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Generic Inference: A Unifying Theory for Automated Reasoning
by Marc Pouly Juerg KohlasThis book provides a rigorous algebraic study of the most popular inference formalisms with a special focus on their wide application area, showing that all these tasks can be performed by a single generic inference algorithm. Written by the leading international authority on the topic, it includes an algebraic perspective (study of the valuation algebra framework), an algorithmic perspective (study of the generic inference schemes) and a "practical" perspective (formalisms and applications). Researchers in a number of fields including artificial intelligence, operational research, databases and other areas of computer science; graduate students; and professional programmers of inference methods will benefit from this work.
Generic Inference: A Unifying Theory for Automated Reasoning
by Marc Pouly Juerg KohlasThis book provides a rigorous algebraic study of the most popular inference formalisms with a special focus on their wide application area, showing that all these tasks can be performed by a single generic inference algorithm. Written by the leading international authority on the topic, it includes an algebraic perspective (study of the valuation algebra framework), an algorithmic perspective (study of the generic inference schemes) and a "practical" perspective (formalisms and applications). Researchers in a number of fields including artificial intelligence, operational research, databases and other areas of computer science; graduate students; and professional programmers of inference methods will benefit from this work.
Genetically Modified and non-Genetically Modified Food Supply Chains: Co-Existence and Traceability
by Yves Bertheau John DavisonIn the European Union nations, and other countries including Japan, Australia and Malaysia, it is a legal requirement that food products containing genetically modified organism (GMO) materials are labelled as such in order that customers may make informed purchasing decisions. For manufacturers and consumers to be confident about these assertions, systems must be in place along the entire food chain which support the co-existence of GM and non GM materials whilst maintaining a strict segregation between the two. This book is an output of a European Union-funded project entitled "Co-Extra: GM and non-GM food and feed supply chains: their Co-Existence and Traceability". The objective of this four year project is to provide practical tools and methods for implementing co-existence that will: enable the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops enable the segregation and tracing of genetically modified organism (GMO) materials and derived products along the food and feed chains anticipate the future expansion of the use of GMOs The project is designed to foster a robustly science-based debate amongst all of the stakeholders involved in the food and feed chains, and the tools will be assessed not only from a technical point of view but with regard to the economic and legal aspects. It also surveys the GMO-related legal regimes and practices that exist in and beyond the EU. This book examines the practical tools and methods available to implement the co-existence and traceability of GM and non-GM food materials along the entire food and feed chains, as demanded by consumers and by legislation in force in the EU and elsewhere. GM and Non-GM Supply Foods is a source of valuable information for food manufacturers, food research institutions and regulatory bodies internationally.
Genetics, Biofuels and Local Farming Systems (Sustainable Agriculture Reviews #7)
by Eric LichtfouseSustainable agriculture is a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for our children. This discipline addresses current issues such as climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, starvation, obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control and biodiversity depletion. Novel solutions are proposed based on integrated knowledge from agronomy, soil science, molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, economy, philosophy and social sciences. As actual society issues are now intertwined, sustainable agriculture will bring solutions to build a safer world. This book series analyzes current agricultural issues and proposes alternative solutions, consequently helping all scientists, decision-makers, professors, farmers and politicians wishing to build safe agriculture, energy and food systems for future generations.
The Genius in my Basement: The Genius In My Basement
by Alexander MastersAn intimate portrait of an everyday genius.
Genomics and Molecular Genetics of Plant-Nematode Interactions
by John Jones, Godelieve Gheysen and Carmen FenollThis book reviews developments in the molecular biology of plant-nematode interactions that have been driven by the application of genomics tools. The book will be of interest to postgraduate students and to researchers with an interest in plant nematology and/or plant pathology more generally. A series of introductory chapters provide a biological context for the detailed reviews of all areas of plant-nematode interactions that follow and ensure that the bulk of the book is accessible to the non-specialist. A final section aims to show how these fundamental studies have provided outputs of practical relevance.
Genomics of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens (Food Microbiology and Food Safety)
by Martin Wiedmann and Wei ZhangFoodborne illnesses caused by various bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens lead to a high number of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and throughout the world. Recent advances in microbial genomics have significantly improved our understanding of the physiology, evolution, ecology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of different foodborne pathogens. This book focuses on the genomics of foodborne bacterial pathogens. It begins with a brief overview of the recent advances in microbial genomics and the impact of genomics on food safety research. Then, eight chapters follow that elaborate some in-depth reviews on the genomics of several common foodborne bacterial pathogens including Bacillus, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Vibrio. Finally, the last four chapters focus on some current genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies and their applications in studying the epidemiology, evolution, and pathogenesis of foodborne bacterial pathogens. Genomics of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens can be used as a reference by scientists and professionals in academia, government, and industry who are interested in understanding microbial genomics and using genomics tools to study foodborne bacterial pathogens. This book can also be used as a textbook for instructors and professors who teach food microbiology or microbial genomics-related courses at the post-graduate level.
Geo-information: Technologies, Applications and the Environment (Geotechnologies and the Environment #5)
by Mathias LemmensGeomatics, the handling and processing of information and data about the Earth, is one geoscience discipline that has seen major changes in the last decade, as mapping and observation systems become ever more sensitive and sophisticated. This book is a unique and in-depth survey of the field, which has a central role to play in tackling a host of environmental issues faced by society. Covering all three strands of geomatics - applications, information technology and surveying - the chapters cover the history and background of the subject, the technology employed both to collect and disseminate data, and the varied applications to which geomatics can be put, including urban planning, assessment of biodiversity, disaster management and land administration. Relevant professionals, as well as students in a variety of disciplines such as geography and surveying, will find this book required reading. This rapidly developing field uses increasingly complex and accurate systems. Today, technology enables us to capture geo-data in full 3D as well as to disseminate it via the Web at the speed of light. We are able to continuously image the world from space at resolutions of up to 50 cm. Airborne LiDAR (laser surveying) sensors can be combined with digital camera technology to produce geometrically correct images of the Earth's surface, while integrating these with large-scale topographic maps and terrestrial as well as aerial images to produce 3D cityscapes that computer users can explore from their desktops.
Geo-Politics of the Euro-Asia Energy Nexus: The European Union, Russia and Turkey (New Security Challenges)
by A. Tekin P. WilliamsA freshly provocative look at the nexus linking EU security, trans-Turkey energy supply routes to Europe and Turkey's EU membership negotiations, this book argues that Europe's collective energy security prospects have become increasingly tied to Turkey's progress towards joining the EU.
Geocomputation, Sustainability and Environmental Planning (Studies in Computational Intelligence #348)
by Beniamino Murgante Giuseppe Borruso Alessandra LapucciThe experience developed by Ian McHarg represents the first attempt to base environmental planning on more objective methods. In particular, he supposed that the real world can be considered as a layer cake and each layer represents a sectoral analysis. This metaphor represents the fundamental of overlay mapping. At the beginning, these principles have been applied only by hand, just considering the degree of darkness, produced by layer transparency, as a negative impact. In the following years, this craftmade approach, has been adopted for data organization in Geographical Information Systems producing analyses with a high level of quality and rigour. Nowadays, great part of studies in environmental planning field have been developed using GIS. The next step relative to the simple use of geographic information in supporting environmental planning is the adoption of spatial simulation models, which can predict the evolution of phenomena. As the use of spatial information has definitely improved the quality of data sets on which basing decision-making process, the use of Geostatistics, spatial simulation and, more generally, geocomputation methods allows the possibility of basing the decision-making process on predicted future scenarios. It is very strange that a discipline such as planning which programs the territory for the future years in great part of cases is not based on simulation models. Sectoral analyses, often based on surveys, are not enough to highlight dynamics of an area. Better knowing urban and environmental changes occurred in the past, it is possible to provide better simulations to predict possible tendencies.The aim of this book is to provide an overview of the main methods and techniques adopted in the field of environmental geocomputation in order to produce a more sustainable development.
Geolocation of RF Signals: Principles and Simulations
by Ilir ProgriGeolocation of RF Signals—Principles and Simulations offers an overview of the best practices and innovative techniques in the art and science of geolocation over the last twenty years. It covers all research and development aspects including theoretical analysis, RF signals, geolocation techniques, key block diagrams, and practical principle simulation examples in the frequency band from 100 MHz to 18 GHz or even 60 GHz. Starting with RF signals, the book progressively examines various signal bands – such as VLF, LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, and, K and the corresponding geolocation requirements per band and per application – to achieve required performance objectives of up to 0º precision. Part II follows a step-by-step approach of RF geolocation techniques and concludes with notes on state-of-the-art geolocation designs as well as advanced features found in signal generator instruments.Drawing upon years of practical experience and using numerous examples and illustrative applications, Ilir Progri provides a comprehensive introduction to Geolocation of RF Signals, and includes hands-on real world labs and applications using MATLAB in the areas of: RF signals specifications, RF geolocation distributed wireless communications networks and RF geolocation.Geolocation of RF Signals—Principles and Simulations will be of interest to government agency program managers industry professionals and engineers, academic researchers, faculty and graduate students who are interested in or currently designing, developing and deploying innovative geolocation of RF Signal systems.
Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste: A Comparative Assessment (Advances in Global Change Research #44)
by Ferenc L. TothFossil fuels will remain the backbone of the global energy economy for the foreseeable future. The contribution of nuclear energy to the global energy supply is also expected to increase. With the pressing need to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the fossil energy industry is exploring the possibility of carbon dioxide disposal in geological media. Geological disposal has been studied for decades by the nuclear industry with a view to ensuring the safe containment of its wastes. Geological disposal of carbon dioxide and that of radioactive waste gives rise to many common concerns in domains ranging from geology to public acceptance. In this respect, comparative assessments reveal many similarities, ranging from the transformation of the geological environment and safety and monitoring concerns to regulatory, liability and public acceptance issues. However, there are profound differences on a broad range of issues as well, such as the quantities and hazardous features of the materials to be disposed of, the characteristics of the targeted geological media, the site engineering technologies involved and the timescales required for safe containment at the disposal location. There are ample opportunities to learn from comparisons and to derive insights that will assist policymakers responsible for national energy strategies and international climate policies.
Geological Engineering
by Luis Gonzalez de VallejoA thorough knowledge of geology is essential in the design and construction of infrastructures for transport, buildings and mining operations; while an understanding of geology is also crucial for those working in urban, territorial and environmental planning and in the prevention and mitigation of geohazards.Geological Engineering provides an inte
Geological Engineering
by Luis Gonzalez de VallejoA thorough knowledge of geology is essential in the design and construction of infrastructures for transport, buildings and mining operations; while an understanding of geology is also crucial for those working in urban, territorial and environmental planning and in the prevention and mitigation of geohazards.Geological Engineering provides an inte
Geology of North Africa
by Edward TawadrosA reference volume on the geology of North Africa, this volume deals with Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. In great detail the geology, tectonic elements, the geology of the Pan-African Shield, the Phanerozoic geological evolution and most of the lithostratigrahpic units of the five countries are described. Moreover, the petroleum geolog
Geomatics Engineering: A Practical Guide to Project Design
by Clement OgajaTraditionally, land surveyors experience years of struggle as they encounter the complexities of project planning and design processes in the course of professional employment or practice. Giving beginners a leg up and working professionals added experience, Geomatics Engineering: A Practical Guide to Project Design provides a practical guide to co
Geometric Design of Linkages (Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics #11)
by J. Michael McCarthy Gim Song SohThis book is an introduction to the mathematical theory of design for articulated mechanical systems known as linkages. The focus is on sizing mechanical constraints that guide the movement of a work piece, or end-effector, of the system. The function of the device is prescribed as a set of positions to be reachable by the end-effector; and the mechanical constraints are formed by joints that limit relative movement. The goal is to find all the devices that can achieve a specific task. Formulated in this way the design problem is purely geometric in character. Robot manipulators, walking machines, and mechanical hands are examples of articulated mechanical systems that rely on simple mechanical constraints to provide a complex workspace for the end- effector. The principles presented in this book form the foundation for a design theory for these devices. The emphasis, however, is on articulated systems with fewer degrees of freedom than that of the typical robotic system, and therefore, less complexity. This book will be useful to mathematics, engineering and computer science departments teaching courses on mathematical modeling of robotics and other articulated mechanical systems.This new edition includes research results of the past decade on the synthesis of multi loop planar and spherical linkages, and the use of homotopy methods and Clifford algebras in the synthesis of spatial serial chains. One new chapter on the synthesis of spatial serial chains introduces numerical homotopy and the linear product decomposition of polynomial systems. The second new chapter introduces the Clifford algebra formulation of the kinematics equations of serial chain robots. Examples are use throughout to demonstrate the theory.
Geometric Methods and Applications: For Computer Science and Engineering (Texts in Applied Mathematics #38)
by Jean GallierThis book is an introduction to the fundamental concepts and tools needed for solving problems of a geometric nature using a computer. It attempts to fill the gap between standard geometry books, which are primarily theoretical, and applied books on computer graphics, computer vision, robotics, or machine learning. This book covers the following topics: affine geometry, projective geometry, Euclidean geometry, convex sets, SVD and principal component analysis, manifolds and Lie groups, quadratic optimization, basics of differential geometry, and a glimpse of computational geometry (Voronoi diagrams and Delaunay triangulations). Some practical applications of the concepts presented in this book include computer vision, more specifically contour grouping, motion interpolation, and robot kinematics. In this extensively updated second edition, more material on convex sets, Farkas’s lemma, quadratic optimization and the Schur complement have been added. The chapter on SVD has been greatly expanded and now includes a presentation of PCA. The book is well illustrated and has chapter summaries and a large number of exercises throughout. It will be of interest to a wide audience including computer scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Reviews of first edition:"Gallier's book will be a useful source for anyone interested in applications of geometrical methods to solve problems that arise in various branches of engineering. It may help to develop the sophisticated concepts from the more advanced parts of geometry into useful tools for applications." (Mathematical Reviews, 2001)"...it will be useful as a reference book for postgraduates wishing to find the connection between their current problem and the underlying geometry." (The Australian Mathematical Society, 2001)
Geometric Programming for Design and Cost Optimization 2nd edition (Synthesis Lectures on Engineering)
by Robert CreeseGeometric programming is used for design and cost optimization, the development of generalized design relationships, cost ratios for specific problems, and profit maximization. The early pioneers of the process - Zener, Duffin, Peterson, Beightler, Wilde, and Phillips -- played important roles in the development of geometric programming. There are three major areas: 1) Introduction, History, and Theoretical Fundamentals, 2) Applications with Zero Degrees of Difficulty, and 3) Applications with Positive Degrees of Difficulty. The primal-dual relationships are used to illustrate how to determine the primal variables from the dual solution and how to determine additional dual equations when the degrees of difficulty are positive. A new technique for determining additional equations for the dual, Dimensional Analysis, is demonstrated. The various solution techniques of the constrained derivative approach, the condensation of terms, and dimensional analysis are illustrated with example problems. The goal of this work is to have readers develop more case studies to further the application of this exciting tool. Table of Contents: Introduction / Brief History of Geometric Programming / Theoretical Considerations / The Optimal Box Design Case Study / Trash Can Case Study / The Open Cargo Shipping Box Case Study / Metal Casting Cylindrical Riser Case Study / Inventory Model Case Study / Process Furnace Design Case Study / Gas Transmission Pipeline Case Study / Profit Maximization Case Study / Material Removal/Metal Cutting Economics Case Study / Journal Bearing Design Case Study / Metal Casting Hemispherical Top Cylindrical Side Riser\\Case Study / Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinders Case Study / Material Removal/Metal Cutting Economics with Two Constraints / The Open Cargo Shipping Box with Skids / Profit Maximization Considering Decreasing Cost Functions of Inventory Policy / Summary and Future Directions / Thesis and Dissertations on Geometric Programming
Geometric Tolerances: Impact on Product Design, Quality Inspection and Statistical Process Monitoring
by Bianca M. Colosimo Nicola SeninGeometric tolerances are changing the way we design and manufacture industrial products. Geometric Tolerances covers their impact on the world of design and production, highlighting new perspectives, possibilities, current issues and future challenges. The topics covered are designed to be relevant to readers from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from product designers and manufacturers to quality inspection engineers and quality engineers involved in statistical process monitoring. Areas included are: • selection of appropriate geometric tolerances and how they stack up in assembled products; • inspection of parts subjected to geometric tolerancing from the macro to the micro and sub-micro scales; and • enhancement of efficiency and efficacy of quality monitoring. Geometric Tolerances provides the reader with the most recent scientific research in the field, as well as with a significant amount of real-life industrial case studies, delivering a multidisciplinary, synoptic view of one of the hottest and most strategic topics in industrial production.
Geospatial Analysis of Environmental Health (Geotechnologies and the Environment #4)
by Juliana A. Maantay and Sara McLaffertyThis book focuses on a range of geospatial applications for environmental health research, including environmental justice issues, environmental health disparities, air and water contamination, and infectious diseases. Environmental health research is at an exciting point in its use of geotechnologies, and many researchers are working on innovative approaches. This book is a timely scholarly contribution in updating the key concepts and applications of using GIS and other geospatial methods for environmental health research. Each chapter contains original research which utilizes a geotechnical tool (Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, GPS, etc.) to address an environmental health problem. The book is divided into three sections organized around the following themes: issues in GIS and environmental health research; using GIS to assess environmental health impacts; and geospatial methods for environmental health. Representing diverse case studies and geospatial methods, the book is likely to be of interest to researchers, practitioners and students across the geographic and environmental health sciences. The authors are leading researchers and practitioners in the field of GIS and environmental health.
Geospatial Techniques for Managing Environmental Resources
by Jay Krishna Thakur Sudhir Kumar Singh A. L. Ramanathan M. Bala Krishna Prasad Wolfgang Gossel"Geospatial Information" is spatial data concerning a place or, in space, collected in real time. Geospatial techniques together with remote sensing, geographic information science, Global Positioning System (GPS), cartography, geovisualization, and spatial statistics are being used to capture, store, manipulate and analyze to understand complex situations to solve mysteries of the universe. These techniques have been applied in various fields such as meteorology, forestry, environmental management, agriculture, health, homeland security etc. around the globe. This volume presents case studies and examples from various parts of the world and provides a broad overview of various approaches; data sets; data acquiring, monitoring and dissemination methods; satellites and sensors; tools and techniques used; integrating tools, techniques and application to various fields for the sustainable management of environmental resources in the context of global environmental change and natural hazards. The objective of this book is to provide state-of-the-art information to academics, researchers and industry practitioners who are involved or interested in the study, use, design and development of advanced and emerging geospatial technologies around the world with ultimate aim to empower individuals and organizations in building competencies for exploiting the opportunities of the knowledge society. All the chapters are peer-reviewes and evaluated and are an inter- and multi-disciplinary source of information, making an effort to link various geospatial techniques to make the earth an habitable place. The contributors have tried to focus their respective views on the current problems that need urgent attention. Consequently, we see this book as a comprehensive information base, which includes work of expertise in their specific fields of research.
Geotechnics and Earthquake Geotechnics Towards Global Sustainability (Geotechnical, Geological and Earthquake Engineering #15)
by Susumu IaiThis book is part of a bold, new initiative towards global sustainability and development that draws on the disciplines of geotechnical engineering and earthquake geotechnics. It contains contributions from fifteen of the world's leading experts who met in Kyoto in early 2010 to discuss a range of issues related to the ways geotechnics can help us face the challenges ahead, from the technical to the social, from geo-hazards to megacities, from global warming and coastal protection to the conservation of world heritage sites. We hope these contributions will stimulate the debate over the role geotechnics has to play in achieving a more sustainable future for the world. AudienceThis book will be of interest to advanced levels of researchers and practicing engineers in the fields of geotechnics and earthquake geotechnics for global sustainability: the greatest long term challenge of our time.
Geotechnik: Bodenmechanik, Grundbau und Tunnelbau
by Dimitrios KolymbasSowohl das Fach Bodenmechanik als auch sein technisches Pendant, die Geotechnik sind Wissensgebiete, auf denen intensiv geforscht und neue Lösungen entwickelt werden. In dem Buch wird die inhärente Beziehung zwischen Bodenmechanik (Theorie) und Geotechnik (Praxis) dokumentiert und der rasanten Entwicklung dadurch Rechnung getragen, dass entsprechende Konzepte systematisch dargestellt werden. Die 3. Auflage wurde dem Stand der Technik angepasst, das gilt insbesondere für die Gebiete Bruchmechanik, Bodendynamik sowie Dammbau und Sickerströmungen.
Geschichte der Wirtschaftsinformatik: Entstehung und Entwicklung einer Wissenschaftsdisziplin
by Lutz J. HeinrichDas Buch beschreibt die Entstehung der Wirtschaftsinformatik und ihre Entwicklung zur Wissenschaft. Von ihrer Vorgeschichte ausgehend spannt es den Bogen von ersten wissenschaftlichen Analysen als Antwort auf Probleme des EDV-Einsatzes bis zur Diskussion über ihre Zukunft im globalen Wissenschaftssystem. Methodisch steht Selbstzeugnisforschung im Mittelpunkt. Teil A Vorgeschichte sucht nach Spuren und verfolgt diese bis in die 1950er Jahre. In Teil B erzählen 16 Universitätsprofessoren, die zur Gründergeneration der Wirtschaftsinformatik gehören oder unmittelbare Nachfolger sind, ihre persönliche Geschichte. Nach Wissenschaftsmerkmalen geordnet werden in Teil C die Selbstzeugnisse analysiert und die Ergebnisse zu Befunden aggregiert. Teil D umfasst die nach Phasen geordnete Chronik der Wirtschaftsinformatik und die Beurteilung ihres Wissenschaftscharakters. Schließlich wird nachgefragt, ob es einen Methodenstreit in der Wirtschaftsinformatik gibt.