Springer International Publishing

This textbook introduces the vast array of features and powerful mathematical functions of Mathematica using a multitude of clearly presented examples and worked-out problems. Each section starts with a description of a new topic and some basic examples. The author then demonstrates the use of new commands through three categories of problems

- the first category highlights those essential parts of the text that demonstrate the use of new commands in Mathematica whilst solving each problem presented;

- the second comprises problems that further demonstrate the use of commands previously introduced to tackle different situations; and

- the third presents more challenging problems for further study.

The intention is to enable the reader to learn from the codes, thus avoiding long and exhausting explanations.

While based on a computer algebra course taught to undergraduate students of mathematics, science, engineering and finance, the book also includes chapters on calculus and solving equations, and graphics, thus covering all the basic topics in Mathematica. With its strong focus upon programming and problem solving, and an emphasis on using numerical problems that do not need any particular background in mathematics, this book is also ideal for self-study and as an introduction to researchers who wish to use Mathematica as a computational tool.

This new edition has been extensively revised and updated, and includes new chapters with problems and worked examples.

This handbook gathers together the state of the art on mathematical models and algorithms for imaging and vision. Its emphasis lies on rigorous mathematical methods, which represent the optimal solutions to a class of imaging and vision problems, and on effective algorithms, which are necessary for the methods to be translated to practical use in various applications. Viewing discrete images as data sampled from functional surfaces enables the use of advanced tools from calculus, functions and calculus of variations, and nonlinear optimization, and provides the basis of high-resolution imaging through geometry and variational models. Besides, optimization naturally connects traditional model-driven approaches to the emerging data-driven approaches of machine and deep learning. No other framework can provide comparable accuracy and precision to imaging and vision. Written by leading researchers in imaging and vision, the chapters in this handbook all start with gentle introductions, which make this work accessible to graduate students. For newcomers to the field, the book provides a comprehensive and fast-track introduction to the content, to save time and get on with tackling new and emerging challenges. For researchers, exposure to the state of the art of research works leads to an overall view of the entire field so as to guide new research directions and avoid pitfalls in moving the field forward and looking into the next decades of imaging and information services. This work can greatly benefit graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in imaging and vision; applied mathematicians; medical imagers; engineers; and computer scientists.

This book on the anatomy of central nervous system arteries concentrates on all anatomical variations of the central nervous system and it describes the embryological processes that hide behind the possible adult variants.

The first section of the work is a reminder of general concepts of embryology. After that, each section corresponds to arteries of an anatomical location: intradural, dural, skull base and cranio-cervical junction. Each chapter is dedicated to a single artery to facilitate the reader's search for information. In addition, modern and detailed illustrations of the embryological steps and adult variants are included. There are two types of illustrations: artist's drawing, usually to explain the vascular embryology, and angiographic images.

The central point of the book lies in the space devoted to the embryological development of each artery and the processes that can lead to the development of different variants in the adult. The audience of this book is aimed at neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists, specialists in the neurovascular area, but it will also help residents in neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neurology in their daily practice.

This latest book within the Management of Urology series provides a concise and up to date overview of all aspects of penile cancer care. It is an ideal resource for urological trainees and established clinicians seeking an easy-to-digest summary of the topics covered, particularly for those working towards their final specialist examinations. Each chapter covers topics from the aetiology and molecular biology of the disease, diagnostic work up of patients and the differing surgical or non-surgical management techniques available. Learning objectives and key reading sections are included within every chapter that reinforce key points and facilitate the reader in developing a deeper understanding of the topic.

Additional questions via app: Download the Springer Nature Flashcards app for free and use exclusive additional material to test your knowledge.

This handbook concisely summarizes state-of-the-art information about stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), including the history and development of these modalities, the biologic rationale for these technologies, typical practices, and reported results. Developed as a companion to Handbook of Evidence-Based Radiation Oncology, edited by Eric Hansen and Mack Roach, III, it is organized by disease site and presents treatment techniques and recommended imaging; safety and quality assurance; toxicities and management; recommended follow-up; and supporting evidence. Inclusion of evidence-based guidelines is intended to help inform decisions regarding the appropriateness of SRS and SBRT and guide treatment and evaluation. This new edition is fully updated with the latest literature. A new chapter on dose constraints has also been added, along with additional content on SBRT for oligometastatic disease and prostate, and the integration of SBRT with systemic therapy, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted agents. Case examples are added, as well as additional images to highlight situations described. Handbook of Evidence-Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy, 2e can be easily referenced in the clinic and is a valuable guide for radiation oncology practitioners

This book covers essential information necessary in diagnosing and treating pediatric patients in the emergency room. A second edition to its successful predecessor, this book addresses that need by placing vital clinical management and algorithms into a quick and simple guidebook that can be accessed within moments from a scrub pocket or white coat. It includes updated chapters from the original table of contents, as well as new chapters that address important topics, such as approaches to domestic violence and child abuse. Though it includes new chapters, it is still an easy, quick access reference that can be used for those facts that are absolutely essential, but are often difficult to remember. Color images and flow charts allow doctors to grasp the essentials quickly, while more detailed explanations are included alongside for trainees. Quick Hits for Pediatric Emergency Medicine, second edition uses updated tips, caveats, drug dosing, and pearls to assist the provider who may not be familiar with all of the unique nuances of the pediatric population. This is ideal for emergency department physicians, nurses, and trainees including students, residents, and fellows.

This book covers essential information necessary in diagnosing and treating pediatric patients in the emergency room.

A second edition to its successful predecessor, this book addresses that need by placing vital clinical management and algorithms into a quick and simple guidebook that can be accessed within moments from a scrub pocket or white coat. It includes updated chapters from the original table of contents, as well as new chapters that address important topics, such as approaches to domestic violence and child abuse.

Though it includes new chapters, it is still an easy, quick access reference that can be used for those facts that are absolutely essential, but are often difficult to remember. Color images and flow charts allow doctors to grasp the essentials quickly, while more detailed explanations are included alongside for trainees.

This book, Mind, Brain and Education, comprises selected topics from Neurology and Psychiatry, showing both their common ground and their differences. A special emphasis is given to the role of scientific gathering with the Mind & Brain Congress as a platform for educating younger colleagues and widening their perspectives in the field of both disciplines. With the new discipline of Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI) and its translation to clinical practice, our long-standing comprehensive approach to the interrelation and bridging of the mind and the brain contributes to a better understanding of this challenging topic. The reader can find new facts showing how diseases are the result of an alteration at the bio-psycho-social level. PNEI provides knowledge about the biological dynamics of conventional medicine and of the importance of lifestyle changes in order to fight disease. Written by experts in the field, the exceptional new approach provided by this book, makes it an innovative tool for spreading new knowledge, and implementing it in everyday clinical practice for the benefit of patients and even more so, to prevent them becoming patients in the first place.

This book, Mind, Brain and Education, comprises selected topics from Neurology and Psychiatry, showing both their common ground and their differences. A special emphasis is given to the role of scientific gathering with the Mind & Brain Congress as a platform for educating younger colleagues and widening their perspectives in the field of both disciplines. With the new discipline of Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI) and its translation to clinical practice, our long-standing comprehensive approach to the interrelation and bridging of the mind and the brain contributes to a better understanding of this challenging topic.

The reader can find new facts showing how diseases are the result of an alteration at the bio-psycho-social level. PNEI provides knowledge about the biological dynamics of conventional medicine and of the importance of lifestyle changes in order to fight disease.

Written by experts in the field, the exceptional new approach provided by this book, makes it an innovative tool for spreading new knowledge, and implementing it in everyday clinical practice for the benefit of patients and even more so, to prevent them becoming patients in the first place.

This book, now in an extensively revised second edition, is designed to provide the reader with a full understanding of the role of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in helping to solve many of the most challenging problems in endodontics. It will shorten the learning curve in application of this exciting imaging technology in a variety of contexts: difficult diagnostic cases, treatment planning, evaluation of internal tooth anatomy prior to root canal therapy, nonsurgical and surgical treatments, early detection and treatment of resorptive defects, and outcomes assessment. The ability to obtain an accurate 3D representation of a tooth and the surrounding structures by means of noninvasive CBCT imaging is changing the approach to clinical decision making in endodontics. Clinicians long accustomed to working in very small, three-dimensional spaces are no longer constrained by the limitations of two-dimensional imaging. The challenges of mastering the new technology can, however, be daunting. The detailed guidance contained in this book will help endodontists to take full advantage of the important benefits offered by CBCT.

This book, now in an extensively revised second edition, is designed to provide the reader with a full understanding of the role of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in helping to solve many of the most challenging problems in endodontics. It will shorten the learning curve in application of this exciting imaging technology in a variety of contexts: difficult diagnostic cases, treatment planning, evaluation of internal tooth anatomy prior to root canal therapy, nonsurgical and surgical treatments, early detection and treatment of resorptive defects, and outcomes assessment.

This monograph contains an in-depth and coherent treatment of dimension-reduced modeling of blood flows on the level of large vessels (macrocirculation). The authors reduce the complexity by combining a one-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation and a simplified FSI-concept. The influence of omitted vessels, which are subsequent to the outlets of larger vessels, is accounted for by systems of ordinary differential equations (0D models). The target audience primarily comprises research experts in the field of biomedical engineering, but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students alike.

The book provides an entry point for graduate students and other scholars interested in using the constructs of Piaget¿s genetic epistemology in mathematics education research. Constructs comprising genetic epistemology form the basis for some of the most well-developed theoretical frameworks available for characterizing learning, particularly in mathematics. The depth and complexity of Piaget¿s work can make it challenging to find adequate entry points for learners, not least because it requires a reorientation regarding the nature of mathematical knowledge itself. This volume gathers leading scholars to help address that challenge. The main section of the book presents key Piagetian constructs for mathematics education research such as schemes and operations, figurative and operative thought, images and meanings, and decentering. The chapters that discuss these constructs include examples from research and address how these constructs can be used in research. There are two chapters on various types of reflective abstraction, because this construct is Piaget¿s primary tool for characterizing the advancement of knowledge. The later sections of the book contain commentaries reflecting on the contributions of the body of theory developed in the first section. They connect genetic epistemology to current research domains such as equity and the latest in educational psychology. Finally, the book closes with short chapters portraying how scholars are using these tools in specific arenas of mathematics education research, including in special education, early childhood education, and statistics education.

This book is a comprehensive reference of the neuraxial route for the delivery of therapeutics. It reviews the historical evolution of this approach from its inception in the later 1800's to present day. This amply referenced text covers basic discussions of spinal anatomy, embryogenesis, neuraxial vascularity, cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics and parenchymal molecule movement. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of different intrathecal agents are explored in detail with particular reference to clinical correlates in pain and spasticity. Particular attention is paid to the issues relevant to preclinical models of intrathecal delivery and the assessment of spinal pathologies arising from acute and chronic intrathecal drug delivery. Chapters provide essential discussions of clinical aspects of patient care, including patient evaluation and screening, trialing and device management, troubleshooting problems and addressing complications, best practices, cost-effectiveness and future of the therapy. Clinicians and researchers who practice intrathecal therapy and study neuraxial mechanisms will find Neuraxial Therapeutics, to be an invaluable guide to this treatment modality.

As computational power, the volume of available data, IT systems¿ autonomy, and the human-like capabilities of machines increase, robots and AI systems have substantial and growing implications for the law and raise a host of challenges to current legal doctrines. The main question to be answered is whether the foundations and general principles of private law and criminal law offer a functional and adaptive legal framework for the ¿autonomous systems¿ phenomena. The main purpose of this book is to identify and explore possible trajectories for the development of civil and criminal liability; for our understanding of the attribution link to autonomous systems; and, in particular, for the punishment of unlawful conduct in connection with their operation. AI decision-making processes ¿ including judicial sentencing ¿ also warrant close attention in this regard. Since AI is moving faster than the process of regulatory recalibration, this book provides valuable insights on its redesign and on the harmonization, at the European level, of the current regulatory frameworks, in order to keep pace with technological changes. Providing a broader and more comprehensive picture of the legal challenges posed by autonomous systems, this book covers a wide range of topics, including the regulation of autonomous vehicles, data protection and governance, personality rights, intellectual property, corporate governance, and contract conclusion and termination issues arising from automated decisions, blockchain technology and AI applications, particularly in the banking and finance sectors. The authors are legal experts from around the world with extensive academic and/or practical experience in these areas.

Hand and wrist require specific care from a multidisciplinary staff. The patient has to be treated efficiently from injury in order to be able to return to work and sports activities.

This second volume covers the functional anatomy of the wrist, as well as the most up to date knowledge regarding the surgical and orthopaedic protocols for treating wrist pathologies.

This publication is intended for physiotherapists and occupational therapists, surgeons and practitioners specialised in physical rehabilitation, as well as for the students in those fields.

This book discusses the challenges related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It adds valuable strategies and insights into the development of new practices solving the identified social and economic problems related to ecosystem deterioration and anticipating other disasters related to climate change. As the decarbonization of cities and communities became an issue of great interest to many researchers, the book in hand is of great importance to decision-makers and energy stakeholders and others seeking a more resilient and sustainable future and developing innovative technologies to overcome environmental deterioration. This book is a culmination of selected research papers from the first version of the international conference on ¿Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability¿ which was held in 2022 in collaboration with Chongqing University, China.

Search and navigation in hyperlinked networks have been subjects of research since the Internet emerged. Due to its incompleteness in terms of linking related content, the existing linking structure of the Web and similar networks cannot be utilized as a searchable index without prior application of suitable crawling strategies and content categorization.
Following the example of sitemaps, a map-like extension to the existing link structure of the network is proposed that creates additional contextual links. For this, a concept and algorithms are devised that allow the creation of contextual cluster files, to which documents are assigned and between which semantically relevant links are established. The resulting WebMap covers all searchable resources on the original network in a contextual overlay network and enables new search and navigation approaches.

This book reports on innovative research and developments in automation. Spanning a wide range of disciplines, including communication engineering, power engineering, control engineering, instrumentation, signal processing and cybersecurity, it focuses on methods and findings aimed at improving the control and monitoring of industrial and manufacturing processes as well as safety. Based on the 6th International Russian Automation Conference (RusAutoCon2023), held as a hybrid conference on September 10-16, 2023, in/from Sochi, Russia, this book provides academics and professionals with a timely overview of and extensive information on the state of the art in the field of automation and control systems. It is also expected to foster new ideas and collaborations between groups in different countries.

This book provides knowledge on the diversity of disease-causing microbes including bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans¿the major diseases they cause and the environmental factors that influence the occurrence, transmission and spread of microbes along with the epidemiological factors determining the occurrence of disease. The book mainly covers a broad spectrum of diseases infecting different organs of human and describes the microorganisms involved in the process. The diseases caused by parasites and helminths are also included in the text since the infective stages of parasites as well as helminths are microscopic in nature and need to be distinguished from bacterial infections by appropriate diagnosis.

The growing number of states with weak capacity to carry out basic governance functions is leading to unacceptable levels of human suffering. Using Ethiopia as a case study, this book acknowledges the multidimensional nature of state fragility and highlights the non-political factors that drive it.The first part uses institutional theory to explore how weak institutions become a source of state fragility by undermining social cohesion and the broader economic progress of countries. Part two examines the role of entrepreneurship and industrial policy as a means of creating and sustaining economic and political stability, trade policy as a means of increasing incomes and easing tensions, and technology policy as a means of engaging people in entrepreneurship and innovation. The final chapter provides lessons that fragile nations can learn from successful developing countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America. This book will appeal to researchers interested in international business, economic and business policy, international trade, and emerging markets who seek to understand how fragile states can promote sustainable peace and development.

¿ The recent and dramatic development of Chinäs economy and international political muscle is especially pronounced in the country¿s video game industry. Now the largest of its kind in the world by gross revenue, the Chinese video game industry impacts every player in the global game market and has begun to directly influence the nature of the video game medium itself. From its conceptualization of the player as a category and commodity, to its approach to the design, development, and marketing of products and services, the Chinese game industry is engaging in a complex, innovative, and fascinating reimagining of the video game as a cultural and industrial force. The purpose of The Chinese Video Game Industry is to help introduce and investigate this industrial and cultural powerhouse. The book¿s contributors array the industry across its history, economics, organization, politics, and cultures, documenting its rise, exploring its operational, cultural, and aesthetic characteristics, and capturing its context vis-à-vis the global media landscape. In so doing, the contributors provide a robust resource for anyone interested in studying, building, or even simply appreciating games.

This handbook critically analyzes cross¿border news production and ¿transnational journalism cultures¿ in the evolving field of cross-border journalism. As the era of the internet has

This book presents an overview of the techniques available today for the removal of fluoride contamination/pollutants/species from water. Also covered are traditionally applied techniques for the removal of fluoride pollutants/species, including oxidation, coagulation-flocculation, and membrane techniques. Recently, progress has been made on the utility of various nanoparticles for the extraction of contaminants from water. Fluoride contamination is affecting water resources quality worldwide as a result of human activities, such as mining and pesticide use. Due to the high risk of fluoride exposure, specific water treatment processes are required to meet more severe water quality standards. A better understanding of currently available processes is necessary to develop economical, efficient, and effective methods for fluoride removal. Fluoride can either be coated, adsorbed using a wide range of both mineral and organic constituents or can be directly rejected by membrane processes, such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. Recent developments of submerged hybrid membrane systems, such as membrane bioreactors in wastewater treatment, provide alternative technologies for fluoride treatment.

This book assists in the adoption of the sustainable cross-sectoral nexus approach of agrivoltaics, which can provide a quite significant untapped potential for the sustainable development of humanity. Increasing demand for water, energy and food, due to population growth and urbanization, is aggravated by unprecedented extreme weather and climatic conditions. This situation is likely to undermine the sustainable and peaceful development of humanity. Today, more than ever, there is an imperative need to support the identification and development of practical solutions, where the use of a nexus approach can lead to improved outcomes in the integrated management of water¿energy¿food¿ecosystem (WEFE) resources. This book disseminates the current knowledge of the modern approach of agrivoltaics, providing a comprehensive state of the art on the field, discussing the current status, the challenges and the future perspectives for their further development. This new currently in-depth unexplored topic will be covered thoroughly by the present book, which will attract the readership of both the scientific and industrial research communities, even of people who are dealing with cultivations, promoting the development in the field, from conceptual designs to practical realizations.

Recent debates about the return of colonially looted heritage have furthered the discussions on decolonisation around the world, and have reignited questions surrounding ¿what is, and who owns, cultural heritage¿. These discourses in the meaning, production and management of heritage ¿ with a growing presence of themes that address ¿Latinities¿ ¿ have gained greater visibility in Latin America and the Caribbean, as challenges surrounding cultural heritage arise more prominently worldwide. The attention on this region aims to contextualise the various theoretical, empirical, and critical perspectives in relation to the negotiation of decolonisation. Hence, this book focuses on the analysis of diverse modes of confronting the power underlying colonial heritage that can contribute to pushing boundaries and persuading changes in pre-established definitions of political thought and local identities. To this end, the chapters in this book focus on a wide scope of topics, ranging from the repatriation and restitution of cultural heritage, and diasporic movements to decolonial practices around monuments, museums, and education. In so doing, this volume challenges stereotypes that made Latin America and the Caribbean a space of mere reproducibility of external ideas, and instead provides a space to show current decolonial perspectives and practices developed in the region that will enrich the international debate on the contestation of colonial legacies and decolonisation of cultural heritage.

Recent debates about the return of colonially looted heritage have furthered the discussions on decolonisation around the world, and have reignited questions surrounding "what is, and who owns, cultural heritage". These discourses in the meaning, production and management of heritage - with a growing presence of themes that address "Latinities" - have gained greater visibility in Latin America and the Caribbean, as challenges surrounding cultural heritage arise more prominently worldwide. The attention on this region aims to contextualise the various theoretical, empirical, and critical perspectives in relation to the negotiation of decolonisation. Hence, this book focuses on the analysis of diverse modes of confronting the power underlying colonial heritage that can contribute to pushing boundaries and persuading changes in pre-established definitions of political thought and local identities. To this end, the chapters in this book focus on a wide scope of topics, ranging from the repatriation and restitution of cultural heritage, and diasporic movements to decolonial practices around monuments, museums, and education. In so doing, this volume challenges stereotypes that made Latin America and the Caribbean a space of mere reproducibility of external ideas, and instead provides a space to show current decolonial perspectives and practices developed in the region that will enrich the international debate on the contestation of colonial legacies and decolonisation of cultural heritage.

The book provides new perspectives from leading researchers accentuating and examining the central role of the built environment in conceiving and implementing multifaceted solutions for the complex challenges of climate change, revealing critical potentials for architecture and design to contribute in more informed and long-term ways to the urgent transition of our society. The book offers a compilation of peer-reviewed papers that uniquely connects knowledge broadly across practice and academia, from the newest technologies and methods to indigenous knowledge, community engagement, techniques for ecosystem regeneration, nature-based solutions, and more. The book is part of a series of six volumes that explore the agency of the built environment in relation to the SDGs through new research conducted by leading researchers. The series is led by editors Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen and Martin Tamke in collaboration with the theme editors: - Design for Climate Adaptation: Billie Faircloth and Maibritt Pedersen Zari - Design for Rethinking Resources: Carlo Ratti and Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen (Eds.) - Design for Resilient Communities: Anna Rubbo and Juan Du (Eds.) - Design for Health: Arif Hasan and Christian Benimana (Eds.) - Design for Inclusivity: Magda Mostafa and Ruth Baumeister (Eds.) - Design for Partnerships for Change: Sandi Hilal and Merve Bedir (Eds.)

The book provides new perspectives from leading researchers accentuating and examining the central role of the built environment in conceiving and implementing multifaceted solutions for the complex challenges of climate change, revealing critical potentials for architecture and design to contribute in more informed and long-term ways to the urgent transition of our society. The book offers a compilation of peer-reviewed papers that uniquely connects knowledge broadly across practice and academia, from the newest technologies and methods to indigenous knowledge, community engagement, techniques for ecosystem regeneration, nature-based solutions, and more.

- Design for Climate Adaptation: Billie Faircloth and Maibritt Pedersen Zari

- Design for Rethinking Resources: Carlo Ratti and Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen (Eds.)

- Design for Resilient Communities: Anna Rubbo and Juan Du (Eds.)

- Design for Health: Arif Hasan and Christian Benimana (Eds.)

- Design for Inclusivity: Magda Mostafa and Ruth Baumeister (Eds.)

- Design for Partnerships for Change: Sandi Hilal and Merve Bedir (Eds.)

This book capitalizes on data collected by the Natural Resources Conservation Service & other organizations over the past 100+ years & offers the first comprehensive treatment of Mississippi soils. Main topics include the history of soil studies; soil-forming factors; general soil regions; taxonomic soil regions; soil-forming processes; benchmark, endemic, rare, & endangered soils; land use; key environmental issues; & yield potential of Mississippi soils. The book contains over 100 photographs of soils, vegetation, & land use & should be of interest to planners & students interested in soil science & allied disciplines.

This comparative philosophy of law book aims at formulating a new analytical approach to the Islamic legal tradition based on ¿juridical categories¿, a concept that facilitates comprehension and understanding of juridical phenomena. Building upon legal comparativism and legal pluralism, this project intends to avoid bias caused by universalizing Western categories when analyzing foreign juridical notions, which inevitably results in the miscomprehension of non-Western ideas and institutions. Unlike existing literature, this project will not focus on substantive comparisons between normative contents, but on the ¿juridical perspectives¿ that helped to shape the Islamic and Western legal orders.

This comparative philosophy of law book aims at formulating a new analytical approach to the Islamic legal tradition based on 'juridical categories', a concept that facilitates comprehension and understanding of juridical phenomena. Building upon legal comparativism and legal pluralism, this project intends to avoid bias caused by universalizing Western categories when analyzing foreign juridical notions, which inevitably results in the miscomprehension of non-Western ideas and institutions. Unlike existing literature, this project will not focus on substantive comparisons between normative contents, but on the 'juridical perspectives' that helped to shape the Islamic and Western legal orders.

The book discusses the evolution of STEM-driven Computer Science (CS) Education based on three categories of Big Concepts, Smart Education (Pedagogy), Technology (tools and adequate processes) and Content that relates to IoT, Data Science and AI.

For developing, designing, testing, delivering and assessing learning outcomes for K-12 students (9-12 classes), the multi-dimensional modelling methodology is at the centre. The methodology covers conceptual and feature-based modelling, prototyping, and virtual and physical modelling at the implementation and usage level. Chapters contain case studies to assist understanding and learning. The book contains multiple methodological and scientific innovations including models, frameworks and approaches to drive STEM-driven CS education evolution.

Educational strategists, educators, and researchers will find valuable material in this book to help them improve STEM-driven CS education strategies, curriculum development, and new ideas for research.

This book explores the widespread mass conversions to Christianity and Islam that took place in Europe and Asia in the ninth to eleventh centuries. Taking a comparative perspective, contributors explore the processes at work in these conversions. Focusing on Christianity and Islam, it contrasts religious conversion in the period with earlier conversions, including those of Manichaeism in central Asia; Buddhism in east Asia; and Judaism in Khazaria, exploring why conversions to Christianity and Islam led to centralized political structures.

Tsvetelin Stepanov is Professor at St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia, Bulgaria.

?Osman Karatay is Professor in History at the Ege University in Izmir, Turkey. 

This book is a comprehensive overview of the forest bioenergy, from feedstock production to end products. The book presents the state of the art of forest biomass production, assessment, characterization, and conversion into heat and power. It starts with forest sources of biomass and potential availability. Continues with the characterization of the forest stands and the availability of biomass for energy per stand structure, including stands managed for timber, non-wood products, and energy plantations. It follows with biomass evaluation and monitoring considering data sources, modeling methods, and existing models. are also addressed. After the initial focus on forest biomass production and estimation, this resource is assessed as a feedstock for energy conversion. Not only current, but also emerging biofuels obtained from forest biomass are considered. Established and emerging conversion technologies for the production of bio-heat and bio-power are examined and the impacts of the conversion systems presented.

This book provides an in-depth insight into the ecological perspective on a number of ongoing issues pertaining to security, the economy, the state, global environmental governance, development, and the environment. The chapters critically compare and analyze the role of global eco-politics in understanding and sorting out issues linked with climate change. Furthermore, it presents a contemporary and accessible description of why we need to embrace eco-politics in order to address the various ecological challenges that we face in the current changing climate scenario.

The book brings together perspectives on entrepreneurship research, education and practice to understand social entrepreneurship in its wider societal, political and economic context. Its unique contribution comes from its interdisciplinary approach that spans from the societal to the organizational level, with specific focus social innovation and management. It views management of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise in light of its societal context and employs social innovation to critically assess social entrepreneurship as driver of change. The emergence of social entrepreneurship as an academic field is linked to several societal trends such as public austerity, financial crises, new social challenges and a growing counter-movement to globalised capitalism. Generally seen as organisations serving both social and economic objectives, social enterprises, social innovation and social entrepreneurship have their roots in civil society, civic activism or the solidarity economy, but also manifest themselves as for-profit companies, with new organisational forms emerging and old ones changing. The contributions in this book elucidate these developments and the role of social entrepreneurs and social enterprises. Furthermore, the book offers great insight into the specific ways of managing, leading and creating innovation in social enterprises as well as perspectives on how to understand their social impact or value creation.

The book brings together perspectives on entrepreneurship research, education and practice to understand social entrepreneurship in its wider societal, political and economic context. Its unique contribution comes from its interdisciplinary approach that spans from the societal to the organizational level, with specific focus social innovation and management. It views management of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise in light of its societal context and employs social innovation to critically assess social entrepreneurship as driver of change. The emergence of social entrepreneurship as an academic field is linked to several societal trends such as public austerity, financial crises, new social challenges and a growing counter-movement to globalised capitalism. Generally seen as organisations serving both social and economic objectives, social enterprises, social innovation and social entrepreneurship have their roots in civil society, civic activism or the solidarity economy, but also manifest themselves as for-profit companies, with new organisational forms emerging and old ones changing. The contributions in this book elucidate these developments and the role of social entrepreneurs and social enterprises. Furthermore, the book offers great insight into the specific ways of managing, leading and creating innovation in social enterprises as well as perspectives on how to understand their social impact or value creation.

This book presents a comprehensive framework for developing Industry 4.0 and 5.0 solutions through the use of ontology modeling and graph-based optimization techniques. With effective information management being critical to successful manufacturing processes, this book emphasizes the importance of adequate modeling and systematic analysis of interacting elements in the era of smart manufacturing.

The book provides an extensive overview of semantic technologies and their potential to integrate with existing industrial standards, planning, and execution systems to provide efficient data processing and analysis. It also investigates the design of Industry 5.0 solutions and the need for problem-specific descriptions of production processes, operator skills and states, and sensor monitoring in intelligent spaces.

The book is divided into two parts: modeling and optimization. The semantic modeling part provides an overview of ontologies and knowledge graphs that can be used to create Industry 4.0 and 5.0 applications, with two detailed applications presented on a reproducible industrial case study. The optimization part of the book focuses on network science-based process optimization and presents various detailed applications, such as graph-based analytics, assembly line balancing, and community detection.

This book examines the pros and cons of the internationalization of higher education institutions, which is an important feature of modern universities. It makes a significant contribution to our understanding of universities and an important input to the assessment of the internationalization of higher education institutions both for regulators and for the universities themselves.

The book's three parts focus on a number of issues associated with internationalization. The first part - Perspectives on Internationalization - provides critical reflections on internationalization, on the globally distributed European-American university and on the impact of rankings. The second part - The Obstacles to Internationalization - deals with the significance of language, challenges of mobility and environment concerns. The third part - Alternative Modes of Internationalization - discusses internationalization at home, international distance education and the establishment of international branch campuses.

This book covers the most important subjects of digital twin in a process plant, including foundations, methods, achievements, and applications in a brownfield environment. Besides offering a variety of applications and procedural variants from research and industrial practice, this book also provides a comprehensive insight into holistic plant planning. It also discusses the challenges that currently exist in different application areas. This book would be of interest to industry professionals and researchers in industrial and manufacturing engineering.

This book provides a detailed evaluation of the hydro-ecological characteristics of the Western Balkans, an area characterized by still preserved inland waters and fish resources important for the European continent, as well as the biodiversity of inland waters important for the planet Earth. Freshwater ecosystems cover only 1% of the Earth's surface; however, they are a habitat for about 40% of fish species. At the same time, inland fisheries make less than 12% of the world's global fish catch, with 43% coming from low-income and food-deficient countries (Africa, South America, Southeast Asia). In Europe, the Western Balkans have significant fishing waters and fish resources, including the Middle Danube drainage (Sava, Drina, Velika Morava river systems), large ancient lakes (Skadar/Shkodra, Ohrid, Prespa, Dojran), and the Adriatic basin characterized by endemic and commercially important species. However, in contrast to the high fishing potential in a significant part of the Western Balkans, diverse and specific political, economic, and social factors largely had a negative impact on the state of fish resources. This volume is multidisciplinary and provides a sound knowledge base for scientific and practical fisheries. In addition, it may be a valuable guide for managers and conservationists worldwide to adapt methods and procedures for the ecological sustainability of fish resources under specific local, natural, and socio-economic conditions. Finally, the content is a good reference for natural sciences and agriculture students studying fish, fish resources, and fisheries sciences. It would improve their knowledge and perspectives on the challenges of sustainable use and conservation of inland water resources.

This book provides a detailed evaluation of the hydro-ecological characteristics of the Western Balkans, an area characterized by still preserved inland waters and fish resources important for the European continent, as well as the biodiversity of inland waters important for the planet Earth. Freshwater ecosystems cover only 1% of the Earth's surface; however, they are a habitat for about 40% of fish species. At the same time, inland fisheries make less than 12% of the world's global fish catch, with 43% coming from low-income and food-deficient countries (Africa, South America, Southeast Asia).

In Europe, the Western Balkans have significant fishing waters and fish resources, including the Middle Danube drainage (Sava, Drina, Velika Morava river systems), large ancient lakes (Skadar/Shkodra, Ohrid, Prespa, Dojran), and the Adriatic basin characterized by endemic and commercially important species. However, in contrast to the high fishing potential in a significant part of the Western Balkans, diverse and specific political, economic, and social factors largely had a negative impact on the state of fish resources.

This volume is multidisciplinary and provides a sound knowledge base for scientific and practical fisheries. In addition, it may be a valuable guide for managers and conservationists worldwide to adapt methods and procedures for the ecological sustainability of fish resources under specific local, natural, and socio-economic conditions. Finally, the content is a good reference for natural sciences and agriculture students studying fish, fish resources, and fisheries sciences. It would improve their knowledge and perspectives on the challenges of sustainable use and conservation of inland water resources.

The book is devoted to the retirement of Prof. Wilfried Becker¿a liber amicorum for a well-known specialist in the field of structural mechanics. Many excellent scientists from institutions around the world wrote their scientific chapters, stressing the Becker¿s influence to structural mechanics. Thus, this collection discusses a lot of important problems and applications of mechanics.

This book features research presented and discussed during the Research & Innovation Forum (Rii Forum) 2023. As such, this book offers a unique insight into emerging topics, issues and developments pertinent to the fields of technology, innovation and education and their social impact. Papers included in this book apply inter- and multi-disciplinary approaches to query such issues as technology-enhanced teaching and learning, smart cities, information systems, cognitive computing and social networking. What brings these threads of the discussion together is the question of how advances in computer science¿which are otherwise largely incomprehensible to researchers from other fields¿can be effectively translated and capitalized on so as to make them beneficial for society as a whole. In this context, Rii Forum and Rii Forum proceedings offer an essential venue where diverse stakeholders, including academics, the think tank sector and decision-makers, can engage in a meaningful dialogue with a view to improving the applicability of advances in computer science.

This book features research presented and discussed during the Research & Innovation Forum (Rii Forum) 2023. As such, this book offers a unique insight into emerging topics, issues and developments pertinent to the fields of technology, innovation and education and their social impact. 

Papers included in this book apply inter- and multi-disciplinary approaches to query such issues as technology-enhanced teaching and learning, smart cities, information systems, cognitive computing and social networking. What brings these threads of the discussion together is the question of how advances in computer science-which are otherwise largely incomprehensible to researchers from other fields-can be effectively translated and capitalized on so as to make them beneficial for society as a whole.

In this context, Rii Forum and Rii Forum proceedings offer an essential venue where diverse stakeholders, including academics, the think tank sector and decision-makers, can engage in a meaningful dialogue with a view to improving the applicability of advances in computer science.