Forces, Growth and Form in Soft Condensed Matter : At the Interface between Physics and Biology
This volume comprises the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute held at Geilo, Norway, 24 March - 3 April 2003, the seventeenth ASI in a series held every two years since 1971. The objective of this ASI was to identify and discuss areas where synergism between modern physics, soft condensed matter and biology might be most fruitful. The main pedagogical approach was to have lecturers focussing on basic understanding of important aspects of the relative role of the various interaction- electrostatic, hydrophobic, steric, conformational, van der Waals etc. Soft condensed matter and the connection between physics and biology have been the themes of several earlier Geilo Schools. A return to these subjects thus allowed a fresh look and a possibility for defining new directions for research. Examples of soft materials, which were discussed at this ASI, included colloidal dispersions, gels, biopolymers and charged polymer solutions, polyelectrolytes, protein/membrane complexes, nucleic acids and their complexes. Indeed, most forms of condensed matter are soft and these substances are composed of aggregates and macromolecules, with interactions that are too weak and complex to form crystals spontaneously. A characteristic feature is that small external forces, slight perturbations in temperature, pressure or concentration, can all be enough to induce significant structural changes. Thermal fluctuations are almost by definition strong in soft materials and entropy is a predominant determinant of structure, so that disorder, slow dynamics and plastic deformation are the rule. Hence the phrase ‘soft condensed matter’ has been coined.
Fashion Figures : How Missy the Mathlete Made the Cut
Gain an inside perspective on what it’s like when you love math and science and happen to be a girl. Fashion Figures highlights the societal and internal pressures preteen and early-teen girls often face when they excel in these subjects, and it shows strategies for overcoming barriers to being themselves and doing what they love while still fitting in socially.
Evolutionary Genomics : Statistical and Computational Methods
This book addresses the challenge of analyzing and understanding the evolutionary dynamics of complex biological systems at the genomic level, and elaborates on some promising strategies that would bring us closer to uncovering of the vital relationships between genotype and phenotype. After a few educational primers, the book continues with sections on sequence homology and alignment, phylogenetic methods to study genome evolution, methodologies for evaluating selective pressures on genomic sequences as well as genomic evolution in light of protein domain architecture and transposable elements, population genomics and other omics, and discussions of current bottlenecks in handling and analyzing genomic data. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the kind of detail and expert implementation advice that lead to the best results.
Evolution of Non-Expected Utility Preferences
The theory on the evolution of preferences deals with the endogenous formation of preference relations in strategic situations. In particular, we demonstrate that preferences which diverge from von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility may potentially prove to be successful under evolutionary pressures.
Environmentally Friendly Coastal Protection ; Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Environmentally Friendly Coastal Protection Structures, Varna, Bulgaria, 25-27 May 2004
Coast lines have been and are the central lines of civilization around the world with increasing pressure from both sides - the hinterland and the sea. This book features papers covering related aspects of Environmentally Friendly Coastal Structures - coast, engineering structures, water, sediments, ecosystems in their complicated interaction
Environmental Technology in the Oil Industry
This significantly updated edition looks at each stage in the life cycle of petroleum products, from exploration to end use, examining the environmental pressures on the Oil Industry and its response. The Oil Industry produces a range of products without which modern civilization could not exist. Nevertheless, in today’s environmentally conscious world, society demands that the industry manufactures and markets the products without unduly polluting the environment. Its ability and willingness to comply determines whether society will allow it a licence to operate. Technical developments are progressing in line with environmental concerns and increasing sophistication of computer modelling techniques. These subjects are inter-related, but have often been dealt with independently.
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.
Emerging States and Economies : Their Origins, Drivers, and Challenges Ahead
This book asks why and how some of the developing countries have “emerged” under a set of similar global conditions, what led individual countries to choose the particular paths that led to their “emergence,” and what challenges confront them. If we are to understand the nature of major risks and uncertainties in the world, we must look squarely at the political and economic dynamics of emerging states. Their rapid economic development has changed the distribution of wealth and power in the world. Yet many of them have middle income status. To global governance issues, they tend to adopt approaches that differ from those of advanced industrialized democracies. At home, rapid economic growth and social changes put pressure on their institutions to change. This volume traces the historical trajectories of two major emerging states. It also analyzes cross-country data to find the general patterns of economic development and sociopolitical change in relation to globalization and to the middle income trap.
Emergency Radiology : Imaging and Intervention
There is an increasing trend towards the use of tries, hospital emergency departments have become a MDCT to evaluate traumatic injuries and non-traumatic major part of the healthcare safety net. In the last decade emergencies. The use of workstations for reporting and for economically-driven structural changes in health care further image reconstruction becomes standard practice. delivery have caused a dramatic increase in emergency On the occasion of the European Congress of Radiology department visits. In response to capacity and staffing (ECR) 2003 and 2004 a Categorical Course on “Emergency pressures, hospitals are developing and implementing a Radiology”has been organized to assess current devel- variety of strategies designed to improve patient flow and ments and concepts in this rapidly growing field. reduce overcrowding in the emergency department. Numerous radiologists,all outstanding and international- Several factors are considered critical for success, such as ly renowned experts in their field,have made superb c- having the right multidisciplinary teams in place and opti- tributions in an ECR syllabus.
Effect of Cranberry in the Treatment of E. Coli
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. It may cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhoea, vomiting and UTI. You may be exposed to E. coli from contaminated water or food especially raw vegetables and undercooked ground beef. Healthy adults usually recover from infection with E. coli within a week. Young children and older adults have a greater risk of developing a life-threatening form of kidney failure. Cranberries are a popular superfood. People can consume them in the form of a sauce or a juice. They can also add them to stuffing, casseroles, or dessert. In fact, research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure
Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity : Theory, Tools and Applications
Aquatic ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and home to a diverse array of species and habitats, providing a wide variety of benefits to human beings. Many of these valuable ecosystems are at risk of being irreversibly damaged by human activities and pressures, including pollution, contamination, invasive species, overfishing and climate change. Such pressures threaten the sustainability of these ecosystems, their provision of ecosystem services and ultimately human well-being.
Earthquake alert with smartwatch = تنبيه الزلازل باستخدام الساعة الذكية
After the recent events and earthquakes that affected the region, resulting in the deaths of many individuals due to the lack of timely emergency response, the idea for this project emerged Earthquake Alert with Smartwatch. Initially, our application gathers information about the user, such as age, family members, and any existing medical conditions. In the event of an earthquake, the application sends an alert to the user. It receives earthquake information, such as ‘magnitude, time, location…’ from United States Geological Survey “USGS” through an API. If the user is within the geographical area affected by the earthquake, the application will assist the Smartwatch in calculating vital signs such as ‘heart rate and blood pressure’. Additionally, there is another artificial intelligence model that receives the user's audio recordings and converts them into written texts. All this information, along with the user's geographical location, will be sent to the nearest emergency point for the purpose of aiding those individuals trapped under the rubble.
Dynamics of soils and their engineering applications
Offers systematic dynamic analysis of soils and their engineering applications, including machine foundations, and aims to develop a clear understanding of the subject. It comprises sixteen chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the various problems in soil dynamics. In Chapter 2, concepts of theory of vibrations are discussed along with their applications in designing Vibration Absorbers and Pickups. Wave propagation in elastic medium including wave refraction in layered medium is covered in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 deals with the procedure of determining dynamic properties of soils using various laboratory and field tests. Dynamic earth pressures in retaining walls and dynamic bearing capacity of footings are dealt with in Chapters 5 and 6 respectively
Dynamics of Freezing-Thawing Soil around Subway Shield Tunnels
Addresses development laws for axial strain and excess pore water pressure in silty clay around subway shield tunnels before and after freezing-thawing when subjected to subway loading, as well as the effect of freezing-thawing on the dynamic parameters of silty clay, including the dynamic modulus and damping ratio, introducing readers to the design and construction of bypasses in subway tunnels with the artificial freezing method. On this basis, it then studies the microstructures of silty clay before and after freezing-thawing cyclic loading by means of scanning electron microscope tests and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests. Lastly, the book presents a numerical simulation of the dynamics of silty clay around subway tunnels before and after thawing.
Disrupting Finance : FinTech and Strategy in the 21st Century
This Pivot demonstrates how a variety of technologies act as innovation catalysts within the banking and financial services sector. Traditional banks and financial services are under increasing competition from global IT companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon and PayPal whilst facing pressure from investors to reduce costs, increase agility and improve customer retention. Technologies such as blockchain, cloud computing, mobile technologies, big data analytics and social media therefore have perhaps more potential in this industry and area of business than any other. This book defines a fintech ecosystem for the 21st century, providing a state-of-the art review of current literature, suggesting avenues for new research and offering perspectives from business, technology and industry.
Disinfection of root canal systems : The Ttreatment of apical periodontitis
An evidence-based manual that describes root canal anatomy, the endodontic biofilm, and the role of disinfection before presenting the most up-to-date methods of irrigation and disinfection. Individual chapters are devoted to each method, such as positive pressure irrigation, apical negative pressure irrigation, sonic activation, photodynamic therapy, laser technology, and ozonization and electrochemical activation. Clinical photographs throughout show proper irrigation and disinfection techniques.
Dependability Modelling under Uncertainty : An Imprecise Probabilistic Approach
Mechatronic design processes have become shorter and more parallelized, induced by growing time-to-market pressure. Methods that enable quantitative analysis in early design stages are required, should dependability analyses aim to influence the design. Due to the limited amount of data in this phase, the level of uncertainty is high and explicit modeling of these uncertainties becomes necessary. This work introduces new uncertainty-preserving dependability methods for early design stages.
Current News in Cardiology ; Proceedings of the Mediterranean Cardiology Meeting 2007 (Taormina May 20-22, 2007)
Aim of the volume is to give an overview of the state of the art on the emerging cardiac pathologies such as acute coronary syndromes, atrial fibrillation, sudden death, heart failure, global cardiovascular prevention and syncope. The volume chapters offer the latest information about epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and novel treatments of these pathologies.
Cultural heritage and human rights
The volume addresses a deeply political aspect of heritage preservation and management as it relates to human rights. Social and community advocates assert that heritage is necessary for the articulation and preservation of cultural identity. The display of heritage monuments and performance can be a strategy for asserting minority identity in the face of majority pressure – as well as a tool for resistance and the expression of difference.
Cost-sharing and Accessibility in Higher Education : A Fairer Deal?
Higher education finances lie at the crossroads in many Western countries. On the one hand, the surging demand of the past three or four decades, driven by a belief in higher education as a principal engine of social and economic advancement, has led to dramatic growth of the higher education systems in these countries. On the other hand, this growth in demand was accompanied by rapidly increasing per-student cost pressures at a time when governments seemed increasingly unable to keep pace with these cost pressures through public revenues. Hence, worldwide, the most common approach to the need for increasing revenue was to use some form or forms of cost sharing, or the shift of some of the higher educational per-student costs from governments and taxpayers to parents and students.



















