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Adenosine Receptors in Health and Disease (Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology #193)
by Constance N. Wilson S. Jamal MustafaSince their discovery approximately 25 years ago, adenosine receptors have now emerged as important novel molecular targets in disease and drug discovery. These proteins play important roles in the entire spectrum of disease from inflammation to immune suppression. Because of their expression on a number of different cell types and in a number of different organ systems they play important roles in specific diseases, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sepsis, and obesity. As a result of intense investigations into understanding the molecular structures and pharmacology of these proteins, new molecules have been synthesized that have high specificity for these proteins and are now entering clinical trials. These molecules will define the next new classes of drugs for a number of diseases with unmet medical needs.
Advanced Biosignal Processing
by Amine Nait-AliThrough 17 chapters, this book presents the principle of many advanced biosignal processing techniques. After an important chapter introducing the main biosignal properties as well as the most recent acquisition techniques, it highlights five specific parts which build the body of this book. Each part concerns one of the most intensively used biosignals in the clinical routine, namely the Electrocardiogram (ECG), the Elektroenzephalogram (EEG), the Electromyogram (EMG) and the Evoked Potential (EP). In addition, each part gathers a certain number of chapters related to analysis, detection, classification, source separation and feature extraction. These aspects are explored by means of various advanced signal processing approaches, namely wavelets, Empirical Modal Decomposition, Neural networks, Markov models, Metaheuristics as well as hybrid approaches including wavelet networks, and neuro-fuzzy networks. The last part, concerns the Multimodal Biosignal processing, in which we present two different chapters related to the biomedical compression and the data fusion. Instead organising the chapters by approaches, the present book has been voluntarily structured according to signal categories (ECG, EEG, EMG, EP). This helps the reader, interested in a specific field, to assimilate easily the techniques dedicated to a given class of biosignals. Furthermore, most of signals used for illustration purpose in this book can be downloaded from the Medical Database for the Evaluation of Image and Signal Processing Algorithm. These materials assist considerably the user in evaluating the performances of their developed algorithms. This book is suited for final year graduate students, engineers and researchers in biomedical engineering and practicing engineers in biomedical science and medical physics.
Practical Signcryption
by Alexander W. Dent Moti Yung Yuliang ZhengIn today's world, data must be sent around the world cheaply and securely, and that requires origin authentication, integrity protection, and confidentiality - the recipient of a message should be able to ascertain who sent the message, be sure that the message has not been changed en route, and be sure that the data arrives without having been read by anyone else. The second editor invented signcryption, an area of cryptography that studies systems that simultaneously provide origin authentication, integrity protection and confidentiality for data. Signcryption schemes combine the features of digital signature schemes with those of public-key encryption schemes and aim to provide security guarantees in a way that is provably correct and significantly less computationally expensive than the "encrypt-then-sign" method most commonly adopted in public-key cryptography. This is the first comprehensive book on signcryption, and brings together leading authors from the field of cryptography in a discussion of the different methods for building efficient and secure signcryption schemes, and the ways in which these schemes can be used in practical systems. Chapters deal with the theory of signcryption, methods for constructing practical signcryption schemes, and the advantages of using such schemes in practical situations. The book will be of benefit to cryptography researchers, graduate students and practitioners.
Flying Insects and Robots
by Dario Floreano Jean-Christophe Zufferey Mandyam V. Srinivasan Charlie EllingtonFlying insects are intelligent micromachines capable of exquisite maneuvers in unpredictable environments. Understanding these systems advances our knowledge of flight control, sensor suites, and unsteady aerodynamics, which is of crucial interest to engineers developing intelligent flying robots or micro air vehicles (MAVs). The insights we gain when synthesizing bioinspired systems can in turn benefit the fields of neurophysiology, ethology and zoology by providing real-life tests of the proposed models. This book was written by biologists and engineers leading the research in this crossdisciplinary field. It examines all aspects of the mechanics, technology and intelligence of insects and insectoids. After introductory-level overviews of flight control in insects, dedicated chapters focus on the development of autonomous flying systems using biological principles to sense their surroundings and autonomously navigate. A significant part of the book is dedicated to the mechanics and control of flapping wings both in insects and artificial systems. Finally hybrid locomotion, energy harvesting and manufacturing of small flying robots are covered. A particular feature of the book is the depth on realization topics such as control engineering, electronics, mechanics, optics, robotics and manufacturing. This book will be of interest to academic and industrial researchers engaged with theory and engineering in the domains of aerial robotics, artificial intelligence, and entomology.
ABC of Pediatric Surgical Imaging
by Angus Alexander Tracy Kilborn Alastair J. Millar Savvas Andronikou Alan DanemanThis book has been designed to serve as a quick reference that will assist in decision making. The book is ordered alphabetically according to diagnoses. The intention is that the clinician consults the information on a suspected diagnosis, and then considers the listed surgical and radiological differential diagnoses. A total of 80 common diagnoses are covered. For each diagnosis, the left-hand page presents information relevant to the surgeon, while the right-hand page is designed for the radiologist. The information for the surgeon comprises clinical insights, including symptoms, warnings, controversies, other important facts, and the surgical differential diagnosis. The radiologist is provided with lists of the primary and follow-on investigations, the imaging findings, and helpful tips, as well as the radiological differential diagnosis. Informative supporting images are included for each diagnosis. The authors are all experts in their fields, with extensive practical experience.
Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome
by Wilfried MartensWilfried Martens - Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome Foreword by Angela Merkel Wilfried Martens has devoted his entire life to politics: as student leader, youth activist, President of the Flemish Christian Democrats, Prime Minister of Belgium, President of the European People's Party and European statesman. In his autobiography Martens offers the inside story on running a complex country like Belgium, fighting for European integration and unification, and transforming the European People's Party into a strong, united centre-right movement and leading European political family. Above all, this is a book about the intricacies of European politics and its guiding ideas, values and principles.
Managing Innovation in Japan
by Chihiro WatanabeWhy do some country's hi-tech firms innovate better than others? Why did hi-tech firms from the United States outperform such Japanese companies in the 1990s? Through a wealth of empirical evidence, the book compares the development trajectory of manufacturing technology and information technology both between Japanese companies and between companies based in the US, Europe, Australia, India and China. This book shows that institutional systems such as culture, tradition, consumers and local business practices play key roles in how companies develop technology. These factors also influence the very characteristics of the products that the hi-tech firms produce. With a number of case studies the author demonstrates how the most successful and innovative companies recognize these roles and incorporate them into their practices.
Praxisorientierte Unternehmensplanung mit harten und weichen Daten
by Alexander ZimmermannDie Bedeutung der strategischen Planung nimmt in dem Maße zu, wie Unternehmen durch Fusionen, Zu- und Verkäufe komplexer werden. Heute versammeln nicht nur Großunternehmen, sondern zunehmend auch Mittelständler 30 - 150 eigenständige Geschäftseinheiten unter einem Dach. Um unter diesen Bedingungen eine Gesamtstrategie zu erarbeiten, wurde eine Strategieplattform entwickelt, die von namhaften Unternehmen wie Siemens eingesetzt wird. Die Autoren stellen das strategische Informationssystem in mehreren Best-Practice-Beispielen anwenderorientiert vor.
CT of the Acute Abdomen (Medical Radiology)
by Patrice TaourelCT of the Acute Abdomen provides a comprehensive account of the use of CT in patients with acute abdomen. Recent important developments in CT, including multislice CT and multiplanar reconstructions, receive particular attention. CT features are clearly illustrated, and pitfalls and differential diagnoses are discussed. The first section of the book presents epidemiological and clinical data in acute abdomen. The second and third sections document the key CT findings and their significance and discuss the technological background. The fourth and fifth sections, which form the main body of the book, examine in detail the various clinical applications of CT in nontraumatic and traumatic acute abdomen. This book will serve as an ideal guide to the performance and interpretation of CT in the setting of the acute abdomen; it will be of value to all general and gastrointestinal radiologists, as well as emergency room physicians and gastrointestinal surgeons.
Plant-Environment Interactions
by František BaluškaOur image of plants is changing dramatically away from passive entities merely subject to environmental forces and organisms that are designed solely for the accumulation of photosynthate. Plants are revealing themselves to be dynamic and highly sensitive organisms that actively and competitively forage for limited resources, both above and below ground, organisms that accurately gauge their circumstances, use sophisticated cost-benefit analysis, and take clear actions to mitigate and control diverse environmental threats. Moreover, plants are also capable of complex recognition of self and non-self and are territorial in behavior. They are as sophisticated in behavior as animals but their potential has been masked because it operates on time scales many orders of magnitude less than those of animals. Plants are sessile organisms. As such, the only alternative to a rapidly changing environment is rapid adaptation. This book will focus on all these new and exciting aspects of plant biology.
Signaling in Plants
by Stefano Mancuso František BaluškaThis book addresses diverse aspects of signaling at all levels of plant organization, starting from single molecules; through vesicle recycling and organelles, dynamic actin cytoskeletons, and plant organs bending in response to sensory stimuli induced by abiotic cues such as gravity and light; up to the whole organism as related to its circadian clock or pathogen defense. Emphasis is placed on the integrative aspects of signaling, which foster our understanding of sensory and communicative plants in all their complexity.
Marketing: Eine Einführung auf der Grundlage von Case Studies (Springer-Lehrbuch)
by Gianfranco Walsh Thomas Kilian Alexander DesenissDieses Lehrbuch richtet sich an alle, die sich fundiert in das Thema Marketing einarbeiten wollen, dabei aber nicht auf anschauliche Praxisbeispiele verzichten möchten. Das Buch führt grundlegend und systematisch in die Konzepte, Methoden und Abläufe des Marketing ein und bietet einen kompakten Überblick über das gesamte Stoffgebiet. Darüber hinaus enthält jedes Hauptkapitel eine aktuelle Fallstudie, die den Kapitelinhalt anschaulich auf ein Praxisbeispiel anwendet. Mit dieser Case-Study-Methode werden konkrete, managementbezogene Phänomene praxisnah beschrieben und problemorientiert analysiert. Neben den klassischen Lehrbuchinhalten (strategisches und operatives Marketing) enthält das Buch Kapitel zum Konsumentenverhalten und zu spezifischen Marketingbereichen wie Dienstleistungs- und Online-Marketing. Dozentenfolien, Kontrollaufgaben und Lösungshinweise finden sich als "Extras im Web".
Handbook of Diesel Engines
by Krister G. Johnson Helmut Tschöke Klaus MollenhauerThe diesel engine continues to be the most cost-effective internal combustion engine for motor vehicles as well as road and nonroad engine applications. The diesel engine is superior to all other drive engines in terms of flexibility, performance, emissions and ruggedness, particularly in the context of the current CO2 discussions. The intensive search for alternative drive concepts, e. g. hybrid or purely electric drives, has demonstrated the indispensability of diesel engines for cost-effective long-distance operation and wherever energy carriers have high energy densities, i. e. fuel storage capacities are limited. This English edition of the Handbook of Diesel Engines provides a comprehensive overview of diesel engines of all sizes from small single cylinder engines up to large two-stroke marine engines. The handbook is geared toward experts working in research and development and industry as well as students studying engineering, mechatronics, electrical engineering or electronics.
Real Estate und Facility Management
by Lars Schöne Norbert PreußDie Autoren behandeln die Anforderungen an ein modernes Management im Sinne eines integrativen Ansatzes: vom Portfolio- und Property Management über die Projektentwicklung und das Projektmanagement bis hin zum Facility Management. Strategien und Methoden werden detailliert dargelegt. Aus der Praxis für die Praxis geschrieben, wendet sich das Buch an Consultants und Entscheider der Bau- und Immobilienwirtschaft, die an der Optimierung des Immobilienmanagements unter Rendite-, Risiko-, Kosten- und Nutzengesichtspunkten interessiert sind.
Bau-Bionik: Natur - Analogien - Technik
by Göran Pohl Werner NachtigallBionik befasst sich mit der technischen Umsetzung und Anwendung von Konstruktionen, Verfahren und Entwicklungsprinzipien biologischer Systeme. Beispiele aus der Natur liefern Anregungen zur Entwicklung neuer L#65533;sungen, wie etwa bei thermischen L#65533;ftungssystemen, die sich am Beispiel von Termitenbauten orientieren. Der Band bietet Lesern Gelegenheit, Grundideen der Natur kreativ f#65533;r eigene L#65533;sungen zu nutzen. Daf#65533;r erl#65533;utern die Autoren zahlreiche Beispiele und deren Wirkprinzipien.
Strukturdynamik
by Robert Liebich Klaus Knothe Robert GaschDas Buch behandelt diskrete schwingungsfähige Systeme und beschreibt Analyseverfahren und Algorithmen zur Aufstellung von Bewegungsdifferentialgleichungen allgemeiner linearer Mehrkörpersysteme. Die Neuauflage vereint die Bände "Strukturdynamik I und II" (Gasch/Knothe) und legt im Bereich der numerischen Behandlung von Schwingungssystemen den Schwerpunkt auf die industrielle Anwendung. Das Buch wurde als Lehrbuch für Hochschulen und Fachhochschulen konzipiert, eignet sich aber auch zum Selbststudium für Ingenieure in Forschung und Industrie.
Softwareentwicklung von Telematikdiensten
by Grit Behrens Volker Kuz Ralph BehrensDas Buch vermittelt einen Einstieg in die Software-Entwicklung von Telematikdiensten mit einem Eclipse-Plugin für das Common Service Framework (Open Source). Ziel ist es, Nutzer dazu zu befähigen, internetbasierte Telematikdienste selbst zu programmieren. Begleitend zum Buch steht ein Internetportal bereit, wo Beispielapplikationen demonstriert, getestet oder weiter entwickelt werden können. Es gibt des Weiteren Einblick in die Hintergründe und die weltweiten Zukunftsentwicklungen auf dem rasant anwachsenden Gebiet der Telematikdienste.
Behavioral Neurobiology of the Endocannabinoid System (Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences #1)
by Stephen Alexander Dave KendallThe endocannabinoid signaling system is one of the key modulators of central nervous function. This volume provides timely and in-depth coverage of the roles of the endocannabinoid signaling system in the neurobiology of behavior. It is essential reading for any researcher with a background in neuroscience wanting to know more about the endocannabinoids.
Building Automation: Communication systems with EIB/KNX, LON and BACnet (Signals and Communication Technology)
by Christof Hübner James Backer Leena Greefe Thomas Hansemann Viktoriya Moser Hermann MerzModern buildings are increasingly equipped with actuators and sensors, communication, visualization and control systems. This textbook provides an overview of industrial communication systems and stimulates a basic understanding of network and bus systems for the automation of buildings. After an introduction to EIB/KNX, LON und BACnet technologies, the authors illustrate how these systems can be utilized for specific applications, like air conditioning or illumination. This book assumes only a basic knowledge of mathematics and thanks to its simple explanations and many examples is ideal for students and professional engineers who require practical solutions.
Engineering of Stem Cells
by Ulrich MartinThis text covers all aspects of this modern biotechnology in which knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science.
Investment Management
by Chandrasekhar Krishnamurti Ramanna VishwanathSound investment decisions require an in-depth knowledge of the financial markets and available financial instruments. This book provides students and professionals with an understanding of the role and activities of an equity security analyst within the investment process. Emphasis is on understanding the process of analyzing companies; the valuation process; and the challenges of achieving success in a highly competitive capital market. The authors present a comprehensive compendium on the financial theory, the empirical evidence and the mathematical tools that form the underlying principles of investment decisions.
Fluid Dynamics of Packed Columns
by Claudia Hall Jerzy MackowiakThis book provides support to engineers as well as graduate students in their daily design work within the industry or for the development of new plants. It investigates the key issues relating to the fluid dynamic design of packed columns used in rectification, absorption and stripping (desorption) under vacuum, normal pressure and up to 100 bar and liquid-liquid-extraction, which are relevant in waste air and wastewater technology. The author presents a standardised model, which is valid for any type of packing and can be used to calculate the gas velocity at flooding point as well as the liquid hold-up and the pressure drop throughout the entire operating range for random packings, stacked packings elements, tube columns and structured packings with different flow channel angles. The book also contains packing parameter data for approx. 200 random and structured packings. In addition to outlining the fundamental principles of fluid dynamics, it presents numerous examples of practical application.
Identification and Characterization of Neural Progenitor Cells in the Adult Mammalian Brain
by Sara Gil-Perotín Jose Manuel Garcia-Verdugo Arturo Alvarez-BuyllaAdult neurogenesis has been questioned for many years. In the early 1900s, a dogma was established that denied new neuron formation in the adult brain. In the last century however, new discoveries have demonstrated the real existence of proliferation in the adult brain, and in the last decade, these studies led to the identification of neural stem cells in mammals. Adult neural stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are present in the adult brain and are capable of dividing and differentiating into glia and new neurons. Newly formed neurons terminally differentiate into mature neurons in the olfactory bulb and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Since then, a number of new research lines have emerged whose common objective is the phenotypical and molecular characterization of brain stem cells. As a result, new therapies are successfully being applied to animal models for certain neurodegenerative diseases or stroke. At present, and in years to come, this finding extends to the adult human brain, and gives reason and hope to all the previous studies.
Sports Injuries in Children and Adolescents
by Apostolos H. KarantanasThe incidence of acute and overuse sports injuries in children and adolescents are increasing. Radiologists need to be familiar with the advantages and limitations of the various imaging modalities used to evaluate the injured young athlete. This book, written by leading experts from Europe and the United States, covers a wide spectrum of sports injuries seen in children and adolescents. The first part comprises a series of introductory chapters on topics such as the clinician's viewpoint, normal anatomy and variants, the imaging of articular cartilage, and the current role of ultrasonography. In subsequent chapters, each important site of injury is considered individually with the aid of informative images. The final part of the book resembles an atlas and presents the most commonly encountered injuries in the popular sports of football, skiing, water sports, tennis, and gymnastics. Throughout, particular attention is paid to the most recent advances in knowledge and imaging.
Arc-Continent Collision (Frontiers in Earth Sciences)
by Dennis Brown Paul D. RyanArc-continent collision has been one of the important tectonic processes in the formation of mountain belts throughout geological time, and it continues to be so today along tectonically active plate boundaries such as those in the SW Pacific or the Caribbean. Arc-continent collision is thought to have been one of the most important process involved in the growth of the continental crust over geological time, and may also play an important role in its recycling back into the mantle via subduction. Understanding the geological processes that take place during arc-continent collision is therefore of importance for our understanding of how collisional orogens evolve and how the continental crust grows or is destroyed. Furthermore, zones of arc-continent collision are producers of much of the worlds primary economic wealth in the form of minerals, so understanding the processes that take place during these tectonic events is of importance in modeling how this mineral wealth is formed and preserved. This book brings together seventeen papers that are dedicated to the investigation of the tectonic processes that take place during arc-continent collision. It is divided into four sections that deal firstly with the main players involved in any arc-continent collision; the continental margin, the subduction zone, and finally the volcanic arc and its mineral deposits. The second section presents eight examples of arc-continent collisions that range from being currently active through to Palaeoproterozoic in age. The third section contains two papers, one that deals with the obduction of large-slab ophiolites and a second that presents a wide range of physical models of arc-continent collision. The fourth section brings everything that comes before together into a discussion of the processes of arc-continent collision.