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This open access book explores the recent developments automated driving and Car2x-communications are opening up attractive opportunities future mobility. The DFG priority program “Cooperatively Interacting Automobiles” has focused on the scientific foundations for communication-based automated cooperativity in traffic. Communication among traffic participants allows for safe and convenient traffic that will emerge in swarm like flow. This book investigates requirements for a cooperative transport system, motion generation that is safe and effective and yields social acceptance by all road users, as well as appropriate system architectures and robust cooperative cognition. For many years, traffic will not be fully automated, but automated vehicles share their space with manually driven vehicles, two-wheelers, pedestrians, and others. Such a mixed traffic scenario exhibits numerous facets of potential cooperation. Automated vehicles must understand basic principles of human interaction in traffic situations. Methods for the anticipation of human movement as well as methods for generating behavior that can be anticipated by others are required. Explicit maneuver coordination among automated vehicles using Car2X-communications allows generation of safe trajectories within milliseconds, even in safety-critical situations, in which drivers are unable to communicate and react, whereas today's vehicles delete their information after passing through a situation, cooperatively interacting automobiles should aggregate their knowledge in a collective data and information base and make it available to subsequent traffic.

This book brings a unique perspective to animal movement studies because all studies come from African tropical environments where the great diversity, either biological and structurally (trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes), present the animals with several options to fulfil their basic needs. These conditions have forced the evolution of unique movement patterns and ecological strategies. ​The book follows on our previous book “Movement Ecology of Neotropical Forest Mammals” but focuses on tropical African forests. Movement is an essential process in the life of all organisms. Animals move because they are looking for primary needs such as food, water, cover, mating and to avoid predators. Understanding the causes and consequences of animal movement is not an easy task for behavioural ecologists. Many animals are shy, move in secretive ways and are very sensible to human presence, therefore, studying the movements of mammals in tropical environments presents logistical and methodologicalchallenges. However, researchers have recently started to be solved these challenges and exciting new information is emerging. In this book we are compiling a set of extraordinary studies where researchers have used new technology and the strongest methodological approaches to understand movement patterns in wild African forest mammals. This second book should inspire early career researchers to investigate wild mammal´s movements in some of the most amazing forest in the world: African tropical forests.

This new edition of Pharmacoresistance in Epilepsy addresses all issues relating to drug-resistance in epilepsy, including studies in patients as well in experimental models and presents the basis for an understanding of recent developments in the pathogenesis and treatment of this condition. Important issues associated with drug-resistant epilepsy are reviewed and updated, such as abnormalities in inhibitory mechanisms, neurotoxicity and changes the immune system associated with this disorder, and the development of drug-resistance as consequence of chronic exposure to antiseizure-medications. Considering that a major obstacle is that epilepsy associated with drug-resistance cannot be controlled with the traditional antiseizure medications, specific chapters describe therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce the progression of the disease with complementary medical therapies, such as transcranial focal stimulation to promote neuroprotection. Pharmacoresistance in Epilepsy is a valuable resource for anyone working in the field, whether studying epilepsy in the lab or treating it in an office.

This book presents various biotechnological applications of the fungal systems in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, textile industry, bioremediation, biofuel, and the production of biomolecules. It discusses the important role of fungal secondary metabolites in human welfare and nutrition. It explores fungi as the vital sources of novel substances with antidiabetic, antibiotic as well as prebiotic properties. The book further describes the natural and unique ability of fungi to biodegrade macro- and microplastics by using them as a source of carbon and energy. Notably, it presents the properties and applications of bioactive fungal polysaccharides and discusses the latest developments in utilizing these biopolymers in human nutrition. In addition, the book examines the production of biodegradable and sustainable natural colorants from fungal sources. This book is a valuable source for mycologists, biotechnologists, and microbiologists for understanding the important role of fungi in biotechnology.

The properties of chemical, pharmaceutical, and biological compounds depend mainly on their molecular structure, whose determination is of fundamental interest. This book examines and systematizes more than three hundred striking structural determinations of free molecules. Featuring high-quality structural data and presenting modern techniques of their determinations by quantum chemistry, high-resolution spectroscopy and electron diffraction, the book is an indispensable resource for graduate students and professional scientists specializing in structural chemistry and other related fields.

This edited work presents a multi-faceted view on the causes and consequences of disturbance in ecosystems. Vegetation can be affected by a variety of different disturbances such as wind, floods, fire, and insect attack, leading to an abrupt change in live biomass. Disturbance is a motor of vegetation dynamics, but also sensitive to climate change and poses a challenge for ecosystem management. Readers will discover the global distribution of disturbance regimes and learn about the importance of disturbances for biodiversity and the evolution of plant and animal life. The book provides a Central European perspective on disturbance ecology, and addresses important disturbance agents such as fire, wind, avalanches, tree diseases, insect defoliators, bark beetles and large herbivores in dedicated chapters. It furthermore includes chapters on anthropogenic disturbances in forests and grasslands. The impact of climate change on disturbance regimes and approaches to address disturbance risks in ecosystem management are discussed in concluding chapters. Within the 18 chapters 14 textboxes highlight current topics of disturbance ecology and provide deeper methodological insights into the field. Disturbances strongly shape our landscapes and maintain our biodiversity. A better understanding of their ecology is thus fundamental for contextualizing the dynamic changes in our environment. This book is a valuable resource for students and practitioners interested in disturbances and their management.

This book explores types of disruptions in defence and security, ways to assess disruptions triggered by technological advancements or the lack of legal frameworks; the consequent delays or disruptions to making decisions, creative idea generation and finally the innovative pathways to counter such disruptions. What do disruption, ideation and innovation have in common? How do disruptions, ideas and innovation coexist within defence and security? They all influence and impact decision-making. Disruptions drive decision-making. Ideation raises solutions to resolve the disruptions and innovation brings ideas into life. While disruptions may be common place in the business world, where disruptive technologies displace pre-existing ones; they are less prevalent in defence, even less so within the realm of security. For the last 10 years, there has been talk of disruptive technologies and even adoption of terms such as emerging and disruptive technologies by the largest military alliance—NATO, yet the means to assess these remain elusive. It offers researchers opportunities to assess different types of disruptions, ideate and innovate on scientific grounds to counter disruptions, thereby bolstering the defence and security community's ability to make decisions better.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Machine Learning Technologies and Applications, AMLTA 2022, held in Cairo, Egypt, during May 5-7, 2022. The 8th edition of AMLTA will be organized by the Scientific Research Group in Egypt (SRGE), Egypt, collaborating with Port Said University, Egypt, and VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic. AMLTA series aims to become the premier international conference for an in-depth discussion on the most up-to-date and innovative ideas, research projects, and practices in the field of machine learning technologies and their applications. The book covers current research on advanced machine learning technology, including deep learning technology, sentiment analysis, cyber-physical system, IoT, and smart cities informatics and AI against COVID-19, data mining, power and control systems, business intelligence, social media, digital transformation, and smart systems.

The edited book consolidates information for profitable commercial cultivation of medicinal mushrooms. The book suggests a large number of substrates to the growers for use in commercial cultivation of Mushrooms. It also elucidates the conservation of wild endangered medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms are the fungal fruiting bodies which can be seen by naked eyes and collected by hands. These are extremely heterogeneous organisms characterized by high levels of species diversity and are widespread in all environments. Researches conducted by score of mycologists and biotechnologists, have resulted in the continuous discovery of new species and the variability of environments where fungi can be harvested, including air, space the seabed. The fields of applications are unfolding a panorama of uses in varied fields, ranging from agriculture, bioremediation, forestry, food, cosmetics, medical, and in pharmaceutical sectors. The book comprises of three parts, first mentions their applications in Ayurvedic and traditional system of Chinese medicine for the cure of ailments. The truffles are delicious, while many others are recommended, as cure in deadly diseases like cancer, COVID-19, and HIV, as well as memory and longevity enhancer. Lentinus, Ganoderma, and Cordyceps are considered good as antioxidant and cure for inflammation. Second part deals with their occurrence in different habitats and seasons and their biology. Enzymes and mechanisms involved in biodegradation and anatomical details of rotting wood. The third part brings about the need of mushroom technology in improving rural economy. This book is a useful read for researchers and students in agriculture, agronomy and researchers working on mushrooms. ​

Ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable development are at the top of the list of United Nations (UN) sustainable global development priorities. In the times of high population growth and increasing pressure of agricultural systems, efficiency in use of natural resources has been at the epicenter of sustainable agricultural. The concept of ‘Input efficiency'implies production of high quantity and quality of food, from using only finite natural resources as inputs, in the form of mainly land, water, nutrients, energy, or biological diversity. In this book, editors provide a roadmap to the food, nutritional, and environmental security in the agricultural systems. They share insight into the approaches that can be put in practice for increasing the input use efficiency in the cropping systems and achieve stability and sustainability of agricultural production systems. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, climate change scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, agroforestry, agroecology, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists, policymakers will also find this to be a useful read.

This work presents some essential techniques that constitute the modern strategy for computing scattering amplitudes. It begins with an introductory chapter to fill the gap between a standard QFT course and the latest developments in the field. The author then tackles the main bottleneck: the computation of the loop Feynman integrals. The most efficient technique for their computation is the method of the differential equations. This is discussed in detail, with a particular focus on the mathematical aspects involved in the derivation of the differential equations and their solution. Ample space is devoted to the special functions arising from the differential equations, to their analytic properties, and to the mathematical techniques which allow us to handle them systematically. The thesis also addresses the application of these techniques to a cutting-edge problem of importance for the physics programme of the Large Hadron Collider: five-particle amplitudes at two-looporder. It presents the first analytic results for complete two-loop five-particle amplitudes, in supersymmetric theories and QCD. The techniques discussed here open the door to precision phenomenology for processes of phenomenological interest, such as three-photon, three-jet, and di-photon + jet production.

This textbook on Feynman integrals starts from the basics, requiring only knowledge of special relativity and undergraduate mathematics. Feynman integrals are indispensable for precision calculations in quantum field theory. At the same time, they are also fascinating from a mathematical point of view. Topics from quantum field theory and advanced mathematics are introduced as needed. The book covers modern developments in the field of Feynman integrals. Topics included are: representations of Feynman integrals, integration-by-parts, differential equations, intersection theory, multiple polylogarithms, Gelfand-Kapranov-Zelevinsky systems, coactions and symbols, cluster algebras, elliptic Feynman integrals, and motives associated with Feynman integrals. This volume is aimed at a) students at the master's level in physics or mathematics, b) physicists who want to learn how to calculate Feynman integrals (for whom state-of-the-art techniques and computations are provided), and c) mathematicians who are interested in the mathematical aspects underlying Feynman integrals. It is, indeed, the interwoven nature of their physical and mathematical aspects that make Feynman integrals so enthralling.

The field of immuno-oncology continues to rapidly evolve as new insights to fight and treat cancer emerge. The fourth edition of Immunotherapy provides the most current overview of immuno-oncology in different cancer types and toxicities associated with immunotherapy. While immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape of several solid malignancies, several challenges still exist.Only a subset of patients derive clinical benefits; some do not respond at all, and others respond initially, only for their disease to progress later. Because these drugs can activate a broad range of immune cells, patients suffer from a unique set of side effects known as immune-related adverse events. As more immunotherapeutic agents are used in the clinic, it is important to provide updates about current and ongoing developments in the field to further research efforts and inform treatment decisions.The fourth edition will have a new focus on strategies to overcomethe challenges associated with immunotherapy. Chapters will discuss topics such as biomarkers of response, resistance mechanisms, role of imaging in predicting immune-related adverse events, and management of immune-related adverse events. Written by leading experts conducting cutting-edge research, readers will gain up-to-date knowledge on the current state and future of immunotherapy.

The book covers the latest developments in biologically-inspired and derived nanomedicine for cancer therapy. The purpose of the book is to illustrate the significance of naturally-mimicking systems for enhancing the dose delivered to the tumor, to improve stability, and prolong the circulation time. Moreover, readers are presented with advanced materials such as adjuvants for immunostimulation in cancer vaccines. The book also provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of academic research. This is an ideal book for students, researchers, and professors working in nanotechnology, cancer, targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, materials science, and biomaterials as well as companies developing cancer immunotherapy.

This book reports on research and developments in human-technology interaction. A special emphasis is given to human-computer interaction, and its implementation for a wide range of purposes such as healthcare, aerospace, telecommunication, and education, among others. The human aspects are analyzed in detail. Timely studies on human-centered design, wearable technologies, social and affective computing, augmented, virtual and mixed reality simulation, human rehabilitation and biomechanics represent the core of the book. Emerging technology applications in business, security, and infrastructure are also critically examined, thus offering a timely, scientifically-grounded, but also professionally-oriented snapshot of the current state of the field. The book is based on contributions presented at the 3rd International Conference on Human Interaction and Emerging Technologies: Future Applications, IHIET 2020, held on August 27-29, 2020. It offers a timely survey and a practice-oriented reference guide to researchers and professionals dealing with design and/or management of the new generation of service systems.

This book presents best selected research papers presented at the 3rd International Conference on Cognitive Informatics and Soft Computing (CISC 2020), held at Balasore College of Engineering & Technology, Balasore, Odisha, India, from 12 to 13 December 2020. It highlights, in particular, innovative research in the fields of cognitive informatics, cognitive computing, computational intelligence, advanced computing, and hybrid intelligent models and applications. New algorithms and methods in a variety of fields are presented, together with solution-based approaches. The topics addressed include various theoretical aspects and applications of computer science, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, automation control theory, and software engineering.

Climate resilience, or the capacity of socio-ecological systems to adapt and upkeep their functions when facing physical-chemical stress, is a key feature of ecosystems and communities. As the risks and impacts of climate change become more intense and more visible, there is a need to foster a broader understanding of both the impacts of these disruptions to food, water, and energy supplies and to increase resilience at the national and local level. The Handbook of Climate Change Resilience comprises a diverse body of knowledge, united in the objective of building climate resilience in both the industralised and the developing world. This unique publication will assist scientists, decision-makers and community members to take action to make countries, regions and cities more resilient.

This book discusses the latest advances in the research and development, design, operation, and analysis of transportation systems and their corresponding infrastructures. It presents both theories and case studies on road and rail, aviation, and maritime transportation. Further, it covers a wealth of topics, from accident analysis, intelligent vehicle control, and human-error and safety issues to next-generation transportation systems, model-based design methods, simulation and training techniques, and many more. Special emphasis is placed on smart technologies and automation in transport, as well as the user-centered, ergonomic, and sustainable design of transportation systems. The book, which is based on the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conference on Human Aspects of Transportation, held on July 16–20, 2020, mainly addresses the needs of transportation system designers, industrial designers, human–computer interaction researchers, civil and control engineers, as well as vehicle system engineers. Moreover, it represents a timely source of information for transportation policy-makers and social scientists whose work involves traffic safety, management, and sustainability issues in transport.

This book focuses on the mechanical properties of cells, discussing the basic concepts and processes in the fields of immunology, biology, and biochemistry. It introduces and explains state-of-the-art biophysical methods and examines the role of mechanical properties in the cell/protein interaction with the connective tissue microenvironment. The book presents a unique perspective on cellular mechanics and biophysics by combining the mechanical, biological, physical, biochemical, medical, and immunological views, highlighting the importance of the mechanical properties of cells and biophysical measurement methods. The book guides readers through the complex and growing field of cellular mechanics and biophysics, connecting and discussing research findings from different fields such as biology, cell biology, immunology, physics, and medicine. Featuring suggestions for further reading throughout and addressing a wide selection of biophysical topics, this book is an indispensable guide for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in the fields of cellular mechanics and biophysics.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the Landscapes and Landforms of Switzerland. It covers the country's geological and tectonic context, together with its climatic context, geomorphological history, structural and karstic landscapes, glacial and periglacial landscapes, landscapes with natural hazards, geomorphology and society, and the preservation of its geomorphological heritage. Richly illustrated, it presents case studies on some of the country's most famous natural sites, including the Matterhorn, Aletsch Glacier, Sardona Tectonic Arena, and Engadine, among others.

Over the past few decades, the frequency and severity of natural and human-induced disasters have increased across Asia. These disasters lead to substantial loss of life, livelihoods and community assets, which not only threatens the pace of socio-economic development, but also undo hard-earned gains. Extreme events and disasters such as floods, droughts, heat, fire, cyclones and tidal surges are known to be exacerbated by environmental changes including climate change, land-use changes and natural resource degradation. Increasing climate variability and multi-dimensional vulnerabilities have severely affected the social, ecological and economic capacities of the people in the region who are, economically speaking, those with the least capacity to adapt. Climatic and other environmental hazards and anthropogenic risks, coupled with weak and wavering capacities, severely impact the ecosystems and Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) and, thereby, to human well-being. Long-term resilience building through disaster risk reduction and integrated adaptive climate planning, therefore, has become a key priority for scientists and policymakers alike. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is a cost-effective approach that utilizes ecosystem and biodiversity services for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, while also providing a range of co-benefits like sustainable livelihoods and food, water and energy security. This book discusses the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) – both as a science and as art – and elaborates on how it can be applied to develop healthy and resilient ecosystems locally, nationally, regionally and globally. The book covers illustrative methods and tools adopted for applying NbS in different countries. The authors discuss NbS applications and challenges, research trends and future insights that have wider regional and global relevance. The aspects covered include: landscape restoration, ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, ecological restoration, ecosystem-based protected areas management, green infrastructure development, nature-friendly infrastructure development in various ecosystem types, agro-climatic zones and watersheds. The book offers insights into understanding the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the grass roots level and can help indigenous and local communities harness ecosystem services to help achieve them. It offers a unique, essential resource for researchers, students, corporations, administrators and policymakers working in the fields of the environment, geography, development, policy planning, the natural sciences, life sciences, agriculture, health, climate change and disaster studies.

This book provides a systemic view on the digital future from the perspectives of various socio-humanitarian sciences: economics, social sciences, pedagogics and law. Presenting selected papers from the multi-disciplinary international conference “Climate changes and economy of the future: global transformation”, which was held at Pskov State University (Russia) on November 13–14, 2019, it offers a comprehensive overview of the current problems and the future potential of digital transformations of economic activities. This multidisciplinary book includes the latest research on the opportunities of the digital economy and the social and ecological consequences of its implementation, and as such offers a “road map” for development. It also features scientific and practical recommendations to allow effective management of the digitization process according to the current priorities.

This book addresses the issue of climate change risks and hazards holistically. Climate change adaptation aims at managing climate risks and hazards to an acceptable level, taking advantage of any positive opportunities that may arise. At the same time, developing suitable responses to hazards for communities and users of climate services is important in ensuring the success of adaptation measures. But despite this, knowledge about adaptation options, including possible actions that can be implemented to improve adaptation and reduce the impacts of climate change hazards, is still limited. Addressing this need, the book presents studies and research findings and offers a catalogue of potential adaptation options that can be explored. It also includes case studies providing illustrative and inspiring examples of how we can adapt to a changing climate.

The Swiss National Forest Inventory (NFI) is a forest survey on national level which started in 1982 and has already reached its 5th survey cycle (NFI5). It can be characterized as a multisource and multipurpose inventory where information is mainly collected from terrestrial field surveys using permanent sample plots. In addition, data from aerial photography, GIS and forest service questionnaires are also included.The NFI's main objective is to provide statistically reliable and sound figures to stakeholders such as politicians, researchers, ecologists, forest service, timber industry, national and international organizations as well as to international projects such as the Forest Resources Assessment of the United Nations. For Switzerland, NFI results are typically reported on national and regional level.State of the art methods are applied in all fields of data collection which have been proven to be of international interest and have even served as a basis for other European NFIs. The presented methods are applicable to any sample based forest inventory around the globe.In 2001 the Swiss NFI published its methods for the first time. Since then, many methodological changes and improvements have been introduced. This book describes the complete set of methods and revisions since NFI2. It covers various topics ranging from inventory design and statistics to remote sensing, field survey methods and modelling. It also describes data quality concepts and the software framework used for data storage, statistical analysis and result presentation.

This Open Access book explores questions such as why and how did the first biological cells appear? And then complex organisms, brains, societies and –now– connected human societies? Physicists have good models for describing the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang, but can we apply the same concepts to the evolution of aggregated matter –living matter included? The Amazing Journey analyzes the latest results in chemistry, biology, neuroscience, anthropology and sociology under the light of the evolution of intelligence, seen as the ability of processing information. The main strength of this book is using just two concepts used in physics –information and energy– to explain: The emergence and evolution of life: procaryotes, eukaryotes and complex organismsThe emergence and evolution of the brainThe emergence and evolution of societies (human and not)Possible evolution of our'internet society'and therole that Artificial Intelligence is playing

The book provides an introduction to the basics of fungi, discussing various types ranging from edible mushrooms to Neurospora – a model system for genetics and epigenetics. After addressing the classification and biodiversity of fungi, and fungi in different ecological niches, it describes the latest applications of fungi, their role in sustainable environments and in alleviating stress in plants, as well as their role in causing plant and animal diseases. Further chapters explore the advances in fungal interactions research and their implications for various systems, and discuss plant-pathogen interactions. The book also features a section on bioprospecting, and is an extremely interesting and informative read for anybody involved in the field of mycology, microbiology and biotechnology teaching and research.

White biotechnology is industrial biotechnology dealing with various biotech products through applications of microbes. The main application of white biotechnology is commercial production of various useful organic substances, such as acetic acid, citric acid, acetone, glycerine, etc., and antibiotics like penicillin, streptomycin, mitomycin, etc., and value added product through the use of microorganisms especially fungi and bacteria. The value-added products included bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites, pigments and industrially important enzymes for potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medicine and allied sectors for human welfare. In the 21st century, techniques were developed to harness fungi to protect human health (through antibiotics, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive agents, value-added products etc.), which led to industrial scale production of enzymes, alkaloids, detergents, acids, biosurfactants. The first large-scale industrial applications of modern biotechnology have been made in the areas of food and animal feed production (agricultural/green biotechnology) and pharmaceuticals (medical/red biotechnology). In contrast, the production of bio-active compounds through fermentation or enzymatic conversion is known industrial or white biotechnology. The beneficial fungal strains may play important role in agriculture, industry and the medical sectors. The beneficial fungi play a significance role in plant growth promotion, and soil fertility using both, direct (solubilization of phosphorus, potassium and zinc; production of indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid, cytokinin and siderophores) and indirect (production of hydrolytic enzymes, siderophores, ammonia, hydrogen cyanides and antibiotics) mechanisms of plant growth promotion for sustainable agriculture. The fungal strains and their products (enzymes, bio-active compounds and secondary metabolites) are very useful for industry. The discovery of antibiotics is a milestone in the development of white biotechnology. Since then, white biotechnology has steadily developed and now plays a key role in several industrial sectors, providing both high valued nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical products. The fungal strains and bio-active compounds also play important role in the environmental cleaning. This volume covers the latest research developments related to value-added products in white biotechnology through fungi.

This book (vol. 3) presents the proceedings of the IUPESM World Congress on Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics, a triennially organized joint meeting of medical physicists, biomedical engineers and adjoining health care professionals. Besides the purely scientific and technological topics, the 2018 Congress will also focus on other aspects of professional involvement in health care, such as education and training, accreditation and certification, health technology assessment and patient safety. The IUPESM meeting is an important forum for medical physicists and biomedical engineers in medicine and healthcare learn and share knowledge, and discuss the latest research outcomes and technological advancements as well as new ideas in both medical physics and biomedical engineering field.

This book provides a snapshot of the research activities of the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria. The topics are broad ranged including: · Centrifuge model testing · Constitutive model · Granular physics · Numerical simulation · Soil bioengineering The topics reflect our geotechnical research in a changing world. Traditional topics in foundation engineering are fading out and new topics are emerging. The European Commission is gratefully acknowledged for funding the following projects within its program FP7 and Horizon2020: MUMOLADE (Multiscale modelling of landslide and debris flow), REVENUES (Reinforced Vegetation Numerical Evaluation of Slopes) and GEORAMP (Geohazards - Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Prevention).

Here, expert authors delineate approaches that can support both decision makers as well as their concerned populations in overcoming unwarranted fears and in elaborating policies based on scientific evidence. Four exemplary focus areas were chosen for in-depth review, namely:- The scientific basis of risk management- Risk management in the area of environmental and ecological policy- Risk management in radiation medicine- Risk management in context with digitalization and roboticsGeneral as well as specific recommendations are summarized in a memorandum. Fundamental thoughts on the topic are presented in the introductory part of the book. The idea for and contents of the book were developed at a workshop on “Sustainable Risk Management: How to manage risks in a sensible and responsible manner?” held in Feldafing at Lake Starnberg (Germany) on April 14 to 16, 2016. The book offers important information and advice for scientists, entrepreneurs, administrators and politicians.

Frank E. Zachos offers a comprehensive review of one of today's most important and contentious issues in biology: the species problem. After setting the stage with key background information on the topic, the book provides a brief history of species concepts from antiquity to the Modern Synthesis, followed by a discussion of the ontological status of species with a focus on the individuality thesis and potential means of reconciling it with other philosophical approaches. More than 30 different species concepts found in the literature are presented in an annotated list, and the most important ones, including the Biological, Genetic, Evolutionary and different versions of the Phylogenetic Species Concept, are discussed in more detail. Specific questions addressed include the problem of asexual and prokaryotic species, intraspecific categories like subspecies and Evolutionarily Significant Units, and a potential solution to the species problem based on a hierarchical approach thatdistinguishes between ontological and operational species concepts. A full chapter is dedicated to the challenge of delimiting species by means of a discrete taxonomy in a continuous world of inherently fuzzy boundaries. Further, the book outlines the practical ramifications for ecology and evolutionary biology of how we define the species category, highlighting the danger of an apples and oranges problem if what we subsume under the same name (“species”) is in actuality a variety of different entities. A succinct summary chapter, glossary and annotated list of references round out the coverage, making the book essential reading for all biologists looking for an accessible introduction to the historical, philosophical and practical dimensions of the species problem.

This new edition offers detailed overviews covering a wide area of fungal growth and reproduction on the mechanistic and molecular level. It includes 18 chapters by eminent scientists in the field and is – like the previous edition – divided into the three sections: Vegetative Processes and Growth, Signals in Growth and Development, and Reproductive Processes. Major topics of the first section include dynamic intracellular processes, apical growth, hyphal fusion, and aging. The second section analyses autoregulatory signals, pheromone action, and photomorphogenesis and gravitropism abiotic signals. The third section reveals details of asexual and sexual development in various fungal model systems, culminating in fruit body formation in basidiomycetes, which is a sector of growing economic potential. Since the publication of the first edition of this volume in 1994 and the second edition in 2006, the field of fungal biology has continued to expand thanks to improvements in omics technologies and the application of genetic tools to an increasing variety of fungal models. Several additional chapters by a new generation of fungal biologists discuss this diversity and guarantee lively reading.

This book is a compilation of recent developments in the field of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaption (Eco-DRR/CCA) globally. It provides further evidence that ecosystem-based approaches make economic sense, and showcases how research has progressively filled knowledge gaps about translating this concept into practice. It presents a number of methods, and tools that illustrate how Eco-DRR/CCA has been applied for various ecosystems and hazard contexts around the world. It also discusses how innovative institutional arrangements and policies are shaping the field of Eco-DRR/CCA. The book is of relevance to scientists, practitioners, policy-makers and students in the field of ecosystem management for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

This volume constitutes the refereed proceedings of the following 8 International Workshops: OTM Academy; OTM Industry Case Studies Program; Enterprise Integration, Interoperability, and Networking, EI2N; International Workshop on Fact Based Modeling 2015, FBM; Industrial and Business Applications of Semantic Web Technologies, INBAST; Information Systems, om Distributed Environment, ISDE; Methods, Evaluation, Tools and Applications for the Creation and Consumption of Structured Data for the e-Society, META4eS; and Mobile and Social Computing for collaborative interactions, MSC 2015. These workshops were held as associated events at OTM 2015, the federated conferences'On The Move Towards Meaningful Internet Systems and Ubiquitous Computing', in Rhodes, Greece, in October 2015. The 55 full papers presented together with 3 short papers and 2 popsters were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 100 submissions. The workshops share the distributed aspects of modern computing systems, they experience the application pull created by the Internet and by the so-called Semantic Web, in particular developments of Big Data, increased importance of security issues, and the globalization of mobile-based technologies.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 30th International Conference, ISC High Performance 2015, [formerly known as the International Supercomputing Conference] held in Frankfurt, Germany, in July 2015.The 27 revised full papers presented together with 10 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 67 submissions. The papers cover the following topics: cost-efficient data centers, scalable applications, advances in algorithms, scientific libraries, programming models, architectures, performance models and analysis, automatic performance optimization, parallel I/O and energy efficiency.

This book summarizes the effects of overweight/obesity in the childbearing years that can be effectively communicated to patients by their providers in a busy practice setting, and provides concise and understandable summaries of the evidence-based, theory-driven lifestyle interventions that have been shown to be effective for weight loss and modifying the risk of developing diabetes and obesity.

JOHN G. HILDEBRAND Research on insect olfaction is important for at least two reasons. First, the olfactory systems of insects and their arthropod kin are experi­ mentally favourable models for studies aimed at learning about general principles of olfaction that apply to vertebrates and invertebrates alike. Detailed comparisons between the olfactory pathways in vertebrates and insects have revealed striking similarities of functional organisation, physiol­ ogy, and development, suggesting that olfactory information is processed through neural mechanisms more similar than different in these evolution­ arily remote creatures. Second, insect olfaction itself is important because of the economic and medical impact of insects that are agricultural pests and disease vectors, as well as positive impact of beneficial species, such as the bees and moths responsible for pollination and production of honey. The harm or benefit attributable to an insect is a function of what it does - that is, of its behaviour - which is shaped by sensory information. Often olfaction is the key modality for control of basic insect behaviour, such as ori­ entation and movement toward, and interactions with, potential mates, appro­ priate sites for oviposition, and sources of food. Not surprisingly, therefore, much work on insect olfaction has been motivated by long-term hopes of using knowledge of this pivotal sensory system to design strategies for mon­ itoring and managing harmful species and fostering the welfare of beneficial ones.

Evolution is the most profound of human ideas integrating all natural phenomena: cosmic, biological, and cultural into a continuous universal change. This volume deals with evolutionary observations, experiments, and theories contributing to a deeper understanding of the evolutionary process, th honoring the 75 birthday of Eviatar (Eibi) Nevo. I first met Eibi in 1966 when he was a Fellow in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University and working mostly on cricket frog vocalization and speciation in the United States. His unique discovery of pipid fossil frogs in the Israeli Early Cretaceous, central Negev, is possibly the largest world collection of ancient fossil frogs. Our acquaintance developed into mutual friendship and admiration. Since then our long-lasting friendship has included a visit to Israel, enabling me to follow Eibi's major scientific achievements, in particular, his founding of the Institute of Evolution in the University of Haifa and now the pending establishment of the International Graduate School of Evolution. The research program of Eibi Nevo, in collaboration with numerous colleagues and students in Israel and across the world, encompasses diverse perspectives of evolutionary biology and biodiversity of genes, populations, species, and ecosystems integrating modem and classical evolutionary approaches, molecular and organismal. They deal with model organisms in all forms from bacteria through plants, fungi, animals, and humans conducted over local, regional, and global scales.

Metallomics and the Cell provides in an authoritative and timely manner in 16 stimulating chapters, written by 37 internationally recognized experts from 9 nations, and supported by more than 3000 references, several tables, and 110 illustrations, mostly in color, a most up-to-date view of the'metallomes'which, as defined in the'omics'world, describe the entire set of biomolecules that interact with or are affected by each metal ion. The most relevant tools for visualizing metal ions in the cell and the most suitable bioinformatic tools for browsing genomes to identify metal-binding proteins are also presented. Thus, MILS-12 is of relevance for structural and systems biology, inorganic biological chemistry, genetics, medicine, diagnostics, as well as teaching, etc.

Although more than 10 new antiepileptic drugs have been developed in the past decade, epilepsy remains resistant to drug therapy in about one third of patients, many of whom struggle with the disease their entire lives. Managing these patients is a challenge and requires a structured multidisciplinary approach. The book includes chapters on all issues related to pharmacoresistance in epilepsy and describes recent developments in the pathogenesis and treatment of this disorder. It addresses abnormalities in inhibitory mechanisms, epilepsy-related changes to the immune system, development of pharmacoresistance caused by chronic exposure to antiepileptic drugs, and novel therapeutic strategies for preventing or slowing down the progression of the disease. Clinicians and basic scientists alike will find up-to-date information on the development of pharmacoesistance, as well as reviews of mechanisms associated with epilepsy that may help them consider novel strategies for preventingthe development of pharmacoresistance in the first place. The book also features information on new therapeutic strategies for control of epilepsy, such as transcutaneous electrical stimulation and virtual screening of new antiepileptic drugs. Pharmacoresistance in Epilepsy: From Genes and Molecules to Promising Therapies is useful to anyone working in the field, whether they're studying epilepsy in the lab or treating it in a doctor's office.”

Homeostasis of key metabolites and metabolic health affects all bodily systems. Not surprisingly, altered metabolic function is associated with a wide spectrum of dysfunctions in the central nervous system – including developmental disorders, acute nervous system injury, and neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, metabolism-based therapies offer significant promise as new category of treatment options designed to limit, delay or reverse the disease process by reconstructing homeostatic functions. Increasingly it is appreciated that restoring metabolic health could promote normal nervous system activity, and improve behavior and cognition. Adenosine: A Key Link Between Metabolism and Central Nervous System Activity focusses on diverse aspects of adenosine, an evolutionarily conserved homeostatic bioenergetic regulator in the central nervous system. Because of its interrelationship with ATP (adenosine triphosphate), adenosine is integral to cell metabolism. At the same time, adenosine influences neuronal activity directly via receptors, and is involved in biochemical processes related to gene expression. Thus, adenosine is uniquely placed as a reciprocal and rapid link between changes in metabolism and changes in neuronal activity, and, on a longer time scale, to changes in gene expression and long term changes in cell function. Leaders in the field feature basic research on adenosine at the cellular level in the central nervous system, and relate these findings to its recognized potential in diverse acute and chronic disorders. This comprehensive overview of adenosine also highlights emerging adenosine-based treatments and associated opportunities for central nervous system disorders.

During the two years since the publication of the first edition of this book, the global spread of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has continued. HIV was estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993 to have at least 13 million individuals worldwide, with 1 million infected infected in the United States. HIV/AIDS in the United States has become the leading cause of death among men 25 to 44 years of age and the fifth leading cause of death among women of the same age group. Prevention of HIV infection remains a global challenge. Testing for HIV is the cornerstone for surveillance and prevention programs and for the provision of appropriate medical care for those who are infected. Such testing is equally essential to the search for effective antivirus drugs and vaccines. This second edition of AIDS Testing incorporates the most current thinking on test methodology and interpretation, some of which has changed considerably over the past two years. This edition also has been expanded to include a section consisting of six chapters on test applica­ tions and a section consisting of four chapters on management issues. This edition, like the first, describes in clear terms all the complex ele­ ments of testing, including applications, scientific principles, quality assurance, safety, and medical, ethical, and legal considerations.

This issue of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology records the proceedings of a Workshop on the Immunology of Sili­ cones held at the Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, March 13 and 14, 1995. A large num­ ber of investigators from North America and Europe met to discuss available data on how the immune system responds to silicones and related materials. Some aspects of this field are controversial. Nonetheless, the meeting was marked by a civil and open ex­ change of scientific information and divergent interpretations, re­ flecting the traditions of scientific communication. Each invited participant was asked to submit an article sum­ marizing his/her presentation. Most of the papers are published as submitted, with only editorial changes to conform with the guide­ lines given to each contributor or revisions to clarify aspects of the paper. The papers should not be regarded as peer-reviewed publi­ cations. This preface will attempt to outline some of the immu­ nological areas of investigation relating to silicones.

The intention of the VIIth International Symposium on the Facial Nerve was to create a platform for an extensive exchange of knowledge and scientific infor­ mation between clinicians and basic research workers. This aim could only be realized on the basis of a common interest in the facial nerve, which unites the interdisciplinary scientific efforts of otologists, neurosurgeons, facial plastic surgeons, neurologists, neurophysiologists, and neuroanatomists. Therefore, a meeting of this kind remains in its aim to exchange ideas over scientific disciplines which do not come unique together normal conditions. The symposium has been held every four years since 1966. The VIIth sym­ posium was preceded by symposia in Stockholm (1966), Osaka (1970), ZUrich (1976), Los Angeles (1980), Bordeaux (1984) and Rio de Janeiro (1988), and marked an important milestone in the continuously developing knowledge about the facial nerve, its physiology, disorders, diagnostics and treatment. In contrast to the previous meetings this symposium extended in vitations to both clinicians and basic research workers. More than 350 scientists from 25 different nations met in Cologne, Germany, in June 1992 and their high-level presentations contributed to the overwhelming success of this international meeting. The symposium took place in the vicinity of the old cllthedral of Cologne, itself a vivid symbol of never-ending efforts to create something perfect and lasting.