Complex Systems occur in an infinite variety of problems, not only in the realm of physical sciences and engineering, but encompassing fields as diverse as economy, the environment, humanities, social and political sciences. The high level of dynamics of such systems, which is usually expressed through the frequent occurrence of unpredictable disruptive events, makes conventional optimizers, batch schedulers and resource planning systems unworkable. Composed of selected research papers, this book brings together new developments and processes for managing complexity. The included works originate from renowned complexity thinkers, well established practitioners and new researchers in the field and detail issues of common interest. This title will particularly appeal to researchers, developers and users of complex systems from a variety of disciplines, alongside specialists in modelling complex issues.

Quantum mechanics is one of the most fascinating, and at the same time most controversial, branches of contemporary science. Disputes have accompanied this science since its birth and have not ceased to this day.

"Uncommon Paths in Quantum Physics" allows the reader to contemplate deeply some ideas and methods that are seldom met in the contemporary literature. Instead of widespread recipes of mathematical physics, based on the solutions of integro-differential equations, the book follows logical and partly intuitional derivations of non-commutative algebra. Readers can directly penetrate the abstract world of quantum mechanics.
First book in the market that treats this newly developed area of theoretical physics; the book will thus provide a fascinating overview of the prospective applications of this area, strongly founded on the theories and methods that it describes.Provides a solid foundation for the application of quantum theory to current physical problems arising in the interpretation of molecular spectra and important effects in quantum field theory.New insight into the physics of anharmonic vibrations, more feasible calculations with improved precision.

Optimization techniques have developed into a modern-day solution for real-world problems in various industries. As a way to improve performance and handle issues of uncertainty, optimization research becomes a topic of special interest across disciplines. Problem Solving and Uncertainty Modeling through Optimization and Soft Computing Applications presents the latest research trends and developments in the area of applied optimization methodologies and soft computing techniques for solving complex problems. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this critical publication is an essential reference source for engineers, managers, researchers, and post-graduate students.

This book introduces sonar system and acoustic channel model, average energy channel, coherent multipath channel, the theoretical basis for the stochastic time-varying space-variant channel, slowly time-varying coherent multipath channel, and reverberation channel. Based on the basic theory of underwater acoustic channels and the various characteristics of the marine acoustic environment factor, this textbook aims to help students understand the impact of the marine acoustic channel on the sonar system. It helps students to grasp underwater acoustic signal processing principles and obtain the ability to solve practical problems in underwater acoustic channel engineering. Finally, it aims at laying a foundation for the further sonar system design. This textbook is recommended for graduate or undergraduate students in the field of sonar signal processing, underwater acoustic engineering, as well as some related subjects of marine technology.

Since its first volume in 1960, Advances in Computers has presented detailed coverage of innovations in computer hardware, software, theory, design, and applications. It has also provided contributors with a medium in which they can explore their subjects in greater depth and breadth than journal articles usually allow. As a result, many articles have become standard references that continue to be of significant, lasting value in this rapidly expanding field.

Through analysis of three case study videogames - Left 4 Dead 2, DayZ and Minecraft - and their online player communities, Digital Zombies, Undead Stories develops a framework for understanding how collective gameplay generates experiences of narrative, as well as the narrative dimensions of players' creative activity on social media platforms. Narrative emergence is addressed as a powerful form of player experience in multiplayer games, one which makes individual games' boundaries and meanings fluid and negotiable by players. The phenomenon is also shown to be recursive in nature, shaping individual and collective understandings of videogame texts over time. Digital Zombies, Undead Stories focuses on games featuring zombies as central antagonists. The recurrent figure of the videogame zombie, which mediates between chaos and rule-driven predictability, serves as both metaphor and mascot for narrative emergence. This book argues that in the zombie genre, emergent experiences are at the heart of narrative experiences for players, and more broadly demonstrates the potential for the phenomenon to be understood as a fundamental part of everyday play experiences across genres.

This book uses a hands-on approach to nonlinear dynamics using commonly available software, including the free dynamical systems software Xppaut, Matlab (or its free cousin, Octave) and the Maple symbolic algebra system. Detailed instructions for various common procedures, including bifurcation analysis using the version of AUTO embedded in Xppaut, are provided. This book also provides a survey that can be taught in a single academic term covering a greater variety of dynamical systems (discrete versus continuous time, finite versus infinite-dimensional, dissipative versus conservative) than is normally seen in introductory texts. Numerical computation and linear stability analysis are used as unifying themes throughout the book. Despite the emphasis on computer calculations, theory is not neglected, and fundamental concepts from the field of nonlinear dynamics such as solution maps and invariant manifolds are presented.

Quantitative Finance with Python: A Practical Guide to Investment Management, Trading and Financial Engineering bridges the gap between the theory of mathematical finance and the practical applications of these concepts for derivative pricing and portfolio management. The book provides students with a very hands-on, rigorous introduction to foundational topics in quant finance, such as options pricing, portfolio optimization and machine learning. Simultaneously, the reader benefits from a strong emphasis on the practical applications of these concepts for institutional investors. Features Useful as both a teaching resource and as a practical tool for professional investors. Ideal textbook for first year graduate students in quantitative finance programs, such as those in master's programs in Mathematical Finance, Quant Finance or Financial Engineering. Includes a perspective on the future of quant finance techniques, and in particular covers some introductory concepts of Machine Learning. Free-to-access repository with Python codes available at www.routledge.com/ 9781032014432.

"Practical Guides in Chemical Engineering" are a cluster of short texts that each provides a focused introductory view on a single subject. The full library spans the main topics in the chemical process industries that engineering professionals require a basic understanding of. They are pocket publications that the professional engineer can easily carry with them or access electronically while working. Each text is highly practical and applied, and presents first principles for engineers who need to get up to speed in a new area fast. The focused facts provided in each guide will help you converse with experts in the field, attempt your own initial troubleshooting, check calculations, and solve rudimentary problems.

"Dimensional Analysis" provides the foundation for similitude and for up and downscaling. Aeronautical, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering have used Dimensional Analysis profitably for over one hundred years. Chemical Engineering has made limited use of it due to the complexity of chemical processes. However, Chemical Engineering can now employ Dimensional Analysis widely due to the free-for-use matrix calculators now available on the Internet. This book shows how to apply matrices to Dimensional Analysis.
Practical, short, concise information on the basics will help you get an answer or teach yourself a new topic quicklySupported by industry examples to help you solve a real world problemSingle subject volumes provide key facts for professionals"

"Boundary Element Method for Plate Analysis" offers one of the first systematic and detailed treatments of the application of BEM to plate analysis and design.

Aiming to fill in the knowledge gaps left by contributed volumes on the topic and increase the accessibility of the extensive journal literature covering BEM applied to plates, author John T. Katsikadelis draws heavily on his pioneering work in the field to provide a complete introduction to theory and application.

Beginning with a chapter of preliminary mathematical background to make the book a self-contained resource, Katsikadelis moves on to cover the application of BEM to basic thin plate problems and more advanced problems. Each chapter contains several examples described in detail and closes with problems to solve. Presenting the BEM as an efficient computational method for practical plate analysis and design, "Boundary Element Method for Plate Analysis" is a valuable reference for researchers, students and engineers working with BEM and plate challenges within mechanical, civil, aerospace and marine engineering.
One of the first resources dedicated to boundary element analysis of plates, offering a systematic and accessible introductory to theory and applicationAuthored by a leading figure in the field whose pioneering work has led to the development of BEM as an efficient computational method for practical plate analysis and designIncludes mathematical background, examples and problems in one self-contained resource