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Simple Things Won't Save the Earth
by J. Robert HunterWe drive cars with "Save the Whales" bumper stickers, buy aerosol sprays that advertise "no chlorofluorocarbons," and wear T-shirts made from organically grown cotton. All of these "earth friendly" choices and products convince us that we are "thinking globally, acting locally" and saving the planet. But are we really?<P><P>In this provocative book, J. Robert Hunter asserts that using catchy slogans and symbols to sell the public on environmental conservation is ineffective, misleading, and even dangerous. Debunking the Fifty Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth approach, Hunter shows that there are no simple solutions to major environmental problems such as species extinction, ozone depletion, global warming, pollution, and non-renewable resource consumption.
A Simpler Life: Synthetic Biological Experiments (Expertise: Cultures and Technologies of Knowledge)
by Talia Dan-CohenA Simpler Life approaches the developing field of synthetic biology by focusing on the experimental and institutional lives of practitioners in two labs at Princeton University. It highlights the distance between hyped technoscience and the more plodding and entrenched aspects of academic research. Talia Dan-Cohen follows practitioners as they wrestle with experiments, attempt to publish research findings, and navigate the ins and outs of academic careers. Dan-Cohen foregrounds the practices and rationalities of these pursuits that give both researchers' lives and synthetic life their distinctive contemporary forms. Rather than draw attention to avowed methodology, A Simpler Life investigates some of the more subtle and tectonic practices that bring knowledge, doubt, and technological intervention into new configurations. In so doing, the book sheds light on the more general conditions of contemporary academic technoscience.
Simplicity in Safety Investigations: A Practitioner's Guide to Applying Safety Science
by Ian LongThis innovative book aims to bring the science of safety into a simple and practical approach to investigating workplace incidents. As a basis, it uses the ideas of some of the great safety science thinkers of our time. These include Sidney Dekker, Todd Conklin, Erik Hollnagel, Daniel Kahneman, James Reason and Dylan Evans, alongside others and the author’s own extensive industry experience. Simplicity in Safety Investigations: A Practitioner's Guide to Applying Safety Science will better equip readers to deal with incident investigations by helping them understand the science behind investigation techniques, and by exploring coaching and leadership styles that help them ask better questions both before and after workplace incidents. The first two chapters of the book focus on our mindset as we approach and undertake investigations, and the simple things we all must do before an investigation starts. The third chapter is a step-by-step guide on how to undertake both simple and more detailed workplace incident investigations. Chapter 4 is reserved for a more detailed review and set of explanations around the science and thinking behind the method and approach. This book serves as an easy-to-follow, real-world reference for supervisors, managers and safety practitioners across many industries.
Simplicity is Complex: Foundations of Cyber-Physical System Design
by Hermann KopetzThis book investigates the characteristics of simple versus complex systems, and what the properties of a cyber-physical system design are that contribute to an effective implementation and make the system understandable, simple to use, and easy to maintain. The targeted audience is engineers, managers and advanced students who are involved in the design of cyber-physical systems and are willing to spend some time outside the silo of their daily work in order to widen their background and appreciation for the pervasive problems of system complexity.In the past, design of a process-control system (now called cyber-physical systems) was more of an art than an engineering endeavor. The software technology of that time was concerned primarily with functional correctness and did not pay much attention to the temporal dimension of program execution, which is as important as functional correctness when a physical process must be controlled. In the ensuing years, many problems in the design of cyber-physical systems were simplified. But with an increase in the functional requirements and system size, the complexity problems have appeared again in a different disguise. A sound understanding of the complexity problem requires some insight in cognition, human problem solving, psychology, and parts of philosophy.This book presents the essence of the author’s thinking about complexity, accumulated over the past forty years.
Simplicity of Complexity in Economic and Social Systems: Proceedings of the 54th Winter School of Theoretical Physics, Lądek Zdrój, Poland, February 18–24th 2018 (Springer Proceedings in Complexity)
by Dariusz Grech Janusz MiśkiewiczThis book presents the Proceedings of the 54th Winter School of Theoretical Physics on Simplicity of Complexity in Economic and Social Systems, held in Lądek Zdrój, Poland, from 18 to 24 February 2018. The purpose of the book is to introduce the new interdisciplinary research that links statistical physics, and particular attention is given to link physics of complex systems, with financial analysis and sociology. The main tools used in these areas are numerical simulation of agents behavior and the interpretation of results with the help of complexity methods, therefore a background in statistical physics and in physics of phase transition is necessary to take the first steps towards these research fields called econophysics and sociophysics. In this perspective, the book is intended to graduated students and young researchers who want to begin the study of this established new area, which connects physicists, economists, sociologists and IT professionals, to better understand complexity phenomena existing not only in physics but also in complex systems being seemingly far from traditional view at physics.
Simplified Analytical Methods of Elastic Plates
by Hideo TakabatakeThis book presents simplified analytical methodologies for static and dynamic problems concerning various elastic thin plates in the bending state and the potential effects of dead loads on static and dynamic behaviors. The plates considered vary in terms of the plane (e.g. rectangular or circular plane), stiffness of bending, transverse shear and mass. The representative examples include void slabs, plates stiffened with beams, stepped thickness plates, cellular plates and floating plates, in addition to normal plates. The closed-form approximate solutions are presented in connection with a groundbreaking methodology that can easily accommodate discontinuous variations in stiffness and mass with continuous function as for a distribution. The closed-form solutions can be used to determine the size of structural members in the preliminary design stages, and to predict potential problems with building slabs intended for human beings’ practical use.
A Simplified Approach to the Classical Laminate Theory of Composite Materials: Application of Bar and Beam Elements (Advanced Structured Materials #192)
by Andreas ÖchsnerThis book provides a systematic introduction to composite materials, which are obtained by a layer-wise stacking of one-dimensional bar/beam elements. Each layer may have different mechanical properties but each single layer is considered as isotropic. The major idea is to provide a simplified theory to easier understand the classical two-dimensional laminate theory for composites based on laminae with unidirectional fibers. In addition to the elastic behavior, failure is investigated based on the maximum stress, maximum strain, Tsai-Hill, and the Tsai-Wu criteria. Partial differential equations lay the foundation to mathematically describe the mechanical behavior of any classical structural member known in engineering mechanics, including composite materials. The so-called classical laminate theory provides a simplified stress analysis, and a subsequent failure analysis, without the solution of the system of coupled differential equations for the unknown displacements. The procedure provides the solution of a statically indeterminate system based on a generalized stress–strain relationship under consideration of the constitutive relationship and the definition of the so-called stress resultants. This laminate theory is typically provided for two-dimensional plane problems, where the basic structural element is a simple superposition of a classical plane elasticity element with a thin plate element under the consideration of an orthotropic constitutive law. This two-dimensional approach and the underlying advanced continuum mechanical modeling might be very challenging for some students, particularly at universities of applied sciences. Thus, a reduced approach, the so-called simplified classical laminate theory, has been developed. The idea is to use solely isotropic one-dimensional elements, i.e., a superposition of bar and beam elements, to introduce the major calculation steps of the classical laminate theory. Understanding this simplified theory is much easier and the final step it to highlight the differences when moving to the general two-dimensional case.
Simplified Dynamic Analysis of High-Rise Buildings: Applications to Simplified Seismic Diagnosis and Retrofit Using the Extended Rod Theory
by Akiko Kishida Izuru Takewaki Yukihiko Kitada Hideo TakabatakeThis book presents a simple analytical method based on the extended rod theory that allows the earthquake resistance of high-rise buildings to be easily and accurately evaluated at the preliminary design stage. It also includes practical software for applying the extended rod theory to the dynamic analysis of actual buildings and structures. High-rise buildings in large cities, built on soft ground consisting of sedimentary rock, tend to have low natural frequency. If ground motion due to an earthquake occurs at distant hypocenters, the vibration wave can be propagated through several sedimentary layers and act on skyscrapers as a long-period ground motion, potentially producing a resonance phenomenon that can cause severe damage. Accordingly, there is a pressing need to gauge the earthquake resistance of existing skyscrapers and to improve their seismic performance. This book was written by authors who have extensive experience in tall-building seismic design in Japan. The software included enables readers to perform dynamic calculations of skyscrapers’ resistance to vibrations. As such, it offers a valuable resource for practitioners and engineers, as well as students of civil engineering.
Simplified LRFD Bridge Design
by Robert H. Kim Jai B. Kim Jonathan R. EberleHelping readers prepare for the civil and structural PE exam, this book presents numerous design examples that serve as a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to basic bridge design using the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Fifth Edition. It offers a simplified explanation of load resistance factor design (LRFD) method-based bridge design principles and lists the AASHTO reference section numbers alongside formulas and where topics are introduced, to refer the reader to the primary source material. This is a valuable reference for civil engineering students as well as for practicing engineers.
Simplified Robust Adaptive Detection and Beamforming for Wireless Communications
by Ayman ElnasharThis book presents an alternative and simplified approaches for the robust adaptive detection and beamforming in wireless communications. It adopts several systems models including DS/CDMA, OFDM/MIMO with antenna array, and general antenna arrays beamforming model. It presents and analyzes recently developed detection and beamforming algorithms with an emphasis on robustness. In addition, simplified and efficient robust adaptive detection and beamforming techniques are presented and compared with exiting techniques. Practical examples based on the above systems models are provided to exemplify the developed detectors and beamforming algorithms. Moreover, the developed techniques are implemented using MATLAB—and the relevant MATLAB scripts are provided to help the readers to develop and analyze the presented algorithms.
Simplified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Workbook
by Edward HallerIn a simple, straightforward manner, this book presents most of the major process units for wastewater treatment, addressing what the unit is and how it basically works. Along with that it provides some of the math problems associated with each unit. Each math problem, presented in English units, is usually followed by a nearly identical problem in metric units. It also presents new concepts, such as information on process microbiology, in a comfortable language so the reader can concentrate on the subject matter instead of the language used to present it. Simplified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations provides comprehensive and technically accurate wastewater information in a clear and concise manner. The related workbook provides readers with a place to write in answers and work out problem solutions.
Simplifying STEM [6-12]: Four Equitable Practices to Inspire Meaningful Learning (Corwin Mathematics Series)
by Christa Jackson Kristin L. Cook Sarah B. Bush Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder Cathrine Maiorca Oliver RobertsStart, focus, or extend your integrated STEM education journey with an authentic interdisciplinary perspective! In response to calls for active STEM learning that builds students’ agency and sense of belonging, teachers and leaders are being encouraged more and more to equitably implement integrated STEM instruction. This practical guidebook is designed to help educators create integrated STEM learning experiences that are inclusive for all students and allows them to experience STEM as scientists, innovators, mathematicians, creators, engineers, and technology experts! Addressing the STEM status quo and promoting inclusiveness in STEM fields, the authors center their work around the Equity-Oriented Conceptual Framework for STEM Literacy, which provides high-quality integrated strategies to connect students′ lived experiences to STEM learning. Simplifying STEM provides a ground-breaking model of the four Integrated STEM Practices (ISPs) to ensure coherent and aligned teaching across disciplines through authentic opportunities to meaningfully engage students. Learn how to simplify STEM with these four equitable practices to inspire deep learning Use critical and creative thinking to seek solutions Collaborate and use appropriate tools to engage in iterative design Communicate solutions based on evidence and data Recognize and use structures in real-world systems Including a STEM planning guide as well as instructional strategies and assessments for standard alignment, this is an essential resource for any educator seeking to empower their students with meaningful STEM learning experiences. The book includes an online implementation toolkit to give educators opportunities for powerful professional development built on collaboration and connection.
Simplifying STEM [6-12]: Four Equitable Practices to Inspire Meaningful Learning (Corwin Mathematics Series)
by Christa Jackson Kristin L. Cook Sarah B. Bush Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder Cathrine Maiorca Oliver RobertsStart, focus, or extend your integrated STEM education journey with an authentic interdisciplinary perspective! In response to calls for active STEM learning that builds students’ agency and sense of belonging, teachers and leaders are being encouraged more and more to equitably implement integrated STEM instruction. This practical guidebook is designed to help educators create integrated STEM learning experiences that are inclusive for all students and allows them to experience STEM as scientists, innovators, mathematicians, creators, engineers, and technology experts! Addressing the STEM status quo and promoting inclusiveness in STEM fields, the authors center their work around the Equity-Oriented Conceptual Framework for STEM Literacy, which provides high-quality integrated strategies to connect students′ lived experiences to STEM learning. Simplifying STEM provides a ground-breaking model of the four Integrated STEM Practices (ISPs) to ensure coherent and aligned teaching across disciplines through authentic opportunities to meaningfully engage students. Learn how to simplify STEM with these four equitable practices to inspire deep learning Use critical and creative thinking to seek solutions Collaborate and use appropriate tools to engage in iterative design Communicate solutions based on evidence and data Recognize and use structures in real-world systems Including a STEM planning guide as well as instructional strategies and assessments for standard alignment, this is an essential resource for any educator seeking to empower their students with meaningful STEM learning experiences. The book includes an online implementation toolkit to give educators opportunities for powerful professional development built on collaboration and connection.
Simplifying STEM [PreK-5]: Four Equitable Practices to Inspire Meaningful Learning (Corwin Mathematics Series)
by Sarah B. Bush Kristin L. Cook Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder Christa Jackson Oliver Roberts Cathrine MaiorcaStart, focus, or extend your integrated STEM education journey with an authentic interdisciplinary perspective! In response to calls for active STEM learning that builds students’ agency and sense of belonging, teachers and leaders are being encouraged more and more to equitably implement integrated STEM instruction. This practical guidebook is designed to help educators create integrated STEM learning experiences that are inclusive for all students and allows them to experience STEM as scientists, innovators, mathematicians, creators, engineers, and technology experts! Addressing the STEM status quo and promoting inclusiveness in STEM fields, the authors center their work around the Equity-Oriented Conceptual Framework for STEM Literacy, which provides high-quality integrated strategies to connect students′ lived experiences to STEM learning. Simplifying STEM provides a ground-breaking model of the four Integrated STEM Practices (ISPs) to ensure coherent and aligned teaching across disciplines through authentic opportunities to meaningfully engage students. Learn how to simplify STEM with these four equitable practices to inspire deep learning Use critical and creative thinking to seek solutions Collaborate and use appropriate tools to engage in iterative design Communicate solutions based on evidence and data Recognize and use structures in real-world systems Including a STEM planning guide as well as instructional strategies and assessments for standard alignment, this is an essential resource for any educator seeking to empower their students with meaningful STEM learning experiences. The book includes an online implementation toolkit to give educators opportunities for powerful professional development built on collaboration and connection.
Simplifying STEM [PreK-5]: Four Equitable Practices to Inspire Meaningful Learning (Corwin Mathematics Series)
by Sarah B. Bush Kristin L. Cook Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder Christa Jackson Oliver Roberts Cathrine MaiorcaStart, focus, or extend your integrated STEM education journey with an authentic interdisciplinary perspective! In response to calls for active STEM learning that builds students’ agency and sense of belonging, teachers and leaders are being encouraged more and more to equitably implement integrated STEM instruction. This practical guidebook is designed to help educators create integrated STEM learning experiences that are inclusive for all students and allows them to experience STEM as scientists, innovators, mathematicians, creators, engineers, and technology experts! Addressing the STEM status quo and promoting inclusiveness in STEM fields, the authors center their work around the Equity-Oriented Conceptual Framework for STEM Literacy, which provides high-quality integrated strategies to connect students′ lived experiences to STEM learning. Simplifying STEM provides a ground-breaking model of the four Integrated STEM Practices (ISPs) to ensure coherent and aligned teaching across disciplines through authentic opportunities to meaningfully engage students. Learn how to simplify STEM with these four equitable practices to inspire deep learning Use critical and creative thinking to seek solutions Collaborate and use appropriate tools to engage in iterative design Communicate solutions based on evidence and data Recognize and use structures in real-world systems Including a STEM planning guide as well as instructional strategies and assessments for standard alignment, this is an essential resource for any educator seeking to empower their students with meaningful STEM learning experiences. The book includes an online implementation toolkit to give educators opportunities for powerful professional development built on collaboration and connection.
Simply AI (DK Simply)
by DKUnderstanding AI has never been easier.Combining bold graphics with easy-to-understand text, Simply Artificial Intelligence is the perfect introduction to the world of AI for those who are short of time but hungry for knowledge.Covering a broad range of fields within AI – from computing and mathematics to politics and philosophy – entries demystify what artificial intelligence is and how it works, how it has dramatically changed the way we live, and how it might evolve in the future.Explaining each individual aspect of AI more clearly than ever before, the book outlines the key building-blocks and technological milestones in its history, profiles its most important practical applications – both currentand predicted – and explores the numerous ethical debates around AI, and its increasing influence on culture and society.Whether you are studying science or AI-related subjects at school or college, or simply want a jargon-free overview of this increasingly important subject, this essential guide is packed with everything you need to understand the basics quickly and easily.
Simply Artificial Intelligence (DK Simply)
by DKUnderstanding AI has never been easier with Simply Artificial Intelligence. Combining bold graphics with easy-to-understand text, Simply Artificial Intelligence is the perfect introduction to the world of AI for those who are short of time but hungry for knowledge.Covering a broad range of fields within AI – from computing and mathematics to politics and philosophy – entries demystify what artificial intelligence is and how it works, how it has dramatically changed the way we live, and how it might evolve in the future.Explaining each individual aspect of AI more clearly than ever before, the book outlines the key building-blocks and technological milestones in its history, profiles its most important practical applications – both current and predicted – and explores the numerous ethical debates around AI, and its increasing influence on culture and society. Dive deep into this book to further discover: - Clear graphics and simple definitions make this complex and increasingly important subject easier to grasp than ever before.- Entries cover a broad range of relevant subject areas – from computing and mathematics to philosophy and politics – exploring and explaining each one in a super-simple way.-Easy-to-understand graphics help to explain over 120 concepts, applications, and theories in a clear, visual way.Whether you are studying science or AI-related subjects at school or college, or simply want a jargon-free overview of this increasingly important subject, this essential guide is packed with everything you need to understand the basics quickly and easily. Perfect for complete beginners and time-poor readers looking for a quick overview of AI.At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why stop there? If you like Simply AI then why not complete the collection and try the other books in DK&’s wonderful Simply series? Explore the inner workings of the brain like never before with Simply Brain, start asking deeper questions with Simply Philosophy or soar into space with Simply Astronomy.
Simply Climate Change (DK Simply)
by DKUnderstand climate change like never before!Explore and understand the intriguing science behind climate change. Gain valuable knowledge on why climate change is occurring — one of the planet&’s most challenging issues — and analyze possible solutions.Simply Climate Change is the perfect guide for a clear and concise understanding of the often complex subject of climate change. Inside you&’ll find: • Simple, easy-to-understand graphics which help convey information in a visual way. • Clear, authoritative text that explains over 100 key concepts. • Concise explanations that quickly convey the most important information. • Technologies and practical ideas to combat climate change. • Debates surrounding climate change as a political, social, economic and environmental issue. Gain a new appreciation for our precious planet, and acquire newfound knowledge on climate change. This easy-to-understand climate change book will allow you to grasp all these topics quickly, from the basics of greenhouse gases to microplastics and insightful debates.The guide combines clear text and bold graphics, divided into pared-back, single or double-page entries that explain concepts simply and visually. Whether you&’re a student and want an easy-to-read, jargon-free reference or are simply interested in climate or environmental science, then this is the ideal global warming book for you!The most accessible guide to climate change on the market will have you knowledgeable on the subject like an expert! This is a perfect reference book for busy readers looking for an easier way into the subject, as a self-purchase or an excellent gift for self-improvers, as well as for thinkers, borrowers and life-long learners.
Simply Electrifying: The Technology that Transformed the World, from Benjamin Franklin to Elon Musk
by Craig R. RoachSelected for J.P. Morgan's 2018 Holiday Reading List Imagine your life without the internet. Without phones. Without television. Without sprawling cities. Without the freedom to continue working and playing after the sun goes down. Electricity is at the core of all modern life. It has transformed our society more than any other technology. Yet, no book offers a comprehensive history about this technological marvel.Until now. Simply Electrifying: The Technology that Transformed the World, from Benjamin Franklin to Elon Musk brings to life the 250-year history of electricity through the stories of the men and women who used it to transform our world: Benjamin Franklin, James Watt, Michael Faraday, Samuel F.B. Morse, Thomas Edison, Samuel Insull, Albert Einstein, Rachel Carson, Elon Musk, and more. In the process, it reveals for the first time the complete, thrilling, and often-dangerous story of electricity's historic discovery, development, and worldwide application.Electricity plays a fundamental role not only in our everyday lives but in history's most pivotal events, from global climate change and the push for wind- and solar-generated electricity to Japan's nuclear accident at Fukushima and Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.Written by electricity expert and four-decade veteran of the industry Craig R. Roach, Simply Electrifying marshals, in fascinating narrative detail, the full range of factors that shaped the electricity business over time—science, technology, law, politics, government regulation, economics, business strategy, and culture—before looking forward toward the exhilarating prospects for electricity generation and use that will shape our future.
Simply Emerging Technology: For Complete Beginners (DK Simply)
by DKUnderstanding technology has never been easier.Combining bold graphics with easy-to-understand text, Simply Emerging Technology is the perfect introduction to the fast-changing world of technology for those who are short on time but hungry for knowledge.Covering a broad range of fields—from familiar topics like 3D printing and cryptocurrency to less well-known but equally important technologies like gel robotics and extended reality, and lots more besides—entries explain the likely impact of such emerging technologies and the ways in which they could transform the way we live, exploring the potential risks and rewards of each.Explaining individual aspects of key trends within technology more clearly than ever before, the book outlines the breakthrough technologies that underpin the future of innovation, explores their most likely practical applications, and presents the numerous ethical debates that surround them and their increasing role in cultures and societies across the globe.Whether you are studying data science or technology-related subjects in school or simply want a jargon-free overview of this important and timely subject, this essential guide is packed with everything you need to understand the basics quickly and easily.
Simulated And Virtual Realities: Elements Of Perception
by Karen CarrVirtual reality is a perceptual experience, achieved using technology. Anyone wishing to develop virtual reality should understand the human perceptual processes with which the technology seeks to interact and control. The book presents state-of-the-art reviews of the current understanding of these human perceptual processes and the implications for virtual reality. It reports research which has tried to make the technology capable of delivering the required perceptual experience, comprising a basis for future virtual reality research, so as to achieve the optimum development of the field. It is intended to be of use to anyone who is involved with the creation of a virtual reality experience.
Simulating Conversations for the Prediction of Speech Quality (T-Labs Series in Telecommunication Services)
by Thilo MichaelThis book discusses the simulation of conversations through a novel approach of predicting speech quality based on the interactions of two simulated interlocutors. The author describes the setup of a simulation environment that is capable of simulating human dialogue on the speech level. The impact of delay and bursty packet loss on VoIP conversations is investigated and modeled for the use in the simulation. Based on parameters extracted from simulated conversations, the author proposes extensions to the E-model, a parametric model standardized by the International Telecommunications Union, in order to predict the quality of the simulated conversations. The author shows that predictions based on the simulated conversations outperform models that rely on the transmission parameters alone.
Simulating Interacting Agents and Social Phenomena
by Claudio Cioffi-Revilla Guillaume Deffuant Keiki TakadamaAgent-based modeling and social simulation have emerged as an interdisciplinary area of social science that includes computational economics, organizational science, social dynamics, and complex systems. This area contributes to enriching our understanding of the fundamental processes of social phenomena caused by complex interactions among agents. Bringing together diverse approaches to social simulation and research agendas, this book presents a unique collection of contributions from the Second World Congress on Social Simulation, held in 2008 at George Mason University in Washington DC, USA. This book in particular includes articles on norms, diffusion, social networks, economy, markets and organizations, computational modeling, and programming environments, providing new hypotheses and theories, new simulation experiments compared with various data sets, and new methods for model design and development. These works emerged from a global and interdisciplinary scientific community of the three regional scientific associations for social simulation: the North American Association for Computational Social and Organizational Science (NAACSOS; now the Computational Social Science Society, CSSS), the European Social Simulation Association (ESSA), and the Pacific Asian Association for Agent-bBased Approach in Social Systems Sciences (PAAA).
Simulating Nonlinear Circuits with Python Power Electronics: An Open-Source Simulator, Based on Python™
by Shivkumar V. IyerThis book provides readers with an in-depth discussion of circuit simulation, combining basic electrical engineering circuit theory with Python programming. It fills an information gap by describing the development of Python Power Electronics, an open-source software for simulating circuits, and demonstrating its use in a sample circuit. Unlike typical books on circuit theory that describe how circuits can be solved mathematically, followed by examples of simulating circuits using specific, commercial software, this book has a different approach and focus. The author begins by describing every aspect of the open-source software, in the context of non-linear power electronic circuits, as a foundation for aspiring or practicing engineers to embark on further development of open source software for different purposes. By demonstrating explicitly the operation of the software through algorithms, this book brings together the fields of electrical engineering and software technology.
Simulating the Mind II: From Artificial Intelligence to Neurology and Psychoanalysis
by Dietmar Dietrich Volker Hartmann CardelleThe declared goal of this book, an extended and revised translation of the German edition (2021), is to show how a unified model of the psyche and body can be developed via insights from psychoanalysis, neurology and computer technology. On the one hand, such a model allows for the testing of psychological and social theories on a scientific basis with the help of simulation experiments. On the other hand, the model developed according to the functional structures of the human brain and psyche provides the basis for artificial intelligence systems. These are systems with cognitive capabilities that can save human lives, save energy, ensure safety at airports, provide support in old-age care and in the medical field; in other words and generally speaking, systems that can simplify our lives in a relevant way and on a broad basis. A great deal of time and money is invested in genetic engineering and neurology, but research into the mental apparatus in the context of the neurological part, i.e., modeling the brain in a holistic way, is sparse in every respect. However, the results of the scientific project SiMA, of which the first author has been a driving force, show that the research of this organ, which in the authors’ understanding includes the mental apparatus, as a whole, is quite feasible today. This is also the main message of the book, which addresses topics such as artificial intelligence, the brain, psychoanalysis, behavioral models, complexity, bionics of the mental, emotions and feelings, consciousness and awareness, preconscious and unconscious, the functional (and not only behavioral) description and modeling of the brain and especially of the mental apparatus, and some more. In the world of technology, there is generally little interest in psychoanalysis, whereas in the world of psychoanalysis, people usually refuse to deal with mathematics and technology, especially computer technology. Is there an information theory of the brain on the one hand, and of computer technology on the other hand? The authors attempt to answer this question from both sides. With the goal to reach as many readers as possible and to provoke, the authors break with traditions and give space to new forms of thinking and argue that it is crucial to take a new path in automation, in artificial intelligence and in (technical) cognitive science, but also in psychoanalysis and neurology, in order to create a common basis for scientific and technical possibilities that have been previously inaccessible.