Methods to study litter decomposition : A practical guide
Decomposition of organic matter is a major ecosystem process involving an array of different organisms, including bacteria, fungi and invertebrates. The main objective of this book is to provide students and laboratory instructors at universities and professional ecologists with a broad range of established methods to study plant litter decomposition. Detailed protocols for direct use in the field or laboratory are presented in an easy to follow step-by-step format. A short introduction to each protocol reviews the ecological significance and principles of the technique and points to key references. Although most methods are described for freshwater ecosystems, many will work equally well in the presented or slightly modified form for studies in marine and terrestrial environments.
Methods of IT Project Management
Provides students with all the concepts, techniques, artifacts, and methods found in the leading project management reference books and modern development methodologies (agile, hybrid, and traditional), while also conveying practical knowledge that can immediately be applied in real-world settings.
Methods and Tools for Effective Knowledge Life-Cycle-Management
This book provides an understanding of what knowledge is and of why it is one of the most strategic issues in future manufacturing competitiveness, which will be based primarily on high-level technologies and innovative products.
Methods and Tools for Drought Analysis and Management
Implementation of effective drought management policies requires both advanced technologies and appropriate methods. Monitoring and forecasting systems, practical tools for risk assessment, as well as simple and objective criteria to select and implement appropriate drought mitigation measures are key elements for a successful drought management strategy.These key issues have been tackled by universities and public agencies involved in the EU projects Sedemed and Sedemed II (Programme Interreg IIIB MEDOCC), aimed at the definition of an integrated network for real time monitoring of drought, the development of common methodologies for drought analysis and forecasting, as well as the definition of proper mitigation strategies for the Mediterranean countries.The book presents the main outcomes of such projects with a special focus on: drought monitoring and forecasting echniques at different spatial scales; new or modified agrometeorological indices and remote sensing technique for drought identification and characterization; tools to improve surface water resources management under drought conditions; methods and tools for groundwater resources monitoring and management, based on hydrogeological and hydrodynamics characteristics of aquifers; general criteria to select and implement mitigation strategies to prevent or minimize drought impacts.
Methods and Models in Transport and Telecommunications : Cross Atlantic Perspectives
One aspect of the new economy is a transition to a networked society, and the emergence of a highly interconnected, interdependent and complex system of networks to move people, goods and information. An example of this is the in creasing reliance of networked systems (e. g. , air transportation networks, electric power grid, maritime transport, etc. ) on telecommunications and information in frastructure. Many of the networks that evolved today have an added complexity in that they have both a spatial structure , they are located in physical space but also an a spatial dimension brought on largely by their dependence on infor mation technology. They are also often just one component of a larger system of geographically integrated and overlapping networks operating at different spatial levels. An understanding of these complexities is imperative for the design of plans and policies that can be used to optimize the efficiency, performance and safety of transportation, telecommunications and other networked systems. In one sense, technological advances along with economic forces that encourage the clustering of activities in space to reduce transaction costs have led to more efficient network structures.
Methodology for the Digital Calibration of Analog Circuits and Systems : with Case Studies
Methodology for the Digital Calibration of Analog Circuits and Systems shows how to relax the extreme design constraints in analog circuits, allowing the realization of high-precision systems even with low-performance components. A complete methodology is proposed, and three applications are detailed.
Metathesis Polymerization
Clearly illustrated and demonstrated by the entire series of Advances in Polymer Science., the area of polymer science is a rapidly developing and growing field, strongly influencing other areas of chemistry. Among other polymerization techniques, those based on metathesis polymerization have experienced significant progress. With a rapidly developing armory of initiators on hand, one is now capable of polymerizing various types of functional monomers by metathesis-based techniques.The latest developments in all these areas of metathesis-based polymerizations are summarized in this book. It is designed to attract equally students and advanced scientists working in the areas of polymer science, physical, and organometallic chemistry by providing both extensive background information and up-to-date interdisciplinary knowledge. Special consideration has been given to the literature sections in order to facilitate further reading.
Metathesis Chemistry : From Nanostructure Design to Synthesis of Advanced Materials
Recently, an important scientific event in metathesis chemistry, the NATO-Advanced Study Institute New Frontiers in Metathesis Chemistry: From Nanostructure Design to Sustainable Technologies for . Synthesis of Advanced Materials was organized in Antalya, Turkey (September 4-16, 2006). Prominent scientists, young researchers and students, convened for two weeks to debate on the newest trends in olefin metathesis and identify future perspectives in this fascinating field of synthetic organic, organometallic and polymer chemistry with diverse potential applications in materials science and technology. Following the fruitful practice of the previous NATO ASI meetings, selected contributions comprising plenary lectures, short communications and posters are compiled in this special volume dedicated to this outstanding international scientific meeting.
Métastases vertébrales = Vertebral metastases
Updating the technical progress made by each of the players, both diagnostic and therapeutic, was necessary and confirms the quality of the result of a joint venture serving a patient in a particularly delicate situation. It is intended to be practical for each of the care providers and didactic for those who are less specialized in one or another area. This has led us to make choices, of course debatable, leading to explanations that are sometimes a little too "obvious" for connoisseurs, a little too technical for neophytes, repetitions for everyone to find in "their" chapter what makes it so. interested.
Metaphor and Analogy in Science Education
This book brings together powerful ideas and new developments from internationally recognised scholars and classroom practitioners to provide theoretical and practical knowledge to inform progress in science education. This is achieved through a series of related chapters reporting research on analogy and metaphor in science education. Throughout the book, contributors not only highlight successful applications of analogies and metaphors, but also foreshadow exciting developments for research and practice. Themes include metaphor and analogy: best practice, as reasoning; for learning; applications in teacher development; in science education research; philosophical and theoretical foundations. Accordingly, the book is likely to appeal to a wide audience of science educators –classroom practitioners, student teachers, teacher educators and researchers.
Metals in Society and in the Environment : A Critical Review of Current Knowledge on Fluxes, Speciation, Bioavailability and Risk for Adverse Effects of Copper, Chromium, Nickel and Zinc
In 2002, the Swedish Metal Information Task Force (MITF) engaged the Environmental Research Group (MFG) to update previous monographs on copper, zinc and major alloying metals (such as chromium, nickel and molybdenum) in society and in the environment. This book presents new results on metal fluxes from society to the environment, on metal speciation in water, soil and sediment, and its interpretation in terms of mobility, biological uptake and toxicity. The scientific fundamentals of new approaches, like the Acid Volatile Sulphide (AVS) concept to predict metal bioavailability in sediments, and the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) to calculate the toxicity of metals to aquatic organisms, are critically evaluated, with a focus on copper, nickel, zinc, and, in part, chromium.
Metalliferous Sediments of the World Ocean : Fundamental Theory of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Sedimentation
Dramatic advances in understanding global tectonics have been made in the last half century and the information and specific data acquired on the floor of the World Ocean by the scientific community probably has exc- ded that available in all previous time. With the benefit of new technology and advanced concepts in the earth sciences extensive exploration of the deep seabed became possible, and has been carried out in many parts of the world. Many features have been recognized and data recorded that are vital for understanding the fundamental processes that shape the earth=s surface and control the habitable environment. The data collected to date on the o- an floor and its physical environment greatly exceeds our understanding and appreciation of their fundamental importance in the earth sciences, and our ability to apply this knowledge effectively in improving our way of life.
Metalearning : Applications to Automated Machine Learning and Data Mining
This book as one of the fastest-growing areas of research in machine learning, metalearning studies principled methods to obtain efficient models and solutions by adapting machine learning and data mining processes. This adaptation usually exploits information from past experience on other tasks and the adaptive processes can involve machine learning approaches. As a related area to metalearning and a hot topic currently, automated machine learning (AutoML) is concerned with automating the machine learning processes. Metalearning and AutoML can help AI learn to control the application of different learning methods and acquire new solutions faster without unnecessary interventions from the user.
Metaheuristics for Scheduling in Industrial and Manufacturing Applications
This book deals with the application of various novel metaheuristics in scheduling. Addressing the various issues of scheduling in industrial and manufacturing applications is the novelty of this edited volume. Important features include the detailed overview of the various novel metaheuristic scheduling approaches, excellent coverage of timely, advanced scheduling topics, state-of-the-art theoretical research and application developments and chapters authored by pioneers in the field.
Metaheuristics for Hard Optimization : Methods and Case Studies
Metaheuristics for Hard Optimization comprises of three parts. The first part is devoted to the detailed presentation of the four most widely known metaheuristics: the simulated annealing method, tabu search, the evolutionary algorithms, and ant colony algorithms. Each one of these metaheuristics is actually a family of methods, of which the essential elements are discussed. In the second part, the book presents some other less widespread metaheuristics, then, extensions of metaheuristics and some ways of research are described . The problem of the choice of a metaheuristic is posed and solution methods are discussed. The last part concentrates on three case studies from telecommunications, air traffic control, and vehicle routing.
Messung von Ressourceneffizienz mit der ESSENZ-Methode : Integrierte Methode zur ganzheitlichen Bewertung = Measuring resource efficiency with the ESSENCE method : Integrated method for holistic evaluation
Develops a reliable method for evaluating the use of resources. This is necessary because the strong economic growth of the last decades has led to an intensive use of natural resources. With their increasing use, there are also additional burdens on the environment and restrictions on the availability of resources. For these reasons, efficient use of resources is required as an important contribution to sustainable development.
Messages security application
The rapid development of communication technology, is bringing many technological conveniences with it and simplifying our lives. On the other hand, it has disadvantages such as hiding the information that is continuously roaming through various communication media resources between senders and receivers and avoid sharing them with third parties. Eliminating these disadvantages via specific security methods and algorithms is related to the discipline called cryptography, which includes information security. Encryption is the process of turning a plaintext to jargon or the method of changing a confidential file to jargon in order to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to confidential message. A Message is the transfer of information from the sender to the receiver through a particular medium. Encryption is the most effective process for achieving data security.
Mesoscale Analysis of Hydraulics
Presents a series of complicated hydraulic phenomena and related mechanism of high-speed flows in head-head dam. According to the basic hydraulic theory, detailed experiments and numerical simulations, microscopic scale analysis on cavitation bubbles, air bubbles, turbulent eddy vortices and sand grains are examined systemically. These investigations on microscopic fluid mechanics, including cavitation erosion, aeration protection, air–water flow, energy dissipation and river-bed scouring, allow a deep understanding of hydraulics in high-head dams. This book provides reference for designers and researchers in hydraulic engineering, environment engineering and fluid mechanics.
Meshless Methods in Solid Mechanics
The main objective of this book is to provide a textbook for graduate courses on the computational analysis of continuum and solid mechanics based on meshless (also known as mesh free) methods. It can also be used as a reference book for engineers and scientists who are exploring the physical world through computer simulations. Emphasis of this book is given to the understanding of the physical and mathematical characteristics of the procedures of computational solid mechanics. It naturally brings the essence, advantages and challenging problems of meshless methods into the picture. The subjects in this book cover the fundamentals of continuum mechanics, the integral formulation methods of continuum problems, the basic concepts of finite element methods, and the methodologies, formulations, procedures, and applications of various meshless methods. It also provides general and detailed procedures of meshless analysis on elastostatics, elastodynamics, non-local continuum mechanics and plasticity with a large number of numerical examples. Some basic and important mathematical methods are included in the Appendixes. For the readers who want to gain knowledge through hands-on experience, the meshless programs for elastostatics and elastodynamics are also introduced in the book and included in the disc.
Mercury Pollution in Minamata
It overviews the poisoning which occurred in the 1950s and 1960s among the residents in Minamata who ate seafood contaminated with methylmercury discharged from the chemical factory, Chisso Corporation. It describes the history, symptoms pathogenesis and research on the causal agent, and discusses the responses of Chisso and the national and local governments to the outbreak, the victims, the compensation and environmental restructuring as well as the court ruling on claims. Based on lecture notes from a university course, it includes students’ suggestions for avoiding a repeat of the tragedy. The issue has not been settled yet, and this analysis of the incident provides useful insights into solutions to the current global mercury pollution problem.



















