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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Life sciences: general issues
This book explores the potential applications of animal stem cells
in veterinary medicine. It begins with an overview of stem cells
and their application in treating various animal diseases,
including mastitis. In turn, the book discusses the challenges of
using stem cells in regenerative medicine and emphasizes the
importance of understanding the action of stem cells and
preclinical evidence for ensuring safety and therapeutic efficacy.
It also presents methods for the identification, characterization,
and quantification of stem cells. Further, it discusses the
therapeutic applications of different stem cells, including
milk-derived, testicular, and mesenchymal stem cells in veterinary
medicine. Lastly, it discusses strategies for and therapeutic
applications of genome editing by CRISPER/Cas9 in mammary stem
cells. As such, the book offers a valuable resource for students
and scientists working in the veterinary sciences and
veterinarians.
Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading
reference and first-rate source for the latest research in
agronomy. Each volume contains an eclectic group of reviews by
leading scientists throughout the world. As always, the subjects
covered are rich, varied, and exemplary of the abundant subject
matter addressed by this long-running serial.
Neuroepidemiology covers the foundations of neuroepidemiological
research and the epidemiology of disorders primarily affecting the
nervous system, as well as those originating outside the nervous
system. The etiology of many important central nervous system
disorders remains elusive. Even with diseases where the key risk
determinants have been identified, better prevention and therapy is
needed to reduce high incidence and mortality. Although evolving
technologies for studying disease provide opportunities for such,
it is essential for researchers and clinicians to understand how
best to apply such technology in the context of carefully
characterized patient populations. By paying special attention to
methodological approaches, this volume prepares new investigators
from a variety of disciplines to conduct epidemiological studies in
order to discern the etiologic factors and underlying mechanisms
that influence the onset, progression, and recurrence of CNS
disorders and diseases. The book also provides current information
on methodological approaches for clinical neurologists seeking to
expand their knowledge in research.
In The Mind within the Brain, David Redish brings together cutting
edge research in psychology, robotics, economics, neuroscience, and
the new fields of neuroeconomics and computational psychiatry, to
offer a unified theory of human decision-making. Most importantly,
Redish shows how vulnerabilities, or "failure-modes," in the
decision-making system can lead to serious dysfunctions, such as
irrational behavior, addictions, problem gambling, and PTSD. Told
with verve and humor in an easily readable style, Redish makes
these difficult concepts understandable. Ranging widely from the
surprising roles of emotion, habit, and narrative in
decision-making, to the larger philosophical questions of how mind
and brain are related, what makes us human, the nature of morality,
free will, and the conundrum of robotics and consciousness, The
Mind within the Brain offers fresh insight into one of the most
complex aspects of human behavior.
The Oxford Handbook of Metamemory investigates the human ability to
evaluate and control learning and information retrieval processes.
Each chapter in this authoritative guide highlights a different
facet of metamemory research, including classical metamemory
judgments; applications of metamemory research to the classroom and
courtroom; and cutting-edge perspectives on continuing debates and
theory. Chapters also provide broad historical overviews of each
research area and discussions of promising directions for future
research. The breadth and depth of coverage on offer in this
Handbook make it ideal for seminars on metamemory or metacognition.
It would also be a valuable supplement for advanced courses on
cognitive psychology, of use especially to graduate students and
more seasoned researchers who are interested in exploring
metamemory for the first time.
This book reviews the relationship between receptors, carbohydrate
moieties, and pathogenic surfaces and lectins' pathophysiology of
immune responses and examines the mechanisms of action of the
molecules for the treatment potentials. Increasing evidence has
suggested that lectin-carbohydrate interactions perform important
roles in various regulations of immune responses, but much remains
to be learned about these crucial properties and their interplay
with other molecules. In addition, a better understanding of the
structural and functional properties of lectin and the activated
immune response will be of critical importance for the development
of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. These key areas
are the focus of this book, which documents the latest research
findings in the field. Evidence is provided for the various lectin
types from animal and plant as well as microbial or marine lectins,
and this wide range of molecular knowledge directs us to various
diseases, including infectious diseases and cancer. In presenting
state-of-the-art knowledge on the interactions between lectin and
its interactions,the book will help to pave the way for the
development of novel targets for the prevention and treatment of
many disorders.
This book provides a compact introduction to the bootstrap method.
In addition to classical results on point estimation and test
theory, multivariate linear regression models and generalized
linear models are covered in detail. Special attention is given to
the use of bootstrap procedures to perform goodness-of-fit tests to
validate model or distributional assumptions. In some cases, new
methods are presented here for the first time. The text is
motivated by practical examples and the implementations of the
corresponding algorithms are always given directly in R in a
comprehensible form. Overall, R is given great importance
throughout. Each chapter includes a section of exercises and, for
the more mathematically inclined readers, concludes with rigorous
proofs. The intended audience is graduate students who already have
a prior knowledge of probability theory and mathematical
statistics.
Information molecules, such as Cortico-Releasing Factor (CRF), are
ancient and widely distributed across diverse organs, playing
various regulatory roles. CRF has been associated with a range of
human conditions, including fear and anxiety, social contact, and
most recently, addiction - in particular the euphoric feelings
associated with alcohol consumption. Since its original discovery,
research has unearthed that the role of this molecule is much
broader than first thought. The scientific community now knows that
CRF is a dynamic and diversely widespread peptide hormone that
plays many roles and has many functions, in addition to its role as
a releasing factor in the brain. This book explores the role of
CRF, examining the relationship between location and function. It
considers recurrent features that are linked to CRF - movement and
change. CRF expression in regions of the brain is tied to paying
attention to novel events and invoking movement in response to
those events. Indeed, CRF provokes simple organized rhythmic
behavior and can be mobilized under diverse conditions, including
adversity. Examining the evolutionary origins of CRH, its neural
functions, and its role in a variety of human characteristics and
social behaviors, this book provides unique insights into CRF, and
will be of interest to students and researchers in Neuroscience,
Psychology, and Biology.
Non-coding RNAs potentially play an active role in modulating gene
transcription and epigenetic states. Several genes in
differentiated cells may be under some form of RNA based
transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory control. This form of
regulation may be controlled by selective pressures and influence
the adaptability of the cell. The concept that RNA can control
epigenetic states impacts on our understanding of the basic fabric
of the cell and may have therapeutic potential. Many studies have
been carried out on the modulation of gene transcription by
non-coding RNAs. This book, written by a group of distinguished
scientists under the expert guidance of the editor Kevin V. Morris,
represents an important overview and summary of the field to date.
The thirteen chapters are organized into three sections: Non-coding
RNAs: Form, Function and Diversity; Non-coding RNAs: Gene
Regulation and Epigenetics; and Non-coding RNAs: Disease and
Therapeutics. This up-to-date volume is an essenti
Regular physical exercise is associated with substantial health
benefits. Recent evidence not only holds for cardiovascular effects
promoting "physical health," but also for the central nervous
system believed to promote "brain health." Moderate physical
exercise has been found to improve learning, memory, and
attentional processing, with recent research indicating that
neuroprotective mechanisms and associated plasticity in brain
structure and function also benefit. Physical exercise is also
known to induce a range of acute or sustained psychophysiological
effects, among these mood elevation, stress reduction, anxiolysis,
and hypoalgesia. Today, modern functional neuroimaging techniques
afford direct measurement of the acute and chronic relation of
physical exercise on the human brain, as well as the correlation of
the derived physiological in vivo signals with behavioral outcomes
recorded during and after exercise. A wide range of imaging
techniques have been applied to human exercise research, ranging
from electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG),
near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
to positron emission tomography (PET). All of these imaging methods
provide distinct information, and they differ considerably in terms
of spatial and temporal resolution, availability, cost, and
associated risks. However, from a "multimodal imaging" perspective,
neuroimaging provides an unprecedented potential to unravel the
neurobiology of human exercise, covering a wide spectrum ranging
from structural plasticity in gray and white matter, network
dynamics, global and regional perfusion, evoked neuronal responses
to the quantification of neurotransmitter release. The aim of this
book is to provide the current state of the human neuroimaging
literature in the emerging field of the neurobiological exercise
sciences and to outline future applications and directions of
research.
Handbook of Thermoset-Based Biocomposites is a three-volume set
that provides a comprehensive review on the recent developments,
characterization, and applications of natural fiber-reinforced
biocomposites. An in-depth look at hybrid composites, nanofillers,
and natural fiber reinforcement is divided into three books on
polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy composites. The volumes explore
the widespread applications of natural fiber-reinforced polyester,
vinyl ester, and epoxy composites ranging from the aerospace
sector, automotive parts, construction and building materials,
sports equipment, and household appliances. Investigating the
physio-chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of these
composites, the volumes also consider the influence of
hybridization, fibre architecture, and fibre-ply orientation. This
three-volume set serves as a useful reference for researchers,
graduate students, and engineers in the field of composites.
This book explores and elaborates three theories of public reason,
drawn from Rawlsian political liberalism, natural law theory, and
Confucianism. Drawing together academics from these separate
approaches, the volume explores how the three theories critique
each other, as well as how each one brings its theoretical arsenal
to bear on the urgent contemporary debate of medical assistance in
dying. The volume is structured in two parts: an exploration of the
three traditions, followed by an in-depth overview of the
conceptual and historical background. In Part I, the three
comprehensive opening chapters are supplemented by six dynamic
chapters in dialogue with each other, each author responding to the
other two traditions, and subsequently reflecting on the possible
deficiencies of their own theories. The chapters in Part II cover a
broad range of subjects, from an overview of the history of
bioethics to the nature of autonomy and its status as a moral and
political value. In its entirety, the volume provides a vibrant and
exemplary collaborative resource to scholars interested in the role
of public reason and its relevance in bioethical debate.
How do desires and fears motivate human sociability? What effect do
these motivators have on reproductive, social and political
behaviour? And, crucially, how might we understand them separate
from preconceived notions of design or higher morality? Taking
these questions as a focus, this book examines human evolution with
the emphasis on sexual selection and the evolution of a number of
human psychological processes. Exploring evolutionary, sexual and
maturational processes, along with primate, fossil and geological
evidence, Vannelli argues that human nature can be conceptualised
as species-typical desires and fears, derived from sexual selection
during human evolution, and that these are major motivators of
behaviour. Presenting additional evidence from the anthropology of
band societies, along with material from group behaviour, Vannelli
highlights the importance of pair-bonding, friendship, alliance
behaviour, vengeance seeking and interpersonal politics in social
behaviour, providing a unique interdisciplinary framework for
understanding human nature and the evolution of human sociability.
This book offers a comprehensive overview of Alexander disease, a
rare and devastating neurological disorder that often affects the
white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Its distinctive
neuropathology consists of abundant Rosenthal fibers within
astrocytes (one of the four major cell types of the central nervous
system). Nearly all cases are caused by variants in the gene
encoding the intermediate filament protein GFAP, but how these
changes in GFAP lead to the widespread manifestations of disease is
poorly understood. Astrocytes, while discovered over a century ago,
are themselves still much of a mystery. They exhibit considerable
diversity, defy precise definition, and yet actively regulate many
aspects of nervous system functioning. We also have incomplete
understanding of Rosenthal fibers, odd structures that contain GFAP
as just one of many components. Whether they are toxic or
protective is unknown. Moreover, Rosenthal fibers are not
absolutely unique to Alexander disease, and are seen sporadically
in a wide variety of other conditions, including brain tumors and
multiple sclerosis. GFAP is the third unknown. It is an ancient
protein, arising early in the evolution of vertebrates, but its
role in normal biology is still a matter of debate. Yet Alexander
disease shows, without a doubt, that changing just a single of its
432 amino acids can lead to catastrophe, not just in the astrocytes
where GFAP is produced but also in the other cells with which
astrocytes interact. Despite all of the unknowns, much has been
learned in the past 20 years, and it is time to share this
knowledge. This book is intended for recently diagnosed patients
and families, as well as non-specialist researchers interested in
this neurological disease. It covers historical origins, the state
of current knowledge, and prospects for what lies ahead, with
citations to the primary literature given throughout.
This book integrates findings from across domains in performance
psychology to focus on core research on what influences peak and
non-peak performance. The book explores basic and applied research
identifying cognition-action interactions, perception-cognition
interactions, emotion-cognition interactions, and perception-action
interactions. The book explores performance in sports, music, and
the arts both for individuals and teams/groups, looking at the
influence of cognition, perception, personality, motivation and
drive, attention, stress, coaching, and age. This comprehensive
work includes contributions from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and
Australia.
Two new volumes of Methods in Enzymology continue the legacy of
this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in
the field. Circadian Rhythms and Biological Clocks Part A and Part
B is an exceptional resource for anybody interested in the general
area of circadian rhythms. As key elements of timekeeping are
conserved in organisms across the phylogenetic tree, and our
understanding of circadian biology has benefited tremendously from
work done in many species, the volume provides a wide range of
assays for different biological systems. Protocols are provided to
assess clock function, entrainment of the clock to stimuli such as
light and food, and output rhythms of behavior and physiology. This
volume also delves into the impact of circadian disruption on human
health. Contributions are from leaders in the field who have made
major discoveries using the methods presented here.
Volume 37 will provide details on the major chemical constituents
of medicinal plants and their mechanism of action as the anticancer
compounds. This special issue, in addition to the previous volume
(volume 36 of The Enzyme series was on Natural Products and Cancer
Signaling Targets: Isoprenoids, Polyphenols and Flavonoids), will
highlight the significant advance made in the field in elucidating
mechanisms of anticancer effect of the major phytochemicals.
New Therapeutic Strategies for Brain Edema and Cell Injury, Volume
145, the latest release in the International Review of Neurobiology
series, highlights new advances in the field, with this volume
presenting interesting chapters on the Blood-brain barrier
breakdown and brain edema formation in Alzheimer’s disease, Blast
brain Injury induced edema formation and therapeutic measures,
Brain edema in Parkinson’s disease. Novel therapeutic strategies,
Brain edema and blood-brain barrier breakdown in sleep deprivation.
Therapeutic potential of cerebrolysin, Differential cell injury
induced by NMDA antagonist MK 801 in early age, Anesthetics
influence Brain edema in concussive head injury, and more.
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