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Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins: Cosmology, Geology, and Biology in Christian Perspective (BioLogos Books on Science and Christianity)
by John H. Walton Robert C. Bishop Larry L. Funck Stephen O. Moshier Raymond J. LewisThe question of origins remains a stumbling block for many. But just as the Psalmist gained insight into God's character through the observation of nature, modern scientific study can deepen and enrich our vision of the Creator and our place in his creation. In this often contentious field Bishop, Funck, Lewis, Moshier, and Walton serve as our able guides. Based on over two decades of teaching origins together in the classroom, the authors present a textbook exploring mainstream scientific theories of origins in astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, geology, biology, physical anthropology, and genetics. While many authors engage origins from a Christian perspective, this is the first work offering a full-fledged discussion of the scientific narrative of origins from the Big Bang through humankind, from biblical and theological perspectives accessible to a lay audience. Topics include Principles of biblical interpretation Close readings of relevant Genesis texts A comprehensive Trinitarian doctrine of creation Cosmic origins The geologic history of Earth The origin of life on Earth The origin of species and diversity of life Human origins New creation and creation care Science education Rather than the familiar scenario where science and faith compete, this book seeks to diffuse tensions by taking the inspiration and authority of the Bible seriously while respecting and honoring God's revelation through creation. Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins gives the reader a detailed picture of the sciences of origins along with how they fit into the story of God's creative and redemptive action.
Understanding Solid State Physics
by Sharon Ann HolgateKeeping the mathematics to a minimum yet losing none of the required rigor, Understanding Solid State Physics, Second Edition clearly explains basic physics principles to provide a firm grounding in the subject. This new edition has been fully updated throughout, with recent developments and literature in the field, including graphene and the use of quasicrystalline materials, in addition to featuring new journalistic boxes and the reciprocal lattice. The author underscores the technological applications of the physics discussed and emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of scientific research. After introducing students to solid state physics, the text examines the various ways in which atoms bond together to form crystalline and amorphous solids. It also describes the measurement of mechanical properties and the means by which the mechanical properties of solids can be altered or supplemented for particular applications. The author discusses how electromagnetic radiation interacts with the periodic array of atoms that make up a crystal and how solids react to heat on both atomic and macroscopic scales. She then focuses on conductors, insulators, semiconductors, and superconductors, including some basic semiconductor devices. The final chapter addresses the magnetic properties of solids as well as applications of magnets and magnetism. This accessible textbook provides a useful introduction to solid state physics for undergraduates who feel daunted by a highly mathematical approach. By relating the theories and concepts to practical applications, it shows how physics is used in the real world. Key features: Fully updated throughout, with new journalistic boxes and recent applications Uses an accessible writing style and format, offering journalistic accounts of interesting research, worked examples, self-test questions, and a helpful glossary of frequently used terms Highlights various technological applications of physics, from locomotive lights to medical scanners to USB flash drives
Understanding Species (Understanding Life)
by John S. WilkinsAre species worth saving? Can they be resurrected by technology? What is the use of species in biomedicine? These questions all depend on a clear definition of the concept of 'species', yet biologists have long struggled to define this term. In this accessible book, John S. Wilkins provides an introduction to the concept of 'species' in biology, philosophy, ethics, policymaking and conservation. Using clear language and easy-to-understand examples throughout, the book provides a history of species and why we use them. It encourages readers to appreciate the philosophical depth of the concept as well as its connections to logic and science. For any interested reader, this short text highlights the complexities of a single idea in biology, the problems with the concept of 'species' and the benefits of it in helping us to answer the bigger questions and understand our living world.
Understanding Statistical Error
by Marek GierlinskiThis accessible introductory textbook provides a straightforward, practical explanation of how statistical analysis and error measurements should be applied in biological research. Understanding Statistical Error - A Primer for Biologists: Introduces the essential topic of error analysis to biologists Contains mathematics at a level that all biologists can grasp Presents the formulas required to calculate each confidence interval for use in practice Is based on a successful series of lectures from the author's established course Assuming no prior knowledge of statistics, this book covers the central topics needed for efficient data analysis, ranging from probability distributions, statistical estimators, confidence intervals, error propagation and uncertainties in linear regression, to advice on how to use error bars in graphs properly. Using simple mathematics, all these topics are carefully explained and illustrated with figures and worked examples. The emphasis throughout is on visual representation and on helping the reader to approach the analysis of experimental data with confidence. This useful guide explains how to evaluate uncertainties of key parameters, such as the mean, median, proportion and correlation coefficient. Crucially, the reader will also learn why confidence intervals are important and how they compare against other measures of uncertainty. Understanding Statistical Error - A Primer for Biologists can be used both by students and researchers to deepen their knowledge and find practical formulae to carry out error analysis calculations. It is a valuable guide for students, experimental biologists and professional researchers in biology, biostatistics, computational biology, cell and molecular biology, ecology, biological chemistry, drug discovery, biophysics, as well as wider subjects within life sciences and any field where error analysis is required.
Understanding Statistics and Experimental Design: How to Not Lie with Statistics (Learning Materials in Biosciences)
by Michael H. Herzog Gregory Francis Aaron ClarkeThis open access textbook provides the background needed to correctly use, interpret and understand statistics and statistical data in diverse settings. Part I makes key concepts in statistics readily clear. Parts I and II give an overview of the most common tests (t-test, ANOVA, correlations) and work out their statistical principles. Part III provides insight into meta-statistics (statistics of statistics) and demonstrates why experiments often do not replicate. Finally, the textbook shows how complex statistics can be avoided by using clever experimental design. Both non-scientists and students in Biology, Biomedicine and Engineering will benefit from the book by learning the statistical basis of scientific claims and by discovering ways to evaluate the quality of scientific reports in academic journals and news outlets.
Understanding Student Participation and Choice in Science and Technology Education
by Ellen Karoline Henriksen Justin Dillon Jim RyderDrawing on data generated by the EU's Interests and Recruitment in Science (IRIS) project, this volume examines the issue of young people's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. With an especial focus on female participation, the chapters offer analysis deploying varied theoretical frameworks, including sociology, social psychology and gender studies. The material also includes reviews of relevant research in science education and summaries of empirical data concerning student choices in STEM disciplines in five European countries. Featuring both quantitative and qualitative analyses, the book makes a substantial contribution to the developing theoretical agenda in STEM education. It augments available empirical data and identifies strategies in policy-making that could lead to improved participation--and gender balance--in STEM disciplines. The majority of the chapter authors are IRIS project members, with additional chapters written by specially invited contributors. The book provides researchers and policy makers alike with a comprehensive and authoritative exploration of the core issues in STEM educational participation.
Understanding Supercomputing
by Editors of Scientific AmericanA guide to understanding supercomputing and its applications.
Understanding Surface and Thin Film Science
by Thomas M. ChristensenThis book is a conceptual overview of surface and thin film science, providing a basic and straightforward understanding of the most common ideas and methods used in these fields. Fundamental scientific ideas, deposition methods and characterization methods are all examined. Relying on simple, conceptual models and figures, fundamental scientific ideas are introduced and then applied to surfaces and thin films in the first half of the book. Topics include vacuum and plasma environments, crystal structure, atomic motion, thermodynamics, electrical and magnetic properties, optical and thermal properties, and adsorbed atoms on surfaces. Common methods of gas phase thin film deposition are then introduced, starting with an overview of the film growth process and then a discussion of both physical and chemical vapor deposition methods. This is followed by an overview of a wide range of characterization techniques including imaging, structural, chemical, electrical, magnetic, optical, thermal, and mechanical techniques. Thin film science is a natural extension of surface science, especially as applications involve thinner and thinner films; distinct from other literature in the field, this book combines the two topics in a single volume. Simple, conceptual models and figures are used, supported by some mathematical expressions, to convey key ideas to students as well as practicing engineers, scientists, and technicians.
Understanding Sustainability Principles and ESG Policies: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Public and Corporate Responses to Climate Change
by Colin ReadThis textbook explores sustainability, climate change, and the corporate responsibility movement from a broad array of perspectives, including the challenges, risks, and opportunities of ESG policies, energy and environmental science, economics and philosophy, and sound public and private sector management. There is no intergenerational issue that is more pressing than the challenge of sustainability and climate change. It is a concern that will only worsen within any reader’s lifetime, especially if we fail to act. At the same time, there is growing concern among corporations arising from the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) paradigm that includes climate risk, future profits, and stakeholder expectations. Many of our leading institutions also increasingly acknowledge a responsibility for corporate decisions since the onset of the Industrial Revolution that plays no small role in bringing us to the existential precipice of our day. This book provides necessary tools of sufficient sophistication to address complex intergenerational issues, such as global warming, economic justice and fairness, appropriate intergenerational planning, sustainable finance, corporate risk management, and governance. The book offers a vital resource for students, shareholders, sustainability practitioners, agencies, and advocates interested in climate action, intergenerational accountability, and economic sustainability.
Understanding Sustainability with Pedagogical Practice: A Contribution from Geography Education (Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences)
by Osvaldo Muñiz Solari Gabriele SchrüferThis book shares with an international audience of teachers, scholars, and policymakers the experience of pedagogical practices to facilitate sustainability in the world. Sustainability is seen here as a journey toward the end state of sustainable development. Therefore, the authors contribute different roads to engage teachers and students with pedagogical discourse. Overall, the book demonstrates the value of powerful knowledge through action-oriented learning based on a bottom-up process. Consequently, pedagogical practices are understood as the instructional approaches based on a social constructivist model in which active learning is performed with student-to-student engagement. Secondary teachers in social sciences and university professors in geography find the study to be a valuable source of stimulation for incorporating new ideas and resolving common problems in their learning and teaching environments. Education policymakers around the world also benefit from the only publication that presents international perspectives on geographical knowledge related to sustainability.The contributing authors are experienced scientists in the field of geography education who are giving special attention to pedagogical practices that promote new directions toward sustainable thinking.This book is the first outcome of an international collaboration officially established in 2023 between the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Texas State University and the Department of Geography at the University of Bayreuth.
Understanding Symmetrical Components for Power System Modeling
by J. C. DasAn essential guide to studying symmetrical component theory Provides concise treatment of symmetrical components Describes major sequence models of power system components Discusses Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) models Includes worked examples to illustrate the complexity of calculations, followed by matrix methods of solution which have been adopted for calculations on digital computers
Understanding the Archaeological Record
by Gavin LucasThis book explores the diverse understandings of the archaeological record in both historical and contemporary perspective, while also serving as a guide to reassessing current views. Gavin Lucas argues that archaeological theory has become both too fragmented and disconnected from the particular nature of archaeological evidence. The book examines three ways of understanding the archaeological record - as historical sources, through formation theory and as material culture - then reveals ways to connect these three domains through a reconsideration of archaeological entities and archaeological practice. Ultimately, Lucas calls for a rethinking of the nature of the archaeological record and the kind of history and narratives written from it.
Understanding the Art of Sound Organization
by Leigh LandyThe first work to propose a comprehensive musicological framework to study sound-based music, a rapidly developing body of work that includes electro-acoustic art music, turntable composition, and acoustic and digital sound installations.
Understanding the Behavioral and Medical Impact of Long COVID: An Empirical Guide to Assessment and Treatment of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 Infection
by Leonard A. Jason and Charles LappUnderstanding the Behavioral and Medical Impact of Long COVID serves to expand the research around the illness in order to enable health care researchers and practitioners to address the questions that are imperative to individuals suffering from this condition. Through its multi-faceted approach, the book puts forth a maturation of research and interventions that are theoretically sound, empirically valid, innovative, and creative in the Long COVID area. As a scholarly and scientific compilation of Long COVID symptoms and related disorders, this book offers unparalleled insight into the critical developments across medical areas treating this illness. It helps to fill the space that the pandemic had created for knowledge of the condition, and contributes to the emerging emphasis on translational research blending the social sciences and biological fields. By putting forth the most optimal medical care practices in the treatment of complex Long COVID symptoms, this practical anthology will serve as a guide for practicing clinicians in assessment as well as treatment. It will also benefit researchers aiming to gain more understanding of Long COVID through its discussion around the critical developments in other medical areas treating the condition, and paves the way for the collaboration and future research needed to best support the global effort to mitigate the effects of this illness. This book will be essential reading for academics, practitioners, and researchers. It will appeal to individuals engaging with the fields of medicine, public policy, psychology, and for researchers looking to gain clarity about our current understanding of Long COVID. It will further be of interest to public/government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the general public wanting to gain more information about these ambiguous and evasive symptoms.
Understanding the Bigger Energy Picture: DESERTEC and Beyond (SpringerBriefs in Energy)
by Michael DürenThis book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.This book focuses on the global cycles of energy, water and carbon, which are not only the essentials of our main energy carriers, the fossil fuels, but are also the building blocks of life. The book offers an overview of the basic scientific facts and relationships that are needed to understand today’s energy generation and use, how they relate to global climate, the water cycle and other resources, and the complexities of energy policy. Building on the work of the Desertec project, it presents the main technological options that we will have in a world after the “Energiewende” and presents the possible future solutions for a sustainable world. The book is written in an engaging, descriptive style that can be understood by those without specific knowledge of science or economics and allows readers to form their own conclusions. Controversy rages over energy problems, climate change and their possible solutions. Expressions like “climate deniers”, “renaissance of nuclear energy”, “stop the war on coal”, and “Energiewende now” represent a diversity of opinions that divide our society and political leaders. This book shows the reader the whole energy picture and how it is part of the wider global problems of overpopulation and uncontrolled economies in a world of limited resources.
Understanding the Biological Basis of Behavior: Developing Evidence-Based Interventions for Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists
by Rik Carl D’Amato Andrew S. Davis Elizabeth M. Power Eleazar Cruz EusebioThis book is an introduction to the biological basis of behavior, broadly defined, with practical applications for higher education programs that focus on advances in neuroscience. It has a special focus on training practitioners based on American Psychological Association (APA) health service psychology guidelines. It reviews and digests information for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists serving clients of all ages in a variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, and clinics. Content for all developmental stages, including birth to geriatric practices are highlighted. Some unique features of this book include:The integration of neuropsychological and theoretical foundations for clinical practice.Comprehensive consideration of projective, objective, and interviewing measures.Recent research in neuroimaging as it relates to clinical practice.Psychopharmacology and its effect within the neurosciences.Assessment for intervention in clinical, counseling, school, and neuropsychology.The use of research to guide neuropsychologically-based clinical practice.Eastern and western approaches to integration and case conceptualization.Interventions driven by brain-based scientific understanding.A variety of neuropsychological cases and report styles to improve practiceThe enduring contribution of psychology into modern times will remain contingent on practitioners' commitment to ethically-based, empirically-focused, evidence-based practice; continuing education; and scientific discovery. This book will help health service psychologists and counselors to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population by providing cutting-edge, evidence-based, ecologically valid neuropsychological interventions currently lacking within the field. Cultural considerations are provided within each chapter, which is especially important given societal inequity that continues to persist within our world. Implications for the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed in light of neuroscientific advances in medicine.
Understanding the Brain: From Cells To Behavior To Cognition
by John E. DowlingAn examination of what makes us human and unique among all creatures—our brains. No reader curious about our “little grey cells” will want to pass up Harvard neuroscientist John E. Dowling’s brief introduction to the brain. In this up-to-date revision of his 1998 book Creating Mind, Dowling conveys the essence and vitality of the field of neuroscience—examining the progress we’ve made in understanding how brains work, and shedding light on discoveries having to do with aging, mental illness, and brain health. The first half of the book provides the nuts-and-bolts necessary for an up-to-date understanding of the brain. Covering the general organization of the brain, early chapters explain how cells communicate with one another to enable us to experience the world. The rest of the book touches on higher-level concepts such as vision, perception, language, memory, emotion, and consciousness. Beautifully illustrated and lucidly written, this introduction elegantly reveals the beauty of the organ that makes us uniquely human.
Understanding the Christianity–Evolution Relationship (Understanding Life)
by Michael RuseThe relationship between science and religion is a topic that runs rife with misconceptions, misunderstandings and debates. Are science and religion always in conflict? Is Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection atheistic? How does history shape current debates around science and religion? This book explores these questions in a neutral and balanced way, focusing on the Christianity-evolution relationship. It shows that two paradigms – the world as an organism and the world as a machine – have critically informed and guided the discussions. The author uses his deep understanding of the history and philosophy of science, particularly Darwinian evolutionary theory and its controversies through the past 150 years, to bring fresh ideas to the debate and to wider discussions such as environmental issues and hate. Understanding the Christianity-Evolution Relationship provides a lively and informative analysis and lays out multiple views so that readers can make their own judgements to increase their understanding.
Understanding the Connections Between Coastal Waters and Ocean Ecosystem Services and Human Health: Workshop Summary
by Rose Marie Martinez"Understanding the Connections Between Coastal Waters and Ocean Ecosystem Services and Human Health" discusses the connection of ecosystem services and human health. This report looks at the state of the science of the role of oceans in ensuring human health and identifies gaps and opportunities for future research. The report summarizes a workshop convened by the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine. Participants discussed coastal waters and ocean ecosystem services in the United States in an effort to understand impacts on human health. "Understanding the Connections Between Coastal Waters and Ocean Ecosystem Services and Human Health" focuses on key linkages by discussing the ecosystem services provided by coastal waterways and oceans that are essential for human health and well-being; examining the major stressors that affect the ability of coastal waterways and ocean systems to provide essential services; and considering key factors that can enhance the resiliency of these systems.
Understanding the Discrete Element Method: Simulation of Non-Spherical Particles for Granular and Multi-body Systems
by Hans-Georg Matuttis Jian ChenGives readers a more thorough understanding of DEM and equips researchers for independent work and an ability to judge methods related to simulation of polygonal particles Introduces DEM from the fundamental concepts (theoretical mechanics and solidstate physics), with 2D and 3D simulation methods for polygonal particles Provides the fundamentals of coding discrete element method (DEM) requiring little advance knowledge of granular matter or numerical simulation Highlights the numerical tricks and pitfalls that are usually only realized after years of experience, with relevant simple experiments as applications Presents a logical approach starting withthe mechanical and physical bases,followed by a description of the techniques and finally their applications Written by a key author presenting ideas on how to model the dynamics of angular particles using polygons and polyhedral Accompanying website includes MATLAB-Programs providing the simulation code for two-dimensional polygons Recommended for researchers and graduate students who deal with particle models in areas such as fluid dynamics, multi-body engineering, finite-element methods, the geosciences, and multi-scale physics.
Understanding the Dynamics of Biological Systems
by Hendrik Fuß Werner Dubitzky Jennifer SouthgateThis book is intended as a communication platform to bridge the cultural, conceptual, and technological gap among the key systems biology disciplines of biology, mathematics, and information technology. To support this goal, contributors were asked to adopts an approach that appeals to audiences from different backgrounds.
Understanding the Dynamics of New Normal for Supply Chains: Post COVID Opportunities and Challenges (Understanding Complex Systems)
by Hassan Qudrat-UllahThis book provides research results and shares experiences in the area of supply chain management. It addresses topics such as risk reduction of lesser marginal profits, disrupted supply chain management, and potential points of business failure. This book explores the “new normal” of the business supply chain. The didactic approach informs global enterprises on how to deal with the most significant issues in the current supply chain management. The book shows an in-depth analysis of post-COVID opportunities and challenges and acts as an initiative for readers to understand the risks, opportunities, and concerns resulting from the pandemic situation and is a key driver for business management among industry professionals and enterprises. Readers will learn new insights and procedures to better manage multitier supply chains, predictability, and estimation of binding capacity. The book details modeling and technology-based customer demand and response management solutions. New techniques, methods, and perspectives dealing with the estimation, acceleration or deceleration, and flexibility of logistics capacity are particularly emphasized throughout the manuscript. Real-world cases dealing with various aspects of the new normal for supply chains are analyzed. The book is useful for industry professionals and enterprise firms in business management to effectively understand risks, opportunities, and concerning the pandemic situation.
Understanding the Dynamics of Nuclear Power and the Reduction of CO2 Emissions: A System Dynamics Approach
by Hassan Qudrat-UllahThis books explains a strategy that a country can meet its CO2 emission reduction targets (e.g., as are in Paris Agreement) with a dominant share of nuclear power with a balanced energy supply mix. The book starts with an introduction to the subject of energy policy, mechanisms, and CO2 emissions, and the complexity of the CO2 reduction goal. It introduces the system dynamics approach as a solution modeling approach for dealing with the complexity of CO2 reducing policies and mechanisms. The book presents the dynamic model and its key parameters and then elaborates the structural and behavioral validity of the dynamic model. The book gives an intensive review to do that comparative analysis involving China, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Pakistan. The last half of the book focuses on the case in Pakistan. The author reviews Pakistan’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution and other key sources from Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy and related institutions. Using Pakistan’s case data, the author applies the system dynamics modeling approach whereby a dynamic model, capable of representing the important interactions among various sectors of the electricity supply sector of Pakistan. This book is intended to be of use to policymakers, managers and practitioners, teachers, researchers, and students of design and assessment of policymaking for the complex, dynamic energy systems
Understanding the Enrichment of Heavy Elements by the Chemodynamical Evolution Models of Dwarf Galaxies (Springer Theses)
by Yutaka HiraiThis book addresses the mechanism of enrichment of heavy elements in galaxies, a long standing problem in astronomy. It mainly focuses on explaining the origin of heavy elements by performing state-of-the-art, high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations of dwarf galaxies. In this book, the author successfully develops a model of galactic chemodynamical evolution by means of which the neutron star mergers can be used to explain the observed abundance pattern of the heavy elements synthesized by the rapid neutron capture process, such as europium, gold, and uranium in the Local Group dwarf galaxies. The book argues that heavy elements are significant indicators of the evolutionary history of the early galaxies, and presents theoretical findings that open new avenues to understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies based on the abundance of heavy elements in metal-poor stars.
Understanding the Epoch of Cosmic Reionization
by Andrei MesingerThe dawn of the first stars, galaxies and black holes signaled a fundamental milestone in our Universe's evolution: the Epoch of Reionization. The light from these galactic ancestors began spreading out, ionizing virtually every atom in existence. Our Universe transitioned from darkness to light, from cold to hot, from simple and boring to the wondrous cosmic zoo we see around us today. Despite its importance, observations of reionization have been few, and their interpretation has been highly controversial. Fortunately, this is rapidly changing. We will soon enter the "Big Data" era of this mysterious epoch, driven by an upcoming wave of observations with state-of-the-art telescopes as well as new sophisticated analysis tools. The aim of this volume is to summarize the current status and future outlook of the reionization field. We bring together leading experts in many sub-disciplines, highlighting the measurements that will illuminate our understanding of reionization and the cosmic dawn: (i) 21cm interferometry; (ii) high-redshift quasar spectra; (iii) high-redshift galaxy surveys; (iv) primary and secondary anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background; (v) high-resolution studies of the metal content of early galaxies. We seek a roadmap to interpreting the wealth of upcoming observations. What is the best use of limited observational resources? How do we develop theoretical tools tailored for each observation? Ultimately, what will we learn about the epoch of reionization and our galactic ancestors?