The Nature of Biological Systems as Revealed by Thermal Methods (Hot Topics in Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Book 5)

From the reviews: "This book is a guide for experiments using thermal methods. The Editor has used his many years of experience to create a unique resource ... . This book will help beginners in the field of thermal analysis or calorimetry ... . The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in thermodynamics, including practising professionals applying thermal methods to biological problems; researchers and graduate students ... . In addition, this book will be a useful resource for libraries and institutes ... ." (Food Trade Review, Vol. 75, July, 2005)

The Nature of Biological Systems as Revealed by Thermal Methods is a guide for experiments using thermal methods. The Editor has used his many years of experience to create a unique resource that will enable others with a less mathematical background, to realize the beauty and power of this tool and to gain a better understanding of biological problems.

Biological calorimetry (and of course thermal analysis) is of increasing interest and is not covered thoroughly in other resources. The methods presented are macroscopic, for the rather inhomogeneous material (micromethods are often not possible or not pertinent). This book will help beginners in the field of thermal analysis or calorimetry understand the principles of thermodynamics being applied to biological systems. Biological systems are highly organized and very complex. The water and the different types of weak interactions among the macromolecules make the interpretation of thermal events very difficult. This book includes examples how to handle such problems.

The Nature of Biological Systems as Revealed by Thermal Methods is unique in that it:
-has a broad spectrum, from molecules and biochemistry, tissues, and food, to whole organisms;
-combines practical problems (food processing, quality control, thermal denaturation of proteins, plants and small insects, etc.) with concrete solutions and interpretation;
-provides practical strategies and tools without "dry physics and mathematics";
-initiates the application of thermal methods in new fields (e.g. medicine);
-forces the reader to go into more detail of thermodynamics and thermal techniques;
-simplifies communication between biologists, medical doctors and experts of thermal analysis.

The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in thermodynamics, including practising professionals applying thermal methods to biological problems; researchers and graduate students beginning work using thermal methods; and specialists of thermal analysis starting work on biological problems. In addition, this book will be a useful resource for libraries and institutes as the only book covering quantitative thermal analysis of biological systems.

"The Nature of Biological Systems as Revealed by Thermal Methods is a guide for experiments using thermal methods. The Editor creates a unique resource that will enable others with a less mathematical background to gain a better understanding of biological problems." "This book enables beginners in the field of thermal analysis or calorimetry to understand the principles of thermodynamics being applied to biological systems. Biological systems are highly organized and very complex. The water and the different types of weak interactions among the macromolecules make the interpretation of thermal events very difficult. This book includes examples on how to handle such problems." "The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in thermodynamics, including practising professionals applying thermal methods to biological problems; researchers and graduate students beginning work using thermal methods; and specialists of thermal analysis starting work on biological problems. In addition, this book is a useful resource for libraries and institutes as the only book covering quantitative thermal analysis of biological systems."--Résumé de l'éditeur "The Nature of Biological Systems as Revealed by Thermal Methods is a guide for experiments using thermal methods. The Editor creates a unique resource that will enable others with a less mathematical background to gain a better understanding of biological problems." "This book enables beginners in the field of thermal analysis or calorimetry to understand the principles of thermodynamics being applied to biological systems. Biological systems are highly organized and very complex. The water and the different types of weak interactions among the macromolecules make the interpretation of thermal events very difficult. This book includes examples on how to handle such problems." "The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in thermodynamics, including practising professionals applying thermal methods to biological problems; researchers and graduate students beginning work using thermal methods; and specialists of thermal analysis starting work on biological problems. In addition, this book is a useful resource for libraries and institutes as the only book covering quantitative thermal analysis of biological systems."--BOOK JACKET Order-disorder conformational transitions of carbohydrate polymers....Pages 1-30 Thermal analyses and combined techniques in food physical chemistry....Pages 31-48 Recrystallisation of starch studied with MDSC....Pages 49-68 Calorimetric information about food and food constituents....Pages 69-98 Using DSC for monitoring protein conformation stability and effects on fat droplets crystallinity in complex food emulsions....Pages 99-126 Structural and functional studies of muscle proteins by using differential scanning calorimetry....Pages 127-158 Effect of nucleotides and environmental factors on the intermediate states of ATP hydrolysis cycle in skeletal muscle fibres....Pages 159-186 Thermal investigation on whole plants and plant tissues....Pages 187-214 Thermobiochemical studies of animal cell systems in vitro....Pages 215-249 Thermal investigations on social insects....Pages 251-283 DSC examination of the musculosceletal system....Pages 285-305 Quantitative thermal analysis of carbohydrate-water systems....Pages 307-332 Statistical mechanical analysis of protein heat capacity accompanied with thermal transition....Pages 333-341