Amazing mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are not just annoying but truly fascinating creatures! We hope that by the end of this book you agree. Join Ivy as she accompanies her mom on a field trip to collect mosquitoes and learn about these remarkable insects. This book is written and illustrated by two scientists specialized in mosquito biology. Dr. Irka Blosser, a mosquito ecologist and illustrator based in California and Dr. Yoosook Lee, a geneticist at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. They have both spent countless hours in the lab and in the field being bitten by mosquitoes. They really hope you enjoy this book.
The Genus Aspergillus
This book highlights recent advances in the pathogenicity, mycotoxin-producing ability, and industrial application of members belonging to the genus Aspergillus. It is divided into two sections and six chapters that address different aspects and the importance of Aspergilli in relation to Aspergillus-human interactions, immunopathogenesis of invasive aspergillosis, the role of aflatoxin in Aspergillus flavus resilience to stress, mycovirus-containing A. flavus and carcinogenesis beyond mycotoxin production, and industrial application of Aspergillus species in conjunction to nanoparticle synthesis. This book brings readers several cutting-edge aspects of Aspergillus research with useful information for mycologists, microbiologists, toxicologists, plant pathologists, and pharmacologists, who may be interested in understanding the impact, significance, and recent advances within the genus Aspergillus that have not been critically noticed elsewhere.
Latest Advances in Preservation Technology for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Fresh fruit and vegetables are considered as essential components of a healthy human diet, due to their pleasant taste and rich nutrients. However, fruits and vegetables are characterized by production seasonality, regionality, and perishability, which greatly affect the acceptance of consumers and increase the challenges of their post-harvest storage and preservation. A plurality of preservation technologies, including chemical treatment (calcium chloride, 1-methylcyclopropene, salicylic acid, etc.), physical methods (low-temperature conditioning, controlled atmosphere storage, ultraviolet-C irradiation, etc.), and biotechnology (such as genetic engineering technology) have been applied to maintain storage quality and to extend the storage life of fresh fruit and vegetables in recent years. Developing advanced preservation techniques to prolong the storage life of fruit and vegetables is of importance for improving social and economic benefits.Therefore, we invited authors to contribute original research articles and review articles focused on the innovative preservation technology of fresh produce, addressing storage problems, such as post-harvest quality deterioration caused by senescence, physiological disorders, and disease, to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce and reduce post-harvest loss.
Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions
The community of biologists has been eager to realize the promise of DNA barcodes since the concept was first proposed in 2003. As we approach twenty years of DNA barcoding, their application continues to increase, and methods continue to be developed that utilize this ever-expanding resource for multiple fields of biology. The nearly ten million DNA barcodes available today provide a database that is especially useful for ecology and evolutionary biology. Thanks to these large and well-curated DNA barcode resources, fundamental biological questions can be more rigorously addressed regarding community evolution, assembly, herbivory, pollination, and species interactions across and among diverse habitats and organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. This reprint illustrates the wide variety of applications of DNA barcodes, especially in plants, to tackle research topics in ecology, evolutionary biology, plant-animal interactions, taxonomy, conservation, and ethnobotany.
Molecular Biology of Disease Vectors
Arthropod disease vectors transmit not only serious diseases, such as malaria, but many other diseases as well, many of which are neglected to various extents. In most cases, a tripartite interaction is involved between the arthropod disease vector, the vertebrate host, and the vector-borne pathogens. The reprint aims to present a selection of the latest data (and up to date information in the case of reviews) about the molecular and biochemical events that mediate this tripartite interaction with emphasis on ticks and mosquitoes.
Artificial Intelligence in Image-Based Screening, Diagnostics, and Clinical Care of Cardiopulmonary Diseases
Cardiothoracic and pulmonary diseases are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the lack of access to clinical care, the overburdened medical system, and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving medicine. There are a variety of diseases affecting the cardiopulmonary system including lung cancers, heart disease, tuberculosis (TB), etc., in addition to COVID-19-related diseases. Screening, diagnosis, and management of cardiopulmonary diseases has become difficult owing to the limited availability of diagnostic tools and experts, particularly in resource-limited regions. Early screening, accurate diagnosis and staging of these diseases could play a crucial role in treatment and care, and potentially aid in reducing mortality. Radiographic imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT), chest X-rays (CXRs), and echo ultrasound (US) are widely used in screening and diagnosis. Research on using image-based AI and machine learning (ML) methods can help in rapid assessment, serve as surrogates for expert assessment, and reduce variability in human performance. In this Special Issue, "Artificial Intelligence in Image-Based Screening, Diagnostics, and Clinical Care of Cardiopulmonary Diseases", we have highlighted exemplary primary research studies and literature reviews focusing on novel AI/ML methods and their application in image-based screening, diagnosis, and clinical management of cardiopulmonary diseases. We hope that these articles will help establish the advancements in AI.
Implementation of Chemometrics and Other Techniques as Means of Authenticity and Traceability to Detect Adulteration in Foods for the Protection of Human Health
Authenticity and traceability are crucial in order to overcome frauds in the international food trade. Control measures are perceived as the greatest vulnerability in the food supply chain. In order to decrease contribution to the overall perceived fraud vulnerability, analytical approaches and chemometrics are usually employed.
Macrophytes in Inland Waters
This Special Issue includes 10 contributions centered on aquatic plants (and charophytes) in inland waters, with different approaches: floristic contributions and new reports of interesting or rare species, ecological studies on the use of macrophytes to characterize rivers and ponds, a genetic study to assess the diversity of an aquatic species within and among populations, the importance of herbaria in the study of a species, and finally a couple of interesting reviews on the use of hydrophytes and charophytes in wetland restoration.
Fucoxanthin and Astaxanthin
The Special Issue "Fucoxanthin and Astaxanthin-Production, Biofunction, and Application" focuses on the research of marine fucoxanthin and astaxanthin and contains two reviews, ten articles, and one communication.
Purification, Characterization, Expression and Application of Microbial Glucanases and Xylanases
β-glucans, are consisting of linear β-D-glucosyl residues linked through β-1,3 and/or β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. The degradation of β-glucans in nature is catalyzed by β-glucanases. These enzymes constitute an important biotechnological aid in reducing the amount of chlorine required for bleaching in pulp and paper industry, the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials into fermentative products, the improvement of digestibility of animal feedstock and the clarification of juices.β-1,4-Xylans are consisting of a homopolymeric backbone of β-1,4-linked D-xylopyranose units and short side chains. β-1,4-Xylanases are the key enzymes that hydrolyze the backbone structure of β-1,4-xylans to initiate degradation of the complex polysaccharides by microorganisms.These enzymes have attached considerable research interest due to their worldwide commercial applications (textile, paper and pulp, foodstuff, animal feed, pharmaceutical and biofuel production), both alone and in combination with other enzymes.Due to their limited properties, the currently marketed commercial enzymes may not be ideally suitable for industrial applications. Accordingly, there are continuing efforts to search for new sources for the production of enzymes with interesting properties that can be produced in high yields. In recent years, heterologous expression is becoming one of the main tools for the production of industrial enzymes.In this work, microbial glucanases and xylanases were purified, characterized and overexpressed in heterologous systems. The 3D models of some enzymes were generated and discussed. These enzymes have been also tested for their effectiveness in various industrial applications.
Microbiology by OpenStax
Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology's art program enhances students' understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs. Microbiology is produced through a collaborative publishing agreement between OpenStax and the American Society for Microbiology Press. The book aligns with the curriculum guidelines of the American Society for Microbiology.
Drosophila Information Service, 2022, Volume 105
This journal presents original research articles on the genetics, developmental biology, and population biology of Drosophila melanogaster. Articles include research reports, teaching experiments, new mutations, and announcements of interest to the research and educational scientific community.
Light-Controlled Modulation and Analysis of Neuronal Functions
Contemporary research has been enriched by new directions in which light plays a key role as a tool for the modulation of cellular activity and the invasive monitoring of intracellular ions and other components. The progress in molecular biology, imaging techniques and other modern technologies has led to the emergence of three main areas in which light is the main tool: optogenetics, photopharmacology, and optosensorics. The main advantages of these approaches are the possibilities to investigate the functions of cells; modulate the activity of ion channels, synaptic transmission and neuronal circuits; measure concentrations of ions and other cellular components; and even control the behaviour of organisms.Due to the development of these powerful molecular and genetic tools, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the functioning of the nervous system has greatly advanced. This reprint is intended to highlight the latest advances in these areas with a primary focus on light-based analysis and control of neuronal functions.
Complexity Science in Human Change
This reprint encompasses fourteen contributions that offer avenues towards a better understanding of complex systems in human behavior. The phenomena studied here are generally pattern formation processes that originate in social interaction and psychotherapy. Several accounts are also given of the coordination in body movements and in physiological, neuronal and linguistic processes. A common denominator of such pattern formation is that complexity and entropy of the respective systems become reduced spontaneously, which is the hallmark of self-organization. The various methodological approaches of how to model such processes are presented in some detail. Results from the various methods are systematically compared and discussed. Among these approaches are algorithms for the quantification of synchrony by cross-correlational statistics, surrogate control procedures, recurrence mapping and network models.This volume offers an informative and sophisticated resource for scholars of human change, and as well for students at advanced levels, from graduate to post-doctoral. The reprint is multidisciplinary in nature, binding together the fields of medicine, psychology, physics, and neuroscience.
Public Health Parasitology
Public health Parasitology discusses important and common parasites that cause diseases in vulnerable populations in endemic areas of the world. It highlights the classification and epidemiologic factors that influence these parasites' spread and disease-causing capacity. More importantly, it discussed the public health impact and implications of the diseases caused and current interventions and control as well as challenges facing the control interventions. This is an easy-read 20-chapter book that will be useful for undergraduate medical, nursing, and allied health students as well as postgraduate students in public health, epidemiology, and allied health sciences.
Chromatin
This volume provides cutting-edge techniques to further the study chromatin biology. Chapters include both novel and well-established methods for the analysis of DNA-associated proteins, DNA methylation, three-dimensional chromatin interactions, deep sequencing-based tools, and data analysis pipelines. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, provides details of the necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and describes step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Chromatin: Methods and Protocols aims to further the understanding of how modified DNA and associated proteins affect the transcriptional output of the genome.Chapter Genome-wide mapping and microscopy visualization of protein-DNA interactions by pA-DamID [Chapter 12] is available open access undera Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Kraken of Eden
Staring into your eyes, savoring every moment as they eat you alive... Earth is no longer home. Earth's ecology has been devastated, and her human inhabitants fled to the stars. After centuries of life on sterile space stations and under artificial domes, at last, a glimmer of hope is found by a distant star. In the wake of a breath-taking discovery, Captain Lubandi leads her crew and passengers across the desolation of interstellar space to Eden, a pristine and wild planet. Is this planet humanity's chance at redemption? Or will humanity fall victim once again to the metaphorical snake in the garden? Survival depends on science, on unraveling the mystery of a hidden and horrific predator, before the monsters can breed and destroy Captain Lubandi's ship, her crew, and their second chance at a planetary home.
Virus - Host Cell Interactions
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, and their biology is closely interlinked with that of their host cells. However, this relationship is two-sided. Virus-host cell interactions are clearly essential to allow viruses to facilitate their life cycles, but they also give the host cell a chance to recognize and combat virus infections. This Special Issue of Cells compiles review papers on emerging themes related to virus-host cell interactions of RNA viruses, including mechanistic details of virus uncoating, new insights into the nature and function of viral replication compartments, and the role of RNA methylation in the virus life cycle. This is complemented by primary research papers addressing virus-host cell interactions from diverse perspectives.
Scientific Papers Made Easy
Writing scientific publications is a fundamental step in the research process. Furthermore, as science becomes more interdisciplinary and the number of journals continues to expand, individual papers increasingly need to stand out to be read and have any form of impact. It is widely assumed that students and early career scientists will simply acquire the necessary expertise. However, this could not be further from the truth - many early career scientists find writing both intimidating and overwhelming; writing is a skill that needs to be learnt and actively developed. This novel book's fundamental principle is simple - the reader must come first. The purpose of a scientific paper is to pass on knowledge, and so impactful writing must focus on attracting, holding, and illuminating readers. The authors demonstrate how just a few simple pointers can significantly improve both writing quality and impact. They tackle each component of a paper in turn, providing a simple framework that makes clear what needs to be included (and what doesn't!), and in what order. They also provide advice for writing up different types of science, from laboratory experiments to theoretical modelling. The focus throughout is on the need to use simple, jargon-free English, and to assume that the reader has little or no prior knowledge. In summary, the book is about writing better scientific papers that are more likely to be read and have impact. Scientific Papers Made Easy is targeted at a broad audience of students and professionals, across the biological, life, and human sciences. It uses simple biological and human examples that assume no prior knowledge and will resonate with any scientist.
From That to This
13.8 billion years ago, the Big Bang began the conception of life in the universe. 9.2 billion years after that, the first thermonuclear fusion in the heart of our sun was the birth of humanity itself. From That to This is a journey through the evolution of elements, from the simple element of hydrogen to the last man-made element in the periodic table, oganesson. However, the whole spectrum of electromagnetic radiations has been practically unchanged since the Big Bang. As a matter of fact, the cosmic microwave background radiations from the time of the Big Bang still linger around the whole universe. From these radiations, astrophysicists can measure and calculate the authenticity of the Big Bang theory. This book will take you through the creation of the atom bomb and its unimaginable destructive power. It will pass through the end of WWII, the time in which scientists came to their senses and dedicated the atomic industry to humanitarian efforts--such as lighting up thousands of cities and saving millions of lives in the medical field. In the final chapter, there is an emphasis on some of the procedures done in departments of nuclear medicine in order to familiarize college students, the public, and patients who may need some clarification on these matters.
Genomic Analysis of Antibiotics Resistance in Pathogens
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens currently represents a serious threat to public health and the economy. Due to antibiotic treatments in humans and veterinary medicine, prophylactic use and environmental contamination, bacteria are today more frequently exposed to unnatural doses of antibiotics and their selective effect.Antibiotic resistance can be encoded on chromosomes, plasmids, or other mobile genetic elements in bacteria. It may also result from mutations that lead to changes in the affinity of antibiotics for their targets or in the ability of antibiotics to act on bacterial growth or death. Exposure of bacteria, bacterial populations, and microbial communities to antibiotics at different concentrations shapes their genomic dynamics, as does the mobilisation and spread of resistance determinants. It is, therefore, essential to understand the dynamics and mobilisation of genes encoding antibiotic resistance, in human, animal, plant, and environmental microbiomes, through genomic and metagenomic approaches and bioinformatics analyses.This Special Issue gathers research publications on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes, their dissemination and epidemiology, their association with bacterial virulence, between bacterial genotypes and their phenotypes, and other related research topics.
Body Condition and Productivity, Health and Welfare
This reprint focuses on applied research on growth traits, fat reserves, fatty acid profiles and enriched diets and their effects on reproduction, health status and welfare. The studies contained in the volume have been carried out in both monogastric organisms and ruminants, fish, broilers or pigeons. Fundamental studies with rats or mice are also presented.The reader will find novel research about the effects of the degree of fatness and muscularity determined by ultrasound method on sows織 reproductive performance, genetic studies on fatty acid profiles and growth traits in rabbits and Gilthead Seabream; nutritional studies addressing diets enriched with bee pollen in rats, postbiotics in male rabbits, concentrate and bypass supplementations in buffaloes; and interesting studies on the welfare assessment of meat sheep, rabbits, racing pigeons, broilers, alpacas and llamas using body condition measurements.
Induced Impairment of Neurogenesis and Brain Diseases
The impairment of neurogenesis may be induced after pre- and post-natal chemical and biological toxin, alcohol, or radiation exposure, drug treatment, hormone imbalances, stress, pain, hypoxia, brain trauma, malnutrition, and aging. It also occurs as a result of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome (DS), autism, fragile X syndrome (FXS), neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) epilepsy, and Huntington's disease (HD), and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia; however, the causal relationship between the impairment of neurogenesis and neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders remains unknown. In this Special Issue, entitled "Induced Impairment of Neurogenesis and Brain Diseases", original animal or cell experimental research and review papers were combined to discuss different causes of the impairment of neurogenesis, relevant neurobehavioral changes, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches. The aim is to update researchers and clinicians about the complexity of the development of the impairment of neurogenesis, the importance of the involvement of the impairment of neurogenesis in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, and to provide some clues for designing novel therapeutic approaches by targeting the impairment of neurogenesis to effectively prevent or treat different genetic, neurological, and neuropsychological disorders.
Our Genetic Destiny: Understanding the Secret of Life
A fascinating account of the origin, evolution, and organization of our genes. Our Genetic Destiny provides a stimulating description of what may well be science's greatest and most challenging field.
Life. Death. Immortality
What are life and death? Is it possible to understand their essence and give clear definitions? Countless books and articles have been devoted to trying to answer these intriguing questions. However, there are still no definite and generally accepted answers. The intrigue remains. And meanwhile, human attempts to vanquish death and achieve immortality continue apace.This book is an attempt to answer the eternal questions about life and death by analyzing, synthesizing, and rethinking the known facts that characterize life. The material here should be of particular interest, as it contains many hypotheses, philosophical generalizations, and well informed speculations. What is most important for life - matter, energy, or information? How are individual lives and the phenomenon of life in general related? What serves what - does the genome serve the cell or does the cell serve the genome? What is the value of life and death? Can we become immortal? The inquisitive reader willfind original answers to these and other exciting questions in the pages of this stimulating book.
Photocatalysis in the Wastewater Treatment
The use of photocatalysis for wastewater treatment is an important area of research, which is not yet fully exploited at an industrial level and has significant potential in the disposal of many industrial effluents, particularly the effluents that are difficult to treat by conventional treatment processes. This reprint tries to know the latest advances in the field of wastewater treatment by photocatalysis. In this sense, it is worth mentioning the treatments based on photolysis, TiO2/solar light, oxidants/ultraviolet irradiation, oxidants/catalyst/ultraviolet irradiation, etc. In addition, the reprint describes catalyst manufacturing methods and reaction mechanisms.
Insoluble Proteins
This volume serves to aid researchers working in the recombinant protein production field by describing a wide number of protocols and examples. Chapters describe recombinant protein production in different expression systems, prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems, purification protocols, characterization of insoluble proteins and a general overview of interesting applications of insoluble proteins. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Insoluble Proteins: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition aims to be a useful practical guide to researches to help further their study in this field.
Stem Cells in Domestic Animals
Stem cells are an attractive tool for cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine, both for humans and animals. The research and review articles published in this first book of the Collection "Stem Cells in Domestic Animals: Applications in Health and Production" are excellent examples of the recent advances made in the field of stem/stromal cell research in veterinary medicine. In this field, sophisticated and new treatments are now required for improving patients' quality of life; in livestock animals, the goal of regenerative medicine is to improve not only animal welfare but also the quality of production, aiming to preserve human health. The contributions collected in this book concern both laboratory research and clinical applications of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. The increasing knowledge of cell-based therapies may constitute an opportunity for researchers, veterinary practitioners, and animal owners to contribute to animal and human health and well-being.
Secondary Metabolites from Fungi
Fungal natural products have made important contributions to the history of human civilization. Mr. Liu Jikai has had a significant influence on the field of chemistry in fungal natural products, leading a large number of Chinese scholars engaged in related research. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Liu Jikai for his efforts on fungal natural products chemistry and hope that all colleagues will make great progress for the future.
Marine Toxins from Harmful Algae and Seafood Safety
The rapid expansion of aquaculture around the world is increasingly being impacted by toxins produced by harmful marine microalgae, which threaten the safety of seafood. In addition, ocean climate change is leading to changing patterns in the distribution of toxic dinoflagellates and diatoms which produce these toxins. New approaches are being developed to monitor for harmful species and the toxins they produce. This Special Issue covers pioneering research on harmful marine microalgae and their toxins, including the identification of species and toxins; the development of new chemical and biological techniques to identify and monitor species and toxins; the uptake of marine biotoxins in seafood and marine ecosystems; and the distribution and abundance of toxins, particularly in relation to climate change.
New Research Trends for Textiles
PART 1. Functional Textiles: Photochromic Textiles Based upon Aqueous Blends of Oxygen-Deficient WO3-x and TiO2 Nanocrystals. 50/60 Hz Power Grid Noise as a Skin Contact Measure of Textile ECG Electrodes. Characterizing Steam Penetration through Thermal Protective Fabric Materials. Stretchable Textile Yarn Based on UHF RFID Helical Tag. Fibers and Textiles for Personal Protective Equipment. Textile-Based Sound Sensors (TSS). High-Performance and Functional Fiber Materials. Geotextiles-A Versatile Tool for Environmental Sensitive Applications in Geotechnical Engineering. Review of Fiber- or Yarn-Based Wearable Resistive Strain Sensors. Wearable Actuators: An Overview. Bacterial Secondary Metabolites as Biopigments for Textile Dyeing.PART 2: Process and Modelling. Loop Order Analysis of Weft-Knitted Textiles. New Geometrical Modelling for 2D Fabric and 2.5D Interlock Composites. Meso-Macro Simulations of the Forming of 3D Non-Crimp Woven Fabrics. Continuous Yarn Electrospinning. A Review on Tough Soft Composites at Different Length Scales. Textile Branch and Main Breakthroughs of the Czech Republic in the Field of Textile Machinery. Recent Efforts in Modeling and Simulation of Textiles.PART 3: Control. A Comparison of Two Different Light Booths for Measuring Color Difference of Metameric Pairs. Effect of Textile Characteristics on the AR-Glass Fabric Efficiency. Dielectric Properties of Textile Materials.PART 4: Consumers and Behavior. Development of a Consumer-Based Quality Scale for Artisan Textiles. Organic Cotton Clothing Purchase Behavior. A Review on Textile Recycling Practices and Challenges.
Biophysics of Nucleic Acids Celebrating the 75th Birthday of Professor Kenneth J. Breslauer
This Special Issue comprises 15 papers broadly outlining current trends in nucleic acid biophysics. It contains original research papers and reviews on structure, stability, and interactions of canonical and non-canonical nucleic acids. The authors describe the use of established, time-honored experimental and computational techniques as well as their more recently developed counterparts. Molecular insights that can be gained from the papers collected in this issue range from the fundamental to the applied with emphasis on biological functions and biomedical prospects of nucleic acids. The collection is not meant to be exhaustive, but to highlight recent advances from select laboratories worldwide. Nevertheless, it represents a useful guide for scientists who wish to familiarize themselves with biophysical topics in nucleic acid research. This Special Issue will be useful both for researchers who study fundamental aspects of nucleic acid structure, stability, and dynamics, as well as for those that are mainly interested in practical biological and biomedical applications of nucleic acids.
Dietary Curcumin and Health Effects
The Special Issue provides twelve contributions, of which three original articles, seven narrative reviews, one systematic review, and one meta-analysis that, altogether, offer a multifaceted and multidisciplinary overview that allows to draw a picture as intriguing and fascinating as possible on the benefits of curcumin and also to suggest potential fields of activities still to be explored. Among the biological activities exerted by curcumin, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties reported in many studies make it a potential effective tool in preventing and counteracting chronic-degenerative diseases, very often associated with obesity and aging, such as cardiovascular diseases, T2D, metabolic dysfunctions, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer, all of them characterized by the presence of oxidative and inflammatory processes. The main concerns that arise from the evaluation of the preventive/therapeutic effects of curcumin are, first of all, the still small number of randomized placebo-control studies available; in addition, small sample sizes have generally been considered, and different protocols and different formulations as well as different routes of administration of curcumin have been used. Thus, it is quite difficult to compare the results and to provide a standard protocol for the use of this promising natural compound. For these reasons, and taking in account the growing use of curcumin by the general population, further investigations to confirm and expand current findings are mandatory and research on curcumin and its effects on human health have to be fostered and promoted.
Nanotechnology in Animal Science
Recently, a revolution in nanotechnology has pervaded all fields related to animal science. This book collection focuses on the potential applications of nanotechnology in the field of animal science, particularly livestock production and medication. The studies/reviews published in this book show the preparation protocols and physiochemical and biological properties of the innovated nanoparticles, designated for different purposes. This is in line with the potential hazards of these materials. The book collection shows that nanoparticles and nanoparticle-based systems can be developed to serve different purposes in the field of animal production and veterinary, such as the management of reproduction and assisted reproductive techniques, rapid and robust disease diagnosis and treatment, drug delivery, and animal nutrition.
Spectroscopic, Thermodynamic and Molecular Docking Studies on Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Binding to Proteins
This book contains several articles where the molecular mechanisms and structural changes in target proteins on interaction with various viruses and bacteria were studied. In addition, drug-protein interactions, drug-drug interaction mechanisms, anti-Glycating, antioxidant, binding affinity, network pharmacology-driven investigations, and targeted anticancer treatments were also investigated.
Natural and Synthetic Bioactives for Skin Health, Disease and Management
In recent years, researchers have shown a special interest in natural products as alternative methods for the prevention, treatment, and/or management of various skin illnesses and disorders, primarily due to their natural availability, efficacity, reduced cost, and minimal toxicity. In a similar vein, synthetic bioactives, as well as small molecules, have been studied in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical studies as potential drugs or supplements. This Special Issue of Nutrients comprises an array of literature reviews, original communications, and studies on the roles of natural products, synthetic bioactives, and small molecules in a variety of skin disorders and diseases, such as aging, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, melanoma, allergies, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and more, which were investigated through in vitro and ex vivo approaches, preclinical trials, cell-based assays, and animal models. The mechanisms of action of certain compounds are proposed, while others are currently under investigation. The authors of the papers also explore technologies designed to improve the bioavailability and delivery of certain compounds. In lieu of ongoing research on a variety of skin disorders, the wealth of information published in this Special Issue can act as a springboard for the development of new preventive and therapeutic modalities for the management of skin diseases.
Pathogenesis Study of Glioma
Despite the past two decades of research progress, glioma still remains the most challenging of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The complexity of its pathogenesis makes the disease hard to deal with, especially glioblastoma multiforme (GBM, WHO grade IV), the most aggressive brain tumor entity. This Special Issue collect studies that focus on the pathogenesis of glioma, such as its cell origin, the role of GSCs, genomic alterations, animal models, etc. We have collected 10 high-quality papers, and we welcome all researchers to read.
Mammary Stem Cells
This second edition provides an overview of recent developments and approaches used by researchers to investigate the properties and functions of mammary epithelial and stem cells, which will contribute to understand the heterogeneity of the mammary gland and of breast cancer. Chapters detail processes used to characterize stem cells, single cell RNA sequencing, computational methods, sophisticated imaging techniques, and a variety of model systems, among others. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Mammary Stem Cells: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition aims to make available protocols used to navigate the intricate behavior of mammary stem cells and to gain further knowledge to take us closer to the design of innovative strategies to prevent and treat breast cancer.
Chemistry of Essential Oils and Food Flavours
This reprint reviews a crop pest management use for several essential oils and the properties of an excellent lemon (citral) source. Research is reported on the biological properties of enhanced lemon oil along with the human intake of citrus beverages and the less common medicinal mastiha oil. Oils and hydrolates of rosemary and lavender were analyzed by headspace/GC-MS to better define their antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, and yeast particle encapsulation was investigated for the controlled release of bioactive terpenes.
Biodiversity of the Sundarbans
This book brings together 45 years' worth of experience-derived information about more than 7,000 micro- and macro- species, which form the unique bio-diversity of the world's largest mangrove ecosystem, as it struggles against the natural and anthropogenic threats. Up to 1770, the estimated area of Sundarbans was around 36,000 km2, but has reduced over time to 25,000 km2, due to reclamation. This loss and the related degradation of habitats has caused historical species extinction and population decline. Whereas biodiversity conservation within and beyond the protected areas has been the watchword since the 1990s ("biodiversity, aesthetic values and integrity"), the initial two hundred years of imperial and post-colonial forest management focused primarily on revenue and production forestry, to the detriment of the ecology of the area. It will be of interest to researchers, in zoology, botany, ecology and conservation, as well as professionals, such as foresters, environmentalists, conservationists, resource managers, planners, government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs and naturalists.
Detection, Control and Contamination of Mycotoxins
The objective of this collection is to illustrate the most recent research on the development of novel and/or rapid methods for mycotoxin determination, and to propose new strategies for monitoring and/or reducing mycotoxin contamination. Innovative sample preparation techniques or protocols and the possibility of multiclass mycotoxin detection will be very positively considered for possible inclusion in this Special Issue. Both methods based on (bio)sensors and chromatography with various detectors (including mass spectrometry) are welcome. Applications of already published methods on new matrices without any modification will not be accepted. However, extensive studies and monitoring on the spread of contamination through the food production chain could be of interest for this collection.
Sustainable Development and Application of Renewable Chemicals from Biomass and Waste
Advancements in efficient energy sources have played a pivotal role in determining the present world energy structure. Renewable biomass energy has been incorporated in industrial regulations and policies in many European countries. Based on the statistics, more than one-seventh of the total world energy consumption is generated from biomass.The renewable energies movement was prompted by two important factors: a) growing world energy consumption and b) the abundance of generated biomass residues, especially in agriculture. In the case of the first, batteries containing different metals are considered, as is the production of items for human consumption (food, clothing, home comfort, etc.). In the second case, the biomass waste from plants and animals, as byproducts of cultivating and production processes, is the main source of generated waste.
The Y Chromosomes
In the Year 2085, because of pollution of the environment and food chain, the world population is now fifteen percent male and eighty-five percent female. With marriage being abolished, love is lost between men and women. The only thing left is passion and need. Women are angry that they can expect no help from men for support of themselves or their children. Passion is lost, they now need men only to reproduce. With a technique called ovum fusion, they can take two ova from two women to make a female child with two mothers and no father. They no longer need men, so they get rid of them. Stewart Vaughn and fifteen men use sixteen hijacked NASA cryogenic units to escape to the future. Two hundred eighty-six years later, Stewart Vaughn and ten other male survivors are rescued from cryogenic sleep. How will a single gender human race, all female with no memory of men, treat them.
Advances in Micro- and Nanomechanics
This book focuses on recent advances in both theoretical and experimental studies of material behaviour at the micro- and nano-scales. Special attention is given to experimental studies of nanofilms, nanoparticles and nanocomposites as well as tooth defects. Various experimental techniques were used. Magneto- and thermoelastic coupling were considered, as were nonlocal models of thin structures.
Contemporary Solutions for Advanced Catalytic Materials with a High Impact on Society
The main aim of this reprint is to highlight the contributions of advanced catalytic materials in the evolution of contemporary society, delivering practical and useful solutions with a positive societal, economic, and environmental impact.
Bioreactors in Stem Cell Biology
1. Benchtop Bioreactors in Mammalian Cell Culture: Overview and Guidelines Ang矇lique Schmid, Emanuel Kreidl, Martin Bertschinger, and Patrick Vetsch 2. Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficient Measurement in a Stirred Tank Reactor Aysegul Inam, Ezgi Rojda Taymaz, Mehmet Emin Uslu, Baris Binay, and Irem Deniz 3. Fabrication Protocol for Thermoplastic Microfluidic Devices: Nanoliter Volumed Bioreactors for Cell Culturing Elif Gencturk, Senol Mutlu, and Kutlu O. Ulgen 4. Expansion of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Stirred Tank Bioreactors Marites T. Woon, Puspa R. Pandey, and Inbar Friedrich Ben-Nun 5. High Efficiency Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells in Random Positioning Machine Bioreactors Xiaohua Lei, Chiyuan Ma, Yujing Cao, Yue Xiong, Jian V. Zhang, and Enkui Duan 6. Integrating Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Expansion Capability and Cardiomyocyte Differentiation Potential in a Microcarrier Suspension Culture Valerie Ho, Gerine Tong, Alan Lam, Shaul Reuveny, and Steve Oh 7. Chemically Defined, Xeno-Free Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) on Benchtop-Scale Using a Stirred Single-Use Bioreactor Misha Teale, Valentin Jossen, Dieter Eibl, and Regine Eibl 8. Large-Scale Expansion of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Microcarrier Tablets in Bioreactor Huanye Xu, Zhongxiao Cong, Yuanyuan Zhang, Wei Liu, Xiaojun Yan, and Yanan Du 9. Optimized Method to Improve Cell Activity in 3D Scaffolds under a Dual Real-Time Dynamic Bioreactor System Flavia Pedrini, Moema A. Hausen, and Eliana A.R. Duek 10. In Vitro 3D Mechanical Stimulation to Tendon-Derived Stem Cells by Bioreactor Ziming Chen, Peilin Chen, Rui Ruan, and Minghao Zheng 11. Microcarrier-Supported Culture of Chondrocytes in Continuously Rocked Disposable Bioreactor Kamil Wierzchowski and Maciej Pilarek 12. Tracheal In Vitro Reconstruction Using a Decellularized Bio-Scaffold in Combination with a Rotating Bioreactor Georgia Pennarossa, Matteo Ghiringhelli, Fulvio Gandolfi, and Tiziana A.L. Brevini 13. Bioreactor-Based De-Epithelialization of Long-Segment Tracheal Grafts Alba E. Marin-Araujo, Siba Haykal, and Golnaz Karoubi 14. Production of Extracellular Vesicles Using a CELLine Adherent Bioreactor Flask Anastasiia Artuyants, Vanessa Chang, Gabrielle Reshef, Cherie Blenkiron, Lawrence W. Chamley, Euphemia Leung, and Colin L. Hisey 15. Extracellular Vesicle Collection from Human Stem Cells Grown in Suspension Bioreactors
Crystallographic Studies of Enzymes (Volume II)
In this Special Issue of Crystals, entitled "Crystallographic Studies of Enzymes (Volume II)", eleven research papers on key findings and methodologies of structure, function, and reaction mechanisms of enzymes are presented.
