Autonomy and human rights in health care : An international perspective
Autonomy and Human Rights in Healthcare: An International Perspective is a group of essays published in memory of David Thomasma, one of the leading humanists in the field of bioethics during the twentieth century. A pioneer in the field of multidisciplinary research, having integrated major theological and philosophical traditions in the west with modern science, Thomasma was a role model to the authors who have devoted essays to his major avenues of inquiry. The authors represent many different countries and disciplines throughout the globe. The volume deals with the pressing issue of how to ground a universal bioethics in the context of the conflicted world of combative cultures and perspectives.
Autonomous Robots and Agents
This book deals with the theoretical and methodological aspects of incorporating intelligence in Autonomous Robots and Agents. Challenges faced in the real world to accomplish complex tasks, which require collaborative efforts, and methods to overcome them, are detailed. Several informative articles deal with navigation, localization and mapping of mobile robots, a problem that engineers and researchers are grappling with all the time.This edited volume is targeted to present the latest state-of-the-art methodologies in Robotics. It is a compilation of the extended versions of the very best papers selected from the many that were presented at the 3rd International Conference on Autonomous Robots and Agents (ICARA 2006) which was held at Palmerston North, New Zealand from 11-14 December, 2006. Scientists and engineers who work with mobile robots will find this book very useful and stimulating.
Autonomous Navigation in Dynamic Environments
The purpose of this book is to address the challenging problem of Autonomous Navigation in Dynamic Environments, and to present new ideas and approaches in this newly emerging technical domain. The book surveys the state-of-the-art, discusses in detail various related challenging technical aspects, and addresses upcoming technologies in this field. The aim of the book is to establish a foundation for a broad class of mobile robot mapping and navigation methodologies for indoor, outdoor, and exploratory missions.Three main topics located on the cutting edge of the state of the art are addressed, from both the theoretical and technological point of views: Dynamic world understanding and modelling for safe navigation, Obstacle avoidance and motion planning in dynamic environments, and Human-robot physical interactions. Several models and approaches are proposed for solving problems such as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) in dynamic environments, Mobile obstacle detection and tracking, World state estimation and motion prediction, Safe navigation in dynamic environments, Motion planning in dynamic environments, Robust decision making under uncertainty, and Human-Robot physical interactions.
Automotive Lighting and Human Vision
Visual perception is the most important of the human senses. Lack of visual perception is one of the main causes of accidents. The safety of vehicle traffic depends on how well automotive lighting supports the visual perception of the driver. This book explains the fundamentals of visual perception, like e.g. physiology of eye and brain, as well as those of automotive lighting technology, like e.g. design of headlamps and signal lights. It is an interdiciplinary approach to a fastly evolving field of science and technology, answering questions like "How does information enter our brain when driving a car?" and "What are the benefits and dangers of LED signal lighting?"
Automotive Control Systems : For Engine, Driveline, and Vehicle
Reflecting the trend to optimization through integrative approaches for engine, driveline and vehicle control, this book enables control engineers to understand engine and vehicle models necessary for controller design and also introduces mechanical engineers to vehicle-specific signal processing and automatic control. The emphasis on measurement, comparisons between performance and modelling, and realistic examples derive from the authors’ industrial experience at Bosch and interactions within IFAC and SAE. The second edition offers new or expanded topics such as diesel-engine modelling, diagnosis and anti-jerking control, and vehicle modelling and parameter estimation. The book addresses professional engineers as well as students.
Automatic Autocorrelation and Spectral Analysis
It takes advantage of greater computing power and robust algorithms to produce enough candidate models to be sure of providing a suitable candidate for given data. Improved order selection quality guarantees that one of the best (and often the best) will be selected automatically. The data themselves suggest their best representation. Should the analyst wish to intervene, alternatives can be provided. Written for graduate signal processing students and for researchers and engineers using time series analysis for practical applications ranging from breakdown prevention in heavy machinery to measuring lung noise for medical diagnosis.
Autistic community and the neurodiversity movement : Stories from the frontline
This book marks the first historical overview of the autism rights branch of the neurodiversity movement, describing the activities and rationales of key leaders in their own words since it organized into a unique community in 1992. Sandwiched by editorial chapters that include critical analysis, the book contains 19 chapters by 21 authors about the forming of the autistic community and neurodiversity movement, progress in their influence on the broader autism community and field, and their possible threshold of the advocacy establishment
Australias arc of Instability : The political and cultural dynamics of regional security
The idea for this book emerged from a conversation between Vivian Forbes and Charles Eaton following two seminars held in the Department of Geography at the University of Western Australia given by Trevor So?eld and Christopher Grif?n more than ?ve years ago. One seminar involved papers from Charles Eaton and Christopher Grif?n on the recent Speight coup in Fiji; the other, given by Trevor So?eld, was on the Solomon Islands. The seminars were attended by, among others, Dennis Rumley, who on getting involved in the conversation, suggested the idea of a book and then followed through on its scope, structure, planning, and possible contributors. Looking back now, we owe a special debt of gratitude to Charles Eaton both for his enthusiasm and his ideas then, and for his continued support throughout the whole project. Since that time ?ve years ago, many people have boarded and have left the Arc.
Attractivity and bifurcation for nonautonomous dynamical systems
Although, bifurcation theory of equations with autonomous and periodic time dependence is a major object of research in the study of dynamical systems since decades, the notion of a nonautonomous bifurcation is not yet established. In this book, two different approaches are developed which are based on special definitions of local attractivity and repulsivity.
Atomistic approaches in modern biology : From quantum chemistry to molecular simulations
This volume of Topics in Current Chemistry presents an overview of atomistic theoreticalmethodsapplied tomolecular biologicalsystems. Itthus repesents abottom-upview of chemistryonbiologyfroma theoreticalperspective. The chapters arearrangedsuchthat important issuesareconsidered startingfrom a quantum mechanical perspective and proceeding to a molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics descriptiono fthemotionoftheelementaryparticles involved.which are responsible for the properties and function of biomolecules. Depending on the length and time scales relevant for a given phenomenon to be investigated, tailored theoretical methods are required to account for these. If one is interested in large scale motions of molecules, a molecul- mechnanics-based description willbeappropriate.
Atomic spectroscopy : Introduction to the theory of hyperfine structure
Atomic Spectroscopy provides a comprehensive discussion on the general approach to the theory of atomic spectra, based on the use of the Lagrangian canonical formalism. This approach is developed and applied to explain the hydrogenic hyperfine structure associated with the nucleus motion, its finite mass, and spin. The non-relativistic or relativistic, spin or spin-free particle approximations can be used as a starting point of general approach. The special attention is paid to the theory of Lamb shift formation. The formulae for hydrogenic spectrum including the account of Lamb shift are written in simple analytical form. The book is of interest to specialists, graduate and postgraduate students, who are involved into the experimental and theoretical research in the field of modern atomic spectroscopy.
Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Nearfield Optical Microscopy and Nanoscratching : Application to Rough and Natural Surfaces
Making a clear distinction is made between nano- and micro-mechanical testing for physical reasons, this monograph describes the basics and applications of the supermicroscopies AFM and SNOM, and of the nanomechanical testing on rough and technical natural surfaces in the submicron range down to a lateral resolution of a few nm. New or improved instrumentation, new physical laws and unforeseen new applications in all branches of natural sciences (around physics, chemistry, mineralogy, materials science, biology and medicine) and nanotechnology are covered as well as the sources for pitfalls and errors.
Atmospheric and Oceanic
This volume contains many original findings on mesoscale processes in atmospheric and oceanic systems through mathematical modeling, numerical simulations and field experiments. These scientific papers examine and provide the latest developments on a range of topics that include tropical cyclones/hurricanes, mesoscale variability and modeling, seasonal monsoons and land surface processes including atmospheric boundary layer. This volume will be useful as a reading material in graduate level courses dealing with mesoscale systems, weather, climate, monsoon variability and boundary layer.
Atmospheric Aerosol Properties : Formation, Processes and Impacts
An increasing interest in studies of atmospheric aerosols in the context of their impact on the formation of climate, heterogeneous chemical reactions in the atmosphere affecting in particular the environmental quality, problems of visibility and human health is the cause of unusual scales of developments connected with studies of atmospheric aerosols. The necessity has arisen to analyze the latest results concerning, first of all, three aspects of the problems considered: 1. aerosol properties from data of complex field observational experiment; 2. processes of aerosol formation and interaction of aerosol with clouds, 3. aerosol as a climate-forming atmospheric component (including the problem of long-range transport). The monograph in hand is dedicated mainly to the problems of the impact of aerosol on climate processes in the atmosphere, from microphysical processes of formation and evolution of aerosol properties to the formation of macro-scale cloud sytems on aerosol particles.
At the crossroads : The world trading system and the Doha Round
Since its foundation in 1995 the legitimacy of the WTO – and herewith the notion of organising global trade on the basis of herewith the notion of organising global trade on the basis of concepts like trade-liberalisation, treaty-based rule of law and concepts like trade-liberalisation, treaty-based rule of law and enforceability – is challenged for very different reasons this volume not only documents the proceedings of this conference but, against the backdrop of the ongoing efforts to revive the Doha Round wants to be understood as some sort of stocktaking: What did really go wrong in Cancún? Where does the WTO stand today? Has there been any progress made since? And, finally: Is there any chance left to reach the ambitions goals postulated by the Doha Development Agenda? These and other, related questions are being discussed in the volume at hand.
Asymptotic Theory of Statistics and Probability
An encyclopedic treatment of classic as well as contemporary large sample theory, dealing with both statistical problems and probabilistic issues and tools. It is written in an extremely lucid style, with an emphasis on the conceptual discussion of the importance of a problem and the impact and relevance of the theorems. The book has 34 chapters over a wide range of topics, nearly 600 exercises for practice and instruction, and another 300 worked out examples. It also includes a large compendium of 300 useful inequalities on probability, linear algebra, and analysis that are collected together from numerous sources, as an invaluable reference for researchers in statistics, probability, and mathematics.
Astrophysics Update 2
"Astrophysics Updates" is intended to serve the information needs of professional astronomers and postgraduate students about areas of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology that are rich and active research spheres. Observational methods and the latest results of astronomical research are presented as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations. The contributed commissioned articles are written by leading exponents in a format that will appeal to professional astronomers and astrophysicists who are interested in topics outside their own specific areas of research. This collection of timely reviews may also attract the interest of advanced amateur astronomers seeking scientifically rigorous coverage.
Astrophysics : A new approach
For a quantitative understanding of the physics of the universe - from the solar system through the milky way to clusters of galaxies all the way to cosmology - these edited lecture notes are perhaps among the most concise and also among the most critical ones: Astrophysics has not yet stood the redundancy test of laboratory physics, hence should be wary of early interpretations. Special chapters are devoted to magnetic and radiation processes, supernovae, disks, black-hole candidacy, bipolar flows, cosmic rays, gamma-ray bursts, image distortions, and special sources. At the same time, planet earth is viewed as the arena for life, with plants and animals having evolved to homo sapiens during cosmic time. -- This text is unique in covering the basic qualitative and quantitative tools, formulae as well as numbers, needed for the precise interpretation of frontline phenomena in astrophysical research. The author compares mainstream interpretations with new and even controversial ones he wishes to emphasize.
Astrophysical concepts
This classic text, aimed at senior undergraduates and beginning graduate students in physics and astronomy, presents a wide range of astrophysical concepts in sufficient depth to give the reader a quantitative understanding of the subject. Emphasizing physical concepts, the book outlines cosmic events but does not portray them in detail: it provides a series of astrophysical sketches. For this fourth edition, nearly every part of the text has been reconsidered and rewritten, new sections have been added to cover recent developments, and others have been extensively revised and brought up to date. The book begins with an outline of the scope of modern astrophysics and enumerates some of the outstanding problems faced in the field today. The basic physics needed to tackle these questions are developed in the next few chapters using specific astronomical processes as examples. The second half of the book enlarges on these topics and shows how we can obtain quantitative insight into the structure and evolution of stars, the dynamics of cosmic gases, the large-scale behavior of the Universe, and the origins of life.
Astroparticle physics
The book describes the branch of astrophysics in which processes in the universe are investigated with experimental methods known from particle physics experiments. After a historical introduction to the basics of elementary particles, their interactions and the relevant detection techniques are described. The main body of the book concerns cosmic rays. The modern aspects of astroparticle physics are described in a chapter on cosmology. The book provides an orientation in the field of astroparticle physics that many beginners might look for. The physics issues are presented with little mathematics, and the results are illustrated by many diagrams. The reader has a chance to enter this field of astrophysics with a book that closes the gap between expert and popular level.



















