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Cosmetic procedures between illusion and reality
Explores the concept of cosmetic procedures from a number of angles and attempt to deconstruct the relationship between truth and fiction in this area. On the one hand, cosmetic procedures are seen as a means of selfimprovement and self-confidence. On the other hand, there are many concerns about the potential health risks and long-term psychological effects that individuals may experience as a result of pursuing an idealised form of beauty.
Coping with Chronic Illness and Disability : Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Aspects
Individuals’ responses to their chronic illness or disability (CID) vary widely. Some are positive and productive, some negative and self-defeating, and some have elements of both. Coping with Chronic Illness and Disability synthesizes the growing literature on these coping styles and strategies by analyzing how individuals with CID face challenges, find and use their strengths, and alter their environment to fit their life-changing realities. The book’s first section provides readers with the major theories and conceptual perspectives on coping, with special emphasis on social aspects and models of coping with different types of CID. In Part Two, an array of specific medical conditions is covered. Each chapter supplies a clinical description, current empirical findings on coping, effective medical, physical, and psychological interventions, employment issues, and social concerns.
Convex Functional Analysis
This volume is dedicated to the fundamentals of convex functional analysis. It presents those aspects of functional analysis that are extensively used in various applications to mechanics and control theory. The purpose of the text is essentially two-fold. On the one hand, a bare minimum of the theory required to understand the principles of functional, convex and set-valued analysis is presented. Numerous examples and diagrams provide as intuitive an explanation of the principles as possible. On the other hand, the volume is largely self-contained. Those with a background in graduate mathematics will find a concise summary of all main definitions and theorems.
Convergence and Applications of Newton-type Iterations
Recent results in local convergence and semi-local convergence analysis constitute a natural framework for the theoretical study of iterative methods. This monograph provides a comprehensive study of both basic theory and new results in the area. Each chapter contains new theoretical results and important applications in engineering, modeling dynamic economic systems, input-output systems, optimization problems, and nonlinear and linear differential equations. Several classes of operators are considered, including operators without Lipschitz continuous derivatives, operators with high order derivatives, and analytic operators. Each section is self-contained. Examples are used to illustrate the theory and exercises are included at the end of each chapter.
Convection in Porous Media
This book provides a user-friendly introduction to convection in porous media, such as fibrous insulation, geological strata, and catalytic reactors. The presentation is self-contained, requiring only routine classical mathematics and the basic elements of fluid mechanics and heat transfer. It will thus be of use not only to researchers and practicing engineers as a review and reference, but also to graduate students and others just entering the field. Convection in Porous Media includes nearly 1000 new references and covers: convection in deforming porous media, "designed" porous media, the theory of deformable media, modeling viscous dissipation in hyperporous media, and more.
Controlled Nucleosynthesis : Breakthroughs in Experiment and Theory
This book ushers in a new era of experimental and theoretical investigations into collective processes, structure formation, and self-organization of nuclear matter. Pioneering breakthroughs are described, achieved at the "Proton-21" Laboratory, Kiev, Ukraine, in a variety of new physical and technological directions.
Control Theory Tutorial : Basic Concepts Illustrated by Software Examples
Introduces the basic principles of control theory in a concise self-study guide. It complements the classic texts by emphasizing the simple conceptual unity of the subject. A novice can quickly see how and why the different parts fit together. The concepts build slowly and naturally one after another, until the reader soon has a view of the whole. Each concept is illustrated by detailed examples and graphics. The full software code for each example is available, providing the basis for experimenting with various assumptions, learning how to write programs for control analysis, and setting the stage for future research projects. The topics focus on robustness, design trade-offs, and optimality. Most of the book develops classical linear theory. The last part of the book considers robustness with respect to nonlinearity and explicitly nonlinear extensions, as well as advanced topics such as adaptive control and model predictive control.
Control Theory in Physics and other Fields of Science : Concepts, Tools, and Applications
This book covers systematically and in a simple language the mathematical and physical foundations of controlling deterministic and stochastic evolutionary processes in systems with a high degree of complexity. Strong emphasis is placed on concepts, methods and techniques for modelling, assessment and the solution or estimation of control problems in an attempt to understand the large variability of these problems in several branches of physics, chemistry and biology as well as in technology and economics. The main focus of the book is on a clear physical and mathematical understanding of the dynamics and kinetics behind several kinds of control problems and their relation to self-organizing principles in complex systems. The book is a modern introduction and a helpful tool for researchers, engineers as well as post-docs and graduate students interested in an application oriented control theory and related topics.
Contributions to Ubiquitous Computing
This book puts the larger vision of ubiquitous computing in the context of today’s mobile and distributed computing systems and presents innovative solutions at all system layers ranging from hardware over vertical and horizontal infrastructure services and novel middleware techniques to various types of application software. Some chapters address core properties of ubiquitous applications including mobility, self-healing and self-organisation of both technical and social-technical systems. Other contributions deal with common facilities like secure e-payment or semantic web techniques and business solutions like wireless asset management or e- maintenance. Distributed systems management with self-monitoring capabilities, Internet congestion control, and novel security solutions coping with denial of service attacks against mobile agent systems and software- and hardware-based data encryption methods are further topics addressed.
Continuous time processes for finance : Switching, self-exciting, fractional and other recent dynamics
This book explores recent topics in quantitative finance with an emphasis on applications and calibration to time-series. This last aspect is often neglected in the existing mathematical finance literature while it is crucial for risk management. The first part of this book focuses on switching regime processes that allow to model economic cycles in financial markets. After a presentation of their mathematical features and applications to stocks and interest rates, the estimation with the Hamilton filter and Markov Chain Monte-Carlo algorithm (MCMC) is detailed. A second part focuses on self-excited processes for modeling the clustering of shocks in financial markets.
Continuous Semigroups of Holomorphic Self-maps of the Unit Disc
The book faces the interplay among dynamical properties of semigroups, analytical properties of infinitesimal generators and geometrical properties of Koenigs functions. The book includes precise descriptions of the behavior of trajectories, backward orbits, petals and boundary behavior in general, aiming to give a rather complete picture of all interesting phenomena that occur. In order to fulfill this task, we choose to introduce a new point of view, which is mainly based on the intrinsic dynamical aspects of semigroups in relation with the hyperbolic distance and a deep use of Carathéodory prime ends topology and Gromov hyperbolicity theory.
Conformal Groups in Geometry and Spin Structures
This book provides a self-contained overview of this important area of mathematical physics, beginning with its origins in the works of Cartan and Chevalley and progressing to recent research in spinors and conformal geometry. Key topics and features: * Focuses initially on the basics of Clifford algebras * Studies the spaces of spinors for some even Clifford algebras * Examines conformal spin geometry, beginning with an elementary study of the conformal group of the Euclidean plane * Treats covering groups of the conformal group of a regular pseudo-Euclidean space, including a section on the complex conformal group * Introduces conformal flat geometry and conformal spinoriality groups, followed by a systematic development of riemannian or pseudo-riemannian manifolds having a conformal spin structure * Discusses links between classical spin structures and conformal spin structures in the context of conformal connections * Examines pseudo-unitary spin structures and pseudo-unitary conformal spin structures using the Clifford algebra associated with the classical pseudo-unitary space
Conducting Polymers with Micro or Nanometer Structure
Conducting Polymers with Micro or Nanometer Structure describes a topic discovered by three winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000: Alan J. Heeger, University of California at Santa Barbara, Alan G. MacDiarmid at the University of Pennsylvania, and Hideki Shirakawa at the University of Tsukuba. Since then, the unique properties of conducting polymers have led to promising applications in functional materials and technologies. The book first briefly summarizes the main concepts of conducting polymers before introducing micro/nanostructured conducting polymers dealing with their synthesis, structural characterizations, formation mechanisms, physical and chemical properties, and potential applications in nanomaterials and nanotechnology. The book is intended for researchers in the related fields of chemistry, physics, materials, nanomaterials and nanodevices.
Concise Guide to Quantum Computing : Algorithms, Exercises, and Implementations
This textbook is intended for practical, laboratory sessions associated with the course of quantum computing and quantum algorithms, as well as for self-study. It contains basic theoretical concepts and methods for solving basic types of problems and gives an overview of basic qubit operations, entangled states, quantum circuits, implementing functions, quantum Fourier transform, phase estimation, etc. The book serves as a basis for the application of new information technologies in education and corporate technical training: theoretical material and examples of practical problems, as well as exercises with, in most cases, detailed solutions, have relation to information technologies. A large number of detailed examples serve to better develop professional competencies in computer science.
Computational intelligence in economics and finance ; Vol. II
Computational intelligence (CI), as an alternative to statistical and econometric approaches, has been applied to a wide range of economics and finance problems in recent years, for example to price forecasting and market efficiency. This book contains research ranging from applications in financial markets and business administration to various economics problems. Not only are empirical studies utilizing various CI algorithms presented, but so also are theoretical models based on computational methods. In addition to direct applications of computational intelligence, readers can also observe how these methods are combined with conventional analytical methods such as statistical and econometric models to yield preferred results.
Combinatorics of Coxeter Groups
Coxeter groups are of central importance in several areas of algebra, geometry, and combinatorics. This clear and rigorous exposition focuses on the combinatorial aspects of Coxeter groups, such as reduced expressions, partial order of group elements, enumeration, associated graphs and combinatorial cell complexes, and connections with combinatorial representation theory. While Coxeter groups have already been exposited from algebraic and geometric perspectives, this text is the first one to focus mainly on the combinatorial aspects of Coxeter groups. The first part of the book provides a self-contained introduction to combinatorial Coxeter group theory. The emphasis here is on the combinatorics of reduced decompositions, Bruhat order, weak order, and some aspects of root systems. The second part deals with more advanced topics, such as Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials and representations, enumeration, and combinatorial descriptions of the classical finite and affine Weyl groups. A wide variety of exercises, ranging from easy to quite difficult are also included.
Combinatorial Commutative Algebra
Combinatorial commutative algebra is an active area of research with thriving connections to other fields of pure and applied mathematics. This book provides a self-contained introduction to the subject, with an emphasis on combinatorial techniques for multigraded polynomial rings, semigroup algebras, and determinantal rings. The eighteen chapters cover a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from homological invariants of monomial ideals and their polyhedral resolutions, to hands-on tools for studying algebraic varieties with group actions, such as toric varieties, flag varieties, quiver loci, and Hilbert schemes. Over 100 figures, 250 exercises, and pointers to the literature make this book appealing to both graduate students and researchers.
Cognitive Development in Chimpanzees
From an evolutionary perspective, understanding chimpanzees offers a way of understanding the basis of human nature. This book on cognitive development in chimpanzees is the first of its kind to focus on infants reared by their own mothers within a natural setting, illustrating various aspects of chimpanzee cognition and the developmental changes that accompany them. The subjects of this book are chimpanzees of three generations inhabiting an enriched environment as well as a wild community in West Africa; and phenomena such as face recognition, concept formation, object manipulation, tool manufacture and use, decision making, learning, communication, self-awareness, intentionality, understanding others’ minds, cooperation, deception, altruism, and reciprocity observed within these groups are reported herein. Unique approaches both in the field and in the laboratory go hand in hand to illustrate the cognitive world of our closest living evolutionary relatives.
Coding for Data and Computer Communications
In a unique, single volume, this highly versatile text/reference introduces readers to the importance of channel coding (error-correcting codes), secure coding (cryptography), and source coding (data compression). It is organized in three main parts and uses clear, nonmathematical explanations to develop the concepts, principles, and techniques in each area of coding. Requiring only a general familiarity with computer methods, the book deals with all aspects of coding and its relevance to fast, secure, and reliable data transmission and storage. Features & Benefits: Presents comprehensive coverage of areas of coding often found in separate books, and stresses data coding’s relevance in today’s world / Provides a wealth of examples and exercises (with solutions) to help readers easily grasp the material / Incorporates an extensive chapter on data hiding, a sparsely documented topic of increasing importance in the community / Includes an author-supplied website with supplementary material / Possesses a detailed bibliography and helpful glossary, index, and appendixes (including projects for self-study).
Coaching : Evoking Excellence in Others
Includes two brand new chapters: the first is on finding one’s inner guidance and purpose in traversing the world of work, especially in more uncertain working environments; and the second is on the topic of somatic intelligence. As in earlier editions, this foundational book in coaching clearly presents the theories, concepts, and models, and then moves on to consider rigorous methods of practice and self-observation in a relationship of mutual trust, respect, and freedom of expression. It will probe you to rethink how you relate to your clients and your staff, how you produce long-term excellent performance in yourself, and how you can become more effective in helping others to achieve their goals.
