Bücher veröffentlicht von Springer International Publishing AG

This open access book sets out simple solutions to managing complex catastrophes. It focusses on four kinds of crises ¿ climate change, crime-war cascades, epidemics and financial crises. These catastrophes are conceived as complex and prone to cascade effects. This book is optimistic in explaining that there are identifiable simple institutions that international society can strengthen and some simple principles that can help humankind to control the expanding gamut of complex catastrophes that confront the planet including simple, stable institutions and regulatory bodies. It draws on a wide range of current and past crises and challenges, from the Cold War to COVID-19, and from Weapons of Mass Destruction to restorative diplomacy with States like China, to provide an urgent and timely path forward. It speaks to those interested in criminology, public policy and international relations, political science, sociology, public health and economics.

This book presents a comprehensive portrait of trust in medicine and oncology. Trust is vital to medical care. It is linked to treatment recommendation adherence, continuity of care, and even treatment efficacy under certain scenarios, and is distinct from other commonly measured patient-reported outcomes that are used to drive medical practice, such as patient satisfaction. Cancer care highlights many of the issues with trust that all clinicians confront and brings to light the interplay of technology, rapidly advancing treatments, and readily available information consumed by patients and families that may complicate clinician-patient communication.Each chapter highlights a different aspect of trust in the medical setting, many of which are specific to oncology. For example, trust is fundamental to the first encounter with an oncologist. The anatomy of that encounter is explored. The elements of trust are investigated, from the institutional or fiduciary perspective to the nuances of the personal and individual encounters with patients. Several key factors are relevant to trust within these encounters, such as the patient¿s background, attachment style, and perception of ethically responsible commitment. Further chapters cover topics like the proliferation of false information, health inequities, and patient-centered care.The Complex Role of Patient Trust in Oncology will be of great interest to oncologists, psychiatrists, internists, and any healthcare professional interested in the role of trust in patient care.

While most managers are primarily concerned with being able to make decisions quickly, manage meetings efficiently and drive innovation, there is often little time for reflection in a business world where opinions must be formed and decisions taken on the hoof. It often seems counterintuitive to stop the clock and take time to think things through. Philosophy, on the other hand, addresses the basic questions of our existence, our identity, our role in the world and the models for living that might inspire our actions. By understanding philosophy, it becomes more possible to provide meaning to many of our management practices and to business at large, while enhancing self-satisfaction and happiness at work.This latest book from Professor Santiago Iniguez presents a collection of management ideas inspired by renowned philosophers. It provides a framework, as well of a series of business situations, for analyzing decisions from the perspective of values and principles. With insights on topics such as, how to gain respect at work, how to cultivate an optimistic outlook and how to shrug off failure, it offers timeless advice for managers that can be applied for their personal and professional development.Offering a unique perspective and valuable insights on what leadership is, and the relevance of values and principles to becoming a successful, recognized manager, this book presents a thoughtful guide to anyone who wants to install meaning into their management practices and their lives.

There is a foundational crisis in financial theory and professional investment practice: There is little, if any, credible evidence that active investment strategies and traditional institutional quantitative technologies are able to provide superior risk-adjusted, cost-adjusted return over investment relevant horizons.Economic and financial theory has been in error for more than fifty years and is the fundamental cause of the persistent ineffectiveness of professional asset management. Contemporary sociological and economic theory, agent-based modeling, and an appreciation of the social context for preference theory provides a rational and intuitive framework for understanding financial markets and economic behavior. The author narrates his long-term experience in the use and limitations of traditional tools of quantitative asset management as an institutional asset manager in practice and as a quantitative analyst and strategist on Wall Street. Monte Carlo simulation methods, modern statistical tools, and U.S. patented innovations are introduced to redefine portfolio optimality and procedures for enhanced professional asset management. A new social context for expected utility theory leads to a novel understanding of modern equity markets as a financial intermediary for purchasing power constant time-shift investing uniquely appropriate for meeting investor long-term investment objectives. This book addresses the limitations and indicated resolutions for more useful financial theory and more reliable asset management technology. In the process, it traces the major historical developments of theory and institutional asset management practice and their limitations over the course of the 20th century to the present, including Markowitz and the birth of modern finance, CAPM theory and emergence of institutional quantitative asset management, CAPM and VM theory limitations and ineffective iconic tools and strategies, and innovations in statistical methodologies and financial market theory.

Data has become an indispensable success factor for every company. However, the road towards a data-driven organization is paved with numerous challenges. This book presents a process model for the path to a data-driven company and provides recommendations for the design of all relevant fields of action: Which structures need to be created? Which systems and processes have proven beneficial? How can the quality of the data be ensured and what requirements exist for a data-driven organization in the areas of governance and communication? And last but not least: How can employees be brought along on the journey and what implications does the data-driven organization have for our corporate culture? The book presents an orientation and action framework for the strategic and operational design of a data-driven organization and is valuable for managers who are involved in data management in companies and organizations.

The book considers biology in parallel with philosophical structuralism in order to argue that notions of form in the organism are analogous to similar ideas in structuralist philosophy and literary theory. This analogy is then used to shed light on debates among biological scientists from the turn of the 19th century to the present day, including Cuvier, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Dawkins, Crick, Goodwin, Rosen and West-Eberhard. The book critiques the endorsement of genetic manipulation and bioengineering as keys to solving agricultural and environmental problems, suggesting that alternative models have been marginalized in the promotion of this discourse. Drawing from the work of philosophers including Cassirer, Saussure, Jakobson and Foucault the book ultimately argues that methods based on agroecology, supported by molecular applications (such as marker-assisted selection, MAS), can both advance agricultural development and remain focused on the whole organism.

This book explains how taxonomy can be used to describe and connect social actors in an integral way. Integral communication refers to a specific way of open information exchange which uses all qualities and preferences of subjects in conversation and allows anonymous feedback exchange, which enhances trust, learning and development. The role of integral communication is to promote perceptiveness, collaboration, personal development, and organizational learning among all the actors involved.In this book, the authors propose a new original way of digital communication that uses tags and their metadata to describe qualities and preferences of a particular node in the network. Although most social networks, sharing platforms and e-government frameworks are already applying taxonomies and social tagging to define user identity, none of them is focused on tags exclusively, while within an integral communication framework they represent the basic element of user definition and networking. In addition, other social platforms rarely allow anonymous feedback exchange, and they are usually not focused on the personal development of their end-users. Aside from helping actors present their attributes and preferences, integral communication promotes teamwork, sustainability, trust, organisational learning, and personalized communication with AI machines.After reading this book, readers will learn how to harness the power of integral networking and understand why anonymous feedback is a critical element for learning and development.

Net Zero is not enough. We have dithered so long about climate change that, by now, we would need to go to negative-emissions territory, well before 2050, to keep global warming under the iconic 1.5°C target. The national commitments made so far fall short of what is needed, and so do the investments envisioned. But even with the best of intentions, it is hard for policymakers and potential investors to discern where, in the profusion of initiatives and technologies, it would make sense to focus their attention and resources.This is where this book comes in. It offers a clear-eyed view of how far along the decarbonization path six key sectors of the economy are¿namely energy, utilities, transportation, industry, buildings, and agriculture¿and which areas and technologies within each sector are promising in terms of investments to advance the cause. Furthermore, a special chapter on Africa spotlights a continent that is simultaneously one of the worst affected by climate change, the most likely to see its greenhouse gas emissions increase¿and the one with the greatest potential for solving the West's, and the world¿s, energy transition and economic growth conundrum.As such, the book serves as a concise guide both to the state of the battle against global warming, and for investors, professionals, and policymakers to find their way through the maze of options.

By adopting a practical, market-oriented approach to capital allocation, this book sheds light on the complex issue of cash flow deployment and the creation of shareholder value. In order to run a company efficiently, it is not sufficient to simply be a competent businessperson. One must also possess the skills of a knowledgeable investor. The management must determine where to invest capital given the diverse range of investment options available, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), dividends, share repurchase programs, and organic growth opportunities.This book provides a useful analytical framework for corporate executives to consider when allocating capital, along with empirical findings from peer group studies and company case studies.The book helps answer the following questions:· What are the primary factors that drive your company's shareholder value? Are they aligned with the strategy the company is pursuing?· What are the key dynamics and trade-offs between return on investments (ROIC), growth, and earnings quality? · What are the current market expectations embedded in the stock price?· Given the capital allocation priorities, what does an ¿optimal¿ capital structure look like?· How do you set, and in turn communicate, the capital allocation and funding priorities? Written by an expert with more than 25 years of experience, this book helps business executives improve their skills as capital allocators by better understanding the financial markets.

This Open Access book presents an in-depth portrait of the use and impact of digital technologies by learners ages 5-18 years in their everyday lives. The portrait is framed by the ecological-systems theory and situated across four domains: home, leisure time, education, and civic participation. Various methodological approaches are used in innovative ways to analyze data collected in a large-scale EU Horizon 2020 project. The purpose of this edited collection is to shed light on both beneficial and harmful effects of digital technology from a perspective that children are active agents who are empowered to accentuate the positives of digital technology use and over common challenges that inhibit digital competence with support from education stakeholders.This is an open access book.

This book describes all optical properties of wooden materials, including definitions and measurement methods of optical parameters such as absorbance, diffuse and specular reflectance, colour and gloss. Basic knowledge regarding the reflectance measurement in the ultraviolet, visible, near- and middle infrared radiation ranges is also discussed. It examines conducting correct optical measurements, as well as introduces the validity limits of the individual methods. Steaming as an environmental-friendly colour modification process is introduced by the description of the steaming properties of eight species. Steaming schedules for wood-working industry are suggested to create optimum colour modification. Natural and artificial aspects of photodegradation are monitored by studying the colour change and using infrared reflectance spectrum measurement. The effect of influencing parameters such as temperature, relative air humidity and leaching effect of rain is also discussed. Combined effects of heat and light on the optical properties of wood in all possible combinations are presented. The book helps wood researchers and Ph.D. students perform correct and repeatable optical measurements and evaluations in order to draw the right conclusions.

¿This open access book explores how legal proceedings in and out-of-court can be matched to the complex problems underlying disputes concerning child custody, residence and contact between parents. It focusses in particular on Nordic experiences of in and out-of-court mechanisms as means of resolving custody disputes. The contributors are internationally renowned and experienced researchers from the legal, psychological, and sociological fields who provide empirical as well as legal perspectives. They examine central legal, ethical and knowledge-based dilemmas in custody dispute proceedings. The findings speak to an international audience and suggest ways how to best realize the interests of the child. It transcends disciplinary, institutional, and jurisdictional boundaries in search of new knowledge.

This book provides a unique tour of university mathematics with the help of Python. Written in the spirit of mathematical exploration and investigation, the book enables students to utilise Python to enrich their understanding of mathematics through: Calculation: performing complex calculations and numerical simulations instantly Visualisation: demonstrating key theorems with graphs, interactive plots and animations Extension: using numerical findings as inspiration for making deeper, more general conjectures. This book is for all learners of mathematics, with the primary audience being mathematics undergraduates who are curious to see how Python can enhance their understanding of core university material. The topics chosen represent a mathematical overview of what students typically study in the first and second years at university, namely analysis, calculus, vector calculus and geometry, differential equations and dynamical systems, linear algebra, abstract algebra and number theory, probability and statistics. As such, it can also serve as a preview of university mathematics for high-school students. The prerequisites for reading the book are a familiarity with standard A-Level mathematics (or equivalent senior high-school curricula) and a willingness to learn programming.For mathematics lecturers and teachers, this book is a useful resource on how Python can be seamlessly incorporated into the mathematics syllabus, assuming only basic knowledge of programming.

This book charts the history of how Irish-born nuns became involved in education in the Anglophone world. It presents a heretofore undocumented study of how these women left Ireland to establish convent schools and colleges for women around the globe. It challenges the dominant narrative that suggests that Irish teaching Sisters, also commonly called nuns, were part of the colonial project, and shows how they developed their own powerful transnational networks. Though they played a role in the education of the ¿daughters of the Empire¿, they retained strong bonds with Ireland, reproducing their own Irish education in many parts of the Anglophone world.

This book discusses the impact of the process of accession to the European Union (EU) ¿ i.e. Europeanisation ¿ on the formulation of the ethnic identity of Bosnian Serbs and the political identity of Republika Srpska (RS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The centrepiece of the book is an examination of how it is possible that the expected effect of Europeanisation on ethnic identities in a post-conflict environment ¿ a transformation of ethnic identities through desecuritisation ¿ does not materialise in the case of BiH and the RS. The book starts from the assumption that the political elite in the RS uses Europeanisation as a context for the securitization of two sources of threats ¿ the internal and external Other. This prevents the transformation of ethnic identities in BiH, and as a result also the desecuritisation of antagonisms among the ethnic groups of BiH. The results show that any attempt at a more active engagement by the EU and international community was interpreted by the RS political elite as Bosniak agenda aimed against the RS. In this respect, the book demonstrates that BiH¿s EU accession process or a clearer EU perspective alone in scrutinized critical junctures did not outweigh the potential costs for the RS political elite if reforms aimed at creating a more functional BiH were to succeed. In all three analysed critical junctures, the political elite in RS presented motions for a more functional BiH as attempts to centralise the country and framed them as the beginning of the end for the RS as a political entity.

This open access book explores the increasing role of psychoactive substances in contemporary everyday life, focussing on women's use. Drawing on an ethnographic study in Sweden, it uses cultural studies and queer phenomenology to analyse the women¿s narratives of drug use relating to themes that encompass social, legal, cultural, embodied and gendered perspectives on drugs in the contemporary Western world. It examines topics such as stigma, happiness, children, the body, gifts, the drug market, medication, sickness and health and also the orientation of themselves towards others, to social and cultural norms, to drug laws and to the substances. It discusses how drug related spaces and directions be analysed in terms of gender and class, and how, in turn, the directions of contemporary society and culture can be affected by drug use. It speaks to academics in Sociology, Criminology, Ethnology, Gender studies, Law and History.

This easy-to-read title provides a comprehensive discussion of the major changes in daily life that have led to states of increased bodily inflammation.  Indeed, today there is an epidemic of allergic and autoimmune disease in the first and developing world. While outdoor climate change is now considered common knowledge, the impact of longer work hours, artificial lighting, increased food shelf life, and changes to the microbiome all have made a large impact in increasing allergies worldwide.  An allergy, best defined as a ¿damaging response from the Immune system due to a substance in the environment,¿ starts with warning signals, or generalized "symptoms," that are caused by something in the environment.  Itching, aches, pains, swelling, coughing, and fatigue are all immune responses.  Written in an engaging -- and often humorous -- style by an allergist/immunologist, the first three chapters outline how the human body is in an unquestionably harmful environment, and that, in general, the immune system is just doing its job.  In subsequent chapters, the specific topics contributing to allergies are covered in detail, starting with microorganisms and a focus on indoor living. Dust mites, for example, are addressed in one full chapter -- and for good reason.  The past few decades have seen an explosion of climate controlled, humidified indoor airspace that is ideally suited for more mass production of mites.In the end, emphasizes the author, all roads of inflammation from the environment lead to the ¿mast cell compartment.¿ The stress responses of the body summarily drive up this compartment and have led to a world-wide prevalence of between 14% to 17% of ¿mast cell activation syndrome.¿  While genetics and comorbid conditions are important in any symptom or disease process, the mast cell compartment feeds and grows off all the major environmental changes of the past 50 or so years. This is why the human body in the 21st century is in a low level state of ¿rejection,¿ of the world, says the author. Most of these changes are irreversible, but the situation is not hopeless. Understanding how the body changes itself in response to its environment will allow controlled desensitization to the environment.  Allergic to Life: How the Human Body Rejects the Modern World serves as a concise and lively text for clinicians and general readers interested in a deep, expert dive into the world of allergy and immunology.

This book develops a theoretical approach to social stratification and applies it to the development of the official system of state honours in Britain. It examines both class and status, and sets out an innovative framework for understanding social status ¿ an important but often ignored and misunderstood dimension of social stratification. It is shown that a system of peerages, knighthoods, and other state-based royal honours emerged from feudal patterns of political rule and became an unplanned framework of social integration in the UK that has, since the nineteenth century, decayed and been challenged by alternative criteria of status. The book explores the class basis of the rise and decay of royal honours and includes a review of contemporary attempts to reconstruct and renew a system of social honour that reflects contemporary relations of power and class in Britain. It will be of interest to scholars and students of class, social inequality and British social structure.

Oncology is a field characterized as ¿medicine of high complexity¿ and cancer is generally regarded as a complex system. Therefore, it cannot be classified and treated according only to its biology. Even though research on the biology of cancer has increased and more studies have been published, the related sociological, political and economic dimensions, as well as mathematical models that predict whether this condition will take one course or another, have often been neglected. The Invisible Hand of Cancer¿The Complex Force of Socioeconomic Factors in Oncology Today unfolds the variables behind the biological disease, exploring the social aspects and presenting cancer as a model inside of the Complexity Theory.Cancer is a generic word for more than 200 diseases. In a wider view of cancer treatment, the various factors of cancer interact in multiple ways and it is a difficult task to identify and understand all the possible combinations in this system. All these variables and how they interact can be defined as the invisible hand of cancer. This book does not intend to be an exhaustive analysis of these aspects. It is a door being opened to the cancer research journey, along the years and beyond its biology. It will also discuss how social behavior can interfere in the evolution of cancer treatment, as a result of society¿s way of thinking and choices, thus the importance of truly addressing cancer as an intricate system and a public health issue.After the success of my children¿s books about cancer (Chubby¿s Tale: The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer, Bald is Beautiful: A letter for a fabulous girl, Cancer Daily Life, and What is Cancer?: A book for kids), I have developed a passion for writing about science in a simple way for non-scientist readers. I have also worked to build a career as a writer, communicating with patients, advocates, and oncology and pediatric oncology professionals, mostly on Twitter. Everyone knows someone who has or had cancer, so more and more popular science books on this topic are becoming bestsellers. This book is directed to a general audience and follows scientific standards, encompassing high-quality data, but in an easy-to-read format. Furthermore, it will raise awareness and show how simple actions such as not judging patients and not spreading false popular beliefs can contribute to achieve a new milestone in the cancer journey.

This book speaks to those interested in where and why Shakespeare¿s work is used to capture the transformative intentions of different areas of Applied Theatre practice (Prison, Disability, Therapy), representing a foundational study which considers subsequent histories and potential challenges when engaging with Shakespeare¿s work. This is grounded in a case study analysis of three salient British Theatre Companies: The Education Shakespeare Company (prison), the Blue Apple Theatre Company (Disability), and the Combat Veteran Players (therapy).

This study guide is designed for students taking a Calculus II course. The textbook includes examples, questions, and practice problems that will help students to review and sharpen their knowledge of the subject and enhance their performance in the classroom. The material covered in the book includes applications of integration, sequences and series and their applications, polar coordinate systems, and complex numbers. Offering detailed solutions, multiple methods for solving problems, and clear explanations of concepts, this hands-on guide will improve students¿ problem-solving skills and foster a solid understanding of calculus, which will benefit them in all of their calculus-based courses

This book explores the transformative potential of ChatGPT, Web3, and their impact on productivity and various industries. It delves into Generative AI (GenAI) and its representative platform ChatGPT, their synergy with Web3, and how they can revolutionize business operations. It covers the potential impact surpassing prior industrial revolutions.After providing an overview of GenAI, ChatGPT, and Web3, it investigates business applications in various industries and areas, such as product management, finance, real estate, gaming, and government, highlighting value creation and operational revolution through their integration. It also explores their impact on content generation, customer service, personalization, and data analysis and examines how the technologies can enhance content quality, customer experiences, sales, revenue, and resource efficiency. Moreover, it addresses security, privacy, and ethics concerns, emphasizing the responsible implementation of ChatGPT and Web3. Written by experts in this field, this book is aimed at business leaders, entrepreneurs, students, investors, and professionals who are seeking insights into ChatGPT, ChatGPT Plug-in, GPT-based autonomous agents, and the integration of Gen AI and Web3 in business applications.

If you're a business leader looking to stay ahead of the curve, this book is an essential guide. It offers a comprehensive overview of the major trends shaping the future of business, drawing on reviews of 70 recent management books and interviews with 21 senior leaders.What sets this book apart is that it's grounded in the real-world experiences of active business leaders. From political affairs to family businesses and everything in between, each of the eight parts offers expert insights on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Whether you're seeking to adapt your strategy to the external environment, lead your organization towards fulfilling its mission, or simply stay ahead of the competition, this book has got you covered.

Binoculars are life enhancing instruments, uniquely capable of bringing the intricacies of nature into sharp focus. Whether it be birds, majestic lakes and seas, alpine vistas, wild animals or exploring the glories of the night sky, anyone interested in buying binoculars today will be faced with a bewildering number of different models to choose from! This book walks the reader through the fascinating world of binoculars, past and present, while exploring all of the main binocular types, their desirable features, how to test out and narrow down the choices a prospective customer should make, as well as looking at some of the best and most-sought-after binoculars money can buy. Uniquely experienced writer and binocular enthusiast, Dr Neil English, takes the pain out of narrowing down the search for your ideal binocular, whether your budget is $50 or $5,000. Dr English explores many of the timeless beauties of the binocular world, crafted by top European and Japanese manufacturers, such as Swarovski, Zeiss, Nikon, Leica and others. Sumptuously illustrated throughout with full color images, Choosing & Using Binoculars decodes all the technical jargon without sacrificing accuracy and presents the world¿s best compendium of binocular literature for the birder, hunter, inveterate traveler, nature enthusiast and star gazer. Don¿t leave home without it!

The second edition of Long Life Strategy builds upon the practical tips and knowledge in the first edition by providing readers with an outline to living a longer, healthier, more enjoyable life and late life. The book elaborates on three major areas, which include what you can do to live a long life, what your doctor should be doing to help you achieve this goal, and what society, of which we are all part, should be doing to better accommodate a growing number of older people in the coming decades.Dr. Caplan begins by introducing what it means to live a longer life and explaining the current research on delaying, preventing, and reversing aging in our cells. The next chapters detail how to prevent diseases and conditions commonly associated with aging, including diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, mental health decline, sexual dysfunction, and heart disease. The author provides instruction for good diet and exercise choices. The concluding chapters provide useful advice for managing a fixed income, becoming a grandparent, dealing with the sickness and loss of a life partner, and how to maintain social relationships into late life. No matter where you are on life¿s journey, Long Life Strategy can provide a roadmap to living a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Disability Identity in Simulation Narratives considers the relationship between disability identity and simulation activities (ranging from traditional gameplay to more revolutionary technology) in contemporary science fiction. Anelise Haukaas applies posthumanist theory to an examination of disability identity in a variety of science fiction texts: adult novels, young adult literature and comics, as well as ethnographic research with gamers. Haukaas argues that instead of being a means of escapism, simulated experiences are a valuable tool for cultivating self-acceptance and promoting empathy. Through increasingly accessible technology and innovative gameplay, traditional hierarchies are dismantled, and different ways of being are both explored and validated. Ultimately, the book aims to expand our understandings of disability, performance, and self-creation in significant ways by exploring the boundless selves that the simulated environments in these texts allow.

Grounded in more than a decade of field research, this book uses empirical examples, quantitative data, and qualitative interviews with young music consumers as well as music industry professionals to understand how the platforms behind music production, distribution and listening work in our digital society. Bringing together the perspectives from science and technology studies, media studies, and the political economy of digital platforms, the book outlines the process of mutual construction between music digital platforms and the cultural value of music in today¿s society, and also reflects on the complicated relationship between the power of platforms and the agency of listeners.

This book delves into the significant and timely intersection of cultural heritage, neurodiversity, and smart museums, exploring how various immersive techniques can create more inclusive and engaging heritage experiences for neurodiverse audiences. By focusing on these three aspects, the book aims to contribute significantly to the fields of cultural heritage, neuro-inclusivity, and smart museums, offering practical solutions and examples for heritage professionals and researchers. The book highlights the importance of preserving and enhancing cultural heritage by incorporating immersive technologies and inclusive practices that cater to the needs of neurodiverse audiences. It emphasizes the need for museums and heritage sites to be more inclusive and accessible for neurodivergent individuals, showcasing best practices and innovative techniques to engage this audience effectively.