Books in the NATO SCIENCE FOR PEACE AND SEC series

This proceedings volume results from the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on 'Biomarkers of Radiation in the Environment: Robust Tools for Risk Assessment (BRITE)'. The BRITE workshop discussed insights from cancer research, epigenetics, non-human and human risk assessment, since many of the state-of-the-art biomarkers being developed for humans deserve consideration for environmental applications and vice versa. Sessions were very wide-ranging covering methods, mechanisms, cross disciplinary application and regulation.The chapters in this book have been grouped into five major themes that were covered by the BRITE workshop:· Techniques for biomarker development· Low-dose effect mechanisms· Biomarkers for risk evaluation· Biomarkers in wildlife· Biomarker use and responses Each chapter has been written independently and reflects the views of the chapter author(s). Therefore, the readers can form their own balanced view of the different perspectives on biomarkers of radiation in the environment. Given the breadth of topics covered and the state-of-the-art perspectives shared by leading experts in their respective fields, this book should form a valuable resource for anyone with an interest in how biomarkers can be used to improve our understanding of radiation in the environment and its potential impacts.

Science for Peace and Security (SPS) cooperation brings together NATO & partners to address common security concerns reflected in the so-called SPS Key Priorities. These include emerging security challenges such as terrorism, cyber defense or energy security, as well as human and social aspects of security, support to NATO-led mission and operation, advanced technologies with security applications, and early warning.  The SPS project "e;Advanced Civil Emergency Coordination Pilot in the Western Balkans"e; addresses several of these areas. As a key regional SPS flagship project, it helps to build capacity in response to a concrete security challenge. The Western Balkans is a region frequently affected by natural disasters and the pilot project provides emergency responders in the region with an incident command system that allows sharing information about disasters in a fast and easy way, enhancing situational awareness and building capacity in the area of civil emergency coordination.

The investigation of light-matter interactions in materials, especially those on the nanoscale, represents perhaps the most promising avenue for scientific progress in the fields of photonics and plasmonics. This book examines a variety of topics, starting from fundamental principles, leading to the current state of the art research. For example, this volume includes a chapter on the sensing of biological molecules with optical resonators (microspheres) combined with plasmonic systems, where the response this system are described in a fundamental and elegant manner using coupled mode theory. Symmetry plays a major role in the book. One chapter on time reversal symmetry in electromagnetic theory describes how to control the properties of light (e.g. scattering and directionality of the flow of light) in materials with certain topological invariants. Another chapter where symmetry is prominent reformulates, using a gentle and pedagogical approach, Maxwell¿s Equations into a new set of fields that reveal a ¿handedness¿ symmetry in electromagnetic theory, which can be applied to photonic systems in, for example, the sensing of chiral molecules and understanding the conditions for zero reflection. Also, for students and researchers starting in the field of nanoplasmonics, the book includes a tutorial on the finite element time domain simulation of nanoplasmonic systems. Other topics include photonic systems for quantum computing, nanoplasmonics, and optical properties of nano and bulk materials. The authors take a pedagogical approach to their topic, making the book an excellent reference for graduate students and scientists starting in the fields of photonics or plasmonics.