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Books in Life sciences

  • The molecular aspects of autoimmunity

    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Nadir Farid
    • English
    The Molecular Aspects of Autoimmunity contains a selection of the papers presented at the first of a series of biannual meetings on molecular aspects of autoimmunity held in L'Esterel, Quebec, Canada, October 30-November 2, 1988. The book contains 20 chapters and begins with a study of the expression of the Ly-1 gene and V gene families in autoantibodies. This is followed by separate chapters on the structural characteristics of human IgM autoantibodies; human IgV gene segments for autoantibodies; and the genetic basis of anti-DNA immune responses. Subsequent chapters cover topics such as the epibodies from the immune response to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR); the specificities and idiotypes of anti-histone H1 autoantibodies; T cell tolerance; and T cell antigen receptor (TCR) gene biology and the genomic composition and expressed repertoire of these genes in several autoimmune and normal mouse strains. Also discussed are MHC Class II associations with autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease.
  • Lipoprotein (a)

    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Angelo Scanu
    • English
    Lipoprotein(a) presents the proceedings of the International Symposium, held in Chicago, Illinois, on December 2–3, 1988. It discusses the different aspects of the research on lipoprotein(a), commonly referred to as Lp(a). It covers a wide range of topics, including comparative biology, metabolism, structure, epidemiology, and treatment. Comprised of 15 chapters, the book starts with an overview of the role of Lp(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), followed by a discussion on recent findings and developments. It then considers the relationship between elevated plasma Lp(a) and the inherited risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. The reader is also introduced to the various components of Lp(a), which include neutral lipids, polar lipids, apoprotein(a), and apoprotein B. Other chapters discuss the specific functions of apolipoproteins in plasma lipid metabolism, which determine the fate of the various lipoprotein particles in plasma. This book will be of benefit to cardiologists and medical practitioners.
  • Differential Equations and Applications in Ecology, Epidemics, and Population Problems

    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Stavros Busenberg
    • English
    Differential Equations and Applications in Ecology, Epidemics, and Population Problems is composed of papers and abstracts presented at the 1981 research conference on Differential Equations and Applications to Ecology, Epidemics, and Population Problems held at Harvey Mudd College. The reported researches consist of mathematics that is either a direct outgrowth from questions in population biology and biomathematics, or applicable to such questions. The content of this volume are collected in four groups. The first group addresses aspects of population dynamics that involve the interaction between spatial and temporal effects. The second group covers other questions in population dynamics and some other areas of biomathematics. The third group deals with topics in differential and functional differential equations that are continuing to find important applications in mathematical biology. The last group comprises of work on various aspects of differential equations and dynamical systems, not essentially motivated by biological applications. This book is valuable to students and researchers in theoretical biology and biomathematics, as well as to those interested in modern applications of differential equations.
  • Tissues and Body fluids

    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Kurt Altman
    • English
    Radiation Biochemistry, Volume II: Tissues and Body Fluids deals with the radiation biochemistry of mammalian organs and body fluids. Emphasis is placed on descriptions of overall biochemical changes in irradiated tissues and animals; on the dependency of these changes on cellular responses; and on the interactions among different organ systems. Consideration is also given to a practical application of radiation biochemistry to the problem of assessing the nature, tissue localization, and extent of radiation injury in man and animals. The book's nine chapters discuss the following: the general aspects of radiation biochemistry; bone marrow and red blood cells; lymphoid organs; gastrointestinal tract; the liver; radiation biochemistry of miscellaneous organs; radiation biochemistry of tumors; changes in the biochemistry of body fluids after irradiation; and hormones and systemic effects. This text will be useful to life scientists who are just embarking in the field of radiation biology. In particular, the discussions of the complications introduced by body changes secondary to radiation damage, such as partial starvation and changes in cell populations of a given tissue, should help prevent errors in interpretation that have been committed in the past.
  • The Hormones V4

    Physiology, Chemistry and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Mohhamad Reza Kiani
    • English
    The Hormones: Physiology, Chemistry and Applications, Volume IV covers the advances in understanding the nature and function of plant and non-mammalian animal hormones. This volume is divided into 11 chapters, and begins with an examination of the major characteristics of auxins, including the diversity of its action, chemical control, and systematic patterns. The subsequent chapters explore the chemistry and physiology of neurohormones and their role in insect growth. A chapter highlights the control of color of hormones and the actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine. The remaining chapters are devoted to the occurrence, physiological role, biochemistry, mode of action, metabolism, and biosynthesis of other hormones, such as gastrointestinal hormones, catecholamines, insulin, and glucagon. These chapters deal also with the general principles and application of immunoassay of protein hormones. Endocrinologists, physiologists, biochemists, and hormone researchers will find this book invaluable.
  • The Glycoconjugates

    Mammalian Glycoproteins and Glycolipids
    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Martin Horowitz
    • English
    The Glycoconjugates: Mammalian Glycoproteins and Glycolipids, Volume I is a collaboration of different experts in the field of molecular biology on the subject of glycoconjugates. The text discusses the historical aspect, nomenclature, biosynthesis, and catabolism of glycoconjugates and their role in normal and pathological processes. Also covered are topics such as the purification of glycoproteins; the elucidation of the amino acid sequence of glycoproteins; the glycoproteins found in the different parts of the human body; glycoenzymes; and glycohormones. The book is recommended for molecular biologists, organic chemists, and biochemists who would like to know more about glycolipids and glycoproteins and their applications.
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins in Health and Disease

    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Anthony Norman
    • English
    Calcium-Binding Proteins in Health and Disease includes the papers prepared by the invited speakers as well as many of the free communications. The contributions are grouped according to their general subject matter, based on the classification made by the authors, e.g., Extracellular Metabolism: Calcium Homeostasis; Low-Affinity Calcium-Binding Proteins. There can be little doubt that calcium-binding proteins is a field of scientific endeavor which will continue to produce results of great interest to modern biology. This book is divided into eight sections, the first of which, tackle extracellular calcium metabolism or calcium homeostasis. The next sections focus on topics such as low-affinity calcium-binding proteins; calcium and membranes, channels and transport (pumps); the role of calcium in complex metabolic processes; and gene structure of calcium-binding proteins and their expression. Other chapters cover physical studies on calcium-binding proteins, including X-ray, crystallography, and NMR; structure-function relationships of calcium-binding proteins and their targets; and calcium-binding proteins in health and disease. This book will be of interest to practitioners in the fields of biology and medicine.
  • Isozymes V2

    Physiological Function
    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Clement Markert
    • English
    Isozymes, II: Physiological Function contains manuscripts presented at the Third International Conference on isozymes convened in April 1974 at Yale University. Separating 53 manuscripts into chapters, this book first discusses the medical uses of isozymes. It then describes the various dehydrogenase isozymes mechanisms of action and biological functions. Other general topics explored are the roles of isozymes in adaptation to varying temperatures and their use in the study of mitochondria. Significant topics on specific isozymes are given separately in other chapters.
  • Humoral Control of Growth And Differentiation

    Vertebrate Regulatory Factors
    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • Joseph Lobue
    • English
    Humoral Control of Growth and Differentiation, Volume I: Vertebrate Regulatory Factors is a part of two-volume work that introduces the reader to humoral control of growth and differentiation in vertebrates. This volume gives emphasis on chemical messengers, which have received relatively little attention in standard treatises on endocrine physiology for a number of reasons. Organized into three parts, this book begins with the physiological significance of chalones. This class of hormones is intimately associated with mitotic homeostasis as inhibitors of cell division. The book then looks into the aspects of blood cell formation and release, as well as the humoral control of organs and tissue growth. This volume also includes chapters discussing the humoral changes occurring in diseases of the blood and other pathologic states. The humoral factors influencing lymphocyte proliferation in culture are also explained. Moreover, this volume examines the effects of the more orthodox hormones upon skeletal growth and regeneration.
  • Neural Models of Plasticity

    Experimental and Theoretical Approaches
    • 1st Edition
    • December 2, 2012
    • John H. Byrne
    • English
    Neural Models of Plasticity: Experimental and Theoretical Approaches focuses on the use of theoretical and empirical methods in investigating the role of neuronal plasticity in learning, memory, and complex brain functions. It examines the neuromodulation in relation to associative learning and memory, developmental assembly of various components of learning and memory, cellular and molecular processes contributing to associative and non-associative learning, and higher-order features of classical conditioning. Organized into 19 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the central pathways mediating conditioning in the marine mollusk Hermissenda and the behavior modified by conditioning, along with the role of neuromodulation in associative learning in this organism. It then proceeds with a discussion of learning and memory in the marine mollusk Aplysia, the Hebb rule for synaptic plasticity, a drive-reinforcement model of neuronal function for predicting classical conditioning phenomena, and the relationship between olfactory processing and associative memory. The reader is also introduced to a neural circuit for classical conditioning of the eyelid closure response, molecular mechanisms and roles of long-term depression in cerebellar function, and functions of neuronal networks in the hippocampus and neocortex in memory. The book concludes with a chapter on models of calcium regulation in neurons. This book is a valuable resource for neurobiologists, psychologists, adaptive systems theorists, and others working in the fields of anatomy, physiology, neurophysiology, molecular biophysics, chemistry, biology, and psychiatry.