Nitrogen Cycling in the Americas : Natural and Anthropogenic Influences and Controls
The rate of creation of reactive nitrogen (NR) on the earth has dramatically increased in the last half century mainly due to the production of N-fertilizer through the Haber-Bosch process, fossil fuel combustion, and the cultivation of plants that fix N from the atmosphere. The anthropogenic production of NR has been especially high in developed countries of the temperate zone, such as the USA and Canada, where severe eutrophication of estuaries and coastal zones, acidification of lakes and streams, loss of biodiversity, and reduced forest productivity have become common environmental problems associated with increasing nitrogen loads to ecosystems. This book presents a series of studies from across the Americas whose aim is to highlight key natural processes that control nitrogen cycling as well as discuss the main anthropogenic influences on the nitrogen cycle in both the tropical and temperate regions of the Americas.
Natural Disasters as Interactive Components of Global-Ecodynamics
This book opens a new approach to the study of global environmental changes having unfavourable character for mankind and other living systems. The main advantage of the book consists in the accumulation of knowledge from different sciences to parametrize the global ecodynamic process. Natural catastrophes are considered as an interactive element of global natural dynamics which are described by means of simulation models of global nature/society. The realization of this approach allows the integration within a complex structure of all international and national means of environmental monitoring and provides a tool for objective evaluation of the environmental quality. The main purpose of this book is to develop a universal information technology to estimate the state of environmental subsystems functioning under various climatic and anthropogenic conditions.
Multicomponent reactions towards heterocycles : Concepts and applications
Heterocycles are a central component in natural product chemistry, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and material science. New synthetic methodologies integrating the sequencing of multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are today being used for the rapid synthesis of diversified heterocycles in just one step. Multicomponent Reactions towards Heterocycles presents an up-to-date summary MCR chemistry with a focus on the conjugation between modern synthetic methodologies and MCRs.
Molecular Biology in Plant Pathogenesis and Disease Management : Disease Development ; Vol.2
This volume focuses on the possibility of applying the knowledge on pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology to determine the vulnerable stages in the life cycles of the pathogens that can be disrupted to achieve more effective disease control.
Models, Methods and Tools for Product Service Design : The Manutelligence Project
This book summarizes research being pursued within the Manutelligence project, the goal of which is to help enterprises develop smart, social and flexible products with high value added services. Manutelligence has improved Product and Service Design by developing suitable models and methods, and connecting them through a modular, collaborative and secure ICT Platform. The use of real data collected in real time by Internet of Things (IoT) technologies underpins the design of product-service systems and makes it possible to monitor them throughout their life cycle. Available data allows costs and sustainability issues to be more accurately measured and simulated in the form of Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Analysing data from IoT systems and sharing LCC and LCA information via the ICT Platform can help to accelerate the design of product-service systems, reduce costs and better understand customer needs. Industrial partners involved in Manutelligence provide a clear overview of the project's outcomes, and demonstrate how its technological solutions can be used to improve the design of product-service systems and the management of product-service life cycles.
Modeling Theory in Science Education
The book focuses as much on course content as on instruction and learning methodology, and presents practical aspects that have repeatedly demonstrated their value in fostering meaningful and equitable learning of physics and other science courses at the secondary school and college levels.The author shows how a scientific theory that is the object of a given science course can be organized around a limited set of basic models. Special tools are introduced, including modeling schemata, for students to meaningfully construct models and required conceptions, and for teachers to efficiently plan instruction and assess and regulate student learning and teaching practice. A scientific model is conceived to represent a particular pattern in the structure or behavior of physical realities and to explore and reify the pattern in specific ways. The author further shows how to engage students in modeling activities through structured learning cycles.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Heterocycles
This book is Volume I of a new series by Springer entitled Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry. At present, there are six such monographs in this series, the overall scope of which is to cover "current trends in heterocyclic chemistry". Given the importance of heterocylic natural products and heterocyclic scaffolds in the realm of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, an up-todate series on this subject is well warranted, and a survey of the recent impact of microwave-assisted synthesis on this venerable field is both timely and needed
Microorganisms in soils : Roles in genesis and functions
The following key topics are covered: Microorganisms in bioerosion, humification, mineralization and soil aggregation; Microbial energetics and microbes in biogeochemical processes such as carbon and nitrogen cycles and phosphorus bio-availability; Interactions in the mycorrhizosphere, e.g. between mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria; Impact of microbes on plant nutrient cycling and the possible effects of transgenic rhizospheres on soil fungi; Functions of microbes in specific soil compartments such as soil surface or toxic metal polluted soils; Regulation of microbial activities in functional domains that are influenced by biotic or abiotic factors; Use of marker genes and isotopes as examples for modern techniques in soil microbiology.
Islamic banking and finance
Explores the nature and role of money in modern economies and elaborates on the process of credit deposit creation, trade cycles and instruments for the creation of value in financial markets through the perspectives of Islamic finance. The author explains its characteristics, especially the rationale for the lack of interest-based financial activities. He examines the intrinsic ethical and humanistic frameworks that govern financial theories and practices and the models for the creation of value, risk-sharing and socially responsible investing, as well as the governance and regulation that these systems follow. The author also does a comparative assessment of conventional financial systems with Islamic finance with relevant examples, assesses the performance of Islamic systems and examines existing and expanding markets for Islamic finance.
International Trade and Multinational Activity : Heterogeneity of Firms, Incentives for Foreign Direct Investment, and International Business Cycle Dynamics
During the last 25 year, the neoclassical Heckscher-Ohlin trade theory has been extended to the ‘new’ trade theory by including imperfect competition and fixed costs into the analysis of trade relations. Furthermore, these micro-oriented trade models are increasingly used to analyze macro-oriented questions. Chapter 2 of this study investigates the dynamic welfare effects of exposure to trade in a new trade model, which is extended by firm heterogeneity.
International steam tables : Properties of water and steam based on the industrial formulation IAPWS-IF97 : Tables, algorithms, diagrams, and CD-ROM Electronic steam tables - All of the equations of IAPWS-IF97 including a complete set of supplementary backward equations for fast calculations of heat cycles, boilers, and steam turbines
This book contains steam tables for industrial use that have been calculated using the international standard for the thermodynamic properties of water and steam, the IAPWS-IF97 formulation, and the international standards for transport and other properties. In addition, the complete set of equations of IAPWS-IF97 is presented including all supplementary backward equations adopted by IAPWS between 2001 and 2005 for fast calculations of heat cycles, boilers, and steam turbines.
Internal Research & Development Markets
In times of global markets, increasing competition and short product life cycles the effective and efficient management of industrial research and development (R&D) activities is of central importance for companies as well as for the whole economy. Traditionally the resources for R&D projects are allocated via planning- and budgeting procedures, evaluation methods and hierarchical decision-committees. This book presents resource allocation via internal markets as an alternative to such hierarchical decision procedures.
Integral waterproofing of concrete structures : Advanced protection technologies of concrete by pore blocking and lining
This book first establishes a background about concrete structures and porosity linked with concrete hydration, then goes on to consider concrete durability problems from the perspective of water penetration including damages from freeze-thaw cycles, alkali silica reactions, and chloride ion penetration. The mechanisms, applications, performances, and limitations of waterproofing technologies including coatings and integral systems are compared. The book also showcases all application methods of crystallization waterproofing materials, including material spray on cured concrete and on fresh concrete, and their addition to concrete mix designs as enhancers or admixtures.
Heterocycles from Transition Metal Catalysis : Formation and Functionalization
The book provides a representative selection of transition metal catalysed reactions, transformations that are relevant in heterocyclic chemistry. In this way, the authors provide a useful resource for members of the academic community looking for a textbook as well as industrial chemists in search of a reference book. This book is an invaluable resource for synthetic chemists, medicinal chemists, and those more generally interested in applied catalysis.
Heterocycles from Carbohydrate Precursors
This book is a volume in the series Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry.Itc- ers the key methods used for designing synthetic approaches to heterocycles from carbohydrates and the value and scope of these methods. Carbohydrates are widely distributed in nature and constitute the largest part of renewable biomasses. Moreover, many carbohydrates and their derivatives are comm- cially available at relatively cheap prices. Consequently their utilization is highly encouraged and economically they are of great signifcance. Moreover, carbohydrates are highly functionalized compounds that can be readily deritized and/or cyclized to provide heterocyclic compounds. This book provides a modern account and an up-to-date description of the advancement in the synthesis of diverse heterocycles from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can be considered as a source of chiral centers in addition to the variable modifcation thereof.
Handbook of Bioentrepreneurship
Providing an important and timely overview of research in the field of entrepreneurship in biotechnology, The Handbook of Bioentrepreneurship examines one of the most promising industries of the 21st century. While genetically engineered foods and biopharmaceuticals have made biotechnology part of our everyday lives, launching a bioventure is among the most complex and risky entrepreneurial undertakings, given long development cycles, high levels of technological and market uncertainty, and extraordinary capital requirements. Featuring unparalleled, in-depth analysis from experts around the world, the Handbook sheds light on emerging business models and strategies, geographical and regional networks, cooperation between firms and universities, legal frameworks, and policy issues that influence the context in which biotech ventures are established and the conditions under which they may flourish. biotechnology.
Hamiltonian Reduction by Stages
In this volume readers will find for the first time a detailed account of the theory of symplectic reduction by stages, along with numerous illustrations of the theory. Special emphasis is given to group extensions, including a detailed discussion of the Euclidean group, the oscillator group, the Bott-Virasoro group and other groups of matrices. Ample background theory on symplectic reduction and cotangent bundle reduction in particular is provided. Novel features of the book are the inclusion of a systematic treatment of the cotangent bundle case, including the identification of cocycles with magnetic terms, as well as the general theory of singular reduction by stages.
Forest Diversity and Function : Temperate and Boreal Systems
One of the central research themes in ecology is evaluating the extent to which biological richness is necessary to sustain the Earth's system and the functioning of individual ecosystems. In this volume, for the first time, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem processes in forests is thoroughly explored. The text examines the multiple effects of tree diversity on productivity and growth, biogeochemical cycles, animals, pests, and disturbances.
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.
European Large Lakes Ecosystem changes and their ecological and socioeconomic impacts
Large lakes offer socio-economic benefits and can be used in many ways, and are often areas in which economic, cultural and political interests overlap. In this book the problems regarding the present status of European large lakes and the directions of change are discussed. Threats caused by direct human impact and by climate change, protection needs and restoration measures are considered.



















