This is the story of a race - not against other vaccines or other scientists, but against a deadly and devastating virus.

On 1 January 2020, Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University, read an article about four people in China with a strange pneumonia. Within two weeks, she and her team had designed a vaccine against a pathogen that no one had ever seen before. Less than 12 months later, vaccination was rolled out across the world to save millions of lives from Covid-19. In Vaxxers, we hear directly from Professor Gilbert and her colleague Dr Catherine Green as they reveal the inside story of making the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the cutting-edge science and sheer hard work behind it.

This is their story of fighting a pandemic as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Sarah and Cath share the heart-stopping moments in the eye of the storm; they separate fact from fiction; they explain how they made a highly effective vaccine in record time with the eyes of the world watching; and they give us hope for the future.

Vaxxers invites us into the lab to find out how science will save us from this pandemic, and how we can prepare for the inevitable next one.

Wat Moet Ons Met Ons Kerk Doen? is 'n poging om te probeer verstaan waar ons as Afrikaners teologies vandaan kom, watter kragte en magte ons en ons Kerk gevorm het en hoe ons Kerk tans daar uitsien.

Die N.G.Kerk was 'n belangrike en rigtinggewende rolspele in die opheffing van die Afrikaner na die Britse vergrype tydens en na die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog. Tans word die N.G.Kerk ervaar as 'n instansie wat ongevoelig teenoor die geestelike behoeftes van haar lidmate staan.

Hierdie is 'n moet-lees boek vir:

• Lidmate wat ons Kerk graag wil help om 'n gesonde, geestelike tuiste vir Suid-Afrikaners van die 21ste eeu te bied.
• Die klakkelose napraters van die dogma wat dink ons Kerk is steeds op die regte pad.
• Die plastiekpredikante van die radio en televisie wat met eentonige reëlmaat soetsappige, sogenaamd godsdienstige, pleisters plak.
• Diegene wat reeds ons Kerk tot die ashoop van die geloof verdoem het.

A groundbreaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing, and resilience.

Whether it's meditation or a walk in nature, reading a sacred text or saying a prayer, there are many ways to tap into a heightened awareness of the world around us and our place in it. Lisa Miller draws on decades of clinical experience and award-winning research to show that humans are universally equipped with this capacity for spirituality, and that our brains become more resilient and robust as a result of it. Bringing scientific rigour to the most intangible aspect of our lives, Miller's counterintuitive findings reveal the measurable positive effects of spirituality: for better decision-making, a healthier brain and an inspired life.

Brimming with inspiration and compassion, this landmark book revolutionizes our understanding of spirituality, mental health and how to find meaning and purpose in life.

A true-life scientific adventure story, this thrilling book takes the reader deep into South African caves to discover fossil remains that compel a monumental reframing of the human family tree.

In the summer of 2022, Lee Berger lost 50 pounds in order to wriggle though impossibly small openings in the Rising Star cave complex in South Africa—spaces where his team has been unearthing the remains of Homo naledi, a proto-human likely to have coexisted with Homo sapiens some 250,000 years ago. The lead researcher on the site, still Berger had never made his way into the dark, cramped, dangerous underground spaces where many of the naledi fossils had been found. Now he was ready to do so.

Once inside the cave, Berger made shocking new discoveries that expand our understanding of this early hominid—discoveries that stand to alter our fundamental understanding of what makes us human. So what does it all mean?

Join Berger on the adventure of a lifetime as he explores the Rising Star cave system and begins the complicated process of explaining these extraordinary finds—finds that force a rethinking of human evolution, and discoveries that Berger calls “the Rosetta stone of the human mind.”

The Youth Athlete: A Practitioner’s Guide to Providing Comprehensive Sports Medicine Care includes topics that provide the most comprehensive and holistic understanding of the youth athlete. The foundation of the book focuses on the growth and development of the athlete from child to adolescence, balancing their physical, mental and emotional needs. The middle sections expand on this foundation, concentrating on common injuries and illnesses as well as unique topics (e.g., Female, Athlete Triad, Sports Specialization). Final sections emphasize specific sports (e.g., Soccer, Basketball, eSports), allowing the reader to synthesize the previous information to assist with return to play decision-making. Written from a scientific perspective and incorporating evidence-based medicine into its content, this book is perfect for health care practitioners of varied specialties. The complete and comprehensive structure of the book will clearly distinguish it from all other textbooks on the market.

Oceans and Human Health: Opportunities and Impacts, Second Edition explores the inextricably interconnected and complex relationship between oceans and humans. Through the lens of the expanding oceans and human health meta-discipline, this work examines the many invaluable ecosystem services offered by oceans as well as the global anthropogenic impacts, and explores the associated risks and benefits to human health. Written and edited by an interdisciplinary team of experts, the book features international perspectives on the resources available to address these benefits and risks, including enhanced research, policy, and community engagement. The book concludes by examining the future of ocean stewardship and how global populations can unite to nurture and promote our life-enhancing relationship with oceans. This is an indispensable resource for students, researchers, communities, and industry specialists in marine sciences, public health, and international policy. 

Effective use of Social Media in Public Health offers a well-organized and comprehensive review of social media and its impact on people’s lives and the public health sector. Divided into sections, the book addresses the growing use (and importance) of social media in conducting and disseminating research findings and covers an array of issues from cyberbullying to diversity and inclusion. Written by health educators and practitioners for health educators and practitioners, this book is a timely resource on the topics discussed.

Dystonia, Volume 169, the latest release in the International Review of Neurobiology serial, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics including Clinical Features and the Science of Classification, What Can Epidemiological Studies Tell us About the Neurobiology of Dystonia, Dystonia Genes and Their Biological Pathways, Functional Anatomy of Dystonia, Physiology of Dystonia: Human Studies, Physiology of Dystonia: Animal Studies, Experimental Pharmacology: Targeting Neurotransmitters, Experimental Pharmacology: Targeting Metabolic Pathways, Adult-Onset Focal Dystonias: One Biology or Many?, Early-Onset Inherited vs Late-Onset Idiopathic Dystonias: Same or Different Biological Mechanisms?, and much more.

The Chemical Dialogue Between Plants and Beneficial Microorganisms provides foundational insights on plant beneficial microorganisms and their impact on the health and productivity of plants. Providing in-depth and recent updates about unexplored aspects of plant microbes interactions, the book includes the biological repertoire of arbuscular mycorrhizal association, molecular architecture of Rhizobium-plant symbiosis, and endophytes in transcriptional plasticity during host colonization by endophytes. The book also includes details about the mechanism of different plant beneficial microorganisms, how these differ, and their cross signaling. This book will be an important reference for researchers working on different plant beneficial microorganisms and their molecular arsenal.

Encyclopedia of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, Second Edition, Six Volume Set is the most comprehensive work on sleep and circadian rhythms. This completely revised new edition, comprised of contributions from 450 renowned authorities in the field, covers what is new and known in the field. In addition to thorough coverage of the basics (physiology, sleep disorders etc.), this new edition includes a thorough examination of circadian rhythms that manage the sleep-wake cycle. Although this area is highly intertwined with sleep, it is a scientific discipline in and of itself, and will broaden the appeal of this work to health care providers and scientists. Other sections of interest explore consumer wearable devices to track sleep and circadian rhythms, artificial intelligence algorithms to detect sleep and abnormal sleep-related conditions, and new technology to treat sleep and circadian rhythm disorders. This book will be an ideal and primary reference resource for students, trainees, technologists, basic/clinical scientists, physicians, advanced practice providers, psychologists, nurses, and other medical and research personnel who want to explore any topic within the sleep and circadian rhythm field.

Natural Plant Products in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Preventive and Therapeutic Potential organizes all evidence to understand which natural products are the first steps of investigation and which have strong evidence of their effects in inflammatory bowel diseases, have been tested in clinical trials, and have received approval to be officially used. In addition to providing information regarding the research with natural products in inflammatory bowel diseases, this reference will also highlight the molecular mechanisms behind the effects of natural products in inflammatory bowel diseases with the aid of figures, video animations and dynamic tables. Compiled from research group members from different parts of the world and specialized in inflammatory bowel diseases and related topics, this important reference will be useful to health professionals, researchers, professors, and industry managers as it provides helpful information on the subject, with the potential to inspire health care, relevant research and product innovation.

The Eye, Volume Four, the latest release in the Stem Cell Innovation in Health and Disease series, addresses the recent data accumulated on the potential applications of stem cells to treat eye diseases. This volume highlights the recent development of cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo research tools and approaches, including human and murine organoid cultures, genetic editing in vitro and in vivo, human iPSC models of disease, haploid cells for genetic as well as compound screening paradigms, genetically engineered mice, and stem cell transplantation to cure eye diseases. The volume is written for researchers and scientists in stem cell therapy, cell biology, regenerative medicine and organ transplantation, and is contributed by world-renowned authors in the field. This is a timely and fascinating collection of information and new discoveries that provides a contemporary snapshot album on the fast-moving field of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapeutics.

Microbiome Therapeutics: Personalized Therapy Beyond Conventional Approaches addresses the current knowledge and landscape of microbiome therapeutics, providing an overview of existing applications in health and disease as well as potential future directions of microbiome modulations and subsequent translation to the global industry and market. This important reference provides the most current status of microbiome therapeutics as well as possible future perspectives through coverage of topics including the application of microbiome therapeutics; various additive, subtractive and modulatory approaches; microbiome composition of health and diseases, insights into live bio-therapeutics and the clinical data supporting their efficacy. Case studies are provided throughout the book to further define, describe and evaluate microbiome therapeutics success and failure.

Informed by the Biopsychosocial Model, this Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Health examines multiple aspects of child and adolescent development and physical and mental health. According to the Biopsychosocial Model, health is determined by the reciprocal interactions between biological (e.g., genetics, physical development, family health history), psychological (e.g., mental health, identity developmental, attitudes), and social (e.g., family, peers, school, social supports) factors. This theory posits that each one of these factors alone is not sufficient to understand health; instead, it is important to understand how these interactive components ultimately influence health outcomes. In addition to the Biopsychosocial Model, this Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Health has a translational approach. Each section and all applicable entries include a discussion of prevention or intervention efforts that can inform health and health promotion, and prevent health risks.

Twin Research: Biology, Health, Epigenetics, and Psychology is a comprehensive, applied resource in twinning and twin studies that is grounded in the most impactful findings from twin research in recent years. While targeted to undergraduate and graduate students, this compendium will prove a valuable resource for scholars already familiar with twin studies, as well as those coming to the field for the first time. Here, more than forty experts across an array of disciplines examine twinning and twin research methodologies from the perspectives of biology, medicine, genetic and epigenetic influences, and neuroscience. Chapters provide clear instruction in both basic and advanced research methods, family and parenting aspects of twinning, twin studies as applied across various disease areas and medical specialties, genetic and epigenetic determinants of differentiation, and academic, neurological and cognitive development. The presentation of existing studies and methods instruction empowers students and researchers to apply twin-based research and advance new studies across a range of biomedical and behavioral fields, highlighting current research trends and future directions.

RNA Methodologies: A Laboratory Guide for Isolation and Characterization, Sixth Edition provides the most up-to-date ribonucleic acid lab techniques for seasoned scientists and graduate students alike. This edition features new material on RNA sequencing, RNA in Situ Hybridization, non-coding RNAs, computational RNA biology, transcriptomes and bioinformatics, along with the latest advances in methods and protocols across the field of RNA investigation. As a leader in the field, Dr. Farrell provides a wealth of knowledge on the topic of RNA biology while also giving readers helpful hints and troubleshooting techniques from his own personal experience in this subject area. This book presents the essential knowledge and techniques to use when working with RNA for the experienced practitioner, while also aiding the beginner in fully understanding this important branch of molecular biology.

Autophagy and Metabolism: Potential Target for Cancer Therapy presents updates on autophagy in cancer metabolism and how it can be used to develop new, more efficient treatments. Written by experts in the field, the book presents recent research and explains how to translate it to the clinical setting. Sections discuss tumor cell metabolism and autophagy as therapeutic targets, autophagy regulation in cancer, signaling pathways in metabolic dysregulation in solid tumors, metabolic stress and cell death pathways, and the role of the tumor microenvironment. In addition, topics cover combined targeting autophagy, metabolism for cancer therapy, and the autophagy effect on immune cell metabolism. This will be a valuable resource for researchers, oncologists, graduate students, and members of the biomedical field who are interested in learning more about the interaction between autophagy and cancer metabolism.

Artificial Intelligence in Capsule Endoscopy: A Gamechanger for a Groundbreaking Technique highlights the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) application in capsule endoscopy. AI will have a key role in the mid/long-term for gastrointestinal endoscopy and capsule endoscopy. This field is a prime area for the use of AI tools with over 50,000 images per endoscopy capsule video, making video analysis a time and resource consuming task and prone to error. With the application of AI image analysis tools (primarily Convolutional Neural Networks) we can decrease capsule endoscopy video reading time and resources and greatly benefit diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. In 15 chapters, this important reference provides a global and comprehensive perspective from the background information of AI, machine learning, deep learning and their implications in GI endoscopy. It showcases AI practical use in lesion detection and in relevant clinical indications (like obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and inflammatory bowel disease), and points to future applications of AI within the field.

Introduction to Basic Aspects of the Autonomic Nervous System, Sixth Edition, Volume One is an all-encompassing reference on the autonomic nervous system's basic function, dysfunction and pathology. This volume describes the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system and its role in the regulation of blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, micturition, digestion and renal function. Additional chapters focus on the autonomic modulation of the neuroendocrine system, sexual function, and immunity. There is also a chapter on mummies and the autonomic nervous system. With these chapters, readers will gain extensive knowledge on the autonomic nervous system's anatomy, functional organization and neurochemistry, which is critical to care for patients with autonomic disorders and guide patient-oriented research.

Clinical PET/MR presents the state-of-the-art of PET/MR, guiding the reader from how to scan patients, how to read and report the studies, and how keep an eye on what is clinically relevant for a patient's care. Each chapter starts with the clinical scenario and then moves to pertinent imaging, addressing the need of a clinical PET/MR book written by world experts in both clinical and imaging fields. It discusses the clinical application of PET/MR in diverse subspecialties such as head and neck, neurology, cardiovascular, pediatrics, chest, bone, hematology, breast, hepatobiliary pancreatic, genitourinary, gynecology, and gastrointestinal tract. This book is a valuable resource for radiologists, oncologists and members of the biomedical field who need to learn more about clinical applications of PET/MR.

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging offers complete coverage of this exciting and key area of biomedicine, seamlessly fusing the science behind nuclear medicine with the clinical aspects of diagnostic imaging. Beginning with sections on the physics related to nuclear medicine, radiation biology/safety, and instrumentation/quality control, it then covers radiochemistry and the development of new radionuclide therapy/tracers, and basic techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The focus then shifts to the clinical aspects, with sections on clinical/preclinical nuclear imaging (structured via organ system such as gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, etc.), as well as other in vivo molecular imaging techniques such as optical imaging, digital image analysis (radiomics), as well as the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics. No other publication provides such a complete overview of the field, with most choosing to focus either on physics or imaging. In most cases, preclinical/experimental imaging is treated separately from clinical imaging. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging brings it all together into a complete, 4-volume, foundational resource for researchers and medical professionals specializing in this exciting area.

Neurological Complications of Systematic Cancer and Antineoplastic Therapy, Second Edition provides an expanded, updated and in-depth review of common manifestations related to neurology that occur in patients with systemic cancer. These include brain metastases, spinal cord compression, cerebrovascular events, and leptomeningeal disease. The book also discusses neurological complications related to treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy and is an essential reference for the practicing neurologist and oncologist. Sections in this new release cover the pathophysiology and molecular biology of cancer and the metastatic phenotype, Metastatic spread to cranial and peripheral nerves and brachial and lumbosacral plexuses, Metabolic and nutritional disorders, CNS infections, Neurological complications of immunotherapy and bone marrow transplants, Neurological complications of new molecular agents and immuno-modulatory drugs, and more.

Although scientists recognize the role of epigenetic mechanisms in DNA damage response, the complex, mechanistic interplay between chromatin regulation and DNA repair is still poorly understood. Comprehending how these processes are connected in time and space and play out in developmental processes may reveal novel directions for new research and disease treatment. Epigenetics and DNA Damage, a new volume in the Translational Epigenetics series, offers a thorough grounding in the relationship between DNA Damage, epigenetic modifications, and chromatin regulation. Early chapters address the basic science of DNA damage and its association with various epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, histone variants, chromatin remodeling, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. This is followed by a close discussion of DNA damage and epigenetics in metabolism, aging, cellular differentiation, immune function, stem cell biology, and cancer, tying recent research to translational application in disease understanding. Later chapters examine possible epigenetic therapies combining DNA damage induction and epigenetic alteration, as well as instructive chapters on how to analyze DNA damage and epigenetic alterations in new research.

Tissue Engineering: Current Status and Challenges bridges the gap between biomedical scientists and clinical practitioners. The work reviews the history of tissue engineering, covers the basics required for the beginner, and inspires those in the field toward future research and application emerging in this fast-moving field. Written by global experts in the field for those studying and researching tissue engineering, the book reviews regenerative technologies, stem cell research and regeneration of organs. It then moves to soft tissue engineering (heart, vascular, muscle and 3D scaffolding and printing), hard tissue engineering (bone, dental myocardial and musculoskeletal) and translational avenues in the field.

Investigating Human Diseases with the Microbiome: Metagenomics Bench to Bedside is a summary of underlying principles for human health and disease studies from a microbiome point-of-view. From birth to old age, microbiomes in fecal, oral/nasal, vaginal, and skin samples contain important information that can predict disease risks in the future. Tissue samples also contain microbes that are relevant for diseases. The microbiome connects genetic and environmental factors and is poised to greatly facilitate precision medicine, including prevention, diagnosis and effective treatment of many complex diseases. Based in traditional microbiology and adding a more wholistic view of the advent of high-throughput sequencing, this reference poses the key questions of the total number of microbial cells and their distribution in the human body while also considering concepts from macroecology and from causal reasoning. An entire chapter is dedicated to methods, providing hands-on information for important considerations when collecting samples for metagenomic studies.