As the mysteries stored in our DNA have been more completely revealed, scientists have begun to face the extraordinary challenge of unraveling the int- cate network of protein-protein interactions established by that DNA fra- work. It is increasingly clear that proteins continuously interact with one another in a highly regulated fashion to determine cell fate, such as proliferation, diff- entiation, or death. These protein-protein interactions enable and exert str- gent control over DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein translation, macromolecular assembly and degradation, and signal transduction; essentially all cellular functions involve protein-protein interactions. Thus, protein-p- tein interactions are fundamental for normal physiology in all organisms. Alt- ation of critical protein-protein interactions is thought to be involved in the development of many diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases. Therefore, examination of when and how protein-p- tein interactions occur and how they are controlled is essential for understa- ing diverse biological processes as well as for elucidating the molecular basis of diseases and identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Over the years, many innovative biochemical, biophysical, genetic, and computational approaches have been developed to detect and analyze p- tein-protein interactions. This multitude of techniques is mandated by the diversity of physical and chemical properties of proteins and the sensitivity of protein-protein interactions to cellular conditions.

Emily Calandrelli, MIT engineer and scientist, shares exhilarating experiments for junior scientists and their lab assistants, ranging from homemade ice cream to disappearing ink. The book features 50 experiments using easy-to-find grocery store items. Each experiment includes a scientific explanation, a Hypothesize section to record the scientist's assumptions, science vocabulary that applies STEM research to real life (did you know that ketchup is a non-Newtonian fluid?), and Try This! prompts with even more ways to experiment with your experiment. Let the science spark curiosity and critical thinking; grab your goggles and your trusted assistant and get started!

This riveting work of investigative reporting and history exposes classified government projects to build gravity-defying aircraft--which have an uncanny resemblance to flying saucers.

The atomic bomb was not the only project to occupy government scientists in the 1940s. Antigravity technology, originally spearheaded by scientists in Nazi Germany, was another high priority, one that still may be in effect today. Now for the first time, a reporter with an unprecedented access to key sources in the intelligence and military communities reveals suppressed evidence that tells the story of a quest for a discovery that could prove as powerful as the A-bomb.

The Hunt for Zero Point explores the scientific speculation that a "zero point" of gravity exists in the universe and can be replicated here on Earth. The pressure to be the first nation to harness gravity is immense, as it means having the ability to build military planes of unlimited speed and range, along with the most deadly weaponry the world has ever seen. The ideal shape for a gravity-defying vehicle happens to be a perfect disk, making antigravity tests a possible explanation for the numerous UFO sightings of the past 50 years.

Chronicling the origins of antigravity research in the world's most advanced research facility, which was operated by the Third Reich during World War II, The Hunt for Zero Point traces U.S. involvement in the project, beginning with the recruitment of former Nazi scientists after the war. Drawn from interviews with those involved with the research and who visited labs in Europe and the United States, The Hunt for Zero Point journeys to the heart of the twentieth century's most puzzling unexplained phenomena.


From the Hardcover edition.

The chemokines family of small proteins are involved in numerous b- logical processes ranging from hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, and basal l- kocyte trafficking to the extravasation and tissue infiltration of leukocytes in response to inflammatory agents, tissue damage, and bacterial or viral infection. Chemokines exert their effects through a family of seven G-protein coupled transmembrane receptors. Worldwide interest in the chemokine field surged dramatically early in 1996, with the finding that certain chemokine receptors were the elusive coreceptors, required along with CD4, for HIV infection. Today, though over 40 human chemokines have been described, the n- ber of chemokine receptors lags behind-only 17 human chemokine receptors have been identified so far. What has emerged over the years is that most chemokine receptors bind several distinct ligands, and indeed the majority of chemokines are able to bind to multiple chemokine receptors, explaining to some extent the apparent disparity in the numbers of chemokines and rec- tors. Yet in spite of the apparent redundancy in chemokine/chemokine rec- tor interactions, it is clear that in vivo, spatial, temporal, and indeed cell- and tissue-specific expression of both chemokines and their receptors are imp- tant factors in determining the precise nature of cellular infiltrates in phy- ological and pathological processes.

This first book on high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is intended for students and biologists who want to use HS-AFM in their research. It provides straightforward explanations of the principle and techniques of AFM and HS-AFM. Numerous examples of HS-AFM studies on proteins demonstrate how to apply this new form of microscopy to specific biological problems. Several precautions for successful imaging and the preparation of cantilever tips and substrate surfaces will greatly benefit first-time users of HS-AFM. In turn, the instrumentation techniques detailed in Chapter 4 can be skipped, but will be useful for engineers and scientists who want to develop the next generation of high-speed scanning probe microscopes for biology. The book is intended to facilitate the first-time use of this new technique, and to inspire students and researchers to tackle their own specific biological problems by directly observing dynamic events occurring in the nanoscopic world. Microscopy in biology has recently entered a new era with the advent of high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM). Unlike optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and conventional slow AFM, it allows us to directly observe biological molecules in physiological environments. Molecular "movies" created using HS-AFM can directly reveal how molecules behave and operate, without the need for subsequent complex analyses and roundabout interpretations. It also allows us to directly monitor morphological change in live cells, and dynamic molecular events occurring on the surfaces of living bacteria and intracellular organelles. As HS-AFM instruments were recently commercialized, in the near future HS-AFM is expected to become a common tool in biology, and will enhance and accelerate our understanding of biological phenomena.

This completely revised edition explores novel discoveries in bacterial genomic research, with a focus on technical and computational improvements as well as methods used for bacterial pangenome analysis, which relies on microbiome studies and metagenomic data. Beginning with up-to-date sequencing methods, the book continues with sections covering methods for deep phylogenetic analysis, the role of metagenomic data in understanding the genomics of the many yet uncultured bacteria, progress in genome-to-phenome inference, as well as computational genomic tools. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the type of practical detail necessary for reproducible results in the lab. Authoritative and up-to-date, Bacterial Pangenomics: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition serves as an ideal guide for both highly qualified investigators in bacterial genomics and for less experienced researchers, including students and teachers, who could use a reference for approaching genomic analysis and genome data.

This volume contains invited and contributed papers presented at the conference on 'Microscopy of Semiconducting Materials' held at the University of Cambridge on 2-5 April 2007. The event was organised under the auspices of the Electron Microscopy and Analysis Group of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Microscopical Society and the Materials Research Society. This international conference was the fifteenth in the series that focuses on the most recent world-wide advances in semiconductor studies carried out by all forms of microscopy and it attracted delegates from more than 20 countries. With the relentless evolution of advanced electronic devices into ever smaller nanoscale structures, the problem relating to the means by which device features can be visualised on this scale becomes more acute. This applies not only to the imaging of the general form of layers that may be present but also to the determination of composition and doping variations that are employed. In view of this scenario, the vital importance of transmission and scanning electron microscopy, together with X-ray and scanning probe approaches can immediately be seen. The conference featured developments in high resolution microscopy and nanoanalysis, including the exploitation of recently introduced aberration-corrected electron microscopes. All associated imaging and analytical techniques were demonstrated in studies including those of self-organised and quantum domain structures. Many analytical techniques based upon scanning probe microscopies were also much in evidence, together with more general applications of X-ray diffraction methods.

Since the advent of hybridoma technology more than two decades ago, numerous antibodies have entered the clinical setting as potent therapeutic agents. Their repeated application in humans, however, is limited by the development of human antimouse antibodies (HAMA) in the recipient, leading to allergic re- tions against the foreign murine protein and rapid neutralization. To circumvent these limitations many new antibodies have recently been tailored through recombinant antibody technology. The initial clinical data show encouraging results, thus demonstrating the potential of these new therapeutic agents. The purpose of Recombinant Antibodies for Cancer Therapy is to present a collection of detailed protocols in recombinant antibody technology. It is pri- rily addressed to scientists working on recombinant antibodies as well as cli- cians involved with antibody-based therapies. As with other volumes of this series, we placed the main focus on providing detailed protocols describing procedures step-by-step. Moreover, each protocol supplies a troubleshooting guide containing detailed information on possible problems and hints for pot- tial solutions. Antibody technology is a subject of constant and rapid change. This volume, therefore, does not attempt to cover all possible current experimental approaches in the field. Rather, we present carefully selected protocols, written by competent authors who have successfully verified the particular method described. Given our own professional backgrounds and interest in oncology, we chose to conc- trate chiefly on therapeutic agents for cancer patients.

Purification of Laboratory Chemicals: Part One, Physical Techniques, Chemical Techniques, Organic Chemicals, Ninth Edition describes contemporary methods for the purification of chemical compounds. The work includes tabulated methods taken from literature for purifying thousands of individual commercially available chemical substances. To help in applying this information, the more common processes currently used for purification in chemical laboratories and new methods are discussed. For dealing with substances not separately listed, another chapter is included, setting out the usual methods for purifying specific classes of compounds. Laboratory workers, whether carrying out research or routine work, will invariably need to consult this book. Apart from the procedures described, the large amount of physical data about listed chemicals is essential. This fully updated, revised and expanded new edition includes the purification of many new substances that have been available commercially since 2017, along with previously available substances which have found new applications.

Over recent years, progress in micropropagation has not been as rapid as many expected and, even now, relatively few crops are produced commercially. One reason for this is that the biology of material growing in vitro has been insufficiently understood for modifications to standard methods to be made based on sound physiological principles. However, since 1984, tissue culture companies and others have invested considerable effort to reduce the empirical nature of the production process. The idea of the conference "Physiology, Growth and Development of Plants and Cells in Culture"(Lancaster, 1992) was to introduce specialists in different areas of plant physiology to micropropagators, with the express aims of disseminating as wide a range of information to as large a number of participants as possible, and beginning new discussions on the constraints and potentials affecting the development of in vitro plant production methods. This book is based on presentations from the conference and has been divided into two main sections, dealing with aspects of the in vitro environment - light, nutrients, water, gas - and with applied aspects of the culture process - morphogenesis, acclimation, rejuvenation, contamination.

This volume provides a comprehensive reference for researchers aiming to bring new techniques and approaches to their scientific research using urodeles. Chapters are authored by leaders in the field and meant to guide readers through laboratory colony husbandry, traditional molecular techniques, experimental manipulation and surgeries, bioinformatics and genomics, transgenics and lineage-tracing, and physiological and organismal techniques. In addition to laboratory methods, this volume highlights techniques developed for field studies and work with wild-caught animals. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and state-of-the-art, Methods in Salamander Research aims to be a practical guide for researchers interested in deploying new methodologies in their lab or in the field.

The April 1997 conference held in Prague attracted the cream of primarily European and Russian researchers (with a handful from the US, primarily from the U. of Maryland School of Medicine) to the burgeoning biological and medical applications of innovative optical technology, particularly laser con

The rapid progress on somatic embryogenesis and its prospects for potential application to improving woody plants prompted us to edit this book initially in three volumes, and now an additional three more volumes. We were all convinced that such a treatise was needed and would be extremely useful to researchers and students. This volume 6 is dedicated to Prof. Harry Waris, Helsinki, Finland, who did pioneer work on somatic embryogenesis during the time when Prof. Steward and others were actively engaged in this area. His former student Prof. Liisa Simols, University of Helsinki, Finland, has written a dedication Harry Waris, a pioneer in somatic embryogenesis' to her teacher Prof. Waris. This volume is divided into three sections and contains a total of 26 chapters. Section A comprises seven chapters covering topics such as: Historical insights into some contemporary problems in somatic embryogenesis (SE); Thin cell layer for somatic embryogenesis induction in woody trees; SE in tropical fruit and forest trees; SE in fruit and forest arid trees; Status of SE in Indian forest trees; SE research in fruit trees in India; Applications of SE for the improvement of tropical fruit trees. Section B comprises 15 chapters, dealing with: SE in oil palm, hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), Araucaria angustifolia, Quercus suber, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Acacia senegal, Simmondsia chiensis, Cupressus sempervirens, pecan (Carya illinoinensis), rattan (Calamus spp.), tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lor.), Aegle marmelos, and Euonymus europaeus. Section C comprises three chapters related to cryo-storage of citrus, conifers and rubber. All the chaptershave been peer-reviewed and revised accordingly to improve the quality of the chapters. We are thankful to all: (a) contributory authors for their co-operation in submitting manuscripts in time, and (b) reviewers for spending their valuable time in reviewing the manuscripts.

The development of new methodologies has played a key role in the advancement of all areas of research. Specifically, the initial advances in our understanding of lipoprotein structure and metabolism were made possible by the development of ultracentrifugation and electrophoretic techniques. More recently, the advent of molecular biological techniques opened possibilities that were unthinkable just a few decades ago. The use of the analytical ult- centrifuge to study plasma lipoproteins began in the 1940s with the work of Mutzenbecher, McFarlene, Pedersen, Gofman, Lindgren, and Elliot. Another crucial step, during the 1950s, was the development of this tool as a prepa- tive technique by Havel, Eder, and Bragdon, among others. This technolo- cal progress allowed investigators to "dig" deeper into the structure of these complex macromolecules made of lipids and proteins, and permitted inves- gators to continue unraveling the physical and chemical characteristics of the proteins associated with lipoprotein particles (apolipoproteins) and the enzymes involved in their processing. This information led to both a better understanding of the biological functions of the lipoprotein fractions and their constituents, and creation of a more comprehensive overall scheme for plasma lipoprotein metabolism. Several gaps in this puzzle were filled through the work of Goldstein and Brown, who elucidated the structure and role of the low-density lipoprotein - ceptor. This was the first identified among a profusion of receptors that are key for the cellular catabolism of these particles.

The volumes V, VI and VII will examine the physical and technical foundation for recent progress in applied scanning probe techniques. These volumes constitute a timely comprehensive overview of SPM applications. This is the first book summarizing the state-of-the-art of this technique. The chapters are written by leading researchers and application scientists from all over the world and from various industries to provide a broader perspective.

This updated volume provides stepwise instructions for the analysis of numerous clinically important analytes by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry offers clinical laboratory scientists a number of advantages including increased sensitivity and specificity, multiple component analysis, and limited need for specialized reagents. These techniques are essential in laboratory fields including endocrinology, biochemical genetics, drug analysis, proteomics, and pathogen identification. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and practical, Clinical Applications of Mass Spectrometry in Biomolecular Analysis: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is an ideal resource for clinical laboratory scientists who are already using or thinking of bringing mass spectrometry to their laboratories.

Since 1995, the noncontact atomic force microscope (NC-AFM) has achieved remarkable progress. Based on nanomechanical methods, the NC-AFM detects the weak attractive force between the tip of a cantilever and a sample surface. This method has the following characteristics: it has true atomic resolution; it can measure atomic force interactions, i.e. it can be used in so-called atomic force spectroscopy (AFS); it can also be used to study insulators; and it can measure mechanical responses such as elastic deformation. This is the first book that deals with all of the emerging NC-AFM issues.

In 1968, the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) published Special Publication 298 "Quantitative Electron Probe Microanalysis," which contained proceedings of a seminar held on the subject at NBS in the summer of 1967. This publication received wide interest that continued through the years far beyond expectations. The present volume, also the result of a gathering of international experts, in 1988, at NBS (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST), is intended to fulfill the same purpose. After years of substantial agreement on the procedures of analysis and data evaluation, several sharply differentiated approaches have developed. These are described in this publi cation with all the details required for practical application. Neither the editors nor NIST wish to endorse any single approach. Rather, we hope that their exposition will stimulate the dialogue which is a prerequisite for technical progress. Additionally, it is expected that those active in research in electron probe microanalysis will appreciate more clearly the areas in which further investigations are warranted."

Scanning tunneling microscopy has achieved remarkable progress and become the key technology for surface science. This book predicts the future development for all of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Such forecasts may help to determine the course ultimately taken and may accelerate research and development on nanotechnology and nanoscience, as well as all in SPM-related fields in the future.

Optics at the Nanometer Scale: Imaging and Storing with Photonic Near Fields deals with the fundamentals of and the latest developments and applications of near-field optical microscopy, giving basic accounts of how and under what circumstances superresolution beyond the half- wavelength Rayleigh limit is achieved. Interferometric and fluorescence techniques are also described, leading to molecular and even atomic resolution using light. The storage of optical information at this level of resolution is also addressed.

Developing microscale chemistry experiments, using small quantities of chemicals and simple equipment, has been a recent initiative in the UK. Microscale chemistry experiments have several advantages over conventional experiments: They use small quantities of chemicals and simple equipment which reduces costs; The disposal of chemicals is easier due to the small quantities; Safety hazards are often reduced and many experiments can be done quickly; Using plastic apparatus means glassware breakages are minimised; Practical work is possible outside a laboratory. Microscale Chemistry is a book of such experiments designed for use in schools and colleges, and the ideas behind the experiments in it come from many sources, including chemistry teachers from all around the world. Current trends indicate that with the likelihood of further environmental legislation, the need for microscale chemistry teaching techniques and experiments is likely to grow. This book should serve as a guide in this process.

This book covers several of the most important topics of current interest at the forefront of scanning probe microscopy. These include a realistic theory of atom-resolving atomic force microscopy (AFM), fundamentals of MBE growth of III-V compound semiconductors and atomic manipulation for future single-electron devices.

The 14th conference in the series focused on the most recent advances in the study of the structural and electronic properties of semiconducting materials by the application of transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The latest developments in the use of other important microcharacterisation techniques were also covered and included the latest work using scanning probe microscopy and also X-ray topography and diffraction.

Introduction to Statistical Analysis of Laboratory Data presents a detailed discussion of important statistical concepts and methods of data presentation and analysis * Provides detailed discussions on statistical applications including a comprehensive package of statistical tools that are specific to the laboratory experiment process * Introduces terminology used in many applications such as the interpretation of assay design and validation as well as fit for purpose procedures including real world examples * Includes a rigorous review of statistical quality control procedures in laboratory methodologies and influences on capabilities * Presents methodologies used in the areas such as method comparison procedures, limit and bias detection, outlier analysis and detecting sources of variation * Analysis of robustness and ruggedness including multivariate influences on response are introduced to account for controllable/uncontrollable laboratory conditions