The Fish Oocyte : from basic studies to biotechnological applications
Addresses the growing needs in deciphering the biological processes associated with fish reproduction, in view of the growth of aquaculture and the dwindling natural stocks of commercially important fish. It presents a comprehensive overview on egg production in fish, from the standpoint of the oocyte. With this view in mind, the book includes chapters on oocyte development (oogenesis), hormonal regulation and hormone receptors, formation of the egg envelopes, growth, accumulation of nutrients and maternal transcripts, maturation, hydration, ovulation and fertilization. A special emphasis is placed on using state-of-the-art tools including electron microscopy for discerning the ultra-structure of the follicle and genomic/proteomic tools to fully understand biological basis of fish reproduction.
The European Information Society : Taking Geoinformation Science One Step Further
The Association of Geographic Information Laboratories for Europe (AGILE) was established in early 1998 to promote academic teaching and research on GIS at the European level. AGILE seeks to ensure that the views of the geographic information teaching and research community are fully represented in the discussions that take place on future European - search agendas and it also provides a permanent scientific forum where geographic information researchers can meet and exchange ideas and - periences at the European level. In 2007 AGILE provided - for the first time since its existence - a book constituting a collection of scientific papers that were submitted as fu- papers to the annual AGILE conference and went through a competitive and thorough review process. Published in the Springer Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography this first edition was well received within AGILE and within the European Geoinformation Science com- nity as a whole. Thus, the decision was easily made to establish a Springer th Volume for the 11 AGILE conference held 2008 in Girona, Spain, and led to what you now hold in your hands.
The Euro, Inflation and Consumers Perceptions : Lessons from Italy
On 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins were introduced in twelve EU Member States. Three more countries joined in the following years, and over 300 million people now use the euro in their daily transactions. The currency changeover was a technical success. From the very start, however, the vast majority of euro area citizens held the single currency responsible for a sharp rise in prices and a subsequent decline in their personal economic fortunes. This book puts forward convincing empirical evidence, primarily drawn from Italy’s experience, to establish whether the introduction of the euro has had a major impact on prices, and if not, why so many people believe it has. Its significance lies not only in the documentation of a historic event, but also and more importantly, in the lessons it provides, which concern the public’s understanding of inflation, the correct assessment of the effects of the single currency, and the need for appropriate measures when other countries adopt the euro.
The ethics of educational healthcare placements in low and middle income countries : First do no harm?
Examines the current state of elective placements of medical undergraduate students in developing countries and their impact on health care education at home. Drawing from a recent case study of volunteer deployment in Uganda, the authors provide an in-depth evaluation of the impacts on the students themselves and the learning outcomes associated with placements in low resource settings, as well as the impacts that these forms of student mobility have on the host settings. In addition to reviewing the existing literature on elective placements, the authors outline a potential model for the future development of ethical elective placements. As the book concurs with an increasing international demand for elective placements, it will be of immediate interest to universities, intermediary organizations, students as consumers, and hosting organisations in low-resource settings.
The era of gene therapy
Typically, therapeutic gene therapies involve the transfer of genetic material into cells to reverse an abnormal condition or induce a new trait. Depending on the underlying genetic problem, various strategies such as addition, edition (repair), and deletion/knockout (inactivation) could be used. Sometimes gene therapy is used to add a normal and functional copy of an allele to increase gene expression, such as adding a normal human clotting factor IX allele to produce enough factor IX in hemophilia type B. Also, gene transferred by vectors...
The Engineering of Sport 7 ; Vol.2
Examines sports engineering, an interdisciplinary subject which encompasses and integrates not only sports science and classical engineering but also aims to bridge the gap between the analysis of the equipment and the athlete himself.
The Engineering of Sport 7 ; Vol.1
Examines sports engineering, an interdisciplinary subject which encompasses and integrates not only sports science and classical engineering but also aims to bridge the gap between the analysis of the equipment and the athlete himself.
The Engineer and the Scandal : A Piece of Science History
Gives an in-depth study into an important part of the development of the Theory of Porous Media as well as the amazing story of the glittering life of Professor Karl von Terzaghi. It provides an outline of the bitter dispute between him and Professor Paul Fillunger, both working at the Technische Hochschule of Vienna, Austria, in the fields of soil mechanics and technical mechanics during the 1930s
The Emerging Physics of Consciousness
Consciousness remains one of the major unsolved problems in science. How do the feelings and sensations making up conscious experience arise from the concerted actions of nerve cells and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? Can such feelings be explained by modern science, or is there an entirely different kind of explanation needed? And how can this seemingly intractable problem be approached experimentally? How do the operations of the conscious mind emerge out of the specific interactions involving billions of neurons? This book seeks answers to these questions on the underlying assumption that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness, some based on classical physics while others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn criticism from the parts of the scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. The contributing authors present a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, allowing readers to decide for themselves which of the approaches are most likely to succeed.
The Emerging Digital Economy : Entrepreneurship, Clusters, and Policy
Provides a balanced, empirically-based view of the "Digital Economy," and explores its regional and geographical import in areas where the Digital Economy meets more traditional patterns. The book also examines the policy implications of the rising Digital Economy.
The elements of big data value : Foundations of the research and innovation ecosystem
Presents the foundations of the Big Data research and innovation ecosystem and the associated enablers that facilitate delivering value from data for business and society. It provides insights into the key elements for research and innovation, technical architectures, business models, skills, and best practices to support the creation of data-driven solutions and organizations.
The Economics of Forest Disturbances : Wildfires, Storms, and Invasive Species
Provides a unique, state-of-the-art review of both traditional and emerging themes in the economics of natural forest disturbances. Although natural disturbances such as wildfire, hurricanes and pests have long been recognized as important factors influencing the structure and health of forests, recent and dramatic increases in the costs and damages associated with forest disturbances necessitates a new evaluation of these processes. The authors show that neo-classical economic principles can be integrated with ecosystem analysis and modern econometric methods to uncover the causes and consequences of natural forest disturbances. The chapters encompass modern areas of concern in forest economics and policy, including temporal and spatial dynamics of economic-ecologic systems, risk-reducing mitigation and adaptation strategies, and the valuation of impacts on market and non-market resources. These topics are developed with case studies demonstrating rigorous empirical analysis with a policy-oriented focus. The book is intended for forest policy analysts and decision-makers, risk managers, forest economists and graduate students studying natural resource economics.
The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing
Extensive grazing and browsing by domestic and wild herbivores shape the vegetation composition, structure and dynamics of many terrestrial ecosystems. This volume investigates how large herbivores not only influence the structure and distribution of the vegetation, but also affect nutrient flows and the responses of associated fauna. The mechanisms and processes underlying the herbivores' behaviour, distribution, movement and direct impact on the vegetation, and the dynamics of nutrients, plant species, and vegetation composition in terrestrial ecosystems are discussed in detail. It is shown that an understanding of plant/animal interactions can provide practical advice on the management of large herbivores to integrate production and conservation in terrestrial systems, particularly in the face of environmental and climate change.
The Descent of Human Sex Ratio at Birth : A Dialogue between Mathematics, Biology and Sociology
"Since the 18th century, one phenomenon, the proportion of the sexes at birth among human beings, has contributed to various developments such as the calculus of probabilities, administrative statistics, the moral and social sciences, the statistics of variability, post-Darwinian biology and Durkheimian sociology. This fact is brought to the critical attention of readers who rarely work together -- mathematicians, biologists, historians, social scientists and historians of the sciences -- along a three centuries European journey, meeting Süssmilch, Condorcet, Laplace, Fourier, Girou de Buzareingues, Poisson, Quetelet, Darwin, Düsing, Gini, Halbwachs or Fisher."
The Crazy Paving
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare respiratory syndrome characterized by the accumulation of surfactant lipoproteins within the alveoli. Primary PAP is led by a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) signaling disruption. Secondary PAP is associated with various diseases causing a reduction in function and/or the number of alveolar macrophages. Congenital PAP emerges as a consequence of corrupted surfactant production, due to mutations affecting surfactant transporter or lung development.
The complete urban sketching companion : essential concepts and techniques from the urban sketching handbooks
Provides instruction and inspiration for sketching architecture, cityscapes, people, and motion, plus lessons on perspective and adding color. This book includes key drawing techniques and strategies from four books in the Urban Sketching Handbook series: Understanding Perspective, Working with Color, Architecture and Cityscapes, and People and Motion. Learn how to draw unique buildings, urban landscapes, and lively street scenes, incorporating interesting elements and striking color and lighting. Get tips on sketching with accurate perspective with easy methods and great examples to guide you along. Discover ways to capture motion, whether it’s a group of dancers or commuters on the move.
The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers : Investigating the Business of a Productive, Resilient and Low Emission Future
Shares new data relating to Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), with emphasis on experiences in Eastern and Southern Africa. The material is assembled to answer key questions on the following five topic areas: Climate impacts: What are the most significant current and near future climate risks undermining smallholder livelihoods?, Varieties: How can climate-smart varieties be delivered quickly and cost-effectively to smallholders?, Farm management: What are key lessons on the contributions from soil and water management to climate risk reduction and how should interventions be prioritized?, Value chains: How can climate risks to supply and value chains be reduced? and Scaling up: How can most promising climate risks reduction strategies be quickly scaled up and what are critical success factors?
The Challenges of Educating People to Lead in a Challenging World
Helps educators and the educational enterprise become more innovative, efficient, and effective in addressing the teaching/learning challenges associated with helping students prepare to face their own challenges as leaders and followers in an increasingly complex, uncertain, and global economy.
The Breadth of Symplectic and Poisson Geometry : Festschrift in Honor of Alan Weinstein
One of the world’s foremost geometers, Alan Weinstein has made deep contributions to symplectic and differential geometry, Lie theory, mechanics, and related fields. Written in his honor, the invited papers in this volume reflect the active and vibrant research in these areas and are a tribute to Weinstein’s ongoing influence.The text cover a broad range of topics: Induction and reduction for systems with symmetry, symplectic geometry and topology, geometric quantization, the Weinstein Conjecture, Poisson algebra and geometry, Dirac structures, deformations for Lie group actions, Kähler geometry of moduli spaces, theory and applications of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics and dynamics, symplectic and Poisson groupoids, and quantum representations.
The Bifurcation of the Self : The History and Theory of Dissociation and Its Disorders
This book uses case history methodology to illustrate the relationship between theory and practice of the study of Dissociation Identity Disorder (DID). Challenging conventional wisdom on all sides, the book traces the clinical and social history of dissociation in a provocative examination of this widely debated phenomenon.



















