This practical guide provides the best introduction to large deformation material point method (MPM) simulations for geotechnical engineering. It provides the basic theory, discusses the different numerical features used in large deformation simulations, and presents a number of applications -- providing references, examples and guidance when using MPM for practical applications. MPM covers problems in static and dynamic situations within a common framework. It also opens new frontiers in geotechnical modelling and numerical analysis. It represents a powerful tool for exploring large deformation behaviours of soils, structures and fluids, and their interactions, such as internal and external erosion, and post-liquefaction analysis; for instance the post-failure liquid-like behaviours of landslides, penetration problems such as CPT and pile installation, and scouring problems related to underwater pipelines. In the recent years, MPM has developed enough for its practical use in industry, apart from the increasing interest in the academic world.

This practical guide provides the best introduction to large deformation material point method (MPM) simulations for geotechnical engineering. It provides the basic theory, discusses the different numerical features used in large deformation simulations, and presents a number of applications -- providing references, examples and guidance when using MPM for practical applications. MPM covers problems in static and dynamic situations within a common framework. It also opens new frontiers in geotechnical modelling and numerical analysis. It represents a powerful tool for exploring large deformation behaviours of soils, structures and fluids, and their interactions, such as internal and external erosion, and post-liquefaction analysis; for instance the post-failure liquid-like behaviours of landslides, penetration problems such as CPT and pile installation, and scouring problems related to underwater pipelines. In the recent years, MPM has developed enough for its practical use in industry, apart from the increasing interest in the academic world.

WINNER, 2021 HTI BOOK PRIZE Resist! This exhortation animates a remarkable range of theological reflection on consumer culture in the United States. And for many theologians, the source and summit of Christian cultural resistance is the Eucharist. In Commodified Communion, Antonio Eduardo Alonso calls into question this dominant mode of theological reflection on contemporary consumerism. Reducing the work of theology to resistance and centering Christian hope in a Eucharist that might better support it, he argues, undermines our ability to talk about the activity of God within a consumer culture. By reframing the question in terms of God's activity in and in spite of consumer culture, this book offers a lived theological account of consumer culture that recognizes not only its deceptions but also traces of truth in its broken promises and fallen hopes.

Adaptive agents and multi-agent systems is an emerging and exciting interdisciplinary area of research and development involving artificial intelligence, software engineering, and developmental biology, as well as cognitive and social science.

This book presents 17 revised and carefully reviewed papers taken from two workshops on the topic as well as 2 invited papers by leading researchers in the area. The papers deal with various aspects of machine learning, adaptation, and evolution in the context of agent systems and autonomous agents.

Adaptive Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is an emerging and exciting interdisciplinary area of research and development involving artificial intelligence, computer science, software engineering, and developmental biology, as well as cognitive and social science. This book surveys the state of the art in this emerging field by drawing together thoroughly selected reviewed papers from two related workshops; as well as papers by leading researchers specifically solicited for this book. The articles are organized into topical sections on - learning, cooperation, and communication - emergence and evolution in multi-agent systems - theoretical foundations of adaptive agents

WINNER, 2021 HTI BOOK PRIZE Resist! This exhortation animates a remarkable range of theological reflection on consumer culture in the United States. And for many theologians, the source and summit of Christian cultural resistance is the Eucharist. In Commodified Communion, Antonio Eduardo Alonso calls into question this dominant mode of theological reflection on contemporary consumerism. Reducing the work of theology to resistance and centering Christian hope in a Eucharist that might better support it, he argues, undermines our ability to talk about the activity of God within a consumer culture. By reframing the question in terms of God's activity in and in spite of consumer culture, this book offers a lived theological account of consumer culture that recognizes not only its deceptions but also traces of truth in its broken promises and fallen hopes.

Computational Neuroscience for Advancing Artificial Intelligence: Models, Methods and Applications captures the latest research in this area, providing a learning theorists with a mathematically sound framework within which evaluate their models. The significance of this book lies in its theoretical advances, which are grounded in an understanding of computational and biological learning. The approach taken moves the entire field closer to a watershed moment of learning models, through the interaction of computer science, psychology and neurobiology.

Este libro presenta estudios de caso e informes sobre el uso de aplicaciones y servicios web 2.0 y de redes sociales para incrementar el impacto de la investigacion academica en las politicas publicas en America Latina. Durante 2010 y 2011, Fundacion Comunica, con financiacion del Centro Internacional de Investigaciones para el Desarrollo (IDRC, Canada) y con el apoyo de la Asociacion para el Progreso de las Comunicaciones (APC), apoyo un conjunto de pequenos proyectos de investigacion que examinaron el uso de servicios de redes sociales para vincular investigacion y politicas publicas en America Latina. Los doce proyectos que recibieron apoyos fueron seleccionados, en su mayoria, a partir de 97 propuestas recibidas en respuesta a una convocatoria realizada en mayo de 2010. Se apoyo dos tipos de proyectos: (i) proyectos de investigacion-accion, que implementaron y evaluaron usos especificos de uno o mas servicios de redes sociales para vincular investigacion y politicas, o investigadores y elaboradores de politicas, y (ii) proyectos mas convencionales que evaluaron inciativas existentes implementadas por terceros. Campanas, consultas y comunicacion directa Si bien los experimentos y las evaluaciones llevadas a cabo al abrigo de Impacto 2.0 exhibieron una enorme diversidad en terminos de las herramientas en linea empleadas, los enfoques metodologicos, las estrategias de comunicacion, etc., surgieron algunos patrones y, en general, puede considerarse que los diversos proyectos adoptaron tres diferentes abordajes del uso de las redes sociales en linea para vincular investigacion y politicas: 1). Proyectos en los que los investigadores emplearon campanas en linea para que las conclusiones de sus investigaciones fueran mas visibles para un publico amplio, por lo general con la expectativa de que la adhesion del publico y la visibilidad aumentara la legitimidad y el apoyo a sus propuestas ante los hacedores de politicas. 2). Proyectos en los que los investigadores procuraron apoyar procesos de consulta publica en linea, colaborando con entidades de gobierno. 3). Proyectos que exploraron el uso de servicios web 2.0 y de redes sociales para abrir canales de comunicacion directa entre investigadores, hacedores de politicas y otros actores interesados, para comunicar sus investigaciones, colaborar en actividades especificas y/o con el objetivo mas o menos explicito de hacer que se conozcan mejor y afancen sus relaciones. En el caso de los proyectos de Impacto 2.0, los usos de la web 2.0 y las redes de sociabilidad en linea que mostraron ser mas exitosos para conectar investigacion y politicas fueron los que implicaron al publico en campanas y consultas. Menos exitosos fueron aquellos proyectos que se centraron en las relaciones directas entre investigadores, politicos y otros actores interesados.

Las condiciones en que se vive el embarazo adolescente esta en la agenda de prioriades de la Salud Publica. El presente estudio epidemiologico realizado en tres paises de America Latina: Guatemala, Republica Dominicana y Uruguay demuestra que las situaciones nutricionales mas vulnerables en recien nacidos y sus madres adolescentes no se asocian, como se pensaba, a la edad como variable biologica. La edad no aparece como un factor de riesgo, por el contrario, la presente investigacion orienta a que los peores resultados perinatales estan mas bien vinculados con las condiciones sociales en que se desarrolla el embarazo. El estudio se llevo a cabo en una muestra de 750 mujeres adolescentes y 750 adultas en tres momentos: al inicio de la gestacion, al momento del parto y a los cuatro meses postparto midiendo variables sociales, antropometricas, nutrientes en sangre y leche materna asi como resultados perinatales. Se realizo en el marco del Centro Latinoamericano de Perinatologia / Salud de la Mujer y Reproductiva (CLAP/SMR/OPS/OMS) y recibio fondos de la Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud."