Disordered systems Subject

Stimulated by a variety of commercial applications in fields such as xerography, solar energy conversion, thin-film active devices, and so forth, international interest in this subject area has increased dramatically since these early reports. The absence of long-range order invalidates the use of simplifying concepts such as the Bloch theorem, the counterpart of which has proved elusive for disordered systems. After more than a decade of concentrated research, there remains no example of an amorphous solid for the energy band structure, and the mode of electronic transport is still a subject for continued controversy. 

Contents Theory of Electrons in Polar Fluids. Metal-Ammonia Solutions The Dilute Region. Metal Solutions in Amines and Ethers. Ultrafast Optical Processes. Metal-Ammonia Solutions Transition Range. The Electronic Structures of Disordered Materials. Concentrated M-NH3 Solutions A Review. Strange Magnetic Behavior and Phase Relations of Metal-Ammonia Compounds. Metallic Vapors. Mobility Studies of Excess Electrons in Nonpolar Hydrocarbons. Optical Absorption Spectrum of the Solvated Electron in Ethers and Binary Liquid Systems. Subject Index. Color Plates. 

Complexity is used in very different fields (dynamical systems, time series, quantum wavefunctions in disordered systems, spatial patterns, language, analysis of multielectronic systems, cellular automata, neuronal networks, self-organization, molecular or DNA analyses, social sciences, etc.) [25-27]. Although there is no general agreement about the definition of what complexity is, its quantitative characterization is a very important subject of research in nature and has received considerable attention over the past years [28,29]. 

Entropy is often described as a measure of disorder or randomness. While useful, these terms are subjective and should be used cautiously. It is better to think about entropic changes in terms of the change in the number of microstates of the system. Microstates are different ways in which molecules can be distributed. An increase in the number of possible microstates (i.e., disorder) results in an increase of entropy. Entropy treats tine randomness factor quantitatively. Rudolf Clausius gave it the symbol S for no particular reason. In general, the more random the state, the larger the number of its possible microstates, the more probable the state, thus the greater its entropy. 

Disorders caused by misfolded mutant proteins that fail to pass the quality control system of the ER (e.g., mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein (CFTR) causing cystic fibrosis). The mutant proteins are retrotranslocated into the cytosol and finally subjected to proteolysis. In some... 

I he gastrointestinal (GI) tract is subject to more diseases and disorders than any other system of the body. Some drugs used for GI disorders are available as nonprescription drug, thereby creating the potential problems of misuse and overuse of the drugp and the disguising of more serious medical problems. 

Deletions in the elastin gene (located at 7qll.23) have been found in approximately 90% of subjects with Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder affecting connective tissue and the central nervous system. The mutations, by affecting synthesis of elastin, probably play a causative role in the supravalvular aortic stenosis often found in this condition. A number of skin diseases (eg, scleroderma) are associated with accumulation of elastin. Fragmentation or, alternatively, a decrease of elastin is found in conditions such as pulmonary emphysema, cutis laxa, and aging of the skin. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that interferes with the normal functions of the colon. At various points in the past, IBS has been referred to as mucous colitis, spastic colon, irritable colon, or nervous stomach. IBS is generally described as afunctional disorder rather than a disease per se. A functional disorder involves symptoms that cannot be attributed to a specific injury, infection, or other physical problem. A functional disorder occurs because of altered physiologic processes rather than structural or biochemical defects and may be subject to nervous system influence. IBS is associated with frequent fluctuation in symptoms, loss of productivity, and decreased quality of life. Although IBS has been referred to as functional bowel disease, true functional bowel disease may be more indicative of widespread gastrointestinal involvement including (but not limited to) the colon. 

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