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Books in Life sciences

Interleukin-1 in the Brain
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Nancy J. Rothwell
English
Interest in interleukin-1 (IL-1) has increased dramatically over the last decade, but has been largely restricted to immunologists, cell biologists and those studying inflammation and cancer. However, it has recently been recognized that the brain directly controls or modulates many aspects of immune function, while molecules classically associated with the immune system, such as interleukin-1, are synthesised within the brain and act directly on the central nervous system to modify local and systemic functions. Thus, this topic is relatively new to neurobiologists, and this book is the first comprehensive description of current knowledge on interleukin-1 in the brain, including its location, synthesis and receptors, actions on behaviour, fever, metabolism, neuroendocrine function, electrical activity of the brain, nerve growth factor, and relationship to clinical indications. The book is organised into three sections. The first reviews the data available on the neural localisation of IL-1 and the nature of its central receptors. The main part of the book examines the different neural effects of IL-1 and the mechanisms which are involved in these actions, comparing IL-1 where possible to other inflammatory cytokines which also have neurotrophic effects. The final section evaluates the possible role of IL-1 in neural plasticity and neuronal degeneration.
Plant Pests and their Control
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Peter G. Fenemore
English
Plant Pests and their Control, Revised Edition discusses the concepts involved in pest management, along with its application, constraints, and opportunities. This book is comprised of 13 chapters that cover topics relevant in understanding the basis and practice of pest management. The first six chapters deal with the various aspects of entomology. These chapters cover the importance of insects; the physiological properties of insects; and reproduction and life cycle. The next chapter covers the non-insect pests. Chapter 8 discusses the relationship between insects and plants, while Chapter 9 covers the mortality factors of insect, such as predators, parasites, and pathogens. The next chapter presents the ecological background of pest control. The remaining three chapters discuss pest management itself. This text will be of great use to agriculturists, horticulturalists, and pest control professionals. Household owners dealing with residential pest infestation will also find this book a great source of information.
Invertebrate Photoreceptors
A Comparative Analysis
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Jerome J. Wolken
English
Invertebrate Photoreceptors: A Comparative Analysis covers the structure and pigment chemistry of invertebrate photoreceptors. The book discusses the photobehavior and photoreceptor systems of invertebrate animals; the protozoan photoreceptor; and the compound eye. The text also describes the crustacean and mollusc eyes; the vertebrate retinal photoreceptors; and the invertebrate eye and its visual pigments. The book concludes with discussions on primitive photoreceptors; spectral sensitivity, pigments, and color vision; and polarized light analysis. Biologists and people involved in the study of invertebrate photobiology will find the text invaluable.
Screening Methods in Pharmacology
Volume II
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Robert Turner + 1 more
English
Screening Methods in Pharmacology, Volume II is a collection of papers that presents practical techniques and information on the selection of a screening program for a particular pharmacological activity. The book contains the most reliable, simplest, and the most preferred screening methods in pharmacology. The text presents screening methods for alpha and beta Adrenergic blocking agents; compounds for antianginal activity; topical products for excessive eccrine sweating; antidepressant agents; and agents with analgesic and analgesic antagonist activity. Pharmacologists, pharmacists, researchers, and physicians will find this book a good source of information.
Biology in Profile
A Guide to the Many Branches of Biology
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
P. N. Campbell
English
Biology in Profile: A Guide to the Many Branches of Biology is a 20-chapter text that describes the profile and biological phenomena of selected branches of biology. Each chapter discusses the scope, growth areas, and specialties of the specific branch of biology. This book includes 20 branches of biology, such as zoology, botany, microbiology, physiology, ecology, ethology, psychology, parasitology, pharmacy, and pharmacology. Other branches covered include toxicology, nutrition, food science, endocrinology, immunology, genetics, virology, biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. This book will be of value to students and other scientists who are not practicing biologists.
Antipsychotic Drugs and Their Side-Effects
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Thomas R.E. Barnes
English
In line with other volumes in the Neuroscience Perspectives Series, this volume covers the background, pharmacology, molecular biology, and biochemistry of antipsychotic drugs, together with an overview assessment of the therapeutic considerations. Over the past 40 years, the effectiveness of conventional neuroleptic agents for psychotic illness has been offset by a wide range of adverse side-effects, including motor side-effects like parkinsonism. Studies show that lowering doses may still produce the antipsychotic effect while lessening the risk of side-effects. As all available antispychotic drugs are able to block dopamine, specifically D2 receptors, doses below the threshold level for producing acute motor disorder can still be therapeutically effective. With the identification and characterization of multiple dopamine receptors, the possibility of more selective drugs with better side-effect potential has arisen. Other novel antipsychotic agents include D1 receptor blockers, partial dopamine agonists and non-dopamine drugs such as 5-HT receptor blockers, sigma receptor antagonists and NMDA receptor agonists. This volume reviews both the basic science of the conventional and atypical neuroleptics and their present and potential therapeutic use.
Idiotypy in Biology and Medicine
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Heinz Köhler + 2 more
English
Idiotypy in Biology and Medicine aims to serve the increasing interest and involvement in the practical aspects of idiotypy in biological systems. The concept of idiotypy has received wide recognition and interest far beyond the area of immunology. Experiments and interpretation of findings, reported here, clearly support the general nature of the idiotype concept in manipulating biological systems to correct pathological conditions or to improve the immune adaptation to environmental factors. The book is organized into three sections. Section 1 discusses original concepts of idiotypic manipulations. It reviews old and recent data important for the concept of an idiotype network and reports on attempts to deal with the T-cell receptor paradox; explains the immune system in terms of a circular idiotype network that can be demonstrated by sequential immunization; and emphasizes the need for restrictions in network interactions. Section 2 addresses the role and activity of idiotypic and antiidiotypic antibodies in the regulation of the immune system. Section 3 takes the issue of idiotype-antiidiotyp... out of the realm of the immune system and discusses it as a new principle to analyze and manipulate biological systems in general.
Selected Topics from Neurochemistry
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
Neville N. Osborne
English
This book contains up-dated versions of articles which proved very popular when first published in Neurochemistry International. The articles draw attention to developments in a specific field perhaps unfamiliar to the reader, collating observations from a wide area which seem to point in a new direction, giving the author's personal view on a controversial topic, or directing soundly based criticism at some widely held dogma or widely used technique in the neurosciences.
Form and Function
Form and Function
1st Edition
Volume 11
October 22, 2013
E. R. Trueman + 1 more
English
This volume reviews the most important advances that have taken place in the interpretation of the structure and function of molluscan systems. A detailed treatment of each organ system is presented with particular emphasis on skin, shell, muscle, and excretory systems, and luminescences. Emphasis is given to recent research and the current status of each topic.
The Catecholamines in Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders
1st Edition
October 22, 2013
C. Raymond Lake + 1 more
English
The Catecholamines in Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders focuses on the contributions of catecholamines (CA) in the modulation of blood pressure, stress and exercise, body movements, memory, learning, emotions, thought processing, appetite, and mediation of psychotropic drug action. The selection first elaborates on the techniques for the assessment and interpretation of catecholamine measurements in neuropsychiatric patients and catecholaminergic response to stress and exercise. Discussions focus on noradrenergic response to isometric exercise, isotonic exercise, effect of acceleration on sympathetic activity, techniques for sympathetic nervous system evaluation, and measurements of CA and their metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid. The text then takes a look at urinary CA in behavioral research on stress; CA in anxiety disorders and mitral valve prolapse; and interaction with neurotransmitters in normal subjects and in patients with selected neurologic diseases. The selection examines noradrenergic responses in postural hypotension, norepinephrine, alcohol, and alcoholism, and catecholamine metabolism in anorexia nervosa. Topics include cerebral catecholamine metabolism in anorexia nervosa; central nervous system norepinephrine and voluntary alcohol drinking; and overview of norepinephrine in selected pediatric disorders. The book is a dependable reference for neuropsychiatrists and readers interested in the contributions of catecholamines on psychiatric disorders.

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