William LaFleur (1936-2010), an eminent scholar of Japanese studies, left behind a substantial number of influential publications, as well as several unpublished works. The most significant of these examines debates concerning the practice of organ transplantation in Japan and the United States, and is published here for the first time. This provocative book challenges the North American medical and bioethical consensus that considers the transplantation of organs from brain dead donors as an unalloyed good. It joins a growing chorus of voices that question the assumption that brain death can be equated facilely with death. It provides a deep investigation of debates in Japan, introducing numerous Japanese bioethicists whose work has never been treated in English. It also provides a history of similar debates in the United States, problematizing the commonly held view that the American public was quick and eager to accept the redefinition of death. A work of intellectual and social history, this book also directly engages with questions that grow ever more relevant as the technologies we develop to extend life continue to advance. While the benefits of these technologies are obvious, their costs are often more difficult to articulate. Calling attention to the risks associated with our current biotech trajectory, LaFleur stakes out a highly original position that does not fall neatly onto either side of contemporary US ideological divides.

A wildly fun and scientifically sound exploration of what alien life must be like Scientists are confident that life exists elsewhere in the universe. Yet rather than taking a realistic approach to what aliens might be like, we imagine that life on other planets is the stuff of science fiction. The time has come to abandon our fantasies of space invaders and movie monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing. Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin's theory of evolution--which applies throughout the universe--Cambridge zoologist Dr. Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like: how these creatures will move, socialize, and communicate. Might there be an alien planet with supersonic animals? A moon where creatures have a language composed of smells? Will aliens scream with fear, act honestly, or have technology? The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy answers these questions using the latest science to tell the story of how life really works, on Earth and in space.

Plant-Microbe Interaction - Recent Advances in Molecular and Biochemical Approaches: Agricultural Aspects of Microbiome Leading to Plant Defence, Volume Two continues the work of Volume One, covering the role of these plant microbes and their interaction between plants and microbes. These beneficial microbes, such as bacteria and fungi are also known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) through a biochemical reaction that may improve induced systemic resistance in the plant host via indirectly (against phytopathogens) or directly (the solubilization of mineral nutrients) by producing phytohormones and specific enzymes such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase. The book covers biochemical processes such as physiological, metabolic, etc. of plant and microbe interactions, the biochemistry of biological systems, the interaction of biological systems above-ground or within the rhizosphere, and the history of growth promoting microbiomes, their roles in phytoremediation efficiency, physiological and biochemical studies, chemical communication and signaling mechanisms.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Part B, Volume 195 represents the largest class of cell H103 surface proteins that have intricate involvement in nearly every physiological process in our body. Approximately one third of the clinically prescribed medicines target GPCRs and the quest to improve the exiting GPCR-targeting therapeutics continues. Sections in this volume include Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors: Structure and functions, Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying brain region-specific cannabinoid receptor modulation by estradiol across the rodent estrus cycle, Probing the orphan receptors: Tools and directions, Asymmetric activation of Class C GPCRs, Common and selective signal transduction mechanisms of GPCRs, and much more.

Biochemical Pathways and Environmental Responses in Plants, Part B, Volume 682 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights advances in the field with this new volume presenting chapters on MIE 681/682: Biochemical pathways and environmental responses in plants, Structure, function, and engineering of plant polyketide synthases, A sensitive LC-MS/MS assay for enzymatic characterization of methylthioalkylmalate synthase involved in glucosinolate side-chain elongation, Assaying formate-tetrahydrofolate ligase with monoglutamylated and polyglutamylated substrates using a fluorescence-HPLC based assay, An Approach to Nearest Neighbor Analysis of Pigmented Protein Complexes by Using Chemical Crosslinking in Combination with Mass Spectrometry, Biochemical characterization of plant aromatic aminotransferases, and much more. Other chapters focus on Functional Analysis of Phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PMT) in Plants and Parasites, A structure-guided computational screening approach for predicting plant enzyme-metabolite interactions, Plant metacaspase: an example of microcrystal structure determination and analysis, Biocatalytic system for comparative assessment of functional association of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases with their redox partners, Dirigent Protein Family Function and Structure, and more.

Antioxidants, Volume 121 in the Vitamins and Hormones series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors.

From Fossils to Mind, Volume 275 in the Progress in Brain Research series, presents chapters on a variety of interesting topics, including What could our premammalian ancestors hear, see, smell, and touch? A review of ten years of research about cynodont paleoneurology, Endocasts of ornithopod dinosaurs: anatomy and comparison, Adaptationism and Structuralism in Brain Evolution Research, Genomic approaches for tracing the evolution of brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases, Investigating the Coevolution of Language and Tools in the Brain: An ALE Meta-analysis of Neural Activation During Syntactic Processing and Tool Use, and more.

Cancer glycobiology is a blazing hot area of cancer research with aberrant post-translational glycosylations on lipids and proteins considered critical for cancer development and metastasis. The NIH/NCI Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research is a consortium of (10) tumor glycobiology laboratories funded to investigate how cancer-associated glycans (CAG) impact the development and metastasis of cancer. The hope of this momentous effort is to discover CAGs for use as novel biomarkers to detect early-stage cancer or its aggressive behavior or, alternatively, as novel molecular targets with the promise of a curative approach to cancer therapy. The mission of the 'Alliance' is to study structure and function of CAGs in cancer development and to provide clinically useful biomarkers for detecting cancer early or the potential of metastasis. This charge has stimulated extensive collaborations across US and International institutions to accelerate discovery of glycan-based biomarkers to the forefront of NCI's efforts to diagnose early-stage cancer and provide curative anti-cancer therapies. The main goals of these research efforts are: 1. To identify and study how cancer-associated glycans functionally impact cancer growth and metastasis 2. To identify cancer-associated glycans that can serve as biomarkers for the detection or progression of cancer 3. To develop cancer-associated glycans as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment and cure of cancer This volume consists of (9) chapters, one from each funded laboratory, that reviews new methods and mechanisms highlighting glycoconjugates and their roles as cancer biomarkers and/or anti-cancer therapeutic targets.

Gene-Environment Interactions in Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders, Volume 152, covers the multifactorial etiology of a variety of developmental disorders, including orofacial clefts, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, autism, and others. The causes of individual cases of most common birth defects are unknown but likely involve a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. How these risk factors interact in the genesis of these conditions is still largely unknown and readers will find the latest information and ideas on these disorders, along with discussion of the challenges and opportunities for furthering knowledge in this area.

Cilia: From Mechanisms to Disease, Part A, Volume 175 in the Methods in Cell Biology series, offers a range of techniques and protocols that can be used to study aspects of this interesting cellular organelle both in vitro and in vivo. In this volume, different study models are used, such as human cell lines, Mus musculus, Danio rerio, Paramecium caudatum or Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Besides, protocols to study the genesis, morphology, composition and function of cilia will be addressed. In this book, the ciliary study will be realized by using different techniques such as flow cytometry, time-lapse images of fluorescent ciliary proteins, the use of organoids, the evaluation of the ciliary-GPCR dynamics or genetic modulation by using CRISPR/Cas9.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells, Volume 378, includes comprehensive and detailed reviews on the current advances in myeloid derived suppressor cells, an immature, heterogenous cell population from the myeloid lineage that has been extensively described in the last decades due to its potent immunosuppressive activity in a variety of pathologies. Reviews maintain a high standard by publishing invited articles on important and timely topics authored by prominent researchers. The articles published in IRCMB have a high impact. IRCMB ranks high amongst scientific journals dealing with cell biology.

Advanced Technologies in Wastewater Treatment: Oily Wastewaters focuses on characteristics and innovative treatment technologies of oily wastewater from various resources. Primary and physical treatment methods such as absorption, adsorption, followed by common techniques like coagulation and fluctuation are discussed in detail. Applications of other advanced methods for the treatment of oily wastewaters like utilization of membranes and stripping gases are covered as well. Finally, novel technologies applied in purification of oily wastewaters such as photocatalytic degradation and biological processes are reviewed and future outlooks and prospects are also illustrated.

Game-Based Learning in Education and Health: HCI and BCI Advances and Dilemmas, Volume 276 in the Progress in Brain Research series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as Math computerized games in the classroom: a Number Line Training in Primary School Children, Digital games for learning basic arithmetic at home, Game-Based Assessment of Cognitive Function among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Different aspects of fraction understanding are associated selectively with performance on a fraction learning game, and more.

Advances in Clinical Chemistry, Volume 112 highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics, including Heterogeneity in Major Depressive Disorder: The need for Biomarker-based and Personalized Treatments, Advances in exosome analysis, Translational Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics: Tissue to Extracellular Vesicles, Immune Checkpoint Therapy, Tumor Immunology, and Biomarkers in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Advances in Congestive Heart Failure Biomarkers, Fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease, and more.

Receptor Endocytosis and Signalling in Health and Disease, Volume 194 in the Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, highlights new advances in the field. Chapters in this release include An overview on receptor endocytosis and signaling, Signaling molecules: Importance in health and disease conditions, Emerging tools for studying of receptor endocytosis and signaling, Endocytosis of EGFR: Signalling in cancer, Endocytosis of AT1 and AT2 receptors: Signalling in the kidney, Regulation of transferrin receptor trafficking by optineurin and its disease-associated mutants, Endocytosis of Insulin receptor: Signalling in the regulation of glucose homeostasis, Endocytosis of VEGFR: Role in the regulation of angiogenesis, and more. Other sections in this new release include Lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage receptors mediating immune recognition of tumors, Lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage receptors triggering immune suppression of tumor immunity, Prion receptors and prion internalization and intra- and inter-cellular transport, Multifunctional role of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway in phagocytosis, Adrenoceptors and SCD1 in adipocytes/adipose tissues: the expression and variation in health and obesity, Frizzled receptors and SFRP5 in lipid metabolism: current findings and potential applications.

Integrated Methods in Protein Biochemistry: Part B, Volume 678 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of topics, including Precise modification of native proteins, purification, and analysis of bioconjugates, NanoBiT-based methods to monitor the activation and modulation of RTKs, The interplay of G-protein ss? subunit and PLC-ss enzyme in PIP2 hydrolysis and downstream signaling, Structure and function of bacterial secretion system, Tools and protocols for probing protein sumoylation, Spectroscopic analysis of cysteine dioxygenase: a mammalian thiol-dioxygenase, DeGlyPHER: MS-based analysis of viral spike N-glycoforms, and more. Additional sections cover Covalent protein painting: MS-based protein footprinting, Characterization of GPCR signaling complexes using negative-staining electron microscopy, Probing protein misfolding and dissociation with free electron laser, Optimized protocol for the characterization of Cas12a activities, Proximity proteomics for the identification and characterization of extracellular vesicles, Structural and Functional characterization of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, and much more.

Meiosis in Development and Disease, Volume 151 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as The initiation stages of meiosis, The molecular basis and dynamics of meiotic cohesions, and their significance in human infertility, Chromatin, recombination, and the centromeres, Sites and structures that mediate segregation when crossing over calls out sick/Life (or at Least Meiosis) Without Crossing Over, Crossover maturation inefficiency, Non coding RNA mediated gene regulation in meiosis, Short chromosomes in meiotic recombination, Chromatin level changes during meiosis initiation vs. oncogenesis, and much more. Other sections of note include Chromosomal speciation revisited: Meiotic recombination and synapsis of evolutionary diverged homologs, Recombination suppression at specific chromosome regions, Unwinding during stressful times - mechanisms of helicases in meiotic recombination, Meiotic functions of PCH-2/TRIP13 and HORMADs, Crossover interference, Checkpoint control in meiotic prophase: Idiosyncratic demands require unique characteristics, The breadth of meiotic drive genes and mechanisms across the tree of life, and many more interesting topics.

Indigenous Fermented Foods for the Tropics provides insights on fermented foods of the Tropics, particularly Africa, Asia and South America, highlighting key aspects and potential developments for these food products. Sections provide an overview on the production and composition (nutritional, physicochemical, health beneficial and microbiota) of these indigenous fermented foods in the tropics, focus on innovative techniques for investigating the composition of these fermented food products and improvement of the fermentation process to yield better nutritional constituents, health beneficial components and sensory qualities, and cover safety aspects to be considered in fermented foods. Final sections provide insights on the packaging and marketing of these food products. This book provides new perspectives and recent information to complement existing texts on indigenous fermented foods serving as a valuable reference text for detailed insights into indigenous fermented foods of the tropics.

Natural Organic Matter in Water: Characterization, Treatment Methods, and Climate Change Impact, Second Edition focuses on advanced filtration and treatment options, as well as processes for reducing disinfection by-products, making it an essential resource on the latest breakthroughs in the characterization, treatment and removal of natural organic matter (NOM) from drinking water. Based on the editor's years of research and field experience, the book covers general parameters, isolation and concentration, fractionation, composition and structural analysis, and biological testing, along with removal methods such as inorganic coagulants, polyelectrolytes and composite coagulants. In addition, sections cover electrochemical and membranes removal methods such as electrocoagulation, electrochemical oxidation, microfiltration and ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and membrane fouling. This book is a valuable guide for engineers and researchers looking to integrate methods, processes and technologies to achieve desired affects.

Plant-Microbe Interaction - Recent Advances in Molecular and Biochemical Approaches: Overview of Biochemical and Physiological Alteration During Plant-Microbe Interaction, Volume One covers the role of these plant microbes and their interaction between plants and microbes. These beneficial microbes, such as bacteria and fungi are also known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) through a biochemical reaction that may improve induced systemic resistance in the plant host via indirectly (against phytopathogens) or directly (the solubilization of mineral nutrients) by producing phytohormones and specific enzymes such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase. The book covers biochemical processes such as physiological, metabolic, etc. of plant and microbe interactions, the biochemistry of biological systems, the interaction of biological systems above-ground or within the rhizosphere, and the history of growth promoting microbiomes, their roles in phytoremediation efficiency, physiological and biochemical studies, chemical communication and signaling mechanisms.