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This expert and self-contained authored handbook provides comprehensive coverage of liquid crystals from the fundamental materials science, physics, and modeling through cutting-edge applications. Written by an author with over 40 years of active experience in this growing field, it offers an unprecedented self-contained treatment of this key research area.Liquid Crystals are a state of matter sharing properties that are usually associated with both solids and liquids. Their study belongs to wider field of soft condensed matter physics, an area growing in importance because of the new physics being discovered and the possibilities of various technological applications being developed. Liquid crystals continue to have a revolutionary technological impact and consistently pose new challenges of basic understanding. While the experimental side of liquid crystal research is very well developed, theoretical understanding has lagged, and this volume fills a gap in the published literature in terms of rigorous treatment of mathematical and computer modeling approaches.Volume II of this handbook deals with advanced aspects of liquid crystals and their applications, covering computer simulations of phase transitions in liquid crystals, liquid crystals of biomolecules, and defect textures in liquid crystals. Overall, this handbook serves as the ultimate scholarly guide for researchers, scientists, and engineers seeking to unlock the full potential of liquid crystals. It offers a comprehensive understanding of these materials and their diverse applications, empowering readers to navigate the complex intricacies of liquid crystal science and technology.

The introduction of contaminants, due to rapid urbanisation and anthropogenic activities, into the environment causes unsteadiness, distress to the physico-chemical systems including living organisms, which possibly is threatening the dynamics of nature as well as the soil biology by producing certain xenobiotics. Hence, there is an immediate global demand for the diminution of such contaminants and xenobiotics which can otherwise adversely affect the living organisms. Some toxic xenobiotics include synthetic organochlorides such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and some fractions of crude oil and coal. The advancements in microbiology and biotechnology has lead to the launch of microbial biotechnology as a separate area of research and contributed dramatically to the development of the areas like agriculture, environment, biopharmaceutics, fermented foods, etc. The evolution of new metabolic pathways from natural metabolic cycles has enabled the microorganisms to degrade almost all different complex and resistant xenobiotics found on Earth. Hence, microbes stand an imperative, efficient, green and economical alternative to conventional treatment technologies. This book comprises chapters dealing with various bioremediation strategies with the help of different groups of microorganisms along with detailed graphical/ diagrammatical representations. It also focuses on the use of microbial biotechnology and highlights the recent developments in microbial biotechnology in the area of agriculture and environment. Furthermore, it contains a detailed comprehensive account for the microbial treatment technologies from unsustainable to sustainable which includes chapters prepared by professionals, several researchers, scientists, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across the world with expertise in environmental microbiology, biotechnology, bioremediation, and environmental engineering. The research presented also highlights some of the significantly important microbial species involved in remediation, the physiology, biochemistry and the mechanisms of remediation by various microbes, and suggestions for future improvement of bioremediation technology. This book would serve as a quick reference book for graduate and postgraduate students pursuing their study in any branch of life sciences, microbiology, health sciences and environmental biotechnology as well as researchers and scientists working in laboratories and industries involved in research related to microbiology, environmental biotechnology and allied researches.

This book describes the entire process of environmental impact assessment for hydropower and dam projects, not from a legal or regulatory point of view, but from a very applied one, based mainly on the personal experience of the author, who is involved in this field of work since over 40 years, by describing the different steps of such an assessment, covering all major aspects to be dealt with. The focus is on environmental issues, while the other main subject—social impacts—is mentioned here only briefly. It will be of interest not only for ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) practitioners, be they consultants involved in the preparation of such studies or staff members of environmental protection agencies having to come to decisions based on them, but also for engineers and planners involved in such projects, developers, and people interested in questions related to energy, environment, and climate change. Overall, this book aims at contributing to put the discussionabout hydropower and dam projects on a more objective level.

This handbook focuses specifically on biomarkers in diabetes and provides a comprehensive understanding of this field. Readers will gain deep insights into bioinformatics and network analysis of biomarkers in diabetes, and will learn about circulating biomarkers in body fluids and specific pathological features of diabetes. Various animal models in diabetes research are also presented.In addition, like the previous volumes in this large reference series, the book provides a comprehensive look at genetics, cellular, and histological variables. The goal of this handbook is to provide information on markers of this disease to facilitate diagnosis, introduce new technologies, and ultimately improve health.It is a must for researchers as well as advanced students and physicians in the field of diabetes and biomarker research and application.

This book shows how psychological aspects of individuals and of couple relationships can work as both protective or risk factors to the health of diabetes patients and their partners. Departing from a social psychologic perspective, it analyzes how individual attributes and personal relationships influence health, focusing on the impacts that diabetes as a chronic-degenerative disease has on the psychological state of the patient and on their most immediate social context. The volume is divided in three parts: the first focuses on the patient, the second on the partner and the third on the couple relationship. The first part examines how attachment styles, optimism, resilience, self-efficacy in emotional regulation, loneliness and rumination impact the stress experienced by the diabetic patient. The second part analyzes how the partner's altruism, affectivity, jealousy, criticism or indifference affects the physical health of the diabetic patient. Finally, the thirdpart explores the relationship between negative emotions and the couple's motives of conflict, as well as the effects of the communication styles used, emotional warmth and empathy in the satisfaction with the relationship in couples where one of the members is a diabetes patient. Diabetes and Couple Relationship: Protective and Risk Factors will be a valuable resource for researchers, students and professionals in the fields of health and clinical psychology, social psychology and public health interested in better understanding how personal characteristics and relationships can affect the physical and psychological health of chronic disease patients, as well as their well-being and quality of life.

Dieses Buch richtet sich als Ausbildungs- und Nachschlagewerk an alle, die mehr über die Schnittbilddiagnostik mit der Digitalen Volumentomographie in der Zahnmedizin erfahren wollen. Es ist insbesondere gedacht für:Zahnärztinnen und Zahnärzte, die keinen eigenen Volumentomographen betreiben, die daher nicht täglich mit Bildern der Digitalen Volumentomographie in Kontakt kommen, aber größere Sicherheit bei der Befundung und generell mehr Verständnis von Schnittbildern erreichen wollen. Das umfangreiche Spektrum der praxisrelevanten Indikationen zur DVT wird erlernt, wodurch Überweisungen sicherer und gezielter erfolgen können. Zugleich werden Befundberichte von DVTs mit den diagnoserelevanten Bildern verständlicher und besser beurteilbar.alle mit der Digitalen Volumentomographie bereits erfahrenen Betreiber eines Digitalen Volumentomographen. Ihnen dient dieses Buch als umfassendes Nachschlagewerk und Ratgeber, der wichtige Antworten auf praxisrelevante Fragen gibt.alle Ärzte, die (auch) im Kopf-Hals-Bereich mit enger Nachbarschaft zum Gebiet der Zahnmedizin tätig sind (Oto-Rhino-Laryngologen, Allgemeinmediziner, praktische Ärzte)Studentinnen und Studenten der Zahnmedizin und Medizin, die weiterführende Informationen zu den im Studium vermittelten Inhalten zur Funktionsweise der Digitalen Volumentomographie, zu Erkrankungsformen im Kiefer- und Nasennebenhöhlenbereich und zur radiologischen Diagnostik dieser Erkrankungen suchen.Die mehr als 30 Autoren dieses Buches – alle national und international ausgewiesene Experten in ihrem Gebiet – geben sowohl Basis- als auch Experteninformationen zur DVT-Technologie, zur regelrechten Anatomie und zu Normvarianten, zu radiologischen Erscheinungsbildern pathologischer Veränderungen, zu klinischen Handlungsempfehlungen und zukünftigen Entwicklungen.Der übersichtliche Aufbau dieses breitabgestützten Werkes, das mit großem Enthusiasmus aller Beteiligten zusammengestellt wurde, die klare Sprache, die konkreten Hinweise und die zahlreichen Illustrationen zeichnen diesen für jeden DVT-Nutzer wohl unentbehrlichen Praxisbegleiter aus.

This book addresses wound care in vascular surgery, neurosurgery and lower extremity ulcers, while also providing detailed information on the latest concepts in antimicrobial therapy. The book presents essential content on the assessment, care, measurement and repair of wounds, and describes important scientific aspects as well as current clinical techniques. Due to the various topics covered, the book offers a valuable resource not only for plastic surgeons, but also for neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons and all clinicians who are interested in learning about current antimicrobial agents and their use.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of resilience across immigrant and refugee populations. It examines immigrant and refugee strengths and challenges and explores what these experiences can impart about the psychology of human resilience. Chapters review culture functions and how they can be used as a resource to promote resilience. In addition, chapters provide evidence-based approaches to foster and build resilience. Finally, the book provides policy recommendations on how to promote the well-being of immigrant and refugee families. Topics featured in this book include:Methods of cultural adaptation and acculturation by immigrant youth.Educational outcomes of immigrant youth in a European context.Positive adjustment among internal migrants.Experiences of Syrian and Iraqian asylum seekers.Preventive interventions for immigrant youth.Fostering cross-cultural friendships with the ViSC Anti-Bullying Program. Contextualizing Immigrant and Refugee Resilience is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, graduate students as well as clinicians, professionals, and policymakers in the fields of developmental, social, and cross-cultural psychology, parenting and family studies, social work, and all interrelated disciplines.

This book provides a multidisciplinary review of antibiotic resistance and unravels the complex and interrelated roles of environmental sources, including pharmaceutical industry effluents, hospital and domestic effluents, wildlife and drinking water. Antibiotic resistance is a global public health issue in which the interface between humans, animals and the environment is particularly relevant. The contrasts seen across different environmental compartments and world regions, which are due to climate, social and policy differences, mean that this problem needs to be analyzed from a multi-geographic and multi-cultural angle. Bringing together contributions from researchers on different continents with expertise in antibiotic resistance in a range of different environmental compartments, the book offers a detailed reflection on the paths that make antibiotic resistance a global threat, and the state-of- the-art in antibiotic resistance surveillance and risk assessment in complex environmental matrices.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that include both unicellular and multicellular species. They have a worldwide distribution and a wide range of applications in diverse sectors, from environmental, food and medicine to biotechnological innovations. Fungal biochemical genetics involves the study of the relationships between genome, proteome and metabolome, and the underlying molecular processes in both native and bioengineered fungi. This book provides a valuable resource on the challenges and potential of fungal biotechnology and related bioengineering and functional diversity for various industrial applications in the food, environmental, bioenergy and biorefining, and the biopharma sectors. In comparison to previous and related publications in the area of applied myco-biotech-engineering, this book bridges a knowledge gap in the areas related to prospects and investment as well as intellectual and technical issues. This book also provides information on recent commercial and economic interests in the area by juxtaposing the developments achieved in recent worldwide research and its many challenges.

This book explains the immunology of organ-specific malignancies and discusses novel immunotherapy strategies for their treatment. Since the first, very successful edition of the book was published in 2015, a number of entirely new chapters have been included. The range of cancers considered has accordingly been extended, with coverage of the latest immunotherapy approaches for cancers in different organs. In addition, the original chapters have been updated to document the latest advances in immunotherapy for pediatric solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, gastrointestinal tumors, bone tumors, central nervous tumors, lung cancer, genitourinary tract tumors, and breast cancer, among others. The book is published as part of the three-volume Springer series Cancer Immunology, which aims to provide an up-to-date, clinically relevant review of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Other volumes in the series address the translational medicine context and bench to bedside immunotherapy. Cancer Immunology: Cancer Immunotherapy for Organ-Specific Tumors will be of special value to clinical immunologists, hematologists, and oncologists.

This volume highlights three intertwined aspects of the global context of Orthodox Christianity: religion, politics, and human rights. The chapters in Part I address the challenges of modern human rights discourse to Orthodox Christianity and examine conditions for active presence of Orthodox churches in the public sphere of plural societies. It suggests theoretical and empirical considerations about the relationship between politics and Orthodoxy by exploring topics such as globalization, participatory democracy, and the linkage of religious and political discourses in Russia, Greece, Belarus, Romania, and Cyprus. Part II looks at the issues of diaspora and identity in global Orthodoxy, presenting cases from Switzerland, America, Italy, and Germany. In doing so, the book ties in with the growing interest resulting from the novelty of socio-political, economic, and cultural changes which have forced religious groups and organizations to revise and redesign their own institutional structures, practices, and agendas.

This book contributes to the on-going debates on climate change by focusing on the SDGs and exploring linkages between environmental change and food security as well as the relevance and need to consider the management of natural resources, especially water, soil and forest. Compared to relevant existing publications, this book covers case studies that capture the everyday realities of the local people and how they react and adapt to similar situations in different geographical settings. Each case study presented in this book gives a particular message. The strength of this book lies in the fact that it covers the most neglected topics in climate negotiations in spite of the fact that these decide the fate of millions of people around the world, especially the developing countries. By presenting a collection of case studies from Africa, Asia and Europe, this book encourages cross-continental knowledge sharing. The scope of the book ranges from impacts to mitigation and from in-field experiments to policy implementation. It contributes to the existing knowledge on climate-food nexus and connects climate change to sectors it could impact directly. All chapters in this book emphasise local ownership of strategy processes, effective participation from all levels, and high-level commitment. Besides being relevant for the academicians and scholars working in the field of climate change, forest and agriculture, it aims to catch interest of the policy makers and practitioners to understand ground realities for appropriate action. It is also bound to make an impact on the Non-Governmental Organizations around the world and in the three different continents that this book covers, considering the indigenous and local issues highlighted in this book.

In this manuscript, practitioners and students who are concerned with sports and rehabilitation medicine, kinesiology, as well as coaches and athletes, are introduced to numerous concepts, including mechanotransduction, inflammation, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, calpains, the extracellular matrix, neutrophils and macrophages, and their relevance to stretching, particularly stretching intensity. Although the quantitative parameters of training, duration, and frequency are important, it is the qualitative criterion of intensity (“how much”) that the author suggests is ultimately of greater concern. Intensity, the rate and magnitude of force, may be responsible for the proper recovery, regeneration, and adaptation of the musculoskeletal tissues from training, competition, or rehabilitation from injuries. Research suggests that too much force results in the stimulation of an inflammatory response, one associated with a biochemical feedback emerging from a mechanical stimulus. The intent of this manuscript is twofold: to initiate the discussion of the importance of stretching intensity with regard to proper recovery, regeneration, and adaptation, and to suggest that researchers need to explore its potential role in addressing numerous inflammatory (RA) and non-inflammatory (OA, recurrent tendinitis etc.) musculoskeletal conditions as well.

This work provides an overview of attempts to assess the current condition of the concept of creation order within reformational philosophy compared to other perspectives. Focusing on the natural and life sciences, and theology, this first volume of two examines the arguments for and against the beauty, coherence and order shown in the natural world being related to the will or nature of a Creator. It examines the decay of a Deist universe, and the idea of the pre-givenness of norms, laws and structures as challenged by evolutionary theory and social philosophy. It describes the different responses to the collapse of order: that given by Christian philosophy scholars who still argue for the idea of a pre-given world order, and that of other scholars who see this idea of stable creation order and/or natural law as redundant and in need of a thorough rethinking. It studies the particular role that reformational philosophy has played in the discussion. It shows how, ever since its inception, almost a century ago, the concepts of order and law (principle, structure) have been at the heart of this philosophy, and that one way to characterise this tradition is as a philosophy of creation order. Reformational philosophers have maintained the notion of law as ‘holding'for reality. This book discusses the questions that have arisen about the nature of such law: is it a religious or philosophical concept; does law just mean ‘orderliness'? How does it relate to laws of nature? Have they always existed or do they ‘emerge'during the process of evolution?

This unique volume discusses various aspects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Aswan High Dam (AHD) including their positive and negative impacts. It presents up-to-date research findings by Egyptian scientists and researchers covering several interesting hot topics under the following main themes: · Major impacts of GERD compared with the AHD · Environmental impacts of the AHD · Modeling scenarios investigating the impacts of GERD on the AHD and downstream · Environmental and social impacts of GERD on Egypt · Status and assessment of the sediment of the AHD reservoir and modeling the impacts of GERD on Lake Nubia sediment accumulation · Proposed scenarios for maximizing the benefits of the AHD reservoir · International aspects of GERD and the AHD The volume also offers a set of conclusions and recommendations to optimize the cooperation between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. It appeals to postgraduate students, researchers, scientists, professionals and policy planners.

This book is the first to be devoted to translational research – which aims to expedite the transfer of knowledge gained in the lab to clinical practice – within the field of oral health. It is examined how basic sciences and basic research are providing new methods and materials that will enable clinicians to treat patients more effectively. Readers will gain a translational perspective on a variety of oral conditions and related systemic diseases. Individual chapters are devoted to such topics as dental biomaterials, implants, and tissue engineering. The importance of evidence-based research and the roles and comparative value of preclinical and clinical trials are also highlighted. Knowledge of translational and clinical research is essential in understanding how new inventions and developments are being accomplished, and what regulations and guidelines need to be taken into account when planning studies, and not forgetting the ethical aspects of any research. Translational OralHealth Research is the first book to be devoted entirely to the subject, and it will be of interest to both researchers and practitioners.

This book focuses on cultural tourism as it develops into the second decade of the new millennium. It presents recent hospitality and tourism research findings from various sources, including academic researchers and scholars, industry professionals, government and quasi-government officials, and other key industry practitioners. It discusses the latest tourism industry trends and identifies gaps in the research from a pragmatic and applied perspective. It includes specific chapters on innovation in tourism, the virtual visitor, cross-cultural visions of digital collections, heritage and museum management in the digital era, cultural and digital tourism policy, marketing and governance, social media, emerging technologies and e-tourism and many other topics of contemporary significance in global hospitality and tourism. The book is edited in collaboration with the International Association of Cultural and Digital Tourism (IACuDiT) and includes the proceedings of the Second International Conference on Cultural and Digital Tourism.

This book is the first to analyze the compliance of different types of a breeder's exception to patent rights with article 30 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. This type of exception allows using protected biological matter for breeding new varieties of plants. The breeder's exception is widely accepted under plant variety legislation, but it is not common under patent laws despite the fact that patent rights often cover plant varieties. Only few European countries have adopted such an exception. After the entry into force of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, the exception will be mandatory for all European Union Member states. Based on a legal and economic approach, this book offers guidance to those countries that need to incorporate a breeder's exception into their national patent systems and suggests the importance of the exception for promoting plant breeding activities.

This book thoroughly reviews the diagnosis and treatment of injuries of the orbital walls and apex, including orbital floor, medial orbital wall, naso-orbito-ethmoid, orbitozygomatic, maxillary, and frontobasilar fractures. For each form of injury, signs and symptoms are identified and clear guidance is provided on the interpretation of clinical and radiological findings and on current surgical treatment methods. In addition, the role of orbital imaging techniques, including CT and MRI, in depicting anatomic relations is explained with the aid of a wealth of radiological images and photographs. The described approach to fracture management is multidisciplinary in nature and the advice is evidence based, drawing on the latest published data. Orbital Fractures: A Physician's Manual will be an invaluable reference and guide for ophthalmologists, maxillofacial surgeons, neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, radiologists, and emergency physicians. It will also be an excellent resource for all medical students, residents in ophthalmology, and fellows who wish to broaden their spectrum of knowledge in orbital pathology.

This monograph on the Central European Magdalenian aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the archaeological record of this period. It sheds new light on five regional groups between the Rhône valley to the west and the Vistula-valley to the east, which existed roughly between 20,000 and 14,000 years ago. Readers will discover that these groups are characterized with regard to their environmental setting (including faunal and vegetational aspects), lithic raw material and mollusk shell procurement, typology, technology and artesian craftworks. The work also explores an alternative interpretation of bidirectional recolonization from both Franco-Cantabria and Eastern Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum. This book will appeal to researchers and scholars in archaeology and cognate fields.

The book is a compilation of guidelines from various organizations such as Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Radiology and International Atomic Energy Agency. The description of the procedures is simple, easy to understand and current.The aim of this book is:a) Nuclear medicine professionals can use this book as a quick reference about how a procedure is to be performed. The set of instructions given to patient before, during and after the procedure have also been included in each chapter. b) To educate general physicians about nuclear medicine procedures. The procedures are explained briefly with common indications and precautions. Normal and abnormal nuclear medicine images have also been included for quick comparison.c) To educate paramedical staff or healthcare professionals so that they send patients to nuclear medicine department after proper preparation.d) To educate patients who come for nuclear medicine procedure.e) To clarify apprehensions and doubts which arise in the mind of the patients.

After sequencing the human genome a decade ago, researchers have continued their projects, but now to try to better understand how, and when, genes are expressed in health and disease. Efforts have been concentrated on the measurement of the expression of RNA transcripts. In an analogy to the genome, the term'transcriptome'was created to refer to the complete set of RNAs in a cell type or tissue in a particular situation. Transcriptomics is the science that studies this issue and it is a branch of functional genomics. Transcriptomics in Heath and Disease provides a comprehensive overview of the science of transcriptomics initially in health, focusing on the concept of the transcriptome and the main methods to evaluate it. The authors discuss the concept and use of gene expression signatures and transcriptional biomarkers in normal development and diseased tissues and organs. As the transcriptome changes depending on the pathology, there is also a focus on the variations in the gene expression in different diseases such as autoimmune, inflammation, cancer and infections. This book should be very useful for researchers in molecular biology focusing on gene expression, human genetics, immunology, and genomics.

XXII. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie (DGPGG e.V.), Berlin, 24.-27. Februar 1993

At this congress there were again numereous reports of progress in immunology. The new technologies are continuing to have an immense impact: gene isolation, mutation, transfection and expression, protein structure andpeptide synthesis, cell cloning, hybridization and monoclonal antibodies, CD serology, SCID and transgenic mice, modern immunomodulation and vaccines. A trmendous mass of data has accumulated over the last years. The reports are up-to-date and outstanding,to a degree no journal will ever achieve, and the results are presented in a concise and lucid way. This report will serve as a guideline for the years to came, because it is a treasure trove of explorations, making it exciting reading. This progress presents outstanding contributions. Immunology is exhibited at its best: an exciting research area and a rewarding subject to study for the benefit of mankind - today more than ever.

Mononuclear phagocytes, which include macrophages, monocytes and their precursor cells, are the most important cells in the host defence against micro-organisms and tumor cells. During the last twenty-five years research on the biology of mononuclear phagocytes has increased tremendously. This motivated Professor R. van Furth to organize five international conferences on this subject in Leiden, the Netherlands. The edited proceedings of these meethings were published: in 1970 Mononuclear Phagocytes; in 1975 Mononuclear Phagocytes in Immunity, Infections and Pathology; in 1980 Mononuclear Phagocytes -- Functional Aspects; and in 1985 Mononuclear Phagocytes -- Characteristics, Physiology and Function. Reviews of these volumes, published in international journals, praised them as the most up-to-date state of the art publications. The publication of 1991 includes 88 chapters written by more than 200 authors.

Teil I des Verhandlungsberichtes 1995 der Deutschen Gesellschaft für HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie enthält die Hauptreferate, die von besonderen Sachkennern für die Jahresversammlung geschrieben wurden. Die Referate repräsentieren den neuesten Stand der Grundlagenforschung zur Physiologie und Pathophysiologie der Mittelohrmechanik, des Corti-Organs und des vestibulo-okulären Reflexes sowie ferner der Immunologie der oberen Luftwege und der Kopf- und Halskarzinome. Dabei bleibt jedoch immer der enge Bezug zum klinischen Alltag gewahrt, so daß manches altbekannte Krankheitsbild in neuem Licht erscheint. Entsprechend dem Charakter früherer Bände wurde besonderer Wert auf ein umfangreiches Literaturverzeichnis gelegt, um dem Leser die Vertiefung von Detailwissen zu ermöglichen.

Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen sind als multifaktorielle polygenetische Krankheitsbilder gekennzeichnet, an deren Zustandekommen neben pathologischen Veränderungen der Blutgefäße des Herzens und der Niere auch solche des Blutdrucks, des Stoffwechsels sowie zentralnervöse Faktoren beteiligt sind. Die Aufdeckung molekulargenetischer Zusammenhänge zwischen bestimmten Genen und dem Auftreten von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen hat eine frühe Diagnostik und damit eine individuelle Prävention und Therapie möglich gemacht. Die thematische Breite dieses Bandes zeigt, in welchem Maß heute schon molekularbiologische Techniken unverzichtbarer Bestandteil diagnostisch/prophylaktischer Verfahren geworden sind und sich therapeutische Möglichkeiten auch bei diesen Erkrankungen eröffnen.

Dieses Buch ist aus den Arbeiten im Hochleistungs-Versuchs- und Prüffeld entstanden. Zuerst lag nur eine kleine Sammlung von J!'ormeln und anderen Unterlagen vor, die sich in der Praxis als nützlich erwiesen hatten. Im Verlauf der Zeit wuchs diese Sammlung stark an, eine Folge der Erfahrungen und Erkenntnisse aus der stürmisch fortschreitenden Netz-, Schalter-und Prüf technik. Schließlich konnte an eine Zusammen­ fassung in Buchform gedacht und vermutet werden, ein solches Buch würde als Ergänzung zu der schon vorhandenen Literatur nicht nur dem Ingenieur im Hochleistungsprüffeld helfen, sondern auch bei der Planung und beim Betrieb von Hochspannungsnetzen gute Dienste leisten. Nicht zuletzt regte zur Herausgabe des Buches die Tatsache an, daß es über viele der darin behandelten Vorgänge noch kein zusammen­ fassendes Werk gibt. Die meisten Gleichungen, die in dem Buch vorkommen, wurden aus­ führlich hergeleitet, um das Verstehen der Zusammenhänge zu er­ leichtern. Die dargestellten Rechenverfahren sind allgemein anwendbar. Daraus kann auch der Studierende Nutzen ziehen. Als Unterlage für Zahlenrechnungen enthält das Buch ausführliche Tabellen und Dia­ gramme. Bei der Benennung der behandelten Vorgänge und bei der Be­ zeichnung der zugehörigen Größen war ich nach Möglichkeit bestrebt, unter den vielen Empfehlungen die gebräuchlichsten zu wählen und fand in dem Vorschriftenwerk des VDE sowie in den Deutschen Normen eine gute Hilfe. Der Stoff des Buches gliedert sich in fünf Kapitel. Jedes einzelne dieser Kapitel ist weitgehend unabhängig von den anderen. Auf eine Einführung in die Elektrotechnik wurde verzichtet, da es an entspre­ chenden Büchern nicht mangelt.

Nitric Oxide in Transplant Rejection and Anti-Tumor Defense represents a unique combination of three interrelated topics that is unavailable in any other single work: The detection and visualization of nitric oxide in biological materials using EPR spectroscopy and EPR imaging; Nitric oxide in immune mechanisms of allograft rejection; and The involvement of nitric oxide in anti-tumor defense. By bringing together specialists from these three disciplines, the book investigates the common molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying phenomena in transplants and oncology. In addition, the book provides an introduction to biological applications of EPR spectroscopy and imaging. Nitric Oxide in Transplant Rejection and Anti-Tumor Defense will appeal to researchers and graduate-level students investigating transplant rejections and their immune mechanisms, anti-tumor immune defenses, novel types of contrast agents for EPR imaging, and biological applications of EPR spectroscopy and EPR imaging.

The First Wiggers Bernard Conference on Shock, Sepsis, and Organ Failure was envisaged as a meeting of American and European Scientists. It was named after two researchers, one from the'Old'and one from the'New World', who are wellknown for their outstanding achievements in shock research and experimental medicine. This meeting was a point of de­ parture for a series of workshops that will focus on two to three main topics dealt with in detail by experts in their respective fields. The First Wiggers Bernard Conference addressed three main questions: 1. Multi-organ-failure - is it a sequence of organ failures or a systemic disease? 2. Cellular events in trauma and sepsis - are they due to suppression, activation or both? 3. Mediators of organ failure - are LPS or sepsis necessary? Although many answers were given in this first session, numerous issues remain to be clarified due to the enormous complexity of the subject. How­ ever, the stage was set for encounters between clinicians and basic medical researchers, since theoretical knowledge will be useful to the clinician ex­ ploring new approaches to diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy. The conference could not have been organized without the generous sup­ port of the Immuno Company, Vienna, Austria. May we express our special thanks to Dr. Eibl, managing director and head of the research division of Immuno AG, not only for granting financial support but also for his valuable advice, encouragement, and scientific expertise.

Never has so much progress been reported in immunology as at this congress. The full impact of new technologies, developed since the late 1970s, has come to fruition: gene isolation, mutation, transfection and expression, protein structure and peptide synthesis, cell cloning, hybridization and monoclonal antibodies, CD serology, SCID and transgenic mice, modern immunomudulation and vaccines. An overwhelming mass of data has accumulated over the last years. The reports are up-to-date and outstanding, to a degree no journal will ever achieve, and the results are presented in a concise and lucid way. This report will serve as a guideline for generations of immunologists to come. Hundreds of new alleys have been opened, an abundance of research tools and goals are pointed to. This volume is a treasure trove of explorations ahead of our time - it is exciting reading. This progress report presents outstanding contributions, worth many prizes - a feature which is unusual for proceedings volumes. Immunology is exhibited at its best: an exciting research area and a rewarding subject to study for the benefit of mankind - today more than ever!

During the past decade, the rapid growth of molecular and cellular knowledge of macrophages, as a specialized host defense and homeostatic system, has begun to offer attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. Macrophages play a central role in a wide range of disease processes, from genetically determined lysosomal storage diseases, to acute sepsis, chronic inflammation and repair, tissue injury and cell death. Under- or overactivity of macrophage clearance, immune effector functions and responses to metabolic abnormalities contribute to common disorders such as autoimmunity, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and major infections including AIDS and Tuberculosis. Whilst the goals of therapeutic intervention based on improved understanding of macrophage functions and their contribution to pathogenesis may seem self evident, there are considerable difficulties in producing useful new agents. The present volume covers a range of subjects and provides opportunities for a more focused macrophage-targeted approach. The individual chapters review selected topics briefly, to place cellular processes and molecular targets in perspective. Overall, the volume should provide a broad sample of the state of the art. Useful reviews and references in the literature are cited within individual chapters.

Environmental conditions change considerably in the course of 24 h with respect to abiotic factors and intra- and interspecific interactions. These changes result in limited time windows of opportunity for animal activities and, hence, the question of when to do what is subject to fitness maximisation. This volume gives a current overview of theoretical considerations and empirical findings of activity patterns in small mammals, a group in which the energetic and ecological constraints are particularly severe and the diversity of activity patterns is particularly high. Following a comparative ecological approach, for the first time activity timing is consequently treated in terms of behavioural and evolutionary ecology, providing the conceptual framework for chronoecology as a new subdiscipline within behavioural ecology. An extensive Appendix gives an introduction to methods of activity modelling and to tools for statistical pattern analysis.

In this book current knowledge of the pathophysiology of shock, sepsis and multi organ failure is presented. The rapid progress which has been made and the results achieved in intensive care medicine are based on sound basic research, which is duly reflected in these chapters. Multiorgan failure is the foremost cause of postoperative and posttraumatic death and many complex mechanisms are involved. Only with a good foundation of basic research can abnormalities in the physiological, biochemical, and morphological course of shock be recognized and the necessary conclusions for treatment drawn. Therapy must proceed from profound knowledge of the multi variant physiological events in order to influence shock, sepsis and organ failure. Although numerous possibilities for therapy have arisen from pharmaceutical research in recent years, they are beyond the scope of this book and are not discussed here. To gain a better understanding of the pathophysiological events it was necessary to examine and to describe different models that simulate and reproduce these events. Here we describe the causative agents (shock) and the consequences (sepsis, organ failure) in two main sections, divided on the basis of their pathophysiology.

The Wiggers Bernard Conferences, named after two great physiologists of the past, are an­ nual gatherings of the leaders in the field of shock. The meetings focus on specific areas of which appears to be showing the most advancement during the previous year. There are se­ veral types of sessions; informal presentations during which the seminarian can be intenup­ ted in order to clarify a particular point; formal discussions follow each presentation; these are followed by informal gatherings in which these discussions continue during meals and libation in a very relaxed environment. The 1990 meeting took place in Durnstein, Austria. A small hamlet in the wine growing area of the Wachau valley, on the Danube above Vien­ na. This was the site of a former citadel where the English King Richard the Lion-Heart (Coeur de Uon) was held for ransom during the middle ages. The frank beauty and hospi­ tality of this area in addition to the ancient Roman adage'in vino veritas'acted as a catalyst to crystalize the thoughts of this interdisciplinary group of scientists as they discussed the following areas: 1. Gut as a Source of Organ Failure 2. Metabolic Aspects of the Liver in Sepsis 3. Endothelium as a Target'in Sepsis We would like to thank the participants of the conference for taking time away from their very productive and busy schedules to participate in the conference and for the prompt pre­ sentation of their manuscripts and editions of their discussions.

Organisms and environment have evolved through modifying each other over millions of years. Humans appeared very late in this evolutionary time scale. With their superior brain attributes, humans emerged as the most dominating influence on the earth. Over the millennia, from simple hunter-food gatherers, humans developed the art of agriculture, domestication of animals, identification of medicinal plants, devising hunting and fishing techniques, house building, and making clothes. All these have been for better adjustment, growth, and survival in otherwise harsh and hostile surroundings and climate cycles of winter and summer, and dry and wet seasons. So humankind started experimenting and acting on ecological lines much before the art of reading, writing, or arithmetic had developed. Application of ecological knowledge led to development of agriculture, animal husbandry, medicines, fisheries, and so on. Modem ecology is a relatively young science and, unfortunately, there are so few books on applied ecology. The purpose of ecology is to discover the principles that govern relationships among plants, animals, microbes, and their total living and nonliving environmental components. Ecology, however, had remained mainly rooted in botany and zoology. It did not permeate hard sciences, engineering, or industrial technologies leading to widespread environmental degradation, pollution, and frequent episodes leading to mass deaths and diseases.

Many advances have occurred in the last 5 years especially in understanding genetic susceptibility factors, the role of immune response in chronic arthritis and the relationship between cellular processes that underlie inflammation and tissue damage. All these are dealt with in depth in the individual contributions. Genetics studies included illustrate how studies of HLA genes and genes controlling the autoantibody repertoire may be involved. Environmental factors are believed to be important and studies both in humans and in experimental models on the role of viral and bacterial agents are covered. The fascinating relationship between microbes, dysregulated immune responses and oncogenes are also examined. Since autoimmunity is the key aspect of the immunological response in rheumatoid arthritis, the role of antigens is re-examined as is the part played by immune T and B cells. New areas of clinical application of basic science is well presented in this book, forexample, in examining how markers of cartilage destruction may become important in monitoring disease activity. A chapter reviewing possible future novel therapies is included.

Over the last decade, cytokine research has emerged as one of the most exciting and critical fields for providing fundamental knowledge of normal and abnormal human development. Today, it is apparent that cytokines orchestrate growth from the early embryonic stage to maturity and are responsible for the normal function of virtually every organ system. Furthermore, virtually all disease states have been associated, at least in part, with cytokine aberrations. In this volume, the editors have brought together internationally known experts in the field of interleukin research to provide a comprehensive review of the biology of the interleukins and their role in both health and illness, while maintaining a balance between the basic science and clinical aspects. Cytokines: Interleukins and their Receptors should be of interest to a wide variety of researchers including clinical hematologists, oncologists, immunologists, in addition to medical and PhD students and researchers with an interest in cytokines.

Recently the CXCR4/CXCL12-axis has been recognized as one of the pivotal adhesion pathways by which hematopoietic stem cells are retained in the bone marrow. CXCR4 antagonists with different chemical specification are being developed. Pharmacology research guides the way to the rational development effective antagonists. One antagonist, plerixafor, is clinically approved now for stem cell mobilization of lymphoma and myeloma patients. This allows patients to receive potentially life-saving treatment which could not have been administered otherwise. Through early clinical studies it was recognized that CXCR4 antagonists also mobilize malignant hematopoetic cells, i.e. leukemia cells. In preclinical studies a sensitization of mobilized leukemic cells to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy could be shown. Clinical studies are under way. CXCR4 antagonists are an exciting new class of compounds which are also employed for the mobilization of angiogenic cells or for the treatment of solid tumors. In this book a concise review of the current status of knowledge and future developments will be presented.

The book gives a review of the state-of-the-art of recent investigations of the adipositas diabetes syndrome of sand rats kept under laboratory conditions and given various diet regimes. Measurements of specific activities and flux rates in carbohydrate and fat metabolism determined by different analytical methods in vitro and in vivo provide insights into the pathophysiology and pathobiochemistry of different forms of the diabetic syndrome which cannot be obtained in humans.

This publication contains the proceedings of a seminar held in Brussels on November 8-9, 1988. The title of the seminar was'Reducing the costs of disease by improving resistance through genetics'. The seminar was held as an activity of the Community Programme for the Coordination of Agricultural Research, 1984-1988. Costs of disease depend on losses caused by morbidity, mortality and production decreases and on the costs of preventive measures including vaccination and medication. Production losses often contribute a major portion to the total costs. To reduce costs of disease preventive measures like vaccination, preventive medication and hygienic procedures are applied. Genetic resistance is an attractive preventive measure because of its consistent nature in the next generations, because it precludes veterinary services and because there are no side-effects. Constraints are the long term investment, relatively slow progress per generation (in combination with production traits) and the considerable lack of knowledge about inheritance of resistance mechanisms in farm animals.

Connective tissue diseases demand study because of their frequency, morbidity and mortality. They present intriguing challenges in the fields of diagnosis, management and research. Their range has now expanded enormously so that no individual can master the whole subject, particularly as this relates to their immunological basis. Immunology of Connective Tissue Diseases has been written by experts who are either clinical or basic scientists. The book presents up-to-date reviews of the immunological basis of connective tissue diseases as it impacts on diagnosis, pathogenetic concepts, disease monitoring and management. The book is aimed at physicians interested in understanding the immunological basis of these diseases, and at immunologists who are either entering this field for the first time and would like to have a convenient state-of-the-art account of its status, or who are researching in one area and would like to acquaint themselves with the developments which have taken place in others.