This book offers a valuable reference guide for researchers in distributed optimization and for senior undergraduate and graduate students alike. Focusing on the natures and functions of agents, communication networks and algorithms in the context of distributed optimization for networked control systems, this book introduces readers to the background of distributed optimization; recent developments in distributed algorithms for various types of underlying communication networks; the implementation of computation-efficient and communication-efficient strategies in the execution of distributed algorithms; and the frameworks of convergence analysis and performance evaluation. On this basis, the book then thoroughly studies 1) distributed constrained optimization and the random sleep scheme, from an agent perspective; 2) asynchronous broadcast-based algorithms, event-triggered communication, quantized communication, unbalanced directed networks, and time-varying networks, from a communication network perspective; and 3) accelerated algorithms and stochastic gradient algorithms, from an algorithm perspective. Finally, the applications of distributed optimization in large-scale statistical learning, wireless sensor networks, and for optimal energy management in smart grids are discussed.

As Chinese society becomes more open, and hopes rise that control by the Communist Party may become more relaxed, a great deal is expected from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the formation of civil society. This book, based on extensive original research including detailed interview research in over 40 Chinese NGOs, discusses the current position of NGOs within China. It argues that although all NGOs - both those originating as a result of government initiatives, and those which are popularly-organised - are dependent on the state, all enjoy a very large degree of autonomy. This autonomy arises in part because of the limited capacity of central government to control NGOs, and in part because of the fragmented and non-monolithic nature of the state, which enables individual bureaucratic patrons to protect particular NGOs, especially officially-organised ones, from the full impact of state control. The book also discusses the skill base of NGOs, showing that this is somewhat limited, and argues that, contrary to current hopes that NGOs and thereby civil society may flourish, the lack of state control is already leading to an "uncivil society" where rules do not exist or are ignored, and where organisations which are supposed to work for the public interest are being used to serve illegitimate private interests instead.

As Chinese society becomes more open, and hopes rise that control by the Communist Party may become more relaxed, a great deal is expected from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the formation of civil society. This book, based on extensive original research including detailed interview research in over 40 Chinese NGOs, discusses the current position of NGOs within China. It argues that although all NGOs - both those originating as a result of government initiatives, and those which are popularly-organised - are dependent on the state, all enjoy a very large degree of autonomy. This autonomy arises in part because of the limited capacity of central government to control NGOs, and in part because of the fragmented and non-monolithic nature of the state, which enables individual bureaucratic patrons to protect particular NGOs, especially officially-organised ones, from the full impact of state control. The book also discusses the skill base of NGOs, showing that this is somewhat limited, and argues that, contrary to current hopes that NGOs and thereby civil society may flourish, the lack of state control is already leading to an "uncivil society" where rules do not exist or are ignored, and where organisations which are supposed to work for the public interest are being used to serve illegitimate private interests instead.

Analysis of large deformation, rigid body movement and strain or stress for discontinuous materials is often required for project designs and plans in the fields of engineering and disaster prevention. Many numerical simulation and analysis methods have been developed for the requirement from science and technology people since 1970s. Among them, Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA), Numerical Manifold Method (NMM), Key Block Theory (KB), Distinct/Discrete Element Methods (DEM), Moving Particles Semi-implicit Method (MPS) and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method (SPH) are typical effective methods and have drawn more and more attention of the researchers in many different fields. The discrete analysis is more natural than continuum analysis to handle geologic materials which we use as engineering materials. Advancement of computers and introduction of unique ideas helped us to develop many useful new numerical methods as listed above. Frontiers of Discontinuous Numerical Methods and Practical Simulations in Engineering and Disaster Prevention contains 14 keynote papers, 54 full papers and 4 extended abstracts presented at the 11th International Conference on Analysis of Discontinuous Deformation (ICADD-11, Fukuoka, Japan, 27-29 August 2013). The contributions cover the latest advances in all aspects of discontinuous numerical methods, from theory to practice, including new ideas and the latest developments. The main schemes are on DDA, NMM and KB following the tradition of the conference series. Meanwhile, DEM, MPS, SPH, Meshless Methods and some other numerical methods are also included. The book is a must-have for those academics and professionals interested in the state-of-the-art in technology and numerical methods related to the above mentioned methods.

This book offers a valuable reference guide for researchers in distributed optimization and for senior undergraduate and graduate students alike. Focusing on the natures and functions of agents, communication networks and algorithms in the context of distributed optimization for networked control systems, this book introduces readers to the background of distributed optimization; recent developments in distributed algorithms for various types of underlying communication networks; the implementation of computation-efficient and communication-efficient strategies in the execution of distributed algorithms; and the frameworks of convergence analysis and performance evaluation. On this basis, the book then thoroughly studies 1) distributed constrained optimization and the random sleep scheme, from an agent perspective; 2) asynchronous broadcast-based algorithms, event-triggered communication, quantized communication, unbalanced directed networks, and time-varying networks, from a communication network perspective; and 3) accelerated algorithms and stochastic gradient algorithms, from an algorithm perspective. Finally, the applications of distributed optimization in large-scale statistical learning, wireless sensor networks, and for optimal energy management in smart grids are discussed.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has been experiencing a dramatically rapid economic development. What is the real life of Chinese people like under China's steady GDP fast growth? How rich are the rich and how poor are the poor? This book provides first-hand data on standards of living in Chinese households, which may help to answer the above questions. The Survey and Research Center for China Household Finance conducted the first and only nationally representative survey on household finance in China in 2011. The China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) collected the micro-level information of Chinese households' demographics, housing and financial assets, debt and credit constraints, income and expenditures, social welfare and insurance, intergenerational transfer payments, employment and payment habits. Readers will receive a vivid picture of wealth disparity, real estate market developments, social welfare status, household financial behaviors and other economic issues in today's China. The China Household Finance Survey has a guiding significance for a realistic strategy adjustment and is also a major breakthrough in the subject's development at universities. Li Daokui, Professor at Tsinghua University. The China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) is an in-house interview survey with a large influence in China. The CHFS's sample includes both urban and rural households, which is very important to the study of the overall household finance of China. Hongbin Li, Economist, Professor of Tsinghua University. Research Report of China Household Finance Survey*2012 bridges a major gap in the household finance field in China, and will have far-reaching academic and policy-making implications. Liu Yuzhen, Professor at Peking University.

Second-Order Consensus of Continuous-Time Multi-Agent Systems focuses on the characteristics and features of second-order agents, communication networks, and control protocols/algorithms in continuous consensus of multi-agent systems. The book provides readers with background on consensus control of multi-agent systems and introduces the intrinsic characteristics of second-order agents' behavior, including the development of continuous control protocols/algorithms over various types of underlying communication networks, as well as the implementation of computation- and communication-efficient strategies in the execution of protocols/algorithms. The book's authors also provide coverage of the frameworks of stability analysis, algebraic criteria and performance evaluation. On this basis, the book provides an in-depth study of intrinsic nonlinear dynamics from agents' perspective, coverage of unbalanced directed topology, random switching topology, event-triggered communication, and random link failure, from a communication networks' perspective, as well as leader-following control, finite-time control, and global consensus control, from a protocols/algorithms' perspective. Finally, simulation results including practical application examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and the practicability of the control protocols and algorithms proposed in this book.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has been experiencing a dramatically rapid economic development. What is the real life of Chinese people like under China s steady GDP fast growth? How rich are the rich and how poor are the poor? This book provides first-hand data on standards of living in Chinese households, which may help to answer the above questions.The Survey and Research Center for China Household Finance conducted the first and only nationally representative survey on household finance in China in 2011. The China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) collected the micro-level information of Chinese households demographics, housing and financial assets, debt and credit constraints, income and expenditures, social welfare and insurance, intergenerational transfer payments, employment and payment habits.Readers will receive a vivid picture of wealth disparity, real estate market developments, social welfare status, household financial behaviors and other economic issues in today s China.

"The China Household Finance Survey has a guiding significance for a realistic strategy adjustment and is also a major breakthrough in the subject s development at universities.
"Li Daokui, Professor at Tsinghua University.

The China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) is an in-house interview survey with a large influence in China. The CHFS's sample includes both urban and rural households, which is very important to the study of the overall household finance of China. Hongbin Li, Economist, Professor of Tsinghua University.

"Research Report of China Household Finance Survey 2012 bridges a major gap in the household finance field in China, and will have far-reaching academic and policy-making implications.
"Liu Yuzhen, Professor at Peking University.

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Social Network Analysis: Methods and Examples prepares social science students to conduct their own social network analysis (SNA) by covering basic methodological tools along with illustrative examples from various fields. This innovative book takes a conceptual rather than a mathematical approach as it discusses the connection between what SNA methods have to offer and how those methods are used in research design, data collection, and analysis. Four substantive applications chapters provide examples from politics, work and organizations, mental and physical health, and crime and terrorism studies.