Infrared Thermography as a Tool for Assessing Animal Welfare and Its Usefulness in Veterinary Research
This Special Issue, Infrared Thermography as a Tool for Assessing Animal Welfare and its Usefulness in Veterinary Research, presents leading research on the application of infrared thermography (IRT) and thermal imaging to analyze temperature variations in domestic and wild animals, encompassing both poikilothermic and homeothermic species. These variations reflect physiological responses to environmental stressors, including cold, heat, pain, fear, hunger, anxiety, and boredom, as well as natural processes such as illness, growth, aging, weight fluctuations, exercise, courtship, mating, imprinting, and stages like estrus, pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. This reprint provides valuable insights into how IRT systems, by detecting infrared radiation emitted from the body, efficiently assess superficial microcirculatory changes that influence thermal patterns. This innovative technique demonstrates significant potential in veterinary clinical research for identifying inflammatory processes, wounds, neoplasms, pain, emotions, and neuropathies. Furthermore, IRT has established itself as a valuable diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine, with applications in oncology, orthopedics, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation. IRT's versatility extends beyond individual diagnostics and is used to evaluate the effects of climate change, heat stress, and the behavioral and physiological responses of farm, companion, laboratory, and wild animals to various internal and external factors. This solidifies its importance as an indispensable tool in veterinary science.
Biomonitoring and Conservation of Freshwater & Marine Fishes
This Special Issue of 12 full-length papers collectively addressed biotic scales from (i) salmonid skin microbiomes to (ii) cyprinid genetics and ecology to (iii) assessment of ichthyoplankton and older fishes across freshwater and estuarine habitats. The focus was typically guild- or assemblage-oriented to better assess anthropogenic impacts, but it also included a single-species study that examined geographic variation in catfish ecology in the face of climate crisis pressures. The genetic, microbiologic, habitat, trophic, and hydrologic ecology of fishes that were discussed should help us to better assess anthropogenic impacts in other contexts. We hope this Special Issue provides a springboard for other aquatic ecologists to formulate more holistic, ecosystem-health assessments, especially by spatiotemporal planning, to minimize impacts to rare and migratory species.
Contemporary Natural Philosophy and Philosophies - Part 3
This Special Issue, titled "Contemporary Natural Philosophy and Philosophies-Part 3", is the third in a series. The previous two parts resulted in 34 contributions by 41 authors, attracting the interest of researchers from various research fields, ranging from logic, mathematics, physics, and biology to cognitive sciences and philosophy. Based on that response and the success of the previous two Special Issues, which also resulted in two open access reprints, we have decided to continue exploring contemporary natural philosophy with the help of researchers investigating the variety of domains of knowledge based on "the idea of the unity of nature and human as its integral part, from different perspectives of sciences, humanities, and liberal arts in their cultural contexts, including technology"-as we put it in the introduction to Part 1.
Biodegradable Polymers and Textiles
This Special Issue explores the growing interest in biodegradable polymers and textiles, and their diverse applications, with a focus on sustainable materials developed from renewable resources. These polymers, derived from waste materials and bioresources like food, agricultural waste, starch, and cellulose, are engineered to decompose within specific timeframes, offering environmentally friendly disposal methods. The issue covers various studies that highlight the potential of biodegradable polymers in industries such as medical textiles, fashion, and nanotechnology, underscoring their benefits in biodegradation, carbon reduction, and raw material regeneration. The study also delves into advancements in biopolymers, including bacterial silk proteins, bacterial cellulose-based materials, and biodegradable films, which show promise for applications in wound healing, tissue engineering, and fashion. Furthermore, innovations in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, collagen scaffolds, and composite materials demonstrate their utility in biomedical fields, offering sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally safe alternatives. Overall, this collection of papers emphasizes the importance of further research and technological advancements to optimize the potential of biodegradable polymers, with a focus on enhancing their physical properties, scalability, and long-term clinical performance. The Special Issue offers valuable insights for future applications in sustainable manufacturing and medical solutions.
