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For Nature/With Nature: New Sustainable Design Scenarios (Springer Series in Design and Innovation #38)
by Claudio GambardellaThis volume contributes to the construction of a multi-voice mosaic on the theme of Nature and the relationship between Man (understood as designer) and Nature by emphasizing the innovative and sustainable proposals coming from the discipline of design, in its many facets and interdisciplinary contributions. Since it isn’t discussed the creative and economic effort that designers, institutions and companies have been leading for years to improve human living conditions, preference will be given to scientific contributions (unpublished or not yet fully known case studies, projects of strategies, products, systems and services, theoretical contributions, communication) that are an expression of a new approach to Nature, seen as our ally and object of an ethics of care. The focus is the design both in its role as innovation driver and interpreter of social evolution, that must be considered within the human-nature relationship. The topics identify some of the most relevant fields of development in which "Design Driven Innovation" can be developed in the respect of perspective of a new relationship with nature.
Applied Statistics and Econometrics: Basic Topics and Tools with Gretl and R
by Bjørnar Karlsen KivedalThis accessible textbook introduces the foundations of applied econometrics and statistics for undergraduate students. It covers key topics in econometrics by using step-by-step examples in Gretl and R, providing a guide to using statistical software and the tools for econometric analysis in one self-contained resource. Taking a concise, non-technical approach, the book covers topics including simple regression and hypothesis testing, multiple regression with control variables and isolating effects, instrumental variables, dummy variables, non-linear effects, probability models, heteroskedasticity, time series analysis, and other applied statistical tools such as t-tests and chi squared tests. The book uses small data sets to easily facilitate students’ transition from manual statistical calculations to using and understanding statistical software, including step-by-step examples of regression analysis, as well as additional chapters to aid with econometric notation and mathematical prerequisites, and accompanying online exercises and data sets. This book will be a valuable resource for upper undergraduate students taking courses in introductory econometrics and statistics, as well as students in business administration and other fields of study in social sciences utilising quantitative methods. Graduate students may also benefit from the book.
Crony Comprador Capitalism: The Institutional Origins of China’s Rise and Decline
by Jianyong YueThis book offers a multidisciplinary redefinition of China's model of crony comprador capitalism. The author argues that this model emerged through the fusion of market Leninism and global capitalism in the early 1990s within the post-Cold War and post-Communist global context. While driving robust export-led growth, this approach hindered China's structural transformation and limited its ascent, ironically leading to the regime's accelerating totalitarian turn and the onset of a new Cold War. In line with the call for ‘Capitalism 3.0,’ the book advocates Western decoupling from China and promoting the country's transition to a democratic developmental state, fostering a safer world for democracy over autocracy. It will be of interest to academics and policy-makers in a wide range of fields, including political economy, political studies, international relations, and economic history.
The Violence of Reading: Literature and Philosophy at the Threshold of Pain
by Dominik ZechnerThe Violence of Reading: Literature and Philosophy at the Threshold of Pain expounds the scene of reading as one that produces an overwhelmed body exposed to uncontainable forms of violence. The book argues that the act of reading induces a representational instability that causes the referential function of language to collapse. This breakdown releases a type of “linguistic pain” (Scarry; Butler; Hamacher) that indicates a constitutive wounding of the reading body. The wound of language marks a rupture between linguistic reality and the phenomenal world. Exploring this rupture in various ways, the book brings together texts and genres from diverse traditions and offers close examinations of the rhetoric of masochism (Sacher-Masoch; Deleuze), the relation between reading and abuse (Nietzsche; Proust; Jelinek), the sublime experience of reading (Kant; Kafka; de Man), the “novel of the institution” (Musil; Campe), and literary suicide (Bachmann; Berryman; Okkervil River).
Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (Terrestrial Environmental Sciences)
by Thomas Nagel Olaf Kolditz Hua Shao Haibing Shao Ju Wang Thorsten Schäfer Chun-Liang Zhang Horst Geckeis Uwe DüsterlohThis book is open access book. The collaborative Pilot Project, titled “Comparison of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) Processes in Bentonite Barrier Systems”, aims to investigate the fundamentals, conduct laboratory and field experiments, and develop numerical models for barrier systems that ensure the safe isolation of radioactive waste in deep geological repositories. This book compares methodologies and technologies used in experimental laboratory and field research, as well as systems analysis, in a collaborative work of German and Chinese scientists. Both parties have access to exceptional experimental and modelling research capabilities. The Beishan underground research laboratory (URL) is currently under construction in Gansu, China. It will serve as an international collaboration platform for URL research in the future. International cooperation is essential for excellent research and development due to the high cost of scientific programmes and technical operation of URLs, making it a precondition for providing secure solutions. This is important not only for deep geological repositories for radioactive waste disposal but also for other geoenergy applications, such as energy storage and geothermal energy utilization.
New Trends in the Applications of Differential Equations in Sciences: NTADES 2023, Saints Constantine and Helena, Bulgaria, July 17–20 (Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics #449)
by Angela SlavovaThis book convenes peer-reviewed, selected papers presented at the Tenth International Conference New Trends in the Applications of Differential Equations in Sciences (NTADES) held in Saints Constantine and Helena, Bulgaria, July 17–20, 2023. Contributions are devoted to many applications of differential equations in different fields of science. A number of phenomena in nature (physics, chemistry, biology) and in society (economics) result in problems leading to the study of linear and nonlinear differential equations, stochastic equations, statistics, analysis, numerical analysis, optimization, and more. The main topics are presented in the five parts of the book - applications in mathematical physics, mathematical biology, financial mathematics, neuroscience, and fractional analysis.In this volume, the reader will find a wide range of problems concerning recent achievements in both theoretical and applied mathematics. The main goal is to promote the exchange of new ideas and research between scientists, who develop and study differential equations, and researchers, who apply them to solve real-life problems. The book promotes basic research in mathematics leading to new methods and techniques useful for applications of differential equations.
Globalisation, Cultural Diversity and Schooling (Globalisation, Comparative Education and Policy Research #41)
by Joseph Zajda Suzanne MajhanovichThis book analyses dominant discourses of globalisation, cultural diversity and schooling. The collection in this volume advance further the discussions on the phenomenon of globalisation, and its far-reaching effects on our world, and consider cultural diversity in its broadest sense, as it manifests itself in a globalised world. Zajda has argued that globalisation represents a synthesis of technology, ideology and organisation, specifically related to border crossings of people, global finance and trade, IT convergence as well as cross-cultural communication. The reality of cultural diversity has been brought into stronger focus because of globalisation. Cultural diversity, always present in society is more evident today because of globalisation. The ways society copes with cultural diversity have changed such that the embrace of cultural diversity as part of identity is encouraged in liberal democracies. Cultural diversity, as presented in this volume is seen in a broad contextand includes factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientations, socio-economic status, culture, age, and physical ability as well as a variety of beliefs and values. The book contributes in a very scholarly way, to a more holistic understanding of the nexus between globalisation, cultural diversity, democracy, and equality for all.
Innovationsmechanismen in Start-ups: Praxis, Strategien und Auswirkungen
by Varun Gupta"Innovationsmechanismen in Start-ups - Praxis, Strategien und Auswirkungen" dient als praktische Ressource für Start-ups, die ihre Geschäftsmodelle auf dem heimischen und globalen Markt innovieren möchten. Das Hauptziel dieses Buches ist es, die innovativen Geschäftspraktiken zu beschreiben, die von Start-ups während der Pandemie angenommen wurden, wobei ein besonderer Schwerpunkt auf der Innovation von Wertversprechen und Geschäftsmodellen liegt. Um offene Innovation zu fördern, betont dieses Buch den Wert strategischer Allianzen mit wissenschaftlichen Bibliotheken, gleichrangigen Start-ups und Freiberuflern. Darüber hinaus wurde anhand tatsächlicher Fallstudien von Start-ups gezeigt, wie wichtig technologische Innovation für die Rückmeldungserfassung, Prototypenentwicklung und sowohl sekundäre als auch primäre Marktforschung ist. Start-ups können die Bewertungs- und Adoptionsframeworks für Technologien als nützliche Referenz nutzen, wenn sie eine Technologie strategischübernehmen. In diesem Buch wird auch auf die Notwendigkeit hingewiesen, regelmäßig neue Ansätze auszuprobieren, aus Fehlern zu lernen und aktuelle Prozesse zu verbessern. Die Fähigkeit, Falschinformationen zu entlarven, von technologischen Fortschritten zu profitieren und strategische Allianzen zu bilden, wird selbst in Zeiten von Pandemien für Innovationen unerlässlich sein. Dieses Buch verknüpft theoretische Erkenntnisse mit praktischen Erfahrungen von Start-ups während der Pandemie. Mit einem perfekten Gleichgewicht zwischen empirischer Forschung und verschiedenen Studientypen ist dieses Buch eine Informationsquelle für Unternehmer, Akademiker und Forscher darüber, wie man die Innovationsfähigkeiten und Erfolgsquoten eines Unternehmens verbessern kann. Das BMI-Pandemic 2.15-Modell, eine erweiterte Version des Odyssey 3.14-Modells, wird in diesem Buch vorgestellt, das 15 Leitlinien zur Innovation von Geschäftsmodellen in Pandemien hervorhebt. Dieses Buch richtet sich an Unternehmer,Akademiker, Forscher und Technologen.
Networking and Parallel/Distributed Computing Systems: Volume 18 (Studies in Computational Intelligence #1125)
by Roger LeeThe book reports state-of-the-art results in Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking, and Parallel/Distributed Computing in both printed and electronic form. This book presents original papers on both theory and practice that address foundations, state-of-the-art problems and solutions, and crucial challenges.
Probability and Statistics for Machine Learning: A Textbook
by Charu C. AggarwalThis book covers probability and statistics from the machine learning perspective. The chapters of this book belong to three categories: 1. The basics of probability and statistics: These chapters focus on the basics of probability and statistics, and cover the key principles of these topics. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the area of probability and statistics as well as its relationship to machine learning. The fundamentals of probability and statistics are covered in Chapters 2 through 5. 2. From probability to machine learning: Many machine learning applications are addressed using probabilistic models, whose parameters are then learned in a data-driven manner. Chapters 6 through 9 explore how different models from probability and statistics are applied to machine learning. Perhaps the most important tool that bridges the gap from data to probability is maximum-likelihood estimation, which is a foundational concept from the perspective of machine learning. This concept is explored repeatedly in these chapters. 3. Advanced topics: Chapter 10 is devoted to discrete-state Markov processes. It explores the application of probability and statistics to a temporal and sequential setting, although the applications extend to more complex settings such as graphical data. Chapter 11 covers a number of probabilistic inequalities and approximations. The style of writing promotes the learning of probability and statistics simultaneously with a probabilistic perspective on the modeling of machine learning applications. The book contains over 200 worked examples in order to elucidate key concepts. Exercises are included both within the text of the chapters and at the end of the chapters. The book is written for a broad audience, including graduate students, researchers, and practitioners.
Researching Mathematical Modelling Education in Disruptive Times (International Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematical Modelling)
by Gabriele Kaiser Hans-Stefan Siller Vince GeigerThis edited volume documents research on mathematical modelling education, before, during, and after the Covid 19 pandemic. Mathematical modelling is essential for understanding natural and human generated phenomena, and informs decision-making about events such as the pandemic, climate change, and other disruptive events. Communication to the public, often by the media, makes use of mathematical modelling to justify changes to public policy, as seen during the COVID-19 crisis. Consequently, mathematical modelling has assumed an increasingly prominent role in curricula internationally, providing opportunities to understand how it is used in current circumstances and to plan for the needs of future societies. This book focuses on research on mathematical modelling education and its implementation at school and tertiary level. Contributions to the book and point to directions for further innovation in mathematical modelling education. Authors of this volume are members of the International Community of Teachers of Mathematical Modelling, the peak research body for the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling.
Decarbonisation: From Industrial to Personal Uses (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Thierry LucidarmeThis book is an insightful introduction to the pressing issues surrounding the climate emergency. The book proposes a set of principles of action, which prioritize technological solutions classified in descending order of carbon density. The book highlights the urgent need to decarbonize industrial sites, as they are the primary sources of carbon emissions. It presents a rational approach to limiting emissions by improving the operational efficiency of industrial processes, electrification, and substitution of fossil fuels with carbon-free energy vectors such as hydrogen or ammonia. The book also describes processes for carbon capture, sequestration in the subsoil, and recovery through industrial products. To demonstrate the application of these principles in difficult-to-decarbonize industrial segments, the book uses the industrial transport industry as an example. It also addresses the decarbonization of individual uses, such as electric cars for individual transport and heat pumps for individual heating. The book concludes by discussing the capture of carbon directly from the atmosphere. It presents a comprehensive view of decarbonization technology, providing readers with a clear understanding of the technological basis required to develop any decarbonization roadmap. The book takes a scientific and engineering approach, trying to avoid any ideological or apocalyptic stance sometimes associated with the topic. The reader is left with a logical and realistic perspective of decarbonization, taking into account scientific and economic logic and orders of magnitude.
Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Africa: Access and Future Measures (Sustainable Development Goals Series)
by Tinuade Adekunbi OjoAfrica is the leading region in the world in the expansion of mobile money transactions, according to Global Findex. The book presents several significant themes and African states' efforts to address the political and economic factors influencing budget allocation to women-oriented programmes and projects in African communities. The book further investigates the impact of gender-responsive budgeting on women's empowerment and gender equality in these communities. The findings intend to analyse the effectiveness of the countries' approaches and share lessons that different African economies, whether currently booming or struggling, can enhance or implement toward gender budgeting response at all structural levels. Gender budgeting is an important tool in response to the growth and development of the economy. The themes identified will guide gender budgeting response, and how gender is incorporated into these approaches (if at all). The main objective of this volumeis to understand different processes of gender budgeting in response to gender issues at a national level. And to help encourage reflection on what lessons could be learnt between states and what factors cause divergence in multilateral settings so that they can be understood and hopefully addressed.
Women and Finance in Africa: Inclusion and Transformation (Sustainable Development Goals Series)
by Tinuade Adekunbi OjoThis volume presents a collection of cases that examine the status of financial inclusion for women across a variety of states in the African continent. The book uses a qualitative research method and presents both primary to secondary data to narrate the impact of gender-responsive budgeting on women's empowerment and gender equality in these communities. The chapters present the analysis of the effectiveness of African state’ approaches and share lessons that different African economies, whether currently booming or struggling, can enhance or implement toward the financial inclusion and gender budgeting response at all structural levels. The main objectives of this volume are to understand different processes for financial inclusion to gender issues at a national level and to help encourage reflection on what lessons could be learned between states and what factors cause divergence in multilateral settings so that they can be understood and addressed.
Persistent Organic Pollutants in Aquatic Systems: Classification, Toxicity, Remediation and Future (Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies)
by Gehan Mohamed El Zokm Tarek Othman SaidThis book addressed an in-depth comprehension of the classifications and characterizations of POPs, which have become global issues due to bioaccumulation, persistency, and toxicity. It represents the milestones of the development of pesticide application, industry, and management. Banned SC-POPs have special investigations. It discusses air-sea exchange, ocean currents, phase distribution, speciation, adsorption, desorption, and degradation as the key processes that control POP's fate. The book explores several aspects of POP chemistry that have a direct influence on their biochemical and toxicological consequences. The book illustrates the dynamic equilibriums influencing the proportion of a POP's gaseous, liquid, and solid phases. The book discussed POP migration by referring to the grasshopper effect. It also explores the impacts of climate change on emissions and the fate of POPs through a global-scale multimedia fate model. Additionally, it displays the impact of potential global change scenarios on POP bioaccumulation patterns. The book is directed at giving a deep discussion of the method's QA/QC process for POP determination and has verified the accuracy and precision of the procedures. As a distinctive point, it discusses many aspects concerning the toxicity of POPs. It reports mechanisms describing the toxicity of POPs on immune systems, carcinogenesis, endocrine, neural, and reproductive systems. The book keeps an eye on a model describing the global distribution and toxicity of PAHs. Among the exclusive points in the book is the evaluation of the recent ecological status in Egypt relative to POPs through a time-scale overview and recent case studies. It provides thematic literature related to DDC research in Africa through the WoS and Scopus databases from 1949 to 2021. The book emphasizes models for predicting the annual contribution rate of POPs as a way to raise public awareness about POPs. The greatest challenge for the book is how to motivate the audience to be aware of these hazardous materials in marine ecosystems. Moreover, this book will be of great interest to academics, professionals, practitioners, post-graduate students, and undergraduates because it gives a clear overview of POPs in the marine environment. It also provides decision-makers with a realistic perspective of the environmental file, allowing them to address environmental issues and directing stockholders to safer locations for environmental activity. From a future perspective, the regulation of pervasive POPs, with special reference to recently evaluated harmful substances (PFASs), has faced significant challenges in the wake of pressure from regulators.
Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education: Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2023), Volume 4 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #911)
by Michael E. Auer Uriel R. Cukierman Eduardo Vendrell Vidal Edmundo Tovar CaroWe are currently witnessing a significant transformation in the development of education on all levels and especially in post-secondary education. To face these challenges, higher education must find innovative and effective ways to respond in a proper way. The pandemic period left us with profound changes in the way we teach and learn, including the massive use of new means of communication, such as videoconferencing and other technological tools. Moreover, the current explosion of artificial intelligence tools, mainly used by students, is challenging teaching practices maintained for centuries. Scientifically based statements as well as excellent best practice examples are absolutely necessary.The 26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2023), which will take place in Madrid, Spain, between 26th and 30th September 2023, will be the perfect place where to present and discuss current trends in Higher Education.Since its beginning in 1998 this conference is devoted to new approaches in learning with a focus on collaborative learning in Higher Education. Nowadays the ICL conferences are a forum of the exchange of relevant trends and research results as well as the presentation of practical experiences in Learning and Engineering Pedagogy. In this way we try to bridge the gap between ‘pure’ scientific research and the everyday work of educators.
Economic Resurgence in ASEAN: Navigating Convergence, Innovation, and Trade for Enhanced Productivity
by Fithra Faisal HastiadiThis book provides unique insight into economic development within the ASEAN region and its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. With a particular focus on Indonesia, it highlights the historic importance of manufacturing within the region and how the sector remains vital, despite the Asian financial crisis, and central to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The growing influence of digital technologies, including remote work, online services, and digital marketplaces, are highlighted, particularly in relation to economic mitigation and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Broader issues, such as FDI, human development, regional integration, R&D spillovers, labour productivity, and bilateral trade, are also discussed.This book highlights how ASEAN economies can be strengthened by innovation, trade, and increased productivity. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in development and international economics.
Lunar Commerce: A Primer
by Derek WebberThis book explores the advent of lunar commerce including the potential scale and timing of the initiative, the associated revenue potential and the potential risks and uncertainties. Specifically, it discusses the reason for the increased interest in lunar commerce, which lunar markets will be part of the initiative and how much of it will be commercial or dependent on government funding. It provides an easy introduction to the content of the Lunar Commerce Portfolio, which was recently issued, under the author's leadership, by the Working Group on Lunar Commerce and Economics of the Moon Village Association, which has Observer Status at the United Nations in Vienna.
The Ionosphere with GNSS SDR: Specialized Software-Defined Radio for In-Depth Ionospheric Research (Springer Atmospheric Sciences)
by Ivan G. Petrovski IIThis comprehensive volume navigates through the complexities of Earth's ionosphere and its intricate relationship with GNSS spread-spectrum signals. The book delineates the nuanced structures and dynamics of Earth's atmosphere, offering profound insights into signal propagation, including a meticulous analysis of various ionospheric models. Delving into the instruments of choice, it encapsulates the facets of the GNSS space segment, its theoretical background, and practical applications. The ground and user segments discussed provide readers with a deep understanding of satellite dynamics and navigation data. Further chapters explore the intricacies of GNSS Software Defined Radio (SDR), offering a detailed examination of signal acquisition and tracking, and presenting innovative approaches to baseband data application without data decoding. A significant portion is devoted to manufacturing front-end hardware, providing guidance from specifications to testing, enabling readers to navigate the world of hardware design with ease. Lastly, the book ventures into the applications of GNSS receivers for ionospheric study, highlighting the construction of advanced observables and their practical applications in navigation processors. This section also elucidates the role of multi-station observables in extracting critical ionospheric information. A pivotal resource for researchers and professionals alike, this book stands as a testament to comprehensive research and innovation in the field of GNSS and SDR, fostering a deeper understanding of the Earth's ionosphere. This book serves as a natural progression from Dr.Petrocski's prior contributions, offering readers actionable insights grounded in theoretical understanding.
Mild Altered States of Consciousness: Subtle Shifts of Mind and Their Therapeutic Potential
by Eileen SheppardThis book draws on transpersonal anthropology and psychology in order to explore mild altered states of consciousness (ASCs) experienced in everyday life. While research into consciousness and particularly ASCs is growing, this book focuses on a neglected area: ‘everyday’ experiences of ASCs. Opening with an up-to-date overview of the development of the study of ASCs, the author presents an in-depth empirical exploration and mapping of mild ASCs. Dr Sheppard examines original research conducted in a range of religious and secular contexts with participants who were engaged in activities including prayer, sport, nature conservation, music and musical instrument making, and TV viewing. The author takes a novel phenomenological approach to the analysis of ASCs, emphasising the subjective experience. The book explores the healing potential of such mild ASCs; the everyday fantasy reality of the interior landscape; and discusses the problem of validity, and belief in the study of ASCs. It will appeal to students and scholars of transpersonal psychology, consciousness studies, social anthropology, and the philosophy of mind.
Complex Networks & Their Applications XII: Proceedings of The Twelfth International Conference on Complex Networks and their Applications: COMPLEX NETWORKS 2023 Volume 1 (Studies in Computational Intelligence #1141)
by Hocine Cherifi Chantal Cherifi Luis M. Rocha Murat DonduranThis book highlights cutting-edge research in the field of network science, offering scientists, researchers, students and practitioners a unique update on the latest advances in theory and a multitude of applications. It presents the peer-reviewed proceedings of the XII International Conference on Complex Networks and their Applications (COMPLEX NETWORKS 2023). The carefully selected papers cover a wide range of theoretical topics such as network embedding and network geometry; community structure, network dynamics; diffusion, epidemics and spreading processes; machine learning and graph neural networks as well as all the main network applications, including social and political networks; networks in finance and economics; biological networks and technological networks.
Second-Order Variational Analysis in Optimization, Variational Stability, and Control: Theory, Algorithms, Applications (Springer Series in Operations Research and Financial Engineering)
by Boris S. MordukhovichThis fundamental work is a sequel to monographs by the same author: Variational Analysis and Applications (2018) and the two Grundlehren volumes Variational Analysis and Generalized Differentiation: I Basic Theory, II Applications (2006). This present book is the first entirely devoted to second-order variational analysis with numerical algorithms and applications to practical models. It covers a wide range of topics including theoretical, numerical, and implementations that will interest researchers in analysis, applied mathematics, mathematical economics, engineering, and optimization. Inclusion of a variety of exercises and commentaries in each chapter allows the book to be used effectively in a course on this subject. This area has been well recognized as an important and rapidly developing area of nonlinear analysis and optimization with numerous applications. Consisting of 9 interrelated chapters, the book is self-contained with the inclusion of some preliminaries in Chapter 1.Results presented are useful tools for characterizations of fundamental notions of variational stability of solutions for diverse classes of problems in optimization and optimal control, the study of variational convexity of extended-real-valued functions and their specifications and variational sufficiency in optimization. Explicit calculations and important applications of second-order subdifferentials associated with the achieved characterizations of variational stability and related concepts, to the design and justification of second-order numerical algorithms for solving various classes of optimization problems, nonsmooth equations, and subgradient systems, are included. Generalized Newtonian algorithms are presented that show local and global convergence with linear, superlinear, and quadratic convergence rates. Algorithms are implemented to address interesting practical problems from the fields of machine learning, statistics, imaging, and other areas.
Engaging with Human Rights: How Subnational Actors use Human Rights Treaties in Policy Processes (Palgrave Socio-Legal Studies)
by Martino Maggetti Evelyne Schmid Jonathan Miaz Matthieu Niederhauser Constance KaempferMaking human rights a reality requires that various types of domestic actors take measures, which is often demanding, all the more so in federal systems. This open access book, Engaging with Human Rights: How Subnational Actors use Human Rights Treaties in Policy Processes, shows that an important part is played at the subnational level, with repeated back-and-forth between and within levels of governance rather than a ‘top-down’ trajectory. The dynamics of implementation at national and sub-national level is an emerging area of study. This book explores how actors use human rights treaties in the policy process, sometimes leading to an engagement that increases human rights implementation, and at other times not. Treaties provide both opportunities and constraints. Switzerland, as a highly decentralized federal state, offers a perfect setting to study the processes at work. Using legal, political, and sociological analyses, the authors draw on over 65 semi-structured interviews and focusses on two topical case studies: violence against women, including domestic violence, and the rights of persons with disabilities. This book provides a blueprint for other researchers and practitioners who wish to study the concrete implementation and impacts of human rights obligations.
Advances in Air Quality Research in Africa: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Air Quality in Africa (ICAQ'Africa 2022) (Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation)
by Abdelwahid Mellouki Khanneh Wadinga Fomba Bertrand Tchanche Fankam Daniel M. Westervelt Michael R. GiordanoThis book presents the recent findings on air quality in Africa from the virtual event of the first International Conference on Air Quality in Africa (ICAQ 2022), providing a comprehensive overview on many subjects of air pollution that affect African society. It highlights research progress in the chemical and physical characterization of air pollutants, their related respiratory and non-respiratory health effects, measurements and monitoring of air pollutants using satellite remote sensing and modeling techniques, currently implemented abatement policies in different African countries, existing research and networking infrastructures, and novel tools for monitoring air quality. The advances in the development of local cost-effective air quality monitoring tools in Africa as well as the use of low-cost sensors in quantifying air quality levels are presented. This book is an enrichment for researchers, experts, and advocates of air quality, atmospheric chemistry and physics, satellite remote sensing applications, and policymakers in Africa.
The Irish Repertory Theatre: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years Off-Broadway (New Directions in Irish and Irish American Literature)
by Maria SzaszThe Irish Repertory Theatre: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years Off-Broadway is the first book-length history of the multi-award winning Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theatre Company, from its beginning in 1988 to its thirty-fifth season in 2023. The book considers how the Irish Rep’s plays and musicals reflect the Irish diaspora, the relationship between Ireland and America, and what it means to be Irish and Irish American, both historically, and in the twenty-first century, including how the Irish Rep is showcasing more diverse voices and experiences, from women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Irish and Irish American people of color.