Science & Nature - Books

Interpreting Mach

Science & Nature

This volume presents new essays on the work and thought of physicist, psychologist, and philosopher Ernst Mach. Moving away from previous estimations of Mach as a pre-logical positivist, the essays reflect his rehabilitation as a thinker of direct relevance to debates in the contemporary philosophies of natural science, psychology, metaphysics, and mind. Topics covered include Mach's work on acoustical psychophysics and physics; his ideas on analogy and the principle of conservation of energy; the correct interpretation of his scheme of 'elements' and its relationship to his 'historical-critical' method; the relationship of his thought to movements such as American pragmatism, realism, and neutral monism, as well as to contemporary figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche; and the reception and influence of his works in Germany and Austria, particularly by the Vienna Circle.

Critical Reflections on Nuclear and Renewable Energy

Science & Nature

Provides a personal yet scientific comparative study of nuclear energy and a spectrum of other energies from a reliability point of view, as well as outlining guidelines for developing energy policiesThe Fukushima nuclear accident made people ponder and question nuclear safety again, resulting in national decisions to phase out nuclear power completely. Is this the right decision? Are there better ways to deal with this important issue of the 21st century? Critical Reflections on Nuclear and Renewable Energy examines both the real and unreal potential dangers of nuclear power as well as a range of other energy sources, including coal, oil, gas, and renewable energies like solar, hydro, wind, and wave energy sources.The book analyzes the pros and cons of a spectrum of energies in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. It maintains that we should look at nuclear energy from a rational point of view instead of being influenced by emotions or politicians’ arguments. The book also examines policies that concern science and technology, energy resources, environmental protection, and occupational safety, emphasizing the need to deepen the general populace’s understanding of the concept of reliability.Critical Reflections on Nuclear and Renewable Energy provides both perspective and detail on the relative merits and state of the various energies and the real-life cost of new energies. The analysis considers mining, emissions, sustainability, cost implications, and energy security and safety. Through the discussion of the real cost and impact on environment of individual sources, this book provides a valuable insight into prospects for future energy development.

X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

Science & Nature

This book delves into X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, focusing on instrumental developments and data analysis methods employing chemometrics for environmental applications. The integration of information from multiple datasets is gaining an increase in attention and significance in the environmental sciences. In this book, the contributors provide an up-to-date treatment of the most extensively used chemometric methods for predicting and interpreting spectroscopic data in environmental applications. This book describes recent trends in XRF spectroscopic methods, encompassing energy-dispersive and wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, synchrotron radiation-based XRF, micro-XRF, and total reflection-XRF. It delivers a comprehensive discussion on X-ray detectors and associated imaging applications, along with an exploration of the analytical capabilities of these methods, including detection limits, accuracy, and precision in measurements for environmental samples. Furthermore, this book discusses the numerous advantages and limitations of these techniques, highlighting the latest developments in algorithms based on machine learning, neural networks, and AI for spectroscopic data interpretation. This book caters to researchers across various branches of science and technology, aiming to introduce them to modern techniques coupled with advanced data analysis methods. It serves as a valuable reference for those engaged in XRF spectroscopy techniques, hyphenated XRF spectroscopic techniques, and the characterization of biomolecular systems and environmental samples.

Two-dimensional Crossing and Product Cubic Systems, Vol. II

Science & Nature

This book, the 15th of 15 related monographs on Cubic Dynamic Systems, discusses crossing and product cubic systems with a crossing-linear and self-quadratic product vector field. The author discusses series of singular equilibriums and hyperbolic-to-hyperbolic-scant flows that are switched through the hyperbolic upper-to-lower saddles and parabola-saddles and circular and hyperbolic upper-to-lower saddles infinite-equilibriums. Series of simple equilibrium and paralleled hyperbolic flows are also discussed, which are switched through inflection-source (sink) and parabola-saddle infinite-equilibriums. Nonlinear dynamics and singularity for such crossing and product cubic systems are presented. In such cubic systems, the appearing bifurcations are: parabola-saddles, hyperbolic-to-hyperbolic-secant flows, third-order saddles (centers) and parabola-saddles (saddle-center). Develops a theory of crossing and product cubic systems with a crossing-linear and self-quadratic product vector field; Presents equilibrium series with hyperbolic-to-hyperbolic-scant flows and with paralleled hyperbolic flows; Shows equilibrium series switching bifurcations by up-down hyperbolic upper-to-lower saddles, parabola-saddles, et al.

Rhizosphere Biology: Interactions Between Microbes and Plants

Science & Nature

This book presents a detailed discussion on the direct interactions of plants and microorganisms in the rhizosphere environment. It includes fifteen chapters, each focusing on a specific component of plant-microbe interactions, such as the influence of plants on the root microbiome, and the downstream effects of rhizosphere microbial dynamics on carbon and nutrient fluxes in the surroundings. As such, the book helps readers gain a better understanding of diversity above the ground, and its effect on the microbiome and its functionality.

Dans la peau d'un chien

Science & Nature

Vous croyez tout savoir sur votre chien ? Et pourtant… la complicité que vous partagez avec lui, les messages que vous croyez lire dans ses yeux, les émotions que vous lui prêtez ne sont-ils pas l’effet de votre imagination, la projection de votre mode de pensée sur le sien ? Bien souvent, en effet, nous nous représentons l’univers animal à partir de la réalité humaine. Le meilleur moyen de comprendre un chien, c’est de se mettre littéralement dans sa peau : voilà ce que propose Alexandra Horowitz, éthologue passionnée, dans cet ouvrage aussi documenté que divertissant. Imaginez ce que serait votre vie à soixante centimètres du sol, à hauteur de truffe, et vous comprendrez beaucoup de choses : ce que le chien devine en vous sentant (vos émotions, vos maladies), pourquoi il préfère votre lit à son panier, pourquoi il court après les vélos et se roule dans les flaques… Au fil des expériences et des anecdotes, vous découvrirez les capacités sensorielles et cognitives de votre fidèle compagnon. Et plus jamais vous ne le regarderez de la même façon.

Sustainable Biofuels

Science & Nature

Sustainable Biofuels: Opportunities and challenges, a volume in the "Applied Biotechnology Reviews series, explores the state-of-the-art in research and applied technology for the conversion of all types of biofuels. Its chapters span a broad spectrum of knowledge, from fundamentals and technical aspects to optimization, combinations, economics, and environmental aspects. They cover various facets of research, production, and commercialization of bioethanol, biodiesel, biomethane, biohydrogen, biobutanol, and biojet fuel. This book discusses biochemical, thermochemical, and hydrothermal conversion of unconventional feedstocks, including the role of biotechnology applications to achieve efficiency and competitiveness. Through case studies, techno-economic analysis and sustainability assessment, including life cycle assessment, it goes beyond technical aspects to provides actual resources for better decision-making during the development of commercially viable technology by researchers, PhD students, and practitioners in the field of bioenergy. It is also a useful resource for those in adjacent areas, such as biotechnology, industrial microbiology, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and sustainability science, who are working on solutions for the bioeconomy. The ability to compare different technologies and their outcome that this book provides is also beneficial for energy analysts, consultants, planners, and policy-makers. The "Applied Biotechnology Reviews series highlights current development and research in biotechnology-related fields, combining in single-volume works the theoretical aspects and real-world applications for better decision-making. - Covers current technologies and advancements in biochemical, thermochemical, and hydrothermal conversion methods for production of various types of biofuels from conventional and nonconventional feedstock - Examines biotechnology processes, including genetic engineering of microorganisms and substrates, applied to biofuel production - Bridges the gap between technology development and prospects of commercialization of bioprocesses, including policy and economics of biofuel production, biofuel value chains, and how to accomplish cost-competitive results and sustainable development

The Birds of America: Vol. 5

Science & Nature

This groundbreaking work features hand-colored, life-sized prints of North American birds based on field drawings made by famous wildlife artist John James Audubon. The work includes images of six now-extinct birds. This is the fifth of seven volumes.

The Book of Minds

Science & Nature

Popular science writer Philip Ball explores a range of sciences to map our answers to a huge, philosophically rich question: How do we even begin to think about minds that are not human? Sciences from zoology to astrobiology, computer science to neuroscience, are seeking to understand minds in their own distinct disciplinary realms. Taking a uniquely broad view of minds and where to find them—including in plants, aliens, and God—Philip Ball pulls the pieces together to explore what sorts of minds we might expect to find in the universe. In so doing, he offers for the first time a unified way of thinking about what minds are and what they can do, by locating them in what he calls the “space of possible minds.” By identifying and mapping out properties of mind without prioritizing the human, Ball sheds new light on a host of fascinating questions: What moral rights should we afford animals, and can we understand their thoughts? Should we worry that AI is going to take over society? If there are intelligent aliens out there, how could we communicate with them? Should we? Understanding the space of possible minds also reveals ways of making advances in understanding some of the most challenging questions in contemporary science: What is thought? What is consciousness? And what (if anything) is free will? Informed by conversations with leading researchers, Ball’s brilliant survey of current views about the nature and existence of minds is more mind-expanding than we could imagine. In this fascinating panorama of other minds, we come to better know our own.

Outdoor Environmental Education in the Contemporary World

Science & Nature

This edited volume explores the role of outdoor environmental education in the contemporary society. It identifies some of the opportunities and challenges of this educational area, particularly in the growing digitalization of the contemporary society and the distancing between people and nature. Furthermore, it seeks to answer why outdoor environmental education is essential for developing students’ environmental citizenship competencies or developing their relationship with nature. The book also introduces the various approaches existing in the field, discusses their relevance, and highlights their unique features.The book finishes with an overview of the practice of outdoor environmental education in selected countries from North America, Europe, and Asia.

La mort de la mort

Science & Nature

Mourir est-il inévitable ? Selon les auteurs de ce livre qui basent leurs arguments sur des avancées scientifiques et techniques, la mort est aujourd’hui contestable et contestée. Ils vont même plus loin : d’ici 2045, grâce aux progrès exponentiels de l’intelligence artificielle, la régénération et la création de tissus, l’impression d’organes, la cryoconservation, les thérapies génétiques ou immunologiques, la mort sera facultative. Le vieillissement doit être considéré aujourd’hui comme une maladie qui peut – et qui doit – être guérie. La science doit concentrer ses recherches sur le vieillissement, responsable de plus de 70% des décès plutôt que sur les maladies qu’il engendre.La mort de la mort est un livre visionnaire qui nous confronte.

The Secret Teachings Of All Ages

Science & Nature

A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, ritual, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is available for the first time in a compact "reader's edition." Like no other book of the twentieth century, Manly P. Hall's legendary The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world. Students of hidden wisdom, ancient symbols, and arcane practices treasure Hall's magnum opus above all other works. While many thousands of copies have sold since its initial publication in 1928, The Secret Teachings of All Ages has previously been available only in oversized, expensive editions. For the first time, Hall's celebrated classic is now published in an affordable trade paperback volume. Literally hundreds of entries shine a rare light on some of the most fascinating and closely held aspects of myth, religion, and philosophy from throughout the centuries. More than one hundred line drawings and a sixteen-page color insert reproduce some of the finest illustrations of the original book, while reset and reformatted text makes this edition of The Secret Teachings of All Ages newly accessible to readers everywhere.

Narodzić się

Science & Nature

W Narodzić się Luce Irigaray – jedna z czołowych filozofek współczesnych, której myśl wykładana jest na uniwersytetach na całym świecie – proponuje nowy sposób rozumienia tego, kim jest człowiek. W swoim namyśle nad istotą człowieczeństwa skupia się w szczególności na pytaniu o początki i pochodzenie. Przełamuje tym samym paradygmat ustanowiony przez androcentryczną tradycję filozoficzną Zachodu, dla której dominującym punktem odniesienia jest przeważnie śmierć. Tymczasem wedle Irigaray kwestią fundamentalną są narodziny, rozumiane z jednej strony jako afirmacja autonomii, z drugiej – jako droga ku relacyjności i rozwojowi istoty ludzkiej.Bez względu na nieznane okoliczności naszego poczęcia pragnęliśmy się narodzić. Nasze istnienie nie może być wynikiem zwykłego przypadku, a nasza chęć do życia objawiła się wyraźnie w chwili naszych narodzin. To my sami mieliśmy wpływ na ten moment. I to my zrodziliśmy siebie za sprawą pierwszego oddechu. Pomimo że mały człowiek, aby przetrwać, długo pozostaje zależny od innych, to on dał sobie życie, by móc przyjść na świat – i dał to życie sobie samemu. Jeżeli nawet został poczęty przez dwoje ludzi i zaczął swoją ludzką egzystencję w ciele innej, to samodzielnie podjął decyzję, by się pojawić w uniwersum tego, co żyjące. – Luce Irigaray

Souvenirs pour le futur. Projets et utopies en physiologie de la perception et de l’action

Science & Nature

Les sens, mais aussi le mouvement, le système vestibulaire ou encore la mémoire spatiale, recouvrent des fonctions à la fois perceptives et cognitives, qui sollicitent et révèlent toute la complexité du cerveau. Ils jouent un rôle essentiel dans la construction de soi et dans l’interaction avec autrui et le monde. Fruits d’un dialogue interdisciplinaire cher à Alain Berthoz, ces découvertes ont renouvelé notre conception de la perception et de l’action, comme du cerveau et des neurosciences. Dans sa leçon de clôture, le neurophysiologiste revient sur les projets qui ont nourri ses réflexions et lui ont permis, grâce à des dispositifs technologiques inédits, de mettre au jour l’incidence de la perception non seulement sur le développement de certaines maladies, mais aussi sur des problématiques sociétales et culturelles. Ces travaux trouvent aujourd’hui des applications en psychiatrie de l’enfant, et inspirent la robotique, les mondes virtuels et la pédagogie.

Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies: From Lot Release to Stability Testing

Science & Nature

Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies: From Lot Release to Stability Testing is a highly topical resource on a subject of interest for scientists and researchers working on monoclonal antibodies' characterization, release testing, stability testing and similarity assessments of monoclonal antibodies in the biopharmaceutical industry. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are large, extremely complex and dynamic biomolecules, so it can be challenging to develop well-characterized therapeutic antibodies that meet regulatory expectations that are also in-line with commercialized standards for different drug markets.Lot release testing and understanding the stability of the mAb over a period of time, and in different environmental conditions, is an indispensable aspect of mAb physicochemical characterization. This book covers the process, including extensive analysis that starts with quantifying the purity attribute to glycan profiling and identifying the mAb primary structure. The book has a primary purpose of focusing on both Lot release testing and stability testing of monoclonal antibodies (subjects not covered in any great detail in other books). - Discusses, in detail, the Lot release methods for both drug substance and drug product, along with their importance in process sample analysis - Gives specific attention to general characteristics tests, such as pH determination, osmolality, sub-visible particle count, appearance and visible tests, and regulatory/pharmacopeial guidelines - Includes different kinds of stability testing (real time, accelerated and stressed) and their importance and determinations on product shelf life - Presents regulatory guidelines on ICH Q2R1, ICHQ6B and ICHQ5C, which are discussed along with analytical method validation, monoclonal antibodies physicochemical characterization and stability testing - Provides different characterization methods and validation and development case studies of monoclonal antibodies, including biosimilars and innovators

The Tuscany Dialogues

Science & Nature

Two earnest scholars who study human consciousness spend six days in a conversation spanning their areas of knowledge in science, philosophy, and metaphysics to question whether our profound ecological crisis, unique in the life of our planet in its potential for loss of biodiversity and the possibility of actual extinction of our species, can be rectified.

Cheaper, Faster, Better

Science & Nature

Instant New York Times BestsellerClimate investor and activist Tom Steyer shows us how we can win the war on climate—and why fighting for a sustainable future can help bring meaning and prosperity to our lives.The consequences of climate change—rising waters, extreme weather, record temperatures—are transforming our lives, as global warming accelerates more rapidly than scientists predicted even a few years ago. At the same time, the clean energy revolution is forging ahead faster than nearly anyone anticipated. As Tom Steyer sees it, these two trends together create a moment like the one America faced during World War II: on the one hand, an existential threat that demands our collective action; on the other, an opportunity to lead the world, protect the planet, and set the stage for a new generation of shared economic prosperity.In 2012, Steyer walked away from the highly successful investment fund he founded to devote himself full time to climate issues, and he’s been on the front lines ever since. In this accessible book, aimed at everyone from college students to Wall Street investors, Steyer presents his blueprint for winning the climate fight—sharing his own story of becoming a “climate person,” debunking the arguments made by fossil fuel companies, and showcasing the inspiring, innovative work of other climate leaders in the clean-energy transition. Capitalism, Steyer argues, can be the key to scaling climate progress, and all of us can play a part in stabilizing our planet. As green technology is fast becoming cleaner and cheaper, reshaping our planet’s future—and our own—has never been more crucial or within our reach.

Cosmos

Science & Nature

Cosmos has 13 heavily illustrated chapters, corresponding to the 13 episodes of the Cosmos television series. In the book, Sagan explores 15 billion years of cosmic evolution and the development of science and civilization. Cosmos traces the origins of knowledge and the scientific method, mixing science and philosophy, and speculates to the future of science. The book also discusses the underlying premises of science by providing biographical anecdotes about many prominent scientists throughout history, placing their contributions into the broader context of the development of modern science. The book covers a broad range of topics, comprising Sagan's reflections on anthropological, cosmological, biological, historical, and astronomical matters from antiquity to contemporary times. Sagan reiterates his position on extraterrestrial life—that the magnitude of the universe permits the existence of thousands of alien civilizations, but no credible evidence exists to demonstrate that such life has ever visited earth.

Concetti fluidi e analogie creative

Science & Nature

L’analogia è un processo intellettivo fondamentale – e misterioso. Forse anche per questo la scienza ne ha sempre diffidato, come se vi si celasse la minaccia di una perdita di rigore del ragionamento. Eppure l’analogia continua ad agire, a tutti i livelli. E alcuni grandi pensatori, da Platone a Simone Weil, hanno insinuato che solo l’analogia permette di accedere alla comprensione di realtà che altrimenti rimarrebbero opache. Così, con la giocosa immediatezza e a un tempo con la profondità già mostrata in «Gödel, Escher, Bach», Hofstadter ha voluto rovesciare la prospettiva, affrontando il tema all’interno di una indagine innovatrice sui modelli computazionali della creatività umana. Impresa ambiziosissima, giacché in questo ambito ogni tentativo di meccanizzazione sfocia in un vicolo cieco: per programmare un calcolatore in vista di un qualsiasi risultato, infatti, occorre definire i processi con tanta rigida precisione che non è più lecito parlare di creatività. Ma qui si evita la trappola con il ricorso alle «analogie fluide»: il percorso creativo diventa un navigare a vista, scrutando in ogni direzione. E la stessa parola «creatività» comincia a perdere quei connotati incerti che così spesso la rendono fastidiosa e inutilizzabile. L’attività di pensiero ha natura parallela: al modo di minuscoli esploratori, molti sottoprogrammi compiono piccoli atti subcognitivi indipendenti, li confrontano e collettivamente costruiscono strutture mentali coerenti. Hofstadter e i suoi colleghi del Gruppo di Ricerca sulle Analogie fluide saggiano il loro approccio in campi quali gli anagrammi, le successioni numeriche, i giochi matematici, la costruzione di alfabeti tipografici in stili diversi, la disposizione casuale di oggetti su un tavolo, e mostrano come già esempi così semplici pongano problemi che rappresentano una sfida continua a pensare in modo creativo. Ma ogni volta il programma si rivela capace di istituire analogie significative, di compiere salti logici, e anche di fornire più di una risposta «giusta», o di distinguere tra risposte deboli o forti, ovvie o profonde – proprio come gli esseri umani. Se «Gödel, Escher, Bach» aveva segnato l’apice della fortuna dell’intelligenza artificiale, il nuovo libro di Hofstadter rende esplicita con la massima efficacia la transizione da quest’ultima a quell’area ancora in gran parte inesplorata che oggi si designa con l’espressione «scienze cognitive». «Concetti fluidi e analogie creative» è apparso per la prima volta nel 1995.

Numerical Methods for Optimal Control Problems

Science & Nature

The volume presents recent mathematical methods in the area of optimal control with a particular emphasis on the computational aspects and applications. Optimal control theory concerns the determination of control strategies for complex dynamical systems in order to optimize measures of their performance. The field was created in the 1960's, in response to the pressures of the "space race" between the US and the former USSR, but it now has a far wider scope and embraces a variety of areas ranging from process control to traffic flow optimization, renewable resources exploitation and financial market management. These emerging applications require increasingly efficient numerical methods to be developed for their solution – a difficult task due the huge number of variables. Providing an up-to-date overview of several recent methods in this area, including fast dynamic programming algorithms, model predictive control and max-plus techniques, this book is intended for researchers, graduate students and applied scientists working in the area of control problems, differential games and their applications.

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