Buchi neri nel mio bagno di schiuma : L’enigma di Einstein = Black holes in my bubble bath : Einstein's riddle
Einstein's Enigma, or black holes in my foam bath, tells the story of the theory of gravitation, from its beginnings to the latest developments in astrophysics, focusing on Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity and the physics of black holes. Through engaging conversations and diagrams scribbled on paper napkins, the rudiments of relativity, space-time and many aspects of modern physics follow one another. In skits narrated with pedagogical skill and remarkable literary talent, the reader will come across the informal lessons that a cosmopolitan astrophysicist gives to his friend Alfie, a free lance organizer of research projects. Join in the intellectual fun and get excited with sparkling ideas, while with your imagination you enjoy a relaxing soak in this magical tub!
Brute Force : Cracking the data encryption standard
In the 1960s, it became increasingly clear that more and more information was going to be stored on computers, not on pieces of paper. With these changes in technology and the ways it was used came a need to protect both the systems and the information. For the next ten years, encryption systems of varying strengths were developed, but none proved to be rigorous enough. In 1973, the NBS put out an open call for a new, stronger encryption system that would become the new federal standard. Several years later, IBM responded with a system called Lucifer that came to simply be known as DES (data encryption standard).
Browning Agents and Active Particles : Collective Dynamics in the Natural and Social Sciences
Lays out a vision for a coherent framework for understanding complex systems'' (from the foreword by J. Doyne Farmer). By developing the genuine idea of Brownian agents, the author combines concepts from informatics, such as multiagent systems, with approaches of statistical many-particle physics. This way, an efficient method for computer simulations of complex systems is developed which is also accessible to analytical investigations and quantitative predictions. The book demonstrates that Brownian agent models can be successfully applied in many different contexts, ranging from physicochemical pattern formation, to active motion and swarming in biological systems, to self-assembling of networks, evolutionary optimization, urban growth, economic agglomeration and even social systems.
Broadband Opto-Electrical Receivers in Standard CMOS
Broadband Opto-Electrical Receivers in Standard CMOS starts from the basic fundamentals, necessary for the design of opto-electronic interface circuits. The book continues with an in-depth analysis of the photodiode, transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and limiting amplifier (LA). To thoroughly understand the light detection mechanisms in silicon, first a one-dimensional and second a two-dimensional model is developed. Analytical design equations are derived to guide the design of the amplifying circuits. For the TIA, the focus lies on the sensitivity-speed trade-off. For the LA, a high gain-bandwidth is pursued. Several practical design examples reveal the subtleties and challenges encountered during the design of high-performance analog circuits.
Broadband Fixed Wireless Access : A System Perspective
Broadband Fixed Wireless Access provides a systematic overview of the emerging WiMax technology, and much of the material is based on the practical experiences of the authors in building broadband wireless systems. This material will be of significant interest to network architects and developers of broadband fixed wireless access products. With the adoption of the IEEE 802.16 standard and the advent of next generation equipment, the WiMax technology has been growing in interest. The authors discuss applications at microwave frequencies between 2 and 11 GHz that could be attractive options for operators without an existing access infrastructure for reaching end users with broadband services. This introductory volume demystifies the technology and provides technical exposure to the various system trade-offs. Additionally.
British Media Coverage of the Press Reform Debate : Journalists Reporting Journalism
This book provides a detailed exploration of the British media coverage of the press reform debate that arose from the News of the World phone hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry. Gathering data from a content analysis of 870 news articles, Ogbebor shows how journalists cover debates on media policy and illustrates the impact of their coverage on democracy
Brain-computer interfaces : An international sssessment of research and development trends
This WTEC study gathered information on worldwide status and trends in BCI research to disseminate to government decisionmakers and the research community. The study reviewed and assessed the state of the art in sensor technology, the biotic-abiotic interface and biocompatibility, data analysis and modeling, hardware implementation, systems engineering, functional electrical stimulation, noninvasive communication systems, and cognitive and emotional neuroprostheses in academic research and industry.
Brain Dynamics : Synchronization and Activity Patterns in Pulse-Coupled Neural Nets with Delays and Noise
This book addresses a large variety of models in mathematical and computational neuroscience.He devotes the main part to the synchronization problem. He presents neural net models more realistic than the conventional ones by taking into account the detailed dynamics of axons, synapses and dendrites, allowing rather arbitrary couplings between neurons. He gives a complete stabile analysis that goes significantly beyond what has been known so far. He also derives pulse-averaged equations including those of the Wilson--Cowan and the Jirsa-Haken-Nunez types and discusses the formation of spatio-temporal neuronal activity pattems. An analysis of phase locking via sinusoidal couplings leading to various kinds of movement coordination is included.
Brain dynamics : An introduction to models and simualtions
Brain Dynamics serves to introduce graduate students and nonspecialists from various backgrounds to the field of mathematical and computational neurosciences. Some of the advanced chapters will also be of interest to the specialists. The book approaches the subject through pulse-coupled neural networks, with at their core the lighthouse and integrate-and-fire models, which allow for the highly flexible modelling of realistic synaptic activity, synchronization and spatio-temporal pattern formation. Topics also include pulse-averaged equations and their application to movement coordination. The book closes with a short analysis of models versus the real neurophysiological system.
Boundary Integral Equations
This book is devoted to the basic mathematical properties of solutions to boundary integral equations and presents a systematic approach to the variational methods for the boundary integral equations arising in elasticity, fluid mechanics, and acoustic scattering theory. It may also serve as the mathematical foundation of the boundary element methods. The latter have recently become extremely popular and efficient computational tools in applications. The authors are well known for their fundamental work on boundary integral equations and related topics. This book is a major scholarly contribution to the modern theory of boundary integral equations and should be accessible and useful to a large community of mathematical analysts, applied mathematicians, engineers and scientists.
Boundary Element Analysis : Mathematical Aspects and Applications
This volume contains eleven state of the art contributions on boundary integral equation and boundary element methods. Beside some historical and more analytical aspects in the formulation and analysis of boundary integral equations also modern fast boundary element methods are described and analyzed from a mathematical point of view. In addition, engineering and industrial applications of those methods are presented showing the ability of state of the art boundary element methods to solve challenging problems from different fields of applications. This book is addressed to researchers, graduate students and practitioners working on and using boundary element methods. All contributions also show the great achievements of interdisciplinary research between mathematicians and engineers, with direct applications in industry.
Blind Equalization and System Identification : Batch Processing Algorithms, Performance and Applications
Discrete-time signal processing has had a momentous impact on advances in engineering and science over recent decades. The rapid progress of digital and mixed-signal integrated circuits in processing speed, functionality and cost-effectiveness has led to their ubiquitous employment in signal processing and transmission in diverse milieux. Topics covered include: • SISO, MIMO and 2-d non-blind equalization (deconvolution) algorithms. • SISO, MIMO and 2-d blind equalization (deconvolution) algorithms. • SISO, MIMO and 2-d blind system identification algorithms. • algorithm analyses and improvements. • applications of SISO, MIMO and 2-d blind equalization/identification algorithms.
Blast Cleaning Technology
Blast cleaning is one of the most frequently utilised surface treatment-method in modern industry. The book is the first comprehensive monograph in this subject. It provides a practical and comprehensive review of the technology. This book systematically and critically reviews the theory behind the technology, the state of current blast cleaning, surface quality aspects and the effects of blast cleaning on the performance of applied coatings.
Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals : The Twenty-Ninth Symposium
In Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals: The Twenty-Ninth Symposium, leading US and international researchers from academia, industry, and government exchange cutting-edge technical information and update current trends in the development and application of biotechnology for sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. This symposium emphasizes advances in biotechnology to produce high-volume, low-price products from renewable resources, while improving the environment. The major areas of interest include advanced feedstock production and processing, enzymatic and microbial biocatalysis, bioprocess research and development, opportunities in biorefineries, and commercialization of biobased products. International and domestic progress on producing liquid biofuels, especially ethanol and biodiesel, is highlighted, and related topics, including bioseparations and optimal integration of biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies, are featured.
Biotechnology for fuels and chemicals : The Twenty-Eighth symposium
In Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals: The Twenty-Eighth Symposium, leading US and international researchers from academia, industry, and government exchange cutting-edge technical information and update current trends in the development and application of biotechnology for sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. This symposium emphasizes advances in biotechnology to produce high-volume, low-price products from renewable resources, while improving the environment. The major areas of interest include advanced feedstock production and processing, enzymatic and microbial biocatalysis, bioprocess research and development, opportunities in biorefineries, and commercialization of biobased products.
Biosolids treatment processes ; Vol.6
The past 30 years have seen the emergence of a growing desire worldwide to take positive actions to restore and protect the environment from the degrading effects of all forms of pollution: air, noise, solid waste, and water. The Handbook of Environmental Engineering series guides readers to answer the fundamental questions facing pollution in the modern era – How serious is pollution? Is the technology needed to abate it not only available, but feasible? Among the topics included in this, the sixth edition, are: biosolids, flotation thickening, anaerobic and aerobic digestion, pressurized ozonation, lime stabilization, elutriation and polymer conditioning, and animal waste treatment.
Biosensing : International Research and Development
The goal of this book is to disseminate information on the worldwide status and trends in biosensing R&D to government decisionmakers and the research community. The contributors critically analyze and compare biosensing research in the United States with that being pursued in Japan, Europe and other major industrialized countries.
Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated with Aromatic Compounds
Environmental biotechnology, which was in its infancy in the early 80's, has evolved thanks to the revolution brought about by molecular biology. Multiple successes in the biological cleanup of civil and industrial wastewater and of hydrocarbon soil pollution, demonstrate the vast power of clean technologies. In addition, the buildup of information on the activities of microorganisms as catalysts in all sorts of natural, industrial and animal environments has flourished. There is a continuing realization of the critical role of microbial processes in biological, industrial and geological systems. Since environmental biotechnology has matured, it is ready to tackle bigger challenges: the scaling up of many bioremediation systems still in progress, the search for novel biocatalysts for industrial applications, the continuing effort against common human life-threatening processes such as antibiotic resistance, the accumulation of hormone-mimicking substances (endocrine disrupters), the deposition of air-borne pesticides in the environment and, the degradation of recalcitrant contaminants. These endeavors will help prevent the contamination of food chains, protect human life and allow for human activity and economic development that do not compromise environmental sustainabijity.
Biomineralization I : Crystallization and Self-Organization Process
The five chapters of Biomineralization, volume 1, provide a bridge between the mineralogy and the organic substrates that enable the mineral formation by organisms in nature and under laboratory conditions. The book is a most useful reference for all concerned with biomineralization and biogenic minerals.In nature, biological organisms produce mineralized tissues such as bone, teeth, diatoms, and shells. Biomineralization is the sophisticated process of production of these inorganic minerals by living organisms. Construction of organic–inorganic hybrid materials with controlled mineralization analogous to those produced by nature has recently received much attention because it can aid in understanding the mechanisms of the biomineralization process and development of biomimetic materials processing.
Biomineralization : From molecular and nano-structural analyses to environmental science
Over the past 45 years, biomineralization research has unveiled details of the characteristics of the nano-structure of various biominerals; the formation mechanism of this nano-structure, including the initial stage of crystallization; and the function of organic matrices in biominerals, and this knowledge has been applied to dental, medical, pharmaceutical, materials, agricultural and environmental sciences and paleontology. As such, biomineralization is an important interdisciplinary research area, and further advances are expected in both fundamental and applied research.



















