springer feb 2005 (311 resultados)

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The book presents variational methods combined with boundary integral equation techniques in application to a model of dynamic bending of plates with transverse shear deformation. The emphasis is on the rigorous mathematical investigation of the model, which covers a complete study of the well-posedness of a number of initial-boundary value problems, their reduction to time-dependent boundary integral equations by means of suitable potential representations, and the solution of the latter in Sobolev spaces.The analysis, performed in spaces of distributions, is applicable to a wide variety of data with less smoothness than that required in the corresponding classical problems, and is very useful for constructing error estimates in numerical computations. This illustrative model was chosen because of its practical importance and some unusual mathematical features, but the solution technique can easily be adapted to many other hyperbolic systems of partial differential equations arising in continuum mechanics.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The present volume originated in 2001 when we, together with our publishing editors at (then) Kluwer Academic Publishers, realized that the th following year the 50 volume of our journal Acta Biotheoretica would see the light. We felt that this milestone should not pass unnoticed and that the appropriate way to mark it would be the publication of a special volume of papers on theoretical biology. While editing this book during 2003 and early 2004, we realized that another milestone was not far off: in 2005 it will be 70 years ago that the journal was founded. We hope that the book lying before you will serve well to mark both events. The papers collected here have been written on invitation by representatives of the theoretical biology community in The Netherlands. They are intended to reflect the entire spectrum of topics on which Acta Biotheoretica publishes, ranging from philosophy of biology on one end to mathematical biology on the other. All chapters (except our own introductory one) have been peer reviewed according to the standards that are maintained with respect to regular submissions to Acta Biotheoretica.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The premise that writing is a socially-situated act of interaction between readers and writers is well established. This volume first, corroborates this premise by citing pertinent evidence, through the analysis of written texts and interactive writing contexts, and from educational settings across different cultures from which we have scant evidence. Secondly, all chapters, though addressing the social nature of writing, propose a variety of perspectives, making the volume multidisciplinary in nature. Finally, this volume accounts for the diversity of the research perspectives each chapter proposes by situating the plurality of terminological issues and methodologies into a more integrative framework. Thus a coherent overall framework is created within which different research strands (i.e., the sociocognitive, sociolinguistic research, composition work, genre analysis) and pedagogical practices developed on L1 and L2 writing can be situated and acquire meaning. This volume will be of particular interest to researchers in the areas of language and literacy education in L1 and L2, applied linguists interested in school, and academic contexts of writing, teacher educators and graduate students working in the fields of L1 and L2 writing.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Possibly the most comprehensive overview of computer graphics as seen in the context of geometric modelling, this two volume work covers implementation and theory in a thorough and systematic fashion. Computer Graphics and Geometric Modelling: Implementation and Algorithms, covers the computer graphics part of the field of geometric modelling and includes all the standard computer graphics topics. The first part deals with basic concepts and algorithms and the main steps involved in displaying photorealistic images on a computer. The second part covers curves and surfaces and a number of more advanced geometric modelling topics including intersection algorithms, distance algorithms, polygonizing curves and surfaces, trimmed surfaces, implicit curves and surfaces, offset curves and surfaces, curvature, geodesics, blending etc. The third part touches on some aspects of computational geometry and a few special topics such as interval analysis and finite element methods. The volume includes two companion programs.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - At present, in order to resolve problems of ecology and to save mineral resources for future population generations, it is quite necessary to know how to maintain nature arrangement in an efficient way. It is possible to achieve a rational nature arrangement when analyzing solutions to problems concerned with optimal control of distributed systems and with optimization of modes in which main ground medium processes are functioning (motion of liquids, generation of temperature fields, mechanical deformation of multicomponent media). Such analysis becomes even more difficult because of heterogeneity of the region that is closest to the Earth surface, and thin inclusions/cracks in it exert their essential influence onto a state and development of the mentioned processes, especially in the cases of mining. Many researchers, for instance, A.N. Tikhonov - A.A. Samarsky [121], L. Luckner - W.M. Shestakow [65], Tien-Mo Shih, K.L. Johnson [47], E. Sanchez-Palencia [94] and others stress that it is necessary to consider how thin inclusions/cracks exert their influences onto development of these processes, while such inclusions differ in characteristics from main media to a considerable extent (moisture permeability, permeability to heat, bulk density or shear strength may be mentioned). Xll An influence exerted from thin interlayers onto examined processes is taken into account sufficiently adequately by means of various constraints, namely, by the conjugation conditions [4, 8, 10, 15, 17-20, 22-26, 38, 44, 47, 52, 53, 68, 76, 77, 81, 83, 84, 90, 95, 96-100, 112-114, 117, 123].

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - In many applications, e.g., bioinformatics, web access traces, system u- lization logs, etc., the data is naturally in the form of sequences. It has been of great interests to analyze the sequential data to find their inherent char- teristics. The sequential pattern is one of the most widely studied models to capture such characteristics. Examples of sequential patterns include but are not limited to protein sequence motifs and web page navigation traces. In this book, we focus on sequential pattern mining. To meet different needs of various applications, several models of sequential patterns have been proposed. We do not only study the mathematical definitions and application domains of these models, but also the algorithms on how to effectively and efficiently find these patterns. The objective of this book is to provide computer scientists and domain - perts such as life scientists with a set of tools in analyzing and understanding the nature of various sequences by : (1) identifying the specific model(s) of - quential patterns that are most suitable, and (2) providing an efficient algorithm for mining these patterns. Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Data Mining is the process of extracting implicit knowledge and discovery of interesting characteristics and patterns that are not explicitly represented in the databases. The techniques can play an important role in understanding data and in capturing intrinsic relationships among data instances. Data mining has been an active research area in the past decade and has been proved to be very useful.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - 'Potential anatomical spaces' have attracted surgeons in the past and in recent years. Due to the development of modern imaging techniques and the advent of minimally invasive surgery, access to these spaces has become a real surgical option.The purpose of this book is to document the challenges related to 'potential anatomical spaces', traditionally described as 'hidden' spaces.The spread of video-assisted surgery and its application in the management of diseases involving organs or anatomical structures placed in the 'potential spaces' (neck, mediastinum, pro-peritoneum and retro-peritoneum, subfacial space of the leg, and axilla), has rendered their surgical anatomy less abstract.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - This book offers a personal account of scholars in philosophy and education with whom I have had the good fortune to interact during the course of my half century at Harvard University and elsewhere. My aim in writing this account is threefold: rst, to recapture for myself the pleasure of their memorable company for its own sake, secondly, to have occasion to re ect on the educational impact of their teaching, and, nally, to counteract the prevalent amnesia of universities by recalling the conduct of scholars of past generations who still have things to teach us. Iowe thanks to many people who have helped me in this endeavor. Professor Harvey Siegel, Dr. Stefania Jha, and Dr. Rosalind Schef er read initial versions of the manuscript and gave me the bene t of their criticisms, as did the publisher s anonymous readers. JoAnne Sorabella and Stefania Jha listened to my readings of a number of these chapters, and JoAnne Sorabella produced several typescripts of the whole with her usual matchless pro ciency. I presented some portions of the manuscript to the Philosophy of Education Research Center at Harvard and pro ted from these occasions. After I joined the Mandel Center at Brandeis University in the Fall of 2003, Avital Feuer assisted me ably in readying the nal version of the book. And I am grateful to Laurie Schef er for her meticulous help with proofreading.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The Second Georgia Genetics Symposium was held color. Soon after, he joined the sta of The Jackson in September 2000, and the development of this Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. book took place over the nearly 4 years that ensued. Much of Bill's research at the lab was centered During this time, many advances in the Genome around investigating phenotypic variability within Project and mouse mutagenesis were made. In the highly inbred strains, and in that connection he book overview, we discuss the development of the developed the technique of ovarian transplanta- Genome Project (which is the context for the sym- tion (even using embryonic donors) and a genetic posium), the role the mouse was playing at that scheme whereby graft compatibility could be time, how that role has evolved, and how the combined with the ability to distinguish o spring chapters of the book address issues in mouse func- from donor and regenerated host ovaries. His tional genetics. Many of the chapters in this book work was in uenced by the second World War, will provide useful resources for years to come. rst because The Jackson Laboratory turned into Of greater impact, our keynote speaker, the a production colony for the military, primarily to mutagenesis pioneer William L. (Bill) Russell, produce mice for typhoid testing, and secondly, passed away on July 23, 2003.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - For professional speech researchers, there is a rich technical literature covering many years of primary research in speech. However, this literature is not necessarily applicable to the needs of business people, application developers, and students who are interested in learning about the practical uses of speech technology. On the other hand, while existing introductory resources cover the basic mechanics of development of application development as well as aspects of the voice user interface, they don't go far enough in dealing with the details that have to be taken into account to make spoken dialog systems successful in practice. What's missing is information in between the in-depth technical literature and the more introductory development resources. The goal of this book is to provide information for anyone who wants to take the next step beyond the basics of current speech applications but isn't yet ready to dive into the technical literature. It is hoped that this book will help project managers, application developers, and students gain a fuller and more complete understanding of spoken dialog technology and the practical aspects of developing and deploying spoken dialog applications.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Computational Science and Engineering 2004 (IFIP World Computer Congress) is an essential reference for both academic and professional researchers in the field of computational science and engineering.Computational Science and Engineering is increasingly becoming an emerging and promising discipline in shaping future research and development activities in academia and industry ranging from engineering, science, finance, economics, arts and humanitarian fields. New challenges are in modeling of complex systems, sophisticated algorithms, advanced scientific and engineering computing, and associated (multi-disciplinary) problem solving environments. The papers presented in this volume are specially selected to address the most up-to-date ideas, results, work-in-progress and research experience in the area of high performance computational techniques for science and engineering applications.This state-of-the-are volume presents the proceedings of the International Symposium on High Performance Computational Science and Engineering, held in conjunction with the IFIP World Computer Congress, August 2004, in Toulouse, France.The collection will be important not only for computational science and engineering experts and researchers but for all teachers and administrators interested in high performance computational techniques.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Bioethicists, moral philosophers and social policy analysts have long debated about how we should decide who shall be saved with scarce, lifesaving resources when not all can be saved. It is often claimed that it is fairer to save younger persons and that age is an ethically relevant consideration in such tragic decisions. Medical benefit should be maximized and final selection should aim to minimize the contaminating influence of chance. These claims are challenged by Duff R. Waring in Medical Benefit and the Human Lottery, one of the few books that attempts a sustained defence of random patient selection. This book combines ethics and political philosophy in its novel and strict egalitarian approach to patient selection for transplantable organs. Waring addresses the question of whether we should choose between lives on the basis of fair chances or best outcomes. He argues that final selection criteria should be based on fair chances that equalize opportunity as opposed to best outcomes. His defence of 'hardy' egalitarianism aims to show that random selection by lottery can affirm both a common humanity and the equal value of lives. The notion of patient selection by lottery has not fared well in bioethics and has been regarded by some as a moral affront. Waring argues that a human selection lottery may be neither as crude nor as ethically anomalous as some have supposed. Indeed, it can reflect a familiar conception of equality as a political and moral ideal. This conception abstracts from many undeniable differences between patients and claims that scarce resources should be allocated on the principled assumption that each of their lives is equally worth saving. The book is also notable for its critiques of some recent utilitarian notions of medical benefit which can have an age-biased impact on elderly patients. Waring then argues against the leading, contemporary age-based approaches to patient selection. He explores the way randomselection by lottery can affirm his egalitarian ethos in cases where eligible transplant candidates have each passed a threshold level of prospective medical benefit that has been set by democratic deliberation. Taming chance with a human lottery is defended as the most lucid means of ensuring equal opportunity. In so doing, Waring argues that we give the principle of equal concern and respect a radical expression: above a noncomparative threshold of medical benefit, each candidate can have an equal claim to life.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - This book provides simultaneously a design blueprint, user guide, research agenda, and communication platform for current and future developments in artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to systems biology. It places an emphasis on the molecular dimension of life phenomena and in one chapter on anatomical and functional modeling of the brain.As design blueprint, the book is intended for scientists and other professionals tasked with developing and using AI technologies in the context of life sciences research. As a user guide, this volume addresses the requirements of researchers to gain a basic understanding of key AI methodologies for life sciences research. Its emphasis is not on an intricate mathematical treatment of the presented AI methodologies. Instead, it aims at providing the users with a clear understanding and practical know-how of the methods. As a research agenda, the book is intended for computer and life science students, teachers, researchers, and managers who want to understand the state of the art of the presented methodologies and the areas in which gaps in our knowledge demand further research and development. Our aim was to maintain the readability and accessibility of a textbook throughout the chapters, rather than compiling a mere reference manual. The book is also intended as a communication platform seeking to bride the cultural and technological gap among key systems biology disciplines. To support this function, contributors have adopted a terminology and approach that appeal to audiences from different backgrounds.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - When I heard the rumor that the findings about the central nervous system obtained with new technology, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), were too subtle to correlate with the crude results of many decades of behavioristic psychology, and that some psychologists were now turning to descriptions of subjective phenomena in William James, Edmund Husserl, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty-and even in Buddhism-I asked myself, 'Why not Aron Gurwitsch as well ' After all, my teacher regularly reflected on the types, basic concepts, and methods of psychology, worked with Adhémar Gelb and Kurt Goldstein in the institute investigating brain-injured veterans at Frankfurt in the 1920s, conspicuously employed Gestalt theory to revise central Husserlian doctrines, and taught Merleau-Ponty a thing or two. That the last book from his Nachlass had recently been published and that I had recently written an essay on his theory of 1 psychology no doubt helped crystallize this project for me. What is 'cognitive science' At one point in assembling this volume I polled the participants, asking whether they preferred 'the cognitive sciences' or 'cognitive science. ' Most who answered preferred the latter expression. There is still some vagueness here for me, but I do suspect that cognitive science is 2 another example of what I call a 'multidiscipline. ' A multidiscipline includes participants who confront a set of issues that is best approached under more than one disciplinary perspective.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -The concept of carbonaceous aerosol has only recently emerged from atmospheric pollution studies; even standard nomenclature and terminology are still unsettled. This monograph is the first to offer comprehensive coverage of the nature and atmospheric role of carbonaceous aerosol particles. Atmospheric chemists, physicists, meteorologists, and modellers will find this a thought-inspiring and sometimes provocative overview of all global phenomena affected by or related to carbonaceous aerosol. 350 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware -Possibly the most comprehensive overview of computer graphics as seen in the context of geometric modelling, this two volume work covers implementation and theory in a thorough and systematic fashion. Computer Graphics and Geometric Modelling: Implementation and Algorithms, covers the computer graphics part of the field of geometric modelling and includes all the standard computer graphics topics. The first part deals with basic concepts and algorithms and the main steps involved in displaying photorealistic images on a computer. The second part covers curves and surfaces and a number of more advanced geometric modelling topics including intersection algorithms, distance algorithms, polygonizing curves and surfaces, trimmed surfaces, implicit curves and surfaces, offset curves and surfaces, curvature, geodesics, blending etc. The third part touches on some aspects of computational geometry and a few special topics such as interval analysis and finite element methods. The volume includes two companion programs. 928 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Bioinformatics has ignited the imagination of scientists, entrepreneurs and the general public. At the meeting place of two fast growth disciplines, biology and computer science Bioinformatics is one of the cornerstones of the new biology. It is clearly pivotal to the translation of high throughput projects such the human genome project into useful knowledge. Yet despite all this attention, there is no consensus on what exactly is Bioinformatics. There are several canonical topics, such as gene structure prediction, protein functional classification or structure prediction. The present book explores new frontiers in bioinformatics, such as Glycomics or the computational modeling of genetic processes. We also discuss confounding factors that we find crucial to the development of the field, such as the ability to protect and restrict intellectual property in the field, or the challenges involved in educating bioinformatics users. Finally, we touch upon some fundamental questions, such as what information is and how it is captured in biological systems. By bringing to the readers such a broad spectrum of reviews, we hope to capture the vibrant spirit of this young science and to truly represent the fast pace with which it is still developing.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The study of the linguistic reflexes of aspect has been an active field of research in various sub-disciplines of linguistics, such as syntax, semantics (including discourse theory) and acquisition studies. However, communication and dissemination of results across these various subfields has often been indirect. The different angles brought together give us a comprehensive picture of the representation of aspect in the mind/brain of the speaker.The papers in this volume represent the results of a workshop on the syntax, semantics and acquisition of aspect held in 2002 whose purpose was to foment active cross-disciplinary communication. A number of the papers examine the syntactic representation of lexical or situation aspect, while others focus on the syntactic interaction of lexical aspect with grammatical aspect, and of grammatical aspect and tense. Other papers examine the role of aspect in discourse representations, while a third group of papers reports on results of empirical studies on the acquisition of aspect in both first and second language acquisition, and patterns of loss of morphosyntactic reflexes of aspect in language attrition.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The goal of the investigation is a phenomenological theory of the methods and later the methodology of the human sciences, first of all the philological interpretation of texts. The first part is a critical reflection on the historical development of hermeneutics as method of interpreting texts and the tradition including the first steps toward the emergence of scientific methodological hermeneutics. Such reflections show that the development of hermeneutics is onesidedly founded in the development of hermeneutical consciousness, i.e. the changing attitudes in the application and rejection of cultural traditions. All methods and finally methodologies are onesidedly founded in the activities of the lifeworld. The second part is a first attempt to develop an outline of a general phenomenological theory of pre-methodical and methodical understanding in the lifeworld. The third part offers a critical phenomenologically guided analysis of methodological hermeneutics.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The philosophical discussion of state punishment is well on in years. In contrast with a large number of ethical problems which are concerned with right and wrong in relation to a narrowly specified area of human life and practice and which hav- at least since the early 70's - been regarded as a legitimate part of philosophical thinking constituting the area of applied ethics, reflections on punishment can be traced much further back in the history of western philosophy. This is not surprising. That the stately mandated infliction of death, suffering, or deprivation on citizens should be met with hesitation - from which ethical reflections may depar- seems obvious. Such a practice certainly calls for some persuasive justification. It is therefore natural that reflective minds have for a long time devoted attention to punishment and that the question of how a penal system can be justified has constituted the central question in philosophical discussion. Though it would certainly be an exaggeration to claim that the justification question is the only aspect of punishment with which philosophers have been concerned, there has in most periods been a clear tendency to regard this as the cardinal issue. Comparatively much less attention has been devoted to the more precise questions of how, and how much, criminals should be punished for their respective wrong-doings. This may, of course, be due to several reasons.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - After the sovjet era and since their independence the new Central Asian countries are rebuilding a system of water resources management: an important challenge for the development of the whole region. The NATO workshop held on 25-27 August 2003 by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, attended by experts from five Central Asian countries, Russia, six Western European countries, the US and the UNEP offered water engineers and nature scientists as well as economic and political scientists and practitioners from water administrations and international river commissions to meet in Novosibirsk and develop sustainable approaches in the management of Central Asian water resources.This book presents important aspects of transboundary water resources, i.e. the global water crisis: problems and perspectives; regional experiences in solving water problems in Central Asia; problems and management of transboundary water resources; ecological and economic aspects of water management; scientific analysis and tools of water changes; strategic implications of water access arisen during the workshop.A final recommendation in the area of equitable sharing of benefits, monitoring and data collection as well as proposals for Central Asia transboundary waters programme were set in the book as the main result of the meeting.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Progress in Colorectal Surgery covers a variety of topics of current interest to the colorectal specialist. Thirteen areas are covered by internationally renowned experts and include chapters on topics such as referral guidelines for rectal bleeding, difficult intra-operative problems in pelvic surgery, advances in the medical treatment of Crohn's disease, adjuvant treatment for colorectal malignancy, thorough overview of modern developments in the surgical treatment of disorders of the lower intestine including ulcerative colitis/severe acute colitis and innovations in the treatment of fecal incontinence. Recognizing that the surgeon does not work in isolation, the book also integrates recent progress in imaging techniques for the anal canal and rectum, and highlights medico-legal considerations. Aimed at current practitioners and trainees, the book discusses key concepts that will assist general surgeons and colorectal consultants in their management of patients with a broad spectrum of anorectal and colonic disorders. With a problem-oriented slant, this book is essential reading for all those with an interest in coloproctology.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - After the sovjet era and since their independence the new Central Asian countries are rebuilding a system of water resources management: an important challenge for the development of the whole region. The NATO workshop held on 25-27 August 2003 by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, attended by experts from five Central Asian countries, Russia, six Western European countries, the US and the UNEP offered water engineers and nature scientists as well as economic and political scientists and practitioners from water administrations and international river commissions to meet in Novosibirsk and develop sustainable approaches in the management of Central Asian water resources.This book presents important aspects of transboundary water resources, i.e. the global water crisis: problems and perspectives; regional experiences in solving water problems in Central Asia; problems and management of transboundary water resources; ecological and economic aspects of water management; scientific analysis and tools of water changes; strategic implications of water access arisen during the workshop.A final recommendation in the area of equitable sharing of benefits, monitoring and data collection as well as proposals for Central Asia transboundary waters programme were set in the book as the main result of the meeting.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The book provides a unique collection of 15 contributions by 15 internationally recognized scientists performing intensive research activity on the preparation and characterization of complex and multiphase materials based on macromolecules as well as on the evaluation and simulation of structure/properties relations. The topic is assuming a general increasing importance as providing a highly sustainable and modern approach to the present and future development of the important area of materials science and technology. The scientific route along the successive contributions goes from the controlled preparation of functional MM both by innovative polymerization reactions and preformed polymers modification (intramacromolecular complexity), to their combination with other MMs and materials to give blends and composites where new properties are conveniently achieved by morphologic complexity. The synergic behaviour of the different components in these last is obtained by reactive processing producing the necessary interfacial adhesion. Even if most examples deal with man-made MMs, biopolymers are also included. The various chapters provide in most cases an exhaustive fundamental description assisted by an up- to-date and broad list of relevant references The book is therefore an excellent informative and formative instrument for those involved in complex materials preparation and application in research and industry.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Intelligent Multimodal Information Presentation relates to the ability of a computer system to automatically produce interactive information presentations, taking into account the specifics about the user, such as needs, interests and knowledge, and engaging in a collaborative interaction that helps the retrieval of relevant information and its understanding on the part of the user.The volume includes descriptions of some of the most representative recent works on Intelligent Information Presentation and a view of the challenges ahead.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Environmental change in general, and climatic change in particular, are likely to impact significantly upon resources such as water and soils, transforming present day landscapes and their ecological characteristics. As a consequence, disruptions of socio-economic activities in sensitive regions of the globe can be expected in coming decades. Agriculture is at particular risk, especially in areas where prolonged droughts, sea level rise, enhanced natural hazards, or extreme meteorological events such as floods or mudslides threaten marginal existence. Disruptions and risks may have large effects on population migration. Conversely, large-scale movements of people, goods or capital may also disrupt local environments and further contribute to social problems.This volume provides an ample overview of state-of-the-art understanding of the multi-dimensional phenomenon of migration, in the characterisation of migration drivers, in environmental and agro-economic case studies and modelling issues as well as socio-political analyses.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - How to make effective use of informal models and AI techniques, bridging the gap between Requirements Analysis and Formal Software System Specification.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - The book provides a unique collection of 15 contributions by 15 internationally recognized scientists performing intensive research activity on the preparation and characterization of complex and multiphase materials based on macromolecules as well as on the evaluation and simulation of structure/properties relations. The topic is assuming a general increasing importance as providing a highly sustainable and modern approach to the present and future development of the important area of materials science and technology. The scientific route along the successive contributions goes from the controlled preparation of functional MM both by innovative polymerization reactions and preformed polymers modification (intramacromolecular complexity), to their combination with other MMs and materials to give blends and composites where new properties are conveniently achieved by morphologic complexity. The synergic behaviour of the different components in these last is obtained by reactive processing producing the necessary interfacial adhesion. Even if most examples deal with man-made MMs, biopolymers are also included. The various chapters provide in most cases an exhaustive fundamental description assisted by an up- to-date and broad list of relevant references The book is therefore an excellent informative and formative instrument for those involved in complex materials preparation and application in research and industry.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Computational Mechanics of Composite Materials lays stress on the advantages of combining theoretical advancements in applied mathematics and mechanics with the probabilistic approach to experimental data in meeting the practical needs of engineers. Features:Programs for the probabilistic homogenisation of composite structures with finite numbers of components allow composites to be treated as homogeneous materials with simpler behaviours.Treatment of defects in the interfaces within heterogeneous materials and those arising in composite objects as a whole by stochastic modelling.New models for the reliability of composite structures.Novel numerical algorithms for effective Monte-Carlo simulation. Computational Mechanics of Composite Materials will be of interest to academic and practising civil, mechanical, electronic and aerospatial engineers, to materials scientists and to applied mathematicians requiring accurate and usable models of the behaviour of composite materials.

Buch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - Evolutionary computation is becoming increasingly important for computer vision and pattern recognition and provides a systematic way of synthesis and analysis of object detection and recognition systems. Incorporating 'learning' into recognition systems will enable these systems to automatically generate new features on the fly and cleverly select a good subset of features according to the type of objects and images to which they are applied.This unique monograph investigates evolutionary computational techniques--such as genetic programming, linear genetic programming, coevolutionary genetic programming and genetic algorithms--to automate the synthesis and analysis of object detection and recognition systems.The purpose of incorporating learning into the system design is to avoid the time-consuming process of feature generation and selection and to reduce the cost of building object detection and recognition systems.Researchers, professionals, engineers, and students working in computer vision, pattern recognition, target recognition, machine learning, evolutionary learning, image processing, knowledge discovery and data mining, cybernetics, robotics, automation and psychology will find this well-developed and organized volume an invaluable resource.