Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, Part A, Volume 172 in the Methods in Cell Biology series, highlights advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on timely topics, including DNA damage quantification by the COMET assay, Immunofluorescence microscopy-assisted quantification of ATM and ATR activation in irradiated cells, Immunoblotting-based characterization of the DNA damage response, Assessment of lipid peroxidation in irradiated cells, A simple method to assess clonogenic survival of irradiated cancer cells, Quantification of beta-galactosidase activity as a marker of radiation-driven cellular senescence, Cytofluorometric assessment of cell cycle progression in irradiated cells, and more. Other sections cover Assessment of transcription inhibition as a characteristic of immunogenic cell death, Assessment of eIF2a phosphorylation during immunogenic cell death, Quantification of cytosolic DNA species by immunofluorescence and automated image analysis, Flow cytometry-assisted quantification of CALR exposure during immunogenic cell death, Interference of immunogenic anticancer therapy by artificially controlled calreticulin secretion from tumor cells, along with many additional topics of interest.

Along with Why I Am Not a Christian, this essay must rank as the most articulate example of Russell's famed atheism. It is also one of the most notorious. Used as evidence in a 1940 court case in which Russell was declared unfit to teach college-level philosophy, What I Believe was to become one of his most defining works. The ideas contained within were and are controversial, contentious and - to the religious - downright blasphemous. A remarkable work, it remains the best concise introduction to Russell's thought.

Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, Epigenetics in Health and Disease Volume 197, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Epigenetics in Health and Disease. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

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.

Named after Selene, Greek goddess of the moon, selenium (Se) has moved has moved from being thought of as a toxicant to being considered an essential nutrient with the potential to reduce cancer risk in the span of seven decades. Diversity of Selenium Functions in Health and Disease focuses on current knowledge of aspects of Se research relevant to its medical use, and particularly to chemoprevention of cancer. It covers how Se is integrated into selenoproteins, selenium compounds with individual functions and dual functions, and unexpected links to Se such as with diabetes. The text ends with a discussion of polymorphisms and mutations in genes of selenoproteins. The chapters elucidate why studies undertaken to prevent diseases with selenium ended with disappointing outcomes and often with the opposite result, i.e. disease promotion. They show that benefit, failure, or side effects depend on: The chemical form and dose of selenium The selenium status of the individual ingesting selenium The capacity of selenium form to serve as a source for selenoprotein biosynthesis The function of selenoproteins reacting to a change in the selenium status The stage of the disease (mainly cancer) at the time point of intervention The genetic background of individuals to be treated Bringing together the accumulated evidence regarding selenium biochemistry, the book covers aspects not found in available general monographs. The narrow focus on medical uses of Se helps resolve the present confusion about potential benefits and hazards of selenium in human health. The book gives you a solid scientific basis for optimum use of selenium in preventing or treating human diseases and answering the questions: Why is selenium essential? How much is required? What are the health consequences of low selenium and can selenium reduce cancer risk?

Most people know of aphids as garden pests, infesting the soft green tissues of plants in vast numbers and killing them by sucking out the sap. Indeed, among the 4000 or so known species of aphids about 250 are pests, and in temperate regions several are economically important agricultural pests that damage crops directly during feeding or act as vectors for plant pathogens. But aphids are also important model organisms in evolutionary biology and ecology because they combine a number of unique features such as complex life cycles involving the development of morphological distinct phenotypes (polyphenism), sexual and asexual reproduction strategies and changes of host plants. Aphids can also be regarded as holobionts because they are colonized by obligate and facultative microbes which enable them to feed exclusively on phloem sap and influence their resistance against pathogens, parasitoids or environmental stress. This book combines fundamental information about aphids with chapters addressing state-of-the-art research in topics such as aphid-related phylogeny, genome biology, epigenetics and chemical ecology.

Perishable products such as fruits and vegetables account for the largest proportion of food loss due to their short shelf life, especially in the absence of proper storage facilities, which requires sustainable, universal and convenient preservation technology. The existing methods to prolong the shelf life of food mainly include adding preservatives, irradiation, cold storage, heat treatment and controlled atmosphere storage. But with disadvantages in irradiation, cold storage, heat treatment and controlled atmosphere storage, chemical synthetic preservatives are still the main means to control food corruption. As the food industry responds to the increasing consumer demand for green, safe and sustainable products, it is reformulating new products to replace chemical synthetic food additives. Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents in Food Preservation provides a comprehensive introduction to the antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils and their application strategies in food preservation. It is aimed at food microbiology experts, food preservation experts, food safety experts, food technicians and students. Features: Summarizes the application strategy and safety of essential oil in the field of food preservation Describes the synergistic antibacterial effect of essential oil and antimicrobial agents Explains the action mechanism of essential oil as antimicrobial agent against foodborne fungi, foodborne bacteria, viruses and insects Analyzes the antimicrobial activity of essential oil in gas phase The book discusses how as a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant, essential oil has great potential to be used in the food industry to combat the growth of foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. But because the essential oil itself has obvious smell and is sensitive to light and heat, it cannot be directly added to the food matrix and thus the application strategies presented in this book explain how to alleviate those issues.

Integrated Methods in Protein Biochemistry: Part B, Volume 678 in the Methods in Enzymology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of topics, including Precise modification of native proteins, purification, and analysis of bioconjugates, NanoBiT-based methods to monitor the activation and modulation of RTKs, The interplay of G-protein ss? subunit and PLC-ss enzyme in PIP2 hydrolysis and downstream signaling, Structure and function of bacterial secretion system, Tools and protocols for probing protein sumoylation, Spectroscopic analysis of cysteine dioxygenase: a mammalian thiol-dioxygenase, DeGlyPHER: MS-based analysis of viral spike N-glycoforms, and more. Additional sections cover Covalent protein painting: MS-based protein footprinting, Characterization of GPCR signaling complexes using negative-staining electron microscopy, Probing protein misfolding and dissociation with free electron laser, Optimized protocol for the characterization of Cas12a activities, Proximity proteomics for the identification and characterization of extracellular vesicles, Structural and Functional characterization of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, and much more.

Receptor Endocytosis and Signalling in Health and Disease, Volume 194 in the Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, highlights new advances in the field. Chapters in this release include An overview on receptor endocytosis and signaling, Signaling molecules: Importance in health and disease conditions, Emerging tools for studying of receptor endocytosis and signaling, Endocytosis of EGFR: Signalling in cancer, Endocytosis of AT1 and AT2 receptors: Signalling in the kidney, Regulation of transferrin receptor trafficking by optineurin and its disease-associated mutants, Endocytosis of Insulin receptor: Signalling in the regulation of glucose homeostasis, Endocytosis of VEGFR: Role in the regulation of angiogenesis, and more. Other sections in this new release include Lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage receptors mediating immune recognition of tumors, Lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage receptors triggering immune suppression of tumor immunity, Prion receptors and prion internalization and intra- and inter-cellular transport, Multifunctional role of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway in phagocytosis, Adrenoceptors and SCD1 in adipocytes/adipose tissues: the expression and variation in health and obesity, Frizzled receptors and SFRP5 in lipid metabolism: current findings and potential applications.

A signature feature of living organisms is their ability to carry out purposeful actions by taking stock of the world around them. To that end, cells have an arsenal of signaling molecules linked together in signaling pathways, which switch between inactive and active conformations. The Molecular Switch articulates a biophysical perspective on signaling, showing how allostery-a powerful explanation of how molecules function across all biological domains-can be reformulated using equilibrium statistical mechanics, applied to diverse biological systems exhibiting switching behaviors, and successfully unify seemingly unrelated phenomena. Rob Phillips weaves together allostery and statistical mechanics via a series of biological vignettes, each of which showcases an important biological question and accompanying physical analysis. Beginning with the study of ligand-gated ion channels and their role in problems ranging from muscle action to vision, Phillips then undertakes increasingly sophisticated case studies, from bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing to hemoglobin and its role in mammalian physiology. He looks at G-protein coupled receptors as well as the role of allosteric molecules in gene regulation. Phillips concludes by surveying problems in biological fidelity and offering a speculative chapter on the relationship between allostery and biological Maxwell demons. Appropriate for graduate students and researchers in biophysics, physics, engineering, biology, and neuroscience, The Molecular Switch presents a unified, quantitative model for describing biological signaling phenomena.

The popularity of germ-free animal models, particularly mice, for investigation of human physiology and disease has recently exploded. Gnotobiotic Mouse Technology: An Illustrated Guide provides the first manual for the maintenance, husbandry, and experimental manipulation of germ-free and gnotobiotic mice. It includes information on all aspects of establishing and operating a germ-free mouse research facility, from basic principles and equipment to detailed instructions for assembling and maintaining isolators, sterilizing supplies, handling animals, and monitoring sterility. The book breaks down techniques and procedures into modules, each of which contains a step-by-step practical and visual guide to a set of related procedures. Each description consists of a materials list, introduction, and general overview, followed by a thoroughly illustrated walkthrough of the steps for each procedure. The descriptions end with troubleshooting tips. Technical chapters are heavily illustrated and include notations of potential pitfalls and alternatives. Other chapters discuss management procedures and practices such as the hiring and training of personnel, setting fee schedules, and record keeping. This book is a landmark resource for establishing and maintaining a facility for germ-free mouse research. Useful to both technicians and investigators, it presents every step necessary to establish a successful facility. It also gives direction in expanding multi-user facilities and applying new technologies to your current practices.

Key Points: 1. Discusses the role of microbial enzymes in functional food and nutraceutical production 2. Covers a range of enzymes like proteases, pullulanases, lipases 3. Explores various microbial sourcess and processing techniques 4. Reviews application of enzymes in synthesis of chiral drug intermediates 5. Examines molecular techniques on improving microbial enzymes properties and ability

This book is a collection of works that canvass many of the recent developments in various areas of connective tissue research. It focuses on the structure of the components, molecular organization and pathology of the extracellular matrix.

The observation and manipulation of individual molecules is one of the most exciting developments in modern molecular science. Single Molecule Science: Physical Principles and Models provides an introduction to the mathematical tools and physical theories needed to understand, explain, and model single-molecule observations. This book explains the physical principles underlying the major classes of single-molecule experiments such as fluorescence measurements, force-probe spectroscopy, and nanopore experiments. It provides the framework needed to understand single-molecule phenomena by introducing all the relevant mathematical and physical concepts, and then discussing various approaches to the problem of interpreting single-molecule data. The essential concepts used throughout this book are explained in the appendices and the text does not assume any background beyond undergraduate chemistry, physics, and calculus. Every effort has been made to keep the presentation self-contained and derive results starting from a limited set of fundamentals, such as several simple models of molecular dynamics and the laws of probability. The result is a book that develops essential concepts in a simple yet rigorous way and in a manner that is accessible to a broad audience.

There are more than 500 biopharmaceuticals on the market, including more than 200 therapeutic proteins, making biologics the fastest growing sector in the biopharmaceutical market. These products include more than 40 monoclonal antibodies, for indications ranging from treatment or mitigation of various types of cancer to rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical application of these therapeutic peptides and proteins is limited by several problems, such as lack of physical and chemical stability or the lack of desirable attributes for adequate absorption or distribution. Thus, as these therapeutic peptides and proteins are made available, it will be essential to formulate these drugs into safe, stable, and efficacious delivery systems. The pharmaceutical scientist involved in this effort needs to call upon the knowledge of several disciplines, such as pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and chemical engineering and needs to keep abreast with the latest research in the published literature. Therapeutic Peptides and Proteins: Formulation, Processing, and Delivery Systems, Third Edition provides a comprehensive overview of the field for scientists in industry and academia and for students, while also providing practical information on the challenges facing the formulation and delivery aspects of these unique macromolecules. In particular, the book: Explains how recombinant DNA techniques now allow us to produce therapeutic proteins in a commercially viable form Discusses the physical and chemical pathways of peptide and protein degradation Includes a detailed discussion of protein formulation and lyophilization Overviews the pharmacokinetic aspects of therapeutic peptides and proteins and discusses controlled delivery systems for parenteral administration, including microsphere formulations Discusses research progress on oral, transdermal, mucosal, and topical delivery systems discusses transdermal and topical delivery

Easily Get Started with Biological Experiments Introduction to Experimental Biophysics - A Laboratory Guide presents wet lab methods for courses in biophysics or molecular biology. A companion to the author's highly praised An Introduction to Experimental Biophysics: Biological Methods for Physical Scientists, this manual offers a flexible course plan that permits completion of the labs in either a full term or intensive summer course. Tested in a pedagogical setting, the experiments follow a logical progression beginning with a DNA construct. The book starts with the basics of molecular cloning: amplifying and purifying plasmid, plasmid mapping, and using restriction enzymes. Later experiments deal with more advanced, emerging techniques, such as the synthesis and characterization of quantum dots and gold nanoparticles, protein crystallization, and spectroscopic techniques. This accessible guide will help both students and instructors in molecular biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering. Students will understand how to use a variety of techniques in biological experiments while instructors will get practical guidance on preparing the experiments.

This book gives the pertinent information on the high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses of all the compounds of interest in nucleic acid metabolism. It aids chromatographers, biochemists, biomedical researchers, and chemists by giving information on applications of HPLC technique.

Scattering Methods in Structural Biology, Part B, Volume 676 in the Methods in Enzymology serial, highlights advances in the field, presenting chapters on Quality controls, Refining biomolecular structures and ensembles by SAXS-driven molecular dynamics simulations, Data analysis and modelling of small-angle scattering data with contrast variation, Observing protein degradation in solution by the PAN-20S proteasome complex: state-of-the-art and future perspectives of TR-SANS as a complementary tool to NMR, crystallography and Cryo-EM, Extracting structural insights from chemically-specific soft X-ray scattering, Reconstruction of 3D density of biological macromolecules from solution scattering, ATSAS- present state and new developments in computational methods, and much more. Additional chapters cover Modeling Structure and Dynamics of Protein Complexes with SAXS Profiles (FoXSDock and MultiFoXS), Validation of macromolecular flexibility in solution by SAXS, Combining NMR, SAXS and SANS to characterize the structure and dynamics of protein complexes, Application of Molecular Simulation Methods to Analyze SAS Data, and more.

The second edition of Metal Ions in Biochemistry deals with the multidisciplinary subject of bio-inorganic chemistry, encompassing the disciplines of inorganic chemistry, biochemistry and medicine. The book deals with the role of metal ions in biochemistry, emphasising that biochemistry is mainly the chemistry of metal-biochemical complexes. Hence, the book starts with the structures of biochemicals and the identification of their metal binding sites. Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the complexes are explained from the point of view of the nature of metal-ligand bonds. Various catalytic and structural roles of metal ions in biochemicals are discussed in detail. Features The role of Na+ and K+ in brain chemistry. The role of zinc insulin in glucose metabolism and its enhancement by vanadium and chromium compounds. Discussion of the role of zinc signals, zinc fingers and cascade effect in biochemistry. Haemoglobin synthesis and the role of vitamin B12 in it. The role of lanthanides in biochemical systems. A detailed discussion of the role of non-metals in biochemistry, a topic missing in most of the books on bio-inorganic chemistry. The study of bio-inorganic chemistry makes biochemists rethink the mechanistic pathways of biochemical reactions mediated by metal ions. There is a realisation of the role of metal complexes and inorganic ions as therapeutics such as iron in leukaemia, thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia, iodine in hypothyroidism and zinc, vanadium and chromium in glucose metabolism. The most recent realisation is of the use of zinc in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

This book details a genetic survey that has taken place focusing on men from old families from Wirral and West Lancashire. These 'Viking hot spots' in North West England exhibit many archaeological and historical features proving them to have had a clear Viking presence. The book explains-with the help of full color illustrations-what DNA is and how DNA methods can be used to probe both individual and population ancestry, and how information such as Henry VIII's tax rolls can be used to help establish the volunteer base for specific regions of northern England.

* Includes many captivating illustrations enabling easy comprehension. * Explains microbiome functions from algae to vertebrates. * Reveals how microbiomes contribute to the health of the hosts and the ecosystems. * Describes the impact of dysbiosis on diseases, food security and climate change. * Boxed sections provide a detailed analysis of concepts and are accompanied by vivid illustrations.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. This new book highlights some of the exciting research that has recently been done in the important and far-ranging field of biofilms and microbial agents. It discusses antimicrobial agents in relation to biofilm control and resistance. The book also introduces biofilm formation and mitigation strategies. It helps explores long-term solutions to the challenges imposed by biofilms.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. This book examines conserved pathways mediating cell cycle progression and cell polarity establishment. It includes examples of yeast, regulatory circuits, and feedback regulation, with emphasis on system-wide approaches. It also covers protein interaction networks and trait locus analysis and presents methods and challenges in comparative genomics analysis and evolutionary genetics.

Multiple viruses can be detected concurrently using the Integrated Virus Detection System (IVDS). Integrated Virus Detection describes this technology and provides many examples of applications including a chapter on viruses found in honeybees with descriptions of seasonal and yearly variation. This straightforward technology can be used to detect known, unknown, and unsequenced viruses collected from environmental and other complex biological sources. This book summarizes more than ten US patents issued for the invention of the IVDS, which is the common name of the electrospray-differential mobility analyzer method. The IVDS is powering mankind's ability to rapidly detect, measure, and monitor viruses as well as virus-like particles. Three facts make rapid detection possible: virus size, which ranges from 20 to 800 nm.; disparity in each virus species' particle size thus allowing size data to be used for detection and preliminary identification; and the fact that virus particle density is distinct from other nanoparticles. The IVDS can ascertain the absence of virion particles, thus presenting compelling evidence of a true negative, which is useful in verifying decontamination and other processes. In addition, large numbers of samples may be processed in an automated fashion, providing an excellent means to prescreen them for judicious targeting of subsequent tests such as PCR or the discriminating method for identifying microbes, which is mass spectrometry proteomics.* The book is helpful to anyone interested in virus detection, especially in situations where many viral types may coexist. *Identifying Microbes by Mass Spectrometry Proteomics (CRC Press 2013)

Intersection of Iron and Lipid Metabolism, Volume 52 in the Enzymes series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics relating to enzymes research.