Nutritional Components of Wheat Based Food
This reprint concerns topics on chemical, functional, and technological features of wheats to obtain wheat-based foods improved in phytochemicals. Genetic materials, from landraces to ancient and modern wheat varieties, characterized for their content of bioactive compounds, were exploited to produce superior staple foods. The study of other species allowed to identify functional ingredients, in wholemeals or in their by-products, useful in the enrichment of formulations for various cereal-based products. Further, in the optic of circular economy, it is of great interest the extraction of bioactive components from food processing waste belonging to the other crops to functionalize final products.
Advancements in Forensic DNA Analysis
This textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students discusses advancements in forensic DNA analysis since early texts were published. It presents conventional and latest serological and molecular biological methods for body fluid identification. This book also describes the applications and advantages of next-generation sequencing (NGS) compared to conventional methods in forensic DNA analysis. It also defines the growing importance, techniques, and applications for the analysis of non-human DNA in forensic sciences. Further, the book examines the role of DNA databases in forensic interpretation and criminal investigations. Towards the end, this textbook reviews the application of forensic DNA technology in analyzing real-time casework samples and presents the guidelines, ethical issues, and other challenges of forensic DNA analysis. This textbook is an essential resource for students and practitioners interested in gaining knowledge of up-to-date forensic techniques and theirapplications in forensic DNA analysis.
New Applications and Developments in Synthetic Peptide Chemistry
In this reprint, we report on different applications of peptide science at the border between different scientific areas, including biology, material science, medicine, chemistry, and cosmetic science. From the conclusions of the experimental investigations as well as the literature reviews herein reported, we envisage that peptide chemistry can open new avenues for drug discovery and nanotechnology.
Fast Non-destructive Detection Technology and Equipment for Food Quality and Safety
Fast, non-destructive detection technology and equipment for food quality and safety is a powerful technical support tool to ensure the development of food industry informatization and intelligence, with the advantages of fast speed, convenient operation, and easy online inspection. During the past two decades, such technologies have found numerous successful applications for food and agricultural product detection and processing. Owing to improvements in the manufacturing of photoelectric sensor pieces and progress in artificial intelligence and software algorithms, fast non-destructive detection technologies are able to provide more accurate, reliable, and stable solutions for food quality and safety detection and processing. They are closely integrated with the Internet of Things and intelligent manufacturing, promoting a new wave of innovation in intelligent manufacturing in the food industry. The application of new sensing technology and equipment in the fast, non-destructive detection of food has always been at the forefront of scientific and technological research. This Special Issue aims to focus on the latest research progress of this application and jointly discuss the focus of development of this research direction.
Floristic Studies in the Light of Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation
Although they play a key role in ecosystem functioning and human life, plants are generally overlooked by policymakers and humans in general. In addition, in recent years, we have been witnessing an increase in biologists unable to recognize even common plants, and the number of plant experts (i.e., botanists) able to identify plants is decreasing. In light of these considerations, the Special Issue "Floristic Studies in the Light of Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation" was launched in the journal Plants, and eight research articles, two reviews, and an editorial were published in it. It has been possible to publish research from different countries, underlining that the knowledge of the flora of a territory is essential to slow down the effects of anthropic pressure on biodiversity and likewise essential for most of the research activities of modern botany.
Cernas
This reprint addresses original studies and reviews focused on the current evolution and research novelty in agricultural sustainability.New developments are discussed on issues related with quality of soil, natural fertilizers, or the sustainable use of land and water. Also, crop protection techniques are pivotal for sustainable food production under the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, allied to innovative weed control methodologies, as a way to reduce the utilization of pesticides. The role of precision and smart agriculture is becoming more pertinent as communication technologies improve at a rapid rate. Waste management, reuse of agro-industrial residues, extension of shelf life, and use of new technologies are methods to reduce food waste, all contributing to higher sustainability in food supply chains and leading to more rational use of natural resources. The unquestionable role of bees as pollinators and contributors to biodiversity is adjacent to characterizing beekeeping activities, which in turn contributes, together with the valorization of endemic varieties of plant foods, to the development of local communities. Finally, short circuits and local food markets have a decisive role in the preservation and enhancement of rural economies.
Quality Evaluation of Bee Products
Bee products, such as honey, bee pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, propolis, and bee-related insect foods, are widely consumed as natural/functional foods or supplements, owing to their nutritional/bioactive characteristics, which are beneficial to human health. However, the bee products currently on the market vary in quality, leading to serious concerns among consumers. Various factors influence the quality of bee products, such as the standardization of bee breeding and product production, environmental and climatic conditions, artificial blending, and the residues of hazardous substances. In order to improve the quality of bee products and promote the healthy development of the bee product industry, it is vital to strengthen the quality evaluation system of bee products based on their physicochemical and biological characteristics, such as the distribution of different nutrients, the residue detection of hazardous substances, the characterization of botanical or geographical markers, the identification of genomic characteristics, and the determination of biological/functional activities. We invited submissions to this topic on the "Quality Evaluation of Bee Products".
The Evolution of Biological Information
Why information is the unifying principle that allows us to understand the evolution of complexity in nature More than 150 years after Darwin's revolutionary On the Origin of Species, we are still attempting to understand and explain the amazing complexity of life. Although we now know how evolution proceeds to build complexity from simple ingredients, quantifying this complexity is still a difficult undertaking. In this book, Christoph Adami offers a new perspective on Darwinian evolution by viewing it through the lens of information theory. This novel theoretical stance sheds light on such matters as how viruses evolve drug resistance, how cells evolve to communicate, and how intelligence evolves. By this account, information emerges as the central unifying principle behind all of biology, allowing us to think about the origin of life--on Earth and elsewhere--in a systematic manner. Adami, a leader in the field of computational biology, first provides an accessible introduction to the information theory of biomolecules and then shows how to apply these tools to measure information stored in genetic sequences and proteins. After outlining the experimental evidence of the evolution of information in both bacteria and digital organisms, he describes the evolution of robustness in viruses; the cooperation among cells, animals, and people; and the evolution of brains and intelligence. Building on extensive prior work in bacterial and digital evolution, Adami establishes that (expanding on Dobzhansky's famous remark) nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of information. Understanding that information is the foundation of all life, he argues, allows us to see beyond the particulars of our way of life to glimpse what life might be like in other worlds.
Quality of Life and Side Effects Management in Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatment has unimaginably evolved in recent years, giving our patients an increased rate of progression-free survival and/or overall survival. However, most importantly, these new drugs or new drug combinations are more patient-friendly, increasing their quality of life. Nevertheless, we still have to learn how to control the adverse events involved in target therapy, immunotherapy, and the new drugs of hormonotherapy. At present, we still struggle with these adverse events when combining different drugs for immunotherapy, immunotherapy with chemotherapy, or immunotherapy with target agents. The nausea and emesis induced by chemotherapy are still stressful events that we continually try to control better; the immune-mediated toxicity, the rashes and diarrhea induced by target therapy, and the numerous forms of pain that affect most of our cancer patients are all still of significant concern and are the object of investigation. We need also to evaluate the long-term impact of these treatments on the quality of life of cancer patients. Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on the current state-of-the-art control of cancer treatments' adverse events and improving the quality of care for cancer patients, as well as prospects for improving therapies.
Microfluidic Bio-Sensors and Their Applications
The reprint will help young readers discover systematic research and reviews of the various topics in the field of microfluidic-based biosensing. This reprint contains empirical studies and systematic reviews regarding the use of microfluidic technology in biosensing and its applications in point-of-care system development.
The New Era of Precision Medicine
The New Era of Precision Medicine: What it Means for Patients and the Future of Healthcare highlights the aspects of precision medicine in different specialties and offers an understanding of how a biological background integrates into clinical guidelines, the therapeutic efficacy of interventions, and disease prevention. The book explains how precision healthcare differs among countries, as well as how there is a collaboration among many laboratories to share resources and knowledge to advance the field across the globe. The book also discusses the cultural differences and cultural sensitivity that may be involved in the precision medicine approach. Finally, with regard to safety and quality outcomes, the book presents a range of current and possible future concerns related to those outcomes. Precision medicine is the new standard of quality healthcare delivery. It aims to optimize patient safety and clinical outcomes, enhance the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, and facilitate disease prevention, offering a way to customize patient care, decision-making, and clinical practice.
Edible Insects as Innovative Foods
It was first suggested nearly 50 years ago by Meyer-Rochow in Australia that the use of insects as food and feed sources could ease the problem of global food shortages, and that the WHO and the FAO should support the promotion of insects as a food item, especially in countries with a long tradition of entomophagy. However, food shortages in some parts of the world are only one aspect to consider; overeating and obesity in other parts of the world are another aspect. An increased use of edible insects might well be able to assist in overcoming, at least to some extent, both of these problems. This Special Issue of Foods represents Volume 2 of the topic "Edible Insects as Innovative Foods: Nutritional, Functional and Acceptability Assessments". Some of the 20 contributions by scientists from 13 different countries deal with hitherto unreported food insects, and others explore the effects that a diet containing insects or insect products can have on the gut microbiota of the consumer, whether human or non-human. Food safety questions are not ignored, and questions related to the chemical composition of food insects, their content in terms of nutrients and antinutrients, and their acceptability by consumers are additional topics that the articles in this book explore. Altogether, this reprint provides convincing reasons for the advantages to health and the environment that a greater use of insects as food and feed would present, and ends with the slogans "Forget about the pork and put a cricket on your fork!" and "Mealworms and spaghetti is food that makes you happy!".
Animal Perinatology
The health and behavior of females during the birthing process in both altricial and precocial species, along with the survival of newborns in domestic animals, are important topics addressed in this Special Issue titled "Animal Perinatology: Behavior and Health of the Dam and Her Offspring." Animal perinatology is increasingly studied and encompasses the final phase of gestation, parturition, and the lactation period. In this Special Issue, some of the topics analyzed in mothers include obstetric processes, premature births, gynecologic and obstetric pathology, fetal and uterine electronic monitoring, parturition in domestic animals, pain management during labor, the use of labor stimulators, mother-young bonding, the neurophysiological mechanisms of attachment, maternal care strategies (cross-suckling and communal rearing), and the adverse effects of dystocia on the health of the mother and milk production. For neonates, this Special Issue focuses on factors predisposing stillbirths, the causes of perinatal death, suckling motivation, and abnormal or redirected behaviors, all of which are of great importance in today's scientific community. Notable topics include the physiopathology of intrauterine asphyxia, meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), low birth weight, hypothermia, neonatal thermoregulation mechanisms, natural sucking behavior of the offspring; as well as behavioral problems associated with the peripartum period and studies on animal welfare in both mothers and offspring during this period.
Natural Polyphenols in Human Health
Polyphenols are natural phytochemicals recognized as one of the largest and most widespread classes of plant constituents occurring throughout the plant kingdom. Over the years, polyphenols have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their potential health-promoting effects. Owing to their several interesting properties, polyphenols have aroused considerable interest, shedding light on their chemistry, reactivity, biological properties and their beneficial effects on both plants and humans. As a result of these investigations, a huge number of research works have been reported on polyphenols. However, despite the voluminous literature studying polyphenols and their impact on human health, there are still many issues waiting to be explored in order to explain and elucidate the positive effects of polyphenols on human health. This Special Issue was intended to gather up-to-date knowledge related to the cutting-edge research in the broad scientific area of polyphenols, providing an opportunity to show the latest advances in the exploration of polyphenols and their health beneficial effects. The special issue was a great success with more than 50 published manuscripts covering various aspects related to polyphenols and their role in human health. We are confident that this Special Issue will be of great interest to the scientific community, and will contribute to the improvement of knowledge regarding the area of polyphenols, leading to a better understanding of their role in human health.
Natural Polyphenols in Human Health
Polyphenols are natural phytochemicals recognized as one of the largest and most widespread classes of plant constituents occurring throughout the plant kingdom. Over the years, polyphenols have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their potential health-promoting effects. Owing to their several interesting properties, polyphenols have aroused considerable interest, shedding light on their chemistry, reactivity, biological properties and their beneficial effects on both plants and humans. As a result of these investigations, a huge number of research works have been reported on polyphenols. However, despite the voluminous literature studying polyphenols and their impact on human health, there are still many issues waiting to be explored in order to explain and elucidate the positive effects of polyphenols on human health. This Special Issue was intended to gather up-to-date knowledge related to the cutting-edge research in the broad scientific area of polyphenols, providing an opportunity to show the latest advances in the exploration of polyphenols and their health beneficial effects. The special issue was a great success with more than 50 published manuscripts covering various aspects related to polyphenols and their role in human health. We are confident that this Special Issue will be of great interest to the scientific community, and will contribute to the improvement of knowledge regarding the area of polyphenols, leading to a better understanding of their role in human health.
The 6th International Congress of CiiEM
This Proceedings reprint brings together a collection of selected papers presented at the sixth Congress of the Egas Moniz Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, held in Caparica from the 5th to the 7th of July, under the theme "Immediate and future challenges to foster One Health". Researchers and health professionals participated in presentations and discussions on the innovation, sustainability and quality of health systems, digital solutions for a healthy society, the promotion of sustainable and circular management of natural resources, and the security of sustainable food and nutrition systems. More than 400 participants registered for the event, which featured presentations by international speakers and undergraduate and graduate students who had the opportunity to disseminate their research work as an important contribution to their education, namely on how to meet the standards of scientific writing and research papers for publication.
Plant-Derived Anti-inflammatory Agents
Nature has represented and still represents a great pool of biologically active compounds and, at the same time, is a source of inspiration. In the first phase, the researchers turned their attention to the new compounds isolated from plants and their characterization in terms of their beneficial effects on human health. Recently, however, there have been extensive studies on the synthesis of compounds analogous to plant-derived compounds in order to prevent or treat diseases such as diabetes, obesity, chronic liver diseases, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and so on. One of the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effect on human health is represented by plant-derived compounds' anti-inflammatory effects.
Dietary Patterns, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in the Onset, Prevention, and Management of Noncommunicable Diseases
This Special Issue includes 12 articles, consisting of original research, narrative reviews, systematic reviews, and an editorial regarding the roles of dietary and lifestyle factors in the prevention and mangement of noncommunicable diseases. Studies in this Special Issue cover a range of topics including dietary patterns and diseases risk and prevention, the association of lifestyle factors and disease risk, the role of vitamin D and solar radiation in health and pregnancy, and urbanization in modifying risk of adverse health outcomes for various noncommunicable diseases.
Bioceramics, Bioglasses and Gels for Tissue Engineering
Biomaterials engineering is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field that plays a pivotal role in advancing medical technology, improving patient care, and addressing healthcare challenges. Advancements in interdisciplinary fields such as chemistry, physics, material science, nanotechnology, manufacturing technology, and bioengineering have the opportunity to significantly impact patient lives by developing innovative solutions, thereby improving the performance and safety of medical devices and therapies. This Special Issue mainly aims to present the recent development of advanced biomaterials such as gels, ceramics, and glasses for healthcare applications, including hard and soft tissue engineering, medical implants, drug delivery systems, and more. This Special Issue, made up of 4 reviews and 8 original articles, represents the keen and diverse research ensuing toward innovative functionalities and their incorporation with cutting-edge fabrication techniques. It will also focus on the chemistry of biomaterials and their characteristics, such as bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradation, and how their chemical-physical properties (such as porosity, morphology, mechanical strength, etc.) can influence cells and living systems.
Roles of MET in Cancer Development and Treatment
Understanding the impact of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) during cancer development, cancer growth, and cancer treatment is crucial to further improve biomarker development and cancer treatment options for patients' benefit. This reprint gives a snapshot of the current understanding of MET in lung and gastric cancer, describes promising new therapeutics, and emphasizes some of the challenges associated with their use.
Plants as a Promising Biofactory for Bioactive Compounds
This Special Issue of Life, entitled "Plants as a Promising Biofactory for Bioactive Compounds," showcases the latest research that explores the utilization of plant biofactories for the production of compounds with multiple biological effects, including antioxidant, antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-Alzheimer, antihemolytic, neuroprotective, and pesticide activities.
Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity 2.0
This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue "Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity: Dynamic Changes in Neurons Functions". With the aim to present good research papers provided by specialists, this Special Issue published basic research and pre-clinical research articles, case reports, case series or clinical image articles, short communications, and review articles.
Plant Morphology and Function, Geometric Morphometrics, and Modelling
Explore the fascinating world of plant functional traits in our upcoming Reprint sourced from the Special Issue in Plants. Delve into the diverse aspects of plant morphology, their responses to global climate change, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest productivity. Join us on a journey through the intricate web of plant characteristics and their impact on the environment.
Microrna Profiling
This second edition provides updated and comprehensive methods on miRNA biogenesis and their role in the development and progression of various human diseases. Chapters detail miRNA biogenesis, isolating RNA, extracellular vesicles (EVs), circulating miRNAs, analyzing miRNA and miRDeep-P2, protocols for total RNA isolation from cells, cell-derived products, isolation and characterization of exosomes, serum, plasma specimens, and software tools. Written in the 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 protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and cutting-edge, MicroRNA Profiling: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition aims to provide comprehensive and accessible methods to undergraduate, graduate, and established scientist.
On the (Divine) Origin of Our Species
The Bible's opening chapter includes these words: "So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." We are created beings, with a unique status in creation. Nothing is more fundamental to Christian faith. Yet biologists present extensive data and provide a picture of how our species came to be, but there is no Creator in the intricate details of the painting they provide. If the scientific evidence for the evolution picture is reasonable--and, in general, it is--and if humans were indeed created from a common ancestor of the great apes, then what can be said about the Artist who Christians believe was at work? Vague answers are not satisfactory anymore--not in this scientific age. Recent mainstream data from paleoanthropology and genetics suggest that the basis of our species' success was not that they were superior fighters. Rather, the reason our ancestors thrived was likely their ability to function cooperatively in groups--to respect each other and to get along. This reframes the question about the nature of the hovering Spirit's activity in bringing our species into being. And that is the subject of this book.
On the (Divine) Origin of Our Species
The Bible's opening chapter includes these words: "So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." We are created beings, with a unique status in creation. Nothing is more fundamental to Christian faith. Yet biologists present extensive data and provide a picture of how our species came to be, but there is no Creator in the intricate details of the painting they provide. If the scientific evidence for the evolution picture is reasonable--and, in general, it is--and if humans were indeed created from a common ancestor of the great apes, then what can be said about the Artist who Christians believe was at work? Vague answers are not satisfactory anymore--not in this scientific age. Recent mainstream data from paleoanthropology and genetics suggest that the basis of our species' success was not that they were superior fighters. Rather, the reason our ancestors thrived was likely their ability to function cooperatively in groups--to respect each other and to get along. This reframes the question about the nature of the hovering Spirit's activity in bringing our species into being. And that is the subject of this book.
Key to the Diversity and History of Life
Professor Alexey Shipunov is one of the world's foremost botanists. A graduate of Moscow State University, he held positions at the Kew Gardens, London, and Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, and was a faculty member at the Minot State University, North Dakota, and a visiting professor at Kyoto University, Japan. During the 31 years of his scientific career he authored 221 publications, including 74 peer-reviewed articles and 17 books.This book is intended for any biology student who wants to know the subject better. It concentrates on the history of life, diversity of plants, protists and animals, and some other general aspects including elements of biogeography.
Therapeutic Landscapes in Colorectal Carcinoma
In the last three decades, fractional calculus has broken into the field of mathematical analysis, both at the theoretical level and the level of its applications. In essence, the fractional calculus theory is a mathematical analysis tool applied to studying integrals and derivatives of arbitrary order, which unifies and generalizes the classical notions of differentiation and integration. These fractional and derivative integrals, which until a few years ago had been used in purely mathematical contexts, have been revealed as instruments with great potential to model problems in various scientific fields, such as fluid mechanics, viscoelasticity, physics, biology, chemistry, dynamical systems, signal processing, and entropy theory. Since fractional order's differential and integral operators are nonlinear operators, fractional calculus theory provides a tool for modeling physical processes, which in many cases is more useful than classical formulations; this is why applying fractional calculus theory has become a focus of international academic research. This Special Issue, "Applied Mathematics and Fractional Calculus II," has published excellent research studies in the field of applied mathematics and fractional calculus, authored by many well-known mathematicians and scientists from diverse countries worldwide, such as the USA, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, T羹rkiye, China, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, India, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Engineering of Smart Agriculture
This Special Issue presents an extract from the reality of smart agriculture, where the combination of modern technologies, innovative solutions, and sustainable approaches to food production classifies this part of science as highly interdisciplinary, multifaceted, and technologically advanced. The need to increase productivity, optimize natural resources, and minimize environmental impact requires new approaches. In this context, smart agriculture is emerging as a solution that combines technology, data, and science to achieve sustainable, efficient, and innovative food production. This Special Issue introduces the field of smart farming, which encompasses a range of advanced technologies. The use of these tools allows for the monitoring and optimization of crop conditions, precise fertilization, the minimization of water and energy usage, and the improvement of crop quality and quantity. In addition, plant monitoring systems are described, which, by means of sensors and data analysis, provide farmers with valuable information about plant health, soil moisture, temperature, and other factors affecting crop growth. A significant part of this monograph deals with the automation of agricultural processes, where robots and machines undertake tasks with high precision and accuracy, contributing to the farmer's efficiency. This Special Issue aims not only to provide an understanding of smart agriculture but to also inspire the reader to think about the future of agriculture and the ways in which modern food production methods can be improved.
Inflammation and Natural Products
Terrestrial and marine environments are inexhaustible sources of compounds and active extracts which have been employed in medicine since ancient times. The aim of this reprint is to collect new approaches around compounds and extracts isolated from natural products and their biological activity, with a focus on anti-inflammatory pathways. Thus, this reprint compiles full original papers and reviews articles published during 2023 in a Special Issue of Life, titled "Inflammation and Natural products". The publications within this reprint are focused on secondary metabolites of plants demonstrating significant antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, among others, and clinical relevance in various pathological conditions. It also includes reviews that focus on natural therapies for topics such as arthritis, lung diseases, neuroprotection, skin photoprotection, and the impact of gender in the use of medicinal plants in relation to vascular diseases. The reprint of this Special Issue will serve as a reference text for researchers and academics, as well as those studying natural products and their pharmacological activities.
Cavitation-Enhanced Drug Delivery and Immunotherapy
Cavitation-Enhanced Drug Delivery and Immunotherapy is a rapidly evolving area that has been buoyed in recent years by the development of methods harnessing the activity of ultrasound-stimulated bubbles, known as cavitation. When properly controlled, cavitation can help overcome physical barriers to drug delivery whilst providing readily measurable information for timely quantitative feedback and treatment guidance. Microbubble-assisted therapies have demonstrated impressive advancements in clinical trials and pre-clinical areas, including applications in neurology, oncology, cardiology and beyond.
Essentials of Ultrasound Imaging
Essentials of Ultrasound Imaging is an introduction to all aspects of acquiring and measuring pulse-echo data to form images. The book provides in-depth exploration of key physical processes, including wave propagation and interaction with physical media, piezoelectric transducers, arrays, and beam formation, and concludes with a survey of advanced topics in ultrasound. Uniquely, principles are revealed by examples from software simulation programs designed to demonstrate ultrasound concepts, and image and signal processing. There are also numerous examples from a Verasonics Vantage Research Ultrasound System to provide unparalleled insight into each step of ultrasound image creation, including signal processing, transducer operation, different types of beamforming, and image formation. The content is organized around a central functional block diagram which is, in turn, related to physical processes and processing involved in clinical and research imaging systems. With a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of physics and methods of ultrasound imaging, readers can better appreciate the introduction of advanced topics and various applications of ultrasound.
Special Issue in Honor of Dr. Marie-H矇l癡ne Metz-Boutigue 75th Birthday
Pharmaceutics is very pleased to be hosting a Special Issue in honor of Dr. Marie-H矇l癡ne Metz-Boutigue, acknowledging her influential scientific contributions to research on Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs). This Special Issue aimed to gather and highlight significant advancements for AMPs as an alternative to antibiotics for increasing resistant strains and recent discoveries for future therapeutic approaches. Since the AMPs are multifunctional peptides with antitumor and immunomodulating effects, original research articles and reviews in these fields were particularly welcomed. Manuscripts regarding antimicrobial biomaterials including AMPs were also of interest.
Iron Metabolism, Redox Balance and Neurological Diseases
With the aging of the population, the incidence rate and number of elderly nervous system diseases have increased sharply. This event has brought huge problems to society. Despite significant efforts being made to explore new treatment options and drugs, the results have been limited. The reason may be due to people's incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of these age-related diseases. Iron is the most abundant trace element in the human body and is essential for normal life activities. Previous studies have shown that brain iron levels increase with age. The abnormal increase in brain iron levels is closely related to age-related neurological diseases. The disruption of the redox balance may be an important mechanism for the occurrence of neurological diseases caused by brain iron abnormalities. This Special Issue mainly highlights and discusses the latest research progress related to the regulation of brain iron metabolism, redox balance, and the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cerebral ischemia, cancer and maintenance of cellular stemness. The molecular mechanisms of iron-misregulation-induced redox imbalance in disease pathogenesis were analyzed. On this basis, further discussions were conducted on potential therapeutic targets for regulating iron metabolism to achieve effective intervention in elderly neurological diseases.
Nano-Biosensors for Detection and Monitoring
Young readers will find the Reprint useful for learning about the systematic study and review of the many themes in the area of microfluidic-based biosensing. Empirical research and comprehensive reviews regarding the use of microfluidic technology in biosensing and point-of-care system development are included in this Reprint.
Novel Innovation Design for the Future of Health
This book highlights the reasons for an urgently needed revision of the current global healthcare setup, discusses the needed mindset for a future of health, and provides a comprehensive development toolset for disruption (and for the needed incremental innovations towards disruption).Today's biomedical and health innovation related research in universities encourages activities that lead to incremental innovations with a relatively low risk of failure. The healthcare industry on the other hand provides tools and devices for established healthcare providers to improve the diagnosis and therapy/ treatment of the patients' health problems. The patient is not in the center of healthcare provision however, and prevention and prediction are not core goals. The current health setup needs to be challenged and disrupted.Disruptions are coming from technologies or processes that lead to a significant (>10x) reduction in cost or price/ performance and that also comewith new business models. The need for change, effects of exponential technologies, and the needed shift to prevention and to homecare for health democratization and patient empowerment will be discussed in detail in the first parts of the book. The subsequent sections address several innovation methods with a focus on a novel meta methodology named Purpose Launchpad Health. This is followed by a comprehensive discussion on health entrepreneurship activities and needs. The final section of the book addresses how to train students to become entrepreneurial health innovators, presenting successful curricula and examples of health incubation and accelerator setups. All of the innovation tools presented and used in this book are summarized in the final chapter to help the reader get started planning an entrepreneurial venture.Written by experts from academia and industry, the book covers important basics and best practices, as well as recent developments. Chapters are concise and enriched with key messages, learning objectives and real innovation examples to bridge theory and practice. This book aims to serve as a teaching base for health innovation design and to prepare for health-related entrepreneurial ventures.Readers with medical, biomedical, biotechnology, and health economics backgrounds - and anyone who wants to become a future oriented health innovator or who believes in disruptive approaches - will find this book a useful resource and teaching tool for developing validated products/ services and processes for the future of health.
Historical Ethnobotany
History is the basis for our interpretation of humanity's past. Indeed, new developments in digital humanities and the digitalization of archives can place historical sources in a new light. Systematized historical sources allow us to see the practical changes that have occurred over centuries of ethnobotany and analyze (although sometimes solely hypothesize on) the causes of such changes. Studying history helps us to understand the influences on the evolution of local ecological knowledge regarding plant use. In ethnobotany, numerous understudied historical sources are awaiting modern interpretations. Old uses enhanced by the new possibilities offered by technology can enrich our everyday lives. Yet, understanding historical sources, especially in ethnobotany, where several disciplines are involved, is not univocal. Mistakes introduced by misidentified plants or information misinterpreted from old languages can have negative, long-term consequences. This Special Issue provides examples of the critical analyses of various historical sources and insights into ongoing historical and diachronic studies on plant use. This reprint is intended for a broad interdisciplinary audience interested in historical ethnobotany, history of plant studies, and human culture.
Toxoplasmosis
Scientific motivation to publish this book comes from the increased interest in the study of toxoplasmosis, showed all over the world. Though the Toxoplasma gondii infection was first discovered in 1908, toxoplasmosis remains a today's research topic, a realm of questions and dilemmas that interest both the veterinarians and the human doctors. Studies in the field are directed to the epidemiology of the disease, the sources of infection, epidemiological chains, being underlined the important feature in the transmission of this parasite: the ability to pass from one intermediate host to another intermediate host without passing through the final host - felids. An increased prevalence of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals, as well as the difficulty of coproscopic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in cats, expensive serological examinations in both animals and humans, lack of diagnostic methods accessible to veterinarians in slaughterhouses, cultural and culinary differences of human patients, which can influence the prevalence of the disease, motivate the scientific and practical importance of the proposed book and reveal the importance of this topic for animal and human health. So, the proposed book will contain informations regarding the etiology and history of Toxoplasma gondii infection and also the parasite's morphology and biology. This work will contain a very detailed epidemiology of the toxoplasmosis from all over the world and for all species of animals. This chapter will include also personal findings of the authors about the Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in domestic animals from Romania. In the last part of the book we will present the main methods for toxoplasma diagnosis. At the end of the book we will synthesize the main routes for T. gondii infection and the recommendations for reducing toxoplasmosis seroprevalence.
Industrial Applications of Soil Microbes
This volume is a compilation of reviews on the industrial usage of soil microorganisms. The contents include 16 brief reviews on different soil microbe assisted industrial processes. Readers will be updated about recent applications of soil bacteria, fungi and algae in sectors such as agriculture, biotechnology, environmental management. The reviews also cover special topics like sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, ecology, and intellectual property rights of patented strains, giving a broad perspective on industrial applications of soil microbes. Volume 2 includes reviews on destructive microbes like Macrophomina Phaseolina, ecofriendly microbes like Beauveria Bassiana, the identification of fungi in the rhizosphere, the industrial application of Trichoderma, and other topics. The text is easy to understand for readers of all levels, with references provided for the benefit of advanced readers.
Text Book of Biology, Part 1
Text Book of Biology, Part 1: Vertebrata, is a classical and a rare book, that has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we at Alpha Editions have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and redesigned. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work, and hence their text is clear and readable. This remarkable volume falls within the genres of Science Biology
Biosynthesis and Development of Novel Method for Commercial Production of Biosurfactant Utilizing Waste Potato Peels
Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2019 in the subject Biology - Micro- and Molecular Biology, grade: 9.5, language: English, abstract: Biosurfactant or microbial surfactants are surface dynamic atoms that are delivered by an assortment of microorganisms including microscopic organisms, yeast and filamentous parasite. In contrast with engineered synthetic surfactants, bio-surfactants are of interest because of their high level of activity, particular movement at outrageous temperatures, pH and saltiness, capacity to be delivered from inexhaustible feedstock and high level of biodegradability. In any case, bio surfactants have not yet been marketed widely because of low creation yields and high feedstock and cleansing expenses. With a specific end goal to tackle this issue many investigations have been done utilizing minimal effort feedstock or farming side-effects as substrates for bio surfactant creation. The foremost extent of the test work was accordingly; to create compelling strategy, and sanitize the biosurfactant generation by waste potato peels and pulp utilizing mutated B.Subtilis DDU20161. Major upstream parameters like creation of medium, fomentation, and pH were kept up in the investigation.
Horticultural Plants Facing Stressful Conditions - Ways of Stress Mitigation
We are pleased to introduce this collection of research papers entitled "Horticultural Plants Facing Stressful Conditions - Strategies for Stress Mitigation". This reprint comprises twelve research papers and a review paper exploring the impact of stress factors on plant growth and ways to eliminate or mitigate them. The studies investigate various plant species, including sunflowers, zinnias, orchids, buttercups, tomatoes, snap beans, lettuce, jojoba, grapevines, strawberries and apple trees. The impact of stress caused by high temperatures, spring frosts, drought, salinity, copper and asbestos on the physiological, biochemical and anatomical changes in plants at the cellular, tissue, organ and whole-plant levels was described by the authors. The presented issues are crucial for comprehending the metabolic, molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the enhancement of plant resistance to environmental stresses. This reprint focuses on three essential topics: (1) using exogenous compounds and bioinoculants to increase stress tolerance, (2) improving the quality and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables and (3) planting ornamental plants in polluted areas. Each paper has been meticulously prepared and contains figures, tables and a list of references to support a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In our opinion, this revised reprint will benefit scientists who are specifically interested in horticulture, plant physiology, biochemistry, microbiology and environmental sustainability.
Endophytic Microbes: Isolation, Identification, and Bioactive Potentials
This volume provides basic insight and protocols relating to endophytic microbes. Chapter are divided into five major sections detailing basic isolation, bioactive metabolites production. endophytism, isolation and identification of endophytes, bioactive potentials, and screening of metabolites. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Endophytic Microbes: Isolation, Identification, and Bioactive Potentials aims to provide comprehensive and accessible methods to undergraduate, graduate, and established scientist.
Recent Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Production
The aim of this Special Issue was to publish high-quality papers on poultry nutrition and the inter-relations between nutrition, metabolism, gut microflora, and poultry performance. Therefore, we present here original research articles in the following topics: - the nutrient requirements of poultry;- the impact of dietary fibre on poultry health and performance;- the use of feed additives to improve gut microflora and performance;- the effect of feeding on poultry meat and egg quality;- factors that cause variation in feed ingredients used in poultry diets;- alternative feed ingredients for use in poultry feed formulations;- the impact of gastrointestinal pH on nutrient bioavailability and the intestinal microbiota in poultry;- phytate and xylan 'susceptibility' in relation to the effects of enzymes;- factors that influence reactivity and enzyme efficacy;- in vitro models to determine the digestibility of poultry diets.
Dna-Protein Interactions
This volume details protocols emphasizing systems-level approaches that can be applied to genomic analyses. Chapters detail techniques for optimized application in in vivo systems, spatial, physiological, environmental contexts, imaging-based techniques, single-molecule approaches, CRISPR systems, new genomic approaches, and measurements of kinetics governing. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, DNA-Protein Interactions: Methods and Protocols aims to present genome-wide techniques that will complement the biochemistry-based protocols to aid researchers in their studies.
Molecular and Physiological Insights into Plant Stress Tolerance and Applications in Agriculture
Molecular and Physiological Insights into Plant Stress Tolerance and Applications in Agriculture is an edited volume that presents research on plant stress responses at both molecular and physiological levels. Key Features: -Emphasizes the morphological and physiological reactions of plants and the underlying molecular mechanisms when faced with stress from environmental or pathogenic factors. -Explores microbial dynamics within the plant rhizosphere and the application of plant growth-promoting bacteria as biofertilizers and endophytes as biocontrol agents to enhance crop growth and productivity for sustainable agriculture. -Systematically summarizes molecular mechanisms in plant stress tolerance and discusses the current applications of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and precision breeding to obtain stress-tolerant crops, contributing to climate-smart agriculture and global food security. -Includes contributions and references from multidisciplinary experts in plant stress physiology, plant molecular biology, plant biotechnology, agronomy, agriculture, nanotechnology, and environmental science. The content of the book is aimed at addressing UN SDG goals 2, 12, and 15 to achieve zero hunger and responsible consumption and production, and to sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, respectively. This comprehensive resource is suitable for researchers, students, teachers, agriculturists, and readers in plant science, and allied disciplines.
Wellness, Fitness, Body Composition, Training and Performance Monitoring to Improve Athletes Life Quality
The present reprint presents information to update the state of the art in professional and recreational, male and female athletes of different sports (e.g., soccer, speed skating, triathlon, strength training, and pole dancing). Moreover, it addresses some gaps in the literature, such as immunological and hormonal responses, body composition effects, and well-being/wellness. Notwithstanding, this reprint contributes information to improve load monitoring practices (of training and competition) and quality of life through direct or indirect research.
