Health Properties of Plant Bioactive Compounds
The World Health Organization recommends the consumption of plant foods instead of animal-origin foods due to their high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol. Consumption of plant products has led to research on the beneficial properties of their components beyond basic nutrients. Vegetable-derived peptides have shown multifunctional effects related to chronic diseases, attracting interest from the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. This reprint highlights studies on various vegetable extracts, such as chestnut, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, and Protium heptaphyllum gum resin, which have demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-regulating properties. Specific compounds derived from plants, such as methyl p-coumarate and lupin protein hydrolysate, have shown effectiveness in reducing inflammation and anxiety, respectively. A vegetable extract of rosemary has been studied for its potential to treat osteogenesis imperfecta. Moreover, this repprint reviews Lycium barbarum berries, essential oils from Annonaceae species, antioxidant compounds, phytosterols, and natural compounds for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis was discussed. Overall, these studies suggest that vegetable-derived bioactive compounds could serve as new nutraceuticals to prevent and treat a wide range of chronic diseases.
New Insights into Antithrombotic Therapy for Cardio- and Cerebrovascular Disease
Thrombosis is a pathophysiological phenomenon observed in acute and chronic coronary syndrome, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Exposure of the Tissue Factor (TF) to flowing blood is followed to its binding to other coagulation factors leading to thrombin formation. Together with platelet activation, TF ultimately promotes thrombus formation. Recent advances in platelet pathophysiology have shown that these cells are able to regulate their gene/protein expression, engage in de novo protein synthesis, and release different mediators that may interfere with different cell functions. Several clinical trials have clearly shown the efficacy of anticoagulation and/or anti-platelet aggregation in different thrombotic disorders. Real-world practice clearly indicates that antithrombotic strategies need to be personalized according to patient characteristics. The combination of multiple antithrombotic drugs represents a challenging scenario and was the focus of multiple recent randomized controlled trials, with more still to come. As knowledge about platelets and the coagulation system has substantially evolved within the last few years, so should our approach to antithrombotic treatment; focused on current hurdles of antithrombotic treatments in patients with cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases, starting from the molecular mechanisms involved, proposing practical solutions to compelling clinical scenarios using a pathophysiology-oriented approach on the basis of current clinical evidence.
Numerical Simulation in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering-II
This reprint presents a collection of significant contributions to advancement of the application of the mathematical modeling to biomechanics and the biomedical engineering. This publication contains a particularly diverse set of contributions. For instance, Latif and co-authors review the specifications to model the upper airways before mandibular advancement surgery. Calvo-Gallego et al. propose local stress and strain tensors-derived variables as candidates for bone mechanical stimuli. Sohail et al. present a methodology for total knee arthroplasty. Latorre et al. propose the use of estimated strains to develop a methodology for plaque segmentation in arterial vessels. Lertxundi et al. simulate the blood flow and the microsphere transport during radioembolization for liver cancer treatment. Ma簽osas et al. combine tissue clarification, advanced microscopy and image analysis to develop a one-dimensional computational model of murine microvasculature hemodynamics. Talygin et al. obtain new quantitative parameters that characterize the normal and pathological aorta. Njezic et al. analyze the motion of nanoparticles in a ferrofluid environment. Hern獺ndez-L籀pez and co-workers study the parameter influence on lesion growth using a mechanobiological model of atherosclerosis. Jerbi et al present an adaptive learning tracking controller of a wearable robotic knee system. Gahima et al. introduce a novel formulation for a linear elastic model of a heterogeneous arterial section. Urdeitx et al. develop a novel hybrid 3D agent-based model to study multiple myeloma cell growth. Finally, Bayod et al. evaluate the stress generated by medializing calcaneal osteotomyin in hindfoot and forefoot bones.
Bridging the Gap
This reprint focuses on the biomimetic and bioinspired developments based on the biomechanical and morphological studies of plants and animals. The articles cover basic research in biology, the modeling of functional principles and the transfer into bioinspired materials systems, as well as hands-on models for teaching and education.
Cells, Cells and Nothing but Cells
The forum is for scientists doing research in different fields of cell science including, but not limited to, stem cells, autophagy, aging, intracellular organelles, proteomics, genomics, metabolism, and cell physiology. The goal of the symposium was to bring scientists together to facilitate the exchange of data and novel ideas to advance cell science as well as discussing the challenges facing cell biologists.
Earthly Materials
Bill Bryson's The Body meets Mary Roach's Gulp (with a dash of What's Your Poo Telling You?) in this delightfully weird, richly informative, and unexpectedly lyrical tour of our bodily emissions--revealing that the very parts of us that we seek to hide in embarrassment are actually an essential part of human health, with fascinating social history.In biology class, we learn that the body is a fundamentally cohesive organism, a collection of organs and tissues working together to a common purpose, all overseen by the brain and wrapped up tidily in a covering of skin. But while this idea of the body isn't false, it fails to give us a complete picture in one crucial way: though the system appears tidy and self-contained on the page, in reality it is far from it. Whether it is blowing its nose, mopping sweat from its brow, or excusing itself to the restroom, the human organism is essentially porous.Our bodies continuously shed material, and while we often think of these materials as wastes, they serve far more complex functions. The exchange, elimination, and frequent disguise of our effluence has been elemental to the development of human civilization, and our lives today are still governed by a host of laws and superstitions and social mores about the materials our bodies leave behind.In thirteen discrete chapters, Earthly Materials tells a story about one of the materials the human body sheds--from breath and urine to vomit and tears. Sometimes the questions examined are historical. What have we physically done with all the urine produced in our cities? Sometimes they approach the matter through a philosophical lens. Is it ever logical to cry? Sometimes they explore recent scientific discoveries. How does mucus undermine our understanding of natural selection? But they always offer a window into how we negotiate our place in the world and how we get along with one another.
Phytochemicals of Natural Products
The plant kingdom, with its terrestrial and marine natural products, has been widely explored. Plant-based products have long been used to prevent and treat various ailments. Many natural compounds have been reported to have a variety of interesting and significant biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, analgesic, antidiabetic, anti-atherogenic, and antiproliferative, as well as cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, researchers pay special attention to the bioactive compounds synthesized by plants. Opportunities in functional ingredients and treatment of NCDs (oxidative stress, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, etc.) are widely explored. However, many therapeutic properties of plants are still to be discovered. This Special Issue reprint intends to substantially contribute to our knowledge of their beneficial properties. Natural products could be a vast resource in respect of human well-being improvement. This Special Issue reprint also aims to disseminate some of the most recent and significant contributions in natural product research on phytochemicals and biological activity.
Paleontology in the 21st Century
This Special Issue highlights fundamental changes to the questions that we can ask about both the recent past and deep time. Delve into the forefront of paleontological research with this Special Issue book. Renowned paleontologists from around the world share groundbreaking insights into ancient life on Earth. Discover the latest advances in fossil discovery, analytical techniques, interdisciplinary collaborations, and technological innovations that are shaping our understanding of evolution and the Earth's history. This collection of cutting-edge research is a must-read for scientists, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in the dynamic field of paleontology in the modern era.
Feature Papers in NeuroSci
This book focuses on relevant findings in the field of neuroscience, ranging from cognitive neuroscience, including studies on human consciousness, to clinical neurology, including studies on autism and epilepsy. Furthermore, the latest methods in the expanding field of neuroscience from cognitive to clinical subdisciplines will also be available to the readers.
Impact of Light on Horticultural Crops
Light is an essential factor for the growth and quality of horticultural plants and its effects depend upon parameters such as duration, intensity and quality. It is an energy source for photosynthesis as well as a signal triggering plant photomorphogenesis and physiological, biochemical and molecular responses. However, solar light strongly differs between winter and summer conditions, with excess light in open field cultivations imposing severe stress on plants, especially during summer months, while supplementary light sources are implemented in greenhouse crop production to complement natural light when it is insufficient. On the other hand, artificial lighting is used as the sole lighting source in plant factories and nurseries (i.e., healing chambers, plant tissue culture). In order to enhance sustainability and profitability, light must be studied and efficiently applied within horticultural crop production. Novel technologies such as light-emitting diodes, new transparent greenhouse covering materials, photoselective nettings, growth chambers and plant factories showcase the critical role of light interacting with plants from the level of seed germination to growth rate, product quality and postharvest storage.This Special Issue focuses on recent findings in horticultural crops with regard to light characteristics (i.e., quality, quantity etc.) presented as research papers, short communications and review articles.
Design, Production and Characterization of Peptide Antibodies
Antibodies are key reagents in diagnostics and experimental biology, capable of detecting numerous antigenic targets. Proteins are often in focus and are usually effective targets for antibody production. Occasionally, however, the native protein is known but not available, or a very specific target is required. In these cases, synthetic peptides, copying essential sequences from the target, are good alternatives for antibody production. Peptide antibodies have been used in diagnostics and experimental biology with great success, especially because they can be produced to multiple targets, for example, native and denatured targets. Traditional peptide antibody proteins encompass animal-based immunization with a synthetic peptide, usually conjugated to a carrier protein to enhance immune presentation, as small peptides tend not to be immunogenic by themselves. There are several strategies for the conjugation of peptides to carriers applied for immunization. This is the most used approach for peptide antibody production. In addition to traditional peptide antibody production, peptide antibodies can be produced using libraries or sequencing.This Special Issue, "Design, Production and Characterization of Peptide Antibodies", aims to describe the current state-of-the-art techniques and characterization/applications within the field as well as new and emerging uses of peptide antibodies.
Breaking the Mind Barrier
From Simon & Schuster, Breaking the Mind Barrier is Todd Siler's brilliantly original way to think about art, science, the mind, and the universe. Siler's provocative and highly accessible work is designed to help readers gain a fuller understanding of this artist/visionary's latest tome, casting a fresh light on the unrealized symmetry of the mind and the universe.
And the Waters Turned to Blood
In this account, Rodney Barker tells the full and terrifying story of a microorganism popping up along the Eastern seaboard--far closer to home than the Ebola virus and equally frightening. In the coastal waters of North Carolina--and now extending as far north as the Chesapeake Bay area--a mysterious and deadly aquatic organism named Pfiesteria piscicida threatens to unleash an environmental nightmare and human tragedy of catastrophic proportions. At the very center of this narrative is the heroic effort of Dr. JoAnn Burkholder and her colleagues, embattled and dedicated scientists confronting medical, political, and corporate powers to understand and conquer this new scourge before it claims more victims.
What We Are: The Evolutionary Roots of Our Future
Other animals are driven to spend essentially their whole lives just trying to get fed, stay alive, and get laid. That's about it. The same was true for our proto-human ancestors. And modern humans of course also require a Survival Drive and a Sex Drive in order to leave descendants. But today we spend most of our lives mainly just trying to convince ourselves that our existence is not absurd. In What We Are, Queen's University biologist, Lonnie Aarssen, traces how our biocultural evolution has shaped Homo sapiens into the only creature that refuses to be what it is - the only creature preoccupied with a deeply ingrained, and absurd sentiment: I have a distinct 'mental life'-an 'inner self'-that exists separately and apart from 'material life', and so, unlike the latter, need not come to an end. This delusion conceivably gave our distant ancestors some wishful thinking for finding some measure of relief from the terrifying, uniquely human knowledge of the eventual loss of corporeal survival. But this came with an impulsive, nagging doubt - an obsessive underlying uncertainty: 'self-impermanence anxiety'. Biocultural evolution, however, was not finished. It also gave us two additional, uniquely human, primal drives, both serving to help quell the burden of this anxiety. Legacy Drive generates delusional cultural domains for 'extension' of self; and Leisure Drive generates pleasurable cultural domains for distraction - 'escape' - from self. Legacy Drive and Leisure Drive, Aarssen argues, represent two of the most profound consequences of human cognitive and cultural evolution. What We Are advances propositions regarding how a visceral susceptibility to self-impermanence anxiety has - paradoxically - played a pivotal role in rewarding the reproductive success of our ancestors, and has thus been a driving force in shaping fundamental motivations and cultural norms of modern humans. More than any other milestone in the evolution of human minds, self-impermanence anxiety, and its mitigating Drives for Legacy and Leisure, account for not just the advance of civilization over the past many thousands of years, but also now, its impending collapse. Effective management of this crisis, Aarssen insists, will require a deeper and more broadly public understanding of its Darwinian evolutionary roots - as laid out in What We Are.
Bioremediation for Environmental Pollutants
Increased industrial and agricultural activity has led to the contamination of the earth's soil and groundwater resources with hazardous chemicals. The presence of heavy metals, dyes, fluorides, dissolved solids, and many other pollutants used in industry and agriculture are responsible for hazardous levels of water pollution. The removal of these pollutants in water resources is challenging. Bioremediation is a new technique that employs living organisms, usually bacteria and fungi, to remove pollutants from soil and water, preferably in situ. This approach is more cost-effective than traditional techniques, such as incineration of soils and carbon filtration of water. It requires understanding how organisms consume and transform polluting chemicals, survive in polluted environments, and how they should be employed in the field. Bioremediation for Environmental Pollutants discusses the latest research in green chemistry and practices and principles involved in quality improvement of water by remediation. It covers different aspects of environmental problems and their remedies with up-to-date developments in the field of bioremediation of industrial/environmental pollutants. Volume 2 explains the methods used to control the remediation processes making it cost-effectively and feasible. It elaborates on the application of microbial enzymes, microalgae, and genetically engineered microorganisms in the bioremediation of significant pollutants, food wastes, distillery wastewater, and pharmaceutical wastes. This book is invaluable for researchers and scientists in environmental science, environmental microbiology, and waste management. It also serves as a learning resource for graduate and undergraduate students in environmental science, microbiology, limnology, freshwater ecology, and microbial biotechnology.
Recent Trends and The Future of Antimicrobial Agents - Part 2
Recent Trends and the Future of Antimicrobial Agents provides a significantly expanded overview of the topic with updated research in a broader context on the development of alternative approaches against microbial infections. This part primarily describes the use of probiotics, chemically synthesized compounds and nanomaterials as antimicrobial agents. The first chapter describes the potential of probiotics for the restoration of gut microbiomes. Amongst various antimicrobial agents, the use of antibodies has recently been investigated as a potential remedy. A chapter on antibody-based therapy as an alternative to antibiotics has been included. Chemical synthesis has eased the development of target-based prospective drug molecules against microorganisms. Chemically synthesized cationic amphiphiles and amphiphilic nanocarriers as antimicrobial agents have been discussed with sufficient detail in two different chapters. Research and progress in Schiff Base-Metal Complexes and Metal-Organic Frameworks for their antimicrobial applications have also been described in two separate chapters. Independent chapters discussing the design, synthesis and antimicrobial applications of biogenic metal or metalloid nanoparticles, bactericidal QDs and MoS2-based antibacterial nanocomposites have fulfilled the aim of incorporating cutting-edge research in the areas of alternative antimicrobials. Also, a new-age approach to combat microbes, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), is discussed in the final chapter of the edited volume. This part intends to provide the readers with an updated and broad view of research and development in alternative remedial approaches against microbial infections. The contents cater to the information needs of professionals and learners in academia, industry and health services who aim to learn the most significant experimental and practical approaches towards finding alternatives to existing antimicrobial therapies.
Application of Genetics and Genomics in Livestock Production
The delivery of genome sequences for most livestock species over the past 10-15 years has generated the potential to revolutionise livestock production globally, by providing farmers with the ability to match individual animals to rapidly changing climates, production systems and markets. Initially, technologies such as marker-assisted selection, functional genomics, gene expression, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics were hailed as technologies with the greatest promise of delivering on that potential. To date, however, their potential for the delivery of practical solutions for livestock farmers is still to be realised, though they do provide supportive evidence of value to other approaches. Gene editing using tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 also show strong promise, but face regulatory hurdles before practical applications can be delivered for use by farmers. The technology that has had the greatest impact to date is genomic selection. This year marks 20 years since genomic selection was developed by Meuwissen, Hayes and Goddard (Genetics, 2001, 157: 1819-1829) and genomic selection has been successfully applied in livestock, plants and even human health applications. However, genomic selection also faces ongoing limitations around lack of essential phenotypes, particularly for expensive or difficult-to-measure traits and possibly the need for faster/greater computational capacity. It is therefore timely to examine the impact of genomic technologies generally, and to identify successes and limitations that need to be overcome in order to achieve practical applications for livestock producers in future.
The Biological and Clinical Aspects of Merkel Cell Carcinoma
In this Special Issue, we will seek advanced knowledge in both basic and clinical research presented in original articles and comprehensive reviews highlighting the latest advances in MCC. Articles focus on but are not restricted to the molecular basis of the disease, translational investigations of biomarkers for prospective clinical applications, and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in MCC.Dr. Virve KoljonenDr. Weng-Onn LuiProf. Dr. J羹rgen C. BeckerGuest Editors
Lesion Detection and Analysis Using Optical Imaging
This Special Issue contains new developments and advanced ideas in optical spectroscopy and imaging for their active translation to biological and clinical practice. The published manuscripts provide new insight into state-of-the-art modern methods of biomedical optics and provides new knowledge to potential readers about possible areas of their application. It highlights the advantages and unique features of using optical diagnostic technologies in the detection and analysis of lesions. The articles discuss the development and application of optical methods, expanding the current diagnostic capabilities of various diseases, and other aspects of the use of spectroscopy and imaging in biology and clinical practice.
The Role of PPARs in Disease II
This reprint contains the original articles and reviews compiled in the Special Issue "The Role of PPARs in Disease II" published in Cells. Nicole Wagner and Kay-Dietrich Wagner from the University C繫te d'Azur served as the Guest Editors of this Special Issue and compiled the reprint.
Label-Free Biosensor
Over the past decade, we have witnessed significant advancements in the label-free biosensing field. Label-free biosensors aim at detecting the target molecules or biological processes without labels, thus allowing evaluation of their intrinsic properties in their natural forms, as well as easy operations without sophisticated pre-treatments of samples, which has drawn more and more attention in biological studies and rapid clinical tests. The main challenges include two aspects. First, the measurement system should be sensitive enough to detect the tiny signals corresponding to the specific target properties. Second, the signal processing protocols should be able to recognize the signals from the complex background. Owing to the great advances of commercial detection components with high sensitivity, more and more ingenious but economic label-free biosensors have been presented for diverse applications. This Special Issue, entitled "Label-free Biosensors", focuses on recent advances in producing sensitive and easy-to-use label-free biosensors and their applications in diverse fields. This collection presents several novel label-free detection techniques to introduce design strategies and operation protocols in practical application, which might be of particular value to beginners and graduate students who have just entered this field.
Young-Onset GI Cancer
In the last decade, the incidence of cancer in young patients has increased in several cancer types according to the US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) data and other worldwide registries. Recently, Sung and colleagues published an extensive pooled analysis from the US in Lancet Public Health, which revealed a dramatic increase in cancer incidence among younger adults (aged 25-49 years), mainly in "obesity-related" cancers, most of which occur in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Several studies over the past decade have indicated a significant increase in colorectal cancer incidence among young adults below the age of 50 years. Current evidence suggests that the majority of early-onset GI cancers are sporadic and harbor no familial etiology, indicating the potentially significant role of environmental and behavioral factors in their pathogenesis. Furthermore, the gut microbiome has been proposed to play a key role in CRC carcinogenesis. The scope of this Special Issue of Cancers is to highlight perspectives regarding biology, etiology, late-term toxicities and quality of life which are unique and relevant to young-onset GI cancer cases.
Lipid Delivery System and Functional Food
The articles collected focused on the construction of delivery systems aiming at enhancing the physicochemical stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of active lipids and liposoluble ingredients, as well as flavor retention and slow release, and its potential application in the development of functional foods with different phase states and suitable for the physiopathological characteristics of different populations.A growing application of lipids and liposoluble ingredients are emerging in functional foods, such as beverages, meal replacement powders, and foods with special medical purpose. Liposoluble ingredients including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), phytosterols (esters), carotenoids, polyphenols, and liposoluble vitamins, play an important role in balancing the insufficient nutrient intake and occurrence of chronic diseases. However, a critical challenge for their efficient and rational application arises due to the properties of strong hydrophobicity, easy oxidation, unpleasant flavor, and adverse interaction with other components. The construction, perfection, and regulation of lipid delivery system are of great significance for overcoming the challenge.
Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods
This Special Issue, entitled "Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods: Bridging Health and Food Under a New Perspective", aims to approach the current state-of-the-art research on nutraceuticals and functional foods. The main issue in this field of research is the sustainability and recovery of bioactive substances from vegetal- or animal-origin byproducts to project and realize novel food supplements and nutraceuticals. Low environmental impact, safety, new food sources and analytical methodologies are of growing interest in the research area of food.The perspective approach addresses the mechanism of action of nutraceuticals, safety and functional foods and nutraceuticals' mechanisms of action, revealing new possibilities for their use as tools in a complementary proactive approach to certain health issues to prevent the onset of health conditions or to be used in subjects who do not qualify for a conventional therapeutical approach. The areas involved in this perspective range from food chemistry and analysis to nutrition and from safety to sustainability; new therapeutical approaches and novel techniques of analysis and formulation are also involved, which require a wide inter- and multi-disciplinary approach. The overall assessment of these aspects creates new challenges for research and also impacts sustainability, health and safety. This Special Issue may also consider the bridging of health and food in their different declinations from a new perspective.
The Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration
Wound healing has three overlapping steps: 1) coagulation and inflammation, 2) the proliferation and formation of new tissue, and 3) tissue remodeling. The initial phase of acute wound healing is the coagulation and the formation of a temporary wound matrix. This phase begins immediately after the injury and is completed within a few hours. Inflammation is crucial to the clean-up-repair process. Early inhibition of inflammation can hinder regeneration processes. Inflammation is associated with the activation of the innate immune system. At the site of inflammation, neutrophils appear first, followed by monocytes, which may differentiate into macrophages. The main function of macrophages and immune cells is to remove cell debris and microorganisms. These cells, in addition to the functions mentioned below, play an essential role in preparing the next phase by coordinating cellular processes. The second phase starts with the division of the cells. This process allows damaged and lost structures to be replaced. Granulation tissue formed by the extracellular matrix (ECM) and new blood vessels generated by angiogenesis fills the lesion. This process usually takes 2-10 days. In the final phase, the blood vessels regress, the inflammation resolves, and the granulation tissue becomes functional tissue. In this phase, the ECM transforms from a temporary ECM to a permanent collagen matrix. This phase starts 2-3 weeks after injury and can last for years if tissue regeneration is inadequate.
Advances in Aquaculture Ecology Research
The discipline of aquaculture ecology is developing rapidly and has generated much valuable progress in recent decades. This book mainly describes the recent advances in the individual ecology of commercial aquatic organisms, the ecology of aquaculture systems, the interaction between aquaculture activities and the environment, the structure of function of microbial communities, the principles of environmental management in aquaculture ecosystems, etc.Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing human activities, and has achieved high and predictable yields in recent decades. However, the industry is also facing numerous long-term challenges, such as environmental pollution, excessive resource consumption, etc. Aquaculture ecology aims to lay an ecological foundation for the sustainable development of aquaculture. This book hosts 10 papers and 1 editorial, with topics including, but not limited to, the impact of floating raft aquaculture on the hydrodynamic environment of an open sea area; the bioremediation of aquaculture wastewater using seaweed; the production environment in biofloc systems; the effects of various environmental factors, including temperature, carbonate alkalinity and protein levels in compound feed on commercial aquatic species; advances in ecology research on major integrated rice field aquaculture models in China, etc. The advances in aquaculture ecology research collected in this book can provide references for the sustainable development of aquaculture.
Mechanism of Action of Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are a diverse group of chemicals that present wide toxicological responses in animals and humans. Their ingestion causes toxic effects that go from acute toxicity to long-term or chronic health disorders. Some mycotoxins have caused outbreaks of human toxicoses, and at least one mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1, is an assumed human hepatocarcinogen. As part of a comprehensive effort to curtail the adverse health effects posed by mycotoxins, substantial research has been conducted to determine the mechanism of action of mycotoxins. Although much information has been obtained regarding the action of several mycotoxins, future research topics should continue to address several areas of critical concern.In vitro studies in different cell lines could detail and explain many of these mechanisms, while in vivo can give a real scenario in the development of a toxic effect. This Special Issue of Toxins collected the most recent reports on the mechanism of action of mycotoxins on single or combined mycotoxins studied in vivo or in vitro, the identification of known and unknown mycotoxins metabolites and other metabolites in different cell lines and animals or matrices (including organs, urine, or blood), and the development of analytical skills to study these mechanisms. A total of eleven papers, eight research papers and three review articles, are included in this reprint.
Nuts
Humans have eaten nuts for thousands of years, yet their consumption was discouraged just a few decades ago due to their high-fat content. This perspective began to change in the early 1990s due to seminal publications from the Adventist Health Study, which showed that nut consumption significantly improved heart health-related outcomes. Many randomized clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and in vitro/in vivo mechanistic studies have since explored the role of eating nuts and its relation to health. Similarly, dried fruits have been scrutinized due to their concentrated sugar content despite their non-sodium micronutrient and fiber density. Due to accumulating evidence on nut and dried fruit intake and health outcomes, an international scientific meeting was organized for leading experts to examine and recapitulate in detail what is well known and established and what avenues of knowledge are still lacking in nut and dried fruit research. This book summarizes proceedings from this international scientific meeting and the latest information relating to: (1) energy balance and body weight; (2) insulin resistance and diabetes; (3) lipoproteins and dyslipidemia; (4) gastrointestinal system; (5) inflammation and oxidation; (6) cardiovascular disease; (7) cognition; (8) cancer; (9) dried fruit and health; (10) future lines of research. These findings highlight the beneficial health potentials of nuts for researchers, health professionals, other stakeholders, and the public while simultaneously pinpointing areas for further investigation to continue informing and guiding health practices and policies.
Processing and Preservation of Aquatic Products
Aquatic products are an important type of food, mainly including fish, shrimp, shellfish, crab, seaweed, etc. They provide human beings with high-quality protein, fatty acids, minerals, and other nutritional elements. Generally, aquatic raw materials need to go through transportation, processing, and preservation from the water area to the dining table.This Special Issue covers papers in the following areas: Advanced live fish transportation and quality change of aquatic products during transportation;New methods of processing on quality of aquatic products;New methods of preservation on shelf life and quality of aquatic products;Improvement of shelf life, nutrition, and quality of aquatic products;New detection, analysis, and management technology involved in transportation, processing, and preservation of aquatic products.
Plant Genomics 2019
Vols 1 and 2 contain 57 papers in the Special Issue of 'Plant Genomics 2009' and cover a wide range of topics, highlighting the significant progress that has been made in recent years in our understanding of the genetics and genomics of plants' growth, development, and stress responses. These studies provide valuable insights into the potential applications of genomic tools and technologies for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture, as well as fundamental questions about the evolution and function of plant genes and genomes.
Plant Genomics 2019
Vols 1 and 2 contain 57 papers in the Special Issue of 'Plant Genomics 2009' and cover a wide range of topics, highlighting the significant progress that has been made in recent years in our understanding of the genetics and genomics of plants' growth, development, and stress responses. These studies provide valuable insights into the potential applications of genomic tools and technologies for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture, as well as fundamental questions about the evolution and function of plant genes and genomes.
The Footprints of the Atoms
This book presents a new paradigm for the origin of Life on Earth by introducing the atomic definition of life and comparing it to the traditional organic meaning of life. It searches for the carbon-based origin of life, makes a detailed logical evaluation of the Intelligent Design hypothesis, and explains why it is a valid scientific hypothesis that needs an improved argument. It challenges the random environmental condition of the abiogenesis hypotheses as a viable one to explain the presence of the carbon-based cell compared to the biogenesis reproduction process. It introduces a new definition for the information concept to support two deductive reasoning arguments that infer the past existence of an intelligent entity as the responsible cause for the emergence of carbon-based cells and their genetic information. Amongst other topics, it discusses in detail the practical use of Karl Popper's falsifiability concept. It introduces a new definition of existence to help us find Bertrand Russell's teapot orbiting between Earth and Mars and demystify the wrong notion that we cannot prove a negative. It also explains why the Explanatory Power of a hypothesis used in the philosophy of science is not a practical comparison tool for choosing the best possible explanation between competing hypotheses. Finally, it reviews evolution's vital role as a cause in the same line of actions as the emergence of the carbon-based cell for the presence and complexity of Earth's carbon-based living entities. And ultimately challenges future generations to look for the origins of life at the atomic level in the structure and functionality of the carbon-based cells.
Nanobiotechnology for Green Environment
The book examines environmental issues and their solutions with advancements in biotechnology and nanotechnology. This book will focus on environmental friendly waste management, wastewater treatment and utilization of wastes for energy.
Sustainable Bioprocessing for a Clean and Green Environment
This book highlights the importance of waste to health in which waste is safely converted to value-added products via bioprocess technologies. Providing fundamental concepts and applications, it also offers readers the methodology behind the operation of a variety of biological processes used in developing valuable products from waste.
Algorithms in Structural Molecular Biology
An overview of algorithms important to computational structural biology that addresses such topics as NMR and design and analysis of proteins.Using the tools of information technology to understand the molecular machinery of the cell offers both challenges and opportunities to computational scientists. Over the past decade, novel algorithms have been developed both for analyzing biological data and for synthetic biology problems such as protein engineering. This book explains the algorithmic foundations and computational approaches underlying areas of structural biology including NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance); X-ray crystallography; and the design and analysis of proteins, peptides, and small molecules.Each chapter offers a concise overview of important concepts, focusing on a key topic in the field. Four chapters offer a short course in algorithmic and computational issues related to NMR structural biology, giving the reader a useful toolkit with which to approach the fascinating yet thorny computational problems in this area. A recurrent theme is understanding the interplay between biophysical experiments and computational algorithms. The text emphasizes the mathematical foundations of structural biology while maintaining a balance between algorithms and a nuanced understanding of experimental data. Three emerging areas, particularly fertile ground for research students, are highlighted: NMR methodology, design of proteins and other molecules, and the modeling of protein flexibility.The next generation of computational structural biologists will need training in geometric algorithms, provably good approximation algorithms, scientific computation, and an array of techniques for handling noise and uncertainty in combinatorial geometry and computational biophysics. This book is an essential guide for young scientists on their way to research success in this exciting field.
A History of Biology
A comprehensive history of the biological sciences from antiquity to the modern era This book presents a global history of the biological sciences from ancient times to today, providing needed perspective on the development of biological thought while shedding light on the field's upheavals and key breakthroughs through the ages. Michel Morange brings to life the dynamic interplay of science, society, and biology's many subdisciplines, enabling readers to better appreciate the interdisciplinary exchanges that have shaped the field over the centuries. Each chapter of this incisive book focuses on a specific period in the history of biology, describing the major transformations that occurred, the enduring scientific concerns behind these changes, and the implications of yesterday's science for today's. Morange covers everything from the first cell theory to the origins of the concept of ecosystems, and offers perspectives on areas that are often neglected by historians of biology, such as ecology, ethology, and plant biology. Along the way, he highlights the contributions of technology, the important role of hypothesis and experimentation, and the cultural contexts in which some of the most breathtaking discoveries in biology were made. Unrivaled in scope and written by a world-renowned historian of science, A History of Biology is an ideal introduction for students and experts alike, and essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the present state of biological knowledge.
Forensic Analysis of Paraquat's Effects on Carrion Insects. Implications for Post-Mortem Interval Determination
Scientific Study from the year 2023 in the subject Biology - Micro- and Molecular Biology, grade: A, University of Ibadan, language: English, abstract: The primary objective of this study is to examine the entomotoxicological impacts of paraquat dichloride herbicide on carrion insects in a forensic context. Conducted at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, the research explored the effect of paraquat on rabbit carcasses and the associated carrion insect populations. Dominant insect families were Calliphoridae and Muscidae, with Sarcophagidae also present but less dominant.
Lindane Effects on Carrion Insects. A Forensic Entomotoxicological Appraisal Using Euthanized Rabbits
Scientific Study from the year 2023 in the subject Biology - Micro- and Molecular Biology, grade: A, University of Ibadan, language: English, abstract: This thesis wants to develop an understanding of the effects of Gammalin-20 on forensically relevant insect species found on poisoned rabbit carrion, and their changes in abundance, rate of development, and succession order. In a study conducted at the University of Ibadan, the entomotoxicological appraisal of carrion insects found on rabbits poisoned with Gammalin-20 was carried out. Two rabbits were used as surrogate human models, with one euthanized with Gammalin-20 and the other serving as a control. The flies and larvae found on the carcasses were collected and stored in alcohol. It was found that Calliphoridae were the most dominant carrion insects, while Sarcophagidae were less dominant. The control group had a greater diversity and species composition of carrion insects compared to the Gammalin-20 poisoned rabbits. Growth indicators like length and weight of the larvae were also comparatively higher in the control group. Temperature and humidity measurements were also conducted. The effects of the poison on the developmental and succession patterns of the insects were also examined.
Mycotoxins in Food and Beverages
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi in a wide range of foods (cereals, peanut, tree nuts, dried fruits, coffee, cocoa, grapes, spices...) both in the field and after harvest, particularly during storage. They can also be found in processed foods of plant origin, or by transfer, in food products of animal (milk, eggs, meat and offal). Mycotoxins are of major concern since they can cause acute or chronic intoxications in both humans and animals which are sometimes fatal. Many countries, particularly in Europe, have set maximum acceptable levels for mycotoxins in food and feed.The book reviews the latest literature and innovations on important aspects of mycotoxins, e.g. mycotoxin producing fungi and the related ecosystems, mycotoxin occurrence, toxicity, analysis and management. Quantitative estimation of impacts of climate change on mycotoxin occurrence have been made recently, using predictive modelling. There is also a growing interest in studying the occurrence and toxicity of multiple mycotoxins in food and feed, including emerging or modified forms of mycotoxins. Innovative tools have also developed to detect and quantify toxinogenic fungi and their toxins. In order to reduce the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment and health of consumers, alternative methods of prevention and decontamination of mycotoxins were tested in pre- and post-harvest, using microorganisms, natural substances or radiation treatments.
Chemistry for Biomass Utilization
Much interest has been directed to the versatile possibilities of using lignocellulosic biomass resources (i.e., "renewable raw materials") for the full-scale production of various chemicals and other bioproducts together with solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Introduces modern aspects and various technologies of lignocellulosic biomass conversion for producing chemicals, biofuels, and other products in a reader friendly way. Starting with fundamentals of biorefi nery, the author further describes chemical, biochemical, and thermal conversion approaches. In addition, the properties and biorefining principles of non-wood biomass feedstock
Mycotoxins in Food and Beverages
The book reviews the latest literature and innovations on important aspects of mycotoxins, e.g. mycotoxin producing fungi and the related ecosystems, mycotoxin occurrence, toxicity, analysis and management. Quantitative estimations of impacts of climate change on mycotoxin occurrence have been made recently, using predictive modelling.
Plant Cell Wall Proteins and Development
This reprint focuses on proteins as critical components of plant cell walls. They contribute not only to the overall architecture of the walls but also to the rearrangement of the cell wall polymers to enable growth, differentiation, and appropriate responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, thus allowing the adaptation of plants to their changing environment.Different experimental approaches are illustrated and the roles of a set of protein families are described. Moreover, new concepts involving the role of cell wall proteins in organ morphogenesis through calcium signaling are discussed.
Evolvability
Essays on evolvability from the perspectives of quantitative and population genetics, evolutionary developmental biology, systems biology, macroevolution, and the philosophy of science. Evolvability--the capability of organisms to evolve--wasn't recognized as a fundamental concept in evolutionary theory until 1990. Though there is still some debate as to whether it represents a truly new concept, the essays in this volume emphasize its value in enabling new research programs and facilitating communication among the major disciplines in evolutionary biology. The contributors, many of whom were instrumental in the development of the concept of evolvability, synthesize what we have learned about it over the past thirty years. They focus on the historical and philosophical contexts that influenced the emergence of the concept and suggest ways to develop a common language and theory to drive further evolvability research. The essays, drawn from a workshop on evolvability hosted in 2019-2020 by the Center of Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, in Oslo, provide scientific and historical background on evolvability. The contributors represent different disciplines of evolutionary biology, including quantitative and population genetics, evolutionary developmental biology, systems biology and macroevolution, as well as the philosophy of science. This pl[urality of approaches allows researchers in disciplines as diverse as developmental biology, molecular biology, and systems biology to communicate with those working in mainstream evolutionary biology. The contributors also discuss key questions at the forefront of research on evolvability. Contributors: J. David Aponte, W. Scott Armbruster, Geir H. Bolstad, Salom矇 Bourg, Ingo Brigandt, Anne Calof, James M. Cheverud, Josselin Clo, Frietson Galis, Mark Grabowski, Rebecca Green, Benedikt Hallgr穩msson, Thomas F. Hansen, Agnes Holstad, David Houle, David Jablonski, Arthur Lander, Arnaud LeRouzic, Alan C. Love, Ralph Marcucio, Michael B. Morrissey, Laura Nu簽o de la Rosa, ?ystein H. Opedal, Mihaela Pavličev, Christophe P矇labon, Jane M. Reid, Heather Richbourg, Jacqueline L. Sztepanacz, Masahito Tsuboi, Cristina Villegas, Marta Vidal-Garc穩a, Kjetil L. Voje, Andreas Wagner, G羹nter P. Wagner, Nathan M. Young
Zirconia and Innovative Biomaterials for Dental and Biomedical Applications
This reprint provides a comprehensive overview and critically explores the recent trends in the zirconia additive manufacturing process or 3D printing and various surface treatments and their characterization for application in the dental and biomedical fields. It will be a valuable resource for the researchers to design or fabricate the implants according to clinical demands.
Insecticide and Insects. A Forensic Analysis of Pigs as Human Surrogates in Crime Investigations
Scientific Study from the year 2023 in the subject Biology - Micro- and Molecular Biology, grade: A, University of Ibadan, language: English, abstract: The objective of this research was to explore the succession pattern and abundance of carrion insects on decomposing pig carcasses, and the influence of environmental variables and poison on these processes. Conducted in a secluded area of the University of Ibadan stadium, this study used two domestic pigs, Sus scrofa, as surrogate human models. One pig was euthanized using Sniper insecticide, a common suicide agent, while the other was sacrificed without poison, serving as a control experiment. The carcasses were left to decay until the dry stage, with observations made throughout the five stages of decomposition: fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and dry stage. Insect collection during decomposition was done using a sweep net, and the insects were preserved in alcohol for identification. Carrion insect families identified included Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Dermestidae, with Calliphoridae being the most abundant and the first to colonize the decomposing carrion. The findings from this study underscored the forensic importance of carrion insects, emphasizing their potential use in forensic investigations to estimate post-mortem intervals, causes of death, and places of death. Given the biological similarity between pigs and humans, these findings could contribute to solving human crime cases.
New Avenues of Research for Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems
Knowledge of the different elements that determine the optimal method for drug loading and delivery nanosystems using nanoparticles of different natures is experiencing a remarkable boom in many scientific fields, especially in medicine, chemistry, biology, materials science and molecular biotechnology. Not only is it necessary to fully understand what type of nanoparticle is most appropriate in each particular situation, but the interactions of the used nanoparticle with the system under study and the analysis of the release process are important as well. To design nanoparticle drug delivery agents well, a high ratio of drug to nanoparticles must be achieved. Furthermore, biocompatibility and knowledge of the time that the release process takes are fundamental factors for the construction of operative NPs as drug delivery vectors.Today, efforts on the development of appropriate nanosystems are focused on producing new materials that release drugs in a sequential manner with different therapeutic efficacy. To achieve optimal results among researchers from various areas, this reprint of Nanomaterials will try to consider all of these key factors that need to be taken into account for nanosystems to be suitable for drug release. "New Avenues of Research for Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems" brings together the recent research articles published in Nanomaterials. Specifically, five original research articles, with one of them being a review, were published by authors from different countries on current issues in this field of research.
