Cannabis Chemistry and Biology
This book serves as an introduction to graduate students and early career researchers on chemistry and botany of the cannabis plant. Cannabis botany, propagation, biotechnology, chemistry, cannabinoids and their biosynthesis, chemovars of cannabis and their identification as well as the other chemical classes of compounds known to exist in the plant. Analytical method are discussed to establish identity and Potency changes over the years in the United States. This book will build a base of knowledge on the complexity of cannabis chemistry. Features Introduction to the fundamental chemistry and botany of Cannabis. State of the art research on Cannabis sativa. The history, botany, major chemical classes of cannabis as well as methods of analysis and potency trends over several decades in the United States. Written by prominent scientists in the field of cannabis. The Cannabis Chemistry Subdivision of the American Chemical Society recently founded in 2022 the ElSohly Award sponsored by Heidolph North America in honour of Prof. Mahmoud A. ElSohly. This award provides researchers, students, and industry professionals with resources to present their work at the Spring National Meeting of the American Chemical Society at the ElSohly Award Symposium. More information: https: //cann-acs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CANN-Postcard-Award.pdf
Nutrition, dietetics and diets
The health of an individual is conditioned by a multitude of factors such as genetics, environment, stress, smoking, types of care, lifestyles, food consumption patterns, etc. There is a strong correlation between nutrition and health, since a balanced diet is a real factor in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, obesity and deficiency diseases. In order for the health professional to participate in primary health care, in the promotion of correct nutrition, and to be able to integrate general and specific nutritional recommendations for malnutrition, it is important that he/she acquires knowledge related to nutritional needs, the main dietary characteristics, the risks of deficiencies or excesses in vulnerable groups (e.g.: the elderly, pregnant women, infants, adolescents), diseases with nutritional or metabolic determinism, as well as means of prevention. This nutrition course is therefore designed to achieve and enable this type of targeted learning.
Allergic
An "important and deeply researched" (The Wall Street Journal) exploration of allergies, from their first medical description in 1819 to the cutting-edge science that is illuminating the changes in our environment and lifestyles that are making so many of us sick Hay fever. Peanut allergies. Eczema. Either you have an allergy or you know someone who does. Billions of people worldwide--an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the global population--have some form of allergy. Even more concerning, over the last decade the number of people diagnosed with an allergy has been steadily increasing, placing an ever-growing medical burden on individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems. Medical anthropologist Theresa MacPhail, herself an allergy sufferer whose father died of a beesting, set out to understand why. In pursuit of answers, MacPhail studied the dangerous experiments of early immunologists as well as the mind-bending recent development of biologics and immunotherapies that are giving the most severely impacted patients hope. She scaled a roof with an air-quality controller who diligently counts pollen by hand for hours every day; met a mother who struggled to use WIC benefits for her daughter with severe food allergies; spoke with doctors at some of the finest allergy clinics in the world; and discussed the intersecting problems of climate change, pollution, and pollen with biologists who study seasonal respiratory allergies. This is the story of allergies: what they are, why we have them, and what that might mean about the fate of humanity in a rapidly changing world.
Galileos Shadow
This work deals with the efforts of creationists during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries to eliminate or limit the teaching of evolution in United States public schools and the response that these efforts generated from mainstream law, science, and religion. The confrontations that ensued often resulted in political maneuvering, the enactment of laws, and litigation. Usually, the litigation found its way into the federal courts with United States constitutional implications. No other scientific theory has ever been subject to such legal prohibition or judicial scrutiny in the history of the United States. Astonishingly, twice, evolution cases of this kind found their way to the Supreme Court. The interplay among the scientific, legal, and religious issues woven throughout the various court decisions that are examined in this work are of particular interest; as is the nature of science. Also, of interest is how proponents of both evolution and creationism cynically altered and bent their arguments in response to prior court decisions in an effort to successfully promulgate their particular position and how courts often tailored their decisions to ideology, rather than judicial principles.A story with scientific, political, and ethical implications is told in this work using a cluster of federal court cases that fairly represent the issues that are at stake in this controversy. Perhaps they also provide us with a model for better understanding how the judicial and legal systems operate.
Plant Physiology under Abiotic Stresses
Abiotic stress includes not only single adversities, i.e., drought, salt, temperature, and elevated CO2, but also complex stresses, i.e., saline and alkali soil, and karst environment. Abiotic stresses strongly affect many aspects of a plant's substance and energy metabolism. Meanwhile, abiotic stress not only affects the physiological processes of photosynthesis, water metabolism, and inorganic nutrient absorption, but it also influences the electrophysiology and other physical parameters of plants. Plant physiological information, especially online physiological information, helps us to understand the plant's adaptive mechanism and take the effective measures to improve the production of horticultural plants. This Special Issue contains a collection of 11 important research works, which deepen the connotation and expand the denotation of plant physiology under abiotic stress. These works will provide a theoretical basis for the production of horticultural crops under single stresses, such as drought and salt stress, or under complex stresses, such as saline and alkali and karst environments. Readers from all over the globe are expected to greatly benefit from this Special Issue collection both in terms of their own work and to improve the productivity of horticultural crops under complex abiotic stresses. In the future, we hope that the field of plant (horticultural crop) physiology under abiotic stresses flourishes in terms of academic research and publications.
Alternative Splicing
A combination of dry lab bioinformatic analyses and wet lab molecular experiments seems to be a major trend for biological studies. The authors of the papers included in this reprint tried to elucidate the linkage between environmental stress and molecular response, and the species investigated in each of the articles are phylogenetically and agriculturally diverse. These exemplar studies will potentially ignite more ideas and biological stories to investigate gene functions.
Frontiers in Protein Folding and Related Areas - in Memory of Professor Sir Christopher M. Dobson (1949-2019)
This Special Issue is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Sir Christopher M. Dobson (1949-2019), who made outstanding contributions to the advancement of studies on protein folding and its related areas and played an irreplaceable role in the promotion of protein science. This reprint contains 24 recent research papers (17 original papers and 7 review papers) on protein folding, misfolding, and amyloid formation, which often lead to various human diseases.
Larval Settlement on Marine Surfaces
Selected studies focussing on various aspects of the evaluation of marine larval settlement on both natural and artificial surfaces, including those on pro-fouling and anti-fouling systems, have been collected for advancing our understanding of larvae-surface interactions. Biofouling is a large problem worldwide since it often causes severe damage to submerged structures, but it also leads to the formation of a well-structured community on natural hard substrata characterised by ecological succession and can be considered an important source of biodiversity. Therefore, the influence of a substratum's physico-chemical interactions on the settlement of various organisms of the macrofouling community represents an essential factor in choosing an appropriate artificial surface for application in a variety of coastal marine ecosystems. This reprint will certainly be greatly beneficial with respect to addressing the challenges of future innovative eco-engineering designs, yielding the best solutions for industrial biofouling protection and coastal ecosystem preservation.
More Than Just Milk Lactation Science Symposium
This book focuses on advanced research topics on human lactation, such as breastfeeding experiences, milk composition and production, COVID-19 and human milk, food allergens in human milk, the human milk microbiome, and the impacts of human milk on infant growth and development. The symposium proceedings aim to add diversity, passion, and innovation to lactation research and have a positive impact on mothers, infants, and communities worldwide, showcasing integrative mother/infant-centered research.
In Vivo Nuclear Molecular Imaging in Drug Development and Pharmacological Research
This Special Issue published one editorial, eight articles and four reviews from approximately one hundred authors. It aimed to provide cutting-edge research on pre-clinical development and the clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals within the molecular imaging community. The Special Issue covered radioligand development, existing radiotracer optimization, imaging agent evaluation in animal models, the clinical production of radiopharmaceuticals, and investigative research on the use of molecular imaging probes in human subjects. We appreciate all the authors' significant contributions to this Special Issue and hope the readers will enjoy the content.
Stem Cells and Irradiation
The main difficulty of radiotherapy is to destroy cancer cells without depletion of healthy tissue. Stem cells and cancers are tightly interrelated. On one hand, radiosensitivity/radioressistance of cancer stem cells affects the radiocurability of tumors. On the other hand, radiosensitivity is responsible for the stem cell depletion of organs at risk exposed to irradiation. Efficient solide cancer destruction is limited by the preservation of organ homeostasis. For this reason, targeted irradiation is an effective cancer therapy, but damage inflicted to normal tissues surrounding the tumor may cause severe complications. The consequences of stem cell depletion of healthy tissue irradiated are acute and chronic radiation diseases. Research on the radiosensitivity of cancer stem cells and adult stem cells associated with tissue regeneration medicine will bring forth the solution for optimal radiocurability associated with long-term patients' quality of life.
Algorithmic Information Dynamics
Biological systems are extensively studied as interactions forming complex networks. Reconstructing causal knowledge from, and principles of, these networks from noisy and incomplete data is a challenge in the field of systems biology. Based on an online course hosted by the Santa Fe Institute Complexity Explorer, this book introduces the field of Algorithmic Information Dynamics, a model-driven approach to the study and manipulation of dynamical systems . It draws tools from network and systems biology as well as information theory, complexity science and dynamical systems to study natural and artificial phenomena in software space. It consists of a theoretical and methodological framework to guide an exploration and generate computable candidate models able to explain complex phenomena in particular adaptable adaptive systems, making the book valuable for graduate students and researchers in a wide number of fields in science from physics to cell biology to cognitive sciences.
Advances in Forest Ecophysiology
Air pollution and the changing climate are some of the greatest threats to the health and functioning of forest ecosystems, strongly jeopardizing their ecological and economic functions as well as services. The impact of increasing temperatures and extreme weather events (droughts, storms, temperature and precipitation extremes) on the vitality of forest trees is often difficult to separate from the impact of pollution, such as nitrogen deposition and tropospheric ozone, as they can exhibit synergistic effects. The use of indicators is elementary in modern forest ecophysiological research, as they help us to disentangle complex interactions between trees and various stress-inducing factors as well as better estimate the level of damage to trees and forest ecosystems.Eleven papers are included in this Special Issue, with wide-ranging topics from various disciplines but centered around tree responses to environmental stress. The task of this Special Issue is twofold: one, to remind us that a better understanding of the physiological processes influencing tree vitality under the changing climate and air pollution pressures requires considerable research efforts and constant advancements in research methods and approaches; two, to highlight the fact that the environmental pressures instigating the use of tree stress response indicators are more present than ever, and will likely continue to affect tree vitality in the foreseeable future.
Microbial Biopolymers
"Microbial Biopolymers: Trends in Synthesis, Modification and Applications" is a comprehensive reprint that explores the latest research and innovations in the field of biopolymers. The reprint covers the production and functionalization of two key types of microbial biopolymers: polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and exopolysaccharides (EPSs). With contributions from leading experts in the field, the reprint provides a thorough overview of the production processes, chemical and physical properties, and applications of these biopolymers. The reprint is an essential resource for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals interested in developing sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics and materials.
Plant-Based Diets
Consumer interest in plant-based diets has been rapidly increasing in the past decade. Non-dairy and non-meat alternatives have gone mainstream. New products are appearing in the marketplace continually. The marketplace has been driven recently by millennials and flexitarians. Food companies have focused on providing nutritious food products that satisfy the demand for alternative items that look and taste like their animal counterparts. The marketplace wants products that improve human and planetary health worldwide. Questions have arisen as to how nutritionally sound and healthy are these products. How sustainable are these plant-based diets? How significantly do they alter traditional dietary patterns? What impact do they have on food security? Do these plant-based meat and dairy alternatives help lessen environmental degradation? Are the new products considered ultra-processed foods? What are the barriers and motivations that drive people to switch to a plant-based diet? Will plant-based diets help in the goal to greatly diminish malnutrition and over-nutrition (leading to obesity) around the world? These questions challenge scientists to provide meaningful answers through their ongoing research. Some of these issues are discussed in this reprint, based upon the latest research.
Using Vis-NIR Spectroscopy for Predicting Quality Compounds in Foods
Near-Infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has become one of the most attractive and used technique for analysis as it allows a fast and simultaneous qualitative and quantitative characterization of a wide variety of food samples. NIR spectroscopy is essential in various other fields, e.g., pharmaceuticals, petrochemical, textiles, cosmetics, medical applications, and chemicals such as polymers. The high level of interest in NIR spectroscopy among scientific and professional sectors demonstrates its relevance. We feel that the Special Issue's scope has facilitated the interchange of ideas and thereby aided in expanding the new development in this field of knowledge. Furthermore, we aimed to provide the readership with a comprehensive summary of present state-of-the-art NIR spectroscopy, current development trends, and future possibilities. We also believe that by doing so, we will be able to provide an accceptable opportunity for all contributors to make their results and methodologies more visible, as well as to highlight their recent achievements in their respective fields which have been made possible by the use of NIR spectroscopy. The Special Issue had a resoundingly enthusiastic response, with several submissions from academics and professional spectroscopists, resulting in the collection of 13 papers, including 1 exhaustive review paper. The articles submitted well represent the variety of the application field. These articles cover a wide range of topics related to NIR spectroscopy in a broad sense. The majority of the papers concentrate on applied qualitative and quantitative analysis in a variety of fields.
Natural Nanoparticle for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
This reprint is focused on the exploitation of natural nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and treatment.It compiles articles related to exosomes and protein nanocages, but also presents the use of some organic natural compounds in cancer treatment, which have been extensively studied as agents for cancer treatment since their biological nature guarantees a better safety, biocompatibility, and biodegradability profile in comparison to synthetic nanoparticles and drugs. These features are strongly appealing in order to face cancer, where the development of tumor-targeted specific devices and the use of natural compounds could be useful in improving patient compliance.
Spider Ecology and Behaviour
This Special Issue contains an editorial and ten papers on a range of fundamental and applied topics within the area of spider ecology and behaviour with one paper on biological control, seven papers on fundamental topics within the broad areas of ecology and behaviour, and two papers focusing on novel methodologies for studying spider behaviour.
Selected Papers from 1st International Electronic Conference on Biological Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution (BDEE 2021)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the character of academic conferences has changed. Formerly, conferences required the physical presence of their members and audiences. However, travel restrictions due to the pandemic caused a shift in the traditional conference format, thus resulting in the rise of online conferences after 2020. In 2021 and 2022, the journal "Diversity" similarly organized online conferences. The well-attended online conference in March of 2021 attracted a wide range of speakers on biodiversity, ecology and evolution, as well as on 17 publications from this Special Issue.The publications cover several timely aspects of biodiversity, such as the importance of invasive species, the ecology of urbanization, the effects of drought on wildlife in Southern Africa, the results of human activities on insect, mammal, bird, reptile and amphibia populations, and the genetic diversity of animal breeds, microbiomes and planktonic organisms. Additionally, taxonomic and biosystematic topics are also covered in several SI publications.
Molecular Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis and Action
Steroids are essential hormones that regulate biological processes across their lifespan. Steroid hormone production and action must be tightly controlled otherwise there can be detrimental effects on physiological function leading to disease. This reprint contains original and review articles by experts at the cutting edge of their fields published in a Special Issue on the "Molecular mechanisms of steroid hormone biosynthesis and action" of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The topics include: 1) Steroid hormone biosynthesis, including substrate availability, mechanism of steroidogenic enzyme action, and the impact of mutations; 2) Molecular and cellular regulation of steroidogenesis, including steroidogenic cell response to hormone stimulation, signaling pathways, kinases, transcription factors, and gene expression; 3) Molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruptor action on steroidogenic cells; and 4) New tools and approaches to detect and study steroid hormones.
Multiscale Modelling in Biomedical Engineering
Multiscale Modelling in Biomedical Engineering Discover how multiscale modeling can enhance patient treatment and outcomes In Multiscale Modelling in Biomedical Engineering, an accomplished team of biomedical professionals delivers a robust treatment of the foundation and background of a general computational methodology for multi-scale modeling. The authors demonstrate how this methodology can be applied to various fields of biomedicine, with a particular focus on orthopedics and cardiovascular medicine. The book begins with a description of the relationship between multiscale modeling and systems biology before moving on to proceed systematically upwards in hierarchical levels from the molecular to the cellular, tissue, and organ level. It then examines multiscale modeling applications in specific functional areas, like mechanotransduction, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems. Multiscale Modelling in Biomedical Engineering offers readers experiments and exercises to illustrate and implement the concepts contained within. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to systems biology and multi-scale modeling, including a survey of various multi-scale methods and approaches and analyses of their application in systems biology Comprehensive explorations of biomedical imaging and nanoscale modeling at the molecular, cell, tissue, and organ levels Practical discussions of the mechanotransduction perspective, including recent progress and likely future challenges In-depth examinations of risk prediction in patients using big data analytics and data mining Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students of bioengineering, biomechanics, biomedical engineering, and medicine, Multiscale Modelling in Biomedical Engineering will also earn a place in the libraries of industry professional and researchers seeking a one-stop reference to the basic engineering principles of biological systems.
Stem Cell
Stem cells play an essential role in the body's recuperation process, and the creation of new stem cells has continually shown an excellent promise in the remedy of many situations.If you have been faced with disappointed by unnecessary treatments, the strength to improving your health may be in your stem cells. This book explains how adult stem cell therapy and activators are the new technologies in regenerative medication that will be game changers in medical history. Here's a preview of what you will learnWhat are adult stem cellsWhat are their typesWhere are they located in the human bodyHow to harvest adult stem cellsBenefits and medicinal uses of adult stem cellsStem cell use in cancerMedicinal uses of stem cells other than cancersMuch, much more!It also peeks into the future of stem cell therapy and its application in the field of osteopathic medicine, as well as touches on my own personal journey with this treatment method. It pays to be informed about this very promising treatment option. If you want to learn more about the ability of autologous stem cell therapy to treat osteopathic injuries, then this book is surely worth reading.
Impact of sea piracy on maritime transportation over twelve years (2009-2020) in the Gulf of Guinea
Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2022 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Oceanography, grade: 15.00, course: transport management, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine sea piracy on maritime transportation over the last twelve years (2009-2020) in the Gulf of Guinea. What are the attributes of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea? What is the level of variation in the ship attack among the thirteen countries in the Gulf of Guinea? What are the categories of ships attacked in the Gulf of Guinea? What is the status of ship during pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea? Is there any difference in pattern of attack in pre and post intervention of regional and international agencies in the Gulf of Guinea? The scope of this study was defined by its time and space. In terms of time, the study covered the period between 2009 and 2020. This period was chosen because of the rise of sea pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea which began in 2009 and to show the currency of sea pirate activities in the countries under study. The space was defined by the maritime space of Gulf of Guinea which comprises of thirteen countries namely; Angola, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, The Congo and Togo.
Paroxetine and multiple myeloma
In this book we tried to evaluate effect of traditional chemotherapy on cell line of Multiple myeloma(MM), and compare it with effect of combination (chemotherapeutic plus paroxetine) in cell line of MM. The addition of paroxetine to the standard chemotherapy that is supplied to the Multiple myeloma patients may have a promising effect in enhancing the therapeutic strength of standard chemotherapy. The use of standard chemotherapy alone has null effect in treatment of the disease even though it halted the disease progression, according to the biochemical parameters measured.
Tryptophan in Nutrition and Health
Tryptophan is a rate-limiting essential amino acid and a unique building block of peptides and proteins. This largest amino acid serves as the precursor for the important endogenous indoleamines serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin that act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and neurohormones. Kynurenic acid is the most potent endogenous antiexitotoxic agent. Other highly relevant pathways of tryptophan are the reversible transamination to indole-3-pyruvate with formation related indolic acids that act as potent antioxidant agents. Tryptophan metabolites, such as melatonin, and structurally related agents, such as indole-3-propionic acid, act as potent catalytic antioxidants and bioenergetic agents that facilitate regeneration and protection against stress and aging. Several indole compounds act as uremic toxins since these agents can induce radical formation that is associated with enhanced oxidative stress and damage. The exploration of the effects of these protective and toxic tryptophan derived agents has revealed important molecular mechanisms and mediators of adaptation and aging. Research on tryptophan in nutrition and health can facilitate the development of new approaches to extend human health and life span. Amino acids are the building blocks of life that enable repair, as well as recycling and regeneration. Research on nutrients like amino acids, such as tryptophan and its metabolites, as well as peptides and proteins, or extracts containing this molecular metabolism modifiers can improve health. Research into the indololome is a new emerging and rapidly growing field of utmost relevance to science and society.
Emerging Techniques in Imaging, Modelling and Visualization for Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy
The goal of this Special Issue is to disseminate emerging techniques and innovative solutions that comprehensively address unmet needs in cardiovascular disease and can be rapidly translated into the clinical arena in order to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and precision in treatment delivery, as well as to enhance therapy guidance and procedural success. The volume includes research contributions from cross-disciplinary scientists and professionals who work in the cardiovascular field at the interface of basic and translational research, clinical practice, medical (bio)physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Several compelling contributions are focused on the development of advanced techniques in cardiovascular imaging (MRI, CT, ultrasound, optics) to investigate structure-function interaction and identify pathology, image analysis (e.g. registration, segmentation, visualization), deep-learning/AI classification methods to better characterize tissue and physiological signals, novel preclinical experimental models and clinical approaches employed in electro-anatomical mapping and image-aided therapies (e.g., cardiac ablation, resynchronization), as well as innovative interventional procedures for vascular applications.
Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Based on this evidence, a deep understanding of the immunological status and biological targets modulating immunological microenvironments should be quite informative for the development of future immunotherapy in HCC. From this point of view, this Special Issue will highlight the current state of the art in the immunotherapy of HCC from both the basic and clinical perspectives, and outline future perspectives for improving therapies.
Hypothalamic Regulation of Obesity
The manuscripts published in this reprint provide new insights into the hypothalamic neuronal and non-neuronal pathways involved in the pathophysiology and development of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes. Via four original papers, six review manuscripts, and one perspective, this reprint will substantially contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic targets in the hypothalamus and novel approaches to combatting the progression of human obesity.
Biological and Pharmacological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds III
By joining the two previous editions, this Special Issue completes the trilogy of Special Issues entitled "Biological and Pharmacological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds", which deal with the properties and effects of phytonatural products in preclinical models. This third edition has also remained focused on their therapeutic potential, with the aim of increasing and contributing to the expansion of our scientific knowledge on plants in human health. We hope readers will enjoy this Special Issue as much as the previous publications.
Advances in Animal Anatomy
This Special Issue covers current and relevant information about the applied anatomy of domestic animals, new companion animals and wild animals. It includes recent research and review articles on diverse topics based on the use of different diagnostic imaging techniques and more classic anatomical methods, providing a deeper insight into the healthy anatomy of diverse structures, which is crucial in high-quality medicine.
Immunohistochemical and Physiological Research on Farm Animals
This reprint represents a collection of papers that aimed to highlight the importance of immunohistochemical findings and their role in improving the understanding of organ tissue functions.We focused our attention on farm animals because they represent not only a source of food in the supply chain, but also a source of income for breeders, a source of employment, and a primary tool in the quest for sustainable food production. To achieve this last aim, we asked authors for research that could potentially be applied to the purpose of this study, and whose results could be useful in improving farm management practices and the responsible use of natural resources.A total of 20 papers were contributed to this issue, written by 118 authors from 4 countries, and comprising 18 research articles and 2 communications articles.
Personalized and Precision Medicine 2022
This book, guest edited by Anne-Marie Caminade, gives an impressionist overview of the current state of the art about "Personalized and Precision Medicine". Twenty contributions illustrate the diversity of the topic, including new approaches about cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, lungs obstruction, skeletal diseases, intestinal microbiomes, new tools such as ultra-high-frequency ultrasound or non-oncological radiotherapy, and a new class of drugs (dendrimers). This book is an illustration of the present and future impact of Personalized and Precision Medicine on all the therapeutic domains.
Angiogenesis in Cancers
Tumor progression is linked to a switch in the balance between positive and negative regulators, and mainly depends on the release by inflammatory or neoplastic cells of specific growth factors. Inflammatory infiltration contributes to tumor progression and metastatic process, and there are many reports of associations between tumor inflammatory infiltration, progression and prognosis. New therapeutic approaches have been developed with the aim to control tumor progression through the targeting of different components of the tumor microenvironment. This reprint will be useful for anyone who wants to learn about cancer: professors and students at universities, scientists at research institutes, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical labs, and lawyers trying to understand the patent literature.
Nutrition in Chronic Conditions
The effects of nutrition on chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and stroke, continue to generate interest among researchers. This is because diet is a modifiable risk factor. The composition of diet, including the proportions and types of macronutrients and micronutrients, is a major contributor to chronic diseases. The beneficial effects of nutritional interventions on chronic conditions have been well documented, although differences remain among researchers concerning their overall impact. The evaluations of the role of nutrition in chronic conditions draw on diet's effects on body weight, body composition, glycemic, and insulin excursions, and vascular remodeling. The effect of diet in modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis is also an evolving area of research.This Book, entitled "Nutrition in Chronic Conditions", aims to examine the effect of nutrition in the development, care, and management of chronic conditions. This Book includes 11 original studies conducted in high- and middle-income countries, 3 systematic reviews with meta-analysis, and 3 literature reviews.The topics covered in the Book include: the effects of diet on (1) insulin and glucose metabolism; (2) gut health; (3) brain and cognitive impairment; (4) infections, chronic conditions, malnutrition, and all-cause mortality; (5) obesity and dietary variables in post-menopausal women; (6) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice, specifically with the consumption of coffee; and (7) chronic conditions and COVID-19 infection.
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
This Special Issue focuses on feeding and feed technology advances and challenges in aquaculture. These are of particular interest since aquaculture and fisheries are considered crucial sources of animal protein in human diets, providing around 17% of global edible animal protein. Special attention is given to alternative sources of fish meal and how substitutions can influence the metabolism, immune response, and disease resistance of the targeted species. Moreover, the impact of plant extracts on growth performances, physiological responses, immunity, and intestinal health is addressed.
Microfluidics for Biomedical Applications
This book focuses on the most recent technical innovations and developments in the area of microfluidics, particularly in relation to their biomedical applications.The advent of microfluidics has provided important insights into the fields of biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. Special attention is given to the isolation and detection of circulating tumor cells and exosomes, the generation of concentration dilutions, the rapid sensing and detection of single molecules and viruses, and the innovations in inertial microfluidics, electrical impedance, magnetic biosensors, and droplet microfluidics.
Perspectives and Challenges in Doctoral Research
This book includes papers from different research fields, reflecting the sectional talks presented at the 9th edition of the Scientific Conference of the Doctoral Schools from the "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galaţi, which took place in June 2021. The objective of the 2021 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 consists of 16 papers presented at the 9th edition of the Scientific Conference of the Doctoral Schools from the "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galaţi, in several fields such as: mechanical and industrial engineering, food science and biotechnology, electrical/electronic engineering, systems engineering and information technologies, chemistry, electrochemistry, and economic models and strategies.
Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging
This reprint book is a compilation of the articles and reviews published in the Special issue entitled "Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging" in Cells. The Editorial summarises and highlights the contents of the published articles. Aging is the leading predictive factor of many chronic diseases that account for most of the morbidity and mortality worldwide, i.e., neurodegeneration, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and bone diseases, as well as cancers. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species generation, the over-production of inflammatory cytokines, the activation of oncogenes, DNA damage, telomere shortening, and the accumulation of senescent cells are all widely accepted mechanisms contributing to aging. Senescence is mainly thought to be provoked by negative cellular stress but might also be induced by physiological developmental stimuli. Senescence is characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest independent of quiescence and terminal differentiation. The Special Issue entitled "Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging", which is contained in this reprint, comprises an excellent collection of original articles and reviews highlighting different novel aspects in the fields of senescence and aging research. They will hopefully stimulate discussions and further research in these fields, which are extremely important in a constantly aging human population.
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a heterogeneous group of complex diseases characterized by neuronal loss and progressive degeneration of different areas of the nervous system. NDs represent a significant health problem worldwide, with an increasing incidence rate. Although the exact pathogenesis of NDs remains unclear, a complex interaction among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors has been proposed. To date, no effective therapeutics have been developed to slow, halt, or prevent any NDs. Thus, information on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of NDs is strongly sought after. This Special Issue collected papers discussing advances in the field of NDs.
Advances in Biodiversity
In this special edited book, "Advances in Biodiversity" we bring together a leading conservation methods related to life sciences and environment sciences written by the authors from the different parts of the India to identify grand challenges for biodiversity conservation, conflicts and trade-offs between conservation and utilization, and strategies and policies for sustainable utilization and management of biodiversity resources at global, regional or national level. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the links between the implementation of global biodiversity policies and production and consumption patterns, and the nexus between biodiversity loss and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This book deals with the advances in tools and techniques used in the present world for conservation as well as updated techniques. Every chapter has their own value and have specialize and vast topic, categories by the editor to cover all the aspect for the conservational needs. We are trying to provide a one stop solution to students/ researchers for all advancements happening in the field of biodiversity conservation ranging from high resolution NDVI to E-DNA.
Molecules at Play in Cancer
"Molecules at Play in Cancer" is a collection of 24 research articles on recent findings about some important molecules responsible for either cancer development and proliferation, or anti-cancer therapy. It covers a wide range of tissues and organs affected by cancer: adrenal glands, blood, breasts, muscles, ovaries, prostate, stomach, and testicles.
The Fungal Cell Wall Integrity Pathway
Adaptation to external changes is necessary for all cells to survive and thrive in diverse environments. Key to these responses are the MAPK-mediated signaling pathways, intracellular communication routes that sense stimuli at the cell surface, and are ubiquitous in all eukaryotic organisms. In the case of fungi, MAPKs mediate essential processes, such as adaptation to environmental stresses, morphology regulation, or developmental processes. First studied in the early nineties in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the fungal cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway has proven to be a central MAPK-mediated signaling cascade conserved in the fungal kingdom. Cells need to sense cell wall-perturbing conditions and mount the appropriate salvage response. Understanding this CWI pathway-mediated compensatory mechanism is key for the development of cell wall-targeted antifungal therapies. Moreover, its functional roles go beyond the maintenance of this essential structure, reaching many other physiological aspects that have major implications in development or virulence.In this Special Issue, expert researchers in this relevant subject have contributed with seven reviews and eleven original articles to advance our understanding of the CWI pathway by covering different structural, regulatory, and functional aspects in distinct yeasts and filamentous fungi.
Worldwide Evaluations of Quinoa
This volume collates the main recent developments from studies on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) worldwide. The most important studies focused on the study of the main agronomic practices, ecophysiological traits, genetics, and post-harvest aspects of quinoa. The result of the most recent pieces of research carried out by scientists from international universities and research centers are included.
Silkworm and Silk
Papers collected in the present Special Issue relate to the field of sericulture. They cover different aspects based on a very ancient human agricultural activity, taking into consideration classical agronomic aspects, such as the impact of feeding on silk quality and sericulture in different parts of the world. Nonetheless, cutting edge topics are addressed as well, with papers studying silk as a biomaterial, the silkworm as a model organism, and the possibility of exploring its physiology and the molecular mechanisms that stand behind it with the aid of modern tools such as gene profiling, the CRISPR/Cas-9 system, and -omics sciences.
Hydrogels in Regenerative Medicine and Other Biomedical Applications
Great strides have been made in the area of hydrogel science since the first hydrogels were described in the 1960s. Hydrogels usually consist of three-dimensional matrices of hydrophilic polymers, held together by chemical or physical crosslinks, or supramolecular assemblies of small amphiphilic molecules. The gelation process occurs in response to a physical or chemical stimulus, such as temperature, pH, electric or magnetic field, enzymatic modification, light, and others. Consisting of mainly water molecules, they represent a unique class of materials, with many applications such as cell therapeutics, cartilage/bone regeneration, sustained drug release and drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and 3D bioprinting. Despite these great strides, there is still much more to discover in this area. This Special Issue is focused on the use of hydrogels in tissue and bone regeneration. Hydrogels are particularly suited for this purpose as their physical characteristics resemble that of the extracellular matrix; as such, they have found applications as an extracellular medium for cancer cells, stem cells, and neuronal cells. This Special Issue also includes research papers on the other biomedical applications of hydrogels.
Pathogenesis of Pregnancy-Related Complication
In this Special Issue, "Pathogenesis of Pregnancy-Related Complications", 4 reviews, 13 original papers, 1 communication, and 1 case report are compiled. These papers were published by scientific teams from 24 countries, including China, Tunisia, Canada, France, Serbia, Portugal, Spain, Chile, Singapore, Australia, the USA, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Poland, Greece, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, and Israel, which is a really great achievement.
Plant Genomics
This Special Issue contains 28 papers covering a wide range of topics related to plant genomics and genetics. The papers utilize a variety of genomic tools and techniques to explore topics such as identification of quantitative trait loci associated with flax seed yield and oil quality, mucilage and hull content in flax seeds, and genomic prediction for pasmo resistance in flax. Other papers focus on the identification and characterization of specific genes, such as the EXO70 gene family in wheat and related species, hydroxycinnamoyl transferase in tea plants, and the WRKY transcription factor GmWRKY12 in soybeans. Several papers examine gene expression and regulation in response to abiotic stress, such as drought and salt tolerance in moso bamboo, and the response to chilling in bell peppers. Other topics include genetic diversity analysis of crested wheatgrass, genome-wide analysis of chitin-binding protein gene family in peppers, and genome-wide bioinformatics analysis of MAPK gene family in kiwifruit. Overall, this Special Issue provides a comprehensive view of the current state of plant genomics research, showcasing the diversity of approaches and tools being used to better understand and improve crop plants.
The Effects of LED Light Spectra and Intensities on Plant Growth
Light is the main source of energy for the primary process that sustains life on our planet, known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the strategy adopted by many living organisms for capturing and incorporating energy, and it is under this context that light is primarily experienced, explored, and exploited. Plants perceive information from the ambient environment and communicate with other organisms using light. They have developed a plethora of photoreceptors that permit this communication with the surrounding environment. Additionally, the physical properties of light, such as the spectral quality, irradiance, intensity, and photoperiod, play an integral role in the morphogenesis, growth, and metabolism of many biochemical pathways in plants.To facilitate photosynthesis in controlled environments, light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have been shown to offer interesting prospects for use in plant lighting designs in controlled-environment agriculture (greenhouses) and growth chambers for in vitro cultures. In high-technology greenhouses (for instance, vertical agriculture), artificial light may assume both assimilative (optimizing photosynthetic efficiency) and control functionality (guiding growth and development or the synthesis and accumulation of plant metabolites). In vitro cultures are regulated by different factors, and among them, light is the most important.
