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Memory and Social Movements in Modern and Contemporary History: Remembering Past Struggles and Resourcing Protest (Palgrave Studies in the History of Social Movements)
by Stefan Berger Christian KollerReflecting the growing interest of historians in memory studies, this edited collection examines the relationship between memory and global social movements from 1848 to the present. For a long time, there has been little attempt by historians to consider memory and social activism in an integrated, systematic, and comparative way. However, in recent years, scholars have demonstrated that social movements rely on collective memories to assert claims, mobilize supporters, and legitimize their political visions, while also helping to further shape collective memories. This book delves into the synergies between memory studies and social movements, exploring how social movements have been constructing and creating memories of their own activity, how specific landscapes of memory have influenced social movements, and how activists have used memory as a cultural resource to further their own goals and ambitions. The case studies presented cover a range of different types of political activism, including the fights for workers’, gay, feminist, and pacifist rights, as well as ecological, urban, and far-right movements across the globe, portraying the diverse interrelations that exist between social movements and collective memory.
Cooperation Between Companies and Non-profit Organizations: Taking Responsibility Together: Guidelines for Constructive, Credible and Transparent CSR Projects
by Gabriele Faber-Wiener Bettina GjecajThis book describes how cooperation between companies and non-profit organizations can be successfully structured. Companies want and need to take on more social responsibility, and joint projects with non-profit organizations are therefore more in demand than ever. This is not about maximizing profits through greenwashing or token commitments, but about serious corporate social responsibility projects and purpose strategies that strengthen the reputation on both sides. This requires a structured, transparent approach from the outset.The authors explain the theoretical basis and provide practical guidance on how the initiation of cooperation projects can lead to a credible and sustainable collaboration with added value for all stakeholders. An elementary part of the book is the "Code for Transparent Cooperation", a proven framework that can be applied directly in practice.A book for CSR, communication, marketing and compliance managers in companiesand non-profit organizations who strive for clear rules and an open dialogue at eye level.Anyone who acts as a credible driver of transformation would do well to operate sustainably themselves. Transparency creates credibility and reliability. The more an organization's goals shape the design of partnerships with companies, the more authentic they can appear to the outside world. This guide provides helpful tips and orientation on how to achieve coherence.Dipl.theol. Yvonne Zwick, Chairwoman of B.A.U.M. e.V. - Network for Sustainable Management, HamburgNon-profit organizations are central pillars of our society. Especially in times of disruption and change, their performance is of increasing importance. The prerequisite for this is independence - also in cooperation with companies. This book helps companies and non-profit organizations to understand their counterparts and establish stable collaborations.Dr. Günther Lutschinger, Managing Director of Fundraising Association Austria, ViennaThe time for lone wolves is over. If we are to achieve the Paris climate targets, companies must offer profitable solutions for people and the planet. It's all about: How do I tackle it? The new book by Gabriele Faber-Wiener and Bettina Gjecaj focuses in particular on partnerships with non-profit organizations and aims to prepare the ground for successful collaboration.Daniela Knieling, Managing Director respACT and Network Representative Global Compact Network Austria, ViennaCredibility, responsibility and transparency are the guarantee and basis for the sustainable development of companies. A thriving, trusting cooperation between companies and non-profit organizations helps to answer political and social questions and is a profound approach to solving complex ecological problems.Ernst Ternon, MBA MSc MSc, Head of Green Marketing, Wieselburg Campus, Wiener Neustadt University of Applied Sciences
Musical Composition: Craft and Art
by Alan BelkinAn invaluable introduction to the art and craft of musical composition from a distinguished teacher and composerThis essential introduction to the art and craft of musical composition is designed to familiarize beginning composers with principles and techniques applicable to a broad range of musical styles, from concert pieces to film scores and video game music. The first of its kind to utilize a style-neutral approach, in addition to presenting the commonly known classical forms, this book offers invaluable general guidance on developing and connecting musical ideas, building to a climax, and other fundamental formal principles. It is designed for both classroom use and independent study.
Polymer Composites: From Computational to Experimental Aspects (Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials)
by Sushanta K. Sethi Hariome Sharan Gupta Akarsh VermaThis book is intended to shed light on the computational modeling and experimental techniques that are used in the characterization of various polymer based composite materials. It covers mechanisms, salient features, formulations, important aspects, and case studies of polymer composite materials utilized for various applications. The latest research in this area as well as possible avenues of future research is also highlighted to encourage the researchers.
Auswirkungen der Cookieless Future auf Onlinevideovermarkter: Bedeutung von Drittanbietercookies für den Onlinevideowerbemarkt und seine Akteure (essentials)
by Miriam Goetz Paula LippertDrittanbietercookies ermöglichen Vermarktern eine fundierte Kampagnenanalyse und Zielgruppenbestimmung. Welche Auswirkungen hat der Wegfall von Cookies auf sie? Das essential beschreibt zunächst Cookies und deren aktuelle Einsatzfelder. Auf Basis von Experteninterviews mit Branchenkennern folgt dann ein Ausblick, welche Chancen und Risiken mit dem Wegfall der Cookies für die Vermarkterbranche und Endverbraucher einhergehen und welche Alternativen zu Drittanbietercookies existieren.
Recent Advances on the Mechanical Behaviour of Materials: Computational Modelling, Theory, and Experiments (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #462)
by Erick I. Saavedra Flores Rodrigo Astroza Raj DasThis book is a collection of papers presented at the 14th International Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Materials (ICM-14) held in Santiago, Chile, July 12–14, 2023. The mechanical properties of materials play a critical role in industrial and economic development. Advances in this field present significant challenges for current researchers in both industry and academia. The topics covered include mechanics of materials at the nano- and macro-scale, including metals, composites, ceramics, computational mechanics, dynamics, material processing, optimization, and biomechanics. The scope of materials of interest includes both industrial materials and those under development or used in specific applications. Some specific subjects include general mechanical behavior and constitutive models, mathematical modeling of materials, nano- and micro-mechanics, plasticity, computational mechanics, computational materials design, optimization of structures and materials, multi-scale modeling, and various specific materials such as biomaterials, high-temperature materials, and composites.
Nonlinear Differential Equations and Applications: Portugal-Italy Conference on NDEA, Évora, Portugal, July 4–6, 2022 (CIM Series in Mathematical Sciences #7)
by Hugo Beirão da Veiga Feliz Minhós Nicolas Van Goethem Luís Sanchez RodriguesThis proceedings volume gathers selected, carefully reviewed works presented at the Portugal-Italy Conference on Nonlinear Differential Equations and Applications (PICNDEA22), held on July 4-6, 2022, at the University of Évora, Portugal.The main focus of this work lies in non-linear problems originating in applications and their treatment with numerical analysis. The reader will also find new advances on topics such as ordinary and partial differential equations, numerical analysis, topological and variational methods, fluid mechanics, operator theory, stability, and more.The Portugal-Italy Conference on Nonlinear Differential Equations and Applications convenes Italian and Portuguese researchers in differential equations and their applications to amplify previous collaboration and to follow and discuss new topics in the area. Reflecting the increasing teamwork involving the two mathematical communities, the conference has been opened to researchers from all nationalities.While researchers in analysis and related fields are the primary readership of this volume, PhD students can rely on this book as a valuable source to keep pace with recent advances in differential equations and cutting-edge applications.
Digital Resilience: Navigating Disruption and Safeguarding Data Privacy (EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing)
by Shishir Kumar Shandilya Agni Datta Yash Kartik Atulya NagarThis book offers an in-depth overview of digital resilience, defined as the ability of individuals, organizations, and societies to adapt to and counter various digital threats such as cyberattacks, data breaches, and other forms of cyber threats. Digital resilience not only enables proactive measures but also ensures fault-tolerant planning and design. The book elaborates on the necessary techniques and methods to achieve digital resilience. Key methodologies, including quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography, nature-inspired cybersecurity, zero-trust systems, zero-knowledge proofs, multi-party computation, and the emerging field of space security, are discussed in detail. The book provides insights into artificial intelligence and machine learning, examining their impact on society and organizations. It critically analyses the role of cybersecurity in businesses, emphasizing its importance for safety and economic stability. In addition, the book discusses notable cyber incidents, offering valuable insights into digital resilience. It serves as a comprehensive compilation, featuring key terms, definitions, case studies, and references to existing literature and research in cybersecurity, analytics, information sciences, future computing, digital resilience, and related fields.
Mathematical Modeling and Control in Life and Environmental Sciences: Regional Control Problems (Modeling and Simulation in Science, Engineering and Technology)
by Sebastian Aniţa Vincenzo Capasso Simone ScacchiThis monograph explores the use of mathematical modeling and control theory in a variety of contemporary challenges in mathematical biology and environmental sciences. Emphasizing an approach of learning by doing, the authors focus on a set of significant case studies emerging from real-world problems and illustrate how mathematical techniques and computational experiments can be employed in the search for sustainable solutions.The following topics are extensively discussed:Eradicability and control of a paradigmatic epidemic model, with a view to the existence of endemic states, their stability, and the existence of travelling wavesA spatially structured epidemic model concerning malaria as an example of vector-borne epidemicsOptimal harvesting problems for space-structured and age-structured population dynamicsControlling epidemics in agriculture due to pest insectsThe role of predators as a possible biocontrol agent of epidemics in agricultureControl by taxation of the environmental pollution produced by human activitiesThe originality of this text is in its leitmotif – regional control – along the principle of “Think Globally, Act Locally.” Indeed, for example, in many real spatially structured ecosystems, it is practically impossible to control the relevant system by global interventions in the whole habitat.Proofs are given whenever they may serve as a guide to the introduction of new concepts. Each chapter includes a comprehensive description of the numerical methods used for the computational experiments, and MATLAB© codes for many of the numerical simulations are available for download. Several challenging open problems are also provided to stimulate future research.This text is aimed at mathematicians, engineers, and other scientists working in areas such as biology, medicine, and economics. Graduate and advanced undergraduate students of a quantitative subject related to the analysis and applications of dynamical systems and their control will also find it to be a valuable resource.
COVID-19 Impact on Tourism Performance in Africa
by Peter ChihwaiThis book examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism performance in Africa. It covers a wide range of topics that will interest academic readers and researchers, including the effects of COVID-19 on various segments of the tourism sector. The aim is to provide a deeper understanding of the damage caused by the pandemic, enriching future research based on the findings and conclusions presented in the book. The research presented in this book is new and original, representing different perspectives from across Africa's 52 countries. It offers valuable insights for the business world on how to adapt and adopt communication strategies during crises such as COVID-19. Themes such as innovation, service quality, and continuous improvement during the pandemic are explored, providing lessons that can benefit the tourism industry in navigating similar challenges in the future. Additionally, the book discusses the future of tourism, presenting various perspectives on what the future holds for the tourism industry. This provides an exciting platform for tourism stakeholders to learn about the future of the sector from diverse and knowledgeable angles. The unique perspectives offered, especially those from Africa, will appeal to a wide and diverse audience, including ecotourists, educational tourists, adventure tourists, governments, academics, and other stakeholders.
Die Transformation von Organisationen im öffentlichen und privaten Sektor: Umsetzung eines nachhaltigen Zwecks, von einer Organisation auf der Reise und von Konnektivität für Resilienz
by Peter Wollmann Reto PüringerDas Buch befasst sich mit einem expliziten Bedarf, der in einer großen Anzahl von Interviews mit Führungskräften auf Vorstandsebene geäußert wurde: der Bewältigung bedeutender Transformationen im privaten und öffentlichen Sektor. Das Buch beschreibt, welche Arten von Transformationen berücksichtigt werden müssen, warum Transformationen in unserer Zeit entscheidend sind, welche Auslöser sie haben und wie sie am besten aus theoretischer und praktischer Sicht - technisch und mit allen mit Menschen verbundenen Soft Facts - gemanagt werden können. Das Buch, das zahlreiche Anwendungsfälle enthält, wurde von einer internationalen Gemeinschaft von Praktikern, Experten und Akademikern aus verschiedenen geografischen Regionen, Ländern, öffentlichen und privaten Organisationen, Branchen und Kulturen verfasst. Dies garantiert die Breite und Vielfalt der entwickelten Erkenntnisse und den Wert der präsentierten Anwendungsfälle.
Commercial Astronauts: The Next Generation of Spacefarers (Springer Praxis Books)
by Erik SeedhouseThe beginning of the 2020’s witnessed dozens of commercial astronauts fly to space on a variety of vehicles. These spacecraft included SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which supported the Inspiration4 and Axiom Space missions, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, which supported several suborbital science flights, and Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, which not only flew celebrities but also its fair share of commercial astronauts. The story of this new breed of spacefarer has only just begun. As evidenced by these missions, commercial spaceflight has grown beyond passengers simply traveling to space just for the ride. With orbital flights involving commercial astronauts staying in space for several days and weeks, companies such as Sierra Space, Axiom Space and Blue Origin are preparing for the next steps in commercial space travel which include the construction of orbiting habitats. But how will the opportunities for commercial astronauts develop, how will they be trained, and will this new group of astronauts evolve? This book describes how the commercial spaceflight industry is evolving, how it will continue to evolve as barriers to entry are reduced, competition grows, and costs are lowered, and how, because of these efforts, opportunities for commercial astronauts will increase.
Advances in Remanufacturing: Proceedings of the VII International Workshop on Autonomous Remanufacturing (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering)
by Marcello Fera Mario Caterino Roberto Macchiaroli Duc Truong PhamThis book features the papers presented at IWAR 2023. The overall objective of the event was to bring together international scientists and engineers to bridge the academic and industrial worlds in the field of remanufacturing. Various themes related to remanufacturing, including methods for operations management, methodologies for quality assessment and life cycle assessment, the integration of robots in remanufacturing, and the use of modern I4.0 technologies in a remanufacturing context among others were addressed. This book is intended for academics, graduate students, researchers, as well as industrial practitioners engaged in the field of remanufacturing.
Economic Informality and World Literature (New Comparisons in World Literature)
by Josh JewellThis book analyses the impact of economic informality on the novel form across the modern world-system, looking specifically at works by Antonio de Almeida, Machado de Assis, Dany Laferrière, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Nadine Gordimer, and Masande Ntshanga. It sees the representation of informal economies as a structural homology of world-literature. In chapters on the figure of the agregado in the nineteenth-century Brazilian novel; sex work in Haitian fiction; the politics of the informal economy in the post-apartheid South African novel; and Ngugi’s representation African occult economies, Josh Jewell explores the relationship between the rise of improvised economic activity—and its consolidation under neoliberalism in postcolonial nations—and literary form. He shows how informal economies can be grasped as locations of strategy and improvisation whose subjects must shift constantly between officialdom and underground networks; between the realms of the licit and illicit. This produces highly heterogenous narratives oscillating between different tones and registers (unserious and tragic), social spaces (working-class and elite), and conceptions of reality. By comparing the various situated aesthetics of informality, this book instrumentalises the Warwick Research Collective’s compelling but nebulous idea of a world-literature that “variously registers” a “singular modernity”.
Endogenous Community Design: Community Revitalization Enabling Ecosystem for Collective Impact (International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice)
by Tao ChenThis book is a comprehensive exploration of endogenous community building, aiming to investigate how to create a vibrant, service-integrated, and sustainable community through collective impact approaches. It’s a guide to social innovation that combines theory and practical application. In terms of theory, it constructs concepts such as endogenous community, endogenous design system, life project platform and enabling ecosystem. In practice, it offers design methods and a toolkit for collective impact to enhance community resilience and capacity through service co-creation. This book provides readers with a systematic guide to endogenous community design, ranging from conceptual understanding and theoretical models to practical methodologies. Its aim is to build a sociotechnical system from the bottom-up to address complex issues.This book is ideal for community leaders, government officials, NGOs, urban planners, social innovators, and anyone passionate about sustainable community development.
The de Sitter: An Introduction to Elementary Systems and Modeling the Dark Energy Universe (Synthesis Lectures on Mathematics & Statistics)
by Mohammad Enayati Jean-Pierre Gazeau Hamed Pejhan Anzhong WangThis Second Edition is a comprehensive update, integrating the latest research and theoretical advancements in the field of de Sitter (dS) group representations. Building on the success of the first edition, the book offers a more in-depth analysis of mathematical aspects, conceptual foundations, and practical implications related to the dS group, including its Lie manifold, Lie algebra, and co-adjoint orbits, viewing the latter as potential classical elementary systems within the context of dS spacetime. Additionally, the examination of unitary irreducible representations (UIRs) sheds light on the potential existence of quantum elementary systems within the dS spacetime framework. The authors emphasize consistency with Wigner's approach to elementary systems, incorporate Wigner's principles and exploring projective UIRs of the dS group, and provide a deeper insight into the nature of dS elementary systems. Particular attention is paid to: the “smooth” transition from classical to quantum theory, the physical content under vanishing curvature, and the thermal interpretation from a quantum perspective. The book also focuses on the physical interpretation of elementary systems in curved spacetimes, recognizing the limitations of traditional concepts derived from flat Minkowski spacetime and the Poincaré group.
Upper Echelons’ Naturalistic Decision-Making and Top Management Team Macrocognition in a High Reliability Organization
by Leonie LooserThe book analyzes crisis decision-making of a major German airline's operational top management team during the Covid-19 crisis. The operational top manager's relevant decision-making entity, the crisis management team, was faced with substantial time-critical decisions in volatile circumstances as well as the need to balance ambidextrous exigencies with the operation's short-term survival as well as its future viability. The author applies her ethnographic perspective and develops an analysis based on the unique combination of naturalistic decision-making, top management team research, high reliability organizations and ambidexterity as well as team diversity. The work is targeted at both management professionals, as it identifies best pratices and learnings from a polycrisis case, as well as researchers, as it makes a novel contribution to decision-making in the context of high reliability organizations.
13th International Munich Chassis Symposium 2022: Volume 1: chassis.tech plus (Proceedings)
by Peter PfefferThe increasing automation of driving functions and the electrification of powertrains present new challenges for the chassis with regard to complexity, redundancy, data security, and installation space. At the same time, the mobility of the future will also require entirely new vehicle concepts, particularly in urban areas. The intelligent chassis must be connected, electrified, and automated in order to be best prepared for this future.ContentsRedundant Systems and Testing.- New Systems and Concepts.- New Chassis and Systems.- Simulators.- Automated Driving: Development Methods.- Automated Driving: Driver and Security.- Steer-by-Wire.- Environmental Aspects.- New Brake Concepts and Methods.- Environmental Aspects.- Tires and the Environment.- Innovations in Tires and Wheels.- Vehicle Dynamics.- Digital Development.- Future Brake Systems.- Tires and Virtual Development.-Target audiencesAutomotive engineers and chassis specialists as well as students looking for state-of-the-art information regarding their field of activity - Lecturers and instructors at universities and universities of applied sciences with the main subject of automotive engineering - Experts, researchers and development engineers of the automotive and the supplying industry.PublisherATZ live stands for top quality and a high level of specialist information and is part of Springer Nature, one of the leading publishing groups worldwide for scientific, educational and specialist literature.PartnerTÜV SÜD is an international leading technical service organisation catering to the industry, mobility and certification segment.
Making Sense of Large Social Media Corpora: Keywords, Topics, Sentiment, and Hashtags in the Coronavirus Twitter Corpus
by Antonio Moreno-OrtizThis open access book offers a comprehensive overview of available techniques and approaches to explore large social media corpora, using as an illustrative case study the Coronavirus Twitter corpus. First, the author describes in detail a number of methods, strategies, and tools that can be used to access, manage, and explore large Twitter/X corpora, including both user-friendly applications and more advanced methods that involve the use of data management skills and custom programming scripts. He goes on to show how these tools and methods are applied to explore one of the largest Twitter datasets on the COVID-19 pandemic publicly released, covering the two years when the pandemic had the strongest impact on society. Specifically, keyword extraction, topic modelling, sentiment analysis, and hashtag analysis methods are described, contrasted, and applied to extract information from the Coronavirus Twitter Corpus. The book will be of interest to students and researchers in fields that make use of big data to address societal and linguistic concerns, including corpus linguistics, sociology, psychology, and economics.
The Economics of the Popular Music Industry: Modelling from Microeconomic Theory and Industrial Organization
by Christie ByunThis book uses economic theory to explain how consumers and producers have responded to major changes in the music industry. Byun examines the important role of technology in changing its structure, particularly as new methods of creating and accessing music prove to be a double-edged sword for creators and producers. This second edition includes new information about concert attendance and live performance in the COVID era and what followed, as well as the resultant economic impacts on the industry. Throughout the book, Byun questions how the business of music affects creativity and the extent to which this impacts the creative output of the individual artist. Chapters also address copyright enforcement and online piracy. This is an approachable resource for economists interested in the music industry as well as business and music majors studying the ways in which technology can impact a creative process.
The War Against Ukraine and the EU: Facing New Realities
by Claudia Wiesner Michèle KnodtThis open access book aims at discussing the manifold consequences that the War against Ukraine bears for the European Union and EU Studies. It takes stock of the fact that the Russian Attack on Ukraine and the ensuing War not only affects the Global Order, but also has challenged a number of established narratives and convictions for the European Union and its member states. The EU now needs to position itself in the changing world order. Concretely it needs to deal with a number of membership applications, internal and external challenges to liberal democracy, and the development of its strategic autonomy in a number of decisive policy fields. The book convenes experienced scholars, with chapters covering the following themes and fields: Theories, approaches and concepts in EU studies and IR; the EU and the changing European and Global Order; the War and defence of liberal democracy; Membership Politics; Energy Policy.
International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics 2022: Proceedings of ICBHI 2022, November 24–26, 2022, Concepción, Chile (IFMBE Proceedings #108)
by Esteban Pino Ratko Magjarević Paulo De CarvalhoThis book covers current advances and challenges in biomedical and health informatics. It reports on the latest technologies and on strategies and concepts to implement them for medicine, health and education. Contributions deals with a range of topics, including artificial intelligence and precision medicine, e-health and training, medical devices and wearables, and medical imaging. Gathering the proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics (ICBHI 2022), held on November 24–26, 2022, in Concepción, Chile, this books provides academics and professionals with a timely snapshot of the digital transformation in the field of medicine.
Lecture Notes, Worksheets, and Exercises for Basic Anatomy and Physiology
by Martin CaonThis volume contains twenty-six lectures on basic anatomy and physiology for first-year university students. Topics included are standard for anatomy and physiology courses, including cells and tissues, a brief review of chemistry, thermoregulation and homeostasis, the musculo-skeletal system, structure and function of blood vessels, respiration, the reproductive system, and more.Also included are sixteen worksheets with homework exercises that complement the lectures. Suggested answers to all the worksheets are also included at the end of the book.This is an ideal book for professors teaching basic anatomy and physiology courses as well as researchers, students, and professionals looking to brush up on the subject. The book complements the already published, Martin Caon (2020) “Examination Questions and Answers in Basic Anatomy and physiology: 2900 Multiple Choice Questions and 64 Essay Topics. 3rd Ed.” Springer ISBN 978-3-030-47313-6
Lead-Management: Prozesse – Menschen – Daten (essentials)
by Ulrich Vossebein Gabriele Hildmann Stefan WenglerLead-Management ist eine der großen Herausforderungen im Vertrieb, da die Neukundengewinnung immer bedeutsamer wird. Dieses essential erläutert, wie durch den parallelen Ausbau der drei Basisdimensionen: Prozesse, Menschen und Daten Lead-Exzellenz erreicht werden kann. Hierzu sind zunächst die Rahmenbedingungen zu analysieren und zu bewerten. Anschließend müssen die Prozesse in eine Prozesslandkarte eingebunden, die Kompetenzprofile den neuen Anforderungen angepasst und die Datenbasis vervollständigt werden. Eine umfangreiche Checkliste zeigt auf, wie Unternehmen bei der Einführung oder Überarbeitung ihres bereits existierenden Lead-Managements sinnvollerweise vorgehen sollten.
Integrated Solutions for Smart and Sustainable Environmental Conservation (Studies in Systems, Decision and Control #527)
by Jamal Mabrouki Mourade AzrourResource depletion and ecological risks are more than ever at the heart of societal and economic debates. In the 1970s, the developed countries saw the Fordist growth regime crumble in parallel with the growing awareness of the ecological issue. Since the first industrial revolutions, technological dynamics have been the cause of many environmental problems, and there is a consensus on the diagnosis. Integrated technologies reduce resource use and/or pollution at source by using cleaner production methods. This generally leads to a reduction in the by-products, energy inputs and resources used by companies to produce goods. Integrated production technologies reduce negative environmental impacts at source by substituting or modifying cleaner technologies. Examples of integrated, or cleaner, production technologies are the recirculation of materials, the use of environmentally friendly materials (such as the substitution of water for organic solvents), etc. However, the implementation of integrated production technologies is often hampered by obstacles related to cost, coordination and skill inertia problems and to the productive organisation of companies. In addition to the high investment costs of new integrated technologies, additional barriers may emerge depending on the nature of the environmental problem and the type of environmental regulation in question.