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Bioelectricity, A Quantitative Approach.
368 of molecular electronics; IV, metallo-proteins and other electroactive molecules; V, retinal proteins a n d other pigment proteins; VI, biological i n f o r m a t i o n processing; VII, molecular devices a n d biosensor technology. • The chapters describe recent techniques as well as results with selected substances suitable for molecular electronics; mainly rhodopsin, p h y t o c h r o m e , microtubules a n d chlorophylls. These biomolecules can be incorporated into bioeleetronic devices (metal or semiconductor solid surfaces) to transduce a n d transfer molecular, photonic, and electronic information, by electron transfer, electron mediation, electron p r o m o t i o n or molecular wires. In most case molecular m o n o l a y e r s are used for the conversion such as: lipids between a i r - w a t e r (C. Helen); proteins in cell m e m b r a n e s (T. Tsong); photosynthetic a n d visual m e m b r a n e s (F. Hong); spacers between porphyrins and q u i n o n e moieties (A. Joran); collodion films with rhodopsins (M. Ostrovsky); mitochondrial proteins (G. Me Lendon). In addition to these f u n d a m e n t a l results, possible practical applications are presented: small d o n o r - a c c e p t o r systems ( D A S ) s e p a r a t e d b y dielectric layers (P. Lazarev); immobilised N A D on solid surfaces (R. Phadke); ISFET-like d e v i c e s coupled with cells (M. G r a t t a r o l a ) ; ultra high spee~-~bactel"iorhodopsin photodetectors (C. Rayfield). Finally trends towards a molecular c o m p u t e r factory (M. C o n r a d ) - including optical r a n d o m access m e m o r y (R. Birge) - are described. These proceedings review the development of this interdisciplinary field up to the end of the 1980s dealing mostly with m o d e r n bioelectroehemistry. HERMANN BERG Jena
Bioelectricity, A Quantitative A p p r o a c h . R. Plonsey and R. Barr. Plenum Press, N e w York, 1988, I S B N 0-306-42 894-6, xviii + 305 pp., U S $65.00. The contents of the book include: vector analysis; electrical sources a n d fields; introduction to m e m b r a n e biophysics; action potentials; p r o p a g a t i o n of action potentials; subthreshold stimuli; extraceUular fields; m e m b r a n e biophysics; electrophysiology of the heart; n e u r o m u s c u l a r junctions; skeletal muscles; functional neuromuscular stimulation. Starting with the physics of the electric field the chapters that follow are listed and together m a k e up a clear textbook on electrophysiology a n d bioelectrochemistry for graduate students a n d scientists, who wish to become familiar with the basic knowledge and quantitative a n d theoretical aspects of this rapidly e x p a n d i n g field. The figures are instructive a n d elucidate the basic principles, comprehensive s d e c t i o n of mathematical equations is alSO presented. The chapters - • m e n t i o n e d before - take into account mainly the electric field stimulations a n d excitation processes of nerves, whereas electron exchange mechanisms, such as between nucleic acids o r
369
proteins etc and electrodes receive little attention. Each c h a p t e r is concluded with a set of exercises. The book is very suitable as an i n t r o d u c t o r y work to this field. HERMANN BERG Jena
Biosensors. A Practical A p p r o a c h . A.E.G. Cass (Editor). I R L P r e s s - O x f o r d University Press, Oxford, N e w York, Tokyo, 1990, ISBN 0-19-963046-1, xv + 271 pp., Spiral-bound H a r d b a c k £30.00; P a p e r b a c k £19.50. This volume is a new and interesting addition to the " P r a c t i c a l A p p r o a c h Series'" of I R L Press. It covers the area of biosensors, t h a t of " t h e increasingly close coupling o f " "'the 'wet" biological methods a n d the "dry" i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n " of analysis. Although m a n y c o m b i n a t i o n s of biological material a n d t r a n s d u c e r have been developed as biosensors, the examples in this b o o k are based largely on electrochemical devices, though one c h a p t e r on "'Thecmometric sensors" provides useful a n d i m p o r t a n t information on the " E n z y m e T h e r m i s t o r " which was developed in the laboratory of the authors of this chapter. O t h e r c h a p t e r s are also contributions by active researchers a n d cover " U n m e d i a t e d a m p e r o m e t r i c enzyme electrodes", " M e d i a t e d a m p e r o m e t r i c enzyme electrodes", " C o n d u c t i n g organic salt electrodes", " I m m u n o e l e c t r o d e s " , " C o n d u c t i ~ t r i c a n d impedimetric devices", " M i c r o b i a l biosensors", a n d " S e m i c o n d u c t o r field effect ~.vices". T h e last c h a p t e r "Theoretical methods for analysing bios~nsor performance'" p~L,~i._des good introduction of " h o w , in practice, the p r o b l e m of the provision of a theoretib, al description of biosensors m a y be a p p r o a c h e d . . , b y w a y of s o m e examples". The book is very well produced. It can be r e c o m m e n d e d for every person involved in experimental research on m e t h o d s for m e a s u r i n g biological activity. M. S E N D A
Kyoto
Electromagnetic Interaction with Biological Systems. J a m e s C. Lin (Editor). P l e n u m Press, N e w York, 1989, I S B N 0-306-43109-2, viii + 300 pp., US$75.00. This b o o k contains the principal papers presented at a j o i n t s y m p o s i u m in Tel Aviv (1987). It is divided into three parts. (I) Medical diagnostics a n d therapy (microwave effects, magnetic resonance imaging for medical diagnosis, hypertheiiida treatment). (II) Biological effects and m e c h a n i s m s of static a n d time-varying magnetic fields b y T. Tenforde; radio frequency e f f e c t s b y R. A d e y ; microwave r a d i a t i o n b y H. Ching and B. Shao; pulsed radiofrequeney field effects by J. Lin; m e c h a n i s m s of electromagnetic interactions with biological systems b y P. Bernardi a n d G. Inzeo.
Bioelectricity, A Quantitative A p p r o a c h . R. Plonsey and R. Barr. Plenum Press, N e w York, 1988, I S B N 0-306-42 894-6, xviii + 305 pp., U S $65.00. The contents of the book include: vector analysis; electrical sources a n d fields; introduction to m e m b r a n e biophysics; action potentials; p r o p a g a t i o n of action potentials; subthreshold stimuli; extraceUular fields; m e m b r a n e biophysics; electrophysiology of the heart; n e u r o m u s c u l a r junctions; skeletal muscles; functional neuromuscular stimulation. Starting with the physics of the electric field the chapters that follow are listed and together m a k e up a clear textbook on electrophysiology a n d bioelectrochemistry for graduate students a n d scientists, who wish to become familiar with the basic knowledge and quantitative a n d theoretical aspects of this rapidly e x p a n d i n g field. The figures are instructive a n d elucidate the basic principles, comprehensive s d e c t i o n of mathematical equations is alSO presented. The chapters - • m e n t i o n e d before - take into account mainly the electric field stimulations a n d excitation processes of nerves, whereas electron exchange mechanisms, such as between nucleic acids o r
369
proteins etc and electrodes receive little attention. Each c h a p t e r is concluded with a set of exercises. The book is very suitable as an i n t r o d u c t o r y work to this field. HERMANN BERG Jena
Biosensors. A Practical A p p r o a c h . A.E.G. Cass (Editor). I R L P r e s s - O x f o r d University Press, Oxford, N e w York, Tokyo, 1990, ISBN 0-19-963046-1, xv + 271 pp., Spiral-bound H a r d b a c k £30.00; P a p e r b a c k £19.50. This volume is a new and interesting addition to the " P r a c t i c a l A p p r o a c h Series'" of I R L Press. It covers the area of biosensors, t h a t of " t h e increasingly close coupling o f " "'the 'wet" biological methods a n d the "dry" i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n " of analysis. Although m a n y c o m b i n a t i o n s of biological material a n d t r a n s d u c e r have been developed as biosensors, the examples in this b o o k are based largely on electrochemical devices, though one c h a p t e r on "'Thecmometric sensors" provides useful a n d i m p o r t a n t information on the " E n z y m e T h e r m i s t o r " which was developed in the laboratory of the authors of this chapter. O t h e r c h a p t e r s are also contributions by active researchers a n d cover " U n m e d i a t e d a m p e r o m e t r i c enzyme electrodes", " M e d i a t e d a m p e r o m e t r i c enzyme electrodes", " C o n d u c t i n g organic salt electrodes", " I m m u n o e l e c t r o d e s " , " C o n d u c t i ~ t r i c a n d impedimetric devices", " M i c r o b i a l biosensors", a n d " S e m i c o n d u c t o r field effect ~.vices". T h e last c h a p t e r "Theoretical methods for analysing bios~nsor performance'" p~L,~i._des good introduction of " h o w , in practice, the p r o b l e m of the provision of a theoretib, al description of biosensors m a y be a p p r o a c h e d . . , b y w a y of s o m e examples". The book is very well produced. It can be r e c o m m e n d e d for every person involved in experimental research on m e t h o d s for m e a s u r i n g biological activity. M. S E N D A
Kyoto
Electromagnetic Interaction with Biological Systems. J a m e s C. Lin (Editor). P l e n u m Press, N e w York, 1989, I S B N 0-306-43109-2, viii + 300 pp., US$75.00. This b o o k contains the principal papers presented at a j o i n t s y m p o s i u m in Tel Aviv (1987). It is divided into three parts. (I) Medical diagnostics a n d therapy (microwave effects, magnetic resonance imaging for medical diagnosis, hypertheiiida treatment). (II) Biological effects and m e c h a n i s m s of static a n d time-varying magnetic fields b y T. Tenforde; radio frequency e f f e c t s b y R. A d e y ; microwave r a d i a t i o n b y H. Ching and B. Shao; pulsed radiofrequeney field effects by J. Lin; m e c h a n i s m s of electromagnetic interactions with biological systems b y P. Bernardi a n d G. Inzeo.