Böcker utgivna av Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book examines the nature of the marketization of corporate boards following the introduction of the split share reform, corporate board and shareholder relations, corporate performance, and risk-taking conduct in China. The chapters cover topics such as determinants of corporate board size and independence, corporate risk-taking conduct under different controlling shareholder types. The book deepens our understanding of corporate governance mechanisms as most previous studies have limited their findings using mainstream perspectives grounded on neoclassical theory. It outlines that Chinäs corporate board composition is determined by the board¿s scope of operation, monitoring, bargaining power, and other governance mechanisms and regulations. It also offers a comparison between Chinäs experience with other economies in general and other transition economies in particular. As such, the book represents an essential overview of the current concerns regarding corporate governance in China. It is of great interest to legal researchers, policymakers, and legal practitioners working with business investments in China.

This book examines translanguaging pedagogy in Asiäs English-medium instruction (EMI) higher education. It presents an overview of concepts and common issues, and case studies from specific contexts in Asia. The book first interrogates macro-level English-medium instruction policies and implementation from English as a lingua franca (ELF) perspectives. Following this, implications of English as a lingua franca on English-medium instruction pedagogy will be explored, with a theoretical framework of 'translanguaging pedagogy' developed. The book concludes with a discussion on translanguaging and how the concept contributes to English-medium instruction in Asia. Through the book, the content focuses on the specificity of each Asian English-medium instruction context from a translanguaging lens. English-medium instruction policies and translingual practices from China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are explored, and opportunities and challenges related to translanguaging pedagogy in Asian English-medium instruction classrooms are examined.

This book comprehensively covers the latest development in developing and deploying the genetically modified vectors, particularly Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria parasites and dengue viruses, the most deadly and/or debilitating among all the vector-borne diseases. It is considered timely and commensurate to bring about a book dealing with the various ecological, biological and social as well as regulatory aspects for the deployment of genetically modified vectors in special context with the biosafety of humans, his associates, and the environment. Written by an array of specialists and experts in various subjects of genetically modified organisms, this book centrally addresses the (i) basic principles of the genetic manipulation of vectors and they are potential impact on human and the environment, (ii) ecological, biological, ethical, legal and social implications of the use of genetically modified vectors, (iii) identification of potential hazards; assessment and management of risks for human and environment; risk/benefit analysis, (iv) principles and practices for the assessment and management of biosecurity and biosafety in laboratories (and in the field), (v) guiding principles for creation and management of institutional or national biosafety review boards and ethics review committees, and (vi) development and application of a biosafety regulatory framework and its related legal principles at national levels for securing the development and use of vector control methods based on genetic modification strategies.This publication will be useful to researchers, scientists, and professionals engaged in academic and research institutions, government or non-government, as well as students in universities and medical colleges.

Extremophiles have unique physiological properties, thus considered to be ideal candidates for industrial development. This book present concepts on cold-adapted microorganisms, centered on four different aspects - (i) diversity of cold adapted microbes (ii) their ecology, physiology and metabolism (iii) omics research in the field and (iv) their potential applications. This volume collates the recent developments and innovations with respect to these microorganisms. This book is meant for researchers, biochemists, industries, and government agencies interested in cold active microbes and their products. Also, would be of interest to NGOs and progressive farmers which are working for higher altitude ecosystems throughout the globe.

The tourism and hospitality industry of Bangladesh as a South Asian country has potential. Sustainable development of this industry in this country is on the move. Still, there are some hindrances which appear to be stymieing this industry¿s overall development potential. Overcoming such hindrances can be partly enabled by applying digital innovation and introducing more Internet based platforms in the country¿s tourism and hospitality industry. The country is believed to have emphasized innovative technology application in this industry, but technology applications in this industry in Bangladesh have so far attracted very few researchers, resulting in insufficient contributions and very limited knowledge.This book, therefore, can make a significant contribution towards the very limited knowledge in this identified research area. On the specific ground of technology application in the tourism and hospitality industry, the book covers concepts and context, the present scenario, product and service offers, and an analysis of the roles of public and private institutions. On related issues, the book also covers social media, networking and connectivity; sustainability practices and climate change effects; tourist experiences; developments; and challenges, suggestions, and future research directions. The book is expected to appeal to general readers, as well as researchers with an interest in technology applications in the tourism and hospitality industry. This book is also an essential read for the relevant policy planners and industry professionals.

This book explores how ¿the sharing economy models present opportunities and also pose challenges in achieving sustainable development at the base of the pyramid. Through a 3S Framework (sharing, socialization, and social intermediation) and Reformative-Transformative classification, this book demonstrates how sharing economy models offer the potential for more inclusive and sustainable development.The book includes case studies on sharing economy models that offer products and services for free or at prices more affordable than traditional options, while also finding ways toward economic sustainability and inclusive growth. This book identifies how local resources, community social capital, and bricolage could be leveraged in the development of sharing economy models that take into account the specificities of particular communities while ensuring that the solutions can be quickly modified and replicated. Further, this book highlights that sharing economy models leverage the digital revolution to take advantage of cheaper computational capacity and global connectivity, while rapidly adapting to engage with those that have less digital literacy at the base of the pyramid.This edited book aims to present analyses of sharing economy models at the base of the pyramid, identifying characteristics that can be particularly important for sustainable development and barriers that would need to be overcome to realize its full potential. The chapters in this book are contributed by a wide range of academics and scholars who are experts in the field.

This book comprises the proceedings of the 12th National Technical Symposium on Unmanned System Technology 2020 (NUSYS¿20) held on October 27¿28, 2020. It covers a number of topics, including intelligent robotics, novel sensor technology, control algorithms, acoustics signal processing, imaging techniques, biomimetic robots, green energy sources, and underwater communication backbones and protocols, and it appeals to researchers developing marine technology solutions and policy-makers interested in technologies to facilitate the exploration of coastal and oceanic regions.

This book highlights state-of-the-art research findings on floating developments in both inland and coastal waters with focus on living, recreation and working offshore. It includes six themes: (1) business case and real estate development, (2) spatial planning and architecture, (3) food and energy production, (4) ecological impact and nature-based solutions, (5) governance and social impact and (6) design and engineering of (infra)structures. The book presents key issues addressed when utilizing water space. It gives an overview of findings and discussions from the world¿s leading experts from the industry, policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers and identifies new opportunities as well as fosters collaboration on floating projects for a more climate-adaptive, socially inclusive, sustainable and better world.

This book provides a novel perspective on networks and innovation in the field of economic geography and presents new findings through theoretical foundations and empirical analyses. The book focuses on various temporary systems in industrial agglomerations such as joint R&D, trade fairs, business workshops, and international conferences. Following the introduction, Chapter 2 considers the mechanism of the innovation process in which networks function as institutions. Chapter 3 and succeeding chapters conduct empirical research centered on statistical data analysis such as social network analysis and covariance structure analysis, and they determine the real-world situations through interview surveys of related stakeholders. Chapter 3 considers the structure and spatial patterns of R&D networks in Japan by making the structure visible and calculating network indices. Chapter 4 concentrates on local trade fairs held in industrial agglomerations and examines the development of various relationships between related participants. Chapters 5 and 6 shed light on institutional thickness in industrial agglomerations. Chapter 7 spotlights quantitative and metrical examinations of inter-organizational relationships in terms of knowledge flows based on company-level data regarding technological alliances and ownership relationships between global corporations. The studies featured in Chapters 6 and 7 serve to evaluate how Japan¿s firms have adapted to radical changes under global competition.

This edited book set in the context of North East India explores issues concerning symbols, meanings, representations, and social implications of materiality and visuality, as well as the dynamics of power, social reproduction, ideological dominance and knowledge production, from an interdisciplinary perspective. It seeks to answer the question of why some things matter more than others or what happens when certain things are made more visible than others. The book provides valuable insights into the process of identity construction through the use of cultural sources, both material and visual. Following on the debates/discussions on material and visual culture in the 1970s and 1980s, the book argues that instead of viewing objects as mere representation(s), one should see them as active agents in creating perceptions, bodily practices, discourses and perceptions of our social world. Each chapter in the book unravels and engages with these pertinent issues in order to arrive at amore comprehensive understanding of the status quo. The book is of interest to scholars of ethnicity, identity construction, politics and state, cultural studies, media studies, visual, social and cultural anthropology and sociology, as well as lay readers who want to learn more about the region.

This edited volume discusses the role of various microbial products in healthcare, environment and agriculture. Several microbial products are directly involved in solving major health problems, agricultural and environmental issues. In healthcare sector, microbes are used as anti-tumor compounds, antibiotics, anti-parasitic agents, enzyme inhibitors and immunosuppressive agents. Microbial products are also used to degrade xenobiotic compounds and bio-surfactants, for biodegradation process. In agriculture, microbial products are used to enhance nutrient uptake, to promote plant growth, or to control plant diseases. The book presents several such applications of microbes in the ecosystems. The chapters are contributed from across the globe and contain up-to-date information. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, microbiologists and ecologists. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soilscience, and environmental sciences.

This volume is fourth part of the five-part set on bioenergy research. This volume covers biomass to bioenergy production concept. The book is focused on the possible and versatile biomass options available for the generation of bioenergy. Additionally, the book also explores different types of biomass for bioenergy generation at a commercial level. Further, the book elaborates on different kind of cellulose and sugar rich waste which can also be utilized for bioenergy production. It covers other relevant issues such as recent technological advancement in biomass to bioenergy conversion, waste management in the context of biomass to biofuels production technologies, green methods of energy production, alternates of fossil fuels in the near future. It also explores biomass waste valorization, utilizing microbial processes in bioenergy production. This is a useful reading material for students, researchers, industry and policy experts.Other four volumes of this set explore basic concepts, latest progress, commercial opportunities and integrated solution for bioenergy concerns.

This book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of cold plasma technology for tackling the various food-related hazards in a wide range of food sectors. The principles and characteristics of cold plasma generation in gas and its interaction with liquids, as well as its combating modes of action for common hazards (e.g., bacteria, spores, biofilms, fungi, and fungal toxins) are emphasized in this book. It also presents the applications of cold plasma or its hurdles with other techniques to assure the microbiological safety of the key food classifications, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, grains, meat, aquatic products, liquid food products (e.g., juices, milk), nuts, spices, herbs, and food packaging.This book is useful for researchers to grasp the comprehensive understandings of how food safety can be controlled with cold plasma technology. This book also provides adequate information for engineers in food industry for better development and optimization of the plasma-generating systems. Government institutions that are responsible for food safety regulations can understand more knowledge about the intricacies and influencing factors, which should be considered for regulating the applications of cold plasma technology in food.

This book, now in a thoroughly revised and updated second edition, provides the latest information on cancer metastasis from the perspective of inflammation and presents new ideas on the complicated mechanisms of metastasis and potential therapeutic targets. Key features include discussion of mechanisms recently identified to be involved in the resolution phase of inflammation, presentation of the latest evidence regarding the roles of endogenous TLR4 ligands in metastasis, and thorough explanation of the concept of homeostatic inflammation and current understanding of the significance of its dysregulation for metastasis. Structure-based thinking is another important element of the book, and it is proposed that inflammation forms a functional triangle with angiogenesis and coagulation, at the center of which cancer is located. Examples of the many additional specific topics covered in this edition include the functional involvement of new types of RNA in cancer, the insights offered by recent advances in bioinformatics, and the potential of a casein kinase 1¿ inhibitor in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The book will be a valuable update and resource for both experienced and younger researchers.Homeostasis, originated from an idea of internal milieu by Claude Bernard, is eventually maintained by endogenous elements. The essential features of inflammation are leukocyte mobilization and increased vascular permeability, which could take place in many homeostatic or physiological conditions at low levels. Homeostatic inflammation is a concept to explain pathological settings such as metastasis in which irrespective of its level those inflammatory features are misused with endogenous molecules (see Chap. 14,15).As inflammation comprises many biological fields, targeting a single molecule for a disease could potentially make a therapeutic contribution to other diseases. For example, one focus is applied here to the roles of calprotectin in lung metastasis, which is implicated in psychiatric disorders and COVID-19 as shown by recent evidence.