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Books in Social sciences and humanities

  • Machine Learning Methods for Planning

    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • Steven Minton
    • English
    Machine Learning Methods for Planning provides information pertinent to learning methods for planning and scheduling. This book covers a wide variety of learning methods and learning architectures, including analogical, case-based, decision-tree, explanation-based, and reinforcement learning. Organized into 15 chapters, this book begins with an overview of planning and scheduling and describes some representative learning systems that have been developed for these tasks. This text then describes a learning apprentice for calendar management. Other chapters consider the problem of temporal credit assignment and describe tractable classes of problems for which optimal plans can be derived. This book discusses as well how reactive, integrated systems give rise to new requirements and opportunities for machine learning. The final chapter deals with a method for learning problem decompositions, which is based on an idealized model of efficiency for problem-reduction search. This book is a valuable resource for production managers, planners, scientists, and research workers.
  • A Time to Train

    An Account of experience gained by RTB, at Its Spencer Works
    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • O. W. Reynolds + 1 more
    • R Brown + 2 more
    • English
    A Time to Train: An Account of Experience Gained by RTB, at its Spencer Works describes the training of those to be employed in steelworks. This book describes the training given before full production began. Organized into three parts encompassing 14 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the technical description of the plant. This text then examines the methods and describes the purpose of industrial training. Other chapters consider the differences between mechanical engineering training and electrical engineering training. This book discusses as well the managerial control systems operating at Spencer Works, including the control of costs, production, manning, maintenance, and quality. The final chapter provides an evaluation of the training carried out at Spencer Works and explains the difficulty of forecasting accurately what the major training problems are likely to be in a project of considerable size. This book is a valuable resource for readers who are interested in steelmaking.
  • Mendelian Inheritance in Man

    Catalogs of Autosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive, and X-Linked Phenotypes
    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • Victor A. McKusick
    • English
    Mendelian Inheritance in Man: Catalogs of Autosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessives, and X-Linked Phenotypes presents catalogs in connection with the genetics of the X chromosome. This book provides a catalog of dominant phenotypes and covers other entries, including anomalous hemoglobin, red cell antigenic types, leukocyte types, and serum protein types. This book begins with an overview of how to use the catalogs wherein two classes of entries have been made in each of the catalogs. This text then explains that each entry consists of three parts, namely, the preferred designation, a brief description of the phenotype with genetic information, and key references. This book discusses as well that in the case of recessives, manifestations in heterozygotes are usually listed. The reader is also introduced to the definition of dominant and recessive used in the preparation of the catalogs. This book is a valuable resource for experimental geneticists, physicians, and research workers.
  • Protecting Historic Architecture and Museum Collections from Natural Disasters

    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • Barclay G. Jones
    • English
    Protecting Historic Architecture and Museum Collections from Natural Disasters serves as a useful guide for professionals engaged in the preservation of cultural heritage, whether structures or artifacts. This book discusses how to prevent losses to the cultural heritage of structures and artifacts through more knowledgeable protection, prevention, and emergency response. Organized into six sections encompassing 26 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the mechanisms for preserving and protecting the heritage. This text then examines the threats of destruction by the natural elements such as decay, air pollution, subsidence, and other forms of attrition. Other chapters consider the social functional and economic values of the buildings and museum objects. This book discusses as well the natural disaster policies within a society. The final chapter deals with the enlistment of the private sector in dealing with catastrophes rising out of fire, earthquake, flood, and other natural disasters. This book is a valuable resource for conservation specialists, archivists, private collectors, dealers, curators, and librarians.
  • International Economics Policies and Their Theoretical Foundations

    A Source Book
    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • John M. Letiche
    • English
    International Economics Policies and Their Theoretical Foundations: A Source Book provides information pertinent to the increasing differentiation of international economic policies among the developed and developing market economies. This book presents an analysis of fundamental principles of international economics. Organized into nine parts encompassing 33 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the certain elements of the relationship between the developing and the developed countries that the developing countries find particularly irksome. This text then analyzes the determinants of secular changes in the terms of trade and attempt to assess the influence of these changes on the development of a poor country. Other chapters consider the different concepts of the terms of trade, including the gross barter, income, net barter or commodity, and utility terms of trade. The final chapter deals with the economic scenarios for the 1980s. This book is a valuable resource for teachers, students, and government officials.
  • Scientific Uncertainty, and Information

    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • Leon Brillouin
    • English
    Scientific Uncertainty and Information focuses on the validation of theories developed in physics, chemistry, biology, and other fields of science. The book first elaborates on thermodynamics, statistics, and information and the importance of scientific laws. Discussions focus on the importance and value of theories, empirical and theoretical laws, scientific laws and negentropy, principles of thermodynamics, entropy and value, negentropy, and energy degradation, and thermodynamics and information theory. The text then ponders on mathematical theorems and physical theories, imagination and invention in a theory, and causality and determinism. The manuscript underscores the weaknesses and limitations of mechanics and Poincare and the shortcomings of the Hamilton-Jacobi method for classical or quantized mechanics. Topics include the discussion of a simple example with two variables; degeneracy conditions and the possibility of finding a Hamilton-Jacobi transformation function; approximations for nondegenerate systems; methods of analytical dynamics for separated variables; and the objective world and the problem of determinism. The publication is a dependable reference for researchers interested in the validation of theories in science.
  • Monetary Integration in Western Europe

    EMU, EMS and Beyond
    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • D. C. Kruse
    • François Duchêne
    • English
    Monetary Integration in Western Europe: EMU, EMS and Beyond discusses the origins of the Economic Monetary Union, (the European Monetary System is the forerunner of the EMU), and the integration of the European Community starting from the Treaty of Rome. The Treaty provides most of the elements necessary for a monetary union. The Community attempts to formulate a systematic, coherent approach to monetary integration as contained in the Barre Report. The Barre Report proposes that progress in two areas, coordinating economic policies and instituting a system of mutual financial assistance, is essential. In the Hague Summit, the heads of state want to enlarge and closely integrate the members of the Community. A commission under Luxembourg Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Pierre Werner prepares the plan for the EMU. On March 22, 1971, the Six member states approve the adoption of the EMU in several stages, and formally launch the EMU project. The Six have as goals to promote exchange rate stability within the Community, to coordinate economic polies through consultation procedures, to settle structural differences through Community policies, and to liberalize the movement of goods, services, and the factors of production. Economists, sociologists, professors in economics, and policy makers involved in international economics, particularly with the EU, will find the book valuable.
  • Analyses of Concept Learning

    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • Herbert J. Klausmeier + 1 more
    • English
    Analyses of Concept Learning covers the papers presented at a Conference on Analyses of Concept Learning, sponsored by the Research and Development Center for Learning and Re-education of the University of Wisconsin, held in October 1965. The book focuses on efficient learning for children, youth, and adults, including concept learning, problem solving, and progresses in cognitive abilities. The selection first offers information on the formal analysis of concepts, psychological nature of concepts, and analysis of concepts from the point of view of the structure of intellect. The text then examines the relationships between concept learning and verbal learning and meaningfulness and concept. Discussions focus on linguistic analysis of nonsense syllables, linguistic concepts as determiners of meaningfulness, stimulus selection and stimulus bias, response learning and associative learning, and implicit associative responses. The book takes a look at the learning of principles, developmental approach to conceptual growth, and learning in adulthood. Topics include consistency in mental abilities, comparison with long-range trends in stability of mental functions, anxiety derived from conflicts over learning, motivation to maximize similarity to a model, and the scientific meaning of concept. Meaningful reception learning and the acquisition of concepts and a model for the analysis of inquiry are also discussed. The selection is a vital reference for researchers interested in concept learning.
  • Quantitative Economics and Development

    Essays in Memory of Ta-Chung Liu
    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • L. R. Klein + 2 more
    • English
    Economic Theory, Econometrics, and Mathematical Economics: Quantitative Economics and Development: Essays in Memory of Ta-Chung Liu focuses on the advancements in the methodologies and processes in the field of quantitative economics. The selection first offers information on society, politics, and economic development, global stability of stochastic economic processes, and the design of mechanisms for the efficient allocation of public goods. Discussions focus on the design of individually incentive compatible mechanisms in an abstract setting, design problem under coalition formation, stability results for the economic models, invariant measures for diffusions, and disjoint principal-components method. The text then takes a look at critical observations on the labor theory of value and Sraffa's Standard Commodity and a generalization of Hotelling's solution. The manuscript examines an exploratory policy-oriented econometric model of a metropolitan area and the effect of simple specification error on the coefficients of "unaffected" variables, including distinctive features of the model and individual sectoral models. Temporal aggregation and econometric models; uniqueness of the representation of commodity-augmenting technical change; and technological change and growth performance in Taiwan agriculture are also discussed. The selection is a valuable source of data for economists and readers interested in quantitative economics.
  • Strategic Networks

    Creating the Borderless Organization
    • 1st Edition
    • May 12, 2014
    • J. C. Jarillo
    • English
    Strategic Networks: Creating the Borderless Organization focuses on the principles, methodologies, and approaches involved in the creation of borderless organizations. The book first underscores competition and cooperation and the ways to organize a business system. Discussions focus on organization as a way to meet strategic demands, vertical integration and subcontracting, intrinsic profitability of different activities, disadvantages of vertical integration, and guidelines for decision-making on vertical integration. The monograph then examines over-subcontracting, strategic network, and essence of a strategic network. Topics include generating trust, how to reduce transaction costs, competition and cooperation, subcontracting in the automobile industry, advantages of shops, manufacturing and selling activities, and network organization. The publication explores international considerations, including cost of the activities and costs of coordination in international business, vertical integration and subcontracting across borders, and coordinating efficiently across borders. The book is a valuable source of information for researchers interested in the establishment of borderless organizations.