الصفحة 2
الصفحة 2
Nanoscaled Semiconductor-on-Insulator Structures and Devices
This proceedings volume constitutes an archive of the contributions of the key-speakers who attended the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on “Nanoscaled Semiconductor-On-Insulator Structures and devices” held in the Tourist and Recreation Centre “Sudak” (Crimea, Ukraine) from 15 to 19 October 2006. The semiconductor industry has sustained a very rapid growth during the last three decades through impressive technological developments which have resulted in products with higher performance and lower cost per function. After many years of development it is now confidently predicted that semiconductor-on-insulator materials will enter and increasingly be used by manufacturing industry. The wider use of semiconductor (es- cially silicon) on insulator materials will not only enable the benefits of these materials to be demonstrated but, also, will drive down the cost of substrates which, in turn, will stimulate the development of other novel devices and applications.
Myocardial Ischemia : From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Potentials
This book is meant to bridge the gap between original literature and textbook reviews. It brings together investigators of various backgrounds who share their expertise in the biology of myocardial ischemia. Each chapter is a self-contained mini-review, but it will soon become apparent to the reader that there is also a common thread: Molecular and cellular cardiology has never been more exciting than now, but ever more exciting times are yet to come.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
This book summarizes our current knowledge of MDS, from very basic aspects to the clinical management. It provides guidance to the diagnosis, an understanding of disease mechanisms, and a discussion of treatment strategies.
Mycorrhizae : Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
This book discusses and goes into detail on a number of topics: the molecular basis of nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and host plants; the role of AM fungi in disease protection, alleviation of soil stresses and increasing grain production; interactions of AM fungi and beneficial saprophytic mycoflora in terms of plant growth promotion; the role of AM fungi in the restoration of native ecosystems; indirect contributions of AM fungi and soil aggregation to plant growth and mycorrhizosphere effect of multitrophic interaction; the mechanisms by which mycorrhizas change a disturbed ecosystem into productive land; the importance of reinstallation of mycorrhizal systems in the rhizosphere is emphasized and their impact on landscape regeneration, and in bioremediation of contaminated soils; Ectomycorrhizae (ECM) and their importance in forest ecosystems and associations of ECM in tropical rain forests function to maintain tropical monodominance; in vitro mycorrhization of micro-propagated plants, and visualizing and quantifying endorhizal fungi; the use of mycorrhizae, mainly AM and ECM, for sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Mycorrhiza : State of the Art, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Eco-Function, Biotechnology, Eco-Physiology, Structure and Systematics
This third updated and revised edition emphasises strongly on genetics and molecular biology. It contains new chapters, which are written by the leading experts in their respective field of knowledge and expertise.Mycorrhizas are symbioses between fungi and the roots of higher plants. As more than 90% of all known species of plants have the potential to form mycorrhizal associations, the productivity and species composition and the diversity of natural ecosystems are frequently dependent upon the presence and activity of mycorrhizas. The biotechnological application of mycorrhizas is expected to promote the production of food while maintaining ecologically and economically sustainable production systems.
Multiscale Modeling in Epitaxial Growth
Epitaxy is a very active area of theoretical research since several years. It is experimentally well-explored and technologically relevant for thin film growth. Recently powerful numerical techniques in combination with a deep understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena during the growth process offer the possibility to link atomistic effects at the surface to the macroscopic morphology of the film. The goal of this book is to summarize recent developments in this field, with emphasis on multiscale approaches and numerical methods. It covers atomistic, step-flow, and continuum models and provides a compact overview of these approaches. It also serves as an introduction into this highly active interdisciplinary field of research for applied mathematicians, theoretical physicists and computational materials scientists.
Multiscale fatigue crack initiation and propagation of engineering materials ; Structural integrity and microstructural worthiness : Fatigue crack growth behaviour of small and large bodies
This book elucidates the correlation of fatigue crack growth data to multiscale cracking, particularly to the understanding of micrographs influenced by mechanical disturbance and thermodynamic variables. Attention is given to the interpretation of test data by fatigue crack growth rate using two empirical parameters in consistence with the fracture control methodology currently used by industry.
Multiple pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy affects 0.9-3.1% of births worldwide. Prevalence rates vary significantly due to differences in dizygotic twinning rates and use of assisted reproduction. Both maternal and fetal/neonatal complications are more common in multiple compared to singleton pregnancies, and there are specific problems for the fetuses related to monochorionicity. Multiple pregnancies require specialised and individualised care. Complicated multiple pregnancies should be managed in a tertiary care centre where there is additional expertise, such as the laser ablation needed to treat monochorionic monozygotic pregnancies with conjoined circulations. Cornerstones of management in pregnancy are the need for accurate fetal measurement to optimise dating of gestational age, and documentation of chorionicity. High-level ultrasound expertise is needed. The mothers need frequent assessment to detect hypertension and anemia, and early identification and management of preterm labour.
Multinational Enterprises, Foreign Direct Investment and Growth in Africa : South African Perspectives
How can Africa, the world’s most lagging region, benefit from globalisation and achieve sustained economic growth? Africa needs greater investment by Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) to improve competitiveness and generate more growth through positive spill-over effects. Despite the fact that Africa’s returns on investment averaged 29% since 1990, Africa has gained merely 1% of global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows. The challenge for African countries is how to be a more desirable destination for FDI. The study integrates three currents of economic research, namely from the literature on (endogenous) economic growth, convergence and regional integration, the explanations for Africa’s poor growth and the growing understanding of the role of MNEs in a global economy. The empirical side of the book is based on an econometric study of the determinants of FDI in Africa as well as a detailed firm-level survey conducted in 2000.
Moving Millions : Transport Strategies for Sustainable Development in Megacities
The Alliance for Global Sustainability is an international partnership among four of the leading scienti?c and technological universities worldwide: • The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT-AGS); • The University of Tokyo (UT); • The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH); and • The Chalmers University of Technology. Created in 1997, the AGS today brings together hundreds of university scientists, engineers, and social scientists to address complex issues that lie at the intersection of environmental, economic, and social policy goals. Since its inception, the AGS has promoted and supported multidisciplinary research teams drawn from its partner institutions. Working on critical issues in sustainability across several ?elds encompassing energy and climate, mobility, urban systems, water and agriculture, cleaner technologies, public policy, and communications, these teams have developed a signi?cant body of new knowledge.
Monitoring and Modelling Lakes and Coastal Environments
Habitat environments of lakes and coastal wetlands are deteriorating due to their exploitative use and improper management. As rapid development and population growth continue in coastal areas, environmental degradation and over exploitation will further erode the biodiversity and undermine the productivity of these unique ecosystems. An earnest attempt has been made in the present book to find ways for restoration, conservation and management of lakes and coastal wetlands.
Monetary Policy and Macroeconomic Stabilization in Latin America
Latin America is a very important region of the globe, which has been buffeted by successive waves of economic instability within the last decades. These waves have caused several episodes of hyperinflation or near hyperinflation, and several currency and financial crises, which, in certain moments, have even spilled over and affected other emerging markets. This has resulted in huge costs in terms of lost potential growth, and, as is inevitable, the markets most affected by this have been the least capable of defending themselves. In a region plagued by still considerable rates of social exclusion, with some of the highest rates of income concentration in the whole globe, the human costs of these crises have been very substantial. Starting in the early 1990s, the slow implementation of reforms, plus the resumption of more sustained growth—to a substantial degree linked to the increase in commodity prices, especially since the early 2000s—seems to have resulted in a more stable situation. Initially, in early reformers like Chile, later in the larger economies of the region, like Brazil and Mexico, a consensus— embraced by both sides of the political spectrum—towards integration in global markets, both in their trade and financial components, floating exchange rates, independent monetary authorities, and sustainable fiscal policies has emerged.
Molecular Targeting in Oncology
In Molecular Targeting in Oncology, authors present an overview of the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer with an emphasis on clinical application. The volume covers the complexity of the rapidly developing area of targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with cancer and is structured in a way so readers may begin with chapters that most interest them and work through the rest of the chapters in the order of their choice. The volume is divided into five sections that cover the most important elements of drug development. The first section focuses on approaches using targeted therapies to inhibit cell growth. The second section describes how clinicians are evaluating targeted therapies in specific organ systems. The third section illustrates how various classes of pharmacologic and immunologic agents are developed for individual molecular targets. The fourth section details new drugs that have novel mechanisms of action. The final section looks to the future of targeted therapeutics and includes chapters on appropriate patient selection, use of combination therapy, dealing with tumor cell resistance, and more. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Molecular Targeting in Oncology is an essential reference for those working in the field.
Molecular Mechanisms of Plant and Microbe Coexistence
Molecular Mechanisms of Plant and Microbe Coexistence presents studies on the complex and manifold interactions of plants and microbes at the population, genomics and proteomics level. The role of soil microbial diversity in enhancing plant health and plant microbe beneficial symbioses is discussed. Microbial communities are shown in the light of evolution. Main topics include genome coexistence and the functional genomics and proteomics of plant-associated microbes, which could form the basis for new environmentally benign strategies to combat infectious plant diseases and regulate plant growth. Further chapters focus on the role of signaling during the different stages of plant microbe coexistence, in symbiotic or pathogenic relationships, in quorum sensing and plant viral infections. Methods for studying the interactions in the root zone complement the book, which will certainly be of relevance in the practical application to agriculture, food security and for maintaining the balance of our ecosystems.
Molecular Mechanism of Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension
This book focuses on the molecular mechanism of congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, offering new insights into the development of pulmonary circulation and the ductus arteriosus. It describes in detail the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and morphogenesis of the heart, lungs and ductus arteriosus, covering a range of topics such as gene functions, growth factors, transcription factors and cellular interactions, as well as stem cell engineering technologies
Molecular Markers of Brain Tumor Cells : Implications for Diagnosis, Prognosis and Anti-Neoplastic Biological Therapy
Childhood brain tumors are a diverse group of diseases characterized by the abnormal growth of tissue contained within the skull. Other than leukemia and lymphoma, brain tumors are the most common type of neoplasms that occur in children. The leading cause of death from childhood neoplasms among persons up to 19 years is brain tumors. As such, this book is a review of the most recent molecular biological research concerning brain tumors with references and comparisons to a variety of neoplastic disorders. The book then uses this information to foreshadow the direction that future anti-neoplastic therapies will take. Because of the wide spectrum of the objectives of the book, any individual involved in cancer research will greatly benefit from the work. Histopathologists, neuropathologists, clinical and research oncologists, and medical students will find this book to be an invaluable resource as a reference guide. Patients and their families will also find the book useful as it offers a comprehensive update on new, non-classical therapeutic modality options and contains a detailed description and analysis of brain tumors. Such an endeavor has yet to be undertaken by any other book and may prove to be the most comprehensive book on brain tumors thus far.
Molecular Basis of Thyroid Cancer
Molecular Basis of thyroid Cancer brings together top-flight experts from across the globe to consider present state of the art treatment and techniques and what the future holds. The product of this effort is invaluable to endocrinologists, particularly those with an interest in the thyroid, molecular oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and those in biotechnology intent on devising innovative therapies for cancer. "Significant advances in our understanding of thyroid cancer have occurred over the previous decade. This text discusses the molecular alterations and pathologic manifestations seen in this disease. Distinguished investigators address both the basic biology and clinical issues pertinent to our understanding and management of patients with thyroid cancer."
Molecular advances in dental pulp tissue engineering
Recent advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering aim to restore the dentin–pulp complex using stem cells, growth factors and tailored scaffolds to achieve biological regeneration within the root canal. This Special Issue highlights scientific advances in pulp regeneration, bridging the gap between research and clinical application.
Modern treatments for chronic blood diseases
Blood is a body fluid in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. In vertebrates, it is composed of blood cells suspended in blood plasma. Plasma, which constitutes 55% of blood fluid, is mostly water (92% by volume), and contains proteins, glucose, mineral ions, hormones, carbon dioxide (plasma being the main medium for excretory product transportation), and blood cells themselves. Albumin is the main protein in plasma, and it functions to regulate the colloida osmotic pressure of blood. The blood cells are mainly red blood cells (also called RBCs or erythrocytes), white blood cells (also called WBCs or leukocytes) and platelets (also called thrombocytes). Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders characterized by decreased hemoglobin production Symptoms depend on the type and can vary from none to severe. Often there is mild to severe anemia (low red blood cells or hemoglobin). Anemia can result in feeling tired and pale skin. There may also be bone problems, an enlarged spleen, yellowish skin, and dark urine. Slow growth may occur in children.
Modern Multivariate Statistical Techniques : Regression, Classification, and Manifold Learning
Remarkable advances in computation and data storage and the ready availability of huge data sets have been the keys to the growth of the new disciplines of data mining and machine learning, while the enormous success of the Human Genome Project has opened up the field of bioinformatics. These exciting developments, which led to the introduction of many innovative statistical tools for high-dimensional data analysis, are described here in detail. The author takes a broad perspective; for the first time in a book on multivariate analysis, nonlinear methods are discussed in detail as well as linear methods.
