Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveller, but even when he stays at home, he can't contain his curiosity about the world around him.

A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 is the result of his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization – how we got from being nothing at all to what we are today. Now fully updated to include all the latest advances in science, it is more ground-breaking than ever before.

This journey through time and space will inform a new generation of readers, as well as those who read this book on first publication with a new perspective based on what we know now.

Written in his inimitable style, Bryson makes complex subjects fascinating and accessible to everyone with an interest in the world around them.

A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 reveals the world in a whole new way.

Plant Regeneration from Seeds: A Global Warming Perspective comprehensively reviews the effects caused by climate change on global plant regeneration, growth and seed germination. Initial chapters discuss specific geographical regions such as steppes, the artic, boreal and alpine zones, dry and tropical forests and deserts. Subsequent chapters explore special seed-related topics like fire, soil seed banks, crops, weed emergence, and invasive species Written by leaders in the field of seed germination and plant growth, this is an essential read for researchers and academics interested in plant growth, plant regeneration, seed germination and the effects of these in relation to climate change.

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.

Herbal Bioactive-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Challenges and Opportunities provides a wide-ranging, in-depth resource for herbal bioactives, including detailed discussion of standardization and regulations. The book first explores specific drug delivery systems such as gastrointestinal, ocular, pulmonary, transdermal, and vaginal and rectal. It then discusses novel applications for nano, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, wound healing and cancer treatment. Finally, there is a section focusing on standardization and regulation which includes an enhancement of properties. This book is an essential resource for pharmacologists, pharmaceutical scientists, material scientists, botanists, and all those interested in natural products and drug delivery systems developments.

The microbial ecosystem provides an indigenous system for improving plant growth, health and stress resilience. Plant microbiota, including isolated microbial communities, have been studied to further understand the functional capacities, ecological structure and dynamics of the plant-microbe interaction. Due to climatic changes, there is an urgent need to bring microbial innovations into practice. Mitigation of Plant Abiotic Stress by Microorganisms: Applicability and Future Directions is a comprehensive review of the different strategies available to improve the plant microbiome. Chapters include key topics such as: harnessing endophytic microbial diversity, microbial genes for improving abiotic stress tolerance, and microbial bioformulations. Putting these strategies into practice can have varying success in the field, so it is crucial that scientists are equipped with the knowledge of which microorganisms are needed, as well as the use and suitability of delivery approaches and formulations. This title will be an essential read for researchers and students interested in plant microbial technologies and plant bio stimulants, plant pathology, biocontrol, agronomy, and environmental mediation.

With Cholesterol, Drs. Anna Bukiya and Alex Dopico have compiled a comprehensive resource on biological and clinical aspects of cholesterol, spanning biophysics and biochemistry, as well as the latest pharmacological discoveries employed to tackle disorders associated with abnormal cholesterol levels. Early chapters on basic biology offer guidance in cholesterol lab chemistry, cholesterol metabolism and synthesis, molecular evolution of cholesterol and sterols, cholesterol peptides, and cholesterol modulation. Chapters on cellular and organismal development discuss cholesterol transport in blood, lipoproteins, and cholesterol metabolism; cholesterol detection in the blood; cellular cholesterol levels; hypercholesterolemia; and the role of cholesterol in early human development. Pathophysical specialists consider familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, critical illness and cholesterol levels, coronary artery disease, CESD, cholesterol and viral pathology, cholesterol and neurodegenerative disorders, and cholesterol and substance use disorders. A final section examines pharmacology of drug delivery systems targeting cholesterol related disorders, cholesterol receptors, cholesterol reduction, statins, citrate lyase, cyclodextrins, and clinical management. Cholesterol: From Biophysics and Biochemistry to Pathology and Pharmacology empowers researchers, students, and clinicians across various disciplines to advance new cholesterol-based studies, improve clinical management, and drive drug discovery.

Handbook of Thermoset Plastics, Fourth Edition provides complete coverage of the chemical processes, manufacturing techniques and design properties of each polymer, along with its applications. This new edition has been expanded to include the latest developments in the field, with new chapters on radiation curing, biological adhesives, vitrimers, and 3D printing. This detailed handbook considers the practical implications of using thermoset plastics and the relationships between processing, properties and applications, as well as analyzing the strengths and weakness of different methods and applications. The aim of the book is to help the reader to make the right decision and take the correct action on the basis of informed analysis - avoiding the pitfalls the authors' experience has uncovered. In industry, the book supports engineers, scientists, manufacturers and R&D professionals working with plastics. The information included will also be of interest to researchers and advanced students in plastics engineering, polymer chemistry, adhesives and coatings.

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.

Comprehensive Gut Microbiota, Three Volume Set provides new insights into gut microbiota as a critical mediator of human health and well-being. Comprehensive chapters, split across three volumes, present trusted and authoritative sources of information for novel human gut microbiome and health research. The book focuses on the fascinating intestinal microbiome and its interaction with food, food bioactive components, nutrition and human health. Chapters address the core science in the microbiota field and draw links between the microbiome, food, nutrition and health interaction. The text reflects the current state of evidence available in the field of microbiota, its regulation at the individual and population level, and the importance of the microbiome to human health. Each section includes introductory chapters that present key concepts about the section objective. Later sections focus on the novel findings of the gut microbiome, food and nutrition science. Human studies and systematic literature reviews are also discussed throughout the work.

Biocontrol Mechanisms of Endophytic Microorganisms introduces endophytic microorganisms, colonization, diversity and distribution, describes the isolation and identification of endophytic microorganisms by traditional cultivation and by next generation sequencing technologies, and covers biocontrol mechanisms, bacterial priming, endophytic based methods, the significance on fungi, and metabolite based formulations. The book concludes with chapters on biofilms, microbiota and safety issues of microorganisms. The intensive use of chemicals to control these plant pathogens has resulted in negative consequences such as the release of toxic chemicals in the environment, reduced soil fertility and human health problems. Therefore, environmentally-friendly and sustainable replacement of chemical fertilizers or pesticides is highly challenging.

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.

Human Biochemistry, Second Edition provides a comprehensive, pragmatic introduction to biochemistry as it relates to human development and disease. Here, Gerald Litwack, award-wining researcher and longtime teacher, discusses the biochemical aspects of organ systems and tissue, cells, proteins, enzymes, insulins and sugars, lipids, nucleic acids, amino acids, polypeptides, steroids, and vitamins and nutrition, among other topics. Fully updated to address recent advances, the new edition features fresh discussions on hypothalamic releasing hormones, DNA editing with CRISPR, new functions of cellular prions, plant-based diet and nutrition, and much more. Grounded in problem-driven learning, this new edition features clinical case studies, applications, chapter summaries, and review-based questions that translate basic biochemistry into clinical practice, thus empowering active clinicians, students and researchers.

Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry IV provides a first point of entry for scientists interested in heterocyclic ring systems. Given the rapid expansion of publications in this field, this compilation of definitive reviews is especially important and invaluable. Written by leading scientists who have evaluated and summarized the most important data published over the last decade, this book is an invaluable addition to the reference library of anyone working with heterocyclic ring systems. Spanning 14 volumes, over 13,000 pages, and 240 chapters, this new edition builds on, and complements, the material in previous editions. This comprehensive resource is designed to be used both as a standalone resource and in conjunction with earlier works.

Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, Six Volume Set has always been characterized by its unique and comprehensive content. Since publication of the 2nd edition, many important discoveries have been made leading to novel concepts in several areas of biochemistry, and new technologies have advanced our understanding of key processes of life. All of these advances are included in the new and expanded third edition. With its 6 volumes, this is the most up-to-date and complete resource on biochemistry and molecular biology, provided through contributions by leading experts in the field.

Microbial Management of Plant Stresses: Current Trends, Application and Challenges explores plant microbiota including isolated microbial communities that have been used to study the functional capacities, ecological structure and dynamics of the plant-microbe interaction with focus on agricultural crops. Presenting multiple examples and evidence of the potential genetic flexibility of microbial systems to counteract the climate induced stresses associated with their host as a part of indigenous system, this book presents strategies and approaches for improvement of microbiome. As climate changes have altered the global carbon cycling and ecological dynamics, the regular and periodic occurrences of severe salinity, drought, and heat stresses across the different regimes of the agro-ecological zones have put additional constraints on agricultural ecosystem to produce efficient foods and other derived products for rapidly growing world population through low cost and sustainable technology. Furthermore chemical amendments, agricultural inputs and other innovative technologies although may have fast results with fruitful effects for enhancing crop productivity but also have other ecological drawbacks and environmental issues and offer limited use opportunities. Microbial formulations and/or microbial consortia deploying two or multiple partners have been frequently used for mitigation of various stresses, however, field success is often variable and improvement Smart, knowledge-driven selection of microorganisms is needed as well as the use of suitable delivery approaches and formulations. Microbial Management of Plant Stresses: Current Trends, Application and Challenges presents the functional potential of plant microbiota to address current challenges in crop production addressing this urgent need to bring microbial innovations into practice.

Handbook of Hormones: Comparative Endocrinology for Basic and Clinical Research, Second Edition presents a catalog of fundamental information on the structure and function of hormones from basic biology to clinical use, offering a rapid way to obtain specific facts about the chemical and molecular characteristics of hormones, their receptors, signaling pathways, and the biological activities they regulate. The book's stellar editorial board, affiliated with the Japan Society for Comparative Endocrinology, brings together authors that present a compelling structure of each hormone with a consistent presentation that provides a primer surrounding the plethora of hormones that now exist. Comparative endocrinology continues to rapidly expand and new information about hormones is being produced almost daily, making it important to stay up-to-date. Hormone, paracrine, and autocrine factors have been identified as key players in a range of different systems, including immune, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular. Frontiers between disciplines are being blurred and many scientists in fields other than endocrinology are interested in hormones. Scientists now have the unprecedented opportunity to look from invertebrates to vertebrate and identify novel regulatory factors and understand their function and how they determine an organism's physiology and survival.

Analytical Techniques in Biosciences: From Basics to Applications presents comprehensive and up-to-date information on the various analytical techniques obtainable in bioscience research laboratories across the world. This book contains chapters that discuss the basic bioanalytical protocols and sample preparation guidelines. Commonly encountered analytical techniques, their working principles, and applications were presented. Techniques, considered in this book, include centrifugation techniques, electrophoretic techniques, chromatography, titrimetry, spectrometry, and hyphenated techniques. Subsequent chapters emphasize molecular weight determination and electroanalytical techniques, biosensors, and enzyme assay protocols. Other chapters detail microbial techniques, statistical methods, computational modeling, and immunology and immunochemistry. The book draws from experts from key institutions around the globe, who have simplified the chapters in a way that will be useful to early-stage researchers as well as advanced scientists. It is also carefully structured and integrated sequentially to aid flow, consistency, and continuity. This is a must-have reference for graduate students and researchers in the field of biosciences.

Phytoremediation: Biotechnological Strategies for Promoting Invigorating Environs focuses on phytoremediation's history, present and future potential, discussing mechanisms of remediation, different types of pollutant and polluted environs, cell signaling, biotechnology, and molecular biology, including site-directed DNA and the omics related to plant sciences. Sections focus on phytoremediation as an economically feasible and environmentally safe strategy, including its mechanisms from macroscopic to microscopic level, strategies of assisted phytoremediation, the role of omics on innovations on the field, the development of genetically modified plants (GMPs) to deal with pollutants, the future prospects of targeted genetic engineering in phytoremediation and remediation advantages and disadvantages. Other sections in the book explore the phytoremediation of specific environs (water and soil) and specific contaminants that are of major worldwide concern.

Plant nutrients are the vital elements essential for plant growth and survival, with key roles in adapting to challenging environments. Each nutrient, whether required in relatively large (macronutrients) or minute concentrations (micronutrients) plays a unique role in plant life cycle. Both the insufficient and surplus concentrations of these nutrients may render negative impacts on plant growth and development and therefore their homeostasis is considered critical for optimal plant growth and yield. Plant Nutrition and Food Security in the Era of Climate Change comprehensively reviews all critical plant nutrients. Chapters include topics such as: biological roles, uptake and transport of vital nutrients in plants; an in-depth review of the roles of potassium, calcium, magnesium and trace element; molecular breeding approaches for enhanced plant nutrients; and exploring the rhizosphere microbiome for enhance nutrient availability. Written by leading experts in the field of plant biology, this is an essential read for researchers and scientists interested in plant science, agronomy, food security and environmental science.

Comprehensive Glycoscience, Second Edition, Five Volume Set assembles the top minds in this area who provide an update on the renowned 2007 first edition, including new discoveries and latest advances in glycoscience-related research areas such as glycan microarrays, carbohydrate materials, glycoengineering and microbiome research. The result is an up-to-date work which will impress readers with the many new advances that are outlined and taught in this second edition. Most areas of the original edition have been majorly updated, some overlapping topics have been consolidated, and several topics have been rearranged into more appropriate sections.

Dairy science includes the study of milk and milk-derived food products, examining the biological, chemical, physical, and microbiological aspects of milk itself, as well as the technological (processing) aspects of the transformation of milk into its various consumer products, including beverages, fermented products, concentrated and dried products, butter and ice cream. This encyclopedia includes information on the possible impact of genetic modification of dairy animals, safety concerns of raw milk and raw milk products, peptides in milk, dairy-based allergies, packaging and shelf-life and other topics of importance and interest to those in dairy research and industry. The Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences, Five Volume Set is the only work available that covers in detail the entirety of dairy science, from husbandry of dairy animals, milk production, through the processing of milk into a myriad of dairy products and ingredients, to the effect of dairy foods on human health. The third edition of Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences will retain the split that characterized the earlier editions - one-third primary production, two-thirds dairy food. Unlike earlier editions, in which articles were arranged in alphabetical order by topic, this edition will be optimally organized into 9 coherent sections. This new edition contains 500 articles, the vast majority of which has been significantly revised or is completely new. Only 40 chapters have been retained from the earlier edition as they cover basic science areas still relevant and important today. All articles have been reviewed by specialists in their area.

Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, Second Edition, Six Volume Set explores the key processes of lung diseases and their diagnosis and management. The book dissects the molecular and cellular biology, physiology and immunology that underpin normal lung function, along with the aberrations that occur in respiratory diseases, from common disorders such as asthma and COPD to rarer lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. Written in at a time when the globe is in the grip of respiratory pandemic, lung disease has never been so prominent in the public and political conscious. This new edition will provide new researchers in respiratory medicine with a solid foundation in unfamiliar topics and will update more experienced researchers seeking to step outside their core areas of research to put their work into a broader context.

Behavioral Neuroscience is a relatively recent discipline which unifies different fields encompassing Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science, Clinical Neurology, Neuroanatomy, and Neurophysiology. Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience, Three Volume Set is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary work written by the best experts in the field, addressing the relationship between the neurological and biological basis of behavior and models of cognition, spanning from perception to memory and covering phenomena that occur in human and other animals. Published in 2010, it comprised 212 articles and was a unique and essential resource for students and professionals in several fields including neuroscience, psychology, neurology, psychiatry, and cognitive science. It was by far the most comprehensive reference work available addressing the advances in all the field of behavioral neuroscience. It does however, now need revising with the latest science. The new edition will again cover the relationship between brain and behavior, both in humans and other animals, as well as mental and brain disorders. This new edition spans accross three volumes, 250 chapters and approximately 2000 pages. It will build on the foundations of the first edition by thoroughly updating all current articles with the latest research that has developed in the last decade. In addition, 40 brand new articles on the hottest topics within behavioral neuroscience will be added, covering areas such as advances in behavioral genetics and epigenetics, cognitive ageing, neuroepidemiology, social neuroscience, as well as the upsurge of new technologies like diffusion tensor imaging or transcranial direct current stimulation. The result will be an all-encompassing one-stop interdisciplinary major reference work on how the brain and its disorders influence behavior, perfect for neuroscience students, clinicians and scientists interested in knowing more about behavior from a biological perspective.

Cytogenomics demonstrates that chromosomes are crucial in understanding the human genome and that new high-throughput approaches are central to advancing cytogenetics in the 21st century. After an introduction to (molecular) cytogenetics, being the basic of all cytogenomic research, this book highlights the strengths and newfound advantages of cytogenomic research methods and technologies, enabling researchers to jump-start their own projects and more effectively gather and interpret chromosomal data. Methods discussed include banding and molecular cytogenetics, molecular combing, molecular karyotyping, next-generation sequencing, epigenetic study approaches, optical mapping/karyomapping, and CRISPR-cas9 applications for cytogenomics. The book's second half demonstrates recent applications of cytogenomic techniques, such as characterizing 3D chromosome structure across different tissue types and insights into multilayer organization of chromosomes, role of repetitive elements and noncoding RNAs in human genome, studies in topologically associated domains, interchromosomal interactions, and chromoanagenesis. This book is an important reference source for researchers, students, basic and translational scientists, and clinicians in the areas of human genetics, genomics, reproductive medicine, gynecology, obstetrics, internal medicine, oncology, bioinformatics, medical genetics, and prenatal testing, as well as genetic counselors, clinical laboratory geneticists, bioethicists, and fertility specialists.

The detection and measurement of the dynamic regulation and interactions of cells and proteins within the living cell are critical to the understanding of cellular biology and pathophysiology. The multidisciplinary field of molecular imaging of living subjects continues to expand with dramatic advances in chemistry, molecular biology, therapeutics, engineering, medical physics and biomedical applications. Molecular Imaging: Principles and Practice, Volumes 1 and 2, Second Edition provides the first point of entry for physicians, scientists, and practitioners. This authoritative reference book provides a comprehensible overview along with in-depth presentation of molecular imaging concepts, technologies and applications making it the foremost source for both established and new investigators, collaborators, students and anyone interested in this exciting and important field.