In addition to constituting an evolving area of inquiry within the social sciences, agricultural certification, and particularly its Fair Trade and organic components, has emerged as a significant tool for promoting rural development in the global South. This book is unique for two reasons. First, in contrast to existing studies that have tended to examine Fair Trade and organic certification as independent systems, the studies presented in this book reveal their joint application within actual production settings, demonstrating the greater complexity entailed in these double certification systems through the generation of contradictions and tensions compared with single certification systems. Second, the authors, who are both Asian, reveal the realities of applying Fair Trade and organic certification systems within Asian agriculture. In doing so, they challenge the fact that most Fair Trade studies have been undertaken by Western scholars who have tended to focus on Latin American and African producers. Drawing on a wealth of grounded case studies conducted in India, Thailand, and the Philippines, this pioneering study on double certification makes a significant contribution to studies on Fair Trade and organic agriculture beyond Asia.

Following many reports that were published in the last two decades on correlations of multiphase structures of the surface of materials with their antithrombogenicity or biocompatibility a research project ''Design of Multiphase Biomedical Materials'' was carried out in Japan between 1982 and 1986. The objective of this research project was to elucidate various aspects of biomedical behaviour of multiphase systems at the interface with living bodies at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Multiphase materials studied cover polymers having microphase-separated structures, hydrogels, immobilized enzymes (or cells), ceramics and metallic materials.
The research project was carried out by the following subgroups:
-- Multiphase biomedical materials with microdomain structures
-- Multiphase biomedical materials containing liquid components
-- Hybrid-type multiphase biomedical materials with biological components
-- Inorganic and metallic multiphase biomedical materials
-- Methods for analysis and evaluation of multiphase biomedical materials
This book contains the results of the research project in an edited form and aims to provoke a better understanding about various aspects of cell--material interactions in which the multiphase systems play a crucial role.

Polymer Yearbook 13 brings together reviews and information on the progress of polymer science worldwide, including useful and topical information such as a list of new publications in polymer science and a compilation of dissertation abstracts. This volume includes reviews of key aspects of polymer science, including contributions from Russia, and details of important publications., This volume also contains reviews on state-of-the-art Japanese research presented at the annual Spring and Fall meetings of the Japanese Polymer Science Society. The aim of this section is to make information on the progress of Japanese polymer science, and on topics of current interest to polymer scientists in Japan, more easily available worldwide.

In addition to constituting an evolving area of inquiry within the social sciences, agricultural certification, and particularly its Fair Trade and organic components, has emerged as a significant tool for promoting rural development in the global South. This book is unique for two reasons. First, in contrast to existing studies that have tended to examine Fair Trade and organic certification as independent systems, the studies presented in this book reveal their joint application within actual production settings, demonstrating the greater complexity entailed in these double certification systems through the generation of contradictions and tensions compared with single certification systems. Second, the authors, who are both Asian, reveal the realities of applying Fair Trade and organic certification systems within Asian agriculture. In doing so, they challenge the fact that most Fair Trade studies have been undertaken by Western scholars who have tended to focus on Latin American and African producers. Drawing on a wealth of grounded case studies conducted in India, Thailand, and the Philippines, this pioneering study on double certification makes a significant contribution to studies on Fair Trade and organic agriculture beyond Asia.

The Door to Inner Happiness reveals powerful strategies from around the world for bouncing back when everything's going wrong. The Door to Inner Happiness shares the stories of regular people from all over the world who have found ways to turn horrendous situations into opportunities and new possibilities. It will reassure you, inspire you, and give you hope, because if these people can do it, so can you. You'll discover that beneath our cultural differences, there is a common thread that binds us all together. This is not just another self-help book. It's a deep dive into the heart of life through real stories of overcoming real tragedies.

Urban legends are supposed to be just that, legends. But recently, there has been a rash of unexplainable occurrences, and victims are starting to pile up. Word is that a mysterious boy appears after each incident…

Rethinking African Agriculture argues that rural communities in Africa are still shaped by non-agrarian factors both in livelihood strategy and social formation. This volume renews and deepens the research on the African peasantry by offering a fresh perspective drawn from the hitherto largely unknown Japanese research on the subject. The ethnographic fieldwork focuses not only on the micro environment of the producers but also the broader historical context in which they live and work. The contributors argue that, in comparison with other regions of the world, Africa has never passed through an agrarian revolution that would effectively change the mode of production from within. Modernization efforts from the outside have fallen far short of the ambition to transform agriculture in Africa. Rural Africa is still largely a natural society characterized by "non-agrarian" features as evident in people's livelihood, social organization, and farming systems. This book will be of interest to social scientists and anthropologists focusing on African development, agriculture and agrarian societies,

The articles collected in this publication have previously been published in eight special issues of the Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, in honour of Dr. Allan S. Hoffman, who is known as a pioneer, a leader and a mentor in the field of biomaterials. The papers from renowned scientists from all parts of the world, representing the state-of-the-art in polymeric biomaterials today, have been rearranged into a logical order of sections, each having a distinct focus. The topics covered are: Surface Modification, Characterization and Properties; Protein Adsorption; Blood Interactions; Cell Interactions; Immobilized Cell Receptor Ligands and Immobilized Cells; Immobilized Biomolecules and Synthetic Derivatives of Biomolecules; New Polymers and Applications; Biodegradable Polymers and Drug Delivery; Water-Soluble Biomolecules, Sunthetic Polymers, and their Conjugates; Hydrogels.

Rethinking African Agriculture argues that rural communities in Africa are still shaped by non-agrarian factors both in livelihood strategy and social formation. This volume renews and deepens the research on the African peasantry by offering a fresh perspective drawn from the hitherto largely unknown Japanese research on the subject. The ethnographic fieldwork focuses not only on the micro environment of the producers but also the broader historical context in which they live and work. The contributors argue that, in comparison with other regions of the world, Africa has never passed through an agrarian revolution that would effectively change the mode of production from within. Modernization efforts from the outside have fallen far short of the ambition to transform agriculture in Africa. Rural Africa is still largely a natural society characterized by "non-agrarian" features as evident in people’s livelihood, social organization, and farming systems. This book will be of interest to social scientists and anthropologists focusing on African development, agriculture and agrarian societies,

The use of FOQA has become widely adopted within the last decade with the aim of increasing aviation safety. Although thousand of parameters have been available to FOQA programs, airlines have traditionally chosen a limited number for analysis; there has been no consensus on what parameters - other than the required ones - should be monitored. Therefore, several FOQA parameters that could enhance air carrier safety have not been recorded and/or analyzed. The research described in this book has no precedent in the United States. This exploratory mixed methods study began with a conference call comprising FOQA industry experts which was planned and completed to (a) increase researcher knowledge and (b) discuss a list of improved safety FOQA parameters. A questionnaire, derived from the suggested list, was electronically sent to 40 FOQA professionals. The respondents represented 75% of the airlines with an FAA approved FOQA program. The responses reported a high importance for the 11 suggested parameters. The industry indicated amenability to the discussion of improved safety parameters. This study can lead professionals to comprehend FOQA and the aviation industry to improve safety.

Japanese horror. Hideki (Hiroshi Mikami) picks up a strange newspaper that foretells horrific accidents and deaths, and he is powerless to prevent them. But when he reads of his daughter's impending death, he desperately seeks out a way to change the future.

The complete trilogy of Hideo Nakata's dark and chilling tales of a deadly virus that can be caught simply by watching a cursed videotape, which prompted a US remake starring Naomi Watts in 2002. In 'Ring 1' (1998), fear spreads among the students of a local high school when news circulates of a mysterious videotape which brings death to those who watch it. TV reporter Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate, finds a copy of the tape in a deserted cabin and falls victim to its awful curse. With only one week left to live, her only hope is to uncover the story behind the tape, to find out where it came from and why it wields such terrible powers. In the sequel, 'Ring 2' (1998), journalist Mai Takano (Miki Nakatani) begins her own investigation into the mysterious haunted videotape that kills all those who see it. Along the way she discovers that Youichi, the son of tape victim Ryiji, has begun to develop many of the same supernatural powers that Sadako had when she was still alive. Now Mai must do her best to protect both herself and Youichi from the evil undead Sadako as the tape's curse continues to exert its terrifying power. In 'Ring 0' (2002), the final part of the trilogy and a prequel to the original film, it's the 1950s and Sadako, the evil spirit who wreaks havoc in the later stories, is a young woman and aspiring actress around whom strange things happen. Under suspicion from her peers she eventually takes part in a paranormal demonstration in front of the media. One by one the journalists present start to die as the fiancée of one of the dead tries to unlock the mystery of the tape-recording of Sadako's voice.

The articles collected in this publication have previously been published in eight special issues of the Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, in honour of Dr. Allan S. Hoffman, who is known as a pioneer, a leader and a mentor in the field of biomaterials. The papers from renowned scientists from all parts of the world, representing the state-of-the-art in polymeric biomaterials today, have been rearranged into a logical order of sections, each having a distinct focus. The topics covered are: Surface Modification, Characterization and Properties; Protein Adsorption; Blood Interactions; Cell Interactions; Immobilized Cell Receptor Ligands and Immobilized Cells; Immobilized Biomolecules and Synthetic Derivatives of Biomolecules; New Polymers and Applications; Biodegradable Polymers and Drug Delivery; Water-Soluble Biomolecules, Sunthetic Polymers, and their Conjugates; Hydrogels.

Japanese horror. Hideki (Hiroshi Mikami) picks up a strange newspaper that foretells horrific accidents and deaths, and he is powerless to prevent them. But when he reads of his daughter's impending death, he desperately seeks out a way to change the future.

Polymer Yearbook 13 brings together reviews and information on the progress of polymer science worldwide, including useful and topical information such as a list of new publications in polymer science and a compilation of dissertation abstracts. This volume includes reviews of key aspects of polymer science, including contributions from Russia, and details of important publications., This volume also contains reviews on state-of-the-art Japanese research presented at the annual Spring and Fall meetings of the Japanese Polymer Science Society. The aim of this section is to make information on the progress of Japanese polymer science, and on topics of current interest to polymer scientists in Japan, more easily available worldwide.