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Machine Learning, Optimization, and Data Science: 9th International Conference, LOD 2023, Grasmere, UK, September 22–26, 2023, Revised Selected Papers, Part II (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #14506)
by Giuseppe Nicosia Varun Ojha Emanuele La Malfa Gabriele La Malfa Panos M. Pardalos Renato UmetonThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Machine Learning, Optimization, and Data Science, LOD 2023, which took place in Grasmere, UK, in September 2023. The 72 full papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 119 submissions. The proceedings also contain 9 papers from and the Third Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, ACAIN 2023. The contributions focus on the state of the art and the latest advances in the integration of machine learning, deep learning, nonlinear optimization and data science to provide and support the scientific and technological foundations for interpretable, explainable and trustworthy AI.
Valuing Customer Engagement: Strategies to Measure and Maximize Profitability (Palgrave Executive Essentials)
by V. KumarIn recent years, the concept of customer engagement has evolved as a powerful tool in the managerial toolkit of firms to incorporate a profitable approach to customer management. There is a pressing need for an authoritative book that communicates the fundamentals of profitable customer engagement by proposing a customer engagement value framework. This book, Valuing Customer Engagement, is first of its kind on customer engagement that outlines the theory and methods of engaging customers profitably in business-to-consumer and business-to-business settings.Written by world-renowned scholar and thought leader V. Kumar, this seminal work book explains the definitions of the metrics within the CEV framework and analyzes ways to measure and maximize these metrics that can help in engaging customers profitably. Dr. Kumar also reveals the interrelationships between these metrics, i.e. how each metric impacts the other, with examples from all over the world.This updated edition introduces of Customer Valuation Theory as a way of quantifying direct and indirect engagement value while presenting newer applications and case studies. With practical examples of companies that have benefited by implementing these strategies, this guide is a must have for business executives who want to maximize companies profitability as well as students wanting to learn how to engage customers and build loyalty.
Climate Change, Urbanization, and Water Resources: Towards Resilient Urban Water Resource Management
by Heejun Chang Alexander Reid RossThis book discusses resilient urban water resources management in the context of climate change and ongoing urbanization. Twelve cities worldwide representing different climates and growth stages serve as case studies. Using these case cities, this book first identifies the main water issues, including water demand, floods, and droughts, in relation to the historical development of each city, investigates current strategies for dealing with climate-related water hazards, and explores potential adaptive strategies. The authors draw some common lessons by comparing and contrasting these case studies while acknowledging place-based unique adaptation strategies.
Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies for Rail Transportation: Energy Traction Technology of Rail Transportation (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #1135)
by Limin Jia Yong Qin Jianwei Yang Zhigang Liu Lijun Diao Min AnThis book reflects the latest research trends, methods, and experimental results in the field of electrical and information technologies for rail transportation, which covers abundant state-of-the-art research theories and ideas. As a vital field of research that is highly relevant to current developments in a number of technological domains, the subjects it covered include intelligent computing, information processing, communication technology, automatic control, etc. The objective of the proceedings is to provide a major interdisciplinary forum for researchers, engineers, academicians, and industrial professionals to present the most innovative research and development in the field of rail transportation electrical and information technologies. Engineers and researchers in academia, industry, and government will also explore an insightful view of the solutions that combine ideas from multiple disciplines in this field. The volumes serve as an excellent reference work for researchers and graduate students working on rail transportation and electrical and information technologies.
Cicatrix Poetics, Trauma and Healing in the Literary Borderlands: Beyond Survival (Literatures of the Americas)
by Adrianna M. SantosThis book explores how Chicana literature often represents gender violence while simultaneously presenting strategies of survival in response. Adrianna M. Santos aims to contribute to a broader conversation concerning the intersections between Chicana literature and decolonial trauma theory, one which questions the colonial matrix of power and the universality of Western knowledge. Santos argues that Chicana survival narratives arise out of colonial wounds and form scars that both mark and protect the violated body. Cicatrix Poetics, Trauma and Healing in the Literary Borderlands proposes a “cicatrix poetics” that makes bold gestures toward healing and narrative/storytelling as survival. The book contends that the cicatrix fashioned through artistic expression is a necessary component for Chicana communities—not just to survive, but to thrive. The books presents several case studies that examine transformative narrativity and by theorizing the texts as survival narratives, social protest works that bring attention to violence and erasure, the chapters explore how literature can be an effective catalyst for both social change and personal transformation, an orientation towards freedom, liberation through love.
Drinking Water Disinfection By-products: Sources, Fate and Remediation
by Sughosh Madhav Mohd Aamir Mazhar Sirajuddin Ahmed Pramod Kumar Pradeep Kumar MishraThis book is devoted to water treatment and it outlines the historical context and regulatory framework surrounding drinking water chlorination, addressing disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation, associated challenges and implications on water quality and human health. In this book, readers will find an overview of various disinfection processes and the latest strategies in DBPs detection and remediation. Divided into 14 chapters, the book begins by offering a background analysis of water disinfection and comparing different disinfection processes and management strategies to mitigate the formation of DBPs. Particular attention is given to both conventional and non-conventional methods used to treat potable water, comparing their effectiveness and potential risks. In subsequent chapters, expert contributors outline the route of exposure and mechanism of action of DBPs, and the toxicological impact of DBPs on human health, providing essential insights for effective risk management strategies. This book also showcases the latest advancements in chlorine applications for water quality control and explores innovative physicochemical and nanotechnology-based approaches to remove DBPs and minimize their formation. Readers will also find in this book a case study of the GIS-based trends analysis of THMs compounds in Indian drinking water supplies. Given its breadth, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, academics, professionals, and policymakers working in environmental sciences, public health and water management, and interested in safer and sustainable drinking water practices.
Man-Machine Speech Communication: 18th National Conference, NCMMSC 2023, Suzhou, China, December 8–10, 2023, Proceedings (Communications in Computer and Information Science #2006)
by Jia Jia Zhenhua Ling Xie Chen Ya Li Zixing ZhangThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 18th National Conference on Man-Machine Speech Communication, NCMMSC 2023, held in Suzhou, China, during December 8–11, 2023.The 20 full papers and 11 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 117 submissions. They deal with topics such as speech recognition, synthesis, enhancement and coding, audio/music/singing synthesis, avatar, speaker recognition and verification, human–computer dialogue systems, large language models as well as phonetic and linguistic topics such as speech prosody analysis, pathological speech analysis, experimental phonetics, acoustic scene classification.
Relationships and Mental Health: Relational Experience in Distress and Recovery
by Zoë Boden-Stuart Michael LarkinThis interdisciplinary edited volume examines the complexities of relational life in the context of psychological distress and recovery. It is well documented that supportive, close relationships are central to wellbeing. This volume explores how connectedness is shaped by mental health settings, interventions and mental health experiences - and vice versa. In doing so, this work provides important insights for adult mental health care, where systems and settings can often struggle to take account of the relational context of distress and recovery. This is the first book to address the emerging shift towards a relational account of distress and recovery through a focus on people's experiences. Chapters explore community and statutory service settings, privileging the voices of those experiencing distress, their loved ones and the professionals who work with them. It also extends recent interest in the role of loneliness and social isolation in mental health, to consider themes such as belonging, connection, care and intimacy. It will appeal to mental health practitioners as well as academics in the fields of psychology, sociology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, social policy and social work.
Oral Medicine - A Clinical Guide
by Ramesh Balasubramaniam Sue-Ching Yeoh Tami Yap S. R. PrabhuThis handbook is a practical guide covering pertinent topics in the specialty of Oral Medicine, which focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and management of local and systemic conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. Each topic covers a specific disease or disorder with overarching emphasis on diseases presenting with oral mucosal involvement and orofacial pain conditions. Each topic is presented as a summary of key clinical information for quick reference prepared by leading experts in the field. This clinical guide will serve as a valuable resource for students and clinicians in practice.
Cognitive Computing for Machine Thinking (Innovations in Sustainable Technologies and Computing)
by Makarand R. Velankar Parikshit N. Mahalle Gitanjali R. ShindeThis book presents cognitive modeling along with the new paradigm machine thinking to enhance existing AI power and address its current limitations. This book provides overview of natural and artificial intelligence along with the computing models used currently. The need of advancing the current models is presented with suitable examples. The business case studies presented in different domains provide possible use of augmented intelligence with the proposed machine thinking paradigm. This book is targeted at academicians, researchers, students, professionals who belong to disciplines which involves intelligent computing and modelling human thinking. It provides possible multidisciplinary research directions including social psychology, artificial intelligence, HCI, cognition for applications in various domains.
Advances in Information and Communication: Proceedings of the 2024 Future of Information and Communication Conference (FICC), Volume 3 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #921)
by Kohei AraiThe book is a valuable collection of papers presented in the Future of Information and Communications Conference (FICC), conducted by Science and Information Organization on 4–5 April 2024 in Berlin. It received a total of 401 paper submissions out of which 139 are published after careful double-blind peer-review. Renowned and budding scholars, academics, and distinguished members of the industry assembled under one roof to share their breakthrough research providing answers to many complex problems boggling the world. The topics fanned across various fields involving Communication, Data Science, Ambient Intelligence, Networking, Computing, Security, and Privacy.
Design of Francis Turbine and OpenFOAM Methods
by Zhiwei Guo Sailesh Chitrakar Zhongdong Qian Bhola ThapaThis book provides a comprehensive guide for academics and industry professionals on designing and optimizing hydraulic turbines, with a particular focus on Francis turbines. The book covers the main dimensions of Francis turbines, including runners, guide vanes, and distributors. The authors have selected OpenFOAM, a free, open-source CFD software, for readers to perform simulations. While there is some existing literature on the topic, this book distinguishes itself by going into detail on the three phases of CFD methods. The authors also describe, step-by-step, how to create a new solver for hydraulic machines to account for sediment erosion. The content is presented in an easy-to-understand manner to help readers quickly grasp the material. The book is accessible to specialists in relevant fields, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and other professionals interested in designing a suitable Francis turbine or simulating multiphase flow fields for rotating machines.
Environmental Technology Innovation and ESG Investment: In the Asia-Pacific Region
by Sumiko TakaokaThis book focuses on environmental technology and financial markets of the Asia-Pacific region, which includes traditional and emerging innovative countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea. The research and its outcomes presented here are devoted to the nexus between innovation in environment-related technologies, finance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. A promising means of achieving a sustainable society is to accelerate innovation in environmental technologies. Chapters of this book tackle some important issues. Using the data on environmental innovation creation and financial markets, the contributors identify three scopes in which ESG performance forms how investors evaluate corporate performance against climate-related risk in the Asia-Pacific capital markets (e.g., corporate bond and credit default swaps); how lenders allocate their credits according to carbon emissions in Japan; and what determines environmental technology creation and how it affects environmental improvement at a country-level. This book thus provides insights into the nexus between innovation in environment-related technologies, finance, and ESG.
Alltägliche Bewältigungs- und Widerstandspraktiken Schwarzer Menschen in Deutschland, Frankreich und Kanada: Eine anerkennungstheoretische Studie (Frankfurter Beiträge zur Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie)
by Annette HilscherIn diesem Buch wird die Fragestellung untersucht, inwiefern Schwarze Menschen soziale Missachtung erfahren und welche Bewältigungs- und Widerstandspraktiken sie dabei entwickeln. Die Studie wurde in Deutschland, Frankreich und Kanada durchgeführt, drei Rechtsstaaten im Globalen Norden. Die der Untersuchung zugrundeliegende Vorannahme bestand darin, dass sich Missachtungserfahrungen Schwarzer Menschen von Land zu Land unterscheiden sowie in Abhängigkeit von den jeweiligen politischen Normen zu verstehen sind, welche ihren Ausdruck unter anderem in der aktuellen Gesetzgebung zu Antidiskriminierung und Gleichbehandlung finden. Die Studie arbeitet mit der Theorie der Anerkennung nach Axel Honneth. Diskriminierungserfahrungen werden im Anschluss an diese Theorie als Erfahrungen sozialer Missachtung verstanden. Diesem Verständnis nach ist die Missachtung nicht möglich, ohne zuvor gesehen zu werden – jedoch nicht adäquat gemäß den durch gelungene Sozialisation erworbenen normierten Regelnsozialer Interaktion, sondern als „Wahrnehmungsdeformation“. Missachtung wird folglich als negative Form der Anerkennung verstanden. Den Kern der Arbeit bildet eine eigene empirische Studie, die auf einer Reihe ausführlicher Gruppendiskussionen und biographisch-narrativer Interviews mit Schwarzen Menschen basiert.
Advances in Information and Communication: Proceedings of the 2024 Future of Information and Communication Conference (FICC), Volume 2 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #920)
by Kohei AraiThe book is a valuable collection of papers presented in the Future of Information and Communications Conference (FICC), conducted by Science and Information Organization on 4–5 April 2024 in Berlin. It received a total of 401 paper submissions out of which 139 are published after careful double-blind peer-review. Renowned and budding scholars, academics, and distinguished members of the industry assembled under one roof to share their breakthrough research providing answers to many complex problems boggling the world. The topics fanned across various fields involving Communication, Data Science, Ambient Intelligence, Networking, Computing, Security, and Privacy.
Micromechanics of Ceramic-Matrix Composites at Elevated Temperatures (Advanced Ceramics and Composites #6)
by Longbiao LiCeramic-matrix composites (CMCs) possess high specific strength and modulus at elevated temperature, and have already been applied in hot-section components in aero-engines. To ensure the operation reliability and safety of CMCs components, it is necessary to understand the micro damage mechanisms and internal damage state in the composites. This book focuses on the micromechanics of CMCs at elevated temperatures, including, the stress-strain behavior, proportional limit stress, residual strength, mechanical hysteresis, interface damage, strain response, and lifetime of CMCs at elevated temperatures. This book can help the material scientists and engineering designers to better understand and master the micromechanics of CMCs at elevated temperatures.
Technology and Business Model Innovation: Proceedings of the International Conference on Business and Technology (ICBT2023) Volume 2 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #924)
by Bahaaeddin Alareeni Allam HamdanThis book proceedings addresses a crucial gap in understanding the impact of technology on Business Model Innovation (BMI). It emphasizes the need for further research to explore the intricate relationship between technology and BMI, focusing on opportunities and challenges. By delving into how technology influences emerging business model innovations and enhances operational efficiency, the publication aims to advance knowledge. Inviting diverse research methods, it sheds light on various ideas within the technology and BMI realm. Tailored for students, scholars, professionals, and policymakers, this book contributes to the evolving field of BMI and technology.
The Italian Democratic Party and New Labour: The Crisis of the European Left
by Luciano M. Fasano Paolo Natale James L. NewellIn this intriguing book, professors Fasano, Natale and Newell offer a comprehensive and compelling discussion of the European left's evolution. As the left grapples with its historical legacy and attempts to connect with voters in a changing political landscape, the authors examine the journey of the Italian Democratic Party (PD) from its inception to the present day, shedding light on its evolution and struggles. Drawing a fascinating parallel with the UK's New Labour, the book explores the challenges faced by these parties as they navigate their post-communist heritage. A timely exploration of social-democratic politics in an era of populism, this book is a must-read for political enthusiasts, scholars, and anyone interested in the changing landscape of the left in all the European countries.
Mobile Networks and Management: 13th EAI International Conference, MONAMI 2023, Yingtan, China, October 27-29, 2023, Proceedings (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering #559)
by Celimuge Wu Xianfu Chen Jie Feng Zhen WuThis book constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Mobile Networks and Management, MONAMI 2023, held in Yingtan, China, in October 2023. The 21 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 41 submissions. The papers are divided into groups of content as follows: Wireless Communication and Networks; Network Security and Blockchain; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Distributed Computing; Emerging Applications.
Role of Governance in Microfinance Sustainability: Evidence from Bangladesh
by Md Nazim UddinThis book identifies the effect of governance structure components on outreach and sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh. It is designed to study and understand these structures with reference to the changing forms and functions of MFI administration, in theory and practice, with experiences from selected countries. It helps readers understand corporate governance across the globe with recent developments in this sector. It provides evidence from Bangladesh on what aspects need to be strengthened and identifies the importance of considering differences in institutional values, culture, and environment while pointing to the risk of applying normative assertions of governance structure. The book suggests that a regulatory and supervisory framework should be introduced in Bangladesh to enhance the governance structure of MFIs. It advocates that the sector requires a robust regulatory environment to improve its governance and administrative frameworks and expand the microfinance sector's outreach and sustainability opportunities. It will benefit researchers and students of economics, corporate governance, accountability, transparency, finance, business administration, microfinance institutions, and applied fields, as well as microfinance practitioners, administrators, and policymakers.
Urban Mobilities in Literature and Art Activism (Literary Urban Studies)
by Patricia García Anna-Leena ToivanenUrban Mobilities in Literature and Art Activism explores the entwinement of mobility and immobility in urban spaces by focusing on their representation in literary narratives but also in visual and performing arts. Across a range of geographical contexts, this volume builds on the new mobilities paradigm developed by literary scholars, sociologists and human geographers. The different chapters employ a cohesive framework that is sensitive to the intersecting dimensions of power and discrimination that shape urban kinetic features. The contributions are divided into three sections, each of which places the focus on a different aspect of urban mobility: Itinerant Subjects, Modes of Transport and Places of Transit, and Urban Liminalities.Chapter 7, "Alienation, Abjection and the Mobile Postcolonial City: Public Transport in Ousmane Sembène’s “Niiwam” and Yvonne Vera’s Without a Name" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Method to Madness
by Thomas Grant BrusoFive years ago, Jack Ballinger was a police officer.He has since moved from the small upstate New York town of Black Falls for greener pastures and a peaceful life alone in the Green Mountain State. Time has changed Jack -- he is no longer the man he used to be. A significant challenge for him has been the heartbreaking loss of his boyfriend, companion, and one true love, Steve. Now alone, Jack has yet to deal rationally with the immediate changes of his new life. After losing his partner, Jack drank heavily to numb the pain and forget his life-changing loss. Now he must find a way to move forward without Steve and the life he built for himself. Joining an Alcoholics Anonymous group helps quiet the voices that still keep him awake at night. But something much darker has followed him to his life in the quiet corners of Vermont.When Jack thinks he has buried the scars of his past, a new nightmare emerges. How far will Jack go to end the imminent evil in his life and kill it for good?Trigger warning: this story addresses suicide and suicidal ideation.
Comparing Religions: The Study of Us That Changes Us
by Jeffrey J. Kripal Ata Anzali Andrea R. Jain Erin Prophet Stefan SanchezTeaches students the art and practice of comparison in the globalizing world, fully updated to reflect recent scholarship and major developments in the field Comparing Religions: The Study of Us that Changes Us is a wholly original, absorbing, and provocative reimagining of the comparative study of religion in the 21st century. The first textbook of its kind to foreground the extraordinary or “paranormal” aspects of religious experience, this innovative volume reviews the fundamental tenets of the world’s religions, discusses the benefits and problems of comparative inquiry, explores how the practice can impact a person's worldview and values, and much more. Asserting that religions have always engaged in comparing one another, the authors provide insights into the history, trends, debates, and questions of explicit comparativism in the modern world. Easily accessible chapters examine the challenges of studying religion using a comparative approach rather than focusing on religious identity, inspiring students to think seriously about religious pluralism as they engage in comparative practice. Throughout the text, a wealth of diverse case studies and vivid illustrations are complemented by chapter outlines, summaries, toolkits, discussion questions, and other learning features. Substantially updated with new and revised material, the second edition of Comparing Religions: Draws from both comparative work and critical theory to present a well-balanced introduction to contemporary practice Explains classic comparative themes, provides a historical outline of comparative practices, and offers key strategies for understanding, analyzing, and re-reading religion Draws on a wide range of religious traditions to illustrate the complexity and efficacy of comparative practice Embraces the transcendent nature of the religious experience in all its forms, including in popular culture, film, and television Contains a classroom-proven, three-part structure with easy-to-digest, thematically organized chapters Features a companion website with information on individual religious traditions, additional images, a glossary, discussion questions, and links to supplementary materialComparing Religions: The Study of Us that Changes Us, Second Edition, is the perfect textbook for undergraduate students and faculty in comparative religion, the study of religion, and world religions, as well as a valuable resource for general readers interested in understanding this rewarding area.
Plastic Waste Management: Methods and Applications
by Kalim Deshmukh Jyotishkumar ParameswaranpillaiPlastic Waste Management Comprehensive resource on innovative and breakthrough developments in plastic waste management, covering a wide range of processing techniques and applications Plastic Waste Management offers a complete guide to the best plastic waste management practices through recycling, incineration, landfill, and other processes, discusses applications of plastic waste management including energy generation, biochemical production, construction, and food packaging, covering current challenges relating to plastic waste, explaining the sources of waste and their routes into the environment, and providing systematic coverage of plastic waste treatment methods, including mechanical processing, monomerization, blast furnace feedstock, gasification, and thermal recycling. The book also discusses different biodegradation mechanisms of plastic wastes and ecotoxicity and ecological Implications of marine plastic debris. From a cultural perspective, the book provides information regarding environmental and health implications, societal issues, and current challenges associated with plastic waste management. Written by leading experts in the field and edited by two highly qualified academics, Plastic Waste Management covers specific sample topics such as: A a roadmap towards a circular economy and environmental sustainability via effective management strategies for plastic wastesImplementation of an analytical hierarchy process for developing better waste collection systems, and chemical recycling of plastic waste for sustainable developmentMechanisms, perspectives, and challenges for natural biodegradation of plastic wastes, and conversion of plastic wastes into value added materialsPlastic wastes management and disposal in developing countries, and challenges and strategies for plastic waste management during and post COVID-19 pandemic Plastic Waste Management is a highly valuable resource for scientists and researchers working in the fields of environmental science, environmental engineering, and plastic engineering towards the goal of developing sustainable materials, along with graduate and postgraduate students in related programs of study, and professionals and engineers in related industries.
Mechanically Interlocked Materials: Polymers, Nanomaterials, MOFs, and more
by Emilio M. PérezMechanically Interlocked Materials Comprehensive one-stop resource on the emerging world of mechanically interlocked materials (MIMats) Mechanically Interlocked Materials provides a thorough overview of the new emerging field in supramolecular chemistry. Edited by one of the leading researchers in the field, Mechanically Interlocked Materials includes information on: Types of MIMats, such as metal organic frameworks, polymers, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, and othersMain advantages/disadvantages of the mechanical bond of MIMats with respect to covalent or supramolecular alternativesMechanically interlocked (MI) electronics, molecular materials, nano and micro particles, nucleic acids, and proteinsForce in MIMs, MIMs on surfaces, polycatenanes, sliding ring gels, and potential applications of MIMats as molecular switches and binary materials With comprehensive coverage of an important emerging field, Mechanically Interlocked Materials is an essential resource for students and professionals in a variety of scientific fields, including organic, inorganic, supramolecular, and physical chemistry, physics, materials science, and nanotechnology.