Object Recognition

Object Recognition

This volume introduces the fundamental concepts and tools involved in the design and implementation of object recognition systems. Divided into three parts, it first introduces the topic and covers the acquisition of images, then details 3-D object reconstruction, modelling and matching, and finally describes typical recognition systems using case studies. Key features include: Extensive literature surveys of state-of-the-art systems Recognition will be essential reading for research scientists, advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in computer vision, image processing and pattern classification. It will also be of interest to practitioners working in the field of computer vision.

Object Recognition

Fundamentals in Nuclear Physics

Fundamentals in Nuclear Physics

This course explores nuclear physics and its applications ranging from the structure of nuclei and their reactions, to astrophysics and cosmology. The physics is introduced with arguments based on simple ideas such as the empirical structure of nuclear forces and its interplay with the Pauli principle and Coulomb repulsion. The book then develops elementary nuclear models and illustrates nuclear systematics with experimental data. Reactions and decays are discussed both phenomenologically and from the point of view of fundamental electro-weak interaction theory. The discussions of fission and fusion emphasize nuclear energy production. This leads directly into nuclear astrophysics and nucleosynthesis. The book ends with a presentation of the latest ideas about cosmology. As a primer this course will lay the foundations for more specialized subjects within the vast domain of nuclear physics as a whole.

Fundamentals in Nuclear Physics

Atoms, Molecules and Photons

Atoms, Molecules and Photons

This introduction to Atomic and Molecular Physics explains how our present model of atoms and molecules has been developed over the last two centuries, both by many experimental discoveries and, from the theoretical side, by the introduction of quantum physics to the adequate description of micro-particles. It illustrates the wave model of particles by many examples and shows the limits of classical description. The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with atoms and molecules and its potential for spectroscopy is outlined in great detail and, in particular, lasers as modern spectroscopic tools are discussed thoroughly. Many examples and problems with solutions are offered to encourage readers to actively participate in applying and adapting the fundamental physics presented in this textbook to specific situations.

Atoms, Molecules and Photons

An Introduction to Health Policy

An Introduction to Health Policy

Based on the current climate of our nation s finances and healthcare spending, it is clear that young doctors and medical students are likely to see a dramatic transformation of the manner in which America offers medical care to its citizens over the course of their careers. As such, it is pivotal that the next generation of America s leaders on the front lines of medicine develop a sense of where healthcare has evolved from and future potential directions of change. An Introduction to Health Policy: A Primer for Physicians and Medical Students is the first of its kind: a book written by doctors for doctors in order to allow busy physicians and medical students to quickly develop an understanding of the key issues facing American healthcare. This book seeks to efficiently and effectively educate physicians and medical students in a clinical context that they can understand on the past, present, and potential future issues in healthcare policy and the evolution of American healthcare. The reader will walk away from the book with the ability to discuss the fundamental issues in American healthcare with ease.

An Introduction to Health Policy

Fundamentals of Fiber Lasers and Fiber Amplifiers

Fundamentals of Fiber Lasers and Fiber Amplifiers

This book covers the fundamental aspects of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers, and includes a wide range of material from laser physics fundamentals to state-of-the-art topics, as well as industrial applications in the rapidly growing field of quantum electronics. Emphasis is placed on the nonlinear processes taking place in fiber lasers and amplifiers, their similarities, differences to, and their advantages over other solid-state lasers. The reader will learn basic principles of solid-state physics and optical spectroscopy of laser active centers in fibers, main operational laser regimes, and practical recommendations and suggestions on fiber laser research, laser applications, and laser product development. The book will be useful for students, researchers, and professionals who work with lasers, in the optical communications, chemical and biological industries.

Fundamentals of Fiber Lasers and Fiber Amplifiers

RHEED Transmission Mode and Pole Figures

RHEED Transmission Mode and Pole Figures

This unique book covers the fundamental principle of electron diffraction, basic instrumentation of RHEED, definitions of textures in thin films and nanostructures, mechanisms and control of texture formation, and examples of RHEED transmission mode measurements of texture and texture evolution of thin films and nanostructures. Also presented is a new application of RHEED in the transmission mode called RHEED pole figure technique that can be used to monitor the texture evolution in thin film growth and nanostructures and is not limited to single crystal epitaxial film growth. Details of the construction of RHEED pole figures and the interpretation of observed pole figures are presented. Materials covered include metals, semiconductors, and thin insulators.

RHEED Transmission Mode and Pole Figures

Nanodust in the Solar System

Nanodust in the Solar System

Nanodust and nanometer-sized structures are important components of many objects in space. Nanodust is observed in evolved stars, young stellar objects, protoplanetary disks, and dust debris disks. Within the solar system, nanodust is observed with in-situ experiments from spacecraft. Nanometer-sized substructures are found in the collected cometary and interplanetary dust particles and in meteorites. Understanding the growth and destruction of dust, its internal evolution, as well as the optical properties and the detection of nanoparticles is of fundamental importance for astrophysical research.This book provides a focused description of the current state of research and experimental results concerning nanodust in the solar system. It addresses three major questions: What is nanodust? How was it discovered in the solar system? And how do we interpret the observations? The book serves as a self-contained reference work for space researchers and provides solid information on nanodust in cosmic environments for researchers working in astrophysics or in other fields of physics.

Nanodust in the Solar System

Open Quantum Systems I

Open Quantum Systems I

Understanding dissipative dynamics of open quantum systems remains a challenge in mathematical physics. This problem is relevant in various areas of fundamental and applied physics. From a mathematical point of view, it involves a large body of knowledge. Significant progress in the understanding of such systems has been made during the last decade. These books present in a self-contained way the mathematical theories involved in the modeling of such phenomena. They describe physically relevant models, develop their mathematical analysis and derive their physical implications.

Open Quantum Systems I

Atoms in Plasmas

Atoms in Plasmas

A study of radiative-collisional phenomena in neutral and ionized gases, focusing on a ‘perturbed atom’, i.e an atom under the influence of different perturbations in plasmas, namely by electrical and magnetic fields. The treatment covers fundamental aspects of modern physics, such as atomic quantum mechanics and quantum optics, radiation and collisional processes in plasmas and gases, nonlinear laser spectroscopy, and plasma diagnostics.

Atoms in Plasmas

Fundamental Chess Openings

Fundamental Chess Openings

* The perfect survival guide to the chess openings

Fundamental Chess Openings

Chaos

Chaos

This eleventh volume in the Poincar Seminar Series presents an interdisciplinary perspective on the concept of Time, which poses some of the most challenging questions in science. Five articles, written by the Fields medalist C. Villani, the two outstanding theoretical physicists T. Damour and C. Jarzynski, the leading experimentalist C. Salomon, and the famous philosopher of science H. Price, describe recent developments related to the mathematical, physical, experimental, and philosophical facets of this fascinating concept. These articles are also highly pedagogical, as befits their origin in lectures to a broad scientific audience. Highlights include a description of the manifold fundamental physical issues in play with time, in particular with the changes of perspective implied by Special and General Relativity; a mathematically precise discussion of irreversibility and entropy in the context of Boltzmann’s and Vlasov’s equations; a thorough survey of the recently developed thermodynamics at the nanoscale, the scale most relevant to biological physics; a description of the new cold atom space clock PHARAO to be installed in 2015 onboard the International Space Station, which will allow a test of Einstein’s gravitational shift with a record precision of 2 10-6, and enable a test of the stability over time of the fundamental constants of physics, an issue first raised by Dirac in 1937; and last, but not least, a logical and clarifying philosophical discussion of Time’s arrow, a phrase first coined by Eddington in 1928 in a challenge to physics to resolve the puzzle of the time-asymmetry of our universe, and echoed here in a short pome en prose by C. de Mitry. This book should be of broad general interest to physicists, mathematicians, and philosophers.

Chaos

Thermal Energy Storage

Thermal Energy Storage

The ability of thermal energy storage (TES) systems to facilitate energy savings, renewable energy use and reduce environmental impact has led to a recent resurgence in their interest. The second edition of this book offers up-to-date coverage of recent energy efficient and sustainable technological methods and solutions, covering analysis, design and performance improvement as well as life-cycle costing and assessment. As well as having significantly revised the book for use as a graduate text, the authors address real-life technical and operational problems, enabling the reader to gain an understanding of the fundamental principles and practical applications of thermal energy storage technology.

Thermal Energy Storage

The Solar Dynamics Observatory

The Solar Dynamics Observatory

This volume is dedicated to the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which was launched 11 February 2010. The articles focus on the spacecraft and its instruments: the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE), and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). Articles within also describe calibration results and data processing pipelines that are critical to understanding the data and products, concluding with a description of the successful Education and Public Outreach activities. This book is geared towards anyone interested in using the unprecedented data from SDO, whether for fundamental heliophysics research, space weather modeling and forecasting, or educational purposes. Previously published in Solar Physics journal, Vol. 275/1-2, 2012.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory

The Charisma Myth

The Charisma Myth

The charisma myth is the idea that charisma is a fundamental, inborn qualityyou either have it (Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Oprah) or you dont. But thats simply not true, as Olivia Fox Cabane reveals. Charismatic behaviors can be learned and perfected by anyone.

The Charisma Myth

Topics in Stereochemistry, Volume 23

Topics in Stereochemistry, Volume 23

Topics in Stereochemistry covers the fundamental principles of physical chemistry and molecular physics while dealing with certain stereochemical aspects of organic chemistry and biochemistry.

Topics in Stereochemistry, Volume 23

Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry

This textbook offers original and new approaches to the teaching of electrochemical concepts, principles and applications. Throughout the text the authors provide a balanced coverage of the thermodynamic and kinetic processes at the heart of electrochemical systems. The first half of the book outlines fundamental concepts appropriate to undergraduate students and the second half gives an in-depth account of electrochemical systems suitable for experienced scientists and course lecturers. Concepts are clearly explained and mathematical treatments are kept to a minimum or reported in appendices. This book features:- Questions and answers for self-assessment- Basic and advanced level numerical descriptions- Illustrated electrochemistry applications This book is accessible to both novice and experienced electrochemists and supports a deep understanding of the fundamental principles and laws of electrochemistry.

Electrochemistry

Essentials of Nursing Research - Eighth Edition

Essentials of Nursing Research - Eighth Edition

‘Study Guide for Essentials of Nursing Research, 8e’ augments the text and provides students with exercises for each text chapter that furthers their understanding and application of the text content. Critiquing opportunities abound in the Study Guide which includes eight full-length studies in their entirety representing a range of research types.Application Exercises are based on these studies and guide students in reading, understanding, and critiquing the studies. In addition, there are activities to support the learning of fundamental research terms and principles including fill in the blanks, matching exercises, and Study questions.

Essentials of Nursing Research - Eighth Edition

On Music

On Music

Opinionated and example-filled, this extremely concise and accessible book provides a survey of some fundamental and longstanding debates about the nature of music. The central arguments and ideas of historical and contemporary philosophers are presented with the goal of making them as accessible as possible to general readers who have no background in philosophy. The emphasis is on instrumental music, but examples are drawn from many cultures as well as from Western classical, jazz, folk, and popular music.

On Music

Truly Nonlinear Oscillations

Truly Nonlinear Oscillations

This unique book provides a concise presentation of many of the fundamental strategies for calculating approximations to the oscillatory solutions of truly nonlinear (TNL) oscillator equations. The volume gives a general overview of the author’s work on harmonic balance, iteration and combined linearization-averaging methods. However, full discussions are also presented on parameter expansion procedures and a first-order averaging technique for TNL oscillators. The calculational basis of each method is clarified by applying them to a set of standard TNL oscillator equations. This allows a dire.

Truly Nonlinear Oscillations

Natural Fabrications

Natural Fabrications

The spectacular success of the scientific enterprise over the last four hundred years has led to the promise of an all encompassing vision of the natural world. In this elegant picture, everything we observe is based upon just a few fundamental processes and entities. The almost infinite variety and complexity of the world is thus the product of emergence. But the concept of emergence is fraught with controversy and confusion. This book ponders the question of how emergence should be understood within the scientific picture, and whether a complete vision of the world can be attained that includes consciousness.

Natural Fabrications