Month: April 2015

Editor: Michael D. Griswold Publisher: Elsevier – Science – 469 pages Book Review by: Laxmi Chaandi Sertoli cells are named after Enrico Sertoli, an Italian physiologist who discovered them while studying medicine in the University of Pavia in Italy sometime between 1862 and 1865, and he published a description of this cell in 1865. The cell was discovered with a Belthle microscope purchased in 1862, which he used while pursuing his medical studies. In the 1865 publication, his first description used the terms “tree-like cell” or “stringy cell” and most importantly he referred to them as “mother cells.” Other...

Editors: Nasib Qureshi, David Hodge, and Alain A. Vertes Publisher: Elsevier Science Book Review by: Venkat Subramaniam In the last few decades, the increasing demand and consumption of gasoline the world over, coupled with the rising concern on the depletion and further availability of fossil fuel reserves have given rise to the development of the biofuels as alternative sources of energy. In this rare and unique type of book, two biochemical engineers and an expert on biotechnology commercialization give us hope. They show us how corn, sugar, and other forms of biomass are being used to produce fuels; what...

Author: Per Becker Publisher: Elsevier – 295 pages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram In this book the author Per Becker explores approaches to sustainable development because there is increasing risk to our environment that puts the quality of our lives and even our very survival in the future in question. He writes: “ the increasing complexity and dynamic character of our world demand conceptual and practical approaches to sustainable development that help us to grasp and manage uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and dynamic change.” His book is broadly divided into three areas that define the state of our world, what...

Authors: Enda Murphy and Eoin A. King Publisher: Elsevier – Science – 268 pages Book Review by: Venkat Subramaniam Most of us treat noise as an unavoidable annoyance of modern life, but the authors of this book Enda Murphy and Eoin King, point out that it has been documented that prolonged exposure to noise leads to: Hearing impairment Cognitive difficulties Sleep deprivation Cardiovascular diseases They also write that clear links have been established between exposure to noise and health effects. The World Health Organization recently estimated that more than one million healthy life years are lost each year from...

Editors: Stuart H. Orkin, MD; David E. Fisher, MD, PhD; David Ginsburg, MD; A. Thomas Look, MD; Samuel E. Lux, MD; and David G. Nathan, MD. Publisher: Elsevier Saunders – 2535 pages, plus Index Book Review by: Nano Khilnani This eighth edition of a book that began about four decades ago has become a classic in its field. It is an essential resource for students and practitioners, as well as for basic and clinical investigators, on the pathophysiology of diseases common to children, especially those related to the blood (hematology) and cancer (oncology). One hundred eighty physicians and surgeons,...