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Books in Physical sciences and engineering

  • Statistical Postprocessing of Ensemble Forecasts

    • 1st Edition
    • Stéphane Vannitsem + 2 more
    • English
    Statistical Postprocessing of Ensemble Forecasts brings together chapters contributed by international subject-matter experts describing the current state of the art in the statistical postprocessing of ensemble forecasts. The book illustrates the use of these methods in several important applications including weather, hydrological and climate forecasts, and renewable energy forecasting. After an introductory section on ensemble forecasts and prediction systems, the second section of the book is devoted to exposition of the methods available for statistical postprocessing of ensemble forecasts: univariate and multivariate ensemble postprocessing are first reviewed by Wilks (Chapters 3), then Schefzik and Möller (Chapter 4), and the more specialized perspective necessary for postprocessing forecasts for extremes is presented by Friederichs, Wahl, and Buschow (Chapter 5). The second section concludes with a discussion of forecast verification methods devised specifically for evaluation of ensemble forecasts (Chapter 6 by Thorarinsdottir and Schuhen). The third section of this book is devoted to applications of ensemble postprocessing. Practical aspects of ensemble postprocessing are first detailed in Chapter 7 (Hamill), including an extended and illustrative case study. Chapters 8 (Hemri), 9 (Pinson and Messner), and 10 (Van Schaeybroeck and Vannitsem) discuss ensemble postprocessing specifically for hydrological applications, postprocessing in support of renewable energy applications, and postprocessing of long-range forecasts from months to decades. Finally, Chapter 11 (Messner) provides a guide to the ensemble-postprocess... software available in the R programming language, which should greatly help readers implement many of the ideas presented in this book. Edited by three experts with strong and complementary expertise in statistical postprocessing of ensemble forecasts, this book assesses the new and rapidly developing field of ensemble forecast postprocessing as an extension of the use of statistical corrections to traditional deterministic forecasts. Statistical Postprocessing of Ensemble Forecasts is an essential resource for researchers, operational practitioners, and students in weather, seasonal, and climate forecasting, as well as users of such forecasts in fields involving renewable energy, conventional energy, hydrology, environmental engineering, and agriculture.
  • Rockslides and Rock Avalanches of Central Asia

    Distribution, Morphology, and Internal Structure
    • 1st Edition
    • Alexander Strom + 1 more
    • English
    Rockslides and Rock Avalanches of Central Asia: Distribution, Impacts, and Hazard Assessment arms scientists with an inclusive and specialized reference for future studies of large-scale bedrock landslides in Central Asia, a phenomenon that poses a major threat to local communities, infrastructure and industrial facilities. The book covers the Dzungaria, Tien Shan, and Pamir mountain systems that are characterized by arid climates and scarce forestation, and is an ideal reference for scientists searching for data that accurately summarizes bedrock landslides through the analyses of a multitude of case studies that have applications in comparable, global scenarios. Through its relatively low precipitation and good preservation of minor geomorphic features, particularly those formed by past landslides, this region provides opportunities for detailed study of the internal structure of landslide bodies.
  • Energy Optimization in Process Systems and Fuel Cells

    • 3rd Edition
    • Stanislaw Sieniutycz + 1 more
    • English
    Energy Optimization in Process Systems and Fuel Cells, Third Edition covers the optimization and integration of energy systems, with a particular focus on fuel cell technology. With rising energy prices, imminent energy shortages, and the increasing environmental impacts of energy production, energy optimization and systems integration is critically important. The book applies thermodynamics, kinetics and economics to study the effect of equipment size, environmental parameters, and economic factors on optimal power production and heat integration. Author Stanislaw Sieniutycz, highly recognized for his expertise and teaching, shows how costs can be substantially reduced, particularly in utilities common in the chemical industry. This third edition contains substantial revisions and modifications, with new material on catalytic reactors, sorption systems, sorbent or catalyst regenerators, dryers, and more.
  • Reliability Modelling and Analysis in Discrete Time

    • 1st Edition
    • Unnikrishnan Nair + 2 more
    • English
    Reliability Modelling and Analysis in Discrete Time provides an overview of the probabilistic and statistical aspects connected with discrete reliability systems. This engaging book discusses their distributional properties and dependence structures before exploring various orderings associated between different reliability structures. Though clear explanations, multiple examples, and exhaustive coverage of the basic and advanced topics of research in this area, the work gives the reader a thorough understanding of the theory and concepts associated with discrete models and reliability structures. A comprehensive bibliography assists readers who are interested in further research and understanding. Requiring only an introductory understanding of statistics, this book offers valuable insight and coverage for students and researchers in Probability and Statistics, Electrical Engineering, and Reliability/Quality Engineering. The book also includes a comprehensive bibliography to assist readers seeking to delve deeper.
  • Computer Vision for Assistive Healthcare

    • 1st Edition
    • Leo Marco + 1 more
    • English
    Computer Vision for Assistive Healthcare describes how advanced computer vision techniques provide tools to support common human needs, such as mental functioning, personal mobility, sensory functions, daily living activities, image processing, pattern recognition, machine learning and how language processing and computer graphics cooperate with robotics to provide such tools. Users will learn about the emerging computer vision techniques for supporting mental functioning, algorithms for analyzing human behavior, and how smart interfaces and virtual reality tools lead to the development of advanced rehabilitation systems able to perform human action and activity recognition. In addition, the book covers the technology behind intelligent wheelchairs, how computer vision technologies have the potential to assist blind people, and about the computer vision-based solutions recently employed for safety and health monitoring.
  • Hydrometallurgy of Rare Earths

    Extraction and Separation
    • 1st Edition
    • Dezhi Qi
    • English
    Hydrometallurgy of Rare Earths: Extraction and Separation provides the basic knowledge for rare earth extraction and separation, including flow sheet selection criteria and related technology. The book includes the latest research findings on all rare earth separation processes, methods of controlling operation costs, and strategies that help lower wastewater and waste solid discharge. It discusses many real process parameters and actual situations in rare earth separation plants, also examining the basic principles, technologies, process parameters and advances and achievements in the area of rare earth extraction and separation. In addition, the book covers extraction separation theory as developed by Professor Guanxian Xu and Professor Chunhua Yan and the creative use of a computational simulation program to replace the bench scale and pilot plant tests and directly design rare earth extraction separation processes.
  • Introduction to Plastics Engineering

    • 1st Edition
    • Anshuman Shrivastava
    • English
    Introduction to Plastics Engineering provides a single reference covering the basics of polymer and plastics materials, and their properties, design, processing and applications in a practical way. The book discusses materials engineering through properties formulation, combining part design and processing to produce final products. This book will be a beneficial guide to materials engineers developing new formulations, processing engineers producing those formulations, and design and product engineers seeking to understand the materials and methods for developing new applications. The book incorporates material properties, engineering, processing, design, applications and sustainable and bio based solutions. Ideal for those just entering the industry, or transitioning between sectors, this is a quick, relevant and informative reference guide to plastics engineering and processing for engineers and plastics practitioners.
  • Smart Nanoparticles for Biomedicine

    • 1st Edition
    • Gianni Ciofani
    • English
    Smart Nanoparticles for Biomedicine explores smart nanoparticles that change their structural or functional properties in response to specific external stimuli (electric or magnetic fields, electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound, etc.). Particular attention is given to multifunctional nanostructured materials that are pharmacologically active and that can be actuated by virtue of their magnetic, dielectric, optically-active, redox-active, or piezoelectric properties. This important reference resource will be of great value to readers who want to learn more on how smart nanoparticles can be used to create more effective treatment solutions. Nanotechnology has enabled unprecedented control of the interactions between materials and biological entities, from the microscale, to the molecular level. Nanosurfaces and nanostructures have been used to mimic or interact with biological microenvironments, to support specific biological functions, such as cell adhesion, mobility and differentiation, and in tissue healing. Recently, a new paradigm has been proposed for nanomedicine to exploit the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials as active devices rather than as passive structural units or carriers for medications.
  • Sustainable Use of Chemicals in Agriculture

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • English
    Sustainable Use of Chemicals in Agriculture, Volume 2, explores the wide breadth of emerging and state-of-the-art technologies used to study the sustainable use of chemicals in agriculture. Sections in this new release include modern agriculture in Europe and the role/place of chemicals, a regulatory vision of the sustainable use of pesticides and risk mitigation, the perception of the concept in other regions of the globe, certification and added value for farm production, and how research and education can influence implementation and development, among other valuable topics.
  • The Omega-Theory

    A New Physics of Earthquakes
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • Jure Žalohar
    • English
    The Omega-Theory: A New Physics of Earthquakes, Second Edition offers a unifying, mathematical framework to describe and answer the most pressing and unexamined dilemmas of earthquake sequences. Those in the fields of seismology and geology are currently faced with a vast and complex mathematical structure, involving many new, natural laws and theorems. This book interprets this structure as a new physical theory and paradigm, helping users understand the tectonic and seismic processes within the Earth. As such, it is an essential resource for future researchers in the fields of structural geology, physics of the Earth, and seismology. In the last decades, generations of seismologists, geophysicists, and geologists have accumulated enough knowledge and information to allow for the reformulation and solution of this essential problem. Hence, this book provides a great resource for researchers and professionals.