springer us springer us apr 2005 (63 resultados)

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -This volume is a selected collection of articles on different approaches to the investigation on surface effects on nanosized magnetic materials,with special emphasis to magnetic nanoparticles. The book is aimed to provide an overview of progress in the understanding of surface properties and surface driven effects in magnetic nanoparticles through recent results of different modelling, simulation and experimental investigations. Its intended audience is Ph.D. students and researchers in materials science. Magnetic nanoparticles have been the subject of continuous and growing interest, from both fundamental and technological points of view, in the last 50 years, since the pionering work of Louis Niel. Nanoparticles are unique physical objects with remarkable magnetic properties which differ greatly from their parent massive materials. They are due to finite size effects of the magnetic core, related to the reduced number of spins cooperatively linked within the particle, and to surface and interface effects, related to the lack of coordination for the surface ions, inducing broken exchange bonds which can result in frustration and spin disorder.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 316 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Certification and Security in Inter-Organizational E-Services presents the proceedings of CSES 2004 - the 2nd International Workshop on Certification and Security in Inter-Organizational E-Services held within IFIP WCC in August 2004 in Toulouse, France. Certification and security share a common technological basis in the reliable and efficient monitoring of executed and running processes; they likewise depend on the same fundamental organizational and economic principles. As the range of services managed and accessed through communication networks grows throughout society, and given the legal value that is often attached to data treated or exchanged, it is critical to be able to certify the network transactions and ensure that the integrity of the involved computer-based systems is maintained.This collection of papers documents several important developments, and offers real-life application experiences, research results and methodological proposals of direct interest to systems experts and users in governmental, industrial and academic communities.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 160 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - As society becomes increasingly dependent on computers and computer networks, computer problems continue to rise in number. Yet despite the proliferation of expert remedies, a viable solution to these security issues remains elusive, and society continues to suffer at the hands of cyber vandalism and computer viruses. This comprehensive text outlines and discusses today s most important issues and concerns in computer network and information safety and security, and promises to ignite debate and participation in the ongoing global security dialogComputer Network Security is foremost an educational tool that aims to explore computer network infrastructure and protocol design security flaws and discusses current security solutions and best practices. It explores the security threats and vulnerabilities in the current network infrastructure and protocols and outlines current efforts including: Access Control and Authorization, Cryptography, Firewalls and VPNs, Web Security and Content Filtering, among others. The text further discusses various security proposals including: Raising awareness of the security problems in cyberspace, and, more particularly, computer network securityStarting a discussion on computer network infrastructure and protocol design flaws and vulnerabilitiesExploring the role of legislation and law enforcement in maintaining computer and computer network securityProposing efficient and widely acceptable solutions and best practices to the security problem, and encouraging readers to investigate other possible solutionsThis text is an invaluable instructional and research tool for courses in computer and information security. Students or practitioners in computer science, information science, technology studies, library sciences, and information management studies will find this text particularly useful for their purposes. In addition, it is a rich resource for those looking to gain an understanding of computer infrastructures and network security threats.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Most small businesses cite lack of capital is a major constraint on growth. 'Raising Capital' focuses on non-bank sources of capital since banks only lend to companies that fit a very narrow profile. The topics covered include: (i) capital sources entrepreneurs can tap when they are too small or unusual for banks, (ii) angel investors and venture capital, (iii) where to look for angels, venture capitalists and other capital sources, (iv) how to pitch your company and close the deal, (v) deal terms and issues that arise when negotiating a deal, (vi) going public through an IPO or little known small public offerings, (viii) asset based lenders, and (ix) other financing vehicles including: bond, commercial paper, PIPEs and securitization. The scope of the book ranges from capital for entrepreneurs who have little more than an idea, to capital for top rated companies.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 396 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Morphometrics has undergone a revolutionary transformation in the past two decades as new methods have been developed to address shortcomings in the traditional multivirate analysis of linear distances, angles, and indices. While there is much active research in the field, the new approaches to shape analysis are already making significant and ever-increasing contributions to biological research, including physical anthropology. Modern Morphometrics in Physical Anthropology highlights the basic machinery of the most important methods, while introducing novel extensions to these methods and illustrating how they provide enhanced results compared to more traditional approaches. Modern Morphometrics in Physical Anthropology provides a comprehensive sampling of the applications of modern, sophisticated methods of shape analysis in anthropology, and serves as a starting point for the exploration of these practices by students and researchers who might otherwise lack the local expertise or training to get started. This text is an important resource for the general morphometric community that includes ecologists, evolutionary biologists, systematists, and medical researchers.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 408 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -society, and state (Streeck, 1999; Simonis, 1998). Interspersed between these most commonly named elements are the following: First, the high political integrating force of the German Model after WWII was based on the adoption and transformation of corporatist political structures from National Socialist Germany. Liberal capitalism was (re)introduced under political competition between Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, who eventually found common ground in the politically mediated compromise between capital and labor: ¿This compromise was negotiated and institutionalized at a time when the communist wing of the workers movement and the authoritarian voices of German capital ¿ for various reasons ¿ were excluded from political participation¿ (Streeck, 1999, p. 15; translation: SB). The partnership between firms and unions manifested itself in manifold institutional structures. Apart from the social partners¿ autonomy in matters of wage policy, worker codetermination at plant level and in operations is regarded as one of the special achievements of the German Model and has contributed substantially to social peace. The political coordination forms of concerted action, round tables, as well as modernization and crisis cartels gave birth to a highly complex political decision-making structure which, based on a federalist setup, has rightly been called ¿negotiation state¿ (Esser, 1998, p. 123). Second, the material foundation of this ¿Social Democratic class compromise¿ (Buci-Glucksmann & Therborn, 1981) consisted in the Federal Republic¿s ¿ in the words of Göste Esping-Andersen ¿ ¿conservative-liberal¿ form of welfare state.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 252 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -One of the main features of the world economy since the late nineteenth century has been the growing dominance of the American economy in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Aspects of this development - e.g. rationalization or the world-wide diffusion of Coca-Cola - have been researched, but largely in isolation. Americanization of the European Economy provides a comprehensive yet compact survey of the growth of American economic influence in Europe since the 1880s. Three distinct but cumulative waves of Americanization are identified. Americanization was (and still is) a complex process of technological, political, and cultural transfer, and this overview explains why and how the USA and the American model of industrial capitalism came to be accepted as the dominant paradigm of political economy in today's Europe.Americanization of the European Economy summarizes the ongoing discussion by business historians, sociologists, and political scientists and makes it accessible to all types of readers who are interested in political and economic development.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 284 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Graph theory is very much tied to the geometric properties of optimization and combinatorial optimization. Moreover, graph theory's geometric properties are at the core of many research interests in operations research and applied mathematics. Its techniques have been used in solving many classical problems including maximum flow problems, independent set problems, and the traveling salesman problem.Graph Theory and Combinatorial Optimization explores the field's classical foundations and its developing theories, ideas and applications to new problems. The book examines the geometric properties of graph theory and its widening uses in combinatorial optimization theory and application. The field's leading researchers have contributed chapters in their areas of expertise.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 284 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Coding is a highly integral component of viable and efficient computer and data communications, yet the often heavy mathematics that form the basis of coding may prevent a serious and practical understanding of this important area.Coding for Data and Computer Communications avoids the complex mathematics, favoring the core concepts, principles, and methods of channel codes (for error correction), source codes (for compressing data), and secure codes (for data privacy). The most important approaches and techniques used to make the storage and transmission of information (data) fast, secure, and reliable are examined.This book is an essential resource for all security researchers and professionals who need to understand and effectively use coding employed in computers and data communications. Anchored by a clear, nonmathematical exposition, all the major topics, principles, and methods are presented in an accessible style suitable for professional specialists, nonspecialists, students, and individual self-study.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 568 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Statistical Modeling and Analysis for Complex Data Problems treats some of today¿s more complex problems and it reflects some of the important research directions in the field. Twenty-nine authors ¿ largely from Montreal¿s GERAD Multi-University Research Center and who work in areas of theoretical statistics, applied statistics, probability theory, and stochastic processes ¿ present survey chapters on various theoretical and applied problems of importance and interest to researchers and students across a number of academic domains.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 344 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Stanley South has been a leading figure not only in historical archaeology but also in anthropological archaeology. His work (both past and present) has put him in the forefront of monumental changes in American archaeology in the last 40 years. His personal perseverance in field archaeology has also been an inspiration to new and burgeoning archaeologists and anthropologists. An Archaeological Evolution is a personal recounting of his life, played out among some of the most important debates and movements in archaeology starting in the 1960s up to the 21st century. This seminal volume will be of interest to archaeologists (both professional and academic), anthropologists, historians, and conservators in or studying the United States, but also wherever archaeology is taught and practiced.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 432 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Interest and attention to entrepreneurship has exploded in recent years. Yet, much of the research and scholarship has remained elusive to academics, policymakers and other researchers. This reflects two crucial aspects of the entrepreneurship literature. First has been the explosion of new findings and insights, both theoretically and empirically. Second, most of this scholarship has been rooted in traditional academic disciplines, spanning a broad spectrum of fields such as management, finance, economics, sociology and psychology. The purpose of the Handbook of Entrepreneurship is to bring together leading scholars from each of these disciplines to provide an overview of what the issues are for entrepreneurship when viewed through the lens provided by the academic disciplines as well as a synthesis about what has been learned and what questions should be high on the agenda for future research. Taken together, this Handbook will provide a roadmap to an emerging complex but intriguing field of entrepreneurship. 576 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Analysis, Control and Optimization of Complex Dynamic Systems gathers in a single volume a spectrum of complex dynamic systems related papers written by experts in their fields, and strongly representative of current research trends. Complex systems present important challenges, in great part due to their sheer size which makes it difficult to grasp their dynamic behavior, optimize their operations, or study their reliability. Yet, we live in a world where, due to increasing inter-dependencies and networking of systems, complexity has become the norm. With this in mind, the volume comprises two parts. The first part is dedicated to a spectrum of complex problems of decision and control encountered in the area of production and inventory systems. The second part is dedicated to large scale or multi-agent system problems occurring in other areas of engineering such as telecommunication and electric power networks, as well as more generic context.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Multidisciplinary Scheduling: Theory and Applications is a volume of nineteen reviewed papers that were selected from the sixty-seven papers presented during the First Multidisciplinary International Conference of Scheduling (MISTA). This is the initial volume of MISTA-the primary forum on interdisciplinary research on scheduling research. Each paper in the volume has been rigorously reviewed and carefully copyedited to ensure its readability. The MISTA volume focuses on the following leading edge topics: Fundamentals of Scheduling, Multi-Criteria Scheduling, Personnel Scheduling, Scheduling in Space, Scheduling the Internet, Machine Scheduling, Bin Packing, Educational Timetabling, Sports Scheduling, and Transport Scheduling.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Cross-layer design seeks to enhance the capacity of wireless networks significantly through the joint optimization of multiple layers in the network, primarily the physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers. Although there are advantages of such design in wireline networks as well, this approach is particularly advantageous for wireless networks due to the properties (such as mobility and interference) that strongly affect performance and design of higher layer protocols.This unique monograph is concerned with the issue of cross-layer design in wireless networks, and more particularly with the impact of node-level multiuser detection on such design. It provides an introduction to this vibrant and active research area insufficiently covered in existing literature, presenting some of the principal methods developed and results obtained to date. Accompanied by numerous illustrations, the text is an excellent reference for engineers, researchers and students working in communication networks.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Energy and Environment is a volume on energy and environmental modeling that describes a broad variety of modeling methodologies, embodied in models of varying scopes and philosophies, ranging from top-down integrated assessment models to bottom-up partial equilibrium models, to hybrid models.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Global optimization aims at solving the most general problems of deterministic mathematical programming: to find the global optimum of a nonlinear, nonconvex, multivariate function of continuous and/or integer variables subject to constraints which may be themselves nonlinear and nonconvex. In addition, once the solutions are found, proof of its optimality is also expected from this methodology. Therefore, with these difficulties in mind, global optimization is becoming an increasingly powerful and important methodology. Essays and Surveys in Global Optimization is the most recent examination of its mathematical capability, power, and wide ranging solutions to many fields in the applied sciences.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Next Generation Transport Networks: Data, Management, and Control Planesprovides a tutorial and reference information for next generation telecommunication network technologies. Thisinsightful and accessible overviewincludes key technologies that comprise the backbone of the networking infrastructure,such as access, metro and long-haul segments.Written by industry veterans,this work uniquely balances and blends three key perspectives on high-speed networks fundamental to understanding transport mechanisms for potential implementation: the data, management, and control planes. Readerswill readily learn how transport networks function, how they are used, how layers are managed, and how standards guide developing technologies.Included in this volume:Industry standardsfrom the ITU-T (G- and M-series), ANSI/ATIS, and IEEEFuturedata planetrends in terms of mapping Ethernetframes/streams or IP packets into PoS and GFP for WAN transport; virtual concatenation with LCAS of SONET, DS1/DS3/E1/E3, and OTN signals; optical transport including G.709OTN; and MAN/WAN data access through IEEE 802.17 RPRSwitching: High speed circuit and packet switching using multi-stage Clos as well as multi-dimensional distributed switching approachesControl Plane - SS7, ATM PNNI, Automatic Switched Optical/Transport Network Architecture (G.ASON/G.ASTN) and protocols for routing and signaling- GMPLS,RSVP-TE, OSPF-TETransport Network architectures for access, metro and long-haul segmentsSelf-healing: perspectives on protection and restoration across ring and mesh topologies; discussion of new and emerging approaches for restoration such as p-cycle, SBPP, PWCETransport Network Management - TMN layers, transport network management requirements, technologies - SNMP, SOAP/XML, TL1, and OSMINEThe depth and breadth ofcoverage coupled with carefully chosen illustration, e.g. of the complex-frame formats, and summary tables for quick reference, make Next Generation Transport Networks: Data, Management, and Control Planesvaluablefor telecommunications professionals as well as a handy reference for network researchers.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Communication between engineers, their managers, suppliers and customers relies on the existence of a common understanding for the meaning of terms. While this is not normally a problem, it has proved to be a significant roadblock in the EDA industry where terms are created as required by any number of people, multiple terms are coined for the same thing, or even worse, the same term is used for many different things. This taxonomy identifies all of the significant terms used by an industry and provides a structural framework in which those terms can be defined and their relationship to other terms identified. The origins of this work go back to 1995 with a government-sponsored program called RASSP. At the termination of their work, VSIA picked up their work and developed it further. Three new taxonomies were introduced by VSIA for additional facets of the system design and development process. Since role of VSIA has now changed so that itno longer maintainsthese taxonomies, the baton is being passed on again through a group of interested people and manifested in this key reference work.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - GERAD celebrates this year its 25th anniversary. The Center was created in 1980 by a small group of professors and researchers of HEC Montreal, McGill University and of the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. GERAD's activities achieved sufficient scope to justify its conversion in June 1988 into a Joint Research Centre of HEC Montreal, the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal and McGill University. In 1996, the U- versite du Quebec a Montreal joined these three institutions. GERAD has fifty members (professors), more than twenty research associates and post doctoral students and more than two hundreds master and Ph.D. students. GERAD is a multi-university center and a vital forum for the devel- ment of operations research. Its mission is defined around the following four complementarily objectives: - The original and expert contribution to all research fields in GERAD's area of expertise; - The dissemination of research results in the best scientific outlets as well as in the society in general; - The training of graduate students and post doctoral researchers; - The contribution to the economic community by solving important problems and providing transferable tools.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Metabolome analysis is now recognized as a crucial component of functional genomic and systems biology investigations. Innovative approaches to the study of metabolic regulation in microbial, plant and animal systems are increasingly facilitating the emergence of systems approaches in biology. This book highlights analytical and bioinformatics strategies now available for investigating metabolic networks in microbial, plant and animal systems.The contributing authors are world leaders in this field and they present an unambiguous case for pursuing metabolome analysis as a means to attain a systems level understanding of complex biological systems.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 416 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -'Perspectives on ITS' is a collection of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) writings of Professor Joseph M. Sussman from MIT. Professor Sussman is a long-time major participant in the ITS world, beginning with his work on the core writing team in the original 'IVHS' Strategic Plan in 1991-92, and continuing on to the present day. He has worked in a number of ITS area and is a keen observer of the ITS scene in general.The book contains extended articles on various aspects of ITS and perspectives on the future of the field, building on its rich history; organizational issues related to ITS ¿ in particular, regionalism and the transportation / information infrastructure; and ITS¿ implications for the transportation profession at large and for transportation education. In addition it contains 14 selected columns from the ITS Quarterly.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 250 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Nuclear Import and Export in Plants and Animals provides insight into the remarkable mechanisms of nuclear import and export. This book covers a range of topics from the nuclear pore structure, to nuclear import and export of macromolecules in plant and animal cells. In addition, the book covers the special cases of nuclear import of Agrobacterium T-DNA during plant genetic transformation, nuclear import and export of animal viruses, and nuclear intake of foreign DNA. A chapter on research methods to study nuclear transport concludes the book.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 244 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -During recent years our enthusiasm for Radiative Decay Engineering (RDE) has continually increased. Many of the early predictions have been confirmed experimentally. We see numerous applications for RDE in biotechnology, clinical assays and analytical chemistry. While implementation of RDE is relatively simple, understanding the principles of RDE is difficult. The concepts are widely distributed in the optics and chemical physics literature, often described in terms difficult to understand by biophysical scientists.RDE includes chapters from the experts who have studied metal particle optics and fluorophore-metal interactions. This collection describes the fundamental principles for the widespread use of radiative decay engineering in the biological sciences and nanotechnology.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 488 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -As arthroscopy becomes the gold standard of care in treating wrist problems, there is a vast need for an up-to-date practical guide on wrist arthroscopy. To fill that need, Dr. William Geissler has brought together an international group of eminent experts, who share their knowledge to present the full scope of all aspects of wrist arthroscopy. In 24 chapters, generously illustrated with over 300 images, 44 in full color, the book explores every clinically relevant aspect of wrist arthroscopy. This includes arthroscopic wrist anatomy and how to evaluate the painful wrist, arthroscopic management of carpal instability, fracture management, arthofibrosis, and arthroscopic tunnel release. Each chapter includes a brief overview followed by indications for the procedure and surgical techniques. In addition, the book features a section on tips and tricks and how to avoid common pitfalls. 216 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation and Immune Regulation X: Innate Immunity is the proceedings of the Xth International Conference on Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation and Immune Regulation: Innate Immunity, held February 6-8, 2004 in Newport Beach, California. It is the tenth volume of its kind to appear in the series Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Topics include toll receptors, dendritic cells, NK cells, and complement receptors.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 180 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Column Generation is an insightful overview of the state of the art in integer programming column generation and its many applications. The volume begins with 'A Primer in Column Generation' which outlines the theory and ideas necessary to solve large-scale practical problems, illustrated with a variety of examples. Other chapters follow this introduction on 'Shortest Path Problems with Resource Constraints,' 'Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window,' 'Branch-and-Price Heuristics,' 'Cutting Stock Problems,' each dealing with methodological aspects of the field. Three chapters deal with transportation applications: 'Large-scale Models in the Airline Industry,' 'Robust Inventory Ship Routing by Column Generation,' and 'Ship Scheduling with Recurring Visits and Visit Separation Requirements.' Production is the focus of another three chapters: 'Combining Column Generation and Lagrangian Relaxation,' 'Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition for Job Shop Scheduling,' and 'Applying Column Generation to Machine Scheduling.' The final chapter by François Vanderbeck, 'Implementing Mixed Integer Column Generation,' reviews how to set-up the Dantzig-Wolfe reformulation, adapt standard MIP techniques to the column generation context (branching, preprocessing, primal heuristics), and deal with specific column generation issues (initialization, stabilization, column management strategies).Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 376 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Reports that heat processing of foods induces the formation of acrylamide heightened interest in the chemistry, biochemistry, and safety of this compound. Acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity are potential human health risks based on animal studies. Because exposure of humans to acrylamide can come from both external sources and the diet, there exists a need to develop a better understanding of its formation and distribution in food and its role in human health. To contribute to this effort, experts from eight countries have presented data on the chemistry, analysis, metabolism, pharmacology, and toxicology of acrylamide.Specifically covered are the following aspects: exposure from the environment and the diet; biomarkers of exposure; risk assessment; epidemiology; mechanism of formation in food; biological alkylation of amino acids, peptides, proteins, and DNA by acrylamide and its epoxide metabolite glycidamide; neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity; protection against adverse effects; and possible approaches to reducing levels in food. Cross-fertilization of ideas among several disciplines in which an interest in acrylamide has developed, including food science, pharmacology, toxicology, and medicine, will provide a better understanding of the chemistry and biology of acrylamide in food, and can lead to the development of food processes to decrease the acrylamide content of the diet.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 492 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Food Powders is the first book that addresses key aspects of food powder technology. It is a comprehensive review on the characterization of ingredients, semi-processed and finished products when they are in a powdered form. It includes the description of different industrial unit operations such as drying, grinding, mixing, agglomeration, and encapsulation that supply food powders of different composition and microstructure. It also includes several analytical tools to characterize food powders by their particle size, size distribution, physical properties, and functionality. Written from an engineering perspective, the book is designed and developed as a useful reference for individuals in both the food industry and academia interested in an organized and updated review.It is a valuable addition to the food powder technology literature and promotes additional interest in advancing food powders research, development, education and implementation.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 396 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - This book provides timely fundamental research on the impact of pollutants on water quality with a focus on the catastrophic releases of pollutants into water supplies. Twelve invited papers provide comprehensive description and analysis of the recognition, description and modeling of physical, chemical and biological processes governing the fate of pollutants in an aquatic environment.