This volume describes the current state of our knowledge on the neurobiology of muscle fatigue, with consideration also given to selected integrative cardiorespiratory mechanisms. Our charge to the authors of the various chapters was twofold: to provide a systematic review of the topic that could serve as a balanced reference text for practicing health-care professionals, teaching faculty, and pre-and postdoctoral trainees in the biomedi cal sciences; and to stimulate further experimental and theoretical work on neurobiology. Key issues are addressed in nine interrelated areas: fatigue of single muscle fibers, fatigue at the neuromuscular junction, fatigue of single motor units, metabolic fatigue studied with nuclear magnetic resonance, fatigue of the segmental motor system, fatigue involving suprasegmental mechanisms, the task dependency of fatigue mechanisms, integrative (largely cardiorespiratory) systems issues, and fatigue of adapted systems (due to aging, under-and overuse, and pathophysiology). The product is a volume that provides compre of processes that operate from the forebrain to the contractile proteins.

This volume presents the proceedings of a muscle symposium, which was held as the Fourth Fujihara seminar on October 28 - November 1, 2002, at Hakone, Japan. This volume covers all fields of muscle biology, from molecules to humans. This book provides information about recent progress of muscle research as well as the problems that remain to be investigated. This volume will stimulate muscle investigators to design and perform novel experiments to clarify the mysteries in muscle contraction.

This book represents the final reports of the scientific projects funded within the DFG-SPP1466 and, hence, provides the reader with the possibility to familiarize with the leading edge of VHCF research. It draws a balance on the existing knowledge and its enhancement by the joint research action of the priority program. Three different material classes are dealt with: structural metallic materials, long-fiber-reinforced polymers and materials used in micro-electro-mechanical systems. The project topics address the development of suitable experimental techniques for high-frequency testing and damage monitoring, the characterization of damage mechanisms and damage evolution, the development of mechanism-based models and the transfer of the obtained knowledge and understanding into engineering regulations and applications.