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Big Data, Cloud and Applications: Third International Conference, Bdca 2018, Kenitra, Morocco, April 4-5, 2018, Revised Selected Papers (Communications In Computer And Information Science #872)
by Youness Tabii Mohamed Lazaar Mohammed Al Achhab Nourddine EnneyaThis book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the Third International Conference on Big Data, Cloud and Applications, BDCA 2018, held in Kenitra, Morocco, in April 2018.The 45 revised full papers presented in this book were carefully selected from 99 submissions with a thorough double-blind review process. They focus on the following topics: big data, cloud computing, machine learning, deep learning, data analysis, neural networks, information system and social media, image processing and applications, and natural language processing.
Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 30: Environmental Impact of Land Use Change in Agricultural Systems (Sustainable Agriculture Reviews #30)
by Olivier Réchauchère Antonio Bispo Benoît Gabrielle David MakowskiThe originality of this book is to review and characterize the current body of scientific publications that describe the complete causal sequence from reorganization of agricultural production to land use changes (LUC) and the resulting environmental impacts. The chapters examine both the range of territorial reorganizations leading to LUC and the range of associated environmental impacts considered in the literature, including GHG emissions, atmospheric pollution, biodiversity impacts, water resources, and soil quality.
Emergency General Surgery: A Practical Approach
by Carlos V. Brown Kenji Inaba Matthew J. Martin Ali SalimThe field of emergency general surgery encompasses a wide array of surgical diseases, ranging from the simple to the complex. These diseases may include inflammatory, infectious, and hemorrhagic processes spanning the entire gastrointestinal tract. Complications of abdominal wall hernias, compartment syndromes, skin and soft tissue infections, and surgical diseases are significantly complex in special populations, including elderly, obese, pregnant, immunocompromised, and cirrhotic patients.This book covers emergency general surgery topics in a succinct, practical and understandable fashion. After reviewing the general principles in caring for the emergency general surgery patient, this text discusses current evidence and the best practices stratified by organ system, including esophageal, gastroduodenal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic, small and large bowel, anorectal, thoracic, and hernias. Chapters are written by experts in the field and present a logical, straightforward, and easy to understand approach to the emergency general surgery patient, as well as provide patient care algorithms where appropriate.Emergency General Surgery: A Practical Approach provides surgeons and surgery residents with a practical and evidence-based approach to diagnosing and managing a wide array of surgical diseases encountered on emergency general surgery call.
Ion Tracks in Apatite and Quartz: And Their Behaviour With Temperature And Pressure (Springer Theses)
by Daniel SchauriesThis book pioneers a novel approach to investigate the effects of pressure on fission tracks, a geological problem that has remained unsolved for 60 years. While conventional techniques to study fission tracks were limited in precision, this book overcomes such issues by using state-of-the-art synchrotron-based x-ray scattering; a technique initially developed for applications in material science and biomedical research. The book provides an overview of the theory and application of small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) on cylindrical ion tracks, including in-situ SAXS on ion tracks with simultaneous increases in temperature and pressure. As such it demonstrates a degree of characterisation normally not achievable with in-situ techniques. Further, it compares SAXS with small angle neutron scattering (SANS). This book has led to a range of publications and attracted the interest of the geological and material science communities. Daniel Schauries has been awarded several prizes for this research, including the Graduate Student Award of the Materials Research Society.
Real-Time Quantum Dynamics of Electron–Phonon Systems (Springer Theses)
by Valerio RizziThis book develops a methodology for the real-time coupled quantum dynamics of electrons and phonons in nanostructures, both isolated structures and those open to an environment. It then applies this technique to both fundamental and practical problems that are relevant, in particular, to nanodevice physics, laser–matter interaction, and radiation damage in living tissue.The interaction between electrons and atomic vibrations (phonons) is an example of how a process at the heart of quantum dynamics can impact our everyday lives. This is e.g. how electrical current generates heat, making your toaster work. It is also a key process behind many crucial problems down to the atomic and molecular scale, such as the functionality of nanoscale electronic devices, the relaxation of photo-excited systems, the energetics of systems under irradiation, and thermoelectric effects. Electron–phonon interactions represent a difficult many-body problem. Fairly standard techniques are available for tackling cases in which one of the two subsystems can be treated as a steady-state bath for the other, but determining the simultaneous coupled dynamics of the two poses a real challenge. This book tackles precisely this problem.
Hilary Putnam on Logic and Mathematics (Outstanding Contributions to Logic #9)
by Geoffrey Hellman Roy T. CookThis book explores the research of Professor Hilary Putnam, a Harvard professor as well as a leading philosopher, mathematician and computer scientist. It features the work of distinguished scholars in the field as well as a selection of young academics who have studied topics closely connected to Putnam’s work. It includes 12 papers that analyze, develop, and constructively criticize this notable professor's research in mathematical logic, the philosophy of logic and the philosophy of mathematics. In addition, it features a short essay presenting reminiscences and anecdotes about Putnam from his friends and colleagues, and also includes an extensive bibliography of his work in mathematics and logic. The book offers readers a comprehensive review of outstanding contributions in logic and mathematics as well as an engaging dialogue between prominent scholars and researchers. It provides those interested in mathematical logic, the philosophy of logic, and the philosophy of mathematics unique insights into the work of Hilary Putnam.
Simulation Science: First International Workshop, Simscience 2017, Göttingen, Germany, April 27-28, 2017, Revised Selected Papers (Communications In Computer And Information Science #889)
by Marcus Baum Gunther Brenner Jens Grabowski Thomas Hanschke Stefan Hartmann Anita SchöbelThis book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the Clausthal-Göttingen International Workshop on Simulation Science, held in Göttingen, Germany, in April 2017. The 16 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 40 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on simulation and optimization in networks, simulation of materials, distributed simulations.
Electricity-sector Reforms in the MENA Region: Evaluation and Prospects (Perspectives on Development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region)
by Leila BenaliThis book uses electricity-sector reforms to question some of the preconceived ideas concerning the MENA region and to provide a broader analysis of related political economy issues. It presents potential further developments of MENA’s electricity-sector reforms, taking into consideration the region’s unique constraints and opportunities, and discusses the practical limits of reform and deregulation. Specifically, it examines the relationship between reforms and oil prices from a new perspective and presents alternatives to the Single Buyer Model. Complementing existing research on electricity-sector reforms in other emerging markets, the book provides a new analytical framework for assessing reforms that can be easily applied to other markets and sectors.
Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today (SpringerBriefs in Astronomy)
by David Dunér Tony Milligan Erik Persson Klara Anna CapovaThis White Paper describes the state of astrobiology in Europe today and its relation to the European society at large. With contributions from authors in twenty countries and over thirty scientific institutions worldwide, the document illustrates the societal implications of astrobiology and the positive contribution that astrobiology can make to European society. The White paper has two main objectives: 1. It recommends the establishment of a European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) as an answer to a series of challenges relating to astrobiology but also European research, education and the society at large. 2. It also acknowledges the societal implications of astrobiology, and thus the role of the social sciences and humanities in optimizing the positive contribution that astrobiology can make to the lives of the people of Europe and the challenges they face.This book is recommended reading for science policy makers, the interested public, and the astrobiology community.
Universal Coding and Order Identification by Model Selection Methods (Springer Monographs in Mathematics)
by Élisabeth Gassiat Anna Ben-HamouThe purpose of these notes is to highlight the far-reaching connections between Information Theory and Statistics. Universal coding and adaptive compression are indeed closely related to statistical inference concerning processes and using maximum likelihood or Bayesian methods. The book is divided into four chapters, the first of which introduces readers to lossless coding, provides an intrinsic lower bound on the codeword length in terms of Shannon’s entropy, and presents some coding methods that can achieve this lower bound, provided the source distribution is known. In turn, Chapter 2 addresses universal coding on finite alphabets, and seeks to find coding procedures that can achieve the optimal compression rate, regardless of the source distribution. It also quantifies the speed of convergence of the compression rate to the source entropy rate. These powerful results do not extend to infinite alphabets. In Chapter 3, it is shown that there are no universal codes over the class of stationary ergodic sources over a countable alphabet. This negative result prompts at least two different approaches: the introduction of smaller sub-classes of sources known as envelope classes, over which adaptive coding may be feasible, and the redefinition of the performance criterion by focusing on compressing the message pattern. Finally, Chapter 4 deals with the question of order identification in statistics. This question belongs to the class of model selection problems and arises in various practical situations in which the goal is to identify an integer characterizing the model: the length of dependency for a Markov chain, number of hidden states for a hidden Markov chain, and number of populations for a population mixture. The coding ideas and techniques developed in previous chapters allow us to obtain new results in this area. This book is accessible to anyone with a graduate level in Mathematics, and will appeal to information theoreticians and mathematical statisticians alike. Except for Chapter 4, all proofs are detailed and all tools needed to understand the text are reviewed.
Safety Dynamics: Evaluating Risk in Complex Industrial Systems (Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications)
by Franck Guarnieri Emmanuel GarbolinoThis book describes a systematic approach to risk assessment for complex socio-technical systems like industrial processes, especially innovative ones. It provides an overview of applications of system dynamics theory and methodologies on industrial systems in order to demonstrate the relevance of such an approach in helping to assess risks in such complex systems. An important feature of this approach is that it takes into account the dynamic of the interactions of the components (technical, human and organizational ones) in order to study and simulate the behavior of the system. This methodology helps to define the failures and/or accident scenarios and to implement and test the prevention and protection barriers. This book is of particular interest to students and teachers at university level (Master and Doctorate) and to engineers interested in risk analysis and management.
Remote Sensing for Food Security (Sustainable Development Goals Series)
by Felix KoganThis volume gathers a variety of applications for remote sensing of vegetation health (VH) and concretely shows how this information can be used in service of ending hunger and of ensuring future food security. In this book’s ten chapters, Dr. Felix Kogan, one of the most prolific scientists in this sphere, shows how a new VH method, designed from operational environmental satellite data, can be used to provide advanced predictions of agricultural losses, helping to enhance food security and reducing the number of hungry people. Topics covered include the scientific basis of the VH method, drought monitoring, prediction of short-term agricultural yield and crop insurance, and impacts of long term climate variability and change on food security. A short discussion on VH for human health-related topics such as detection and prediction of malaria and fire risk is included as well.
Interaction in Digital News Media: From Principles to Practice
by Mario Pérez-MontoroDigital News Media (DNM) are characterized by their efforts to provide consumers with new content interaction experiences, which contrast with the more passive experiences provided by traditional news media. This book directly addresses these interaction experiences, taking the reader from underlying principles to actual practices. To meet this objective, the book undertakes a characterization of interactivity in DNM and explores the boundaries between storytelling and direct data access. It examines information visualization trends present in the media, and practices in non-fiction storytelling in the context of the current wave of VR technology. Moreover, it addresses how UX research and evaluation methods can be applied to inform the design of interactive media. It also analyzes the concept of Newsonomics and it examines the reform of intellectual property law and legislation governing authors' rights. The book concludes by analyzing the scientific production of interaction over the last 10 years, extracting the main conclusions, and highlighting the lessons that can be extracted from the previous chapters.
Imaging, Manipulation and Optogenetics in Zebrafish (Springer Theses)
by Itia Amandine Favre‐BulleThe work described here investigates the advantages and limitations of using laser light for the deep in-vivo illumination and micromanipulation of the neuronal system in zebrafish. To do so, it combines and develops novel optical methods such as optogenetics, light sheet microscopy and optical micromanipulation. It also demonstrates, for the first time, that directional and focused laser beams can successfully be used to target large objects at considerable depth in a living organism to exert purely optical force – in this case on otoliths (ear stones) – and create fictive vestibular stimuli in a stationary animal. The behavioural study and simultaneous imaging of the whole brain reveal the location of the brain cells specific to each ear stone. Elucidating these fundamental neural processes holds substantial value for basic neuroscience researchers, who still have only a vague grasp of how brain circuits mediate perception. As such, it represents highly innovative research that has already led to high-impact publications and is now being intensively pursued.
Computational Aspects and Applications in Large-Scale Networks: NET 2017, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 2017 (Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics #247)
by Valery A. Kalyagin Panos M. Pardalos Oleg Prokopyev Irina UtkinaContributions in this volume focus on computationally efficient algorithms and rigorous mathematical theories for analyzing large-scale networks. Researchers and students in mathematics, economics, statistics, computer science and engineering will find this collection a valuable resource filled with the latest research in network analysis. Computational aspects and applications of large-scale networks in market models, neural networks, social networks, power transmission grids, maximum clique problem, telecommunication networks, and complexity graphs are included with new tools for efficient network analysis of large-scale networks. This proceeding is a result of the 7th International Conference in Network Analysis, held at the Higher School of Economics, Nizhny Novgorod in June 2017. The conference brought together scientists, engineers, and researchers from academia, industry, and government.
Caring for Patients with Mesothelioma: Principles and Guidelines
by Mary Hesdorffer Gleneara E. Bates-PappasThis book encompasses all areas for mesothelioma care, treatment, and research. Using nurses, social workers, surgeons, oncologist, radiologist and pain specialist to give the reader a comprehensive overview of mesothelioma treatment. Indeed, mesothelioma is a cancer that mainly affects the pleura and peritoneum, usually caused by exposure to asbestos. The number of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma is increasing world-wide, particularly in developing countries where the use of asbestos remains uncontrolled. In spite of advances in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical approaches, mesothelioma remains resistant to treatment. According to the International Mesothelioma Interest group, overall survival has not improved; median survival times vary from one month to eighteen months. A small number of patients remain asymptomatic or with minimal symptoms for extended periods, and fewer live three years or more. Mesothelioma is often associated with difficult, intractable symptoms, particularly pain and difficulty breathing. Especially poor prognoses have been reported for those diagnosed with sarcomatoid rather than epithelioid histology, or with advanced disease, poor performance status, or pain and loss of appetite. Despite substantial progress of the last two decades improving the quality of life of patients with cancer, many mesothelioma patients still experience physical, psychological, social, and financial burdens. The development of multimodality treatment and mesothelioma centers has given renewed hope to patients. This book serves as a unique tool for medical professional while providing care for mesothelioma patients.
Advancements on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures: Proceedings of the 5th GeoChina International Conference 2018 – Civil Infrastructures Confronting Severe Weathers and Climate Changes: From Failure to Sustainability, held on July 23 to 25, 2018 in HangZhou, China (Sustainable Civil Infrastructures)
by Don Chen Sonny Kim Anand TapaseThis book presents recent advances in the field of geomaterial and waste management. With high urbanization rates, advancement in technologies, and changes in consumer behavior, wastes generated through the daily activities of individuals and organizations pose many challenges in terms of their management. The studies presented in this book highlight attempts on the part of researchers and practitioners to address contemporary issues in geoenvironmental engineering such as the characterization of dredged sediments, geomaterials and waste, valorization of waste, sustainability in waste management, and various other geoenvironmental issues that are becoming increasingly relevant in today’s world. The studies were selected from papers presented at the 5th GeoChina International Conference, Civil Infrastructures Confronting Severe Weathers and Climate Changes: From Failure to Sustainability, held in Hangzhou, China on July 23–25, 2018.
Legitimacy: Ethnographic and Theoretical Insights (Palgrave Studies in Urban Anthropology #Vol. 12)
by Italo Pardo Giuliana B. PratoGlobal in scope, this original and thought-provoking collection applies new theory on legitimacy and legitimation to urban life. An informed reflection on this comparatively new topic in anthropology in relation to morality, action, law, politics and governance is both timely and innovative, especially as worldwide discontent among ordinary people grows. The ethnographically-based analyses offered here range from banking to neighbourhoods, from poverty to political action at the grassroots. They recognize the growing gap between the rulers and the ruled with particular attention to the morality of what is right as opposed to what is legal. This book is a unique contribution to social theory, fostering discussion across the many boundaries of anthropological and sociological studies.
Robot Rules: Regulating Artificial Intelligence In The 21st Century
by Jacob TurnerThis book explains why AI is unique, what legal and ethical problems it could cause, and how we can address them. It argues that AI is unlike is any other previous technology, owing to its ability to take decisions independently and unpredictably. This gives rise to three issues: responsibility—who is liable if AI causes harm; rights—the disputed moral and pragmatic grounds for granting AI legal personality; and the ethics surrounding the decision-making of AI. The book suggests that in order to address these questions we need to develop new institutions and regulations on a cross-industry and international level. Incorporating clear explanations of complex topics, Robot Rules will appeal to a multi-disciplinary audience, from those with an interest in law, politics and philosophy, to computer programming, engineering and neuroscience.
Asian Indigenous Psychologies in the Global Context (Palgrave Studies In Indigenous Psychology Ser.)
by Kuang-Hui YehThis volume introduces Asian indigenous psychologies with an emphasis on major theoretical and practical issues. The contributions demonstrate the potential for the indigenous psychologies of Asia to offer an alternative model of the internationalization of psychology—an internationalization not dominated by Western psychology. As a whole, this volume explores knowledge production outside of Western psychology; asks important questions about the discipline, profession, and practice of Asian indigenous psychology; makes critical appraises of cultural and psychological assumptions; sheds light on the dialectics of the universal and the particular in indigenous psychology; and explores the possibilities for a more equitable global psychology.
Atlas of Ecosystem Services: Drivers, Risks, And Societal Responses
by Matthias Schröter Aletta Bonn Stefan Klotz Ralf Seppelt Cornelia BaesslerThis book aims to identify, present and discuss key driving forces and pressures on ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the contributions that ecosystems provide to human well-being. The scope of this atlas is on identifying solutions and lessons to be applied across science, policy and practice. The atlas will address different components of ecosystem services, assess risks and vulnerabilities, and outline governance and management opportunities. The atlas will therefore attract a wide audience, both from policy and practice and from different scientific disciplines. The emphasis will be on ecosystems in Europe, as the available data on service provision is best developed for this region and recognizes the strengths of the contributing authors. Ecosystems of regions outside Europe will be covered where possible.
Gender Hate Online: Understanding the New Anti-Feminism
by Eugenia Siapera Debbie GingGender Hate Online addresses the dynamic nature of misogyny: how it travels, what technological and cultural affordances support or obstruct this and what impact reappropriated expressions of misogyny have in other cultures. It adds significantly to an emergent body of scholarship on this topic by bringing together a variety of theoretical approaches, while also including reflections on the past, present, and future of feminism and its interconnections with technologies and media. It also addresses the fact that most work on this area has been focused on the Global North, by including perspectives from Pakistan, India and Russia as well as intersectional and transcultural analyses. Finally, it addresses ways in which women fight back and reclaim online spaces, offering practical applications as well as critical analyses. This edited collection therefore addresses a substantial gap in scholarship by bringing together a body of work exclusively devoted to this topic. With perspectives from a variety of disciplines and geographic bases, the volume will be of major interest to scholars and students in the fields of gender, new media and hate speech.
Japan, Italy and the Road to the Tripartite Alliance (Security, Conflict And Cooperation In The Contemporary World Ser.)
by Ken IshidaThis book employs a comparative approach to explore the decision-making processes behind the Japanese and Italian foreign policies concerned with East Asia, Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean. It explores these policies in relation to the Axis powers and Britain in the 1930s. Both Japan and Italy shared significant similarities in their decision-making processes, which help to illustrate the workings of ultra-nationalist and fascist foreign policy. The work examines the mechanism of decision-making in the foreign ministries, rather than the personalities of leaders, in order to understand why and how both countries finally chose unexpected partners. The Tripartite Alliance has often been perceived through the diplomatic motives and arbitrary manners of dictatorial leadership in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and ultra-nationalist Japan individually. This book compares the foreign policies of Italy and Japan and looks outwards to their diplomatic relations with Britain, a key imperial factor in their expansions into East Asia and Africa, contrasting these Axis powers with Germany, usually thought to typify fascist diplomacy.
Regional Parallelism and Corruption Scandals in Nigeria: Intranational Approaches to African Media Systems
by Muhammad Jameel Yusha'URegional Parallelism and Corruption Scandals in Nigeria is a ground-breaking book that offers fresh perspectives on the character and role of the African media in covering corruption scandals. It explores whether reports regarding corruption stem from the efforts of journalists who employ investigative journalism, or if it is a mere coincidence promoted by the activities of anti-corruption agencies. To that end, the book develops a media systems theory for Africa based on the coverage of corruption scandals in the Nigerian press. This new theoretical paradigm, defined as regional parallelism, argues that African countries are nations within nations, and that therefore any comparative study of the media system should recognize this understanding. The book combines both interviews with journalists as well as qualitative content analysis of newspapers to determine the patterns and issues that influence the reporting of corruption. It also looks at corruption within the media itself, taking into account factors such as regionalism and ethnicity within the practice of journalism.
Biosurveillance in New Media Marketing: World, Discourse, Representation
by Selena NemorinAdvertising has long been considered a manipulator of minds and has increased significantly in coercive power since the emergence of research in behavioural psychology. Now with the deployment of neuro-physiological imaging technologies into market contexts, companies are turning to neuromarketing to measure how we think and feel. Data driven models are being used to inform advertising strategies designed to trigger human action at a level beneath conscious awareness. This practice can be understood as a form of consumer biosurveillance: but what is behind the hype? What are the consequences? Biosurveillance in New Media Marketing is a critical reflection on the role that technology is playing in the construction of consumer representations, and its encroachment into the internal lives of individuals and groups. It is a work that examines the relationship between neuromarketing practitioners and machines, and how the discourses and practices emerging from this entanglement are influencing the way we make sense of the world.