Books published by Springer International Publishing AG

This book gives a detailed information of various soft computing techniques across various fields for solving relevant, real-life problems. The authors, all female leaders in the field, show how soft computing uses approximate calculations to provide imprecise yet usable solutions to complex computational problems. This enables solutions for problems that may be either unsolvable or too time-consuming to solve with current hardware. The authors show how these techniques, when applied, have proven to be efficient and robust in many difficult situations. As an important part of the Women in Science and Engineering book series, the work highlights the contribution of women leaders in soft computing, inspiring women and men, girls and boys to enter and apply themselves to secure the future in the field.

This essential resource provides a comprehensive guide for nurses and healthcare providers at all levels involved in neonatal vascular access. The text uniquely integrates core elements of theory, research evidence, and practical insights within a neuroprotective and family centred care stance. By blending these core elements, the book empowers nurses and healthcare providers to make evidence-based decisions, optimise safety, and enhance outcomes for infants and their families.This book is designed for neonatal nurses, nurse practitioners, and all healthcare professionals involved in neonatal care, from early-career clinicians to seasoned practitioners. It is an invaluable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of vascular access and integrate neuroprotective measures into their practice.Vascular Access in Neonatal Nursing Practice: A Neuroprotective Approach stands out as a vital resource, offering a holistic approach to neonatal vascular access. The book combines theory, research evidence, practical insights and technical expertise with a focus on embedding neuroprotection into vascular access. As such this book is an indispensable tool for neonatal units worldwide, providing a balanced mix of theoretical knowledge, practical insights, and evidence-based recommendations, all tailored to the specialised needs of neonates.

This book takes a philosophical look at traditional technological tools such as hammers and drills as well as the modern: autonomous cars, ChatGPT, smartphones, apps, steam engines, nuclear power plants, computers, and many other systems that surround us. The three main questions tackled are: Is technology neutral? Or is the design often intertwined with a Western or gendered perspective? What are the ethical risks of AI? Is it necessarily biased? Is the climate problem linked to smart technologies? Is technological determinism correct? In other words, is the world controlled by engineers since the digital revolution, or are their inventions merely a product of society?Lode Lauwaert and Bartek Chomanski offer an idiosyncratic perspective on technology and AI. The result is a nuanced and critical view of the key themes of our time. This book appeals broadly to students, researchers as well as non-academic audiences for an introduction to the philosophy of technology and AI."This book explores key themes that all revolve around the idea that technology is not neutral. This is a message for all of us. Because technology is us." Mark Coeckelbergh, University of Vienna

Over the last several decades, cannabis has been increasingly accepted as a legitimate therapeutic option by the public. Healthcare professionals, most of whom did not learn about cannabis, cannabinoids, or the endocannabinoid system in school, face the challenge of understanding the potential benefits, risks, and role of cannabis-based medicine in patient care. Cannabis Science and Therapeutics: The Essential Guide for Clinicians provides evidence-based information and practical guidance to empower clinicians to navigate the complex scientific and regulatory landscape of cannabis-based medicine.Cannabis Science and Therapeutics begins with an overview of the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid pharmacology-- the scientific foundation for clinical applications of cannabis-based medicine. It also clarifies what the evidence really says about cannabis use for different medical conditions and how clinicians can interpret clinical and pre-clinical data to make decisions with patients about safe and effective use of cannabis-based medicine. This book includes the most up-to-date guidance on patient selection, administration, dosing, safety monitoring, drug interactions, and harm reduction strategies. A review of public health considerations provides readers with information necessary to engage patients, colleagues, policymakers, and other stakeholders in robust and balanced dialogue about the role of cannabis-based medicine in society. The book briefly overviews federal and state cannabis regulations, with a focus on implications for research. This book is intended both for readers with limited exposure to cannabis-based medicine and those already familiar with it who are seeking a comprehensive resource.

Unlock the intricate language of signals and systems with this in-depth exploration of Fourier and Laplace transforms. Designed for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in engineering, physics, and applied mathematics, this book unravels the foundations of signal processing with a rigorous yet engaging approach.Beginning with the fundamentals and building to advanced topics, each chapter guides you through the Fourier series, Fourier, and Laplace transform and into the realms of discrete Fourier and Z transforms, multi-dimensional analysis, and applications of the Fourier Transform in solving PDE, ODE, and Integral equations. The text brings mathematical theory to life through real-world applications in signal synthesis, systems engineering, and differential equations, making complex topics accessible and inspiring.With its unique blend of historical insights, practical applications, and intuitive explanations, this book offers a comprehensive yet approachable journey into the world of transforms. Whether you're a student building your foundation or a professional seeking to deepen your expertise, this book invites you to discover the elegance and utility of transforms in a way that bridges theory with the demands of modern engineering and science.

This book explores the critical issue of cardiovascular prevention (CVP) in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, highlighting the stark disparities in access to basic health-preserving tools. Despite significant technological advances in CVP over the past decades, many individuals in low-income countries and deprived segments of high-income nations still lack access to essential care for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. This volume sheds light on the prevalence and outcomes of major cardiovascular risk factors-such as obesity, heart failure, and stroke-in these underserved communities and explores potential remedial measures.Contributors from diverse regions bring their extensive research expertise to examine the current status of CVP globally. The chapters cover a range of topics, including the prevalence of risk factors and suggestions for improving cardiovascular health in resource-limited settings. Unlike other publications that focus on cutting-edge developments like polygenic risk scores and new therapies, this book emphasizes fundamental CVP tools that can be applied to the largest segments of the world's population. Readers will gain insights into effective strategies for weight control, healthy diets, smoking cessation, and more.This comprehensive resource is invaluable for students and professionals across various fields, including primary care providers, cardiologists, public health experts, social workers, and economists. It is also suitable for graduate and undergraduate readers interested in public health and healthcare disparities. To ensure broad accessibility, an open access option is available for those with limited financial resources.

The inertia tensor is presented as a key to understanding motion ranging from boomerangs to gyroscopes. Chains of transformations unravel the motion of a robot arm.To help the reader visualise motion, ranging from unbalanced rotors to vibrating systems with multiple modes and damping, there are abundant simulation examples on a linked website.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to statistical approaches for the assessment of complex environmental exposures, such as pollutants and chemical mixtures, within the exposome framework. Environmental mixtures are defined as groups of 3 or more chemical/pollutants, simultaneously present in nature, consumer products, or in the human body. Assessing the health effects of environmental mixtures poses several methodological challenges due to the high levels of correlation that are often present between environmental chemicals, and by the need of incorporating flexible non-additive and non-linear effects that can capture and describe the complex mechanisms by which environmental exposure contribute to diseases. Several statistical approaches are proposed and discussed, including the application of regression-based approaches (e.g. penalized regression such as LASSO and elastic net, or Bayesian variable selection) for environmental exposures, and novel methods (e.g. weighted quantile sum regression, or Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression) that account for specific complexities of environmental exposures. More recent efforts included are the application of machine learning approaches (e.g. gradient boosting) for environmental data. Statistical Methods for Environmental Mixtures describes the statistical challenges that commonly arise when dealing with environmental exposures and provides an introduction to different statistical approaches for such data. Over the last decade, substantial efforts have been made to transition the statistical framework for environmental exposures in epidemiologic studies from a single-chemical/pollutant to a multi-chemicals/pollutants approach. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to this modern multi-chemicals/pollutants framework. Emphasis is given to interpretability, discussing issues with causal interpretation and translation of scientific finding when applying the discussed statistical approaches for complex environmental exposures.The target audience includes researchers in environmental epidemiology and applied statisticians working in the field. As such, while rigorously presenting the statistical methodologies, the book keeps an applied focus, discussing those settings where each method is appropriate for use and for which question it can be applied, providing examples of accurate presentation and interpretation from the literature, including a basic introduction to R packages and tutorials, as well as discussing assumptions and practical challenges when applying these techniques on real data.

This textbook presents basic knowledge and essential toolsets needed for people who want to step into artificial intelligence (AI). The book is especially suitable for those college students, graduate students, instructors, and IT hobbyists who have an engineering mindset. That is, it serves the idea of getting the job done quickly and neatly with an adequate understanding of why and how. It is designed to allow one to obtain a big picture for both AI and essential AI topics within the shortest amount of time. Designed for a typical undergraduate, graduate, or dual-listed course with a semester-based calendar; Puts theory in context, so readers gain knowledge about the most essential concepts and algorithms; Covers essential terms, algorithms, and useful tools for learning and performing contemporary AI.Extra information is available at AI-engineer.org

This book offers an innovative exploration of energy justice, from concept to action, highlighting its role as a crucial tool for navigating the complexities of a just and sustainable energy transition. The book is timely and as the global energy transition rapidly progresses, it will serve as an essential resource, offering practical guidance to advancing a just and sustainable energy future. The perspectives presented in this book are presented by early career energy justice scholars from around the world, each highlighting and proposing ways to navigate the transition. The discussion focuses on three key themes: the integration and repurposing of energy infrastructures with the use of technology, the need for affordable and accessible energy services, and the promotion of responsible governance through effective policymaking and corporate social responsibility. At the heart of this book is the presentation of the 'Toolkit to Achieve the Just Transition using the Energy Justice Framework'. Alicia Phillips is an attorney-at-law and a PhD Researcher at the Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA), TRansitions Energétiques et Environnementales Laboratory (TREE) & the CNRS- France.Laura Kaschny is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Energy Law at the Erasmus School of Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

In a world of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, Fintech stands as a pivotal force, at the crossroads of technology, finance, and sustainability. This book invites readers to the forefront of a revolutionary convergence, where economic growth and environmental stewardship align. Whether the reader is a decision-maker, innovator, entrepreneur, or investor within the Fintech industry, this is a guide to a future where finance and technology serve our planet.Authored by experts in GIS, AI, and remote sensing, who are also seasoned entrepreneurs, this unique work offers both theory and practical guidance, discovers sources often overlooked in ESG analytics, dives into specific, not general, KPIs for industry professionals, and navigates global regulations and frameworks with ease.Real-world case studies unveil the value of applied methods, supported by insights from leading practitioners, explore the latest developments in AI and machine learning, and uncover a step-by-step data science analysis framework.

Numerous thinkers have considered the Principle of Non-Contradiction, but none has clearly identified its inherent limitation: that it is itself only a formal principle.This book shows that negation plays a fundamental role both in the constitution of the principle and in the affirmation of its value, which consists in its undeniability. Since it is a formal negation, it is extrinsic to the negated in such a way that it is configured as a negation only insofar as it is applied to something.On the basis of this analysis, it is shown that it is possible to reverse the usual philosophical perspective: it makes no sense to speak of proof of the principle, but only of proof by virtue of the principle.This book is essential reading for all scholars and researchers of theoretical philosophy and Aristotle.

Nearly one-third of US workers must obtain a license from a government agency to perform their jobs legally. This impacts employees across all areas, including lawyers, doctors, and accountants, as well as florists, hairdressers, physical therapists, and plumbers. The justification for occupational licensing is that potential consumers allegedly lack the information and knowledge to judge the competence of a service provider. This necessitates a licensing system built to ensure that customers are served by people who have received adequate training and certification in their profession.While there are recognizable benefits of occupational licensing, the training and certification requirements create barriers to entry for employees or those entering the profession. These barriers can limit competition, raise service costs, and restrict consumer access to essential services. Recent empirical work suggests that consumers have incurred these costs without being adequately protected from incompetent or unscrupulous service providers. This book addresses this situation head on.In light of occupational licensing's shortcomings, the authors of this book propose and analyze constructive reforms, assessing their effects on key professions such as law, medicine, and finance. Chapters identify the significant costs of current policies and  they recommend practical reforms that rely more on market forces. The resulting book provides new ways to reduce licensing costs without compromising service quality.Clifford Winston is a senior fellow in the economic studies program at the Brookings Institution.

Software engineering has changed:  A software project today is likely to use large language models (LLMs) for some tasks and will employ some open-source software. It is therefore important to integrate open source and use of LLMs in teaching software engineering - a key goal of this textbook.This reader-friendly textbook/reference introduces a carefully curated set of concepts and practices essential for key tasks in software projects. It begins with a chapter covering industry-standard software, open-source tools, and the basics of prompt engineering for LLMs. The second chapter delves into project management, including development process models, planning, and team-working. Subsequent chapters focus on requirements analysis and specification, architecture design, software design, coding, testing, and application deployment.Each chapter presents concepts, practical methods, examples, the application of LLMs, and the role of open-source software. A companion website provides some comprehensive case studies, as well as teaching material including presentation slides.This textbook is ideal for an introductory course on software engineering where the objective is to develop knowledge and skills to execute a project-specifically in a team employing contemporary software engineering practices and using open source and LLMs. It is also suitable for professionals who want to be introduced to the systematic approach of software engineering and/or use of open source and LLMs.The author is a distinguished professor at IIIT-Delhi and a well-known academic in software engineering. He has served as vice president in Infosys Technologies Limited and as a visiting researcher at Microsoft Corporation.

This book deals with the question of what is a good life for children. It argues that a good childhood is one in which: a child is sufficiently provided with all the goods it needs to develop into an autonomous person a child is sufficiently provided with the goods it needs for its well-being sufficient space is given to a child¿s will, wishes, concerns and projectsThe book not only develops a new theoretical conception of a good childhood and defends it against objections, it also engages with the problem how a good childhood can be realized in the context of families as well as the institutions of liberal states. In so doing it provides numerous insights into central themes and key issues of the philosophy of childhood.What is a Good Childhood? is essential reading for all scholars and researchers of ethics, social and political philosophy and philosophy education, especially those focusing on the philosophy of childhood.

This brief explores the justification of the death penalty, using the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, as a case study. The authors argue that when an offender¿s impairments severely impact their ability to make rational decisions, the death penalty is unjustified, regardless of the crime's severity. The book examines the case of Nikolas Cruz, the school shooter diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), including: The nature of FASD, how it was measured, and how it manifested in Cruz. The impact of FASD on Cruz¿s adaptive functioning. The concept of ¿psychiatric overshadowing¿ and how it led to the oversight of Cruz¿s FASD and associated brain damage by many mental health experts. The broader implications of FASD, with a recommendation to expand death penalty exemptions to include disorders equivalent to intellectual disabilities (ID).By focusing on the highly controversial Cruz case, the authors¿key experts from the trial¿offer insights into FASD and its often-overlooked role in determining criminal responsibility and sentencing. This book is essential for forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health professionals, FASD/DD specialists, researchers, and legal professionals involved in death penalty defense work.

This edited book presents the integration of Critical Media Literacy (CML) principles into teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This approach has its roots in content-based language learning, which aims to promote effective communication as the ultimate goal of language acquisition. This book highlights the profound influence of CML on educational methods, exploring the evolving concepts that support its integration and providing both theoretical perspectives and practical examples to illustrate its implementation. The book delineates methodologies for constructing and executing a CML integration framework in EFL lessons, offering various instructional strategies and reflective analyses and integrating the viewpoints of professionals, educators, and researchers. The book explores the complexities of CML, discussing the changing nature of language instruction in a world heavily influenced by media, and explores issues such as professional growth during educational restructuring, highlighting the significance of personal metamorphosis in attaining social equity. This book offers a concise yet thorough examination of CML integration in EFL settings, and it will be of interest to scholars specializing in education, media studies, and language instruction, as well as educators actively engaged in teaching, such as EFL teachers, curriculum developers, and educational policymakers.Rida Afrilyasanti is a PhD candidate in English Language Education at Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. She is also a writer, academic, and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructor at SMA (Senior High School) Negeri Taruna Nala Jawa Timur. She is widely recognized for her English as a Foreign Language (EFL) textbooks, which she developed in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Education. Her research interests include technological pedagogy, pedagogical innovation, instructional media, and media literacy. Yazid Basthomi is a Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Department of English at Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. He was a Fulbright scholar at the ELI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor during his PhD studies. His research interests include genre analysis, intercultural education, and digital culture, and he is currently the coordinator of the publication division of TEFLIN. Evynurul Laily Zen is a faculty member of the Department of English at Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. She earned her PhD in English Language and Linguistics from the National University of Singapore in 2020. Her research interests include multilingual acquisition and education, language maintenance and shift, Family Language Policy (FLP), and multilingual learner corpora.

This study guide is designed for students taking courses in engineering mathematics and mathematical methods in science. The textbook includes problems with detailed solutions to teach students the subjects in detail and partially and fully solved exercises with hints to required formulas and answers, enabling students to practice independently and guiding them through problem-solving procedures. The material covered in the book includes complex functions, complex transformations, singularities of complex functions, complex series, Taylor and Laurent series expansions, residue, complex integration, Fourier series, half-domain Fourier sine and cosine series, complex Fourier series, Fourier integral, complex Fourier integral, Fourier transform, half-domain Fourier sine and cosine transform, and partial differential equations.Offering detailed solutions, multiple problem-solving methods, and clear explanations of concepts, this hands-on tutorial will improve students¿ problem-solving skills and foster a solid understanding of engineering mathematics and mathematical methods in science.

This Palgrave Pivot book analyses the current state of economic and financial relations between China and the European Union. It illustrates the 'de-risking' strategy that informs much of financial policy between China and the EU and argues that this differs from the policy of 'decoupling' that characterizes the US approach towards China. Exploring how the EU positions itself in the context of a trade and tech race between the US and China, the book sketches out a range of geopolitical challenges for Europe as it navigates current and future scenarios in global economic cooperation and competition. It discusses the concept of 'strategic autonomy' for the EU and explores barriers to achieving this as well as options for re-shaping relations with China. The book provides an excellent overview for researchers and policy-makers of Sino-EU economic relations today and sets them firmly in the contexts of the post-pandemic world with new global value chains, rapid technological development, and evolving environmental challenges.René W.H. van der Linden is lecturer & researcher at the International Business program of The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Together with Piotr ¿asak, he published The Financial Implications of China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2019 and Financial Interdependence, Digitalization and Technological Rivalries in 2023. Piotr ¿asak is an Associate Professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. His research focuses on topics related to international financial markets development, including financial market regulation and supervision, mechanisms of financial and currency crises, digitalization of the financial sector, and shadow banking system development (especially in China).

"Absolutely fascinating! I, of course, knew nothing about stage prologues. You've very successfully whetted my appetite."  - Peter Holland, McNeel Family Professor in Shakespeare Studies, University of Notre Dame.This open access book seeks answers to a series of questions about the littlestudied subject of prologues or theatrical presentations in American movie theaters from the late 1910s to the mid-1920s. How did prologues emerge out of prior practices? Who were the exhibitors most involved? What characteristics would come to define prologues? How widespread did they become not only in metropolitan palace cinemas but also in movie theaters in mid-sized cities and even small towns? If they generally created an atmosphere that complimented or harmonized with the feature films, could they also be what at the time was called "contrastive"? Who were the performers in these theatrical presentations? Were prologues ever described, in ads and audience responses, as a program's main attraction and to what effect?The book comprises five chapters and up to a hundred photographs of prologue stage settings. Moreover, supplementing each chapter is one or more relevant trade press documents. Overall, the chapters construct a set of practices and typologies that came to define the theatrical presentations that typically preceded the feature films. They also advance this argument: the variety format of combined stage and screen performance in movie theaters has a longer and unexpectedly revealing history than usually assumed. In short, an exhibitor would have a certain degree of creativity in his/her programming, which in turn could strongly impact an audience's movie-going experience.Richard Abel is Professor Emeritus of International Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Michigan, USA. His most recent books include Menus for Movie Land: Newspapers and the Emergence of American Film Culture, 1913-1916 (2015), Motor City Movie Culture, 1916-1925 (2020), and Our Country/Whose Country?: Early Westerns and Travel Films as Stories of Settler Colonialism (2023) as well as Barbara C. Hodgdon's Ghostly Fragments, co-edited with Peter Holland (2021), and the edited collection, Movie Mavens: US Newspaper Women Take on the Movies, 1914-1923 (2021).