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Molecular Properties via Induced Current Densities (Springer Theses)
by Francesco Ferdinando SummaThis book outlines past and new developments in molecular response theory in terms of static and dynamic-induced current densities and showcases an important step forward in the field of molecular density functions and their topological analysis. The book begins with a general perspective on topics such as classical Hamiltonian, quantum mechanical Hamiltonian, and topological analysis of the electron charge density, followed by an in-depth overview of time-dependent and -independent perturbations, and applications. In this book, the author presents a completely new approach that allows the interpretation of electric and magnetic properties through origin-independent density functions. Readers will also find examples of how the new origin-independent density functions are useful for rationalizing the chemical behavior of molecules interacting with impinging radiation. The concepts contained within the book are the basis for a deeper understanding of Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies, as well as the mechanisms that give rise to electric polarization and optical activity in chiral systems. A basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and ab initio electronic structure calculation methods such as Hartree-Fock and Density Functional Theory is required. Given its breadth, the book provides an important contribution to the field of Quantum Chemical Topology and appeals to students and researchers interested in learning more about the relationship between electrical and magnetic properties, density functions derivable from them and experimental observables.
Reshaping Power Dynamics Between Sustainable Growth and Technical Disruption: 6th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences, ICESS 2023, Bucharest, Romania (Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics)
by Alina Mihaela Dima Sorin VâlceaThis book covers various topics related to economics and the social sciences, such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, ESG, and tax administration. The respective contributions provide insights and perspectives on the current challenges and opportunities in these fields, while also showcasing the latest research and innovations from scholars and practitioners around the world. The book is based on the papers presented at the 6th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences, ICESS 2023, which was held in Bucharest, Romania.
The 25th European Conference on Integrated Optics: Proceedings of ECIO 2024, June 17–19, Aachen, Germany (Springer Proceedings in Physics #402)
by Jeremy Witzens Joyce Poon Lars Zimmermann Wolfgang FreudeThis volume presents peer-reviewed and selected papers from the 2024 European Conference on Integrated Optics (ECIO), held on 17-19 June, 2024, and organized by RWTH Aachen University, Germany, in collaboration with Max-Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Technical University of Berlin, Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. In the 25th edition of this conference, internationally recognized experts share their latest research and showcase their products and services in the field of integrated optics, optoelectronics, and nano-photonics. The conference focuses on leading-edge research and its broad application scope ranges from tele/datacom, optical interconnects, and (bio) optical sensing to more disruptive areas such as quantum computing and programmable photonics.
Justice in Climate Policy: Distributing Climate Costs Fairly (Research for Policy)
by Mark Bovens Victor Toom Annick de Vries Gijsbert Werner Elsenoor Wijlhuizen Suzanne HulscherThis open access book is looking into ways to achieve just climate policy within a country. The authors of this monograph share a unique, timely and original vision: continuous support for climate policy is more likely to emerge when citizens find that the distribution of the bill for climate costs is fair. But what is a fair distribution of climate costs? This is an important question because financial costs of mitigation (reducing greenhouse gases), adaptation (adapting to climate change) and damage (compensating or compensating after weather extremes) increase significantly in the coming decades. Drawing on philosophy and ethics, the authors propose ten principles for achieving just distributions of domestic climate costs. Examples of such principles are individual responsibility, the polluter pays, greatest utility and capacity to pay. Yet what a fair distribution is, depends on, for example, political preferences and the policy issue at hand. Empirical research on designing climate policies, however, shows that distributive principles are not part of the political, policy, and public discussions. The authors therefore argue that explicit attention to principles of just distribution at the start of a policy process contributes to support for climate policy. This book provides tools to professionals and students to achieve justice in climate policy.
Understanding Cryptography: From Established Symmetric and Asymmetric Ciphers to Post-Quantum Algorithms
by Tim Güneysu Christof Paar Jan PelzlUnderstanding and employing cryptography has become central for securing virtually any digital application, whether user app, cloud service, or even medical implant.Heavily revised and updated, the long-awaited second edition of Understanding Cryptography follows the unique approach of making modern cryptography accessible to a broad audience, requiring only a minimum of prior knowledge. After introducing basic cryptography concepts, this seminal textbook covers nearly all symmetric, asymmetric, and post-quantum cryptographic algorithms currently in use in applications—ranging from cloud computing and smart phones all the way to industrial systems, block chains, and cryptocurrencies.Topics and features:Opens with a foreword by cryptography pioneer and Turing Award winner, Ron RivestHelps develop a comprehensive understanding of modern applied cryptographyProvides a thorough introduction to post-quantum cryptography consisting of the three standardized cipher familiesIncludes for every chapter a comprehensive problem set, extensive examples, and a further-reading discussionCommunicates, using a unique pedagogical approach, the essentials about foundations and use in practice, while keeping mathematics to a minimumSupplies up-to-date security parameters for all cryptographic algorithmsIncorporates chapter reviews and discussion on such topics as historical and societal contextThis must-have book is indispensable as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses, as well as for self-study by designers and engineers.The authors have more than 20 years’ experience teaching cryptography at various universities in the US and Europe. In addition to being renowned scientists, they have extensive experience with applying cryptography in industry, fromwhich they have drawn important lessons for their teaching.
Forensic Imaging of Trauma
by Silke Grabherr Sarah Heinze Tony FracassoForensic Imaging is increasingly gaining importance in post-mortem and medico-legal investigations, particularly in cases of trauma. Indeed, the digitization of a body, serving as evidence in court, has become standard practice in many countries. To analyze forensic images effectively, one must possess expertise not only in radiological interpretation but also in understanding post-mortem changes as well as the morphology of lesions and their medico-legal implications. Neither of the two disciplines involved, Radiology and Forensic Medicine, can fully provide the necessary knowledge individually. Hence, Forensic Radiology is now recognized as a discipline that integrates both specializations. This book aims to bridge the gap between these two fields by elucidating the morphology of specific trauma-related lesions. It seeks to assist in identifying these lesions in forensic images and interpreting them accurately from a medico-legal perspective.The introductory chapter clarifies the distinctions between radiological interpretation and medico-legal imaging interpretation. It subsequently presents various techniques used in Forensic Imaging, outlining their respective advantages and limitations. Furthermore, this book is the first to comprehensively cover various types of trauma encountered in forensic medicine, including blunt trauma, sharp trauma, ballistic trauma, thermal trauma and explosions. A separate chapter is dedicated to each of them. Additionally, it addresses specific commonly observed cases such as traffic accidents, asphyxia and child abuse in dedicated chapters.Each chapter provides a concise summary of the essential medico-legal background and knowledge crucial for the final interpretation. It then outlines the appropriate radiological techniques for investigating the specific trauma and offers practical tips for image acquisition. Radiological findings are subsequently listed and illustrated in corresponding figures. Finally, the book explains the medico-legal interpretation of the observed findings and provides guidance on how to report them. This book represents a pioneering effort to amalgamate the knowledge of forensic medicine and radiology regarding the interpretation of various trauma cases. It serves as a valuable handbook for every practitioner in this field, offering practical insights from image acquisition to the ultimate interpretation of collected data.
Plant Quarantine Challenges under Climate Change Anxiety
by Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam Salah M. Abdel-MomenThe effects of climate change on food safety and plant health represent a relatively new area of study. However, evidence from recent studies is clear: climate change contributes to increased and new food safety & plant health risks as one of several global change factors. This volume analyzes the scientific understanding of the relationship between climate change, food safety, plant pests, plant diseases, and trade. It identifies and discusses four key areas for future policy consideration: risk assessment, SPS capacity in developing countries, climate change resilience, and basic research challenges. We must effectively communicate the impacts of climate change on plant health and build the capacity of national plant protection organizations. More importantly, we need to mobilize resources that will help build stronger national phytosanitary systems that can prevent the spread of plant pests, thereby protecting our food sources and environment, and facilitating safe trade.The present volume is an asset for plant quarantine personnel working in the field, agricultural university students, plant health workers, farmers doing agriculture, plant & seed traders, and all those who use agricultural produce and products. The book is a useful resource for students and professional plant pathologists, entomologists, and plant breeders because it summarizes current knowledge and suggests new research directions. It is also suitable for ecologists & researchers working on crop protection, climate change, and pest control.
Air Quality and Human Health
by Markus Hecker Pratap Kumar Padhy Soumya Niyogi Pulak Kumar PatraThe book is one of the outcomes of the SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration) project titled "Fine particulates matters in the air environment and their cancer risks in human beings," sponsored by MHRD (now MoE), Govt. of India. The editors of the book are PIs and Co-PIs of the said project. The text deliberates on air pollution's health risks with contributions from well-known experts from diverse research fields (environmental science, toxicology, geology, public health science, biology, physics, chemistry, and geospatial technology). It explores it its control and mitigation strategies. The book provides an up-to-date overview of the modern methods and tools used in air quality monitoring and human health risk assessment. Case studies from different global settings offer invaluable insights into air pollution-related regional health issues. It addresses all aspects of air quality, covering indoor-outdoor air pollution, gaseous and particulate pollutants; characterization of source and pathways of air pollutants; and the modeling and assessing of health risks (respiratory, epidemiological, and toxicological) with regional and global perspectives. It also addresses air quality management issues. The lucid explanation of the role of oxidative stress mechanisms and molecular biomarkers (genomics, proteomics) may be considered as inputs into the development of cancer therapeutics. Along with providing a scientific basis for air pollution, this book will help readers appreciate the environmental determinants of public health and apply research evidence to improve the quality of life. It also delineates future research initiatives and policy actions needed to protect human health from air pollution, locally and globally. The book will be of great educational value and help for consultation and teaching.
Standardized Procedures and Protocols for Starch (Methods and Protocols in Food Science)
by Sneh Punia BangarThis volumes provides protocols and methodology for understanding starch and its practical applications. Chapters guide readers through starch granule morphology, transmission electron microscope,amylose, amylopectin, chromatographic methods, X-rays by crystals,physical modification methods, and provides a comprehensive discussion of enzymatic modifications of starch. ritten in the format of the Methods and Protocols in Food Science series, the chapters include an introduction to the respective topic, list necessary materials and reagents, detail well-established and validated methods for readilyreproducible laboratory protocols, and contain notes on how to avoid or solve typical problems. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Standardized Procedures and Protocols for Starch aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.
Outer Space and Popular Culture: Influences and Interrelations, Part 4 (Southern Space Studies)
by Annette FroehlichFollowing on from the highly acclaimed Parts 1 to 3, this book provides detailed insights into how space and popular culture intersect across a broad spectrum of examples, including cinema, music, art, arcade games, cartoons, comics, and advertisements. This is a pertinent topic since the use of space themes differs in different cultural contexts, and these themes can be used to explore various aspects of the human condition and provide a context for social commentary on politically sensitive issues. With the use of space imagery evolving over the past sixty years of the space age, this is a topic ripe for in-depth exploration. The book also discusses the contrasting visions of space from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and the reality of today and analyzes space vehicles and habitats in popular depictions of space from an engineering perspective, exploring how many of those ideas have actually been implemented in practice and why or why not (a case of life imitating art and vice versa). As such, it covers a wide array of relevant and timely topics examining intersections between space and popular culture and offering accounts of space and its effect on culture, language, and storytelling from the southern regions of the world.
Challenges of the Technological Mind: Between Philosophy and Technology (New Directions in Philosophy and Cognitive Science)
by Paulo Alexandre e CastroThis book presents a set of texts that reflect different approaches to the relationship between mind and technology. In today’s increasingly technological world, a myriad of different and dizzying challenges face humanity: the ever-closer relationship between man and machine, the exponential development of Artificial Intelligence, man's relationship with virtual worlds, the relationship with new realities such as the neuro potentiation of his capacities, the appearance of robots in everyday life, and so on. In this volume, renowned world specialists explore these concerns, and discuss limitations and possible problems surrounding the interaction of man and machine. The book provides a well-researched, thought-provoking analysis of the need to rethink the theory of the mind, proposing relevant answers to pressing questions and raising new questions that need to be considered.
Climate Change and Safety in High-Risk Industries (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Corinne Bieder Gudela Grote Johannes WeyerThis open access book directs attention to the safety implications of disruptive, sustainability-driven changes in sociotechnical systems resulting from climate-change considerations in high-risk industries. It addresses not only the dismantling of currently prevalent systems and structures and the achievement of a stable future state but also the management of processes for establishing new practices in a safe and reliable manner without undue interruption of important functions and services.Leading scholars from various fields of research have contributed to this brief by analyzing case studies as well as through conceptual and methodological work. They propose strategies for coping with new kinds of risk at local and organizational levels. The oil and gas and nuclear industries are two cases investigated here. They present a challenging mixture of continuity and disruption and require strategies for coping with safety and sustainability issues at the same time. Innovativemethods such as real-world experimentation and computer-based simulation are discussed as means of investigating the issues at stake. Climate Change and Safety in High-Risk Industries brings together critical appraisals of the challenges that will be faced by industry, regulatory bodies and decision-makers in coming decades. It analyzes whether safety and sustainability are accurately thought of as competing imperatives or, rather, offer possibilities for a more cooperative approach to the necessary adaptations in our modes of production and consumption.
Airborne Biocontaminants and their Impact on Human Health
by Rajeev Singh Anamika SinghExplore in-depth the relationships between biological contaminants and human health found in diverse settings such as homes, hospitals, businesses, and schools Indoor air quality has an immense impact on human health and well-being. Indoor air environments can contain a huge range of biological contaminants, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, and their various harmful byproducts. Indoor biocontamination has been under-studied as an aspect of public and occupational health, and there is an urgent need for an introduction to this vital subject. Airborne Biocontaminants and Their Impact on Human Health meets this need with a thorough, rigorous overview of major indoor airborne contaminants. Gathering and summarizing a huge range of data regarding biocontaminants in settings from homes to schools to workplaces, it investigates patterns of morbidity and their connections to major contaminants. The result is an essential tool in the broader fight for human health at home and elsewhere. Airborne Biocontaminants and Their Impact on Human Health readers will also find: Analysis of the indoor role of gases, particulate matter, and others Detailed coverage of contaminant byproducts including endotoxins, mycotoxins, volatile organic compounds, and more Methods for generating awareness and therefore reduced risk of exposure to harmful contaminants Airborne Biocontaminants and Their Impact on Human Health is ideal for researchers—biologists, environmentalists, civil and environmental engineers, industrial hygienists, safety regulators, and public health officials—interested in the area of biological contamination in different environments.
Catalyst Preparation: Science and Engineering
by John RegalbutoImproving the effectiveness of catalysts is the best way to ensure cleaner, more efficient industrial processes for a wide range of applications. Catalyst Preparation: Science and Engineering explores the optimization of catalytic materials through traditional and novel methods of catalyst preparation, characterization, and monitoring on lab
Security: An Introduction
by Philip P. PurpuraToday, threats to the security of an organization can come from a variety of sources- from outside espionage to disgruntled employees and internet risks to utility failure. Reflecting the diverse and specialized nature of the security industry, Security: An Introduction provides an up-to-date treatment of a topic that has become increasingly comple
Catalyst Preparation: Science and Engineering
by John RegalbutoImproving the effectiveness of catalysts is the best way to ensure cleaner, more efficient industrial processes for a wide range of applications. Catalyst Preparation: Science and Engineering explores the optimization of catalytic materials through traditional and novel methods of catalyst preparation, characterization, and monitoring on lab
Applied Mathematical Methods for Chemical Engineers
by Norman W. LoneyFocusing on the application of mathematics to chemical engineering, Applied Mathematical Methods for Chemical Engineers addresses the setup and verification of mathematical models using experimental or other independently derived data. The book provides an introduction to differential equations common to chemical engineering, followed by examples o
The Quantum Physics of Atomic Frequency Standards: Recent Developments
by Jacques Vanier Cipriana TomescuUp-to-Date Coverage of Stable and Accurate Frequency StandardsThe Quantum Physics of Atomic Frequency Standards: Recent Developments covers advances in atomic frequency standards (atomic clocks) from the last several decades. It explains the use of various techniques, such as laser optical pumping, coherent population trapping, laser cooling, and e
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysts, and Catalysis: Advances and Applications
by Burtron H. Davis Mario L. OccelliWith petroleum prices spiraling upward, making synthetic fuels-or "synfuels"-from coal, natural gas, and biomass has become more economically competitive. Advanced energy companies now focus exclusively on alternative fuels, and many oil companies have programs dedicated to developing synthetic fuels. The Fischer-Tropsch process, which uses a colle
Endogenous Opioids: From Basic Science to Biopsychosocial Applications (Advances in Neurobiology #35)
by Patrick L. Kerr Cristian Sirbu John M. GreggThis new volume provides a scientifically based exploration of the multifaceted world of endogenous opioids, including endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins, endomorphins, and orphanin FQ/nociceptin, featuring a strong translational focus. Topics covered range from basic scientific investigations, to clinical applications, to investigations in areas such as oncology, childbirth, and disordered eating, to psychosocial contexts such as volunteering and positive emotions. One of the main goals of Endogenous Opioids is to provide recommendations for new directions in medical research and health policy that are rooted in sound scientific research.
Evolution Seen from the Phase Diagram of Life (Evolutionary Studies)
by Shigeki Mitaku Ryusuke SawadaThis book aims to understand biological evolution through a physical approach, focusing on the macroscopic aspects of the biological genome. Readers will discover the connection between genomic information and the harmony of biological systems, a relationship that remains elusive to many researchers in biological sciences.The most common approach to understanding living organisms with physics is to begin with a single molecule of an organism. In contrast to this bottom-up approach, building from each molecule to the whole, this book takes a coarse-grained approach at the amino acid level to physically understand the macroscopic aspects of the organism. The book presents a system developed by the authors to predict membrane proteins with high accuracy using only physical parameters. Another distinctive perspective of this book is that it proposes the idea of a physical mechanism, other than natural selection, that orchestrates the emergence of order from random processes.The study of macroscopic aspects of living organisms based on this concept has parallels with thermostatistical mechanics for states of matter. Just as random processes create order in matter, there are physical random processes that form order in living organisms. This analogy is the central theme of the book.Using terms and analogies familiar to physicists, the book bridges the gap between biological and physical sciences. The book focuses on simple principles and is aimed primarily at researchers. While the content of this book is at the boundary area of biophysics, soft matter physics and bioinformatics, it will also be of interest to researchers and graduate students working on any biological topics.
Electronic Structure of Semiconductor Interfaces (Synthesis Lectures on Engineering, Science, and Technology)
by Winfried MönchThis concise volume examines the characteristic electronic parameters of semiconductor interfaces, namely the barrier heights of metal–semiconductor or Schottky contacts and the valence-band discontinuities of semiconductor–semiconductor interfaces or heterostructures. Both are determined by the same concept, namely the wave-function tails of electron states overlapping a semiconductor band gap directly at the interface. These interface-induced gap states (IFIGS) result from the complex band structure of the corresponding semiconductor. The IFIGS are characterized by two parameters, namely by their branch point, at which their charge character changes from predominantly valence-band- to conduction-band-like, and secondly by the proportionality factor or slope parameter of the corresponding electric-dipole term, which varies in proportion to the difference in the electronegativities of the two solids forming the interface. This IFIGS-and-electronegativity concept consistently and quantitatively explains the experimentally observed barrier heights of Schottky contacts as well as the valence-band offsets of heterostructures. Insulators are treated as wide band-gap semiconductors.
Our Universe: An Astronomer's Guide (Pelican Books)
by Jo DunkleyA world-renowned astrophysicist takes us through the huge, unfolding history of the universeThe night sky is an endless source of wonder and mystery. For thousands of years it has been at the heart of scientific and philosophical inquiry, from the first star catalogues etched into ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets to the metres-wide telescopes constructed in Chile's Atacama Desert today. On a clear night it is hard not to look up and pick out familiar constellations, and to think of the visionary minds who pioneered our understanding of what lies beyond.In this thrilling new guide to our Universe and how it works, Professor of Astrophysics Jo Dunkley reveals how it only becomes more beautiful and exciting the more we discover about it. With warmth and clarity, Dunkley takes us from the very basics - why the Earth orbits the Sun, and how our Moon works - right up to massive, strange phenomena like superclusters, quasars, and the geometry of spacetime. As she does so, Dunkley unfurls the history of humankind's heroic journey to understand the history and structure of the cosmos, revealing the extraordinary, little-known stories of astronomy pioneers including Williamina Fleming, Vera Rubin and Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Illuminating and uplifting, this is your essential guide to the biggest subject of all.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Bench to Bedside
by Gourdas Choudhuri Anil C Anand P PiramanayagamThe book aims to be a handy compendium to the very voluminous texts of gastroenterology and hepatology existing in the knowledge market and provides the reader with an easy understanding of the bench knowledge (basic sciences) as they apply to bedside practice (clinical gastroenterology). With introduction and contributions from Prof Eamon Quigley, Former president of World Gastroenterology Organization and American College of Gastroenterology, the book covers the recent advances in the basic sciences that form an important pillar of the knowledge, thereby linking basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, molecular medicine, etc. to clinical conditions, diseases and new therapeutic approaches in gastroenterology and hepatology. The book is written in a simple easy to read format, with a lot of diagrams and flowcharts, making it a handy guide. It also discusses in-depth about very common clinical conditions encountered in hospital settings such as ulcerative colitis, pseudomembranous colitis, colonic cancer, amebiasis, and various other syndromes and diseases. This book is a useful read for fellows and trainees in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as well as gastroenterologists, hepatologists and physicians interested in digestive disorders.
Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering: Select Proceedings of ICRAMERD 2023 (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering)
by Seshadev Sahoo Natraj YedlaThis book presents select proceedings of the fourth International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering Research and Development (ICRAMERD 2023). The contents focus on latest research and current problems in various branches of mechanical engineering. Some of the topics discussed include fracture and failure analysis, fuels and alternative fuels, combustion and IC engines, advanced manufacturing technologies, powder metallurgy and rapid prototyping, industrial engineering and automation, vibrations and control engineering, automobile engineering, fluid mechanics and machines, heat transfer, composite materials, micro and nano-engineering for energy storage and conversion, and modeling and simulations. The book is useful for researchers and professionals in mechanical engineering.