Biology and Control Theory : Current Challenges
Creating some links between control feedback and biology modeling communities based on similarities in modeling, observing and perceiving alive structures, and analyzing interconnections between biological structures and subsystems was the main objective of this volume. The idea of this book was conceived in the context mentioned above with the objective to help in claiming many of the problems for control researchers, starting discussions and opening interactive debates between the control and biology communities, and, finally, to alert graduate students to the many interesting ideas at the frontier between control feedback theory and biology.
Biological processes associated with impact events
The biological effects of asteroid and comet impacts have been widely viewed as primarily destructive. The role of an impactor in the K/T boundary extinctions has had a particularly important influence on thinking concerning the role of impacts in ecological and biological changes. th During the 10 and final workshop of the ESF IMPACT program during March 2003, we sought to investigate the wider aspects of the involvement of impact events in biological processes, including the beneficial role of these events from the prebiotic through to the ecosystem level. The ESF IMPACT programme (1998-2003) was an interdisciplinary effort that is aimed at understanding impact processes and their effects on the Earth environment, including environmental, geological and biological changes.
Biological Membrane Ion Channels : Dynamics, Structure, and Applications
Ion channels are biological nanotubes that are formed by membrane proteins. Because ion channels regulate all electrical activities in living cells, understanding their mechanisms at a molecular level is a fundamental problem in biology. This book deals with recent breakthroughs in ion-channel research that have been brought about by the combined effort of experimental biophysicists and computational physicists, who together are beginning to unravel the story of these exquisitely designed biomolecules. With chapters by leading experts.
Bioinformatics Using Computational Intelligence Paradigms
Bioinformatics as well as Computational Intelligence are undoubtedly remarkably fast growing fields of research and real-world applications with enormous potential for current and future developments. "Bioinformatics using Computational Intelligence Paradigms" contains recent theoretical approaches and guiding applications of biologically inspired information processing systems(Computational Intelligence) against the background of bioinformatics. This carefully edited monograph combines the latest results of Bioinformatics and Computational Intelligence and offers a promising cross-fertilisation and interdisciplinary work between these growing fields.
Biofuels, Solar and Wind as Renewable Energy Systems : Benefits and Risks
With shortages of fossil energy, especially oil and natural gas, and heavy biomass energy use occurring in both developed and developing countries, a major focus has developed worldwide on renewable energy systems. Renewable energy systems include wind power, biomass, photovoltaics, hydropower, solar thermal, thermal ponds, and biogas. Currently, a heavy focus is on biofuels made from crops, such as corn, sugarcane, and soybeans, for use as renewable energy sources. Wood and crop residues also are being used as fuel. Though it may seem beneficial to use renewable plant materials for biofuel, the use of crop residues and other biomass for biofuels raises many concerns about major environmental problems, including food shortages and serious destruction of vital soil resources.
Bioethics in Cultural Contexts : Reflections on Methods and Finitude
This book discusses a range of methodological issues for an interdisciplinary bioethics. How can bioethics be an enterprise that does not only isolate issues and moral reasons but also (re)contextualises them? What are the strengths and weaknesses of different traditional and innovative modes of ethical work in terms of these tasks?
Bioengineering in cell and tissue research
This book reviews the latest technological developments of bioengineering approaches in cell and tissue research. It is meant to have life and spirit, and to become a pioneer in technology and sciences, especially the life science. The chapters are written by excellent scientists on advanced, frontier technology and address scientific questions that need considerable thinking in terms of engineering.
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.
Bioactive Heterocyles I
Bioactive Heterocycles I is a continuation of critical accounts about heterocyclic compounds within the series Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry. The present volume provides comprehensive reviews of the chemistry and bioactivity of selected groups of heterocycles and natural products. … Overall, this book covers in detail several classes of bioactive heterocyclic compounds including selected natural products. The focus is on the most recent advances, and the clarity of the presentation is very good. It should be of interest to individuals interested in the discovery and synthesis of bioactive small molecules, including research scientists in academia and industry.
Bioactive Heterocycles VI : Flavonoids and anthocyanins in plants, and latest bioactive heterocycles I
Heterocyclic chemistry is the biggest branch of chemistry covering two-thirds of the chemical literature and this book covers the hot topics of frontier research summarized by reputed scientists in
Bioactive Heterocycles V
This volume contains 10 chapters. The contributions are from researchers famous in their respective fields and the chapters contain high quality reviews on topics related to the chemo-biological studies of several different heterocyclic groups. The first chapter from Saracoglu reviews the functionalization of indoles and the pyrroles via Michael additions, as these compounds have potential for their biological activities. In second chapter Men ́endez reviews the chemistry of the welwitindolinones. Topcu and Demirkiran, in the third chapter, describe the chemistry and biological studies of lignans from Taxus species, including their biosynthesis and recent strategies for the synthesis of lignans.
Bioactive Heterocycles IV
This volume contains nine more contributions from expert researchers of the?eld, providing readers with in depth and current research results regarding therespective topics. In the?rst chapter, Flemming et al. review the chemistry, biosynthesis, metabolism and biological activities of tetrahydrocannabinol and its deri- tives. Hansch and Verma contribute to the quantitative structure-activity re- tionship (QSAR) analysis of heterocyclic topoisomerase I and II inhibitors. These inhibitors, knowntoinhibit either enzyme, actasantitumoragentsand are currently used in chemotherapy and in clinicaltrials. In the third chapter, Khan reviews some aspects of molecular modeling studies on biologically active alkaloids.
Bioactive Heterocycles III
Bioactive Heterocycles III provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the most recent breakthroughs in the ?eld of heterocycles. This volume contains 8 chapters written by experts in their respective ?elds from all over the world. The chapters summarize years of extensive research in each area, and providein sight in the new themesofnaturalproduct research.Manyofthe contributors illustrate their laboratory experiences. It's obvious that readers will gain exciting and essential information fromthe volume. In the ?rst chapter, Kayser et al. describe the chemistry, biosynthesis and biological activities of artemisinin, one of the most promising antimalarial molecules, and its related natural peroxides.
Bioactive Conformation I
This series presents critical reviews of the present position and future trends in modern chemical research. It contains short and concise reports on chemistry, each written by the world renowned experts – it is still valid and useful after 5 or 10 years. More information as well as the electronic version of the whole content available at: springerlink.com. The book will appeal to scientists and practitioners in the mentioned fields and in industry.
Bifurcations, Instabilities, Degradation in Geomechanics
Leading international researchers and practitioners of bifurcations and instabilities in geomechanics debate the developments and applications which have occurred over the last few decades. The topics covered include modeling of bifurcation, structural failure of geomaterials and geostructures, advanced analytical, numerical and experimental techniques, and application and development of generalised continuum models etc. In addition analytical solutions, numerical methods, experimental techniques, and case histories are presented. Beside fundamental research findings, applications in geotechnical, petroleum, mining, and bulk materials engineering are emphasised.
Beyond the apparent Banality of the mathematics classroom
New research in mathematics education deals with the complexity of the mathematics’ classroom. The classroom teaching situation constitutes a pertinent unit of analysis for research into the ternary didactic relationship which binds teachers, students and mathematical knowledge. The classroom is considered as a complex didactic system, which offers the researcher an opportunity to gauge the boundaries of the freedom that is left with regard to choices about the knowledge to be taught and the ways of organizing the students’ learning, while giveing rise to the study of interrelations between three main elements of the teaching process the: mathematical content to be taught and learned, management of the various time dimensions, and activity of the teacher who prepares and manages the class, to the benefit of the students' knowledge and the teachers' own experience.
Between Necessity and Probability : Searching for the Definition and Origin of Life
This study investigates the major theories of the origins of life in light of modern research with the aim of distinguishing between the necessary and the optional and between deterministic and random influences in the emergence of what we call ‘life.’ Life is treated as a cosmic phenomenon whose emergence and driving force should be viewed independently from its Earth-bound natural history. The author synthesizes all the fundamental life-related developments in a comprehensive scenario, and makes the argument that understanding life in its broadest context requires a material-independent perspective that identifies its essential fingerprints.
Between dirt and discussion : Methods, methodology and interpretation in historical archaeology
The cases presented in this volume revisit old methods and previous scholarly approaches with new perspectives, along with incorporating the newest technologies available to understanding the past.
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.
Beliefs about SLA : New Research Approaches
This edited collection of articles illustrates more recent work on beliefs about SLA, drawing on the thinking of (educational) philosophers and (discursive) psychologists, including Dewey, Bakhtin, Vygotsky, and Potter.



















