e VOUS! is a complete introductory French program that makes learning French easier through its flexible and accessible approach. Now in its second edition, this innovative book integrates the best aspects of theories in second-language acquisition and focuses on the skills crucial to the learning and use of a foreign language in order to provide readers with a comprehensive introduction to French language and culture. The program incorporates high-frequency vocabulary that is of interest to today's readers, grammar explanations that are complete and comprehensible, a focus on all skills, task-based activities, and high-interest cultural topics that invite cross-cultural comparisons. The new, enhanced second edition of e VOUS! offers streamlined, visually enhanced grammar presentations, updated study tools, and optional access to the iLrn Heinle Learning, which includes an updated eBook, 40 new video-based pronunciation tutorials, 20 new culture videos, additional practice activities, and more!

Open a Window into the Autonomic Nervous SystemQuantifying the amount of autonomic nervous system activity in an individual patient can be extremely important, because it provides a gauge of disease severity in a large number of diseases. Heart rate variability (HRV) calculated from both short-term and longer-term electrocardiograms is an ideal win

Over the last decades, assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) has increased in various fields of research. HRV describes changes in heartbeat intervals, which are caused by autonomic neural regulation, i.e. by the interplay of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. The most frequent application of HRV is connected to cardiological issues, most importantly to the monitoring of post-myocardial infarction patients and the prediction of sudden cardiac death. Analysis of HRV is also frequently applied in relation to diabetes, renal failure, neurological and psychiatric conditions, sleep disorders, psychological phenomena such as stress, as well as drug and addiction research including alcohol and smoking. The widespread application of HRV measurements is based on the fact that they are noninvasive, easy to perform, and in general reproducible – if carried out under standardized conditions. However, the amount of parameters to be analysed is still rising. Well-established time domain and frequency domain parameters are discussed controversially when it comes to their physiological interpretation and their psychometric properties like reliability and validity, and the sensitivity to cardiovascular properties of the variety of parameters seems to be a topic for further research. Recently introduced parameters like pNNxx and new dynamic methods such as approximate entropy and detrended fluctuation analysis offer new potentials and warrant standardization. However, HRV is significantly associated with average heart rate (HR) and one can conclude that HRV actually provides information on two quantities, i.e. on HR and its variability. It is hard to determine which of these two plays a principal role in the clinical value of HRV. The association between HRV and HR is not only a physiological phenomenon but also a mathematical one which is due to non-linear (mathematical) relationship between RR interval and HR. If one normalizes HRV to its average RR interval, one may get ‘pure’ variability free from the mathematical bias. Recently, a new modification method of the association between HRV and HR has been developed which enables us to completely remove the HRV dependence on HR (even the physiological one), or conversely enhance this dependence. Such an approach allows us to explore the HR contribution to the clinical significance of HRV, i.e. whether HR or its variability plays a main role in the HRV clinical value. This Research Topic covers recent advances in the application of HRV, methodological issues, basic underlying mechanisms as well as all aspects of the interaction between HRV and HR.

Hypertension remains a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Self-monitoring of blood pressure by patients at home is currently recommended as a valuable tool for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Unfortunately, in clinical practice, home blood pressure monitoring is often inadequately implemented, mostly due to the use of inaccurate devices and inappropriate methodologies. Thus, the potential of the method to improve the management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease prevention has not yet been exhausted. This volume presents the available evidence on home blood pressure monitoring, discusses its strengths and limitations, and presents strategies for its optimal implementation in clinical practice. Written by distinguished international experts, it offers a complete source of information and guide for practitioners and researchers dealing with the management of hypertension.

Photoplethysmography: Technology, Signal Analysis, and Applications is the first comprehensive volume on the theory, principles, and technology (sensors and electronics) of photoplethysmography (PPG). It provides a detailed description of the current state-of-the-art technologies/optical components enabling the extreme miniaturization of such sensors, as well as comprehensive coverage of PPG signal analysis techniques including machine learning and artificial intelligence. The book also outlines the huge range of PPG applications in healthcare, with a strong focus on the contribution of PPG in wearable sensors and PPG for cardiovascular assessment. - Presents the underlying principles and technology surrounding PPG - Includes applications for healthcare and wellbeing - Focuses on PPG in wearable sensors and devices - Presents advanced signal analysis techniques - Includes cutting-edge research, applications and future directions

Main headings: I. Basic concepts of pulsatile arterial hemodynamics. - II. Pathophysiological mechanisms. - III. Arterial stiffness, wave reflections, cardiovascular risk and end-organ damage. - IV. Clinical aspects of arterial stiffness and wave reflections. - V. Therapeutic aspects of arterial stiffness and wave reflections.