Logic, Thought and Action
Contribute to our understanding of this dynamic process by clearly presenting and discussing the most important hypotheses, issues and theories in philosophical and logical study of language, thought and action. Among the fundamental issues discussed are the rationality and freedom of agents, theoretical and practical reasoning, individual and collective attitudes and actions, the nature of cooperation and communication, the construction and conditions of adequacy of scientific theories, propositional contents and their truth conditions, illocutionary force, time, aspect and presupposition in meaning, speech acts within dialogue, the dialogical approach to logic and the structure of dialogues and other language games, as well as formal methods needed in logic or artificial intelligence to account for choice, paradoxes, uncertainty and imprecision.
Lochnagar : The Natural History of a Mountain Lake
The remote mountain loch of Lochnagar is one of the most studied freshwater bodies in Europe. This book brings together knowledge gained over two decades of multi-disciplinary scientific study, with the results of lake sediment research covering millennia, to show how the loch has developed both naturally and as a result of human impact
Location Based Services and TeleCartography
Provides for the first time a general overview of research activities related to location and map-based services. These activities have emerged over the last years, especially around issues of positioning, spatial modelling, cartographic communication as well as in the fields of ubiquitious cartography, geo-pervasive services, user-centered modelling and geo-wiki activities. Topics cover an enormous range with heterogenous relationships to the main book issues. Whilst contemporary cartography aims at looking at new and efficient ways for communicating spatial information the development and availability of technologies like mobile networking, mobile devices or short-range sensors lead to interesting new possibilities for achieving this aim.
Local-Moment Ferromagnets : Unique Properties for Modern Applications
Some ferromagnetic materials with localized magnetic moments have become a hot topic in modern solid-state physics because of their potential applications, e.g. in spintronic devices. The magnetic systems of interest comprise diluted magnetic semiconductors and half-metallic ferromagnets. Like conventional concentrated local-moment systems, they are characterized by an exchange interaction between localized magnetic moments and quasi-free charge carriers. The current research on local-moment ferromagnetism is reviewed in a tutorial style by leading experts in this field. Experimentalists present the latest approaches to characterize the unique material properties, and theoreticians propose definitive ideas to explain the observed phenomena. Students and researches alike will benefit from this status report.
Local and Semi-Local Bifurcations in Hamiltonian Dynamical Systems : Results and Examples
Once again KAM theory is committed in the context of nearly integrable Hamiltonian systems. While elliptic and hyperbolic tori determine the distribution of maximal invariant tori, they themselves form n-parameter families. Hence, without the need for untypical conditions or external parameters, torus bifurcations of high co-dimension may be found in a single given Hamiltonian system. The text moves gradually from the integrable case, in which symmetries allow for reduction to bifurcating equilibria, to non-integrability, where smooth parametrisations have to be replaced by Cantor sets. Planar singularities and their versal unfoldings are an important ingredient that helps to explain the underlying dynamics in a transparent way.
LMI Approach to Analysis and Control of Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Systems with Time Delay
A fuzzy system is, in a very broad sense, any fuzzy logic-based system where fuzzy logic can be used either asthebasisfor the representation of different forms of system knowledge or the model for the interactions and relationships among the system variables. Fuzzy systems have proven to be an important tool for modeling complex systems for which, due to complexity or imprecision, classical tools are unsuccessful. There have been diverse fields of applications of fuzzy technology from medicine to management, from engineering to behavioral science, from vehicle control to computational linguistics, and so on. Fuzzy modeling is a conjunction to understand the s- tem’s behavior and build useful mathematical models. Different types of fuzzy models have been proposed in the literature, among which the Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model is a rule-based one suitable for the accurate approximation and identi?cation of a wide class of nonlinear systems.
Living Off the Land in Space : Green Roads to the Cosmos
Draws parallels with the settlement of terrestrial frontiers to investigate how new space propulsion techniques may help future space settlers exploit extraterrestrial resources to establish independence from the Earth. "Living Off the Land in Space," a collaboration among two space scientists and an artist, is illuminated with many NASA-derived computer-generated images, including drawings, and presents the human (as well as the technological) side of space settlement. It will be an inspiring and indispensible source for those wishing to share in this great adventure.
Linkage in Evolutionary Computation
The whole volume consisting of 19 chapters is divided into 3 parts: Models and Theories; Operators and Frameworks; Applications. This edited volume will serve as a useful guide and reference for researchers who are currently working in the area of linkage. For postgraduate research students, this volume will serve as a good source of reference. It is also suitable as a text for a graduate level course focusing on linkage issues.
Lines of Inquiry in Mathematical Modelling Research in Education
The book addresses the “balancing act” between developing students’ modelling skills on the one hand, and using modelling to help them learn mathematics on the other, which arises from the integration of modelling into classrooms. In addition the book highlights professional learning and development for in-service teachers, particularly in systems where the introduction of modelling into curricula means reassessing how mathematics is taught.
Linearization Methods for Stochastic Dynamic Systems
The aim of this book is to give a systematic introduction to and overview of the relatively simple and popular linearization methods available. The scope is limited to models with continous external and parametric excitations, yet these cover the majority of known approaches. The book contains an application chapter with emphasis on vibration analysis of stochastic mechanical structures as well as a chapter devoted to the assessment of the accuracy of the theoretical methods presented, both with respect to numerical and to experimental studies.
Linear Systems Control : Deterministic and Stochastic Methods
Modern control theory and in particular state space or state variable methods can be adapted to the description of many different systems because it depends strongly on physical modeling and physical intuition. The laws of physics are in the form of differential equations and for this reason, this book concentrates on system descriptions in this form. This means coupled systems of linear or nonlinear differential equations. The physical approach is emphasized in this book because it is most natural for complex systems. It also makes what would ordinarily be a difficult mathematical subject into one which can straightforwardly be understood intuitively and which deals with concepts which engineering and science students are already familiar.
Linear Systems
Linear systems theory plays a broad and fundamental role in electrical, mechanical, chemical and aerospace engineering, communications, and signal processing. A thorough introduction to systems theory with emphasis on control is presented in this self-contained textbook. The book examines the fundamental properties that govern the behavior of systems by developing their mathematical descriptions. Linear time-invariant, time-varying, continuous-time, and discrete-time systems are covered. Rigorous development of classic and contemporary topics in linear systems, as well as extensive coverage of stability and polynomial matrix/fractional representation, provide the necessary foundation for further study of systems and control.
Linear Optimization Problems with Inexact Data
Linear programming attracted the interest of mathematicians during and after World War II when the first computers were constructed and methods for solving large linear programming problems were sought in connection with specific practical problems—for example, providing logistical support for the U.S. Armed Forces or modeling national economies. Early attempts to apply linear programming methods to solve practical problems failed to satisfy expectations. There were various reasons for the failure. One of them, which is the central topic of this book, was the inexactness of the data used to create the models. This phenomenon, inherent in most pratical problems, has been dealt with in several ways. At first, linear programming models used "average” values of inherently vague coefficients, but the optimal solutions of these models were not always optimal for the original problem itself. Later researchers developed the stochastic linear programming approach, but this too has its limitations. Recently, interest has been given to linear programming problems with data given as intervals, convex sets and/or fuzzy sets. The individual results of these studies have been promising, but the literature has not presented a unified theory. Linear Optimization Problems with Inexact Data attempts to present a comprehensive treatment of linear optimization with inexact data, summarizing existing results and presenting new ones within a unifying framework.
Linear Estimation and Detection in Krylov Subspaces
Focuses on the foundations of linear estimation theory which is essential for effective signal processing. In its first part, it gives a comprehensive overview of several key methods like reduced-rank signal processing and Krylov subspace methods of numerical mathematics. Based on the derivation of the multistage Wiener filter in its most general form, the relationship between statistical signal processing and numerical mathematics is presented. In the second part, the theory is applied to iterative multiuser detection receivers (Turbo equalization) which are typically desired in wireless communication systems.
Linear and Generalized Linear Mixed Models and Their Applications
This book covers two major classes of mixed effects models, linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models, and it presents an up-to-date account of theory and methods in analysis of these models as well as their applications in various fields. The book offers a systematic approach to inference about non-Gaussian linear mixed models. Furthermore, it has included recently developed methods, such as mixed model diagnostics, mixed model selection, and jackknife method in the context of mixed models.
Limit Cycles of Differential Equations
Contains the lecture series originally delivered at the "Advanced Course on Limit Cycles of Differential Equations" in the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Barcelona in 2006.The topics covered are the center-focus problem for polynomial vector fields, and the application of abelian integrals to limit cycle bifurcations. Both topics are related to Hilbert's sixteenth problem. In particular, the book will be of interest to students and researchers working in the qualitative theory of dynamical systems.
Light Scattering Reviews 3 : Light Scattering and Reflection
Ddevoted to modern knowledge and milestones in both experimental and theoretical techniques related to light scattering and radiative transport problems. It will consist of 3 parts comprising 11 contributions written by world leading experts in their respective fields. The general focus of the book will be on remote sensing of geophysical media. The first part will be devoted exclusively to studies of single light scattering by particles of different shapes and chemical compositions. The first chapter will review in situ measurements of cloud optical characteristics like cloud extinction and phase function, with the emphasis on ice clouds. Chapter 2 will cover opitcally soft particles common in marine environments and bio-suspensions while Chapter 3 will describe numerical techniques applicable not only to isotropic but also to chiral and anisotropic mdia. The final chapter in this part will deal with spatial symmetries in light scattering problems.
Light Scattering in Solids IX : Novel Materials and Techniques
Reviews recent developments concerning mainly semiconductor nanostructures and inelastic x-ray scattering, including both coherent time-domain and spontaneous scattering studies.
Light scattering by systems of particles : Null-field method with discrete sources : Theory and programs
Light Scattering by Systems of Particles comprehensively develops the theory of the null-field method, while covering almost all aspects and current applications. The "Null-field Method with Discrete Sources" is an extension of the Null-field Method (also called T-Matrix Method) to compute light scattering by arbitrarily shaped dielectric particles. This book incorporates FORTRAN programs and exemplary simulation results that demonstrate all aspects of the latest developments of the method. Worked examples of the application of the FORTRAN programs show readers how to adapt or modify the programs for their specific application.
Life in the Universe : Expectations and Constraints
Energy, chemistry, solvents, and habitats -- the basic elements of living systems - define the opportunities and limitations for life on other worlds. This class-tested text examines each of these parameters in crucial depth and makes the argument that life forms we would recognize may be more common in our solar system than many assume. It also considers, however, exotic forms of life that would not have to rely on carbon as basic chemical element, solar energy as a main energy source, or water as primary solvent. Finally the question of detecting bio- and geosignature of such life forms is discussed, ranging from Earth environments to deep space. While speculative considerations in this emerging field of science cannot be avoided, the authors have tried to present their study with the breadth and seriousness that a scientific approach to this issue requires. They seek an operational definition of life and investigate the realm of possibilities that nature offers to realize this very special state of matter and avoid scientific jargon wherever possible to make this intrinsically interdisciplinary subject understandable to a broad range of readers.



















