الصفحة 5
الصفحة 5
Analytical Chemistry : Theoretical and Metrological Fundamentals
Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry are usually presented as a sum of chemical and physical foundations, laws, axioms and equations for analytical methods and procedures. In contrast, this book delivers a practice-oriented, general guiding theory valid for all methods and techniques. Starting with a closer look to analytical signals and their dependencies, all the important figures of merit characterizing the power of analytical procedures and the reliability of analytical results are discussed and quantified, such as sensitivity, precision, accuracy and ruggedness. Elements of signal theory, information theory, statistics and fundamentals of calibration are also presented for this aim.
Algorithms for Sensor and Ad Hoc Networks : Advanced Lectures
Thousands of mini computers (comparable to a stick of chewing gum in size), equipped with sensors, are deployed in some terrain or other. After activation the sensors form a self-organized network and provide data, for example about a forthcoming earthquake. The trend towards wireless communication increasingly affects electronic devices in almost every sphere of life. Conventional wireless networks rely on infrastructure such as base stations; mobile devices interact with these base stations in a client/server fashion. In contrast, current research is focusing on networks that are completely unstructured, but are nevertheless able to communicate (via several hops) with each other, despite the low coverage of their antennas. Such systems are called sensor or ad hoc networks, depending on the point of view and the application. Wireless ad hoc and sensor networks have gained an incredible research momentum. Computer scientists and engineers of all flavors are embracing the area. Sensor networks have been adopted by researchers in many fields: from hardware technology to operating systems, from antenna design to databases, from information theory to networking, from graph theory to computational geometry.
Ages, generations and the social contract : The demographic challenges facing the welfare state
Our societies are ageing. The Family is changing. Labour force behaviour is evolving. How is the organisation of family and collective solidarity adapting in this context of longer life spans, low fertility, and work that is simultaneously scarce and abundant? The welfare states are currently facing three main challenges: ensure satisfactory living conditions for the elderly without increasing the cost burden on the active population, reduce social inequality, and maintain equity between successive generations. In this book, researchers from different countries compare their experiences and offer contrasting views on the future of social protection. They consider the theoretical aspects of the intergenerational debate, relations between generations within the family, the living standards of elderly people, and the question of social time.
African Land Reform Under Economic Liberalisation: States, Chiefs, and Rural Communities
This book offers unique in-depth, comprehensive, and comparative analyses of the motivations, context, and outcomes of recent land reforms in Africa. Whereas a considerable number of land reforms have been carried out by African governments since the 1990s, no systematic analysis on their meaning has so far been conducted. In the age of land reform, Africa has seen drastic rural changes. Analysing the relationship between those reforms and change, the chapters in this book reveal not only their socio-economic outcomes, such as accelerated marketisation of land, but also their political outcomes, which have often been contrasting.
Advances in image enhancement
In the era of the internet of things, images have played important roles in human–computer interactions, and with the arrival of big data technology, people have higher requirements regarding image quality, especially for images collected in dark light. This can be addressed through the development of camera hardware quality, i.e., the resolution and exposure time of cameras, which may require high computational costs. As an alternative, image enhancement techniques can exact salient features to improve the quality of captured images according to the differences in diverse features, although they suffer from some challenges, i.e., a low contrast, artifacts, and overexposure, thus making it decidedly necessary to determine how to use advanced image enhancement techniques.
Advances in Diagnostic Imaging : The Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Liver
Takes into account the great impact of new technology on clinical practice for mass liver lesions. Its findings reflect a consensus meeting of experts assembled in order to develop guidelines for the use of ultrasound contrast agents in the diagnosis of liver diseases.
Advanced Magnetic Nanostructures
Advanced Magnetic Nanostructures is devoted to the fabrication, characterization, experimental investigation, theoretical understanding, and utilization of advanced magnetic nanostructures. Focus is on various types of 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' artificial nanostructures, as contrasted to naturally occurring magnetic nanostructures, such as iron-oxide inclusions in magnetic rocks, and to structures such as perfect thin films. Industrial and academic researchers in magnetism and related areas such as nanotechnology, materials science, and theoretical solid-state physics will find this book a valuable resource.
Advanced Bioimaging Technologies in Assessment of the Quality of Bone and Scaffold Materials : Techniques and Applications
This book provides a perspective on the current status of bioimaging technologies developed to assess the quality of musculoskeletal tissue with an emphasis on bone and cartilage. It offers evaluations of scaffold biomaterials developed for enhancing the repair of musculoskeletal tissues. These bioimaging techniques include micro-CT, nano-CT, pQCT/QCT, MRI, and ultrasound, which provide not only 2-D and 3-D images of the related organs or tissues, but also quantifications of the relevant parameters. The advance bioimaging technologies developed for the above applications are also extended by incorporating imaging contrast-enhancement materials.
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.
Active Lighting and Its Application for Computer Vision : 40 Years of History of Active Lighting Techniques
Computer vision entails both passive and active illumination techniques. Whereas passive techniques observe the scene statically and analyse it as is, by contrast active techniques give the scene some actions and try to facilitate the analysis. In particular, active illumination techniques project specific light, for which the characteristics are known beforehand, to a target scene to enable stable and accurate analysis of the scene.
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.
