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The eye has fascinated scientists from the earliest days of biological investigation. The diversity of its parts and the precision of their interac­ tion make it a favorite model system for a variety of developmental studies. The eye is a particularly valuable experimental system not only because its tissues provide examples of fundamental processes, but also because it is a prominent and easily accessible structure at very early embryonic ages. In order to provide an open forum for investigators working on all aspects of ocular development, a series of symposia on ocular and visual de­ velopment was initiated in 1973. A second purpose has been to foster communication between the basic research worker and the clinical community. It is our feeling that much can be learned on both sides from this interaction. The idea for an informal meeting allowing a maximum exchange of ideas originated with Dr. Leon Candeub, who supplied the necessary driving force that made the series a reality.

The Seventh Symposium on Ocular and Visual Development was held in October, 1982. The aim of the meeting was to develop a broad perspective on visual acuity. The subject was discussed initially in terms of molecular events of photoreception, and the metabolism of the photoreceptor ele­ ments. Subsequent papers presented the development and complexity of the neurocircuitry and transmitter systems in the retina that process the visual information prior to transfer to the brain. The meeting concluded with a series of papers on behavioral and physiological methods of mea­ surement of visual acuity in humans, particularly young children. This volume arose from the papers presented at the meeting. We feel that the juxtaposition of research of broadly differing methodologies will be stim­ ulating, rather than daunting, and will generate an enhanced understand­ ing of this complex subject. We are indebted to our colleagues: Dr. M. Mote from Temple University, and Drs. J. Siegfried, P. Dayhaw-Barker, and L. Press from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry for their expertise and assistance in the organization of the meeting; to the speakers for their presentations and contributions to this volume; and to the reviewers of the manuscripts for their helpful comments. This symposium could not have been held without the generous support of the Temple University College of Arts and Sciences and the Pennsyl­ vania College of Optometry. We also thank Merck, Sharp and Dohme, Inc. for their donation.

This book brings together reviews by internationally renowed experts on quantum optics and photonics. It describes novel experiments at the limit of single photons, and presents advances in this emerging research area. It also includes reprints and historical descriptions of some of the first pioneering experiments at a single-photon level and nonlinear optics, performed before the inception of lasers and modern light detectors, often with the human eye serving as a single-photon detector. The book comprises 19 chapters, 10 of which describe modern quantum photonics results, including single-photon sources, direct measurement of the photon's spatial wave function, nonlinear interactions and non-classical light, nanophotonics for room-temperature single-photon sources, time-multiplexed methods for optical quantum information processing, the role of photon statistics in visual perception, light-by-light coherent control using metamaterials, nonlinear nanoplasmonics, nonlinear polarization optics, and ultrafast nonlinear optics in the mid-infrared.

This book is based on the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on'Mesenchymal-Epithelial Interactions in Neural Development'which was held in Berlin during March 1986. The idea that it may be the time for this workshop arose from a discussion among the organizers who met at a conference in Innsbruck. During the twenties, Spemann demonstrated that, in vertebrates, the formation of neuroepithelium depends on the induction by specific mesodermal derivatives. This was about the first time that mesenchymal-epithelial interactions had been recognized as an important mechanism in the development of an epithelial organ. Since then two things had become clear: 1) The identity and role of molecules, elaborated at mesenchymal-neuroepithelial interfaces had been partially elucidated in spinal cord and peripheral nerve ontogeny but, until recently, had been ignored in studies on the development of the brain. 2) In many-non-neural epithelia, the surrounding mesenchyme regulates such fundamental developmental steps as, for example, cell proliferation, morphogenesis and cell differentia­ tion, and there is no reason to exclude similar influences and interactions from brain development. It seemed to us that the importance and implications of many of these findings had not been appreciated by many developmental neurobiologists and that an attempt should be made to initiate discussions and exchange of ideas among different groups of scientists involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) research. This turned out to be a formidable task because of the great diversity of disciplines contributing findings to this active field.

Proceedings of the European Neuroscience Association Satellite Symposium held in Fillerval, France, August 27-31, 1989

An International Symposium on Low Vision was sponsored by the Centre for Sight Enhancement of the School of Optometry, University of Waterloo in June 1986, bringing low vision researchers and clinicians together from a number of countries. The unique feature of the conference is the multi-disciplinary approach towards low vision care. A total of 44 papers were presented in the three day period by speakers of note from the fields of optometry, ophthalmology, psychophysics, special education, nursing and vision rehabilitation. The papers deal with issues in diagnostic science, low vision assessment and rehabilitation. The proceedings volume is ideal for clinicians and vision scientists to update their understanding of low vision research and clinical practice.

This book derives from a symposium conducted in San Francisco CA, entitled'Environmental Design for Optimum Vision in the Elderly'that was sponsored by the American Aging Association, October 11-12, 1985. Presentations from this symposium comprise the core content of this volume. However, manuscripts have also been accepted from additional authors whose topics and research findings increase the scope and goals of this volume. Previously unpublished data is found in several of the chapters. In addition new data and references have been incorporated at the end of chapters in order to provide a current update of the subject. The broad aims of the papers in this volume were to examine the effects of various environmental factors, long-term occupational hazards, and toxins on basic visual functions in relation to physiological, biochemical, morphological, and pathological alterations in the eye and visual pathways, and centers of the brain. As part of the more specific aims of this volume, the editors have provided the following framework for the specific topics included in this volume: I) Epidemiology, Clinical and Psychophysical Research, II) Ophthalmological, Biochemical, Physiological and Anatomical studies, and III) Environmental Hazards.

The eye has fascinated scientists from the earliest days of biological investigation. The diversity of its parts and the precision of their interac­ tion make it a favorite model system for a variety of developmental studies. The eye is a particularly valuable experimental system not only because its tissues provide examples of fundamental processes. but also because it is a prominent and easily accessible structure at very early embryonic ages. In order to provide an open forum for investigators working on all aspects of ocular development. a series of symposia on ocular and visual development was initiated in 1973. A major objective of the symposia has been to foster communication between the basic research worker and the clinical community. It is our feeling that much can be learned on both sides from this interaction. The idea for an informal meeting allowing maximum exchange of ideas originated with Dr. Leon Canbeub. who supplied the necessary driving force that made the series a reality. Each symposium has concentrated on a different aspect of ocular development. Speakers have been selected to approach related topics from different perspec­ tives.

This book deals with the cellular biology, biochemistry and physiology of photoreceptors and their interactions with the second-order neurons, bipolar and horizontal cells. The focus is upon the contributions made by these neurons to vision. Thus the basic neurobiology of the outer retina is related to the visual process, and visual defects that could arise from abnormalities in this part of the retina are highlighted in the first 16 chapters. Since all vertebrate retinas have the same basic structure and physiological plan, examples are given from a variety of species, with an emphasis upon mammals, extending to human vision. The last four chapters approach the problem from the other end. This part of the book covers a range of clinical conditions involving visual abnormalities that are due to cellular defects in the outer retina. Although the contents of this book do not represent the proceedings of a conference, the concept arose at an international symposium on'Recent Advances in Retinal Research'which was held at the International Marine Centre in Oristano, Sardinia. We hope that the book will give a coherent, up to date review of the neurobiology and clinical aspects of the outer retina and encourage further integration of these areas. Retinal neurobiology has been an intense field of investigation for several decades. More recently, it has seen significant advances with the application of modern techniques of cell and molecular biology.

Development and Organization of the Retina offers an invaluable survey of contemporary research issues and methods dealing with the retina and retinal projections. The book's 19 chapters report on investigations into two areas: research into the organization of the mature retina and work on developmental issues. A sampling of chapter topics includes -- embryonic patterning of cone subtypes in the mammalian retina -- synaptic transmission between retinal neurons -- scaling the retina, macro and micro -- retinal ganglion cell axonal transport, and more.

This 121st IMA volume, entitled MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR BIOLOGICAL PATTERN FORMATION is the first of a new series called FRONTIERS IN APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICS. The FRONTIERS volumes are motivated by IMA pro­ grams and workshops, but are specially planned and written to provide an entree to and assessment of exciting new areas for the application of mathematical tools and analysis. The emphasis in FRONTIERS volumes is on surveys, exposition and outlook, to attract more mathematicians and other scientists to the study of these areas and to focus efforts on the most important issues, rather than papers on the most recent research results aimed at an audience of specialists. The present volume of peer-reviewed papers grew out of the 1998-99 IMA program on'Mathematics in Biology,'in particular the Fall 1998 em­ phasis on'Theoretical Problems in Developmental Biology and Immunol­ ogy.'During that period there were two workshops on Pattern Formation and Morphogenesis, organized by Professors Murray, Maini and Othmer. James Murray was one of the principal organizers for the entire year pro­ gram. I am very grateful to James Murray for providing an introduction, and to Philip Maini and Hans Othmer for their excellent work in planning and preparing this first FRONTIERS volume. I also take this opportunity to thank the National Science Foundation, whose financial support of the IMA made the Mathematics in Biology pro­ gram possible.

The light sense is conceivably the key sense in both the animal and the plant kingdom. Vision research, undoubtedly a fast-growing field, is providing impressive results — thanks to modern theoretical and methodological advances. The approach of biophysics and neuroscience seems to be of great benefit and, for this reason, the present book gives an outline of recent acquisitions and updated advanced methods concerning this approach. Visual mechanisms and processes are analysed at several (molecular, cellular, integrative, computational and cognitive) levels by different methodologies (from molecular biology to computation) applied to different living models (from protists to humans, via invertebrates and lower vertebrates).

This is the first volume of new book series on biophysics and biocybernetics, initiated by the Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici.A main problem in biophysics is the interaction of light information with functional living structures, in order to shape the organism's behaviour. Although the processes of photoreception and phototransduction are articulated in various ways in different living beings — as it is seen in the subdivision of the topics in this volume on microorganisms, invertebrates, and vertebrates — general ways of light signal reception and transduction through light energy, i.e., photosensitive molecule interactions, could be observed. Highly sophisticated advanced techniques are employed in this research field.

This volume consists of invited papers from scientists of Chinese origin in the visual field from around the world. The papers cover all basic and applied aspects of the vertebrate and invertebrate visual systems, from photoreceptors to cortical neurons, presenting both review and new findings on the subjects. It is hoped that this book will serve as a guide to international research linkage between groups.

Pineal and Retinal Relationships presents the proceedings of the Symposium on Pineal and Retinal Relationships, held in Sarasota, Florida on May 3–5, 1985. This book looks at the features that the retina of the lateral eyes and the pineal organ share, including biochemical processes, photoreceptive structures, biorhythmic phenomena, and physiological functions. This text also discusses the general and complex concept of photoneuroendocrine systems. Organized into 27 chapters, this book starts with an overview of the basic features of retinal and pineal receptors. It then proceeds with a discussion of the environmental factors that vertebrates use as cue to synchronize their circannual and circadian rhythms by which they adjust their physiological, behavioral, and biochemical functions. Other chapters consider the melatonin synthesis in vertebrates, which allows them to sequence physiological events into closer temporal position with seasonal climatic changes. This book is a valuable resource to optometrist, neurologist, neurosurgeons, photobiologists, ophthalmologists, and eye care professionals.

Over the past few decades numerous scientists have called for a unification of the fields of embryo development, genetics, and evolution. Each field has glaring holes in its ability to explain the fundamental phenomena of life. In this book, the author shows how the phenomenon of cell differentiation, considered in its temporal and spatial aspects during embryogenesis, provides a starting point for a unified theory of multicellular organisms (plants, fungi and animals), including their evolution and genetics. This unification is based on the recent discovery of differentiation waves by the author and his colleagues, described in the appendices, and illustrated by a flip movie prepared by a medical artist. To help the reader through the many fields covered, a glossary is included.This book will be of great value to the researcher and practicing doctors/scientists alike. The research students will receive an in-depth tutorial on the topics covered. The seasoned researcher will appreciate the applications and the gold mine of other possibilities for novel research topics.