Trends In Chronobiology Research

This book covers topics from a wide variety of disciplines including cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, endocrinology, genetics, molecular biology, neurobiology, and pharmacology. There is a focus on circadian (daily), tidal, seasonal, and annual rhythms, as well as other biological rhythms. Rhythms are placed within the context of the functional significance of these rhythms for the health and well-being of relevant organisms and include genetic and molecular mechanisms of biological timekeeping, melatonin and pineal gland rhythms, as well as on the chronobiology and chronotherapy of cardiovascular, pulmonary, ulcer, and other diseases.

A circadian rhythm is a roughly-24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. The term 'circadian', comes from the Latin circa, 'around', and dies, 'day', meaning literally 'about a day'. The formal study of biological temporal rhythms such as daily, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms, is called chronobiology. In a strict sense, circadian rhythms are endogenously generated, although they can be modulated by external cues such as sunlight and temperature. Most of a person's body systems demonstrate circadian variations. The body systems with the most prominent circadian variations are the sleep-wake cycle, the temperature regulation system, and the endocrine system. The malfunctioning of a person's circadian system, or biological clock, causes circadian rhythm disorders. Circadian rhythms and their relation to health outcomes in the globalised hyper world of the 21st century are now understood to be extremely important.

Hardbound. The 18th Conference of the International Society for Chronobiology, held in conjunction with the Third Annual Meeting of the European Society for Chronobiology took place in Leiden, The Netherlands, in July 1987. Chronobiology, defined as the study of temporal processes at all levels of biological organization, is a rapidly developing new field with its own concepts, tools and methods. The aim of this conference was to produce a state-of-the-art summary of the subject, taking into consideration the basic and applied fields as well as the different schools of thought. Alongside the oral communications are overview chapters from scientists unable to attend the meeting, reporting on recent advances in their specific fields.

Every aspect of immune function and host defense is dependent upon a proper supply and balance of nutrients. Severe malnutrition can cause significant alteration in immune response, but even subclinical deficits may be associated with an impaired immune response, and an increased risk of infection. Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or nonbattle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the normal ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them. There is also a concern with the inappropriate use of dietary supplements. This book, one of a series, examines the impact of various types of stressors and the role of specific dietary nutrients in maintaining immune function of military personnel in the field. It reviews the impact of compromised nutrition status on immune function; the interaction of health, exercise, and stress (both physical and psychological) in immune function; and the role of nutritional supplements and newer biotechnology methods reported to enhance immune function. The first part of the book contains the committee's workshop summary and evaluation of ongoing research by Army scientists on immune status in special forces troops, responses to the Army's questions, conclusions, and recommendations. The rest of the book contains papers contributed by workshop speakers, grouped under such broad topics as an introduction to what is known about immune function, the assessment of immune function, the effect of nutrition, and the relation between the many and varied stresses encountered by military personnel and their effect on health.

Eating enough food to meet nutritional needs and maintain good health and good performance in all aspects of life--both at home and on the job--is important for all of us throughout our lives. For military personnel, however, this presents a special challenge. Although soldiers typically have a number of options for eating when stationed on a base, in the field during missions their meals come in the form of operational rations. Unfortunately, military personnel in training and field operations often do not eat their rations in the amounts needed to ensure that they meet their energy and nutrient requirements and consequently lose weight and potentially risk loss of effectiveness both in physical and cognitive performance. This book contains 20 chapters by military and nonmilitary scientists from such fields as food science, food marketing and engineering, nutrition, physiology, psychology, and various medical specialties. Although described within a context of military tasks, the committee's conclusions and recommendations have wide-reaching implications for people who find that job-related stress changes their eating habits.

This book covers circadian rhythmicity; analyses of the behavioural and ecological importance of rhythms and their theoretical bases; the comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics and molecular biology of organisms within circadian clocks; real-world examples; classic research and 6 cutting-edge research areas.

This book covers topics from a wide variety of disciplines including cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, endocrinology, genetics, molecular biology, neurobiology, and pharmacology . There is a focus on circadian (daily), tidal, seasonal, and annual rhythms, as well as other biological rhythms. Rhythms are placed within the context of the functional significance of these rhythms for the health and well-being of relevant organisms and include genetic and molecular mechanisms of biological timekeeping, melatonin and pineal gland rhythms, as well as on the chronobiology and chronotherapy of cardiovascular, pulmonary, ulcer, and other diseases.