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Maxi calcium-activated potassium channels (BK) are an amazing category of ion channels which are found in cellular plasma membranes as well as in membranes of intracellular organelles. The function of these channels is to repolarize any excited membrane by passing a potassium outward current, in response to depolarization and/or increase in local calcium levels. Thus, voltage and calcium ions are involved in gating the channel under physiological conditions. This dual activation makes them perfect sensors for many cellular events that require integration between intracellular calcium levels and electrical signals. A plethora of physiological and pathophysiological functions, such as membrane hyperpolarization, modulation of synaptic transmission, hormone secretion or mental deficiencies, vaso-regulation, epilepsies, heart diseases, myotonic dystrophies, hypertension etc, in almost all cells and tissues were reported for these channels. BK channels are main targets for important ligands like alcohol and gaseous neurotransmitters, such as NO, CO or H2S, to name a few. In the last years, the molecular entities and mechanisms involved in modulation of BK channels have gained tremendous attention, as the key role of these channels in cellular processes became increasingly recognized. Indeed, accessory proteins such as slob, beta and gamma subunits, all serve to modulate the channel gating characteristics. Moreover, channel subunit expression and function is further tuned by phosphorylation/ dephosphorylation processes, redox mechanisms and the lipid microenvironment of the BK channel protein complex. This e-book contains structural and functional aspects of BK channels, channel modulation by a variety of agents and cellular components, as well as the channel’s relevance in health and disease.

BK channel --- Slo --- health --- disease --- ethanol --- nervous system --- hydrogensulfide --- maxi calcium activated potassium channel --- KCNMA1 --- ischemia

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The high demand and depletion of petroleum reserves and the associated impact on the environment, together with volatility in the energy market price over the past three decades, have led to tremendous efforts in bio-based research activities, especially in biofuels and biochemicals. Most people associate petroleum with gasoline, however, approximately 6000 petroleum-derived products are available on the market today. Ironically, these petroleum-derived products have not elicited a high level of interest among the populace and media due, in part, to little awareness of the origins of these important products. Given the finite nature of petroleum, it is critical to devote substantial amounts of energy and resources on the development of renewable chemicals, as is currently done for fuels. Theoretically, the bioproduction of gasoline-like fuels and the 6000 petroleum-derived products are within the realm of possibility since our aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems contain abundant and diverse microorganisms capable of catalyzing unlimited numbers of reactions. Moreover, the fields of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have evolved to the point that a wide range of microorganisms can be enticed or manipulated to catalyze foreign, or improve indigenous, biosynthetic reactions. To increase the concentration of products of interest and to ensure consistent productivity and yield, compatible fermentation processes must be used. Greater agricultural and chemical production during the past three decades, due in part to population increase and industrialization, has generated increasing levels of waste, which must be treated prior to discharge into waterways or wastewater treatment plants. Thus, in addition to the need to understand the physiology and metabolism of microbial catalysts of biotechnological significance, development of cost-effective fermentation strategies to produce biofuels and chemicals of interests while generating minimal waste, or better yet, converting waste into value-added products, is crucial. In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit original research and review articles that increase our understanding of fermentation technology vis-à-vis production of liquid biofuels and biochemicals, and fermentation strategies that alleviate product toxicity to the fermenting microorganism while enhancing productivity. Further, original research articles and reviews focused on anaerobic digestion, production of gaseous biofuels, fermentation optimization using modelling and simulations, metabolic engineering, or development of tailor-made fermentation processes are welcome.

anaerobic digestion --- biogas --- bioreactors --- biotransformation --- butanediol --- butanol --- butyric acid --- Clostridium acetobutylicum --- Clostridium beijerinckii --- Clostridium pasteurianum --- co-culture --- co-fermentation --- cofactors --- corn stover --- ethanol --- Escherichia coli --- furfural --- glycerol --- hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) --- isopropanol --- lactic acid --- lignocellulose --- lignocellulose derived microbial inhibitory compounds (LDMICs) --- metabolic engineering --- microalgae --- Miscanthus giganteus --- mixed sugars fermentation --- phenolic compounds --- process integration --- propanediol --- redox --- simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) --- succinic acid --- switchgrass --- syngas fermentation --- synthetic biology --- techno-economics of production --- transcriptomics

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This book is a special collection of articles dedicated to the preparation and characterization of nanoporous materials, such as zeolitic-type materials, mesoporous silica (SBA-15, MCM-41, and KIT-6), mesoporous metallic oxides, metal–organic framework structures (MOFs), and pillared clays, and their applications in adsorption, catalysis, and separation processes. This book presents a global vision of researchers from international universities, research centers, and industries working with nanoporous materials and shares the latest results on the synthesis and characterization of such materials, which have given rise to the special interest in their applications in basic and industrial processes.

metal organic framework --- reaction mechanism --- confined environment --- glass --- adsorption --- surface properties --- copper removal --- IGC --- paraffins --- kaolin --- metakaolin --- zeolite A --- cationic dye adsorption --- ionic liquid --- ?-diimine --- nickel --- heterogenized --- ?-zeolite --- MCM-41 --- oligomerization --- mesoporous silica --- KIT-6 --- synthesis parameters --- cubic structure --- epoxidation --- cyclohexene --- niobium oxyhydroxide catalysts --- liquid/nanoporous material system --- gas amount --- degassing pretreatment --- liquid outflow --- liquid-gas interaction --- zeolites --- mesopores --- diffusion --- surfactant --- silica pillared clays --- antibiotics adsorption --- STW zeolite --- aluminosilicate --- seeds --- 2-ethyl-1,3,4-trimethylimidazolium --- hydrofluoric media --- ethanol dehydration --- zeolite --- MWW --- MCM-22 --- hierarchical zeolite --- lamellar zeolite --- layered zeolite --- two-dimensional zeolites --- swelling --- pillaring --- delaminating --- third-order nonlinearity --- self-focusing --- TPA --- porous silicon --- Z-scan --- n/a

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After the successful conclusion of the Joint Meeting of IUFRO’s 7.03.05 & 7.03.10 working parties and given the exciting and novel studies that have been presented in the framework of this meeting, we decided to present some of these studies in the current Special Issue of Forests. To make this issue more appealing and interesting to everyone in the field of Forest Protection, studies that cover a wide range of topics were selected, ranging from ecology and phylogeography to forest management and protection. More importantly, as these studies refer to pests and pathogens from different parts of the world, it is expected that the knowledge gained can be further used in the protection of natural environment worldwide.

Buprestidae --- Coraebus florentinus --- Mediterranean forests --- oak --- Quercus --- selective pruning --- wood borer insects --- forest health --- mine reclamation --- Forestry Reclamation Approach --- Phytophthora --- ink disease --- American chestnut --- Trypodendron laeve --- Carpathian Mountains --- Romania --- distribution --- Fraxinus excelsior --- invasive pathogens --- ash dieback --- chlorophyll-a fluorescence --- phenols --- triterpenes --- sterols --- ammonium phosphite --- disease management --- biological control --- chestnut blight --- Cryphonectria parasitica --- hypovirulence --- silvicultural interventions --- aggregated retention --- clearcutting --- coniferous forest --- deciduous forest --- functional group --- Lepidoptera --- multivariate analysis --- Betula --- birch --- fungal phytopathogens --- ITS --- Japanese red pine pure forests --- Cephalcia kunyushanica --- stand type --- stand characteristics --- soil properties --- black timber bark beetle --- biological invasion --- Xyleborini --- ambrosia beetle --- spread --- occurrence --- ethanol --- forest management --- Ips duplicatus --- pathogen --- vector --- infection level --- invasion --- latitude --- Ips sexdentatus --- Scolytinae --- mtDNA --- phylogeography --- flying ability --- human-mediated transport

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Carotenoids are a group of natural pigments, consisting of more than 750 compounds. They are mostly yellow, orange, or red in color, due to the system of conjugated double bonds. This structural element is also responsible for the good antioxidant properties of many carotenoids. Carotenoids have shown numerous biological activities (not only as provitamin A), e.g., preventive properties of fruits and vegetables. As lipophilic compounds, their uptake and storage in the body are dependent on various conditions. In vitro and in vivo data showed stimulating and inhibitory effects of matrix compounds on bioaccessibility and bioavailability of carotenoids.

?-carotene --- lycopene --- antioxidants --- free radicals --- ageing --- fruit --- vegetables --- ?-carotene --- HIV --- nelfinavir --- interaction --- pharmacokinetics --- carotenoids --- astaxanthin --- oxidative stress --- antioxidant --- chelating compound --- metal ions --- antireductant --- antiradical --- cationic lipid --- carotenoid --- antisense oligonucleotide --- exon skipping --- Duchenne muscular dystrophy --- ?-carotene --- lutein --- chlorophyll --- spent coffee grounds --- soil amendment --- lettuce --- accelerated solvent extraction --- pressurized fluid extraction --- ethanol --- carrots --- ?-carotene --- antioxidants --- marine carotenoids --- inflammation --- oxidative stress --- cardiovascular disease --- flavonoids --- carotenoids --- antioxidant synergism --- antioxidant antagonism --- free radical kinetics --- dye-sensitized solar cells --- carotenoid and chlorophyll derivatives --- singlet-triplet annihilation --- carotenoids --- xanthophylls --- fluorocarotenoids --- chlorocarotenoids --- bromocarotenoids --- iodocarotenoids --- silicon carotenoids --- nitrogen carotenoids --- sulfur carotenoids --- selenium carotenoids --- iron carotenoids --- carotenoids --- xanthophylls --- cancer chemoprevention --- mechanisms --- B16F10 --- ?-carotene --- PC-3 --- SK-Hep-1 --- VEGF --- oxidative stress --- ROS --- RNS --- antioxidants --- carotenoids --- cardiovascular disease --- carotenoids --- hydrophilic --- esterification --- PEG conjugates --- cycloaddition --- carotenoid --- stability --- feed processing --- storage --- carotenoids --- extraction --- solubility --- injection solvent --- liquid chromatography