Science & Nature - Books

Multifaceted Bio-sensing Technology

Science & Nature

Multifaceted Bio-sensing Technology introduces the different types of biosensors, their construction materials, configurations, production methods, and their uses in bioelectrochemical fuel cells (BEFC). It focuses on recent progress in the production of biosensing platforms/interfaces, their integration, design and fabrication, and their multifaceted applications in bioelectrochemical systems. The chapters explore the integration of genetic elements such as DNA, enzymes, and whole cells within these systems, and address environmental applications including wastewater contaminant detection, toxicity, and bioremediation. Throughout, the book shows how rapid, minuscule, and affordable biocomponents can be produced for a variety of energy and environmental applications. This book provides a practical introduction to the production of biocomponents for bioelectrochemical devices and environmental monitoring, and will be a useful reference for graduates and researchers involved in the application of bioelectrochemical systems, as well as those working more broadly in bioenergy, electrochemistry, biology, environmental engineering, and multidisciplinary research across those areas. - Examines the applications of biosensors in bioelectrochemical fuel cells and other fields and their integration and assembly for future uses - Explores on the application of carbon nanomaterials in biosensors - Presents detailed schematics and calculations that outline integrations in bioelectrochemical systems

Poor Cecco - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Science & Nature

Margery Williams Bianco (1881 - 1944) was an English-American author, primarily of popular children's books. A professional writer since the age of nineteen. Poor Cecco is the wonderful story of a wooden dog who was the jolliest toy in the house until he went out to explore the world. Beautifully illustrated by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), Rackham was one of the premier illustrators of the early 20th Century. He illustrated many books, the first of which was published in 1893.

Actinobacteria: Diversity and Biotechnological Applications

Science & Nature

Actinobacteria: Diversity and Biotechnological Applications: New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering, a volume in the series New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering series, offers the latest on the biotechnology of Kingdom actinobacteria, covering unique niches like their endosphere, rhizospheric soil and contaminated sites, etc. The book also covers the bioactive secondary metabolites obtained from actinobacteria and describes the application of microorganism (Actinobacteria) in plant growth promotion and in environmental cleanup. Finally, the book describes the biocontrol aspects of actinobacteria and how they can control fungal phytopathogens and the production of secondary metabolites. Includes an overview of all types of actinobacteria, source and enzymatic activity Lists various bioengineering methods for the production of these enzymes Reviews numerous industrial applications of actinobacteria, i.e., crop improvement, removal of heavy metals, etc. Offers unique coverage of the application of actinobacteria in bioremediation processes Explores the plant growth promoting potential of endophytic actinobacteria Describes biosynthetic potential genes associated with actinobacterial genome

Irrespirable : Le scandale de la qualité de l̵en France

Science & Nature

PRESSIONS, COLLUSIONS, MENSONGES...Tous les ingrédients d'un bon thriller réunisdans une enquête inédite sur la qualité de notre air.À en croire l'État, depuis quelques années, la qualité de notre air s'améliore... Un discours en parfait décalage avec la perception globale des Français. Mais aussi des plus éminents scientifiques qui considèrent que la pollution atmosphérique ne diminue pas mais qu'elle se transforme... pour être encore plus nuisible. Alors, qui dit vrai ? De quoi est véritablement composé l'air que nous respirons dans l'Hexagone ? Pourquoi la France est-elle dans le collimateur de la Commission européenne ? Nos dirigeants auraient-ils délibérément laissé les lobbies industriels et agricoles prendre les commandes ? Ce livre répond à toutes ces questions. Oui, quelque chose cloche dans le ciel français, et, non, l'air de la campagne n'est pas plus sain que celui des villes. Mais cet ouvrage redonne également espoir en mettant en lumière le sursaut citoyen qui naît progressivement un peu partout, et fait bouger les lignes. Car savoir, c'est le début du pouvoir.

Chaotic Harmony

Science & Nature

This fascinating book written by Ali Sanayei and Otto E. Rössler is not a classic scientific publication, but a vivid dialogue on science, philosophy and the interdisciplinary intersections of science and technology with biographic elements. Chaotic Harmony: A Dialog about Physics, Complexity and Life represents a discussion between Otto Rössler and his colleague and student, focusing on the different areas of science and highlights their mutual relations. The book's concept of interdisciplinary dialogue is unusual nowadays although it has a long tradition in science. It provides insight not only into interesting topics that are often closely linked, but also into the mind of a prominent scientist in the field of physics, chaos and complexity in general. It allows a deep look into the fascinating process of scientific development and discovery and provides a very interesting background of known and unknown facts in the areas of complex processes in physics, cosmology, biology, brains and systems in general. This book will be valuable to all who are interested in science, its evolution and in an unconventional and original look at various issues. Surely it can serve as an inspiration for students, explaining the often overlooked fact that science and philosophy enrich each other.

Hausinstallation einer Photovoltaikanlage für das Laden von elektronischen Kraftfahrzeugen

Science & Nature

Ab wann lohnt sich eine Erweiterung der elektrischen Installation und die Anschaffung eines Elektroautos für den täglichen Bedarf? Diese Fragestellung wird bei vielen Besitzern - oder zukünftigen Besitzern - eines Einfamilienhauses in naher Zukunft aufkommen. Sie ist nicht nur aus ökonomischer Sicht interessant, sondern auch aus ökologischer. Für die wissenschaftliche Arbeit werden folgende Annahmen getätigt: Das Elektroauto wird für den täglichen Pendelverkehr von zu Hause zur Arbeit benötigt und die Erweiterung der Hausinstallation durch eine Photovoltaikanlage (PVA) entspricht dem Standard des Verbands der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V. (VDE). Für die Hausarbeit nehmen wir folgendes Szenario an: Das Einfamilienhaus befindet sich in Norddeutschland, das Dach ist nach Süden mit dem optimalen Neigungswinkel von 30° ausgerichtet und ein durchschnittlicher Stromverbrauch für zwei Erwachsene und zwei Kinder. Die pendelnde Person arbeitet wochentags, tagsüber in einem Unternehmen, welches 60 Kilometer (einfache Strecke) von zu Hause entfernt ist. Daraus ergibt sich für die Hausarbeit die Hypothese, die monatlichen Benzinkosten mit der Anschaffung eines Elektroautos und einer PVA zu senken. Dies führt zur folgenden Leitfrage: Lohnt es sich finanziell, die elektrische Hausinstallation mit einer Photovoltaikanlage für das Laden eines Elektroautos zu erweitern?

Sobre o Futuro

Science & Nature

Um olhar provocador e inspirador sobre o futuro da Humanidade e da Ciência Atingimos um ponto crítico. O mundo como o conhecemos está a transformar-se depressa demais. Durante o próximo século enfrentaremos riscos existenciais com várias consequências, positivas e negativas. Contudo, a nossa abordagem ao futuro é caracterizada pelo pensamento a curto prazo, debates polarizados, retórica alarmista e pessimismo. Para Martin Rees, é necessária uma abordagem diferente no planeamento a longo prazo. O futuro da Humanidade está ligado ao futuro da ciência.

Big Data Analytics in Future Power Systems

Science & Nature

Power systems are increasingly collecting large amounts of data due to the expansion of the Internet of Things into power grids. In a smart grids scenario, a huge number of intelligent devices will be connected with almost no human intervention characterizing a machine-to-machine scenario, which is one of the pillars of the Internet of Things. The book characterizes and evaluates how the emerging growth of data in communications networks applied to smart grids will impact the grid efficiency and reliability. Additionally, this book discusses the various security concerns that become manifest with Big Data and expanded communications in power grids. Provide a general description and definition of big data, which has been gaining significant attention in the research community. Introduces a comprehensive overview of big data optimization methods in power system. Reviews the communication devices used in critical infrastructure, especially power systems; security methods available to vet the identity of devices; and general security threats in CI networks. Presents applications in power systems, such as power flow and protection. Reviews electricity theft concerns and the wide variety of data-driven techniques and applications developed for electricity theft detection.

Our Synthetic Environment

Science & Nature

Bookchin wrote Our Synthetic Environment under the pseudonym Lewis Herber. This was one of the first books of the modern period in which an author espoused an ecological and environmentalist worldview. It predates Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson, a more widely known book on the same topic widely credited as starting the environmental movement. "At the time of its publication, Our Synthetic Environment was the most comprehensive and enlightened book on the environmental crisis. Many other books on this topic have been published since, but none, I believe, as comprehensive." --René Dubos—Print ed.

On Being

Science & Nature

In this short book Peter Atkins considers the universal questions to which religions have claimed answers. With economy, wit, and elegance, unswerving before awkward realities, Atkins presents what science has to say. While acknowledging the comfort some find in belief, he declares his own faith in science's capacity to reveal the deepest truths.

Global Biodiversity

Science & Nature

This is the first volume in the new multi-volume set, Global Biodiversity. Each volume in this series aims to provide insightful information on the biodiversity of selected nations in particular regions. The volumes summarize the available data on both wild and cultivated plants, wild and domesticated animals, and microbes of the different nations. Global Biodiversity, Volume 1: Selected Countries in Asia focuses on selected countries of Asia, providing an abundance of biodiversity information on Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam. The first chapter in the volume provides an informative overview of what is biodiversity along with biogeographic classifications. It provides explanations of biodiversity patterns and species number; biodiversity conservation, protection, and international commitments and cooperation; biodiversity threats and drivers of change (such as human population growth, climate change, land use change); and the economics of biodiversity as well.

Hybrid Materials for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting and Conversion

Science & Nature

Power small devices more efficiently and practically with these essential materials Piezoelectric energy harvesting is an increasingly widely-deployed technique to generate electricity from mechanical energy. Reliability, ease of use, and cleanliness make piezoelectric energy harvesting in small electronic devices a potentially valuable alternative to the practical challenges and waste production of disposable or even reusable batteries. However, piezoelectric materials have their own challenges, advantages, and limitations, and choosing between them is a difficult engineering problem in itself; hybrid piezoelectric materials, which can be used to compensate the weaknesses of individual piezoelectric materials (like ceramic or polymer), are the emerging solution. Hybrid Materials for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting and Conversion offers a systematic analysis of these hybrid piezoelectric materials and their applications. Each hybrid piezoelectric material is analyzed for its fundamentals, structural requirements, and applications, and the result is a significant contribution to materials science and electronic engineering. Hybrid Materials for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting and Conversion readers will also find: Comprehensive coverage of piezoelectric materials to provide the best fit for any set of engineering needs Detailed discussion of inorganic, organic, and hybrid piezoelectric materials Surface modification of piezoelectric filler in composite based piezoelectric materials Importance of semiconductive and conductive materials in enhancing piezoelectric response of hybrid piezoelectric materials In depth analysis of bio-based hybrid piezoelectric materials Hybrid Materials for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting and Conversion is ideal for researchers in materials sciences, polymers, textiles, green and renewable energy, and all related fields.

Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe

Science & Nature

Nobel Prize–winning physicist Roger Penrose questions some of the most fashionable ideas in physics today, including string theoryWhat can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy possibly have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, theoretical physicists are immune to mere trends, dogmatic beliefs, or flights of fancy? In fact, acclaimed physicist and bestselling author Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are just as susceptible to these forces as anyone else. In this provocative book, he argues that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential in physics, may be leading today's researchers astray in three of the field's most important areas—string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology.Arguing that string theory has veered away from physical reality by positing six extra hidden dimensions, Penrose cautions that the fashionable nature of a theory can cloud our judgment of its plausibility. In the case of quantum mechanics, its stunning success in explaining the atomic universe has led to an uncritical faith that it must also apply to reasonably massive objects, and Penrose responds by suggesting possible changes in quantum theory. Turning to cosmology, he argues that most of the current fantastical ideas about the origins of the universe cannot be true, but that an even wilder reality may lie behind them. Finally, Penrose describes how fashion, faith, and fantasy have ironically also shaped his own work, from twistor theory, a possible alternative to string theory that is beginning to acquire a fashionable status, to "conformal cyclic cosmology," an idea so fantastic that it could be called "conformal crazy cosmology."The result is an important critique of some of the most significant developments in physics today from one of its most eminent figures.

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law

Science & Nature

An Instant New York Times Bestseller #1 Los Angeles Times Bestseller #1 Indie Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller A Publishers Weekly Best Nonfiction Book of 2021 Longlisted for the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction Join "America’s funniest science writer" (Peter Carlson, Washington Post), Mary Roach, on an irresistible investigation into the unpredictable world where wildlife and humans meet.What’s to be done about a jaywalking moose? A bear caught breaking and entering? A murderous tree? Three hundred years ago, animals that broke the law would be assigned legal representation and put on trial. These days, as New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach discovers, the answers are best found not in jurisprudence but in science: the curious science of human-wildlife conflict, a discipline at the crossroads of human behavior and wildlife biology.Roach tags along with animal-attack forensics investigators, human-elephant conflict specialists, bear managers, and "danger tree" faller blasters. Intrepid as ever, she travels from leopard-terrorized hamlets in the Indian Himalaya to St. Peter’s Square in the early hours before the pope arrives for Easter Mass, when vandal gulls swoop in to destroy the elaborate floral display. She taste-tests rat bait, learns how to install a vulture effigy, and gets mugged by a macaque.Combining little-known forensic science and conservation genetics with a motley cast of laser scarecrows, langur impersonators, and trespassing squirrels, Roach reveals as much about humanity as about nature’s lawbreakers. When it comes to "problem" wildlife, she finds, humans are more often the problem—and the solution. Fascinating, witty, and humane, Fuzz offers hope for compassionate coexistence in our ever-expanding human habitat.

Installation und Konfiguration eines "Smart Home"

Science & Nature

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Installation und Konfiguration eines "Smart Home" auf Basis eines lokalen Funknetzes (WLAN) im Kontext einer Heizungssteuerung. In der heutigen Zeit steht der Komfort des Zuhauses wesentlich im Vordergrund. Es geht nicht nur darum ein schönes Heim zu haben, sondern dieses effektiv (Energiesparen) und vor allem so komfortabel wie möglich nutzen zu können. In dieser Hausarbeit wird ein Teilaspekt von "Smart Home", die Heizungssteuerung, aufgegriffen. Anhand dieses Aspektes soll ein Beispiel anschaulich dargestellt werden und aufzeigen, was in einem "Smart Home" möglich ist. Auch wenn der Komfort im Mittelpunkt steht, sollen die durch ein intelligentes Zuhause eingesparten Kosten nicht unerwähnt bleiben. Es ist naheliegend, dass eine ständig überwachte und an der Umgebungstemperatur angepasste Heizungssteuerung weniger variable Kosten verursacht als (k)eine Heizungssteuerung, die permanent auf einer eingestellten, bestimmten Stufe heizt. Folgendes Szenarium wird für ein anschauliches Beispiel angenommen: Eine kleine Familie, Vater, Mutter und jugendlicher Sohn, wohnen seit Längerem in einer Eigentumswohnung. Der technisch versierte Vater beschließt, die große Wohnung sukzessiv in ein intelligentes Zuhause umzurüsten. Er beginnt im Herbst mit der Umrüstung der Heizungen, um über den Winter Heizkosten sparen zu können.

Better Decision Making in Complex, Dynamic Tasks

Science & Nature

This book describes interactive learning environments (ILEs) and their underlying concepts. It explains how ILEs can be used to improve the decision-making process and how these improvements can be empirically verified. The objective of this book is to enhance our understanding of and to gain insights into the process by which human facilitated ILEs are effectively designed and used in improving users’ decision making in complex, dynamic tasks. This book is divided into four major parts. Part I serves as an introduction to the importance and complexity of decision making in dynamic tasks. Part II provides background material, drawing upon relevant literature, for the development of an integrated process model on the effectiveness of human facilitated ILEs in improving decision making in dynamic tasks. Part III focuses on the design, development, and application of FishBankILE in laboratory experiments to gather empirical evidence for the validity of the process model. Finally, part IV presents a comprehensive analysis of the gathered data to illustrate the lessons to be learned.Better Decision Making in Complex, Dynamic Tasks will be useful for managers and practitioners, researchers, and students of dynamic decision making.Praise for Better Decision Making in Complex, Dynamic Tasks:"...rich in content, full with unique insights, and a self-sufficient volume on the design, development and application of system dynamics based simulations that are implemented as interactive learning environments (ILEs). Practitioners and researchers interested in seeking evidence for the efficacy of ILEs’ use in decision-making will find this book a must read."Prof. Carmine Bianchi, Scientific Coordinator of CED4-System Dynamics Group, University of Palermo, Italy

635 Tage im Eis

Science & Nature

Am Anfang steht der Plan von der erstmaligen Durchquerung des weißen Kontinents. Doch das gewaltige Naturwunder Antarktis wird im Jahr 1915 für die Crew der 'Endurance' zur Hölle aus Eis. Beharrlich verfolgt Expeditionsleiter Sir Ernest Shackleton bald nur noch ein Ziel: 28 Männer lebend wieder in die Zivilisation zurückzubringen. Die faszinierende Geschichte einer Irrfahrt ans Ende der Welt. "Gebt mir Scott als wissenschaftlichen Expeditionsleiter ..., gebt mir Amundsen für eine störungsfreie und effiziente Polar-Expedition, aber wenn sich das Schicksal gegen euch verschworen zu haben scheint, dann fallt auf die Knie und betet um Shackleton."

The Transcendent Brain

Science & Nature

From the acclaimed author of Einstein’s Dreams comes a rich, fascinating answer to the question, Can the scientifically inclined still hold space for spirituality? “Lightman…belongs to a noble tradition of science writers, including Oliver Sacks and Lewis Thomas, who can poke endlessly into a subject and…stir up fresh embers of wonder.” —The Wall Street JournalGazing at the stars, falling in love, or listening to music, we sometimes feel a transcendent connection with a cosmic unity and things larger than ourselves. But these experiences are not easily understood by science, which holds that all things can be explained in terms of atoms and molecules. Is there space in our scientific worldview for these spiritual experiences? According to acclaimed physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, there may be. Drawing on intellectual history and conversations with contemporary scientists, philosophers, and psychologists, Lightman asks a series of thought-provoking questions that illuminate our strange place between the world of particles and forces and the world of complex human experience. Can strict materialism explain our appreciation of beauty? Or our feelings of connection to nature and to other people? Is there a physical basis for consciousness, the most slippery of all scientific problems? Lightman weaves these investigations together to propose what he calls “spiritual materialism”— the belief that we can embrace spiritual experiences without letting go of our scientific worldview. In his view, the breadth of the human condition is not only rooted in material atoms and molecules but can also be explained in terms of Darwinian evolution. What is revealed in this lyrical, enlightening book is that spirituality may not only be compatible with science, it also ought to remain at the core of what it means to be human.

Biofabrication for Orthopedics

Science & Nature

Biofabrication for Orthopedics A comprehensive overview of biofabrication techniques for orthopedics and their novel applications With an ever-increasing global population and the rise in the occurrence of orthopedic diseases amongst an aging population, it is essential for technological advances to meet this growing medical need. Orthopedic biofabrication is a cutting-edge field that seeks to produce novel clinical solutions to this mounting problem, through the incorporation of revolutionary technologies that have the potential to not only transform healthcare, but also provide highly automated and personalized patient solutions. With the advances in the discipline, there is a significant growing interest in biofabrication for orthopedics in research activity geared towards routine clinical use. Ideal for a broad readership amongst medical practitioners and scientists, Biofabrication for Orthopedics summarizes all aspects of the topic: detailed information on the technology, along with advanced developments, research progress, and future perspectives on biofabrication for orthopaedics—particularly on the potential applications for tissue engineering technologies. In doing so, the book describes the various biomaterials—natural and synthetic—use for orthopedics and discusses the many ways in which these materials can be used in all parts of the body. As such, it offers detailed information on a wide range of applications in the fields of biology and clinical and industrial manufacturing. Biofabrication for Orthopedics readers will also find: Insights into the applications of biofabrication technologies in various bodily functions Thorough discussion of different biofabrication techniques used in creating orthopedic products, like stereolithography, cell sheet and organ bioprinting, electrospinning, and microfluidics Discussion of a wide range of diverse functions, such as bone implants, skin regeneration, vascularization, meniscus remodeling, and more Biofabrication for Orthopedics is a useful reference for those in a variety of research fields like medical-related practitioners and scientists, materials science, medicine, and manufacturing, as well as the libraries who support them.

The Laboratory Mouse

Science & Nature

Key features: High quality full color photographs and descriptive texts on the location and removal of the organs from the mouse Instructive methods and clear visuals for trimming and orienting the organs for paraffin histology to obtain the best possible sections for analysis Full color photomicrographs of the resulting section for each organ stained with hematoxylin and eosin demonstrating important features and landmarks for the histologist to ensure the optimal area for analysis is achieved All in one, easy to use guide organized by individual organs of the laboratory mouse Spiralbound for easy reference in the labThis "one-stop" guide offers an essential resource for any academic, research or development operation where mouse necropsy and/or histology are performed. Connecting the reader ‘from the mouse to the microscope’, it provides a detailed guide for locating, trimming, orientating and embedding of the most frequently investigated tissues collected in the laboratory mouse. It shows where the organs reside in the mouse, how to trim and embed them as well as the resulting optimal sections. This guide brings together the wealth of scattered information into one high-quality text, the emphasis is on providing knowledge that will help histologists and scientists get better results in any downstream assays where ideal sections are needed.

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