Investigation of the fractal and scaling properties of disordered systems has recently become a focus of great interest in research. Disordered or amorphous materials, like glasses, polymers, gels, colloids, ceramic superconductors and random alloys or magnets, do not have a homogeneous microscopic structure. The microscopic environment varies randomly from site to site in the system and this randomness adds to the complexity and the richness of the properties of these materials. A particularly challenging aspect of random systems is their dynamical behavior. Relaxation in disordered systems generally follows an unusual time-dependent trajectory. Applications of scaling and fractal concepts in disordered systems have become a broad area of interdisciplinary research, involving studies of the physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and engineering aspects of random systems. This book is intended for specialists as well as graduate and postdoctoral students working in condensed-matter or statistical physics. It provides state-of-the-art information on the latest developments in this important and timely topic. The book is divided into three parts: Part I deals with critical phenomena, Part II is devoted to discussion of slow dynamics and Part III involves the application of scaling concepts to random systems. The effects of disorder at the mesoscopic scale as well as the latest results on the dynamical properties of disordered systems are presented. In particular, recent developments in static and dynamic scaling theories and applications of fractal concepts to disordered systems are discussed.

This volume comprises the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Geilo, Norway, between 8-19 April 1985. Although the principal support for the meeting was provided by the NATO Committee for Scientific Affairs, a number of additional sponsors also contributed, allowing the assembly of an unusually large number of internationally rec ognized speakers. Additional funds were received from: EXXON Research and Engineering Co. IBM (Europe) Institutt for energiteknikk (NorwaY) Institut Lauge-Langevin (France) The Norwegian Research Council for Science and Humanities NORDITA (Denmark) The Norwegian Foreign Office The U. S. Army Research, Development and Standardization Group (Europe) The U. S. National Science Foundation - The Norwegian Council for Science and Letters The organizing committee would like to take this opportunity to thank these contributors for their help in promoting a most exciting rewarding meeting. This Study Institute was the eighth of a series of meetings held in Geilo on subjects related to phase transitions. In contrast to previous meetings which were principally concerned with transitions in ordered systems, this school addressed the problems which arise when structural order is absent. The unifying feature among the subjects discussed at the school and the link to themes of earlier meetings was the concept of scaling.

A guide to the recent developments in the assessment of bipolar disorder written by respected authors in the field of psychiatry Written for psychiatrists, clinical researchers, mental health nurses and other healthcare professionals who use rating scales in clinical practice Provides rating scales that can be used for the systematic evaluation of patients in standard clinical practice The evidence base in each chapter has been expanded and brought fully up-to-date Schizophrenia is a chronic disease encompassing a range of symptoms including hallucinations, delusions and social withdrawal. Different measurement tools are utilized to assess the symptoms of schizophrenia. The previous two editions of the Guide to Assessment Scales in Schizophrenia are now outdated and no longer clinically correct so this completely new edition written by a new team of leading clinicians and researchers brings you fully up to date with recent developments.

This book is the fourth in the series of review papers on advanced problems of phase transitions and critical phenomena, the first three volumes appeared in 2004, 2007, and 2012. It presents reviews in those aspects of criticality and related subjects that have currently attracted much attention due to new and essential contributions. The contents are divided into five chapters, and they include: anomalous diffusion, kinetics of pattern formation, scaling, renormalization group approaches in soft matter and socio-physics, Monte Carlo simulation of critical Casimir forces.As with the first three volumes, this book is based on the review lectures that were given in Lviv (Ukraine) at the “Ising lectures” — a traditional annual workshop on phase transitions and critical phenomena which aims to bring together scientists working in these fields with university students and those who are interested in the subject.

This concise guide provides psychiatrists (including trainees) and general practitioners with a comprehensive overview of the most clinically relevant assessment scales and tools in order to assist with and enhance diagnostic outcomes in depression. Depression is one of the most common mood disorders across the globe, with a lifetime prevalence across all people of 8-10%. Despite being relatively common, depression remains severely underdiagnosed across all age groups and nationalities.

The field of non-crystalline materials has seen the emergence of many challeng ing problems during its long history. In recent years, the interest in polymeric and biological disordered matter has stimulated new activities which in turn have enlarged the organic and inorganic glass community. The current research fields and recent progress have extended our knowledge of the rich phenomenol ogy of glassy systems, where the role of disorder is fundamental for the underlying microscopic dynamics. In addition, despite the lack of a unified theory, many interesting theoretical models have recently evolved. The present volume offers the reader a collection of topics representing the current state in the understanding of disorder effects as well as a survey of the basic problems and phenomena involved. The task of compiling a book devoted to disordered systems has benefited much from a seminar organized by the W.-E. Heraeus Foundation in Bad Honnef in April 1992, where we had the opportunity to discuss the project with most of the authors. Here we wish to thank the Heraeus Foundation for their support, and the authors and Springer-Verlag, especially Dr. Marion Hertel, for the pleasant cooperation.

The author integrates discussions of fractal geometry, surface modeling techniques, and applications to real world problems to provide a comprehensive, accessible overview of the field. His work will equip researchers with the basic tools for measurement and interpretation of data, stimulating more work on these problems and, perhaps, leading to an understanding of the reasons that Nature has adopted this geometry to shape much of our world.

Additional written evidence is contained in volume 3, available on the Committee website at www.parliament.uk/homeaffairscom

A comprehensive guide to the assessment scales, interviews, and questionnaires for ADHD for children, adolescence, and adults. Written by world-renowned experts in psychiatry, specifically in ADHD. Dr Conners’ work in this book is invaluable as he is the author of the most widely used assessment scales in the field. A follow-up of the 2003 first edition of the Guide to Assessment Scales in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (also written by Dr Conners and Dr Kollins) Concise analysis of the most useful and popular scales assessing ADHD for children, adolescents, and adults. Explains how to most effectively use the top assessment scales in ADHD for children and adults in the context of a clinical practice Expert commentaries highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each scale, in addition to providing a discussion on how and when to administer them. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3–5% of children globally and diagnosed in about 2–16% of school aged children. Additionally, it is a chronic disorder; 30–50% of individuals diagnosed with ADHD in childhood continue to be symptomatic in adulthood. However, with early diagnosis, medical management and behavioral treatment has been most effective when treating patients with ADHD at any age. Assessment scales are critical and essential tools for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ADHD. This book has been designed to provide clinicians with a quick guide to the most effective assessment scales in ADHD for patients at any age. Additionally, the scales are used in clinical trials to evaluate drug efficacy.