springer netherlands feb 2011 (51 results)

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The phenomenon of superconductivity - after its discovery in metals such as mercury, lead, zinc, etc. by Kamerlingh-Onnes in 19]] - has attracted many scientists. Superconductivity was described in a very satisfactory manner by the model proposed by Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer, and by the extensions proposed by Abrikosov, Gorkov and Eliashberg. Relations were established between superconductivity and the fundamental properties of solids, resulting in a possible upper limit of the critical temperature at about 23 K. The breakthrough that revolutionized the field was made in 1986 by Bednorz and Muller with the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in layered copper-oxide perovskites. Today the record in transition temperature is 133 K for a Hg based cuprate system. The last decade has not only seen a revolution in the size of the critical temperature, but also in the myriads of research groups that entered the field. In addition, high-temperature superconductivity became a real interdisciplinary topic and brought together physicists, chemists and materials scientists who started to investigate the new compounds with almost all the available experimental techniques and theoretical methods. As a consequence we have witnessed an avalanche of publications which has never occurred in any field of science so far and which makes it difficult for the individual to be thoroughly informed about the relevant results and trends. Neutron scattering has outstanding properties in the elucidation of the basic properties of high-temperature superconductors. 424 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume presents key contributions of the First National Conference on Invasive Alien Species, held in Spain in 2003. Topics included cut across all aspects of non-native species invasions. Experts from universities, public administration, NGOs and environmental enterprises and authorities on biological invasions from other countries participated in the conference, which aimed to go beyond national boundaries to tackle the complex biological issues of invasive alien species. 156 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Business ethics as a discipline leans on cases but flourishes by thorough analysis and reflection. The present volume offers both. After three introductory chapters into business ethics eight recent European cases, mainly stemming from The Netherlands and Belgium and all of them with a clear moral impact, are extensively described and analysed. Among them are the Lernout and Hauspie speech technology disaster, Heineken's struggle with the promotion girls selling beer in Cambodia, cartels in the Dutch construction industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the Aids crisis, and Unilever allegedly making use of child labour in the cotton industry in India. Each case is followed by two expert comments, from the fields of general ethics, but also of law, economics, management and organisation theory, sociology and social psychology. Cases and comments together offer an unique entrance in varieties of moral reasoning and in the personal and institutional dimensions to be taken into account when facing a corporate case saturated with moral ambiguities. This book will be of interest to researchers as well as teachers of undergraduate and graduate courses in Business Ethics, Business in Society, Management and Organisation Theory and Strategic Management. It will also be useful for business practitioners eager to find moral guidance in their specific field. 316 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -There are an estimated forty-eight million Latinas/os living in the United States, roughly sixteen percent of the population. Not only are they the largest minority group in the country but also the youngest: one out of five children is Latina/o. The rise in the Latina/o population has caused for panic in some areas of the country, resulting in hostile and sometimes violent racism and xenophobia, and yet, much of that hatred is fueled not on facts but rather on myths about immigration.To date, most studies on immigration have been data driven, focusing on migrating groups or policy analyses. Latina/o Hope is different. It incorporates salient theories on migration as it moves toward a new theorizing, one that views immigration from the immigrant's perspective. Thus, it integrates research into the depiction of various slices of immigrant experience-the young women disappearing in the city of Juarez, the various students at various stages of their educational journeys, the young children in need of ESL programs, the ethnically-mixed immigrants, the undocumented workers, and others. Latina/o Hope discusses the impact of neoliberal policies and global capitalization on the daily lives of Latina/o immigrants, serving as an inspiration for dialogue, praxis and imagination to love and serve one another. 128 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book starts with the invention of the wheel nearly 5000 years ago, and via Archimedes, Aristotle and Hero describes the first practical applications such as water wheels and grinding wheels, pushing on to more rigorous scientific research by inquiring minds such as Leonardo da Vinci and Copernicus in later ages. Newton and Leibniz followed, and beam structures received maximum attention three centuries ago. As focus shifts and related disciplines such as mathematics and physics also develop, slowly turbomachines and rotor and blade dynamics as we know the subject now take shape.While the book traces the events leading to Laval and Parsons Turbines, the emphasis is on rotor and blade dynamics aspects that pushed these turbines to their limits in the last century. The tabular and graphical methods developed in the pre-computer era have taken different form in the last fifty years through finite element methods. The methods evolved in the last century are discussed in detail to help modern day designers and researchers.This book will be useful to young researchers and engineers in industry and educational institutions engaged in rotor and blade dynamics work in understanding the past and the present developments and what is expected in future. Faculty and industry engineers can benefit from this broad perspective history in formulating their developmental plans. 380 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The book contains 11 chapters written by relevant scientists in the field of particle-based methods and their applications in engineering and applied sciences. The chapters cover most particle-based techniques used in practice including the discrete element method, the smooth particle hydrodynamic method and the particle finite element method. The book will be of interest to researchers and engineers interested in the fundamentals of particle-based methods and their applications. This book contains 11 chapters written by relevant scientists in the field of particle-based methods and their applications in engineering and applied sciences. The chapters cover most particle-based techniques used in practice including the discrete element method, the smooth particle hydrodynamic method and the particle finite element method. The book will be of interest to researchers and engineers interested in the fundamentals of particle-based methods and their applications. 280 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book is intended to fill a knowledge gap in the study of contemporary high-rise living. While there has been much documentation on the engineering and technological aspects of tall buildings, relatively little has been written about the social and livability of high-rise. Much less is written about Asian cities even though Asia is the current hotbed of high-rise development.Even though traditional discourse of high-rise housing is not always positive, new forces are redefining its place in 21st century urbanity. Many cities around the world are reembracing high-rise in urban agenda under current narrative of sustainable development. High-rise is fast becoming a priority area in international research agenda. The quest is for livable and sustainable high-rise development. Against the background of current trends--globalization, urbanization, mixed-use development, and new-built taller buildings in inner city areas in both developed and developing countries, this book examines the software: design, economics, estate management, legal and property rights, physical environment, planning, community development, and social dimensions of high-rise living. Analysis is with the widely acclaimed successful high-rise public housing in Hong Kong and Singapore to understand the advantages and worries of high-rise living, and to distill the key points and lessons in the making of a 'good' highrise living environment. Hong Kong and Singapore have been constructing high-rise for more than four decades each. The majority of their population has moved to live in high-rise, selecting to live high-rise, and registering consistently high residential satisfaction. The height of apartment buildings in both cities continues to rise. The tallest is anticipated to be 70-storey. It is the contention of this book that contrary to earlier common negative discourses on public high-rise living, the high-rise environment may yet offer urban residents a satisfying dwelling experience. Leading housing academics, researchers and practitioners in the two cities have contributed to this book. This book presents a timely contribution to our understanding of a widening urban phenomenon that will affect a growing number of the world's population. 204 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Severely increasing anthropic pressure on natural water bodies sets a societal context where it is urgent to better understand the role of microbial biodiversity in aquatic ecosystem dynamics and resilience to perturbations. Micro-organisms regulate the chemical composition of the biosphere, influence climates, recycle nutrients, and decompose pollutants. The diversity of microbial communities and their ecological and metabolic functions are being explored in a variety of natural ecosystems, including extreme environments. Because of technical constraints, microbiologists have focused their efforts mainly on prokaryotes. In the environment, and particularly in aquatic ecosystems, the diversity and dynamics of microbial eukaryotes are still poorly understood. Among the new paradigms and challenges constantly emerging in aquatic sciences, probing the unexplored reservoir of novel species , genes, and metabolic pathways from microbial eukaryotes offers, perhaps, the most exciting research opportunity for the future. These were discussed during the topical session 11 of the ASLO 2009 aquatic sciences meeting held at Nice, France, through a combination of invited and selected talks and posters. This book brings together part of these talks and presents contributions on disregarded microbial eukaryote diversity and its ecological potential in aquatic ecosystems. We hope that this collection of papers will greatly expand our knowledge of the roles of eukaryotic microbes in aquatic ecosystems and will serve as a basis for significant research in the future. We believe that the decade to come promises exciting ecology on the interactions between microbial diversity, hidden genes and functions, and food web dynamics in aquatic systems. 124 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume considers various methods for constructing cubature and quadrature formulas of arbitrary degree. These formulas are intended to approximate the calculation of multiple and conventional integrals over a bounded domain of integration. The latter is assumed to have a piecewise-smooth boundary and to be arbitrary in other aspects. Particular emphasis is placed on invariant cubature formulas and those for a cube, a simplex, and other polyhedra. Here, the techniques of functional analysis and partial differential equations are applied to the classical problem of numerical integration, to establish many important and deep analytical properties of cubature formulas. The prerequisites of the theory of many-dimensional discrete function spaces and the theory of finite differences are concisely presented. Special attention is paid to constructing and studying the optimal cubature formulas in Sobolev spaces. As an asymptotically optimal sequence of cubature formulas, a many-dimensional abstraction of the Gregory quadrature is indicated. Audience: This book is intended for researchers having a basic knowledge of functional analysis who are interested in the applications of modern theoretical methods to numerical mathematics. 444 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book tells a story of a large lake affected by agricultural and urban activities that have led to severe eutrophication problems with nuisance blue-green algal blooms. Although it is a case study of Lake Ringsjön (southern Sweden), the background, problems and measures are applicable to many lakes throughout the world. From a limnological point of view, the Lake Ringsjön story began more than 100 years ago, and during the last 20 years the sampling program has been intense, providing a unique data set on how a lake responds to human activities. However, the Lake Ringsjön story is not only a case study, but also a historical record of the development of ecological theory and its application. Hence, the lake has been subject both to an extensive nutrient reduction programme and a biomanipulation by means of fish reduction. Here we aim at combining the unique limnological data set with the eutrophication process, the nutrient reduction programme and the biomanipulation in order to apply our empirical knowledge to future lake management measures. 172 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Although the human population growth rate of the world has been declining since peaking in the early 1960s, the populations of individual countries are changing at different rates. Population dynamics at national level are partly determined by levels of fertility and mortality, but the impact of international migration is playing an increasingly important role. Moreover, internal migration plays a major part in population change at the sub-national level. This fourth volume in the series 'Understanding Population Trends and Processes' is a celebration of the work of Professor Philip Rees. It contains chapters by contributors who have collaborated with Phil Rees on research or consultancy projects or as postgraduate students. Several chapters demonstrate the technical nature of population projection modelling and simulation methods while others illustrate issues relating to data availability and estimation. This book demonstrates the application of theoretical and modelling methods and addresses key issues relating to contemporary demographic patterns and trends. 248 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Population ageing has been going on for many decades, but population shrinking is a rather new phenomenon. The population of Germany, as in many other countries, has passed a plateau and is currently shrinking. Demographic change is a challenge for infrastructure planning due to the longevity of infrastructure capital and the need to match supply and demand in order to ensure cost-efficiency. This book summarises the findings of the INFRADEM project team, a multidisciplinary research group that worked together to estimate the effects of demographic change on infrastructure demand.Economists, engineers and geographers present studies from top-down and bottom-up perspectives, focusing on Germany and two selected regions: Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The contributors employed a broad range of methods, including an overlapping-generations model for Germany, regional input-output models, an energy systems model, and a spatial model of the transportation infrastructure of the selected regions. 272 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The primary intent of this volume is to give the English reader access to all the philosophical texts published by Husserl between the appearance of his first book, Philosophie der Arithmetik, and that of his second book, Logische Untersuchungen- roughly, from 1890 through 1901. Along with these texts we have included a number of unpublished manuscripts from the same period and dealing with the same or closely related topics. A few of the texts here translated (the review of Pahigyi, the five 'report' articles of 1903-1904, the 'notes' in Lalande's Vocabulaire, and the brief discussion. article on Marty of 1910) obviously fall outside this time period, so far as their publication dates are concerned; but in content they seem clearly confined to it. The final piece translated, a set of personal notes that date from 1906 through 1908, provides insight into how Husserl experienced his early labors and their results, and into how he saw their relation to work before him: a phenomenological critique of reason in all of its forms. Thus the texts here translated - which obviously are to be read in conjunction with his first two books - cover the progression of Husserl's Problematik from the relatively narrow one of clarifying the epistemic structure of general arithmetic, to the all-encompassing one of establishing in principle, through phenomenological research, the line between legitimate and illegitimate claims to know or to be rational, regardless of the domain concerned. 556 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The 150th anniversary of the discovery of the famous Neanderthal fossils gave reason for an international and interdisciplinary symposium in Bonn/Germany. The present book arose from this congress and focuses on multiple aspects of archaeological investigation on Neanderthal lifeways. In-depth studies of top-ranking scientists provide a detailed and comprehensive survey of contemporary research on our Pleistocene relatives. Examinations and debates are embedded in a variety of regions and time frames. Chronology, subsistence, land use, and cultural adaptations among late Neanderthals form the major trajectories of the book. The wide range of approaches involved, leads to an increasing understanding of the facets of and the variability of Neanderthal behavioural patterns. The present volume is complemented by a paleontologically orientated publication of the same congress (edited by Gerd-Christian Weniger and Silvana Condemi). 312 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book focuses on sediments as a pollutant in natural freshwater and marine habitats, and as a vector for the transfer of chemicals such as nutrients and contaminants. Sediment-water research is carried out all over the world within a variety of disciplines. The selected papers cover three main topics relating to assessment and/or restoration of disturbed watersheds, sediment-water linkages in terrestrial and aquatic environments and evaluation of sediment and ecological changes in marine and freshwater habitats. Innovative research in both developed and less developed countries is included. Both fundamental research, insight into applied research and system management are covered. The volume will also appeal to readers involved in sediment geochemistry and dynamics, aquatic habitats, water quality, aquatic ecology, river morphology, restoration techniques and catchment management. 336 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book brings together reviews from leading international authorities on the developments in the study of dark matter and dark energy, as seen from both their cosmological and particle physics side. Studying the physical and astrophysical properties of the dark components of our Universe is a crucial step towards the ultimate goal of unveiling their nature. The work developed from a doctoral school sponsored by the Italian Society of General Relativity and Gravitation.The book starts with a concise introduction to the standard cosmological model, as well as with a presentation of the theory of linear perturbations around a homogeneous and isotropic background. It covers the particle physics and cosmological aspects of dark matter and (dynamical) dark energy, including a discussion of how modified theories of gravity could provide a possible candidate for dark energy. A detailed presentation is also given of the possible ways of testing the theory in terms of cosmic microwave background, galaxy redshift surveys and weak gravitational lensing observations. Included is a chapter reviewing extensively the direct and indirect methods of detection of the hypothetical dark matter particles. Also included is a self-contained introduction to the techniques and most importantresults of numerical (e.g. N-body) simulations in cosmology. 'This volume will be useful to researchers, PhD and graduate students in Astrophysics, Cosmology Physics and Mathematics, who are interested in cosmology, dark matter and dark energy. 420 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book explores current thinking about the role of corrective feedback in language learning and teaching. Corrective feedback is a topic that is of relevance to both theories of second language learning and language pedagogy. Younghee Sheen, an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics at the American University in Washington D.C., offers a new perspective by reviewing a wide body of research on both oral and written corrective feedback and its contribution to second language acquisition. She also reports the results of her own study, pointing to the need to examine how individual factors such as anxiety and language aptitude mediate learners' ability to benefit from the oral and written feedback they receive. This book is an important resource for students and scholars of applied linguistics and second language acquisition. It will also be of interest to language teachers and teacher educators wanting to deepen their understanding of error correction strategies in the classroom. 216 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Due to many challenges (i.e. climate change, energy, water and land shortage, high demands on food, land grabbing, etc.), agriculture production potential is expected to be seriously affected; thus, increasing food insecurity and hunger in many already affected regions (especially in Africa). In this context, sustainable agriculture is highly recommended as an eco-system approach where soil, water, plants, environment and living organisms live in harmony. Innovative technologies and research should be developed to ensure sustainable agriculture and productivity using modern irrigation systems, improved varieties, improved soil quality, etc. In the meantime, the preservation of natural environment should be based on resource conservation technologies and best management practices. Sustainable Agricultural Development, not only raises the serious ethical and social issues underlying these huge environmental problems, but also aims at presenting successful experiences from all over the world in relation with sustainable farming, sustainable management of water and land resources, and innovative processes in livestock production. It also aims at providing inputs to decision making processes and encouraging the transfer of relevant know-how, technologies and expertise to different countries where similar agro-climatic conditions may exist; thus saving precious resources and promoting sustainable agricultural development as a relevant approach to tackle the food security challenge. Finally, this book focuses on the paradigmatic and policy dimensions and call for an innovative approach by analyzing the key themes in a complex and interrelated manner. 316 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Terahertz (THz) and Mid-Infrared (MIR) radiation (TERA-MIR) can be transmitted through nearly any material without causing biological harm. Novel and rapid methods of detection can be created with devices operation in these spectral ranges allowing scanning for weapons, detecting hidden explosives (including plastic landmines), controlling the quality of food and a host of other exciting applications. This book focuses on mathematical and physical aspects of the field, on unifying these two spectral domains (THz and MIR) with regard to common sources, detectors, materials and applications, and on key interdisciplinary topics. The main THz and MIR source is the quantum cascade laser (QCL). Thus significant attention is paid to the challenge of turning this advanced technology into affordable commercial devices so as to exploit its enormous potential. However other alternatives to THz QCLs are also presented, e.g. sub-terahertz imaging from avalanching GaAs bipolar transistors, Josephson junctions as THz sources, semiconductor materials for pulsed THz sources, superconducting THz electronics with Josephson vortices. In summary this book delivers a global picture of the state of the art in TERA-MIR generation, detection and applications. 232 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Spatial Resilience is a new and exciting area of interdisciplinary research. It focuses on the influence of spatial variation - including such things as spatial location, context, connectivity, and dispersal - on the resilience of complex systems, and on the roles that resilience and self-organization play in generating spatial variation. Prof. Cumming provides a readable introduction and a first comprehensive synthesis covering the core concepts and applications of spatial resilience to the study of social-ecological systems. The book follows a trajectory from concepts through models, methods, and case study analysis before revisiting the central problems in the further conceptual development of the field. In the process, the author ranges from the movements of lions in northern Zimbabwe to the urban jungles of Europe, and from the collapse of past societies to the social impacts of modern conflict. The many case studies and examples discussed in the book show how the concept of spatial resilience can generate valuable insights into the spatial dynamics of social-ecological systems and contribute to solving some of the most pressing problems of our time. Although it has been written primarily for students, this book will provide fascinating reading for interdisciplinary scientists at all career stages as well as for the interested public.'Graeme Cumming, central in the development of resilience thinking and theory, has produced a wonderful book on spatial resilience, the first ever on this topic. The book will become a shining star, a classic in the explosion of new ideas and approaches to studying and understanding social-ecological systems.' Carl Folke, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Sweden 268 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Rotifera are a very common group of invertebrates and, therefore, play a considerable role in the food webs of plankton and benthos of lakes and rivers worldwide. Their ecological success is based on their distinct pattern of reproduction: a large part of them, the Monogononta, are famous for their unique mode of reproduction with parthenogenetic females and a rather rare appearance of sexuality with males. On the other hand, the Bdelloidea completely abstain from sexuality. Although many life cycle characteristics make the Rotifera ideal objects for the study of important scientific and applied questions, many patterns and mechanisms of their ecology, evolution and reproduction are still not very well known. In August 2009 leading scientists met in Berlin, Germany, at the symposium ROTIFERA XII to discuss their newest results. This book collects the most essential original articles and presents them to the broader public.The increasing use of tools from molecular biology has brought a paradigm shift to the study of rotifers. Together with biochemical methods, the findings from studies using these techniques are presented in the first two parts of this book, covering genetics, evolution, and reproduction. The last two parts are dedicated to innovative findings from the more traditional fields of ecology, biogeography and taxonomy. 216 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -These proceedings deal with the relationship between species composition of freshwater phytoplankton and the trophic gradient. Particular regard is paid to the composite question, what lives where and why Overview papers report the state of the art and suggest that the trophic spectrum appears to be a probabilistic outcome of several dimensions of variability that impinge upon phytoplankton species selection. Studies on community structure span all latitudes from those of Antarctica to equatorial Brazil, and also include reports on light and nutrient gradients, pH and fish-stock effects on species composition. Seasonal and longterm phytoplankton dynamics in lakes of varying trophic status are also considered. Finally, studies on the taxonomy and autoecology of some groups (e.g. Volvocales, Chrysophytes and Euglenophytes) living at the extremes of the trophic spectrum contribute to our knowledge of this usually neglected phytoplankton. This is the first time that a book covers such a topic, and it will prove an excellent source of information to anyone working on phytoplankton ecology and ecological indicators. Limnologists in general, algologists and the technical staff at water authorities will all benefit by reading this book. 388 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Terahertz (THz) and Mid-Infrared (MIR) radiation (TERA-MIR) can be transmitted through nearly any material without causing biological harm. Novel and rapid methods of detection can be created with devices operation in these spectral ranges allowing scanning for weapons, detecting hidden explosives (including plastic landmines), controlling the quality of food and a host of other exciting applications. This book focuses on mathematical and physical aspects of the field, on unifying these two spectral domains (THz and MIR) with regard to common sources, detectors, materials and applications, and on key interdisciplinary topics. The main THz and MIR source is the quantum cascade laser (QCL). Thus significant attention is paid to the challenge of turning this advanced technology into affordable commercial devices so as to exploit its enormous potential. However other alternatives to THz QCLs are also presented, e.g. sub-terahertz imaging from avalanching GaAs bipolar transistors, Josephson junctions as THz sources, semiconductor materials for pulsed THz sources, superconducting THz electronics with Josephson vortices. In summary this book delivers a global picture of the state of the art in TERA-MIR generation, detection and applications. 232 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book presents materials fundamentals of novel gate dielectrics that are being introduced into semiconductor manufacturing to ensure the continuous scalling of the CMOS devices. This is a very fast evolving field of research so we choose to focus on the basic understanding of the structure, thermodunamics, and electronic properties of thesematerials that determine their performance in device applications. Most of these materials are transition metal oxides. Ironically, the d-orbitals responsible for the high dielectric constant cause sever integration difficulties thus intrinsically limiting high-k dielectrics. Though new in the electronics industry many of these materials are wel known in the field of ceramics, and we describe this unique connection. The complexity of the structure-property relations in TM oxides makes the use of the state of the art first-principles calculations necessary. Several chapters give a detailed description of the modern theory of polarization, and heterojunction band discontinuity within the framework of the density functional theory. Experimental methods include oxide melt solution calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, Raman scattering and other optical characterization techniques, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.Many of the problems encounterd in the world of CMOS are also relvant for other semiconductors such as GaAs. A comprehensive review of recent developments in this field is thus also given. The book should be of interest to those actively engaged in the gate dielectric research, and to graduate students in Materials Science, Materials Physics, Materials Chemistry, and Electrical Engineering. 484 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The proceedings of the joint BMB 15 and ECSA 27 Symposium provides the reader with some of the advances in the study of biology, ecology, and physical and biochemical modelling of enclosed or semi-enclosed marine, brackish and estuarine systems (the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the White Sea, the Black Sea, and the Ionian Sea). The book covers a wide range of topics in this field, including hydrography and modelling, eutrophication, environmental gradients, pelagic and benthic communities, introduced species and case studies of environmental impact. This volume of 28 papers summarizes current knowledge on the broad-scale topics of enclosed and semi-enclosed marine systems, and should be of interest to scientists, students and administrators within the field of marine ecology, environmental impact control and conservation. 296 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The finite difference method (FDM) hasbeen used tosolve differential equation systems for centuries. The FDM works well for problems of simple geometry and was widely used before the invention of the much more efficient, robust finite element method (FEM). FEM is now widely used in handling problems with complex geometry. Currently, we are using and developing even more powerful numerical techniques aiming to obtain more accurate approximate solutions in a more convenient manner for even more complex systems. The meshfree or meshless method is one such phenomenal development in the past decade, and is the subject of this book. There are many MFree methods proposed so far for different applications. Currently, three monographs on MFree methods have been published. Mesh Free Methods, Moving Beyond the Finite Element Method d by GR Liu (2002) provides a systematic discussion on basic theories, fundamentals for MFree methods, especially on MFree weak-form methods. It provides a comprehensive record of well-known MFree methods and the wide coverage of applications of MFree methods to problems of solids mechanics (solids, beams, plates, shells, etc.) as well as fluid mechanics. The Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) Method d by Atluri and Shen (2002) provides detailed discussions of the meshfree local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method and itsvariations. Formulations and applications of MLPG are well addressed in their book. 500 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -In an effort to implement conservation measures farmers have used a variety of production methods including reduced or zero tillage. With the implementation of these methods there has been an increase in the use of small grain and legume cover crops and their residues. One benefit of these production methods has been early season weed control. Presently the most promising cover crops and their residues for annual broadleaf weed control in temperate regions of the world are the small grains such as wheat and rye. The literature suggests that a variety of mechanisms are involved in regulating weed seedling emergence, among them the allelopathic effects of phenolic acids.This book addresses the following questions: How likely are the necessary phenolic acid concentrations and environmental conditions present in wheat no-till cropping systems for inhibition of annual broadleaf weed seedling emergence and Do phenolic acids have a dominant role in regulating annual broadleaf weed seedling emergence or are phenolic acids just one component of a larger promoter/modifier/inhibitor complex in wheat no-till cropping systems The book has four chapters covering: 1. allelopathic plant-plant interactions, 2. laboratory experiments, 3. field and associated laboratory experiments, and 4. conclusions and suggested future research. There are several things that are unique about this book: a. The format is that of a research paper published in scientific journals. b. It differs from the journal format in that logic, reasons, and justifications for various procedures are provided. c. The Scientific Method and its approach to research are emphasized. For example, if-then hypotheses and cons and pros are provided so that readers can draw their own conclusions. and d. Although a broad range of literature is included, this book is a retrospective analysis of some 20 plus years of research on plant-plant allelopathic interactions at North Carolina State University. 232 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The Mathematics and Topology of Fullerenes presents a comprehensive overview of scientific and technical innovations in theoretical and experimental studies. Topics included in this multi-author volume are: Clar structures for conjugated nanostructures; counting polynomials of fullerenes; topological indices of fullerenes; the wiener index of nanotubes; toroidal fullerenes and nanostars; C60 Structural relatives: a topological study; local combinatorial characterization of fullerenes; computation of selected topological indices of C60 and C80 Fullerenes via the Gap Program; 4valent- analogues of fullerenes; a detailed atlas of Kekule structures of C60. The Mathematics and Topology of Fullerenes is targeted at advanced graduates and researchers working in carbon materials, chemistry and physics. 304 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -What could a future Western city look like if energy use per capita was reduced by sixty percent This is the overarching question researchers have addressed in a major backcasting study carried out in Stockholm in recent years, and their answers are revealed in this book.In Images of the Future City: Time and Space For Sustainable Development, fourteen researchers from numerous disciplines offer details on a variety of aspects of a future sustainable city, including travel, housing, eating, time use, consumption and urban form. The result is a complete illustration of what it could be like to live in a city based on sustainable energy use, with Stockholm 2050 as the geographical and temporal setting. This book is an ideal complement to studies showing the potentially devastating ecological effects of climate change, studies trying to calculate the costs of climate change, and studies trying to identify the most pressing needs in preparing for the new climate.In Images of the Future City: Time and Space For Sustainable Development, fourteen researchers from numerous disciplines offer details on a variety of aspects of a future sustainable city, including travel, housing, eating, time use, consumption and urban form. The result is a complete illustration of what it could be like to live in a city based on sustainable energy use, with Stockholm 2050 as the geographical and temporal setting. This book is an ideal complement to studies showing the potentially devastating ecological effects of climate change, studies trying to calculate the costs of climate change, and studies trying to identify the most pressing needs in preparing for the new climate. 492 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The ecology of potamoplankton has received less attention than lake plankton. These proceedings produce a synthesis of the composition, community structure and dynamics of lotic phytoplankton, which are intuitively submitted to a strong physical control in the flowing environment, perceived as much more `disturbed' than a lake, even than a well-mixed shallow one. It turns out that the boundary between the phytoplankton of rivers and lakes is not as clear-cut as was thought. In particular, most contributions provide arguments emphasizing the prominent role of physical control in both aquatic systems, especially due to the steep light gradient resulting from turbulent mixing in a turbid water column. Similarities and differences between potamoplankton and limnoplankton, largely based on the information gathered by the contributors are discussed in the introductory paper by Reynolds et al. 224 pp. Englisch.