The recent sequencing of mycoplasma genomes has marked a turning point in the molecular genetic analysis of these microorganisms. Transcriptome and proteome analyses promise to provide the first definition of the total protein complement of a cell. The mycoplasma group includes the smallest known self-replicating organisms carrying the smallest number of genes. No wonder, therefore, that mycoplasmas have a special appeal to those interested in deciphering the minimal set of genes essential for life. Mycoplasma genomics facilitated better understanding of mycoplasma pathogenesis. Most impressive are the findings concerning the interaction of mycoplasmas with the immune system, macrophage activation, cytokine induction, mycoplasma cell components acting as superantigens, and autoimmune manifestations. The molecular definition of mycoplasmal adhesins responsible for mycoplasma attachment to host cells and evasion of the host immune system by antigenic variation of mycoplasmal surface components are other 'hot' subjects of research.Demonstration of the ability of mycoplasmas to enter host cells, cause fusogenic, apoptotic and oncogenic effects, as well as the possible association of mycoplasmas with arthritis, had their share in intensifying research on mycoplasma pathogenesis, bringing more researchers into the circle of those interested in this group of organisms. The present book is a comprehensive, up-to-date, multi-authored treatise.

Dieses Buch vereinigt Konzepte und Methoden der stochastischen Modellbildung, der statistischen Analyse und der aktuariellen Anwendung in einem Band.Dabei wird eine kompakte, aber dennoch fur Theoretiker wie Praktiker gut verstandliche und interessante Darstellung der Themengebiete Risikobewertung, explorative Datenanalyse, Simulation, Stochastische Modelle und Prozesse, verallgemeinerte lineare Regression, biometrische Modelle und Credibility gegeben.Zahlreiche Beispiele illustrieren die Anwendung der dargestellten Konzepte in der aktuariellen Praxis, wobei auf Modelle aus der Personenversicherung, Sachversicherungs- und Finanzmathematik eingegangen wird.

Das Buch bietet den gegenw{rtigen Kenntnisstand zu Klinik, Diagnostik und Therapie der ZNS-Metastasierung des Mammakar- zinoms. Im einzelnen werden die parenchymat-sen Hirnmetasta- sen, die Meningiosis carcionomatosa und diemetastasenbe- dingte R}ckenmarkkompression besprochen.

New Edition: Fractional Calculus: An Introduction for Physicists (3rd Edition)Fractional calculus is undergoing rapid and ongoing development. We can already recognize, that within its framework new concepts and strategies emerge, which lead to new challenging insights and surprising correlations between different branches of physics.This book is an invitation both to the interested student and the professional researcher. It presents a thorough introduction to the basics of fractional calculus and guides the reader directly to the current state-of-the-art physical interpretation. It is also devoted to the application of fractional calculus on physical problems, in the subjects of classical mechanics, friction, damping, oscillations, group theory, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, and hadron spectroscopy up to quantum field theory.

New Edition: Fractional Calculus: An Introduction for Physicists (3rd Edition)The book presents a concise introduction to the basic methods and strategies in fractional calculus and enables the reader to catch up with the state of the art in this field as well as to participate and contribute in the development of this exciting research area.The contents are devoted to the application of fractional calculus to physical problems. The fractional concept is applied to subjects in classical mechanics, group theory, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, hadron spectroscopy and quantum field theory and it will surprise the reader with new intriguing insights.This new, extended edition now also covers additional chapters about image processing, folded potentials in cluster physics, infrared spectroscopy and local aspects of fractional calculus. A new feature is exercises with elaborated solutions, which significantly supports a deeper understanding of general aspects of the theory. As a result, this book should also be useful as a supporting medium for teachers and courses devoted to this subject.

"China threat" has been one of hotly debated topics since the early 1990s, and this book is an effort to test the China threat thesis. The author argues that a test of the China threat thesis requires addressing two fundamental questions: whether China has the capabilities to challenge the international system and whether China has the motivations to do so. This book will offer a systematic study of China's foreign policy motivations by resorting to an image approach. The conclusion as to whether China is a status quo or a revisionist country will be reached by exploring how consideration of national interests and how China's perceptions of key characters of the U.S. affect China's foreign policy orientation. A summary of the dominant Chinese images of the U.S. will also contribute to understanding China's motivations vis-a-vis the U.S.

"China threat" has been one of hotly debated topics since the early 1990s, and this book is an effort to test the China threat thesis. The author argues that a test of the China threat thesis requires addressing two fundamental questions: whether China has the capabilities to challenge the international system and whether China has the motivations to do so. This book will offer a systematic study of China's foreign policy motivations by resorting to an image approach. The conclusion as to whether China is a status quo or a revisionist country will be reached by exploring how consideration of national interests and how China's perceptions of key characters of the U.S. affect China's foreign policy orientation. A summary of the dominant Chinese images of the U.S. will also contribute to understanding China's motivations vis-a-vis the U.S.

'The third edition of this book is designed to carefully and coherently introduce fractional calculus to physicists, by applying the ideas to two distinct applications: classical problems and multi-particle quantum problems. There remain many open questions and the field remains an active area of research. Dr HerrmannaEURO (TM)s book is an excellent introduction to this field of study.'Contemporary PhysicsThe book presents a concise introduction to the basic methods and strategies in fractional calculus which enables the reader to catch up with the state-of-the-art in this field and to participate and contribute in the development of this exciting research area.This book is devoted to the application of fractional calculus on physical problems. The fractional concept is applied to subjects in classical mechanics, image processing, folded potentials in cluster physics, infrared spectroscopy, group theory, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, hadron spectroscopy up to quantum field theory and will surprise the reader with new intriguing insights.This new, extended edition includes additional chapters about numerical solution of the fractional Schroedinger equation, self-similarity and the geometric interpretation of non-isotropic fractional differential operators. Motivated by the positive response, new exercises with elaborated solutions are added, which significantly support a deeper understanding of the general aspects of the theory.Besides students as well as researchers in this field, this book will also be useful as a supporting medium for teachers teaching courses devoted to this subject.