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An award-winning text on the latest operational hydrometeorological forecasting and warning techniques for flood, drought, reservoir, water resources and water quality applications. Hydrometeorology: Forecasting and Applications is the latest edition of this award-winning book first published in 2010. It provides an introduction to the latest developments in this area for practicing engineers and scientists and examples of operational systems, including from the USA, UK, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. It also provides useful background for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas such as engineering, earth sciences, environmental sciences, geography, meteorology and hydrology. Practical applications include flood warning, drought early warning, irrigation scheduling, hydropower generation, water pollution and water supply operations. Throughout, there is a focus on end-to-end warning systems, forecast uncertainty and risk-based and impact-based approaches. Each chapter now concludes with a summary of key points regarding current research themes and the extensive sets of references that were a feature of previous editions have been revised and updated. The first part considers meteorological and hydrological monitoring and forecasting techniques and approaches to issuing warnings and alerts. Hydrological forecasting topics include rainfall-runoff models, flow routing and data assimilation, forecast verification and ensemble techniques. Additional topics in this new edition include the role of low cost monitoring, citizen science and social media in monitoring and early warning applications. The text on weather radar, satellite precipitation estimates, hydrometry, catchment monitoring, numerical weather prediction, demand forecasting, uncertainty estimation and warning dissemination has been updated. The second part considers flood, drought, reservoir, water quality and water resources applications. As before, riverine and flash flood forecasts are considered separately including flash flood guidance techniques, community based flood warning systems and methods for providing early warnings of debris flows, surface water flooding and ice jam floods. Other applications include famine and drought early warning systems, reservoir and tidal barrier operations, bathing water quality alerts, harmful algal bloom prediction and seasonal flow forecasting. Land surface and global hydrological models are now discussed in more detail, including the opportunities from 'Big Data' and artificial intelligence. A new chapter on climate change prediction discusses approaches to assessing potential hydrological impacts and improving modelling techniques, including expert elicitation exercises and the use of experimental catchments. "There are few books that have ever attempted to discuss all aspects of hydrometeorology in one volume. This one does so." (from a review of the 1st edition in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society)

This proposed book aims to present an analysis of several crisis issues induced by global climate changes and implications at the micro-level, particularly from the perspective of ground-based study. Climate crisis leads to several socio-ecological issues which need to discuss with some empirical case studies from the contextual global evidences. Climatic crisis generates several social responses which are associated with mitigating issues in addition to sustainable development goals. Under these circumstances, several loopholes interlinked with climatic crisis need to expose in the present-day context. This book argues that it is important to understand the issues from multiple dimensions. It identifies some important dimensions to discuss in the process. Themes we purpose to cover are: several field-based studies are included for which micro-level field-based data would incorporate to understand current crisis induced by climate change, thus exposing the vulnerabilities of the communities which would be incorporated in different chapters with adequate representation of qualitative methods, modelling-based geospatial approach. Therefore, some secondary data-based studies have also been included to provide a broader picture. Additionally, this book aims to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues mainly from the lenses of Geography, Economics, and Sociology as well as Environmental Studies too. Given the focus of this study, it is believed that an approach that harmonizes the cognitive domain from different discipline is appropriated. A combination of chapters using qualitative as well as quantitative methods also made this book exclusive from others. We believe that this edited book surely contributes the knowledge domain with some relevant chapters' discussion in the contemporary time and leads to reduce the gap of knowledge.

¿This book offers a comprehensive exploration of sustainable solid waste management practices in delta regions worldwide. With attention to detail, this work presents a systematic review, illuminating case studies, original research, and insightful meta-analyses tailored to address the unique challenges faced by delta environments. Home to over half a billion people, or approximately 7% of the global population, delta regions are dynamic ecological and social landscapes, despite accounting for only 1% of the world's land area. Yet, they play a pivotal role in national economies. Given the significant size and density of populations in these regions, understanding solid waste generation patterns, trends, and impacts is essential for global sustainability efforts. By focusing on deltaic regions, we aim to provide essential insights into effective policy planning and advancements in social and ecological sustainability. Explore a diverse array of topics, including the bioconversion of food waste into environmentally friendly compounds, sustainable production and disposal practices to address water quality concerns, and innovative waste management applications to combat channel clogging and flooding in delta districts. Delve into best practices for managing climate-related flood risks, addressing urban responses, and tackling environmental pollution associated with unmanaged waste disposal in delta catchments. Additionally, gain valuable insights into the regulatory framework guiding waste management practices, particularly in delta regions facing significant plastic pollution challenges. This book navigates the complexities of solid waste management in delta regions, paving the way for a more sustainable future.¿

This textbook introduces fundamental concepts of game theory and demonstrates its uses and application in the social sciences. Written in plain English and without overwhelming mathematical jargon, it serves as an invaluable resource for undergraduate students in economics, law, political sciences, and related social sciences. Starting from non-cooperative games and progressing to cooperative games, it explores a wide range of topics, including the analysis of zero-sum games, voting rules and their practical implications, and other applications of game theory. Uniquely, it emphasizes cooperative concepts and their normative applications, providing a fresh perspective.With "Game Theory for the Social Sciences", readers will be equipped with the analytical tools to analyze conflict resolution, bargaining strategies, cooperative decision-making, and the dynamics of power relationships. Through engaging examples drawn from real-world scenarios, readers will develop a solid understanding of how game theory can be applied to diverse fields in social sciences.¿Pierre Dehez offers a consistent kit of classic game theoretic tools, from equilibrium concepts to bargaining solutions and power indices, all illustrated with insightful examples and applications.¿Françoise Forges, Professor of Economics, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL¿This book is written clearly and pedagogically without resorting to difficult mathematics. It provides many different and interesting examples from problems of fair sharing, bargaining to voting systems and many others. It is a perfect introduction to this subject too often quoted but too often misunderstood.¿Alan Kirman, Directeur d¿études, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, and Emeritus Professor, Aix-Marseille University

This book focuses on Perüs highest and most glacierized mountain range ¿ the Cordillera Blanca. This mountain range experienced numerous disasters in the past (e.g. lake Palcacocha outburst in 1941, earthquake-induced ice and rock avalanche from Mt. Huascarán in 1970) and has attracted the attention of researchers from around the world. The 15 chapters of the book span from broadly thematic topics of geology, geomorphology, climate, hydrology and hydrogeology, lakes, glaciation, and environmental settings to more specific topics and emergent themes of relevance for the Cordillera Blanca, including studies of various types of natural hazards (landslides, GLOFs). While most of the chapters focus on biophysical processes of the natural environment, several chapters explore the complex interactions between humans and environmental factors, providing insights and perspectives from social science and the humanities. This book offers an unprecedentedly comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge about the geo-environmental changes in the Cordillera Blanca.

This book comprehensively discusses the development, application and challenges of network slicing technology in wireless communications. Starting with the basic concept and enabling technologies of network slicing, this book introduces how to integrate AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology into the end-to-end deployment, resource allocation and performance enhancement for multi-tenant slicing. An in-depth exploration of managing multi-domain slices deployed in the federated infrastructure networks is presented, including on-demand cooperation among multiple infrastructure networks, distinct slice deployment, hierarchical slice orchestration and fast slice adaption. As a guide to leveraging AI to enhance traffic performance of multi-tenant slicing and customize resource slicing for industrial scenarios, this book provides insights, modeling, applications and research issues. A holistic perspective on prominent role of network slicing in managing wireless network resources is provided as well. Overall, network slicing as a key technology of wireless networks, enables to satisfy differentiated service demands of multiple tenants from vertical industries with the same shared physical infrastructure network. As future wireless networks are expected to facilitate the evolution of vertical industries, various vertical enterprises as tenants require an intelligent network slicing paradigm to provide highly customizable services. AI-based management system for network slicing excel at deploying slices rapidly, allocating resources efficiently and avoiding service quality degradation. With the increasing diversity of service demands and complexity of communication environment, incorporating AI into network slicing is a necessity for improving flexibility and automation of resource management. This book targets advanced-level students in information and communication sciences as a secondary textbook. Researchers and industry professionals working in various areas, such as wireless communication systems, network management and orchestration, resource allocation and AI-enabled wireless networks will also find this book useful as reference book.

This book provides state-of-the-art Face De-Identification techniques and privacy protection methods, while highlighting the challenges faced in safeguarding personal information. It presents three innovative image privacy protection approaches, including differential private k-anonymity, identity differential privacy guarantee and personalized and invertible Face De-Identification. In addition, the authors propose a novel architecture for reversible Face Video De-Identification, which utilizes deep motion flow to ensure seamless privacy protection across video frames.This book is a compelling exploration of the rapidly evolving field of Face De-Identification and privacy protection in the age of advanced AI-based face recognition technology and pervasive surveillance. This insightful book embarks readers on a journey through the intricate landscape of facial recognition, artificial intelligence, social network and the challenges posed by the digital footprint left behind by individuals in their daily lives. The authors also explore emerging trends in privacy protection and discuss future research directions.Researchers working in computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data privacy and cybersecurity as well as advanced-level students majoring in computers science will find this book useful as reference or secondary text. Professionals working in the fields of biometrics, data security, software development and facial recognition technology as well as policymakers and government officials will also want to purchase this book.

The proposed book is a bridge between the foundations of quantum mechanics and the theory of open quantum systems. The treatment of open quantum systems is a rapidly growing subject, of interest to an ever-increasing number of scientists. The main focus is on overcoming the idealization of perfect isolation of a quantum system, so as to allow for a more realistic treatment and to provide the relevant background for the development of quantum technologies. The book is addressed to students and researchers in the field of open quantum systems and more generally quantum mechanics, a wide community of physicists, mathematicians, and chemists. It is devised both to enter the field and to prepare a series of lectures or a one-semester course on the topic.

This book constitutes the post-conference proceedings of the First International Workshop on Value Engineering in Artificial Intelligence, VALE 2023, held in Krakow, Poland, on September 30, 2023. The 16 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected. The papers have been grouped into four themes, addressing a number of research questions for each: I. Frameworks for norms and values: What are existing or new frameworks for norms and values and how can they be represented in AI systems in order to make these systems norm- and value-aware? II. Detection of moral values: Given an existing AI system, how can we figure out whether its behavior is aligned with human values? III. Learning and engineering of value-aligned policies: How can policies for implementing norms and values be acquired or designed? IV. Implementation of norms: How can norms be implemented in concrete AI applications?

This book examines the nexus of collective intelligence (CI), a feature of online projects in which various types of communities solve problems intelligently, and open policymaking, as a trend of large groups of people shaping public policies.While doing so, it presents the current state of theoretical knowledge for these concepts, many practical examples of successful and unsuccessful projects, as well as additional research and laboratory experiments. The book develops an analytical framework based on qualitative research, which is applied to the analysis of different projects in selected case studies, such as Decide Madrid; Better Reykjavik; Loomio; Deliberatorium; Civic Budget of the City of Kraków.The book is structured into four chapters, addressing essential questions in the field: (1) Opening Policymaking; (2) Beyond the Individual: Understanding the Evolution of Collective Intelligence; (3) A Review of the Projects Using Collective Intelligence in Policymaking; (4) Online Public Debate. How Can We Make it More Intelligent?The book will appeal to students, scholars, and researchers of political science, public policy, and public administration, as well as policymakers interested in a better understanding of collective intelligence and open policymaking.

The three-volume set CCIS 2009, 2010 and 2011 constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computer Vision and Image Processing, CVIP 2023, held in Jammu, India, during November 3-5, 2023. The 140 revised full papers presented in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 461 submissions. The papers focus on various important and emerging topics in image processing, computer vision applications, deep learning, and machine learning techniques in the domain.

This book is devoted to eruptive phenomena on the Sun, the most dangerous sources of space weather disturbances. It discusses the latest achievements in this field, described in the scientific literature and obtained by the author himself. The initial chapters of the book give a brief description of the role of the Sun in the life and history of mankind, a general description of the solar interior and the atmosphere of the Sun, the causes and drivers of solar activity and its impact on the Earth's environment and human life. The book provides a detailed description of eruptive phenomena on the Sun, a review of observations of solar activity and theoretical ideas about the mechanisms and causes of a sudden release of energy in the solar atmosphere.Much attention is paid to the solar magnetic fields, their characteristic features and measured values in the photosphere, the observed manifestations in the chromosphere and corona, and methods for extrapolating photospheric data to the upper layers of the solar atmosphere. It is assumed that the magnetic field is the source of energy suddenly released during eruptive phenomena observed in the form of flares, prominence eruptions and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Energy is accumulated and stored in the non-potential (associated with electric currents) part of the coronal magnetic field (free magnetic energy). This part of the field is the most variable and can provide energy for fast eruptive processes. CMEs, propagating through the interplanetary medium, significantly perturb it and cause the strongest geomagnetic storms when they affect the Earth's magnetosphere. The prediction of the arrival of the CME is the key problem of the entire space weather forecast. Thus, pre-eruptive conditions in CME source regions are of great importance. Solar prominences and filaments are considered the most likely progenitors of CMEs.Most of the book is devoted to the description and analysis of their equilibrium and stability. It is shown that there are measurable characteristics of the proximity of the prominence to the instability threshold, which can be very useful in the problem of space weather forecasting. The book contains many illustrations and links to the latest scientific articles and reviews on the topic. It will be useful to researchers in the field of astrophysics, solar physics, geophysics, as well as PhD and graduate students.

The three-volume set CCIS 2009, 2010 and 2011 constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computer Vision and Image Processing, CVIP 2023, held in Jammu, India, during November 3-5, 2023. The 140 revised full papers presented in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 461 submissions. The papers focus on various important and emerging topics in image processing, computer vision applications, deep learning, and machine learning techniques in the domain.

This LNCS conference volume constitutes the proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Data Augmentation, Labeling, and Imperfections (DALI 2023), held on October 12, 2023, in Vancouver, Canada, in conjunction with the 26th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI 2023). The 16 full papers together in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 23 submissions. The conference fosters a collaborative environment for addressing the critical challenges associated with medical data, particularly focusing on data, labeling, and dealing with data imperfections in the context of medical image analysis.

Comprehensive overview of car-following traffic models which include delays in their system representation Enhances relevance of theoretical results with illustrative case studies Provides detailed comparison of existing solutions with author-generated approaches

This book provides a complete round-up of developments concerned with the application of partial moments in system identification and data-driven modelling; it captures the essence of work carried out at the Laboratoire d'Informatique et d'Automatique pour les Systèmes for more than 40 years. The book begins with introductory material, describing both the mathematical tools associated with partial moments and reinitialized partial moments and an example demonstrating their use. The authors then proceed to show how these tools can be used for the identification of continuous-time linear models, discrete-time linear models, continuous-time linear state-space models, linear parameter-varying models and multidimensional models based on partial differential equations. The properties and performances of each of these approaches are presented. The analogy with algebraic approaches is proved, thus opening perspectives for extension to other fields. The text removes some long-standing limitations on the implementation of partial-moment-based tools in system identification. This book is of interest to researchers and postgraduates studying system identification, control theory, applied mathematics and computer science. It is also useful for engineers working on industrial applications of the parametric estimation of mathematical models.

This book discusses many interesting results have been obtained in Leibniz algebras over the past two decades. The authors not only summarize recent results and methods successfully used in Leibniz algebras, but also show new prospective horizons in algebra theory. Any mathematical theories have a number of natural problems that arise in the process of its development, and these problems quite often have analogues in other areas such as differential geometry, homological algebra, classical algebraic topology, noncommutative geometry, etc. With this in mind the authors describe the general structure of Leibniz algebras that have already been discovered. This approach allows readers to see which parts of the theory should be developed further and also shows the significant differences of Leibniz algebras from Lie algebras. Recent results that constitute the naturally evolving general theory of the subject are then explored as well as new prospective horizons in algebra theory.

This open access book describes in detail what life on this planet would be like if its average surface temperature were to rise 3 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial level. On this basis, the book argues that it is imperative to keep this temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. It then lays out a detailed plan of what politically feasible, cost-effective measures should now be taken to achieve this goal. In this context, the book provides detailed discussions of climate finance, climate education and nature-based solutions. The book has been translated into English from the original German version published in 2022, and contains an original foreword and preface.

This comprehensive book examines a high mountain snow-covered expanse, spanning an investigation period of almost two decades. Leveraging advanced remote sensing and innovative algorithms, it meticulously maps the temporal and spatial dimensions of the snow cover extent of Ladakh, India. Rigorous statistical analyses, terrain examinations, and a groundbreaking snowfall prediction model contribute to a nuanced understanding. Grounded in empirical data, the volume not only enriches the research framework but also serves as a guiding compass for sustainable development amid the challenges of global warming. Seamlessly blending scientific rigour with a passion for discovery, the book invites readers to immerse themselves in a captivating snow-clad terrain, unlocking the secrets of its unique environment.Snow Cover Distribution and Dynamics: The Trans-Himalayan Region of Ladakh, India is divided into five chapters. The book begins with an introduction and a comprehensive overview of the materials and methods used in the study. The focus is on the application of the MODIS NDSI snow mapping algorithm, validated using Landsat images. The research also involves the development of innovative algorithms for the removal of clouds from MODIS data and for forecasting snowfall. The study is further enriched by on-ground measurements and the deployment of terrestrial cameras across diverse topographies for data validation. Chapter 3 presents the results, including observed patterns and trends of the snow cover distribution, and the application of an ARIMA model for future snowfall predictions. The final two chapters discuss the findings in detail, draw conclusions, and provide a future outlook, thereby offering a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

This edited collection focuses on the comparative analysis of the application of Shari¿a in countries with Muslim minorities (e.g. USA, Australia, Germany and Italy) and majorities (e.g. Malaysia, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Morocco). Most chapters in this new edition have been revised and the book as a whole has been updated to give even more international coverage. This text provides a sociological and global analysis of a phenomenon that goes beyond the ¿West versus the rest¿ dichotomy. One example of this is how included are case studies in Muslim minority countries not exclusively located in the West. Although the contributors of this book come from various disciplines such as law, anthropology, and sociology, this volume has a strong sociological focus on the analysis of Shari¿a. The final part of the book indeed draws out from all the case studies explored some ground-breaking theories on the sociology of Shari¿a such as the application of Black, Chambliss and Eisenstein¿s sociological theories. This text appeals to students and researchers working in the sociology of religion.

This book highlights the integration of science and imaging and demonstrates how we can teach and learn in a much more accessible, innovative, and engaging way using technology. This volume is particularly focused on three main themes: advanced microscopy, anatomy education, and radiology visualisation related to patient care. The chapters pertaining to advanced microscopy convey complex biomedical information by visual means. These chapters provide both an overview on the principles of microscopy and specific applications of microscopy that have led to groundbreaking discoveries. Chapters pertaining to education summarise the recent trends in teaching gross and microscopic anatomy and emphasise the creation and use of novel tools to support student learning. Lastly, the radiological visualisation segment dives into the history of radiographic imaging and highlights the profound effect technology has had on improving patient outcomes. This volume will be of particular interest to many; the scope of this book encompasses medicine, dentistry, allied health professions, biomedical sciences, anatomy and histology education, radiology, and microscopy. Students, researchers, educators, and clinicians will learn something new, be stimulated to ask innovative questions, and be inspired to continue the technological advancements pushing science forward.

This volume presents the proceedings of the Joint International Conference of the 13th IFToMM International Symposium on Science of Mechanisms and Machines (SYROM) & the XXV International Conference on Robotics (ROBOTICS), held in Iasi, Romania, on November 17-18, 2022. It brought together researchers, scientists and industry experts involved in the area of mechanisms, mechanical transmissions, robotics and mechatronics, to disseminate their latest research results and exchange views on the future research directions of these fields. The book presents original high-quality contributions on topics such as theoretical and computational kinematics, mechanism design, experimental mechanics, dynamics of machinery and multi-body systems, mechanisms for biomechanics, mechanical transmissions, linkages and mechanical controls, micromechanisms, serial and parallel robots, mobile and collaborative robots, micro and nano robots, sensors and actuators, medical robots, haptics, and virtual reality.

This book provides an overview of the tropical marine environments of Brazil and a multi-disciplinary assessment of the impact of ongoing climate change in these environments. These changes will affect physical, biological and biogeochemical characteristics of coastal zones and oceans, modifying their ecological structure, their functions and the various services provided to humans and have the potential of causing severe socioeconomic impacts in local (coastal zone), regional (continental shelf and shallow seas) and global (ocean) scales. The Tropical Brazil presents a unique opportunity to evaluate how spatial and temporal heterogeneity influences the response and resilience of marine environments to climate changes. This region comprises the main reef constructions of the Western South Atlantic Ocean, the majority of the Brazilian deltas, one of the longest mangrove areas of the world, a very narrow and shallow continental shelf, extreme variations in sediment and nutrient flows, as well as undeniable importance in transferring heat and mass between hemispheres.

This book describes the fauna of the Pernambuco Endemism Center in Brazil's Northern Atlantic Forest, an understudied global biodiversity hotspot. Through fifteen curated chapters, it provides the latest information about the fauna of the northern portion of the Atlantic Forest, gathering important information about the faunal composition of the region for the first time. The chapters address animal biodiversity including terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) and invertebrates (ants, butterflies, dung beetles, hervestmen, spiders, and termites). All chapters provide species lists, taxonomic aspects and richness analysis. Conservation of specific animal groups is also discussed. Finally, the book discusses human impacts on the forest and its biodiversity, emphasizing the need for conservation of this highly impacted ecosystem.

The main practical breakthrough of this century is nanobiotechnology, an amalgamation of biology and nanotechnology based on the standards and methods of metabolism. The field mainly involves the analysis, synthesis and the links between molecular biology, nutritional science and nanotechnology. In addition, the field involves the links between other life sciences branches, since the improvement of nanotechnology strategies might be directed by considering the structure and the capability of nanoparticles present in the living cells. This book is a comprehensive evaluation of the latest nanobiotechnological developments, with an emphasis on applications, especially in aquaculture. It outlines, in-depth, modern techniques, and includes a variety of important sources that make this the perfect resource for researchers in this captivating world of nanobiotechnology.

This book highlights stories of the most important 13 ground-based observatories and 14 space probes in human history, leading readers through each significant step of human's astronomical observation journey. From the earliest Hooker Telescope and the Mount Wilson Observatory, to the latest FAST, JWST and DAMPE, the targets of observation range from large systems such as the solar system, the milky way, and the universe, to individual planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and the remote stars, and to the matters that reveal the origin of the universe, such as dark matter and cosmic background radiation. The book presents the mysteries of the sky in an easily readable manner suitable for audiences of all ages who are curious about the universe and thirsty to know all the important discoveries in the past century, especially the last decade. With carefully-selected contents, the book weaves together a series of tales to make the convoluted history of astronomical observation full offun and excitement, ensuring that readers never lose interest during reading.

This volume comprises the select proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Communication (ICAIRC 2023). The content focuses on big data and cloud computing and the application of artificial intelligence, robotics and engineering, the Internet of Things, and sensor technology. Some of the topics covered include robot control, perception systems, dexterous manipulation, robot sensing, and data fusion, technology architecture of IoT, information analysis and processing of IoT, dynamic resource supply and consumption, IoT chips and sensors, industrial IoT, and Big Data, the architecture of Big Data, security and privacy of Big Data, management and operation of cloud computing, etc. This volume will be of interest to those working in academia and industry in the fields of computation, communication, and engineering.

This book introduces phenomenology to reveal how the atmosphere and relationships in the workplace are generated and how this affects creativity. In their daily work, people sometimes feel that "today's meeting was more exciting than expected" or that "everyone's motivation is down". This unspoken workplace atmosphere has a significant impact on their work. But has enough thought been given to how this workplace atmosphere is created? Phenomenology reveals the basic structure of human relationships in the workplace. Are there any general rules that govern human interaction and the nature of relationships in that workplace? If these unspoken rules can be made explicit - clearly felt and spoken -- people can work together to bring about a creative workplace in which individuals can maximize their abilities. The main point of the book is that human relationships are based on a two-layered structure: "emotional communication", which is rooted in human sensitivity and centers on sensation and emotion; and "verbal communication", which is based on shared intelligence and relies upon language and thought. The invisible layer of emotional communication is always at work as the foundation of verbal communication, creating what can be described as the "workplace atmosphere". This book offers a new perspective on promoting creativity in the workplace by unraveling the principles behind the structure of workplace atmospheres.

This textbook demonstrates how economic theories can be used for environmental policy evaluations. A notable feature of this book is that, unlike most textbooks in environmental economics written in English, it draws on examples from Japan's policy on energy, resource, pollution, and carbon emissions. Policy measures discussed in this book include controls on motor vehicle emissions, pricing of waste disposal,  deposit-refund scheme for recycling, carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes. With topics involving transboundary environmental concerns such as climate change, air pollution, and waste management and recycling, the book also integrates international perspectives and provides comparisons of policies across regions and countries. A major objective of this book is to present a concise and accessible introduction to environmental economics as applied to policy evaluations in and beyond Japan. The knowledge available from this book must be very useful for students, policymakers and practitioners who seek environmental policy solutions from an economic point of view.This is an open access book.