Within the general debate on neoliberalism and privatization, private sector participation (PSP) in water is one of the most controversial and emotional debates of the current development discourse. After a decade of experimentation with PSP in water supply, there is an emerging trend of failures or renegotiations. Despite this trend, PSP debate is still alive, but repackaged in different forms, such as PPP. This book puts emotions, ideologies and rhetoric aside, and provides a serious empirical investigation of whether PSP leads to increased welfare, especially for the poor.

This book represents the proceedings of the First International Conference on Frontiers of Polymer Research held in New Delhi, India during January 20-25, 1991. Polymers have usually been perceived as substances to be used in insulations, coatings, fabrics, and structural materials. Defying this classical view, polymers are emerging as a new class of materials with potential applications in many new technologies. They also offer challenging opportunities for fundamental research. Recognizing a tremendous growth in world wide interest in polymer research and technology, a truly global "1st International Conference on Frontiers of Polymer Research" was organized by P. N. Prasad (SUNY at Buffalo), F. E. Karasz (University of Massachusetts) and J. K. Nigam (Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, India). The 225 participants represented 25 countries and a wide variety of academic, industrial and government groups. The conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Chandra Shekhar and had a high level media coverage. The focus of the conference was on three frontier areas of polymer research: (i) Polymers for photonics, where nonlinear optical properties of polymers show great promise, (ii) Polymers for electronics, where new conduction mechanisms and photophysics have generated considerable enthusiasm and (iii) High performance polymers as new advanced polymers have exhibited exceptionally high mechanical strength coupled with light weight.

In the past five years, a surprising and intense resurgence in interest in vitamins and other micronutrients and their role in health and dis ease has occurred. The recognition has emerged that vitamins not only are essential for life .in that severe nutritional deficiencies occur in their absence, but that these compounds may also serve as natural inhibitors of cancer. Synthetic alterations of the basic vitamin A mole cule have also resulted in the production of compounds that are more potent as anticancer agents than the natural substance and may have substantial therapeutic activity as well. Whether other vita mins can be changed or altered to produce a better anticancer effect than the native compound has been little explored to date, but should be a fruitful pursuit for future study. In our concluding remarks to the First International Conference in 1982, we speculated that rapid advances in our understanding of vi tamins would occur in the next few years and that large-scale inter vention trials of vitamins as preventive agents in defined human pop ulations would be started. This anticipated generation of data on vitamins and their interactions has proceeded rapidly and the impor tance of interactions between vitamins and other micronutrients in the prevention setting has become better appreciated. Currently, more than 25 intervention trials with a variety of target populations using vitamins and other micronutrients have been started, but it re mains too early for meaningful analysis of the results to date."

During the last 10 years, the role of specific nutrients in cancer prevention and cancer treatment has been the subject of intense basic, preclinical, and clinical research. At present, the major focus of nutri tional oncology is on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and their modification by nutrients and on cancer prevention studies in animals and humans. Some human epidemiological studies have confirmed the hypothesis, developed on animals, that there is an inverse relation ship between the intake and/or level of 3-carotene, vitamin A vita min E, or vitamin C and the risk of cancer, whereas others have shown no such relationship. This is not unexpected, since the protective effect of individual nutrients may be too small to be detected by epidemiological methodologies in which a single vitamin or mineral is considered as one variable. Conclusive evidence regarding the role of nutrients in human cancer prevention will come from a well designed human intervention study using one or more nutrients in a population that has a high risk of developing cancer. The involvement of specific nutrients in the regulation of protooncogene expression has just begun. Also, some of the results of human intervention trials are beginning to yield interesting results. A large number of interna tional scientists from various disciplines, including cell biology, mo lecular biology, nutritional oncology, epidemiology, and public health, reviewed and discussed their most recent findings. The following topics were emphasized: 1. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; 2."

Trends in Polymers Science and Technology: Globalization and Development of New Materials; Y. Ito. Polymers for Photonics: Novel Polymeric Composite Materials for Photonics; P.N. Prasad, et al. Polymers for Electronics: Conducting Polymers; A.G. MacDiarmid, A.J. Epstein. High Performance Polymers: OrganicInorganic Composites; J.E. Mark. Polymers for Biotechnology: Biocompatible Polymers and Their Applications; N. Ogata. Polymers Blends and Composites: Thermodynamics and Interfaces of Polymer Blends; J. Kressler, T. Inoue. Multifunctional and Intelligent Polymers: Intelligent Polymer Membranes; W.E. Price, et al. Advanced Materials from Natural Polymers: The Study of Composite Reinforced with Natural Fibers; M. Sitepu. Sol-Gel Processed Materials: Sol-Gel Synthesis of Transition Metal Oxopolymers; J. Livage. Polymer Surfaces: New Directions in Organosilicon Surface Science; M.J. Owen. 55 additional articles. Index.

This book summarizes the state ofthe art research presented at the Fourth International Conference on Frontiers of Polymersand Advanced Materialsheld in Cairo, Egypt in January 4-9, 1997. This conference follows the successful conferences held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1995, in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1993 andin New Delhi, India in 1991. These conferences focussed on the most recent and important advances in a wide range of carefully chosen subject areas dealing with advanced materials, their science and technology and new business opportunities resulting from recent technological advances. As its predecessors, the conference held in Cairo was truly international with strong participation of 488 deiegales representing 37 countries from the USA and Egypt, as weil as Europe, South East Asia, Japan, South Africa and the Middle East. The conference was organized by the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, The Arab Society ofMaterials Science and the State University ofNew Y ork at Butfalo. The stated goals ofthe conference were: * To highlight advances and new. findings in the general area of polymers and advanced materials. - * T o foster global collaboration between the USA, Egypt and other nations in the general field of polymers and advanced materials. * To promote the development of scientific ilifrastructure in this field among the different participating countries, especially in the Middle East. * To create a basisforfuture long-term scientific exchanges between the USA and Egypt, and/or other countries.

Nutrients in Cancer Prevention and Treatment contains articles that were presented by leading researchers and physicians in the field of nutritional oncology. Most of the previous conference proceedings on Nutrition and Cancer have dealt primarily with the issue of the role of nutrients in cancer prevention. This is logical because enormous quantities of laboratory and epi demiologic data have been published on the topic. Nutrients in Cancer Prevention and Treatment also contains several studies on the role of diet and vitamins in cancer treat ment. There are very few books that have reviewed laboratory and clinical studies and the role of vitamins in cancer treatment. There are preliminary data suggesting that daily supplementa tion with high doses of certain vitamins in combination with conventional therapeutic agents may enhance their growth inhibitory effects on tumor cells, and may protect normal tissues against some of their toxic effects. This book is unique in the sense that several articles have discussed the mechanisms of action of individual vitamins on cellular and molecular parameters. It is very exciting to note that some of the vitamins inhibit protein kinase C activity, increase the production of certain growth factors, and modulate the expression of a number of oncogenes. These studies, at least in part, offer rationales for the cancer protective effects of vitamins."

Thisbook continuesthe tradition ofproviding the scientificcommunity with infonnation on some ofthe most important advances reported at aseries ofconferences on Frontiers ofPolymers and Advanced Materials. The particular meeting covered in this proceedings volume was held in KualaLumpur, Malaysia, from January 16th through the 20th, 1995. It follows earlier proceedings, also published by Plenum, for a conference in New Delhi in 1991, and another in Jakarta in 1993. All of these conferences focused on the most recent and important advances in a wide range of carefully chosen subject areas dealing with advanced materials and new technologies. TheMalaysiaConference was organized by the Malaysian MinistryofScience, Technology and Environment; Malaysian Industry-Government Group for Higher Technology; Standards and Industrial Research Institute ofMalaysia; State University ofNew York at Buffalo; and Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association. The stated goals ofthe conference were: To highlight advances and new findings in Polymers and Advanced Materials To bring together leading international scientists, engineers and top level industrial managementfor discussionsonthe CUTTent status ofadvanced materials, new technologies and industrial opportunities To foster global communication in polymers and advanced materials technology. Tbe Malaysianconferencecoveredbytheseproceedingsemphasized"composites and blends," ''high-performance materials," ''materials for photonics," ''materials for electronics," ''biomaterials'', "recycling of materials," "sol-gel and processed materials," "advanced materials from natural products," and ''multifunctional and smart materials." There was also a separate symposium on ''business opportunities.""

Increased oxidative stress due to the production of excessive amounts of free radicals along with the effects of chronic inflammation plays a major role in the initiation and progression of most chronic diseases. In addition, increased release of glutamate plays a central role in the pathogenesis of various disorders. This second edition of Micronutrients in Health and Disease proposes a novel concept that in order to simultaneously and optimally reduce oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and glutamate, it is essential to increase levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as levels of dietary and endogenous antioxidant compounds at the same time. This is accomplished by activating the Nrf2 pathways and by increasing the levels of antioxidant compounds and B-vitamins through supplementation. This book proposes a mixture of micronutrients that achieves this above goal. The mixture of micronutrients together with modification in diet and lifestyle may reduce the risk of chronic diseases and in combination with standard care, may improve the management of these diseases. KEY FEATURES * Provides evidence in support of the idea that increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and glutamate are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. * Contains three new chapters on Huntington's disease, Autism spectra, and Prion disease. * Discusses the role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. * Presents information on regulation of the expression of microRNAs by reactive oxygen species and antioxidants. Micronutrients in Health and Disease, Second Edition serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to promote healthy aging and prevent and improved management of chronic diseases.

Increased oxidative stress due to the production of excessive amounts of free radicals along with the effects of chronic inflammation plays a major role in the initiation and progression of most chronic diseases. In addition, increased release of glutamate plays a central role in the pathogenesis of various disorders. This second edition of Micronutrients in Health and Disease proposes a novel concept that in order to simultaneously and optimally reduce oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and glutamate, it is essential to increase levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as levels of dietary and endogenous antioxidant compounds at the same time. This is accomplished by activating the Nrf2 pathways and by increasing the levels of antioxidant compounds and B-vitamins through supplementation. This book proposes a mixture of micronutrients that achieves this above goal. The mixture of micronutrients together with modification in diet and lifestyle may reduce the risk of chronic diseases and in combination with standard care, may improve the management of these diseases. KEY FEATURES * Provides evidence in support of the idea that increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and glutamate are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. * Contains three new chapters on Huntington's disease, Autism spectra, and Prion disease. * Discusses the role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. * Presents information on regulation of the expression of microRNAs by reactive oxygen species and antioxidants. Micronutrients in Health and Disease, Second Edition serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to promote healthy aging and prevent and improved management of chronic diseases.

The book proposes that a preparation of antioxidants and micronutrients, in combination with standard therapy, may reduce progression and improve management better than standard therapy alone for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease, as well as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, concussions, and cerebral vascular insufficiency. The book presents the latest research on the effects of micronutrients and recommends formulations for use in combination with standard therapies for these neurodegenerative diseases and conditions.

This handbook presents the most current information on the effects of ionizing radiation on mammalian cells, with emphasis on human tissues. The dose-effect relationship is emphasized in a quantitative manner. The book contains up-to-date data on the late effects of low levels of radiation on humans. It also provides some of the late consequences of radiation therapy detected among cancer survivors.

Thisbook continuesthe tradition ofproviding the scientificcommunity with infonnation on some ofthe most important advances reported at aseries ofconferences on Frontiers ofPolymers and Advanced Materials. The particular meeting covered in this proceedings volume was held in KualaLumpur, Malaysia, from January 16th through the 20th, 1995. It follows earlier proceedings, also published by Plenum, for a conference in New Delhi in 1991, and another in Jakarta in 1993. All of these conferences focused on the most recent and important advances in a wide range of carefully chosen subject areas dealing with advanced materials and new technologies. TheMalaysiaConference was organized by the Malaysian MinistryofScience, Technology and Environment; Malaysian Industry-Government Group for Higher Technology; Standards and Industrial Research Institute ofMalaysia; State University ofNew York at Buffalo; and Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association. The stated goals ofthe conference were: To highlight advances and new findings in Polymers and Advanced Materials To bring together leading international scientists, engineers and top level industrial managementfor discussionsonthe CUTTent status ofadvanced materials, new technologies and industrial opportunities To foster global communication in polymers and advanced materials technology. Tbe Malaysianconferencecoveredbytheseproceedingsemphasized"composites and blends," ''high-performance materials," ''materials for photonics," ''materials for electronics," ''biomaterials'', "recycling of materials," "sol-gel and processed materials," "advanced materials from natural products," and ''multifunctional and smart materials." There was also a separate symposium on ''business opportunities.""

Nutrients in Cancer Prevention and Treatment contains articles that were presented by leading researchers and physicians in the field of nutritional oncology. Most of the previous conference proceedings on Nutrition and Cancer have dealt primarily with the issue of the role of nutrients in cancer prevention. This is logical because enormous quantities of laboratory and epi demiologic data have been published on the topic. Nutrients in Cancer Prevention and Treatment also contains several studies on the role of diet and vitamins in cancer treat ment. There are very few books that have reviewed laboratory and clinical studies and the role of vitamins in cancer treatment. There are preliminary data suggesting that daily supplementa tion with high doses of certain vitamins in combination with conventional therapeutic agents may enhance their growth inhibitory effects on tumor cells, and may protect normal tissues against some of their toxic effects. This book is unique in the sense that several articles have discussed the mechanisms of action of individual vitamins on cellular and molecular parameters. It is very exciting to note that some of the vitamins inhibit protein kinase C activity, increase the production of certain growth factors, and modulate the expression of a number of oncogenes. These studies, at least in part, offer rationales for the cancer protective effects of vitamins.

Several model systems have been used to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of differentiation of mammalian nerve cells. Each model system has unique advantages and disadvantages and is suited for the study of only certain aspects of differentiation. In this book, the techniques of these models and the usefulness and limita tion of each model system are discussed. An awareness of the use and misuse of each model system is important for a rational interpretation of data and for a reasonable comparison of data obtained from different model systems. With the use of clonal lines of neuronal cells and hybrid neural cells (neural cells x nonneural cells), many new concepts have emerged con cerning the regulation of differentiated functions, the relationship between the expressions of individual differentiated functions, and the relationship between differentiation and malignancy. Some of these concepts have already proved to be relevant to regulation of differentiation in vivo. These new emerging concepts are discussed extensively in this book. Many new agents (physiological and nonphysiological) which induce or increase the expression of one or more differentiated functions have been identified. These agents will be useful biological tools for further studies of the regulation of differentiation in mamma lian nerve cells. This book describes the role of each agent in d- vii viii PREFACE ferentiation of nerve cells by focusing on different model systems and provides a rational basis for selecting the particular differentiating agents for specific problems of differentiation processes."

This book represents the proceedings of the First International Conference on Frontiers of Polymer Research held in New Delhi, India during January 20-25, 1991. Polymers have usually been perceived as substances to be used in insulations, coatings, fabrics, and structural materials. Defying this classical view, polymers are emerging as a new class of materials with potential applications in many new technologies. They also offer challenging opportunities for fundamental research. Recognizing a tremendous growth in world wide interest in polymer research and technology, a truly global "1st International Conference on Frontiers of Polymer Research" was organized by P. N. Prasad (SUNY at Buffalo), F. E. Karasz (University of Massachusetts) and J. K. Nigam (Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, India). The 225 participants represented 25 countries and a wide variety of academic, industrial and government groups. The conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Chandra Shekhar and had a high level media coverage. The focus of the conference was on three frontier areas of polymer research: (i) Polymers for photonics, where nonlinear optical properties of polymers show great promise, (ii) Polymers for electronics, where new conduction mechanisms and photophysics have generated considerable enthusiasm and (iii) High performance polymers as new advanced polymers have exhibited exceptionally high mechanical strength coupled with light weight.

This book presents the proceedings of the Second International Conference on Frontiers of Polymers and Advanced Materials held in Jakarta, Indonesia during January 10-15, 1993. This conference was organized and sponsored by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and the Indonesian Polymer Association. The 244 participants represented a total of 24 countries and a wide variety of academic, industrial and government groups. The inauguration was held in the Royal Palace and was performed by President Soeharto of Indonesia. High level media coverage ensured worldwide recognition. The need for such a conference was emphasized by the fact that polymers have emerged as an important class of materials offering challenging opportunities for both fundamental research and new technological applications. There has been a tremendous growth of interest in the field of polymers, both in academia and in industry, and polymer science offers tremendous opportunities for both fundamental and applied work. This globally represented Second International Conference on Frontiers of Polymers and Advanced Materials was timely, especially given the current heightened enthusiasm for polymers and emerging novel applications.

In the past five years, a surprising and intense resurgence in interest in vitamins and other micronutrients and their role in health and dis ease has occurred. The recognition has emerged that vitamins not only are essential for life .in that severe nutritional deficiencies occur in their absence, but that these compounds may also serve as natural inhibitors of cancer. Synthetic alterations of the basic vitamin A mole cule have also resulted in the production of compounds that are more potent as anticancer agents than the natural substance and may have substantial therapeutic activity as well. Whether other vita mins can be changed or altered to produce a better anticancer effect than the native compound has been little explored to date, but should be a fruitful pursuit for future study. In our concluding remarks to the First International Conference in 1982, we speculated that rapid advances in our understanding of vi tamins would occur in the next few years and that large-scale inter vention trials of vitamins as preventive agents in defined human pop ulations would be started. This anticipated generation of data on vitamins and their interactions has proceeded rapidly and the impor tance of interactions between vitamins and other micronutrients in the prevention setting has become better appreciated. Currently, more than 25 intervention trials with a variety of target populations using vitamins and other micronutrients have been started, but it re mains too early for meaningful analysis of the results to date."

This treatise is a compendium of papers based on invited talks presented at the American Chemical Society Symposium on Electroactive Polymers which covered nonlinear optical polymers and conducting polymers, the common denominator being the correlated pi-electron structures. The improved understanding of the consequences of pi-electron delocalization upon nonlinear optical properties and charge carrier dynamics has laid the foundation for the rapid development and application of the electroresponse of conjugated polymers. As a result, the area of electroactive and nonlinear optical polymers is emerging as a frontier of sCience and technology. It is a multidisciplinary field that is bringing together scientists and engineers of varied background to interface their expertise. The recent explosion of interest in this area stems from the prospect of utilizing nonlinear optical effects for optical switching and logic operations in optical computing, optical signal processing, optical sensing and optical fiber communications. Polymers and organic are rapidly becoming one of the major material classes for nonlinear optical applications along with multiple quantum wells, ferroelectrics and other oxides, and direct band-gap semiconductors. The reasons for this lie in the unique molecular structures of polymers and organics and the ability to molecularly engineer the architecture of these structures through chemical synthesis.

During the last 10 years, the role of specific nutrients in cancer prevention and cancer treatment has been the subject of intense basic, preclinical, and clinical research. At present, the major focus of nutri tional oncology is on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and their modification by nutrients and on cancer prevention studies in animals and humans. Some human epidemiological studies have confirmed the hypothesis, developed on animals, that there is an inverse relation ship between the intake and/or level of !3-carotene, vitamin A vita min E, or vitamin C and the risk of cancer, whereas others have shown no such relationship. This is not unexpected, since the protective effect of individual nutrients may be too small to be detected by epidemiological methodologies in which a single vitamin or mineral is considered as one variable. Conclusive evidence regarding the role of nutrients in human cancer prevention will come from a well designed human intervention study using one or more nutrients in a population that has a high risk of developing cancer. The involvement of specific nutrients in the regulation of protooncogene expression has just begun. Also, some of the results of human intervention trials are beginning to yield interesting results. A large number of interna tional scientists from various disciplines, including cell biology, mo lecular biology, nutritional oncology, epidemiology, and public health, reviewed and discussed their most recent findings. The following topics were emphasized: 1. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; 2.

This book demonstrates that, when reforming the water sector, policymakers should arrange social policies that mitigate the negative impact of reforms. It presents a detailed analysis of the current issues, and uses country studies to show how social policies are vital in ensuring affordable access to water supply.

In this practical scientific guide, Kedar N. Prasad, Ph.D. reveals the latest revolutionary discoveries on the use of antioxidants to treat Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. He details how the proper combinations of vitamin and antioxidant supplements, along with polyphenic compounds such as curcumin and resveratrol, can greatly increase the effectiveness of standard medical treatments for these diseases, slowing the progression of symptoms as well as delaying onset despite family history. He provides an easy-to-follow daily supplement regimen to target free-radical damage and inflammation and slow the progression of these diseases. Offering a safe self-help complement to standard medications, this guide provides a truly holistic approach to the prevention and treatment of both Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.

In this practical yet scientific guide, leading researcher in cancer, heart disease, and diabetes prevention Kedar N. Prasad, Ph.D., reveals the latest revolutionary discoveries on the use of antioxidants and micronutrients to treat diabetes. He details how the proper combinations of vitamin and antioxidant supplements can greatly increase the effectiveness of standard medical treatments to halt and even reverse the progression of both type I and type II diabetes and prevent onset in those who are diagnosed as prediabetic. Prasad shows how chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and free radical damage are the chief culprits for the progression of diabetes and its complications and that merely changing your diet and activity level and regulating blood glucose levels cannot fully counteract this unhealthy internal state. He provides an easy-to-follow daily supplement regime for both diabetics and prediabetics in multiple age groups to target free radical damage and cell injury and stop the progression of diabetes complications. Reviewing much of the scientific research on diabetes treatment, he debunks the flawed conclusions of the medical community that vitamins and antioxidants are ineffective, revealing how the studies focused on specific micronutrients rather than synergistic combinations. Offering the missing complement to the standard care of diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes promoted by mainstream medicine, this guide provides a truly holistic approach to diabetes prevention, treatment, and care.