Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Diseases and Human Well-Being
The wide spread of COVID-19 has had significant and negative effects on human well-being, but it has also had a negative impact on many important diseases. It has necessitated a major reorganisation of emergency care facilities to accommodate the additional workload anticipated with the rapid surge in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Previous reports have demonstrated a reduction in admissions for different conditions such as acute coronary syndrome or decreased use of coronary procedures in various countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in out-of-hospital deaths and long-term complications of myocardial infarction and missed opportunities to offer secondary prevention treatment for patients with coronary heart disease.In this context, we do not know what impacts these events may have had on psychology and sexuality. In fact, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has significantly impacted people's sexual desire and behaviours.Besides these events, the daily activities of many departments have been drastically reduced and limited to non‐deferrable procedures, and the entire organogram has been reorganised following a rigorous flowchart in order to limit the impact of the COVID‐19 emergency on residents' learning curves.In this Special Issue, we further the knowledge on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global diseases and human well-being.
Cannabis Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
This book provides in-depth information on the applications of cannabis products as a legitimate medicine in treating a variety of diseases and disorders in domestic animals. Pharmacology and toxicology of cannabinoids and their effects on the endocannabinoid system, which is involved in the regulation of diverse physiological and cognitive processes, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the book reviews development and testing of cannabis based medical products and introduces the nutritional components of cannabis plants. Cannabis as a therapeutic in veterinary medicine is gaining interest among owners and practitioners. Numerous studies have been completed or are currently underway that analyze the potential of clinical application of cannabinoid and terpenoid molecules. In this book the authors take a comprehensive look at previous studies in animal and human models and discuss translational applications based on these scientific data. This seminal text serves as a go-to resource for veterinary practitioners on cannabinoid therapy. It will also serve as a foundation for clinicians and researchers interested in this emerging field of veterinary medicine.
The Maiden Voyage of Petrus Van Stijn
Petrus van Stijn's world is besieged by two prime engines of destruction: massive geomagnetic storms caused by unprecedented solar storms - protracted coronal mass ejections (CME), and climate change wreaking unprecedented, but predictable collapse of the Antarctic ice shelves. Petrus has other problems to contend with, like surviving on a floating archipelago of ice, and then walking 2200 kilometers through a post-Apocalyptic world. At the same time, Petrus will discover something of a true social and biological paradise. Herein lies the paradox of a world where one species - ours - is facing extinction, while others - many genetically re-engineered - are enjoying a biodiversity renaissance.With a Foreword by William Shatner, this provocative, lyrical, deeply philosophical work of fiction explores the ethical limits of science and technology, and the future of all life on earth.
The Good Virus
At every moment, within our bodies and all around us, trillions of microscopic combatants are waging a war that shapes our health and life on Earth. Countless times per second, viruses known as phages attack and destroy bacteria while leaving all other life forms, including us, unscathed. Vastly outnumbering the viruses that do us harm, phages power ecosystems, drive evolutionary innovation, and harbor a remarkable capacity to heal life-threatening infections when conventional antibiotics fail. Yet most of us have never heard of them, thinking of viruses only as enemies to be feared. The Good Virus prompts us to reconsider, and to discover, how these viruses could save countless lives if we can learn to harness their extraordinary abilities.Taking us inside the ongoing quest to use phages' powers for good, Tom Ireland introduces us to the brilliant, often eccentric, scientists who have fought to realize phages' potential in the face of doubt and political intrigue. We meet the renegade French-Canadian scientist who discovered phages and pioneered their use as medicine over a century ago, leading them to be hailed as the world's first genuine antibiotic years before penicillin. We learn why, in some pockets of the former Soviet Union, drinking a vial of phages remains as common as taking an over-the-counter drug. We follow the intrepid scientists and doctors now racing to make "phage therapy" work worldwide as the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria grows ever more urgent--even as other researchers uncover how phages bolster our everyday immunity, help generate the oxygen we breathe, and furnish the origins for breakthrough technologies like CRISPR.Unveiling the hidden rulers of the microbial world and celebrating the surprising power of viruses to heal, not harm, The Good Virus forever changes how we see nature's most maligned life forms.
Diet for Iron Deficiency
Around a quarter of the world's population is affected by iron deficiency, and women of childbearing age as well as children and adolescents are considered a particular risk group. This reference book deals with the latest scientific findings concerning the iron supply of the human organism with natural foods. It dispels the misconception that plant iron is less valuable than animal iron by presenting the absorption of iron from plant foods via a newly discovered metabolic pathway. From this, new points of view can be derived for vegetarians and vegans, who until now have belonged to the risk group. Furthermore, it is dedicated to forward-looking possibilities of diagnosing iron deficiency and describes modern concepts for determining the bioavailability of iron in food. New findings on the biochemistry of iron in brain metabolism, the description of the different reference values of the international professional societies and practical advice for special diets, risk groups and age groups as well as cooking recipes with simple information on iron intake complete the work. The book is aimed at nutritionists and medical practitioners, nutrition and food scientists, dieticians, pharmacists and sports scientists.
Brain Stimulation and Neuroplasticity- Series II
Due to the great success of our Special Issue "Brain Stimulation and Neuroplasticity", we decided to set up a second volume. A large number of qualified submissions confirmed the importance of non-invasive brain stimulation methods in recent years and showed a broad field of applications.Again, this second volume of the Special Issue aims to gather pre-clinical and clinical data on brain stimulation techniques (electrical and magnetic stimulation methods).This Special Issue compiles latest research on the clinical and neurophysiological application of brain stimulation methods and the impact of brain stimulation on imaging outcomes, neurobiological markers, and clinical variables (including neurological, affective, and cognitive measures).
Impaired Mitochondrial Bioenergetics under Pathological Conditions
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells; however, mitochondrial dysfunction causes energy depletion and cell death in a variety of diseases. Altered oxidative phosphorylation and ion homeostasis are associated with ROS production resulting from the disassembly of respiratory supercomplexes and the disruption of electron transfer chains. In pathological conditions, the dysregulation of mitochondrial homeostasis promotes Ca2+ overload in the matrix and ROS accumulation, which induces the mitochondrial permeability transition pore formation responsible for mitochondrial morphological changes linked to membrane dynamics, and ultimately, cell death. Finally, studies on the impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics in pathology could provide molecular tools to counteract diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.
Functional Cereal Foods for Health Benefits
Cereal foods comprise a large variety of products that make up the main part of the diet of the world population. Despite decades of research to improve cereals and cereal food quality, worldwide research coordination is now required due to market needs, processing, and climate change.Cereals and cereal foods are an important source of energy (carbohydrates, proteins, and fat), and offer a range of non-nutrient bioactive components (i.e., vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytochemicals) that provide different grades of health benefits.The main challenges for the near future include the exploration, valorization, and improvement of genetic variation for nutrients and bioactive food components; the use and implementation of biotechnological, preprocessing, and processing strategies to improve content; and the evaluation of health properties for health claims.
Therapeutic Antibodies
1. Therapeutic Antibodies: An Overview Gunnar Houen 2. Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases with Therapeutic Antibodies: Lessons Learned from PID Patients Allow for Stratification of the Infection Risk Joyce J.B.C. van Beers and Jan G.M.C. Damoiseaux 3. B-Cell Analysis for Monitoring Patients Undergoing B-Cell Depletion for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases Jan G.M.C. Damoiseaux, Joyce van Beers, Matthias Busch, and Pieter van Paassen 4. Assessment of Therapeutic Antibody Developability by Combinations of In Vitro and In Silico Methods Adriana-Michelle Wolf Perez, Nikolai Lorenzen, Michele Vendruscolo, and Pietro Sormanni 5. The Therapeutic Antibody Profiler for Computational Developability Assessment Matthew I.J. Raybould and Charlotte M. Deane 6. Short Read-Length Next-Generation DNA Sequencing of Antibody CDR Combinations from Phage Selection Outputs Landon Pastushok, Kris Barreto, and C. Ronald Geyer 7. Large Scale Transient Production in ExpiCHO-STM with Enhanced N-Galactosylation-Sialylation and PEI-Based Transfection Xiaotian Zhong, Ashley Schwab, Weijun Ma, Caryl L. Meade, Jing Zhou, Aaron M. D' Antona, Will Somers, and Laura Lin 8. Production of Therapeutic Single-Chain Variable Fragments (ScFv) in Pichia pastoris Laia Montoliu-Gaya and Sandra Villegas 9. Purification of Therapeutic Antibodies by Protein A Affinity Chromatography Anurag S. Rathore and Sharad Narnaware 10. Ion Exchange Chromatographic Methods for Purification of Therapeutic Antibodies Anurag S. Rathore and Vishwanath Hebbi 11. Structure-Indicated LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis of Therapeutic Antibodies Noriko Iwamoto and Takashi Shimada 12. Use of PASEF for Accelerated Protein Sequence Confirmation and De Novo Sequencing with High Data Quality Detlev Suckau, Waltraud Evers, Eckhard Belau, Stuart Pengelley, Anja Resemann, Wilfred Tang, K. Ilker Sen, Elsa Wagner, Olivier Colas, and Alain Beck 13. Nano-Microscopy of Therapeutic Antibody Aggregates in Solution Yukako Senga, Toshihiko Ogura, Hiroshi Imamura, and Shinya Honda 14. Measuring Self-Association of Antibody Lead Candidates with Dynamic Light Scattering Fabian Dingfelder, Anette Henriksen, Per-Olof Wahlund, Paolo Arosio, and Nikolai Lorenzen 15. Intact Mass Quantitation of Therapeutic Antibodies for Pharmacokinetic Studies Using Immuno-Purification Lisa A. Vasicek, Daniel S. Spellman, and Kevin P. Bateman 16. Detection of Residual Host
Neurotoxicity of Environmental Metal Toxicants
Environmental exposure to metallic neurotoxicants is a matter of growing concern since it may have very significant consequences for human health, from impairing neurodevelopment in children to the neurodegeneration processes involved in aging. The scientific community will face many challenges in identifying and preventing the adverse effects of environmental metal exposure on brain health. This collection of articles provides an overview of current work in the field of neurotoxicology of metal contaminants, from the identification of emerging toxic compounds, to the assessment of environmental exposures and associated risks, through the description of the molecular mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity.
Virus Infection in Equine
The increased international transportation and trade over the last few decades have increased the risk of the introduction of pathogens into new areas. Global climate change has influenced environmental conditions and the ability of pathogens to survive, and has changed the habitats of certain vectors and hosts. These processes have led to the emergence or re-emergence of various pathogens in different parts of the world, including those affecting horses. This Special Issue features some aspects regarding several well recognized as well as some new and emerging equine viral pathogens, highlighting the need for updated epidemiological data. Such surveillance is crucial for proper decision making by clinicians and by regulatory authorities. Also demonstrated by the recent global emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the development of an effective infrastructure for the rapid and effective detection and control of novel viral pathogens, as well as re-emerging ones, is essential. Horses should play an important role in such surveillance systems, not only for equine pathogens but also as sentinels to other viruses and arboviruses. As was demonstrated in several examples in this Special Issue, it is important to remember, both as clinicians and as researchers, that when facing clinical cases, even when those are common, we should remain alert to the possibility of the intrusion of unknown pathogens and, therefore, should seek a definitive diagnosis. This may allow for the early detection of emerging or re-emerging pathogens.
Manual of Biobank Quality Management
This pioneering handbook serves as an essential tool for any biobanking entity to create, implement and continuously improve their Quality Management System (QMS). Written in a concise and highly readable manner all biobanking related QMS aspects, ranging from legal aspects to safety matters, are addressed according to the best knowledge in compliance with the dedicated Biobanks ISO standards. Following a practical approach by making use of FAQ and common practice sections this book guides the readers through this complex field in an easy-to understand way.The guidelines are convergent not only with ISO 20387:2018 Biotechnology - Biobanking - General requirements for biobanking but also with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 19011:2018, ISO 27000:2014, and ISO 27002:2013. Furthermore, they are compatible, among others with the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), IARC, and ISBER Best Practices. Aimed at both biobank employees and other stakeholders (e.g. public bodies, political bodies, hospitals, pharmaceutical industry, funders) at any level of experience the book serves as valuable source for self-education and teaching. The manual complies to the principles of responsibility, openness, and transparency and can be used by any biobanking unit regardless of the biological material the biobank operates with and independent of their associated biobank network. On behalf of a group of specialists and experts in the area of biobanking, regarding Quality Management Systems (QMS), Ethical, Legal and Societal Issues (ELSI) and IT solutions, the authors present with this book a significant achievement based on activities within the project, European Research Infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC "Quality Standards for Polish Biobanks" Handbook (QSPB).
Industrial Applications of Soil Microbes
This volume is a compilation of reviews on the industrial usage of soil microorganisms. The contents include 15 brief reviews on different soil microbe assisted industrial processes. Readers will be updated about recent applications of soil bacteria, fungi and algae in sectors such as agriculture, biotechnology, environmental management. The reviews also cover special topics like sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, ecology, and intellectual property rights of patented strains, giving a broad perspective on industrial applications of soil microbes. The text is easy to understand for readers of all levels, with references provided for the benefit of advanced readers.
Genetics and Genomics of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe and progressive disorder affecting the blood vessels in the lungs. Typically, symptoms first appear at around 30-40 years of age and, without treatment, can lead to fatal heart disease within a few years. Genetic studies over the past decade have identified numerous genes that contribute to disease progression but, for many sufferers, the underlying genetic cause remains elusive. The collection of reviews and original research articles contained within this book provide an overview of recent advancements in understanding the genetic risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension. We further examine the emerging interplay between genetic variants and clinical outcomes, providing a framework for new treatments and improved patient care.
Rab GTPases
This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with a discussion of new research and discoveries in the Rab field. Chapters in this book cover topics such as new information on Rab regulation and localization; interaction; function; and diseases. 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. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Rab GTPases: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for scientists working in the fields of Rab and other small GTPases, and beyond.
Biotechnology: From Science to Applications
Biotechnology is a broad area of biology. It involves harnessing biomolecular and cellular processes for the creation and development of new products. A few of its major subfields are genomics, recombinant gene techniques and applied immunology. It is also used for the development of pharmaceutical therapies and diagnostic tests. One of the most significant advancements of biotechnology is the production of therapeutic proteins and other drugs through genetic engineering. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex advancements in the field of biotechnology. There has been rapid progress in this field and its applications are finding their way across multiple industries. This book is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
Cell Biology and Translational Medicine, Volume 13
Much research has focused on the basic cellular and molecular biological aspects of stem cells. Much of this research has been fueled by their potential for use in regenerative medicine applications, which has in turn spurred growing numbers of translational and clinical studies. However, more work is needed if the potential is to be realized for improvement of the lives and well-being of patients with numerous diseases and conditions.This book series 'Cell Biology and Translational Medicine (CBTMED)' as part of SpringerNature's longstanding and very successful Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology book series, has the goal to accelerate advances by timely information exchange. Emerging areas of regenerative medicine and translational aspects of stem cells are covered in each volume. Outstanding researchers are recruited to highlight developments and remaining challenges in both the basic research and clinical arenas. This current book is the thirteenth volume of a continuing series.
Microbiomes of Extreme Environments
The extreme microbiomes are those microorganisms thriving under extreme conditions where no other living being will have any chance to survive. The extreme habitats are those presenting high temperatures (thermophiles), low temperature (psychrophiles), hypersaline environments (halophiles), low and high pH (Acidophiles/alkaliphiles), high pressure (Piezophiles) are distributed worldwide. The extreme habitats have proved to offer a unique reservoir of genetic diversity and biological source of extremophiles. The extremophilic microbial diversity and their biotechnological potential use in agricultural and industrial applications will be a milestone for future needs. Extremophiles and their cell components, therefore, are expected to play an important role in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, paper and textile industries as well as environmental biotechnology.
Nucleic Acids: Structures, Properties and Functions
Nucleic acids are biopolymers, or large biomolecules, composed of organic molecules called nucleotides. They are essential to all known forms of life. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are the two main classes of nucleic acids. If the sugar is ribose, the polymer is RNA. In case the sugar is the ribose derivative deoxyribose, then the polymer is DNA. Nucleic acids are naturally occurring chemical compounds that act as the primary information-carrying molecules in cells and make up the genetic material. The information of every living cell of every life-form on Earth is created, encoded and stored by nucleic acids. In turn, they function to transfer and convey that information inside and outside the cell nucleus to the internal operations of the cell and ultimately to the next generation of each living organism. This book unravels the recent studies in the field of nucleic acids. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. Researchers and students in this field will be assisted by this book.
Potential Therapeutic Applications of Nano-Antioxidants
This book highlights the nano-antioxidants and their potential therapeutic applications. The chapters start with basic information on free radicals and antioxidants, through natural antioxidants, mechanisms of their action, ending with the use of nano-antioxidants particularly its potential therapeutic applications. Nano-antioxidant therapy has a promising future that has to be explored. It is a bridge topic to connect the already existing literature with potential therapeutic highlights. This book is designated for students and researchers interested in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Food Science and nutrition, Pharmaceutical Science and Medicine. It would also be interesting to global audiences from human and animal nutrition to food preservation and packaging.
In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Colorectal Cancer for Clinical Application
The Special Issue "In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Colorectal Cancer for Clinical Application", edited by Marta Baiocchi and Ann Zeuner for Cancers, collects original research papers and reviews, depicting the current state and the perspectives of CRC models for preclinical and translational research. Original research papers published in this issue focus on some of the hottest topics in CRC research, such as circulating tumor cells, epigenetic regulation of stemness states, new therapeutic targets, molecular CRC classification and experimental CRC models such as organoids and PDXs. Additionally, four reviews on CRC stem cells, immunotherapy and drug discovery provide an updated viewpoint on key topics linking benchtop to bedside research in CRC.
Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species in Horticultural and Ornamental Systems
This Special Issue contributes to filling knowledge gaps regarding NUS in horticultural and ornamental systems, as well as in landscapes, by collecting original research papers dealing with the relevance of NUS to the following topics: biodiversity and conservation; genetics and breeding; characterization, propagation, and ecophysiology; cultivation techniques and systems; landscape protection and restoration; product and process innovations; biochemistry and composition; and postharvest factors affecting their end-use quality.
Advances in Antifungal Development
This reprint describes recent advances made in the field of antifungal development, especially the discovery of new drugs and drug repurposing. The articles presented in this book provide useful information and insight for the development of new antifungal drugs or intervention strategies. The identification of new, safe molecules, and cellular targets, as well as the elucidation of their antifungal mechanisms of action, will further the effective control of fungal pathogens, especially those resistant to current therapeutic agents.
Advances in Agricultural and Industrial Microbiology
This book is developed in a lucid manner for readers to grasp information about the role and potential of microbes in sustainable agriculture & computational strategies associated with it. Present volume focuses on advancements of microbial research in increasing agricultural productivity and sustainability viz. plant growth promotion by rhizobacterial biostimulants, endophytes, actinobacteria, arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi and biocontrol.Present day research is focused on role of soil microbe's in agriculture, diazotropic & azotobacterial N2 fixation, PGPR etc. However, there is dearth of information on bioremediation of agrochemicals, biocontrol etc. This book is a compilation of research advances in both the aspect from eminent experts around the globe. In addition, in-silico mediated understandings of plant pathology, use of artificial neural networks in phytopathogen prediction, computational approaches in enhancing secondary metabolites production will be beneficialto professionals and academicians for sustainable agriculture.This volume will be very helpful for the students, teachers, professionals, and scientists concerned in agricultural production, food security, soil microbiology, agricultural biotechnology, and computational techniques.
Diversity, Interaction and Bioprospecting of Plant-Associated Microbiomes
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the plant microbiome is highly relevant for the growth and fitness of plants. Plants in ecosystems and agroecosystems can recruit a wide variety of microorganisms, including beneficial microbes which are being studied and applied as biostimulators to improve nutrition and tolerance of plants and as biocontrol of phytopathogens. In this context, this Book contains a selection of articles describing diverse ecological and biotechnological aspects of microbiomes in native and agronomic plants (e.g., pepper, potato, rice and lettuce) created by researchers from Italy, China, Korea, Egypt, Oman, Germany, the USA, and Chile.
The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries
The theory of evolution unites the past, present, and future of living things. It puts humanity's place in the universe into necessary perspective. Despite a history of controversy, the evidence for evolution continues to accumulate as a result of many separate strands of amazing scientific sleuthing. In The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries, Donald R. Prothero explores the most fascinating breakthroughs in piecing together the evidence for evolution. In twenty-five vignettes, he recounts the dramatic stories of the people who made crucial discoveries, placing each moment in the context of what it represented for the progress of science. He tackles topics like what it means to see evolution in action and what the many transitional fossils show us about evolution, following figures from Darwin to lesser-known researchers as they unlock the mysteries of the fossil record, the earth, and the universe. The book also features the stories of animal species strange and familiar, including humans--and our ties to some of our closest relatives and more distant cousins. Prothero's wide-ranging tales showcase awe-inspiring and bizarre aspects of nature and the powerful insights they give us into the way that life works. Brisk and entertaining while firmly grounded in fundamental science, The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a captivating read for anyone curious about the evidence for evolution and what it means for humanity.
Orchid Biochemistry 2.0
This reprint is a printed version of the Special Issue, entitled "Orchid Biochemistry 2.0", one literature review, and nine original research articles were published, and the Special Issue provides further insight into several critical subtopics, including reproduction biology, functional genomics in secondary metabolites, as well as polysaccharides and orchid mycorrhizae.
Nanomaterials for Biomedical and Biotechnological Applications
The need for constant improvement to reach a high standard of safety and to make nanomaterials accessible for marketing has generated a considerable number of scientific papers that highlight new important aspects to be considered, such as synthesis, stability, biocompatibility, and easy manipulation. In order to provide a comprehensive update on the latest discoveries concerning nanomaterials, this reprint presents 14 scientific papers, 10 research articles and 4 reviews, that deal with biomedical and biotechnological applications of nanomaterials.
Gut Microorganisms of Aquatic Animals 2.0
This is a collection of scientific research articles focusing on the associations and/or interactions of various aquatic animals with their microorganisms, focusing mostly on fish and, in particular, gut bacterial communities.
Biofuels Production and Processing Technology
The negative impacts of global warming and global environmental pollution due to fossil fuels mean that the main challenge of modern society is finding alternatives to conventional fuels. In this scenario, biofuels derived from renewable biomass represent the most promising renewable energy sources. Depending on the biomass used by the fermentation technologies, it is possible to obtain first-generation biofuels produced from food crops, second-generation biofuels produced from non-food feedstock, mainly starting from renewable lignocellulosic biomasses, and third-generation biofuels, represented by algae or food waste biomass.Although biofuels appear to be the closest alternative to fossil fuels, it is necessary for them to be produced in competitive quantities and costs, requiring both improvements to production technologies and the diversification of feedstock. This Special Issue is focused on technological innovations, including the utilization of different feedstocks, with a particular focus on biethanol production from food waste; different biomass pretreatments; fermentation strategies, such as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) or separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF); different applied microorganisms used as a monoculture or co-culture; and different setups for biofuel fermentation processes.The manuscripts collected represent a great opportunity for adding new knowledge to the scientific community as well as industry.
Cyclodextrin Chemistry and Toxicology
This is a reprint of the Special Issue "Cyclodextrin Chemistry and Toxicology". This is a collection of eleven articles and three reviews that was published in Molecules that provides an overview of the applications of cyclodextrins, implements the information regarding the use of cyclodextrins and their inclusion complexes, considering both experimental and theorists approaches and using various scientific and technological tools.
Metabolomics, Oxidative, and Nitrosative Stress in the Perinatal Period
Studies focusing on the perinatal period face unique challenges, yet research in this area is extremely important, as this period of life is highly delicate and adverse events might have a long-lasting impact. With the advent of powerful high-resolution and high-throughput analytical methods, researchers have started to successfully develop and implement novel approaches in this area. New insights have great potential to be translated into novel diagnostic tools, as well as alternative preventive and treatment approaches. This book collects a series of timely review and original research articles focusing on metabolomic, oxidative, and nitrosative stress in the perinatal period.We would like to thank all involved authors for their high-quality contributions and their commitment to the publication of this work and hope that this book will be a useful resource for students, scientists, and doctors working in this specific area of application.
Cryptic Species
Cryptic species are organisms which look identical, but which represent distinct evolutionary lineages. They are an emerging trend in organismal biology across all groups, from flatworms, insects, amphibians, primates, to vascular plants. This book critically evaluates the phenomenon of cryptic species and demonstrates how they can play a valuable role in improving our understanding of evolution, in particular of morphological stasis. It also explores how the recognition of cryptic species is intrinsically linked to the so-called 'species problem', the lack of a unifying species concept in biology, and suggests alternative approaches. Bringing together a range of perspectives from practicing taxonomists, the book presents case studies of cryptic species across a range of animal and plant groups. It will be an invaluable text for all biologists interested in species and their delimitation, definition, and purpose, including undergraduate and graduate students and researchers.
Narrative Persuasion. A Cognitive Perspective on Language Evolution
This book explores the evolutionary and cognitive foundations of human communication, focusing on narrative as its distinctive dimension. Within a framework of continuity with both the communication of our hominin predecessors and that of non-human animals, the book is about a twofold proposal. It includes the idea that (human and animal) communication has an intrinsically persuasive nature along with the hypothesis that humans developed narrative forms of communication in order to enhance their persuasive abilities. In this view, narrative persuasion becomes the feature that distinguishes human communication from animal communication. The study of the transition from animal communication to language addresses both the selective pressures that led communication for persuasive purposes to take a narrative form and the cognitive architectures and expressive systems that enabled our ancestors to cope with the selective pressures of persuasive/narrative-based communication. Language evolution is interdisciplinary, even from the specific perspective of evolutionary pragmatics chosen here. Therefore, this book is intended for researchers working in fields such as cognitive sciences, philosophy, evolutionary biology, cognitive psychology, and primatology. It also represents a valuable resource for advanced students in cognitive sciences, linguistics, and philosophy.
Understanding Race
The human species is very young, but in a short time it has acquired some striking, if biologically superficial, variations across the planet. As this book shows, however, none of those biological variations can be understood in terms of discrete races, which do not actually exist as definable entities. Starting with a consideration of evolution and the mechanisms of diversification in nature, this book moves to an examination of attitudes to human variation throughout history, showing that it was only with the advent of slavery that considerations of human variation became politicized. It then embarks on a consideration of how racial classifications have been applied to genomic studies, demonstrating how individualized genomics is a much more effective approach to clinical treatments. It also shows how racial stratification does nothing to help us understand the phenomenon of human variation, at either the genomic or physical levels.
Plant Molecular Farming
Molecular farming is a biotechnological approach that includes the genetic adjustment of agricultural products to create proteins and chemicals for profitable and pharmaceutical purposes. Plant molecular farming describes the manufacture of recombinant proteins and other biologically active product in plants. This approach depends on a genetic transformation of plants that can be accomplished by the methods of stable gene transfer, such as gene transfer to nuclei and chloroplasts, and unstable transfer methods like viral vectors. The requirement for recombinant proteins in terms of quality, quantity, and diversity is increasing exponentially This demand is traditionally met by recombinant protein construction technologies and the engineering of orthodox expression systems based on bacteria or mammalian cell cultures. However, majority of developing countries cannot afford the high costs of medicine derived from such existing methods. Hence, we need to produce not only the new drugsbut also the cheaper versions of those already present in the market. Plant molecular farming is considered as a cost-effective technology that has grown and advanced tremendously over the past two decades. This book summarizes the advances and challenges of plant molecular farming for all those who are working on or have an interest in this rapidly emerging area of research.
Tabata Training
Tabata Training: The Science and History of HIIT provides evidence and mechanism(s) that explain the beneficial effects Tabata training has on diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and colon cancer. The book also includes coverage of maximal oxygen uptake as an essential parameter of both sport and health-oriented fitness for researchers and exercisers. HIIT was first prepared for young adults, but nowadays, evidence has been accumulated to prescribe it to adult men and women. For kids, several papers have reported beneficial effects of Tabata training on normal and obese pupils of elementary to high school students as well as for physical education classes. Recent studies showed that not only improving sport performance, Tabata training contributes to good health outcomes in adults.
Retrotransposons and Human Disease
Thirty years ago we knew that retrotransposons made up at least half of our genomes, but little about their role in biology. The human genome has since been sequenced and the position of all retrotransposons in the reference sequence has been determined. However, as of today, the function of retrotransposons still remains elusive. We know much more about the diseases associated with their movement and the host defenses we all have against them.This volume explores an array of diseases in humans associated with L1 retrotransposon movement within the human genome, including some cancers such as colon cancer and neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.The chapters explore the diversity of retrotransposons, their different biological mechanisms, the role of L1 in their movement, and their contribution to human diseases. This book posits that somatic events caused by retrotransposons have implications for mosaicism and are often associated with cancers. Germline events are common, occur quite early in development, and are a cause of single gene diseases. All in all, the authors implicate L1 retrotransposons as major sources of human diversity and advocate for their continued study.
Domains and Major Transitions of Social Evolution
Evolutionary change is usually incremental and continuous, but some increases in organizational complexity have been radical and divisive. Evolutionary biologists, who refer to such events as "major transitions", have not always appreciated that these advances were novel forms of pairwise commitment that subjugated previously independent agents. Inclusive fitness theory convincingly explains cooperation and conflict in societies of animals and free-living cells, but to deserve its eminent status it should also capture how major transitions originated: from prokaryote cells to eukaryote cells, via differentiated multicellularity, to colonies with specialized queen and worker castes. As yet, no attempt has been made to apply inclusive fitness principles to the origins of these events. Domains and Major Transitions of Social Evolution develops the idea that major evolutionary transitions involved new levels of informational closure that moved beyond looser partnerships. Early neo-Darwinians understood this principle, but later social gradient thinking obscured the discontinuity of life's fundamental organizational transitions. The author argues that the major transitions required maximal kinship in simple ancestors - not conflict reduction in already elaborate societies. Reviewing more than a century of literature, he makes testable predictions, proposing that open societies and closed organisms require very different inclusive fitness explanations. It appears that only human ancestors lived in societies that were already complex before our major cultural transition occurred. We should therefore not impose the trajectory of our own social history on the rest of nature. This thought-provoking text is suitable for graduate-level students taking courses in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, organismal developmental biology, and evolutionary genetics, as well as professional researchers in these fields. It will also appeal to a broader, interdisciplinary audience, including the social sciences and humanities.
RNA, the Epicenter of Genetic Information
The origin story and emergence of molecular biology is muddled. The early triumphs in bacterial genetics and the complexity of animal and plant genomes complicate an intricate history. This book documents the many advances, as well as the prejudices and founder fallacies.
Domains and Major Transitions of Social Evolution
Evolutionary change is usually incremental and continuous, but some increases in organizational complexity have been radical and divisive. Evolutionary biologists, who refer to such events as "major transitions", have not always appreciated that these advances were novel forms of pairwise commitment that subjugated previously independent agents. Inclusive fitness theory convincingly explains cooperation and conflict in societies of animals and free-living cells, but to deserve its eminent status it should also capture how major transitions originated: from prokaryote cells to eukaryote cells, via differentiated multicellularity, to colonies with specialized queen and worker castes. As yet, no attempt has been made to apply inclusive fitness principles to the origins of these events. Domains and Major Transitions of Social Evolution develops the idea that major evolutionary transitions involved new levels of informational closure that moved beyond looser partnerships. Early neo-Darwinians understood this principle, but later social gradient thinking obscured the discontinuity of life's fundamental organizational transitions. The author argues that the major transitions required maximal kinship in simple ancestors - not conflict reduction in already elaborate societies. Reviewing more than a century of literature, he makes testable predictions, proposing that open societies and closed organisms require very different inclusive fitness explanations. It appears that only human ancestors lived in societies that were already complex before our major cultural transition occurred. We should therefore not impose the trajectory of our own social history on the rest of nature. This thought-provoking text is suitable for graduate-level students taking courses in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, organismal developmental biology, and evolutionary genetics, as well as professional researchers in these fields. It will also appeal to a broader, interdisciplinary audience, including the social sciences and humanities.
How Medicines Work
This highly illustrated volume will describe, through clear diagrams and concise text, how the most prescribed, as well as new medicines, work in the body for a broad range of diseases. By bringing this knowledge together in one place, we will seek to answer the question, "What is the impact of the accelerating knowledge in biology, drug research and medical sciences on the development and approval of medicines for the treatment of a wide range of diseases". Furthermore, information on how a successful drug works can make the case for a particular therapy and provide an informed dialog between a patient and physician, or a professor and a student, or a regulator and pharmaceutical scientist.With the continuing explosion of medical information, the book addresses the following themes: What topics should the medical schools teach the next generation of students?How to serve a medical practitioner who wishes to be better informed about the latest medicines?What about the regulatory agencies where the safety and effectiveness of a new drug can be better evaluated in the context of the biology of a particular disease.The advent of personalized medicine teaches that each patient is unique, which requires an understanding of the confluence of genetics, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology for a specific drug.This book breaks important new ground by focusing on the cellular biochemistry of selected diseases and how the respective drug works, using a concise, focused and non-technical graphic review.
Hallmarks of Parkinson’s Disease
This book gathers a collection of review articles aiming to provide an update of the current knowledge on PD pathogenesis. It notably includes an overview of several key cellular dysfunctions underlying the etiology of Parkinson's disease, including ER stress, mitophagy and alpha-synuclein-linked pathology.
An Elementary Treatise on Human Anatomy
An Elementary Treatise on Human Anatomy is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1861. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.
Biological Systematics
This book presents the theoretical foundations of the biological systematics. The history, structure and main tasks of systematics are summarized. Briefly reviewed are the philosophical foundations of systematics and the structure and content of taxonomic theories.
The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Biosensors
The scope of this Special Issue is to collect some of the contributions to the 2nd International Electronic Conference on Biosensors, which was held to gather well-known experts worldwide who are currently working in the field of biosensors and provide an online forum for sharing and exchanging knowledge on this subject.Biosensors have a very wide range of applications at present, due to their simplicity, low cost and precision, which aim to improve the quality of life. This range covers their use for environmental monitoring, disease detection, food safety, defense, drug discovery, etc. Particular attention was oaid to these different topics, including implantable and wearable biosensors, the role of biological and chemical recognition elements, microfluidics and point-of-care testing.
