الصفحة 1
الصفحة 1
Open and distance education in Asia, Africa and the Middle East : National perspectives in a digital age
This book describes the history, structure and institutions of open and distance education in six countries: China, India, Russia, Turkey, South Africa and South Korea. It describes how open and distance education is evolving in a digital age to reflect the needs and circumstances of the national higher education systems in these countries. It also explores the similarities and differences between how their open and distance higher education systems are managed and structured. The book compare and draw conclusions about the nature of open and distance education in the context of various national higher education systems. In a digital era characterized by the growing use of online, open and distance education, this book will prove particularly valuable for policy-makers and senior administrators who want to learn about establishing or expanding open and distance education services. In addition, it offers a valuable reference guide for researchers, academics and students interested in understanding the different approaches to open and distance education.
Ontology Management : Semantic Web, Semantic Web Services, and Business Applications
This volume describes relevant tasks, practical and theoretical challenges, limitations and methodologies, plus available software tools. The editors discuss integrating the conceptual and technical dimensions with a business view on using ontologies, by stressing the cost dimension of ontology engineering and by providing guidance on how up-to-date tooling helps to build, maintain, and use ontologies. Also included is a one-stop reference on all aspects of managing ontological data and best practices on ontology management for a number of application domains.
Ontologies for Agents : Theory and Experiences
On the other hand, ontologies have established themselves as a powerful tool to enable kno- edge sharing, and a growing number of applications have bene?ted from the use of ontologies as a means to achieve semantic interoperability among heterogeneous, distributed systems. In principle ontologies and agents are a match made in heaven, that has failed to happen. What makes a simple piece of software an agent is its ability to communicate in a ”social” environment, to make autonomous decisions, and to be proactive on behalf of its user. Communication ultimately depends on und- standing the goals, preferences, and constraints posed by the user. Autonomy is theabilitytoperformataskwithlittleornouserintervention,whileproactiveness involves acting autonomously with no need for user prompting. Communication, but also autonomy and proactiveness, depend on knowledge. The ability to c- municate depends on understanding the syntax (terms and structure) and the semantics of a language. Ontologies provide the terms used to describe a domain and the semantics associated with them. In addition, ontologies are often comp- mented by some logical rules that constrain the meaning assigned to the terms. These constraints are represented by inference rules that can be used by agents to perform the reasoning on which autonomy and proactiveness are based.
On The Interpretation of Treaties : The Modern International Law as Expressed in the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
This book investigates the contents and structure of this system. By importing knowledge from linguistics, and pragmatics in particular, a model is established giving representation to the concept of a rule of interpretation. Drawing on this model, the book then proceeds to reconstruct the contents of the various rules of interpretation. To facilitate reference, the conclusions suggest a list of 44 rules, all of which can be invoked by appliers citing VCLT Articles 31-33.
Ocean Wave Energy : Current Status and Future Prespectives
The authors of this reference provide an updated and global view on ocean wave energy conversion for wave energy developers as well as for students and professors. The book is orientated to the practical solutions that this new industry has found so far and the problems that any device needs to face. It describes the actual principles applied to machines that convert wave power in electricity. Additionally, an historical review, state of the art of modern systems, a full scale prototype experience, and future perspectives are given.
Obstetrics in Family Medicine : A Practical Guide
The key points for each topic are summarized in tabular form for quick reference, and diagnostic flow charts illuminate all aspects of the decision-making process. Expert advice based on years of experience is also presented concerning physical and ultrasound examinations, laboratory tests, drug toxicities, and screening techniques.
Obstetric Anesthesia Handbook
As the field of obstetric anesthesia continues to change rapidly, both in technique and in specific pharmaceutical agents used, it is essential for all practitioners caring for the pregnant patient to be familiar with current anesthetic protocols and general concepts in obstetric anesthesia. The Handbook appeals to a wide audience, as it was written with the practicing anesthesiologists in mind, as well as nurse anesthetists, obstetricians, housestaff, and residents. The Obstetric Anesthesia Handbook supplies expert advice on every facet of anesthesia for childbirth and related obstetric procedures. The text is authoritative, succinct, and highly practical. It is accompanied by over 100 illustrations and tables making the text a convenient reference to the busy practitioner.
Observing our Changing Earth ; Proceedings of the 2007 IAG General Assembly, Perugia, Italy, July 2 - 13, 2007
Contains a selection of 99 papers from the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) quadrennial General Assembly, held in Perugia, Italy, from July 2 to 13, 2007, in conjunction with the XXIV General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG).
Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Disease
Nutritional support of people with gastrointestinal impairment is critical to treatment and ultimately successful management. As such, gastroenterologists should be experts in nutrition and knowledgeable about the affects of nutrition on disease management. Nutritional and Gastrointestinal Disease fulfills that need, serving as a hands-on, practical reference in nutrition support for the clinical gastroenterologist and other clinicians with similar interests. The volume offers expert nutritional knowledge and management ideas as well as methodology for combating problems such as short bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and obesity. Renowned authorities also investigate nutrition’s influence on such issues as liver failure and acute pancreatitis. While gastroenterology training programs around the world remain deficient in their nutrition curriculum, Nutritional and Gastrointestinal Disease provides a comprehensive and groundbreaking support for clinical gastroenterologists.
Nutraceuticals and health care ; 1st ed.
Explores the role of plant-based nutraceuticals as food ingredients and as therapeutic agents for preventing various diseases. The book assesses the role of nutraceuticals in addressing cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity by highlighting the derivatives, extraction, chemistry, mechanism of action, pharmacology, bioavailability, and safety of specific nutraceuticals. It analyzes twenty one nutraceuticals in a systematic way, providing a welcomed reference for nutrition researchers, nutritionists and dieticians, as well as other scientists studying related areas in food science, technology or agriculture. Students studying related topics will also benefit from this material.
Nutraceuticals : Sources, processing methods, properties, and applications
Explores the impact of nutraceutical compounds on human health and their main pharmacological contributions. Organized into three parts, this book addresses nutraceutical production, applications for disease prevention and treatment, and current trends, especially the role of nutraceuticals in cosmeceutical. Nutraceuticals are a class of products that can help people improve their health, reduce the risk of disease, extend their lives, and control the structure and functioning of their bodies. However, due to multiple hurdles that prevent nutraceuticals from circulating in an active form in the body, their use is associated with diminished therapeutic efficacy. Recognizing this problem, the book explores the root of the nutraceutical delivery system and its codelivery methods with a focus on medicines. With contributions from experienced nutraceutical experts, this book serves as a valuable reference for nutrition researchers, food scientists, pharmacologists, and those who are researching and studying in related areas.
Nursing Care of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Patient
Nursing Care of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Patient serves as a detailed reference for all nurses caring for children with neurosurgical problems. Staff nurses (and student nurses) working in clinics, PICU, pediatrics, operating rooms, post-anesthesia care units, emergency department and radiology will benefit from the information presented in this book. The explanations of pathophysiology, anatomy, radiodiagnostic testing and treatment options for each neurosurgical diagnosis will help them to understand the rationale behind the nursing care. Presenting symptoms and findings on neurological examination and history will enable nurses to identify normal signs. Each chapter includes information on patient and family education and will give helpful guidelines.
Numerical Treatment of Partial Differential Equations
In 1988 we started work on the frst German edition of our book, which appeared in 1992. Our aim was to give students a textbook that contained the basic concepts and ideas behind most numerical methods for partial di?er- tial equations. The success of this frst edition and the second edition in 1994 encouraged us, ten years later, to write an almost completely new version, taking into account comments from colleagues and students and drawing on the enormous progress made in the numerical analysis of partial di?erential equations in recent times. The present English version slightly improves the third German edition of 2005: we have corrected some minor errors and added additional material and references.
Numerical Linear Algebra
This book brings together linear algebra, numerical methods and an easy to use programming environment under Matlab (or Scilab). One of the key features of the book are the worked out examples and exercises at the end of each chapter. The reader is asked to do some numerical experiments in Matlab and then to prove the results theoretically. The book is a combination and update of two earlier French books by the authors. It is appropriate for both undergraduate and beginning graduate courses in mathematics as well as for working scientists and engineers as a self-study tool and reference.This book is about numerical linear algebra and focuses on practical algorithms for solving computer problems of linear algebra.
Numerical and Practical Exercises in Thermoluminescence
Thermoluminescence (TL) is a well-established technique widely used in dosimetric and dating applications. Although several excellent reference books exist which document both the theoretical and experimental aspects of TL, there is a general lack of books that deal with specific numerical and practical aspects of analyzing TL data. Many times the practical details of analyzing numerical TL glow curves and of applying theoretical models are difficult to find in the published literature. Numerical and Practical Exercises in Thermoluminescence provides a practical guide for both established researchers and for new graduate students entering the field of TL, and is intended to be used in conjunction with and as a practical supplement to standard textbooks in the field.
Numeri e Crittografia
Number Theory is one of the most classic fields of Mathematics. The numbers he deals with are those that are called natural 0, 1, 2, ... and that we use since childhood to count. Seemingly simple and harmless, they nevertheless hide some of the most difficult and exciting mysteries of the whole of mathematics. Cryptography, on the other hand, is concerned with hiding the content of confidential communications from prying eyes and corresponds to widespread needs in our society. The Theory of Numbers can help Cryptography in these needs, thanks to the mysteries that still surround it. The text gives an account of this link. It first introduces Modern Cryptography, its goals and priorities. He then goes on to expose arguments of Number Theory, with particular reference to the two problems of recognizing prime numbers, and of decomposing a natural into its prime factors; for each of the two issues it provides a vast panorama of the algorithms that deal with it and try to solve it as effectively as possible. In particular, it presents the very recent AKS procedure for recognizing prime numbers. The book then returns to Cryptography and shows how ideas and methods of Number Theory apply to the construction of reliable procedures for the secure transmission of confidential information.
Nuclear Dynamics : Molecular Biology and Visualization of the Nucleus
The dynamics of nuclear structures described in this book furnish the basis for a comprehensive understanding of how the higher-order organization and function of the nucleus is established and how it correlates with the expression of a variety of vital activities such as cell proliferation and differentiation. The resulting volume creates an invaluable source of reference for researchers in the field.
Nonlinear Optical Crystals : A Complete Survey
Nonlinear optical crystals are widely used in modern optical science and technology for frequency conversion of laser light, i.e. to generate laser radiation at any specific wavelength in visible, UV or IR spectral regions. This unrivalled reference book contains the most complete and up-to-date information on properties of nonlinear optical crystals. It includes: * Database of 63 common and novel nonlinear optical crystals * Periodically-poled and self-frequency-doubling materials * Full description of linear and nonlinear optical properties * Significant amount of crystallophysical, thermophysical, spectroscopic, electro-optic and magneto-optic information * 7 mini-reviews on novel applications, such as deep-UV light generation, terahertz-wave generation, ultrashort laser pulse compression, photonic band-gap crystals, x3 nonlinearity, etc. * More than 1500 different references with full titles It is a vital source of information for scientists and engineers dealing with modern applications of nonlinear optical crystals in quantum electronics, photonics, optoelectronics and laser physics.
Noninvasive Imaging of Myocardial Ischemia
Non-invasive imaging plays a very important role in the assessment of patients investigated for coronary artery disease, providing valuable information for diagnosis and aiding management decisions. It covers a broad spectrum of investigations including radionuclide imaging, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Progress towards the most efficacious means of assessing a patient is relentless, with recent years seeing an important shift in emphasis from invasive to noninvasive techniques. This informative book compares the various modalities in a practical diagnostic environment. It thus provides a forum for fertile discussion, bringing the discussion of these various methodologies together in one reference for the first time. The narrative flow is unique and will ensure that all levels of medical practitioners with an interest in cardiac imaging will find this an unparalleled resource for use in guiding their practice.
Non-destructive testing and evaluation of civil engineering structures
The non-destructive evaluation of civil engineering structures in reinforced concrete is becoming an increasingly important issue in this field of engineering. This book proposes innovative ways to deal with this problem, through the characterization of concrete durability indicators by the use of non-destructive techniques. It presents the description of the various non-destructive techniques and their combination for the evaluation of indicators. The processing of data issued from the combination of NDE methods is also illustrated through examples of data fusion methods.
