Search results for ""author valentina"

Systems and networks.- 21st Century Artificial Intelligence tackling climate instability Cybernetic modelling of living systems.- Sky Computing: Opportunities and Challenges.- Resilience of Networks A Partial Review.- Information and Informational Organization of the Living Structures From Decision Making to Decisional Big Data Assisted Informational Era.- Sensor Networks as a Support Mechanism in Intelligent Transportation Systems.- Intelligent systems and decision support general issues and critical applications.- A quantitative perspective on the evolution of Decision Support Systems.- Decision Support Systems for Reverse Logistics in Industry 4.0.- Medical Decision Support System for Lung Damage Classification.- How can Intelligent Decision Support Systems be applied in Obstetrics.- Harnessing the Capabilities of IoHT based Remote Monitoring Systems for Decision Making in Elderly Healthcare.- Surgical Decision Making in a Success

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Increasing the Durability of Paint and Varnish Coatings in Building Products and Construction presents data and analysis on regularities in the appearance quality of protective and decorative coatings for building products and structures, also detailing the relationship between the resistance of coatings and the quality of their appearance. Developing a method for ensuring the quality of painted surfaces for building products and developing control methods is an important scientific, technical and economic problem. The conditions needed depend largely on the rheological properties of paint and the processes of wetting and application, with different variables for metal or concrete structures.

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John Rawls's influential theory of justice and public reason has often been thought to exclude religion from politics, out of fear of its illiberal and destabilizing potentials. It has therefore been criticized by defenders of religion for marginalizing and alienating the wealth of religious sensibilities, voices, and demands now present in contemporary liberal societies. In this anthology, established scholars of Rawls and the philosophy of religion reexamine and rearticulate the central tenets of Rawls's theory to show they in fact offer sophisticated resources for accommodating and responding to religions in liberal political life. The chapters reassert the subtlety, openness, and flexibility of his sense of liberal "respect" and "consensus," revealing their inclusive implications for religious citizens. They also explore the means he proposes for accommodating nonliberal religions in liberal politics, developing his conception of "public reason" into a novel account of the possibilities for rational engagement between liberal and religious ideas. And they reevaluate Rawls's liberalism from the "transcendent" perspectives of religions themselves, critically considering its normative and political value, as well as its own "religious" character. Rawls and Religion makes a unique and important contribution to contemporary debates over liberalism and its response to the proliferation of religions in contemporary political life.

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“A well-told Bible story of a strong, determined, persistent woman that will resonate with modern young readers.” -KIRKUS REVIEWS Esther (of the Purim story) would rather dig in her garden and spend time with her cousin Mordechai than live in a palace. So when the king chooses her as queen, her new life is far from a dream come true. And when danger comes, there is no fairy godmother to help out.Will she have the courage to stand up for what's right?

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These women changed art forever - told in colourful graphic novel form, this is the story of four pioneers of feminist art: Judy Chicago, Faith Ringold, Ana Mendieta, and the Guerilla Girls.Each made their mark in their own powerful way. Judy Chicago made us reassess the female body, Faith Ringold taught us that feminism is for everyone, Ana Mendieta was a martyr to violence against women, while the Guerilla Girls have taken the fight to the male-dominated museum. This graphic novel tells each of their stories in a unique style.

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This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE)No Ice Cream Left sees a boy and his mum looking everywhere for ice cream, but no one has any left. Perhaps Dad will be able to help!Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills.Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Perfect for 4-5 year olds or those reading book band red 2.

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Theodore Levin takes readers on a journey through the rich sonic world of inner Asia, where the elemental energies of wind, water, and echo; the ubiquitous presence of birds and animals; and the legendary feats of heroes have inspired a remarkable art and technology of sound-making among nomadic pastoralists. As performers from Tuva and other parts of inner Asia have responded to the growing worldwide popularity of their music, Levin follows them to the West, detailing their efforts to nourish global connections while preserving the power and poignancy of their music traditions.

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Inspire a love of reading with stories that are written from a child’s perspective and will encourage children to discover the world around them. With audio and activities, Peapod Readers are the perfect start to a child’s journey into learning English. Can Bea save the dance show? Includes: Before and after reading activities Picture dictionary Exam practice for Cambridge Pre A1 Starters, working towards A1 Movers Reading guide online

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The study of tourism as a complex social trend is growing in importance as it receives recognition as a force far more significant than economic, environmental, and social analyses convey. This volume explores tourism as a significant phenomenon in both generating and receiving societies, examining methods and cases that demonstrate, develop, and affirm tourism's essentially visual nature. Tourism-related methodologies such as photographs, souvenirs and advertising material are used to discuss findings.

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Part of the new series Learn with Comics, a captivating and educational comic chapter book chock-full of information about meteorological phenomena and earth physics. What is atmospheric pressure? How does a downburst form? What is the difference between a cyclone, a typhoon, and a hurricane? All these answers and more when you follow the adventures of Neil, Flor, Akin, and Jin as they camp near the lake with Aunt Gloria. The impacts of climate change are real and present… and worth exploring! Ages 8 +

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Luca Giordano (Naples, 1634–1705) was one of Italy’s most celebrated Baroque painters when he travelled to Florence, where his art was already appreciated and collected. He received many commissions, but certainly the most prestigious was that for the decoration of the vault of the new wing of Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the ancient house of Lorenzo the Magnificent which was then owned by the Marquis Francesco Riccardi. The Riccardi family was strictly connected to the Medicis and the decorative program of the great hall, known as Gallery of Mirrors, was centred upon the Apotheosis of the Medicis and several mythological scenes which illustrate the progress of humanity. The exhibition and its catalogue document this masterpiece through the ten painted sketches by Giordano (exhibited under the very frescoes) and circa 30 other paintings from his Florentine period (1682–1685) by the aptly named Luca “fa presto” (fare presto = to be fast).

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This book offers an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to fiction, reality, and narrativity applied to television series from all over the world. Dissecting the almost invisible barrier between fiction and reality in TV series from various perspectives, the chapters cover a wide range of contemporary classics from the post-network age. From "The X-Files" and "Desperate Housewives" to "The Wire" and "Breaking Bad", the chapters sketch TV series' development from the lowest form of mass entertainment to the sophisticated vehicle of highbrow intertextuality on a global scale. Also covering many international cases from Brazil, Serbia, Romania, and Turkey and locating them in the global web of puzzle narratives, the unique contributions draw connections between the most diverse audiences and the way they receive modern storytelling in a culturally globalised world. This timely volume is a great resource for anyone interested in contemporary mass culture.

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This open access book is part of the LAMBDA Project (Learning, Applying, Multiplying Big Data Analytics), funded by the European Union, GA No. 809965. Data Analytics involves applying algorithmic processes to derive insights. Nowadays it is used in many industries to allow organizations and companies to make better decisions as well as to verify or disprove existing theories or models. The term data analytics is often used interchangeably with intelligence, statistics, reasoning, data mining, knowledge discovery, and others. The goal of this book is to introduce some of the definitions, methods, tools, frameworks, and solutions for big data processing, starting from the process of information extraction and knowledge representation, via knowledge processing and analytics to visualization, sense-making, and practical applications. Each chapter in this book addresses some pertinent aspect of the data processing chain, with a specific focus on understanding Enterprise Knowledge Graphs, Semantic Big Data Architectures, and Smart Data Analytics solutions. This book is addressed to graduate students from technical disciplines, to professional audiences following continuous education short courses, and to researchers from diverse areas following self-study courses. Basic skills in computer science, mathematics, and statistics are required.

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A ship gets stuck. Can Big Tooth help? The Stuck Ship is part of the Rocket Phonics range from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Rocket Phonics builds a firm foundation in word reading through fresh and fully decodable phonics books for Pink A to Orange band. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and activities to support reading at home as well as comprehension questions to check understanding. Reading age: 4-5 years

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Pen the Hen loses her hat in the mud. Will the rats help Pen to get her hat back? (Letter-sounds featured: ck e u r h) Pen the Hen is part of the Rocket Phonics teaching and learning programme from Reading Planet. Rocket Phonics ensures that every child achieves phonics success. This fully-decodable Target Practice reading book provides focused practice of a small group of letter-sounds. The book also includes useful notes and activities to support reading in school and at home as well as comprehension questions to check understanding. Reading age: 4-5.

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One night at bedtime, Sloth wasn’t sleepy. “What if I worry when I try to fall asleep?” Sloth said. “Ah . . . worries,” Mama said. “We will have to let them go.” A stressful day, a bad dream, a scary movie . . . these are just a few things that can keep kids wide awake and frightened after dark. But Mama Sloth knows the secret for calming worried minds - and as she shares them with her daughter, young readers will learn valuable relaxation skills that last a lifetime. Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy does more than provide a sweet bedtime story - kids will join Sloth to learn mindfulness practices such as “shrinking down” fears in their mind and calming their body through breath and simple visualisations.

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Inside this big coloring book for grownups are 96 ready-to-color art activities that will unleash your inner artist. Each vibrantly detailed illustration is designed to help you relax and unwind while you exercise your creativity. Beautifully colored finished examples are provided, along with a handy guide to basic art techniques, from patterning and combinations to shading and color theory. This therapeutic coloring book is perfect for decorating with markers, colored pencils, gel pens, or watercolors. Printed on high-quality, extra-thick paper that won’t bleed through, all of the pages are pre-perforated for easy removal and display.

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Inspire a love of reading with stories that are written from a child’s perspective and will encourage children to discover the world around them. With audio and activities, Peapod Readers are the perfect start to a child’s journey into learning English. Mona loves magic tricks. What will happen when she meets Lisa the magician? Includes: Before and after reading activities Picture dictionary Exam practice for Cambridge Pre A1 Starters Reading guide online

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Inspire a love of reading with stories that are written from a child’s perspective and will encourage children to discover the world around them. With audio and activities, Peapod Readers are the perfect start to a child’s journey into learning English. Dan and Cave Boy play in the park. Includes: Before and after reading activities Picture dictionary Exam practice for Cambridge Pre A1 Starters Reading guide online

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Science, Technology and Society: An Introduction provides students with an accessible overview of the interdisciplinary field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). The discipline breaks down traditional conceptions of knowledge as universal, neutral and ahistorical, and takes a more critical approach to science and technology as social embedded phenomena. This comprehensive textbook makes use of unique examples and case studies to illustrate theoretical debates and concepts. In addition, the reader acquires a unique vision of contemporary issues (such as the power of algorithms, the mystification of fake news, the role of experts within the decision-making process, for example). Each chapter incorporates pedagogically rich features, including interactive discussion points to be used individually or in class as prompts for debate.

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Take your place in the Green Nation, a nation without geographical borders that unites the youth of today in their fight for the planet.Following on from the success of We Are All Greta, Green Nation Revolution explores what happens next in the fight against climate change. From the economy and new professions, to advanced technology and sustainable start-ups, learn how the world needs to change in order to secure its future, and find out what role you can play in that change.With in-depth text and data, and clear and detailed case studies this crucial book presents information in a scientifically accurate and easily accessible way. It will answer readers' questions on what comes next in our fight for the future.

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Dalmatian-Austrian philosopher, Roman Catholic priest, and radical cultural critic Ivan Illich is best known for polemical writings such as Deschooling Society and Tools for Conviviality, which decried Western institutions of the 1970s. This collection brings together Illich’s shorter writings from his early publications through the rise of his remarkable intellectual career, making available works that had fallen into undue obscurity.A fervent critic of Western Catholicism, Illich also addressed contemporary practices in fields from education and medicine to labor and socioeconomic development. At the heart of his work is his opposition to the imperialistic nature of state- and Church-sponsored missionary activities. His deep understanding of Church history, particularly the institutions of the thirteenth century, lent a historian’s perspective to his critique of the Church and other twentieth-century institutions.The Powerless Church and Other Selected Writings, 1955–1985 comprises some of Illich’s most salient and influential short works as well as a foreword by philosopher Giorgio Agamben. Featuring writings that had previously appeared in now-defunct publications, this volume is an indispensable resource for readers of Illich’s longer works and for scholars of philosophy, religion, and cultural critique.

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This timely Handbook collates a range of evidence from top scholars in the field to help readers understand who microfinance reaches, how it helps, and why clients come back. It offers updated views on important concepts that enable a broader framework for understanding poverty and the corresponding financial needs of poor households.Chapters cover recent findings on social impacts, the role of gender, fairness of interest rates, financial resilience in emergencies, and financial education, to provide a thorough coverage of key areas of the field. The Handbook focuses on delivery mechanisms for financial services including group liability lending, agent banking, and digital finance, as well as the special role of value chain finance and insurance for smallholder agriculture.The case studies from both developed and developing countries and regions, illustrating the novel aspects of the link between microfinance, financial inclusion and development will make this a critical read for economics and development studies scholars. The practitioner views on the role of microfinance included in the Handbook will also make this a relevant and useful read for policy makers and practitioners in the area

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Cybèle Varela (b. 1943) is one of the key figures of Tropicalismo and Brazilian Pop Art. The texts and interview included in this catalogue shed new light on Cybèle Varela's contribution to Latin American and international artistic discourses, including Pop Art, Narrative Figuration and Video Art. Questions of identity, social and political issues and transnational experiences are central to Varela's multifaceted production, from the 1960s to the present day. Text in English, German and Portuguese.

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"Come with the pilgrims as they set out on a journey, a journey of patience to the city of Mecca." We are led on the journey of a lifetime to the city of Mecca - the pilgrimage known to Muslims as the Hajj. The pilgrims walk with heads bare and feet in sandals; they call to Allah; they kiss or point to the Black Stone, as the Prophet did. Arriving at Mecca, they surge round the Ka'aba, shave their heads and travel to Mount Arafat. Finally, though their bodies are tired and aching, their spirits are uplifted, knowing that with thousands of others they have performed the sacred pilgrimage. This is a window on to a sacred journey for Muslims the world over - beautifully described and illustrated for younger children.

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