Open Access Books

Due to their distinctive properties, ionic liquids have attracted the great and unflagging interest of researchers for over 30 years. This interest has been focused mainly on their use as a green alternative to volatile organic solvents. However, they often act not only as solvents but also as catalysts, catalyst immobilizers and initiators. Over 100 types of chemical reactions are known in which ionic liquids (ILs) were applied successfully. This Special Issue is aimed at showing the most recent advances and trends in the design, synthesis and characterization of catalysts based on ILs, as well as presenting their activity and application potential.

There is increasing concern that Air Force systems containing information technology are vulnerable to intelligence exploitation and offensive attack through cyberspace. In this report, the authors analyze how the Air Force acquisition/life-cycle management community can improve cybersecurity throughout the life cycle of its military systems.

Quintessence of Dust by Harry Redner argues for a science of matter and a philosophy of mind based on emergence. Mind emerges from matter through five essential stages – “quintessence” ( Hamlet). Human mind is differentiated from animal mind primarily by reference to art ( Homo ludens). This approach draws support from Donald, Edelman and other palaeoanthropologists, psychologists and neurologists. The emergent relation between two entities is defined as an indissoluble non-identity. The “mind as machine” thesis, artificial intelligence and cognitivism are criticised. The alternative emergentist approach comes close to Spinoza. The book attempts a synthesis of the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities based on philosophic premises.

Der EuGH betont seit dem Urteil Kadi wiederholt, dass völkerrechtliche Verpflichtungen nicht die Verfassungsgrundsätze des Unionsrechts beeinträchtigen können. Ausgehend von der Analyse der Rechtsprechung untersucht die Arbeit diese bisher konturarmen Verfassungsgrundsätze des Unionsrechts. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf der abweichungsfesten Wirkung gegenüber völkerrechtlich determinierten Unionsrechtsakten und völkerrechtlichen Verträgen der Union. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen werden einzelne Verfassungsgrundsätze herausgearbeitet. Ein Vergleich zeigt zudem deutliche Gemeinsamkeiten des Konzepts mit ordre public Vorbehalten. Die Skizzierung der Rolle der Verfassungsgrundsätze bei der Lösung aktueller Fragestellungen rundet die Arbeit ab.

"O presente livro é resultado de minha tese de doutorado, apresentada em 2008 ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Política da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Trata-se de um tema importante e atual, o que de certa maneira faz com que este estudo envelheça de forma precoce. Fatos novos e relevantes tiveram lugar na conjuntura ecopolítica internacional no último ano, e seria impossível manter esta obra sempre atualizada. Ao mesmo tempo a discussão apresentada aqui tem um certo caráter atemporal, pois trata da ordem internacional das mudanças climáticas de uma forma ampla e estrutural."

This open access book highlights the latest advances, innovations, and applications in the field of vehicle systems dynamics and control, as presented by leading international researchers at the 16th JSAE International Symposium on Advanced Vehicle Control (AVEC), held at Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, on September 2-6, 2024. It covers a diverse range of topics such as vehicle dynamics theory, steering, brake, tire, suspension, chassis control, powertrain, electrified vehicles, stability enhancement systems, driver-vehicle systems, advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving systems, driving simulator dynamics and control. The contributions, which were selected by means of a rigorous international peer-review process, present a wealth of exciting ideas that will open novel research directions and foster multidisciplinary collaboration among different specialists.

The underlying theme of Three Centuries of Greek Culture under the Roman Empire is the idea that, under Roman rule, Greek culture was still alive and dynamic and continued to exert a degree of cultural domination, either real or apparent. So, we hope to analyse the meanings of concepts such as “Greek” or “Greece” in the Empire. Are we right to assume that there was a clear opposition between Greek and Roman? Or would it be more accurate to speak of a “Graeco-Roman world”? It would certainly be possible to make a list of “elements of identity”, on both sides —Greek and Roman—, but, in this case, where should the borders between identity and community be placed? Three Centuries of Greek Culture under the Roman Empire presents several approaches to the period between the second and fourth centuries AD from a variety of angles, perspectives and disciplines. Until now, this time has usually been considered to be the junction of the decline between the classical world and the emergence of the medieval world; however, this book establishes a basis for considering the Imperial period as a specific stage in cultural, historical and social development with a distinct personality of its own.

Bajo este título se presenta un estudio de la historia de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Salamanca en un periodo que abarca desde 1820 hasta 1900. En el mismo se atiende tanto a la institución docente como a los individuos que la integraron, por lo que puede calificarse de una obra ambiciosa, tanto por estos aspectos que se tratan, como por la señalada cronología, teniendo así una visión de conjunto de la Facultad de Derecho salmantina en el siglo XIX, periodo en que vio cómo la implantación del régimen liberal trajo la uniformización y centralización administrativas poniendo en peligro su pervivencia, además de situarla entre las Universidades periféricas que sobrevivieron como satélites alrededor de la Universidad Central de Madrid. El hecho de que durante muchos años fuese la única Facultad mayor de la Universidad salmantina hace que este trabajo sirva también para conocer más a fondo la historia decimonónica de la institución centenaria.

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Si l'autoportrait pictural est attesté dans des manuscrits enluminés du xiie siècle, ces images reflètent moins l'émergence d'une conscience individuelle que l'expression d'une identité professionnelle, celle de copistes désireux d'apposer leur signature en marge des textes dont ils ont la charge. Pourtant, le procédé traduit déjà le regard d'un sujet sur lui-même et la tentative de le restituer par la peinture. Dès lors, il devient tentant d'examiner la transposition de cette pratique dans la littérature. Les études ici rassemblées se proposent de mettre en lumière, du Moyen Âge à l'époque classique, les prémices et l'essor de l'autoportrait littéraire. Avec les apports successifs de l'humanisme renaissant puis des moralistes classiques, la description de soi voit ses contours se préciser alors même que sa légitimité fait l'objet de critiques acerbes. Les méthodes et enjeux de l'écriture spéculaire sont explorés à travers les différents genres littéraires où elle s'exerce (chroniques, mémoires, poésies, récits allégoriques, notices bibliographiques…). Il s'agit d'évaluer ces « miroirs d'encre » (M. Beaujour) non seulement du point de vue de leur authenticité, mais aussi de leurs finalités et de leurs modalités (l'autoreprésentation pouvant se décliner aux genres masculin et féminin). Par-delà les différents aspects du moi envisagés (physiques, moraux, psychologiques, intellectuels), une attention particulière est portée aux commentaires que suscitent l'impossibilité ou le refus de l'autoportrait, voire sa condamnation motivée par le soupçon de « philautie ». Enfin, les œuvres restituent l'écho du dialogue entre textes, images et idéologies, au croisement de la littérature, de l'histoire de l'art et des pratiques sociales.

Soil Fertility book presents nine chapters written by renowned soil fertility experts from Africa, Asia and South America. The book is divided into two sections. Section 1, Biological Processes and Integration of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers for Soil Fertility Improvement, examines biological processes that can enhance the soil fertility. It discusses the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers and their integration in improving soil fertility. The second section, Improving Fertilizer Recommendation and Efficiency, looks at the state-of-the-art in leaf sampling and analysis. Proper leaf sampling and standardized methods of analysis are important steps in providing good recommendations.

Wind turbine aerodynamics is one of the central subjects of wind turbine technology. To reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), the size of a single wind turbine has been increased to 12 MW at present, with further increases expected in the near future. Big wind turbines and their associated wind farms have many advantages but also challenges. The typical effects are mainly related to the increase in Reynolds number and blade flexibility. This Special Issue is a collection of 21 important research works addressing the aerodynamic challenges appearing in such developments. The 21 research papers cover a wide range of problems related to wind turbine aerodynamics, which includes atmospheric turbulent flow modeling, wind turbine flow modeling, wind turbine design, wind turbine control, wind farm flow modeling in complex terrain, wind turbine noise modeling, vertical axis wind turbine, and offshore wind energy. Readers from all over the globe are expected to greatly benefit from this Special Issue collection regarding their own work and the goal of enabling the technological development of new environmentally friendly and cost-effective wind energy systems in order to reach the target of 100% energy use from renewable sources, worldwide, by 2050

This book provides recent information on various analytical procedures and techniques, representing strategies for reliability, specificity, selectivity and sensitivity improvements in pesticides analysis. The volume covers three main topics: current trends in sample preparation, selective and sensitive chromatographic detection and determination of pesticides residues in food and environmental samples, and biological (immunoassays-and biosensors-based) methods application in pesticides analysis as an alternative to the chromatographic methods for "in situ" and "on line" pesticides quantification. Intended as electronic edition, providing an immediate "open access" to its content, the book is easy to follow and will be of interest to the professionals involved in pesticides analysis.

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary branch of engineering combining mechanical, electrical and electronics, control and automation, and computer engineering fields. The main research task of mechatronics is design, control, and optimization of advanced devices, products, and hybrid systems utilizing the concepts found in all these fields. The purpose of this special issue is to help better understand how mechatronics will impact on the practice and research of developing advanced techniques to model, control, and optimize complex systems. The special issue presents recent advances in mechatronics and related technologies. The selected topics give an overview of the state of the art and present new research results and prospects for the future development of the interdisciplinary field of mechatronic systems.