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Metaheuristics for Finding Multiple Solutions (Natural Computing Series)
by Xiaodong Li Mike Preuss Michael G. Epitropakis Jonathan E. FieldsendThis book presents the latest trends and developments in multimodal optimization and niching techniques. Most existing optimization methods are designed for locating a single global solution. However, in real-world settings, many problems are “multimodal” by nature, i.e., multiple satisfactory solutions exist. It may be desirable to locate several such solutions before deciding which one to use. Multimodal optimization has been the subject of intense study in the field of population-based meta-heuristic algorithms, e.g., evolutionary algorithms (EAs), for the past few decades. These multimodal optimization techniques are commonly referred to as “niching” methods, because of the nature-inspired “niching” effect that is induced to the solution population targeting at multiple optima. Many niching methods have been developed in the EA community. Some classic examples include crowding, fitness sharing, clearing, derating, restricted tournament selection, speciation, etc. Nevertheless, applying these niching methods to real-world multimodal problems often encounters significant challenges.To facilitate the advance of niching methods in facing these challenges, this edited book highlights the latest developments in niching methods. The included chapters touch on algorithmic improvements and developments, representation, and visualization issues, as well as new research directions, such as preference incorporation in decision making and new application areas. This edited book is a first of this kind specifically on the topic of niching techniques.This book will serve as a valuable reference book both for researchers and practitioners. Although chapters are written in a mutually independent way, Chapter 1 will help novice readers get an overview of the field. It describes the development of the field and its current state and provides a comparative analysis of the IEEE CEC and ACM GECCO niching competitions of recent years, followed by a collection of open research questions and possible research directions that may be tackled in the future.
Metal Men: Marc Rich and the $10 Billion Scam
by A. Craig CopetasThis true story of the multibillionaire who fled to Switzerland &“reads like a mystery novel&” (USA Today). How did Marc Rich make over ten billion dollars while paying hardly any taxes? Journalist A. Craig Copetas infiltrated the inner circle of the commodities market and Rich&’s associates to show not only how the metals and minerals trader pulled off the scam, becoming one of America&’s most wanted criminals, but also how other traders have used the same model to evade taxes as well. A continuing figure of controversy even after his death, Rich, a hedge fund manager and the founder of Glencore, was wanted for evading almost ninety million dollars in taxes and if caught, could have spent life in prison. From a former staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal, Metal Men is a story of international intrigue spanning the globe, from the inside of the White House to the Kremlin, a brilliantly researched work that exposes the inner workings of one of country&’s largest scams. &“Mr. Copetas is at his best evoking the high-stakes, fast-paced life of the commodities traders: the greed and corruption that consume them are the stuff of high drama.&” —The New York Times Book Review
Metal that Will not Bend: The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, 1980-1995
by Kally ForrestIn the 1980s there was a surge of trade union power in South Africa. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) was prominent and innovative in this assertion of muscle.Metal that does not Bend traces Numsa’s accumulation, from a few small unions in a handful of factories to the staging of national strikes involving thousands of workers in auto and engineering. It examines how the union used its influence in macroeconomic and political arenas. Numsa was Cosatu’s most radical socialist affiliate, and the book explores its attempts to implement its vision. Historians have framed apartheid’s downfall as resulting from the activities of the exiled liberation movement, global anti-apartheid boycott strategies and internal township insurrection. This book reasserts the critical role of the internal labour movement.
Metalcraft Supplier Scorecard
by V. G. Narayanan Susan Kulp Ronald L. VerkleerenAn automotive components company uses a supplier scorecard to make sourcing decisions and review its supplier performance.
Metallogenic Theory and Exploration Technology of Multi-Arc-Basin-Terrane Collision Orogeny in “Sanjiang” Region, Southwest China (The China Geological Survey Series)
by Wenchang Li Guitang Pan Zengqian Hou Xuanxue Mo Liquan Wang Xiangfei ZhangThis open access book presents a new structural model of “multi-arc-basin-terrane system” based on the in-depth research of the Nujiang-Lancangjiang-Jinshajiang region, especially several Paleo-Tethys ophiolitic mélange belts and sets of arc-basin systems, and a new orogenic model of “The Hengduan shan Mountains” based on penetrated research on spatial-temporal framework and orogenic models of different orogenic belts under large-scale strike-slip-shear-nappe structures evolution. The authors paid special attention on the coupling relation between orogeny and metallogenesis. The metallogenesis and dynamic process are probed under the crust–mantle interaction and material-energy exchange-transmission background and the tectonic units evolution. The ore genesis and distribution of deposits have been thoroughly analyzed, and the metallogenic theories of "multi-arc-basin-terrane" and "intracontinental tectonic transformation" in the Nujiang-Lancangjiang-Jinshajiang region have been carried out. This book also illustrates how to explore metallic deposits in the Nujiang-Lancangjiang-Jinshajiang region by using the metallogenic regulations. Meanwhile, this book has high reference value for researchers working in the fields of basic geology, environmental geology, and energy geology.
Metals, Culture and Capitalism
by Jack GoodyMetals, Culture and Capitalism is an ambitious, broad-ranging account of the search for metals in Europe and the Near East from the Bronze Age to the Industrial Revolution and the relationship between this and economic activity, socio-political structures and the development of capitalism. Continuing his criticism of Eurocentric traditions, a theme explored in The Theft of History (2007) and Renaissances (2009), Jack Goody takes the Bronze Age as a starting point for a balanced account of the East and the West, seeking commonalities that recent histories overlook. Considering the role of metals in relation to early cultures, the European Renaissance and 'modernity' in general, Goody explores how the search for metals entailed other forms of knowledge, as well as the arts, leading to changes that have defined Europe and the contemporary world. This landmark text, spanning centuries, cultures and continents, promises to inspire scholars and students across the social sciences.
Metapath Software: September 1997
by Bill Wasik G. Felda HardymonIn September 1997, John Hansen called together his board to debate an interesting choice that his company had to make. Hansen--the CEO of Metapath Software, a provider of software and services to wireless carriers--had two offers to describe. The first was an offer to be acquired by CellTech Communications, a wireless products company which had only recently gone public. Under the terms of the deal, Metapath's shareholders would at closing receive common stock in CellTech valued at $115 million. CellTech at that time had a market capitalization of approximately $260 million. The second offer was from a consortium of investors led by Robertson & Stephens Omega Fund and Technology Crossover Ventures to buy $11.75 million of stock at a $76 million pre-money valuation. The terms of the preferred stock the funds were proposing to buy were much stricter than the terms of the stock owned by existing shareholders.
Metaphor and Dialectic in Managing Diversity
by Christina SchwabenlandMetaphor and dialectic are modes of thinking that influence the ways in which we identify what we have in common with others, how we differ and how we manage this diversity to achieve organizational goals. This book explores how we can become more aware of these unconscious processes and challenge stereotypes.
Metaphors We Lead By: Understanding Leadership in the Real World
by Mats AlvessonWe live in a leadership-obsessed society. The result is that we assume nearly any social or economic ill can be mended through better leadership. Sometimes, this commitment to leadership is followed by hero worshipping, wishful thinking and misplaced hope. Seeking to understand the faith we place in leadership, the authors draw on a number of in-depth studies of managers trying to "do" leadership. It presents six metaphors for the leader: as gardener, cosy-crafter, saint, cyborg, commander and bully. Some of these offer unexpected insights into how leadership does and does not work. The book sheds light on a varied - often contradictory and sometimes darker - side of leadership. Cutting through the management-speak drenched current literature on leadership, Metaphors We Lead By presents an enlightening and refreshing understanding of an important topic. It will be useful reading for students and researchers, as well as the thinking manager.
Metaphors for Change: Partnerships, Tools and Civic Action for Sustainability
by David Gee Penny Allen Christophe BonazziHow can we get from where we are to where we want to be? Metaphors for Change attempts to answer this question and provide a roadmap for sustainability by bringing together the thoughts of a unique collection of leading change agents from business, government and academia. Environmental questions have previously been dealt with metaphorically, by catastrophism or manicheism (zero growth; Malthusianism, Deep Ecology; "man is the enemy"; less is more). These metaphors have had limited impact because they have failed to connect with the mainstream of cultural, political, and business ideas. This book examines a number of new metaphors – and related partnerships, tools and action – which appear to have greater possibilities for the world in which we now live. The editors argue that Metaphors for Change can deliver to the public and to decision-makers new perceptions ("structured knowledge") that can help interpret the past and the present, and help us forge the future. The wider the gap between the "now" and the "necessary", the stronger the bridging perceptions have to be in order to break through barriers of fear and conservatism. Some of the concepts considered are: sustainable development; the polluter pays principle; the precautionary principle; eco-efficiency; eco-effectiveness; life-cycle assessment; design for the environment; eco-services; dematerialization; industrial symbiosis; industrial ecology; and zero emissions. There are of course other useful metaphors on the horizon, some of them included in this book. Including key contributions from the ground-breaking conferences ECO 97 and ECO 99, along with other specially commissioned and reprinted pieces, Metaphors for Change provides a treasure chest of new ideas, innovations and action. Accessible and forward-thinking, it will prove indispensable both as a student learning tool and as a panoramic overview of the sustainability metaphors key thinkers believe we should be putting into practice.
Metaphors in the History of Economic Thought: Crises, Business Cycles and Equilibrium (Routledge Studies in the History of Economics)
by Daniele Besomi Roberto BaranziniMetaphors in the History of Economic Thought: Crises, Business Cycles and Equilibrium explores the evolution of economic theorizing through the lens of metaphors. The edited volume sheds light on metaphors which have been used by a range of key thinkers and schools of thought to describe economic crises, business cycles and economic equilibrium. Structured in three parts, the book examines an array of metaphors ranging from mechanics, waves, storms, medicine and beyond. The international panel of contributors focuses primarily on economic literature up to the Second World War, knowing again that the use of metaphors in economic work has seen a resurgence since the 1980s. This work will be of interest to advanced students and researchers in the history of economic thought, and economics and language.
Metaphysics of Trust: On Freedom and Calculation in Social Cooperation (Issues in Business Ethics #61)
by Michaël SuurendonkThis book provides the foundations of trust amidst radical uncertainty. Specifically, it addresses the question of under what condition it is possible to trust relative strangers. As the first logical investigation of its kind, the book breaks with many preconceived ideas we have about trust and the scientific method that leads to its clarification. It builds on the insight that, contrary to widespread belief, it is not risk but freedom that is most fundamental for explaining trust. In fact, trust is the giving of freedom, out of freedom, and one’s consciousness of the potential risks involved merely disturbs one’s ability to trust. The book makes the twofold normative claim that any legitimate scientific preoccupation with trust must necessarily include the concept of freedom in its account, and that theories of trust that run against the logical prerequisites of freedom are a-priori falsified. It presents a theoretical proposal that makes sure that trust, instead of being constructed as a passive and functional “illusion” of natural love, is understood as the necessary product of an active reason that is oriented towards developing human autonomy.
Metas "smart" En Palabras Simples
by Sandra Cifuentes Dowling S. J. ScottDescripción del libroDESCUBRA: Aprenda a establecer metas personales y profesionales que efectivamente pueda alcanzar.¿A menudo se propone metas que pareciera no poder lograr jamás? Todos tenemos sueños y aspiraciones. La mayoría de nosotros anhela establecer relaciones satisfactorias. Algunos desean alcanzar su libertad personal. Otros aspiran a lograr fama y éxito. Y otros luchan por hacer buenos negocios. Cualquiera sea la naturaleza de sus ambiciones, establecer metas puede ayudarlo a alcanzarlas.Sin embargo, si se plantea metas equivocadas es posible que se sienta frustrado y desmotivado. Cuando apuntamos a objetivos demasiado elevados, es muy fácil darnos por vencidos al notar que nuestro sueño no se hace nunca realidad. Todos debemos enfrentar distintos desafíos en la vida que nos gustaría superar; el secreto para conseguirlo está en elaborar un plan y cumplirlo con fidelidad. Establecer metas SMART puede ayudarlo en dicha tarea. ACTÚE: Establezca metas SMART y consiga resultados reales.Su formulación es muy simple. Basta con que ponga por escrito un resultado que busca alcanzar y el plazo en el que pretende alcanzarlo. La parte difícil de la labor es actuar. Como podrá haberse dado cuenta, Internet está plagada de libros que hablan sobre cómo establecer metas. Pero existe un problema: la mayoría de ellos no alude a las actividades diarias o hábitos que son necesarios para alcanzarlas.En METAS "SMART" EN PALABRAS SIMPLES podrá obtener un plan de diez pasos para el establecimiento y logro de metas. A diferencia de otros, este libro le enseñará a transformar una idea en realidad. Además de ofrecerle un panorama general de las metas SMART, también obtendrá un plan maestro para llevar dichas metas a la rutina de la vida diaria. DESCARGUE: METAS "SMART" EN PALABRAS SIMPLES - 10 PASOS PARA DOMINAR SUS METAS PERSONALES Y PROFESIONALES
Metaskills: Menschliche Kompetenzen für das Zeitalter der künstlichen Intelligenz (essentials)
by Nikola Plohr Yorck P. von BorckeDas beginnende Zeitalter der künstlichen Intelligenz braucht menschliche Kompetenzen, wenn es erfolgreich gelingen soll. Anhand von aktuellen KI-basierten Beispielen beleuchtet das esssential den Zusammenhang von technologischer Entwicklung und menschlichen Kompetenzen, die sich nicht an die KI delegieren lassen: den Metaskills.Die Autoren beschreiben ausgewählte Metaskills, die einen reflektierten Umgang mit KI auf individueller, unternehmerischer und globaler Ebene ermöglichen und benennen jeweils konkrete Anwendungsfälle. Zudem erläutern sie zentrale Prinzipien, die nötig sind, um KI-Technologien menschengerecht zu entwickeln.
Metathinking: The Art and Practice of Transformational Thinking (Management for Professionals)
by Bruno Frischherz Nick ShannonThis book compels professionals to actively imbibe self-awareness in their thought process in order to help them manage complexities in business. The authors explore dialectical thinking –in contrast to logical thinking—and introduce a new mind-opening thinking process called “Metathinking”. Four case studies demonstrate the application of Metathinking. The reader shall come across, and learn from, a multitude of mind opening questions on a variety of topics, with particular focus on leadership and transformation. Practical exercises are also offered for training and discussion in the workplace.
Metaverse For Dummies
by Ian KhanYour first step to understanding what the metaverse is all about You've probably heard that the metaverse—a word that seemingly went from nonexistent to everywhere — is the next big thing in technology. What is it, anyway? Written by a leading futurist, Metaverse For Dummies unravels the mysteries of the metaverse, for the curious and for anyone looking to get in on the ground floor. Discover how to carve out your niche in the metaverse with easy-to-understand breakdowns of the major technologies and platforms, a guide to doing business in the metaverse, and explorations of what meta means for sports, education, and just about every other area of life. The book even gives you a guide to safety in the metaverse, including how much of your real life you should share in your virtual one. This book answers all the big questions about the metaverse, in simple terms. Explore the metaverse and the major players Get a look at how the metaverse will disrupt industries from gaming to online commerce Discover business opportunities on the metaverse Dive into metaverse gaming and virtual events—safely This book is a must for anyone looking for an approachable primer on what the metaverse is, how it works, and the opportunities within it.
Metaverse and Sustainability: Business Resilience Towards Sustainable Development Goals (World Sustainability Series)
by Walter Leal Filho Sandeep Kautish Vijay Prakash GuptaIn an era defined by rapid technological advancement and growing concerns over environmental sustainability, the intersection of the Metaverse and sustainable development presents both remarkable opportunities and formidable challenges. This book, "Metaverse and Sustainability: Business Resilience towards the Sustainable Development Goals", aims to explore this dynamic relationship and provide readers with insights into how businesses can leverage the Metaverse to not only thrive but also contribute positively towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the concept of the Metaverse evolves, it offers a digital realm where immersive experiences can reshape our interactions, economies, and even our perceptions of sustainability. It opens the door for innovative solutions that can transform traditional business models, making them more efficient, inclusive, and environmentally friendly. By harnessing the potential of virtual environments, organisations can engage stakeholders, reduce their carbon footprint, and promote sustainable practices in unprecedented ways. This book is structured to guide readers through the fundamental concepts of the Metaverse, its implications for various industries, and strategies that businesses can adopt to build resilience in face of sustainability challenges. Each chapter combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, case studies, and insights from industry leaders who are already paving the way towards a more sustainable future. As the world embarks on this journey through the synergy of the Metaverse and sustainability, this book show emerging technologies can serve as catalysts for positive change.
Metaverse and Tourism: Rethinking Implications on Virtual Reality (Routledge Insights in Tourism Series)
by Marco Valeri Ahmad AlbattatThis innovative and timely book presents an in-depth analysis of how the metaverse revolutionizes tourism management, transforms consumer behaviour and motivates tourists to visit destinations.Adorned with illustrative tables, figures and diagrams throughout, the volume is data-led and explores how metaverse experiences affect tourist satisfaction and loyalty toward metaverse tourism. It also takes a future-focused approach and looks at and how the technologies of metaverse tourism will lead to a new level of immersive virtual reality. The book considers the metaverse in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, post-COVID-19 society and offers practical insights on the topic.This book will be of pivotal interest for students, scholars and academics in the fields of tourism planning and policy, tourism economics, tourism behaviour and tourism development, as well as those with an interest in these areas more generally.
Metaverse kompakt: Begriffe, Konzepte, Handlungsoptionen
by Ralf T. Kreutzer Sonja KloseDieses Buch ist ein erster Aufschlag, um die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Metaverse in Wissenschaft und Praxis voranzutreiben. Wie wird das Metaverse aussehen? Worum geht es? Wo stehen wir? Was benötigen wir? Wohin geht die Reise? Zunächst ist das Metaverse eine Idee bzw. ein Versprechen. Ralf T. Kreutzer und Sonja Klose versuchen, eine Vision greifbar und vorstellbar zu machen. Wie beim Internet ist es zu diesem Zeitpunkt schwierig vorherzusagen, welche Entwicklungen und Technologien von welchen Personen und Unternehmen in welcher Art und Weise erstellt und kombiniert werden.Die Autoren nehmen Sie an die Hand und empfehlen Ihnen: Ignorieren Sie diese Entwicklungen nicht! Es müssen nicht gleich umfassende Investitionen ins Metaverse getätigt werden. Aber ein paar Fingerübungen sind ratsam. Damit Sie schon an Bord sind, wenn der Zug tatsächlich Fahrt aufnimmt. Außerdem kann es Ihnen beim Employer Branding zu Vorteilen verhelfen, wenn sichtbar wird, dass Sie sich auch mit spannenden Zukunftsthemen beschäftigen.„Das vorliegende Werk zeigt einen spannenden, wissenschaftlich gut fundierten Blick auf das Metaverse.“ Dirk Lueth, Co-Founder von Upland und Mitverfasser des Werkes „Navigating the Metaverse“
Metaverse-Based Digital Twins: Specialized Healthcare Applications
by Rishabha Malviya Shivam RajputThe book serves as an essential resource that examines the transformative potential of the metaverse and digital twin technology, highlighting their role in revolutionizing patient care. Metaverse-Based Digital Twins: Specialized Healthcare Applications is a comprehensive guide providing knowledge of the metaverse and digital twin concepts and their potential applications in several healthcare domains. The metaverse is an emerging technology that could facilitate the exploration of innovative approaches to patient care and foster their advancement. The novel metaverse-driven digital twin is a cutting-edge instrument for enhancing medical treatment. The Metaverse facilitates sophisticated and improved medical procedures through patient appointments and examinations using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, avatar-based treatment of patients, and use in surgical clinics. This volume will provide an innovative and pioneering exploration of the most recent advancements in metaverse-based digital technology and its implications across multiple domains within the healthcare industry for students pursuing medicine and engineering and established professionals looking to innovate in these fields. Readers will find this book: Explores recent progress in healthcare administration using Metaverse-based digital twin technology that enables new discoveries in the healthcare industry; Introduces innovative technology that can effectively tackle the diverse challenges faced in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries; Offers a thorough account of current advancements in technology and their ethical and equitable application in the healthcare industry. Audience Computer scientists, engineers, research scholars, medical practitioners, students, and healthcare managers working with computer interfaces to improve patient care.
Metaversed: See Beyond The Hype
by Samantha G. Wolfe Luis Bravo MartinsUnderstand the coming metaverse—and discover how to look past the hype and harness the future of technology. Metaversed is an insightful discussion and analysis of the next, rapidly approaching technological revolution. The authors deliver a compelling new exploration of how the metaverse and emerging technologies combine to define our collective future. In addition to identifying the business opportunities, the book pulls back the curtain on major safety and privacy issues that will arise and the expected shifts in both our private and social spheres. In the book, you’ll understand: How multiple industries will be changed and challenged in a 3D spatial world and how to navigate the future crypto-ladden business landscape; Legal and policy considerations necessary to build and maintain safe, shared digital spaces The economic and social impacts, including the potential for our digital lives to outlive our physical selves Actionable insights, so you can make the most out of the next digital revolution Metaversed is a can’t-miss presentation of the most significant market opportunities and societal challenges posed by the metaverse. It also will empower readers to take positive action that avoids the same online mistakes that happened on social media and create more responsible tech usage habits in our personal and professional lives.
Method for Valuing High-Risk, Long-Term Investments: The "Venture Capital Method"
by William A. Sahlman Daniel R. ScherlisDescribes a method for valuing high-risk, long-term investments such as those confronting venture capitalists. The method entails forecasting a future value (e.g., five years from the present) and discounting that terminal value back to the present by applying a high discount rate (e.g., 50%). Provides an explanation of this method, including a detailed discussion of the determinants of the key factors ranging from the discount rate to the terminal value. The pedagogic objective is to make students aware of the issues involved in valuing such "futures" investments. A model is provided that further elucidates the determinants of value.
Methoden der Unternehmensentwicklung
by Daniel HohmannDas Board of Directors findet in Publikationen der Corporate Governance Forschung stark wachsende Aufmerksamkeit. Allerdings ist weitgehend unbekannt wie das Board konkret in Strategie eingebunden ist, insbesondere welche Prozesse damit verbunden sind, wie die Arbeitsteilung mit dem Management funktioniert und welche Einflüsse auf die Boardeinbindung wirken. Daniel Hohmann entwickelt eine Konzeption, welche aus einem Governance Strategieprozess, der Boardeinbindung bzw. Arbeitsteilung mit dem Management sowie den Einflussfaktoren darauf besteht. Diese Konzeption untersucht er anhand von vier Fallstudien bei Schweizer Großunternehmen.
Methoden und Techniken in der systemisch-lösungsorientierten Beratung (essentials)
by Barbara Friehs Martin GabrieleWas ist ein lösungsfokussiertes Kommunikationskonzept und welche Rolle spielt es in unserer Gesellschaft? Ist sie nur eine andere Form der Beratung oder doch etwas spezieller? Was machen eine gelungene Beratung und das dabei verwendete Konzept aus? Diesen und vielen anderen Fragen geht vorliegendes Buch nach. So werden auch Überlegungen zur Rolle, welche Beratung in bzw. für unsere Gesellschaft einnimmt, angestellt und besonders Techniken und Methoden der systemisch-lösungsorientierten Beratung einer genauen Betrachtung unterzogen.Zudem werden die Rolle des Beraters und der große Bereich der Kommunikation in der Beratung thematisiert.
Methodeneinsatz in der Produktentwicklung: Bessere Produkte, schnellere Entwicklung, höhere Gewinnmargen (essentials)
by Marc GranerMarc Graner untersucht den Methodeneinsatz in der Produktentwicklung. Auf Basis einer umfassenden empirischen Studie mit 410 Projekten zeigt er, dass und wie sich der Methodeneinsatz in der Produktentwicklung positiv auf den Produkterfolg auswirken kann. Zudem werden konkrete Empfehlungen zum Einsatz bestimmter Methoden abgeleitet. Einzelne besonders wirksame Methoden werden vorgestellt und es wird gezeigt, welche Kombination verschiedener Methoden erfolgversprechend ist. So können bereits in der Produktentwicklung entscheidende Weichen gestelltwerden, um die Erfolgsquote neuer Produkte systematisch zu erhöhen.