Multidetector-Row Computed Tomography : Scanning and Contrast Protocols
Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) has advanced the approach to diagnostic assessment of many pathologies and now plays an integral role in imaging of both abdominal and cardiovascular diseases. The possibility to acquire diagnostic images with shorter scan duration, longer scan ranges, and/or thinner sections, MDCT has facilitated the opening of new horizons, such as interventional MDCT and functional imaging in stroke and oncology. In addition, advanced postprocessing techniques now permit high quality volumetric imaging in combination with maximum intensity projections, volume rendering, curved planar reformations and multiplanar reconstructions. This volume gathers contributions by internationally renowned specialists in the field who, through presenting their clinical experience, provide a thorough overview not only of MDCT and its practical applications, but also of workflow management in everyday clinical practice. Focussing on scanning and contrast protocols, the current advantages and disadvantages of non-enhanced vs. enhanced MDCT are discussed, along with insights into likely future developments. The volume represents an up-to-date source of technical and practically-oriented clinical information which should prove of great benefit to all who wish to improve or consolidate their knowledge and expertise in MDCT.
Multicriteria Optimization
Decision makers in many areas, from industry to engineering and the social sector, face an increasing need to consider multiple, conflicting objectives in their decision processes. In many cases these real world decision problems can be formulated as multicriteria mathematical optimization models. The solution of such models requires appropriate techniques to compute so called efficient, or Pareto optimal, or compromise solutions that - unlike traditional mathematical programming methods - take the contradictory nature of the criteria into account. This book provides the necessary mathematical foundation of multicriteria optimization to solve nonlinear, linear and combinatorial problems with multiple criteria. Motivational examples illustrate the use of multicriteria optimization in practice. Numerous illustrations and exercises as well as an extensive bibliography are provided.
Multibody Mechanics and Visualization
Multibody Mechanics and Visualization is designed to appeal to computer-savvy students who will acquire significant skills in mathematical and physical modelling of mechanical systems in the process of producing attractive computer simulations and animations.
Multiagent System Technologies ; 6th German Conference, MATES 2008, Kaiserslautern, Germany, September 23-26, 2008. Proceedings
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th German Conference on Multiagent Systems Technologies, MATES 2008, held in Kaiserslautern, Germany, in September 2008 - co-located with the 31st German Conference on Artificial Intelligence, KI 2008.The 16 revised full papers presented together with 2 invited talks were carefully reviewed and selected from 35 submissions. The papers present and discuss the latest advances of research and development in the area of autonomous agents and multiagent systems ranging from theoretical and methodological issues to applications in various fields.
Multi-Agent Programming : Languages, Platforms and Applications
Part I describes four approaches that are based on computational logic or process algebra--Jason, 3APL, IMPACT, and CLAIM/SyMPA. These programming languages have formal semantics and use heavy machinery based on formal methods, but also provide working platforms for the development of multi-agent systems. Part II presents agent languages and platforms that extend or are based on Java--JADE, Jadex, and JACKTM. Although these have no formal semantics, the languages are well documented and the platforms provide a variety of tools that have been extensively used in practice. Part III provides two significant industry specific applications--The DEFACTO System for coordinating human-agent teams for the future of disaster response, and the ARTIMIS rational dialogue agent technology. The book also features seven appendices, summarising each of the agent programming languages, hence facilitating comparison of the approaches. In particular, Appendix A describes the criteria used for comparing the agent languages and platforms.
Mucosal Immunology and Virology
Mucosal Immunology and Virology is designed to provide the clinician with a thorough and yet approachable textbook describing the relationships between immunology, virology and the disease process. It includes a vast wealth of information and illustrations to enable the reader to become familiar with the clinical presentation of these diseases, the tests needed to establish the diagnosis, and the treatment of the disease including specific antiviral agents. Suitable for residents and clinicians in immunology, infectious diseases, internal medicine and dermatology the book reviews the systematic manifestations of mucosal viral infections, including those involving the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, anogenital mucosa and ocular infections
MR Imaging in White Matter Diseases of the Brain and Spinal Cord
Comprises a series of comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on the use of MR imaging in these major neurological conditions. The diverse available MR techniques, such as magnetization transfer MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI, MR spectroscopy, functional MRI, cell-specific MRI, perfusion MRI, and microscopic imaging with ultra-high field MRI, offer an extraordinarily powerful means of gaining fundamental in vivo insights into disease processes. The strengths and weaknesses of all these techniques in the study of multiple sclerosis and other relevant diseases are extensively considered. After an introductory section on neuroimaging technology, subsequent sections address disorders of myelination, demyelinating diseases, immune-mediated disorders, and white matter disorders related to aging and other conditions. This book provides a valuable summary of the state of the art in the field, and defines important areas for future research.
Mountains : Sources of Water, Sources of Knowledge
This book addresses the major challenges in assuring globally sustainable water use. Paradoxically, water resources have been identified both as too plentiful, producing major disasters, and increasingly vulnerable to shortages. Addressing both of these aspects requires attention to physical hydrological processes as well as human activities that affect water supply and demand.
Motivational Aspects of Prejudice and Racism
Motivational Aspects of Prejudice and Racism examines the cognitive processes as well as the motivational forces that create and sustain social hierarchies based on racial categories. A panel of top scholars analyzes the subtle and explicit manifestations of bias within and across racial groups, while refuting the idea that race has lost its power as a social concept. Chapter authors review the evolution of the psychological understanding of racism and its effects, pinpoint emerging trends in racism research, and illuminate the experience of prejudice from minority group members’ perspectives. Well-known psychosocial phenomena as the cross-race identification effect, social identity, and majority culture members' conflicting attitudes regarding race, are explored, with the underlying ideologies that nurture them. The volume concludes with a realistic assessment of the future, and possible elimination, of racism. Readers are challenged to re-think self and social identities and self-concepts—particularly relevant ideas as America grows more diverse, and potentially more divided.
Motion-Free Super-Resolution
With the explosion of Internet technology and graphics engines, digital images are now everywhere. Image capturing tools are all pervading - in our pockets to inside a satellite. And although imaging applications demand an availability to high resolution images, such images are not picture perfect and may be lacking sufficient details. This requires that these images be super-resolved for improved details. How to achieve this is what constitutes research in the area of image super-resolution. Motion-Free Super-Resolution explores new technology for image super-resolution - applying cues other than the motion cue in super-resolving a scene. This book will serve as an essential reference for both academecians and practicing engineers in the area of image processing and computer vision, as well as providing a basis for ongoing research in this field.
Morphological Models of Random Structures
This book covers methods of Mathematical Morphology to model and simulate random sets and functions (scalar and multivariate). The introduced models concern many physical situations in heterogeneous media, where a probabilistic approach is required, like fracture statistics of materials, scaling up of permeability in porous media, electron microscopy images (including multispectral images), rough surfaces, multi-component composites, biological tissues, textures for image coding and synthesis. The common feature of these random structures is their domain of definition in n dimensions, requiring more general models than standard Stochastic Processes.The main topics of the book cover an introduction to the theory of random sets, random space tessellations, Boolean random sets and functions, space-time random sets and functions (Dead Leaves, Sequential Alternate models, Reaction-Diffusion), prediction of effective properties of random media, and probabilistic fracture theories.
Monoaminergic modulation of cortical excitability
Monoaminergic Modulation of Cortical Excitability serves as an integrative and comprehensive comparison of the diverse and complex modulatory action of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin receptors in the cortex. The volume is organized into several sections offering a broad spectrum of opinions on how the monoamine systems affect cortical function from a cellular/sub-cellular level to a system level. The complexity of these interactions are discussed in light of recent data showing how disruption of these systems dramatically affects the memory formation and information processing in the cortex.
Monetary and Wage Policies in the Euro Area
This book studies the interactions between monetary and wage policies in the euro area. It carefully discusses the process of policy competition and the structure of policy cooperation. As to policy competition, the focus is on competition between the European central bank, the American central bank, the German labour union, and the French labour union. As to policy cooperation, the focus is on the same institutions. These are higher-dimensional issues. The policy targets are price stability and full employment. The policy decisions are taken sequentially or simultaneously. Monetary and wage policies have spillover effects. Special features of this book are numerical simulations of policy competition and numerical solutions to policy cooperation.
Monetary and Fiscal Policies in the Euro Area
This book studies the interactions between monetary and fiscal poUcies in the euro area. It carefully discusses the process of policy competition and the structure of policy cooperation. As to policy competition, the focus is on competition between the European central bank, the American central bank, the German government, and the French government. As to policy cooperation, the focus is on the same institutions. These are higher-dimensional issues. The pohcy targets are price stability and full employment. The policy makers follow co- turkey or gradualist strategies. The policy decisions are taken sequentially or simultaneously. Monetary and fiscal policies have spillover effects. Special features of this book are numerical simulations of policy competition and numerical solutions to policy cooperation. The present book is part of a larger research project on European Monetary Union, see the references at the back of the book. Some parts of this project were presented at the World Congress of the International Economic Association. Other parts were presented at the International Conference on Macroeconomic Analysis, at the International Institute of Public Finance, at the Macro Study Group of the German Economic Association, at the Annual Meeting of the Austrian Economic Association, at the Gottingen Workshop on International Economics, at the Halle Workshop on Monetary Economics, at the Research Seminar on Macroeconomics in Freiburg, and at the Passau Workshop on International Economics.
Molecular Technology ; Vol.2 : Life Innovation
Interdisciplinary and application-oriented, this ready reference focuses on methods and processes with a high practical aspect, covering new trends in drug delivery, in-vivo analysis, structure formation and much more.
Molecular Processes in Plasmas : Collisions of Charged Particles with Molecules
Molecular Processes in Plasmas describes elementary collision processes in plasmas, particularly those involving molecules or molecular ions. Those collision processes (called molecular processes) maintain plasmas, produce reactive species and emissions, and play a key role in energy balance in plasmas or more specifically in determining the energy distribution of plasma particles.
Molecular Pathology of Gynecologic Cancer
This book focuses on putting successful molecular strategies into practice for the treatment of gynecologic cancer. The volume begins with an explication of the editors’ hypothesis that cancer is mainly a disease of the cell cycle, based on the deregulation of the physiological process of cell reproduction. The following eleven chapters focus on specific issues in gynecologic cancers, including: a proposed model of ovarian serous carcinogenesis, molecular markers for ovarian epithelial cancer, an overview of the pathology of endometrial cancer, molecular genetic aspects of endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer, a natural history of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) as it relates to cervical cancer, and hereditary issues in gynecologic cancers. The concluding chapter proposes and outlines a holistic approach to the treatment of female cancer patients.
Molecular Parameters Indicating Adaptation to Mechanical Stress in Fibrous Connective Tissue
The present study pursues the hypothesis that local compressive force and the occurrence of cartilage-specific transformation processes within tendons and ligaments are directly correlated. In selected anatomical samples of human origin the distribution pattern of certain components of the extracellular matrix is assessed. Investigations are carried out at the extensor tendons of toes and fingers, at the transverse ligament of the atlas, at the transverse ligament of the acetabulum, and at the tendon of the superior oblique muscle and its trochlea. The molecular components of the extracellular matrix are detected with standardized immunohistochemical methods. The results show that certain molecules only occur due to compressive stress, others due to tensile stress. The molecular spectrum of the extracellular matrix allows qualifying conclusions to the mechanical situation of a given part of the tissue. The spatial expansion of the fibrocartilaginous adaptation zones in tendons and ligaments roughly corresponds with the zones subjected to compressive force; tensile stress alone does not result in a production of fibrocartilage.
Molecular Paradigms of Infectious Disease : A Bacterial Perspective
This comprehensive volume, written by leading authors in the field, provides a fundamental understanding of the complex cellular and molecular processes that are important for bacterial virulence and the infectious disease process. Written in a clear and engaging manner, the book highlights key techniques and methodologies that have driven recent discoveries in bacterial pathogenesis, major structures and mechanisms in bacteria that are important for the pathogenesis of these organisms, the regulation of these virulence determinants by global regulators, and bacterial biowarfare agents. Molecular Paradigms of Infectious Disease: A Bacterial Perspective is an ideal book for students, microbiologists, immunologists and scientists and researchers of bacterial pathogenesis.
Molecular Mechanisms of Phagocytosis
Although, Phagocytosis was first described nearly 120 year ago, we are just recently beginning to understand the molecules that phagocytic cells use to bring about this complex cell function. Molecular Mechanisms of Phagocytosis was prepared as a series of up-to-date essays (chapters) that describe the present knowledge on the various steps of the phagocytic process from initial cell contact, through internalization of the foreign particle, to the final phagosome formation where the phagocytosed particle is destroyed.



















