Sulfurtransferases: Essential Enzymes for Life stands as the first comprehensive resource on this increasingly important class of enzymes. Following an introduction to the field from the Editors, each chapter covers a specific sulfurtransferase, including its basic biology and roles in healthy functioning, disease, drug discovery, and other biotechnological applications. The physiological function for each enzyme is considered in depth, along with regulation mechanisms, pharmacological inhibitors, and pathology and conditions related to altered enzymatic activity. Sulfurtransferases discussed include rhodanese, MST, thiosulfate-thiol sulfurtransferase, tRNA uracil 4-sulfurtransferase, thiosulfate-dithiol sulfurtransferases, biotin synthase, cysteine desulfurase, lipoyl synthase, molybdenum cofactor sulfurtransferase, thiazole synthase, molybdopterin synthase sulfurtransferase, molybdopterin synthase, tRNA-uridine 2-sulfurtransferase, tRNA-5-taurinomethyluridine 2-sulfurtransferase, tRNA-5-methyluridine (54) 2-sulfurtransferase, and L-aspartate semialdehyde sulfurtransferase, among others. Here, researchers will discover key knowledge and recent advances to bring forward new studies on this increasingly relevant class of enzymes, while clinicians may apply new findings in medical practice.

Human Biochemistry, Second Edition provides a comprehensive, pragmatic introduction to biochemistry as it relates to human development and disease. Here, Gerald Litwack, award-wining researcher and longtime teacher, discusses the biochemical aspects of organ systems and tissue, cells, proteins, enzymes, insulins and sugars, lipids, nucleic acids, amino acids, polypeptides, steroids, and vitamins and nutrition, among other topics. Fully updated to address recent advances, the new edition features fresh discussions on hypothalamic releasing hormones, DNA editing with CRISPR, new functions of cellular prions, plant-based diet and nutrition, and much more. Grounded in problem-driven learning, this new edition features clinical case studies, applications, chapter summaries, and review-based questions that translate basic biochemistry into clinical practice, thus empowering active clinicians, students and researchers.

Handbook of Hormones: Comparative Endocrinology for Basic and Clinical Research, Second Edition presents a catalog of fundamental information on the structure and function of hormones from basic biology to clinical use, offering a rapid way to obtain specific facts about the chemical and molecular characteristics of hormones, their receptors, signaling pathways, and the biological activities they regulate. The book's stellar editorial board, affiliated with the Japan Society for Comparative Endocrinology, brings together authors that present a compelling structure of each hormone with a consistent presentation that provides a primer surrounding the plethora of hormones that now exist. Comparative endocrinology continues to rapidly expand and new information about hormones is being produced almost daily, making it important to stay up-to-date. Hormone, paracrine, and autocrine factors have been identified as key players in a range of different systems, including immune, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular. Frontiers between disciplines are being blurred and many scientists in fields other than endocrinology are interested in hormones. Scientists now have the unprecedented opportunity to look from invertebrates to vertebrate and identify novel regulatory factors and understand their function and how they determine an organism's physiology and survival.

Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, Volume 160 provides the most topical, informative and exciting monographs available on a wide variety of research topics related to prions, viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. The series gives in-depth knowledge on the important molecular biological aspects of organismal physiology and function, along with insights on how this knowledge can be applied to understand and ameliorate human disease. This updated release covers Clinical Drugs in the Environment, Group I Intron Trans-Splicing, Adult Stem Cells on Regenerative Therapy, CRISPR in Animals and Animal Models, The Role of 3'-5'Exoribonucleases in RNA Degradation, and more.

High-Density Sequencing Applications in Microbial Molecular Genetics, Volume 612 in the Methods of Enzymology series provides the latest on the high-density sequencing of DNA and cDNA libraries and how they have revolutionized contemporary research in biology. Methods permitting tens of millions of sequence reads in a single experiment have paved the way to genome-wide studies that are contributing to our understanding of the complexity of living systems. Chapters in this updated volume include Characterizing the role of exoribonucleases in the control of microbial gene expression: Differential RNA seq., Conformational studies of bacterial chromosomes by high-throughput sequencing methods, Measuring mRNA degradation, and more. Addition sections cover Global recognition patterns of bacterial RNA-binding proteins, High-resolution profiling of NMD targets, and the Generation of a metagenomic 3C/Hi-C library of human gut microbiota, Genome-wide mapping of yeast retrotransposons integration target sites, Measuring protein synthesis rates, Finding unsuspected partners of small RNAs with new screening approaches, Use of multiplexed transcriptomics to define the relationship between promoter sequence and transcription output, RNA-based control of quorum sensing in Vibrio cholerae, amongst other highly regarded topics.

All living matter is comprised of cells, which are small compartments isolated from the environment by a cell membrane and filled with concentrated solutions of various organic and inorganic compounds. Some organisms are single-cell, where all life functions are performed by that cell. Others have groups of cells, or organs, specializing in one particular function. The survival of the entire organism depends on all of its cells and organs fulfilling their roles. Cells are seen differently by biologists, chemists, or physicists. Biologists concentrate their attention on cell structure and function. What the cells consist of? Where are its organelles? What function each organelle fulfils? From a chemists' point of view, a cell is a complex chemical reaction chamber where various molecules are synthesized or degraded. From a physics standpoint, however, some of the fundamental questions involve the physical movement of all these molecules between organelles within the cell, their exchange with the extracellular medium, as well as electrical phenomena resulting from such transport. The aim of this book is to look into the basic physical phenomena occurring in cells. These physical transport processes facilitate chemical reactions in the cell and various electrical effects, and that, in turn, leads to the biological functions necessary for the cell to satisfy its role in the mother organism. Ultimately, the goals of every cell are to stay alive and to fulfil its function as a part of a larger organ or organism. The first volume of this book is an inventory of physical transport processes occurring in cells, and this volume provides a closer look at how complex biological and physiological cell phenomena result from these very basic physical processes.

This volume and its companion Volume 351 will supplement Volume 194 of MIE. The guides are specifically designed to meet the needs of graduate students and postdocs as well as researchers. Whether an established researcher or newcomer to the field, these volumes will contain all the up-to-date methods needed to study "Genes in Yeast." Procedures are included to enable newcomers to set up a yeast laboratory and to master basic manipulations. Relevant background and reference information will be given for proven procedures that can be used as a guide for developing protocols in a number of disciplines.

People are immersed in electromagnetic fields from such sources as power lines, domestic appliances, mobile phones, and even electrical storms. All living beings sense electric fields, but the physical origins of the phenomenon are still unclear. Magnetobiology considers the effects of electromagnetic fields on living organisms. It provides a comprehensive review of relevant experimental data and theoretical concepts, and discusses all major modern hypotheses on the physical nature of magnetobiological effects. It also highlights some problems that have yet to be solved and points out new avenues for research.
Why do some people feel unwell during a lightning storm?
Why is there a correlation between the level of electromagnetic background and the incidence of cancer?
Why do so many medical centers use electromagnetic exposures to treat a wide variety of disorders in humans?
The international scientific community is extremely interested in a theory of magnetobiology and the answers to these and other questions, as evidenced by the growing number of research associations in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named electromagnetic contamination in occupational and residential areas as a stress factor for human beings.
This book stands out among recent texts on magnetobiology because it draws on a strong foundation of empirical and theoretical evidence to explain the various effects of magnetic fields on the human body. It contains the first comprehensive collection of experimental data bearing physical information, frequency and amplitude/power spectra, and original research data on how electromagnetic fields interfere with ions and molecules inside the proteins of living organisms.
.Introduction is written so that it will be understandable to a wide scientific community regardless of their specialisation
.First comprehensive collection of experimental data bearing physical information, frequency and amplitude/power spectra
.Original theoretical research data on the interference of ions and molecules inside proteins
.Appendix covers physical questions most relevant for magnetobiology. In particular there is an original exposition of the magnetic resonance basic principles"

This book provides a detailed overview of cancer theranostics applications of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Their synthesis, characterization, multifunctionality, disease targeting, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and toxicity are highlighted, along with current examples of clinical trials of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer theranostics, and their future scopes and challenges.

Open microfluidics - the study of microflows having a boundary with surrounding air - encompasses paper- or thread-based microfluidics, droplet microfluidics and open-channel microfluidics. Open-channel microflow is a flow at the micro-scale, guided by solid structures, and having at least a free boundary (with air or vapor) other than the advancing meniscus. This book is devoted to the study of open-channel microfluidics which, contrary to paper or thread or droplet microfluidics, is still very sparsely documented, but bears many new applications in biology, biotechnology, medicine, material and space sciences. Capillarity being the principal force triggering an open microflow, the principles of capillarity are first recalled. The onset of open-channel microflow is next analyzed and the fundamental notion of generalized Cassie angle - the apparent contact angle which accounts for the presence of air - is presented. The theory of the dynamics of open-channel microflows is then developed, using the notion of averaged friction length, which accounts for the presence of air along the boundaries of the flow domain. Different channel morphologies are studied and geometrical features, such as valves and capillary pumps, are examined. An introduction to two-phase open-channel microflows is also presented, showing that immiscible plugs can be transported by an open-channel flow. Finally, a selection of interesting applications in the domains of space, materials, medicine and biology is provided, showing the potentialities of open-channel microfluidics.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder with cardinal motor signs of resting tremor, bradykinesia and lead-pipe rigidity. In addition, many patients display non-motor symptoms, including a diminished sensation of smell, gastrointestinal problems, various disorders of sleep and some cognitive impairment. These clinical features - particularly the motor signs - manifest after a progressive death of many dopaminergic neurones in the brain. Conventional therapies can reduce the signs of the disease, however, the progression of this neuronal demise has proved difficult to slow or stop, and the condition is relentlessly progressive. Hence, there is a real need to develop a treatment that is neuroprotective and slows the pathology of the disease effectively. At present, there are several neuroprotective therapies in the experimental pipeline, but these are for the patients of tomorrow. This book focuses on two therapies that are readily available for the patients of today. They involve the use of exercise and light (i.e. photobiomodulation: the use of red to infrared light therapy on body tissues). Given the heterogeneity of Parkinson's disease in humans, tackling the condition from a range of different angles - with several different therapies - would only serve to enhance the positive outcomes. This book considers the use of exercise and light therapies, proposing that they have the potential to make a powerful "dynamic duo", offering a most effective neuroprotective treatment option to patients.

Nanogels are three-dimensional nanosized networks that are formed by physically or chemically cross-linking polymers. They have been explored as a drug-delivery system due to their biocompatibility, high stability, particle-size adjustment, drug-loading capability and modification of the surface for active targeting by cognate receptors on the target cells of tissues. Nanogels can respond to stimuli such as pH, temperature, light and redox, which results in the controlled release of drugs and targeting of site by environmental stimuli and prevents accumulation in non-target tissues, minimizing the side effects of the drug. This book aims to provide a general introduction to nanogels and the design of various stimuli-sensitive nanogels that can control drug release in response to specific stimuli.

Nanomaterials and nanostructures are the original product of nanotechnology, and they are the key building blocks for enabling technologies. In this context, this book presents a concise overview of the synthesis and characterization methods of nanomaterials and nanostructures, while integrating facets of physics, chemistry, and engineering. The book summarizes the fundamentals and technical approaches in synthesis, and processing of nanostructures and nanomaterials, giving the reader a systematic and quick picture of the field. The text focuses on functional aspects of nanomaterials that have a high relevance to immediate applications, such as catalysis, energy harvesting, biosensing, and surface functionalization. There are chapters addressing nanostructured materials and composites, and covering basic properties and requirements of this new class of engineered materials.

Medical electronics, or more specifically the instrumentation used in physiological measurement, has changed significantly over the last few years. Developments in electronics technology have offered new and enhanced applications, especially in the areas of data recording and analysis and imaging technology. These changes have been accompanied by more stringent legislation on safety and liability. This book is designed to meet the needs of students on the growing number of courses, undergraduate and MSc. It is a concise and accessible introduction offering a broad overview that encompasses the various contributing disciplines.

Energy, water, affordable healthcare and global warming are four major concerns resulting from resource depletion, record high oil prices, clean water shortages, high costs of pharmaceuticals, and changing climate conditions. Among many potential solutions, advance in membrane technology is one of the most direct, effective and feasible approaches to solve these sophisticated issues. This membrane book presents cutting-edge membrane research and development for water reuse and desalination, energy development including biofuels, CO2 capture, pharmaceutical purification and separation, and biomedical applications.