Freedom of movement is a key principle of the European Union (EU) resulting in the right of every EU citizen to move and reside freely within the EU. Many EU citizens work in other Member States than their Member State of origin. Direct taxes are not as such covered in the treaties and therefore have much smaller bases for harmonization at EU level than indirect taxes. As a result, decisions of European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the clash between the EU principle of free movement and Member States’ direct tax rules have a significant effect on national direct tax systems. This book focuses on the relation between free movement rights of EU citizens and the legal autonomy of Member States in the area of direct taxation and will immediately engage tax practitioners and scholars. The author asks (and answers) the question: Has the willingness at EU level to make EU citizenship a key driver behind the integration process come at the expense of national direct tax autonomy? The book’s incomparably thorough analysis of the distinctive evolution, mainly via ECJ case law, of the relation between the EU principle of free movement of persons and Member States’ direct tax rules includes in-depth discussion of the following elements and more: – the concept of EU citizenship in the EU’s constitutional and institutional development; – how the ECJ has interpreted the concept of free movement with regard to economically inactive persons; – how the notion of EU citizenship has widened the ECJ’s view on treaty access; – how the ECJ has addressed the clash between free movement of persons and direct taxation in the EU’s constitutional context; and – numerous tax policy initiatives with regard to EU citizens before and after the Treaty of Lisbon This is the first book to investigate in such detail how the ECJ has tried to reconcile specific national direct tax rules with the general EU principle of free movement of persons from the perspective of EU citizenship. This book explains that the ECJ is in the process of reconceptualizing the market freedoms relating to the free movement of persons, also in the area of direct taxation, as part of a broader EU citizenship right for all economically active EU citizens to pursue an economic activity in a cross-border context; a right beyond the aim of realization of the internal market. As an extremely important analysis of the influence of EU law on the direct tax autonomy of Member States, this book is sure to be itself of great influence in the practice and study of taxation in the EU.
Robin has been taken prisoner by the evil, faceless Shadow. Locked in a tower high above the dark city of Yenibohor, he must endure The Shadow's increasingly brutal attacks. When Robin's best friends discover his disappearance, they sneak through the Door to the Uncertain World to save him. Can Robin and his friends take on the most evil power in the multiverse before time runs out?
Robin Penmarch has narrowly escaped the dark forces of the Uncertain World. But the Shadow still threatens the Lost Isle and when Robin returns to the monastery of Gifdu to continue his apprenticeship in magic, he discovers that the Sorcerers of the Guild have decided to act. A brave band sets out to cross into the Uncertain World but their plan of attack is doomed to fail. There is a traitor in the Guild and when Master Quadehar is falsely accused, Robin is determined to prove his innocence and reveal who the real traitor is. The mystery deepens when the mysterious Lord Sha is found to have infiltrated the monastery. Who is he looking for? And what is his connection with the stolen Book of Stars, the only means of bringing peace to the Worlds? Together with his loyal friends, Robin goes in search of the truth. He will need all his magical talents to face these dangerous new challenges.
Robin Penmarch enjoys ordinary life in a lost isle between the real world and an uncertain place of strange creatures and fantastical lands. But the dark forces of The Uncertain World are rising, and as apprentice to Quadehar the Sorcerer, Robin discovers the truth about himself.
Biology of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases combines physiology and pathophysiology of selected metabolic and cardiovascular diseases with health relevance. Written in a concise and easy to read manner, the book allows readers to gain an understanding on a number of topics, including cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology and how it relates to the development of insulin resistance, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. The book also highlights the relevance of obesity in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and emphasizes the benefits of exercise as a preventative measure and way to treat underlying conditions. Focuses succinctly on the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases Written in a concise and easy to read manner, allowing readers to quickly understand concepts Highlights the relevance of obesity in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and emphasizes the benefits of exercise as a preventative measure
Medicinal plants and plant-derived medicine are widely used in traditional cultures all over the world and they are becoming increasingly popular in modern society as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals. As more and more natural remedies are being commercialised, there is a need for a user-friendly reference guide to the plants and their products. The book gives the reader a bird's eye view of more than 350 of the best known medicinal plants of the world and their uses, in a compact, colourful and scientifically accurate reference text. It provides quick answers to the most obvious questions: Where does this plant originate? What does it look like? In which culture is it traditionally used? What is it used for? Which chemical compounds does it contain? How safe is it? What is known about its pharmacological activity? What evidence is there that it is effective? The authors also provide short overviews of the various health conditions for which medicinal plants are used and the active compounds (secondary metabolites) found in the plants and their modes of actions. This new edition has an additional 30 plant species, many new and improved photographs and the text has been fully updated to reflect the latest regulatory status of each plant.
Among the many applications of stem cell research are nervous system diseases, diabetes, heart disease, auto-immune diseases as well as Parkinson's disease, end-stage kidney disease, liver failure, cancer, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Stem cells are self-renewing, unspecialised cells that can give rise to multiple types all of specialised cells of the body. Stem cell research also involves complex ethical and legal considerations since they involve adult, foetal tissue and embryonic sources. This new book brings together leading research from throughout the world in this frontier field.
This brief explores the biological effects of long-term radiation on astronauts in deep space. As missions progress beyond Earth's orbit and away from the protection of its magnetic shielding, astronauts risk constant exposure to higher levels of galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events. The text concisely addresses the full spectrum of biomedical consequences from exposure to space radiation and goes on to present possible ways to mitigate such dangers and protect astronauts within the limitations of existing technologies.
Depressive disorders are among the most common conditions in the world and are the leading causes of disability, affecting millions of people. Depression is also a common secondary condition, occurring at increased rates alongside virtually any illness that impacts brain function. Because it is so common, people suffering from depression seek help from a wide variety of clinicians, including: family doctors, pediatricians, gynecologists, psychiatrists, internists, psychologists, social workers and other therapists. In fact, depression is so common that the demand for care far exceeds the availability of psychiatrists, so that most depression is treated by other professionals in other specialty fields. For clinicians without significant experience treating depression, managing the condition can be confusing. This pocket-sized guide was specifically written with this diverse group of clinicians in mind. It provides a concise, practical and current overview of depressive disorders, including making a diagnosis, identifying important medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and describes our current understanding of the epidemiology, genetics and neurobiology of the condition. In addition to these topics, most of this book is focused on a programmatic approach toward managing depression, including subpopulations such as children or women who are pregnant. This book may also be of interest for people experiencing depression and their families to help guide treatment seeking and provide education. Dr. Stephen Strakowski and Dr. Erik Nelson are internationally recognized and trusted experts in the study and treatment of mood disorders whose own extensive clinical experience working with people with depression guides this book.
This is the first textbook to address quantified risk assessment (QRA) as specifically applied to offshore installations and operations. As the first part of the two-volume updated and expanded fourth edition, it adds a new focus on the EU Offshore Safety Directive, and discusses the new perspective on risk from the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority, followed by new and updated international standards. New safety statistics for the Norwegian sectors are presented, as well as new case studies on international offshore accidents, such as the explosion on FPSO Sao Mateus in 2015, which involved 9 fatalities. Separate chapters analyse the main hazards for offshore structures: fire, explosion, collision, and falling objects, as well as structural and marine hazards. Risk mitigation and control are discussed, as well as how the results of quantitative risk assessment studies should be presented. The fourth edition presents updated hydrocarbon release statistics, together with new methods for modelling the risk from ignited hydrocarbon releases. There have been recent advances in the modelling of collision risk from passing and attending vessels, based on extensive research; these advances are described in detail, in addition to new developments in the safety of Dynamic Positioning vessels. In closing, the book provides updated statistics and lessons learned from accidents involving offshore helicopter transportation of personnel. The book offers a comprehensive reference guide for academics and students of marine/offshore risk assessment and management. It will also be of interest to professionals in the industry, as well as contractors, suppliers, consultants and regulatory authorities.
This book gives a unified approach to the theory concerning a new matrix version of classical harmonic analysis. Most results in the book have their analogues as classical or newer results in harmonic analysis. It can be used as a source for further research in many areas related to infinite matrices. In particular, it could be a perfect starting point for students looking for new directions to write their PhD thesis as well as for experienced researchers in analysis looking for new problems with great potential to be very useful both in pure and applied mathematics where classical analysis has been used, for example, in signal processing and image analysis.
Formal Verification: An Essential Toolkit for Modern VLSI Design, Second Edition presents practical approaches for design and validation, with hands-on advice to help working engineers integrate these techniques into their work. Formal Verification (FV) enables a designer to directly analyze and mathematically explore the quality or other aspects of a Register Transfer Level (RTL) design without using simulations. This can reduce time spent validating designs and more quickly reach a final design for manufacturing. Building on a basic knowledge of SystemVerilog, this book demystifies FV and presents the practical applications that are bringing it into mainstream design and validation processes. Every chapter in the second edition has been updated to reflect evolving FV practices and advanced techniques. In addition, a new chapter, Formal Signoff on Real Projects, provides guidelines for implementing signoff quality FV, completely replacing some simulation tasks with significantly more productive FV methods. After reading this book, readers will be prepared to introduce FV in their organization to effectively deploy FV techniques that increase design and validation productivity. Covers formal verification algorithms that help users gain full coverage without exhaustive simulation Helps readers understand formal verification tools and how they differ from simulation tools Shows how to create instant testbenches to gain insights into how models work and to find initial bugs Presents insights from Intel insiders who share their hard-won knowledge and solutions to complex design problems
This book bridges the gap between a clinician’s and material scientists’ knowledge by elucidating upon the different biomaterials used in anatomical systems and how those materials react to the human body. It explores both established and future prospective of biomaterial types/designs, and considerations in material selection and synthesis, to guide students from non-clinical background in understanding the relations of material science and the human body.
Available water disinfection systems rely mainly on large-scale filtration and the combination of filtration (to remove solids), and subsequent application of chemical disinfectants. This has proven to produce water of acceptable quality. Important points for application in household systems are low complexity, few training requirements, and easy transportation and distribution as well as a sufficiently high acceptance by the user. Written and endorsed by the European Federation of Food Science and Technology this book compares a variety of purification systems. There is a growing evidence base on targeting water quality improvements to maximize health benefits, and it is believed that 4% of the global disease burden could be prevented by improving water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Better tools and procedures to improve and protect drinking-water quality at the community and urban level, for example, through Water Safety Plans include the availability of simple and inexpensive approaches to treat and safely store water at the household-level. Provides single-source comparison of advantages and disadvantages relevant to the various practices of multiple water treatments Acknowledges the limitations of governmental interventions that need to be supplemented by individual practices such as home implementation systems Provides practical implementation insights and perspectives via graphs, tablesand charts that make information readily accessible and comparable
Here we present a nearly complete treatment of the Grand Universe of linear and weakly nonlinear regression models within the first 8 chapters. Our point of view is both an algebraic view as well as a stochastic one. For example, there is an equivalent lemma between a best, linear uniformly unbiased estimation (BLUUE) in a Gauss-Markov model and a least squares solution (LESS) in a system of linear equations. While BLUUE is a stochastic regression model, LESS is an algebraic solution. In the first six chapters we concentrate on underdetermined and overdeterimined linear systems as well as systems with a datum defect. We review estimators/algebraic solutions of type MINOLESS, BLIMBE, BLUMBE, BLUUE, BIQUE, BLE, BIQUE and Total Least Squares. The highlight is the simultaneous determination of the first moment and the second central moment of a probability distribution in an inhomogeneous multilinear estimation by the so called E-D correspondence as well as its Bayes design. In addition, we discuss continuous networks versus discrete networks, use of Grassmann-Pluecker coordinates, criterion matrices of type Taylor-Karman as well as FUZZY sets. Chapter seven is a speciality in the treatment of an overdetermined system of nonlinear equations on curved manifolds. The von Mises-Fisher distribution is characteristic for circular or (hyper) spherical data. Our last chapter eight is devoted to probabilistic regression, the special Gauss-Markov model with random effects leading to estimators of type BLIP and VIP including Bayesian estimation. A great part of the work is presented in four Appendices. Appendix A is a treatment, of tensor algebra, namely linear algebra, matrix algebra and multilinear algebra. Appendix B is devoted to sampling distributions and their use in terms of confidence intervals and confidence regions. Appendix C reviews the elementary notions of statistics, namely random events and stochastic processes. Appendix D introduces the basics of Groebner basis algebra, its careful definition, the Buchberger Algorithm, especially the C. F. Gauss combinatorial algorithm.
An examination of the central role of water politics and engineering in Spain's modernization, illustrating water's part in forging, maintaining, and transforming social power. In this book, Erik Swyngedouw explores how water becomes part of the tumultuous processes of modernization and development. Using the experience of Spain as a lens to view the interplay of modernity and environmental transformation, Swyngedouw shows that every political project is also an environmental project. In 1898, Spain lost its last overseas colony, triggering a period of post-imperialist turmoil still referred to as El Disastre. Turning inward, the nation embarked on “regeneration” and modernization. Water played a central role in this; during a turbulent period from the twentieth century into the twenty-first—through the Franco years and into the new era of liberal democracy—Spain's waterscapes were completely transformed, with large-scale projects that ranged from dam construction to irrigation to desalinization. Swyngedouw describes the contested political-ecological process that marked this transformation, showing that the Spain's diverse and contested paths to modernization were predicated on particular trajectories of environmental transformation. After laying out his theoretical perspectives, Swyngedouw analyzes three periods of Spain's political-ecological modernization: the aspirations and stalled modernization of the early twentieth century; the accelerated efforts under the authoritarian Franco regime—which included six hundred dams, expanded hydroelectricity, and massive irrigation; and the changing hydro-social landscape under social democracy. Offering an innovative perspective on the relationship of nature and society, Liquid Power illuminates the political nature of nature.
Accountability is crucial to every successful democratic system. The failure to develop functioning mechanisms of accountability has undermined democratic consolidation worldwide. Reliable tools that hold officials accountable are essential for democratic governance; one of the key threats to accountability comes from corrupt practices, especially when they are integrated—or normalized—in the day-to-day activities of institutions. This book focuses on the experiences of contemporary Ukraine to evaluate the successes and failures of institutions, politicians, political parties, bureaucracies, and civil society. Yet, the topic is directly relevant to countries that have experienced democratic backsliding, and especially those countries that are at risk. Normalizing Corruption addresses several interconnected questions: Under what circumstances do incumbents lose elections? How well do party organizations encourage cohesive behavior? Is executive authority responsive to inquiries from public organizations and other government institutions? How can citizens influence government actions? Do civil servants conduct their duties as impartial professionals, or are they beholden to other interests? The research builds upon extensive fieldwork, data collection, and data analysis that Erik S. Herron has conducted since 1999.
The encounter that was destined to happen! When an alien scout ship crashes on Mars, Dejah Thoris must risk reigniting war with the Green Martians and becoming dinner for the white apes. But the stakes are raised so much higher when the ship is revealed to carry Vampirella, who is on a desperate mission of survival-one that might end before it truly begins!
The U.S. government is an ever-more-complex system that few American citizens comprehend in any detail. Even some of its most basic operations, seemingly clear in concept, are in reality intricate and obscure. Although textbooks explain how the government is supposed to work in theory, they don't reveal how it actually works in practice. This book offers a concise and objective explanation of government operations, mapping the federal government's branches, departments, agencies, corporations, and quasi-official bodies—and the bureaucracies that support them. The authors effectively bridge the gap between the government's ideal, balanced structure, laid out in the Constitution, and its actual institutionalized form today, making this a superb resource for students and citizens at large. Coverage of the government's inner workings includes such subjects as executive-branch appointments, domestic and foreign policy development and execution, the federal budget, the legislative process, the Congressional committee system, the drawing of Congressional districts, the levels of the federal judiciary, aides in all three branches, and the various government offices and oversight agencies.
Rethinking Corporate Governance's extensive and insightful empirical investigation offers a radically new approach to corporate governance. This ground-breaking volume describes and analyzes the key nature-based and actor-based forces that ultimately determine corporate governance processes and long-term corporate paths. Generally, such forces work in complex and intricate interplays that to a large extent vary among corporations. A theory of shareholder governance is developed and integrated into the established - and more comprehensive - theory of corporate governance to create a revised theory of the corporation (firm). The new possibilities that this creates for explaining how processes develop and ultimately influence corporate paths are presented in-depth. Featuring conclusions based on an empirical material that is both rich and exclusive, the book also contains extensive non-anonymized materials from authentic corporate governance processes. A general conclusion is that actions taken by individuals have a special status among those forces, as they not only generate impact in themselves, but also involve interpretations of the possible effects of all the other forces.Among those actions, the ones taken by the shareholders stand out as particularly decisive both for the governance processes as such and for how corporations develop over time. Offering a degree of openness, detail and realism that is hard to find in any other case-based study this innovative and enlightening volume is essential for both academics and practitioners involved in corporate governance, corporate strategy and the theory of the firm.
This second of a two-part treatise describes the phenomena of plants under stress, describing the relationship between plant structure, development, and growth and such environmental stresses as too much or too little water, light, heat, or cold.
If you want a basic understanding of computer vision’s underlying theory and algorithms, this hands-on introduction is the ideal place to start. You’ll learn techniques for object recognition, 3D reconstruction, stereo imaging, augmented reality, and other computer vision applications as you follow clear examples written in Python. Programming Computer Vision with Python explains computer vision in broad terms that won’t bog you down in theory. You get complete code samples with explanations on how to reproduce and build upon each example, along with exercises to help you apply what you’ve learned. This book is ideal for students, researchers, and enthusiasts with basic programming and standard mathematical skills. Learn techniques used in robot navigation, medical image analysis, and other computer vision applications Work with image mappings and transforms, such as texture warping and panorama creation Compute 3D reconstructions from several images of the same scene Organize images based on similarity or content, using clustering methods Build efficient image retrieval techniques to search for images based on visual content Use algorithms to classify image content and recognize objects Access the popular OpenCV library through a Python interface
The Nuthatches is based on the European Nuthatch, with comparative information on the other west Paleartic and world species. The nuthatches are common and widespread birds throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but only poorly studied until quite recently. Erik Matthysen's extensive studies, started in 1982, have done much to illuminate the ecology of the Eurasian species, and to create a rich picture both of this bird and its 23 fellows around the world. The nuthatches are familiar for their peculiar, head-down, foraging style on the trunks of mature woodland trees. They are also noteworthy for their generally elaborate nest building behaviour - ten of the nuthatch species use mud to reduce the nest cavity entrance Ca behaviour otherwise shown only by hornbills) while others make elaborate constructs entirely of mud, or use resin to repel nest predators. They also exhibit a complex territorial system and associated behavioural repertoire, occupying a territory as a pair, year round, perhaps as an adaptation to their reliance on stored food during the winter months. The intricate dynamics of pair-bond stability, territory size and the various strategies of floating, non-territory holders is the subject of an entire and fascinating chapter. The habitat fragmentation that has accompanied widespread disruption of woodland habitats everywhere has had a profound effect on territorial and social behaviour and this too is dealt with at length. Following a detailed description of the ecology and behaviour of the Eurasian Nuthatch, Erik Matthysen goes on to consider what is known of the other species, and to compare and contrast their biology. Although many are poorly known, this part of the book enables many fascinating insights and sets the scene for further work which may explain the links between the ecology, behaviour, habitat and evolutionary relationships of the various species. David Quinn' s excellent drawings complete an interesting and authoritative volume.
Democracy means rule by the people, but in practice even the most robust democracies delegate most rule making to a political class The gap between the public and its representatives might seem unbridgeable in the modern world, but Legislature by Lot examines an inspiring solution: a legislature chosen through “sortition”—the random selection of lay citizens. It’s a concept that has come to the attention of democratic reformers across the globe. Proposals for such bodies are being debated in Australia, Belgium, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and many other countries. Sortition promises to reduce corruption and create a truly representative legislature in one fell swoop. In Legislature by Lot, John Gastil and Erik Olin Wright make the case for pairing a sortition body with an elected chamber within a bicameral legislature. Gastil is a leading deliberative democracy scholar, and Wright a distinguished sociologist and editor of the Real Utopias series, of which this is a part. In this volume, they bring together critics and advocates of sortition who have studied ancient Athens, deliberative polling, political theory, social movements, and civic innovation. Without obscuring its limitations, the contributors offer a wide variety of ideas for how to implement sortition and examine its potential for reshaping modern politics. Legislature by Lot includes sixteen essays that respond to Gastil and Wright’s detailed proposal. Essays comparing sortition to contemporary reforms see it as a dramatic extension of deliberative “minipublics,” which gather random samples of citizens to weigh public policy dilemmas without being empowered to enact legislation. Another set of essays explores the democratic principles underlying sortition and elections and considers, for example, how a sortition body holds itself accountable to a public that did not elect it. The third set of essays considers alternative paths to democratic reform, which limit the powers of a sortition chamber or more quickly establish a pure sortition body. With contributions by Arash Abizadeh, Tom Arnold, Terrill Bouricius, Deven Burks, Lyn Carson, Dimitri Courant, Donatella della Porta, David M. Farrell, Andrea Felicetti, James S. Fishkin, Brett Hennig, Vincent Jacquet, Raphaël Kies, Tom Malleson, Jane Mansbridge, Christoph Niessen, David Owen, John Pitseys, Min Reuchamps, Yves Sintomer, Graham Smith, Jane Suiter, and Pierre-Étienne Vandamme.
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