Download or read book Blockchain and Applications written by Javier Prieto and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-06-25 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book gathers the refereed proceedings of the 1st International Congress on Blockchain and Applications 2019, BLOCKCHAIN’19, held in Ávila, Spain, in June 2019. Among the scientific community, blockchain and artificial intelligence are broadly considered to offer a promising combination that could transform the production and manufacturing industry, media, finance, insurance, e-government, etc. Nevertheless, there is no generally accepted approach, nor established best practices, for combining blockchain and artificial intelligence. The 21 papers presented here were carefully reviewed and selected from over 40 submissions. They highlight the latest advances in blockchain, artificial intelligence and their application domains, exploring innovative ideas, guidelines, theories, models, technologies, and tools, and identifying critical issues and challenges that researchers and practitioners will face in the near future. We wish to thank the sponsors: IEEE Systems Man and Cybernetics Society, Spain Section Chapter, and the IEEE Spain Section (Technical Co-Sponsor), IBM, Indra, Viewnext, Global Exchange, AEPIA, APPIA and AIR institute.

Download or read book The Lady Rogue written by Jenn Bennett and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. This book was released on 2019-09-03 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A swashbuckling adventure.” —Booklist “A rollicking Indiana Jones flick with a female lead.” —BCCB The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling, “breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father. Some legends never die… Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul. Until Huck returns from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him. Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

Download or read book The Nobleman s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks written by Mackenzi Lee and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2021-11-16 with total page 463 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Return to the enchanting world of the Montague siblings in the finale to the New York Times bestselling and Stonewall Honor-winning series, featuring a teenage Adrian Montague as he desperately seeks the now adult Monty and Felicity—the older siblings he never knew he had. Adrian Montague has a bright future. The sole heir to his father’s estate, he is an up and coming political writer and engaged to an activist who challenges and inspires him. But most young Lords aren’t battling the debilitating anxiety Adrian secretly lives with, or the growing fear that it might consume him and all he hopes to accomplish. In the wake of his mother’s unexpected death, Adrian is also concerned people will find out that he has the mental illness she struggled with for years. When a newly found keepsake of hers—a piece of a broken spyglass—comes into Adrian’s possession, he’s thrust into the past and finds himself face to face with an older brother he never knew he had. Henry “Monty” Montague has been living quietly in London for years, and his sudden appearance sends Adrian on a quest to unravel family secrets that only the spyglass can answer. In pursuit of answers about the relic, the brothers chart a course to locate their sister Felicity. But as they travel between the pirate courts of Rabat, Portuguese islands, the canals of Amsterdam, and into unknown Artic waters, the Montague siblings are thrown into one final adventure as they face a ghostly legend that threatens their whole family.

Download or read book The Rag Doll Plagues written by Alejandro Morales and published by Arte Publico Press. This book was released on 1992-01-01 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A mysterious plague is decimating the population of colonial Mexico. One of His MajestyÍs highest physicians is dispatched from Spain to bring the latest advances in medical science to the backward peoples of the New World capital. Here begins the cyclical tale of man battling the unknown, of science confronting the eternally indifferent forces of nature. Morales takes us on a trip through ancient and future civilizations, through exotic but all-too-familiar cultures, to a final confrontation with our own ethics and world views. In later chapters, the colonial physician finds his successors as they once again engage in life or death struggles, attempting to balance their own hopes, desires and loves with the good society and the state. Book II of the novel takes place in modern-day southern California, and Book III in a futuristic technocratic confederation known as Lamex. In the tradition of Latin American born novelist, Alejandro Morales is one of the finest representatives of magic realism in the English language. In The Rag Doll Plagues, Morales creates a many layered fictional world, taking us on an entertaining and thought-provoking safari thorough lands, times, peoples and ideas never before encountered or presented in this manner. But ultimately, this valuable trip leads to a reacquaintance with our own society and its moral vision.

Download or read book The Myth of the Paperless Office written by Abigail J. Sellen and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2003-02-28 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An examination of why paper continues to fill our offices and a proposal for better coordination of the paper and digital worlds. Over the past thirty years, many people have proclaimed the imminent arrival of the paperless office. Yet even the World Wide Web, which allows almost any computer to read and display another computer's documents, has increased the amount of printing done. The use of e-mail in an organization causes an average 40 percent increase in paper consumption. In The Myth of the Paperless Office, Abigail Sellen and Richard Harper use the study of paper as a way to understand the work that people do and the reasons they do it the way they do. Using the tools of ethnography and cognitive psychology, they look at paper use from the level of the individual up to that of organizational culture. Central to Sellen and Harper's investigation is the concept of "affordances"—the activities that an object allows, or affords. The physical properties of paper (its being thin, light, porous, opaque, and flexible) afford the human actions of grasping, carrying, folding, writing, and so on. The concept of affordance allows them to compare the affordances of paper with those of existing digital devices. They can then ask what kinds of devices or systems would make new kinds of activities possible or better support current activities. The authors argue that paper will continue to play an important role in office life. Rather than pursue the ideal of the paperless office, we should work toward a future in which paper and electronic document tools work in concert and organizational processes make optimal use of both.

Download or read book Brides of Rome written by Debra May Macleod and published by Canelo. This book was released on 2021-10-28 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When passion is punishable by death, can one priestess keep her emotions concealed and help steer the course of history? Ancient Rome is a world of power and privilege, secrets and sacred duty. The esteemed priestesses of Vesta – the Vestal Virgins – are charged with ensuring the Eternal Flame in their temple never goes out. While it burns, Rome cannot fall. They are known as the Brides of Rome. Dedicated to a thirty-year vow of chaste service, Priestess Pomponia finds herself swept up in the intrigue, violence, wars and bedroom politics of Rome’s elite – Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian and Livia – all the while guarding the secret affection she has in her heart. But when a charge of incestum – a broken vow of chastity – is made against the Vestal order, the ultimate punishment looms: death by being buried alive. Debra May Macleod skilfully recreates the world of ancient Rome with all its brutality and brilliance, all its rich history and even richer legend. A true page-turner that is as smart as it is compelling, this must-read novel brings the Vestal order to life like never before. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Margaret George. Praise for Brides of Rome 'A fascinating look inside the lives of the enigmatic Vestal Virgins of Rome, who tended the sacred flame of Vesta in her temple in the Forum. But they were at the heart of Roman politics as well, true 'brides of Rome' who had a ringside seat in events of Roman history, and had a hand in them as well. Macleod lets us enter their forbidden and mysterious lives in a page-turning story of the birth of the Roman empire' Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of The Confessions of Young Nero 'In an age of murderous warlords and ruthless politicians (often indistinguishable from one another) the seemingly benign Vestals could hold the balance of power. Debra May Macleod has written a fascinating mystery set within the relentlessly masculine world of Roman power politics, but seen through the lens of a unique, all-female institution. The Vestals did not just tend Rome's sacred flame. They guarded Rome's secrets' John Maddox Roberts, author of the Edgar-nominated SPQR Roman Mystery series 'Riveting... This smart repartee captivates in every way' Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Protocol 'Macleod gives readers a very rich picture of what the day-to-day life of the Vestal Virgins was like. This is very intelligent and well-researched Roman historical fiction, populated with very strong female lead characters (including a scene-stealing rendition of Livia). A fine start to a promising series' Historical Novel Society The Vesta Shadows series The Vesta Shadows trilogy spans decades, from 45 BCE to 14 CE. It follows the life of the Vestal priestess Pomponia Occia, who is inspired by the real Vestal Occia who lived during this time, serving in the Temple of Vesta for more than fifty years. Set during the tumultuous years that saw the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus - and beyond - it dramatises some of the major historical events that occurred during her lifetime while simultaneously bringing ancient Rome to life with fast-paced, engrossing and visceral storylines played out by a striking cast of characters.

Download or read book The Psychology of Human Values written by Gregory R Maio and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2016-10-19 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This original and engaging book advocates an unabashedly empirical approach to understanding human values: abstract ideals that we consider important, such as freedom, equality, achievement, helpfulness, security, tradition, and peace. Our values are relevant to everything we do, helping us choose between careers, schools, romantic partners, places to live, things to buy, who to vote for, and much more. There is enormous public interest in the psychology of values and a growing recognition of the need for a deeper understanding of the ways in which values are embedded in our attitudes and behavior. How do they affect our well-being, our relationships with other people, our prosperity, and our environment? In his examination of these questions, Maio focuses on tests of theories about values, through observations of what people actually think and do. In the past five decades, psychological research has learned a lot about values, and this book describes what we have learned and why it is important. It provides the first overview of psychological research looking at how we mentally represent and use our values, and constitutes important reading for psychology students at all levels, as well as academics in psychology and related social and health sciences.

Download or read book Nuclear Techniques for Cultural Heritage Research written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Scientific studies of art and archaeology are a necessary complement to cultural heritage conservation, preservation and investigation. Nuclear techniques, such as neutron activation analysis, X ray fluorescence analysis and ion beam analysis, have a potential for non-destructive and reliable investigation of precious artefacts and materials, such as ceramics, stone, metal, and pigments from paintings. Such information can be helpful in repair of damaged objects, in identification of fraudulent artefacts and in the appropriate categorization of historic artefacts."--P. [4] of cover.

Download or read book Volcanic Unrest written by Joachim Gottsmann and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-12-18 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book summarizes the findings of the VUELCO project, a multi-disciplinary and cross-boundary research funded by the European Commission's 7th framework program. It comprises four broad topics: 1. The global significance of volcanic unrest 2. Geophysical and geochemical fingerprints of unrest and precursory activity 3. Magma dynamics leading to unrest phenomena 4. Bridging the gap between science and decision-making Volcanic unrest is a complex multi-hazard phenomenon. The fact that unrest may, or may not lead to an imminent eruption contributes significant uncertainty to short-term volcanic hazard and risk assessment. Although it is reasonable to assume that all eruptions are associated with precursory activity of some sort, the understanding of the causative links between subsurface processes, resulting unrest signals and imminent eruption is incomplete. When a volcano evolves from dormancy into a phase of unrest, important scientific, political and social questions need to be addressed. This book is aimed at graduate students, researchers of volcanic phenomena, professionals in volcanic hazard and risk assessment, observatory personnel, as well as emergency managers who wish to learn about the complex nature of volcanic unrest and how to utilize new findings to deal with unrest phenomena at scientific and emergency managing levels. This book is open access under a CC BY license.

Download or read book The United Nations world water development report 2015 water for a sustainable world written by Connor, Richard and published by UNESCO Publishing. This book was released on 2015-03-23 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) is hosted and led by UNESCO. WWAP brings together the work of 31 UN-Water Members as well as 37 Partners to publish the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) series. Under the theme Water for Sustainable Development, the WWDR 2015 has been prepared as a contribution from UN-Water to the discussions surrounding the post-2015 framework for global sustainable development. Highlighting water's unique and often complex role in achieving various sustainable development objectives, the WWDR 2015 is addressed to policy- and decision-makers inside and outside the water community, as well as to anyone with an interest in freshwater and its many life-giving benefits. The report sets an aspirational yet achievable vision for the future of water towards 2050 by describing how water supports healthy and prosperous human communities, maintains well functioning ecosystems and ecological services, and provides a cornerstone for short and long-term economic development. It provides an overview of the challenges, issues and trends in terms of water resources, their use and water-related services like water supply and sanitation. The report also offers, in a rigorous yet accessible manner, guidance about how to address these challenges and to seize the opportunities that sound water management provides in order to achieve and maintain economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Download or read book Peripheries written by Ruth Morrow and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bringing together subjects and relevant streams of investigation some of which rarely feature in architectural research and practice titles, this book challenges the boundaries of architectural research. Peripheries is a statement on how broad, complex, and, ironically, central, architecture has become in contemporary culture, economy and society, despite the marginal position its profession occupies. Chapters discuss architecture in Argentina, Chile, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Britain, Europe and Australia. Hence, it takes architectural humanities discussions to new cultures, societies and practices and towards a global level of influence and impact.

Download or read book The Crown of Gilded Bones written by Jennifer L. Armentrout and published by Blue Box Press. This book was released on 2021-04-20 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bow Before Your Queen Or Bleed Before Her… From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series. She's been the victim and the survivor… Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers. The enemy and the warrior… Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head. A lover and heartmate… But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other. And now she will become Queen…

Download or read book Designing Public Policies written by Department of Political Science Michael Howlett and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2010-12-17 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook provides a concise and accessible introduction to the principles and elements of policy design in contemporary governance. Howlett seeks to examine in detail the range of substantive and procedural policy instruments that together comprise the toolbox from which governments select specific tools expected to resolve policy problems. Guiding students through the study of the instruments used by governments in carrying out their tasks, adapting to, and altering, their environments, this book: Discusses several current trends in instrument use often linked to factors such as globalization and the increasingly networked nature of modern society. Considers the principles behind the selection and use of specific types of instruments in contemporary government. Evaluates in detail the merits, demerits and rationales for the use of specific organization, regulatory, financial and information-based tools and the trends visible in their use Addresses the issues of instrument mixes and their (re)design in a discussion of the future research agenda of policy design. Providing a comprehensive overview of this essential component of modern governance and featuring helpful definitions of key concepts and further reading, this book is essential reading for all students of public policy, administration and management.

Download or read book The Gate of Angels written by Penelope Fitzgerald and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 1998 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1912, rational Fred Fairly, one of Cambridge's best and brightest, crashes his bike and wakes up in bed with a stranger--fellow casualty Daisy Saunders, a charming, pretty, working-class nurse. So begins a series of complications--not only of the heart but also of the head--as Fred and Daisy take up each other's education and turn each other's philosophies upside-down.

Download or read book Mythological Constructs of Mexican Femininity written by Pilar Melero and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-07-30 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mexican figures like La Virgen de Guadalupe, la Malinche, la Llorona, and la Chingada reflect different myths of motherhood in Mexican culture. For the first time, Melero examines these instances of portrayed motherhood as a discursive space in the political, cultural, and literary context of early twentieth century Mexico.

Download or read book Cities Under Siege written by Stephen Graham and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A powerful expose of how political violence operates through the spaces of urban life.

Download or read book Book of the Dead TombQuest Book 1 written by Michael Northrop and published by Scholastic Inc.. This book was released on 2015-01-27 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times bestselling novel, the first in an epic Egyptian adventure series from the team that brought you The 39 Clues and Spirit Animals! Nothing can save Alex Sennefer's life. That's what all the doctors say, but his mother knows it's not true. She knows that the Lost Spells of the Egyptian Book of the Dead can crack open a door to the afterlife and pull her son back from the brink. But when she uses the spells, five evil ancients--the Death Walkers--are also brought back to life.An ancient evil has been unleashed. Mummies are awakening. New York is overrun with scorpions. And worst of all for Alex, his mom and the Lost Spells have both disappeared. He and his best friend, Ren, will do anything to find his mom and save the world . . . even if that means going head-to-head with a Death Walker who has been plotting his revenge for 3,000 years.Read the New York Times bestselling book, then continue the adventure online! Build an Egyptian tomb of your own, hide treasure and protect it with traps, then challenge your friends to play through!