CONTENTS xv 



8. SPEEDS OF SOME PROCESSES IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 192 



General Principles: equilibrium us steady-state; rate-control- 

 ling steps 193 



Chemical Reaction Rates: effects of concentration and tempera- 

 ture; the specific rate constant; catalysis by enzymes 195 



Diffusion; Osmosis: diffusion coefficient; permeability con- 

 stant 207 



Fluid Flow: fluidity; laminar and turbulent flow; properties of 

 plasma and of blood 212 



Electrical Conductance: specific conductance; volume conduc- 

 tor; EEG and EKG 219 



Heat Conduction: heat production; heat loss 224 



Formal Similarity and Integration of Five Rate Processes 230 



Weightlessness 231 



9. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATIONS 234 



Dosimetry: dose units and measurement 236 



Primary Effects: direct vs indirect; on molecules; oxygen 

 effect 241 



Biophysical Effects: coagulation; modification of transport prop- 

 erties 245 



Physiological Effects: sensitivity of cells; microirradiation of 

 cells; irradiation of organs and tissues 247 



Effects of Whole-Body Irradiation: present state of knowledge; 

 therapy 254 



10. BIOPHYSICAL STUDIES ON NERVE AND MUSCLE 262 



Transient Bioelectrics in Nerve: historical review; tracer and 

 voltage clamp techniques; cable and permeability theories; 

 in central nervous system 262 



Molecular Basis of Muscle Contraction: damped helical spring; 

 energetics; structure; molecular kinetics of contraction 277 



Effects of Environment on Control 290 



11. THE LANGUAGE AND CONCEPTS OF CONTROL 295 



The Systems Concept Redefined: information; entropy; measure- 

 ment and noise; feedback; memory; implementation; 

 control 296 



Analogies: digital nature of nerve propagation; digital and 

 analog computers 305 



