The Penguin Classics Marvel Collection presents the origin stories, seminal tales, and characters of the Marvel Universe to explore Marvel's transformative and timeless influence on an entire genre of fantasy.

It is impossible to imagine American popular culture without Marvel Comics. For decades, Marvel has published groundbreaking visual narratives that sustain attention on multiple levels: as metaphors for the experience of difference and otherness; as meditations on the fluid nature of identity; and as high-water marks in the artistic tradition of American cartooning, to name a few.

Drawing upon multiple comic book series, this collection includes Captain America's very first appearances from 1941 alongside key examples of his first solo stories of the 1960s, in which Steve Rogers, the newly resurrected hero of World War II, searches to find his place in a new and unfamiliar world. As the contents reveal, the transformations of this American icon thus mark parallel transformations in the nation itself.

A foreword by Gene Luen Yang and scholarly introductions and apparatus by Ben Saunders offer further insight into the enduring significance of Captain America and classic Marvel comics.

The Penguin Classics black spine paperback features full-colour art throughout.

Temporal Data Mining via Unsupervised Ensemble Learning provides the principle knowledge of temporal data mining in association with unsupervised ensemble learning and the fundamental problems of temporal data clustering from different perspectives. By providing three proposed ensemble approaches of temporal data clustering, this book presents a practical focus of fundamental knowledge and techniques, along with a rich blend of theory and practice. Furthermore, the book includes illustrations of the proposed approaches based on data and simulation experiments to demonstrate all methodologies, and is a guide to the proper usage of these methods. As there is nothing universal that can solve all problems, it is important to understand the characteristics of both clustering algorithms and the target temporal data so the correct approach can be selected for a given clustering problem. Scientists, researchers, and data analysts working with machine learning and data mining will benefit from this innovative book, as will undergraduate and graduate students following courses in computer science, engineering, and statistics.

This book analyses how China s firms in the consumer electronics (CE) sector have developed their business strategy and corporate governance during the reform process. The CE sector is one of China s most important and dynamic manufacturing sectors. As one of the earliest market-oriented sectors after 1978, its experience illustrates the adoption of the Western model of management in China. This is the first book to analyse the link between business strategy, corporate governance and performance of firms, explicitly comparing state-, collective-, and privately-owned firms. This book argues that the competitive dynamics of the market are central to the survival of firms in contemporary China.
Focuses on the state, collective and private Chinese firms in the consumer electronics sectorProvides insights into the interactions among political, economic and corporate factors in the China business environment that influence the strategies and performance of these firmsCompares the corporate governance of these Chinese firms across different ownership forms"

This comprehensive volume systematically presents the research progress of flexible sensors in materials, devices, and applications.Contributed by renowned researchers, the compendium summarizes these high-density research works within the last decades and provides necessary sources of information for future research works on flexible sensors around the world.The useful reference text is well-structured and provides an easy read to professionals, researchers, academics, and graduate students in electrical & electronics engineering, materials engineering and microelectronics.

This Modern Guide captures the evolution of foundational tenets, theories, frameworks and models that buttressed tourism economics into an evolving discipline, shining light on both new and old approaches. It systematically examines current and future trends and issues related to new economic perspectives, consolidating the notion of tourism economics as a discipline. Chapters delve into the theoretical underpinnings of specific topics within the field, providing a range of examples of how to leverage economic theories to better understand, manage, and promote tourism activities to different stakeholders. Offering a kaleidoscope of economic perspectives, the Modern Guide looks at tourism economics from trade theory, choice theory, behavioural economics, public choice, institutional economics, environmental economics, developmental economics, cultural economics and more, with each chapter ending with insights into future research and directions. Written in an accessible style, this will be an invigorating read for hospitality and tourism management scholars, as well as tourism geographies, tourism marketing and sustainable tourism students. It will also be a useful tool for tourism economists and applied economists looking for a wide range of perspectives on the topic.

This forward-thinking Handbook explores cutting-edge research on how employees within firms should be managed in order to increase their wellbeing and performance. Expert contributors explore an emerging stream of research in human resource management (HRM) which suggests that attention should be paid to how line managers implement HR practices and how employees perceive, understand and attribute these HR practices. Chapters consider the implications of employees' and leaders' HR attributions and their performance, HRM system strength, change, talent management and the role of line managers in the HRM process. Providing an overview of the current knowledge in the HR process research, the Handbook also discusses future avenues and directions for the field. Demonstrating the dynamics of how HR practices impact organisational and individual outcomes, this Handbook will be critical reading for scholars and students of human resource management, organisational behaviour and research methods in business and management. It will also be beneficial for HR professionals seeking to understand how they can increase the effectiveness of their HR management.

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.

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.

Modelling and Control of Dynamic Spatially Distributed Systems: Pharmaceutical Processes provides a balanced approach to help readers to get started quickly in the field of biochemical pharmaceuticals. From a theoretical perspective, dynamic spatially distributed systems are introduced to address their industrial applications. After identifying problems, the book provides readers with modeling and control system design techniques via a novel fuzzy set (class of objects with a continuum of grades of membership, to describe the grade of the object belonging to this fuzzy set) and intelligent computation methods. From an application perspective, the book provides a thorough understanding of Good Manufacture Practices (GMP) and the importance of identification, modelling, and intelligent control of such systems, reducing the test-and-error cost, and the R&D design time cycle of original drug development.

Cilia Signaling in Development and Disease, Volume 155 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as Cilia and mTOR signaling, Cilia and Kidney, Extraciliary functions of IFT proteins, Cilia and eye stem cells, Cilia and eye development, Cryo-EM/ET and cilia structure, and Control of protein and lipid composition of photoreceptor outer segments and the implications for eye diseases.

Machine Learning Aided Analysis, Design, and Additive Manufacturing of Functionally Graded Porous Composite Structures presents a state-of-the-art review of the latest advances and cutting-edge technologies in this important research field. Sections provide an introduction to functionally graded porous structures and detail the effects of graded porosities on bending, buckling, and vibration behaviors within the framework of Timoshenko beam theory and first-order shear deformable plate theory. Other sections cover the usage of machine learning techniques for smart structural analysis of porous components as an evolution from traditional engineering and methods and focus on additive manufacturing of structures with graded porosities for end-user applications. The book follows a clear path from design and analysis to fabrication and applications. Readers will find extensive knowledge and examples of functionally graded porous structures that are suitable for innovative research and market needs, with applications relevant to a diverse range of industrial fields, including mechanical, structural, aerospace, energy, and biomedical engineering.

This is the first graduate level textbook of topologically ordered phases with emphasis on graphene zigzag nanoribbons. It also explains common properties of several other topologically ordered phases as well as the e/2 fractional charge quantization and spin-charge separation of an electron.

In a period of rapid change for welfare states around the world, this insightful book offers a comparative study of three historically small welfare states: the US, Japan and South Korea. Examining various aspects of welfare states, chapters explore the underlying reasons behind the restraint of social security in these countries. Featuring contributions from international distinguished scholars, this book looks beyond the larger European welfare states to unpack the many common political and institutional characteristics - from labor organization to party politics - that have constrained welfare state development in industrialized democracies. Offering insight into welfare-state development outside of Europe, this book will be crucial reading for scholars of welfare states, especially those working on Asian and American social policy specifically. It will also be of interest to policymakers and social policy experts in government, civil institutions and international organizations, particularly for those working in developing countries. Contributors include: M. Estevez-Abe, C. Faricy, S. Haggard, Y.-R, Jung, D. Kim, S.-w. Kim, Y.-S. Kim, J. Klein, S.-M. Kwon, D. Oude Nijuis, J.-j. Yang

Based on workshops co-organized by Japan's St. Andrew University and Taiwan's National Chengchi University, this book provides readers with the toolbox for navigating the regional dynamics of political economy in Southeast Asia, with special focus on exploring the key factors determining the shifting dynamics. Organized in three parts, namely, geopolitical and security factors, alternative fields for regional cooperation, and the regional considerations of Southeast Asia, the chapters in the book feature key factors determining the political economy of the region. Written by authors hailing from varied backgrounds, this book is also a joint research effort on policy discussion and timely assessment of COVID-19 recovery plans in Southeast Asia.

Time-Dependent Reliability Theory and Its Applications introduces the theory of time-dependent reliability and presents methods to determine the reliability of structures over the lifespan of their services. The book contains state-of-the-art solutions to first passage probability derived from the theory of stochastic processes with different types of probability distribution functions, including Gaussian and non-Gaussian distributions and stationary and non-stationary processes. In addition, it provides various methods to determine the probability of failure over time, considering different failure modes and a methodology to predict the service life of structures. Sections also cover the applications of time-dependent reliability to prediction of service life and development of risk cost-optimized maintenance strategy for existing structures. This new book is for those who wants to know how to predict the service life of a structure (buildings, bridges, aircraft structures, etc.) and how to develop a risk-cost, optimized maintenance strategy for these structures.

This forward-thinking Handbook explores cutting-edge research on how employees within firms should be managed in order to increase their wellbeing and performance. Expert contributors explore an emerging stream of research in human resource management (HRM) which suggests that attention should be paid to how line managers implement HR practices and how employees perceive, understand and attribute these HR practices. Chapters consider the implications of employees' and leaders' HR attributions and their performance, HRM system strength, change, talent management and the role of line managers in the HRM process. Providing an overview of the current knowledge in the HR process research, the Handbook also discusses future avenues and directions for the field. Demonstrating the dynamics of how HR practices impact organisational and individual outcomes, this Handbook will be critical reading for scholars and students of human resource management, organisational behaviour and research methods in business and management. It will also be beneficial for HR professionals seeking to understand how they can increase the effectiveness of their HR management.

This volume results from two programs that took place at the Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the National University of Singapore: Aspects of Computation — in Celebration of the Research Work of Professor Rod Downey (21 August to 15 September 2017) and Automata Theory and Applications: Games, Learning and Structures (20-24 September 2021).The first program was dedicated to the research work of Rodney G. Downey, in celebration of his 60th birthday. The second program covered automata theory whereby researchers investigate the other end of computation, namely the computation with finite automata, and the intermediate level of languages in the Chomsky hierarchy (like context-free and context-sensitive languages).This volume contains 17 contributions reflecting the current state-of-art in the fields of the two programs.

Hydrodynamic Lubrication of Non-Newtonian Fluids covers basic theory, lubrication failure and numerical methods and procedures. The title offers a feasible method for solving the hydrodynamic lubrication problem for non-Newtonian fluids. Whereas hydrodynamic lubrication in Newtonian fluids can be solved using the existing Reynolds equation, hydrodynamic lubrication in non-Newtonian fluid is much more difficult to solve because the non-Newtonian constitutive equation is nonlinear. Engineers and technicians working on non-Newtonian fluid lubrication calculation and analysis will find this to be an invaluable reference on the latest thinking on hydrodynamic lubrication. This book presents a unified solution to hydrodynamic lubrication in non-Newtonian fluids, proposing a flow separation method. In addition, the title gives methods and insights into viscosity in non-Newtonian fluids, the lubrication failure mechanism and fluid lubrication mechanism carrying capacity.

Methods to Assess and Manage Process Safety in Digitalized Process System, Volume Six, the latest release in the Methods in Chemical Process Safety series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors.