This book deals with many recent advances made in uncovering the molecular and cellular basis of phagocytosis of apoptotic and necrotic dying cells as well as with the methods used for studying their clearance. There are important practical and clinical reasons for attempting to understand the molecular mechanisms of phagocytosis of dying cells, because inadequate clearance of dying cells may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus), as well as atherosclerosis and chronic lung diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cystic fibrosis). Furthermore, in this book we examine the possibility of using apoptotic cells in the prevention and treatment of graft rejection and in the rational design of immunotherapy and vaccines for cancer treatment. The role of environmental factors in phagocytosis of dying cells is also addressed.

This comprehensive volume integrates the most innovative and current findings from several related disciplines of scientific research, including pathology, immunology, genetics, and cellular and molecular biology. It is divided into two sections: "Molecular mechanisms of phagocytosis of dying cells" and "Impairment of phagocytosis of dying cells and its role in the development of diseases." No other recent books devoted to this subject are available.

All of the contributors are experts working at the forefront of scientific discovery, and the reviews they present systematically examine the most exciting and innovative aspects of their particular areas of expertise. Both researchers and physicians will find this volume of major benefit because it covers the immunological and molecular biological aspects of phagocytosis of dying cells as well as its clinical relevance.

Starting with discussion of basic concepts and the molecular mechanisms of necrosis, this book looks first at several forms of necrotic cell death that have been identified, including necroptosis, autophagic cell death, and PARP-mediated cell death. As necrotic cell death is increasingly known to play a critical role in many physiological processes, the next chapters discuss its effect on metabolism, inflammation, immunity, and development. Necrotic cell death is closely implicated in human diseases like cancer, so the next chapters examine its relevance to human diseases, and final chapters cover methodologies for measuring necrosis. This book presents comprehensive coverage of necrosis from recognized experts from leading academic and medical institutions around the world. In contrast to apoptosis, well-defined as a form of programmed cell death, necrosis used to be considered as accidental (i.e., non-programmed) cell death, usually in response to a severe injury. Accumulating evidence now suggests, however, that necrosis is also programmed and controlled by distinctive "death machinery" in response to various stimuli like oxidative stress or DNA damage.

Starting with discussion of basic concepts and the molecular mechanisms of necrosis, this book looks first at several forms of necrotic cell death that have been identified, including necroptosis, autophagic cell death, and PARP-mediated cell death. As necrotic cell death is increasingly known to play a critical role in many physiological processes, the next chapters discuss its effect on metabolism, inflammation, immunity, and development. Necrotic cell death is closely implicated in human diseases like cancer, so the next chapters examine its relevance to human diseases, and final chapters cover methodologies for measuring necrosis. This book presents comprehensive coverage of necrosis from recognized experts from leading academic and medical institutions around the world. In contrast to apoptosis, well-defined as a form of programmed cell death, necrosis used to be considered as accidental (i.e., non-programmed) cell death, usually in response to a severe injury. Accumulating evidence now suggests, however, that necrosis is also programmed and controlled by distinctive "death machinery" in response to various stimuli like oxidative stress or DNA damage.

Phagocytosis has been at the forefront of cell biology for more than a century. Initially, phagocytosis, which comes from Greek words meaning "devouring cells," was discovered in the late 19th century by Ilya Metchnikoff, who was awarded, together with Paul Ehrlich, the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1908 "in recognition of their work on immunity." At that time Metchnikoff had already identified a function for phagocytes not only in host defense but also as scavengers of degenerating host cells during metamorphosis of tadpoles, thus providing one of the first descriptions of apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages (Kaufmann 2008). Since then, much has been learned about phagocytosis, and the previous several decades have witnessed outstanding progress in understanding the functions and the molecular mechanisms of phagocytosis. Two main types of targets are cleared by phagocytosis: microbial pathogens and dying cells. Rapid recognition and clearance of dying cells by phagocytes plays a pivotal role in development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, control of immune responses, and resolution of inflammation. Clearance of dying cells can be divided into several stages, including sensing, r- ognition, binding and signaling, internalization, and immunological responses. In this book, our contributors address these different stages of dead cell cle- ance and examine how impaired clearance of dying cells may lead to human d- eases. We have attempted to provide sufficient cross-referencing and indexing to enable the reader to easily locate the ideas elaborated in the different chapters.

This text offers an open-learning approach to Raman spectroscopy providing detail on instrumentation, applications and discussions questions throughout the book. It provides a valuable guide to assist with teaching Raman spectroscopy which is gaining attention in (analytical) chemistry, and as a consequence, teaching programs have followed. Today, education in Raman spectroscopy is often limited to theoretical aspects (e.g. selection rules), but practical aspects are usually disregarded. With these course notes, the author hopes to fill this gap and include information about Raman instrumentation and how it is interpreted. * Provides a user-friendly text that tackles the theoretical background, and offers everyday tips for common practice * Raman instrumentation and practical aspects, which are sometimes overlooked, are covered * Appropriate for students, and includes summaries, text boxes, illustrating the ideas with examples from research literature or providing background information or links with other courses * Written with an open-learning approach, this book will be ideal for use as a self-study guide or as the basis of a taught course with discussion and self-assessment questions throughout the text * Includes a comprehensive bibliography to guide the reader to more specialized texts and sources.

Ten years after the first volume, this book highlights the important contribution Raman spectroscopy makes as a non-destructive method for characterising the chemical composition of objects with archaeological and historical importance. The original book was ground-breaking in its concept, but the past ten years have seen some advancement into new areas, consolidation of some of the older ones and novel applications involving portable instrumentation, on site in museums and in the field. This new volume maintains the topic at the cutting edge, the Editors have approached prominent contributors to provide case-studies sorted into themes. Starting with a Foreword from the British Museum Director of Scientific Research and an Introduction from the Editors, which offer general background information and theoretical context, the contributions then provide global perspectives on this powerful analytical tool. Aimed at scientists involved in conservation, conservators and curators who want to better understand their collections at a material level and researchers of cultural heritage.

This text offers an open-learning approach to Raman spectroscopy providing detail on instrumentation, applications and discussions questions throughout the book. It provides a valuable guide to assist with teaching Raman spectroscopy which is gaining attention in (analytical) chemistry, and as a consequence, teaching programs have followed. Today, education in Raman spectroscopy is often limited to theoretical aspects (e.g. selection rules), but practical aspects are usually disregarded. With these course notes, the author hopes to fill this gap and include information about Raman instrumentation and how it is interpreted. * Provides a user-friendly text that tackles the theoretical background, and offers everyday tips for common practice * Raman instrumentation and practical aspects, which are sometimes overlooked, are covered * Appropriate for students, and includes summaries, text boxes, illustrating the ideas with examples from research literature or providing background information or links with other courses * Written with an open-learning approach, this book will be ideal for use as a self-study guide or as the basis of a taught course with discussion and self-assessment questions throughout the text * Includes a comprehensive bibliography to guide the reader to more specialized texts and sources.