Social science researchers in the global South, and in South Africa particularly, utilise research methods in innovative ways in order to respond to contexts characterised by diversity, racial and political tensions, socioeconomic disparities and gender inequalities. These methods often remain undocumented – a gap that this book starts to address.

Written by experts from various methodological fields, Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive collation of original essays and cutting-edge research that demonstrates the variety of novel techniques and research methods available to researchers responding to these context-bound issues. It is particularly relevant for study and research in the fields of applied psychology, sociology, ethnography, biography and anthropology. In addition to their unique combination of conceptual and application issues, the chapters also include discussions on ethical considerations relevant to the method in similar global South contexts.

Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences has much to offer to researchers, professionals and others involved in social science research both locally and internationally.

The business world today is changing enormously due to many factors that affect every element of the business cycle worldwide. From globalization to recession, in addition to other environmental forces, companies today face numerous challenges that have a great impact on business. Among the factors that are affecting the current way business is conducted are the emergence of marketing tools including the internet, internet of things (IoT), virtual reality, mobile applications, social media, electronic word of mouth (eWoM), artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and more that have a great impact not only on customers but also on companies. It is imperative for businesses to embrace the utilization of these tools in order to expand their customer base and provide unique, successful consumer experiences. The Handbook of Research on IoT, Digital Transformation, and the Future of Global Marketing provides comprehensive coverage of current global marketing trends related to the use of technology. The book links the industry with academia by providing useful insights on how to improve businesses' ability to create and customize customer value and loyalty. Covering topics including e-commerce, mobile marketing, website development, and phygital customer experiences, this book is essential for marketers, brand managers, advertisers, IT consultants and specialists, customer relations officers, managers, practitioners, business owners, marketing and business associations, students, researchers, and academicians interested in incorporating the latest technologies and marketing strategies into their businesses and studies.

Dale Abbot wakes from hibernation thinking it is going to be just another long, lonely shift on his Advanced Exploration Mission. And then it happens. He finds himself trapped in a physical and psychological struggle with a newly emergent consciousness that has the potential to become something beyond comprehension. Marvelous Things is a briskly paced speculative novella, full of action, emotion, and philosophical musings.

Free Will and Continental Philosophy explores the concepts of free-will and self-determination in the Continental philosophical tradition. David Rose examines the ways in which Continental philosophy offers a viable alternative to the hegemonic scientistic approach taken by analytic philosophy. Rose claims that the problem of free-will is only a problem if one makes an unnecessary assumption consistent with scientific rationalism. In the sphere of human action we assume that, since action is a physical event, it must be reducible to the laws and concepts of science. Hence, the problematic nature of free will raises its head, since the concept of free will is intrinsically contradictory to such a reductionist outlook. This book suggests that the Continental thinkers offer a compelling alternative by concentrating on the phenomena of human action and self-determination in order to offer the truth of freedom in different terms. Thus Rose offers a revealing investigation into the appropriate concepts and categories of human freedom and action.>

The Link between Company Environmental & Financial Performance, first published in 1998, is a detailed investigation into the effects of environmental performance - resource efficiency, regulatory compliance, new product and service opportunities - on corporate financial performance. This report makes essential reading for company management, investors and other stakeholders. It demonstrates the quantitative links between environmental and financial performance for the UK's best and worst environmental performers across a range of business sectors. It shows that there is no financial penalty for being environmentally proactive, and confirms US findings that good environmental performance improves a company's financial performance.

Bioinformatics is a relatively new field of research. It evolved from the requirement to process, characterize, and apply the information being produced by DNA sequencing technology. The production of DNA sequence data continues to grow exponentially. At the same time, improved bioinformatics such as faster DNA sequence search methods have been combined with increasingly powerful computer systems to process this information. Methods are being developed for the ever more detailed quantification of gene expression, providing an insight into the function of the newly discovered genes, while molecular genetic tools provide a link between these genes and heritable traits. Genetic tests are now available to determine the likelihood of suffering specific ailments and can predict how plant cultivars may respond to the environment. The steps in the translation of the genetic blueprint to the observed phenotype is being increasingly understood through proteome, metabolome and phenome analysis, all underpinned by advances in bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is becoming increasingly central to the study of biology, and a day at a computer can often save a year or more in the laboratory.

The volume is intended for graduate-level biology students as well as researchers who wish to gain a better understanding of applied bioinformatics and who wish to use bioinformatics technologies to assist in their research. The volume would also be of value to bioinformatics developers, particularly those from a computing background, who would like to understand the application of computational tools for biological research. Each chapter would include a comprehensive introduction giving an overview of the fundamentals, aimed at introducing graduate students and researchers from diverse backgrounds to the field and bring them up-to-date on the current state of knowledge. To accommodate the broad range of topics in applied bioinformatics, chapters have been grouped into themes: gene and genome analysis, molecular genetic analysis, gene expression analysis, protein and proteome analysis, metabolome analysis, phenome data analysis, literature mining and bioinformatics tool development. Each chapter and theme provides an introduction to the biology behind the data describes the requirements for data processing and details some of the methods applied to the data to enhance biological understanding.

A useful introduction to this topic for both students and researchers, with an emphasis on applications and practicalities rather than on a formal development. It is based on the popular software package for graphical modelling, MIM, freely available for downloading from the Internet. Following a description of some of the basic ideas of graphical modelling, subsequent chapters describe particular families of models, including log-linear models, Gaussian models, and models for mixed discrete and continuous variables. Further chapters cover hypothesis testing and model selection. Chapters 7 and 8 are new to this second edition and describe the use of directed, chain, and other graphs, complete with a summary of recent work on causal inference.

Dupuytren's Disease: A Scientific Review offers consolidated, up-to-date coverage of both the basic normal (nonpathologic) science and cutting-edge science of this progressive disorder. Drs. Lawrence C. Hurst, Marie A. Badalamente, and David Edward Komatsu break down the complex topic of Dupuytren's contracture into its basic scientific components. Hand surgeons, plastic surgeons, and orthopaedic surgeons will find this unique, concise title to be especially helpful in their practices. Includes chapters on prevalence of Dupuytren's disease, normal genetics and the genetic abnormalities associated with Dupuytren's disease, and collagen and collagen synthesis in healthy fascia and Dupuytren's disease. Provides numerous illustrations throughout. Contains an in-depth bibliography and a useful, complete glossary of related terms. Consolidates today's available information on Dupuytren's science into a single, convenient resource.

It is a great pleasure to welcome the new edition of the book written by Prof. Edward and Prof. Lane, which carries on the success of the earlier ones. This new edition contains a comprehensive and critical study of the European Union legal order, which explores in great detail the changes brought about by the Treaty of Lisbon. Bearing in mind the quality of its authors, it does not come as a surprise that this book is an outstanding piece of academic work. It is a classic which should belong to the library of all persons who are interested in EU law.' - Koen Lenaerts, Vice-President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, LuxembourgKey features of the book include: - Authoritative authorship combining the analysis of a senior academic with the experience of a former judge. - Comprehensive and wide-ranging in scope. - Structured specifically to reflect the Treaty of Lisbon reorientation and immediate post-Lisbon developments. - Extensive reference to primary sources (Treaties, legislation, case law) and to issues of national adaptation. A fully updated and expanded new edition of a classic text, this authoritative and wide-ranging volume provides expert analysis on the key issues across all areas of European Union law - including its constitutional, procedural and substantive aspects. In particular, coverage of the constitutional and procedural elements includes: historical background and development of the European Union; constitutional structure of the Union; the Treaties: interrelationship and fundamental (constitutional) rules; the institutional framework; jurisdiction of, and actions before, the Court of Justice; sources, principles and methods of Union law. Comprehensive coverage of the substantive law includes: basic rules; citizenship of the Union; the internal market; the four freedoms; competition; economic and monetary policy; social policy; environmental policy; commercial policy. Precise and rich in references to the primary materials of the Treaties, the principal legislation and the key case law of the Court of Justice, this highly detailed and comprehensive book will be an indispensable resource for all legal practitioners whose practice must take account of EU Law. Contents: Part I: The Origins and Development of the European Union 1. The History 2. The European Union: Structure and Basic Rules Part II: The Institutional Framework 3. The Political Institutions and Procedures 4. Other Bodies 5. The Court of Justice Part III: The Sources, Nature and Methods of European Union Law 6. Sources of Union Law Part IV: Substantive Law 7. The Principles 8. Non-Discrimination and Citizenship of the Union 9. Union Policies and Internal Actions: Introduction 10. The Free Movement of Goods 11. The Free Movement of Persons and Services 12. The Free Movement of Capital 13. Competition 14. Other Policies

"Hegel's Philosophy of Right" is a classic text in the history of Western political thought and one with which all serious students of political philosophy must engage. While it is a hugely important and exciting piece of philosophical writing, Hegel's ideas and style are notoriously difficult to understand and the content is particularly challenging. In "Hegel's Philosophy of Right: A Reader's Guide", David Rose explains the philosophical and political background against which the book was written and, taking each part of the book in turn, guides the reader to a clear understanding of the text as a whole. This is the ideal companion to study of this most influential and challenging of texts, offering guidance on philosophical and historical context; key themes; reading the text; reception and influence; and, further reading.

This new edition focuses on applied bioinformatics with specific applications to crops, model and diverse plant species. The scope extends from the genome to the phenome and includes aspects of data management, analysis, visualization, and integration. The methods and approaches found within reflect the increasing use of high performance computing infrastructure to analyze and manage the enormous volume of data being generated by the latest high throughput technologies, the establishment and further maturation of major database systems and repositories, as well as the introduction of new approaches such as machine learning. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, the chapters include the kind of detailed implementation advice that leads to successful research results. Authoritative and up-to-date, Plant Bioinformatics: Methods and Protocols, Third Edition will aid researchers exploring the broad comparison of species that will drive future plant research, crop breeding, and bioinformatics developments that allow us to understand and manipulate the heritable differences between individuals and populations. Chapters 2, 3, and 26 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Trevor Kletz has had a huge impact on the way people viewed accidents and safety, particularly in the process industries. His ideas were developed from nearly 40 years working in the chemical industry. When he retired from the field, he shared his experience and ideas widely in more than 15 books. Trevor Kletz Compendium: His Process Safety Wisdom Updated for a New Generation introduces Kletz's stories and ideas and brings them up to date in this valuable resource that equips readers to manage process safety in every workplace. Topics covered in this book include inherent safety, safety studies, human factors and design. Learn the lessons from past accidents to make sure they don't happen again.

Now is the time for you to love who you are. Today is the day, when all human beings can accept that we are all created equal and that the only thing that separates us from one another is our own created limitations. We have reached the point in time when all humanity can function as one divine entity. By waking up this morning and picking up this book, you have reached the greatest moment that has ever been. If you have ever wished for peace on this earth, or you believe that this world can be a much better place, this book is for you. If you believe that there is more to life than acquiring material wealth and power, you may enjoy this journey. If you are willing to ask yourself a few questions, and to reply to the questions with complete honesty, you may find that you are a much greater being than you ever thought possible. This book will take you on a journey from birth, to death, and back to birth again. I have set out to write a book that helps us all to leave the past behind, accept that we do not know the future, and to live in the only day that we have: Today

In this book, a world-class editorial advisory board and an independent team of contributors draw on their experience in operations, leadership, and Lean managerial decision making to share helpful insights on the valuation of hospitals in today's changing reimbursement and regulatory environments. Using language that is easy to understand, Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations: Tools, Techniques, Checklists and Case Studies integrates prose, managerial applications, and regulatory policies with real-world case studies, models, checklists, reports, charts, tables, and diagrams. It has a natural flow, starting with costs and revenues, progressing to clinic and technology, and finishing with institutional and professional benchmarking. The book is organized into three sections: Costs and Revenues: Fundamental Principles Clinic and Technology: Contemporary Issues Institutional and Professional Benchmarking: Advanced Applications The text uses healthcare financial management case studies to illustrate Lean management and operation strategies that are essential for healthcare facility administrators, comptrollers, physician-executives, and consulting business advisors. Discussing the advancement of financial management and health economic principles in healthcare, the book includes coverage of the financial features of electronic medical records, financial and clinical features of hospital information systems, entity cost reduction models, the financial future of mental health programs, and hospital revenue enhancements.

This book examines mass communication and civic participation in the age of oil, analyzing the rhetorical and discursive ways that governments and corporations shape public opinion and public policy and activists attempt to reframe public debates to resist corporate framing. In the twenty-first century, oil has become a subject of civic deliberation. Environmental concerns have intensified, questions of indigenous rights have arisen, and private and public investment in energy companies has become open to deliberation. International contributors use local events as a starting point to explore larger issues associated with oil-dependent societies and cultures. This interdisciplinary collection synthesizes work in the energy humanities, rhetorical studies and environmental studies to analyze the global discourse of oil from the start of the twentieth century into the era of transnational corporations of the 21st century. This book will be a vital text for scholars in communication studies, the energy humanities and in environmental studies. Case studies are framed accessibly, and the theoretical lenses are accessible across disciplines, making it ideal for a post-graduate and advanced undergraduate audience in these fields.

This volume explores some of the tensions and pressures of citizenship in Western liberal democracies. Citizenship has adopted many guises in the Western context, although historically citizenship is attached only to some variant of democracy. How democracy is configured is thus at the core of citizenship. Beginning in ancient Greece, citizenship is attached to the notion of a public sphere of deliberation, open only to a small number of males. Nonetheless, we take from these origins an understanding of citizenship that is attached to friendship, preservation of a distinct community, and adherence to law. These early conceptions of citizenship in the west have been dramatically altered in the modern context by the ascendancy of individual rights and equality, expanding the inclusiveness of definition of citizenship. The universality of rights claims has led to debate about the legitimacy of the nation state and questioning of borders. A further development in our understanding of citizenship, and one that has shifted citizenship studies considerably in the last few decades, is the backlash against the universalism of rights in the defense of cultural recognition within democratic polities. Multiculturalism as a broad spectrum of citizenship studies defends the autonomy and recognition of cultural, and sometimes religious, identity within an overarching scheme of rights and equality. This collection draws upon the many threads of citizenship in the Western tradition to consider how all of them are still extant, and contentious, in contemporary liberal democracy.

Biology of Termites, a Modern Synthesis brings together the major advances in termite biology, phylogenetics, social evolution and biogeography. In this new volume, David Bignell, Yves Roisin and Nathan Lo have brought together leading experts on termite taxonomy, behaviour, genetics, caste differentiation, physiology, microbiology, mound architecture, biogeography and control. Very strong evolutionary and developmental themes run through the individual chapters, fed by new data streams from molecular sequencing, and for the first time it is possible to compare the social organisation of termites with that of the social Hymenoptera, focusing on caste determination, population genetics, cooperative behaviour, nest hygiene and symbioses with microorganisms. New chapters have been added on termite pheromones, termites as pests of agriculture and on destructive invasive species.