Modelling Regional Scenarios for the Enlarged Europe : European Competitiveness and Global Strategies
The aim of this book is to tackle the question of what the European territory will look like over the next fifteen years by providing quali-quantitative territorial scenarios for the enlarged Europe, under different assumptions on future globalisation strategies of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and East and West European countries. The approach is as neutral as possible vis-à-vis the results, leaving to a new forecasting model, the MASST model, built by the authors, to produce the tendencies and behavioural paths of regional GDP and population growth in each individual European region under alternative assumptions on the competitiveness strategies of different blocks of countries. The results are accompanied by strong policy messages intended to encourage long-term strategic thinking among a wide range of actors, scientists and policy makers in response to the risks and opportunities that the European territory will face.
Modelling in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics : Towards Autonomous Intelligent Software Models
Modelling in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics presents a model-centred approach focusing on distributed development and use of autonomous intelligent software models, particularly the efficiency of the models, and their interaction and integration into distributed autonomous intelligent systems. In order to systematise the available knowledge, a domain ontology is presented; a subset of which is used to create a modelling theory based on knowledge and experience in the areas of software engineering, mechanical engineering and mechatronics. This holistic view of modelling explains the purpose and the essence of modelling, as well as the benefits that are to be expected. It discusses the relations to other branches of engineering and science and as a result, it demonstrates strategies, methods and tools for unleashing the full power of modelling.
Modelling in Mathematical Programming : Methodology and Techniques
This book provides basic tools for learning how to model in mathematical programming, from models without much complexity to complex system models. It presents a unique methodology for the building of an integral mathematical model, as well as new techniques that help build under own criteria. It allows readers to structure models from the elements and variables to the constraints, a basic modelling guide for any system with a new scheme of variables, a classification of constraints and also a set of rules to model specifications stated as logical propositions, helping to better understand models already existing in the literature. It also presents the modelling of all possible objectives that may arise in optimization problems regarding the variables values. The book is structured to guide the reader in an orderly manner, learning of the components that the methodology establishes in an optimization problem. The system includes the elements, which are all the actors that participate in the system, decision activities that occur in the system, calculations based on the decision activities, specifications such as regulations, impositions or actions of defined value and objective criterion, which guides the resolution of the system.
Modelli Dinamici Discreti = Discrete Dynamic Models
Discrete mathematical modeling is one of the driving factors in modern mathematics research, and has played a role of synthesis between different disciplines, becoming a tool for qualitative and quantitative analysis in applied sciences. This volume provides an introduction to the analysis of discrete dynamic systems, following a modeling approach. An examination of a wide range of examples, models, and motivations drawn from Biology, Demography, Engineering and Economics, is followed by the presentation of the tools for the study of linear and non-linear scalar dynamical systems, with particular attention to stability analysis. The linear difference equations are studied in detail and an elementary introduction to the Z and DFT transforms is provided. One chapter is devoted to the study of bifurcations and chaotic dynamics. One-step vector dynamical systems and the applications of Markov chains are the subject of three chapters.
Modeling, Estimation and Control : Festschrift in Honor of Giorgio Picci on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday
Coefficients of Variations in Analysis of Macro-Policy Effects: An example of two-parameter Poisson-Dirichlet distributions.- How Many Experiments Are Needed to Adapt?- A Mutual Information Based Distance for Multivariate Gaussian Processes.- Differential Forms and Dynamical Systems.- An Algebraic Framework for Bayes Nets of Time Series.- A Birds Eye View on System Identification.- Further Results on the Byrnes-Georgiou-Lindquist Generalized Moment Problem.- Factor Analysis and Alternating Minimization.- Tensored PolynomialModels.- Distances Between Time-Series and Their Autocorrelation Statistics.- Global Identifiability of Complex Models, Constructed from Simple Submodels.- Identification of Hidden MarkovModels - Uniform LLN-s.- Identifiability and Informative Experiments in Open and Closed-Loop Identification.- On Interpolation and the Kimura-Georgiou Parametrization.- The Control of Error in Numerical Methods.- Contour Reconstruction and Matching Using Recursive Smoothing Splines.- Role of LQ Decomposition in Subspace Identification Methods.- Canonical Operators on Graphs.
Model-Driven Software Development
Abstraction is the most basic principle of software engineering. Abstractions are provided by models. Modeling and model transformation constitute the core of model-driven development. Models can be refined and finally be transformed into a technical implementation, i.e., a software system. The aim of this book is to give an overview of the state of the art in model-driven software development. Achievements are considered from a conceptual point of view in the first part, while the second part describes technical advances and infrastructures. Finally, the third part summarizes experiences gained in actual projects employing model-driven development. Beydeda, Book and Gruhn put together the results from leading researchers in this area, both from industry and academia. The result is a collection of papers which gives both researchers and graduate students a comprehensive overview of current research issues and industrial forefront practice, as promoted by OMG’s MDA initiative.
Mobilities of the Highly Skilled towards Switzerland : The Role of Intermediaries in Defining “Wanted Immigrants”
This book analyses the strategies of migration intermediaries from the public and private sectors in Switzerland to select, attract, and retain highly skilled migrants who represent value to them. It reveals how state and economic actors define “wanted immigrants” and provide them with privileged access to the Swiss territory and labour market. This book thus shifts the focus from an approach that takes the category of highly skilled migrant for granted to one that regards context as crucial for structuring migrants’ characteristics, trajectories, and experiences. Beyond consideration of professional qualifications, the ways decision-makers perceive candidates and shape their resource environments are crucial for constructing them as skilled or unskilled, wanted or unwanted, welcome or unwelcome.
Mobile Virtual Work : A New Paradigm?
This is a book about mobile virtual work. It aims at clarifying the basic concepts and showing present practices and future challenges. With this book we realise our intention to present a ‘state of the art’ collection of knowledge on this subject. We very much hope that you will find the discussion about present day reality and future challenges of mobile virtual work as exciting as we do. It is possibly a new paradigm.
Missions of universities : Past, present, future
provides an analysis of university missions over time and space. It starts out by presenting a governance framework focusing on the demands on universities set by regulators, market actors and scrutinizers. It examines organizational structures, population development, the fundamental tasks of universities, and internal governance structures. Next, offers a discussion of the idea and role of universities in society, exploring concepts such as autonomy and universality, and the university as a transformative institute. The next four chapters deal with the development of universities from medieval times, through the Renaissance, towards the research universities in the nineteenth century in Europe and the United States.
Mineral Trioxide Aggregate in Dentistry : From Preparation to Application
Concisely presents information on diverse aspects of MTA and its use with a view to making it more widely available to clinicians and researchers. The topics covered include the development of MTA and its introduction into clinical dentistry, its chemical composition and setting characteristics, manipulation and placement, material properties, reactivity and the influence of environmental factors.
Migrants and Expats : The Swiss Migration and Mobility Nexus
This book provides insight on current patterns of migration in Switzerland, which fall along a continuum from long-term and permanent to more temporary and fluid. These patterns are shaped by the interplay of legal norms, economic drivers and societal factors. The various dimensions of this Migration-Mobility Nexus are investigated by means of newly collected survey data: the Migration-Mobility Survey. The book covers different aspects of life in the host country, including the family dimension, the labour market and political participation as well as social integration. The book also takes into account the chronological dimension of migration by considering the migrants’ arrival, their stay, and their expectations regarding return.
Microwave Methods in Organic Synthesis
We are delighted to present this volume with contributions from some of themost renowned and experienced microwave chemists today.The delivery and introduction of energy has been closely connected withthe discovery and investigation of new chemistry. It is with pleasure thatwe have seen an increased use of microwave irradiation over the years andwe hope that this volume will reflect the current interest in expanding thescope of microwave applications in both organic and medicinal chemistry. Oneimportant explanation behind the growth of microwave-enhanced chemistryhas been the introduction of dedicated microwave reactors.As a result of this development we are proud to present a diverse set of re-views.
Micropropagation methods in temporary immersion systems
Presents vital techniques for the commercial micropropagation of plants. It explores numerous micropropagation protocols in different types of temporary immersion systems for plant species with agricultural, medicinal, ornamental, and forestry interest, detailing the type of bioreactor and the optimal parameters necessary to guarantee obtaining the largest number of commercial propagules. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Microplastic in the Environment : Pattern and Process
This book examines global plastic pollution, an issue that has become a critical societal challenge with implications for environmental and public health. This volume provides a comprehensive, holistic analysis on the plastic cycle and its subsequent effects on biota, food security, and human exposure. Importantly, global environmental change and its associated, systems-level processes, including atmospheric deposition, ecosystem complexity, UV exposure, wind patterns, water stratification, ocean circulation, etc., are all important direct and indirect factors governing the fate, transport and biotic and abiotic processing of plastic particles across ecosystem types.
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.
Microbial Root Endophytes
Plant roots may not only be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi, but also by a myriad of bacterial and fungal root endophytes that are usually not considered by the investigators of classic symbioses. This is the first book dedicated to the interactions of non-mycorrhizal microbial endophytes with plant roots. The phenotypes of these interactions can be extremely plastic, depending on environmental factors, nutritional status, genetic disposition and developmental stages of the two partners. The book deals with diversity, life history strategies, interactions, applications in agriculture and forestry, methods for isolation, cultivation, and both conventional and molecular methods for identification and detection of these endophytes. The comprehensive reviews demonstrate the high diversity of interactions and will provoke further studies to better understand the mechanisms which determine whether a plant-microbial interaction remains asymptomatic, leads to disease or to a mutualistic interaction.
Microbial protein toxins
Since the initial establishment of Robert Koch’s postulates in the nineteenth century, microbial protein toxins have been recognized as a major factor of bacterial and fungal virulence. An increasing number of proteins produced and secreted by various bacteria, yeasts and plants are extremely toxic and most of them developed remarkably "intelligent" strategies to enter, to penetrate and to finally kill a eukaryotic target cell by modifying or blocking essential cellular components. This book describes the strategies employed by protein toxins to render their pro- and eukaryotic producers a selective growth advantage over competitors. In providing an up-to-date overview on the mode of protein toxin actions, it accommodates biomedically and biologically relevant toxin model systems. As a result, it significantly broadens our perspective on biochemical architecture and molecular ploy behind the lethal principles of pro- and eukaryotic toxins.
Microbial nutraceuticals : Products and processes
Discussion of the recent advances in the application of microbial nutraceuticals and their implementation in the health, food, and agriculture sectors. The book begins with an overview of microbial nutraceuticals before moving on to discussions of more specific topics, including microbial cell factories for the production of essential amino acids, microbial production of dietary short-chain fatty acids, and microbial sources for bioactive peptides conferring health benefits.
Microbial Activity in the Rhizosphere
The rhizosphere is a very complex environment in which the effects of the plant on soil microorganisms and the effects of the microorganisms on the plant are interacting and are interdependent. Plant root exudates and breakdown products attract microbes and feed them and, in turn, the plants often benefit from the microbes. Interactions among microorganisms and plant roots are essential for nutritional requirements of the plant. Plant growth, development and productivity are largely dependent on the soil environment in the root region rhizosphere. The new techniques of studying the rhizosphere enables us to get a much better understanding of the dynamics of the rhizosphere population, such rhizosphere studies being of interest to agriculturists, soilbiologists, chemists, microbiologists and molecular biologists. The rhizosphere microbes in?uence the root environment in several ways. They may change the oxidation-reduction potential, influence the availability of moisture and nutrients, produce growth inhibiting or growth promoting substances in the form of exudates, provide competition and possibly induce many other effects. My corrhizal associations are beneficial in mineral uptake and in increasing root surface area for effective ion absorption. Antagonism, ompetition and synergism in soil and the rhizoplane (rhizosphere) are the most important microbial interactions to consider in the study of rhizosphere biology. With the growing information on the production of growth regulators, competitiveness of the microbes in the rhizosphere, microsymbionts, and other factors, their effect upon plant growth will become more evident. Experiments on the introduction of microbes or their products in the rhizosphere will help to improve our understandingofthebiologyoftherhizosphere.
Metastasis of Breast Cancer
The book has covered a broad range of topics in the metastasis of breast cancer, from genetics, biology to clinical management. Main topics include genetic control, biology, growth factors, cell adhesion, cell motility and invasion, natures of bone metastasis, sentinel node therapies, hormonal links, new biomarkers and detection of micrometastasis, and diagnosis The book also covers the current treatment options including surgical management, chemotherapy and hormonal therapies.



















