Science & Nature - Books

Security, Privacy and Reliability in Computer Communications and Networks

Science & Nature

Future communication networks aim to build an intelligent and efficient living environment by connecting a variety of heterogeneous networks to fulfill complicated tasks. These communication networks bring significant challenges in building secure and reliable communication networks to address the numerous threat and privacy concerns. New research technologies are essential to preserve privacy, prevent attacks, and achieve the requisite reliability. Security, Privacy and Reliability in Computer Communications and Networks studies and presents recent advances reflecting the state-of-the-art research achievements in novel cryptographic algorithm design, intrusion detection, privacy preserving techniques and reliable routing protocols. Technical topics discussed in the book include: Vulnerabilities and Intrusion DetectionCryptographic Algorithms and EvaluationPrivacyReliable Routing ProtocolsThis book is ideal for personnel in computer communication and networking industries as well as academic staff and collegial, master, Ph.D. students in computer science, computer engineering, cyber security, information insurance and telecommunication systems.

Urban Energy Systems

Science & Nature

URBAN ENERGY SYSTEMS With climate change and energy issues infiltrating seemingly every aspect of our lives, it is more important than ever to continue the march toward sustainability. It is not just about switching to a gasoline-free car or installing solar panels. Many countries, including our own, are dealing with these very difficult problems by converting to “smart cities” and other “green energy” projects. This is perhaps one of the most important issues facing our world today. Urban energy systems play a critical role in the sustainability and resilience of smart cities. As cities continue to grow and face increasing energy demands, it becomes essential to develop efficient and sustainable energy solutions. Modelling and simulation techniques provide valuable insights into the design, operation, and optimization of urban energy systems, supporting the transition towards more sustainable and smart cities. This perspective highlights the importance of modelling and simulation in achieving sustainable urban energy systems and their role in shaping smart cities. Modelling and simulation play a crucial role in achieving sustainable urban energy systems and shaping smart cities. By integrating diverse energy systems, optimizing renewable energy integration, enabling demand-side management, supporting microgrid and storage system design, enhancing resilience, and facilitating policy evaluation, these tools empower decision-makers to develop and implement sustainable energy solutions. Embracing a modelling and simulation perspective in urban energy planning supports the transition towards more sustainable, efficient, and resilient smart cities that meet the energy needs of present and future generations. This book uncovers the latest research in the field of urban energy sustainability and climate management. Urban energy sustainability and climate management have been employed successfully for various purposes like human-computer interaction, decision-making, recommender systems, and so on. Data analytics have supported these applications through various efficient and effective methods. Covering all of these topics, this is a “one-stop shop” for engineers, students, policymakers, scientists, and other industry professionals working with smart cities and urban energy systems. It is a must have for any library.

Applications of Next Generation Biosurfactants in the Food Sector

Science & Nature

Applications of Next Generation Biosurfactants in the Food Sector provides detailed information on the sustainable approach to the utilization of biosurfactants as a next-generational green biotechnology to mitigate various problems encountered in the food industry. These biosurfactants help to reduce risks such as food spoilage, food poisoning, and post-harvest losses of fruits, vegetable, grains, tubers, cereals and pulses. This book will benefit academics, R&D professionals, and postgrad students in the food science and related fields as they explore recent trends in the application of these green biosurfactants and the many uses they can provide. Provides examples of mathematical modeling, metabolomics, bioinformatics, metabolic engineering, systems biology, and computer technology for solving real-life food challenges using biosurfactants Presents biosurfactants as an innovative, green, biotechnological solution to resolving food safety issues and improving human health Includes applications of biosurfactants for the prevention of mycotoxins and as a biodegradable material with a wide variety of uses

Bioenergy

Science & Nature

This contributed volume discusses the impact of bioenergy on the environment and economy. The book contents include contributions on themes, such as the impact of emulsified biofuels on the environment, environmental impacts of the current uses of biomass energy, sustainable development in ecosystem, trends in microbial fuel cells and the ecological and economic impacts on biofuel production, among others. The book also uses visual elements to aid learning. This book is a valuable, hands-on resource for researchers, academics and industry professionals, who are interested in alternative fuels, sustainability, clean energy, biofuel production, waste management, environmental pollution, renewable energy and allied fields.

Antifrágil

Science & Nature

En El cisne negro, Taleb nos mostró que los acontecimientos altamente improbables e impredecibles son parte integrante de nuestro mundo. En Antifrágil, Taleb da la vuelta a la incertidumbre y la hace deseable, incluso necesaria.Igual que los huesos humanos se fortalecen cuando están bajo tensión, muchas otras cosas se benefician de la presión, el caos, la inestabilidad o la confusión. En esta obra, Nassim Nicholas Taleb identifica y denomina «antifrágil» a esa categoría de cosas que no solo se benefician del caos, sino que lo necesitan para sobrevivir y florecer y que además es inmune a los errores de predicción.Sumamente ambicioso, documentado, ingenioso y multidisciplinario, Antifrágil nos ofrece un programa sobre cómo comportarnos —y prosperar— en un mundo que no comprendemos, y que es demasiado incierto como para que intentemos descifrarlo y predecirlo. El mensaje de Taleb es revolucionario: solo lo antifrágil perdurará.

Verändere dein Bewusstsein

Science & Nature

Verändere dein Bewusstsein ist die faszinierende Erkundung der neuen Forschung zu Psychedelika wie LSD und Psilocybin, in der die ›neurale Korrellation‹ von mystischer und spiritueller Erfahrung und die Mechanismen von weit verbreiteten mentalen Krankheiten wie Depression, Sucht und Obsessionen untersucht werden. Und ein großartiger Reisebericht von der Geschichte und der Wirkung psychedelischer Substanzen. In den 50er und 60er Jahren wurden psychedelische Substanzen von Psychiatern als Wundermittel betrachtet, mit denen man psychische Erkrankungen beeinflussen und behandeln konnte. Als aber LSD und Psilocybin »aus dem Labor entkamen« und von der Gegenkultur vereinnahmt wurden, lösten sie moralische Panik und einen backlash aus. Das führte Anfang der 70er Jahre dazu, dass Psychedelika verboten wurden und die Forschung eingestellt wurde. Seit zehn Jahren wird dank engagierter Wissenschaftler, Aktivisten und Psychonauten wieder geforscht. Diese Forschung verändert unser Verständnis der Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Gehirn und dem Bewusstsein. Wissenschaftler beginnen, die »neurale Korrelation« von mystischer und spiritueller Erfahrung zu identifizieren und die Mechanismen, die bei so weit verbreiteten mentalen Erkrankungen wie Depressionen, Angstneurosen, Sucht und Obsessionen, aber auch bei ganz gewöhnlichem Unglücklichsein wirksam sind, besser zu verstehen. Michael Pollan erkundet diese aufregende Thematik auf zwei sich überkreuzenden Wegen, zum einen journalistisch und historisch, zum anderen persönlich. Durch das Vertiefen in wissenschaftliche Erkenntnis und in die Erfahrung veränderter Zustände des Bewusstseins gelingt es ihm, unser Verständnis von Geist und Selbst und unserem Platz in der Welt neu auszuloten.

Diseases of Fruits and Vegetable Crops

Science & Nature

Diseases of Fruits and Vegetable Crops: Recent Management Approaches covers certain basic aspects of knowledge on diagnostic symptoms, modes of perpetuation and dissemination of pathogens, favorable conditions for disease development, and the latest management strategies for disease prevention and mitigation in vegetable crops, fruit crops, and plantation crops.With chapters written by experts working on specific fruit and vegetables disease, the volume covers many vegetable and fruit crops, including pineapples, grapes, apples, guava, litchi, potatoes, peas, beans, ginger and turmeric, and many more. Each chapter reviews the specific diseases relevant to the crop and their management and includes recent research findings.The information presented here will be valuable for plant protection officers, district horticulture officers, and other government personnel in the directorates and agencies of agriculture, horticulture and plant protection, as well as plant protection experts, vegetable specialists, and others.

Fisica dell’Impossibile

Science & Nature

Riusciremo un giorno ad attraversare i muri, costruire astronavi in grado di superare la velocità della luce, leggere nella mente delle altre persone, muovere gli oggetti con la forza del pensiero e spostarci nello spazio e nel tempo? La risposta sembrerebbe scontata, e verrebbe naturale aggiungere che un conto è la scienza e un conto è la fantascienza. Eppure Michio Kaku, abile divulgatore e uomo di scienza, avverte: attenzione a trarre conclusioni affrettate, perché l'impossibile è un concetto relativo. D'altronde un secolo fa nessuno avrebbe scommesso sull'utilizzo dei raggi laser, sulla televisione o sulla capacità dell'uomo di scindere l'atomo e ricavarne energia. Teletrasporto e viaggi nel tempo, telecinesi ed esistenza di civiltà extraterrestri, fino alla possibilità di piegare la luce per nascondere oggetti e persone: Kaku prende spunto dal ricco e affascinante immaginario della fantascienza - Philip Dick e Asimov, letteratura e cinema, Tolkien e "L'uomo invisibile" - per esplorare i concetti fondamentali (e i limiti) delle leggi della fisica come le conosciamo oggi, e dimostrare che magari tra cento anni quelle di Lost potrebbero rivelarsi idee molto meno strampalate di quanto pensiamo ora.

Post-genomic Approaches in Drug and Vaccine Development

Science & Nature

Over the past decade, genome sequencing projects and the associated efforts have facilitated the discovery of several novel disease targets and the approval of several innovative drugs. To further exploit this data for human health and disease, there is a need to understand the genome data itself in detail, discover novel targets, understand their role in physiological pathways and associated diseases, with the aim to translate these discoveries to clinical and preventive medicine. It is equally important to understand the labors and limitations in integrating clinical phenotypes with genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches. T

Advanced Materials for Wastewater Treatment

Science & Nature

This comprehensive book deals with the use of novel materials such as plant-derived agents and advanced nanocomposites for the removal of heavy metals, nitrates, and synthetic dyes.Water is an essential component for living organisms on planet earth and its pollution is one of the critical global environmental issues today. The influx of significant quantities of organic and inorganic waste, sediments, surfactants, synthetic dyes, sewage, and heavy metals into all types of water bodies has been increasing substantially over the past century due to rapid industrialization, population growth, agricultural activities, and other geological and environmental changes. These pollutants are very dangerous and are posing serious threat to us all.Advanced Materials for Wastewater Treatment brings together innovative methodologies and research strategies to remove toxic effluents from wastewaters. With contributions from leading scientists from all around the world, the book provides a comprehensive coverage of the current literature, up-to-date overviews of all aspects of toxic chemical remediation including the role of nanomaterials. Together they showcase in a very lucid manner an array of technologies that complement the traditional as well as advanced treatment practices of textile effluents. In particular, the book provides: Up-to-date overviews of all aspects of toxic chemical remediation The role of plants and abundantly available agro-wastes in the remediation of wastewater The removal of nitrates from wastewater using nanocomposites

The Beginning of Infinity

Science & Nature

The New York Times bestseller: A provocative, imaginative exploration of the nature and progress of knowledge“Dazzling.” – Steven Pinker, The GuardianIn this groundbreaking book, award-winning physicist David Deutsch argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe—and that improving them is the basic regulating principle of all successful human endeavor. Taking us on a journey through every fundamental field of science, as well as the history of civilization, art, moral values, and the theory of political institutions, Deutsch tracks how we form new explanations and drop bad ones, explaining the conditions under which progress—which he argues is potentially boundless—can and cannot happen. Hugely ambitious and highly original, The Beginning of Infinity explores and establishes deep connections between the laws of nature, the human condition, knowledge, and the possibility for progress.

Lettre ouverte aux vivants qui veulent le rester

Science & Nature

Vous êtes vivant... Savez-vous bien ce que cela veut dire ? Savez-vous, par exemple, que chaque cellule de votre corps contient, inscrits sur des molécules qui ressemblent à des rubans télégraphiques, les ordres concernant toutes ses fonctions, et toute votre hérédité depuis la nuit des temps ? Et que si on mettait bout à bout les “rubans” contenus dans les cellules d’un seul corps humain leur longueur couvrirait mille fois la distance de la Terre au Soleil ? Chaque détail d’un être vivant est un foisonnement de stupéfiants mystères. Et le plus grand de tous est la vie, dont nul ne sait ce qu’elle est. Or la voici menacée de destruction. Par le nucléaire. Militaire. Et civil. Un accident qui laisserait s’échapper le contenu d’une seule centrale à plutonium répandrait dans la nature de quoi tuer l’humanité tout entière... Et le plutonium répandu, que rien ne pourrait détruire, continuerait d’être mortel pendant plus de mille siècles. Peut-on prétendre qu’il n’y aura jamais d’accident ? Mais le pétrole va devenir rare et risque de manquer brutalement à la suite d’un conflit. Pour le remplacer il n’y a rien d’autre de prêt que les centrales nucléaires. Sans elles, la fin du pétrole, c’est la fermeture des usines, le chômage total, la famine dans les villes et la guerre civile. Pour décrire cette situation, Barjavel retrouve les accents de son roman prophétique, Ravage, écrit il y a 35 ans... Sans le nucléaire, c’est le désastre. Mais avec le nucléaire c’est la catastrophe... Barjavel propose de s’évader de cette alternative infernale par une troisième voie qui aurait, en plus, l’avantage de favoriser la transformation pacifique de notre civilisation en une forme nouvelle de société décentralisée, où l’homme retrouverait, avec la nature, un accord qu’il n’aurait jamais dû rompre. L’objet de sa lettre ouverte est de nous rappeler, au-dessus des querelles politiques et nationalistes, qu’il y a aujourd’hui quelque chose de plus important que de choisir de vivre de telle ou telle façon : c’est, impérativement, choisir de vivre.

Valorization of Wastes for Sustainable Development

Science & Nature

Valorization of Wastes for Sustainable Development: Waste to Wealth highlights the various valorization of organic and non-organic waste to offer a way forward to a sustainable world. Categorizing the various types of waste valorization for renewable fuel production and other valorizations utilizing organic and non-organic waste, this book offers the reader a comprehensive view of various waste valorizations together with their potential applications. Split into four sections, the book's chapters cover the general scenarios and challenges of current waste management and the valorization of waste specifically for renewable fuels as the alternative energy source to depleting fossil fuels.Other chapters cover waste valorizations categorized into organic and non-organic waste for various applications and the future prospect of waste valorizations with possible plans and strategies for effective global waste management. Comprehensively discusses the various types of global waste Discusses the latest technologies used for waste valorizations Includes future prospects and strategies for waste valorizations

50 faits scientifiques étonnants sur l'évolution

Science & Nature

Chacun a son avis sur l’évolution, mais peu d’entre nous savent ce que c’est, surtout après avoir vu à la télé des espèces évoluer en 30 secondes et des fossiles ressusciter après des millions d’années... L’évolution, ce n’est pas du cinéma : c’est encore plus étonnant ! Des catastrophes en série, des fossiles hallucinants, des microbes hyper-évolués, des parentés incroyables... Après avoir lu ces 50 révélations, vous regarderez les poulets autrement, mais vous serez aussi devenu plus savant.

Dove il tempo si ferma

Science & Nature

Se oggi sappiamo che ogni stella ha una sua vita, e una morte, lo dobbiamo principalmente a Hawking il quale, con la sua ricerca di primo livello, ma anche con un'insuperata capacità divulgativa, da quasi mezzo secolo ci racconta l'universo. Ancora molto però resta da spiegare, e l'attività di Hawking rappresenta, ancora oggi, il culmine della ricerca in ambito astrofisico. Alla metà degli anni Settanta, Hawking fece una serie di scoperte inquietanti: i buchi neri, giganteschi vuoti nello spazio, inghiottono materia e informazioni, e un giorno potrebbero esplodere o evaporare, distruggendo tutto ciò che finisce al loro interno. Nei quarant'anni successivi, i fisici hanno cercato di mettere ordine alle conseguenze di questa ricerca, finora indimostrata. Nelle due lezioni contenute in questo volume, Hawking ritorna sul tema chiave della sua ricerca per raccontarci qual è il punto della situazione, e cosa rimane da capire sullo spazio, sul tempo, sulla nostra parte nell'universo. Domande, risposte e possibilità su alcuni degli argomenti più curiosi e interessanti del momento: come funzionano i buchi neri, e che fine fa la materia che finisce al loro interno? Davvero hanno i capelli? Tutte le sfide che riguardano i principi fondamentali dello spazio, la prevedibilità dell'universo e la direzione del futuro: un'appassionante disputa scientifica, iniziata anni fa, e che non smette di porci nuovi quesiti e offrirci nuove sorprese.

Nanotechnology Applications in Agricultural and Bioprocess Engineering

Science & Nature

This new volume looks at new research and advances in the use of nanotechnology applications in agricultural and bioprocess engineering. The first section deals with the impact of nanotechnology in agricultural engineering, looking at the role of nanomaterials in plant growth and nutrition. It goes on to discuss specific methods and processes in the development of food products, nutraceuticals, and therapeutics. This includes nanotechnological methods for iron fortification of dairy food, for processing and preservation of meat and meat products, for selective targeting of cancer, and more. The book then discusses the role of nanotechnology in bioprocessing, such as for biofuel production, for wastewater treatment, and as enzymatic nanoparticles for fabrication processes.

The Void

Science & Nature

What is 'the void'? What remains when you take all the matter away? Can empty space - 'nothing' - exist? This little book explores the science and the history of the elusive void: from Aristotle's theories to black holes and quantum particles, and why our very latest discoveries about the vacuum can tell us extraordinary things about the cosmos.

Discontinuous Dynamical Systems on Time-varying Domains

Science & Nature

This heavily-illustrated book is the first ever to present discontinuous dynamical systems in time-varying domains where the corresponding switchability of a flow to the time-varying boundary in discontinuous dynamical systems is discussed.

Intelligent Non-hierarchical Manufacturing Networks

Science & Nature

This book provides the latest models, methods and guidelines for networked enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and move towards innovative high performance and agile industrial systems.In the new global market, competitiveness and economic growth rely greatly on the move toward innovative high performance industrial systems and agile networked enterprises through the creation and consolidation of non-hierarchical manufacturing networks of multi-national SMEs as opposed to networks based on powerful large-scale companies. Network performance can be significantly improved through more harmonious and equitable peer-to-peer inter-enterprise relationships, conforming decentralized and collaborative decision-making models.Traditional hierarchical manufacturing networks are based on centralized models, where some of the actors involved must adapt themselves to the constraints defined by those who are most dominant. Real-world experiences of such models have revealed some major problems due to the centralized vision of the supply chain and the sub-optimal performance of centralized decision-making. For the current highly dynamic markets, this generates major inefficiencies in operation throughout the supply chain.This book collects the latest research regarding non-hierarchical manufacturing networks and provides enterprises with valuable models, methods and guidelines to improve their competitiveness.

Stellar Engineering

Science & Nature

In terms of the scale of the galaxy, both in space and time, we humans are new comers. Though we are newly on the scene, we are already thinking about how to create large structures in space. Recently, analysis of data from one of the stars in the Kepler data set has led to speculation regarding huge artificial structures (called Stapledon/Dyson Spheres) constructed by advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. The NASA Kepler space observatory has been observing light curves of about 100,000 stars in the constellations of Cygnus and Lyre. This star, popularly dubbed “Tabby’s Star” after the first name of the astronomer leading one of the data reduction teams, shows intriguing periodic dips in its luminosity. Stellar Engineering starts by considering terrestrial organisms, and early humans, who have constructed, on their scale, “megastructures,” and continues with a history of the development of the stellar engineering concept. Kepler data on the subject star is reviewed as is observational data on other possible Stapledon/Dyson Sphere candidates. Possible applications of such enormous constructs are discussed, as well as the intriguing speculation that we might live in a Stapledon/Dyson swarm of alien space habitats within our Solar System’s Kuiper Belt. The chapter frontispiece art illuminates the ideas presented.

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