الصفحة 2
الصفحة 2
Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics and the Production of Entropy: Life, Earth, and Beyond
The present volume studies the application of concepts from non-equilibrium thermodynamics to a variety of research topics. Emphasis is on the Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) principle and applications to Geosphere-Biosphere couplings. Written by leading researchers form a wide range of background, the book proposed to give a first coherent account of an emerging field at the interface of thermodynamics, geophysics and life sciences.
Non-Equilibrium Phase Transitions ; Vol. I : Absorbing Phase Transitions
This book describes two main classes of non-equilibrium phase-transitions: (a) static and dynamics of transitions into an absorbing state, and (b) dynamical scaling in far-from-equilibrium relaxation behaviour and ageing. The first volume begins with an introductory chapter which recalls the main concepts of phase-transitions, set for the convenience of the reader in an equilibrium context. The extension to non-equilibrium systems is made by using directed percolation as the main paradigm of absorbing phase transitions and in view of the richness of the known results an entire chapter is devoted to it, including a discussion of recent experimental results. Scaling theories and a large set of both numerical and analytical methods for the study of non-equilibrium phase transitions are thoroughly discussed.
Noise-Induced Transitions : Theory and Applications in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
This classic text, an often-requested reprint, develops and explains the foundations of noise-induced processes. At its core is a self-contained, textbook-style presentation of the elements of probability theory, of the theory of Markovian diffusion processes and of the theory of stochastic differential equations, on which the modeling of fluctuating natural and artificial environments is based. Following an introduction to the mathematical tools, the occurrence and the properties of noise-induced transitions are then analyzed for rapidly fluctuating environments describable by the white-noise idealization. Subsequently, more realistic and general types of colored noises are considered. Appropriate practical methods for dealing with these situations are developed. The latter part of the book contains applications and experimental studies illustrating the many facets of noise-induced transitions. The following applications are considered in Noise-Induced Transitions: population dynamics, electrical circuits, chemical and photochemical reactions, non-linear optics, and hydrodynamical systems.
No More Muddling Through : Mastering Complex Projects in Engineering and Management
Systems Engineering (SE) is a systematic way of thinking and a methodology to guide demanding problem-solving processes in the fields of management and engineering. This book explains the most important principles and elements of Systems Engineering and three planning cases demonstrate the practical application.
Nitrogen Cycling in the Americas : Natural and Anthropogenic Influences and Controls
The rate of creation of reactive nitrogen (NR) on the earth has dramatically increased in the last half century mainly due to the production of N-fertilizer through the Haber-Bosch process, fossil fuel combustion, and the cultivation of plants that fix N from the atmosphere. The anthropogenic production of NR has been especially high in developed countries of the temperate zone, such as the USA and Canada, where severe eutrophication of estuaries and coastal zones, acidification of lakes and streams, loss of biodiversity, and reduced forest productivity have become common environmental problems associated with increasing nitrogen loads to ecosystems. This book presents a series of studies from across the Americas whose aim is to highlight key natural processes that control nitrogen cycling as well as discuss the main anthropogenic influences on the nitrogen cycle in both the tropical and temperate regions of the Americas.
Next Generation Supply Chains : A Roadmap for Research and Innovation
This book explores supply chains strategies to help companies face challenges such as societal emergency, digitalization, climate changes and scarcity of resources. The book identifies industrial scenarios for the next decade based on the analysis of trends at social, economic, environmental technological and political level, and examines how they may impact on supply chain processes and how to design next generation supply chains to answer these challenges.
New Perspectives in Political Ethnography
Ethnography is uniquely equipped to look microscopically at the foundations of political institutions and their attendant set of practices, just as it is ideally suited to explain why political actors behave the way they do and to identify the causes, processes and outcomes that are part and parcel of political life. The volume, based on a special issue of Qualitative Sociology has a two-fold purpose: to bring politics into the ethnographic literature and of ethnography in studies of politics. The case studies included are based on the research of ethnographers studying the various level of politics in Brazil, Japan, El Salvador, Bosnia, the Philippines, India and the United States. It will be of interest to those in the sociology of politics, political science and those looking for ethnographic research on a global level.
New Methodologies and Techniques for a Sustainable Organic Chemistry
Chemical industries have to face the big challenge of finding adequate processes to produce large quantities of new products for which there is a present need, decreasing at the same time both the impact on the environment and the risk of disasters. These issues have led to the establishment of new concepts of sustainable development as affirmed in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in the early 90’s and has been the subject of intensive studies in the last two decades. The book addresses this challenge collecting the recent “New Methodologies and Techniques for a Sustainable Organic Chemistry”.
New Introduction to Multiple Time Series Analysis
This reference work and graduate level textbook considers a wide range of models and methods for analyzing and forecasting multiple time series. The models covered include vector autoregressive, cointegrated,vector autoregressive moving average, multivariate ARCH and periodic processes as well as dynamic simultaneous equations and state space models. Least squares, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods are considered for estimating these models. Different procedures for model selection and model specification are treated and a wide range of tests and criteria for model checking are introduced. Causality analysis, impulse response analysis and innovation accounting are presented as tools for structural analysis. The book is accessible to graduate students in business and economics. In addition, multiple time series courses in other fields such as statistics and engineering may be based on it. Applied researchers involved in analyzing multiple time series may benefit from the book as it provides the background and tools for their tasks. It bridges the gap to the difficult technical literature on the topic.
New Directions in Human Information Behavior
The book presents chapters by an interdisciplinary range of scholars who show new directions that often challenge the established views and paradigms of information behavior studies. Beginning with an evolutionary framework, the book examines information behaviors over various epochs of human existence from the Palaeolithic Era and within pre-literate societies, to contemporary behaviors by 21st century humans. Drawing upon social and psychological science theories the book presents a more integrated and holistic approach to the understanding of information behaviors that include multitasking and non-linear longitudinal processes, individuals’ information ground, information practices and information sharing, digital behaviors and human information organizing behaviors. The final chapter of the book integrates these new approaches and presents an overview of the key trends, theories and models for further research.
New Computational Methods in Power System Reliability
Power system reliability is in the focus of intensive study due to its critical role in providing energy supply to the modern society. This book is not aimed at providing the overview of the state of the art in power system reliability. On the contrary, it describes application of some new specific techniques: universal generating function method and its combination with Monte Carlo simulation and with random processes methods, Semi-Markov and Markov reward models and genetic algorithm.
New Aspects of Zirconium Containing Organic Compounds
Metal carbene complexes have made their way from organometallic curiosities to valuable reagents and catalysts. They offer novel synthetic opportunities in carbon-carbon bond formation based on either carbene-centered reactions or on metal-templated processes which makes them indispensable in modern synthetic methodology. The most prominent metal carbenes are now either commercially available or easy to synthesize and handle with modern laboratory techniques. This volume organized in eight chapters written by the leading scientists in the field illustrates the theoretical background, non-classical nucleophilic and cycloaddition patterns, chromium-templated benzannulation and photo-induced reactions, rhodium-catalyzed carbene transfer as well as the principles and applications of olefin metathesis which has coined the progress in synthetic methodology over the past decade. Designed for researchers in academia and industry as well as graduate students it presents the state-of-the-art potential of carbene complexes in modern organic synthesis.
New and Old Routes of Portuguese Emigration : Uncertain Futures at the Periphery of Europe
This book offers a comparative overview on Portuguese emigration in Europe and outside the EU in times of recession. In addition to the dynamics of movement, the book provides an in-depth analysis of the heterogeneity of this emigration. It deepens the multifaceted identities concerning social and professional pathways among highly skilled and less skilled emigrants. The labour market continues to be the main regulatory force of Portuguese emigration, which helps to explain the outflow and the processes of settlement and return. Nonetheless, this book demonstrates that non-economic factors have likewise been of great importance in the decision to emigrate.
New and emerging plant viruses : the threat to food security
Despite intensive efforts to manage and prevent plant viruses and their potential vectors in crop production processes, many crops are damaged each year. This new book reviews the progress made to date and the challenges ahead in the field of plant viruses and agricultural production. It sheds light on previously undiscovered plant viruses, bringing together information on the detection and tracking, host interaction, evolution, and management. The first section covers the various hidden sources of plant viruses such as from wild plants, weeds, and tobacco as well as other undetermined plant virus sources. The second section covers the implications of mixed infection on disease pathogenicity and epidemiology, provides an understanding of the virus and host relationship, and presents an overview of plant viruses from old to new.
New Advances in Virtual Humans: Artificial Intelligence Environment
In this book, various aspects of cognitive and emotional behaviour is described. In chapter one, a state of the art introduction to VH is presented and the associated research is given. In Chapter 2, cognitive and emotions processes are described. A Comprehensive context model for multi-party interactions with the VH is given in the next chapter. Finally, it is very important to model the socializing of groups of virtual humans. This is discussed in Chapter 4. The automatic modelling of expressions for VH is described in Chapter 5. The last chapter gives a case study of an intelligent kios avatar and its usability.
Neuroscience in Medicine
This up-to-date edition alternates scientific and clinical chapters that explain the basic science underlying neurological processes and then relates that science to the understanding of neurological disorders and their treatment.
Neuromarketing e Processi Decisionali : Le evidenze di un test di memorizzazione condotto per la prima volta in Italia = Neuromarketing and decision-making processes: Evidence from a memory test conducted for the first time in Italy
Il libro fornisce alcuni strumenti scientifici per affrontare il problema di come il nostro cervello genera delle scelte in campo economico, in un linguaggio piano e non specialistico. Vengono descritti i risultati del primo studio italiano relativo all’osservazione di filmati commerciali televisivi, analizzati mediante l’elettroencefalografia ad alta risoluzione spaziale. La neuroeconomia è una nuova scienza che si sta sviluppando rapidamente nei paesi anglosassoni. Questo libro spiega i concetti di neuroeconomia e neuromarketing anche al pubblico italiano.
Neuroeconomia, neuromarketing e processi decisionali = Neuroeconomics, neuromarketing and decision-making processes
The book covers a sector, that of the application of modern neuroscience techniques to the fields of economics and marketing, recently born and of great interest to the public, to advertisers as well as to neuroscience scholars. The book presents, in plain language and not for experts in the field, the structure and functioning of the brain (as it is known today) during human decision-making processes. Of interest is the analysis of how the different neuronal systems within the brain can cooperate with each other in generating decisions. All this simple physiological treatment is inserted in the context of the analysis of brain activity while watching commercial clips. In the original study presented in this book, the variables involved were those related to the recall of television advertising in a sample of normal young subjects. This study is simply the first that is carried out of this type in Italy and will be intended to be a reference point for subsequent studies in the sector.
Negotiations with Asymmetrical Distribution of Power : Conclusions from Dispute Resolution in Network Industries
In many ways, complex negotiations shape the business arena of regulated network markets. In general, negotiating partners are not equal with regard to their various sources and instruments of power. This book unfolds a differentiated and, at the same time, applicable framework for analyzing and managing negotiations. It creatively combines power and negotiations theories. In addition, it illustrates the findings in a very inspiring way by investigating negotiation episodes in network industries such as telecommunications and railways. Thus, this book is highly relevant for all those wanting to better understand the complex political processes and outcomes in regulated industries, but also for those bearing practical responsibility in regulatory and government affairs and wanting to improve their management performance.
Natural Disasters as Interactive Components of Global-Ecodynamics
This book opens a new approach to the study of global environmental changes having unfavourable character for mankind and other living systems. The main advantage of the book consists in the accumulation of knowledge from different sciences to parametrize the global ecodynamic process. Natural catastrophes are considered as an interactive element of global natural dynamics which are described by means of simulation models of global nature/society. The realization of this approach allows the integration within a complex structure of all international and national means of environmental monitoring and provides a tool for objective evaluation of the environmental quality. The main purpose of this book is to develop a universal information technology to estimate the state of environmental subsystems functioning under various climatic and anthropogenic conditions.
