Scientists now understand that cancer is a genetic disease and cutting -edge molecular therapies are making their way from the laboratory into clinical practice. Introduction to Oncogenes and Molecular Cancer Medicine provides the physician with a solid understanding of molecular biology and its applications for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The book reviews the basic molecular principles and the basic principles of cancer medicine, including controls of cell growth and senescence, carcinogenesis, tumorogenesis, and epidemiology. The second part of the book gives clinical examples to demonstrate the basic science principles, including chapters on leukemia, colon cancer, and breast cancer. A chapter on molecular diagnostics and screening plus a chapter on new molecular anti-cancer therapies give the reader a look at current cutting-edge therapies as well as as the future of molecular cancer medicine. A useful glossary defines new terminology at-a-glance. Introduction to Oncogenes and Molecular Cancer Medicine is for all physicians seeking a better understanding of the modern molecular principles of cancer medicine. Written in a user-friendly, conversational format, this text will be welcomed by all physicians eager to sharpen their own understanding of molecular cancer medicine as well as to help them provide patients with balanced information on the advances and limitations of current treatment options.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most important molecular biological methods ever devised, with numerous applications to cli- cal molecular medicine. Since its description in 1985, PCR has undergone tremendous improvements, and many variations on the basic PCR theme have been published. With such a large volume of PCR-related literature, a clinical scientist wishing to use the technique will have a difficult task loc- ing the relevant information to implement it effectively. There is thus clearly a need for an up-to-date volume with detailed protocols to facilitate the setting up of those techniques most relevant to clinical applications. Unlike some other books on this topic, Clinical Applications of PCR includes only methods that are of direct relevance in clinical settings. The book is organized in three parts: an introductory section, a section on general methodology, and a final section with specific clinical applications. The first section covers the basic principles of PCR and is most useful to those new to molecular diagnosis. The next chapter includes useful tips for setting up a PCR laboratory. Section 2 then outlines some of the most commonly used PCR-based techniques in molecular diagnosis. Section 3 includes carefully chosen examples that represent typical applications of PCR in diverse clinical fields, encompassing hematology, oncology, genetics, and microbiology.

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, has a long and multifaceted scientific history. In 1937, the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Albert Szent-Gyorgyi'in recognition of his discoveries concerning the biological oxida tion processes with special reference to vitamin C', and the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was shared by Sir Norman W. Haworth, who was the first to synthesize the vitamin. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, and this action represented the theoretical basis for various lines of investigation on this molecule in which the potential role of ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of a series of dis eases, whose pathogenesis is linked to an excess of free radicals such as athero sclerosis and cancer, have been examined. These data have been analyzed in detail by experts in biochemistry, epidemi ology, and preventive and clinical medicine in the International Symposium Vitamin C, the state of the art in disease prevention sixty years after the Nobel Prize, held in Monte Carlo from October 31 to November 1, 1997, under the aus pices and the scientific endorsement of the Nutrition Foundation of Italy and with the financial support of Bracco SpA and Merck."

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Visualization in Biomedical Computing, VBC '96, held in Hamburg, Germany, in September 1996.
The 73 revised full papers presented were selected from a total of 232 submissions. The book reports the state of the art in the field of computer based visualization in medicine and biology. The papers are organized in sections on visualization; image processing; segmentation; registration; brain: description of shape; brain: characterization of pathology; brain: visualization of function; simulation of surgery and endoscopy; image guided surgery and endoscopy.

In recent years, unprecedented advances in many aspects of the molecular biology of nucleic acids have been witnessed. The area of RNA chemistry has undergone a kind of explosion, with a huge interest in RNA-mediated catalysis. At the same time, our structural understanding of DNA-protein interactions has increased enormously, and the related area of RNA-protein interactions is beginning to gather pace. This softcover edition from the successful series Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology is devoted to the structure and mechanism of ribozymes, and their potential exploitation. The subject has both important evolutionary implications and potential practical application in the development of therapeutic agents for diseases such as AIDS.

Rontgenthoraxaufnahmen richtig interpretieren

Thoraxaufnahmen, die auf der Intensivstation aufgenommen werden, unterscheiden sich in der Aufnahmetechnik und in den veranderten physiologischen und anatomischen Verhaltnissen von Standard-Thoraxaufnahmen, die am Rasterwandstativ angefertigt werden. Die Interpretation dieser Bilder bereitet selbst erfahrenen Radiologen und Intensivmedizinern haufig Schwierigkeiten.

Der Weg zur korrekten Interpretation: - Rontgen- und Aufnahmetechnik - Strahlenschutz und -belastung - Klinische Problematik und Interpretation von Thoraxaufnahmen auf der Intensivstation.

Neu in der 2. Auflage:

Bildmaterial moderner Aufnahmeverfahren

Indikationsstellung fur CT-Aufnahmen

Vergleich von Projektionsradiographie und Schnittbildradiographie und mogliche Pitfalls

Ein Praxisbuch von Radiologen, Intensivmedizinern und Medizinphysikern zum Lernen und Nachschlagen. Ein Muss fur jeden auf der Intensivstation tatigen Arzt "

Bereits in der 5. Auflage erfolgreich! Sowohl Grundlagen der Tauchmedizin als auch Ergebnisse der experimentellen tauchmedizinischen Forschung werden behandelt. Die Probleme des Tieftauchens mit Gasgemischen, des Sporttauchens mit Luft im konventionellen Bereich und der stundenlangen UEberexposition der Caissonarbeiter in Tunneln werden abgehandelt. Seit 1985 wird bei Gasembolie, Dekompressionskrankheit des Gehirns/Ruckenmarks und Innenohrschaden die Behandlung mit hyperbarem Sauerstoff (HBO) angewandt; die Ergebnisse werden mit aussagekraftigen Zahlen belegt. Das Rechenmodell ZH-L8 ADT, bei Tauchcomputern der jungsten Generation in Anwendung, wird beschrieben. Ein aussagefahiger UEberblick uber praktische Tauchmedizin, experimentelle Forschung und Aufbau und Funktion von Dekompressionscomputern!

"Fractals in Biology and Medicine" explores the potential of fractal geometry for describing and understanding biological organisms, their development and growth as well as their structural design and functional properties. It extends these notions to assess changes associated with disease in the hope to contribute to the understanding of pathogenetic processes in medicine. The book is the first comprehensive presentation of the importance of the new concept of fractal geometry for biological and medical sciences. It collates in a logical sequence extended papers based on invited lectures and free communications presented at a symposium in Ascona, Switzerland, attended by leading scientists in this field, among them the originator of fractal geometry, Benoit Mandelbrot. "Fractals in Biology and Medicine" begins by asking how the theoretical construct of fractal geometry can be applied to biomedical sciences and then addresses the role of fractals in the design and morphogenesis of biological organisms as well as in molecular and cell biology. The consideration of fractal structure in understanding metabolic functions and pathological changes is a particularly promising avenue for future research.

Diagnose und Therapie von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen erfordern eine immer engere Zusammenarbeit von Arzten, Naturwissenschaftlern und Ingenieuren. Das vorliegende Lehrbuch wagt daher den Versuch eines Bruckenschlages zwischen den Disziplinen. Im ersten Drittel werden die medizinischen Grundlagen der wichtigsten Herz-Kreislauffunktion und -erkrankungen vermittelt. Auf dieser Basis wird der Aufbau und die Funktionsweise der bekannten Diagnose- und Therapieverfahren aus dem Bereich der Kardiologie erlautert. Dies umfasst sowohl den aktuellen Stand der Technik als auch die neuesten Trends.Das Buch richtet sich somit an Studierende, Lernende und Praktizierende in medizinischen, natur- und ingenieurwissenschaftlichen Berufen. Ziel des Buches ist es, ein gegenseitiges Verstandnis zu wecken, um neue Techniken sinnvoll entwickeln und sicher anwenden zu konnen."

This volume is a compendium of the lectures, presentations, and workshops of the International Congress entitled "Facing the Pancreatic Dilemma" and of the 17th Meeting of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas, held in Verona on 16 -19 June 1993. Pancreatology is still a relatively young science. Many pathophysiological aspects of pancreatic disease are as yet obscure, and a fair number of the etio pathogenetic mechanisms adduced are no more than hypothetical. We have therefore chosen to compare and contrast in a single volume the various hypo theses and interpretations put forward by leading experts in the field. In view of the swift evolution of this branch of medical science, it is sound policy to bear in mind that yesterday's heresies have become today's orthodoxy, and that todays's heresies may well turn out to be accepted orthodoxy in a not too distant future. The various "pancreatic dilemmas" are addressed systematically in these pages, and we believe that the book will prove an invaluable tool for the special ist and for any physician dealing with pancreatic disease. The book also represents a tribute by the Verona School of Pancreatology to the memory of Prof. L. A. Scuro, founder of the School and one of the outstanding Italian pioneers of pancreatology."

In this volume a distinguished group of internationally renowned clinicians and basic researchers discuss the present state of knowledge of the etiologyand pathogenesis of Dupuytren's contracture, a disease responsible for a considerable portion of disabilities within the working population allover the world. Although the riddle of how the contracture of the palmar fascia develops is still unsolved, the data on the pathobiochemistry and clinic of Dupuytren's Disease achieved in recent years has led to a better understanding of the biochemical and morphological processes underlying the deformation and malfunction of the afflicted tissues. Research in Dupuytren's Disease now enters the era of molecular medicine, which opens up new experimental means of studying the pathological changes which occur during the formation of the contracture on a molecular level. In particular, data are presented as to the role of specific biological macromolecules influencing the phenotype expression of the palmar fascia cells which are involved in autoimmune reactions and present both at the cell surface as well as in the extracellular matrix to regulate cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. In vitro cell culture models to investigate fibro-cytic modulations are available and havebeen applied to study the effects of specific biological molecules on isolated cells from healthy palmar fascia and Dupuytren's contracture. Complementary evaluations of morphological, epidemiological, and clinical data contribute essentially to the present understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of Dupuytren's Disease. This comprehensive and informative summary of the state of the art is completed by numerous references affixed to the individual contributions.

The papers and reviews in the present volume are in part regular contributions submitted for publication in Biological Trace Element Research, and in part invited papers from participants of the International Symposium "Present Status and Perspectives of Sele- nium in Biology and Medicine," held on May 2 and 3, 1987, at the Eu- ropean Academy, Nonnweiler /Trier, FRG. The Symposium focused on ecological and biomedical aspects of selenium with emphasis on the manifestations of selenium deficiency in different countries, the distribution of selenium in human organs and body fliuds, the roles of selenium in health and disease, its anti carcinogenic action, effects of supplementation, and therapeutic applications. Organized jointly by the International Association of Bioinor- ganic Scientists and BioSynopsia, a Nonprofit Subsidiary of the Tech- nology Center, Stuttgart, the scientific board consisted of Professors W. Hartfiel, Bonn, FRG, G. N. Schrauzer, La Jolla, CA, USA, and H. Zumkley, Muenster, FRG.

Instrumentation is central to the study of physiology and genetics in living organisms, especially at the molecular level. Numerous techniques have been developed to address this in various biological disciplines, creating a need to understand the physical principles involved in the operation of research instruments and the parameters required in using them. Introduction to Instrumentation in Life Sciences fills this need by addressing different aspects of tools that hold the keys to cutting-edge research and innovative applications, from basic techniques to advanced instrumentation. The text describes all topics so even beginners can easily understand the theoretical and practical aspects.Comprehensive chapters encompass well-defined methodology that describes the instruments and their corresponding applications in different scientific fields. The book covers optical and electron microscopy; micrometry, especially in microbial taxonomy; pH meters and oxygen electrodes; chromatography for separation and purification of products from complex mixtures; spectroscopic and spectrophotometric techniques to determine structure and function of biomolecules; preparative and analytical centrifugation; electrophoretic techniques; x-ray microanalysis including crystallography; applications of radioactivity, including autoradiography and radioimmunoassays; and fermentation technology and subsequent separation of products of interest.The book is designed to serve a wide range of students and researchers in diversified fields of life sciences: pharmacy, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, and environmental sciences. It introduces different aspects of basic experimental methods and instrumentation. The book is unique in its broad subject coverage, incorporating fundamental techniques as well as applications of modern molecular and proteomic tools that are the basis for state-of-the-art research. The text emphasizes techniques encountered b

Nel corso della (TM)accrescimento la (TM)apparato muscolo-scheletrico va incontro a profonde e continue modificazioni che riguardano non soltanto la forma, la struttura e le dimensioni dei singoli costituenti, ma anche la capacitA di resistenza allo stress e la forza muscolare espressa, le influenze ormonali e metaboliche.

Le caratteristiche anatomiche e funzionali che rendono lo scheletro pediatrico diverso da quello della (TM)adulto condizionano anche la differente modalitA di realizzarsi del danno traumatico, alla quale contribuisce anche il diverso stile di vita e le differenti occasioni di trauma, dalla frattura da parto alla "sindrome del bambino battuto."

Le fratture incomplete, le fratture osteo-cartilaginee, i distacchi apofisari e le osteocondriti sono alcune delle specificitA del trauma osteo-articolare in etA pediatrica, cosA� come la (TM)elevata velocitA di consolidazione e la (TM)elevata attivitA di rimodellamento ne caratterizzano la distinzione rispetto ai corrispettivi quadri patologici nella (TM)adulto.

In questo volume vengono rappresentate le caratteristiche anatomiche peculiari della (TM)apparato muscolo-scheletrico in etA evolutiva, le lesioni traumatiche acute e croniche tipiche della (TM)etA e le modalitA di imaging di volta in volta piA idonee per la loro diagnosi e il loro follow-up.

Marks' Essentials of Medical Biochemistry takes a patient-oriented approach that links biochemistry to physiology and pathophysiology, allowing students to apply fundamental concepts to the practice of medicine. Based on the established text, Marks' Basic Medical Biochemistry, Marks' Essentials is streamlined to focus only on the most essential biochemical concepts, while maintaining intuitively organized chapters centered on hypothetical patient vignettes and helpful icons for smooth navigation. Full-color illustrations of chemical structures and biochemical pathways elucidate core concepts and enhance understanding of the text Hypothetical patient vignettes ensure clinical relevance and help connect biochemistry to human health and disease Helpful icons guide you through each chapter and identify key concepts such as signs and symptoms, clinical pearls, treatment options and outcomes, and more Chapter Outlines and Key Points allow readers to preview and review chapter content End-of-Chapter Review Questions and Summary Disease Tables highlight the take-home messages and reinforce knowledge

This second edition of Protein Purification provides a guide to the major chromatographic techniques, including non-affinity absorption techniques, affinity procedures, non-absorption techniques and methods for monitoring protein purity. The new edition of the book has been organized to encourage incremental learning about the topic, starting with the properties of water, progressing through the characteristics of amino acids and proteins which relate to the purification process. There is an overview of protein strategy and equipment, followed by discussions and examples of each technique and their applications. The basic theory and simple explanations given in Protein Purification make it an ideal handbook for final year undergraduates, and postgraduates, who are conducting research projects. It will also be a useful guide to more experienced researchers who need a good overview of the techniques and products used in protein purification. Key Features * Guide to the major techniques used in protein purification * Includes flowcharts to help the reader slect the best purification strategy * Contains step-by-step protocols that guide the reader through each technique and its use * Includes exercises and solutions

We live in an unprecedented era of flourishing of scientific publishing. However, many professionals in the biomedical sciences find writing articles to be a daunting task. The book is meant to serve as a practical writing guide that covers the writing process from the project's inception until online distribution of the published article.The book covers the framework for constructing a scientific study into a coherent narrative that can later be easily translated into a written manuscript. The content of each article section in accordance with the IMRAD format is covered and many details for the construction of additional submission materials are provided. Characteristics of papers reporting on specific types of research are presented as well as article types other than the general full research article. The book is full of resources for additional reading and learning.There are many writing guides on the market. Most of them are general, cover a wide range of scientific writing, and are mainly aimed at students. This book is best suited for young professionals who are a few years out of school. They no longer enjoy the benefit of close mentoring by a thesis adviser or equivalent, but still lack the experience to lead writing projects on their own. Through her experience of teaching young professionals and editing their work, Dr Diskin has learned their unique set of needs and the book has been written in an attempt to address them. Dr Diskin addresses the reader in the second person, with an ever-supportive tone. Importantly, the practicalities of writing articles in today's interconnected environment are discussed throughout the book. Topics such as coordinating the writing in a multinational team, use of different types of software in the writing process and resources available online to support the writer are addressed in detail.Related Link(s)

Entwicklung Haptischer Gerate legt den Schwerpunkt auf die technologischen Aspekte der Gerate, die unsere haptische Wahrnehmung beeinflussen und ermoglicht Ingenieuren und Naturwissenschaftlern eine umfassende Einfuhrung in dieses weite und interdisziplinare Themenfeld.

Den Einstieg erleichtert ein Einblick in die Definition der Haptik aus psychologischer Sicht, gefolgt von einem Blick auf die Haptik im Alltag um ihre Bedeutung besser verstehen zu konnen, aber auch um ihren Verlust zu bemerken. Uber die Definition einer einheitlichen Terminologie werden mit anschaulichen Beispielen aus den biologischen Kenndaten haptischer Wahrnehmung die Parameter abgeleitet, deren Verstandnis fur die spatere Produktentwicklung notwendig ist. Basierend darauf werden grundlegende Geratekonzepte vorgestellt und die wesentlichen Komponenten eines haptischen Gerates eingefuhrt und in Beziehung zueinander gesetzt. Daraus ergeben sich empfohlene Entscheidungswege fur die Entwicklung, die ausfuhrlich beschrieben werden. Anschliessend werden sehr konkrete technische Betrachtungen aller relevanten Komponenten und Strukturen durchgefuhrt. Begonnen wird dies uber die ubergeordneten Themen der Regelungstechnik sowie den Kinematikentwurf. Anschliessend werden Aktortechnologien von elektrodynamischen Systemen bis hin zu Ultraschall- und Polymeraktoren in Entwurf und Auslegung sowie fur deren Einsatz in haptischen Systemen diskutiert. Im Bereich Sensortechnik bildet die fur ruckgekoppelte Systeme besonders relevante Kraftsensorik einen Schwerpunkt. Die Schnittstellen zur Anbindung der Gerate zu umgebenden Systemen sowie die Positionsmesstechnik runden den Hardware-Gerateentwurf ab. Ein Kapitel zu den Grundzugen des Softwareentwurfs fur die haptische Interaktion bei der Simulation virtueller Welten gibt einen Einblick in die informationstechnischen Fragestellungen haptischer Entwicklungen.

Die Summe dieser Abschnitte in dem Fokus eines technischen Entwicklungsprozesses stellt die wichtigsten Inhalte der Technologie und Methodik zu ihrer Nutzung klar dar, so dass vom Leser eine Einschatzung der Relevanz bezogen auf das eigene Problem getroffen werden kann.

Das Buch dient also sowohl als Nachschlagewerk fur Haptik-relevante Technologien, sowie als Lehrbuch, um Methodiken im Umgang mit ingenieurtechnischen Fragestellung in der Haptik zu definieren und deren Anwendung zu zeigen."

La colonna vertebrale rappresenta il distretto anatomico maggiormente sottoposto ad indagini di diagnostica per immagini e, in tale campo, gran parte del "vecchio" conserva tuttora la sua attualita. La radiologia convenzionale, infatti, mantiene spesso il ruolo di metodica imaging di approccio, frequentemente esaustiva al fine diagnostico nelle varie affezioni, dalla patologia malformativa a quella degenerativa o traumatica. Allo stesso modo la ricca semeiotica TC costituisce tuttora un corredo irrinunciabile per l'imaging del rachide, particolarmente utile nella definizione del danno nel trauma ad elevata energia.

Il "nuovo," invece, e rappresentato sia dalle nuove modalita di studio che il progresso tecnologico ha reso possibili (la TC spirale multistrato e la RM ortostatica ne costituiscono gli esempi piu promettenti) sia dal diverso approccio alla patologia vertebrale da parte del radiologo moderno, per il quale l'imaging non riveste piu il solo fine diagnostico ma costituisce anche un fondamentale strumento per la terapia interventistica.

Il volume si inserisce in questo contesto come valido strumento di aggiornamento professionale mirato per il radiologo, ma risulta inoltre un'utile opera di consultazione per l'ortopedico, il reumatologo e il fisiatra.

Die Zytologie von Lunge und Pleura ist eine morphologisch vielfaltige und anspruchsvolle Untersuchungsmethode, die nur durch die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Klinikern, Radiologen, Labormedizinern und Zytologen eine prazise Diagnostik ermoeglicht. Dieses Buch ermoeglicht einen schnellen und detaillierten Zugang zur Information uber Lungen- und Pleuraerkrankungen. Der Materialgewinnung, mit Schwerpunkt endoskopischer Untersuchungsmethoden, und der Materialverarbeitung, inklusive Immunzytochemie und Flowzytometrie, sind eigene Kapitel gewidmet. Anschliessend werden benigne und maligne Erkrankungen mit Definition, Epidemiologie/AEtiologie sowie Klinik und Zytologie ausfuhrlich beschrieben. Zytologische Charakteristika sind fur eine schnelle Information durch die Hervorhebung in Bloecken gut ersichtlich und im Bildteil mit uber 200 farbigen Abbildungen belegt. Die Klinische Zytologie der Lunge und Pleura ist fur den in Ausbildung stehenden Zytologen ein Lehrbuch und fur den klinisch Tatigen ein ubersichtliches Nachschlagewerk fur die tagliche Praxis. Fur alle Kliniker ist dieses Buch ein nutzlicher Ratgeber in diagnostischen Fragestellungen der Pulmologie.

Shows cranial nerves and vessles in the base of brain. Also provides lateral and sagittal section views of the arteries of the brain. Illustrates lobes, limbic system, ventricles of the brain, coronal section, Circle of Willis, circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), somatotopic organization of the cerebrum and meninges of the brain. Size is 20" W by 26" H.

Jede medizinische Fachrichtung benoetigt labormedizinische Diagnostik. Neben bildgebenden Verfahren ist sie die wichtigste Hilfsdisziplin im medizinischen Alltag. Die Anzahl der Daten und Befunde steigt rapide an. Ursachen hierfur sind die Automatisierung und die Einfuhrung neuer Methoden. Anhand von Fallbeispielen werden Laborbefunde interpretiert und die Aussagekraft einzelner Werte erlautert. Raschen UEberblick ermoeglicht die Gliederung der klinischen Fragestellungen je nach Fachrichtung. Eine praktische Einfuhrung fur Studenten und AErzte in Ausbildung sowie fur Personen, die im medizinisch-diagnostischen Bereich tatig sind.

Band XIa enth??lt allgemeine Kapitel zur Systematik, Klassifikation, Ethnobotanik, Phytochemie und Chemotaxonomie der Leguminosen. Die allgemeinen chemischen Kapitel sind familiencharakteristischen Prim??r- und Sekund??rstoffen und einigen aus der Familie bisher eher sporadisch bekannt gewordenen Stoffklassen gewidmet. Insgesamt enth??lt dieser Band ??ber 2000 Literaturhinweise. Hegnauers Chemotaxonomie ist ein unentbehrliches Handbuch f??r alle naturwissenschaftlichen Disziplinen, die sich mit dem Chemismus der Pflanze - auch ausserhalb botanisch-systematischer Fragen - befassen. Text und Literaturhinweise geben gemeinsam ein Bild unseres gegenw??rtigen Wissensstandes von den Stoffwechseleigenarten der behandelten Pflanzensippen. Die Ergebnisse der Naturstoffchemie, der vergleichenden Phytochemie und der Biogeneseforschung werden zum Aufbau einer systematischen Chemie der Pflanzen, also einer mit Stoffwechselmerkmalen arbeitenden Hilfs-wissenschaft der systematischen Botanik, verwendet. Der auf zwei Teilb??nde angelegte Band XI dieses Standardwerkes beleuchtet die Relevanz der Inhaltsstoffe der Leguminosen f??r die Fachgebiete der Systematik, Physiologie, Agrarwissenschaften, Pharmazie, Toxikologie, Medizin, ??kologie und Ethnobotanik. Mit Band XIa der Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen liegt ein unverzichtbares Arbeitsmittel und Nachschlagewerk vor f??r alle, deren Interesse den Leguminosen gilt. Es richtet sich ??ber den Kreis der Pflanzentaxonomen, Pflanzenphysiologen und Naturstoffchemiker hinaus an Pflanzen??kologen, Agrar- und Ern??hrungswissenschaftler sowie Arzneimittelforscher. Die kosmopolitische Familie der Leguminosen, zu der neben zahlreichen Nahrungs- und Futterpflanzen vieleweitere wirtschaftlich bedeutende Kultur- und Zierpflanzen geh??ren, umfasst etwa 600 Gattungen beziehungsweise 13'000 Arten.

Der Begriff "BIONIK" wird gerne als Kunstwort gekennzeichnet, zusammengesetzt aus BIOlogie und TechNIK. Bionik stellt einerseits ein Fach dar, in dem geforscht und ausgebildet wird, und kennzeichnet andererseits eine Sichtweise, namlich die des "Lernens von der Natur fur die Technik". Daruber sind in der Zwischenzeit neben popular wissenschaftlichen Werken eine Reihe von Fachbuchern erschienen. Werner Nachtigall hat darin mit der 2. Auflage seines bei Springer erschienenen Buchs "BIONIK - Grundlagen und Beispiele fur Ingenieure und Naturwissenschaftler" einen Meilenstein gesetzt. In diesem Buch kennzeichnet er die Untergliederung des Fachs und bespricht detailliert dessen Forschungsgegenstande. Dagegen fehlte bislang eine Darstellung, die sich mit den erkenntnistheoretischen Grundlagen wie mit der pragmatischen Vorgehensweise der Bionik systematisch befasst, die ja mit der ihr eigenen Prinzip-Abstraktion zwischen der belebten Welt als Vor-Bild und der technischen Umsetzung als Ab-Bild vermitteln will. Das vorliegende Werk schliesst diese Lucke mit drei grossen Abschnitten: Biologische Basis: Erforschen, Beschreiben, Beurteilen. - Abstraktion biologischer Befunde: Herausarbeiten allgemeiner Prinzipien. - Umsetzung in die Technik: Prinzipvergleich, Konzeptuelles, Vorgehensweise.