This monograph presents the current status of a rapidly developing part of several complex variables, motivated by the applicability of effective results to algebraic geometry and differential geometry. Special emphasis is put on the new precise results on the L(2) extension of holomorphic functions in the past 5 years.In Chapter 1, the classical questions of several complex variables motivating the development of this field are reviewed after necessary preparations from the basic notions of those variables and of complex manifolds such as holomorphic functions, pseudoconvexity, differential forms, and cohomology. In Chapter 2, the L(2) method of solving the d-bar equation is presented emphasizing its differential geometric aspect. In Chapter 3, a refinement of the Oka-Cartan theory is given by this method. The L(2) extension theorem with an optimal constant is included, obtained recently by Z. Blocki and separately by Q.-A. Guan and X.-Y. Zhou. In Chapter 4, various results on the Bergman kernel are presented, including recent works of Maitani-Yamaguchi, Berndtsson, Guan-Zhou, and Berndtsson-Lempert. Most of these results are obtained by the L(2) method. In the last chapter, rather specific results are discussed on the existence and classification of certain holomorphic foliations and Levi flat hypersurfaces as their stables sets. These are also applications of the L(2) method obtained during the past 15 years.

Solar Cells and Energy Materials takes an in-depth look at the basics behind energy, solar energy as well as future and alternative energy materials. The author presents insights into the current state-of-the-art of solar cells, including their basic science, inorganic, organic and Perovskite-type cells. The author also gives an outlook into next generation energy materials and sources. The focus of this book is not only the presentation of available and developing energy materials, but their thorough examination and characterization. In addition to solar cell technology and the promising application of nanostructures like quantum dots, the author discusses the science and potential of nuclear fusion materials and other energy materials like hydrogen storage materials, BN nanomaterials, alternative fuel cells and SIC FET.

At the start of the twenty-first century, the Japanese financial system is undergoing a major transformation. This process is spurred by a sense of crisis. Dominated by large institutions, the Japanese banking system has suffered from serious problems with non-performing loans since the early 1990s, when the Japanese stock market and urban real estate market both crashed. Delays in responding to these twin asset bubbles, by both regulatory authorities and the banks themselves, made matters worse and led to a banking crisis in late 1997 and early 1998. Not anticipating this setback, in late 1996 the Japanese government inaugurated its Big Bang of comprehensive financial deregulation designed to complete the process of creating free, fair, and open financial markets'. Beginning in late 1998 and early 1999 the government finally embarked on a major rehabilitation of the Japanese banking system, including making available some Yen 60 trillion (approximately USD 500 billion) of government funds to recapitalize fifteen major banks, adequately fund the deposit insurance program, and write off the bad loans of nationalized or bankrupted banks. One result of this reform process is that the Ministry of Finance (MOF), which dominated Japanese financial system policy for most of the post-war period, has been stripped of most of its former regulatory powers. The purpose of this book is to describe, analyze, and evaluate the process that is transforming the Japanese financial system. The chapters address various issues relating to the transition of the Japanese financial system from a bank-centered and relationship-based system to a competitive market-based system. Questions taken up include: Why did Japanese banks get into such serious trouble? Why has the MOF lost its immense power? How will the Big Bang's financial deregulation further change the Japanese financial system, including the huge government financial institutions and postal savings system? What are some of the broader implications of this transition? The book is divided into three parts: Part I considers the origins of Japan's banking crisis; Part II focuses on five particularly important areas of major actual and potential changes; Part III addresses the effects of the Big Bang, including its potential systemic externalities. Taken together, this book offers an unusually up-to-date, comprehensive and thorough appraisal and evaluation of the profound changes occurring in Japan's financial system.

Since its launch in 1991, the Yohkoh satellite has been returning unprecedented observations of solar flares and the dynamic solar corona. This book is a collection of papers presented at a meeting held in: Yoyogi, Tokyo, on the occasion of Yohkoh's fifth anniversary of operation. The papers constitute a summary of observations and results over the five years, including contributions based on data from Yohkoh's hard and soft X-ray telescopes and its spectrometer experiments. The five years of data, covering approximately one-half of a solar cycle, reveal a fresh perspective on solar science, with a new picture of solar flares and the active Sun emerging. Also, for the first time there are extensive results from Yohkoh observations of the Sun during the solar minimum period. This wide-ranging volume will be of interest to workers in solar physics and X-ray astronomy. It also contains material appropriate for supplemental reading for graduate students in solar physics.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in modern chemical research. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science.The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience.Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors.Readership: research chemists at universities or in industry, graduate students

This book provides state-of-the-art and interdisciplinary topics on solving matrix eigenvalue problems, particularly by using recent petascale and upcoming post-petascale supercomputers. It gathers selected topics presented at the International Workshops on Eigenvalue Problems: Algorithms; Software and Applications, in Petascale Computing (EPASA2014 and EPASA2015), which brought together leading researchers working on the numerical solution of matrix eigenvalue problems to discuss and exchange ideas - and in so doing helped to create a community for researchers in eigenvalue problems. The topics presented in the book, including novel numerical algorithms, high-performance implementation techniques, software developments and sample applications, will contribute to various fields that involve solving large-scale eigenvalue problems.

Arobotmustperceivethethree-dimensionalworldifitistobeeffective there. Yet recovering 3-D information from projected images is difficult, and still remains thesubjectofbasic research. Alternatively, onecan use sensorsthatcanprovidethree-dimensionalrangeinformationdirectly. The technique ofprojecting light-stripesstartedto be used in industrialobject recognition systems asearly asthe 1970s, andtime-of-flight laser-scanning range finders became available for outdoor mobile robotnavigation in the mid-eighties. Once range data are obtained, a vision system must still describe the scene in terms of 3-D primitives such as edges, surfaces, and volumes, and recognize objeCts of interest. Today, the art of sensing, extractingfeatures, and recognizing objectsbymeans ofthree-dimensional rangedataisoneofthemostexcitingresearchareasincomputervision. Three-Dimensional Machine Vision is a collection of papers dealing withthree-dimensionalrangedata. Theauthorsarepioneeringresearchers: some are founders and others are bringingnew excitements in thefield. I have tried to select milestone papers, and my goalhas beento make this bookareferenceworkforresearchersinthree-dimensionalvision. The book is organized into four parts: 3-D Sensors, 3-D Feature Extractions, ObjectRecognitionAlgorithms, andSystemsandApplications. Part I includes four papers which describe the development of unique, capable 3-D range sensors, as well as discussions of optical, geometrical, electronic, and computational issues. Mundy and Porter describe asensor systembasedonstructuredilluminationforinspectingmetalliccastings. In order to achieve high-speed data acquisition, it uses multiple lightstripes withwavelength multiplexing. Case, Jalkio, andKim alsopresentamulti stripe system and discuss various design issues in range sensing by triangulation. ThenumericalstereocameradevelopedbyAltschuler, Bae, Altschuler, Dijak, Tamburino, and Woolford projects space-coded grid patterns which are generated by an electro-optical programmable spatial viii PREFACE light modulator. Kanade and Fuhrman present a proximity sensor using multipleLEDswhich areconically arranged. Itcan measurebothdistance andorientationofanobject'ssurface."

Regional development problems in China have been focused on by many analysts and policy makers. From the viewpoint of regional development policy, it is highly important to consider the spatial interactions among different regions. Most of the approaches have focused on certain specific regions, without taking into account interregional interdependency. The aim of this book is to analyze regional development in China from the viewpoint of spatial interaction by using inter-regional input-output model for China.

Robotic technology offers two potential benefits for future space exploration. One benefit is minimizing the risk that astronauts face. The other benefit is increasing their productivity. Realizing the benefits of robotic technology in space will require solving several problems which are unique and now becoming active research topics. One of the most important research areas is dynamics, control, motion and planning for space robots by considering the dynamic interaction between the robot and the base (space station, space shuttle, or satellite). Any inefficiency in the planning and control can considerably risk by success of the space mission. Space Robotics: Dynamics and Control presents a collection of papers concerning fundamental problems in dynamics and control of space robots, focussing on issues relevant to dynamic base/robot interaction. The authors are all pioneers in theoretical analysis and experimental systems development of space robot technology. The chapters are organized within three problem areas: dynamics problems, nonholonomic nature problems, and control problems. This collection provides a solid reference for researchers in robotics, mechanics, control, and astronautical science.

This breakthrough book is the first to examine the rotational effects in earthquakes, a revolutionary concept in seismology. Existing models do no yet explain the significant rotational and twisting motions that occur during an earthquake and cause the failure of structures. The rotation and twist effects are investigated and described, and their consequences for designing tall buildings and other important structures are presented. This book will change the way the world views earthquakes.

This book is aimed at researchers who are working in a field of quasicrystals to provide a reference to recent developments and ideas in the field and also at graduate students, who intend to study quasicrystals, to provide introduction of ideas. Topics in this book cover an entire field of quasicrystals, both experimental and theoretical, including new developments: the state of the art in quasicrystallography, new families of quasicrystals, phasons in aperiodic solids, ab initio studies on stability mechanism, quantum transport phenomena, elastic/plastic properties and surface of quasicrystals.
. Comprehensive reviews by experts in the field
. Complete reference of original papers and new topics
. Intelligible introduction of quasicrystals by experts

Due to the progress in VLSI technology, integrated circuit chips are now available that allow video/image signal processing to be performed with a single VLSI chip or small sets of VLSI chips. Recent standardization on bandwidth compression schemes for still images (JPEG) and motion pictures (H.261, R723, MPEG) also encourage the development of VLSI video/image processors for cost-effective solutions. Furthermore, recent trends suggest that the standardization on HDTB bandwidth compression for broadcasting and storage purposes is just around the corner. In terms of device technology, however, the progress achieved in increasing speed is not as high as that achieved by integration. The development of high speed systems is due to architectural effort, rather than device technology. This is why high speed architectures, such as those for special wired logic realization and for multi-processors are of great interest to VLSI system designers. VLSI Video/Image Signal Processing is an edited volume of original research comprising invited contributions by leading researchers.

Multimodal Video Characterization and Summarization is a valuable research tool for both professionals and academicians working in the video field. This book describes the methodology for using multimodal audio, image, and text technology to characterize video content. This new and groundbreaking science has led to many advances in video understanding, such as the development of a video summary. Applications and methodology for creating video summaries are described, as well as user-studies for evaluation and testing.

This is the first Open Access book introducing more than 20 of Japan's leading innovative entrepreneurs from the 17th century to the present. The author outlines the innovative business models created by entrepreneurs including SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, Fast Retailing (Uniqlo)'s Yanai Tadashi, Honda's Soichiro Honda, Sony's Akio Morita, Panasonic's Konosuke Matsushita, and Toyota's Kiichiro Toyoda, as well as their predecessors including Takatoshi Mitsui of Mitsui Zaibatsu, Shibusawa Eiichi of Daiichi Bank. While introducing the innovators, the author also raises three broader questions: 1. Why did Japan industrialize earlier than any other country outside Europe and the United States? 2. Why was Japan able to realize unsurpassed economic growth between the 1910s and the 1980s? 3. Why has Japan's economy stagnated for more than 30 years since the 1990s? Drawing upon analytical concepts including Schumpeter's breakthrough innovation, Kirzner's incremental innovation, and Christensen's disruptive innovation, the author contends that Japan's successes were based on unique and systematic breakthrough innovation and an accumulation of incremental innovation, while it later fell victim to a combination of breakthrough innovation from advanced countries and disruptive innovation by developing nations.

The First International Congress of the International Society for Analysis, its Applications and Computations (ISAAC'97) was held at the University of Delaware from 3 to 7 June 1997. As specified in the invitation of the President Professor Robert P. Gilbert of the ISAAC, we organized the session on Reproducing Kerneis and Their Applications. In our session, we presented 24 engaging talks on topics of current interest to the research community. As suggested and organized by Professor Gilbert, we hereby publish its Proceedings. Rather than restricting the papers to Congress participants, we asked the Ieading mathematicians in the field of the theory of reproducing kern eIs to submit papers. However, due to time restrietions and a compulsion to limit the Proceedings a reasonable size, we were unable to obtain a comprehensive treatment of the theory of reproducing kernels. Nevertheless, we hope this Proceedings of the First International Conference on reproducing kerneis will become a significant reference volume. Indeed, we believe that the theory of reproducing kernels will stand out as a fundamental and beautiful contribution in mathematical sciences with a broad array of applications to other areas of mathematics and science. We would like to thank Professor Robert Gilbert for his substantial contri bu tions to the Congress and to our Proceedings. We also express our sincere thanks to the staff of the University of Delaware for their manifold cooperation in organizing the Congress."

The basics of complex functions will be explained for students of Engineering Sciences, with the aim of being able to use 'complex function theory' as a tool. The goal is not rigor as mathematics, but ease of use that may suit the application. Explanations are based on concrete examples rather than abstract general theory. The book starts from very beginning of complex numbers, and extends theory of Introduction to Elliptic Function and Hypergeometric Differential Equations.

The basics of complex functions will be explained for students of Engineering Sciences, with the aim of being able to use 'complex function theory' as a tool. The goal is not rigor as mathematics, but ease of use that may suit the application. Explanations are based on concrete examples rather than abstract general theory. The book starts from very beginning of complex numbers, and extends theory of Introduction to Elliptic Function and Hypergeometric Differential Equations.

This research project examines the relationships between HR policies, management accounting and organisational performance on the basis of international case studies and interviews across a range of industries from building materials to software development.

* Explores the relationship between different HR policies and organisational performance and how management accountants can establish links between the two;

* The first to extend existing research into Japanese companies to give a different perspective and another point of comparison;

* Case study results are tested in the telephone survey for better accuracy and insight

* Original, cutting-edge research funded by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

* Unique international perspective: extends existing research into Japanese companies to give a different perspective and another point of comparison

* Results of six extensive case studies and 100 telephone interviews

Taking readers from the research laboratory to the bedside, this Second Edition compiles essential information on the pharmacodynamics of all major classes of the antimicrobial armamentarium including penicillins, cephalosposorins, cephamycins, carbapenems, monobactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, macrolides, antifungals, antivirals, and emerging agents currently in development. Written by experienced professionals in the field, this guide uses an abundance of examples to depict methods to apply pharmacodynamic concepts to everyday clinical practice.

Taking readers from the research laboratory to the bedside, this Second Edition compiles essential information on the pharmacodynamics of all major classes of the antimicrobial armamentarium including penicillins, cephalosposorins, cephamycins, carbapenems, monobactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, macrolides, antifungals, antivirals, and emerging agents currently in development. Written by experienced professionals in the field, this guide uses an abundance of examples to depict methods to apply pharmacodynamic concepts to everyday clinical practice.