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This accessible and insightful textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the economics of prehistory. By presenting a chronological account of the beginnings of economics and human society, it charts the key developments in early human history, from the evolution of social norms and colonizing of unknown continents, to the development of early technology and the transition to agricultural food production. Particular attention is given to how human capital, the natural environment, social capital, and the spread of knowledge and technical skills propelled economic development during prehistory. The origin of modern concerns, including wealth inequality, stratified societies, and environmental change, are thoughtfully presented through the examining of the birth of the first states and human civilization.This book provides a thrilling account of human evolution and economic development from its African origins and hunter-gather days, through to the invention of agriculture and the rise of early states. Bringing together ideas from across economic history, the political economy, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, it will be relevant to students and general readers interested in these topics.

Given the fact that there are perhaps 400 billion stars in our Galaxy alone, and perhaps 400 billion galaxies in the Universe, it stands to reason that somewhere out there, in the 14-billion-year-old cosmos, there is or once was a civilization at least as advanced as our own. The sheer enormity of the numbers almost demands that we accept the truth of this hypothesis. Why, then, have we encountered no evidence, no messages, no artifacts of these extraterrestrials? In this second, significantly revised and expanded edition of his widely popular book, Webb discusses in detail the (for now!) 75 most cogent and intriguing solutions to Fermi's famous paradox: If the numbers strongly point to the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, why have we found no evidence of them?Reviews from the first edition:"Amidst the plethora of books that treat the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, this one by Webb … is outstanding. … Each solution is presented in a very logical, interesting, thorough manner with accompanying explanations and notes that the intelligent layperson can understand. Webb digs into the issues … by considering a very broad set of in-depth solutions that he addresses through an interesting and challenging mode of presentation that stretches the mind. … An excellent book for anyone who has ever asked ‘Are we alone?’." (W. E. Howard III, Choice, March, 2003)"Fifty ideas are presented … that reveal a clearly reasoned examination of what is known as ‘The Fermi Paradox’. … For anyone who enjoys a good detective story, or using their thinking faculties and stretching the imagination to the limits … ‘Where is everybody’ will be enormously informative and entertaining. … Read this book, and whatever your views are about life elsewhere in the Universe, your appreciation for how special life is here on Earth will be enhanced! A worthy addition to any personal library." (Philip Bridle, BBC Radio, March, 2003)Since gaining a BSc in physics from the University of Bristol and a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Manchester, Stephen Webb has worked in a variety of universities in the UK. He is a regular contributor to the Yearbook of Astronomy series and has published an undergraduate textbook on distance determination in astronomy and cosmology as well as several popular science books. His interest in the Fermi paradox combines lifelong interests in both science and science fiction.

Now available in Open Access, this best-selling textbook for a second course in linear algebra is aimed at undergraduate math majors and graduate students. The fourth edition gives an expanded treatment of the singular value decomposition and its consequences. It includes a new chapter on multilinear algebra, treating bilinear forms, quadratic forms, tensor products, and an approach to determinants via alternating multilinear forms. This new edition also increases the use of the minimal polynomial to provide cleaner proofs of multiple results. Also, over 250 new exercises have been added.The novel approach taken here banishes determinants to the end of the book. The text focuses on the central goal of linear algebra: understanding the structure of linear operators on finite-dimensional vector spaces. The author has taken unusual care to motivate concepts and simplify proofs. A variety of interesting exercises in each chapter helps students understand and manipulate the objects of linear algebra. Beautiful formatting creates pages with an unusually student-friendly appearance in both print and electronic versions. No prerequisites are assumed other than the usual demand for suitable mathematical maturity. The text starts by discussing vector spaces, linear independence, span, basis, and dimension. The book then deals with linear maps, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors. Inner-product spaces are introduced, leading to the finite-dimensional spectral theorem and its consequences. Generalized eigenvectors are then used to provide insight into the structure of a linear operator.From the reviews of previous editions:Altogether, the text is a didactic masterpiece. — zbMATHThe determinant-free proofs are elegant and intuitive. — American Mathematical MonthlyThe most original linear algebra book to appear in years, it certainly belongs in every undergraduate library — CHOICE

This open access book compiles the latest research on continuous cover forestry in boreal forests, highlighting both the need for additional information and the exciting possibilities that this method presents. Experts in the field explore topics such as forest regeneration, genetic effects, wood production and yield, wood harvesting, forest damage agents, biodiversity, water effects, carbon cycles of forests, economics, forest planning methods, multiple uses of forests, and forest owners' attitudes.As the world faces increasing pressure to balance the multiple goals of forest management, including raw material production, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation, it is becoming clear that different forest management methods are required. Even-aged forest management is well-researched, but continuous forest management is a newer and rapidly evolving approach that is gaining popularity in boreal forests.While an overall synthesis of the subject is not yet possible, this book provides an essential foundation for understanding the current state of continuous cover forestry in boreal forests. With the new research data being accumulated all the time, this book is an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, and forest managers who want to stay up-to-date on this important topic.

How can you become the best team coach you can be? Written by highly experienced and award-winning authors and speakers, this book will help to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to develop yourself as a professional team coach. It will encourage you to reflect on who you are, what you do and how you can enhance your skills. By drawing on the Gold Standard for team coach training and the latest coaching research, it will ensure your practice is both well informed by evidenced and up to the highest professional standards. The book will also help you as you undertake a team coaching training program, as part of ICF team coaching development.“Becoming a Team Coach is a critical resource created by top executive coaches that offers a cumulation of the authors’ experience and knowledge in the field. This guide provides practical frameworks and expert advice for both new and experienced coaches and combines theory with real-world applications for the most effective teaching. Whether you're just beginning or looking to refine your skills, this guide will help you make a significant impact.”Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is the Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.“Team coaching is a fast-growing phenomenon in the professional coaching field. Yet, there are still some misunderstandings, lack of clarity and frankly some mis-information. This book is a great resource for anybody who is interested in either being trained in team coaching or engaging this service for their organization. Easy to navigate and very practical, it is a real comprehensive resource for all.”Magdalena Nowicka Mook, CEO International Coaching Federation“As the world of coaching evolves, learning how to be a team coach is both a survival strategy for practitioners and a way to add more value to clients. While competencies have a role to play, the core skill is to move beyond them --- this book maps out how to achieve this”.Prof. David Clutterbuck

This edited collection shows that good parenthood is neither fixed nor stable. The contributors show how parenthood is equally done by men, women and children, in and through practices involving different normative guidelines. The book explores how normative layers of parenthood are constituted by notions such as good childhood, family ideals, national public health and educational strategies. The authors illustrate how different versions of parenthood coexist and how complex sets of actions are demanded to fulfil today’s expectations of parenthood in Western societies. This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to research scholars in child and family studies, students, experts, social workers, politicians, teachers and parents.

This book is intended for students, academics, designers, process engineers and CMM operators, and presents the ISO GPS and the ASME GD&T rules and concepts. The Geometric Product Specification (GPS) and Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) languages are in fact the most powerful tools available to link the perfect geometrical world of models and drawings to the imperfect world of manufactured parts and assemblies. The topics include a complete description of all the ISO GPS terminology, datum systems, MMR and LMR requirements, inspection, and gauging principles. Moreover, the differences between ISO GPS and the American ASME Y14.5 standards are shown as a guide and reference to help in the interpretation of drawings of the most common dimensioning and tolerancing specifications. The book may be used for engineering courses and for professional grade programmes, and it has been designed to cover the fundamental geometric tolerancing applications as well as the more advanced ones. Academics and professionals alike will find it to be an excellent teaching and research tool, as well as an easy-to-use guide. This 2nd, revised edition includes several improved features:-       It highlights the tools provided in the recently published ISO GPS standards, such as ISO 22081-2021 and ISO 2692-2021.-       New concepts and rules in accordance with the latest revision to the GD&T standard, ASME Y14.5.1-2019, Mathematical Definition of         Dimensioning and Tolerancing Principles.-       Most of the drawings have been redrawn and updated even further to the new standards.-       Changes have been made to the text and illustrations to improve readability and clarify the contentAdditional contents and examples have been included.-       The chapters dedicated to profile tolerance and  tolerances (ISO 14405) have been extended and rewritten.

Step into the fascinating world of medical history with the second edition of Curiosities in Medicine: Alphabetically, now featuring 20 new chapters, for a total of 100 captivating stories! This expanded collection takes you on a journey through the strange, surprising, and sometimes shocking tales that have shaped medicine as we know it.Explore the peculiar, the profound, and the puzzling with entries like:Flying Babies? The unusual experiments of George Blonsky.Helium for Performance: The unexpected use of gas in an athletic enema.Poppies: Beautiful but Toxic – and Healthy? The dual nature of opium’s legacy.Mozart’s Chocolate Connection: A surprising link between Vesalius, Mozart, and everyone’s favorite treat.Urine: The Golden Elixir: Medicine’s strange fascination with this bodily fluid.Epilepsy: Divine or Demonic? How perceptions of the condition have evolved through the ages.Methamphetamine and Soldiers: The role of stimulants in wartime.These new chapters join beloved stories from the first edition, bringing fresh insights into the weird and wonderful world of medical history. Each chapter is a standalone adventure, written in an accessible and engaging style that invites readers of all backgrounds to explore the quirks of medicine through the ages.From Helen Keller’s crusade for the blind to Voltaire’s scandalous brew, this updated collection is perfect for curious minds, history buffs, and medical enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re intrigued by ancient remedies, strange experiments, or the lives of historical figures, Curiosities in Medicine: Alphabetically promises to entertain, enlighten, and inspire.Prepare to laugh, gasp, and marvel at the stories that reveal the astonishing creativity, resilience, and oddities of the human pursuit of healing. This second edition will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about the history of medicine.Curiosities in Medicine: Alphabetical – Where history meets the unexpected.

This book presents the core elements of Open Dialogue – an innovative system of mental health care initially developed in Western Lapland, Finland, and spread into about 40 countries – and explains why dialogic practice can be so effective in the treatment of difficult mental health crises. As Dr. Seikkula explains in this book, Open Dialogue is both a way of organizing psychiatric care and a form of dialogic psychotherapy. The basic idea behind Open Dialogue is that discussions with the client seeking help, their family and other social networks are open to all. Nothing about the client's care is discussed without his or her presence. In addition, the basic idea of Open Dialogue is that clinicians work together as a team, participating in all the therapy meetings where the problems that led to the client's need for help are discussed.Over the last couple of decades, the distance between the humanistic dialogical approach and conventional treatment has only increased. So, the aim of this book is to shorten this distance by describing in a concise way why dialogic practice can be so effective to treat challenging mental health conditions, such as psychosis. Dr. Seikkula explains why in dialogic practice it is possible to achieve a recovery that cannot be imagined in conventional psychiatry. In other words: why dialogue does cure.Why Dialogue Does Cure: Explaining What Makes Dialogue Unprecedentedly Effective in Difficult Crises will be a mandatory reference for clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, mental health nurses, social workers and all mental health professionals interested in learning about the nuts and bolts of the Open Dialogue approach and adopting a system of care that does not focus on eliminating the symptoms of the one in need for help, but on meeting the full human.

This book provides a brief overview of the fundamental presumptions underlying the idea of management. It is argued that managers and others must endorse these presumptions – the teachings of management – even though they are well aware that their applicability to managerial practice is limited. The author analyzes how the teachings of management are similar to political or religious beliefs and why, unlike such doctrines, they cannot be easily dismissed as outdated or irrelevant. Instead, these assumptions help to construct the idea of the organization, and thus constitute a vital factor in a contemporary society of organizations.

This carefully written textbook offers a thorough introduction to abstract algebra, covering the fundamentals of groups, rings and fields.  The first two chapters present preliminary topics such as properties of the integers and equivalence relations. The author then explores the first major algebraic structure, the group, progressing as far as the Sylow theorems and the classification of finite abelian groups. An introduction to ring theory follows, leading to a discussion of fields and polynomials that includes sections on splitting fields and the construction of finite fields. The final part contains applications to public key cryptography as well as classical straightedge and compass constructions.Explaining key topics at a gentle pace, this book is aimed at undergraduate students. It assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and contains over 500 exercises, half of which have detailed solutions provided.

This book examines both the primary ingredients and the processing technology for making candies. In the first section, the chemistry, structure, and physical properties of the primary ingredients are described, as are the characteristics of commercial ingredients. The second section explores the processing steps for each of the major sugar confectionery groups, while the third section covers chocolate and coatings. The manner in which ingredients function together to provide the desired texture and sensory properties of the product is analyzed, and chemical reactions and physical changes that occur during processing are examined. Trouble shooting and common problems are also discussed in each section.Designed as a complete reference and guide, Confectionery Science and Technology provides personnel in industry with solutions to the problems concerning the manufacture of high-quality confectionery products.

This book, now in a thoroughly revised and updated second edition, takes a pragmatic and hype–free approach to explaining artificial intelligence and how it can be utilised by businesses today. At the book's core is a framework which describes, in nontechnical language, the nine core capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Each of these capabilities, ranging from image recognition, through prediction, to Generative AI, is explained using real–life examples and how they can be applied in a business environment.The advent of Large Language Models has put AI front and centre of Board discussions. AI has the ability to deliver step–change benefits to organisations and enables forward–thinking business leaders to rethink their business models or create completely new businesses. But most of the real value of AI is hidden behind marketing hyperbole, confusing terminology, inflated expectations and dire warnings of ‘robot overlords’. Any business executive who wants to know how to exploit AI in their business today is left confused and frustrated.As an advisor in AI, Andrew Burgess regularly comes face–to–face with business executives who are struggling to cut through the AI and LLM hype. The knowledge and experience he has gained in advising them has provided him with the skills to help business executives understand what AI is and how they can exploit its many benefits. Through the distilled knowledge included in this book, business leaders will be able to take full advantage of this most disruptive of technologies and create substantial competitive advantage for their companies.

Explore the captivating world of plankton with this hands-on guide, perfect for students, educators, hobbyists, and citizen scientists alike. Designed to take you through every step of the process, from collecting samples in local waters to observing them under a microscope and conducting basic experiments, this guide will equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to study plankton at home. You will gain an understanding of the different groups of plankton, their ecological significance, and the environmental challenges they face. With practical advice on gathering and preserving samples, using essential equipment, and identifying common groups, the book also introduces simple experimental techniques to investigate plankton behavior and ecology. For those looking for further knowledge, it briefly covers advanced methods like DNA barcoding and environmental DNA analysis. An image guide, at the end of the book, for easy identification makes this a comprehensive resource. By the end of the reading, you will be ready to deepen your exploration of these vital organisms and perhaps even contribute to their study.

To avoid any misunderstandings: this book is not about spiders as pets, but about those spiders that live in our houses and apartments as lodgers. Mostly ignored and sometimes (wrongly) feared, there is hardly a building in the world that does not harbour some species of spider. What is fascinating is that we always find the same species. These spiders must have special adaptations, because the humidity in our homes is far too low, they are too clean, and the food supply is usually scarce. However, those spiders that have made the leap into our four walls are rewarded with a worldwide right to stay. This, in turn, is due to people's eagerness to trade and migrate worldwide: Humans tirelessly transport their belongings and an endless stream of goods around the world in sacks, parcels and containers. And our domestic spiders, as stowaways, travel just as tirelessly and unrecognized. It is therefore possible to present domestic spiders found throughout the world in a single book, as they are essentially the same everywhere. The 50 or so most important species and species groups are presented here in a generally understandable way, with a detailed profile, photos and distribution maps.The authors of this book are experts who work at museums, universities and in administration in Europe and North America. They are not only recognized scientists, but have also been avowed spider fans for decades.

This unique book provides the reader with access to a two-year series of questions about aspects of colorectal disease, sprinkled with discussions of surgical philosophy, statistics and learned advice. It is based on questions asked of residents on their colorectal rotation in the general surgery program at Columbia University Medical College. More than 100 questions are followed by responses by Dr. Church, deliberately formulated to fill gaps in the usual treatment of the topics as covered in surgical textbooks and the literature.Many issues that occur in the care of patients with colorectal disease are covered poorly or not at all in the available literature or even in the current training programs. The series of questions upon which this book is based is an intensely practical resource, and many of the answers feature Dr. Church’s wisdom gathered from his personal practice at the Cleveland Clinic. In addition, the answers to the questions are written in such a way as to optimize learning, including references, ancillary information and glossaries where necessary. Key features include a common clinical question, hypothesis or situation; a way to manage or understand the question, hypothesis or situation; and a detailed background to the response so that the reader can understand.

This work presents the adaptation of mentalization-based therapy for use in Eating Disorders (MBT-ED). The book starts with a presentation of the theoretical concept of mentalization and describes eating disorders from this perspective. This is followed by a discussion of the place of MBT-ED in eating disorders practice. MBT is first presented as the original model for borderline personality disorder, and then the model is further developed to address specific symptoms found in eating disorders, such as body image disturbance, restriction and purging. The original MBT model consists of outpatient treatment combined with individual and group psychotherapy, and psychoeducation in groups. The book then looks at supervision and training, and how an eating disorders team can develop a mentalizing focus. It goes on to describe the training required for practitioners to deliver individual and group MBT-ED and to supervise therapy. Lastly, it examines the implementation of the approach in different clinical settings, including inpatient services, and how management can be involved in negotiating barriers and taking advantage of enablers in the system.The authors have conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial and qualitative research in MBT-ED and have extensive experience in providing and supervising this novel therapy. MBT-ED is one of the few therapies for eating disorders that links theory of mind, and attachment and psychodynamic therapies and as such will be of great theoretical interest to a wide variety of clinicians and researchers.

This  thought-provoking book covers the full range of psychopharmacologic practice in textbook fashion, offering a fresh and comprehensive self-examination.  Unlike conventional texts of psychopharmacology, this text speaks directly to clinicians who have started to question the limitations of psychopharmacologic claims and the rigid confines of DSM-5 diagnoses. Drawing from their clinical and research experience as well as new literature, the well-published authors provide a new perspective that encourages readers to reevaluate established practices and embrace that medication is just one component of treatment and has limits. The book could be used by psychiatric residents in their course of study, by clinical psychology students taking a psychopharmacology course, or by psychiatrists curious to get a readable but comprehensive look at new critical viewpoints in psychopharmacology that have changed since they were taught. Many neuroscience students who are looking for areview of clinical effects to guide their basic research may also find the proposed text more useful than those texts that collate clinical trials.Current texts are for specialized scientists or are part of multi-authored texts which list drugs alphabetically with no conceptual framework, or books that pretend that each biochemical drug property has a clear and known clinical result presented in cartoon style.  Some lesser known texts for psychology or nursing students are not authoritative. Others aimed at patients or families are too simplistic for clinicians. The authors’ goal was to create a unified text expressing their view of psychopharmacology, its evidence base, the unity of its essential principles, and its independence of DSM or ICD diagnosis.Several new history books describe the "rise and fall" of psychopharmacology, the corruption of big pharma and the failure of large controlled clinical trials.  Psychopharmacology Reconsidered: A Concise Guide Exploring the Limits of Diagnosis and Treatment ensures that young clinicians are aware of and understand this critical zeitgeist but aware also of the essential core of psychopharmacology and the evidence upon which it rests.

This compact, highly engaging book examines the international legal regulation of both the conduct of States among themselves and conduct towards individuals, in relation to the use of cyberspace. Chapters introduce the perspectives of various stakeholders and the challenges for international law. The author discusses State responsibility and key cyberspace rights issues, and takes a detailed look at cyber warfare, espionage, crime and terrorism. The work also covers the situation of non-State actors and quasi-State actors (such as IS, or ISIS, or ISIL) and concludes with a consideration of future prospects for the international law of cyberspace.  Readers may explore international rules in the areas of jurisdiction of States in cyberspace, responsibility of States for cyber activities, human rights in the cyber world, permissible responses to cyber attacks, and more. Other topics addressed include the rules of engagement in cyber warfare, suppression of cyber crimes, permissible limits of cyber espionage, and suppression of cyber-related terrorism. Chapters feature explanations of case law from various jurisdictions, against the background of real-life cyber-related incidents across the globe. Written by an internationally recognized practitioner in the field, the book objectively guides readers through on-going debates on cyber-related issues against the background of international law. This book is very accessibly written and is an enlightening read. It will appeal to a wide audience, from international lawyers to students of international law, military strategists, law enforcement officers, policy makers and the lay person.

Exploring the history and politics of a powerful and long-lasting idea: the creation and maintenance of European worlds outside of Europe. This textbook provides a broad overview of settler colonialism in the modern era. The author outlines how the founding of new societies was envisaged and practiced around the world, illustrating the specific ways in which settler colonial projects tried to establish ideal and regenerated political bodies.With an updated introduction and an additional chapter examining decolonisation and Indigenous recognition, this second edition brings the study of settler colonialism up to the present day.

This open access book is the outcome of a unique multinational effort organized by the Hamburg-based Defense AI Observatory (DAIO) to portray the current state of affairs regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by armed forces around the world. The contributions span a diverse range of geostrategic contexts by providing in-depth case studies on Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, and the United States. The book does not speculate about the future implications of AI on armed forces, but rather discusses how armed forces are currently exploring the potential of this emerging technology. By adopting a uniform analytical framework, each case study discusses how armed forces view defense AI; how they are developing AI-enhanced solutions, adapting existing structures and processes, and funding their defense AI endeavors; to what extent defense AI is already fielded and operated; and how soldiers and officers are being trained to work with AI.

This book provides a readable and elegant presentation of the principles of anomaly detection,providing an easy introduction for newcomers to the field. A large number of algorithms are succinctly described, along with a presentation of their strengths and weaknesses.The authors also cover algorithms that address different kinds of problems of interest with single and multiple time series data and multi-dimensional data. New ensemble anomaly detection algorithms are  described, utilizing the benefits provided by diverse algorithms, each of which work well on some kinds of data.With advancements in technology and the extensive use of the internet as a medium for communications and commerce, there has been a tremendous increase in the threats faced by individuals and organizations from attackers and criminal entities. Variations in the observable behaviors of individuals (from others and from their own past behaviors) have been found to be useful in predicting potential problems of various kinds. Hence computer scientists and statisticians have been conducting research on automatically identifying anomalies in large datasets. This book will primarily target practitioners and researchers who are newcomers to the area of modern anomaly detection techniques. Advanced-level students in computer science will also find this book helpful with their studies.

This textbook offers a comprehensive introduction to relational (SQL) and non-relational (NoSQL) databases. The authors thoroughly review the current state of database tools and techniques and examine upcoming innovations.In the first five chapters, the authors analyze in detail the management, modeling, languages, security, and architecture of relational databases, graph databases, and document databases. Moreover, an overview of other SQL- and NoSQL-based database approaches is provided. In addition to classic concepts such as the entity and relationship model and its mapping in SQL database schemas, query languages or transaction management, other aspects for NoSQL databases such as non-relational data models, document and graph query languages (MQL, Cypher), the Map/Reduce procedure, distribution options (sharding, replication) or the CAP theorem (Consistency, Availability, Partition Tolerance) are explained.This 2nd English edition offers a new in-depth introduction to document databases with a method for modeling document structures, an overview of the document-oriented MongoDB query language MQL as well as security and architecture aspects. The topic of database security is newly introduced as a separate chapter and analyzed in detail with regard to data protection, integrity, and transactions. Texts on data management, database programming, and data warehousing and data lakes have been updated. In addition, the book now explains the concepts of JSON, JSON schema, BSON, index-free neighborhood, cloud databases, search engines and time series databases.The book includes more than 100 tables, examples and illustrations, and each chapter offers a list of resources for further reading. It conveys an in-depth comparison of relational and non-relational approaches and shows how to undertake development for big data applications. This way, it benefits students and practitioners working across the broad field of data science and applied information technology.

There is increasing interest in using ultrasound for assessment of pelvic floor disorders such as voiding dysfunction , pelvic organ prolapse and faecal incontinence. Ultrasound can also be a useful imaging modality for urodynamics and pelvic floor physiotherapy. Whilst ultrasound equipment is widely available around the world many clinicians may not have access to structured training in the technique of pelvic floor imaging and interpretation of images in the context of pelvic floor dysfunction. This book aims to provide the reader with the knowledge and skills to start utilising ultrasound imaging in assessment of pelvic floor disorders. The authors comprise the three surgical disciplines (urology, colorectal surgery and gynaecology) who commonly manage pelvic floor problems and have subspecialty expertise in pelvic floor imaging. They have conducted workshops in Australia, Asia, UK and USA  and are advocates for clinican-performed ultrasound.

This volume investigates the interdisciplinary and cross-cutting challenges in the risk analysis of natural hazards. It brings together leading minds in engineering, science, philosophy, law, and the social sciences. Parts I and II of this volume explore risk assessment, first by providing an overview of the interdisciplinary interactions involved in the assessment of natural hazards, and then by exploring the particular impacts of climate change on natural hazard assessment. Part III discusses the theoretical frameworks for the evaluation of natural hazards. Finally, Parts IV and V address the risk management of natural hazards, providing first an overview of the interdisciplinary interactions underlying natural hazard management, and then exploring decision frameworks that can help decision makers integrate and respond to the complex relationships among natural events, the built environment, and human behavior.

Six years have passed since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) entered into force. With its numerous data protection obligations and the threat of high fines, companies had to change their approach to data protection. It has been an ongoing challenge for companies to keep up with the constant changes deriving from a plethora of new decisions by courts and supervisory authorities.The 2nd Edition of this book provides a practical overview of the requirements of the GDPR. Examples, tables, and checklists showcase the requirements of the GDPR, whilst also giving practical tips to tackle the regulatory challenges. The handbook examines the GDPR’s scope of application, the organisational and material requirements of the GDPR, the rights of data subjects, the role of the supervisory authorities, and enforcement and fines.The book has been completely revised for the second edition and takes extensive account of new data protection case law and regulatory guidelines.

In this book, the world’s foremost experts on pricing integrate theoretical rigor and practical application to present a comprehensive resource that covers all areas of the field. This volume brings together quantitative and qualitative approaches and highlights the most current innovations in theory and practice.   Going beyond the traditional constraints of “price theory” and “price policy,” the authors coined the term “price management” to represent a holistic approach to pricing strategy and tactical implementation.  They remind us that the Ancient Romans used one word, pretium, to mean both price and value.  This is the fundamental philosophy that drives successful price management where producer and customer meet.   Featuring dozens of examples and case studies drawn from their extensive research, consulting, and teaching around the world, Simon and Fassnacht cover all aspects of pricing following the price management process with its four phases: strategy, analysis, decision, and implementation. Thereby, the authors take into account the nuances across industry sectors, including consumer goods, industrial products, services, and trade/distribution. In particular, they address the implications of technological advancements, such as the Internet and new measurement and sensor technologies that have led to a wealth of price management innovations, such as flat rates, freemium, pay-per-use, or pay-what-you-want. They also address the emergence of new price metrics, Big Data applications, two-sided price systems, negative prices, and the sharing economy, as well as emerging payment systems such as bitcoin.  The result is a “bible” for leaders who recognize that price is not only a means to drive profit in the short term, but a tool to generate sustained growth in shareholder value over the longer term, and a primer for researchers, instructors, and students alike.Praise for Price Management“This book is truly state of the art and the most comprehensive work in price management.” - Prof. Philip Kotler, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University “This very important book builds an outstanding bridge between science and practice.“- Kasper Rorsted, CEO, Adidas “This book provides practical guidelines on value creation, communication and management, which is an imperative for businesses to survive in the coming era of uncertainty.”- Dr. Chang-Gyu Hwang, Chairman and CEO, KT Corporation (Korea Telecom)

This practical, comprehensive guide illuminates all aspects of breadmaking to give bakers, scientists, technologists and students a thorough understanding of the many new developments shaping the industry. This book bridges the gap between scientific and practical accounts by providing technical coverage of the complex processes that link together to make bread and fermented products. Chapters cover the nature of bread products, the role of the ingredients in determining their quality, processing methods and their control, and equipment functions. Emphasis is on exploring the contributions of individual components and processing stages to final bread quality, reviewing the current state of technical knowledge on breadmaking. This third edition reviews the new knowledge which has become available in the last 10 years and considers how the global trends of increased availability and wider range of fermented products around the world impact on current and future technological challenges for bakers.Stanley P. Cauvain is the Director and Vice President of Research and Development activities at BakeTran and Professor at the International Institute of Agri-Food Security, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.

This textbook is aimed at readers who have little or no knowledge of computer programming but want to learn to program in Python. It starts from the very basics including how to install your Python environment, how to write a very simple program and run it, what a variable is, what an if statement is, how iteration works using for and while loops as well as important key concepts such as functions, classes and modules. Each subject area is prefaced with an introductory chapter, before continuing with how these ideas work in Python.The second edition has been completely updated for the latest versions of Python including Python 3.11 and Python 3.12. New chapters have been added such as those that consider where and how Python is used, the use of Frozensets, how data can be sorted, enumerated types in Python, structural pattern matching and how (and why) Python Virtual Environments are configured. A new chapter ‘The Python Bites back’ is introduced to present the fourteen most common / biggest gotchas for someone new to Python. Other sections have been updated with new features such as Exception Groups, string operations and dictionary operations.A Beginners Guide to Python 3 Programming second Edition provides all you need to know about Python, with numerous examples provided throughout including several larger worked case studies illustrating the ideas presented in the previous chapters.