Open Access Books

In Benjamin’s Library, Jane O. Newman offers, for the first time in any language, a reading of Walter Benjamin’s notoriously opaque work, Origin of the German Tragic Drama that systematically attends to its place in discussions of the Baroque in Benjamin’s day. Taking into account the literary and cultural contexts of Benjamin’s work, Newman recovers Benjamin’s relationship to the ideologically loaded readings of the literature and political theory of the seventeenth-century Baroque that abounded in Germany during the political and economic crises of the Weimar years. To date, the significance of the Baroque for Origin of the German Tragic Drama has been glossed over by students of Benjamin, most of whom have neither read it in this context nor engaged with the often incongruous debates about the period that filled both academic and popular texts in the years leading up to and following World War I. Armed with extraordinary historical, bibliographical, philological, and orthographic research, Newman shows the extent to which Benjamin participated in these debates by reconstructing the literal and figurative history of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century books that Benjamin analyzes and the literary, art historical and art theoretical, and political theological discussions of the Baroque with which he was familiar. In so doing, she challenges the exceptionalist, even hagiographic, approaches that have become common in Benjamin studies. The result is a deeply learned book that will infuse much-needed life into the study of one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century.In Benjamin's Library, Jane O. Newman offers, for the first time in any language, a reading of Walter Benjamin's notoriously opaque work, Origin of the German Tragic Drama that systematically attends to its place in discussions of the Baroque in Benjamin's day. Taking into account the literary and cultural contexts of Benjamin's work, Newman recovers Benjamin’s relationship to the ideologically loaded readings of the literature and political theory of the seventeenth-century Baroque that abounded in Germany during the political and economic crises of the Weimar years.To date, the significance of the Baroque for Origin of the German Tragic Drama has been glossed over by students of Benjamin, most of whom have neither read it in this context nor engaged with the often incongruous debates about the period that filled both academic and popular texts in the years leading up to and following World War I. Armed with extraordinary historical, bibliographical, philological, and orthographic research, Newman shows the extent to which Benjamin participated in these debates by reconstructing the literal and figurative history of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century books that Benjamin analyzes and the literary, art historical and art theoretical, and political theological discussions of the Baroque with which he was familiar. In so doing, she challenges the exceptionalist, even hagiographic, approaches that have become common in Benjamin studies. The result is a deeply learned book that will infuse much-needed life into the study of one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century.

Young Perspectives for Old Diseases is a collaborative monograph describing the current understanding of common neurodegenerative diseases. The monograph focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for neurodegeneration and the scientific advances that have paved the way for potential therapeutic options for patients. Reviews presented in this book present carefully validated research findings. The book begins with a section devoted to general mechanisms of neuronal death and explains the challenges of translating the scientific discoveries to the clinic. In section two, there are reviews on specific cellular dysfunctions that are common to more than one form of neurodegenerative disease, exploring the universal pathophysiology responsible for degenerating neurones. Findings on common neurodegenerative diseases are also reviewed in further detail followed by information on advances in therapeutic techniques that could be translated to a clinical setting. This book is intended as a primer as well as an update for molecular biologists and medical researchers on the mechanism of neurodegeneration and progress in the treatment of associated diseases.

The presented study has two purposes. One of them is to discuss selected views as to the causes of selective mutism in the context of the classification position, along with controversies around the diagnostic criteria for this disorder. Another, more important from the perspective of this study, is to discuss the specifics of the functioning of a child with selective mutism in the educational environment. The problems on which this reflection focuses is the question about the possibility of recognizing selective mutism in the preschool/school environment and the features of the functioning of a child with selective mutism in the educational environment. To discuss the issues analyzed in the study, the author used the most important review papers published so far regarding the analyzed topic. In the first part of the study, the author emphasized the scale of the problem in the population of preschool/school children with reference to statistical data indicating the incidence of mutism in the population. The author also discusses the diagnostic criteria of mutism in terms of DSM-5 and ICD-10. Author pointed out problem areas related to the recognition of mutism. In the next part of the study, the author described selected reasons for the appearance of mutism in the child’s development. Then the author characterized the specificity of the child’s functioning in the educational environment, emphasizing the consequences of not implementing the appropriate educational and therapeutic interactions. An analysis of the literature indicates that it is necessary to increase the scientific interest in the problem of mutism among children. The problem has serious consequences and affects an increasing number of children. For this reason, knowledge of how a child with mutism functions in a kindergarten/school enables the implementation of adequate forms of help and support.

Artificial intelligence

More than Buildings studies the buildings typology in Portuguese cities and their relationship with the program (the way in which it responds to a function), the territory where it is integrated and with time and the way in which built forms evolve. The book is structured around a set of key theoretical texts that highlight the potential of knowledge about typology (and its specific formal characteristics) in the production of new architectural objects. In this sense, the book has a didactic value based on the theoretical synthesis it produces, which allows it to expose certain spatial and formal attributes of the typologies and thus constitute a reference for new processes of architectural production. The method of analysis and decomposition of the case studies presented in each chapter provide a useful reading and interpretation key for different readers. The typology should be understood as a reference in the act of designing, demonstrating how to understand the elementary formal and spatial principles. For the municipal authorities, or other political decision-makers, the book will enable them to interpret the value of typology and its relevance in the production of cities. This data could be useful, for example, in planning actions that aim at preserving or converting urban areas of architectural value. The book will be relevant to readers within an academic framework and in the professional field engaged in work around architecture, cities, planning, and conservation.

A new information and communication technology (ICT) has been deployed in the battle against Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that is both progressive and disabling with significant impact on quality of life. This book explains the experience following from the achieved results in the REMPARK project on Parkinson’s disease management up to the launch of a new medical product to the European market, STAT-ON™. The new medical device, STAT-ON™ is a real Holter for the motor symptoms associated to PD. It provides objective information about the severity and distribution of PD motor symptoms and their fluctuations in daily life, allowing for an unbiased and correct monitoring of the patient. This real-time remote monitoring solution gives additional information to neurologists, opening up new possibilities for more effective treatment, more accurate control in clinical trials, and for early detection of motor complications. The number of PD patients is continuously rising, adding complexity, especially in the management at the level of public health. It is an incurable disease, with a symptomatic treatment that tries to alleviate the associated symptoms through a correct adjustment of the medication. For this reason, it is also very important to be aware of changes in the manifestation of the symptoms, which may indicate the need for an adjustment or even a change in the therapy strategy. The intensive complementary use of STAT-ON™ by neurologists, health professionals and researchers, will increase the independence and quality of life of patients, improving their disease management, and contributing to a deeper understanding of the nature of the disease.

Soil and groundwater underpin the Earth's critical zone, sustaining water supply, agriculture, ecosystems, and socio-economic development. They face escalating pressures from climate change and human activities, resulting in contamination, depletion, and degradation. The accurate assessment and sustainable management of these systems thus represent an urgent global priority. This Special Issue addresses these challenges via diverse methods. Studies employ integrated numerical modeling of contaminant transport and geological effects, alongside hydrochemical and isotopic analyses to trace pollution and hydrogeochemical evolution. Advanced assessment tools quantify health risks and inform zoned management. Together, these works integrate physical, chemical, and data-driven approaches to decipher complex system behaviors and provide scalable management insights. The research underscores the need for interdisciplinary integration. Effective assessment requires combining mechanistic knowledge with monitoring and predictive tools that capture spatiotemporal dynamics. Future work should link groundwater models with climate–land-use scenarios, develop uncertainty-aware risk frameworks, enable cross-scale integration, and incorporate hydro-biogeochemical processes. This Special Issue aimed to foster collaboration and guide adaptive strategies to protect these vital resources.

Souvent premiers employeurs des villes où ils sont installés, objets de débats politiques et de mobilisations citoyennes, en particulier au moment des regroupements, fusions et désaffections d'établissements ou encore en période de crise sanitaire, les hôpitaux sont au centre de la vie économique, sociale et politique mais aussi culturelle des cités. Cet ouvrage cherche précisément à mettre en évidence l'ancienneté de l'emprise urbaine des hôpitaux ainsi que celle des liens entretenus entre ces espaces d'assistance et, de plus en plus, de soins, avec les sociétés urbaines du Moyen Age à nos jours et souligne le rôle important joué, à travers les siècles, par l'hôpital dans la vie de la cité.

Certaines logiques de migration internationale de travail s’apparen­tent de plus en plus à des logiques de circulation – l’émigration ne se déclinant plus en termes de rupture ou de nouveau départ. Aujourd’hui, les liens maintenus de part et d’autre de l’espace migratoire, le va-et-vient des personnes, l’échange de biens et d’idées constituent un système migratoire dynamique dans lequel le mouvement se perpétue selon des lois qui lui sont propres. La circulation migratoire entre le Mexique et les Etats-Unis en est sans doute l’exemple le plus manifeste, et l’incessante activité à la frontière entre les deux pays en témoigne au quotidien. La traditionnelle image du paysan mexicain traversant le Rio Grande pour rejoindre une grande ville des Etats-Unis ne recouvre que très partiellement la réalité ; celle du norteño revenant régulièrement au pays ou celle des familles acheminant des marchandises pour des proches à l’étranger peuvent aujourd’hui l’accompagner. Mais comment s’organisent ces mobilités de personnes et de biens ? Quel est le rôle des individus et des réseaux sociaux dans la mise en place et le maintien des logiques du mouvement ? Plus largement, quels peuvent être les impacts de ces mises en relation multiformes pour les sociétés et les territoires qu’elles traversent ? C’est à de telles questions que s’attache l’auteur en proposant ici une lecture socio-spatiale du système migratoire mexicain. Analysant les stratégies mises en place par les migrants, il révèle les différentes étapes du processus migratoire et les logiques d’investissement dédoublé des individus dans les lieux de départ et d’installation. En s’intéressant à des espaces de vie complexifiés à la fois par le mouvement et par des situations de multiculturalisme, l’étude offre une réflexion sur la façon dont les logiques transnationales de mobilité produisent des formes spécifiques de rapport au territoire.

Written in the early 1970s amidst widespread debate over the causes of gender inequality, Marilyn Strathern’s Before and After Gender was intended as a widely accessible analysis of gender as a powerful cultural code and sex as a defining mythology. But when the series for which it was written unexpectedly folded, the manuscript went into storage, where it remained for more than four decades. This book finally brings it to light, giving the long-lost feminist work—accompanied here by an afterword from Judith Butler—an overdue spot in feminist history. Strathern incisively engages some of the leading feminist thinkers of the time. Building with characteristic precision toward a bold conclusion in which she argues that we underestimate the materializing grammars of sex and gender at our own peril, she offers a powerful challenge to the intransigent mythologies of sex that still plague contemporary society. The result is a sweeping display of Strathern’s vivid critical thought.

In Bezug auf den Nationalsozialismus ist oft von einer Bankrotterklärung der Soziologie die Rede. Der Band widmet sich daher der Frage, wie die erst spät universitär verankerte Soziologie in Österreich den Nationalsozialismus thematisiert hat: Wie verhielt sie sich im Vergleich zu anderen wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen? Und welche Auswirkungen hatte und hat die Fachgeschichte auf die Entwicklung der Disziplin und das (un)bewusste Tradieren kontaminierter Konzepte nach 1945? Dabei werden verschüttete empirische und theoretische Arbeiten zum Nationalsozialismus vorgestellt und die Weitergabe von Erfahrungen in den Nachkriegs-Narrativen der soziologischen Forschung und gesellschaftlichen Erfahrung thematisiert.

This Special Issue presents the latest advances in the field of Textile-Reinforced Cement Composites, including Textile-Reinforced Concrete (TRC), Textile-Reinforced Mortar (TRM), Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM), etc. These composite materials distinguish themselves from other fibre-reinforced concrete materials by their strain-hardening behaviour under tensile loading. This Special Issue is composed of 14 papers covering new insights in structural and material engineering. The papers include investigations on the level of the fibre reinforcement system as well as on the level of the composites, investigating their impact and fatigue behaviour, durability and fire behaviour. Both the strengthening of existing structures and the development of new structural systems such as lightweight sandwich systems are presented, and analysis and design methods are discussed. This Special Issue demonstrates the broadness and intensity of the ongoing advancements in the field of Textile-Reinforced Cement composites and the importance of several future research directions.

Teacher training is a backbone in the increase in educational quality. This book includes research experiences carried out for several years that have resulted in the improvement of such teacher training in our field.

Ville de foires et place bancaire de renom international au temps de ses marchands-banquiers italiens, Lyon s'impose au cours du XVIIIe siècle comme une ville manufacturière de premier plan, capitale européenne de la soierie. Au moment où les pôles d'impulsion de l'économie-monde glissent vers les ports de l'Atlantique, la cité du Rhône se repositionne par rapport aux nouveaux systèmes d'échanges que génère l'atlantisation de l'économie. Animée par une réelle dynamique commerciale, Lyon se tourne vers les villes-ports afin de rechercher de nouveaux débouchés pour ses précieuses étoffes, ses rubans de soie, or et argent, ses articles de mercerie et de confection. Mais il lui faut aussi assurer ses approvisionnements en denrées et marchandises d'outre-mer, car les modes de consommation évoluent : le café et le sucre s'imposent désormais dans le quotidien des Lyonnais, autant que les épices et les belles cotonnades des Indes. De son côté la Grande Fabrique exige de nouvelles matières tinctoriales, de l'indigo, de la cochenille et des bois de teinture, ainsi que les fils d'or et d'argent indispensables à la confection de ses étoffes les plus luxueuses, en attendant l'essor des manufactures de coton. Aussi, au cours du XVIIIe siècle, Lyon intègre-t-elle l'Atlantique français à son espace commercial, mais s'ouvre aussi sur l'Atlantique espagnol, principalement à partir du port de Cadix, tête de pont de la Carrera de Indias, où s'implante une importante colonie de marchands lyonnais. L'étude des relations économiques, commerciales et financières qui se mettent alors en place entre Lyon et les espaces océaniques permet de comprendre comment une ville de l'intérieur qui fut un pôle d'impulsion du grand commerce maritime au XVIe siècle réagit à l'essor de l'économie atlantique au cours du XVIIIe siècle, comment elle s'adapte à un contexte nouveau dans lequel l'impulsion est donnée par les villes-ports, quelles connexions s'établissent avec le négoce portuaire et quelles interactions peuvent jouer entre elle et les espaces ultramarins.