1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910782712203321

Autore

Echenberg Myron J

Titolo

Plague ports [[electronic resource] ] : the global urban impact of bubonic plague,1894-1901 / / Myron Echenberg

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : New York University Press, c2007

ISBN

0-8147-2282-2

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (367 p.)

Disciplina

614.5/732

Soggetti

Plague - History

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Preface -- Illustrations -- 1. An Unexampled Calamity -- 2. City of the Plague -- 3. The Plague Has at Last Arrived -- 4. They Have a Love of Clean Underlinen and of Fresh Air -- 5. A Bubonic Plague Epidemic Does Not Exist in This Country Buenos Aires, 1900 -- 6. The Victory of Hygiene, Good Taste, and Art -- 7. Plague in Paradise -- 8. Black Plague Creeps into America -- 9. The Inhabitants of Sydney No More Go Barefoot Than Do the Inhabitants of London -- 10. It Is a Miracle We Are Not Visited by a Black Plague -- Appendix -- Notes -- Index -- About the Author

Sommario/riassunto

A century ago, the third bubonic plague swept the globe, taking more than 15 million lives. Plague Ports tells the story of ten cities on five continents that were ravaged by the epidemic in its initial years: Hong Kong and Bombay, the Asian emporiums of the British Empire where the epidemic first surfaced; Sydney, Honolulu and San Francisco, three “pearls” of the Pacific; Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in South America; Alexandria and Cape Town in Africa; and Oporto in Europe.Myron Echenberg examines plague's impact in each of these cities, on the politicians, the medical and public health authorities, and especially on the citizenry, many of whom were recent migrants crammed into grim living spaces. He looks at how different cultures sought to cope with the challenge of deadly epidemic disease, and explains the political, racial, and medical ineptitudes and ignorance that allowed the plague to flourish. The forces of globalization and industrialization, Echenberg argues, had so increased the transmission of



microorganisms that infectious disease pandemics were likely, if not inevitable.This fascinating, expansive history, enlivened by harrowing photographs and maps of each city, sheds light on urbanism and modernity at the turn of the century, as well as on glaring public health inequalities. With the recent outbreaks of SARS and avian flu, and ongoing fears of bioterrorism, Plague Ports offers a necessary and timely historical lesson.

2.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910830921803321

Titolo

Biology in space and life on earth [[electronic resource] ] : effects of spaceflight on biological systems / / edited by Enno Brinckmann

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Weinheim, : Wiley-VCH, c2007

ISBN

1-281-23932-1

9786611239329

3-527-61700-0

3-527-61699-3

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (298 p.)

Altri autori (Persone)

BrinckmannEnno

Disciplina

571.0919

616.980214

Soggetti

Space biology

Space flight - Physiological effect

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Biology in Space and Life on Earth; Contents; Foreword; Preface; List of Contributors; Introduction; 1 Flight Mission Scenarios; 2 Sounding Rocket Experiments; 3 Biobox on Foton and in the Space Shuttle; 3.1 Biobox-1; 3.2 Biobox-2; 3.3 Biobox-3; 3.4 Biobox-4; 4 Biorack in Spacelab and Spacehab; 1 The Gravity Environment in Space Experiments; 1.1 Introduction to Gravity Research; 1.1.1 Principle of Equivalence; 1.1.2 Microgravity; 1.1.3 Artificial Gravity; 1.2 Gravity Phenomena on Small Objects; 1.2.1 Sedimentation; 1.2.2 Hydrostatic Pressure; 1.2.3 Diffusion; 1.2.4 Convection



1.2.5 Diffusion/Convection1.2.6 Buoyancy; 1.2.7 Coriolis Acceleration; 2 Primary Responses of Gravity Sensing in Plants; 2.1 Introduction and Historical Background; 2.2 Evolution of Gravity Sensing Mechanisms under the Earth's Gravity Conditions; 2.3 Specific Location and Unique Features of Gravity Sensing Cells; 2.4 Correlation between Statolith Sedimentation and Gravitropic Responses; 2.5 Is the Actin Cytoskeleton Involved in Gravity Sensing?; 2.6 Gravireceptors; 2.7 Second Messengers in Gravisignalling

2.8 Modifying Gravitational Acceleration Forces - Versatile Tools for Studying Plant Gravity Sensing Mechanisms2.9 Conclusions and Perspectives; 3 Physiological Responses of Higher Plants; 3.1 Introduction: Historical Overview; 3.2 Terminological Aspects; 3.3 Microgravity as a Tool; 3.3.1 Equipment; 3.3.2 Testable Hypotheses; 3.3.2.1 Gravisensitivity; 3.3.2.2 Stimulus Transformation: Role of the Actomyosin System; 3.3.2.3 Extracellular Matrix as Anti-gravitational Material; 3.3.2.4 Existence of Gravity (Microgravity) Related Genes; 3.3.2.5 Autonomous versus Directed Movements

3.4 Microgravity as Stress Factor3.4.1 Cellular Level; 3.4.2 Developmental Aspects; 3.5 Gravity-related Paradoxes; 3.6 Gravity and Evolution; 3.7 Conclusion and Perspectives; 4 Development and Gravitropism of Lentil Seedling Roots Grown in Microgravity; 4.1 Introduction; 4.1.1 Development of Lentil Seedlings on the Ground; 4.1.1.1 Functional Zones of the Primary Root; 4.1.1.2 Role of the Root Cap; 4.1.1.3 Meristematic Activity; 4.1.1.4 Cell Elongation; 4.1.2 Root Gravitropism on Earth; 4.1.2.1 Perception of Gravity; 4.1.2.2 The Root Statocyte; 4.1.2.3 Gravisensitivity: The Presentation Time

4.1.2.4 Gravitropic Reaction4.2 Basic Hardware Used to Perform Space Experiments; 4.2.1 Plant Growth Chambers: The Minicontainers; 4.2.1.1 Seed Set-up; 4.2.1.2 Hydration of the Seeds; 4.2.2 The Glutaraldehyde Fixer; 4.3 Development in Space; 4.3.1 Root Orientation in Microgravity; 4.3.2 Root Growth; 4.3.3 Cell Elongation; 4.3.4 Meristematic Activity; 4.3.4.1 Mitotic Activity; 4.3.4.2 Cell Cycle; 4.4 Root Gravitropism in Space; 4.4.1 Organelle Distribution within the Statocyte; 4.4.1.1 Statocyte Polarity; 4.4.1.2 Positioning of the Nucleus and of the Endoplasmic Reticulum

4.4.1.3 Amyloplasts Positioning

Sommario/riassunto

This concise yet comprehensive treatment of the effects of spaceflight on biological systems includes issues at the forefront of life sciences research, such as gravitational biology, immune system response, bone cell formation and the effects of radiation on biosystems. Edited by a leading specialist at the European Space Agency (ESA) with contributions by internationally renowned experts, the chapters are based on the latest space laboratory experiments, including those on SPACELAB, ISS, parabolic flights and unmanned research satellites.An indispensable source for biologists, medical re