BIOMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT D.A. Winter

J. Wiley (N.Y.I,1979, pp. 219, ClO.90

The study of human movement is a major area of growth in fields as separate as athletics, rehabilita- tion of the disabled and human neurophysiology. The methods available and techniques used are, however, common to all disciplines. Professor Winter has attempted to provide in one volume a complete reference to the entire range of measure- ment and analysis techniques which are essential tools for the practising kinesiologist.

The book covers kinematics, anthropometry, kine- tics, work and energy, muscle mechanics and elec- tromyography. The instrumentation used in each area of measurement is described, the comparative merits of different systems discussed, and the reader is referred to representative papers for further dis- cussion of each technique.

The text is enhanced by the many examples given to illustrate each principle as it is presented. After reading each section one feels confident in the abi- lity to apply the methods described to one’s own problems. The provision of extensive tabulated kinematic and force plate data for a real subject is a further asset, these data are used throughout the book and provide many of the exercises for the student. They also form a readily accessible source of reference data with which to verify one’s own laboratory data. This is without parallel in the literature to date.

BIOFLUID MECHANICS, Vol. 2 Ed. Daniel J. Schnek

Plenum press (New Yorkl, 1980, pp. , $59.50

Application of the laws of fluid dynamics to living systems presents on the one hand, one of the biggest challenges to multidisciplinary effort, and on the other provides one of the most rewarding areas of endeavour. The field of biofluid mechanics is enor- mous, covering such diverse subjects as cardiovas- cular and peripheral haemodynamics, dialysis and membrane transport, joint lubrication, intra- and extra-cellular fluid mechanics, as well as the fluid mechanics of digestion and reproduction. The breadth and potential of the entire field has led to a vastly increased expenditure of effort over the

The difficulty which faces the author of any book intended for ‘a diverse audience, including physical education, medical and paramedical professionals, as well as engineers’ is at which level to write the text. Professor Winter has, I believe, managed to produce a book which will be of considerable interest to all these groups. There are some eminently read- able passages on optics, digital computing methods, and basic mechanics which will introduce the unini- tiated. The style of writing is such that even the most elementary sections are a pleasure to read, and the most difficult techniques are explained with a lucidity which often leaves one wondering why it wasn’t so obvious before.

This book successfully provides a comprehensive introduction to its subject. The reader who requires more information will find rapid and useful guidance for further reading. The busy clinical worker will find a complete survey of the techniques available for measurement, assessment and analysis of human movement. It provides a much-needed text for under- graduate studies in this area, at a price within reach of the student, and it should be available in any centre where studies of human movement are attemp- ted or contemplated.

Frank Johnson

last decade. Inevitably, this has produced many conferences all over the world.

The present volume two of ‘Biofluid Mechanics’, which has been edited by Daniel J. Schnek, is essen- tially the proceedings of Conference held at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in May, 1980. Pro- ducing a book of over 500 pages and only 26 contributions does at least ensure that each chapter is of sufficient length for the author to make a statement of some substance. This present volume has two further points in its favour. First, it has

J. Biomed. Engng. 1981, Vol. 3, January 73

appeared very soon after the Conference on which it was based and, secondly, it contains some first class contributions from major world authorities.

An opening chapter, which discusses the philosophy of bioengineering endeavour, is followed by a sec- tion on respiratory dynamics. Fundamental physio- logical measurements are complemented by two contributions on respiratory system modelling. The problem of joint lubrication is only discussed in one chapter, which is concerned with the persistance of non-Newtonian squeeze films in articulated joints.

An excellent review of blood flow disturbances in the cardiovascular system prefaces several chapters ,on heart valve dynamics in which different types of valves are subject to in vitro investigation and characterisation. In the section of the book that deals with peripheral haemodynamics, several chap- ters report mathematical or hydraulic models of flow through bifurcations and stenoses. With the

exception of a study on steady flow at the carotid bifurcation, most of the contributions make little more than lip service to any attempt to relate their work to biological reality.

I had mixed feelings when I had finished reading this book. Some of the contributions are unquestionably good. Some are poor. Most are interesting, but many leave the reader with a feeling that the authors, although adequately versed in the science of fluid mechanics, have little interest or knowledge of the biological problems which they are trying to help solve. Biofluid mechanics has become a popular field of endeavour, but this book does not persuade me that the effort is being expended usefully.

This book is probably a good one as an introduction to the various aspects of the subject. It will not, except for a few chapters, appeal to those already established in the field.

Cohn Roberts

COMPUTER IMAGE PROCESSING AND RECOGNITION

Ed. E.L. Hall

Academic Press, pp. 584, Q6.60

This book has the usual high quality of Academic Press publications: it looks good in the bookshelves and when handled. The format and production are excellent. The author sets out to provide a syste- matic introduction to the concepts and techniques for the computer analysis of images, based upon courses in image processing and pattern recogni- tion given by the author at universities in the USA. The explanations are aimed primarily at engineers and computer scientists who may need to design machines which perform an intelligent task based upon pictorial information. Some familiarity with the basic concepts of linear algebra, communica- tions theory, optics, Fourier analysis and probability theory is expected.

The structure covers all the essential subjects. Comm- encing with a very brief general introduction, the author provides an informative chapter on the for- mation of images, models for perceptual processing and computations for the perception of shapes and patterns. Then follows computer representation of images which deals with 3-D images and Z-D trans- forms. The use of spatial filtering for image enhance- ment is explained, together with techniques for image restoration. This leads naturally into methods for reconstruction from projections, including Fourier transforms, convolution, algebraic formula- tions and filter design. Techniques for the display of reconstructed images and their applications in radiography are described.

Digital TV systems, encoding and data compression are explained and the book concludes with techniques for scene analysis (segmentation, descriptions and their relationship) and scene recognition (decision rules and hierarchical search procedures).

Each chapter is provided with an extensive list of references to direct the reader who may require further information. There are also some problems, but no solutions are provided in the book; readers need to obtain a solution manual from the author.

The necessary topics for image processing and recog- nition are adequately covered by the author. Unfor- tunately, the subject is very mathematical and unless the reader is quite familiar with the necessary mathe- matical techniques, he will get very little from the book, as the equations cannot just be skipped over, they are an inherent part of the explanation. The extent can be assessed from the three pages of sym- bols listed at the outset. This completely mathe- matical expIa.nation of the subject may well be suit- able for the course as the students would presum- ably have had to acquire the necessary mathematical competence before starting. For a book aimed at practising engineers and computer scientists, a little more verbal explanation could perhaps have supple- mented the necessary mathematics.

Jack Perkins

74 J. Biomed. Engng. 1981, Vol. 3, January