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This is a open access book. In the agriculture sector, the language of gender integration often ignores the politics and the power dynamics that are central to critical, and feminist, analysis of gender relations. This volume explores largely neglected topics such as power dynamics, masculinities, gendered social norms, feminist research practice, intersectionality, critical analysis of tools and more, that are fundamental to shifting the entrenched power dynamics and politics of gender research in agriculture. The purpose of this book is to reduce the gap existing between theory, methods, and practice of gender relations in agriculture and agricultural research. Through an in-depth analysis of current processes in agriculture and drawing on existing experiences in other sectors, it seeks to create pathways for learning, catalyzing change and positive impact on gender equity and social inclusion. This volume seeks to bring forth a change in how gender relations in agriculture are researched, practiced and taught.

This contributed book, as a part of a series of CERES publications, contributes to the scientific debate about the interlinkages between climate change, environment, and food systems. It highlights the opportunities to accelerate the transformation of such systems within the perspective of sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart practices. Most chapters are based on empirical research particularly done in vulnerable and resource-constrained countries from the Global South (such as India, Kenya, Pakistan, South Asia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) and provide policy-oriented inputs and recommendations to guide change processes at multiple scales. This project has implications for research, innovation, and policy design.

This informative book offers a comprehensive exploration of critical reservoir parameters, including quantification techniques and interpretations for evaluating these reservoirs. Readers will also gain insight into the fundamental principles of simulating gas production from coal and shale reservoirs, as well as the key input parameters for building the best-fit reservoir model. Additionally, the book explores various aspects of storing captured CO2 in these reservoirs and their potential role in preventing global temperature increases beyond pre-industrial levels.Energy from conventional petroleum reservoirs and coal has been the backbone of global energy needs for a long time. However, depletion of these fossil fuel reserves, as well as their contribution to rising greenhouse emissions, has prompted a shift to renewable energy sources. Natural gas found in unconventional coal and shale reservoirs is increasingly seen as a greener energy option, emitting approximately 45% less CO2 than conventional sources. Furthermore, due to their vast availability and capacity to sequester atmospheric CO2, unconventional coal and shale reservoirs can facilitate the transition to renewable energy resources.With a focus on achieving temperature stabilization at 1.5°C, this book offers a valuable resource for those interested in renewable energy and mitigating climate change.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the development of the human central nervous system (CNS) in the context of its many developmental disorders due to genetic, environmental and hypoxic/ischaemic causes. The book contains three general, introductory chapters in which an overview of the development of the human brain and spinal cord, a summary of mechanisms of development as obtained in experimental studies in various invertebrates and vertebrates, and an overview of the causes of congenital malformations are presented. The developmental disorders of the human brain and spinal cord are presented in a regional, more or less segmental way, starting with neurulation and neural tube defects, and ending with developmental disorders of the cerebral cortex. These chapters are abundantly illustrated in colour with carefully chosen clinical case studies with imaging data, and when available, postmortem verification of the developmental disorders involved.In thethird edition, more emphasis has been given to the developmental ontology based on the prosomeric approach, and fetal development. Prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound, MRI and DTI, and classifications of developmental disorders have been updated. A number of new Clinical Cases have been included. Several new co-authors participate in various chapters. The book is intended for advanced medical students, and all those clinicians working with children and adults with developmental disorders of the CNS. Unique to the book is the integration of data from human embryology, experimental and molecular findings in mice in particular, imaging and developmental neuropathology.

This book examines dominant discourses in social justice education globally. It presents cutting-edge research on the major global trends in education, social justice and policy research. Using diverse paradigms, ranging from critical theory to discourse analysis, the book examines major social justice and equity education reforms and policy issues in a global culture, with a focus on the ambivalent and problematic relationship between social justice education discourses, ideology and the state. The book discusses democracy, ideology and social justice, which are among the most critical and significant factors defining and contextualising the processes surrounding social justice education reforms globally. It critiques current social justice education practices and policy reforms, illustrating the shifts in the relationship between the state, ideology, and social justice education policy.Written by authors from diverse backgrounds and regions, this book examines current developments in research concerning social justice education. It enables readers to gain a more holistic understanding of the nexus between social justice education, and dominant ideologies, both locally and globally. It also provides an easily accessible, practical, yet scholarly insights into local and global trends in the field of social justice education. Discourses of Globalization, Ideology and Social Justice, with contributions from key scholars worldwide, should be required reading for a broad spectrum of users, including policy-makers, academics, graduate students, education policy researchers, administrators, and practitioners.

This book comprises select proceedings of the 43rd National Systems Conference on Innovative and Emerging Trends in Engineering Systems (NSC 2019) held at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India. The contents cover latest research in the highly multidisciplinary field of systems engineering, and discusses its various aspects like systems design, dynamics, analysis, modeling and simulation. Some of the topics covered include computing systems, consciousness systems, electrical systems, energy systems, manufacturing systems, mechanical systems, literary systems, social systems, and quantum and nano systems. Given the scope of the contents, this book will be useful for researchers and professionals from diverse engineering and management background.

This book is a compilation of peer-reviewed papers presented at the International Conference on Machine Intelligence and Data Science Applications, organized by the School of Computer Science, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, India, during 4–5 September 2020. The book addresses the algorithmic aspect of machine intelligence which includes the framework and optimization of various states of algorithms. Variety of papers related to wide applications in various fields like data-driven industrial IoT, bioinformatics, network and security, autonomous computing and various other aligned areas. The book concludes with interdisciplinary applications like legal, health care, smart society, cyber-physical system and smart agriculture. All papers have been carefully reviewed. The book is of interest to computer science engineers, lecturers/researchers in machine intelligence discipline and engineering graduates.

This volume tackles a variety of biological and medical questions using mathematical models to understand complex system dynamics. Working in collaborative teams of six, each with a senior research mentor, researchers developed new mathematical models to address questions in a range of application areas. Topics include retinal degeneration, biopolymer dynamics, the topological structure of DNA, ensemble analysis, multidrug-resistant organisms, tumor growth modeling, and geospatial modeling of malaria. The work is the result of newly formed collaborative groups begun during the Collaborative Workshop for Women in Mathematical Biology hosted by the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics at UCLA in June 2019. Previous workshops in this series have occurred at IMA, NIMBioS, and MBI.

This volume uniquely presents case studies on health geography in Africa, and analyzes health practices in different African regions to illustrate a unified perspective to the geographies of health. The book describes various contemporary and traditional themes that have characterized the discipline of health geography, and uses its 13 case studies across 14 chapters to challenge the perceived dichotomy between health geography and medical geography among health researchers and practitioners. In 3 sections, the book provides readers with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding health geography in Africa.The first chapter introduces the major theories and perspectives in health geography, and how these characteristics apply to health geography practices in Africa. Section 1 discusses the different uses of space-based analyses in health geography, including geo-data infrastructures, geographies of disease burden, spatial epidemiology, spatially precise public health, and spatial access to health. Section 2 discusses the different uses of place-based analyses in health geography, including health representation, healthcare access, food allergies, and health determinants. Section 3 addresses how geography is incorporated into decision processes in Africa, and how policy planning shapes health-related interventions at the population and individual level. The case studies here discuss geo-enabling health records, health policy, public health planning, and mobile health geographies.

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 two-volume set of IFIP AICT 617 and 618 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP WG 8.6 International Working Conference'Re-imagining Diffusion and Adoption of Information Technology and Systems: A Continuing Conversation'on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, TDIT 2020, held in Tiruchirappalli, India, in December 2020.The 86 revised full papers and 36 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 224 submissions. The papers focus on the re-imagination of diffusion and adoption of emerging technologies. They are organized in the following parts: Part I: artificial intelligence and autonomous systems; big data and analytics; blockchain; diffusion and adoption technology; emerging technologies in e-Governance; emerging technologies in consumer decision making and choice; fin-tech applications; healthcare information technology; and Internet of ThingsPart II: diffusion of information technology and disaster management; adoption of mobile and platform-based applications; smart cities and digital government; social media; and diffusion of information technology and systems

Sorghum is the most important cereal crop grown in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of Africa, Asia, Australia and Americas for food, feed, fodder and fuel. It is the fifth most important cereal crop globally after rice, wheat, maize and barley, and plays a major role in global food security. Sorghum is consumed in different forms for various end-uses. Its grain is mostly used directly for food purposes. After the release of the proceedings of two international symposia in the form of books “Sorghum in Seventies” and “Sorghum in Eighties”, global sorghum research and development have not been documented at one place. Of course, few books on sorghum have been released that focus on specific issues/research areas, but comprehensive review of all aspects of recent development in different areas of sorghum science has not been compiled in the form a single book. This book is intended to fill in a void to bridge the gap by documenting all aspects of recent research and development in sorghum encompassing all the progress made, milestones achieved across globe in genetic diversity assessment, crop improvement and production, strategies for high yield, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, grain and stover quality aspects, storage, nutrition, health and industrial applications, biotechnological applications to increase production, including regional and global policy perspectives and developmental needs. This book will be an institutional effort to compile all the latest information generated in research and development in sorghum across the globe at one place.

This book documents the state of the art in pediatric neurosurgery with the intention of providing a comprehensive guide to the management of the full range of pediatric neurosurgical disorders that will aid in the delivery of optimal care. Detailed practical instruction, taking into account recent advances, is provided on the neurosurgical treatment of congenital brain malformations, cerebrovascular diseases, head injuries and spinal trauma, infections, functional disorders, congenital and developmental spinal disorders, and brain and spinal tumors. Pearls and pitfalls are highlighted, and attention drawn to the most useful tips and tricks. Information is also included on relevant related topics, including the principles of neuroimaging, the physiological responses of newborns, infants, and children to neurosurgical trauma, preoperative evaluation, anesthesiology and intensive care, and other forms of therapy. The authors are renowned experts in the field, and the text is supportedby a wealth of high-quality images. Handbook of Pediatric Neurosurgery will be of value for neurosurgeons of all levels of experience, as well as for pediatricians, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, and neuro-oncologists.

Since the first edition of this book, the impressive development of neuroendoscopy has dramatically changed the surgical approach to hydrocephalus, the main pathology pediatric neurosurgeons worldwide have to deal with. This revised and updated second edition, written by worldwide leaders in the field, fully reflects this progress: not only existing chapters have been reviewed whenever required, but new ones have been added thus taking into consideration every aspect of hydrocephalus, even when associated with the rarest pathologies. The general part include now more data on history, biomechanics, circulation and molecular basis. Special consideration for fetal surgery has been added, whereas the section on neonatal hydrocephalus has been further developed. Section 4, on the different pathologies associated with hydrocephalus, has been significantly expanded. and is now amazingly detailed, as well as the section on shunt treatment. Infections are now dealt with in two different chapters, and special attention to shunt complications (the nightmare of every Pediatric Neurosurgeon.) is paid in five different chapters. A very complete overview of the endoscopic treatment, that will surely draw the reader's attention thanks to the wonderful full color images, is also included. Written by acknowledged experts in the field, this title is an indispensable tool for all those facing this pathology in their daily practice.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP WG 8.6 International Working Conference'ICT Unbounded, Social Impact of Bright ICT Adoption'on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, TDIT 2019, held in Accra, Ghana, in June 2019. The 30 revised full papers and 4 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 72 submissions. The papers focus on Bright Information and Communication Technology, a concept that entails the development of relevant technologies, business models, public policies, social norms, international agreements, metrics of measuring national progress and preventing undesirable activities on the Internet. They are organized in the following topical sections: technology adoption, diffusion and ubiquitous computing; big data and business intellligence; smart cities; and security, privacy, ethics and misinformation.

This volume examines the most important socio-cultural, political, economic, and policy issues related to emerging infectious diseases in Africa. The volume covers the work of the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET); it looks at the challenges of science education and communication in Africa, the global health and governance of pandemics and epidemics, and more. It looks beyond such threats as Ebola, SARS, and Zika to consider the ways communities have sought to contain these and other deadly pathogens. The chapters provide a better understanding of a global health problem from an African perspective, which help clarify to readers why some responses have worked while others have not. Overall, the volume captures the state of the art, science, preparedness, and evolution of a topic important to the health of Africa and the world. It has a broad appeal across disciplines, from medical science and biomedical research, through research ethics, regulation and governance, science and health communication, social sciences, and is also of interest to general readers.

Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobic Gamma-proteobacterium, which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. While being an important constituent of the normal gut microbiota, specialized E. coli clones have acquired genetic elements that allow them to compete with the endogenous commensals, colonise normally sterile niches and cause disease. E. coli pathotypes can cause intestinal and extra intestinal infections (e.g. UTI, sepsis) and associate with mammalian cells while being extra- or intra-cellular. In recent years, E. coli infections have become a serious clinical problem, due to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance. Thus, infections with intestinal E. coli (e.g. E. coli O104) or extraintestinal pathogenic strains (e.g. E. coli ST131) are becoming difficult to treat and are often lethal. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop alternative control measures, including the identification of new drug targetsand development of vaccines that offer lasting protection. This volume focuses on several types of E. coli infections (intestinal and extraintestinal), virulence factors, and E. coli pandemics. It addresses the problem of antibiotic resistance, and a dedicated chapter discusses the need to develop alternative control measures. Given its depth and breadth of coverage, the book will benefit all those interested in the biology, genetics, physiology and pathogenesis of E. coli, and in related vaccine development.

This book constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the First International Conference on Innovation and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas, InterSol 2017, and the 6th Collogue National sur la Recherche en Informatique et ses Applications (CNRIA), held in Dakar, Senegal, in April 2017. The 15 papers presented at InterSol were selected from 76 submissions and are grouped thematically in science, energy and environment, education, innovation, and healthcare. The proceedings also contain 13 papers from the co-located 6th CNRIA (Collogue National sur la Recherche en Informatique et ses Applications) focusing on network architecture and security, software engineering, data management, and signal processing.

Bacterial diarrheal diseases remain an important leading cause of preventable death, especially among children under five in developing countries. In the American continent, diarrheal disease and other health complications caused by Escherichia coli constitute a major public health problem, and, therefore, several research groups have dedicated their effort to understand this pathogen and provide feasible solutions to prevent, treat and reduce E. coli infections.The Latin American Coalition for Escherichia coli Research (LACER) was created as a multidisciplinary network of international research groups working with E. coli with the ultimate goal of advancing understanding of E. coli, and to prepare the next generation of American E. coli investigators. As such, this book compiles the knowledge of these investigators about E. coli, a commensal bacteria living inside its host, and a pathogen causing disease in animals and humans. Escherichia coli in the Americas contains a series of 15 chapters written by experts, covering basic concepts regarding the different categories of E. coli, including their environmental niche, virulence mechanisms, host reservoir, and disease outcomes, as well as diagnosis, vaccine development and treatment. This book's target audience include trainees and students learning about the basic and clinical aspects of E. coli pathogenesis, as well as experts around the globe who wish to learn more about this pathogen and the public health impact this bacteria has in America.

This volume highlights some of the challenges in delivering effective environmental health interventions, and presents examples of emergent theories and case studies that can help close the gap between intent and impact. These include impact crediting systems, objective evidence gathering tools, and social businesses that service environmental health. The case studies presented cross disciplines, scales, organizational and national boundaries and can defy easy categorization. A water project may be designed for a health impact, but financed with a climate change tool, and leverage high tech cell phone sensors. A cookstove program may be primarily concerned with employment and capacity building, but balance environmental and health concerns. Presently, the impact of interventions may not always be aligned to the intent sought. In this book, readers will discover alternative ways to move the mindset of funders and implementers toward pay-for-performance models of humanitarianand environmental interventions. Undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, global health, appropriate technology, international development and development engineering would benefit from these increasingly non-traditional case studies that challenge commonly accepted presentations of poverty reduction and social enterprise.

Aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers working with natural products, Professors Sunil and Bani Talapatra provide a highly accessible compilation describing all aspects of plant natural products. Beginning with a general introduction to set the context, the authors then go on to carefully detail nomenclature, occurrence, isolation, detection, structure elucidation (by both degradation and spectroscopic techniques) stereochemistry, conformation, synthesis, biosynthesis, biological activity and commercial applications of the most important natural products of plant origin. Each chapter also includes detailed references (with titles) and a list of recommended books for additional study making this outstanding treatise a useful resource for teachers of chemistry and researchers working in universities, research institutes and industry.

This book reports on developments in Proximal Soil Sensing (PSS) and high resolution digital soil mapping. PSS has become a multidisciplinary area of study that aims to develop field-based techniques for collecting information on the soil from close by, or within, the soil. Amongst others, PSS involves the use of optical, geophysical, electrochemical, mathematical and statistical methods. This volume, suitable for undergraduate course material and postgraduate research, brings together ideas and examples from those developing and using proximal sensors and high resolution digital soil maps for applications such as precision agriculture, soil contamination, archaeology, peri-urban design and high land-value applications, where there is a particular need for high spatial resolution information. The book in particular covers soil sensor sampling, proximal soil sensor development and use, sensor calibrations, prediction methods for large data sets, applications of proximal soil sensing, and high-resolution digital soil mapping. Key themes: soil sensor sampling – soil sensor calibrations – spatial prediction methods – reflectance spectroscopy – electromagnetic induction and electrical resistivity – radar and gamma radiometrics – multi-sensor platforms – high resolution digital soil mapping - applications Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel is a scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia. Alex McBratney is Pro-Dean and Professor of Soil Science in the Faculty of Agriculture Food & Natural Resources at the University of Sydney in Australia. Budiman Minasny is a Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Agriculture Food & Natural Resources at the University of Sydney in Australia.

It has now been 25 years since the apocryphal report in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report dated June 5, 1981 entitled, “Pneumocystis Pneumonia - Los Angeles”, which announced what was to become HIV/AIDS. HIV has now affected virtually all countries that have looked for it and has had a devastating impact on the public health and medical care infrastructure around the world. HIV/AIDS has also disproportionately affected nations with the least capacity to confront it, especially the developing world nations in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and the emerging republics of Eastern and Central Asia. The pandemic, unlike any other disease of our time, has had profound impacts on the practice of public health itself: bringing affected communities into decision making; demanding North-South partnerships and collaborations; and changing the basic conduct of clinical and prevention trials research. While much has been written in scholarly publications for medical, epidemiologic and disease control specialists, there is no comprehensive review of the public health impact and response to HIV/AIDS in the developing world. This edited volume seeks to systematically describe the emergence and form of the epidemics (epidemiology), the social, community and political response, and the various measures to confront and control the epidemic, with varying levels of success. Of particular importance are strategies that appear to have been useful in ameliorating the epidemic, while contrasting the situation in a neighboring country or region where contrasting prevention or care initiatives have had a deleterious outcome. Common to all responses has been the international multi-sectoral response represented by the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Gates Foundation, among others, to promote HIV pharmacologic therapy in resource-poor settings. The chapter authors will explorethe political challenges in meeting HIV/AIDS prevention and care in concert with the public health realities in specific country and regional context.

The intent of this book is to give a complete overview of the present state of the art of flexible barrier materials such as textile, paper and leather, including methods for barrier evaluation. It will be of interest to readers in industries, consumers, and members of the scientific community. The scope of the field is clearly delineated here for the first time, and it deals with a number of specific topics such as barrier to fire, antibacterial properties, resistance to waves (electrostatic, electromagnetic, acoustics), anti-odor, etc. combined with characterization techniques as well as material nanotechnology.

Convertases are widely expressed activating enzymes involved in various physiological and pathological processes. The purpose of this book is to provide detailed and updated information on the role of these molecules in cancer. This book is the first to summarize current knowledge about the importance of protein precursors maturation by the convertases in tumor progression, angiogenesis and metastasis. In each chapter, the importance of the convertases in the activation of various cancer-related molecules including growth factors, adhesion molecules and proteases is discussed. Also this book covers the role of some convertases in the clinical setting. The book will be of interest to basic researchers as well as clinicians. It will also interest those working in the cancer research area and the pharmaceutical industry, who are looking for new strategies in cancer therapy. Finally, this book is also a useful reference for researchers and clinicians pursuing research on growth factors, adhesion molecules, proteases and their implications in the processes of tumor progression, angiogenesis and metastasis.

“Have you tried peptides? Small proteins, the best in the land! Won't you try peptides? Keep all your body processes in hand! For labor and lactation oxytocin you must buy! Enkephalin always gives a good runner's high! So won't you try peptides? Small proteins, the best in the land!” The above words [1], penned by Gary Gisselman to open Peptide Ångst: La Triviata, the opera which made its world premiere on July 1, 1999, also serve as a fitting charge to the th 16 American Peptide Symposium. This latest edition of a premier biennial series was held under the auspices of the American Peptide Society, June 26–July 1, 1999, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis,Minnesota, with the undersigned serving as Co-Chairs. The fortunate coincidence of the calendar allowed us to set as the theme “Peptides for the New Millennium”, and in our judgment, the approximately 1200 participants [2] who converged in the Twin Cities from academic and industrial institutions in 36 countries were treated to an exciting and stimulating conference that left most everyone with an enthusiastic vision for the future of our field. The present Proceedings volume should serve as a handy reference source and succinct snapshot of peptide science at essentially its century mark – the clock having started with the initial contributions of Emil Fischer and Th. Curtius.