Specialty Optical Fibers reviews theoretical and experimental photonic research relevant to the synthesis, processing, characterization, modeling, physical features, and applications of Specialty Optical Fibers (SOFs) with significant technological impact potential. All fiber-based advanced photonics device components rely on specialty optical fibers, which have either a unique waveguide structure or a novel material composition. High power optical amplifiers, high power fiber, and novel fabrication techniques for optical fiber design have enabled significant technological advances. The book provides discussion on these applications including current research directions, future opportunities and remaining challenges.Specialty Optical Fibers is suitable for researchers in academia and practitioners in R&D working in the subject areas of materials science, electrical engineering, and fiber optics.

Microbial Biomolecules: Emerging Approach in Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals and Environment Management explores and compiles new aspects of microbial-based biomolecules such as microbial enzymes, microbial metabolites, microbial surfactants, exopolysaccharides, and bioactive compounds and their potential applications in the field of health-related issues, sustainable agriculture and environment contamination management. Written for researchers, scientists, and graduate and PhD students in the areas of Microbiology, Biotechnology, Environmental Science and Pharmacology, this book covers the urgent need to explore eco-friendly and sustainable approaches to healthcare, agriculture and environmental contamination management.

Masonry walls constitute the interface between the building's interior and the outdoor environment. Masonry walls are traditionally composed of fired-clay bricks (solid or perforated) or blocks (concrete or earth-based), but in the past (and even in the present) they were often associated as needing an extra special thermal and acoustical insulation layer. However, over more recent years investigations on thermal and acoustical features has led to the development of new improved bricks and blocks that no longer need these insulation layers. Traditional masonry units (fired-clay bricks, concrete or earth-based blocks) that don't offer improved performance in terms of thermal and acoustical insulation are a symbol of a low-technology past, that are far removed from the demands of sustainable construction. This book provides an up-to-date state-of-the-art review on the eco-efficiency of masonry units, particular emphasis is placed on the design, properties, performance, durability and LCA of these materials. Since masonry units are also an excellent way to reuse bulk industrial waste the book will be important in the context of the Revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC which states that the minimum reuse and recycling targets for construction and demolition waste (CDW) should be at least 70% by 2020. On the 9th of March 2011 the European Union approved the Regulation (EU) 305/2011, known as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and it will be enforced after the 1st of July 2013. The future commercialization of construction materials in Europe makes their environmental assessment mandatory meaning that more information related to the environmental performance of building materials is much needed.

This book provides an updated state-of-the-art review on new developments in alkali-activation. The main binder of concrete, Portland cement, represents almost 80% of the total CO2 emissions of concrete which are about 6 to 7% of the Planet's total CO2 emissions. This is particularly serious in the current context of climate change and it could get even worse because the demand for Portland cement is expected to increase by almost 200% by 2050 from 2010 levels, reaching 6000 million tons/year. Alkali-activated binders represent an alternative to Portland cement having higher durability and a lower CO2 footprint.

The increase of immigrant population in developed countries (mainly in Europe and North America) together with an important increase of international travel worldwide are the two most important causes that have contributed to the introduction and diagnosis of imported/tropical infectious diseases in these countries. These factors have had an important impact in developed countries in both social and economic aspects. Imported Infectious Diseases focuses not only on describing the infections, but also in evaluating the current epidemiology, the economic and social impact and the possibility to apply immunization measures and vaccines. The main purpose of this book is to give an overview of the current most important and frequent imported infectious diseases in developed countries. The first chapter informs about the medical services that are being offered to the immigrants in the main developed countries depending on the legal situation. Following chapters describe the main surveillance systems for these kinds of diseases, mainly in Europe and North America. Finally, remaining chapters contain sections on epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

The civil engineering sector accounts for a significant percentage of global material and energy consumption and is a major contributor of waste material. The ability to recycle and reuse concrete and demolition waste is critical to reducing environmental impacts in meeting national, regional and global environmental targets. Handbook of recycled concrete and demolition waste summarises key recent research in achieving these goals.
Part one considers techniques for managing construction and demolition waste, including waste management plans, ways of estimating levels of waste, the types and optimal location of waste recycling plants and the economics of managing construction and demolition waste. Part two reviews key steps in handling construction and demolition waste. It begins with a comparison between conventional demolition and construction techniques before going on to discuss the preparation, refinement and quality control of concrete aggregates produced from waste. It concludes by assessing the mechanical properties, strength and durability of concrete made using recycled aggregates. Part three includes examples of the use of recycled aggregates in applications such as roads, pavements, high-performance concrete and alkali-activated or geopolymer cements. Finally, the book discusses environmental and safety issues such as the removal of gypsum, asbestos and alkali-silica reaction (ASR) concrete, as well as life-cycle analysis of concrete with recycled aggregates.
Handbook of recycled concrete and demolition waste is a standard reference for all those involved in the civil engineering sector, as well as academic researchers in the field.
Summarises key recent research in recycling and reusing concrete and demolition waste to reduce environmental impacts and meet national, regional and global environmental targetsConsiders techniques for managing construction and demolition waste, including waste management plans, ways of estimating levels of waste, the types and optimal location of waste recycling plantsReviews key steps in handling construction and demolition waste

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Lewis Hamilton, Formula One champion. Little Lewis's childhood was filled with cars, motorcycles and watching Formula One with his dad. On his fifth birthday, he received a remote-controlled racing car and joined a local club. It was hard being the only black child there, but he listened to his dad's words: 'Let your results speak for you.' His hobby led him to go-kart racing, and at the age of 10 he became the youngest ever winner of the British cadet go-karting competition. Shortly after, he began training as a racing driving with McLaren, rising through the ranks to compete at Formula One's Grand Prix. Despite his amazing successes, from breaking the record for the most triumphs in Formula One to his knighthood, Lewis has never forgotten where he came from. Today he is a campaigner for racial justice and racial diversity in sport, as well as an advocate for positive mental health as well as environmental issues. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the incredible young poet and activist's life so far. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Melodious panpipes and kena flutes. The shimmering strums of a charango. Poncho-clad musicians playing "El Condor Pasa" at subway stops or street corners while selling their recordings. These sounds and images no doubt come to mind for many "world music" fans when they recall their early encounters with Andean music groups. Ensembles of this type - known as "Andean conjuntos" or "pan-Andean bands" - have long formed part of the world music circuit in the Global North. In the major cities of Latin America, too, Andean conjuntos have been present in the local music scene for decades, not only in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador (i.e., in the Andean countries), but also in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. It is solely in Bolivia, however, that the Andean conjunto has represented the preeminent folkloric-popular music ensemble configuration for interpreting national musical genres from the late 1960s onward. Despite its frequent association with indigenous villages, the music of Andean conjuntos bears little resemblance to the indigenous musical expressions of the Southern Andes. Created by urban criollo and mestizo folkloric artists, the Andean conjunto tradition represents a form of mass-mediated folkloric music, one that is only loosely based on indigenous musical practices. Panpipes & Ponchos reveals that in the early-to-mid 20th century, a diverse range of musicians and ensembles, including estudiantinas, female vocal duos, bolero trios, art-classical composers, and mestizo panpipe groups, laid the groundwork for the Andean conjunto format to eventually take root in the Bolivian folklore scene amid the boom decade of the 1960s. Author Fernando Rios analyzes local musical trends in conjunction with government initiatives in nation-building and the ideologies of indigenismo and mestizaje. Beyond the local level, Rios also examines key developments in Bolivian national musical practices through their transnational links with trends in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and France. As the first book-length study that chronicles how Bolivia's folkloric music movement articulated, on the one hand, with Bolivian state projects, and on the other, with transnational artistic currents, for the pivotal era spanning the 1920s to 1960s, Panpipes & Ponchos offers new perspectives on the Andean conjunto's emergence as Bolivia's favored ensemble line-up in the field of national folkloric-popular music.

European Rules of Civil Procedure sets out a clear examination of the Rules adopted by UNDROIT and the European Law Institute in 2020. Presented within a systematic structure to aid enhanced academic understanding, it precisely showcases the comparative knowledge of its authors. Key Features: Provides rule-by-rule explanations of the ELI-UNDROIT Model European Rules of Civil Procedure Encompasses insight from a diverse international team of authors including members of the ELI/UNIDROIT project Offers commentary on all rules of the ERCP, surveying their meaning and application as well as their collective history This in-depth Commentary will be essential for academics of European, private, corporate and commercial law disciplines wishing to sharpen their knowledge of comparative civil procedure. It will additionally benefit policy makers and practitioners with an interest in using the model rules to provide a framework for national legislation.

Through careful investigation into the role of eco-innovation as a catalysing factor in the societal transition towards sustainability, this Handbook proposes more appropriate measures of innovation as a driver of change. It examines innovation from various perspectives, including labour, trade, the circular economy and energy, to illustrate a more comprehensive picture of its impacts. Chapters by leading authors from the sectors of eco-innovation, sustainability transformations and green and circular economies provide a meticulously balanced observation of innovation at local, regional, national and global scales. By featuring case studies from across Australasia, Europe and Latin America, as well as empirical work and modelling exercises, this forward-thinking Handbook links innovation to a range of interconnected topics. It imparts new evidence to offer a succinct conclusion about the potential success of certain innovation and green industrial policies. This enlightening Handbook will be valuable for scholars and academics studying economics and management, economic and social innovation, and environmental policy. It will also be of great benefit for those analysing policy and industry professionals looking to learn more about eco-innovation.

This ground-breaking book analyses the severe monetary policy challenges facing Latin American countries. Contributors reflect on how these issues should be addressed by policy-makers, identifying the need for a synergic response from regional central banks. Arguing that the challenges currently faced by regional central banks are intrinsically related, this book examines the risks generated by an international climate of uncertainty. It explores how to address inflationary pressures, output contraction, external vulnerabilities, tightness in advanced central banks’ monetary policies, nominal dollar appreciation, and falling commodity prices. Chapters focus on key elements of monetary policy, including transmission channels, exchange rates, international reserves, sustainable finance, and income inequality, to give an alternative view on the position of regional central banks in the global financial system. Monetary Policy Challenges in Latin America will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of monetary policy, development economics, banking, and political economy. It will also be essential reading for policy-makers seeking new perspectives on monetary policy.

This comprehensive Commentary provides article-by-article exploration of EU Regulation 655/2014, analysing and outlining in a straightforward manner the steps that lawyers, businesses and banks can take when involved in debt recovery. It offers a detailed discussion of national practice and legislation in order to provide context and a deeper understanding of the complex difficulties surrounding the procedural system created by the European Account Preservation Order (EAPO) Regulation. Aiming to offer a practical and comprehensive overview of the EAPO Regulation, this book highlights its strengths and potential to increase the efficiency of cross-border debt recovery within the European judicial area. D'Alessandro and Gascon Inchausti examine the descriptive and analytical literature focusing on the EAPO Regulation, while also considering available reports and national case law databases. The book also takes into account the interplay between the EAPO Regulation and the other instruments of the European Law of Civil Procedure, and provides analysis of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and national courts. Key Features: Article-by-article commentary and analysis Practical direction in the field of cross-border debt recovery Detailed discussion of national practice within the EU A contextual approach Offering a clear and direct way to address the issues and solutions surrounding EAPO Regulation, this comprehensive book will be an ideal companion for legal practitioners specializing in debt recovery as well as students interested in European law and finance.

A Research Agenda for Sales presents a roadmap of the future of sales. Eight recognized sales scholars discuss ideas that scholars are exploring and that firms can use for success in hypercompetitive markets with demanding customers. Featuring original research and current developments in the field, the chapters focus on critical topics and provide answers to important questions by company leaders and sales scholars. Salespeople are leveraging technological developments and shaping the evolution of customer orientation. At the same time, there are challenges and opportunities from artificial intelligence and digitalization. This book looks at these topics and explores ways that entrepreneurs and family business owners can overcome sales challenges and use professional selling to grow their business as well as what can sales managers do to attract talented millennials and Gen Z salespeople and keep them motivated. Traditional sales concepts and process practiced in the developed economies may apply to emerging economies and one chapter looks at this process. Lastly, the book explores what business executives can do to promote an ethical climate while reducing salespersons' burnout and strain. Academically rigorous and user friendly, these pages explore timely concepts that are important for researchers, practitioners, and scholars in the sales field.

In this exuberantly strange story collection, Flores asks: Whose reality? What rules? --Jean Chen Ho, author of The New York Times Book Review These are marvelously unpredictable stories, anchored by Fernando A. Flores's deadpan prose and his surefooted navigation of those overlapping territories, the real and the fantastic, where so much of the best contemporary fiction now lives. --Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble Psychedelic, dazzling stories set in the cracks of the Texas-Mexico borderland, from an iconoclastic storyteller and the author of Tears of the Trufflepig. No one captures the border--its history and imagination, its danger, contradiction, and redemption--like Fernando A. Flores, whose stories reimagine and reinterpret the region's existence with peerless style. In his immersive, uncanny borderland, things are never what they seem: a world where the sun is both rising and setting, and where conniving possums efficiently take over an entire town and rewrite its history. The stories in Valleyesque dance between the fantastical and the hyperreal with dexterous, often hilarious flair. A dying Frederic Chopin stumbles through Ciudad Juarez in the aftermath of his mother's death, attempting to recover his beloved piano that was seized at the border, while a muralist is taken on a psychedelic journey by an airbrushed Emiliano Zapata T-shirt. A woman is engulfed by a used-clothing warehouse with a life of its own, and a grieving mother breathlessly chronicles the demise of a town decimated by violence. In two separate stories, queso dip and musical rhythms are bottled up and sold for mass consumption. And in the final tale, Flores pieces together the adventures of a young Lee Harvey Oswald as he starts a music career in Texas. Swinging between satire and surrealism, grief and joy, Valleyesque is a boundary- and border-pushing collection from a one-of-a-kind stylist and voice. With the visceral imagination that made his debut novel, Tears of the Trufflepig, a cult classic, Flores brings his vision of the border to life--and beyond.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

The manufacturing industry is facing significant challenges as it grapples with the need to adapt to changing customer expectations and embrace emerging technologies. Manufacturers globally were making some progress in digital transformation before the pandemic hit, but the disruptions caused by the global crisis have highlighted the urgent need for innovation and resilience. There is a growing gap between traditional manufacturing practices and the demands of the digital age, necessitating a shift towards technology-driven approaches. Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Industry offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by manufacturers. Edited by esteemed academic scholars, this book brings together a collection of high-quality chapters that delve into the manufacturing process from a technology-driven perspective. By exploring the use of Internet-connected machinery, artificial intelligence, sensors, and other emerging technologies, the book presents practical approaches that can lead to increased efficiency, productivity, and overall better performance. The book addresses key topics such as machine learning, blockchain technologies, big data, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), among others. It also delves into transformative concepts like digital twins, extended reality, and the impact of 5G and edge computing. With its wide-ranging coverage and authoritative contributors, this book serves as a vital resource for graduate and undergraduate students, researchers, and IT employees working in manufacturing plants. By providing insights and practical guidance, it equips readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of digital transformation in manufacturing and seize the opportunities presented by emerging technologies. Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Industry offers a timely and relevant solution to the pressing challenges faced by the manufacturing industry. By bridging the gap between traditional manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing, the book helps manufacturers adapt and thrive in the digital age. With its academic rigor and practical applicability, this book is poised to make a significant impact on the manufacturing IT community and academic scholars worldwide. Whether you are a student, researcher, or IT professional, this book provides the necessary insights and tools to navigate the digital transformation journey and embrace emerging technologies for a more efficient and resilient manufacturing future.

COVID-19 and other recent crises have proved the need to review the state-of-play and implement robust institutional frameworks in the complex, heterogenous and decentralised European supervisory architecture. This insightful book outlines what can be done to innovate the current set-up in the face of pressing issues such as climate change, BigTech and crypto assets. Revisiting the debate on financial sector oversight in Europe, a range of highly acclaimed international academics and influential policymakers discuss the scope of institutional arrangements. Chapters examine how the architecture of European financial supervision currently works, analysing the trends in banking supervision design and the influence that recent financial and economic crises have exerted. Providing a rare insight into the role that central banks play in the supervisory set-up, their accountability and democratic legitimacy, the book also considers the ways that macro- and micro-prudential and monetary policies interact. Gleaning lessons from the FinTech revolution and the COVID-19 crisis, the book ultimately concludes by seeking a path for optimal architecture for European financial supervision. With invaluable industry insights, this cutting-edge book will prove vital to academics in the field of financial economics and financial regulation, alongside policymakers looking to transform their current supervisory architecture.

Viral Vectors in Cancer Immunotherapy, Volume 379 in the International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology presents the latest on cancer immunotherapy and how it has transformed cancer treatment through advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapy. Chapters in this new release include Past, present and future of viral vectors in cancer immunotherapy, Alphaviruses in cancer immunotherapy, Adenoviral-based cancer gene therapy, Armored modified vaccinia Ankara in cancer immunotherapy, Strategies of Semliki Forest virus in immuno-oncology, Maraba virus in cancer immunotherapy, Oncolytic viruses in hematological malignancies, Oncolytic virus for cancer therapies: Overview and future directions, and more. The use of genetically modified viruses allows the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, while the immune system receives danger signals from the viruses themselves. In some cases, the virus can also induce tumor cell death. This book will review advances in virus-based cancer immunotherapy in both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

A level of decision making is concerned with deciding the organization's objectives, resources, and policies. A significant problem at this decision-making level is predicting the organization's future and its environment as well as matching the organization's characteristics to that environment. This process generally involves technology and knowledge from the market and clients. In the current era, the implementation of marketing information systems supported with AI techniques is crucial to being a unique opportunity to leverage marketing strategies with cutting-edge technologies. Global Perspectives on the Strategic Role of Marketing Information Systems communicates the recent advances in marketing information systems. Covering topics such as digital entrepreneurship, international business, and micro and small enterprises, this premier reference source is a cutting-edge resource for marketers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and managers, IT managers, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Responding to global events, including the international financial crisis (IFC) and the COVID-19 pandemic, central banks and the monetary regimes in many Latin American countries responded with actions to mitigate the worst impacts. The authors in this book focus on the recent trends of monetary policy in Latin America and analyze how the actions that were taken have affected the economic performance of these countries. The book is composed of 11 chapters that analyze, theoretically and empirically, the central banks' actions and the monetary regimes of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. As most of these countries implemented inflation-targeting regimes in the 1990s and 2000s, a special focus will be given on these experiences and how central banks dealt with the IFC and COVID-19 crises. Academic researchers and students of economics will find a wealth of knowledge contained in these chapters, as will anyone looking for a better understanding of the economy of this important region.