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.
Evaluation of Text and Speech Systems
Provides an overview of the state-of-the-art and best practice in several sub-fields of evaluation of text and speech systems and components. The evaluation aspects covered include speech and speaker recognition, speech synthesis, animated talking agents, part-of-speech tagging, parsing, and natural language software like machine translation, information retrieval, question answering, spoken dialogue systems, data resources, and annotation schemes. With its broad coverage and original contributions this book is unique in the field of evaluation of speech and language technology.
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 Robotics Symposium 2008
These monothematic proceedings represent a collection of papers presented at the 2nd European Robotics Symposium, held in Prague, March 26-27, 2008. The goal of the given selection of papers is to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent status in robotics research world-wide in the key areas of cognition, autonomy, adaptation and robustness in robotics.
European Energy Futures 2030 : Technology and Social Visions from the European Energy Delphi Survey
The book summarizes the results of the first Europe-wide Delphi study on future developments in the energy sector. With a time horizon of 2030, this expert survey not only provides a useful perspective on long-term developments of energy technologies, but also evaluates these technologies against different sets of social values or "visions". In the comprehensive analysis following the Delphi survey itself, special attention was given to faithfully translating the trends and needs identified by the survey participants into recommendations for R&D and energy policies.
European cultural diplomacy and Arab Christians in Palestine, 1918–1948 : Between contention and connection
This book investigates the transnationally connected history of Arab Christian communities in Palestine during the British Mandate (1918-1948) through the lens of the birth of cultural diplomacy.
European capital markets law
Examines the underlying concepts from a broadly interdisciplinary perspective. The 3rd edition deals with 3 central developments: the project of the capital markets union; sustainable finance; and the further digitalisation of financial instruments and securities markets. Throughout the book emphasis is placed on legal practice, and frequent reference is made to the key decisions of supervisory authorities and courts
Eukaryotic Membranes and Cytoskeleton : Origins and Evolution
Eukaryotic Membranes and Cytoskeleton: Origins and Evolution discusses the evolutionary origin and diversification of eukaryotic endomembranes and cytoskeleton from a cell biological and comparative genomic perspective. Many of the chapters present original research data from comparative genomic surveys. The presence/absence of gene families with central roles in endomembrane and cytoskeleton dynamics in a variety of eukaryotic taxa and an understanding of eukaryote phylogeny allow us to accurately reconstruct the cellular machineries present in the last common ancestor of eukaryotes. Such a reconstruction is fundamental if we are to understand eukaryotic diversification since this is the ancestral cell from which all diversity arose. Comparative genomics can likewise tell us which lineages expanded or reduced certain gene families and the associated cellular machineries.
Epigenetics and chromatin
This book provides a state-of-the-art account of a few selected hot spots by scientists at the edge in this extremely active field. It puts special emphasis on two main streams of research. One is the role of post-translational modifications of proteins, mostly histones, on chromatin structure and accessibility.
Environmental History of the Rhine-Meuse Delta : An ecological story on evolving human–environmental relations coping with climate change and sea-level rise
This book presents the environmental history of the Delta of the lowland rivers Rhine and Meuse, an ecological story on evolving human–environmental relations coping with climate change and sea-level rise. It offers a combination of in-depth ecology and environmental history, dealing with exploitation of land and water, the use of everything nature provided, the development of fisheries and agriculture, changes in biodiversity of higher plants, fish, birds, mammals and invasive exotics. It is the first comprehensive book written in English on the integrated environmental history of the Delta, from prehistoric times up to the present day. It covers the l- acy of human intervention, the inescapable fate of reclaimed, nevertheless subs- ing and sinking polders, ‘bathtubs’ attacked by numerous floods, reclaimed in the Middle Ages and unwittingly exposed to the rising sea level and the increasing amplitude between high and low water in the rivers. The river channels, constricted and regulated between embankments, lost their flood plains, silted up, degraded and incised. Cultivation of raised bog deposits led to oxidation and compacting of peat and clay, resulting in progressive subsidence and flooding; arable land had to be changed into grassland and wetland. For millennia muscular strength and wind and water powers moulded the country into its basic form. From 1800 onwards, acceleration and scaling up by steam power and electricity, and exponential popu- tion growth, resulted in the erection of human structures ‘fixed forever’, and severe pressure on the environment.
Environment Learning for Indoor Mobile Robots : A Stochastic State Estimation Approach to Simultaneous Localization and Map Building
This monograph covers theoretical aspects of simultaneous localization and map building for mobile robots, such as estimation stability, nonlinear models for the propagation of uncertainties, temporal landmark compatibility, as well as issues pertaining the coupling of control and SLAM. One of the most relevant topics covered in this monograph is the theoretical formalism of partial observability in SLAM. The authors show that the typical approach to SLAM using a Kalman filter results in marginal filter stability, making the final reconstruction estimates dependant on the initial vehicle estimates. However, by anchoring the map to a fixed landmark in the scene, they are able to attain full observability in SLAM, with reduced covariance estimates.
Engineering Statics
Focusing on practical applications knowledge, with numerous real-world examples, practice problems, and case studies throughout. It covers theory concisely and uses plain language and coverage that can be completed in a one-semester course. It also covers the related concepts required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
Engineering Knowledge in the Age of the Semantic Web ; 15th International Conference, EKAW 2006, Podebrady, Czech Republic, October 6-10, 2006, Proceedings
The 15th International Conference on Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management (2006), held on October 6-10, 2006 in Pod? ebrady,Czech Republic, followed a long tradition of European Knowledge Acquisition Workshops (from 1987),whicheventuallyacquiredtheformatofconference(in2000)whilekeeping their open-minded and interactive spirit. During the nearly 20 year lifespan of the series, the discipline of knowledge engineering (KE) evolved greatly. While knowledge acquisition (KA) techniques dominated in the very ?rst years, formal approaches to knowledge-based inf- ence and variousnew streamssuch as knowledgediscoveryfrom data/textslater cameinto play. During thelate1990sandafterwards,EKAWbecamea founding community for ontology and Semantic Web Research, which was also re?ected in the sub-titles of the 2002 and 2004 editions: “Ontologies and the Semantic Web” and “Engineering Knowledge in the Age of the Semantic Web,” resp- tively.
Endodontic Advances and Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines : New perspectives and evidence–based clinical guidelines
Provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of recent research findings and their impact on clinical practice. Using an innovative approach to the field, the book enables readers to translate the current body of knowledge on endodontic diseases and treatment into guidelines for enhancing patient care. Presents the latest understanding of current literature, evidence, and clinical practice Examines new trends, treatments, and advanced diagnostic techniques in the field Covers a wide range of topics, including management of root canals, repair of perforation defects, removal of root filling materials, and alternatives to root canal treatment
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals : From Basic Research to Clinical Practice
This book presents a translational approach to EDC research, spanning both basic biology and clinical applications, and provides a critical link between the laboratory and the physicians’ office. Scientists and physicians engaged in EDC studies or practice will find that this volume offers insight across all areas of EDC research, including clarifying the mechanisms for EDC effects, understanding the adverse affects of EDCs on humans and wildlife, and offering solutions to the problems created by exposures to EDCs.
Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures
The second edition of this landmark encyclopaedia will contain approximately 1000 entries dealing in depth with the history of the scientific, technological and medical accomplishments of cultures outside of the United States and Europe. The entries consist of fully updated articles together with hundreds of entirely new topics.This unique reference work includes: Intercultural articles on broad topics such as Mathematics and Astronomy Philosophical articles on concepts and ideas related to the study of non-Western Science, such as Rationality, Objectivity, and Method, Religion and Science, East and West, and Magic and Science Articles on topics such as Native American Mathematics, Polynesian Navigation, Korean Maps, and African Metallurgy Biographical articles for those cultures where individual scientists are known to us, such as China and the Islamic world.
Emerging Drugs in Sport
Offers a timely analysis of the new challenges posed by this phenomenon in the anti-doping community. The authors present the first comprehensive perspective on the rapidly shifting doping scenario and reflect on use, regulation, policy, and market structure of NPS used in sports. They highlight the challenges with the list of prohibited substances and methods in and out of competition. They also evaluate how methods to detect new drugs present an ongoing battle for doping control as they have to be adapted constantly. Topics covered within the chapters include: Contamination of Sports Supplements with Novel Psychoactive Substances Untested Supplement Use Among Athletes: An Overlooked Phenomenon? International Drug Control: Protecting the Health of the Athlete Analysis of New Chemical Entities in a Sport Context Emerging Drugs in Sport establishes a clear benchmark on the policy discussion, drawing from available evidence and sources, including athletes' personal experiences, to generate a fact-based resource that informs a research as well as wider audience.
Embedded computer systems : Architectures, modeling, and simulation ; Vol. 3553 ; 5th International Workshop, SAMOS 2005, Samos, Greece, July 18-20, Proceedings
The SAMOS workshop is an international gathering of highly quali?ed researchers from academia and industry, sharing in a 3-day lively discussion on the quiet and - spiring northern mountainside of the Mediterranean island of Samos. As a tradition, the workshop features workshop presentations in the morning, while after lunch all kinds of informal discussions and nut-cracking gatherings take place. The workshop is unique in the sense that not only solved research problems are presented and discussed but also (partly) unsolved problems and in-depth topical reviews can be unleashed in the sci- ti?c arena. Consequently, the workshop provides the participants with an environment where collaboration rather than competition is fostered. The earlier workshops, SAMOS I–IV (2001–2004), were composed only of invited presentations. Due to increasing expressions of interest in the workshop, the Program Committee of SAMOS V decided to open the workshop for all submissions. As a result the SAMOS workshop gained an immediate popularity; a total of 114 submitted papers were received for evaluation. The papers came from 24 countries and regions: Austria (1), Belgium (2), Brazil (5), Canada (4), China (12), Cyprus (2), Czech Republic (1), Finland (15), France (6), Germany (8), Greece (5), Hong Kong (2), India (2), Iran (1), Korea (24), The Netherlands (7), Pakistan (1), Poland (2), Spain (2), Sweden (2), T- wan (1), Turkey (2), UK (2), and USA (5). We are grateful to all of the authors who submitted papers to the workshop.



















