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Elsevier

Books in Life sciences

  • Physiology of the Cladocera

    • 1st Edition
    • Nikolai N. Smirnov
    • English
    The Physiology of Cladocera is a much-needed summary of foundational information on these increasingly important model organisms. This unique and valuable summary is based on the world's literature, including Russian research not widely available until now. It offers systematically arranged data on the physiology of Cladocera, assisting with explanation of their life and distribution, as well as discussion on directions of future research. Special expert contributions in genetics, immunology, and cytology round out the physiological chapters and provide comprehensive insight into the state of knowledge of Cladocera and its underlying mechanisms. Cladocera crustaceans make up a significant part of the natural communities and biological productivity of fresh waters. In recent decades, they have become globally studied for many purposes, including systematics, genetic, molecular, ecological and evolutionary biology studies. They are also used as "sentinel" organisms for assessing water quality and the environment. In addition, the genome of Daphnia (a genus within Cladocera) was recently sequenced and published, giving this system a much wider exposure. It has also led to a rapidly growing awareness of the importance of understanding physiological processes as they relate to evolutionary and ecological genomics and ecogenomic toxicology. Despite the increasing use of Cladocera in research and study, physiological background information on these creatures is fragmentary. Hundreds of unconnected publications have been accumulated on their physiology, and a synthesis and general representation of the literature has been much needed for the many researchers working with this organism. The Physiology of Cladocera stands alone as a valuable and comprehensive offering in this area for many researchers and students.

  • Avian Biology

    Volume I
    • 1st Edition
    • Donald S. Farner + 1 more
    • English
    Avian Biology is a collection of papers that deals with biological aspects of birds such as their classification and habitat behavior. One paper reviews how birds are classified through practical systematics, study of fossils, and some of the problems encountered in the arrangement of major groups. Another paper discusses the origin and evolution of birds from their reptilian predecessors to their current evolutionary rates. Evolutionary rates vary depending on access to new habitats; if the environment is static, evolutionary rates can also slow down. One author discusses the inter-relations of sea birds with their marine environment, including coastal areas and the biological properties of the surface water. Another author describes the biology of desert birds relating to nomadism behavior and physical adaptations especially to the arid environment. The author also describes the cooling mechanism of these desert birds. Another paper evaluates the ecological aspect of behavior that includes foraging, habitat selection, mating, and flocking cohesion. Avian biologists, zoologists, and readers who have a general interest in birds will find this book useful.

  • Interleukin 3

    The Panspecific Hemopoietin
    • 1st Edition
    • John W. Schrader
    • English
    Interleukin 3: The Panspecific Hemopoietin contains contributions from immunologists, hematologists, protein chemists, and molecular biologists whose efforts have defined the biology and molecular nature of interleukin 3 (IL-3) in less than a decade. The articles represent personal perspectives rather than exhaustive reviews. They are arranged in alphabetical order rather than thematically because many of the individual articles cover multiple aspects of the molecule. These articles cover topics such as the potential role of IL-3 in the pathology of allergic and inflammatory disease and the role of IL-3 in the genesis of certain myeloid leukemias. A number of articles also highlight an important technical point, namely, that many of the various assays often used for IL-3 are not specific. One article indicates that the ""histamine-producin... cell-stimulating factor"" activity can be mediated not only by IL-3 but also by granulocyte-macropha... colony-stimulating factor. Another deals with the lack of specificity of assays based on the induction of 20α-SDH or factor-dependent cell lines.

  • Plant Biosystematics

    • 1st Edition
    • William F. Grant
    • English
    Plant Biosystematics is a compendium of papers from a symposium titled "Plant Biosystematics: Forty Years Later" held in Montreal in July 1983. This collection reviews the current field of biosystematics, particularly the evolution of natural biota, and how plant biosystematics can contribute to the welfare of humans. One paper reviews biosystematics, compares new approaches, and discusses the latest trend in comparative, molecular evolution of genes. One author discusses the cytology and biosystematics concerning the discontinuities and genetic independence occurring in the evolutionary process. Another author discusses chromosome pairing in species and hybrids that includes models of chromosome pairing in diploids. The text also describes chromosome banding and biosystematics, as well as the problems of chromosome banding that should be addressed to in future research. With estimates of the number of species being threatened with extinction numbering around 20,000 one paper address the issue of conservation and biosystematics. The author suggests that more biological information should be published to avoid duplication of effort, and possibly drive scientists to have their views more widely felt. Agriculturists, botanists, conservationists, environmentalists, and researchers in the field of botany, conservation, and plant genealogy will find this book valuable.

  • The Plant Cell

    A Comprehensive Treatise
    • 1st Edition
    • N. E. Tolbert
    • English
    The Biochemistry of Plants: A Comprehensive Treatise, Volume I: The Plant Cell serves as an introduction to the various parts of the cell and to the basic biochemistry carried out in the different subcellular components. The book discusses the parts of a cell and the biochemical processes, such as respiration involving the mitochondria, microbodies or cytosol, or photosynthesis in the chloroplasts. The text also describes the use of plant cell cultures in biochemistry; the primary cell walls of flowering plants; and the morphology, purification, chemical and enzymatic composition, and functions of the plasma membrane and the cytosol. The biochemistry of the developmental and genetic processes involved, the development of function, and the biochemistry and metabolism of the mature organelle are also considered. The book further tackles the biochemistry of the plant mitochondria, peroxisomes, glyoxysomes, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, plant nucleus, protein bodies, plant vacuoles, and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Biochemists, chemists, biologists, botanists, plant pathologists, and students taking related courses will find the book useful.

  • Blood Vessels and Lymphatics

    • 1st Edition
    • David I. Abramson
    • English
    Blood Vessels and Lymphatics focuses on the embryology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and pathology of blood vessels and lymphatics. The selection first offers information on the embryology and gross, microscopic and submicroscopic anatomy, biophysical principles and physiology, and pharmacology and biochemistry of arterial and arteriolar systems. The text then takes a look at the sympathetic innervation of arterial tree. The publication examines microcirculation and the venous system, including the structural basis of microcirculation, exchange of materials across capillary wall, pathology of microcirculation, biochemistry, and pharmacology. The book then elaborates on coronary, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal circulation, blood vessels of the pituitary and the thyroid, and disorders affecting arterial or venous circulation. The selection is a vital source of information for readers interested in the study of blood vessels and lymphatics.

  • Isotopes in Biology

    • 1st Edition
    • George Wolf
    • English
    Isotope is Biology is a six-chapter supplementary text that covers the properties and application of isotopes as labels or analytical tools in biological research. The first chapters deal with the physico-chemical properties and radioactivity of isotopes. These chapters also explore their synthesis, preparation, radiation decomposition, and decay of radioactivity. The succeeding chapter considers other aspects of isotopes, including their effect of health, disposal, spills, and laboratory use. Another chapter examines the chemical and biochemical behavior, natural abundance, and the chemical stability of isotopic compounds. The final chapters describe several isotopic methods, namely, isotope dilution, paper chromatography, and autoradiography, with emphasis on their application in biological studies. This book will be of value to biologists, and graduate and undergraduate biology students.

  • Theoretical and Methodological Basis of Continuous Culture of Microorganisms

    • 1st Edition
    • Ivan Málek + 1 more
    • English
    Theoretical and Methodological Basis of Continuous Culture of Microorganisms deals with the continuous cultivation of microorganisms. The book contains six chapters and opens with a discussion of the origins, principles, and development of continuous cultivation methods. This is followed by separate chapters on continuous systems (open, closed, semi-continuous systems), theoretical analysis of continuous culture systems, techniques of continuous laboratory cultivations, experimental applications of continuous cultivation, and industrial continuous fermentations.

  • Control of Animal Cell Proliferation

    Volume I
    • 1st Edition
    • Alton L. Boynton + 1 more
    • English
    Control of Animal Cell Proliferation, Volume I presents how animals regulate their proliferation activity and how cells become proliferatively autonomous resulting in malignant behavior. This book provides an understanding of mechanisms that control animal cell proliferation. Organized into five parts encompassing 17 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the efforts to elucidate he genetic alterations that lead normal cells to become cancer cells, which have been aided considerably by the investigation of acute retroviruses. This text then examines the factors involved in growth control. Other chapters describe in detail the biology and biochemistry of epidermal growth factor (EGF), which have been elucidated through the study of cultured human fibroblasts. This book discusses as well the protein kinases with specificity for tyrosine. The final chapter deals with regulation of initiation of eukaryotic protein synthesis by phosphorylation. This book is a valuable resource for scientists as well as cellular and molecular biologists.

  • Principles of Cloning

    • 2nd Edition
    • Jose Cibelli + 6 more
    • English
    Principles of Cloning, Second Edition is the fully revised edition of the authoritative book on the science of cloning. The book presents the basic biological mechanisms of how cloning works and progresses to discuss current and potential applications in basic biology, agriculture, biotechnology, and medicine. Beginning with the history and theory behind cloning, the book goes on to examine methods of micromanipulation, nuclear transfer, genetic modification, and pregnancy and neonatal care of cloned animals. The cloning of various species—including mice, sheep, cattle, and non-mammals—is considered as well. The Editors have been involved in a number of breakthroughs using cloning technique, including the first demonstration that cloning works in differentiated cells done by the Recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine – Dr John Gurdon; the cloning of the first mammal from a somatic cell – Drs Keith Campbell and Ian Wilmut; the demonstration that cloning can reset the biological clock - Drs Michael West and Robert Lanza; the demonstration that a terminally differentiated cell can give rise to a whole new individual – Dr Rudolf Jaenisch and the cloning of the first transgenic bovine from a differentiated cell – Dr Jose Cibelli. The majority of the contributing authors are the principal investigators on each of the animal species cloned to date and are expertly qualified to present the state-of-the-art information in their respective areas.

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