This volume is based on the proceedings of an Advanced Study Institute (ASI) sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held October 1984 in Corfu, Greece. The meeting received finan- cial support from the United States Department of Energy and the United States National Cancer Institute. A plethora of recent developments in the molecular biology of DNA are leading to new ideas concerning how DNA alterations might be involved in the mechanism of radiation carcinogenesis. Evidence is accumulating that genetic sequences, known as oncogenes, are involved in the translation of DNA...

The NATO Advanced Research Workshop on nThe Organization of Cell n Metabolism was held 31 August - 4 September, 1985, at the Hotel Hansthol m in Hansthollllt Denmark. From areas of cell biology, bio chemistry, enzymology, and biophysical chemistry, the Workshop brought together workers whose research focuses on the character of the metabolic infrastructure of the living cell. The organizing committee was composed of the following members: James S. Clegg Douglas B. Kell Paul A. Srere G. Rickey Welch (Chairman) There has now arisen an edifice of proof that cell metabolism is highly ordered in...

the discovery of the "splicing" of the gene transcripts, the list would include the whole molecular genetics of the lambda bacteriophage, the notions of "promotor," "repressor," and "integration," the discovery of the reverse flow of genetic information, the very existence of oncogenes, the S'-terminal "cap" struc- ture of eukaryotic mRNAs, ... Electronmicroscopy, ultracentrifugation and tissue culture were the landmarks on the way of the young science. During the past few years, however, a major (and not so silent) revolution took place: recombinant DNA technology with all its might entered...

A major vehicle for the transition of carrier-mediated drug delivery from a theoretical/experimental status to one with practical uses has been the NATO Advanced Studies Institute series "Targeting of Drugs." Three previous ASls of the series 1-3], also held in Cape Sounion, dealt with carriers of natural and synthetic origin, their preparation and drug incorporation as well as a wide range of applications. This book contains the proceedings of the 4th NATO ASI "Targeting of Drugs: Anatomical and Physiological Considerations" held in Cape Sounion, Greece during 20 June - 1 July 1987....

Great advances have been made in understanding hearing in recent years. In particular, the mechanical function of the cochlea has become the focus of intense interest. This started in one direction, with the discovery of otoacoustic emissions in 1978, which required active mechanical amplification processes, as first postulated by Gold in 1948. Direct evidence for the role of this mechanism in sharpening-up the otherwise poor, basilar membrane tuning properties, was provided in 1982; and in 1983, motility was shown in outer hair cells. In parallel, an immense amount of work has been done on...

For many, the terms aging, maturation and senescence are synonymous and used interchangeably, but they should not be. Whereas senescence represents an endogenously controlled degenerative programme leading to plant or organ death, genetiC aging encompasses a wide array of passive degenerative genetiC processes driven primarily by exogenous factors (Leopold, 1975). Aging is therefore considered a consequence of genetiC lesions that accumulate over time, but by themselves do not necessarily cause death. These lesions are probably made more severe by the increase in size and complexity in trees...

Present knowledge of the mechanisms underlying any single sensory modality is so massive as to discourage effort directed towards completeness. The idea underlying the structure of this volume on "Sensory transduction" was to select just a few topics of general interest, which are currently being investigated and for which a reasonably clear picture is now available. During the last five years there has been a revolution in the way sensory physi- ologists think about transduction, and a series of exciting advances have been made in understanding the basic processes of photo transduction,...

A wonderfully successful NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Sulfur-Centered Reactive Intermediates in Chemistry and Biology" was held 18-30 June, 1989, at the Hotel Villa del Mare in Maratea, Italy. Despite the beautiful setting with mountains behind us and over looking the clear blue Mediterranean Sea under a cloudless sky (and with a private beach available), the lectures were extremely well attended. While some credit can go to the seriousness of the students, more must go to the calibre of speakers and the high quality of C. Chatgilialoglu, and Co-Director, Professor K. -D. their...

This book contains selected proceedings from the NATO Advanced Study Institute (AS I) "The Molecular Pathology of Alcoholism" held at the Hotel Il Ciocco in Tuscany during 26th August - 6th September 1990. Alcoholism remains one of the most challenging problems in medical care, with far-reaching medical, social and economic consequences. For example in the U. S., estimates indicate that 18 million people have a serious drinking problem and that the total cost to the economy of alcohol abuse is $117 billion. Treatment of alcohol dependence and other alcohol-related disorders accounts for...