Microlithography/Molecular Imprinting
The series presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics and material science. It is addressed to all scientists at universities and in industry who wish to keep abreast of advances in the topics covered.Molecular recognition is central to how biological systems work. The molecular imprinting technique is a valuable polymerisation method for preparing synthetic materials able to mimic the molecular recognition phenomena present in living systems. A molecule that acts as a template is associated with functional monomers to form a complex by means of covalent linkages or noncovalent interactions. A polymerisation-crosslinking reaction is then performed around this complex. Upon removal of the template species, functionalised cavities, that have memorized the special features and bonding preferences of the template, are left inside the polymer network.
Microbial Root Endophytes
Plant roots may not only be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi, but also by a myriad of bacterial and fungal root endophytes that are usually not considered by the investigators of classic symbioses. This is the first book dedicated to the interactions of non-mycorrhizal microbial endophytes with plant roots. The phenotypes of these interactions can be extremely plastic, depending on environmental factors, nutritional status, genetic disposition and developmental stages of the two partners. The book deals with diversity, life history strategies, interactions, applications in agriculture and forestry, methods for isolation, cultivation, and both conventional and molecular methods for identification and detection of these endophytes. The comprehensive reviews demonstrate the high diversity of interactions and will provoke further studies to better understand the mechanisms which determine whether a plant-microbial interaction remains asymptomatic, leads to disease or to a mutualistic interaction.
Microbial Phosphate Solubilization
Last decade has seen a significantly increased knowledge about phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. Sixty specialists from thirteen countries met in Salamanca to discuss the problems of the high P-unavailability as a soil nutrient for crops, and the hazards of an increasing phosphate input to aquatic habitats from industrial and mining activities, sewage disposal, detergents, and other sources. Updated solutions to enhance P-uptake by plants, bioremediation potential in the rehabilitation of ecosystems, taxonomic characterization interactions with mycorrizae, the physiological and molecular basis of PSM, and possibilities of genetic modifications of rhizospheric microorganisms were among the contributions presented. Challenges in commercializing a phosphate solubilizing microorganism were also outlined by a relevant biotech company.
Microbial Activity in the Rhizosphere
The rhizosphere is a very complex environment in which the effects of the plant on soil microorganisms and the effects of the microorganisms on the plant are interacting and are interdependent. Plant root exudates and breakdown products attract microbes and feed them and, in turn, the plants often benefit from the microbes. Interactions among microorganisms and plant roots are essential for nutritional requirements of the plant. Plant growth, development and productivity are largely dependent on the soil environment in the root region rhizosphere. The new techniques of studying the rhizosphere enables us to get a much better understanding of the dynamics of the rhizosphere population, such rhizosphere studies being of interest to agriculturists, soilbiologists, chemists, microbiologists and molecular biologists. The rhizosphere microbes in?uence the root environment in several ways. They may change the oxidation-reduction potential, influence the availability of moisture and nutrients, produce growth inhibiting or growth promoting substances in the form of exudates, provide competition and possibly induce many other effects. My corrhizal associations are beneficial in mineral uptake and in increasing root surface area for effective ion absorption. Antagonism, ompetition and synergism in soil and the rhizoplane (rhizosphere) are the most important microbial interactions to consider in the study of rhizosphere biology. With the growing information on the production of growth regulators, competitiveness of the microbes in the rhizosphere, microsymbionts, and other factors, their effect upon plant growth will become more evident. Experiments on the introduction of microbes or their products in the rhizosphere will help to improve our understandingofthebiologyoftherhizosphere.
Micro-, Meso- and Macro-Dynamics of the Brain
This book brings together leading investigators who represent various aspects of brain dynamics with the goal of presenting state-of-the-art current progress and address future developments. The topics cover the most fascinating facets of neuroscience from elementary computation of neurons, mesoscopic network oscillations, internally generated assembly sequences in the service of cognition, large-scale neuronal interactions within and across systems, the impact of sleep on cognition, memory and mental illness, brain controlled robots, motor-sensory integration, spatial navigation, large-scale computation and consciousness. Overall, this volume offers an integrated view of the challenges and opportunities in deciphering brain circuits in health and disease.
Micro-, Meso- and Macro-Connectomics of the Brain
Highlights cutting-edge methods that can accelerate progress in elucidating static ‘hard-wired’ circuits of the brain as well as dynamic interactions that are vital for brain function. The power of connectomic approaches in characterizing abnormal circuits in the many brain disorders that afflict humankind is considered. Experts in computational neuroscience and network theory provide perspectives needed for synthesizing across different scales in space and time. Altogether, this book provides an integrated view of the challenges and opportunities in deciphering brain circuits in health and disease.
Metallopolymer Nanocomposites
Highly dispersed nanoscale particles in polymer matrices are currently attracting great interest in many fields of chemistry, physics and materials science. This book presents and analyzes the essential data on nanoscale metal clusters dispersed in, or chemically bonded with polymers. Special attention is paid to the in situ synthesis of the nanocomposites, their chemical interactions, and the size and distribution of the particles in the polymer matrix. Numerous novel nanocomposites are described with regard to their mechanical, electrophysical, optical, magnetic, catalytic and biological properties. Their applications, present and future, are outlined. The book is addressed both to researchers who actively use these materials and to students entering this multidisciplinary field.
Membrane Trafficking in Viral Replication
The ability of viruses to exploit cellular functions for their own ends makes them highly effective pathogens and exquisite experimental tools. Work with viruses underpins much of our current understanding of molecular cell biology and related fields. Each of the eight chapters in this volume deals with a specific aspect of viral interactions with cellular membranes. These include chapters on viral entry, viral membrane fusion, viral membrane protein synthesis and transport, viral replication, viral interactions with cytoskeletal systems and the nucleus, the trafficking of viral membrane proteins and viral perturbation of host cell protein trafficking. These chapters should provide both an overview of cellular membrane trafficking mechanisms and viral interactions with these systems, as well as reviews of the current state of each of the fields.
Medical and healthcare interactions
Presenting a series of empirical studies by scholars working with approaches from ethnomethodology and conversation analysis, Medical and Healthcare Interactions studies real-life work and training encounters among medical and healthcare professionals and trainees or between professionals and patients. Using video analysis and detailed description, it considers the methods and procedures through which professionals, trainees, and patients produce actions and interpret those of others, exploring questions of member competence and socialization within situated courses of interaction. Offers fruitful contributions for training and education in the field of healthcare and will appeal to scholars in the human and social sciences with interests in interaction, ethnomethodology, and conversation analysis.
Mechatronic Systems : Fundamentals
Mechatronic Systems introduces these developments by considering the dynamic modelling of components together with their interactions. The whole range of elements is presented from actuators, through different kinds of processes, to sensors.
Maturing Usability : Quality in Software, Interaction and Value
Divided into three parts, ‘Quality in Software’ looks at how using development tools can enhance usability of a system, and how methods and models can be integrated into the development process to produce effective user interfaces. ‘Quality in Interaction’ addresses theoretical frameworks on the nature of interactions; techniques and metrics for evaluation interaction quality; and the transfer of concepts and methods from research to practice. Finally, ‘Quality in Value’ assesses the impact that a system has in the real world, focusing on increasing the value of usability practice for software development and on increasing value for the users.
Mathematical Morphology : 40 Years On ; Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Mathematical Morphology, April 18-20, 2005
Mathematical Morphology is a speciality in Image Processing and Analysis, which considers images as geometrical objects, to be analyzed through their interactions with other geometrical objects. It relies on several branches of mathematics, such as discrete geometry, topology, lattice theory, partial differential equations, integral geometry and geometrical probability. It has produced fast and efficient algorithms for computer analysis of images, and has found applications in bio-medical imaging, materials science, geoscience, remote sensing, quality control, document processing and data analysis. This book contains the 43 papers presented at the 7th International Symposium on Mathematical Morphology, held in Paris on April 18-20, 2005. It gives a lively state of the art of current research topics in this field. It also marks a milestone, the 40 years of uninterrupted development of this ever-expanding domain.
Iron Nutrition in Plants and Rhizospheric Microorganisms
This book uses an interdisciplinary approach to provide a comprehensive review on the status of iron nutrition in plants. International scientists discuss research on acquisition of iron by strategy I and strategy II plants. These reviews summarize a variety of plant species and include both laboratory and field observations. Topics covered in this book include: plants as a source of iron for animals and humans, iron translocation in the plants, iron-stimulated activities that influence crop yield and fruit tree productivity, iron uptake by plants as influenced by microorganisms (i.e. free living soil microorganisms, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing and pathogenic bacteria), the role of plant hormones in iron transport, iron-metal competition in phytoremediation, root zone activities involving interactions between minerals and organic matter, the role of microbial siderophores in rhizospheric iron cycling, iron storage as phytoferritin, proteomic and metabolic studies associated with iron stress response, methods for studying iron metabolism including stable isotopes, and the correction of iron deficiency through the use of synthetic or natural chelates.
Ion Implantation and Synthesis of Materials
This book presents the physics and materials science of ion implantation and ion beam modification of materials. It covers ion-solid interactions used to predict ion ranges, ion straggling and lattice disorder. Also treated are shallow-junction formation and slicing silicon with hydrogen ion beams. Topics important for materials modification, such as ion-beam mixing, stresses, and sputtering, are also described.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement and National Courts : Current Framework and Reform Options
This book examines the multiple intersections between national and international courts in the field of investment protection, and suggests possible modes for regulating future jurisdictional interactions between domestic courts and international tribunals.
Inverse Problems and Imaging : Lectures given at the C.I.M.E. Summer School held in Martina Franca, Italy September 15–21, 2002
Nowadays we are facing numerous and important imaging problems: nondestructive testing of materials, monitoring of industrial processes, enhancement of oil production by efficient reservoir characterization, emerging developments in noninvasive imaging techniques for medical purposes - computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), X-ray and ultrasound tomography, etc. In the CIME Summer School on Imaging (Martina Franca, Italy 2002), leading experts in mathematical techniques and applications presented broad and useful introductions for non-experts and practitioners alike to many aspects of this exciting field. The volume contains part of the above lectures completed and updated by additional contributions on other related topics: a general presentation and introduction (Moscoso), X-ray tomography (Natterer), Electromagnetic imaging (Dorn, Bertete-Aguirre, Papanicolaou), coherent imaging in telecommunications in a multiple input-multiple output setup (Dorn), polarization based optical imaging (Moscoso), topological derivatives used in shape reconstruction related to inverse scattering problems (Carpio, Rapún), Point interactions (Dell’Antonio, Figari, Teta).
Invasive forest insects, introduced forest trees, and altered ecosystems : Ecological pest management in global forests of a changing world
Demand for timber and fibre continues to grow and is being met by increased reliance on plantation forestry. Many of the plantations that are being grown around the globe are non-native species that have characteristics of rapid growth and good commercial qualities. In some cases, the high rates of production are a result of the absence of native herbivore and diseases. This limited pest status is threatened as pest species move around the globe. At the same time there is concern about threats of these non-native plantation species on native communities and the impact of changing climates on forest productivity. This volume explores many of these issues for the first time.
Introduction to Focused Ion Beams : Instrumentation, Theory, Techniques and Practice
Introduction to Focused Ion Beams is geared towards techniques and applications. The first portion of this book introduces the basics of FIB instrumentation, milling, and deposition capabilities. The chapter dedicated to ion-solid interactions is presented so that the FIB user can understand which parameters will influence FIB milling behavior. The remainder of the book focuses on how to prepare and analyze samples using FIB and related tools, and presents specific applications and techniques of the uses of FIB milling, deposition, and dual platform techniques. This is the only text that discusses and presents the theory directly related to applications and the only one that discusses the vast applications and techniques used in FIBs and Dual platform instruments.
Introduction to Drug Disposition and Pharmacokinetics
The application of knowledge of drug disposition, and skills in pharmacokinetics, are crucial to the development of new drugs and to a better understanding of how to achieve maximum benefit from existing ones. The book takes the reader from basic concepts to a point where those who wish to will be able to perform pharmacokinetic calculations and be ready to read more advanced texts and research papers.
Introduction to basics of pharmacology and toxicology ; Vol.1 : General and molecular pharmacology : Principles of drug action
Illustrates the most crucial principles involved in pharmacology and allied sciences. The title begins by discussing the historical aspects of drug discovery, with up to date knowledge on Nobel Laureates in pharmacology and their significant discoveries. It then examines the general pharmacological principles - pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, with in-depth information on drug transporters and interactions. In the remaining chapters, the book covers a definitive collection of topics containing essential information on the basic principles of pharmacology and how they are employed for the treatment of diseases.



















