Open Access Books

Sharīʿa in Africa Today. Reactions and Responses explores how Islamic law has influenced relations between Muslims and Christians, through a series of case studies by young African scholars working in four African countries: in Sudan where total Sharīʿa was applied until recently; in Nigeria where the Northern states re-introduced Sharīʿa courts; in Kenya where the place of Islamic courts has been contested in constitutional debates; in Tanzania where Muslims are calling for the re-introduction of Islamic courts.

The discovery of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) is changed our understanding of genome, transcriptome, and interactions with proteome in a cell. Since the discovery of the first microRNA (miRNA) called lin-4 on Caenorhabditis elegans in 1993, our understanding of gene expression has deepened. Further miRNA discoveries have led to the investigation of new ncRNA families and their function, biogenesis, and interactions with other types of molecules. Recent developments in bioinformatics, public databases, sequencing technologies, and biochemical techniques have increased our understanding of the biogenesis, function, and interactions of ncRNAs. This book provides an overview of current ncRNA research dealing with human diseases and cancer and plant miRNAs.

The Second International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, ICAME-22, was held on 25th August, 2022 at the Mechanical Engineering Department of Capital University of Science and Technology. All articles underwent a rigorous single-blind peer review process. ICAME-22 accepted papers in the disciplines of experimental and computational fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat Ttransfer, machine and mechanisms, design, solid mechanics, manufacturing, production and industrial engineering, engineering management, technology management, renewable energy, environmental engineering, bioengineering, materials, failure analysis, and related fields.

Selon l’expression créée par le latiniste italien Gian Biagio Conte et popularisée dans la littérature scientifique par l’historien français Claude Nicolet, on peut considérer l’Histoire naturelle de Pline l’Ancien (C. Plinius Secundus, 23-79 p.C.) comme un véritable “inventaire du monde” romain autour du ier s. p.C. Cette appréciation ne se limite pas aux livres 3-6, consacrés à la géographie. En fait, les 37 livres de cette œuvre qui transmit au Modernes le savoir des Anciens peuvent être utilisés entre autres dans une perspective à la fois géographique et ethnographique. Car Pline, dans son travail de compilation savante et avisée, conduit avec une discipline de fer (son neveu et fils adoptif Pline le Jeune le raconta dans une célèbre épître : “il avait un génie vigoureux, une ardeur extraordinaire, une très grande puissance de veille. Il commençait à travailler à la lumière (…) pour s’assurer non d’heureux auspices, mais le temps d’étudier, et cela une fois la nuit bien tombée”, Lettres, III, 5), ne s’est pas limité à rassembler des informations tirées des auteurs romains et “étrangers”, pour la plupart des Grecs, mais a régulièrement mis en valeur les premiers, dans l’ambition de s’affranchir du poids des autorités grecques et de présenter le monde vu par un Romain. C’est sur le double aspect d’héritage culturel et de recension, deux dimensions généralement associées au terme d’inventaire, que nous avons voulu insister pour donner les lignes directrices de ce recueil d’articles, issu d’un séminaire tenu à Paris-Sorbonne, au premier semestre de l’année universitaire 2016/2017. De l’Afrique du nord au Caucase et à l’Iran, en passant par la Grèce, l’Asie mineure et l’Égypte (sans négliger, bien entendu, la ville de Rome ni l’Italie), nous proposons une série de contributions dans le but d’apporter de nouveaux matériaux à l’appui de l’interprétation d’un texte fondamental pour la compréhension du Principat romain.

Diese Arbeit liefert einen Beitrag zur systematischen Beschreibung der grundlegenden Wirkungszusammenhänge im Technologietransfer zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft. Auf Basis eines marketingintegrierten Kommunikationsmodells werden die grundlegenden Barrieren in technologischen Wissenschafts-Wirtschafts-Beziehungen identifiziert und strategische Handlungsmaßnahmen zu deren Überwindung abgeleitet.

The book addresses the controversial topic of oil and gas production through hydraulic fracturing (fracking), criticized by some for its environmental impact and praised by others as an alternative to the scarcity of fossil fuels for fuel production. The complex and thorny task of presenting the technology without taking sides is undertaken by the authors in seven chapters. The first two cover the historical aspects of fracking and its essential technological features. Chapters three and four offer an overview of the technology's economic aspects, beginning with its boom and discussing its cost and profitability. Chapter five is of particular interest as it examines the experiences of three Latin American oil-producing countries: Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. Chapters six and seven focus on the environmental aspects, and finally, a balance is struck between the pros and cons of the technology. As with any rapidly evolving issue, and considering the time frame in which such material is edited and published, it is evident that the authors' approach does not take into account aspects of the ever-changing reality in the oil industry. It is also possible to disagree with some points of view, but what is undeniable is that material is presented that cannot be ignored.

Iphigenie Leandra Kiefer untersucht in diesem Open-Access-Buch, welchen Beitrag die Implementierung von Design Thinking zur marktorientierten Unternehmensführung und zum Unternehmenserfolg leistet. Auf der Grundlage einer branchenübergreifenden empirischen Untersuchung mit über 100 mittelständischen und großen Unternehmen entwickelt sie ein Erklärungsmodell, welches die zentaralen Einflussfaktoren für eine erfolgreiche Implementierung in großen und mittelständischen Unternehmen aufzeigt. Hierfür entwickelt sie ein Messmodell zur Operationalisierung des Design Thinking Mindset. Es werden konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen abgeleitet, wie Führungsverantwortliche Design Thinking unter Berücksichtigung unternehmensspezifischer Einflussfaktoren in Unternehmen erfolgreich implementieren und den organisationalen Barrieren im Zusammenhang mit der Implementierung von Design Thinking gezielt entgegenwirken können. Dies ist ein Open-Access-Buch.

Rapid advances in AI technologies have generated intense interest and debate about their potential to reshape industries and societies. This book compiles academic papers from "The Economic Perspective of Artificial Intelligence (EPEAI)" conference held at the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences in Germany, in March 2023. The authors explore the economic dimensions of AI, shedding light on its opportunities, challenges and implications.

Digital Twin (DT) developments and applications in the Architectural Engineering Construction (AEC) Industry are emerging. However, insufficient publications synthesised the existing literature on DT of existing buildings, including energy retrofit and challenges as part of Net-zero strategies. When developing DT systems, it is vital to include the existing buildings primarily captured in 2-Dimensions (2-D) static data. To date, the implementation of DT has been minimal in applications in existing buildings in the UK. Despite DT benefits for maintenance (O&M) managers, facilities management (FM) as a comprehensive source of consistent data for predictive maintenance. This study explored the challenges faced by DT adoptions in existing buildings through a systematic review of the extant literature. A systematic approach is adopted to search the Scopus database using relevant keywords such as "Digital Twin.", "Built Environment" and "Existing Buildings.". the study focused on publications from the past five years (2018 to 2023) and prioritised articles in Scopus. The findings of this paper showed that the practitioners, O&M managers, and academics in built environments need more proper knowledge and technical expertise on digital twins as part of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Evidence from the literature resulted in low empirical case studies and applications. The complexity of real-time data integration and interoperability were highlighted as part of the challenges despite the need for comprehensive knowledge of DT in the built environment. Scarce publication on the study was noted. The directions for comprehensive solutions and future research on digital twin applications in existing buildings towards achieving efficient energy retrofits, cost reductions, and net-zero goals were highlighted

entretien; écriture; La Princesse de Clèves; indicible; personnages féminins

For their second study day, the Association des Publicistes Palois invited law students from the Université de Pau et des pays de l’Adour to meet around a unifying theme: “Women and Public Law: Liberty, Equality, Sisterhood”. The proceedings of this day are gathered in this book. This event was an opportunity to address current issues around new questions, such as menstrual precariousness, or renewed questions, such as parity. This conference allowed UPPA students to participate for the first time in a scientific production in law.

"This book explores Salome’s quintessential veiled dance through readings of fictional and poetic texts, dramatic productions, dance performances and silent films, arguing for the central place of this dancer – and her many interpreters – to the wider formal and aesthetic contours of modernism. Loïe Fuller, Maud Allan, Oscar Wilde, Ida Rubinstein, Alla Nazimova, Djuna Barnes, Germaine Dulac, Edward Gordon Craig, W. B. Yeats, Ninette de Valois and Samuel Beckett are foregrounded for their innovative engagements with this paradigmatic fin-de-siècle myth, showing how the ephemeral stuff of dance became a constitutive element of the modernist imagination during this period."

Steroids are essential hormones that regulate biological processes across their lifespan. Steroid hormone production and action must be tightly controlled otherwise there can be detrimental effects on physiological function leading to disease. This reprint contains original and review articles by experts at the cutting edge of their fields published in a Special Issue on the “Molecular mechanisms of steroid hormone biosynthesis and action” of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The topics include: 1) Steroid hormone biosynthesis, including substrate availability, mechanism of steroidogenic enzyme action, and the impact of mutations; 2) Molecular and cellular regulation of steroidogenesis, including steroidogenic cell response to hormone stimulation, signaling pathways, kinases, transcription factors, and gene expression; 3) Molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruptor action on steroidogenic cells; and 4) New tools and approaches to detect and study steroid hormones.

This anthology takes the reader into the work with Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in higher education. PBL is a learning and formative strategy that opens up a space of possibilities where learning can emerge. Through active participation, exploration, and interaction, students can acquire greater knowledge than they would on their own. In PBL, collaboration is both a means and an end—a means to increase disciplinary knowledge and understanding, and an end because collaboration can develop reflective students who share responsibility. With contributors from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and NLA University College, the research spans a range of themes, linking problem-based learning to teaching, supervision, practice placement, creativity, leadership, play, learning, and formation. The anthology originates from the research group Problem-Based Learning at NLA University College. This is research for those who are curious about PBL as a learning and formative strategy, and it provides insight into how PBL can be implemented in a good and constructive way. The chapters can be read individually or as a whole.