Bøger udgivet af Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

This volume of the ¿Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science, Second Edition¿ (ECSS), introduces the fundamental physical and mathematical concepts underlying the theory of complex physical, chemical, and biological systems. Numerous applications illustrate how these concepts explain observed phenomena in our daily lives, which range from spatio-temporal patterns in fluids from atmospheric turbulence in hurricanes and tornadoes to feedback dynamics of laser intensity to structures in cities and rhythms in the brain. The spontaneous formation of well-organized structures out of microscopic system components and their interactions is one of the most fascinating and challenging phenomena for scientists to understand. Biological systems may also exhibit organized structures emanating from interactions of cells and their networks. For instance, underlying structures in the brain emerge as certain mental states, the ability to coordinate movement, or pathologies such as tremor or epileptic seizures. When we try to explain or understand these extremely complex biological phenomena, it is natural to ask whether analogous processes of self-organization may be found in much simpler systems of the inanimate world. In recent decades, it has become increasingly evident that there exist numerous examples in physical and chemical systems in which well-organized spatio-temporal structures arise out of disordered states. As in living organisms, the functioning of these systems can be maintained only by a flux of energy (and matter) through them. Synergetics combines elements from physics and mathematics to explain how a diversity of systems obey the same basic principles. All chapters in this volume have been thoroughly revised and updated from the first edition of ECSS. The second edition also includes new or expanded coverage of such topics as chaotic dynamics in laser systems and neurons, novel insights into the relation of classical chaos and quantum dynamics, and how noise in the brain tunes observed neural activity and controls animal and human behavior.

This volume in the Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science, Second Edition, combines the main features of Game Theory, covering most of the fundamental theoretical aspects under the cooperative and non-cooperative approaches, with the procedures of Agent-Based Modeling for studying complex systems composed of a large number of interacting entities with many degrees of freedom. In Game Theory, the cooperative approach focuses on the possible outcomes of the decision-makers¿ interaction by abstracting from the "rational" actions or decisions that may lead to these outcomes. The non-cooperative approach focuses on the actions that the decision-makers can take. As John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern argued in their path-breaking book of 1944 entitled Theory of Games and Economic Behavior, most economic questions should be analyzed as games. The models of game theory are abstract representations of a number of real-life situations and have applications to economics, political science, computer science, evolutionary biology, social psychology, and law among others. Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) is a relatively new computational modeling paradigm which aims to construct the computational counterpart of a conceptual model of the system under study on the basis of discrete entities (i.e., the agent) with some properties and behavioral rules, and then to simulate them in a computer to mimic the real phenomena. Given the relative immaturity of this modeling paradigm, and the broad spectrum of disciplines in which it is applied, a clear cut and widely accepted definition of high level concepts of agents, environment, interactions and so on, is still lacking. This volume explores the state-of-the-art in the development of a real ABM ontology to address the epistemological issues related to this emerging paradigm for modeling complex systems.

This fully updated volume presents a wide range of methods for synthesis, surface modification, characterization and application of nano-sized materials (nanoparticles) in the life science and medical fields, with a focus on drug delivery and diagnostics. Beginning with a section on the synthesis of nanoparticles and their applications, the book continues with detailed chapters on nanoparticle derivatization, bio-interface, and nanotoxicity, as well as nanoparticle characterization and advanced methods development. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition serves as an ideal guide for scientistsat all levels of expertise to a wide range of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications including functional protein studies, drug delivery, immunochemistry, imaging, and more.

This volume explores the uses of RNAi and CRISPR interferences as a general method for inhibiting gene expression, with focus on their biological functions, design, chemical modifications, delivery, and preclinical/clinical applications. In addition to relevant backgrounds, the chapters in this book discuss simple and accurate protocols dealing with the latest advances in RNAi and CRISPR applications and look at how these methods differ from one another. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Comprehensive and cutting-edge, RNA Interference and CRISPR Technologies: Technical Advances and New Therapeutic Opportunities is a valuable resource for any scientist, teachers, graduate student, postdoc,and clinician interested in this field. This book also benefits anyone in research and development in biotech and pharmaceutical companies who want to understand more about these technologies, and their applications in biology and medicine.

This volume looks at applications of quantum mechanical (QM) methods in drug discovery. The chapters in this book describe how QM approaches can be applied to address key drug discovery issues, such as characterizing protein-water-ligand and protein-protein interactions, providing estimates of binding affinities, determining ligand energies and bioactive conformations, refinement of molecular geometries, scoring docked protein¿ligand poses, describing molecular similarity, structure¿activity-relationship (SAR) analysis, and ADMET prediction. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary software and tools, step-by-step, readily reproducible modeling protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and unique, Quantum Mechanics in Drug Discovery is a valuable resourcefor structural and molecular biologists, computational and medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and drug designers.

This fourth edition volume expands on the previous editions with new insights on important aspects to take into accounting when immobilizing enzymes and cells, illustrating outstanding examples that support those aspects, and exploring ways to fabricate and characterize heterogeneous biocatalysts including both immobilized enzymes and cells. The transformation of soluble and usually instable enzymes into heterogeneous and highly stable biocatalysts is strongly emphasized. The chapters in this book cover topics such as the importance of enzyme orientation on the support surface; application and characterization of immobilized enzymes; different functionalization chemistries for the modulation of the immobilized enzyme properties; co-immobilization of multi-enzyme systems; new analytical techniques for the characterization of heterogeneous biocatalysts; protocols for cell entrapment in alginate; preparation and characterization of biofilms; and cell encapsulation technologies.Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Cutting-edge and authoritative, Immobilization of Enzymes and Cells: Methods and Protocols, Fourth Edition is a valuable resource for researchers interested in expanding their knowledge of this developing field.