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Fundamentals of Statistics for Aviation Research (Aviation Fundamentals)
by Michael A. Gallo Brooke E. Wheeler Isaac M. SilverThis is the first textbook designed to teach statistics to students in aviation courses. All examples and exercises are grounded in an aviation context, including flight instruction, air traffic control, airport management, and human factors. Structured in six parts, this book covers the key foundational topics relative to descriptive and inferential statistics, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, z and t tests, correlation, regression, ANOVA, and chi-square. In addition, this book promotes both procedural knowledge and conceptual understanding. Detailed, guided examples are presented from the perspective of conducting a research study. Each analysis technique is clearly explained, enabling readers to understand, carry out, and report results correctly. Students are further supported by a range of pedagogical features in each chapter, including objectives, a summary, and a vocabulary check. Digital supplements comprise downloadable data sets and short video lectures explaining key concepts. Instructors also have access to PPT slides and an instructor’s manual that consists of a test bank with multiple choice exams, exercises with data sets, and solutions. This is the ideal statistics textbook for aviation courses globally, especially in aviation statistics, research methods in aviation, human factors, and related areas.
Fundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration
by Robert W. BroylesFundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration fills the needs of both students and practicing health care managers who must apply statistical concepts and methods to real world health care management problems and issues. It covers the fundamentals of statistics in a user-friendly way, with a strong emphasis on practical application in health administration. The text is highly structured with step-by-step instructions throughout. There is an emphasis on Excel and other commonly used programs, although manual calculations are given careful attention as well.
Fundamentals of Stochastic Networks
by Oliver C. IbeAn interdisciplinary approach to understanding queueing and graphical networks In today's era of interdisciplinary studies and research activities, network models are becoming increasingly important in various areas where they have not regularly been used. Combining techniques from stochastic processes and graph theory to analyze the behavior of networks, Fundamentals of Stochastic Networks provides an interdisciplinary approach by including practical applications of these stochastic networks in various fields of study, from engineering and operations management to communications and the physical sciences. The author uniquely unites different types of stochastic, queueing, and graphical networks that are typically studied independently of each other. With balanced coverage, the book is organized into three succinct parts: Part I introduces basic concepts in probability and stochastic processes, with coverage on counting, Poisson, renewal, and Markov processes Part II addresses basic queueing theory, with a focus on Markovian queueing systems and also explores advanced queueing theory, queueing networks, and approximations of queueing networks Part III focuses on graphical models, presenting an introduction to graph theory along with Bayesian, Boolean, and random networks The author presents the material in a self-contained style that helps readers apply the presented methods and techniques to science and engineering applications. Numerous practical examples are also provided throughout, including all related mathematical details. Featuring basic results without heavy emphasis on proving theorems, Fundamentals of Stochastic Networks is a suitable book for courses on probability and stochastic networks, stochastic network calculus, and stochastic network optimization at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. The book also serves as a reference for researchers and network professionals who would like to learn more about the general principles of stochastic networks.
Fundamentals of Structural Engineering
by Susan Faraji Jerome J. ConnorFundamentals of Structural Engineering provides a balanced, seamless treatment of both classic, analytic methods and contemporary, computer-based techniques for conceptualizing and designing a structure. The book?s principle goal is to foster an intuitive understanding of structural behavior based on problem solving experience for students of civil engineering and architecture who have been exposed to the basic concepts of engineering mechanics and mechanics of materials. Distinct from many undergraduate textbooks, which are focused mainly on either teaching manual analysis methods and applying them to simple, idealized structures or reformulating structural analysis methods in terms of matrix notation, this text instead encourages the student to develop intuition about structural behavior. The authors of this text recognize the notion that engineers reason about behavior using simple models and intuition they acquire through problem solving. The approach adopted in this text develops this type of intuition by presenting extensive, realistic problems and case studies together with computer simulation, which allows rapid exploration of how a structure responds to changes in geometry and physical parameters.
Fundamentals of Supervised Machine Learning: With Applications in Python, R, and Stata (Statistics and Computing)
by Giovanni CerulliThis book presents the fundamental theoretical notions of supervised machine learning along with a wide range of applications using Python, R, and Stata. It provides a balance between theory and applications and fosters an understanding and awareness of the availability of machine learning methods over different software platforms.After introducing the machine learning basics, the focus turns to a broad spectrum of topics: model selection and regularization, discriminant analysis, nearest neighbors, support vector machines, tree modeling, artificial neural networks, deep learning, and sentiment analysis. Each chapter is self-contained and comprises an initial theoretical part, where the basics of the methodologies are explained, followed by an applicative part, where the methods are applied to real-world datasets. Numerous examples are included and, for ease of reproducibility, the Python, R, and Stata codes used in the text, along with the related datasets, are available online.The intended audience is PhD students, researchers and practitioners from various disciplines, including economics and other social sciences, medicine and epidemiology, who have a good understanding of basic statistics and a working knowledge of statistical software, and who want to apply machine learning methods in their work.
Fundamentals of Tensor Calculus for Engineers with a Primer on Smooth Manifolds
by Uwe MühlichThis book presents the fundamentals of modern tensor calculus for students in engineering and applied physics, emphasizing those aspects that are crucial for applying tensor calculus safely in Euclidian space and for grasping the very essence of the smooth manifold concept.After introducing the subject, it provides a brief exposition on point set topology to familiarize readers with the subject, especially with those topics required in later chapters.It then describes the finite dimensional real vector space and its dual, focusing on the usefulness of the latter for encoding duality concepts in physics. Moreover, it introduces tensors as objects that encode linear mappings and discusses affine and Euclidean spaces. Tensor analysis is explored first in Euclidean space, starting from a generalization of the concept of differentiability and proceeding towards concepts such as directional derivative, covariant derivative and integration based on differential forms. The final chapter addresses the role of smooth manifolds in modeling spaces other than Euclidean space, particularly the concepts of smooth atlas and tangent space, which are crucial to understanding the topic. Two of the most important concepts, namely the tangent bundle and the Lie derivative, are subsequently worked out.
Fundamentals of the Insurance Business (Springer Texts in Business and Economics)
by Massimiliano Maggioni Giuseppe TurchettiThis textbook presents the fundamental economic dimensions of insurance companies and links them to managerial issues. Combining academic rigour and a strongly practice-oriented approach, it addresses both the competitive environment and the management of the insurance business. Further, it provides a general overview of insurance undertakings and technical topics are explained in depth. Filling an important gap in the market for textbooks on the insurance business, it is divided into four parts and 35 chapters. Part I (chapters 1 to 10) describes the fundamentals of the business, how the industry works, the Authorities and the regulations. It presents the insurance products (for life, non-life retail, and non-life commercial lines). Part II (chapters 11 to 17) explains the pricing and reserving for life and non-life insurance. Reinsurance business is also illustrated. Part III (chapters 18 to 25) describes business models in the industry and the organizational structures. The main processes of an insurance company (product development, underwriting, claims settlement, investments) are presented. Marketing and distribution are also described. Part IV (chapters 26 to 35) defines the financial statement and introduces IFRS principles. Solvency II calculation, ALM model, and Embedded Value are explained in detail. This part also describes management accounting, performance indicators, and the Business Plan in the insurance industry. The book offers a valuable resource for lower and upper undergraduate students, graduate students, professionals/practitioners working at insurance companies, insurance agents, brokers, bankers, and consultants.
Fundamentals of Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory
by Fernando M.S. Nogueira Miguel A.L. Marques Angel Rubio Neepa T. Maitra E.K.U. GrossThere have been many significant advances in time-dependent density functional theory over recent years, both in enlightening the fundamental theoretical basis of the theory, as well as in computational algorithms and applications. This book, as successor to the highly successful volume Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (Lect. Notes Phys. 706, 2006) brings together for the first time all recent developments in a systematic and coherent way. First, a thorough pedagogical presentation of the fundamental theory is given, clarifying aspects of the original proofs and theorems, as well as presenting fresh developments that extend the theory into new realms--such as alternative proofs of the original Runge-Gross theorem, open quantum systems, and dispersion forces to name but a few. Next, all of the basic concepts are introduced sequentially and building in complexity, eventually reaching the level of open problems of interest. Contemporary applications of the theory are discussed, from real-time coupled-electron-ion dynamics, to excited-state dynamics and molecular transport. Last but not least, the authors introduce and review recent advances in computational implementation, including massively parallel architectures and graphical processing units. Special care has been taken in editing this volume as a multi-author textbook, following a coherent line of thought, and making all the relevant connections between chapters and concepts consistent throughout. As such it will prove to be the text of reference in this field, both for beginners as well as expert researchers and lecturers teaching advanced quantum mechanical methods to model complex physical systems, from molecules to nanostructures, from biocomplexes to surfaces, solids and liquids. From the reviews of LNP 706: "This is a well structured text, with a common set of notations and a single comprehensive and up-to-date list of references, rather than just a compilation of research articles. Because of its clear organization, the book can be used by novices (basic knowledge of ground-state DFT is assumed) and experienced users of TD-DFT, as well as developers in the field." (Anna I. Krylov, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 129 (21), 2007) "This book is a treasure of knowledge and I highly recommend it. Although it is a compilation of chapters written by many different leading researchers involved in development and application of TDDFT, the contributors have taken great care to make sure the book is pedagogically sound and the chapters complement each other [...]. It is highly accessible to any graduate student of chemistry or physics with a solid grounding in many-particle quantum mechanics, wishing to understand both the fundamental theory as well as the exponentially growing number of applications. [...] In any case, no matter what your background is, it is a must-read and an excellent reference to have on your shelf." Amazon.com, October 15, 2008, David Tempel (Cambridge, MA)
Fundamentals of Traffic Simulation
by Jaume BarcelóThe increasing power of computer technologies, the evolution of software engineering and the advent of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) worldwide has helped make traffic simulation one of the most used approaches for traffic analysis in support of the design and evaluation of traffic systems. The ability of traffic simulation software to emulate the time variability of traffic phenomena makes it a uniquely useful tool for capturing the complexity of traffic systems. While a wide variety of simulation software is available, no one book has presented a unified treatment of the subject. Fundamentals of Traffic Simulation is the first book to provide practitioners and researchers with a comprehensive treatment of the state of the art of traffic simulation. Leading researchers worldwide provide up-to-date information on: Simulation as a well established and grounded OR technique and its specificities when applied to traffic systems The main approaches to traffic simulation and the principles of traffic simulation model building The fundamentals of traffic flow theory and its application to traffic simulation in Microscopic traffic modeling Mesoscopic traffic modeling Macroscopic traffic modeling The principles of Dynamic Traffic Assignment and its application to traffic simulation The calibration and validation of traffic simulation models This important work will appeal to professionals, including transport consultants, managers in design firms and government, and even simulation software developers. It will also provide researchers with the first comprehensive overview of the subject, and can serve as a text or recommended reading in courses on traffic simulation and transportation analysis.
Fundamentals Of Transportation Engineering: A Multimodal Systems Approach
by Jon D. Fricker Robert K. WhitfordCombining topics that are essential in an introductory course with information that is of interest to those who want to know why certain things in transportation are the way they are, the book provides a strong emphasis of the relationship between the phases of a transportation project. The volume familiarizes readers with the standard terminology and resources involved in transportation engineering, provides realistic scenarios for readers to analyze and offers numerous examples designed to develop problem solving skills. The volume examines transportation basics, traffic flow theory and analysis, highway design for performance, modeling transportation demand and supply, planning and evaluation for decision-making, design of highway for safety, design of intersections for safety and efficiency, pavement design, public mass transportation, air transportation and airports and environmental issues/emerging technologies. For those interested in transportation engineering.
Fundamentals of van der Waals and Casimir Interactions (Springer Series on Atomic, Optical, and Plasma Physics #102)
by Bo E. SerneliusThis book presents a self-contained derivation of van der Waals and Casimir type dispersion forces, covering the interactions between two atoms but also between microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic objects of various shapes and materials. It also presents detailed and general prescriptions for finding the normal modes and the interactions in layered systems of planar, spherical and cylindrical types, with two-dimensional sheets, such as graphene incorporated in the formalism. A detailed derivation of the van der Waals force and Casimir-Polder force between two polarizable atoms serves as the starting point for the discussion of forces: Dispersion forces, of van der Waals and Casimir type, act on bodies of all size, from atoms up to macroscopic objects. The smaller the object the more these forces dominate and as a result they play a key role in modern nanotechnology through effects such as stiction. They show up in almost all fields of science, including physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and even cosmology. Written by a condensed matter physicist in the language of condensed matter physics, the book shows readers how to obtain the electromagnetic normal modes, which for metallic systems, is especially useful in the field of plasmonics.
Funktionalanalysis: Topologische Raume, Funktionentheorie, Gewohnliche Differentialgleichungen, Maß- Und Integrationstheorie, Funktionalanalysis ... Literaturverzeichnis. (Springer-lehrbuch)
by Dirk WernerIn dieser leicht lesbaren und gründlichen Einführung in die Funktionalanalysis behandelt der Autor neben dem Standardlehrstoff auch Themen wie Interpolation linearer Operatoren, die Schwartzsche Distributionentheorie oder die GNS-Darstellung von C*-Algebren. Im Anhang ist das notwendige Wissen zu Lebesgue-Integralen sowie metrischen und topologischen Räumen zusammengefasst. Die korrigierte Neuauflage bietet über 200, zum Teil neue Aufgaben mit Anleitungen und Lösungen. Ideal als Vorlesungsgrundlage im Mathematik- und Physikstudium.
Funktionen für Höhlenmenschen und andere Anfänger: Koordinatensysteme zur Darstellung von Abhängigkeiten in der Mathematik (essentials)
by Jürgen BeetzFunktionen und Koordinatensysteme spielen in der Mathematik eine wichtige Rolle - und im täglichen Leben auch. Meist merken wir es gar nicht oder sind uns über die mathematischen Hintergründe von Grafiken gar nicht klar, die wir in den Medien sehen. Deswegen werden in diesem Essential die Grundlagen dieser bedeutenden Werkzeuge des Denkens dargestellt und ihre Verwendung illustriert. Da dazu auch ihr Missbrauch gehört, wird auch das Thema ,,Lügen mit Grafiken" behandelt: falsche Maßstäbe, Unterdrückung des Nullpunkts, unsinnige Extrapolationen und schließlich Fehler in den Zahlen selbst.
Funktionentheorie mehrerer Veränderlicher (Masterclass)
by Jörg EschmeierZiel dieses Lehrbuches ist es, einen verständlichen, möglichst direkten und in sich geschlossenen Zugang zu wichtigen Ergebnissen der mehrdimensionalen Funktionentheorie zu geben. Hierbei führt der Weg von elementaren Eigenschaften holomorpher Funktionen über analytische Mengen und Holomorphiebereiche bis hin zum Levi-Problem. Ein abschließendes Kapitel enthält mit der Konstruktion des mehrdimensionalen holomorphen Funktionalkalküls nach Shilov, Waelbroeck und Arens-Calderón und dem Satz von Arens-Royden wichtige Anwendungen auf die Theorie komplexer Banachalgebren. Zahlreiche Übungsaufgaben ergänzen den theoretischen Teil. Vorausgesetzt wird nur der Inhalt der Grundvorlesungen in Analysis und einer üblichen einsemestrigen Vorlesung über Funktionentheorie einer komplexen Veränderlichen. Das Buch richtet sich besonders an fortgeschrittene Bachelorstudierende oder Studierende eines Masterstudienganges und eignet sich bestens als Begleitlektüre zu einer Vorlesung oder auch zum Selbststudium.
Further Advances in Twistor Theory: Volume II: Integrable Systems, Conformal Geometry and Gravitation (Chapman And Hall/crc Research Notes In Mathematics Ser. #232)
by L.J. Mason L.P. Hughston P.Z. KobakTwistor theory is the remarkable mathematical framework that was discovered by Roger Penrose in the course of research into gravitation and quantum theory. It have since developed into a broad, many-faceted programme that attempts to resolve basic problems in physics by encoding the structure of physical fields and indeed space-time itself into the complex analytic geometry of twistor space. Twistor theory has important applications in diverse areas of mathematics and mathematical physics. These include powerful techniques for the solution of nonlinear equations, in particular the self-duality equations both for the Yang-Mills and the Einstein equations, new approaches to the representation theory of Lie groups, and the quasi-local definition of mass in general relativity, to name but a few. This volume and its companions comprise an abundance of new material, including an extensive collection of Twistor Newsletter articles written over a period of 15 years. These trace the development of the twistor programme and its applications over that period and offer an overview on the current status of various aspects of that programme. The articles have been written in an informal and easy-to-read style and have been arranged by the editors into chapter supplemented by detailed introductions, making each volume self-contained and accessible to graduate students and non-specialists from other fields. Volume II explores applications of flat twistor space to nonlinear problems. It contains articles on integrable or soluble nonlinear equations, conformal differential geometry, various aspects of general relativity, and the development of Penrose's quasi-local mass construction.
Further Advances in Twistor Theory, Volume III: Curved Twistor Spaces
by L.J. Mason, L.P. Hughston, P.Z. Kobak and K. PulvererAlthough twistor theory originated as an approach to the unification of quantum theory and general relativity, twistor correspondences and their generalizations have provided powerful mathematical tools for studying problems in differential geometry, nonlinear equations, and representation theory. At the same time, the theory continues to offer pro
Further Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat
by Theoni PappasPenrose, no ordinary cat, takes us on an adventurous tour of mathematical concepts and characters. Now he takes off again on new adventures.Join him as he .....discovers the mathematical rep-tiles...meets x, the mathematical actor..... is overpowered by a hoard of numbers ...stumbles onto the math rods... has a close encounter with Probably... discovers how 1+1!=2 ... helps Sorry Snowflake find its symmetry ... takes on Napier's hot rods ... crosses pi's path ... learns that mathematical doughnuts are not for dunking ...tantalizes, teases and perplexes us with his puzzles and games.These amusing and informative tales are just a few of many enchanting stories written in the author's captivating style that is sure to make mathematics entertaining. The reader will gain new insights and appreciation for mathematics and its many facets.
Further Developments in Fractals and Related Fields
by Julien Barral Stéphane SeuretThis volume, following in the tradition of a similar 2010 publication by the same editors, is an outgrowth of an international conference, "Fractals and Related Fields II," held in June 2011. The book provides readers with an overview of developments in the mathematical fields related to fractals, including original research contributions as well as surveys from many of the leading experts on modern fractal theory and applications. The chapters cover fields related to fractals such as: *geometric measure theory *ergodic theory *dynamical systems *harmonic and functional analysis *number theory *probability theory Further Developments in Fractals and Related Fields is aimed at pure and applied mathematicians working in the above-mentioned areas as well as other researchers interested in discovering the fractal domain. Throughout the volume, readers will find interesting and motivating results as well as new avenues for further research.
Future City Architecture for Optimal Living (Springer Optimization and Its Applications #102)
by Stamatina Th. Rassia Panos M. PardalosThis book offers a wealth of interdisciplinary approaches to urbanization strategies in architecture centered on growing concerns about the future of cities and their impacts on essential elements of architectural optimization, livability, energy consumption and sustainability. It portrays the urban condition in architectural terms, as well as the living condition in human terms, both of which can be optimized by mathematical modeling as well as mathematical calculation and assessment.Special features include: • new research on the construction of future cities and smart cities• discussions of sustainability and new technologies designed to advance ideas to future city developmentsGraduate students and researchers in architecture, engineering, mathematical modeling, and building physics will be engaged by the contributions written by eminent international experts from a variety of disciplines including architecture, engineering, modeling, optimization, and related fields.
Future Design: Incorporating Preferences of Future Generations for Sustainability (Economics, Law, and Institutions in Asia Pacific)
by Tatsuyoshi SaijoThis book discusses imaginary future generations and how current decision-making will influence those future generations. Markets and democracies focus on the present and therefore tend to make us forget that we are living in the present, with ancestors preceding and descendants succeeding us. Markets are excellent devices to equate supply and demand in the short term, but not for allocating resources between current and future generations, since future generations do not exist yet. Democracy is also not “applicable” for future generations, since citizens vote for candidates who will serve members of their, i.e., the current, generation. In order to overcome these shortcomings, the authors discusses imaginary future generations and future ministries in the context of current decision-making in fields such as the environment, urban management, forestry, water management, and finance. The idea of imaginary future generations comes from the Native American Iroquois, who had strong norms that compelled them to incorporate the interests of people seven generations ahead when making decisions.
The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, (ICDLAIR) 2023 - Progress in AI-Driven Business Decisions & Robotic Process Automation (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1001)
by Nishtha Kesswani Imene Brigui David Pastor-Escuredo Sushanta Bordoloi Ashok Kumar RayThis book includes the results from the 5th International Conference on Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (ICDLAIR), held in National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, on December 07–09, 2023, which brought together visionaries, researchers, and industry leaders at the forefront of technological innovation. In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, deep learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics stand as a beacon of innovation and intellectual exchange. Among the myriad of groundbreaking contributions, a notable gem emerges—a forthcoming book that promises to encapsulate the essence of the 5th International Conference on Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, (ICDLAIR) 2023 proceedings. Titled " Progress in AI-Driven Business Decisions & Robotic Process Automation," this publication is poised to become a cornerstone for enthusiasts, researchers, and professionals seeking a comprehensive understanding of the latest advancements in deep learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Focused on the theme "Progress in AI-Driven Business Decisions & Robotic Process Automation," the conference showcased groundbreaking developments in the field, exploring the intersection of deep learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics.
The Future of Economic Design: The Continuing Development of a Field as Envisioned by Its Researchers (Studies in Economic Design)
by Jean-François Laslier Hervé Moulin M. Remzi Sanver William S. ZwickerThis collection of essays represents responses by over eighty scholars to an unusual request: give your high level assessment of the field of economic design, as broadly construed. Where do we come from? Where do we go from here? The book editors invited short, informal reflections expressing deeply felt but hard to demonstrate opinions, unsupported speculation, and controversial views of a kind one might not normally risk submitting for review. The contributors – both senior researchers who have shaped the field and promising, younger researchers – responded with a diverse collection of provocative pieces, including: retrospective assessments or surveys of the field; opinion papers; reflections on critical points for the development of the discipline; proposals for the immediate future; "science fiction"; and many more. The readers should have fun reading these unusual pieces – as much as the contributors enjoyed writing them.
The Future of Economic Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council States: Evidence-Based Policy Analysis (Routledge Studies in the Modern World Economy)
by Weshah RazzakThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries own 30 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves and largely depend on oil for their income. Yet, the GCC faces serious challenges. The global demand for oil is expected to continue declining and the average long-run oil price could become lower than its historical average in the future. This book is a research–based, structural macroeconomic analysis, providing evidence-based and future-facing, policy recommendations for GCC governments. First, it analyzes historical data to explain the macroeconomic performance and economic policies of the GCC countries from 1970 to 2019. Then it presents ten-year dynamic stochastic projections from 2020 to 2030. The book examines debt sustainability and optimal fiscal policies, i.e., government spending and taxation. It also analyses structural issues such as savings and productivity, and from an institutional perspective, taking into account education, the labor market, and pension funds, as well as other factors that have a close effect on economic performance. The book is comprehensive and thorough, it relies on extensive econometric analyses, including rigorous time series analysis. The author uses both calibration of theoretical models and estimation, facilitating projections for the next decade of key economic variables under different policy scenarios. The book also assesses what the future of the GCC economies will look like if climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic continue to, adversely, affect oil supply and demand, and the price of oil, given their current policies and institutions. As well as scholars and researchers of economics and finance, the book will engage policymakers in central banks, treasury departments, planning councils, research institutes and think tanks.
The Future of Motherhood in Western Societies
by Egbert R. te Velde Gijs Beets Joop SchippersMost people value to have children still highly. But what is the optimal moment to have the first? The decision on having children or not and if yes on the timing of the first is one of the most difficult ones to make, also because it more or less coincides with various other heavy decisions on shaping the life course (like on union formation, labour market career, housing accommodation, etc.). People realise that having children will fundamentally change their life and in order to fit this unknown and irreversible adventure perfectly into their life course postponement of the first birth is an easy way out as long as doubts continue and partners try to make up their mind. Modern methods of birth control are of course a very effective help in that period. What is the best moment to have the first child? And to what moment is postponement justified? There are no easy answers to these questions. Best solutions vary per person as they depend on personal circumstances and considerations (the partner may have conflicting ideas; housing accommodation; job; income; free time activities). Existing parental leave and child care arrangements are weighted as well. Unfortunately the biological clock ticks further. And, also unfortunately, assisted reproductive technology (IVF etc.) is unable to guarantee a successful outcome. Several couples end up without children involuntarily and that may lead to sorrow and grief. This interdisciplinary book overviews the process of postponement and its backgrounds in modern Western societies holistically, both at the personal and the societal level. Contributions come from reproductive, evolutionary biological and neurological sciences, as well as from demography, economy, sociology and psychology. It holds not only at women but also at men becoming first time fathers. The discussion boils down to a new policy approach for motherhood and emancipation on how to shape work and family life? It is argued that a public window where one can compose a 'cafeteria'-like set of supportive arrangements according to personal preferences could lead to a break in the rising age at first motherhood.
The Future of Music: Towards a Computational Musical Theory of Everything
by Guerino Mazzola Yan Pang Jason Noer Shuhui Yao Jay Afrisando Christopher Rochester William NeaceThe idea of this monograph is to present an overview of decisive theoretical, computational, technological, aesthetical, artistic, economical, and sociological directions to create future music. It features a unique insight into dominant scientific and artistic new directions, which are guaranteed by the authors' prominent publications in books, software, musical, and dance productions.Applying recent research results from mathematical and computational music theory and software as well as new ideas of embodiment approaches and non-Western music cultures, this book presents new composition methods and technologies. Mathematical, computational, and semiotic models of artistic presence (imaginary time, gestural creativity) as well as strategies are also covered.This book will be of interest to composers, music technicians, and organizers in the internet-based music industry, who are offered concrete conceptual architectures and tools for their future strategies in musical creativity and production.