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This volume contains the Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-4), held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from 21 to 26 July 2002. TTP-4 continues an important tradition established in 1992 at the first Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and developed subsequently at the Kruger National Park, South Africa (1995) and the High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia (1999). The 31 papers published in this special issue are divided between six sessions, with a keynote address as an introduction. The first session, which deals with biosystematics, genomics and proteomics of ticks, contains the most recent world list of valid tick names. The papers deal with a broad range of tick-host-pathogen interactions, including remote sensing and mapping of ticks and tick-borne pathogens as well as practical aspects of tick control. It is recommended reading for anyone working on ticks and tick-borne pathogens, which are of increasing medical and veterinary importance worldwide.

The purpose of this and future volumes of the Handbook of Genetics is to bring together a collection of relatively short, authoritative essays or annotated compilations of data on topics of significance to geneticists. Many of the essays will deal with various aspects of the biology of certain species selected because they are favorite subjects for genetic investigation in nature or the laboratory. Often there will be an encyclopedic amount of information available on such a species, with new papers appearing daily. Most of these will be written for specialists in a jargon that is be­ wildering to a novice, and sometimes even to a veteran geneticist working with evolutionarily distant organisms. For such readers what is needed is a written introduction to the morphology, life cycle, reproductive be­ havior, and culture methods for the species in question. What are its par­ ticular advantages (and disadvantages) for genetic study, and what have we learned from it? Where are the classic papers, the key bibliographies, and how does one get stocks of wild type or mutant strains? The chapters devoted to different species will contain information of this sort. Only a few hundreds of the millions of species available to biologists have been subjected to detailed genetic study. However, those that have make up a very heterogeneous sample of the living world.

This book provides background knowledge on sustainable bioeconomy development in the Global South and documents its status. It promotes pertinent understanding for the sustainable creation of new value chains within the sector especially in terms of bioenergy and biomaterials as well as the definition of priority areas and supportive framework by local, national, regional and international agencies and consortiums. This book covers the state of affairs of innovative bio-based products from agriculture, forestry, biotechnology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, food and feed, construction materials, bioenergy, paper, and pulp, industrial goods, and environmental management. It also presents narrative-based reviews of bio-based raw materials, processing processes, products, and services that showcase the status of bioeconomy development in the Global South. This book is a reference for trainees and trainers, bioeconomy practitioners and activists, students, civil, private,and public employees and employers, academics, researchers, environmentalists, ecologists, social scientists, agricultural scientists, economists, governmental and non-governmental organization, biodiversity experts, policymakers, conservationists and industries interested in promoting sustainable bioeconomy development in the Global South.

This book includes selected papers from the 6th International Conference on Computational Vision and Bio Inspired Computing (ICCVBIC 2022), held in Coimbatore, India, from November 18 to 19, 2022. This volume presents state-of-the-art research innovations in computational vision and bio-inspired techniques. It includes theoretical and practical aspects of bio-inspired computing techniques, like machine learning, sensor-based models, evolutionary optimization and big data modeling and management that make use of effectual computing processes in the bio-inspired systems.

The words pronounced by Serge Kreiter during the meeting come to mind. They could record exactly the situation of Acarology in Europe and in the World:'I think that in many European countries there are very few full time acarologists. It is very rare to have new positions available.... And public money, from the European Community but also from national countries, is very hard to get when you want to work on mites.... Could two acarological associations in Europe (Eur. A. Ac. and S. I. A. L. F) work together or, better, get married?'So, the fourth symposium of the European Acarologists has not only been the occasion to have an idea on which direction the research is addressed today, but also it pointed out the difficulties of our'scientific hranch'. On the basis of the presentations and invited papers we had evidences of a'new'Acarology based on modern techniques and methods of investigations but also the importance, often sheltered even if of relevant value, of the'old'Acarology made on the alpha taxonomy and basic studies. So, a'new'Acarology needs the'old'one. In this context, the hope to put together the European acarologists has been coming up. This fact, of political meaning, can surely improve the acarological movement and the discussion on this point showed clearly the importance of several other activities and efforts in this direction. We hope that the meeting in Siena will represent a significative stone for the progress of Acarology.

Almost all life depends on light for its survival. It is the ultimate basis for the food we eat (photosynthesis), and many organisms make use of it in basic sensory mechanisms for guiding their behaviour, be it through the complex process of vision, or by the relatively more simple photosens­ itivity of microorganis~urthermore, light has profound implications for the field of medicine, both as a cause of disease (ie UV damage of DNA), and as a therapeutic agent (ie photodynamic therapy). These and other processes are the basis for the science of photobiolog~ which could be defined as the study of the effects of (visible and ultraviolet) light (from both the sun and artificial sources) on living matter. By its very nature, therefore, it is a multidisciplinary science involving branches of biology, chemistry, physics and medicine. This book contains a selection of papers which have been chosen to highlight recent advances in the various disciplines that make up photo­ biology. Although no book on photobiology can hope to be comprehensive, we hope that this volume includes a representative sample of much of what is new in the field. It is, however, inevitable that some areas will be better represented than others reflecting the biases of conference org­ anisers and editors.

This volume is a record of the proceedings of the IXth International Rotifer Symposium, which was held in Khon Kaen, Thailand, on January 16-23, 2000. The symposium was the first meeting of the international group of rotifer researchers held in Asia. The volume contains reviews and research papers dealing with diverse aspects of scientific research related to Rotifera and their ecology. Some of the topics addressed are: taxonomy and zoogeography, ecology, phylogeny and evolution, physiology, biochemistry and population genetics, aquaculture, and ecotoxicology. This book is special because it contains a unique compilation of contemporary rotifer-related research, and is the eighth of a series of rotifer symposium proceedings published in Developments of Hydrobiology. This update of Rotifera studies will be of great interest to invertebrate zoologists, hydrobiologists, ecologists, and aquaculturists, particularly those interested in freshwater habitats.

The book Neuroepigenetic Mechanisms in Health and Disease provides insight into mechanisms of epigenetic control, focusing on molecular, cellular and integrative aspects of neurobiology. Here, leading investigators in the field discuss in each chapter landmark scientific discoveries and recent advances in (neuro) epigenetics. Whereas some chapters concentrate in overviewing basic epigenetic mechanisms and the power of epigenome editing, other sections of the book discuss epigenetic control during learning and memory as well as in diverse brain related alterations, including neurodegenerative and rare neurologic diseases, and psychiatric disorders. In addition, the book covers relevant topics for modern human societies, including how drug abuse, environmental enrichment and meditation can influence brain function through epigenetic mechanisms. This book aims to serve as a useful source for junior scientists to first learn about the topic, as well as to more experienced researchers that seek for a broader view of this rapidly growing field that is beyond their area of specialization.

This book presents a compendium of advanced research and basic principles/approaches related to vetinformatics. All chapters have explored the role of basic methods of vetinformatics that may be very helpful for students and researchers studying/working in the area of veterinary and animal science and may also serve the purpose of textbook. The latest developments in the field are discussed, and basic concepts are introduced in a simple but comprehensive way to ensure that students/researchers are able to understand the more advanced study in the proposed field. It also provides a comprehensive list of resources used for RNAseq data analysis, metagenomics, GWAS, systems biology and multiomics integration, molecular docking, toxicity prediction, QSAR, molecular dynamics simulation, vaccine designing, and machine learning. This book serves as an invaluable resource for researchers, faculty, and students of veterinary and animal sciences for understanding modern approaches and the application of vetinformatics involved in livestock research. This also focuses to guide map and carry out studies and research in the field of vetinformatics.

Flow cytometry is a state-of-the-art technology that is widely used in biological research and clinical diagnostics. It is a high-throughput platform that allows the quantification, differentiation, and functional study of cells or cell like particles in suspension. Various cell components can be targeted with fluorescently labelled antibodies or fluorescent dyes to allow measurement and analysis of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of individual cells within homogenous or heterogeneous populations. Since its commercialization more than five decades ago, flow cytometry has advanced and become an very important analytical tool in translational research. With the advancement of instrument technology, an increasing number of fluorescent dyes, and an expanding range of monoclonal antibodies, the applications of flow cytometry in applied research continue to grow. The use of multiparametric flow cytometry in translational research provides the ability to rapidly identify different cell populations and to simultaneously measure multiple parameters of single cells for efficiently assessing immune status, decrease/increase of specific immune cell populations, cell activation status, etc. of different cells in preclinical and clinical studies. The primary goal of any research work is to take research results from the'bench to-bed and back'. The use of flow cytometry in applied research advances the development of new diagnostic tests or drugs for cancer treatment, immune monitoring, etc. that help in patient care. Today, every biological scientist needs to have basic knowledge of flow cytometry in order to utilise this technology properly in their own research and to understand other's research work. The present book has been designed to give the knowledge of flow cytometry and its applications to the researchers and teachers. It will allow the readers to utilize the technology in an appropriate way in their research work. This book has describing various applications of flow cytometry like cell health monitoring, immunophenotyping, cell sorting, stem cell characterization, micro-vesicle analysis etc.

The book reviews cutting-edge advancements and their implications across various domains of molecular diagnostics. It covers foundational topics like protein-ligand interactions, lipid-protein interactions within biological membranes, and the application of NMR spectroscopy in understanding membrane structures. The book also explores advanced techniques such as X-ray crystallography, liposome microarray assays, and protein-lipid interaction studies. By integrating experimental and computational methods, it provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the complexities of molecular diagnostics, from basic principles to innovative approaches in drug discovery and therapeutic development. Each chapter offers detailed discussions on specific topics, supported by experimental data and methodological insights, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, clinicians, and students seeking to enhance their knowledge and expertise in molecular diagnostics.

Modern biology is moving away from reductionist approaches towards holistic studies that encompass whole genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes. Systems biology is an approach to studying complex biological systems by looking at many biomolecules in a comprehensive way. The aim is to gain a thorough understanding of the biological functions of different classes of molecules and their interactions. Systems Biology II is an up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the latest developments in systems biology, with a particular focus on RNA-based technologies. This book is the second volume in the RNA Technologies series dedicated to this topic. It presents cutting-edge approaches and tools for modelling and analyzing complex biological systems at different levels, from molecular interactions to cellular networks and beyond. With contributions from leading experts in the field, the book covers a wide range of topics, including gene regulatory networks, epigenetics, synthetic biology, omics data analysis, network inference, and more. It explores applications in various areas of the life sciences and biomedicine, such as vaccine development, cancer research, transplantation research and pathogenic processes. This volume is an essential resource for scientists and students working in systems biology, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and related fields, as well as anyone interested in the latest advances in RNA technologies and their applications in biology and medicine.

The book introduces readers to the latest developments in biotechnological methods used for improving the cultivation of silkworms. The text focuses on implementing biotechnological approaches, ranging from basic to advanced techniques, on enhancing silk production, increasing abiotic stress resilience, improving disease tolerance, and developing resistance in silkworm crops. With the current climate crisis and growing demand for high-quality silk, biotechnological applications have become essential in addressing the urgent need to increase silk production. The field of sericulture has made significant breakthroughs, such as identifying DNA markers, linkage association, genome-wide association studies, generating mutants, and introducing transgenic silkworms. Developing silkworms with improved cocoon yield and disease resistance is crucial to boost silk production. The book covers fundamental principles and recent advancements and delves into various methodologies employed inseri-biotechnology for improving silkworm crops. These methodologies include next-generation sequencing for DNA sequencing, using molecular markers to enhance abiotic stress tolerance (specifically high temperature and humidity conditions), expression analysis, RNA interference, gene knockout approaches to bolster disease resistance, and transcriptomics to enhance economically significant parameters such as silk content. The book explains these topics in detail and includes contemporary research appraisals, extensive discussions, and an evaluation of the benefits and risks associated with the use of biotechnological tools. This book serves as an invaluable reference for researchers and academics in biotechnology, molecular biology, and sericulture while also serving as an informative starting point for budding researchers.

This book explores fish genetic resources while emphasizing the importance of genetic diversity for the sustainability of global fish populations. Amidst challenges like overfishing and climate change, preserving fish genetic resources is vital. This book acts as a resource guide and provides an overview of fish genetics, conservation challenges, and sustainable strategies. This work is a call to action, aiming to bridge scientific research with practical application, guiding readers towards sustainable management of fish genetic wealth. It also contains several case studies that highlight the successes and lessons from past conservation efforts. The promotion of sustainable practices also advocates for holistic strategies benefiting the environment and human communities. The technological insights covered in the book, introduce the latest fish genetics research and its conservation applications. It also addresses the national and international frameworks for fish genetic resource conservation. This book covers educational tools designed for students, researchers, professionals and policy makers in advanced aquatic biology and fisheries management.

Every cell, tissue, organ and organism is competent to use signs to exchange information reaching common coordinations and organisations of both single cell and group behavior. These sign-mediated interactions we term biological communication. The regulatory system that works in development, morphology, cell fate and identity, physiology, genetic instructions, immunity, memory/learning, physical and mental disease depends on epigenetic marks. The communication of cells, persistent viruses and their defectives such as mobile genetic elements and RNA networks ensures both the transport of regulatory instructions and the reprogramming of these instructions. But how are the different states of the epigenome orchestrated? The epigenetic pathways respond to various signaling cues such as DNA methylation, histone variants, histone modifications, chromatin structure, nucleosome remodeling, and epigenetic interactions. Epigenetic signals are responsible for the establishment, maintenance and reversal of transcriptional states that are fundamental for the cell's ability to memorize past events, such as changes in the external environment, socio-sphere or developmental cues. External signals trigger changes in the epigenome, allowing cells to respond dynamically. Internal signals direct activities that are necessary for body maintenance, and repairing damaged tissues and organs. With the emergence of epigenetic memory, organisms can fix historical and context dependent impressive experiences. Evolution from now on learnt to learn. Learning means organisms can avoid reproduction of always the same. This is key to adaptation. However, inheritance of acquired characteristics is only one of the many examples of the explanatory power of epigenetics. Behavioral epigenetics demonstrates the way in which environmental and social experiences produce individual differences in behaviour, cognition, personality, and mental health. This book assembles experts to outline the various motifs of all kinds of epigenetic regulation of cells throughout their lives.

This book comprises issues at the cutting edge of fruit fly management in the Americas, covering topics that are focal points of current activity and likely long-term importance to the progress of the field. The book is an invaluable source of ideas and inspiration for entomologists at all levels from graduate students to more-established researchers and professionals. Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) is the most important pests of fruit production worldwide. The purpose of this book is to integrate the experiences of leading scientists in the management of fruit flies in the Americas. In this work, species of fruit flies of economic importance are considered in the genera Anastrepha, Rhagoletis, Bactrocera, and Ceratitis. This book will address fruit flies monitoring, biological control, chemical control, cultural control, sterile insect technique (SIT), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and other control methods. The book provides invaluable resource material to scientists, professionals and students.

Explore the captivating world of plankton with this hands-on guide, perfect for students, educators, hobbyists, and citizen scientists alike. Designed to take you through every step of the process, from collecting samples in local waters to observing them under a microscope and conducting basic experiments, this guide will equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to study plankton at home. You will gain an understanding of the different groups of plankton, their ecological significance, and the environmental challenges they face. With practical advice on gathering and preserving samples, using essential equipment, and identifying common groups, the book also introduces simple experimental techniques to investigate plankton behavior and ecology. For those looking for further knowledge, it briefly covers advanced methods like DNA barcoding and environmental DNA analysis. An image guide, at the end of the book, for easy identification makes this a comprehensive resource. By the end of the reading, you will be ready to deepen your exploration of these vital organisms and perhaps even contribute to their study.

The book delves into metabolomics which is a rapidly growing field that focuses on the study of chemical processes involving metabolites. These metabolites are small molecules that serve as substrates, intermediates, and end products of cellular metabolism. The book covers a wide range of tools and methods to facilitate metabolomics analysis, including modelling, gas chromatography, GC-MS, HPLC, MALDI, nuclear magnetic resonance, and many others. The book introduces metabolomics and then delves into tools and methods used in metabolomics research, followed by genome-scale analysis and fluxomics, which explore the complex metabolic networks within cells. The design of biosynthetic pathways is discussed in detail, highlighting their significance in manipulating cellular metabolism. The book also explores biosensors, chromatography techniques, NMR spectroscopy, transcriptional control of metabolite production, microfluidics, and the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in metabolomics research. Additionally, it delves into cell-free systems, bioprocess optimization, fermentation technology, and industrial-scale production of metabolites. This book fills a significant gap in the market with comprehensive coverage and inclusion of diverse topics making it a valuable resource for students, researchers, scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and practitioners in the field.

The book offers a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge nano-sensor technologies and their critical role in the field of biomedicine. This book covers a diverse range of topics, from fluorescence-based nanosensors that detect and quantify nanovesicles at the nanoscale to the recent advances in nano biosensors for agriculture and health applications. It provides valuable insights into the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their biomedical applications, highlighting eco-friendly approaches to nanomaterial production. The use of FRET-based tools for real-time quantification of vitamins and bioimaging is also extensively discussed, presenting innovative techniques for analysis. The book further delves into the potential of nanosensors in medicine, exploring the characteristic features that make them promising candidates for various medical applications. It also covers the application of fluorescent biosensors for intracellular signalling analysis, paving the way for understanding complex cellular processes. The book also discusses the use of nanosensors for monitoring blood clotting disorders, offering new possibilities for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. It also presents fluorescent probes for detecting gas transmitters, such as H2S, CO, and NO, which have significant implications in the field of gas sensing and medical research. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, and professionals in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and medicine, offering ground-breaking insights into the rapidly evolving world of nano sensors and their significant impact on healthcare and diagnostics.

This volume aims at delivering the state-of-the-art scientific and clinical know-how for the management of patients with Connective Tissue Diseases (CTDs). With contributions from leading specialists from different disciplines, it presents the latest research findings on many aspects of the diseases in a clear, comprehensive way, and describes the most recent trends in treatment, such as the “treat to target” approach. Both basic science and clinical medicine are addressed, with emphasis on the most promising clinical and laboratory-based studies. The coverage is comprehensive in scope, and includes epidemiology, pathogenesis, autoantibodies and biomarkers, disease manifestations, involvement of different organs or systems, the relationships with other disorders, and biological therapy. Readers will find this second volume to be an excellent source of information on the current understanding of CTDs, and clinical approach to CTD, clearly conveying the progress made in recent years. Connective Tissue Disease – A Comprehensive Guide Vol.2 will be an invaluable source of up-to-date information for all practitioners involved in the care of patients with these complex diseases.

This book provides insights into the recent developments in the field of bioprocess technology and bioreactor design. Bioprocess engineering or biochemical engineering is a subcomponent of chemical engineering, which encompasses designing and developing those processes and equipment that are required for the manufacturing of products from biological materials and sources, such as agriculture, pharmaceutical, chemicals, polymers, food, etc., or for the treatment of environmental process, for example, waste water. The main focus of this book is to highlight the advancements in the field of bioprocess technology and bioreactor design. The book is divided into various chapters briefing all aspects of bioprocess engineering and focusing on the advances in bioprocess engineering. The book summarizes introduction to bioprocess technology and microbiology, isolation and maintenance of microbial strains, and sterilization techniques for advanced-level students and researchers. Different models depicting kinetics of microbial growth, substrate consumption, and product formation are discussed. The applications of enzymes have increased tremendously and therefore understanding their metabolic pathways to increase yields is also briefly discussed. The calculations of mass and energy balances associated with entropy changes and free energy. This book also covers the approaches for handling different types of cell cultures and current advancements in the area of bioprocess strategies for different culture types, which scientists and researchers working in the different cell cultures can refer to. The downstream processing of various industrially important products is also a part of this book. Apart from that, the process economics which ensures the feasibility and quality of any biological process is also dealt with as the last section of the book.

This book focuses on the various invasive and non-invasive techniques which can be used for the characterization of starch macromolecules along with, the various types of physical, chemical, and enzymatic modifications of starch to enhance its usage in the food industry. It discusses various biophysical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and second harmonic generation microscopy for the understanding of the Physico-chemical properties of starch. The book also sheds light on the visual, rheological characterization of different types of starches that are responsible for altered digestibility. The chapters also cover the applications of starch in food industries, non-food industries, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, and green flexible electronics. Towards the end, the book reviews the chemical, physical, and enzymatic modifications of the starch for improving its properties and applications. This book provides a valuable reference for students and researchers in the field of food science and technology, food science, and nutrition.

This textbook teaches health analytics using examples from the statistical programming language R. It utilizes real-world examples with publicly available datasets from healthcare and direct-to-consumer genetics to provide learners with real-world examples and enable them to get their hands on actual data. This textbook is designed to accompany either a senior-level undergraduate course or a Masters level graduate course on health analytics. The reader will advance from no prior knowledge of R to being well versed in applications within R that apply to data science and health analytics. “I have never seen a book like this and think it will make an important contribution to the field. I really like that it covers environmental, social, and geospatial data. I also really like the coverage of ethics. These aspects of health analytics are often overlooked or deemphasized. I will definitely buy copies for my team.” - Jason Moore, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center “Overall, I have a highly positive impression of the book. It is VERY comprehensive. It covers very extensive data types. I do not recall other books with the same level of comprehensiveness.” - Shuangge Ma, Yale University “The book is comprehensive in both aspects of genetics, and health analytics. It covers any type of information a healthcare data scientist should be familiar with, whether they are novice or experienced. I found any chapter that I looked into comprehensive, but also not too detailed (although in general this book is more than 600 pages of comprehensive and detailed relevant information).” - Robert Moskovtich, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

This book presents key aspects and recent developments of cryogenic sample electron tomography (cryo-ET) methodology, authored by leading experts in the field. Understanding structure and function of biomolecules in the context of cells is a new frontier in cellular and structural biology. To facilitate such research, cryo-ET is a key method to visualize the molecules of life in their native settings. Cryo-ET enables the imaging of samples that are preserved in a near-native state, at (macro)-molecular resolution and in three dimensions. Thus, this technique is a unique tool to gain insights into how biomolecules collaborate in orchestrating fundamental biological processes, how mutations cause diseases, pathogens cause infections, and to develop novel therapeutics to treat such illnesses. This book provides a unique reference for the emerging field of cryo-ET. The topics covered range from the fundamental principles of imaging to sample preparation, data analysis,and data sharing within the scientific community. It serves as a valuable resource for the next generation of structural biologists, making it suitable both for undergraduate students studying biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology and highly valuable for the more experienced and specialized PhD student. Furthermore, it stands as a state-of-the–art source of knowledge for the established senior scientist within the field of structural biology.

This book aims to elucidate recent advancements in immunology, presenting a curated selection of topics not typically covered in conventional immunology textbooks. Each chapter features a comprehensive outline, an abstract, a glossary, and relevant figures, making this volume an accessible and user-friendly resource for seeking to enhance their understanding of these subjects. This publication will appeal to university researchers, R&D professionals, and graduate students in immunobiology who wish to update and deepen their knowledge of emerging and applied concepts in the field.

This book commences with an introduction to the fundamental principles of light and electron microscopy, laying the groundwork for readers to grasp the significance of ultramicrotomy within these fields. It addresses every aspect of ultramicrotomy, including its history, instrumentation, procedural intricacies, as well as guidelines for maintenance and troubleshooting. A number of images and illustrations have been included to depict every step of the ultramicrotomy procedure to facilitate deeper understanding of the subject. It also talks about different techniques that can be employed for enhancing the quality and precision of the microscopy results. This book is a resource for researchers, faculty members, students, microtomists and microscopists working on sample preparation and analysis through transmission electron microscopy.

Blockchain is a new type of technology that combines and secures information exchange between different stakeholders such as medical practitioners, patients, healthcare providers, and other applicable parties. Among them, Blockchain Technology is one of the most important areas in the bioinformatics application of biomedical research and healthcare systems utilizing unique requirements and integration features. All the chapters are written by experts and researchers working in various areas of the biomedical and healthcare domain and they also dive into one of the most overlooked methodological, practical, and moral questions to secure and handle the enormous amount of data being generated from IoT-enabled biomedical and healthcare systems. In the beginning, this book presents an overview and then discusses open issues, challenges, and applicability aspect of Blockchain technology in healthcare. Then, this book presents a variety of perspectives on the most pressing questions in the field, for example: how IoT can connect billions of biomedical and healthcare information; how the blockchain-based secure access control mechanisms in biomedical and healthcare work; how to address the Quality-of-Service (QoS) and real-time accessibility requirements for healthcare applications; and how to ensure communication with efficiency. Also, it discusses Blockchain for IoT-enabled healthcare systems and presents a comparative analysis with respect to various performance evaluation metrics too.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of genomics and its diverse applications. Chapters cover genomics data generation methods, computational tools, gene annotation, transcriptomics, DNA barcoding, next-generation sequencing, functional genomics, metagenomics, synthetic genomics, microarray analysis, nutrigenomics, genome editing, and more. This book offers a valuable source of information for not only beginners in genomics, but also for students, researchers, scientists, clinicians, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders who are interested in harnessing the potential of genomics in many areas.

This book provides an in-depth exploration of microbial biodiversity and its crucial role in diverse biotechnological and industrial sectors. It covers topics such as the integration of molecular approaches for identifying industrially significant strains, omics roles in the production of bioproducts, and modern genetic engineering techniques. It discusses biostatistical investigations and the impact of microbial biotechnology on healthcare and emerging contaminants. It highlights the significance of food microbiology, fermentation, and the latest technologies in improving human health. Additionally, the book delves into emerging trends in oligosaccharide production, biobased approaches for a sustainable future, and the importance of microbial biomolecules and secondary metabolites. It also explores the identification and production of industrially significant biocatalysts/enzymes, the valorization of agro-industrial waste using microorganisms for green energy generation, and the development of bioreactor systems for the biobased economy. The book covers advancements in solid-gaseous biofuels production, impact assessment of synthetic microfiber pollution, sustainable management strategies for waste management, and the impact of emerging technologies in medical microbiology. The book also discusses the development of healthcare products using nano-biotechnological advancements, the impact of novel remediation technology, and the utilization of microbial products in biomaterial development. It further explores microbial regulatory systems, gene expression studies, and the significance of mutations in microbial technology. This book serves as a great reference for researchers, environmentalists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, and graduate, post-graduate students, and doctoral students working on microbial biotechnology and industrial microbiology.

This book provides an updated and in-depth introduction to the application of multiobjective optimization techniques in bioinformatics. In particular, it presents multiobjective solutions to a range of complex real-world bioinformatics problems. The authors first provide a comprehensive yet concise and self-contained introduction to relevant preliminary methodical constructions such as genetic algorithms, multiobjective optimization, data mining and several challenges in the bioinformatics domain. This is followed by several systematic applications of these techniques to real-world bioinformatics problems in the areas of gene expression and network biology. The book also features detailed theoretical and mathematical notes to facilitate reader comprehension. The book offers a valuable asset for a broad range of readers – from undergraduate to postgraduate, and as a textbook or reference work. Researchers and professionals can use the book not only to enrich their knowledge of multiobjective optimization and bioinformatics, but also as a comprehensive reference guide to applying and devising novel methods in bioinformatics and related domains.

This volume focuses on recent advancements in our current understanding of nucleic acid photochemistry and its relationship to biologically relevant phenomena. Understanding the photophysical properties of nucleic acids is an area of longstanding and active research. Over the years, the field has greatly benefitted from steady advances in spectroscopic techniques and computational methods to study molecular excited states, which have facilitated detailed studies of the behavior of nucleic acids and their components after they absorb light. Experiments performed on ultrafast time scales (femtoseconds - picoseconds) have permitted the accurate determination of excited state lifetimes, while computational studies have provided detailed microscopic information about the mechanisms involved. As our understanding of the fundamental photophysics of nucleic acids has advanced, current studies now focus on systems of higher complexity, and introduce novel optical techniques to investigate the interactions between nucleic acids and proteins. Spectroscopic studies of nucleic acids, particularly nucleic acid constructs labeled with optical probes, can yield richly detailed information important to molecular biology, biochemistry and biophysics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the photophysical properties of nucleic acids and their role in biologically relevant phenomena.

Textbook of Industrial Microbiology is a groundbreaking book encompassing the entire spectrum of industrial microbiology, filling a significant void in the field. From tracing its historical roots to exploring primary and secondary metabolites, down to downstream processing and product recovery, this book offers a cohesive narrative previously unavailable in a single resource. The meticulously structured chapters discuss the systematic journey of metabolites, covering the screening of microorganisms, preservation techniques, fermentation media, fermenters, and the significance of industrially vital secondary metabolites. It provides insights for industrialists, elucidating crucial process parameters essential for comprehending and optimizing microbial processes. This textbook serves as a great resource for undergraduate, and postgraduate students, researchers, industrialists, and technologists

This book discusses advances in postharvest and analytical technology for horticulture crops and challenges to meet future needs. The horticulture crops (fruits and vegetables) need a systematic and scientific postharvest handling and management system for securing both physical and chemical attributes while prolonging their shelf life. Postharvest technologies include storage, drying, packaging, extraction of components, and preparation of juice and wine from the collected fruits and vegetables. All these postharvest technologies have emerged and evolved with time to provide meaningful solutions to minimize food loss, maintain quality, and provide fast processing of horticulture crops. Parallel development of analytical techniques has also evolved to monitor the quality of fruits and vegetables during postharvest processing and thus provide a rapid and efficient method for delivering safer food products. This book provides an overview of different postharvest technologies, their mechanisms, and their effect on the quality of horticulture crops. It also emphasizes the assessment of each advanced technology, including its limitations and advantages. Overall, this book provides techniques, research, mechanisms, advances, and challenges of postharvest and analytical technologies for horticulture crops, along with recommendations for future research directions.

This book is unique as it will cover the latest technological advancements in the field of biorefinery and how it is a major futuristic component of global biofuel research. Initially, the role of bio-based waste materials, microorganisms, and their bioactive metabolites in biorefinery will be focused. Further, recent advances and emerging topics that are related to industrially important products such as biofuels, hydrogen production will also be elaborated. The book addresses the lack of understanding of recent technological advancement such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) as well. The systems for biorefineries demand a methodical approach to identifying effects and evaluating their long-term viability. Thus, a futuristic paradigm focusing on in silico studies, will also be incorporated, enabling us to understand the developments and impacts of bio-based materials towards a circular and sustainable economy. Additionally the proposed book will also discuss various strategies such as the analysis of cost-effectiveness, nanotechnology, value sensitive design (VSD) and also emphasize the economic, technical, and environmental aspects that affect their production as well as the future perspective in terms of the market scenario. Thus, the book will provide cumulative information on various dimensions of biorefinery and its role as a major bio-economic industry of the future for researchers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, career starters, and policymakers. The shift towards a bioeconomy not only promises innovative solutions to pressing global challenges but also opens up new avenues for various industries and policymakers. Thus, biorefinery is regarded as a crucial aspect of biobased economy ultimately leading the path towards sustainability.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been sought to be a potential alternative to the current arsenal of antibiotics against undesirable microbes. AMPs synthesized by lactic acid bacteria have attracted significant attention due to their strong activity against a broad range of bacteria including pathogens. The bacteriocin (an AMP) has been known to us since early 1928, a year before penicillin was reported. This is possibly due to their narrower activity compared to antibiotics. However, several AMPs having promising activity have been thoroughly characterized in the past few decades. Renewed interest has developed focusing on industrially important bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria. Some of these AMPs are also active against food spoilage and clinically important pathogens. Similar to antibiotics, large-scale intellectual screening is ongoing in the search for novel AMPs with unique properties. Recent research has revealed that AMPs may also play a role in maintaining gut microflora and keeping us protected from food-borne pathogens. The ongoing genomic studies suggest that there may be more such bioactive compounds waiting to be explored. This book provides an overview of the fundamental knowledge accumulated so far regarding the diversity and potential applications of AMPs produced by lactic acid bacteria. This updated reference book on AMPs from lactic acid bacteria is timely, covering the most important achievements in the field and providing the scientific community particularly graduate students, researchers, and clinicians with the latest updates. The goal of this book is to illustrate and detail the findings made so far, debate the state of the art, and draw new perspectives.

This monograph offers a comprehensive guide to good research practices and mindsets, covering a wide range of topics across 8 chapters. Readers will find numerous themes and strategies that can help them develop their research skills and achieve their objectives, from effective proposal writing to stress management and upskilling. This book explains the purpose, process, tips, and mistakes of writing proposals, theses, articles, and reviews in clear and straightforward language, allowing readers to develop good research plans. By applying the advice and insights offered in this book, students and researchers can improve the quality of their work, cultivate research integrity, and develop good publication plans, write well, and reduce rejection rates. Research outputs will be more likely to be of high quality if students and researchers are encouraged to cultivate these pieces of advice. The focus of the book is not solely on the outcomes of research. Rather, it also delves into mindset, habits, adaptability, time management, stress management, recent tools for upskilling, planning, and execution. Throughout the book, the author seeks to instill a growth mindset in the readers, encouraging them to develop positive research habits and behaviors. KPIs, particularly publications, shall not be used as a reason to erode research integrity and ethnicity; therefore, plagiarism, self-citation, falsifying data, exaggerating findings, authorship in publications, the use of AI tools, CRediT, and COPE are discussed. This book contains interviews with high-profile researchers, top management at institutions, policy advisers, etc., whose opinions and advice the readers will find valuable. Overall, this all-in-one guide is an essential resource for postgraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and academics who are struggling to find a survival strategy in the rapidly changing research environment. The book assists readers in developing right mindset, planning their research and publications, and in achieving their predetermined objectives.

This classroom-tested textbook is an innovative, comprehensive, and forward-looking introductory undergraduate physics course. While it clearly explains physical principles and equips the student with a full range of quantitative tools and methods, the material is firmly grounded in biological relevance and is brought to life with plenty of biological examples throughout.It is designed to be a self-contained text for a two-semester sequence of introductory physics for biology and premedical students, covering kinematics and Newton's laws, energy, probability, diffusion, rates of change, statistical mechanics, fluids, vibrations, waves, electromagnetism, and optics. Each chapter begins with learning goals, and concludes with a summary of core competencies, allowing for seamless incorporation into the classroom. In addition, each chapter is replete with a wide selection of creative and often surprising examples, activities, computational tasks, and exercises, many of which are inspired by current research topics, making cutting-edge biological physics accessible to the student.

The accumulation of large amounts of contaminants occurs in the environment due to industrialization and various other anthropogenic activities. Contaminants ultimately affect human health worldwide. Organic, inorganic, and radioactive substances are the prevalent forms of environmental contaminants and their complete remediation in soils and sediments is rather a difficult task. Concerns of their toxicities led to the emphasis on development of effective techniques to assess the presence and mobility of contaminants in air, water, and soil. Furthermore, the ever-increasing concentration of toxic pollutants in the environment is considered a serious threat to plant, animal, human, and environmental health.Many technologies are in use to clean and eliminate hazardous contaminants from the environment; however, these technologies can be costly, labor intensive, and often distressing to the general public. Phytoremediation is a simple, cost effective, environmentally friendly and fast-emerging new technology for eliminating toxic contaminants from different environments. Phytoremediation refers to the natural ability of certain plants and their associated microbiome (including hyper-accumulators or bio-accumulators) to remove, degrade, or render contaminants harmless. Through this technique, certain species of plants flourish by accumulating contaminants present in the environment. The unique and selective uptake capabilities of plant root and shoot systems, effective translocation, bioaccumulation, and contaminant degradation capabilities of the accumulator plants are utilized in phytoremediation techniques. Phytotechnologies involving the use of plants for contaminant removal gained importance during the last two decades and phytoremediation technology became an effective tool for environmental detoxification because of plants ability to accumulate the contaminants at very high concentrations.Phytoremediation strategies can remove, degrade, or stabilize inorganic and organic contaminants entering a multitude of ecosystems using green plants and their associated microbial communities. The development and use of phytotechnologies continues to move forward at a steady pace. Researchers recognize the potential of phytoremediation to offer a green, cost effective, eco-friendly and feasible application to address some of the world's many environmental challenges. This book provides significant information to add to the previous volumes published on the topic and can serve as the foundation for the development of new applications that feature the integration of modern research discoveries into new methods to remediate contaminated ecosystems. Moreover, this volume brings recent and established knowledge on different aspects of phytoremediation and nano-phytoremediation, providing this information in a single source that offers a cutting-edge synthesis of scientific and experiential knowledge on polluted environments that is useful for policy makers, practitioners and scientists, and engineers.Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 7 highlights the various prospects that are involved in current global phytoremediation research. This book delivers a content-rich source to the reader and can act as a platform for further research studies. It should meet the needs of all researchers working in, or have an interest in this particular field.

This book provides the most valuable and updated research on computational and mathematical models in biological systems from influential researchers around the world and contributes to the development of future research guidelines in this topic. Topics include (but are not limited to): modeling infectious and dynamic diseases; regulation of cell function; biological pattern formation; biological networks; tumor growth and angiogenesis; complex biological systems; Monte Carlo methods; Control theory, optimization and their applications

This book “Microbial Products for Future Industrialization” focuses on the exploitation of various advanced microbial and molecular biology technologies and their associated processes, especially the microbial-molecular-chemical nexus, for the future industrialization of emerging new microbial products. The descriptions given in its chapters take the reader through an entire journey of new emerging microbial products from lab to industry and provide new information that has not yet been fully exploited for future industrialization steps. This volume is a great resource for readers seeking a more comprehensive material covering the technical, economic, and societal aspects that impact bioprocessing of microbial products at the industrial level along with biotechnological intervention for better production of microbial products in near future. This book also encompasses advanced and updated information as well as future directions for young researchers and scientists, and academics who are working in the field of microbial product production related to sustainability.

This edited book is a comprehensive compilation of deliberations in the field of agriculture, food security, climate resilient crops and on the relevance of the popular TILLING technique in the era of precise genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9). This book particularly deliberates on new developments in this field, such as, induced mutagenesis techniques, mutagenesis in somatic tissues, bio-informatics analysis and gene mining. This volume also focuses on next generation mutation detection techniques, exome capture, forward and reverses genetics, trait selection and, finally deliberates on the future of TILLING in plant breeding and product development. TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genome) is a popular molecular biology technique for detecting polymorphism in a mutagenized population. Eco-TILLING refers to natural TILLING. This technique can be applied to a wider range of crops. Products developed through TILLING are not regulated throughout the world, thus having a wider acceptance among various stakeholders. This volume is timely and looks into the updated aspects of mutagenesis, TILLING, Eco-TILLING along with OMIC tools, their amalgamated applications towards crop improvement. This book contains 11 chapters and 250 pages authored by globally reputed scientists on the field of mutagenesis, TILLING and Eco-TILLING. This book is useful for research scholars, students, teachers and scientists in the academia, policy makers, relevant public, plant breeding companies, private companies and cooperatives interested in understanding or applying mutagenesis, TILLING for editing gene of interest and develop new products in agriculture.

This book describes the use of stem cells and cancer stem cell generation in the inflammatory microenvironment (cancer-inducing niche) using induced pluripotent stem cells. It provides step-by-step techniques and manuals for studying stem cell and cancer stem cell generation with different applications in cancer research. The development of induced pluripotent stem cells has provided a new approach to studying cancer initiation by producing cancer stem cells without introducing mutations or foreign genes. The book features the research of the authors'group, which was the first to generate cancer stem cells from stem cells in the presence of inflammatory conditions. The 20 chapters of this book cover topics such as generating pluripotent stem cells, converting normal stem cells to cancer stem cells, enriching, isolating and evaluating cancer stem cells. Methods for evaluating the characteristics of cancer stem cells and possible therapies against them are also discussed. The book provides easy-to-follow protocols that help researchers in the study of cancer stem cells. Illustrations help readers understand how the method of cancer stem cell generation can be applied as an essential method for assessing the carcinogenic potential of various non-mutagenic compounds. It will be a useful resource for graduate students, researchers, technicians, and physicians working in academic, hospital, and pharmaceutical settings.

The 3rd edition of this textbook offers clear explanations of optical spectroscopic phenomena and shows how spectroscopic techniques are used in modern chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics.Topics included are: electronic and vibrational absorption fluorescence symmetry operations and normal-mode calculations electron transfer from excited moleculesenergy transferexciton interactions electronic and vibrational circular dichroismcoherence and dephasingultrafast pump-probe and photon-echo spectroscopy single-molecule and fluorescence-correlation spectroscopyRaman scatteringmultiphoton absorption quantum optics and non-linear opticsentropy changes during photoexcitationelectronic and vibrational Stark effects studies of fast processes in single moleculestwo-dimensional electronic and vibrational spectroscopyThis revised and updated edition provides expanded discussions of laser spectroscopy, crystal symmetry, birefringence, non-linear optics, solar cells and light-emitting diodes. The explanations are sufficiently thorough and detailed to be useful for researchers, graduate students and advanced undergraduates in chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics. They are based on time-dependent quantum mechanics, but are developed from first principles so that they can be understood by readers with little prior training in the field. Additional topics and highlights are presented in special boxes in the text. The book is richly illustrated with color figures throughout. Each chapter ends with a section of questions for self-examination.

This book focuses on recent trends of research on alginate-based biomaterials in Drug Delivery strategies and biomedical engineering. It contains the widely used alginate-based biomaterials as micro to nano-controlled drug delivery (oral, ocular delivery, topical delivery, etc.) and its fabrication technology, characterization, and biomedical aspects (such as cancer therapy, tissue engineering, gene delivery, vaccine delivery, enzyme immobilization, wound healing, dental applications, etc.) in a single book. The chapters cover updated information, current research trends, informatics, and all aspects of applications. Alginate is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved natural biomaterial and has diverse biomedical applications. In recent years, researchers and scientists are working on the alginate-based drug delivery systems that have been designed and characterized as a matrix, micro to nanocarriers, fibers, composite/scaffolds, etc. Alginate hasversatile properties such as biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic, and easily available. This book especially highlights both the drug delivery strategies and biomedical engineering aspects such as controlled drug delivery, drug targeting to the site of action, cancer therapy, gene and vaccine delivery, enzyme immobilization, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

This book introduces transplantation in rodents as useful tools used in studying transplant immunobiology. Several solid organs (kidney, heart, liver) transplant models in rodents are described in this book. It can help surgical quality and save surgical time. The first part of the book provides a review of rodent transplant tolerance induction, the role of gender and body-weight in rodent transplantation, surgical instruments and organ preservation solutions. In the second part of the book, various organ-transplantation techniques in rodents are discussed in individual chapters. This book presents uniform surgical procedures in mouse and rats, which produce comparable data, efficiently enhancing the translational research from bench to non-human primates and beyond. In this second edition, authors updates its recent progress. In addition, 3 chapters in mouse organ transplantation are added. It will be of great value to transplant researchers, research fellows and clinicians in many surgical specialties.

This two-volume book provides an enriching insight into the laser, covering different types of lasers, the basic science behind the technology, their role at the cutting-edge of current scientific research, and their wide-ranging applications. With just high school physics as a prerequisite and favoring qualitative yet scientifically sound explanations over high-level mathematics, this book is aimed at a broad spectrum of readers in physics, chemistry, engineering, medicine, and biology. Its engaging and lucid presentation is enhanced with plenty of illustrations, making the world of the laser accessible to undergraduate students in the sciences and any other inquisitive readers with high school physics under their belts. Furthermore, the text is often laced with anecdotes, picked from history, that are bound to pique the minds of the readers. It is ideal for self-study or as a complement to courses on optics and optoelectronics. This volume, Part 1 of 2, explains the fundamentals of optics, what a laser is, how it works, and what is unique about the light it emits, from fundamental quantum theory through population inversion and cavity to common laser types. It is followed by Part 2 which depicts the many advances in science enabled by the laser, including spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, optical cooling and trapping, and optical tweezers, among many others, and provides a glimpse into the ways that the laser affects our lives via its uses in medicine, manufacturing, the nuclear industry, energy, defence, communication, ranging, pollution monitoring, art conservation, fashion, beauty, and entertainment.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction and review of state-of-the-art biotechnological tools in enhancement of bioactive compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants. Plant bioactive compounds are plant-based natural products that display a variety of pharmacological applications. These bioactive compounds are important as medicines, pigments, flavorings and drugs because most of the pharmaceutical industries are highly dependent on medicinal plants and their extraction. The book introduces a systematic overview of state-of-the-art biotechnological techniques such as Omics, Crisper /Cas9 and RNAi to enhance the plant bioactive contents as well as enlists various in vitro techniques, hairy root culture and transgenic technology to enhance plant bioactive contents using plant tissue culture approaches. The book also provides an overview of the role of induced mutation, biotic and abiotic stress to increase the bioactive contents in plants and discusses the significant role of endophytes to enhance the contents of plant bioactive compound. The book also opens discussions related to standard operating procedures using hydroponics system of cultivation for significant enhancement of bioactive compound(s) and much more. This book serves as an excellent reference book for the researchers working in the field of plant secondary metabolites and pharmaceutical industries at global level.

This book fills the current void of academic writings on laboratory mouse operation, giving research scientists, graduate students, and laboratory technicians an authoritative textbook and definitive laboratory companion. It covers mouse anatomy, the handling of the mouse, anesthesia, drug administration, specimen collection, organ harvesting and daily laboratory skills as well as advanced micro-surgery techniques. Its detailed description of mouse anatomy corrects many inaccuracies and misconceptions in the literature. It provides a wealth of basic laboratory skills and numerous advanced surgical techniques. The step-by-step explanations, with extensive photographic images and videos, improve the current understanding and practice of laboratory mouse operations.This book lays the foundation of laboratory mouse operations by offering a clear understanding of the basic principles, updated anatomic studies, and providing invaluable practical tools. It serves a wide audience, including laboratory animal scientists, pharmaceutical science researchers, graduate students in these fields, micro surgeons, veterinarians, and laboratory technicians.

This book systematically and comprehensively discusses the biological, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of the hepatitis E virus (HEV). It presents current knowledge of HEV and explores experimental methods, treatment, and prevention of HEV. First identified in the 1980s and cloned in 1990, HEV is the causative agent of hepatitis E, which mainly occurs in developing regions, such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and significantly affects the health of the people in these areas. It is estimated that a third of the world's population has been infected with HEV, which is transmitted via the fecal-oral route and can infect both humans and animals. In the second edition, new chapters are added to demonstrate the lifecycle, morphogenesis, and stem cell culture of hepatitis E virus. Although research on hepatitis E virus has made progress recently, there are still some problems that have not been solved. Those problems are discussed in this edition, which would be helpful for researchers to understand the problems on hepatitis E virus that they have faced. Meanwhile, the epidemiology, transmission, genetic evolution, animal models, treatment, and others in the related chapters of the first version were also updated according to the most recent research progress. The book provides an overview of HEV from benchside to bedside. It is a valuable resource for researchers in the field and those in the pharmaceutical industry developing HEV vaccines, as well as physicians involved in identifying and treating those infected with the virus.

This book, now in its fourth edition, is a well-known classic on the ultrafast nonlinear and linear processes responsible for supercontinuum generation. The book begins with chapters reviewing the experimental and theoretical understanding of the field along with key applications developed since the discovery of the supercontinuum effect. The chapters that follow cover recent research activity on supercontinuum phenomena, novel applications, and advances achieved since the publication of the previous edition. The new chapters focus on: filamentation in gases, air, and condensed media; conical emission by four-wave mixing and X-waves; electronic self-phase mechanism; higher harmonics generation; attosecond laser pulses; complex vector beam supercontinuum; higher order self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation; nonlinear supercontinuum interference in uniaxial crystals; new nonlinear microscopes involving supercontinuum and ultrafast lasers with biomedical applications; and other current supercontinuum applications in communications. The Supercontinuum Laser Source is a definitive work by one of the discoverers of the white light effect. It is indispensable reading for any researcher or student working in the field of ultrafast laser physics. Chapter 6 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.