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Marine Anthropogenic Litter
This book describes how man-made litter, primarily plastic, has spread into the remotest parts of the oceans and covers all aspects of this pollution problem from the impacts on wildlife and human health to socio-economic and political issues. Marine litter is a prime threat to marine wildlife, habitats and food webs worldwide. The book illustrates how advanced technologies from deep-sea research, microbiology and mathematic modelling as well as classic beach litter counts by volunteers contributed to the broad awareness of marine litter as a problem of global significance. The authors summarise more than five decades of marine litter research, which receives growing attention after the recent discovery of great oceanic garbage patches and the ubiquity of microscopic plastic particles in marine organisms and habitats.
Mangroves and Halophytes : Restoration and Utilisation
Focusing on Venezuela and Mexico, this edited volume from the International Society of Halophyte Utilisation (ISHU) explores the environmental issues facing South and Central America's coastal ecosystems, and discusses the uses of mangrove species and other halophytes in addressing issues of both coastal pollution and upland soil salinisation. The book draws on expertise from Europe and South America to present a series of case studies that detail Venezuela’s saline ecosystems and examine the economic potential of mangrove restoration and halophyte production. It includes cutting-edge research into the establishment of new mangrove stands which could serve as prototypes for the sustainable use of halophytes, including Chenopodium quinoa and Tamarix aphylla. Moreover, the detailed examples from Venezuela and other Caribbean countries provide useful models for comparison with halophyte utilisation in other parts of the world – especially the Mediterranean region, where much of the earlier research of the ISHU had been conducted.
Managed Ecosystems and CO2 : Case Studies, Processes, and Perspectives
Managed ecosystems cover a large part of the Earth's land surface, provide almost all of our food and most of our wood and fibre, and are increasingly a source of renewable energy. Forecasting the ability of managed ecosystems to continue these vital roles in a globally changing environment is an inter-disciplinary challenge. To elucidate the complex responses of managed systems to elevated [CO2], several free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facilities were established. These FACE systems allow large areas to be exposed to the elevated [CO2] we expect by the middle of the century. This volume summarizes the main findings from 13 experiments with annual crops, permanent pastures and plantation forests at 11 sites throughout the world during the past ten years. The results significantly alter our perception of how rising [CO2] will directly affect these managed ecosystems, with implications for policy, plant-breeding objectives and adaptation.
Mammalian Subventricular Zones : Their Roles in Brain Development, Cell Replacement, and Disease
This text provides a comprehensive summary of research and findings that have lead to the current understanding of the subventricular zones. It provides an overview of the roles of subventricular zones in normal development and in disease and a foundation from which current and future studies can be evaluated.
Mammalian Evolutionary Morphology : A Tribute to Frederick S. Szalay
This volume acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of Dr. Frederick S. Szalay to the field of Mammalian Evolutionary Morphology. Professor Szalay has published about 200 articles, four monographs, and six books on this subject. Throughout his career Professor Szalay has been a strong advocate for biologically and evolutionarily meaningful character analysis. In his view, this can be accomplished only through an integrated strategy of functional, adaptational, and historical analysis. Dr. Szalay worked on several different mammalian groups during his career, and the contributions to this volume reflect his broad perspective. Chapters focus on Primates, a group to which Professor Szalay dedicated much of his career. However, other mammalian groups on which he conducted a significant amount of research, such as marsupials and xenarthrans, are also covered in the volume.
Mammalian and Avian Transgenesis : New Approaches
Mammalian and Avian Transgenesis presents a collection of novel methods for the production of a wide range of transgenic animals. The manual focuses largely on mice, but also contains protocols for successful transgenesis in rats, cows, pigs and birds. The manual provides detailed, step-by-step protocols covering all aspects of the production of transgenic animals, including the use of lentiviral vectors in gene transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, nuclear transfer, large insert transgenesis, conditional gene expression systems, the use of reporter genes in transgenesis and transgenesis in large animals and birds. The text is supplemented by superb color photos. While the focus is on newly established techniques, the fundamental methods of transgenesis are also covered for those new to the field. Thus this manual is perfectly suited for those wishing to adopt new technologies in transgenesis.
Malaria: Drugs, Disease and Post-genomic Biology
This volume brings some of the worlds best investigators to describe recent advances in both the scientific and clinical aspects of malaria, and bridges between the two. The opening chapters discuss antimalarials and resistance to them in Africa and Asia. Then there are reviews of the different clinical manifestations of malaria, ranging from uncomplicated infections to severe disease and its complications.
Make Life Visible
This book describes marked advances in imaging technology that have enabled the visualization of phenomena in ways formerly believed to be completely impossible. These technologies have made major contributions to the elucidation of the pathology of diseases as well as to their diagnosis and therapy.
Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria
Recent developments in the research on magnetotactic bacteria are presented in this volume. Included are reviews on the formation and organization of magnetosomes, the genes controlling magnetosome biomineralization, and new cryogenic techniques to visualize novel cytoskeleton structures. Described here are potential nanobiotechnological applications of the magnetosome crystals, which have magnetic and crystalline characteristics unmatched by their inorganic counterparts.
Macrophytes in Aquatic Ecosystems : from Biology to Management ; Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Aquatic Weeds, European Weed Research Society
Macrophytes and macrophytes ecology have gained an added importance with the introduction of, and legal requirement to implement, the European Water Framework Directive. This reflects the valuable role that aquatic plant communities play in assessing the ecological status of water bodies. Significant changes in the status and general abundance of these communities has been recorded in the last three decades, consequent on such factors as global warming and, increasingly, on the spread of aggressive alien species. These changes have been most felt in those waters that are exploited for amenity and recreational pursuits. The increased biomass of aquatic vegetation in water bodies has adversely impacted on leisure use of these systems but has also impacted on their use for agricultural, flood relief, municipal and domestic purposes. The loss to national economies resulting from this excessive plant biomass has been appreciable and has put pressure on water managers to develop weed control procedures that are efficient, environmentally sensitive and cost-effective.
Lysosomes
This book summarizes the current state-of-the art knowledge about this unique organelle. It addresses the biogenesis of this compartment, the transport of lysosomal proteins, the role of the lysosomal membrane in lysosomal stability and transport, the function of lysosomal proteases and hydrolases, lysosomal storage disorders, and new concepts on how to treat these diseases.
Lysosomal Storage Disorders
This book is dedicated to patients affected by Lysosomal Storage Disorders, and especially to the National Gaucher Foundation (USA) and the Colombian Association of Patients with Lysosomal Storage Diseases (ACOPEL for its Spanish Acronym). Both organizations will share in the sales of this book.
Lymphocyte Trafficking in Health and Disease
Since the discovery of chemokines and of chemokine receptors it has become evident that expression of chemokines at the site of inflammation may regulate the composition of cellular infiltrate, thereby directing the type of immune response. Recently, the molecular characterization of inherited disorders of immune system, (e.g., Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, WHIM syndrome, leukocyte adhesion deficiency), which are characterized by cytoskeleton/adhesion defects or by altered response of chemokine receptors has contributed to clarifying the key players of immune response in normal physiology and in disease. This book, which deals with the description of the role of chemokines in immune response and underlines potential targets of therapeutical intervention, offers a series of contributions of the most challenging aspects of lymphocyte migration in homeostasis and in disease.
Lymphocyte Signal Transduction
Signal transduction through leukocyte receptors involves a variety of signaling molecules including kinases, phosphatases, adaptor proteins, small GTPases GTP exchange factors, membrane phospholipids as well as others. These signal transducers, regulated by inter- and intra-molecular interactions, as well as by various post-translational modifications, lead to the activation of transcription factors that mediate cellular differentiation and growth, effector cell functions, and apoptotic cell death. Several investigators from various parts of the world convened at the 3rd Lymphocyte Signal Transduction Workshop in Crete, Greece from May 27 to June 1, 2005 to discuss their most recent findings in leukocyte signaling. This volume represents a collection of topics discussed during the conference.
Low-Dose Radiation Effects on Animals and Ecosystems : Long-Term Study on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Brings together the works of radiation biologists and ecologists to provide reliable radioecology data and gives insight into future radioprotection. The book examines the environmental pollution and radiation exposure, and contains valuable data from abandoned livestock in the ex-evacuation zone and from wild animals including invertebrates and vertebrates, aqueous and terrestrial animals, and plants that are subjected to long-term exposure in the area still affected by radiation. It also analyzes dose evaluation, and offers new perspectives gained from the accident, as well as an overview for future studies to promote radioprotection of humans and the ecosystem.
Low-cost methods for molecular characterization of mutant plants : Tissue desiccation, DNA extraction and mutation discovery : Protocols
Offers low-cost and rapid molecular assays for the characterization of mutant plant germplasm. Detailed protocols are provided for the desiccation of plant tissues; the extraction of high-quality DNA for downstream applications; the extraction of single-strand-specific nucleases for single nucleotide polymorphism; and small insertion/deletion discovery using standard agarose gel electrophoresis. The methods described can be applied in any laboratory equipped for basic molecular biology and do away with the need for expensive freezers and toxic organic compounds.
Lotus japonicus Handbook
Represents the first effort to compile basic descriptions and methods for research in Lotus, including symbiotic processes, cell and molecular biology protocols, functional genomics, mutants, gene tagging and genetic analysis, transformation and reverse genetic analysis, primary and secondary metabolism, and an exhaustive update of the scientific literature available on this plant.
Long-term limnological research and monitoring at Crater Lake, Oregon : A benchmark study of a deep and exceptionally clear montane caldera lake
Crater Lake is located in the caldera of Mount Mazama in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. The lake has a surface area of about 53 km2 at an elevation of 1882 m and a maximum depth of 594 m – seventh deepest in the world. This special volume represents our current state of knowledge of the status of this pristine ecosystem including its special optical properties, algal nutrient limitations, pelagic bacteria, and models of the inter-relationships of thermal properties, nutrients, phytoplankton, deep-water mixing, and water budgets.
Long-Term Ecosystem Changes in Riparian Forests
Presents and analyzes the results of more than 30 years of long-term ecological research in riparian forest ecosystems with the aim of casting light on changes in the dynamics of riparian forests over time.
Longevity and Frailty
Contained in this book are the outcome of a colloquium sponsored by Fondation IPSEN in which interdisciplinary perspectives were brought to bear on conceptual, empirical and clinical aspects of this relationship. The result is a unique, innovative and timely blend of papers on topics ranging from frailty concepts in animal models and early Homo sapiens, to documentation of progress in morbidity compression, on the relationships between frailty and impairments and inflammation, and perspectives on long-term health care needs in an aging world.
