bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infectious Processes Around the Dawn of Civilization
Authors: Rothschild Bruce
Published: November 2023

Being condemned to repeat the history that we ignore carries an important public health caveat. How can we anticipate and prepare for future epidemics and health care challenges without knowledge of the history of disease? Documentation of past disease character and epidemiology provides an opportunity to better understand the origins or causes of diseases whose present etiology may be unclear. Such an approach requires that a disease be confidently recognizable. This demands as broad a diagnostic context (database) as possible. Recognition of disease in fossil or recent bone material requires that there be previous documentation of the effect of the disease on the bones of individuals diagnosed in life, and that the combination of bone findings be specific for the disease (i.e. that no other diseases routinely produce the same damage). Population studies are critical to this kind of analysis. A single individual represents only one possible set of dis ease damage. Disease, however, is variable, and resultant bone damage represents a spectrum. While a variety of diseases can cause a given type of damage to an isolated bone, the pattern of that damage in an individual is more specific. The distribution of disease manifestations in a population affords the strongest comparisons. Without independent corroborating evidence, isolated bones are usually not informative.
Ancient DNA Can Identify Disease Elements
Authors: Herrmann Bernd , Hummel Susanne
Published: November 2023

Ancient DNA (aDNA) analyses may provide more information about endemic infection rates of ancient populations than morphognostic inspection. This chapter focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of molecular approaches to diseases of the past, and presents arguments in favor of intensive promotion of such endeavors. There are no models for estimating the ratios of infected to uninfected people in past populations. While aDNA analyses may also provide insight into the genomic co-evolution of hosts by tracing inherited diseases beneficial for heterozygotes, the crucial issue remains research and development of new technologies to investigate host and pathogen DNA. Of necessity, these will be based in good part on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR-like techniques. Presently these tests are performed by examining one gene sequence at a time, but in the near future multiplex-PCR-based screening of ancient remains will be carried out, in which a number of different DNA sequences will be amplified simultaneously.
Kinetic Formulation of Conservation Laws
Authors: Perthame Benoît
Published: November 2023

This book gives a general presentation of the mathematical and numerical connections kinetic theory and conservation laws based on several earlier works with P. L. Lions and E. Tadmor, as well as on more recent developments. The kinetic formalism approach allows the reader to consider Partial Differential Equations, such as some nonlinear conservation laws, as linear kinetic (or semi-kinetic) equations acting on a nonlinear quantity. It also aids the reader with using Fourier transform, regularisation, and moments methods to provide new approaches for proving uniqueness, regularizing effects, and a priori bounds. Special care has been given to introduce basic tools, including the classical Boltzmann formalism to derive compressible fluid dynamics, the study of oscillatons through the kinetic defect measure, and an elementary construction of solutions to scalar conservation laws. More advanced material contains regularizing effects through averaging lemmas, existence of global large solutions to isentropic gas dynamics, and a new uniqueness proof for scalar conservation laws. Sections are also devoted to the derivation of numerical approaches, the 'kinetic schemes', and the analysis of their theoretical properties.
Applications of synchrotron light
Authors: Margaritondo Giorgio
Published: November 2023

A synchrotron source provides the photons used for a wide variety of techniques and for an even wider variety of applications. Photons interact with atoms, molecules, solids and complex biological systems in many different ways—see Fig. 3.1. Each one of the interaction mechanisms constitutes the basis of several experimental techniques.
Basic supermultiplets
Authors: Binétruy P
Published: November 2023

This chapter is self-contained. The more theoretically oriented reader may, however, ﬁnd it useful to read in parallel Appendix C where the use of super space allows for a more systematic approach. Appendix C uses two-component spinors and it might be a useful exercise to translate its results back into four-component spinors as used in this chapter. Chiral supermultiplet A ﬁrst look We consider here, as in the Wess–Zumino model of Chapter 1, a chiral supermultiplet which consists of: a complex scalar field φ(x) = (A(x) + iB(x))/√2; a Majorana spinor field Ψ(x). Obviously, the scalar field consists of two real degrees of freedom: A(x) and B(x). On the other hand, the Majorana spinor has four real components. Its equation of motion – the Dirac equation – fixes two of these degrees of freedom. To see this, consider for simplicity a planar wave of energy k0 > 0 described by the spinor u(k) which satisfies
Epidemiology in practice
Authors: Walley John , Wright John , Hubley John
Published: November 2023

Epidemiology has always been an essential part of improving the health of populations. Its early use was in the study of infectious diseases and epidemics. Describing the distribution of an epidemic such as cholera allowed doctors to find out what was causing the epidemic. In recent years epidemiology has been used mostly to find out what causes diseases such as heart disease and cancers. This has shown how factors such as diet, smoking, and living conditions are important risk factors for causing disease. Epidemiology has also been used to find out what treatments are effective in reducing disease and ill-health.
Developing a district health service
Authors: Walley John , Wright John , Hubley John
Published: November 2023

Everyone who has studied and worked in the health system in their own country will be used to their own system. Unless one has experience of working in another country one will not be familiar with alternative ways in which health services could be organized. Although we may feel that the health service is running satisfactorily, there is always room for improvement—such improvements could possibly be achieved by changing to a better system of organizing the health service.
Maternal and child health
Authors: Walley John , Wright John , Hubley John
Published: November 2023

Every day mothers seek help for their sick children—from hospitals, health centres, and community health workers. Private sector providers, drug stores, and traditional healers are also consulted. Figure 9.1 shows that fever, cough, diarrhoea, and ear problems are the main presenting complaints.
Managing medicines
Authors: Walley John , Wright John , Hubley John
Published: November 2023

This chapter has been written because the efficient management of essential drugs is a condition for the successful functioning of health systems at all levels. Despite spending some 40 to 60 per cent of their limited overall health budgets on medicines, many developing countries are unable to deliver health services for their people. Safe, effective, and affordable pharmaceutical products are fundamental to public health, yet at present at least a third of the world’s population lacks access to even the most basic drugs.
Control of communicable diseases
Authors: Walley John , Wright John , Hubley John
Published: November 2023

Communicable diseases can occur in any community, but they are particularly common in poor communities, adding to the burden of poverty. The prevention of communicable diseases is an important element in any strategy to reduce poverty.
Sensory processes and orientation
Authors: Holland Owen , McFarland David
Published: November 2023

Before Muller’s (1827) doctrine of specific nerve energies it was thought that each specific environmental event, or stimulus, affected sensory nerves in a manner specific to the type of stimulus. Muller discovered that a given nerve pathway always produces the same type of sensation regardless of its mode of stimulation. Thus light falling upon the eye produces a visual sensation, but so does mechanical stimulation, such as a blow to the eye. If our ear could be attached to the optic nerve, auditory stimulation would then give rise to visual sensation. The sense organ acts as an energy transducer providing quantitative information. The destination of the nerves that relay the sens01y messages determines the qualitative information. The doctrine of specific nerve energies provides a key organizing principle for sensory physiology. It banishes all previous speculations as to the role of sense organs in perception, making it clear that these are primarily transducers of one form of energy to another.
Motivation and learning
Authors: Holland Owen , McFarland David
Published: November 2023

The concept of motivation has a complex and contentious history, and many issues remain unresolved today. Plato and most of the ancient Greek philosophers regarded human behaviour as being the result of rational and voluntary processes, with individuals being free to choose whatever course of action their reason dictates. This view, called ‘rationalism’, persists to this day.

Thomas Aquinas, in the thirteenth century, regarded animal behaviour as being determined by sensuous desire, though he appeared to recognize some elementary process of judgement in animals: ‘Others act from some kind of choice, such as irrational animals, for the sheep flies from the wolf by a kind of judgement whereby it considers it to be hurtful to itself; such a judgement is not a free one but implanted by nature’.
Bosons
Authors: Krauth Werner
Published: November 2023

The present chapter introduces the statistical mechanics and computational physics of identical bosons. Thus, after studying, in Chapter 3, the manifestation of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle at finite temperature for a single quantum particle or several distinguishable quantum particles, we now follow identical particles to low temperature, where they lose their individual characters and enter a collective state of matter characterized by Bose condensation and superfluidity.We mostly focus in this chapter on the modeling of noninteracting (ideal) bosons. Our scope is thus restricted, by necessity, because quantum systems are more complex than the classical models of earlier chapters. However, ideal bosons are of considerably greater interest than other noninteracting systems because they can have a phase transition.
Inferring the action of natural selection from DNA sequence comparisons: data from Drosophila
Authors: Aguadé Montserrat , Rozas, Julio , Segarra Carmen
Published: November 2023

Advances in molecular biology techniques over the last two decades have contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of DNA sequences available in databases. In addition, the development of more efficient and powerful hardware, software, and algorithms has facilitated the handling and analysis of these sequences. Population genetic studies have greatly benefited from these developments. Datasets based on homologous DNA sequences from a single species are now essential to understand the forces driving molecular evolution. Indeed, valuable information about the mechanisms involved in the evolution of particular gene regions can be obtained from studying intraspecific nucleotide variation. Our understanding of this information has also benefited from further development of theoretical models such as the infinitesites model (Kimura 1983).
Evolution and population structure of parasitic protozoa: the Plasmodium model
Authors: Rich Stephen M , Ayala Francisco J
Published: November 2023

Human malaria is the cause of tremendous morbidity and mortality in the world. The complexity of its causative agents, Plasmodium species, has thwarted efforts to eradicate the disease (for review, see Spielman et al. 1993; Bradley 1999). Many methods have been proposed for intervening in parasite transmission, and hence reducing human malaria, including development of vaccines to protect individuals against infection and new drug therapies, as well as efforts that target the mosquito vector of the parasite. The extensive antigenic diversity of the parasite and its widespread resistance to existing anti-malarial drugs call for a better understanding of the parasite’s biology as a prerequisite to enhance the likely success of control efforts.
The evolution of symbiosis in insects
Authors: Ham Roeland C H J van , Moya Andrés , Latorre Amparo
Published: November 2023

Prokaryotic microbes are nearly everywhere: from the atmosphere at altitudes as high as 77 km to within subsurface sediments as deep as 4 km, from benign and eutrophic places like freshwater lakes, tropical rainforest soils, and mammalian intestines, to the most harsh environments of deep ocean hydrothermal vents, acidic rivers, desert soils, and the Antarctic ice shell. But not only are they “every-where”: in many habitats prokaryotes occur in astronomic numbers.
Evolutionary and ecological genetics of cyclical parthenogens
Authors: Meester Luc De , Gómez Africa , Simon Jean-Christophe
Published: November 2023

Cyclical parthenogenesis (CP) is defined as the more or less regular alternation of sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction (Bell 1982; Hughes 1989). The terminology is, to some extent, unfortunate, as the alternation between sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction is not necessarily genetically determined in the life cycle, but responds largely to environmental conditions, the resulting pattern often being far from “cyclical.” In general, parthenogenetic reproduction is sustained as long as environmental conditions remain favorable, whereas sexual reproduction is elicited by cues anticipating unfavorable conditions.
Play: how evolution can explain the most mysterious behavior of all
Authors: Burghardt Gordon M
Published: November 2023

In a visit to a zoo, one is apt to see gibbons vigorously, but gracefully, swinging through branches or rope “vines” with the greatest of ease. In a nearby enclosure, juvenile chimps chase each other, wrestle, and seem to laugh. In the polar bear exhibit empty beer kegs are tossed around with abandon. Moving on to the bird section, an adult Andean condor repeatedly attacks, grabs, and tosses a small red hard rubber object. All of these actions are enjoyable for the visitors to watch, but why do they even occur? These energetically costly activities are not actions that seem directed at accomplishing important ends such as eating, escaping from enemies, or mating.
The debate on the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning
Authors: Mooney H A
Published: November 2023

During the past decade there has been an impressive development of research inquiry into the issue of the role of biodiversity in the functioning of eco systems. Large numbers of research scientists have been attracted to this area, rooms in research meetings have been filled with people presenting and listening to the results of new inquiries into this topic. The literature is burgeoning with new findings and insights. However, recently there has been an unusual discord within this research area that is having some unfortunate consequences in both the larger realm of science and policy but also at the fundamental level of a negative feedback to further inquiry.
Biodiversity manipulation experiments: studies replicated at multiple sites
Authors: Hector A , Loreau M , Schmid B
Published: November 2023

Biodiversity is usually defined in a general sense as a collective term for all biological differences at scales ranging from genes to ecosystems (e.g. Harper and Hawksworth 1994). This breadth of meaning is both a strength and weakness of the term, which poses many challenges in its study. In this chapter, we focus on the BIODEPTH project, presenting an overview of published analyses of the combined site datasets from Hector et al. (1999) and Loreau and Hector (2001), and re-examining the debate caused by the early results (Hector et al. 1999, 2000b; Huston et al. 2000). We present some additional material and new methods and analysis that we hope will clarify some points of debate and draw comparisons with the small number of other multi site biodiversity experiments that have been con ducted so far.
The critical role of plant-microbe interactions on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: arbuscular mycorrhizal associations as an example
Authors: Heijden M G A van der , Cornelissen J H C
Published: November 2023

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning has been a main focus of ecological research in recent years as is summarized in this book. Studies that investigated this relationship mainly concentrated on plants and how their divers ity influences productivity and stability of terrestrial ecosystems (e.g. Hector et al., Chapter 4; Tilman et al., Chapter 3). Plants, as primary producers, are the basal component of most terrestrial ecosystems, which justifies this approach. However, most ecosystems harbour diverse communities of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and many micro organisms. These organisms interact with plants and hence influence the relationship between bio diversity and ecosystem functioning.
Perspectives and challenges
Authors: Loreau M , Naeem S , lnchausti P
Published: November 2023

Few areas of ecology have expanded as fast as biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research during the last few years. Starting from simple intuitive hypotheses, this scientific area has generated a new wave of ambitious experiments using synthesized model ecosystems in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, it has stimulated the emergence of new theoretical approaches linking concepts and perspectives from community ecology and ecosystem ecology, and it has more broadly renewed interest in synthetic approaches in eco logy, cutting across increasingly specialized eco logical sub-disciplines.
Modern Theories of Nuclear Moments
Authors: Castel B , Towner I S
Published: November 2023

The study of nuclear moments parallels the development of nuclear physics as a whole. Thus it can prove an excellent pedagogical tool to acquaint oneself with the complexities and elegance of some of the most current and powerful nuclear models, and it is this that the authors have attempted in this book. Instead of presenting a compilation of theoretical calculations of nuclear moments, they have endeavoured to show to what extent nuclear moments can be used as a stringent test of current nuclear models and of their predictive power.
Statistical Mechanics of Phase Transitions
Authors: Yeomans J M
Published: November 2023

Recent developments have led to a good understanding of universality; why phase transitions in systems as diverse as magnets, fluids, liquid crystals, and superconductors can be brought under the same theoretical umbrella and well described by simple models. This book describes the physics underlying universality and then lays out the theoretical approaches now available for studying phase transitions. Traditional techniques, mean-field theory, series expansions, and the transfer matrix, are described; the Monte Carlo method is covered, and two chapters are devoted to the renormalization group, which led to a break-through in the field. The book will be useful as a textbook for a course in `Phase Transitions', as an introduction for graduate students undertaking research in related fields, and as an overview for scientists in other disciplines who work with phase transitions but who are not aware of the current tools in the armoury of the theoretical physicist.
Some Applications of GRs
Authors: Harakeh M N , van der Woude A
Published: November 2023

In this chapter the known properties of GRs are used to study some specific nuclear properties, either as an alternative to already existing methods or as the only method to obtain any information at all. The following topics will be discussed: Fission time scales: hot, fast-rotating nuclei resulting from a heavy-ion fusion reaction can fission. It has been found from neutron multiplicity measurements that the fission time scale is considerably longer than expected on the basis of a simple statistical model. A longer fission time should also affect the multiplicity of isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) decay γs.
Inhibitors of Protein Tyrosine Kinases
Authors: Yarden Yosef , Peles Elior
Published: November 2023

Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues of proteins is an extremely rare post translational covalent modification, accounting for less than 0.1 per cent of overall cellular phosphoproteins. Nevertheless, this modification appears to be uniquely involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation by extracellular signals. Close to 50 protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are already known, falling into two groups: the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane glycoproteins that bind polypeptide growth factors, whereas the soluble PTKs reside in the cytoplasm. The catalytic function of both groups is activated, either directly or indirectly, by exoplasm-facing proteins and leads to self-phosphorylation of the stimulated kinase as well as modification of a set of cytoplasmic proteins. Loss of regulation of this catalytic function usually results in rapid cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation.
Inhibitors of Non-Protein Kinases
Authors: Buechter Douglas D , Kenyon George L
Published: November 2023

Small molecule (non-protein) kinases are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyse the transfer of a phosphoryl group, usually from a nucleoside triphosphate donor (e.g. ATP), to a non-protein acceptor molecule. A few kinases are able to utilize pyrophosphate as the phosphoryl donor (e.g. pyrophosphate dependent phosphofructokinase (Reeves et al. 1974)). Non-protein kinases are key enzymes in numerous critical cellular processes. These include the generation of ‘high-energy phosphate ‘ compounds in glycolysis, cellular storage of such compounds, salvage, and de nova synthesis of nucleotides/ nucleosides for nucleic acid synthesis and phospholipid biosynthesis. Inhibitors of non-protein kinases are of importance in mechanistic and enzymological investigations and in the elucidation of their physiological roles. Because these enzymes catalyse critical biochemical reactions, cellular growth and metabolism are often highly dependent upon their activity. As a result, many of these enzymes are attractive targets for anticancer and antiviral agents. Of particular importance is the design of inhibitors that are selective either for certain isozymes of one organism (e.g. fetal versus adult isozymes) or for enzymes from different organisms (e.g. viral versus host enzymes). The design of such inhibitors is facilitated by an understanding of the mechanism and structure of the enzyme at the molecular level. Thus investigations of the three-dimensional structure, kinetics, chemical mechanism, and active site residues of kinases are of considerable importance in modern drug design.
Enzyme Targets as an Approach to Therapy for HIV Infections
Authors: Clercq Erik De , Vandamme Anne-Mieke , Schols Dominique , Debyser Zeger
Published: November 2023

The life-cycle of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) begins with the binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein (gpl20) to the CD4 receptor of the host cells. Fusion between the viral envelope and the cell membrane follows, whereupon the viral nucleocapsid gains entry into the cell. After entry, uncoating of the nucleocapsid takes place. Once it has been released (at least partially) from its core (group-specific antigen (gag)) proteins, the genomic RNA is converted into double-stranded (proviral) DNA by reverse transcriptase (RT). The pro viral DNA then migrates to the nucleus where it is integrated into the host genome by integrase.
Fungal Enzyme Targets
Authors: Berg Dieter , Plempel Manfred
Published: November 2023

The therapeutic situation in the treatment of fungal diseases changed dramatically with the development of the sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBis). The imidazoles and 1,2,4,-triazoles that are already on the market are highly effective topical and vaginal antimycotics, and oral administration has become possible in the case of some of these compounds. The azoles, originating from the chemical classes of imidazoles, 1,2,4-triazoles, pyridines, or pyrimidines, interfere with the biosynthesis of fungal sterols by inhibiting the demethylation at Cl4. The Cl4-a-demethylase is a mono oxygenase of the cytochrome P450 type which is inhibited by direct interference with the prosthetic group, i.e. an iron porphyrin moiety.
Inhibitors of Phospholipase A2
Authors: Mobilio Dominick , Schiehser Guy A
Published: November 2023

As the first rate-limiting enzyme in the arachidonic acid cascade, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has long held promise as a strategic target for therapeutic intervention. In hydrolysing arachidonyl esters from the sn-2 position of membrane phospholipids, this enzyme class initiates the generation of a host of humoral mediators including the leucotrienes, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and lipoxins. When utilizing 1-0-alkyl phosphatidylcholines as substrates, PLA2s liberate lyso platelet-activating factor (lyso-PAF), the progenitor of the potent lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF). This ‘remodelling pathway ‘ is the primary biosynthetic route for the generation of PAF following cellular activation. In addition to its pivotal role in mediatoi biosynthesis, the direct effects of PLA2s on phospholipid catabolism and the preferential hydrolysis of oxidized substrates suggest a role in membrane remodelling and homeostasis. As a consequence of its multiple physiological effects, unregulated PLA2 activity is suspected of major involvement in inflammatory pathologies. Despite intense efforts to identify modulators of these enzymes, selective inhibitors and clinically useful agents have proved to be frustratingly elusive.
Inhibitors of Mammalian Collagenases
Authors: Johnson W H , Bottomley K M K , Broadhurst M J , Brown P A , Nixon J S
Published: November 2023

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of enzymes contains at least 11 members, subdivided into three groups, gelatinases, stromelysins, and callagenases. They are zinc metalloenzymes, which have a requirement for calcium, operate optimally at neutral pH, and are secreted as latent pro forms requiring activation. Sequence homology between family members is 55 per cent between human fibroblast collagenase and stromelysin, and

57 per cent between human fibroblast and neutrophil collagenases. The zinc-binding motif and three cysteine residues are totally conserved. All MMPs are inhibited by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP 1-4) (Docherty et al. 1985; Williamson et al. 1990) and by armacroglobulin, although a physiological role for this inhibitor is questionable. Under normal circumstances, the MMPs are probably involved in the remodelling of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. This is re quired to facilitate cell migration, morphogenesis, and growth.
Mass of the Neutron
Authors: Alexandrov Yu. A , Drozdova T F
Published: November 2023

Since the neutron is electrically neutral, the usual methods of comparing the atomic masses (mass spectroscopy and chemical methods) are not applicable in its case.The neutron mass was estimated immediately after the discovery of the neutron. First estimates were based on the measurement of the recoil energy of nuclei after their collision with neutrons. Naturally this method could not be very accurate. Therefore, a more precise method of analysis of the mass-energy balance in the transmutations involving neutrons was later employed for this purpose. Soon after the discovery of the neutron, therefore, the reactions 11B(α, n)14B and 7Li(α, n)10B were used for the determination of the neutron mass. Later, the (n, p), (p, n), (d, p), and (d, n) reactions with light nuclei were used for this purpose. A review of these experiments can be found in Ref. 92.
Introduction to modern quantitative theory
Authors: Sutton Adrian P
Published: November 2023

So far in this book we have used simple models to gain insight and basic understanding about the electronic structure and properties of materials. These models have all involved a number of approximations and while they give valuable insight and can even predict trends in properties, they contain parameters which must be fit either to experiment or to accurate calculations. But in order to make confident predictions about the properties of materials it is necessary to work with theories that contain nothing that has to be fit to experiment, that is the calculation should be done from first principles with as few approximations as possible. Since about 1980 it has become possible to make quantitative predictions of a wide range of materials’ properties essentially from first principles. These calculations are almost exact solutions of the Schrodinger equation for the material.
Physics of Semiconductors in High Magnetic Fields
Authors: Miura Noboru
Published: November 2023

This book describes the basic concepts of various physical phenomena in semiconductors and their modulated structures under high magnetic fields. The topics cover magneto-transport phenomena, cyclotron resonance, far-infrared spectroscopy, magneto-optical spectroscopy, diluted magnetic semiconductors in high magnetic fields, as well as the recent advances in the experimental techniques needed for high field experiments. Starting from the introductory part describing the basic theoretical background, each chapter introduces typical experimental data which were actually obtained in very high magnetic fields mostly in the pulsed field range up to several megagauss (20-100T). The book has both the character of a textbook and a monograph. For researchers and students with an interest in semiconductor physics or in high magnetic fields, it will serve as a useful guide.
Generalization
Authors: Kashiwa T , Ohnuki Y , Suzuki M
Published: November 2023

In this chapter, we generalize the previous path integral expression to a wider class of physical systems. To this end, we first discuss a change of variables in the path integral and the relationship to the operator formalism, and build up the polar coordinate path integral formula. Next we determine those cases where the p and q are confined within some restricted region, known as constrained systems, by applying the Faddeev-Senjanovic path integral formula to a sphere. Further we discuss quantum mechanics on a ring and the Aharonov-Bohm effect as the simplest examples of multiply connected space characterized by unshrinkable closed loops in configuration space. Also we make some comments on quantum mechanics for a more general manifold. In the next section the path integral for spin is de- rived with a newly introduced coherent state that also gives an alternative expression for the harmonic oscillator. Then, finally, cases where the WKB approximation happens to be exact are analysed.
Spin Phase Transition
Authors: Chikazumi Sōshin , Graham, Jr C D
Published: November 2023

Metamagnetismis defined as a transition from an antiferromagnetic to a ferromagnetic spin arrangement by applying a magnetic field or by changing temperature.1 When a magnetic field is applied to an antiferromagnetic material with a small anisotropy, the spin axis flops to the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field, because susceptibility in this case, χ⊥is larger than that, χ‖ in the case with the spin axis parallel to the magnetic field (see Section 7.1). This phenomenon is calledspin-axis flopping.
Shell Model Interpretation Of Nuclear Masses
Authors: Zeldes N
Published: November 2023

This chapter describes an intuitive physical way to understand the empirical trends of nuclear masses using the shell model. The nuclear ground state energy is the lowest eigenvalue of the hamiltonian matrix. In modern shell model calculations it is arrived at by a numerical diagonalization of a large matrix. On the other hand, by using general considerations and basic properties of the empirical effective interaction of the shell model, one can obtain a simple analytical expression describing the dependence of the ground state energy on nucleon numbers.
Nuclear Deformations
Authors: Nazarewicz W , Ragnarsson I
Published: November 2023

n specific regions of the nuclear periodic chart, large quadrupole moments are observed and the low-lying excitations have a rotational character. These general features are understood if the nuclei in question are assumed to have a stable deformation, i.e. a non-spherical distribution of the nuclear matter. The need to introduce nuclear deformation becomes even more evident when considering the coexisting (isomeric) nuclear states and the fission process. While fission is a dynamical process, the nucleus can also be trapped in a long­lived very elongated state. Such superdeformed configurations were found experimentally in the actinides (fission isomers) and more recently in lighter nuclei such as the rare-earths (superdeformed high spin states).
Scattering properties and modelling of aggregating and gelling systems
Authors: Nicolai Taco , Durand, Dominique , Gimel Jean-Christophe
Published: November 2023

In physics, chemistry, biology and geology, there are many random processes in which small particles come together to form large complex structures called aggregates, clusters or floes. In some cases aggregating systems eventually form a gel which can be described in terms of percolationl, and gives new properties to the system, e.g. conductivity or elasticity. Study of these phenomena raises interest both from theoretical and practical points of view. Very often, the resulting structures are highly disordered but self-similar and can therefore be described in terms of fractal geometry In addition, the gel formation may involve a connectivity transition.
Coercivity
Authors: Givord D , Rossignol M F
Published: November 2023

Coercivity is the characteristic of hard magnetic materials where magnetization reversal does not take place immediately the applied magnetic field is reversed. The applied field needed to reverse the magnetization is the coercive field Hc.
Monte Carlo Methods in Statistical Physics
Authors: Newman M E J , Barkema G T
Published: November 2023

This book provides an introduction to Monte Carlo simulations in classical statistical physics and is aimed both at students beginning work in the field and at more experienced researchers who wish to learn more about Monte Carlo methods. The material covered includes methods for both equilibrium and out of equilibrium systems, and common algorithms like the Metropolis and heat-bath algorithms are discussed in detail, as well as more sophisticated ones such as continuous time Monte Carlo, cluster algorithms, multigrid methods, entropic sampling and simulated tempering. Data analysis techniques are also explained starting with straightforward measurement and error-estimation techniques and progressing to topics such as the single and multiple histogram methods and finite size scaling. The last few chapters of the book are devoted to implementation issues, including discussions of such topics as lattice representations, efficient implementation of data structures, multispin coding, parallelization of Monte Carlo algorithms, and random number generation. At the end of the book the authors give a number of example programs demonstrating the applications of these techniques to a variety of well-known models.
Kerr Effect and Surface Magnetism
Authors: Qiu Z Q , Bader S D
Published: November 2023

The investigation of magneto-optical effects is historically rooted in the early part of the nineteenth century when physicists started to search for relationships between various natural phenomena. Magneto-optical searches date back to 1812 when Domenico Morichini of Rome erroneously claimed that steel needles could be magnetized utilizing violet radiation in the solar spectrum. A null result was reported circa 1825, when Sir John Herschel examined the propagation of a beam of polarized light along the axis of a helix carrying an electric current. Then, in 1845, Michael Faraday reported his now famous magneto-optical experiments. He found that the polarization of a beam of light rotates while travelling in a magnetized medium. Let us humble ourselves by looking back at those times of great discovery.
Giant resonances and highly excited states
Authors: Fujita Y
Published: November 2023

A Giant Resonance (GR) is often observed as a broad structure in an excitation spectrum above the excitation energy Ex = 10MeV. It is a fundamental mode of nuclear excitation interpreted to be a high-frequency surface vibration of a nucleus if we assume a phenomenological liquid drop model of a nucleus. There, a naive picture of a GR is the one-phonon excitation on the surface of a viscous liquid drop consisting of nuclear matter. It should be noted that the excitation energies of Ex = 10−20 MeV correspond to oscillation frequencies of 1021 Hz, which are the fastest vibrations of a many-body quantum system. Since a number of nucleons participate in the vibration in phase, the GR has a collective nature. The degree of collectivity is denoted by the fraction of the total vibrational amplitude allowed for each mode, called the sum-rule limit value, is observed in a state.
Experimental Neutron Scattering
Authors: Willis B T M , Carlile C J
Published: November 2023

The first systematic experiments in neutron scattering were carried out in the late 1940s using fission reactors built for the nuclear power programme. Crystallographers were amongst the first to exploit the new technique, but they were soon followed by condensed matter physicists and chemists. Engineers and biologists are the most recent recruits to the club of neutron users. The aim of the book is to provide a broad survey of the experimental activities of all these users. There are many specialist monographs describing particular examples of the application of neutron scattering: fifteen of such monographs have been published already in the Oxford University Press series edited by S. Lovesey and E. Mitchell. However this book will appeal to newcomers to the field of neutron scattering, who may be intimidated by the bewildering array of instruments at central facilities (such as the Institut Laue Langevin in France, the ISIS Laboratory in the UK, or the PSI Laboratory in Switzerland), and who may be uncertain as to which instrument to use.
Two-Dimensional Systems In Magnetic Fields
Authors: Kamimura Hiroshi , Aoki Hideo
Published: November 2023

The electronic structure of two-dimensional (2D) disordered systems in magnetic fields poses one of the most fascinating problems in solid-state physics. Besides the validity of the scaling hypothesis mentioned in the previous chapter, the points of interest include:
The Physics of Liquid Crystals
Authors: Gennes P G De , Prost J
Published: November 2023

This new edition of this classic text on condensed matter physics includes the great advances that have taken place since its first publication in 1974. New chapters describe the main types and properties of liquid crystals in terms of the new phases discovered since the middle of the 1970's, and advances in the understanding of local order and the nature of the isotropic to nematic transition. There is an extensive discussion of the symmetry, and macroscopic and dynamic properties of smectics and columnar phases, and their defects, illustrated with numerous descriptions of experimental arrangements. The final chapter is devoted to phase transitions in smectics, including the celebrated analogy between Smectic A and superconductors. Throughout the book there is an emphasis on order-of-magnitude considerations. Its topicality and breadth of coverage will ensure that The Physics of Liquid Crystals remains an indispensable guide for students and researchers alike.
Elements Of Rare Earth Magnetism
Authors: Jensen Jens , Mackintosh Allan R
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this introductory chapter is to describe in a synoptic way those features of rare earth magnetism which provide the foundation for the rest of the book. Since this material is presented in the form of a survey, it does not claim to be as systematic and complete as the later chapters. Consequently, it may be necessary for those who are unfamiliar with the rare earths and their magnetism to find further details in the original articles and reviews to which we shall refer, even though we have attempted to present a reasonably self-contained account. We shall also frequently refer forward to later sections for a more exhaustive treatment of some of the topics which are cursorily introduced here. We hope however that the information we have collected together will also provide a useful summary for those who have some familiarity with the subject.
Polymer solutions
Authors: Rubinstein Michael , Colby Ralph H
Published: November 2023

In this chapter, our understanding of ideal chain conformations (Chapter 2), real chain conformations (Chapter 3), and thermodynamics (Chapter 4) will be combined to describe the conformations of polymer solutions at all concentrations and temperatures. In this chapter, the focus is on semidilute and concentrated solutions that span the large range of concentrations between dilute solutions and melts.
Accumulating evidence to bring policy, practice, and research together
Authors: Oliver Sandy , Thomas James , Harden, Angela , Oakley Ann
Published: November 2023

In 1995, when evidence-based health policy and practice was well established in medicine and was making headway in nursing and various therapies (Evidence Based Medicine Working Group 1992; Rosenberg and Donald 1995; Bury and Mead 1998; Dicers et al. 1998), the Department of Health (England) commissioned the EPPI-Centre to develop methods and an infrastructure to transfer the approach to the area of health promotion. Building on earlier work funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to establish a database of social interventions (Oakley and Fullerton 1996), initial outputs included systematic reviews, bibliographies of evidence, and training programmes, as well as work to establish what is now known as the Health Promotion and Public Health Field within the Cochrane Collaboration.
Alison Weightman and Edward Coyle
Authors: Wales Public Health in
Published: November 2023

The principality of Wales has a population of just under three million (Office of National Statistics 2003). It became a devolved administration of the United Kingdom in 1999 following the passing of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the election of a National Assembly for Wales in 1999.Public health policy for Wales was set out by the Welsh Office in Better Health: Better Wales (Welsh Office 1998). Improving health was a core strategic theme of A Better Wales (National Assembly for Wales 2000), the strategic plan of the first National Assembly (1999–2003).
Evidence from qualitative and quantitative research
Authors: Dixon-Woods Mary
Published: November 2023

The rise of the evidence-based practice and policy movement is a sociologically interesting phenomenon, raising important questions about professional and policy-making practices and their epistemological basis, and about the types of evidence that contribute to the evidence base. Many of these issues are particularly important in debates around public health, and around inequalities and inequities in health in particular
Smoking cessation: an evidence-based approach to tackling health inequalities
Authors: Killoran Amanda , Owen, Lesley , Bauld Linda
Published: November 2023

Socio-economic inequalities in smoking are one of the key reasons for the gap in life expectancy between rich and poor in England, with smoking habits known to be shaped by broader inequalities in living conditions. Among men, smoking accounts for over half the difference in risk of premature death between the social classes (Jarvis and Wardle 1999). The Government has set a target of reducing smoking prevalence in manual groups from 32 per cent in 1998 to 26 per cent in 2010, to ‘narrow the gap’ between manual and non-manual groups.
Shared economic beliefs
Authors: Lewis Alan
Published: November 2023

People have economic beliefs: individuals and families not only organize their personal finances in terms of the relative merits of spending and saving and when it is a good time to buy a motor car or put money away in the bank, but also in terms of macroeconomic policy, such as whether the government should be doing more to alleviate high unemployment levels and to reduce inflation. Economists are clearly experts about economics. And politicians choose between competing economic theories in their management of the economy. But economists and politicians can only do so much: in the end the economy is driven by how consumers choose, and how they choose is in part, and a very important part, influenced by consumers’ economic beliefs.The present chapter has an ambitious brief. First, shared or widespread economic beliefs are examined with recourse to attitude survey data. Here it is revealed, at least as far as contemporary evidence shows, that different cultures, at least among Western capitalist countries, have economic beliefs in common. The second section concentrates on differences between cultures, and also within cultures, that is, on the different beliefs of disparate income groups, social classes, and those sharing varying political affiliations. Two crucial questions are begged: the first is concerned with the explanation of shared economic beliefs and the levels of such explanations, e.g. micro or macro, economic, political, or psychological; and the second with methodology–how are these beliefs elicited and how are they to be examined.
The Frontal Lobes and Voluntary Action
Authors: Passingham Richard
Published: November 2023

Richly illustrated with over 100 anatomical drawings, this book provides a functional view of the frontal lobes of the brain. Based on Passingham's work on monkeys and humans, the most modern techniques including PET imaging are discussed. It is the only book available to discuss the frontal cortex as a whole, and with an essential `flow diagram' of the operations of the frontal lobes, this book will be a valuable basis for future work and debate on the subject.
Lateral premotor cortex (area 6)
Authors: Passingham Richard
Published: November 2023

Suppose we teach a monkey a conditional motor task. Given a blue patch on a TV monitor the monkey must pull the joystick, and given a red patch the monkey must move it to the right. The executive mechanisms of motor cortex must be able to direct the relevant flexion and extension movements of the wrist and forearm.
Definitions and concepts
Authors: Hutnik Nimmi
Published: November 2023

Few would argue that there has been an unprecedented upsurge of ethnicity in the past two decades. In the United States, the 1960s saw the advent of the Civil Rights Movement, which has since gained credibility and achieved much in the way of rights for minority groups. In the early 1980s, Britain was rocked out of complacency by the Brixton riots. In India, recent attempts at secession by the Sikhs in the Punjab, the Gurkhas in Darjeeling, and the Mizos in the North East are witness to the fact that ethnicity is a powerful yet little understood motivating factor interwoven into the very fabric of everyday life. Certainly, the violence that is often consequent upon an awakening of ethnic identity, makes ethnicity no mean force to be reckoned with. Yet the concept is far more elusive than is immediately apparent.