Neurodynamics of Cognition and Consciousness
This book addresses dynamical aspects of brain functions and cognition. This volume gives an overview of recent advances in this interdisciplinary field of cognitive and computer science related to dynamics of cognition, including experimental studies, dynamical modelling and interpretation of cognitive experiments, and theoretical approaches.
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a medical enigma. As a childhood neoplasm arising from neural crest cells, it is characterized by diverse clinical behaviors ranging from spontaneous remission to rapid tumor progression and death. Although clinical outcome can be predicted to a large extent by the stage of disease and the age at diagnosis, an in-depth understanding of its clinico-pathological behavior, now greatly aided by sophisticated molecular genetic profiling, will improve diagnostic precision and refine risk-based therapies. Comprehensive international efforts have advanced our understanding of tumor biology and improved the clinical management of children with neuroblastoma. This book reviews our current understanding of the genes and biological pathways that contribute to neuroblastoma pathogenesis, modern risk-based treatment approaches for these patients, and recent advances in biologically based therapy. It provides a concise up-to-date reference for practitioners, students, and researchers.
Neurobiology of Exceptionality
Nurture or nature? Biology or environment? Why are some people intelligent, or personable, or creative and others obtuse, or shy, or unimaginative? Although each human being is a unique mixture of positive and negative traits and behaviors, the question remains: What is the neurobiological basis for each individual’s makeup? For example, why does one person suffer from a disorder (e.g., ADHD, autism, mental retardation) and another lives free of maladies?
Neural Preprocessing and Control of Reactive Walking Machines: Towards Versatile Artificial Perception-Action Systems
This book presents biologically inspired walking machines interacting with their physical environment. It describes how the designs of the morphology and the behavior control of walking machines can benefit from biological studies. The purpose of this book is to develop a modular structure of neural control generating different reactive behaviors of the physical walking machines, to analyze the neural mechanisms underlying the reactive behaviors, and to demonstrate the sensor fusion technique leading to smooth switching between appropriate behaviors, like obstacle avoidance and sound tropism.
Neural Networks : Computational Models and Applications
Neural Networks: Computational Models and Applications covers a wealth of important theoretical and practical issues in neural networks, including the learning algorithms of feed-forward neural networks, various dynamical properties of recurrent neural networks, winner-take-all networks and their applications in broad manifolds of computational intelligence: pattern recognition, uniform approximation, constrained optimization, NP-hard problems, and image segmentation. By presenting various computational models, this book is developed to provide readers with a quick but insightful understanding of the broad and rapidly growing areas in the neural networks domain. Besides laying down fundamentals on artificial neural networks, this book also studies biologically inspired neural networks. Some typical computational models are discussed, and subsequently applied to objection recognition, scene analysis and associative memory. The studies of bio-inspired models have important implications in computer vision and robotic navigation, as well as new efficient algorithms for image analysis.
Neoproterozoic Geobiology and Paleobiology
The Neoproterozoic Era (1000-542 million years ago) is a geological period of dramatic climatic change and important evolutionary innovations. Repeated glaciations of unusual magnitude occurred throughout this tumultuous interval, and various eukaryotic clades independently achieved multicellularity, becoming more complex, abundant, and diverse at its termination. Animals made their first debut in the Neoproterozoic too. The intricate interaction among these geological and biological events is a centrepiece of Earth system history, and has been the focus of geobiological investigations in recent decades. The purpose of this volume is to present a sample of views and visions among some of the growing numbers of Neoproterozoic workers. The contributions represent a cross section of recent insights into the field of Neoproterozoic geobiology.
Natural product experiments in drug discovery
Explores a wide range of evidence-based complementary medicine and various bio-analytical techniques used to define botanical products. Collecting recent work and current developments in the field of contemporary phytomedicine as well as their future possibilities in human health care, the book includes unique contributions in the form of chapters on phytomedicine and screening biological activities explained with diverse hyphenated techniques, as well as issues related to herbal medications, such as efficacy, adulteration, safety, toxicity, regulations, and drug delivery. Written for the Springer Protocols Handbooks series, chapters feature advice from experts on how to best conduct future experiments. Extensive and practical, Natural Product Experiments in Drug Discovery serves as an ideal reference for students, professors, and researchers in universities, R&D institutes, pharmaceutical and herbal enterprises, and health organizations.
Natural occurrence and biological activities of quinoline derivatives
Provides a comprehensive overview of quinoline derivatives, focusing on their chemical structure, biological activities, and therapeutic benefits. It delves into the natural sources of these derivatives, covering their isolation, characterization, and potential therapeutic applications, particularly in areas such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antimalarial activity. With its emphasis on providing valuable reference material, this book is an indispensable resource for researchers, educators, and professionals in the fields of chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and drug discovery.
NATO and terrorism catastrophic terrorism and first responders : Threats and mitigation
In this important new book a group of experts represents the current knowledge on the various terrorism threats to first responders resulting from the novel use of conventional weapons, as well radiological, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Also, the current situation in selected countries of different sizes and practical experience with terrorism countermeasures (Austria, Israel, Slovenia, Russia, U.S.) is reviewed, focusing on the national operational logistics and the individual needs for improving the present situation. Finally, this book offers innovative solutions to strengthen the level of protection of the first responders, culminating in fifty-one practically applicable recommendations
Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors
Nanotechnology provides us with tools to create functional materials, devices, and systems by controlling materials at the atomic and molecular scales, and at the same time make use of novel properties and phenomena. Considering that most chemical and biological sensors, as well as many physical sensors, depend on interactions occurring within the nano scale range, the impact that nanotechnology will have on the sensor world is significant. Nanotechnology enabled sensors find applications in several novel fields such as sensing single molecules, bio-hazards, toxic chemicals, gas sensors, process control and diagnostics.
Nanostructured and advanced materials for applications in sensor, optoelectronic and photovoltaic technology ; Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on nanostructured and advanced materials for applications in sensors, optoelectronic and photovoltaic technology ; Sozopol, Bulgaria, 6-17 September 2004
Nanotechnology is an emerging scientific field receiving significant worldwide attention. On a nanometer scale, materials or structures may possess new and unique physical properties. Some of these are now known to the scientific community, but there may well be many properties not yet known to us, rendering it as a fascinating area of research and a suitable subject for a NATO ASI. Yet another aspect of the field is the possibility for creating meta-stable phases with unconventional properties and the ultra-miniaturization of current devices, sensors, and machines. Such nanotechnological and related advanced materials have an extremely wide range of potential applications, viz. nanoscale electronics, sensors, optoelectronics, photonics, nano-biological systems, na- medicine, energy storage systems, etc. This is a wide-ranging subject area and therefore requires the formation of multi-disciplinary teams of physicists, chemists, materials scientists, engineers, molecular biologists, pharmacologists, and others to work together on the synthesis and processing of materials and structures, the understanding of their physical properties, the design and fabrication of devices.
Nanoscale Photonic Imaging
This book, edited and authored by a team of world-leading researchers, provides a broad overview of advanced photonic methods for nanoscale visualization, as well as describing a range of fascinating in-depth studies.
Nanoscale Assembly : Chemical Techniques
Recent advances have pushed the limits of lithography firmly into the sub-100 nm domain, with smallest feature sizes around 10 nm. However, compared to living organisms, devices fabricated using nanolithography are not nearly as complex, as they are essentially 2D and contain only a limited number of chemical elements. For centuries, Nature has been a major inspiration for science. First of all to learn how Life functions at cellular level, but increasingly, as a blueprint for designing non-natural devices where the building blocks and their assembly are inspired by biological examples. The key tool in translating these examples into the domain of engineering, has been self-assembly or self-organization. This book gathers a spectrum researchers who have not only furthered our knowledge of self-assembly using small molecules, polymers and colloidal particles as building blocks, but who have also shown it to be a practical tool in the assembly of an astonishing variety of devices, ranging from molecular electronics to biosensors.
Nanopharmaceuticals ; Vol.1 : Expectations and realities of multifunctional drug delivery systems
Reviews advances in the drug delivery field via nanovehicles or nanocarriers that offer benefits like targeted therapy and serves as a single dose magic bullet for multiple drug delivery with improved drug efficiency at a lower dose, transportation of the drug across physiological barriers as well as reduced drug-related toxicity. The chapters are written by a diverse group of international researchers from industry and academia. The series Expectations and Realities of Multifunctional Drug Delivery Systems examines the fabrication, optimization, biological aspects, regulatory and clinical success of wide range of drug delivery carriers. This series reviews multifunctionality and applications of drug delivery systems, industrial trends, regulatory challenges and in vivo success stories. Throughout the volumes discussions on diverse aspects of drug delivery carriers, such as clinical, engineering, and regulatory, facilitate insight sharing across expertise area and form a link for collaborations between industry-academic scientists and clinical researchers. Expectations and Realities of Multifunctional Drug Delivery Systems connects formulation scientists, regulatory experts, engineers, clinical experts and regulatory stake holders. The wide scope of the book ensures it as a valuable reference resource for researchers in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry who want to learn more about drug delivery systems.
Nanomaterials and nanotechnology in medicine
The use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials more generally is an emerging field that has generated a lot of interest in the last few years. To this point, there have been few books that deal with the recent advances in nanomaterials or nanocomposites in the medical discipline. Intended as a one-stop reference, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology in Medicine provides the reader with the most-up-to-date and comprehensive exploration of the field of nanomedicine. The scope of the topic is huge, with nano applications in every medical specialization—from diagnostics to pharmaceuticals, from biological therapies to surgical devices, and from regenerative therapies to gene therapy. As such, this volume provides the most comprehensive coverage of this intriguing field of study.
Nanocarrier Technologies : Frontiers of Nanotherapy
Nanobiotechnology is one of the key technologies of the 21st century. It is a combination of nanoscience and biotechnology and covers areas ranging from gene transfer and nanoencapsulation to food technology. Nanocarriers are a leading nanobiotechnology tool with the ability to provide protection, site-specific delivery, enhanced bioavailability and controlled release of pharmaceuticals, genetic material, imaging agents, nutraceuticals and cosmetics to name a few. For this reason, the study of nanocarriers, their properties and applications has attracted a great deal of interest over recent years. Designed as an advanced survey of the field, this book describes the key research parameters of nanocarrier technologies including their preparation methods, evaluation of their safety and efficiency, their interaction with biologicals and their application in biotechnology, drug delivery, gene therapy and food technology areas.
NanoBiotechnology : BioInspired Devices and Materials of the Future
NanoBioTechnology: BioInspired Devices and Materials of the Future is a groundbreaking text that will assist scientists and students in learning the fundamentals and cutting-edge nature of this new and emerging science. Focusing on materials and building blocks for nanotechnology, leading scientists from around the world share their knowledge and expertise in this authoritative volume. The volume is broken into five sections. The first section presents an overview of nanotechnology and describes the many aspects of the field. Section 2 details biological materials serving as nanotemplates for bottom-up fabrication. Section 3 covers the use of biological macromolecules for electron transfer and computation. Section 4 presents a brief overview of the extensive and rapidly growing field of nanomedicine. Finally, Section 5 details de-novo designed structures and the various approaches different scientific groups take with molecular level training and language
N4-Macrocyclic Metal Complexes
The study of nanoparticles is anchored in Colloid Science. Colloid Science as we consider it today was nucleated by Wolfgang Ostwald and initiated by his biological studies. The strong connection between biology and Colloid Science lost attractiveness in the last decades. The revival of this interdisciplinary science is now noted and we hope that a signal will start from the Potsdam conference. "This is an excellent and detailed book of 14 chapters that is timely in its reviews of the electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of the porphyrinoids and is written by a range of experts in the different fields covered.
Myosins : A Superfamily of Molecular Motors
Application of state-of-the-art cellular and molecular biological, structural biological, genetic, biochemical and biophysical techniques has provided and continues to provide critical information regarding the structure–function relationship; and the cellular roles of various myosins in organisms as diverse as protozoa, yeast, plants and higher animals. The association of myosins with diseases including neurological disorders, immu- deficiencies, cardiomyopathies, hearing and vision loss testify to the importance of understanding the biochemical properties and cellular roles of myosins. The 16 chapters in this volume summarize the tremendous progress made in studying members of the myosin superfamily in recent years and offer critical insight into what future research will yield.
Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration: Biological Materials and Methods
Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration: Biological Materials and Methods aims to provide both basic and advanced knowledge of the newer methodologies being developed and introduced to the clinical arena.



















