Nitrogen-fixing Leguminous Symbioses
This book is the self-contained final volume of a comprehensive seven-volume series covering the basic and applied science relating to nitrogen fixation. It addresses the most important nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of all – that between legumes and their root-nodule bacteria – and therefore deals with the properties and behaviour of both macro- and micro-symbiont.
Nitrogen-fixing Actinorhizal Symbioses
This book is the self-contained sixth volume of a comprehensive series on nitrogen fixation. It presents the state-of-the-art in regards to actinorhizal symbioses. Like legumes, actinorhizal plants form root nodules that host nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria. However, because the macrosymbionts are, with one exception, woody plants rather than crop plants, actinorhizal symbioses are less well-known than legume symbioses to which they are phylogenetically related. Actinorhizal plants come from eight different families. This volume includes chapters that deal with all these aspects of the symbiosis and both symbionts plus their ecological role and use. Other chapters tackle the global distribution of different actinorhizal plants and their microsymbionts and how this impacts the question of co-evolution of the micro- and macrosymbionts as well as comparing the actinorhizal and leguminous symbioses.
Nitrogen Fixation in Agriculture, Forestry, Ecology, and the Environment
Sustainability has a major part to play in the global challenge of continued development of regions, countries, and continents all around the World and biological nitrogen fixation has a key role in this process. This volume begins with chapters specifically addressing crops of major global importance, such as soybeans, rice, and sugar cane. It continues with a second important focus, agroforestry, and describes the use and promise of both legume trees with their rhizobial symbionts and other nitrogen-fixing trees with their actinorhizal colonization. An over-arching theme of all chapters is the interaction of the plants and trees with microbes and this theme allows other aspects of soil microbiology, such as interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the impact of soil-stress factors on biological nitrogen fixation, to be addressed. Furthermore, a link to basic science occurs through the inclusion of chapters describing the biogeochemically important nitrogen cycle and its key relationships among nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. The volume then provides an up-to-date view of the production of microbial inocula, especially those for legume crops.
Nitrogen Cycling in the Americas : Natural and Anthropogenic Influences and Controls
The rate of creation of reactive nitrogen (NR) on the earth has dramatically increased in the last half century mainly due to the production of N-fertilizer through the Haber-Bosch process, fossil fuel combustion, and the cultivation of plants that fix N from the atmosphere. The anthropogenic production of NR has been especially high in developed countries of the temperate zone, such as the USA and Canada, where severe eutrophication of estuaries and coastal zones, acidification of lakes and streams, loss of biodiversity, and reduced forest productivity have become common environmental problems associated with increasing nitrogen loads to ecosystems. This book presents a series of studies from across the Americas whose aim is to highlight key natural processes that control nitrogen cycling as well as discuss the main anthropogenic influences on the nitrogen cycle in both the tropical and temperate regions of the Americas.
Nitric Oxide in Plant Growth, Development and Stress Physiology
The first part of the book is devoted to the description of key features related to NO biochemistry, synthesis and metabolism and the modes of action involved. The second part covers the functionality of NO in three central nodes of the plant life cycle: growth, development and stress physiology.
Nimesulide - Actions and Uses
Nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which acts as a cyclooxygenase- 2 inhibitor but also has other novel pharmacological features which account for its effect in the control of pain and inflammation. It has become a leading NSAID in over 50 countries worldwide. This book provides a comprehensive and fully up-to-date critical review of the published literature on nimesulide, including comparisons with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic agents. The emphasis is on the action of nimesulide in relation to its therapeutic and side effects in comparison with other established NSAIDs, including the new class of Coxibs.
NF-kB/Rel Transcription Factor Family
Since its first discovery in the early 90’s, the NF-kB/Rel transcription factor family has drawn the attention of experimental biologists, medical profession, and biotech/pharmaceutical industries for its broad and diverse roles in all aspects of human biology and disease. NF-kB/Rel Transcription Factor Family intends to provide an up-to-date guide to the ever-expanding knowledge in the field of NF-kB/Rel transcription factor family.
New Trends in Cancer for the 21st Century
It is difficult to imagine anyone who has not heard of cancer. This disease can affect families, friends or any one of us at any time in our lives. Every year nearly 3 million Europeans are diagnosed with cancer, leading to around 800,000 deaths per year. These deaths occur not only in aging populations, but also in children and adults who are in the most active period of their lives. This represents a tremendous problem that cannot be ignored by politicians or citizens. Fortunately, there is a constantly growing awareness that although cancer is a problem to be dealt with by clinicians, it should also be the concern of everyone. This volume contains the lectures held at the International Symposium on Cancer "New Trends in Cancer for the 21st Century". Fundamental researchers, politicians and representatives from patient coalitions share here their knowledge and interests as well as their concerns and experiences. Not only do these papers provide state-of-the-art information on cancer, they are also an opportunity to look at the problem from different points of view. It can be encouraging to realise that we are not alone in this fight.
New Perspectives on Aloe
The contents include a brief introduction of aloe, isolation, purification, and structural analysis of components, and various physiological effects of those components for possible use as health foods or drugs. Various functions identified were wound healing, angiogenesis, anti-allergy, skin whitening, stimulation of cell proliferation such as liver or kidney, protection against nephrotoxicity, and immune modulation. Moreover, we suggest standardization and quality control procedures for manufacturing raw aloe, and how to develop related products for successful application of aloe. This is important in Korea because last year the Korean government listed aloe as a health food for which the government establishes regulatory laws. Therefore, many scientists in Korea who are interested in studying health foods would be interested in this kind of text. Other major fields related to this kind of research will be medicine, biology, pharmaceutics, natural products and analytics.
New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates : Distribution, Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation
The purpose of this volume is to present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in primate field research, ecology, and conservation biology in Mesoamerica. The overall goal of each contribution is to integrate newly collected field data with theoretical perspectives drawn from evolutionary biology, socioecology, biological anthropology, and conservation to identify how our current knowledge of primate behavior and ecology has moved beyond more traditional approaches. A corollary to this, and an important goal of the volume is to identify geographical regions and species for which we continue to lack sufficient information, to develop action plans for future research, and to identify areas for immediate conservation action. Despite many decades of primate research in Mesoamerica, much is still unknown concerning the basic ecology and behavior of these species, demography, current distribution, and conservation status of local populations, and the effectiveness of conservation policies on primate survivorship. Four major areas of research are the focus of the volume: Evolutionary Biology and Biogeography; Population Demography and Ecology; Behavior; and Conservation and Management Policies.
New Insights in Medical Mycology
The aim of this book is to give an in-depth assessment of our current understanding of the Biology of the main fungal pathogens and how they interact with the host’s immune response. Each Chapter focuses on a specific fungal pathogen or group of pathogens and examines their biology and the factors that allow the fungus colonise and disseminate within the host. In addition each Chapter gives an indication of the challenges that remain to be tackled over the next 5 – 10 years in increasing our understanding of fungal pathogenicity.
New Frontiers in Angiogenesis
New Frontiers in Angiogenesis starts with a comprehensive overview of the field and continues with topics that have been minimally explored. The topics deal with dynamics of vasculogenesis using imaging techniques, bone marrow-derived endothelial cell precursors as potential therapeutic tools, regulation of post-angiogenic vessel regression, vascular mimicry, design and construction of artificial vessels, bioengineering of angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis recapitulating angiogenesis in health and disease states. Each chapter is written by leading experts of the subjects. It is hoped that this volume will challenge all of us interested in the field of angiogenesis and cardiovascular biology, in particular those in academia and industries, to think "outside the box" and explore angiogenesis from a fresh angle. It is hoped that New Frontiers in Angiogenesis is thought provoking and serve as a road map for discovering new findings to help betterments of human health.
New Concepts of Antiviral Therapy
Antiviral drugs are important tools for treatment or prevention of viral infections. These drugs were first used for monotherapy, but nowadays combinations of antiviral agents are often part of a standard treatment as evidenced by e.g. HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). However, in almost every case of antiviral therapy, drug resistant viruses appear. In addition, the low oral bioavailability, toxicity and the number of severe side effects still pose significant problems. All of the latter issues limit the clinical usefulness and drive the need for improved antiviral strategies. These strategies include new drugs and targets, novel modes of action, vector-based treatments and even the block of defined genes by inhibiting mRNA formation (siRNA).
Neurotransmitter Transporters
The present volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology gives a representative survey of the current status of the structure, function, regulation and molecular pharmacology of Neurotransmitter Transporters and aims at providing an overview of insights that were generated in the past 5 years. If the volume serves as both, a useful compendium of current concepts and an inspiring starting point, it will have fulfilled its mission and will be a source for students interested in this emerging field as well as for experienced scientists looking for an update. This volume is the brainchild of the editor-in-chief of the HEP series, Klaus Starke, awe-inspiring to all pharmacologists of younger generations.
Neurotransmitter Interactions and Cognitive Function
Cognitive function involves the participation of many different neurotransmitter systems in a variety of brain areas. The centerpiece of investigation regarding cognitive function has classically been the cholinergic system, but it has become increasingly clear that other transmitter systems interact with cholinergic systems to provide the neural basis for cognitive function. This book brings together cutting edge research to determine how the transmitter interactions form the mechanistic bases for attention, learning and memory. This research on transmitter interactions not only provides a more accurate, though complex, picture of how the brain works to provide cognitive function, it also provides important new levels of understanding about the mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction and novel avenues for therapeutic treatment. The researchers who contributed to this volume both reviewed the latest findings but also point to the directions of advancement of the field of neurotransmitter interactions and cognitive function.
Neuroscience in Medicine
This up-to-date edition alternates scientific and clinical chapters that explain the basic science underlying neurological processes and then relates that science to the understanding of neurological disorders and their treatment.
Neuronal Input Pathways to the Brains Biological Clock and their Functional Significance
Circadian rhythms are entrained daily by environmental photic and non-photic cues. The present review describes the anatomy and functional characteristics of the three major input pathways to the circadian clock mediating entrainment, the retino-hypothalamic tract (RHT), the geniculo-hypothalamic tract (GHT) and the midbrain raphe projection.
Neuroimmunology of Sleep
Neuroimmunology of Sleep provides an introduction to the interphase between sleep and neuroimmunology. Written both from basic and clinical perspectives, the volume contains useful information to many biomedical professionals and students of human biology.
Neuroimmune Pharmacology
This exciting new textbook, Neuroimmune Pharmacology, reflects the history and vision of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology and of the Society’s official publication, the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. All three represent deliberations arising from a relatively young, interdisciplinary, and dynamic field of research, which have major translational implications for neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, neuropsychiatric diseases, and infections of the nervous system. They all demonstrate the synergistic value of integrating the parts: Neuroscience, Immunology, and Pharmacology. The extraordinary accomplishment of Neuroimmune Pharmacology is its comprehensive nature.
Neuroendocrine Correlates of Sleep/Wakefulness
This new volume on Neuroendocrine Correlates of Sleep/Wakefulness is an up-to-date resource of research summaries and reviews written by major contributors to the fields of sleep, biological rhythms and neuroendocrinology.



















