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Of Goblins and Gods
No full textThe historical and technological significance of cobalt and its compounds Cobalt: named after goblins, allotted to gods. Cobalt and its compounds have had a long and important part to play in history. Metallic cobalt is a modern innovation, vital in the green energy transition. However, cobalt compounds have been used for 3,500 years to create deep-blue pigments, featuring in many important works of art and religious artefacts, associated with heaven, eternity and the divine. Cobalt ores are rare, and their exploitation is a dangerous pursuit. Their co-occurrence with arsenic has led to severe health consequences for workers, which were blamed on supernatural spirits and goblins, “kobolds”, from which the name cobalt is derived. Of Goblins and Gods discusses the state-of-the-art extraction and use of cobalt ores through history, alongside the technology involved in making and applying cobalt pigments in many man-made materials across all regions and periods, from the Death Mask of Tutankhamun and pre-Islamic tiles to Indian manuscripts and the windows of Canterbury Cathedral
Privacy Technologies and Policy
No full textThis open access book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 13th Annual Privacy Forum on Privacy Technologies and Policy, APF 2025, held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, during October 22-23, 2025. The 9 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 27 submissions.They were organized into following topical sections: Supporting Laypeople and Users: Design Approaches, User Perceptions, and Problems; Emerging Risks from Upcoming Technologies, Misunderstandings, and Regulatory Derogation; Professional Methods & Tools for Analysis and Decision Making
Quantitative History of China
No full textThis Open Access book marks the beginning of a new era in the study of Chinese history. Since the beginning of the computer age, quantitative techniques have been increasingly used to study specific topics like family, population, and living standards in China's past. However, sample sizes have usually been small due to either historical archives' availability constraints or limited human processing capacity. With much increased computing power and machine-assisted reading/processing capacity, many big historical databases have become available, offering quantitative historians and social scientists great opportunities to study China's past development experience. This volume showcases a collection of new findings concerning China's political, social, and economic history and typically based on newly constructed large historical datasets. Most of the work has involved an interdisciplinary team of economists, sociologists, political scientists, historians and econometricians, demonstrating how new big data and quantitative methods may be brought to bear on some of the biggest questions related to China's development over the past three millennia and on the implications of distant past events on contemporary China. Topics covered range from the roles of war, state formation, religion, culture, finance and institutions in long-run development and technological innovations, to regicide history, to the organization and capacity of the bureaucracy. Contributors include leading figures in the quantitative study of China's long-run socioeconomic and political history. This volume will be of value to anyone with an interest in Chinese economic, political, social and/or institutional history as well as anyone interested in quantitative history more generally
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations—Governance, Technology, and Legal Perspectives
No full textThis open access book explores the transformative world of DAOs, where decentralized governance meets blockchain technology. Based on a competitive peer-reviewed selection of papers presented at the second European DAO Workshop at ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Zurich, Switzerland in 2025, this book provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of DAO research. In this context, it addresses key aspects of DAOs, from governance mechanisms and stakeholder dynamics to the development of essential tools and frameworks. Beyond examining how DAOs can redefine organizational structures, enhance transparency, and promote democratic decision-making, it also addresses important challenges such as centralization risks, legal uncertainties, and integration into existing economic and regulatory frameworks. This book is valuable for researchers and practitioners interested in understanding and promoting the potential of DAOs in creating a fairer and more innovative digital economy
Advocacy in Translanguaging Education
No full textVigorously advocates for realising translanguaging’s transformative potential in education. This book examines diverse aspects of advocacy for translanguaging as a legitimate educational practice. It advances a practical theory of the translanguaging of education that is informed by deliberative advocacy and based in evidence. Combinations of quantitative and qualitative research from preschool to higher and adult education in different parts of the world give insight into current translanguaging strategies and pedagogies. From translanguaging and transsemiotising in subject lessons such as Mathematics and Geography, to transdisciplinary engagement with poetry and music beyond the classroom, the findings contribute to the development of a practical theory of translanguaging in education, and demonstrate how translanguaging plays a part in everyday language learning and language use. This book is open access under a CC BY ND licence
Integrative Forest Management and Silviculture
No full textThis open access book presents the integrative forest management and silvicultural practices developed by the University of Tokyo Hokkaido Forest (UTHF) over the past six decades. Central to the UTHF’s approach is the Stand-based Silvicultural Management System (SSMS), a pioneering framework designed to balance timber production with biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health. The book details the SSMS and its application at the UTHF, which serves as a model for integrative forest management applicable to diverse forest ecosystems worldwide. The focus of the book is on the scientific basis, achievements, and challenges of SSMS in the UTHF. Part I includes this outline of this book and the history of the UTHF′s forest management since 1899. Part II introduces the ecosystem and geographical characteristics of the UTHF, where the SSMS is put into practice. Part III presents the basic principles and practical application of the SSMS. Ecosystem management and ecosystem services of the UTHF at the landscape scale are discussed in Part IV. Part V discusses challenges and opportunities for advancing integrative forest management in a rapidly changing environment. Through case studies and detailed analysis, this book serves as a valuable resource for forestry scientists, practitioners, and policymakers. It offers insights into sustainable forest management in a changing world. By sharing the experiences and lessons learned from the UTHF, the book aims to inspire and guide the advancement of sustainable forestry practices globally. The publication of this book commemorates the 125th anniversary of the University of Tokyo Hokkaido Forest
