Presenting the latest research in glial cell function gleaned from new techniques in imaging and molecular biology, The Role of Glia in Neurotoxicity, Second Edition covers multiple aspects of glial cells, including morphology, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology, and their involvement in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. The book is structured to examine the interactions between glial cells and neurons during development, adulthood, and senescence, followed by specific examples of directly mediated glial neurotoxicity. The book also covers miscellaneous topics in glial physiology/biochemistry such as signaling and edema. The book includes coverage of advances in our knowledge and understanding of glial physiology and biochemistry. Discover what's new in the Second Edition: Neuronal-glia metabolic interactions Neuronal-glia interactions (glutamate homeostasis) Zinc transporters in glia Energy deprivation/mitochondrial dysfunction - unique astrocyte susceptibilities Astrocytes and MPTP neurotoxicity Astroglia and food toxins Current understanding of the importance of glia has caused a boom in published information. Yet while many of the published textbooks are multifaceted and multidisciplinary, none includes the role of glia in neurotoxicity. Written by leaders in the field of glial research, this text fills this missing gap in the literature. Broader in scope than the first edition, including contributions from internationally known researchers, this is still the only book dedicated to exploring the role of glial cells in mediating neurotoxicology. Features Summarizes the latest research in glial cell function gleaned from new techniques in imaging and molecular biology Contains tables and figures that give you quick and easy access to precise data Includes a contemporary summary of literature that puts information useful for grant submissions at your fingertips

Synergic Influence of Gaseous, Particulate, and Biological Pollutants on Human Health is a unique merger of two divergent parts. The first part is a presentation of the existing knowledge on the characteristics of basic air pollutants and their documented impact on human health. The focus is on the main gaseous, airborne particles (including fiber particles) and biological pollutants. The first part is a literature review conducted by the authors who are actively engaged in studying the described pollutants. The second part contains a study of methods used for the evaluation and prognosis of health effects to exposure to particular pollutants. Most of the chapters of this book go beyond the well-documented, solid facts and contain the authors' own evaluation of the utility and limitations of particular methods, as well as their suggestions for further studies. The reader who manages to wade through this part is sure to understand that the main drawback of the described methods is the impossibility to precisely assess the health effects of exposure to the combination of a few/many air pollutants, while one of the biggest problems is the effect of synergy. The last chapters of the book focus on the attempts to consider the effect of synergy and the analysis of the tedious work of many researchers to construct the tools enabling, to some extent, the prognosis of the health effects of simultaneous exposure to many air pollutants. The book also reveals the synergism of pollutants and social problems, reinforcing the adverse health effect of the population living not only in highly industrialized areas, but also in postindustrial areas. According to the authors, the construction of suitable tools which would at least partially allow for the evaluation of the collective impact of social factors and the conglomerate of the air pollutants on health of particular communities constitutes a great challenge and may inspire t

This publication represents the result of the fruitful workshop organised with the aim to attract the attention on the possibility of bio terrorism attack, with the s- port of NATO funds. In the last years the attention was strongly concentrated on the terrorism view similar to "military type attacks:" bomb on the trains, kamikazes, airplanes etc. As consequence many devices studied are directed to prevent these attacks such as the control of the passengers before the flight. For the people terrorism is therefore equivalent to bomb or similar and nobody think that there is also other possible and sophisticated means that can be used by the terrorist. In 1995 Sarin gas in the Tokio subway killed 12 people and affected 5,000 persons. In the USA anthrax was sent by mail to many federal offices. These events and other cases attract the attention on these possible terrorist attacks and the first recommendations for preventing theses events were\elaborated in the United State and in Europe. The possible agents and the modality that can be used for the diffusion are analysed and food and water are considered the principal and more favourable way. The story and the principal decision about this were reported in the first article of this collection which introduces the concept of bio-terrorism.

Advances in Molecular Toxicology features the latest advances in the subspecialties of the broad area of molecular toxicology. This series details the study of the molecular basis of toxicology by which a vast array of agents encountered in the human environment, and produced by the human body, manifest themselves as toxins. The book is not strictly limited to documenting these examples, but also covers the complex web of chemical and biological events that give rise to toxin-induced symptoms and disease. The new technologies that are being harnessed to analyze and understand these events are also reviewed by leading experts in the field.

Aflatoxins are responsible for damaging up to 25% of the world's food crops, resulting in large economic losses in developed countries and human and animal disease in under-developed ones. In addition to aflatoxins, the presence of other mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins, brings additional concerns about the safety of food and field supplies. There has not been a comprehensive, single source guide to synthesize the most up-to-date information on this issue - until now. Aflatoxin and Food Safety presents the latest information available in aflatoxin research and control. The editor - a leading author, educator, and speaker on mycotoxin - has synthesized chapters from internationally renowned experts into a single comprehensive resource. The text considers the worldwide impact of aflatoxins and describes recent advances in research on aflatoxin production, analysis, and toxicology. It also examines the strategies used in controlling aflatoxin production in crops, including the development of crop resistance to aflatoxin by such methods as conventional breeding and genetic engineering. In its final section, the book discusses the post-harvest management of aflatoxin in contaminated foods and feeds. An ideal resourcefor those involved in a variety of biological, biomedical, and agricultural fields, Aflatoxin and Food Safety aggregates the aflatoxin research completed by the world's finest scientists over the last 15 years in a thorough and accessible format.

Knowledge of plant toxicity has always been important, but the information has not always been reliable. Now, increasing international trade is drawing attention to the inadequacy of regional information and highlighting the geographical fragmentation and notorious discrepancies of thinly documented information. The international community of safety regulators, toxicologists, and poison control personnel requires a single reference compiled of verifiable, primary source reports of common poisonous plants.
Intended for just that purpose, International Poisonous Plant Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference successfully addresses the deficiencies and gaps in the current literature. Using accepted botanic names, the book defines the known set of toxic vascular plants. The use of botanic names satisfies the need for an international standard of identity to support worldwide communication and commerce. Also, taxonomy based on common ancestry and genetic connections provides a rational basis for studying and using plant relationships.
The author supports toxicity information with references to the primary literature. Each entry includes referenced citations supporting the toxicity of the plant, symptoms and circumstances of toxic exposure, dosage and potency, chemical analysis, botany, pharmacology, mechanism and metabolism, and control.
Finally, the book cross-references selected synonyms and common names. The checklist is organized alphabetically with two types of entries. The main entry documents the toxic plants themselves and a secondary entry lists selected synonyms and common names cross-referenced to the main entries.
Including virtually all common animal feed plants, human food plants, and many plants that are sources of herbal products and dietary supplements, tonics, and therapeutic agents, this timely checklist compiles and verifies the known data on toxic vascular plants from around the world.

The field of nanotechnology has developed very rapidly over the past decade lending great promise to medical applications in drug delivery, therapeutics, and biological imaging. Due to the great promise, rapid development, and broad application of nanomaterials, it is imperative that researchers from development through application seek a thorough understanding of nanotoxicity. Nanotoxicity: Methods and Protocols address the special considerations when applying toxicity studies to nanomaterials and detail newly developed methods for the study of nanotoxicity. These diverse methods span in vitro cell culture, model tissues, in situ exposure, in vivo models, analysis in plants, and mathematical modeling, proving to be relevant to pharmaceutical scientists, material scientists, bioengineers, toxicologists, environmentalists, immunologists, and cellular and molecular biologists, to name a few. As part of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM), chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Nanotoxicity: Methods and Protocols aims to diversify the capabilities of current researchers involved in nanotoxicology and to enable researchers in related fields to expand their knowledge of how nanomaterials interface with the biological environment.

Demography in Ecotoxicology focuses on the interface between toxicology, life history and demographic theory. This comprehensive book examines the different ways of adequately assessing the potential impact of toxic stress on populations and discusses how to obtain an insight into the underlying physiological and genetic mechanisms. The theory is illustrated with empiricial observations on a number of species and organisational levels and the book incorporates:

• case studies;
• real data;
• life history models;
• methodologies; and,
• recommendations for risk assessment

This is the first book about both normal development of the nervous system and how early exposure to alcohol and nicotine interferes with this development. The developing nervous system is highly dynamic and vulnerable to genetic and epigenetic factors that can be additive or synergistic. Disruption of normal brain development leads to an array of developmental disorders. One of the most common of these is mental retardation, the prime cause of which is prenatal exposure to alcohol. As chapters in this book show, alcohol has direct effects on the developing neural system and it affects genetic regulation. Another common neurotoxin is nicotine, and it is discussed in this book for three reasons: (1) the number of adolescents who smoke cigarettes is rising in some populations; (2) prenatal exposure to nicotine affects neurotransmitter systems that are critical for normal brain development and cognition; and (3) prenatal exposure to nicotine is often accompanied by prenatal exposure to alcohol.LThe mature brain is the culmination of an orderly sequence of the basic ontogenetic processes--cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and death. Neural stem cells and progenitors proliferate in discrete sites; then, young neurons migrate long distances to their residences where they form neural networks. During this sequence many immature cells die, presumably eliminating unsuitable or non-competitive cells. Each process is regulated by genetic and environmental factors. When this regulation goes awry, a dysmorphic and dysfunctional brain results. Though this can be tragic in clinical settings, in experimental contexts it provides keen insight into normal brain development.LThe book isdivided into three parts. The first describes neural ontogeny in the normal brain. The second and third deal with the consequences of early exposure to alcohol and nicotine. Though there are similarities in the effects of these two toxins, there are also intriguing differences. The commonalities reflect the plasticity and resilience of the developing brain while the differences point to the targeted effects of the two toxins. Exploring these effects brings a richer appreciation of brain development. The book will be of interest to neuroscientists, developmental biologists, teratologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, and to their students and trainees.

An enormous amount of research is currently devoted to evaluating the role of nutrition in the aetiology of major human diseases and to clarifying the underlying mechanisms. This resurgent interest reflects the realisation that carcinogens may be generated during the normal cooking of food and that they may play a role in human carcinogenesis. Moreover, during the last decade it has become apparent that naturally occurring chemicals in food, primarily of plant origin, can afford effective protection against human cancer and heart disease. As a result, the need for up-to-date information in this subject area has never been greater. Nutrition and Chemical Toxicity deals in depth with the various toxicants found in food including naturally occurring chemicals, fungal contaminants, products of the cooking process and allergens. Other chapters focus on nutritional modulation of cytochromes P450; interactions between drugs and diet; glutathione, sulphur aminoacids and chemical detoxication; modulation of the carcinogenic response by caloric restriction; and lipotropes and chemical carcinogenesis. Further contributions discuss the expression of chemical toxicity in vitamin deficiency and supplementation; safety evaluation of vitamins and minerals; naturally occurring organosulphur compounds as potential anticarcinogens; cancer chemoprevention by tea polyphenols; and animal diets in safety evaluation studies. This timely book is essential reading for professionals involved in cancer research and the safety evaluation of chemicals, food scientists and toxicologists, nutritionists and those involved with food regulation.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of "Total Exposure Health" and presents details on subject areas which make up the framework. It provides in-depth coverage of the science and technology supporting exposure and risk assessment. This includes advances in toxicology and the "-omics" as well as new techniques for exposure assessment. The book concludes with a discussion on bioethics implications, including ethical considerations related to genetic testing. Discusses advances in exposure monitoring Presents a systems biology approach to human exposures Examines how overall well-being translates to worker productivity Considers the link between work-related risk factors and health conditions Covers the study of genomics in precision medicine and exposure science Explores bioethics in genomic studies Aimed at the exposure professionals (industrial hygienists, toxicologists, public health, environmental engineers), geneticists, molecular biologists, engineers and managers in the health and safety industry as well as professionals in the public administration field.

Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes explains how day-to-day variations in chemical exposure may cause unusual and seemingly unpredictable symptoms, including many that have been termed psychosomatic in the past. It describes how everyday, low-level chemical exposures may cause fatigue, memory impairment, headaches, mood changes, breathing difficulties, digestive problems, and a host of chronic unexplained illnesses including chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War syndrome, and sick building syndrome. The authors are the first writers to clearly describe and document the process of adaptation, a concept that provides a rational and scientific basis for understanding these symptoms. In the Second Edition of this professionally acclaimed work, the authors offer evidence for an emerging new theory of disease—toxicant-induced loss of tolerance—which may have far-reaching implications for medicine, public health, and environmental policy. Based on a report commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Health that won the World Health Organization’s Macedo Award, Chemical Exposures is the most comprehensive book ever written on sensitivity to low level chemical exposure and the many health effects associated with it. This work clarifies the nature of chemical sensitivity, shows how it differs from traditional allergies and toxicity, and suggests how federal and state governments can help those who are affected. The book identifies four major groups of people with hypersensitivity to low levels of chemicals: occupants of tight buildings, industrial workers who handle chemicals, residents of communities exposed to toxic chemicals, and individuals with random and unique exposures to various chemicals. The fact that similar symptoms are being reported by members of these demographically diverse groups not only points to a serious problem, it may also contribute to a better understanding of chemical sensitivity. Included are a number of features that will be invaluable to health professionals:

• Clear, concise explanations of technical material
• The most extensive bibliography to date on the subject
• Tables contrasting different medical approaches
• Descriptions of recent research and proposed mechanisms
• An annotated bibliographical appendix highlighting illnesses that have been linked to environmental exposures
• Policy recommendations for federal and state governments

"Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers in this field would be well advised to read this landmark book. —American Public Health Association Newsletter

"A milestone in the evolution of multiple chemical sensitivity." —Chemical and Engineering News

"...groundbreaking and accessible…balanced and scholarly...essential reading for risk assessors, physicians, psychologists, attorneys concerned with toxic torts, public health officials, regulators, government decisionmakers, medical and environmental researchers, as well as laypersons." —Journal of Risk Analysis

Well-respected leaders in the field of in vitro neurotoxicology take a fresh look at their own and other's work, critically and comparatively analyzing it across experimental systems and toxicants, and synthesizing essential principles for in vitro neurotoxicity testing. Neurotoxicants of significance to human health are emphasized, especially those for which metabolism and dose-responses are well well studied both in vivo and in vitro: lead, mercury, organophosphorous insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxin, ethanol, and endogenous proteins. The goal is to set out new concepts and research directions that will hasten significant improvement in the methods and systems for in vitro neurotoxicity testing.

A unique book on recognition and investigation of criminal poisoning for investigators of all backgrounds and stages of their careers. Poisons: An Introduction for Forensic Investigators is a concise yet comprehensive overview of toxicants and unanticipated circumstances in which poisoning occurs. This book expands awareness of poisoning possibilities, heightens recognition of the toxic potential of many substances, and provides information to aid in focusing investigations. Poisons discusses life-threatening toxic substances and agents that modify behavior to achieve criminal goals. These include drugs that facilitate sexual assaults and robberies, and those found in medical child abuse and drug-product tampering. More than 230 case studies illustrate both unintentional and intentional poisoning and highlight situations where poisoning may not immediately be apparent. Information is included in pertinent criminal poisoning cases to illustrate the temperament of poisoners, their relationship to victims, their basis for poison selection, and their method of administration. Since Poisons is written by a single author, the discussions, format, educational level, and terminology remain consistent to aid crime scene investigators, homicide detectives, forensic scientists, death investigators, toxicologists, medical examiners, attorneys, and students. The book's more than 650 references are an asset to frame knowledge as well as a resource to return to again and again.

In 1966, Vittorio Erspamer, the editor of the first monograph within the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology series that dealt with 5-hydroxy- tryptamine (Vol. XIX) wrote in the Preface: "In a decade of intense and dedicated work, an immense amount of experimental data has been collected, the significance of which ...has spread into all fields of biology and medi- cine ...". Three decades later, a dramatic further increase in our knowledge of all neuroscientific aspects of the serotoninergic system in the CNS has been achieved, and we are witnessing persisting interest in the biology of serotonin of scientists working in various basic biomedical and clinical disciplines. The scientific advance was made possible by significant improvements in analytical and morphological technologies of high sensitivity and cellular/subcellular resolution (e. g. , patch clamp techniques, in vivo microdialysis, electrophysi- ological recording techniques, quantitative ligand autoradiography, immuno- histochemistry, cytochemistry, catalytic enzyme histochemistry, and PET / SPECT techniques) and in molecular biology (e. g. , in situ hybridization, PCR cloning, DNA transfection studies, and targeted gene disruption). Particular progress has been made in the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacoogy of ' serotoninergic neurons and their modulatory role in brain functions, in s ~roto- nin receptors and their transduction mechanisms, and in the potential role of serotonin in neuropsychiatric diseases, such as eating disorders, antisocial personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, seasonal affective disor- der, and major depression.

This manual surveys toxins from insects, spiders, mollusks, fish, and snakes which have biotechnological applications. It reviews aspects of toxin origin, their molecular mechanism, and their cellular and pathogenic effects. It also provides methodology for the application of these toxins in the research laboratory. This includes a description of the extraction methods, biochemical characterization, and applications in pharmacological studies.

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."

Nicotine has been developed as a medication to assist smoking cessation, and is being considered as a possible drug for long-term maintenance of non-smoking. It is also undergoing evaluation as a possible treatment for several medical disorders, including ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, attention deficit disorder, spasticity, and sleep apnea. Understanding its safety and toxitity is essential for drug developers, drug regulators, and clinicians making risk/benefit decisions about long-term nicotine therapy. Research on nicotine toxicity is also relevant to ongoing research on tobacco and health aimed at understanding the role of nicotine in contributing to tobacco-induced diseases. This book reviews the current scientific understanding of the safety and toxicity of nicotine. The discussion ranges from chemistry, studies in animals and human experimental research to the results of large clinical trials. Among the topics covered are cardiovascular disease, cancer, reproductive toxicity (including fetal toxicity and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), behavioral toxicity (including abuse liability and addiction to nicotine medication), and gastrointestinal disease. Finally, contributions explore the risks and benefits of nicotine as a medication. The authors are world-renowned experts on their respective topics. No other book addresses nicotine toxicity in the depth or breadth of this volume. A book on the cutting edge of contemporary public health discourse, Nicotine Safety is an up-to-date and lucid overview of current knowledge on the subject. It will be a necessary addition to the bookshelves of clinicians with an interest in tobacco and health, drug developers and researchers, pharmacologists and toxicologists, public health researchers and policy-makers.

Human monitoring as a supplement to or replacement for environmental monitoring of toxic substances in the workplace has become an increasingly important issue within the last decade, leading to Congressional hearings, governmental studies, and scientific conferences around the world. Just as the purposes for undertaking human monitoring are diverse and sometimes conflicting, so too are the concerns-- medical, legal, and ethical-- such testing has generated.

The authors begin by providing precise characterizations of the types of monitoring now in use and a clear account of the legal basis for OSHA monitoring requirements. They then turn to scientific and technical concerns that have evolved around monitoring, including the frequency and timing of examinations, human variability, and the distinctions that exist between high-risk and sensitive groups. Specific legal and ethical problems of conducting monitoring tests on workers are then covered in full, including the consequences for the worker of medical removal from the workplace, the conflict between human monitoring and personal privacy, access to medical records, and the use and possible misuse of test results.

The volume concludes with policy recommendations for the use of human monitoring, recommendations for the use of human monitoring, recommendations that would achieve the goal of reducing occupational disease and injury while remaining within the bounds of a supportable ethical framework.

Ecotoxicology is a relatively new scientific discipline. Indeed, it might be argued that it is only during the last 5-10 years that it has come to merit being regarded as a true science, rather than a collection of procedures for protecting the environment through management and monitoring of pollutant discharges into the environment. The term 'ecotoxicology' was first coined in the late sixties by Prof. Truhaut, a toxicologist who had the vision to recognize the importance of investigating the fate and effects of chemicals in ecosystems. At that time, ecotoxicology was considered a sub-discipline of medical toxicology. Subsequently, several attempts have been made to portray ecotoxicology in a more realistic light. Notably, both Moriarty (1988) and F. Ramade (1987) emphasized in their books the broad basis of ecotoxicology, encompassing chemical and radiation effects on all components of ecosystems. In doing so, they and others have shifted concern from direct chemical toxicity to humans, to the far more subtle effects that pollutant chemicals exert on natural biota. Such effects potentially threaten the existence of all life on earth. Although I have identified the sixties as the era when ecotoxicology was first conceived as a coherent subject area, it is important to acknowledge that studies that would now be regarded as ecotoxicological are much older.

This introduction to the mechanisms by which the body metabolizes and excretes administered drugs is directed at advanced undergraduate biochemists, pharmacologists, pre-clinical medical strudents and advanced undergraduate/postgraduate toxicologists. The subject is approached from both biochemical and physiological angles. The examples of drug metabolism have been kept clinically relevant, so that the practical importance of the subject can be easily appreciated. The book contains a section of experimental procedures for setting up student practicals in drug metabolism.

The last few years have brought about many changes in the field of marine and freshwater toxins, with advances in analytical technology and the realization that these toxins are a global issue. Offering a complete reference guide, Seafood and Freshwater Toxins: Pharmacology, Physiology, and Detection, Third Edition addresses all aspects of the social and scientific influence of phytotoxins, from legislation and monitoring to new drug development. Covering many new topics, the book examines three main aspects: monitoring of toxins; chemical, mechanistic, and toxicological diversity; and detection technologies. New to this edition: 35 new chapters and 5 updated chapters A focus on state-of-the-art methodology Coverage of new technologies to cultivate algae and to identify, isolate, and quantify toxins Regulatory changes Climate change evidence Expanded information on toxicology Part I of the book includes an overview and reviews general issues related to toxin detection, ecology, and diversity, and effects of climate change. Part II covers impacts of toxins regarding epidemiology, toxicology, economics, and surveillance. Part III explores available detection technologies, such as functional assays, biosensors, mass spectrometry, nanotechnology, and more. In addition, standard reference materials for toxins are discussed. Parts IV to VI provide detailed descriptions of toxin chemical diversity, biological sources, and modes of action. Part VII addresses the use of toxins as starting points for therapeutic drugs for cancer, neurological disorders, and for novel antibiotics.

This collection of abstractions contains, in condensed form, research results in the field of nicotine research presented at the satellite symposium of the 12th International Congress of Pharmacology held in Montreal in July 1994. All the abstracts have been reviewed by the editors and conference organizers. This volume should be of interest to pharmacologists, toxicologists, researching clinicians and behavioural scientists.

Following the overwhelmingly successful response to the first printing in hardcover, the hottest topics in Selective Neurotoxicity are now available in this special softcover edition."
Researchers are provided with well-grounded information on the cellular and subcellular targets of neurotoxins and their mode of action at the level of ion-channels, receptors and neurotransmitters. The use of bacterial toxins as a tool in neuroscientific research is an important aspect in this context. The chapters that interest clinicians as well deal with protective barriers in the peripheral and central nervous system and metabolic disorders that cause neurotoxins to be built up in the human body. The induction of tumors by neuroptropic carcinogens is included.

This new edition focuses on a variety of techniques available for the analysis of drugs in biological fluids. Over 150 figures and tables help to describe the latest advances and give examples of their applications. Current chiral analysis methods as well as discussions on the impact of chirality are described. Practical aspects of bioanalytical work, including many examples of laboratory problems not often reported in the scientific literature, are examined in depth.