The Research Handbook on Trade Wars presents an informative and in-depth account of the origins, dynamics, and implications of trade wars, which are growing both in scale and scope in today's increasingly interdependent global economy. Timely and comprehensive, it provides a holistic understanding of trade wars, including not only the domestic and international factors that influence the pattern of trade war onset and escalation, but also the stakeholders and processes that shape the outcomes of such highly intense trade conflicts. Leading scholars in the field present original and thought-provoking research material, critically engage with academic and policy debates, and make theoretical contributions as well as valuable policy recommendations. In addition to its in-depth analysis of the global, domestic, political, and economic origins of trade wars, this Research Handbook also examines the variation in the scope of trade wars, the forum for dispute settlement, the factors that influence the pattern of dispute escalation, and the linkages between national security considerations and commercial conflicts. Providing the frameworks necessary for understanding the political and economic logics of trade wars, this Handbook will be a valuable source of reference for researchers, government officials, businesses, and post-graduate students interested in international political economy, international economics, economic statecraft, public policy, and international relations.

The book assesses U.S. foreign relations in the Indo-Pacific during the Trump Administration, with a particular focus on the regional powers' response to Trump's "America First" policy. The chapter authors draw on the theoretical insights from dominant International Relations theories - (Neo)Realism, Liberal Institutionalism, and Constructivism - to explain both continuities and discontinuities found in the regional powers' security and foreign economic policies before and during the Trump Administration. The book will be of interest to new and advanced students of International Relations, Asian Studies, and U.S. foreign policy. The multi-national perspectives of the regional experts offer penetrating analyses of the likely legacy (or lack thereof) of the range of political, security, and trade policy initiatives launched by the Trump Administration and its implications for the balance of power, regional institutions, and national identity-informed approaches to international relations in the Indo-Pacific.

The relation between China and Japan is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world but how did the Japanese view China in ancient times? How did views change throughout the course of history? How could China's image be improved in Japanese people's eyes? This book provides an analysis of the history of contact between China and Japan and surveys the present situation to understand general views of Japanese society toward China. Through scientific public opinion surveys as well as in-depth interviews, the book examines ordinary and elite Japanese people's views of Chinese culture, society, politics, the economy, media and Sino-Japanese relations. In addition, it analyzes the main causes of the formation of such views, and makes suggestions on promoting positive public opinions of China. The authors hope that this title can deepen Japanese society's understanding and comprehension of China, help promote Sino-Japanese non-governmental exchange, and lay the foundation for continuous development of Sino-Japanese relations. This title will appeal to students and scholars of cultural studies, international relations and Asian studies.

Both developing and developed countries face an increasing mismatch between what patients expect to receive from healthcare and what the public healthcare systems can afford to provide. Where there has been a growing recognition of the entitlement to receive healthcare, the frustrated expectations with regards to the level of provision has led to lawsuits challenging the denial of funding for health treatments by public health systems. This book analyses the impact of courts and litigation on the way health systems set priorities and make rationing decisions. In particular, it focuses on how the judicial protection of the right to healthcare can impact the institutionalization, functioning and centrality of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for decisions about the funding of treatment. Based on the case study of three jurisdictions - Brazil, Colombia, and England - it shows that courts can be a key driver for the institutionalization of HTA. These case studies show the paradoxes of judicial control, which can promote accountability and impair it, demand administrative competence and undermine bureaucratic capacities. The case studies offer a nuanced and evidence-informed understanding of these paradoxes in the context of health care by showing how the judicial control of priority-setting decisions in health care can be used to require and control an explicit scheme for health technology assessment, but can also limit and circumvent it. It will be essential for those researching Medical Law and Healthcare Policy, Human Rights Law, and Social Rights.

The relation between China and Japan is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world but how did the Japanese view China in ancient times? How did views change throughout the course of history? How could China's image be improved in Japanese people's eyes? This book provides an analysis of the history of contact between China and Japan and surveys the present situation to understand general views of Japanese society toward China. Through scientific public opinion surveys as well as in-depth interviews, the book examines ordinary and elite Japanese people's views of Chinese culture, society, politics, the economy, media and Sino-Japanese relations. In addition, it analyzes the main causes of the formation of such views, and makes suggestions on promoting positive public opinions of China. The authors hope that this title can deepen Japanese society's understanding and comprehension of China, help promote Sino-Japanese non-governmental exchange, and lay the foundation for continuous development of Sino-Japanese relations. This title will appeal to students and scholars of cultural studies, international relations and Asian studies.

The minimally invasive surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is one of the most commonly performed operations today. Yet, patients do not have a full understanding of the procedure and often, search the internet for answers. This concise book aims to bridge the knowledge gap between surgeons and patients by explaining the various aspects of the procedure in detail, educating patients and their relatives who are eager to understand more about the procedure and condition.Readers will be brought through the basics of gallbladder anatomy and physiology, operative procedure and post-operative care. All procedures are richly illustrated in colour to import greater understanding and a more immersive experience to readers.With chapters on operative procedures and challenging scenarios faced, medical undergraduates and junior doctors will also find this book useful as it provides in-depth practical knowledge that will be invaluable to them as they embark on their own training and practice.

The minimally invasive surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is one of the most commonly performed operations today. Yet, patients do not have a full understanding of the procedure and often, search the internet for answers. This concise book aims to bridge the knowledge gap between surgeons and patients by explaining the various aspects of the procedure in detail, educating patients and their relatives who are eager to understand more about the procedure and condition.Readers will be brought through the basics of gallbladder anatomy and physiology, operative procedure and post-operative care. All procedures are richly illustrated in colour to import greater understanding and a more immersive experience to readers.With chapters on operative procedures and challenging scenarios faced, medical undergraduates and junior doctors will also find this book useful as it provides in-depth practical knowledge that will be invaluable to them as they embark on their own training and practice.

China and East Asia's Post-Crises Community: A Region in Flux, by Wei Liang and Faizullah Khilji, explores how an East Asian community is taking shape as a result of China's emergence as a global economic power and the shocks of the financial crises emanating from the globalized financial system. Today's East Asia shows a sharp break from the East Asia of the Cold War era, in both basis and orientation. Important elements in this shift include the regional economic integration propelled by China's emergence as a processed manufacturing center in the world economy, the common problems posed by the working of the dollar-based international financial system, and the desire to develop institutions that help to formalize the economic integration and financial cooperation that is taking place, and may thus help protect and safeguard economic prosperity in the region. Liang and Khilji show how the approach to regional economic cooperation and developing institutions comes from the bottom up, lacking any leader nation, grand vision, or ideology. The manner in which the region comes to work together also has implications for the governance of the world economy, in particular the economic model that underlies policy formulation, the working of the international financial system, and the approach to the multilateral trading system.From a security oriented US-centric regional structure characterized as the hub and spokes system set up after the Second World War, this region is now more nearly an informal economic community, which increasingly appears to be China-centric. China and East Asia's Post Crises Community presents one of the first attempts to weave together different strands of the current discussion to develop a framework for understanding a rapidly evolving East Asia region.

Harmonious World and China's New Foreign Policy consists of essays by China specialists on the Chinese government's characterization of foreign policy as a "harmonious world." The essays deal with such topics as "harmonious world" and China's new diplomacy, China's multilateral diplomacy after the Cold War, China's changing image of and engagement with the world order, China's energy security diplomacy, and China's trade diplomacy. These insightful contributions will help students in this academic field understand the new concepts and programs adopted by the Chinese new leadership and their important implications for China's new foreign policy behavior in the years to come.

'Harmonious World' and China's New Foreign Policy consists of essays by China specialists on the Chinese government's characterization of foreign policy as a 'harmonious world.' The essays deal with such topics as 'harmonious world' and China's new diplomacy, China's multilateral diplomacy after the Cold War, China's changing image of and engagement with the world order, China's energy security diplomacy, and China's trade diplomacy. These insightful contributions will help students in this academic field understand the new concepts and programs adopted by the Chinese new leadership and their important implications for China's new foreign policy behavior in the years to come.

China's historic accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2001 not only represents an important milestone in the country's transition to a market economy and integration into the global economy, but is also among the most important events in the history of the WTO and the multilateral trading system. China and Global Trade Governance: China's First Decade in the World Trade Organization provides us with some fresh empirical data to assess the country's behaviour in the liberal international economic regime. Such an assessment is both timely and necessary as it can help us better understand China's role in the evolving structure of global economic governance, in addition to shedding light on the broader debate about the implications of the rise of China for the international system. Through a thorough examination of China's WTO compliance record and its experience in multilateral trade negotiations, this book seeks to better understand the sources of constraints on China's behaviour in the multilateral trade institution as well as the country's influence on the efficacy of the World Trade Organization. In doing so, this project speaks directly to the following questions raised by China's unprecedented ascent in the international system: Is China a rule maker, rule follower, or rule breaker in international regimes? Is Beijing a responsible stakeholder capable of making positive contributions to global trade governance in the long-term?

China's historic accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2001 not only represents an important milestone in the country's transition to a market economy and integration into the global economy, but is also among the most important events in the history of the WTO and the multilateral trading system. China and Global Trade Governance: China's First Decade in the World Trade Organization provides us with some fresh empirical data to assess the country's behaviour in the liberal international economic regime. Such an assessment is both timely and necessary as it can help us better understand China's role in the evolving structure of global economic governance, in addition to shedding light on the broader debate about the implications of the rise of China for the international system. Through a thorough examination of China's WTO compliance record and its experience in multilateral trade negotiations, this book seeks to better understand the sources of constraints on China's behaviour in the multilateral trade institution as well as the country's influence on the efficacy of the World Trade Organization. In doing so, this project speaks directly to the following questions raised by China's unprecedented ascent in the international system: Is China a rule maker, rule follower, or rule breaker in international regimes? Is Beijing a responsible stakeholder capable of making positive contributions to global trade governance in the long-term?

The book assesses U.S. foreign relations in the Indo-Pacific during the Trump Administration, with a particular focus on the regional powers' response to Trump's "America First" policy. The chapter authors draw on the theoretical insights from dominant International Relations theories - (Neo)Realism, Liberal Institutionalism, and Constructivism - to explain both continuities and discontinuities found in the regional powers' security and foreign economic policies before and during the Trump Administration. The book will be of interest to new and advanced students of International Relations, Asian Studies, and U.S. foreign policy. The multi-national perspectives of the regional experts offer penetrating analyses of the likely legacy (or lack thereof) of the range of political, security, and trade policy initiatives launched by the Trump Administration and its implications for the balance of power, regional institutions, and national identity-informed approaches to international relations in the Indo-Pacific.

Fueled by its surging economic strength, China has been increasingly utilizing economic tools such as trade, foreign aid, foreign direct investment, and sanctions to pursue strategic and security interests on the world stage. This approach, known as economic statecraft, has thus far received mixed policy results and ambivalent reactions from the international community. This book presents a collection of global assessments of China's economic statecraft. The contributors to this volume answer three key questions: What are the challenges faced by China’s economic statecraft? Why is China sometimes able to achieve its foreign policy objectives via economic statecraft and sometimes not? How do foreign countries, particularly the targets of China’s economic statecraft, respond to China's strategies? This comprehensive study examines economic statecraft in the context of more than a dozen nations and international organizations across four continents, thus providing a truly global perspective.

This book focuses on the innovative development of microfinance in China and takes Luqiao District, Taizhou as the example to sum up Chinese experiences in the local innovative development of microfinance and the application of that experience nationwide. Based on theoretical research regarding microfinance, this book analyzes the history and current situation of the development of microfinance in Luqiao District, and places emphasis on proceeding from three-pronged positioning, five characteristics and three major modes of microfinance’s innovative development in Luqiao District to explore and summarize the Luqiao story of microfinance. Subsequently, this book takes five perspectives—the innovative development of small and medium-sized banks, the innovative development of non-banking financial institutions, the roles of private capital, the policies of the local government and cooperation between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan—to analyze the experience and paths for helping the development of small and micro enterprises. Finally, based on the conclusions of the research, this book presents some inspirations from the innovative development of microfinance in Luqiao District and future prospects. This book will interest economists, scholars of China’s economic model, and banking sector analysts.

This is an open access book. This book presents new theory and methods on compiling lithofacies paleogeographic maps as a key tool for guiding geological survey on shale gas. The fundamental goal of the shale gas geological survey is to find the ‘dessert’ area. It is therefore suggested that the lithofacies paleogeographic study and the technique of mapping should be a solid scientific basis for shale gas exploration. It takes Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin and its adjacent area as an example to illustrate how to find the ‘dessert’ area of shale gas in geological survey phase by compiling lithofacies paleogeographic map. It’s a valuable reference for both scientific research and teaching courses in the fields of sedimentary lithofacies, paleogeography, stratigraphy, and oil and gas.

With the rapid proliferation of information and communications technology, industrial automation has undergone a sweeping transformation toward intelligent manufacturing. Wireless communication is widely considered to be one of the key technologies enabling intelligent manufacturing. On one hand, deterministic communication with high reliability and low latency is typically required in industrial automation applications. On the other hand, wireless communication in industrial settings is hindered by strictly limited communication resources and many other factors which mainly derive from the shared and error-prone nature of the wireless channels used. The limited communication resources and harsh channel conditions pose considerable challenges for reliable, real-time data transmission in industrial wireless networks.  Resource optimization methods are vital to ensuring the deterministic performance of industrial wireless networks. Traditional resource optimization methods adopt the isolated resource optimization methods for each protocol layer, which is inherently local-optimal and leads performance uncontrollable. To focus on “Performance Controllable Industrial Wireless Networks�, this book presents thejoint resource optimization methods across multiple protocol layers for industrial wireless networks; reviews recent, major advances; and discusses the practical implementations of the proposed methods.  The joint resource optimization methods discussed here will greatly benefit scientists and researchers in the areas of industrial automation and Industrial Internet of Things. To gain the most from this book, readers should have a fundamental grasp of wireless communication, scheduling theory, and convex optimization. 

The three volume set LNCS 13155, 13156, and 13157 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Algorithms and Architectures for Parallel Processing, ICA3PP 2021, which was held online during December 3-5, 2021. The total of 145 full papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 403 submissions. They cover the many dimensions of parallel algorithms and architectures including fundamental theoretical approaches, practical experimental projects, and commercial components and systems. The papers were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I, LNCS 13155: Deep learning models and applications; software systems and efficient algorithms; edge computing and edge intelligence; service dependability and security algorithms; data science; Part II, LNCS 13156: Software systems and efficient algorithms; parallel and distributed algorithms and applications; data science; edge computing and edge intelligence; blockchain systems; deept learning models and applications; IoT; Part III, LNCS 13157: Blockchain systems; data science; distributed and network-based computing; edge computing and edge intelligence; service dependability and security algorithms; software systems and efficient algorithms.

The three volume set LNCS 13155, 13156, and 13157 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Algorithms and Architectures for Parallel Processing, ICA3PP 2021, which was held online during December 3-5, 2021. The total of 145 full papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 403 submissions. They cover the many dimensions of parallel algorithms and architectures including fundamental theoretical approaches, practical experimental projects, and commercial components and systems. The papers were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I, LNCS 13155: Deep learning models and applications; software systems and efficient algorithms; edge computing and edge intelligence; service dependability and security algorithms; data science; Part II, LNCS 13156: Software systems and efficient algorithms; parallel and distributed algorithms and applications; data science; edge computing and edge intelligence; blockchain systems; deept learning models and applications; IoT; Part III, LNCS 13157: Blockchain systems; data science; distributed and network-based computing; edge computing and edge intelligence; service dependability and security algorithms; software systems and efficient algorithms.

The three volume set LNCS 13155, 13156, and 13157 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Algorithms and Architectures for Parallel Processing, ICA3PP 2021, which was held online during December 3-5, 2021. The total of 145 full papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 403 submissions. They cover the many dimensions of parallel algorithms and architectures including fundamental theoretical approaches, practical experimental projects, and commercial components and systems. The papers were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I, LNCS 13155: Deep learning models and applications; software systems and efficient algorithms; edge computing and edge intelligence; service dependability and security algorithms; data science; Part II, LNCS 13156: Software systems and efficient algorithms; parallel and distributed algorithms and applications; data science; edge computing and edge intelligence; blockchain systems; deept learning models and applications; IoT; Part III, LNCS 13157: Blockchain systems; data science; distributed and network-based computing; edge computing and edge intelligence; service dependability and security algorithms; software systems and efficient algorithms.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Big Data, BigData 2021, held online as part of SCF 2021, during December 10-14, 2021.The 6 full and 2 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 53 submissions. The topics covered are Big Data Architecture, Big Data Modeling, Big Data As A Service, Big Data for Vertical Industries (Government, Healthcare, etc.), Big Data Analytics, Big Data Toolkits, Big Data Open Platforms, Economic Analysis, Big Data for Enterprise Transformation, Big Data in Business Performance Management, Big Data for Business Model Innovations and Analytics, Big Data in Enterprise Management Models and Practices, Big Data in Government Management Models and Practices, and Big Data in Smart Planet Solutions.

This SpringerBrief discusses the most recent research in the field of multimedia QoE evaluation, with a focus on how to evaluate subjective multimedia QoE problems from objective techniques. Specifically, this SpringerBrief starts from a comprehensive overview of multimedia QoE definition, its influencing factors, traditional modeling and prediction methods. Subsequently, the authors introduce the procedure of multimedia service data collection, preprocessing and feature extractions. Then, describe several proposed multimedia QoE modeling and prediction techniques in details. Finally, the authors illustrate how to implement and demonstrate multimedia QoE evaluation in the big data platform. This SpringerBrief provides readers with a clear picture on how to make full use of multimedia service data to realize multimedia QoE evaluation. With the exponential growth of the Internet technologies, multimedia services become immensely popular. Users can enjoy multimedia services from operators or content providers by TV, computers and mobile devices. User experience is important for network operators and multimedia content providers. Traditional QoS (quality of service) can not entirely and accurately describe user experience. It is natural to research the quality of multimedia service from the users' perspective, defined as multimedia quality of experience (QoE). However, multimedia QoE evaluation is difficult, because user experience is abstract and subjective, hard to quantify and measure. Moreover, the explosion of multimedia service and emergence of big data, all call for a new and better understanding of multimedia QoE. This SpringerBrief targets advanced-level students, professors and researchers studying and working in the fields of multimedia communications and information processing. Professionals, industry managers, and government research employees working in these same fields will also benefit from this SpringerBrief.

Modern-Day Beijing. Mei Wang, 31, lives and works as a private detective in China's capital city. After her resignation from the Ministry for Public Security, Mei saw her status drop swiftly in the eyes of her former colleagues, her TV-star sister, and even her mother. But sharp, intuitive Mei has taken her valuable experience and her insider knowledge of the police and city politics and set herself up as a successful private investigator. Now, with her own car, her own business, even a male receptionist to reflect her well-to-do status, Mei Wang is ensconced in her own little corner of the biggest city in China.

When Mei receives a call from the chief executive at Guanghua Record Company, she learns that one of Mr. Peng's top starlets -- the beautiful pop star Kaili -- has been missing for four days. Mei must find the starlet while keeping up the record company's facade that nothing is amiss. Though Kaili is a piece of Mr. Peng's moneymaking machine, Mei learns that she is also a troubled, mysterious young woman whom no one really knows. The discovery of a secret stash of letters in Kaili's apartment sets Mei on an investigation that will take her back to a troubled past that belongs not only to Kaili, but to the entire nation.

Meanwhile, in Gansu Province, a work camp laborer named Lin is finally released from eight years of forced labor on the outskirts of civilization. He angrily remembers the betrayal that cost him his youth and his sweetheart, who was torn from his life when he was sent to the work camp.

As Mei tries to retrace Kaili's steps, so does Lin retrace his own past...and he carries a secret to the case that no one would ever expect.

"Paper Butterfly," the second mystery featuring private detective Mei Wang, is as beautiful and lyrical as it is eye-opening.

""Having her own detective agency would give her
the independence she had always longed for. It
would also give her the chance to show those people
who shunned her that she could be successful. People
were getting rich. They owned property, money,
business, and cars. With new freedom and opportunities
came new crimes. There would be much that
she could do."
"
Present day, Beijing. Mei Wang is a modern, independent woman. She has her own apartment. She owns a car. She has her own business with that most modern of commodities -- a male secretary. Her short career with China's prestigious Ministry for Public Security has given her intimate insight into the complicated and arbitrary world of Beijing's law enforcement. But it is her intuition, curiosity, and her uncanny knack for listening to things said -- and unsaid -- that make Mei Beijing's first successful female private investigator.
Mei is no stranger to the dark side of China. She was six years old when she last saw her father behind the wire fence of one of Mao's remote labor camps. Perhaps as a result, Mei eschews the power plays and cultural mores -- "guanxi" -- her sister and mother live by...for better and for worse.
Mei's family friend "Uncle" Chen hires her to find a Han dynasty jade of great value: he believes the piece was looted from the Luoyang Museum during the Cultural Revolution -- when the Red Guards swarmed the streets, destroying so many traces of the past -- and that it's currently for sale on the black market. The hunt for the eye of jade leads Mei through banquet halls and back alleys, seedy gambling dens and cheap noodle bars near the Forbidden City. Given the jade's provenance and its journey, Mei knows to treat the investigation as a most delicate matter; she cannot know, however, that this case will force her to delve not only into China's brutal history, but also into her family's dark secrets and into her own tragic separation from the man she loved in equal parts.
The first novel in an exhilarating new detective series, "The Eye of Jade" is both a thrilling mystery and a sensual and fascinating journey through modern China.