With the majority of IT projects being delivered late, over budget, or cancelled altogether, it is clear that traditional project management methodologies do not provide an effective framework for today's IT projects. It is evident that a new Return-on-Investment (ROI) oriented approach is required that focuses on the ROI of a project from its inception. Maximizing Benefits from IT Project Management: From Requirements to Value Delivery provides comprehensive guidelines for determining an accurate ROI before the project has progressed to the point where it's over budget and over-run. It applies an iterative approach to the entire project management life cycle that re-visits the ROI, re-assesses the value delivered, defines the project scope, and allows the project to be planned as successive iterations based on the value delivered. This book details a systematic and simplified approach for effectively and efficiently selecting and evaluating IT projects for your organization. Filled with equations, tables, and figures that facilitate understanding, it explains how to evaluate subsequent success of a project so that it is simpler to manage, more efficient, and yields the ROI estimated at the outset. Using the novel approach outlined in the book, you will be able to deliver value throughout the project life cycle and make sure your projects are delivered on time, on budget, and within the constraints of the resources available.

Synthesis and design of new nanocatalysts is an important area of research that aims to introduce multiple types of useful applications in a greener market. The necessity of nanostructuring the active sites has emerged as the key point in a successful design of the catalysts. The book covers the progress in this research area done in the last ten years. It includes the classification of catalysts and structure of active sites at the nanoscale. The book covers examples to present the concept, evolution of nanocatalysts from the perspective of chemistry of materials and their applications.

With the majority of IT projects being delivered late, over budget, or cancelled altogether, it is clear that traditional project management methodologies do not provide an effective framework for today's IT projects. It is evident that a new Return-on-Investment (ROI) oriented approach is required that focuses on the ROI of a project from its inception. Maximizing Benefits from IT Project Management: From Requirements to Value Delivery provides comprehensive guidelines for determining an accurate ROI before the project has progressed to the point where it's over budget and over-run. It applies an iterative approach to the entire project management life cycle that re-visits the ROI, re-assesses the value delivered, defines the project scope, and allows the project to be planned as successive iterations based on the value delivered. This book details a systematic and simplified approach for effectively and efficiently selecting and evaluating IT projects for your organization. Filled with equations, tables, and figures that facilitate understanding, it explains how to evaluate subsequent success of a project so that it is simpler to manage, more efficient, and yields the ROI estimated at the outset. Using the novel approach outlined in the book, you will be able to deliver value throughout the project life cycle and make sure your projects are delivered on time, on budget, and within the constraints of the resources available.

A comprehensive resource for students and researchers Management of Nematode and Insect-Borne Plant Diseases examines the various aspects of disease control from an international perspective. Leading academics and researchers around the world address the microbial control of insect pests, the use of nematophagous fungi and biofumigation in the control of plant-parasitic nematodes, the use of genetically manipulated microbes, and the biology and control of vectors. Management of Nematode and Insect-Borne Plant Diseases provides detailed descriptions of the management of diseases caused by insects and by plant-parasitic nematodes. This unique book includes in-depth examinations of the use of arthropod microbial control agents; the biology and control of bacteria; the use of living and synthetic mulches; the genetic transformation of microbial control agents; the integrated use of different control options; the use of nematophagus fungi as a control agent; the use of biofumigation; potato early dying complex; host/plant resistance; and RNAi silencing. Each chapter is written by an experienced scientist in that specific field to produce a single reference resource. Management of Nematode and Insect-Borne Plant Diseases includes: the latest research on the development of microbial control agents against insect and mite pests up-to-date theory on the management of the vectors and disease in fruit and nut crops the use of mulches in the control of homopteran pests an overview of the microbial control of insect pests a look at the increasing role of biological control agents an examination of nematode resistance in vegetable crops a historical background of RNAi, its biology, and its function in the eukaryotic system and much more Management of Nematode and Insect-Borne Plant Diseases is a comprehensive professional resource for botanists, agriculturalists, environmental scientists, biologists, zoologists, ecologists, entomologists, plant pathologists, horticulturalists, plant protection scientists, and biotechnologists.

This book provides the reader with an introduction to the physics of complex plasmas, a discussion of the specific scientific and technical challenges they present and an overview of their potential technological applications. Complex plasmas differ from conventional high-temperature plasmas in several ways: they may contain additional species, including nano meter- to micrometer-sized particles, negative ions, molecules and radicals and they may exhibit strong correlations or quantum effects. This book introduces the classical and quantum mechanical approaches used to describe and simulate complex plasmas. It also covers some key experimental techniques used in the analysis of these plasmas, including calorimetric probe methods, IR absorption techniques and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The final part of the book reviews the emerging applications of microcavity and microchannel plasmas, the synthesis and assembly of nanomaterials through plasma electrochemistry, the large-scale generation of ozone using microplasmas and novel applications of atmospheric-pressure non-thermal plasmas in dentistry. Going beyond the scope of traditional plasma texts, the presentation is very well suited for senior undergraduate, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers specializing in plasma physics.

Synthesis and design of new nanocatalysts is an important area of research that aims to introduce multiple types of useful applications in a greener market. The necessity of nanostructuring the active sites has emerged as the key point in a successful design of the catalysts. The book covers the progress in this research area done in the last ten years. It includes the classification of catalysts and structure of active sites at the nanoscale. The book covers examples to present the concept, evolution of nanocatalysts from the perspective of chemistry of materials and their applications.

Manet called him "the greatest painter of all." Picasso was so inspired by his masterpiece Las Meninas that he painted 44 variations of it. Francis Bacon painted a study of his portrait of Pope Innocent X. Monet and Renoir, Corot and Courbet, Degas and Dali... for so many champions of art history, the ultimate sounding board was-and remains-Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez (1599-1660). First available as an XXL-sized volume, this accessible edition brings together Velazquez's complete works with a selection of enlarged details and photography of recently restored paintings, achieved through the joint initiative of TASCHEN and Wildenstein. The dazzling images are accompanied by insightful commentary from Jose Lopez-Rey on Velazquez's interest in human life and his equal attention to all subjects, from an old woman frying eggs to a pope or king, as well as his commitment to color and light, which would influence the Impressionists over two centuries later.

This book includes recent research on disruptive technologies, tech ethics, and artificial intelligence. Due to the important advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things or bioinformatics produced in recent years, it is necessary to conduct a thorough review of current ethical patterns. One of the research fields that is in full expansion and with a broad future is technology ethics or tech ethics. Just a few years ago, this type of research was a small part, and they did not have too many technology researchers involved. At present, due to the explosion of new applications of artificial intelligence, their problems and their legal barriers have flourished innumerable initiatives, declarations, principles, guides and analyses focused on measuring the social impact of these systems and on the development of a more ethical technology. It is, therefore, a problem that needs to be addressed from an academic and multidisciplinary point of view, where experts in ethics and behavior work together with experts in new and disruptive technologies. The international conference "Disruptive Technologies Tech Ethics and Artificial Intelligence" (DITTET 2021) provides a forum to present and discuss the latest scientific and technical advances and their implications in the field of ethics. It also provides a forum for experts to present their latest research in disruptive technologies, promoting knowledge transfer. It provides a unique opportunity to bring together experts in different fields, academics and professionals to exchange their experience in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence and their ethical problems. DiTTEt intends to bring together researchers and developers from industry, humanities and academia to report on the latest scientific advances and the application of artificial intelligence as well as its ethical implications in fields as diverse as climate change, politics, economy or security in today's world. This book constitutes the refereed proceedings selected by an expert panel through a peer-review process. All these works will be presented by the experts in the different sessions organized at the DITTET congress to be held at the Pontifical University of Salamanca (Salamanca, Spain) on September 15, 26 and 17, 2021.

This book provides the reader with an introduction to the physics of complex plasmas, a discussion of the specific scientific and technical challenges they present and an overview of their potential technological applications.

Complex plasmas differ from conventional high-temperature plasmas in several ways: they may contain additional species, including nano meter- to micrometer-sized particles, negative ions, molecules and radicals and they may exhibit strong correlations or quantum effects. This book introduces the classical and quantum mechanical approaches used to describe and simulate complex plasmas. It also covers some key experimental techniques used in the analysis of these plasmas, including calorimetric probe methods, IR absorption techniques and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

The final part of the book reviews the emerging applications of microcavity and microchannel plasmas, the synthesis and assembly of nanomaterials through plasma electrochemistry, the large-scale generation of ozone using microplasmas and novel applications of atmospheric-pressure non-thermal plasmas in dentistry.

Going beyond the scope of traditional plasma texts, the presentation is very well suited for senior undergraduate, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers specializing in plasma physics.