Elemental Analysis Of Biological Systems

The purpose of this volume is to emphasize the fact that biological trace element research is a multidisciplinary science which requires a prudent combination of biological insight and analytical awareness. The text frequently stresses that accurate measurements on biologically and analytically "valid" samples hold the key for success in future investigations. It reminds the analytical scientists and the life sciences researchers that their perceptions should extend beyond conventional limits - namely, the former as generators of data and the latter as interpreters of those findings. This book enables the reader to understand the intricacies of elemental composition studies in biological systems, and also provides a valuable source of information to biologists, biochemists, physicians, nutritionists and related scientific workers who intend to draw meaningful conclusions from the analytical findings.

This book is written for researchers and students interested in the function and role of chemical elements in biological or environmental systems. Experts have long known that the Periodic System of Elements (PSE) provides only an inadequate chemical description of elements of biological, environmental or medicinal importance. This book explores the notion of a Biological System of the Elements (BSE) established on accurate and precise multi-element data, including evolutionary aspects, representative sampling procedures, inter-element relationships, the physiological function of elements and uptake mechanisms. The book further explores the concept Stoichiometric Network Analysis (SNA) to analyze the biological roles of chemical species. Also discussed is the idea of ecotoxicological identity cards which give a first-hand description of properties relevant for biological and toxicological features of a certain chemical element and its geo biochemically plausible speciation form. The focus of this book goes beyond both classical bioinorganic chemistry and toxicology.

Despite the development of innovative new analytical techniques for biological trace element research, today's trace element investigators face formidable obstacles to obtaining reliable data. This complete reference identifies and assesses the challenges the analyst encounters at each stage of an analysis, and discusses the effects of various techniques on the sample. Three internationally recognized scientists and authors consider the effects of the numerous collection, storage, and sample preparatory techniques used in sample analysis. Proper analytical quality control, including such critical factors as sampling and sample preparation, specimen preservation and storage, and ashing, is examined. The book also looks at sample preparation methods unique to various instruments and speciation chemistry issues, and examines the link between chemical analysis and specimen banking. A previously unrecognized source of error, presampling factors, is also discussed.

Microprobe Analysis of Biological Systems covers the proceedings of the 1980 Microprobe Analysis of Biological Systems conference held at Battelle Conference Center in Seattle, Washington. Most of the major laboratories in the field of biological microanalysis in the United States, England, Scotland, France, and Germany are represented. The conference presents the findings, theories, techniques, and procedures of the laboratory represented, no matter how tentative and exploratory. This book is divided into four parts encompassing 22 chapters that focus on biological applications of microprobe analysis. The introductory part describes the application of electron microprobe and X-ray microanalyses in studies of epithelial transport, avian salt gland, electrolyte transport, and acrosome reaction. The subsequent part covers the application of microprobe techniques in the analysis of cardiac, skeletal, vascular smooth, and freeze-dried muscles. It also describes a method for obtaining erythrocyte preparations for validating biological microprobe methods and the continuum-fluorescence effect on thick biological tissue. The method using freeze-substitution to localize calcium in quick-frozen tissue for X-ray microanalysis is also explained. The third part of the book tackles the principles, basic features, and applications of electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Discussions on the use of inner-shell signals for a quantitative local microanalysis technique; theoretical study of the energy resolution; and collection efficiency of a magnetic spectrometer are also included. The final part covers the elemental distribution in single erythrocytes using X-ray microanalysis. It also discusses the fundamentals of cryosectioning process for X-ray microanalysis of diffusible elements and the freezing behavior of a number of chemically different gels chosen for their partial resemblance to biological structures. Considerable chapters contain materials and methods, results, discussions, conclusions, and references. This book will be of value to scientists interested in elemental and ion transport within cells and between cells and extracellular compartments.

The major theme of this book is analytical approaches to trace metal and speciation analysis in biological specimens. The emphasis is on the reliable determination of a number of toxicologically and environmentally important metals. It is essentially a handbook based on the practical experience of each individual author. The scope ranges from sampling and sample preparation to the application of various modern and well-documented methods, including quality assessment and control and statistical treatment of data. Practical advice on avoiding sample contamination is included. In the first part, the reader is offered an introduction into the basic principles and methods, starting with sampling, sample storage and sample treatment, with the emphasis on sample decomposition. This is followed by a description of the potential of atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry, voltammetry, neutron activation analysis, isotope dilution analysis, and the possibilities for metal speciation in biological specimens. Quality control and all approaches to achieve reliable data are treated in chapters about interlaboratory and intralaboratory surveys and reference methods, reference materials and statistics and data evaluation. The chapters of the second part provide detailed information on the analysis of thirteen trace metals in the most important biological specimens. The following metals are treated in great detail: Aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, manganese, nickel, mercury, thallium, vanadium and zinc. The book will serve as a valuable aid for practical analysis in biomedical laboratories and for researchers involved with trace metal and species analysis in clinical, biochemical and environmental research.

Modeling is fast becoming fundamental to understanding the processes that define biological systems. High-throughput technologies are producing increasing quantities of data that require an ever-expanding toolset for their effective analysis and interpretation. Analysis of high-throughput data in the context of a molecular interaction network is particularly informative as it has the potential to reveal the most relevant network modules with respect to a phenotype or biological process of interest. Analysis of Biological Systems collects classical material on analysis, modeling and simulation, thereby acting as a unique point of reference. The joint application of statistical techniques to extract knowledge from big data and map it into mechanistic models is a current challenge of the field, and the reader will learn how to build and use models even if they have no computing or math background. An in-depth analysis of the currently available technologies, and a comparison between them, is also included. Unlike other reference books, this in-depth analysis is extended even to the field of language-based modeling. The overall result is an indispensable, self-contained and systematic approach to a rapidly expanding field of science. Contents:Algorithmic Systems BiologySetting the ContextSystems and ModelsStatic Modeling TechnologiesDynamic Modeling TechnologiesLanguage-based ModelingDynamic Modeling ProcessSimulationPerspectives and ConclusionsAppendix A: Basic MathAppendix B: Probability and StatisticsAppendix C: Semantics of Modeling Languages Readership: Graduate students in computer science, physics, mathematics or engineering or biology-related fields who want to better understand how to develop and use models of biological systems. Practitioners in systems biology who want to understand algorithmic modeling and algorithmic systems biology. Key Features:The book jointly deals with static (statistical) and dynamic (simulation) technologies making it a strong reference for who wants to approach real systems biology problemsThe content of the book is the result of more than ten years application of the material in university courses and to industrial-level problems in systems pharmacology and systems nutritionThere is no reference work available for the field of language-based modeling that is studied in depth in this bookKeywords:Modeling;Simulation;Network Analysis;Systems Biology;Systems Nutrition;Systems Pharmacology;Stochastic Models;Programming Biology;Multivariate Analysis