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This book is the result of the international symposium, "Establishment and Evaluation of Advanced Water Treatment Technology Systems Using Functions of Complex Microbial Community", organized in 2000 at the University of Tokyo. The volume presents the most recent progress in application of microbial community analysis, health-related microorganisms management, nutrient removal, waste sludge minimization and materials recovery, and water management in tropical countries. Included in this work are the following major topics in wastewater treatment: application of various innovative techniques of molecular biology such as FISH, DGGE to microbial community analysis of various types of wastewater treatment; microbial aspect of biological removal of nitrogen and phosphorus; emission of nitrous oxide during nitrogen transformation; reduction of sludge production in the wastewater treatment process using membrane and material recovery of biopolymer and cell of photosynthetic bacteria. Health-related microbiology in water supply and water management using recent innovative molecular biological tools is presented and health risk management is discussed. The practical application of wastewater treatment in developing countries, especially tropical countries is also reviewed. Researchers in the field of environmental engineering and applied microbiology, and practical engineers who wish to learn the most recent progress in the microbiological aspect of water and wastewater management, will find this book a useful tool

'Business Economics: Theory and Application' is an undaunting and accessible text that focuses on the real world of business and how this relates to economics. The links to business are far more intrinsic that in other business economics textbooks where a business "flavour" is simply added to traditional economics theory. It provides an in-depth jargon-free analysis, particularly relevant for one semester courses. A variety of case studies and questions are used throughout the text both to illustrate key points and for seminar and assignment work. Diagrams are included to aid the explanation of complex issues, and review and discussion questions are incorporated to consolidate and expand on the learning. A lecturer's supplement accompanies the text. Accessible and undaunting approach for students with very little prior knowledge of the subject Includes economic theory which is used to explore and analyse business issues and application of this theory through international case studies Demonstrates the links between economics, strategy and marketing

Numerous sources of ionizing radiation can lead to human exposure: natural sources, nuclear explosions, nuclear power generation, use of radiation in medical, industrial and research purposes, and radiation emitting consumer products. Before assessing the radiation dose to a population one requires a precise knowledge of the activity of a number of radionuclides. The basis for the assessment of the dose to a population from a release of radioactivity to the environment, the estimation of the potential clinical heath effects due to the dose received and, ultimately, the implementation of countermeasures to protect the population, is the measurement of radioactive contamination in the environment after the release. It is the purpose of this book to present the facts about the presence of radionuclides in the environment, natural and man made. There is no aspect of radioactivity, which has marked the passing century, not mentioned or discussed in this book

Tourism Reassessed: Blight or blessing? provides a balanced assessment of the effects of tourism on 20th century life and evaluates its significance in international relations. Inspired by Sir George Young's book, Tourism: Blessing or blight?, published 25 years ago, this book places tourism firmly within its wider context. Tourism Reassessed sees tourism as: A factor of international relations A facet of the global economic order It takes a new approach by examining the place of tourism in the global political economy, analysing both how far it is shaped by the political-economic system and its own role in shaping that system. Tourism Reassessed is ideal for educators and researchers in tourism and all those studying or interested in the subject. Policy makers in governments and international and national organizations in tourism and related fields will find this essential reading. Presents a holistic view of tourism and society Provides an up-to-date and impartial textbook on the major issues faced and generated by tourism First book to examine the place of tourism in the global political economy

In this economic-clinical review of home care services, the reader finds a brief economic history of psychiatric services in this country, several models of psychiatric care, an illustration of the burdens borne by families when such services are unavailable, and strategies for developing "managed care-friendly" services programs. This book addresses real-world issues of designing services models that meet the clinical needs of an underserved population while also appealing to the economic imperatives of managed care. Key Features * Economic models of home care in a managed care environment * Standard clinical goals of home care * Recommended guidelines for home care services * Clinical vignettes * Family burdens of home care * "New players" in psychiatric home care * Managed care-friendly payment models * Use of paraprofessionals in home care * Coordination of inpatient and home care services

This symposium was jointly organized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and The Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. These proceedings will provide a stimulus for taking up the challenges of environmental policy development in the 21st century, and will contribute to continuing co-operation. Clean air is a basic condition for health. Air pollution aggravates respiratory problems, leading to increased sickness absenteeism, increased use of health care services and even premature mortality. Air pollution is under intensive discussion in the United States and Europe. In The Netherlands, a wide range of policy instruments have been formulated which have reduced air pollution. For example; since 1975, sulphur dioxide and lead emissions have been reduced. However, emission reduction figures for many other substances are more modest. Many air pollution problems persist because progress in countering these problems is nullified by growth in the economy and traffic. Another important target is the prevention of climate change. The international community is agreed that the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has led to a gradual increase in the earth's temperature. In terms of the environmental consequences and social implications, the greenhouse problem surpasses all other air quality problems. Across Europe, strategies are being developed to reduce acidification and photochemical air pollution. An air emission ceiling for each country in the European Union is being agreed. In the area of climate change, there is good co-operation between the United States, The Netherlands and other EU Members States in the ongoing global negotiations. This is the start of a new movement. In the last century economies and societies developed through increasing human productivity. In the next century they must develop through increasing the productivity of fuel and natural resources

Expert Trevor Kletz examines the causes and aftermaths of numerous plant disasters--almost every one of which could have been prevented. Case histories illustrate what went wrong, why it went wrong, and then guide you in how to circumvent similar tragedies. Learn from the mistakes of others. This invaluable and respected book examines the causes and aftermaths of numerous plant disasters - almost every one of which could have been prevented. Case histories illustrate what went wrong and why it went wrong, and then guide you in how to circumvent similar tragedies. * Learn from the mistakes of others with this important book! * Examines the causes and aftermaths of numerous plant disasters - most of which could have been prevented * Case histories illustrate what went wrong, why it went wrong, and then guide you in how to circumvent similar tragedies

The environment, as modified and created by people, is largely about the use of information, its generation and exchange. How do recent innovations in the technologies of information management and communication affect our use of space and place, and the way we perceive and think about our surroundings? This volume provides an international, exploratory forum for the complex phenomenon of new information and communication technology as it permeates and transforms our physical world, and our relation to it: the architectural definition of our surrounding, geographical space, urban form and immediate habitats. This book is a reader, an attempt at registering disciplinary changes in context, at tracing subtexts for which most mainstream disciplines have no established language. The project is to give voice to an emerging meta-discipline that has its logic across the specializations. A wide range of professionals and academics report findings, views and ideas. Together, they describe the architecture of a postmodern paradigm: how swiftly mutating the proliferating technology applications have begun to interact with the construction and reading of physical space in architecture, economics, geography, history, planning, social sciences, transport, visual art - but also in the newer domains that have joined this spectrum through the very nature of their impacts: information technology and telecommunications. The space navigated in this volume is vast, both in physical terms and in its virtual and analogous form. It ranges from the space that immediately encompasses, or is simulated to encompass, the human body - as in buildings and virtual tectonics - to that of towns and regions. We stay clear of molecular-scale space, and of dimensions that are larger than earth

The Knowledge Evolution offers a unique and powerful road map for understanding knowledge creation, learning, and performance in everyday work. This book reframes current thinking by delving into the hidden world of knowledge supporting both individual and organizational performance, laying the foundation for the emerging art of knowledge management. Packed with best practices from leading edge companies, essential guidelines, design principles, analogies, and conceptual frameworks, it serves as a practical guidebook for mastering the Knowledge Era. It will help managers make more intelligent decisions about knowledge creation, reduce wasteful technology investments and lead to new ease and confidence in applying knowledge and learning principles for themselves and for their organizations. Verna Allee delves into current thinking and practice to unravel the genetic code of knowledge itself. This revolutionary approach has surfaced a simple and elegant knowledge archetype. She demonstrates how this archetype can help us deal with complexity and suggests ways of self-organizing that make profound sense in today's networked enterprises. From strategies for core knowledge competencies to the key components of individual expertise, The Knowledge Evolution zeroes in on the critical success factors for the knowledge-based enterprise. What emerges is an approach to knowledge management that is simple enough to communicate at every level of the organization, yet rich enough to encompass all the complexity of modern enterprises. Verna Allee is the founder of Integral Performance Group, a consulting practice in California that specializes in the learning organization, knowledge competencies, organizational systems change, systems thinking, total quality and learning, benchmarking support, best practices research, and strategic development. She holds a degree in the Study of Human Consciousness and her work is informed by a deep interest in intelligence, human development, cognition, intuition and consciousness. She is the author of Learning Links: Enhancing Individual and Team Performance, Pfeiffer and Co-Jossey Bass, 1996. Explains the best practices from leading edge companies. Contains a learning guide for TQM tools. Gives navigational aids for the Knowledge Era

A Theory of Individual Behavior dispels the notion that individuals act as rational agents and strives to capture idiosyncratic humanness through rigorous mathematics. Wichers describes a version of economic behavior that is more comprehensive and satisfying than neoclassical models yet still consistent with the usual aggregated concepts that form the basis of applied microeconomics. Written in an accessible and convincing style, A Theory of Individual Behavior discusses innovative material in a format that encourages classroom use. All chapters have questions at their conclusions, and there i

Just before the end of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, more than 700 wells in Kuwaiti oil fields were set on fire. Several international companies and scientific organisations were involved in extinguishing the fires and in assessing the impact of this major environmental incursion. Kuwaiti Oil Fires: Regional Environmental Perspectives summarises these effects. The topics covered include the application of remote sensing techniques to determine the location of wells on fire and plume movement; air quality and particulate monitoring by ground stations and aircraft measurements; organic and inorganic constituents in the air; use of modeling techniques to study dispersion characteristics of pollutants and deposition of soot; and the efforts by the fire fighters in extinguishing fires and capping the wells. A brief overview of the causes of the crisis and the role of regional and international groups in resolving the dispute is presented as well as some basic and useful statistics of the region covering general information on economic aspects and exploitation of oil resources in both Iraq and Kuwait. Problems faced by the fire fighting teams, the preparations made to overcome the problems, and technology used in extinguishing the well fires are also discussed. Numerous colour photographs are used to illustrate the problems encountered and the techniques involved in their solution

Preface -- Part One: DELAY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS -- Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Basic Theory of Delay Differential Equations -- Chapter 3. Characteristic Equations -- Part Two: APPLICATIONS IN POPULATION DYNAMICS -- Chapter 4. Global Stability for Single Species Models -- Chapter 5. Periodic Solutions, Chaos, Structured Single Species Models -- Chapter 6. Global Stability for Multi-Species Models -- Chapter 7. Periodic Solutions i Multi-Species Models -- Chapter 8. Permanence -- Chapter 9. Neutral Delay Models -- References -- Appendix -- Index

A large number of nationwide research programmes in the field of acidification have been carried out in the last decade. Especially in Western Europe, extensive programmes have resulted in a good overview of all the effects - mostly negative - caused by acidifying substances. There is now consensus that types of acidification damage relate to the unique geography of an area: air pollution affects vegetation; acid aerosol the ozone layer. New in this volume, is the relation between scientific results of integrated research programmes and policy actions to prevent, reduce and limit the widespread damage caused by acidification. The results of many different national research programmes are evaluated and compared to present a unique compilation for the research scientist and policy maker. In this volume thematic reviews on specific topics of acidification research are presented, followed by overviews of acidification policy plans and actual abatement plans. The result is the best review of acidification research carried out worldwide during the last decade and presentation of the critical relation between research results and policy actions

Asbestos minerals have novel properties which make them highly desirable for industrial use. While the health hazards of asbestos have long been recognized and are well documented in the medical literature, ecological and environmental research involving asbestos fibers has only been undertaken in the past 25 years and the significant deleterious effects of asbestos materials on soil and plant ecology has been much less well publicised. This book examines non-occupational exposure and environmental effects of asbestos relating to animal and plant growth in the natural environment. Major nutrient imbalances and excess concentrations of trace metals have been identified as main causes for the poor plant response. Given the complexity of the asbestos analysis and the extent of the problem, this book attempts to bring together the multitude of subjects pertaining to asbestos in the natural environment with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the chemical characteristics of asbestos-rich materials and their effect on plant growth