Page 19
Page 19
Facing the Complexities of Womens Sexual Desire
Whether they involve excess, a decrease, or complete absence, problems of sexual desire drive women to consult sex therapists, couples counselors, and other practitioners (to say nothing of self-help books and talk-show hosts). Facing the Complexities of Women’s Sexual Desire, by veteran sex therapist Vera Sonja Maass, is one of the few books to address these intimate phenomena in practical clinical detail.
Face Biometrics for Personal Identification : Multi-Sensory Multi-Modal Systems
This book provides an ample coverage of theoretical and experimental state-of-the-art work as well as new trends and directions in the biometrics field. It offers students and software engineers a thorough understanding of how some core low-level building blocks of a multi-biometric system are implemented. While this book covers a range of biometric traits including facial geometry, 3D ear form, fingerprints, vein structure, voice, and gait, its main emphasis is placed on multi-sensory and multi-modal face biometrics algorithms and systems. "Multi-sensory" refers to combining data from two or more biometric sensors, such as synchronized reflectance-based and temperature-based face images. "Multi-modal" biometrics means fusing two or more biometric modalities, like face images and voice timber. The first part addresses new and emerging face biometrics. Emphasis is placed on biometric systems where single sensor and single modality are employed in challenging imaging conditions. The second part on multi-sensory face biometrics deals with the personal identification task in challenging variable illuminations and outdoor operating scenarios by employing visible and thermal sensors. The third part of the book focuses on multi-modal face biometrics by integrating voice, ear, and gait modalities with facial data. The last part presents generic chapters on multi-biometrics fusion methodologies and performance prediction techniques.
Extreme Hydrological Events : New Concepts for Security
This proceedings contains the papers which were presented at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on Extreme Hydrological Events: New Concepts for Security, which was held in Novosibirsk, Russia, from July 11-15, 2005. The workshop fell within the NATO priority research topic on Environmental Security, Disaster Forecast and Prevention. At the present time, the necessity of considerable deepening of our understanding about the nature of extreme and catastrophic natural and man-induced events, in particular hydrologic ones, becomes very topical, as well as the development of advanced methods for their prediction, including estimating probability of their occurrence and a risk related to them.
Extreme Events in Nature and Society
Significant, and usually unwelcome, surprises, such as floods, financial crisis, epileptic seizures, or material rupture, are the topics of Extreme Events in Nature and Society. The book, authored by foremost experts in these fields, reveals unifying and distinguishing features of extreme events, including problems of understanding and modelling their origin, spatial and temporal extension, and potential impact. The chapters converge towards the difficult problem of anticipation: forecasting the event and proposing measures to moderate or prevent it. Extreme Events in Nature and Society will interest not only specialists, but also the general reader eager to learn how the multifaceted field of extreme events can be viewed as a coherent whole.
Extreme Conflict and Tropical Forests
At a time when the international community is devoting significant attention to the issue of governance as a key factor in global environmental decline, this book provides a timely insight into the relationships between extreme conflict, the international trade in forest products, and the social, economic and environmental condition of tropical forests and their human communities. Drawing on the expertise of both natural and social scientists, Extreme Conflict and Tropical Forests explores the underlying causes and the social and environmental consequences of conflict in tropical forest areas. Case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America present a range of issues – from illicit crops and ‘conflict timber’ production, to the potential of peace parks for improving human security, social quality and biodiversity conservation.
Experimenting with Dynamic Macromodels : Growth and Cycles
This book presents a macroeconomic dynamic model à la Solow-Swan, including the market for labour, in a discrete time structure. Labour supply is modelled as a reversed S curve (derived in the appendix). The models are expanded to include expenditure on R&D (thus endogenous technical progress), and public expenditure on infrastructures. For each of the three models, numerical simulations are implemented in MAPLE, and the results are shown in time series figures, which make it easy to detect that even small changes in the parameters produce responses in the time behaviour of the main variables: from steady growth, to regular cycles, to chaotic-like time paths. The simulations show that cycles do not promote material welfare, as measured by total undiscounted consumption along the time horizon, and that the comparative action of R&D versus public expenditure is strictly linked to the values assigned to the parameters.
Experimental Unsaturated Soil Mechanics
These proceedings are a continuation of the series of International Conferences in Germany entitled "Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils." The primary objective is to discuss and understand unsaturated soil behaviour such that engineered activities are made better with times in terms of judgement and quality. We all realise by now that in addition to the knowledge on the classical concepts, it becomes an enormous challenging task to adapt convincing new concepts and present them in such a way that it could be used in engineering practices. The experimental studies reported primarily focus on the role of microstructure and fabric for the complex coupled hydro-mechanical behaviour of cohesive frictional materials. Several papers consider the relevance of temperature affecting the constitutive behaviour of clays. Common features of state of the art theoretical and numerical approaches, including theory of porous media and mixture theory, intend to describe the complex multi-field problems of fully coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical initial - boundary value problems.
Evolutionary Multi-Criterion Optimization ; 4th International Conference, EMO 2007, Matsushima, Japan, March 5-8, 2007, Proceedings
Multicriterion optimization refers to problems with two or more objectives (normally in conflict with each other) which must be simultaneously satisfied. Evolutionary algorithms have been used for solving multicriterion optimization problems for over two decades, gaining an increasing attention from industry. This book included four keynote speakers: Hirotaka Nakayama on aspiration level methods, Kay Chen Tan on large and computationally intensive real-world MO optimization problems, Carlos Fonseca on decision making, and Gary B. Lamont on design of large-scale network centric systems.
Evolutionary computation, machine learning and data mining in bioinformatics ; 6th European Conference, EvoBIO 2008, Naples, Italy, March 26-28, 2008. Proceedings
The feld of bioinformatics has two main objectives: the creation and main- nance of biological databases, and the discovery of knowledge from life sciences data in order to unravel the mysteries of biological function, leading to new drugs and therapies for human disease. Life sciences data come in the form of biological sequences, structures, pathways, or literature. One major aspect of discovering biological knowledge is to search, predict, or model specifc infortioninagivendatasetinorderto generate new in teresting knowledge.Computer science methods such as evolutionary computation, machine learning, and data mining all have a great deal to ofer the feld of bioinformatics.
Evolution, Monitoring and Predicting Models of Rockburst : Precursor Information for Rock Failure
Focuses on investigating predicting precursor information and key points of rockburst in mining engineering through laboratory experiment, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and case studies. Understanding the evolution patterns for the microstructure instability of rock is a prerequisite for rockburst prediction. The book provides a guide for readers seeking to understand the evolution patterns for the microstrucure of rock failure, the predicting key point of rock failure and the rockburst predicting model. It will be an essential reference to understand mechanism of rockburst and sheds new light on dynamic disasters prediction. Chapters are carefully developed to cover (1) The evolution patterns for the microstructure instability of rock; (2) Rockburst hazard monitoring and predicting criterion and predicting models. The book addresses the issue with a holistic and systematic approach that investigates the occurrence mechanism of rockburst based on the evolution patterns for the microstructure of rock failure and establishes the predicting model of rockburst.
Evolution from Cellular to Social Scales
Evolution is a critical challenge for many areas of science, technology and development of society. The book reviews general evolutionary facts such as origin of life and evolution of the genome and clues to evolution through simple systems. Emerging areas of science such as "systems biology" and "bio-complexity" are founded on the idea that phenomena need to be understood in the context of highly interactive processes operating at different levels and on different scales. This is where physics meets complexity in nature, and where we must begin to learn about complexity if we are to understand it. Similarly, there is an increasingly urgent need to understand and predict the evolutionary behavior of highly interacting man-made systems, in areas such as communications and transport, which permeate the modern world. The same applies to the evolution of human networks such as social, political and financial systems, where technology has tended to vastly increase both the complexity and speed of interaction, which is sometimes effectively instantaneous.
Evidence-Based Endocrinology
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) stresses the use of evidence from clinical research as the basis for medical decision making, rather than simple reliance on unsystematic clinical experience and pathophysiological rationales. EBM has changed many aspects of medical practice for the better, but its incorporation into endocrine practice has been minimal.
Everyday Innovators: Researching the Role of Users in Shaping ICTs
Everyday Innovators explores the active role of people, collectively and individually, in shaping the use of information and communication technologies. It examines issues around acquiring and using that knowledge of users, how we should conceptualise the role of users and understand the forms and limitations of their participation.
Evaluation of the use of medicine plants in cancer treatment
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) have been widely studied for their potential anticancer effects, primarily due to the bioactive compounds curcumin and gingerol. Both compounds exhibit significant therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, pro-apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic activities, which target key pathways implicated in cancer progression, such as NF-κB, STAT-3, and mTOR. Through these mechanisms, curcumin and gingerol inhibit tumor growth, reduce metastasis, and enhance the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments.
European water law and hydropolitics : An inquiry into the resilience of transboundary water governance in the European Union
provides the first comprehensive assessment of the various issues faced by countries in the European Union, where progressing climate change and urbanization pose significant cooperative challenges in a large number of river basins. Conducting a thorough analysis of the intricate web of EU water governance, it reveals that the hydropolitical stability of the European Union is already at risk. Further, given the structural nature of the shortcomings in EU water policy—e.g. the rigidity of the EU’s founding treaties or the institutional complacency of the European Commission— argues that these risks are likely to turn into sources of prolonged conflict, unless EU decision-making bodies take steps to address the new hydrological realities early on.
European Variations as a Key to Cooperation
This book offers a novel view on the benefits of a lasting variation between the member states in the EU. In order to bring together thirty very different European states and their citizens, the EU will have to offer more scope for variation. Unlike the existing differentiation by means of opt-outs and deviations, variation is not a concession intended to resolve impasses in negotiations; it is, rather, a different structuring principle. It takes differences in needs and in democratically supported convictions seriously
European Tort Law 2007
The European Tort Law Yearbook provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in tort law in Europe. It contains reports on most EU Member States, as well as an overview of the developments in the field of EU law. In conclusion, a comparative summary reviews the essential aspects of all reports, which are written by scholars from the respective jurisdictions. Focusing on the year 2007, the authors critically report on important court decisions, present new legislation and provide a literature overview. In addition to the national reports, the European Tort Law 2007 Yearbook contains the opening lecture of the 7th Annual Conference on European Tort Law examining “The Development of Tort Law” as well as four essays on questions of prescription.
European Tort Law 2005
The European Tort Law Yearbook provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in tort law in Europe. It contains reports on the developments in most EU Member States, including the new Member States the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - as well as Norway and Switzerland. Furthermore, an overview of the developments in the field of EU law is provided. In conclusion, a comparative report reviews the essential aspects of all reports. The reports are written by scholars from the respective jurisdictions. Focusing on the year 2005, the authors critically report on important court decisions, present new legislation and provide a literature overview.
European Tort Law 2004
The European Tort Law Yearbook provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in tort law in Europe. It contains reports on the developments in most EU Member States, including the new Member States the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia – as well as Norway and Switzerland. Furthermore, an overview of the developments in the field of EU law is provided. In conclusion, a comparative report reviews the essential aspects of all reports. The reports are written by scholars from the respective jurisdictions. Focusing on the year 2004, the authors critically report on important court decisions, present new legislation and provide a literature overview. In addition to the national reports, several essays on key topics in the field of tort law are included, most of which focus on questions of strict liability.
European Higher Education Area: The Impact of Past and Future Policies
Sketches a vivid picture of the state of higher education in Europe almost 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The emphasis is on the role of the Bologna Process, The authors document long-term transformations and recent cracks in the established higher education pathways and the broader policy narratives that supported them for the last 20-30 years.Are we witnessing the advent of a new era? If so, that raises questions regarding the future of higher education, some of which are addressed in this volume. How will this new historical situation influence higher education? What can be done in higher education, building on what has been already achieved in these past years, including the Bologna Process itself, to benefit citizens, institutions, countries, and Europe as a whole?
