In this book, a new method for hybrid intelligent systems is proposed. The proposed method is based on a granular computing approach applied in two levels. The techniques used and combined in the proposed method are modular neural networks (MNNs) with a Granular Computing (GrC) approach, thus resulting in a new concept of MNNs; modular granular neural networks (MGNNs). In addition fuzzy logic (FL) and hierarchical genetic algorithms (HGAs) are techniques used in this research work to improve results. These techniques are chosen because in other works have demonstrated to be a good option, and in the case of MNNs and HGAs, these techniques allow to improve the results obtained than with their conventional versions; respectively artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors or correlates that influence post-secondary attainment among Latinos. This project is guided by two key research questions: 1) What factors or correlates are associated with postsecondary educational attainment among Latinos? and 2) What effect do community-based interventions have in comparison to school-based interventions on post-secondary educational attainment among Latinos? Results suggest that correlates such as social capital, cultural framework, financial factors and academic factors are all factors influencing post-secondary educational attainment. Furthermore, research suggests that both community-based programs and school-based programs are effective interventions at tackling the correlates influencing post-secondary educational attainment. To conclude, recommendations are made to implement social justice advocacy which challenges structural paradigms, and questions failed policies. This research project suggests a plan of action that integrates policies that promote parental involvement and educational programs that are culturally receptive.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has turned from a universally fatal to a highly curable disease in little more than four decades. Even though differences in outcome continue to exist between children and adults, intense efforts are under way to overcome this discrepancy and improve the prognosis of adult patients as well. This exemplary progress in ALL therapy has been possible by the combination of an increasingly better understanding of the biology of the disease, availability of a range of effective drugs, and astute designs and relentless executions of many clinical trials. ALL is a complex disease requiring complex therapy. Whereas this book cannot provide a comprehensive review of every one of its many facets, the chapters from many investigators from around the world nevertheless cover a number of relevant topics: aspects of the epidemiology of ALL in Hispanics, ophthalmologic manifestations of ALL, overviews of current therapy and drug-resistance mechanisms, novel biological pathways and targets, new drugs in development, and long-term consequences of CNS prophylaxis and therapy. The publishers and editor therefore hope that the prospective readers will find enough insight and information for their own endeavors.
Fuel Injection is a key process characterizing the combustion development within Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) and in many other industrial applications. State of the art in the research and development of modern fuel injection systems are presented in this book. It consists of 12 chapters focused on both numerical and experimental techniques, allowing its proper design and optimization.
«Chase your dreams, dreams come true» es el late motiv de Daniela Blasco, la bailarina y coreógrafa que está revolucionando las redes. Un poco de suerte, un mucho de esfuerzo, y de repente, todo cambió en mi vida. Soy Daniela Blasco, aprendiz de dancer. Hace un tiempo mi vida dio un giro y se llenó de experiencias fantásticas y de gente maravillosa. Me gustaría mucho compartir con todos vosotros todas esas cosas que hacen que mi «pequeño» mundo se transforme en un mundo muy grande, grandísimo, enorme. Un mundo repleto de amistad, amor, risas y, sí, también de esfuerzo, dedicación y sacrificio. ¿Listos para bailar?
She befriended the one woman she was never supposed to meet. Now she's the key suspect in her disappearance. For fans of The Perfect Mother and The Wife Between Us comes a gripping psychological suspense debut about two strangers, one incredible connection, and the steep price of obsession. Lana Stone has never considered herself a stalker--until the night she impulsively follows a familiar face through the streets of New York's Upper West Side. Her target? The "anonymous" egg donor she'd selected through an agency, the one who's making motherhood possible for her. Hungry to learn more about her, Lana plans only to watch her from a distance. But when circumstances bring them face-to-face, an unexpected friendship is born. Katya, a student at Columbia, is the yin to Lana's yang, an impulsive free spirit who lives life at the edge. And for pragmatic Lana, she's a breath of fresh air and a welcome distraction from her painful breakup with her baby's father. Then, just as suddenly as Katya entered Lana's life, she disappears--and Lana might have been the last person to see her before she went missing. Determined to find out what became of the woman to whom she owes so much, Lana digs into Katya's past, even as the police grow suspicious of her motives. But she's unprepared for the secrets she unearths, and their power to change everything she thought she knew about those she loves best...
Unwelcome Exiles. Mexico and the Jewish Refugees from Nazism, 1933–1945 reconstructs a largely unknown history: during the Second World War, the Mexican government closed its doors to Jewish refugees expelled by the Nazis. In this comprehensive investigation, based on archives in Mexico and the United States, Daniela Gleizer emphasizes the selectiveness and discretionary implementation of post-revolutionary Mexican immigration policy, which sought to preserve mestizaje—the country’s blend of Spanish and Indigenous people and the ideological basis of national identity—by turning away foreigners considered “inassimilable” and therefore “undesirable.” Through her analysis of Mexico’s role in the rescue of refugees in the 1930s and 40s, Gleizer challenges the country’s traditional image of itself as a nation that welcomes the persecuted. This book is a revised and expanded translation of the Spanish El exilio incómodo. México y los refugiados judíos, 1933-1945, which received an Honorable Mention in the LAJSA Book Prize Award 2013.
With the intense economic development and accelerated modernization experienced by Spain since the 1970s, and especially following its entrance to the European Economic Community in 1986, the country has undergone a rapid inversion in migratory patterns. After being an exporter of economic migrants for almost a century, in the last 20 years Spain has seen itself on the receiving end of immigration. Coinciding with a time when Spain is highlighting its belonging to Europe, the growing presence of Moroccan immigrants in particular confronts Spanish society with the repressed non-European, African and Oriental aspects of its national identity. The Return of the Moorexamines the anxiety over symbolic and literal boundaries permeating the Spanish reception of these immigrants through an interdisciplinary analysis of social, fictional and performative texts. It argues that Moroccans constitute a "problem" to Spaniards not because of their cultural differences, as many claim, but because they are not different enough. Perceived as "Moors," they conjure up past ghosts that continue to haunt the Spanish imaginary, revealing the acute tensions inherent to Spain's tenuous position between Europe and Africa.
Interesting real-world mathematical modelling problems are complex and can usually be studied at different scales. The scale at which the investigation is carried out is one of the factors that determines the type of mathematics most appropriate to describe the problem. The book concentrates on two modelling paradigms: the macroscopic, in which phenomena are described in terms of time evolution via ordinary differential equations; and the microscopic, which requires knowledge of random events and probability. The exposition is based on this unorthodox combination of deterministic and probabilistic methodologies, and emphasizes the development of computational skills to construct predictive models. To elucidate the concepts, a wealth of examples, self-study problems, and portions of MATLAB code used by the authors are included. This book, which has been extensively tested by the authors for classroom use, is intended for students in mathematics and the physical sciences at the advanced undergraduate level and above.
This book presents a systematic literature review of 156 published papers on business model innovation (BMI). The aim is to identify and integrate the different theoretical perspectives, analytical levels, and empirical contexts in order to deepen understanding of this complex phenomenon. The authors conduct an inductive thematic analysis based on an informal ontological classification that identifies 56 key themes. Within each theme, discussion focuses on thematic patterns, potential inconsistencies and debates, and future directions and opportunities for research. The book makes a number of significant contributions to the field. First, it offers a deeper understanding of the evolution of research on BMI through an ontological map that identifies the key thematic areas in the literature. Second, a multilevel model is developed that clarifies the concept of BMI by identifying its drivers, contingencies, and outcomes. Third, the authors identify clear and specific directions for further research and offer suggestions on research design, creating an informative road map for the future. The book will be of value both to scholars and researchers and to practitioners.
Hugo Sanchez is an extraterrestrial hamster astronaut. When his walnut spaceship breaks down, it gets sucked into a black hole and makes a crash landing here on Earth. Luckily, he's found by a Spanish wizard - a wizard full of thrilling stories. This little book contains Hugo's favorite stories, plus his own story about who he is, where he comes from, and how he came to be here. He can't wait for you to read them all.
Chicago. James, Special Agent of the F.B.I., investigates with his colleague Sarah on a very complex case. A race against time, where a series of bizarre murders threatens the safety of the community. A journey full of twists, where the characters will find themselves chasing a trail of death that will lead them to a disturbing conclusion. -
Consumer credit has become a topical issue for researchers, regulators and the banking industry in Europe as a result of increasing market integration, regulatory changes and a growing tendency of households to use debt to finance consumption. This study uses a cross-country approach to look at a broad range of issues related to consumer credit in Europe. Focusing on both the supply and demand sides, it takes into account the structure and performance of financial intermediaries, the socio-demographic and economic profile of households and their risk of over-indebtedness, as well as the regulatory framework, such as the new Consumer Credit Directive. In the light of this analysis, measures for the prevention and management of over-indebtedness are presented. This book is essential for postgraduate students and specialists in financial institutions, for regulators and policy-makers who are in charge of efficiency and stability of financial systems.
This book offers practical, evidence-based solutions to help professionals implement and support effective teamwork. Lantz, Ulber and Friedrich draw on their considerable professional experience to present common problems in team-based organizations, what empirical research tells us the causes are and which solutions are more effective in overcoming team-based obstacles. In The Problems with Teamwork, and How to Solve Them, nine common problems are identified, ranging from lack of leadership and adaptability to conflict and cohesiveness, accompanied by clear instructions on how to approach and resolve the individual issues. Detailed case studies are presented throughout the book, demonstrating how theory can be applied to real-life situations to produce optimal results for both the team and the larger organisation. By combining theory and practice, and using state-of-the-art research, the book constructs a cognitive map for identifying problem causes and effect, and step-by-step instructions on how to solve problems. This is essential reading for anyone working in team-based organizations, as well as students and academics in related areas such as organizational psychology and organizational behaviour.
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