Reliability Engineering : Theory and Practice
This book shows how to build in, evaluate, and demonstrate reliability & availability of components, equipment, systems. It presents the state-of-the-art of reliability engineering, both in theory and practice, and is based on the author's 30 years experience in this field, half in industry and half as Professor of Reliability Engineering at the ETH, Zurich. The structure of the book allows rapid access to practical results. Besides extensions to cost models and approximate expressions, new in this edition are investigations on common cause failures, phased-mission systems, availability demonstration and estimation, confidence limits at system level, trend tests for early failures or wearout, as well as a review of maintenance strategies, an introduction to Petri nets & dynamic FTA, and a set of problems for home-work. Methods and tools are given in a way that they can be tailored to cover different reliability requirement levels and be used for safety analysis as well.
Reliability and validity of international large-scale assessment : Understanding IEA’s comparative studies of student achievement
This book describes and reviews the development of the quality control mechanisms and methodologies associated with IEA’s extensive program of educational research. A group of renowned international researchers, directly involved in the design and execution of IEA’s international large-scale assessments (ILSAs), describe the operational and quality control procedures that are employed to address the challenges associated with providing high-quality, comparable data.
Relaxin and Related Peptides
Relaxin and Related Peptides discusses the established paradigms, the contradictions, and the most recent findings and future directions in the field of relaxin research. The array of diverse topics are highlighted, ranging from evolution of relaxin family peptides and receptors to their cell signaling, from the role of relaxin in reproduction to the newly discovered functions in cancer progression and in the nervous system. The four major ongoing areas of research described in this book will likely attract investigators for years to come, since many basic scientific questions remain unanswered at this time. The availability of structural databases, new experimental techniques, and high quality hormone preparations, antibodies and other reagents enable rigorous investigation. Relaxin and Related Peptides offers a fresh perspective along with different points of view, opinions and disagreements.
Relativistic Collisions of Structured Atomic Particles
The book reviews the progress achieved over the last decade in the study of collisions between an ion and an atom in which both the atomic particles carry electrons and can undergo transitions between their internal states -- including continua. It presents the detailed considerations of different theoretical approaches, that can be used to describe collisions of structured atomic particles for the very broad interval of impact energies ranging from 0.5--1 MeV/u till extreme relativistic energies where the collision velocity very closely approaches the speed of light.
Reinforced Concrete : Design, Performance and Applications
Concrete is one of the most used materials in the construction industry. In structural systems, the combination of concrete and steel reinforcement bars gives rise to reinforced concrete (RC), which is widely applied in the civil engineering field due to its adequate mechanical strength, durability, and fire resistance. Steel-rebar reinforced structures are subjected to structural deterioration when subjected to extreme loadings such as earthquake, fire, impact loadings and cyclic loading, consequently reducing the expected life and performance of structures. To enhance the structural performance, the RC structures are usually retrofitted or strengthened. This book reviews design, performance and applications of reinforced concrete.
Regulatory Pathways For Smart Grid Development in China
A series of reforms have greatly improved the efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance of the Chinese power sector. However, significant challenges remain: rapidly rising electricity demand, concerns about power system reliability and energy security, environmental degradation and climate change. China’s government explicitly set up the goal of accelerating the development of so-called smart grids which might help to overcome the challenges mentioned above. Yet, considerable difficulties exist in adjusting the regulatory environment of China’s electric power system to enable an effective and efficient development of smart grids in China.
Regulation of Sertoli Cell and Germ Cell Differentiation
Unwanted childlessness affects approximately one in six couples worldwide. - though the exact proportion of the predominant cause of the problem remains controversial, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in nearly 40% of cases the cause can be attributed to the female, in 20% to the male, in 25% to both, and in 15% the cause remains unknown. Based on these ?gures, the - cidence of male factor infertility in the general population is approximately 7%. The majority of these men, approximately 30%, experience irreversible idiopathic infertility and cannot father children without some form of medical intervention. Male factor infertility, in addition, may be caused by testicular germ cell cancer, which is known to represent the most common cancer among young men, aged 15 to 35 years, in Western industrialized countries. The number of affected men has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. There is now growing evidence that human testicular germ cell cancer originates from fetal germ cells exhibiting an aberrant programme of gene expression, and tumour progression may be favoured by an aberrant Sertoli cell-germ cell communication.
Regulation of Gene Expression in the Tumor Environment : Regulation of melanoma progression by the microenvironment: the roles of PAR-1 and PAFR
It is now becoming very clear that the development and progression of tumor towards the malignant (metastatic) phenotype depends tightly on the interaction between the tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells respond to stimuli generated within the tumor microenvironment for their growth advantage while the tumor cell themselves reshape and remodel the architecture and function of their extracellular matrices. The term tumor microenvironment is a wide umbrella consisting of stromal cells such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells and infiltration immune cells including T and B cells, macrophages, and other inflammatory cells (PMNs). These different components of the tumor microenvironment could have stimulatory and inhibitory effects on tumor progression by regulating the gene expression repertoire within the tumor cells on one hand and the stroma cells on the other. In this volume we have seven contributors who will discuss several different aspects on the cross talk within the tumor microenvironment components leading to the acquisition of the metastatic phenotype. It is our hope that these state-of-the-art studies will shed further light on our understanding of these complicated processes.
Regulated Systems for Multiphase Catalysis
Multiphase catalysis in recent years has been shown in academia and industry to be the emerging key technology for the competitive and sustainable production of fine chemicals in the next decades. In a joint effort by seven of Germany's most distinguished scientists in the field and four renowned industry partners a research consortium was established which for the first time has systematically explored and related the main issues and mutual interdependencies of the different approaches in multiphase catalysis. This work has resulted in the development of an expert tool box, which relates the complex chemical and process based requirements to be considered when setting up a catalytic system.
Regularity Properties of Functional Equations in Several Variables
This book is about regularity properties of functional equations. In the second part of his fifth problem, Hilbert asked, concerning functional equations, "In how far are the assertions which we can make in the case of differentiable functions true under proper modifications without this assumption?” This book contains, in a unified fashion, most of the modern results about regularity of non-composite functional equations with several variables. These results show that "weak” regularity properties, say measurability or continuity, of solutions imply that they are in C[infinity], and hence the equation can be reduced to a differential equation.
Regionalization of Watersheds : An Approach Based on Cluster Analysis
Clustering techniques are used to identify group(s) of watersheds which have similar flood characteristics. This book is a comprehensive reference on how to use these techniques for RFFA and is the first of its kind. It provides a detailed account of several recently developed clustering techniques, including those based on fuzzy set theory and artificial neural networks. It also documents research findings on application of clustering techniques to RFFA that remain scattered in various hydrology and water resources journals.
Refurbishing occupied buildings management of risk under the CDM regulations
A significant proportion of the construction industry is currently involved with the refurbishment of occupied premises. This easy and concise reference guide aims to assist clients, planning supervisors, designers and contractors in this area to be aware of their obligations under the existing regulations. Based around the CDM regulations, it draws information from Health and Safety Executive data and case study research to develop a profile of construction activities which will enable readers to identify and prioritise significant health and safety risks during the refurbishment of occupied buildings.
Reframing the Alhambra: Architecture, Poetry, Textiles and Court Ceremonial
Resolves that impasse by investigating the neglected, interdisciplinary contexts of medieval poetics and optics and through comparative study of Islamic court ceremonials. This reframing enables the reconstruction of the underlying, integrated aesthetic, focusing on the harmonious interrelationship between diverse artistic media – architecture, poetry and textiles – in the experience of the beholder, resulting in a new understanding of the Alhambra.
Reform Options for the EU Own Resources System
Develops a reform proposal for the future revenue system of the EU budget. The findings strongly reject the idea that a reform based on an EU tax-based own resource would remedy current problems. Against the background of the status quo analysis the authors present a reform model which includes the complete phasing out of the VAT resource, a financing of the budget completely on the basis of the GNI resource and a generalised but limited correction mechanism (GLCM). The GLCM would make a clear distinction between policies having an intentional distributive effect or not. A further element of the reform proposal is a move towards a stronger financial contribution of regions to EU spending.
Reflections on the Teaching of Programming : Methods and Implementations : Methods and Implementations
The book addressed span a wide range of problems and solutions associated with the teaching of programming such as introductory programming courses, exposition of the programming process, apprentice-based learning, functional programming first, problem-based learning, the use of on-line tutorials, object-oriented programming and Java, the BlueJ environment to introduce programming, model-driven programming as opposed to the prevailing language-driven approach, teaching software engineering, testing, extreme programming, frameworks, feedback and assessment, active learning, technology-based individual feedback, and mini project programming exams.
Reflections on slope stability engineering
Contains the detailed reflections of its author, who has practised and researched in the field for over a half-century. It is written in an informal style that makes it an interesting and thought-provoking practitioner guide to landslides and slope problems and their investigation, analysis, and remediation, considering both natural and man-made slopes and earthworks, and without the need for the usual equations and illustrations.
Rectal Prolapse : Diagnosis and Clinical Management
The pathophysiology of external rectal prolapse is still uncertain, and its clinical and instrumental diagnostic assessment as well as the appropriate surgical or medical approach need to be clarified. The relative rarity of this pathology prevents randomised, controlled trials from being carried out in a single institution and the opinions of outstanding leaders in this field are therefore particularly important. With this collaborative, multiauthor work, the editors fulfil that requirement by drawing together the experience of highly recognised national and international professionals. The volume contains extensive and valuable information regarding preferred methods of evaluating patients with rectal prolapse: its underlying aetiology and pathophysiology, the different treatment methods (both surgical and nonsurgical), the expected functional results following surgery and the management of complex clinical presentations associated with this condition.
Recovery, Analysis, and Identification of Commingled Human Remains
Mass fatality events can result in the intermixing, or commingling, of human remains. Commingling of human remains presents an added challenge to all phases of the forensic process. As the number of individuals increases, so does the complexity of the forensic investigation and the skills needed for case resolution. In Recovery, Analysis, and Identification of Commingled Human Remains, top professionals illustrate successful techniques for sorting and determining the number of individuals, the role of DNA, ethical considerations and data management. Instrumental to the forensic community, Recovery, Analysis, and Identification of Commingled Human Remains provides case examples and an in depth review of experiences, methods, and research related to commingling.
Recovering Informal Learning : Wisdom, Judgement and Community
Theories and practices of learning have been dominated by the requirements of formal learning. Quite simply this book seeks to persuade readers through philosophical argument and empirically grounded examples that the balance should be shifted back towards the informal. These arguments and examples are taken from informal learning in very diverse situations, such as in leisure activities, as a preparation for and as part of work, and as a means of surviving undesirable circumstances like dead-end jobs and incarceration. Informal learning can be fruitfully thought of as developing the capacity to make context sensitive judgments during ongoing practical involvements of a variety of kinds. Such involvements are necessarily indeterminate and opportunistic.
Reconstruction Designs of Lost Ancient Chinese Machinery
Ancient China was outstanding in mechanical technology before the 15th century. Numerous ingenious machines were invented. However, due to incomplete documentation and loss of finished objects, most of the original machines cannot be verified and many of the inventions did not pass down to later generations. This book, based on the author’s research and teaching experiences over the last 20 years, is devoted to presenting an innovative methodology in the area of mechanical historiography for the systematic reconstruction design of ancient Chinese machines that have been lost to time. Its purpose is to generate all possible design concepts of lost machines. If the defined and/or concluded design specifications, topological characteristics, and - sign requirements and constraints are feasible, one of the resulting rec- struction designs should be the original design.



















