This detailed edition reflects the significant new findings in the components of permeability barriers and how they work in different tissues with a collection of cutting-edge techniques. Chapters explore the formation, maintenance, regulation, and dynamics of permeability barriers in an effort to push the boundaries of the field. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and up-to-date, Permeability Barrier: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition serves as an invaluable guide for both experts but novices in the stem cell field and other related areas of research.

The book Heat Shock Proteins in Inflammatory Diseases provides the most comprehensive highlight and insight of the expression, function and therapeutic activity of Heat Shock Proteins in inflammatory diseases including sepsis, psoriasis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, viral infection and autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Using an integrative approach, the contributors provide a synopsis of the most current updates on the state of HSP in inflammatory diseases. Key basic and clinical research laboratories from major universities, academic medical hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical laboratories around the world have contributed chapters that review present research activity and importantly project the field into the future. The book is a must read for graduate students. medical students, basic science researchers and postdoctoral scholars in the fields of Cancer Biology, Oncology, Translational Medicine, Clinical Research, Biotechnology, Cell & Molecular Medicine, Pharmaceutical Scientists and Researchers involved in Drug Discovery.

This book summarizes the latest studies on plant reproduction and multiple aspects of signaling in reproductive development. It also presents the most advanced processes in CrRLK1L receptor and RALF peptide studies during plant development. Focusing on signaling in pollen tube integrity and sperm release regulation, it provides significant insights into the BUPS-ANX receptor complex and the corresponding ligands RALF4/19 to promote pollen tube growth with proper cell integrity. It also proposes a working model of female tissue-derived RALF34 competing with RALF4/19 from the BUPS-ANX to trigger pollen tube rupture and sperm release. Offering a detailed overview of the spatiotemporal regulation mechanism underlying the control of pollen tube integrity and sperm release, the book fills a major gap in our understanding of plant reproductive processes, and as such is a valuable resource for those working in the area of plant signaling.

This book focuses on the design methodologies of various quantum circuits, DNA circuits, DNA-quantum circuits and quantum-DNA circuits. It considers the merits and challenges of multivalued logic circuits in quantum, DNA, quantum-DNA and DNA-quantum computing. Multiple-Valued Computing in Quantum Molecular Biology: Arithmetic and Combinational Circuits is Volume 1 of a two-volume set. From fundamentals to advanced levels, this book discusses different multiple-valued logic DNA-quantum and quantum-DNA circuits. The text consists of four parts. Part I introduces multiple-valued quantum computing and DNA computing. It contains the basic understanding of multiple-valued quantum computing, multiple-valued DNA computing, multiple-valued quantum-DNA computing and multiple-valued DNA-quantum computing. Part II examines heat calculation, speed calculation, heat transfer, data conversion and data management in multi-valued quantum, DNA, quantum-DNA and DNA-quantum computing. Part III discusses multiple-valued logic operations in quantum and DNA computing such as ternary AND, NAND, OR, NOR, XOR, XNOR and multiple-valued arithmetic operations such as adder, multiplier, divider and more. Quantum-DNA and DNA-quantum multiple-valued arithmetic operations are also explained in this section. Part IV explains multiple-valued quantum and DNA combinational circuits such as multiple-valued DNA-quantum and quantum-DNA multiplexer, demultiplexer, encoder and decoder. This book will be of great help to researchers and students in quantum computing, DNA computing, quantum-DNA computing and DNA-quantum computing researchers.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a macromolecule that plays a central role in cell physiology: RNA molecules act as intermediates between the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), where genetic information is stored, and proteins, which perform the necessary functions within the cell. Traditionally, the structural and functional properties of RNA are closely linked to gene expression. However, RNA-based enzymes, called ribozymes, are also involved in catalysis and small RNAs regulate key cellular processes, such as cell growth, division, differentiation, aging and death. RNA is a sensitive macromolecule that can be easily damaged by environmental conditions (ultraviolet radiation, oxidative stress) and biological factors (ribonucleases, ribotoxins, CRISPR-Cas systems). Therefore, cells have developed mechanisms to protect and/or repair RNA molecules. This book presents an overview of the biology of RNA damage, protection and repair in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Individual chapters cover the expression regulation, enzymology and physiological role of such systems, and link them to important human diseases such as cancer and degenerative diseases.

The alpha herpesviruses are an important group of viruses characterized by a short reproductive cycle, rapid destruction of the host cell, and the ability to replicate in a wide variety of host tissues. A key attribute of these viruses is the ability to establish lifelong latent infection in the peripheral nervous system of the natural host. Research into the molecular and cellular biology of the alpha herpesviruses has advanced greatly in recent years. Written by internationally recognized experts, this book highlights the more provocative and exciting findings in herpesvirus research. Each chapter is a review of a specific area with an emphasis on recent advances and the latest developments. The book examines multifunctional proteins, advances in DNA replication, new information on the regulation of gene expression, the emergence of new technologies, recent technological advances in fluorescent probes, the induction of apoptosis, the disruption of interferon, vaccine development, and

This thoroughly revised second edition is an up-to-date overview of the new advances in the knowledge of the basic science in sarcoma and osteosarcoma. It features detailed, in-depth discussions of microRNAs in osteosarcoma, historical perspectives of chemotherapy in the treatment of the disease, tumor targeted IL12 therapy and HER2 targeted therapy, the role of enhancer elements in regulating the prometastatic transcriptional program and more. Further, this essential volume also includes new insights on Wnt signaling in osteosarcoma, the role of genomics, genetically modified T-cell therapy, liquid biopsy, oncolytic viruses, immunophenotyping, receptor tyrosine kinases and epigenetic-focused approaches for treatment of osteosarcoma metastases, as well as thoughts on the current standard of treatment for patients suffering from these cancers. In the years since the previous edition, there have been numerous new developments in this rapidly changing field; this new edition is both timely and urgently needed. When taken together these companion volumes, Current Clinical (Book 1) and Scientific (Book 2) Advances in Osteosarcoma, are a timely and urgently needed guide for laboratory investigators and clinical oncologists.

The new edition of Gene Control has been updated to include significant advances in the roles of the epigenome and regulatory RNAs in gene regulation. The chapter structure remains the same: the first part consists of pairs of chapters that explain the mechanisms involved and how they regulate gene expression, and the second part deals with specific biological processes (including diseases) and how they are controlled by genes. Coverage of methodology has been strengthened by the inclusion more explanation and diagrams. The significant revision and updating will allow Gene Control to continue to be of value to students, scientists and clinicians interested in the topic of gene control.

This book is intended to be a working guide to the operation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrumentation. Since CE is still a rap idly maturing technique, detailed validated protocols are not widely established. Therefore, extensive experimental procedures are not pro vided for individual analyses. The intention is to provide general guide lines on the principles and practice of CE and to give an overview of the specific technologies and important application areas. Part I provides operating instructions for standard commercially available instruments. Guidelines are included for activities such as changing capillaries, method development, quantitative procedures, optimization of precision and sensitivity, and the validation of meth ods, fraction collection, and troubleshooting, as well as a quick guide to running a separation. The application range of CE is possibly the most diverse of all analytical techniques and ranges from large, complex macromolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, to small solutes, such as organic drugs and inorganic anions and cations."

This manual details the techniques involved in the study of plant microbe interactions (PMI). Covering a wide range of basic and advanced techniques associated with research on biological nitrogen fixation, microbe-mediated plant nutrient use efficiency, the biological control of plant diseases and pests such as nematodes, it will appeal to postgraduate students, research scholars and postdoctoral fellows, as well as teachers from various fields, including pathology, entomology and agronomy. It consists of five broad sections featuring different units. Information panels at the beginning of each unit present essential knowledge as well as advances in a particular topic. The manual can also serve as a textbook for undergraduate courses like Techniques for Plant-Microbe Interactions; Biological Control of Plant Diseases; and Nutrient Use Efficiency. Providing basic insights and working protocols from all related disciplines, this unique laboratory manual is a valuable resource for researchers interested in investigating PMI.

The purpose of this volume of Methods in Molecular Medicine is to set forth examples of the great variety of techniques and applications that are now emerging in the field of nonviral gene therapy. The book emphasizes not only specific approaches to gene delivery but, in particular, the best current me- ods to prepare, handle, and characterize gene delivery agents. These topics are of very broad importance since gene therapy evolves from its mostly ac- emy-based experimental and clinical research to the ever increasing number of industry-driven programs directed toward commercial development. S- cessful introduction of nonviral gene therapy agents into the clinic should be expected to require rigorous manufacturing and analytical methods that readily meet the regulatory guidelines under which new drug candidates are reviewed for marketing approval. Exactly what those guidelines will prove to be c- tainly depends on the established guidelines for review of both biological and chemical therapeutics. Additionally, many new techniques are being devised and applied to gene therapy research; these techniques will be instrumental in developing and characterizing successful gene delivery agents. Nonviral Vectors for Gene Therapy: Methods and Protocols has two main sections. To start with, there is a series of chapters on specific protocols for the synthesis, characterization, and application of gene delivery agents. S- eral chapters address the topic of materials to bind with DNA to form the compact condensed phases that facilitate cellular delivery.

The original role of RP was to confirm the shape and feel of concept design, but innovations in RP now allow for the development of sophisticated medical devices such as catheters, stents, drug delivery systems, syringes and cardio-vascular devices, and more. RP has moved beyond medical devices, as surgeons now regularly use RP models to brainstorm strategies for surgeries. This book presents new uses for rapid prototyping in state-of-the-art medical applications.

How do electrical activity and calcium signals in neurons influence the secretion of peptide hormones? This volume presents the current state of knowledge regarding the electrical, calcium signaling and synaptic properties of neuroendocrine systems from both vertebrate and invertebrate systems. The contributions span in vivo and in vitro studies that address: state-dependent plasticity, relevance of firing patterns, membrane properties, calcium flux (including dynamic imaging and homeostasis), and molecular mechanisms of exocytosis, including from non-neuronal secretory cells. The chapters focus not only on research results but also on how experiments are conducted using state-of-the-art techniques, and how the resulting data are interpreted. While there are many books on the secretory properties of neurons, this is the first to focus on the distinctive secretory properties of neuroendocrine neurons. Accordingly, it offers an important text for undergraduate and graduate neuroscience students, and will also appeal to established scientists and postdoctoral fellows. This is the eighth volume in the Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology series* - now a co-publication between Springer Nature and the INF (International Neuroendocrine Federation). *Volumes 1-7 published by Wiley

This book discusses unique ion channels and transporters that are located within epithelial tissues of various organs including the kidney, intestine, pancreas and respiratory tract. As the authors show, these channels and transporters play crucial roles in transepithelial ion and fluid transport across epithelia and their contribution to maintaining homeostasis. Readers will be introduced to the fundamentals of ion transport in terms of function, modelling, regulation, structure and pharmacology. This is the first of three volumes highlighting the importance of epithelial ion channels and transporters in basic physiology and pathophysiology of human diseases. This volume focuses on basic fundamentals of epithelial transport physiology. There is a range of chapters dedicated to specific aspects of epithelial ion transport and cell function. Accordingly, the authors discuss techniques used to determine epithelial function, principles of epithelia transport, polarization of epithelial cells, mathematical modelling of epithelial ion transport, protein folding of ion channels, degradation epithelial ion channels, fundamentals of epithelial sodium, potassium and chloride transport, fundamentals of bicarbonate secretion, volume regulation, and microRNA regulation of epithelial channels and transporters. Given its scope, Volume 1 offers a valuable resource for physiology students, scientists and clinicians alike.

This book and accompanying CD-ROM summarizes all new data obtained after development of methods of Golgi complex sub fractionation, molecular biology and microscopy. It collects the full range of expertise, different points of view and different approaches. The book is devoted to molecular modes of the function of the Golgi apparatus as a whole, taking into account all experimental data. The book aims to make the functional organization of the Golgi apparatus more understandable.

Membrane fusion and targeting processes are tightly regulated and coordinated. Dozens of proteins, originating from both the cytoplasm and membranes are involved. The discovery of homologous proteins from yeast to neurons validates a unified view. Although much is known about the interfering proteins, the events occurring when two lipid bilayers actually fuse are less clear. It should be remembered that lipid bilayers behave like soap-bubbles fusing when meeting each other. In this respect interfering proteins should be considered as preventing undesirable and unnecessary fusion and eventually directing the biological membrane fusion process (when, where, how, and overcoming the activation energy). In this latest volume in the renowned Subcellular Biochemistry series, some aspects of fusion of biological membranes as well as related problems are presented. Although not complete, there is a lot of recent information including on virus-induced membrane fusion. The contributors of the chapters are all among the researchers who performed many of the pioneering studies in the field.

The seventh volume of a multi-volume work designed for medical students with rudimentary knowledge of cellular biology. It is the key discipline for the basic medical sciences and clinical medicine to be taught in an integrated curriculum. This text features developmental biology.

Whether the question is one of basic cell survival, or whether it is being used to correlate cell number to some other factor such as matrix synthesis, an estimate of cell viability is universally required. In Mammalian Cell Viability: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field describe methods from the most basic which can be performed in any laboratory, to some which require specific pieces of equipment. Initially focusing on methods for monolayer and suspension cells, later chapters describe methods for determining viability within tissue sections and 3 dimensional culture systems. Finally, methods requiring highly specialized equipment are described in order to explain what is possible. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and vital tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and adaptable, Mammalian Cell Viability: Methods and Protocols serves as a self-contained laboratory manual useful to both experienced researchers and those new to this incredibly important and influential field.

This volume is designed to provide an understanding of current and potential therapies for osteoporosis. The opening chapter introduces the cells of bone and their interactions. Several following chapters describe factors affecting bone including systemic hormones with significant effects on bone, and local mediators including growth factors, prostaglandins, cytokines and chemokines. Topics that have commanded particular attention recently are calcium, FGF-23, nervous system bone interactions. Drugs that cause bone loss provide important information on mechanism as well as therapeutic considerations. An overview of the genetics of bone disorders and a discussion of the pathophysiology of osteoporosis establish the clinical context. The final chapters discuss current and potential osteoporosis treatments.

This detailed book provides a broad collection of methodologies for natural killer (NK) cell research. Beginning with an assortment of methods for the isolation of NK cells and NK cell differentiation, the volume continues with methodologies for functional tests, such as cytotoxicity, viral infection, and metabolism assays, as well as clinical applications of NK cells. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Natural Killer (NK) Cells: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide for researchers looking to contribute to the further development of basic and clinical NK cell research.

For humankind, the most irreducible idea is the concept of life itself. In order to understand that life is essentially an infinite process, transmitted from generation to generation, this book takes the reader on a fascinating journey that unravels one of our greatest mysteries. It begins with the premise that life is a fact-that it is everywhere; that it takes infinite forms; and, most importantly, that it is intrinsically self-perpetuating. Rather than exploring how the first living forms emerged in our universe, the book begins with our first primordial ancestor cell and tells the story of life-how it began, when that first cell diversified into many other cell types and organisms, and how it has continued until the present day. On this journey, the author covers the fundaments of biology such as cell division, diversity, regeneration, repair and death. The rather fictional epilogue even goes one step further and discusses ways how to literally escape the problem of limited recourse and distribution on our planet by looking at life outside the solar system. This book is designed to explain complex ideas in biology simply, but not simplistically, with a special emphasis on plain and accessible language as well as a wealth of hand-drawn illustrations. Thus, it is suitable not only for students seeking for an introduction into biological concepts and terminology, but for everyone with an interest in the fundamentals of life at the crossroad of evolutionary and cell biology.

The present book is an attempt to describe the most recent developments in the area of pericyte biology which is one of the emergent hot topics in the field of molecular and cellular biology today. Here, we present a selected collection of thirteen detailed chapters on what we know so far about pericytes in distinct organs in physiological and pathological conditions. Further, it provides an update on the most novel functions attributed to these cells and will introduce a newer generation of researchers and scientists to the importance of these cells, ranging from their discovery in different organs through current state-of-the-science. It will be invaluable for both advanced cell biology students as well as researchers in cell biology, stem cells and vascular research. This volume explores pericytes' physiologic roles in different tissues, ranging from the pancreas, lungs and liver through skeletal muscle, gut, retina and more. Together with its companion volumes Pericyte Biology in Disease and Pericyte Biology - Novel Concepts, Pericyte Biology in Different Organs presents a comprehensive update on the latest information and most novel functions attributed to pericytes. To those researchers newer to this area, it will be useful to have the background information on these cells' unique history. It will be invaluable for both advanced cell biology students as well as researchers in cell biology, stem cells and researchers or clinicians involved with specific organs.

The field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has progressed immensely in recent times with evidences highlighting their importance in physiology and pathology. This book entails extensive reflective literature on many subtypes of EVs including exosomes, exomeres, ectosomes, apoptotic vesicles, bacterial EVs and fungal EVs. The book further discusses the biogenesis and secretion of these EVs, detailing the biological pathways and proteins involved. Research investigating the biological functions of EVs is rapidly increasing and the current knowledge around their role in progression of diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders is discussed in multiple chapters. The implications of EVs in intercellular communication and the significance of biologically active cargo carried within these EVs are further examined. Moreover, the numerous applications of EVs in diagnostics and treatment of diseases are reviewed in detail, particularly their potential as biomarkers and drug delivery vehicles. Taken together, this book is a compilation of the key implications of EVs that are secreted by virtually all cell types. Readers will gain a perspective into the biology, functions and applications of EVs and their constantly evolving knowledge base.

The book is an update on contentious or unsettled issues concerning invasive diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in cancer and related disorders, focusing on the surgical approach. Topics include recommendations for the best practice in using the surgery safety checklist, surgical strategies in a variety of thoracic cancers, renal cell carcinoma, tumors of parathyroid glands, mesothelioma, and bariatric surgeries. The focus is on the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of aggressive cancerous entities, choosing the most beneficial modes for optimal outcomes and patient survival. Chapters also address radioimaging and therapy outcomes in different intracranial lesions leading to severe neurological disabilities. The areas of medical practice addressed are still veiled in uncertainty, yet-unresolved pathogenetic background, and have a substantial component of empirical rather than evidence-based clinical approach. Pursuing and sharing new ideas and innovations is essential for improving the management and outcome. The book endeavors to disseminate and deliberate on the latest medical knowledge, studies, and advancements in surgical and diagnostic dealing with cancer. The book is addressed to physicians and surgeons, and all allied health care professionals engaged in patient care and therapy.