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Improving Operating Leverage Using Hyperautomation: Unlock Strategic Advantages Across Banking and Non-Banking Financial Institutions
by Kannan Subramanian RImproving operating leverage is about operational resilience, structural operational efficiency, and sustainable revenue growth. Activity-based enterprise non-interest cost management is an important component of enterprise risk adjusted return management methodology. This book builds on the author Kannan Subramanian’s earlier book, Event- and Data-Centric Enterprise Risk-Adjusted Return Management, delving in depth into enterprise non-interest operating cost management and operating leverage. Operating Leverage is about managing a bank’s capabilities and its capacity to deliver its products and services efficiently. It is not limited to managing operational costs but includes the operational support for the growth of business and for improving profitability. Profit is an absolute measure that denotes the amount of money the bank makes after deducting all expenses. Profitability measures how efficient the bank is at utilizing its resources to generate risk-adjusted returns. The reader can learn to improve risk adjusted operational effectiveness by implementing a nuanced approach to managing performance, risk, control, and cost simultaneously, at the process level. You’ll examine how some institutions have implemented activity-based costing in a siloed environment and without enterprise process automation. Many institutions do not have a scientific way of managing non-interest costs. The book explains why hyperautomation, a technology that intelligently automates business processes, is a more advanced and comprehensive way to manage these factors in a holistic and integrated way. Improving Operating Leverage using Hyperautomation is your complete guide to enhancing risk adjusted operational performance through a nuanced approach to performance, risk, control, and costs at the process level. What You Will Learn Define and use the bill of resources to improve operating leverage. Implement activity-based enterprise non-interest cost management using hyperautomation Monitor performance, risk, control, and cost at the process level. Implement time-driven activity-based costing for an enterprise risk-adjusted return model. Who This Book Is For Most banking industry professionals, including senior management teams, consultants, central bankers, financial regulators, software vendors, and Business Process Management Suite/Hyperautomation technology vendors.
Mastering the Snowflake SQL API with Laravel 10: A Comprehensive Guide to Data Cloud Integrated Development (Apress Pocket Guides)
by Ronald SteelmanThis book is your essential guide to mastering Snowflake’s SQL API, offering a comprehensive understanding of this powerful tool. In today’s data-driven world, robust, flexible, and scalable solutions are crucial, and Snowflake’s Data Cloud platform is a game-changer in cloud data warehousing and analytics. The book includes examples using both Snowflake and the Laravel PHP Framework, assuming basic knowledge of SQL and Laravel. Key topics include SQL API development, SQL basics, advanced techniques, data security, performance tuning, best practices for data warehousing, integrations, real-world use cases, future trends in data analytics, and leveraging PHP in Laravel for dynamic web applications. This book equips you with the skills to unlock insights, make data-driven decisions, and stay ahead in your industry. Whether you’re aiming to advance your career, enhance your organization’s data infrastructure, or confidently make data-driven decisions, Mastering Snowflake SQL API with Laravel 10 is a must-have resource for excelling in integrated data analytics and cloud data warehousing. What You Will Learn Master SQL fundamentals and advanced techniques Explore data loading, security, and performance optimization Keep up-to-date on best practices for efficient data warehousing Gain insights into real-word use cases Prepare for future Snowflake and data innovations Who This Book is For Data professionals, IT managers, business executives, students, and data enthusiasts.
Anthropological Thought: From Evolutionism to Postmodernism and Beyond
by Vijoy S. SahayThe volume explores how anthropological ideas emerged. First, in the writings of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers; after that, by the Renaissance scholars during the 18th century in Europe; and finally, during the mid-19th century, especially after Charles Darwin's theory of biological evolution. It covers the contributions of all the evolutionists of the 19th century. It explores the evolution of anthropological schools, from 'Evolutionism' to 'Diffusionism' and beyond. It also discusses diverse perspectives, such as 'Historical and Dialectical Materialism,' 'Functionalism,' 'Structural-Functionalism,' 'Cultural Ecology,' and 'Cognitive Anthropology. Concepts like Ethnocentrism and culture provide a rich tapestry of anthropological thought. It discusses the lives and contributions of renowned anthropologists, from E.B. Tylor to Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida. This book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and instructors in social sciences, offering a nuanced understanding of anthropology, sociology, and psychology.
Multidimensional Signal Processing: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on 3D Imaging Technologies—Multidimensional Signal Processing and Deep Learning, Volume 1 (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies #400)
by Srikanta Patnaik Roumen Kountchev Roumiana Kountcheva Yingkai LiuThis book presents high-quality research in the field of 3D imaging technology. The fifth edition of International Conference on 3D Imaging Technology (3DDIT-MSP&DL) continues the good traditions already established by the first four editions of the conference to provide a wide scientific forum for researchers, academia, and practitioners to exchange newest ideas and recent achievements in all aspects of image processing and analysis, together with their contemporary applications. The conference proceedings are published in two volumes. The main topics of the papers comprise famous trends such as: 3D image representation, 3D image technology, 3D images and graphics, and computing and 3D information technology. In these proceedings, special attention is paid at the 3D tensor image representation, the 3D content generation technologies, big data analysis, and also deep learning, artificial intelligence, the 3D image analysis and video understanding, the 3D virtual and augmented reality, and many related areas. The first volume contains papers in 3D image processing, transforms, and technologies. The second volume is about computing and information technologies, computer images, and graphics and related applications. The two volumes of the book cover a wide area of the aspects of the contemporary multidimensional imaging and the related future trends from data acquisition to real-world applications based on various techniques and theoretical approaches.
Sustainable Urban Development through Agriculture in Shanghai, China: A Mixed Methods Research (SpringerBriefs in Economics)
by Lily Kiminami Shinichi Furuzawa Yingjie GeThis book explores how the development of innovative urban agricultural businesses is creating social innovation and changing the perception and behavior of urban residents, with a focus on Shanghai, China, a global city that has achieved economic growth amid rapid urbanization. Latent class analysis, cognitive map analysis, and structural equation modeling were introduced in this research to evaluate the results of a questionnaire survey of urban residents' sense of community and community garden initiatives. Qualitative analyses such as the trajectory equifinality model were applied to cases of social entrepreneurs in urban agriculture as a creative class. The analytical results revealed that urban agriculture can contribute to the quality of urban life. In addition, the results made clear that diverse strategies are implemented in urban agriculture, bringing about changes in the urban sociocultural environment, such as the interaction among social entrepreneurs and stakeholders, including urban residents and policy makers. The government should implement policies and measures that transform the socio-cultural environment, encompassing gender issues, in order to achieve the well-being of urban residents. It is extremely important for policy makers to understand residents' true needs and their diversity, and to effectively reflect them in urban planning and project implementation.
Green Carbon Quantum Dots: Environmental Applications (Engineering Materials)
by Vijay Kumar Pardeep Singh Devendra Kumar SinghThis book highlights the environmental applications of plant-mediated carbon quantum dots, i.e., detection of heavy metals, sensing of toxic organic compounds, degradation of dyes and other toxic compounds, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, detection of drugs, etc. This book presents the chemistry and mechanism behind the synthesis and various environmental applications of QDs. This book is beneficial for researchers, professionals and students working in the fields of environmental sciences, material engineering, electronics, chemical engineering, biochemical and biomedical engineering, etc. It will be also useful in specialized courses in nanotechnology, green synthesis, Environmental Science & Engineering.
Air Pollutants in the Context of One Health: Fundamentals, Sources, and Impacts (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry #134)
by Sylvester Chibueze Izah Matthew Chidozie Ogwu Abbas ShahsavaniThis book reviews air pollutants and their effects on human health, biodiversity, and environmental quality in the context of the One Health framework. Written by experts in the field, the book covers topics such as natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollutants, air pollutants classification based on their chemical composition, physical properties, and origins, and consequences of air pollution on ecosystems, wildlife, and human communities. In this book, readers will find a detailed examination of pollutants, such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and greenhouse gases, and will learn about the mechanisms by which pollutants impact, for instance, the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. The book highlights the need for understanding the different pollutants and their One Health effects as a foundation for developing effective regulations, emission controls, cleaner technologies, and promoting lifestyle changes. The book also offers a global perspective on air pollution, and discusses the disproportionate impacts of air pollution on vulnerable populations. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), this book takes a focused approach to the One Health implications of various air pollutants and is an important contribution to the global effort to mitigate the impact of air pollution on human health, biodiversity security, and environmental quality. Together with its companion work “Sustainable Strategies for Air Pollution Mitigation”, this book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, policymakers, and anyone seeking a comprehensive perspective on this critical environmental and public health challenge.
Aufgabenanalysefähigkeit als Teil der professionellen Handlungskompetenz von Sportlehrkräften: Theoretische Grundlegung und empirische Zugänge (Bildung und Sport #15)
by Carl Philipp HendricksSportlehrkräfte sehen sich in ihrem beruflichen Handeln mit der Herausforderung konfrontiert, die Lernvoraussetzungen der Schüler*innen sowie die Anforderungen in Aufgaben zu diagnostizieren, um darauf aufbauend sportunterrichtliche Lernprozesse anzubahnen. Im sportdidaktischen Diskurs wurde die Aufgabenanalysefähigkeit – verstanden als die Fähigkeit, lernrelevante Merkmale in Aufgaben zu beurteilen – bislang nicht berücksichtigt. An diesem Desiderat setzt die Arbeit an, indem die Aufgabenanalysefähigkeit im Kontext der professionellen Handlungskompetenzen von Lehrkräften theoretisch konzeptualisiert und anhand einer Mixed-Methods Studie empirisch untersucht wird.
Children’s Rights and Criminal Justice in the Digital Age (Palgrave Critical Studies in Human Rights and Criminology)
by Wendy O'BrienIn the data economy, childhood is a lucrative commodity. The digital technologies that offer incredible possibilities for children’s enrichment and empowerment also open avenues for their exploitation, denigration, criminalisation, and control. Coming to grips with this paradigm of technological benefits and harms requires a deepened understanding about how children's rights are engaged within a technocratic system that distributes costs and benefits unequally. In the context of the altered flows of data and power in the digital age, Wendy O’Brien argues for a resurgence in the commitment to equal human dignity. Challenging narrow conceptualisations of online risks to children, the book identifies the need to confront the techno-social status quo that accepts harms against children as inevitable. This book will be of interest to legal scholars, criminologists, policy makers and technologists with an interest in upholding children’s rights in the age of AI.
Energy, Matter, and Change: An Introduction
by William B. TuckerThis textbook serves as an introduction to the field of chemistry, aimed at secondary school students, and it assumes no prior knowledge on the readers’ part. As an introductory text, the book emphasizes fundamental skills that are necessary for chemistry, and science generally. This includes an emphasis on good writing and a focus on problem solving, with problems incorporated throughout the text. To help prepare students to pursue chemistry further, all information presented is in accord with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry’s style and technical guidelines and supported through citations to the primary literature.The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.
Reimagining Music Theory: Contexts, Communities, Creativities (CMS Emerging Fields in Music)
by Chris StoverReimagining Music Theory: Contexts, Communities, Creativities invites instructors to rethink how we teach music theory, challenging the traditional, classical canon-based pedagogy and offering new and alternative approaches.The study and teaching of music theory are at a crucial and invigorating crossroads, as conversations are being held about contesting canons, transforming pedagogical practices, and finding meaningful ways to make the field inclusive and diverse in repertoire, methods, and student experiences. This book aims to reimagine music theory as an explicitly and radically dialogic, creative, nimble transdisciplinary space where thinking and acting can be both deep and broad, where pluralities of knowledge systems and ways of doing and being can interact and mutually inform one another, and where teachers learn from students as much as the other way around. Rethinking what counts as music fundamentals, opening music theory to a plurality of global practices, and considering music theory as a creative and community practice are all addressed.Incorporating interviews with scholar-teachers at the forefront of innovative music theory pedagogy throughout, the book offers music theory professors and instructors frameworks for enacting meaningful change in the music theory classroom.
Liberalism and War: The Victors and the Vanquished (New International Relations)
by Andrew J. WilliamsIn this book, leading scholar Andrew J. Williams examines contemporary liberal thinking on the ending of wars and puts it into its historical context. Using a vast range of archival material, he examines the main strategies used by liberal states to consolidate their gains in the aftermath of war and prevent conflict re-occurring.Considering historical wars from the nineteenth century to the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the war in Ukraine since 2022, Williams explores the continuities and changes within western liberalism in response to war and the encouragement of peace. These include, in recent times, the emergence of ‘neoliberalism’, a growing revulsion against ‘humanitarian intervention’ and the evolution of legal attempts to control illiberal regimes. He shows how liberalism and the articulation of international norms and institutions sprang out of historical traditions linked to colonialism but also out of a desire to promote liberty and justice. He examines the attitudes and practices that have distorted liberalism’s essentially emancipatory nature into one that has encouraged hubris in foreign policy and an increasingly divisive set of economic, political and social policies. He suggests that a new liberal impulse to encourage the spread of democracy and international justice is possible, one that returns to a more realistic approach to intervention in international conflicts.The book will appeal to scholars and students of war, conflict and political theory interested in the historical perceptions at the heart of many of the mistakes made by liberalism in the ending of wars. It will also give hope to those who still believe that liberalism can be the organising feature of a just and equitable world order.
A Psychoanalytic Exploration of Female to Male Transition
by Serena HellerDrawing on theory from a range of schools of psychoanalytic thought, this timely book addresses and explores the phenomenon of the increasing number of people who were assigned female at birth and now identify as male, and what might underly the cultural pull to remove femaleness from self and body.In A Psychoanalytic Exploration of Female to Male Transition, Serena Heller considers how early recognition of the difference between the sexes might evoke a melancholic attitude towards one’s anatomy, as being one sex and not the other. She considers the ramifications of the developing sexual bodies of young women at a time when they are having great difficulty accepting them, addressing the complexity of female sexual development in relation to sexual aim and object, and how manifestations of early bisexuality can resurface during puberty. Focusing solely on the experience of female-to-male transition, rather than making broad assumptions of a universal trans experience, Heller provides a depth of theoretical analysis of biological and psychic aspects of female sexuality, and trans gender identifications.Empathetic in its approach and thorough in its conceptualisation, this volume is a vital resource for psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapists working directly with trans patients, and with those experiencing gender dysphoria and issues of sexual identity. The book assumes no prior expertise in analytic thought, and is designed to help mental health practitioners, students and researchers engaged in queer studies, gender studies and the intersection of psychoanalytic thought and gender identity.
Sustainable Cacao Cultivation in Latin America (Earthscan Food and Agriculture)
by Naga Raju Maddela Luz Cecilia García Freddy Zambrano Gavilanes Carolina Aguilar DuarteThis book examines cacao cultivation with a view to improving the sustainable management and production of this crop.Theobroma cacao is an important species originating in the Ecuadorian Amazon and its product chocolate is consumed worldwide. Cacao cultivation is an industry supporting over ten million people, and so it is vitally important, in this changing climate, that the species is properly and sustainably managed and cultivated. This book brings together a wide range of experts from across the globe to examine cacao cultivation, from the basic aspects of reproduction, genetic improvement, nutrition and pest management, to agroforestry, industrialization and marketing in a global food system. Case studies are drawn from across Latin America, but the research reflects the nature of a crop that is cultivated in over 60 countries and processed, manufactured and consumed worldwide.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of agronomy, sustainable agriculture, and crop science.
Queen Charlotte: Family, Duty, Scandal (Lives of Royal Women)
by Natalee GarrettThis biography provides a well-rounded analysis of Queen Charlotte by considering her own perspectives on queenship and her role in Britain. It explores her relationships within the royal family and the court, how she was perceived in the British public sphere and in the press during her reign as queen consort, and the impact of the ‘madness’ of her husband, King George III.This book provides readers with a comprehensive, nuanced, and sensitive analysis of Queen Charlotte’s life and legacy. Charlotte embodied many of the features of queenship and womanhood that were valued in this period, such as charity and familial duty, but she also struggled with her husband’s persistent insanity, political scandals, and issues with her many children. The book provides students and general readers with an exploration of this fascinating queen, who reigned as consort for an impressive 57 years, but who has been eclipsed by the legacies of her husband and her son. It also contributes to queenship studies by enhancing our understanding of how issues such as charity, political interference, and familial scandals impacted on the position of queen consort. This biography incorporates new sources and perspectives from both Britain and Germany, including material unearthed through the Georgian Papers Programme, as well as material culture and visual culture. It explores themes of print culture, Charlotte’s friendships, identity, and royal philanthropy.Queen Charlotte is essential reading for students of eighteenth-century Britain and its Empire and the history of queenship, women, gender studies, and popular culture more broadly.
Digital Advertising Evolution (Routledge Media and Cultural Studies Handbooks)
by Iain MacRury Danae ManikaThis cutting-edge text brings together a diverse range of scholars and practitioners to examine how digital has become the default space for advertising— in practice, communication, and commercial process.Providing a wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary account of a complex contemporary moment for promotional communications, Digital Advertising Evolution charts recent and profound shifts in the advertising industry’s working models and assumptions about media, audience, data, research, consumer practices, and modes of persuasive promotional communication. Innovations and new advertising formats, including programmatic ads, AI, advergames, memes, branded content, and influencers, have transformed and reframed advertising theories and practices for a new generation. Contributions examine major technological and cultural shifts in the advertising field, considering how platforms have provoked a paradigm shift in the character and conceptual framework defining advertising. This thorough analysis of the field critically explores key concepts, genres, campaigns, history, academic theories, and major actors, as well as governance, regulation, and ethics to provide a complete picture of the current state of the industry. Written for a global readership, Digital Advertising Evolution is ideal for advanced students and researchers of digital advertising and promotional cultures. It will also be of interest to professionals seeking to reflect on the changing industry.
Contemporary Issues in Equity, Democracy, and Public Education: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Education, Social Sciences, and Health
by Fadie T. Coleman Elsa Wiehe Felicity A. CrawfordContemporary Issues in Equity, Democracy, and Public Education explores how inequity manifests in public education and social institutions, and how this inequity impacts the health and wellbeing of citizens, including marginalized people. Demonstrating how inequity thereby threatens democracy, this book also poses suggestions for improving equity in U.S. education.Taking a multidisciplinary approach to historical and contemporary sources of inequity that operate in social institutions and public policy, this carefully curated volume shows how disparities in education levels, income, housing, and health have consequences that reverberate through individuals’ lives, and thereby undermine a democratic way of life. Contributions from a wide variety of experts offer approaches to solving these problems, as well as curricular innovations for identifying and alleviating systemic inequities. Part 1 begins by examining the origins and persistence of systemic inequity in U.S. public education, while Part 2 highlights the physiological, psychological, and social impacts of systemic bias, and how these factors interrupt democratic engagement over time. Moving on to examine the curriculum in more detail, Part 3 explores how we can promote equity across the curriculum, and Part 4 closely considers how we can expand educational opportunities for marginalized groups within STEM education.The book will make invaluable reading for graduate students and researchers in Education – particularly Social Justice Education, Multicultural Education, Educational Policy and Politics, STEM Education, and Social Studies Education – as well as policymakers, in-service teachers, administrators, and activists.
Cultivating Intercultural Communication Awareness: Activities for the Global Englishes Classroom
by Gareth HumphreysIn an increasingly interconnected world, supporting students as they learn to communicate in linguistically diverse intercultural settings is a significant aim of English language and international education. To address this educational objective, this book breaks down the complexities associated with global English in intercultural communication and it challenges conventional educational focuses through activities that promote intercultural awareness and citizenship.The resource book offers pre-service teachers and educators a range of activities grounded in contemporary perspectives on Global Englishes, intercultural learning, and intercultural citizenship education. The book shifts the focus from teaching to imitate native-like proficiency by providing educators with practices and ideas to develop students who are globally aware, can handle complexities of communicating using English as a lingua franca (ELF), and can act as responsible intercultural citizens in a globalised society. Around 120 practical activities are presented for use in supplementing existing curricula or in the design of new learning programmes.This book is a key resource for pre-service teachers and educators involved in English language education, international education, and intercultural education, as well as for scholars and instructors of applied linguistics, TESOL preparation programmes, and teacher education programmes.
Preparing Antiracist Teachers: Fostering Antiracism and Equity in Teacher Preparation
by Christina L. Dobbs Christine Montecillo Leider Erin NerlinoPreparing Antiracist Teachers: Fostering Antiracism and Equity in Teacher Preparation examines multiple strategies and theories for developing antiracist attitudes and actions in teachers and teacher candidates. This textbook uses critical consciousness as a framework to help practitioners and scholars to facilitate the process of doing antiracist work.The book is divided into three sections, with Part 1 focusing on critical reflection, which refers to a social analysis and moral rejection of societal inequities, such as social, economic, racial/ethnic, and gender inequities, that constrain well-being and human agency. It shows that those who are critically reflective view social problems and inequalities in systemic terms and are therefore better able to address them. Part 2 examines sociopolitical efficacy, which refers to the perceived capacity to effect social and political change by individual and/or collective activism. Part 3 centers on critical action, that is, individual or collective action taken to change aspects of society, such as institutional policies and practices, that are perceived to be unjust. This is a broad view of activism that can include participation in activities such as voting, community organizing, and peaceful protests.Showcasing both USA-based and international case studies, Preparing Antiracist Teachers will support teacher educators in their work by presenting nuanced and important means of teacher education for antiracism and critical consciousness. It will also benefit those studying related courses, including Teacher Education, Social Justice Education, and Multicultural Education.
Anthropology in the Anthropocene: An Earthed Theory for Our Extended Present (Anthropocene – Humanities and Social Sciences)
by Christoph AntweilerIn this book, anthropologist and geologist Christoph Antweiler shows that geology is a special, namely historical, natural science and is therefore relevant for a historically informed anthropology. He argues that we do not only need a geologically informed cultural anthropology, but conversely also an anthropologically oriented geology. A comprehensive geology must include material human culture as a fundamental geological phenomenon. In relation to cultural anthropology, the author discusses the challenge the Anthropocene poses for cultural anthropology as a traditionally micro-oriented social science. The book discusses where the blind spots lie in the highly interdisciplinary discussion. Common narratives are critically scrutinized. The author argues for the need for a new discipline: geoanthropology.
Frontier Research on High Performance Concrete and Mechanical Properties (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #518)
by Ping Xiang Haifeng Yang Jianwei YanThis open access book focuses on cutting-edge research in high-performance concrete. Concrete has been a main construction material all over the world in the past century. As the demand for construction rises, the need for concrete with stronger performance grows as well. Existing studies on high-performance concrete are mainly on fiber admixtures and reactive mineral powder admixtures, with a focus on concrete proportioning and rheological properties. Through in-depth analysis of real-world engineering cases and demonstration of the latest research achievements, this book aims to provide a systematic review of research on high-performance concrete for civil engineers and scholars in related research fields. The topics of this book include but are not limited to the following: 1. Fiber Reinforced Concrete and Admixture Factors; 2. Effect of Mineral Reactive Powders on Concrete; 3. High Performance Concrete Packing Density and Rheological Properties; 4. High Performance Concrete Proportioning and Theoretical Research; 5. Research on Mechanical Properties of High Performance Concrete.
Entertainment Computing – ICEC 2024: 23rd IFIP TC 14 International Conference, ICEC 2024, Manaus, Brazil, September 30 – October 3, 2024, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #15192)
by Angelo Di Iorio Pablo Figueroa Daniel Guzman del Rio Esteban Walter Gonzalez Clua Luis Cuevas RodriguezThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Entertainment Computing (IFIP-ICEC 2024) which was held in Manaus, Brazil, during September 30 – October 3, 2024. The 13 full papers, 8 short papers and 17 papers of other types presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 60 submissions. The works collected in this volume discuss latest findings in the areas of Game Experience, Player Engagement and Analysis, Serious Gameplay, Entertainment Methods and Tools, Extended Reality and Game Design.
Geriatric Home-Based Medical Care: Principles and Practice
by Bruce Leff Jessica L. Colburn Mattan Schuchman Mariah L. RobertsonOlder adults are living longer with more chronic disease and functional impairment than at any other time in history. Office-based practice is inadequate to meet the needs of patients who have difficulty leaving their homes for routine or urgent visits, and health care clinicians must choose between trying to manage their problems via telehealth or sending them to the emergency room via ambulance. Indeed, many clinicians receive little or no training in home-based medical care and are unable to consider a home visit that might avert a health crisis or an emergency room visit. Other clinicians know that house calls are possible but may not know how to work them into day-to-day practice. In recent years, a growing number of clinicians have focused their practice on home-based medical care to meet the rising need. In fact, there has been a substantial increase in house calls provided to Medicare beneficiaries. In 2023, over 750,000 traditional Medicare beneficiaries, and in 2022, over 680,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries received longitudinal home-based medical care. While the number of house calls has increased rapidly, the number of clinicians providing those visits has markedly decreased, suggesting that clinicians who are providing such care are making it the sole focus of their practice. This book is intended to be a practical reference for any clinician who has struggled to care for an older adult who has difficulty getting to the office. By describing fundamental principles of geriatric house call medicine and application to specific diseases and conditions, we hope to provide clinicians with the tools they need to provide timely, compassionate, and high-quality care for their older adult patients. The second edition has been updated to reflect changes in the healthcare system and approaches to care since the publication of the first edition.
Monotonic and Cyclic Performance of Sand from Natural Alluvial Deposits (Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering)
by Julijana BojadjievaThis book presents a comprehensive experimental investigation, consisting of element scale—triaxial and simple shear tests and model scale—shaking table tests, to examine the monotonic and cyclic behavior of Skopje sand. Skopje sand is silica sand from natural alluvial river deposits collected from the river terraces of Vardar river in the city of Skopje, Macedonia. Numerical simulation of the element monotonic and cyclic tests is also presented using the hypoplastic material model. Particular focus is given on the liquefaction potential of the tested material. While there were no well-documented cases of liquefaction during the 1963 Skopje earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1, significant structural damage was attributed to pronounced site amplification effects of sand materials in the Vardar valley. Given the absence of seismic geotechnical codes in the region at that time, the lack of a seismic monitoring network, and limited knowledge about the city's geotechnical properties, there is the assumption that liquefaction might have occurred but went undocumented and unassessed due to the overwhelming structural damage and other post-earthquake disaster management activities. The generated experimental data of Skopje sand serve as a foundational dataset for students and researchers into continuous more advanced experimental research in the field, validating numerical modeling focusing on liquefaction phenomena, soil dynamics, induced settlement of buildings, and evaluating effective mitigation strategies. The conducted investigations provide a strong basis for sustainable research on element and model scale in the Laboratory for Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Engineering at the Department of Geotechnics and Special Structures, Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology-IZIIS, Skopje, Macedonia.
Epigenetic Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Therapy and Resistance (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology #1465)
by Sanchita BhatnagarEpigenetic mechanisms are essential for normal mammalian development and maintenance of gene expression patterns. Disruption of epigenetic processes can lead to altered transcriptional regulation, gene levels, and malignant cellular transformation. Global alterations of the epigenetic landscape are a hallmark of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Conventionally, cancer was thought to be a genetic disease, but recent advancement in the field identified an abundance of epigenetic abnormalities along with genetic alterations. The extensive reprogramming of epigenetic machinery in cancer includes DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning and non-coding RNAs, specifically microRNA expression. Additionally, the reversible nature of epigenetic aberrations has led to the emergence of the promising field of epigenetic therapy, and recent FDA approval of epigenetic drugs for cancer treatment. This book focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms in breast cancertherapy and resistance. It is organized into three sections, including epigenetic mechanisms in breast cancer, targeting epigenetic mechanisms for new therapies, and new and emerging methodologies to study epigenetic alterations in breast cancer. Chapters highlight various epigenetic regulations that prevent breast cancer growth and progression, as well as epigenetic alterations that contribute to breast cancer progression. This text is a useful methodology book for researchers and students interested in epigenetics in breast cancer and the fundamentals of cancer biology.