This report describes a screening study of in all ninety-nine conventional and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the Nordic environment. In addition, extractable organic fluorine (EOF) was analysed. The latter can provide the amount, but not identity, of organofluorine in the samples, which in turn can be used to assess the mass balance between known and unknown PFASs. The study was initiated by the Nordic Screening Group and funded by these and the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Chemicals Group.A total of 102 samples were analyzed in this study, including bird eggs, fish, marine mammals, terrestrial mammals, surface water, WWTP effluents and sludge, and air. Samples were collected by institutes from the participating countries and self-governing areas; Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
This reference manual is designed to enable more geophysicists to appreciate static corrections, especially their limitations, their relationship with near-surface geology, and their impact on the quality of final interpreted sections. The book is addressed to those involved in data acquisition (datum static corrections), data processing (datum static and residual static corrections), and interpretation (the impact that unresolved static corrections, especially the long-wavelength or low-spatial-frequency component, have on the interpretation of the final section). Simple explanations of the underlying principles are included in an attempt to remove some of the mystique of static corrections. The principles involved are illustrated with simple models; these are supplemented with many data examples. This book details differences in approaches that must be considered among 2D, 3D, and crooked-line recordings as well as between P-wave and S-wave surveys. Static corrections are shown to be a simplified yet practical approach to modeling the effects of the near surface where a more correct wavefield or raypath-modeled method may not be efficiently undertaken. Chapters cover near-surface topography and geology; computation of datum static corrections; uphole surveys; refraction surveys; static corrections-limitations and effect on seismic data processes; residual static corrections; and interpretation aspects. An extensive index and a large list of references are included.
In the picturesque coastal village of Graniteport, Maine, Ned Bailey savors the view of his empire from his home built on a bluff above the harbor. Bailey - the self-proclaimed king of Graniteport - and the elders preserve village traditions based on man's law and a belief that people from away are dangerous and to be avoided and that those of French Canadian ancestry are inferior and to be shunned. Mae Horvath has been in the village for almost twenty years. Hopeful, loyal, and indomitable, Mae is fierce about being an American whose ethnicity happens to be Chinese. When she falls in love with Roy Slade, an attorney from away who settled in the village, it triggers an abhorrence of people violating what Bailey calls the natural order and jealousy on the part of her former husband, Sean. But everything changes when Roy's daughter and her husband visit Graniteport and make a fateful decision. In this gripping thriller, a deadly tragedy in an insular coastal village results in a cycle fueled by bigotry, hatred, love, renewal, and the emptiness of revenge as secrets are exposed and a town's people are forever transformed.
Focusing on narratives about female knights-errant (xia) along thematic lines in Chinese literacy history, this text provides an overview of the narrative subgenre, the literary representation of gender and the particularities of the Chinese knight-errantry narrative.
This thesis focuses on the growth of a new type of two-dimensional (2D) material known as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). It also presents several significant breakthroughs in the authors’ understanding of the growth mechanism and development of new growth techniques, which are now well known in the field. Of particular importance is the pioneering work showing experimental proof that 2D crystals of h-BN can indeed be hexagonal in shape. This came as a major surprise to many working in the 2D field, as it had been generally assumed that hexagonal-shaped h-BN was impossible due to energy dynamics. Beyond growth, the thesis also reports on synthesis techniques that are geared toward commercial applications. Large-area aligned growth and up to an eightfold reduction in the cost of h-BN production are demonstrated. At present, all other 2D materials generally use h-BN as their dielectric layer and for encapsulation. As such, this thesis lays the cornerstone for using CVD 2D h-BN for this purpose.
Beginning with a brief survey of some basic mathematical concepts, this graduate-level text proceeds to discussions of a selection of mapping functions, numerical methods and mathematical models, nonplanar fields and nonuniform media, static fields in electricity and magnetism, and transmission lines and waveguides. Other topics include vibrating membranes and acoustics, transverse vibrations and buckling of plates, stresses and strains in an elastic medium, steady state heat conduction in doubly connected regions, transient heat transfer in isotropic and anisotropic media, and fluid flow. Revision of 1991 ed. 247 figures. 38 tables. Appendices.
UNDERSTANDING CORONA A pandemic is keeping the world on tenterhooks, with unprecedented implications for human coexistence, science, economics and politics. Every day, knowledge about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its mutants, and measures to combat the infection grows. Thousands of reports, technical papers, discussions, study results, assessments, and comments reach the public. The information covers basic areas of knowledge - from aerosols and vaccines to winter sports. The target audience is people who want to get information quickly, politicians, authorities, universities, schools, companies, SMEs and businesses. Important sources and links on the pandemic, authorities, ministries and occupational health guidelines are directly available in the book. A VIRUS PARALYZES US The pandemic involving SARS-CoV-2 and known mutations of this virus poses an unprecedented medical and economic challenge to the world's population. Measures to inhibit the spread of the virus are essential until there is sufficient immunization of the world's population. In addition to monitoring the spread of the virus and its gene sequences, consideration of the physicochemical properties of the virus (virus persistence in aerosols, temperature dependence, dependence on humidity and UV radiation) appears relevant to reduce the spread of the virus. WEATHER DEPENDENCE Observations as well as literature reviews suggest a dependence of infection rates on weather conditions is likely. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS to exit LOCKDOWN. Proposed solutions for returning to a normal daily routine are provided. We try to explain the pandemic and make it understandable and give people a perspective on a daily life with the virus. There is also advice for politicians to encourage thoughtful reactions. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
To survive, complementary primordial life molecules had to become self-repairing timers oscillating in harmony with the macrocosmic environmental rhythms on Earth
To survive, complementary primordial life molecules had to become self-repairing timers oscillating in harmony with the macrocosmic environmental rhythms on Earth
Life on earth arose through the creative interplay of prebiotic conditions on earth and the everlasting reliable macrocosmic changes of light and darkness. The first life molecules were confronted with the Earth's two-faced environment manifesting itself as a rhythm of a damaging light phase (day) and a harmless low light dark phase (night) produced by the apparent celestial movements within the earth-moon-sun system. It required two mutually complementing molecule types: ribonucleic acids and peptides, which had to adapt jointly to that fundamental duality in order to achieve a 'duration across change'. Both combined into a helically intertwined ribonucleopeptide filament as the initial molecular structure of life on earth. The predictable alternation of a damaging (UV irradiation, high-energy sun light) and a non-damaging (low-energy moon light) phase lead to the inclusion of rhythmic repair and timing in molecular life from begin on. The ribonucleopeptide filament responded to the dual qualities of its environment by behaving like an 'oscilloid'. Rhythmically alternating contraction to prevent damage during daytime and expansion to allow self-sustained repair during nighttime initiated the oscillation of the primordial biological timer as a molecular reflection of the macrocosmic time on Earth impacted by the light/dark rhythm. Macrocosmic time is both circular, because days, months and years consist of recurring cycles of light and darkness, and linear, because successive days, months and years are not identical repeats of the preceding ones and follow each other in a row. Corresponding to this yin/yang structure of macrocosmic time, biological time is also cyclical and linear at the same time. Under this perspective, life arose as an earth-bound molecular pattern instructed by celestial rhythms. Interestingly, there exists a correspondence to the dual, mutually complementing molecular basis of life in ancient Chinese mythology. A helically intertwined ribonuclopeptide filament represents an equivalent, a living reflection, of the T'ai chi symbol with its mutually complementing, inseparable black and white components that illustrate the fundamental duality of darkness and light or night and day on Earth. Yang and Yin, and Ch'ien and K'un, constitute the basic duality of the yin/yang philosophy and the ancient Chinese Book of Changes, the I Ging, respectively. Fu-hsi and Nü-kua, the personified versions of this basic duality, are characterised by their helically intertwining snake- or dragon-like lower bodies. Together, they are linking Earth to Heaven.
A rare and unique publication of Roland Barthes' notebooks from his travels in China. The notebooks document Barthes' thoughts during his 1974 visit to China, just as the last campaign of the Cultural Revolution was getting underway.
The investigation and manipulation of matter on the atomic scale have been revolutionised by scanning tunnelling microscopy and related scanning probe techniques. This book is the first to provide a clear and comprehensive introduction to this subject. Beginning with the theoretical background of scanning tunnelling microscopy, the design and instrumentation of practical STM and associated systems are described in detail, as are the applications of these techniques in fields such as condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology, and nanotechnology. Containing 350 illustrations, and over 1200 references, this unique book represents an ideal introduction to the subject for final-year undergraduates in physics or materials science. It will also be invaluable to graduate students and researchers in any branch of science where scanning probe techniques are used.
This book is the outcome of the Conference on Population Growth, Urbanization, and Urban Policies in the Asia-Pacific Region, held in Honolulu during 8-12 April 1985. It provides wide attention among development planners, urban managers, and scholars in the field of urban and development planning.
These two volumes constitute the refereed proceedings of the Third Asian Conference on Computer Vision, ACCV'98, held in Hong Kong, China, in January 1998. The volumes present together a total of 58 revised full papers and 112 revised posters selected from over 300 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on biometry, physics-based vision, color vision, robot vision and navigation, OCR and applications, low-level processing, active vision, face and hand posture recognition, segmentation and grouping, computer vision and virtual reality, motion analysis, and object recognition and modeling.
Apoptosis is a form of cellular suicide central to various aspects in biology including tissue homeostasis and embryonic development. It is typically dysregulated in cancer. Understanding the apoptotic signal transduction network is thus a central goal of cancer research. Quantitative modeling approaches provided valuable insights into determinants of cell fate decisions, and promise to become a valuable tool to optimize therapeutic strategies. In this chapter, we summarize modeling approaches used in systems biology of apoptosis. In addition, we give an overview of apoptosis-related research questions that can be addressed by modeling. Moreover, we review top-down and bottom-up modeling approaches applied to apoptosis, and particularly focus on ordinary differential equation (ODE) modeling. We describe bistability, temporal switching, crosstalk between death and survival, and discuss approaches to model cell-to-cell variability.
This book provides a critical commentary on China's situation and future outlook from the perspective of the 2012-13 generational power transfer. In this power transfer, taking place against the background of an increasingly unstable domestic situation, an apparently outstandingly successful generation of “half-communist” leaders, recently increasingly plagued by scandal, transferred responsibility to a generation confronted by mixed expectations and factional in-fighting. Many international observers doubt that the new leadership will have the will or the power to introduce serious reforms in a country that reports 100,000 riots involving more than 500 persons in public areas per year. The China of 2013 seems to be in the midst of a transition seldom seen since the 1970s. The question is if the resulting hope expressed by Chinese dissidents and Western leaders for a “necessary” development of China's still largely autocratic system towards a kind of context-adequate democracy is plausible or not. Featuring incisive commentary by the authors and interviews with experts on the region’s political economy, the volume addresses such timely questions as: Should “rapid democratization” of China be the strategic goal of the West or rather a step-by-step approach towards the “rule of law“ first, and “illiberal democracy” to follow? Should the West be more worried about a thriving China, or a China in crisis? Will China’s success contribute to the success of the global community and the world order system, or be a threat to it? What can the West do to help China develop more participatory and inclusive approaches in order to secure social stability? And how can the West strengthen its democratic allies on China’s borders? Endorsements “This is a book I recommend to students and teachers around the globe. It provides a concise introduction into present China’s main problems, questions and perspectives. A must for all who try to understand the rising Pacific giant not through short-term answers, but through long-term questions.” Professor Ole Bruun, Institute for Society and Globalization, Roskilde University, Denmark “The rise of China to global superpower calls for clear, condensed, yet comprehensive comments for the broader public. This book accomplishes those goals, providing a quick yet comprehensive introduction into what we may expect as the Middle Kingdom seeks to assert what it increasingly sees as its rightful role as a leading world power.” Professor Richard Appelbaum, MacArthur Foundation Chair in Global & International Studies and Sociology, University of California at Santa Barbara “The new constellation between China and the West needs inspiring departure points of discussion, which may be sober or provocative. This booklet is both in one. It should be used as a basis for in-depth discussion and I recommend it for classrooms and the global civil society debate.” Professor Jan Nederveen Pieterse, Mellichamp Professor of Global Studies and Sociology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Spontaneous speech errors provide valuable evidence not only for the processes that mediate between a communicative intention and the articulation of an utterance but also for the types of grammatical entities that are manipulated during production. This study proposes an analysis of speech errors that is informed by grammar theory. In particular, it is shown how characteristic properties of erroneous German utterances can be accounted for within Distributed Morphology (DM). The investigation focuses on two groups of errors: Errors that result from the manipulation of semantic and morphosyntactic features, and errors which appear to involve the application of a post-error repair strategy. It is argued that a production model which incorporates DM allows for a straightforward account of the attested, sometimes complex, error patterns. DM mechanisms, for instance, render unnecessary the assumption of repair processes. Besides providing an account for the attested error patterns, the theory also helps us in explaining why certain errors do not occur. In this sense, DM makes for a psychologically real model of grammar.
Essential reading for both clinicians and researchers, this comprehensive resource covers what you need to know about the basic principles of perfusion, as well as its many clinical applications. Broad coverage outlines the overarching framework that interlinks methods such as DSC, DCE, CTP, and ASL. International experts in the field demonstrate how perfusion and pharmacokinetic imaging can be effectively used to analyze medical conditions, helping you reach accurate diagnoses and monitor disease progression and response to therapy.
As a basis for printed property charts and tables, empirical multiparameter equa tions of state have been the most important source of accurate thermodynamic property data for more than 30 years now. However, due to increasing demands on the accuracy of thermodynamic property data in computerised calculations as well as the availability of appropriate software tools, and the ever increasing computer power, such formulations are nowadays becoming a valuable tool for everyday work. This development has substantially increased the number of scientists, engi neers, and students who are working with empirical multiparameter equations of state, and it continues to do so. Nevertheless, common knowledge on this kind of thermodynamic property models and on the ongoing progress in this scientific discipline is still very limited. Multiparameter equations of state do not belong to the topics which are taught intensively in thermodynamic courses in engineering and natural sciences and the books and articles where they are published mainly deal with the thermodynamic properties of certain substances rather than with the theoretical background of the used equations of state. In contrast to this, my concern mainly was to give a survey of the theoretical background of multiparameter equations of state both with regard to their application and their development.
This fundamental book presents the most comprehensive summary of the current state of the art in the chemistry of cage compounds. It introduces different ways of how ions and molecules can be encapsulated by three-dimensional caging ligands to form molecular and polymeric species: covalent, supramolecular, and coordination capsules. The authors introduce their classification, reactivity, and selected practical applications. Because encapsulation can isolate caged ions and molecules from external factors, the encapsulated species can exhibit unique physical and chemical properties. The resulting specific reactivity and selectivity can open up a range of applications, including chemical separation, recognition, chiral separation, catalysis, applications as sensors or probes, as molecular or supramolecular devices, or molecular carriers (cargo).A particularly strong emphasis in this book is on the summary and review of the synthesis of various types of cage compounds. Readers will find over 850 literature references summarized and clearly represented in over 600 schemes and illustrations. The book is structured by the types of caging ligands (covalent, supramolecular, or coordination capsules). The authors further arranged the chapters by ligand classes and types of encapsulated species (neutral molecules, anions, or cations). Readers will hence find an exhaustive reference resource and summary of the current state of research into encapsulated species, nowadays almost a separated realm of modern chemistry.
Knowledge of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) of the kidney and of the synthesis and secretion of renin has increased to such an extent over the past few years that it is now appropriate to summarize this knowledge in a monograph on the JGA, the first of its kind. It was the authors' special concern to demonstrate the association between structure and function for renin secretion, not only within the juxtaglomerular region, but also in the region of the renal cortex beyond the JGA. The description of the pathology of the human JGA, studded with references to experimental findings but nevertheless fully self-contained, should help to make this monograph also useful for clinicians.
This landmark dictionary serves as a basis for historical-comparative research on Tibetan. Conceptualized empirically and etymologically, it builds on extensive data from the Tibetan dialects and establishes the relationship to Written Tibetan. It reflects historical sound change and semantic change in all of linguistic Tibet. Based on historical sound change and geographical distribution, the dictionary applies a new classification of the Tibetan dialects.
Modern science is divided into three parts: natural sciences, engineering sciences and humanities. Over the last millennia, natural and engineering sciences evolved a symbiotic relationship, but humanities still stand apart. Today, however, designing and building a talking robot is a comparatively new challenge for which all three branches are needed. Starting from the idea that designing a theory of computational cognition should be as complete as possible, and trying to answer questions such as “Which ontology is required for building a computational cognition?”, the current book integrates interfaces, components, functional flows, data structure, database schema, and algorithms into a coherent system with an extensive range of cognitive functions, and constitutes the background to the book “Ontology of Communication” recently published by the author (Springer, 2023). Part I discusses ontological distinctions between a sign-based and an agent-based approach, and continues with explanations of the data structure, the content-addressable database schema; the time-linear derivations of the speak and the hear mode; resonating content; induction, deduction, and abduction in inferencing, and concludes with a reconstruction of eight classical syllogisms as a test suite for DBS inferencing in the think mode. Part II complements the literal use of language in the speak and hear mode with a reconstruction of syntactic mood adaptations and figurative use. The database schema of DBS is shown to lend itself not only to the tasks of traditional storage and retrieval, but also of reference, coreference, shadowing, coactivation of resonating content, and selective activation. Part III complements the treatment of individual topics in linguistics, philosophy, and cognitive psychology with an overall software structure in the form of three interacting main components, called the interface, the memory, and the production component.
Mitochondria in Higher Plants: Structure, Function, and Biogenesis is a collection and interpretation of information on plant mitochondria. It explains not only the basic enzymology of ATP synthesis coupled to electron transport that seems to constitute the major activity of the mitochondria, but also many other aspects that make plant mitochondria rather more diverse than their animal counterparts. Organized into five chapters, this book begins with the morphological and cytological observations on mitochondria, and proceeding through membrane and matrix functions to participation in metabolism and biogenesis. Each section presents the unique properties of plant mitochondria within the framework of general mitochondrial structure and function. This book is intended not only for research workers and students interested in the enzymology of plant mitochondria respiration, but also for graduate and undergraduate students in the field of plant biochemistry, cell physiology, and molecular biology. It will be useful as a starting point for those students wishing to pursue special studies in this field.
This practice-oriented book deals with the modelling of steady state and non-steady state basic processes of fibre formation and fibre processing. Focal points are melt spinning processes, spun yarn spinning processes and the description of the dynamics in different process steps during the fibre processing. A special chapter deals with dynamics of tensile force and its importance for the process stability. All examples are based on industrial practice.
This book covers the whole system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, dealing with Deng Xiaoping’s theory, the socialist market economy, a moderately well-off (Xiaokang) society, China’s practice and theory of socialist democracy, human rights, and Xi Jinping’s Marxism. In short, the resolute focus is the Reform and Opening-Up. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is one of the most important global realities today. However, the concept and its practice remain largely misunderstood outside China. This book sets to redress such a lack of knowledge, by making available to non-Chinese speakers the sophisticated debates and conclusions in China concerning socialism with Chinese Characteristics. It presents this material in a way that is both accessible and thorough.
Small-angle scattering of X-rays (SAXS) and neutrons (SANS) is an established method for the structural characterization of biological objects in a broad size range from individual macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids) to large macromolecular complexes. SAXS/SANS is complementary to the high resolution methods of X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance, allowing for hybrid modeling and also accounting for available biophysical and biochemical data. Quantitative characterization of flexible macromolecular systems and mixtures has recently become possible. SAXS/SANS measurements can be easily performed in different conditions by adding ligands or binding partners, and by changing physical and/or chemical characteristics of the solvent to provide information on the structural responses. The technique provides kinetic information about processes like folding and assembly and also allows one to analyze macromolecular interactions. The major factors promoting the increasingly active use of SAXS/SANS are modern high brilliance X-ray and neutron sources, novel data analysis methods, and automation of the experiment, data processing and interpretation. In this book, following the presentation of the basics of scattering from isotropic macromolecular solutions, modern instrumentation, experimental practice and advanced analysis techniques are explained. Advantages of X-rays (rapid data collection, small sample volumes) and of neutrons (contrast variation by hydrogen/deuterium exchange) are specifically highlighted. Examples of applications of the technique to different macromolecular systems are considered with specific emphasis on the synergistic use of SAXS/SANS with other structural, biophysical and computational techniques.
A valuable introduction to the fundamentals of continuous and discrete time signal processing, this book is intended for the reader with little or no background in this subject. The emphasis is on development from basic principles. With this book the reader can become knowledgeable about both the theoretical and practical aspects of digital signal processing.Some special features of this book are: (1) gradual and step-by-step development of the mathematics for signal processing, (2) numerous examples and homework problems, (3) evolutionary development of Fourier series, Discrete Fourier Transform, Fourier Transform, Laplace Transform, and Z-Transform, (4) emphasis on the relationship between continuous and discrete time signal processing, (5) many examples of using the computer for applying the theory, (6) computer based assignments to gain practical insight, (7) a set of computer programs to aid the reader in applying the theory.
This standard textbook covers in its extensively revised 5th edition all main directions of geodesy, providing the theoretical background as well as modern principles of measurement and evaluation methods. Today’s geodetic work is comprehensively presented by numerous examples of instruments. New: Novel geodetic reference system; Future gravity field mission concepts and technologies; Principle of quantum gravimetry.
Considered by many to be a modern classic, Ancient Israel offers a fascinating, full-scale reconstruction of the social and religious life of Israel in Old Testament times. Drawing principally on the text of the Old Testament itself, as well as from archaeological evidence and information gathered from the historical study of Israel's neighbors, de Vaux first provides an extensive introduction to the nomadic nature of life in ancient Israel and then traces in detail the developments of Israel's most important institutions--family, civil, military, and religious--and their influence on the nation's life and history.
Gerard Roland's new text, Development Economics, is the first undergraduate text to recognize the role of institutions in understanding development and growth. Through a series of chapters devoted to specific sets of institutions, Roland examines the effects of institutions on growth, property rights, market development, and the delivery of public goods and services and focuses. With the most comprehensive and up to date treatment of institutions on development, Roland explores the important questions of why some countries develop faster than others and why some fail while others are successful.
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