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The Landscape Ecology of Fire (Ecological Studies)
by Carol Miller Donald A. Falk Donald McKenzieGlobal warming is expected to change fire regimes, likely increasing the severity and extent of wildfires in many ecosystems around the world. What will be the landscape-scale effects of these altered fire regimes? Within what theoretical contexts can we accurately assess these effects? We explore the possible effects of altered fire regimes on landscape patch dynamics, dominant species (tree, shrub, or herbaceous) and succession, sensitive and invasive plant and animal species and communities, and ecosystem function. Ultimately, we must consider the human dimension: what are the policy and management implications of increased fire disturbance, and what are the implications for human communities?
The Landscape of Free Fermionic Gauge Models
by Douglas G. MooreIn this thesis, the author describes the development of a software framework to systematically construct a particular class of weakly coupled free fermionic heterotic string models, dubbed gauge models. In their purest form, these models are maximally supersymmetric (N = 4), and thus only contain superpartners in their matter sector. This feature makes their systematic construction particularly efficient, and they are thus useful in their simplicity. The thesis first provides a brisk introduction to heterotic strings and the spin-structure construction of free fermionic models. Three systematic surveys are then presented, and it is conjectured that these surveys are exhaustive modulo redundancies. Finally, the author presents a collection of metaheuristic algorithms for searching the landscape for models with a user-specified spectrum of phenomenological properties, e. g. gauge group and number of spacetime supersymmetries. Such algorithms provide the groundwork for extended generic free fermionic surveys.
The Landscape of Relativistic Stellar Explosions (Springer Theses)
by Anna Y. HoThis thesis reports the discovery of relativistic stellar explosions outside of the gamma ray band, using optical time domain surveys. It is well known that some massive stars end their lives with the formation of a compact object (a neutron star or black hole) that launches a relativistic jet detectable from earth as a burst of gamma rays. It has long been suspected, however, that gamma ray bursts are only the tip of the iceberg in a broad landscape of relativistic explosions, and so the results presented in this thesis represent a major breakthrough. Highlights of this thesis include: characterization of the first major new class of relativistic explosions in a decade; the discovery of abrupt end-of-life mass-loss in a surprisingly diverse range of stars; and the routine discovery of afterglow emission and several events that may represent baryonically dirty jets or jets viewed slightly off axis. These discoveries necessitated the solution of difficult technical challenges such as the identification of rare and fleeting “needles” in a vast haystack of time-varying phenomena in the night sky, and responding to discoveries within hours to obtain data across the electromagnetic spectrum from X-rays to radio wavelengths.
The Landscape of the Sierra Nevada: A Unique Laboratory of Global Processes in Spain
by Regino Zamora Marc OlivaThis book covers the landscape, geography and environment of the Sierra Nevada in Spain. The Sierra Nevada hosted the last glaciers in southern Europe. Today, it is one of the most important centers of plant diversity in the western Mediterranean and one of the most outstanding in Europe. This massif has ideal conditions to analyze past environments as well as the effects of global change on ecosystems. This can be seen in the large number of projects that are being conducted within the umbrella of the Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory. This book summarizes all the scientific knowledge available about this massif, from the geomorphological and ecological perspectives to the recent spatial adaptive management and Open Science initiatives. Focusing on the very sensitive mountain environment of Sierra Nevada, the book intends to be a reference for many people interested in mountain processes. The audience would include scientists from all disciplines, but it would also target on an audience beyond the academia (territorial managers, environmentalists, mountaineers, politicians, technicians, etc.).
The Language Game: How Improvisation Created Language and Changed the World
by Nick Chater Morten H. ChristiansenForget the language instinct—this is the story of how we make up language as we go Language is perhaps humanity&’s most astonishing capacity—and one that remains poorly understood. In The Language Game, cognitive scientists Morten H. Christiansen and Nick Chater show us where generations of scientists seeking the rules of language got it wrong. Language isn&’t about hardwired grammars but about near-total freedom, something like a game of charades, with the only requirement being a desire to understand and be understood. From this new vantage point, Christiansen and Chater find compelling solutions to major mysteries like the origins of languages and how language learning is possible, and to long-running debates such as whether having two words for &“blue&” changes what we see. In the end, they show that the only real constraint on communication is our imagination.
The Language God Talks: On Science and Religion
by Herman Wouk"More years ago than I care to reckon up, I met Richard Feynman." So begins THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS, Herman Wouk's gem on navigating the divide between science and religion. In one rich, compact volume, Wouk draws on stories from his life as well as on key events from the 20th century to address the eternal questions of why we are here, what purpose faith serves, and how scientific fact fits into the picture. He relates wonderful conversations he's had with scientists such as Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Freeman Dyson, and Steven Weinberg, and brings to life such pivotal moments as the 1969 moon landing and the Challenger disaster. Brilliantly written, THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS is a scintillating and lively investigation and a worthy addition to the literature.
The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language
by Steven PinkerIn this classic, the world's expert on language and mind lucidly explains everything you always wanted to know about language: how it works, how children learn it, how it changes, how the brain computes it, and how it evolved. With deft use of examples of humor and wordplay, Steven Pinker weaves our vast knowledge of language into a compelling story: language is a human instinct, wired into our brains by evolution. The Language Instinct received the William James Book Prize from the American Psychological Association and the Public Interest Award from the Linguistics Society of America. This edition includes an update on advances in the science of language since The Language Instinct was first published.
The Language Phenomenon
by K. Smith P. M. BinderThis volume contains a contemporary, integrated description of the processes of language. These range from fast scales (fractions of a second) to slow ones (over a million years). The contributors, all experts in their fields, address language in the brain, production of sentences and dialogues, language learning, transmission and evolutionary processes that happen over centuries or millenia, the relation between language and genes, the origins of language, self-organization, and language competition and death. The book as a whole will help to show how processes at different scales affect each other, thus presenting language as a dynamic, complex and profoundly human phenomenon.
The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved
by Steven MithenA top scholar reveals the most complete picture to date of how early human speech led to the languages we use today The emergence of language began with the apelike calls of our earliest ancestors. Today, the world is home to thousands of complex languages. Yet exactly how, when, and why this evolution occurred has been one of the most enduring—and contentiously debated—questions in science. In The Language Puzzle, renowned archaeologist Steven Mithen puts forward a groundbreaking new account of the origins of language. Scientists have gained new insights into the first humans of 2.8 million years ago, and how numerous species flourished but only one, Homo sapiens, survives today. Drawing from this work and synthesizing research across archaeology, psychology, linguistics, genetics, neuroscience, and more, Mithen details a step-by-step explanation of how our human ancestors transitioned from apelike calls to words, and from words to language as we use it today. He explores how language shaped our cognition and vice versa; how metaphor advanced Homo sapiens&’ ability to formulate abstract concepts, develop agriculture, and—ultimately—shape the world. The result is a master narrative that builds bridges between disciplines, stuns with its breadth and depth, and spans millennia of societal development. Deeply researched and brilliantly told, The Language Puzzle marks a seminal understanding of the evolution of language.
The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists, and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect
by Wendy WilliamsIn this &“deeply personal and lyrical book&” (Publishers Weekly) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Horse, Wendy Williams explores the lives of one of the world&’s most resilient creatures—the butterfly—shedding light on the role that they play in our ecosystem and in our human lives.&“[A] glorious and exuberant celebration of these biological flying machines…Williams takes us on a humorous and beautifully crafted journey&” (The Washington Post). From butterfly gardens to zoo exhibits, these &“flying flowers&” are one of the few insects we&’ve encouraged to infiltrate our lives. Yet, what has drawn us to these creatures in the first place? And what are their lives really like? In this &“entertaining look at &‘the world&’s favorite insect&’&” (Booklist, starred review), New York Times bestselling author and science journalist Wendy Williams reveals the inner lives of these delicate creatures, who are far more intelligent and tougher than we give them credit for. Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each year from Canada to Mexico. Other species have learned how to fool ants into taking care of them. Butterflies&’ scales are inspiring researchers to create new life-saving medical technology. Williams takes readers to butterfly habitats across the globe and introduces us to not only various species, but &“digs deeply into the lives of both butterflies and [the] scientists&” (Science magazine) who have spent decades studying them. Coupled with years of research and knowledge gained from experts in the field, this accessible &“butterfly biography&” explores the ancient partnership between these special creatures and humans, and why they continue to fascinate us today. &“Informative, thought-provoking,&” (BookPage, starred review) and extremely profound, The Language of Butterflies is a &“fascinating book [that] will be of interest to anyone who has ever admired a butterfly, and anyone who cares about preserving these stunning creatures&” (Library Journal).
The Language of Cells
by Spencer NadlerAs a surgical pathologist for more than twenty-five years, Spencer Nadler was not content with the distance between his lab and the patient. Meeting with those whose diseased cells he has diagnosed, he offers them a rare understanding. Hanna Baylan is a woman as determined as he is to confront the cancer cells biopsied from her breast. Comille, a young boy with Sickle Cell anemia, has frequent racking pain, but doesn’t let it interfere with his gusto for life. And 91-year old-conductor Mehli Mehta inspires comparison between the cellular rhythms that threaten his heart and those that govern his work. In these intimate, lyrical portraits of people and their cells, Nadler brings a unique clarity and compassion to medicine.
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
by Francis CollinsDr Francis S. Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists, working at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God. How does he reconcile the seemingly unreconcilable? In THE LANGUAGE OF GOD he explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes the reader on a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry and biology -- indeed, reason itself -- are not incompatible with belief. His book is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of all: why are we here? How did we get here? And what does life mean?
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
by Francis S. CollinsThe author presents a satisfying solution for the dilemma that haunts everyone who believes in God and respects science. Faith in God and faith in science can be harmonious and combined into one worldview. For Collins, science does not conflict with the Bible, science enhances it.
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
by Francis S. CollinsDr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists -- yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture. Dr. Collins has resolved the dilemma that haunts everyone who believes in God and respects science. Faith in God and faith in science can be harmonious -- not separately but together, combined into one worldview. For Collins, science does not conflict with the Bible, science enhances it. The Language of God makes the case for God and for science. Dr. Collins considers and dismisses several positions along the spectrum from atheism to young-earth creationism -- including agnosticism and Intelligent Design. Instead, he proposes a new synthesis, a new way to think about an active, caring God who created humankind through evolutionary processes. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes listeners on a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible. The Language of God is essential for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of all: Why are we here? How did we get here? And what does life mean?
The Language of Images: The Forms and the Forces (Lecture Notes in Morphogenesis)
by Maria Giulia DonderoThis book deals with two fundamental issues in the semiotics of the image. The first is the relationship between image and observer: how does one look at an image? To answer this question, this book sets out to transpose the theory of enunciation formulated in linguistics over to the visual field. It also aims to clarify the gains made in contemporary visual semiotics relative to the semiology of Roland Barthes and Emile Benveniste. The second issue addressed is the relation between the forces, forms and materiality of the images. How do different physical mediums (pictorial, photographic and digital) influence visual forms? How does materiality affect the generativity of forms? On the forces within the images, the book addresses the philosophical thought of Gilles Deleuze and René Thom as well as the experiment of Aby Warburg’s Atlas Mnemosyne. The theories discussed in the book are tested on a variety of corpora for analysis, including both paintings and photographs, taken from traditional as well as contemporary sources in a variety of social sectors (arts and sciences). Finally, semiotic methodology is contrasted with the computational analysis of large collections of images (Big Data), such as the “Media Visualization” analyses proposed by Lev Manovich and Cultural Analytics in the field of Computer Science to evaluate the impact of automatic analysis of visual forms on Digital Art History and more generally on the image sciences.
The Language of Life
by James LullCommunication in its most basic form--the sending of signals and exchange of messages within and between organisms--is the heart of evolution. From the earliest life-forms to Homo sapiens, the great chain of communication drives the evolutionary process and is the indispensable component of human culture. That is the central message of this unique perspective on both the biological evolution of life and the human development of culture. The book explores the totality of communication processes that create and sustain biological equilibrium and social stability. The authors argue that this ubiquitous connectivity is the elemental unity of life. Introducing a new subdiscipline--evolutionary communication--the authors analyze the core domains of life--sheer survival, sex, culture, morality, religion, and technological change--as communications phenomena. What emerges from their analysis is a brilliant interpretation of life interconnected through communication from the basic molecular level to the most sophisticated manifestations of culture. Challenging the boundaries of conventional approaches to cultural analysis, this is an original and engaging view of evolution and an encouraging prognosis for our collective future.
The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine
by Francis S. Collins“His groundbreaking work has changed the very ways we consider our health and examine disease.” —Barack ObamaFrom Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institute of Health, 2007 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and 15-year head of the Human Genome Project, comes one of the most important medical books of the year: The Language of Life. With accessible, insightful prose, Dr. Collins describes the medical, scientific, and genetic revolution that is currently unlocking the secrets of “personalized medicine,” and offers practical advice on how to utilize these discoveries for you and your family’s current and future health and well-being. In the words of Dr. Jerome Groopman (author of How Doctors Think), The Language of Life ”sets out hope without hype, and will enrich the mind and uplift the heart.”“The future of customized medicine is in your DNA; don’t wait until you are sick to learn why.” —Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of You: The Owner’s Manual“Man’s knowledge of man is undergoing the greatest revolution since Leonardo, and Francis Collins is at the leading edge of it.” —Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Neurosurgeon at Emory University and Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN“Collins presents cutting-edge science for lay readers who want to take control of their medical lives.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review“Collins combines uplifting cases of direly afflicted people who benefited from knowledge gained by genetic screening, with exhortation of the reader to learn about and take advantage of existing and developing techniques of genetic screening.” —Booklist
The Language of Mathematics: The Stories behind the Symbols
by Raúl RojasA marvelous compendium of mathematical symbols and their fascinating historiesGalileo famously wrote that the book of nature is written in mathematical language. The Language of Mathematics is a wide-ranging and beautifully illustrated collection of short, colorful histories of the most commonly used symbols in mathematics, providing readers with an engaging introduction to the origins, evolution, and conceptual meaning of each one.In dozens of lively and informative entries, Raúl Rojas shows how today&’s mathematics stands on the shoulders of giants, mathematicians from around the world who developed mathematical notation through centuries of collective effort. He tells the stories of such figures as al-Khwārizmī, René Descartes, Joseph-Louis Lagrange, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Augustin-Louis Cauchy, Karl Weierstrass, Sofia Kovalevskaya, David Hilbert, and Kenneth Iverson. Topics range from numbers and variables to sets and functions, constants, and combinatorics. Rojas describes the mathematical problems associated with different symbols and reveals how mathematical notation has sometimes been an accidental process. The entries are self-contained and can be read in any order, each one examining one or two symbols, their history, and the variants they may have had over time.An essential companion for math enthusiasts, The Language of Mathematics shows how mathematics is a living and evolving entity, forever searching for the best symbolism to express relationships between abstract concepts and to convey meaning.
The Language of Medicine (Tenth Edition)
by Davi-Ellen ChabnerBring medical terminology to life with Davi-Ellen Chabner's bestselling The Language of Medicine, 10th Edition By presenting medical terms within the context of the body's anatomy and physiology, and in health and disease, this proven resource makes it easy to learn a working medical vocabulary built on the most frequently encountered prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. Practical exercises and case studies demonstrate how medical terms are used in practice. Add an engaging student Evolve website with medical animations and videos, word games, flash cards, and more, and you'll be ready to communicate confidently in the clinical setting and succeed in your healthcare career.
The Language of Nature: Reassessing the Mathematization of Natural Philosophy in the Seventeenth Century (Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science #20)
by Geoffrey Gorham etal.Galileo&’s dictum that the book of nature &“is written in the language of mathematics&” is emblematic of the accepted view that the scientific revolution hinged on the conceptual and methodological integration of mathematics and natural philosophy. Although the mathematization of nature is a distinctive and crucial feature of the emergence of modern science in the seventeenth century, this volume shows that it was a far more complex, contested, and context-dependent phenomenon than the received historiography has indicated, and that philosophical controversies about the implications of mathematization cannot be understood in isolation from broader social developments related to the status and practice of mathematics in various commercial, political, and academic institutions.Contributors: Roger Ariew, U of South Florida; Richard T. W. Arthur, McMaster U; Lesley B. Cormack, U of Alberta; Daniel Garber, Princeton U; Ursula Goldenbaum, Emory U; Dana Jalobeanu, U of Bucharest; Douglas Jesseph, U of South Florida; Carla Rita Palmerino, Radboud U, Nijmegen and Open U of the Netherlands; Eileen Reeves, Princeton U; Christopher Smeenk, Western U; Justin E. H. Smith, U of Paris 7; Kurt Smith, Bloomsburg U of Pennsylvania.
The Language of Plants: Science, Philosophy, Literature
by John C. Ryan Monica Gagliano Patrícia VieiraThe eighteenth-century naturalist Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles) argued that plants are animate, living beings and attributed them sensation, movement, and a certain degree of mental activity, emphasizing the continuity between humankind and plant existence. Two centuries later, the understanding of plants as active and communicative organisms has reemerged in such diverse fields as plant neurobiology, philosophical posthumanism, and ecocriticism. The Language of Plants brings together groundbreaking essays from across the disciplines to foster a dialogue between the biological sciences and the humanities and to reconsider our relation to the vegetal world in new ethical and political terms.Viewing plants as sophisticated information-processing organisms with complex communication strategies (they can sense and respond to environmental cues and play an active role in their own survival and reproduction through chemical languages) radically transforms our notion of plants as unresponsive beings, ready to be instrumentally appropriated. By providing multifaceted understandings of plants, informed by the latest developments in evolutionary ecology, the philosophy of biology, and ecocritical theory, The Language of Plants promotes the freedom of imagination necessary for a new ecological awareness and more sustainable interactions with diverse life forms.Contributors: Joni Adamson, Arizona State U; Nancy E. Baker, Sarah Lawrence College; Karen L. F. Houle, U of Guelph; Luce Irigaray, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris; Erin James, U of Idaho; Richard Karban, U of California at Davis; André Kessler, Cornell U; Isabel Kranz, U of Vienna; Michael Marder, U of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU); Timothy Morton, Rice U; Christian Nansen, U of California at Davis; Robert A. Raguso, Cornell U; Catriona Sandilands, York U.
The Language of SQL (2nd Edition)
by Larry RockoffThe Language of SQL, Second Edition Many SQL texts attempt to serve as an encyclopedic reference on SQL syntax -- an approach that is often counterproductive, because that information is readily available in online references published by the major database vendors. For SQL beginners, it's more important for a book to focus on general concepts and to offer clear explanations and examples of what various SQL statements can accomplish. This is that book. A number of features make The Language of SQL unique among introductory SQL books. First, you will not be required to download software or sit with a computer as you read the text. The intent of this book is to provide examples of SQL usage that can be understood simply by reading. Second, topics are organized in an intuitive and logical sequence. SQL keywords are introduced one at a time, allowing you to grow your understanding as you encounter new terms and concepts. Finally, this book covers the syntax of three widely used databases: Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and Oracle. Special "Database Differences" sidebars clearly show you any differences in syntax among these three databases, and instructions are included on how to obtain and install free versions of the databases. This is the only book you need to gain a quick working knowledge of SQL and relational databases. Learn How To. . . Use SQL to retrieve data from relational databases Apply functions and calculations to data Group and summarize data in a variety of useful ways Use complex logic to retrieve only the data you need Update data and create new tables Design relational databases so that data retrieval is easy and intuitive Use spreadsheets to transform your data into meaningful displays Retrieve data from multiple tables via joins, subqueries, views, and set logic Create, modify, and execute stored procedures Install Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, or Oracle Contents at a Glance 1 Relational Databases and SQL 2 Basic Data Retrieval 3 Calculated Fields and Aliases 4 Using Functions 5 Sorting Data 6 Selection Criteria 7 Boolean Logic 8 Conditional Logic 9 Summarizing Data 10 Subtotals and Crosstabs 11 Inner Joins 12 Outer Joins 13 Self Joins and Views 14 Subqueries 15 Set Logic 16 Stored Procedures and Parameters 17 Modifying Data 18 Maintaining Tables 19 Principles of Database Design 20 Strategies for Displaying Data A Getting Started with Microsoft SQL Server B Getting Started with MySQL C Getting Started with Oracle
The Language of Science and Faith: Straight Answers to Genuine Questions
by Francis S. Collins Karl W. GibersonThe Language of God,
The Language of the Face: Stories of Its Uniquely Expressive Features
by Frank Gonzalez-CrussiA broad and riveting cultural history of physiognomy, exploring how the desire to divine deeper meaning from our looks has compelled humans for millennia.How do you read a face? For thousands of years, artists, philosophers, and scientists have explored the question of what our outer appearance might reveal about our inner selves. In The Language of the Face, a marvelously comprehensive exploration of the pseudoscience of physiognomy, Frank Gonzalez-Crussi considers over a millennium&’s worth of primary sources to paint a splendid portrait of the face&’s cultural symbology. Gonzalez-Crussi, an acclaimed pathologist and writer, transcends disciplines with a singular balance of depth and levity. Blending literary analysis of both ancient and modern texts with the insights of medical anthropology, his narrative ranges from an investigation into &“nasal semiotics&”—a subject whose legacy persists most destructively in myths of racial typology—to equally astute analyses of the thrills of the erotic kiss, the diagnostic art of astrology, and the enlightening qualities of supposed ugliness. While our appearances may ultimately be no more than surface-level signifiers of identity, Gonzalez-Crussi&’s work is anything but superficial in its treatment of the consummately human urge to find profound meaning amidst seemingly arbitrary attributes. As rigorously researched as it is wildly entertaining, The Language of the Face is a vibrant contribution to both the emerging field of medical humanities and the popular understanding of aesthetics and physiology at large.
The Large Flux Problem to the Navier-Stokes Equations: Global Strong Solutions in Cylindrical Domains (Advances in Mathematical Fluid Mechanics)
by Joanna Rencławowicz Wojciech M. ZajączkowskiThis monograph considers the motion of incompressible fluids described by the Navier-Stokes equations with large inflow and outflow, and proves the existence of global regular solutions without any restrictions on the magnitude of the initial velocity, the external force, or the flux. To accomplish this, some assumptions are necessary: The flux is close to homogeneous, and the initial velocity and the external force do not change too much along the axis of the cylinder. This is achieved by utilizing a sophisticated method of deriving energy type estimates for weak solutions and global estimates for regular solutions—an approach that is wholly unique within the existing literature on the Navier-Stokes equations. To demonstrate these results, three main steps are followed: first, the existence of weak solutions is shown; next, the conditions guaranteeing the regularity of weak solutions are presented; and, lastly, global regular solutions are proven. This volume is ideal for mathematicians whose work involves the Navier-Stokes equations, and, more broadly, researchers studying fluid mechanics.