Science Insights

This volume of Macromolecular Symposia contains chapters dedicated to different aspects of modern polymer science. Highly skilled researchers produced texts with detailed information on several subjects, such as, hybrid materials, detection of electric charges trapped in polymer systems, supramolecular structures in rubber blends, compatibilization of elastomer-based blends, rubber/organoclay nano-composites, new stereospecific catalysts and conductive polymer blends. Most of these subjects are extremely new and likely to appear in polymer textbooks only in the latter part of the 21st century.

The purpose of this book is to gain a better understanding of the multitude of factors that determine longer life and improved quality of life in the years a person is alive. While the emphasis is primarily on the social and behavioral determinants that have an effect on the health and well-being of individuals, this publication also addresses quality of life factors and determinants more broadly. Each chapter in this book considers an area of investigation and ends with suggestions for future research and implications of current research for policy and practice. The introductory chapter summarizes the state of Americans’ health and well-being in comparison to our international peers and presents background information concerning the limitations of current approaches to improving health and well-being. Following the introduction, there are 21 chapters that examine the effects of various behavioral risk factors on population health, identify trends in life expectancy and quality of life, and suggest avenues for research in the behavioral and social science arenas to address problems affecting the U.S. population and populations in other developed and developing countries around the world. Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing coursework in health statistics, health population demographics, behavioral and social science, and heatlh policy may be interested in this content. Additionally, policymakers, legislators, heatlh educators, and scientific organizations around the world may also have an interest in this resource.

This issue of Dermatologic Clinics, guest edited by Dr. John J. DiGiovanna, is devoted to Skin Science Contributions in Clinical Dermatology. Articles in this issue include Mosaic mTORopathies; CYLD: Cause and Therapeutic Target for Cylindromas; Current Status of Dedicator of Cytokinesis (DOCK), DOCK8, DOCK2; IL-22 relation to Tumor Aggression and Role of Cyclosporine; Dual Lineage of Dermal Fibroblasts and Potential for Scar Correction, Reformation of Adnexal Structures; Inflammasome Instigated Autoinflammatory Disorders; Pigment Cell Biology; Antimicrobial Peptides; and Choosing Friend or Foe? Commensal-specific tolerance.

“Meghalayan Age”: Scientists added a new chapter in Earth’s history and we are in it. It is one of the most notable achievements identified from a stalagmite (rock structure) from Mawmluh Cave, Meghalaya, which captured the abrupt climate-event at ~ 4200 years ago. Some caves identified from Meghalaya have already been in top chart positions on World’s cave Map. Besides it, various other findings that emerged from the Indian caves are globally recognized. Notwithstanding these advances, cave science is not yet in the mainstream of our education system. This book is an attempt to accommodate all such notable findings which came out from the Indian caves and are internationally recognized. The book includes the 8 chapters which are on- Indian Caves, Paleoclimatology, Biospeleology, Chiroptelology, Geomicrobiology, Hydrogeology, Paleoanthropology and Cave Conservancy. This comprehensive reference book will not only enlighten the path for studying Cave Science but also serve as a proper key to open various doors of Cave Research and their protection in India in a proper way.

This book examines the strategic principles that define the customer experience. Building on the recent findings in the domains of behavioral economics and social psychology, Customer Science discusses the customer experience from three different perspectives: what customers do—how they identify a problem, seek a solution, and interact with the offering; what they think and feel during this process—how they evaluate different market offerings; and what motivates their behavior—why they act the way they do. In this context, it examines all components of the customer experience—from activating a need to buying a company’s offerings, to becoming a loyal customer and advocate for the company. The different stages of customer interaction with the company and its offerings are presented in the form of a customer experience map, which functions as the organizing principle for this book. The customer experience map is the blueprint for understanding the different stages of the customer experience and facilitating managerial decision making at each stage. The customer experience map is also the foundation of the customer experience canvas, a practical tool to identify the key questions managers should ask as they strive to create impactful customer experiences.

The definitive introduction to the behavioral insights approach, which applies evidence about human behavior to practical problems. Our behavior is strongly influenced by factors that lie outside our conscious awareness, although we tend to underestimate the power of this “automatic” side of our behavior. As a result, governments make ineffective policies, businesses create bad products, and individuals make unrealistic plans. In contrast, the behavioral insights approach applies evidence about actual human behavior—rather than assumptions about it—to practical problems. This volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, written by two leading experts in the field, offers an accessible introduction to behavioral insights, describing core features, origins, and practical examples. These insights have opened up new ways of addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by societies, changing the way that governments, businesses, and nonprofits work in the process. This book shows how the approach is grounded in a concern with practical problems, the use of evidence about human behavior to address those problems, and experimentation to evaluate the impact of the solutions. It gives an overview of the approach's origins in psychology and behavioral economics, its early adoption by the UK's pioneering “nudge unit,” and its recent expansion into new areas. The book also provides examples from across different policy areas and guidance on how to run a behavioral insights project. Finally, the book outlines the limitations and ethical implications of the approach, and what the future holds for this fast-moving area.

This book expands the debate on the future of science and technology at the Curious2018 – Future Insight Conference, held on the occasion of Merck’s 350-year anniversary. In the respective chapters, some of the world’s top scientists, managers and entrepreneurs explore breakthrough technologies and how they can be applied to make a better world for humanity. Divided into three parts, the book begins with an introduction to the vision of the conference and to the importance of curiosity for innovation, while also exploring the latest scientific developments that are shaping the future of healthcare, medicine, the life and material sciences, digitalization and new ways of working together. In the second part, particular attention is paid to new therapies and diagnostics; here, readers will learn how synthetic biology and chemistry are being used to solve problems that are essential to the future of humanity. The role of in-silico research is also discussed. In the final part of the book, readers will find some thoughts on ethical principles guiding our application of science and technology to create a bright future for humanity. Given its interdisciplinary appeal, the book will inspire curiosity in a wide readership, from scholars and researchers to professionals with an interest in exploring the future of science and technology, solving the problems of today, and paving the way for a better tomorrow. Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 17 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.