"This comprehensive reference book covers non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), metabolic rates, and associated diseases. The book describes how the incidence of metabolic syndromes has reached epidemic levels worldwide due to dysregulation in energy balance. Various chapters deal with NST in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscles as well as implication of these mechanisms towards vertebrate evolution. It covers the role of NST in birds and wild animals, and muscle adaptation during hibernation. The book is meant for researchers and students of biochemistry, molecular medicine, and physiology. It is also useful to physicians and health care professionals"-- Provided by publisher.