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Liver Disease: A Clinical Casebook
by Stanley Martin Cohen Perica DavitkovThis clinical casebook provides a concise yet comprehensive state-of-the-art review of liver disease. Presented in a case-based format, each case features a scenario centered on a different variant of liver disease, with sections on case history, diagnosis/assessment, treatment, outcomes, alternative approaches, and clinical pearls. Diseases covered include drug-induced liver injury, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, NAFLD, and cholangitis. Scenarios such as liver disease in pregnancy, elevated liver function tests, and liver transplants are also presented in the casebook.Written by experts in the field, Liver Disease: A Clinical Casebook is a valuable resource for clinicians and practitioners who treat patients with liver disease.
Identity Change after Conflict: Ethnicity, Boundaries and Belonging in the Two Irelands (Palgrave Studies in Compromise after Conflict)
by Jennifer ToddThis book explores everyday identity change and its role in transforming ethnic, national and religious divisions. It uses very extensive interviews in post-conflict Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the early 21st century to compare the extent and the micro-level cultural logics of identity change. It widens comparisons to the Gard in France, and uses multiple methods to reconstruct the impact of identity innovation on social and political outcomes in the 2010s. It shows the irreducible causal importance of identity change for wider compromise after conflict. It speaks to those interested in Cultural Sociology, Politics, Conflict and Peace Studies, Nationalism, Religion, International Relations and European and Irish Studies.
Institutions and Agrarian Development: A New Approach to West Africa (Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy)
by Erwin Bulte Paul Richards Maarten VoorsThis book argues that development strategies have thus far failed in Western Africa because the many challenges afflicting the area have yet to be explored and understood from the perspective of institutional resources. With a particular focus on three countries on the bend of the Upper West African coast – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – this book offers a theory to account for the nature of these institutional elements, to test deductions against evidence, and finally to propose a reset for rural development policy to make fuller use of local institutional resources. Based on quantitative analysis and eight years of multidisciplinary field research, this volume features several large-scale RCTs in the domain of rural development, local governance, and nature conservation. The authors address one of the biggest topics in agricultural and development economics today: the structural transformation of poor, agrarian economies, and they do so through the important and unique lens of institutions.
Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery: A Practical Guide
by Salvatore Docimo Eric M. PauliAs the field of general surgery continues to expand, the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways are becoming more complex. The diagnostic modalities available to the clinician can be both very helpful but also overwhelming considering the findings can often determine the scope of treatment for a patient. <P><P>This text will take the major pathologies of the systems commonly studied in general surgery and present them in a unique format based upon algorithms. The algorithms will begin with the clinical presentation of the patient, work its way through the various diagnostic modalities available to the surgeon, and finally allow the physician to make a decision regarding treatment options based upon various patterns in the algorithms. <P><P>This text will become a very useful resources for surgeons as it allows complex clinical pathways to be conveniently organized in logical algorithms. It will become a concise yet comprehensive manual to assist in clinical decision making. All algorithms will be reviewed by experts in their field and include the most up-to-date clinical and evidence-based information. <P><P>Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery provides a useful resource for surgeons in clinical practice as well as surgical residents, and surgical attendings who are preparing for board examinations.
Institutionalist Perspectives on Development: A Multidisciplinary Approach (Palgrave Studies in Democracy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for Growth)
by Spyros Vliamos Michel S. ZouboulakisThis book depicts the role of both formal and informal institutions in achieving long-term economic efficiency and development. It is organized into three sections: the first section deals with the historical and political roots that make institutions favorable to development; the second section offers theoretical perceptions of immaterial institutions; the last section explores how the various official institutions – such as international organizations – interrelate with the process of development. As both the recent global financial crisis and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis within the Eurozone have shown, sustainable development is a combination of human, social and institutional factors that interact with each other and go beyond the strictly economic conditions of each country. With contributions from several countries in Europe as well as Iran, this volume offers readers an international and multidisciplinary perspective of the institutionalist determinants of growth in the long run.
Central Nervous System Intraoperative Cytopathology (Essentials in Cytopathology #13)
by César R. Lacruz Javier Saénz de Santamaría Ricardo H. BardalesThe Essentials in Cytopathology book series fulfills the need for an easy-to-use and authoritative synopsis of site specific topics in cytopathology. These guide books fit into the lab coat pocket and are ideal for portability and quick reference. Each volume is heavily illustrated with a full color art program, while the text follows a user-friendly outline format. Central Nervous System Intraoperative Cytopathology covers the full spectrum of benign and malignant conditions of the CNS with emphasis on common disorders. The volume is heavily illustrated and contains useful algorithms that guide the reader through the differential diagnosis of common and uncommon entities encountered in the field of intraoperative neuro-cytopathology. This book will be a valuable quick reference for pathologists, cytopathologists, and fellows and trainees dealing with this exigent field.Since the successful First Edition, the advances in radiological, clinical, morphological, and molecular aspects of CNS diseases, as well as the increasing options for different treatments modalities require updating of textbooks and revision of diagnostic algorithms. To reach this aim, Central Nervous System Intraoperative Cytopathology, Second Edition features the incorporation of 3 new chapters, 2 appendices, and all new full-color images in the text with updates of new diagnostic information according to 2016 WHO classification of CNS tumors. This fully updated edition also includes expanded clinic-radiological approach, recent biomarkers, and cytological features of new WHO entities. In summary, the text has been extensively revised and largely rewritten to offer the practicing pathologist a concise summary of the critical information needed to recognize and interpret the current exigent field of intraoperative neurocytopathology.
Radiology in Global Health: Strategies, Implementation, and Applications
by Daniel J. Mollura Melissa P. Culp Matthew P. LungrenExploring the question as to why more than half the world continues to have little or no access to medical imaging and radiology, this important second edition, fully revised and expanded, offers not only answers but practical solutions, providing new tools, ideas, and strategies for bringing vital radiology to low-resource areas. Based on RAD-AID’s ten years of work (2008-2018) serving indigent communities around the world, the book’s interdisciplinary approach offers the synthesis of business management, government policy formulation, clinical methods, and engineering in order to integrate economic development, technology innovation, clinical model planning, educational strategies, and public health measures. The gold-standard title in the field, Radiology in Global Health, 2nd Edition is intended for a broad audience, including physicians (especially radiologists and radiology residents), radiology technologists, radiology nurses, sonographers, hardware/software engineers, policy-makers, business leaders, researchers, and public health specialists at all levels who use or implement health care services for underserved populations. In addition, as health care providers use radiology in the process of clinical decision-making, this title is also designed for clinical physicians, nurses, nurse-practitioners, physician assistants, and paramedical personnel. Administrators and public health personnel will also be interested, as the planning of radiology services for health care systems at both the facility level and at the population level requires a clear understanding of the technological challenges and management opportunities.
A Beginners' Guide to Scanning Electron Microscopy
by Anwar Ul-HamidThis book was developed with the goal of providing an easily understood text for those users of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) who have little or no background in the area. The SEM is routinely used to study the surface structure and chemistry of a wide range of biological and synthetic materials at the micrometer to nanometer scale. Ease-of-use, typically facile sample preparation, and straightforward image interpretation, combined with high resolution, high depth of field, and the ability to undertake microchemical and crystallographic analysis, has made scanning electron microscopy one of the most powerful and versatile techniques for characterization today. Indeed, the SEM is a vital tool for the characterization of nanostructured materials and the development of nanotechnology. However, its wide use by professionals with diverse technical backgrounds—including life science, materials science, engineering, forensics, mineralogy, etc., and in various sectors of government, industry, and academia—emphasizes the need for an introductory text providing the basics of effective SEM imaging.A Beginners’ Guide to Scanning Electron Microscopy explains instrumentation, operation, image interpretation and sample preparation in a wide ranging yet succinct and practical text, treating the essential theory of specimen-beam interaction and image formation in a manner that can be effortlessly comprehended by the novice SEM user. This book provides a concise and accessible introduction to the essentials of SEMincludes a large number of illustrations specifically chosen to aid readers' understanding of key conceptshighlights recent advances in instrumentation, imaging and sample preparation techniquesoffers examples drawn from a variety of applications that appeal to professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Animals in Environmental Education: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Curriculum and Pedagogy (Palgrave Studies in Education and the Environment)
by Teresa Lloro-Bidart Valerie S. BanschbachThis book explores interdisciplinary approaches to animal-focused curriculum and pedagogy in environmental education, with an emphasis on integrating methods from the arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences. Each chapter, whether addressing curriculum, pedagogy, or both, engages with the extant literature in environmental education and other relevant fields to consider how interdisciplinary curricular and pedagogical practices shed new light on our understandings of and ethical/moral obligations to animals. Embracing theories like intersectionality, posthumanism, Indigenous cosmologies, and significant life experiences, and considering topics such as equine training, meat consumption and production, urban human-animal relationships, and zoos and aquariums, the chapters collectively contribute to the field by foregrounding the lives of animals. The volume purposefully steps forward from the historical marginalization of animals in educational research and practice.
Atlas of Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis: Diagnosis And Management
by Marco Matucci-Cerinic Christopher P. DentonThis Atlas examines skin ulcers in patients affected by systemic sclerosis. Although they are not life threatening, digital ulcers cause enormous pain, impact function and quality of life, and can lead to serious local complications such as gangrene, osteomyelitis, and permanent tissue loss. Knowledge and understanding of these ulcers is pivotal in everyday practice in order to arrive at an accurate early diagnosis, a correct analysis of ulcer characteristics, and an appropriate direct and systematic treatment. To that end, this book describes all the major characteristics of skin ulcers in systematic sclerosis, including classification, evaluation, and categorization. Richly illustrated for practical use, Atlas of Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Management is an essential resource for physicians and related professionals, residents, and graduate students in rheumatology, dermatology, and angiology.
The Palgrave Handbook of Intersectionality in Public Policy (The Politics of Intersectionality)
by Olena Hankivsky Julia S. Jordan-ZacheryGrounded in black feminist scholarship and activism and formally coined in 1989 by black legal scholar Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, intersectionality has garnered significant attention in the field of public policy and other disciplines/fields of study. The potential of intersectionality, however, has not been fully realized in policy, largely due to the challenges of operationalization. Recently some scholars and activists began to advance conceptual clarity and guidance for intersectionality policy applications; yet a pressing need remains for knowledge development and exchange in relation to empirical work that demonstrates how intersectionality improves public policy. This handbook fills this void by highlighting the key challenges, possibilities and critiques of intersectionality-informed approaches in public policy. It brings together international scholars across a variety of policy sectors and disciplines to consider the state of intersectionality in policy research and analysis. Importantly, it offers a global perspective on the added value and “how-to” of intersectionality-informed policy approaches that aim to advance equity and social justice.
Engineering Dynamics 2.0: Fundamentals and Numerical Solutions (Solid Mechanics and Its Applications #254)
by Lester W. SchmerrThis book presents a new approach to learning the dynamics of particles and rigid bodies at an intermediate to advanced level. There are three distinguishing features of this approach. First, the primary emphasis is to obtain the equations of motion of dynamical systems and to solve them numerically. As a consequence, most of the analytical exercises and homework found in traditional dynamics texts written at this level are replaced by MATLAB®-based simulations. Second, extensive use is made of matrices. Matrices are essential to define the important role that constraints have on the behavior of dynamical systems. Matrices are also key elements in many of the software tools that engineers use to solve more complex and practical dynamics problems, such as in the multi-body codes used for analyzing mechanical, aerospace, and biomechanics systems. The third and feature is the use of a combination of Newton-Euler and Lagrangian (analytical mechanics) treatments for solving dynamics problems. Rather than discussing these two treatments separately, Engineering Dynamics 2.0 uses a geometrical approach that ties these two treatments together, leading to a more transparent description of difficult concepts such as "virtual" displacements.Some important highlights of the book include: Extensive discussion of the role of constraints in formulating and solving dynamics problems.Implementation of a highly unified approach to dynamics in a simple context suitable for a second-level course.Descriptions of non-linear phenomena such as parametric resonances and chaotic behavior.A treatment of both dynamic and static stability.Overviews of the numerical methods (ordinary differential equation solvers, Newton-Raphson method) needed to solve dynamics problems.An introduction to the dynamics of deformable bodies and the use of finite difference and finite element methods.Engineering Dynamics 2.0 provides a unique, modern treatment of dynamics problems that is directly useful in advanced engineering applications. It is a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate students and for practicing engineers.
Innovative Logistics Services and Sustainable Lifestyles: Interdependencies, Transformation Strategies and Decision Making
by Ani Melkonyan Klaus KrummeThis edited volume aims to describe the transformation of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics services by merging sustainable logistics, SCM, sustainable consumption and lifestyle research. This assessment of the transformation potential serves the development of sustainable business models and optimized decision-making systems for achieving sustainable economic value creation within a green economy. In 5 sections, the volume takes a unique transdisciplinary approach to assess sustainable business practices within SCM and the logistics sector, and to understand the interactions between logistics services and consumer lifestyles while creating transparency within the decision making process. This book will be of particular interest to academics, policymakers, planners, and politicians. Section 1 introduces readers to the importance of blended research and innovation between sustainable SCM and consumer lifestyles for transformation towards a green economy. Section 2 addresses the question of how trends and developments in consumption behavior and lifestyles influence the development of sustainable logistics. Section 3 discusses the transformation potential towards sustainable logistics using the food sector as an example. Section 4 focuses on strategic decision making in SCM, and how long-term improvements of sustainability performance can be achieved. Section 5 concludes with policy recommendations as well as research and innovation perspectives for future sustainable development with SCM and logistics.
Nutritional Influences on Bone Health: 10th International Symposium
by Connie M. Weaver Heike Bischoff-Ferrari Robin M. Daly Man-Sau WongThis book comprehensively covers the topics and discussions covered at the 10th International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis. It is the only international meeting that exclusively covers the role of nutrition on musculoskeletal health and function. Current thinking on the role of nutrition on bone and muscle development and health, and as a means of preventing osteoporosis, falls and fractures is covered. The latest evidence on the potential roles that protein, potassium, B vitamins, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and flavonoids in the context of bone and muscle health are also discussed. Nutritional Influences on Bone Health reviews the role of nutrition in bone health and its potential role in preventing osteoporosis and sarcopenia in ageing populations, providing a valuable and practically applicable resource for practising and trainee health and medical professionals.
Electromagnetic Geophysical Fields: Precursors To Earthquakes And Tsunamis, Impact On The Brain And Heart
by Oleg Novik Feodor Smirnov Maxim VolginThis book covers the basic scientific theory and related application technologies of the pantograph–catenary system, including research findings on pantograph/catenary contact resistance, pantograph interface thermal effect, laws and characteristics of current-carrying friction and wear, the main research methods for pantograph arcs, the effects of arcs on pantograph systems and onboard equipment, and the materials used for pantographs and contact wires. Given its scope, it offers a valuable resource for students, scholars, and development engineers alike. <P><P> The relationship between pantograph and catenary is one of the three core aspects of the safe operation of high-speed electrified railways. The pantograph system provides electric power for the high-speed train through the sliding electric contact. As the train’s operating speed increases, the pantograph system enters a state of prolonged sliding/vibration, resulting in frequent arcs, electrode erosion, and increased wear.
Syria: From National Independence to Proxy War
by Ali Kadri Linda MatarThis edited collection aims to analytically reconceptualise the Syrian crisis by examining how and why the country has moved from a stable to a war-torn society. It is written by scholars from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, all of whom make no attempt to speculate on the future trajectory of the conflict, but aim instead to examine the historical background that has laid the objective conditions for Syria’s descent to its current situation. Their work represents an attempt to dissect the multi-layered foundation of the Syrian conflict and to make understanding its complex inner workings accessible to a broader readership. The book is divided into four parts, each of which elaborates on the origins and dynamics of today’s crisis from the perspective of a different discipline. When put together, the four parts provide a holistic picture of Syria’s developmental trajectory from the early twentieth century through to the present day. Themes addressed include Syria’s postcolonial development efforts, its leap into socialism and then into neoliberalism in the late twentieth century, its politics within the resistance front, and finally its food and health security concerns.
Neuro-Ophthalmology: Global Trends in Diagnosis, Treatment and Management (Thieme Publishers Series)
by Andrew G. Lee Alexandra J. Sinclair Ama Sadaka Shauna Berry Susan P. MollanThis book offers an overview on the most recent advances in global neuro-opthalmic care. Global variation in the incidence and prevalence of specific neuro-ophthalmic conditions results in geographic differences in differential diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment of specific disorders. It covers a variety of disorders from optic neuritis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension to traumatic optic neuropathy. To understand the key differences in neuro-ophthalmic health care, this book has gathered recognized experts from around the world to describe and define these regional and geographic variations of care.By highlighting various international approaches to diagnosing and treating neuro-ophthalmic disorders, this book will be an essential guide for neuro-ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists, and neurologists seeking to build upon their clinical skills in a global context.
Advances in Exercise and Health for People With Mobility Limitations
by David HollarThe purpose of this book is to provide public health, disability, and rehabilitation professionals and practitioners evidence-based science with respect to health disparities faced by people with disabilities, especially people with mobility limitations; alternative methods of rehabilitation and exercise science for this population; assistive device technology; and, improved access to health care, employment, and social participation.According to the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), approximately 57 million Americans live with a disability. Disability severity and types vary considerably, such that each individual with a disability faces unique physical, social, and environmental barriers in order to enjoy quality of life and full participation in society. A large research literature shows that people with disabilities face substantial employment and health disparities compared to people without disabilities. People with mobility limitations often experience secondary conditions to compound their primary disability. Hollar (2013) and Hollar and Lewis (2015) showed that people with mobility limitations were significantly more likely to experience obesity and lack of access to physical exercise. Other studies have shown that access to proper physical examination facilities and equipment remain a substantial barrier in many clinics and hospitals despite the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act 25 years ago. Research on alternative exercise programs and new assistive device technologies offers promise to improve physical functioning and exercise for people with mobility limitations. Furthermore, increased focus on biopsychosocial over traditional medical models for disability will help policymakers and the public to recognize the complex, contextual issues (e.g., personal, social, environmental) that affect the lives of people with disabilities.Readership includes public health practitioners and educators, disability and rehabilitation researchers, clinicians and sports medicine practitioners, and disability advocates. There have been general handbooks on disability, but advances in technology and alternative exercise programs, as well as novel disability health programs, are dispersed in the research literature. This book will help to highlight these programs for health policy experts, especially given the high health and social disparities experienced by this population.
History of Terrestrial Mammals in South America: How South American Mammalian Fauna Changed From The Mesozoic To Recent Times (Topics in Geobiology #42)
by Thomas DeflerThis book takes a non-technical approach in covering the evolution of South American mammalian fauna throughout geological history, and discusses how South America has changed due to mammalian invasions. Unlike other works on the subject, this book attempts to answer several crucial questions that often go unmentioned together in one cohesive monograph. What was the fauna like before the American interchange? What were the origins of the now-extinct groups when northern species arrived and out-competed them? How did the modern mammalian fauna come into being with such disparate animal groups? This information is given from a historical perspective throughout the book's 15 chapters, and is presented in an easily graspable fashion by mostly avoiding technical language. The book is written for academics, scientists and scholars engaged in paleontology, zoology and evolutionary biology, but may also appeal to a larger audience of general readers interested in mammalian evolution. The book begins with an introduction, describing the tools necessary to interpret the evolutionary history of South American mammals in geological terms and some of the early people who helped found South American mammalian paleontology. Chapter 2 describes the Mesozoic first mammals of Gondwana and what we are learning about them, dominant before the K/T extinction event. Then chapters 3 through 8 cover the Cenozoic, or "Age of Mammals", highlighting the major mammalian groups of South America that replaced the earlier mammals of Gondwana. These groups include the marsupials, native ungulates, the xenarthrans (armadillos, anteaters, sloths), the caviomorphs (rodents), and the platyrrhine monkeys. Chapters 9 and 10 address the Antarctic La Meseta fossils and the Colombian La Venta fossil faunal assemblages. Chapter 11 discusses the neotropical mammals that invaded the Caribbean Islands, and illustrates the influence South America has had on adjacent faunas. Chapter 12 describes the origin of the Amazon River and the role it has played in the evolution of the mammals and other flora and fauna. Chapter 13 tells the story of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI), and chapter 14 follows this up with a discussion of the Pleistocene mammal communities and their eventual extinction. Chapter 15 concludes the text by discussing the modern mammals of South America, and how despite the extensive Pleistocene extinctions there is still a lot of mammalian diversity in South America.
Computational Collective Intelligence: 10th International Conference, ICCCI 2018, Bristol, UK, September 5-7, 2018, Proceedings, Part II (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #11056)
by Ngoc Thanh Nguyen Elias Pimenidis Zaheer Khan Bogdan TrawińskiThis two-volume set (LNAI 11055 and LNAI 11056) constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Collective Intelligence, ICCCI 2018, held in Bristol, UK, in September 2018 The 98 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 240 submissions. The conference focuses on knowledge engineering and semantic web, social network analysis, recommendation methods and recommender systems, agents and multi-agent systems, text processing and information retrieval, data mining methods and applications, decision support and control systems, sensor networks and internet of things, as well as computer vision techniques.
Computational Collective Intelligence: 10th International Conference, ICCCI 2018, Bristol, UK, September 5-7, 2018, Proceedings, Part I (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #11055)
by Ngoc Thanh Nguyen Elias Pimenidis Zaheer Khan Bogdan TrawińskiThis two-volume set (LNAI 11055 and LNAI 11056) constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Collective Intelligence, ICCCI 2018, held in Bristol, UK, in September 2018 The 98 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 240 submissions. The conference focuses on knowledge engineering and semantic web, social network analysis, recommendation methods and recommender systems, agents and multi-agent systems, text processing and information retrieval, data mining methods and applications, decision support and control systems, sensor networks and internet of things, as well as computer vision techniques.
Achieving Supply Chain Agility: Information System Integration in the Chinese Automotive Industry
by Yi WuThis book identifies factors of information system (IS) integration that influence supply chain agility and illustrates how IS integration can achieve greater supply chain agility. Also considering the consequent operational impacts that arise from IS-enabled supply chain agility, the author presents real-life examples through interviews and surveys to explore how IS integrations affect supply chain agility in the context of the Chinese automotive industry. The ability to swiftly respond to competitive challenges is a key element in industry 4.0 and organisations with agile supply chains are better prepared to respond to uncertainties and changes. This book develops and presents guidelines on the deployment of information system integration in order to achieve efficient agile supply chains.
Before Military Intervention: Upstream Stabilisation In Theory And Practice
by Robert Johnson Timothy ClackThis book explores the natures of recent stabilisation efforts and global upstream threats. As prevention is always cheaper than the crisis of state collapse or civil war, the future character of conflict will increasingly involve upstream stabilisation operations. However, the unpredictability and variability of state instability requires governments and militaries to adopt a diversity of approach, conceptualisation and vocabulary. Offering perspectives from theory and practice, the chapters in this collection provide crucial insight into military roles and capabilities, opportunities, risks and limitations, doctrine, strategy and tactics, and measures of effect relevant to operations in upstream environments. This volume will appeal to researchers and practitioners seeking to understand historical and current conflict.
A Political Sociology of Regionalisms: Perspectives for a Comparison
by Kevin ParthenayThis book provides an alternative approach to regionalism in neglected parts of the world. Taking stock of several decades of conceptualization, the author provides a political sociology approach of regionalisms fed by recent contributions from the sociology of international relations and public policy analysis. It uses a methodological rather than theoretical framework to bring a new perspective on an emerging field of comparative regionalism. The relational dimensions, the social contexts and characteristics of actors and their practices are key to shed a new light on what is considered in this book as a ‘social international phenomenon’.
Modeling Energetic Efficiency of Biofuels Production (Green Energy and Technology)
by Andrzej WasiakThis book focuses on how the energetic efficiency of biofuel production systems can be modeled. It provides engineers and economists with an essential grasp of biofuel production systems performance, as it includes results of mathematical modeling and computer simulations concerning the performance of real-world biofuel production systems. The book also indicates the limitations on biofuel production's ability to ensure sustainability and the energetic self-sufficiency of agriculture, helping politicians and other decision-makers to choose between various legal and economic options.