Neuromedia is an innovative examination of shared territories in neurobiological anatomy, physiology and media art. It reveals how scientists investigate perception and behaviour at the molecular, cellular and systems level. It demonstrates how interpretative forms of media art can help to demystify these complexities for diverse audiences. Under the reflective headings of inspiration, construction, challenges and reactions, it offers deep insights into the processes of art and science production. Assisted by essays from a museum director and an art historian, Neuromedia provides the background for readers about an exhibition of the same name at KULTURAMA in Zurich (2012), and suggests an alternative approach to scientific communication. Authors: Robert Atkins, Oliver Biehlmaier, Mitchel Paul Levesque, Stephan Neuhauss, Rolf Pfeifer, Claudia Rutsche, Jill Scott and Esther Stoeckli

This book deals with theoretical aspects of modelling the mechanical behaviour of manufacturing, processing, transportation or other systems in which the processed or supporting material is travelling through the system. Examples of such applications include paper making, transmission cables, band saws, printing presses, manufacturing of plastic films and sheets, and extrusion of aluminium foil, textiles and other materials. The work focuses on out-of-plane dynamics and stability analysis for isotropic and orthotropic travelling elastic and viscoelastic materials, with and without fluid-structure interaction, using analytical and semi-analytical approaches.  Also topics such as fracturing and fatigue are discussed in the context of moving materials. The last part of the book deals with optimization problems involving physical constraints arising from the stability and fatigue analyses, including uncertainties in the parameters. The book is intended for researchers and specialists in the field, providing a view of the mechanics of axially moving materials. It can also be used as a textbook for advanced courses on this specific topic. Considering topics related to manufacturing and processing, the book can also be applied in industrial mathematics.

Dynamic Fracture of Piezoelectric Materials focuses on the Boundary Integral Equation Method as an efficient computational tool. The presentation of the theoretical basis of piezoelectricity is followed by sections on fundamental solutions and the numerical realization of the boundary value problems. Two major parts of the book are devoted to the solution of problems in homogeneous and inhomogeneous solids. The book includes contributions on coupled electro-mechanical models, computational methods, its validation and the simulation results, which reveal different effects useful for engineering design and practice. The book is self-contained and well-illustrated, and it serves as a graduate-level textbook or as extra reading material for students and researchers.

This book covers virtually all of the engineering science and technological aspects of separating water from particulate solids in the mining industry. It starts with an introduction to the field of mineral processing and the importance of water in mineral concentrators. The consumption of water in the various stages of concentration is discussed, as is the necessity of recovering the majority of that water for recycling. The book presents the fundamentals under which processes of solid-liquid separation are studied, approaching mixtures of discrete finely divided solid particles in water as a basis for dealing with sedimentation in particulate systems. Suspensions, treated as continuous media, provide the basis of sedimentation, flows through porous media and filtration. The book also considers particle aggregations, and thickening is analyzed in depth. Lastly, two chapters cover the fundamentals and application of rheology and the transport of suspensions.  This work is suitable for researchers and professionals in laboratories and plants, and can also serve as additional reading for graduate courses on solid liquid separation as well as for advanced undergraduate and graduate level students for courses of fluid mechanics, solid-liquid separation, thickening, filtration and transport of suspensions in tubes and channels.

Sparse grids have gained increasing interest in recent years for the numerical treatment of high-dimensional problems. Whereas classical numerical discretization schemes fail in more than three or four dimensions, sparse grids make it possible to overcome the “curse� of dimensionality to some degree, extending the number of dimensions that can be dealt with. This volume of LNCSE collects the papers from the proceedings of the second workshop on sparse grids and applications, demonstrating once again the importance of this numerical discretization scheme. The selected articles present recent advances on the numerical analysis of sparse grids as well as efficient data structures, and the range of applications extends to uncertainty quantification settings and clustering, to name but a few examples.

The book presents a representative selection of all publications published between 01/2009 and 06/2010 in various books, journals and conference proceedings by the researchers of the institute cluster: IMA - Institute of Information Management in Mechanical Engineering ZLW - Center for Learning and Knowledge Management IfU - Institute for Management Cybernetics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University The contributions address the cluster's five core research fields: suitable processes for knowledge- and technology-intensive organizations, next-generation teaching and learning concepts for universities and the economy, cognitive IT-supported processes for heterogeneous and cooperative systems, target group-adapted user models for innovation and technology development processes, semantic networks and ontologies for complex value chains and virtual environments Innovative fields of application such as cognitive systems, autonomous truck convoys, telemedicine, ontology engineering, knowledge and information management, learning models and technologies, organizational development and management cybernetics are presented. The contributions show the unique potential of the broad and interdisciplinary research approach of the ZLW/IMA and the IfU.

Modern Geometrical Machinery; 1 .1 Introduction; 1 .2 Smooth Manifolds; 1.2.1 Intuition Behind a Smooth Manifold; 1.2.2 Definition of a Smooth Manifold; 1.2.3 Smooth Maps Between Manifolds; 1.2.4 (Co)Tangent Bundles of a Smooth Manifold; 1.2.5 Tensor Fields and Bundles of a Smooth Manifold; 1.2.6 Lie Derivative on a Smooth Manifold; 1.2.7 Lie Groups and Associated Lie Algebras; 1.2.8 Lie Symmetries and Prolongations on Manifolds;1.2.9 Riemannian Manifolds; 1.2.10 Finsler Manifolds; 1.2.11 Symplectic Manifolds; 1.2.12 Complex and Kahler Manifolds; 1.2.13 Conformal Killing-Riemannian Geometry; 1.3 Fibre Bundles; 1.3.1 Intuition Behind a Fibre Bundle; 1.3.2 Definition of a Fibre Bundle;1.3.3 Vector and Affine Bundles; 1.3.4 Principal Bundles; 1.3.5 Multivector-Fields and Tangent-Valued Forms; 1.4 Jet Spaces; 1.4.1 Intuition Behind a Jet Space; 1.4.2 Definition of a 1-Jet Space; 1.4.3 Connections as Jet Fields; 1.4.4 Definition of a 2-Jet Space; 1.4.5 Higher-Order Jet Spaces; 1.4.6 Jets in Mechanics;1.4.7 Jets and Action Principle; 1.5 Path Integrals: Extending Smooth Geometrical Machinery; 1.5.1 Intuition Behind a Path Integral; 1.5.2 Path Integral History; 1.5.3 Standard Path-Integral Quantization; 1.5.4 Sum over Geometries/Topologies; 1.5.5 TQFT and Stringy Path Integrals; 2 Dynamics of High-Dimensional Nonlinear Systems; 2.1 Mechanical Systems; 2.1.1 Autonomous Lagrangian/Hamiltonian Mechanics; 2.1.2 Non-Autonomous Lagrangian/Hamiltonian Mechanics; 2.1.3 Semi-Riemannian Geometrical Dynamics; 2.1.4 Relativistic and Multi-Time Rheonomic Dynamics; 2.1.5 Geometrical Quantization; 2.2 Physical Field Systems; 2.2.1 n-Categorical Framework; 2.2.2 Lagrangian Field Theory on Fibre Bundles; 2.2.3 Finsler-Lagrangian Field Theory; 2.2.4 Hamiltonian Field Systems: Path-Integral Quantization; 2.2.5 Gauge Fields on Principal Connections; 2.2.6 Modern Geometrodynamics; 2.2.7 Topological Phase Transitions and Hamiltonian Chaos; 2.2.8 Topological Superstring Theory; 2.2.9 Turbulence and Chaos Field Theory; 2.3 Nonlinear Control Systems; 2.3.1 The Basis of Modern Geometrical Control;2.3.2 Geometrical Control of Mechanical Systems;2.3.3 Hamiltonian Optimal Control and Maximum Principle; 2.3.4 Path-Integral Optimal Control of Stochastic Systems; 2.4 Human-Like Biomechanics; 2.4.1 Lie Groups and Symmetries in Biomechanics; 2.4.2 Muscle-Driven Hamiltonian Biomechanics; 2.4.3 Biomechanical Functors; 2.4.4 Biomechanical Topology; 2.5 Neurodynamics; 2.5.1 Microscopic Neurodynamics and Quantum Brain; 2.5.2 Macroscopic Neurodynamics; 2.5.3 Oscillatory Phase Neurodynamics;2.5.4 Neural Path-Integral Model for the Cerebellum; 2.5.5 Intelligent Robot Control; 2.5.6 Brain-Like Control Functor in Biomechanics; 2.5.7 Concurrent and Weak Functorial Machines; 2.5.8 Brain-Mind Functorial Machines; 26 Psycho-Socio-Economic Dynamics; 2.6.1 Force-Field Psychodynamics; 2.6.2 Geometrical Dynamics of Human Crowd; 2.6.3 Dynamical Games on Lie Groups; 2.6.4 Nonlinear Dynamics of Option Pricing; 2.6.5 Command/Control in Human-Robot Interactions; 2.6.6 Nonlinear Dynamics of Complex Nets; 2.6.7 Complex Adaptive Systems: Common Characteristics; 2.6.8 FAM Functors and Real-Life Games; 2.6.9 Riemann-Finsler Approach to Information Geometry; 3 Appendix: Tensors and Functors; 3.1 Elements of Classical Tensor Analysis; 3.1.1 Transformation of Coordinates and Elementary Tensors; 3.1.2 Euclidean Tensors; 3. 1 .3 Tensor Derivatives on Riemannian Manifolds; 3.1.4 Tensor Mechanics in Brief; 3.1.5 The Covariant Force Law in Robotics and Biomechanics; 3.2 Categories and Functors; 3.2.1 Maps; 3.2.2 Categories; 3.2.3 Functors; 3.2.4 Natural Transformations; 3.2.5 Limits and Colimits; 3.2.6 The Adjunction; 3.2.7 ri-Categories; 3.2.8 Abelian Functorial Algebra; References; Index.

This proceedings volume gathers a selection of papers presented at the Fifth International Conference on High Performance Scientific Computing, which took place in Hanoi on March 5-9, 2012. The conference was organized by the Institute of Mathematics of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) of Heidelberg University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics. The contributions cover the broad interdisciplinary spectrum of scientific computing and present recent advances in theory, development of methods, and practical applications. Subjects covered include mathematical modeling; numerical simulation; methods for optimization and control; parallel computing; software development; and applications of scientific computing in physics, mechanics and biomechanics, material science, hydrology, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, medicine, sports, psychology, transport, logistics, communication networks, scheduling, industry, business and finance.

This book presents up-to-date knowledge of dynamic analysis in engineering world. To facilitate the understanding of the topics by readers with various backgrounds, general principles are linked to their applications from different angles. Special interesting topics such as statistics of motions and loading, damping modeling and measurement, nonlinear dynamics, fatigue assessment, vibration and buckling under axial loading, structural health monitoring, human body vibrations, and vehicle-structure interactions etc., are also presented. The target readers include industry professionals in civil, marine and mechanical engineering, as well as researchers and students in this area.

This volume contains a selection of papers presented at the 21st international conference on domain decomposition methods in science and engineering held in Rennes, France, June 25-29, 2012. Domain decomposition is an active and interdisciplinary research discipline, focusing on the development, analysis and implementation of numerical methods for massively parallel computers. Domain decomposition methods are among the most efficient solvers for large scale applications in science and engineering. They are based on a solid theoretical foundation and shown to be scalable for many important applications. Domain decomposition techniques can also naturally take into account multiscale phenomena. This book contains the most recent results in this important field of research, both mathematically and algorithmically and allows the reader to get an overview of this exciting branch of numerical analysis and scientific computing.

This volume is a result of two international workshops, namely the Second Annual Workshop on Inverse Problems and the Workshop on Large-Scale Modeling, held jointly in Sunne, Sweden from May 1-6 2012. The subject of the inverse problems workshop was to present new analytical developments and new numerical methods for solutions of inverse problems. The objective of the large-scale modeling workshop was to identify large-scale problems arising in various fields of science and technology and covering all possible applications, with a particular focus on urgent problems in theoretical and applied electromagnetics. The workshops brought together scholars, professionals, mathematicians, and programmers and specialists working in large-scale modeling problems.   The contributions in this volume are reflective of these themes and will be beneficial to researchers in this area.

This book is concerned with recent advances in fitness landscapes. The concept of fitness landscapes originates from theoretical biology and refers to a framework for analysing and visualizing the relationships between genotypes, phenotypes and fitness. These relationships lay at the centre of attempts to mathematically describe evolutionary processes and evolutionary dynamics. The book addresses recent advances in the understanding of fitness landscapes in evolutionary biology and evolutionary computation. In the volume, experts in the field of fitness landscapes present these findings in an integrated way to make it accessible to a number of audiences: senior undergraduate and graduate students in computer science, theoretical biology, physics, applied mathematics and engineering, but also researcher looking for a reference or/and entry point into using fitness landscapes for analysing algorithms. Also practitioners wanting to employ fitness landscape techniques for evaluating bio- and nature-inspired computing algorithms can find valuable material in the book. For teaching proposes, the book could also be used as a reference handbook.

This book contains papers based on talks given at the International Conference Dynamical Systems: 100 years after Poincaré held at the University of Oviedo, Gijón in Spain, September 2012. It provides an overview of the state of the art in the study of dynamical systems.   This book covers a broad range of topics, focusing on discrete and continuous dynamical systems, bifurcation theory, celestial mechanics, delay difference and differential equations, Hamiltonian systems and also the classic challenges in planar vector fields. It also details recent advances and new trends in the field, including applications to a wide range of disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics and economics.    The memory of Henri Poincaré, who laid the foundations of the subject, inspired this exploration of dynamical systems. In honor of this remarkable mathematician, theoretical physicist, engineer and philosopher, the authors have made a special effort to place the reader at the frontiers of current knowledge in the discipline.

This book provides an overview of science education policies, research and practices in mainland China, with specific examples of the most recent developments in these areas. It presents an insiders' report on the status of Chinese science education written primarily by native speakers with first-hand experiences inside the country. In addition, the book features multiple sectional commentaries by experts in the field that further connect these stories to the existing science education literature outside of China. This book informs the international community about the current status of Chinese science education reforms. It helps readers understand one of the largest science education systems in the world, which includes, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment, the best-performing economy in the world in science, math and reading: Shanghai, China. Readers gain insight into how science education in the rest of China compares to that in Shanghai; the ways Chinese science educators, teachers and students achieve what has been accomplished; what Chinese students and teachers actually do inside their classrooms; what educational policies have been helpful in promoting student learning; what lessons can be shared within the international science education community; and much more. This book appeals to science education researchers, comparative education researchers, science educators, graduate students, state science education leaders and officers in the international communities. It also helps Chinese students and faculty of science education discover effective ways to share their science education stories with the rest of the world.

This monograph is concerned with the mathematical analysis of patterns which are encountered in biological systems. It summarises, expands and relates results obtained in the field during the last fifteen years. It also links the results to biological applications and highlights their relevance to phenomena in nature. Of particular concern are large-amplitude patterns far from equilibrium in biologically relevant models. The approach adopted in the monograph is based on the following paradigms: • Examine the existence of spiky steady states in reaction-diffusion systems and select as observable patterns only the stable ones • Begin by exploring spatially homogeneous two-component activator-inhibitor systems in one or two space dimensions • Extend the studies by considering extra effects or related systems, each motivated by their specific roles in developmental biology, such as spatial inhomogeneities, large reaction rates, altered boundary conditions, saturation terms, convection, many-component systems. Mathematical Aspects of Pattern Formation in Biological Systems will be of interest to graduate students and researchers who are active in reaction-diffusion systems, pattern formation and mathematical biology.

The volume will consist of about 40 articles written by some very influential mathematicians of our time and will expose the latest achievements in the broad area of nonlinear analysis and its various interdisciplinary applications.

Science Education: A Global Perspective is 'global' both in content and authorship. Its 17 chapters by an assemblage of seasoned and knowledgeable science educators from many parts of the world seek to bring to the fore current developments in science education and their implications. The book thus covers a wide range of topics in science education from various national and international perspectives. These include the nature of science, science and religion, evolution, curriculum and pedagogy, context-based teaching and learning, science and national development, socially-responsible science education, equitable access for women and girls in science and technology education, and the benefits of science education research. It ends on an optimistic note by looking at science education in 50 years' time with a recommendation, among others, for stakeholders to take the responsibility of preparing children towards a blossoming science education sector in an anticipated future world. This book is suitable for use by discerning researchers, teachers, undergraduate and postgraduate students in science education, and policy makers at all levels of education. Other educationalists and personnel in science and technology vocations will also find it interesting and useful as the reader-motivated approach has guided the presentation of ideas. Science Education: A Global Perspective is a rich compendium of the components of science education in context, practice, and delivery. Dr Bulent Cavas, Professor of Science Education, Dokuz Eylul Univerity, Buca-Izmir, Turkey/President-Elect, International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) This book will be of immense relevance for current and future global strides in training and research in science education. Surinder K. Ghai, Chairman, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India This book provides a refreshing insight into the current status and future direction of science education. It will be very useful to researchers, those pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate courses in science education, and all other personnel involved in the policy and practice of science education. Dr. Bennoit Sossou, Director/Country Representative, UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja, Nigeria

This book focuses on constructivist theory and collaborative interdisciplinary studies, showing how constructivist theory complements interdisciplinary studies. Constructivist theory stresses how learners construct new ideas and concepts, while the interdisciplinary method requires that learners approach complex problems from multiple perspectives. The author uses the New York City College of Technology as a model to demonstrate how learning can be embedded in complex, realistic, and relevant environments. As a result, students learn to consider significant issues from a variety of viewpoints and thus negotiate their social landscape. In approaching problems that they recognize as meaningful, they take ownership of their learning and become increasingly self-aware. This scholarly book makes a theoretical contribution to its field while also offering a practical, real world example of how to successfully integrate a curriculum.

The fun, easy way to get up to speed on biophysics concepts, principles, and practices One of the most diverse of modern scientific disciplines, biophysics applies methods and technologies from physics to the study of biological systems and phenomena, from the human nervous system to soil erosion to global warming. What are the best options for satisfying the world's growing energy demands? How can we feed the world's growing population? How can we contain, or reverse, global warming? How can we vouchsafe a plentiful supply of potable water for future generations? These are among the critical questions to which biophysicists work to provide answers. * Biophysics courses are increasingly taken by students of biology, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, statistics, bioengineering, neuroscience, computer science, pharmacology, agriculture,and many more * Provides a friendly, unintimidating overview of the material covered in a typical college-level biophysics course * A one-stop reference, course supplement and exam preparation tool for university students currently enrolled in an introductory biophysics courses * An indispensable resource for those studying the natural sciences, biological sciences, and physics, as well as math, statistics,computer science, pharmacology and many other disciplines * The current job market for people well versed in biophysics is very strong, and biophysics is currently listed as one of the fast-growing occupations in the North America

Self-study research is making an impact on the field of science education. University researchers employ these methods to improve their instruction, develop as instructors, and ultimately, impact their students' learning. This volume provides an introduction to self-study research in science education, followed by manuscripts of self-studies undertaken by university faculty and those becoming university faculty members in science teacher education. Chapter authors range from those new to the field to established researchers, highlighting the value of self-study research in science teacher education for every career rank. The fifteen self-studies provided in this book support and extend this contemporary work in science teacher education. They, and the subsequent reflections on professional knowledge, are organized into four sections: content courses for preservice teachers, elementary methods courses, secondary methods courses, and preparation of future teacher educators. Respondents from various locations around the globe share their reflections on these sections. A culminating reflection of the findings of these studies is provided at the end of the book that provides an overview of what we have learned from these chapters, as well as a reflection on the role of self-study research in the future of science teacher education.

Metals and Alloys continues the series of graduate textbooks on Industrial Chemistry by Mark A. Benvenuto. It shows the essential industrial applications, processes and chemistry background for the extraction of metals, as well as the production and applications of alloys. The book discusses how large scale and minor processes affect every-day life, challenges in prevention and removal of waste by-products and illustrates selected chemical processes for which efforts have been made to improve and "green" industrial production of metals and alloys. Sources for metals are sorted by metal and alloy and backed by basic chemical background information and process set up. Overviews on worldwide ore distribution, refined metal and alloy production numbers are another focus of the book. Discusses sources, key processes and applications. Connects what students learn in class to real, large-scale metals chemistry that makes modern life possible. Intended for students, graduate students and beginners in the fiield of Chemistry, Chemical Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Visit degruyter.com for more information on books by Mark A. Benvenuto: Industrial Chemistry (2013), Industrial Chemistry: For Advanced Students (2015) and Industrial Inorganic Chemistry (2015). About the Author: Mark Anthony Benvenuto A Fellow of the American Chemical Society, he received his PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of Virginia. After a post-doctoral fellowship at the Pennsylvania State University, he joined the University of Detroit Mercy, where he is now the Department Chairman and teaches an industrial chemistry course.

This book advocates the importance and value of errors for the progress of scientific research! Hans Kricheldorf explains that most of the great scientific achievements are based on an iterative process (an 'innate self-healing mechanism'): errors are committed, being checked over and over again, through which finally new findings and knowledge can arise. New ideas are often first confronted with refusal. This is so not only in real life, but also in scientific and medical research. The author outlines in this book how great ideas had to ripen over time before winning recognition and being accepted. The book showcases in an entertaining way, but without schadenfreude, that even some of the most famous discoverers may appear in completely different light, when regarding errors they have committed in their work. This book is divided into two parts. The first part creates a fundament for the discussion and understanding by introducing important concepts, terms and definitions, such as (natural) sciences and scientific research, laws of nature, paradigm shift, and progress (in science). It compares natural sciences with other scientific disciplines, such as historical research or sociology, and examines the question if scientific research can generate knowledge of permanent validity. The second part contains a collection of famous fallacies and errors from medicine, biology, chemistry, physics and geology, and how they were corrected. Readers will be astonished and intrigued what meanders had to be explored in some cases before scientists realized facts, which are today's standard and state-of-the-art of science and technology. This is an entertaining and amusing, but also highly informative book not only for scientists and specialists, but for everybody interested in science, research, their progress, and their history!

With the increasing focus on science education, growing attention is being paid how science is taught. Educators in science and science-related disciplines are recognizing that distance delivery opens up new opportunities for delivering information, providing interactivity, collaborative opportunities and feedback, as well as for increasing access for students. This book presents the guidance of expert science educators from the US and from around the globe. They describe key concepts, delivery modes and emerging technologies, and offer models of practice. The book places particular emphasis on experimentation, lab and field work as they are fundamentally part of the education in most scientific disciplines. Chapters include: Discipline methodology and teaching strategies in the specific areas of physics, biology, chemistry and earth sciences. An overview of the important and appropriate learning technologies (ICTs) for each major science. Best practices for establishing and maintaining a successful course online. Insights and tips for handling practical components like laboratories and field work. Coverage of breaking topics, including MOOCs, learning analytics, open educational resources and m-learning. Strategies for engaging your students online. A companion website presents videos of the contributors sharing additional guidance, virtual labs simulations and various additional resources.

Professional arborist and award-winning nature writer William Bryant Logan deftly relates the delightful history of the reciprocal relationship between humans and oak trees since time immemorial a profound link that has almost been forgotten. From the ink of Bach s cantatas, to the first boat to reach the New World, to the wagon, the barrel, and the sword, oak trees have been a constant presence throughout our history. In fact, civilization prospered where oaks grew, and for centuries these supremely adaptable, generous trees have supported humankind in nearly every facet of life. With an unabashed enthusiasm for his subject (Carol Haggas, Booklist) Logan combines science, philosophy, spirituality, and history with a contagious curiosity about why the natural world works the way it does. At once humorous and reverent, this splendid acknowledgment of a natural marvel (Publishing News) reintroduces the oak tree so that we might see its vibrant presence throughout our history and our modern world."

As the first comprehensive introduction into the rapidly evolving field of spintronics, this textbook covers ferromagnetism in nano-electrodes, spin injection, spin manipulation, and the practical use of these effects in next-generation electronics. Based on foundations in quantum mechanics and solid state physics this textbook guides the reader to the forefront of research and development in the field, based on repeated lectures given by the author. From the content: Low-dimensional semiconductor structures Magnetism in solids Diluted magnetic semiconductors Magnetic electrodes Spin injection Spin transistor Spin interference Spin Hall effect Quantum spin Hall effect Topological insulators Quantum computation with electron spins