Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Biology
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in maintaining the salt and water balance of very diverse animal species under very diverse conditions. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a hormone with much more complex actions than is typical for other agonists with heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Its principal receptor, angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), is distributed in many cells of the body in diverse organs, controlling the water and salt balance, vascular contractility, and blood pressure.This Special Issue provides original research papers and review articles regarding the latest insights into the complexity of the cell signaling and biological mechanisms of the RAS components to propose novel mechanisms in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology. By targeting this system, works may provide novel therapeutic potential regarding cardiovascular and related diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus.
Life History Evolution
Provides a timely and authoritative account of Life History Evolution by a multidisciplinary team of scholars and researchers from around the world Life History Evolution: Traits, Interactions, and Applications presents a cutting-edge synthesis of the mechanisms driving life history strategies that span the breadth of taxa, from bacteria to humans. Integrating classical and contemporary perspectives, this comprehensive volume addresses how organisms evolve traits in response to diverse ecological pressures. Editors Michal Segoli and Eric Wajnberg bring together leading experts to explore the intersection of evolutionary biology, ecology, and applied research, focusing on the evolving complexity of life history traits and their implications. In-depth yet accessible chapters cover a broad spectrum of life history traits, from classical traits of lifespan and reproduction to more complex interactions like social behaviour, predator-prey dynamics, and human-induced evolutionary processes. The contributing authors explain essential concepts, identify critical knowledge gaps, discuss future research directions, and demonstrate the relevance of life history evolution in addressing climate change, species invasion, pollution, and more. Providing a well-balanced understanding of life history traits and their implications, Life History Evolution: Incorporates recent advances in evolutionary theory, including eco-evolutionary feedback loops and anthropogenic impacts Offers diverse perspectives and original research from leading experts in fields such as evolutionary biology, ecology, entomology, zoology, agriculture, and veterinary medicine Discusses life history evolution in the context of co-evolved interactions such as predator-prey, parasite-host, plant-herbivore, and endosymbiont-host relationships Provides an overview of the foundational theory, recent developments, and current thinking in the field Features numerous case studies that highlight real-world applications in biological control, wildlife management, climate change adaptation, and others Revealing how life history traits shape the evolutionary strategies of organisms, Life History Evolution: Traits, Interactions, and Applications is an essential resource for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers in ecological science. It is an ideal textbook for courses in evolutionary ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, environmental science, and environmental management.
Fungi and Fungal Metabolites for the Improvement of Human and Animal Life, Nutrition and Health 2.0
Macrofungi and filamentous fungi constitute a large portfolio of proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, oligo elements, pigments, colorants, bioactive compounds, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, etc. For example, industrially important enzymes and microbial biomass proteins have been produced from fungi for more than 50 years. Some start-ups convert byproducts and side streams rich in carbohydrates into a protein-rich fungal biomass. This biomass can then be processed into a vegan meat substitute for food applications. In recent years, there has also been a significant increase, in fact, a significant revival in the number of publications in the international literature dealing with the production of lipids by microbial sources (i.e., the single-cell oils (SCO) that are produced by the so-called "oleaginous" microorganisms, including "oleaginous" fungi such as zygomycete species, e.g., Cunninghamella echinulata and Mortierella isabellina). Fungi are potential sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as these microorganisms can accumulate large amounts of high-valued PUFAs, such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and arachidonic acid (ARA).
Effect of gibberellic acid on carbohydrate metabolism in bananas
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics: A Practical Guide to NCBI Databases and Sequence Alignments provides the basics of bioinformatics and in-depth coverage of NCBI databases, sequence alignment, and NCBI Sequence Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST).
Convergence of Science and Engineering
This reprint, titled "Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving Public Health, " explores the transformative potential of interdisciplinary research in addressing modern health challenges. This reprint highlights cutting-edge studies and reviews, showcasing how the integration of bioengineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and related fields is driving innovations in disease prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. As a must-read for scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals, this work bridges diverse disciplines to inspire groundbreaking solutions and enhance public health worldwide.
New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in Diabetic Microvascular Complications
Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem globally, with an ascendant trend, and is expected to reach up to 700 million cases by 2045. The microvascular triad includes diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, unique in diabetes. Despite significant achievements in early diagnosis and therapy, diabetic retinopathy remains the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population, with a severe impact on patients' quality of life. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects nearly 50% of adults with diabetes during their lifetime, and it represents a major risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), the most common cause of non-traumatic amputations worldwide. Classically, the duration of diabetes, level of hyperglycemia, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia are the most implicated risk factors. Novel research has found multiple molecular pathways that may interfere with vascular disfunction, ischemia, and tissular damage. In this Special Issue, we showcase nine original articles and two comprehensive reviews that provide new data on novel biomarkers, early diagnosis, pathology, molecular mechanisms, and new therapies in the fields of diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and diabetic foot ulcers.
Wood Modification
This Special Issue considers wood modification, an established field for enhancing timber properties. The focus is on characterising and optimising the various modification technologies available. Five papers address thermal modification and processes. Four papers address innovative chemical treatment agents, while another considers the effect of delignification on the densification process. One paper considers the permeability gains made using microwave drying as a pre-treatment for impregnation-based modification systems.Two papers consider wood functionalisation methods, namely, phase change materials and the use of silver nanoparticles, with potential for use in advanced building products and resistance to biodegradation, respectively. There is plenty of overlap within the field, and several papers use a combination of approaches, reflecting the current trends in research.Two papers use machine learning, algorithm optimisation, or modelling approaches to improve prediction and processing, which is an area set to develop in parallel with Industry 4.0 advances as concepts become incorporated with wood modification technologies.This Special Issue indicates that demand for sustainable natural materials and technologies is emerging within wood modification. These concepts have always been at the heart of wood modification principles. The papers contribute to the industrial application of many promising modification processes.
Industrial Biotechnology
This book offers a comprehensive overview of biochemical processes, technologies, and practical applications of industrial biotechnology.
Advances in Plant Science Research
We hope that the publication of this Special Issue will provide an overview of recent systematic advances in plant science research in China, particularly within forestry research, introduce in-depth perspectives on future developments, and provide a tribute to the 120th anniversary of NJFU. NJFU, as the national "Double First-Class" initiative university featuring modern forestry science, aims to strengthen major national strategies such as biological breeding, ecological civilization construction, rural revitalization, carbon peaks and carbon neutrality, and healthy China, as well as to support high-quality development with high levels of scientific and technological self-reliance. After 120 years of development, Nanjing Forestry University is not only a distinguished and important institution of higher learning with a strong heritage, but also a place where profound ideas converge. NJFU continues to maintain its revolutionary legacy and ecofriendly focus, committed to building a world-class university with a focus on forestry and distinctive characteristics.
Fundamentals and Applications of Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering
The field of biomedical engineering has experienced important advances in experimental, computational, and analytical research in fluid mechanics and acoustics. New imaging modalities, advanced instrumentation, and efficient computational methodologies have enabled these advances. Computational tools are leveraging progress in modern engineering techniques and mathematical tools. The findings contribute to a better understanding of physiological processes in the circulatory and respiratory systems, as well as phonation, and have already led to new therapies. These transformative achievements include the early diagnosis of diseases, the monitoring of their progression, individualized interventions, surgical planning, effective drug delivery, and new medical devices.Synergy between computational tools and experimental diagnostics is important for the development of both approaches. Accurate experimental data are crucial for the validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to obtain reliable results. CFD can help in designing the experimental setup and to provide a deeper understanding of experimental results, adding information that cannot be measured.
Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics and Chemoinformatics
Bioinformatics and chemoinformatics generate a bombardment of heterogeneous chemical and biological data which requires storage, retrieval, analysis and management. This book covers the critical aspects of utilizing data produced in biological and chemical experiments and how this data can be used for producing underlying patterns.
Trends and Prospects in Pig Genomics and Genetics
Pork is one of the most commonly consumed meats in the world. The domestication of pigs in Europe dates back to 5000 BC, from which the selection over decades has led to a significant reduction in backfat levels and improvements in growth rates. The next step in pig breeding is to use complete information on the DNA sequence, which will enable an understanding of specific genotypes and their underlying biology, as well as identifying genes that may affect resistance to diseases that pose a challenge to the industry. In the present Special Issue, we propose new trends and prospects in pig breeding and genomics, which can be used to solve breeding problems in this species.
Natural Bioactives from the Endophytes of Medicinal Plants
The upcoming book delves into the cutting-edge advancements in endophytic fungi research, encompassing a comprehensive exploration of their biodiversity, ecological dynamics, mechanisms of interactions, and adaptive strategies. It offers valuable insights into the therapeutic potential, agricultural applications, and commercial prospects.
Global Evolutionary Analysis of CIII Peroxidases in Green Lineages
Replaceable You
The body is the most complex machine in the world, and the only one for which you cannot get a replacement part from the manufacturer. For centuries, medicine has reached for what's available--sculpting noses from brass, borrowing skin from frogs and hearts from pigs, crafting eye parts from jet canopies and breasts from petroleum by-products. Today we're attempting to grow body parts from scratch using stem cells and 3D printers. How are we doing? Are we there yet?In Replaceable You, Mary Roach explores the remarkable advances and difficult questions prompted by the human body's failings. When and how does a person decide they'd be better off with a prosthetic than their existing limb? Can a donated heart be made to beat forever? Can an intestine provide a workable substitute for a vagina?Roach dives in with her characteristic verve and infectious wit. Her travels take her to the OR at a legendary burn unit in Boston, a "superclean" xeno-pigsty in China, and a stem cell "hair nursery" in the San Diego tech hub. She talks with researchers and surgeons, amputees and ostomates, printers of kidneys and designers of wearable organs. She spends time in a working iron lung from the 1950s, stays up all night with recovery techs as they disassemble and reassemble a tissue donor, and travels across Mongolia with the cataract surgeons of Orbis International.Irrepressible and accessible, Replaceable You immerses readers in the wondrous, improbable, and surreal quest to build a new you.
The Tree of Life
Are humans really fish? Why are we the only animals with chins? How much of our DNA do we share with the trillions of bacteria in our bodies? For centuries, scientists have chased the secrets of how life on our planet arose, how it assumed its dazzling diversity of forms, and how we humans are related to everything else on earth. With increasingly sophisticated genetic methods now bringing us ever closer to answers, leading evolutionary biologist Max Telford takes us inside one of science's greatest quests. In the intellectually thrilling The Tree of Life, Telford shows how reconstructing the web of relationships between all our planet's species, from birds and butterflies to mushrooms and moose, allows us to unravel the epic history of life on our planet.In Telford's hands, the many-branched evolutionary trees that biologists assemble--from Charles Darwin's first sketches to the vast computer-generated diagrams scientists are building today--become time machines that take us on a vivid journey through four billion years of life's history. We meet long-lost ancestors, picturing them in the environment of a much younger earth, and discover where we first acquired our backbones and nipples and, conversely, where we lost our tails. We learn how insects are "actually" crustaceans, and how dogs and wolves are more closely related to whales than to the recently extinct Tasmanian wolves they so resemble. Far from a dry representation of the dead, the tree of life is a living, shifting thing that constantly alters our perspective on the past, present, and future of life on earth.For any reader fascinated by evolution and natural history, The Tree of Life is an essential portal to the distant past and a window onto our collective origins.
The Future of Built Heritage Conservation
This collection of theoretical and practical articles explores how critical understandings of heritage, contemporary conservation theory, and adaptive reuse are all contributing towards the idea of heritage as an immaterial, people-focused activity that has the power to include or exclude. This Special Issue offers work that critically evaluates, through experimental and theoretical results, how architectural heritage and adaptive reuse relate to this conception of heritage.
Nutritive Value or Bioutilization Technology of Alternative Forages for Ruminant Nutrition
To improve the efficiency of ruminant and livestock production, ruminant feeding should use local feed resources to develop alternative feeds or implement bio-utilization technologies to make use of byproducts, reduce feeding costs and alleviate the food competition between humans and animals. Feed constitutes a major input to the animal production system, and the nutritional value of alternative forages varies greatly depending on the source, variety, processing or storage method. Therefore, it is critical to understand feed quality and its impact on ruminant production, livestock product quality and the environment. Most importantly, we must describe the nutritional value of alternative feedstuffs with greater precision, allowing nutritionists to incorporate them into balanced diets with fewer errors, and improve feed quality through technological advancement. This Reprint aims to improve our understanding of the nutritive value of ruminant feeds, particularly roughage and silage. The main topics presented in this Reprint are: the nutritional value of ruminant feeds; non-conventional feed bioconversion for ruminants (including silage, yellow silage, ammonification, bacterial and enzymatic co-fermentation, etc.); and novel feedstuffs or unconventional feeds for ruminants, as well as their effects and mechanisms.
Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis
Fruits and vegetables are a fundamental part of the human diet and are also an important source of bioactive compounds. Today, consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable and higher-quality food; therefore, the quality of fruit has become a key factor in purchase choice, both due to the increase in health awareness among the population, who are looking for foods that promote health and sustainability, as well as the sensory qualities (visual and organoleptic) that make fruit and vegetables attractive.To reduce food quality losses and maintain the content of compounds related to health, as well as consumption by consumers, research is required to improve the quality and the parameters affected during the cultivation or processing of fruits, since, to obtain quality food products, it is necessary to control them from the moment they are planted and picked. Furthermore, preserving the integrity of bioactive ingredients during food processing is a challenge for the agri-food industry. Finally, sensory analysis in the food industry is recognized as one of the most important ways to ensure the consumer acceptance of food.This Special Issue focuses on reporting on the current state of the art; the changes undergone in the (functional, nutritional, and sensory) quality of fruits throughout their growth, processing, and shelf life; and acceptance by consumers through the sensory analysis tool.
PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Network in Human Health and Diseases
In recent years, researchers have shown a special interest in the role of signaling pathways as disease molecular targets and capitalized on such pathways to derive natural products, biologics, and synthetic scaffold-based prevention and treatments. These can lead to naturally available, efficacious, low-cost, and minimally toxic long-term therapies for human diseases. This Special Issue of Cells comprises an array of literature reviews, original communications, and studies on the roles of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and associated pathways in a diversity of pathways using in vitro cell-based assays and preclinical animal models. The authors of the papers also explore technologies designed to improve the bioavailability and delivery of certain compounds. In lieu of ongoing research on a variety of human disorders, the wealth of information published in this Special Issue can act as a springboard for the identification of novel disease targets and the development of new preventive and therapeutic modalities for the management of human diseases.
Impact of Climate and Socio-Economic on Irrigation Water Management and Agricultural Water Productivity
Agriculture accounts for 70% of global water consumption, underscoring the crucial role of efficient irrigation and sustainable water management in ensuring stable food production. Climate change, human activities, and socio-economic development are key factors influencing agricultural water management and agro-hydrological systems. This reprint provides a comprehensive exploration of water and food security challenges, covering topics such as advanced water-saving irrigation techniques, sustainable groundwater optimization, agricultural return flow analysis, environmental risk assessment, the impact of mining, vegetation sensitivities to drought, and regional agro-hydrological issues. Overall, this reprint highlights the importance of integrating innovative technologies and management practices to ensure water and food security under growing environmental and socio-economic pressures.
Trends in Grain Processing for Food Industry
Trends in grain processing for the food industry have evolved significantly in recent years, driven by changes in consumer preferences, health considerations, and technological advancements. This Special Issue explores the increasing consumer demand for grain-based products due to their nutritional value and economic benefits. Different grains, such as wheat and buckwheat, are used to produce flour for various industries, including bakery, pasta, and beer production. The Special Issue discusses the impact of different ingredients, such as essential oils and sea buckthorn, on the rheological properties of dough and bread quality. It also examines the role of sourdough in improving bread volume, elasticity, and sensory characteristics. This Special Issue highlights the increasing importance of food products for managing health conditions like diabetes and gluten intolerance. Specific attention is given to the development of gluten-free and low-glycemic bakery products, as well as innovations in grain processing to improve the nutritional value of food products. Furthermore, various studies on non-gluten products, such as those using baobab and buckwheat flour, are discussed for their nutritional benefits. This Special Issue also presents different studies by emphasizing advancements in grain processing, driven by biotechnological progress and the need for continued research to enhance the nutritional value of food products.
Antioxidant Activity of Fermented Foods and Food Microorganisms
This Special Issue focuses on the antioxidant activity of fermented foods, but also on biosynthesis and mass production of antioxidants from fermented foods and food microorganisms (e.g., lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fungi, bacteria, etc.) and the evaluation of their antioxidative functions.
Oxidative Stress Induced by Air Pollution
Exposure to various particles, such as PM2.5 and nanoparticles, can negatively impact health by inducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death. Despite extensive studies on their effects through cell and animal experiments, many aspects remain unclear. This feature focuses on oxidative stress caused by these particles and discusses the pressing issues in this field.
Scaffolds and Implants for Bone Regeneration
Bone defects caused by trauma, tumor, infection and a variety of congenital diseases are among the most common orthopedic disorders, and the clinical management of non-union bone defects is still a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. In recent years, bone implants based on metals, ceramics, and polymers have been widely utilized and helped millions of patients. However, the rapid growth of the elderly demographic has tremendously intensified the occurrence of bone trauma cases, requiring once again the further development of effective strategies for bone reconstruction and regeneration. Therefore, the development of scaffolds and implants with new compositions, three-dimensional configurations, proper mechanical properties, and particular interactions with cells is highly expected. These new biomaterials may effectively promote bone regeneration and thus have a significant impact on individual patients and health care systems.In this Special Issue, we would like to present an innovative perspective on the scaffolds and implants for bone regeneration. Topics will include but not be limited to, the following: scaffold design and fabrication; biocompatibility and biodegradability; host response to implants; cell-scaffold interactions; and scaffold-based drug delivery. Both original research articles and reviews are very welcome.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Cancers
This reprint describes resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, brain tumor stem cells, energy metabolism, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, immunotherapy, and reactive oxygen species phenotypes in glioblastoma.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Cancers
This second Special Issue on the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Glioblastoma presents 16 articles on the biology, genetics, and possible treatments against this devastating disease. Pathways to gliomagenesis and new targets were explored, along with epigenetic possibilities like the inhibition of HDAC and the role of miRNA and circular RNA, tumor cell dormancy, cancer stem cells, and other approaches, to try to better understand and possibly combat glioblastoma.
How Does the Human Being Move?
How do our muscles become "conscious" of our desire to move?As the basis of our observations, we should view what we call our nervous system as only a physical expression of what lives everywhere in our body as perceptual activity. Something guides us in a certain direction, but this means that there must also be an unknown connection between what guides us and our "muscle being," as there is in all conscious actions. Just as our muscle being "listens" to the movements we wish to make, likewise it also listens to the guiding impulse of our destiny, or karma.
Agro-Food Chain By-Products and Plant Origin Food to Obtain High-Value-Added Foods
This Reprint, based on a Special Issue, examines the rising consumer demand for sustainable, health-promoting plant-based foods and the opportunities for valorizing agro-food by-products in this domain. Health and environmental concerns have spurred producers to develop new plant-based products and incorporate food chain by-products, such as sesame meal, carrot pomace, and saffron petals, as innovative ingredients. These underutilized resources have been shown to offer valuable functional, antioxidant, and nutritional properties due to their bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, betalains, glucosinolates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The studies in this Issue highlight the role of these bioactive compounds in enhancing food functionality and meeting consumer expectations for health-enhancing products. By investigating alternative proteins and functional ingredients derived from food waste, these works demonstrate how product innovation can simultaneously address health and sustainability challenges. Additionally, this collection underscores the popularity of plant-based products with environmentally conscious consumers, reinforcing a trend where companies are investing in new formulations that satisfy both taste and sustainability demands. Together, these contributions represent a critical exploration of the intersection between health, innovation, and sustainability.
New Insights into Milk and Dairy Products
In general, the primary requirement for all dairy products is safety. However, the quality of milk and dairy products must also be considered. For example, milk's ability to coagulate into rennet is a basic requirement for milk destined for cheesemaking, as it affects cheese yield and quality. However, rheological and microbiological features are also important for obtaining dairy products suitable for different aims. New information on the influence of genetic, physiological, pathological, environmental, and technological factors on the quality characteristics of milk and dairy products will contribute to the progress of the sector.Furthermore, milk and dairy products are important sources of nutrients for humans, such as proteins, lipids, calcium and vitamins.A number of by-products, such as milk whey and buttermilk, are produced by the dairy industry. These can be utilised for other aims due to their high nutritional value. Their reutilisation also reduces the environmental impact of pollution generated by the industry.Milk from certain species is still not being studied or is not well-characterised; these milks could also be utilised to obtain new dairy products.
Application of Electroencephalography (EEG) Signal Analysis in Disease Diagnosis
Over the years, the development of several brain imaging techniques has provided new tools for capturing information about the structure and functions of the brain, which have proven useful in different fields, such as neurosurgery, neurology, and cognitive science. In particular, electroencephalography (EEG) has become a powerful instrument successfully employed in both clinical applications and cognitive neuroscience, since it is a non-invasive, easy-to-use, portable, and relatively low-cost tool. EEG is used for detecting and classifying a spectrum of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, sleep disorders, traumatic brain injuries, psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In summary, the processing and analyzing of EEG signals can be conveniently exploited to detect abnormalities in the case of a pathological state and improve the early diagnosis of brain diseases. This reprint contains studies regarding the application of EEG signal analysis in disease diagnosis, covering different processing methods and several neurological disorders (Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, and sleep disorders).
Digital Innovations in Agriculture-Series II
The significantly increased world population and accelerated climate change are strongly affecting agricultural production. These aspects, as well as the latest socio-economic limitations caused by the standoff following the COVID-19 pandemic, are part of the ongoing economic crisis bringing new challenges to modern agriculture and the need to have high production efficiency combined with high-quality products in accordance with the principles of sustainable production. These requirements are linked to all branches of agriculture: crop production, livestock production, and other links supporting the production of healthy food. To meet these challenges, advanced digital innovation techniques are more and more frequently being used, including those based on machine learning, artificial neural networks, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and Digital Twins. They are widely applied in solving various optimization tasks in the agri-food production processes in the context of the increasing use of precision and digital farming technologies on the path from Agriculture 3.0 to 5.0. This Special Issue focused even more on the contribution of modern technology to the development and ongoing support of sustainable, regenerative, and balanced agriculture. The publications included original research, research concepts, communications, and reviews related to digital innovation, widely defined, in the agri-food sector.
Chimeric Vaccine Design Against Melioidosis via Subtractive Proteomics
