ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: 1. Supershear Earthquake Ruptures --- Theory, Methods, Laboratory Experiments and Fault Superhighways: An Update.- 2. Civil Protection Achievements and Critical Issues in Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research.- 3. Earthquake Risk Assessment: Certitudes, Fallacies, Uncertainties and the Quest for Soundness.- 4. Variability and Uncertainty in Empirical Ground-Motion Prediction for Probabilistic Hazard and Risk Analyses.- 5. Seismic Code Developments for Steel and Composite Structures.- 6. Seismic Analyses and Design of  Foundation Soil Structure Interaction.- 7. Performance-based Seismic Design and Assessment of Bridges.- 8. An Algorithm to Justify the Design of Single Story Precast Structures.- 9. Developments in Seismic Design of Tall Buildings: Preliminary Design of Coupled Core Wall Systems --- 10. Seismic Response of  Underground Lifeline Systems.- 11. Seismic Performance of Historical Masonry Structures Through Pushover and Nonlinear Dynamic Analyses.- 12. Developments in Ground Motion Predictive Models and Accelerometric Data Archiving in the Broader European Region --- 13. Towards the “Ultimate Earthquake-proof” Building: Development of an Integrated Low-damage System.- 14. Archive of Historical Earthquake Data for the European-Mediterranean Area --- 15. A Review and Some New Issues on the Theory of  the H/V Technique for Ambient Vibrations.- 16. Macroseismic Intervention Group: The Necessary Field Observation.- 17. Bridging the Gap Between Nonlinear Seismology as Reality and Earthquake Engineering --- 18. The Influence of Earthquake Magnitude on Hazard Related to Induced Seismicity.- 19. On the Origin of Mega-thrust Earthquakes.  

Description / Table of Contents: Hydrothermally influenced microbial habitats and communities represent a much wider spectrum of geological setting, chemical in-situ regimes, and biotic community than the classical examples from basalt-hosted black smoker chimneys at active mid-ocean spreading centers. Hydrothermal vent ecosystems now include hydrothermally heated and chemically altered sediments, microbiota fueled by serpentinization reactions, and low-temperature vents with unusual menus of electron donors. Novel marine provinces and hydrothermal areas are being charted and explored, such as new hydrothermal vent systems in the Arctic, around Antarctica, in the Western Pacific and in the Indian Ocean. Novel environmental gradients and niches provide habitats for unusual or unprecedented microorganisms and microbial ecosystems. The discovery of novel extremophiles such as Aciduliprofundum and the Nanoarchaeota underscores that hydrothermal vent microbial communities can no longer be characterized as assemblages of only “typical” sulfur oxidizers, methanogens and heterotrophs. Different stages of hydrothermal activity, from early onset to peak activity, gradual decline, and persistence of cold and fossil vent sites, correspond to different colonization waves by microorganisms as well as megafauna. This research topic will continue to stretch the limits of hydrothermal vent microbiology, and also provide a forum for the chemical and microbial linkages of hydrothermal vents to the ocean water column and the ocean crust or sedimentary subsurface.

Description / Table of Contents: Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: protection, management and climate change --- Synergies and Conflicts between Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000: Legal requirements, technical guidance and experiences from practice --- Can Natura 2000 Sites Benefit from River Basin Management Planning Under a Changing Climate? Lessons from Germany --- Do water management and climate-adapted management of wetlands interfere in practice? Lessons from the Biebrza Valley, Poland --- Wetlands in river valleys as an effect of fluvial processes and anthropopression --- New vision of the role of land reclamation systems in nature protection and water management

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction: concept of TAIGA --- Geochemical constraints on potential biomass sustained by subseafloor water-rock interactions --- Microbial cell densities, community structures, and growth in the hydrothermal plumes of subduction hydrothermal systems --- Systematics of distributions of various elements between ferromanganese oxides and seawater from natural observation, thermodynamics, and structures --- Evaluating hydrothermal system evolution using geochronological dating and biological diversity analyses --- Quantification of microbial communities in hydrothermal vent habitats of the Southern Mariana Trough and the Mid-Okinawa Trough --- Development of hydrothermal and frictional experimental systems to simulate sub-seafloor water–rock–microbe interactions --- Experimental hydrogen production in hydrothermal and fault systems: Significance for habitability of subseafloor H2 chemoautotroph microbial ecosystems --- Experimental assessment of microbial effects on chemical interaction between seafloor massive sulfides and seawater at 4℃ --- A compilation of the stable isotopic compositions of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in soft body parts of animals collected from deep-sea hydrothermal vent and methane seep fields: variations in energy source and importance of subsurface microbial processes in the sediment-hosted systems --- Tectonic background of four hydrothermal fields along the Central Indian Ridge --- Indian Ocean hydrothermal systems: seafloor hydrothermal activities, physical and chemical characteristics of hydrothermal fluids, and vent-associated biological communities --- Petrology and geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts from the southern Central Indian Ridge --- Petrology of peridotites and related gabbroic rocks around the Kairei-hydrothermal field in the Central Indian Ridge --- Distribution and Biogeochemical Properties of Hydrothermal Plumes in the Rodriguez Triple Junction --- Vent fauna in the Central Indian Ridge --- The mantle dynamics, the crustal formation, and the hydrothermal activity of the Southern Mariana Trough back-arc Basin --- Seismic structure and seismicity in the Southern Mariana Trough and their relation to hydrothermal activity --- Electrical resistivity structure of the Snail site at the Southern Mariana Trough spreading center --- Asymmetric seafloor spreading of the southern Mariana Trough back-arc basin --- Geochemical characteristics of active backarc basin volcanisms at the southern end of Mariana Trough --- Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal minerals collected from hydrothermal vent fields in the Southern Mariana spreading center --- Dating of hydrothermal mineralization in active hydrothermal fields in the Southern Mariana Trough --- Intra-field variation of prokaryotic communities on and below the seafloor in the back-arc hydrothermal system of the Southern Mariana Trough --- Vent fauna in the Mariana Trough --- Population history of a hydrothermal vent-endemic snail Alviniconcha hessleri in the Mariana Trough --- Hydrothermal activity in the Okinawa Trough backarc basin -geological background and hydrothermal mineralization- --- Active rifting structures in Iheya Graben and adjacent area of the mid-Okinawa Trough observed through seismic reflection surveys --- ESR dating of barite in sea-floor hydrothermal sulfide deposits in the Okinawa Trough --- Fluid geochemistry of high-temperature hydrothermal fields in the Okinawa Trough --- Sediment‒pore water system associated with native sulfur formation at Jade hydrothermal field in Okinawa Trough --- Comparative investigation of microbial communities associated with hydrothermal activities in the Okinawa Trough --- In situ determination of bacterial growth in mixing zone of hydrothermal vent field on the Hatoma Knoll, Southern Okinawa Trough --- Vent Fauna in the Okinawa Trough --- Brief report of side-scan sonar observations around the Yokoniwa NTO massif --- Examination of volcanic activity: AUV and submersible observations of fine-scale lava flow distributions along the Southern Mariana Trough spreading axis --- Brief report of side-scan sonar imagery observations of the Archaean, Pika, and Urashima hydrothermal sites --- The Yoron Hole: the shallowest hydrothermal site in the Okinawa Trough --- The Irabu Knoll: Hydrothermal site at the eastern edge of the Yaeyama Graben --- Tarama Knoll: Geochemical and biological profiles of hydrothermal activity --- Petrography and geochemistry of basement rocks drilled from Snail, Yamanaka, Archean, and Pika hydrothermal fields at the Southern Mariana Trough by Benthic Multi-coring System (BMS) --- Pore fluid chemistry beneath active hydrothermal fields in the mid-Okinawa Trough: Results of shallow drilling by BMS during TAIGA11 cruise --- The characteristics of the seafloor massive sulfide deposits at the Hakurei Site in the Izena Hole, the Middle Okinawa Trough --- Occurrence of hydrothermal alteration minerals at the Jade hydrothermal field, in the Izena Hole, mid-Okinawa Trough --- Geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids collected from active hydrothermal systems in the southern Mariana Trough backarc spreading center --- Gamma ray doses in water around sea floor hydrothermal area in South Mariana --- 226Ra-210Pb and 228Ra-228Th dating of barite in submarine hydrothermal sulfide deposits collected at Okinawa Trough and South Mariana Trough --- OSL dating of sea floor sediments at the Okinawa Trough --- Immediate change of radiation doses from hydrothermal deposits --- Periodic behavior of deep sea current in the Hatoma Knoll hydrothermal system --- The gelatinous macroplankton community at the Hatoma Knoll hydrothermal vent

Description / Table of Contents: Part I The Road to Reconstruction from the Tsunami and Radioactive Contamination: Two and a Half Years On --- 1 Dealing with Disasters of Unprecedented Magnitude: The Local Government’s Tribulations and the Road to Reconstruction (Hidekiyo Tachiya) --- 2 Tokyo University of Agriculture East Japan Assistance Project Assisting with Reconstruction: Guiding Principles, Planning, and Propagation of Benefits (Toshiyuki Monma) --- 3 Characteristics of the Agricultural and Forestry Industries in the Soma Area and Damage Sustained as a Result of the Great East Japan Earthquake (Takahiro Yamada, Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, and Toshiyuki Monma) --- Part II Reconstruction from Tsunami Damage --- 4 Reconstruction Support for the Farmland Struck by Tsunami (Itsuo Goto and Kaisei Inagaki) --- 5 Tsunami Damage to Farming Operations and the New Generation of Farmers and Farm Management (Yukio Shibuya, Takahiro Yamada, Nyamkhuu Batdelger, Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, Gentaro Suzumura, and Toshiyuki Monma) --- 6 Presenting a Model for Revival of Rural Communities in Japan’s Disaster Zones (Shigeyuki Miyabayashi, Yasushi Takeuchi, Hiromu Okazawa, Tomonori Fujikawa, and Yutaka Sasaki) --- 7 Contributing to Restoration of Tidal Flats in Miyagi Prefecture’s Moune Bay Following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (Susumu Chiba, Takeshi Sonoda, Makoto Hatakeyama, and Katsuhide Yokoyama) --- Part III Reconstruction from Radioactive Contamination --- 8 Initiatives by the Soil Fertilization Team to Develop Agricultural Technologies for Paddy Fields with Radioactive Contamination (Itsuo Goto and Kaisei Inagaki) --- 9 The Potential for Producing Rice for Feed and Whole Crop Rice Silage in Radiation-Contaminated Areas (Seiji Nobuoka) --- 10 Developing and Trialing a System to Monitor Radionuclide in Individual Plots of Farmland to Help Reconstruction Farming in Contaminated Areas (Toshiyuki Monma, Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, Youichi Kawano, Dambii Byambasuren, Yuta Ono, and Quar Evine) --- 11 New Decontamination Methods for Parks and Other Areas in Which Radionuclide Have Accumulated (Mitsuo Kondo and Chizuko Mizuniwa) --- 12 Forest Restoration (Takahisa Hayashi) --- 13 Nuclear Radiation Levels in the Forest at Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture (Iwao Uehara, Tomoko Seyama, Fumio Eguchi, Ryuichi Tachibana, Yukito Nakamura, and Hiroya Obayashi ) --- 14 Radioactive Contamination of Ostriches in a Potentially Permanent Evacuation Zone (Hiroshi Ogawa, Hidehiko Uchiyama, Koji Masuda, Takeshi Sasaki, Tadao Watanabe, Toshiaki Tomizawa, and Schu Kawashima) --- 15 The Radioactive Contamination in Some Arthropod Species in Fukushima (Tarô Adati and Sota Tanaka) --- 16 A Consumer Survey Approach to Reputation-Based Damage Affecting Agricultural Products and How to Overcome It (Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, Shizuka Matsumoto, Makoto Hoshi, Sayaka Yamaguchi, and Toshiyuki Monma) --- Part IV Activities and Impressions of Students and Farmers Who Supported the Project --- 17 Staking Recovery Hopes on Soma Revival Rice (Kaisei Inagaki, Tomoko Ninagi, Saburo Sasaki, and Akiko Sato) --- 18 Impression of the Students Participated in the Radioactivity Monitoring System of Farmland (Volodymyr Ganzha, Keiji Kanamori, Hana Fujimoto, and Ryo Itakura) --- 19 Impression of the Forestry managers and students participated in the Radioactivity Damage Investigation of Forests (Eihachi Horiuchi, Kiyoaki Sasaki, Masaaki Itakura, Chisato Yasukawa, and Chihiro Kinoshita)

Description / Table of Contents: This edited book, Emerging Pollutants in the Environment Current and Further Implications, includes overviews by significant researchers on the topic of emerging pollutants toxicology, which covers the hazardous effects of common emerging xenobiotics employed in our every day anthropogenic activities. We hope that this book will meet the expectations and needs of all those who are interested in the negative implications of several emerging pollutants on living species.

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Problem of Residue Management due to Rice Wheat Crop Rotation in Punjab --- Chapter 2: The Extent and Management of Crop Stubble --- Chapter 3: Valuation of the Health Impact --- Chapter 4: Alternative Uses of Crop Stubble --- Chapter 5: Environment Legislation in India as a Whole and in the State of Punjab --- Chapter 6: Policies for Restricting the Agriculture Residue Burning in Punjab --- Chapter 7: Concluding Remarks and Policy Implications --- References --- Annexure

Description / Table of Contents: Foreword --- Preface --- Part 1 A brief history of marine litter research --- Part 2 Abiotic aspects of marine litter pollution --- Global distribution, composition and abundance of marine litter --- Persistence of plastic litter in the oceans --- Part 3 Biological implications of marine litter --- Deleterious effects of litter on marine life --- The complex mixture, fate and toxicity of chemicals associated with plastic debris in the marine environment --- Marine litter as habitat and dispersal vector --- Part 4 Micro plastics --- Micro plastics in the marine environment: sources, consequences and solutions --- Methodology used for the detection and identification of micro plastics – a critical appraisal --- Sources and pathways of micro plastics to habitats --- Micro plastics in the marine environment: distribution, interactions and effects --- Modeling the role of micro plastics in bioaccumulation of organic chemicals to marine aquatic organisms. A critical review --- Nano plastics in the aquatic environment. Critical review --- Part 5 Socio-economic implications of marine anthropogenic litter --- Micro and nano-plastics and human health --- The economics of marine litter --- Regulation and management of marine litter --- Marine litter and the contribution of citizen science

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction --- Gastrointestinal digestion models, general introduction --- Static digestion models general introduction --- InfoGest consensus method --- Approaches to static digestion models --- Dynamic digestion models general introduction --- The TNO gastro-Intestinal Model (TIM) --- Dynamic Gastric Model (DGM) --- Human Gastric Simulator (Riddet model) --- The DIDGI® System --- General introduction to cells, cell lines and cell culture --- Epithelial cell models; General introduction --- Caco-2 cell line --- HT29 cell line --- The IPEC-J2 cell line --- Co-cultivation of Caco-2 and HT-29MT --- Innate and adaptive immune cells; General introduction --- THP-1 and U937 cells --- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells --- PBMC-derived T cells --- Dendritic Cells --- Co-culture Caco-2/ immune cells --- Enteroendocrine Cell Models: General introduction --- STC-1 cells --- NCI-H716 cells --- Murine GLUTag cells --- In vitro intestinal tissue models: General introduction --- Intestinal crypt organoids as experimental models --- Porcine ex vivo intestinal segment model --- Ussing chamber --- In vitro fermentation models: General Introduction --- One compartment fermentation model --- The TNO in vitro model of the colon - TIM-2 --- The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem – SHIME® --- The computer-controlled multicompartmental dynamic model of the gastrointestinal system SIMGI

Description / Table of Contents: Part I : Agro-Food Systems --- Food Security in the Southern Mediterranean/North Africa --- Sustainability in cereal crop production in Mediterranean environments --- Innovative crop productions for healthy foods: the case of Chia --- The hidden costs of livestock environmental sustainability: the case of Podolian cattle --- Feeding, nutrition and sustainability in dairy enterprises: the case of Mediterranean buffaloes (bubalus bubalis) --- Sustainability of sheep and goat production systems --- The role of local sheep and goat breeds and their products as a tool for sustainability and safeguard of the Mediterranean environment --- Innovative use of jenny milk from sustainable rearing --- Sustainable agricultural practices in disease defence of traditional crops in Southern Italy: the case study of tomato cherry protected by Trichoderma harzianum T-22 against Cucumber mosaic virus --- Development of integrated disease control measures for the valorisation of traditional crops in Southern Italy: the case study of "Fagiolo di Sarconi" --- Fostering sustainable climate change adaptations: a case study of the Turkish Cypriot Community’s adoption of pomegranate farming --- The role of women in the sustainability of the wine industry through the analysis of case studies --- Part II : Natural Resource Systems and Environment --- The effects of climate change on the multifunctional role of Basilicata’s forests: the effects induced on yield and CO2 absorption --- Wildlife agriculture interactions, spatial analysis and trade-off between environmental sustainability and risk of economic damage --- The sustainability of non-renewable resources use at regional level: a case study on allocation of oil royalties --- Land use sector involvement in mitigation policies across carbon markets --- Evaluating the role of soil variability on potential groundwater pollution and recharge in a Mediterranean agricultural watershed --- Grazing and biodiversity conservation: highlights on a Nature 2000 network site --- Evaluation of native grasses for sustainable turfgrass in the bioclimatic Mediterranean Region.-Biodiversity of hypogeous fungi in Basilicata --- Part III: New technologies --- New technologies for the sustainable management and planning of rural land and environment --- Processing plants and technologies for a sustainable Mediterranean food chain --- Geophysical techniques for plant, soil and root research related to Satellite technologies to support the sustainability of agricultural production --- Electrolyzed water in the food industry as supporting of environmental sustainability

Description / Table of Contents: This edited book, Toxicity and Hazard of Agrochemicals, is intended to provide an overview of toxicology that examines the hazardous effects of common agrochemicals employed every day in our agricultural practices. Furthermore, it is hoped that the information in the present book will be of value to those directly engaged in the handling and use of agrochemicals and that this book will continue to meet the expectations and needs of all interested in the different aspects of human and environmental risk toxicities.

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction --- Selection of Plants that Demonstrated Nitrate Removal Characteristics --- Inspection and Maintenance Guidelines

Description / Table of Contents: Continuation along current development pathways is not sustainable. Available technology and production practices and the consumption patterns of modern societies are leading to global warming and ecological destruction. Business as usual is not an option. There is an urgent need to find a new development paradigm that ensures environmental sustainability while managing to provide, now and in the future, a decent livelihood for all of humankind. In Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development, experts in the area provide a variety of insights about the technical transformation needed for sustainable development. It spells out the behavioural and policy changes that would need to accompany the next technological transformation, taking into account the complexity of inducing technological change in the energy and agricultural sectors. The assessment suggests that this will require major, but doable improvements in national innovation systems and major, but affordable shifts in investment patterns and related macroeconomic adjustments.

Description / Table of Contents: CIRIAF (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” is a research center, based at the University of Perugia, which promotes interdisciplinary research activities in the fields of environmental pollution and its health and socio-economic effects, sustainable development, renewable and alternative energy, energy planning, and sustainable mobility. One hundred professors from fourteen different Italian universities are involved in the activities of the center. The CIRIAF National Congress (e.g., the fourteenth one in 2014), has become, over time, an important event for researchers and experts (engineers, physicists, chemists, architects, doctors, and economists). These individuals are not simply academics; they also hail from ministries, environmental agencies, and local authorities. The annual meeting in Perugia is an opportunity to discuss the issues related to energy, environment and sustainable development. The Special Issue will include the best papers presented at the Congress. These were selected by the Scientific Committee with the help of the various Chairmen of the Sessions. The papers cover all the various aspects of sustainability, from an interdisciplinary point of view, with a strong emphasis on the link between energy production, use and conservation, and environmental impact.

Description / Table of Contents: 1 Introduction: Overview of Our Research on Impacts of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on Fish and Fishing Grounds --- Part I Seawater and Plankton --- 2 134Cs and 137Cs in the Seawater Around Japan and in the North Pacific --- 3 Temporal Changes in 137Cs Concentration in Zooplankton and Seawater off the Joban–Sanriku Coast, and in Sendai Bay, After the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident --- Part II Sediments and Benthos --- 4 Three-Dimensional Distribution of Radiocesium in Sea Sediment Derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant --- 5 Radiocesium Concentrations in the Organic Fraction of Sea Sediments --- 6 Bottom Turbidity, Boundary Layer Dynamics, and Associated Transport of Suspended Particulate Materials off the Fukushima Coast --- 7 Investigation of Radiocesium Translation from Contaminated Sediment to Benthic Organisms --- Part III Marine Fish --- 8 Detection of 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs Released into the Atmosphere from FNPP in Small Epipelagic Fishes, Japanese Sardine and Japanese Anchovy, off the Kanto Area, Japan --- 9 Radiocesium Concentration of Small Epipelagic Fishes (Sardine and Japanese Anchovy) off the Kashima-Boso Area --- 10 Why Do the Radionuclide Concentrations of Pacific Cod Depend on the Body Size? --- 11 Radiocesium Contamination Histories of Japanese Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) After the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident --- Part IV Mechanisms of Severe Contamination in Fish --- 12 Evaluating the Probability of Catching Fat Greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) Highly Contaminated with Radiocesium off the Coast of Fukushima --- 13 Analysis of the Contamination Process of the Extremely Contaminated Fat Greenling by Fukushima-Derived Radioactive Material --- 14 Contamination Levels of Radioactive Cesium in Fat Greenling Caught at the Main Port of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant --- Part V Freshwater Systems --- 15 Comparison of Radioactive Cesium Contamination of Lake Water, Bottom Sediment, Plankton, and Freshwater Fish Among Lakes of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, After the Fukushima Fallout --- 16 Radiocesium Concentrations and Body Size of Freshwater Fish in Lake Hayama 1 Year After the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident --- 17 Spatiotemporal Monitoring of 134Cs and 137Cs in Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, a Microalgae-Grazing Fish, and in Their Freshwater Habitats in Fukushima --- 18 Radiocesium Concentrations in the Muscle and Eggs of Salmonids from Lake Chuzenji, Japan, After the Fukushima Fallout --- 19 Assessment of Radiocesium Accumulation by Hatchery-Reared Salmonids After the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Description / Table of Contents: Long-term Climate Change: Climatic Change during the Holocene (Past 12,000 Years) --- The Historical Timeframe (Past 1000 Years) --- Recent Climate Change (Past 200 years): Recent Change – Atmosphere --- Recent Change – River Runoff --- Recent Change – Terrestrial Cryosphere --- Recent Change – Marine Circulation and Stratification --- Recent Change – Sea Ice --- Recent Change – Sea Level and Wind Waves --- Future Climate Change: Projected Change – Models and Methodology --- Projected Change – Atmosphere --- Projected Change – Hydrology --- Projected Change – Marine Physics --- Projected Change – Sea Level --- Environmental Impacts of Climate Change: Environmental Impacts – Atmospheric Chemistry --- Environmental Impacts – Coastal Ecosystems, Birds and Forests --- Environmental Impacts – Freshwater Biogeochemistry --- Environmental Impacts – Marine Biogeochemistry --- Environmental Impacts – Marine Ecosystems --- Environmental Impacts – Coastal Erosion and Changing Coastlines --- Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change: Socio-Economic Impacts – Forestry and Agriculture --- Socio-Economic Impacts – Urban Settlements --- Drivers of Regional Climate Change: Evidence of Warming --- Regional Change Drivers – Aerosols --- Regional Change Drivers – Land Cover

Description / Table of Contents: As climate negotiators work towards a deal that would limit the increase in global temperatures, interest is growing in the essential role technology innovation can and must play in enabling the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Indeed, recent success stories clearly indicate that there is significant and untapped potential for accelerating innovation in clean technologies if proper policy frameworks are in place. In an especially timely analysis, the 2015 edition of Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP 2015) examines innovation in the energy technology sector and seeks to increase confidence in the feasibility of achieving short- and long-term climate change mitigation targets through effective research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D). ETP 2015 identifies regulatory strategies and co-operative frameworks to advance innovation in areas like variable renewables, carbon capture and storage, and energy-intensive industrial sectors. The report also shows how emerging economies, and China in particular, can foster a low-carbon transition through innovation in energy technologies and policy. Finally, ETP 2015 features the IEA annual Tracking Clean Energy Progress report, which this year shows that efforts to decarbonise the global energy sector are lagging further behind. By setting out pathways to a sustainable energy future and by incorporating detailed and transparent quantitative modelling analysis and well-rounded commentary, ETP 2015 and its series of related publications are required reading for experts in the energy field, policy makers and heads of governments, as well as business leaders and investors.

Description / Table of Contents: Deep subsurface microbiology is a highly active and rapidly advancing research field at the interface of microbiology and the geosciences; it focuses on the detection, identification, quantification, cultivation and activity measurements of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes that permeate the subsurface biosphere of deep marine sediments and the basaltic ocean and continental crust. The deep subsurface biosphere abounds with uncultured, only recently discovered and – at best - incompletely understood microbial populations. In spatial extent and volume, Earth’s subsurface biosphere is only rivaled by the deep sea water column. So far, no deep subsurface sediment has been found that is entirely devoid of microbial life; microbial cells and DNA remain detectable at sediment depths of more than 1 km; microbial life permeates deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs, and is also found several kilometers down in continental crust aquifers. Severe energy limitation, either as electron acceptor or donor shortage, and scarcity of microbially degradable organic carbon sources are among the evolutionary pressures that have shaped the genomic and physiological repertoire of the deep subsurface biosphere. Its biogeochemical role as long-term organic carbon repository, inorganic electron and energy source, and subduction recycling engine continues to be explored by current research at the interface of microbiology, geochemistry and biosphere/geosphere evolution. This Research Topic addresses some of the central research questions about deep subsurface microbiology and biogeochemistry: phylogenetic and physiological microbial diversity in the deep subsurface; microbial activity and survival strategies in severely energy-limited subsurface habitats; microbial activity as reflected in process rates and gene expression patterns; biogeographic isolation and connectivity in deep subsurface microbial communities; the ecological standing of subsurface biospheres in comparison to the surface biosphere – an independently flourishing biosphere, or mere survivors that tolerate burial (along with organic carbon compounds), or a combination of both? Advancing these questions on Earth’s deep subsurface biosphere redefines the habitat range, environmental tolerance, activity and diversity of microbial life.

Description / Table of Contents: As we move from the era of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it is important to consider how development agendas are set, the progress that has been made over the past 15 years, and how current debates are shaping global development efforts for the next 15. This book was, produced as part of a University College London-London International Development Centre research collaboration entitled, "Thinking Beyond Sectors for Sustainable Development". The aim of the book is to provide a concise introduction to the debates in a number of vital development sectors, review progress made in each sector, and to consider how looking beyond sectors might open new opportunities for inclusive, sustainable development. Each chapter in this book was produced collaboratively by academics from a wide number of disciplines. As such, it represents a truly interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral effort, of the kind that will be necessary for successful development and implementation of future international development goals.

Description / Table of Contents: The term biodiversity has become a mainstream concept that can be found in any newspaper at any given time. Concerns on biodiversity protection are usually linked to species protection and extinction risks for iconic species, such as whales, pandas and so on. However, conserving biodiversity has much deeper implications than preserving a few (although important) species. Biodiversity in ecosystems is tightly linked to ecosystem functions such as biomass production, organic matter decomposition, ecosystem resilience, and others. Many of these ecological processes are also directly implied in services that the humankind obtains from ecosystems. The first part of this book will introduce different concepts and theories important to understand the links between ecosystem function and ecosystem biodiversity. The second part of the book provides a wide range of different studies showcasing the evidence and practical implications of such relationships.

Description / Table of Contents: Is planting grass margins around fields beneficial for wildlife? Which management interventions increase bee numbers in farmland? Does helping migrating toads across roads increase populations? How do you reduce predation on bird populations? What Works in Conservation has been created to provide practitioners with answers to these and many other questions about practical conservation. This book provides an assessment of the effectiveness of 648 conservation interventions based on summarized scientific evidence relevant to the practical global conservation of amphibians, reducing the risk of predation for birds, conservation of European farmland biodiversity and some aspects of enhancing natural pest control and soil fertility. It contains key results from the summarized evidence for each conservation intervention and an assessment of the effectiveness of each by international expert panels. The volume is published in partnership with the Conservation Evidence project and is fully linked to the project's website where more detailed evidence and references can be freely accessed.

Description / Table of Contents: This book covers essential aspects of transmutation technologies, highlighting especially the advances in Japan. The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has caused us to focus attention on a large amount of spent nuclear fuels stored in NPPs. In addition, public anxiety regarding the treatment and disposal of high-level radioactive wastes that require long-term control is growing. The Japanese policy on the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle is still unpredictable in the aftermath of the accident. Therefore, research and development for enhancing the safety of various processes involved in nuclear energy production are being actively pursued worldwide. In particular, nuclear transmutation technology has been drawing significant attention after the accident. This publication is timely with the following highlights: 1) Development of accelerator-driven systems (ADSs), which is a brand-new reactor concept for transmutation of highly radioactive wastes; 2) Nuclear reactor systems from the point of view of the nuclear fuel cycle. How to reduce nuclear wastes or how to treat them including the debris from TEPCO’s Fukushima nuclear power stations is discussed; and 3) Environmental radioactivity, radioactive waste treatment, and geological disposal policy. State-of-the-art technologies for overall back-end issues of the nuclear fuel cycle as well as the technologies of transmutation are presented here. The chapter authors are actively involved in the development of ADSs and transmutation-related technologies. The future of the back-end issues in Japan is very uncertain after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, and this book provides an opportunity for readers to consider the future direction of those issues

Description / Table of Contents: Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water for the purposes intended for. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance can be assessed. The most common standards used to assess water quality relate to health of ecosystems, safety of human contact and potable drinking water. A range of diverse topics in the field of water quality modelling, statistical evaluation and guidelines pertaining to the best management practices in different locations around the world is given herein. Modelling of water quality in rivers and lakes, statistical methods and membrane filter performance are subject matters of interest considering in-situ water, potable water, water re-use, etc.

Description / Table of Contents: The pollution of soil and groundwater by heavy metals and other chemicals is becoming a serious issue in many countries. However, the current bioremediation processes do not often achieve sufficient remediation, and more effective processes are desired. This book deals with advances in the bioremediation of polluted soil and groundwater. In the former chapters of this book, respected researchers in this field describe how the optimization of microorganisms, enzymes, absorbents, additives and injection procedures can help to realize excellent bioremediation. In the latter chapters, other researchers introduce bioremediation processes that have been performed in the field and novel bioremediation processes. Thus, the readers will be able to obtain new ideas about effective bioremediation as well as important information about recent advances in bioremediation.

Description / Table of Contents: Could oil prices stay lower for longer? What would it take for this to happen and what it would mean for energy security and for the energy transition? - India is set for a period of rapid, sustained growth in energy demand: how could this re-shape the energy scene? - What do new climate pledges mean for the way that the world meets its rising needs for energy?- What are the implications of the rising coverage of energy efficiency policies and the growing competitiveness of renewables? - Is the unconventional gas revolution going to go global, or to remain a North American phenomenon? These issues – and many more – are discussed here, with a special focus on India accompanying the customary, in-depth WEO analysis of the prospects for all fossil fuels, renewables, the power sector and energy efficiency around the world to 2040.

Description / Table of Contents: This joint report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is the eighth in a series of studies on electricity generating costs, presenting levilised cost of electricity projections for baseload and renewable generation plants commissioned in 2020, except where noted, in 22 countries. As policy makers work to ensure that the power supply is reliable, secure and affordable, while making it increasingly clean and sustainable in the context of the debate on climate change, it is becoming more crucial that they understand what determines the relative cost of electricity generation using fossil fuel, nuclear or renewable sources of energy. A wide range of fuels and technologies are presented in the report, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, solar, onshore and offshore wind, biomass and biogas, geothermal, and combined heat and power, drawing on a database from surveys of investment and operating costs that include a larger number of countries than previous editions. The analysis of more than 180 plants, based on data covering 22 countries, reveals several key trends, pointing, for example, to a significant decline in recent years in the cost of renewable generation. The report also reveals that nuclear energy costs remain in line with the cost of other baseload technologies, particularly in markets that value decarbonisation. Overall, cost drivers of the different generating technologies remain both market-specific and technology-specific. Readers will find a wealth of details and analysis, supported by over 200 figures and tables, underlining this report’s value as a tool for decision makers and researchers concerned with energy policies, climate change and the evolution of power sectors around the world.

Description / Table of Contents: Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, and one that often limits production in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. Due to its requirement in biological macromolecules, its acquisition and cycling have the potential to structure microbial communities, as well as to control productivity on the ecosystem scale. In addition, its versatile redox chemistry is the basis of complex biogeochemical transformations that control the inventory of fixed nitrogen, both in local environments and over geological time. Although many of the pathways in the microbial nitrogen cycle were described more than a century ago, additional fundamental pathways have been discovered only recently. These findings imply that we still have much to learn about the microbial nitrogen cycle, the organisms responsible for it, and their interactions in natural and human environments. Progress in nitrogen cycle research has been facilitated by recent rapid technological advances, especially in genomics and isotopic approaches. In this Research Topic, we reviewed the leading edge of nitrogen cycle research based on these approaches, as well as by exploring microbial processes in modern ecosystems.

Description / Table of Contents: Part I  - The Theory of Rewilding --- 1. Rewilding Abandoned Landscapes in Europe --- 2. European Wilderness in a Time of Farmland Abandonment --- 3. Ecosystem Services: the Opportunities of Rewilding in Europe --- Part II - Rewilding and Biodiversity --- 4. Bringing Large Mammals Back: Large Carnivores in Europe --- 5. Top Scavengers in a Wilder Europe --- 6. Rewilding: Pitfalls and Opportunities for Moths and Butterflies --- 7. Vegetation Restoration and Other Actions to Enhance Wildlife in European Agricultural Landscapes --- 8. Maintaining Disturbance-dependent Habitats.- Part III - Rewillding in Practice --- 9. Rewilding Europe: A New Strategy for an Old Continent --- 10. Preparing a New Generation of Wilderness Entrepreneurs --- 11. Towards a European Policy for Rewilding --- Index

Description / Table of Contents: This book presents an analysis of the results of studies of motor fuels ageing, conducted in laboratory and model conditions, in terms of building a system operating on-line, allowing continuous assessment of the operational usability of gasoline and diesel fuels, including those containing the addition of ethanol and FAME, respectively. This research was carried out in the framework of the project: "A system for the continuous control of the degree and rate of the liquid fuels ageing process during storage, which received co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Programme "Innovative Economy". The book presents an evaluation of the impact of fuel production processes on its stability and an analysis of changes in normative parameters of fuels during their storage and use. The book presents also the results of tests on the corrosive effects of fuels during storage processes.

Description / Table of Contents: In the last three decades, research has extensively focused on the role of Fe and other mineral nutrients in regulating biological processes, ranging from the surface to the deep ocean. This has produced major breakthroughs in our understanding of the fundamental role of those bioactive elements on the carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles and ecosystem function. However, biological processes cannot be entirely sustained by that small set of chemical elements, and new scientific evidence suggests that trace metals other than Fe (e.g., Co, Mo and Ni) as well as essential organic growth factors (e.g., vitamins) may also be crucial in most aquatic systems.

Description / Table of Contents: Viruses infect numerous microorganisms including, predominantly, Bacteria (bacteriophages or phages) but also Archaea, Protists, and Fungi. They are the most abundant and ubiquitous biological entities on Earth and are important drivers of ecosystem functioning. Little is known, however, about the vast majority of these viruses of microorganisms, or VoMs. Modern techniques such as metagenomics have enabled the discovery and description of more presumptive VoMs than ever before, but also have exposed gaps in our understanding of VoM ecology. Exploring the ecology of these viruses – which is how they interact with host organisms, the abiotic environment, larger organisms, and even other viruses across a variety of environments and conditions – is the next frontier. Integration of a growing molecular understanding of VoMs with ecological studies will expand our knowledge of ecosystem dynamics. Ecology can be studied at multiple levels including individual organisms, populations, communities, whole ecosystems, and the entire biosphere. Ecology additionally can consider normal, equilibrium conditions or instead perturbations. Perturbations are of particular interest because measuring the effect of disturbances on VoM-associated communities provides important windows into how VoMs contribute to ecosystem dynamics. These disturbances in turn can be studied through in vitro, in vivo, and in situ experimentation, measuring responses by VoM-associated communities to changes in nutrient availability, stress, physical disruption, seasonality, etc., and could apply to studies at all ecological levels. These are considered here across diverse systems and environments.

Description / Table of Contents: Part I: Introducing Life Cycle Management --- Introduction: Life Cycle Management --- Life Cycle Management: Implementing Sustainability in Business Practice --- Life Cycle Management as a Way to Operationalize Sustainability Within Organizations --- How to Implement Life Cycle Management in Business? --- Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Tool for Exercising due Diligence in Life Cycle Management --- Life Cycle Management: Labeling, Declarations and Certifications at the Product Level —Different Approaches --- Mainstreaming the Use of Life Cycle Management in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Using a Sector Based and Regional Approach --- Part II: Advancing the Implementation of Life Cycle Management in Business Practice --- From Projects to Processes to Implement Life Cycle Management in Business --- How to Make the LCA Team a Business Partner --- Sustainability Improvements and Life Cycle Approaches in Industry Partnerships --- Sustainable Value Creation with Life Cycle Management --- Part III: Life Cycle Management as Part of Sustainable Consumption and Production Strategies and Policies --- Hotspots Analysis: Providing the Focus for Action --- From Sustainable Production to Sustainable Consumption.-Life Cycle Management Responsibilities and Procedures in the Value Chain --- Policy Options for Life Cycle Assessment Deployment in Legislation --- Part IV: Mainstreaming and Capacity Building on Life Cycle Management --- Taking Life Cycle Management Mainstream: Integration in Corporate Finance and Accounting --- Building Organizational Capability for Life Cycle Management --- Promoting Life Cycle Thinking, Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Management Within Business in Brazil --- Mainstreaming Life Cycle Sustainability Management in Rapidly Growing and Emerging Economies Through Capacity-building.-Communication and Collaboration as Essential Elements for Mainstreaming Life Cycle Management.-Part V: Implementation and Case Studies of Life Cycle Management in Different Business and Industry Sector --- Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of Life Cycle Management in the Electricity Sector --- Life Cycle Management Applied to Urban Fabric Planning --- Implementing Life Cycle Engineering in Automotive Development as a Helpful Management Tool to Support Design for Environment --- Managing Life cycle Sustainability Aspects in the Automotive Industry --- Life Cycle Management as a Way to Operationalize the Creating Shared Value Concept in the Food and Beverage Industry: A Case Study

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction --- Distribution and Phylogeny of Ranaviruses --- Host-pathogen Ecology and Evolution --- Molecular Biology of Ranaviruses --- Immune Evasion and Host Immunity --- Pathology and Diagnostics --- Design and Analysis of Ranavirus Studies --- Global Ranavirus Consortium

Description / Table of Contents: Preface --- Part 1. Physiology of HDL --- Part 2. Pathology of HDL --- Part 3. Possible Indications and Target Mechanisms of HDL Therapy --- Part 4. Treatments for Dyslipidemias and Dysfunction of HDL

Description / Table of Contents: A Life in Peace Research --- Bibliography --- Time Differences and International Interaction --- Democracy and Peace --- The Treholt Case --- Armed Conflict and the Environment. Double-blind but More Transparent --- The Liberal Moment Fifteen Years on --- Whither the Weather? --- The Decline of War – The Main Issues --- The IPCC, Conflict, and Human Security

Description / Table of Contents: Part I  - The Theory of Rewilding --- 1. Rewilding Abandoned Landscapes in Europe --- 2. European Wilderness in a Time of Farmland Abandonment --- 3. Ecosystem Services: the Opportunities of Rewilding in Europe --- Part II - Rewilding and Biodiversity --- 4. Bringing Large Mammals Back: Large Carnivores in Europe --- 5. Top Scavengers in a Wilder Europe --- 6. Rewilding: Pitfalls and Opportunities for Moths and Butterflies --- 7. Vegetation Restoration and Other Actions to Enhance Wildlife in European Agricultural Landscapes --- 8. Maintaining Disturbance-dependent Habitats.- Part III - Rewillding in Practice --- 9. Rewilding Europe: A New Strategy for an Old Continent --- 10. Preparing a New Generation of Wilderness Entrepreneurs --- 11. Towards a European Policy for Rewilding --- Index

Description / Table of Contents: Part I: Introducing Life Cycle Management --- Introduction: Life Cycle Management --- Life Cycle Management: Implementing Sustainability in Business Practice --- Life Cycle Management as a Way to Operationalize Sustainability Within Organizations --- How to Implement Life Cycle Management in Business? --- Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Tool for Exercising due Diligence in Life Cycle Management --- Life Cycle Management: Labeling, Declarations and Certifications at the Product Level —Different Approaches --- Mainstreaming the Use of Life Cycle Management in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Using a Sector Based and Regional Approach --- Part II: Advancing the Implementation of Life Cycle Management in Business Practice --- From Projects to Processes to Implement Life Cycle Management in Business --- How to Make the LCA Team a Business Partner --- Sustainability Improvements and Life Cycle Approaches in Industry Partnerships --- Sustainable Value Creation with Life Cycle Management --- Part III: Life Cycle Management as Part of Sustainable Consumption and Production Strategies and Policies --- Hotspots Analysis: Providing the Focus for Action --- From Sustainable Production to Sustainable Consumption.-Life Cycle Management Responsibilities and Procedures in the Value Chain --- Policy Options for Life Cycle Assessment Deployment in Legislation --- Part IV: Mainstreaming and Capacity Building on Life Cycle Management --- Taking Life Cycle Management Mainstream: Integration in Corporate Finance and Accounting --- Building Organizational Capability for Life Cycle Management --- Promoting Life Cycle Thinking, Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Management Within Business in Brazil --- Mainstreaming Life Cycle Sustainability Management in Rapidly Growing and Emerging Economies Through Capacity-building.-Communication and Collaboration as Essential Elements for Mainstreaming Life Cycle Management.-Part V: Implementation and Case Studies of Life Cycle Management in Different Business and Industry Sector --- Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of Life Cycle Management in the Electricity Sector --- Life Cycle Management Applied to Urban Fabric Planning --- Implementing Life Cycle Engineering in Automotive Development as a Helpful Management Tool to Support Design for Environment --- Managing Life cycle Sustainability Aspects in the Automotive Industry --- Life Cycle Management as a Way to Operationalize the Creating Shared Value Concept in the Food and Beverage Industry: A Case Study

Description / Table of Contents: The CleanEra project was initiated with the goal of developing revolutionary ideas for civil aviation. These ideas were to offer solutions which would limit and reduce some of the negative aspects of aviation, namely: emissions and the use of resources. This book presents you with the highlights of this journey in search of new technologies for a revolutionary aircraft; an aircraft that not only offers a future of comfortable air travel for the passenger, but a future of sustainable aviation for the planet as well.

Description / Table of Contents: A series of reforms have greatly improved the efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance of the Chinese power sector. However, significant challenges remain: rapidly rising electricity demand, concerns about power system reliability and energy security, environmental degradation and climate change. China’s government explicitly set up the goal of accelerating the development of so-called smart grids which might help to overcome the challenges mentioned above.  Yet, considerable difficulties exist in adjusting the regulatory environment of China’s electric power system to enable an effective and efficient development of smart grids in China. Based on a detailed analysis of the Chinese and the German power system and regulatory environment as well as international experience, seven recommendations to promote smart grid development in China have been developed. The recommendations relate to a broad range of regulatory topics. In order to give an impression of how policy goal prioritization influences the timeline in which the recommendations should be implemented, the study outlines possible regulatory pathways for three specific energy policy goals. These roadmaps are intended to serve as blueprints for policy makers, who have to decide about proper regulation based on the individual Chinese prioritization of energy policy.    The content: ·         Detailed overviews of the existing electric power system, the envisaged development of smart grids, and the regulatory environment in China and Germany ·         Recommended approaches for smart grid development in China ·         Regulatory pathways for smart grid development in China    Editors: ►           Prof. Dr. Gert BRUNEKREEFT, Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH ►           Dr. Till LUHMANN, BTC Business Technology Consulting AG ►           Dr. Tobias MENZ, BTC Business Technology Consulting AG ►           Dr. Sven-Uwe MÜLLER, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH ►           Paul RECKNAGEL, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH

Description / Table of Contents: The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project: Phase I Activities by a Global Community of Science (Cynthia Rosenzweig, James W Jones, Jerry L Hatfield, John M Antle, Alexander C Ruane, and Carolyn Z Mutter) --- AgMIP's Transdisciplinary Agricultural Systems Approach to Regional Integrated Assessment of Climate Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation (John M Antle, Roberto O Valdivia, Kenneth J Boote, Sander Janssen, James W Jones, Cheryl H Porter, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Alexander C Ruane, and Peter J Thorburn) --- AgMIP Climate Data and Scenarios for Integrated Assessment (Alexander C Ruane, Jonathan M Winter, Sonali P McDermid, and Nicholas I Hudson) --- Cropping Systems Modeling in AgMIP: A New Protocol-Driven Approach for Regional Integrated Assessments (Peter J Thorburn, Kenneth J Boote, John N G Hargreaves, Perry L Poulton, and James W Jones) --- Representative Agricultural Pathways and Scenarios for Regional Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation (Roberto O Valdivia, John M Antle, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Alexander C Ruane, Joost Vervoort, Muhammad Ashfaq, Ibrahima Hathie, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Richard Mulwa, Charles Nhemachena, Paramasivam Ponnusamy, Herath Rasnayaka, and Harbir Singh) --- Data Interoperability Tools for Regional Integrated Assessments (Cheryl H Porter, Chris Villalobos, Dean Holzworth, Roger Nelson, Jefffrey W White, Ioannis N Athanasiadis, Meng Zhang, Sander Janssen, Rob Knapen, James W Jones, Kenneth J Boote, John Hargreaves, and John M Antle) --- The AgMIP GRIDded Crop Modeling Initiative (AgGRID) and the Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison (GGCMI) (Joshua Elliott and Christoph Müller) --- The AgMIP Coordinated Climate-Crop Modeling Project (C3MP): Methods and Protocols (Sonali P McDermid, Alexander C Ruane, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Nicholas I Hudson, Monica D Morales, Prabodha Agalawatte, Shakeel Ahmad, L R Ahuja, Istiqlal Amien, Saseendran S Anapalli, Jakarat Anothai, Senthold Asseng, Jody Biggs, Federico Bert, Patrick Bertuzzi, Virender S Bhatia, Marco Bindi, Ian Broad, Davide Cammarano, Ramiro Carretero, Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha, Uran Chung, Stephanie Debats, Paola Deligios, Giacomo De Sanctis, Thanda Dhliwayo, Benjamin Dumont, Lyndon Estes, Frank Ewert, Roberto Ferrise, Thomas Gaiser, Guillermo Garcia, Sika Gbegbelegbe, Vellingiri Geethalakshmi, Edward Gerardeaux, Richard Goldberg, Brian Grant, Edgardo Guevara, Jonathan Hickman, Holger Hoffmann, Huanping Huang, Jamshad Hussain, Flavio Barbosa Justino, Asha S Karunaratne, Ann-Kristin Koehler, Patrice K Kouakou, Soora Naresh Kumar, Arunachalam Lakshmanan, Mark Lieffering, Xiaomao Lin, Qunying Luo, Graciela Magrin, Marco Mancini, Fabio Ricardo Marin, Anna Dalla Marta, Yuji Masutomi, Theodoros Mavromatis, Greg McLean, Santiago Meira, Monoranjan Mohanty, Marco Moriondo, Wajid Nasim, Lamyaa Negm, Francesca Orlando, Simone Orlandini, Isik Ozturk, Helena Maria Soares Pinto, Guillermo Podesta, Zhiming Qi, Johanna Ramarohetra, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Helene Raynal, Gabriel Rodriguez, Reimund Rötter, Vaishali Sharda, Lu Shuo, Ward Smith, Val Snow, Afshin Soltani, K Srinivas, Benjamin Sultan, Dillip Kumar Swain, Fulu Tao, Kindie Tesfaye, Maria I Travasso, Giacomo Trombi, Alex Topaj, Eline Vanuytrecht, Federico E Viscarra, Syed Aftab Wajid, Enli Wang, Hong Wang, Jing Wang, Erandika Wijekoon, Lee Byun-Woo, Yang Xiaoguang, Ban Ho Young, Jin I Yun, Zhigan Zhao, and Lareef Zubair) --- Uncertainty in Agricultural Impact Assessment (Daniel Wallach, Linda O Mearns, Michael Rivington, John M Antle, and Alexander C Ruane) --- Uncertainties in Scaling-Up Crop Models for Large-Area Climate Change Impact Assessments (Frank Ewert, Lenny G J van Bussel, Gang Zhao, Holger Hoffmann, Thomas Gaiser, Xenia Specka, Claas Nendel, Kurt-Christian Kersebaum, Carmen Sosa, Elisabet Lewan, Jagadeesh Yeluripati, Matthias Kuhnert, Fulu Tao, Reimund Rötter, Julie Constantin, Helene Raynal, Daniel Wallach, Edmar Teixeira, Balasz Grosz, Michaela Bach, Luca Doro, Pier Paolo Roggero, Zhigan Zhao, Enli Wang, Ralf Kiese, Edwin Haas, Henrik Eckersten, Giacomo Trombi, Marco Bindi, Christian Klein, Christian Biernath, Florian Heinlein, Eckart Priesack, Davide Cammarano, Senthold Asseng, Joshua Elliott, Michael Glotter, Bruno Basso, Guillermo A Baigorria, Consuelo C Romero, and Marco Moriondo) --- Statistical Analysis of Large Simulated Yield Datasets for Studying Climate Change Effects (David Makowski, Senthold Asseng, Frank Ewert, Simona Bassu, Jean-Louis Durand, Pierre Martre, Myriam Adam, Pramod K Aggarwal, Carlos Angulo, Christian Baron, Bruno Basso, Patrick Bertuzzi, Christian Biernath, Hendrik Boogaard, Kenneth J Boote, Nadine Brisson, Davide Cammarano, Andrew J Challinor, Sjakk J G Conijn, Marc Corbeels, Delphine Deryng, Giacomo De Sanctis, Jordi Doltra, Sebastian Gayler, Richard Goldberg, Patricio Grassini, Jerry L Hatfield, Lee Heng, Steven Hoek, Josh Hooker, Tony L A Hunt, Joachim Ingwersen, Cesar Izaurralde, Raymond E E Jongschaap, James W Jones, Armen R Kemanian, Christian Kersebaum, Soo-Hyung Kim, Jon Lizaso, Christoph Müller, Naresh S Kumar, Claas Nendel, Garry J O'Leary, Jorgen E Olesen, Tom M Osborne, Taru Palosuo, Maria V Pravia, Eckart Priesack, Dominique Ripoche, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Alexander C Ruane, Fredirico Sau, Mickhail A Semenov, Iurii Shcherbak, Pasquale Steduto, Claudio Stöckle, Pierre Stratonovitch, Thilo Streck, Iwan Supit, Fulu Tao, Edmar I Teixeira, Peter Thorburn, Denis Timlin, Maria Travasso, Reimund Rötter, Katharina Waha, Daniel Wallach, Jeffrey W White, Jimmy R Williams, and Joost Wolf) --- Crop Diseases and Climate Change in the AgMIP Framework (Ariena H C van Bruggen, James W Jones, Jose Mauricio C Fernandes, Karen Garrett, and Kenneth J Boote) --- Perspectives on Climate Effects on Agriculture: The International Efforts of AgMIP in Sub-Saharan Africa (Job Kihara, Dilys S MacCarthy, Andre Bationo, Saidou Koala, Jonathan Hickman, Jawoo Koo, Charles Vanya, Samuel Adiku, Yacob Beletse, Patricia Masikate, Karuturi P C Rao, Carolyn Z Mutter, Cynthia Rosenzweig, and James W Jones) --- Climate Change Impacts on West African Agriculture: An Integrated Regional Assessment (CIWARA) (Samuel G K Adiku, Dilys S MacCarthy, Ibrahima Hathie, Madina Diancoumba, Bright S Freduah, Joseph Amikuzuno, P C Sibiry Traore, Seydou Traore, Eric Koomson, Alhassane Agali, Jon I Lizaso, Dougbedji Fatondji, Myriam Adams, Lodoun Tigana, Daouda Z Diarra, Ousmane N'diaye, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Agricultural Systems in East Africa (Karuturi P C Rao, Gummadi Sridhar, Richard M Mulwa, Mary N Kilavi, Anthony Esilaba, Ioannis N Athanasiadis, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Projected Impacts of Climate Change Scenarios on the Production of Maize in Southern Africa: An Integrated Assessment Case Study of the Bethlehem District, Central Free State, South Africa (Yacob G Beletse, Wiltrud Durand, Charles Nhemachena, Olivier Crespo, Weldemichael A Tesfuhuney, Matthew R Jones, Mogos Y Teweldemedhin, Sunshine M Gamedze, Pontsho M Bonolo, Syanda Jonas, SueWalker, Patrick Gwimbi, Thembeka N Mpuisang, Davide Cammarano, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Crop-Livestock Intensification in the Face of Climate Change: Exploring Opportunities to Reduce Risk and Increase Resilience in Southern Africa by Using an Integrated Multi-modeling Approach (Patricia Masikati, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Katrien Descheemaeker, Olivier Crespo, Sue Walker, Christopher J Lennard, Lieven Claessens, Arthur C Gama, Sebastiao Famba, Andre F van Rooyen, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Integrated Assessments of the Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture: An Overview of AgMIP Regional Research in South Asia (Sonali P McDermid, Guntuku Dileepkumar, K M Dakshina Murthy, S Nedumaran, Piara Singh, Chukka Srinivasa, B Gangwar, N Subash, Ashfaq Ahmad, Lareef Zubair, and S P Nissanka) --- Impact of Climate Change on the Rice–Wheat Cropping System of Pakistan (Ashfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Ashfaq, Ghulam Rasul, Syed Aftab Wajid, Tasneem Khaliq, Fahd Rasul, Umer Saeed, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Jamshad Hussain, Irfan Ahmad Baig, Syed Asif Ali Naqvi, Syed Ahsan Ali Bokhari, Shakeel Ahmad, Wajid Naseem, Gerrit Hoogenboom, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Integrated Climate Change Assessment through Linking Crop Simulation with Economic Modeling — Results from the Indo-Gangetic Basin (Nataraja Subash, Babooji Gangwar, Harbir Singh, Guillermo Baigorria, Alok Kumar Sikka, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Maize Farms and Farm Household Incomes in South India: A Case Study from Tamil Nadu (Paramasivam Ponnusamy, Geethalakshmi Vellingiri, Raji Reddy Danda, Lakshmanan Arunachalam, Dakshina Murthy, Sunandini Prema, Sreenivas Gade, Sonali P McDermid, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Climate Change Impacts on Rice Farming Systems in Northwestern Sri Lanka (Lareef Zubair, Sarath P Nissanka, W M W Weerakoon, Dumindu I Herath, Asha S Karunaratne, A S M Prabodha, M B Agalawatte, Rasnayaka M Herath, S Zeenas Yahiya, B V R Punyawardene, Janan Vishwanathan, Punya Delpitiya, A Erandika N Wijekoon, Janaka Gunaratna, Sewwandhi S K Chandrasekara, P Wickramagamage, K D N Weerasinghe, Champa M Navaratne, Ruchika S Perera, Asela I Gunesekara, G M Pradeep Kumara, Daniel Wallach, Roberto O Valdivia, and Sonali P McDermid) --- AgMIP Regional Activities in a Global Framework: The Brazil Experience (Eduardo D Assad, Fábio R Marin, Roberto O Valdivia, and Cynthia Rosenzweig) --- AgMIP Regional Activities in a Global Framework: The China Experience (Fulu Tao and Erda Lin) --- AgMIP Training in Multiple Crop Models and Tools (Kenneth J Boote, Cheryl H Porter, John Hargreaves, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Peter Thorburn, and Carolyn Mutter) --- Major Findings and Future Activities (Cynthia Rosenzweig and Daniel Hillel)

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Problem of Residue Management due to Rice Wheat Crop Rotation in Punjab --- Chapter 2: The Extent and Management of Crop Stubble --- Chapter 3: Valuation of the Health Impact --- Chapter 4: Alternative Uses of Crop Stubble --- Chapter 5: Environment Legislation in India as a Whole and in the State of Punjab --- Chapter 6: Policies for Restricting the Agriculture Residue Burning in Punjab --- Chapter 7: Concluding Remarks and Policy Implications --- References --- Annexure

Description / Table of Contents: This book covers essential aspects of transmutation technologies, highlighting especially the advances in Japan. The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has caused us to focus attention on a large amount of spent nuclear fuels stored in NPPs. In addition, public anxiety regarding the treatment and disposal of high-level radioactive wastes that require long-term control is growing. The Japanese policy on the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle is still unpredictable in the aftermath of the accident. Therefore, research and development for enhancing the safety of various processes involved in nuclear energy production are being actively pursued worldwide. In particular, nuclear transmutation technology has been drawing significant attention after the accident. This publication is timely with the following highlights: 1) Development of accelerator-driven systems (ADSs), which is a brand-new reactor concept for transmutation of highly radioactive wastes; 2) Nuclear reactor systems from the point of view of the nuclear fuel cycle. How to reduce nuclear wastes or how to treat them including the debris from TEPCO’s Fukushima nuclear power stations is discussed; and 3) Environmental radioactivity, radioactive waste treatment, and geological disposal policy. State-of-the-art technologies for overall back-end issues of the nuclear fuel cycle as well as the technologies of transmutation are presented here. The chapter authors are actively involved in the development of ADSs and transmutation-related technologies. The future of the back-end issues in Japan is very uncertain after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, and this book provides an opportunity for readers to consider the future direction of those issues

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction --- Health and Safety Considerations --- Sample Collection and Storage --- Low-Cost DNA Extraction --- PCR Amplification for Low-Cost Mutation Discovery --- Enzymatic Mismatch Cleavage and Agarose Gel Evaluation of Samples --- Alternative Enzymology for Mismatch Cleavage for TILLING and Ecotilling: Extraction of Enzymes form Common Weedy Plants --- Example Data --- Conclusions.  

Description / Table of Contents: Part I The Road to Reconstruction from the Tsunami and Radioactive Contamination: Two and a Half Years On --- 1 Dealing with Disasters of Unprecedented Magnitude: The Local Government’s Tribulations and the Road to Reconstruction (Hidekiyo Tachiya) --- 2 Tokyo University of Agriculture East Japan Assistance Project Assisting with Reconstruction: Guiding Principles, Planning, and Propagation of Benefits (Toshiyuki Monma) --- 3 Characteristics of the Agricultural and Forestry Industries in the Soma Area and Damage Sustained as a Result of the Great East Japan Earthquake (Takahiro Yamada, Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, and Toshiyuki Monma) --- Part II Reconstruction from Tsunami Damage --- 4 Reconstruction Support for the Farmland Struck by Tsunami (Itsuo Goto and Kaisei Inagaki) --- 5 Tsunami Damage to Farming Operations and the New Generation of Farmers and Farm Management (Yukio Shibuya, Takahiro Yamada, Nyamkhuu Batdelger, Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, Gentaro Suzumura, and Toshiyuki Monma) --- 6 Presenting a Model for Revival of Rural Communities in Japan’s Disaster Zones (Shigeyuki Miyabayashi, Yasushi Takeuchi, Hiromu Okazawa, Tomonori Fujikawa, and Yutaka Sasaki) --- 7 Contributing to Restoration of Tidal Flats in Miyagi Prefecture’s Moune Bay Following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (Susumu Chiba, Takeshi Sonoda, Makoto Hatakeyama, and Katsuhide Yokoyama) --- Part III Reconstruction from Radioactive Contamination --- 8 Initiatives by the Soil Fertilization Team to Develop Agricultural Technologies for Paddy Fields with Radioactive Contamination (Itsuo Goto and Kaisei Inagaki) --- 9 The Potential for Producing Rice for Feed and Whole Crop Rice Silage in Radiation-Contaminated Areas (Seiji Nobuoka) --- 10 Developing and Trialing a System to Monitor Radionuclide in Individual Plots of Farmland to Help Reconstruction Farming in Contaminated Areas (Toshiyuki Monma, Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, Youichi Kawano, Dambii Byambasuren, Yuta Ono, and Quar Evine) --- 11 New Decontamination Methods for Parks and Other Areas in Which Radionuclide Have Accumulated (Mitsuo Kondo and Chizuko Mizuniwa) --- 12 Forest Restoration (Takahisa Hayashi) --- 13 Nuclear Radiation Levels in the Forest at Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture (Iwao Uehara, Tomoko Seyama, Fumio Eguchi, Ryuichi Tachibana, Yukito Nakamura, and Hiroya Obayashi ) --- 14 Radioactive Contamination of Ostriches in a Potentially Permanent Evacuation Zone (Hiroshi Ogawa, Hidehiko Uchiyama, Koji Masuda, Takeshi Sasaki, Tadao Watanabe, Toshiaki Tomizawa, and Schu Kawashima) --- 15 The Radioactive Contamination in Some Arthropod Species in Fukushima (Tarô Adati and Sota Tanaka) --- 16 A Consumer Survey Approach to Reputation-Based Damage Affecting Agricultural Products and How to Overcome It (Puangkaew Lurhathaiopath, Shizuka Matsumoto, Makoto Hoshi, Sayaka Yamaguchi, and Toshiyuki Monma) --- Part IV Activities and Impressions of Students and Farmers Who Supported the Project --- 17 Staking Recovery Hopes on Soma Revival Rice (Kaisei Inagaki, Tomoko Ninagi, Saburo Sasaki, and Akiko Sato) --- 18 Impression of the Students Participated in the Radioactivity Monitoring System of Farmland (Volodymyr Ganzha, Keiji Kanamori, Hana Fujimoto, and Ryo Itakura) --- 19 Impression of the Forestry managers and students participated in the Radioactivity Damage Investigation of Forests (Eihachi Horiuchi, Kiyoaki Sasaki, Masaaki Itakura, Chisato Yasukawa, and Chihiro Kinoshita)

Description / Table of Contents: 1. Supershear Earthquake Ruptures --- Theory, Methods, Laboratory Experiments and Fault Superhighways: An Update.- 2. Civil Protection Achievements and Critical Issues in Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research.- 3. Earthquake Risk Assessment: Certitudes, Fallacies, Uncertainties and the Quest for Soundness.- 4. Variability and Uncertainty in Empirical Ground-Motion Prediction for Probabilistic Hazard and Risk Analyses.- 5. Seismic Code Developments for Steel and Composite Structures.- 6. Seismic Analyses and Design of  Foundation Soil Structure Interaction.- 7. Performance-based Seismic Design and Assessment of Bridges.- 8. An Algorithm to Justify the Design of Single Story Precast Structures.- 9. Developments in Seismic Design of Tall Buildings: Preliminary Design of Coupled Core Wall Systems --- 10. Seismic Response of  Underground Lifeline Systems.- 11. Seismic Performance of Historical Masonry Structures Through Pushover and Nonlinear Dynamic Analyses.- 12. Developments in Ground Motion Predictive Models and Accelerometric Data Archiving in the Broader European Region --- 13. Towards the “Ultimate Earthquake-proof” Building: Development of an Integrated Low-damage System.- 14. Archive of Historical Earthquake Data for the European-Mediterranean Area --- 15. A Review and Some New Issues on the Theory of  the H/V Technique for Ambient Vibrations.- 16. Macroseismic Intervention Group: The Necessary Field Observation.- 17. Bridging the Gap Between Nonlinear Seismology as Reality and Earthquake Engineering --- 18. The Influence of Earthquake Magnitude on Hazard Related to Induced Seismicity.- 19. On the Origin of Mega-thrust Earthquakes.  

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction: concept of TAIGA --- Geochemical constraints on potential biomass sustained by subseafloor water-rock interactions --- Microbial cell densities, community structures, and growth in the hydrothermal plumes of subduction hydrothermal systems --- Systematics of distributions of various elements between ferromanganese oxides and seawater from natural observation, thermodynamics, and structures --- Evaluating hydrothermal system evolution using geochronological dating and biological diversity analyses --- Quantification of microbial communities in hydrothermal vent habitats of the Southern Mariana Trough and the Mid-Okinawa Trough --- Development of hydrothermal and frictional experimental systems to simulate sub-seafloor water–rock–microbe interactions --- Experimental hydrogen production in hydrothermal and fault systems: Significance for habitability of subseafloor H2 chemoautotroph microbial ecosystems --- Experimental assessment of microbial effects on chemical interaction between seafloor massive sulfides and seawater at 4℃ --- A compilation of the stable isotopic compositions of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in soft body parts of animals collected from deep-sea hydrothermal vent and methane seep fields: variations in energy source and importance of subsurface microbial processes in the sediment-hosted systems --- Tectonic background of four hydrothermal fields along the Central Indian Ridge --- Indian Ocean hydrothermal systems: seafloor hydrothermal activities, physical and chemical characteristics of hydrothermal fluids, and vent-associated biological communities --- Petrology and geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts from the southern Central Indian Ridge --- Petrology of peridotites and related gabbroic rocks around the Kairei-hydrothermal field in the Central Indian Ridge --- Distribution and Biogeochemical Properties of Hydrothermal Plumes in the Rodriguez Triple Junction --- Vent fauna in the Central Indian Ridge --- The mantle dynamics, the crustal formation, and the hydrothermal activity of the Southern Mariana Trough back-arc Basin --- Seismic structure and seismicity in the Southern Mariana Trough and their relation to hydrothermal activity --- Electrical resistivity structure of the Snail site at the Southern Mariana Trough spreading center --- Asymmetric seafloor spreading of the southern Mariana Trough back-arc basin --- Geochemical characteristics of active backarc basin volcanisms at the southern end of Mariana Trough --- Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal minerals collected from hydrothermal vent fields in the Southern Mariana spreading center --- Dating of hydrothermal mineralization in active hydrothermal fields in the Southern Mariana Trough --- Intra-field variation of prokaryotic communities on and below the seafloor in the back-arc hydrothermal system of the Southern Mariana Trough --- Vent fauna in the Mariana Trough --- Population history of a hydrothermal vent-endemic snail Alviniconcha hessleri in the Mariana Trough --- Hydrothermal activity in the Okinawa Trough backarc basin -geological background and hydrothermal mineralization- --- Active rifting structures in Iheya Graben and adjacent area of the mid-Okinawa Trough observed through seismic reflection surveys --- ESR dating of barite in sea-floor hydrothermal sulfide deposits in the Okinawa Trough --- Fluid geochemistry of high-temperature hydrothermal fields in the Okinawa Trough --- Sediment‒pore water system associated with native sulfur formation at Jade hydrothermal field in Okinawa Trough --- Comparative investigation of microbial communities associated with hydrothermal activities in the Okinawa Trough --- In situ determination of bacterial growth in mixing zone of hydrothermal vent field on the Hatoma Knoll, Southern Okinawa Trough --- Vent Fauna in the Okinawa Trough --- Brief report of side-scan sonar observations around the Yokoniwa NTO massif --- Examination of volcanic activity: AUV and submersible observations of fine-scale lava flow distributions along the Southern Mariana Trough spreading axis --- Brief report of side-scan sonar imagery observations of the Archaean, Pika, and Urashima hydrothermal sites --- The Yoron Hole: the shallowest hydrothermal site in the Okinawa Trough --- The Irabu Knoll: Hydrothermal site at the eastern edge of the Yaeyama Graben --- Tarama Knoll: Geochemical and biological profiles of hydrothermal activity --- Petrography and geochemistry of basement rocks drilled from Snail, Yamanaka, Archean, and Pika hydrothermal fields at the Southern Mariana Trough by Benthic Multi-coring System (BMS) --- Pore fluid chemistry beneath active hydrothermal fields in the mid-Okinawa Trough: Results of shallow drilling by BMS during TAIGA11 cruise --- The characteristics of the seafloor massive sulfide deposits at the Hakurei Site in the Izena Hole, the Middle Okinawa Trough --- Occurrence of hydrothermal alteration minerals at the Jade hydrothermal field, in the Izena Hole, mid-Okinawa Trough --- Geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids collected from active hydrothermal systems in the southern Mariana Trough backarc spreading center --- Gamma ray doses in water around sea floor hydrothermal area in South Mariana --- 226Ra-210Pb and 228Ra-228Th dating of barite in submarine hydrothermal sulfide deposits collected at Okinawa Trough and South Mariana Trough --- OSL dating of sea floor sediments at the Okinawa Trough --- Immediate change of radiation doses from hydrothermal deposits --- Periodic behavior of deep sea current in the Hatoma Knoll hydrothermal system --- The gelatinous macroplankton community at the Hatoma Knoll hydrothermal vent

Description / Table of Contents: Depuis le début des années 2000, l’insuffisance des efforts politiques pour réduire drastiquement les émissions globales de gaz à effet de serre a conduit au renforcement d’un discours sur la nécessité de s’adapter au changement climatique. Particulièrement dans les régions vulnérables aux effets du changement climatique, une transformation des politiques de gestion de l’environnement apparaît comme nécessaire afin de réduire les risques et d’exploiter les nouvelles opportunités découlant du changement climatique et de ses im-pacts. Or, si les analystes constatent un développement des activités d’adaptation au changement climatique, peu de travaux interrogent l’efficacité réelle des mesures actuelles et leurs éventuelles limites. Cet ouvrage tente de combler cette lacune en déconstruisant la notion d’adaptation au changement climatique et en interrogeant sa signification réelle pour la conduite des politiques à incidence environnementale. Il exa-mine de manière théorique en quoi l’adaptation au changement climatique nécessiterait des réformes de l’action publique. Puis, il examine l’état des pratiques actuelles au travers d’études de cas dans le secteur agricole en Inde (Rajasthan et Maharashtra) et dans le secteur du tourisme hivernal en Suisse (Alpes vaudoises et vallée de Joux). Sur la base de cette incursion théorique et empirique dans l’univers de ces nouvelles politiques de gestion de l’environnement, l’auteur discute des limitations observées et suggère des voies d’amélioration pour le futur.

Description / Table of Contents: Foreword --- Preface --- Part 1 A brief history of marine litter research --- Part 2 Abiotic aspects of marine litter pollution --- Global distribution, composition and abundance of marine litter --- Persistence of plastic litter in the oceans --- Part 3 Biological implications of marine litter --- Deleterious effects of litter on marine life --- The complex mixture, fate and toxicity of chemicals associated with plastic debris in the marine environment --- Marine litter as habitat and dispersal vector --- Part 4 Micro plastics --- Micro plastics in the marine environment: sources, consequences and solutions --- Methodology used for the detection and identification of micro plastics – a critical appraisal --- Sources and pathways of micro plastics to habitats --- Micro plastics in the marine environment: distribution, interactions and effects --- Modeling the role of micro plastics in bioaccumulation of organic chemicals to marine aquatic organisms. A critical review --- Nano plastics in the aquatic environment. Critical review --- Part 5 Socio-economic implications of marine anthropogenic litter --- Micro and nano-plastics and human health --- The economics of marine litter --- Regulation and management of marine litter --- Marine litter and the contribution of citizen science

Description / Table of Contents: This book discusses the common principles of morality and ethics derived from divinely endowed intuitive reason through the creation of al-fitr' a (nature) and human intellect (al-‘aql). Biomedical topics are presented and ethical issues related to topics such as genetic testing, assisted reproduction and organ transplantation are discussed. Whereas these natural sources are God’s special gifts to human beings, God’s revelation as given to the prophets is the supernatural source of divine guidance through which human communities have been guided at all times through history. The second part of the book concentrates on the objectives of Islamic religious practice – the maqa' sid – which include: Preservation of Faith, Preservation of Life, Preservation of Mind (intellect and reason), Preservation of Progeny (al-nasl) and Preservation of Property. Lastly, the third part of the book discusses selected topical issues, including abortion, assisted reproduction devices, genetics, organ transplantation, brain death and end-of-life aspects. For each topic, the current medical evidence is followed by a detailed discussion of the ethical issues involved

Description / Table of Contents: Part I Basic Research for Innovative Medicine --- 1. Diverting Glycolysis to Combat Oxidative Stress --- 2. Metabolic Regulation by Nuclear Receptors --- 3. Fighting Fire with Fire in Cancer --- 4. Linear Polyubiquitination: a Crucial Regulator of NF-kB Activation --- 5. VCP, a major ATPase in the cells, as a novel drug target for currently incurable disorders --- 6. Roles of E-cadherin in hepatocarcinogenesis --- 7. The Hippo Signaling Pathway: A Candidate New Drug Target for Malignant Tumors --- 8. Inhibitory immunoreceptors on mast cells in allergy and inflammation --- 9. Doxycycline-inducible Autoimmune Blistering Skin Disease Model --- 10. T-cell Senescence and Autoimmunity --- Part II Translational Research for Innovative Medicine --- 11. IL-6: A new era for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases --- 12. Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Its Potential Therapeutic Strategies --- 13. Multifaceted translational approach of major mental illness --- 14. Translational research of leptin in lipodystrophy and its related diseases --- 15. Translational research of the activation of the C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)-guanylyl cyclase-B pathway for skeletal dysplasia --- 16. Clarity and Challenges in Tissue Fibrosis --- 17. TRP Channels: Their Function and Potentiality as Drug Targets --- 18. Autophagic Cell Death and Cancer Chemotherapeutics --- 19. Adrenomedullin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Refractory Ulcerative Colitis --- 20. RNA activation --- Part III New Technology for Innovative Medicine --- 21. Cardiac Reprogramming for Heart Repair --- 22. Development of a new in vivo optical probe for biological diagnosis and therapy --- 23. Introduction of mesenchymal stem cells for liver surgery (hepatectomy and transplantation) --- 24. Synaptic and axonal plasticity induction in the human cerebral cortex --- 25. TIM-3 is a novel therapeutic target for eradicating acute myelogenous leukemia stem cells --- 26. TGF-beta LAP degradation products, a novel biomarker and promising therapeutic target for liver fibrogenesis --- 27. Cell-based regenerative therapy for liver disease

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction --- Gastrointestinal digestion models, general introduction --- Static digestion models general introduction --- InfoGest consensus method --- Approaches to static digestion models --- Dynamic digestion models general introduction --- The TNO gastro-Intestinal Model (TIM) --- Dynamic Gastric Model (DGM) --- Human Gastric Simulator (Riddet model) --- The DIDGI® System --- General introduction to cells, cell lines and cell culture --- Epithelial cell models; General introduction --- Caco-2 cell line --- HT29 cell line --- The IPEC-J2 cell line --- Co-cultivation of Caco-2 and HT-29MT --- Innate and adaptive immune cells; General introduction --- THP-1 and U937 cells --- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells --- PBMC-derived T cells --- Dendritic Cells --- Co-culture Caco-2/ immune cells --- Enteroendocrine Cell Models: General introduction --- STC-1 cells --- NCI-H716 cells --- Murine GLUTag cells --- In vitro intestinal tissue models: General introduction --- Intestinal crypt organoids as experimental models --- Porcine ex vivo intestinal segment model --- Ussing chamber --- In vitro fermentation models: General Introduction --- One compartment fermentation model --- The TNO in vitro model of the colon - TIM-2 --- The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem – SHIME® --- The computer-controlled multicompartmental dynamic model of the gastrointestinal system SIMGI

Description / Table of Contents: Part I : Agro-Food Systems --- Food Security in the Southern Mediterranean/North Africa --- Sustainability in cereal crop production in Mediterranean environments --- Innovative crop productions for healthy foods: the case of Chia --- The hidden costs of livestock environmental sustainability: the case of Podolian cattle --- Feeding, nutrition and sustainability in dairy enterprises: the case of Mediterranean buffaloes (bubalus bubalis) --- Sustainability of sheep and goat production systems --- The role of local sheep and goat breeds and their products as a tool for sustainability and safeguard of the Mediterranean environment --- Innovative use of jenny milk from sustainable rearing --- Sustainable agricultural practices in disease defence of traditional crops in Southern Italy: the case study of tomato cherry protected by Trichoderma harzianum T-22 against Cucumber mosaic virus --- Development of integrated disease control measures for the valorisation of traditional crops in Southern Italy: the case study of "Fagiolo di Sarconi" --- Fostering sustainable climate change adaptations: a case study of the Turkish Cypriot Community’s adoption of pomegranate farming --- The role of women in the sustainability of the wine industry through the analysis of case studies --- Part II : Natural Resource Systems and Environment --- The effects of climate change on the multifunctional role of Basilicata’s forests: the effects induced on yield and CO2 absorption --- Wildlife agriculture interactions, spatial analysis and trade-off between environmental sustainability and risk of economic damage --- The sustainability of non-renewable resources use at regional level: a case study on allocation of oil royalties --- Land use sector involvement in mitigation policies across carbon markets --- Evaluating the role of soil variability on potential groundwater pollution and recharge in a Mediterranean agricultural watershed --- Grazing and biodiversity conservation: highlights on a Nature 2000 network site --- Evaluation of native grasses for sustainable turfgrass in the bioclimatic Mediterranean Region.-Biodiversity of hypogeous fungi in Basilicata --- Part III: New technologies --- New technologies for the sustainable management and planning of rural land and environment --- Processing plants and technologies for a sustainable Mediterranean food chain --- Geophysical techniques for plant, soil and root research related to Satellite technologies to support the sustainability of agricultural production --- Electrolyzed water in the food industry as supporting of environmental sustainability

Description / Table of Contents: 1 Introduction: Overview of Our Research on Impacts of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on Fish and Fishing Grounds --- Part I Seawater and Plankton --- 2 134Cs and 137Cs in the Seawater Around Japan and in the North Pacific --- 3 Temporal Changes in 137Cs Concentration in Zooplankton and Seawater off the Joban–Sanriku Coast, and in Sendai Bay, After the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident --- Part II Sediments and Benthos --- 4 Three-Dimensional Distribution of Radiocesium in Sea Sediment Derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant --- 5 Radiocesium Concentrations in the Organic Fraction of Sea Sediments --- 6 Bottom Turbidity, Boundary Layer Dynamics, and Associated Transport of Suspended Particulate Materials off the Fukushima Coast --- 7 Investigation of Radiocesium Translation from Contaminated Sediment to Benthic Organisms --- Part III Marine Fish --- 8 Detection of 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs Released into the Atmosphere from FNPP in Small Epipelagic Fishes, Japanese Sardine and Japanese Anchovy, off the Kanto Area, Japan --- 9 Radiocesium Concentration of Small Epipelagic Fishes (Sardine and Japanese Anchovy) off the Kashima-Boso Area --- 10 Why Do the Radionuclide Concentrations of Pacific Cod Depend on the Body Size? --- 11 Radiocesium Contamination Histories of Japanese Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) After the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident --- Part IV Mechanisms of Severe Contamination in Fish --- 12 Evaluating the Probability of Catching Fat Greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) Highly Contaminated with Radiocesium off the Coast of Fukushima --- 13 Analysis of the Contamination Process of the Extremely Contaminated Fat Greenling by Fukushima-Derived Radioactive Material --- 14 Contamination Levels of Radioactive Cesium in Fat Greenling Caught at the Main Port of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant --- Part V Freshwater Systems --- 15 Comparison of Radioactive Cesium Contamination of Lake Water, Bottom Sediment, Plankton, and Freshwater Fish Among Lakes of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, After the Fukushima Fallout --- 16 Radiocesium Concentrations and Body Size of Freshwater Fish in Lake Hayama 1 Year After the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident --- 17 Spatiotemporal Monitoring of 134Cs and 137Cs in Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, a Microalgae-Grazing Fish, and in Their Freshwater Habitats in Fukushima --- 18 Radiocesium Concentrations in the Muscle and Eggs of Salmonids from Lake Chuzenji, Japan, After the Fukushima Fallout --- 19 Assessment of Radiocesium Accumulation by Hatchery-Reared Salmonids After the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction --- Selection of Plants that Demonstrated Nitrate Removal Characteristics --- Inspection and Maintenance Guidelines

Description / Table of Contents: Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: protection, management and climate change --- Synergies and Conflicts between Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000: Legal requirements, technical guidance and experiences from practice --- Can Natura 2000 Sites Benefit from River Basin Management Planning Under a Changing Climate? Lessons from Germany --- Do water management and climate-adapted management of wetlands interfere in practice? Lessons from the Biebrza Valley, Poland --- Wetlands in river valleys as an effect of fluvial processes and anthropopression --- New vision of the role of land reclamation systems in nature protection and water management

Description / Table of Contents: Long-term Climate Change: Climatic Change during the Holocene (Past 12,000 Years) --- The Historical Timeframe (Past 1000 Years) --- Recent Climate Change (Past 200 years): Recent Change – Atmosphere --- Recent Change – River Runoff --- Recent Change – Terrestrial Cryosphere --- Recent Change – Marine Circulation and Stratification --- Recent Change – Sea Ice --- Recent Change – Sea Level and Wind Waves --- Future Climate Change: Projected Change – Models and Methodology --- Projected Change – Atmosphere --- Projected Change – Hydrology --- Projected Change – Marine Physics --- Projected Change – Sea Level --- Environmental Impacts of Climate Change: Environmental Impacts – Atmospheric Chemistry --- Environmental Impacts – Coastal Ecosystems, Birds and Forests --- Environmental Impacts – Freshwater Biogeochemistry --- Environmental Impacts – Marine Biogeochemistry --- Environmental Impacts – Marine Ecosystems --- Environmental Impacts – Coastal Erosion and Changing Coastlines --- Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change: Socio-Economic Impacts – Forestry and Agriculture --- Socio-Economic Impacts – Urban Settlements --- Drivers of Regional Climate Change: Evidence of Warming --- Regional Change Drivers – Aerosols --- Regional Change Drivers – Land Cover