Scientists have discovered more than a million different species of insects that every day, in every part of the world, live their very diverse lives. Many fly, others walk or bore through wood. Some are pleasing to the eye, like butterflies; others, like cockroaches, a bit less. For the most part, insects are small - sometimes so small that you need a magnifying lens to see them - and that is the way we are used to thinking of them. But in this book, the insects are presented in their actual sizes and in many cases readers will be genuinely surprised to find some veritable giants among them. The book includes other impressive insect characteristics - how much they weigh, how fast they are, how large and small insects differ from each other - all of which can be seen in the life-size illustrations that make the insects seem as though they have just landed on the page.

The impacts of the digital transformation on society in general, and particularly on people's lives, are the subject of increasing debate among policymakers, researchers and industry. This book explores the challenges of this new revolution, identifies solutions, and demonstrates how knowledge management can enable the transition process associated with the digital transformation, guided by the principles of sustainability. Featuring contributions by experts from diverse areas of science and business - on topics ranging from the digital transformation of knowledge management in the public sector, to the creation of sustainable smart cities, regions and countries, and from using AI for business models to food security - it provides a comprehensive discourse on the digital transformation's impacts on employment, education, governance, social life, sustainability, values, the economy and democracy.

The poems in Dreaming of Stones are about what endures: hope and desire, changing seasons, wild places, love, and the wisdom of mystics. Inspired by the poet's time living in Ireland these readings invite you into deeper ways of seeing the world. They have an incantational quality. Drawing on her commitment as a Benedictine oblate, the poems arise out of a practice of sitting in silence and lectio divina, in which life becomes the holy text. No stranger to poetry, Paintner's bestselling spirituality titles have often included poems. In this first exclusively poetic collection, she writes with a contemplative heart about kinship with nature, ancestral connections, intimacy, the landscape, the unfolding nature of time, and Christian mystics. It can be read for reflection to spark the heart and to offer solace and inspiration in difficult times. Breath This breathing in is a miracle, this breathing out, release, this breathing in a welcome to the unseen gifts which sustain me each moment, this breathing out a sweet sigh, a bow to my mortality, this breathing in a holy yes to life, this breathing out a sacred no to all that causes me to clench and grasp, this breathing in is a revelation, this breathing out, freedom.

This textbook presents in a concise and self-contained way the advanced fundamental mathematical structures in quantum theory. It is based on lectures prepared for a 6 months course for MSc students. The reader is introduced to the beautiful interconnection between logic, lattice theory, general probability theory, and general spectral theory including the basic theory of von Neumann algebras and of the algebraic formulation, naturally arising in the study of the mathematical machinery of quantum theories. Some general results concerning hidden-variable interpretations of QM such as Gleason's and the Kochen-Specker theorems and the related notions of realism and non-contextuality are carefully discussed. This is done also in relation with the famous Bell (BCHSH) inequality concerning local causality. Written in a didactic style, this book includes many examples and solved exercises. The work is organized as follows. Chapter 1 reviews some elementary facts and properties of quantum systems. Chapter 2 and 3 present the main results of spectral analysis in complex Hilbert spaces. Chapter 4 introduces the point of view of the orthomodular lattices' theory. Quantum theory form this perspective turns out to the probability measure theory on the non-Boolean lattice of elementary observables and Gleason's theorem characterizes all these measures. Chapter 5 deals with some philosophical and interpretative aspects of quantum theory like hidden-variable formulations of QM. The Kochen-Specker theorem and its implications are analyzed also in relation BCHSH inequality, entanglement, realism, locality, and non-contextuality. Chapter 6 focuses on the algebra of observables also in the presence of superselection rules introducing the notion of von Neumann algebra. Chapter 7 offers the idea of (groups of) quantum symmetry, in particular, illustrated in terms of Wigner and Kadison theorems. Chapter 8 deals with the elementary ideas and results of the so called algebraic formulation of quantum theories in terms of both *-algebras and C*-algebras. This book should appeal to a dual readership: on one hand mathematicians that wish to acquire the tools that unlock the physical aspects of quantum theories; on the other physicists eager to solidify their understanding of the mathematical scaffolding of quantum theories.

The objective of this book is to explore the relationship between intellectual capital management and the sustainable development of organizations and society. To do so, it introduces readers to the topic of intellectual capital in the context of several connected entities such as organizations, cities and regions, sharing insights that both reflect the status quo and demonstrate the need for further action. In closing, the book presents practical cases to verify the impact of intellectual capital management on sustainable and competitive development.

Provides strong and accessible theoretical bases to swarm intelligence algorithms, from particle optimization to bioinspired and meta-heuristic algorithms Presents emerging meta-heuristic algorithms and applications Provides overviews on Python and R based computing libraries for swarm intelligence and meta-heuristic algorithms Presenting real-world applications, especially on Industry, Medicine and Biology.

This book is intended to serve as quick reference handbook on so-called designer drugs. These new, mainly synthetic compounds are also often referred to as analogues of controlled substances. This new work provides a unique directory of 104 designer drugs.
This class of drugs is rapidly growing in variety and number of compounds. Although identification, toxicology and other properties have been thoroughly investigated, their analogues and derivatives remain poorly documented. This book fills the gap.
Data which is available is often contradictory and confused. This directory provides a critical treatment of the subject which is thoroughly indexed including both the subject index and an index listing more that 230 street names of the described designer drugs.
Divided into two parts; the first section describes aspects of designer drug manufacture, new abuse trends, sources of information and terminology. The second, descriptive part, classifies the drugs into ten main categories according to their chemical structure and prevalent pharmacological action. A separate chapter is devoted to each category, followed by a set of corresponding data sheets, street names and eventual synonyms, Toxicological data, short notes on the history of drugs as well as the most pertinent bibliographic references are included.

Everyone loves puppies! Cute, tender and a bit goofy, the baby animals of each species are naturally born funny. This book shows the puppies in their original sizes, showing them as they appear in nature. Page after page, the reader will be surprised by the details and characteristics of each puppy, while learning everything about their behaviours and physical development. The latest title of our bestselling "100%" series. After animals and bugs, children will learn from the pages all the real sizes of the cute puppies included in this big format volume.

This book presents a set of recent advances that involve the areas of multimedia, IoT, and web technologies. These advances incorporate aspects of clouds, artificial intelligence, data analysis, user experience, and games. In this context, the work will bring the reader the opportunity to understand new possibilities of use and research in these areas. We think that this book is suitable for students (postgraduates and undergraduates) and lecturers on these specific topics. Professionals can also benefit from the book since some chapters work with practical aspects relevant to the industry.

Provides strong and accessible theoretical bases to swarm intelligence algorithms, from particle optimization to bioinspired and meta-heuristic algorithms Presents emerging meta-heuristic algorithms and applications Provides overviews on Python and R based computing libraries for swarm intelligence and meta-heuristic algorithms Presenting real-world applications, especially on Industry, Medicine and Biology.

- The book illustrates the huge scientific output of the Archea research project and the variety of methods and research approaches. In particular, the publication of the five developed mapping methods as well as their application based on the case studies makes the book distinctive. - Multi-authorship by an international collective working on research topics from different per-spectives. - Unique collection of articles that illustrates a combination of theory, research methods and practice in the field of architecture of the city and especially of the open space.

Live healthier for longer with the international bestselling guide that will change your life 'The diet that holds the key to staying young . . . Dr Valter Longo is now considered one of the most influential voices in the 'fasting movement' The Times 'Dr Valter Longo is one of the real scientific pioneers when it comes to researching the impact of food on health' Dr Michael Mosley, bestselling author of The Fast Diet and The Clever Guts Diet ________ This is the clinically tested, revolutionary and straightforward diet to help you slow-down ageing, fight disease and lose weight. Following 30 years of research, Professor Valter Longo - a biochemist and one of the world's leading researchers into ageing - discovered that the secret of longevity lies in cellular regeneration triggered by a special diet. And that by adhering to his fasting-mimicking diet, we can heal ourselves through food. The Longevity Diet will guide you through the process with: * An easy-to-adopt lifetime plan * Fasting-mimicking diet 3-4 times a year, just 5 days at a time * 30 easy and delicious recipes based on Longo's 'Five Pillars of Longevity' In this lifelong, health-boosting plan, you will feel the benefits of fasting without the hunger and live a longer, healthier and more fulfilled life. And you'll get to try easy, plant-and-fish based recipes . . . * Great for the heart and rich in antioxidants: black rice with courgette and shrimp * For a good source of iron, snack on dark chocolate and yoghurt * For dessert try tangy dried cranberries and walnuts ________ Make simple changes that can extend your healthy lifespan * Prevent age-related muscle and bone loss * Build your resistance to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and cancer * Maintain your ideal weight and reduce abdominal fat

This series brings together breathtaking landscapes, inspiring quotes, and infographics about environmental issues that take the reader on a journey through the depths of the earth. "We really have the most beautiful planet in our solar system. None other can sustain life like we know it. None other has blue water and white clouds covering colorful landmasses filled with thriving, beautiful, living things like human beings." Sunita Williams. The mesmerizing pictures in The Earth are combined with powerful quotes about the importance of protecting the world around us. Each chapter begins with an infographic depicting the issues faced by that area of the world, like our forests, prairies, mountains, and glaciers. The photos and the quotations that accompany them help us rediscover the amazement and respect inspired by uncontaminated nature.

Nurture your inner monk and surrender to the natural grace and rhythm of your heart's deepest longings. "The whole world is, in fact, a text of sacred revelation. All experience has the potential to be revelatory, and God is singing one unending song seducing each of our hearts. So the call is to listen, to attune to the words God utters in the world." —from the Afterword Break open this ancient contemplative practice of listening deeply for God's voice in sacred texts. Drawing on her own experience as a monk in the world, Christine Valters Paintner introduces the foundations for a practice of lectio divina. She closely examines each of the four movements of lectio divina as well as the rhythm they create when practiced as a process. She then invites you to expand your practice beyond traditional sacred texts to a sacred reading of the world through image, sound, nature and life experience. Whether you want to start a contemplative prayer practice or deepen your experience of lectio divina in new ways, you are invited to savor the gifts lectio divina has to offer your heart and spirit.

There are little doubts that Italy has attempted to play a more assertive role in the international arena since the end of the Cold War. During the first forty years of its Republican history, conditioned by both the polarized international context and an antagonistic domestic political system, Italy delegated its main choices in international affairs to external actors, most notably NATO and the European Union. The transition from a bipolar to a unipolar/multipolar world order provided Italy with new opportunities to pursue its political and commercial interests more autonomously, as well as new responsibilities, to actively contribute to solving conflicts and addressing new global threats. At the same time, the collapse of the traditional parties (linked to the fall of the Berlin wall and the Clean Hands enquiries) and the changes of the electoral law (from a proportional representation into a quasi-majoritarian system) generated two heterogeneous coalitions which have regularly alternated in power, but do not always share the same views and approaches-with differences at times of form, and more often of substance. Against this background, Italy in the Post-Cold War Order: Adaptation, Bipartisanship, Visibility, edited by Maurizio Carbone, seeks to explain the evolution of Italy's international action over a twenty-year span (1989 2009). Three central questions are addressed. First, how does Italy adapt to transformations of the international system? Second, how does its ever-changing political system influence Italy's choices in foreign relations? Third, how do domestic structures constrain (or enable) Italy's place on the world stage? To answer these questions, this book consists of two broad parts. The first part sets the context and discusses issues 'horizontally, ' focusing on foreign policy, security and defense policy, development cooperation, and multilateral action. The second part, which takes a 'vertical' approach, discusses Italy's relations with key countries and regions of the world

At the core of this collection are 30 poems inspired by the stories of kinship between saints and animals. They come mostly from the early Christian desert and Celtic traditions, but also feature later medieval saints like St. Francis of Assisi and St. Julian of Norwich. These stories point to a reverence for a different way of knowing and being in the world, one our world is hungry for. Each poem in this collection is meant to be a doorway to intimacy with our inner wilderness, a call to sit and be present to what we discover beyond the borders of our neatly controlled worlds.

Timeless and contemplative sayings from the earliest Christian sages of desert spirituality can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.

The desert fathers and mothers were ordinary Christians living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Arabia who chose to renounce the world in order to deliberately and individually follow God's call. They embraced lives of celibacy, labor, fasting, prayer and poverty, believing that denouncing material goods and practicing stoic self-discipline would lead to unity with the Divine. Their spiritual practice formed the basis of Western monasticism and greatly influenced both Western and Eastern Christianity.

Their writings, first recorded in the fourth century, consist of spiritual advice, parables and anecdotes emphasizing the primacy of love and the purity of heart. Focusing on key themes of charity, fortitude, lust, patience, prayer and self-control, the Sayings influenced the rule of St. Benedict and have inspired centuries of opera, poetry and art.

This probing and personal SkyLight Illuminations edition opens up their wisdom for readers with no previous knowledge of Western monasticism and early Christianity. It provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes historical background, explains the practice of asceticism and illustrates how you can use their wisdom to energize your spiritual quest.