Iris recognition technologies for identity management are already deployed globally in several large-scale nationwide biometric projects and are currently entering the mobile market. More recently, periocular recognition has been employed to augment the biometric performance of the iris in unconstrained environments where only the ocular region is present in the image. Iris and Periocular Biometric Recognition provides an overview of scientific fundamentals and principles of iris and periocular biometric recognition over six broad areas: an introduction to iris and periocular recognition; a selective overview of issues and challenges; soft biometric classification; security aspects; privacy protection and forensics; and future trends. With contributions from experts in industry and academia, this book is essential reading for researchers, graduate students and practitioners in biometrics and related fields.

This open access handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of biometrics exploiting the shape of human blood vessels for biometric recognition, i.e. vascular biometrics, including finger vein recognition, hand/palm vein recognition, retina recognition, and sclera recognition. After an introductory chapter summarizing the state of the art in and availability of commercial systems and open datasets/open source software, individual chapters focus on specific aspects of one of the biometric modalities, including questions of usability, security, and privacy. The book features contributions from both academia and major industrial manufacturers.

This open access handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of biometrics exploiting the shape of human blood vessels for biometric recognition, i.e. vascular biometrics, including finger vein recognition, hand/palm vein recognition, retina recognition, and sclera recognition. After an introductory chapter summarizing the state of the art in and availability of commercial systems and open datasets/open source software, individual chapters focus on specific aspects of one of the biometric modalities, including questions of usability, security, and privacy. The book features contributions from both academia and major industrial manufacturers.

This book explores recent trends in deforestation in the Southern Yucatn (SY) of Mexico. Our main empirical finding is that in recent years the expansion of pasture for cattle has driven net forest loss, i.e. deforestation, in the area we studied in the SY. The story that emerges from modeling results and other evidence is one in which behavior is driven by the interplay of incentives, underlying constraints, a lack of alternative opportunities, government inducements, and household preferences - including risk aversion. Cattle ranching reduces risk and vulnerability. Cattle are more robust to climatic extremes and serve as a savings mechanism for people without easy access to banks. Cattle ranching, which uses relatively more land and less labor than crop cultivation, also fits well with the resource constraints of small household farmers in the SY who hold land in relative abundance. Finally, for many years cattle ranching has received substantial government support in the form of credits and subsidies. The last part of the book explores policy implications of the behavioral findings with an emphasis on options for mitigating climate change.

This open access book provides the first comprehensive collection of studies dealing with the hot topic of digital face manipulation such as DeepFakes, Face Morphing, or Reenactment. It combines the research fields of biometrics and media forensics including contributions from academia and industry. Appealing to a broad readership, introductory chapters provide a comprehensive overview of the topic, which address readers wishing to gain a brief overview of the state-of-the-art. Subsequent chapters, which delve deeper into various research challenges, are oriented towards advanced readers. Moreover, the book provides a good starting point for young researchers as well as a reference guide pointing at further literature. Hence, the primary readership is academic institutions and industry currently involved in digital face manipulation and detection. The book could easily be used as a recommended text for courses in image processing, machine learning, media forensics, biometrics, and the general security area.

In a world without time and steeped in ceremony and magic, walks a chosen few who hold an ancient power: the Grey Eyes. True stewards of the land, the Grey Eyes use their magic to maintain harmony and keep evil at bay. With only one elderly Grey-Eye left in the village of the Nehiyawak, the birth of a new Grey-Eyed boy promises a renewed line of defence against their only foe: the menacing Red-Eyes, whose name is rarely spoken but whose presence is ever felt. While the birth of the Grey-Eyed boy offers the clan much-needed protection, it also initiates a struggle for power that threatens to rip the clan apart, leaving them defenceless against the their sworn ememy. The responsibility of restoring balance and harmony, the only way to keep the Nehiyawak safe, is thrust upon a boy's slender shoulders. What powers will he have, and can he protect the clan from the evil of the Red Eyes?

This new handbook takes an innovative look at the current and potential effects of big data and artificial intelligence on the legal system. It explains how technological advances in data collection and information processing will make it possible to change the design of legal rules and tailor them to specific individuals. This new type of “granular legal norms” is part of a broader trend towards algorithmic regulation in the emerging data economy. With practical examples from contract, consumer and tort law, leading experts from Canada, Europe, Israel, and the United States explain how and to what extent legal norms could be personalised. They explore the advantages, limitations and potential dangers of legal micro-targeting and explain how the personalisation of legal norms could change the relationship between individuality, privacy and the protection of general interests. This handbook offers a multi-faceted overview of the emerging field of “personalised law” and provides a unique source of inspiration for scholars, lawyers, judges and lawmakers.