This research attempts to evaluate nitrification treatment performance in combined carbon/nitrogen municipal wastewater reactors using traditional physical/chemical methods and modern molecular techniques. Bench scale activated sludge reactors were operated at different SRTs under varying DO levels and temperatures over a 21-month period. Real-time PCR assays were used to determine cell concentrations of total bacterial 16S rDNA, a gross measure of biomass content, the amoA gene, a measure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and the Nitrospira 16S rDNA gene, a measure of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). As expected, gravimetric biomass and total bacterial 16S rDNA levels increased with increasing SRT. Ammonia oxidation rates and N. oligotropha-type AOB concentrations did not follow similar trends with respect to changes in SRT, temperature, and DO nor were they highly correlated. The concentration of available nitrite and SRT were positively correlated with Nitrospira cell densities, while DO concentration and temperature were negatively correlated with NOB levels. The percentage of the total population comprised of AOB and NOB obtained with the real-time PCR assays were compared to predicted values estimated from design equations using typical kinetic parameters. While the percentages of NOB measured using the real-time PCR assay corresponded very well with the predicted values, the measured percentages of AOB were much lower than those estimated from the design equations, suggesting that N. oligotropha-type AOB were not the dominant ammonia-oxidizing species in these reactors. This publication can be purchased and downloaded via Pay Per View on Water Intelligence Online - click on the Pay Per View icon below

Technologies collectively called omics enable simultaneous measurement of an enormous number of biomolecules; for example, genomics investigates thousands of DNA sequences, and proteomics examines large numbers of proteins. Scientists are using these technologies to develop innovative tests to detect disease and to predict a patient's likelihood of responding to specific drugs. Following a recent case involving premature use of omics-based tests in cancer clinical trials at Duke University, the NCI requested that the IOM establish a committee to recommend ways to strengthen omics-based test development and evaluation. This report identifies best practices to enhance development, evaluation, and translation of omics-based tests while simultaneously reinforcing steps to ensure that these tests are appropriately assessed for scientific validity before they are used to guide patient treatment in clinical trials.

Metabolomics – which deals with all metabolites of an organism – is a rapidly-emerging sector of post-genome research fields. It plays significant roles in a variety of fields from medicine to agriculture and holds a fundamental position in functional genomics studies and their application in plant biotechnology. This volume comprehensively covers plant metabolomics for the first time. The chapters offer cutting-edge information on analytical technology, bioinformatics and applications. They were all written by leading researchers who have been directly involved in plant metabolomics research throughout the world. Up-to-date information and future developments are described, thereby producing a volume which is a landmark of plant metabolomics research and a beneficial guideline to graduate students and researchers in academia, industry, and technology transfer organizations in all plant science fields.

Microfluidics in Cell Biology Part C, Volume 148, a new release in the Methods in Cell Biology series, continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. Unique to this updated volume are three sections on microfluidics in various multi-cellular models, including microfluidics in cell monolayers/spheroids, microfluidics in organ on chips, and microfluidics in model organisms. Specific chapters discuss collective migration in microtubes, leukocyte adhesion dynamics on endothelial monolayers under flow, constrained spheroid for perfusion culture, cells in droplet arrays, heart on chips, kidney on chips, liver on chips, and more. - Contains contributions from experts in the field from across the world - Covers a wide array of topics on both mitosis and meiosis - Includes relevant, analysis based topics

The Handbook of Metabolic Phenotyping is the definitive work on the rapidly developing subject of metabolic phenotyping. It explores in detail the wide array of analytical chemistry and statistical modeling techniques used in the field, coupled with surveys of the various application areas in human development, nutrition, disease, therapy, and epidemiology to create a comprehensive exploration of the area of study. It covers recent studies that integrate the various -omics data sets to derive a systems biology view. It also addresses current issues on standardization, assay and statistics validation, and data storage and sharing. Written by experts with many years of practice in the field who pioneered many of the approaches widely used today, The Handbook of Metabolic Phenotyping is a valuable resource for postgrads and research scientists studying and furthering the field of metabolomics. - Contains theoretical and practical explanations of all the main analytical chemistry techniques used in metabolic phenotyping - Explores, in detail, the many diverse statistical approaches used in the field - Offers practical tips for successfully conducting metabolic phenotyping studies - Features reviews of all of the various fields of activity relating to human studies

1. Introduction -- 2. Phenotyping -- 3. Necropsy and histology -- 4. Mammary Gland -- 5. Skeletal System -- 6. Nose, sinus, pharynx and larynx -- 7. Oral cavity and teeth -- 8. Salivary glands -- 9. Respiratory -- 10. Cardiovascular -- 11. Upper GI -- 12. Lower GI -- 13. Liver and gallbladder -- 14. Pancreas -- 15. Endocrine System -- 16. Urinary System -- 17. Female Reproductive System -- 18. Male Reproductive System -- 19. Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues -- 20. Nervous System -- 21. Special senses, eye -- 22. Special senses, ear -- 23. Skin and adnexa -- Index.

Many potential applications of synthetic and systems biology are relevant to the challenges associated with the detection, surveillance, and responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. On March 14 and 15, 2011, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats convened a public workshop in Washington, DC, to explore the current state of the science of synthetic biology, including its dependency on systems biology; discussed the different approaches that scientists are taking to engineer, or reengineer, biological systems; and discussed how the tools and approaches of synthetic and systems biology were being applied to mitigate the risks associated with emerging infectious diseases. The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology is organized into sections as a topic-by-topic distillation of the presentations and discussions that took place at the workshop. Its purpose is to present information from relevant experience, to delineate a range of pivotal issues and their respective challenges, and to offer differing perspectives on the topic as discussed and described by the workshop participants. This report also includes a collection of individually authored papers and commentary.

Genetic, evolution, adaptation, environment, genotype.

This comprehensive reference work details the latest developments in fluorescence imaging and related biological quantification. It explores the most recent techniques in this imaging technology through the utilization and incorporation of quantification analysis which makes this book unique. It also covers super resolution microscopy with the introduction of 3D imaging and high resolution fluorescence. Many of the chapter authors are world class experts in this medical imaging technology.

Design, Principle and Application of Self-Assembled Nanobiomaterials in Biology and Medicine discusses recent advances in science and technology using nanoscale units that show the novel concept of combining nanotechnology with various research disciplines within both the biomedical and medicine fields. Self-assembly of molecules, macromolecules, and polymers is a fascinating strategy for the construction of various desired nanofabrication in chemistry, biology, and medicine for advanced applications. It has a number of advantages: (1) It is involving atomic-level modification of molecular structure using bond formation advanced techniques of synthetic chemistry. (2) It draws from the enormous wealth of examples in biology for the development of complex, functional structures. (3) It can incorporate biological structures directly as components in the final systems. (4) It requires that the target self-assembled structures be thermodynamically most stable with relatively defect-free and self-healing. In this book, we cover the various emerging self-assembled nanostructured objects including molecular machines, nano-cars molecular rotors, nanoparticles, nanosheets, nanotubes, nanowires, nano-flakes, nano-cubes, nano-disks, nanorings, DNA origami, transmembrane channels, and vesicles. These self-assembled materials are used for sensing, drug delivery, molecular recognition, tissue engineering energy generation, and molecular tuning. - Provides a basic understanding of how to design, and implement various self-assembled nanobiomaterials - Covers principles implemented in the constructions of novel nanostructured materials - Offers many applications of self-assemblies in fluorescent biological labels, drug and gene delivery, bio-detection of pathogens, detection of proteins, probing of DNA structure, tissue engineering, and many more