This book provides insight into the hydrology, ecosystem services and management of water resources in the Parana River basin, including the importance of water to the socio-economic development of the countries within the watershed. Running through Brazil. Paraguay and Argentina, the Parana River and its watershed is home to some of South America's major population centers as well as important ecosystems threatened by development. At the same time, the river is a major resource driving the economies of the nations within its boundaries. This volume examines the impacts of environmental degradation, and the tradeoffs between the energy sector and the maintenance of ecosystem services. In particular, it focuses on the threats from development to sensitive ecosystems within the basin and the challenges of transboundary management of water resources. In addition to presenting wider perspectives on water management, the volume specifically covers water infrastructure, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, geomorphological influences and the impact of climate change. Finally, by assessing each country's current status in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals this volume provides a timely analysis as national governments within the basin are becoming increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the freshwater ecosystems within the Parana River basin. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of water and natural resource management, environmental policy, sustainable development and Latin American studies. It will also be relevant to water management professionals.

This book provides insight into the hydrology, ecosystem services and management of water resources in the Parana River basin, including the importance of water to the socio-economic development of the countries within the watershed. Running through Brazil. Paraguay and Argentina, the Parana River and its watershed is home to some of South America's major population centers as well as important ecosystems threatened by development. At the same time, the river is a major resource driving the economies of the nations within its boundaries. This volume examines the impacts of environmental degradation, and the tradeoffs between the energy sector and the maintenance of ecosystem services. In particular, it focuses on the threats from development to sensitive ecosystems within the basin and the challenges of transboundary management of water resources. In addition to presenting wider perspectives on water management, the volume specifically covers water infrastructure, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, geomorphological influences and the impact of climate change. Finally, by assessing each country's current status in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals this volume provides a timely analysis as national governments within the basin are becoming increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the freshwater ecosystems within the Parana River basin. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of water and natural resource management, environmental policy, sustainable development and Latin American studies. It will also be relevant to water management professionals.

Why is the bread basket of Arabia importing more water via grain than is pumped locally by all sectors and why does nobody notice? How can the same water be sold to different users at prices varying by five orders of magnitude? How can the biggest names in development throw millions of dollars at supplying water to a city and not an extra drop has emerged? Why do some of the wealthiest companies in the Middle East and their multinational associates get away with polluting water resources? This book presents the complex and fascinating account of Ta'iz, Yemen, a city embroiled in severe water stress as a consequence of environmental degradation, political facades, conflicting legal systems, military intervention and institutional incompetence. The result is a remarkable, compelling and controversial book which will be essential reading for academics, development agencies and NGOs around the world.

Why is the bread basket of Arabia importing more water via grain than is pumped locally by all sectors and why does nobody notice? How can the same water be sold to different users at prices varying by five orders of magnitude? How can the biggest names in development throw millions of dollars at supplying water to a city and not an extra drop has emerged? Why do some of the wealthiest companies in the Middle East and their multinational associates get away with polluting water resources? This book presents the complex and fascinating account of Ta'iz, Yemen, a city embroiled in severe water stress as a consequence of environmental degradation, political facades, conflicting legal systems, military intervention and institutional incompetence. The result is a remarkable, compelling and controversial book which will be essential reading for academics, development agencies and NGOs around the world.

Reviews in Plasmonics is a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of Plasmonics and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the years progress in Plasmonics and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of Plasmonics.

Reviews in Plasmonics is a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of Plasmonics and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the years progress in Plasmonics and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of Plasmonics.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2015, the eighth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any research lab or company working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2016, the tenth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any research lab or company working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource.

Revised and updated for its fourth edition, the Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Medicine is the must-have resource for respiratory trainees, internal medical trainees and other junior doctors in acute and internal medicine, medical students, and all clinicians caring for patients with respiratory problems. Concise, practical, and designed for rapid access to essential information, this handbook will ensure you have everything you need for the ward, clinic, or in the run up to exams. All major respiratory diseases and symptoms are covered in practical, succinct chapters. This new edition includes the latest clinical guidelines from the British Thoracic Society and NICE, and covers key developments in the field. Additional detail has been added to more challenging topics such as sleep medicine, lung transplantation, and pulmonary disease in the immunocompromised patient, and there is a dedicated section on COVID-19. The handbook features unique sections on practical procedures and a symptoms section to aid in differential diagnosis and clinical management. Practical advice on management is integrated throughout and a dedicated section on respiratory emergencies ensures you can cope with any eventuality. This fourth edition will ensure you have all the information you need at your fingertips!

Reviews in Fluorescence 2016, the tenth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any research lab or company working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource.

This book takes you on a unique journey through American history, taking time to consider the forces that shaped the development of various cities and regions, and arrives at an unexpected conclusion regarding sustainability. From the American Dream to globalization to the digital and information revolutions, we assume that humans have taken control of our collective destinies in spite of potholes in the road such as the Great Recession of 2007-2009. However, these attitudes were formed during a unique 100-year period of human history in which a large but finite supply of fossil fuels was tapped to feed our economic and innovation engine. Today, at the peak of the Oil Age, the horizon looks different. Cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas are situated where water and other vital ecological services are scarce, and the enormous flows of resources and energy that were needed to create the megalopolises of the 20th century will prove unsustainable. Climate change is a reality, and regional impacts will become increasingly severe. Economies such as Las Vegas, which are dependent on discretionary income and buffeted by climate change, are already suffering the fate of the proverbial canary in the coal mine. Finite resources will mean profound changes for society in general and the energy-intensive lifestyles of the US and Canada in particular. But not all regions are equally vulnerable to these 21st-century megatrends. Are you ready to look beyond "America's Most Livable Cities" to the critical factors that will determine the sustainability of your municipality and region? Find out where your city or region ranks according to the forces that will impact our lives in the next years and decades. Find out how: *resource availability and ecological services shaped the modern landscape *emerging megatrends will make cities and regions more or less livable in the new century *your city or region ranks on a "sustainability" map of the United States *urban metabolism puts large cities at particular risk *sustainability factors will favor economic solutions at a local, rather than global, level *these principles apply to industrial economies and countries globally. This book should be cited as follows: J. Day, C. Hall, E. Roy, M. Moersbaecher, C. D'Elia, D. Pimentel, and A. Yanez. 2016. America's most sustainable cities and regions: Surviving the 21st century megatrends. Springer, New York. 348 p.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2015, the eighth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any research lab or company working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource.

This is the third volume in the Reviews in Fluorescence series. To date, two volumes have been both published and well received by the scientific community. Several book reviews have also favorably described the series as an "excellent compilation of material which is well balanced from authors in both the US and Europe". Of particular mention we note the recent book review in JACS by Gary Baker, Los Alamos. In this 3rd volume we continue the tradition of publishing leading edge and timely articles from authors around the world. We hope you find this volume as useful as past volumes, which promises to be just as diverse with regard to content. Finally, in closing, we would like to thank Dr Kadir Asian for the typesetting of the entire volume and our counterparts at Springer, New York, for its timely publication. Professor Chris D. Geddes Professor Joseph R. Lakowicz August 20*^ 2005.

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology. Complementary volumes 9 and 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future.

An essential reference for any laboratory working in the analytical fluorescence glucose sensing field. The increasing importance of these techniques is typified in one emerging area by developing non-invasive and continuous approaches for physiological glucose monitoring. This volume incorporates analytical fluorescence-based glucose sensing reviews, specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet appealing to a wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence.

This is the fourth volume in the Reviews in Fluorescence series. To date, three volumes have been both published and well received by the scienti c community. Several book reviews in the last few years have also favorably remarked on the series. In this fourth volume we continue the tradition of publishing leading edge and timely articles from authors around the world. We thank the authors for their timely and exciting contributions. We hope you nd this volume as useful as past volumes, which promises to be just as diverse with regard to uorescence-based content. Finally, in closing, I would like to thank to Aaron Johnson, formerly at Springer, for helping me to publish this book serial over the last four volumes. Thanks also go to Michael Weston at Springer for help in publishing this current volume. Baltimore, Maryland Chris D. Geddes v Contents Simple Calibration and Validation Standards for Fluorometry ...1 Ute Resch-Genger, Katrin Hoffmann, and Dietmar Pfeifer Membranes and Fluorescence Microscopy...33 Luis A. Bagatolli Electronic Energy Transport and Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Structural Insights into Proteins, Regular Protein Aggregates and Lipid Systems ...53 ? ? Therese Mikaelsson, Radek Sachl, and Lennart B. -A. Johansson Spectra FRET: A Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Method in Live Cells...87 Ekaterina A. Bykova and Jie Zheng Boronic Acid Based Modular Fluorescent Saccharide Sensors...103 John S. Fossey and Tony D. James Fluorescence Solvent Relaxation in Cationic Membranes ...

With more than 100 years of combined teaching experience and PhDs in particle, nuclear, and condensed-matter physics, these three authors could hardly be better qualified to write this introduction to modern physics. They have combined their award-winning teaching skills with their experience writing best-selling textbooks to produce a readable and comprehensive account of the physics that has developed over the last hundred years and led to today's ubiquitous technology. Assuming the knowledge of a typical freshman course in classical physics, they lead the reader through relativity, quantum mechanics, and the most important applications of both of these fascinating theories.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2010, the seventh volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any lab working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource. Key features: Accessible utility in a single volume reference. chapters authored by known leading figures in the fluorescence field, new volume publishes annually, comprehensive coverage of the year's hottest and emerging topics, each Reviews in Fluorescence volume is citable (ISI) and indexed. Reviews in Fluorescence 2010 topics include: Novel Metal-based Luminophores for Biological Imaging. hydration Dynamics of Probes and Peptides in Captivity, how does tobacco etch viral mRNA get translated? A fluorescence study of competition, stability and kinetics, synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Clinical Analysis and Food Safety Evaluation, quantitative molecular imaging in living cells via FLIM, a Multiparametric Imaging of Cellular Coenzymes for Monitoring Metabolic and Mitochondrial Activities, optimal Conditions for Live Cell Microscopy and Raster Image Correlation Spectroscopy (RICS).

Reviews in Fluorescence 2009, the sixth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any lab working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource. Reviews in Fluorescence 2009 topics include: Hot electron-Induced Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence. Time-correlated, single-photon counting methods in endothelial cell mechanobiology. Origin of Tryptophan Fluorescence. Protein Folding, Unfolding and Aggregation Processes revealed by Rapid Sampling of Time-Domain Fluorescence.

This book consists of a number of chapters addressing different aspects of activity recognition, roughly in three main categories of topics. The first topic will be focused on activity modeling, representation and reasoning using mathematical models, knowledge representation formalisms and AI techniques. The second topic will concentrate on activity recognition methods and algorithms. Apart from traditional methods based on data mining and machine learning, we are particularly interested in novel approaches, such as the ontology-based approach, that facilitate data integration, sharing and automatic/automated processing. In the third topic we intend to cover novel architectures and frameworks for activity recognition, which are scalable and applicable to large scale distributed dynamic environments. In addition, this topic will also include the underpinning technological infrastructure, i.e. tools and APIs, that supports function/capability sharing and reuse, and rapid development and deployment of technological solutions. The fourth category of topic will be dedicated to representative applications of activity recognition in intelligent environments, which address the life cycle of activity recognition and their use for novel functions of the end-user systems with comprehensive implementation, prototyping and evaluation. This will include a wide range of application scenarios, such as smart homes, intelligent conference venues and cars.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2004, the first book of a new book series from Springer, is a collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of Fluorescence.

This annual review series differs from Springer's current Topics in Fluorescence series in that it is more specialized and includes reviews of an individual's own work or scientific perspective. Reviews in Fluorescence will therefore complement the other fluorescence titles published by Springer, whilst feeding the requirement from the fluorescence community for annual informative updates and developments.

Key features:

- Reviews in Fluorescence will be citable, indexed, and available both in print and online.

- Reviews in Fluorescence will be published annually.

- Reviews in Fluorescence will comprise invited review articles that summarize the yearly progress in fluorescence.

- Alternate years will publish the Invited Papers from the Methods and Applications in Fluorescence conference series (MAFS).

Information and communication technologies can provide new paradigms in healthcare provision. In particular, new Pervasive Healthcare technologies can revolutionise the dynamics of healthcare, enabling people to remain at home for longer, at lower costs to health and welfare organisations.

This book reveals how pervasive healthcare technologies can be designed in conjunction with users and carers, as well as exploring the application of novel methods and technologies.

This is the ?fth volume in the Reviews in Fluorescence series. To date, four previous volumes have been both published and well received by the scienti?c community. Several book reviews in the last few years have also favorably remarked on the series. In this ?fth volume we continue the tradition of publishing leading edge and timely articles from authors around the world. With the recent Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2008 being awarded for the discovery and development of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) to Shimomura, Chal?e, and Tsien, we have subsequently included several timely reviews on GFP in this volume. We thank the authors for their timely and exciting contributions. We hope you ?nd this volume as useful as past volumes, which promises to be just as diverse with regard to ?uorescence-based content. Finally, in closing, I would like to thank Caroleann Aitken for helping coordin- ing content with authors and Michael Weston at Springer for help in publishing this current volume. Baltimore, MD, USA Chris D. Geddes v . Contents Fluorescence Anisotropy to Study the Preferential Orientation of Fluorophores in Ordered Bi-Dimensional Systems: Rhodamine 6G/Laponite Layered Films ...1 F. Lopez Arbeloa, V. Martinez, T. Arbeloa, and I. Lopez Arbeloa Room Temperature Tryptophan Phosphorescence of Proteins in the Composition of Biological Membranes and Solutions ...37 Vladimir M. Mazhul', Alexander V. Timoshenko, Ekaterina M.

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology.

Complementary volumes 9 & 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2010, the seventh volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any lab working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource. Key features: Accessible utility in a single volume reference. chapters authored by known leading figures in the fluorescence field, new volume publishes annually, comprehensive coverage of the year's hottest and emerging topics, each Reviews in Fluorescence volume is citable (ISI) and indexed. Reviews in Fluorescence 2010 topics include: Novel Metal-based Luminophores for Biological Imaging. hydration Dynamics of Probes and Peptides in Captivity, how does tobacco etch viral mRNA get translated? A fluorescence study of competition, stability and kinetics, synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Clinical Analysis and Food Safety Evaluation, quantitative molecular imaging in living cells via FLIM, a Multiparametric Imaging of Cellular Coenzymes for Monitoring Metabolic and Mitochondrial Activities, optimal Conditions for Live Cell Microscopy and Raster Image Correlation Spectroscopy (RICS).