Books published by Springer Nature Singapore

This book presents thoughts and pathways to build revolutionary machine learning models with the new paradigm of machine learning to adapt behaviorism. It focuses on two aspects - one focuses on architecting a choice process to lead users on the certain choice path while the second focuses on developing machine learning models based on choice paradigm. This book is divided in three parts where part one deals with human choice and choice architecting models with stories of choice architects. Second part closely studies human choosing models and deliberates on developing machine learning models based on the human choice paradigm. Third part takes you further to look at machine learning based choice architecture. The proposed pioneering choice-based paradigm for machine learning presented in the book will help readers to develop products - help readers to solve problems in a more humanish way and to negotiate with uncertainty in a more graceful but in an objective way. It will help to create unprecedented value for business and society. Further, it will unveil a new paradigm for modern intelligent businesses to embark on the new journey; the journey of transition from shackled feature rich and choice poor systems to feature flexible and choice rich natural behaviors.

This book provides lucid and instructive information about waste biomass, its potential, and the methods employed in energy generation. Topics covered include the basic principles, applications, recent advances, and the technical and economic considerations of waste-to-energy (WTE) technology. It highlights and elucidates essential concepts, mechanisms, applications, and useful outcomes of WTE technologies. In addition, it also provides a few example problems with design data for energy generation from waste biomass which will help the readers to understand the basics of WTE technologies. The book is structured with an overview at the start of each chapter presenting an outline of its content and a list of relevant discussions targeted toward readers. To illustrate the types of waste biomass, principles, and process of various thermal and biochemical process technologies, over 90 illustrations including graphs, diagrams, and photographs are provided. To help the readers improve their knowledge of the subject and to increase the utility of this book, the characteristics of waste biomass, operation conditions of different processes, and global status of WTE technologies are provided in tabular format. For that purpose, over 50 tables are provided. Selected references are also provided for this book. This book is primarily intended for researchers and professionals working in the area of bioenergy. It can also be used as a primary or secondary text for graduate courses and professional training programs.

This book explores stakeholders' perspectives, their practices, and engagement with enacting the employability agenda in the context of a rapidly changing world. It explains the need for developing graduate employability under socioeconomic, cultural, and political pressure exposed to the higher education sector. Largely framed within Bourdieu's concepts of social field, habitus, and capital, it explores international stakeholders' perspectives and experiences with graduate employability agenda in different contexts, which serves as a point of reference for the adoption of such initiatives. Based on empirical evidence, the authors develop a new graduate employability framework seeing it as a lifelong process, denote the relationships between types of employability capital, and shed light on the consequences of different strategies to translate employability capital to employment and career outcomes. Overall, this book generates both theoretical and practical insights which help to advance employability programs, better prepare the future workforce, and anticipate turbulence in the labour markets.

This book provides recent development in thin-film solar cells (TFSC). TFSC have proven the promising approach for terrestrial and space photovoltaics. TFSC have the potential to change the device design and produce high efficiency devices on rigid/flexible substrates with significantly low manufacturing cost. TFSC have several advantages in manufacturing compared to traditional crystalline Si-solar cells like less requirement of materials, can be prepared with earth's abundant materials, less processing steps, easy to dispose, etc. Several universities/research institutes/industry in India and abroad are involved in the research area of thin-film solar cells. The book helps the readers to find the details about different thin-film technologies and its advancement at one place. Each chapter covers properties of materials, its suitability for PV applications, simple manufacturing processes and recent and past literature survey. The issues related to the development of high efficiency TFSC devices over large area and its commercial and future prospects are discussed.

This textbook helps graduate level student to understand easily the linearization of nonlinear control system. Differential geometry is essential to understand the linearization problems of the control nonlinear systems. In this book, the basics of differential geometry needed in linearization are explained on the Euclidean space instead of the manifold for students who are not accustomed to differential geometry. Many Lie algebra formulas, used often in linearization, are also provided with proof. The conditions in the linearization problems are complicated to check because the Lie bracket calculation of vector fields by hand needs much concentration and time. This book provides MATLAB programs for most of the theorems. The book also includes end-of-chapter problems and other pedagogical aids to help understanding and self study. 

This book opens up a critical dimension of energy transition taking in account multidimensional challenges on economic, social and environmental fields. The book discusses the trends in the field of energy transition and evolving practices adopted by public authorities and companies for betterment of environment and society. The editors (4) identify directions and challenges involved in the energy transition. The novelty of this book is the multidisciplinary approach, being presented the economic, social and environmental challenges involved in the energy transition. The energy transition is accompanied by a complex process of changing attitudes and behaviors of energy consumers and producers. The consequences are profound not only economically and environmentally but also socially, renewable energy being a solution for energy poverty reduction and development of rural communities. Therefore, certain social and environmental problems generated by energy poverty are solved by using renewable energy. Moreover, the complexity of the phenomenon is presented not only in terms of the analysis of the main sources of renewable energy but also the ethical aspects involved in the use of sources such as biofuels. In the case of this source, the main problem is whether the use of certain agricultural products for the production of biofuels threatens food security, especially in rural areas.All categories of stakeholders must show responsibility and get involved in this complex process which requires a remarkable technical and financial effort. The energy transition can offer innovative solutions through which the impact of economic activity on the environment is minimized, and in this way, industrial ecology achieves its objectives to support sustainable development. The demands imposed by industrial ecology must shape not only the behavior of oil and gas companies but also of entities involved in the production and consumption of renewable energy. Given the negative externalities generated, companies in the fossil fuel sector have become increasingly socially responsible, their social and environmental performance (non-financial) being presented in detail in the annual sustainability reports to inform stakeholders. Therefore, this book is an important read not only for scholars, but also for those who are interested in ensuring an environmentally sustainable future taking in account energy transition challenges.

This book offers a meditation on the links between philosophy and its implementation, interpreting why and how a leader's "philosophy" strengthens his action predicated on the purposeful vision of life; and discusses the a hypothesis that performance control in management may be driven by transcendental and intrinsic motivations, contrasting with the traditional management control theory. It construes how Inamori's management philosophy disciplines accounting and finance management towards putting its basic tenets into practice. Examining, in particular, the history of Kyocera, the authors provide a contemplative look at a human centric philosophy, which will be of interest to scholars of management, corporate executives, and economists with a philosophical bent.

As the population is growing and urbanization is progressing, higher numbers of people are exposed to disaster risks, especially in the developing countries. Climate change is further worsening the impacts of existing risks and introducing new ones. It is imperative that countries need to invest more in disaster risk reduction (DRR) as well as climate change adaptation (CCA) not only to minimize their impacts but also to build resilience.To date, various international arenas have recommended increasing investment in DRR. The Sendai Framework for DRR, adopted by the UN member states in 2015 during the Third UN World Conference on DRR, emphasizes investment as a priority for decreasing disaster risks and losses. The Yangon Declaration set the goal of doubling investment to address water-related disasters. However, most countries are not able to proactively invest enough in DRR. Understanding the current scale and estimate of investment and its effects is crucial for promoting DRR investment, but such information and estimates are rarely available.This book examines the current investment trends and issues in DRR and CCA. Based on specific case studies, field data and evidence, the book identifies challenges in increasing investment and recommends various investment policies and innovative approaches to sustainable progress towards a resilient future.Chapter 12  is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book discusses smart computing techniques which offer an effective solution for investigating and modeling the stochastic behavior of renewable energy generation, operation of grid-connected renewable energy systems, and smart decision-making among alternatives. It also discusses applications of soft computing techniques to make an intelligent decision for optimum use of suitable alternatives which gives an upper hand compared to conventional systems. It includes upgradation of the existing system by embedding of machine intelligence. The authors present combination of use of neutral networks, fuzzy systems, and genetic algorithms which are illustrated in several applications including forecasting, security, verification, diagnostics of a specific fault, efficiency optimization, etc. Smart energy systems integrate a holistic approach in diverse sectors including electricity, thermal comfort, power industry, transportation. It allows affordable and sustainable solutions to solve the future energy demands with suitable alternatives. Thus, contributions regarding integration of the machine intelligence with the energy system, for efficient collection and effective utilization of the available energy sources, are useful for further advanced studies.

This book aims to provide readers with the latest information on application of hysteroscopy in diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological diseases. The first chapters systematically review current status, equipment and instruments, applied anatomy, preoperative treatment and anesthesia for hysteroscopic surgery. In the following chapters, details in aspect of hysteroscopy from diagnostic to hysteroscopic surgery are explained with clinical cases. After that, advanced techniques in hysteroscopy combined with laparoscopy and ultrasound monitoring hysteroscopic surgery are introduced with high-resolution illustrations. Written by experts with wealthy experience in the field, this book will be a valuable reference for gynecologists at hysteroscopy units, reproductive units, gynecological and oncological units.

This volume discusses strategic and operational issues in executing projects. It provides both quantitative and qualitative treatment on key areas of project management, and addresses issues of scheduling, procurement, quality, risk and communications management. The beneficiaries of this volume will primarily be university students in Engineering and Business Management disciplines. The book also extends practical insights and will be useful to professionals working in manufacturing and service industries.

This book conducts systematic theoretical research on the social mechanism running system based on China's targeted poverty alleviation model and poverty reduction experience. In light of the theories of Parsons' structural functionalism, Luhmann's social system theory, and Merton's structural functionalism, this book puts forward the "coupling" theory of China's targeted poverty alleviation strategy. From the theoretical level, the operation process of poverty reduction policy is a complex social system. The "coupling" theory of China's targeted poverty alleviation strategy is mainly a theoretical innovation for the general expression of China's targeted poverty alleviation model. In terms of the design and running process of the targeted poverty alleviation strategy, the multilevelness of antipoverty and the heterogeneity of poverty objects reflect the complexity of poverty reduction, which displays systematic complexity in the structural evolution and functional differentiation of poverty reduction, as well as the evolution of the subjective intention of poverty objects. Therefore, this book conducts a "systematic" analysis of the implementation conditions and operation process of targeted poverty alleviation from the perspective of "coupling," presenting a social practice mechanism in which multiple systems coordinate and interact with each other, the poverty reduction system is continuously optimized, and policy effectiveness is continuously improved in China's poverty reduction practice.

As China gains momentum in economic terms, its technological transformation, cultural confidence, and creative influence also grow steadily. This book explores socio-cultural context, in which new trends, enabled by the power of digital technology, emerge. Focused on the urban context, in China's large cities like Shanghai, and through the lens of art, design, fashion, gaming, and media industries, this book highlights innovation processes in the making, as well as ongoing shifts in Chinese identities and narratives. This collaborative work written by European authors based in China offer new insights from within. Their shared, yet multi-faceted, engagement with China and its creative industries culminates in this book written for international scholars, students, and industry players.

This book explores upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) at both, the fundamental as well as applied levels, for functional applications. It provides a broad perspective about the synthesis approaches of UCNPs with the preferred size, improved and tunable upconversion luminescence, along with the combined multifunctionality for various applications. It highlights the fundamentals and systematic developments in the tuning of UC emission and surface engineering of UCNPs that make UCNPs convenient for use in a large range of applications. Moreover, it gives an understanding of the imposed limitations and challenges associated with these methods to achieve the desired performance in targeted applications. It also includes the latest multifunctional lanthanide-based UCNPs, which efficiently convert low-energy photons into high-energy photons, and their applications in fluorescent microscopy, deep-tissue bioimaging, nanomedicine, optogenetics, solid-state lighting, solar cells, security labeling, and volumetric display.

This book explores the issue of abortion and women's rights in contemporary China. With a vast population, China's government has pursued controversial policies, such as the One Child Policy, in the past. Today, a rapidly urbanizing society is aging quickly, and the policies are loosening; but what are the implications for Chinese women, and how do policies compare to those in the West? In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Jiang eludicates the Chinese legal and social history of abortion for the first time in English. This book will be of interest to lawyers, NGO researchers, feminists and academics.

This book provides with its readers an objective overview of the latest development of China's special economic zones in 2019. It aims to inform researchers what achievements have been attained in one year and tells stories to general readers about how to address economic concerns through public policies. Its case studies illustrate economic achievements attained in public health, social security, and cultural industries. Its in-depth analyses of green, environmental-friendly, and resource-efficient policies can satisfy the curiosity about strategies applied by China meeting its economic challenges.

This book examines the role of photography and visual culture in the emergence of ecological science between 1895 and 1939.

This book comprises the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Information Technology (InCITe-2023). It aims to provide a comprehensive and broad-spectrum picture of state-of-the-art research and development in decision intelligence, deep learning, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, and enabling technologies for IoT, blockchain, and other futuristic computational technologies. It covers various topics that span cutting-edge, collaborative technologies and areas of computation. The content would serve as a rich knowledge repository on information & communication technologies, neural networks, fuzzy systems, natural language processing, data mining & warehousing, big data analytics, cloud computing, security, social networks and intelligence, decision-making and modeling, information systems, and IT architectures. This book provides a valuable resource for those in academia and industry.

This book comprises the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Information Technology (InCITe-2023). It aims to provide a comprehensive and broad-spectrum picture of state-of-the-art research and development in decision intelligence, deep learning, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, and enabling technologies for IoT, blockchain, and other futuristic computational technologies. It covers various topics that span cutting-edge, collaborative technologies and areas of computation. The content would serve as a rich knowledge repository on information & communication technologies, neural networks, fuzzy systems, natural language processing, data mining & warehousing, big data analytics, cloud computing, security, social networks, and intelligence, decision-making, and modeling, information systems, and IT architectures. This book provides a valuable resource for those in academia and industry.

This book examines practices on the relationship between sign and meaning in the Pre-Imperial period of China from the semiotics perspective. Although the Chinese civilization did not develop a comprehensive semiotics system in that period, they are highly semiotic in many ways. The thinking and application of signs of Chinese people can be found in many classics, such as The Book of Changes, The Analects of Confucius, Tao De Jing and Zhuangzi. This book begins its study by re-examining the semiotic thoughts contained in The Book of Changes and inquiries into the thoughts of the major philosophers of different schools. It provides insights into the findings of these philosophers concerning the relationship between sign and meaning. In particular, it concentrates on how the prosperity of the various contending semiotic thoughts complemented each other in forming a sign system. In addition, the book also emphasizes the wholeness and associativity of observing things and studying relevantsigns of Chinese people. As the first monograph in any language to systematically summarize Chinese semiotic thought in the Pre-Imperial period, this book helps promote understanding of the traditional Chinese culture and mindset.