Soil microorganisms play a major role in the degradation and recycling of organic material. Microbes are involved in the food web and strongly contribute to soil fertility. In the past, attention was mainly directed towards free-living or particle-bound microorganisms, while the role of intestinal microbes of soil animals has been neglected.

For the first time, "Intestinal Microorganisms of Termites and Other Invertebrates" focuses on the microbes in gut systems of soil animals. It starts with a profound overview of the biology of soil invertebrates. A major part deals with the gut microbiota of termites, the best investigated gut system of invertebrates. Termites are important soil processors in tropical and subtropical regions. Insight is given into the intestinal microbiota of further relevant primary litter decomposers, such as earthworms, springtails, millipeds, and woodlice. Novel techniques for studying intestinal microbes complete the volume.

Microbial cell wall structures play a significant role in maintaining cells' shape, as protecting layers against harmful agents, in cell adhesion and in positive and negative biological activities with host cells. All prokaryotes, whether they are bacteria or archaea, rely on their surface polymers for these multiple functions. Their surfaces serve as the indispensable primary interfaces between the cell and its surroundings, often mediating or catalyzing important interactions.

"Prokaryotic Cell Wall Compounds" summarizes the current state of knowledge on the prokaryotic cell wall. Topics concerning bacterial and archaeal polymeric cell wall structures, biological activities, growth and inhibition, cell wall interactions and the applications of cell wall components, especially in the field of nanobiotechnology, are presented.

The ancient beverage wine is the result of the fermentation of grape must. This n- urally and fairly stable product has been and is being used by many human societies as a common or enjoyable beverage, as an important means to improve the quality of drinking water in historical times, as therapeutical agent, and as a religious symbol. During the last centuries, wine has become an object of scientific interest. In this respect different periods may be observed. At first, simple observations were recorded, and subsequently, the chemical basis and the involvement of microorg- isms were elucidated. At a later stage, the scientific work led to the analysis of the many minor and trace compounds in wine, the detection and understanding of the biochemical reactions and processes, the diversity of microorganisms involved, and the range of their various activities. In recent years, the focus shifted to the genetic basis of the microorganisms and the molecular aspects of the cells, including metabolism, membrane transport, and regulation. These different stages of wine research were determined by the scientific methods that were known and available at the respective time. The recent "molecular" approach is based on the analysis of the genetic code and has led to significant results that were not even imaginable a few decades ago. This new wealth of information is being presented in the Biology of Microorganisms on Grapes, in Must, and in Wine.

The second edition of the book begins with the description of the diversity of wine-related microorganisms, followed by an outline of their primary and energy metabolism. Subsequently, important aspects of the secondary metabolism are dealt with, since these activities have an impact on wine quality and off-flavour formation. Then chapters about stimulating and inhibitory growth factors follow. This knowledge is helpful for the growth management of different microbial species. The next chapters focus on the application of the consolidated findings of molecular biology and regulation the functioning of regulatory cellular networks, leading to a better understanding of the phenotypic behaviour of the microbes in general and especially of the starter cultures as well as of stimulatory and inhibitory cell-cell interactions during wine making. In the last part of the book, a compilation of modern methods complete the understanding of microbial processes during the conversion of must to wine.This broad range of topics about the biology of the microbes involved in the vinification process could be provided in one book only because of the input of many experts from different wine-growing countries.

Microbial cell wall structures play a significant role in maintaining cells' shape, as protecting layers against harmful agents, in cell adhesion and in positive and negative biological activities with host cells. All prokaryotes, whether they are bacteria or archaea, rely on their surface polymers for these multiple functions. Their surfaces serve as the indispensable primary interfaces between the cell and its surroundings, often mediating or catalyzing important interactions. Prokaryotic Cell Wall Compounds summarizes the current state of knowledge on the prokaryotic cell wall. Topics concerning bacterial and archaeal polymeric cell wall structures, biological activities, growth and inhibition, cell wall interactions and the applications of cell wall components, especially in the field of nanobiotechnology, are presented.

In der Bundesrepublik hat die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Nationalsozialismus eine fast 50jahrige Geschichte. In dieser Zeit sind Begriff und Vorstellungswelt der "Vergangenheitsbewaltigung" gepragt von sehr verschiedenen Moglichkeiten durchgespielt worden, mit der belastenden Vergangenheit umzugehen.
In den Landern Mittel- und Osteuropas haben die Auseinandersetzungen mit dem Staatssozialismus und seinen Hinterlassenschaften vor knapp zehn Jahren begonnen. Es ist offen, ob sie bald versanden oder in eine vergleichbare Tradition einmunden werden. Dabei gelten fur die Bewaltigung der DDR-Vergangenheit noch einmal besondere Bedingungen. Wahrend z. B. in Polen, Tschechien und Ungarn die Auseinandersetzung mit der Vergangenheit im Rahmen einer neu entstehenden demokratischen Struktur stattfinden muss, vollzieht sich der Umgang mit dem Staatssozialismus in Deutschland im Rahmen einer bereits fest etablierten politischen Kultur. Hinzu kommt, dass trotz aller Unterschiede der beiden politischen Vergangenheiten die Verschrankung der beiden Vergangenheitsbewaltigungen heute ein fester Bestandteil der deutschen Politik und der deutschen Diskussion ist."

Wie es der Mangel der Sozialwissenschaften ist, daB sie der psychologischen Seite gesellschaftlicher und politischer Prozesse keine Aufmerksamkeit schenk en, so ist es umgekehrt ein Mangel der Psychologie, daB sie dazu neigt, ihren Gegenstand von allen sozialen und geschichtlichen Bezugen zu isolieren. Das gilt so gar fur jenen Zweig der akademischen Psychologie, der sich unter der Bezeichnung Politische Psychologie in den USA schon seit langem groBes Ansehen erworben hat und sich in den letztenJahren auch in der Bundesrepublik starker hat etablieren konnen. Wo die Sozialwissenschaften die Gesellschaft auf ein auBeres Zwangsverhaltnis reduzie- ren, da lost diese traditionelle Politische Psychologie die gesellschaftliche und poli- tische Objektivitat in ein Verhaltnis zwischen Individuen auf. Sie entwickelt Parame- ter fur Arbeitszufriedenheit und Resignation, fur Materialismus und Postmaterialis- mus, fur Konventionalismus und Idealismus, ohne diese Bestimmungen auf objek- tive Zwange, Versagungen und Anpassungsleistungen, die sie erst verstandlich ma- chen wurden, zu beziehen. Ihr Ideal ist es, jeden Pendelschlag des menschlichen Ver- haltens und Denkens zu quantifizieren und tabellarisch festzuhalten. So verwandelt sie die Gesellschaft in ein Konglomerat von abfragbaren subjektiven Meinungen und Werthaltungen und versteht unter Politischer Psychologie folgerichtig nichts ande- res als eine wissenschaftliche Technik der Meinungsumfrage. Der kritischen Politis chen Psychologie, wie sie im vorliegenden Band prasentiert wird, liegt ein anderes Selbstverstandnis zugrunde.