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TRP Channels in Drug Discovery, Volume I
by Tamás Bíró Arpad SzallasiRecent findings have implied a distinct therapeutic potential for drugs targeting Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels in a wide variety of diseases, many with no existing satisfactory treatment options. Thus, the TRP superfamily of ion channels has attracted a great deal of well-deserved attention. TRP Channels in Drug Discovery provides a thorough collection of the most up-to-date reviews and protocols on the subject, coming from top experts in the field. Volume I presents a series of state-of-the-art minireviews on the most interesting TRP channels (from TRPA1 to TRPV4), as well as TRP-related protocols involving airways and the genitourinary tract. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and ToxicologyTM series, this work includes the kind of detailed description and key implementation advice that ensures successful results in the lab. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, TRP Channels in Drug Discovery serves as an ideal reference for graduate students in academic laboratories as well as for pharmaceutical scientists developing new drugs and clinicians interested in novel drugs in the pipeline.
TRP Channels in Drug Discovery, Volume II
by Tamás Bíró Arpad SzallasiRecent findings have implied a distinct therapeutic potential for drugs targeting Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels in a wide variety of diseases, many with no existing satisfactory treatment options. Thus, the TRP superfamily of ion channels has attracted a great deal of well-deserved attention. TRP Channels in Drug Discovery provides a thorough collection of the most up-to-date reviews and protocols on the subject, coming from top experts in the field. Volume II presents practical methodologies involving models for disorders of the cardiovascular system, the brain, skin, the metabolic system, as well as colitis, cancer, thermosensation, and musculoskeletal disorders. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and ToxicologyTM series, this work includes the kind of detailed description and key implementation advice that ensures successful results in the lab.<P><P> Comprehensive and cutting-edge, TRP Channels in Drug Discovery serves as an ideal reference for graduate students in academic laboratories as well as for pharmaceutical scientists developing new drugs and clinicians interested in novel drugs in the pipeline.
TRP Ion Channel Function in Sensory Transduction and Cellular Signaling Cascades (Frontiers in Neuroscience)
by Wolfgang B. Liedtke Stefan HellerSince the first TRP ion channel was discovered in Drosophila melanogaster in 1989, the progress made in this area of signaling research has yielded findings that offer the potential to dramatically impact human health and wellness. Involved in gateway activity for all five of our senses, TRP channels have been shown to respond to a wide range of st
TRP-Mediated Signaling (Methods in Signal Transduction Series)
by Michael Xi ZhuThe field of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels has gained momentum in recent years not only because of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch, but also because of the growing appreciation of the diverse and important physiological and pathophysiological functions of this diverse family of cation channels. In the past decade, there have been important discoveries in the TRP field: resolution of the 3-D structures of major subfamilies using single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography, identification and development of selective agonists and antagonists for most TRP subfamily members, discovery of new human diseases associated with TRP gene mutations, as well as improved understanding of TRP channel function and regulation in various systems. These new discoveries are addressed in TRP-Mediated Signaling, a volume in the Methods in Signal Transduction book series.Key Features• Summarizes recent advances in the study of TRP channels• Written by a team of leading international researchers• Reviews physiological and pathophysiological functions of TRP channels• Identifies diseases associated with TRP gene mutations• Examines the evolution of temperature-sensing TRP channels
Las truchas están hechas de árboles
by April Pulley Sayre¡Las truchas realmente están hechas de árboles! Hojas y bacterias, insectos y peces, osos y personas; todos somos parte de un gran círculo de crecimiento, alimentación y vida –¡ahora en español!Trout are really made of trees! Leaves and bacteria, insects and fish, bears and people, too—we're all part of one big circle of growing and eating and living--now in Spanish!Un hábil matrimonio entre un texto lírico e ilustraciones de montaje energéticas, este libro explora las formas intrincadas y a menudo sorprendentes en las que las plantas y los animales están conectados en la cadena alimentaria; con texto final que describe los esfuerzos de conservación y el cuidado responsable.A deft marriage of lyrical text, and energetic collage illustrations, this book explores the intricate and often surprising ways plants and animals are connected in the food web, with back matter describing conservation efforts and responsible stewardship.
A Truck Full of Money: One Man's Quest to Recover from Great Success
by Tracy Kidder"A perfectly executed, exquisitely reported parable of the Internet age and the wild, mad adventure that is start-up culture."--Charles Duhigg Fortune, mania, genius, philanthropy--the bestselling author of Mountains Beyond Mountains gives us the inspiring story of Paul English, the founder of Kayak.com and Lola. Tracy Kidder, the "master of the nonfiction narrative" (The Baltimore Sun) and author of the bestselling classic The Soul of a New Machine, now tells the story of Paul English, a kinetic and unconventional inventor and entrepreneur, who as a boy rebelled against authority. Growing up in working-class Boston, English discovers a medium for his talents the first time he sees a computer. As a young man, despite suffering from what would eventually be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, he begins his pilgrim's journey through the ups and downs in the brave new world of computers. Relating to the Internet as if it's an extension of his own mind, he discovers that he has a talent for conceiving innovative enterprises and building teams that can develop them, becoming "a Pied Piper" of geeks. His innovative management style, success, and innate sense of fair play inspire intense loyalty. Early on, one colleague observes: "Someday this boy's going to get hit by a truck full of money, and I'm going to be standing beside him." Yet when English does indeed make a fortune, when the travel website Kayak is sold for almost two billion dollars--the first thing he thinks about is how to give the money away: "What else would you do with it?" The second thing he thinks is, What's next? With the power of a consummate storyteller, Tracy Kidder casts a fresh, critical, and often humorous eye on the way new ideas and new money are reshaping our culture and the world. A Truck Full of Money is a mesmerizing portrait of an irresistibly endearing man who is indefatigable, original, and as unpredictable as America itself. Advance praise for A Truck Full of Money"A perfectly executed, exquisitely reported parable of the Internet age, and the wild, mad adventure that is start-up culture."--Charles Duhigg "A Truck Full of Money brings us into unknown spaces of the complex workings of the mind--of a brilliant software engineer, of this new decade, of the brutal/fast business of technology, of stunning privilege, and of one man's efforts to put his fortune to humane use."--Adrian Nicole LeBlanc"The story of [an] entrepreneur's remarkable life [and] the new American economy and the technological world that built it. More engrossing work from a gifted practitioner of narrative nonfiction."--Kirkus ReviewsFrom the Hardcover edition.
True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Middle-East
by Hassan Ghahari Pierre Moulet J. E. McPhersonThis reference guide covers information on the true bugs (Heteroptera) of Middle East and includes taxonomy, general biology, economic importance, applied aspects, and distributional data. It also includes up-to-date reviews of the literature on the Heteroptera of the Middle East. The book represents a clear guide for future research in heteropteran biology. Apart from providing a taxonomic treatment of all the families known from the Middle East, information is provided on Iranian and general geographic distributions, bionomics, ecology, natural enemies, prey records, and plant associations for the various species. General discussion also is included on morphology, economic importance, family characters of each group, and affinity with related groups. This book includes detailed information on more than 2,000 species of the Middle East Heteroptera belonging to 58 families. An exhaustive bibliography (over 4,000) has been provided to facilitate studies of chosen aspects of the various species. Up-to-date information for the various species has been provided as far as possible. The book contains the contributions of 37 heteropteran specialists from 17 countries. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, and masters and Ph. D students of entomology, biosciences, agriculture, biological control, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), and environmental sciences. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of the mentioned scientific fields. National and international entomological and agricultural scientists may also find the book to be a useful read as well as those individuals who are active in medical, urban, and forensic entomology because there are several heteropteran pests in these fields.
True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics
by Antônio R. Panizzi Jocélia GraziaTrue bugs (Heteroptera) are a diverse and complex group of plant-feeding and predatory insects important to food production, human health, the global economy and the environment. Within the nearly 43,000 species described around the world, Neotropical true bugs are particularly diverse, and much remains to be discovered about their biology and relations with other species. Inspired by the need for a comprehensive assessment, True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics is the most complete and thorough review ever published. Experts in each of the seven infraorders have drawn together the scattered literature to provide detailed treatments of each major taxon. The most common and important species as well as select lesser known species in each major family are covered, highlighting morphology, classification, biology and ecology. The numerous color illustrations highlight key species and their adaptations, and importance to basic and applied sciences is discussed. Each chapter is based on an up-to-date review of the literature, and with a bibliography of more than 3,000 references, readers are presented with an unprecedented and vital and timely account of the true bugs of the Neotropical Region.
True Cost Accounting for Food: Balancing the Scale (Routledge Studies in Food, Society and the Environment)
by Barbara Gemmill-HerrenThis book explains how True Cost Accounting is an effective tool we can use to address the pervasive imbalance in our food system. Calls are coming from all quarters that the food system is broken and needs a radical transformation. A system that feeds many yet continues to create both extreme hunger and diet-related diseases, and one which has significant environmental impacts, is not serving the world adequately. This volume argues that True Cost Accounting in our food system can create a framework for a systemic shift. What sounds on the surface like a practice relegated to accountants is ultimately a call for a new lens on the valuation of food and a new relationship with the food we eat, starting with the reform of a system out of balance. From the true cost of corn, rice and water, to incentives for soil health, the chapters economically compare conventional and regenerative, more equitable farming practices in and food system structures, including taking an unflinching look at the true cost of cheap labour. Overall, this volume points towards the potential for our food system to be more human-centred than profit-centred and one that has a more respectful relationship to the planet. It sets forth a path forward based on True Cost Accounting for food. This path seeks to fix our current food metrics, in policy and in practice, by applying a holistic lens that evaluates the actual costs and benefits of different food systems, and the impacts and dependencies between natural systems, human systems, agriculture and food systems. This volume is essential reading for professionals and policymakers involved in developing and reforming the food system, as well as students and scholars working on food policy, food systems and sustainability.
The True Creator of Everything: How the Human Brain Shaped the Universe as We Know It
by Miguel NicolelisA radically new cosmological view from a groundbreaking neuroscientist placing the human brain at the center of humanity’s universe Renowned neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis introduces readers to a revolutionary new theory of how the human brain evolved to become an organic computer without rival in the known universe. Nicolelis undertakes the first attempt to explain the entirety of human history, culture, and civilization based on a series of recently uncovered key principles of brain function. This new cosmology is centered around three fundamental properties of the human brain: its insurmountable malleability to adapt and learn; its exquisite ability to allow multiple individuals to synchronize their minds around a task, goal, or belief; and its incomparable capacity for abstraction. Combining insights from such diverse fields as neuroscience, mathematics, evolution, computer science, physics, history, art, and philosophy, Nicolelis presents a neurobiologically based manifesto for the uniqueness of the human mind and a cautionary tale of the threats that technology poses to present and future generations.
True Enough
by Catherine Z. ElginThe development of an epistemology that explains how science and art embody and convey understanding. Philosophy valorizes truth, holding that there can never be epistemically good reasons to accept a known falsehood, or to accept modes of justification that are not truth conducive. How can this stance account for the epistemic standing of science, which unabashedly relies on models, idealizations, and thought experiments that are known not to be true? In True Enough, Catherine Elgin argues that we should not assume that the inaccuracy of models and idealizations constitutes an inadequacy. To the contrary, their divergence from truth or representational accuracy fosters their epistemic functioning. When effective, models and idealizations are, Elgin contends, felicitous falsehoods that exemplify features of the phenomena they bear on. Because works of art deploy the same sorts of felicitous falsehoods, she argues, they also advance understanding. Elgin develops a holistic epistemology that focuses on the understanding of broad ranges of phenomena rather than knowledge of individual facts. Epistemic acceptability, she maintains, is a matter not of truth-conduciveness, but of what would be reflectively endorsed by the members of an idealized epistemic community—a quasi-Kantian realm of epistemic ends.
True Genius: The Life And Science Of John Bardeen
by Lillian Hoddeson Vicki DaitchWhat is genius? Define it. Now think of scientists who embody the concept of genius. Does the name John Bardeen spring to mind? Indeed, have you ever heard of him?Like so much in modern life, immediate name recognition often rests on a cult of personality. We know Einstein, for example, not just for his tremendous contributions to science, but also because he was a character, who loved to mug for the camera. And our continuing fascination with Richard Feynman is not exclusively based on his body of work; it is in large measure tied to his flamboyant nature and offbeat sense of humor.These men, and their outsize personalities, have come to erroneously symbolize the true nature of genius and creativity. We picture them born brilliant, instantly larger than life. But is that an accurate picture of genius? What of others who are equal in stature to these icons of science, but whom history has awarded only a nod because they did not readily engage the public? Could a person qualify as a bona fide genius if he was a regular Joe?The answer may rest in the story of John Bardeen.John Bardeen was the first person to have been awarded two Nobel Prizes in the same field. He shared one with William Shockley and Walter Brattain for the invention of the transistor. But it was the charismatic Shockley who garnered all the attention, primarily for his Hollywood ways and notorious views on race and intelligence.Bardeen’s second Nobel Prize was awarded for the development of a theory of superconductivity, a feat that had eluded the best efforts of leading theorists—including Albert Einstein, Neils Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Richard Feynman. Arguably, Bardeen’s work changed the world in more ways than that of any other scientific genius of his time. Yet while every school child knows of Einstein, few people have heard of John Bardeen. Why is this the case?Perhaps because Bardeen differs radically from the popular stereotype of genius. He was a modest, mumbling Midwesterner, an ordinary person who worked hard and had a knack for physics and mathematics. He liked to picnic with his family, collaborate quietly with colleagues, or play a round of golf. None of that was newsworthy, so the media, and consequently the public, ignored him.John Bardeen simply fits a new profile of genius. Through an exploration of his science as well as his life, a fresh and thoroughly engaging portrait of genius and the nature of creativity emerges. This perspective will have readers looking anew at what it truly means to be a genius.
True Genius: The Life and Work of Richard Garwin, the Most Influential Scientist You've Never Heard of
by Joel ShurkinRichard Garwin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama Called a "true genius" by Enrico Fermi, Richard Garwin has influenced modern life in far-reaching ways, yet he is hardly known outside the physics community. This is the first biography of one of America's great minds--a top physicist, a brilliant technological innovator, and a trusted advisor of presidents for sixty years. Among his many contributions to modern technology are innovations we now take for granted: air-traffic control systems, touch screens, color monitors, laser printers, GPS satellite navigation, and many other facets of everyday contemporary life.But certainly his most important work has been on behalf of nuclear disarmament. As a key member of the Los Alamos team that developed the hydrogen bomb (he created the final design), Garwin subsequently devoted much of his career to ensuring that nuclear weapons never again be used. He has spent hundreds of hours testifying before Congress, serving on government advisory committees, and doing work that is still classified, all the while working for IBM as a researcher. A genuine polymath, his ideas extend from propulsion systems for interplanetary flight to preventing flu epidemics. Never shy about offering his opinions, even to rigid government bureaucracies unwilling to change, Garwin continues to show leaders how to do the smart thing. The world is a more interesting and safer place because of his many accomplishments.
True or Poo?: The Definitive Field Guide to Filthy Animal Facts and Falsehoods (Does It Fart Series #2)
by Nick Caruso Dani RabaiottiFrom the scientist duo behind the New York Times bestselling sensation Does It Fart? comes a new illustrated compendium of animal facts and falsehoods, from the head-scratching to the repulsive! After Does It Fart? comes Number Two...a fully illustrated compendium of animal facts and falsehoods--the more repulsive the better. Do komodo dragons have toxic slobber? Is it true that a scorpion that sheds its tail dies of constipation? Speaking of poo, do rabbits really have a habit of, err, eating their own? And can you really get high from licking toads, or is that...fake newts?The answers to all these questions and more can be found in True or Poo?, a manual for disgusting and one-upping your friends and enemies for years to come.
True or Poo?: The Ultimate Guide to Animal Facts and Fibs (Does It Fart Ser. #2)
by Nick Caruso Dani RabaiottiThe toilet-tastic book that asks young readers to guess if animal facts are true...or POO?!Do wombats have cube-shaped poo?Do you eat spiders in your sleep?Do beetles pretend to be ant bottoms?In this hilariously helpful guide to which facts about the animal kingdom are true or false, you might be surprised to learn what's true ... and what's a big pile of poo! And you will find out a lot about that smelly stuff in this book too, from how it's made to which animals eat their own waste. (Yuck!)But will you be able to guess what's real and what's made up? Find out in this comical collection of weird habits, cool facts and sneaky myths about your favourite animals!This HILARIOUS book is the companion title to Does it Fart?
True Roots: What Quitting Hair Dye Taught Me about Health and Beauty
by Ronnie Citron-FinkLike 75% of American women, Ronnie Citron-Fink dyed her hair, visiting the salon every few weeks to hide gray roots in her signature dark brown mane. She wanted to look attractive, professional, young. Yet as a journalist covering health and the environment, she knew something wasn't right. All those unpronounceable chemical names on the back of the hair dye box were far from natural. Were her recurring headaches and allergies telltale signs that the dye offered the illusion of health, all the while undermining it?So after twenty-five years of coloring, Ronnie took a leap and decided to ditch the dye. Suddenly everyone, from friends and family to rank strangers, seemed to have questions about her hair. How'd you do it? Are you doing that on purpose? Are you OK? Armed with a mantra that explained her reasons for going gray—the upkeep, the cost, the chemicals—Ronnie started to ask her own questions.What are the risks of coloring? Why are hair dye companies allowed to use chemicals that may be harmful? Are there safer alternatives? Maybe most importantly, why do women feel compelled to color? Will I still feel like me when I have gray hair?True Roots follows Ronnie's journey from dark dyes to a silver crown of glory, from fear of aging to embracing natural beauty. Along the way, readers will learn how to protect themselves, whether by transitioning to their natural color or switching to safer products. Like Ronnie, women of all ages can discover their own hair story, one built on individuality, health, and truth.
The True Story of Modern Cosmology: Origins, Main Actors and Breakthroughs
by Emilio ElizaldeThis book tells the story of how, over the past century, dedicated observers and pioneering scientists achieved our current understanding of the universe. It was in antiquity that humankind first attempted to explain the universe often with the help of myths and legends. This book, however, focuses on the time when cosmology finally became a true science. As the reader will learn, this was a slow process, extending over a large part of the 20th century and involving many astronomers, cosmologists and theoretical physicists. The book explains how empirical astronomical data (e.g., Leavitt, Slipher and Hubble) were reconciled with Einstein's general relativity; a challenge which finally led Friedmann, De Sitter and Lemaître, and eventually Einstein himself, to a consistent understanding of the observational results. The reader will realize the extraordinary implications of these achievements and how deeply they changed our vision of the cosmos: From being small, static, immutable and eternal, it became vast and dynamical - originating from (almost) nothing, and yet now, nearly 14 billion years later, undergoing accelerated expansion. But, as always happens, as well as precious knowledge, new mysteries have also been created where previously absolute certainty had reigned.
The True Story of Vanilla: How Edmond Albius Made History (Orca Biography)
by Ann RichardsIn 1841, a 12-year-old enslaved boy, Edmond Albius, made history when he discovered how to hand-pollinate vanilla plants using a bamboo twig. Until that time, only bees in Mexico could pollinate the plant—botanists couldn’t figure out another way. With his master, Edmond travelled around Réunion Island to share his technique, le geste d’Edmonde (Edmond’s gesture), which is still in use today. Despite his important achievement, as an enslaved person Edmond didn’t receive payment or recognition for his contribution to science, eventually dying in poverty after being freed from slavery in 1848. Today it is recognized that Edmond’s method of pollination was key to bringing vanilla to the world, helped to create a billion-dollar industry and gave us the flavor we love to use in cooking, baking, medicine and, of course, ice cream. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
True Tales of Medical Physics: Insights into a Life-Saving Specialty
by Jacob Van DykSince the discovery of the x-ray over 125 years ago, scientists and medical professionals alike have harnessed the power of the atom to heal and protect. This book brings together an all-star cast of high-profile and award-winning scholars, introducing the general readership to an often unnoticed yet societally vital profession – medical physics. This collection of personal short stories offers an informal, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of these esteemed professionals, encapsulating their transformative “aha” moments within a whimsical hodgepodge of instructive and inspiring anecdotes. They even pass on words of wisdom discovered from their diverse experiences throughout the academic, clinical, and commercial worlds. The wealth of information packed into these vignettes runs the gamut from practical career advice to lighthearted tales of humorous misadventure, providing a tremendous overview of the breadth and depth of medical physics as a career and discipline while imparting sage advice that extends well beyond the field. In his Foreword to this book Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, provides his strong endorsement of the life-saving work carried out by medical physicists and the profession as a whole.From the general public to the budding student in search of career guidance, as well as young and seasoned practicing professionals, these thought-provoking, witty, and simply entertaining “untold stories” encourage the reader to reflect on and ponder the many enduring lessons born from unexpected life-turning events.
True Truffle (Tuber spp.) in the World
by Alessandra Zambonelli Mirco Iotti Claude MuratThis book focuses on the taxonomic diversity of the genus Tuber as economically important truffles. In contributions by internationally respected scientists, it examines truffle systematics, interactions with abiotic and biotic environments, strategies for spore dispersal, and molecular processes in truffles. Topics discussed include: evolutionary theories and phylogeny of Tuber species from Asia, Europe and North-America; the influence of climate on the natural distribution of Tuber species and fruiting body production, soil characteristics and vegetation in natural habitats; tools for tracing truffles in soil, host diversity, truffle inhabiting fungi and truffle-associated bacteria; and the relationships of small mammals and wild boars with truffles, as well as the smell of truffles. This book offers a valuable reference guide for all researchers working in the fields of mycology, ecology and the soil sciences, and will also be useful for farmers and foresters interested in truffle cultivation worldwide.
The True Wireless
by Nikola TeslaNikola Tesla was a genius who revolutionized how the world looks at electricity.
Truffles: Diversity, Ecology and Biotechnology (Progress in Mycological Research)
by Kandikere R. Sridhar Sunil K. DeshmukhTruffles are hypogeous ectomycorrhizal ascomycetous edible mushrooms distributed worldwide in terrestrial ecosystems, including deserts, as non-timber forest products. They are seasonal and have a short shelf life. Owing to their nutraceutical value, truffles are in high demand and valuable. Of the 180 or more species of truffles reported worldwide, only around 20 are commercially viable. Truffles: Diversity, Ecology and Biotechnology reviews the current advances in truffles from a historical perspective and covers ethnomycological profiles, habitats, ecology, geographical distribution, diversity, systematics, phylogeny, ultrastructure, sexual reproduction, cultivation, analytical techniques, and the impact of climate change and industrial applications on truffles. It also emphasizes the role of soil properties in the occurrence of truffles (e.g., Tuber spp.), their pathogens, product development and marketing. The contributors hail from academia and industries across the globe.
Truly Human Enhancement: A Philosophical Defense of Limits (Basic Bioethics)
by Nicholas AgarA nuanced discussion of human enhancement that argues for enhancement that does not significantly exceed what is currently possible for human beings.The transformative potential of genetic and cybernetic technologies to enhance human capabilities is most often either rejected on moral and prudential grounds or hailed as the future salvation of humanity. In this book, Nicholas Agar offers a more nuanced view, making a case for moderate human enhancement—improvements to attributes and abilities that do not significantly exceed what is currently possible for human beings. He argues against radical human enhancement, or improvements that greatly exceed current human capabilities.Agar explores notions of transformative change and motives for human enhancement; distinguishes between the instrumental and intrinsic value of enhancements; argues that too much enhancement undermines human identity; considers the possibility of cognitively enhanced scientists; and argues against radical life extension. Making the case for moderate enhancement, Agar argues that many objections to enhancement are better understood as directed at the degree of enhancement rather than enhancement itself. Moderate human enhancement meets the requirement of truly human enhancement. By radically enhancing human cognitive capabilities, by contrast, we may inadvertently create beings (“post-persons”) with moral status higher than that of persons. If we create beings more entitled to benefits and protections against harms than persons, Agar writes, this will be bad news for the unenhanced. Moderate human enhancement offers a more appealing vision of the future and of our relationship to technology.
Truly Human Enhancement
by Nicholas AgarThe transformative potential of genetic and cybernetic technologies to enhance human capabilities is most often either rejected on moral and prudential grounds or hailed as the future salvation of humanity. In this book, Nicholas Agar offers a more nuanced view, making a case for moderate human enhancement -- improvements to attributes and abilities that do not significantly exceed what is currently possible for human beings. He argues against radical human enhancement, or improvements that greatly exceeds current human capabilities. Agar explores notions of transformative change and motives for human enhancement; distinguishes between the instrumental and intrinsic value of enhancements; argues that too much enhancement undermines human identity; considers the possibility of cognitively enhanced scientists; and argues against radical life extension. Making the case for moderate enhancement, Agar argues that many objections to enhancement are better understood as directed at the degree of enhancement rather than enhancement itself. Moderate human enhancement meets the requirement of truly human enhancement. By radically enhancing human cognitive capabilities, by contrast, we may inadvertently create beings ("post-persons") with moral status higher than that of persons. If we create beings more entitled to benefits and protections against harms than persons, Agar writes, this will be bad news for the unenhanced. Moderate human enhancement offers a more appealing vision of the future and of our relationship to technology.
Truncated Predictor Based Feedback Designs for Linear Systems with Input Delay (Control Engineering)
by Yusheng Wei Zongli LinThis monograph is the first of its kind to present innovative research results on truncated predictor feedback (TPF) designs for general linear systems with input delay. Beginning with a brief review of time delay systems, the first half of the book focuses on TPF with a constant feedback parameter. Both state feedback and output feedback are considered. It is established that TPF achieves stabilization in the presence of an arbitrarily large bounded delay if the open loop system is not exponentially unstable. Examples are presented to illustrate that TPF may fail to stabilize an exponentially unstable system when the delay is sufficiently large. Bounds on the delay are then established under which stabilization can be achieved. The second half of the book explores variations of the TPF laws designed with a non-constant feedback parameter to accommodate unknown delays and improve closed-loop performance. The authors employ a step-by-step approach to presenting the ultimate result on a completely delay-independent feedback law. Truncated Predictor Based Feedback Designs for Linear Systems with Input Delay will appeal to control engineers, control theorists, and graduate students studying control systems. This volume will also be a valuable resource for engineers and applied mathematicians interested in dynamic systems with time delays.