- Table View
- List View
Social Internet of Things (Internet of Things)
by Alessandro Soro Margot Brereton Paul RoeThe aim of this book is to stimulate research on the topic of the Social Internet of Things, and explore how Internet of Things architectures, tools, and services can be conceptualized and developed so as to reveal, amplify and inspire the capacities of people, including the socialization or collaborations that happen through or around smart objects and smart environments. From new ways of negotiating privacy, to the consequences of increased automation, the Internet of Things poses new challenges and opens up new questions that often go beyond the technology itself, and rather focus on how the technology will become embedded in our future communities, families, practices, and environment, and how these will change in turn.
Bionomics in the Dragon Kingdom: Ecology, Economics and Ethics in Bhutan (Fascinating Life Sciences)
by Ugyen Tshewang Jane Gray Morrison Michael Charles TobiasThis compact and elegant work (equally fitting for both academic as well as the trade audiences) provides a readily accessible and highly readable overview of Bhutan’s unique opportunities and challenges; all her prominent environmental legislation, regulatory statutes, ecological customs and practices, both in historic and contemporary terms. At the same time, Bionomics places the ecological context, including a section on animal rights in Bhutan, within the nation’s Buddhist spiritual and ethical setting. Historic contextualization accents the book’s rich accounting of every national park and scientific reserve, as well as providing up-to-the-minute climate-change related hurdles for the country.Merging the interdisciplinary sciences, engineering and humanities data in a compelling up-to-date portrait of the country, the authors have presented this dramatic compendium against the backdrop of an urgent, global ecological time-frame. It thus becomes clear that the articulated stakes for Bhutan, like her neighboring Himalayan and Indian sub-continental countries (China, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar) are immense, as the Anthropocene epoch unfolds, affecting every living being across the planet. Because Bhutan’s two most rewarding revenue streams derive from the sale of hydro-electric power and from tourism, the complexities of modern pressures facing a nation that prides herself on maintaining traditional customs in what has been a uniquely isolated nation are acute.
Empowering Engagement: Creating Learning Opportunities for Students from Challenging Backgrounds
by Clarence Ng Brendan Bartlett Stephen N. ElliottThis book examines promoting engagement for children and adolescents from challenging contexts or who are dealing with challenging conditions. The volume concentrates on three vulnerable groups: marginalized youths who have experienced repeated exclusion and sought their second chance in alternative education; children who are coming from economically, culturally, and linguistically disadvantaged backgrounds; and students with social or emotional issues. It defines engagement as evolving over the course of learning, an interpersonal as well as personal process involving students, learning environment, teachers, and peers. Chapters identify the complex personal, sociocultural, economic, and systemic barriers that keep these vulnerable students from fully engaging in school, and explore the enabling role of collaborative and supported learning activities in building academic success and a foundation for productive adult lives. In addition, chapters present instructional practices based on engagement enablers. Chapters also pinpoint specific learning skills and subject areas that can provide openings for promoting motivation and participation. Featured topics include: The importance of cognitive and social enablers for promoting learning engagement.Engagement in instruction from teachers and testing within classrooms.Student voice and perspective as a reading engagement enabler.Promoting academic engagement and aspiration for challenging and advanced mathematics.Alternative educational programs for re-engaging marginalized youths who “don’t fit”.Empowering Engagement is a must-have resource for researchers, scientist-practitioners, clinicians, and graduate students in the fields of child and school psychology, educational policy and politics, social work, motivation and learning, schooling and pedagogies, and related disciplines.
Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence, 15th International Conference (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #800)
by Fernando De La Prieta Sigeru Omatu Antonio Fernández-CaballeroThe 15th International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2018 (DCAI 2018) is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industrial sector is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever-increasing demands of today’s society. The present edition brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems.This symposium is organized by the University of Castilla-La Mancha, the Osaka Institute of Technology and the University of Salamanca. The present edition was held in Toledo, Spain, from 20th – 22nd June, 2018.
Stalinism and the Soviet-Finnish War, 1939–40: Crisis Management, Censorship and Control (St Antony's Series)
by Malcolm L. SpencerThis book offers an illuminating bridge between the political and social dimensions of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-40. The conflict represented a significant crisis for the Soviet Union, inspiring international condemnation and a significant loss of face for its supporters, both at home and abroad. The focus of this study is not upon the military dynamics of the war, but upon its ability to influence events, interpretations and interactions between agents and institutions within the Soviet Union and the wider international communist movement. Through original archival research, this book considers the ways in which the Soviet leadership reacted to the crisis, the tools at its disposal, and the effectiveness with which it managed to manipulate and control the spread of information through official and unofficial channels. It contributes to a more complete and complex picture of the inter-related nature of Soviet politics, propaganda and mass media in this period.
Feuds and State Formation, 1550–1700: The Backcountry of the Republic of Genoa (Early Modern History: Society and Culture)
by Osvaldo RaggioThis book re-evaluates the role of local agency and provides a new perspective to the political, social and cultural history of state formation, taking a microhistorical approach and through close analysis of archival sources between 1550 to 1700. The backcountry of the Republic of Genoa is a laboratory for gauging the weight and significance of two elements which, according to Charles Tilly and other scholars, have characterized the construction of the modern state: judicial administration and fiscal extraction. The instruments employed in this respect were arbitration and compensation. Interactions between center and periphery occurred within a stratified and discontinuous fabric of fluid jurisdictions and segmented residential topographies, which constituted spaces of mediation. Such spaces were generated by conflicts between kin groups (feuds and factional alignments) and managed both by Genoese officials and by local notables and notaries, who translated a whole set of local practices into judicial procedures. This book offers a rich contextualization of material life, family relationships, economic activities, and power struggles in a corner of the Mediterranean world that was extremely important, but about which very little has been published in English.
Computers Supported Education: 9th International Conference, CSEDU 2017, Porto, Portugal, April 21-23, 2017, Revised Selected Papers (Communications in Computer and Information Science #865)
by Paula Escudeiro Gennaro Costagliola Susan Zvacek James Uhomoibhi Bruce M. McLarenThis book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Computer Supported Education, CSEDU 2017, held in Porto, Portugal, in April 2017. The 22 revised full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 179 submissions. The papers deal with the following topics: new educational environments, best practices and case studies of innovative technology-based learning strategies, institutional policies on computer-supported education including open and distance education.
Imaginary Mathematics for Computer Science
by John VinceThe imaginary unit i = √-1 has been used by mathematicians for nearly five-hundred years, during which time its physical meaning has been a constant challenge. Unfortunately, René Descartes referred to it as “imaginary”, and the use of the term “complex number” compounded the unnecessary mystery associated with this amazing object. Today, i = √-1 has found its way into virtually every branch of mathematics, and is widely employed in physics and science, from solving problems in electrical engineering to quantum field theory.John Vince describes the evolution of the imaginary unit from the roots of quadratic and cubic equations, Hamilton’s quaternions, Cayley’s octonions, to Grassmann’s geometric algebra. In spite of the aura of mystery that surrounds the subject, John Vince makes the subject accessible and very readable. The first two chapters cover the imaginary unit and its integration with real numbers. Chapter 3 describes how complex numbers work with matrices, and shows how to compute complex eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Chapters 4 and 5 cover Hamilton’s invention of quaternions, and Cayley’s development of octonions, respectively. Chapter 6 provides a brief introduction to geometric algebra, which possesses many of the imaginary qualities of quaternions, but works in space of any dimension. The second half of the book is devoted to applications of complex numbers, quaternions and geometric algebra. John Vince explains how complex numbers simplify trigonometric identities, wave combinations and phase differences in circuit analysis, and how geometric algebra resolves geometric problems, and quaternions rotate 3D vectors. There are two short chapters on the Riemann hypothesis and the Mandelbrot set, both of which use complex numbers. The last chapter references the role of complex numbers in quantum mechanics, and ends with Schrödinger’s famous wave equation. Filled with lots of clear examples and useful illustrations, this compact book provides an excellent introduction to imaginary mathematics for computer science.
Comparing and Aligning Process Representations: Foundations and Technical Solutions (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing #323)
by Han van der AaThis doctoral thesis focuses on the spread of process information in organizations and, in particular, on the mitigation of the problems caused by the spread of information on a single process over numerous models, documents, and systems.Processes within organizations can be highly complex chains of inter-related steps, involving numerous stakeholders and information systems. Due to this complexity, having access to the right information is vital to the proper execution and effective management of an organization’s business processes. The main contributions of this thesis are five techniques that focus on the alignment and comparison of process information from different informational artifacts. Each of these techniques tackles a specific scenario involving multiple informational artifacts that contain process information in different representation formats.
Descriptional Complexity of Formal Systems: 20th IFIP WG 1.02 International Conference, DCFS 2018, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 25–27, 2018, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #10952)
by Stavros Konstantinidis Giovanni PighizziniThis book constitutes the proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Descriptional Complexity of Formal Systems, DCFS 2018, held in Halifax, NS, Canada, in July 2018. The 19 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 24 submissions.DCFS is an annual international working conference concerning the descriptional complexity of formal systems and structures and its applications. Topics of interest are related to all aspects of descriptional complexity and much more.
Dams in Brazil: Social and Demographical Impacts (SpringerBriefs in Latin American Studies)
by Guillaume LeturcqThe book focuses on the human and social effects of the construction of hydroelectric dams in Brazil. It discusses themes such as forced migrations, how the families of the victims of the dams adapt to new living areas, the struggle of families with the relocation of their homes and the fact that they are neglected by builders and government. These discussions are carried out in a comparative perspective between Southern and Northern Brazil, where contexts and living conditions are quite different. The book's main objective is to analyze the movements, adaptations and life changes in families suffering from the effects of dams throughout Brazil. This is the first book that analyzes the relationship dam-space with the intent to understand how dams affect the territory. The book is organized in three chapters: the dams’ effects in Brazil and the territorial impacts; human and social consequences of dam construction; a regional comparison of the effects of dams between the South and the North of the country.
Polymers for Food Applications
by Tomy J. GutiérrezThis book presents an exhaustive review on the use of polymers for food applications. Polymer-based systems for food applications such as: films, foams, nano- and micro-encapsulated, emulsions, hydrogels, prebiotics, 3D food printing, edible polymers for the development of foods for people with special feeding regimes, sensors, among others, have been analyzed in this work.
Advances in Design for Inclusion: Proceedings of the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Design for Inclusion, July 21-25, 2018, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #776)
by Giuseppe Di BucchianicoThis book addresses a range of topics in design, such as universal design, design for all, digital inclusion, universal usability, and accessibility of technologies for people regardless of their age, financial situation, education, geographic location, culture and language. It especially focuses on accessibility for people with auditory, cognitive, neurological, and visual impairments, ageing populations, and mobility for those with special physical needs. The book explores some of the overlaps between inclusive design and web accessibility to help managers, designers, developers, policy makers, and researchers optimize their efforts in these areas. Based on the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Design for Inclusion, held on July 21–25, 2018, in Orlando, Florida, USA, it discusses new design technologies and highlights the disparate needs of the individuals within a community. Thanks to its multidisciplinary approach, it is a valuable resource for readers from various backgrounds, providing them a timely, practice-oriented guide to design for inclusion.
Advances in Human Factors in Wearable Technologies and Game Design: Proceedings of the AHFE 2018 International Conferences on Human Factors and Wearable Technologies, and Human Factors in Game Design and Virtual Environments, Held on July 21–25, 2018, in Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #795)
by Tareq Z. AhramThis book focuses on the human aspects of wearable technologies and game design, which are often neglected. It shows how user centered practices can optimize wearable experience, thus improving user acceptance, satisfaction and engagement towards novel wearable gadgets. It describes both research and best practices in the applications of human factors and ergonomics to sensors, wearable technologies and game design innovations, as well as results obtained upon integration of the wearability principles identified by various researchers for aesthetics, affordance, comfort, contextual-awareness, customization, ease of use, ergonomy, intuitiveness, obtrusiveness, information overload, privacy, reliability, responsiveness, satisfaction, subtlety, user friendliness and wearability. The book is based on the AHFE 2018 Conference on Human Factors and Wearable Technologies and the AHFE 2018 Conference on Human Factors in Game Design and Virtual Environments , held on July 21–25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida, and addresses professionals, researchers, and students dealing with the human aspects of wearable, smart and/or interactive technologies and game design research.
Advances in Acoustics and Vibration II: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Acoustics and Vibration (ICAV2018), March 19-21, 2018, Hammamet, Tunisia (Applied Condition Monitoring #13)
by Tahar Fakhfakh Chafik Karra Slim Bouaziz Fakher Chaari Mohamed HaddarThe book provides readers with a snapshot of recent research and industrial trends in field of industrial acoustics and vibration. Each chapter, accepted after a rigorous peer-review process, reports on a selected, original piece of work presented and discussed at the Second International Conference on Acoustics and Vibration (ICAV2018), which was organized by the Tunisian Association of Industrial Acoustics and Vibration (ATAVI) and held March 19-21, in Hammamet, Tunisia. The contributions cover advances in both theory and practice in a variety of subfields, such as: smart materials and structures; fluid-structure interaction; structural acoustics as well as computational vibro-acoustics and numerical methods. Further topics include: engines control, noise identification, robust design, flow-induced vibration and many others. This book provides a valuable resource for both academics and professionals dealing with diverse issues in applied mechanics. By combining advanced theories with industrial issues, it is expected to facilitate communication and collaboration between different groups of researchers and technology users.
Business Governance and Society: Analyzing Shifts, Conflicts, And Challenges
by Rajagopal Ramesh BehlThis volume critically analyzes the convergence of technology, business practices, public policies, political ideologies, and societal values for improving business performance at the global-local paradigm. It also enriches knowledge on contemporary business strategies against conventional wisdom of managing companies today. Shifts in the global economic and political order have significantly affected the business patterns within developed, developing, and emerging markets. The reversal of political ideologies from liberal to protectionist business frameworks are disrupting the trade flows that were rooted in the international economy since the mid-twentieth century.The essays contemplate developing new visions and business perspectives to match with the changing political ideologies in emerging markets. This volume will serve as a valuable tool to readers looking for global market management strategies to generate cost-effective business models and create convergence with political and social values to drive better governance of businesses.
Evaluating Evidence of Mechanisms in Medicine: Principles and Procedures (SpringerBriefs in Philosophy)
by Veli-Pekka Parkkinen Christian Wallmann Michael Wilde Brendan Clarke Phyllis Illari Michael P Kelly Charles Norell Federica Russo Beth Shaw Jon WilliamsonThis book is open access under a CC BY license. This book is the first to develop explicit methods for evaluating evidence of mechanisms in the field of medicine. It explains why it can be important to make this evidence explicit, and describes how to take such evidence into account in the evidence appraisal process. In addition, it develops procedures for seeking evidence of mechanisms, for evaluating evidence of mechanisms, and for combining this evaluation with evidence of association in order to yield an overall assessment of effectiveness. Evidence-based medicine seeks to achieve improved health outcomes by making evidence explicit and by developing explicit methods for evaluating it. To date, evidence-based medicine has largely focused on evidence of association produced by clinical studies. As such, it has tended to overlook evidence of pathophysiological mechanisms and evidence of the mechanisms of action of interventions. The book offers a useful guide for all those whose work involves evaluating evidence in the health sciences, including those who need to determine the effectiveness of health interventions and those who need to ascertain the effects of environmental exposures.
Exploring the Universe: A Collection Of Research Reviews On Contemporary Astrophysics And Space Science (Astrophysics And Space Science Proceedings Ser. #53)
by Sudipta Sasmal Banibrata MukhopadhyayThis Festschrift dedicated to the 60th birth anniversary of Prof. Sandip K. Chakrabarti, a well-known Indian astrophysicist, presents a collection of contributions by about fifty scientists who work on diverse topics in contemporary astrophysics and space science including new and low-cost balloon borne experiments, planetary science, astrochemistry and the origin of life, ionospheric research and earthquake predictions, relativistic astrophysics around black holes, and finally, the observational signatures and radiative properties of compact objects. All the authors are well known scholars in their respective subject and are all PhD students of Prof. Sandip K. Chakrabarti. The book demonstrates a two-dimensional evolution of research areas triggered by Sandip Chakrabarti over the past few decades. The first dimension represents the evolution and diversification of Chakrabarti’s own research in which new students were trained. A second dimension arises from the evolution of the research topics pursued by Chakrabarti’s fifty odd doctoral students, many of whom have become renowned scientists in their own right, after starting with a certain subject under Chakrabarti and then migrating to completely new subjects with dexterity.The editors have compiled and edited the articles appropriately to some extent to suit the spirit of this Festschrift on the one hand and to keep balance in diverse topics on the other. Thus this volume also provides an overview for whosoever wishes to enter the important subjects of compact objects, astrochemistry, ionospheric science or space exploration in near space. New graduates, PhD scholars, teachers and researchers will benefit from this volume. Moreover it is a record of tremendous success of a school in a range of vast topics.
Lepton Flavor Violation from Low Scale Seesaw Neutrinos with Masses Reachable at the LHC (Springer Theses)
by Xabier MarcanoFlavor physics is fundamental to test the Standard Model of particle physics and could be the key to discover new physics. This book explores lepton flavor violating implications in the low scale seesaw models, a well-motivated scenario for explaining the still open problem of neutrino mass generation. It studies the lepton flavor violating Higgs decays in depth, developing useful simple expressions for making fast estimations of this observable. It also introduces a new parametrization optimized for the study of lepton flavor violation in these models, showing that high rates could be obtained for Higgs and Z decays if these new heavy neutrinos have masses in the TeV range. Lastly, it goes on to explore the possibility of their production and decay at the Large Hadron Collider through events with two charged leptons of different flavor.
Advances in Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design: Proceedings of the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design, July 21-25, 2018, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #790)
by WonJoon Chung Cliff Sungsoo ShinThis book provides readers with a snapshot of cutting-edge methods and procedures in industrial design, with a particular focus on human-centered and user-experience design, service design, sustainable design and applications of virtual & augmented reality. Reporting on both theoretical and practical investigations aimed at improving industrial design through interdisciplinary collaboration, it covers a wide range of topics – from design strategies to product research and planning, exhibit design, as well as new materials and color research. Based on the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Interdisciplinary Practice in Industrial Design, held on July 21–25, 2018, in Orlando, Florida, USA, the book offers a timely guide for industrial designers, production engineers and computer scientists.
Handbook of Parenting and Child Development Across the Lifespan
by Matthew R. Sanders Alina MorawskaThis handbook presents the latest theories and findings on parenting, from the evolving roles and tasks of childrearing to insights from neuroscience, prevention science, and genetics. Chapters explore the various processes through which parents influence the lives of their children, as well as the effects of parenting on specific areas of child development, such as language, communication, cognition, emotion, sibling and peer relationships, schooling, and health. Chapters also explore the determinants of parenting, including consideration of biological factors, parental self-regulation and mental health, cultural and religious factors, and stressful and complex social conditions such as poverty, work-related separation, and divorce. In addition, the handbook provides evidence supporting the implementation of parenting programs such as prevention/early intervention and treatments for established issues. The handbook addresses the complementary role of universal and targeted parenting programs, the economic benefits of investment in parenting programs, and concludes with future directions for research and practice. Topics featured in the Handbook include: · The role of fathers in supporting children’s development. · Developmental disabilities and their effect on parenting and child development. · Child characteristics and their reciprocal effects on parenting. · Long-distance parenting and its impact on families. · The shifting dynamic of parenting and adult-child relationships. · The effects of trauma, such as natural disasters, war exposure, and forced displacement on parenting. The Handbook of Parenting and Child Development Across the Lifespan is an essential reference for researchers, graduate students, clinicians, and therapists and professionals in clinical child and school psychology, social work, pediatrics, developmental psychology, family studies, child and adolescent psychiatry, and special education.
Sustainable Building for a Cleaner Environment: Selected Papers from the World Renewable Energy Network's Med Green Forum 2017 (Innovative Renewable Energy)
by Ali SayighThis book contains selected papers presented during the bi-annual World Renewable Energy Network’s Med Green Forum aimed at the international community as well as Mediterranean countries. This forum highlights the importance of growing renewable energy applications in two main sectors: Electricity Generation and the Sustainable Building Sector. In-depth chapters highlight the most current research and technological breakthroughs, covering a broad range of renewable energy technologies and applications in all sectors – for electricity production, heating and cooling, agricultural applications, water desalination, industrial applications and for the transport sectors.
Systems Neuroscience (Advances in Neurobiology #21)
by Albert Cheung-Hoi Yu Lina LiThis edition of Advances in Neurobiology brings together experts in the emerging field of Systems Neuroscience to present an overview of this area of research. Topics covered include: how different neural circuits analyze sensory information, form perceptions of the external world, make decisions, and execute movements; how nerve cells behave when connected together to form neural networks; the relationship between molecular and cellular approaches to understanding brain structure and function; the study of high-level mental functions; and studying brain pathologies and diseases with Systems Neuroscience. A hierarchy of biological complexity arises from the genome, transcriptome, proteome, organelles, cells, synapses, circuits, brain regions, the whole brain, and behaviour. The best way to study the brain, the most complex organ in the body composed of 100 billion cells with trillions of interconnections, is with a Systems Biology approach. Systems biology is an inter-disciplinary field that focuses on complex interactions within biological systems to reveal 'emergent properties' - properties of cells and groups of cells functioning as a system whose actual and theoretical description is only possible using Systems Biology techniques.
Advances in Safety Management and Human Factors: Proceedings of the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Safety Management and Human Factors, July 21-25, 2018, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #791)
by Pedro Miguel ArezesThis book discusses the latest findings on ensuring employees’ safety, health, and welfare at work. It combines a range of disciplines – e.g. work physiology, health informatics, safety engineering, workplace design, injury prevention, and occupational psychology – and presents new strategies for safety management, including accident prevention methods such as performance testing and participatory ergonomics. The book, which is based on the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Safety Management and Human Factors, held on July 21–25, 2018, in Orlando, Florida, USA, provides readers, including decision makers, professional ergonomists and program managers in government and public authorities, with a timely snapshot of the state of the art in the field of safety, health, and welfare management. It also addresses agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), as well as other professionals dealing with occupational safety and health.
Ethical Issues in Child Abuse Research
by Katherine Guttmann Michelle Shouldice Alex V. LevinThis book serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers and regulatory bodies working to establish sound evidence bases through research for the care of children and families affected by abuse. Issues such as consent, anonymous research, and how to interface with the legal system in terms of disclosure and sharing of results are discussed in depth. Ethical Issues in Child Abuse Research also provides insights into questions of ethics in animal research, perpetrator and retrospective research, and balances the necessity of collecting this valuable information while protecting vulnerable populations, and respecting their privacy while interacting in a complex legal system. With input from many leaders in child abuse research, this book fills a critical need, providing readers with a pathway to apply these principles of ethics to their own research in this challenging field.