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  • Boundary Elements: Theory and Applications

    • 1st Edition
    • John T. Katsikadelis
    • English
    The author's ambition for this publication was to make BEM accessible to the student as well as to the professional engineer. For this reason, his maintask was to organize and present the material in such a way so that the book becomes "user-friendly" and easy to comprehend, taking into account only the mathematics and mechanics to which students have been exposed during their undergraduate studies. This effort led to an innovative, in many aspects, way of presentingBEM, including the derivation of fundamental solutions, the integral representation of the solutions and the boundary integral equations for various governing differentialequation... in a simple way minimizing a recourse to mathematics with which the student is not familiar. The indicial and tensorial notations, though they facilitate the author's work and allow to borrow ready to use expressions from the literature, have been avoided in the present book. Nevertheless, all the necessary preliminary mathematical concepts have been included in order to make the book complete and self-sufficient.Thro... the book, every concept is followed by example problems, which have been worked out in detail and with all the necessary clarifications. Furthermore, each chapter of the book is enriched with problems-to-solve. These problems serve a threefold purpose. Some of them are simple and aim at applying and better understanding the presented theory, some others are more difficult and aim at extending the theory to special cases requiring a deeper understanding of the concepts, and others are small projects which serve the purpose of familiarizing the student with BEM programming and the programs contained in the CD-ROM.The latter class of problems is very important as it helps students to comprehend the usefulness and effectiveness of the method by solving real-life engineering problems. Through these problems students realize that the BEM is a powerful computational tool and not an alternative theoretical approach for dealing with physical problems. My experience in teaching BEM shows that this is the students' most favorite type of problems. They are delighted to solve them, since they integrate their knowledge and make them feel confident in mastering BEM.The CD-ROM which accompanies the book contains the source codes of all the computer programs developed in the book, so that the student or the engineer can use them for the solution of a broad class of problems. Among them are general potential problems, problems of torsion, thermal conductivity,deflect... of membranes and plates, flow of incompressible fluids, flow through porous media, in isotropic or anisotropic, homogeneous or composite bodies, as well as plane elastostatic problems in simply or multiply connected domains. As one can readily find out from the variety of the applications, the book is useful for engineers of all disciplines. The author is hopeful that the present book will introduce the reader to BEM in an easy, smooth and pleasant way and also contribute to itsdissemination as a modern robust computational tool for solving engineering problems.

  • Origin and Prediction of Abnormal Formation Pressures

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 50
    • V.A. Serebryakov + 2 more
    • English
    Knowledge of the presence of abnormally-high pressure zones (AHFP) prior to drilling into them can prevent considerable economic losses and, possibly, save human lives. The various origins (undercompaction, tectonics, etc.) of AHFPs are discussed, followed by the description of predictive techniques in clastic, carbonate and salt-bearing formations. In addition to the well-logging predictive techniques, the authors discuss smectite-illite transformation and the chemistry of interstitial solutions. Other topics covered include (a) abnormally low formation pressures and subsidence, and (b) mathematical modelling. Loss of potential production may result if AHFPs are not properly identified and evaluated. Many hydrocarbon-bearing formations with AHFPs are erroneously "condemned".This book is of interest to engineers and geologists involved in the (a) evaluation, (b) drilling in, (c) completing, and (d) producing from hydrocarbon reservoirs with AHFPs.

  • Do Seizures Damage The Brain

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 135
    • T. Sutula + 1 more
    • English
    What are the consequences, if any, of repeated brief seizures that are the defining feature of epilepsy? A firm answer to this question has been surprisingly elusive for a variety of reasons. Clearly there is a subset of patients who appear to tolerate seizures with relatively limited long-term consequences, and not all patients are destined to progress to intractability with frequent seizures and disability. This variability and individual susceptibility has made it difficult to make statements that fairly apply to the full range of people with epileptic disorders, whose disorders span a broad spectrum from mild with excellent control and few limitations, to severe with multiple daily seizures and pronounced disability that affects employment, educational performance, an personal life.This volume seeks to explore the spectrum of severe to more subtle damage that may be a consequence of seizures. The contributing authors have addressed these questions and related issues using a variety of methods in experimental models and in patients with epilepsy.

  • Nanoporous Materials III

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 141
    • M. Jaroniec + 1 more
    • English
    Nanoporous Materials III contains the invited lectures and peer-reviewed oral and poster contributions to be presented at the 3rd Conference on Nanoporous Materials, which will be hosted in Ottawa, Canada, June 2002. The work covers complementary approaches to and recent advances in the field of nanostructured materials with pore sizes larger than 1nm, such as periodic mesoporous molecular sieves M41S and FSM16 and related materials including clays, carbon molecular sieves, colloidal crystal templated organic and inorganic materials, porous polymers and sol gels. The broad range of topics covered in relation to the synthesis and characterization of ordered mesoporous materials are of great importance for advanced adsorption, catalytic and separation processes as well as the development of nanotechnology.The contents of this title are based on topics to be discussed by invited lecturers, which deal with periodic mesoporous organosilicas, stability and catalytic activity of aluminosilicate mesostructures, electron microscopy studies of ordered materials, imprinted polymers and highly porous metal-organic frameworks. The other contributions deal with tailoring the surface and structural properties of nanoporous materials, giving a detailed characterization as well as demonstrating their usefulness for advanced adsorption and catalytic applications.

  • Changing Views of Cajal's Neuron

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 136
    • E.C. Azmitia + 4 more
    • English
    Cajal is the Father of Neuroscience and his personal view of the Neuron has dominated the field for over 100 years. No single person has been able to challenge his global perspective of the neuron gained by Cajal's work in neuroanatomy, development, physiology, evolution and medicine. However, over 30 neuroscientists from around the world have accepted the challenge of writing a review article on "Changing Views of Cajal's Neuron". Many of these experts admitted they could only add to Cajal's theory and they carefully provided their new findings based on modern methods of microscopy, molecular biology or neurobiology. Other experts recognized specific areas where Cajal's ideas of neurons needed to be altered and refined. Key knowledge necessary to understand plasticity or development is now available and permits a changed view. A few of the authors directly challenged some of the most widely accepted and cherished theories of Cajal: the neuron as an isolated unit, function of dendrites, the direction of electrical conductivity and the importance of plasticity in the adult brain. In total, the collection of articles provides a fascinating perspective to the enormous force of Cajal's genius in the 21st Century view of the neuron.

  • Numerical Modelling and Analysis of Fluid Flow and Deformation of Fractured Rock Masses

    • 1st Edition
    • Xing Zhang + 1 more
    • English
    Our understanding of the subsurface system of the earth is becoming increasingly more sophisticated both at the level of the behaviour of its components (solid, liquid and gas) as well as their variations in space and time. The implementation of coupled models is essential for the understanding of an increasing number of natural phenomena and in predicting human impact on these.The growing interest in the relation between fluid flow and deformation in subsurface rock systems that characterise the upper crust has led to increasingly specialized knowledge in many branches of earth sciences and engineering. A multidisciplinary subject dealing with deformation and fluid flow in the subsurface system is emerging.While research in the subject area of faulting, fracturing and fluid flow has led to significant progress in many different areas, the approach has tended to be "reductionist", i.e. involving the isolation and simplification of phenomena so that they may be treated as single physical processes. The reality is that many processes operate together within subsurface systems, and this is particularly true for fluid flow and deformation of fractured rock masses. The aim of this book is to begin to explore how advances in numerical modelling can be applied to understanding the complex phenomena observed in such systems.Although mainly based on original research, the book also includes the fundamental principles and practical methods of numerical modelling, in particular distinct element methods. This volume explores the principles of numerical modelling and the methodologies for some of the most important problems, in addition to providing practical models with detailed discussions on various topics.

  • Biotechnology Annual Review

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 8
    • M.R. El-Gewely
    • English
    Biotechnology is in many respects shaping our life and affecting our means of production and the creation of jobs. Progress in the applications of biotechnology depends on a wide base of basic as well as applied sciences. The output of biotechnology has already proved itself in many diverse fields from health to biomining and from agriculture to enzyme "breeding". It is therefore difficult to follow all of the current as well as the potential applications of biotechnology.The objective of the Biotechnology Annual Review series is to attempt to provide readers with the needed indepth knowledge, by reviewing specific topics in biotechnology in each issue. The philosophy behind this series is to encourage good reviews to make it easier for readers to keep in touch with progress and applications of biotechnology. Reviews on topics related to regulatory affairs, social impact of biotechnology, biodiversity, biosafety, public acceptance and patent issues are also encouraged.Drafts of the human genome were published in Science and Nature magazines, last year. The human genome as well as the other completed genomes can now be searched using different databases.The exponential increase of the sequence data lead to the development of the new "Bioinformatics" field in order to attempt making sense, at least biological sense, out of all the new and fast data.It will take also other techniques such as "functional genomics" to link the gap between a specific phenotype or a treatment and a gene sequence. Functional genomics tools are therefore important for the accurate molecular diagnosis/prognosis, target discovery and validation needed for drug development and novel targets for antibiotics development. Functional Genomics are also important for the confirmation of therapy in pharmacogenomics studies. Applications of functional genomics techniques are equally important for progress in biotechnology applications of plants, animals and other organisms.

  • Sample Preparation in Chromatography

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 65
    • S.C. Moldoveanu + 1 more
    • English
    Sample preparation is an essential step in many analyses. This book approaches the topic of sample preparation in chromatography in a methodical way, viewing it as a logical connection between sample collection and analytical chromatography. Providing a guide for choosing the appropriate sample preparation for a given analysis, this book describes various ways to process the sample, explaining the principle, discussing the advantages and disadvantages, describing the applicability to different types of samples, and showing the fitness to specific chromatographic determinations.The first part of the book contains an overview of sample preparation showing its relation to sample collection and to the core chromatographic analysis. The second part covers procedures that do not use chemical modifications of the analyte and includes methods for sample dissolution, concentration and cleanup designed mainly for modifying the initial matrix of the sample. This part starts with conventional separations such as filtration and distillation and finishes with more advanced techniques such as solid phase extraction and electroseparations. The third part gives a description of the chemical modifications that can be performed on a sample either for fractionation purposes or to improve a specific property of the analyte. This part includes derivatizations, polymer chemical degradations, and pyrolysis.

  • Hydrocarbon Seal Quantification

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 11
    • A.G. Koestler + 1 more
    • English
    This volume contains 17 selected papers reflecting the flavour of the Norwegian Petroleum Society conference on hydrocarbon seals quantification and showing the recent significant advances in the understanding and application of hydrocarbon seal methodologies.Three broad categories are covered in this book: methodologies addressing cap-rock integrity, methodologies relating to fault seal and case studies both from the hydrocarbon basins of Northwestern Europe and in the form of outcrop examples. With the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Atlantic Margin moving along their respective basin maturity and development curves, exploration is being forced deeper into high pressure/high temperature terrains, while exploitation and development requires greater precision and realism in reservoir simulations to maximise drilling strategies to prolong field life. In all instances the need for predictive tools and methodologies that address the integrity and behaviour of top and lateral (fault) seals to hydrocarbon traps, both in the static and dynamic state, have been identified as key risk factors and this is reflected in this volume.

  • Universes in Delicate Balance: Chemokines and the Nervous System

    • 1st Edition
    • R.M. Ransohoff + 4 more
    • English
    It is commonly acknowledged that the nervous system and the immune system, those most complex of networks, share attributes beyond their intricacy. Elements common to the two systems include memory, connectivity, flexibility and developmental selection of cellular composition by a rigorous process involving widespread programmed cell death. There is one salient difference: the cells of the immune system are predominantly in constant motion, while post-mitotic neurons and glia are largely fixed in place. Therefore, chemokines, initially characterized as leukocyte chemoattractants, have for the last one and one-half decades been intensely and productively studied in the contexts of inflammation, immunity and hematopoietic development.Only recently have the two fields, neurobiology and immunology, displayed mutual interests in chemokines. This convergence of the two tribes of investigators was catalyzed by the finding that SDF-1 (now known as CXCL12) and its receptor, CXCR4, exerted significant and similar functions in development of both nervous and immune systems. Indeed CXCL12 and CXCR4 were required, in an uncannily similar fashion, for retention of pre-B lymphocytes at sites of maturation in the bone marrow and of neuronal progenitors in the external granule cell layer of the developing cerebellum. Recent reports indicate that chemoattraction of cerebellar granule cells through CXCR4 can be suppressed by reverse signaling initiated by binding of soluble eph receptors to transmembrane ephrin B, thereby establishing a link between chemokine action and a cardinal patterning system of the developing nervous system. As may be anticipated when a dam breaks, a massive influx of correlative observations in the nervous and immune systems is likely to ensue.This volume represents the state of current knowledge. To this end, introductory material for both systems is provided. Basic and advanced 'chemokinology' are presented. The recipe for making a nervous system (both ingredients and instructions for preparation) is described, as are the roles of chemokines and their receptors in making an immune system. Given their importance and complexity, CXCL12/CXCR4 interactions are separately treated in varying contexts.The field of 'neurobiology of chemokines' has not lain fallow during the last ten years. During much of this time the principal focus has been on neuroinflammation. Linking the immune and nervous systems are explanations of the functions of chemokines and their receptors for resident brain macrophages, the microglia, the unique cerebrovascular endothelium and angiogenesis.Underst... human disease is the goal of much of this research. New discoveries are being made and reported at a gratifying rate. It is expected that this volume will promote the steady production and application of useful new knowledge in this developing field. It provides a unique single-source database for basic neurobiology highlighting the fundamental aspects of chemokines and discussing the relations of chemokine science to animal models and human disease.

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