الصفحة 1
الصفحة 1
olution Sets for Net Zero Energy Buildings : Feedback from 30 Buildings Worldwide
Presents a unique study of 30 NZEBs that have been constructed and have had their performance measured for at least 12 months. The study is based upon an international collaborative research initiated by the International Energy Agency. It is the first book to evaluate building strategies in houses, educational buildings and offices that have been demonstrated to work in practice. It examines how the design challenges of climate and building type have been addressed, and to what extent the various design approaches have been successful. This book presents convincing evidence that a careful re-thinking of conventional design norms can achieve a far greater performance benefit than is normally feasible. It identifies 'solution sets' that work at the whole building level and at the individual building design challenge level for each climate and building type. In doing so, the book provides guidance as to how to improve the design by learning from these cases. Unusually for a book of this type it has examples of buildings in what are conventionally labeled 'hot' and 'cold' climates.
Offshore Risk Assessment : Principles, Modelling and Applications of QRA Studies
This updated and expanded second edition has been informed by a major R&D programme on offshore risk assessment in Norway (2002–2006), and reflects the trend of expanded use of floating production installations. It starts with a thorough discussion of risk metrics and risk analysis methodology with subsequent chapters devoted to analytical approaches to escalation, escape, evacuation and rescue analysis of safety and emergency systems. Separate chapters analyse the main hazards of offshore structures: fire, explosion, collision and falling objects. Risk mitigation and control are discussed, as well as an illustration of how the results from quantitative risk assessment studies should be presented. The second edition has a stronger focus on the use of risk assessment techniques in the operation of offshore installations. Also decommissioning of installations is covered.
Observing the Volcano World : Volcano Crisis Communication
This book provides a comprehensive overview of volcanic crisis research, the goal being to establish ways of successfully applying volcanology in practice and to identify areas that need to be addressed for future progress. It shows how volcano crises are managed in practice, and helps to establish best practices. Consequently the book brings together authors from all over the globe who work with volcanoes, ranging from observatory volcanologists, disaster practitioners and government officials to NGO-based and government practitioners to address three key aspects of volcanic crises.
Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction
This book describes existing and advanced methods to reduce the dimensionality of numerical databases. For each method, the description starts from intuitive ideas, develops the necessary mathematical details, and ends by outlining the algorithmic implementation. Methods are compared with each other with the help of different illustrative examples. The purpose of the book is to summarize clear facts and ideas about well-known methods as well as recent developments in the topic of nonlinear dimensionality reduction. With this goal in mind, methods are all described from a unifying point of view, in order to highlight their respective strengths and shortcomings.
Noise-Induced Phenomena in Slow-Fast Dynamical Systems : A Sample-Paths Approach
Stochastic differential equations play an increasingly important role in modeling the dynamics of a large variety of systems in the natural sciences, and in technological applications. This book presents a new constructive approach to the quantitative description of solutions to systems of stochastic differential equations evolving on well-separated timescales. The method, which combines techniques from stochastic analysis and singular perturbation theory, allows the domains of concentration for typical sample paths to be determined, and provides precise estimates on the transition probabilities between these domains. In addition to the detailed presentation of the set-up and mathematical results, applications to problems in physics, biology, and climatology are discussed. The emphasis lies on noise-induced phenomena such as stochastic resonance, hysteresis, excitability, and the reduction of bifurcation delay.
Noise and Vibration Mitigation for Rail Transportation Systems ; Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Railway Noise, Munich, Germany, 4 - 8 September 2007
This volume contains the contributions to the 9th International Workshop on Railway Noise, held Sept 04-08, 2007, in Munich, Germany. The workshop featured lectures by international leaders in the field of railway noise and vibration. All subjects relating to railway noise as noise sources (rolling noise, aerodynamic noise, bridge noise, sonic boom), prediction tools and theoretical models, new noise reduction, technology as well as ground-borne vibration are tackled.
Natural Disasters and Extreme Events in Agriculture : Impacts and Mitigation
Agricultural production is highly dependent on weather, climate and water availability and is adversely affected by the weather and climate-related disasters. Droughts and natural disasters such as floods can result in crop failures, food insecurity, famine, loss of property and life, mass migration and negative national economic growth. It may not be possible to prevent the occurrence of these natural disasters, but the resultant disastrous effects can be reduced considerably through proper planning and effective preparation. Vulnerability associated with the hazards of natural disasters can be controlled to some extent by accurate and timely prediction and by taking counter-measures to reduce their impacts on agriculture. This book based on an expert meeting held in Beijing, China should be of interest to all organizations involved in disasters reduction and mitigation of extreme events.
Natural anti-aging skin care
Ageing is a natural phenomenon which is a fold, ridge and crease in the skin that occurs due to loss of body mass, poor hydration, disintegration of dermis and epidermis junction. The Skin ageing process involves many changes that occur due to the combination of both endogenous factors and exogenous factors. The ageing of the skin occurs due to various mechanisms like glycation, free radical, cell cycle, and cellular and molecular mechanism of skin ageing. In this review article, we have discussed the treatment, worldwide newer therapies and marketed formulation that are currently available for the reduction of skin ageing.
Nano physical pharmaceutics
Nanomedicine is an emerging and rapidly evolving field, which could significantly help in early disease diagnosis, therapeutic improvement, novel therapeutic modality development, and medical expenditure reduction. The challenge remains, however, that the specially designed and carefully synthesized nanomedicines function poorly in animal verification despite great performance in vitro. A deeper understanding of the physicochemical properties of nanomedicine is the key. This book applies physical theories and models to determine the parameters for controlling the physicochemical properties of nanomedicines, including micelles, liposomes, and inorganic nanoparticles. Qualitative and quantitative relationships are established to provide guidance for nanomedicine design, characterization, and analysis. The text also compiles cutting-edge research in nanomedicine from the interdisciplinary team of the Department of Nanomedicine at Naval Medical University, China, which is currently establishing the characteristic discipline called Nano Physical Pharmaceutics. Edited by Wei Li, a prominent nanotechnology researcher, this book will appeal to anyone involved in nanotechnology, medicine, macromolecular science, biology, chemistry, and especially those with an interest in drug delivery or cancer therapy.
MR Cholangiopancreatography : Atlas with Cross-Sectional Imaging Correlation
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a novel non-invasive technique for diagnosis of pancreatic-biliary disease. The purpose of this book is to highlight the advantages, limitations and indications of MRCP. Specific examples have been selected to showcase the utility of this technique in a large variety of clinical conditions. Each example is purposefully used to stress important technical features, to give practical advice, or to discuss the role of MRCP in specific clinical situations. Important features of the book are the high quality of the illustrations, the reduction of the text to relevant and practically useful issues, and the simple and logic organisation of the case material. The book should show: the optimal technique in MRCP, the pitfalls and limitations.
Modern Control Systems ; 13th ed.
Presents the structure of feedback control theory and to provide a sequence of exciting discoveries. The book demonstrates various real-world, global engineering problems while touching on evolving design strategies like green technology. Some of the themes at-hand include climate change, clean water, sustainability, waste management, emissions reduction, and minimizing energy. Throughout the text, students apply theory to the design and analysis of control systems.
Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry ; Vol. 42
MODERN ASPECTS OF ELECTROCHEMISTRY No. 42 Edited by Constantinos Vayenas University of Patras, Greece Topics in Number 42 include: The electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of Ruthenium in regards to the development of electrodes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells Breakthroughs in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) anodes and cathodes leading to improved electrocatalysis Electrocatalysis of the electrochemical reduction of CO2 on numerous metals The interfacial phenomena of electrodeposition and codeposition, and the need for new theoretical analyses of the electrode-electrolyte interface Advantages of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in understanding the basics of catalysis, electrocatalysis and electrodeposition The role of electrochemistry in emerging technologies including electrodeposition and electroforming at the micro and nano levels, semiconductor and information storage, including magnetic storage devices.
Model Reduction and Coarse-Graining Approaches for Multiscale Phenomena
Model reduction and coarse-graining are important in many areas of science and engineering. How does a system with many degrees of freedom become one with fewer? How can a reversible micro-description be adapted to the dissipative macroscopic model? These crucial questions, as well as many other related problems, are discussed in this book. Specific areas of study include dynamical systems, non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, kinetic theory, hydrodynamics and mechanics of continuous media, (bio)chemical kinetics, nonlinear dynamics, nonlinear control, nonlinear estimation, and particulate systems from various branches of engineering. The generic nature and the power of the pertinent conceptual, analytical and computational frameworks helps eliminate some of the traditional language barriers, which often unnecessarily impede scientific progress and the interaction of researchers between disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, applied mathematics and engineering. All contributions are authored by experts, whose specialities span a wide range of fields within science and engineering.
Model Order Reduction : Theory, Research Aspects and Applications
The goal of this book is three-fold: it describes the basics of model order reduction and related aspects. In numerical linear algebra, it covers both general and more specialized model order reduction techniques for linear and nonlinear systems, and it discusses the use of model order reduction techniques in a variety of practical applications. The book contains many recent advances in model order reduction, and presents several open problems for which techniques are still in development. It will serve as a source of inspiration for its readers, who will discover that model order reduction is a very exciting and lively field.
Model checking software ; 14th International SPIN Workshop, Berlin, Germany, July 1-3, 2007, Proceedings
This book presents the proceedings of the 14th International SPIN workshop on Model Checking Software, held in Berlin, Germany. The papers are organized into topical sections covering directed model checking, partial order reduction, program analysis, exploration advances, modeling and case studies, and tool demonstrations.
Microprocessor 3 : Core concepts - hardware aspects
Calculation is the main function of a computer. The central unit is responsible for executing the programs. The microprocessor is its integrated form. This component, since the announcement of its marketing in 1971, has not stopped breaking records in terms of computing power, price reduction and integration of functions (calculation of basic functions, storage with integrated controllers). It is present today in most electronic devices. Knowing its internal mechanisms and programming is essential for the electronics engineer and computer scientist to understand and master the operation of a computer and advanced concepts of programming.
Microphone Array Signal Processing
Microphone arrays have attracted a lot of interest in the last two decades. The reason behind this is that they have the potential to solve many important problems in both human-machine and human-human interfaces for different kinds of communications. But before microphone arrays can be deployed broadly, there is a strong need for a deep understanding of the problems encountered in the real world and their clear formulation in order that useful algorithms can be developed to process the sensor signals.
Microfinance Investment Funds : leveraging private capital for economic growth and poverty reduction
The surge in new investment funds - nearly 60 funds at last count - is an exciting sign that microfinance is attracting mainstream financial markets. Foreign investors bridge a crucial gap for MFIs and greenfield banks not yet able to attract deposits, debt or equity from local sources. Recognizing the ultimate goal of building those local financial markets that serve the poor, some foreign investors and funds are facilitating local intermediation with incentives like guarantees for local banks to lend to MFIs in local currency. Such contributions to local market building, combined with strengthening governance, increasing transparency and rigor make the new funds potentially very positive forces in microfinance.
Microbial Activity in the Rhizosphere
The rhizosphere is a very complex environment in which the effects of the plant on soil microorganisms and the effects of the microorganisms on the plant are interacting and are interdependent. Plant root exudates and breakdown products attract microbes and feed them and, in turn, the plants often benefit from the microbes. Interactions among microorganisms and plant roots are essential for nutritional requirements of the plant. Plant growth, development and productivity are largely dependent on the soil environment in the root region rhizosphere. The new techniques of studying the rhizosphere enables us to get a much better understanding of the dynamics of the rhizosphere population, such rhizosphere studies being of interest to agriculturists, soilbiologists, chemists, microbiologists and molecular biologists. The rhizosphere microbes in?uence the root environment in several ways. They may change the oxidation-reduction potential, influence the availability of moisture and nutrients, produce growth inhibiting or growth promoting substances in the form of exudates, provide competition and possibly induce many other effects. My corrhizal associations are beneficial in mineral uptake and in increasing root surface area for effective ion absorption. Antagonism, ompetition and synergism in soil and the rhizoplane (rhizosphere) are the most important microbial interactions to consider in the study of rhizosphere biology. With the growing information on the production of growth regulators, competitiveness of the microbes in the rhizosphere, microsymbionts, and other factors, their effect upon plant growth will become more evident. Experiments on the introduction of microbes or their products in the rhizosphere will help to improve our understandingofthebiologyoftherhizosphere.
Methods for measuring greenhouse Gas balances and evaluating mitigation options in smallholder agriculture
This book provides standards and guidelines for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals in smallholder agricultural systems and comparing options for climate change mitigation based on emission reductions and livelihood trade-offs. Globally, agriculture is directly responsible for about 11% of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and induces an additional 17% through land use change, mostly in developing countries. Farms in the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are predominately managed by smallholders, with 80% of land holdings smaller than ten hectares. However, little to no information exists on greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potentials in smallholder agriculture.
