springer netherlands nov 2012 (794 résultats)

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. Neuware - Scoring Performance Assessments Based on Judgements focuses on the applications of Generalizability Theory to Performance Assessment. The author developed an objective method to examine the dependability of the scoring of large-scale performance assessments by humans. This book presents principles in identifying common missing data patterns inherent in assessment designs. These principles can be used to guide the design of assessment procedures including those used in large-scale testing programs, observations, and structured interviews.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Positive Rights in a Republic of Talk will appeal to philosophers and social scientists interested in issues of rights and social justice, and to graduate students and journalists seeking a critical survey of the field. Innumerable recent books have addressed the issues of rights and social justice, but none combines the comprehensiveness, disinterestedness, and brevity found in this work. Positive Rights in a Republic of Talk: -is unique in its critical, let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may approach; -is untainted with special pleading for specific philosophical schools or social policies; -is distinctive in its range, examining the views of classical as well as contemporary thinkers and trendy as well as more established approaches; -is relentless in its confrontation of the abstract with the concrete; -discusses positive rights in such contexts as health care, education, foreign aid, homelessness, welfare, and disaster relief policies; -is distinctive in its prose, which is vivid, engaging, clear, occasionally funny, and never pompous or engorged with jargon; -can be read and enjoyed by serious non-specialists as well as specialists. 224 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Internists, surgeons, critical care physicians and nephrologists all treat critically ill patients with renal failure and the multiple system organ dysfunction syndrome. A comprehensive review of the state of the art of this topic is definitely needed both in academic and clinical medicine, and Critical Care Nephrology fulfils this need. It is a useful reference tool for both nephrologists and intensive care specialists and it is therefore no coincidence that the editors of the book are themselves specialists in these particular fields. The book addresses the following: definitions of critical illness, epidemiology, monitoring and diagnostic procedures, pathophysiology of organ systems in relation to kidney function, concepts of renal physiologic and pathologic responses to various derangements, oxygen transport and cardiovascular adaptations, hemodynamic parameters, respiratory parameters, mechanical ventilation and cardiac support, and severity score parameters. The book is also devoted to all forms of acute renal failure with specific reference to intensive care patients. The nature of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is discussed with special emphasis on the impact of different organs dysfunction and kidney failure. Kidney function and acute renal failure in patients with kidney, liver and heart transplants is also considered, as well as acute illness occurring in chronic hemodialysis patients. Special emphasis is placed on therapeutic interventions and treatment procedures. Different forms of organ support are discussed including liver, lung and cardiac therapy. 1708 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This up-to-date review of the basic elements directly connected to the evolution of galaxies links data about remote galaxies to the observation of very old populations in our own galaxy. Young researchers and well-known specialists discuss the difficulties and remaining uncertainties of the problem. 600 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Modular Chemistry: the First Steps In recent years, there has been increasing interest among chemists, physicists, materials scientists, biologists, engineers, and others in the assembly of well defmed, relatively large functional structures from repetitive units that themselves are molecules of some complexity. Using the dictionary defmition of a module (a detachable section, compartment, or unit with a specific purpose or function, and in electronics, a compact assembly functioning as a component of a larger unit) [1], we feel that this newly emerging field of endeavor could be called 'modular chemistry' [2]. The NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Modular Chemistry that was held on September 9 to 12, 1995, at Aspen Lodge near Estes Park, Colorado, was meant to bring together prominent contributors to modular chemistry as it is being born, and to examine the associated birth pangs. It was concluded that although real, these are not nearly as bad as giving birth to a hedgehog tail first, and that the ultimate rewards were likely to be far more satisfying in terms of new ideas and enabling methodology. The level of excitement about the possibilities that are opening up for modular chemists, and also the challenge involved, are perhaps best documented by noting that the planned discussion periods at the workshop were as long as the oral presentation periods, and yet, each discussion ran over the allocated time. 700 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Although stem rust is mostly controlled by means of resistance cultivars, leaf and stripe rust continue to be major problems in many wheat-growing areas of the world. Wheat Rusts: An Atlas of Resistance Genes provides a basis to identify genes for resistance to stem, leaf and stripe rusts of wheat. Typical phenotypes associated with most known genes for resistance to the three rust diseases of wheat are illustrated in full colour. This book will assist the plant breeder to identify candidate resistance genes, thereby saving substantial time and resources before a single cross is made for genetic analysis. Prepared by well-known specialists from a leading international laboratory, Wheat Rusts: An Atlas of Resistance Genes comprises an introductory chapter, details of individual resistance genes, appendices and an index. Details for each gene include chromosome location, aspects of genetics and pathogen variation, the effect of environment on expression, origin, availability in genetic and breeding stocks, and use in agriculture. Audience: All wheat researchers including geneticists, pathologists, breeders and agronomists. This book is a unique and invaluable aid to all involved in developing wheats for resistance to the rust pathogens. 212 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The future of the Common Fisheries Policy depends on progress in the relevant areas of research. This applies to the whole range of management decisions, where precise, reliable and complete data are essential to inform those who must decide on the pursuit of existing activities, especially in the area of maritime fisheries, and the development of promising new activities such as aquaculture. Every day the Director-General of DG XIV requires more and more information to prepare decisions which will affect the future of all those in the Community who are dependent on fishing and aquaculture. There is thus a high level of direct demand from DG XIV. Over and above this immediate and specific requirement for short- and medium-term applications, research affects the competitivity of the Community. This is one area which favours the collaboration across frontiers of all those who seek to advance knowledge. But although DG XIV is uniquely placed to appreciate the importance of research into fisheries and aquaculture, there is no question of succumbing to the temptation to directly control the scope of research or its conduct. The notion of subsidiarity can best be understood by examining the existing structures in the Member States. The Commission must act first and foremost as a catalyst, by promoting the circulation of information and the coordination of research programmes. 628 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -As Directors of this NATO Workshop we welcome this opportunity to record formally our thanks to the NATO Scientific Affairs Division for making our meeting possible through generous financial support and encouragement. This meeting had two purposes: the first obvious one because we have collected key scientists from East and West together to discuss the latest developments in the design against fatigue for structures and components. The second is less obvious but perhaps in the longer term more important; that is the building of bridges between East and West Europe, bridges cemented in the first place by personal friendship between scientists. Fatigue is the process by which structures subjected to cyclical loads deteriorate. The advent of the industrial revolution and in particular the spread of railways caused this phenomena to be recognised and studied some 150 years ago. Despite intensive efforts over the years and despite a huge increase in our theoretical and practical understanding offatigue, failures still occur causing economic disruption and even loss of life. Some of the reasons lying behind this apparent failure to apply advanced knowledge to everyday engineering were explored during this Workshop. Economic pressures to extend the lives of existing plant are becoming more intense. Therefore of vital importance is the generation of knowledge used to assess the performance of existing structures and machines and to produce guidance on their continued safe operation. 484 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Recent advances in the field of guided-wave optics, such as fiber optics and integrated optics, have included the introduction of arbitrarily-shaped optical waveguides which, in many cases, also happened to be arbitrarily inhomogeneous, dissipative, anisotropic, and/or nonlinear. Most of such cases of waveguide arbitrariness do not lend themselves to analytical so lutions; hence, computational tools for modeling and simulation are es sential for successful design, optimization, and realization of the optical waveguides. For this purpose, various numerical techniques have been de veloped. In particular, the finite element method (FEM) is a powerful and efficient tool for the most general (i. e. , arbitrarily-shaped, inhomogeneous, dissipative, anisotropic, and nonlinear) optical waveguide problem. Its use in industry and research is extensive, and indeed it could be said that with out it many optical waveguide problems would be incapable of solution. This book is intended for students, engineers, designers, and techni cal managers interested in a detailed description of the FEM for optical waveguide analysis. Starting from a brief review of electromagnetic theory, the first chapter provides the concepts of the FEM and its fundamentals. In addition to conventional elements, i. e. , line elements, triangular elements, tetrahedral elements, ring elements, and triangular ring elements which are utilized for one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, axisymmetric two dimensional, and axisymmetric three-dimensional problems, respectively, special-purpose elements, such as isoparametric elements, edge elements, infinite elements, and boundary elements, are also introduced. 288 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume, based on the International Congress Creatine: From Basic Science to Clinical Application, held in Milan on June 4, 1999, outlines the physiological role of creatine in the human body as well as its possible role in different pathological conditions. Creatine is already used as a dietary supplement to augment muscle performance in healthy individuals and inpatients with immobilizing diseases, such as complex fractures. There is also an increasing interest in its administration in a growing number of clinical conditions. A specific deficit of endogenous synthesis of creatine which responds to high dosage exogenous supplementation has been described. In cardiac failure and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, creatine improves the contractility of the muscular system. Promising effects of this substance have also been described in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and in some mitochondrial cytopathies. This volume is of obvious interest to basic scientists working on the physiology of creatine and to clinicians interested in its medical indications. 136 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume arises from the work of the International Geographical Union Working Group on Regional Hydrological Response to Climate Change and Global Warming under the chairmanship of Professor Changming Liu (1992-96). The book consists mostly of peer-reviewed papers delivered at the Working Group's first three scientific meetings held in Washington, D.C. (1992), Lhasa, Tibet (1993) and Moscow (1995). These have been supplemented by a few additional chapters that have been specifically commissioned in order to give a well-rounded coverage of the global and scientific aspects of the topic. As editors, we have sought to balance state-of-the-art reviews of methodology and regional research with detailed studies of specific countries and river basins. In the spirit of the IGU, we have devoted particular effort to encouraging contributions from scientists in the non-English-speaking world. These chapters provide valuable evidence of recent climatic change and predictions of future hydrological impacts from parts of the world where little detailed work has been conducted hitherto. They provide much valuable information that is new and interesting to an international audience and is otherwise very difficult or impossible to acquire. It is hoped that the present volume will be not only a record of current achievements, but also a stimulus to further hydrological research as the detail and spatial resolution of Global Climate Models improves. One notable aspect that emerges from a number of the contributions is that many, though by no means all, recent hydrological trends are in line with global warming predictions. 452 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This proceedings volume has been edited from sixty-nine full text papers of the 132 papers presented to the IUFRO (International Union of Forestry Research Organizations) Conference on Environmental Forest Science, which was jointly organized by IUFRO Division 8, 'Forest Environment', and Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan, on 19-23 October 1998. The International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO) is one of the oldest scientific societies. It was founded in 1892 to foster cooperation of research units on forestry. IUFRO consists of 650 research organizations from 100 countries. IUFRO th Division 8 is the latest division, founded at the 20 World Congress in 1995 by subdividing the previous Division 1, 'Forest Environment and Silviculture'. The objective of this first general Conference of Division 8 is to consider research needs in the 21 sl century for forest environment, and the integration of related fields of sciences to a new concept of environmental forest science. 676 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -In his writings around 1930, Wittgenstein relates his philosophy in different ways to the idea of phenomenology. He indicates that his main philosophical project had earlier been the construction of a purely phenomenological language, and even after having given up this project he believed that 'the world we live in is the world of sense-data,l that is, of phenomenological objects. However, a problem is posed by the fact that he does not appear ever to have given a full, explicit account of what he means by his 'phenomenology', 'phenomenological language', or 'phenomenological problems'. In this book, I have tried to unravel the nature of Wittgenstein's phenomenology and to examine its importance for his entire work in philosophy. Phenomenology can be characterized as philosophy whose primary concern is what is immediately given in one's experience. This 'immediately given' is not merely impressions inside one's mind, but includes also the part of objective reality that impinges upon one's consciousness. Thus, an aim of phenomenological enterprise is to grasp this objective reality by attending to immediate experience. Husserl's phenomenology is in fact a case in point. 276 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -An integrated approach to environmental data management is necessitated by the complexity of the environmental problems that need to be addresses, coupled with the interdisciplinary approach that needs to be adopted to solve them. Agenda 21 of the Rio Environmental Conference mandated international programmes and organizations to take steps to develop common data and information management plans, and steps have been taken in this direction. The key word that defines the framework of the present book is `integration'. The book establishes the basics of integrated approaches and covers environmental data management systems within that framework, covering all aspects of data management, from objectives and constraints, design of data collection networks, statistical and physical sampling, remote sensing and GIS, databases, reliability of data, data analysis, and the transformation of data into information. 564 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Major changes continue to occur in medical education. There are increasing external and internal pressures to improve the quality of courses and the teaching performance of individual staff. Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 1983, the Handbook for Medical Teachers has established itself as an ideal resource for both new and established teachers in an area where there is very little other support. It successfully combines basic educational principles with a how-to approach in a very readable way, supported by numerous illustrations and cartoons. This third edition has been extensively revised throughout to reflect the many changes in medical education since the last edition. There is a new chapter on problem-based learning as well as an appendix on how to keep a teaching portfolio as a support for academic promotion or staff appraisal. A Handbook for Medical Teachers is essential reading for all those involved in any area of medical teaching and research. 208 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The book appeared in two previous Slovak editions for university students in Czechoslovakia. This edition presents a completely new version updated according to recent advances not only in immunochemistry and essential immunology but also in molecular biology, biochemistry and molecular genetics. The scope of the book is considerable since the goal was to cover the field of immunochemistry from the widest point of view including both the topic and methods of contemporary immunochemistry. Each chapter provides basic information on a specific subtopic, clearly and understandab ly, and presents principles of individual immunochemical methods. I am confident that the book will fill the gap between the books on essential immunology and highly specialised books on individual areas of immunoche mistry (e. g. on antibodies, antigens, numerous immunochemical techniques, etc. ). It may also prove useful for beginning investigators from different biological and medical fields as it supplies basic information needed for solving their scientific problems by immunochemical approaches. I do hope that readers will find the text stimulatory and pleasury to read. I wish to thank all colleagues and friends for supplying their own results, suggestions and for their encouraging comments. My thanks go also to the editors and publishers for their valuable contribution to the preparation of the book. 1 Introduction The term immunochemistry was coined by the Swedish chemist ARRHENIUS who used it for the first time in his lectures in 1907. 532 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -One would think states and peoples have had so many bad experiences with inflation that politicians at the helm of these states would do everything within their power to avoid inflation and, in particular, its very intensive shape, i. e. hyperinflation. However, this has not been the case. After the big inflations of the twenties and the post-war inflations of the fourties, we still witness intensive, economically, socially and politically extremely painful inflationary processes. And the eighties will be particularly engraved in history as a period in which the inflation has assumed an exceptionally dynamic character with respect to some countries. This regards, in the first place, Latin America, but not exclusively. Not without reason -as will be of particular intensity has also affected shown in this book -inflation countries which, according to the passed economic doctrine, were supposed to be completely immune from this economic illness. Most generally, the inflation can be assumed to be a uniform phenomenon which, in each case, can be described by a single, universal definition, while being divided into a number of forms and types distinguishable according to their original and secondary sources, their mechanisms, the ways of their manifestation as well as to their effects and the methods of counteracting them. 208 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Technological innovations, as well as the social innovations needed to provide adequate support systems for them, are among the important foundations for economic and industrial growth in the world today. Consequently, the discussions in this important volume of the emerg ing 'sociotechnical' trends in various industries around the world are highly instructive and timely. We can learn much of value from oth ers around the world who are facing similar problems of economic and industrial development. Sociotechnical innovation requires a global set ting to be fully understood and appreciated because so much new eco nomic activity that serves the economy of the United States, as well as the economies of other countries, is found in other parts of the world including not only manufacturing innovations, but innovations in the service industries. For all of our economic self-interests, we need to view innovation globally. Sociotechnical innovation is linked with the successful development of cutting edge technologies, such as ultra large-scale integrated elec tronic systems, new larger computers, the 'myria-process' systems in computing architecture that use thousands of processors, new biochem ical solutions in high-cost feedstock, applications of genetic engineer ing to crop improvement, and biotechnological improvements in the pharmaceutical industries. There are also developments in the materi als field: new fiber-reinforced plastics, rapid solidification technologies, new polymers and ceramics. And there are advances in air transport technologies that may replace current technologies [1]. 244 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Environmental pollution is one of the main problems to confront humanity, with the heavy metals occupying a leading role among the most pernicious pollutants. The metals cause cancer and other sicknesses. Their cytotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials are not fully understood, and any thorough investigation demands the combined efforts of scientists drawn from many different disciplines. But the effects of heavy metals are not all negative: some, like cis-DDP, and some ruthenium and tin complexes, have antitumour activity. The idea underlying the present work is therefore to present a multidisciplinary perspective on heavy metals in the environment, affording a better understanding of their action on human organisms and health, aiming to make them less polluting and more environmentally friendly. 656 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Many problems in celestial mechanics, physics and engineering involve the study of oscillating systems governed by nonlinear ordinary differential equations or partial differential equations. This volume represents an important contribution to the available methods of solution for such systems. The contents are divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 presents a study of periodic solutions for nonlinear systems of evolution equations including differential equations with lag, systems of neutral type, various classes of nonlinear systems of integro-differential equations, etc. A numerical-analytic method for the investigation of periodic solutions of these evolution equations is presented. In Chapters 2 and 3, problems concerning the existence of periodic and quasiperiodic solutions for systems with lag are examined. For a nonlinear system with quasiperiodic coefficients and lag, the conditions under which quasiperiodic solutions exist are established. Chapter 4 is devoted to the study of invariant toroidal manifolds for various classes of systems of differential equations with quasiperiodic coefficients. Chapter 5 examines the problem concerning the reducibility of a linear system of difference equations with quasiperiodic coefficients to a linear system of difference equations with constant coefficients. Chapter 6 contains an investigation of invariant toroidal sets for systems of difference equations with quasiperiodic coefficients. For mathematicians whose work involves the study of oscillating systems. 300 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Insects are by far the largest group of animals on Earth, with over a million described species, and they occupy a wide range of ecological niches - they may be herbivores, predators, parasites or decomposers. Some are of particular economic importance as pests of agriculture and forestry, as vectors of animal and human disease, or as species of interest to wildlife conservation. Thus an understanding of the processes determining their numbers is of considerable practical value. Entomologists have played a leading role in developing a theoretical basis to Population Ecology, but we still do not have adequate experimental and observational proof for many of the theoretical ideas that have been proposed. As a result, the subject has been beset with arguments for more than 50 years. This volume attempts to reconcile some of these controversies, while also reviewing the current state of our knowledge. The editors have drawn together an international list of contributors whose views reflect a range of opinions on how natural populations are stabilised. They have succeeded in producing a book that both covers the main alternative views in population theory and contains some of the best recent field studies of insect populations. This Royal Entomological Society Symposium volume will be of great interest to all entomologists and ecologists, particularly those who wish to know more about Population Dynamics. 512 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Basalt is the most voluminous of all the igneous rocks. Extensive field, experimental, petrographic and geochemical studies of basalt have provided us with a considerable understanding of igneous petrogenesis, plate tectonics, and crust-mantle interaction and exchange. One important aspect of geology that has developed over the last few decades is the study of oceanic basalts. The ocean basins cover about two thirds of the earth's surface and are floored by a basement of oceanic basalt that is continuously undergoing generation at spreading centres and destruction at subduction zones, a process which throughout geological time is recognized as the principal means of generating new crust. The study of oceanic basalts enables us to understand better the generation and recycling of crustal materials (including the continental crust), and the exchange between oceanic crust and seawater via hydrothermal activity. Compositional variations displayed by oceanic basalts provide windows into the mantle, and the identification of isotopically-distinct mantle reservoirs demonstrates that the source of oceanic basalts is heterogeneous and is controlled by convection and reservoir interactions within the mantle. 476 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -(HNF) , autotrophiC nanoflagellates, clhated Protozoa and mlcroalgae) and autotrophic and heterotrophic Because of difficulties related to sampling methods, activIties III a moderately aCid and humiC lake III central fixatIOn and taxonomic IdentificatIOn (Gates, 1984), It France the Lake of Vasslvlere IS only III the last decade that the Importance of the microbial loop III the transfer of energy and matter III pelagic marIne (Azam et al , 1983) and freshwater Materials and methods ecosystems (Porter, 1988, Stockner & Porter, 1988, Bermnger et ai, 1991) has been clearly demonstrat The phYSico-chemical charactenstIcs of the lake of ed The microbial loop IS a part of a larger microbial Vasslvlere (Central maSSif of France) are summanzed food web Illcludlllg both autotrophiC and heterotroph III Table 1 It IS a brown-colored humiC lake moderately IC pro-and eukaryotIc umcellular orgamsms (Sherr & aCidiC (pH values ranged between 5 1 and 7 5) A total Sherr, 1988, Weisse, 1991), which can be of paramount of 28 samples were collected from the end of Apnl to Importance III the recychng of orgamc matter (Fenchel, the middle of October at several depths (1, 5, 10 and 1987) More precisely, recent studies have suggest 15 m) III the deepest area of the lake (20 m) Samples ed that Protozoa are Illvolved III the microbial loop were taken With a Van Dorn bottle and pre-filtered onto III predatIOn and control of bactenal and autotroph a 160 p,m pore size filter, except those which were used 460 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The explosion of new information on Helicobacter pylori-related disease, both in the basic sciences and in clinical medicine, has continued to progress at an unprecedented pace. In many instances H. pylori infection, both in man and in the laboratory animal, has become a model to investigate fundamental biological issues such as micro-organism-host interactions, intracellular signalling, development of mucosal atrophy, mechanism of microbial resistance, disease modifying factors etc. In view of this bewildering flood of new information, the time was considered right to organize yet another update on H. pylori in the successful series 'Basic mechanisms to clinical cure' to define the 'state-of-affairs' in H. pylori research at this time. Our main objective was to integrate this new information in a series of top-quality presentations and discussions between investigators and clinicians, addressing all aspects of H. pylori research, and to review the current position and future research direc tions. The format included state-of-the-art presentations by world experts heavily involved in H. pylori research, followed by in-depth discussion on intriguing or controversial issues. The topics discussed were grouped according to the leading theme: characteristics of the organism, mode of transmission, mechanisms of H. pylori-induced inflammation, causation of disturbances of gastric secretory and motor function, aspects of clinical presentation and management, problems related to H. pylori-associated gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT-lymphoma, novel aspects of antimicrobial therapy, and vaccination. The meeting concluded with a synoptic agenda of suggested future studies for the microbiologist, the histopathologist and the clinician. 528 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Towards the Balance and Management of the Carbon Budget of the Biosphere The current state of misunderstanding of the global C cycle and our failure to resolve an issue that has been debated for 100 years (Jones and Henderson-Sellers, 1990) speaks loudly about the limitations of modem science when faced with the complexity of the biosphere. Efforts to understand and balance the global C budget have gone through several phases. First was a holistic view of the C budget as part of efforts to understand the geochemistry of the Earth (e. g. , Clarke, 1908). Next, came a period of data collection and sythesis which focused on the diversity of sectors of the biosphere. This phase culminated in the early 1970's with the realization that humans were greatly impacting the global C cycle as measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory (Keeling et al. , 1973). New syntheses of the global C budget emerged at this time (Woodwell and Pacan, 1973; Bolin et al. , 1979). The next phase was one of controversy and intense focus on particular sectors of the biosphere. The controversy rested on discrepancies about the role of the terrestrial biota in the global C cycle and the failure to account for sufficient C sinks to absorb all the C emitted by land-use change in the tropics (Woodwell et al. , 1978, 1983; Houghton et al. , 1983). 712 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The book highlights the state of research in plant genetics and breeding and the results and applications of biotechnology procedures: i.e. achievements and perspectives of molecular biology and genetic engineering in the improvement of quantitative, qualitative and nutritional characters of crops, including their resistance to pests and diseases and their adaptation to different ecosystems. The book is divided into seven chapters. The first six are focused on the research aimed at improvement of resistance to Fungi, Bacteria, Nematode, Virus and Insect, and improvement of Quality. The latter was assigned two keynote lectures, respectively on agro-food quality and on quality of wood plants. Each chapter begins with a keynote paper. The seventh chapter includes the special lectures which opened and closed the Congress. 432 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book summarizes the proceedings of the invited talks presented at the International Symposium on New Trends in Optical Soliton Transmission Systems held in Kyoto during November 18 - 21, 1997. As a result of worldwide demand for ultra high bitrate transmissions and increased scientific interest from the soliton community, research on optical solitons in fibres has made remarkable progress in recent years. In view of these trends, the Research Group for Optical Soliton Communications (ROSC), chaired by Akira Hasegawa, was established in Japan in April 1995 to promote collaboration and information exchange among communication service companies, industries and academic circles in the theory and application of optical solitons. This symposium was organized as a part of the ROSC activities. As with the 1 st ROSC symposium, this symposium attracted enthusiastic response from worldwide researchers involved in the subject of soliton based communications and intensive discussions were held throughout the symposium. Particular emphases were made to dispersion managements of soliton transmission. I would like to note that in the }'t symposium the (adiabatic) dispersion managements just began to appear in reducing radiation at amplifiers and reducing collision effects in WDM system. These have become standard this time, but in addition new, non-adiabatic dispersion managements have been introduced independently by various scientists all over the world. 508 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -From May 3-7,1997, the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on 'Biological Electron Transfer Chains' was organized in Tomar, Portugal. In the application for support the choice of the topic was justified as follows: '[Until recently efforts] have concentrated on the study of the structure and function of individual redox enzymes and proteins. Enough information is now available to make a start with the study of biological electron transfer (E1) at the next higher level of organization, that of the complete ET chain.' The interest in the workshop was high: the majority of participants had registered before the workshop was formally announced, which illustrates the popularity of the topic within the biochemical and biophysical communities. The present volume contains a number of reports based on the lectures presented by the key speakers during the meeting. The workshop dealt with the following three themes: a) Electron transfer, which is the subject of Chapter 1. The analysis of ET at the molecular level is still fundamental for an understanding of how ET chains operate in vivo. After 40 years of research the contours of the subject are becoming clear now. b) Bacterial redox chains. This is the subject of Chapter 2. Its contents show how complicated these chains can be, often involving a number of gene clusters. Our understanding of the regulatory aspects and control mechanisms of these chains is only in its beginning. 304 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The development of computational models of design founded on the artificial intelligenceparadigm has provided an impetus for muchofcurrentdesign research. As artificial intelligence has matured and developed new approaches so the impact ofthese new approaches on design research has been felt. This can be seen in the wayconcepts from cognitive science has found theirway into artificial intelligence and hence into design research. And, also in the way in which agent-based systems arebeingincorporated into design systems. In design research there is an increasing blurring between notions drawn from artificial intelligence and those drawn from cognitive science. Whereas a number of years ago the focus was largely on applying artificial intelligence to designing as an activity, thus treating designing as a form ofproblem solving, today we are seeing a much wider variety ofconceptions of the role of artificial intelligence in helping to model and comprehend designing as a process. Thus, we see papers in this volume which have as their focus the development or implementationofframeworks for artificial intelligence in design - attempting to determine a unique locus for these ideas. We see papers which attempt to find foundations for the development of tools based on the artificial intelligence paradigm; often the foundations come from cognitive studiesofhuman designers. 692 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Etat : Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Antennas are part of every radar, every communications system, and every electronic warfare system. Therefore antennas are an important technical subject. The number of antenna books that have been published in the last 5 years alone attest to this fact. But why another book about antennas What does this book offer that is different from all the others The answer is: accessibility. Most of the technical literature on antennas is written for those with extensive backgrounds in electromagnetic theory and familiarity with the mathematical language of vector analysis, differential equations, and special functions. This puts much of the antenna literature out of reach for the nonspecialist who needs to understand the subject but cannot afford the time required to become familiar with all the background material. With the rapid expansion of technical knowledge, the number of engi neering students who find themselves attracted to 'classical' subjects, such as electromagnetic theory, is on the decline, making it increasingly difficult to train engineers in areas involving antennas. Some authors in other technical fields have recognized this problem. For example, books on solid-state elec tronic devices that do not require an extensive background in quantum me chanics are available, useful, and informative. This book fulfills a similar Ileed in the area of antennas. 352 pp. Englisch.