Forensic Pathology Reviews ; Vol. 5
In this volume of the globally recognized Forensic Pathology Reviews, Dr. Michael Tsokos has gathered chapters from the top experts in the field to reveal both the applied and scientific areas of expertise along the broad spectrum of forensics studies.
Foreign Exchange Rate Forecasting using Artificial Neural Networks
In this monograph, the authors try to apply artificial neural networks (ANNs) to exchange rates forecasting. Selection of the ANN approach for - change rates forecasting is because of ANNs’ unique features and powerful pattern recognition capability. Unlike most of the traditional model-based forecasting techniques, ANNs are a class of data-driven, self-adaptive, and nonlinear methods that do not require specific assumptions on the und- lying data generating process. These features are particularly appealing for practical forecasting situations where data are abundant or easily available, even though the theoretical model or the underlying relationship is - known. Furthermore, ANNs have been successfully applied to a wide range of forecasting problems in almost all areas of business, industry and engineering.
Forecasting with Exponential Smoothing : The State Space Approach
Exponential smoothing methods have been around since the 1950s, and are the most popular forecasting methods used in business and industry. Recently, exponential smoothing has been revolutionized with the introduction of a complete modeling framework incorporating innovations state space models, likelihood calculation, prediction intervals and procedures for model selection. In this book, all of the important results for this framework are brought together in a coherent manner with consistent notation. In addition, many new results and extensions are introduced and several application areas are examined in detail.
Forces, Growth and Form in Soft Condensed Matter : At the Interface between Physics and Biology
This volume comprises the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute held at Geilo, Norway, 24 March - 3 April 2003, the seventeenth ASI in a series held every two years since 1971. The objective of this ASI was to identify and discuss areas where synergism between modern physics, soft condensed matter and biology might be most fruitful. The main pedagogical approach was to have lecturers focussing on basic understanding of important aspects of the relative role of the various interaction- electrostatic, hydrophobic, steric, conformational, van der Waals etc. Soft condensed matter and the connection between physics and biology have been the themes of several earlier Geilo Schools. A return to these subjects thus allowed a fresh look and a possibility for defining new directions for research. Examples of soft materials, which were discussed at this ASI, included colloidal dispersions, gels, biopolymers and charged polymer solutions, polyelectrolytes, protein/membrane complexes, nucleic acids and their complexes. Indeed, most forms of condensed matter are soft and these substances are composed of aggregates and macromolecules, with interactions that are too weak and complex to form crystals spontaneously. A characteristic feature is that small external forces, slight perturbations in temperature, pressure or concentration, can all be enough to induce significant structural changes. Thermal fluctuations are almost by definition strong in soft materials and entropy is a predominant determinant of structure, so that disorder, slow dynamics and plastic deformation are the rule. Hence the phrase ‘soft condensed matter’ has been coined.
Food Engineering : Integrated Approaches
Food Engineering: Integrated Approaches presents an up-to-date review of important food engineering concepts, issues and recent advances in the field. Distinguished food engineers and food scientists from key institutions worldwide have contributed chapters that provide a deep analysis of their particular subjects. At the same time, each topic is framed within the context of a broader more integrated approach, demonstrating its relationship and interconnectedness to other areas. The premise of this work, therefore, is to offer both a comprehensive understanding of food engineering as a whole and a thorough knowledge of individual subjects. This approach appropriately conveys the basic fundamentals, state-of-the-art technology, and applications of the involved disciplines.
Fluorescence of supermolecules, polymers, and nanosystems
The field of fluorescence continues to steadily grow, both in its fundamental aspects and in applications in highly interdisciplinary areas including analytical, physical and organic chemistry, molecular sciences, biology, biomedicine and medical research. The 4th volume in the Springer Series on Fluorescence focuses on the fluorescence of nanosystems, polymers and supermolecules, and the development and application of fluorescent probes. Special emphasis is placed on the fluorescence of artificial and biological nanosystems, single molecule fluorescence and the luminescence of polymers, micro- and nanoparticles and nanotubes. Fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy are covered as well. Historical aspects of this growing field and an overview of fluorescence applications are also provided.
Fluid Transport in Nanoporous Materials : Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, held in La Colle sur Loup, France, 16-28 June 2003
The most promising include molecular sieves which are being developed as inorganic or polymeric systems with 0. 3-30nm in pore dimensions. These nanoporous solids have a broad spectrum of applications in chemical and biochemical processes. The unique applications of molecular sieves are based on their sorption and transport selectivity. Yet, the transport processes in nanoporous systems are not understood well. At the same time, the theoretical capabilities have increased exponentially catalyzed by increases in computational capabilities. The interactions between a diffusing species and the host solid are being studied with increasing details and realism. Further, in situ experimental techniques have been developed which give an understanding of the interactions between diffusing species and nanoporous solids that was not available even a few years ago. The time was ripe to bring together these areas of common interest and study to understand what is known and what has yet to be determined concerning transport in nanoporous solids. Molecular sieves are playing an increasing role in a broad range of industrial petrochemical and biological processes. These include shape-selective separations and catalysis as well as sensors and drug delivery. Molecular sieves are made from inorganic as well as organic solids, e. g. , polymers. They can be employed in packed beds, as membranes and as barrier materials. Initially, the applications of molecular sieves were dominated by the use of zeolites.
Flat Roof Construction Manual : Materials, Design, Applications
The flat roof is extremely popular with architects. Its essential task is to shelter the space beneath it from the elements. Beyond this, the use of flat roofs may be optimized by integrating them as green roofs, roof terraces, circulation areas, and even productive solar roofs. In practice, however, their correct and professional realization is a highly exacting task: in addition to providing the planner with basic rules of construction and design, the Flat Roof Manual also supplies an overview of the use and construction types as well as the standard assemblies for flat roofs. Together with the most important standards and bodies of regulations, construction drawings of the principal connection points round out the volume. A planning primer on the construction, materials, and building physics of flat roofs. In-depth presentation of individual roofing layers and design types. Flat roofs as usable surfaces Renovating flat roofs
Fish Histology : Female Reproductive Systems
This volume describes the myriad ways in which fish have approached problems of reproduction — it is an amply illustrated comparative study of the microscopic structure of the female genital systems of fish. The timing of its appearance is auspicious in that it coincides with the decline of the golden age of descriptive morphology. It is a compilation of thousands of micrographs — mostly electron micrographs — from classic works in the field and should prove valuable to investigators studying fish in areas such as ecology, physiology, and reproductive biology who may view histology as essential in their work but have little background in this area. It includes chapters on the origin of genital systems, the structure of ovarian follicles, mechanisms of ovulation, the cortical reaction, oviducts, oviparity, and amazing examples of viviparity.
Fire properties of polymer composite materials
This book is the first to deal comprehensively with the important topic of the fire behaviour of polymer composite materials. Composites are used in a diverse range of applications, including land and marine transport, aerospace, the chemical industry, and most branches of civil engineering infrastructure. It is our belief that fire behaviour is the single most important factor limiting the wider use of composites in many of these areas. Our aim in producing this volume is therefore to stimulate the work that is needed to overcome this fundamental problem. The first step in such a journey is, of course, to summarise what is presently known, which is what we have attempted here. The book covers all of the key issues on the behaviour of polymer composites in fire.
Financial management and risk analysis strategies for business sustainability
Financial Management and Risk Analysis Strategies for Business Sustainability proposes a series of practical and theoretical perspectives on how the business world has to evolve to adapt to the new situation the world has reached due to undeniable climate change forcing businesses to redefine their productive processes and internal organization. Topics highlighted include financial management procedures, corporate social responsibility, risk analysis, financial literacy, and innovation in sustainability and sustainable development. areas.
Financial cryptography and data security ; 11th International Conference, FC 2007, and First International workshop on usable security, USEC 2007, Scarborough, Trinidad/Tobago, February 12-16, 2007. Revised Selected Papers
This book cover all aspects of securing transactions and systems, which this year included a range of technical areas such as cryptography, payment systems, anonymity, privacy, - thentication, and commercial and ?nancial transactions.
Fighting Terror Online : The Convergence of Security, Technology, and the Law
This book presents the position that the online environment is a significant and relevant theater of activity in the fight against terror, and will identify the threats, the security needs, and the issues that are unique to this environment. We examine whether the unique characteristics of this environment require new legal solutions, or whether existing solutions are sufficient. Three areas of online activity are identified that require reexamination: security, monitoring, and propaganda. For each of these, we will indicate the issues, examine existing legal arrangements, and offer guidelines for formulating legal policy. There is a demonstrated need to relate to the digital environment as a battlefront, map the new security threats.
Femtosecond laser spectroscopy
As concepts and methodologies have evolved over the past two decades, the realm of ultrafast science has become vast and exciting and has impacted many areas of chemistry, biology and physics, and other fields such as materials science, electrical engineering, and optical communication. The field has recently exploded with the announcement of a series of remarkable new developments and advances. This volume surveys this recent growth in eleven chapters written by leading international researchers in the field. It includes sections on femtosecond optical frequency combs, soft x-ray femtosecond laser sources, and attosecond laser sources. In addition, the contributors address real-time spectroscopy of molecular vibrations with sub-5-fs pulses and multidimensional femtosecond coherent spectroscopies for studying molecular and electron dynamics. Novel methods for measuring and characterizing ultrashort laser pulses and ultrashort pulses of light are also described. The topics covered are revolutionizing the fields of biomedical imaging, electron dynamics, ultrahigh precision spectroscopy, and optical frequency metrology. Surveying the latest advances in ultrafast lasers, Femtosecond Laser Spectroscopy will be of interest to both researchers and graduate students.
Feldman and Pike's vitamin D; Vol. 2 : Health, disease and therapeutics
Covers the evidence for new roles of vitamin D, ranging from organ transplantation to cancer, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and renal disease. The coverage is appropriately broad, drawing on aspects of internal medicine, pediatrics, nutrition, orthopedics, oncology, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, and immunology, as well as, new areas for vitamin D including sports medicine, opthalmology, veterinary medicine and ICU care – including COVID-19. Clinical researchers will gain a strong understanding of the molecular basis for a particular disease and better understand future directions for research in this still-growing field.
Feldman and Pike's vitamin D; Vol. 1 : Biochemistry, physiology and diagnostics
Presents a comprehensive review of the multi-faceted actions of vitamin D relating both to skeletal and extra-skeletal action. Researchers from all areas of vitamin D will gain insight into how clinical observations and practices can feed back into the research cycle and will, therefore, be able to develop more targeted genomic and proteomic insights into the mechanisms of disease.
Feasibility and Infeasibility in Optimization : Algorithms and Computational Methods
Feasibility and Infeasibility in Optimization is a timely expository book that summarizes the state of the art in both classical and recent algorithms related to feasibility and infeasibility in optimization, with a focus on practical methods. All model forms are covered, including linear, nonlinear, and mixed-integer programs. Connections to related work in constraint programming are shown. Part I of the book addresses algorithms for seeking feasibility quickly, including new methods for the difficult cases of nonlinear and mixed-integer programs. Part II provides algorithms for analyzing infeasibility by isolating minimal infeasible (or maximum feasible) subsets of constraints, or by finding the best repair for the infeasibility. Infeasibility analysis algorithms have arisen primarily over the last two decades, and the book covers these in depth and detail. Part III describes applications in numerous areas outside of direct infeasibility analysis such as finding decision trees for data classification, analyzing protein folding, radiation treatment planning, automated test assembly, etc.
Farming for Health : Green-Care Farming Across Europe and the United States of America
Farming for Health describes the utilization of agricultural farms, farm animals, plants and landscapes as a base for promoting human mental and physical health and social well-being. This book gives an overview of the development of ‘Farming for Health’ initiatives across Europe. This development is a logical result of the changing paradigms in the health-care sector and the demand for new social and financial impulses in agriculture and rural areas.
Factories of the Future : The Italian Flagship Initiative
This book presents results relevant in the manufacturing research field, that are mainly aimed at closing the gap between the academic investigation and the industrial application, in collaboration with manufacturing companies. Several hardware and software prototypes represent the key outcome of the scientific contributions that can be grouped into five main areas, representing different perspectives of the factory domain
Extremes in Nature : An Approach Using Copulas
The study of the statistics of extreme events is an essential first step in the mitigation of natural catastrophies, that often cause severe economic losses worldwide. This book is about the theoretical and practical aspects of the statistics of Extreme Events in Nature. Most importantly, this is the first text in which Copulas are introduced and used in Geophysics. Several topics are fully original, and show how standard models and calculations can be improved by exploiting the opportunities offered by Copulas. In addition, new quantities useful for design and risk assessment are introduced. Practicioners in all research areas of Geosciences and extreme events (including Finance and Insurance, closely related to natural disasters) will definitely benefit from the new Copula-approach outlined in the book.



















