This issue, guest edited by Kathryn Michel and Amy Farcas, focuses on Small Animal Obesity. Article topics include: Scope of the Problem/Perception by Owners/Vets; Physiology; New Areas of Research; Metabolic Effects of Obesity/Interaction with Endocrine Diseases; Impact on Cardio/Respiratory Disease; Impact on Ortho/Neuro Disease; Nutritional Assessment; Treatment-diet; Treatment- Environment/Behavior Modification; and more!

This detailed volume presents a wide range of techniques that go beyond the standard assays typically used to assess Myogenesis. The content included addresses assays to analyze skeletal muscle gene expression, proliferating muscle cells, the process of myoblast fusion, muscle development (in vivo), as well as muscle repair. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, 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. Authoritative and practical, Skeletal Muscle Development serves as an ideal guide to the study of this highly complex yet carefully regulated process.>

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds, a radical investigation into the bird way of being, and the recent scientific research that is dramatically shifting our understanding of birds -- how they live and how they think. "There is the mammal way and there is the bird way." But the bird way is much more than a unique pattern of brain wiring, and lately, scientists have taken a new look at bird behaviors they have, for years, dismissed as anomalies or mysteries -- What they are finding is upending the traditional view of how birds conduct their lives, how they communicate, forage, court, breed, survive. They are also revealing the remarkable intelligence underlying these activities, abilities we once considered uniquely our own: deception, manipulation, cheating, kidnapping, infanticide, but also ingenious communication between species, cooperation, collaboration, altruism, culture, and play. Some of these extraordinary behaviors are biological conundrums that seem to push the edges of, well, birdness: a mother bird that kills her own infant sons, and another that selflessly tends to the young of other birds as if they were her own; a bird that collaborates in an extraordinary way with one species-ours-but parasitizes another in gruesome fashion; birds that give gifts and birds that steal; birds that dance or drum, that paint their creations or paint themselves; birds that build walls of sound to keep out intruders and birds that summon playmates with a special call-and may hold the secret to our own penchant for playfulness and the evolution of laughter. Drawing on personal observations, the latest science, and her bird-related travel around the world, from the tropical rainforests of eastern Australia and the remote woodlands of northern Japan, to the rolling hills of lower Austria and the islands of Alaska's Kachemak Bay, Jennifer Ackerman shows there is clearly no single bird way of being. In every respect, in plumage, form, song, flight, lifestyle, niche, and behavior, birds vary. It is what we love about them. As E.O Wilson once said, when you have seen one bird, you have not seen them all.

1. Site Directed Mutagenesis to Probe for Active Site Components of Liver Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 2. Substrate Binding Pocket Structure of Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenases: A Substrate Specificity Approach.- 3. Human Class 1 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase: Expression and Site-Directed Mutagenesis.- 4. Nitrate Esters as Inhibitors and Substrates of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 5. Use of a Chromophoric Reporter Group to Probe the Active Site of Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 6. Studies of the Esterase Activity of Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Using Sterically Hindered and Cyclic Substrates.- 7. The Reduction of Propionic Anhydride by Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-Nadh Mixtures at pH 7.- 8. Cloning and Characterisation of the cDNA for Sheep Liver Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 9. Crystallization of Sheep Liver Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in a Form Suitable for High Resolution X-Ray Structural Analysis.- 10. Progress toward the Tertiary Structure of (Class 3) Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 11. UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase: Structural Characteristics.- 12. Kinetic Studies on Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase from Bovine Cornea.- 13. Covalent Modification of Class 2 and Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase by 4-Hydroxynonenal.- 14. Constitutive and Overexpressed Human Cytosolic Class-3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenases in Normal and Neoplastic Cells/Secretions.- 15. Metabolism of Cyclophosphamide by Aldehyde Dehydrogenases.- 16. Tissue-Specific Expression and Preliminary Functional Analysis of the 5? Flanking Regions of the Human Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH2) Gene.- 17. Transgenesis of the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) Locus in a Mouse Model and in Cultured Human Cells.- 18. Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase: A Northern Perspective in the Land Down Under.- 19. Studies on the Induction of Rat Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 20. Mouse Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenases.- 21. Cloning and Characterization of Genes Encoding Four Additional Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Isozymes.- 22. New Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenases.- 23. Retinoic Acid Synthesizing Enzymes in the Embryonic and Adult Vertebrate.- 24. Retinoic Acid Synthesis in the Developing Spinal Cord.- 25. Structure and Mechanism of Aldehyde Reductase.- 26. Expression of Human and Rat Carbonyl Reductase in E. coli: Comparison of the Recombinant Enzymes.- 27. Molecular Cloning and Sequencing of Mouse Hepatic 11ss-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/Carbonyl Reductase: A Member of the Short Chain Dehydrogenase Superfamily.- 28. Molecular Modelling Calculations on the Binding of D- and L-Xylose to Wild-Type Aldose Reductase and Its H11OQ and H11OA Mutants.- 29. Stopped-Flow Studies of Human Aldose Reductase Reveal which Enzyme Form Predominates during Steady-State Turnover in Either Reaction direction.- 30. Lysine Residues in the Coenzyme-Binding Region of Mouse Lung Carbonyl Reductase.- 31. Substrate Specificity and Kinetic Mechanism of Tetrahymena 20?-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase.- 32. Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Human Placental and Rat Lens Aldose Reductases Expressed in Escherichia coli.- 33. Rat and Human Bile Acid Binders Are Members of the Monomeric Reductase Gene Family.- 34. The Alcohol Dehydrogenase System.- 35. Promoters of the Mammalian Class III Alcohol Dehydrogenase Genes.- 36. Class I and Class Iv Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Retinol Dehydrogenase) Gene Expression in Mouse Embryos.- 37. Molecular Evolution of Class I Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Primates: Models for Gene Evolution and Comparison of 3? Untranslated Regions of cDNAS.- 38. the Role of Leucine 116 in Determining Substrate Specificity in Human B1 Alcohol Dehydrogenase.- 39. Mutations of Human Class III Alcohol Dehydrogenase.- 40. Human and Rat Class IV Alcohol Dehydrogenases: Correlations of Primary Structures with Enzymatic Properties.- 41. Cloning and Expression of a Human Stomach Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isozyme.- 42. Purification and Properties of Murine Corneal Alcohol Dehydrogenase: Evidence for Class IV ADH P

Evolution gave rise to a prominent insect diversity at every level of ecological niche. Since then, hordes of insects have threatened human and cattle health as well as most of all green lands and agricultural crops. Now, the insect problem expands from many mutant forms of yellow dengue fever mosquitoes to highly-resistant larvae of most all various phytophageous species. The tremendous expansion of insects is due not only to an increasing resistance capacity to insecticides, but also to a strong capacity for adapting to different climate and environmental changes, including global warming. Obviously insects display a number of rudimentary systems to build an extremely efficient organism to survive in a changing world. In many species, one pheromone molecule is enough to trigger mating behavior. Therefore, insects have become crucial models not only for evolutionary studies, but also for understanding specific mechanisms underlying sensory-based behaviors. Most of insect species such as ants, beetles, cockroaches, locusts, moths and mosquitoes largely rely on olfactory cues to explore the environment and find con-specifics or food sources. A conglomerate of renowned international scientific experts is gathered to expose the insect problem on the various continents of the planet and propose an alternative to the use of toxic insecticides. Sex pheromones, specific chemical signals necessary for reproduction, and pheromone detection in insects are described with full details of the olfactory mechanisms in the antennae and higher centers in the brain. Thus, new synthetic pheromones and/or plant odors with specific molecular target sites in the insect olfactory system are proposed for sustainable development in agricultural and entomological industries. Disrupting insect pheromone channels and plant odor detection mechanisms is solemnly envisioned as a unique way to control invasive insect pest species while preserving human and environment safety.

This book presents a critical and integrated review of lizards from Patagonia. It summarizes the region's geomorphological history and climatic aspects, which makes it possible to interpret, from an evolutionary perspective, the latest findings on the various natural history aspects of its lizard fauna. As such, the book will appeal to all researchers and professionals specialized in lizard ecology and evolution.

A complete beginner's guide to British moths. Moths are sometimes overlooked compared to the day-flying butterflies, however, many moths are even more colourful, accessible and fascinating. Britain and Ireland are home to an incredible array of moths, with more than 2,500 species known, and increasing numbers of people have discovered the joy in watching, catching and photographing this diverse group. But, where should you start in being able to identify them? British Moths: A Gateway Guide is a wonderful introduction to 350 species of the most common and eye-catching adult moths that you may encounter in the UK. Rather than being grouped in taxonomic order, species are organised by season, and similar-looking moths are placed alongside one another for ease of identification. Concise species accounts include information on key features, making it easy to distinguish between confusion species, seasonality, and when and where to see them; each account is also placed alongside photos that have been carefully chosen to aid identification with clearly-marked top tips. From the author of Much Ado About Mothing, this is the perfect companion for anyone wanting to learn more about these beautiful and remarkable creatures - from hawk-moths to tigers and ermines to emeralds.

How does dietary restriction affect the physiological and biochemical state of laboratory animals? How will the present conclusions affect further research? What are the implications for human health and safety assessment? These are the main questions asked in this book by leading international researchers. After a first look at feeding regimens and diets of laboratory animals, the book elaborates on a variety of age-associated toxicological and pathological endpoints including tumor development. The following sections detail the underlying mechanisms which may induce the broad spectrum of physiological and biochemical changes. This summary of current multidisciplinary research will enhance understanding of the practical applications and implications of dietary restriction.

This book presents a revised history of early biogeography and investigates the split in taxonomic practice, between the classification of taxa and the classification of vegetation. It moves beyond the traditional belief that biogeography is born from a synthesis of Darwin and Wallace and focuses on the important pioneering work of earlier practitioners such as Zimmermann, Stromeyer, de Candolle and Humboldt. Tracing the academic history of biogeography over the decades and centuries, this book recounts the early schisms in phyto and zoogeography, the shedding of its bonds to taxonomy, its adoption of an ecological framework and its beginnings at the dawn of the 20th century. This book assesses the contributions of key figures such as Zimmermann, Humboldt and Wallace and reminds us of the forgotten influence of plant and animal geographers including Stromeyer, Prichard and de Candolle, whose early attempts at classifying animal and plant geography would inform later progress.< The Origins of Biogeography is a science historiography aimed at biogeographers, who have little access to a detailed history of the practices of early plant and animal geographers. This book will also reveal how biological classification has shaped 18th and 19th century plant and animal geography and why it is relevant to the 21st bio geographer.

Vertebrates and Invertebrates of European Cities: Selected Non-Avian Fauna is the first known account of the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of several cities in Europe and throughout the rest of the world. It excludes birds, which are described in a companion volume. The book contains eleven chapters about nine cities distributed throughout Europe. The chapters start with the history of the cities, which is followed by a description of the abiotic features such as geology, climate, air and water quality and then a brief account of the habitats. The vertebrate chapters describe the fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals that are known to occur in each city together with their status and the habitats in which they occur, for example housing, industrial areas, parks, transport routes and rivers. The invertebrate chapters contain an account of the presence, status and habitats occupied by 6 - 8 of the major invertebrate groups including butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, crickets and grasshoppers, beetles, molluscs, spiders, mites and springtails. This volume has been written and edited to be accessible to a wide range of interests and expertise including academic biologists, urban ecologists, landscape architects, planners, urban designers, undergraduates, other students and people with a general interest in natural history (especially cities) - not only in Europe but throughout the world.

What Huber discovered and wrote about here, laid the ground work for all the practical knowledge we have of bees today. His discoveries were so revolutionary, that beekeeping can be divided in two eras very easily as pre-Huber and post-Huber. This edition of Huber's Observations by far surpasses any other edition ever printed in the English language.First it has both Volume I and II, while every English edition currently in print that I am aware of is only Volume I of the 1809 edition. which is only a third of the final Huber book. The second volume was published in 1814 in French 5 years after that 1809 edition and contains Huber's research on the origin of wax, the construction of comb, the ventilation of the hive and much more.Second, it is the best English translation from the original French and the only one I know of that has both volumes. C.P. Dadant, was uniquely qualified to do the translation. Dadant was born in France and French was his first language, yet he spent most of his life beekeeping; and writing and editing beekeeping articles and books in America in English. Third, all of the English editions currently in print have only 2 plates (if any). Only the previous Dadant edition (1926) had all 14 of the original plates but unfortunately they were only halftones of some old yellow copies and are not very readable. This edition has new scans from a very good condition edition of the original 1814 French of both Volumes of Nouvelles Observations Sur Les Abeilles so these are clearer than any previous edition other than the original 1814 French edition. An additional engraving of Huber's work from Cheshire's book, plus an engraving of Francis Huber from the Dadant edition have been included. In addition, 7 more photos of a museum quality reproduction of Huber's Leaf hive have also been included. All figures have been split out and enlarged and put in the text where they are referred to. Photos of the original plates are included at the back for historic and artistic purposes.Fourth, to put this book in context I have included a memoir of Huber by Professor De Candolle, a friend of Huber. This gives a bit of background on Huber's life.Fifth, the only other edition to come close to this, the 1926 edition by Dadant, was in very small print. This one is 12 point and a typeface that appears to be larger and is very readable.

This book is the fourth in a series of 4 volumes in the Handbook of Zoology series about morphology, anatomy, reproduction, development, ecology, phylogeny and systematics of Annelida. It covers the most typical polychaetes, Phyllodocida, together with certain smaller taxa placed incertae sedis. This volume completes the polychaetous Annelida. Phyllodocida are often vagile, possess well-developed parapodia. Due to their broad and flat cirri these parapodia look like leaves in some taxa and leading to the name of the entire group. Many of its members are macrophagous and often predators. Accordingly most species possess elaborate sense structures such as sensory palps, antennae, eyes and nuchal organs. In certain species the eyes comprise thousands of photoreceptor cells and lenses most likely allowing forming true images. Phyllodocida typically possess an axial muscular pharynx called proboscis functioning as a kind of suction pipe allowing them to swallow and ingest their prey or other food. This pharynx may be armed with cuticular jaws and some species even possess venom glands. The probably most popular and important polychaete model organism, Platynereis dumerilii, belongs to this interesting group. Phyllodocida fall into two to three higher clades comprising about 25 families which represent more than one fourth of the polychaete diversity. One of these families, Syllidae, comprises about 700 valid species of mainly small size and may, therefore, represent one of the most complex and somehow difficult polychaete families on Earth.

Evolutionary developmental biology or evo-devo is a field of biological research that compares the underlying mechanisms of developmental processes in different organisms to infer the ancestral condition of these processes and elucidate how they have evolved. It addresses questions about the developmental bases of evolutionary changes and evolution of developmental processes. The book's content is divided into three parts, the first of which discusses the theoretical background of evo-devo. The second part highlights new and emerging model organisms in the evo-devo field, while the third and last part explores the evo-devo approach in a broad comparative context. To the best of our knowledge, no other book combines these three evo-devo aspects: theoretical considerations, a comprehensive list of emerging model species, and comparative analyses of developmental processes. Given its scope, the book will offer readers a new perspective on the natural diversity of processes at work in cells and during the development of various animal groups, and expand the horizons of seasoned and young researchers alike.