springer international publishing jun 2014 (345 risultati)

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Since the 1970¿s, microprocessor-based digital platforms have been riding Moore¿s law, allowing for doubling of density for the same area roughly every two years. However, whereas microprocessor fabrication has focused on increasing instruction execution rate, memory fabrication technologies have focused primarily on an increase in capacity with negligible increase in speed. This divergent trend in performance between the processors and memory has led to a phenomenon referred to as the ¿Memory Wall.¿ To overcome the memory wall, designers have resorted to a hierarchy of cache memory levels, which rely on the principal of memory access locality to reduce the observed memory access time and the performance gap between processors and memory. Unfortunately, important workload classes exhibit adverse memory access patterns that baffle the simple policies built into modern cache hierarchies to move instructions and data across cache levels. As such, processors often spend much time idling upon a demand fetch of memory blocks that miss in higher cache levels. Prefetching¿predicting future memory accesses and issuing requests for the corresponding memory blocks in advance of explicit accesses¿is an effective approach to hide memory access latency. There have been a myriad of proposed prefetching techniques, and nearly every modern processor includes some hardware prefetching mechanisms targeting simple and regular memory access patterns. This primer offers an overview of the various classes of hardware prefetchers for instructions and data proposed in the research literature, and presents examples of techniques incorporated into modern microprocessors.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 68 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Augmented reality (AR) systems are often used to superimpose virtual objects or information on a scene to improve situational awareness. Delays in the display system or inaccurate registration of objects destroy the sense of immersion a user experiences when using AR systems. AC electromagnetic trackers are ideal for these applications when combined with head orientation prediction to compensate for display system delays. Unfortunately, these trackers do not perform well in environments that contain conductive or ferrous materials due to magnetic field distortion without expensive calibration techniques. In our work we focus on both the prediction and distortion compensation aspects of this application, developing a 'small footprint' predictive filter for display lag compensation and a simplified calibration system for AC magnetic trackers. In the first phase of our study we presented a novel method of tracking angular head velocity from quaternion orientation using an Extended KalmanFilter in both single model (DQEKF) and multiple model (MMDQ) implementations. In the second phase of our work we have developed a new method of mapping the magnetic field generated by the tracker without high precision measurement equipment. This method uses simple fixtures with multiple sensors in a rigid geometry to collect magnetic field data in the tracking volume. We have developed a new algorithm to process the collected data and generate a map of the magnetic field distortion that can be used to compensate distorted measurement data. Table of Contents: List of Tables / Preface / Acknowledgments / Delta Quaternion Extended Kalman Filter / Multiple Model Delta Quaternion Filter / Interpolation Volume Calibration / Conclusion / References / Authors' BiographiesSpringer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 192 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -To understand the power of distributed systems, it is necessary to understand their inherent limitations: what problems cannot be solved in particular systems, or without sufficient resources (such as time or space). This book presents key techniques for proving such impossibility results and applies them to a variety of different problems in a variety of different system models. Insights gained from these results are highlighted, aspects of a problem that make it difficult are isolated, features of an architecture that make it inadequate for solving certain problems efficiently are identified, and different system models are compared.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 164 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This textbook describes the approaches used by software engineers to build quality into their software. The fundamental principles of software quality management and software process improvement are discussed in detail, with a particular focus on the CMMI framework. Features: includes review questions at the end of each chapter; covers both theory and practice, and provides guidance on applying the theory in an industrial environment; examines all aspects of the software development process, including project planning and tracking, software lifecycles, software inspections and testing, configuration management, and software quality assurance; provides detailed coverage of software metrics and problem solving; describes SCAMPI appraisals and how they form part of the continuous improvement cycle; presents an introduction to formal methods and the Z specification language; discusses UML, which is used to describe the architecture of the system; reviews the history of the field of software quality.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 384 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book offers a multidisciplinary strategy for finding new and more effective human-computer interaction approaches, in particular from a socio-technical perspective, that facilitate the exploration and exploitation of benefits that information technologies (IT) offer organizations. Though the relationship between IT and organizations is certainly very strong, it is also one of the greatest obstacles to securing benefits from their interaction. The participation of organizational users in the planning and design stages of IT interfaces is the main area of human-computer interaction, where a wealth of contributions are positively enriching both the academic and management discussions. Thus, a new approach for managing this relationship is needed, one in which the different stakeholders are suitably taken into account. Moreover, the outstanding success of the 2.0 phenomenon offers an example of a relevant platform where human-computer interaction has been widely developed and exploited. Consequently, this will influence and already is influencing ¿ the way IT and users interact with each other. The book is based on a selection of the best papers ¿ original, double blind peer-reviewed contributions ¿ from the annual conference of the Italian chapter of the AIS, held in Milan, Italy in December 2013.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 280 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This Brief provides a theoretical and conceptual development of a new Risk Assessment Toolbox (RAT) for the early detection of violent extremists. It is based on aneurocognitive perspective, conceptualized as¿neuroplasticity-in-action¿ arising from brain-based neural patterns expressed in mind-based cognitive pathways likely to form a mind-set of violent extremism.This neurocognitive-based Risk Assessment Toolbox (RAT) is comprised of two distinct components: a cognitive indicators instrument that serves as an early detection checklist for trained practitioners, and a software visualisation program.The Brief includes:A framework of contemporary approaches to the risk assessment of violence as well as the background context for the current research project on ¿violent extremism¿ and its related concepts of ¿terrorism¿ and ¿radicalisation,¿ out of which the RAT was developed. A detailed overview of RAT and a pilot case study experiment to highlight the practical value and utility of this neurocognitive Risk Assessment Toolbox. Preliminary research findings of a study conducted with a sample of recognized experts (academics and practitioners) in several countries around the world, to fine tune and validate the risk parameters of the two components that constitute RAT (Risk Assessment Toolbox). The current stage of development of RAT as a practitioner-based system for the early detection of potentially violent extremists as well as its strategic intelligence implications for using a neurocognitive risk assessment approach to violent extremism is discussed.Research limitations and plans for future research studies.This work will be of interest to researchers in Criminology and Criminal Justice interested in studying violent extremism, terrorism and crime prevention and intervention and policing, as well as researchers in related fields of Forensic Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience and Social Work or SocialIntervention.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 132 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This Brief identifies and contrasts the groups of expansion franchises and any teams that relocated from one metropolitan area or city to another within the National Football League (NFL) during three distinct periods from 1920 to 2013. It discusses historical differences and similarities between the teams¿ markets and performances before 1933 and then as members of the NFL¿s divisions and conferences. It measures and compares the emergence, development and success of the teams by analyzing demographic, economic and sport-specific data. It also discusses the NFL¿s mergers with the All American Football Conference (1950) and American Football League (1970), outlining the reasons for and consequences of these mergers as well as their significance for sports fans and markets.The book makes an important, relevant and useful contribution to the literature regarding professional sports operations and to the NFL¿s short and long run business strategies in American culture. Besides numerous sports fans within metropolitan areas and extended markets of these NFL teams, the book¿s audiences are sports historians and researchers, college and public libraries and current and potential NFL franchise owners and team executives. The book may also be used as a reference or supplemental text for college and university students enrolled in such applied undergraduate and graduate courses and seminars as sports administration, sports business and sports management.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 140 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Uniform Across-the-Board Promotions (UABPs) are characterized by retailers offering a uniform discount on the entire assortment (e.g. 20% on every article) to their customers. This latest form of promotionhas gained massive popularity among retailers and consumers in recent times. This book analyses their impact on short- and long-term retailer performance and consumer shopping behaviour by applying state-of-the art marketing research methods. Furthermore this book provides guidance for retail and marketing managers on how to best profit from UABPs, to increase sales and profits while balancing the risks associated with this type of promotion.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 120 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -¿¿This brief covers the unique crime group of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are adult criminal associations composed of ¿bikers¿ living a deviant lifestyle that includes individual, group, and club criminal behavior. These groups are sometimes called one percenters, due to the American Motorcycle Association statement that ninety-nine percent of motorcyclists are law abiding citizens.While many may be familiar with the reputation of the Hells' Angels, many may not realize the wide network of other Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs or the extent of their involvement in criminal activities.The brief includesa breakdown of the criminal networks and activities of these groups, which operate similarly to an organized crime group.It also covers the evolution of motorcycle clubs to motorcycle gangs. It examines the recent trend of American-based motorcycle gangs into international organized crime activities.This book will be of interest to researcher studying criminology, particularly organized crime and criminal networks, as well as international and comparative law and public policy.¿Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 64 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Traditionally, the study of entrepreneurial behavior focuses on such factors as (i) the personality characteristics that distinguish the entrepreneur from non-entrepreneur and (ii) demographic characteristics such gender, age, familiar antecedents and education. With particular respect to investigating the development, acquisition, and dissemination of entrepreneurial skills and behaviors, the authors focus on the university environment, as a locus of research and innovation, where students are exposed to a wide variety of influences that are enhanced by a high degree of connectivity.The underlying theme of this volume is to develop our understanding of the sociology of student entrepreneurial behavior and in doing so attempt to synthesize literature investigating individual talent with the literature on concurrent knowledge sourcing in the pursuit of entrepreneurial activities. Specifically, the authors investigate the degree to which access to diverse knowledge (in addition to such psychological characteristics and tolerance of ambiguity and risk taking) influences the nature and probability of entrepreneurial success. Moreover, they explore the role of social media and social networking in facilitating access to distributed and disparate information and knowledge.Their research addresses such timely questions as:Where do entrepreneurial opportunities come from How can higher education best stimulate the creation of firms emanating from young and smart minds in colleges and universities What is the value of MOOCs for frequent, early, and ¿thick¿ communication among the various specialties needed to accomplish entrepreneurial projects How do we know whether social media affect students¿ responses to new knowledge and new ideas To what extent do educational practices affect racial and ethnic differences in student entrepreneurship What is the role of the indigenousminority student entrepreneur in establishing high-technology firms The result is a multi-dimensional approach that sheds light on the dynamics of education, knowledge creation, social networking, innovation and new business development.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 160 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book deals with the concepts of leadership and communication in business organizations, initially on a general level and then in detail through an analysis of specific cases. First the bookprovides a contextual framework to explain the role and importance of the topic. The foundation is provided by selected behavioural and situational theories. Then 15 different leadershipmodels and their respective communication strategies are specified. The interaction of leadership and communication is examined explaining organizational communication and its tools. Inthe third part the book looks in detail at the glass, textile and confection industries. It examines the relationship between socio-demographic variables of employees, leadership types and communication styles and systems of managers in these sectors. The results of this study provide researchers and professionals with a number of suggestions for more effective organizational communication and better leadership practice.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 168 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Jonathan Dean (1924-2014) was a distinguished U.S. diplomat (1950-1980) and from 1984 to 2007 global security adviser to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, D.C. During the 1980s and 1990s he was a pioneering conceptual thinker, writer and speaker on détente in Europe, global cooperative security, arms control and disarmament. He authored: Watershed in Europe (1987), Meeting Gorbachev¿s Challenge (1989) and Ending Europe¿s Wars (1994). This volume contains his biography and bibliography, six texts on détente and arms control in Europe in the 1980s: Beyond First Use; MBFR; Alternative Defence; Berlin; A Crisis Management Center; Conventional Arms Control in Europe and six texts on the new security order in Europe since the 1990s: Components of a Post-Cold War Security System for Europe; Constraining Technological Weapons Innovation; NATO Enlargement: Act II; Ten Years after the Wall; Future Security in Space; Rethinking Security: Return to the Grotean Pattern.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 248 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This Brief introduces the wireless spectrum market and discusses the current research for spectrum auctions. It covers the unique properties of spectrum auction, such as interference relationship, reusability, divisibility, composite effect and marginal effect, while also proposing how to build economic incentives into the network architecture and protocols in order to optimize the efficiency of wireless systems.Three scenarios for designing new auctions are demonstrated. First, a truthful double auction scheme for spectrum trading considering both the heterogeneous propagation properties of channels and spatial reuse is proposed. In the second scenario, a framework is designed to enable spectrum group secondary users with a limited budget. Finally, a flexible auction is created enabling operators to purchase the right amounts of spectrum at the right prices according to their users¿ dynamic demands.Both concise and comprehensive, Auction Design for the Wireless Spectrum Market is suited for professionals and researchers working with wireless communications and networks. It is also a useful tool for advanced-level students interested in spectrum and networking issues.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 96 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -The book, the first in a series arising from the research network The Reacting Atmosphere, explains and outlines the aims of this ambitious cross-disciplinary effort. The central topic is air quality and climate change, and the methods of atmospheric physics and chemistry, applied mathematics and socio-economic science are used to advance the understanding of the role of the atmosphere in global change.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 68 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -When is the 'right' time How can I meet the demands of a professorship whilst caring for a young family Choosing to become a mother has a profound effect on the career path of women holding academic positions, especially in the physical sciences. Yet many women successfully manage to do both. In this book 15 inspirational personal accounts describe the challenges and rewards of combining motherhood with an academic career in chemistry. The authors are all women at different stages of their career and from a range of colleges, in tenure and non-tenure track positions. Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students of chemistry, these contributions serve as examples for women considering a career in academia but worry about how this can be balanced with other important aspects of life. The authors describe how they overcame particular challenges, but also highlight aspects of the systems which could be improved to accommodate women academics and particularly encourage more women to take on academic positions in the sciences.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 220 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book presents a collection of texts by the German physicist and philosopher Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker (1912-2007), for use in seminars on the history, epistemology and structure of physics. Most texts appear in English for the first time. Weizsäcker became famous through his works in physics, mainly in the early development of nuclear physics. Later he would also become well known as a philosopher and analyst of contemporary culture. Texts include the original publications of the ¿Weizsäcker-Bethe formulä of nuclear masses and the ¿Bethe-Weizsäcker cycle,¿ which explains the source of energy in the sun; both were developed by Bethe at the same time and independently of Weizsäcker. Further texts deal with Weizsäcker¿s explanation of the origin of planets, his explanation of the ¿time arrow¿ in Statistical Mechanics and his analyses of Quantum Mechanics and the structure of physics in general.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 204 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book, written by expert surgeons, offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of all aspects of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Coverage includes the indications for surgery, anesthesia, surgical technique, and the prevention and management of complications, with extensive reference to the latest clinical evidence and assessment of the benefits of the laparoscopic approach, for example in terms of outcomes and day surgery. New technologies, including SILS, NOTES, robotic surgery, and miniaturized instruments, are reviewed. The learning curve and training are also extensively discussed, and an individual chapter is devoted to the views of international experts in the field. Readers will find the book to be an ideal guide to this gold standard technique, which continues to evolve some 20 years after the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference first published recommendations regarding indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 204 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book is about the history and future of life and the universe, written at a level that any educated lay-person can understand and enjoy. It describes our place in time and space, how we got here and where we are going. It will take you on a journey from the beginning of time to the end of the universe to uncover our origins and reveal our destiny. It will explain how mankind acquired this knowledge starting from the beginning of civilization when the ancient Greeks first began to ask questions about the nature of the world around them.Ben Moore takes us on a path of discovery that connects astrophysics with subjects as varied as biology, neuroscience and evolution; from the origin of atoms to how stars shine and die, from ants and elephants to space travel and extra-terrestrial life. But as our universe grows older and its stars fade away and stop shining, can life continue for eternity or is all life destined for complete extinction And what is the purpose of all ofthis anyway !On the German edition:'With his public talks and his new book 'Elefanten im All' the Brit is on his way of becoming a popstar of science. Moore has a story to tell. The story of everything. From the beginning to the end of our existence. And he does so with esprit and catching passion.' Rico Bandle, Weltwoche, 1. November 2012¿The kind of book you come across only every few years.¿ Artur K. Vogel, Der Bund, September 2012. 204 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the proceedings of the Third Joint International Semantic Technology Conference, JIST 2013, held in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2013.The 32 papers, included four tutorials and 5 workshop papers, in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The contributions are organized in topical sections on semantic Web services, multilingual issues, biomedical applications, ontology construction, semantic reasoning, semantic search and query, ontology mapping, and learning and discovery.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 476 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems, ISMIS 2014, held in Roskilde, Denmark, in June 2014. The 61 revised full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 111 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on complex networks and data stream mining; data mining methods; intelligent systems applications; knowledge representation in databases and systems; textual data analysis and mining; special session: challenges in text mining and semantic information retrieval; special session: warehousing and OLAPing complex, spatial and spatio-temporal data; ISMIS posters.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 592 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This short, readable book is intended as a big-picture introduction/overview for environmental students and lay-people involved with environmental issues. Every freshman in college intending to study environmental science should read it. It begins with ahistorical perspective on waste and environmental control. Basic instruction on some important fundamentals faced by environmental professionals every day, such as sampling, analysis, data visualization, risk assessment and forensic chemistry are provided in the following chapter. Important regulatory fundamentals, such as the National Contingency Plan, which is the U.S. regulatory framework for addressing hazardous waste is alsodefined. The bookconcludes with pertinent and provocative considerations on the future of environmental management, such as alternative approaches (technical impracticability), the ¿not-in-my-backyard syndrome,¿ and the safety of chemicals in consumer products. The book contains many useful facts about waste production rates, energy use and recycling rates¿all referenced to allow substantiation and provide a springboard for further research.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 112 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -The aim of this book is to investigate critical economic aspects and price risks along international pellet supply chains and to offer new insights into the interconnections between the sector, the various supply risks within the market and guidelines for de-risking biomass supply chains. It provides three real case studies as practical examples of determining actual supply costs from resource production to end-user and in doing so identifies and analyzes general economic performance indicators and price drivers for biomass supply chains. It also investigates the impact of several risks like raw material prices, exchange and freight rates on total prices. As a result, the reader learns how price risks are hedged to avoid project defaults and how to achieve the renewable energy targets of the end-user. Practical guidelines for recognising critical economic issues in biomass supply chains and for applying adequate de-risk strategies are also provided. Offering insights to a broad audience, this book is intended for researchers and professionals interested in renewable energy systems, biomass resource management and supply chain management. It also provides an invaluable resource to policy makers seeking guidelines for successfully managing the introduction of sustainable biomass projects.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 68 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This concise text is based on a series of lectures held only a few years ago and originally intended as an introduction to known results on linear hyperbolic and parabolic equations. Yet the topic of differential equations on graphs, ramified spaces, and more general network-like objects has recently gained significant momentum and, well beyond the confines of mathematics, there is a lively interdisciplinary discourse on all aspects of so-called complex networks. Such network-like structures can be found in virtually all branches of science, engineering and the humanities, and future research thus calls for solid theoretical foundations.This book is specifically devoted to the study of evolution equations ¿ i.e., of time-dependent differential equations such as the heat equation, the wave equation, or the Schrödinger equation (quantum graphs) ¿ bearing in mind that the majority of the literature in the last ten years on the subject of differential equations of graphs has beendevoted to elliptic equations and related spectral problems. Moreover, for tackling the most general settings - e.g. encoded in the transmission conditions in the network nodes - one classical and elegant tool is that of operator semigroups. This book is simultaneously a very concise introduction to this theory and a handbook on its applications to differential equations on networks.With a more interdisciplinary readership in mind, full proofs of mathematical statements have been frequently omitted in favor of keeping the text as concise, fluid and self-contained as possible. In addition, a brief chapter devoted to the field of neurodynamics of the brain cortex provides a concrete link to ongoing applied research.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 304 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Aligning an organization¿s goals and strategies requires specifying their rationales and connections so that the links are explicit and allow for analytic reasoning about what is successful and where improvement is necessary.This book provides guidance on how to achieve this alignment, how to monitor the success of goals and strategies and use measurement to recognize potential failures, and how to close alignment gaps. It uses the GQM+Strategies approach, which provides concepts and actionable steps for creating the link between goals and strategies across an organization and allows for measurement-based decision-making.After outlining the general motivation for organizational alignment through measurement, the GQM+Strategies approach is described concisely, with a focus on the basic model that is created and the process for creating and using this model. The recommended steps of all six phases of the process are then described in detail with the help of a comprehensive application example. Finally, the industrial challenges addressed by the method and cases of its application in industry are presented, and the relations to other approaches, such as Balanced Scorecard, are described. The book concludes with supplementary material, such as checklists and guidelines, to support the application of the method.This book is aimed at organization leaders, managers, decision makers, and other professionals interested in aligning their organization¿s goals and strategies and establishing an efficient strategic measurement program. It is also interesting for academic researchers looking for mechanisms to integrate theirresearch results into organizational environments.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 232 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -The sister cities of the southwestern United States border are challenged by widespread environmental and health issues and limited access to help. And while different initiatives have been set up to improve health outcomes and lessen inequities in the border region, evaluation data are scarce.Culture and Health Disparitiesprovides a perspective on U.S.-Mexico border health with an evidence-based guide for conceptualizing, implementing, and evaluating health interventions. Taking into account the unique qualities of border life and their influence on general wellbeing, this important volume offers detailed criteria for creating public health programs that are medically, culturally, and ethically sound. The book identifies gaps in intervention research on major health concerns in the area, relating them to disparity-reduction efforts in the rest of the U.S. and arguing for more relevant means of data gathering and analysis. The author also asserts that progress can be made on both sides of the border despite concurrent social and political problems in the region. Included in the coverage:The border region as a social system.The development of health disparities: a life-course model.A social systems approach to understanding health disparities.A critique of U.S.-Mexico border health interventions.Evaluating interventions to reduce healthcare disparities.Ethical issues in health interventions across cultures and contexts.A text for researchers and practitioners working to promote border health and reduce service inequalities, Culture and Health Disparities asks pertinent questions and provides workable, meaningful answers.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 96 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the 9th International Workshops on Coordination, Organizations, Institutions and Norms in Agent Systems, COIN 2013. The workshops were co-located with AAMAS 2013, held in St. Paul, MN, USA in May 2013, and with PRIMA 2013, held in Dunedin, New Zealand, in December 2013. The 18 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 28 submissions and are presented together with two invited papers. The papers are organized in topical sections such as coordination, organizations, institutions, norms, norm conflict, and norm-aware agents.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 392 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Conceptual Structures, ICCS 2014, held in Iäi, Romania, in July 2014. The 17 regular papers and 6 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 40 and 10 submissions, respectively. The topics covered are: conceptual structures, knowledge representation, reasoning, conceptual graphs, formal concept analysis, semantic Web, information integration, machine learning, data mining and information retrieval.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 328 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This work discusses the impact of the life of buildings on sustainable development methods.The study of the lifespan of the building is used to assess andmanage the environmental impacts associatedwith all the stages of a product's life, from raw material extractionthrough to repair, maintenance and 'end of life' scenarios. While several papers have discussed thegreenhouse gas emissions of buildings,less research has been done on how these are affected by the lifespanof the building. This book serves tohighlight the pertinence of this factor and contributes to providingnew ideas on efficiency within the lifecycle assessment of a structure.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 136 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th Mexican Conference on Pattern Recognition, MCPR 2014, held in Cancun, Mexico, in June 2014. The 39 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 68 submissions and are organized in topical sections on pattern recognition and artificial intelligence; computer vision; image processing and analysis; animal biometric recognition and applications of pattern recognition.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 408 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -The two-volume set LNCS 8525-8526 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality, VAMR 2014, held as part of the 16th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI 2014, in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, in June 2014, jointly with 13 other thematically similar conferences. The total of 1476 papers and 220 posters presented at the HCII 2014 conferences were carefully reviewed and selected from 4766 submissions. These papers address the latest research and development efforts and highlight the human aspects of design and use of computing systems. The papers thoroughly cover the entire field of human-computer interaction, addressing major advances in knowledge and effective use of computers in a variety of application areas. The total of 82 contributions included in the VAMR proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in this two-volume set. The 43 papers included in this volume are organized inthe following topical sections: VAMR in education and cultural heritage; games and entertainment; medical, health and rehabilitation applications; industrial, safety and military applications.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 508 pp. Englisch.