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Environment and Health in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: Historical and Contemporary Scenario
by Editor-Rais AkhtarThis engaging book presents an insightful look into the contributing factors that have shaped the modern public health system in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Reflecting on the historical, socio-economic, and contemporary scenario of environment and public health, this book presents chapters that discuss the role of spatial patterns of diseases, health-risk patterns, contributions of medical missionaries in health services in Kashmir, changing disease ecology of Leh, and traditional medical therapy in Ladakh, among others. This book also examines the cholera ecology in Kashmir during the 19th century, and the significance of Kangri ・ a portable traditional heat source ・ in cultural studies, economics, and cancer research. It investigates the role of traditional knowledge in the medical therapy of rural areas of Ladakh and the impact of urbanization on the quality of human health in Srinagar City. Besides, this book examines iodine deficiency disorders and the extension of vector-borne diseases. The essays also probe into the rising mental health concerns in post-pandemic Kashmir. This book will be useful for students, researchers, and teachers of physical geography, human geography, environmental studies, public health, and health sciences. It will also be of interest to political geographers, sociologists, policymakers, and those interested in the issues related to health and environment in the region.
The Economics of Renewable Energy in the Gulf (Routledge Explorations in Environmental Economics)
by Hisham M. AkhonbayThe Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) has been at the epicenter of global energy markets because of its substantial endowment of hydrocarbons. Yet countries in the region have also stated their intent to be global leaders in renewable energy. This collection explores the drivers for the widespread adoption of renewable energy around the GCC, the need for renewable energy and the policy-economic factors that can create success. All six countries within the GCC have plans to include renewable energy power generation in their energy mix for various reasons including: a growing demand for electricity because of increasing populations, an increasing government fiscal deficit due to inefficient subsidies, the need to diversify the economy and global pressure to meet climate change requirements. However, the decision of when and by how much to introduce renewable energy is fraught with complications. In this book, a stellar cast of regional policy and academic experts explore the reasons behind these renewable energy plans and the potential impediments to success, whether it be the declining cost of producing energy from hydrocarbons, an infrastructure which needs to be updated, social acceptance, lack of financing and even harsh weather. Weighing up all these factors, the book considers the route forward for renewable energy in the Gulf region. The Economics of Renewable Energy in the Gulf offers an excellent examination of the adoption of renewable energy in the area. It will be of great interest to academic researchers and policy makers alike, particularly those working in the areas of energy economics, public policy and international relations.
Selected Special Functions for Fundamental Physics (SpringerBriefs in Physics)
by Valeriya Akhmedova Emil T. AkhmedovThis book presents calculation methods that are used in both mathematical and theoretical physics. These methods will allow readers to work with selected special functions and more generally with differential equations, which are the most frequently used in quantum mechanics, theory of relativity and quantum field theory. The authors explain various approximation methods used to solve differential equations and to estimate integrals. They also address the basics of the relations between differential equations, special functions and representation theory of some of the simplest algebras on the one hand, and fundamental physics on the other. Based on a seminar for graduate physics students, the book offers a compact and quick way to learn about special functions. To gain the most from it, readers should be familiar with the basics of calculus, linear algebra, and complex analysis, as well as the basic methods used to solve differential equations and calculate integrals.
Port Geography and Hinterland Development Dynamics: Insights from Major Port-cities of the Middle East (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Mina AkhavanThis book illustrates and discusses the main characteristics of port-city development dynamics with a focus on the fast-growing city-states of the Middle East, which are emerging as key players in logistics and the global supply chain. Maritime ports and the cities hosting them have long fascinated scholars – geographers, economists, architects, urban planners, sociologists etc. – as they become centres of exchange where different social and urban environments meet, at the intersection between land and sea. Given that the current body of literature on the topic is biased – mainly concerning the Western world and East Asian region – with mono-disciplinary tendencies, this book outlines a theoretical basis from a wide range of literature, linking port-city studies, globalization theories and logistics, and adopts a multidisciplinary perspective. The main target audience of the book includes scholars and graduate students in urban studies, spatial planning, urban and regional economics, logistics, geography and transport geography with an interest in studying port geography and the port-city interface, port infrastructure development and port hinterland dynamics; it will also benefit policymakers and urban planners whose work involves these topics.
Decolonizing the Map: Cartography from Colony to Nation
by James R. AkermanAlmost universally, newly independent states seek to affirm their independence and identity by making the production of new maps and atlases a top priority. For formerly colonized peoples, however, this process neither begins nor ends with independence, and it is rarely straightforward. Mapping their own land is fraught with a fresh set of issues: how to define and administer their territories, develop their national identity, establish their role in the community of nations, and more. The contributors to Decolonizing the Map explore this complicated relationship between mapping and decolonization while engaging with recent theoretical debates about the nature of decolonization itself. These essays, originally delivered as the 2010 Kenneth Nebenzahl, Jr., Lectures in the History of Cartography at the Newberry Library, encompass more than two centuries and three continents—Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Ranging from the late eighteenth century through the mid-twentieth, contributors study topics from mapping and national identity in late colonial Mexico to the enduring complications created by the partition of British India and the racialized organization of space in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. A vital contribution to studies of both colonization and cartography, Decolonizing the Map is the first book to systematically and comprehensively examine the engagement of mapping in the long—and clearly unfinished—parallel processes of decolonization and nation building in the modern world.
Big Data in Emergency Management: Exploitation Techniques for Social and Mobile Data
by Rajendra AkerkarThis contributed volume discusses essential topics and the fundamentals for Big Data Emergency Management and primarily focusses on the application of Big Data for Emergency Management. It walks the reader through the state of the art, in different facets of the big disaster data field. This includes many elements that are important for these technologies to have real-world impact. This book brings together different computational techniques from: machine learning, communication network analysis, natural language processing, knowledge graphs, data mining, and information visualization, aiming at methods that are typically used for processing big emergency data. This book also provides authoritative insights and highlights valuable lessons by distinguished authors, who are leaders in this field.Emergencies are severe, large-scale, non-routine events that disrupt the normal functioning of a community or a society, causing widespread and overwhelming losses and impacts. Emergency Management is the process of planning and taking actions to minimize the social and physical impact of emergencies and reduces the community’s vulnerability to the consequences of emergencies. Information exchange before, during and after the disaster periods can greatly reduce the losses caused by the emergency. This allows people to make better use of the available resources, such as relief materials and medical supplies. It also provides a channel through which reports on casualties and losses in each affected area, can be delivered expeditiously. Big Data-Driven Emergency Management refers to applying advanced data collection and analysis technologies to achieve more effective and responsive decision-making during emergencies.Researchers, engineers and computer scientists working in Big Data Emergency Management, who need to deal with large and complex sets of data will want to purchase this book. Advanced-level students interested in data-driven emergency/crisis/disaster management will also want to purchase this book as a study guide.
Climate Change Impacts on Basin Agro-ecosystems (The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science #18)
by Erhan Akça Rıza Kanber Mehmet Aydın Selim Kapur Tsugihiro WatanabeThis book is based on the outcomes of a Turkish-Japanese bilateral project dealing with the impacts of climate change on basin agro-ecosystems. The book is unique in showing an up-to-date knowledge for the developing world. The chapters are related to: a) the development and improvement of a regional climate model for a more accurate prediction with higher resolution of future changes in regional climate, b) the structure of land and water management in agricultural production systems in arid areas, especially to quantitatively evaluate the relationships among cropping systems, hydrological cycle and water balance in farmland and its environments, c) the assessment of the impact of climate change and its adaptation on agricultural production systems, mainly on the aspect of land and water management, and d) the vulnerability of agricultural production systems from natural changes and the measures for enhancing sustainability of agriculture.This book elaborates on the methodologies for the assessment of climate change impacts on agricultural production and adaptationIn this book, the concepts and processes of an integrated approach are outlined, and its application in a case project is introducedThe approaches described in the chapters would be applicable in different situations and could be improved with experience and the introduction of advanced techniques
High-Pressure Silicates and Oxides: Phase Transition and Thermodynamics (Advances in Geological Science)
by Masaki AkaogiThis book presents a summary of high-pressure phase transitions of minerals and related inorganic compounds. The first part reviews the methods to investigate phase transitions by direct high-pressure and high-temperature experiments together with thermodynamic approaches that consist of calorimetric measurements and thermodynamic calculation. In the second part, phase relations and thermodynamic properties of olivine, pyroxene, garnet, spinel, perovskite, rutile, and related inorganic compounds with A2BO4, ABO3, AB2O4, and AO2 stoichiometries are described. Particular emphasis is placed on spinel- and perovskite-structured phases and their high-pressure polymorphs called post-spinel and post-perovskite phases. The last part of the book focuses on phase relations of mantle rocks and on natural high-pressure minerals from the Earth’s deep mantle and in shocked meteorites.
Every Breath We Take: A Book About Air
by Maya Ajmera Dominique BrowningClean air is essential for all living creatures—plants, animals, and people—to live healthy lives. Every Breath We Take is a positive, life-affirming look at clean air, with a subtle message about how air can be dirtied—and how it can be cleaned up. Photographs of beautiful children around the world exploring air through touch, smell, sound, and sight underscore the importance of clean air to all life on earth. This is science that surrounds us.The first step to cherishing something is recognizing its importance and understanding why it is necessary. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to Moms Clean Air Force, a national movement of over a half million moms, dads, and grandparents who are protecting the right of every child to breathe clean air.
Global Views on Climate Relocation and Social Justice: Navigating Retreat (Routledge Studies in Environmental Migration, Displacement and Resettlement)
by Idowu Jola Ajibade A. R. SidersThis edited volume advances our understanding of climate relocation (or planned retreat), an emerging topic in the fields of climate adaptation and hazard risk, and provides a platform for alternative voices and views on the subject. As the effects of climate change become more severe and widespread, there is a growing conversation about when, where and how people will move. Climate relocation is a controversial adaptation strategy, yet the process can also offer opportunity and hope. This collection grapples with the environmental and social justice dimensions from multiple perspectives, with cases drawn from Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, South America, and North America. The contributions throughout present unique perspectives, including community organizations, adaptation practitioners, geographers, lawyers, and landscape architects, reflecting on the potential harms and opportunities of climate-induced relocation. Works of art, photos, and quotes from flood survivors are also included, placed between sections to remind the reader of the human element in the adaptation debate. Blending art – photography, poetry, sculpture – with practical reflections and scholarly analyses, this volume provides new insights on a debate that touches us all: how we will live in the future and where? Challenging readers’ pre-conceptions about planned retreat by juxtaposing different disciplines, lenses and media, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate change, environmental migration and displacement, and environmental justice and equity.
Planet-Friendly Hacks: Simple Tips and Budget-Friendly Advice for Sustainable Living
by Elizabeth AjaoThis handy guide is brimming with quick tips, life hacks and budget-friendly tricks to help you reduce your carbon footprint and live more sustainablyAn eco-friendly lifestyle is expensive and time-consuming, right? Wrong! There are countless ways to make green choices that don’t take a toll on your time, your bank balance or the planet.This book is your one-stop guide to living a more sustainable lifestyle. Whether you need tips on conserving energy or reducing food waste, or you want to give your home a makeover without impacting the planet, these pages include everything you need to get started. You will find:Clever life hacks to make reducing your carbon footprint that bit easierSimple tips to help you make planet-friendly choices in everyday lifeSmart advice for eco-living on a budgetInspiration for eco-friendly crafts and DIY projectsIt’s more important than ever to do our bit for the environment, and Planet-Friendly Hacks will help you live life to the full without costing the earth.
Desertification and Land Degradation: Concept to Combating
by Ajai Rimjhim BhatnagarDesertification and land degradation are complex phenomena, and we need to understand their causes, consequences, and means to mitigate and combat their impact. Therefore, this book aims to explain the concept and characteristics of drylands, desert and desertification, land degradation, wastelands, and the concept of ecosystem services. It also discusses various types of processes of land degradations, their characteristics, physics and indicators along with mapping, monitoring and assessment of methods involved. Concept of Ocean Biological Deserts is discussed along with international and regional efforts towards combating land degradation and desertification. Key Features:• Provides all the aspect of desertification and land degradation at one place • Includes comprehensive methods to monitor different desertification/land degradation processes • Comprehensive overview of the mapping, monitoring and modelling techniques • Role of space borne data in identifying, monitoring and combating desertification is evaluated and reported with real case studies • Explains the concept of ocean biological deserts, their characteristics and mapping
Approaches to Human Geography
by Stuart Aitken Gill ValentineApproaches to Human Geography is the essential student primer on theory and practice in human geography. It is a systematic review of the key ideas and debates informing post-war geography, explaining how those ideas work in practice. In three sections, the text provides: · A comprehensive contexualising essay: Introducing Philosophies, People and Practices · Philosophies: written by the principal proponents, easily comprehensible accounts of: Positivistic Geographies; Humanism; Feminist Geographies; Marxism; Structuration Theory; Behavioral Geography; Realism; Post Structuralist Theories; Actor-Network Theory; and Post Colonialism · People: prominent geographers explain events that formed their ways of knowing; the section offers situated accounts of theory and practice by, for example: David Ley; Linda McDowell; and David Harvey · Practices: applied accounts of Quantification, Evidence and Positivism; Geographic Information Systems; Humanism; Geography, Political Activism, and Marxism; the Production of Feminist Geographies; Poststructuralist Theory; Environmental Inquiry in a Postcolonial World; Contested Geographies · Student Exercises and Glossary Avoiding jargon - while attentive to the rigor and complexity of the ideas that underlie geographic knowledge – the text is written for students who have not met philosophical or theoretical approaches before. This is a beginning guide to geographic research and practice. Comprehensive and accessible, it will be the core text for courses on Approaches to Human Geography; Philosophy and Geography; and the History of Geography; and a key resource for students beginning research projects.
Film Landscapes of Global Youth: Imagining Young Lives (Routledge Spaces of Childhood and Youth Series)
by Stuart C. Aitken Jacob RowlettThis book explores the dynamic landscapes of global youth through spatially grounded chapters focused on film and media. It is a collection of incredible works concerning children and young people in, out, and through media as well as an examination of what is possible for the future of research within the intersections of geography, film theory, and children’s studies.It contains contributions from leading academics from anthropology, sociology, philosophy, art, film and media studies, women and gender studies, Indigenous studies, education, and geography, with chapters focused on a spatial area and the representations and relationships of children in that area through film and media. The insights presented also provide a unique and eclectic perspective on the current state of children’s research in relation to the ever-changing media landscape of the 21st century. Film Landscapes of Global Youth approaches the subjects of children and young people in film and media in a way that is not bound by genre, format, medium, or the on-/off-screen binary. Each chapter offers an insightful look at the relationships and portrayals of children and young people in relation to a specific country, culture, or geographic feature.This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections between geography, young lives, and the power of film, television, social media, content creation, and more.
The Awkward Spaces of Fathering
by Stuart C. AitkenSocietal notions of fathers have evolved from the distant breadwinner through genial dad and masculine role model to today's equal co-parent. This book seeks to explore the spaces and movements of men-as-fathers. Weaving together theories of space, sexuality and political identity with the stories of fathers from a range of sources, including popular culture, it discusses the way in which geographies of space can disconnect and disempower fathers, while societal notions marginalize and disassociate them from raising children. It explores how fathering identities are shaped by family and community spaces and aims to move the definition of 'fathering' beyond its definition in opposition to 'mothering'. In doing so, it provides insights into the contradictory nature of father's lives and argues that, rather than moving away from the traditional notions of masculine roles, that the emotional work of fathering in itself is an heroic act.
The Geographies of Young People: The Morally Contested Spaces of Identity (Critical Geographies)
by Stuart C AitkenThe Geographies of Young People traces the changing scientific and societal notions of what it is to be a young person, and argues that there is a need to rethink how we view childhood spaces, child development and the politics of growing up.This book brings coherency to the growing field of children's geographies by arguing that although most of it does not prescribe solutions to the moral assault against young people, it nonetheless offers appropriate insights into difference and diversity, and how young people are constructed.Other books in the series:Culture/Place/Health (forthcoming)Seduction of Place (forthcoming)Celtic Geographies (forthcoming) TimespaceBodiesMind and Body SpacesChildren's GeographiesLeisure/Tourism GeographiesThinking SpaceGeopolitical TraditionsEmbodied GeographiesAnimal Spaces, Beastly PlacesCloset SpaceClubbingDe-centering SexualitiesEntanglements of Power.
Young People, Rights and Place: Erasure, Neoliberal Politics and Postchild Ethics (Routledge Spaces of Childhood and Youth Series)
by Stuart C. AitkenConcern is growing about children’s rights and the curtailment of those rights through the excesses of neoliberal governance. This book discusses children’s spatial and citizenship rights, and the ways young people and their families push against diminished rights. Armed initially with theoretical concerns about the construction of children through the political status quo and the ways youth rights are spatially segregated, the book begins with a disarmingly simple supposition: Young people have the right to make and remake their spaces and, as a consequence, themselves. This book de-centers monadic ideas of children in favor of a post-humanist perspective, which embraces the radical relationality of children as more-than-children/more-than-human. Its empirical focus begins with the struggles of Slovenian Izbrisani (‘erased’) youth from 1992 to the present day and reaches out to child rights and youth activists elsewhere in the world with examples from South America, Eastern Europe and the USA. The author argues that universal child rights have not worked and pushes for a more radical, sustainable ethics, which dares to admit that children’s humanity is something more than we, as adults, can imagine. Chapters in this groundbreaking contribution will be of interest to students, researchers and practitioners in the social sciences, humanities and public policy.
Listen Up!: Exploring the World of Natural Sound (Orca Footprints #24)
by Stephen AitkenThe sounds of nature are being drowned out by the clamor of human activity, and that's not good for people, animals or the environment. Every living thing emits sound—birds sing, whales whistle, streams burble and trees pop and fizzle. In Listen Up, young readers are introduced to all the sounds of the natural world, from the first Big Bang to the complex soundscapes of the rainforests. Readers will also discover how the invasion of human sounds, from airplanes, traffic and machines, is threatening the survival of species that have adapted to their habitats over thousands of years. Conserving the sounds of nature is an important part of addressing the biggest challenges facing humanity today—protecting the planet's biodiversity and the future of our natural world.
Saving the Night: How Light Pollution Is Harming Life on Earth (Orca Footprints #26)
by Stephen AitkenKey Selling Points Light pollution is threatening the survival of plants and animals all over the world and the ecosystems they depend on. For example, millions of migratory birds die every year because of light pollution. More than 80 percent of the world lives under skyglow from artificial lights. Two-thirds of the U.S. population and more than one-half of the European population can't see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The skyglow from Los Angeles can be seen by a plane 500 miles away. Light pollution and artificial lights like LEDs have a detrimental effect on human health and upsets our circadian rhythm. It has also been linked to some cancers. Plants and animals have adapted to live in darkness over millions of years. Darkness is as necessary as daylight for their survival. Stephen Aitken is a biologist and the author ofListen Up , also in the Orca Footprints series.
A New Approach to Conservation: The Importance of the Individual through Wildlife Rehabilitation (Ashgate Studies In Environmental Policy And Practice Ser.)
by Gill AitkenConservationists assume a set of underlying values which guide their decision-making and action. The safeguarding or promotion of biodiversity, it is believed, is the means by which nature is best protected. This book examines - and challenges - these general conservation assumptions. While reinforcing the need to halt extinction and value biodiversity, it shows that biodiversity needs to be more clearly understood, perhaps being replaced by the notion of 'wildness'. It examines how biodiversity is a holistic term, and how individual species need to be assessed and their own contribution to 'wildness' has to be recognized. The book proposes a new way of conservation - one which makes more room for neglected, rather than endangered or rare species. It also asserts that 'wildness' is not incompatible with certain kinds of human intervention.
From Deep Sea to Laboratory 2: Discovering H.M.S. Challenger's Physical Measurements Relating to Ocean Circulation
by Frederic Aitken Jean-Numa FoulcThe scientific expedition of H.M.S. Challenger in the 1870s marks the starting point of physical oceanography. This ship traveled the seas of the globe pursuing a dual objective: to conduct an in-depth study of animal life and to observe the physical properties of ocean waters. Volume 2 analyzes and uses for the first time the physical measurements collected by the scientists of the Challenger to show that their surveys establish the link between ocean circulation and the distribution of the ocean’s temperature. From Deep Sea to Laboratory is available in three volumes for curious readers drawn to travel, history and science. Students, researchers and teachers of physics, fluid mechanics and oceanography will find material to deepen their knowledge.
From Deep Sea to Laboratory 3: From Tait's Work on the Compressibility of Seawater to Equations-of-State for Liquids
by Frederic Aitken Jean-Numa FoulcThe scientific expedition of H.M.S. Challenger in the 1870s marks the starting point of physical oceanography. This ship traveled the seas of the globe pursuing a dual objective: to conduct an in-depth study of animal life and to observe the physical properties of ocean waters. Volume 3 focuses on measurements and modeling of liquid compressibility. Based on the work initiated by the physicist Peter Tait, a detailed presentation of liquid equations-of-state is proposed. The physical interpretation of the parameters of these equations is discussed, leading to a description of the "structure" of liquid media. From Deep Sea to Laboratory is available in three volumes for curious readers drawn to travel, history and science. Students, researchers and teachers of physics, fluid mechanics and oceanography will find material to deepen their knowledge.
Building Feature Extraction with Machine Learning: Geospatial Applications
by Bharath.H. Aithal Prakash P.S.Big geospatial datasets created by large infrastructure projects require massive computing resources to process. Feature extraction is a process used to reduce the initial set of raw data for manageable image processing, and machine learning (ML) is the science that supports it. This book focuses on feature extraction methods for optical geospatial data using ML. It is a practical guide for professionals and graduate students who are starting a career in information extraction. It explains spatial feature extraction in an easy-to-understand way and includes real case studies on how to collect height values for spatial features, how to develop 3D models in a map context, and others. Features Provides the basics of feature extraction methods and applications along with the fundamentals of machine learning Discusses in detail the application of machine learning techniques in geospatial building feature extraction Explains the methods for estimating object height from optical satellite remote sensing images using Python Includes case studies that demonstrate the use of machine learning models for building footprint extraction and photogrammetric methods for height assessment Highlights the potential of machine learning and geospatial technology for future project developments This book will be of interest to professionals, researchers, and graduate students in geoscience and earth observation, machine learning and data science, civil engineers, and urban planners.
Environmental Transition and Technological Change Transition
by Smaïl Aït-El-HadjFaced with the scale and intensity of the ecological crisis, environmental transition is underway, consisting of a first phase of technological mutation, aimed at replacing technologies harmful to the environment with those which have no destructive effects on the earth system and its equilibrium. This book examines the roots of the concept of environmental transition, identifying and characterizing the negative effects of technology on the environmental crisis. We will then identify the technological mutations that have the potential to contribute to environmental transition, and demonstrate how these changes are already forming part of a new emerging "technological system". We will conclude by addressing the question of the limits of technological responses to the environmental crisis, demonstrating the importance of the dimensional factors of human activity and weight of growth in this crisis, thus raising the issue of global reconsideration, with reference to the place and articulation of human activity in the Earth system.
Leisure and Tourism Landscapes: Social and Cultural Geographies (Routledge Advances in Tourism #No.9)
by Cara Aitchison Nicola E. MacLeod Nicola E Macleod Stephen J. ShawIncreasingly significant as mediators of spatial identity and meaning, leisure, tourism, culture and heritage are only now beginning to be located within the rapidly evolving discourses of poststructuralist geographies. Exploring the influence of leisure and tourism on the production, representation and consumption of landscape, the first half of this important book focuses on different ways of ‘seeing’ or representing landscape, whereas the second half examines different forms of productive consumption in leisure and tourism. Both symbolic and material spaces of leisure and tourism are also examined in relation to urban and rural landscapes, heritage landscapes, gendered landscapes, and landscapes of sexuality and desire. With a multidisciplinary approach and a strong theoretical content which builds on poststructuralist theories, this is undoubtedly an important addition to literature in the field.