الصفحة 8
الصفحة 8
Environmental Policy Instruments for Conserving Global Biodiversity
If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. —Mark 9:23 The current, unprecedented loss of global biodiversity as a result of anthropo genic interference in the world's ecosystems is affecting human well-being across the globe with increasing severity. It therefore represents a major chal lenge in international environmental policymaking. With the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the community of states has recognized the in creasing importance of preserving biodiversity. Given the extensive context of biodiversity loss and preservation, this study focuses on two issues, which are at the center of the public discussion regarding the objectives of conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity, and that are addressed by specific policy instruments. The first issue is the regulation of cross-border trade in genetic information and genetic resources. Here, the question is whether the commercial use of genetic information derived from bio diversity can create incentives for its preservation. The second issue involves the conservation of biodiversity through the protection of ecologically valuable eco systems from human use.
Environmental and Health Risk Assessment and Management : Principles and Practices
The book covers the essential aspects of environmental and health law, environmental economics, applied statistical and probabilistic methods, fundamental notions of applied epidemiology and toxicology, as well as decision analysis, to provide an integrated overview of how risk assessment and management combine to produce sound societal outcomes. Risk-based methods play a pivotal role in identifying and ranking alternative, sustainable choices, while accounting for uncertainty and variability. Specifically, most reductions in risks require a balancing of the costs and benefits associated with the action to reduce exposure to a hazard and thus risk. This balancing necessarily involves linking exposure and response through causation. Fundamentally, in risk assessment and management, science and law intersect through legal and scientific causation to the point that the failure to provide a sound causal argument can make an otherwise beneficial law or regulation invalid.
Enterprise Applications and Services in the Finance Industry ; 3rd International Workshop, FinanceCom 2007, Montreal, Canada, December 8, 2007. Revised Papers
This book constitutes the proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Enterprise Applications and Services in the Finance Industry, FinanceCom2008, held in Paris, France, on December 13, 2008. The workshop spans multiple disciplines, including technical, economic, sociological and behavioral sciences. The guiding theme of this workshop was concerned with innovations in the financial services industry, driven by either new business models or changed regulations.
Engineering self-organising systems ; Vol. 3464 : Methodologies and applications
Self-organisation, self-regulation, self-repair, and self-maintenance are promising conceptual approaches to deal with the ever increasing complexity of distributed interacting software and information handling systems. Self-organising applications are able to dynamically change their functionality and structure without direct user intervention to respond to changes in requirements and the environment. This book comprises revised and extended papers presented at the International Workshop on Engineering Self-Organising Applications, ESOA 2004, held in New York, NY, USA in July 2004 at AAMAS as well as invited papers from leading researchers. The papers are organized in topical sections on state of the art, synthesis and design methods, self-assembly and robots, stigmergy and related topics, and industrial applications.
Energy Manual : Sustainable Architecture
Presents a comprehensive look at the constructional parameters of energy efficiency and sustainability. It offers an advance look at the legal regulations being planned by the EU, and – as a tool ready for immediate use by architects, engineers, and designers in their daily work – it points the way toward the efficient and sustainable construction and operation of buildings. With its focus on the entire lifecycle of a building, it provides an integrated perspective – a necessary prerequisite for sustainable economic management.
Encyclopedic Reference of Genomics and Proteomics in Molecular Medicine
This is the most authoritative and wide-ranging reference yet assembled on Functional Genomics (the systematic analysis and identification of genes and their function) and Proteomics (the study of the complex structures and functions of proteins) in the rapidly expanding field of Molecular Medicine. The two-volume reference work offers a comprehensive overview of the terms, topics and issues in both molecular biology and molecular medicine, with particular emphasis placed on the molecular causes of diseases. It provides up-to-the minute information about developments in the field, including pharmacogenetics and pharmacoproteomics, gene regulation and gene therapy. The Encyclopedic Reference of Genomics and Proteomics in Molecular Medicine is an invaluable tool for clinical scientists in academia and industry, and all who need fast and user-friendly access to key information in this dynamically developing field.
Employment Deconcentration in European Metropolitan Areas : Market Forces versus Planning Regulations
Spatial deconcentration of economic activities, particularly the growth of suburban office, retail and entertainment concentrations, has become a prime concern in European metropolitan areas. This book provides a cross-national comparative perspective on employment deconcentration within selected metropolitan areas in Europe. Whereas most debate over urban sprawl and deconcentration is oriented towards the North American context, this book aims at a better understanding of this phenomenon in the European context, emphasizing the location of economic activities rather than residential patterns. It provides insights on whether different governance attributes produce particular forms of deconcentration versus the influence of market attributes and local specificities, also commenting on quality of life impacts and possible governance and policy implications of the deconcentration process. Introduction of a comparative framework is followed by eight case study chapters, three representing northern Europe, three the southern European-Mediterranean region and two post-communist central Europe. Most chapters examine two metropolitan areas, usually a large one and a smaller one. The comparison reveals considerable variations in the magnitude, form, and process of employment deconcentration, only partly in line with expected influences of governance systems. Evidence does not fully confirm an anticipated distinction between Northern and Mediterranean Europe; the Czech Republic and Israel seem to diverge most from prevailing European trends.
Emotion Regulation : Conceptual and Clinical Issues
Emotions: basic products of human functioning, intimately involved in physical health, they have been alternately embraced and ignored by generations of researchers and practitioners. Emotion Regulation offers a much-needed corrective to the conventional clinical wisdom, updating the knowledge base on emotions—specifically their expression and inhibition—as they affect stress, health, and well-being. An international team of researchers from a variety of fields sort out conflicting affect/health theories, and provide the latest findings on inter- and intrapersonal functions of emotions while acknowledging the role of individual variables. The book covers conceptual, developmental, and clinical issues and balances core topics with emerging areas of interest
E-Merging Media: Communication and the Media Economy of the Future
After the very successful ECC-Book on "E-conomy" this new report of the European Communication Council (ECC) analyzes from various perspectives the profound societal and economical change of the media economy, initiated by digitalization and networking. Against the background of the current media history, it highlights for example the role of the Internet hype as a pathfinder in a modified media society. The key question is concerned with how the medial future will be like. The report examines effects and new perspectives in the area of economy, society, and politics. The aspects of behavior, business models, legal and regulation questions, self-conception of society and media economy are mooted by international authors to enhance the reader's understanding of the medial future and to disclose options for action.
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.
Economic Analysis of Information System Investment in Banking Industry
Explains in reahty, examines theoretically, and analyzes statistically information system investment in the banking industry with regard to the process of the information technology revolution. This kind of comprehensive research on the banking industry is the first in the world. It could be seen as an application study for Japanese financial deregulation after 1997. However, our project, the Workshop of Information System Investment, is a theoretical research venture, consisting originally, when it began in 1994, of economists and computer scientists. It aimed to measure the effect of com puter hardware and software on the modern economy, based on the microdata of each firm, and to extend the frontiers of economic science. It was, coin- dentally, the time when this project began full-scale operation, in July 1997, that the voluntary closure of Yamaichi Securities was decided. The failure of the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank was disclosed in November of the same year, and the breakdown, temporary nationalization, buying out, and mergers of several banks succeeded one another. Our research therefore suddenly got into the social spotlight on the application stage. Part I is the first history and strategic guidelines of information systems in the banking industry. Part II summarizes the economic analyses of informa tion system investment in the United States, Europe, and Japan. These parts are foundations for the statistical analyses in Part III.
Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Bioanalysis
Drug metabolism/pharmacokinetics and drug interaction studies have been extensively carried out in order to secure the druggability and safety of new chemical entities throughout the development of new drugs. Recently, drug metabolism and transport by phase II drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters, respectively, as well as phase I drug metabolizing enzymes, have been studied. A combination of biochemical advances in the function and regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and automated analytical technologies are revolutionizing drug metabolism research. There are also potential drug-drug interactions with co-administered drugs due to inhibition and/or induction of drug metabolic enzymes and drug transporters.
Drug Delivery Systems for Metabolic Disorders
Covers recent developments in advanced drug delivery systems in various metabolic disorders, including disturbances in protein, lipid, carbohydrate and hormone metabolism and lysosomal and mitochondrial disorders. It provides a brief introduction to metabolic disorders, along with a focus on the current landscape and trends in understanding disease pathology using different in vitro and in vivo models required for clinical applications and developments of new therapeutics.
Drones and the Creative Industry : Innovative Strategies for European SMEs
Presents innovative strategies in the use of civil drones in the cultural and creative industry. Specially aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the book offers valuable insights from the fields of marketing, engineering, arts and management. With contributions from experts representing varied interests throughout the creative industry, including academic researchers, software developers and engineers, it analyzes the needs of the creative industry when using civil drones both outdoors and indoors. The book also provides timely recommendations to the industry, as well as guidance for academics and policymakers.
DNA Methylation, Epigenetics and Metastasis
Provides an outline of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer progression and the generation of metastasis. This book describes the tumor suppressor genes undergoing transcriptional silencing by CpG island promoter hypermethylation in the different tumor types of the human anatomy and their association with tumoral behaviour
DNA Conformation and Transcription
the first book that compiles the fruits of the studies that have been performed to date to solve the riddle ‘written’ in DNA conformation ("conformation code"). This book provides a comprehensive overview of the field by covering history of the field, up-to-date topics, clarifications of present day research, and future perspective of what is still to be discovered. Thus, it serves as an invaluable source of information on the "conformation code".
Diverse Roles of Integrin Receptors in Articular Cartilage
Recent studies from the authors' laboratory and from other leading groups have shown that ß1-integrins are essential for cell signalling and communication in chondrocytes. Furthermore, ß1-integrins function as mechanoreceptors in the chondrocyte mechanotransduction pathway. Their expression is therefore essential for maintaining the chondrocyte phenotype, preventing chondrocyte apoptosis and regulating chondrocyte-specific gene expression. This book volume summarizes the work that the authors have done on ß1-integrins over the last 18 years and focuses on the expression and regulation of these proteins in chondrocytes and their role in the context of the unique function of chondrocytes within articular cartilage.
Distributed Ledgers : Design and Regulation of Financial Infrastructure and Payment Systems
In this book, Robert Townsend steps back from the hype and controversy surrounding DLT (and the related, but not synonymous, innovations of blockchain and Bitcoin) to offer an economic analysis of what distributed ledgers can do and a blueprint for the optimal design and regulation of financial systems. He analyzes four crucial components of distributed ledgers—ledgers as accounts, e-messages and e-value transfers, cryptography, and contracts—assessing each in terms of both economics and computer science, and forges some middle ground. Relatedly, Townsend highlights hybrid systems in which some of these components allow useful innovation while legacy or alternative pieces deal with the problem of scale.
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.
Discoveries in Photosynthesis
Conceived of as a way of summarizing the history of research advances in photosynthesis as of millennium 2000, the book evolved into a majestic and encyclopedic saga involving all of the basic sciences. This book is meant not only for the researchers and graduate students, but also for advanced undergraduates in Plant Biology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and History of Science.
