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This book explores applications of endophytic fungi in agriculture and plant protection. It provides insights into the potential of these fungi in developing environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural techniques. This book discusses the use of endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents against plant infections and stressors. It is targeted at farmers, plant pathologists, agricultural researchers, biotechnology experts, and students of biology and agronomy who are interested in learning more about the expanding applications of fungal endophytes in agriculture and plant health. The book examines the role of endophytes and their bioactive metabolites in agricultural yield, plant growth promotion, and plant defence against stress and disease.

Hepatobiliary cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancers, have high rate of mortality and low survival rate. The third volume of the “Interdisciplinary Cancer Research” series, entitled “Hepatobiliary Cancers: An Interdisciplinary Approach” publishes comprehensive volumes on mechanisms of hepatobiliary cancers and therapeutic modalities and presents the most updated and peer-reviewed chapters on hepatobiliary cancers. This interdisciplinary series is of special value to researchers working on cell biology, immunology, biochemistry, genetics, and practitioners working on oncology and gastroenterology. This is the main concept of Cancer Immunology Project (CIP), which is a part of Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN). This interdisciplinary book will be of special value for researchers, oncologists, and gastroenterologists who wish to extend their knowledge on hepatobiliary cancers.

Hepatology: An Evidence-Based Clinical Compendium provides current and comprehensive insights into the field of hepatology, covering various aspects such as diagnosis, management, control, techniques, procedures, and technology. By offering the latest information, the book ensures that readers stay up-to-date with the rapidly evolving landscape of hepatology. The comprehensive scope covers a wide range of topics related to liver diseases, including epidemiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology. It features contributions from esteemed experts worldwide and is enhanced with high-quality diagrams. The book serves as a valuable resource for scientists and researchers, offering a solid foundation for their investigations and clinical inquiries.Moreover, the book goes beyond the discussion of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology, and presents updated treatment and management guidelines for liver diseases, making it a go-to reference for Clinicians treating liver diseases. - Presents current and comprehensive insights into the diagnosis, management, control, techniques, procedures, and technology in hepatology - Facilitates evidence-based decision-making for better patient care, enabling practitioners to effectively incorporate research findings into their treatment approaches - Guides the selection of optimal treatment and management options, equipping readers with valuable resources to overcome challenges encountered in clinical practice - Enhances knowledge and skills for clinical practice, offering valuable support to healthcare professionals seeking to improve their expertise

Assessing different materials in various fields is necessary to move on a sustainable path. In this regard, imaging is a nondestructive technology with high speed, accuracy, reliability, repeatability, and low cost and complexity that is widely used in different sectors. The technology receives different ranges of wavelengths through electromagnetic spectra emitted from objects, and then provides and records the corresponding images. Machine vision systems by applying image processing operation are developed to process the acquired images for assessing the internal and external properties of objects via extracting color, textural, and morphological features of the images and then analyzing them by applying different artificial intelligence or statistical prediction methods. Imaging technology includes different techniques such as visible and non-visible systems. Visible imaging technology that is widely used for assessing and conducting subsequent operations such as automatic sorting and grading objects, instead of human labor. Nonvisible imaging such as thermal, near-infrared hyperspectral, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound imaging are techniques that work beyond the human eye. This ability expands the applications of imaging technology in different sectors such as agriculture and medicine. The goal of this book is to briefly discuss the current applications and future trends of different imaging techniques in different fields. This book provides useful information about different imaging techniques and their applications for students, researchers, and companies to use and develop the technology for assessing different objects of interest.

This book covers the morphological characteristics, ethnopharmacological properties, isolated and identified structurally diverse secondary metabolites, biological and pharmacological activities of medicinal plants. Ethnopharmacology is the systematic study of folklore/traditional medicines, which continue to provide innovative drugs and lead molecules for the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, plant secondary metabolites, used as a single molecule or as a mixture, are medicines that can be effective and safe even when synthetic drugs fail. Therefore, the description of these secondary metabolites as well as methods for the targeted expression and/or purification is of high interest.In addition to surveying the morphological features, ethnopharmacological properties, biological and pharmacological activities, and studies of clinical trials, this book offers a comprehensive treatment of 56 plant species. It also presents the cell culture conditions and various methods used for increasing the production of medicinally important secondary metabolites in plant cell cultures.This volume: Provides the morphological features, habitat, and distribution of each species of 56 genera selected from the different regions of the world. Presents ethnopharmacological applications of various species of the 56 genera in this book. Different species of 56 genera are used for ethnomedicinal uses by the people of various countries of the world. Describes structures of various secondary metabolites identified in 56 plant species together with their biological and pharmacological activities. Discusses strategies of secondary metabolites production, such as organ culture, pH, elicitation, hairy root cultures, light, and mutagenesis. Provides a complete overview of each species of 56 genera and the complete information up to 2022. Ethnopharmacological Properties, Biological Activity and Phytochemical Attributes of Medicinal Plants is an important book for undergraduate and postgraduate students, pharmacologists, phytochemists, Ayurvedic practitioners, medical doctors, and biotechnologists interested in the ethnopharmacological properties, phytochemistry, biological, and pharmacological activities of plants.

Plant bioactive compounds are plant-based natural products that display a variety of pharmacological applications. These bioactive compounds are important as medicines, pigments and flavorings since most of the pharmaceutical industries are highly dependent on medicinal plants and their extraction. The types and concentrations of bioactive compounds produced by plants are determined by the species, genotype, physiology, developmental stage and environmental factors during growth, determining the physiological adaptive responses employed by various plant taxonomic groups in coping with the stress and defensive stimuli. In the past two decades there has been a renewed interest in the study of conventional aspects such as elicitors and biotic and abiotic stress factors that influence secondary metabolism during in vitro and in vivo growth of plants. the application of molecular biology tools and techniques are facilitating increased understanding of the signaling processes and pathwaysinvolved in the bioactive compounds production in subcellular, cellular, organ and whole plant systems during in vivo and in vitro growth, with application in the metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways intermediates. Biosynthesis and Manipulation of Bioactive compounds in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants provides a comprehensive introduction and review of the state-of-the-art biotechnological tools used in enhancement of bioactive compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants. Readers will find a systematic overview of techniques such as Omics, Crisper /Cas9 and RNAi to enhance plant bioactive contents including various in vitro techniques, hairy root culture and transgenic technology to enhance plant bioactive contents using plant tissue culture approaches. The chapters provide an overview of the role of induced mutation, biotic and abiotic stress to increase the bioactive contents in plants, plus the role of endophytes to enhance the contents of plant bioactive compounds and standard operating procedures using hydroponics system of cultivation for significant enhancement of bioactive compounds.This book serves as a single source for researchers working in plant secondary metabolites and the pharmaceutical industry.

The book provides essential information on some of the promising edible medicinal plants and how these possess both nutritional as well as therapeutic value. The significance of the edible plants in traditional medicine and the importance of the distribution of their chemical constituents are discussed systematically concerning the role of these plants in ethnomedicine in different regions of the world. The current volume deals with the individual plants'phytochemical and pharmacological properties, emphasizing human health. The title would demonstrate the value of natural edible plants and introduce readers to state-of-the-art developments and trends in omics-driven research. This book is a single-source scientific reference to explore the specific factors that contribute to these potential health benefits and discuss how to maximize those potential benefits. Chemists, food technologists, pharmacologists, phytochemists, and all professionals involved with quality controland standardization will find in this book a valuable and updated basis for their work.

This book addresses the unmet needs of the medical community in dealing with the psychological problems, particularly anxiety and depression, of patients diagnosed with cancer. Providing a scholarly review of the impact of cancer diagnosis on patients'emotional and psychological status, as well as the evidence that psychological factors impact cancer occurrence and biological behavior, this book explores the therapeutic implications of such converse dynamics. Chapters review financial toxicity, eHealth, palliative care, mindfulness, sleep and cancer, social support and cancer, cultural diversity, pediatric and adolescent oncology, and geriatric oncology. While intended primarily for the professional readership of oncologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and palliative care physicians, a final chapter also provides practical information on available resources for patients. This fully updated and expanded new edition of Psychological Aspects of Cancer: A Guide to Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Cancer, Their Causes, and Their Management provides practitioners with cutting edge knowledge as well as practical information that translates into better care for patients with cancer.

The book covers the taxonomy, diversity, bioactivity, and nanotechnology involved in the study of the genus Phoma. It presents the most recent molecular taxonomic approach, secondary metabolites, different bioactivities, combating microbial threats, and its use in nanotechnology from a basic research to an applied perspective. Expert contributors provide the latest research and applications to present thorough coverage of this important genus in human and plant pathology and the disease management.

Fungi are an essential, fascinating and biotechnologically useful group of organisms with an incredible biotechnological potential for industrial exploitation. Knowledge of the world's fungal diversity and its use is still incomplete and fragmented. There are many opportunities to accelerate the process of filling knowledge gaps in these areas. The worldwide interest of the current era is to increase the tendency to use natural substances instead of synthetic ones. The increasing urge in society for natural ingredients has compelled biotechnologists to explore novel bioresources which can be exploited in industrial sector. Fungi, due to their unique attributes and broad range of their biological activities hold great promises for their application in biotechnology and industry. Fungi are an efficient source of antioxidants, enzymes, pigments, and many other secondary metabolites. The large scale production of fungal pigments and their utility provides natural coloration without creating harmful effects on entering the environment, a safer alternative use to synthetic colorants. The fungal enzymes can be exploited in wide range of industries such as food, detergent, paper, and also for removal toxic waste. This book will serve as valuable source of information as well as will provide new directions to researchers to conduct novel research in field of mycology.Volume 2 of “Industrially Important Fungi for Sustainable Development” provides an overview to understanding bioprospecting of fungal biomolecules and their industrial application for future sustainability. It encompasses current advanced knowledge of fungal communities and their potential biotechnological applications in industry and allied sectors. The book will be useful to scientists, researchers, and students of microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, molecular biology, and environmental biology.

This book provides a visual overview of how to master ultrasonography and ultrasound biomicroscopy techniques. Updated ultrasonic information is included in a simple brief way, featuring didactic points, with a variety of documented scans and illustrated lines underneath for more clarification. Each pathology is accompanied with several scans of different findings to give more information of distinct detections.Ophthalmic Ultrasonography and Ultrasound Biomicroscopy: A Clinical Guide examines many clinical complexities with possible solutions when performing and interpreting ultrasound while also breaking down information for easier intake. The clinical cases are from a specialist eye hospital where many complicated cases are treated, giving a unique insight for the reader to understand treatment for a variety of cases. The book also emphasises the importance of everyday cases with further explanation whilst utilising a diversity of pictures and labels.

This book offers a comprehensive study of biological molecules acquired from marine organisms, which have been exploited for drug discovery with the aim to treat human diseases. Biomolecules have potential impacts on a diverse range of fields, including medical and pharmaceutical science, industrial science, biotechnology, basic research, molecular science, environmental science and climate change, etc. To understand and effectively apply medicinally important biomolecules, multidisciplinary approaches are called for. The ocean remains a rich biological resource, and the vast untapped potential of novel molecules from marine bio-resources has caught the interest of more and more researchers. These novel biological compounds have never been found in terrestrial or other ecosystems, but only in this rich niche. Advances in sampling techniques and technologies, along with increased funding for research and nature conservation, have now encouraged scientists to look deeper in the waters. Aquaculture supports both tremendous seafood production and the bulk production of marine-derived drugs. Furthermore, molecular methods are now being extensively employed to explore the untapped marine microbial diversity. With the help of molecular and biotech tools, the ability of marine organisms to produce new biosynthetic drugs can be greatly enhanced. This book provides an extensive compilation of the latest information on marine resources and their undisputedly vital role in the treatment of diverse ailments.

This reference work presents an authoritative review of endophytes and their applications to human welfare. Endophytes have become a class of interesting and curious microorganisms due to their intimate intra- and intercellular association with plants for competence, survival and reproduction. They can be bacteria or fungi, and they are usually non-pathogenic to their host. Endophytes have important applications in agriculture and industry, namely, they can help with plant growth, act as biocontrol agents and biosurfactant and secondary metabolite producers, and they are also rich sources of bioactive natural products. Novel and beneficial effects of endophytes are constantly emerging, and this book, divided into four sections, provides readers with the latest developments in this fast expanding field. In the first section, readers will discover the biology of the major groups of endophytes, followed by a summary of conventional and molecular tools for endophytes'identification in Section II. The production of high-value metabolites by endophytes will be explored in the third section of this book, and in the final section, readers will find several case studies, examples and prospects for endophytes'application in agriculture and industry. Written by leading international authors, this reference work will appeal to a wide readership, from students and researchers in the field of botany, biotechnology and agriculture to professionals interested in the production and applications of endophytic metabolites.

White biotechnology is industrial biotechnology dealing with various biotech products through applications of microbes. The main application of white biotechnology is commercial production of various useful organic substances, such as acetic acid, citric acid, acetone, glycerine, etc., and antibiotics like penicillin, streptomycin, mitomycin, etc., and value added product through the use of microorganisms especially fungi and bacteria. The value-added products included bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites, pigments and industrially important enzymes for potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medicine and allied sectors for human welfare. In the 21st century, techniques were developed to harness fungi to protect human health (through antibiotics, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive agents, value-added products etc.), which led to industrial scale production of enzymes, alkaloids, detergents, acids, biosurfactants. The first large-scale industrial applications of modern biotechnology have been made in the areas of food and animal feed production (agricultural/green biotechnology) and pharmaceuticals (medical/red biotechnology). In contrast, the production of bio-active compounds through fermentation or enzymatic conversion is known industrial or white biotechnology. The beneficial fungal strains may play important role in agriculture, industry and the medical sectors. The beneficial fungi play a significance role in plant growth promotion, and soil fertility using both, direct (solubilization of phosphorus, potassium and zinc; production of indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid, cytokinin and siderophores) and indirect (production of hydrolytic enzymes, siderophores, ammonia, hydrogen cyanides and antibiotics) mechanisms of plant growth promotion for sustainable agriculture. The fungal strains and their products (enzymes, bio-active compounds and secondary metabolites) are very useful for industry. The discovery of antibiotics is a milestone in the development of white biotechnology. Since then, white biotechnology has steadily developed and now plays a key role in several industrial sectors, providing both high valued nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical products. The fungal strains and bio-active compounds also play important role in the environmental cleaning. This volume covers the latest research developments related to value-added products in white biotechnology through fungi.

A practical introduction to qualitative research across fields and disciplines Qualitative Research in Practice offers a hands-on introduction to qualitative research design, methods, data, and analysis. Designed as a companion text for any course involving qualitative research, this book explores the different types of qualitative studies with relevant examples and analysis by the researchers themselves. The workbook format makes it easy to use in the classroom or the field, and the depth of information makes it a valuable resource for students of social work, psychology, counseling, management, education, health care, or any field in which qualitative research is conducted. While quantitative research is primarily concerned with numerical data, qualitative research methods are more flexible, responsive, and open to contextual information. To a qualitative researcher, a situation is defined by the participants'perspectives, making it the primary method of inquiry for understanding social phenomena through the lens of experience. This book introduces the essentials of qualitative research, bolstered by expert analysis and discussion that provides deeper insight than a traditional textbook format would allow. Understand the fundamental nature of qualitative research Learn how to accurately assess and evaluate qualitative research Explore qualitative research's many forms and applications Gain insight on qualitative research in a variety of fields and disciplines How does one codify an experience? Is it possible to measure emotion in units? Qualitative research fills the void where numbers cannot reach. It is the best tool we have for studying the unquantifiable aspects of the human experience, and it is an essential tool in a wide variety of fields. Qualitative Research in Practice provides translatable skills in a practical format to quicken your transition from “learning” to “using.”

Plant endophytes are a potential source for the production of bioactive compounds that can fight against devastating diseases in both plants and humans. Among these endophytic microorganisms, endophytic fungi are one of the dominant group of microorganisms with a potential role in plant growth promotion and the discovery of noble bioactive natural products. Endophytic fungi possess several bioactivities like anticancer, antimicrobial, insecticidal, plant growth stimulants, crop protection, phytoremediation, etc. Presence of modular biosynthetic genes clusters like PKS and NRPS in several endophytic fungi underscores the need to understand and explore such organisms. This volume presents and demonstrates the applied aspects of endophytic fungi. Practical applications of such endophytes are discussed in detail, including studies in pharmaceutical development and agricultural management of important microbial diseases. The beneficial effects that endophytic fungi provide to host plants—enhancing growth, increasing fitness, strengthening tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses through secondary metabolites—are also discussed. The reader is provided with a comprehensive and detailed understanding of such relationships between endophytic fungi and their host.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current limitations and unmet needs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It also provides newly emerging concepts, approaches, and technologies to address challenges. Topics covered include changing landscape of HCC etiologies in association with health disparities, framework of clinical management algorithm, new and experimental modalities of HCC diagnosis and prognostication, multidisciplinary treatment options including rapidly evolving molecular targeted therapies and immune therapies, multi-omics molecular characterization, and clinically relevant experimental models. The book is intended to assist collaboration between the diverse disciplines and facilitate forward and reverse translation between basic and clinical research by providing a comprehensive overview of relevant areas, covering epidemiological trend and population-level patient management strategies, new diagnostic and prognostic tools, recent advances in the standard care and novel therapeutic approaches, and new concepts in pathogenesis and experimental approaches and tools, by experts and opinion leaders in their respective fields. By thoroughly and concisely covering whole aspects of HCC care, Hepatocellular Carcinoma serves as a valuable reference for multidisciplinary readers, and promotes the development of personalized precision care strategies that lead to substantial improvement of disease burden and patient prognosis in HCC.

This book focuses on the symbiotic microbiomes of invertebrates in coral reefs, especially sponges and corals. It provides in-depth and up-to-date reviews on the microbial structure and diversity, metabolism and function, symbiosis and coevolution, environment and adaption, and bioactive potentials. Meanwhile, the future perspectives will be discussed according to the existing problems and the development trend. This book will be of particular interest to the professionals in marine ecology, marine biotechnology, as well as medicinal chemists and molecular biologists.

Plant classifications are based on morphological characters and it is difficult, particularly in small plants and grasses, to identify these below generic level on the basis of these characters using a dissecting microscope. Plant species have intra- and inter-specific variation in secondary metabolites which can be utilized as marker compounds for identification and classification of plants. Secondary metabolites are produced as a result of primary metabolism and the production of these compounds not only involves several genes but also it is an energy dependent process. Hence these products cannot be considered as insignificant for the plant and the environment. Modern tools of molecular biology and secondary metabolites present in them can definitively decide about classification of plants. Absence of correct identification of plant is associated to many problems of resource utilization. Due to wide availability of these tools, interest has revived in systematics and correct classification of plants based on these parameters for their sustainable utilization and resource management. The purpose of this book is to assess the potential of phytochemical and molecular tools in the systematic and classification of plants. The topics covered include species concept, barcoding and phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomy use of polyketides, carotenes, cuticular wax, volatile oils, biodiversity of corals, metazoans, Ruta and Echinocereus. It provides comprehensive and broad subject-based reviews, useful for students, teachers, researchers, and all others interested in the field. The field has been kept wide and general to accommodate the wide-ranging topics. This book will be useful to agriculturists, chemists, botanists, industrialists, and those involved in planning of crop plants.

This book illustrates the multiple roles of fungi in everyday life. Fungi are the large group of organisms with tremendous diversity and economic importance. Their ability to produce commercially efficient useful products makes them the vulnerable sustainable tool for the future generation. This book describes a systems approach and provides a means to share the latest developments and advances about the benefits of fungi including their wide application, traditional uses, modern practices, along with designing of strategies to harness their potential. The chapters are organized with data, providing information related to different sustainable aspects of fungi in agriculture, its cultivation and conservation strategies, industrial and environmental utilization, advanced bioconversion technologies and modern biotechnological interventions. Updated information and current opinion related to its application for sustainable agriculture, environment, and industries as futuristic tools havebeen presented and discussed in different chapters. The book also elucidates a comprehensive yet a representative description of the challenges associated with the sustained application of fungi to achieve the goals of sustainability.

This book highlights the latest international research on different aspects of medicinal plants and fungi. Studies over the last decade have demonstrated that bioactive compounds isolated from medicinal fungi have promising antitumor, cardiovascular, immunomodulatory, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective properties. In the light of these studies, the book includes chapters (mostly review articles) by eminent researchers from twelve countries across the globe working in different disciplines of medicinal plants and fungi. It discusses topics such as the prevention of major neurodegenerative and neurotoxic mechanisms by Centella asiatica; the medicinal properties and therapeutic applications of several mushrooms species found in different parts of the world; and fungal endophytes as a source of bioactive metabolites including anticancer and cardioprotective agents. There are also chapters on strategies for identifying bioactive secondary metabolitesof fungal origin; the use of genomic information to explore the biotechnological potential of medicinal mushrooms; and solid state fermentation of agro-industrial and forestry residues for the production of medicinal mushrooms. It is a valuable resource for the researchers, professionals and students working in the area of medicinal plants and fungi.

The main focus of this book entitled is to provide an up-to-date coverage of marine sponges and their significance in the current era. This book is an attempt to compile an outline of marine sponge research to date, with specific detail on these bioactive compounds, and their pharmacological and biomedical applications. The book encompasses twenty chapters covering various topics related to Marine Sponges. Initial couple of chapters deal about the worldwide status of marine sponge research, the recent findings regarding dynamics of sponges, and several interesting research areas, that are believed to be deserving of increased attention. Variety of sponges, their toxicology, metagenomics, pharmaceutical significance and their possible applications in biomedicine has been discussed in detail. The second half of this part includes chapters on chemical ecology of marine sponges followed by the discussion on importance of bioeroding sponges in aquaculture systems. The following four chapters of the book deal majorly with the chemical molecules of marine sponges. In the fifth chapter, marine sponge-associated actinobacteria and their pysicochemical properties have been discussed followed by their bioactive potential. The biological application of marine sponges has been presented in later chapters with the classification of biologically active compounds being explored in detail. The second half of the book presents the vast repertoire of secondary metabolites from marine sponges, which include terpenoids, heterocycles, acetylenic compounds, steroids and nucleosides. Further, the bioactive potential of these compounds has also been discussed. One of the constituent chapter elaborates the bioactive alkaloids from marine sponges namely, pyridoacridine, indole, isoquinolene, piperidene, quinolizidine, steroidal and bromotyrosine alkaloids isolated from them. In the next couple of chapters, important sponge polymers and the anticancer effects of marine sponge compounds have been presented. The most interesting aspect of sponge biology is their use in biomedical arena. An effort has been made in this book, to cover the major constituents of sponges and their biomedical potentials. The major portion of sponge body is composed of collagen and silica and used in tissue engineering as scaffold material. This part of the book compiles chapters delineating the isolation of sponge biomaterials including collagen and their use in medical diagnostics. Overall, this book would be an important read for novice and experts in the field of sponge biology.

Molecular Therapies of Cancer comprehensively covers the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer drug actions in a comparably systematic fashion. While there is currently available a great deal of literature on anti-cancer drugs, books on the subject are often concoctions of invited review articles superficially connected to one another. There is a lack of comprehensive and systematic text on the topic of molecular therapies in cancer. A further deficit in the relevant literature is a progressive sub-specialization that typically limits textbooks on cancer drugs to cover either pharmacology or medicinal chemistry or signal transduction, rather than explaining molecular drug actions across all those areas; Molecular Therapies of Cancer fills this void. The book is divided into five sections: 1. Molecular Targeting of Cancer Cells; 2. Emerging and Alternative Treatment Modalities; 3. Molecular Targeting of Tumor-Host Interactions; 4. Anti-Cancer Drug Pharmacokinetics; and 5. Supportive Therapies.

Diagnosing a genetic skin disease can sometimes be a difficult task for a dermatologist. This is especially true for genodermatoses-generally considered rare diseases seldom seen by practicing clinicians. As a result, professionals often have little experience with their diagnosis. The Atlas of Genodermatoses presents a unique collection of such ca

Plant genomics and biotechnology have recently made enormous strides, and hold the potential to benefit agriculture, the environment and various other dimensions of the human endeavor. It is no exaggeration to claim that the twenty-first century belongs to biotechnology. Knowledge generation in this field is growing at a frenetic pace, and keeping abreast of the latest advances and calls on us to double our efforts. Volume II of this two-part series addresses cutting-edge aspects of plant genomics and biotechnology. It includes 37 chapters contributed by over 70 researchers, each of which is an expert in his/her own field of research.Biotechnology has helped to solve many conundrums of plant life that had long remained a mystery to mankind. This volume opens with an exhaustive chapter on the role played by thale cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, which is believed to be the Drosophila of the plant kingdom and an invaluable model plant for understanding basic conceptsin plant biology. This is followed by chapters on bioremediation, biofuels and biofertilizers through microalgal manipulation, making it a commercializable prospect; discerning finer details of biotic stress with plant-fungal interactions; and the dynamics of abiotic and biotic stresses, which also figure elsewhere in the book.Breeding crop plants for desirable traits has long been an endeavor of biotechnologists. The significance of molecular markers, marker assisted selection and techniques are covered in a dedicated chapter, as are comprehensive reviews on plant molecular biology, DNA fingerprinting techniques, genomic structure and functional genomics. A chapter dedicated to organellar genomes provides extensive information on this important aspect. Elsewhere in the book, the newly emerging area of epigenetics is presented as seen through the lens of biotechnology, showcasing the pivotal role of DNA methylation in effecting permanent and transient changes to the genome.Exclusive chapters deal with bioinformatics and systems biology. Handy tools for practical applications such as somatic embryogenesis and micropropagation are included to provide frontline information to entrepreneurs, as is a chapter on somaclonal variation.Overcoming barriers to sexual incompatibility has also long been a focus of biotechnology, and is addressed in chapters on wide hybridization and hybrid embryo rescue. Another area of accomplishing triploids through endosperm culture is included as a non-conventional breeding strategy. Secondary metabolite production through tissue cultures, which is of importance to industrial scientists, is also covered.Worldwide exchange of plant genetic material is currently an essential topic, as is conserving natural resources in situ. Chapters on in vitro conservation of extant, threatened and other valuable germplasms, gene banking and related issues are included, along with an extensive account of the biotechnology of spices – the low-volume, high-value crops. Metabolic engineering is another emerging field that provides commercial opportunities. As is well known, there is widespread concern over genetically modified crops among the public. GM crops are covered, as are genetic engineering strategies for combating biotic and abiotic stresses where no other solutions are in sight. RNAi- and micro RNA- based strategies for crop improvement have proved to offer novel alternatives to the existing non-conventional techniques, and detailed information on these aspects is also included. The book's last five chapters are devoted to presenting the various aspects of environmental, marine, desert and rural biotechnology. The state-of-the-art coverage on a wide range of plant genomics and biotechnology topics will be of great interest to post-graduate students and researchers, including the employees of seed and biotechnology companies, and to instructors in the fields of plant genetics, bree

​This SpringerBrief sheds new light on bioactive materials from marine extremophiles. It deals with all aspects of the chemical compounds produced by organisms living under extreme conditions that may have potential as drugs or lead to novel drugs for human use.

This timely desk reference focuses on marine-derived bioactive substances which have biological, medical and industrial applications. The medicinal value of these marine natural products are assessed and discussed. Their function as a new and important resource in novel, anticancer drug discovery research is also presented in international contributions from several research groups. For example, the potential role of Spongistatin, Apratoxin A, Eribulin mesylate, phlorotannins, fucoidan, as anticancer agents is explained. The mechanism of action of bioactive compounds present in marine algae, bacteria, fungus, sponges, seaweeds and other marine animals and plants are illustrated via several mechanisms. In addition, this handbook lists various compounds that are active candidates in chemoprevention and their target actions. The handbook also places into context the demand for anticancer nutraceuticals and their use as potential anti-cancer pharmaceuticals and medicines. This study of advanced and future types of natural compounds from marine sources is written to facilitate the understanding of Biotechnology and its application to marine natural product drug discovery research.

The roles of microbes in agriculture, industry and environment have been the point of interest since long time for their potential exploitation. Although only a fraction of microbial diversity was accessed by microbiologists earlier for harnessing them owing to limited techniques available. The molecular techniques have opened new vistas to access the wide field of the unexplored microbes and their exploitation for useful genes and novel metabolites. Sincere efforts have been made in biotechnology using microbes leading to improve our life with respect to agriculture and people health. This comprehensive volume covers different aspects of microbial biotechnology and its management in sustainable agriculture for food security and improved human health. The book comprises four sections: Endophytes and Mycorrhizae, Microbial Diversity and Plant Protection, Microbial Functions and Biotechnology, and Microbes and the Environment, which contain 53 chapters. The book examines the aspects on endophytes and mycorrhizae, bioactive compounds, growth promoting microorganisms, disease management with emphasis on biocontrol, genetics of disease resistance, microbial enzymes, advances in potential of microbes and their industrial as well as pharmaceutical applications. In addition, the use of botanicals, and the etiology and management of medicinal and aromatic plants in the post harvest management have been reviewed in greater depth for the benefit of teaching and research community. The biotechnological developments using microbe potential have enabled us combat the environment and human health problems worldwide in ecofriendly manner. We are sure that this volume will be highly useful to all those concerned with fungi, bacteria, viruses and their biology, including environmental and public health officers and professionals in the field of interest. The volume is an exhaustive coverage of almost all the aspects of microbial biology andbiotechnology.

​In recent years there has been significant attention paid on the endophytic research by various groups working within this domain. Mutualistic endophytic microbes with an emphasis on the relatively understudied fungal endophytes are the focus of this special book. Plants are associated with micro-organisms: endophytic bacteria and fungi, which live inter- and intra-cellularly without inducing pathogenic symptoms, but have active biochemical and genetic interactions with their host. Endophytes play vital roles as plant growth promoters, biocontrol agents, biosurfactant producers, enzymes and secondary metabolite producers, as well as providing a new hidden repertoire of bioactive natural products with uses in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and other biotechnological applications. The increasing interest in endophytic research generates significant progress in our understanding of the host-endophyte relationship at molecular and genetic level. The bio-prospection of microbial endophytes has led to exciting possibilities for their biotechnological application as biocontrol agent, bioactive metabolites, and other useful traits. Apart from these virtues, the microbial endophytes may be adapted to the complex metabolism of many desired molecules that can be of significant industrial applications. These microbes can be a useful alternative for sustainable solutions for ecological control of pests and diseases, and can reduce the burden of excess of chemical fertilizers for this purpose. This book is an attempt to review the recent development in the understanding of microbial endophytes and their potential biotechnological applications. This is a collection of literature authored by noted researchers having signatory status in endophytic research and summarizes the development achieved so far, and future prospects for further research in this fascinating area of research.

Psychological Aspects of Cancer: A Guide to Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Cancer, Their Causes and Their Management opens with two essays on the biological basis of emotion/mental-driven body processes and disease. The consequence of such considerations is that since thoughts and emotions can be modulated and changed by health care professionals, psychological counseling should be seen not only as a way to help patients cope, but possibly to influence the disease itself. A unique overview of a key area of cancer care, this important title then proceeds to offer a section on genetic predispositions to cancer and the psychological considerations involved in screening and pre-emptive therapies and decision-making in cancer therapy. A third section deals with the philosophical and religious underpinnings of psychological factors involved in coping with disease state stressors and the roles of hope in coping. The fourth section is an acknowledgement that patients with cancer live in a social context, which often includes a partner and/or caregiver. The fifth section includes several essays on aspects and modalities of care-giving that are designed to help patients coping with their cancer and its aftermath, which increasingly extends for years. An important title covering key aspects of one of the most troubling disorders of our time, Psychological Aspects of Cancer: A Guide to Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Cancer, Their Causes and Their Management will provide the busy practitioner with cutting edge knowledge as well as practical information that can translate into better care for patients with cancer.

Advances in Psychology Research'presents original research results on the leading edge of psychology research. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial research results across a broad spectrum.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that are closely related to humans at cellular level. Human fungal pathogens belong to various classes of fungi, mainly zygo- cetes, ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and deuteromycetes. In recent years, fungal infections have dramatically increased as a result of improved diagnosis, high frequency of catheterization, instrumentation, etc. However, the main cause remains the increasing number of immunosuppressed patients, mostly because of HIV infection and indiscriminate usage of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics and prosthetic devices, and grafts in clinical settings. Presently available means of combating fungal infections are still weak and clumsy compared to control of bacterial infection. The present scenario of antifungal therapy is still based on two classes of antifungal drugs (polyenes and azoles). These drugs are effective in many cases, but display toxicity and limited spectrum of ef?cacy. The recent trend towards emergence of drug-resistant isolates in the clinic is an additional problem. In recent years, a few new antifungal drugs have entered the clinics, but they are expected to undergo same fate as the older antifungal drugs. The application of fungal genomics offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop novel antifungal drugs. However, it is too early to expect any novel drugs, as the antifungal drug discovery program is in the stage of infancy. Interestingly, several novel antifungal drug targets have been identi?ed and validated.

Book Description: Optimism and pessimism are complementary, but opposing, dispositions. In general, optimists consistently expect good outcomes and pessimists consistently expect bad outcomes. These variations in human behavior have profound mental and physical implications. The aim of the present work is to provide an overview of the psychology of pessimism. It is composed of four sections – I: How are optimism and pessimism measured?, II: What is the relationship between optimism and pessimism?, III: What is the relationship between optimism-pessimism and health?, and IV: What are the biology and chemistry of optimism-pessimism? For various reasons, rigorous analysis of pessimism has been difficult. Nonetheless, recent advances, including the development of numerous psychological batteries, have allowed for structured, scientific investigation. Indeed, several studies have examined the medical implications and biological and chemical bases of pessimism. Nonetheless, the psychology of pessimism is imperfect and further study is needed.

Les trois tomes de ces Contes et proverbes de Mauritanie offrent près de quatre cents contes et trois mille proverbes, de la littérature orale de ce pays en grande partie saharien. Les contes merveilleux sont rassemblés dans le tome II, où se croisent les humains et des êtres dotés de qualités surnaturelles.

Maman, je pars, tu ne dois pas pleurer, je mourrai peut-être au large de la Sicile entre deux rangées de barbelés, saleté de frontière. Si ma traversée est réussie, tu apprendras à sourire, à ne plus pleurer. Je te le jure, je te le promets. Ami, si tu me lis, tu vas peut-être trouver ma chronique un peu pleurnicharde... Ce n'est que le brouillard diffus d'un racisme ordinaire, une ambiance, enracinée dans la société française, dans la vie de tous les jours.

L'immigration maghrébine au Québec a connu un développeemnt important à partir des années 1990. L'auteur a recueilli les témoignanges de Maghrébin(e)s installés à Montréal, qui racontent leurs expériences et leurs impressions, leurs interrogations, leurs difficultés, tout ce qui fait qu'ils sont devenus des Québécois à part entière. Ils livrent leurs opinions sur la place qu'ils occupent au sein de la société d'accueil et sur leur devenir en tant que communauté au Canada.

Cet ouvrage est la biographie d'un guerrier de l'Afrique de l'Est, Roblek-Kamil, au cours de la deuxième moitié du 19ème siècle. A travers la geste d'un héros africain méconnu des historiens, transmise par la mémoire orale des peuplades du pays de Pount, l'auteur nous livre un aperçu de la vie d'autrefois dans les sultanats afars de Tadjourah, de Rahayto et d'Awsa avant l'arrivée des européens dans la Corne de l'Afrique.

Le PPA qui a succédé en mars 1937 à l'Etoile Nord-Africaine interdite par le gouvernement du Front populaire, maintient son programme, sa direction, ses structures. En 1939 le PPA est interdit et toute sa direction est internée. Le PPA refusera toute collaboration avec Vichy, et dans ce contexte, Ferhat Abbas rédige le'Manifeste du peuple algérien'qui sera rejeté par De Gaulle. Le PPA, en lutte pour l'indépendance de l'Algérie, sera violemment réprimé mais dès 1946, puis il se reconstruit et se maintient comme une organisation clandestine. Connaître le PPA est essentiel pour comprendre l'histoire de la révolution algérienne expurgée de l'histoire mythologique du FLN.

L'étude d'énoncés persans courants et la comparaison de trois œuvres de Camus (La Peste, La Chute, Caligula) avec leurs traductions persanes confirment que la mise en relation directe des temps verbaux avec la deixis n'a aucune valeur explicative. Seuls, comme on le verra, les contextes macrosyntaxiques et extralinguistiques permettent d'en rendre compte.

L'Eglise arménienne a toujours œuvré pour l'œcuménisme dans le respect des particularités de chaque Eglise. Malgré les persécutions byzantines, les invasions arabe, turque, l'impéritie des chercheurs d'aventure des Croisades, l'Eglise arménienne a réussi à survivre et à maintenir vivants son enseignement et son peuple. Solidement arrimée au roc de l'orthodoxie, au milieu des tempêtes, l'Eglise arménienne a son rôle à tenir dans l'œcuménisme. L'auteur réussit à rendre attrayantes les évocations historiques, les luttes d'influences régissant les conciles, la vie de l'Eglise et celle des empires.

Au-delà de l'initiation à l'arabe marocain qui se taille, certes, une grande place dans cet ouvrage, l'auteur a fait le choix de présenter au lecteur une mine d'informations sur ce pays particulièrement attachant: de l'histoire à la géographie, de la cuisine à la musique, de la religion aux noms de lieu et des personnes, des mots arabes aux mots français, espagnols ou berbères, le lecteur parcourra les espaces d'un pays plein de contrastes et portera ses sens éblouis sur mille et une curiosités.

Suite de la première publication'De Moïse à Bonaparte', cet ouvrage couvre la lutte d'influence franco-britannique en Egypte pour le contrôle de la route des Indes, la Première Guerre Mondiale, les conséquences de la chute de l'Empire Ottoman, la colonisation européenne et la période contemporaine avec ce qu'elle compte de bouleversements. Il analyse par là-même l'influence prévisible de cette région sur le monde occidental.