Xudong Zhao

As the first of a two-volume set on the anthropology of cultural transformation, this book discusses the manifestations of cultural transformation in the modern world and explores the re-establishment of cultural consciousness. Anthropology in the 21st century is confronted with a worldview of cultural transformation based on communication, collision, and interaction among cultures around the globe. This two-volume set aims to reorient the role and function of anthropology by focusing on the reconstruction of knowledge and cultural consciousness in order to better imagine and realize the synergetic interaction between different cultures and civilizations. In this first volume, the author provides an overview of the key issues and stances of anthropology in the face of cultural transformation. The book examines the trend of social and cultural transformation in the modern world and in China. It analyzes how the technology of separation brought about by modernity shapes family function and education. As a promising solution to this predicament, the book elucidates the importance of cultural consciousness in resisting disasters and social syndromes. The title will appeal to anthropologists, students, and general readers interested in anthropology, sociology, and ethnography.

This two-volume set explores how anthropology should respond to and engage with cultural change in the modern world. Anthropology in the twenty-first century faces a worldview of cultural transformation based on communication, collision, and interaction among cultures around the globe. This two-volume set aims to reorient the role and function of anthropology by focusing on reconstructing knowledge and cultural consciousness to better envision and realize the synergetic interaction between different cultures and civilizations. The first volume discusses the manifestations of cultural transformation in the modern world and elucidates the importance of restoring cultural consciousness. The second volume examines how cultural consciousness enriches and reshapes the vision of anthropology and ethnographic writing. It explores the new paths and missions of Chinese anthropological studies and ethnographic writing, which should be grounded in the indigenous consciousness and cultural reservoir of China. The set will appeal to anthropologists, students, and general readers interested in anthropology, sociology, and ethnography.

This book is the second of a two-volume set on the anthropology of cultural transformation. It examines how cultural consciousness enriches and reshapes the vision of anthropology and ethnographic writing. Anthropology in the twenty-first century is confronted with a worldview of cultural transformation based on communication, collision, and interaction among cultures around the globe. This two-volume set aims to reorient the role and function of anthropology by focusing on reconstructing knowledge and cultural consciousness to better imagine and realize the synergetic interaction between different cultures and civilizations. The second volume begins with a case study of the demolition of urban areas in Beijing, revealing a reinvention of public cultural representation. It then explores the new paths and missions of Chinese anthropological studies and ethnographic writing, which should be grounded in China's indigenous consciousness and cultural reservoir. The title will appeal to anthropologists, students, and general readers interested in anthropology, sociology, and ethnography.

This two-volume set explores how anthropology should respond to and engage with cultural change in the modern world. Anthropology in the twenty-first century faces a worldview of cultural transformation based on communication, collision, and interaction among cultures around the globe. This two-volume set aims to reorient the role and function of anthropology by focusing on reconstructing knowledge and cultural consciousness to better envision and realize the synergetic interaction between different cultures and civilizations. The first volume discusses the manifestations of cultural transformation in the modern world and elucidates the importance of restoring cultural consciousness. The second volume examines how cultural consciousness enriches and reshapes the vision of anthropology and ethnographic writing. It explores the new paths and missions of Chinese anthropological studies and ethnographic writing, which should be grounded in the indigenous consciousness and cultural reservoir of China. The set will appeal to anthropologists, students, and general readers interested in anthropology, sociology, and ethnography.

This book is the second of a two-volume set on the anthropology of cultural transformation. It examines how cultural consciousness enriches and reshapes the vision of anthropology and ethnographic writing. Anthropology in the twenty-first century is confronted with a worldview of cultural transformation based on communication, collision, and interaction among cultures around the globe. This two-volume set aims to reorient the role and function of anthropology by focusing on reconstructing knowledge and cultural consciousness to better imagine and realize the synergetic interaction between different cultures and civilizations. The second volume begins with a case study of the demolition of urban areas in Beijing, revealing a reinvention of public cultural representation. It then explores the new paths and missions of Chinese anthropological studies and ethnographic writing, which should be grounded in China's indigenous consciousness and cultural reservoir. The title will appeal to anthropologists, students, and general readers interested in anthropology, sociology, and ethnography.

As the first of a two-volume set on the anthropology of cultural transformation, this book discusses the manifestations of cultural transformation in the modern world and explores the re-establishment of cultural consciousness. Anthropology in the 21st century is confronted with a worldview of cultural transformation based on communication, collision, and interaction among cultures around the globe. This two-volume set aims to reorient the role and function of anthropology by focusing on the reconstruction of knowledge and cultural consciousness in order to better imagine and realize the synergetic interaction between different cultures and civilizations. In this first volume, the author provides an overview of the key issues and stances of anthropology in the face of cultural transformation. The book examines the trend of social and cultural transformation in the modern world and in China. It analyzes how the technology of separation brought about by modernity shapes family function and education. As a promising solution to this predicament, the book elucidates the importance of cultural consciousness in resisting disasters and social syndromes. The title will appeal to anthropologists, students, and general readers interested in anthropology, sociology, and ethnography.

This book discusses the relationship, interaction and conflict between everyday life and various institutions in a specific village in North China, with a focus on the formal and informal legal systems. It vividly describes the village’s “legal construction problems” as well as the customs and laws, and such it can be seen as a historical and innovative comment on China’s problems. The book is based on the author’s field investigations assessing vast amounts of material concerning local organizations, formal and informal authorities, economic exchange, religious rituals, as well as interviews with villagers and numerous court files. It presents an in-depth exploration of “pluralism of authority” in China’s rural society, and examines how various authorities were formed. It also summarizes how various local disputes are resolved and discusses the villagers’ understanding of the concept of “justice.” Lastly, it suggests ways in which national law andlocal customs could communicate and collaborate.

This book offers its readers a detailed overview of the synthesis of switched systems, with a focus on switching stabilization and intelligent control. The problems investigated are not only previously unsolved theoretically but also of practical importance in many applications: voltage conversion, naval piloting and navigation and robotics, for example. The book considers general switched-system models and provides more efficient design methods to bring together theory and application more closely than was possible using classical methods. It also discusses several different classes of switched systems. For general switched linear systems and switched nonlinear systems comprising unstable subsystems, it introduces novel ideas such as invariant subspace theory and the time-scheduled Lyapunov function method of designing switching signals to stabilize the underlying systems. For some typical switched nonlinear systems affected by various complex dynamics, the book proposes novel design approaches based on intelligent control concepts. It is a useful source of up-to-date design methods and algorithms for researchers studying switched systems and graduate students of control theory and engineering. In addition, it is a valuable reference resource for practising engineers working in switched-system control design. Readers should have a basic knowledge of linear, nonlinear and switched systems.

Over the past decades, great progress has been made in both Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) technology R&D and its commercial application. The book proposes a novel dew point air cooler (DPC) which achieves breakthroughs in cooling performance and energy use by incorporating a variety of innovation into a counter-flow regenerative unit. It features an innovative structure of the heat and mass exchanger, a novel water distribution and control scheme, the application of new material and new process and an exclusive self-developed simulation tool. The book presents an in-depth investigation of the novel DPC that is undertaken through an extensive and critical literature review, optimal concept design, theoretical analysis, development of dedicated simulation programme, prototype construction, laboratory-controlled tests, validation of the simulation models and socio-technical acceptance analysis. A significant leap forward has been achieved with this study and this is expected to open enormous global business in the very near future, thus bringing about great economic, environmental and sustainability benefits worldwide.

This book offers its readers a detailed overview of the synthesis of switched systems, with a focus on switching stabilization and intelligent control. The problems investigated are not only previously unsolved theoretically but also of practical importance in many applications: voltage conversion, naval piloting and navigation and robotics, for example. The book considers general switched-system models and provides more efficient design methods to bring together theory and application more closely than was possible using classical methods. It also discusses several different classes of switched systems. For general switched linear systems and switched nonlinear systems comprising unstable subsystems, it introduces novel ideas such as invariant subspace theory and the time-scheduled Lyapunov function method of designing switching signals to stabilize the underlying systems. For some typical switched nonlinear systems affected by various complex dynamics, the book proposes novel design approaches based on intelligent control concepts. It is a useful source of up-to-date design methods and algorithms for researchers studying switched systems and graduate students of control theory and engineering. In addition, it is a valuable reference resource for practising engineers working in switched-system control design. Readers should have a basic knowledge of linear, nonlinear and switched systems.