Oxides for Medical Applications reviews the most important advances of oxides with optical, magnetic and electronic properties for biomedical applications. Owing to their unusual properties, oxides are expected to play a significant role in the prevention or early treatment of diseases. In addition to catalytically active artificial enzymes based on oxide materials-the book provides comprehensive coverage of the most relevant categories of oxide materials and their properties and applications. Since magnetic oxides are used extensively for a wide range of medical applications, there are numerous chapters that address these materials, including LSMO nanoparticles, ferrites, nanocatalysts, and more. Finally, practical considerations for the translation of these materials from the lab to the clinic are reviewed, including biocompatibility and toxicity of oxide nanoparticles, making this a suitable resource for researchers and practitioners in materials science and engineering in academia and the clinic.

Nanotechnology has shown great potential in all spheres of life. With the increasing pressure to meet the food demands of rapidly increasing population, thus, novel innovation and research are required in agriculture. The principles of nanotechnology can be implemented to meet the challenges faced by agricultural demands. Major challenges include the loss of nutrients in the soil and nutrient-deficient plants, which result in a lower crop yield and quality. Subsequently, consumption of such crops leads to malnourishment in humans, especially in underprivileged and rural populations. One convenient approach to tackle nutrient deficiency in plants is via the use of fertilizers; however, this method suffers from lower uptake efficiency in plants. Another approach to combat nutrient deficiency in humans is via the use of supplements and diet modifications; however, these approaches are less affordably viable in economically challenged communities and in rural areas. Therefore, the use of nano-fertilizers to combat this problem holds the greatest potential. Additionally, nanotechnology can be used to meet other challenges in agriculture including enhancing crop yield, protection from insect pests and animals, and by use of nano-pesticides and nano-biosensors to carry out the remediation of polluted soils. The future use of nanomaterials in soil ecosystems will be influenced by their capability to interact with soil constituents and the route of nanoparticles into the environment includes both natural and anthropogenic sources. The last decade has provided increasing research on the impact and use of nanoparticles in plants, animals, microbes, and soils, and yet these studies often lacked data involving the impact of nanoparticles on biotic and abiotic stress factors. This book provides significant recent research on the use of nano-fertilizers, which can have a major impact on components of an ecosystem. This work should provide a basis to further study these potential key areas in order to achieve sustainable and safe application of nanoparticles in agriculture.

This work is the first compilation of comprehensive deliberations on botany, cytogenetics and sex determination, genetic resources and diversity, classical breeding, molecular markers and genome sequence resources, and application of omics technology including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics resources in the multipurpose medicinal plant seabuckthorn. The book also presents a detailed narrative on antioxidative, radioprotective nutraceutical, and medicinal applications of seabuckthorn products. A detailed treatment has been included on analytical techniques and processing technologies. Altogether, the book contains about 300 pages over 17 chapters contributed by globally reputed experts on the relevant field in this important plant species. This book will be useful to the research students, teachers, and scientists in the academia and private sector engaged in horticulture, genetics, breeding, molecular biology, biotechnology, and breeding. The book will also be a useful source for workers involved in the development of plant-based medicines, nutraceuticals, therapeutics, and cosmeceuticals and extension workers involved in the development of rural farmers and small-scale industries.

This book presents tools and techniques for the development of miniature biosensors and their applications. The initial chapters discuss the advancements in the development of the transduction techniques, including optical, electrochemical, and piezoelectric, which are used for miniaturized biosensors. The book also reviews several technologies, such as nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, immune-technology, DNA-technology, micro-manufacturing technology, electronic-circuit technology to increase the miniaturization and sensitivity of the biosensor platform. Subsequently, the chapters illustrate the applications of miniaturized biosensing systems in point-of-care monitoring of treatment and disease progression, environmental monitoring, food control, drug discovery, forensics, and biomedical research. Towards the end, the book discusses the advanced applications of biosensors in water quality monitoring, especially on-line detection systems and on-site detection of pesticides, heavy metals and bacteria in water. This book is an invaluable source for scientists working in biochemical engineering, bioengineering, and biomedical engineering in academia and industry.

In recent years, biotechnology research and development (R&D) in China has been receiving increasing attention from the world. With the open-door policy of the Chinese government, many international publications (for academia) and large market potential (for industry) constitute the two big reasons for the above phen- enon. Biotechnology has become one of the priorities in Mainland China for so- ing many important problems, such as food supply, health care, environment protection, and even energy. The central government has been implementing a c- ple of programs which cover a wide spectrum in basic research, high-tech devel- ment and industrialization, such as Basic Research Program (973 Plan), Hi-Tech R&D Program (863 Plan), Key Science & Technology Problem Solving Program (Gong-guan Plan), as well as the establishment of centers of excellence - Key Laboratories and Engineering Centers, etc. The funding from various local gove- ments and industry for R&D has also been increasing continuously. Biotechnology centers in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing have been established. There are more than 400 universities, research institutes and companies and a total of over 20,000 researchers involved in biotechnology in the Mainland. The number of research papers published internationally and patent applications is also increasing rapidly. In addition, the huge market potential with about 1. 4 billion population, which is already open to the outside world, has provided numerous opportunities for int- national and domestic companies to invest in biotechnology, which pushes forward the biotechnology industrialization in China.

This review of recent developments in our understanding of the role of microbes in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology covers a research area with enormous untapped potential. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other agricultural inputs derived from fossil fuels have increased agricultural production, yet growing awareness and concern over their adverse effects on soil productivity and environmental quality cannot be ignored. The high cost of these products, the difficulties of meeting demand for them, and their harmful environmental legacy have encouraged scientists to develop alternative strategies to raise productivity, with microbes playing a central role in these efforts. One application is the use of soil microbes as bioinoculants for supplying nutrients and/or stimulating plant growth. Some rhizospheric microbes are known to synthesize plant growth-promoters, siderophores and antibiotics, as well as aiding phosphorous uptake.

The last 40 years have seen rapid strides made in our appreciation of the diversity of environmental microbes and their possible benefits to sustainable agriculture and production. The advent of powerful new methodologies in microbial genetics, molecular biology and biotechnology has only quickened the pace of developments. The vital part played by microbes in sustaining our planet's ecosystems only adds urgency to this enquiry. Culture-dependent microbes already contribute much to human life, yet the latent potential of vast numbers of uncultured-and thus untouched-microbes, is enormous. Culture-independent metagenomic approaches employed in a variety of natural habitats have alerted us to the sheer diversity of these microbes, and resulted in the characterization of novel genes and gene products. Several new antibiotics and biocatalysts have been discovered among environmental genomes and some products have already been commercialized. Meanwhile, dozens of industrial products currently formulated in large quantities from petrochemicals, such as ethanol, butanol, organic acids, and amino acids, are equally obtainable through microbial fermentation. Edited by a trio of recognized authorities on the subject, this survey of a fast-moving field-with so many benefits within reach-will be required reading for all those investigating ways to harness the power of microorganisms in making both agriculture and biotechnology more sustainable."

This book is the first comprehensive compilation describing the importance of sandalwood in national and international markets, genetic resources, molecular markers, whole genome sequencing, and pathway genes involved in oil biosynthesis, aroma and fragrance. Application of various "omics" approaches in delineating genome architecture and annotation of genes is highlighted. This book comprises 10 chapters covered over 200 pages authored by the researchers involved in sandalwood genomics. The sandalwood, Santalum album is known for its unique fragrance and finest wood available for carving. Also, sandalwood is intertwined with Indian culture and it is the second most valuable and expensive tree in the world.

This book presents basic principles and discusses the state-of-the-art methods of sperm sexing in livestock. It reviews the challenges and critical opinions on the conventional sperm sexing methods and characteristic features of spermatozoa of farm animals which could help to develop novel methods of sperm sexing. The book also presents principles and applications of flow cytometry for sperm separation. The chapters of the book elucidate methods and difficulties in developing sperm sexing methods. Notably, it covers recent research on immunological and nanotechnology-based sperm sexing methods. The book also provides information on the development of semen extenders. Towards the end, the book examines ethical and commercial aspects of sperm sexing. It is an ideal reference book for students, researchers and professionals working towards improving livestock production.

Explores recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste Provides technical concepts on the production of various bio-products of commercial interest Discusses the main process conditions to overcome the difficulties of using waste as alternative raw materials Introduces technical-economic details on the advantages and disadvantages of exploring the waste recovery chain Explores the main technological advances in the recovery of residues in functional products

The goal of this book is to present recent advances in the production of food ingredients from agro-industrial residues, as well as to explore the technological advances made to make these ingredients a commercial reality for the food industry, such as peptides, food pigments, and organic acids, among others, thereby expanding the potential of bioprocesses in the valorization of agro-industrial residues for the production of molecules of industrial importance. This book is intended for bioengineers, biologists, biochemists, biotechnologists, microbiologists, food technologists, enzymologists, and related professionals/researchers. Explores recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste into food ingredients; Provides technical concepts on the production of various food ingredients of commercial interest Explore nonel technological advanced strategies of extraction of bioactive compounds from food wastes Presents important classes of food ingredients obtained from alternative raw materials Sustainable food waste resources and management strategies Different pretraetment technologies and green extraction methodologies to support green environment in circular economy concept. Challenges in applications of re-derived bioactive compounds from food wastes in food formulations

Microbes are widely used in large-scale industrial processes due to their versatility, easy growing cultivation, kinetic potential, and the ability to generate metabolites with a wide range of potential applications to various commercial sectors, such as the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, in addition to the potential for agriculture, biomedical, and several others. Among the metabolites of greatest commercial interest, and many obtained on an industrial scale, the wide range of enzymes, biofuels, organic acids, amino acids, vitamins, biopolymers, and many other classes of metabolites. This book is intended for Bioengineers, Biologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologists, microbiologist, food technologist, enzymologist, and related Professionals/ researchers. Explores recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste Provides technical concepts on the production of various bio-products of commercial interest Discusses the main process conditions to overcome the difficulties of using waste as alternative raw materials Introduces technical-economic details on the advantages and disadvantages of exploring the waste recovery chain Explores the main technological advances in the recovery of residues in functional products

This book gives a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste and discusses the main process conditions needed to overcome the difficulties of using waste as alternative raw materials. It also discusses specific methodologies, opportunistic microbes for biomass valorization, the sustainable production of agri-food waste, as well as examines the assessment and management of bioactive molecules production from microbial-valorization of agri-food waste. The authors provide technical concepts on the production of various bio-products and their commercial interest including agri-food waste utilization in the microbial synthesis of proteins, the valorization of horticulture waste, the sustainable production of pectin via microbial fermentation, as well as other food and pharmacological applications. This book is intended for bioengineers, biologists, biochemists, biotechnologists, microbiologists, food technologists, enzymologists, and related professionals and researchers. Explores recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste Provides technical concepts on the production of various bio-products of commercial interest Discusses the main process conditions to overcome the difficulties of using waste as alternative raw materials Introduces technical-economic details on the advantages and disadvantages of exploring the waste recovery chain Explores the main technological advances in the recovery of residues in functional products

This book discusses different approaches for successful pest-management through biotechnological interventions. Pest management is directly associated with the agricultural productivity. The book introduces the reader to various kinds of biopesticides that have been developed and are being developed for field application. Chemical pesticides have been widely used to control pests, and these induce pesticide resistance as well as other environmental problems. This book discusses the necessity to develop alternate pest control strategies, especially environment-friendly and target-specific biopesticides against destructive pests. The book describes important aspects such as microbial biopesticides, plant-based biopesticides, natural products that act against pests and the various other biotechnological advances and limitations of these biopesticides. It provides an in-depth knowledge of the latest research and development in the area of biopesticides. This informative book is meant for students and researchers in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture and applied microbiology.

This detailed volume provides state-of-the-art methodologies and reviews of important topics in the field of homology modeling. From homology modeling in the twilight zone and improving accuracy through sequence space analysis to approaches to construct multi-protein complex models, the book explores a wide variety of uses and applications of this valuable technique. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, the chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary programs, webservers, and databases, step-by-step and readily reproducible protocols, as well as tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.  Authoritative and practical, Homology Modeling: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide to recent homology modeling procedures, assumptions made, and model quality assessment that will illuminate the black box of homology modeling for novice readers and broaden the knowledge of this methodology for professionals.

The current volume covers human gene therapy, improving the nutritional value of maize, restriction-modification enzymes, and eight other subjects.

This new volume introduces the applications of microfluidic systems to facilitate biotechnological and biomedical processes. It provides an overview on cutting-edge technologies, summarizes traditional and modern fabrication methods and highlights recent advances regarding the application of lab-on-a-chip (LoC) systems for bioanalytical purposes. This book is ideal for research scientists and students interested at the cross-section between biotechnology, chemistry and chemical engineering.

Condensing 40 years of teaching experience, this unique textbook will provide students with an unrivalled understanding of the fundamentals of fluid mechanics, and enable them to place that understanding firmly within a biological context. Each chapter introduces, explains, and expands a core concept in biofluid mechanics, establishing a firm theoretical framework for students to build upon in further study. Practical biofluid applications, clinical correlations, and worked examples throughout the book provide real-world scenarios to help students quickly master key theoretical topics. Examples are drawn from biology, medicine, and biotechnology with applications to normal function, disease, and devices, accompanied by over 500 figures to reinforce student understanding. Featuring over 120 multicomponent end-of-chapter problems, flexible teaching pathways to enable tailor-made course structures, and extensive Matlab and Maple code examples, this is the definitive textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying a biologically-grounded course in fluid mechanics.

By covering both the general principles of bioconversion and the specific characteristics of the main groups of waste materials amenable to bioconversion methods, this new book provides the chemical, biochemical, agrochemical and process engineer with clear guidance on the use of these methods in devising a solution to the problem of industrial waste products.

Known as one of the world's major industrial chemicals natural soda ash plays a critical role in glass and ceramics industries, production of chemicals, cleansing and bleaching, and metallurgy. Natural soda ash is also preferable to synthetic types because its production is purer and requires less energy with virtually no harmful environmental effects. Essential data on the properties, sources, processing requirements, and applications of natural soda ash fill this guide, making it valuable to both manufacturers and users. The formation, occurrence and history of natural soda ash deposits are covered along with specific chemical, physical and mineralogical characteristics. Explanations of processing techniques demonstrate how to convert soda ash into commercial products. Included are new methods and technologies for large-scale soda ash production, safe handling procedures and marketing strategies.

This volume provides methods on different aspects and applications on plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria, synthetic construct design, and multiplex cloning. Chapters cover multiple aspects of synthetic metabolic, photosynthetic systems, metabolic and signaling pathways, advanced engineering of metabolic networks, isolation of organelles and co-culture of microorganisms, and methods for the on command manipulation of the relative stability of proteins. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Plant Synthetic Biology: Methods and Protocols aims to be a useful resource for both researchers starting to explore novel experimental avenues as well as for experts willing to expand their portfolio of tools and strategies.

This book examines the technologies and processes for the development and commercial production of stem cells according to cGMP guidelines. The initial chapter of the book discusses the therapeutic potentials of stem cells for the treatment of various diseases, including degenerative disorders and genetic diseases. The book then reviews the recent developments in the cultivation of stem cells in bioreactors, including critical cultural parameters, possible bioreactor configuration and integrations of novel technologies in bioprocess developmental stages. The book also introduces microscopic, molecular, and cellular techniques for characterization of stem cells for regulatory approvals. Further, it describes optimal cell transporting conditions to maintain cell viability and properties. Further, it summarizes characterization strategies of clinical grade stem cells for stem cell therapy. This book is an invaluable contribution to having an academic and industrial understanding with respect to R&D and manufacturing of clinical grade stem cells.