Plastid Genome Evolution, Volume 85 provides a summary of recent research on plastid genome variation and evolution across photosynthetic organisms. It covers topics ranging from the causes and consequences of genomic changes, to the phylogenetic utility of plastomes for resolving relationships across the photosynthetic tree of life. This newly released volume presents thorough, up-to-date information on coevolution between the plastid and nuclear genomes, with chapters on plastid autonomy vs. nuclear control over plastid function, establishment and genetic integration of plastids, plastid genomes in alveolate protists, plastid genomes of glaucophytes, the evolution of the plastid genome in chlorophyte and streptophyte green algae, and more.

Levels of mycotoxin contamination in agricultural commodities are regulated in more than 100 countries, and exposure to these naturally occurring toxins presents serious risks to the health of humans and animals with negative impacts to commodity values. This symposium series book presents significant scientific developments in the multifaceted approach to reducing exposure to these naturally occurring toxins. A broad-spectrum of subject matter of the multidisciplinary field of mycotoxin research is conveniently compiled in this single volume, and general themes include prevention, control, exposure, molecular biology, biosynthesis, analytical methodology, and emerging techniques. The book opens with an overview of prevention of mycotoxin production by means of biological control and human exposure to contaminated foods, including tofu, apples, figs, and a broad range of fruits.
The second section focuses on molecular biological approaches to control mycotoxin exposure. Topics covered include genomic approaches, detoxification, structure-activity studies of biosynthetic precursors, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. The success of these strategies is supported by the reduction of mycotoxin occurrence and incidence in foods. Accurate estimates of mycotoxin concentration in foods are important for food safety and wholesomeness.
The final section covers analytical approaches, including sampling plans for foods and dietary supplements, extraction efficiency of mycotoxins from naturally contaminated grains, traditional detection methods such as chromatography/mass spectrometry, and emerging techniques such as the use of molecularly imprinted polymers for purification and isolation and cyclodextrins for fluorescent enhancement of several mycotoxins.

Beyond Interdisciplinarity examines the broadening meaning of core concept across academic disciplines and other forms of knowledge. In this book, Associate Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity and internationally recognized scholar Julie Thompson Klein depicts the heterogeneity and boundary work of inter- and trans-disciplinarity in a conceptual framework based on an ecology of spatializing practices in transaction spaces, including trading zones and communities of practice. The book includes both "crossdisciplinary" work (encompassing multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary forms) as well as "cross-sector" work (spanning disciplines, fields, professions, government and industry, and communities). The first section of the book defines and explains boundary work, discourses of interdisciplinarity, and the nature of interdisciplinary fields. In the second section, Klein examines dynamics of working across disciplines, including communication, collaboration, and learning with concrete examples and lessons from research projects and programs that transcend traditional fields. The closing chapter examines reasons for failure and success then presents gateways to literature and other resources. Throughout the book, Klein emphasizes the roles of contextualization and historical change while factoring in the shifting relationship of disciplinarity and interdisciplinarity, ascendancy of transdisciplinarity, and intersections with other constructs including Mode 2 knowledge production, convergence, team science, and postdisciplinarity. The conceptual framework she provides also includes the role of boundary objects, agents, and organizations in brokering differences and creating for platforms for change. Klein further explains why translation, interlanguage, and a communication boundary space are vital to achieving intersubjectivity and collective identity. They foster not only pragmatics of negotiation and integration but also reflexivity, transactivity, and co-production of knowledge with stakeholders beyond the academy. Rhetorics of holism and synthesis compete with instrumentalities of problem solving and transgressive critiques. However, typical warrants today include complexity, contextualization, collaboration, and socially-robust knowledge. Crossing boundaries remains complex, but this book guides readers through the density of pertinent literature while expanding understandings of crossdisciplinary and cross-sector work.

The Art of 2D Transesophageal Echocardiography provides in a practical and systematic way an overview of basic concepts and state of-the-art techniques in transesophageal echocardiography. It summarizes established application, provides hundreds of real-time videos of various cardiac diseases that expand the knowledge of every cardiologist, intensivist, and cardiovascular physicians in their daily practice of transesophageal echocardiography.

Coronary surgery encompasses two thirds of all adult cardiac surgery cases. With the endless pursuit of better outcomes, modern coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has become technically more complex in ways that are well beyond the training of the average cardiac surgeon. The old concept of "one-technique-fits-all" has been abandoned in favour of a specialized approach tailored to the individual patient. In fact, in recent years, there is a growing movement towards establishing coronary surgery as a super-specialization of cardiac surgery. Technical Aspects of Modern Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery aims to expand on both the basics and complexities of the technical aspects of coronary surgery. It serves as an up to date resource that illustrates and details the advancement and techniques in this field which may soon become a separate super-specialty. With a particular emphasis on illustrations, the book will be an essential reference book for both established surgeons that have no experience in advanced CABG, and the new generation of CABG surgeons.

Biodiversity and Bioeconomy: Status Quo, Challenges and Opportunities comprehensively delivers the latest developments in theories of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and their major implications for biodiversity conservation through diversifying agriculture, forestry and biomass production systems. Sections provide basic understanding of biodiversity and bioeconomy, different views of their inter-relationship and their links with sustainable development goals, examine the research and practice of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in agriculture, forestry, and biomass production systems, and examine status, challenges and opportunities for biodiversity-centered bioeconomy providing a way forward. Edited and written by acclaimed researchers in the field, this book provides practitioners as well as graduate and undergraduate students the latest developments in biodiversity and bioeconomy research.

When we talk about ozone, the image that most often springs to mind is the ozone layer in the stratosphere that protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The depletion of this ozone layer increases surface UV levels, making its protection vital. However, ozone pollution can also be detrimental to the health of plants. Among various air pollutants, surface ozone primarily produced photochemically from anthropogenic precursor gases such as nitrous oxide from vehicles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents is of particular concern due to the significant harm it can pose to both human and ecosystem health. The phytotoxicity of ozone has been shown to impair photosynthesis, reduce gas exchange, induce early leaf senescence (ageing) and hamper growth in both natural vegetation and crops. According to the business-as-usual emission scenario, ozone concentration would be expected to increase in developing countries, causing a negative impact to crop yield and ecosystem health. In this volume of Advanced Botanical Research, we will holistically explore the impact of ozone from micro and macro levels and from local to global levels. We invited researchers from developing countries who could contribute their first-hand research results, especially the impact of ozone on agriculture, which has a real impact on their daily lives.

African Flora to Fight Bacterial Resistance, Part Two: The Best Source of Herbal Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Volume 107 offers detailed information on the best African medicinal plants that could be useful for the development of efficient herbal drugs, as well as the best phytochemicals that could be explored as potential pharmaceuticals to efficiently tackle bacterial drug resistance. The book provides knowledge on ethnomedicinal uses of the identified plants, their pharmacological potency, and their phytochemistry. Chapters cover Phytochemistry and antibacterial potential of the genus Allanblackiam Phytochemistry and antibacterial potential of the genus Beilschmedia, Phytochemistry and antibacterial potential of the genus Fagara, and more. Other sections explore Harungana madagascariensis as a source of antibacterial agents, Hypericum roeperianum as a source of antibacterial agents, Myristica fragrans as a potential source of antibacterial agents, Phytochemistry and antibacterial potential of the genus Nauclea, Picrilima nitida as a potential source of antibacterial agents, Uapaca togoensis as a potential source of antibacterial agents, and much more.

Intellectually Impaired People: The Ongoing Battle addresses challenges against the background of history, changing societal environments, and current intellectual approaches and attitudes toward persons with disabilities. The book discusses national and international conventions, societal attitudes, sheltered workshops, the right of intellectually impaired persons for self-responsibility and its limitations, and the place of mentally impaired persons in the public image. Additionally, the book attempts to capture the forces that drive the changes of our conceptual frameworks. The US Tuskegee study which withheld antibiotics from black men with syphilis was not ended by scientific criticism but by a courageous man, press reports, and a changed social perception. The non-hiding of handicapped children is not the result of government orders, there are many non-resolvable dilemmas and tension between supporting, understanding, and patronizing a complex situation with many potential future avenues.

Oxidative Stress Response in Plants, Volume 105 covers environmental stress conditions and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). During many stress conditions such as salt, drought, heat, and pathogen infection, changes in metabolic fluxes and alterations in enzymatic activities result in the accumulation of ROS, a major contributor to loss of growth and productivity. High levels of ROS can lead to oxidative stress which damages proteins and DNA, ultimately resulting in plant cell death. This volume provides comprehensive insights into ROS biology in plants, with a focus on plant growth and development, plant defense responses, and plant acclimation to challenging environments. On the other hand, ROS evolves into potent signaling molecules that play crucial roles in abiotic and biotic stress sensing, integration of different environmental signals, and activation of stress-response networks, thereby contributing to the establishment of improved stress resilience.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater and Human Health provides updated knowledge on the human health risks associated with antimicrobial resistance of wastewater. The book's chapters address commonly found bacteria and drug resistant genes in wastewater, treatment plant problems and challenges, human health hazards, and gaps in current literature. Written for researchers, scientists, graduate and PhD students in the areas of Public Health, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, and Environmental Science, this will be an ideal resource.

African Flora to Fight Bacterial Resistance, Part One: Standards for the Activity of Plant-Derived Products offers a glimpse into the potential of African medicinal plants to fight bacterial infections, with an emphasis on bacterial drug resistance. Sample chapters cover the Global Burden of bacterial infections and drug resistance, Bacterial drug resistance towards natural products, Harvesting and Processing Medicinal plants for antibacterial testing, Screening methods for antibacterial agents from plant source, Established antibacterial drugs from plants, Potential of African medicinal plants against Enterobacteria: classification of plants antibacterial agents, and much more. Based on collected data, the book offers a rationale classification basis for the antibacterial activity of plant-based products. General knowledge of state-of-the-art of drug resistance is globally described, with the book clearly identifying the best African medicinal plants that could be useful for the development of efficient herbal drugs, as well as the best phytochemicals that could be explored as potential pharmaceuticals.

"Cell niches" are present in several human body tissues as a dynamic microenvironment essential to modulate stem cells' behavior in health, under injury, and in regenerative processes. The interplay between stem cells and their niche is necessary for sustaining tissues. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the crucial component of the stem cell. It defines the architectural space, physical binding to the cell membrane, and interactions with the neighborhood cells and supports physical stress. Domains with nano or micrometric sizes define the surface and topology of the ECM, mediating cell interactions and macrophage recruitment to injured sites. Over the last two decades, the integration of biomedicine with other engineering and biomaterial sciences promoted the development of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine toward mimicking the specialized stem cell niches to treat diseases with less invasive and efficient therapies. Innovative approaches in nanotechnology, such as targeting the immunological system, transporting drugs across blood-brain/BBB and blood-retinal barriers/BRB, directing active moiety to specific disease location/organs, encapsulation of multiple components, and promoting signalization and pathway-specific surfaces for cell interactions and growth, are indeed promising. On the other side, developments of biomaterial scaffolds to mimic the cell niches for interactions with stem cells in vitro or in vivo have tremendous potential. The three-dimensional printing technology offers a base for a wide array of applications, for example, developing tissue constructs, mimetic organs, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip, thus avoiding the differences between animal model species and humans. Aiming closer to the natural environments, fresh autologous products from the blood, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), contain platelets and leukocytes, providing growth factors, cytokines, and proteins for the resident stem cells in the stages of regeneration. PRP also provides pain relief, reducing disabilities in elderly or diseased people. This book brings thought-provoking multidisciplinary topics on the diverse aspects of basic and applied sciences. The prime focus of the compilation is to understand the challenges researchers encounter in combining nanotechnology and regenerative medicine, ultimately integrating both disciplines for the benefit of the patient and offering them a ray of hope to be cured.

Intersection of Iron and Lipid Metabolism, Volume 52 in the Enzymes series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics relating to enzymes research.

DNA Damage and Double Strand Breaks, Volume 51 in The Enzymes series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters that provide an update on female and male genital schistosomiasis and a call to integrate efforts to escalate diagnosis, treatment and awareness in endemic and non-endemic settings, vertebrates as uninfected disseminators of helminth eggs and larvae, and combatting anthelmintic resistance in ruminants.

Fifty Years of Peeling Away the Lead Paint Problem: Saving Our Children's Future with Healthy Housing documents the history of childhood lead poisoning from paint between 1970 and 2022. Tracing the failure of the medical model (treatment after exposure) that marked the 1970s and 1980s and its replacement with a prevention housing-focused effort, the book documents the changes in health, housing and environmental science and policy. It is the first book to examine how the lead poisoning law in the U.S. was passed in 1992 and later implemented, with implications for the future, in particular, the emergence of a healthy housing movement. The book describes the roles played by Congress, various administrations, agencies, local governments, the private sector, researchers, and a popular citizen's movement, especially parents. The role of the courts is discussed, including a controversial lead paint case on research ethics in Baltimore through an environmental justice lens. This book is the first to examine another recent case in California, where ten local jurisdictions established a precedent by successfully suing the lead paint industry to help pay for abatement.

Unraveling the Complexities of Metastasis: Transition from a Segmented View to a Conceptual Continuum provides a critical overview of the recent developments of metastasis research and how progress can be further enhanced in the field. Metastasis is a highly complicated mechanism and prognostic analysis of different metastatic patterns in advanced cancer patients is becoming increasingly problematic. It is therefore essential to take a step back and focus on the underlying mechanisms of metastasis before moving ahead for effective translation of laboratory findings to clinically effective therapeutics. This book is surely helpful in putting together missing pieces of an incomplete jig-saw puzzle of molecular cancer. The book discusses topics such as the role of TRAIL-mediated signaling, late metastasis and mechanisms underlying tumor cell dormancy, CTCs and exomes, non-coding way of metastasis, and stem cells. Additionally, it brings relevant and updated information on nanotechnology-based docetaxel and the peculiarities of cancer cell metabolism. This book is a valuable source for cancer researchers, medical doctors and several members of biomedical field who need to understand better the complex mechanism of metastasis.

Tabata Training: The Science and History of HIIT provides evidence and mechanism(s) that explain the beneficial effects Tabata training has on diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and colon cancer. The book also includes coverage of maximal oxygen uptake as an essential parameter of both sport and health-oriented fitness for researchers and exercisers. HIIT was first prepared for young adults, but nowadays, evidence has been accumulated to prescribe it to adult men and women. For kids, several papers have reported beneficial effects of Tabata training on normal and obese pupils of elementary to high school students as well as for physical education classes. Recent studies showed that not only improving sport performance, Tabata training contributes to good health outcomes in adults.

Advances in Agronomy, Volume 174, the latest release in this leading reference on agronomy, contains a variety of updates and highlights new advances in the field. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

Advances in Botanical Research, Volume 103 provides a timely and comprehensive update on the current knowledge of stomata development and operation in salt-grown plants. The range of topics covered includes evolution of stomata for adaptation to saline conditions, comparative analysis of proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of stomata guard cells between halophytes and glycophyte species and their reprogramming under salt stress, the molecular nature of the signals that control stomata aperture and their integration at the cellular and whole-plant level, and ecophysiological aspects of stomata operation in crop and halophytes species.

Soybean Physiology and Genetics, Volume 102 presents comprehensive reviews on the latest development in soybean research, covering soybean genomics, physiology and genetics under biotic and abiotic stress, growth and development, nitrogen fixation and nutritional values, etc. Chapters in this new release cover Root Physiology and Morphology in Relationship to Stress Tolerance, Soybean Insects, Application of Genomic Studies in Soybean Breeding, Secondary metabolism in soybean, The roles of CLE peptides in nitrogen fixation in soybean, Seed morphology in soybean, Physiology and genetic regulations of oil and protein contents in soybean, Regulation of flowering and maturation in soybean, and much more. As soybeans are a key component in climate-smart agriculture because of their high nutritional value, large cultivation area, and nitrogen-fixing ability, this book fills a gap in information on this growing commodity.

This fully revised and updated second edition of Insect Pests of Potato now includes an opening section with a basic overview of agronomic and economic issues as they relate to potato production. It also features a new section that reviews potato production, as well as problems caused by insect pests and solutions to these problems, in all major potato-growing regions of the world. Further, a new section discusses theoretical foundations of potato pest management and includes chapters on ecological theory, evolutionary theory, and a case study on their applications to elucidate differences between Eastern and Western populations of Colorado potato beetle in North America. There is also a new chapter on the foundations of integrated pest management and their applications in controlling insect pests. The sections on the biology of main pests and on control methods now feature the latest information, including emphasis on recent advances in molecular biology and genomics. Information on the use of dsRNA technology for pest control is also included, as are new chapters on potato ladybirds and on hemipterous pests other than aphids and psyllids. This second edition provides improved integration and logical connections among chapters and expanded geographic scope of coverage making it the ideal reference on the topic.