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We face a world of increasing turbulence and uncertainty. As a result, social systems at every level including countries, government institutions, business organisations, labour and civil society have to operate in situations of high causal ambiguity and complexity. This is a world characterised by turmoil, conflict, and seemingly insurmountable social, technological, political and ecological problems. It is a world where cause and effect are not easily separated in space and time, where problem-solving approaches relying on knowledge and skills from individual disciplines is incapable of addressing multi-faceted problems and difficulties, and our attempts at problem solving and improvement are short-lived resulting in transitory change accompanied by more problems and unintended consequences. It is therefore imperative that academics, executives, professionals, managers and other practitioners be equipped with conceptual tools, methodologies, and practices for working under such conditions. Conventional analytical approaches (though useful) are insufficient to handle high levels of complexity, mutual and circular causality and inter-dependence. There is a need for more holistic, pluralistic and participatory approaches in order to survive in a highly interconnected, complex, turbulent environment. This calls for a shift in understanding and working with complexity. It requires a trans-disciplinary mindset, a focus on wholism as opposed to reductionism, a people-centered value orientation, a blend of analytical skills with synthesis, the rationality of science combined with intuitive understanding and appreciation of the art of being human, and a posture of intellectual humility that promotes collective endeavours in learning, living, relating and working in a complex world. The main purpose of this book, which consists of thirteen double blind peer reviewed chapters, is to draw on systems thinking and complexity theory to present and develop theoretical frameworks, conceptual models, methodologies and practical techniques to promote the understanding of complex systems, and to identify ways of intervening to bring about systemic change for improvement. These will apply to all kinds of social systems and organisations, and hence will be appropriate for public sector organisations, corporations, non-government institutions and civil society in general.

Mental Epidemics: From Mobbing to Terrorism Handbook focuses on a new research area: mental medicine as a psychiatric paradigm of integrative medicine. The scientific basis of mental medicine is synergetics. Synergetics is an interdisciplinary science of development and self-organisation, which has allowed the successive and systematical combination of treatment and rehabilitation strategies of nosocentric clinical psychiatry with preventive and correctional methods of health-oriented mental preventology. Mental medicine strengthens mental health and treats mental illnesses. Its mission lies in enabling adaptive engineering and management of mind and health. This book presents a synergetic biopsychosociospiritual concept of development of mental epidemics that is, contagious polymodal and polymorphic mental diseases and states. The conceptual provisions of mental health services are proposed, and requirements for mental health system monitoring as an interface of the public conscience are included. The features of anti-epidemic biopsychosociospiritual care are examined in this book. These features include somatotropic and psychotropic management, psychotherapeutic and sanogenetic management in multidisciplinary teams, as well as social, spiritual, and moral correction and rehabilitation. The principles and techniques of mental preventology are grounded. Mental preventology grows out of a synergetic rendering of mental hygiene and psychoprophylaxis, ethical and psychological support of adaptive professiogenesis and business communication, integration of healthy ways, and the moral meaning of life. The system of biopsychosociospiritual protection of the personality and society is represented by the resources of mental immunity, which is behaviorally embodied in the profile registers of mental resilience. This book is intended for general practitioners and psychotherapists, psychiatrists and narcologists, clinical psychologists and educators, specialists in social work and bioethics, and churchmen and volunteers.

Through the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act or act), Congress sought a nationwide approach to regulating workplace accidents and injuries. The act authorizes the Secretary of Labor to create and enforce workplace safety standards. Additionally, the act contains a General Duty Clause, also enforced by the Secretary of Labor, which generally requires employers to provide workplaces that are free of potentially harmful hazards. The act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, to whom the Secretary of Labor has delegated his enforcement rights and obligations under the act. The act also established the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), an adjudicatory agency independent of the Department of Labor, and therefore OSHA, that is tasked with reviewing enforcement actions. OSHA enforces its standards and the General Duty Clause through inspections, citations, and penalties. Employers can seek review of OSHA enforcement actions first with OSHRC and then with U.S. Courts of Appeals. This book discusses, in depth, the standards, provisions and rights of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

This book presents new research on new developments and policies in the Native American population in the United States. Topics discussed in this compilation include highways and highway safety on Indian lands; Indian water rights settlements; the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act; the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; the National Labor Relations Board''s enforcement of the National Labor Relations Act against tribal employers and the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015; and the Buy Indian Act.

Congress designed the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to be a self-supporting government agency. Since 1971, the agency has not relied upon annual appropriations to cover its operating costs. Rather, USPS has funded its operations mostly through the sales of postage and postal products and services. Since FY2007, however, the agency has run more than $40 billion in deficits and has reached its statutory borrowing limit. The agency does receive an annual appropriation of approximately $90 million per year, which amounts to about 0.1% of USPSs $65 billion operating budget. USPSs troubled financial condition has raised concerns about the viability of the agency. Many postal reform bills have been introduced in the 113th and 112th Congresses. These bills have proposed altering many aspects of postal operations, from raising the rates mailers pay to reducing the days of delivery and closing USPS post offices and mail sorting facilities. This book provides background information on the responsibilities, financial challenges and workforce issues facing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Additionally, it covers the current strategies and initiatives under development by the USPS and discusses further options for postal reforms.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major health concern because it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While therapies for AKI have improved in recent years, the prevalence of this condition is still high and continues to increase. Considering these clinical issues, the appropriate detection and management of risk factors related to AKI are important issues for clinicians managing AKI patients. This book discusses the forms of detection, predictors and long-term outcomes for acute kidney injuries.

Cities are beginning a new era of change. From 1920 to 2010 many U.S. cities hollowed out as suburbs grew faster than their urban cores. The trend started reversing in 2011 as Millennials and Baby Boomers looking for social connections and convenience settled in urban neighborhoods. Accompanying the resurgence of residential cities are complex and persistent urban challenges, including resilience against climate change and natural disasters. This book focuses on the technologies that shape some key infrastructures and economic activities, as opposed to those involved in delivering education, health care, or social services. It also outlines a vision and an approach agencies can use to move forward together in pursuing a vision of smart and connected communities.

Tribal firms -- those owned by Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and Indian tribes -- are afforded special advantages within the Small Business Administrations (SBA) 8(a) business development program. This book identifies trends in government 8(a) contracting with tribal firms; determines why the government awarded sole-source contracts to tribal 8(a) firms and the methods used to make price determinations; assesses the procuring agencies oversight of contracts for compliance with subcontracting requirements; and examines SBAs new 8(a) regulation, intended to clarify program rules, to determine how the changes could affect oversight of tribal 8(a) firms.

This book examines the most up-to-date research in the agricultural field. The first chapter discusses growing techniques for raspberry plants suitable for subtropical areas. Chapter Two presents current information on raspberries postharvest technology and the main nutritional characteristics, composition in terms of macro and micronutrients, as well as the most abundant bioactive compounds in this fruit. Chapter Three provides a detailed analysis of reduction potential for methane emissions arising the the production of edible protein with Holstein cattle in Northern Germany. Chapter Four reviews farm management and feeding strategies for donkey milk production. Chapter Five focuses on the β-casein variant among different native and cross breed cattle maintain at India. Chapter Six presents the prospects of enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) via increasing soil organic matter (SOM) as a result of improving soil fertility. Chapter Seven analyses the detected spatial and temporal variations on grass aeroallergens as well as their possible interactions with air pollution as regards allergic diseases. Chapter Eight talks about the applications of rice hull carbonisation and their potential to provide farmers opportunities for added income as a way of enhancing their resilience to the impacts of climate change. Chapter Nine discusses recent advances in biocontrol of stored-grain insects using entomopathogenic fungi.

This book provides readers with the latest developments in neuroscience research. Chapter One discusses the development of neurochemical characteristics of sensory neurons. Chapter Two reviews current knowledge regarding Mavridis'' area (MA) and its role as a modern stereotactic microanatomic guide for nucleus accumbens (NA) deep brain stimulation (DBS). Chapter Three describes the molecular mechanisms in response to exposure of the central nervous system (CNS) cells to the Ca2+ ionophores to increase the levels of intracellular free Ca2+ and consequently oxidative stress, and it also describes the roles of activation of the Ca2+-dependent proteases and intracellular pathways leading to induction of programmed cell death. Chapter Four reviews clinical features, epidemiology, genetics, physiopathology, management and advanced research on Frontotemporal Dementia and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). Chapter Five explores different terpenes and their role in signaling pathway modulating the progression of Alzheimer Disease. Chapter Six discusses the capability of and limitations in PET imaging research on non-human primates for translation to humans for brain aging research as well as therapeutic drug development for neurodegenerative diseases. Chapter Seven studies the imaging markers and prognostic significance of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). Chapter Eight reviews clinical practices and surgical intervention for ICH.

This latest volume includes contributions on the latest advances in energy research. Chapter One discusses heat transfer in micro-ducts. Chapter Two addresses the description and analysis of volume holographic elements for solar concentrating systems based on the detailed simulation of the energy amount and profile along with the spectral distribution delivered onto the solar receiver. Chapter Three reviews the impact of using thin alloyed capping layers (CLs) for InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) solar cells. Chapter Four examines the development of soap based thermal insulation for buildings as a sustainable alternative to the petroleum based counterparts, whilst decreasing the associated environmental costs. Chapter Five analyzes the simulation of spark plasma sintering for the preparation of inhomogeneous thermoelectric materials for energy generators. Chapter Six proposes a new maximum power point tracking algorithm for generators based on the suggested accurate electro-thermal model for them. Chapter Seven focuses on signal processing based mechanical fault prognosis and diagnosis of operating wind turbines in wind farms.

Humanity is facing a colossal problem due to a population explosion and the relentless exploitation of natural resources. Biotechnology is one of the most cutting edge fields of technology, which has the prospective to address some of the worlds paramount challenges, such as feeding a rising population and offering novel alternatives to our limited natural resources. The ultimate objective of biotechnology is to meet human requirements in order to improve our quality of life. Due to progressive and comprehensive research and development, the prominence of biotechnology has come into existence. It is widely used in agriculture, medicine, engineering, science, technology and other forms of applications, and can be harnessed as a panacea for the problems of mankind. Apart from the research in the field concerning transgenic animals and plants, use of various microorganism derived products in microbiology has changed the way biotic and abiotic components of the Earth interact. This book shows how the use of biotechnology is evolving and expanding, highlighting the methods that can prove to positively affect our future and planet.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects 10-20% of the overall population in the US with rates increasing with age. T. gondii infects most warm blooded animals where an antibody response is generated to control the infection, however, the parasite forms bradyzoite cysts in brain and muscle. It can only reproduce in felines where oocytes are excreted in the feces. Infection can occur by a variety of routes. In cats, infection occurs by eating infected prey, primarily rodents or birds. Infection in humans can occur by eating undercooked infected meat, handling infected cat feces, ingesting oocytes on unwashed fruits or vegetables, or drinking contaminated water. Another important route of infection is congenital infection. This book discusses the potential risks this parasitic infection may cause. It also reviews the parasite''s life cycle.

Civic engagement refers to participating in activities which make a difference in the civic life of citizens in communities. These activities are meant to promote the quality of life in a community, either through participation in any activity or event that involves political subject matter, or through non-political involvement in community associations such as clubs, religious bodies, work organisations and unions, and informal happenings such as sports leagues. Research on civic engagement and its causes can be divided into two broad categories, either the individual-level explanations that emphasise the social psychological and economic factors that affect individual attitudes and behaviors, or the structure-level explanations that place emphasis on macro structures such as societal values, norms and material forces. This book reviews several perspectives on civic engagement, as well as its roles and impacts in society.

This book provides new research on the dynamics, algorithms and synchronization of chaotic systems. Chapter One introduces some nonlinear techniques for the synchronization of a class of chaotic oscillator under the framework of observer design from control theory. Chapter Two discusses in detail the application of a novel multi-domain spectral collocation approach for finding solutions of ordinary differential equations that exhibit general chaotic behaviour. Chapter Three designs an adaptive state feedback controller guaranteeing the asymptotic stability followed by the synchronization of the nonlinear discrete-time error of two identical hyper chaotic systems.

This book presents analytical models of thermal stresses in two- and three-component composites with anisotropic components. Within the analytical modelling, the two- and three-component composites are replaced by a multi-particle-matrix and multi-particle-envelope-matrix systems, respectively. These model systems consist of anisotropic spherical particles (either without or with an envelope on the particle surface), which are periodically distributed in an anisotropic infinite matrix. The thermal stresses that originate below the relaxation temperature during a cooling process are a consequence of the difference in dimensions of the components. This difference is a consequence of different thermal expansion coefficients and/or a consequence of the phase-transformation induced strain, which is determined for anisotropic crystal lattices. The analytical modelling results from mutually different mathematical procedures, which are applied to fundamental equations of solid continuum mechanics (Hookes law for an anisotropic elastic solid continuum, Cauchys law, and compatibility and equilibrium equations). The thermal stress-strain state in each anisotropic component of the model systems is determined by several different solutions, which fulfill boundary conditions. Due to these different solutions, a principle of minimal total potential energy of an elastic solid body is then required to be considered. Results of this book are applicable within basic research (solid continuum mechanics, theoretical physics, materials science, etc.) as well as within the practice of engineering.

Environmental education with ideal teaching tools are essential for raising the publics, especially students, awareness of many environmental issues. Environmental education is an important tool of change because it has the ability to bring about a shift in attitude and encourage human lifestyles that support ecological integrity. In this book, Chapter One focuses teacher educators'' uptake of environmental education. Chapter Two describes the experiences of the authors in the application and development of Learning Objects (LO) for interactive teaching in the field of environmental engineering. Chapter Three provides an easy-to-make global warming model instrument and reviews its applications in basic environmental education. Chapter Four develops a model instrument of a thermal power generator that can be applied as a teaching tool for understanding of air pollutant forming as well as power generation. Chapter Five develops a do-it-yourself model instrument of acid rain and estimating its applicability to the environmental education. Chapter Six reviews contemporary threats and how to prevent them in the social-psychological safety of an educational environment.