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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Human biology & related topics > General
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."
This book is about animals and humans - their common features and their gradual and principle differences. It tells of democracy in baboons, prostitution in hummingbirds, bigamy in wrens, baby sitting in jackals, of chimpanzees at the computer console and of the super-ego of dogs - but it is also about the labour productivity of hunter and gatherer peoples, incest avoidance in animals and humans and of the myths about matriarchy. In a language accessible to any interested layman, Georg Breuer, gives a balanced account of the main ideas and achievements of sociobiology and the main criticisms levelled against it. According to him sociobiology has given many a valuable impetus but sometimes presents a distorted or one-sided view. In particular it has not answered or addressed the question of why man, and man only, is able to identify and feel sympathy with any other human being. The evolution of this most human of all traits confers on us the capability for charity and solidarity and for the happiness of true love which is unattainable by any animal.
In the beginning there was not only life but the ability to communicate and eventually to cooperate among the most basic, primeval creatures. In The Naked Neuron Dr. Joseph - an internationally respected neuroscientist and author of the highly praised The Right Brain and the Unconscious: Discovering the Stranger Within - takes us on an intriguing journey through time as he traces the evolution of communication and language from the most primitive single-celled animals to our earliest ancestors to humans today. As he so clearly demonstrates, we are linked to all levels of animals in a common bond of sensing, feeling, and communication. Be it singing wolves, dancing bees, or writhing rock and roll dancers, all communicate a treasure chest of meaning in the absence of the spoken word. Approximately 700 million years ago, a unique type of cell came into being - the neuron. This "naked" neuron, or nerve cell, lacked a protective fatty sheath. Still, it marked a monumental and world altering development, since it would become the building block of the brain. The naked neuron generated a revolutionary change resulting in a greater complexity and subtlety of thought. Dr. Joseph vividly depicts how neurons conferred on early humans advanced powers of mental and sensory acuity, including the gift of remembering one's past and contemplating the future. Although humans possess much of the same ancient brain tissue as our fellow primates, Dr. Joseph reveals to us the singular features of the human brain that have enabled humans uniquely to develop complex, spoken language. He holds us spellbound, revealing that although the new and old brain tissue are couched within the same brain, each often has difficulty understanding the impulses and language of the other. This ground-breaking book draws on Dr. Joseph's brilliant and original research and theories, fusing the latest discoveries made in neuroscience, sociobiology, and anthropology. He illuminates how the languages of th
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 biological action of radiation undoubtedly constitutes an issue of actual con cern, particularly after incidences like those in Harrisburg or Chernobyl. These considerations, however, were not the reason for writing this book although it is hoped that it will also be helpful in this respect. The interaction of radiation with biological systems is such an interesting research objective that to my mind no special justification is needed to pursue these problems. The combination of physics, chemistry and biology presents on one hand a fascinating challenge to the student, on the other, it may lead to insights which are not possible if the dif ferent subjects remain clearly separated. Special problems of radiation biology have quite often led to new approaches in physics (or vice versa), a recent example is "microdosimetry" (chapter 4). Biological radiation a9tion comprises all levels of biological organization. It starts with the absorption in essential atoms and molecules and ends with the development of cancer and genetic hazards to future generations. The structure of the book reflects this. Beginning with physical and chemical fundamentals, it then turns to a description of chemical and subcellular systems. Cellular effects form a large part since they are the basis for understanding all further responses. Reactions of the whole organism, concentrating on mammals and especially humans, are subsequently treated. The book concludes with a short discussion of problems in radiation protection and the application of radiation in medical therapy. These last points are necessarily short and somewhat superficial."
As in other volumes in the series, this newest volume conveys up-to-date knowledge in a clear and straightforward manner. It begins with a survey of the neurobiological functions of the brain, with the emphasis on Parkinson's disease. This is followed by a presentation of the role of dopamine in the regulation of human anterior pituitary function. The final two chapters concentrate on the dopamine receptors: first, the binding sites are characterized and the biochemical and physiological consequences of dopamine-receptor stimulation are discussed and, finally, there is a report on the topology of a dopamine-receptor model that can account comprehensively for agonists and antagonists.
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.
The latest edition of Robert Arking's seminal text on the biology of aging takes on an extended title, since the field of gerontology has advanced to a point at which it is possible to separate the topic into two implicit subsets, longevity and aging. This multi-faceted description of the biology of aging guides the reader through increasingly interesting answers to seven fundamental questions: What is aging? Why do we age? What mechanisms support extended longevity? What determines the onset of senescence? What is the mechanistic basis of senescence? Why do humans live so long? And lastly, what pro-longevity societal interventions are needed? Inevitably, humans will age but there is no reason why we must suffer from age-related diseases. Aging and longevity are dependent on both genes and social environment. Our biology does not forbid the modulation of aging. What we really want to know is not so much about the biology of aging - which is basically a degenerative process - but rather about biological processes underlying the long term maintenance of our health. New chapters incorporate the latest developments in the field of gerontology. Research done since the previous edition was published has given us insight into how we may stay healthier longer.
like other collections of papers related to a single topic, this volume arose out of problem-sharing and problem-solving discussions among some of the authors. The two principal recurring issues were (1) the difficulties in translating anthropo logical knowledge so that our students could use it and (2) the difficulties of bringing existing medical anthropology literature to bear on this task. As we talked to other anthropologists teaching in other parts of the country and in various health-related schools, we recognized that our problems were similar. Similarities in our solutions led the Editors to believe that publication of our teaching experi ences and research relevant to teaching would help others and might begin the process of generating principles leading to a more coherent approach. Our colleagues supported this idea and agreed to contribute. What we agreed to write about was 'Clinically Applied Anthropology'. Much of what we were doing and certainly much of the relevant literature was applied anthropology. And our target group was composed-mostly of clinicians. The utility of the term became apparent after 1979 when another set of anthropologists began to discuss 'ainical Anthropology'. They too recognized the range of novel be haviors available to anthropologists in the health science arena and chose to focus on the clinical use of anthropology. We see this as an important endeavor, but very different from what we are proposing."
'A new approach to mental disorder. Randolph Nesse's insightful book suggests that conditions such as anxiety and depression have a clear evolutionary purpose ... This intriguing book turns some age-old questions about the human condition upside down' Tim Adams, Observer One of the world's most respected psychiatrists provides a much-needed new evolutionary framework for making sense of mental illness With his classic book Why We Get Sick, Randolph Nesse established the field of evolutionary medicine. Now he returns with a book that transforms our understanding of mental disorders by exploring a fundamentally new question. Instead of asking why certain people suffer from mental illness, Nesse asks why natural selection has left us with fragile minds at all. Drawing on revealing stories from his own clinical practice and insights from evolutionary biology, Nesse shows how negative emotions are useful in certain situations, yet can become excessive. Anxiety protects us from harm in the face of danger, but false alarms are inevitable. Low mood prevents us from wasting effort in pursuit of unreachable goals, but it often escalates into pathological depression. Other mental disorders, such as addiction and anorexia, result from the mismatch between modern environments and our ancient human past. Taken together, these insights and many more help to explain the pervasiveness of human suffering, and show us new paths for relieving it. Good Reasons for Bad Feelings will fascinate anyone who wonders how our minds can be so powerful, yet so fragile, and how love and goodness came to exist in organisms shaped to maximize Darwinian fitness.
Biomedical Scientists are the foundation of modern healthcare, from cancer screening to diagnosing HIV, from blood transfusion for surgery to food poisoning and infection control. Without Biomedical Scientists, the diagnosis of disease, the evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment, and research into the causes and cures of disease would not be possible. The Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series has been written to reflect the challenges of practicing Biomedical Science today. It draws together essential basic science with insights into laboratory practice to show how an understanding of the biology of disease is coupled to the analytical approaches that lead to diagnosis. Assuming only a minimum of prior knowledge, the series reviews the full range of disciplines to which a Biomedical Scientist may be exposed - from microbiology to cytopathology to transfusion science. Haematology provides a broad-ranging overview of the study of blood, the dynamic fluid that interfaces with all organs and tissues to meditate essential transport and regulatory functions. Written with the needs of the Biomedical Scientist centre-stage, it provides a firm grounding in the physiology of blood, and the key pathophysiological states that can arise. It demonstrates throughout how an understanding of physiology underpins the key investigations carried out by a Biomedical Scientist to forge a clear link between science and practice. The third edition has been thoroughly revised to remain up to date with the latest scientific research, with new sections and case studies added to support your learning. The online resources to accompany Haematology have also been updated and include multiple choice questions to test understanding, a Journal Club which provides discussion questions for relevant research papers, and answers to case study and self-check questions. Students and lecturers will also have access to the FBMS series online resources, which feature video interviews with practicing biomedical scientists and 'in the lab' footage showing biomedical techniques. Also available as an ebook with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support.
The imaging aspects of radiography have undergone con many sources and was in general freely given when requested siderable change in the last few years and as a teacher of and this is gratefully acknowledged. In particular I would radiography for many years I have often noticed the lack of a like to express my sincere thanks for help and information to comprehensive reference book for students. This book is an Mr J. Day of DuPont (UK) Ltd. particularly for the infor attempt to correct that situation and I hope this text will be mation and illustrations in the chapter on automated film of value not only to student radiographers but also prac handling; Mr D. Harper and Mr R. Black of Kodak Ltd.; tising radiographers as well. Fujimex Ltd.; CEA of Sweden; 3M (UK) Ltd.; Wardray Much of the information is based on personal experiment Products Ltd.; D. A. Pitman Ltd.; Agfa-Gevaert; PSR Ltd. and the knowledge gained of students' difficulties in studying for their help with information on silver recovery, and this subject. I have attempted to gather together in one book Radiatron Ltd. for their help with safelighting. All were most all the information required to understand the fundamentals helpful in my many requests for information. of the subject both for examination and for practice. Some To Mrs A. Dalton and Mrs P."
A rich and abundant literature has developed during the last half century dealing with mechanical aspects of the eye, mainly from clinical and, experimental points of view. For the most part, workers have attempted to shed light on the complex set of conditions known by the general term glaucoma. These conditions are characterised by an increase in intraocular pressure sufficient to cause de generation of the optic disc and concomitant defects in the visual field, which, if not controlled, lead to inevitable permanent blindness. In the United States alone, an estimated 50,000 persons are blind as a result of glaucoma, which strikes about 2% of the population over 40 years of age (Vaughan and Asbury, 1974). An understanding of the underlying mechanisms of glaucoma is hindered by the fact that elevated intraocular pressure, like a runny nose, is but a symptom which may have a variety of causes. Only by turning to the initial pathology can one hope to understand this important class of medical problems."
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes more
incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as
told by our own DNA.
Revised for the Seventh Edition, this full-color atlas is packaged with every new copy of the text, and includes 107 bone and 47 soft-tissue photographs with easy-to-read labels. This new edition of the atlas contains a brand new comprehensive histology photomicrograph section featuring over 50 slides of basic tissue and organ systems. Featuring photos taken by renowned biomedical photographer Ralph Hutchings, this high-quality photographic atlas makes an excellent resource for the classroom and laboratory, and is referenced in appropriate figure legends throughout the text.
Evolution is among the most central and most contested of ideas in the history of anthropology. This book charts the fortunes of the idea from the mid-nineteenth century to recent times. By comparing biological, historical, and anthropological approaches to the study of human culture and social life, it lays the foundation for their effective synthesis. Far ahead of its time when first published, the book anticipates debates at the forefront of contemporary thinking. Revisiting the work after almost thirty years, Tim Ingold offers a substantial new preface that describes how the book came to be written, how it was received and its bearing on later developments. Unique in scope and breadth of theoretical vision, Evolution and Social Life cuts across the boundaries of natural science and the humanities to provide a major contribution both to the history of anthropological and social thought, and to contemporary debate on the relationship between human nature, culture, and social life.
Covers significant discoveries in the rapidly advancing field of metals and genetics. The aim of this volume is to bring together investigators from diverse fields of clinical medicine, genetics, biochemistry, and chemistry to reflect on the broad implications of direct and indirect interactions of metals and genetic components. The volume is divided into five sections. The first discusses genetic response to environmental exposure to metals. The section on metal carcinogenesis and metal caused DNA damage presents the latest advances in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenis and carcinogenesis. A section is devoted to metals and neurodegenerative diseases. The identification of several disease genes related to metals is a major breakthrough in recent years. The section on genetics and biochemistry of metal-related diseases presents authoritative accounts of current (1999) information on both inherited and acquired metal-related diseases. They have discussed the genetics and pathophysiology of these diseases and reported the cloning, expression, purification, and characterization of gene products.
As scholars debate the most appropriate way to teach evolutionary theory, Constance Areson Clark provides an intriguing reflection on similar debates in the not-too-distant past. Set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, God-or Gorilla explores the efforts of biologists to explain evolution to a confused and conflicted public during the 1920s. Focusing on the use of images and popularization, Clark shows how scientists and anti-evolutionists deployed schematics, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and paintings to win the battle for public acceptance. She uses representative illustrations and popular media accounts of the struggle to reveal how concepts of evolutionary theory changed as they were presented to, and absorbed into, popular culture. Engagingly written and deftly argued, God-or Gorilla offers original insights into the role of images in communicating-and miscommunicating-scientific ideas to the lay public.
Misanthropology: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Study of Humanity introduces students to key concepts in critical thinking across the four core branches of anthropology: cultural, linguistic, biological, and archaeological. It combines a critical analysis of anthropology as a field with current concepts in scientific skepticism. By deconstructing a range of global case studies in which anthropological research runs aground, the book teaches students to distinguish between legitimate science and pseudoscience. It covers key concepts in critical thinking and rigorous research, such as cognitive biases and logical fallacies, data collection and consensus, probabilistic thinking, as well as political, nationalist, racist biases. Students learn not only how to apply these concepts to anthropological research and fieldwork, but also to their consumption of everyday information. This book will appeal to anthropology students and will be particularly useful for instructors of introductory anthropology courses, as well as instructors of courses across the humanities and social sciences focused on inculcating critical thinking skills.
How and where did our ancestors live during the 8000 years between the end of Ice Age and the arrival of the Romans in AD 43? In tracing the variety and development of prehistoric settlements from the hunter-gatherers of the Mesolithic to the tribes of the Iron Age, Dr Bewley takes a fresh look at all the key sites, from Star Carr in Yorkshire and other Mesolithic settlements, the causewayed camps of the Neolithic, the great Bronze Age landscapes to the Dartmoor and other land divisions, and the hillforts and farmsteads of the Iron Age. Throughout he concentrates on the close relationship between the individual site and the wider landscape, and on the ways that archaeologists discover, interpret and constantly reinterpret prehistoric settlements.
For the one-term course in human evolution, paleoanthropology, or fossil hominins taught at the junior/senior level in departments of anthropology or biology. This new edition provides a comprehensive overview to the field of paleoanthropology-the study of human evolution by analyzing fossil remains. It includes the latest fossil finds, attempts to place humans into the context of geological and biological change on the planet, and presents current controversies in an even-handed manner.
John Dupre explores recent revolutionary developments in biology
and considers their relevance for our understanding of human nature
and human society. Epigenetics and related areas of molecular
biology have eroded the exceptional status of the gene and
presented the genome as fully interactive with the rest of the
cell. Developmental systems theory provides a space for a vision of
evolution that takes full account of the fundamental importance of
developmental processes. Dupre shows the importance of microbiology
for a proper understanding of the living world, and reveals how it
subverts such basic biological assumptions as the organisation of
biological kinds on a branching tree of life, and the simple
traditional conception of the biological organism.
WE ARE MUCH MORE CONNECTED TO NATURE AND EACH OTHER THAN WE REALISE . .
.
THE SELF DELUSION is an explosive, powerful and inspiring book that brings together overwhelming evidence against the illusion we have of ourselves as independent beings - and explains how understanding our many connections may be the key to a better future.
Race, while drawn from the visual cues of human diversity, is an idea with a measurable past, an identifiable present, and an uncertain future. The concept of race has been at the center of both triumphs and tragedies in American history and has had a profound effect on the human experience. "Race Unmasked" revisits the origins of commonly held beliefs about the scientific nature of racial differences, examines the roots of the modern idea of race, and explains why race continues to generate controversy as a tool of classification even in our genomic age. Through rigorous historical research, "Race Unmasked" reveals how genetics and related biological disciplines formed and preserved ideas of race and, at times, racism throughout the twentieth century. Surveying the work of some of the twentieth century's most notable scientists, the book tests and then proves the limitations of a racial worldview. This new work is a gripping history of science and scientists that throws the contours of our current and evolving understanding of human diversity into sharp relief.
Population Biology of Vector-Borne Diseases is the first comprehensive survey of this rapidly developing field. The chapter topics provide an up-to-date presentation of classical concepts, reviews of emerging trends, synthesis of existing knowledge, and a prospective agenda for future research. The contributions offer authoritative and international perspectives from leading thinkers in the field. The dynamics of vector-borne diseases are far more intrinsically ecological compared with their directly transmitted equivalents. The environmental dependence of ectotherm vectors means that vector-borne pathogens are acutely sensitive to changing environmental conditions. Although perennially important vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue have deeply informed our understanding of vector-borne diseases, recent emerging viruses such as West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, and Zika virus have generated new scientific questions and practical problems. The study of vector-borne disease has been a particularly rich source of ecological questions, while ecological theory has provided the conceptual tools for thinking about their evolution, transmission, and spatial extent. Population Biology of Vector-Borne Diseases is an advanced textbook suitable for graduate level students taking courses in vector biology, population ecology, evolutionary ecology, disease ecology, medical entomology, viral ecology/evolution, and parasitology, as well as providing a key reference for researchers across these fields. |
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