Böcker utgivna av Springer Nature Singapore

This book brings into contestation the idea of academic citizenship as a homogenous and inclusive space. It delves into who academics are and how they come to embody their academic citizenship, if at all. Even when academics hold similar professional standings, their citizenship and implied notions of participation, inclusion, recognition, and belonging are largely pre-determined by their personal identity markers, rather than what they do professionally. As such, it is hard to ignore not only the contested and vulnerable terrain of academic citizenship, but the necessity of unpacking the agonistic space of the university which both sustains and benefits from these contestations and vulnerabilities.The book is influenced by a postcolonial vantage point, interested in unblocking and opening spaces, thoughts, and voices not only of reimagined embodiments and expressions of academic citizenship but of hitherto silenced and discounted forms of knowledge and being. It draws on academics' stories at various universities located in South Africa, USA, UK, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. It steps into the unexplored constructions of how knowledge is used in the deployment of valuing some forms of academic citizenship, while devaluing others. The book argues that different kinds of knowledge are necessary for both the building and questioning of theory: the more expansive our immersion into knowledge, the greater the capacities and opportunities for unlearning and relearning.

This book presents select research writings from researchers and professionals around the globe on the application, potential, and limitations of AI in different domains. The topics covered include AI in product design, AI in architecture design, AI in textile design, AI in interaction design, and AI for society in general. The book also discusses various cross-applications of AI in other industrial sectors like urban planning and design, AI for inclusive future, etc. The book is a valuable reference for designers in multidisciplinary areas. This book is of interest for anyone who is a beginner, researcher, and professional interested in artificial intelligence and allied fields.

< p="">This book is a machine-generated literature overview highlighting the importance of natural capital while studying the economics of ecology. It puts together available literature on this theme exploring it through the lens of sustainable development. While the main content is machine-generated, each chapter contains curated published content overview and an introduction by the editor, highlighting important areas and literature gaps, describing the connection of the topic with human economy, and examples of negative externalities. The topics seek out research articles that show a connection with mainstream economy, or rural livelihoods.The connection between natural capital and human economy, is well-known, but many of these negative externalities are complex problems to solve. While there is a growing awareness to capture the value of natural capital in economic decision-making, there is no universal consensus. However, assessing the economic value of naturalresources and ecosystem services, and integrating this information into decision-making processes such as cost-benefit analysis, corporate reporting, and government policy-making, holds a promise of finding long-term solutions to these market failures. By valuing natural capital, decision-makers can better understand the economic benefits and costs of different activities and policies, and make more informed choices that balance economic, social, and environmental objectives. Containing important introductions by the human editor to plug gaps in literature, the book is a great resource for policy-makers, students of economics and sustainable development, non-governmental organisations working in this field, and corporate managers who are responsible for allotting budgets towards corporate social responsibility programs.^

This book acts as a compilation of papers presented in the 2nd Human Engineering Symposium (HUMENS 2023), held at Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia. The symposium covers the following research topics: ergonomics, biomechanics, sports technology, medical device and instrumentation, artificial intelligence / machine learning, industrial design, rehabilitation, additive manufacturing, modelling and bio-simulation, and signal processing. The articles published will be of interest to researchers and practitioners from the medical device manufacturers, healthcare, rehabilitation and sports technology.

This textbook covers the fundamentals and applications of mechanical vibrations and is useful for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It provides a concise and clear presentation of dynamics and vibrations including many examples to provide instant illustration and applications of the mathematical relations obtained. It contains self-explanatory sketches, graphs, and figures to curtail long text. Numerous illustrated examples, exercises, and problems at the end of each chapter serve as good sources to grasp the basic principles presented in the text. Review questions and sufficient problems have also been included at the end of each chapter with answer keys for self evaluation. This textbook can also be used as a reference book by researchers and professionals interested in vibrations.

This book analyzes the importance of informal social protection provided by religious institutions such as madrassas in a low-income country such as Pakistan. This book explains that Madrassas are religious schools that have existed in many Muslim countries for centuries and contributed significantly to preserving, forming, and extending human knowledge in medieval times. Further, madrassas are now more commonly viewed as the providers of a narrow education, supporting religious fundamentalism, that may lead to terrorism. However, this book asserts that education is not the only function performed by madrassas. They are a significant source of welfare support for the vulnerable and marginalized households in many low-income countries. This book helps the readers to understand the concept of informal social protection not conceptualized previously. In addition, its various attributes and institutions providing such a form of welfare worldwide are explained in detail; analyzing the usefulness of such a form of social protection would benefit readers of social policy, national governments, and international donor/aid agencies. This book also provides a prescriptive framework for integrating formal and informal social protection. This book provides a new "e;Multiple Regime Framework"e;, for identifying various regimes in one country at one point in time by applying a novel data collection and analysis methodology. The application of this framework would be of particular interest to social policy scholars, national governments, and donor/aid agencies because it will result in better targeting of social protection policies in the wake of fiscal constraints. Lastly, this book provides a novel data collection and analysis strategy that will benefit the reader of research methodology, development consultants, donor agencies, and policy practitioners interested in using artificial intelligence to make informed and targeted policy decisions.

This book presents the features of manufactured sand (MS) and its application in concrete as the fine aggregate. It first introduces the production and technical properties of manufactured sand and demonstrates the properties of concrete, followed by the mix proportioning of concrete with manufactured sand. It also focuses on the applications of manufactured sand in several practical engineering projects using self-compacting concrete (SCC), rubble-filled SCC, and high-performance concrete with manufactured sand for special purposes. This book is useful and attractive to a wide readership in the field of materials science, civil engineering, and related fields.

This book investigates in detail the two-dimensional packing and cutting problems in the field of operations research and management science. It introduces the mathematical models and intelligent solving algorithms for these problems, as well as their engineering applications. Most intelligent methods reported in this book have already been applied in reality, which can provide reference for the engineers. The presented novel methods for the two-dimensional packing problem provide a new way to solve the problem for researchers interested in operations research or computer science. This book also introduces three new variants of packing problems and their solving methods, which offer a different research direction. The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in the solving methods for packing and cutting problems, researchers investigating the application of intelligent algorithms, scientists studying the theory of the operations research and CAM software developers working on integration of packing and cutting problem. 

Plants create a dynamic micro-biosphere in the soil, around the roots, called as 'rhizosphere', which harbors diverse number of microorganisms for sustaining their growth and development.  A soil with diverse and multi-traits microbial communities is considered healthy to enhance crop productivity. In the last decades, rhizosphere biology has gained attention due to unraveling of new mechanisms, processes and molecules in the rhizosphere that contributes towards the promotion of plant productivity. The rhizospheric microbes and associated processes are being utilized for harnessing potential of soils in effective and sustainable functioning in the agro-ecosystems. Broadly, the book discusses rhizospheric microbes and their role in modulating functions of soil and crop plant. Specifically, it highlights conventional and modern aspects of rhizosphere microbes such as - microbiome in the rhizosphere, microbes as an indicator and promoter of soil health, rhizosphere microbes as biofertilizer, biostimulator and biofortifyer, microbial signaling in the rhizosphere, recent tools in deciphering rhizobiome, and regulatory mechanisms for commercialization of biofertilizer, biopesticide and biostimulator. The book is useful for agriculture scientist, biotechnologist, plant pathologist, mycologist, and microbiologist, farming community, scientist of R&D organization, as well as teaching community, researcher and student and policy maker.

This book covers aspects of biological nitrogen fixation along with the unique signaling and interaction between the diazotrophic bacteria and plants, especially the non-legumes. Nitrogen is the most important growth-limiting nutrient in the ecosystems and biological nitrogen fixation involving microbial symbionts, mainly rhizobia and legumes holds enormous interest across the globe. However, free-living rhizobacteria of non-legumes especially cereals, also establish themselves within the root system, fixing nitrogen and contributing to plant productivity, soil fertility, and agricultural sustainability. These non-symbiotic nitrogen fixers additionally exhibit various plant growth-promoting traits elevating productivity, fortifying nutrient content, and managing water stress in plants. The recent perspectives highlighting the mechanisms and background of non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation provide answers to unravel the potential of nitrogenase and various spectra of habitats of rhizobia and other diazotrophic bacteria. Further, the application of genetic engineering and the development of nitrogen-fixing cereals can provide a possible solution to the problem of food shortage. The book includes various scientific inputs providing comprehensive knowledge about the emergence of agricultural sustainability through nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The book illustrates the systematic mechanisms involved in biological nitrogen fixation through various illustrations, schematic drawings, and flow charts aiding in better understanding. The chapters elaborate on the physiology and metabolism of plant-bacteria interaction in different crops under diverse environmental conditions. Thus, the volume will provide a holistic scenario helping in advancing the novel plant-microbe interactions, cell-signaling, and plant-molecular interactions. The book will assist the agronomists, microbiologists, ecologists, plant pathologists, molecular biologists, environmentalists, policymakers, conservationists, and NGOs to develop biofertilizers and bioinoculants using various genera of microbes and contribute to the targets of sustainable goals in an eco-friendly manner.

This book focuses on the multi-omics big-data integration, the data-mining techniques and the cutting-edge omics researches in principles and applications for a deep understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and diseases from the following aspects: (1) Basics about multi-omics data and analytical methods for TCM and diseases. (2) The needs of omics studies in TCM researches, and the basic background of omics research in TCM and disease. (3) Better understanding of the multi-omics big-data integration techniques. (4) Better understanding of the multi-omics big-data mining techniques, as well as with different applications, for most insights from these omics data for TCM and disease researches. (5) TCM preparation quality control for checking both prescribed and unexpected ingredients including biological and chemical ingredients. (6) TCM preparation source tracking.  (7) TCM preparation network pharmacology analysis. (8) TCM analysis data resources, web services, and visualizations. (9) TCM geoherbalism examination and authentic TCM identification. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been in existence for several thousands of years, and only in recent tens of years have we realized that the researches on TCM could be profoundly boosted by the omics technologies. Devised as a book on TCM and disease researches in the omics age, this book has put the focus on data integration and data mining methods for multi-omics researches, which will be explained in detail and with supportive examples the "e;What"e;, "e;Why"e; and "e;How"e; of omics on TCM related researches. It is an attempt to bridge the gap between TCM related multi-omics big data, and the data-mining techniques, for best practice of contemporary bioinformatics and in-depth insights on the TCM related questions.

This book discusses generalized applications of energy storage systems using experimental, numerical, analytical, and optimization approaches. The book includes novel and hybrid optimization techniques developed for energy storage systems. It provides a range of applications of energy storage systems on a single platform. The book broadly covers-thermal management of electronic components in portable electronic devices; modeling and optimization aspects of energy storage systems; management of power generation systems involving renewable energy; testing, evaluation, and life cycle assessment of energy storage systems, etc. This book will serve as a reference resource for researchers and practitioners in academia and industry.

This book describes the developmental process of the brain of the medaka fish. It aims to understand the brain structure of vertebrates, including humans, by taking the brain of the medaka fish as an example and showing its actual developmental process. From developmental and evolutionary viewpoints, the understanding of the brain proceeds from simple to complex structures. Fish retain the basic form of vertebrates, and their brain morphology is relatively simple. Therefore, the fish brain is useful in understanding the brain structure. This book is unique for describing the entire process of the brain development in a specific fish. In addition, the book introduces the readers to a new concept of "e;Hourglass of Brain Morphogenesis"e;, concerning the general rule of brain morphogenesis in vertebrates. The authors propose that the brain morphology is highly conserved at the middle developmental stage but diverges more extensively at earlier and later stages. The new concept challenges the accepted theory that has been widely shared for about 200 years since K. von Baer (1828, 1837) and K. von Kupffer (1906) who proposed that three primary brain vesicles at earlier developmental stages develop into five secondary brain vesicles at later developmental stages in all vertebrates. The book provides a basic understanding of the vertebrate brain and is useful for all readers who wish to understand the complex structure of the brain. 

The book is a collection of best selected research papers presented at the 5th International Conference on Inventive Material Science Applications (ICIMA 2022) organized by PPG Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India, during May 6-7, 2022. The book includes original research by material science researchers toward developing a compact and efficient functional elements and structures for micro-, nano-, and optoelectronic applications. The book covers important topics like nanomaterials and devices, optoelectronics, sustainable electronic materials, nanocomposites and nanostructures, hybrid electronic materials, medical electronics, computational material science, wearable electronic devices and models, and optical/nanosensors.

This edited volume is a compilation of peer-reviewed papers of the plenary lectures, keynote lectures, special lectures and young researcher's special lectures delivered at the 1st International Symposium on Construction Resources for Environmentally Sustainable Technologies (CREST 2020) organized by Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. The book focuses on sustainability, promotion of new ideas and innovations in design, construction and maintenance of geotechnical structures with the aim of contributing towards climate change adaptation and disaster resiliency to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It presents latest research, information, technological advancement, practical challenges encountered, and solutions adopted in the field of geotechnical engineering for sustainable infrastructure towards climate change adaptation. This volume will be of interest to those in academia and industry alike. 

What can Chinese economists learn from the Japanese economic boom and subsequent stagnation? This project aims to institutionally and empirically investigate the growth mechanism and determinants of sustainable development in China compared with Japanese experiences. This is the first challenge in conducting a comparative study on China and Japan¿s economic growth and development. We aim to investigate the economic system transition and its influence on the Chinese and Japanese economy from macroeconomic and microeconomic perspectives. This book will interest economists, scholars of comparative politics, and scholars of China or Japan's economic development.

This book illustrates various applications of quantum dots (QDs) in the biomedical field and future perspectives. It first introduces the synthesis procedures and fundamental properties of QDs. In addition, the optical detection techniques and toxicologic reviews of QDs are presented. A focus of the book is also on the applications of QDs in cancer therapy, drug delivery, bio-sensing, and targeted molecular therapy. This book is exciting and valuable to a wide variety of readership communities (students, early-stage researchers, and scientists) in the various fields of biology and medicine.

The book presents high quality research papers presented at International Conference on Computational Intelligence (ICCI 2021) held online during 27-28 December, 2021. The topics covered are artificial intelligence, neural network, deep learning techniques, fuzzy theory and systems, rough sets, self-organizing maps, machine learning, chaotic systems, multi-agent systems, computational optimization ensemble classifiers, reinforcement learning, decision trees, support vector machines, hybrid learning, statistical learning. metaheuristics algorithms: evolutionary and swarm-based algorithms like genetic algorithms, genetic programming, differential evolution, particle swarm optimization, whale optimization, spider monkey optimization, firefly algorithm, memetic algorithms. And also machine vision, Internet of Things, image processing, image segmentation, data clustering, sentiment analysis, big data, computer networks, signal processing, supply chain management, web and text mining, distributed systems, bioinformatics, embedded systems, expert system, forecasting, pattern recognition, planning and scheduling, time series analysis, human-computer interaction, web mining, natural language processing, multimedia systems, and quantum computing.

This up-to-date and comprehensive textbook is essential reading material for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a course module in genetics and developmental biology. The book provides clear, concise, and rigorous foundational concepts of genetics. It opens with an introductory chapter that provides an overview of genetics. The book includes separate and detailed sections on classical genetics, molecular genetics, and population genetics. It covers basic and foundational principles such as Mendelian genetics, chromosomal theory, transcription, translation, mutation, and gene regulation. It further includes chapters on advanced topics such as molecular genetic techniques, genomics, and applied molecular genetics. The concluding section includes chapters on population genetics, developmental genetics, and evolutionary genetics. The chapters are written by authors with in-depth knowledge of the field. The book is replete with interesting examples, case studies, questions and suggested reading. It is useful to students and course instructors in the field of human genetics, developmental biology, life sciences, and biotechnology. It is also meant for researchers who wish to further their understanding about the fundamental concepts of genetics.

This edited book is a comprehensive compilation of principles, conventional and molecular approaches used to develop improved varieties and hybrids of major crops in light of their origin, evolution, taxonomy, production and productivity and need by human civilization. The book covers breeding prospects of all important food and commercial crops. It highlights the importance of breeding tools and techniques in ensuring food security. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agriculture scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists and policymakers will find this book useful.

This book presents innovative laser desorption ionization (LDI)-active nanophotonic structures for addressing the challenges that matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is currently facing and for enhancing LDI efficiency. It presents a variety of cutting-edge nanophotonic structures to satisfy the mass-analytical needs of sensitivity, reproducibility, and quantification. As opposed to the commercialized, conventional organic matrix used in MALDI-MS, these nanostructures are validated to be highly effective in detecting small metabolites and drugs, highlighting their considerable potential in the mass spectrometry field. It also systematically elucidates fundamental LDI processes in terms of the photo-thermal, electronic, and structural characteristics of nanophotonic structures, offering mechanistic knowledge of LDI-MS. Even though LDI-MS performance is heavily influenced by a number of nanostructure parameters, relatively little is known about the LDI processes associated with those characteristics. An in-depth understanding of nanostructure characteristics and LDI mechanisms thus paves the way for more effective, rational design and development of nanostructures with improved LDI capabilities. Further, with a focus on multiple cascades in nanostructure functions in response to laser pulse stimuli, this book provides detailed, step-by-step procedures to design and construct a nanophotonic, LDI-active platform, which may serve as a roadmap for graduate students in the field of mass spectrometry. Readers, including graduate students, researchers, and experts working in the related areas of mass spectrometry, nanophotonics, and material science and material engineering, will find a wealth of useful information in this book.