In the past ten years or so, biological magnetic resonance (NMR and ESR) has fully blossomed and become highly branched. In the 1970s and earlier, a practitioner in biological magnetic resonance was using virtually all of the available methods suitable for his research, with the latter covering a diverse range of systems. Today, the focus of an individual laboratory is actually much narrower, with respect to both the methods and the systems investigated. Thus, those who investigate protein structure by multi dimensional NMR spectroscopy do not usually engage in studies involving in vivo spectroscopy. The conferences on biological magnetic resonance now have parallel sessions rather than the single, common session of earlier days. Moreover, topical meetings are becoming more frequent. Therefore, this and future volumes of our series will also focus on specific topical areas. We are proud to present Volume 10 of our series. It focuses on Carbohydrates and Nucleic Acids. In an extensive chapter, Kamerling and Vliegenthart use oligosaccharide-alditols released from mucin-type- glycoproteins to illustrate the power of proton NMR spectroscopy in the determination of carbohydrate structure. Wemmer gives a detailed coverage of the arsenal of modern NMR methods now available for structural studies of nucleic acids. Forthcoming volumes will focus on In Vivo Spectroscopy and Protein Structure. As always, we are anxious to get feedback from the readers and hear their comments and suggestions. Lawrence J."

Does perception provide us with direct and unmediated access to the world around us? The so-called 'argument from illusion ' has traditionally been supposed to show otherwise: from the subject's point of view, perceptual illusions are often indistinguishable from veridical perceptions; hence, perceptual experience, as such, cannot provide us with knowledge of the world, but only with knowledge of how things appear to us. Disjunctive accounts of perceptual experience, first proposed by John McDowell and Paul Snowdon in the early 1980s and at the centre of current debates in the philosophy of perception, have been proposed to block this argument. According to the traditional view, a case of perception and a subjectively indistinguishable illusion or hallucination can exemplify what is fundamentally the same kind of mental state even though they differ in how they relate to the non-mental environment. In contrast, according to the disjunctive account, the concept of perceptual experience should be seen as essentially disjunctive, encompassing (at least) two distinct kinds of mental states, namely genuinely world-involving perceptions and mere appearances. This book presents seven recent essays on disjunctivism first published in two special issues of Philosophical Explorations: An International Journal for the Philosophy of Mind and Action.

Methods in Enzymology serial highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

B. R. Buckley and H. Heaney: Mechanistic Investigations of Copper(I)- Catalyzed Alkyne-Azide Cycloaddition Reactions.- J. D. Crowley and D. A. McMorran: "Click-Triazole" Coordination Chemistry: Exploiting 1,4-Disubstituted-1,2,3-Triazoles as Ligands.- S. Lee and A. H. Flood: Binding Anions in Rigid and Reconfigurable Triazole Receptors.- M. Watkinson: Click Triazoles as Chemosensors.- H.-F. Chow, C.-M. Lo and Y. Chen: Triazole-Based Polymer Gels.- T. Zheng, S. H. Rouhanifard, A. S. Jalloh, P. Wu: Click Triazoles for Bioconjugation.- S. Mignani, Y. Zhou, T. Lecourt and L. Micouin: Recent Developments in the Synthesis 1,4,5-Trisubstituted Triazoles.

The concept of 'biomineralization' signifies mineralization processes that take place in close association with organic molecules or matrices. The awareness that mineral formation can be guided by organic molecules notably contributed to the understanding of the formation of the inorganic skeletons of living organisms. Modern electron microscopic and spectroscopic analyses have successfully demonstrated the participation of biological systems in several mineralization processes, and prominent examples include the formation of bio-silica in diatoms and sponges. This insight has already made the application of recombinant technology for the production of valuable inorganic polymers, such as bio-silica, possible. This polymer can be formed by silicatein under conditions that cannot be matched by chemical means. Similarly, the efforts described in this book have elucidated that certain organisms, bacteria in deep-sea polymetallic nodules and coccoliths in seamount crusts, are involved in the deposition of marine minerals. Strategies have already been developed to utilize such microorganisms for the biosynthesis and bioleaching of marine deposits. Moreover, studies reveal that bio-polymers enhance the hydroxyapatite formation of bone-forming cells and alter the expression of important regulators of bone resorption, suggesting a potential for bone regeneration and treatment / prevention of osteoporosis.

Advances in Clinical Chemistry, Volume 109, the latest installment in this internationally acclaimed series, contains chapters authored by world-renowned clinical laboratory scientists, physicians and research scientists. The serial discusses the latest and most up-to-date technologies related to the field of clinical chemistry, with this new release focusing on Biomarkers of dysfunctional visceral fat, Immunoassay Design and Biotin Interference, Orexin/Hypocretin and Major Psychiatric Disorders and more.

Existing accounts of East Asia s meteoric growth and structural change has either been explained as one dictated essentially by markets with strong macroeconomic fundamentals, or a consequence of proactive governments. This book departs from such a dichotomy by examining inductively the drivers of the experiences. Given the evolutionary treatment of each economic good and service as different, this book examines technological catch up with a strong focus on the industries contributing significantly to the economic growth of the countries selected in Asia. The evidence produced supports the evolutionary logic of macro, meso and micro interactions between several institutions, depending on the actors involved, structural location and typology of taxonomies and trajectories. The book carefully picks out experiences from the populous economies of China, India and Indonesia, the high income economies of Korea and Taiwan, the middle income economies of Malaysia and Thailand, and the transitional least developed country of Myanmar.

Chapters 1-7 of this book were originally published as a special issue of Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy.

This is the first broad treatment of carbohydrate chemistry in many years, and presents the structures, reactions, modifications, and properties of carbohydrates. Woven throughout the text are discussions of biological properties of carbohydrates, their industrial applications, and the history of the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Written for students as well as practising scientists, this textbook and handy reference will be of interest to a wide range of disciplines: biochemistry, chemistry, food and nutrition, microbiology, pharmacology, and medicine.

Since its inception, paleoanthropology has been closely wedded to the idea that big-game hunting by our hominin ancestors arose, first and foremost, as a means for acquiring energy and vital nutrients. This assumption has rarely been questioned, and seems intuitively obvious-meat is a nutrient-rich food with the ideal array of amino acids, and big animals provide meat in large, convenient packages. Through new research, the author of this volume provides a strong argument that the primary goals of big-game hunting were actually social and political-increasing hunter's prestige and standing-and that the nutritional component was just an added bonus.
Through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary research approach, the author examines the historical and current perceptions of protein as an important nutrient source, the biological impact of a high-protein diet and the evidence of this in the archaeological record, and provides a compelling reexamination of this long-held conclusion. This volume will be of interest to researchers in Archaeology, Evolutionary Biology, and Paleoanthropology, particularly those studying diet and nutrition.

This book results from a symposium on the theme of 'The Physiology and Biochemistry of Plant Productivity' which was held at the University of Calgary from July 14-18, 1980, and was jointly sponsored by the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists and the International Association of Plant Physiologists. The subject matter of the book deals with various aspects of nitrogen and carbon metabolism, their interrelationships and interdependence. The topics covered in the chapters highlight various interesting and important lines of research that are in progress. There is no attempt to provide a comprehensive coverage of the basic physiological knowledge upon which this research depend- important references are to be found at the end of each chapter, however, and the reader will be able to pursue these as necessary. An introductory chapter by Dr. R.G.S. Bidwell (winner of the C.S.P.P. Gold Medal in 1979) considers some implications of plant physiological research and the aims and responsibilities of plant physiologists. In the next two chapters Drs. J. Rigaud and L.E. Schrader (with R.J. Thomas) elaborate on current research on nitrate metabolism and nitrogen fixation, and how an understanding of these phenomena might be usefully applied towards the manipulation of plants to improve productivity. Dr. J.S.

In keeping with goal and style of the Handbook in Modern Biophysics series, the proposed book will maintain a chapter structure that contains two parts: concepts and biological application. The book also integrates all the chapters into a smooth, continuous discourse. The first and second chapters establish the mathematical methods and theoretical framework underpinning the different topics in the rest if the book. Other chapters will use the theoretical framework as a basis to discuss optical and NMR approaches. Each chapter will contain innovative didactic elements that facilitate teaching, self-study, and research preparation (key points, summary, exercise, references).

Mitochondria from mammalian tissues possess an elaborate system for 2+ 2+ transporting Ca across their inner membrane which consists of Ca import, 2+ via the Ca uniporter, in response to the mitochondrial membrane 2+ + potential ?? and of Ca release by an antiport system in exchange for H + 9,23 or Na (see Fig. l) . Because the uniporter is dependent upon the external 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ Ca concentration ([Ca ]), mitochondria accumulate Ca until the [Ca ] o o 2+ decreases to the level at which the uniporter activity balances the Ca efflux. 2+ The [Ca ] at which the uniporter and efflux activities are equal is defined o the "setpoint" andcorresponds to values between 0.3-3M. 2+ Figure 1. The Ca transport system of the inner membrane of mammalian mitochondria. U, + 2+ + + uniporter. I, Na -independent efflux mechanism or Ca /2H exchanger. D, Na -dependent 2+ + efflux mechanism or Ca /2Na exchanger. PTP, permeability transition pore. FP, 11 flavoprotein. ?? membrane potential. ? pH gradient. Adapted from .

Arts, heritage, non-profit and social marketing today comprise key components of the contemporary marketing management scene. Governments, charities and voluntary sector organisations throughout the world are increasingly involved in the development of marketing campaigns, and more and more of these organisations are likely to be at the cutting edge of the application of the very latest marketing methods. Research in the arts, heritage, non-profit and social marketing fields is intellectually rigorous, relevant for user communities, and has a great deal to offer to marketing theory as well as to promotional practice. This book presents a collection of stimulating articles that report some of the freshest and most innovative research and thinking in the authors' specialist domains. Collectively the chapters offer a balance of empirical and conceptual research in arts, heritage, non-profit and social marketing. They explore new ideas, challenge pre-existing orthodoxies, develop knowledge, and demonstrate the epistemological importance of current research in these critical areas. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Marketing Management.

Protein functionality is big business in the food industry, both academic and commercial. This reflects the fascination of protein chemistry and the commercial value of proteins in giving texture and substance to foods. My first encounter with the subject came about through an interest in assessing the extent of thermal damage in spray-dried proteins. A change in functional properties seemed a useful guide to the thermal damage. I found the literature replete with methods (and theory) and so did what everybody else seemed to do - I devised my own methods which were slight variations on the general theme. However, being an analyst at heart I thought there must be a systematic approach to the various tests available. This book is an attempt to assess the practice of protein functionality testing, keeping theory to a minimum, followed by a suggested 'standard' method or protocol to follow. Each chapter is devoted to a single functional property and the reader will see that attempts to 'standardise' them have had varied success, perhaps reflecting the complexity of the mechanisms at work. As mentioned above theory has been kept to a minimum but hopefully it supports the practical methodology described. I hope that the book stimulates debate on the subject; it is certainly not the last word! G. H. Contributors Dr G. E. Arteaga Centro de Investigacion en Alimentation y Desarrollo, Hermosillo, Sonora AP 1735, Mexico Dr. S.

The B7-CD28 family molecules are probably the most intensively studied receptor-ligand systems in the field of immunology. This is evident from the explosive accumulation of literature, particularly in the last ten years. Recent years have witnessed rapid discoveries and characterization of new receptors and ligands in the family. These new pathways, although still in their infancy, have already brought much excitement to the field. However, until now, there has been no single volume to cover this entire area. This book was created to bring together state-of-the-art information and critical thinking from the leading investigators. This book covers significant territory of this rapidly moving field from structural biology and biochemical signalling to immunological functions and their potential applications in the treatment of human diseases. This is an excellent handbook and reference for immunologists, health professionals as well as medical students and graduate students in life science field.

Molecular networks provide descriptions of the organization of various biological processes, including cellular signaling, metabolism, and genetic regulation. Knowledge on molecular networks is commonly used for systems level analysis of biological function; research and method development in this area has grown tremendously in the past few years. This book will provide a detailed review of existing knowledge on the functional characterization of biological networks. In 15 chapters authored by an international group of prolific systems biology and bioinformatics researchers, it will organize, conceptualize, and summarize the existing core of research results and computational methods on understanding biological function from a network perspective.

Every year between three and four hundred papers are published on the topic of insulin action. This extraordinary publication rate prevents any author from includ ing an exhaustive bibliography in any review or book. Perhaps due to this there is no single text that attempts to cover the effects and the mechanism of action of insulin. This book is such an attempt. I intend to present a review of the physiological effects of insulin, the pathology of defects in the action of insulin, and the current views on the mechanism of action of this hormone. I make no apology for the fact that the bibliography will not be extensive and that the amount of experimental detail and data discussed will be kept to a relevant minimum. This book is not intended for the expert in the field, but for the second- or third-year undergraduate and graduate student of medicine, biochemistry, physiology or related disciplines, and will be valuable as a reference source for research workers. The book is presented as a guide, a summary of the ideas and facts; it will present a reader with a foretaste of a fascinating and ever-changing field. I have attempted to be up-to-date with published research work. Any significant contributions to the field not included in the first draft have been added as footnotes. I assume a basic knowledge of the metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, fats and proteins."

Since the late 1950's when proton n. m. r. spectroscopy was first used in organic natural products studies the technique has increasingly con of this important area of chemistry. tributed to the rapid advancement Although the potential utility of 13C n. m. r. was recognized very early, essentially no application of 13C n. m. r. appeared in the literature prior to 1966 and 95% of the existing data are less than five years old. The initially slow growth had its cause in inadequate instrumentation, insufficient sensitivity being the main obstacle. This situation drastically changed with the advent and commercial availability of broadband ex citation and Fourier transform methods, giving natural-abundance 13C n. m. r. and its numerous chemical applications a tremendous impetus. Today BC spectra can be recorded on sample quantities down to the submilligram level, which until recently even withstood proton n. m. r. Paralleling the development of experimental techniques considerable progress has also been made on an understanding of spectral parameters, in particular their stereochemical implications on natural products. Although the large majority of data present up to now deals with known structures, an adequate basis now exists which allows the chemist to use the technique for tackling real problems on unknown molecules."

The NATO Advanced Study Institute of "Molecular and Applied Aspects of Oxida- tive Drug Metabolizing Enzymes" was held in Tekirova, Antalya, Turkey, from August 31 to September 11, 1997. This Institute was the third of a series of the NATO ASIs on a similar topic relating to the enzymes of oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics. The first NATO ASI in this series, entitled "Molecular Aspects of Monooxygenases and Bioactiva- tion of Toxic Compounds" (NATO ASI Series A: Life Sciences, Vol. 202), was held in

In recent years there has been an unprecedented expansion of knowledge about anthocyanins pigments. Indeed, the molecular genetic control of anthocyanins biosynthesis is now one of the best understood of all secondary metabolic pathways. There have also been substantial improvements in analytical technology that have led to the discovery of novel anthocyanin compounds. Armed with this knowledge and the tools for genetic engineering, plant breeders are now introducing vibrant new colors into horticultural crops. The food industry has also benefited from the resurgence of interest in anthocyanins. A greater understanding of the chemistry of these pigments has led to improved methods for stabilizing the color of anthocyanins extracts, so that they are more useful as food colorings. Methods for the bulk production of anthocyanins from cell cultures have been optimized for this purpose. Possible benefits to human health from the ingestion of anthocyanin-rich foods have also been a major feature of the recent scientific literature. Anthocyanins are remarkably potent antioxidants, and their ingestion has been postulated to stave off the effects of oxidative stress. These pigments, especially in conjunction with other flavonoids, have been associated with reductions in the incidence and severity of many other non-infectious diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. An industry is developing around anthocyanins as nutritional supplements. Finally, there has been significant progress in our understanding of the benefits of anthocyanins to plants themselves. Originally considered an extravagance without a purpose, anthocyanins are now implicated in multifarious vital functions. These include the attraction of pollinators and frugivores, aposematic defense from herbivores, and protection from environmental stressors such as strong light, UVB, drought, and free radical attacks. Anthocyanins are evidently highly versatile, and enormously useful to plants. This book covers all aspects of the biosynthesis and function of anthocyanins (and related compounds such as proanthocyanidins) in plants, and their applications in agriculture, food products, and human health. Featured areas include their relevance to: * Plant stress * Flower and fruit color * Human health * Wine quality and health attributes * Food colorants and ingredients * Cell culture production systems * The pastoral sector

In organizing the present volume, we had two intentions. The first was to present the best current understanding of the mechanisms of calcium mobilization during excitation contraction coupling of smooth muscle at a level suited to the needs of professionals interested in smooth muscle pharmacology and pathophysiology, while remaining appreciable by graduate and medical students. The second intention was to provide in sight into present-day controversies, as well as the latest ad vances achieved by researchers in this field. Thus, we have thor oughly discussed both the techniques and the concepts derived from their application. An attempt has also been made here to answer a number of profoundly important questions: What are the mechanisms and agents responsible for the control of contractility? What are the accompanying changes in the state of intracellular calcium ions and the mechanisms responsible for them? How does the regula tion of contractility occur directly at the level of the actomyosin activity? What role do gap junctions play in cell-to-cell coupling? What are the roles of cholinergic, adrenergic, peptidergic, and nonadrenergic noncholinergic interactions in calcium mobiliza tion in smooth muscle? What changes occur in hypertension? The impact of these recent techniques on future research is also reflected upon."

This book focuses on the electronic properties of transition metals in coordination environments. These properties are responsible for the unique and intricate activity of transition metal sites in bio- and inorganic catalysis, but also pose challenges for both theoretical and experimental studies. Written by an international group of recognized experts, the book reviews recent advances in computational modeling and discusses their interplay using experiments. It covers a broad range of topics, including advanced computational methods for transition metal systems; spectroscopic, electrochemical and catalytic properties of transition metals in coordination environments; metalloenzymes and biomimetic compounds; and spin-related phenomena. As such, the book offers an invaluable resource for all researchers and postgraduate students interested in both fundamental and application-oriented research in the field of transition metal systems.

Conversion of biomass into chemicals and biofuels is an active research and development area as trends move to replace traditional fossil fuels with renewable resources. By integrating processing methods with ultrasound and microwave irradiation into biorefineries, the time-scale of many operations can be greatly reduced while the efficiency of the reactions can be remarkably increased so that process intensification can be achieved. "Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Ultrasound" and "Production of Biofuels and Chemicals with Microwave" are two independent volumes in the Biofuels and Biorefineries series that take different, but complementary approaches for the pretreatment and chemical transformation of biomass into chemicals and biofuels. The volume "Ultrasound" provides current research advances and prospects in mechanistic principles of acoustic cavitation in sonochemistry, physical and chemical mechanisms in biofuel synthesis, reactor design for transesterification and esterification reactions, lipid extraction from algal biomass, microalgae extraction, biodiesel and bioethanol synthesis, practical technologies and systems, pretreatment of biomass waste sources including lignocellulosic materials, manures and sludges for biogas production, vibration-assisted pelleting, combined chemical-mechanical methods, valorization of starch-based wastes and techno-economic methodology. Each of the 12 chapters has been peer-reviewed and edited to improve both the quality of the text and the scope and coverage of the topics. Both volumes "Ultrasound" and "Microwave" are references designed for students, researchers, academicians and industrialists in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering and include introductory chapters to highlight present concepts of the fundamental technologies and their application. Dr. Zhen Fang is Professor in Bioenergy, Leader and founder of biomass group, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and is also adjunct Professor of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China. Dr. Richard L Smith, Jr. is Professor of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Research Center of Supercritical Fluid Technology, Tohoku University, Japan. Dr. Xinhua Qi is Professor of Environmental Science, Nankai University, China.

This is the first volume in a 2-volume compendium that is the go-to source for both research- and practice-oriented information on the importance of branched chain amino acids in maintaining the nutritional status and overall health of individuals, especially those with certain disease conditions. Over 150 well recognized and respected contributors have come together to compile these up-to-date and well-referenced works. The volumes will serve the reader as the benchmarks in this complex area of interrelationships between dietary protein intakes and individual amino acid supplementation, the unique role of the branched chain amino acids in the synthesis of brain neurotransmitters, collagen formation, insulin and glucose modulation and the functioning of all organ systems that are involved in the maintenance of the body's metabolic integrity. Moreover, the physiological, genetic and pathological interactions between plasma levels of branched chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids are clearly delineated so that students as well as practitioners can better understand the complexities of these interactions. Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition: Volume 1 covers basic processes at the cellular level, inherited defects in branched chain amino acid metabolism, and experimental models of growth and disease states.