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In this book, the authors discuss the principles, methodology and emerging challenges of drug development. Topics include outsourcing and technology transfer in pharmaceutical companies; analytical tools and chemometrics in the drug development process; the use of cytometry for drug development of cell cycling inhibitors; and the antiproliferative effects of phenolic compounds isolated from the Brazilian propolis.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a major hormonal system that plays an essential role in regulating salt-water balance and blood pressure. In this book, the authors discuss the physiology, role in disease and health implications of RAS. Topics include the function of the renin-angiotension-aldosterone system in ISIAH rats with stress-sensitive arterial hypertension; RAS implications for eye diseases, obesity and diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; intensive blockade of renin-angiotensin systems; glomerular renin-angiotensin system activation; the role of vitamin D in RAS; the renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms; and a discussion on whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are a contradiction for contrast-induced nephropathy prophylaxis?

In this book, the authors discuss the teaching methods, expectations and current challenges in kindergarten education. Topics include designing educational material for early childhood mathematics education; additive bilingualism of immigrant children; evolution of graphomotor parameters in kindergartner''s handwriting; multi-sensory handwriting curriculum enhancing kindergarten skills; family environment as a predictor of behavioural competencies in early elementary years; an exploration of meaning in young children''s images and designs; and first aid training in the kindergarten.

This book addresses two interrelated problems in economics modelling: non-nested hypothesis testing in econometrics, and regression models with stochastic/random regressors. The primary motivation for this book stems from the nature of econometric models. As an abstraction from reality, each statistical model consists of mathematical relationships and stochastic, behavioural assumptions. In practice, the validity of these assumptions and the adequacy of the mathematical specifications is ascertained through a series of diagnostic and specification tests. Conventional test procedures, however, fail to recognise that economic theory generally provides more than one distinct model to explain any given economic phenomenon.

The book offers a comprehensive review of current research regarding the influences of environmental factors involved in human health and ageing. Many environmental compounds promote excessive oxidative stress, which is the primary cause of accelerated ageing and which also contributes to the development of human diseases. The basic concepts of ageing theories are discussed, as is the promotion of oxidative stress which has been identified as one of the most important mechanisms responsible for the toxic effects of the majority of environmental pollutants. Antioxidants play an important role in the defence against pollutant-induced toxicity.

The United States is a maritime nation. From its origin as 13 former colonies to its place as the pre-eminent world power today, our Nation''s success has been dependent on our coastal ports and inland waterways to conduct trade. Recognising the importance of transportation to trade, the Nation had made a strong intergenerational commitment to develop its transportation networks. These networks of highways, railways and inland waterways connect the interior of our country to our ports, which connect us to the rest of the world. These transportation networks have contributed to our success by providing a cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable means to transport large quantities of cargo over long distances and across oceans, keeping this Nation competitive in world trade. This book provides an analysis of the broad challenges and opportunities presented by the increasing deployment of post-Panamax vessels and outlines options on how Congress could address the port and inland waterway infrastructure modernisation issues needed to accommodate those vessels.

There is currently a growing body of evidence that supplementing the human diet with natural products is of major benefit for human health and well-being. Nowadays, the use of complementary or alternative medicine, functional food and especially the consumption of natural products, has been increasing rapidly world-wide, mostly because of their supposed less frequent side effects. Both in conventional and traditional medicines, food and natural products continue to provide valuable therapeutic agents. The issues regarding the efficacy and safety of currently available modern medicine agents have prompted the search for safer and more effective alternatives. This book contains a comprehensive collection of the beneficial features of fruits, vegetables, nuts and medicinal plants and herbs, against various diseases and how they should be utilised to obtain all their qualities and benefits.

Since the 1960s, the U.S. electric power system has experienced a major blackout about once every 10 years. Each has been a vivid reminder of the importance society places on the continuous availability of electricity and has led to calls for changes to enhance reliability. At the root of these calls are judgements about what reliability is worth and how much should be paid to ensure it. In principle, comprehensive information on the actual reliability of the electric power system and on how proposed changes would affect reliability ought to help inform these judgements. Yet, comprehensive, national-scale information on the reliability of the U.S. electric power system is lacking. This book helps to address this gap by assessing trends in U.S. electricity reliability based on information reported by electric utilities on power interruptions experienced by their customers.

In this book, the authors present new research in the study of sex chromosomes. Topics discussed in this compilation include the evolution of mammalian X chromosomes and X chromosome inactivation; the role of sex chromosomes in mammalian female fertility; the fate of the Y chromosome; the role of Y chromosome genes on tumour development risk in disgenetic gonads; deletion of amelogenin Y-locus; non-invasive prenatal diagnosis for foetal sex determination; and application of X chromosomal STR polymorphisms to individual identification.

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most largely used man-made polymeric materials. This synthetic stereo-regular polymer has a high tensile strength combined with a low cost, which could explain it''s wide usage and application. This book covers some important advances in PP research, including its synthesis, characterizations, modifications, and applications. A thorough understanding of propylene polymerization, mainly concerning its physical and chemical features, as crystalline morphology, for instance, is useful to understand how it could influence PP mechanical properties and heat resistance. These characteristics are directly related to PP rheology and consequently the tendencies to form composites or blends. PP hybrid materials amplify the possibilities of obtaining new useful supplies, and also allow recycling or reusing wastes or low cost resources, as ashes, besides increasing its value.

In this book, the authors present current research on the types, design and safety issues of railways. Topics discussed include the acoustic characteristics of noise in train stations; monitoring railway structure conditions and opportunities to use wireless sensor networks as tools to improve the monitoring process; hydraulic absorbers as dampers to dissipate the energy of oscillations in railway electric equipment; development of train fare calculation and adjustment systems using VDM++; efficient development and verification of safe railway control software; and evolution of the connectivity of the Portuguese broad gauge railway network (1948-2012).

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the total amount of water lost by plant transpiration and soil evaporation. Since about 90% of precipitation received in semi-arid and sub-humid climates is lost to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration, accurate estimations of ET are of crucial need for climate studies, weather forecasts, hydrological surveys, ecological monitoring, and water resource management. This book reviews research on new developments in all areas of evapotranspiration application. It examines the evapotranspiration processes under different environmental and climatic conditions as well as the different methods for modeling and measurement of evapotranspiration at both local and regional scales.

This book examines the significance, prospects, and policy options of U.S.-Japan economic relations. Japan and the United States are the two largest economic powers. Together they account for over 30% of world domestic product, for a significant portion of international trade in goods and services, and for a major portion of international investment. This economic clout makes the United States and Japan potentially powerful actors in the world economy. Economic conditions in the United States and Japan have a significant impact on the rest of the world. The U.S.-Japan bilateral economic relationship can influence economic conditions in other countries. The two economies are highly integrated via trade in goods and services with large markets for each others exports and important sources of imports.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) enables any person to access, without explanation or justification, to certain existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records. Pursuant to FOIA, the public has presumptive access to requested agency records unless the material falls within any of the FOIA''s nine categories of exemption from disclosure. Disputes over the accessibility of requested records can be appealed administratively or ultimately settled in court. FOIA is a widely used tool of inquiry and information gathering for various sectors of American society, including the press, businesses, scholars, attorneys, consumers, and activists. This book discusses FOIA''s history, examines its implementation, and provides potential policy approaches for Congress

This book provides an overview of the concerns of U.S. companies, farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers, who increasingly encounter non-tariff trade barriers in the form of product standards, testing requirements, and other technical requirements as they seek to sell products and services around the world. As tariff barriers to industrial and agricultural trade have fallen, standards-related measures of this kind have emerged as a key concern. Governments, market participants, and other entities can use standards-related measures as an effective and efficient means of achieving legitimate commercial and policy objectives. But when standards-related measures are outdated, overly burdensome, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate, these measures can reduce competition, stifle innovation, and create unnecessary technical barriers to trade.

Clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that chronic diseases may have their origin during early life and that early nutrition could be a key factor. New DNA technologies have been applied to evaluate possible long-term changes after exposure to famine in early life. These new instruments may clarify possible biological mechanisms linking early-life nutritional insults to health in adulthood. This book presents a state of the art overview of possible mechanisms for nutritional programming in relation to changes in dietary patterns. It also provides examples of nutrition deprivation in various famine settings around the world, mostly during conditions of war or political strife, and of the short and long-term outcomes after nutrition deprivation in these populations. This book includes contributions from many disciplines and represents the most comprehensive summary to date of long-term health and economic outcomes related to specific famines. The book is intended for those who are interested in the early origins of health and disease from a biological perspective, and those who want to know more about the long-term social, epidemiological and demographic consequences of specific famines in modern history.

DNA methylation is a cryptic phenomenon that invokes the methylation of the cytosines in nuclear DNA and is responsible for a wide variety of essential processes, starting from cellular differentiation (embryogenesis), transposon silencing, miRNA dependent methylation and gene regulation. This book presents an overview of different aspects of DNA methylation with a focus on its basic principles and mechanisms and gene silencing. Also discussed, is the role of DNA methylation in plants; epigenetic control of circadian clock operation; photoperiodic flowering; and DNA methylation in cancer and its role in multiple sclerosis.

"Advances in Medicine and Biology" presents original research results on the leading edge of medicine and biology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial research results across a broad spectrum. This book discusses research on topics such as the molecular biological aspects of lung development; adenosine receptors in psychiatric and neurological disorders; invasive monitoring in anaesthesia; fluorescent oligonucleotides; surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the biology laboratory; paleopathology of post-traumatic bone infections; first cases of syphilis in Naples; the implication of novel proteolytic modification in adhesion-GPCR signaling; managed care methods and impact analysis; and understanding GPCR-ligand pair dynamics.

The term "conflict minerals" is used to describe metal ores that, when mined, sold or traded, are widely reported to play key roles in fuelling armed conflict and human rights abuses in several far eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). Links between conflict, human rights abuses, and the mining of and trade in these minerals have been the subject of numerous investigations, research studies, and policy papers, as well as policy advocacy campaigns focused on a need to respond to the persistence of conflict and its large toll in lives and human rights abuses. This book provides an overview of the current international response and SEC disclosure rules and testimony pertaining to the issue of conflict minerals, with a focus on cutting links between the minerals trade and those involved in or abetting armed conflict in eastern DRC.

U.S. foreign-trade zones (FTZs) are geographic areas declared to be outside the normal customs territory of the United States. This means that, for foreign merchandise entering FTZs and re-exported as different products, customs procedures are streamlined and tariffs do not apply. For products intended for U.S. consumption, full customs procedures are applied and duties are payable when they exit the FTZ. In 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, Congress passed the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Act. It was designed to expedite and encourage international trade while promoting domestic activity and investment. The U.S. FTZ program offers a variety of customs benefits to businesses which combine foreign and domestic merchandise in FTZs. This book examines current issues relating to the U.S. FTZ program including whether U.S. FTZs encourage a misallocation of U.S. resources; data availability issues; the U.S. employment and global competitiveness impact of FTZs; and the effectiveness of trade zones worldwide as a tool for economic development.

In this book, the authors discuss new research on personality disorders including grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and the nature of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD); an examination of personality pathology with the five factor model and personality psychopathology-5; forensic and non-forensic mental health nurses'' perceptions in relation to their clinical or management focus for those with a diagnostic label of personality/psychopathic disorder; and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) and the Personality Disorder Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+) in a mixed Italian psychiatric sample.

This book assesses the financial literacy of retail investors in the United States. Literacy involves the "ability and confidence to effectively apply or use knowledge related to personal finance concepts and products." Investor knowledge is particularly important in an age in which retirement programs in the United States have moved from defined-benefit plans, in which the employer bears investment responsibility, to defined-contribution plans, in which the responsibility has shifted to employees. If employees do not have the requisite knowledge, they will not be prepared to make informed decisions regarding the management of their financial affairs, including investing for a secure retirement. Studies have found that American investors repeatedly do not understand the most basic financial concepts, such as compound interest and inflation; the meaning of stocks and bonds; the role of interest rates in the pricing of securities; the function of the stock market; and the value of portfolio diversification, among others.

Water quality is fundamental for our health and affects the environment we share with other animals including marine, freshwater and terrestrial species. Water quality is often managed based on indicators for levels of bacteria and other chemical/physical contents. To assist in better management and monitoring of water quality, this book provides an overview of state of the art assessments of water quality; with an understanding how water quality is affected, and improving water quality for irrigation, drinking and recreation activities.

In this book, the authors study the psychology of stress. Topics discussed include the integration of psychological factors and the metaphysical representation of the skin in cutaneous homeostasis under stress influence and its effect on skin wound healing; the use of the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ) in the investigation of task-induced stress; stress in adoptive parenthood; cognitive deficit and immune alterations after chronic stress exposure; stress and homosexuality; the psychological factors influencing inter-individual variation in carbon dioxide-induced stress response; and chronic psychosocial work stress in teachers.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is conceptualized as a neurobehavioural condition that is characterised by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and motor over activity. It is estimated to be present in 37% of school-aged populations and can result in significant impairment in academic, social and family functioning. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the cognitive symptoms, genetics and treatment outcomes of ADHD. Topics discussed include the disadvantages and benefits of stimulant treatment; a discussion on whether professions differ in their beliefs about the causes and treatments of ADHD; motor coordination dysfunction in ADHD; nutrition optimisation in the multi-modal treatment of ADHD; and the relation between sluggish cognitive tempo and ADHD.

Rural development is still an important policy goal in most developing countries where a high proportion of the population lives and works in rural areas. This book provides in-depth empirical discussions of contemporary development issues of rural development in northern Ghana with wider applicability in terms of the processes, needs, strategies, and recommendations for policy for most of the savannah ecological zone of Africa. Although the rest of Ghana is developing much faster than northern Ghana, its people perceive substantial positive changes in their conditions of life as prosperity trickles, albeit slowly down and out to them. Environmental change and economic globalization is rendering ineffective the adaptive strategies of poor farmers in northern Ghana. This book is an important resource for students, researchers, policy makers and NGOs with interest in rural development, dry land areas, marginalized areas and general development. The descriptions and discussions of contemporary challenges of rural development issues using vivid case studies are of relevance for comparison to different and similar country situations.