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Advances in Elastomers I: Blends and Interpenetrating Networks (Advanced Structured Materials #11)
by Sabu Thomas P. M. Visakh Aji. P. Mathew Arup K. ChandraThis is the first volume of a two-volume work which summarizes in an edited format and in a fairly comprehensive manner many of the recent technical research accomplishments in the area of Elastomers. "Advances in Elastomers" discusses the various attempts reported on solving these problems from the point of view of the chemistry and the structure of elastomers, highlighting the drawbacks and advantages of each method. It summarize the importance of elastomers and their multiphase systems in human life and industry, and covers all the topics related to recent advances in elastomers, their blends, IPNs, composites and nanocomposites. This first volume focuses on advances on the blends and interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of elastomers.
Cloud Computing: Web-Based Dynamic IT Services (Informatik Im Fokus Ser.)
by Christian Baun Stefan Tai Marcel Kunze Jens NimisCloud computing is a buzz-word in today's information technology (IT) that nobody can escape. But what is really behind it? There are many interpretations of this term, but no standardized or even uniform definition. Instead, as a result of the multi-faceted viewpoints and the diverse interests expressed by the various stakeholders, cloud computing is perceived as a rather fuzzy concept. With this book, the authors deliver an overview of cloud computing architecture, services, and applications. Their aim is to bring readers up to date on this technology and thus to provide a common basis for discussion, new research, and novel application scenarios. They first introduce the foundation of cloud computing with its basic technologies, such as virtualization and Web services. After that they discuss the cloud architecture and its service modules. The following chapters then cover selected commercial cloud offerings (including Amazon Web Services and Google App Engine) and management tools, and present current related open-source developments (including Hadoop, Eucalyptus, and Open CirrusTM). Next, economic considerations (cost and business models) are discussed, and an evaluation of the cloud market situation is given. Finally, the appendix contains some practical examples of how to use cloud resources or cloud applications, and a glossary provides concise definitions of key terms. The authors' presentation does not require in-depth technical knowledge. It is equally intended as an introduction for students in software engineering, web technologies, or business development, for professional software developers or system architects, and for future-oriented decision-makers like top executives and managers.
Reactivity Tuning in Oligosaccharide Assembly
by Bert Fraser-Reid J. Cristóbal LópezArmed-Disarmed Effects in Carbohydrate Chemistry: History, Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies, by Bert Fraser-Reid and J. Cristóbal López * A Survey of Ley's Reactivity Tuning in Oligosaccharide Synthesis, by Ana M. Gómez * "Active-Latent" Thioglycosyl Donors and Acceptors in Oligosaccharide Syntheses, by Tze Chieh Shiao and René Roy * Effect of Electron-Withdrawing Protecting Groups at Remote Positions of Donors on Glycosylation Stereochemistry, by Kwan Soo Kim and Dae-Hwan Suk * Influence of Protecting Groups on the Reactivity and Selectivity of Glycosylation: Chemistry of the 4,6-O-Benzylidene Protected Mannopyranosyl Donors and Related Species, by Sylvain Aubry, Kaname Sasaki, Indrajeet Sharma and David Crich * Superarmed and Superdisarmed Building Blocks in Expeditious Oligosaccharide Synthesis, by Hemali D. Premathilake and Alexei V. Demchenko * Programmable One-Pot Glycosylation, by Chung -Yi Wu and Chi -Huey Wong * Uronic Acids in Oligosaccharide and Glycoconjugate Synthesis, by Jeroen D. C. Codée, Alphert E. Christina, Marthe T. C. Walvoort, Herman S. Overkleeft and Gijsbert A. van der Marel
Bispecific Antibodies
by Roland E. KontermannThe concept of using bispecific antibodies for cancer therapy by retargeting immune effector cells was developed several years ago. Initial clinical studies were rather disappointing mainly due to low efficacy, severe side effects and the immunogenicity of the bispecific antibodies. The progress in antibody engineering finally led to the generation of new classes of bispecific antibodies lacking these obstacles. In addition, new applications were established, such as pre-targeting strategies in radioimmunotherapy and dual targeting approaches in order to improve binding, selectivity and efficacy. In this book, the different ways of generating bispecific antibodies are described, with emphasis on recombinant formats. The various applications of bispecific antibodies, e.g. in cellular cancer immunotherapy, radioimmunotherapy and pretargeting strategies are covered, and emerging applications such as dual targeting strategies, which involve the simultaneous inhibition of two targets, are addressed.
Defining Democracy: Voting Procedures in Decision-Making, Elections and Governance
by Peter EmersonDefining Democracy looks both at the theory of why and the history of how different voting procedures have come to be used - or not, as the case may be - in the three fields of democratic structures: firstly, in decision-making, both in society at large and in the elected chamber; secondly, in elections to and within those chambers; and thirdly, in the various forms of governance, from no-party to multi-party and all-party, which have emerged as a result.
Collaboration Engineering: IT-gestützte Zusammenarbeitsprozesse systematisch entwickeln und durchführen
by Jan Marco LeimeisterIn Zeiten verteilter Wertschöpfungsstrukturen spielt die effektive Zusammenarbeit eine entscheidende Rolle im Kampf um Wettbewerbsvorteile. Diese Zusammenarbeit in Form von übertragbaren Prozessen zu gestalten, ist Kern des Collaboration Engineerings. Das Buch liefert einen umfassenden, auch für den Laien verständlichen Einblick in die Konzepte und Methoden, Werkzeuge und Anwendungen computerunterstützter Zusammenarbeit und betrachtet ihre Potenziale und Perspektiven. Ein Lehrbuch für Studierende und zugleich Handbuch für Entwickler und Anwender.
Achtsamkeit und Wahrnehmung in Gesundheitsfachberufen
by Simone SchmidtIn diesem ersten Buch zur Achtsamkeit für Gesundheitsfachberufe werden Lösungsmöglichkeiten für alltägliche Stresssituationen angeboten, die die soziale Wahrnehmung im Umgang mit Patienten, Angehörigen und Kollegen gezielt schulen. Diese Techniken werden anhand von Praxisbeispielen erläutert, so dass Leser diese schnell erlernen und umsetzen können. Geeignet ist das Buch außerdem für Leiter von Fortbildungen oder Teamsitzungen, die die Achtung der Mitarbeiter vor dem Gegenüber aber auch vor sich selbst, verbessern möchten.
The Economics of Tourism Destinations
by Guido Candela Paolo FiginiThe book aims at providing an overview of the main economic issues related to tourism activities. While tourism is an important sector, contributing to more than 10% of the European Union's GDP, research and teaching at the university level has only recently grown to a considerable level, and the field still lacks a firm research methodology. This book approaches tourism economics as an applied field of study in which tourism markets are represented as imperfect markets, with asymmetric and incomplete information among agents, bounded rationality, and with a strong presence of externalities and public goods. The economic issues studied in the book are approached both intuitively, largely using examples and case studies, and formally, with mathematical formalizations in text boxes.
Production-oriented and Comprehension-based Grammar Teaching in the Foreign Language Classroom
by Mirosław Pawlak Anna Mystkowska-WiertelakThe book addresses one of the key controversies in teaching foreign language grammar, which is the utility of production-oriented instruction, as exemplified in the PPP sequence, and comprehension-based teaching, as implemented in interpretation tasks and processing instruction. It provides a thorough overview of issues related to learning and teaching grammar, with a particular focus on input-oriented approaches, and reports the findings of four studies which sought to compare their effects with instruction based on different forms of output practice. The findings serve as a basis for guidelines on how the two options can be successfully combined in the classroom
New Perspectives on Individual Differences in Language Learning and Teaching
by Mirosław PawlakThe volume constitutes an attempt to capture the intricate relationship between individual learner differences and other variables which are of interest to theorists, researchers and practitioners representing such diverse branches of applied linguistics as psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics or language teaching methodology. It brings together contributions by Polish and international authors, including leading experts in the field, touching upon changing perspectives on individual variation, cognitive, affective and social variables, learning deficits as well as their impact on learning and teaching. It offers a multifaceted perspective on these problems and shows how theory and research can be translated into classroom practice.
Probiotics
by Min-Tze LiongProbiotic microorganisms have a long history of use, and their health benefits for hosts are well documented. This Microbiology Monographs volume provides an overview of the current knowledge and applications of probiotics. Reviews cover the biology and probiotic potential of the thoroughly studied prokaryotic genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, several eukaryotic microorganisms, probiotic strain characterization, and the analytical methods (such as FISH, microarray, and high throughput sequencing) required for their study. Further chapters describe the positive effects of probiotics on malabsorption disorders such as diarrhea and lactose intolerance, and document the clinical evidence of benefits in treating allergies and lung emphysema, and in dermatological applications. Also addresses are topics such as genetically engineered strains, new carriers for probiotics, protection techniques, challenges of health claims, safety aspects, and future market trends.
Coding and Decoding of Calcium Signals in Plants (Signaling and Communication in Plants #10)
by Sheng LuanPlants cannot move away from their environments. As a result, all plants that have survived to date have evolved sophisticated signaling mechanisms that allow them to perceive, respond, and adapt to constantly changing environmental conditions. Among the many cellular processes that respond to environmental changes, elevation of calcium levels is by far the most universal messenger that matches primary signals to cellular responses. Yet it remains unclear how calcium, a simple cation, translates so many different signals into distinct responses - how is the "specificity" of signal-response coupling encoded within the calcium changes? This book will attempt to answer this question by describing the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the coding and decoding of calcium signals in plant cells.
Emerging Fraud
by Samuel O Idowu Kiymet ÇaliyurtFraud has become a challenging phenomena affecting economies worldwide. Anti-fraud measures are an integral part of today's management practices and have found their way into business education. Yet in developing countries these topics have long been neglected and only limited research has been conducted in this area. This book fills an essential gap by analyzing the impact of fraud on developing economies, describing successful anti-fraud methods and featuring cases that exemplify the measures described. The book features contributions by outstanding experts in the field and is intended for academic readers with a special interest in fraud research.
Virtual Worlds and Criminality
by Dieter Hermann Kai Cornelius, LL.M.The fusion between virtuality and reality has created a new quality of experience establishing metaverses and virtual worlds. Second Life, Twinity, Entropia Universe or Fregger have experienced rapid growth in recent years and show no signs of slowing down. Not only have countless companies discovered these "virtureal worlds" as marketplaces, but so have fraudsters and other criminals. In this book, European experts from different academic disciplines show how to meet the new challenges arising from virtual worlds. They discuss the reasons for and the impacts of these new forms of criminality as well as the necessity and means of combating them. Moreover, other fundamental issues are examined, such as the addictive potential of virtual-world use, media violence, and conflict resolution problems arising in the context of virtual worlds.
Numerical Methods for the Life Scientist
by Heino PrinzEnzyme kinetics, binding kinetics and pharmacological dose-response curves are currently analyzed by a few standard methods. Some of these, like Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics, use plausible approximations, others, like Hill equations for dose-response curves, are outdated. Calculating realistic reaction schemes requires numerical mathematical routines which usually are not covered in the curricula of life science. This textbook will give a step-by-step introduction to numerical solutions of non-linear and differential equations. It will be accompanied with a set of programs to calculate any reaction scheme on any personal computer. Typical examples from analytical biochemistry and pharmacology can be used as versatile templates. When a reaction scheme is applied for data fitting, the resulting parameters may not be unique. Correlation of parameters will be discussed and simplification strategies will be offered.
Chromium -VI Reagents: Synthetic Applications (SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science)
by P. S. Raghavan S. SundaramChromic acid and chromium oxide are the two versatile Cr(VI) oxidants known to organic chemists for decades. The introduction of the Core's reagent , viz: pyridinium chlorochromate, in 1975 followed by the publications on several Cr(VI) oxidizing agents containing the -onium chromates and halochromates in the last three decades have very much changed the chemistry of oxidations with Chromium VI. Several of these new reagents have been shown to be mild so that they can be handled easily and the reacton products may also be controlled. Some of them are highly selective oxidants for positions like allylic hydroxylic group, etc., and some other are highly regioselective. The information on more than 36 such reagents reported in various internationally reputed journals spanning about 280 references have been collected and provided in this book in such a manner that it will be very useful for professionals, researchers, teachers and graduate students working in organic synthesis.
Repetitorium Notfallmedizin: Zur Vorbereitung auf die Prüfung "Notfallmedizin"
by Rolf Rossaint Jörg Christian BrokmannDas Werk liefert die wesentlichen Fakten zum Thema übersichtlich und praxisnah dargestellt. Die Inhalte orientieren sich an der Zusatz-Weiterbildung "Notfallmedizin" und an den aktuellen Leitlinien notfallmedizinischer Fachgesellschaften. Das Buch eignet sich sowohl zur Prüfungsvorbereitung der Zusatzbezeichnung als auch zum schnellen Nachschlagen rund um den Notfalleinsatz. Die 3. Auflage erscheint komplett aktualisiert und erweitert, u.a. zu den Themen Telenotarzt, nichtinvasive Beatmung, taktische Medizin, präklinische Beatmung, Analgosedierung und Narkose im Rettungsdienst. Besonderes Praxis-Plus: eBook inside – kostenloser Download des eBooks inklusive
Active tectonics of the Hellenic subduction zone (Springer Theses)
by Beth ShawThis thesis is remarkable for the wide range of the techniques and observations used and for its insights, which cross several disciplines. It begins by solving a famous puzzle of the ancient world, which is what was responsible for the tsunami that destroyed settlements in the eastern Mediterranean in 365 AD. By radiocarbon dating of preserved marine organisms, Shaw demonstrates that the whole of western Crete was lifted out of the sea by up to 10 meters in a massive earthquake at that time, which occured on a previously unknown fault. The author shows that the resulting tsunami would have the characteristics described by ancient writers, and uses modern GPS measurements and coastline geomorphology to show that the strain build-up near Crete requires such a tsunami-earthquake about every 6.000 years - a major insight into Mediterranean tsunami hazard. A detailed seismological study of earthquakes in the Cretan arc over the last 50 years reveals other important features of its behaviour that were previously unknown. Finally, she provides fundamental insights into the limitations of radiocarbon dating marine organisms, relating to how they secrete carbon into their skeletons. The thesis resulted in three major papers in top journals.
Telemedicine in Dermatology
by Michael Binder Elisabeth M.T. Wurm Hans Peter Soyer Anthony C. SmithWritten by leading teledermatologists and telemedicine experts, this hands-on guide addresses the practical needs of the many emerging teledermatology services worldwide. It covers the medical and technical prerequisites for such services as well as the photographic imaging essentials. It also illustrates the performance of teledermatology by means of clinical examples, discusses teledermatology in underdeveloped countries, and presents specialized methods of teledermatology. The impact of telemedicine on the doctor-patient relationship is explored, and the advantages that accrue from improving access to expert knowledge are explained. In addition, quality assurance, legal assumptions, economic aspects, and the future horizons of such health care services are all considered. A comprehensive appendix provides information on training opportunities, sample protocols, consent forms, information sheets, references, and relevant web links.
Advanced Protocols for Animal Transgenesis: An ISTT Manual (Springer Protocols Handbooks)
by Shirley Pease and Thomas L. SaundersThis laboratory manual, published in cooperation with the International Society for Transgenic Technology (ISTT), provides almost all current methods that can be applied to the creation and analysis of genetically modified animals. The chapters have been contributed by leading scientists who are actively using the technology in their laboratories. Based on their first-hand experience the authors also provide helpful notes and troubleshooting sections. Topics range from standard techniques, such as pronuclear microinjection of DNA, to more sophisticated and modern methods, such as the derivation and establishment of embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, with defined inhibitors in cell culture medium. In addition, related topics with relevance to the field are addressed, including global web-based resources, legal issues, colony management, shipment of mice and embryos, and the three R’s: refinement, reduction and replacement.
Das Projektmanagement-Office: Einführung und Nutzen
by Gerhard Ortner Betina SturIn projektorientierten Unternehmen spielen Projektmanagement-Offices (PMO) eine immer wichtigere, manchmal sogar zentrale Rolle, wenn es darum geht, die Projektmanagementaktivitäten des Unternehmens zielgerichtet und effizient auszurichten. Dabei entstehen unternehmensspezifisch Organisationen mit teilweise recht unterschiedlichen Aufgaben, Funktionen und organisatorischen Rahmenbedingungen. Das Buch soll einen kompakten Überblick über die Möglichkeiten, die ein PMO bietet und die Ausprägungen, wie es implementiert werden kann, geben.
Suchmaschinen
by Sonja Monika QuirmbachDie Optimierung der Usability und User Experience einer Suchmaschine ist Basis für die erfolgreiche Entwicklung von Websites. In dem Buch wird gezeigt, welche Methoden eingesetzt werden, um den Suchprozess zu optimieren, wo typische Probleme auftreten und wie sich diese auf die User Experience auswirken. Das Buch leistet Hilfestellung bei Live-Tests mit verschiedenen Versionen, bei der wirtschaftlichen Betrachtung und der Erstellung von Reports mit Web Analytics. Best-Practice-Beispiele helfen sowohl Einsteigern als auch Experten bei der Umsetzung.
Is this Cell a Human Being?
by Antoine Suarez Joachim HuarteThe central question of this book is whether or not particular cell entities of human origin ought to be considered human beings. The answer is crucial for making moral decisions for or against research and experimentation. Experts in the field discuss the production of embryonic-like pluripotent stem cells by altered nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis and reprogramming of adult somatic cells. They thoroughly analyse the biological and moral status of different cell entities, such as human stem cells, embryos and human-animal hybrid embryos, and make a decisive step towards establishing final criteria for what constitutes a human being. The topic is challenging in nature and of broad interest to all those concerned with current bioethical thought on embryonic human life and its implications for society.
Small Supernumerary Marker Chromosomes (sSMC)
by Thomas Liehr UniqueHuman beings normally have a total of 46 chromosomes, with each chromosome present twice, apart from the X and Y chromosomes in males. Some three million people worldwide, however, have 47 chromosomes: they have a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) in addition to the 46 normal ones. This sSMC can originate from any one of the 24 human chromosomes and can have different shapes. Approximately one third of sSMC carriers show clinical symptoms, while the remaining two thirds manifest no phenotypic effects. This guide represents the first book ever published on this topic. It presents the latest research results on sSMC and current knowledge about the genotype-phenotype correlation. The focus is on genetic diagnostics as well as on prenatal and fertility-related genetic counseling. A unique feature is that research meets practice: numerous patient reports complement the clinical aspects and depict the experiences of families living with a family member with an sSMC.
Evolutionary Biology – Concepts, Biodiversity, Macroevolution and Genome Evolution
by Pierre PontarottiThe annual Evolutionary Biology Meetings in Marseilles serve to gather leading scientists, promote the exchange of ideas and encourage the formation of international collaborations. This book contains the most essential contributions presented at the 14th Evolutionary Biology Meeting, which took place in September 2010. It comprises 19 chapters organized according to the following categories: · Evolutionary Biology Concepts · Biodiversity and Evolution · Macroevolution · Genome Evolution Offering an up-to-date overview of recent results in the field of evolutionary biology, this book is an invaluable source of information for scientists, teachers and advanced students.