The study of mechanism: How do modern-day animals carry out their functions? 5 The study of origin: Why do modern-day animals possess the mechanisms they do? 7 Natural selection is a key process of evolutionary origin 8 Mechanism and adaptive significance are distinct concepts that do not imply each other 8 The structural property of an animal that persists through time is its organization 11 M...

limulus amebocyte lysate test in the detection of infections. Of particular note is the comprehensive review of the subject by Erlin and Hosseini. I found the discussion of this paper by Levin and ten Cate particularly enlightening, as it addresses the old problem of the "gold standard" in the diagnosis of infections. The final chapter examines the epidemiological and statistical issues concern...

The communication of information between neurons and between neurons and muscles or peripheral organs requires that signals travel over considerable distances. A number of notable scientists have contemplated the nature of this communication through the ages. In the second century ad, the great Greek physician Claudius Galen proposed that “humors” fl owed from the brain to the muscles along hol...

The basal ganglia are large subcortical structures comprising several interconnected nuclei in the forebrain, midbrain, and diencephalon (Fig. 31.1). Because of certain features, it is generally agreed that basal ganglia participate in the control of movement. The largest portion of basal ganglia inputs and outputs are connected with motor areas. Second, the discharge of many basal ganglia neur...

The Third Edition of the MATLAB Primer is based on version 4.0/4.1 of MATLAB. While this edition reflects an extensive general revision of the Second Edition, most significant is the new information to help one begin to use the major new features of version 4.0/4.1, the sparse matrix and enhanced graphics capabilities. You are advised to download anew each term the latest printing of the Primer...