How did life begin on the Earth? The units of life are cells, which can be defined as bounded systems of molecules that capture energy and nutrients from the environment -- systems that expand, reproduce, and evolve over time, often into more complex systems. This book is the proceedings of a unique meeting, sponsored by NATO and held in Maratea, Italy, that brought together for the first time an international group of investigators who share an interest in how molecules self-assemble into supramolecular structures, and how those structures may have contributed to the origin of life.
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Over the years the protection of human rights, both at the regional level in Europe and at other levels, has been marked by profound change. This is certainly true of the way in which fundamental rights, such as the right to a fair trial, are interpreted and applied by international and domestic courts. New issues such as minority rights and the protection of economic, social and cultural rights have emerged. At the same time, a number of institutional questions have arisen amongst which the possibility of responding to urgent human rights abuses, the need to reform the monitoring mechanism...

Loch Lomond has long held a special place in the hearts of all the people of Scotland not only for its historic significance but also for the beauty of its countryside. Less widely known is the ecological importance of the area. It is the largest stretch of freshwater in Britain and the only loch to be crossed by the Highland Boundary Fault, one of the country's most important geological features.