Biotechnology Books

Book SynopsisThis book is a compilation of advancements and achievements in the field of sugar beet cultivation. It covers recent research and up-to-date information on this crop. It discusses essential aspects for high production and good yield, development and crop management, such as origin, breeding, seed production, physiology, pathology, entomology, biotechnology, and post-harvest technology. Sugar beet is known as an alternative crop for sugar production. A versatile crop having numerous uses, besides being raw material for sugar production, its molasses contain high amount of betaine which is used as a feed supplement. Due to its value profile it has attracted the millers and farmers alike. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agriculture scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology and soil science. National and international agricultural scientists, policy makers will also find this to be a useful read.Table of ContentsEvolution and history of sugar beet in world: An overview.- Understanding the sugar beet crop and its physiology.- Physiological and molecular aspects of sucrose accumulation in sugar beet.- Shaping the Sugar Beet of Tomorrow: Current Advances in Sugar Beet Biotechnology and New Breeding Techniques.- Biotechnological approaches in sugar beet development.- Seed production and seed certification in sugar beet.- India's Sugar beet Seed Technology and Production.- Artificial seed technology.- Scope of cultivation of sugar beet under Indian sub-tropical conditions.- Factors Affecting Production Potentials and Adaptability of Sugar beet under Subtropical Conditions of Punjab.- Sugar beet Crop Production and Management.- Economical Crop Production and Management of Sugar Beet in Serbia and Montenegro.- Agronomic Management of Sugar Beet.- Autumn sown sugar beet in semi-arid regions.- New Approach to Utilize Nano-micronutrients in Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.).- Silicon foliar application in sugar beet production.- Mechanisation of weed management in sugar beet.- Chemical strategy for weed management in sugar beet.- Intercropping sugar beet with different agricultural crops.- Sugar beet production under changing climates - opportunities and challenges.- Drought Stress Management in Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Cultivation.- Exogenous putrescine-mediated drought tolerance in Sugar beet: Possible Mechanisms.- Improving sugar beet production under salinity conditions.- Etiology, epidemiology and management of Sugar beet diseases.- Foliar sugar beet diseases and their management approaches in India.- Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease.- Soil borne pathogen mediated root rot diseases of sugar beet and their management.- Integrated disease management in sugar beet for sustainable productivity.- The Technology Uses in the Determination of Sugar Beet Diseases.- Insect-pests of Sugar beet and their Integrated Management.- Biological control of sugar beet insect pests,- Biology, Pest status and management of army worm, Spodoptera litura (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) and cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) on Sugar beet.- Natural enemies of sugar beet.- Sugar beet nematodes – their occurrence, epidemiology and management in Ukraine.- Diseases caused by nematodes on sugar beet.- Sugar Beet Cyst Nematode (Heterodera schachtii Schmidt): Identification and Antagonists.- Endophytes for Sustainable Sugarbeet Production.- Rhizoctonia disease and its management.- Mechanization in Sugar Beet Cultivation.- Post-harvest sucrose deterioration in sugar beet.- Management strategies for reducing post-harvest deterioration of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.).- Quality and processing of sugar beet to sugars.- Bio-ethanol: Technologies, Trends and Prospects.- Sugar beet molasses production and utilization.- Bioethanol production from sugar beet juices and molasses for economic and environmental perspectives.- Sugar beet as cattle feed: Scope and prospects.- Sugar beet pulp and research efforts to diversify its use.- Sugar beet pectin and its diverse uses.

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Book SynopsisScientific progress doesn’t always precede engineering advances; it often follows. Answering questions isn’t always the goal; finding questions often is. Sometimes we seek to strengthen conventional wisdom; sometimes to surprise it. What if we could rethink nurturing research, through policy and management, to harmonize with the nature of research?Trade ReviewEssential reading. By integrating the previous work of leading science and technology scholars, creating new terminology, concepts, and logical structures, and including concrete examples, these two eminent leaders make a compelling case for rethinking how we understand and nurture research to advance the public good. -- Laura Diaz Anadon, Chaired Professor of Climate Change Policy, University of CambridgeEnlightening and important. Narayanamurti and Tsao demolish long-accepted tenets of science and technology research by exposing flaws, misconceptions, and anachronisms, then propose a visionary new framework. Invaluable for anyone leading a research enterprise, recruiting talent, or devising new funding mechanisms. -- Nancy Andrews, former Dean of the Duke University School of MedicineA thought-provoking journey. By transcending widespread but limiting beliefs, The Genesis of Technoscientific Revolutions explores how to better understand research and unleash its potential. Highly recommended for all policy makers and leaders interested in improving the effectiveness of research and developing high-performing research institutions. -- Qi-Kun Xue, Director of the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information SciencesHighly accomplished researchers Narayanamurti and Tsao synthesize new and old ideas about how science and technology work together, sharing audacious insights that can improve research outcomes. This book will be a rewarding read for all who want to understand innovation and accelerate it. -- John P. Holdren, former Science Advisor to President Obama and Senate-confirmed Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology PolicyA deep examination of how discoveries and innovations have happened in history, and [it] comes up with a set of methods on nurturing research in public-funded institutions and corporate labs. It is a book that is at once dense and insightful, to be read as much by the shop floor scientist as the CEO, by policymakers as much as university professors. -- Hari Pulakkat * Shaastra *A useful contribution to the study of scientific method and should be of considerable interest to anyone interested in the history and/or the philosophy of science (and technology). * The Complete Review *The book is a rigorous intellectual effort to make the reader aware of some of the most prominent and interesting frameworks of thinking about the development of science and technology that occurred during the 1990s and 2000s. The book should be seen as a manual to help people think about, design, and develop research activities through new conceptual frameworks, frameworks that give primacy neither to science nor to technology. -- Ozan Altan Altinok * Metascience *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisGrossly ambitious and rooted in scientific scholarship, The Other Dark Matter shows how human excrement can be a life-saving, money-making resource—if we make better use of it.Trade Review"A take on waste that's anything but wasteful—it's a fascinating dig into the history and science of handling human excrement. . . . Equally remarkable are Zeldovich's sections on the development and evolution of wastewater treatment plants. . . . Zeldovich is at home with an awkward subject, making for a grossly engrossing and vivid survey. Readers won't take the 'flush and forget' mindset for granted again." * Publishers Weekly *"Zeldovich is an engaging writer. She loves puns and poop jokes. (Who doesn't?) And her travels around the world are, in their own scatological way, inspiring." -- Elizabeth Kolbert * New York Review of Books *"[An] original, necessary book." * Nature *"It would be easy for a book that focuses on obstacles to improving global sanitation, fixing the agricultural waste cycle, reducing pollution, and improving health to resort to paralyzing gloom. The Other Dark Matter does not shy from the enormity of the problems, yet suggests solutions are achievable, at scales from individuals to entire countries. Paced quickly with prose enlivened by the author's on-location reporting and personal experiences, the book is far from a grim slog through the world's sewers—it's more like an exciting tour in a biogas-powered balloon." * Undark *"The Other Dark Matter does not shy from the enormity of the problems, yet suggests solutions are achievable, at scales from individuals to entire countries. Paced quickly with prose enlivened by the author's on-location reporting and personal experiences, the book is far from a grim slog through the world's sewers — it's more like an exciting tour in a biogas-powered balloon." * Salon *"It's unusual to come across a book that makes you say, 'Oh, crap!' in a good way." * American Scientist *“In bright and airy prose, she takes readers on a globe-spanning trip to sites where fecal material is reprocessed and figuratively turned into gold. . . . Readers should leave this book with a renewed interest in sustainable systems to manage what we normally put out of sight and out of mind." * Natural History *“It is unquestionably [a topic] that—given the ever-increasing human population belaboring the planet—merits our attention if we are, ecologically and sustainably speaking, to prevent finding ourselves collectively up a famous creek without a propulsion device. Ms. Zeldovich’s new book looks to be an excellent way to introduce ourselves to it.” * The Well-Read Naturalist *"Given the growing scale of public engagement in sanitation, there is a glut of books on the subject. Not all of them are readable, not all of them are well researched. This one is. It takes the technology questions further. It is an engaging read on a queasy topic" * Shaastra *"In writing a primer on poop and its possibilities, [Zeldovich] performs a much larger function: destigmatizing a vital biological product that has long gotten a bum rap." * Columbia Magazine *"Some of the ideas in [the book] really feel like they could change the world in a major way. . . . It's really excellent." * Across the Margin *"Even readers familiar with the history and ecology of waste management will not be disappointed. . . . As detailed as it is witty. . . . Given the growing scale of public engagement in sanitation, there is a glut of books on the subject. Not all of them are readable, not all of them are well researched. This one is. It takes the technology questions further. It is an engaging read on a queasy topic." * Shaastra *"This is some good shit, people. Not only entertaining, but deeply important. Everyone with a colon should read this book. Centuries back, people knew the value of shit. In countries with poor soil, human waste was like gold: people stole it, paid their rent with it, and gave it as gifts. Today, keeping it out of our waterways is our best hope for defusing what Zeldovich calls the Great Sewage Time Bomb. She is an ideal guide to this ridiculously fascinating world." -- Mary Roach, author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"Zeldovich shows to dazzling effect how a famously difficult subject—the often peculiar scientific history of human waste—can become an engrossing tale. The story is enlightening, surprising, occasionally enraging—and wholly worth your time." -- Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Poison Squad"Zeldovich shows that excrement can be useful, profitable, and anything but waste, and does this with warmth, curiosity, and humor. This book is a great companion should you wish to journey to the rich and still underexposed world of shit (and you should)." -- Rose George, author of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters"Here is an indispensable book about what we might call the Anthro-poo-cene. Humanity's current collision course with nature has everything to do with energy and how we abuse it—including the human waste products of our metabolic bodies. This lively and entertaining history is also full of innovative ways people are finally dealing with their you-know-what." -- Mary Ellen Hannibal, author of Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction"Who knew our poop could be so fascinating and important? In her brilliantly reported and written new book, Zeldovich shows that now more than ever the health of humanity and the rest of nature depends on how we handle 'the other dark matter.'" -- John Horgan, author of Pay Attention: Sex, Death, and Science"An intriguing, compelling, very human story of how a valuable resource has been used and squandered, thrown away, and rediscovered. It is a story of the people who, against a background of mockery and disbelief, have developed creative, lucrative, and ecologically viable options for reframing what many have seen as a 'problem' of 'waste disposal' into an opportunity for innovative resource use. It will have wide appeal to all intelligent readers, both within and well beyond academia." -- David Waltner-Toews, author of The Origin of Feces: What Excrement Tells Us About Evolution, Ecology, and a Sustainable SocietyTable of ContentsPart 1: The History of Human Waste Chapter 1: How I Learned to Love the Excrement Chapter 2: The Early History of Human Excreta Chapter 3: Treasure Night Soil as if It Were Gold! Chapter 4: The Water Closet Dilemma and the Sewage Farm Paradigm Chapter 5: Germs, Fertilizer, and the Poop Police Part 2: The Present: A Sludge Revolution in Progress Chapter 6: The Great Sewage Time Bomb and the Redistribution of Nutrients on the Planet Chapter 7: Loowatt, a Loo That Turns Waste into Watts Chapter 8: The Crap That Cooks Your Dinner and Container-Based Sanitation Chapter 9: HomeBiogas: Your Personal Digester in a Box Chapter 10: Made in New York Chapter 11: Lystek, the Home of Sewage Smoothies Chapter 12: How DC Water Makes Biosolids BLOOM Chapter 13: From Biosolids to Biofuels Part 3: The Future of Medicine and Other Things Chapter 14: Poop: The Best (and Cheapest) Medicine Chapter 15: Looking where the Sun Doesn’t Shine Chapter 16: From the Kindness of One’s Gut: An Insider Look into Stool Banks Afterword: Breathing Poetry into Poop Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe 'bioeconomy' is the idea of an economy based on the sustainable exploitation of biological resources. Within this concept, there is increasing emphasis on issues such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and growing world food needs. The bioeconomy builds on the recognition of advances in technology, particularly in the life sciences, but at the same time covers issues such as innovation management, ecosystem services, development and governance. This book explores the development of the bioeconomy across the world from an economic and policy perspective, as well as identifying potential future pathways and issues. It uses a broad definition, covering all sectors using biological resources except health, and rather than focusing on individual sectors, it explores the breadth of interconnections that make the bioeconomy a new and challenging subject. Divided into two parts, the book initially outlines the current definitions, strategies, policy and economic information related to the world's bioeconomy. The second part describes current economic analysis and research efforts in qualifying and understanding the economics of the bioeconomy. This includes the contributions of technology, research and innovation; driving forces and demand-side economics; supply-side economics, and the role of markets and public policy in matching demand and supply. The political economy, regulation and transitions are considered, as well as the contribution of the bioeconomy to society, including growth, development and sustainability. Key features include: - An analysis of varied international approaches to the bioeconomy. - A joint consideration of biotechnology, agriculture, food energy and bio-materials. - An assessment of sustainability in the bioeconomy. - A comprehensive view of the issues from an economic and policy perspective. This book will be of interest to students and researchers in agricultural and natural resource economics, agricultural and environmental policy, as well as policy-makers, practitioners and economists.Table of Contents1: Introduction and Overview 2: What is the Bioeconomy 3: Technology and Innovation in the Bioeconomy 4: Approaches to (the Economics of) the Bioeconomy 5: Driving Forces and Demand-side Economics 6: Supply-side Economics 7: Matching Demand and Supply: Markets, Policies and Beyond 8: The Political Economy of the Bioeconomy, Regulation, Public Policy and Transition 9: The Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development 10: Impact Evaluation and Management Tools 11: At the Boundary of Economics 12: Final Thoughts and Outlook

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Book SynopsisComputational Chemistry Methodology in Structural Biology and Materials Sciences provides a selection of new research in theoretical and experimental chemistry, focusing on topics in the materials science and biological activity. Part 1, on Computational Chemistry Methodology in Biological Activity, of the book emphasizes presents new developments in the domain of theoretical and computational chemistry and its applications to bioactive molecules. It looks at various aspects of density functional theory and other issues. Part 2, on Computational Chemistry Methodology in Materials Science, presents informative new research on computational chemistry as applied to materials science. The wide range of topics regarding the application of theoretical and experimental chemistry and materials science and biological domain will be valuable in the context of addressing contemporary research problems. Table of ContentsStudy of pKa Values of Alkylamines Based on Density Functional Theory. A DFT Investigation of the Influence of Α, Β Unsaturation in Chemical Reactivity of Coumarin and Some Hydroxy Coumarins. Molecular Determinants of TRPC6 Channel Recognition by FKBP12. In Silico Design of PDHK Inhibitors: From Small Molecules to Large Fluorinated Compounds. The Smart Cyberinfrastructure: Space-Time Multiscale Approaches for Research and Technology. Application of Computational Methods to the Rational Design of Photoactive Materials for Solar Cells. Theoretical Studies on Adsorption of Organic Molecules on Metal Surface. A Comparative Theoretical Investigation on the Activation of C-H Bond in Methane on Mono and Bimetallic Pd and Pt Subnanoclusters. Theoretical Analysis: Electronic and Optical Properties of Small Cu-Ag Nano Alloy Clusters. Multisolitons in SRR Based Metamaterials in Klein-Gordon Lattice. Ab-Initio Techniques for Light Matter Interaction at the Nanoscale. Synthesis and Characterization of Multi-Component Nanocrystalline High Entropy Alloy.

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Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER • The gripping story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos—one of the biggest corporate frauds in history—a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley, rigorously reported by the prize-winning journalist. With a new Afterword covering her trial and sentencing, bringing the story to a close.“Chilling ... Reads like a thriller ... Carreyrou tells [the Theranos story] virtually to perfection.” —The New York Times Book ReviewIn 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the next Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup “unicorn” promised to revolutionize the medical industry with its breakthrough device, which performed the whole range of laboratory tests from a single drop of blood. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes’s worth at an estimated $4.5 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn’t work. Erroneous results put patients in danger, leading to misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments. All the while, Holmes and her partner, Sunny Balwani, worked to silence anyone who voiced misgivings—from journalists to their own employees.

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Book SynopsisEthnographic analyses of emerging bioscientific enterprises in Asia, including genetically modified foods in China, clinical trials in India, and stem-cell research in Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.Trade Review“Asian Biotech is a thoughtful examination of Asia’s biotechnology development. The call to understand this realm in terms of situated ethics and communities of fate is persuasive and invites the analysis of more cases to test the robustness of these concepts.” - Wen-Hua Kuo, The China Quarterly“[W]hat bioethicists could learn from anthropological investigations like those presented in this volume is that one should consider the social and cultural contexts in which the practice to be ethically assessed is embedded in order to understand the the practice more thoroughly. And it is this more thorough understanding which will lead to a more nuanced and better refined ethical judgment.” - Soraj Hongladarom, Genomics, Society, and Policy“I for one would strongly recommend this interesting volume to anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of biotech in Asia.” - Krishna Ravi Srinivas, Asian Biotech and Development Review“[T]his book performs coverage of a region and a complicated sector of the twenty-frst-century economy, and it will certainly prove useful to those interested in globalized medicine and the fast-changing norms regulating research in biomedicine.” - Thomas Cannavino, Cultural Critique“This timely and important collection by science-studies scholars provides fascinating glimpses into the ambitious efforts of several Asian countries to deploy biotechnologies to both generate economic growth and provide biosecurity in this age of global science and technology.” - Doogab Yi, Chemical Heritage“The need in science studies and anthropology for Asian Biotech would be hard to overstate. I was hungry for this book to use in my own teaching and writing, and the meal is as satisfying as I had anticipated. The theoretical framing is astute and generative, and the well-argued and diverse essays are thoroughly fleshed out historically and ethnographically. Nancy N. Chen, Aihwa Ong, and the contributors deserve our thanks. We have just run out of excuses for ongoing Western parochialism in science and technology studies and all of our kindred inquiries into biotechnology.”—Donna Haraway, author of When Species Meet“This exciting collection of ethnographic essays introduces readers to the deployment of specific biotechnologies in Asia, revealing their enmeshment with local and global politics and a situated ethics that extends to the good of families, communities, and nations, and not merely that of individuals. This book, harbinger of impending futures, demands introspection.”—Margaret Lock, author of Twice Dead: Organ Transplants and the Reinvention of Death ”This is the first broad anthropological examination of the biotech movement across Asia. Especially useful are the efforts at understanding how biotechnology affects (and is affected by) major changes in moral experience and ethical imagination that are roiling Asian modernities. A pathbreaking exploration! This collection will be influential.”—Arthur Kleinman, Director, Asia Center, Harvard University“Asian Biotech is a thoughtful examination of Asia’s biotechnology development. The call to understand this realm in terms of situated ethics and communities of fate is persuasive and invites the analysis of more cases to test the robustness of these concepts.” -- Wen-Hua Kuo * The China Quarterly *“[T]his book performs coverage of a region and a complicated sector of the twenty-frst-century economy, and it will certainly prove useful to those interested in globalized medicine and the fast-changing norms regulating research in biomedicine.” -- Thomas Cannavino * Cultural Critique *“What bioethicists could learn from anthropological investigations like those presented in this volume is that one should consider the social and cultural contexts in which the practice to be ethically assessed is embedded in order to understand the the practice more thoroughly. And it is this more thorough understanding which will lead to a more nuanced and better refined ethical judgment.” -- Soraj Hongladarom * Genomics, Society and Policy *“I for one would strongly recommend this interesting volume to anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of biotech in Asia.” -- Krishna Ravi Srinivas * Asian Biotech and Development Review *“This timely and important collection by science-studies scholars provides fascinating glimpses into the ambitious efforts of several Asian countries to deploy biotechnologies to both generate economic growth and provide biosecurity in this age of global science and technology.” -- Doogab Yi * Chemical Heritage *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: An Analytics of Ethics and Biotechnology at Multiple Scales / Aihwa Ong 1 Part I. Excess and Opportunity The Experimental Machinery of Global Clinical Trials: Case Studies from India / Kaushik Sunder Rajan 55 Feeding the Nation: Chinese Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Foods / Nancy N. Chen 81 Part II. Bioventures Asian Regeneration? Nationalism and Internationalism in Stem Cell Research in South Korea and Singapore / Charis Thompson 95 Medical Tourism in Thailand / Ara Wilson 118 Near-Liberalism: Global Corporate Citizenship and Pharmaceutical Marketing in India / Stefan Ecks 144 Part III. Communities of Fate Governing through Blood: Biology, Donation, and Exchange in Urban China / Vincanne Adams, Kathleen Erwin, and Phouc V. Le 167 Lifelines: The Ethics of Blood Banking for Family and Beyond / Aihwa Ong 190 Embryo Controversies and Governing Stem Cell Research in Japan: How to Regulate Regenerative Futures / Margaret Sleeboom-Faulkner 215 Part IV. Biosovereignty: Mappings of Chineseness Making Taiwanese (Stem Cells): Identity, Genetics, and Hybridity / Jennifer A. Liu 239 Chinese DNA: Genomics and Bionations / Wen-ching Sung 263 Afterword: Asia's Biotech Bloom / Nancy N. Chen 293 Bibliography 301 Contributors 319 Index 323

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Book SynopsisArtists, scientists, social commentators engage the thorny issue of biotechnology using a collaborative, positive approach.Trade Review"...The current Art Gallery of Alberta exhibit is a more direct result of a 2007 Banff Centre residency between international artists and scientists. At the center of the residency swirled questions concerning the legal, ethical and social implications in technological advances, and how these issues intersect within the realm between the arts and sciences. ... Increasingly, the strange and the unknown are becoming known, and the limits of how far we go to explore the abyss of knowledge is the shakable foundation of the bioethical dilemma. New York-based Adam Zaretsky explores these limits with the heart of an artist and the soul of a scientist. ... Citing the creation of transgenetic creatures as art, where scientists have to choose a gene to create an organism between the imagination and an objective reality, Zaretsky is transparent about his practice, his concerns, and acknowledges that researchers for the most part have no clear idea of where and how far they are willing to go. 'The things I see in the labs: frogs with eyes coming out of the back of their heads that are connected to the part of the brain that hears instead of sees' he shares within shades of ambivalence and awe. 'Science lives on the edge of knowledge, trying to capture it, torture it until it reveals to us its secrets so that we can claim it. I think these ethical conundrums are worth it. I admit that it's not just a dream, but a nightmare, a real return of the repressed. We're afraid of creative thought leading the way.'" Amy Fung, Vue Weekly, Nov. 20, 2008.This intriguing book is the brainchild of brothers Sean and Timothy Caulfield, both professors at the University of Alberta. From contributors in the worlds of art and science, essays, photographs, paintings and poetry explore the ramifications of bio-technology on the world. Each entry emphasizes the complexity of the topic, stressing how science and art often combine to present a more powerful argument than either could alone. All demonstrate how even microscopic elements in the laboratory impact life and that all of life is connected. Much of this book was part of an exhibit at the University of Alberta art museum. Distributed by Michigan State University Press. Oversize: 11x 10 inches. (Annotation ©2009 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)"...Imagining Science [is] an innovative collaboration among scientists, artists, bioethicists and others that investigates numerous contentious bioethical issues, such as stem cell research, genetic testing, patenting of genes and genetic selection of offspring.... In his introductory essay, Timothy Caulfield touches on the controversial social, ethical, legal and religious issues gripping the field of biotechnology and opines that artists are an important voice among the various commentators. Indeed, some artists play the role of provocateur, presenting works inspired by the imagined (or unimaginable) possibilities of biotechnology and some of these works bring the public face-to-face with challenging and troublesome issues in a direct visceral way. The book features the work of 10 artists, along with 18 essays and a poem, all of which aim to shed new light from differing perspectives on biotechnology and the interplay between art and science.... It should appeal to a broad audience of general public as well as professionals (including artists) involved in the biosciences. When you look through it, have Google near at hand since the contributors provide or spin off many juicy references. While reading this book, I spent as much time eagerly surfing as I did looking at the actual pages. Probably a sure sign of a good read in our age." Stuart Kinmond, CMAJ, June 23, 2009"Imagining Science is an exploration of where and how art and science interact....[It] addresses those expectations and perceptions [of science] with lush photos of evocative art installations and colourful prints beside clear, concise articles on everything from bioethics and genetics to policy and food. Most importantly, however, it brings these disparate groups of artists, scientists, and social commentators together." Kathleen Bell, SEE Magazine, July 30, 2009"Brothers Tim and Sean Caulfield have collaborated with scientists, artists and social commentators to help everyone see science through art, and come to understand through visual and literary description how art dramatically affects (and is linked to) some of the world's most pressing issues. Their new book...is the first of its kind to explore the ethical questions raised by biotechnology and social progress through art and essays. Through stunning original art and powerful, concise essays, Imagining Science creatively explores such controversial issues such as: stem cell research; creating half human, half beast 'Chimeras'; the influence of art on public policy; ramifications of technology on our environment; synthetic biology; and cloning and genetic testing.... Few books are ever the 'first' to do something truly unique. Imagining Science is one of these few." Charmed Magazine: Baltimore Life, Arts & Culture, January 2010 [see full review at http://www.charmedmag.com/2610/book-imaging-science/]"[The editors'] combined expertise guided their excellent selection of contributors to provide a thoughtful and accurate mapping of the larger conversation about bioscience, technology, art, and social concerns.... Imagining Science makes clear that the art/science interface is becoming a productive field of study with a growing group of its own theorists, critics, curators, and historians. To those already entrenched in the debate, Imagining Science offers a fresh perspective, summarizing the hot topics. For the uninitiated, the collection of words and images is an inviting introduction....It deserves to be read closely and considered carefully. Imagining Science should be a springboard to further exploration of the rich interaction of science with other powerful social forces and institutions." JD Talasek, Issues in Science and Technology, Winter 2010 [Full review at http://www.issues.org/26.2/br_talasek.html]"[The book] touches on the controversial social, ethical, legal and religious issues gripping the field of biotechnology and states that artists are an important voice among the various commentators. Indeed, artists can play the role of change agent, presenting works inspired by possibilities of biotechnology. The book features the work of 10 artists, along with 18 essays and a poem, all of which aim to bring differing perspectives on biotechnology and the interplay between art and science." Canadian BioTechnologist 2.0 [Blog accessed August 10, 2010]"Compiled and co-edited by Sean and Timonty Caulfield, Imagining Science is a distinctive collection of informative essays and memorable original artwork by artists, scientists and social commentators from around the world addressing complex and controversial legal, ethical and social concerns about advances in biotechnology ranging from stem cell research, to cloning, to genetic testing. The result is a synthesis of seminal scientific and creative research. Imagining Science is a unique series of collaborations highlighting the functional role art plays in accessibly assessing biomedical technologies and challenging ethical, religious and philosophical boundaries. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, Imagining Science is highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists." Midwest Book Review, September 2009

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Book SynopsisThe first introductory book on the subject, this book will provide a complete grounding to this pioneering field for students and professionals across biomedical engineering, biology and medicine. It features a comprehensive overview of original work in this revolutionary field. Topics discussed include drug delivery, cell-material interaction and gene therapy, accompanied by real-world examples and over 100 illustrations. The book teaches readers how to design and test their own nanomedical systems for real-world applications in biomedical engineering, medicine and pharmacy. Presenting a thorough discussion of the science and engineering of nanomedicine, it discusses vital environmental, social and ethical impacts of this revolutionary technology. Including over 200 thought-provoking study questions, allowing the reader to self-assess their understanding, this book is a rich source of information that will be of interest and importance in nanomedicine.Table of Contents1. The need for new perspectives in medicine; 2. Nanomedicine: Single-cell medicine; 3. Targeted drug delivery; 4. Drug delivery cell entry mechanisms; 5. Nanomaterial cores for non-invasive imaging; 6. Attaching biomolecules to nanoparticles; 7. Characterizing nanoparticles; 8. Nanomedicine drug dosing; 9. Nanodelivery of therapeutic genes; 10. Assessing nanomedical therapies at the single-cell level; 11. Nanotoxicity at the single-cell level; 12. Designing nanodelivery systems for in-vivo use; 13. Designing and testing nanomedical devices; 14. Quality assurance and regulatory issues of nanomedicine for the pharmaceutical industry.

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Book SynopsisOptogenetics - a revolutionary technique combining genetic and optical methods to observe and control the function of neurons - has huge potential, with applications from brain circuits and sleep to neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. This book is a reference for researchers and graduate students, as well as for those working in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.Trade Review'Optogenetics has transformed neuroscience and has become a key element of the toolkit used by thousands of labs worldwide. If anyone needs convincing that the field of optogenetics has come of age, this book provides compelling evidence. Written by leading experts in the field and covering the gamut of optogenetics research from tool development and use in basic research through to translational applications, Optogenetics exemplifies how this technique now illuminates all areas of neuroscience research.' Michael Hausser, University College London,''Let there be light'. Or more precisely, deliver the needed wavelength at appropriate power, with high temporal and spatial resolution if you want to figure out how brain circuits work. This volume has many excellent chapters and the right toolbox for the job.' György Buzsáki, Neuroscience Institute and Langone Medical Center, New York University'Optogenetics is a unique compilation of articles by some of the key experts in the field covering the entire breadth of topics from molecular mechanisms, via hands-on application tips all the way to clinical use and ethical implications as well as a detailed and accurate historical perspective. For this still rapidly developing field it will become a must-read and core reference for novices and experts alike.' Andreas Schaefer, he Francis Crick Institute, London'Both the expert and novice, alike, will find this to be a valuable resource that covers multiple aspects of the Optogenetics field, from its history through to current scientific and potential clinical applications.' Michelle M. Sidor, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, MassachusettsTable of ContentsList of contributors; Foreword; Preface; List of abbreviations; Part I. Optogenetics in Model Organisms: 1. Introduction to optogenetics: from neuronal function to mapping and disease biology; 2. Uncovering key neurons for manipulation in mammals; 3. From connectome to function: using optogenetics to shed light on the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system; 4. From synapse to behaviour: optogenetic tools for investigation of the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system; 5. Using optogenetics in vivo to stimulate regeneration in Xenopus laevis; Part II. Opsin Biology, Tools and Technology Platform: 6. Sodium and engineered potassium light-driven pumps; 7. Simultaneous electrophysiology and optogenetic stimulation methods; 8. Role of electrical activity in horizontal axon growth in the developing cortex: a time-lapse study using optogenetic stimulation; 9. Development of an optogenetic tool to regulate protein stability in vivo; 10. Photo-activatable nucleotide cyclases for synthetic photobiology applications; 11. Bioluminescence activation of light-sensing molecules; Part III. Optogenetics in Neurobiology, Brain Circuits and Plasticity: 12. Optogenetics for neurological disorders: what is a path to the clinic?; 13. Optogenetic control of astroglia; 14. Optogenetics for neurohormones and neuropeptides: focus on oxytocin; 15. Optogenetic approaches to investigate brain circuits; 16. Optogenetic mapping of neuronal connections and their plasticity; Part IV. Optogenetics in Learning, Neuro-psychiatric Diseases and Behavior: 17. Optogenetics to study reward learning and addiction; 18. Optogenetics and the dissection of neural circuits underlying depression and substance-use disorders; 19. Optogenetics research in behavioral neuroscience: insights into the brain basis of reward learning and goal-directed behavior; 20. An optogenetic approach to treat epilepsy; 21. Using optogenetics and stem cells-derived neural engraftment techniques to restore lost motor function; Part V. Optogenetics in Vision Restoration and Memory: 22. Optogenetics in treating retinal disease; 23. Optogenetics for vision recovery: from traditional to designer optogenetic tools; 24. A promise of vision restoration; 25. Holographic Optical Neural Interfacing (HONI) with retinal neurons; 26. Strategies for restoring vision by transducing a channelrhodopsin gene into retinal ganglion cells; 27. Optogenetic dissection of a top-down prefrontal-to-hippocampus memory circuit; Part VI. Optogenetics in Sleep, Prosthetics and Epigenetics of Neurodegenerative Diseases: 28. Optogenetic dissection of sleep-wake control: evidence for a thalamic control of sleep architecture; 29. Optogenetics and auditory implants; 30. Optogenetic stimulation for cochlear prosthetics; 31. The role of amino acids in neurodegenerative and addictive diseases; 32. Applications of combinations of deep brain stimulation and optogenetics: ethical considerations: an epilogue.

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Book SynopsisIn public debates over biotechnology, theologians, philosophers, and political theorists have proposed that biotechnology could have significant implications for human nature. They argue that ethical evaluations of biotechnologies that might affect human nature must take these implications into account. In this book, Gerald McKenny examines these important yet controversial arguments, which have in turn been criticized by many moral philosophers and professional bioethicists. He argues that Christian ethics is, in principle, committed to some version of the claim that human nature has normative status in relation to biotechnology. Showing how both criticisms and defences of this claim have often been facile, he identifies, develops, and critically evaluates three versions of the claim, and contributes a fourth, distinctively Christian version to the debate. Focusing on Christian ethics in conversation with secular ethics, McKenny''s book is the first thorough analysis of a controversial contemporary issue.Trade Review'Well written and with sound scholarly apparatus, this text will serve ethics and philosophy professionals as well as upper-level students.' M. LaBar, Choice'Eschewing both cheap moralizing and cynical resignation, McKenny offers his readers a variety of descriptive frameworks which are fully attuned to the ambiguities of … a bioethical quandary. The vitality of Christian moral discourses is shown precisely in how the language of witness and attestation are able to uphold such ambiguity, and to do so in our rapidly changing world.' Marginalia Review of BooksTable of Contents1. Biotechnology and the normative status of human nature; 2. Human nature as given; 3. Human nature as ground of human goods and rights; 4. Human nature as indeterminate, open-ended, and malleable; 5. Human nature as condition for imaging God; Conclusion; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisBiological systems are extremely complex and have emergent properties that cannot be explained or even predicted by studying their individual parts in isolation. The reductionist approach, although successful in the early days of molecular biology, underestimates this complexity. As the amount of available data grows, so it will become increasingly important to be able to analyse and integrate these large data sets. This book introduces novel approaches and solutions to the Big Data problem in biomedicine, and presents new techniques in the field of graph theory for handling and processing multi-type large data sets. By discussing cutting-edge problems and techniques, researchers from a wide range of fields will be able to gain insights for exploiting big heterogonous data in the life sciences through the concept of ''network of networks''.Trade Review'… Networks of Networks in Biology should be of interest and a good introductory resource for molecular biologists, cell biologists, and biochemists, as well as bioinformaticians not yet acquainted with multilayer networks.' Ingo Brigandt, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; Part I. Networks in Biology: 1. An Introduction to Biological Networks Nuria Planell, Xabier Martinez de Morentin and David Gomez-Cabrero; 2. Graph Theory Akram Dehnokhalaji and Nasim Nasrabadi; Part II. Network Analysis: 3. Structural Analysis of Biological Networks Narsis A. Kiani and Mikko Kivelä; 4. Networks From an Information-Theoretic and Algorithmic Complexity Perspective Hector Zenil and Narsis A. Kiani; 5. Integration and Feature Identification in Multi-layer Network using a Heat Diffusion Approach Gordon Ball and Jesper Tegnér; Part III. Multi-layer Networks: 6. Large Multiplex Networks Ginestra Bianconi; 7. Large Existing Tools for Analysis of Multilayer Networks Manlio De Domenico and Massimo Stella; 8. Large Dynamics on Multilayer Networks Manlio De Domenico and Massimo Stella; Part IV. Applications: 9. The Network of Networks Involved in Human Disease Celine Sin and Jörg Menche; 10. Towards a Multi-Layer Network Analysis of Disease: Challenges and Opportunities Through the Lens of Multiple Sclerosis Jesper Tegnér, Ingrid Kockum, Mika Gustafsson and David Gomez-Cabrero; 11. Microbiome: A Multi-Layer Network View Is Required Rodrigo Bacigalupe, Saeed Shoai and David Gomez-Cabrero; Part V. Conclusion : Concluding Remarks: Open Questions and Challenges Ginestra Bianconi, David Gomez-Cabrero, Jesper Tegnér and Narsis A. Kiani; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe rapid developments in nanostructured materials and nanotechnology will have a profound impact in many areas of biomedical applications including delivery of drugs and biomolecules, tissue engineering, detection of biomarkers, cancer diagnosis, cancer therapy, and imaging. This field is expanding fast, and a lot of work is in progress in terms of design, characterisation, synthesis, and application of materials, for controlling shape and size at nanometer scale to develop highly advanced materials for biomedical application and even to design better pharmaceutical products. In recent years, specific attempts have been made to acquire multi-functional nanostructures that could possibly solve the plethora of issues and voids often encountered in both medicinal and biological researches. This book, comprising six chapters, emphasises the practical implementation of few well-known as well as advanced nanostructured materials for the betterment of human health and diagnostic tools. Each chapter emphasises a single aspect of the nanostructures in broader context, providing a brief history, current status, and emerging trends in the same field. In Chapter 1, authors have provided a detailed account of the implementation of nanostructures in the sensing of several key biomolecules, which can detect the well-being of both internal and external structures of the human body. Chapter 2 presents a brief analysis of the current therapeutics focusing on their viability and shortcomings, and addressing the same through the implementation of nanotechnology. Chapter 3 encompasses the challenges in the field of cell-imaging and detection of biomarkers. Authors have provided a vivid explanation regarding the solution of such challenges through designing and functionalisation of several metallic nanoparticles including quantum dots. In Chapter 4, a brief account of the application of nanostructures in the area of tissue engineering and magnetic resonance imaging has been discussed. In Chapter 5, nanomedicines have been introduced by the authors as an advanced diagnostic and therapeutic option as compared to the traditionally available solutions for oral cancer treatment. Finally, Chapter 6 discusses the application of nanotechnology (both organic and inorganic nanoparticles) in restorative dentistry. Also, possible biocompatibility and toxicity of the nanostructures have been discussed so as to streamline the process of selection of suitable tooth implants and oral cleansing techniques.

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Book SynopsisThe genomic revolution that has spawned microarrays and high throughput technologies has produced vast amounts of complex biological data that require integration and multidimensional analysis. Bioinformatics incorporates sub-disciplines ranging from databases and ontologies to the modelling of complex biological systems by way of molecular evolution and protein structure prediction. This new book provides state-of-the-art research from around the world.

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Book SynopsisPlant biotechnology and renewable resources are the driving forces behind a more sustainable development of agriculture and other related industries in the world. Until the 21st century, the main task for most industries was to raise the volume of production to gain the highest profits possible. Non-renewable natural resources, such as oil, were the most profitable sources of energy. This tendency not only exploited these resources but had harmful side effects: growing environmental pollution and changing the earth into a desert, suitable neither for animals nor human beings. At the beginning of the 21st century, both scientists and "green movements" warn that it is necessary to change this philosophy of economic progress towards a more intensive exploration of renewable resources. Biotechnology is one of the very important and novel tools for obtaining diversified materials on the base of renewable resources. They can serve as a source for production of energy, novel materials, fibres, food, agrofine chemicals and composites. It is believed that diversified possibilities for using natural green resources and their processing can ensure balanced progress without side effects on the earth''s environment. This book presents research on the possibilities of creating progress in the processing of renewable resources within the study of biotechnology.

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Book SynopsisBiomaterials serve as synthetic or natural materials used to replace parts of living systems or to function contact with living tissue. Biomaterials are intended to interface with biological systems to evaluate, treat, augment or replace any tissue, organ or function of the body. A biomaterial is different from a biological material such as bone that is produced by a biological system. Artificial hips, vascular-stents, artificial pacemakers, and catheters are all made from different biomaterials and comprise different medical devices. This book presents new approaches to biomaterial development including multi-field bone remodelling, novel strategies for conferring antibacterial properties to bone cement, polyacrylonitrile-based biomaterials for enzyme immobilisation and functionalised magnetic nanoparticles for tissue engineering from around the globe.

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Book SynopsisBiotechnology is a collection of technologies that capitalise on the attributes of cells and biological molecules. Biotechnology will help improve the ability to customise therapies based on individual genomics; prevent, diagnose, and treat all types of diseases rather than rely on rescue therapy and provide breakthroughs in agricultural production and food safety. This book presents the latest research in the field.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on biotechnology is a collection of technologies that capitalise on the attributes of cells and biological molecules. Biotechnology will help improve the ability to customise therapies based on individual genomics; prevent, diagnose, and treat all types of diseases rather than rely on rescue therapy and provide breakthroughs in agricultural production and food safety.

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Book SynopsisBiotechnology combines disciplines like genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology and cell biology, which are in turn linked to practical disciplines like chemical engineering, information technology, and robotics. Patho-biotechnology describes the exploitation of pathogens or pathogen derived compounds for beneficial effect. This book presents the latest research in the field.

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Book SynopsisThe book is intended as a contribution towards metatheoretical development as part of the post-postmodern ''return to'' sociological theory associated with Robert Sibeon (1996, 1999, 2004, 2007), Derek Layder (1997, 2004, 2007), Nicos Mouzelis (1991, 1993, 1995, 2007), Margaret Archer (1995, 1998) and Owen [2006a, 2006b, 2007a, 2007b] in tandem with a study of some of the sociological and ethical implications of selected examples of human biotechnology. The examples include the Human Genome Project, and related areas of interest such as reproductive biotechnology; the attempts to develop a biological sociology by writers of the ''embodied'' school; and what Powell and Owen (2005) term ''the biomedical model''. The book is also intended to contribute towards ''building bridges'' between post-modern metatheory and biological science.

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Book SynopsisThe Committee on Finance of the United States Senate requested the Commission to examine the competitive conditions affecting certain industries that are developing and adopting new industrial biotechnology (IB) processes and products. IB was defined as the manufacture of liquid fuel and chemical products using enzymes, micro-organisms, or renewable resources. The application of IB can improve the efficiency of the industries and lead to the development of new products. Thus, this book focuses on U.S. liquid biofuel producers and firms in the U.S. chemical industry. An analysis of the current impact of IB on the U.S. economy is also provided. Industrial biotechnology (IB) activities in the U.S. by the chemical and liquid fuel industries increased substantially during the 2004-2007 period. Sales of U.S. produced bio-based products, for example, increased by over 30% during the period. As discussed in this book, much of this growth is accounted for by the ethanol and biodiesel industries, which are strongly supported by government tax incentives or mandatory use regulations, or both.

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Book SynopsisA biologic is a preparation, such as a drug or a vaccine, that is made from living organisms. A follow-on biologic, or biosimilar, is similar to the brand-name (innovator) product made by the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. In contrast to a biologic, most commonly used drugs are synthesised via a chemical process. Biologics often require special handling (such as refrigeration) and are usually administered to patients via injection or infused directly into the bloodstream. This book provides a brief introduction to the relevant law, the regulatory framework at the FDA, the scientific challenges for the FDA in considering the approval of follow-on biologics, and a brief description of the biologics provisions in the new healthcare reform bill signed into law under President Obama, entitled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the biology of starvation in humans and other organisms. Topics discussed herein include the physiological landscape of the stationary phase and the molecular events that allow the Mycobacterium smegmatis species to survive prolonged periods of starvation; the biochemical aspects of starvation in yeasts; the epidemiology of hunger in the world and the hunger-obesity paradox; starvation of bacteria for amino acids as an example of prokaryotic response to nutritional deprivation; intra-uterine growth retardation due to maternal under-nutrition; and the physiological changes during starvation in fish.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines research in the field of biotechnology, as well as very important problems for ecology in the big cities. The book also places special emphasis on certain problems such as the influence of humous components in the soil on the reaction kinetics of remediation, heavy metal analysis of soil based on fuzzy logic system, and bio-resistant building composites on the basis of glass wastes. Additional topics discussed include the simulation of a biological degradation, biological corrosion of pipe-line materials, the role of polymorphism of endothelial no-synthas in development of atopic dermatitis and formation of the "atopic marsh" among children, and the transformation of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds during biological treatment at the Minsk treatment plant.

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Book SynopsisChitosan is a partially deacetylated derivative of chitin, a natural polysaccharide extracted from crustaceans, insects and certain fungi. Owing to its unique properties such as biodegradability, biocompatability, biological activity and capacity of forming polyelectrolyte complex with anionic polyelectrolytes, chitosan has been widely applied in the food and cosmetics industry, as well as the biomedical field in relation to tissue engineering, and the pharmaceutical industry relating to drug delivery. This book gathers current research from around the globe in the study of chitosan.

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Book SynopsisIn drug delivery, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is delivered to the patient through different methods and shapes which are called pharmaceutical dosage forms. Each API has specific physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties which require a suitable pharmaceutical dosage form to be delivered to the body. In this book, the authors present current research from across the globe in the study of drug delivery. Topics discussed include pharmaceutical dosage forms; drug delivery through multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles; targeted liposomal based chemotherapies; the stability of drug delivery PLGA nanoparticles and the influence of particle physicochemical properties on delivery of drugs by dry powder inhalers to the lung.

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, numerous research papers have considered the problem of privacy protection in biometric authentication systems. When someone wants to authenticate himself, the fresh biometric data he presents has to match with the reference related to the one he claims to be. Many proposals have been made to ensure the confidentiality of the biometric data involved during this verification. Also discussed in this compilation, is the problem of finding a face recognition system that works well both under variable illumination conditions and under strictly controlled acquisition conditions. Information fusion techniques are also explored and have been widely developed in the community of voice biometrics along with several uni-modal speaker recognition algorithms.

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Book SynopsisChitosan is a partially deacetylated derivative of chitin, a natural polysaccharide extracted from crustaceans, insects and certain fungi. Owing to its unique properties such as biodegradability, biocompatability, biological activity, and capacity of forming polyelectrolyte complex with anionic polyelectrolytes, chitosan has been widely applied in the food and cosmetics industry as well as the biomedical field in relation to tissue engineering, and the pharmaceutical industry relating to drug delivery. This book gathers current research from around the globe in the study of chitosan, including its manufacture, properties and usage across a broad spectrum.

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Book SynopsisThe revolution in technology has led to the emergence of biotechnology which is one of the most rapidly moving branches of science and holds a lot of promises and surprises for the present and future. Spread over fourteen chapters, the book starts with ageing followed by application of RNAi and then moves to transcription regulation of plant genes. The book focuses upon the latest research and developments in diverse areas like vaccines, chemistry-biology interphase, application of bioinformatics tools, enzyme technology and mycoremediation, philosophical implication of biotechnology and genetic diversity in Indian populations.

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Book SynopsisIn a world of declining fossil energy, biotechnology explores multiple products and processes hidden in the rich genome of microbes, plants and animals. One of the reasons for the renewed spirit of biotechnology is supported by its capacity to swiftly incorporate the multidisciplinary advances in basic and applied sciences. This book presents a wide range of biotechnology research by the UPIBI community, teachers and students in the past 24 years. Novel methodologies, basic results and new processes are reported in several of the most dynamic fields in biotechnology such as health, energy, food and environment. This effort will certainly be an inspiration for students wishing to join research teams, for academic colleagues in search of new knowledge and for professionals exploring novel ideas or innovative solutions.

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Book SynopsisThe 21st century is widely heralded as the century of biology. Building on the fundamental understanding achieved in the second half of the last century, revolutionary advances are expected to improve many aspects of our lives, from clean energy and targeted, safer medicines to new industries. Prominent among emerging technologies is "synthetic biology," which aims to apply standardised engineering techniques to biology and thereby create organisms or biological systems with novel or specialised functions to address countless needs. This book examines the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues review on the developing field of synthetic biology which researches and identifies appropriate ethical boundaries to maximise public benefits and minimise risks.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors discuss the control, manipulation and behavioural applications of microfluidics. Topics include dielectrophoresis based droplet microfluidic devices for on-chip bioassays; microfluidic biosensor systems for cell biology and drug discovery; controllable microfluidic generation of monodisperse multiple emulsion droplets; an alternative method to predict wettability for microfluidics; integration of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers to microfluidic devices; selection of easily accessible PCR-and bio-compatible materials for microfluidic chips; and electrokinetic manipulation of biomolecules.

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Book SynopsisBiotechnology is the use of living organisms to enhance products, our lives and our environment. It is a broad and complex discipline that encompasses many specialised areas. The promise that biotechnology holds for developing countries is well recognised and it is an important tool that can be applied to diverse economic sectors with a focus on the production of food crops, livestock management, human health care, the chemical industry and environmental management. This book covers applications of biotechnology in selected areas such as health care, agriculture, microbial systems, "in silico" analysis for drug designing and drug discovery and the environment.

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Book SynopsisAn international team of accomplished researchers has been assembled to define the role that antioxidants and pro-oxidants play in cancer. Increasing scientific evidence points to the importance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants in both the aetiology of cancer development and in cancer treatments. This book should prove useful for research scientists wanting a comprehensive review of the latest accomplishment in this area and for health care-providers who advise patients and the general public about dietary antioxidants and the safety and appropriate use of antioxidant supplements. Endogenous antioxidants systems that play key roles in modulating the in vivo effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reviewed in detailed. Many exogenous antioxidants such as vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), vitamin C, green tea polyphenols, beta-carotene and curcumin are individually discussed as well as their potential roles in alternative and complementary medicine approaches to cancer prevention and treatment. For public health professionals the question of whether or not antioxidants have a safe chemopreventive role is central: it is clearly much more effective to prevent cancer than deal with its consequences including the damaging side effects of many chemotherapeutics.

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Book SynopsisIn the modern strategy of development, biotechnology assumes a major role in every country, more so in the arid regions. In spite of significant contributions to biotechnology by the developed nations, the information available for the arid zones is scant. Combining biotechnology and conservation is a novel idea of the editors of this book, who have collected articles on the species of the arid zones (e.g. Camel, Arabian Oryx, Date palm etc.,). The book aims to explore aspects related to the diversity, conservation and biotechnology of bacterial, plant and animal species from arid regions. Having to tolerate extreme environmental conditions, these species have developed unique adaptation strategies that can be utilised for biotechnology and their conservation poses a serious challenge. Research on plant and animal species from arid environments has received scarce attention in most major biotechnology books. This book is designed to bring together reviews from the biotechnology scientists from universities, government research institutes and private sector laboratories, policy makers and industry leaders who are interested in exploring the biotechnological applications of species from arid regions. It is assured that the chapters will represent various developing countries that fall within the arid zone. The book will be very useful for students, research scholars and scientists from all over the world, who are interested in biotechnology, environmental biology and conservation.

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Book SynopsisThis book describes many important principles of fertilizer management and the environmental pollution problems due to the indiscriminate soil fertilization rate. The long-term impacts of organic or mineral fertilizer use have implications on soil fertility, crop yields, water quality, climatic change, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Twelve chapters provide the state of the art of some important topics on subsistence agriculture, modern agronomy, and technological improvements which have sharply increased yields from cultivation, with a special emphasis on the sustainable management and environmental impact of commercial and nontraditional fertilizers. Without a doubt, this book is a valuable contribution to the agricultural sciences and it would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions, immeasurable acknowledgements, and recognized expertise from the authors.

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Book SynopsisThis book is for those who are seriously engaged in the problems of tillage. Mechanical tillage plays a very important role in shaping the harvest on all soil types under normal weather conditions. The preparation of soil with specified properties (characteristics) depending on arable crops has always been a significant problem. The task of preparing soil can be solved by many types (sorts) of working bodies, tools and traction machines, and in the future by a direct effect on the soil of various types of radiation: thermal, acoustic, microwave, etc. Which technology should be chosen, which method of tillage soil will be used? The answer is always clear: the technologies, tools or machines that provide maximum efficiency will be applied. The most effective way to improve the use of soil, to apply the most effective technologies nowadays, to develop new tools and aggregates is economic and mathematical modelling.

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Book SynopsisAdvances in biosensors have improved biomarker discovery, affinity receptor design, detection of infectious microorganism and disease diagnostics due to close interaction of nanotechnology with other technologies which play a critical role for the future of biosensors and health care. Biosensing technology is a fascinating field which provides reliable, rapid and sensitive platforms for specific and ultra-sensitive biomarker-based diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. This technology can also be used for the detection and removal of toxic materials from the human body such as cadmium, iron, aluminium and mercury. This book discusses advances in biosensors research.

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Book SynopsisHolography, invented in 1947 by the Hungarian physicist Dennis Gabor, is a two-step imaging technique that comprises the successful combination of interferences and diffraction. This book provides current research advances in digital holography. The topics discussed include digital holographic interference microscopy for blood cells; fragile and secure watermarking for the authentication of 3D images; and digital holography for 3D metrology.

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