Description: A major task for physical oceanographers is to determine the movement of oceanic water from observations. This book introduces a simple, efficient inverse method, the P-vector method, with a two-step determination of the velocity from hydrographic data. A DVD with software, hydrographic data and inverted velocity data is included for practical use. Both the book and the DVD provide insights into the basics of the P-vector inverse method and the features of the inverted global and regional ocean circulations. Upper undergraduate and graduate students as well as oceanographers, marine biologists and other environmental scientists will find this book of great value as a tool for their continuing studies.

Description: This book presents an interdisciplinary overview on the most recent advances in QSAR studies. The first part is handbook-esque and consists of a comprehensive review of QSAR methodology written by outstanding scientists and highly experienced lecturers. It focuses on methodology and new ideas, providing readers with an idea of recent trends and developments in each part of QSAR strategy (descriptors, methods of modelling, validation). The second part highlights the interdisciplinary aspects and new areas of QSAR modelling. It outlines the theoretical framework together with practical applications. The most optimal solutions (descriptors, mathematical/statistical methods, validation) in the individual areas of interest (environmental risk assessment, drug design, etc.) are also discussed in more detail.

Description: The induction of unconsciousness using anesthetic agents demonstrates that the cerebral cortex can operate in two very different behavioral modes: alert and responsive vs. unaware and quiescent. But the states of wakefulness and sleep are not single-neuron properties---they emerge as bulk properties of cooperating populations of neurons, with the switchover between states being similar to the physical change of phase observed when water freezes or ice melts. Some brain-state transitions, such as sleep cycling, anesthetic induction, epileptic seizure, are obvious and detected readily with a few EEG electrodes; others, such as the emergence of gamma rhythms during cognition, or the ultra-slow BOLD rhythms of relaxed free-association, are much more subtle. The unifying theme of this book is the notion that all of these bulk changes in brain behavior can be treated as phase transitions between distinct brain states.

Description: Mathematical modelling and computer simulation have proved tremendously successful in engineering. One of the greatest challenges for mechanists is to extend the success of computational mechanics to fields outside traditional engineering, in particular to biology, biomedical sciences, and medicine. The proposed workshop will provide an opportunity for computational biomechanics specialists to present and exchange opinions on the opportunities of applying their techniques to computer-integrated medicine. For example, continuum mechanics models provide a rational basis for analysing biomedical images by constraining the solution to biologically reasonable motions and processes. Biomechanical modelling can also provide clinically important information about the physical status of the underlying biology, integrating information across molecular, tissue, organ, and organism scales. The main goal of this workshop is to showcase the clinical and scientific utility of computational biomechanics in computer-integrated medicine.

Description: Mathematical and symmetrical analysis of the structure of molecular systems of genetic code has essential meaning for the bioinformatics, biomathematics, and biotechnology fields. Symmetrical Analysis Techniques for Genetic Systems and Bioinformatics: Advanced Patterns and Applications adds unique and novel value to the literature in these areas, compiling studies that demonstrate effective approaches to the structural analysis of genetic systems and bioinformatics. This groundbreaking reference advances the knowledge available to researchers, educators, and students about new mathematical methods and tools, phenomenological results and interdisciplinary connections in the fields of molecular genetics, bioinformatics, computer informatics, and mathematical and theoretical biology.

Description: The hippocampus is thought to play a role in the short-term storage of declarative memories in the human brain. Our understanding of its anatomy, physiology and molecular structure has expanded rapidly in recent years. Yet much still needs to be done to decipher the function of the detailed microcircuits. This overview of our current knowledge of the hippocampus also provides a snapshot of the state of the art of ongoing research into these microcircuits.

Description: The book gives an introduction to computer-based modelling of oceanic processes. It is the first of its kind and contains over twenty practical exercises, using freely available Open-Source software, and covers a wide range of topics from long surface waves, geostrophic flows, through to the general wind-driven circulation including western boundary currents and mesoscale eddies. Results are animations rather than still images. Model codes and animation scripts for all exercises are supplied on a CD-ROM. The reader can adopt model codes for own independent studies. This author offers excellent interactive learning material for graduate students and researchers interested in dynamical processes occurring in the ocean and the computer-based modelling thereof. Only minimum mathematical background knowledge is required and the many exercises of this book are based on freely available open-source software. Complete model codes and animation scripts are provided for each exercise.

Description: Brings the latest advances in nanotechnology and biology to computing

This pioneering book demonstrates how nanotechnology can create even faster, denser computing architectures and algorithms. Furthermore, it draws from the latest advances in biology with a focus on bio-inspired computing at the nanoscale, bringing to light several new and innovative applications such as nanoscale implantable biomedical devices and neural networks.

Description: As Earth faces the greatest mass extinction in 65 million years, the present is a moment of tremendous foment and emergence in ecological science. With leaps in advances in ecological research and the technical tools available, scientists face the critical task of challenging policymakers and the public to recognize the urgency of our global crisis. This book focuses directly on the interplay between theory, data, and analytical methodology in the rapidly evolving fields of animal ecology, conservation, and management. The mixture of topics of particular current relevance includes landscape ecology, remote sensing, spatial modeling, geostatistics, genomics, and ecological informatics. The greatest interest to the practicing scientist and graduate student will be the synthesis and integration of these topics to provide a composite view of the emerging field of spatial ecological informatics and its applications in research and management.

Description: This proposed Special Issue in AoIS will present studies from leading researchers and practitioners focusing on current challenges, directions, trends, and opportunities associated with healthcare organizations and their strategic use of Web-enabled technologies. Healthcare and biomedical organizations are undergoing major transformations to meet the demand for improved access and quality of service, and modern information technologies are helping to process and manage the growing wealth of data involved. Web-based applications offer a sharp increase in data access and management, and they are at the forefront of the broad field of medical informatics.