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2D Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications
by Subhendu Chakroborty Kaushik Pal2D NANOMATERIALS The book provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, modification, characterization, and application of 2D nanomaterials. In recent years, 2D nanomaterials have emerged as a remarkable cornerstone in the field of advanced materials research, with their unique properties and versatile applications captivating the attention of scientists and engineers worldwide. This book is a testament to the ever-growing interest and importance of 2D nanomaterials in the realm of materials science, nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and a myriad of engineering specializations. The book is structured into three sections, each delving into different aspects of 2D nanomaterials. The first section explores the synthesis of these materials, providing an overview of both top-down and bottom-up strategies. Understanding the methods by which these materials can be synthesized is crucial for advancing their potential applications. Additionally, this section details the structural characterization of 2D nanomaterials, shedding light on their intricate compositions and properties. The second section examines the diverse characteristics exhibited by 2D nanomaterials. From their magnetic and mechanical properties to their electrical, plasmonic, and optical behaviors, these materials possess an array of intriguing attributes that make them highly attractive for a wide range of applications. This section of the book provides a comprehensive understanding of these properties, enabling readers to appreciate the unique potential of 2D nanomaterials. The final section focuses on the applications of 2D nanomaterials, highlighting their use in various fields such as energy, water purification, biomedical applications, multimodal tumor therapy, and supercapacitor technology.
2nd International Conference on Smart Sustainable Materials and Technologies: Innovations in Engineering and Smart Sustainable Technologies (Volume 2) (Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation)
by M. Sumesh João Manuel R. S. Tavares S. C. Vettivel Mario Orlando OliveiraSustainable materials science and engineering is one of the important characteristics of the existing high-tech revolution. The advances of materials science pave way for technical advancements in materials science and industrial technologies throughout the world. Materials are regarded as critical component in all emerging industries. Exquisite preparation and manufacturing must be carried out before a new material may be used. Nevertheless, electronic materials are undeniably important in many aspects of life. Smart materials and structures is a multi-disciplinary platform dedicated to technical advances in smart materials, systems and structures, including intelligent materials, sensing and actuation, adaptive structures, and active control. Recently, sustainable materials and technologies reshape the electronics industry to build realistic applications. At present, without the impact of sustainability, the electronics industry faces challenges. Researchers are now more focused on understanding the fundamental science of nano, micro, and macro-scale aspects of materials and technologies for sustainable development with a special attention toward reducing the knowledge gap between materials and system designs. The main aim of this international conference is to address the new trends on smart sustainable materials field for industrial and electronics applications. The main purpose of this conference is to assess the recent development in the applied science involving research activity from micro- to macro-scale aspects of materials and technologies for sustainable applications. In such a context, particular emphasis is given to research papers tailored in order to improve electronic and industrial applications and market extension of sustainable materials.
2nd International Congress of Electrical and Computer Engineering (EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing)
by Muhammet Nuri SeymanThis proceedings presents the papers included in the 2nd International Congress of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ICECENG), which took place in Bandirma, Turkey, 22-25 November 2023. The conference aims to bring together researchers, developers, and students in computing, technology trends, artificial intelligence, and security who are interested in studying the application of formal methods to the construction and analysis of models describing technological processes at both micro and macro levels. ICECENG’23 also aims to provide a platform for discussing the issues, challenges, opportunities, and findings of computer engineering research. The conference seeks to provide some answers and explore the processes, actions, challenges, and outcomes of learning and teaching.
30 Real Signs from the Afterlife: Recognizing and Understanding Messages from Lost Loved Ones
by Melissa St. HilaireDiscover signals from the spirit world and connect with those you've lostSigns of the spirit world are all around us— which means contacting loved ones and pets who have passed on is possible. This guide shows you how to communicate with the afterlife by noticing and decoding the signs and messages it sends. Author Melissa St. Hilaire explains the essential steps to sensing and understanding spirit energy, setting good intentions before contacting spirits, making a connection, and maintaining that connection for as long as you want.Know the signs — Be ready when the spirits reach out by exploring 30 different ways they make contact, including paranormal activity, a sudden animal appearance, or targeting your senses.Commune and connect — Learn how to keep communication open with meditation, séances, mementos, and more. Then, learn to strengthen those connections through conduits like candles or crystal balls.The meaning in the message — From phantom flavors to psychic visions and temperature changes, learn how to interpret each sign and understand the guidance it is offering you.Record what you receive — Keep track of your messages from your loved ones with fill-in pages that offer space to describe the details of every sign you encounter and what it meant to you.Open yourself up to the spirits that surround you with help from the 30 Real Signs From the Afterlife.
3D Printing of Pharmaceutical and Drug Delivery Devices: Progress from Bench to Bedside (Advances in Pharmaceutical Technology)
by Dimitrios A. Lamprou Dennis Douroumis Sheng Qi3D Printing of Pharmaceutical and Drug Delivery Devices 3D Printing of Pharmaceutical and Drug Delivery Devices Discover the latest, fast-developing technology to help move towards more cost-effective, small-batch, decentralized manufacturing of personalized systems 3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing. Its precision and flexibility have enabled the large-scale production of materials and devices too complex for conventional industrial manufacturing. This has been particularly revolutionary in the field of pharmaceutical production, where 3D printing is being integrated into the manufacture of both drugs and drug delivery devices. It has never been more important for industry professionals to understand this form of production. 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals and Drug Delivery Devices: Progress from Bench to Bedside offers a comprehensive overview of 3D printing technology and its pharmaceutical applications. It introduces readers to a world in which bespoke drug delivery systems developed for specific users or conditions is rapidly becoming a reality. Its detailed coverage of strategies and industrial processes incorporates the latest research and real-world experience of production. 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals and Drug Delivery Devices: Progress from Bench to Bedside readers will also find: A multi-disciplinary authorial team of industry leadersDiscussion of common technical and regulatory barriers and their possible solutionsFar-ranging discussion of pharmaceutical applications across all sectors 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals and Drug Delivery Devices: Progress from Bench to Bedside is essential reading for pharmaceutical industry professionals and researchers looking to occupy the leading edge.
3rd International Conference on Advanced Joining Processes 2023: Selected Contributions of AJP 2023 (Proceedings in Engineering Mechanics)
by Lucas F. M. da Silva Paulo Martins Uwe ReisgenThis book provides selected contributions of the 3rd International Conference on Advanced Joining Processes, held in Braga, Portugal, on October 19–20, 2023. The volume is dedicated to the current developments in mechanical joining (1st Section), joining by plastic deformation (2nd Section), and welding (3rd Section). The selected contributions represent the state of the art in advanced methods of joining. The book serves as a reference volume for researchers and graduate students working with advanced joining processes.
40 Jahre Islamischer Religionsunterricht in Österreich: Islamische Bildung im europäischen Kontext (Wiener Beiträge zur Islamforschung)
by Tamara Nili-Freudenschuß Ednan AslanÖsterreich war eines der ersten westeuropäischen Länder, das den Islam als Körperschaft öffentlichen Rechts anerkannt hat. Diese historische Anerkennung geht zurück auf die lange, facettenreiche Geschichte des Islam in Österreich und erfüllte den Muslim*innen in Österreich einen lang gehegten Wunsch, welcher auch in vielen anderen europäischen Ländern besteht. Seit 40 Jahren ermöglicht diese Anerkennung den Muslim*innen, den Islam als ordentliches Unterrichtsfach an öffentlichen Schulen zu unterrichten. Die Erkenntnisse aus dieser langjährigen Erfahrung im Bereich des islamischen Religionsunterrichts sind von großer Bedeutung für andere europäische Staaten, die sich ebenfalls um die Integration des islamischen Religionsunterrichts in das öffentliche Schulwesen bemühen. Der Band bietet einen umfassenden Überblick aus religionspädagogischer und -didaktischer, gesellschafts- und bildungspolitischer, rechtlicher und empirischer Perspektive. Er beleuchtet die 40-jährige Geschichte des islamischen Religionsunterrichts in Österreich und zeigt auf, welchen Beitrag religiöse Bildung zur Integration muslimischer Kinder in die Gesellschaft leisten kann.
4th International Conference "Coordinating Engineering for Sustainability and Resilience" & Midterm Conference of CircularB “Implementation of Circular Economy in the Built Environment” (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #489)
by Viorel Ungureanu Luís Bragança Charalambos Baniotopoulos Khairedin M. AbdallaThis open access book gathers the proceedings of the 4th International Conference “Coordinating Engineering for Sustainability and Resilience” (CESARE) & Midterm Conference of CircularB “Implementation of Circular Economy in the Built Environment”, held in Timișoara, Romania, on May 29-31, 2024, as part of the COST Action CA21103. The volume represents the state of the art of sustainability and resilience in modern and future built environment, constructions, and infrastructure, and includes topics such as structural materials and robustness, fire engineering, risk assessment, impact of climate change on the built environment, sustainable resilience of systems in the built environment, smart cities, circular economy, design strategies for product design, integration of renewable energy at building and small urban area scales, restoration & rehabilitation of historical buildings, sustainable infrastructures, wind energy structures, façade engineering, green buildings, and waste management.
The 6% Club: Unlock the Secret to Achieving Any Goal and Thriving in Business and Life
by Michelle RozenLearn the steps to build better habits and join the ranks of changemakers and goal achievers everywhere In The 6% Club, The Change Doctor Michelle Rozen, PhD, teaches audiences and readers how to create and actually stick to new positive habits, unlocking the secret formula to the life, success, and happiness they've always dreamed of. The book was born from a recent study where Dr. Rozen surveyed 1,000 people who pledged to make a change in their lives, and, shockingly, only 6% had stuck to the change just a month later. Dr. Rozen's powerful, uplifting, and actionable methods have been tested on countless event attendees from all types of background for over a decade. In this book, readers will learn how to: Work out more, eat healthier, save more money, do better in business, or attain any other personal or professional goal Make changes solo, or with another individual like a friend or partner Stop making excuses, giving up, or putting it off—effortlessly Based on science and written by one of the most sought-after motivational speakers on leadership and change, The 6% Club earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all individuals looking to make lasting changes in their personal and professional lives.
888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers: A Novel
by Abraham ChangGoodreads Editor's Pick • Publishers Weekly Author to Watch"Packed with pop culture.... A beautifully tender and funny examination of love, of identity, of making your way in a world that is getting bigger and smaller at the same time.” —Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing to See HereLove is a numbers game...Young Wang has received plenty of wisdom from his beloved uncle: don’t take life too seriously, get out on the road when you can, and everyone gets just seven great loves in their life—so don’t blow it. This last one sticks with Young as he is an obsessive cataloger of his life: movies watched, favorite albums . . . all filtered through Chinese numerology and superstition. He finds meaning in almost everything, for which his two best friends endlessly tease him. But then, at the end of 1995, when Young is at New York University, he meets Erena. She’s brilliant, charismatic, quick-witted, and crassly funny. They fall in love and, for Young, it feels so real that he’s thrilled and terrified. As Young and Erena’s relationship blossoms, we get flashbacks to Young’s first five loves. That means Erena is “number six.” Was his uncle wrong—is she the one and only? Or are they fated for failure to make room for Young’s final, seventh love?A love letter to Western pop culture, Eastern traditions, and being a first-generation New Yorker, Abraham Chang’s dazzling debut reminds us that luck only gets us so far when it comes to matters of the heart.
The 90 Day Brand Plan: How to Unleash Your Personal Brand to Dominate the Competition and Scale Your Business
by Dain WalkerBecome a known name and authority in your field to unlock infinite money-making opportunities In The 90 Day Brand Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Art of Branding, celebrated branding agency founder and influencer Dain Walker delivers an expert roadmap to harnessing your authority, credibility, and skills in your field to create consistent money-making opportunities. In the book, you’ll learn how to get paid for being a known name in your industry through your businesses, products, and services. Discover how to nail and scale your likeability, charisma, and character as you channel your personal brand’s attention into whatever company or product you’re building. The author explains how he used his own personal Instagram following to grow multi-million-dollar brands, and how you can do the same thing. You’ll also find: Strategies to use your creativity, sales abilities, action plans, and fun daily mental exercises to create the right mindset and skillset for growth Ways to eliminate fear, rejection, and self-doubt as you learn to unpack personal belief into the creation of content of all sorts Techniques to harness a variety of income streams, including those from social media, speaking, selling, podcasting, marketing, pitching, and advertising An effective and insightful guide to harnessing the full potential of your personal credibility, expertise, and authority, The 90 Day Brand Plan will prove invaluable to influencers, promoters, marketers, entrepreneurs, and founders of all stripes.
A-Gong's Table: Vegan Recipes from a Taiwanese Home (A Chez Jorge Cookbook)
by George LeeA rendering of food through the memories of family and of home: over ninety plant-based recipes from George Lee, the creator of Chez Jorge, with Laurent Hsia's images of Taiwan.&“An astonishingly accomplished exploration of flavors, ingredients, and traditions.&”—Katy Hui-wen Hung (洪惠文), co-author of A Culinary History of Taipei: Beyond Pork and Ponlai &“This is a beautiful love letter to Taiwan and a quietly uncompromising work of documentation.&”—Hannah Che, author of The Vegan Chinese KitchenGeorge Lee grew up with his A-Gong (grandfather) in the quiet refuge of Tamsui, Taiwan. He took part in the myriad Taiwanese food traditions his A-Gong nurtured, until he was seventeen, when his A-Gong passed. In observation of the death, he and his family undertook a set of Buddhist funeral customs and abstained from eating meat. For a hundred days, they ate at the monastery and the nuns there taught him to cook. Years later, he revisited the lessons and pieced them into the story of his family&’s cooking. Some recipes he shares here are directly from childhood: Han-tsî-bê, an everyday breakfast congee floating with fist-size chunks of golden sweet potatoes, and the quintessential preserve Tshài-póo, crunchy strips of sun-dried daikon radish that salt in the air for a few days in January. Others tread the boundaries between old and new, such as Sòo-lóo-pn̄g, a meatless rendition of the hand-cut pork bits his mom braised in soy sauce and ladled over rice. While writing this book, George wandered all over Taiwan with his friend Laurent Hsia, who took photos along the way. Together, they sought out the foods and places tied to their memories growing up. Like the grandpa who slung a bag of apples along the zebra crossing to exit the morning market, or the old couple on the bus in black and white, sitting side by side and peering forward, the two found themselves . . . always afoot, traveling. A-Gong&’s Table follows the rhythm of their footsteps: a pulse that takes you quietly through the book and through Taiwan, from morning to night.
Abandoned at Birth: Searching for the Arms that Once Held Me
by Janet SherlundIn Abandoned at Birth, Janet Sherlund explores the inherent need adopted children have for a sense of belonging and the pain and courage that is required to discover their true identity.Adoption is often painted as a happy, inspirational act—a baby finds a family and lives happily ever after. But the truth is that adopted children experience displacement and rupture from their mother and that trauma can impact an individual for a lifetime. Adoption can lead to feelings of loss and grief not just for the adoptee, but for the biological and adoptive parents as well. This startling fact comes vividly to life in Janet Sherlund&’s heartbreaking memoir, Abandoned at Birth. In her literary debut, Janet Sherlund explores the complex issues so many adoptees and their parents grapple with, including the complicated emotions of rejection, loss, grief, denial, and shame. Sherlund, who was given up for adoption within days of her birth, shares her journey to fulfill her lifetime longing for connection with her family of origin, her instinctive ache for connection with her birth mother, and what it was like to have a &“borrowed identity.&” In poignant detail, Sherlund describes her quest to find out who she is, where she came from, and why she was given away. And she reveals the pain and courage required to discover one&’s true identity. With 5 million adoptees in the U.S., many of whom are discovering their biological roots on DNA websites, Abandoned at Birth is the book for our time. The insight Sherlund derived from her journey will encourage and console others on the same path, while examining the inherent need of all of us to belong, and understand our origins, our culture, and our genetic roots.
The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2025: Planning Sermons for Every Sunday of the Year
by Charley ReebThe local pastor’s go-to resource for weekly sermon planning.The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2025 is Lectionary-based and follows the calendar year (January - December). It includes special days like Maundy Thursday and Ash Wednesday, and indexes for Scriptures and themes, to assist preachers with non-Lectionary sermons.Each entry begins with a preacher-to-preacher prayer for preparation, then moves to the key feature: a commentary on one or more texts for the week, exploring themes and storylines, theological reflections, and thoughts about how the text and topic relate to our lives today. Also included are ideas for bringing the text to life--stories, illustrations, ideas for further reading, questions the preacher might pose to the congregation, and suggestions for a ‘call to action’ in response to the message.Finally, for the preacher’s ongoing enrichment, the Annual includes excerpts from new books on preaching and homiletics. This helpful resource is written by every-week preachers who aim to come alongside you, offering a reliable starting point for your sermonic planning, writing, and delivery.
The Abingdon Worship Annual 2025: Worship Resources for Every Sunday of the Year
by B.J. Beu Mary ScifresThe go-to worship planning resource for all who plan weekly worship.The Abingdon Worship Annual 2025 is a practical, lectionary-based resource for leaders responsible for planning worship. This thoughtful sourcebook offers a weekly theme with meaningful prayers and fresh litanies following a traditional order of Christian worship: Invitation and Gathering Proclamation and Response Thanksgiving and Communion Sending ForthLiturgies and prayers are also included for special days, including New Year’s Day, Ascension Day, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Eve.The Annual includes helpful reminders for Christian-year planning—including liturgical colors—and a scripture index. The authors also provide in-depth guidance and practical ideas for this new age of worship, helping readers understand and weigh their options for worshiping in digital spaces and unconventional places.The Abingdon Worship Annual 2025 is a must-have sourcebook offering countless opportunities for planning meaningful and insightful worship.
Abortion and Catholicism in Britain: Attitudes, Lived Religion and Complexity (Palgrave Studies in Lived Religion and Societal Challenges)
by Sarah-Jane Page Pam LoweThis book details how British Catholic communities view abortion, highlighting the diversity of positions which often contrast with the official line of Catholic Church doctrine. The authors’ extensive qualitative investigation involving various Catholic constituents demonstrates the complex ways attitudes are formed. Based on interviews with priests, Catholic parishioners, anti-abortion activists and Catholics living in close proximity to activism, this book takes a lived religion approach to argue that attitudes and approaches to abortion are nuanced and contextual, with the Catholic concept of individual conscience playing a fundamental role in navigating abortion issues. Ultimately, this investigation helps to explore in much greater depth the increased liberalisation in attitudes among Catholics towards abortion, at a time when Catholic activism opposing abortion is growing, and therefore shines a light on the conflicts that are apparent at the heart of Catholic parishes. Thisbook will be of interest to scholars in Gender and Sexuality Studies, Sociology, Theology and Religious Studies.
The Abortionist of Howard Street: Medicine and Crime in Nineteenth-Century New York
by R.E. FultonJosephine McCarty had many identities. But in Albany, New York, she was known as "Dr. Emma Burleigh," the abortionist of Howard Street.On January 17, 1872, McCarty boarded a streetcar in Utica, New York, shot her ex-lover in the face, and disembarked, unaware that her bullet had passed through her target's head and into the heart of the innocent man sitting beside him. The unlucky passenger died within minutes. Josephine McCarty was arrested for attempted murder and quickly became the most notorious woman in central New York. The Abortionist of Howard Street was, however, far more than a murderer. In Maryland she was "Johnny McCarty," a blockade runner and spy for Confederate forces. New Yorkers whispered of her as a mistress to corrupt Albany politicians. So who was she?The prosecution in her murder trial claimed she was a calculating and heartless operative both in the bedroom and in her public life. Or was she the victim of ill fortune and the systemic weight of misogyny and male violence? The answer, of course, was not as simple as either narrative. In this absorbing and rich history, R.E. Fulton considers the nuances of Josephine McCarty's life from marriage to divorce, from financial abuse to quarrels with intimate partners and more, trying to decipher the truth behind the stories and myths surrounding McCarty and what ultimately led her to that Utica streetcar with a pistol in her dress pocket. In The Abortionist of Howard Street, Fulton revisites a rich history of women's experience in mid-nineteenth century America, revealing McCarty as a multifaceted, fascinating personification of issues as broad as reproductive health, education, domestic abuse, mental illness, and criminal justice.
Abraham Lincoln and Women in Film: One Hundred Years of Hollywood Mythmaking (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)
by Frank J. Wetta Martin A. NovelliFrank J. Wetta and Martin A. Novelli’s Abraham Lincoln and Women in Film investigates how depictions of women in Hollywood motion pictures helped forge the myth of Lincoln. Exploring female characters’ backstories, the political and cultural climate in which the films appeared, and the contest between the moviemakers’ imaginations and the varieties of historical truth, Wetta and Novelli place the women in Lincoln’s life at the center of the study, including his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln; his stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln; his lost loves, Ann Rutledge and Mary Owens; and his wife and widow, Mary Todd Lincoln. Later, while inspecting Lincoln’s legacy, they focus on the 1930s child actor Shirley Temple and the 1950s movie star Marilyn Monroe, who had a well-publicized fascination with the sixteenth president. Wetta and Novelli’s work is the first to deal extensively with the women in Lincoln’s life, both those who interacted with him personally and those appearing on screen. It is also among the first works to examine how scholarly and popular biography influenced depictions of Lincoln, especially in film.
Academic Success in Online Programs: A Resource for College Students (Springer Texts in Education)
by Jacqueline S. StephenThis book provides higher education students with a comprehensive resource to assist them in their academic persistence in an online course or program. It addresses a wide selection of topics emphasizing a myriad of factors that impact a student’s persistence, and ultimate success, in an online program or course. The book helps students to gain insight into the skills, knowledge, and attributes needed to succeed in the autonomous nature of an online learning environment. Thus, this book helps students to proactively engage in activities to prepare for online learning. Information presented in each chapter is drawn from theory and recent research centered on persistence of online students in higher education. It incorporates hands-on practical activities to promote application of theory and research, and encourages students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities through the use of reflective and thought-provoking activities. Hence, this book provides online students with an up-to-date resource they can use to develop an awareness of their readiness and preparedness for online learning. Additionally, this book equips students with information and strategies aimed at helping them to address gaps in their skills and knowledge that may present them with barriers to academic success. The content of this book is aligned with widely used student learning outcomes and objectives of first-year student seminar courses and orientation programs for graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in online programs. Furthermore, it is deliberately organized and structured to support an online student’s academic journey as they navigate the online learning environment. As such, these features make it an ideal book for use by students, instructors, and academic advisors or college and university academic support staff.
The Accidental CIO: A Lean and Agile Playbook for IT Leaders
by Scott MillettAn indispensable guide showing IT leaders the way to balance the needs of innovation and exploration with exploitation and operational reliability Many books on modern IT leadership focus solely on supporting innovation and disruption. In practice these must be balanced with the need to support waste reduction in existing processes and capabilities while keeping the foundation operational, secure, compliant with regulations, and cost effective. In The Accidental CIO, veteran software developer-turned-executive Scott Millett delivers an essential playbook to becoming an impactful, strategic leader at any stage of your IT leadership journey from your earliest aspirations to long time incumbents in director and C-suite roles. You’ll find a wealth of hands-on advice for tackling the many challenges and paradoxes that face technology leaders, from creating an aligned IT strategy, defining a target architecture, designing a balanced operating model, and leading teams and executing strategy. After the foreword from Simon Wardley, The Accidental CIO will help you: Understand problem contexts you will face using the Cynefin decision making framework, and how the philosophies of agile, lean and design thinking can help manage them. Design an adaptive and strategically aligned operating model by applying the appropriate ways of working and governance approaches depending on each unique problem context. Organize a department using a blend of holacratic and hierarchical principles, and leveraging modern approaches such as Team Topology and Socio-technical patterns. Develop and deploy an effective and aligned IT Strategy using Wardley mapping based on a deep knowledge of your business architecture. With this knowledge you’ll be ready to create an empowered IT organization focused on solving customer problems and generating enterprise value. You’ll understand the science behind what motivates teams and changes behavior. And you’ll show your skills as a business leader thinking beyond IT outputs to impactful business outcomes.
The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef
by Tom StrawA maverick celebrity chef reluctantly agrees to let the CIA use his hugely popular international food, culture, and travel TV series as cover for a dangerous espionage mission.When the CIA approaches celebrity chef Sebastian Pike about using his award-winning food and culture travel show as cover for espionage, the outspoken bad-boy host says no. When they point out how roaming the globe interviewing foodies, heads of state, rock stars, journalists-in-exile, poets, subversives, supermodels—even the pope—gives him perfect cover, Pike smiles and says, &“F@#! no.&” They push. Promising it&’s only one mission. Vowing he won&’t be in danger. Calling him the MVB: Most Valuable Bystander. They&’d embed their top agent in his crew to do the spy work. It&’s still no. But when they hit him with the patriotism card, he weakens. And when romantic sparks crackle between him and the female agent, Pike&’s all in, kicking off a romantic spy thriller in which the globetrotting celebrity chef uses his TV series to help sneak Putin&’s accountant out of Russia before he&’s exposed as a mole for US intelligence. The high-stakes mission quickly puts Pike in harm&’s way. So much for MVB. There&’s danger, there&’s double dealing, there&’s torture, there&’s shooting with real bullets. Plus, a minefield of complications from the hot romance that grows between Pike and his gutsy CIA handler-producer, Cammie Nova. From Paris to Provence, this chef is no bystander. Beyond their attraction, Pike and Nova become an operational team, not only to survive the perils they face but to pull off an operation fraught with one twist after another, capped by a shocking, emotional climax.
Accidentally Engaged to the Billionaire
by Cara ColterCould a spontaneous proposal lead to happy-ever-after? Find out in Cara Colter&’s latest Harlequin Romance!FROM BRIDESMAID TO BRIDE-TO-BE? Jolie arrived at her sister&’s wedding expecting to keep a low profile—as usual. Yet when her cheating ex makes a surprise appearance, she panics and introduces her school crush as her fiancé! Now she&’s accidentally engaged to billionaire Jay, whose dreamy eyes quickly banish any heartbreak. They agree that when the destination wedding week ends, so must their convenient arrangement. But what about their inconvenient attraction…?From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.
Accidentally Wearing the Argentinian's Ring (Diamonds of the Rich and Famous #1)
by Maya BlakeA fake engagement with this Cinderella's boss blurs the lines in this sizzling workplace romance by Maya Blake. A ring meant for another…is her perfect fit! Shy PA Mareka works hard to hide her attraction to her superrich boss, Cayetano Figueroa—until picking up his engagement ring. Unable to resist the dazzling diamond, she impulsively tries it on…and is caught on camera. Suddenly the world thinks she&’s Caye&’s bride! Tightly wound Caye is only marrying to keep control of his company. When the scandalous headlines cost him his convenient fiancée, Mareka is the obvious replacement. Yet as they're alone together in his opulent Argentinian estate, Caye must confront his hunger for the woman testing his self-control to its limit…From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.Read all the Diamonds of the Rich and Famous books: Book 1: Accidentally Wearing the Argentinian's Ring by Maya BlakeBook 2: Prince's Forgotten Diamond by Emmy GraysonBook 3: Her Billion-Dollar Bump by Dani Collins
Accountable and Explainable Methods for Complex Reasoning over Text
by Pepa AtanasovaThis thesis presents research that expands the collective knowledge in the areas of accountability and transparency of machine learning (ML) models developed for complex reasoning tasks over text. In particular, the presented results facilitate the analysis of the reasons behind the outputs of ML models and assist in detecting and correcting for potential harms. It presents two new methods for accountable ML models; advances the state of the art with methods generating textual explanations that are further improved to be fluent, easy to read, and to contain logically connected multi-chain arguments; and makes substantial contributions in the area of diagnostics for explainability approaches. All results are empirically tested on complex reasoning tasks over text, including fact checking, question answering, and natural language inference. This book is a revised version of the PhD dissertation written by the author to receive her PhD from the Faculty of Science, University ofCopenhagen, Denmark. In 2023, it won the Informatics Europe Best Dissertation Award, granted to the most outstanding European PhD thesis in the field of computer science.
Accounting for Healthcare: The Digital Transition to Value-Based Healthcare (Routledge Studies in Accounting)
by Gillian Vesty Miia Jansson Tarek Rana Kerryn Butler-HendersonIn an era where digital transformation is revolutionising every sector, the healthcare industry stands at a significant crossroad. With Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) at the core of this transition, the role of accountants is evolving dramatically. This book brings these pieces together to guide accountants and interested readers through the changing landscape.The book begins by demystifying VBHC and introducing the concept of digital health. It examines how the digital transition is impacting accountants in the healthcare sector, outlining their shifting roles from traditional data processors to strategic advisors. The chapters delve into a broad range of topics including performance evaluation, operational budgeting, capital investment, and the need for adaptability in dealing with technological advancements. Alongside this, it showcases how these changes are shaping the future of accounting in healthcare and the skills necessary to navigate these novel pathways.Targeted primarily at accountants, financial professionals in healthcare and health sector leaders, this book also serves as an accessible guide for those new to the subject. The readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the intersection of healthcare, accounting and digital technology, appreciating the value that adept accountants can bring to the VBHC journey. The book comes complete with real-world case studies, illuminating the complexities and rewards of VBHC's digital transition. Additionally, it includes supplementary materials to further enrich understanding, including a glossary of terms and online resources to explore the topics in depth.