Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Plants
Use of medicinal plants is as old as human civilization and continuous efforts are being made to improve medicinal plants or produce their products in high amounts through various technologies. About 200,000 natural products of plant origin are known and many more are being identifed from higher plants and microorganisms. Some plant-based drugs have been used for centuries and there is no alternative medicine for many drugs, such as cardiac glycosides. However, natural products research was sidelined to pave the way for com- natorial chemistry, which was expected to produce large numbers of synthetic compounds for high-throughput screening (HTS). This line of work has failed to deliver desirable results. Moreover, it is not possible for all pharmaceutical companies and institutions to adopt costly HTS technology. Therefore, medi- nal plants and their bioactive molecules are always in demand and are a central point of research. While planning this book, we endeavored to incorporate - ticles that cover the entire gamut of current medicinal plants research.
Beyond Kyoto : A new global climate certificate system : Continuing Kyoto commitsments or a global ´Cap and Trade´ scheme for a sustainable climate policy?
This book shows how humankind can ‘prevent dangerous interference with the c- mate system’ without dangerous interference with the global economic system. In the two underlying studies on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Transport of i the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, the results have been elaborated through scientific evaluation of different climate protection systems and intensive developmental work on an efficient climate protection system. The results will be presented in nine chapters according to the following nine basic R&D steps: 1. Quantifying the ‘ultimate climate objective’ of the world community in order ‘to prevent dangerous interference with the climate system,’ thus achieving climate sustainability; 2. Development of a comprehensive standard system for evaluating the prospect of success for different climate protection systems; 3. Based on this scientific standard system, evaluation of the current Kyoto system and of the most important proposals for ‘incremental regime evolution’ of the Kyoto system. Unfortunately, it must be noted that these systems are incapable of achi- ing climate sustainability; 4. Evaluating three proposals for ‘structural regime change’ of the Kyoto system. Following this objective evaluation process and numeric comparison of the diff- ent proposals, 5. Description of the eight basic elements of GCCS and its in-depth ‘critical asse- ment;’ 6.
Beyond knowledge : The legacy of competence : Meaningful computer-based learning environments
The edited and peer reviewed volume presents selected papers of the conference "Beyond knowlegde: the legacy of competence" It reflects the current state-of-the-art work of scholars worldwide within the area of learning and instruction with computers. Mainly, areas of computer-based learning environments supporting competence-focused knowledge acquisition but also foundational scientific work are addressed. More specific, contents cover cognitive processes in hypermedia and multimedia learning, social issues in computer-supported collaborative learning, motivation and emotion in Blended Learning and e-Learning.
Berufliche passagen im lebenslauf : berufsbildungs- und transitionsforschung in der Schweiz = Vocational passages in the CV : Vocational training and transition research in Switzerland
During the transition from school to work, important groundwork is laid that prepares the further course of a person's life. In addition, this volume presents new results from diverse transition research from all over Switzerland, which are based on various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, educational sciences or educational economics. For this purpose, theoretical foundations and empirical evidence for the analysis and control of significant passages in the life course are developed.
Bernoulli potential in superconductors : How the electrostatic field helps to understand superconductivity
The motion of electrons in superconductors seems to defy our imagination based on daily experience with Newtonian mechanics. This book shows that the classical concepts, such as the balance of forces acting on electrons, are useful for understanding superconductivity. The electrostatic field plays a natural part in this balance as it mediates forces between electrons at long distances. Due to its classical interpretation, the theory presented in this book is suitable for introductory courses.
Benchmarking, Temporal Distribution, and Reconciliation Methods for Time Series
This book discusses the statistical methods most often applied for such adjustments, ranging from ad hoc procedures to regression-based models. The latter are emphasized, because of their clarity, ease of application, and superior results. Each topic is illustrated with many real case examples. In order to facilitate understanding of their properties and limitations of the methods discussed, a real data example, the Canada Total Retail Trade Series, is followed throughout the book.This book brings together the scattered literature on these topics and presents them using a consistent notation and a unifying view.
Bayesian reliability
Bayesian Reliability presents modern methods and techniques for analyzing reliability data from a Bayesian perspective. The adoption and application of Bayesian methods in virtually all branches of science and engineering have significantly increased over the past few decades. This increase is largely due to advances in simulation-based computational tools for implementing Bayesian methods. The authors extensively use such tools throughout this book, focusing on assessing the reliability of components and systems with particular attention to hierarchical models and models incorporating explanatory variables. Such models include failure time regression models, accelerated testing models, and degradation models. The authors pay special attention to Bayesian goodness-of-fit testing, model validation, reliability test design, and assurance test planning. Throughout the book, the authors use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms for implementing Bayesian analyses--algorithms that make the Bayesian approach to reliability computationally feasible and conceptually straightforward.
Basic bundle theory and K-Cohomology invariants
Based on several recent courses given to mathematical physics students, this volume is an introduction to bundle theory with the aim to provide newcomers to the field with solid foundations in topological K-theory. A fundamental theme, emphasized in the book, centers around the gluing of local bundle data related to bundles into a global object. One renewed motivation for studying this subject, which has developed for almost 50 years in many directions, comes from quantum field theory, especially string theory, where topological invariants play an important role.
Baseband Analog Circuits for Software Defined Radio
Baseband Analog Circuits for Software Defined Radio aims to describe the transition towards a Software Radio from the analog design perspective. A complete overview of the actual state-of-art for reconfigurable transceivers is given in detail, focusing on the challenges imposed by flexibility in analog design.
Barriers and Biases in Computer-Mediated Knowledge Communication : And How They May Be Overcome
This books deals with computer-mediated cooperation and communication scenarios in teaching and learning situations, leisure activities (e.g. laypersons looking for expert information on the internet), and net-based communication at work. Such scenarios will become increasingly important. But the successful use of such computer-mediated settings is not trivial. Cooperative learning and work itself requires special skills and strategies. And the technical settings with sometimes restricted, sometimes new possibilities for communication add problems on top of the cooperation itself. What are the barriers in computer-mediated communication for cooperative learning and work? Which are the most relevant biases in computer-mediated information processing? Based on empirical research the contributors from psychology, education and computer sciences offer different perspectives on the nature and causes of such barriers.
Azaheterocycles Based on -, ß-Unsaturated Carbonyls
Devoted to heterocyclizations of aliphatic and aromatic, -unsaturated carbonyls with various binucleophiles leading to three-, five-, six and seven-membered partially hydrogenated nitrogen-containing heterocycles. During the last decade interest in these classes of organic c- pounds has been experiencing a scientific renaissance owing to their significant role in biological processes in living cells and diverse effects on physiological activities. In addition, such compounds are also more prevalent from the vi- point of ''classical'' problems of organic chemistry, among them reactivity, chemo- and regioselectivity, tautomerism, conformational analysis and features of their electronic structure. The character of these problems in the case of partially hydrogenated heterocycles differs sufficiently from that for hetero- omatized and perhydrogenated heterocyclic compounds and investigations in this field very often lead to interesting and unusual results. Extensively characterized cyclocondensations of, -unsaturated carbonyls, their synthetic equivalents and their precursors are the most widespread, facile and generally valid pathway to dihydroazaheterocycles.
Axions : Theory, Cosmology, and Experimental Searches
Axions are peculiar hypothetical particles that could both solve the CP problem of quantum chromodynamics and at the same time account for the dark matter of the universe. Based on a series of lectures by world experts in this field held at CERN (Geneva), this volume provides a pedagogical introduction to the theory, cosmology and astrophysics of these fascinating particles and gives an up-to-date account of the status and prospect of ongoing and planned experimental searches. Learners and practitioners of astroparticle physics will find in this book both a concise introduction and a current reference work to a showcase topic that connects the "inner space" of the elementary particle world with the "outer space" of the universe at large.
Authoritative communities : The scientific case for nurturing the whole child
Authoritative Communities: The Scientific Case for Nurturing the Whole Child introduces innovative solutions based firmly in the children’s mental health and resilience literature and in the hypothesis that humans are "hardwired to connect." These "authoritative communities" consist of such individuals and institutions as parents, teachers, coaches, elders, and a variety of organizations that are committed to each other’s well-being over the long-term and who instill children with prosocial values such as empathy and compassion. Living within these communities enables children and youth to develop a consistent sense of purpose and meaning, so that they, in turn, are able to grow up to be responsible, productive, and nurturing adults.
Attractivity and bifurcation for nonautonomous dynamical systems
Although, bifurcation theory of equations with autonomous and periodic time dependence is a major object of research in the study of dynamical systems since decades, the notion of a nonautonomous bifurcation is not yet established. In this book, two different approaches are developed which are based on special definitions of local attractivity and repulsivity.
Atomistic approaches in modern biology : From quantum chemistry to molecular simulations
This volume of Topics in Current Chemistry presents an overview of atomistic theoreticalmethodsapplied tomolecular biologicalsystems. Itthus repesents abottom-upview of chemistryonbiologyfroma theoreticalperspective. The chapters arearrangedsuchthat important issuesareconsidered startingfrom a quantum mechanical perspective and proceeding to a molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics descriptiono fthemotionoftheelementaryparticles involved.which are responsible for the properties and function of biomolecules. Depending on the length and time scales relevant for a given phenomenon to be investigated, tailored theoretical methods are required to account for these. If one is interested in large scale motions of molecules, a molecul- mechnanics-based description willbeappropriate.
Atomic spectroscopy : Introduction to the theory of hyperfine structure
Atomic Spectroscopy provides a comprehensive discussion on the general approach to the theory of atomic spectra, based on the use of the Lagrangian canonical formalism. This approach is developed and applied to explain the hydrogenic hyperfine structure associated with the nucleus motion, its finite mass, and spin. The non-relativistic or relativistic, spin or spin-free particle approximations can be used as a starting point of general approach. The special attention is paid to the theory of Lamb shift formation. The formulae for hydrogenic spectrum including the account of Lamb shift are written in simple analytical form. The book is of interest to specialists, graduate and postgraduate students, who are involved into the experimental and theoretical research in the field of modern atomic spectroscopy.
Atomic and Nuclear Analytical Methods : XRF, Mössbauer, XPS, NAA and Ion-Beam Spectroscopic Techniques
This book is a blend of analytical methods based on the phenomenon of atomic and nuclear physics. It comprises comprehensive presentations about X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Mössbauer Spectroscopy (MS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Neutron- Activation Analysis (NAA), Particle Induced X-ray Emission Analysis (PIXE), Rutherford Backscattering Analysis (RBS), Elastic Recoil Detection (ERD), Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA), Particle Induced Gamma-ray Emission Analysis (PIGE), and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). These techniques are commonly applied in the fields of medicine, biology, environmental studies, archaeology or geology et al. and pursued in major international research laboratories.
At the crossroads : The world trading system and the Doha Round
Since its foundation in 1995 the legitimacy of the WTO – and herewith the notion of organising global trade on the basis of herewith the notion of organising global trade on the basis of concepts like trade-liberalisation, treaty-based rule of law and concepts like trade-liberalisation, treaty-based rule of law and enforceability – is challenged for very different reasons this volume not only documents the proceedings of this conference but, against the backdrop of the ongoing efforts to revive the Doha Round wants to be understood as some sort of stocktaking: What did really go wrong in Cancún? Where does the WTO stand today? Has there been any progress made since? And, finally: Is there any chance left to reach the ambitions goals postulated by the Doha Development Agenda? These and other, related questions are being discussed in the volume at hand.
Assessment of climate change over the Indian Region : A report of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India
Discusses the impact of human-induced global climate change on the Indian subcontinent and regional monsoon, the adjoining Indian Ocean and the Himalayas. It also examines the regional climate change projections based on the climate models used by the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) and national climate change modeling studies using the IITM Earth System Model (ESM) and CORDEX South Asia datasets
Assessment in mathematics education : Large-scale assessment and classroom assessment
Provides an overview of current research on a variety of topics related to both large-scale and classroom assessment. First, the purposes, traditions and principles of assessment are considered, with particular attention to those common to all levels of assessment and those more connected with either classroom or large-scale assessment. Assessment design based on sound assessment principles is discussed, differentiating between large-scale and classroom assessment, but also examining how the design principles overlap. The focus then shifts to classroom assessment and provides specific examples of assessment strategies, before examining the impact of large-scale assessment on curriculum, policy, instruction, and classroom assessment.



















