t Heinz Red! and Gunther Sch!ag Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria The word "sepsis" derives from the Greek meaning decay or rottenness. Tradition ally this term has been used to describe the process of infection accompanied by the host's systemic inflammatory response. Based on that understanding, previous clin ical studies have been designed to include only patients with positive blood cultures [1, 2]. However, the frequent occurrence of a septic response without the demon stration of microorganisms in the circulation has led to a new definition and under standing of sepsis, mainly as the systemic response of the host to an often unde tectable microbiological or non-microbiological process [3]. The general consensus is that cytokines are central to the inflammatory response, particularly in sepsis. It is now known that not only Gram-negative but also Gram positive, viral, and fungal infections initiate the complex cascades of cytokine release. Probably the most important aspect of bacterial action is the release of toxic bacterial products. In particular endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria (see chap ter by Schade) and super antigens (see chapter by Neumann and Holzmann), as well as pore-forming toxins [4] from Gram-positive bacteria, induce cytokine formation. The importance of this cytokine release is evident from both diagnostic and thera peutic (mostly experimental) studies, and the action of cytokines may be the key to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the sepsis syndrome.

t Heinz Red! and Gunther Sch!ag Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria The word "sepsis" derives from the Greek meaning decay or rottenness. Tradition ally this term has been used to describe the process of infection accompanied by the host's systemic inflammatory response. Based on that understanding, previous clin ical studies have been designed to include only patients with positive blood cultures [1, 2]. However, the frequent occurrence of a septic response without the demon stration of microorganisms in the circulation has led to a new definition and under standing of sepsis, mainly as the systemic response of the host to an often unde tectable microbiological or non-microbiological process [3]. The general consensus is that cytokines are central to the inflammatory response, particularly in sepsis. It is now known that not only Gram-negative but also Gram positive, viral, and fungal infections initiate the complex cascades of cytokine release. Probably the most important aspect of bacterial action is the release of toxic bacterial products. In particular endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria (see chap ter by Schade) and super antigens (see chapter by Neumann and Holzmann), as well as pore-forming toxins [4] from Gram-positive bacteria, induce cytokine formation. The importance of this cytokine release is evident from both diagnostic and thera peutic (mostly experimental) studies, and the action of cytokines may be the key to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the sepsis syndrome.

Fibrin plays a prominent role in wound healing. It has a hemostatic effect, induces cellular response to wound damage,' and, by forming strands to build a matrix, assists in neovascularization and fibroblast proliferation. The concept of using clotting substances from human blood for wound manage- ment and to achieve hemostasis in bleeding parenchymatous organs can be traced to 1909, when Bergel [1] reported on the hemostatic effect of fibrin powder. In 1915, Grey [3] employed fibrin to control bleeding in neurosurgical operations of the brain. A year later, Harvey [4] used fibrin patches to stop bleeding from parenchy- matous organs in general surgery. It took more than two decades for this ingenious idea to be rediscovered. In 1940, Young and Medawar [8] reported on experimental nerve anastomosis by sealing. Similarly, Tarlov and Benjamin [7] reunited nerves with plasma clots in 1943. Tarlov improved the results obtained with clot anastomosing of nerves by avoiding tension at the nerve stumps. In 1944, Cronkite et al. [2] reported on an initial series of eight cases in which fibrinogen and thrombin had been used successfully for anchoring skin grafts.

The World Fantasy Award-winning third volume of the Lyonesse trilogy brings attention to the faerie changeling Madouc. Where princess Suldrun once meekly endured the proprieties of Castle Haidion, Madouc defends herself with mischief. Vexed, King Casmir and Queen Sollace arrange a contest to marry her off. However, Madouc has other ideas, and leaves with the stableboy " Sir Pom-pom" on a quest to learn the identity of her father, encountering swindlers, faeries, trolls, ogres, a knight in search of his youth, and a relatively pedestrian item known as the Holy Grail. As the sorcerers Shimrod and Murgen investigate dire portents in the world of magic, Casmir schemes to murder prince Dhrun of Troicinet and bring all the lands under his iron rule; however, his ambitions will be complicated by one small but important oversight -- he's failed to allow for Madouc

Covering system architecture, implementation and testing, this work is written by authors who are widely experienced with cellular radio in general and with GSM in particular. It provides a structured overview to help make sense of the GSM specifications and surveys competing cellular systems such as NADC and CDMA. Practical testing applications are explored in depth and compared with similar techniques used with analogue cellular systems.