ZIP Metal Ion Transporters, Volume 684 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 Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Structure determination of a bacterial ZIP in lipidic cubic phase, Cell-based metal transport assay for animal and plant ZIPs, Measurement of metal binding affinity and transport activity in ZIP transporters using spectroscopic methods, Considerations in production of the (prokaryotic) ZIP family transporters for structural and functional studies, Metal-protein interactions investigated using model systems: thermodynamic, spectroscopic and computational methods, and more. Additional chapters cover Getting Zinc Into and Out of Cells, In-silico modeling of ZIP9 (TBD), Cellular Function and Regulation, Methods to visualize zinc transporter proteins of the SLC39A family in cells, Assessing metal ion transporting activity of ZIPs: intracellular zinc and iron detection, In vitro studies for studying manganese transport and homeostasis, and much more.

Specific biomolecular interactions occur in practically every bio- logical process, usually involving macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Thus, it is not surprising that great attention has been devoted by biologists, chemists, and physical chemists to the general phenomenon of macromolecular recognition in order to gain a better understanding of the principles, forces, and energetics that de- termine the often remarkable specificities of such interactions as those of enzymes and their substrates and inhibitors, antibodies with anti- gens, hormones with their receptors, and DNA with drugs. These studies have allowed the unraveling of some basic principles of mol- ecular recognition, such as complementarity, specificity, and dynam- ics of the interacting species, and at the same time have led to development of analytical and separation techniques based on bio- logical specificity (e. g. , affinity chromatography and other bioaffinity methods). This volume was assembled to address current research and developing ideas in biomolecular recognition through the contribu- tions presented at the Conference on "Mechanisms of Recognition in Biological Macromolecules" held in Siena, Italy, September 4-6,1986. The Conference was cosponsored by the National Research Council of Italy, the Italian Biochemical Society, the University of Siena, and the International Interest Group in Biorecognition Technology.

Illnesses resulting from foodborne pathogens occur at least 6 million times each year and cause an estimated 9,000 deaths. For decades, food microbiologists have developed various effective methods of food protection. However, the constant development of multi-facet food processing technologies and the emergence of potent foodborne pathogens, compromised the efficacy of many antimicrobial interventions. Most technologies also fail to address the problem of bacterial debris remaining on the food surface. Furthermore, some bacteria have the ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial interventions. All such factors contribute to the continuously growing concern of keeping our food safe. Lactoferrin: Natural o Multifunctional o Antimicrobial presents the scientific background on use of this naturally occurring microbial blocking agent as an effective food antimicrobial intervention. THE SOURCE FOR APPLIED SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON LACTOFERRIN AS A NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL INTERVENTION Lactoferrin: Natural o Multifunctional o Antimicrobial details microbial blocking technology to protect foods from harmful microbes. Recently, researchers at the Center for Antimicrobial Research, California State Polytechnic University at Pomona found that lactoferrin, when activated, functions as a potent antimicrobial intervention. It protects food by removing harmful bacteria from the surface, and by starving bacteria before they can multiply and produce harmful toxins and it also prevents bacteria from re-attaching to food surfaces. As a result this substance has potential to help the agribusiness and food industry supply safer food products to consumers. WHY LACTOFERRIN? Studied for 50 years, lactoferrin is known to have many beneficial biological properties as an integral component of the mammalian innate defense system. Lactoferrin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial known to inhibit proliferation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Some of its current applications include: dietary supplement, ingredient in infant formula, and a medical treatment to boost the immune system. Because lactoferrin occurs naturally in milk products, it has a long track record of being safely consumed by humans. Convenient and affordable, lactoferrin could revolutionize the field of food antimicrobial science and technology and the way we protect ourselves from foodborne pathogens.

This book came about as a result of a review I had written earlier on fea tures of cellular changes occurring during anuran metamorphosis. Only a limited treatment of this subject was possible in such a circumscribed work and only specific examples of organic change were dealt with. Thus the sins of omission weighed heavily, for so much information could not be included to provide a more comprehensive and authenticated account of the elaborate, complex, and far-reaching changes that an aquatic larva undergoes to become a terrestrial froglet. A good deal of my working life has been spent investigating amphib ians, especially their larval developmental morphology during metamor phosis, first at the level of light microscopy and in later years by electronmicroscopy. Initially I was particularly concerned with morpho logical homologies of a variety of larval structures, such as the cranial and pharyngeal skeleton and the nerves and musculature, in order to learn more about amphibian phylogeny, for during my pre-and early postgrad uate years G. R. Beer and D. M. S. Watson inspired an undying interest in and respect for vertebrate comparative anatomy. However, it now seems to be that amphibian phylogenetic relationships are best dealt with by the paleontologists, so ably demonstrated by D. M. S. Watson and A. S. Romer and the contemporary enthusiasts in this field like A. L. Panchen, R. L. Carroll, E. Jarvik, and K. S. Thompson among a host of others, particularly in the USA."

Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols presents a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge molecular biological protocols for studying D. discoideum, with emphasis on its utility in the study of fundamental cellular processes including signal transduction, chemotaxis, cell motility, cytokinesis, phagocytosis, and aspects of development such as cell sorting, pattern formation, and cell type differentiation. Written by experts in the field, this important guide provides easy access to current methods and techniques for the study of D. discoideum. For the newcomer to the field, it offers a complete and inclusive introduction to this important model organism. The book is divided into four main parts, which include an introduction to the organism that provides integral community resources and genome-wide approaches; basic methods and available molecular genetic techniques for study of the organism; imaging and localization methods; and a discussion of D. discoideum, with emphasis on its unique advantages as a model system.
This in-depth guide provides a complete introduction to and thorough handbook for the study of D. discoideum, including a discussion of the implications of the recently-completed Dictyostelium genome project in strengthening the position of D. discoideum as a model organism for studying fundamental cell processes and aspects of development. Researchers at all levels of experience will benefit from the presentations throughout of the most current, useful and innovative techniques for the study of D. discoideum from leading Dictyostelium scientists.

Drawing on contributions from more than thirty scholars and experts in the field, this book examines the role of business as an enabler, as an inhibitor, and ultimately as a co-actor in global sustainability transformations expected over the next few decades. The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations employs several theoretical perspectives and provides abundant examples and cases to discuss a variety of emerging concepts, phenomena, and trends shaping business sustainability. Weaving through the chapters, the editors present core tensions and sources of inertia towards transformative change, and acknowledge that envisioning multiple solutions and pathways are possible and desirable. They advocate for the need to align visions, actions and time horizons between policy, society and business in addressing the interlinked socio-ecological challenges that our society currently faces. This book will be an important resource for scholars and professionals working in the field of sustainability and sustainable business, and a vital educational text for students interested in this discipline.

Cyanobacteria are a fascinating and versatile group of bacteria of immense biological importance. Thought to be amongst the first organisms to colonize the earth, these bacteria are the photosynthetic ancestors of chloroplasts in eukaryotes, such as plants and algae. In addition, they can fix nitrogen, survive in very hostile environments (e.g. down to -60-degreesC), are symbiotic, have circadian rhythms, exhibit gliding mobility, and can differentiate into specialized cell types called heterocysts. This makes them ideal model systems for studying fundamental processes, such as nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis. In addition, cyanobacteria produce an array of bioactive compounds, some of which could become novel anti-microbial agents, anti-cancer drugs, UV protectants, etc. The amazing versatility of cyanobacteria has attracted huge scientific interest in recent years. Given that 24 genomes sequences have been completed and many more projects are currently underway, the point has been reached where there is an urgent need to summarize and review the current molecular biology, genomics, and evolution of these important organisms. This volume brings together the expertise and enthusiasm of an international panel of leading cyanobacterial researchers to provide a state-of-the art overview of the field. Topics covered include: evolution, comparative genomics, gene transfer, molecular ecology and environmental genomics, stress responses, bioactive compounds, circadian clock, structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, membrane systems, carbon acquisition, nitrogen assimilation, C/N balance sensing, and much more. This book will be essential for anyone with an interest in cyanobacteria, bacterial photosynthesis, bacterial nitrogen fixation, and symbiosis.

Over the past 40 years the field of molecular simulations has evolved from picosecond studies of isolated macromolecules in vacuum to studies of complex, chemically heterogeneous biological systems consisting of millions of atoms, with the simulation time scales spanning up to milliseconds. In Biomolecular Simulations: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers illustrate many of the methods commonly used in molecular modelling of biological systems, including methods for electronic structure calculations, classical molecular dynamics simulations and coarse-grained techniques. A selection of advanced techniques and recent methodological developments, which rarely find coverage in traditional textbooks, is also introduced. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include general introductions to well-established computational methodologies, applications to real-world biological systems, as well as practical tips and general protocols on carrying out biomolecular simulations. Special emphasis is placed on simulations of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Authoritative and practical, Biomolecular Simulations: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in further simulation studies of biological systems.

In this volume, internationally recognized 'Neurospora' experts critically review the most important research and demonstrate the breadth of applications to industrial biology, biofuels, agriculture, and human health.

High-throughput measurements of gene expression and genetic marker data facilitate systems biologic and systems genetic data analysis strategies. Gene co-expression networks have been used to study a variety of biological systems, bridging the gap from individual genes to biologically or clinically important emergent phenotypes.

The Fifth International Lymphokine Workshop was convened in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January 11-15, 1987. The theme chosen for the meeting was 'The Molecular Basis of Lymphokine Action," which reflected the opinion of the organizers as to how far the field had moved since the first Lymphokine Workshop only eleven years ago. As was evident at the last Lymphokine Workshop held in 1985, the contribution of molecular biology, particularly in the cloning of lymphokine genes, continues to play an important role in clarifying the structure of lymphokines, providing recombinant (read "pure") proteins for biological studies, and suggesting directions for studies of the molecular basis of lymphokine activity. The most recent lymphokines to yield to molecular cloning meth odology were the B-cell growth and differentiation factors, in partic ular BSF-1 or, as it is sometimes termed, interleukin 4. One of the surprises from this research is the broad spectrum of activities that can be attributed to this molecule, aside from its effects on B-cells, thus perhaps justifying its being called an interleukin. The interleukin 2 symposium demonstrated that even in a well-established research area, controversy and excitement can continue, when evidence was presented by several investigators indicating the presence of a second "converter" protein that changes the affinity of the now classical Tac antigen from a low to a high affinity IL-2 receptor."

This second edition provides updated and expanded chapters covering a broad sampling of useful and current methods in the rapidly developing and expanding field of bioinformatics. Bioinformatics, Volume II: Structure, Function, and Applications, Second Edition is comprised of three sections: Structure, Function, Pathways and Networks; Applications; and Computational Methods. The first section examines methodologies for understanding biological molecules as systems of interacting elements. The Applications section covers numerous applications of bioinformatics, focusing on analysis of genome-wide association data, computational diagnostic, and drug discovery. The final section describes four broadly applicable computational methods that are important to this field. These are: modeling and inference, clustering, parameterized algorithmics, and visualization. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters feature the kind of detail and expert implementation advice to ensure positive results. Comprehensive and practical, Bioinformatics, Volume II: Structure, Function, and Applications is an essential resource for graduate students, early career researchers, and others who are in the process of integrating new bioinformatics methods into their research.

Phenotypic plasticity - the ability of an individual organism to alter its features in direct response to a change in its environment - is ubiquitous. Understanding how and why this phenomenon exists is crucial because it unites all levels of biological inquiry. This book brings together researchers who approach plasticity from diverse perspectives to explore new ideas and recent findings about the causes and consequences of plasticity. Contributors also discuss such controversial topics as how plasticity shapes ecological and evolutionary processes; whether specific plastic responses can be passed to offspring; and whether plasticity has left an important imprint on the history of life. Importantly, each chapter highlights key questions for future research. Drawing on numerous studies of plasticity in natural populations of plants and animals, this book aims to foster greater appreciation for this important, but frequently misunderstood phenomenon. Key Features Written in an accessible style with numerous illustrations, including many in color Reviews the history of the study of plasticity, including Darwin's views Most chapters conclude with recommendations for future research

Protein Folding Protocols presents protocols for studying and characterizing protein folding from the unfolded to the folded state. Covering experiment and theory, bioinformatics approaches, and state-of-the-art simulation protocols for better sampling of the conformational space, this volume describes a broad range of techniques to study, predict, and analyze the protein folding process.
Protein Folding Protocols also provides sample approaches toward the prediction of protein structure starting from the amino acid sequence, in the absence of overall homologous sequences. These approaches have tremendous implications, ranging from drug design, functional assignment, comprehension of the nature of regulation, understanding molecular machines, viral entry into cells, and putting together cellular pathways and their dynamics.

Glycoconjugates such as glycoproteins and glycolipids play important roles in cell-cell interaction events, including development, differentiation, m- phogenesis, fertilization, inflammation, and metastasis. A number of reports have documented the association of unique oligosaccharide sequences to p- tein targeting and folding, and in mechanisms of infection, inflammation, and immunity. For glycoproteins, these glycan appendages are the result of extensive co- or post-translational modifications of the nascent proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and in the Golgi apparatus. Although nucleic acids and proteins are copied from a template in a repeated series of identical steps using the same enzymes, complex carbohydrates are formed by the sequential actions of cellular glycosyltransferases that specifically recognize unique s- strates. The molecular biology of these transferases and other carbohydra- modifying enzymes is providing important insights on oligosaccharide recognition events. While it is acknowledged that the definition of the protein complement of cells and tissues (the so-called proteome) remains an enormous task in this postgenomic era, the characterization of all glycans produced by individual organisms (referred to as the glycome) presents an equally imp- tant challenge. This task is further complicated by the fact that oligosacc- rides cannot presently be cloned. These complex carbohydrates exist in a staggering diversity of structures, linkages, and branching, thus providing an exquisite molecular repertoire for cellular interactions.

This volume provides practical guidance on a variety of techniques and steps to ensure successful variant calling. Chapters detail methods for variant calling from single-nucleotide variants to structural variants, variant calling in specialized data types such as RNA-seq and UMI-tagged sequencing, alignment-free genotyping and SNP calling, variant detection in single-cell DNA sequencing data, variant annotation, and preanalytical quality control to ensure successful variant calling. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists step-by-step protocol to execute the algorithms, describes the input and output data, and includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Variant Calling: Methods and Protocols aims to be a foundation for future studies and to be a source of inspiration for new investigations in the field.

1. Discusses implications of COVID on education, environment, and lifestyle 2. Elucidates life-style transformation strategy to counter COVID 3. Focuses on transformative strategy to overcome COVID impact

During the 45 years of communist regimes in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, agriculture was centrally directed without regard of quality factors and market needs, and was heavily subsidized. Democratization of the countries and adoption of market driven economies, including agriculture, created conditions that require new thinking and approaches to find market areas that will fill the needs of each country, and provide produce that is not redundant for the Common Market. The aim of this book is to facilitate solving common agricultural problems using the tools of biotechnology. The book addresses five themes: Plant Transformations, Plant Genomics, Breeding Plants for Resistance and Legal Aspects of Biotechnology, including risk assessment. Some specific topics dealt with are: The way from fundamental research to start-up company, Crop improvement by transgenic technology; Strategies for improving resistance; Current procedures for applying risk assessment in genetically modified crops; Questions arising from the implementation of the Hungarian gene technology law; Public perception and legislation of Biotechnology in Poland.

Cilia: From Mechanisms to Disease, Part A, Volume 175 in the Methods in Cell Biology series, offers a range of techniques and protocols that can be used to study aspects of this interesting cellular organelle both in vitro and in vivo. In this volume, different study models are used, such as human cell lines, Mus musculus, Danio rerio, Paramecium caudatum or Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Besides, protocols to study the genesis, morphology, composition and function of cilia will be addressed. In this book, the ciliary study will be realized by using different techniques such as flow cytometry, time-lapse images of fluorescent ciliary proteins, the use of organoids, the evaluation of the ciliary-GPCR dynamics or genetic modulation by using CRISPR/Cas9.

The contributors present a coherent set of case studies of practices, technologies and strategies aimed at the isolation, investigation, manipulation, production, and uses of molecules including vitamins, hormones, blood products, antibiotics, and vaccines. These case studies examine how processes of molecularization were set in motion in the inter-war period, how they were used as a resource in the biomedical 'mobilization' of World War II, and how new alliances and strategies created as part of the war effort played a central role in the reorganisation of biomedicine in the post-war period.

Italy, the birthplace of opera in the late sixteenth century, has in recent decades seen remarkable and vital musical growth, with composers as diverse as Luciano Berio and Nino Rota, Luigi Nono and Sylvano Bussotti, Giacomo Manzoni, Bruno Maderna and Salvatore Sciarrino. The musical theatre has figured prominently in the work of Italian composers during this period, ranging from operas conceived in a traditional mode to works of a Music Theatre variety, and in style from popular to avant-garde.
In this book Raymond Fearn surveys this Italian musico-theatrical phenomenon in the period since the Second World War, examining a wide range of works such as Nono's "Intolleranza" and "Al Gran Sole Carico d'Amore," Berio's "Passaggio" and "Un re in ascolto," Manzoni's "Atomtod" and "La Sentenza" and Castiglioni's "Oberon and The King's" "Masque," and places these developments within a cultural and theatrical context. Illustrated by numerous musical examples and producti

Human teratocarcinoma has long held a fascination to the pathologist be- cause of the diversity of the seemingly benign differentiated tissues asso- ciated with the tumor. An understanding of this diversity came with the demonstration of the pluripotent nature of the embryonal carcinoma cell, the stem cell of the tumor, in experimental animals. Single cell clones of murine embryonal carcinomas were derived and the resultant cell lines injected into immunosuppressed hosts, where the embryonal carcinoma stem cell itself gave rise to the wealth of differentiated tissues seen in teratocarcinomas. It was also shown that teratocarcinomas could be pro- duced experimentally by transplantation of staged early mouse embryo to extrauterine sites; subsequent experiments suggested that the embryonal carcinoma stem cell was, in fact, comparable to a normal cell of the em- bryonic ectoderm. Many elegant experiments have since been built on this early work; murine embryonal carcinoma cells are providing the ex- perimental material for a first biochemical evaluation of the earliest dif- ferentiation events in mammalian embryogenesis. In this volume, we relate the beginnings of experimental research on human teratoma. The human embryonal carcinoma cells have been char- acterized and established in vitro, providing an experimental model to study the unique biology of these cells. Monoclonal antibodies, estab- lished from work with these in vitro cultures, provide cell surface probes that define populations of embryonal cells and their derivatives in tumor sections.

This book facilitates both the theoretical background and applications of fuzzy, intuitionistic fuzzy and rough, fuzzy rough sets in the area of data science. This book provides various individual, soft computing, optimization and hybridization techniques of fuzzy and intuitionistic fuzzy sets with rough sets and their applications including data handling and that of type-2 fuzzy systems. Machine learning techniques are effectively implemented to solve a diversity of problems in pattern recognition, data mining and bioinformatics. To handle different nature of problems, including uncertainty, the book highlights the theory and recent developments on uncertainty, fuzzy systems, feature extraction, text categorization, multiscale modeling, soft computing, machine learning, deep learning, SMOTE, data handling, decision making, Diophantine fuzzy soft set, data envelopment analysis, centrally measures, social networks, Volterra–Fredholm integro-differential equation, Caputo fractional derivative, interval optimization, decision making, classification problems. This book is predominantly envisioned for researchers and students of data science, medical scientists and professional engineers.

This book encapsulates and occupies recent advances and state-of-the-art applications of nature-inspired computing (NIC) techniques in the field of bioinformatics and computational biology, which would aid medical sciences in various clinical applications. This edited volume covers fundamental applications, scope, and future perspectives of NIC techniques in bioinformatics including genomic profiling, gene expression data classification, DNA computation, systems and network biology, solving personalized therapy complications, antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens, and computer-aided drug design, discovery, and therapeutics. It also covers the role of NIC techniques in various diseases and disorders, including cancer detection and diagnosis, breast cancer, lung disorder detection, disease biomarkers, and potential therapeutics identifications.

Profiles of Drug Substances, Excipients, and Related Methodology, Volume 48 encompasses review articles and database compilations that fall within one or more of the following five broad categories: Physical Profiles of Drug Substances and Excipients; Analytical Profiles of Drug Substances and Excipients; ADME Profiles of Drug Substances and Excipients; Methodology Related to the Characterization of Drug Substances and Excipients; Methods of Chemical Synthesis. There is no comparable book series that gives this crucial information in such a timely and relevant manner. The volume offers in-depth profiles of five drug compounds: Brimonidine, Cristine, Remdesivir, Vandetanib, and Lapatinib. It also includes an additional chapter that discusses Pharmaceutical-Based Cosmetic Serums.