Empirical data on neural control of motor action and perception have not yet been put into the context of a coherent theory. Dr. Feldman's goal for the proposed book is to illustrate that the field is now at a stage where the data can be used to formulate some core principles that underlie action and perception and to present the foundation of a scientific theory of motor control. Dr. Feldman is a well-known expert and has been active in the field for a long time. In the proposed book he will outline an approach to the analysis of action and perception that he and his colleagues have been using for the past 50 years or so. His theoretical approach will not only help to explain past empirical research, but should also help to inform and provide a structure for future empirical studies.

From an expert in pulmonary medicine, the story of our extraordinary lungs, the organ that both explains our origins and holds the keys to our future as a species We take an average of 7.5 million breaths a year and some 600 million in our lifetime, and what goes on in our body each time oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide expelled is nothing short of miraculous. "Our lungs are the lynchpin between our bodies and the outside world," writes Dr. Michael Stephen. And yet, we take our lungs for granted until we're incapacitated and suddenly confronted with their vital importance. In Breath Taking, pulmonologist Michael Stephen takes us on a journey to shed original and much-needed light on our neglected and extraordinary lungs, at a most critical societal moment. He relates the history of oxygen on Earth and the evolutionary origins of breathing, and explores the healing power of breath and its spiritual potential. He explains in lay terms the links our lungs have with our immune system and with society at large. And he offers illuminating chronicles of pulmonary research and discovery--from Galen in the ancient world to pioneers of lung transplant--and poignant human stories of resilience and recovery--from the frantic attempts to engage his own son's lungs at birth to patients he treats for cystic fibrosis today. Despite great advances in science, our lungs are ever more threatened. Asthma is more prevalent than ever; rising stress levels make our lungs vulnerable to disease; and COVID-19 has revealed that vulnerability in historic ways. In this time, Breath Taking offers inspiration and hope to millions whose lungs are affected and vital perspective to us all.

During several decades of this century, the classical physiological studies on the cardiovascular system have greatly improved our knowledge on the function of this system under normal and pathological conditions. This knowledge was the basis of the breakthrough for diagnostic techniques like the Swan-Ganz catheter, coronary arteriography, left and right heart biopsies, and invasive measurements of contractility, as well as therapeutic tools including aortocoronary bypass surgery, percutanous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and a broad field of pharmacological interventions for the whole spectrum of cardiovascular diseases, especially chronic heart failure. It was during the last decade that the scientific world focused on the evolution of molecular biology of the cardiovascular system so that cardiovascular physiology seemed to become less important. Regarding the myocardium, molecular alterations of important functional proteins (phenotype changes), as well as signal transduction pathways of contractility and cardiac growth have been elucidated. The functional importance of a number of genes has undoubtedly been proven with the help of transgenic animals. Mechanics and Energetics of the Myocardium provides an overview for those researchers and practioners interested in the broad field of molecular biology and physiology of the cardiovascular system.

The Springer Handbook of Auditory Research presents a series of com prehensive and synthetic reviews of the fundamental topics in modern auditory research. It is aimed at all individuals with interests in hearing research including advanced graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and clinical investigators. The volumes will introduce new investigators to important aspects of hearing science and will help established inves tigators to better understand the fundamental theories and data in fields of hearing that they may not normally follow closely. Each volume is intended to present a particular topic comprehensively, and each chapter will serve as a synthetic overview and guide to the literature. As such, the chapters present neither exhaustive data reviews nor original research that has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed journals. The series focusses on topics that have developed a solid data and con ceptual foundation rather than on those for which a literature is only beginning to develop. New research areas will be covered on a timely basis in the series as they begin to mature."

Diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in prevalence throughout both developed and developing countries. The social and economic burden of this disease is estimated to cost 14 billion dollars worldwide. In the USA alone, 15 million individuals are diabetic, nearly half of them unaware of their condition. Complications of diabetes mellitus are the leading causes for blindness, limb amputation and chronic renal failure and kidney transplantation in industrialized countries. Further, diabetes mellitus per se and the metabolic derangement associated with diabetes are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Diabetes, as defined by an elevated fasting blood glucose level is presently subdivided in etiologically distinct groups. The most prevalent being type 2 (adult onset) diabetes characterized by insulin resistance and failure of the ~-cell to supply insulin in amounts sufficient to meet the body's needs. Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, most commonly with an onset during childhood and adolescence, is caused by an auto-immune destruction of the pancreatic ~-cells. The causations of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes involve a combination of complex genetic traits and environmental influences. A third category are the mature onset diabetes of the young (MODY). This comparatively small group of patients (-10% of diabetes) presents relative early in life "30 years of age) compared to the more common late onset type 2 diabetes.

This book has been written to provide research workers with an introd- tion to several optical techniques for new applications. It is intended to be comprehensible to people from a wide range of backgrounds - no prior optical or physics knowledge has been assumed. However, sufficient technical details have been included to enable the reader to understand the basics of the techniques and to be able to read further from the ref- ences if necessary. The book should be as useful to postgraduate students and experienced researchers as those entering the bioengineering field, irrespective of whether they have a technical or clinical background. It has been prepared with an awareness of the inherent difficulties in und- standing aspects of optics which, in the past, have precluded practical application. The contents address a broad range of optical measurement techniques which have been used in biomechanics, techniques characterized as n- contacting and non-destructive. Theoretical outlines and practical advice on gaining entry to the fields of expertise are complemented by biomec- nical case studies and key literature references. The aim is to present each technique, to appraise its advantages and capabilities and thereby to allow informed selection of an appropriate method for a particular app- cation. It is anticipated that research workers will be assisted in est- lishing new methodologies and gain first-hand experience of the techniques.

As humans ventured into the twentieth century, the industrialized countries were confronted with the scourge of rickets. Although solariums were becoming common in the early 1900s and phototherapy was gaining popularity as a result of the awarding of a Nobel Prize to Finsen in 1903, it wasn't until 1921 when Hess and Unger demonstrated that rickets could be cured by exposure to sunlight that the healthful benefit of sun exposure appreciated. In 1941, Apperly (Cancer Research; 1: 191-195, 1941) noted that the occasional increased risk of skin cancer was associated with a decreased risk of many other more common and serious cancers. The alarming increase in the number of cases of skin cancer, especially melanoma, has caused great concern about the negative role of sunlight in health. The Sixth International Arnold Rikli Symposium on the Biologic Effects of Light was held in Boston, Massachusetts from June 16th - 18th, 2001. The goal of this Symposium was to focus on the very popular practice of tanning either by sunlight or by artificial light sources and the overall impact this practice has on health and disease. The program was organized by members of the Scientific Advisory Committee and my co-chair emeritus, Professor Ernst G. Jung. The Program Committee organized an outstanding state-of-the-art program that was enthusiastically received by the participants.

This book discusses the maximal power and capacity of the three major biochemical pathways - aerobic (oxygen consumption), anaerobic lactic (muscle lactate accumulation in absence of oxygen consumption), and anaerobic alactic (phosphocreatine hydrolysis) metabolism - as well as the factors that limit them. It also discusses the metabolic and cardio-pulmonary mechanisms of the dynamic response to exercise. The way and extent to which the power and capacity of the three major energy metabolisms are affected under a number of different conditions, such as training, hypoxia and microgravity, are also described.

The human brain contains more than a billion neurons which interconnect to form networks that process, store, and recall sensory information. These neuronal activities are supported by a group of accessory brain cells coll- tively known as neuroglia. Surprisingly, glial cells are ten times more - merous than neurons, and occupy more than half the brain volume (Hyden, 1961). Although long considered a passive, albeit necessary, component of the nervous system, many interesting and unusual functional properties of glial cells are only now being brought to light. As a result, the status of these cellular elements is approaching parity with nerve cells as a subject for experimental study. The term glia (or glue) seems today to be a misnomer in view of the diverse functions attributed to glial cells. Experimental studies in the last three decades have clearly established that the behavior of glial cells is far from passive, and that they are at least as complex as neurons with regard to their membrane properties. In addition, glial cells are of importance in signal processing, cellular metabolism, nervous system development, and the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. The Muller cell of the ver- brate retina provides a splendid example of an accessory cell that exhibits features illustrating every aspect of the complex behavior now associated with glial cells.

Investigation of the mechanisms of cellular response to different mechanical stimuli, as well as mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) in the intact heart is one of the main topics in fundamental and clinical cardiology. The present volume of "Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues: Mechanosensitivity of the Heart" c- bines excellent reviews written by worldwide leaders in this ?eld. The 3rd volume is a great addition to this excellent series of books edited by Andre Kamkin and Irina Kiseleva. This volume successfully combines reviews, aimed at academic, physiology and clinical cardiology communities, devoted to mechanosensitivity of the normal and diseased heart at the ion channel, cell, tissue and organ levels. Kamkin and Kiseleva have made signi?cant contributions to the investigation of mechanosentive ion channels in cardiomyocytes and ?broblasts. Their ba- ground, in addition to extensive collaborations helped them to ?nd and consolidate valuable research ?ndings from prominent specialists in the ?eld of cardiac mechanosensitivity. In the last decade, interest in the role of MEF in the heart has increased sign- cantly. MEF within cardiac tissue is a complex phenomenon in which electroph- iological changes are triggered by myocardial stretch. This phenomenon has been studiedintheclinicalcommunityforoveracenturyandmayhavebothpro-rhythmic and arrhythmogenic consequences. While signi?cant advances have been made in understanding of the effects of mechanical forces on cardiac cells, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms whereby mechanical forces are transduced into changes which alter the behavior of various cardiac cells.

Medical image technologies play a significant role in visualization and interpretation methods in medical diagnosis and practice using decision making, pattern classification, diagnosis, and learning. Progressions in the field of medical imaging lead to interdisciplinary discovery in microscopic image processing and computer-assisted diagnosis systems, and aids physicians in the diagnosis and early detection of diseases. Histopathological Image Analysis in Medical Decision Making provides emerging research exploring the theoretical and practical applications of image technologies and feature extraction procedures within the medical field. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as image classification, digital image analysis, and prediction methods, this book is ideally designed for medical professionals, system engineers, medical students, researchers, and medical practitioners seeking current research on problem-oriented processing techniques in imaging technologies.

The International Symposium on Prostaglandins and Related Compounds, first held in Vienna 1972, revisited the city after 24 years for the 10TH Symposium. For the many re searchers working in this multi-disciplinary field it was an opportunity to exchange their ex periences and share new data with colleagues from all around the world. This scientific exchange was largely encouraged by the unseasonably cold and rainy weather. For the first time, there was quite a large attendance from the former Communist countries. Eugene Garfield prepared a key note address delivered during the meeting (The Sci entist 1996, 12) reviewing the contribution of the Nobel Laureates U.S. von Euler, l.R. Vane, S.K. Bergstrom, and B.I. Samuelsson, discussing the relevance of the more than 40,000 pa pers in this area published since 1991. Overall, there is still a rapidly growing interest, and in particular a great variety of clinical applications of this family of compounds which were dis cussed in detail during the meeting. Beside the lectures there were 19 workshops covering nearly all the topics of key in terest. All the speakers were invited to prepare a manuscript which has resulted in the volume now in your hands. Special thanks to Dr. Patrick Wong and the new publisher of this series who helped to publish the proceedings in the usual quality and reasonable period of time. Looking forward to seeing all of you again in Florence in 1999, hopefully with much more sun."

Ligand-gated ion channels mediate fast synaptic transmission in the central nervous s- tem (CNS) and at ganglionic and neuromuscular synapses. The nicotinic acetylcholine - ceptor (nAChR) is a member of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily, which includes the 5-HT , glycine and GABA type A and C receptors. These receptors are known as Cys- 3 loop receptors, as all of them have a conserved sequence containing a pair of cysteines separated by 13 residues and linked by a disulfide bridge. nAChRs can be divided into two groups: muscle receptors, which are found at the skeletal neuromuscular junction where they mediate neuromuscular transmission, and neuronal receptors, which are found throughout the peripheral and central nervous system. Many of the early studies carried out on the subunit composition and structure of the nAChRs were performed on receptors isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo californica, as this tissue is very rich in nAChRs, and they were found to have a high degree of homology with the embryonic v- tebrate muscle type receptor. Muscle nAChRs are made up of five subunits arranged around a central pore (Fig. 1A, B). In Torpedo electric organ and vertebrate fetal muscle, the subunit composition is (a1) b1gd, and in adult muscle the g subunit is replaced by the e to give an (a1)b1ed 2 2 composition (Mishina et al. 1986).

This volume discusses protocols that aid in measuring different components in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The book also looks at the methods used to assess angiotensin peptides and discerning the influence of RAAS components on different mammalian diseases. The chapters cover topics such as the use of fluorescent substrate to measure ACE2 activity in the mouse abdominal aorta, blood pressure monitoring using the radio telemetry method, and the analysis of angiotensin metabolism in the kidney using mass spectrometry. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, 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. Cutting edge and comprehensive, The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Systems: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource that provides scientists and researchers with the best approaches to examine RAAS.

This volume contains selected papers presented at the Sendai International Sympo sium on Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Regulation held from May 10-12, 1995, to honor the contributions ofProfessorNorio Taira, Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology (1972-1995), Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. The Department of Pharmacology at Sendai has a long tradition of significant contribution to the development of drug therapy for cardiovascular diseases. The late Professor Koroku Hashimoto, the predecessor of Professor Norio Taira, first suggested the mode of action of calcium antagonists and their potential usefulness in therapy of ischemic heart disease and hypertension at an early stage of their development. The need for greater understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular dis eases is more critical now than ever before because modern advances in basic and clinical sciences have prolonged the average life expectancy. Using a wide range of molecular and electrophysiological techniques, major advances are occurring frequently in the field of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology. Such multifaceted approaches are preferred because human cardiovascular diseases are complex, requiring multiple interventions and an in-depth understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. The first section of this book focuses on molecular mechanisms of ion channel regulation. Eight of ten chapters in this section are devoted to the recent advances in molecular characterization and regulation of various types of potassium channels in cardiac, vascular, and neuronal tissues. A discussion of the structure and function of sodium and calcium channels is also included.

David Kuter and a host of leading international researchers summarize in one volume all the knowledge of thrombopoietins (TPO) available today. The distinguished experts review the history of the search to discover TPO, describe the molecular and biological characteristics of this new molecule, and present the results of the preclinical animal experiments that will guide clinical use of this new hormone. Along the way they provide the most recent and comprehensive guide to the biology of megakaryocytes and platelets.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a seemingly ubiquitous enzyme of profound physiological importance, which plays essential roles in respiration, acid-base homeostasis, bone resorption, calcification, photosynthesis, several biosynthetic pathways and a variety of processes involving ion, gas and fluid transfer. This enzyme, which is present in at least three gene families (a, ss, ?), has found favour as a model for the study of evolution of gene families and for site-directed mutagenesis in structure/function relationships, for protein folding and for transgenic and gene target studies. Since the early use of CA inhibitors as diuretics and in treating congestive heart failure, the enzyme has been target of considerable clinical attention. Much of this is now focused on endeavours to produce a new generation of such drugs for the effective treatment of glaucoma and other potential applications. Recent data, suggesting links between CA and various disease processes, including cancer, have stimulated further...

Itisonlyrecently thatthe naturaloccurrenceoffree radicalsin biological tissue has become widely accepted, and that the suspi- cion with which biologists previously viewed the free radicals of radiationchemistryhas beenplacedin a broaderperspective. Now, oxygen-derived free radicals are considered respectable biochemi- cal intermediates, given always the caveat that unwanted tissue damage may arise if these active species are produced in such abundance that they overwhelm the natural antioxidant and free- radical defense mechanisms, or if these systems have become hypoeffective. Many factors, including several dietary manipula- tions, can lead toelevatedproductionofsuperoxide and may result in free radical overload, whereas a deficiency of those micronutri- ents associated with the antioxidant defense mec.hanisms may re- sult in substantially diminished antioxidant capacity. By now, antioxidants have become a household word and al- most everyone is aware of their imponance in protecting the body against attack by active oxygen species. Indeed, it is a paradox of nature that oxygen, which is so essential to sustain aerobic life, ul- timately contributes to its destruction. Not surprisingly, recogni- tion ofthis dilemma has generated a spate ofantioxidant strategies intended to reduce the risk of tissue damage by rampant oxygen radicals, some sadly based less on science than on speculation.

This monograph covers the entire field of blood group serology, with its main emphasis on the chemical and biochemical basis of blood group specificity. Full consideration is given to molecular biology investigations, in particular to studies on the structure of blood group genes and the molecular biological basis of alleles and rare blood group variants, whereby relevant literature up to the year 2000 is covered. The text is supplemented by numerous illustrations and tables, and detailed reference lists.

As discussed in this book, a large body of evidence indicates that selenium is a cancer chemopreventive agent. Further evidence points to a role of this element in reducing viral expression, in preventing heart disease, and other cardiovascular and muscle disorders, and in delaying the progression of AIDS in HIV infected patients. Selenium may also have a role in mammalian development, in male fertility, in immune function and in slowing the aging process. The mechanism by which selenium exerts its beneficial effects on health may be through selenium-containing proteins. Selenium is incorporated into protein as the amino acid selenocysteine. Selenocysteine utilizes a specific tRNA, a specific elongation factor, a specific set of signals, and the codeword, UGA, for its cotranslational insertion into protein. It is indeed the 21st naturally occurring amino acid to be incorporated into protein and marks the first and only expansion of the genetic code since the code was deciphered in the mid 1960s.

Beginning in 1970, the International Bile Acid Meeting has taken place every two years and each time new progress in our understanding of the complex role of bile acids in many metabolic processes of the liver and the intestine has been revealed by a selected group of leading scientists from all over the world. Although originally mainly physiological data on bile acid synthesis and transport were emphasized, and later on also the therapeutic benefit of bile acids in gallstone disease and cholestasis was discovered, we have come now to the molecular biology and genetic era with major discoveries in transport defects and related diseases. This book is the proceedings of Falk Symposium No. 120, held in The Hague, The Netherlands, on October 12-13, 2000 - the 16th International Bile Acid Meeting. One of the main discoveries recently has been the identification of nuclear receptors for bile acids, which gives them a much broader perspective than previously anticipated. It even suggests that bile acids can regulate their biosynthesis and enterohepatic circulation transcriptionally. It will therefore not be surprising that this topic, together with the molecular regulation of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase and cholesterol homeostasis, has a dominant place in these proceedings. Another important topic is the progress in our molecular understanding of hepatic (both at the basolateral and canalicular sites), cholangiocytic and intestinal bile acid transport processes. Further insights into genetic defects causing cholestasis or intestinal malabsorption in animal models and in human diseases are also discussed by a number of well-known authors. Finally the last section deals with new findings on the role of bile acid therapy in cholestatic syndromes or chemoprevention and with the potential benefit of bile acid inhibitors. All contributors provide an update on the most recent developments in their field.

This book approaches the classification, pathogenesis, diagnostic, therapy and surgery for kidney tuberculosis as well as male genital tuberculosis. The reader will find recent data on epidemiology, many interesting history cases with illustrations and new methods for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Ultradian rhythms play an essential part at all levels of biological organization, providing timekeeping for intracellular processes, playing various roles in intracellular signalling systems and underpinning coherent behaviour in tissues and organs. They are crucial to endocrine and neural performance and in psychobiology. This book brings together the evidence for these findings. In lower eukaryotes short-period rhythms (period 30-70 min) are coupled to an ultradian clock which serves as a central timekeeper. In metazoans, similar rhythms are necessary for intercell communications, and temporal coupling for the coordination of integrated functions of tissues and organs to provide "homeodynamics" of the whole organism. Electrical, endocrine and behavioural rhythms characterize both wakefulness and sleep; pathologically disordered states give rise to dynamic diseases. Chapters on human movements, sleep, attention span and alertness indicate the broad span of this subject. A continuum can now be traced from the molecular genetic, through the cellular and neuroendocrine to the behavioural and psychosocial levels. Many of the results presented in this book are recent and novel, and have far-reaching consequences for our understanding of health and disease.

Our first book (published 15 years ago) ended with" Epilogue: The Unification Hypothesis of Chronobiology-Psychobiology from Molecule to Mind." In retrospect we can now recognise how this epilogue was a prescient vision of what is now the cutting edge of epigenetics, bioinformatics, systems biology, neuroscience, and the new sciences of consciousness that are the foundation for the emerging vision of life and philosophy in ourcurrent era. Each of the four parts of this book are successive iterations towards this new integration of the life sciences from molecule to mind and spirit in the emergent ethos of the future.