الصفحة 1
الصفحة 1
The Selfish Cell : An Evolutionary Defeat
almost half a century ago. Today, after so many years of feverish research and uncountable efforts worldwide, the end of the war appears far as ever, whereas the fight is leading researchers to newer and newer battlefronts while frontiers in bioscience are continuously being surpassed. In this scenario, “The Selfish Cell” is a script record of the most important strategic points gathered during these years of war, with the goal to provide solid ground onto which to step ahead for future assaults against this terrible disease. At the same time, it is an attempt to shift the debate on cancer toward a more peaceful and possibly productive semantic terrain, where to reflect with the aid of superior wisdom to finally get out of that terrible chaos of fight and death dominating our days. In this perspective, “The selfish cell” becomes an occasion for reflecting the limits of our human selfishness and their consequences on both our social and natural environment.
Stress ribbon and cable-supported pedestrian bridges
Stress-ribbon bridges' is the term used to describe structures formed by a very slender concrete deck in the shape of a catenary. They can be designed with one or more spans and are characterized by successive and complementary smooth curves. These curves blend into the natural environment and their forms, the most simple and basic of structural solutions, clearly articulate the flow of internal forces which can be erected without undue pressure on the environment. Stress Ribbon and Cable-supported Pedestrian Bridges looks at how slender concrete deck are used in the design of suspension and cable stayed structures.
Socio-technical innovation bundles for agri-food systems transformation
This book is the result of an expert panel convened by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and Nature Sustainability. The panel tackled the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 head-on, with respect to the global systems that produce and distribute food. The panel’s rigorous synthesis and analysis of existing research leads compellingly to multiple actionable recommendations that, if adopted, would simultaneously lead to healthy and nutritious diets, equitable and inclusive value chains, resilience to shocks and stressors, and climate and environmental sustainability.
Science of Societal Safety : Living at Times of Risks and Disasters
This book covers comprehensive but fundamental principles and concepts of disaster and accident prevention and mitigation, countermeasures, and recovery from disasters or accidents including treatment and care of the victims. Safety and security problems in our society involve not only engineering but also social, legal, economic, cultural, and psychological issues. The enhancement needed for societal safety includes comprehensive activities of all aspects from precaution to recovery, not only of people but also of governments. In the first part the fundamental concepts of safety are discussed. The second part deals with risks in the societal and natural environment. Then follows, in the third part, a description of the quantitative estimation of risk and its assessment and management. The fourth part is devoted to disaster prevention, mitigation, and recovery systems. The final, fifth part presents a future perspective of societal safety science.
Sampling Methods, Remote Sensing and GIS Multiresource Forest Inventory
The book presents the state-of-the-art of forest resources assessments and monitoring and provides links to practical applications of forest and natural resource assessment programs. It gives an overview of current forest inventory systems and discusses forest mensuration, sampling techniques, remote sensing applications, geographic and forest information systems, and multi-resource forest inventory. In addition to the assessment of the productive functions of forests, particular attention is given to the quantification of non-wood goods and services and the relationship of forests to other landscape elements. All methodology is presented in the framework of sustainable management of the multiple functions that forests provide to the natural environment and to society.
Photomorphogenesis in plants and bacteria : Function and signal transduction mechanisms
Plants as sessile organisms have evolved fascinating capacities to adapt to changes in their natural environment. Arguably, light is by far the most important and variable environmental factor. The quality, quantity, direction and duration of light is monitored by a series of photoreceptors covering spectral information from UVB to near infrared. The response of the plants to light is called photomorphogenesis and it is regulated by the concerted action of photoreceptors. The combined techniques of action spectroscopy and biochemistry allowed one of the important photoreceptors – phytochrome – to be identified in the middle of the last century.
PET Chemistry : The Driving Force in Molecular Imaging
Molecular imaging (MI) is based on the selective and specific interaction of a molecular probe with a biological target which is visualized through nuclear, magnetic resonance, near infrared or other methods. Therefore it is the method of choice for patient selection and therapy monitoring as well as for specific e- point monitoring in modern drug development. PET (positron emitting tomography), a nuclear medical imaging modality, is ideally suited to produce three-dimensional images of various targets or processes. The rapidly increasing demand for highly selective probes for MI strongly pushes the development of new PET tracers and PET chemistry. ‘PET chemistry’ can be de?ned as the study of positron-emitting compounds regarding their synthesis, structure, composition, reactivity, nuclear properties and processes and their properties in natural and - natural environments.
Oslo Manual on Select Topics of the Law of Armed Conflict : Rules and Commentary
Provides a valuable restatement of the current law of armed conflict regarding hostilities in a diverse range of contexts: outer space, cyber operations, remote and autonomous weapons, undersea systems and devices, submarine cables, civilians participating in unmanned operations, military objectives by nature, civilian airliners, destruction of property, surrender, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, cultural property, the natural environment, and more.
Numerical partial differential equations for environmental scientists and engineers : A first practical course
This book concerns the practical solution of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). It reflects an interdisciplinary approach to problems occurring in natural environmental media: the hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and ionosphere. It assumes the reader has gained some intuitive knowledge of PDE solution properties and now wants to solve some for real, in the context of practical problems arising in real situations. The practical aspect of this book is the infused focus on computation. It presents two major discretization methods - Finite Difference and Finite Element. The blend of theory, analysis, and implementation practicality supports solving and understanding complicated problems. It is divided into three parts. Part I is an overview of Finite Difference Methods. Part II focuses on Finite Element Methods, including an FEM tutorial. Part III deals with Inverse Methods, introducing formal approaches to practical problems which are ill-posed.
Multiphase Flow Dynamics 2 : Thermal and Mechanical Interactions ; 3rd ed.
Multi-phase flows are part of our natural environment such as tornadoes, typhoons, air and water pollution and volcanic activities as well as part of industrial technology such as power plants, combustion engines, propulsion systems, or chemical and biological industry. The industrial use of multi-phase systems requires analytical and numerical strategies for predicting their behavior. In its third extended edition this book contains theory, methods and practical experience for describing complex transient multi-phase processes in arbitrary geometrical configurations. This book provides a systematic presentation of the theory and practice of numerical multi-phase fluid dynamics. In the present second volume the mechanical and thermal interactions in multiphase dynamics are provided. This third edition includes various updates, extensions, improvements and corrections.
Multiphase Flow Dynamics 1 : Fundamentals ; 3rd ed.
Multi-phase flows are part of our natural environment such as tornadoes, typhoons, air and water pollution and volcanic activities as well as part of industrial technology such as power plants, combustion engines, propulsion systems, or chemical and biological industry. The industrial use of multi-phase systems requires analytical and numerical strategies for predicting their behavior. In its third extended edition this monograph contains theory, methods and practical experience for describing complex transient multi-phase processes in arbitrary geometrical configurations, providing a systematic presentation of the theory and practice of numerical multi-phase fluid dynamics. This third edition includes various updates, extensions and improvements in all book chapters.
Mathematics and Mechanics of Granular Materials
Granular or particulate materials arise in almost every aspect of our lives, including many familiar materials such as tea, coffee, sugar, sand, cement and powders. At some stage almost every industrial process involves a particulate material, and it is usually the cause of the disruption to the smooth running of the process. In the natural environment, understanding the behaviour of particulate materials is vital in many geophysical processes such as earthquakes, landslides and avalanches. This book is a collection of current research from some of the major contributors in the topic of modelling the behaviour of granular materials. Papers from every area of current activity are included, such as theoretical, numerical, engineering and computational approaches. This book illustrates the numerous diverse approaches to one of the outstanding problems of modern continuum mechanics.
Introducing Biological Rhythms : A Primer on the Temporal Organization of Life, with Implications for Health, Society, Reproduction, and the Natural Environment
Biological rhythms are a fundamental property of all life and encompass a wide range of frequencies, from seconds to a century or more. Introducing Biological Rhythms is a primer that serves to introduce individuals to the area of biological rhythms. It describes the major characteristics and discusses the implications and applications of these rhythms, while citing scientific results and references. Also, the primer includes essays that provide in-depth historic and other background information for those interested in more specific topics or concepts. Introducing Biological Rhythms covers a basic cross-section of the field of chronobiology clearly enough so that it can be understood by a novice, or an undergraduate student, but it is also sufficiently technical and detailed for the scientist.
International conference on terrain and geohazard challenges facing onshore oil and gas pipelines : Evaluation, routing, resign, construction, operation ; Proceedings of a three day international conference on terrain and geohazard challenges facing onshore oil and gas pipelines, organised by the Institution of Civil Engineers in association with BP Exploration and held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, UK, on 2 – 4 June 2004
To access global oil and gas deposits, major pipelines must traverse remote regions with extreme terrains. There are a significant number of pipeline projects, active or planned, in tropical jungles, mountains and deserts, in permafrost and in areas of wetland. Each of these natural environments is associated with a range of geohazards, which may include landslides, soil erosion, karst, river migration, and seismic or volcanic activity. At the same time, society demands increasing availability and reliability of supply, together with improved environmental standards, all making for substantial challenges.
Greenhouse gas emissions - fluxes and processes : Hydroelectric reservoirs and natural environments
In a time when an unquestionable link between anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and climatic changes has finally been acknowledged and * widely documented through IPCC reports, the need for precise estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) production rates and emissions from natural as well as managed ecosystems has risen to a critical level.
Environmental Risk Assessment : Quantitative Measures, Anthropogenic Influences, Human Impact
The world is a dirty place and getting dirtier all the time. The reasons for this ever-increasing lack of cleanliness are not hard to find, being basically caused by the actions of the six billion people who inhabit the planet. The needs of the people for air, water, food, housing, clothing, heating, materials, oil, gas, minerals, metals, chemicals, and so forth have, over the centuries, given rise to a variety of environmental problems that have been exacerbated or been newly created by the industrialization of the world, the increase in population, and the increase in longevity of the population. The costs of cleaning even fractions of the known environmental problems are truly enormous, as detailed in the volume Environmental Risk Analysis (I. Lerche and E. Paleologos, 2001, McGraw-Hill). The chances of causing new environmental problems, and their associated costs of clean up, are equally challenging in terms of anthropogenic influences and also of the natural environmental problems that can be triggered by humanity.
Environmental Geology : Handbook of Field Methods and Case Studies
As earth’s population continues to grow and the detrimental aftereffects of industrialization and environmental negligence become more apparent, society has become more aware of, and concerned about, stewardship of the natural environment – water, soil, and air. Sustainable development has become more widely received and promoted in many parts of the world. The need is now critical for earth and environmental scientists and engineers to work together to implement technologies that can preserve our environment. The Earth’s population was 6.6 billion as of April 2007 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This number is expected to rise to 9.4 billion by 2050. The population is increasing the demand for natural resources and energy, and increasing stress on the environment. Thus, protection of the environment and remediation of damage to the environment must be a priority. It is also important to develop procedures that will help to avert further damage to the environment and to recognize as early as possible the risks associated with changes in the environment. Many methodologies and technologies have become more advanced in the past few decades, and new technologies and approaches have been developed, all to address the growing need for environmental assessment, monitoring, and remediation. As these technologies have grown, the need for interdisciplinary cooperation has also become more apparent.
Ecology, Planning, and Management of Urban Forests : International Perspective
Ecology, Planning, and Management of Urban Forests contains studies and perspectives on urban forests from a broad array of basic and applied scientific disciplines including ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, landscape ecology, plant community ecology, geography, and social science. The book contains contributions from experts in Asia, Europe, and North America, allowing the reader to evaluate methods and management that are appropriate for particular geographic, environmental, and socio-political contexts. Urban forests are also approached on regional and landscape scales to encompass more natural environments in and around cities, rather than within arbitrary municipal boundaries. The studies provided are intended to motivate scientists, planners, and managers to work together and to adopt a broader landscape ecology approach to urban forestry, and in so doing, better address the pressing needs for improving the quality of life in urban environments.
Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes for Sustainable Communities in Asia : Mapping and Navigating Stakeholders, Policy and Action
This book presents up-to-date analyses of community-based approaches to sustainable resource management of SEPLS (socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes) in areas where a harmonious relationship between the natural environment and the people who inhabit it is essential to ensure community and environmental well-being as well as to build resilience in the ecosystems that support this well-being.
Legionella Pneumophila : Pathogenesis and Immunity
Legionella pneumophila is an emerging human pathogen that resides in natural environments as a parasite of freshwater. The volume brings together all of the lastest research on this pathogen, the interest in which is rapidly growing.
