Skip to main content
Elsevier

Books in Life sciences

  • Perspectives in Urban Entomology

    • 1st Edition
    • G. W. Frankie + 1 more
    • English
    Perspectives in Urban Entomology is a collection of papers presented at the "Ecology and Management of Insect Populations in Urban Environments" held in Washington, D.C. in 1976. This collection deals with urban entomology with emphasis on insects, insect-plant relationships, and arthropods in the urban environments. One paper examines the causes why certain species manage to survive in an urban environment while others do not. The book cites one example—the Rothamsted insect survey—and analyzes the pressures of development in the surrounding land area. One paper addresses the educational and esthetic value of an insect-plant relationship in an ever expanding development of urban spaces. Another paper shows the value and benefit of a scientific investment in urban agriculture—defined as small-scale agriculture in urban areas—as contributing to food crops. Some papers also examine the use of insecticides and technology transfer in the management of urban pest control. This book will be valuable for entomologists, urban planners and developers, environmentalists, and for general readers residing in metropolitan areas.

  • The Biology of Animal Viruses

    • 2nd Edition
    • Frank J. Fenner + 2 more
    • English
    The Biology of Animal Viruses, Second Edition deals with animal viruses focusing on molecular biology and tumor virology. The book reviews the nature, chemical composition, structure, and classification of animal viruses. The text also describes the methods of isolating animal viruses, how these are grown in the laboratory, assayed, purified, and used in biochemical experiments. The book also describes the structure and chemistry of many known viruses such as the papovaviridae, herpes virus, poxvirus, coronavirus, or the Bunyamwera supergroup. The book then explains the structure and function of the animal cell including the cytoplasmic organelles, the nucleus, inhibitors of cell function, and viral multiplication. Other papers discuss in detail the multiplication of the DNA and RNA viruses, whose mechanisms of multiplication differ from those of other viruses. Other papers discuss the known prevention and treatment methods of viral diseases, as well as the epidemiology and evolution of viral diseases resulting from human's disturbance of the biosphere and from medical and experimental innovations. The text can prove useful for immunologists, veterinarians, virologists, molecular researchers, students, and academicians in the field of cellular microbiology and virology.

  • Calcium and Cell Function

    • 1st Edition
    • Wai Yiu Cheung
    • English
    Molecular Biology: Calcium and Cell Function, Volume VI deals with several topics relating to calcium and cell function. This book consists of nine chapters. Chapter 1 describes the various peptides that recognize calmodulin in a calcium-dependent fashion. Chapter 2 updates the molecular and regulatory properties of calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase, while Chapter 3 reviews a calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase. The studies on the biophysical characterization of calmodulin are summarized in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5, the studies on a calcium-dependent protease from human erythrocytes are presented. The problem of an uncontrolled level of calcium that often precipitates toxic consequences is considered in Chapter 6. The role of calcium in meiosis is elaborated in Chapter 7, followed by a discussion on calcium ion involved with the secretory process, emphasizing the secretion of insulin in Chapter 8. The last chapter deliberates the role of photosynthesis, a process that captures the solar energy and sustains all living systems. This publication is a good reference for biologists, medical practitioners, and students researching on the relation of calcium to the physiology and biochemistry of organisms and cells.

  • Biological Activities of Steroids in Relation to Cancer

    Proceedings of a Conference Sponsored by the Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare
    • 1st Edition
    • Gregory Pincus + 1 more
    • English
    Biological Activities of Steroids in Relation to Cancer covers the proceedings of the conference sponsored by the Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The text focuses on the influence of steroids on medical approaches to the cure of cancer, including steroid chemistry, estrogen metabolism, and mammary cancer. The selection first offers information on steroids growth and cancer, advances in steroid chemistry, and the physiology and pharmacology of steroids affecting tumor growth. Discussions focus on rapid development of mammary cancer, pituitary functions, androgens, estrogens, and progestins. The book also ponders on the binding of steroid hormones by plasma proteins; the effects of steroids on the levels of the plasma 17-hydroxycorticoste... and the serum protein-bound iodine; and the metabolism of dehydroisoandrostero... The text evaluates studies on estrogen metabolism, biochemical parameters of estrogen action, and enzymatic transport of hydrogen by estrogenic hormones. The manuscript also elaborates on the fate of steroid estrogens in target tissues, effect of steroids on calcium dynamics, and steroids and experimental mammary cancer. The selection is a valuable source of information for readers interested in the use of steroids in treating cancer.

  • Excitable Cells

    Monographs in Modern Biology for Upper School and University Courses
    • 1st Edition
    • F. A. Miles
    • English
    Monographs in Modern Biology for Upper School and University Courses: Excitable Cells focuses on the fundamental nature of the signals carried in the nervous system, including nervous activity, synapses, and membrane permeability. The publication first elaborates on the elements of structure and function in the nervous system and resting nerve. Discussions focus on neuron, synapse, effect of changes in membrane permeability on membrane potential, recording nervous activity, movement of ions through solutions and membranes, and permeability of the resting membrane. The text then takes a look at the nerve impulse, including permeability changes associated with the nerve impulse, voltage clamp studies, and electrical model of the nerve membrane. The manuscript examines input signal and synapse. Topics include receptor discharge, generator potential, coding of the input message, frog neuromuscular junction, functional aspects of the vertebrate neuromuscular junction, nervous control of crustacean muscle, and central synapses. The publication is a dependable source material for biologists and readers interested in pursuing studies on excitable cells.

  • Ultrastructure of the Kidney

    • 1st Edition
    • Albert J. Dalton + 1 more
    • English
    Ultrastructure in Biological Systems, Volume 2: Ultrastructure of the Kidney provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the ultrastructure of the mammalian kidney. The application of the electron microscope to studies of the kidney resulted in the demonstration of the hitherto undetected early thickening of the basement membrane of glomerular capillaries in glomerulonephritis. Yet many problems remain, particularly in relation to the correlation between function and the ultrastructure of components of the kidney—mesangium, glomerulus, juxtaglomerular apparatus, and the renal tubules. It is only recently that the mesangium has come to be accepted as real, and many questions remain as to the function of its cells. The existence of true membranes between foot processes of the epithelial cells of glomeruli is a newly established fact; but what this has to do with glomerular filtration is not known at present. Granules apparently secretory in nature have been identified in cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, but so far their presence has not been correlated with specific functional change. Artifacts introduced at fixation are now known to have considerable relevance in interpreting the ultrastructure of the normal nephron. These are paraphrased views of the contributors to this monograph who, while acquainting the reader with the research being carried on in these areas, have also brought into focus the many problems still awaiting solution.

  • Venomous Animals and Their Venoms

    Venomous Vertebrates
    • 1st Edition
    • Wolfgang Bücherl + 1 more
    • English
    Venomous Animals and Their Venoms, Volume II: Venomous Vertebrates is a collection of papers that describes the chemistry and biochemistry of snake, batrachian, and fish venoms. These papers discuss their pharmacological actions, their antigenic properties, and their medical aspects such as symptomatology and therapy. Papers describe the pharmacology and toxicology of the venoms of Asiatic, Australian, and Melanesian snakes including the cobra, the common Krait, the saw-scaled viper. One paper presents the pathology, symptomatology, treatment of snake bites in Australia, and the use of an antivenin schedule when the type of snake is not known. Some papers tackle the distribution of snakes in North America, and compare the biochemistry of Miliarius barbouri and Sistrurus catenatus which are subspecies of rattlesnakes. Other papers describe the biology and venom of the Arizona Gila monster and of the Mexican Gila monster. The basic substances in toad venom are from bases present in the glands, their secretions or on their skin. In treating stings from venomous fishes, one paper recommends the use of suction to remove the venom or soaking the injured part in hot water. This collection can be helpful for physicians, veterinarians, toxicologists, pharmacologists, chemists, and researchers in animal bites and injuries.

  • Pigment—Protein Complexes in Plastids

    Synthesis and Assembly
    • 1st Edition
    • Christer Sundqvist + 1 more
    • English
    Pigment-Protein Complexes in Plastids: Synthesis and Assembly covers the different aspects of biosynthesis, assembly, and function of pigment-protein complexes. This book focuses on the molecular biology and physiological relevance of chlorophyll-protein complexes. The regulation and biosynthesis of chlorophyll proteins that involve a coordinated expression of nuclear and plastid genes and require communication among the cell organelles to respond properly to changing light and temperature conditions are also deliberated. This publication is intended for researchers in the fields of plant molecular biology, genetics, plant physiology and biochemistry, and cell biology, as well as students and teachers in agriculture, horticulture, biology, and biochemistry interested in pigment-protein complexes.

  • Dynamics of Development: Experiments and Inferences

    Selected Papers on Developmental Biology
    • 1st Edition
    • Paul A. Weiss
    • English
    Dynamics of Development: Experiments and Inferences provides an understanding of the dynamic order of living systems. This book presents a methodical approach to the unrestricted exploration of all the aspects that a living system offers, which is evaluated logically through experiment and inference. Organized into five parts encompassing 24 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the adaptive features of the nervous system. This text then examines the molecular control of cellular activity. Other chapters focus on resolving the fragments of the chemical endowment of the cell. This book discusses as well the mechanisms of respiration and photosynthesis, which have been connected with arrays of macromolecular complexes in definite sequential order. The final chapter deals with the fundamental principle of neural intercommunication. This book is a valuable resource for biochemists, biologists, zoologists, neurophysiologists, and scientists. Students and research workers interested in the dynamic order of living systems will also find this book useful.

  • Biology of the Lymphokines

    • 1st Edition
    • Stanley Cohen + 2 more
    • English
    Biology of the Lymphokines discusses the scope and diversity of lymphokine research. This book focuses on the studies on lymphokines, such as those involving cellular source, chemical nature, purification strategies, and bioassay limitations. The mechanism of lymphokine action, lymphokines in vivo, and value of lymphokine quantitations are also covered. This text describes the repertoire of lymphokines produced by various lymphoblastoid cell lines and its significance for coping with the problem of large scale lymphokine production. The anti-viral and general immunoregulatory properties of interferons and rationale developed for integrating interferons with the family of lymphokines are likewise deliberated. This publication is a good source for students and researchers conducting work on lymphokines.

Related subjects