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Climate Change in Regional Perspective: European Union and Latin American Initiatives, Challenges, and Solutions (United Nations University Series on Regionalism #27)
by Andrea Ribeiro Hoffmann Paula Sandrin Yannis E. DoukasThis Open Access book addresses climate change in Europe and Latin America from a comparative regionalism studies (CRS) perspective. Written by an international team of scholars and experts, chapters critically analyze proposals for mitigating climate change while contributing to the mutual understanding about the issues at stake across regions. The book is divided into three main sections. In the first section, authors discuss EU and Latin American cooperation, negotiations, and perspectives on climate change, exploring their agendas, the interests and key challenges at the global, regional and interregional levels. The second section focuses on the challenges to finance development and a greener economy. The third section explores new green solutions to climate change in the agriculture sector and initiatives such as nature-based solutions to climate change and best practices. Providing policy oriented solutions for combatting regional climate change at a critical juncture, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of international relations, international law, and environmental politics, as well as public officials and climate change activists.
Sickness in Health: Bullying in Nursing and other Health Professions
by Brenda HappellThis book informs students and practitioners of the health professions about workplace bullying and how to recognise it. The health professions have among the highest rates of bullying of any occupational group. This book shines a light on bullying and its very real human consequences for health professionals. Statistics about bullying in health present a disturbing picture. However, they don't convey the human impact on people who only want to do good for others. The author begins by telling how her experiences spurred her to write this book and then introduces the champions, twelve health professionals who contributed their stories. The book starts with the champions' decision to become a health professional, and then describes their bullying experiences, the impact on almost every aspect of their lives and careers, and how they tried to resolve or deal with the bullying. Some were still dealing with bullying, and all felt they had been forever changed by their experiences.The stories show that bullying is much more than the actions of a few, it is deeply embedded in the culture of institutions responsible for providing quality health care. Better preparation for leadership positions and independent processes for reporting unacceptable behaviours and actions are two suggestions for tackling bullying and its consequences. This book shows the necessity to expose these appalling behaviours and their human costs in order to address workplace bullying and create a healthy and safe environment for everyone in healthcare. This volume is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students, and practitioners of nursing and other health professions, the general public and other stakeholders of health services. It will enhance their understanding of, ability to recognise, and strategies to cope with, workplace bullying.
Speleology of Montenegro (Cave and Karst Systems of the World)
by Goran BarovicThis book represents a comprehensive overview of the caves and karsts of Montenegro, a small territory yet one of the fascinating areas regarding speleology. In Montenegro, there are more than 1500 karst wonders identified. Đalovića cave, with more than 20 km, ranks as the longest in the region. In the Maganika massif, Iron Cave also ranks first but because of its length reaching 1100 m. Montenegro's history is also connected to caves as two very popular and visited sanctuaries, monasteries built in the cave - Ostrog and Dajbabe. In another speleo-archaeological site, cave Red Rock, 32 layers with a measured age of 180,000 years, is highly relevant in Europe.
ENERGY 2040: Aligning Innovation, Economics and Decarbonization
by Deepak Divan Suresh SharmaAccess to energy is essential for our daily lives, economic growth, environment, and sustainability. However, our use of fossil fuels has contributed to global climate change, which poses a significant threat to society and life on this planet. Yet, it has been challenging to reconcile the perceived conflict between economics and climate change, which has created deep divisions in our society. ENERGY 2040: Aligning Innovation, Economics, and Decarbonization provides a holistic and comprehensive analysis of the ongoing energy transition and its underlying causes. It presents a viable path to meet the energy, economic, and climate goals by weaving together science, technology, economics, policy, entrepreneurship, and geopolitics. The book presents a captivating narrative that brings together a range of topics, including new and disruptive technologies with steep learning rates, the challenges of the future power grid, the democratization of energy, and reducing the timeline from science to impact at scale. It also explores the complex role of scientific research, disruptive deep tech, entrepreneurship, and policy in accelerating this energy transformation. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the future of energy. Whether you're a scientist, energy-industry practitioner, policymaker, investor, student, or concerned citizen, this book offers critical insights into the complex and evolving world of energy, innovation, decarbonization, and climate change.
The Economic Legacy of José Joaquín de Mora: Spreading Classical Political Economy in the Hispanic World (Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought)
by Jesús Astigarraga Javier Usoz Juan ZabalzaThis book examines the dissemination, adaptation, and application of classical economic ideas within the Hispanic world through the life of José Joaquín de Mora. Focusing on the decades surrounding the creation of the Latin American republics, it highlights how ideas from the classical political economy, including liberalism and free trade, were pioneered in the work of Mora and disseminated across the Spanish speaking world. Particular attention is given to the influence of Mora in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia and how he helped shape their economic development models and political environments.This book examines the essential role José Joaquín de Mora played in the ideological and political modernisation of Latin America. It will be of interest to students and researchers interested in the history of economic thought and the political economy.
Sustainable Finances and the Law: Between Public and Private Solutions (Economic Analysis of Law in European Legal Scholarship #16)
by Rute Saraiva Paulo Alves PardalSustainable (public and private) finance is closely interlinked with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The latter focus on enhancing the protection of both social and environmental assets at the local and global level, from the real economy and everyday life to financial markets and public policies, thereby laying the groundwork for a transition. Global sustainability challenges – including climate change, natural resource depletion, and rising inequality – are affecting the commercial environment and real economy in a way that presents both risks and opportunities for the private and public financial sectors. On the one hand, policymakers and investors (including banks and pensions funds) are increasingly recognizing the environment’s implications for the financial sector through both physical and transitional risks, producing impacts on financial services and products, not to mention corporate governance. On the other hand, governments and European and international institutions are aware of their sustainability-related responsibilities and the consequences of their actions. Both regulate and supervise financial markets but also use their budgetary and tax policies (e.g. carbon tax) and their participation in financial markets (e.g. green bonds and development banks) to overcome sustainability challenges. Therefore, the objective of this book is to help readers understand how private and public financial systems can be modified to create better value for society through sustainable approaches and initiatives such as the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment, procurement, and budgeting.
Plains Vizcachas: Biology and Evolution of a Peculiar Neotropical Caviomorph Rodent
by Luciano Luis Rasia Claudio Gustavo Barbeito Francisco AcuñaThe plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) is a remarkable rodent of the Neotropic given several peculiar aspects of its biology, some of them quite unique among rodents or even among mammals. This book gathers specialists studying plains vizcachas from very different approaches, including paleontology, systematics, morphology, physiology, development and conservation. It is divided in two Parts, 1) Evolutionary History, and 2) Morphology, Development and Physiology. It will surely be a required reading for any researcher working with caviomorph rodents, mastozoology of the Neotropics or internal anatomy and physiology of mammals.
Britain and the Dhofar War in Oman, 1963–1976: A Covert War in Arabia (Security, Conflict and Cooperation in the Contemporary World)
by Geraint HughesThis book explores Britain’s involvement in the Dhofar War of 1963-1976, focusing on the military aspects of this conflict in Southern Oman. It reveals how both the Conservative and Labour governments in office during this time provided military and security assistance to Oman’s rulers without parliamentary or press scrutiny. Based on archival material and witness accounts, as well as existing secondary source literature and memoirs, this study provides new insights into Britain’s clandestine embroilment in the Dhofar War, an often overlooked but historically significant intervention in the Middle East. This book will be a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in the complex and often controversial history of Britain’s involvement in Middle Eastern politics in the post-colonial period.
Established-Outsiders Relations in Poland: Reconfiguring Elias and Scotson (Palgrave Studies on Norbert Elias)
by Marta BucholcThis book uses Norbert Elias and John L. Scotson’s The Established and The Outsiders to map selected established-outsiders figurations in Poland after 1989. Looking at gender and sexual orientation, nationalism and patriotism, race and class, antifeminism and homophobia, elitist and populist imaginaries, religious and political ideals and ideologies, hate speech, and the crisis of the rule of law, this book tracks how inequalities are transformed into figurations of the have and the have-nots by way of spatial, symbolic and institutional exclusion. This edited collection is rooted in a socio-historical understanding of the trajectory of Polish society before and since the fall of Communism over thirty years ago, and a critical assessment of the dramatic turn that Polish society has taken since the beginning of the democratic backsliding in 2015.
Sustainable Tourism, Culture and Heritage Promotion: Development, Management and Connectivity (Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation)
by Jorge Chica-Olmo Miroslav Vujičić Rui Alexandre Castanho Uglješa Stankov Eliana MartinelliThis proceedings book explores future prospects of cultural, heritage, and religious tourism and how it can impact the socioeconomic complexity of a community and future developments. It includes chapters on contemporary digital age pilgrimage, digital interpretation as a management strategy, tourism in the era of digital communication, and the role of social media in conserving intangible cultural heritage. This book focuses on policies and mechanisms for heritage preservation. It includes cultural heritage tourism management, how the digitalization of data has impacted and further developed tourism, World Heritage classification in urban tourism destinations, cultural tourism products, and experiences. Moreover, it discusses the sustainable environment and geography in tourism. It covers topics such as ecotourism and rural sustainable development, heritage in socioeconomic sustainable development, and tourists' perceptions of tourism. Anotherpart of the book explores the social and economic impacts of tourism. It includes chapters on cycling tourism along the Elbe, residents' perceptions of the socioeconomic benefits of restaurants, architecture of historical mosques, tourism as a driver of soft power, tourists' perceptions of service quality, tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic, gastronomic narratives in tourism, and residents' perceptions of festivals. Also, it pinpoints the focus on user interaction-based development. It includes chapters on the role of community-led initiatives in heritage revitalization and addressing connectivity issues between historical and natural touristic heritage sites. These research papers provide valuable insights into the multidimensional nature of cultural sustainable tourism, covering a wide range of topics and offering diverse perspectives on its development, management, and impact.
Hybrid and Networked Dynamical Systems: Modeling, Analysis and Control (Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences #493)
by Romain Postoyan Paolo Frasca Elena Panteley Luca ZaccarianHybrid and Networked Dynamical Systems treats a class of systems that is ubiquitous in everyday life. From energy grids to fleets of robots or vehicles to social networks to biological networks, the same scenario arises: dynamical units interact locally through a connection graph to achieve a global task. The book shows how analysis and design tools can be adapted for control applications that combine the effects of network-induced interactions and hybrid dynamics with complex results.Following a scene-setting introduction, the remaining 12 chapters of the book are divided into three parts and provide a unique opportunity to describe the big picture that is the culmination of years of recent research activity. The contributing authors expand on their ideas at greater length than is possible in an archival research paper and use in-depth examples to illustrate their theoretical work.The widespread importance of hybrid and networked systems means that the book is of significant interest to academic researchers working in applied mathematics, control, and electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering and to their industrial counterparts.
Pediatric Neurosurgery: In Multiple-Choice Questions
by Samer S. Hoz Abdullah H. Al Ramadan Ian Pople Nada Mohammed Waeel O. Hamouda Ahmed El Damaty Mustafa IsmailThis book is the first review book to use the multiple-choice question format in pediatric neurosurgery. More than 500 MCQs are provided in a convenient format that is suitable for self-study.The mission of the book is to help readers understand the content and maintain the knowledge, rather than merely finding answers for complicated questions. The strategy and the format of the questions provide a step-by-step, thorough explanation of each disease from the definition, associated anatomy, pathology, clinical features, radiology to surgical decision-making, and surgical tricks, providing a comprehensive and concise overview. Answers and definitions appear immediately below the questions to facilitate information retention. It is an important asset for residents across neurosurgical disciplines as it includes much of the pediatric neurosurgery knowledge that neurosurgical residents need to prepare for their certification tests. It is also useful for those seeking ways to solidify their knowledge or maintain their current certification. This book is an adjunct to the existing texts and does not intend to be the primary source of information; it rather aims to help readers identify their relevant strengths and weaknesses in the area.
Effective and Equitable Teacher Practice in Mathematics and Science Education: A Nordic Perspective Across Time and Groups of Students (IEA Research for Education #14)
by Nani Teig Trude Nilsen Kajsa Yang HansenThis open access book presents original research on effective and equitable teacher practice in mathematics and science education across Nordic countries. It focuses on three key aspects of teacher practice: what teachers teach, how teachers teach, and how teachers assess their students.To provide a comprehensive understanding of teacher practice, data from the IEA’s Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) from 2011 to 2019 was analyzed. TIMSS provides large-scale and representative data, allowing an in-depth investigation of the relations between teachers, their practices, and student outcomes. The findings highlight the changes in teacher practice over time and the extent to which such changes explain the differences in student outcomes. This research also contributes to understanding how the relationships between teacher practice and student outcomes vary across different student groups (i.e., gender, socioeconomic status, and language background). The empirical evidence presented not only adds a significant layer to the academic discourse but also offers practical implications. These insights are crucial in facilitating educational policymaking and classroom practices aimed at improving student outcomes and closing gaps in educational inequality.
Religion, Mysticism, and Transcultural Entanglements in Modern South Asia: Towards a Global Religious History
by Soumen MukherjeeThis book explores the location of spirituality and mysticism in modern Indian religious and intellectual life. It examines select personalities and their ideas since the early twentieth century, their role in the interwoven spheres of socio-religious and political thought, and in burgeoning spiritual imaginaries, often at the intersection of academic and public discourse. As part of a global ecumene connected by affective bonds, these spiritual cosmopolitans often defied binary frameworks (East/ West; imperial core/ periphery; colonizer/ colonized), and in the upshot reappraised and recast the very concept of religion in response to overarching ‘this-worldly’ exigencies.
Rethinking U.S. World Power: Domestic Histories of U.S. Foreign Relations
by Daniel Bessner Michael BrenesSince the late-1990s, diplomatic historians have emphasized the importance of international and transnational processes, flows, and events to the history of the United States in the world. Rethinking U.S. World Power provides an alternative to these scholarly frameworks by assembling a diverse group of historians to explore the impact of the United States and its domestic history on U.S. foreign relations and world affairs. In so doing, the collection underlines that, even in a global age, domestic politics and phenomena were crucial to the history of U.S. foreign policy and international relations more broadly.
Gardening Behind Bars: Clinical Sociology and Food Justice in Incarcerated Settings (Clinical Sociology: Research and Practice)
by Sharon Lindhorst Everhardt Daniela Jauk-Ajamie Stephen B. Carmody Brenda I. GillThis book connects clinical sociology to the food justice movement through gardens in incarcerated settings. Situated within the larger food justice movement, the authors highlight the shortcomings of the global food system and the inequalities produced by the lack of adequate nutrition, particularly in the context of marginalized populations, such as those in carceral institutions. The book provides an up-to-date overview of horticulture programs in different incarcerated settings in the US, including prisons and community correction units, and provides in-depth discussion on innovative best-practice models. It also features a detailed analysis of an ongoing multi-site research project on gardening in incarcerated settings for women at local, state, and federal levels. Unlike other literature on prison and jail horticulture, this book contextualizes gardening in incarcerated settings with critical historical analysis, presenting the theoretical background to sociological action research projects. Serving as a starting point for establishing gardening as an evidence-based practice in prisons and jails, it is essential reading for researchers and practitioners of clinical sociology and social work, criminologists, prison and corrective institution administrators, and citizen groups interested in therapeutic gardening and alternatives to industrial prison food.
Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry
by Rick UbicThis textbook introduces readers to the language, concepts, and tools of crystallography, as well as many aspects of crystal chemistry. Important topics, such as bonding, electronegativity, lattice energy, symmetry operations, crystal defects, and structure-property relationships are covered. Worked examples are included where appropriate. By uniquely combining elements of crystallography and crystal chemistry, the text is a useful and accessible resource for students across many disciplines. Chapter summaries and example problems are included to optimize use by students and faculty in both graduate and undergraduate curricula. Historical context to relevant discoveries and biographical sketches of many of the scientists involved in the development of this field are also provided to expand the student’s knowledge of both solid-state science and scientists.
Schlaf, Persönlichkeit und soziales Verhalten
by Zlatan KrižanDas Ziel dieses Buches ist es, einen Überblick über das begrenzte wissenschaftliche Wissen darüber zu geben, wie Schlaf mit Persönlichkeit und Sozialverhalten zusammenhängt. Dieser Sammelband begründet ein neues interdisziplinäres Forschungsfeld zum Thema Schlaf, das Schlafprozesse im Zusammenhang mit sozialem Verhalten und sozial-kognitiven Prozessen (z. B. mögen, respektieren, helfen, verletzen, erreichen) sowie individuellen Unterschieden in der Persönlichkeit (d. h. chronische Muster von Gefühlen, Gedanken und Verhalten) untersucht. Die Autoren zeigen die wichtigsten Lücken in den wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen über den Schlaf und seine Bedeutung für persönlichkeitsbezogene und soziale Prozesse auf und wollen damit die künftigen Forschungsbemühungen von Wissenschaftlern aus den Bereichen Psychologie, Biologie, Soziologie und Schlafmedizin unterstützen.Zu den diskutierten Themen gehören:· Wie der Schlaf die Emotionsregulation beeinflusst· Schlaf und Temperament in der frühen Kindheit· Dynamik zwischen Schlaf und Selbstbeherrschung· Auswirkungen auf die Aufgabenerfüllung· Einfluss des Schlafs auf soziale Kognition und Urteilsvermögen'Schlaf, Persönlichkeit und soziales Verhalten' untersucht umfassend die Rolle des Schlafs bei Emotionen und Motivation, die Auswirkungen des Schlafs auf sozial-kognitive Prozesse, die Dynamik zwischen Schlaf und dem Funktionieren von Beziehungen, die Bedeutung des Schlafs für das Gruppenverhalten, die Rolle von Persönlichkeitsunterschieden beim Schlaf und die Rolle des Schlafs bei der Persönlichkeits- und Sozialentwicklung. Forscher aus den Bereichen Persönlichkeits- und Sozialpsychologie, Gesundheitspsychologie und Neurologie werden in diesem aufschlussreichen Buch die erheblichen Lücken im wissenschaftlichen Verständnis des Schlafs aufdecken.
Hydrology and Its Discontents: Contemplations on the Innate Paradoxes of Water Research
by John T. Van Stan II Jack SimmonsThis book examines the intricate web linking water science and society using diverse philosophical lenses. Highlighting the tensions within the threads of this web, we spotlight major conceptual tightropes that water researchers tread daily. To effectively navigate these delicate threads, a 'healthy' tension in the encompassing web is necessary. Drawing inspiration from Freud's examination of tensions in "Society and Its Discontents," we illuminate the tension-filled paradoxes inherent to water science, emphasizing the challenges in keeping these paradoxical threads taut enough to ensure a navigable and sustainable bond with society. Central to our narrative is the escalating societal urge to quantify and 'manage' water—something interwoven throughout every environmental layer, including the fabric of our being. An excessive focus on management may alienate users from their water realities, jeopardizing the vital threads that sustainability tether water science and society. Consequently, this book explores compelling and inescapable tensions that resist tidy universal resolution, such as: the language of water science, including its mathematical reductions (i.e., models); the effect of water's commodification on its science; hydrology’s intersection with colonialism; and other concerns that reveal distortions in our hydrology. We aim to aid water professionals in recognizing and fine-tuning the paradoxes intrinsic to their work. To underscore the interwoven complexity of contemporary hydrology, "Hydrology and Its Discontents" guides readers into the tempestuous depths of water research, all the while urging a recalibration of perspectives and motivations.
Primes and Particles: Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, Physics
by Martin H. KriegerMany philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians have wondered about the remarkable relationship between mathematics with its abstract, pure, independent structures on one side, and the wilderness of natural phenomena on the other. Famously, Wigner found the "effectiveness" of mathematics in defining and supporting physical theories to be unreasonable, for how incredibly well it worked. Why, in fact, should these mathematical structures be so well-fitting, and even heuristic in the scientific exploration and discovery of nature? This book argues that the effectiveness of mathematics in physics is reasonable. The author builds on useful analogies of prime numbers and elementary particles, elementary structure kinship and the structure of systems of particles, spectra and symmetries, and for example, mathematical limits and physical situations. The two-dimensional Ising model of a permanent magnet and the proofs of the stability of everyday matter exemplify such effectiveness, and the power of rigorous mathematical physics. Newton is our original model, with Galileo earlier suggesting that mathematics is the language of Nature.
Adversarial Multimedia Forensics (Advances in Information Security #104)
by Ehsan Nowroozi Kassem Kallas Alireza JolfaeiThis book explores various aspects of digital forensics, security and machine learning, while offering valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of multimedia forensics and data security. This book’s content can be summarized in two main areas. The first area of this book primarily addresses techniques and methodologies related to digital image forensics. It discusses advanced techniques for image manipulation detection, including the use of deep learning architectures to generate and manipulate synthetic satellite images. This book also explores methods for face recognition under adverse conditions and the importance of forensics in criminal investigations. Additionally, the book highlights anti-forensic measures applied to photos and videos, focusing on their effectiveness and trade-offs.The second area of this book focuses on the broader landscape of security, including the detection of synthetic human voices, secure deep neural networks (DNNs) and federated learning in the context of machine learning security. It investigates novel methods for detecting synthetic human voices using neural vocoder artifacts, and it explores the vulnerabilities and security challenges of federated learning in the face of adversarial attacks. Furthermore, this book delves into the realms of linguistic steganography and steganalysis, discussing the evolving techniques that utilize deep learning and natural language processing to enhance payload and detection accuracy.Overall, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the ever-evolving field of digital forensics and security, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and students interested in image forensics, machine learning security and information protection. It equips readers with the latest knowledge and tools to address the complex challenges posed by the digital landscape. Professionals working in this related field will also find this book to be a valuable resource.
Biohydrogen - Advances and Processes (Biofuel and Biorefinery Technologies #13)
by Carlos Ricardo Soccol Satinder Kaur Brar Kugenthiren Permaul Kannan Pakshirajan Júlio Cesar de CarvalhoThis book presents an introduction to biohydrogen production and the recent advances and developments of the cleanest biofuel produced from bioresources. Biohydrogen has the highest energy content relative to weight and burns cleanly – generating just water. It is the best choice for fuel cells, where it generates electricity directly, in its reaction with oxygen. Biohydrogen occurs naturally as part of digestive gases from mammals and can be produced in specially designed anaerobic biodigesters, or through photocatalysis with microalgae. The gas is also easy to purify and use. The economic production of biohydrogen is still full of challenges: From the efficient and rapid conversion of the substrate to storage, transportation, and safe use, there are several aspects that need to be developed. Research in this field is addressing the issue of efficient large-scale production from several directions: Substrate pretreatment to enhance digestibility, metabolic networks analysis, microbial diversity and succession to highlight constraints in production, bioreactor, and downstream design to improve throughput and reduce costs, to name a few. The ideas and technologies presented in this book contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. The book is written for researchers and students interested in biorefinery and biofuel technologies.
2nd International Conference on Smart Sustainable Materials and Technologies: Smart Sustainable Materials and Technologies (Volume 1) (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.
How to Solve Real-world Optimization Problems: From Theory to Practice (SpringerBriefs in Operations Research)
by Eugene J. ZakWritten by an experienced operations research practitioner with a strong applied mathematics background, this book offers practical insights into how to approach optimization problems, how to develop intelligent and efficient mathematical models and algorithms, and how to implement and deliver software products to customers. With a focus on revealing the similarities and differences between academia and industry in mathematical modeling, the book provides useful tips and advice based on the author’s extensive experience as a principal developer working to solve real-world optimization problems for several major high-tech companies.The book offers valuable food for thought for researchers and practical guidance for graduate students preparing for their future projects in the industry. It is also an essential resource for practitioners working in the industrial, business, and service sectors.
Value Chain Dynamics in a Biodiverse Environment: Advances in Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Agri-food Supply Chain Development (Cooperative Management)
by Konstadinos Mattas George Baourakis Constantin Zopounidis Christos StaboulisThis book offers comprehensive insights into the latest developments in biodiversity, sustainability, and agri-food supply chains, fostering an informed approach to policymaking decisions in the agriculture and agri-food industry within the global economy. By addressing key societal and environmental challenges, such as desertification, floods, epidemics, rising trade costs, and food insecurity, it presents pioneering research initiatives to guide informed decision-making. Addressing the inadequate sustainability performance of agri-food supply chains due to complex stakeholder interactions and conflicting objectives, the book includes chapters on mapping the Cretan vegetable supply chain, trade initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, cooperative member commitment, sustainable food consumption patterns, water resource management in Africa, value-chain development, a financial analysis of the brewery industry, and the value chain of carob-flour production. The book aims to promote biodiversity conservation by establishing sustainable supply chains in the global agri-food sector. Given its scope, the book is intended for a diverse audience, including academics, businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders.