Lignin-based Materials for Biomedical Applications: Preparation, Characterization, and Implementation explores the emerging area of lignin-based materials as a platform for advanced biomedical applications, guiding the reader from source through to implementation. The first part of the book introduces the basics of lignin, including extraction methods, chemical modifications, structure and composition, and properties that make lignin suitable for biomedical applications. In addition, structural characterization techniques are described in detail. The next chapters focus on the preparation of lignin-based materials for biomedical applications, presenting methodologies for lignin-based nanoparticles, hydrogels, aerogels, and nanofibers, and providing in-depth coverage of lignin-based materials with specific properties-including antioxidant properties, UV absorbing capability, antimicrobial properties, and colloidal particles with tailored properties-and applications, such as drug and gene delivery, and tissue engineering. Finally, future perspectives and possible new applications are considered. This is an essential reference for all those with an interest in lignin-based materials and their biomedical applications, including researchers and advanced students across bio-based polymers, polymer science, polymer chemistry, biomaterials, nanotechnology, materials science and engineering, drug delivery, and biomedical engineering, as well as industrial R&D and scientists involved with bio-based polymers, specifically for biomedical applications.

This book examines Ghana's use of the fingerprint biometric technology in order to further conversations about localization championed by technical communication scholars. Localization, in this case, refers to the extent to which users demonstrate their knowledge of use by subverting and reconfiguring the purpose of technology to solve local problems. Dorpenyo argues that the success of a technology depends on how it meets the users' needs and the creative efforts users put into use situations. In User Localization Strategies in the Face of Technological Breakdown, Dorpenyo advocates studying how users of technological systems construct knowledge about the technology and develop local strategies to solve technological breakdowns. By analyzing technical documents and interview transcripts, the author identifies and advances three user localization strategies: linguistic localization, subversive localization, and user-heuristic experience localization, and considers how biometric systems can become a tool of marginalization.

The Springer Handbook of Enzymes provides concise data on some 5,000 enzymes sufficiently well characterized and here is the second, updated edition. Their application in analytical, synthetic and biotechnology processes as well as in food industry, and for medicinal treatments is added. Data sheets are arranged in their EC-Number sequence. The new edition reflects considerable progress in enzymology: the total material has more than doubled, and the complete 2nd edition consists of 39 volumes plus Synonym Index. Starting in 2009, all newly classified enzymes are treated in Supplement Volumes."

This essential volume explores a variety of tools and protocols of structure-based (homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, protein-protein interaction network) and ligand-based (pharmacophore mapping, quantitative structure-activity relationships or QSARs) drug design for ranking and prioritization of candidate molecules in search of effective treatment strategy against coronaviruses. Beginning with an introductory section that discusses coronavirus interactions with humanity and COVID-19 in particular, the book then continues with sections on tools and methodologies, literature reports and case studies, as well as online tools and databases that can be used for computational anti-coronavirus drug research. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, chapters include the kind of practical detail and implementation advice that ensures high quality results in the lab. Comprehensive and timely, In Silico Modeling of Drugs Against Coronaviruses: Computational Tools and Protocols is an ideal reference for researchers working on the development of novel anti-coronavirus drugs for SARS-CoV-2 and for coronaviruses that will likely appear in the future.

Maize is one of the most generally grown cereal crops at global level, followed by wheat and rice. Maize is the major crop in China both in terms of yield and acreage. In 2012, worldwide maize production was about 840 million tons. Maize has long been a staple food of most of the global population (particularly in South America and Africa) and a key nutrient resource for animal feed and for food industrial materials. Maize belts vary from the latitude 58° north to the latitude 40° south, and maize ripens every month of the year. Abiotic and biotic stresses are common in maize belts worldwide. Abiotic stresses (chiefly drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures), together with biotic stresses (primarily fungi, viruses, and pests), negatively affect maize growth, development, production and productivity. In the recent past, intense droughts, waterlogging, and extreme temperatures have relentlessly affected maize growth and yield. In China, 60% of the maize planting area is prone to drought, and the resultant yield loss is 20%–30% per year; in India, 25%–30% of the maize yield is lost as a result of waterlogging each year. The biotic stresses on maize are chiefly pathogens (fungal, bacterial, and viral), and the consequential syndromes, like ear/stalk rot, rough dwarf disease, and northern leaf blight, are widespread and result in grave damage. Roughly 10% of the global maize yield is lost each year as a result of biotic stresses. For example, the European corn borer [ECB, Ostrinianubilalis (Hübner)] causes yield losses of up to 2000 million dollars annually in the USA alone in the northern regions of China, the maize yield loss reaches 50% during years when maize badly affected by northern leaf blight. In addition, abiotic and biotic stresses time and again are present at the same time and rigorously influence maize production. To fulfill requirements of each maize-growing situation and to tackle the above mentions stresses in an effective way sensibly designed multidisciplinary strategy for developing suitable varieties for each of these stresses has been attempted during the last decade.  Genomics is a field of supreme significance for elucidating the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits and characterizing germplasm collections to achieve precise and specific manipulation of desirable alleles/genes. Advances in genotyping technologies and high throughput phenomics approaches have resulted in accelerated crop improvement like genomic selection, speed breeding, particularly in maize.  Molecular breeding tools like collaborating all omics, has led to the development of maize genotypes having higher yields, improved quality and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Through this book, we bring into one volume the various important aspects of maize improvement and the recent technological advances in development of maize genotypes with high yield, high quality and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses

This book focuses on the discoveries in M. truncatula genomic research which has been undertaken in the last two decades. Legumes are important for their economic values as food, feed, and fodder and also serve as the pillar of sustainable agriculture because of its biological nitrogen fixation capacity. Medicago truncatula was established as a model legume in the 1990s and has been well adopted as a model internationally since then. M. truncatula is an autogamous, diploid (2n = 16) species with a short generation time, and relatively small genome size (~375 Mbp). The M. truncatula genome was initially sequenced by the International Medicago Genome Annotation Group (IMGAG) in 2011 and has been well-annotated. M. truncatula research benefits from the availability of several genetic and genomic tools, such as gene expression atlas (MtGEA), insertion and neutron bombardment mutant populations, and a HapMap panel containing 384 sequenced inbred lines for genome-wide association studies. This book covers the current status and latest advancements of the M. truncatula genomics and transcriptomics resources along with a glimpse of newly developed tools that makes M. truncatula a front runner model in functional genomic studies.

Demystifying Big Data, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning for Healthcare Analytics presents the changing world of data utilization, especially in clinical healthcare. Various techniques, methodologies, and algorithms are presented in this book to organize data in a structured manner that will assist physicians in the care of patients and help biomedical engineers and computer scientists understand the impact of these techniques on healthcare analytics. The book is divided into two parts: Part 1 covers big data aspects such as healthcare decision support systems and analytics-related topics. Part 2 focuses on the current frameworks and applications of deep learning and machine learning, and provides an outlook on future directions of research and development. The entire book takes a case study approach, providing a wealth of real-world case studies in the application chapters to act as a foundational reference for biomedical engineers, computer scientists, healthcare researchers, and clinicians.

Rapid prototyping is used to design and develop medical devices and instrumentation. This book details research in rapid prototyping of bio-materials for medical applications. It provides a wide variety of examples of medical applications using rapid prototyping, including tissue engineering, dental applications, and bone replacement. Coverage also discusses the emergence of computer aided design in the development of prosthetic devices.

An improved understanding of the interactions between nanoparticles and plant retorts, including their uptake, localization, and activity, could revolutionize crop production through increased disease resistance, nutrient utilization, and crop yield. This may further impact other agricultural and industrial processes that are based on plant crops. This two-volume book analyses the key processes involved in the nanoparticle delivery to plants and details the interactions between plants and nanomaterials. Potential plant nanotechnology applications for enhanced nutrient uptake, increased crop productivity and plant disease management are evaluated with careful consideration regarding safe use, social acceptance and ecological impact of these technologies. Plant Nanobionics: Volume 1, Advances in the Understanding of Nanomaterials Research and Applications begins the discussion of nanotechnology applications in plants with the characterization and nanosynthesis of various microbes and covers the mechanisms and etiology of nanostructure function in microbial cells. It focuses on the potential alteration of plant production systems through the controlled release of agrochemicals and targeted delivery of biomolecules. Industrial and medical applications are included. Volume 2 continues this discussion with a focus on biosynthesis and toxicity.

This book aims to comprehensively summarize the current research status of nanomaterials and cell biology. It highlights the biological effects and biomedical applications of nanomaterials for specific diseases, bone tissue engineering, and skeletal muscle regeneration. It also provides the details of the biomedical applications of nucleic acid nanomaterials in drug delivery carriers, antimicrobial therapy, vaccine, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this book renders the audience a better understanding of nanomaterials along with the diverse applications in the cell biology field from recent works to perspectives.

Gold nanoparticles provide a platform for the development of new and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic tools.This book offers a general guide to the synthesis and coating of gold nanoparticles. It describes the links between optical features and geometries of gold nanoparticles and provides a readily comprehensible connection in all the chapters between the geometry of gold nanoparticles and their final applications.

The aim of molecular diagnostics is preferentially to detect a developing disease before any symptoms appear. There has been a significant increase, fueled by technologies from the human genome project, in the availability of nucleic acid sequence information for all living organisms including bacteria and viruses. When combined with a different type of instrumentation applied, the resulting diagnostics is specific and sensitive. Nucleic acid-based medical diagnosis detects specific DNAs or RNAs from the infecting organism or virus and a specific gene or the expression of a gene associated with a disease. Nucleic acid approaches also stimulate a basic science by opening lines of inquiry that will lead to greater understanding of the molecules at the center of life. One can follow Richard Feynman's famous statement "What I cannot create, I do not understand."

This detailed book explores techniques for understanding and engineering programs that naturally control and drive formation of tissues and organs in order to open powerful opportunities to produce physiologically relevant tissues of interest, generate models to study human disease, and set the path for the manufacturing of advanced tissue and organs. Beginning with chapters to help understand signaling events and patterns in morphogenetic systems, the volume continues by covering programming signaling events and patterns to drive morphogenesis, techniques for engineering organoids, tissue barriers, and disease models, as well as in vivo therapeutic applications. 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 cutting-edge, Programmed Morphogenesis: Methods and Protocols aims not only to communicate knowledge but also to inspire approaches to new challenges and to empower readers with the capability to approach those challenges.

This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with updated research and techniques to help laboratory workers design and implement a successful purification strategy, emphasize critical aspects on practical problems, and answers questions encountered at the lab bench. The chapters in this book are divided into five parts: Part One discusses an overview of screening and design of purification strategies and covers initial aspects on high-throughput screening, methods development, and media selection; Parts Two and Three explore low- and high-resolution methods, with emphasis on affinity chromatography; Part Four describes analytical techniques of purified proteins; and Part Five presents selected examples and case studies to discuss the aforementioned. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, 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 comprehensive, Protein Downstream Processing: Design, Development, and Application of High and Low-Resolution Methods, Second Edition is an ideal source of information to advanced students, junior researchers, and scientists involved in health sciences, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, and other related areas in both academia and industry.

Dental Implants: Materials, Coatings, Surface Modifications and Interfaces with Oral Tissues provides readers with information on past and contemporary advances in the design and modification of dental implants to enhance osseointegration and biocompatibility. The book begins with a look at the current status of dental implants, materials and fabrication methods. Chapters then cover surface modification techniques and a variety of inorganic, organic and biological coatings. Final sections cover tissue-implant interfaces. Written by a multidisciplinary team of materials scientists, dental clinicians and implantologists, this book is an essential reference for materials scientists, dental practitioners and researchers and students in academia.

Advances in Trichoderma Biology for Agricultural Applications covers the beneficial properties of Trichoderma in enhancing global agricultural productivity. Trichoderma are biotechnologically significant fungi, being widely used both agriculturally and industrially. In many cases Trichoderma are also a potential drug source of clinical importance. In recent years, driven by advances in genetics and genomics, research on these fungi has opened new avenues for its various applications. This book covers i) Current state of Trichoderma taxonomy, and species identification, ii) Trichoderma and plant-pathogenic fungi interactions, iii) Trichoderma interactions with plants, including rhizosphere competence of Trichoderma, antagonistic potentials, plant growth promotion, and management of various abiotic stresses in plants, iv) Practical aspects of Trichoderma commercialization in agriculture, v) Biosynthesis of metal-based nanoparticles and its application, and vi) Negative impact of Trichoderma strains in the environments. Reading this book should kindle further discussions among researchers working in fungal biotechnology, microbiology, agriculture, environmental science, forestry, and other allied subjects and thus lead to a broader scope of Trichoderma-based products and technologies. The knowledge shared in this book should also provide a warning on the potential risks associated with Trichoderma.

This volume discusses both the latest experimental research in bioelectrosynthesis and current applications. Beginning with an introduction into the "electrification of biotechnology" as well as the underlying fundamentals, the volume then discusses a wide range of topics based on the interfacing of biotechnological and electrochemical reaction steps. It includes contributions on the different aspects of bioelectrochemical applications for synthesis purposes, i.e. the production of fine and platform chemicals based on enzymatically or microbially catalyzed reactions driven by electric energy. The volume finishes with a summary and outlook chapter which gives an overview of the current status of the field and future perspectives. Edited by experts in the field, and authored by a wide range of international researchers, this volume assesses how research from today's lab bench can be developed into industrial applications, and is of interest to researchers in academia and industry.

Algae are simple, primitive, heterogeneous, autotrophic, eukaryotic or prokaryotic organisms that lead a symbiotic, parasitic or free-living mode of life. Microalgae and macroalgae possess great potential in various fields of application. Microalgae are ubiquitous and extremely diverse microorganisms that can accumulate toxic contaminants and heavy metals from wastewater, making them a superior candidate to become a powerful nanofactory. Algae were discovered to reduce the presence of metal ions, and afterwards aid in the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Since algae-mediated biogenic nanoparticles are eco-friendly, cost-effective, high-yielding, speedy and energy-efficient, a large number of studies have been published on them in the last few years. This book focuses on recent progress on the utilization of algae for the synthesis of nanoparticles, their characterization and the possible mechanisms involved. Bioprospecting Algae for Nanosized Materials describes the synthesis of algal nanomaterials and its application in various fields for sustainable development. This book outlines the procedures to prepare phyconanomaterials, techniques to utilize the nanomaterials, and applications in agriculture, environment and medicine.

This volume provides a collection of cross-country analyses of innovation, showing that the effects of innovation upon firms vary from one country to another. Incumbents perish in one country, while they thrive in the same industry in another country. Startups thrive in response to new technological breakthroughs in one country and struggle in another country. Drawing upon studies of semiconductors, disk drives and biotechnology, and examining institutions such as patent systems and venture capital, this volume takes issue with predictions of convergence, and convincingly demonstrates the multiple paths that technologies and innovations can follow.

This book explores a sampling of the most powerful and enterprising efforts to achieve biotechnological goals by means of various interdisciplinary approaches. From the fabrication of extremely small units to achieve specific objectives through nano-bio-technology, to devices with artificial intelligence, gene therapy for cerebrovascular anomalies, biodegradable plastics, the use of phyto-stem cells in cosmetology, CarT cell immune therapy, targeted therapies for cancer, 3D printed bones developed by the University of Wollongong in Australia, the sickle cell chip developed by IIT Bombay, and innovative sustainable energy solutions, the book includes a colorful spectrum of reviews on current and future biotech products. Gathering contributions by an international team of researchers, this book offers its audience, and particularly younger readers, revealing information on current and upcoming smart technologies.

This volume presents a timely recognition, warning and mapping of the fast approaching wave, or "bio-tsunami", of global socio-technical transformation, built by a much wider spectrum of converging powers, including biotechnology, new agriculture, novel foods, health, quality of life, environment, energy, sustainability, education, knowledge management, and design of smart applications. The book contains eight sections corresponding to different clusters of bioeconomic and socio-technical change, as identified by the editors' "Scanning the Horizon" foresight research; it also offers an integrated view of the future bioeconomy landscape though the convergence of several technologies that affect everyday life. The clusters offer methodologies for forecasting the future bioeconomy, and how these predictions can affect target-setting and the orientation of policies and actions to manage cultural and societal change, and achieve sustainable development in less developed areas. The book will be of interest to researchers, producers, logistics experts, policy makers, regulators, business and financial institutions, and biotechnologists (e.g. geneticists, food experts, etc.).

Structural Biomaterials: Properties, Characteristics, and Selection serves as a single point of reference to digest current research and develop a deeper understanding in the field of biomaterials engineering. This book uses a materials-focused approach, allowing the reader to quickly access specific, detailed information on biomaterials characterization and selection. Relevant to a range of readers, this book provides holistic coverage of the broad categories of structural biomaterials currently available and used in medical applications, highlighting the property requirements for structural biomaterials, their biocompatibility performance and their safety regulation in key categories such as metals, ceramics and polymers. The materials science perspective of this text ensures the content is accessible even to those without an extensive background in applied medicine, positioning this text not just for students, but as an overview and reference for researchers, scientists and engineers entering the field from related materials science disciplines.

This book describes the development of genetic resources in amaranths, with a major focus on genomics, reverse, and forward genetics tools and strategies that have been developed for crop improvement. Amaranth is an ancient crop native to the New World. Interest in amaranths is being renewed, due to their adaptability, stress tolerance, and nutritional value. There are about 65 species in the genus, including Amaranthus caudatus L., A. cruentus L., and A. hypochondriacus L., which are primarily grown as protein-rich grains or pseudocereals. The genus also includes major noxious weeds (e.g., A. palmeri). The amaranths are within the Caryophyllales order and thus many species (e.g., A. tricolor) produce red (betacyanin) or yellow (betaxanthin) betalain pigments, which are chemically distinct from the anthocyanins responsible for red pigmentation in other plants. A. hypochondriacus, which shows disomic inheritance (2n = 32; n= 466 Mb), has been sequenced and annotated with 23,059 protein-coding genes. Additional members of the genus are now also been sequenced including weedy amaranths, other grain amaranths, and their putative progenitors.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of FDA (Federal Drug Administration) procedures. It simplifies the complexities involved in getting FDA clearance by using an integrated approach of clinical, engineering, and business aspects. It includes both medical devices and drug development. This involves understanding the structure of the FDA, its purpose, and its initiatives. This book also examines what is needed for designing clinical trials and addressing recalls and failures. It uses case studies to further illustrate the integrated method stressed throughout this work.