The current popular and scientific interest in virtual environments has provided a new impetus for investigating binaural and spatial hearing. However, the many intriguing phenomena of spatial hearing have long made it an exciting area of scientific inquiry. Psychophysical and physiological investigations of spatial hearing seem to be converging on common explanations of underlying mechanisms. These understandings have in turn been incorporated into sophisticated yet mathematically tractable models of binaural interaction. Thus, binaural and spatial hearing is one of the few areas in which professionals are soon likely to find adequate physiological explanations of complex psychological phenomena that can be reasonably and usefully approximated by mathematical and physical models. This volume grew out of the Conference on Binaural and Spatial Hearing, a four-day event held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in response to rapid developments in binaural and spatial hearing research and technology. Meant to be more than just a proceedings, it presents chapters that are longer than typical proceedings papers and contain considerably more review material, including extensive bibliographies in many cases. Arranged into topical sections, the chapters represent major thrusts in the recent literature. The authors of the first chapter in each section have been encouraged to take a broad perspective and review the current state of literature. Subsequent chapters in each section tend to be somewhat more narrowly focused, and often emphasize the authors' own work. Thus, each section provides overview, background, and current research on a particular topic. This book is significant in that it reviews the important work during the past 10 to 15 years, and provides greater breadth and depth than most of the previous works.

This collection of essays, with an extended commentary by the editor, is concerned with developments in reproductive technology and the possibilities of genetic engineering. The volume provides a forum for debate between science and society. Leading scientists in the field explain the nature and goals of "test tube" reproduction and genetic engineering, and their eugenic implications. Other papers draw out the legal and ethical problems raised by these developments. The ethical dilemmas are discussed both from the point of view of secular moral philosophy and from a theological perspective. The extended commentary attempts to place these questions in the context of a social ethic, rather than an individualist one, in contrast to the approach adopted by the Warnock Report.

What does modern medical science know about menstruation? The menstrual cycle is less well understood by physicians than is commonly assumed and medical understanding of disorders associated with it are also limited. This study challenges the orthodox thinking in both society and medicine on menstruation. The authors base their study on women's own experiences and accounts of menstruation and menstrual disorders, drawing on a wide range of studies including their own. The book shows that women are often socialized to interpret the menstruum in negative terms and as something essentially private to be contained within the female domain. Taking an unorthodox approach, the authors incorporate a discussion of how menstruation is perceived within male culture and how the perspective of the medical profession has remained discernibly patriarchal. They show the significance of this in relation to women's experience within the family and at work. They end the book by focusing on the medicalisation of menstruation and the advantages and disadvantages for women of the greater access to the sick role this development implies.

Intrauterine development and birth constitute an uninterrupted sequence of events that have a molecular physiologic background. Perinatal Biochemistry presents a comprehensive review of this subject. Specific topics addressed include maternal metabolism during pregnancy, maternal insulin resistance, embryonic and fetal metabolism and fuel consumption, the fetal pancreas, growth factors, brain metabolism, and biochemical adaptations to early extrauterine life. The book will be useful to biochemists and physiologists interested in perinatology; clinicians working in areas related to maternal health, gestational development, and delivery; gynecologists, neonatologists; pediatricians; endocrinologists; and internists.

This work is based on the proceedings of the seventh conference of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research held at the University of Michigan in Arbor in June 1987. It discusses such topics as the experience of menstruation, perimenstrual symptoms and premenstrual syndrome and menopause.

This unique textbook - the first of its kind - presents a thoughtful and comprehensive discussion of the significance of varicocele and its impact on male fertility. This hot topic is covered from a multitude of angles in seven thematic sections: origin and pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, medical and surgical therapy, controversies, pro and con debates, and clinical case scenarios. The scope of varicocele includes basic and transitional research, genetics, diagnostic testing with conventional and advanced molecular biology approaches, hormonal control, interventional therapy and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Repair of varicocele, which can be carried out by various methods, not only alleviates oxidative stress-associated infertility but also prevents and protects against the progressive character of varicocele and its consequent upregulations of systemic oxidative stress. Even with the advances in the understanding of this intriguing disease and consensus on some areas such as diagnosis and pathophysiology, substantial controversy still exists, in particular concerning the benefits of treatment and to whom treatment should be offered. Additional chapters discuss, in depth, such controversies surrounding the role of varicocele in male infertility and present clinical case scenarios dealing with management of subclinical and clinical varicocele. A series of editorial comments is provided by the editors at the end of selected chapters, containing an objective and concise summary of the information from each chapter. In addition, chapters open up with key points for quick references and conclude with multiple choice questions and answers for immediate review and retention of the rich content. Generously illustrated, Varicocele and Male Infertility: A Complete Guide represents an invaluable tool for medical students in reproductive medicine as well as researchers and clinicians working in the field of infertility (e.g., urologists, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and embryologists) and is comprised of chapters written by leading and internationally recognized clinicians and scientists with expertise in varicocele, skillfully edited by leaders in the field.

This book discusses the nature of meiotic chromosome pairing effects which may play a role in the determination of fertility. In particular, data and illustrations from the application of recently developed electron microscopic spreading techniques will allow researchers in related fields to come to grips with the recent advances in the cytogenetics of meiotic chromosome pairing behavior. Topics dealt with include meiotic and synaptonemal complex behavior in humans and mice with a variety of chromosomal and genetic abnormalities, sex chromosome pairing in mammals and birds, the significance for fertility or pairing in mammals and birds, the significance for fertility of XY pairing and crossing over, the effects of hybridity on pairing and fertility in plants, and the genetic control of synaptonemal complex formation and crossing over in polyploids. This is a timely reference book for graduate level medical and veterinary students, and scientists in the field of genetics and cell biology.

In this unique book emphasis is placed on tests necessary to evaluate fetal well-being and to detect those fetuses at risk of hypoxia and acidosis in utero. Written by pioneers in the neonatal field, this publication contains chapters on the pathophysiology, obstetric management, and collagen diseases of intrauterine growth retardation. Ultrasound in detection of growth retarded fetuses is explored, as well as magnetic resonance imaging and magnesium substitution for the prevention of intrauterine growth retardation. Containing never-before-published information, this volume is an excellent reference source for both investigators in the field and those entering it.
Topics Include:
Perinatal growth chart for international reference
Ultrasound guided procedures in small for gestation fetuses
Utero-placental and fetal circulation

A comprehensive survey of the use of ultrasound in management of infertile patients is presented in this publication. Particular atten-tion is given to recently developed techniques such as assessment of endometrial changes, ovarian blood flow measurements, and per-cutaneous oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization. The very re-cent technique of transvaginal sonography is presented and richly illus-trated with original results obtained in biopsy-guided oocyte re-trieval, and in the precise delineation of follicle size and number for infertility treatment. Guidance in the interpretation of ultrasonic findings, which include potential limitations and pitfalls, is provided in each chapter. Researchers and practitioners interested in the management of infertile patients will find this volume indispensable.

The first volume in this new series from The Center for the Study of Child and Adolescent Development at The Pennsylvania State University focuses on the relationship between the biological stress circuits and the behavioral concomitants to stress in animals and humans. The participants at this conference, a tribute to Dean Evan G. Pattishall, Jr., discuss the developmental implications of their work in relation to the periods of infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
For professionals, clinicians, and researchers in clinical, developmental, experimental, and health psychology, behavioral medicine, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and the neurosciences.

Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction presents standard and new cryopreservation techniques in detail, outlining those that have resulted in success, and providing recommended means for overcoming typically encountered problems. This new edition provides a much broader range of clinical application and data to demonstrate its contribution to the use of vitrified oocytes and embryos. The book also discusses new areas in the field of assisted reproductive technology such as oocyte banking, preimplantion diagnostics at the blastocyst stage, and the burgeoning adoption of elective single embryo transfer. Written by expert scientists and clinical embryologists, this book will help you to consistently and predictably apply vitrification as an important therapeutic strategy in assisted reproduction.

Why are boxers actually better than briefs? How can hamsters help determine what's wrong with my sperm? My wife's already moody enough - why am I injecting her with even more hormones? Do I have to fill the whole cup at the fertility clinic? If you're a man going through fertility treatments with your significant other, these might be just a few of the questions you've faced. And, much to your dismay, you've realised the answers are a lot harder to find than you'd like. Until now. "How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup" is the man's guide to anything and everything related to infertility. But it's not just the same old boring nuts and bolts (no pun intended). Author Greg Wolfe, who went through four cycles of IVF on his journey to fatherhood, lays it all out with side-splitting humor. From understanding a woman's cycle, to 'porn etiquette' at the clinic, to detailed instructions on administering hormone shots, this book has everything a man needs to know to get the job done. For those men tired of searching the bookshelves for a volume that speaks to their experiences in the wild world of infertility (and for those women whose men don't quite get it), there's no need to look further. "How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup" covers the whole gamut of information for couples dealing with infertility in a fresh, engaging way any man can appreciate.

'A big-picture forecast of how medicine stands on the threshold of a revolution that will radically change all of our lives' The Times Welcome to a revolution in the science of you! This landmark new book from award-winning scientist Daniel M. Davis explores the future of the human body. Imagine taking drugs to help you acquire new skills, or knowing years in advance the precise likelihood of developing specific cancers, or following a diet and health regime tailored to your microbiome, or even having continuous monitoring of your body's workings and well-being. Written by an award-winning scientist, this landmark book shows how these radical and disconcerting possibilities have been made real. It is at once a gripping drama of scientific ingenuity, discovery and collaboration, and a vision of the human body of dizzying complexity and wonder. 'The startling new discoveries...are radically altering our understanding of how we function and what our future holds' BRIAN COX 'Thrilling' BILL BRYSON 'Brilliant' TIM SPECTOR 'Extraordinary' ALICE ROBERTS

Among the many recent advances in assisted reproduction therapies (ART), improved technologies for identifying viable oocytes, sperm, and embryos are of primary importance. Paradoxically, the latest advances presented at conferences and symposia are often slow to become part of the daily routine in IVF laboratories. Detailing established and developing techniques, A Practical Guide to Selecting Gametes and Embryos provides a user-friendly text of ready-to-use ARTs that can be utilized effectively in the lab.

In this volume, renowned embryologist and educator Markus Montag and his expert panel highlight sophisticated and proven selection strategies and emphasize the importance of proper lab practice in handling gametes and embryos.

Topics include:

• Steps undertaken for the analysis of a semen sample
• Quality control and prevention of exposure to toxins in oocyte collection and embryo culture
• Morphological selection of gametes and embryos
• Both commonly used and innovative techniques for gamete and embryo selection, such as oxygen respiration and time-lapse imaging
• Invasive techniques, including polar body, embryo, and blastocyst biopsies as well as aneuploidy testing by FISH and array-CGH

Accompanied by numerous figures and descriptions, this guide to selecting gametes and embryos brings the insight of international authors with knowledge and expertise, highlighting practical tips and key points. The book offers a starting point for applying successful selection strategies for reducing the rate of high-risk multiple gestations while maintaining or increasing viable pregnancy rates.

The successful achievement of pregnancies following pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was first reported in April 1990. The technology is often used for patients who are at substantial risk of conceiving a pregnancy affected by a known genetic disorder, however from this technology other more controversial uses have arisen such as HLA typing to save the life of a sibling, gender selection for social reasons, the prevention of late onset diseases, or the prevention of diseases which may be genetically predisposed to developing such as breast cancer. The technology surrounding PGD is constantly developing, giving rise to new and unexpected consequences that create fresh ethical and legal dilemmas. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, this book critically explores the regulation of PGD and the broader legal and ethical issues associated with it. It looks at the regulatory situation in a number of jurisdictions including New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, but it also explores a number of themes of wide significance including a historical consideration of PGD and its part in the creation of the "genetic embryo" as a political tool, the over regulation of PGD and the ethical difficulties in handling additional unexpected medical information yielded by new technologies. This book will be of particular interest to academics and students of law, medicine and ethics.

The hands-on guide that addresses the common barriers to achieving pregnancy and offers tips to maximize your potential for fertility For millions of people, starting a family is a lifelong dream. However, many face challenges in welcoming children into the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12% of women in the US from ages 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. A variety of factors exist that can contribute to infertility, such as ovulation disorders, uterine abnormalities, congenital defects, and a host of environmental and lifestyle considerations. But infertility is not just a female problem. For approximately 35% of couples with infertility, a male factor is identified along with a female factor, while in 8% of couples, a male factor is the only identifiable cause. Fortunately, there are many treatment options that offer hope. Getting Pregnant For Dummies discusses the difficulties related to infertility and offers up-to-date advice on the current methods and treatments to assist in conception. This easy-to-read guide will help you understand why infertility occurs, its contributing risk factors, and the steps to take to increase the chances of giving birth. From in vitro fertilization (IVF) to third party reproduction (donor sperm or eggs and gestational surrogacy) to lifestyle changes to understanding genetic information to insurance, legal and medication considerations, this bookcovers all the information you need to navigate your way to the best possible results. Packed with the latest information and new developments in medical technology, this book: Helps readers find real-life solutions to getting pregnant Covers the latest information on treatments for infertility for both women and men Offers advice on choosing the option best suited for an individual's unique situation Explains the different types and possible causes of infertility issues Provides insight to genetic testing information Provides suggestions for lifestyle changes that help prepare for conception Getting Pregnant For Dummies is an indispensable guide for every woman trying to conceive and for men experiencing infertility issues.

An account from the frontline of fertility treatment, giving a unique insight into not only the medical and scientific advances involved but the human cost and rewards behind this life-changing technology. Simon Fishel worked with Robert Edwards during his pioneering early IVF research and was part of the team in the world's first IVF clinic, with all the trials and tribulations that involved at the time, including a writ for murder! As the science developed over the decades so did his career, as he sought to do more for patients and taught the new technologies to doctors all over the world. He came up against regulatory and establishment barriers, including fighting a 3-year legal case in the High Court of Justice and a death threat from a doctor if he refused to work with him. The clinic he founded has grown into the largest IVF group in the UK, developing exciting new procedures, and he has helped establish clinics throughout the world, even being invited to introduce IVF to China.

In Reproductive Medicine and the Life Sciences in the Contemporary Economy, Alexander Styhre and Rebecka Arman illuminate issues that have given rise to terms such as 'the bioeconomy' and 'the baby business'. The life sciences play an increasing role in providing services and commodities consumed by businesses and the public. Based on an in-depth study of clinics offering assisted fertilization in Sweden, this book is the first to examine the commercialization and commodification of know-how derived from the life sciences, from the point of view of organization theory. In the field of reproductive medicine there has been significant growth of both public and private clinical work. Clinics are places where individual interests and concerns and social and institutional arrangements intersect. With a front office where patients encounter various professional groups and a back office comprising the laboratories wherein human reproductive materials are handled and stored, they are more than just places in which medicine is applied in a clinical setting. Clinicians in this field actively influence policy-making and the regulatory frameworks that monitor and set the boundaries for their work. These are places where social and cultural interests and concerns are translated into policies and practice. The clinics are open social systems, responding to and influencing discussions. This book combines organization theory, sociological theory, gender theory, science and technology studies, and philosophy. It emphasises the critical importance of a sociomaterial perspective on organization, stressing how material and social resources are always of necessity folded into each other in day-to-day organizing.

Today, we are exposed to an increasing number of chemicals in the environment and there is a growing awareness of the effects of these chemicals on the ovaries. Infertility resulting from environmental exposures may not be obvious until the reproductive life span is waning. As such, the potential for xenobiotic-induced infertility needs to be better understood. In recent years, research into chemicals that have the potential to cause early menopause by destroying pre-antral ovarian follicles is gaining greater appreciation. Ovarian Toxicology, Second Edition represents a compilation of chapters prepared by researchers who have substantially contributed to our understanding of the impact of xenobiotics and environmental factors on ovarian function. The second edition substantially updates newly investigated ovotoxicants as well as improved mechanistic insights that have emerged since the first edition. Topics include: Ovarian physiology and the metabolism of xenobiotics The effect of pesticides, heavy metals, phthalates, BPA, and cigarette smoking on the ovaries Ovarian cancer, including endocrine effects and new perspectives on chemoresistance Epidemiology and human health risk assessment for environmental chemicals and pharmaceuticals The first book to focus specifically on ovarian toxicology, this resource is ideal for scientists in academia, regulatory agencies, and industry who would benefit from a survey of the impact of xenobiotic chemicals on ovarian function.

One of the problems geriatricians are confronted with in everyday clinical practice is differentiating disease from the process of old age. The challenges of ageing require a better understanding of the essential biology of ageing in order to separate ageing from disease, and indeed ageing made worse by disease. Although the topic is large and diverse, this practical and easy-to-read reference book contains vital information on the biology of ageing. It provides a concise understanding of the changes that occur and focuses on the clinical implications of ageing. MCQs are featured throughout for revision and examination practice. The Biology of Ageing provides the reader with: . a learning guide on the biology of ageing through an overview of the changes that occur at both cellular and system levels . knowledge of how biological changes of ageing impact on physiology and the clinical relevance in medical practice . a practical consideration of these changes in disease presentations and how these changes may impact on disease management. This full-colour guide featuring slides, MRIs, figures and photographs is ideal for doctors training in geriatric medicine, practising geriatricians and those with an interest in management of older people.

This highly effective programme for women struggling to become pregnant draws on the proven, centuries-old techniques of traditional Chinese medicine to cure infertility. Dr Lewis explains in clear, accessible prose how any woman can identify the imbalances in her body - and how these imbalances can then be treated with a simple plan that entails lifestyle changes, diet, herbs and acupressure. On its own or in conjunction with traditional Western medical treatments, THE INFERTILITY CURE offers women hope - and what they desire most: a healthy baby. 'Lewis simplifies many complex concepts, such as the theory that there are four vital substances in the body (Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood) and that they're likely to be suffering from imbalance caused by energy excess, deficiency, or stagnation' - Publishers Weekly

The ONLY textbook available on marine mammal physiology, a core topic in Marine Science undergrad teaching Builds on the unique overall theme 'How would you design a marine mammal?' which focuses on what an undergrad student would actually want to know. What would they ask? So rather than "What are the biochemical differences between marine and terrestrial mammals?" the book addresses "How can marine mammals dive for such a long time?" or "How do they stay warm in such cold water?" Organises the Table of Contents into common 'real' student questions. The book thus centres around the point of view of the student. This makes it accessible and student-focused. Consistency across all chapters Provides consistent Power Point slides that teachers can use when they don't know the field well AND that students can use as study guides. Offers Study Questions and future thinking/implications questions. A Driving Question for each chapter is highlighted in a box. A concluding chapter ties up loose ends and consolidates the driving questions from the individual chapters. Contains the contributions of well-respected, prominent scientists in the field. Author bios for each chapter showcase diversity in contributor pool. Focuses on physiological adaptations of marine mammals and connects them with the ecological context, including anthropogenic impacts. Discusses differences that might exist by type of marine mammal, development questions, and behavioral issues.

Technologies of Sexuality, Identity and Sexual Health highlights the complex ways in which sexuality is expressed and enacted through local ideologies, global identities and material cultures, and their influence on people s sexual health and well-being. Its impetus is the renewed interest in technology and the social life of things, including pharmaceuticals, expanded sexual and related surgery, the growing exploitation of markets for sexual and contraceptive products, and the impact of these on sexual and health practices and outcomes.

Organised loosely into three parts, the opening chapters concentrate on female contraception, its availability, and the varied cultural significance attached to the ability to control its use, exploring the politics of reproductive health and birth control, and the ties between technology and power. The middle section turns its attention to men, and the impact of traditional and contemporary concerns about masculinity, and the social and sexual roles of men. The final chapters look at the commonalities across cultural borders and sexual gendered identities how products and procedures travel, not only through the formal channels of globalisation, but also informally, carried by individuals across cultural and social boundaries through sexual, social and commercial interactions.

The volume brings together anthropologists, sociologists and cultural studies scholars, both senior and emerging, from around the globe. Offering an important and topical contribution to the developing global literature on sexuality, sexual identity, culture and health, it is of interest to researchers and advanced students in these areas.

'The world is not neatly divided into two camps of women, those who wanted to reproduce and did, and those who didn't want to, and didn't. So many of us are caught here, in between, neither one thing nor the other, drifting towards a receding horizon, in our own camp . . .' When Miranda Ward and her husband decided to have a baby, they were optimistic. There was no reason not to be: they were both young, they were both healthy. But five years, three miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy later, Ward finds herself still dealing with the ongoing aftermath of that decision: the waiting, the doubting, the despairing, the hoping. ADRIFT is a memoir about the unique place of almost-motherhood. Some people pass through it without even noticing; others languish there, held safe, held prisoner, by the walls of not-knowing - for as long as there is still a question mark, an open ending, there is a chance of escape. Inspired by her childhood on the California coast, Ward turns to the water, seeking solace in a landscape of a different kind - the swimming pool. Hoping to make sense of the uncertainty, she begins to ask questions of geography on the most intimate scale. How do we learn to feel at home in our own bodies, even when they disobey? How can we find our way, even when we feel adrift? What language do we have for the spaces in between? Charting a journey through territory at once deeply personal and widely shared, Ward offers a searing, lyrical and radically honest narrative of fertility and motherhood that is less often told.

This reference work on andrology begins with a discussion of male infertility. It discusses genetic causes, conventional treatment, non-surgical methods for sperm retrieval, and assisted reproduction techniques. It also covers andrological endocrinology with chapters on clinical investigation and laboratory analysis in male hypogonadism, as well as testosterone deficiency syndrome. Additional topics include urogentical infections and STDs, erectile dysfunction, psychological abnormalities of male sexual function, and reproductive cancers. The book emphasizes contemporary concern for evidence-based practice, minimizing interventions, and promoting male reproductive health.