Triple bill of crime dramas. In 'Bad Karma' (2012), starring Ray Liotta and Dominic Purcell, a criminal's attempts to go straight are sabotaged by his former partner. Relocating from Sydney to the Gold Coast to start afresh, Molloy (Liotta) is remarkably successful and even finds something approaching domestic bliss with a new girlfriend. Naturally, when his old crime partner Mack (Purcell) tracks him down he finds that Molloy is reluctant to return to his past life. Unfortunately, this doesn't deter the increasingly deranged Mack as he sets about convincing Molloy to help him pull off one last job. In 'The Entitled' (2011) social misfit Paul (Kevin Zegers) is driven to desperate measures when he is turned down for yet another job and his ill mother is given a foreclosure notice on the family home. He enlists the help of two friends to abduct three kids from rich families and hold them ransom for a million dollars each, but the plan goes badly wrong and they soon find themselves in way over their heads. 'Officer Down' (2012) follows Detective David Callahan (Stephen Dorff), known as 'Cal' on the force, who has had a mixed career as a police officer, struggling with drink problems and straying to the wrong side of the law himself at times. When he finds himself caught up in a murder investigation, Cal must attempt to overcome the demons from his own past as well as the challenges of the case.

This authoritative Handbook compiles a diverse set of contributions on digital entrepreneurship, providing an in-depth study of how digital entrepreneurship research has evolved over the years, and where it stands today. Offering a snapshot of the major themes in digital entrepreneurship research, the Handbook highlights a wide range of both practice-engaged and practice-relevant works and explores the fundamental concepts and common themes in the field. Chapters examine key topics including the digital platform economy, the digitalization of work, the blockchain economy, and the rural-urban digital divide. The Handbook further analyzes the history and theory of digital entrepreneurship, while also sparking ideas for future research through a consideration of emerging phenomena and new ways to approach research in this broad area of study. Discussing a diverse set of questions, contexts, theories, and methods, this Handbook will be a key resource for researchers and advanced students with a particular interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology management, and digital business models. Managers and entrepreneurs will also find the discussion of digital entrepreneurship in relation to financing, social issues, and technology beneficial.

The advancement in FinTech especially artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), has significantly affected the way financial services are offered and adopted today. Important financial decisions such as investment decision making, macroeconomic analysis, and credit evaluation are getting more complex in the field of finance. ML is used in many financial companies which are making a significant impact on financial services. With the increasing complexity of financial transaction processes, ML can reduce operational costs through process automation which can automate repetitive tasks and increase productivity. Among others, ML can analyze large volumes of historical data and make better trading decisions to increase revenue. This book provides an exhaustive overview of the roles of AI and ML algorithms in financial sectors with special reference to complex financial applications such as financial risk management in a big data environment. In addition, it provides a collection of high-quality research works that address broad challenges in both theoretical and application aspects of AI in the field of finance.

Adoption of new technologies in logistics and supply chain processes is crucial for the continued effectiveness of supply chains. Technology has the potential to address the issue of logistics and supply chain visibility throughout the supply chain, from raw materials through manufacturers and end users. When properly implemented, improved forecasting of inventory levels, employee productivity, adequate accountability, and higher warehouse savings are all possible. Additionally, businesses must upskill their supply chain workers and recruit and manage digital talent in cross-functional teams. The Handbook of Research on Promoting Logistics and Supply Chain Resilience Through Digital Transformation discusses the ways in which global logistics and supply chains have been severely disrupted by digital technology transformation. The book helps policymakers in designing a resilient framework that can absorb external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and also enhances the performance and operational capability of the logistics and supply chain network. Covering topics such as oil and gas maintenance support, stakeholder management, and business optimization strategy, this major reference work is essential for logistics professionals, business leaders and executives, IT managers, government officials, manufacturers, students and faculty of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

This timely book focuses on the upgrading of firms within the global garment industry, examining how garment manufacturers and retailers in different countries internationalize, develop their capabilities and enhance their sustainability. It highlights the important role the global garments industry plays in the socio-economic development and environmental outcomes of emerging economies. Drawing on firm-centric, multi-level analyses, the book addresses four key questions: how do apparel manufacturing companies in emerging economies internationalize? What factors promote or hinder internationalization? What influences the abilities of suppliers to develop different capabilities? How do firms achieve sustainability? Interdisciplinary contributions draw on a range of perspectives, including global value chains, international business, operations management, innovation, and sociology, to answer these questions. Providing novel insights to the topic, this book will help firms, researchers and national and multilateral organisations improve the competitiveness of suppliers, workers' well-being and environmental outcomes. It will be particularly useful to business economics and economic geography scholars.

In today's modern business world, the dominant factor of any organization's success is human capital. Appropriately acquiring and managing talented staff is crucial to the growth and development of companies and provides them with a considerable competitive advantage in the industry. Further study on the importance of talent management is required to ensure businesses are able to thrive in the present environment. The Handbook of Research on Post-Pandemic Talent Management Models in Knowledge Organizations discusses strategic human resource management and the talent management of post-modern knowledge-based organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic paradigm. Covering critical topics such as organizational performance and creative work behavior, this major reference work is ideal for managers, business owners, entrepreneurs, academicians, researchers, scholars, instructors, and students.

This book demystifies the dynamics of cross-border mergers and acquisitions; from the preliminary agreements and due diligence, to valuation, structuring, financing, and the eventual closing of the deal. It examines merger incentives and efficiencies, in theory and in empirical findings. The author adeptly identifies the impediments facing cross-border mergers and acquisitions and focuses on pre-merger control laws and regulations, particularly those of the US, EU, and Middle East. Consideration is also given to merger deregulation and other key reforming proposals. The book will be a useful resource for students and scholars with an interest in mergers and acquisitions, antitrust laws, and corporate history. Legal Professionals and those in related fields will gain a practical understanding of how to tailor their deals to overcome the unique impediments associated with cross-border transactions. Policy makers will also find the information and assessment criteria developed in the book to be a useful tool for evaluating and designing policy.

This book is a comprehensive collection of main mathematical concepts: definitions, theorems, tables, and formulas that the students of science and engineering encounter in their studies and later on in their professional careers. The aim is to introduce mathematics in an up-to-date text that supports the reader/target group to see, easily accessible, ways to approach their questions/problems, meanwhile getting familiar with, often short, mathematical/logical reasoning. The layout is designed so that the theory, applications, and examples are in correlation with each other. The book covers crucial concepts of whole calculus, linear and abstract algebra, as well as analysis, applied math, mathematical statistics, and numerical analysis. Most of the complex theorems appear in a simplified form without affecting their context. There are appendices with Mathematica and MatLab programming, which contain programs of simple character for educational purposes, as well as some more involved ones designed to solve problems of more real application.

Blockchain is the most disruptive technology to emerge in the last decade. The evolution of cryptocurrencies has carried with it a revolution in digital economics that has catapulted the application of blockchain technology to a new level across a variety of industries, including banking, security, networking, and more. Blockchain Technology and Computational Excellence for Society 5.0 closes the gap in existing literature by presenting a selection of chapters that not only shape the research domain, but also present supportive real-life problems and pragmatic solutions. This book presents a variety of highly relevant themes, concepts, and applications in blockchain, discussing topics such as cyber security, digital currencies, and intelligent networks, fueling awareness and interest. With its insight into various platforms, techniques, and tools, this book serves as a valuable resource for academicians, researchers, research scholars, postgraduates, professors, computer scientists, and technology enthusiasts.

This contributed volume brings out a comprehensive collection of information on environmental toxicology, its impact on living organisms in general and human health in particular. The main focus of this book is to address human health issues and risk assessment.   Toxicological studies help in understanding the impact of harmful substances including both natural and synthetic chemicals on organisms and their environment. Contributions in the title include both laboratory and field based studies with a focus on human health. Moreover, day by day, there is an increase in the range of chemicals from pharmaceutical and other industries, agricultural runoffs, medicine, and many other sources which continuously contribute to the earth's chemical load. Almost all the countries are facing great difficulties in responding to the crucial and immediate need for effective management of such contaminants. The title compiles studies in regards to environmental toxicology and its effect on human health.  This book provides critical information and knowledge that can be used by regulatory agencies, decision-makers, policy makers, graduate and post-graduate students, researchers, environmental toxicologists, etc, and others to put programs and policies in place to limit our exposures to these substances thereby preventing or reducing the likelihood that a disease or other negative health outcomes would occur.

This book covers the latest technology and experimental scientific advancements in converting carbon dioxide (CO2) from waste to useful commercial products. This approach helps to mitigate climate change due to carbon emission greenhouse effect and also create a circular economy through CO2 waste capture and utilization to produce CO2 derived products. This provides new direction for government organizations, manufacturing industries (fuel, chemicals, building materials) and investment firms to work towards a zero carbon future. This book caters to researchers, policymakers, industrial practitioners who are interested in more sustainable practices in carbon dioxide technology.