The analysis and interpretation of mathematical models is an essential part of the modern scientific process. Topics in Applied Mathematics and Modeling is designed for a one-semester course in this area aimed at a wide undergraduate audience in the mathematical sciences. The prerequisite for access is exposure to the central ideas of linear algebra and ordinary differential equations. The subjects explored in the book are dimensional analysis and scaling, dynamical systems, perturbation methods, and calculus of variations. These are immense subjects of wide applicability and a fertile ground for critical thinking and quantitative reasoning, in which every student of mathematics should have some experience. Students who use this book will enhance their understanding of mathematics, acquire tools to explore meaningful scientific problems, and increase their preparedness for future research and advanced studies. The highlights of the book are case studies and mini-projects, which illustrate the mathematics in action. The book also contains a wealth of examples, figures, and regular exercises to support teaching and learning. The book includes opportunities for computer-aided explorations, and each chapter contains a bibliography with references covering further details of the material.

The German conquest of Denmark and Norway in spring 1940 presents an interesting study of joint strategy between ground, air, and sea forces. In this campaign, the Germans placed great emphasis on mobility, speed, and surprise. The Fallschirmjager of 1940 was a well-trained, highly-motivated force, and their participation in Operation Weserubung the codename for the Wehrmacht assault on Denmark and Norway is this subject of this book. Among the topics discussed are German paratroop operations (some of the first combat jumps of the war) against the main Danish and Norwegian bridges and aerodromes, the jump on Dombas, behind enemy lines, and also their tenacious resistance on the snow-covered grounds of Narvik.

This Brief provides a comprehensive overview of Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that is traditionally considered as exclusively vectorborne, but can be foodborne, and may lead to outbreaks of Chagas disease in consumers. The characteristics of Trypanosoma cruzi and the clinical effects of the disease are covered, including documented outbreaks, regional patterns, and epidemiology. The various transmission routes are outlined, but with specific focus on foodborne transmission. A major emphasis of this text is contamination of fruit juices with Trypanosoma cruzi in, a transmission vehicle with increasing significance in the spread of this parasite. Also outlined is the difficulty of establishing a protocol for detection in food samples. Results on survival of Trypanosoma cruzi in food matrices is considered, as well as current risk assessment procedures and regulations. Different approaches to preventing transmission, including inactivation and decontamination are introduced, but also the importance of targeted educational initiatives, and also with a focus on future detection, prevention, and prevention of contamination of foods with this parasite.

This is the first scholarly analysis that examines the development and achievements of the American community development movement. Community development is now a multi-billion industry in the US. Hundreds of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), located in all regions of the country, have successfully forged locally-based strategies that provide affordable housing, foster business development, and provide much needed community facilities, including innumerable charter schools, in highly distressed communities in inner city neighborhoods, rural communities, and also in American Indian areas. In many areas of the US, CDFIs represent a viable alternative to the mainstream banking industry. This volume documents the positive impact the CDFI industry has had in distressed urban and rural areas in the US.

Increasing evidence indicates that inflammatory cells and immunological cytokines can enter into the brain and modulate a number of biological and cognitive functions. Under physiological conditions, only a few immune cells, such as: macrophages, lymphocytes and dendritic cells can cross the blood-brain barrier and gain access to neural tissue. For many years, these findings supported the notion that the brain was an immunologically privileged organ. To date, increasing evidence strongly challenges this conjecture. In fact, neuroinflammation triggers a significant infiltration of immune cells into the cerebral parenchyma. The infiltration of inflammatory cells is accompanied by the release of a number of cytokines that target neurons, astrocytes and microglia. This interaction between the immune system and the central nervous system modulates many cerebral functions, such as: neural remodelling, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter releasing, stress-associated response, cognitive and mental disease progression, and others. The book summarises the latest discoveries, from basic to clinical science, regarding the interactions between the immunological mediators and the neural tissue under physiological and pathological conditions. In this book, it is discussed the influence of immune cells and cytokines in neural-regulated systems. Herein, the readers can find comprehensive descriptions in diverse fields, such as: lipids and obesity, neuronal activity, neurotransmission, stress pathogenesis, rheumatologic diseases, spinal cord injuries, regulation of neural stem cells, neural control of reproduction, and others. To ensure that most of readers obtain clear and complete information, all chapters have been written by prominent experts in their respective fields, who explain these topics with a very accessible language. In summary, this book represents a highly-updated compendium about the interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system that could be very useful for undergraduate students, postgraduate students, academic educators or trainers, basic science researchers and clinical physicians.

El crecimiento de la economia en Mexico depende del desarrollo de las empresas. Por lo que es necesario que estas tengan acceso a recursos que les permitan ser mas competitivas. En particular las micro pequenas y medianas empresas son quienes requieren de financiamiento para capital de trabajo, reestructurar sus pasivos, capacitar a su personal, innovar, realizar inversiones y acceder a nuevos mercados y llegar a ser mas productivas y competitivas en consecuencia. Es por ello, que las instituciones micro financieras deben establecer estrategias para satisfacer la demanda de financiamiento, y permitir asi diversificar la obtencion de creditos. En suma, es preciso establecer mecanismos de evaluacion y analisis que abatan significativamente aquellos recursos existentes que reducen la capacidad de credito en riesgo, a fin de que puedan constituirse mayor numero micro financieras que otorguen tambien mayores importes de credito y cobren menores tasas de interes."

Astrocytes are the main glial cell type in the central nervous system. These cells were originally regarded as supportive cells of the brain, but increasing evidence indicates they play fundamental roles in many brain functions, such as: neurotransmitters uptake, energy homoeostasis, neurogenesis, myelination, immunomodulation, neurotrophic factor releasing and blood-brain-barrier maintenance. This book summarises the latest discoveries, from basic to clinical science, regarding the main roles of astrocytes under physiological and pathological circumstances. To ensure that most of readers obtain clear and complete information, all chapters have been written in plain language by worldwide-recognised experts in their respective fields.

Nuestros hijos estan en riesgo cuando no pueden elegir, o cuando pudiendolo hacer prefieren abstenerse, y tambien cuando deciden hacerlo, pero lamentablemente lo hacen mal y se equivocan. Cuando no cuentan con limites claros que regulen sus acciones, quedan totalmente expuestos y vulnerables a consecuencias, que no siempre puede saberse la magnitud del dano que ello les trae. Y se llega a esa instancia cuando no hay nadie que los contenga o los ayude a repensar y asumir las situaciones de fracaso como situaciones de aprendizaje, como cosas de la vida misma. Prevenir los riesgos en la adolescencia supone, que podamos generar espacios de dialogo, de participacion y de creacion. Que podamos ofrecer a nuestros hijos, razones para vivir...."

Este trabajo, tiene como objetivo, analizar la reduccion de la pobreza en Mexico durante el periodo comprendido del ano 2000 al 2006; a traves de los resultados presentados por el organismo creado para evaluar la efectividad de la politica de desarrollo social en Mexico, llamado Consejo Nacional de Evaluacion de la Politica de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) en el 2006. Demostrando, que es necesario fortalecer los resultados sobre el numero de personas en esta condicion, con otro indicador como la recaudacion fiscal obtenida por medio del ingreso. Lo cual se demuestra mediante un modelo matematico que establece una relacion entre los ingresos publicos y la renta per capita. Logrando asi demostrar que los ingresos del Estado son evidencia de la condicion per capita. Convirtiendo a los ingresos del Estado, en un instrumento que permite demostrar la reduccion de la pobreza de ingreso y ser referente de las carencias vigentes.

El referente institucional del programa Oportunidades a partir del ano 2001, fue la estrategia de reduccion de la pobreza llamada Programa de Salud, Educacion y Alimentacion (Progresa) del Gobierno de Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon del ano de 1997. Sin embargo, un esfuerzo institucional que genero resultados positivos en terminos cualitativos en los beneficarios ha sido el programa Oportunidades. Instrumentado a partir del gobierno federal en el ano 2000 en Mexico con el Presidente Vicente Fox. Quien considero como modelo asistencialista y de proteccion social a los pobres, al de transferencias de recursos en efectivo, condicionadas a la asistencia escolar y reuniones medicas. De esta forma, ha sido considerado exitosa la estrategia de potencialidades en los pobres. No obstante, el desarrollo de instrumentos para mejorar las condiciones cuantitativas basadas en la mejora de los ingresos de los pobres sera a largo plazo. Es decir, cuando los beneficarios logren acceder a mejores niveles de bienestar, de forma autosuficiente, adecuados a sus capacidades de ingreso, gestion y promocion de su propio capital humano."

La propuesta del libro es explicar brevemente la naturaleza y la biblia, a la cual consideramos ambas obras del mismo Dios. En la naturaleza, conocida por los creyentes como la creacion, encontramos revelacion del poder y sabiduria de Dios por las leyes naturales. La creacion puede ser comprendida por el metodo cientifico, el cual nos brinda informacion confiable. La otra obra de Dios es la Biblia, la cual es conocida por los creyentes como la revelacion de lo que la creacion no nos puede declarar, lo cual es el amor de Dios para sus criaturas, en especial los seres humanos. La Biblia fue dada como la ultima base para nuestra fe y practica. Reconocemos que el estudio de solo una de estas obras, ya sea la creacion por la ciencia o la biblia por la fe, puede demandar los mejores esfuerzos de toda una vida. Pero tambien reconocemos que todos debemos conocer un poco de ambas obras. Los autores han tratado de presentar un honesto enfoque de ambas obras, confiando en la ciencia para el conocimiento del mundo y en la Biblia para el conocimiento de Dios y su voluntad en nosotros. Abordamos con sinceridad cientifica el tema de los origenes y las distintas visiones cristianas sobre el tema."