T. Yamaguchi – författare

Global environmental problems, especially global warming caused by the accelerative accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, are of great importance for humans. The world''s population is now approaching 6 billion, and is still increasing. Developments in communication systems and transportation tools have made the circulation of information, technologies and materials easier, which results in rapid economic growth, particularly in the East and Southeastern Asian countries. Increased affluence leads to an increased consumption of fossil fuels. Inevitably, this leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emission and environmentally hazardous materials which in turn precipitates climatic changes on a global scale. Recent studies showed that the increase in carbon dioxide emission for last year was the highest in the past seven years, and the total amount of carbon dioxide emission from all over the world reached 6.5 billion tons. Furthermore, one cannot overlook the report which appeared recently in Nature, that the floor-area of the iceberg in the South Pole has already decreased by 25% in the past five decades.Over 260 scientists and engineers from 21 countries who had a strong interest and wished to contribute to solve the carbon dioxide problem attended this conference. The papers presented in this volume cover most of the possibilities of the chemical conversion of carbon dioxide.

Vascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis, are the most frequent and critical underlying fatal disorders in the industrialized world. Cardiovascular deaths are the leading cause of death in the Western world. Although cancer or malignant neoplasms recently have topped the list of causes of deaths in Japan, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases bring about more deaths than cancer if they are reclassified into a unified category of diseases of the vascular system. The National Cardiovascular Center was established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan to combat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Since the Center was opened, we have continued to support basic and clinical sturlies of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases within as weil as outside the Center. Clinical studies that we have supported in modern diagnostic and therapeutic measures against cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases have made remarkable advances in recent years, especially in medical imaging technology including CT and MRI, and in interventional measures including balloon angioplasty and other catheter-based treatments. We are proud of the significant improvement in the overall survival rate and the quality of life of patients suffering from vascular disorders. However, there are still many essential difficulties remaining in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disorders. Such difficulties necessitate further fundamental studies not only from the practical aspect but also from the integrated perspectives of medicine, biology, and engineering.

Vascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis, are the most frequent and critical underlying fatal disorders in the industrialized world. Cardiovascular deaths are the leading cause of death in the Western world. Although cancer or malignant neoplasms recently have topped the list of causes of deaths in Japan, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases bring about more deaths than cancer if they are reclassified into a unified category of diseases of the vascular system. The National Cardiovascular Center was established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan to combat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Since the Center was opened, we have continued to support basic and clinical sturlies of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases within as weil as outside the Center. Clinical studies that we have supported in modern diagnostic and therapeutic measures against cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases have made remarkable advances in recent years, especially in medical imaging technology including CT and MRI, and in interventional measures including balloon angioplasty and other catheter-based treatments. We are proud of the significant improvement in the overall survival rate and the quality of life of patients suffering from vascular disorders. However, there are still many essential difficulties remaining in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disorders. Such difficulties necessitate further fundamental studies not only from the practical aspect but also from the integrated perspectives of medicine, biology, and engineering.

It has long been recognized that atherosclerosis tends to develop in certain areas of the artery. Blood flow is thus considered to play an important role in such development. However, the direct mechanisms of the influence of blood flow on atherosclerosis are controversial. Recently, a number of active studies in this field have been carried out around the world. This volume consists of the contributions to a symposium held on the subject and offers a report of latest findings.

It has long been recognized that atherosclerosis tends to develop in certain areas of the artery. Blood flow is thus considered to play an important role in such development. However, the direct mechanisms of the influence of blood flow on atherosclerosis are controversial. Recently, a number of active studies in this field have been carried out around the world. This volume consists of the contributions to a symposium held on the subject and offers a report of latest findings.

It has long been recognized that atherosclerosis tends to develop in certain areas of the artery. Blood flow is thus considered to play an important role in such development. However, the direct mechanisms of the influence of blood flow on atherosclerosis are controversial. Recently, a number of active studies in this field have been carried out around the world. This volume consists of the contributions to a symposium held on the subject and offers a report of latest findings.