Search results for ""Springer Nature Switzerland""

This book discusses critical issues concerning autism and education, and what constitutes effective pedagogy for this group of learners. Autism is a high-profile area within the discipline of special education, and the issue of how to teach autistic learners remains a contested one: recent theorising has questioned a techno-rationalist approach that places the burden of change on the autistic pupil. The author explores the values that underpin educational approaches within existing pedagogical practice: while these approaches have their individual merits and shortcomings, this book introduces and expands upon a strengths-based approach. This book will appeal to students and scholars of autism and education, with particular regard to teaching autistic learners. ​

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This book provides an introduction into the diversity of the environmental movement through great characters in the green sector. The book describes inspiring personal achievements, and at the same time it provides readers with information regarding the history, the main directions and the ethical principles of the environmental movement. Some of the most important characters of the movement from all around the world, are included in the book. As well as the title characters, Buddha and Leonardo DiCaprio, other famous environmentalists like Albert Schweitzer, David Attenborough and Jane Goodall are discussed. Some of the less well-known but equally important environmentalists such as Chico Mendes, Bruno Manser, Henry Spira, Tom Regan or Rossano Ercolini are highlighted in the various chapters. The selection of characters represents all major branches within the green sector, ranging from medieval saints to Hollywood celebrities, from university professors to field activists, from politicians to philosophers, from ecofeminists to radicals.

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Mining is a capital-intensive industry, and involves long lead times to develop projects that demand a structured approach, from mine exploration to exit. This book provides mine developers, investors, owners, shareholders, and mineral policymakers a comprehensive game plan to raise capital for the development of new mining projects or to bolster operational mines. The author, an experienced mining capital consultant, shows how mine developers and mine owners can secure capital in any phase of the commodity price cycle, at any site, and at any project stage. The book follows a proven and structured approach that enables mine developers and owners to successfully raise capital for their projects. With the aid of case studies and practical methods, the reader will learn the essentials on topics ranging from developing and marketing a business case for investment, to the types and sources of mining capital for different project stages, as well as the structure and significance of due diligence. The author presents actual mining projects and their funding plans, transaction structures and term sheets for capital. The mining projects discussed represent various project stages, commodities, and parts of the globe, offering a comprehensive reference guide for mine developers, investors and promoters alike.

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This book traces the impact of exile in the formation of independent republics in Chile and the Río de la Plata in the decades after independence. Exile was central to state and nation formation, playing a role in the emergence of territorial borders and Romantic notions of national difference, while creating a transnational political culture that spanned the new independent nations. Analyzing the mobility of a large cohort of largely elite political émigrés from Chile and the Río de la Plata across much of South America before 1862, Edward Blumenthal reinterprets the political thought of well-known figures in a transnational context of exile. As Blumenthal shows, exile was part of a reflexive process in which elites imagined the nation from abroad while gaining experience building the same state and civil society institutions they considered integral to their republican nation-building projects.

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This book focuses on the social psychological aspects of gay men’s lives and provides a cutting-edge examination of topics including sexual orientation, sexual behavior, identity, relationships, prejudice, and health. The Social Psychology of Gay Men forces us to re-think existing theory and research, much of which has taken heterosexuality for granted. With identity process theory at its heart, this book advocates a social psychology of gay men which incorporates three levels of analysis – the psychological, interpersonal and societal. The book promises not only a deeper understanding of gay men’s lives but also pathways for enhancing wellbeing, intergroup relations and equality in this key population. This illuminating and thought-provoking text is an invaluable resource not only for psychologists, but for students, scholars and practitioners working in the area of gay men’s life.

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This book develops a general theory of managerial decision making on the basis of a few elementary postulates. It employs logic as the method of reasoning, systems science in general and the systemic YoYo Model in particular, as the intuitive playground. By doing so, the authors take individually background-based guesswork out of processes of decision making. All established conclusions are expected to be generally employable in real-life applications. At the same time, the book is user friendly to a wide range of audience, coincides with people's intuition, and provides applicable results and insights for practical purposes.

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This book highlights the differences, in terms of neoplastic dissemination pathways, between various types of thoracic cancers. It presents and discusses a comprehensive schematic overview of tumors of the lung parenchyma, of the mediastinum, of the pleura, and of the chest wall. For each tumor, it details the local spread and the lymphatic and vascular dissemination, and it describes the challenging staging of lung tumors with mutations. Illustrations and artwork enrich the content and help readers to understand and visualize tumor spread. The book is of great interest to professionals involved in the study, diagnosis and treatment of thoracic pathologies, as well as to residents in radiology, oncology and pulmonology.

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This extensively revised second edition provides a quick reference guide to pediatric surgical and urological problems encountered in the primary care clinic. Chapters cover recent updates in the field and give a synopsis of a particular condition, its management in primary care, indications for referral, and timing of referral. Guide to Pediatric Urology and Surgery in Clinical Practice features a concise collection of pediatric surgical and urological conditions commonly encountered in primary care, and is a valuable resource for primary care practitioners, medical students, pediatricians and residents in pediatrics.

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The work is a collection of contributions resulting from R&D efforts originated from scientific projects involving academia, technological partners, and end-user institutions. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of robotics technology applied to Healthcare, and discuss the anticipation of upcoming challenges.The intersection of Robotics and Medicine includes socially and economically relevant areas, such as rehabilitation, therapy, and healthcare. Innovative usages of current robotics technologies are being somewhat stranded by concerns related to social dynamics. The examples covered in this volume show some of the potential societal benefits robotics can bring and how the robots are being integrated in social environments.Despite the aforementioned concerns, a fantastic range of possibilities is being opened. The current trend in social robotics adds to technology challenges and requires R&D to think about Robotics as an horizontal discipline, intersecting social and exact sciences. For example, robots that can act as if they have credible personalities (not necessarily similar to humans) living in social scenarios, eventually helping people. Also, robots can move inside the human body to retrieve information that otherwise is difficult to obtain. The decision autonomy of these robots raises a broad range of subjects though the immediate advantages of its use are evident.The book presents examples of robotics technologies tested in healthcare environments or realistically close to being deployed in the field and discusses the challenges involved. Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of Healthcare robotics and points to realistically expectable developments in the near future. Chapter 2 describes the challenges deploying a social robot in the Pediatrics ward of an Oncological hospital for simple edutainment activities. Chapter 3 focuses on Human-Robot Interaction techniques and their role in social robotics. Chapter 4 focus on R&D efforts behind an endoscopic capsule robot. Chapter 5 addresses experiments in rehabilitation with orthotics and walker robots. These examples have deep social and economic relations with the Healthcare field, and, at the same time, are representative of the R&D efforts the robotics community is developing.

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Since the modern period, the field of biblical studies has relied upon libraries, museums, and archives for its evidentiary and credentialing needs. Yet, absent in biblical scholarship is a thorough and critical examination of the instrumentality of the discipline’s master archives for elite power structures. Addressing this gap in biblical scholarship lies central to this book. Interrogated here is a premier repository or master archive of the discipline: the British Museum. Using an assemblage of critical theories from archival discourse to postcolonial studies, space theory to governmentality studies, the focal point of this book is at the intersections of the Museum’s rise to scientific prominence, the British Empire, and the conferring of scientific authority to modern biblical critics in the nineteenth century. Gregory L. Cuéllar initiates a season of historicization of the master archives of biblical studies and archival criticism.

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More than 80% of the financial assets in the United States fall under the purview of a trustee. That's a big responsibility for an estimated 1% (around 1.5 million people) of the U.S. working population charged with overseeing investments for millions and millions of beneficiaries, public sector, and non-profit organizations. In a world proliferated by investment products, increasingly dominated by indexes, faced—particularly in the pension world—with increasing liabilities, more regulation, and a growing number of social and sustainability objectives, what's a trustee to do?The Trustee Governance Guide is here to help guide today’s board trustee through the brave new world of 21st century investing. The book focuses on the critical aspects of the Five Imperatives: Governance, Knowledge, Diversification, Discipline, and Impact. Based on more than a decade of research, practice, and discussions with many key decision makers and influencers across the industry, this book addresses the many topics related to better governance, greater mission-driven financial performance, and impact. The questions the book addresses include: · What is good governance, how do we know it when we see it, and why does it matter?· How much knowledge is necessary to be a competent board member?· How big should my endowment be?· What are the key elements of a diversified portfolio?· How much does cost matter?· What's the difference between socially responsible and ESG investing?· Can I focus on sustainability and still be a good fiduciary? This book provides a way for boards to improve and benchmark their own governance performance alongside their peers, and uniquely covers related investment topics in each chapter.

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This comprehensive 2nd edition will build on the highly successful first edition, providing an updated global perspective of the fundamentals of multifocal intraocular lenses. The varying outcomes, limitations, and the neuroadaptation process necessary for an adequate clinical success are thoroughly discussed, along with an overview of the different types of multifocal lenses, including the recently developed extended depth of focus lenses.Multifocal Intraocular Lenses: The Art and the Practice, 2nd edition opens with an introduction that will delve into current technological offerings for the correction of pseudophakic presbyopia, as well as the opportunity for refractive lens exchange in advanced presbyopic ages and the opportunity to use these lenses. The first section will include the historical background and clinical indications, while section two addresses the varying types and models of lenses currently available, including important clinical and technological highlights. Section three and four will follow, and provide an extended look at the Zeiss and Alcon Family Multifocal IOL’s. Section five will delve into extended depth of field lenses, and will contain an introduction about the concept, different models and the evidence available about their outcomes. Section six concludes the book, closely examining accommodative intraocular lenses, and a full update will be provided on these lenses, the failures of the past and the hopes for the future. Multifocal Intraocular Lenses: The Art and the Practice, 2nd edition is a thorough, resource for the practical ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon interested in learning more about intraocular lenses, identifying the best technologies and lenses for the benefit of their patients.

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What is the difference between a fire fighter and an architect? One deals with crises as they arise while the other is capable of building something that can withstand all weathers. Using this analogy, Architects of Change provides you with the tools to grasp, leverage and harness the dynamics that shape tomorrow's markets. It encourages you to nurture an entrepreneurial mind-set to transform the way a business – or even an entire industry – operates. Tackling crucial topics related to geopolitics, creative destruction, fake news, resilience and creativity, this book gives you the tools to analyse your environment and future trends in order to reinvent the way you do business. It teaches you how to: · Identify actors of change · Conduct simulations about the future · Assess threats of political instability · Build a strategy for a profitable and sustainable firm amid ongoing uncertainty · Become an architect of change yourself. Containing original interviews with industry insiders, including a world-famous expert on brands and luxury, the former CEO of a major think tank, a thought leader from CISCO, the former chairman of the US National Intelligence Council, and a former chief political scientist of a large Asian bank, this book helps you to understand the type of imagination and creativity this business environment requires not only to survive, but thrive.

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This book informs and enlighten health professionals on how the recognition of fearing women can change their episode of care during childbearing. It gives practical advice on the way women present to services and the challenges that this invokes. This work is the first of its kind aimed at clinicians to deconstruct ideology around childbearing myths and its challenges. The authors review the evidence that exists and how modern maternity systems are responding to fear and shaping healthcare. Whilst some worry and anxiety is expected and indeed considered normal during childbearing, it has been suggested that this has now proliferated to a degree of abnormal for many women. Why is that and how is this panic spread? Media portrayal of birth is suggested as unrealistic material and to show only that which is dramatic and horrific. This has been considered as one factor influencing modern women. Medicalisation, technology and demand upon services is another consequence of providing almost all maternity care in hospitals. Given that the majority of childbearing women are fit and healthy is this another causative factor? By removing women from their homes and families at such a vulnerable time has a serious consequence for how she will experience her greatest leap of faith into motherhood. All of these issues are explored and examined in the book with ideas and practical suggestions of what may be done to change this increasingly common problem. This book is intended at midwives and clinicians working in maternity settings.

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Internationalizing your firm presents both exciting opportunities and daunting challenges, regardless of your industry. While strategy will vary from firm to firm, this book provides a solid set of decision-making tools that will support you as you take your company global. Starting with the most important step – cultivating a truly international perspective in your senior management team – it sets out the pros and cons of each choice you will face as you define and shape a global strategy. With a pragmatic toolkit provided at the end of each chapter, The Art of Going Global will help to improve your decision-making capabilities in relation to a range of challenges, including:· Selecting foreign markets · Adapting your business model· Navigating uncertain global markets· Managing across cultures· Choosing between entry mode options With case studies and insights illustrating how to apply each toolkit, this book is ideal for practitioners, MBA students, and those in executive education. It will help you to consider a variety of alternative solutions for key managerial decisions on internationalization, the costs and benefits of different strategic scenarios, and ultimately drive you to create a clear global vision for your firm.

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How can we understand power in a world of ever-growing complexity? This book proposes that we can do so by rethinking the theory and practice of political hegemony through the resources of complexity theory. Taking Gramsci’s understanding of hegemony as its starting point, the book argues that the intricacies of contemporary power can be mapped by applying concepts drawn from complexity theory, such as emergence, self-organisation, metastability, and generative entrenchment. It develops an original account of social complexity, drawing upon critical realist sociology, analytic philosophy of science, Marxist and continental philosophies, and neoliberal and anarchist thought. It then draws out the elements of Gramscian hegemony that already align with complexity concepts, such as the balance of forces, common sense, and the historic bloc. On this basis, the book sets out the different dimensions of complex hegemonic power before using this theory to interpret the nature of the power of neoliberalism since 2008.

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The book reports a comparative research project about algebra teaching and learning in four countries. Algebra is a central topic of learning across the world, and it is well-known that it represents a hurdle for many students. The book presents analyses built on extensive video-recordings of classrooms documenting the first introduction to symbolic algebra (students aged 12 to 14). While the content addressed in all classrooms is variables, expressions and equations, the teaching approaches are diverse. The chapters bring the reader into different algebra classrooms, discussing issues such as mathematization and social norms, the role of mediating tools and designed examples, and teacher beliefs. By comparing classrooms, new insights are generated about how students understand the algebraic content, how teachers instruct, and how both parties deal with difficulties in learning elementary algebra. The book also describes a research methodology using video in search of taken-for-granted aspects of algebra lessons.

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This book brings together the latest research in education in relation to science and religion. Leading international scholars and practitioners provide vital insights into the underlying debates and present a range of practical approaches for teaching. Key themes include the origin of the universe, the theory of evolution, the nature of the human person, the nature of science and Artificial Intelligence. These are explored in a range of international contexts. The book provides a valuable resource for teachers, students and researchers in the fields of education, science, religious education and the growing specialist field of science and religion.Science and Religion in Education is a compelling read for current and future generations of academic researchers and teachers who wish to explore the fascinating intersect between science education and religious studies. The research findings and insights presented by these international scholars offer new dimensions on contemporary practice. - Vaille Dawson, Professor of Science Education, University of Western AustraliaScience and Religion in Education offers a fascinating and diverse collection of chapters surveying the current state of thinking about how science and religion can be understood in education. The book offers a wealth of thought-provoking material for anyone interested in the natures of science and religion, their relationship(s), or their representation within the curriculum. - Professor Keith Taber, University of CambridgeScience education and religious education are uncomfortable bedfellows. This book, written in part as a response to the – perhaps too clear – accounts of Ian Barbour, provides suitably nuanced pictures of how science and religion are dealt with in schools. Whatever the views of specialists, young people ‘receive’ an education in both science and religion: hearing their voices is refreshing in such a serious academic account. - Julian Stern, Professor of Education and Religion, York St John UniversityHumans have long endeavored to make sense of the world often using science and religion. Yet, these two great traditions are frequently seen as incompatible. This useful volume features thoughtful contributions from experts whose work straddles the divide and provides educators with arguments, engaging strategies and historical perspectives to help build a bridge and allow a fruitful discussion in schools. - William F. McComas, Distinguished Professor of Science Education, University of ArkansasEqual parts critical examination of existing models for the relationship between science and religion, scholarly exposition of newer models, and insights toward practical application in classrooms, this book is an invaluable resource for science and religion educators. If you have been thinking it is time we looked beyond Barbour’s taxonomy, you will want to read this book. If you have not, I implore you to read this book. - Jason Wiles, Associate Professor of Biology and Science Education, Syracuse University

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This book provides an authoritative review of the origin and extraction of strontium and its impact on the environment. It also presents the latest strontium decontamination and remediation strategies. Around the globe, nuclear power is being recognized as a major source of energy and is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the energy requirements of present day society. However, the pros and cons have to be considered, and the safe disposal of large amounts of radionuclide wastes is becoming a matter of great concern. These wastes encompass contaminants such as heavy metals and toxic substances, which may exist in solid, liquid or gaseous forms or a combination of these, and as such, their disposal requires particular attention. The book focuses on 90Sr, which is a predominant isotope of strontium and considered an intermediate level radioactive waste with a half-life of 28.8 years, average biological half-life of 18 years and 546 KeV decay energy. Written by expert contributors, it addresses occurrence, detection and extraction of strontium, the chemical and nuclear properties of strontium isotopes, the fate and migration of strontium in soil, its bioaccumulation, and its associated health impact, mechanistic toxicity response as well as related regulation and remediation. It appeals to scholars, scientists and environmental managers working with strontium contamination in the environment and its consequences.

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This textbook provides students with real-world social marketing case studies from different countries and regions around the world, taking learners from classroom theory to practice. The primary objective is to clearly portray to students distinct, identifiable steps that are essential for successful social marketing campaigns. Core social marketing practices are applied to each case to help students master social marketing principles and apply them to their own real world social marketing activities in order to affect positive social change. This textbook first provides the tools necessary to understand the effective applica- tion of social marketing, and then offers 24 case studies exemplifying effective social marketing efforts from all around the world. Specifically, Part I clearly and concisely explains the principles of social marketing in five chapters: • Upstream vs. downstream social marketing, SWOT, competition • Fundamentals of social marketing, ethics • Formative and Evaluative Research • Theories applied in social marketing • A historical perspective on social marketing Part II features 24 social marketing case studies that demonstrate the application of social marketing principles. All 24 cases follow a consistent structure that includes: • Background • Positioning • SWOT • Research • Objectives • The 4 P’s • Target audience • Evaluation • Barriers and benefits • Discussion • Competition This format allows for students and professors to easily and effectively select individual cases and compare between cases. This textbook also allows instructors to encourage critical thinking by having students compare and contrast not only the cases themselves, but the applications used. In addition, teaching guides with answers to discussion questions, suggestions for activities inside and outside of the classroom and further readings are available to assist professors in teaching from this book.

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This book presents a hands on approach to the digital health innovation and entrepreneurship roadmap for digital health entrepreneurs and medical professionals who are dissatisfied with the existing literature on or are contemplating getting involved in digital health entrepreneurship. Topics covered include regulatory affairs featuring detailed guidance on the legal environment, protecting digital health intellectual property in software, hardware and business processes, financing a digital health start up, cybersecurity best practice, and digital health business model testing for desirability, feasibility, and viability.Digital Health Entrepreneurship is directed to clinicians and other digital health entrepreneurs and stresses an interdisciplinary approach to product development, deployment, dissemination and implementation. It therefore provides an ideal resource for medical professionals across a broad range of disciplines seeking a greater understanding of digital health innovation and entrepreneurship.

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This book describes the exciting biology and chemistry of strigolactones. Outgrowth of shoot branches? Development of lateral roots? Interactions with beneficial microorganisms? Avoiding parasitic plants? Responding to drought conditions? These important “decisions” that plants make are all regulated by a group of hormones called strigolactones.The latest research has yielded a number of new biological concepts, such as a redefinition of plant hormones and their crosstalk, new functional diversity of receptors, hormonal “smoke and mirrors,” core signaling pathways, and even phloem transport of receptor proteins. Another important aspect of strigolactones is the related synthetic chemistry, which could pave the way for a variety of potential applications in agriculture and medicine.The book explains in detail the role that strigolactones play in plant development, and addresses the interaction of plants with soil biota and abiotic stress conditions, prospects of strigolactone biochemistry and evolution, and chemical synthesis of natural strigolactones and analogs, together with their potential applications. Including a glossary and end-of-chapter synopses to aid in comprehension, it offers a valuable asset for teachers, lecturers and (post-) graduate students in biology, agronomy and related areas..

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This unique book will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers interested in prolactin physiology and pathophysiology and those who are involved in the care of patients with related disorders, including hyperprolactinemia and prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas. Timely and up-to-date, it opens with a review of the historical aspects of prolactin research and a discussion of pituitary anatomy and physiology. Several chapters examine basic and translational aspects of prolactin physiology, focusing on recent developments and future directions. The main portion of the book is comprised of chapters presenting the clinical aspects of prolactin excess or deficiency, with particular emphasis placed on prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas and co-secreting tumors. Concluding chapters address prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas in special populations – women in the preconception period or during pregnancy, children and adolescents, and men – as well as plurihormonal and aggressive adenomas and carcinomas.Written and edited by experts in the field, Prolactin Disorders will be a ready reference for a diverse array of professionals, from basic scientists to clinical investigators and clinicians from several specialties, including specialists in endocrinology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology and neuro-oncology.

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This book explores the links between recent reports of increasing levels of unhappiness and mental health problems amongst children and young people, and changes within childhood which restrict and reduce opportunities for children to develop and maintain resilience. Although in academic terms children may be viewed as beings, Creasy and Corby posit that there is much to suggest that for parents, practitioners and policy-makers, children are primarily seen as becomings. The book argues that viewing children as becomings, together with the idea that childhood is fraught with danger, contributes to practices and policies which can be seen as making childhood tame. This taming of childhood leads to an impoverished childhood that does not provide the space that children need to grow and develop. Furthermore, Taming Childhood? challenges the idea that young adults are 'snowflakes', unable to cope with everyday pressures. Students and scholars across a range of social science disciplines will find this book of interest.

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“Bertram and Kerns present a compelling imperative for evidence based practice. Selecting and Implementing Evidence-Based Practice: A Practical Program Guide is timely, cogent, masterful and forceful. […] Advancing the evidentiary movement among practitioners, managers and academics, these authors have made an indelible contribution to our behavioural health and social service communities and to those we serve.”-Katharine Briar-Lawson, PhD, LMSW, Professor and Dean Emeritus, University at Albany School of Social Welfare and National Child Welfare Workforce InstituteFrom the Foreword:“This book will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians, administrators, students, faculty, and academicians. I would also recommend it to family organizations as a resource in their education programs for the families they serve ... Bertram and Kerns have done an excellent job of blending hard science, clinical applications, and big picture issues into a very readable volume that will have valuable information for these diverse audiences” -- Albert Duchnowski, Ph.D. , Professor Emeritus University of South FloridaTo improve client outcomes and practitioner competence, this book clarifies practices to address common problems such as anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, and child behavioural concerns. The authors also provide examples and suggest how to integrate implementation of evidence-based practice into academic programs through collaboration with behavioural health or social service programs.Among the many topics discussed: Academic workforce preparation and curricula development Data-informed selection and implementation of evidence-based practice Anticipating and resolving practical challenges to implementation Negotiating treatment challenges with clients Collaboration between academic and behavioural health care programs This text is a valuable resource for both academic and behavioural health care programs. It will improve workforce preparation and behavioural health care service provision by helping aspiring practitioners and programs develop the necessary knowledge and skills to select, effectively implement and sustain evidence-based practice.

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This book provides a clear framework for conducting participatory research with children and young people supported with practical examples from international research studies. Our aim is to encourage more participatory research with children and young people on all matters that affect their lives. This book illustrates innovative ways of being participatory and sheds new light on involvement strategies that play to children’s and young people’s competencies. Participatory research is based on the recognition of children and young people as active contributors rather than objects of research. Participatory researchers support and value the voices of children and young people in all matters that concern them. Core to participatory research practice is a strengths-based approach that aims to promote the active engagement of children and young people in all stages of research, from inception to implementation and beyond. Engagement of children and young people requires the use of creative, participatory methods, tools and involvement strategies to reveal children’s competencies. This book shares knowledge about creative participatory techniques that can enable and promote children’s ways of expressing their views and experiences. The book provides guidance on appropriate techniques that reduce the power differential in the adult-child relationship and which optimise children’s abilities to participate in research. This book is targeted at researchers, academics, and practitioners who need guidance on what tools are available, how the tools can be used, advantages and challenges, and how best to involve children in all stages of a research project. It will provide several examples of how children can have an active participatory role in research. There is increasing interest in involving children as co-researchers but little guidance on how this can be done. This book fills a this gap by addressing all of these issues and by providing worked examples from leading researchers and academics.

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This book is designed to offer a comprehensive high-level introduction to transhumanism, an international political and cultural movement that aims to produce a “paradigm shift” in our ethical and political understanding of human evolution. Transhumanist thinkers want the human species to take the course of evolution into its own hands, using advanced technologies currently under development – such as robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cognitive neurosciences, and nanotechnology – to overcome our present physical and mental limitations, improve our intelligence beyond the current maximum achievable level, acquire skills that are currently the preserve of other species, abolish involuntary aging and death, and ultimately achieve a post-human level of existence. The book covers transhumanism from a historical, philosophical, and scientific viewpoint, tracing its cultural roots, discussing the main philosophical, epistemological, and ethical issues, and reviewing the state of the art in scientific research on the topics of most interest to transhumanists. The writing style is clear and accessible for the general reader, but the book will also appeal to graduate and undergraduate students.

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This book is an analytical account of how Roald Amundsen used sledge dogs to discover the South Pole in 1911, and is the first to name and identify all 116 Polar dogs who were part of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition of 1910–1912. The book traces the dogs from their origins in Greenland to Antarctica and beyond, and presents the author’s findings regarding which of the dogs actually reached the South Pole, and which ones returned.Using crewmember diaries, reports, and written correspondence, the book explores the strategy, methodology, and personal insights of the explorer and his crew in employing canines to achieve their goal, as well as documents the controversy and internal dynamics involved in this historic discovery. It breaks ground in presenting the entire story of how the South Pole was truly discovered using animals, and how deep and profound the differences of perception were regarding the use of canines for exploration.This historic tale sheds light on Antarctic exploration history and the human-nature relationship. It gives recognition to the significant role that animals played in this important part of history.

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This open access Pivot demonstrates how a variety of technologies act as innovation catalysts within the banking and financial services sector. Traditional banks and financial services are under increasing competition from global IT companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon and PayPal whilst facing pressure from investors to reduce costs, increase agility and improve customer retention. Technologies such as blockchain, cloud computing, mobile technologies, big data analytics and social media therefore have perhaps more potential in this industry and area of business than any other. This book defines a fintech ecosystem for the 21st century, providing a state-of-the art review of current literature, suggesting avenues for new research and offering perspectives from business, technology and industry.

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Homeopathy is over 200 years old and is still experiencing an uninterrupted influx of new practitioners and patients. Many patients and therapists swear by this "alternative healing method", which in some countries is even financed by health insurances. This seems completely incomprehensible to critics: For them it is clearly evident that homeopathy is hopelessly unscientific and has at best a placebo effect. The positions of supporters and opponents seem to be just as immutable as they are incompatible. This book answers some essential and fascinating questions: What remains of the founding ideas of homeopathy in 21st century medicine? Does it really work and, if so, how? Which of the original theories can we still apply today with a clear conscience and use for the benefit of patients and the healthcare system? Where does homeopathy have its limits and does it indeed need to be critically reconsidered and evaluated? The author has dealt with the points of criticism for years, but at the same time also takes seriously the wishes and concerns of patients who often feel insufficiently cared for by conventional medical practice. Against the background of her own personal history, her book attempts to bridge the gap between these two traditionally opposing camps.

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Disorders of the spinal cord are diverse and potentially devastating. They can present as acute, subacute and chronic disorders causing a variety of symptoms. Patients can present to pediatricians, internists, OBGYNs, emergency room physicians and neurologists requiring a diversity of clinicians to be familiar with the signs, symptoms, recommended testing and treatment options. This book comprehensively addresses myelopathies, the broad spectrum of potential pathologies. Chapters cover approaches to acute, subacute and chronic myelopathies; individual myelopathic disorders; the pathobiology, epidemiology, signs, and symptoms of the disorder; diagnostic approach, and therapeutic options. This comprehensive review is beneficial to any clinician, with special emphasis for neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and physiatrists.

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This book covers the theory, design and applications of computer networks, distributed computing and information systems. Networks of today are going through a rapid evolution, and there are many emerging areas of information networking and their applications. Heterogeneous networking supported by recent technological advances in low-power wireless communications along with silicon integration of various functionalities such as sensing, communications, intelligence and actuations is emerging as a critically important disruptive computer class based on a new platform, networking structure and interface that enable novel, low-cost and high-volume applications. Several of such applications have been difficult to realize because of many interconnections problems. To fulfill their large range of applications, different kinds of networks need to collaborate, and wired and next generation wireless systems should be integrated in order to develop high-performance computing solutions to problems arising from the complexities of these networks. The aim of the book “Advanced Information Networking and Applications” is to provide the latest research findings, innovative research results, methods and development techniques from both theoretical and practical perspectives related to the emerging areas of information networking and applications.

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Now in a completely revised and expanded fourth edition, including two new chapters, this user-friendly textbook offers a succinct overview of both the medical and surgical management of reproductive disorders, as well as coverage of associated imaging modalities. Included here are updated chapters on major reproductive endocrinology and infertility issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pubertal disorders, amenorrhea, menopause, management of endometriosis and fibroids (including interventional radiology), laboratory and clinical aspects of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), imaging modalities such as ultrasonography and sonohysterography, hysteroscopic and laparoscopic techniques, an expansion of female infertility and fertility, preimplantation diagnosis and screening, osteoporosis, and contraception and sterilization. Chapters new to this edition discuss third-party reproduction and uterine transplantation. In addition, chapters opens with a list of bulleted key points and end with multiple choice review questions, and most include vibrant clinical case material to illustrate important concepts. Residents, fellows, and new clinicians in obstetrics and gynecology interested in reproductive endocrinology and infertility will find this fourth edition of Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery: A Practical Guide a valuable and focused reference.

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This practical guide, now in a revised and updated second edition with more clinical cases for different stages, is designed as a concise reference on the delineation of target volumes in radiation oncology. Clear guidance is provided on simulation, setup, and field design for all of the malignancies commonly encountered by practicing radiation oncologists, and slice-by-slice examples are provided for different clinical stages and scenarios. The new edition of this book fully covers modern radiotherapy field design, with inclusion of guidelines on immobilization and simulation for 3D-conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy. Target Volume Delineation and Field Setup: A Practical Guide for Conformal and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy is written by leading radiation oncologists who provide their expert opinions on all relevant aspects.

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This book is the first of its kind in several overlapping and rapidly developing fields that now dominate news headlines – among them the fields of crypto-currency, digital payments platforms, ‘fintech,’ and central bank digital currencies (‘CBDCs’). With crypto and fintech now threatening to transform finance in destabilizing and anti-democratic ways, and with China and other nations now digitizing their national currencies in the form of CBDCs that make the US dollar and national payments infrastructure look ever more quaint and outmoded, this book shows both why the US and other democratic commercial societies must, and how they can, democratically digitize their currencies, their national payments systems, and the authorities that respectively issue and administer them – in the US, the Federal Reserve System (‘the Fed’).

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This open access book presents the results of three years collaboration between earth scientists and data scientist, in developing and applying data science methods for scientific discovery. The book will be highly beneficial for other researchers at senior and graduate level, interested in applying visual data exploration, computational approaches and scientifc workflows.

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Jürgen Tautz, renowned German bee researcher explains how bees communicate. Exciting and surprising new insights on communication between bees. During the history of bee research, scientists have peered deep into the inner life of bee colonies and learned much about the behaviour of these insects. Above all, the bee waggle dance has become a famous and extensively discussed phenomenon. Nevertheless, recent insights reveal that while bees are social insects inside the hive they also communicate with one another outside the hive. In this book, Jürgen Tautz, renowned German bee researcher, provides an entertaining, fresh and enlightened account for lay and professional readers, not only about the fascinating dance language but also about additional remarkable phenomena concerning information exchange between bees. From the author of the bestseller “The Buzz about Bees”. “The Language of Bees” assembles, for the first time, a complete overview of how bees understand one another. Although communication biology research on bees has so far concentrated largely on events within the hive, this book directs attention as well, to how bees communicate in the field outside the hive. The reader learns which steps new bee recruits take to reach the feeder a dancing forager has advertised. The book analyses the status of work on the bee dance published over the last 100 years and orders the essential findings as building blocks into a coherent new concept of how bees find their target. In addition, the historical survey of research on the “Bee Language” explains how several contradictory and incomplete hypotheses can still survive. A fresh point of view on one of the most remarkable behavioural performances in the animal kingdom. Observation from a different viewpoint leads to previously unknown insights. Such new perspectives clearly reveal both how large the gaps in our knowledge still are in relation to the language of bees and in which direction research must take to complete the picture of one of the most impressive behavioural accomplishments in animals. Prof. Dr. Jürgen Tautz is an expert on bees, sociobiologist, animal behaviourist and emeritus professor at the Biozentrum, University of Würzburg. He is a bestseller author and recipient of many awards of excellence for his successful communication of science to a wide public.

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Working in the outpatient clinic is a key training experience for medical students. When they arrive at the clinic, students may discover that their time on the inpatient wards does not necessarily prepare them to perform well in the outpatient setting. Everything is different in the clinic, from the nature and context of the patient encounter to the student’s role in note-writing, oral case presentation, and case discussion with the attending physician. The purpose of this book is to guide students as they transition to the world of 15-minute appointments, telemedicine, cyberchondriasis, motivational interviewing, shared medical appointments, and real-time informatics. The aim is to give students a clear understanding of their role in a variety of clinic settings, to evaluate and present their patients well, maximize learning, and provide excellent care for their patients. Excelling in the Clinic explains the process of becoming an effective, efficient, and scholarly worker in the primary care clinic.

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This open access book constitutes the proceedings of the 31st European Symposium on Programming, ESOP 2022, which was held during April 5-7, 2022, in Munich, Germany, as part of the European Joint Conferences on Theory and Practice of Software, ETAPS 2022. The 21 regular papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 64 submissions. They deal with fundamental issues in the specification, design, analysis, and implementation of programming languages and systems.

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This book reports on cutting-edge research and technology aimed at increasing the efficiency of production processes and to foster the implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions in manufacturing. Gathering peer-review contributions to the 7th International Scientific Technical Conference MANUFACTURING 2022, held in Poznan, Poland on May 16-19, 2022, it describes advanced engineering methods to optimize different stages and aspects of the production process, including product design, production scheduling, equipment maintenance and safety. It discusses the applications of augmented/virtual and mixed reality within the manufacturing industry and for education and training purposes, and highlights cutting-edge solutions for green and sustainable production. Offering a timely, practice-oriented reference guide for both researchers and practitioners in manufacturing, this book is also intended to contribute bridging the gap between university and industry, fostering a closer communication and cooperation between them.

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This open access book presents (selected) new and innovative developments for sustainable and fish-friendly hydropower. It offers unique insights into the challenges, practices and policies of hydropower developments across 8 European countries, providing examples from on-site studies and European-wide analyses. The case studies throughout the book are practical “real-world” examples, which are intended to serve as inspiration for anyone who would like to know more about how solutions for more sustainable hydropower production can be designed and implemented. Hydropower is an important renewable energy source, which, however, can also impact aquatic ecosystems, fish populations and hydro-morphology. EU and national water, environmental and energy legislation strive for sustainable energy and water resource management as well as the protection of important habitats and species. These have an effect on the requirements and decision making processes for hydropower planning, commissioning and operation. With a high variety of measures existing and site-specific conditions as well as national and EU level legal requirements to consider, it can be difficult to determine, what issues to address and which measures to implement.

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This book constitutes refereed proceedings of the Second International Conference on Smart Technologies, Systems and Applications, held in Quito, Ecuador, in December 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference was held in a hybrid format. The 29 full papers along with 1 short paper presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 104 submissions. The papers of this volume are organized in topical sections on smart technologies; smart systems; smart trends and applications.

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the energy policies in the European Union and Japan in terms of electricity markets and climate action, including energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and the reduction of emissions. The book evaluates and compares the regulatory frameworks for achieving energy transitions by answering a number of questions focused on the essence and range of the regulatory models used by leading global economies which herald carbon neutrality by 2050. The book provides a useful framework that systematises Japanese and European energy policies and legislation including electricity-related policies, plans, and programmes. Discussing these issues in relation to the European and Japanese 2050 energy transition the author delves into the four pillars of the transition: market reform, reduction of emissions, promotion of renewables, and enhancing energy efficiency. Each chapter demonstrates the timing of the actions undertaken both in Europe and Japan; analyses the character of the conducted actions, evaluates the stakeholders of the realised agenda; and presents the technologies involved in the energy transition.

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When the global financial crisis broke, central banks in both the US and the UK undertook massive asset purchase programmes which resulted in considerable increase in assets. Cross-border spillover effects were noted across global economies. Balance sheet adjustments may eventually gnaw at the profit-earning capacities of central banks, and in extreme cases, negative equity can manifest. This updated book investigates a benchmark for comparing central banks. The author employs a unique and large set of metrics to gauge the quality of central banks and presents an argument to reflect upon international best practices covering 124 banks in this latest study. The study uses different criteria including the accounting body, research, presence of stress-testing exercises, inflation-targeting frameworks, staff efficiency, and languages of communication with the public, amongst others. The book begins by providing an overview of central banking, before exploring some stylized facts about central banks in unique detail. It then presents a ratings methodology for worldwide central banks to analyse the results. A backtesting exercise is included to validate the quality of the ratings obtained. The book concludes by offering insights into the comparison of central banks.

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This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 13th International Tbilisi Symposium on Logic, Language and Computation, TbiLLC 2019, held in Batumi, Georgia, in September 2019. The volume contains 17 full revised papers presented at the conference from 17 submissions. The scientific program consisted of tutorials, invited lectures, contributed talks, and two workshops. The symposium offered two tutorials in language and logic and aimed at students as well as researchers working in the other areas: · Language: Sign language linguistics. State of the art, by Fabian Bross (University of Stuttgart, Germany) · Logic: Axiomatic Semantics, by Graham E. Leigh (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

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The first edition of Infection Prevention reviewed evolving areas in infection prevention on topics including contact precautions, technology implementation, specific infections, and care in various settings. It summarized the current data on infection prevention, presents controversies on the various topics, and includes recommendations for patient safety. Addressing hot topics such as MRSA, C. difficile vaccination, mandatory flu vaccines, and CLABSI, this is the only text to include prevention and control overviews across a range of infection issues. Written by experts in the field, this successor edition will update current chapters on the most cutting-edge models of care on emerging and evolving topics in infectious diseases. It will also include new material and chapters on high-level disinfection, diagnostic test stewardship, unique pathogens units, outpatient antibiotic stewardship, outpatient antibiotic therapy, as well as a chapter on infection prevention metrics: how much can we prevent healthcare associated infections and how hard should we try. The second edition of Infection Prevention: New Perspectives and Controversies is a valuable resource for infection prevention professionals, healthcare quality and safety professionals, caring for patients in in- and outpatient settings.

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This book explores the Complementary Management Model. Building on extensive theoretical considerations on management and leadership, it outlines the seven elements of the model: the management actors (1) jointly fulfil management tasks (2) serving two management functions (3) by performing management routines (4) and applying formal management instruments (5), which requires management resources (6) and management unit structures (7). The key mechanisms of Complementary Management include the primacy of employee self-leadership, compensatory interventions of the line manager in the absence of such self-steerage, and active roles for senior managers and HR advisors in the management/leadership process. The Complementary Leadership Model is practice-oriented and offers a coherent conceptual basis for corporate models (= principles and guidelines) of management and leadership. The book describes the process for developing and introducing such guidelines and backs this up with project recommendations. It is aimed at all those interested in theory, but especially HR professionals and managers who shape management and leadership in their organizations and are looking for compelling theoretical foundations for their work.

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This book constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2021, held in Tampere, Finland, in August 2021. The 22 full papers and 2 short papers included in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 44 submissions. The papers discuss key emerging topics and evolving practices in the area of educational computing research. They are organized in the following topical sections: Digital education across educational institutions; National policies and plans for digital competence; Learning with digital technologies; and Management issues.

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