Observation of the Earth System from Space
A special highlight is the - termination of seasonal gravity variations caused by changes in continental water masses. For GOCE, to be launched in 2006, new gravity field analysis methods are under development and integrated into the ESA processing s- tem. 200,000 GPS radio occultation pro?les, observed by CHAMP, have been processed on an operational basis. They represent new and excellent inf- mation on atmospheric refractivity, temperature and water vapor. These new developments require geodetic space techniques (such as VLBI, SLR, LLR, GPS) to be combined and synchronized as if being one global instrument.
Nonlinear Optimization with Financial Applications
The book introduces the key ideas behind practical nonlinear optimization. Computational finance—an increasingly popular area of mathematics degree programmes—is combined here with the study of an important class of numerical techniques. The essentials of most currently popular algorithms are described and their performance is demonstrated on a range of optimization problems arising in financial mathematics. Theoretical convergence properties of methods are stated and formal proofs are provided in enough cases to be instructive rather than overwhelming. Practical behaviour of methods is illustrated by computational examples and discussions of efficiency, accuracy and computational costs. Supporting software for the examples and exercises is available
New Technologies, Mobility and Security
NTMS’2007 is the first IFIP International Conference on New Technologies, Mobility and Security that was held from May 2 to May 4, 2007 in Paris, France. NTMS'2007 aims at fostering advances in the areas of New Technologies, Wireless Networks, Mobile Computing, Ad hoc and Ambient Networks, QoS, Network Security and E-commerce, to mention a few, and provides a dynamic forum for researchers, students and professionals to present their state-of-the-art research and development in these interesting areas. The event was combined with tutorial sessions and workshops. Tutorials preceded the main program, aiming at the dissemination of mature knowledge and technology advances in the field. One Workshop immediately followed the main conference, offering the opportunity for a more focused exchange of ideas and presentation of on-going research relevant to selected topics.
New Methods of Concurrent Checking
New Methods of Concurrent Checking is the ultimate reference to answer the question as to how the best possible state-of-the-art error detection circuits can be designed. The most effective methods of concurrent checking for digital circuits are comprehensively described which were developed in the last 15 years. Some of the methods are published for the first time. How concurrent checking can be combined with soft error correction is also shown for the first time. This book is invaluable in considering the design of reliable systems in the emerging Nanotechnologies with an associated growing number of transient faults.
New Mechanisms for Tissue-Selective Estrogen-Free Contraception
Combined oral contraceptives are the most convenient and accepted method of hormonal contraception. Nevertheless, the medical community and consumers constantly demand innovation, additional benefits during use and lower hormonal load despite the high safety profile of available products. At the Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop 52, new perspectives and mechanisms for tissue-selective, estrogen-free contraception were discussed. The aim of the workshop was to bring together experts in the field of molecular and pharmacodynamic action of progestins with clinicians and medical experts to discuss potential medical endpoints, physiological reactions and (bio)marker useful describing the tissue selectivity and the contraceptive action of new progestins in different target organs. A major factor for successful realization of these new concepts is a deeper understanding of local pharmacological responses to progestins in general and to new progestins in particular.
New architecture in wood : forms and structures
Building with wood is currently enjoying a comeback. The reasons for the return of this ancient construction material are manifold. More than just being a renewable material that stores the carbon dioxide so damaging to the climate, it also has excellent structural properties, creates an ideal interior climate, and is easily combined with all other common building materials. The diverse applications can draw on expertise with wooden structures gained over centuries plus current research into modern timber engineering. Significant new developments in this specialist discipline have been seen in recent decades, especially in the German-speaking countries.
Musculoskeletal Sonography : Technique, Anatomy, Semeiotics and Pathological Findings in Rheumatic Diseases
Ultrasonography is effective in the evaluation of joint involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases, and may be useful in diagnosis and in monitoring the synovial inflammation by power Doppler technique, with great sensitivity in comparison with clinical examination. The high-resolution US combined with power Doppler technique is also able to detect the peripheral entheseal abnormality, the bone erosion and the tendon involvement. The purpose of this book is to elucidate the examination technique, the sonographic changes in musculoskeletal rheumatic involvement and the ultrasound assessment of joint rheumatic diseases. The atlas is enriched with several figures, in which the US picture is compared with that of conventional radiography, CT and MRI.
Multimodal Concepts for Integration of Cytotoxic Drugs
The first part of this book summarizes the rationale and the preclinical data for combined treatment with ionizing radiation and pharmaceutical agents. Individual chapters focus on different forms of combined treatment, with due consideration being given to a range of drugs and to emerging combinations with small molecules and antibodies, derived from recent advances in molecular oncology. The second part of the book comprises a series of disease-specific chapters in which the clinical results of combined modality treatment are presented. In addition, the topics of acute and late toxicity, supportive treatment and tolerance in elderly patients are reviewed.
Multifunctional systems for combined delivery, biosensing and diagnostics
Multifunctional Systems for Combined Delivery, Biosensing, and Diagnostics explores how multifunctional nanocarriers are being used in combined delivery and diagnostics in contemporary medicine. Particular attention is given to efforts to i) reduce the side effects of therapeutic agents, ii) increase the pharmacological effect, and iii) improve aqueous solubility and chemical stability of different therapeutic agents. The chapters focus on applications of nanostructured materials and nanocarriers, highlighting how these can be used effectively in both diagnosis and delivery.
Multifunctional Barriers for Flexible Structure : Textile, Leather and Paper
The intent of this book is to give a complete overview of the present state of the art of flexible barrier materials such as textile, paper and leather, including methods for barrier evaluation. It will be of interest to readers in industries, consumers, and members of the scientific community. The scope of the field is clearly delineated here for the first time, and it deals with a number of specific topics such as barrier to fire, antibacterial properties, resistance to waves (electrostatic, electromagnetic, acoustics), anti-odor, etc. combined with characterization techniques as well as material nanotechnology.
Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptogenesis
Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptogenesis is a compilation of recent exciting findings that summarizes the ever-expanding knowledge of how neuronal contacts develop in the normal brain and how their functions are affected in mental disorders. In the last decade, advances in molecular and cellular biology, combined with the development of sophisticated fluorescence microscopy tools to visualize synapses in live neurons, have revealed many intriguing and unexpected findings regarding the dynamics of synapse formation. Studies by a number of researchers have identified several critical protein components of synapses and shown the time course of their arrival at the synapse. Several molecules serve to hold the synaptic contacts between nerve cells and regulate their function.
Mobile Information Systems II ; IFIP Working Conference on Mobile Information Systems, MOBIS 2005, Leeds, UK, December 6-7, 2005
Contains the proceedings of the second IFIP TC8 Working Conference on Mobile Information Systems which was held in December 2005 in Leeds, UK and sponsored by the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP). Mobile Information Systems II aims to: · Clarify differences and similarities between the development of mobile and more traditional information systems. · Investigate the organizational impact of mobile information systems. · Investigate the 'e to m shift' , for example in m-Commerce relative to e-Commerce. · Investigate mobile commerce applications combined with the advantages of mobile communications technologies, the drivers of which have been identified as ubiquity, accessibility, security, convenience, localization, instant connectivity, and personalization. · Evaluate existing and newly developed approaches for the analysis, design, implementation, and evolution of mobile information systems. · Investigate technical issues and the constraints they impose on mobile information systems functionalities and design.
Mobile Information Systems ; Vol. 158 : IFIP TC 8 Working Conference on Mobile Information Systems (MOBIS) 15-17 September 2004, Oslo, Norway
This book contains the proceedings of the IFIP TC8 Working Conference on Mobile Information Systems, which was held in September 2004 in Oslo, Norway and sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). Mobile Information Systems aims to: Clarify differences and similarities between the development of mobile vs. more traditional information system. Investigate the organizational impact of mobile information systems Investigate mCommerce relative to eCommerce Investigate mobile commerce applications combined with the advantages of mobile communications technologies, the drivers of which have been identified as ubiquity, reachability, security, convenience, localization, instant connectivity and personalization. Evaluate existing and newly developed approaches for analysis, design, implementation, and evolution of mobile information systems. Investigate technical issues and the constraints they pose on mobile information systems functionalities and design
Microfinance Investment Funds : leveraging private capital for economic growth and poverty reduction
The surge in new investment funds - nearly 60 funds at last count - is an exciting sign that microfinance is attracting mainstream financial markets. Foreign investors bridge a crucial gap for MFIs and greenfield banks not yet able to attract deposits, debt or equity from local sources. Recognizing the ultimate goal of building those local financial markets that serve the poor, some foreign investors and funds are facilitating local intermediation with incentives like guarantees for local banks to lend to MFIs in local currency. Such contributions to local market building, combined with strengthening governance, increasing transparency and rigor make the new funds potentially very positive forces in microfinance.
Micro Cogeneration : Towards Decentralized Energy Systems
The need for replacement is an extremely important driving force for the current transformation, forcing conventional and new technologies to compete for a role in the future energy supply. The overall transformation of electricity systems is neither driven nor shaped by technical or societal modifications alone, but rather by a rich diversity of processes in the realms of technology, politics, society and economy.
Methods in Nonlinear Analysis
Nonlinear analysis has developed rapidly in the last three decades. Theories, techniques and results in many different branches of mathematics have been combined in solving nonlinear problems. This book collects and reorganizes up-to-date materials scattered throughout the literature from the methodology point of view, and presents them in a systematic way. It contains the basic theories and methods with many interesting problems in partial and ordinary differential equations, differential geometry and mathematical physics as applications.There are five chapters that cover linearization, fixed-point theorems based on compactness and convexity, topological degree theory, minimization and topological variational methods. Each chapter combines abstract, classical and applied analysis. Particular topics included are bifurcation, perturbation, gluing technique, transversality, Nash–Moser technique, Ky Fan's inequality and Nash equilibrium in game theory, setvalued mappings and differential equations with discontinuous nonlinear terms, multiple solutions in partial differential equations, direct method, quasiconvexity and relaxation, Young measure, compensation compactness method and Hardy space, concentration compactness and best constants, Ekeland variational principle, infinite-dimensional Morse theory, minimax method, index theory with group action, and Conley index theory.
Messenger RNA therapeutics
Focuses on the fundamentals and applications of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics and discusses the strengths and key challenges of this emerging class of drugs. In the past 30 years, extensive research and technological development in many areas have contributed to the emergence of in vitro transcribed mRNA as a therapeutic that has now reached clinical testing. Formulations that protect the mRNA from nucleases and accelerate its cellular uptake, combined with improvements to the mRNA molecules themselves, have been critical advancements for mRNAs to become viable therapeutics. Though once regarded as a serious impediment, the transient nature of mRNA technology is now considered a major advantage in making mRNA therapies safe and, ultimately, a potential game changer in the field of medicine. This new book in the RNA Technologies series provides a state-of-the-art overview on the emerging field of mRNA therapeutics covering essential strategies for formulation, delivery, and application. It also reviews the promising role in cancer immunotherapy, respiratory diseases, and chronic HBV infection and discusses RNA vaccines in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. mRNA-based approaches have great potential to revolutionize molecular biology, cell biology, biomedical research, and medicine.
Introduction to Reliable Distributed Programming
Guerraoui and Rodrigues present an introductory description of fundamental reliable distributed programming abstractions as well as algorithms to implement these abstractions. The authors follow an incremental approach by first introducing basic abstractions in simple distributed environments, before moving to more sophisticated abstractions and more challenging environments. Each core chapter is devoted to one specific class of abstractions, covering reliable delivery, shared memory, consensus and various forms of agreement. This textbook comes with a companion set of running examples implemented in Java. These can be used by students to get a better understanding of how reliable distributed programming abstractions can be implemented and used in practice. Combined, the chapters deliver a full course on reliable distributed programming. The book can also be used as a complete reference on the basic elements required to build reliable distributed applications.
Introducing Molecular Electronics
This volume presents a summary of our current understanding of molecular electronics combined with selected state-of-the-art results at a level accessible to the advanced undergraduate or novice postgraduate. This single book comprises the basic knowledge of both theory and experiment underpinning this rapidly growing field. Concepts and techniques such as density functional theory and charge transport, break junctions and scanning probe microscopy are introduced step-by-step and are subsequently used in specific examples. The text addresses a wide range of systems including molecular junctions made of single-molecules, self-assembled monolayers, carbon nanotubes and DNA.
Intelligent Agents and Multi-Agent Systems ; 7th Pacific Rim International Workshop on Multi-Agents, PRIMA 2004, Auckland, New Zealand, August 8-13, 2004, Revised Selected Papers
A Combined System for Update Logic and Belief Revision.- Using Messaging Structure to Evolve Agents Roles in Electronic Markets.- Specifying DIMA Multi-agents Models Using Maude.- picoPlangent: An Intelligent Mobile Agent System for Ubiquitous Computing.- An Approach to Safe Continuous Planning.- Modeling e-Procurement as Co-adaptive Matchmaking with Mutual Relevance Feedback.- Price Determination and Profit Sharing for Bidding Groups in Agent-Mediated Auctions.- Agent Based Risk Management Methods for Speculative Actions.- Handling Emergent Resource Use Oscillations.- The Role of Agents in Intelligent Mobile Services.



















