Perspectives and Challenges in Doctoral Research
This reprint includes papers from different research fields, reflecting the sectional talks presented at the 10th edition of the Scientific Conference of the Doctoral Schools of "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galaţi, which took place in June 2022. The objective of the 2022 Conference was to bring together perspectives and challenges in doctoral research in a common forum and to provide a platform enabling doctoral researchers to meet and share state-of-the-art developments in their fields. It comprises 13 papers presented at the conference from several fields, including mechanical and industrial engineering, food science and biotechnology, electrical/electronic engineering, systems engineering and information technologies, chemistry, electrochemistry, and economic models and strategies.
Inhibition of DNA Repair Enzymes as a Valuable Pharmaceutical Approach
Although DNA repair enzymes play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the genome, the hyperactivity of certain enzymes of the DNA repair system can lead to the resistance of tumors to chemo- and radiotherapy, aimed at damaging the DNA of cancer cells. Therefore, the inhibition of DNA repair enzymes could help to overcome this resistance. The reviews and research articles included in this collection describe the molecular mechanisms of action of some important enzymes of the DNA repair system, as well as some new inhibitors of such enzymes and the pharmacological properties of these inhibitors. This reprint clearly demonstrates the importance of the inhibition of DNA repair enzymes to fight various diseases, especially cancer.
Roles of Skeletal Muscle in Organ Development
Muscle is the only tissue of the four basic types that make the body that can be completely ablated while allowing fetal survival. This book is a result of 25 years of research employing engineered mouse fetuses with no skeletal muscle, a model system that provides a unique opportunity to study body development holistically. A systematic anatomical analysis of such fetuses have shown that several anatomical locations are affected by the absence of the skeletal muscle. This book contains a summarized description of affected anatomical locations such as the alveolar lung epithelium, motor neurons and giant pyramidal cells in the CNS, cholinergic amacrine cells of the retina, and type I hair cells of the crista ampullaris. Several specific bioinformatics and systems biology interventions are also described. The book provides an update on skeletal muscle development, musculoskeletal developmental interactions, trophic relationships between the skeletal muscle and the motor neurons, mechanics of lung development, functional development of two special senses, eye and ear, and finally, skeletal muscle-related reasons for human fetal akinesia and its consequences. This volume in the Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology series stresses the need to think about the developing body and its organs in terms of their mutual interdependence, and to think about diseases, such as pulmonary hypoplasia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or cleft palate, in terms of that interdependence. Directed to developmental biologists, neuroscientists, tissue engineers and health professionals, this book exposes the ideas of interorgan communication and interdependence in homeostasis and disease.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Human Disease
This detailed volume presents a series of protocols that are representative of recent developments and improvements in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and corresponding human disease models. Reflecting the latest technology for generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and their initial characterization, the book explores techniques invaluable both for studies of disease-specific cell types and for their potential applications in regenerative medicine. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introduction to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, as well as tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Human Disease: Methods and Protocols serves as a vital guide that is valuable for not only experts but also novices in the stem cell field.
Sustainable Production and Environmentally Responsible Consumption
Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. We consume more resources than the planet can generate, and growing rates of pollution and waste only worsen the problem. In this context, globally, a significant number of frameworks and programs on sustainable consumption and production have been introduced. Most of them concern the environmentally sound management of energy and raw materials and all wastes throughout their life cycle; the substantially reduce of waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse; the adoption of sustainable practices and the integration of sustainability information into their reporting cycle; the promotion of procurement practices that are sustainable; the enhancement of scientific and technological capacity intending to more sustainable patterns of consumption and production etc. This reprint" Sustainable Production and Environmentally Responsible Consumption" takes a broad view of all these issues and aimed to inform about ways contributing to sustainable consumption and production by reducing our environmental impact, promoting the use of renewable sources of energy and encouraging responsible purchasing decisions.
Plant Response and Tolerance to Abiotic Oxidative Stress
The survival of plants under stressful environments requires the study of the mechanisms that help in reversing the adverse impacts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) excessively generated under these conditions. Understanding the mechanisms helps in adopting strategies to induce such mechanisms for the better acclimation of plants. These ROS, if not scavenged, cause damage of cellular components, including lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites, and, in extreme cases, even the death of cells in plants. Confronted with abiotic stress, there is an initial elevation in ROS that activates redox signaling to initiate defense in plants through the activation of antioxidant activity. The improvement in the capacity of antioxidant machinery is one of the essential strategies with which to develop tolerance and relieve the pressure of abiotic-stress-induced oxidative changes for the survival of plants. This book provides knowledge on the following aspects: Impact of abiotic stress factors and the response of antioxidant machinery to changing abiotic stress conditions, as well as strategies with which to strengthen antioxidant machinery for the survival of plants; Strategies to improve the tolerance mechanisms of plants against abiotic stress factors; Roles and the mechanisms of the plant signaling molecules/growth modifiers/mineral nutrients/hormones/other elicitors in relieving the impacts of abiotic stresses; The utilization of approaches such as genomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, ionomics, and nutiomics to strengthen antioxidant machinery and make plant life easier under abiotic stress conditions.
Genetics and Epigenetics in Complex Diseases
Many of the most common diseases are influenced by a combination of multiple factors, which include environmental effectors as well as genetic and epigenetic variations. Therefore, these diseases are grouped under the term "complex" diseases because, from the point of view of genetics, they cannot be explained by simple Mendelian inheritance. The aim of this special issue was to identify genetic and epigenetic factors involved in such diseases in order to improve not only the knowledge of risk factors for those diseases, which could be of help for prevention, but also the understanding and characterization of each disease and to optimize and personalize the treatment.
Celebrating Applied Sciences Reaches 20,000 Articles Milestone
We are delighted to present this Special Issue to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the journey of Applied Dentistry. With great pleasure, we announce the publication of the journal's 20,000th paper. This remarkable achievement reflects the unwavering commitment and dedication of our esteemed authors, reviewers, and readers who have contributed to the advancement of dental research.Over the years, Applied Dentistry has emerged as a beacon of knowledge, serving as a platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research and innovative ideas in various domains of dental science. Our journal encompasses a wide range of disciplines, covering everything from dental materials and biomaterials to preventive and therapeutic strategies, from clinical applications to regenerative dentistry.We envision this milestone as a stepping stone toward even greater accomplishments. Through the collaboration and collective efforts of researchers worldwide, we strive to push the boundaries of dental science, explore new frontiers, and improve oral health outcomes for individuals across the globe.In conclusion, we extend our warmest congratulations to all those who have contributed to the publication of the Special Issue celebrating Applied Dentistry's 20,000th paper milestone.
Genomics of Cereal Crops
This volume details different genomic methods and resources to explore cereal genomics. Chapters guide readers through crop genomes, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies, protocol for CRISPR editing, transgenic wheat, NGS approach, virus induced gene silencing (VIGS), genomic tools, computational prediction of ncRNAs (miRNAs & ceRNAs) in cereal crops, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), Bayesian method, single cell sequencing, genome-wide association study (GWAS), QTL interval mapping, whole genome bisulfite sequencing, genome imprinting, and methods for study the receptor-metabolite interaction. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Genomics of Cereal Crops aims to be a useful and practical guide to new researchers and experts looking to expand their knowledge.
What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions
Plants show different strategies for coping with stress factors. They develop various types of adaptations to avoid the stressor or to activate defense reactions consisting of damage repair and running alternative metabolic pathways. This Special Issue, "What Makes the Life of Stressed Plants a Little Easier? Defense Mechanisms against Adverse Conditions", contains several original articles that deal with such changes that occur at the level of the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, as well as structural adaptations in response to a stress factor. It also provides four review articles on drought stress, metal stress, various abiotic stress responses of cultivated beet, and crosstalk between Ca2+ and other regulators in stress signaling.
Inorganic Polyphosphates
This volume focuses on the biomedical aspects of inorganic polyphosphates, a family of unique bio-inorganic polymers.In recent years, great advances have been made in understanding the development, metabolism, and physiological role of inorganic polyphosphates. These energy-rich polymers, which consist of long chains of phosphate units, are evolutionary old molecules. The acidocalcisomes, conserved organelles from bacteria to humans, as well as the mitochondria play a central role in polyphosphate production and storage. Polyphosphates have been assigned multiple functions, some of which are closely related to medically important processes, such as blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, energy metabolism, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, chaperon function, microvascularization, stress response, neurodegeneration and aging. The development of bioinspired polyphosphate particles, in combination with suitable hydrogel-forming polymers enabled the development of new strategies in regenerative medicine, in particular for hard and soft tissue repair, but also in drug delivery and antimicrobial defense. This book not only highlights the basic research in this area, but also discusses possible applications. Therefore, it appeals to scientists working in cell biology, biochemistry, and biomedicine and practicioners alike.
Genes: A Very Short Introduction
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring In this exploration of the concept of the gene, Jonathan Slack looks at the discovery, nature, and role of genes in both evolution and development. By explaining the nature of genetic variation in the human population, how hereditary factors were identified as molecules of DNA, and how certain specific mutations can lead to disease, Slack highlights how DNA variants are used to trace human ancestry and migration, and can also be used by forensic scientists to identify individuals in crime. He also explores issues such as the role of genetic heritability and IQ as well as the changes that occur in the genes of populations during evolution. An ideal guide for anyone curious about what genes are and how genetics can be put to use, this Very Short Introduction demonstrates the ways in which the gene concept has been understood and used by molecular biologists, population biologists, and social scientists around the world. This second edition has been fully updated and contains new sections on the CRISPR method for targeted genetic modification, on DNA profiling, and developments in our understanding of human ancestry using ancient DNA. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Nature's Wild Ideas
A lively and endlessly fascinating deep-dive into nature and the many groundbreaking human inventions inspired by the wild."Delightful."--The Guardian"Fans of Helen Scales won't want to miss this."--Publishers Weekly STARRED ReviewWhen astronomers wanted a telescope that could capture X-rays from celestial bodies, they looked to the lobster. When doctors wanted a medication that could stabilize Type II diabetic patients, they found their muse in a lizard. When scientists wanted to drastically reduce emissions in cement manufacturing, they observed how corals construct their skeletons in the sea. This is biomimicry in action: taking inspiration from nature to tackle human challenges.In Nature's Wild Ideas, Kristy Hamilton goes behind the scenes of some of our most unexpected innovations. She traverses frozen waterfalls, treks through cloudy forests, discovers nests in the Mojave desert, scours intertidal zones and takes us to the deepest oceans and near volcanoes to introduce us to the animals and plants that have inspired everything from cargo routing systems to non-toxic glues, and the men and women who followed that first spark of "I wonder" all the way to its conclusion, sometimes against all odds.While the joy of scientific discovery is front and center, Nature's Wild Ideas is also a love letter to nature--complete with a deep message of conservation: If we are to continue learning from the creatures around us, we must protect their untamed homelands.
The Ins and Outs of miRNAs as Biomarkers
miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. It has been recognized that dysregulation of miRNAs reflects the state and function of cells and tissues, contributing to their dysfunction. The identification of hundreds of extracellular miRNAs in biological fluids has underscored their potential in the field of biomarker research. In addition, the therapeutic potential of miRNAs is receiving increasing attention in numerous conditions. On the other hand, many operational issues, including stability, delivery systems, and bioavailability, have yet to be resolved. In this dynamic field, biopharmaceutical companies are increasingly engaged, and ongoing clinical trials point to anti-miR and miR-mimic molecules as novel classes of molecules for upcoming therapeutic applications. This reprint aims to provide a broad overview of current knowledge on several outstanding issues and new opportunities offered by miRNAs in the treatment of diseases and as early diagnostic tools for next-generation medicine.
A Feasible Approach for Natural Products to Treatment of Diseases
Introducing "A Feasible Approach for Natural Products to Treatment of Diseases"-an exploration of the therapeutic potential locked within nature's abundant offerings. This comprehensive reprint delves into the fascinating realm of natural products, uncovering their inherent properties, mechanisms of action, and potential roles in effective disease management. Through extensive scientific research and reviews, the authors shed light on the immense potential of natural products as a viable approach to enhancing health and combating diseases. This reprint presents a diverse and multidimensional exploration, bridging the gap between traditional wisdom and contemporary scientific understanding and offering new avenues for healthcare professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts to harness the power of nature's remarkable resources. As a catalyst for unlocking the healing potential of natural products, this reprint inspires further investigation and innovation, and drives us towards a future where their integration into mainstream healthcare becomes indispensable. Discover the possibilities and embark on a health and well-being journey with "A Feasible Approach for Natural Products to Treatment of Diseases".
The 2nd International Laayoune Forum on Biosaline Agriculture
This book showcases the advanced and emergent research in the field of biosaline agriculture from salinity mapping and plant breeding for a salinity-resistance purpose to the value-chain development of salt-tolerant crops.
Neurorehabilitation
The article collection of this Special Issue reprint covers a wide range of neurorehabilitation modalities, although they only represent a small proportion of the whole scene. We trust that they will assist clinicians in performing evidence-based interventions and illuminate the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration. Furthermore, they share an important motivational drive, that is, the inspiration to move forward to a new era where medical, basic research, engineering, and high-tech advances can develop more efficacious approaches, combining neuromodulation techniques under sophisticated neuroimaging guidance. These can be widely and remotely applied to all people that need them, organized under a fresh "patient-centric" approach, with home-based and tele-rehabilitation protocols replacing long stays in medical centers.
Local Flora and Fauna Conservation - A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens
This Special Issue highlights how zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens have partnered with organizations and agencies to address local and regional conservation issues through research and education projects, rehabilitation programs, policymaking efforts, and other types of activities. Understanding how such partnerships are developed and maintained, the challenges encountered, and success stories (as well as unsuccessful ones) were of interest. Hopefully, the stories shared and lessons learned will guide other organizations in their local and regional conservation efforts.
Cytogenetics of Domestic Animals
The present Special Issue refers to the last 30 years of contributions to the application of cytogenetics to domestic animals, as clearly reported in the five-paper review. In addition, eight original contributions regarding the cytogenetics of several animal species are included. In each contribution, several thematic areas and various cytogenetic techniques are proposed to better demonstrate the potentiality of this biological technology in the genetic improvement of livestock. Special attention was paid to the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in domestic animals and their effects on reproduction, suggesting the routine use of karyotype analyses on reproducers to drastically reduce the effects on reproduction and the economic losses encountered by breeders. In addition to classical cytogenetic analyses such as chromosome banding, the use of molecular cytogenetics, especially the FISH mapping technique, with both specific molecular markers (generally BAC clones) and chromosome painting probes were emphasized in all papers to better study the following: (a) Chromosomal abnormalities; (b) The chromosomal evolution of species; (c) Physical gene mapping in light of genomic sequences in the most important domestic species.Finally, a specific review is dedicated to molecular cytogenetics, in which examples of applied molecular techniques, including the FISH technique, comparative genomic hybridization array, and PCR-based method, are reported.
Insect Microbiome and Immunity
Insects are the most diverse group of organisms, representing approximately 80 percent of the world's species. It is estimated that there are some ten quintillion individual insects alive. During millions of years of evolution, insects developed extraordinary adaptations that allowed them to reside in different habitats. As with all other organisms, insects encounter a wide range of microbes. Although lacking adaptive immunity, they rely on robust innate immune systems to combat these microbes to maintain organismal homeostasis. Conversely, some microbial communities can benefit the host and profoundly affect the host's physiology and overall fitness. Microbiotas have been proven to provide nutrients, promote host defense, and mediate host reproductive behavior. In recent decades, the emergence of high-throughput sequencing has enabled researchers to study host-microbe interactions from the whole microbiome level rather than single microbial species, greatly expanding our knowledge of insect biology.
New Insights into Endometrial Cancer 2022
This open access Special Issue brings together original research and review articles on molecular oncology, with attention given to endometrial cancer. It highlights new findings, methods, and technical advances in molecular cancer research. The main feature of this Special Issue is that it is a platform for open-source sharing of significant works in the field of molecular oncology that can increase our understanding of endometrial cancer development, which may lead to the discovery of new molecular diagnostic technologies and targeted therapeutics.Topics include: Molecular methods to personalize endometrial cancer screening and detection;Identification and new aspects of cellular signaling molecules and pathways for target discovery, drug design, and personalized and gender medicine;DDI discovery in endometrial cancer management;Drug repurposing for endometrial cancer prevention/treatment;Molecular modeling studies.
Sports Nutrition
For this Special Issue, research leaders in sports nutrition were approached and invited to submit current reviews in their areas of expertise. The topics are novel and wide-ranging, and include updates and insights on protein, dietary patterns, and nutritional interventions to support sleep, older athletes, and sports performance; pre-exercise nutrition; supplementation with betaine, iron, and creatine; and sports nutrition research methodologies for body composition and muscle glycogen analysis. A major emphasis in all of the papers was a focus on strengths and weaknesses for various sports nutrition strategies, and insights for future research. This Special Issue on sports nutrition provided current updates in many core areas, with insights from leading experts for future research. Hopefully, scientific understanding will be advanced as these ideas are converted into novel research designs and discoveries.
Decision Support Tools for Water Quality Management
The sustainability of water resources worldwide is increasingly imperiled as climate change contributes to the human-induced problems of water supply scarcity and maldistribution. Environmental problems associated with water quality, such as aquifer depletion, land subsidence, the seasonal drying of river flows, waterlogging, the salinization of rivers and groundwater, and human health problems from the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides will require a radical re-thinking of resource-management policy and new tools to help analysts and regulators craft novel solutions. Over the past several decades, with the advent and rapid progress of computational technology, watershed models have increasingly become important and effective tools for tackling a wide range of water resource and environmental management issues and for supporting regulatory compliance. Statistical and machine-learning methods are being used to support and even supplant more traditional simulation models to improve the estimation of the temporal dynamics and patterns of variability in pollutant concentrations and loads. With the advancements in modeling approaches for water quality, there have also been developments in decision-support tools for water quality management. This reprint describes innovative decision-support approaches from around the world and across sectors that can be applied by stakeholders, government entities, and regulators to reduce environmental pollution and result in cost-effective and sustainable water management strategies.
Advance in Post-harvest Preservation Technology
Fruits and vegetables are important sources of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, and provide many health benefits. However, due to non-optimal post-harvest management, large quantities of fresh or fresh-cut fruits and vegetables experience a decline in their quality and nutritional value before they reach the consumer. This Special Issue covers technologies for the harvesting, handling, and storage of vegetables, including storage strategies such as active packaging, edible coatings, the application of nanotechnology in the post-harvest of vegetable crops, and others, with the aim of improving the shelf-life of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.
Techniques for Food Authentication
This Special Issue of Foods comprises ten research and two review articles, highlighting the recent advances in food authentication and clearly demonstrating that no single method is suitable to cover all aspects of food authenticity.
Cancer Prevention with Molecular Target Therapies
Personalized medicine plays an important role in cancer prevention. To date, it is clear that many cancers are molecularly distinct subtypes, and different therapeutic approaches would be required for each. Indeed, the identification of cancer susceptibility genes permits identifying patients "at risk" of developing neoplasia and supports modifying individual risk behaviors or the choice of preventive therapy. Additionally, the efficacy of various targeted therapies in different cancer subtypes suggests that treatment choices in the near future will be more and more centered on molecular signatures. Data from preclinical, clinical, and observational studies have revealed the ability to prevent cancer development for compounds with different indications than cancer. The concept of drug repurposing permits combinations that can target several critical pathways of a specific disease, decreasing the risk of resistance observed when using single-agent targeted therapy.This open-access Special Issue brings together original research and review articles on molecular oncology with attention to the early detection and prevention of cancer. It highlights new findings, methods, and technical advances in molecular cancer research. The main feature of this Special Issue is to provide an open-source sharing of significant works in the field of molecular oncology that can increase our understanding of cancer development, which may lead to the discovery of new molecular diagnostic technologies and targeted therapeutics.
Cancer Prevention with Molecular Target Therapies 3.0
Personalized medicine is playing an important role in cancer prevention. To date, it is clear that many cancers are molecularly distinct subtypes, and different therapeutic approaches would be required for each. This Special Issue brings together original research and review articles on molecular oncology with attention to the early detection and prevention of cancer. It highlights new findings, methods, and technical advances in molecular cancer research. The main feature of this reprint was to provide an open-source sharing of significant works in the field of molecular oncology that can increase our understanding of cancer development. Topics include: Molecular methods to personalize cancer screening and detection;Molecular target therapies to prevent cancer development and metastases;Identification and new aspects of cellular signaling molecules and pathways for target discovery, drug design and personalized and gender medicine;Drug repurposing for cancer prevention;Molecular modeling studies.
Quantitative Biosciences Companion in R
A hands-on lab guide in the R programming language that enables students in the life sciences to reason quantitatively about living systems across scales This lab guide accompanies the textbook Quantitative Biosciences, providing students with the skills they need to translate biological principles and mathematical concepts into computational models of living systems. This hands-on guide uses a case study approach organized around central questions in the life sciences, introducing landmark advances in the field while teaching students-whether from the life sciences, physics, computational sciences, engineering, or mathematics-how to reason quantitatively in the face of uncertainty.Draws on real-world case studies in molecular and cellular biosciences, organismal behavior and physiology, and populations and ecological communitiesEncourages good coding practices, clear and understandable modeling, and accessible presentation of resultsHelps students to develop a diverse repertoire of simulation approaches, enabling them to model at the appropriate scaleBuilds practical expertise in a range of methods, including sampling from probability distributions, stochastic branching processes, continuous time modeling, Markov chains, bifurcation analysis, partial differential equations, and agent-based simulationsBridges the gap between the classroom and research discovery, helping students to think independently, troubleshoot and resolve problems, and embark on research of their ownStand-alone computational lab guides for Quantitative Biosciences also available in Python and MATLAB
Quantitative Biosciences Companion in Python
A hands-on lab guide in the Python programming language that enables students in the life sciences to reason quantitatively about living systems across scales This lab guide accompanies the textbook Quantitative Biosciences, providing students with the skills they need to translate biological principles and mathematical concepts into computational models of living systems. This hands-on guide uses a case study approach organized around central questions in the life sciences, introducing landmark advances in the field while teaching students-whether from the life sciences, physics, computational sciences, engineering, or mathematics-how to reason quantitatively in the face of uncertainty.Draws on real-world case studies in molecular and cellular biosciences, organismal behavior and physiology, and populations and ecological communitiesEncourages good coding practices, clear and understandable modeling, and accessible presentation of resultsHelps students to develop a diverse repertoire of simulation approaches, enabling them to model at the appropriate scaleBuilds practical expertise in a range of methods, including sampling from probability distributions, stochastic branching processes, continuous time modeling, Markov chains, bifurcation analysis, partial differential equations, and agent-based simulationsBridges the gap between the classroom and research discovery, helping students to think independently, troubleshoot and resolve problems, and embark on research of their ownStand-alone computational lab guides for Quantitative Biosciences also available in R and MATLAB
Quantitative Biosciences Companion in MATLAB
A hands-on lab guide in the MATLAB programming language that enables students in the life sciences to reason quantitatively about living systems across scales This lab guide accompanies the textbook Quantitative Biosciences, providing students with the skills they need to translate biological principles and mathematical concepts into computational models of living systems. This hands-on guide uses a case study approach organized around central questions in the life sciences, introducing landmark advances in the field while teaching students-whether from the life sciences, physics, computational sciences, engineering, or mathematics-how to reason quantitatively in the face of uncertainty.Draws on real-world case studies in molecular and cellular biosciences, organismal behavior and physiology, and populations and ecological communitiesEncourages good coding practices, clear and understandable modeling, and accessible presentation of resultsHelps students to develop a diverse repertoire of simulation approaches, enabling them to model at the appropriate scaleBuilds practical expertise in a range of methods, including sampling from probability distributions, stochastic branching processes, continuous time modeling, Markov chains, bifurcation analysis, partial differential equations, and agent-based simulationsBridges the gap between the classroom and research discovery, helping students to think independently, troubleshoot and resolve problems, and embark on research of their ownStand-alone computational lab guides for Quantitative Biosciences also available in Python and R
How Biology Works
Discover everything you need to know about biology, with the simplest most visual guide to the science of life. How do vaccines work? What is special about stem cells? How did we evolve from bacteria? The science of life can be dauntingly complex, and it can be hard to separate "good" science from "bad", fundamental truths from the much-hyped breakthroughs reported in the media. With clear, easy-to-understand graphics and packed with fascinating facts, How Biology Works demystifies both the core biology that may have eluded us at school, and the cutting-edge life science that makes the news, answering the questions that spark our curiosity. With power to every page, this striking science book: - Is illustrated entirely by specially commissioned, boldly-colored, distinctive, flat, vector graphics that explain each topic clearly and engagingly.- Uses clear, distinctive, eye-catching graphics to make even complex biology easy to understand.- Offers a practical, no-nonsense approach to each subject. Building from life's fundamental ingredients, such as carbon and water, the book explains chemical processes in living cells, controlled by the ultimate biochemical, DNA. It shows how DNA is made of units called genes, which are shuffled in each generation of offspring, leading to variation and evolution. It covers topics from school biology, such as how plants work and how animals, including humans, work, and goes on to ecology and biotechnology. Beyond school science, however, it covers the background to the latest medical technology and biotechnology: how gene therapy works, what stem-cell research is achieving, and how our immune systems, boosted by vaccines, are in an arms race with ever-mutating viruses and other pathogens. At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why stop there? How Biology Works is part of DK's widely successful How Stuff Works series. Discover the inner workings of the mind with How the Brain Works, succeed in all things science with How Science Works and discover the cosmos like you've never known before with How Space Works. Whatever topic sparks your interests, there's a plethora of knowledge to discover!
Understanding Living Systems
Life is definitively purposive and creative. Organisms use genes in controlling their destiny. This book presents a paradigm shift in understanding living systems. The genome is not a code, blueprint or set of instructions. It is a tool orchestrated by the system. This book shows that gene-centrism misrepresents what genes are and how they are used by living systems. It demonstrates how organisms make choices, influencing their behaviour, their development and evolution, and act as agents of natural selection. It presents a novel approach to fundamental philosophical and cultural issues, such as free-will. Reading this book will make you see life in a new light, as a marvellous phenomenon, and in some sense a triumph of evolution. We are not in our genes, our genes are in us.
The 15th International Conference on Hand-Arm Vibration
This publication summarizes the proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Hand-Arm Vibration, held on 6-9 June 2023 in Nancy, France. This multidisciplinary conference was organized by the INRS (National Research and Safety Institute, France) under the patronage of the International Advisory Committee on Hand-Arm Vibration. It brought together experts from many different backgrounds to present and discuss their most recent work on hand-arm vibration. This conference aimed to develop a better understanding of the health risks resulting from vibration exposure in order to improve risk control measures. This event was intended for scientists, occupational physicians, epidemiologists, machine manufacturers, metrologists, health and safety practitioners, standardization groups, and government agencies.
Scaffolds and Surfaces with Biomedical Applications
The present reprint, entitled 'Scaffolds and Surfaces with Biomedical Applications', published 13 papers (10 research and 3 review papers) that describe the synthesis of new materials for biomedical applications and their thorough characterization using conventional and emerging techniques.
Oceanographic Processes of Coral Reefs
In the last two decades since publication of the first edition, substantial advancements have been made in the science, the need for transdisciplinary approaches to coral reef protection greater than ever before. This new edition pinpoints science-based solutions for managers, stakeholders and policy makers.
Sea Monsters
The true story of a deeply murderous intent that lurked menacingly beneath the waves during world war two. The torpedoes strike explosively and nine thousand people die - five thousand of them are just defenceless children. Another ship founders after being attacked by a brutal submarine commander and the ship's crew and passengers are used in a murderous kind of blood-sport. Merchant seamen are savagely machine-gunned in the water, callously slaughtered with hand-grenades or simply left to the circling sharks. Inside monsters & marine mysteries you will find: Research on mysterious land cryptids like sasquatch as well as deep-sea lifeMore about sharks - is megalodon alive or is something even nastier out there?Compelling images backed by scientific evidenceInterviews with eyewitnesses and much moreIf you're avoiding fiends that swim with fins, the wagon trail is where you'll fit in! Scaly beasts from the deep try to find a home among the tumbleweeds and desert ranches of the old west. Intense sunshine, sneaky bandits, and angry farmers make it difficult for the monsters to feel welcome, but the locals soon accept the lonesome creatures and throw a shindig in their honor. Whimsical rhymes over thirty full-color illustrations explain why there are no sea monsters in the wild west!
The Language of Living Matter
This book, by an eminent scientist and philosopher, provides strong evidence for the claim that language is a general principle of Nature, rooted exclusively in physical and chemical laws. The author's radical idea inevitably leads us to view the essence, origin and evolution of life in a completely new light. It shifts the coordinates of our scientific world-view in favor of an overarching concept of language that is able to bridge the gap between matter and mind. At the same time, it removes a blind spot in the Darwinian concept of evolution. To justify this far-reaching idea, the book takes a long and deep look at our scientific and philosophical thinking, at language as such, at science's claim to truth, and at its methods, unity, limits and perspectives. These are the cornerstones structuring the book into six thematically self-contained chapters, rounded off by an epilogue that introduces the new topic of Nature's semantics. The range of issues covered is a testimony to how progress in the life sciences is transforming the whole edifice of science, from physics to biology and beyond. The book is aimed at a broad academic and general readership; it requires no mathematical expertise.
Human Origins
This book describes the origins of the Human species. It takes us through the stages of life from a single cell organism all the way to the emergence and evolution of humankind.In this book, it describes the major evolutionary processes that began here on Earth, which has lead, us to the discovery of the complex and diverse emergence of the many living and extinct creatures that have roamed the planet. The later chapters of the book focuses on the evolutionary changes of the human species from genetic variable adaptations and environmental stresses that lead to natural selection, giving rise to the vast array of Human hominids including modern humans.
Survivors
An awe-inspiring journey through the eons and across the globe in search of visible traces of evolution in the living creatures that have survived from earlier times.In this groundbreaking book, prize-winning science writer Richard Fortey chronicles life's history not through the fossil record, but through the stories of organisms that have survived, almost unchanged, through geological time.Fortey takes us on a journey to ancient worlds: on a moonlit beach in Delaware where the horseshoe crab shuffles its way through a violent romance, we catch a glimpse of life 450 million years ago. Along a stretch of Australian coastline, we bear witness to the sights and sounds that would have greeted a Precambrian dawn. And, in the dense rainforests of New Zealand, where the secretive velvet worm burrows into the rotting timber of the jungle floor, we marvel at a living fossil which has survived unchanged since before the break-up of Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent, over 150 million years ago.Written with Fortey's customary sparkle and gusto, this wonderfully engrossing exploration of the world's oldest flora and fauna brilliantly combines the best science writing about the origins of life with an explorer's sense of adventure and a poet's wonder at the natural world.
The Evolution of Evolution
Mivart's essay on evolution rewards the meditative reader. Mivart provides a brief but cogent outline of the changing circumstances and variations in thought that over centuries facilitated the development of naturalism and atheistic evolution. This sort of background is particularly useful because each generation, enmeshed in the peculiar conditions of their own time, often neglects to explore the past cultural twists, oversights, discoveries and aberrations that led to today's assumptions and outlook. Mivart also highlights the internal contradictions that fracture naturalism and he indicates some of the problems in the evidence used to support atheistic evolution. These fractures and variations of these evidential problems remain today.
The Digital Health in the Pandemic Era
Digital health, virtual assistance, and telemedicine are terms often used interchangeably to refer to remote medical assistance, monitoring and care. Several studies and insights have developed these issues, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages and successes and failures and offering reflections on the implications and issues of these technologies in the health domain. The results of these investigations are affecting the redesign of hospital and outpatient management based on digital innovation using eHealth and mHealth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach made it possible to offer assistance and continue care at home, protecting patients, preserving health workers, limiting the spread of the virus, and reducing the need for hospitalization. This reprint contains contributions dealing with the development of DH during the COVID-19 pandemic. The contributions are from various experts in different fields regarding the application of digital health, which, in some cases is also integrated with artificial intelligence, including digital contact tracing, mHealth, virtual reality, mental health, physiology, and rehabilitation.
Nanofibrous Membrane for Biomedical Application
Electrospinning can be used to prepare nanofibrous membranes from diverse polymers. The large surface-to-volume ratio makes them suitable for diverse fields of applications, from filters to catalysts to tissue engineering.Here, we search for the latest developments dealing with nanofiber mats for biomedicine. From wound healing to slow release, and from tissue engineering to stem cell differentiation, nanofibrous membranes can be found in a broad range of biomedical applications. For these utilizations, their chemical as well as physical properties are important, such as hydrophobicity, fiber morphology, membrane porosity, mechanical strength, etc. This Special Issue focuses on nanofibrous membranes for biomedical applications, measuring and optimizing the correlated membrane properties. It covers the full range from basic research on new materials and producing novel electrospun structure to drug release to cell growth on nanofiber mats.
Nutritional Management of Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease that starts in utero. It is caused by a defective protein called the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and while the effects are seen throughout the body, changes in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and liver primarily impact nutritional status. Survival and pulmonary function have been linked to nutritional status. Malnutrition and growth failure were historically the hallmark of disease. Patients with pancreatic insufficiency require pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and fat-soluble vitamin supplements. With improvements in many areas including newborn screening, nutrition supplements, pancreatic enzymes, CFTR modulator drugs, inhaled antibiotics and mucolytics, life expectancy has increased. In this issue, we will review the latest information in children and adults regarding important factors that play a role in optimizing nutrition status, including body composition, the gut microbiome, food security, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, growth and bone health, and micronutrient abnormalities. Pediatric and adult providers both need to be aware of the nuances of care as more patients with CF become adults. Optimizing nutritional status, anticipating and preventing the complications of CF will result in best management practice.
Precision Nutrition
New scientific advances in different areas have allowed the design of more precise strategies for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders through nutrition. In this context emerges the term Precision Nutrition, a new approach that takes advantage of scientific knowledge about the interaction of internal and external environmental factors to develop dynamic and precise nutritional recommendations.Therefore, Precision Nutrition includes personalized advice based on genetics and well-documented gene-nutrient-phenotype interactions, as well as other factors such as individual metabolome, transcriptome, and microbiota profile; food behavior; and dietary, physical activity, and life-style habits; and the resulting interactomes.Precision Nutrition should be based at least on three sequential steps: conventional nutritional approaches (considering age, gender, and physiological states); the incorporation of nutritional and health status information (e.g., metabolites, physical and nutritional behavior); and the genetic baggage including multiomics functional integration.
Dietary Intake and Chronic Disease Prevention
This reprint describes how lifestyle changes can impact the incidence and progression of chronic non-communicable diseases. In this context, regular physical activity and heathy nutritional habits are very important. Moreover, natural bioactive compounds could represent a new adjuvant therapy in the clinical management of these pathological conditions.
The Potential of Food By-Products
The pressure upon natural resources and the increasing awareness of the necessary transformation of the global food system are driving the quest of both academia and industry towards more sustainable approaches. Sustainability in the agro-food sector begins with the valorization of food industry waste and side streams, products with an extremely high intrinsic value but often discarded because unfit for further processing that meet consumers expectations. Apart from their use as feed, a more practical solution responding to the modern vision of circular economy must be sought. Indeed, several processes can guarantee that the potential of food industry by-products is fully unleashed, generating high-value ingredients while ensuring nutritional quality. In this framework, this Special Issue included the most recent advances in the valorization of food by-product (of both animal and plant origin), from extraction to bioprocessing, including their application in a variety of food-related industries throughout the entire food supply chain.
