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Elsevier Science

  • Volume Transmission Revisited

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 125
    • L.F. Agnati + 3 more
    • English
    Volume Transmission Revisited describes the mounting evidence that cells of the central nervous system are able to communicate via a host of chemical signals that flow through the extracellular space. Volume transmission (VT) constitutes a novel and complementary communication system to classical synaptic transmission. The new modality, which does not require specific connections between cells, leads to a reconsideration of the spatial relationships of neurons and glia, brings a new dimension to network modelling and is relevant to both short term interactions and long term tonic states of the brain.The reader will find 29 chapters describing many of the major discoveries in VT during the last decade.The most striking feature of this publication is the collecting together of many compelling examples of the ubiquitous nature of VT. These point to its increasing relevance from basic neuroscience research to clinical practice. Those working in other areas will find numerous invaluable examples of how leading investigators have gone about assembling evidence for VT.
  • Redesigning Rice Photosynthesis to Increase Yield

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 7
    • P.L. Mitchell + 1 more
    • J.E. Sheehy
    • English
    Rice yields need to increase in order to keep pace with the growing population of Asia and to alleviate hunger and poverty. There appears, however, to be a biophysical limit associated with conventional photosynthetic pathways. The research presented in this book aims at understanding how the rice plant's photosynthetic pathway could be redesigned to overcome current yield limits. The factors controlling yield are discussed from the agronomic to the molecular level. Prospects for improving rice photosynthesis include using genetic engineering to convert rice into a C4 plant.The various chapters in this book deal with photosynthesis; a comparison of C3 and C4 pathways; genes physiology and function, and also discuss this in the broader context of economic consequences of yield improvements for poverty, the molecular genetics of photosynthesis, and ecophysiological and evolutionary perspectives of photosynthesis in wetlands.Researchers on rice, photosynthesis, agronomy, genetic engineering, and food policy will find much of interest in this book.
  • Advances in Mechanical Behaviour, Plasticity and Damage

    • 1st Edition
    • D. Miannay + 16 more
    • M. Berveiller
    • English
    Since its inception in 1991, EUROMAT has been held each year on behalf of the Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS), and alternates between general and topical prospectives.This year's theme, Advances in Mechanical Behaviour, Plasticity and Damage, was proposed by the Societe Francaise de Metallurgie et de Materiaux (SF2M) to FEMS.This publication contains a selection of papers presented at the EUROMAT 2000 Conference, held in Tours, France on 7-9 November 2000. The aim of this Conference was to concentrate mainly on recent advances made in the investigation of the relationship between microstructures of materials and their mechanical behaviour; including, fundamentals, modelling and applications. Encompassed in the Conference's aim is the nurturing of the synergistic effect between the theoretical and applied areas in this field. This was achieved by addressing important basic and practical aspects of the mechanical behaviour and damage of materials whilst also providing significant links between various complementary approaches. All kinds of materials are covered and topics that were covered include the mechanics of solid polymers, microstructurs and micromechanisms, and the collective behavior of defects which looks at the interaction of multiple defects in a system.
  • Engineering Geological Advances in Japan for the New Millennium

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 84
    • Y. Kanaori + 2 more
    • English
    The geology of the Japanese Islands is enormously complicated because of the active tectonism that has taken place on the boundary between the Pacific and Eurasian plates. Geological formations there are intricately deformed and displaced by many active faults. Hence, in planning for and siting large construction projects, such as nuclear power stations, underground power stations, and the underground facility for High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW), more detailed investigations are necessary than in more stable parts of the world. Only then can assessments be made as to the long-term stability, hydrological characteristics and mechanical characteristics of geological conditions.This book offers recent research studies in engineering geology in Japan. It contains 27 papers of scope and importance sufficient to allow engineering geologists throughout the world to understand more of the present state of research and study in Japan.The title also includes a number of current topics in which Japanese engineering geologists have participated: the planning for and siting of large construction, such as nuclear power stations, underground power stations, and the underground facility for High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW); the construction project of highways and nuclear power stations and new energy developments such as those for geothermal energy; the countermeasures for natural hazards caused by earthquakes, landslides, and slope, and stone deterioration; and alteration because of weathering at and near the Earth's surface.
  • Glutamate

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 18
    • J. Storm-Mathisen + 1 more
    • English
    The volume presents a comprehensive and up-to-date treatise of the glutamatergic synapse and its environment. Particular emphasis is on the localizations of the molecular constituents of the synaptic machinery. Immunogold and other high-resolution methods are used extensively. Each chapter presents new data that have not previously been reviewed. The material presented forms the basis for work directed to understanding the functional properties of excitatory synapses in greater depth, to discover mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders and novel methods for treatment. Chapter 1 deals with the transmitter molecule itself, mechanisms of release and pathways for glutamate synthesis. The anatomy of glutamatergic nerve projection pathways in different brain regions is dealt with. In Chapter 2, focus is on aspartate, the enigmatic congener of glutamate, and its possible role in excitatory neurotransmission. Chapters 3 through 6 deal with glutamate receptors. Metabotropic glutamate receptors are presented in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents an in situ hybridization atlas of the different classes of ionotropic glutamate receptors. The localizations of these receptors at the regional and synaptic level are presented in Chapter 5. The ways in which the receptors are brought to the synapse and held in position are the subject of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 deals with the enzymes responsible for formation and catabolism of glutamate. In Chapter 8, the regulation of extracellular glutamate levels by glutamate transporters is discussed. The final two chapters of the volume focus on two "model synapses" that, due to special features, lend themselves particularly well to demonstrating properties of glutamatergic synapses. The hair cell-to-afferent nerve terminal synapses in the inner ear (Chapter 9), with their supporting cells, share essential properties with glutamatergic synapses in the central nervous system. The salient features of the latter are illustrated by the synapses of the giant reticulo-spinal axons of the lamprey, used to unravel molecular mechanisms of the cycling of synaptic vesicles (Chapter 10).
  • Bioactive Natural Products (Part D)

    V23
    • 1st Edition
    • Atta-ur Rahman
    • English
    Natural products play an integral and ongoing role in promoting numerous aspects of scientific advancement, and many aspects of basic research programs are intimately related to natural products. The significance, therefore, of the Studies in Natural Product Chemistry series, edited by Professor Atta-ur-Rahman, cannot be overestimated. This volume, in accordance with previous volumes, presents us with cutting-edge contributions of great importance.
  • Proceedings of the 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Computer Human Interaction (APCHI 2000) and 6th S.E. Asian Ergonomics Society Conference (ASEAN Ergonomics 2000)

    • 1st Edition
    • Kee Hean Lim
    • Y.P. Chui + 4 more
    • English
    In the next millennium, it is anticipated that human factors issues will take centre stage in initiatives targeted at enhancing economic competitiveness and productivity. This development is already discernible in nascent knowledge and digital based industries and economies, which are expected to emerge in force in the near future and continue to dominate thereafter. These developments will establish irreversibly the emerging global economy. The theme of the APCHI 2000 conference is: "Towards a seamless integration of collaborative human computer systems" to reflect the already discernible shift in focus of human computer interaction (HCI). whilst the theme of the ASEAN Ergonomics 2000 conference is: "From user centeredness to people centeredness" to reflect the imminent shift in focus that is required of human factors. The papers in these proceedings provide a good contrast of human factors contributions to both old and new economies that make up ASEAN and APEC. They highlight the diverse roles human factors can play in advancing the quality of life in developed, developing and third world nations. They also serve as a guide to human factors practitioners in old economies on what to expect as their economies develop.
  • Equations of State for Fluids and Fluid Mixtures

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 5
    • J.V. Sengers + 3 more
    • English
    This book has been prepared under the auspices of Commission I.2 on Thermodynamics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The authors of the 18 chapters are all recognized experts in the field. The book gives an up-to-date presentation of equations of state for fluids and fluid mixtures. All principal approaches for developing equations of state are covered. The theoretical basis and practical use of each type of equation is discussed and the strength and weaknesses of each is addressed. Topics addressed include the virial equation of state, cubic equations and generalized van der Waals equations, perturbation theory, integral equations, corresponding stated and mixing rules. Special attention is also devoted to associating fluids, polydisperse fluids, polymer systems, self-assembled systems, ionic fluids and fluids near critical points.
  • Biotechnology Annual Review

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 6
    • M.R. El-Gewely
    • English
    Biotechnology is in many aspects shaping our life and affecting our meansof production, and job creation. Progress in the applications of biotechnologydepends on a wide base of basic as well as applied sciences. The output of biotechnology has already proved itself in many diverse fields from health to biominingand from agriculture to enzyme “breeding”. It is therefore difficult to follow all thecurrent as well as the potential applications of biotechnology.The objectives of the Biotechnology Annual Review series is to attempt to provide readers with the needed indepth knowledge, in the form of chapters, byreviewing specific topics in biotechnology in each issue. The philosophy behindthis series is to encourage good reviews to make it easier for readers to keep intouch with progress and applications of biotechnology. We also encourage reviewing topics that are related to regulatory affairs, social impact of biotechnology, biodiversity, biosafety, public acceptance and patent issues.
  • Neural Plasticity and Regeneration

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 128
    • F.J. Seil
    • English
    While a cure for spinal cord injury remains elusive, the contents of this volume convey a sense of progress towards this goal. More has been learned about the primary and secondary consequences of spinal cord injury and more is being understood about recovery mechanisms that are intrinsic to the nervous system and that might be further encouraged. Expanding the control capacity of uninjured portions of the nervous system may be one approach to improving the functional capabilities of those afflicted with this disorder. New therapies in the form of transplantable cells that can encourage growth or myelination or prevent secondary damage or that can substitute for injured cells appear promising for future applications. Genetic and tissue engineering studies give us further hope, and under continuous development are novel drugs with greater specificity and fewer detrimental effects and improved delivery methods for such drugs. The volume is organized into six topic sections, including I) Strategies for Spinal Cord Injury Repair, II) Plasticity of the Injured Spinal Cord: Retraining Neural Circuits to Promote Motor Recovery, III) Impact of Neuroprosthetic Applications on Functional Recovery, IV) Neurotrophins and Activity-Dependent Plasticity, V) Candidate Cells for Transplantation into the Injured CNS and VI) New Directions in Regeneration Research. Both clinical and experimental animal studies are presented in the first three sections, while predominantly basic research is the focus of the second half of the book.