This monograph examines Choson Dynasty's Zun Zhou Si Ming (Revering the Zhou and Longing for the Ming) during the period of 1637-1800, after Choson entered tributary relations with the Qing. It shows how the royal family, Confucian scholars, and Ming-loyalist descendants continued to affirm Ming legitimacy through practices such as ritual commemoration of Ming emperors, covert use of Ming reign-titles, and the compilation of Ming-centered historical writings, alongside related material and institutional expressions. Framing these phenomena within Choson "Little China" self-positioning, the study integrates concepts of Choson mainstream cultural mentalities such as the concept of orthodoxy, Sinophilia, Sadae (serving the great), and the Hua-Yi distinction. It offers a reinterpretation of Qing- Choson relations during the Qing Dynasty.

This book explores the synergy between artificial intelligence and medtech, offering a roadmap toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. These technologies are part of a wave of innovation transforming how we learn, work, communicate, and live, from self-driving cars to AI-designed drugs and quantum computing. Yet most advances remain concentrated in high-income countries, leaving many low-income nations struggling to keep up.

I examine the social, political, and economic factors limiting development, highlight successful strategies, and explore AI and biotechnologies. Through case studies, the book shows how these tools can improve healthcare access, promote sustainable agriculture, and tackle other global challenges while considering ethical implications. By focusing on solutions accessible to low-income countries, it offers insights for innovators in middle- and high-income nations launching ventures with limited resources.

Future trends rely on interdisciplinary approaches integrating economy, sociology, and technology, recognizing that climate change, new health challenges, demographic shifts, and technologies are reshaping societies worldwide. Developing and advanced economies are deeply interconnected, making this broader perspective essential.

This book will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students of international development and public health, as well as those working in development, humanitarian initiatives, or innovation-focused startups and companies targeting low-resource environments.

Using legal analysis methods, this book investigates the impact of "big data," "data" and "information" on human society as well as the potential risks. In the context of competition issues, it analyzes relevant legal systems' paths to perfection. Further, it discusses the intellectual property system as a problem-solving tool.

The book reflects the interpretation of, attitudes to and possible treatment of non-traditional intellectual property objects such as "big data," "data" and "information" in Chinese intellectual property law research. At the same time, it describes the attitude of the Chinese legal system to "information openness" and demonstrates the practical aspects of including "big data" in the intellectual property protection system.

Offering definitions of "big data," "data" and "information" in Chinese legal studies, this book is a valuable resource for legal researchers and information technology industry practitioners. It also enables readers to gain an understanding of the Chinese intellectual property system's attitude to modern information technology objects and of Chinese law. Lastly, it raises awareness of "information monopoly" and offers possible ways to analyze and solve problems.

This book delves deeply into the evolution of service science and its application to Indonesia, a country characterized by its agrarian and maritime identities, rich cultural tapestry, and huge physical geography. It investigates how these elements influence customer behaviors, the decision-making processes, and service perceptions, presenting both difficulties and possibilities for business, academia, and government to create value in this diversified context.

The book is the first to investigate how service science might be implemented within Indonesia's unique cultural and geographical environment, incorporating the country's special idea of gotong-royong (mutual cooperation) into the value co-creation framework. Unlike other research, it combines global ideas with local practices, providing new insights into adapting service science and innovation to regional diversity.

By combining theory and practical case studies, this book provides a holistic understanding of the concept of service science as well as the development of scientific application. It highlights the significance of tailoring service to the local situation in Indonesia. Also, it reflects Indonesia's unique traits while providing ideas relevant outside its borders, with examples drawn from academia, business, and government sectors.

Designed as a guide for practitioners, academics, and policymakers, this book provides modeling approaches in both hard and soft systems thinking. It uses qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies to show how service science may promote value co-creation and innovation. The book has two major parts; the first discusses the concept of service science from the systems science perspective, and the second deals with the application of the service science concept to real cases in Indonesia.

This volume, the third in A General History of Chinese Wushu, offers a historically substantiated and analytically focused account of the development of Wushu from 1900 to 1949, a period characterized by accelerated political and social transformation. Integrating historical narrative with theoretical reflection, the study reconstructs the evolution of Wushu's institutional forms, functional orientations, and cultural meanings during the late Qing, Republican era, and the founding moment of the People's Republic of China.
The volume draws extensively on primary materials-contemporary news reportage, archival documents, technical manuals, and memoirs of practitioners-to present a critical and evidence-based analysis of Wushu's modernization. It foregrounds the methodological value of correlating empirical data with conceptual interpretation, thereby providing a rigorous framework for understanding the reconfiguration of traditional martial practices in response to new national, military, and educational imperatives.
Balancing academic precision with the clarity needed for historical reconstruction, the volume serves as an authoritative reference for scholars in Chinese history, cultural studies, sports history, and related fields. It elucidates how Wushu transitioned from a traditional mode of self-defense and physical cultivation to a modern sport, revealing the broader ethos of national self-strengthening that shaped China's early twentieth-century sociocultural landscape.

This book contains the latest cutting-edge research, compiling the most interesting contents of reports by researchers from 42 countries around the world at the International Studies Association Asia Pacific international conference held in Tokyo in 2023. Topics such as the Anthropocene, Covid-19, security, regional collaboration, democracy and autocracy, gender, and the Global South are included. Researchers from the United States, Europe, and Japan, along with emerging powers, China, India, and ASEAN nations, have conducted multifaceted analyses of topics involving climate change, Covid-19, the achievements and challenges of the growth of Asia, China and India, regional cooperation such as the Belt and Road Initiative, SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, RCEP, IPEF, and ASEAN, security issues, democracy and autocracy, and the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Gaza. The book also includes lectures by leading figures in international politics such as Joseph Nye, Amitav Acharya, and T.V. Paul; a panel of distinguished professors, with Mike Mochizuki, Mikel Swaine, Steven Rosefielde, Sang Chul Park, and Hundah Su among them; as well as papers by young, up-and-coming researchers, making it a collection of trailblazing research on the world order in the twenty-first century, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and changing democracy. It is a must-read book on raising issues and solving problems from Asia, a world leader.

How has humanity in general, and Christianity in particular, dealt with the question of the soul's immortality?
In this book, Jeremiah Mutie digs deep into the pages of history, revealing that the immortality of the human soul has been an ongoing issue for the entirety of humanity's existence. Tracing the pre-Tatian Greek philosophical concepts of the soul, Mutie advances ongoing discussions on the fate of the human soul, turning specifically to Tatian's (120-180) infamous "battle" with the Greeks. He contends that, compared to the Platonic and Middle Platonic Greek views, Tatian's view comes closest to biblical conceptions of the human soul. Across six chapters, Mutie critiques historical claims of Tatian's heresy, arguing that Tatian's work not only echoes biblical writings, but creates rich fodder for discussions of the immortality of the human soul.

This volume showcases the vibrant and diverse landscape of phenomenological thinking in India. Critically engaging with the works of phenomenological thinkers like Edmund Husserl, Emmanuel Levinas, Franz Brentano, Hannah Arendt, Jitendra Nath Mohanty, Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and R. Sundara Rajan, the contributors of this volume offer exciting insights and interdisciplinary examinations that help expand our understanding of phenomenology within a global context. Among this volume's rich contributions are new accounts that delve into the hitherto 'lost' reception history of phenomenology in India, the as-yet inadequately acknowledged extent of Edmund Husserl's engagement with Buddhist philosophy, R. Sundara Rajan's decolonizing thinking on geophilia, a cross-cultural dialogical exploration between phenomenology and yoga philosophy, a phenomenology of tribal identity formation in Northeast India, a critical phenomenology of caste, a feminist and anti-caste phenomenology of labor, and aesthetic phenomenology in the context of curatorial technologies as well as theatrical experiences. The volume also offers a novel phenomenological methodology for environmental ethics research in addition to timely interventions to the problem of referentiality in Husserl and decision in Heidegger. The varied contributions of this volume would serve as thought-provoking resources for graduate students and researchers in related fields.

This book provides an in-depth study of traditional Confucian concepts of women, the emergence of the "New Woman," and contemporary female gender roles in China. Rich and detailed in content, it combines macro-level analysis with specific case studies, tracing the evolution of gender perceptions of women in Chinese society over three millennia while exploring the social ecology of modern Chinese women. Drawing on perspectives from the ancient Chinese classic I Ching (or Yijing), the author delves into the various ritual and ethical constraints imposed on women to consolidate men's dominant social power following the establishment of the patriarchal system. With social development and progress, feminist ideas began to emerge and gain momentum, challenging Confucian gender norms and enabling the expression of women's liberation and self-worth. This has prompted a reexamination of female gender roles. The book offers novel arguments, profound insights, and rigorous analysis, supported by an extensive range of references. It systematically outlines the historical evolution of gender concepts in Chinese society over the past three thousand years and examines the social dynamics shaping contemporary Chinese women. As an academic monograph with a rigorous structure and incisive perspectives, it holds significant scholarly value and practical relevance.

This edited volume chronicles the movements of Black and Afro-descendant women across intellectual, geographic, temporal, gender, and cultural boundaries. In the interdisciplinary tradition of Black Feminism, the contributors explore the redefinition and evolution of Black women and place. Researchers, activists, and academics present diverse perspectives on the strategies through which Black and Afro-descendant women confront racism and sexism in their communities. The chapters also examine the knowledge and pathways generated by Black and Afro-descendant women in both historical and contemporary contexts.

The book is organized in three sections. "Historical Trajectories" situates the experiences of Black women in the legacies of the past that continue to shape present-day activism. "Community Experiences" reflects on the importance of Black and Afro-descendant women's work in sustaining the social fabric of their communities. Finally, "Narrative as Methodology" offers innovative approaches to narrating the personal experiences of Black and Afro-descendant women in education, research, and activism.

Dr. Jaira J. Harrington is an Assistant Professor of Black Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, USA. She has published in Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies, Kalfou: A Journal of Comparative Ethnic Studies, Race & Class, and Revista Relicario Uberlandia. A seasoned educator on gender, race, labor, activism, and Black communities in Latin America, she teaches courses on Black diaspora, global Black feminisms, and the politics of Blackness in Latin America. She is currently completing her first book, Inscribed and Erased: Domestic Workers' Rights in Brazil.

Dr. Angie Edell Campos Lazo is a Lecturer of Social Work at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru and an Afro-Peruvian activist. Her dissertation, Black Bodies in Professional Workspaces: Professionalization of Afro-Peruvian Women in the City of Lima, examines contemporary racism through the educational and professional experiences of Afro-Peruvian women. Her research centers Afro-Peruvian human rights, Afro-descendant women's activism, and youth political participation. A recognized scholar-activist and community leader, she has published widely in the Afro-Latin American studies field.

This book provides a comprehensive guide for leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to drive business innovation in the digital economy. As data from modern digital sources like sensors, social networks, and online transactions grows exponentially, businesses must adopt data-driven strategies to remain competitive and agile. The book equips leaders, technologists, and data scientists with the knowledge and tools to transform vast datasets into actionable insights, optimizing decision-making, enhancing customer experiences, and fueling innovation. At its core, the book addresses the critical challenge of moving beyond mere data collection to effectively harnessing data for innovation. In today's competitive landscape, gathering data alone is insufficient; success depends on a company's ability to extract meaningful insights and translate them into actionable strategies. The book explores the latest tools and technologies that facilitate this transformation and delves into the organizational changes needed to foster a data-driven culture, such as leadership engagement, cross-departmental collaboration, and data governance. By weighing both the benefits and risks, readers gain a balanced and forward-looking perspective on implementing AI and Big Data responsibly and sustainably. As businesses increasingly seek to capitalize on Big Data and AI, there is a growing need for resources that bridge the gap between technical data science concepts and their practical applications in business. This book meets that need, helping business leaders, technology professionals, and academics understand how to leverage Big Data to solve complex problems and drive innovation. The book's primary audience includes business executives, data scientists, IT professionals, and graduate students in business, data science, and computer science. It also appeals to decision-makers in industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing who are looking to implement data-driven strategies to enhance their operations and customer offerings.

This book offers an in-depth and penetrating exploration of cybercrimes committed against one of the most vulnerable groups in society-children-within the hidden environment of the dark web. Approaching the subject through an interdisciplinary and analytical lens, the volume investigates how anonymity technologies, encrypted communication channels, cryptocurrencies, and concealed online platforms enable and sustain child sexual exploitation in digital spaces.

Acting as a guide through the hidden layers of the dark web, the book examines the tactics, strategies, and evolving methods used by cybercriminals to target children. It provides detailed analysis of secret forums, underground networks, and AI-enabled tools, including deepfake technologies and automated content generation, that have reshaped the nature and scale of these crimes. Moving beyond surface-level discussions, the book offers a deeper understanding of offender behavior, psychological drivers, and operational methodologies underpinning cyber-enabled child exploitation.

Grounded in real-world case studies and investigative experiences, the volume bridges the gap between academic analysis and practical application. These cases provide concrete insights into victim experiences, offender techniques, and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies, reinforcing the urgency of effective prevention, detection, and response mechanisms.

Balancing critical analysis with forward-looking solutions, the book equips readers with the knowledge needed to identify threats and protect children in the digital age. It empowers parents, guardians, educators, policymakers, and practitioners with actionable insights, policy-relevant recommendations, and technological perspectives to strengthen digital defenses. By emphasizing international cooperation, public-private partnerships, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the book positions itself not only as a rigorous academic contribution, but also as a practical resource and a call to collective action toward creating a safer online environment for children.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, significant question marks hung over the capacity of the world's wealthiest economies to sustain a long international conflict. This book goes beyond macroeconomic perspectives on war financing to show in highly granular detail how the war was financed in Britain, using previously unstudied data to explore at a societal level how this capital was raised. It offers a framework for understanding how economic and financial policy during wartime became instruments of capital-raising that were crucial to the eventual outcome of the first-ever global war and were not simply ancillary factors affecting military efforts.

Using rich archival sources from the Bank of England, the author explores the identities and demographics of the investors who bought bonds that financed Britain during the First World War. The book examines the different policies and strategies employed to bring investors into the war from across society, including different classes and genders, and demonstrates how the need to raise capital for Allied victory ultimately altered not only the distribution of income and capital in Britain but also the form in which it was held. The book also analyses Britain's war debt and re-financing efforts in this context, spanning a timeline from 1914 up until 1932. This book will be a fascinating read for scholars and students of economic, financial and military history.

The current literature on AI in procurement is growing, but only a small portion of this literature is focused on Agentic AI systems, which are characterized by autonomy, goal-directed behaviour, and decision-making capacity. This book explores how autonomous agents reshape sourcing, negotiation, compliance, and supplier interaction, while addressing risks, governance, and organizational change. Positioned at the intersection of AI innovation and procurement strategy, this book constitutes the first exclusive resource on the transformative potential of Agentic AI on procurement. It will be of great interest to researchers and students of operations management and technological innovation strategy, as well as policymakers and industry professionals seeking to understand and leverage agentic AI as a transformative force in procurement.

This book presents the findings of the Verbier Summit 2025. Serving as an international hub for interdisciplinary research, discussions, and emerging best practices, the book explores the understanding, financing, structuring, and monitoring climate-related issues and subjects. The book aims to foster collaboration among financial economists, meteorologists, policymakers, and practitioners, enabling them to apply best practice financial engineering grounded in a profound understanding of climate-related challenges.

This book explores how enduring meta-narratives shape international security policies, disarmament efforts, and arms control practices. Zooming-in on dominant political myths, this book critically examines their role in legitimizing and sustaining global weapon governance by influencing both national and international approaches to disarmament.

Through a multidisciplinary lens that combines international relations, security studies, political sociology, and political theory, the author provides a nuanced analysis of the symbolic and cultural underpinnings of warfare in contemporary global politics. Drawing on interpretive-qualitative research methodology, this book reveals how narrative structures not only justify and foster militarization but also shape the institutional frameworks that govern weapons and conflict prevention.

This timely contribution challenges dominant narratives and representations of war in disarmament and arms control, urging scholars, policymakers, and civil society actors to reimagine global security beyond entrenched mythologies. It offers a compelling perspective for those working in international security, peace and conflict studies, disarmament, cultural politics, and global governance.

Ideal for academic researchers, graduate students, and professionals engaged in international security policy and disarmament advocacy, this book delivers both theoretical insight and practical relevance. It encourages a deeper understanding of how storytelling, belief systems, and political heuristics and imaginations continue to influence the pursuit of peace in an increasingly militarized world.

Using real-world case studies from across the Global South, this book shows how partisanship has been an important tool in journalism. The puroported "objectivity" of commercial media often whitewashes bias and outright fabrications - such as the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - and misrepresents them as untemered facts. In contrast, the explicitly partisan journalism practiced by the independent media outlets studied in this book expresses a philosophy of democratic participation, social justice, and advocacy. This text provides chapter examples of partisan journalism by Bolivian miners, Nicaraguan media workers, Venezuelan community media, Pan-African indigenous journalism, and Radio Free Palestine.

Inter duo Imperia ? zwischen zwei Reichen. So beschreibt Plinius die Lage der Oase Tadmor, deren im griechischen auch als Palmyra bekannte Stadt neben fantastischen Ruinen ein einzigartiges epigraphisches Zeugnis hinterlassen hat: einen Schatz aus mehr als dreitausend Inschriften auf Palmyrenisch, Griechisch und Latein aus der Zeit zwischen 50 vor und 370 nach Christus. So einzigartig wie Lage und Geschichte, so umstritten ist die gesellschaftliche Struktur Palmyras in der Forschung: Handelte es sich um eine griechische Stadt mit Kolonnade, Tempeln, Magistraten und Aemtern? Oder war es eine Ansammlung von polymorphen Staemmen, aeusserlich griechisch, aber innerlich zusammengehalten durch Blutsbande, Fernhandelsertraege und Waffenglueck?

Zur Bearbeitung dieser Fragen geht diese Arbeit von einer umfangreichen Prosopographie aus, die sodann systematisch fuer einzelne Teilbereiche des Palmyrenischen Lebens ausgewertet werden, um Palmyras Institutionen in ihrer ganzen Bandbreite zu beleuchten: Symposien und Staemme, Zolleintreiber und Magistrate, Fernhaendler, Fremde, Nomaden und die Palmyrener der Diaspora.