2 comments about Van der Waals Forces: A Handbook for Biologists, Chemists, Engineers, and Physicists.

1. This book is the best ever written about Van der Waals forces. Parsegian is the world's expert on this subject, which is essential for an understanding of physical biology and much of chemistry, engineering, and physics. Parsegian writes superbly and clearly. His book is fun to read. Every biologist and every biophysicist should get a copy. Every science library should have at least two copies of this book.



2. I teach courses covering the fundamentals of surface and colloid engineering. The Parsegian textbook is ideal for either teaching a segment of 6 to 9 lectures or teaching an entire course on Van der Waals forces - I have done both. Moreover, there is also advanced material included that is important for applications that range from biomembrane physics to wetting phenomena. Even the price is right!
   This is an excellent book in every way.

No comments about Medical Biochemistry, Fourth Edition.

5 comments about Forensic Science of CSI.

1. This book, part series guide; part primer on forensic science, gives some of the scientific background to C.S.I.. (Crime Scene Investigation) and now, also, C.S.I. Miami, as well as other movies and shows; where science and criminology meet. Gives fairly good explanations, although some are left out, maybe because anyone who watches these shows has heard terms, for example, "bindle" [a piece of paper or some small envelope, used for evidence collection]. Some of the "real life" cases, as contrasted to some of the episodes, are pretty gruesome and not recommended for everyone. Great for fans of the shows [like me] or anyone moderately curious about how some crimes are solved.



2. I found this book to be marginal at best. That may have something to do with my education and the amount of reading I have done in real forensics books. It would be a good read for teens interested in a possible career in this field, or for adults whose primary exposure is through the TV series. I'm sure that the writer knows much more than is in this book, and I would like to see a more in-depth coverage written for those who aren't in medicine or law enforcement but who have a genuine interest in the science. If your teen likes the show, it might be an excellent way to get them interested in reading science outside of that dull text from high school.



3. this book tells you everything you need to know about forensics. It is the best science text i have ever read. from the scene to the autopsy table, it has it all. if you like the show CSI and the CSI books by Max Allen Collins, you'll love this! it gives you real life examples, lists , and explanations on every page. it also has an awesome glossary and reference. LOVE IT!!!!!!



4. The hit TV series CSI has spawned interest in forensic science in the public. This book shows you how forensic works in reality, from fingerprint and DNA to blood spatter pattern analyis.
   It is not an episode guide to the TV show with some explanations tagged on, as another reviewer wrote. The book uses the CSI show merely as an angle to introduce the general reader into this interesting topic. You will surely find much of interest here, even if you have never seen an CSI episode. Author Katherine RAMSLAND also clearly points out where the series does not get it right:
   * forensic investigations take much more time in reality (whereas in the TV show uses some artistic licence due to narrative necessities)
   * crime scene investigators don't interrogate suspects
   * proceedures and tests, which look rather easy in the show, are difficult and time consuming.
   I liked the methodological approach of the book: It starts with the definition of a crime scene, details the investigation from the inital response of law enforcement personel to the processing of the scene all the way to what happens during the autopsy and in the crime lab. It gives you a good insight into what crime scene investigators do (the kits, equipment and tools they use, what legal and scientific proceedures they have to adher to, how evidence is collected, preserved, investigated
   and stored, what happens at the lab and so forth) without being overly technical.
   As mentioned above, the angle author Katherine RAMSLAND uses is the CSI TV show. So there are often references to the show, what tests GRISSOM and his team used and they are explained in detail without being overly technical. The book is interspersed with references to real crimes (I was surprised to see how many CSI episodes were apparently inspired by true crimes!) and how forensic science helped to solve them.
   The author also points out the psychological side in chapters on profiling and the use of psychological autopsy.
   My main complaint with the book is the absence of any kind of illustrations. It is much more instructive when discussing the e.g. various kinds of fingerprints and blood spatter patterns and to actually see some pictures of samples, let alone the equipment in a crime lab. I mean, who knows what a gas chromatograph looks like? Also some kind of diagramms or illustrations would have been helpful with some of the scientific tests. The complete lack of pictures makes the book occassionally a bit dry at times.



5. We loved this book-- on the back cover it asks about a half dozen questions like -- "how can a pair of glasses suggest murder rather than suicide?" and others-- and then goes on to explain how forensic scientists arrive at their final conclusions using all kinds of methods and analysis. The auhtor has a masters degree in forensic psychology and has published 15 books incuding biographies of such famous writers as anne Rice and Dean Koontz. She also spent a year as a research assistant to former FBI profiler John Douglas...and she writes forensic science articles for Court TV's Crime Library. Note that the book was not authorized, prepared, approved, licensed or endorsed by anyone in connection with the TV series CSI...The book is divided into 11 chapters and includes a good glossary, references section and index. Topics covered begin 1) Scene of Crime and end at 11 Evidence Response and in between include 2) handling bodies 3) ID unknown 4) Traces, 5) We have a Match 6) Science v Intuition 7) Elements of Reconstruction 8)Criminal Logic and 9) Varieties of Deception and 10 Forensic puzzles. I especially like the boldface sections of the book where the author adds some historical perspective ie how the coroner system evolved etc. She certainly demystifies lots of the science of forensics and explains what's fact-based behind some of CSI's most watched shows. Did you know that Iodine fumes are used to bring up latent fingerprints-- well after reading this book you'll know lots more about forensic science...and it's great cocktail chatter too....

2 comments about Essential Nuclear Medicine Physics (Essentials).

1. This user friendly book is a delight to read and easy to understand. I am a Cardiologist with not much physics background and I was able to understand the principles of this book written by superb authors.
   
   I recently attended the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology's Board Review Course and most of their illustrations of the principles of Nuclear Medicine Physics were directly Xeroxed from this book.
   
   The explanations and diagrams are superior to any other book I have read on this topic. The multitude of pictures and images illustrating concepts, coupled with the easy to read text & practice MCQ questions at the end of each chapter, make this the ideal text for students or physicians preparing for examinations or future practice in Nuclear Medicine.
   
   2 thumbs up, way-up !!!



2. This book is not for someone interested in the actual physics of nuclear medicine. It is better suited for the medical folks that want to understand how some of their equipment functions. Still, it is short and encompasses several different areas of the science.

4 comments about The Secret of Life.

1. Not much to say about Lakhovsky, other than his Multi~wave oscillator has a proven 'case history' record of over 90% symptom loss ---hiv,cancer,diabetes,herpes,hepatitus,tB,common cold,etc etc etc.... it is in my opinion much better than the Rife frequency device...and it is said Lakhovsky was the one responsible for Rife's accomplishments in that respect to a large degree. It is far more user friendly and easy to use. *There are various theories on what would happen to an individual sitting between the coils past a certain period of time... I have not attempted this past the 15-20 minute mark.. I think the bottom line here and what Lakhovsky just prooves again is that no matter where the truth takes us particularly in the field of health, untill humanity as a collective consciousness wakes up (search under "adventures of don croft" on a search engine and you will see the rate at which this is happening across the world..some amazing(...)), it will never find the answers it seeks. The fact of the matter is this:(...)there is really nothing very exciting to gossip about when problems just disappear and go away. "do you want to find out what the problem is, or do you want to get your life back?!!" a doc once told me...i think that sums up the Multi Wave Oscillator perfectly.. it's the ideal method to use if you have been to 100 doctors and still have no idea what you have .. this device should have made megalithic breakthroughs in medicine.. of course mr. lakhovsky died suddenly like wilhelm reich and royal rife(...))(...)NOTE: it is very important once you are 'over' your condition to rebuild your body as the damage will not go away immediately.. cardiovascular excercise and only the best in food and supplements should be used. the Life Extension Foundation is your best bet for the supplements and their magazine is a must (they are non profit)*be well*



2. Very interesting Book on which the author explains his theory that
   all cells work as antennas and absorb energy from cosmic rays (ether),
   unfortunately there is no more books from this author.
   
   For the people who would like to read more about similar opinions
   I would recommend to get the following: The secret life of the Plants,
   Persecution and Trial of Gaston Naessens, Shape Power by Dan A. Davidson,
   Ultimate Reality by Joseph Cater, The Discovery of Orgone Vol 1 and 2
   by Wilhelm Reich.
   
   Enjoy.



3. I was working in MWO some time before buying this book. Inside it you can find some info that it's hard to find at the WEB, other stufs are eassy to read anywere. I believe that there isn't so much more to read about MWO (few other publications) then investigation is the way to learn more. Buy it anyway, will not be spent money.



4. This book is a real eye opener, A must read for everyone! I found that one can not admire everything in the natural world in the same way after reading this work. I just find it a shame that the medical world did not push Mr. Lakhovsky's work further. His concepts and work where way ahead of his time! Yet another that has been swept under the rug!

3 comments about Handbook of MRI Pulse Sequences.

1. I got to know this good handbook from an international conference. It was sold out in few days during the exhibition period. I strongly recommend every MRI guy own at least one copy of it. ^__^



2. I tried the green book but found it didn't cover the pulse sequence development to a depth that was acceptable to me. This books covers pulses in such a way that it's invaluable if you're developing or rewriting any MR sequences.



3. Great book for those who want to know in and outs of MRI sequences. Very detailed in terms of mathematical description

5 comments about Surviving the Extremes: A Doctor's Journey to the Limits of Human Endurance.

1. First is the ostensible grounds for Kamler writing this book -- how the human body survives under the six extremes of jungle, high seas, desert, undersea, high altitude and outer space.
   
   But secondarily, it's a look at the human determination and spirit to get to those six extremes.
   
   Kamler has a lot of experience in some of these extremes and at least a bit in most others. As a member of the Explorers Club, and through other connections, he has some experience with the first five categories, including being on the ill-fated Beck Weathers/Rob Hall "Into Thin Air" (Jon Krakauer) Everest climb. With the last, he's done some on-Earth weightlessness work and talked with astronauts; a fair amount of it is psychological, not physiological, and specifically is such in the context of speculation about a manned journey to Mars.
   
   Kamler also has plenty of statistics to liven up the pages, such as details of depressurization from the bends, highest G force ever undergone by an astronaut, and so forth.
   
   National Geographic readers, hikers and adventurers of all types will love this book.



2. For those unfamiliar with the author, Kenneth Kalmer was the only doctor on Mt Everest during the 1996 tragedy. This book touches on human physiology and how we adapt to and tolerate extremes in environmental conditions. It contains valuable information with which every adventurer should be acquainted. Though it is written for the layman, this is certainly not the kind of book you can read just before going to sleep. It's pretty heavy on scientific principles.
   Dr Kalmer begins with the jungle environment, namely the Amazon forest and swamps. Though heat exhaustion can be a problem here, most of the hazards of this environment seem to come from the denizens of the jungle. Survivors in this environment need to keep a constant lookout for the anopheles mosquito (malaria), black caiman, anaconda, venomous snakes, poisonous frogs and caterpillars, schisto worm (liver parasite), stingray, electric eel and a most interesting creature called the candiru. This is actually a very tiny catfish which has a great affinity for salt. When an animal urinates under water, this tiny creature will follow the stream of urine and lodge itself in the animal's urethra. Surgery is required to remove it.
   
   Ironically, the jungle is also a natural pharmacy that provides medicines to heal the sick as well as poisons for blowdart hunting. No wonder people still live there.
   
   The next hostile environment is the open sea - endless stretches of water, not a drop of which can keep the castaway's body hydrated. Dr Kalmer gives many examples of how castaways survive. The world record is held by Chinese sailor Poon Lim, who drifted on a raft for 130 days without supplies. He collected rain water and used a spring in his torch to catch fish. Methods thought up by other survivors include using improvised solar-powered stoves to distill seawater. The physiology of salt intake, dehydration and starvation are presented along with some coverage on cannibalism at sea.
   
   The scorching desert is an even more hostile environment that causes heat exhaustion, dehydration and starvation to set in even more rapidly. Dr Kalmer explains in detail how the body regulates temperature and maintains a constant internal environment. He also explains how this system can break down under extreme external temperature and dehydration. Death occurs with the loss of 15-20 litres of body fluids. However, defying the limits of human physiology, is one Mauro Prosperi, who claimed to have survived for 9 days in the desert without any water.
   
   Diving medicine is a very big topic by itself, but Dr Kalmer gives us the essentials on what happens to the body during free diving, the mechanics of SCUBA as well as the causes of decompression sickness. As with the other environments, many examples of diving accidents along with a microscopic view of what went on inside the victims' bodies are presented.
   
   High altitude medicine is one area where Dr Kalmer has the most firsthand experience. Bringing out actual situations he encountered on Himalayan expeditions, the author presents a flowing account of Himalayan expeditions alongside an "insiders'" view of the characters' bodies. The mechanics of AMS (acute mountain sickness), HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema), HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) and frostbite are neatly woven into the story. Dr Kalmer even proposes a somewhat controversial evolutionary advantage that the Sherpas may have over other people. Even more surprising but factually indisputable, is his mention of the "miraculous" survival of Beck Weathers and Pasang Sherpa.
   
   The final chapter is really out of this world - space adventure. Space is the ultimate hostile environment combining extreme cold, extreme heat, vacuum and cosmic radiation from which the human body must be almost completely insulated. Topics covered include the physiological effects of G force and zero gravity. Also mentioned are research projects into building self-sufficient spacecrafts for interplanetary exploration. Interesting hypothetical situations are presented and Dr Kalmer manages not to bore the reader with his wit and humour.



3. This book has a great deal of promise and starts well. Contrary to what some reviewers here have said, I thought the chapter on the Amazon was well written and useful. The author's personal experiences should be welcomed by the reader because they are the source of authority and insight. Moreover, Kamler is able to draw on the experiences of human beings indigenous to the Amazon and impart their knowledge. That such personal involvement is necessary becomes sadly obvious in the subsequent chapters where the author seems out of his depth, despite a lot of desperate self-promotion and misleading marketing. In particular, the chapter on open-ocean survival is pathetically weak. Kamler "mailed it in." I got the distinct impression that he went on-line one morning, culled a few facts that anyone else could have easily gotten too, and then rubbed out the chapter in the afternoon. There was no personal insight, no real feel for his material, and he gets some key facts dead wrong. For example, he says that Steve Callahan managed to kill a four foot dolphin and eat it. But Kamler obviously thinks this is a mammalian dolphin, and not the dolphin-fish (dorado) that is so prevalent in tropical waters. Any blue water sailor would have recognized that.
   
   The other chapters, with the semi-exception of the one on mountaineering where Kamler had personal experience, display a similar lack of depth and detail. It all becomes very superficial, and to anyone familiar with such situations or at least the extant literature on them, it achieves a remarkable feat: Kamler takes a fascinating subject and makes it boring.
   
   I suspect the doctor wrote some good initial passages, got a publisher involved, then just ran out of gas. I am enthralled by the subjects of anatomy, survival, ultra-endurance, and human adaptation to our environment. But Kamler's work put me to sleep. On certain subjects, such as immunological response, Kamler merely says it is not well understood and leaves it at that. Jeez, Doc, you promote yourself as the expert - take a shot at it, yeah? At least get your hands dirty. Some suggestions: to write about "the limits of human endurance" in the desert, instead of reading about it perhaps the good doctor should leave New York and experience the 135-mile Badwater Run, from Death Valley to Mount Whitney. Instead of reading about open ocean survival, perhaps the author should actually sail across an ocean (one with dorados, for example). I want to know what goes on in the mind and body of a person at the limit of their endurance. I want to know the chemical and emotional changes that make such endurance possible. And I want the doctor to use his own experience in such situations to give me insight into how the body is able to deal with physical and mental stress. Instead, Kamler throws a few facts and cliches at the reader and moves on. Maybe Larry King was calling.
   
   If you have never read anything in this field, the book is not a bad introduction. For anyone else it is a disappointment. And for people who have actually experienced the situations Kamler tries to describe, the book is largely a waste of time and could legitimately be called a rip-off.



4. Trained as a doctor but always craved adventure, Dr. Kamler deliberately carved out his personal niche as Professional Expedition Doctor, and loved every minute of it, it shows in the writing. Having read Krakauer's account and leafed through Boukreev's, what a surprise to find Dr. Kamler personally weighing-in, he was the one who supervised the thawing-out of Beck Weathers, who knew the procedure was so delicate... At $3.00 used, this was QUITE a good deal !



5. The book begins with a powerful hook of a tale - about a sherpa who is gravely ill, the possible effects of the chanting that fills the air around him, and his seemingly impossible recovery.
   
   Kamler divvies up different extreme climates and explores their effects on our human bodies. For the most part, the information is engrossing, although I found that my attention dipped in and out on occasion, mostly during his underwater sections.
   
   Kamler's writing style is pretty straightforward and readable; I enjoyed the periodic witticisms that he injected, which were most prevalent toward the end of the book. I particularly appreciated that he selected the imaginary Mars-mission doctor to be the one who unravels on the journey. As a matter of fact, his Mars-mission narrative offered the most entertaining and illustrative comment on how a long-term mission in an enclosed space will affect our emotional selves and thus, the health of the mission.
   
   I also especially enjoyed the story of the 1800s desert survivor, whose will to live was fueled by his raging desire for violent revenge on his former companion.
   
   Throughout the book, Kamler's discussion on how the brain works, especially the electrical qualities of our thoughts, and how that plays into our survival, was fascinating.
   
   I have some minor quibbles. One is that he makes reference to the "hottentots," an anachronistic - and offensive - name for the Khoikhoi people in South Africa.

4 comments about Protein NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and Practice.

1. The book is very complete, covers most of the field in protein NMR studies. The book is well organised, with plenty of figures to facilitate easy understanding of the subject. Overall, I find it is very helpful for anyone who will be interested in protein NMR research. I have actually seen quite a number of copies in a few NMR laboratories and I would recommand this book to all those who are looking for an complete introductory book in NMR and protein study.



2. This is the new standard for Protein NMR spectroscopists (the old one being Ernst). Everyone I've met who uses NMR in biology has nothing but praise for this book. It's not a perfect book and has some weakness, especially in the modelling portions. The math derivations are clear but the authors do not connect back to the physical phenomenon. I would recommend keeping a QM book nearby as a reference. However, this book is well written overall and very complete. Highly recommended!



3. I have been reading this book for a while and decided to buy it. I am satisfied with the vendor, it arrived in good condition and fairly on time.



4. It is really a good book in protein NMR.
   and give out a complete set of the basic of NMR principle
   Some tiny mistakes, can be a handbook for protein structure analysis.

5 comments about Science and Practice of Strength Training, Second Edition.

1. This book is heavily referenced by Louie Simmons of the Westside Barbell Club in Columbus.
   
   It's funny that I took this book out from my library when I was 15 and I tried to read it and understand...that was 12 years ago.
   
   I bought a copy from Elite Fitness a few years back...I've managed to understand a few more things than I did when I was 15 but honestly...alot of this stuff goes WAAAAY over my head. It's very scientific and I fear unless you have an aptitude for this sort of thing, it's going to be a tough read.
   
   Nonetheless, this book has heavily influenced strength training as the world knows it...So I give it 4 stars.
   
   (if you want the cliff notes, check out Louie's Articles)



2. A great book on strength training for beginners and veterans alike. You don't need to be an exercise physiologist to understand it and yet the information is complete and extremely helpful for athletes and coaches at all levels



3. I read this book upon the recommendation of Louie Simmons from one of his
   [...] articles. I can safely say that this is one of the best books out there. It contains legitimate research and case studies of ELITE world class athletes. You won't find a perfect program here, because no such thing exists... Rather, you will find principles that you can employ to your training and research results based on other world class athletes (most notably Olympic weightlifters).
   
   Best part of all, the text isn't infested with bodybuilding magazine type advice that distorts many trainees philosophy. The bottom line is that 3 sets of 8-12, pre-exhaustion and pyramid sets among other techniques are flawed and ineffective for elite strength athletes and Olympic athletes.



4. As the name implies, this book is a scientific analysis of the practice of strength training. Rather than the typical myths advocated by publications such as Men's Health and other popular sources for training information, this book provides the scientific foundations for strength training. It helps cut through the many myths surrounding strength training and provides in depth scientific analysis by one of the world's leading biomechanists, kinesiologists, and strength training experts. Zatsiorsky has influenced the weightlifting, powerlifting, strong man, and sports training worlds as well as academia. He describes theories as well as methods. This book belongs on the shelf of any serious student, professor, coach, or athlete. I, myself, am a tennis player and have benefitted greatly from this book. Clearly one for the ages, this book is excellent. Worth at least 100$.



5. I am very satisfied with this book.It's very interesting scientific strength book who attempts to join scientific strength approach with one side and practice on the other side.Book is very influenced from work dr.Zatsiorsky with weightlifters and throwers in former Soviet Union but I am also interested in non linear periodization from dr.Kraemer.
   Many thanks to autors

5 comments about The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life.

1. The first half the book held my attention like when I read a Clive Cussler adventure.
   
   Dr. Becker patiently explains both biology and electricity building up to providing the understanding of regeneration as his research progressed.
   
   The next half of the book explains first how electromagentism affects humans, then the potential hazards of electromagnetism are addressed.
   
   Overall this book is very well written and I recommend it to all my friends whether they are engineers like me or not.



2. If you are pretty well versed in physiology and basic biology, you will probably love this book! As an engineer and experimental scientist Dr. Becker opened my eyes to a whole new area of study which, politics aside, has the potential to change almost every person's life.



3. I'm not really one for science books, but this book has got to be the exception. If you have any chronic or 'incurable' disease, try to hold on - because fortunately there are at least a few doctors and researchers out there who are bright enough to think outside the box and challenge existing theories regarding the workings of the human body - in particular, the electricity of the human body and how it coincides with the universe.
   
   The author walks the reader through his discoveries that not only is it feasible for the human body to regenerate (just like the salamander's), but most likely, this is what our bodies were designed to do from the get-go, until we surrounded ourselves with electromagnetic fields of pollution so powerful that our perfectly designed DNA, immune systems, cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems, neuromuscular systems became 'confused' by all the external commotion.
   
   The author of this book represents what research 'should be' about, but for the most part isn't, and the reader cannot help but become a part of this researcher's emotion.
   
   If I ever have a chance to meet the author of this book, I will be honored. Until then, I will recommend this book to anyone who values the perfectly amazing life God gave them and the perfectly synchronized universe He created to sustain that life. I only pray that there are more reseachers out there bravely willing to poke holes in the current theories that the human body is merely a collection of chemical reactions, unopposed by a higher force.
   
   The author touches on this, and I am in agreement - I have to wonder if perhaps all the bad we see around us today - broken marriages, suicides, bombings, disease, pain, suffering, greed - is this merely a by-product of all the manmade electromagnetic distress surrounding each and every one of us on a daily basis? After reading this book, you will think twice about what we've sacrificed for the sake of 'technology' - everlasting life on earth.



4. Honestly, if I could give this book 10 stars, I would.
   
   I was worried this would be some hippy-dippy, new age ride, based on some of the chapter headings. But concealed behind the facade of odd chapter headings is a truly amazing scientific work. I'm blown away. Becker & Selden go into excruciatingly beautiful detail of any number of experiments exposing some of the electrical plumbing and electrical signaling going on in complex bodies. This includes bone regeneration through electrical currents, partial or complete limb regeneration in Rats and salamanders through electrical processes. It refers to known cases of young children (under 11 y/o) regrowing fingertips that have been severed in accidents and NOT been operated on, or had skin grafts that inhibit the regenerative process. They also go into the removal of bacterial infections with positive silver electrodes approximating the body's natural healing electrical currents. (I think I now know why colloidal silver is popular as an anti-infections agent and silver nitrate {I think?} is used when babies are born to ward off infection...)
   
   This book is written with the lay reader in mind. You don't need a medical background to understand and be enraptured by this book. As I may have said already (or not), I can't put it down. It's THAT GOOD! I hope this stuff is taught in medical school and more research goes into this field. I have the feeling it holds the key to higher level human regeneration and life extension (through making use of and maintaining the body's existing electrical systems)...
   
   Just... WOW!



5. The information was not what I expected in regard to a misleading title. Anyone in the acupuncture field, as I am, should not be persuaded to buy this book. It basically deals with reptilian experiments done 50 or more years ago. It is a biology book, in a sense. I wish I had not purchased it!