Open Access Books

How do young women experience violence in their first own relationships? What role do experiences of violence play in the family of origin and how do they shape one's own relationship conceptions? In the European context, the research discourse on violence in adolescent relationships is scarcely developed. Above all, however, the subject perspective is missing: the experiences that young and young women make in their first love relationships. Eva Maria Lohner makes clear the societal relevance of this perspective and shows that significant background points for socio-educational support and accompaniment can be deduced against her background.

Solid waste management has become one of the most important issues in urban centres of developing countries where population growth puts pressure on public services. Nepal is struggling to manage municipal solid waste in urban centres due to a lack of segregation at the source, recycling, and proper disposal. This chapter examines whether women and men manage household waste differently at the household level, especially at source segregation, managing recyclable waste (paper and plastic), and composting degradable waste. Using household survey data from the Bharatpur Metropolitan City of Nepal, we find that women are more likely to segregate waste at the source and also manage degradable waste at home better. Still, there is no gender difference in selling plastic and paper waste. In contrast, women are more likely to give paper or plastic waste either to the waste collectors (free) or throw away, suggesting a heterogeneity across gender when it comes to managing household waste. In most cases, women waste managers perform well (segregating at source and composting degradable waste), but they do not seem to do well in all areas of plastic or paper waste management where some sort of sensitization may be helpful.

Machine learning techniques have the potential of alleviating the complexity of knowledge acquisition. This book presents today’s state and development tendencies of machine learning. It is a multi-author book. Taking into account the large amount of knowledge about machine learning and practice presented in the book, it is divided into three major parts: Introduction, Machine Learning Theory and Applications. Part I focuses on the introduction to machine learning. The author also attempts to promote a new design of thinking machines and development philosophy. Considering the growing complexity and serious difficulties of information processing in machine learning, in Part II of the book, the theoretical foundations of machine learning are considered, and they mainly include self-organizing maps (SOMs), clustering, artificial neural networks, nonlinear control, fuzzy system and knowledge-based system (KBS). Part III contains selected applications of various machine learning approaches, from flight delays, network intrusion, immune system, ship design to CT and RNA target prediction. The book will be of interest to industrial engineers and scientists as well as academics who wish to pursue machine learning. The book is intended for both graduate and postgraduate students in fields such as computer science, cybernetics, system sciences, engineering, statistics, and social sciences, and as a reference for software professionals and practitioners.

This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

Inflammation is a complex biological response to injury as a result of different stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammatory injuries induce the release of a variety of systemic mediators, cytokines, and chemokines that orchestrate cellular infiltration, consequentially bringing about the resolution of inflammatory responses and the restoration of tissue integrity. However, persistent inflammatory stimuli or the disregulation of the mechanisms of the resolution phase can lead to chronic inflammation and inflammatory-based diseases. Nowadays, commercially approved anti-inflammatory drugs are represented by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID); glucocorticoids (SAID); and, in some cases, immunosuppressant and/or biological drugs. These agents are effective for the relief of the main inflammatory symptoms. However, they induce severe side effects, and most of them are inadequate for chronic use. Starting from these premises, the demand for new, effective, and safe anti-inflammatory drugs has led research in new therapeutic directions. The recent and emerging scientific community slant is oriented towards natural products/compounds that could represent a boon for the discovery of new active molecules and for the development of new drugs and potentially useful therapeutic agents in different inflammatory-related diseases. We hope that it will stimulate the interest of the scientific community involved in studying the effects of natural and synthetic compounds in different fields of interest such as acute and chronic inflammation, inflammatory pain, inflammation-related diseases (e.g., autoimmune diseases), amongst others.

This chapter draws on the longitudinal ethnographic and demographic field study of three communities representing major Indonesian ethnicities (Javanese, Sundanese, and Minangkabau), located in three of the five provinces that, since 1990, have reported more than 7 per cent of the population over the age of 60. Comparative ethnographic study supported by panel surveys enables us to establish contexts and variations in family and community support for older people, and the advantages and disadvantages that may accrue in consequence to older men and women. Similar patterns of socio-economic stratification exist in the three communities, which have an important bearing on elderly well-being, notably by influencing the supply of children, family network size and structure, and intergenerational exchanges. Following a brief introduction, in which the communities and research methodology are described, the chapter notes two contrasting preference structures that differentiate gender in the communities. Gender has a marked structural significance in matrilineal societies, like the Minangkabau, that is not manifest for the Javanese and Sundanese. Case studies then illustrate some aspects of these structures. The chapter concludes with a brief look to the future, by considering the expectations of current working age generations about their own later lives, and the limitations of relying exclusively on aggregate data to assess their likely policy needs.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of viral marketing effectiveness, based on case studies of well-known global companies. Six key rules are discussed which, if followed, increase the likelihood that a message will spread virally. For each of the rules were selected examples from the world of business, politics, social media. The article also describes the advantages and disadvantages of campaigns using viral marketing e.g. for Coca-Cola.

The Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are rapidly shaping the next iteration of human experience. Metaverse, MetaIntelligence and Infinite Worlds with AI brings together leading scholars to explore how immersive worlds are transforming education, healthcare, identity, governance, creativity, and digital economies. This diverse collection of chapters, spanning immersive learning, adaptive digital twins, AI-based meta-universities, digital travel, embodied presence, ethical metaverse design, and next-generation virtual health, offers a multidisciplinary view of an emerging digital civilization. Bridging theory, practice, and global case studies, the book examines the profound social, ethical, and cultural questions raised as AI becomes the cognitive engine of virtual worlds. It provides essential insights for educators, policymakers, technologists, innovators, and researchers seeking to understand the future of life, work, and learning in the intelligent Metaverse. This book is a comprehensive, timely, and necessary guide to one of the most transformative technological frontiers of our century.

Die Arbeit untersucht die Wissenszurechnung beim Einsatz autonomer Systeme in Unternehmen. Sie analysiert die Herausforderungen für die Wissenszurechnung im vertraglichen und außervertraglichen Bereich aufgrund der Digitalisierung und Künstlichen Intelligenz, wenn Informationen zunehmend von Algorithmen anstelle von Menschen verarbeitet werden. Anhand eines umweltsensiblen rechtsdogmatischen Ansatzes entwickelt sie ein innovationsoffenes Konzept der Wissenszurechnung für das 21. Jahrhundert. Dabei orientiert sich die praxisnahe Arbeit an den Einsatzbereichen autonomer Systeme im Unternehmen: der Informationsbeschaffung und Informationsauswertung, der Entscheidungsfindung sowie der Entscheidung und Entscheidungsumsetzung.

The Gravitational Pull Hypothesis is an attempt to provide a cognitive account for features of translated language. It assumes that translated and non-translated texts in the same language exhibit distributional differences that can be regarded as translational effects. This book presents a number of studies aiming to test that hypothesis on five linguistic items: passive construal of events, diminution, verbal aspect, light verb constructions and adjective position. The studies draw on data from the COVALT corpus as well as elicitation and translation tasks performed by professional translators. The results shed light not only on the hypothesis itself but also on the mixed-methods approach adopted in the book.

This book aims to capture the state-of-the-art of the science devoted to studying the naturally occurring inorganic materials we refer to as “minerals”, focusing on how this concept becomes crucial when developing new technologies and applications. The advent of new analytical techniques that profit from complex energy-matter interactions has provided insights into mineral structure and composition, yielding novel information about their physicochemical properties. Under specific conditions, certain minerals undergo various chemical reactions that form the foundation of mining and other human activities. There is so much richness in all the knowledge arising from theoretical and practical studies, and the different purposes minerals may be of use. Mineralogy harbours several features that are yet to be unveiled to design improved processes where minerals are the protagonists. This touches the very foundation of the major endeavors humanity is currently facing, such as green energy and other applications. This book will try to challenge readers from diverse fields of knowledge related to minerals and their associated areas. The invitation is then to dive into the latest advances in applied mineralogy to address unresolved problems where minerals have much to contribute.

This publication arises as a result of an itinerary of research, reflection and collective debate that has already been shared for several years around the problems of the State, political processes and the development of public policies.

A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press's Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more. In this capacious transnational film history, renowned scholar Masha Salazkina proposes a groundbreaking new framework for understanding the cinematic cultures of twentieth-century socialism. Taking as a point of departure the vast body of work screened at the Tashkent International Festival of Cinemas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America in the 1960s and 1970s, World Socialist Cinema maps the circulation of films between the Soviet Bloc and the countries of the Global South in the mid- to late twentieth century, illustrating the distribution networks, festival circuits, and informal channels that facilitated this international network of artistic and intellectual exchange. Building on decades of meticulous archival work, this long-anticipated film history unsettles familiar stories to provide an alternative to Eurocentric, national, and regional narratives, rooted outside of the capitalist West.

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics are two interrelated branches of physics that study the behavior of fluids (liquids and gases) and the propagation of sound waves. These fields are critical in understanding a wide array of natural and engineered systems, from the dynamics of air and water to the transmission of sound in various environments. The intersection of fluid dynamics and acoustics provides valuable insights into both theoretical and practical challenges in engineering, environmental science, and physics. This book delves into the core principles of fluid mechanics, including fluid statics, dynamics, and flow behavior. Topics covered include the conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy, along with key equations such as the Bernoulli equation and the Navier-Stokes equations. The book also explores concepts like viscosity, turbulence, laminar flow, boundary layers, and the various forces acting on fluids, with applications ranging from pipe flow and aerodynamics to weather patterns and ocean currents. In addition to fluid mechanics, the book thoroughly examines the field of acoustics, which deals with sound waves, their propagation, reflection, and interaction with different materials. Key topics include the nature of sound waves, wave equations, acoustic impedance, and the Doppler effect, as well as the design and analysis of acoustic systems in both open and enclosed environments. The book highlights applications of acoustics in architectural design, musical acoustics, noise control, and medical imaging (e.g., ultrasound). The connection between fluid mechanics and acoustics is particularly emphasized in topics such as underwater acoustics, the study of sound transmission in water, and the role of fluid dynamics in the generation of sound, such as in turbulent flows or wind noise. The text also explores the impact of fluid properties on the design of soundproofing materials and noise-cancellation technologies. This book serves as an essential resource for students, engineers, and researchers interested in the interdisciplinary fields of fluid mechanics and acoustics. With its clear explanations, practical examples, and diverse applications, it offers a comprehensive understanding of how fluids behave and how sound waves interact with various media.

Die digitale Transformation wirkt sich in allen Lebensbereichen aus. Sie hinterlässt ihre Spuren mittlerweile nicht nur in Wirtschaft, Politik und Gesellschaft; auch in der Bildung werden immer mehr Innovationsprozesse angestoßen, um Themen der Digitalisierung zeitgemäß abzubilden und umzusetzen. Dies betriff vor allem die wichtigste Schnittstelle zwischen Unternehmen und Schulen: die berufliche Bildung. Die vorliegende Studie beschäftigt sich mit der Gestaltung von Innovationsprozessen im Bayerischen Berufsschulsystem am Beispiel des verbindlichen Medienkonzepts. Sie betrachtet die Organisation dieser Prozesse von der Makro- bis zur Mesoebene und fokussiert dabei auf die Akteure und ihr Innovationshandeln vor dem Hintergrund aktueller Erkenntnisse des Neo-Institutionalismus sowie der Educational-Governance-Forschung. Nach einer eingehenden Beschreibung des Forschungsfeldes, sprich des Medienkonzepts, seiner Voraussetzungen, seiner Zielsetzung, seiner Entwicklung und der Rahmenbedingungen seiner Einführung folgt eine Rekonstruktion theoretischer Erkenntnisse zu Innovationsprozessen in Bildungsorganisationen. Anschließend wird die Durchführung einer empirischen Untersuchung beschrieben, deren Ergebnisse Hinweise auf das Innovationshandeln der betroffenen Akteure von der Makro- bis zur Mesoebene geben sollen. Hierbei wird insbesondere den Wahrnehmungen und Einschätzungen der Akteure zu den Gelingensbedingungen von Innovationen Raum gegeben. Abschließend werden die Ergebnisse der theoretischen und der empirischen Rekonstruktion kontrastiert und Hemmnisse bzw. Treiber erfolgreichen Innovationshandelns in Bayerischen Berufsschulen identifiziert.