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Customised Books in Early Modern Europe and the Americas, 1400-1700 examines the hermeneutic functions of the modifications made by makers and users to the structure of meaning of their books.

This volume presents a practical theological investigation into the little-known and underappreciated Coptic Orthodox Church in a context outside of Egypt.

Ce livre présente l'édition, la traduction en français et l'analyse de tous les documents de chancellerie concernant les échanges diplomatiques et commerciaux entre Florence et le sultanat mamelouk (début XVe - début XVIe siècle). This book offers the edition, translation into French and analysis of all the chancery documents related to the exchanges established between Florence and the Mamluk sultanate from the third decade of the fifteenth century to the beginning of the sixteenth.

This volume presents fourteen studies on variability in the Pyramid and Coffin Texts and related materials, divided into three sections: study cases illustrative of uniqueness, group cases within or without the main tradition, and tracers that gauge disparity processes.

By clothing the Word with her flesh, the Virgin Mary made God visible, thereby licensing image-making. These case studies demonstrate how representations of Mary defined her role in the salvation of humanity and shaped early modern Christian beliefs and practices.

This study investigates the significant role of art in Jesuit mission efforts in China (1552-1773). Archaeological materials and written texts reveal that Jesuits and Chinese Christians sustained their faith and expressed their devotion to God via art.

What was the cultural and philosophical significance of Paul's faith language? By exploring a variety of discourses in Graeco-Roman literature, this work offers a comprehensive mapping of its multifaceted meaning leading to fresh interpretations of pistis usage in the apostle's letters.

Written to honor the career of Bénédicte Ledent, this volume explores the multiple ramifications that the notion of genealogy takes in, across and beyond Caryl Phillips's work; it offers a compelling revisiting of Phillips's influence in the contemporary moment.

This book examines how classical Chinese poetry took root and developed in colonial Singapore, integrating both traditional and new literary features to express in a lyrical way the sojourner's sentiments and local consciousness of Chinese immigrant poets.

Tempting the Tempter considers the extent to which fifteenth-century Italian holy women were willing to go in their efforts to imitate Christ, and how their biographers used their struggles with demonic temptations to promote their causes for sainthood.

The book investigates the social and religious history of the Portuguese-Jewish community of Hamburg during what is arguably the most important period of its history - the second half of the seventeenth century.

An examination of the transmission, dispersal and loss of handwritten documents initially used in Grotius' day-to-day activities as a scholar, lawyer, and politician, but subsequently incorporated into his own or other archives.

A recently discovered Hebrew dialogue, most likely written in Iberia, affords a concise and lively glimpse of the state of philosophy and science before the great achievement of Moses Maimonides. The text is edited, translated, and analysed from the perspectives of historical and philosophical contexts as well as linguistic innovation.

A biography of American painter Ralph W. Curtis (1854-1922) who graduated at Harvard, studied art in Paris, exhibited in the salons in Paris. He met Robert Browning, Henry James, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Venetian painters at the Palazzo Barbaro, in Venice.

This critical edition of Nikola Vitov Gučetic's (1549-1610) Commentary on the First Book of Aristotle's 'Rhetoric', with an introduction and supplementary material, shows how Aristotle's Rhetoric influenced lesser-known thinkers who depended on the art of persuasion in their careers.

Maine de Biran's concept of the embodied mind is most suitable to alert our consciousness today, while people are being exceedingly exposed to and submerged by comforting invasive virtual realities of metaverses that essentially minimize their resistance-potential to generate will and effort.

Volume 1 (1A, 1B and 1C): The Hebrew Bible, editors Armin Lange and Emanuel Tov Volume 1A consists of a series of overview articles and can already be considered as the first standalone Introduction to the texts of the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament.

The impact of nutrition on the health and welfare of the horse, whether performing at the highest athletic level or for leisure use, cannot be underestimated. To maintain good health and optimum performance the horse requires much more than just the correct levels of nutrients. In addition to avoiding an excess or a deficiency of nutrients the 'packaging' and form in which the horse ingests these nutrients plays an important role both for the horse's body and mind. Incorrect nutrition contributes to occurrence of colic, obesity, metabolic syndrome, laminitis, rhabdomyolisis and stereotypic, abnormal or unwanted behaviours. This book explores the impact of nutrition on health and welfare in horses. The chapters provide an up to date review and evaluation of our current understanding in the areas below. -Nutritional requirements and physiology -Nutrition, behaviour and welfare -Promoting health and preventing disease -Gastrointestinal health -Metabolic disease -Functional nutritional ingredients -Nutrition and performance This book is the 5th volume in a series conceived through the European Workshop of Equine Nutrition (EWEN) which falls under the umbrella of the Horse Commission of the European Association of Animal Production (EAAP). The aim is to facilitate discussion between equine nutrition scientists and to create a bridge between scientists, practitioners and the horse industry. The ultimate aim is to support good equine health and welfare practice through the best nutrition science possible. As such this book is a valuable compilation of knowledge for research scientists, veterinarians, nutritionists, academics and students.

Pectin extracted from suitable plant sources is used as food ingredient for its gelling, stabilizing and thickening functionalities. Pectic substances also have a great impact on the quality of fresh and processed foods particularly fruits and vegetables. Plant products, fresh, extracted or processed, constitute a large part of the human diet. As a fibre, naturally present in these food products, pectic substances fulfil a nutritional function and are increasingly of interest as a health promoting polysaccharide. Pectin is one of the major components of the cell wall of dicotyledonous plants and probably one of the most complex macromolecules in nature. This book provides an update account of the most significant state of the art research on pectin and demonstrates that significant progress has been made in recent years. The book addresses progress made in the fields of biosynthesis and health modulating activities of pectin fractions, among other things. Research reported uses the most advanced current spectroscopic techniques and immunodetection methods combined with microscopy and chromatography, genomics of pectic enzymes of Aspergillus niger, and interaction of pectins with proteins. The progress documented in this book allows us to increasingly identify and influence the functionality of pectins and pectic enzymes both in vitro after isolation, as well as in the plants themselves. This knowledge is also reflected in new applications of pectin and pectin degrading enzymes. 'Pectins and Pectinases' is of interest to beginning and advanced researchers and food specialists in academic and commercial food industry settings globally.

This book represents a unique collection of European and Asian perspectives on the production, trade and consumption of high quality food. The rapidly growing demand for organic and quality food in Europe imposes new challenges on competing food value chains. Europe, as the biggest worldwide food importer, attracts many developing and developed countries in Asia. Prospering Chinese and Thai food markets offer new opportunities for European operators. Wealthy and informed consumers on both continents search for trustworthy high quality food products. Farmers, operators and retailers from distant cultures are coping with different standards, facing the ever increasing necessity for mutual understanding. This publication is the output of Bean-Quorum, a European funded Asia-Link project. Bean-Quorum represents a consolidated network of researchers working together with the business sector and NGOs to enhance European Asian understanding about organic and quality food. This book describes global trends in organic and quality food trade and connects them with recent developments in Asian and European market structures. Selected case studies illustrate the impact of organic and quality food production on topics ranging from sustainable rural development, to the potential of exotic new plant varieties to purchase decisions of European or Asian retail managers. Selected European markets are mirrored by the situation in Chinese and Thai markets. Finally, environmental issues concerning global trade of quality food are addressed.

The key to exploiting links between diet and health is to have a better understanding of how our bodies respond to what we eat. In the past, many food constituents were regarded as unimportant because they lacked a specific nutritional role. More recently nutritional research has been limited to a few dietary compounds, a handful of relevant biochemical pathways and a small number of genes pertinent to specific diseases. These studies have given rise to specific examples of benefits provided by individual/ groups of food compounds including non-nutrients, and demonstrated that whilst poor diet can accelerate age-related degeneration, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, cereals and plant oils significantly reduces our risk of chronic disease. However, the benefits of dietary and lifestyle choices are not the same for everyone. Nutrigenomics offers a more holistic approach to nutritional research. It considers not only our genes and the effect they have on our response to diet but, also how diet affects our genes and proteins to alter our metabolism and our risk of disease as we age. However, the logistics associated with human study design and interpretation of the data generated, using these technologies, is complex. The European Network of Excellence NuGO was established in 2004 with the specific aim of developing and integrating omic technologies for European nutritional research. This has meant focusing on technical problems specific to nutrition as well as training existing and new researchers to use the technology alongside existing and new approaches. The workshop, Design of human nutrigenomic studies, reviewed examples of successful human nutrition studies using post-genomics technologies (transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics) and the issues discussed are described in detail in this publication.

Throughout history, rural smallholders have formed various forms of associations to confront access-barriers to the market. It is estimated that 250 million farmers participate in agricultural cooperatives in developing countries. Agricultural cooperatives are considered to be a fundamental pillar of rural development strategies, as well as a core institution in the process of governance decentralization and agri-business development. In Ethiopia, where agro-ecological conditions are generally favourable, 85 percent of the national population lives in rural areas under subsistence or semi-subsistence regimes. Agricultural cooperatives are advocated by the government as key market institutions to exploit Ethiopia's agricultural growth potential. The scope of this study is to improve the understanding of the role played by cooperative organizations in linking Ethiopian smallholder farmers to emerging markets. Through exploring the evolution of supermarkets, integrated supply chains, and global commodity exchange networks, this study sheds light on the relationship between rural cooperation and farmers' competitiveness. Quantitative data that form the basis for this study were collected from the Highland regions of Ethiopia, in the period between 2003 and 2006. Findings suggest that cooperatives are not a panacea to boost rural competitiveness. Collective action assists smallholders in procuring state subsidy for production, but does not necessarily lead to increased commercialization. Only when collective action involves collective marketing do farmers become more commercial, further improving production volumes and productivity. However, in the process of commercialization and production intensification quality management is often neglected in Ethiopian agricultural cooperatives. This study reveals guidelines for public-private partnerships so that cooperative farmers can maximize commercialization and optimize the balance between quality and productivity.

"Climate change is a challenge facing human life. It will change mobility and asks for new energy solutions. Bioenergy has gained increased attention as an alternative to fossil fuels. Energy based on renewable sources may offer part of the solution. Bio ethanol based on sugar cane offers advantages to people, the environment and the economy. Not surprisingly, governments currently enact powerful incentives for the development and exploitation of bio ethanol. However, every inch we come closer to this achievement, evokes more scepticism. Many questions are raised relating to whether sugar cane is really a sustainable solution. Still much is unknown about the net release of carbon dioxide and what the impacts of sugar cane expansion are on green house gas emissions. This book looks at the scientific base of the debate on sugar cane bio ethanol. Authors from Europe, Brazil and the USA capture many aspects of what is known and address assumptions while not denying that still much is unknown. It covers impacts on climate change, land use, sustainability and market demands. This publication discusses public policy impacts, technology developments, the fuel-food dilemma and the millennium development goals. This makes this publication unique and extremely relevant for policymakers, scientists and the private energy sector worldwide."

Twenty years ago, Fair Trade started as an effort to enable smallholder producers from developing countries to successfully compete in international markets. Better access to market outlets and stable prices are considered key principles for sustainable poverty reduction and stakeholder participation based on 'trade, not aid'. While Fair Trade is primarily conceived as a trading partnership - based on dialogue, transparency and mutual respect - seeking greater equity in international trade, it relies on an organized social movement promoting standards for production practices and delivery procedures, working conditions and labour remuneration, environmental care and social policies in supply chains of certified tropical goods. Over the past two decades, sales of Fair Trade products have considerably increased. After the first shipments of coffee, the range of products has gradually broadened to include fruit (particularly bananas, pineapple and citrus), tea, cocoa, textiles, cosmetics and a whole series of other products. Global Fair Trade sales have steadily grown to approximately EUR 1.6 billion worldwide, covering almost 600 producer organizations in more than 55 developing countries that represent close to a million families of farmers and workers. In recent years, efforts have been made towards mainstreaming of Fair Trade involving large international companies and retail chains. While numerous case studies and descriptive overviews are available to illustrate the importance of Fair Trade for producers and their families in developing countries, little quantitative evidence has been presented to review the socio-economic impact of Fair Trade. This collection of articles provides the first balanced in-depth analysis of the real welfare impact of Fair Trade, paying attention to key dimensions of income, consumption, wealth, environment, empowerment and gender. The core articles are based on extensive field surveys in Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Kenya and Mexico, and provide valuable insights in the contributions and constraints for producers' involvement in Fair Trade. In addition, attention is paid to the broader implications for international trade regimes and the ethical perspectives on Fair Trade.

Due to increased purchasing power of certain consumer segments all over the world and the related growing demand for food specialties for differentiated goods in the international markets, agri-food trade and marketing is no longer focused on commodities only. Key concepts of 'Marketing', 'International Trade' and 'Quality' are taking the forefront in the scientific debate among agricultural economists dealing with agricultural and food products markets. The need for scientific knowledge about several aspects of marketing for quality food products is growing. The aim of this book is to link these key concepts together and consider connections, overlaps, contradictions and complementarities between them. This book contains peer-reviewed articles covering a range of studies on international marketing and trade for quality food products and is edited with the support of the BEAN-QUORUM project, funded by the European Union's Asia Link Programme. The topics covered by the studies range from geographical indications to organic food; from fair trade to functional food; from knowledge about quality requirements to the impact of the quest for quality. The geographical scope of the studies is broad and the perspectives vary including the consumer, the producer and the supply chain side. The focal interest of the studies also range from competitiveness, to policy, to potential demand. The book is of interest to researchers and practitioners in international food networks of all types.

International trade agreements and reforms of the European Common Agricultural Policy increase the importance of agricultural risk management as a means to stabilise farm incomes. 'Income stabilisation in European agriculture' addresses farm income and risk management issues from various perspectives. A cohesive work is brought together on historic income data, quantitative analyses of future policy scenarios, actual farmers' perceptions and an updated view on various risk management instruments. In-depth analyses focus on Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. Overall findings are synthesised in policy recommendations for agricultural risk management in European agriculture. For academia, this publication brings together an interesting variety of quantitative and qualitative methods to understand and interpret risk management concepts in agriculture. For public and private stakeholders analyses and reflections can be used in debating the domain of policy reforms, risk exposure and risk management in European agriculture.

Aspergillus is among the economically most important fungal genera. Aspergillus species are used in the fermentation industry for the production of various enzymes, organic acids and pharmaceutically important compounds, and in Oriental food fermentations. At the same time, Aspergilli can cause opportunistic infections, and produce a range of secondary metabolites also known as mycotoxins which are harmful to humans and animals. Due to its importance in biotechnology, medicine and foods, Aspergilli are in the forefront of studies dealing with various aspects of fungi. This is well illustrated by the fact that projects aiming at sequencing the genomes of nine species are in progress. In this book, some aspects of the biology of this genus are covered, including the biotechnological importance of Aspergilli, their role in mycotoxin contamination of food products including grapes and coffee products, and implications of biodiversity of Aspergillus populations for agriculture. Among the clinical aspects, the role of Aspergilli in eye infections, the mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance and their molecular identification in the clinical setting are covered. Several chapters deal with the genomic aspects of Aspergilli, including the genomics of pigment biosynthesis, extracellular enzyme production, aflatoxin biosynthesis and the identification of genes taking part in sexual processes. Additional chapters cover the variability and inheritance of mycoviruses in Aspergilli and multilocus approaches are given to clarify the evolutionary history of the genus. Finally, a new taxonomic classification of the various Aspergillus sections is given based on multilocus sequence data.

"Globally, the face of pig and poultry production is changing. The global emphasis on ethanol production has diverted significant proportions of grain away from animal production, thus increasing the cost of feed. This has forced the pig and poultry industries to scrutinise their production methods investigating alternative feed ingredients together with methods of improving productivity and efficiency in order to survive. This edited collection of papers is taken from a series of seminars that brought together some of the world's leading authorities in the field of pig and poultry nutrition and production. The fundamental theme is to address the interaction between nutrition and the gut ecosystem as a means to enhance health, performance and ultimately profitability. The importance of gut development and the intestinal ecosystem as a whole, and their impact on health and disease are covered in-depth. The roles of specific feed ingredients are also discussed. 'Gut efficiency: the key ingredient in pig and poultry production' is aimed at nutritionists and animal producers as well as students and researchers studying animal and applied biological sciences."

The new Common Agricultural Policy, launched in 2003 and implemented since 2005, appears as a big change mainly due to the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme and the decoupling of subsidies from production. EU beef production is one of the sectors mostly affected by the existing CAP regulations. This book addresses what the impact could be on the future of European beef farming systems and in what ways could beef farmers adapt in order to ensure the sustainability of their farms. Within the Cattle Network Working Group of EAAP, a group of European economists, The Beef Task Force, composed of experts and researchers from a number of EU countries, engaged in a common project with the object of monitoring and developing studies on policy impact and farm strategy analysis. The BTF joined national studies into a common report, which is divided into four parts: the current picture of beef farming systems in Europe; CAP implementation at national level; first impact of reformed CAP on farming systems; future evolution of European beef production and land use. This book highlights disparities in CAP implementation and presents the main developments regarding EU beef farming systems: size increase, farm/regional specialization, adaptation to market requirements and, eventually, social expectations. It is of interest to policy makers and all those who concern themselves with the cattle industry.