Social and Behavioral Sciences
Religious Philosophies and Environmental Ethics
Religious Philosophies and Environmental Ethics addresses the critical environmental crisis caused by human activity and examines how religious philosophies can contribute to solutions. The book explores the intersection of environmental ethics and religious thought offering a fresh perspective on how spiritual beliefs might help guide humanity toward sustainable living. It examines the causes of environmental degradation and various religious perspectives on the issue and proposes faith-based solutions for a more harmonious relationship with nature. Through a blend of philosophical inquiry and practical application the book aims to inspire change in how we approach environmental conservation.
Key Features:
- Explores the role of religious philosophies in solving environmental problems.
- Discusses the ethical implications of environmental degradation.
- Offers faith-based solutions for future sustainability.
- Proposes a new framework for integrating religious thought into environmental policy.
Regeneration of Abandoned Spaces: A New Design Approach
Our urban landscapes are filled with "leftovers" - abandoned buildings and unused spaces remnants of industrial decline and societal transformations. Regeneration of Abandoned Spaces: A New Design Approach investigates how design and architecture can revitalize these neglected areas transforming them into dynamic livable environments.
This book is organized into three parts each providing a comprehensive framework for addressing this multifaceted challenge. Part One explores the dynamic nature of modern living spaces and how interior design can adapt to the fluid lifestyles of contemporary nomads. It delves into advanced drawing techniques that capture the intricate complexities of these evolving environments.
Part Two focuses on the philosophical aspects of design particularly within exhibition design examining how unfinished spaces can evoke deep emotional responses. It explores the role of temporary installations in revitalizing urban areas demonstrating how ephemeral interventions can catalyze long-term renewal.
The final section Part Three addresses the concept of "unfinished design" in architecture showcasing successful projects from around the world. It emphasizes the aesthetic and functional benefits of embracing imperfections and repurposing abandoned spaces. This part provides practical strategies and inspiring examples illustrating how adaptive reuse and incompleteness can lead to sustainable and inclusive urban regeneration.
Regeneration of Abandoned Spaces: A New Design Approach is an essential resource for professionals urban planners and anyone passionate about urban architecture and renewal. Combining theoretical insights with practical guidance it equips readers with the tools and knowledge needed to reimagine and reconstruct our cities fostering a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Common Mental Health Disorders in Pakistan
Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Common Mental Health Disorders in Pakistan offers a comprehensive overview of practical psychotherapy in a Pakistani cultural context. The authors aim to bridge knowledge gaps for practitioners who may be familiar with conventional methodologies and want to understand the subject from a regional perspective. The content includes seven meticulously written and referenced chapters that start with an overview of evidence-based therapy progressing to modern psychotherapy techniques. The book concludes with information intended to guide the reader to adapt psychotherapy practices in Pakistani cultural settings.
Key Features
· Provides an introductory overview of evidence-based psychotherapy
· Provides an overview of psychotherapy practice in Pakistan
· Covers advanced technologies used in psychotherapy like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to effectively address conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder depression and anxiety
· Suggests culturally sensitive methodologies for practitioners working in Pakistani communities
This book is an ideal reference for clinical psychology researchers psychotherapists mental health counselors academicians and students. The insights in the book are invaluable not only for Pakistani readers but also for those across Asia providing a comprehensive blueprint for culturally adapting psychotherapies to diverse contexts.
IInd International Conference "Open Science and Innovation in Ukraine 2023"
Open Science and Innovation in Ukraine is dedicated to contemporary scientific communication and the technological transformations driving open science policy principles. The conference explores the transformative journey of Ukraine's scientific community towards embracing open science principles amidst geopolitical challenges. It focuses on the implementation of the National Plan for Open Science and Ukraine's alignment with European standards emphasizing the importance of collaboration transparency and accessibility in advancing scientific research and innovation.
This conference proceedings volume compiles presentations from the second event held online on October 26-27 2023. It includes presentations and discussions of new ideas for integrating modern technological achievements into scientific practices including the development of scientific information systems and databases. The volume concludes with insights into Ukraine's strides toward global scientific integration and the crucial role of open science principles in fostering collaboration and innovation.
Highlights:
- In-depth analysis of Ukraine's transition towards open science and its alignment with European standards.
- Practical solutions and best practices for data management open-access publishing and adherence to FAIR principles.
- Insights from leading experts in academia industry and government sectors.
- Emphasis on collaboration transparency and accessibility as catalysts for scientific progress and innovation.
- Highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with Ukraine's integration into the global scientific community.
This conference proceedings volume serves as a valuable resource for academics professional scientists and policymakers who want to understand the Open Access publishing landscape in Ukraine.
Young Voices Unheard: Children's Views from Scotland and Greece on Education
Young Voices Unheard: Children's Views from Scotland and Greece on Education is a compelling exploration of the perspectives of five to six-year-old children in Greece and Scotland regarding various aspects of their school experiences and their awareness of children's rights. This enlightening book aims to uncover which rights children prioritize and value most in their educational environment shedding light on critical issues related to their schooling.
The book divides its content into two main parts. The theoretical section offers a comprehensive overview of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its implications for children's education emphasizing the importance of respecting children's rights. The author also provides an overview of schooling models for young children.
The empirical research section employs a meticulous methodology involving focus group sessions with 56 children from both Greece and Scotland. Through these sessions the book captures children's views on three distinct school models each representing a different degree of adherence to children's rights. The data analysis reveals that young children prioritize rights such as the right to play safety consultation and education.
In essence Young Voices Unheard offers a unique and valuable perspective on children's rights in education. By giving voice to young children and considering their views on educational practices and provisions this book contributes to the ongoing dialogue about creating more inclusive and rights-respecting educational environments around the world. It serves as a valuable resource for educators policymakers and researchers seeking to better understand and enhance the educational experiences of young children.
Digital Economy, Sustainability and International Economic Law
This volume reviews issues that address the interconnection between digital economy sustainability and international economic law. It covers a range of topics including renewables subsidies AI and corporate governance digital currency dispute resolution and new developments in trade law. The selection of chapters intends to illustrate how the digital economic sustainable development goals and arrangements could influence and potentially shape international economic law and how they are intertwined in an increasingly connected world. However as the concepts of digital economy and sustainable development integrate unevenly into different fields of law the selection focuses on some of the most visible influences in corporate and international trade law in Asia.
The chapters in this volume are written by eminent authorities who are devoted to the emerging multidisciplinary fields of international economic law. Contributions include structured sections with a concluding summary and reference list for the benefit of a broad range of readers.
This is a timely reference for legal scholars practitioners and law students seeking updated and critical information from the perspective of an increasingly digital and sustainability-focused global trade economy.
A Critical Understanding of Artificial Intelligence: A Phenomenological Foundation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is viewed as one of the technological advances that will reshape modern societies and their relations. While the design and deployment of systems that continually adapt hold the promise of far-reaching positive change they simultaneously pose significant risks especially to already vulnerable people.
This work explores the meaning of AI and the important role of critical understanding and its phenomenological foundation in shaping its ongoing advances. The values power and magic of reason are central to this discussion. Critical theory has used historical hindsight to explain the patterns of power that shape our intellectual political economic and social worlds and the discourse on AI that surrounds these worlds. The authors also delve into niche topics in philosophy such as transcendental self-awareness post-humanism and concepts of space-time and computer logic.
By embedding a critical phenomenological orientation within their technical practices AI communities can develop foresight and tactics that can better align research and technology development with established ethical principles — centering vulnerable people who continue to bear the brunt of the negative impacts of innovation and scientific progress. The creation of a critical–technical practice of AI will lead to a permanent revolution in social scientific and political communities. The years ahead will usher in a wave of new scientific breakthroughs and technologies driven by AI research making it incumbent upon AI communities to strengthen the social contract through ethical foresight a capability which only phenomenology can deliver ultimately supporting future technologies that enable greater well-being with the goal of delivering practical truths.
A Critical Understanding of Artificial Intelligence: A Phenomenological Foundation is an essential read for anyone interested in the complex debate and phenomenology surrounding AI and its growing role in our society.
An Integrated Geophysical and Geotechnical Assessment of Hazards Around the Abu Serga Church
The Abu Serga Church is one of the oldest known Coptic churches in Egypt with a history of almost 1700 years. This reference work presents a comprehensive geotechnical and geophysical survey of the vicinity of the Abu Serga Church. The book details the information of the survey using classical and modern methods of geotechnical engineering while keeping contemporary issues faced by site investigators in view. Chapters provide the data of the church site while covering topics of interest to students such as seismic analysis 3-D modeling and historical preservation principles. Advanced methods of interest to engineers such as mathematical analysis using finite element methods are also covered.
This work provides key data about the Abu Sega Church site and is of interest to scholars and engineers involved in conservation engineering of architectural heritage (or built heritage) as well as readers interested in church studies.
Genomics in Biological Anthropology: New Challenges, New Opportunities
Molecular methodologies are crucial to our understanding of human population diversity as well as our evolutionary relationships with nonhuman primates. The completion of the Human Genome Project has given researchers a complete human reference sequence of genes. Combined with very important advances in sequencing and bioinformatics technologies genetic research projects are now of a multidisciplinary nature. Anthropologists have the tools to seek information related to questions concerning the origin of the human species. Genomics in Biological Anthropology: New Challenges New Opportunities explores the impact of new advances in molecular methods such as DNA sequencing amplification and analysis on our knowledge about the genetics of prehistoric and existing humans. Topics covered in this volume include an overview of genomic projects mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis ancient DNA mutation rates in chromosome Y genomics of isolated populations complex phenotypes and forensic anthropology.
This volume is a concise primer for students and general readers learning the basics about human genetics human evolution and biological anthropology
Older Women: Current and Future Challenges of Professionals with an Aging Population
Older Women: Current and Future Challenges of Professionals With An Aging Population is about older women and the unique challenges they face now and in coming decades. Elderly women face problems that require response from multiple service providers in the social welfare health care and legal sectors. Due to the complexity of the various issues and the multi-systemic responses required to address these problems among diverse groups an interdisciplinary perspective in a multicultural context needs to be examined. This book is an attempt to explain the multidisciplinary facets of social work with elderly women. Readers are also introduced to the ethical issues and challenges caused by economic disparities and are also provided with guidelines on potential responses and intervention strategies to such difficulties. Readers are also introduced to the concept of cultural competence in terms of working with aged women.
The integration of theory research and practice in this book makes it a valuable resource for academicians and working professionals who are or will be in frequent contact with older adults.
Xenotropism and the Awakening of Literary Expatriatism through Writing Memoirs
Although there have been many discussions about challenges faced by individuals going through East to West migrations there are few literary accounts about those moving from the West to the East. Yet these migrations are becoming more frequent now due to advances in technology and the fact that a writer’s work can now involve an increasingly global audience. One way of expressing these challenges is through writing memoirs.
Xenotropism and the Awakening of Literary Expatriatism through Writing Memoirs
exemplifies the craft of memoirs written while living in a foreign country and explains how this is different from writing from home. The book is a theoretical analysis of xenotropism based on the work of three prominent writers in China’s history: Emily Hahn Nien Cheng and Qiu Xiaolong. The author explores the relationship between xenotropism (turning towards foreign ideals and practices) its complexities and challenges and the writing of a memoir and its impact on mental health.
This discourse will contribute to new knowledge in the field of creative writing and Asian studies by illustrating how xenotropism or ‘turning towards foreign ideals and practices’ results in both personal and artistic development and builds an understanding and acceptance of different cultures within an individual. These processes of change and understanding in turn facilitate the writing of a memoir which is a cathartic process having a positive effect on one’s mental state. Readers interested in creative writing or Asian literary studies will be able to understand the creative process behind writing memoirs from a combination of personal research-based literary and theoretical perspectives.
The First Mariners
This volume summarizes the history and findings of the First Mariners Project which the author Robert G. Bednarik commenced in 1996 in order to explore the Ice Age origins of seafaring. This is the largest archaeological replication project ever undertaken with several hundred people involved in the construction of eight primitive vessels with stone tools under scientifically controlled conditions six of them sailing. Four bamboo rafts have succeeded in accomplishing the historically documented crossings they sought to replicate. One of the successful experiments a 1000 kilometer journey to Australia in 1998 attempted to recreate the first human arrival in Australia probably around 60000 years ago. Other voyages attempted to address the much earlier sea crossings documented to have taken place in the islands of Indonesia the earliest of which may have occurred nearly a million years ago. These experiments have also featured in BBC and National Geographic documentaries.
The First Mariners comprehensively describes the archaeological background and relevant issues of the project and features an extensive pictorial record of both the experiments and the archaeological basis of this research – giving a unique experience to readers interested in understanding the earliest marine adventurers from a historical and technical perspective.