Knowing, Knowledge and Beliefs : Epistemological Studies across Diverse Cultures
Bringing together prominent educators and researchers, this book focuses on conceptual and methodical issues and state-of-the-art theoretical understanding on epistemological beliefs from educational and psychological perspectives. It is a critical and specialized source that describes recent advances in conceptualization and epistemological studies across diverse cultures.
Killer Cell Dynamics : Mathematical and Computational Approaches to Immunology
Reviews how mathematics can be used in combination with biological data in order to improve understanding of how the immune system works. This is illustrated largely in the context of viral infections. Mathematical models allow scientists to capture complex biological interactions in a clear mathematical language and to follow them to their precise logical conclusions. This can give rise to counter-intuitive insights which would not be attained by experiments alone, and can be used for the design of further experiments in order to address the mathematical results.
IUTAM Symposium on Mechanics and Reliability of Actuating Materials ; Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium held in Beijing, China, 1-3 September, 2004
The general assembly of IUTAM approved in August, 2002 at Cambridge University, UK, a proposal to hold an IUTAM symposium to summarize the relevant research findings. The main themes of the symposium are: (i) the constitutive relations of actuating materials that couple mechanical, electrical, thermal and magnetic properties, as well as incorporate phase transformation and domain switch; (ii) the physical mechanisms of deformation, damage, and fatigue crack growth of actuating materials; (iii) the development of failure-resilient approaches that base on the macro-, meso-, and micro-mechanics analyses; (iv) the investigation of microstructural evolution, stability of phase transformation, and size effects of ferroelectric ceramics, shape memory alloys, actuating polymers, and bio-actuating materials.
Italian Institutional Reforms : A Public Choice Perspective
Using a public choice perspective, this book explains the evolution and political and economic impact of recent changes to the Italian institutional framework. Because these changes are so numerous and broad, their implementation serves as a case study for other Western governments. Particular attention is paid to the introduction of the EURO, the reform of voting from proportional to majoritarian rule, the impact of corporatism, constraints imposed by the Maastricht Treaty, and the switch from a highly centralized government to a federal organization.
Comprehensive biochemistry for dentistry : Textbook for dental students
Combines fundamental concepts of biochemistry and the dental sciences to provide an authentic, coherent and comprehensive text for dental students. It describes in simple language the intricate pathophysiology of biomolecules in health and in diseases of dental and oral tissues. This book also describes the evolution of biochemistry in a chronological order, provides information about the fundamental chemical structure, classification and biological significance of biomolecules, vitamins and hormones, enriched with flow charts and diagrams for easy understanding and quick reference. It includes chapters on nucleic acids, nutrition and serum enzymes and organ function tests, and offers an innovative approach to familiarize dental students with the biochemical composition of enamel, dentine, cementum and saliva, explaining the biochemical basis of dental caries, periodontal diseases, role of fluorides in caries prophylaxis, fluoride toxicity, and the role of amino acids as anti-hypersensitive agents
Composite Systems Decisions
Composite decisions consist of interconnected parts or subdecisions and correspond to a composite (composable, modular, decomposable) system. Composite Systems Decisions describes an educational approach that is based on systems engineering and considered modular design of composite decisions. Divided into four parts, this book contains descriptions of basic systems approaches and examines basic ‘technological’ problems for composite systems, including: modular hierarchical design; multistage design; multistage planning; redesign/improvement/adaptation; evaluation; and, combinatorial evolution/development.
Complexity in chemistry, biology, and ecology
This book, written by an international team of experts, introduces the reader to various aspects of complexity theory and its applications. It illustrates the latest trends in science to go beyond the mechanistic Newtonian view of the world by shifting the focus to self-organization, adaptation, and emergent phenomena. The authors discuss these properties of complex systems in biology, ecology and chemistry along with the structure and interconnectedness of the "layers" of complexity. The qualitative description is complemented by a discussion of methods for complexity quantification. Networks are covered in detail as a universal language of the complex world.
Complexity and Artificial Markets
In recent years, agent-based simulation has become a widely accepted tool when dealing with complexity in economics and other social sciences. The contributions presented in this book apply agent-based methods to derive results from complex models related to market mechanisms, evolution, decision making, and information economics. In addition, the applicability of agent-based methods to complex problems in economics is discussed from a methodological perspective. The papers presented in this collection combine approaches from economics, finance, computer science, natural sciences, philosophy, and cognitive sciences.
Complex Engineered Systems : Science Meets Technology
This volume examines the difficulties that arise in creating highly complex engineered systems and new approaches that are being adopted. Topics addressed range from the formal representation and classification of distributed networked systems to revolutionary engineering practices inspired by biological evolution. By bringing together the latest research in Complex Engineered Systems, this book sheds light on the current state and future course of this emerging field.
Complex Dynamics in Communication Networks
Computer and communication networks are among society's most important infrastructures. The internet, in particular, is a giant global network of networks without central control or administration. It is a paradigm of a complex system, where complexity may arise from different sources: topological structure, network evolution, connection and node diversity, or dynamical evolution. The present volume is the first book entirely devoted to the new and emerging field of nonlinear dynamics of TCP/IP networks. It addresses both scientists and engineers working in the general field of communication networks.
Comparative Placentation : Structures, Functions and Evolution
Science produces fascinating puzzles: why is there such a range of placental structures when other mammalian organs are so structurally uniform ? Why and how did the different placental structures evolve ? Comparative placental studies can facilitate the identification of the common factors in placental growth, differentiation and function and their relevance to possible evolutionary pathways. Comparative Placentation is the only book presenting up-to-date data illustrating the great variety of structure but uniform function of vertebrate placentas from fish to man. This information is essential for selection of suitable models to investigate particular practical problems of impaired or anomalous growth in human and animal placentation. The unique collection of the best light and electron micrographs from the last thirtyfive years which precisely illustrate the structural range in each taxon, make the book the most authoritative publication in this field and a vital source of information for anyone interested on reproductive physiology, anatomy and medicine.
Comparative genomics ; Vol.15 : Using Fungi as Models
Fungal comparative genomics started in 2000 by the genome sequencing of several yeast species other than the canonical Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Since then, over 30 fungal genome sequences have become available. This set represents a total evolutionary divergence comparable to that between vertebrates and arthropods, but also contains closely related genomes. This volume describes how we can use this set of genomes to trace large and small-scale events in genome evolution, to extract information about highly conserved and less conserved sequence elements, and to develop novel methods in genomics that will have an impact on genomics at large.
Comparative genomics ; RECOMB 2007, International Workshop, RECOMB-CG 2007, San Diego, CA, USA, September 16-18, 2007, Proceedings
This book provides an evolutionary conceptual framework for comparative genomics, with the ultimate objective of understanding the loss and gain of genes during evolution, the interactions among gene products, and the relationship between genotype, phenotype and the environment. The many examples in the book have been carefully chosen from primary research literature based on two criteria: their biological insight and their pedagogical merit. The phylogeny-based comparative methods, involving both continuous and discrete variables, often represent a stumbling block for many students entering the field of comparative genomics. They are numerically illustrated and explained in great detail.
Comparative genomics ; International Workshop, RECOMB-CG 2008, Paris, France, October 13-15, 2008. Proceedings
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th RECOMB Comparative Genomics Satellite Workshop, RECOMB-CG 2008, held in Paris, France, in October 2008.
Clinical metabolomics applications in genetic diseases
Helps readers discover the forefront of personalized medicine on clinical metabolomics and its applications in genetic diseases. This comprehensive guide offers a functional relationship map between cell components and genetic variations in various diseases, providing insights that can be applied to personalized medicine. Covers the latest developments in metabolomics for health, with practical guidance for clinical experts looking to advance their laboratory techniques and career. The metabolomics profile is a powerful tool that has revolutionized our understanding of the relationship between genetics, clinical readouts, and disease outcomes. By integrating metabolomics with genomics and clinical phenotypes, the authors have developed diagnostic and prediction models that have vastly improved patient outcomes and deepened the understanding of disease mechanisms.
Claude-Nicolas Ledoux : Architecture and uopia in the era of the French revolution
Claude-Nicolas Ledoux (1736-1806) is today regarded as chief representative of French revolutionary architecture. With his extraordinary inventiveness he projected the architectural ideals of his era. Ledoux's influential buildings and projects are presented and interpreted both aesthetically and historically in this book. His best-known projects - the Royal Saltwords of Arc-et-Senans, the tollgates of Paris, the ideal city of Chaux - reveal the architect's allegiance to the principles of antiquity and Renaissance but also illustrate the evolution of his own utopian language. With the French Revolution, Ledoux ceased building as his contemporaries perceived him as a royal architect. He focused on the development of his architectural theory and redefined the vision of the modern architect
Classification and Learning Using Genetic Algorithms : Applications in Bioinformatics and Web Intelligence
This book provides a unified framework that describes how genetic learning can be used to design pattern recognition and learning systems. The book is unique in the sense of describing how a search technique, the genetic algorithm, can be used for pattern classification mainly through approximating decision boundaries, and it demonstrates the effectiveness of the genetic classifiers vis-à-vis several widely used classifiers, including neural networks. It provides a balanced mixture of theories, algorithms and applications, and in particular results from the bioinformatics and Web intelligence domains.
Cities between competitiveness and cohesion : Discourses, realities and implementation
The book shows that spatial and urban policy continues to be a key site of policy intervention and experimentation. Different national welfare systems, political cultures, and socio-economic conditions combine and recombine to address policy problems and opportunities. Collectively, the authors argue that the examined policy initiatives reflect and reproduce these broader changes and shifting ways of thinking about the appropriate relationships between citizens, businesses, and the state.
China's Energy Revolution in the Context of the Global Energy Transition
This book is an encyclopaedic analysis of the current and future energy system of the world’s most populous country and second biggest economy. What happens in China impacts the planet. In the past 40 years China has achieved one of the most remarkable economic growth rates in history. Its GDP has risen by a factor of 65, enabling 850,000 people to rise out of poverty.
Chemolithoautotrophic Bacteria : Biochemistry and Environmental Biology
Covers in detail advances in the biochemistry and physiology of several chemolithoautotrophic bacteria as well as their relationship to certain environments. Included are recent findings regarding the oxidation mechanisms of ammonia, nitrite, sulfur compounds, and ferrous iron by special bacteria. The characteristics of many cytochromes are described to further advance the understanding of bacterial oxidation systems of inorganic compounds. Applications of bacteria, such as in sewage treatment and in biohydometallurgy, among others, are detailed, and bacteria considered closest to the origins of life are discussed in the final chapter.



















