Oceanic Migration studies the prehistoric peopling of the Pacific. It uses science and mathematics to expand the research base of Pacific prehistory and casts new light on this final human expansion. It explores the fundamental roles of oceanography and of global climate change in determining the paths, sequence, timing and range of Spice Island-based maritime migrations ranging across a quarter of the globe. The book is of interest to Pacific prehistorians, oceanographers and American anthropologists concerned with the diffusionist debate. For oceanographers it presents the new idea of the role of the West Pacific Warm Pool and of three of its four major currents in determining the evolution of voyaging in two oceans. For diffusionists it provides new chronological and technological contexts in which the issue of diffusionism needs to be reconsidered. For prehistorians it creates a paradigmatic shift by establishing a new time depth and mechanism for Polynesian exploration, offers a new view of voyaging and exploration strategies and of economic imperatives and adds a new dimension to the debate on Polynesian origins.

Optimization: Structure and Applications presents selected contributions from renowned researchers in the fields of operations research and industrial engineering. The book is divided into two parts; the first focuses on mathematical structure, and the second, on real-world applications. The work includes recent developments in several optimization-related topics such as decision theory, linear programming, turnpike theory, duality theory, convex analysis, and queuing theory. The applications presented include, but are not limited to, data imaging, network capacity allocation, water system management, and materials design.

The 21 self-contained chapters in this volume are devoted to the examination of modern trends and open problems in the field of optimization. This book will be a valuable tool not only to specialists interested in the technical detail and various applications presented, but also to researchers interested in building upon the book s theoretical results."

Stochastic resonance has been observed in many forms of systems, and has been hotly debated by scientists for over 30 years. Applications incorporating aspects of stochastic resonance may yet prove revolutionary in fields such as distributed sensor networks, nano-electronics, and biomedical prosthetics. Ideal for researchers in fields ranging from computational neuroscience through to electronic engineering, this book addresses in detail various theoretical aspects of stochastic quantization, in the context of the suprathreshold stochastic resonance effect. Initial chapters review stochastic resonance and outline some of the controversies and debates that have surrounded it. The book then discusses suprathreshold stochastic resonance, and its extension to more general models of stochastic signal quantization. Finally, it considers various constraints and tradeoffs in the performance of stochastic quantizers, before culminating with a chapter in the application of suprathreshold stochastic resonance to the design of cochlear implants.

Oceanic Migration studies the prehistoric peopling of the Pacific. It uses science and mathematics to expand the research base of Pacific prehistory and casts new light on this final human expansion. It explores the fundamental roles of oceanography and of global climate change in determining the paths, sequence, timing and range of Spice Island-based maritime migrations ranging across a quarter of the globe. The book is of interest to Pacific prehistorians, oceanographers and American anthropologists concerned with the diffusionist debate. For oceanographers it presents the new idea of the role of the West Pacific Warm Pool and of three of its four major currents in determining the evolution of voyaging in two oceans. For diffusionists it provides new chronological and technological contexts in which the issue of diffusionism needs to be reconsidered. For prehistorians it creates a paradigmatic shift by establishing a new time depth and mechanism for Polynesian exploration, offers a new view of voyaging and exploration strategies and of economic imperatives and adds a new dimension to the debate on Polynesian origins.

Stochastic resonance has been observed in many forms of systems, and has been hotly debated by scientists for over 30 years. Applications incorporating aspects of stochastic resonance may yet prove revolutionary in fields such as distributed sensor networks, nano-electronics, and biomedical prosthetics. Ideal for researchers in fields ranging from computational neuroscience through to electronic engineering, this book addresses in detail various theoretical aspects of stochastic quantization, in the context of the suprathreshold stochastic resonance effect. Initial chapters review stochastic resonance and outline some of the controversies and debates that have surrounded it. The book then discusses suprathreshold stochastic resonance, and its extension to more general models of stochastic signal quantization. Finally, it considers various constraints and tradeoffs in the performance of stochastic quantizers, before culminating with a chapter in the application of suprathreshold stochastic resonance to the design of cochlear implants.