- Table View
- List View
Building Embodied AI Systems: The Agents, the Architecture Principles, Challenges, and Application Domains (Information Systems Engineering and Management #14)
by Pethuru Raj Alvaro Rocha Simar Preet Singh Pushan Kumar Dutta B. SundaravadivazhaganThis book is primed to demystify the emerging and evolving trend of embodied systems. It explains how these unique systems facilitate establishing smarter environments such as multi-specialty hospitals, manufacturing floors, warehouses, retail stores, defense zones, eating joints, entertainment plazas, etc., in detail for the benefit of our esteemed readers. To get a complete and actionable understanding of any mission-critical environment, we must deploy embodied systems. These systems, such as robots, drones, etc., are physical entities that are embedded and empowered with software systems. They interact with the environment in real time, providing context-aware services. There are chapters exclusively delineating the technologies behind the realization and deployment of such enigmatic systems. The prominent industrial use cases are explained in the latter chapters.
The Role of the Public Sector in Building Social and Economic Resilience: A Public Finance Approach
by Alina HyzThis edited book provides a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the public sector’s role in building economic and social resilience. It focuses on how public finance and economic policy can best support countries’ ability to absorb emerging shocks as well as adapt to evolving circumstances. The experiences of recent years, including multiple fiscal crises and the global pandemic, have shown that most economies are not prepared for rapidly changing conditions where uncertainty is a recurring theme. At the same time, social trust in public institutions has been eroding globally. Through a variety of perspectives, such as the role of taxation, social safety nets, public sector employment, public budgeting, and urban development, the book critically assesses existing weaknesses in the public sector and identifies solutions to foster resilience against future uncertainty. Against a political and economic context of increasing inequality and instability, the chapters demonstrate how public finance can help create the conditions for a stronger economy that supports economic stability and the labour market, encourages infrastructure and innovation, and promotes public health and environmental protection. This book is a fascinating read for academics in public finance, accounting, welfare economics, and labour economics, as well as professionals working in the spheres of public policy and governance.
Big Data and Security: 5th International Conference, ICBDS 2023, Nanjing, China, December 22–24, 2023, Revised Selected Papers, Part I (Communications in Computer and Information Science #2099)
by Yuan Tian Tinghuai Ma Muhammad Khurram KhanThe two-volume set constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Big Data and Security, ICBDS 2023, held in Nanjing, China, during December 22–24, 2023. The 35 full papers and 1 short paper were carefully reviewed and selected from 161 submissions. They are organized in topical sections as follows: Part One: Big Data & New Method and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Part Two: Data Technology & Network Security and IoT Security & Privacy Protection.
Religion, Gender and Race in Western European Arts and Culture: Thinking Through Religious Transformation (Routledge Critical Studies in Religion, Gender and Sexuality)
by null Nella van den BrandtThis book examines narratives of individual religious transformation in Western European literature and culture. Religious individuals, themes, experiences and communities are widely represented in diverse literature and culture, including literary texts and visual arts and media. Taking the subject of religious transformation as an angle from which to study constructions of religion, gender and race, this book reveals through various case studies what authors, documentary makers, film makers and playwrights consider to be important (possible) shifts between the old and the new, continuities and discontinuities, and the formation of the self. The chapters demonstrate how individual religious transformations are understood to be shaped by various intersections of difference, and point at the need to consider gender as always related to and co-constructing religion and race. This transdisciplinary and intimate study provides a fresh lens through which to examine pressing questions regarding the place and future of religion, gender and race in contemporary Western Europe.
Playing Dead: A Memoir of Terror and Survival
by Monique Faison Ross Gary M. KrebsThis domestic abuse survivor&’s memoir shares an &“engaging, powerful, and ultimately shocking story" of a bad marriage that ended in attempted murder (Lundy Bancroft, author of The Joyous Recovery). Monique Faison, the daughter of San Diego Charger&’s football great Earl Faison, married her high school sweetheart soon after she discovered she was pregnant with his child. Her relationship with Chris had always been shaky, but his verbal abuse only increased—and then gave way to physical attacks. Eventually, Monique took their children and left. That was when the stalking and serious threats began. Nothing stopped him—not protection injunctions, police warnings, or even arrests. One fateful Monday morning, Chris kidnapped Monique in front of her children. After a nightmarish car ride that involved car crashes and rape, Chris beat her on the head with a shovel and abandoned her brutalized body in the woods, presuming she was dead. But playing dead was what saved her life.
A History Lover's Guide to Detroit (History And Guide Ser.)
by Karin RiskoA traveler&’s guide through the history and historic sites of the Motor City. The auto heritage of Detroit, Michigan, is known worldwide, but this fascinating city&’s history runs much deeper. Step inside the tiny recording studio where Berry Gordy, a young entrepreneur who faced tremendous prejudice, created a music empire that broke down racial barriers. Tour Art Deco masterpieces so spectacular they're called &“cathedrals&” to commerce and finance. Walk in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Cobo Hall, where he first delivered his &“I Have a Dream&” speech. Join Karin Risko for an intimate tour of the city that put the world on wheels and discover an amazing history of innovation, philanthropy, social justice and culture.
Journey into the Whirlwind: The Critically Acclaimed Memoir of Stalin's Reign of Terror
by Eugenia Semyonovna GinzburgA woman&’s true account of eighteen years as a Soviet prisoner: &“Not even Alexander Solzhenitsyn&’s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich matches it.&”—The New York Times Book Review In the late 1930s, Eugenia Ginzburg was a wife and mother, a schoolteacher and writer, and a longtime loyal Communist Party member. But like millions of others during Stalin&’s reign of terror, she was arrested—on trumped-up charges of being a Trotskyist terrorist counter-revolutionary—and sentenced to prison. With sharp detail and an indefatigable spirit, Ginzburg recounts her arrest and the eighteen harrowing years she endured in Soviet prisons and labor camps, including two in solitary confinement. Her memoir is &“a compelling personal narrative of survival&” (The New York Times Book Review)—and one of the most important documents of Stalin&’s brutal regime. &“Deeply significant…intensely personal and passionately felt.&”—Time &“Probably the best account that has ever been published of…the prison and camp empire of the Stalin era.&”—Book WorldTranslated by Paul Stevenson and Max Hayward
Tantamount: The Pursuit of the Freeway Phantom Serial Killer
by Blaine L. Pardoe Victoria R. HesterA cold case investigation of a notorious serial killer who terrorized 1970s Washington D.C. by the New York Times bestselling true crime coauthors. In 1971 and 1972, a deadly predator stalked the streets of the nation&’s capital. His targets were young girls whose fates included rape and torture before their brutalized corpses were left in plain view along busy roadways. Seven victims raging from the ages of ten to eighteen died in his hands. On one victim he left a note, taunting police and claiming the media&’s name for him: The Freeway Phantom. Then, as abruptly as he started, the Freeway Phantom stopped. Decades later, Washington DC&’s oldest unsolved serial killing spree is pried open with the suspects, the liars, and the evidence laid bare. Father-daughter true crime investigators Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester shed new light and provide tantalizing new clues as to who the Freeway Phantom may be.
Bourbon's Backroads: A Journey through Kentucky's Distilling Landscape
by Karl RaitzThis history of bourbon explores how the shift from home distillers to commercial producers changed the culture and landscape of nineteenth-century Kentucky. As one of the commonwealth's signature industries, bourbon distilling has influenced the landscape and heritage of the region for more than two centuries. Blending several topics—tax revenue, railroads, the mechanics of brewing, geography, landscapes, and architecture—this primer and geographical guide presents a detailed history of Kentucky's distilling industry. Nineteenth-century distilling changed from an artisanal craft practiced by farmers and millers to a large-scale mechanized industry that practiced increasingly refined production techniques. Based on extensive archival research that includes private paper collections, newspapers, and period documents, this work places the distilling process in its environmental, geographical, and historical context.Bourbon's Backroads reveals the places where bourbon's heritage was made—from old and new distilleries, storage warehouses, railroad yards, and factories where copper fermenting vessels are made—and why the industry continues to thrive.
Spaceflight in the Shuttle Era and Beyond: Redefining Humanity's Purpose in Space
by Valerie NealAn exploration of the changing conceptions of the Space Shuttle program and a call for a new vision of spaceflight. The thirty years of Space Shuttle flights saw contrary changes in American visions of space. Valerie Neal, who has spent much of her career examining the Space Shuttle program, uses this iconic vehicle to question over four decades&’ worth of thinking about, and struggling with, the meaning of human spaceflight. She examines the ideas, images, and icons that emerged as NASA, Congress, journalists, and others sought to communicate rationales for, or critiques of, the Space Shuttle missions. At times concurrently, the Space Shuttle was billed as delivery truck and orbiting science lab, near-Earth station and space explorer, costly disaster and pinnacle of engineering success. The book&’s multidisciplinary approach reveals these competing depictions to examine the meaning of the spaceflight enterprise. Given the end of the Space Shuttle flights in 2011, Neal makes an appeal to reframe spaceflight once again to propel humanity forward. &“Neal may be the one person who knows the space shuttle program better than the astronauts who flew this iconic vehicle. Her book casts new light on the program, exploring its cultural significance through a thoughtful analysis. As one who lived this history, I gained much from her broader perspective and deep insights.&”—Kathryn D. Sullivan, retired NASA astronaut and former Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration &“A much needed look at how to create a cultural narrative for human spaceflight that resonates with millennials rather than the Apollo generation. Quite valuable.&”—Marcia Smith, Editor, SpacePolicyOnline.com
Murder & Mayhem in Chicago's Vice Districts (Murder & Mayhem)
by Troy TaylorA trip through the history of the Windy City&’s lawless districts where you could lose your money and your life—from the author of Haunted Illinois. From the very beginning, Chicago thrived on its reputation as a wide-open town. After the Great Fire, no part of the city was rebuilt more quickly than the vice districts, where bribed cops and brutal force emboldened professional wickedness to celebrate itself with gala events like the First Ward Ball, begun in honor of a madam&’s pianist and often so crowded that passed-out drunks couldn&’t even fall to the floor. Randolph Street was nicknamed Gambler&’s Row because men gambled with their lives by visiting it. In Little Hell, guns and knives could be rented by the hour. In these seedy areas only put to sleep by Mickey Finn&’s knockout drinks or Gentle Annie&’s knockout punches, it is no wonder that Detective Woolridge kept seventy-five disguises, made twenty thousand arrests and was shot at forty-four times. Includes photos!
Tell Me What to Eat to Help Prevent Colon Cancer: Nutrition You Can Live With (Tell Me What to Eat)
by Elaine MageeFrom a dietician, clear facts and fiber-focused recipes to reduce your risk. In the office, your physician may rattle off rushed information about preventing colon cancer—but in this book, Elaine Magee, known as WebMD&’s &“Recipe Doctor,&” offers clear, detailed answers to all the questions you ever wanted to ask a dietitian about preventing colon cancer. You&’ll find specific recommendations about what to eat, what to avoid, and how to incorporate these changes into your lifestyle. Tell Me What to Eat to Help Prevent Colon Cancer begins with an overview of colon cancer in all its forms. You&’ll get get a comprehensive yet completely understandable explanation of how the cancer begins and how it spreads, based on the latest medical information—and gain a better understanding of what colon cancer is and what actions you can take now to help prevent it. Also included are dozens of healthful, practical, tasty recipes focusing on fiber, and power produce items that anyone can incorporate in their diet.
Haunted Flint (Haunted America)
by Roxanne Rhoads Joe SchipaniA journey into the spirited past of Michigan&’s &“Vehicle City.&” &“Provides unique historical perspective of some Flint landmarks.&”—ABC12 News Home to ancient burial grounds, unsolved murders, economic depression and a water crisis, Flint emits an unholy energy rife with ghostly encounters. Colonel Thomas Stockton&’s ever-vigilant ghost keeps a watchful eye over his family home at Spring Grove, where guests occasionally hear the thump of his heavy boots. Restless spirits long separated from their graves lurk among the ancient stones at Avondale Cemetery. Carriage maker W.A. Paterson&’s spirit continuously wanders the halls of the Dryden Building, and something sinister and unnamed resides in a Knob Hill mansion waiting to prey on impressionable young men. Join authors Roxanne Rhoads and Joe Schipani on a chilling tour of Flint&’s most haunted locations. Includes photos!
About Peace: 108 Ways to Be at Peace When Things Are Out of Control
by Scott ShawThese Zen meditations for modern times can help you find calm amid chaos. Conflict is a part of life. Zen Buddhism was even founded in conflict. No one can give anyone else peace: It comes to those who seek it—in the moment and for the moment only. But even as the pace accelerates and problems escalate, it&’s possible to gain inner peace. The past is gone and the future is unknown—so there&’s no time like the present to use these 108 meditations. They offer a very contemporary respite from internal and external conflict, well suited to the breakneck pace of life today. Their number and their form, however, is steeped in tradition. One hundred and eight is a sacred number in Buddhism, in which there is also the tradition of meditating with malas, strung beads which come in multiples of nine—27, 56, or 108. Their form follows Buddhist tradition as well: They are modern koans, or riddles to ponder, and dharma stories.
Personalmarketing als Vehikel für erfolgreiches IT-Recruiting: Die Analyse der Perspektive von HR-Managern und Recruitern (BestMasters)
by Theresa FissDer Fachkräftemangel an qualifizierten IT-Experten stellt Unternehmen vor die Herausforderung, offene Positionen im IT-Bereich erfolgreich zu besetzen. Theresa Fiss untersucht in diesem Buch, welche Rolle Personalmarketing in diesem Kontext spielt und welche konkreten Maßnahmen zur erfolgreichen Rekrutierung von IT-Fachkräften beitragen können. Anhand qualitativer Interviews mit HR-Managern und Recruitern, die sich auf IT-Recruiting spezialisiert haben, zeigt sie, dass Personalmarketing eine zentrale Rolle im Rekrutierungsprozess einnimmt. Dabei werden sowohl strategische Aspekte wie die Gestaltung der Arbeitgebermarke als auch operative Maßnahmen wie Social-Media-Marketing, Active Sourcing und die Gestaltung von Karrierewebsites beleuchtet. Diese praxisnahe Analyse bietet wertvolle Einblicke für Unternehmen, die ihre IT-Recruiting-Strategien optimieren möchten. Gleichzeitig legt die Arbeit den Grundstein für zukünftige Forschungen im Bereich des operativen Personalmarketings, das bisher wenig untersucht wurde.
The Scope of Moral Protest: Beyond Blame and Responsibility
by Alexander EdlichThe book highlights a neglected aspect of our moral practices: we can morally protest objectionable conduct without blaming agents for it. In this way, moral responses to wrongful conduct are possible without assessing the blameworthiness of agents. The book offers an account of moral protest as a type of stance-taking: in protest, the protester commits themselves to treating what they protest as morally objectionable, which is related to a specific class of moral emotions. The aptness conditions of moral protest and the concept of objectionability are discussed and this perspective is applied to a critical discussion of the attributionist view of blameworthiness and corresponding views of blame. It concludes that our moral practices allow for more variation than is often acknowledged, some of which unrelated to moral responsibility, and that this gives us reason not to insist on a broad view of blameworthiness. Specifically, it is argued that the significance of morally objectionable conduct and the needs of victims of wrongdoing can be done justice to without blame. The book thus suggests that moral protest without blame may be called for more often than we think, including for many types of wrongdoers whose culpability is disputed.
Reimagining Transformative Educational Spaces: Technological Synergy for Future Education (Lecture Notes in Educational Technology)
by Bosede Iyiade Edwards Bruno Lot Tanko Mustafa Klufallah Hassan Abuhassna Caleb Chidozie ChineduThis book explores the symbiotic relationship between human learning and machine learning, examining how emerging technologies and human–machine interfaces are reshaping the educational landscape. Organized into four sections with 20 chapters, it provides a multidisciplinary perspective on the dynamic intersection of these twin concepts. Bridging theory and practical implementation, the book goes beyond theoretical foundations, offering actionable strategies for educators, policymakers, and institutions to harness the transformative power of technology enhanced learning. This book showcases the impact of these innovations on human learning and machine learning, which is particularly relevant for developing and transition nations. Enriched with case studies, empirical research, and data-driven insights, it serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding and navigating the evolving landscape where human learning and machine learning converge.
Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking: The Knowledge Revival (SpringerBriefs in Education)
by Tim Surma Claudio Vanhees Michiel Wils Jasper Nijlunsing Nuno Crato John Hattie Daniel Muijs Elizabeth Rata Dylan Wiliam Paul A. KirschnerThis open access book discusses why the seemingly straightforward strategy of teaching children how to think deeply does not work and offers an alternative way forward for the curriculum to achieve these objectives. Over the years, the role of knowledge in the curriculum has, like a pendulum, shifted between two extremes, from highly visible to virtually invisible knowledge elements. Insights from cognitive and educational psychology, sociology, and curriculum studies are used to underpin the current knowledge revival that is widely being observed in education. A knowledge-rich curriculum is proposed by the authors as not only the soundest way forward to both effectively acquire knowledge and complex cognitive skills in school, but also as a crucial lever to achieve equitable opportunities for all students. In understanding how a knowledge-rich curriculum can enhance learning, three overarching principles are discussed: (1) content-richness, (2) coherence, and (3) clarity. These principles are illustrated through practical examples from schools and educators who have effectively integrated knowledge-rich curricula.
Analysis and PDE in Latin America: ICMAM 2022 (Trends in Mathematics #10)
by Duván Cardona Brian GrajalesThis book presents the extended abstracts of the 2022 International Conference: Multidisciplinary Aspects in Mathematics and its applications (ICMAM) Latin America conference. The book presents the current state of the art in Analysis and PDEs in Latin America. Topics include: PDE models describing epidemics, population dynamics, climatological risks, oil prospection, impedance tomography in the detection of medical diseases, and abstract theory of PDEs. The extended abstracts presented in this book includes contributions by several renowned mathematicians in analysis and PDEs.
Oral History and the Holocaust in Slovakia: Selective and Contradictory Memories (The Holocaust and its Contexts)
by Monika VrzgulováNearly thirty years ago, Monika Vrzgulová took part in the very first oral history research project aimed at Holocaust survivors in Slovakia. That project transformed her professional as well as her personal life. The Holocaust as a scholarly subject and the oral history method have stayed with her to this day. This book summarizes her findings and the experience she has acquired researching Holocaust memory, combining memory studies, oral history, autoethnography, and reflexive writing methods. It presents data from two international research projects which took part in Slovakia too and are available to experts and the public online. The insights gained from this research are contextualised with the social situation in a country that is trying to come to terms with its past after the fall of Communism.
Coercion and Violence in Mental Health Settings: Causes, Consequences, Management
by Nutmeg Hallett Richard Whittington Dirk Richter Emachi EnejeThis book aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the contexts, causes and treatments that relate to the reduction of coercion and the prevention of violence in mental health settings. The objective of this new edition in Open Access is to integrate theoretical explanations, empirical findings and practical solutions on the topic from many countries and diverse professional contexts. A large proportion of the text is concerned with practical and applied guidance for practitioners and others based on a clear understanding of conceptual and theoretical issues. Significantly enriched by the contributions of lived experience editors and co-authors, this edition brings authentic, new perspectives that deepen its relevance and impact. There is extensive use of case studies drawn from practice and the media to enliven the discussion. The scope of the book is intended to go beyond a reductionist medical/biological orientation on coercion and violence in mental health by integrating this within broader psychological and social frameworks. It includes new relevant contributions from nursing, psychology, psychiatry and sociology. The language of the book is clear and understandable to a broad audience whilst offering new knowledge for researchers and other specialists.
Convex Stochastic Optimization: Dynamic Programming and Duality in Discrete Time (Probability Theory and Stochastic Modelling #107)
by Teemu Pennanen Ari-Pekka PerkkiöThis book studies a general class of convex stochastic optimization (CSO) problems that unifies many common problem formulations from operations research, financial mathematics and stochastic optimal control. We extend the theory of dynamic programming and convex duality to allow for a unified and simplified treatment of various special problem classes found in the literature. The extensions allow also for significant generalizations to existing problem formulations. Both dynamic programming and duality have played crucial roles in the development of various optimality conditions and numerical techniques for the solution of convex stochastic optimization problems.
Hedy Lamarr: The Most Beautiful Woman in Film (Screen Classics)
by Ruth BartonThis true story of a Hollywood sex symbol&’s tumultuous life is &“a real page-turner. Now, here is a book that would make a great movie&” (London Daily Mail). Hedy Lamarr&’s life was punctuated by salacious rumors and public scandal, but it was her stunning looks and classic Hollywood glamour that continuously captivated audiences. Born Hedwig Kiesler, she escaped an unhappy marriage with arms dealer Fritz Mandl in Austria to try her luck in Hollywood, where her striking appearance made her a screen legend. Her notorious nude role in the erotic Czech film Ecstasy, as well as her work with Cecil B. DeMille (Samson and Delilah), Walter Wanger (Algiers), and studio executive Louis B. Mayer catapulted her alluring and provocative reputation as a high-profile sex symbol. In this biography, Ruth Barton explores the many facets of the screen legend—including her life as an inventor. Working with avant-garde composer and film scorer George Antheil, Lamarr helped to develop and patent spread spectrum technology, which is still used in mobile phone communication. However, despite her screen persona and scientific success, Lamarr&’s personal life included a string of failed marriages, a lawsuit against her publisher regarding her sensational autobiography, and shoplifting charges that made her infamous beyond her celebrity. Drawing on extensive research into both the recorded truths of Lamarr&’s life and the rumors that made her notorious, Barton recognizes Lamarr&’s contributions to both film and technology while revealing the controversial and conflicted woman underneath.
A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age: Scientific Habits of Mind
by David J. HelfandLearning how to tell news from fake news from fake fake news: An &“important and timely&” book on protecting ourselves, and society, from the infodemic (Library Journal). We have billions of bytes of data at our fingertips. But how much of it is misinformation—or even disinformation? A lot of it is, and your search engine can&’t tell the difference. As a result, an avalanche of misinformation threatens to overwhelm the discourse we so desperately need to address complex social problems such as climate change, the food and water crises, biodiversity collapse, and emerging threats to public health. This book provides an inoculation against the misinformation epidemic by cultivating scientific habits of mind. Anyone can do it—indeed, everyone must do it if our species is to survive on this crowded and finite planet. This survival guide supplies an essential set of apps for the prefrontal cortex while making science both accessible and entertaining. It will dissolve your fear of numbers, demystify graphs, and elucidate the key concepts of probability, all while celebrating the precise use of language and logic. David Helfand, one of our nation&’s leading astronomers and science educators, has taught scientific habits of mind to generations in the classroom, where he continues to wage a provocative battle against sloppy thinking and the encroachment of misinformation. &“Provides a vital antidote to the ills of misinformation by teaching systematic and rigorous scientific reasoning.&” —The Times Literary Supplement
Six Against the Rock: The Searing True Account of Six Unstoppable Men and the Most Spectacular Jailbreak in American History
by Clark HowardEdgar Award Finalist: The story of the infamous escape attempt and bloody siege at Alcatraz. In 1946, six men attempted to break out of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison on an island off the coast of San Francisco. Their bloody siege lasted two days, and ended with five dead and fifteen wounded—plus two of the perpetrators executed for their role in the endeavor. In Six Against the Rock—the basis for a TV movie—an award-winning crime writer tells the story of this notorious event and the inmates who were involved, supplemented with vivid dramatic recreations that place the reader in the center of the conflict. &“The personal clash between Coy and Cretzer over leadership of the desperate little band provides much of the suspense; Alcatraz itself, that logistical marvel of a fortress, provides the rest. And for a backdrop there are two platoons of Marines firing bazookas as well as something of the grim history of that most forbidding prison.&” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review