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Books in Social sciences and humanities

  • Tech-Powered Sustainability

    Revolutionizing Green Public Services
    • 1st Edition
    • Maria José Sousa + 3 more
    • English
    Tech-Powered Sustainability: Revolutionizing Green Public Services explores how technology can transform the public sector by integrating sustainability and innovation. it begins with innovations in public administration and green services, discussing topics like the integration of green innovation and the efficiency of digital solutions. The second part focuses on tech-powered public services, exploring human machine collaboration, blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity. The third part presents real-world case studies from various countries, showcasing sustainable technological innovations in public services. Finally, the book examines management systems and discusses how to evaluate green public policies, offering future scenarios for sustainable governance.A must-read for professors, students, public managers, policymakers, researchers, and technology specialists, this book equips its audience with the knowledge and strategies necessary to implement effective digital governance. With insights into overcoming challenges and enhancing public service quality, readers will be positioned at the forefront of sustainable innovation in the public sector.
  • Insurance Technology

    Navigating the Innovation, Risk, and Future of Insurance
    • 1st Edition
    • Steven Haynes
    • English
    Insurance Technology: Navigating the Innovation, Risk, and Future of Insurance offers a comprehensive, applied examination of the evolving relationship between technology and the insurance industry. The book explores the transformative effects of digital tools, data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other emerging technologies on traditional insurance models, with sections covering the entire lifecycle of insurance operations, from underwriting to claims management, fraud detection, risk evaluation, and customer engagement. Each chapter includes real-world case studies, worked examples, chapter-end questions, hands-on activities, and forward-looking insights, providing students and professionals alike with both a theoretical understanding and practical tools to apply in their own work.By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this book combines risk management principles, technology, and business strategy across InsurTech innovation, big data in actuarial modeling, regulatory challenges, cybersecurity issues, and the increasing importance of parametric insurance and smart contracts. As the insurance sector undergoes unprecedented digital transformation, this textbook serves as a vital resource, equipping students and professionals to navigate and lead despite a shifting landscape. A companion web page includes a teaching guide and lecture slides to support course use.
  • Symbiotic Planning for Urban Futures

    A Paradigm for Human-AI Co-Creation
    • 1st Edition
    • Zhong-Ren Peng
    • English
    Symbiotic Planning for Urban Futures: A Paradigm for Human-AI Co-Creation presents a framework for harnessing AI's analytical power while preserving democratic control over urban futures. This book establishes symbiotic planning as a falsifiable paradigm—grounded in five technology-neutral axioms and operationalized through governed friction—where AI acts as governed co-creator across the CORE framework: Collaboration, Options, Refinement, Execution. It clarifies distinct roles: AI synthesizes evidence, generates non-obvious options, and stress-tests plans; planners steward assumptions and translate values into constraints; communities contest and refine constraints; and authorized decision-makers set ends and grant time-bound approvals. Equity is treated as a primary design constraint, with equity floors as binding guardrails.This book serves as essential resource for urban planners, civic technologists, policymakers, researchers, and students committed to democratic urban governance in an algorithmic age. It provides actionable governance tools, including Civic Evidence Dossiers, Authorization Forums, Equity Gates, and a 100-Day Starter Kit, ensuring AI remains transparent, contestable, and subject to renewal. Whether navigating AI procurement, studying algorithmic accountability, or organizing for transparent decision-making, this book empowers readers to make cities more resilient, equitable, and democratically co-governed.
  • Insomnia Disorder

    The Treatment Program SLEEPexpert for Clinical Practice
    • 1st Edition
    • Christoph Nissen + 2 more
    • English
    Treating Insomnia: The Treatment Program SLEEPexpert for Clinical Practice is a comprehensive guide designed to transform insomnia treatment in clinical settings. Beginning with a review of the essential connection between sleep and health, the book presents the intricate regulation of sleep and the critical diagnostic criteria for insomnia. This book highlights the importance of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the frontline intervention while addressing the alarming trend of inadequate implementation and reliance on pharmacological treatments that often lead to unwanted side effects.The development of SLEEPexpert—a tailored adaptation of CBT-I—is introduced as a pivotal solution, offering a structured treatment manual that outlines its foundational principles and the three distinct phases of the program. With practical tips and specific goals for implementation, this book equips healthcare professionals with the necessary tools to effectively integrate SLEEPexpert into their practices.
  • From Urban Air Mobility to the Low-Altitude Economy

    Concepts, Confluence, and Challenges
    • 1st Edition
    • Xiaoqian Sun + 2 more
    • English
    From Urban Air Mobility to the Low-Altitude Economy: Concepts, Confluence, and Challenges offers a rigorous overview of the emerging low-altitude economy, focusing on the scientific, technological, and regulatory aspects of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The book begins with foundational concepts of UAM and the low-altitude economy and then covers integration strategies, safety, and emerging technologies. It then presents industry experiences and case studies on cargo, passenger transport, emergency services, environmental surveillance, military operations, and more. The final section discusses challenges in transitioning to the low-altitude economy, including technological, regulatory, economic aspects, and more.This resource benefits aviation industry professionals, urban planners, and transportation engineers seeking to integrate eVTOL and UAM systems. Aerospace engineers and sustainability experts gain insights into technological innovations and environmental considerations. Academic researchers and graduate students in aerospace engineering, computer science, and data science will find comprehensive knowledge on the evolving urban air mobility landscape and its economic impacts.
  • The ISPCAN International Handbook of Child Abuse and Neglect

    • 1st Edition
    • Kevin Lalor + 3 more
    • English
    The ISPCAN International Handbook of Child Abuse and Neglect offers a comprehensive examination of global knowledge on child maltreatment. In partnership with the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), this handbook is designed for a diverse audience, including academics, researchers, policymakers, and health and social care professionals. It aims to cultivate a shared language and enhance understanding of the complexities surrounding child abuse and neglect, beginning with a global overview that explores the contextual and environmental factors influencing child maltreatment that is followed by discussions on various forms of abuse and supported by global case studies.Latter sections focus on the latest intervention and prevention strategies, critically evaluating their effectiveness across different settings. Concluding with insights into future directions, the book emphasizes emerging trends, innovative approaches, and the continual need for comprehensive research and policy development in this crucial field.
  • International Review Research in Developmental Disabilities

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 70
    • English
    International Review Research in Developmental Disabilities series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.
  • Psychology of Learning and Motivation

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 85
    • English
    Psychology of Learning and Motivation series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.
  • Handbook of the Economics of Identity

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1
    • English
    Handbook of the Economics of Identity, Volume One, the latest release in this ongoing series, presents interesting chapters on timely topics, including Identity Economics, Making Meaning, Ethnic hostility and conflict, Identity as Self-Image, Gender Norms and Gender Inequalities, Economic Models of Cultural Evolution and Social Identity Dynamics, Religious Identity, Heterogeneity in Intergroup Preferences and Beliefs, Conflict and Political Identity: How WWI shaped political values and identities in France, Sticky Traditions: Origin, Persistence, and Evolution of Cultural Norms, Caste in Stone, Identity based social norms, Identity, Liberalism and Nation Building, Identity Evolution to Address Collective Challenges, and Nationalism and National Identity.
  • Positioning Your Library for the 21st Century

    Strategies for Engagement, Relevance and Sustainability
    • 1st Edition
    • Cordelia Anderson
    • English
    Positioning Your Library for the 21st Century: Strategies for Engagement, Relevance, and Sustainability identifies and removes hidden barriers, equipping readers to enable libraries to uncover and eliminate operational and communication barriers that limit access, reduce engagement, or disproportionately impact underserved populations. The book provides readers with practical crisis response tools, delivering sample plans, templates, and checklists to help libraries prepare for immediate, emerging, and sustained crises, thus ensuring a confident, coordinated response when it matters most.Sections navigates advocacy and neutrality, enabling readers to support libraries in balancing commitments to equity and social justice with the responsibility to maintain broad public trust across diverse political and cultural perspectives, while also encouraging library leaders to examine the narrative they share with stakeholders and how that narrative supports or undermines long-term goals, relevance, and community support.