Today s highly parameterized large-scale distributed computing systems may be composed of a large number of various components (computers, databases, etc) and must provide a wide range of services. The users of such systems, located at different (geographical or managerial) network cluster may have a limited access to the system s services and resources, and different, often conflicting, expectations and requirements. Moreover, the information and data processed in such dynamic environments may be incomplete, imprecise, fragmentary, and overloading. All of the above mentioned issues require some intelligent scalable methodologies for the management of the whole complex structure, which unfortunately may increase the energy consumption of such systems. An optimal energy utilization has reached to a point that many information technology (IT) managers and corporate executives are all up in arms to identify scalable solution that can reduce electricity consumption (so that the total cost of operation is minimized) of their respective large-scale computing systems and simultaneously improve upon or maintain the current throughput of the system.

This book in its eight chapters, addresses the fundamental issues related to the energy usage and the optimal low-cost system design in high performance green computing systems. The recent evolutionary and general metaheuristic-based solutions for energy optimization in data processing, scheduling, resource allocation, and communication in modern computational grids, could and network computing are presented along with several important conventional technologies to cover the hot topics from the fundamental theory of the green computing concept and to describe the basic architectures of systems. This book points out the potential application areas and provides detailed examples of application case studies in low-energy computational systems. The development trends and open research issues are also outlined. All of those technologies have formed the foundation for the green computing that we know of today."

This book introduces readers to environmental background investigation, pollution source intensity evaluation and risk assessment approaches used at three main types of groundwater-contaminated sites: municipal domestic waste landfills, hazardous waste landfills and oil-contaminated sites. In addition, typical contaminated sites throughout China are examined to demonstrate how these approaches can be applied for their investigation, assessment and restoration. By reading this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the restoration and management of typical groundwater-contaminated sites.

Multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs) and uncertain optimization problems (UOPs) which widely exist in real life are challengeable problems in the fields of decision making, system designing, and scheduling, amongst others. Decomposition exploits the ideas of aEURO~making things simpleaEURO (TM) and aEURO~divide and conqueraEURO (TM) to transform a complex problem into a series of simple ones with the aim of reducing the computational complexity. In order to tackle the abovementioned two types of complicated optimization problems, this book introduces the decomposition strategy and conducts a systematic study to perfect the usage of decomposition in the field of multi-objective optimization, and extend the usage of decomposition in the field of uncertain optimization.

Today's highly parameterized large-scale distributed computing systems may be composed of a large number of various components (computers, databases, etc) and must provide a wide range of services. The users of such systems, located at different (geographical or managerial) network cluster may have a limited access to the system's services and resources, and different, often conflicting, expectations and requirements. Moreover, the information and data processed in such dynamic environments may be incomplete, imprecise, fragmentary, and overloading. All of the above mentioned issues require some intelligent scalable methodologies for the management of the whole complex structure, which unfortunately may increase the energy consumption of such systems. An optimal energy utilization has reached to a point that many information technology (IT) managers and corporate executives are all up in arms to identify scalable solution that can reduce electricity consumption (so that the total cost of operation is minimized) of their respective large-scale computing systems and simultaneously improve upon or maintain the current throughput of the system. This book in its eight chapters, addresses the fundamental issues related to the energy usage and the optimal low-cost system design in high performance ``green computing'' systems. The recent evolutionary and general metaheuristic-based solutions for energy optimization in data processing, scheduling, resource allocation, and communication in modern computational grids, could and network computing are presented along with several important conventional technologies to cover the hot topics from the fundamental theory of the ''green computing'' concept and to describe the basic architectures of systems. This book points out the potential application areas and provides detailed examples of application case studies in low-energy computational systems. The development trends and open research issues are also outlined. All of those technologies have formed the foundation for the green computing that we know of today.

In architecture, a facade is the skin of a building. Eco-Friendly Building Facade demonstrates just how important this 'skin' is by illustrating its impact on energy efficiency. Sunlight, ventilation, low energy, noise minimisation, rainwater harvest, prefabricated components, flexibility, etc., all the environmental elements are taken into consideration in the design process and are illustrated here with sufficiently detailed images, drawings and articles.

Using easy-to-follow mathematics, this textbook provides comprehensive coverage of block codes and techniques for reliable communications and data storage. It covers major code designs and constructions from geometric, algebraic, and graph-theoretic points of view, decoding algorithms, error control additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and erasure, and dataless recovery. It simplifies a highly mathematical subject to a level that can be understood and applied with a minimum background in mathematics, provides step-by-step explanation of all covered topics, both fundamental and advanced, and includes plenty of practical illustrative examples to assist understanding. Numerous homework problems are included to strengthen student comprehension of new and abstract concepts, and a solutions manual is available online for instructors. Modern developments, including polar codes, are also covered. An essential textbook for senior undergraduates and graduates taking introductory coding courses, students taking advanced full-year graduate coding courses, and professionals working on coding for communications and data storage.

Supply chain management contends with structures and processes for delivering goods and services to customers. It addresses the core functions of connected businesses to meet downstream demand. This innovative volume provides an authoritative and timely guide to the overarching issues that are ubiquitous throughout the supply chain. In particular, it addresses emerging issues that are applicable across supply chains-such as data science, financial flows, human capital, internet technologies, risk management, cyber security, and supply networks. With chapters from an international roster of leading scholars in the field, the Oxford Handbook of Supply Chain Management is a necessary resource for all students and researchers of the field as well as for forward-thinking practitioners.

TAI CHI / MARTIAL ARTSTaoist adepts developed tai chi as both a martial art and a way to cultivate the physical body, energy body, and spirit body. Like all Taoist exercises, its main purpose is to form a connection to the basic energy that is the foundation of all life: "chi." Until the beginning of the twentieth century, tai chi was considered a secret practice that was passed down only within a closely knit structure of family and loyal disciples. Despite its widespread growth in popularity as a martial art and health exercise, many of its underlying internal practices remain unknown."The Inner Structure of Tai Chi" explores the deep, internal work necessary for the effective practice of tai chi. Designed for practitioners at every level, the book contains step-by-step illustrated instructions for mastering the 13 forms of early Yang-style tai chi, also known as Tai Chi Chi Kung. The authors demonstrate the relationship of the inner structure of tai chi to the absorption, transformation, and circulation of the three forces that animate all life--the Universal force, the Cosmic force, and the Earth force--revealing the principles and practices necessary to receive the full spectrum of physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits that tai chi can bring.A student of several Taoist masters, MANTAK CHIA founded the Universal Healing Tao System in 1979 and has taught tens of thousands of students from all over the world. He tours the United States annually, giving workshops and lectures. He is the director of the Tai Garden Integrative Medicine Health Spa and Resort training center and the Universal Healing Tao training center in northern Thailand and is the author of twenty-five books, including the bestselling The Multi-Orgasmic Man.JUAN LI is a senior Universal Tao instructor who began his studies with Mantak Chia in 1982 and now presents these teachings throughout Western Europr. He lives in Spain.