This book is distinctive among current studies on this topic. The Chinese economy has entered a period of transformation, which has brought changes to the finance market and consumer habits. For a long time, topics such as monetary policy, reform, financial risks and so forth have been the focus. But there have been few studies of those aspects of the consumer finance market that are directly related to private consumption. Studies on this topic, to which this book contributes, are necessary for understanding the current economic situation in China. This is a full-scale comparative study of consumer finance in China, Japan and South Korea, and will draw lessons for China in this area from the experience of the other two countries.

Cochlear implants are currently the standard treatment for profound sensorineural hearing loss. In the last decade, advances in auditory science and technology have not only greatly expanded the utility of electric stimulation to other parts of the auditory nervous system in addition to the cochlea, but have also demonstrated drastic changes in the brain in responses to electric stimulation, including changes in language development and music perception. Volume 20 of SHAR focused on basic science and technology underlying the cochlear implant. However, due to the newness of the ideas and technology, the volume did not cover any emerging applications such as bilateral cochlear implants, combined acoustic-electric stimulation, and other types of auditory prostheses, nor did it review brain plasticity in responses to electric stimulation and its perceptual and language consequences. This proposed volume takes off from Volume 20, and expands the examination of implants into new and highly exciting areas. This edited book starts with an overview and introduction by Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng. Chapters 2-9 cover technological development and the advances in treating the full spectrum of ear disorders in the last ten years. Chapters 10-15 discuss brain responses to electric stimulation and their perceptual impact. This volume is particularly exciting because there have been quantum leap from the traditional technology discussed in Volume 20. Thus, this volume is timely and will be of real importance to the SHAR audience.

Cochlear implants have instigated a popular but controversial revolution in the treatment of deafness. This book discusses the physiological bases of using artificial devices to electrically stimulate the brain to interpret sounds. As the first successful device to restore neural function, the cochlear implant serves as a model for research in neuroscience and biomedical engineering. These and other auditory prostheses are discussed in the context of historical treatments, engineering, psychophysics and clinical issues as well as implications for speech, behavior, cognition and long-term effects on people.

Tinnitus is a prevalent hearing disease, affecting 15% of the population, particularly hearing impaired, veterans and even young people who grow up with mp3 players and iPods. The mechanisms underlying tinnitus remain controversial. At present there is no cure for tinnitus, and treatment options are limited. Different from previous tinnitus books, including A. R. Moller's book [in press at Springer], which typically have a strong clinical flavor, the present volume focuses on neural mechanisms of tinnitus and its behavioral consequences. The proposed book starts with a general summary of the field and a short introduction on the selection and content of the remaining chapters. Chapter 2 overviews tinnitus prevalence and etiologies to set the tone for significance and complexity of this neurological disorder spectrum. Chapters 3-8 cover neuroscience of tinnitus in animal models from molecular mechanisms to cortical manifestation. Chapters 9-12 cover human brain responses to tinnitus and it clinical management.

Bathelt and Zeng have put together a stellar collection that is truly original. The book develops a rich understanding of trade fairs in knowledge ecologies, and in doing so provides the reader with a sophisticated analysis of the local-global dynamics of such events. Moreover, the book also offers one of the first comprehensive analyses of the role of trade fairs in the Asia Pacific region, thus illuminating the significance of such events for the global economy.' - James Faulconbridge, Lancaster University, UKThe development of trade fairs in the Asia-Pacific region has been highly uneven, with large differences between industries, cities and countries. Based on a knowledge perspective, this book is the first of its kind to connect economic growth with the rise and development of trade fairs. Using country-specific case studies, the contributors identify three key areas of exploration: knowledge generation and transfer processes through trade fairs, interrelationships between industrial and trade fair specializations, and linkages between economic development, industrial policy and trade fair dynamics. They demonstrate that trade fairs in the Asia-Pacific region have evolved from transaction-oriented places to knowledge-based and relational spaces. Researchers and students of economic geography, political economy and related disciplines interested in exploring the role of the developmental state in the Asia-Pacific region will find this book to be highly relevant. Policy makers and regional planners seeking to understand the role of international trade fairs will also find this to be an insightful study. Contributors: H. Bathelt, J.-Y. Chang, L.-C. Chen, L.-I. Chu, T.-L. Chou, F. Golfetto, D.R. Gress, J.-Y. Hsu, X. Jin, R.V. Kalafsky, X. Kong, P.-F. Li, P. Maskell, D. Rinallo, K. Weber, S.A. Weller, Y. Yokura, G. Zeng, Y.-F. Zhang, Y.-W. Zhu

Tinnitus is a prevalent hearing disease, affecting 15% of the population, particularly hearing impaired, veterans and even young people who grow up with mp3 players and iPods. The mechanisms underlying tinnitus remain controversial. At present there is no cure for tinnitus, and treatment options are limited. Different from previous tinnitus books, including A. R. Moller's book [in press at Springer], which typically have a strong clinical flavor, the present volume focuses on neural mechanisms of tinnitus and its behavioral consequences. The proposed book starts with a general summary of the field and a short introduction on the selection and content of the remaining chapters. Chapter 2 overviews tinnitus prevalence and etiologies to set the tone for significance and complexity of this neurological disorder spectrum. Chapters 3-8 cover neuroscience of tinnitus in animal models from molecular mechanisms to cortical manifestation. Chapters 9-12 cover human brain responses to tinnitus and it clinical management.

Cochlear implants have instigated a popular but controversial revolution in the treatment of deafness. This book discusses the physiological bases of using artificial devices to electrically stimulate the brain to interpret sounds. As the first successful device to restore neural function, the cochlear implant serves as a model for research in neuroscience and biomedical engineering. These and other auditory prostheses are discussed in the context of historical treatments, engineering, psychophysics and clinical issues as well as implications for speech, behavior, cognition and long-term effects on people.

This book focuses on scheduling algorithms for parallel applications on heterogeneous distributed systems, and addresses key scheduling requirements - high performance, low energy consumption, real time, and high reliability - from the perspectives of both theory and engineering practice. Further, it examines two typical application cases in automotive cyber-physical systems and cloud systems in detail, and discusses scheduling challenges in connection with resource costs, reliability and low energy. The book offers a comprehensive and systematic treatment of high-performance, low energy consumption, and high reliability issues on heterogeneous distributed systems, making it a particularly valuable resource for researchers, engineers and graduate students in the fields of computer science and engineering, information science and engineering, and automotive engineering, etc. The wealth of motivational examples with figures and tables make it easy to understand.

Cochlear implants are currently the standard treatment for profound sensorineural hearing loss. In the last decade, advances in auditory science and technology have not only greatly expanded the utility of electric stimulation to other parts of the auditory nervous system in addition to the cochlea, but have also demonstrated drastic changes in the brain in responses to electric stimulation, including changes in language development and music perception. Volume 20 of SHAR focused on basic science and technology underlying the cochlear implant. However, due to the newness of the ideas and technology, the volume did not cover any emerging applications such as bilateral cochlear implants, combined acoustic-electric stimulation, and other types of auditory prostheses, nor did it review brain plasticity in responses to electric stimulation and its perceptual and language consequences. This proposed volume takes off from Volume 20, and expands the examination of implants into new and highly exciting areas. This edited book starts with an overview and introduction by Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng. Chapters 2-9 cover technological development and the advances in treating the full spectrum of ear disorders in the last ten years. Chapters 10-15 discuss brain responses to electric stimulation and their perceptual impact. This volume is particularly exciting because there have been quantum leap from the traditional technology discussed in Volume 20. Thus, this volume is timely and will be of real importance to the SHAR audience.