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Voluntary Business Reporting: From Evolution to Revolution (Routledge Studies in Accounting)
by Giacomo PigattoUnderstanding the dynamic landscape of voluntary business reporting is crucial for navigating the evolving complexities of accounting practices, towards achieving a more sustainable and equitable world. This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the evolution and revolutions happening within the field of voluntary business reporting.The book begins by tracing the development of voluntary business reporting to the present day, examining the motivations behind voluntary reporting practices, including agency theory, stakeholder theory, and institutional perspectives. It offers a thorough overview of voluntary business reporting, its evolution in the business world, and its increasing relevance for disclosing nonfinancial information alongside – and often integrated with – financial information. Through empirical insights and case studies, the book uncovers instances where voluntary reporting diverges from traditional theories, highlighting factors such as chance discoveries and power struggles. Furthermore, it analyzes three revolutions characterizing voluntary reporting: (1) the mandatorization (i.e., the slow yet steady process of codification and regulation), (2) the broadening scope towards a multi-stakeholder perspective, and (3) the harmonization and integration of voluntary reporting standards and frameworks. It concludes by reflecting on the unresolved issues and challenges facing the field, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and critical reflection to advance the practice of voluntary reporting in alignment with broader societal goals.With a focus on the implications of voluntary reporting for stakeholders, businesses, and regulatory bodies, the book equips readers with actionable insights. It caters primarily to accounting and business reporting scholars. Additionally, it serves as a valuable resource for students in related disciplines and business reporting practitioners seeking insights into evolving trends and future developments in voluntary reporting practices.
Theatres of Compost: Performance and Ecology for the Anthropocene (Routledge Studies in Theatre, Ecology, and Performance)
by Abby SchroeringTheatres of Compost places ecology at the center of performance scholarship and criticism, and it positions performance as a key cultural process for bringing about a more just and sustainable future.Examining a unique archive of agricultural performances—plays, theatre collectives, and activist rituals that engage questions of how humans use the land and produce food—this book lays out a framework for how theatre and performance contribute to a cultural shift toward ecological awareness. Theatre of compost is performance that directly engages ideologies of exploitation, mass production, and accumulation. Instead of discarding the forms, themes, methodologies, and histories that have perpetuated ecological destruction, the case studies in this book show that what has come before can be composted: broken down and reconstituted as the fertile foundation for a more livable life in the Anthropocene. Theatres of Compost will appeal to the new but quickly growing subfield of performance and ecology. As the climate and ecological crises worsen, more scholars and students in theatre and performance will be searching for ways to make their work meaningful and relevant.This book will be a helpful resource for graduate-level courses in performance studies, performance and ecology, and the environmental humanities.
Conceptual Metaphor Theory in World Language Education: Theory, Research, and Pedagogy
by Loretta FernándezThis edited collection explores the scholarly and pedagogical implementations of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) in world language education. The chapters offer a diverse range of theoretical and pedagogical perspectives as well as methodologies aiming to achieve the following objectives: Introduce novice linguists, novice researchers, and pre-service language teachers to CMT, its extensions, and its applications, while providing an overview of the current state of the discipline; Shed light on new research and pedagogical practices for linguists, researchers, and language educators at all levels; Present theoretically founded and research-based examples of the pedagogical application of CMT across multiple world languages, including English, French, Mandarin, and Spanish; Highlight the experiences and perspectives of practitioner educators who have implemented CMT in world language education. By addressing these objectives, the book aims to provide a comprehensive and insightful exploration of CMT’s role in world language education, offering guidance and inspiration for both researchers and practitioners in the field.
Dialogues with Classical Chinese Philosophy
by Aleksandar StamatovThis book examines the ways in which classical Chinese philosophy compares with Western philosophy, contemporary issues, and the context of world philosophy.Schools of thought essential to the development of Chinese philosophy, such as Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and the School of Names, are considered in their relation to contemporary and popular culture, ethical situationism and social psychology, Plato’s philosophy, social media and internet addiction, algorithmic thinking, Machiavelli and political realism, the contemporary workforce, and categorical logic. By engaging Chinese philosophy in dialogue with these contemporary themes, this book illustrates how Chinese philosophy can contribute to the development of world philosophy.Presenting a novel approach to the study of pre‑Qin philosophical texts, this book will be a valuable resource to scholars and students of philosophy, particularly those interested in Chinese philosophy.
Advances in Plant Disease Management Volume II: Strategic and Applied Research
by Pranjib K. Chakrabarty Kalyan K. Mondal Mahender S. Saharan Charudatta Digambarrao Mayee Jagdish KumarAdvances in Plant Disease Management: Volume II: Strategic and Applied Research is an invaluable compilation for researchers/students/stakeholders/policymakers in agriculture. This book aims to offer the latest understanding of how fundamental and basic research can be translated toward the engineering of biotic stress-resilient crops through applied and strategic management of plant diseases. Volume I clearly explained the updated knowledge on basic and applied phenomena of pathogen’s interplay with the host, the host immune system, crosstalks among downstream regulating molecules as unraveled through genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and molecular studies. This volume of the book equips readers with the knowledge and understanding to confidently employ this basic information in the formulation of management strategies for major crop plant diseases.This book offers comprehensive coverage of the research advances in plant disease management, including: Newer insight into pest risk analysis (PRA) and its significance in international trade. Developments in eco-friendly green technologies that are safe for both humans and the environment to manage diseases. Use of AI tools for diagnosis, development of models for advanced prediction of the outbreak of epidemics, and need-based application of agrochemicals and their appropriate formulations for use through drones. The information regulation and use of biostimulants for biotic and abiotic resilience. Plant protection policies that support the agricultural production system from a global perspective.
Management of Water Resources Using Electrochemical Methods (Environmental Assessment and Management)
by Yong Jiang Guoshuai Liu Changyong ZhangThis book encompasses various approaches to electrochemical water treatment, emphasizing a well-structured framework within the nexus of electrochemistry, water, and energy. It addresses the urgent challenges of water scarcity and pollution and offers practical insights and operational guidance on removing pollutants and preserving water resources through water purification. Applications and real-life case studies support the innovative nature of electrochemical processes as a sustainable and efficient alternative. The user-friendly approach makes this book accessible to a broad audience, being a specialist seeking advanced techniques or a concerned citizen.Features Covers comprehensively the most recent and advanced electrochemical water treatment techniques. Presents practical operational guidelines and insights. Includes real-world examples and case studies. Focuses on environmental impacts and sustainability. Addresses innovative approaches in technology, theoretical computational analysis, and future development guidance for electrochemical water treatment. This book is for professionals, students, and researchers in water and environmental sciences interested in water treatment, management, and resource recovery. It is also a great resource for public and environmental health experts and readers who work in related disciplines and readers interested in water management, treatment, and the health of the environment.
Sustainable Finance and Society: Grand Challenges of the New Millennium (Business for Society)
by Francesco Gangi Daniele Angelo Previati Flora SfezSustainable Finance and Society explores how finance can be managed to address pressing global challenges.Part of the Routledge Business and Society series, this book investigates the evolving financial ecosystem shaped by new stakeholder capitalism. It examines how finance can be leveraged to benefit society while balancing environmental, social, and financial performance. Through a combination of theoretical insights and empirical studies, the book offers a comprehensive framework for understanding sustainable finance as a driver of societal well-being. This book provides a thorough analysis of sustainable finance, from the roles of financial markets and institutions to the rise of socially responsible investments. Key topics include sustainable investing evaluation, green finance, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the role of women in finance leadership. The book features a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities of managing finance for societal benefit, offering valuable insights for aligning financial practices with ethical, environmental, and social goals.It is essential reading for academics, researchers, and policymakers interested in finance for society. It is also relevant for finance practitioners, sustainability experts, and institutional investors looking to implement socially responsible financial practices and address the grand challenges of the 21st century.
Information Security Governance using Artificial Intelligence of Things in Smart Environments
by Mariya Ouaissa Mariyam Ouaissa Tarik Hidar Ram Chandra Sachan Akhil Mittal Sanjay PoddarThis book explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the Internet of Things (IoT) to address security challenges in smart environments. It delves into how AI enhances the governance of information security by automating processes, detecting threats, and ensuring the protection of data in interconnected IoT systems. It covers theoretical foundations, practical frameworks, and case studies, offering insights into securing smart cities, homes, industries, and healthcare systems. It also emphasizes governance models that leverage AI to manage security policies and risk in dynamic, data-driven ecosystems.This title focuses on the study and application of AI of Things in the field of information security governance. Intelligent environments, characterized by increasing connectivity of devices and systems, present unique challenges for information security. The use of AI of Things offers opportunities to enhance security in these complex environments.
How to Get the Most Out of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: A Client’s Guide
by Windy DrydenHow to Get the Most Out of Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT): A Client’s Guide is aimed at those who are either considering consulting or already seeing a Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) therapist.This book is designed to help guide clients through the REBT process from before they start through to when they are looking towards an end of therapy and next steps. The goal is not to discuss specific REBT practice methods, but rather provide a comprehensive guide to topics such as: How to decide if REBT is right for you How to prepare for your REBT session Understanding the process of change in REBT Learning to apply what you learn from REBT Therapy Sessions This concise and practical guide will help you to understand REBT, how to get the most out of each session and how you can ensure that you continue to benefit from it once therapy has ended.
A Glocal Town: Social Change and Globalization (Global Connections)
by Nicholas TatsisThis book presents a novel theoretical and methodological approach to understanding the emerging “glocal” realities of (sub)urban space. Beginning with a study of a suburb of Athens, it illustrates the dynamic interaction between the local and the global, charting a range of radical social changes as this locality adapts itself to processes of globalization. Moving beyond the Athenian context, it shows how the various traditions of suburban enclaves interact with and confront the impact of external yet pervasive elements of the global(ized) world – for instance, through the adoption of events and practices observed in societies across the globe, such as Earth Day or International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the use of the global calendar – as the polis transforms into a cosmopolis. With explorations of this kind, A Glocal Town advances a three- stage interpretative scheme that enables us to frame “glocality” more broadly, and better understand the global– local interaction wherever it occurs. As such, it will appeal to scholars of sociology, geography, and urban studies interested in globalization and its interaction with the local in (sub) urban locales.
London's ‘Big Bang’ Moment and its Architectural Conversations: The Built Environment as a Subject of Public Discourse (Routledge Research in Architecture)
by Stephen RosserThis book explores the topic of architecture as a component of public discourse, focussing on the reception of four high-profile developments in the City of London (the UK capital’s financial district) dating from the final years of the twentieth century. During this time, the City’s mode of operation, culture and built environment were all transformed as a result of the market deregulation process labelled ‘Big Bang’. It was also a period which saw the subject of architecture attracting public and media attention, becoming a prominent feature of national conversation.The book examines the extensive and often contentious discourse generated by the four case study projects. It looks at how these projects were viewed and interpreted retrospectively, when they had become part of the City’s long and rich history. Topics explored include building and urban form on the eve of the millennium; the place of new development in a setting of unique historic importance; the ‘iconic’ building and ‘celebrity’ architect; and the role of (then) Prince Charles as an architectural critic. Also referenced are many of the broader issues of the day, including the Thatcher government policies and the preoccupations concerning London’s infrastructure, public realm, inner city areas and inequalities. Furthermore, ranging across the discourse is the theme of the relationship between buildings and global finance, foreshadowing later controversies concerning London’s post-millennial towers and their impact on the capital’s skyline.The book will be of interest to researchers and students of late-twentieth-century British architecture and urban development, London’s history and UK public discourse in the 1980s, a decade of profound political, economic and social change.
Exile as an Educative Engagement: The Dizziness of Recognition (Studies in Curriculum Theory Series)
by Parmis AslanimehrThis book explores the concept of exile, experienced not as a physical displacement but as a subjective experience of disconnection from the Other. It further clarifies the notion of exilic subjectivity, whereby a hidden facet of the self—ineffable both to the Other and to the Self—causes a distance between self-comprehension and external perception. In doing so, it poses a challenge to recognition theory’s assertion that self-understanding occurs through interactions with Others. Engaging with the writings of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Charles Taylor, Axel Honneth, Søren Kierkegaard, and Rumi, the book explores the difficulties individuals encounter when transitioning their inwardly focused private identities into public spaces, such as educational institutions. It emphasizes the critical role educators can play in cultivating an atmosphere of attentive listening attuned to the unique experiences that may exile the self. Through the complex interplay of writings by thinkers such as Hegel, Kierkegaard, Rumi, Taylor, and Pinar, this work transcends traditional theories of recognition. Rather than resolving misrecognition, it embraces it as a central aspect of the human condition, examining the tension between self-perception and external acknowledgement. The text phenomenologically investigates “seeing” the Other and the risk of misrecognizing an individual’s innermost depths. These insights find resonance in academia, where even amid success, a chasm may persist, isolating students and educators from each other. As the self dwells in the uneasiness of estrangement, the discussion welcomes the ownership of silence and inwardness into the classroom. From this detached perspective, the possibility of recognizing the convergence of familiarity and strangeness before and within oneself may emerge.This book is tailored for scholars, educators, and readers interested in the intersections of philosophy, education, and lived experience. It offers readers innovative approaches to understanding exile and recognition, fostering deeper engagement with the complexities of identity, alienation, and the self.
Polymorphisms: Sexual and Gender Migrations in Contemporary Psychoanalysis (IPA Sexual and Gender Diversity Studies)
by Leticia Glocer Fiorini Jean Marc Tauszik Silvia R. AcostaPolymorphisms presents an overview of key theories, ideas and issues within psychoanalysis relating to sexual and gender diversity.The chapters consider key topics including the Oedipus-castration complex, the link between sexuality and gender, identity, and gender violence, while also addressing queer/transgender subjectivities, countertransference, and the implicit and explicit theories that shape clinical practice. Taking an intra and interdisciplinary approach, the collection considers ideas that enrich the clinical approach while highlighting contradictions and heterogeneities, and moving away from essentialisms. As a whole, the book delimits debates and questions rather than offering definitive answers, taking the perspective that psychoanalysis is a discipline in continuous interrogation of its own propositions.Polymorphisms: Sexual and Gender Migrations in Contemporary Psychoanalysis will be essential reading for psychoanalysts and psychotherapists in practice and in training. It will also be of interest to academics of psychoanalytic studies and gender studies.
Exploring Gender in Education in Arabian Gulf Countries: Toward Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education (Routledge Research in Educational Equality and Diversity)
by Martina DicksonThis seminal volume fills a gap in current literature on education, gender, and development by giving voice to the Arab Gulf region, contrasting key issues with those felt globally in order to support a more sustainable, gender‑equitable future of education in the region.Heavily linked to Sustainable Development Goal 4 – which calls for an inclusive and equitable quality of education for all – this book presents case studies on a wide range of issues such as school attainment, academic performance, and gender disparities within higher education in the Arabian Gulf, using quantitative research, qualitative interviews, and documentary analysis to make broader connections to issues of global significance. Exploring a deeper and more holistic understanding of the external factors which affect both participation and performance within education and academic settings, this book considers the influence of home support systems as well as cultural and familial factors which can lead to large‑scale gendered differences in learning attitudes, attendance, and even testing, in the region.Ultimately supporting those in the education sector through frameworks of gender inclusion in both schools and higher educational settings, this volume will be of use to researchers, scholars, and postgraduate students involved with higher education, school leadership, management and administration, sociology of education, and gender studies in the Arab Gulf region more broadly.
The Human Relationship with Information
by Mark LenkerThe Human Relationship with Information uses a philosophical lens to explore questions about the fundamental place of information in a fulfilling human life.Drawing on the author’s experience as an instruction librarian and from research by others working in the humanities, psychology, and information science, this book suggests new directions for information ethics and information literacy. Questioning what makes an encounter with information meaningful for the people librarians and educators serve, Lenker also considers what our uncertain life expectancies and limited attention spans mean for the ways we prioritize our time with information. Considering what the characteristics of an excellent mind are, this book explores how our information consumption habits nurture or hinder the development of those qualities. Inviting readers to think about how information consumes a precious and finite resource – our attention – this book ultimately explores how best to have a rich, satisfying life with information.The Human Relationship with Information will inspire librarians and other educators to take a second look at their work and think more deeply and sincerely about how information shapes the lives of the people they serve. It will be essential reading for anyone thinking about the ways that information and libraries enrich – and sometimes complicate – people’s quality of life.
We Have Never Been Human: Or Why We Have Always Been Something Else
by Juan de Dios VázquezWe Have Never Been Human: Or Why We Have Always Been Something Else boldly reimagines what it means to be human, challenging the traditional notions that bind our identity to biology and culture. From ancient mythologies to modern technologies, this book reveals a dynamic, ever-evolving human identity shaped by external forces and technological advancements.Blending insights from philosophy, technology studies, anthropology, and cultural critique, We Have Never Been Human: Or Why We Have Been Something Else offers an interdisciplinary exploration of our constructed identities and what they portend for the future of society. It raises essential questions: How has technology reshaped our self-perception? Are humans fixed beings, or are we endlessly evolving? What ethical, social, and political challenges arise as we integrate with intelligent machines?This book is a compelling read for those intrigued by the intersection of humanity and technology, offering profound insights into the essence of what it means to be human—or perhaps, what it means to evolve beyond the human.
Rural Development in Iran, 1960-2020 (Routledge Explorations in Development Studies)
by Mostafa AzkiaThis book is an authoritative account of rural development in Iran, spanning 60 years and 2 distinct political regimes.Professor Mostafa Azkia has spent many decades demonstrating the importance of participatory rural development, not only in addressing rural problems but also in reducing urban concerns, such as unemployment and overpopulation. This book is the culmination of this work, bringing together a detailed analysis of the theories, history, and strategies of rural and state development in Iran both before and after the Islamic Revolution. Putting rural communities at the fore, the book demonstrates that there has been significant progress in reducing the rural– urban gap, both in terms of income and standards of living, resulting in a more equal path of socioeconomic development for Iran.This comprehensive assessment from Iran’s foremost rural sociologist will be an important read for researchers and professionals working on rural development and sociology in the Middle East.
Korean Culture in the Global Age: K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Film, and K-Literature (Routledge Studies in Cultural History)
by Joanne Miyang Cho Lee M. RobertsSince the late 1990s, South Korean cultural products such as pop music, TV drama, and film have shaped the country’s image around the world. This book explores these three internationally best-known media of the Korean Wave global phenomenon, along with a less commonly featured aspect, K-literature.Iconic images of South Korea today include stylish music groups like BTS and Blackpink, appealing dramas, and a range of films and digital comics (manhwa). Alongside associations with glitz and glamor are darker impressions: continuing political division, malaise over a war that never really ended. Korean Culture in the Global Age focuses on these and other facets of South Korea’s constantly changing international image to show how it has come to command worldwide attention. In recent years, readers in a growing number of languages have discovered the talent of South Korean authors through the efforts of countless translators. Showing developments in and occasional connections between themes in K-pop, K-drama, K-film, and K-literature, the book provides a more comprehensive view of contemporary South Korean culture.This volume will interest researchers and students of Korean Studies, Asian Studies, Asian American Studies, popular music, film studies, migration and diaspora studies, and world literature.
National Socialist Cultural Diplomacy: Culture, Politics, and Comradeship at the German-Nordic Writers’ House, 1934–1939 (Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right)
by Frederik Forrai ØrskovNational Socialist Cultural Diplomacy provides the first comprehensive account of the German-Nordic Writers’ House. From 1934 to 1939, young Scandinavian and Finnish writers spent summers at a seaside villa in Travemünde, mingling with representatives of the “new German literature,” to enjoy beach days, excursions in the Third Reich, and evening discussions on literature, politics, and comradeship. The book treats the Writers’ House as a case study of National Socialist cultural diplomacy, offering fresh insights on the ways in which semi-official cultural mediators addressed, navigated, and were constrained by a dilemma central to all cultural diplomacy, but more urgently so in the case of totalitarian regimes like the Third Reich: that in order to be perceived as legitimate, culture cannot be too obviously circumscribed by politics, while cultural autonomy comes with a lack of control that does not sit well with totalitarian regimes.Between the prevalent ideal in the Nordic cultural sphere that culture stands apart from politics, on the one hand, and the political aims of official German diplomacy, on the other, the institution showcases the constraints faced by aspiring cultural diplomats in the Third Reich and the strategies with which the Writers’ House’s organizers addressed them. With the Writers’ House as a prism, National Socialist Cultural Diplomacy also offers a case study of the fault lines that emerged in the Nordic literary sphere with the post-1933 ideologization of the German literary field, its institutions, and its lucrative book market. At stake was the role and identity of the literary intellectual, the proper relationship between culture, economics, and politics, and—for some of the visiting writers—whether to place consciousness over comradeship. This book will be of interest to researchers of Nazism, social and cultural history, and the history of the extreme right.
Understanding Early Large-Scale Collectives: A Global Perspective
by Justin JenningsThis volume brings together perspectives from different parts of the world that showcase the wide variety of practices, institutions, and ideologies that allowed for shared identities and coordinated actions across broad collectives. It shows that there are many ways that people can work together.How did the world’s first large-scale collectives come into being? For much of our discipline’s history, the answer was the state. People learned how to be part of a larger community via political, economic, and social scaffolding that tended to build from earlier ways of living in a region. This scaffolding was often wobbly and always under construction—its flexibility often a design strength rather than a flaw. This book demonstrates that violence and rulers often played pivotal roles in large-scale collectives, but so did gender complementarity, markets, ritual centers, fictive kinship, and egalitarianism. Earlier evolutionary approaches tended to obscure both the variability and malleability of earlier political forms in a desire to find ideal types hidden beneath cross-cultural noise. This volume’s authors argue that this noise was politics-in-action and that there was no state, or other kind of polity, that was above the fray and divorced from the daily practices that brought people, animals, and other things together.A better understanding of early collective action strategies provides a richer understanding of past politics and, just as importantly, demonstrates governance alternatives for our contemporary society that struggles to address climate change, pandemics, and other pressing challenges. This book will interest archaeologists and historians, as well as anyone who is curious about other ways that we can work together to solve common problems.
Healthcare Informatics Innovation Post COVID-19 Pandemic
by Narasimha Rao Vajjhala Philip EappenThis book is essential reading for those in healthcare informatics, as well as healthcare administrators, clinicians, and regulators, as they navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare post-pandemic. —Dr. Steven D. Berkshire, professor and director of the Doctor of Health Administration Program, Central Michigan UniversityThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems, revealing vulnerabilities and pushing the boundaries of healthcare informatics. In response, the rapid adoption of digital tools and innovative technologies reshaped the way healthcare is delivered, managed, and analyzed. This transformation has not only revolutionized patient care but also underscored the importance of adopting new strategies to ensure data security, interoperability, and equitable access to healthcare services.Healthcare Informatics Innovation Post-COVID-19 Pandemic explores the lasting impact of these innovations on the healthcare sector. The book examines the key lessons learned from the pandemic, as well as the challenges and opportunities that have emerged in its wake. It covers a broad range of topics, including telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity, and examines the critical role each plays in transforming healthcare delivery.Highlights include: Bridging the digital divide with telehealth AI in post-pandemic healthcare Navigating post-pandemic mental health challenges with AI Genomics and personalized medicine Ethics, privacy, and security in healthcare informatics The book’s chapters were written by contributors from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.Together, they share their expertise in healthcare, information technology, and policy. Through their insights, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of healthcare informatics and offers a roadmap for future advancements. This book was written to address the growing recognition that healthcare systems worldwide must be resilient, adaptable, and equipped with cutting-edge tools to navigate future public health crises. As healthcare professionals, academics, policymakers, and technologists work together, it is crucial to share knowledge and collaborate on innovative solutions that can sustain the progress made during the pandemic.
Principles of Multimedia
by Ranjan ParekhPrinciples of Multimedia introduces and explains the theoretical concepts related to the representation, storage, compression, transmission and processing of various multimedia components, including text, image, graphics, audio, video and animation, as well as their use across various applications. The book provides the necessary programming tools and analysis technique concepts to perform practical processing tasks in software labs and to solve numerical problems at the postgraduate level. For this new third edition, every chapter has been updated and the book has been carefully streamlined throughout.Chapter 1 provides an overview of multimedia technology, including the definition, major characteristics, hardware, software, standards, technologies and relevant theorems with mathematical formulations. Chapter 2 covers text, including digital text representations, text editing and processing tools, text application areas and text file formats. Chapter 3 explores digital image input and output systems, image editing and processing tools, image application areas, image color management and image file formats. Chapter 4 discusses 2D and 3D graphics algorithms, transformation matrices, splines, fractals, vectors, projection application areas and graphics file formats. Chapter 5 covers audio, including digital audio input and output systems, audio editing and processing tools, audio application areas and audio file formats. Chapter 6 looks at video, including digital video input and output systems, video editing and processing tools, video application areas and video file formats. Chapter 7 focuses on animation, covering 2D and 3D animation algorithms, interpolations, modeling, texture mapping, lights, illumination models, camera, rendering, application areas and animation file formats. Finally, Chapter 8 covers compression, including lossless and lossy compression techniques, and various algorithms related to text image audio and video compression. Every chapter includes solved numerical problems, coding examples and references for further reading.Including theoretical explanations, mathematical formulations, solved numerical problems and coding examples throughout, Principles of Multimedia is an ideal textbook for graduate and postgraduate students studying courses on image processing, speech and language processing, signal processing, video object detection and tracking, graphic design and modeling and related multimedia technologies.
Advancements in Photothermal Materials for Interfacial Solar Vaporization
by Najma Memon Saima Q. Memon Shakeela AbbasThis monograph aims to examine different types of photothermal materials, such as metallic, organic, and composites, that have been reported to generate localized heat at the air–water interface, leading to vapor production on the surface. It focusses on various factors, including photothermal efficiency, evaporation rate, and others, which influence vapor generation. By drawing useful conclusions, this book contributes to the development of cutting-edge interfacial solar vaporization systems for practical applications.Features: Presents exclusive material on interfacial solar evaporators and photothermal materials. Discusses effective photothermal material selection. Helps calculate commercial material usage expenses in the field of photothermal-based evaporation systems. Examines different types of photothermal materials, such as metallic, organic, and composites. Explores photothermal efficiency and evaporation. This book is intended for graduate students and researchers in energy, chemical engineering, and materials science.
Reading Wayde Compton: Geohistorical (Re)Constructions of Black Vancouver (Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory)
by Fernando Pérez-GarcíaThis book is a comprehensive analysis of the literary oeuvre of Wayde Compton, examining the interplay between modes of literary production, urban commemoration, the formation of Black racial identity on the margins of the diaspora, and coalitions of solidarity with other communities in Vancouver.Stemming from an interdisciplinary perspective that blends Spatial Literary Studies, Hip hop epistemology, and the transmodern paradigm, this book presents a dynamic model of Black identity formation and belonging, resulting from the remix of Afro-diasporic and transcultural elements and the political commemoration of local Black spaces in an often-understudied node of the Black diaspora. This book also explores Compton’s contribution to recent academic debates on the interaction between the commemoration of Black spaces and the right to the city, as well as the engagement with Indigenous calls for the decolonisation of their ancestral lands. The analysis of Compton’s work allows for the deconstruction of the binaries African/Canadian, Indigenous/settler, Hogan’s Alley/Vancouver and exposes the co-constitutive character of these elements.
On Translation (China Perspectives)
by Xu JunThis book presents a fresh perspective on translation, exploring it as a complex process of cultural exchange involving both language and culture.The author examines the core aspects of translation, including its nature and procedures, key factors, text selection and approaches. It also examines the internal tensions and dynamics between authors, translators and readers, and the value system of translation criticism. The book also illustrates the role of culture in translation, discussing the cultural information embedded in language, the relationship between culture and meaning, the cultural interpretation of meaning and texts, the intersection of translation and cultural psychology, and the principles and methods of translation studies from a cultural perspective. By developing a systematic theoretical framework, the book aims to present translation as a complex facet of intercultural communication.This insightful work will appeal to scholars, students, translators and anyone interested in translation theory, translation studies and intercultural communication.