Medicine Across Borders provides an interdisciplinary space to discuss the issue of substandard and falsified medical products. Scholars from social and medical sciences collaboratively contribute insight to improving safe medicine access. The circulation of medicines and medical products on the informal market is well-known. Stakeholders, including governmental agencies and biotechnic enterprises, invest much effort in designing and implementing macrolevel interventions to limit the spread of such products. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of how informal markets function in everyday medicine access and use. This applies to professionals within and beyond academia, state governments, as well as the general public. This book takes an international perspective, examining the issue of substandard and falsified medical products cross nationally. Falsified and poor-quality medicines are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, but this book also includes research from high-income countries arguing that they too have vulnerabilities, and emphasising the need for vigilance even in well-resourced and well-regulated regimes. Medicine Across Borders: Exploration of Grey Zones provides an interdisciplinary space for a depth and diversity of material that spotlights some contemporary themes hindering access to essential medicines and driving the penetration of substandard and falsified medical products. The authors are drawn from a range of academic disciplines across the social and medical sciences presenting findings from data collected using an eclectic mix of methods and analysis. Surveys, ethnography, narrative case studies, statistical, and thematic analysis are all deployed.

Medical Humanity and Inhumanity in the German-Speaking World is the first volume dedicated to exploring the interface of medicine, the human and the humane in the German-speaking lands. The volume tracks the designation and making through medicine of the human and inhuman, and the humane and inhumane, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Eight individual chapters undertake explorations into ways in which theories and practices of medicine in the German-speaking world have come to define the human, and highlight how such theories and practices have consolidated, or undermined, notions of humane behaviour. Cultural analysis is central to this investigation, foregrounding the reflection, refraction and indeed creation of these theories and practices in literature, life-writing and other discourses and media. Contributors bring to bear perspectives from literary studies, film studies, critical theory, cultural studies, history, and the history of medicine and psychiatry. Thus, this collection is historical in the most expansive sense, for it debates not only what historical accounts bring to our understanding of this topic. It encompasses too investigation of life-writing, documentary, and theory and literary works to bring to light elusive, paradoxical, underexplored – yet vital – issues in history and culture.

In 2006 Dr Adrian Owen and his team made medical history. They discovered a new realm of consciousness, a twilight zone somewhere between life and death. They called this the Grey Zone. The people who inhabit the Grey Zone are frequently labelled as being irretrievably lost, with no awareness and no sense of self. The shocking truth is that they are often still there, an intact mind trapped deep inside a broken body and brain, hearing everything around them, experiencing emotions, thoughts, pleasure and pain, just like the rest of us. Not quite living, and not quite gone, they have existed silently in these shadowlands. But now, through Dr Owen's pioneering techniques, we can talk to them - and they can talk back. These shifting boundaries of consciousness have shaken the architecture of our sense of self. We have known for a long time that a body does not define a person - but what if a brain does not define a mind? What does it mean if a mind can exist unharmed within a deeply damaged brain? Through cutting edge research and case studies that are poignant, tragic and uplifting, Dr Owen maps this inner universe of the self, showing us what it means to be alive and human.

Veterinary technicians face difficult situations on a daily basis. They dedicate their lives to aiding in the treatment of animals and relieving suffering, serving as each patient's main advocate and caretaker. The veterinary technician holds a unique role in patient care. Acting as the intermediary between the veterinarian prescribing treatment and the patient, they play a large part in the communication and education of clients. Veterinary technicians have greatly expanded their roles and find themselves not only an integral part of veterinary practice, but in research institutions, animal shelters, and universities as well.This text explores difficult situations veterinary technicians face on a daily basis through the use of case examples and dialogue. Each case scenario describes a real-life situation for a veterinary technician, poses thought-provoking questions, and provides commentary that focuses on the legal aspect of the scenario, the social or personal ethics of the parties involved, and/or the welfare of the animal (s). The case scenarios encompass clinical situations in a practice setting as well as situations involving business ethics and interpersonal relationships between colleagues.The case format of the book lends itself to discussion and can be utilized in veterinary technology courses that focus on ethics, communications, management, and leadership. The real-life case examples make the book an enjoyable read for practicing veterinary technicians as well. There currently are over two hundred veterinary technology programs and thousands of practicing veterinary technicians within the United States and Canada.

Global Bodies in Grey Zones departs from the current globalised market in biological material and treatments. Three different forms of medical travel are in focus: transplant travel, fertility travel and stem cell travel. The global travelling includes legally organised cross-border care, as well as completely illegal activities involving trafficking in bodies and body parts implicating a range of people, technologies and treatments. The theoretical focus is grey zones ? various places where people, money, bodies, and so on constitute components in an international market. The authors are researchers from the cultural, social and medical sciences. They examine how people?s desperation, hopes and longing for health and reproduction fuel the travels.

This book is a case-study collection examining the influences and functions of British Columbia’s (BC) borders in the 21st century. British Columbia’s Borders in Globalization examines bordering processes and the causes and effects of borders in the Cascadian region, from the perspective of BC. The chapters cover diverse topics including historical border disputes and cannabis culture and identity; the governance of transboundary water flows, migration, and preclearance policies for goods and people; and the emerging issue of online communities. The case studies provide examples that highlight the simultaneous but contradictory trends regarding borders in BC: while boundaries and bordering processes at the external borders shift away from the territorial boundary lines, self-determination, local politics, and cultural identities re-inscribe internal boundaries and borders that are both virtual and real. Moreover, economic protectionism, racial discourses, and xenophobic narratives, driven by advances in technology, reinforce the territorial dimensions of borders. These case studies contribute to the literature challenging the notion that territorial borders are sufficient for understanding how borders function in BC; and in a few instances they illustrate the nuanced ways in which borders (or bordering processes) are becoming detached from territory. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Borderlands Studies.

The persistence of ‘Ndrangheta activities around the world show that deterrence efforts alone directed against organized crime fall short in significantly reducing or preventing ‘Ndrangheta organized crime. Additional approaches derived from the Rational Choice Perspective (RCP) are discussed, which include Routine Activities (RA) and Situational Crime Prevention (SCP). These practical approaches are applied to ‘Ndrangheta for the purpose of identifying required changes in the environment i.e., political, economic, social, technological, legal that are inclusive of environmental (PESTLE) in a framework using Dynamic Operational Design Planning and Assessment Approach (DODPAA). This approach offers a process for designing actions and measuring results for confronting ‘Ndrangheta organized crime. An example framework model using cocaine transiting through the port of Gioia Tauro is created as an illustration to assist in developing a law enforcement, judicial and legislative plans of action in order to measure, evaluate, and have results integrated into more detailed comprehensive plans of action for reducing and eventually preventing overall ‘Ndrangheta organized crime. This book presents a unique practical method, process, and model for security practitioners, criminologists and policy makers to consider for designing plans of action to confront, challenge, and assess future counter ‘Ndrangheta efforts.

This is the ultimate guide to discovering the vast "River of Grass" ecoregion of the southern Florida mainland. Packed with photographs, maps, and informative text, this guide will help outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the landscape and varied flora and fauna of this watershed whether they have a day to spend in the effort or a lifetime. This edition includes new routes in Biscayne National Park. Whether traveling by canoe or by foot, this guide will enhance the next journey into the remarkable Everglades.

"AI Pharma: Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery and Development" is a comprehensive exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the pharmaceutical industry. It reveals how machine learning, deep learning, and other advanced technologies are revolutionizing drug discovery and development. The book meticulously charts the evolution of AI's role, starting from the surge in data collection and processing to the latest breakthroughs in predictive modeling. It unveils AI's transformative impact on research and development, delving into how AI tools streamline target identification, molecule generation, and clinical trials, leading to faster, more accurate results. Key industry experts share insights on the challenges of navigating the vast amount of data produced, stressing the importance of data cleaning, curation, and ethical considerations in collection. Case studies highlight how startups and leading companies use AI algorithms for deep learning in drug development, identifying disease targets and generating new compounds with unprecedented precision. The book emphasizes practical applications, like predictive models for toxicity and safety in preclinical trials and patient recruitment optimization in clinical trials. Additionally, it tackles the intersection of AI with emerging technologies like the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and blockchain, showcasing how these complement AI in securing data and enhancing pharmaceutical supply chains. Readers will gain a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, exploring FDA guidelines and global regulations that shape AI adoption. Interwoven throughout are the voices of thought leaders who address legal and ethical challenges, highlight the significance of partnerships, and stress the need for transparent and trustworthy AI models. They emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration and tailored training strategies to cultivate AI talent that meets the growing needs of pharma. By examining the future of deep learning, computational research, and explainable AI, the book provides a strategic roadmap that researchers, policymakers, and developers can follow. Ultimately, this book is not only a roadmap but also a clarion call, urging stakeholders to build collaborative ecosystems that harness AI's potential for innovative pharmaceutical research and development. Through a rich, detailed narrative, readers are guided to understand the profound implications and exciting opportunities that await in this AI-driven pharmaceutical landscape