Books on the topic 'GT SYSTEM'

<p>The seismic resilience of new and existing structures is a key priority for the protection of human lives and the reduction of economic losses in earthquake prone areas. The modern seismic codes have focused on the upgrade of the structural performance of the new and existing structures. However, in many cases it is preferrable to mitigate the effects of the earthquakes by reducing the induced loads in the structures using seismic isolation and response control devices. The limited expertise in the selection and design of the appropriate system for new and existing structures is the main challenge for an extensive use of seismic isolation and response control systems in practice.</p> <p>This document aims to provide a practical guide by presenting a collection of the most commonly used seismic isolation and response control systems and a critical evaluation of the main characteristics of these systems. Comparisons of the key parameters of the design processes for new buildings with seismic isolation are presented, while the application of seismic isolation systems and response control systems for the retrofitting of existing structures is also examined, followed by various case studies from Greece, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Turkey.</p>

<p>Koror Babeldaob Bridge, also called Koror Babelthuap Bridge or simply Koror Bridge, connects the islands of Koror and Babeldaob in the Republic of Palau. The design of the bridge began in 1974 and was based on the prevailing AASHO Standard Specifications at that time and was supplemented by ACI and CEB-FIP design recommendations on an as-needed basis. When the Koror Bridge was opened to traffic in April 1977, it was the world's longest concrete girder span. A few years later, the bridge began to deflect more than had been anticipated. The owner commissioned a Japanese engineering firm in 1985 and then a US engineering firm in 1993 to conduct in-depth investigations of the structure. Both firms came to the same conclusion that the bridge was structurally safe and that the excessive deflection was an unexplainable phenomenon. Nevertheless, in order to improve the driving quality of the bridge deck, the owner decided to repair the bridge. The repair scheme made changes to the structural system and added a large amount of post-tensioning force to the bridge. Unfortunately, less than three months after the repair, late in the afternoon on 26 September, 1996,nineteen and a half years after it was opened to traffic, the bridge collapsed. Thereafter, most of the documents were sealed as a result of litigation between the various parties and the debris was cleared. For a long time, it was impossible to study the facts surrounding the bridge's collapse. Only recently, through continuous probing by a group of engineers, were these documents made accessible to researchers.</p>

<p>Any struoture in navigable waters constitutes a hazard to shipping and is itself vulnerable to damage or destruction in the event of vessel collision. Worldwide vessel traffic and the average size of vessels continue to lncrease. At the same time, ever more bridges crossing navigable waterways are being planned and constructed, sometimes with inadequate navigation clearance and/or lnadequate protection.<p> The objective of this publication is to provide information and guidelinesfor engineers charged with the planning and design of new bridges, navlgation channels, and prevention and protection measures. Lt offers advice on up­grading and retrofrtting existing bridges and navigation channels. And lt provides the means to evaluate the safety of bridges, vessels, persons and the environment. <p>After reviewing some basics o! navigatlon and vessel traffic, and consider­ing risk acceptance and collision risk, the publication examines vessel impact forces on bridges and proposes appropriate bridge design criteria. Prevention measures, such as regulations and management systems. And protectlon measures and systems are also described. Major international research projects have provided the analytical basis for the publication, including the development of vessel collision guide specifi­c-atrons for the Federal Highway Administration in the USA and the vessel colllsion design crrteria developed for the Great Bell Crossing in Oenmark. <p>Prepared by Ole Damgaard LARSEN, Chairman of the IABSE Working Group "Ship Collision with Bridges'', lhis 132 page publlcation is a must for any engineer dealing with structures in navigable waters.

<p>Since the dawn of civilization, timber has been a primary material for achieving great structural engineering feats. Yet during the late 19th century and most of the 20th century it lost currency as a preferred material for construction of large and tall multi-storey building superstructures. This Structural Engineering Document (SED) addresses a reawakening of interest in timber and timber-based products as primary con-struction materials for relatively tall, multi-storey buildings. Emphasis throughout is on holistically addressing various aspects of performance of complete systems, reflecting that major gaps in knowhow relate to design concepts rather than technical information about timber as a material. Special con-sideration is given to structural form, fire vulnerability, and durability aspects for attaining desired building performance over lifespans that can be centuries long.</p>

<p>Society expects that buildings and other structures are safe for the people who use them or who are near them. The failure of a building or structure is expected to be an extremely rare event. Thus, society implicitly relies on the expertise of the professionals involved in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the structures it uses.<p>Structural engineers devote all their effort to meeting society’s expectations effi ciently. Engineers and scientists work together to develop solutions to structural problems. Given that nothing is absolutely and eternally safe, the goal is to attain an acceptably small probability of failure for a structure, a facility, or a situation. Reliability analysis is part of the science and practice of engineering today, not only with respect to the safety of structures, but also for questions of serviceability and other requirements of technical systems that might be impacted by some probability.<p>The present volume takes a rather broad approach to safety and reliability in Structural Engineering. It treats the underlying concepts of safety, reliability and risk and introduces the reader in a fi rst chapter to the main concepts and strategies for dealing with hazards. The next chapter is devoted to the processing of data into information that is relevant for applying reliability theory. Two following chapters deal with the modelling of structures and with methods of reliability analysis. Another chapter focuses on problems related to establishing target reliabilities, assessing existing structures, and on effective strategies against human error. The last chapter presents an outlook to more advanced applications. The Appendix supports the application of the methods proposed and refers readers to a number of related computer programs.<p>This book is aimed at both students and practicing engineers. It presents the concepts and procedures of reliability analysis in a straightforward, understandable way, making use of simple examples, rather than extended theoretical discussion. It is hoped that this approach serves to advance the application of safety and reliability analysis in engineering practice.<p>The book is amended with a free access to an educational version of a Variables Processor computer program. FreeVaP can be downloaded free of charge and supports the understanding of the subjects treated in this book.

The material presented in the monograph shows the possibilities of continuous teaching of mathematics at school, namely, the significant potential of modern information and communication technologies, with the help of which it is possible to form elements of stochastic culture among students. Continuity in learning is considered from two positions: procedural and educational-cognitive. In addition, a distinctive feature of the book is the presentation of the digital transformation of general education as a way to overcome the "new digital divide". Methodological features of promising digital technologies (within the framework of teaching students the elements of the probabilistic and statistical line) that contribute to overcoming the "new digital divide": artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, additive manufacturing, machine learning, blockchain, virtual and augmented reality are described. The solution of the main questions of probability theory and statistics in the 9th grade mathematics course is proposed to be carried out using a distance learning course built in the Moodle distance learning system. The content, structure and methodological features of the implementation of the stochastics course for students of grades 10-11 of a secondary school are based on the use of such tools in the educational process as an online calculator for plotting functions, the Wolfram Alpha service, Google Docs and Google Tables services, the Yaklass remote training, the Banktest website.<url>", interactive module "Galton Board", educational website "Mathematics at school". It will be interesting for students, undergraduates, postgraduates, mathematics teachers, as well as specialists improving their qualifications in the field of pedagogical education.

<p>Food production results from the activities of very complex national food systems. These systems are led by agriculture but comprise large and diverse industrial, distribution and trading activities that supply food to end consumers. These national systems are integrated through international trade into a powerful global food system that constitutes the main economic activity for 40% of the global population.</p><p>The global food system must be able to provide quality food in sufficient quantities and at reasonable prices to satisfy the needs and expectations of all consumers. One of the greatest challenges in our days is developing balanced food systems, capable of responding to the particular needs of individual countries and regions, as well as to the global needs of humanity.</p><p>An important first step in addressing this challenge was the Food Systems Summit convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in September 2021. On that occasion, the Western Hemisphere, in its role as the world’s major food exporter, had a significant participation in the deliberations and in building consensus, arguing in favor of designing rules and disciplines to improve international food trade.</p><p>This book attempts to make a modest contribution, from a Latin American perspective, to the discussion and consensus building processes for the development of a balanced and effective global food system.</p>

<b>Die Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion (WWU)</b> ist einer der Grundpfeiler der europäischen Integration. Seit dem 1. November 1999 nimmt die EU gegenüber den am Euroraum teilnehmenden Mitgliedstaaten die ausschließliche Zuständigkeit für die Währungspolitik wahr. Vorrangiges Ziel der Europäischen Zentralbank ist die Sicherung von hoher Preisniveaustabilität. Zugleich bestehen umfassende Verpflichtungen der Mitgliedstaaten im haushaltspolitischen Bereich, die in prozeduralen Vorgaben und inhaltlichen Beschränkungen der Staatsverschuldung zum Ausdruck kommen. Das bestehende System erfuhr durch die Finanz- und Schuldenkrise erhebliche Umgestaltungen, nicht zuletzt in Gestalt des Europäischen Stabilitätsmechanismus und der Europäischen Bankenunion. Die Corona Pandemie führte zu weiteren Neuerungen und ermöglichte der Union, sich erstmals umfassend selbst zu verschulden. <b>Das neue Handbuch</b> analysiert alle wichtigen <b>rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen </b>der WWU vor dem Hintergrund der Krisen und Reformen der letzten Jahre. Breiten Raum nehmen Darstellungen des aktuellen Rechtsrahmens zur Sicherung und Stabilisierung des Systems (<b>Autonomie der Haushaltspolitik, Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt, Fiskalvertrag, Europäischer Stabilitätsmechanismus</b>), der rechtlichen Anforderungen an die Geldpolitik der <b>EZB </b>und der <b>Bankenunion </b>ein. Es vereint Beiträge nicht von rechtswissenschaftlicher Seite, sondern auch aus Sicht des ökonomischen Schrifttums. <b>Schwerpunkte</b> Entwicklungsgeschichte der WWU System der WWU Gemeinwohlfunktionen der WWU, Marktwirtschaft und Systementscheidungen, Solidarität in der Eurozone Das Recht der Wirtschaftsunion: wirtschaftspolitische Koordinierung, Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt, Fiskalvertrag Staatsfinanzierung und Notfallmechanismen: Autonomieprinzip, Haushaltskontrolle und Europäischer Stabilitätsmechanismus, Emergency Liqudity Assistance Das Recht der Bankenunion: Europäische Bankenaufsicht, Bankenabwicklung und Einlagensicherung Das Recht der Währungsunion: ESZB, Mandat der EZB, Geldpolitik, Währungsrecht, Rechtsschutz <b>Die Autoren</b> Prof. Dr. Roland Broemel, M.Sc.; Prof. em. Dr. Thomas Eger; Dr. Ulrich Forsthoff; Dr. Alexander Friedrich; Prof. Dr. Ulrich Häde; Dr. Christian Heidfeld; Prof. Dr. Peter Hilpold; Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hufeld; Prof. Dr. Lars Hummel, LL.M.; Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Otmar Issing; Dr. Karen Kaiser; Prof. Dr. Ann-Katrin Kaufhold; Prof. Dr. Marcus Klamert, M.A.; Dr. Julian Langner; Prof. Dr. Florian Meinel; Dr. Christian Neumeier, LL.M. (Yale); Prof. Dr. Christoph Ohler, LL.M. (Brügge); Dr. Hannes Rathke, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. René Repasi; Prof. Dr. Heiko Sauer; Prof. Dr. Christian Seiler; Prof. Dr. Dr. Armin Steinbach, LL.M. (Brüssel); Prof. Dr. Henning Tappe; Prof. Dr. Alexander Thiele; Prof. Dr. Tobias Tröger, LL.M. (Harvard); Prof. em. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Wagener und Dr. Karl-Philipp Wojcik.

The <i>European Yearbook on Human Rights</i> brings together renowned scholars, emerging voices and practitioners, comprising contributions which engage with some of the most important human rights issues and developments in Europe. The <i>Yearbook</i> helps to better understand the rich landscape of the European regional human rights system and is intended to stimulate discussions, critical thinking and further research in this field.

<i>Excavations at Chester. Roman land division and a probable villa in the hinterland of Deva </i>reports on excavations carried out by Northern Archaeological Associates (NAA) at Saighton Camp – a former British Army training camp – located to the south of the Roman legionary fortress of Chester (Deva Victrix) which revealed important and extensive Roman period remains. Part of a high-status settlement of second- to fourth-century date, together with a regular field system laid out over more than 20 hectares, were encountered. <br><br> The excavated settlement appears to be an ancillary area to a much larger site, the centre of which lies to the south and is believed to be a villa. This is the closest such site to Chester, and villas are notably rare in the region. The field system was probably laid out by the legion at Deva as part of the <i>prata legionis</i>, agricultural lands they controlled around the fortress.

Definition 476Aetiology 476Therapy 480Complications 480Transplantation 484Liver support system 484Prognosis 485Acute liver failure (ALF) in children is defined as ‘a rare multisystem disorder in which severe impairment of liver function, with or without encephalopathy, occurs in association with hepatocellular necrosis in a patient with no recognized underlying chronic liver disease’. Liver function is considered severely impaired if prothrombin time (PT) is >15 s or international normalized ratio (INR) is >1.5 and not corrected by vitamin K, in the presence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) or a PT >20 s or INR >2.0 in the absence of HE....

<p>Here the author presents a series of photographs of Berlin’s extensive and impressive underground transport system (U-Bahn). This aesthetic documentary journey is accompanied by an essay that reflects on issues related to communication studies and the uses of new digital technologies: how they impact subjectivity and the perception of time and space, as well as interpersonal relationships.</p>

<b>Die Außenbeziehungen der EU</b> sind durch den Lissaboner Vertrag nicht nur institutionell verankert, sondern haben Brüssel auch zu einem Ernst zu nehmenden Akteur auf der internationalen Bühne werden lassen. Gleichzeitig sind, je nach Politikfeld, unterschiedlichste Arrangements von Kompetenzen, Organen und Handlungsformen entstanden, oft überlagert von supranationalem und intergouvernementalem Handeln. <b>Das Handbuch</b> lichtet das Dickicht, strukturiert das Recht der Außenbeziehungen der EU und macht so die unterschiedlichen juristischen Regelungen handhabbar. Themen wie Annexaußenkompetenzen, gemischte Abkommen, Hoher Vertreter, externe Demokratieförderung, Assoziierung, handelspolitische Schutzmaßnahmen, Währungsaußenpolitik, WTO-Recht, die neuen EU-Kompetenzen für ausländische Investitionen, Frontex oder GSVP-Missionen werden in ihren Zusammenhang gestellt und erläutert. <b>Die 2. Auflage</b>bringt alle Kapitel auf den neuesten Stand. Insbesondere sind die neuen Entwicklungen in den Bereichen der handelspolitischen Schutzinstrumente, der Investitionsschutzpolitik und des Umgangs mit China sowie die verstärkt bilaterale Ausrichtung der unionalen Außenbeziehungen berücksichtigt. Auch die prägenden Entscheidungen des EuGH werden umfassend ausgewertet. Die Kapitel behandeln im Einzelnen: Das System der Europäischen Außenbeziehungen Außenkompetenzen der EU Binnenorganisation der EU-Außenpolitik Beziehungen zu Drittstaaten und internationalen Organisationen Nachbarschaftspolitik Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und Humanitäre Hilfe Das System des Europäischen Außenwirtschaftsrechts Verhältnis zum nationalen Außenwirtschaftsrecht Vertragliche Handelspolitik der EU Die EU als Mitglied der WTO Autonome Handelspolitik Investitionsschutz Migration von Drittstaatsangehörigen Auswärtige Annexkompetenzen interner Politiken GASP und äußere Sicherheit <b>Führende Autorinnen und Autoren </b>unter der Herausgeberschaft von Andreas von Arnauld machen das noch junge Rechtssystem der Außenbeziehungen greifbar und verständlich. Nicht nur Europa- wie Völkerrechtler und Fachjuristen der betroffenen Politikbereiche profitieren hiervon. Auch Politikwissenschaft wie -beratung werden die Gesamtdarstellung zu schätzen wissen. Prof. Dr. Andreas von Arnauld; Dr. Christian Behrmann; Prof. Dr. Sigrid Boysen; Prof. Dr. Marc Bungenberg, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Philipp Dann, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Michael Hahn, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Christoph Herrmann, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Stefan Kadelbach, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Markus Kotzur; Prof. Dr. Markus Krajewski; Prof. Dr. R. Alexander Lorz, LL.M.; Stephan Marquardt, LL.M.; Dr. Stefan Martini; Prof. Dr. Kirsten Schmalenbach; Dr. Ülkü Sezgi Sözen, LL.M.; Thomas Streinz; Prof. Dr. Daniel Thym, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Kerstin von der Decken; Dr. Ruth Weber; Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weiß; RA Dr. Martin Wortmann, LL.M.; und Prof. Dr. Katja Ziegler.

Respiratory failure is a syndrome characterized by defective gas exchange due to inadequate function of the respiratory system. There is a failure to oxygenate blood (hypoxaemia) and/or eliminate carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). Hypoxaemia is defined as an arterial blood partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of <8 kPa, and hypercapnia as an arterial blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of >6 kPa. Respiratory failure is divided into two different types, conventionally referred to as type 1 and type 2. The distinction between these two is important because it emphasizes not only different their pathophysiological mechanisms and etiologies, but also different treatments. The preferred terminology and definitions are as follows: oxygenation failure (type I respiratory failure), PaO2 of <8 kPa; ventilation failure (type 2 respiratory failure), PaCO2 >6 kPa. Respiratory failure may be acute (onset over hours to days), or chronic (developing over months to years); alternatively, there may be an acute deterioration of a chronic state.

Substance misuse (including alcohol) and mental health problems constitute a significant proportion of the work carried out in the criminal justice system. Approaches to these often intractable problems have seen the rise of a dominant risk paradigm concerned with public protection and the use of coercion through court orders to access treatment. This original and valuable book considers notions of risk and rehabilitation in detail within the practice of those court orders, whilst contextualising them within a wider comparative literature and research base. The efficacy of these approaches, practice issues and innovations including for example therapeutic jurisprudence are analysed. <i>Risk and Rehabilitation</i> also includes discussions of the implications for partnership working and the importance of reconfiguring the nature of rehabilitative relationships. This is a timely book as probation practice in the UK and elsewhere moves into a post 'what works' era, providing opportunities to review the evidence base for effective interventions.

The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Eco­nomic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been called a game-changer. In the investment chapter, CETA has introduced a number of key innovations, including the investment court system with an appellate tribunal guidelines on third party funding transparency and information sharing modern versions of standards of protection detailed provisions on reservations and exceptions Considering that the new dispute resolution provisions in this chapter have also passed the scrutiny of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it is expected that CETA’s investment chapter will serve as a blueprint for future EU investment agreements. This article-by-article commentary will be a key resource for practitioners and academics in the field of EU investment protection law. <b>With contributions by</b> Afolabi Adekemi, Andrés E. Alvarado Garzón, Freya Baetens, Crina Baltag, Jens Benninghofen, Christina Binder, Gabriel Bottini, Colin Brown, Marc Bungenberg, Markus Burgstaller, N. Jansen Calamita, Armand de Mestral, Arnaud de Nanteuil, Lori Di Pierdomenico, Patrick Dumberry, Katia Fach Gómez, Richard Happ, Angshuman Hazarika, Stephan Hobe, Frank Hoffmeister, Anna Holzer, Mattijs Kempynck, Panos Koutrakos, Ursula Kriebaum, Céline Lévesque, Irmgard Marboe, Lars Markert, Patricia Nacimiento, Erman Özgür, August Reinisch, Stefanie Schacherer, Julian Scheu, Christoph Schreuer, Lukas Stifter, Johannes Tropper, Güneş Ünüvar, Lukas Vanhonnaeker and Herman Verbist.

Definition 488Pathophysiology 488Clinical features 489Causes 490Investigations 491Management 492Portal hypertension is increased blood pressure within the portal venous system and defined as an increase in the pressure gradient between the portal veins and the hepatic veins (>5 mmHg).The portal vein carries nutrient-rich blood to the liver from the GI tract and spleen. At the hilum of the liver it divides into the major right and left portal veins. Within the liver these veins undergo further divisions to supply each segment, and terminate in small branches, which pierce the limiting plate of the portal tract and enter the hepatic sinusoids through small channels (...

As organisations across the globe commit to digital transformation, well-managed taxonomies are more critical than ever in supporting a wide range of business applications. Amidst growing industry uptake of controlled vocabularies, ontologies and knowledge graphs, taxonomists are at the forefront of helping organisations manage content and data of unprecedented breadth, depth and variety. <br><br><i>Taxonomies: Practical Approaches to Developing and Managing Vocabularies for Digital Information</i> is a comprehensive guide to building, implementing and using taxonomies. Featuring contributions and case examples from some of the world's leading experts, the book supports professional development through practical advice and real-world case studies. Readers will learn best practice for the everyday realities of working with stakeholders, sponsors and systems to ensure that taxonomies remain useful and relevant. <br><br>Addressing all the key stages of the process of building and implementing a taxonomy, including scoping, user testing and validation, and the creation of governance processes, the book is invaluable for the optimisation of systems for users and stakeholders alike.

The incidence of acute pancreatitis continues to increase, but the attendant mortality has not decreased for >30 years. The pathogenesis remains poorly understood, but the initial mechanism appears to be intracellular activation of pancreatic enzymes, with micro- and macrovascular dysfunction, in conjunction with a systemic inflammatory response acting as a key propagating factor and determinant of severity. A multitude of causes or initiators exist, but there is a common pathophysiological pathway. The use of conventional scoring systems, combined with repeated clinical and laboratory assessment, remain the optimal method of predicting early severity and organ dysfunction. Death occurs in a biphasic pattern with early mortality (<2 weeks) secondary to SIRS and MODS; and late deaths (>2 weeks) due to superinfection of pancreatic necrosis. Assessment of severity should reflect this, with early severity being diagnosed in the presence of organ failure for >48 hours, and late severity defined by the presence of pancreatic and peri-pancreatic complications on CT or other appropriate imaging modalities.

As part of the successful International Library of Policy Analysis series, <i>Policy Analysis in Japan</i> brings together for the first time a detailed examination of the theory and practice of policy analysis systems in Japan, at different levels.

Four years after the publication of the influential <i>Munro Report</i> (2011) this important publication draws together a range of experts working in the field of child protection to critically examine what impact the reforms have had on multi-agency child protection systems in this country, at both local and national level.

This is a fresh and stimulating book on new challenges for civil justice. It brings together leading experts from across the world to discuss relevant topics of civil justice from regional, cross-border, international and comparative perspectives. <i>Inter alia</i>, this book will focus on multinational rules and systems of dispute resolution in the era of a global economy, while also exploring accountability and transparency in the course of civil justice. Transnational cooperation in cross-border insolvency, regionalism in the process of recognition and enforcement of foreign titles, and the application of electronic technologies in judicial proceedings, including new types of evidence also play a major role. <br><br><i>Technology, the Global Economy and other New Challenges for Civil Justice</i> is a compact and accessible overview of new developments in the field from across the world and written for those with an interest in civil justice.

Potassium is the major intracellular cation, and maintenance of potassium homeostasis is critical for normal cellular function. Serum potassium levels usually range from 3.5–4.5 mmol/l (compared with intracellular levels of ~150 mmol/l). Hypokalaemia is defined as a serum potassium level <3.5 mmol/l, and hyperkalaemia as a serum potassium level >4.5 mmol/l. Hyperkalaemia occurs in over 5% of hospitalized patients, and is most common in older age groups, where it is associated with renal impairment and medication use. Medications that block the renin–angiotensin system, such as angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, are often responsible. Hypokalaemia is also common, affecting over 15% of hospitalized patients, and is usually related to diuretic use, gastrointestinal losses, or inadequate potassium in the diet. This chapter reviews the causes and management of derangements of plasma potassium.

<p>The practicality of clearly explained frameworks integrating theoretical perspectives from systemic functional linguistics and multimodal semiotics, literary appreciation of picture books, and EFL pedagogy makes this book an indispensable resource for teachers, teacher educators and researchers. This work enthusiastically portrays new insights into the thought-provoking brilliance and delight of picture books and how they can be used to enhance teaching and learning in the English classroom. It stimulates both critical, interpretive reading and creative, impassioned and semiotically informed authorship. The richly illustrated chapters and engagingly detailed discussion of a variety of picture books highlight the impressive scholarly analyses and practical pedagogic insights of the authoring team. With this book they have provided a powerful companion for all involved in EFL education.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: right;">Professor Len Unsworth<br />Australian Catholic University</p>

<p>Cet essai analyse des poèmes fondateurs de la pensée du cubain José Lezama Lima en relation avec les arts, les religions et les philosophies qui gouvernent le monde. Ces études permettent de mettre en valeur le système poétique de José Lezama Lima.</p>

Chronic critical illness (CCI) is common and describes a state of prolonged critical illness, in which patients have persisting organ failures requiring treatment in an intensive care setting. There are many different definitions of CCI, with most including prolonged (> 96 hours) mechanical ventilation. Advanced age, higher severity of illness, and poor functional status prior to critical illness are all important risk factors, but prediction of CCI is imperfect. Although requirement for mechanical ventilation is the hallmark, CCI encompasses much more than the respiratory system, with effects on metabolism, skin, brain, and neuromuscular function. During CCI, patients have a high burden of symptoms and impaired capacity to communicate their needs. Mortality and quality of life are generally poor, but highly variable, with 1-year mortality over 50% and most survivors suffering permanent cognitive impairment and functional dependence. Patients at highest and lowest risk for mortality can be identified using a simple prediction rule. Caring for the chronically critically ill is a substantial burden both to patients’ families and to the health care system as a whole. Further research is needed in order to improve care and outcomes for CCI patients and their families.

Between A.D. 200 and 900, the Ipiutak regional system developed an intercontinental trade in obsidian and iron, associated with a shamanic crisis cult in Northwest Alaska. People gathered seasonally within community structures (qargi) for cultic performances, maintained an extensive trade network, and warred with their neighbors. Ipiutak was supported by the hunting of walrus, seal, and caribou; the possible contribution of whaling remains uncertain. Most settlements were small, including 3 to 6 houses, although the principal village at Point Hope had over 30 contemporaneous houses, producing a total of >600 houses and over 100 interments. Lacking pottery and oil lamps, Ipiutak people were specialized ivory workers, producing an elaborate and profound art, often employed as grave offerings. Ipiutak was affiliated and on occasion opposed to the Old Bering Sea culture of Bering Strait but its origins remain disputed between Central Asian and Alaska sources.

This article discusses the structure characterizations, magnetic and transport behaviors of the nanoscale ferromagnetic semiconductors Ge1-xMnxTe grown by molecular beam epitaxy with various manganese compositions x ranging from 0.14 to 0.98. After providing an overview of the growth procedure and characterization, the article analyzes the structures of the Ge1-xMnxTe system using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It then considers the optical, magnetic and transport properties of the semiconductors and shows that the crystal quality is degraded and the proportion of amorphous phase increases with increasing Mn composition. Nanoclusters and nanoscale grains can be observed when x > 0.24, which greatly affect their magnetic and electronic properties. The magnetic anisotropy is weakened due to different orientations of the clusters embedded in the GeTe host. An anomalous Hall effect is also observed in the samples, which can be attributed to extrinsic skew scattering.

Bones are multifunctional passive organs of movement that supports soft tissue and directly attached muscles. They also protect internal organs and are a reserve of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Each bone is covered with periosteum, and the adjacent bone surfaces are covered by articular cartilage. Histologically, the bone is an organ composed of many different tissues. The main component is bone tissue (cortical and spongy) composed of a set of bone cells and intercellular substance (mineral and organic), it also contains fat, hematopoietic (bone marrow) and cartilaginous tissue. Bones are a tissue that even in adult life retains the ability to change shape and structure depending on changes in their mechanical and hormonal environment, as well as self-renewal and repair capabilities. This process is called bone turnover. The basic processes of bone turnover are: • bone modeling (incessantly changes in bone shape during individual growth) following resorption and tissue formation at various locations (e.g. bone marrow formation) to increase mass and skeletal morphology. This process occurs in the bones of growing individuals and stops after reaching puberty • bone remodeling (processes involve in maintaining bone tissue by resorbing and replacing old bone tissue with new tissue in the same place, e.g. repairing micro fractures). It is a process involving the removal and internal remodeling of existing bone and is responsible for maintaining tissue mass and architecture of mature bones. Bone turnover is regulated by two types of transformation: • osteoclastogenesis, i.e. formation of cells responsible for bone resorption • osteoblastogenesis, i.e. formation of cells responsible for bone formation (bone matrix synthesis and mineralization) Bone maturity can be defined as the completion of basic structural development and mineralization leading to maximum mass and optimal mechanical strength. The highest rate of increase in pig bone mass is observed in the first twelve weeks after birth. This period of growth is considered crucial for optimizing the growth of the skeleton of pigs, because the degree of bone mineralization in later life stages (adulthood) depends largely on the amount of bone minerals accumulated in the early stages of their growth. The development of the technique allows to determine the condition of the skeletal system (or individual bones) in living animals by methods used in human medicine, or after their slaughter. For in vivo determination of bone properties, Abstract 10 double energy X-ray absorptiometry or computed tomography scanning techniques are used. Both methods allow the quantification of mineral content and bone mineral density. The most important property from a practical point of view is the bone’s bending strength, which is directly determined by the maximum bending force. The most important factors affecting bone strength are: • age (growth period), • gender and the associated hormonal balance, • genotype and modification of genes responsible for bone growth • chemical composition of the body (protein and fat content, and the proportion between these components), • physical activity and related bone load, • nutritional factors: – protein intake influencing synthesis of organic matrix of bone, – content of minerals in the feed (CA, P, Zn, Ca/P, Mg, Mn, Na, Cl, K, Cu ratio) influencing synthesis of the inorganic matrix of bone, – mineral/protein ratio in the diet (Ca/protein, P/protein, Zn/protein) – feed energy concentration, – energy source (content of saturated fatty acids - SFA, content of polyun saturated fatty acids - PUFA, in particular ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA), – feed additives, in particular: enzymes (e.g. phytase releasing of minerals bounded in phytin complexes), probiotics and prebiotics (e.g. inulin improving the function of the digestive tract by increasing absorption of nutrients), – vitamin content that regulate metabolism and biochemical changes occurring in bone tissue (e.g. vitamin D3, B6, C and K). This study was based on the results of research experiments from available literature, and studies on growing pigs carried out at the Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences. The tests were performed in total on 300 pigs of Duroc, Pietrain, Puławska breeds, line 990 and hybrids (Great White × Duroc, Great White × Landrace), PIC pigs, slaughtered at different body weight during the growth period from 15 to 130 kg. Bones for biomechanical tests were collected after slaughter from each pig. Their length, mass and volume were determined. Based on these measurements, the specific weight (density, g/cm3) was calculated. Then each bone was cut in the middle of the shaft and the outer and inner diameters were measured both horizontally and vertically. Based on these measurements, the following indicators were calculated: • cortical thickness, • cortical surface, • cortical index. Abstract 11 Bone strength was tested by a three-point bending test. The obtained data enabled the determination of: • bending force (the magnitude of the maximum force at which disintegration and disruption of bone structure occurs), • strength (the amount of maximum force needed to break/crack of bone), • stiffness (quotient of the force acting on the bone and the amount of displacement occurring under the influence of this force). Investigation of changes in physical and biomechanical features of bones during growth was performed on pigs of the synthetic 990 line growing from 15 to 130 kg body weight. The animals were slaughtered successively at a body weight of 15, 30, 40, 50, 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg. After slaughter, the following bones were separated from the right half-carcass: humerus, 3rd and 4th metatarsal bone, femur, tibia and fibula as well as 3rd and 4th metatarsal bone. The features of bones were determined using methods described in the methodology. Describing bone growth with the Gompertz equation, it was found that the earliest slowdown of bone growth curve was observed for metacarpal and metatarsal bones. This means that these bones matured the most quickly. The established data also indicate that the rib is the slowest maturing bone. The femur, humerus, tibia and fibula were between the values of these features for the metatarsal, metacarpal and rib bones. The rate of increase in bone mass and length differed significantly between the examined bones, but in all cases it was lower (coefficient b <1) than the growth rate of the whole body of the animal. The fastest growth rate was estimated for the rib mass (coefficient b = 0.93). Among the long bones, the humerus (coefficient b = 0.81) was characterized by the fastest rate of weight gain, however femur the smallest (coefficient b = 0.71). The lowest rate of bone mass increase was observed in the foot bones, with the metacarpal bones having a slightly higher value of coefficient b than the metatarsal bones (0.67 vs 0.62). The third bone had a lower growth rate than the fourth bone, regardless of whether they were metatarsal or metacarpal. The value of the bending force increased as the animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, the highest values were observed for the humerus, tibia and femur, smaller for the metatarsal and metacarpal bone, and the lowest for the fibula and rib. The rate of change in the value of this indicator increased at a similar rate as the body weight changes of the animals in the case of the fibula and the fourth metacarpal bone (b value = 0.98), and more slowly in the case of the metatarsal bone, the third metacarpal bone, and the tibia bone (values of the b ratio 0.81–0.85), and the slowest femur, humerus and rib (value of b = 0.60–0.66). Bone stiffness increased as animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, the highest values were observed for the humerus, tibia and femur, smaller for the metatarsal and metacarpal bone, and the lowest for the fibula and rib. Abstract 12 The rate of change in the value of this indicator changed at a faster rate than the increase in weight of pigs in the case of metacarpal and metatarsal bones (coefficient b = 1.01–1.22), slightly slower in the case of fibula (coefficient b = 0.92), definitely slower in the case of the tibia (b = 0.73), ribs (b = 0.66), femur (b = 0.59) and humerus (b = 0.50). Bone strength increased as animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, bone strength was as follows femur > tibia > humerus > 4 metacarpal> 3 metacarpal> 3 metatarsal > 4 metatarsal > rib> fibula. The rate of increase in strength of all examined bones was greater than the rate of weight gain of pigs (value of the coefficient b = 2.04–3.26). As the animals grew, the bone density increased. However, the growth rate of this indicator for the majority of bones was slower than the rate of weight gain (the value of the coefficient b ranged from 0.37 – humerus to 0.84 – fibula). The exception was the rib, whose density increased at a similar pace increasing the body weight of animals (value of the coefficient b = 0.97). The study on the influence of the breed and the feeding intensity on bone characteristics (physical and biomechanical) was performed on pigs of the breeds Duroc, Pietrain, and synthetic 990 during a growth period of 15 to 70 kg body weight. Animals were fed ad libitum or dosed system. After slaughter at a body weight of 70 kg, three bones were taken from the right half-carcass: femur, three metatarsal, and three metacarpal and subjected to the determinations described in the methodology. The weight of bones of animals fed aa libitum was significantly lower than in pigs fed restrictively All bones of Duroc breed were significantly heavier and longer than Pietrain and 990 pig bones. The average values of bending force for the examined bones took the following order: III metatarsal bone (63.5 kg) <III metacarpal bone (77.9 kg) <femur (271.5 kg). The feeding system and breed of pigs had no significant effect on the value of this indicator. The average values of the bones strength took the following order: III metatarsal bone (92.6 kg) <III metacarpal (107.2 kg) <femur (353.1 kg). Feeding intensity and breed of animals had no significant effect on the value of this feature of the bones tested. The average bone density took the following order: femur (1.23 g/cm3) <III metatarsal bone (1.26 g/cm3) <III metacarpal bone (1.34 g / cm3). The density of bones of animals fed aa libitum was higher (P<0.01) than in animals fed with a dosing system. The density of examined bones within the breeds took the following order: Pietrain race> line 990> Duroc race. The differences between the “extreme” breeds were: 7.2% (III metatarsal bone), 8.3% (III metacarpal bone), 8.4% (femur). Abstract 13 The average bone stiffness took the following order: III metatarsal bone (35.1 kg/mm) <III metacarpus (41.5 kg/mm) <femur (60.5 kg/mm). This indicator did not differ between the groups of pigs fed at different intensity, except for the metacarpal bone, which was more stiffer in pigs fed aa libitum (P<0.05). The femur of animals fed ad libitum showed a tendency (P<0.09) to be more stiffer and a force of 4.5 kg required for its displacement by 1 mm. Breed differences in stiffness were found for the femur (P <0.05) and III metacarpal bone (P <0.05). For femur, the highest value of this indicator was found in Pietrain pigs (64.5 kg/mm), lower in pigs of 990 line (61.6 kg/mm) and the lowest in Duroc pigs (55.3 kg/mm). In turn, the 3rd metacarpal bone of Duroc and Pietrain pigs had similar stiffness (39.0 and 40.0 kg/mm respectively) and was smaller than that of line 990 pigs (45.4 kg/mm). The thickness of the cortical bone layer took the following order: III metatarsal bone (2.25 mm) <III metacarpal bone (2.41 mm) <femur (5.12 mm). The feeding system did not affect this indicator. Breed differences (P <0.05) for this trait were found only for the femur bone: Duroc (5.42 mm)> line 990 (5.13 mm)> Pietrain (4.81 mm). The cross sectional area of the examined bones was arranged in the following order: III metatarsal bone (84 mm2) <III metacarpal bone (90 mm2) <femur (286 mm2). The feeding system had no effect on the value of this bone trait, with the exception of the femur, which in animals fed the dosing system was 4.7% higher (P<0.05) than in pigs fed ad libitum. Breed differences (P<0.01) in the coross sectional area were found only in femur and III metatarsal bone. The value of this indicator was the highest in Duroc pigs, lower in 990 animals and the lowest in Pietrain pigs. The cortical index of individual bones was in the following order: III metatarsal bone (31.86) <III metacarpal bone (33.86) <femur (44.75). However, its value did not significantly depend on the intensity of feeding or the breed of pigs.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) requires States Parties to take all appropriate measures to implement the rights in the Convention. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Convention's adoption, focus has shifted onto the measures being taken at national level to give effect to children's rights with specific reference to legal incorporation both direct and indirect. The way in which the CRC is given legal effect is highly contingent upon the constitutional and legal systems of individual countries and can best be understood by those writing from the specific national context. <br><br>So this book combines individual contributions that address the experience of legal incorporation in selected countries by their national experts, with comparative analysis of the international landscape from the world's leading authorities on legal implementation of the CRC. The result is an up-to-date, comparative and international analysis of the progress made around the world to incorporate the CRC, in the first comprehensive and analytical presentation of these issues. <br><br><i>Incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into National Law</i> is a rich resource central to the work of every lawyer with an interest in the CRC or the incorporation of international legal instruments.

The International Society of Family Law is an independent, international, and non-political scholarly association dedicated to the study, research and discussion of family law and related disciplines. The Society's membership currently includes professors, lecturers, scholars, teachers and researchers from more than fifty different countries, offering a unique opportunity for networking within a truly international family law community. The <i>International Survey of Family Law</i> is the annual review of the International Society of Family Law. It brings together reliable and clearly structured insights into the latest and most notable developments in family law from all around the globe. Chapters are prepared by an international team of selected experts in the field, usually covering twenty or more jurisdictions in each edition. <br><br>Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the <i>Survey</i> traces developments from around the world, brought about through international, national and local bodies. The chapters analyse civil and common law systems, as well as decisions of the United Nations and the European Union courts. Some chapters focus on the beginnings of families, including marriage, adoption and assisted reproduction, while others deal with their dissolution or the effects (and aftereffects) of aging. Once again, our authors include emerging scholars as well as highly regarded academics, judges and practitioners.

This topical and timely book considers children's participation rights in the context of family law proceedings, and how their operation can be improved for the benefit of children and family justice systems globally. In doing so, it provides the pedagogical reasoning for child participation, as well as a thorough analysis of the relevant human rights instruments in this area, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. <br><br>This comprehensive book examines the way in which private international law instruments deal with child participation in separation/divorce, parental responsibility and child abduction proceedings. In addition, the book includes individual contributions from renowned family law experts from 17 countries who describe and analyse the local laws and exercise of child participation rights in their own jurisdictions. These insightful texts include the authors' views on the improvements needed to ensure that child participation rights are fully respected and implemented in the countries under review. A detailed comparative analysis follows which helpfully pinpoints both the key commonalities and differences in these global processes. Finally, the concluding chapter draws together the different perspectives revealed across the handbook, and identifies several key issues requiring further reflection from scholars, policy makers and family justice professionals. <br><br><i>The International Handbook on Child Participation in Family Law</i> is a rich source of information and essential reading for all those working in this important and evolving field.

<p>Cette étude avance que le droit canadien possède les outils lui permettant de réglementer les plateformes de vidéo à la demande canadiennes et étrangères. Les technologies de distribution et de diffusion numériques bouleversent profondément l’industrie cinématographique et le système canadien de radiodiffusion et impliquent de profonds changements dans la chaîne de production, de distribution et d’exploitation des films. Les plateformes occupent une position concurrentielle sur le marché, sans pour autant être soumises aux obligations de financement de la création et aux quotas de diffusion de contenu canadien, tandis que le rôle des acteurs traditionnels, tels les câblodistributeurs, se trouve menacé.</p><p>De plus, la diversité des expressions culturelles et la promotion du contenu canadien ne sont pas garanties sur les plateformes de vidéo à la demande. Cette recherche démontre qu’il est toutefois possible d’encadrer, par le droit canadien, les activités de ces plateformes. Considérant que la politique canadienne de radiodiffusion est encore pertinente aujourd’hui pour sauvegarder la culture canadienne, cette recherche propose d’en revoir le système et les mécanismes afin de les adapter à l’environnement numérique. Enfin, cette étude suggère avant tout la création d’un nouveau système normatif, par la mise en place d’un règlement destiné spécifiquement aux plateformes de vidéos à la demande canadiennes et étrangères, afin de les soumettre aux obligations de financement de la création et à la promotion et la découvrabilité des contenus audiovisuels numériques canadiens.</p>

<p>Depuis les années 2000, le terme « zone grise » s’est diffusé dans la littérature en sciences sociales, mais aussi dans les médias. Dans le domaine du travail et de l’emploi, la perspective des zones grises donne à voir comment les régulations du travail, et comment les pratiques individuelles et collectives forgées depuis la fin du 19ème, sont aujourd’hui aux prises avec des mutations de fond. Plus encore, cette perspective manifeste l’épuisement et les limites des catégorisations héritées du salariat pour comprendre les transformations en cours.</p><p>Ce dictionnaire invite, si ce n’est à refonder un lexique d’analyse du travail et de ses régulations, au moins à examiner de façon critique ces catégories héritées. Il a pour objet de montrer comment un grand nombre de ces catégories changent de sens sous nos yeux et permettent l’émergence de nouveaux concepts et catégories d’entendement. Historiquement, le salariat, comme « politique du travail » – au sens de logique générale d’insertion du travail dans le système démocratique – a mis en rapport un état du développement technologique, un stade spécifique de la dynamique du capitalisme, des modalités de régulation des conflits sociaux et un principe de stratification sociale. S’il est encore trop tôt pour dire quels seront à terme les contours de la « politique du travail » qui émerge aujourd’hui, ce dictionnaire vise à cartographier les recompositions qui sont d’ores et déjà perceptibles, au Nord comme au Sud, tant au niveau des régulations que des catégories mobilisées.</p><p>Rassemblant un grand nombre de sociologues – notamment du travail –, mais aussi des économistes, des géographes, des politistes, des historiens ou des juristes, principalement d’Europe et des Amériques, le dictionnaire multiplie pour cela les entrées, qu’il s’agisse d’entrées conceptuelles comme « pluriactivité », « subjectivation » ou « précarité », ou encore de figures du travail<i> </i>comme<i> </i>« intellos précaires » ou « travailleurs économiquement dépendants ».</p>

<p>Le jeu vidéo est devenu l’un des médias de divertissement les plus prolifiques de notre époque au tournant du nouveau millénaire. Malgré son importance, la qualification juridique de l’œuvre vidéoludique est ambiguë et un travail reste à faire pour cerner sa nature en droit. La présente étude aborde les interrogations liées aux jeux vidéo sous l’angle du débat commerce – culture en droit international et reconnaît que celui-ci comporte une dimension culturelle au sens de la <i>Conventionde 2005</i>de l’UNESCO. Ces caractéristiques uniques font en sorte que le jeu vidéo est bien plus qu’un simple objet de divertissement et bénéficie du cadre juridique réservé aux produits culturels considérés comme des expressions culturelles au titre de l’instrument de l’UNESCO.Par ailleurs, l’industrie du jeu vidéo, hautement subventionné par les États exportateurs, est confrontée aux règles du système commercial multilatéral de<span>l’OMC</span>. Si les composantes culturelles confèrent un statut particulier au jeu vidéo, cela n’est pasgarant d’un traitement spécifique en droit international économique à l’instar des autres produits culturels dans ce bras de fer opposant commerce et culture. Bien que les règles de l’OMC puissent être un frein au développement national du jeu vidéo, la véritable problématique réside dans la qualification réservée au jeu vidéo entre les notions de bien et de service qui en appellent à deux régimes juridiques distincts.</p>

The Thesis focuses on Smectic-A (SmA) liquid crystals' (LCs) functional behaviour in order to understand if this will be the next generation product that could improve the daily life of the society. The optical properties of this liquid crystal are by far the best compared to the products available in the market, i.e., the light transmittance in transparent state is >85 % and in scatter state <2 %. Enabling the LC to be used for a variety of purposes, such as smart windows to scatter light on a sunny day or provide a sense of privacy in an open type office space. An in-depth literature review discusses the existing studies, obtained experimental data and attempts to develop functional products. The main unresolved problems are highlighted, described in detail and solutions are offered. In order to understand the potential of SmA LC in the smart glass/window technology, analysis of existing products was performed, a summary of an active smart glass/windows provided, and a comparative study between them was made. In addition, an in-depth study of long-term functional stability was performed during which the most popular types of defects were listed and analysed. Solutions for defect elimination and recommendations for optimization of switching systems and production processes are provided. A methodology for determining the electrical parameters of an LC has been developed in order to create an electrical simulation model and facilitate the development of electronic switching systems.

In radiation poisoning, a distinction between exposure and contamination should be made. Decontamination by removing clothes, washing of skin, and removal of debris can remove up to 90% of external contaminated radiation. Treatment of acute life-threatening injuries takes priority over treatment of radiation poisoning. Triage of severely exposed patients can give an indication of dose and severity of the radiation dose absorbed. Survival is related to dose absorbed. Identification of the radiation source should be made by the radiation characteristics to determine the shielding necessary for protection of hospital staff and the antidote required. Early gastric lavage and specific antidotes for ingested radiation poisoning should be used with caution. Death is mainly due to infection and haemorrhage. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) is a manifestation of haematopoietic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and cutaneous syndromes. Those receiving whole body doses of 1–5 Gy may recover easily with appropriate medical management; those with doses of 6–10 Gy may survive with intensive management; and those with doses of >10 Gy seldom survive. Treatment of ARS is supportive with the use of antibiotics, colony-stimulating factors, blood products, and stem cell transplants. Protection of the staff is by reducing time exposed, increasing distance from source and proper shielding. Psychological counselling should be available to patient or staff if required.

<p>Has the time come for a thorough recomposition of working conditions? The health crisis and the successive measures to deal with it highlight the role of social, spatial, and temporal boundaries in the organisation of the economy, calling into question the functioning of democratic systems. The depth of inequality is now blatantly apparent, but also the vital importance of certain jobs that are often undervalued. Although the picture is bleak, the experiences of labour transformation help to focus the attention on what is most important: a real liberation of work that requires a collective framework, and the possibility of regularly deliberating and even intervening in the governance of organisations. Lucid in diagnosing what is real and ambitious in declaring what is desirable: this is the stance adopted by this collective book, which stems from the conviction that scientific rigour can be used to transform reality. This view also characterises the practice of the Groupe d’études sur le travail et la santé au travail (Gestes), a Scientific Interest Group (GIS) supported by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Affirming this need to de-liberate work, while considering the ambivalences and uncertainties that surround such a project of economic and social transformation, this work brings together twenty contributions from a variety of disciplinary, theoretical and methodological perspectives.</p><p>The first part of the book deals with the effects of the new ways of organising time at work, especially for women. The second part explores the content of work, highlighting the links between employment and working conditions, particularly their effect on the boundary separating work and non-work. The third part discusses “alternative” forms of work organisation, considered more open to employee expression, and questions their scope. The fourth part shifts the attention from organisations to the legal or managerial mechanisms meant to encourage deliberation about work.</p>

Since the publication of the first edition of Gene Targeting: A Practical Approach in 1993 there have been many advances in gene targeting and this new edition has been thoroughly updated and rewritten to include all the major new techniques. It provides not only tried-and-tested practical protocols but detailed guidance on their use and applications. As with the previous edition Gene Targeting: A Practical Approach 2e concentrates on gene targeting in mouse ES cells, but the techniques described can be easily adapted to applications in tissue culture including those for human cells. The first chapter covers the design of gene targeting vectors for mammalian cells and describes how to distinguish random integrations from homologous recombination. It is followed by a chapter on extending conventional gene targeting manipulations by using site-specific recombination using the Cre-loxP and Flp-FRT systems to produce 'clean' germline mutations and conditionally (in)activating genes. Chapter 3 describes methods for introducing DNA into ES cells for homologous recombination, selection and screening procedures for identifying and recovering targeted cell clones, and a simple method for establishing new ES cell lines. Chapter 4 discusses the pros and cons or aggregation versus blastocyst injection to create chimeras, focusing on the technical aspects of generating aggregation chimeras and then describes some of the uses of chimeras. The next topic covered is gene trap strategies; the structure, components, design, and modification of GT vectors, the various types of GT screens, and the molecular analysis of GT integrations. The final chapter explains the use of classical genetics in gene targeting and phenotype interpretation to create mutations and elucidate gene functions. Gene Targeting: A Practical Approach 2e will therefore be of great value to all researchers studying gene function.

Four to five per cent of the Western population suffers from chronic diarrhoea (defined as the passage of >3 stools per day, for >4 weeks), with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) being the commonest cause in 20–40-year-old patients. It is the commonest reason for referral to secondary care gastroenterology clinics. The list of possible causes of chronic diarrhoea is long but, in the absence of rectal bleeding, loss of weight, or abnormal blood tests, it is unlikely to be due to a serious illness. Laboratory investigations should include serum glucose, electrolytes, renal and liver tests, full blood count, thyroid tests, a coeliac antibody test, C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement to check for systemic inflammation, faecal fat and elastase estimation to check pancreatic exocrine function, faecal microscopy, and culture, although this is insensitive for giardiasis. In young patients with typical features of IBS, these laboratory investigations can be abbreviated to include only glucose, electrolytes, the coeliac antibody test, CRP measurement, and thyroid tests. Endoscopic examination of the large and small intestines is generally only required where there is a suspicion of coeliac disease, chronic giardiasis, microscopic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or colorectal cancer. A therapeutic trial of metronidazole for giardiasis is justified where this seems a likely diagnosis.

<Online Only>This book recounts the transformation of Europe from the interwar era until the euro crisis, using the tools of constitutional analysis and critical theory. The central claim is twofold: post-war Europe is reconstituted in a manner combining political authoritarianism and economic liberalism, producing an order which is now in a critical condition. The book begins in the interwar era, when liberalism, unable to deal with mass democracy and the social question, turns to authoritarianism in an attempt to suppress democracy, with disastrous consequences in Weimar and elsewhere. After the Second World War, partly on the basis of a very different diagnosis of interwar collapse, and initially through a passive authoritarianism, inter-state sovereignty is reconfigured, state-society relations are depoliticized, and social relations transformed. Integration is substituted for internationalism, technocracy for democracy, and economic liberty for political freedom and class struggle. This transformation takes time to unfold, and it presents continuities as well as discontinuities. It is deepened by the neo-liberalism of the Maastricht era and the creation of Economic and Monetary Union, and yet countermovements then also emerge: geopolitically, in the return of the German question; and domestically, in the challenges presented by constitutional courts and anti-systemic movements. Struggles over sovereignty, democracy, and political freedom resurface, but are then more actively repressed through the authoritarian liberalism of the euro crisis phase. This leads now to an impasse. Anti-systemic politics return but remain uneasily within the EU, suggesting that the post-war order of authoritarian liberalism is reaching its limits. As yet, however, there has been no definitive rupture.</Online Only>

Listeriosis occurs in a variety of animals including humans, and most often affects the pregnant uterus, the central nervous system (CNS) or the bloodstream. During pregnancy, infection spreads to the foetus, which will either be born severely ill or die in-utero. In non-pregnant animals, listeriosis usually presents as meningitis, encephalitis. In humans, infection most often occurs in the immunocompromised and elderly, and to a lesser extent the pregnant woman, the unborn, or the newly delivered infant. Infection can be treated successfully with antibiotics, however 20–40% of human cases are fatal..In domestic animals (especially in sheep and goats) listeriosis usually presents as encephalitis, abortion, or septicaemia, and is a cause of considerable economic loss.The genus Listeria comprises six species of Gram-positive bacteria. Almost all cases of listeriosis are due to Listeria monocytogenes although up to 10% of cases in sheep are due to Listeria ivanovii.Listeriae are ubiquitous in the environment worldwide, especially in sites with decaying organic vegetable material. Many animals carry the organism in the faeces without serious infection. The consumption of contaminated food or feed is the principal route of transmission for both humans and animals, however other means of transmission occur.Human listeriosis is rare (<1 to > 10 cases per million people in North America and Western Europe), but because of the high mortality rate, it is amongst the most important causes of death from food-borne infections in industrialized countries. In the UK, human listeriosis is the biggest single cause of death from a preventable food-borne disease. Listeriosis in domestic animals is a cause of considerable economic loss. Control measures should be directed towards both to exclude Listeria from food or feed as well as inhibiting its multiplication and survival. Silage which is spoiled or mouldy should not be used, and care should be taken to maintain anaerobic conditions for as long as possible.Dietary advice is available for disease prevention, particularly targeted at ‘at risk’ individuals to modify their diet to avoid eating specific foods such as soft cheese and pâté.

Cystinuria, an autosomal recessive disease (estimated at 1:7000 births worldwide), results from the defective reabsorption of cystine and dibasic amino acids (also ornithine, arginine, lysine, COAL) by epithelial cells of renal proximal tubules, leading to an abnormally high urinary excretion of these amino acids. Due to the poor solubility of cystine at the usual urine pH, formation of cystine crystals and stones ensues. Incidence of homozygotes is estimated at 1 in 7000 births worldwide, but is lower in European countries and much higher in populations with frequent consanguinity. Cystine stones represent 1–2% of all stones in adults and 5–8% in paediatric patients, with an equal distribution between males and females.Cystinuria is caused by inactivating mutations in the gene SLC3A1 or SLC7A9, both encoding proteins contributing to the function of the heterodimeric transport system of cystine.Cystine nephrolithiasis may present in infants, most frequently in adolescents or young adults, sometimes later. Cystine calculi are weakly radio-opaque. Stone analysis using infrared spectroscopy (or X-ray diffraction) allows immediate and accurate diagnosis. Urinary amino acid chromatography quantifies urinary cystine excretion, needed to define the therapeutic strategy.Urological treatment of cystine stones currently uses extracorporeal stone wave lithotripsy or flexible ureterorenoscopy with Holmium laser, that is, minimally invasive techniques. However, as cystine stones are highly recurrent, preventive therapy is essential.Medical treatment combines reduced methionine and sodium intake, to lower cystine excretion; hyperdiuresis (> 3 L/day) to reduce cystine concentration; and active alkalinization preferably using potassium citrate (40–80 mEq/day) to increase cystine solubility by rising urine pH up to 7.5–8. If these measures are insufficient to prevent recurrent stone formation, a thiol derivative (D-penicillamine or tiopronin), which converts cystine into a more soluble disulphide, should be added. Close monitoring and adherence of the patient to the therapeutic programme are needed to ensure life-long compliance, the key for successful prevention in the long term.