The observation of nature has been the inspiration for many materials, laws, and theories, as well as computational methods. Nature-Inspired computing Design, Development, and Applications covers all the main areas of natural computing, from methods to computationally synthesized natural phenomena, to computing paradigms based on natural materials. This volume is comprised of ideas and research from nature to develop computational systems or materials to perform computation. Researchers, academic educators, and professionals will find a comprehensive view of all aspects of natural computing with emphasis on its main branches.

What existential threats does humanity face? And how can we secure our future? 'The Precipice is a powerful book . . . Ord's love for humanity and hope for its future is infectious' Spectator 'Ord's analysis of the science is exemplary . . . Thrillingly written' Sunday Times We live during the most important era of human history. In the twentieth century, we developed the means to destroy ourselves - without developing the moral framework to ensure we won't. This is the Precipice, and how we respond to it will be the most crucial decision of our time. Oxford moral philosopher Toby Ord explores the risks to humanity's future, from the familiar man-made threats of climate change and nuclear war, to the potentially greater, more unfamiliar threats from engineered pandemics and advanced artificial intelligence. With clear and rigorous thinking, Ord calculates the various risk levels, and shows how our own time fits within the larger story of human history. We can say with certainty that the novel coronavirus does not pose such a risk. But could the next pandemic? And what can we do, in our present moment, to face the risks head on? A major work that brings together the disciplines of physics, biology, earth and computer science, history, anthropology, statistics, international relations, political science and moral philosophy, The Precipice is a call for a new understanding of our age: a major reorientation in the way we see the world, our history, and the role we play in it.

The advances in genomic technologies, such as microarrays and high throughput sequencing,
have expanded the realm of possibilities for capturing data and analyzing it using automated
computer driven bioinformatics tools. With the completion of the sequencing of genomes of
human and several model organisms, a quest for scientific discoveries being fueled by
integrative and multidimensional techniques in mathematics and computational sciences. In
this volume, leading researchers and experts have provided an overview of significant
concepts from biological, mathematical, and computational perspectives. It provides a high level view of fungal genomic data integration and annotation, classification of proteins and identification of vaccine targets, identification of secretome or secreted proteins in fungal genomes, as well as tools for analyzing microarray expression
profiles.
* Provides a survey of theoretical underpinnings on the technological tools and applications
* Discusses the tools utilized for the annotation of fungal genomes and addresses issues related to automated annotation generation in a high throughput biotechnology environment
* describing the applications of the concepts and methodologies presented throughout the book

Biotechnology is a diverse, complex and rapidly evolving field. Students and experienced researchers alike face the challenges of staying on top of developments in their field of specialty and maintaining a broader overview of the field as a whole. Volumes containing competent reviews on a diverse range of topics in the field fulfill the dual role of broadening and updating biotechnologists' knowledge. The current volume is an excellent example of such a book. The topics covered range from classical issues in biotechnology - such as, recent advances in all-protein chromophore technology- to topics that are focused on coencapsulation of hepatocytes and bone marrow cell. The information presented in this book will therefore will be of great value to both experienced biotechnologists and biotechnologists in training.
* Includes over 80 illustrations and photographs
* Discusses the recent developments in biodegradable synthetic polymers
* Offers a detailed discussion on emerging options in protein bioseparation

The Textbook of Ion Channels is a set of three volumes providing a wide-ranging reference source on ion channels for students, instructors, and researchers. Ion channels are membrane proteins that control the electrical properties of neurons and cardiac cells, mediate the detection and response to sensory stimuli like light, sound, odor, and taste, and regulate the response to physical stimuli like temperature and pressure. In non-excitable tissues, ion channels are instrumental for the regulation of basic salt balance that is critical for homeostasis. Ion channels are located at the surface membrane of cells, giving them the unique ability to communicate with the environment, as well as the membrane of intracellular organelles, allowing them to regulate internal homeostasis. Ion channels are fundamentally important for human health and diseases, and are important targets for pharmaceuticals in mental illness, heart disease, anesthesia, pain and other clinical applications. The modern methods used in their study are powerful and diverse, ranging from single ion-channel measurement techniques to models of ion channel diseases in animals, and human clinical trials for ion channel drugs. All three volumes give the reader an introduction to fundamental concepts needed to understand the mechanism of ion channels, a guide to the technical aspects of ion channel research, offer a modern guide to the properties of major ion channel families, and include coverage of key examples of regulatory, physiological, and disease roles for ion channels.

This book bridges the communication gap between neuroscientists and engineers through the unifying theme of correlation-based learning

Developing brain-style signal processing or machine learning algorithms has attracted many sharp minds from a range of disciplines. Now, coauthored by four researchers with varying backgrounds in signal processing, neuroscience, psychology, and computer science, Correlative Learning unifies the many cross-fertilized ideas in computational neuroscience and signal processing in a common language that will help engineers understand and appreciate the human brain as a highly sophisticated biosystem for building more intelligent machines.

First, the authors present the necessary neuroscience background for engineers, and then go on to relate the common intrinsic structures of the learning mechanisms of the brain to signal processing, machine learning, kernel learning, complex-valued domains, and the ALOPEX learning paradigm.

This correlation-based approach to building complex, reliable (robust), and adaptive systems is vital for engineers, researchers, and graduate students from various fields of science and engineering. Figures, tables, worked examples, and case studies illustrate how to use computational tools for either helping to understand brain functions or fitting specific engineering applications, and a comprehensive bibliography covering over 1,000 references from major publications is included for further reading.

Medical textiles are a major growth area within the technical textiles industry and the range of applications continues to grow and increase in diversity with every new development. Recent innovations include novel chitosan-alginate fibres for advanced wound dressings, ultrasonic energy for bleaching cotton medical textiles, durable and rechargeable biocidal textiles, spider silk supportive matrix for cartilage regeneration, barbed bi-directional surgical sutures and intelligent textiles for medical applications.
Medical textiles and biomaterials for healthcare is a culmination of the worldwide research into medical textiles and biomaterials. It is divided into eight parts covering the main areas of basic biomaterials, healthcare and hygiene products, infection control and barrier materials, bandaging and pressure garments, woundcare materials, implantable and medical devices and smart technologies. Each part contains a comprehensive overview written by leading experts in the area. The overviews are then followed by a selection of the best papers from the 2003 MEDTEX Conference, hosted by the University of Bolton. It has been extensively edited to produce what is expected to be the leading reference on this subject.
Discusses worldwide research into medical textiles and biomaterialsInvaluable reference for this developing area of technical textilesA selection of the best papers from the 2003 MEDTEX Conference, hosted by University of Bolton are included

The Core Model: A Collaborative Paradigm for the Pharmaceutical Industry and Global Health Care develops the innovative core model, an organizational research and design paradigm and economic theory that proposes a collaborative approach to resolving global health issues and improving the productivity of drug development. The model proposes that scientific collaboration does not occur in an unstructured manner, but actually takes place within a highly structured order where knowledge is transferred, integrated and finally translated into commercial products. An understanding of this model will help solve the global pharmaceutical industrys productivity problems and address important global health care and economic issues. This book is useful to researchers, advanced students, regulators, and management in pharmaceutical industries, as well as healthcare professionals, those working in health economics, and those interested in scientific innovation processes.

Streptomycetes are unusually complex bacteria that are abundant in soil. They grow as branching filaments and form chains of spores. Most importantly, they have an extraordinary ability to make antibiotics, for which they are the main industrial source, as well as other metabolites with medicinal properties. In recent years, the search for new antibiotics and other drugs in streptomycetes has been augmented by genomic studies, genome mining, and new biotechnological approaches. With contributions from some of the leading scientists in the field, this book documents recent research and development in streptomycetes genomics, physiology, and metabolism. With a focus on biotechnology and genomics, the book provides an excellent source of up-to-date information. Topics include: genome architecture * conjugative genetic elements * differentiation * protein secretion * central carbon metabolic pathways * regulation of nitrogen assimilation * phosphate control of metabolism * gamma-butyrolactones and their role in antibiotic regulation * clavulanic acid and clavams * genome-guided exploration * gene clusters for bioactive natural products * genomics of cytochromes p450. The book is essential reading for research scientists, biotechnologists, graduate students, and other professionals involved in streptomycetes research, antibiotic and antimicrobial development, drug discovery, soil microbiology and related fields. It is a recommended text for all microbiology laboratories.

Biotechnology is a diverse, complex and rapidly evolving field. Students and experienced researchers alike face the challenges of staying on top of developments in their field of specialty and maintaining a broader overview of the field as a whole. Volumes containing competent reviews on a diverse range of topics in the field fulfill the dual role of broadening and updating biotechnologists knowledge. The current volume is an excellent example of such a book. The topics covered range from classical issues in biotechnology - such as, vehicles for the production of biotechnology products and methods for their detection, separation and analysis - to topics that are focused on the role of biotechnology in the health sciences. The information presented in this book will therefore will be of great value to both experienced biotechnologists and biotechnologists in training.

Advances in Phytonanotechnology: From Synthesis to Application guides readers through various applications of nanomaterials on plants by presenting the latest research related to nanotechnology and nanomaterials on plant systems. The book focuses on the effects of these applications on plant morphology, physiology, biochemistry, ecology and genetics. Sections cover the impact on plant yield, techniques, a review of positive and negative impacts, and an overview of current policies regarding the use of nanotechnology on plants. Additionally, the book offers insights into the appropriate application of nanoscience to plants and crops for improved outcome and an exploration of their bioavailability and toxicity in the environment.

Advances in Applied Microbiology offers intensive reviews of the latest techniques and discoveries in this rapidly moving field. The editors are recognized experts and the format is comprehensive and instructive.

Microencapsulations may be found in a number of fields like medicine, drug delivery, biosensing, agriculture, catalysis, intelligent microstructures and in many consumer goods. This new edition of Microencapsulation revises chapters to address the newest innovations in fields and adds three new chapters on the uses of microencapsulations in medicine, agriculture, and consumer products.

8 11/16 X 11 1/4 in Foreword - What is Biotechnology Today? (Leroy Hood, The Institute for S ystems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA) Rapid translation system: a novel cell-free way from gene to protein (M. Hoffmann, C. Nem etz). Protein expression and refolding - a practi cal guide to getting the most out of inclusion bodies (L.D. Cabrita, S. Bottomley). Towards a systems biology understandi ng of human health: interplay between genotype, environment and nutritio n. Public health issues related with the consumpt ion of food obtained from genetically modified organisms (A. Paparini, V . Romano-Spica). p75 neurotrophin receptor signal ing in the nervous system (Y. Hasegawa et al.). P hage display for epitope determination: a paradigm for identifying recep tor-ligand interactions (M.J. Rowley, K. O'Connor, L. Wijeyewickrema). < /LI> DNA vaccines and their application against parasit es - promise, limitations and potential solutions (P.M. Smooker et al.). Drug-induced and antibody-mediated pure red cell