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Macroeconomic Analysis of Monetary Unions
by Carmen Díaz-Roldán Oscar Bajo-RubioThe book develops a general framework for the macroeconomic modeling of monetary unions. The starting point of the analysis is the standard two-country Mundell-Fleming model with perfect capital mobility, extended to incorporate the supply side in a context of rigid real wages, and modified so that the money market is common for two countries forming a monetary union. The model is presented in two versions: for a small and a large monetary union, respectively. After solving each model, the authors derive multipliers for monetary, expenditure, supply, and external shocks, both in the short and the long run; a graphical analysis is also provided. Special attention is paid to the crucial distinction between symmetric and asymmetric shocks.
Reinraumtechnik
by Hans-Peter Hortig Lothar Gail Udo GommelDer Band bietet eine fundierte Darstellung der Reinraumtechnik als branchenübergreifende Disziplin. Dabei verknüpfen die Autoren die Grundlagen der Reinraumtechnik mit deren Anwendungen und mit einer Anleitung zum selbständigen Erarbeiten von Problemlösungen. Für die 3. Auflage wurden Ergebnisse der nationalen und internationalen Reinraumkongresse ebenso berücksichtigt wie neue Regulierungen der Pharmazie, aktuelle Richtlinien und Anwendungen. Die Themen Hygienetechnik und Reinstwassertechnologie werden jetzt ausführlicher behandelt.
Tribology in Total Hip Arthroplasty
by Karl KnahrDuring the 2010 EFORT Congress in Madrid, many interesting topics relating to tribology in total hip arthroplasty were discussed during a special day devoted entirely to the subject. So successful was the day, and such was the broad interest in the discussions, that EFORT decided that publication of all the presentations would be warmly welcomed by fellow professionals who were unable to attend. This book is the result. It includes detailed information on the different articulating materials and the wear to which they are subject. The various factors that contribute to bearing performance and control wear are thoroughly evaluated, and careful consideration is given to the technology and design solutions proposed with a view to producing low-wearing hip joints. This book will be of interest both to novices who want to learn more about the field and to experienced orthopaedic surgeons wishing to keep abreast of the latest developments.
A Concise Guide to Nuclear Medicine
by Abdelhamid H. ElgazzarNuclear medicine is an important component of modern medicine. This easy-to-use book is designed to acquaint readers with the basic principles of nuclear medicine, the instrumentation used, the gamut of procedures available, and the basis for selecting specific diagnostic or therapeutic procedures and interpreting results. After an introductory chapter on the history, technical basis, and scope of nuclear medicine, a series of chapters are devoted to the application of nuclear medicine techniques in the different body systems. In addition, the use of nuclear medicine methods within oncology is carefully examined, covering diagnosis, staging, assessment of treatment response, radiotherapy planning, and the sentinel node technique. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to nuclear medicine therapy. This practical and up-to-date guide to nuclear medicine is ideal for beginners and will also help professionals who need to retrieve useful information rapidly.
Luminescence Applied in Sensor Science
by Luca Prodi Nelsi Zaccheroni Marco MontaltiMolecular Logic Gates and Luminescent Sensors Based on Photoinduced Electron Transfer, by A. Prasanna de Silva and S. Uchiyama; Luminescent Chemical Sensing, Biosensing, and Screening Using Upconverting Nanoparticles, by D. E. Achatz, R. Ali, and O. S. Wolfbeis; Luminescence Amplification Strategies Integrated with Microparticle and Nanoparticle Platforms, by S. Zhu, T. Fischer, W. Wan, A. B. Descalzo, and K. Rurack; Luminescent Chemosensors Based on Silica Nanoparticles, by S. Bonacchi, D. Genovese, R. Juris, M. Montalti, L. Prodi, E. Rampazzo, M. Sgarzi, and N. Zaccheroni; Fluorescence Based Sensor Arrays, by R. Paolesse, D. Monti, F. Dini, and C. Di Natale; Enantioselective Sensing by Luminescence, by A. Accetta, R. Corradini, and R. Marchelli
Non-Idiopathic Spine Deformities in Young Children
by Muharrem YaziciNon-idiopathic early onset scoliosis represents a true challenge to the physician due to the significance of the ongoing growth of the spine, the risk of curve progression, and the risk of pulmonary insufficiency. A comprehensive review of the growth mechanisms of spine in infancy forms the basis of the book. Clinical evaluation and imaging of early onset scoliosis contribute to the diagnostic overview. The main causes of non-idiopathic early onset scoliosis are briefly described in the second part of the book. The last group of chapters presents the conservative and surgical treatments that are available along with their results, chances and challenges. This comprehensive guide is an opportunity for every specialist involved in the treatment of these severe deformities, to obtain an update of the actual trends and knowledge in the field in a one-point reference.
From Varying Couplings to Fundamental Physics
by Carlos Martins Paolo MolaroNature is characterized by a number of physical laws and fundamental dimensionless couplings. These determine the properties of our physical universe, from the size of atoms, cells and mountains to the ultimate fate of the universe as a whole. Yet it is rather remarkable how little we know about them. The constancy of physical laws is one of the cornerstones of the scientific research method, but for fundamental couplings this is an assumption with no other justification than a historical assumption. There is no 'theory of constants' describing their role in the underlying theories and how they relate to one another or how many of them are truly fundamental. Studying the behaviour of these quantities throughout the history of the universe is an effective way to probe fundamental physics. This explains why the ESA and ESO include varying fundamental constants among their key science drivers for the next generation of facilities. This symposium discussed the state-of-the-art in the field, as well as the key developments anticipated for the coming years.
Carbon Cycling in the Baltic Sea (GeoPlanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences)
by Janusz Pempkowiak Karol KulinskiThe Baltic Sea is an area extensively explored by the oceanographers. Hence it is one of the most often described marine areas in the scientific literature. However, there are still several fields which are poorly investigated and reported by scientists. One of them is the carbon cycle of the Baltic Sea. Although it is believed the shelf seas are responsible for about 20% of all marine carbon dioxide uptake, while they constitute only 7% of the whole sea surface, still a scientific debate exists on the role of the Baltic Sea in the global carbon cycle. "Carbon cycle of the Baltic Sea" is intended to be a comprehensive presentation and discussion of state of the art research by biogeochemists involved in the Baltic Sea carbon cycle research. This work presents both qualitative and quantitative descriptions of the main carbon flows in the Baltic Sea as well as their possible shifts induced by climatic and global change.
Nature Helps...
by Heinz MehlhornNature helps... of course at first itself by developing measures that give bacteria, fungi, plants and animals a chance to be successful in their struggle for life. As a latecomer on Earth, Homo sapiens was gifted with some droplets of the divine spirit of recognition and thus became able to observe, to analyse and recombine skills of other living beings and to use them for his overwhelming career over the last 10,000 years. Of course fungi, plants, animals and even bacteria were primarily used by mankind as food or as lifestyle products such as beer, but soon it became clear that there was much more potential hidden in these organisms and that they could be used for other purposes, too. Extracts of plants and fungi were recognized as powerful remedies, as medicines, as insecticides or acarizides, as repellents against parasites or even as weapons, e.g. when poisonous compounds from frogs or plants were applied to arrowheads. Over the last 110 years the pharmaceutical industry has often simulated nature by analyzing complex organic substances taken from living organisms and then producing by synthesis absolutely pure compounds, which mostly consisted of only one single active substance. These products had the advantage of acting against precisely one target and thus produced fewer possible side effects than the complex plant extracts. However, the more serious side effect was that disease agents could develop resistances to pure medicinal products much more easily. Thus after 70 years of excellent prospects for chemotherapy, some dark clouds appeared and quickly gathered, so that several therapeutic remedies now no longer work. Therefore in many countries - especially in those where the pure chemotherapeutics are too expensive for the poor population - the cry "back to nature" is becoming louder and louder. This has led to an enormous increase of studies that again use natural extracts as remedies in the fight against diseases. The present book summarizes examples of promising aspects in a broad spectrum of applications and shows how extracts derived from bacteria, marine organisms, plants or even animals may help to treat infectious diseases, how such organisms may keep away parasites and pests from the bodies of plants or animals, including humans, and how they can be used directly to aid in diagnosis, promote wound healing and even to help catch criminals. These 15 chapters offer not only basic research on these different fields, but also show how useful and effective products can be developed from research.
Wiederverkaufskultur im Internet
by Siegfried Behrendt Jens Clausen Birgit Blättel-MinkMit Blick auf einen nachhaltigen Konsum eröffnen elektronische Handelsplattformen neue Spielräume. In dem Band werden die Ergebnisse einer empirischen Studie vorgestellt, für die das Kauf- und Verkaufsverhalten, die Motivationen sowie die mit dem Online-Handel verbundenen Umweltauswirkungen erhoben wurden. Am Beispiel von eBay zeigt die Untersuchung erstmals in sehr umfassender Weise das ökologische Potenzial des Online-Handels mit Gebrauchtgütern. Es liegt im Wesentlichen darin, die Lebens- und Nutzungsphase von Produkten zu verlängern.
Challenges and Opportunities in Agrometeorology
by M.V.K. Sivakumar L. S. Rathore S. D. Attri S. K. DashThe global food security and sustainable agriculture are the key challenges before the scientific community in the present era of enhanced climate variability, rapidly rising population and dwindling resources. No part of the world is immune from meteorological extremes of one sort or another posing threat to the food security. Agrometeorology has to make most efficient use of the opportunities available in achieving the objectives of enhancing productivity and maintenance of sustainability. Increased awareness and technological advancement have provided opportunities to develop efficient agrometeorological services that can help cope with risks. These include improvements in weather forecasting, better understanding of the monsoon variability and crop-weather relationships, advances in operational agrometeorology and agrometeorological information systems, adaptation strategies to climate change and improved risk evaluation and management. This book based on an International Workshop held in New Delhi, India should be of interest to all organizations and agencies interested in agrometeorological applications.
Data Management and Query Processing in Semantic Web Databases
by Sven GroppeThe Semantic Web, which is intended to establish a machine-understandable Web, is currently changing from being an emerging trend to a technology used in complex real-world applications. A number of standards and techniques have been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), e.g., the Resource Description Framework (RDF), which provides a general method for conceptual descriptions for Web resources, and SPARQL, an RDF querying language. Recent examples of large RDF data with billions of facts include the UniProt comprehensive catalog of protein sequence, function and annotation data, the RDF data extracted from Wikipedia, and Princeton University's WordNet. Clearly, querying performance has become a key issue for Semantic Web applications. In his book, Groppe details various aspects of high-performance Semantic Web data management and query processing. His presentation fills the gap between Semantic Web and database books, which either fail to take into account the performance issues of large-scale data management or fail to exploit the special properties of Semantic Web data models and queries. After a general introduction to the relevant Semantic Web standards, he presents specialized indexing and sorting algorithms, adapted approaches for logical and physical query optimization, optimization possibilities when using the parallel database technologies of today's multicore processors, and visual and embedded query languages. Groppe primarily targets researchers, students, and developers of large-scale Semantic Web applications. On the complementary book webpage readers will find additional material, such as an online demonstration of a query engine, and exercises, and their solutions, that challenge their comprehension of the topics presented.
Recycling of Biomass Ashes
by Heribert Insam Brigitte A. KnappThe use of renewable bioenergy is increasing, and so is the production of associated wastes: biomass ashes. This book presents eleven chapters on the options for recycling such biomass ashes, ranging from their use as fertilizer in agriculture and forestry to their application as a supplement for the production of cement-based materials or bricks. The book also examines the pros and cons for each of the different uses of biomass ashes.
Groundwater in the Arab Middle East
by Wolfgang WagnerThe book gives an outline of prevailing hydrogeologic conditions in the Arab Middle East together with the geologic background. Emphasis is given to relationships between the main features influencing the hydrogeologic conditions - regional geologic developments, paleogeographic conditions, morphology, climate and paleo-climate - and the resulting hydrogeologic features: formation of aquifers, distribution of major aquifers, main groundwater flow systems, occurrence of renewable and fossil groundwater. Reported data on hydraulic aquifer parameters, recharge rates and groundwater flow volumes are evaluated with a view to arrive at characteristic values under the specific hydrogeologic and climatic conditions. The area considered covers approximately the Arabian Plate. Information on the following countries is included: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen.
Process Mining
by Wil M. van der AalstThe first to cover this missing link between data mining and process modeling, this book provides real-world techniques for monitoring and analyzing processes in real time. It is a powerful new tool destined to play a key role in business process management.
Entanglement Between Noncomplementary Parts of Many-Body Systems
by Hannu Christian WichterichThis thesis investigates the structure and behaviour of entanglement, the purely quantum mechanical part of correlations, in many-body systems, employing both numerical and analytical techniques at the interface of condensed matter theory and quantum information theory. Entanglement can be seen as a precious resource which, for example, enables the noiseless and instant transmission of quantum information, provided the communicating parties share a sufficient "amount" of it. Furthermore, measures of entanglement of a quantum mechanical state are perceived as useful probes of collective properties of many-body systems. For instance, certain measures are capable of detecting and classifying ground-state phases and, particularly, transition (or critical) points separating such phases. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on entanglement in many-body systems and its use as a potential resource for communication protocols. They address the questions of how a substantial amount of entanglement can be established between distant subsystems, and how efficiently this entanglement could be "harvested" by way of measurements. The subsequent chapters 4 and 5 are devoted to universality of entanglement between large collections of particles undergoing a quantum phase transition, where, despite the enormous complexity of these systems, collective properties including entanglement no longer depend crucially on the microscopic details.
Quantitative Financial Risk Management
by Desheng Dash WuThe bulk of this volume deals with the four main aspects of risk management: market risk, credit risk, risk management - in macro-economy as well as within companies. It presents a number of approaches and case studies directed at applying risk management to diverse business environments. Included are traditional market and credit risk management models such as the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, the Vasicek Model, Factor models, CAPM models, GARCH models, KMV models and credit scoring models.
Radiale Kreiselpumpen
by Wolfgang WescheDie Berechnung und Konstruktion der hydrodynamischen Komponenten von radialen Kreiselpumpen steht im Mittelpunkt dieses Buchs. Dabei konzentriert sich der Autor auf die Kernthemen der Pumpenhydrodynamik, geht aber auch auf das Regelverhalten verschiedener Pumpentypen ein. Er behandelt das Betriebsverhalten von Pumpen im Turbinenbetrieb und deren Unterschiede zu "echten" Turbinen. Beispiele erleichtern den Einstieg in die Entwurfsarbeit. Das praxisorientierte Buch eignet sich sowohl für die Praxis in der Industrie als auch für das Studium.
Breath Odors: Origin, Diagnosis, and Management
by Mel Rosenberg Nir StererBad breath is a common and embarrassing problem that everyone worries about, yet most health professionals still know little about its origins, diagnosis, and treatment. Over the past fifteen years, investigators have studied how bad breath is caused, where the odors originate, and which bacteria and gases are involved. Novel in vitro systems and measurement techniques have been proposed, and clinical studies conducted to compare new and traditional treatments. This illustrated text presents, for the first time, a comprehensive and cohesive science-based approach to bad breath, combining basic research with clinical approaches to diagnosis and treatment. All aspects of the subject are examined thoroughly and critically, including the psychological impact of breath odor and future prospects. The authors draw upon more than thirty years' combined experience in this field, both in the laboratory and as consultants to thousands of patients in Canada, the US, the UK, and elsewhere.
The Welfare of Farmed Ratites
by Irek Malecki Christine Lunam Phil GlatzThis volume reviews, for the first time, the broad range of issues that affect the welfare of commercially farmed ratites. Although ratites incorporate several families of flightless birds this book focuses on the most commonly farmed ratites, the ostrich, emu and rhea. The readers are taken on a journey through all sectors of the industry, which include breeding, incubation, hatching, brooding, rearing, growth, transport and processing, with an emphasis on husbandry and management protocols that can impact bird welfare and health. Also discussed is the structure and sensory innervation of the skin and digits of the birds, and the potential welfare implications of industry practices on these structures. Each chapter in this volume focuses on a particular aspect of the commercial farming of ratites with contributing authors from a broad range of disciplines.
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
by Oliver Dörr Kirsten SchmalenbachThe Commentary on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties provides an in-depth article-by-article analysis of all provisions of the Vienna Convention. The texts are uniformly structured: (I) Purpose and Function of the Article, (II) Historical Background and Negotiating History, and (III) Elements of the Article. The Vienna Convention on Treaties between States and IOs and between IOs is taken into account where appropriate. In sum, the present Commentary contains a comprehensive legal analysis of all aspects of the international law of treaties. Where the law of treaties reaches into other fields of international law, e.g. the law of state responsibility, the relevant interfaces are discussed and contextualized. With its focus on international practice, the Commentary is addressed to academia, as well as to practitioners of international law.
Structures on the Move
by Antje Flüchter Susan RichterThis book enters new territory by moving toward a new conceptual framework for comparative and interdisciplinary research on transcultural state formation. Once more, statehood and governance are highly discussed topics, whereby modern state building is often considered to be a genuinely European characteristic, despite the fact that early modern Europeans knew of, experienced and grappled with highly developed states in Asia. The articles collected in this book discuss how strategies of governance were part of transcultural transfers between the two continents. The first part presents and discusses concepts of statehood in order to provide a set of conceptual tools for analyzing the transcultural appropriation of governmental strategies. The second part is concerned with case studies that examine the transcultural perception of governance, and the third and final part gathers perspectives on political practice in transcultural encounters (e.g. military, administration, and diplomacy)
Design, Synthesis and Characterization of new Supramolecular Architectures
by Massimo BaronciniThis thesis focuses on the bottom-up design, construction and operation of supramolecular systems capable of behaving as devices and machines on the molecular scale, which is a topic of great interest in nanoscience and a fascinating challenge in nanotechnology. In particular, the systems investigated here include: polyviologen dendrimers capable of behaving as hosts and chargestoring devices; molecular machines based on pseudorotaxanes/rotaxanes and operated by photoinduced proton transfer, or photoisomerization reactions; and a simple unimolecular multiplexer/demultiplexer. The systems have been characterized using a variety of techniques including absorption and emission spectra, laser flash photolysis, NMR spectroscopy, electrochemical experiments, stopped flow measurements. This research addresses a large number of open problems in the nanosciences, dealing with a wide range of the most advanced applications of supramolecular systems.
Porous Polymeric Bioresorbable Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
by Chiara GualandiThe development and application of bioactive nano-structured constructs for tissue regeneration is the focus of the research summarised in this thesis. Moreover, a particular focus is the rational use of supercritical carbon dioxide foaming and electrospinning technologies which can lead to innovative polymeric bioresorbable scaffolds made of hydrolysable (both commercial and 'ad-hoc' synthesized) polyesters. Mainly, the author discusses the manipulation of polymer chemical structure and composition to tune scaffold physical properties, and optimization of scaffold 3D architecture by a smart use of both fabrication techniques. The multidisciplinary nature of this research is imperative in pursuing the challenge of tissue regeneration successfully. One of the strengths of this thesis is the integration of knowledge from chemistry, physics, engineering, materials science and biomedical science which has contributed to setting up new national and international collaborations, while strengthening existing ones.
Brominated Flame Retardants (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry #16)
by Damià Barceló Ethel EljarratBrominated flame retardants are one of the last classes of halogenated compounds that are still being produced worldwide and used in large quantities in many applications. They are used in plastics, textiles, electronic circuitry, and other materials to prevent fires. This volume covers the state-of-the-art of the analysis, fate and behaviour of brominated flame retardants. Experts in the field provide an overview of the compounds' physico-chemical properties and uses, their occurrence in the environment and biota, advanced chemical analytical methods, degradation studies, toxicological effects and human exposure. This book is a valuable and comprehensive source of information for environmental scientists interested in brominated flame retardant issues, and for authorities and producers.