Open Access Books

The author focuses on minorities eager for their professional skills, in exchange for which the cities offered privileges and special treatments. The analysis focuses on what were the methods of insertion of these immigrants into the social and economic fabric and what were the tools adopted to encourage their transfer and consequent rooting.

This book covers the characterization and design of small array antennas for ultra-wideband (UWB) industrial linear frequency-modulated continuouswave (FMCW) RADAR systems. Although the techniques developed in this work are not limited to a certain application scenario, in particular the design of a four-element uniform linear and four-element uniform circular array antenna is considered. The antenna arrays are used for implementing direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation in a novel UWB secondary RADAR system for industrial local positioning applications. The system‘s frequency range is from 6 GHz to 9 GHz and hence possesses a relative bandwidth of 40 %. State of the art industrial FMCW RADAR systems in contrast traditionally operate in the narrowband regime with relative bandwidths much smaller than 10 %. In consequence methods traditionally used for characterizing the antennas, for modeling the influence of the antennas on the RADAR system performance, for implementing direction-of-arrival estimation in FMCW RADAR systems, and for designing antenna arrays are not sufficient. Their application to UWB FMCW RADAR systems is carefully reviewed, and where necessary extended to take into account effects emerging due to the large relative bandwidth.

Film criticism is in crisis. Dwelling on the many film journalists made redundant at newspapers, magazines, and other 'old media' in past years, commentators have voiced existential questions about the purpose and worth of the profession in the age of WordPress blogospheres and proclaimed the 'death of the critic'. Bemoaning the current anarchy of internet amateurs and the lack of authoritative critics, many journalists and academics claim that in the digital age, cultural commentary has become dumbed down and fragmented into niche markets. Mattias Freu, arguing against these claims, examines the history of film critical discourse in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He demonstrates that since its origins, film criticism has always found itself in crisis: the need to show critical authority and the anxieties over challenges to that authority have been longstanding concerns.

Spätestens seit der Bundestagswahl 1994 befindet sich die Idee der Negativen Einkommensteuer, d.h. einer Integration von Steuer- und Transfersystem, in der politischen und wissenschaftlichen Diskussion. Während in früheren Phasen sozialpolitische Ziele verfolgt wurden, rücken vermehrt die Auswirkungen auf den Arbeitsmarkt in den Vordergrund. Diese Entwicklung wurde sehr schnell und von verschiedenen Seiten kritisiert, ohne daß bisher Analysen zu den möglichen Beschäftigungswirkungen und den Kosten einer Negativen Einkommensteuer im Vergleich zur klassischen Arbeitsmarktpolitik vorliegen. Genau dies ist Ziel und Inhalt dieses Bandes: die Analyse von Effektivität und Effizienz einer Negativen Einkommensteuer in beschäftigungspolitischer Zielsetzung. Vor dem Hintergrund einer Vielzahl mehr oder weniger gescheiterter Konzepte zum Abbau der Arbeitslosigkeit spricht vieles für eine Neuordnung des sozialen Sicherungssystems innerhalb einer funktionierenden Marktwirtschaft.

The volume, dedicated to the 44th International Conference of the Italian Union for Drawing, investigates the theme of ‘Transitions’, which particularly effectively represents our time and the current condition of the discipline of Drawing. The term, beyond its generic meaning of an intermediate stage in a process in which a condition changes from one state to another, has always been used in various fields, from music to geophysics. In fact, the disciplines of drawing have always been confronted with themes and issues relating to transitions from one condition to another. The history of representation tells us of transformations, even epochal ones, relating to ‘drawing’, with all that such transitions entail: suffice it to think of the evolution of forms of representation, of instrumental apparatuses, of the mutability of supports, of the analogical-digital transition underway, of the new modes of communication on platforms, of the hypertrophic offer of images also on the net that confirms Guy Debord’s intuitions relating to the new spectacularisation of society. Similarly, representation triggers transitions in the prefiguration and communication of design, the anticipation and foreshadowing of future events.The challenges posed by the digital pose open questions whose scope can only be glimpsed, such as the relationship between drawing and the act of modelling, and the construction of new paradigms of visual language and communication. ‘Transitions’, almost implicitly, points to possible futures, the evolution of technique and the search for new modes of expression; at the same time, however, it can suggest silences and reflections in a process of connection between history, theory, criticism and construction.

Creeps surround us, seemingly everywhere. People creep up on each other both on the streets and online, with digital technologies vectoring a lot of cyber-stalking. It’s so easy to spy on people that “creep catching” has even become a form of news entertainment in shows such as “To Catch a Predator.” But what defines a creep is so broad that nearly anyone can be a creep at times. Many of us wonder if we ourselves have been creepy, or if perhaps we engage in behavior that, if others knew, would easily earn us the title “creep.” Even Donald Trump, during the raucous 2016 campaign, was called a “creep” on several occasions by various news media. Indeed, for many of us, the specter of the creep is not just threatening, but exciting – exciting perhaps in the possibility of threat. Yes, we get creeped out. But we are also fascinated by creeps, perhaps in part because we all sense the potential inside ourselves for creepy behavior. In this provocative and engaging new book, Jonathan Alexander interweaves personal narrative and cultural analyses to explore what it means to be a creep. Calling this work a critical memoir, he draws on his own experiences growing up gay in the deep south, while also interrogating examples from literature and popular film and media, to approach the figure of the creep with some sympathy. Ranging widely over contemporary culture, especially the ever-creeping presence of nearly ubiquitous surveillance, Alexander confesses his own creepiness while also explaining to us what being creepy can show us in turn about our culture. He also resurrects some famous “creeps” from the past, such as J.R. Ackerley, to explore what makes a creep creepy, and how even the best of us succumb at times to being creeps. Ultimately, Alexander argues, a study of creepiness might offer us critical insight into the fundamental perversity of how we live. Creep: A Life, A Theory, an Apology is a timely meditation for our strange and creepy times.

In diesem Open-Access-Buch wird die Aussteuerung von Zielkonflikten bei der Gestaltung des Luftrettungssystems in Deutschland erarbeitet, indem ein Modell zur Bewertung von Luftrettungsleistungen entwickelt wird. Der hubschraubergestützten Luftrettung kommt seit Jahren eine zunehmende Bedeutung in der notfallmedizinischen Versorgung zu. Als auffälliges und leistungsfähiges, aber auch teures Rettungsmittel unterliegt die Luftrettung äußerst vielen Ansprüchen, die von unterschiedlichsten Interessensgruppen an das Luftrettungssystem gestellt werden. Diese Partikularinteressen implizieren Zielkonflikte bei der Gestaltung des Luftrettungssystems. Mit dem Kostenmodell werden verschiedene Szenarien modelliert, welche auf einem exemplarischen Erfahrungsobjekt basieren. Abgebildet werden unter anderem der Status Quo, Kritikpunkte am deutschen Luftrettungssystem sowie verschiedene Innovationen, die sich auch aus einem Vergleich ausgewählter internationaler Luftrettungssysteme ergeben. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit werden genutzt, um Handlungsempfehlungen zur Gestaltung von Luftrettungssystemen auszuarbeiten.

The Theory of the Leisure Class made Veblen famous for his theory of consumption as a channel of social competition. The Institutionalists praised and used his notion of intangible property. This article will show that Veblen worked his way to the theory of consumption and property from the concept of labor. Veblen drew on a longstanding American literature that insisted on the dignity of labor and warned against its decline. But he was also familiar with the latest trends of German, Italian and French socialism in ways few Americans were at the time. This article will describe Veblen’s explorations of American and European sources, while emphasizing his reliance on authors (such as the Italian criminologist Antonio Ferri), whose influence on Veblen has been so far neglected.

Within the histories of progressive educational movements and youth work, one organisation that rarely gets a mention is the Woodcraft Folk. Founded in 1925, it has been consistently at the forefront of promoting radical social change through education. It played a role in breaking down the barriers between East and West during the Cold War, in promoting a co-educational and cooperative based approach to learning, and in encouraging environmental activism at a time when it was unfashionable. The Woodcraft Folk’s evolving approach to education for social change is explored in Span the World with Friendship from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including political and social theory, cultural history, anthropology, educational theory and youth work theory. Through investigation of published and primary sources, including letters, meeting records and oral testimonies, contributors bring scholarship to a narrative that has often been uncritical. Beginning with a biography of founder Leslie Paul, chapters study the Folk’s relationship to debates in the labour movement, the extent to which the eugenics movement influenced its ideas and practices, and how the folk songs and dances used within the organisation reflected wider social and cultural trends. Internationalism is a key theme running through this book which concludes with a focus on how the Woodcraft Folk’s progressive nature is moving it increasingly towards being a youth-led movement. Praise for Span the World with Friendship ‘The Woodcraft Folk has long made the case for progressive education harnessing the outdoor environment. Span the World with Friendship offers insightful reflections on how a youth organisation can and should try to change the world.’ Paul Adams, University of East London

The contribution summarizes the first results of a participatory research for the strengthening of educational, cultural and work policies in Casentino (AR) in collaboration with the Union of Mountain Municipalities (U.C.M). The need to place ourselves directly and operationally within the processes in place in the area covered by the research have determined the specific interest in the topic of participatory governance with particular reference to policies and interventions aimed at the development of the educational contexts of the Internal Areas.

"The first issue of this new scientific writing series, Skriftkultur, is about current trends in writing cultural studies as a field of research and academic study. This edition focuses on the concept of ‘writing culture’ in a broad literacy-related context. Special attention is paid to the New Norwegian (Nynorsk) writing culture. What is meant by the concept of ‘writing culture’? What are the typical traits and characteristics of writing culture today? What is the relation between writing culture and literacy? Is there a distinct New Norwegian educational tradition? And is it now time to end the relationship between New Norwegian and dialects in written language instructions? In the issue’s seven original research articles, the contributors discuss different approaches to written culture and written culture studies, nationally and internationally, in both historical and contemporary contexts"

The need to reduce the ecological footprint of water/land/air vehicles in this era of climate change requires pushing the limits regarding the development of lightweight structures and materials. This requires a thorough understanding of their thermomechanical behavior at several stages of the production chain. Moreover, during service, the response of lightweight alloys under the simultaneous influence of mechanical loads and temperature can determine the lifetime and performance of a multitude of structural components. The present Special Issue, comprising eight original research articles, is dedicated to disseminating current efforts around the globe aimed at advancing understanding of the thermomechanical behavior of structural lightweight alloys under processing or service conditions.

The Theory and Practice of Group Therapy is the definitive resource for group therapists, educators, students, and practitioners with a passion for and a keen interest in practicing group therapy. This cutting-edge book is written by leading scientists from diverse niche areas of health sciences, mental health, health psychology, and allied psychology. It addresses themes such as theories of group therapy, Yoga, and music therapy.

How is gender portrayed in the media and how does it reproduce stereotypes? This volume is a compilation of linguistic studies by students of gender linguistics. It focusses on gender stereotypes and their representation and reproduction in print, audio and audiovisual media, and especially in advertising. The results contribute to the expansion of the empirical data base on gender-linguistic issues in linguistics, which is currently still sparse.

Insecticides - Advances in Insect Control and Sustainable Pest Management offers an in-depth exploration of insect control, showcasing the latest scientific advancements, practical applications, and sustainable solutions. Insects play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their presence can also present significant challenges to agriculture, public health, and the environment. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the cutting-edge approaches to insect control, providing valuable insights into the development and implementation of innovative insecticides. Authored by a team of renowned experts, the book delves into the fascinating world of insect biology, examining the intricate mechanisms that drive their behavior and evolution. With a strong focus on sustainable pest management, the book emphasizes environmentally friendly methods that minimize the impact on non-target organisms and reduce chemical residues in the environment. Within the pages of this book, readers will discover a wealth of information on emerging insecticide technologies, including novel chemical compounds, biological agents, and genetic engineering approaches. The effectiveness, safety profiles, and modes of action of these advancements are thoroughly analyzed, equipping professionals and researchers with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions and develop integrated pest management strategies. Whether you are a scientist, student, or practitioner in the fields of entomology, agriculture, or public health, Insecticides - Advances in Insect Control and Sustainable Pest Management is an essential resource that provides a comprehensive understanding of insect control. It addresses critical issues such as insect resistance, regulatory frameworks, and the social and economic implications of insecticide use, paving the way for sustainable pest management practices. Embark on a journey through the intricate world of insects and explore the innovative solutions designed to control them. With up-to-date research, practical applications, and a focus on sustainability, this book is an invaluable companion for navigating the complex realm of insect control in the 21st century.