Suchergebnisse

chapter 1. Understanding the road safety performance of OECD countries / Kavi Bhalia and Dinesh Mohan -- chapter 2. Road traffic injury as a public health problem / Dinesh Mohan -- chapter 3. Public health burden of road traffic injuries / Kavi Bhalia -- chapter 4. Land use-transportation planning, mobility and safety / Geetam Tiwari -- chapter 5. Safety promotion : education and legislation / Dinesh Mohan -- chapter 6. Recording of traffic crashes / Geetam Tiwari -- chapter 7. Traffic conflict techniques : some data to supplement accident analysis / Christer Hyden -- chapter 8. Statistical considerations in road safety research / Shrikant I. Bangdiwala -- chapter 9. Speed and its effects on road traffic crashes / Dinesh Mohan -- chapter 10. Human tolerance to injury : role of biomechanics and ergonomics / Dinesh Mohan -- chapter 11. Safer vehicle design / Sudipto Mukherjee and Anoop Chawla -- chapter 12. Risk evaluation and road safety / Sylvain Lassarre -- chapter 13. Investigating driving failures and their factors by in-depth accident studies / Pierre Van Elslande -- chapter 14. Human body models / Karin Brolin -- chapter 15. Highway safety in India / Geetam Tiwari -- chapter 16. Highway construction zone safety audit / Kumar Neeraj Jha -- chapter 17. Road safety in urban areas / Hermann Knoflacher -- chapter 18. Urban safety and mobility / Geetam Tiwari -- chapter 19. Urban safety and traffic calming / Christer Hyden -- chapter 20. Public transport and safety / Geetam Tiwari and Dinesh Mohan -- chapter 21. Road safety management from the national to the local level / Nicole Muhlrad -- chapter 22. Road safety law and policy / Girish Agrawal -- chapter 23. Pre-hospital care of the injured / Mathew Varghese

Title Page -- Preface -- Contents -- Section I. Editorial -- The New Dawn of Virtual Reality in Health Care: Medical Simulation and Experiential Interface -- Section II. Critical Reviews -- Defining Cyberbullying: A Multiple Perspectives Approach -- Explaining Work Exhaustion from a Coping Theory Perspective: Roles of Techno-Stressors and Technology-Specific Coping Strategies -- Section III. Evaluation Studies -- If You Build It, They Will Come, but What Will Wounded Warriors Experience? Presence in the CAREN -- Evaluating User Experience of Augmented Reality Eyeglasses -- Bridging Minds: A Mixed Methodology to Assess Networked Flow -- Teaching-Learning: Stereoscopic 3D Versus Traditional Methods in Mexico City -- The Effect of 3D Audio and Other Audio Techniques on Virtual Reality Experience -- The Role of Expectations in Game-Based Training -- Decision Making and Cognitive Behavioral Flexibility in a OCD Sample: A Study in a Virtual Environment -- Measuring Co-Presence and Social Presence in Virtual Environments - Psychometric Construction of a German Scale for a Fear of Public Speaking Scenario -- Being Present in Space: The Role of Allocentric and Egocentric Reference Frames -- Combining Face-to-Face Therapy with Computerized Techniques: A Therapists' Attitudes Survey -- Virtual Reality to Train Diagnostic Skills in Eating Disorders. Comparison of Two Low Cost Systems -- How to Protect Children from Internet Predators: A Phenomenological Study -- Section IV. Original Research -- The Identity Mapping Project: Demographic Differences in Patterns of Distributed Identity -- Using a Facebook Group as an Adjunct to a Pilot mHealth Physical Activity Intervention: A Mixed Methods Approach -- Chasing The 'Like': Adolescent Use of Social Networking Sites in Australia -- Being in an Avatar: Action and Embodiment in a Digital Me.

Intro -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- The Importance of Health Insurance -- 1 Defining Health Insurance -- 1.1 Healthcare Finance -- 1.1.1 Defining Healthcare Finance -- 1.1.2 Demand and Supply of Healthcare Finance -- 1.1.3 The Subjectivity of Healthcare Finance -- 1.1.4 Alternative Forms of Healthcare Finance -- 1.2 The Growth of Health Insurance -- 1.2.1 Diverse Beginnings of Health Insurance -- 1.2.2 Policy and the Growth of Health Insurance -- 1.2.3 Professionalizing Health Insurance -- 1.3 The Health Insurance Literatures -- 1.3.1 Health Insurance Policy -- 1.3.2 Health Economics -- 1.3.3 Risk Management and Insurance -- 1.3.4 Health Services Research -- References -- 2 Insuring Health Capital -- 2.1 The Economic Value of Health -- 2.1.1 Consuming and Investing in Health -- 2.1.2 Health Investments -- 2.1.3 The Health Capital Model -- 2.2 Risk Aversion and Health Risks -- 2.2.1 Changes in Health Capital -- 2.2.2 Valuing Health Capital -- 2.2.3 Health Risk Aversion -- 2.2.4 Health Insurance Choices -- 2.3 Financial Intermediation of Healthcare Spending -- 2.3.1 Insuring Health Indirectly -- 2.3.2 Monetizing the Value of Health -- 2.3.3 Challenges in Monetizing Health Capital -- 2.3.4 Health Insurance Pricing -- 2.3.5 Scale and Scope in Third-Party Payment -- References -- 3 The Scope of Health Insurance -- 3.1 Measuring the Degree of Protection -- 3.1.1 Defining Quantity -- 3.1.2 Measuring Quality -- 3.1.3 Determining Prices -- 3.2 Optimizing Health Insurance -- 3.2.1 Health Insurance Trade-offs -- 3.2.2 Optimal Health Insurance as a Benchmark -- 3.2.3 Determining the Optimal Policy -- 3.3 Constraints on the Scope of Insurance -- 3.3.1 Insurer Constraints -- 3.3.2 Asymmetry of Information -- 3.3.3 Moral Hazard -- 3.3.4 Adverse Selection -- 3.3.5 Other Economic Externalities -- 3.3.6 Irrationality of Consumers and Producers -- References.

1. Disability, diversity, and diversion : normalization and avoidance in higher education / David T. Mitchell -- 2. Disabling policies and exclusionary infrastructures : a critique of the AAUP report / Sushil K. Oswal -- 3. "Crippled inside?" metaphors of organisational learning difficulty / Joel Petrie -- 4. Avoiding new literacies : ideology, dyslexia, and perceived deficits / Owen Barden -- 5. School textbooks and the avoidance of disability : emptied of representation / Alan Hodkinson -- 6. Lessons in critical avoidance : disability studies and "special educational needs" / Claire Penketh and Laura Waite -- 7. Words for dignity : from Budapest to Berkeley and back / Rita Hoffmann and Maria Flamich -- 8. Validating critical avoidance : professional social work, mental health service users/survivors, and the academy / Kathy Boxall and Peter Beresford -- 9. Servicescapes, people, brands, and marketing management : looking to the future of consumer disability research through disability studies / Tom Coogan and Robert Cluley -- 10. Literary disability studies in creative writing : a practical approach to theory / Cath Nichols -- 11. Fabulous invalids together : why disability in mainstream theater matters / Ann M. Fox -- 12. Ahimsa and the ethics of caring : Gandhi's spiritual experiments with truth via the idea of a vulnerable human body / Hemachandran Karah -- 13. Disability studies and modern responses to Stefan Zweig's Beware of pity : critics' avoidance / Emmeline Burdett -- 14. Avoiding disability in Scottish literary studies? Scottish studies, ablenationalism, and beyond / Arianna Introna -- 15. How I can go on : embracing modernity's displeasure with Beckett's Murphy / Chris Ewart -- 16. Signifying otherness in modernity : the subject of disability in The sun also rises and The sound and the fury / Will Kanyusik.

"Relative to the United States, it is assumed that religion has not been a significant factor in Canada's political development. In God's Province, Clark Banack challenges this assumption, showing that, in Alberta, religious motivation played a vital role in shaping its initial political trajectory. For Henry Wise Wood, president of the United Farmers of Alberta from 1916 until 1931, William "Bible Bill" Aberhart, founder of the Alberta Social Credit and premier from 1935 until 1943, Aberhart's protégé Ernest Manning, Alberta's longest serving premier (1943-1968), and Manning's son Preston, founder of the Alberta-based federal Reform Party of Canada, religion was central to their thinking about human agency, the purpose of politics, the role of the state, the nature of the economy, and the proper duties of citizens. Drawing on substantial archival research God's Province highlights the strong link that exists between the religiously inspired political thought and action of these formative leaders, the US evangelical Protestant tradition from which they drew, and the emergence of an individualistic, populist, and anti-statist sentiment in Alberta that is largely unfamiliar to the rest of Canada. Covering nearly a century of Alberta's history, Banack offers an illuminating reconsideration of the political thought of these leaders, the goals of the movements they led, and the roots of Alberta's distinctiveness within Canada. A fusion of religious history, intellectual history, and political thought, God's Province exposes the ways in which the individual intentions of politicians shape one province's political culture."--

Cover -- Title Page -- Front Matter -- Table Of Contents -- Series Foreword -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Diversity Is Not A Choice -- The Inner Work Of Teaching For Racial Justice -- The Outer Work Of Social Transformation -- Organization Of Book -- Further Considerations -- Chapter 1: White Man Dancing -- The Luxury Of Ignorance -- Baptism By Fire -- Bringing It All Back Home -- Adventures Of An Antiracist Racist -- Shaping An Authentic White Identity -- The Dance Continues -- Chapter 2: White Dominance And The Weight Of The West -- Reflections In The Eye Of A Snake -- Social Dominance In Research And Theory -- The Lens Of Indigenous Experience -- White Dominance In Theory And Practice -- The Possibility Of Change -- Chapter 3: Decoding The Dominance Paradigm -- The Dynamics Of Dominance -- Possibilities For Hope And Healing -- Chapter 4: White Educators And The River Of Change -- The River Of Diversity -- White Teachers And The Healing Response -- From Social Dominance To Social Justice -- Chapter 5: Mapping The Journey Of White Identity Development -- Theories Of Racial Identity Development -- Cautionary Notes -- Chapter 6: Ways Of Being White -- White Identity Orientations -- Reflections On The Rhetoric Of Whiteness -- Chapter 7: White Teachers And School Reform -- The Whiteness Of School Reform -- What Transformationist Teachers Believe -- What Transformationist Teachers Know -- The Achievement Triangle -- What Transformationist Teachers Do -- Toward A Transformationist Pedagogy -- Chapter 8: Our Unfinished Work -- Complexity And Choice -- Community And Change -- Beyond The Borderlands: La Tierra Transformativa -- Reflection And Discussion Guide -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: White Man Dancing -- Chapter 2: White Dominance And The Weight Of The West -- Chapter 3: Decoding The Dominance Paradigm.

Cover -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- List of Abbreviations -- Acknowledgements -- 1 Introduction: European Union-Russia Relations as the Partnership That Failed -- 2 The Political and Institutional Development of EU-Russia Relations -- The background: relations between the EC and the Soviet Union -- The time of troubles -- The Putin promise -- The mutual disappointment -- The final push for partnership -- The rupture: the conflict in Ukraine as the culmination of a long-term crisis in relations -- Conclusions -- 3 Actors in EU-Russia Relations -- The European Union -- Member states and their bilateral relations with Russia -- Russia -- Other actors, factors and arenas -- Conclusions -- 4 Economy, Energy and Environment -- The development and structure of trade -- The institutionalization of economic relations -- Russia's WTO accession and the partnership for modernization -- Energy as the foundation and a bone of contention -- Trade as a political weapon: the impact of embargoes, other restrictive measures and sanctions -- Environment and climate change -- Conclusions -- 5 Justice and Home Affairs -- Human rights and democracy -- Chechnya -- Police, border and judicial cooperation -- The visa issue -- Conclusions -- 6 Security and Defence -- Institutional beginnings -- The Yugoslav wars -- The Transnistrian question -- Georgia -- The Middle East, Iran and Africa -- Medvedev treaty proposal -- The Ukraine conflict as a security issue -- Conclusions -- 7 Science, Education and Culture -- Institutional frames -- Research -- Education -- Culture -- Politics of history and collective memory -- Conclusions -- 8 The 'Common Neighbourhood' and Regional Cooperation -- The EU approach towards its Eastern neighbourhood -- Russian policies for its 'near abroad' -- The role of the neighbours -- The Northern Dimension.

Cover -- Contents -- Introduction -- SECTION 1: THE RISK PARADIGM IN PRACTICE -- 1 The Rise of the Risk Paradigm in Criminal Justice -- Introduction -- Two explanatory frameworks -- From 'crime as risk' to the 'new penology' -- Refining the 'new penology' -- Researching risk in context: An example from the UK -- Challenging risk -- Seeing beyond risk? -- References -- 2 Three Narratives of Risk: Corrections, Critique and Context -- Introduction: Risk in society and criminal justice -- Incorporating risk in British criminal justice -- Three generations of risk assessment -- The introduction and effects of risk management methods -- Contrasting narratives of risk assessment: Corrections, critique and context -- Critique -- Context -- References -- SECTION 2: THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RISK PARADIGM -- 3 Risk Assessment in Practice -- Introduction -- What is the risk paradigm? -- Do high-risk offenders benefit most from supervision? -- Do actuarial risk profiles accurately predict risk in practice? -- The benefits of working with identified criminogenic needs -- What does this mean for the development of effective supervision? -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 Taking the Risk out of Youth Justice -- Introduction -- The emergence of risk-based youth justice: Beguiled by risk factor research -- The rise of risk-based youth justice: Risk assessment and intervention -- The domination of risk-based youth justice: All hail the scaled approach -- The decline of risk-based youth justice: Methodological weaknesses -- The decline of risk-based youth justice: Philosophical and ethical problems -- The fall of risk-based youth justice and the rise of progressive youth justice -- Children First, Offenders Second: Child-friendly youth justice -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Justice, Risk and Diversity -- Introduction -- The ascendancy of risk and risk assessment.

Introduction: three reflecting perspectives on interactive governance -- Interactive governance and governability -- Forms of governance and policy problems: coping with complexity -- Interactive governance: a challenge to institutionalism -- Democratic transfer: everyday neoliberalism, hegemony and the prospects for democratic renewal -- Interactive -- or counteractive -- governance? Lessons learned about citizen participation and political leadership -- Interactive governance: authorization, representation and accountability -- Making good citizens: power and empowerment in community development programmes in Nepal -- What do public officials think about citizens? The role of public officials' trust and their perceptions of citizens' trustworthiness in interactive governance -- Governance in flux: a study of irrigator compliance in South Australia -- Community self-organization: potentials and pitfalls -- What has co-production ever done for interactive governance? -- Interactive governance and the social construction of citizens as co-creators -- Social enterprises in rura lcommunity governance: evidence from Tasmania -- Public engagement, governance and the pursuit of equity in contemporary urban revitalization: community benefits agreements (CBAs) with public versus nonprofit developers -- Governments and self-organization: a hedgehog's dilemma -- Doing what's necessary: how encounters in practice shape and improve interactive governance -- Joint fact-finding: an approach for advancing interactive governance when scientific and technical information is in question -- Interactive governance and the limits of knowledge co-production -- The managerial aspect of interactive governance -- Political leadership in the age of interactive governance: reflections on the political aspects of metagovernance -- Complementary boundary-spanning leadership: making civic-induced interactive governance work -- Conclusions: synthesizing key reflections and exploring new avenues for research and debate on interactive governance.

Cover -- Contents -- Tables and Figures -- Tables -- 1.1 Existing and Emerging Emissions Trading Systems -- 2.1 Emissions Trading Systems Examined in Section 6 -- 2.2 Overview of the European Union Emissions Trading System -- 2.3 Overview of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative -- 2.4 Overview of the Western Climate Initiative -- 2.5 Overview of the Alberta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program -- 2.6 Overview of the New Zealand Emissions Trading System -- 2.7 Overview of the Australian Carbon Pricing Mechanism -- 2.8 Overview of Japanese Prefecture Level-Based Emissions Trading Systems -- 2.9 Overview of the Republic of Korea Emissions Trading System -- 2.10 Experiences of Linking Emissions Trading Systems -- 3.1 Experience and Lessons from Existing Emissions Trading Systems -- 3.2 Phase III Cap and Change of Emissions Outlook -- 4.1 Overview of Emissions Trading Systems in the People's Republic of China -- 4.2 Overview of the Emissions Trading System in Kazakhstan -- 4.3 Overview of Emissions Trading Systems in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam -- 5.1 Average Annual Growth Rate in Gross Domestic Product and Carbon Dioxide Emissions -- 5.2 Compliance to the Emissions Trading Systems in the People's Republic of China for the First 2 Years -- 5.3 Trading Volume of Emissions Trading Systems in the People's Republic of China for the First 2 Years -- 6.1 Trading Relationships between the Largest Economies in Asia and the Pacific -- 6.2 International Carbon Action Partnership Research on the Relative Importance of Emissions Trading System Design Elements on Linking -- 6.3 Summary of Reduction Targets and Trading System Implementation by Country -- A1.1 Aggregated Compliance Outcome of the Alberta Greenhouse Gas Project, 2007-2014.

Das Grundbuch steht seit jeher im Dienste der Rechtssicherheit im Immobilienverkehr und ist aus dem heutigen Rechts- und Wirtschaftsleben in Europa kaum wegzudenken. Seine rechtliche Aussagekraft hängt von dem Zusammenspiel diverser materiell- und verfassungsrechtlicher Elemente ab, die in den einzelnen Rechtsordnungen deutlich voneinander abweichen. Diese Unterschiede stellen für die zunehmend engere wirtschaftliche Vernetzung des zusammenwachsenden Europas eine große Herausforderung dar. Die Rechtsvergleichung der europäischen Grundbuchsysteme kann einen Anstoß zur Reform nationaler Regelungen geben und in weiterer Perspektive die Ausarbeitung universeller Qualitätsstandards für Immobilienregister in Europa ermöglichen. Welche Schwierigkeiten ein solches Unterfangen bereitet und zugleich welche Bedeutung ihm beizumessen ist, verdeutlichen die in diesem Buch veröffentlichten Forschungsergebnisse. Der Sammelband beinhaltet 27 Aufsätze, die von insgesamt 28 Wissenschaftlern aus Belgien, Bosnien und Herzegowina, Deutschland, England, Frankreich, Griechenland, Irland, Italien, Kroatien, Österreich, Polen, Rumänien, Schottland, der Schweiz, Spanien, Tschechien und Zypern verfasst wurden. / »The Land Register in Europe in the 21st Century« -- Land registers have long contributed to the security of conveyancing and are an indispensable element both of today's economic life and of real estate transactions in Europe. Their vital role depends on the concurrence of various aspects of substantive and constitutional law, which show great diversity across various legal systems. These differences have become a growing challenge for an increasingly integrating and jointly developing Europe. The comparative studies of European land register systems may stimulate national reforms and, perhaps, help to develop universal quality standards for land registers in Europe. The importance and the difficulty of this task is evident from the research presented in this publication which consists of 27 papers prepared by 28 researchers from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland

Intro -- Preface -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- 1 Introduction -- Abstract -- 1.1 The Crises of the Anthropocene -- 1.2 New Products Are Needed -- 1.3 The Promise of Forest Products -- 1.4 Life Cycle Assessment of Forest Products -- 1.5 Purposes of This Book -- 1.6 Guide for Readers -- References -- 2 Strengths and Weaknesses of Forest Products -- Abstract -- 2.1 Renewability -- 2.2 Biodegradability -- 2.3 Climate Change -- 2.4 Biodiversity Loss and Water Cycle Disturbances -- 2.5 Indirect Effects -- 2.6 Other Aspects of the Environmental Impact of Forest Products -- 2.7 Concluding Remarks -- References -- 3 LCA Methodology -- Abstract -- 3.1 Attributional or Consequential LCA? -- 3.2 Context and Limitations of LCA -- 3.2.1 Relationship Between LCA and Other Assessment Tools -- References -- 4 LCA of Forest Products-Challenges and Solutions -- Abstract -- 4.1 Modelling Future and/or Uncertain Product Systems -- 4.1.1 Definitions and Classifications -- 4.1.2 Examples from the Literature -- 4.1.3 End-of-Life Modelling of Long-lived Products -- 4.2 Handling Multi-functionality -- 4.2.1 Examples from the Literature -- 4.3 Inventorying and Assessing Environmental Impacts -- 4.3.1 Modelling the Carbon Flows of Forest Product Systems -- 4.3.1.1 Spatial Modelling of Carbon Flows -- 4.3.1.2 Temporal Modelling of Carbon Flows -- 4.3.1.3 Choice of Baseline -- 4.3.2 Climate Change -- 4.3.3 Biodiversity Loss -- 4.3.4 Water Cycle Disturbances -- 4.3.5 Energy Use -- 4.3.6 Need for Improved Impact Assessment Terminology -- 4.4 Managing Trade-offs and Connecting LCAs to Global Challenges -- 4.5 Integrating LCA Work in the R& -- D of New Products -- 4.5.1 Integrating LCA in Inter-organisational R& -- D Projects -- References -- 5 Future Research Needs -- Abstract -- References -- 6 Concluding Remarks -- Abstract -- Reference.

Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Contributors -- Part 1. Perspectives on ageing -- Introduction: A multidisciplinary approach to ageing -- Hal Kendig, Peter McDonald and John Piggott -- Ageing and social change in Australia -- Cathy Gong and Hal Kendig -- Population ageing in Australia-National policy challenges and future directions -- John Piggott -- Part 2. Population ageing: Global, regional and Australian perspectives -- Ageing in Australia: Population changes and responses -- Peter McDonald -- Declining fertility and the rising costs of children and the elderly in Japan and other selected Asian countries: An analysis based upon the NTA approach -- Naohiro Ogawa, Rikiya Matsukura, Sang-Hyop Lee -- Facing the challenges of an ageing society -- Jan Pakulski -- Part 3. Improving health and wellbeing -- Social research and actions on ageing well -- Hal Kendig and Colette Browning -- Enhancing cognitive capacities over the life-span -- Kaarin J Anstey -- Social engagement in late life -- Tim D Windsor, Rachel G Curtis, and Mary A Luszcz -- Wellbeing and its improvability as a national goal -- Richard A Burns and Colette Browning -- Part 4. Responses by government and families/individuals -- Retirement income strategies for an ageing population -- Hazel Bateman -- Ageing, entitlement and funding health care -- Jane Hall and Kees van Gool -- Financing aged care: The role of housing wealth and intergenerational relationships -- Rachel Ong -- Conclusions: An historic triumph that presents big challenges for public policy -- Andrew Podger -- Appendix 1: International perspectives and global benchmarking -- Hal Kendig and Lisa Cannon -- _ENREF_1 -- _ENREF_2 -- _ENREF_3 -- _ENREF_4 -- _ENREF_5 -- _ENREF_6 -- _ENREF_7 -- _ENREF_8 -- _ENREF_9 -- _ENREF_10 -- _ENREF_11 -- _ENREF_12 -- _ENREF_13 -- _ENREF_14 -- _ENREF_15 -- _ENREF_16 -- _ENREF_17

Acknowledgements -- Contents -- List of Figures -- 1: Introduction: The Japanese Robot and Performance -- Japanese Culture and the Robot -- Defining the Robot -- The History of the Japanese Performing Robot -- Japanese Modernity and Technology -- Theatre and Performance Concepts Through Japanese Culture -- Performativity and Geinoh -- The Performing Object and Staging -- Double Vision -- Participatory Spectatorship -- In This Book -- Notes -- References -- 2: Robotics and Representation -- Japanese Humanoid Research -- Japanese Robotics and Manga/Anime Culture -- Astro Boy Syndrome -- The Presence of the Japanese Humanoid -- Notes -- References -- 3: Futuristic Spectacle: Robot Performances at Expos -- Robot Spectacle at the Japan World Expo, 1970 -- Celebrating Japan´s Robots: The Tsukuba Exposition, 1985 -- Nature and Technology: Garden and Greenery Exposition, Osaka, 1990 -- Integration and Fantasy: Expo 2005 in Aichi -- Cultural Essentialism and Dramaturgy: In Tokyo and on the Australian Tour, 2007 -- Notes -- References -- 4: The Anthropomorphic Robot and Artistic Expression -- Oriza Hirata´s Robot Theatre -- The Failure of Sayonara -- Hiroshi Ishiguro´s Android Experiments -- Cultural Affordance and Preconceived Outcomes -- Robots and Disillusionment -- Notes -- References -- 5: Robots, Space, and Place -- Giant Robot Statues -- Dreams of a Giant Robot -- Robot Restaurant -- Notes -- References -- 6: Hatsune Miku, Virtual Machine-Woman -- The Development of Hatsune Miku -- Japanese Fanzine Culture and Otaku -- Lolicon Manga and Otaku Desire -- Critique of the Otaku Imagination -- Kawaii and Female Idols -- Circuits of Signification: Otaku Sexuality -- Notes -- References -- 7: Competition Robots: Empathy and Identification -- Robot Contests -- Robo-One -- The Puppet, the Puppeteer, and the Spectator -- Robots as Mediators

This rise of a particular kind of European Union legislation known as the 'optional instrument' is a novel trend in the context of EU law, and one that until now has not been comprehensively mapped or explored. This study examines and discusses existing and proposed EU Optional Instruments (OIs) in different fields of European law, including company law, intellectual property law and procedural law (such as the European Company, the Community Trade Mark and the European Small Claims Procedure, respectively), as well as contract law. The study identifies the core elements that define Optional Instruments of the EU and distinguish them from other kinds of EU legislation, especially so-called approximating measures. It provides a detailed overview of a total of twelve OIs in the aforementioned policy areas, charting their development, characteristics and (where appropriate) usage in practice. It investigates the case for and against the use of optional instruments as an alternative means of EU law-making, by analyzing and evaluating the principal arguments in the debate surrounding the use of this legislative method. Finally, it offers an explanation of the varied degree of 'success' of EU OIs already in existence, by identifying possible factors that play a role in this respect and testing the significance of these factors with reference to available empirical data. In doing so, the author provides a framework for future research into this developing phenomenon, as well as guidance for the elaboration of future Optional Instruments of the European Union