الصفحة 1
الصفحة 1
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.
Multiscale Modeling : A Bayesian Perspective
The book is aimed at statisticians, applied mathematicians, and engineers working on problems dealing with multiscale processes in time and/or space, such as in engineering, finance, and environmetrics. The book will also be of interest to those working on multiscale computation research. The main prerequisites are knowledge of Bayesian statistics and basic Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. A number of real-world examples are thoroughly analyzed in order to demonstrate the methods and to assist the readers in applying these methods to their own work. To further assist readers, the authors are making source code (for R) available for many of the basic methods discussed herein.
Molecular Gels : Materials with Self-Assembled Fibrillar Networks
Molecular gels and fibrillar networks – a comprehensive guide to experiment and theory Molecular Gels: Materials with Self-Assembled Fibrillar Networks provides a comprehensive treatise on gelators, especially low molecular-mass gelators (LMOGs), and the properties of their gels. The structures and modes of formation of the self-assembled fibrillar networks (SAFINs) that immobilize the liquid components of the gels are discussed experimentally and theoretically. The spectroscopic, rheological, and structural features of the different classes of LMOGs are also presented. Many examples of the application of the principal analytical techniques for investigation of molecular gels (including SANS, SAXS, WAXS, UV-vis absorption, fluorescence and CD spectroscopies, scanning electron, transmission electron and optical microscopies, and molecular modeling) are presented didactically and in-depth, as are several of the theories of the stages of aggregation of individual LMOG molecules leading to SAFINs. Several actual and potential applications of molecular gels in disparate fields (from silicate replication of nanostructures to art conservation) are described. Special emphasis is placed on perspectives for future developments.
Molecular Chaperones in Health and Disease
Molecular chaperones are involved in a wide variety of essential cellular processes in living cells. A subset of molecular chaperones have been initially described as heat shock proteins protecting cells from stress damage by keeping cellular proteins in a folding competent state and preventing them from irreversible aggregation. Later it became obvious that molecular chaperones are also expressed constitutively in the cell and are involved in complex processes such as protein synthesis, intracellular protein transport, post-translational modification and secretion of proteins as well as receptor signalling. Hence, it is not surprising that molecular chaperones are implicated in the pathogenesis of many relevant diseases and could be regarded as potential pharmacological targets. Starting with the analysis of the mode of action of chaperones at the molecular, cellular and organismic level, this book will then describe specific aspects where modulation of chaperone action could be of pharmacological and therapeutic interest.
Modeling Decisions for Artificial Intelligence ; 5th International Conference, MDAI 2008 Sabadell, Spain, October 30-31, 2008. Proceedings
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Modeling Decisions for Artificial Intelligence, MDAI 2008, held in Sabadell, Spain, in October 2008.The 19 revised full papers presented together with 2 invited lectures were thoroughly reviewed and selected from 43 submissions; they are devoted to theory and tools for modeling decisions, as well as applications that encompass decision making processes and information fusion techniques. The papers are organized in topical sections on aggregation operators, decision making, clustering and similarity, computational intelligence and optimization, as well as data privacy.
Modeling decisions : Information fusion and aggregation operators
This book covers the underlying science and application issues related to aggregation operators, focusing on tools used in practical applications that involve numerical information. Starting with detailed introductions to information fusion and integration, measurement and probability theory, fuzzy sets, and functional equations.
Misbehaving Proteins : Protein (Mis)Folding, Aggregation, and Stability
Misfoldedaggregatedproteinoncewasconsideredasinterestingasyesterday’strash—a bothersome by-product of important and productive activities, to be disposed of and forgotten as quickly as possible. Yesterday’s trash has become today’s focus of cons- erable scienti?c interest for at least two reasons: (1) protein aggregates are at the core of a number of chronic degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, and (2) - gregation poses signi?cant obstacles to the manufacture of safe, ef?cacious, and stable protein products. As interest in protein misfolding, aggregation, and stability has soared beyond the core group of traditional protein-folding scientists, and as substantial scienti?c progress in understanding and controlling protein misfolding has been achieved, the need to summarize the state of the art became manifest. Although there are many excellent texts and edited collections on protein structure and folding, these volumes tend to relegate protein misfolding and aggregation to a minor role. Review articles and books focused on the biological role of protein aggregates in diseases have been published recently.
Microorganisms in soils : Roles in genesis and functions
The following key topics are covered: Microorganisms in bioerosion, humification, mineralization and soil aggregation; Microbial energetics and microbes in biogeochemical processes such as carbon and nitrogen cycles and phosphorus bio-availability; Interactions in the mycorrhizosphere, e.g. between mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria; Impact of microbes on plant nutrient cycling and the possible effects of transgenic rhizospheres on soil fungi; Functions of microbes in specific soil compartments such as soil surface or toxic metal polluted soils; Regulation of microbial activities in functional domains that are influenced by biotic or abiotic factors; Use of marker genes and isotopes as examples for modern techniques in soil microbiology.
Interfacial Processes and Molecular Aggregation of Surfactants
Given the enormous interest in surface phenomena in areas ranging from materials science to applications in life science, this volume is a very timely addition to the literature. Emphasis is on surfactants mediating interfacial and molecular aggregation phenomena, and the following topics are reviewed in particular: dissolution rates, equilibrium adsorption, mixing rules, and spreading on a solid surface of surfactants, as well as the role of surfactants in mediating a range of processes, such as the fabrication of various nanomaterials.
Geometric Topology : Localization, Periodicity and Galois Symmetry : the 1970 MIT notes
The seminal `MIT notes' of Dennis Sullivan were issued in June 1970 and were widely circulated at the time, but only privately. The notes had a major influence on the development of both algebraic and geometric topology, pioneering the localization and completion of spaces in homotopy theory, including P-local, profinite and rational homotopy theory, the Galois action on smooth manifold structures in profinite homotopy theory, and the K-theory orientation of PL manifolds and bundles. This is the first time that this major work has actually been published, and made available to anyone interested in topology.
Fuzzy sets and their extensions : Representation, aggregation and models : Intelligent systems from decision making to data mining, web intelligence and computer vision
This book presents an up-to-date state of current research in the use of fuzzy sets and their extensions, paying attention to foundation issues and to their application to four important areas where fuzzy sets are seen to be an important tool for modelling and solving problems.
From globular proteins to amyloids
Proposes a model and mechanism for explaining protein misfolding. Concepts presented are based on a model originally intended to show how proteins attain their native conformations. This model is quantitative in nature and founded upon arguments derived from information theory. It facilitates prediction and simulation of the amyloid fibrillation process, also identifying the progressive changes that occur in native proteins that lead to the emergence of amyloid aggregations. Introduces basic rules for protein folding, along with the conditions that result in misfolding Presents research that lies in treating the aqueous environment as a continuum rather than a set of individual water molecules (i.e. the classic representation) Provides practical applications for helping the prevention of amyloidosis and improving drug design
Formal Methods in Systems Biology ; 1st International Workshop, FMSB 2008, Cambridge, UK, June 4-5, 2008. Proceedings
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First International Workshop on Formal Methods in Systems Biology, FMSB 2008, held in Cambridge, UK, in June, 2008.The 9 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from the workshop lectures that all were invited contributions. The purpose of this meeting was to identify techniques for the specification, development and verification of biological models. It also focused on the design of tools to execute and analyze biological models that can significantly advance our understanding of biological systems.
Evolution of Thin Film Morphology : Modeling and Simulations
Thin film deposition is the most ubiquitous and critical of the processes used to manufacture high tech devices. Morphology and microstructure of thin films directly controls their optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. This book focuses on modeling and simulations used in research on the morphological evolution during film growth. The authors emphasize the detailed mathematical formulation of the problem both through numerical calculations based on Langevin continuum equations, and through Monte Carlo simulations based on discrete surface growth models when an analytical formulism is not convenient. Evolution of Thin-Film Morphology will be of benefit to university researchers and industrial scientists working in the areas of semiconductor processing, optical coating, plasma etching, patterning, micro-machining, polishing, tribology, and any discipline that requires an understanding of thin film growth processes.
Evaluation and Decision Models with Multiple Criteria : Stepping stones for the analyst
The purpose of Evaluation and Decision Models: A Critical Perspective is to provide a critical thinking framework for all individuals utilizing decision and evaluation models, whether it be for research or applications. It is axiomatic that all evaluation and decision models suffer some limitations. There are situations where a decision model will not perform to expectations. This book argues that there is no best decision or evaluation model, but that decision-makers must understand the principles of formal evaluation and decision models and apply them critically. Hence, the book seeks to deepen our understanding of evaluation and decision models and encourage users of these models to think more analytically about them.
Distributed Cooperative Laboratories : Networking, Instrumentation, and Measurements
This is a highly interdisciplinary topic, where various aspects converge: multimedia communications and networking, sensor networks, Grid technology, Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning and control, network management, measurement instrumentation and methodology, architecture of measurement systems. The material is organized into six parts: Technologies for Real-Time Interactive Multimedia Communications; Monitoring, Management and Configuration of Networks and Networking Devices; Data Acquisition and Aggregation in Sensor Networks; Grid Structures for Distributed Cooperative Laboratories; Architectures and Techniques for Tele-Measurements; Virtual Immersive Communications and Distance Learning. Each contribution presents a self-contained treatment, within a framework that provides the reader with an up-to-date picture of the most recent state-of-the-art developments.
Distributed computing in sensor systems Vol. 4026 ; 2nd IEEE International Conference, DCOSS 2006, San Francisco, CA, USA, June 18-20, 2006, Proceedings
The book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Second International Conference on Distributed Computing in Sensor Systems, DCOSS 2006, held in San Francisco, California, USA in June 2006. The papers focus on distributed computing issues in large-scale networked sensor systems, including systematic design techniques and tools; they cover topics such as distributed algorithms and applications, programming support and middleware, data aggregation and dissemination, security, information fusion, lifetime maximization, and localization.
Discrete-Time Markov Chains : Two-Time-Scale Methods and Applications
The motivation stems from existing and emerging applications in optimization and control of complex hybrid Markovian systems in manufacturing, wireless communication, and financial engineering. Much effort in this book is devoted to designing system models arising from these applications, analyzing them via analytic and probabilistic techniques, and developing feasible computational algorithms so as to reduce the inherent complexity. This book presents results including asymptotic expansions of probability vectors, structural properties of occupation measures, exponential bounds, aggregation and decomposition and associated limit processes, and interface of discrete-time and continuous-time systems. One of the salient features is that it contains a diverse range of applications on filtering, estimation, control, optimization, and Markov decision processes, and financial engineering.
Data center networking : Network topologies and traffic management in large-scale data centers
Provides a comprehensive reference in large data center networking. It first summarizes the developing trend of DCNs, and reports four novel DCNs, including a switch-centric DCN, a modular DCN, a wireless DCN, and a hybrid DCN. Furthermore another important factor in DCN targets at managing and optimizing the network activity at the level of transfers to aggregate correlated data flows and thus directly to lower down the network traffic resulting from such data transfers. In particular, the book reports the in-network aggregation of incast transfer, shuffle transfer, uncertain incast transfer, and the cooperative scheduling of uncertain multicast transfer.
Creative Environments : Issues of Creativity Support for the Knowledge Civilization Age
This book contains four parts. The first part presents a further development of models of knowledge creation presented already in Creative Space, in particular the Triple Helix of normal academic knowledge creation and a new, integrated model of normal academic and organizational knowledge creation, called Nanatsudaki (seven waterfalls) Model. The second part presents computational intelligence tools for knowledge acquisition by machine learning and data mining, for debating, brainstorming, for roadmapping and for integrated support of academic creativity. The third part presents the use of statistics for creativity support, virtual laboratories, gaming and role playing for creativity support, methods of knowledge representation and multiple criteria aggregation, distance and electronic learning. The last part addresses knowledge management and philosophical
