Intangible capital and growth : Essays on labor productivity, monetary economics, and political economy ; Vol.1
It is now widely recognized that intangible capital has been a crucial element in the growth performance of these economies and their firms. In the author's view, “intangible capital” serves as the most appropriate umbrella term for capturing several dimensions of capital that are not tangible in nature but are nevertheless fundamentally important for growth. The term encompasses investments in education (human capital) and in informal (social capital) and formal (rule of law) institutions by the public sector and households, as well as investments by businesses aimed at enhancing their knowledge base, such as software, innovative property, and economic competencies.
Insulin Resistance and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome : Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Treatment
This book highlights the recent transition of PCOS from an infertility disorder with a diagnosis based on ovarian tissue histology to a more complex clinical entity, a metabolic disorder in which insulin resistance plays a central role. With an expert panel of authors, each chapter provides an up-to-date and balanced overview of PCOS, paying special attention to the central role of insulin resistance in the syndrome’s pathogenesis and in the management of its reproductive and metabolic abnormalities.
Insulating Modernism : Isolated and Non-Isolated Thermodynamics in Architecture
What is the best way to achieve sustainable energy savings in buildings? This book describes the history, theory and facts of the mainstream insulation technology and the emerging alternative design approaches.
Instructional Scaffolding in STEM Education : Strategies and Efficacy Evidence
This book uses meta-analysis to synthesize research on scaffolding and scaffolding-related interventions in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Specifically, the volume examines the extent to which study quality, assessment type, and scaffolding characteristics (strategy, intended outcome, fading schedule, scaffolding intervention, and paired intervention) influence cognitive student outcomes. It includes detailed descriptions of the theoretical foundations of scaffolding, scaffolding strategies that have been proposed to meet different intended learning outcomes in STEM, and associated efficacy information. Furthermore, the book describes assessment strategies and study designs which can be used to evaluate the influence of scaffolding, and suggests new fields in which scaffolding strategies that have proven efficacious may be used.
Institutions, Sustainability, and Natural Resources : Institutions for Sustainable Forest Management
A new economic theory, rather than a new public policy based on old theory, is needed to guide humanity toward sustainability. Institutions are a critical dimension of sustainability and sustainable forest management, and economic analysis of institutional dimension requires an inclusionist rather than an exclusionist approach. This book provides a systematic critique of neoclassical economic approaches and their limitations with respect to sustainability. Leading institutional economists discuss theoretical perspectives about appropriate institutions for sustainable forest management, markets for environmental services, deforestation and specialization, and some country experiences about Kyoto Protocol, international trade, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest management in general. The book includes the ideas from old as well as new institutional economics and discusses the main features of Post-Newtonian economics.This book follows a companion book, Economics, Sustainability, and Natural Resources: Economics of Sustainable Forest Management, volume 1 of the series.
Institutional Reform for Innovation and Entrepreneurship : An Agenda for Europe
The authors of this book advise the economies of the European Union to become more entrepreneurial in promoting innovation and economic growth. The authors propose a reform strategy with respect to several aspects to achieve this goal. Starting with the rule of law and the protection of property rights; the tax system; the authors deal with regulations governing savings, capital and finance, and the organization of labor markets and social insurance systems. Framework strategies related to the regulations governing goods and service markets, bankruptcy and insolvency are also put forward. A core understanding and future path is also provided towards R&D, commercialization and knowledge spillovers; human capital investments; and informal institutions.
Institutional Context of Education Systems in Europe : A Cross-Country Comparison on Quality and Equity
In this volume, the authors take up the challenge of considering what a European ‘settlement’ might look like. In doing so, they take into account worldwide trends and the increasing evidence of convergence across educational systems. The outcomes of comparative analyses seem to suggest that strong education systems in terms of finance, governance and choice could be preferable. To a greater or lesser extent, therefore, all the systems of education currently in use in Europe face some common challenges. The way in which these challenges are addressed will determine the future of these systems.
Insomimia
Highlights the significant prevalence of insomnia within the Syrian population and underscores the importance of non-pharmacological treatments and social support in managing the disorder. Further research is needed to develop effective interventions and improve awareness and treatment of insomnia.
Insights into the pharmaceutical and clinical applications of nanoparticles in cancer therapy
Healthcare has long been on a quest for a ‘magic bullet’ to cure the dreaded disease cancer. As this book shows, nanoparticles perfectly fit the bill with their promising characteristics. Meticulously engineered nanostructures, with a useful drug or molecule, target a specific cancer in unique ways. However, as with many targeted systems, the effectiveness of the system needs to be weighed against the adverse effects. The toxicity of nanoparticles has been a worldwide concern, and evidence-based medicine analyses nanostructures for proof of safety and their efficacy in killing cancer cells. This book gives a fresh perspective on a wealth of diverse nanotechnological advances for various cancers.
Insider attack and cyber security : Beyond the hacker
This book sets an agenda for an ongoing research initiative to solve one of the most vexing problems encountered in computer security, and includes the following topics: critical IT infrastructure protection, insider threats, awareness and dealing with nefarious human activities in a manner that respects individual liberties and privacy policies of organizations while providing the best protection of critical resources and services. In some sense, the insider problem is the ultimate security problem. This volume concludes with technical and legal challenges facing researchers who study and propose solutions to mitigate insider attacks.
Inside/outside Islamic art and architecture: a cartography of boundaries in and of the field
When we walk into a gallery, we have a fairly good idea where the building begins and ends; and inside, while observing a painting, we are equally confident in distinguishing between the painting-proper and its frame and borders. Yet, things are often more complicated. A building defines an exterior space just as much as an interior, and what we perceive to be ornamental and marginal to a given painting may in fact be central to what it represents. In this volume, a simple question is presented: instead of dichotomous separations between inside and outside, or exterior and interior, what other relationships can we think of? The first book of its kind to grapple with this question, Inside/Outside Islamic Art and Architecture focuses on a wide spectrum of mediums and topics, including painted manuscripts, objects, architectural decoration, architecture and urban planning, and photography. Bringing together scholars with diverse methodologies-who work on a geographical span stretching from India to Spain and Nigeria, and across a temporal spectrum from the thirteenth to the twenty-first century-this original book also poses engaging questions about the boundaries of the field.
Insects as natural enemies : A practical perspective
This book it is an account of major aspects of the biology of predators and parasitoids, punctuated with information and advice on which experiments or observations to conduct, and how to carry them out. Guidance is provided, where necessary, on the literature that may need to be consulted on particular topics.
Insects and Ecosystem Function
In the past two decades, an increasing number of ecologists have started to investigate the importance of biodiversity for ecological processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling, often referred to as 'ecosystem functioning'. Insects are a dominant component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems and play a key role in mediating the relationship between plants and ecosystem processes. This volume is the first to summarize their effects on ecosystem functioning, focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on herbivorous insects. Renowned authors with extensive experience in the field of plant-insect interactions, contribute to the volume using examples from their own work. In addition to providing concise reviews of the field, this volume discusses in detail the advantages and disadvantages of various techniques of manipulating insect herbivory. Thus, the text provides both a theoretical basis as well as practical advice for future manipulative studies of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning.
Insecticides Design Using Advanced Technologies
Among the highlights of this book are the use of nanotechnology to increase potency of available insecticides, the use of genetic engineering techniques for controlling insect pests, the development of novel insecticides that bind to unique biochemical receptors, the exploration of natural products as a source for environmentally acceptable insecticides, and the use of insect genomics and cell lines for determining biological and biochemical modes of action of new insecticides.
Innovative Tools and methods using BIM for an efficient renovation in buildings
This book describes a BIM-based toolkit that has been developed according to the latest research activities on building information modelling and semantic interoperability to optimize the building process. It highlights the impacts of using such new tools to fast renovation activities starting from the decision-making and design stages to the construction site management with the possibility to monitor occupants' and owners’ feedback during the realization process. In this process, a framework has been developed and implemented to allow stakeholders involved in a renovation project to efficiently compile, maintain, and add data about (i) building elements, (ii) building services systems, (iii) tenants, operators, and owners of the building, and (iv) current and predicted performance of the building from the various data sources available. The framework applies and specializes the existing practices in the Semantic Web, Linked Data, and ontology domain to the management of renovation projects. It has been designed to be open so that any system which implements the required functions and uses the specified conventions will be able to achieve semantic interoperability with other framework-compliant systems in the renovation domain. Finally, this book represents the validation process of the toolkit that has been held in three demo sites: a social housing building in Italy and two private residential buildings in Poland and Finland. The outcome shows that the toolkit facilitates the renovation process with relevant reductions of time, costs, and energy consumption and that the inhabitants can take advantage of the increase in building performances, quality, and comfort.
Innovative techniques in instruction technology, e-learning, e-assessment, and education
Innovative Techniques in Instruction Technology, E-Learning, E-Assessment and Education is a collection of world-class paper articles addressing the following topics:E-Learning including development of courses and systems for technical and liberal studies programs; online laboratories; intelligent testing using fuzzy logic; evaluation of on line courses in comparison to traditional courses; mediation in virtual environments; and methods for speaker verification.
Innovative Superhard Materials and Sustainable Coatings for Advanced Manufacturing ; Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Innovative Superhard Materials and Sustainable Coating, Kiev, Ukraine,12 - 15 May 2004.
Modern industry imposes ever increasing requirements upon tools and tool materials as to the provision for performance under the conditions of high cutting speeds and dynamic loads as well as under intensive thermal and chemical interactions with workpiece materials. The industry demands a higher productivity in combination with the accuracy of geometry and dimensions of workpieces and quality of working surfaces of the machined pieces. These requirements are best met by the tool superhard materials (diamond and diamond-like cubic boron nitride). Ceramics based on silicon carbide, aluminum and boron oxides as well as on titanium, silicon and aluminum nitrides offer promise as tool materials. Tungsten-containing cemented carbides are still considered as suitable tool materials. Hi- hardness and high strength composites based on the above materials fit all the requirements imposed by machining jobs when manufacturing elements of machinery, in particular those operating under the extreme conditions of high temperatures and loads.
Innovative Perspectives in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Examines the latest technologies and developments in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Extensive and unique, Innovative Perspectives in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a vital tool for all dental specialists ranging from undergraduate students to established oral maxillofacial surgeons.
Innovative Medicine : Basic Research and Development
Devoted to innovative medicine, comprising the proceedings of the Uehara Memorial Foundation Symposium 2014. It remains extremely rare for the findings of basic research to be developed into clinical applications, and it takes a long time for the process to be achieved. The task of advancing the development of basic research into clinical reality lies with translational science, yet the field seems to struggle to find a way to move forward. To create innovative medical technology, many steps need to be taken: development and analysis of optimal animal models of human diseases, elucidation of genomic and epidemiological data, and establishment of “proof of concept”.
Innovative Internet Community Systems ; Vol. 3908 ; 5th International Workshop, IICS 2005, Paris, France, June 20-22, 2005. Revised Papers
Traditionally, there are topics discussed in three main aspects. All of them must be considered in a united manner in order to investigate and understand the emergence and evolution of communities in the Internet: knowledge about networking, content and text processing as well as theory. The goal of the I2CS workshop is to bring researchers from both industry and academic fields together to discuss current progress and future developments in these areas and to eliminate the gap between theory and application. At this point, we want to express immense gratitude to all the authors of the submitted papers and to the members of the international Program Committee for their contribution to the success of the event and a program of high quality. In a peer-to-peer review process, 17 papers were selected out of 27 submissions.



















