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.

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.

Biotic stresses cause yield loss of 31-42% in crops in addition to 6-20% during post-harvest stage. Understanding interaction of crop plants to the biotic stresses caused by insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and oomycetes, etc. is important to develop resistant crop varieties. Knowledge on the advanced genetic and genomic crop improvement strategies including molecular breeding, transgenics, genomics-assisted breeding and the recently emerging genome editing for developing resistant varieties in vegetable crops is imperative for addressing FPNEE (food, health, nutrition. energy and environment) security. Whole genome sequencing of these crops followed by genotyping-by-sequencing have facilitated precise information about the genes conferring resistance useful for gene discovery, allele mining and shuttle breeding which in turn opened up the scope for 'designing' crop genomes with resistance to biotic stresses. The nine chapters each dedicated to a vegetable crop or crop-group in this volume will deliberate on different types of biotic stress agents and their effects on and interaction with crop plants; will enumerate on the available genetic diversity with regard to biotic stress resistance among available cultivars; illuminate on the potential gene pools for utilization in interspecific gene transfer; will brief on the classical genetics of stress resistance and traditional breeding for transferring them to their cultivated counterparts; will enunciate the success stories of genetic engineering for developing biotic stress resistant varieties; will discuss on molecular mapping of genes and QTLs underlying biotic stress resistance and their marker-assisted introgression into elite varieties; will enunciate on different emerging genomics-aided techniques including genomic selection, allele mining, gene discovery and gene pyramiding for developing resistant crop varieties with higher quantity and better quality; and will also elaborate some case studies on genome editing focusing on specific genes for generating disease and insect resistant crops.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

The practice of biotechnology, though different in style, scale and substance in globalizing science for development involves all countries. Investment in biotechnology in the industrialised, the developing, and the least developed countries, is now amongst the widely accepted avenues being used for economie development. The simple utilization of kefir technology, the detoxification of injurious chemical pesticides e.g. parathion, the genetic tailoring of new crops, and the production of a first of a kind of biopharmaceuticals illustrate the global scope and content of biotechnology research endeavour and effort. In the developing and least developed nations, and in which the 9 most populous countries. are encountered, problems concerning management of the environment, food security, conservation of human health resources and capacity building are important factors that influence the path to sustainable development. Long-term use of biotechnology in the agricultural, food, energy and health sectors is expected to yield a windfall of economic, environmental and social benefits. Already the prototypes of new medicines and of prescription fruit vaccines are available. Gene based agriculture and medieine is increasingly being adopted and accepted. Emerging trends and practices are reflected in the designing of more efficient bioprocesses, and in new research in enzyme and fermentation technology, in the bioconversion of agro industrial residues into bio-utility products, in animal healthcare, and in the bioremediation and medical biotechnologies. Indeed, with each new day, new horizons in biotechnology beckon."

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.

This volume explores the latest eye-tracking methodologies that help researchers understand the background, methods, and applications involved in these studies. The chapters in this book cover topics such as methods and models of eye-tracking in natural environments; natural gaze informatics (i.e., assisted wheelchair mobility); eye-tracking application to understand the visual control of locomotion; eye movement in neurological disorders; and eye movements in sports research and practice. In the Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Cutting-edge and practical, Eye Tracking: Background, Methods, and Applications is a valuable resource for experienced and novice researchers interested in learning more about this field and its future developments.

This book highlights current advanced developments in bioepoxy and bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites and an optimisation of material formulation and processing parameters on fabrication of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites in order to achieve the highest mechanical properties in relation to their morphological structures, thermal properties, as well as biodegradability and water absorption, which is based on the use of Taguchi design of experiments with the consideration of technical and economical point of view. It also elaborates holistic theoretical modelling of tensile properties of such bionanocomposites with respect to the effect of contents of nanoclay fillers and epoxydised soybean oil (ESO).

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, 26-31 August 1990

This book aims to cover the applications of nanotechnology against human infectious diseases. The chapters of the book discuss the role of nanotechnology in the efficient diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. It explicitly provides an overview of nanodiagnostics for infectious diseases from nanoparticles-based, nanodevice-based, and point-of-care platforms. The book also covers the state-of-the-art review of recent progress in biomimetic and bioengineered nanotherapies to treat infectious diseases. It also presents a nano carrier-based CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for gene editing and its applications for developing interventional approaches against communicable diseases. Further, it reviews the recent developments in nanotechnology to engineer nanoparticles with desired physicochemical properties as a line of defense against multi-drug resistance micro-organisms. Cutting across the disciplines, this book serves as a guide for researchers in biotechnology, parasitology, and nanotechnology.

Published as an Open Access book, IEA Wind Recommended Practices for the Implementation of Renewable Energy Forecasting Solutions translates decades of academic knowledge and standard requirements into applicable procedures and decision support tools for the energy industry. Designed specifically for practitioners in the energy industry, readers will find the tools to maximize the value of renewable energy forecast information in operational decision-making applications and significantly reduce the costs of integrating large amounts of wind and solar generation assets into grid systems through more efficient management of the renewable generation variability. Authored by a group of international experts as part of the IEA Wind Task 36 (Wind Energy Forecasting), the book addresses the issue that many current operational forecast solutions are not properly optimized for their intended applications. It provides detailed guidelines and recommended practices on forecast solution selection processes, designing and executing forecasting benchmarks and trials, forecast solution evaluation, verification, and validation, and meteorological and power data requirements for real-time forecasting applications. In addition, the guidelines integrate probabilistic forecasting, integrate wind and solar forecasting, offer improved IT data exchange and data format standards, and have a dedicated section to dealing with the requirements for SCADA and meteorological measurements. A unique and comprehensive reference, IEA Wind Recommended Practices for the Implementation of Renewable Energy Forecasting Solutions is an essential guide for all practitioners involved in wind and solar energy generation forecasting from forecast vendors to end-users of renewable forecasting solutions.

Biofertilizers are important components of integrated nutrient management. They are cost effective, ecofriendly and a renewable source of plant nutrients to supplement chemical fertilizers in sustainable agricultural systems in India.

This book is written with the objective of covering the basic issues in Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), such as physiology, biochemistry and molecular genetics of nitrogen fixation, role of signal molecules and host gene expression in nodulation and nitrogen fixation for a thorough understanding of these processes in symbiotic nitrogen fixing systems and the possibilities of extending these agronomically potential and significant processes to non-legumes. The potential benefits from the N2 fixing symbiotic systems such as Sesbania rostrate Azolla, and free-living cyanobacteria to rice crop and associative symbiotic N2 fixer Azospirillum to rainfed crops have been discussed in detail. Immobilization of cyanobacteria in a solid matrix such as polyurethane foam for maximising ammonia production in rice fields and endophytic nitrogen fixation in wheat have also been included which are considered as potential technologies in the future. The solubilization and mobilization of nutrients by phosphobacteria and VA mycorrhiza and their role as bioinoculants, Acetobacter diazotrophicus as a novel biofertilizer for sugarcane and the cycad-cyanobacterial symbiosis have been clearly elucidated. These potential biological fertilizers would play key roles in productivity and sustainability of soil and also protect the environment as ecofriendly and cost effective inputs for the farmers.

This book covers the latest developments in tissue electrical conductivity and current density imaging, increasingly popular as well as challenging applications of MRI. These applications are enabled by the acquisition of high-quality MR phase images. This book provides a practical description of the MRI physics needed to understand and acquire phase images in MRI and the key details required to reconstruct them into conductivity, current density or electric field distributions. Comprehensive details are provided about the electrical properties of biological tissues, computational modeling considerations, experimental methods, construction of non-biological and biological phantoms and MRI pulse sequences. An inclusive review of image reconstruction algorithms, and their potential applications is provided for applications directed at determining current density or electric fields, such as in transcranial DC or AC stimulation techniques; as well as electrical conductivity reconstructions that may be of use in quantitative MRI applications used to detect cancer or other pathologies. This is an excellent book for undergraduate and graduate students beginning to explore phase, current density, and conductivity imaging in MRI, and will also be of great use to researchers interested in the area of MR-based electrical property imaging.

This book presents deliberations on molecular and genomic mechanisms underlying the interactions of crop plants to the abiotic stresses caused by heat, cold, drought, flooding, submergence, salinity, acidity, etc., important to develop resistant crop varieties. Knowledge on the advanced genetic and genomic crop improvement strategies including molecular breeding, transgenics, genomic-assisted breeding, and the recently emerging genome editing for developing resistant varieties in fruit crops is imperative for addressing FHNEE (food, health, nutrition, energy, and environment) security. Whole genome sequencing in many of these crops followed by genotyping-by-sequencing has provided precise information regarding the genes conferring resistance useful for gene discovery, allele mining, and shuttle breeding which in turn opened up the scope for 'designing' crop genomes with resistance to abiotic stresses. The seven chapters each dedicated to a fruit crop and a fruit crop group in this volume elucidate different types of abiotic stresses and their effects on and interaction with the crops; enumerate the available genetic diversity with regard to abiotic stress resistance among available cultivars; illuminate the potential gene pools for utilization in interspecific gene transfer; present brief on classical genetics of stress resistance and traditional breeding for transferring them to their cultivated counterparts; depict the success stories of genetic engineering for developing abiotic stress-resistant crop varieties; discuss on molecular mapping of genes and QTLs underlying stress resistance and their marker-assisted introgression into elite varieties; enunciate different genomics-aided techniques including genomic selection, allele mining, gene discovery, and gene pyramiding for developing adaptive crop varieties with higher quantity and quality of yields, and also elaborate some case studies on genome editing focusing on specific genes for generating abiotic stress-resistant crops.

A reference is needed that addresses the recent progress in aspects of PK/PD methods and developments of nanoparticles for novel drug delivery systems. No other consolidated published reference discusses the PK/PD study of nanoparticle drug delivery systems. This book discusses the advantages of nanoparticle drug delivery systems (NPDDS) in enhancing the pharmacokinetics of many drugs that are not easily metabolized or that obtain the desired therapeutic effect with minimum toxicity. The authors provide an overview of biodistribution with a focus on polymer and lipid nanoparticles. This thorough reference is divided into three parts: Modelling, Specific carries and their potential to treat specific diseases.