Adaptronics and Smart Structures : Basics, Materials, Design, and Applications
Adaptronic structures and systems can adapt automatically to variable operating and environmental conditions through the use of feedback control. But in contrast to conventional control loops, in which each function is fulfilled by a separate component, adaptronics is characterized by multifunctional components that are preferably integrated into the structure or the system. The goal is a lightweight and simple construction for conserving material and energy resources. The authors of this book have taken on the task of displaying the current state of the art in this highly modern and strongly interdisciplinary field. Selected application examples are also presented and current development trends demonstrated.
Adaptive Mesh Refinement - Theory and Applications; Proceedings of the Chicago Workshop on Adaptive Mesh Refinement Methods, Sept. 3-5, 2003
Advanced numerical simulations that use adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) methods have now become routine in engineering and science. Originally developed for computational fluid dynamics applications these methods have propagated to fields as diverse as astrophysics, climate modeling, combustion, biophysics and many others. The underlying physical models and equations used in these disciplines are rather different, yet algorithmic and implementation issues facing practitioners are often remarkably similar. Unfortunately, there has been little effort to review the advances and outstanding issues of adaptive mesh refinement methods across such a variety of fields. This book attempts to bridge this gap. The book presents a collection of papers by experts in the field of AMR who analyze past advances in the field and evaluate the current state of adaptive mesh refinement methods in scientific computing.
Action and Responsibility
What makes an event count as an action? Typical answers appeal to the way in which the event was produced: e.g., perhaps an arm movement is an action when caused by mental states (in particular ways), but not when caused in other ways. Andrew Sneddon argues that this type of answer, which he calls "productionism", is methodologically and substantially mistaken. In particular, productionist answers to this question tend to be either individualistic or foundationalist, or both, without explicit defence.
Accreditation and Evaluation in the European Higher Education Area
This volume presents a rich account of the development of accreditation and evaluation in 20 European countries. The authors are leaders in the field and they have cooperated in this effort by writing richly different, often deep and insightful analyses of the situation in their country. The two editors have added a synopsis detailing the main trends, and sketching commonalities as well as contrasts in the developments across Europe. The book shows how accreditation is becoming a main mechanism in the steering of higher education all over Europe. The book is unique in its analysis of forces driving towards the spread of different models of accreditation in the emerging European Higher Education area. Readers will obtain an up-to-date picture of the state of affairs of accreditation in the framework of evaluation activities in Europe.
Acceptance- and Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Anxiety : Conceptualization and Treatment
Chapter authors clearly place mindfulness and acceptance into the clinical lexicon, establishing links with established traditions, including emotion theory and experiential therapy. In addition, separate chapters discuss specific anxiety disorders, the current state of treatment for each, and practical ways of integrating acceptance and mindfulness approaches into therapy.
Accelerator-Driven System at Kyoto University Critical Assembly
This book is a unique compilation of experimental benchmark analyses of the accelerator-driven system (ADS) at the Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA) on the most recent advances in the development of computational methods.
Academic Flying and the Means of Communication
This book shines a light on how and why academic work became entwined with air travel, and what can be done to change academia’s flying habit. The starting point of the book is that flying is only one means of scholarly communication among many, and that the state of the planet now obliges us to shift to other means.
A window on the future of geodesy ; Proceedings of the International Association of Geodesy. IAG General Assembly, Sapporo, Japan June 30 - July 11, 2003
These proceedings represent the worldwide picture of the state of the art of geodesy. The volume comprehensively covers the most recent results and supplies a good review of the new ideas developing in the field, opening a window to the future of geodesy.
A Rosicrucian Utopia in Eighteenth-Century Russia : The Masonic Circle of N.I. Novikov
The author undertakes an investigation into the history of Russian Freemasonry that has not been attempted previously. Her premise is that the Russian Enlightenment shows peculiar features, which prevent the application of the interpretative framework commonly used for the history of western thought. The author deals with the development of early Russian masonry, the formation of the Novikov circle in Moscow, the ‘programme’ of Rosicrucianism and the character of its Russian variant and, finally, the clash between the Rosicrucians and the State. The author concludes that the defenders of the Ancien Régime were not wrong. In fact the democratic behaviour, the critical attitude, the practice of participation, the freedom of thought, the tolerance for the diversity, the search for a direct communication with the divinity.
A Portrait of State-of-the-Art Research at the Technical University of Lisbon
This book contains the edited version of the invited lectures that were delivered by prominent researchers at UTL. This book brings together in a review manner a comprehensive summary of high quality research contri- tions across basic and applied sciences. The contributing papers are organized around the following major areas: – Emergent areas (Nanosciences, Quantic Computations and Infor- tion, Risk and Volatility in Financial Markets); – Basic Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Materials); – Social Sciences, Economics and Management Sciences; – Life Sciences and Biotechnology; – Engineering and Technologies – Nature, Environment and Sustainability; – Public Health, Food Quality and Safety; – Health and Sport Sciences; – Urbanism, Transports, Architecture, Arts and Design.
A First Course in Modular Forms
This book introduces the theory of modular forms with an eye toward the Modularity Theorem: All rational elliptic curves arise from modular forms. The topics covered include • elliptic curves as complex tori and as algebraic curves, • modular curves as Riemann surfaces and as algebraic curves, • Hecke operators and Atkin–Lehner theory, • Hecke eigenforms and their arithmetic properties, • the Jacobians of modular curves and the Abelian varieties associated to Hecke eigenforms, • elliptic and modular curves modulo p and the Eichler–Shimura Relation, • the Galois representations associated to elliptic curves and to Hecke eigenforms. As it presents these ideas, the book states the Modularity Theorem in various forms, relating them to each other and touching on their applications to number theory.
3D-Position Tracking and Control for All-Terrain Robots
Rough terrain robotics is a fast evolving field of research and a lot of effort is deployed towards enabling a greater level of autonomy for outdoor vehicles. This book demonstrates how the accuracy of 3D position tracking can be improved by considering rover locomotion in rough terrain as a holistic problem. In this work, a mechanical structure allowing smooth motion across obstacles with limited wheel slip is used. In particular, it enables the use of odometry and inertial sensors to improve the position estimation in rough terrain. A method for computing 3D motion increments based on the wheel encoders and chassis state sensors is developed. The algorithm runs online and can be adapted to any kind of passive wheeled rover. Finally, sensor fusion using 3D-Odometry, inertial sensors and visual motion estimation based on stereovision is presented. The experimental results demonstrate how each sensor contributes to increase the accuracy and robustness of the 3D position estimation.
10 Years Southeast European Cooperative Initiative : From Dayton to Brussels
The Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) was the first international instrument for "peace keeping and peace making". Conceived by the United States with full partnership and participation of the European Union, SECI was a response to the Dayton Agreement. SECI was convinced that sending troops and diplomats did not suffice. It called for a new strategy and approach that would promote economic and social development through regional cooperation. SECI understood that despite their differences, the countries of South East Europe shared many mutual concerns. For the international community, SECI was a prelude to a broader instrument - the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, launched in 1999. The approach was a success! This compendium of documents, agreements, analyses and essays gives a glimpse into decision-making processes and results achieved.












