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The Autonomous Web (Studies in Big Data #101)
by Herwig Unger Mario KubekThis book initiates a transformation of the Web into a self-managing, autonomous information system to challenge today’s all-embracing role of big search engines as centralized information managers. In the last decades, the World Wide Web became the biggest source for all kinds of information needed. After a short review of the state of the art, a Web-based system is presented for the first time, which employs all its instances equally to provide, consume, and process information uniformly and consistently. In order to build such an efficient, decentralized, and fully integrated information space with all its needed functionalities, a set of diverse algorithms is introduced. These novel mechanisms for load balancing, routing, clustering, document classification, but also time-dependent information management pertain to almost all system levels. Finally, three different approaches to decentralized Web search are discussed that represent the backbone of the new autonomous Web.
The Avocado: Botany, Production and Uses (Botany, Production and Uses)
by Bruce Schaffer Daniel Carrillo Anthony W. Whiley B. Nigel WolstenholmeThe avocado industry is evolving rapidly. Avocado production has almost doubled recently, with significant expansion in areas planted, especially in Latin America, but also in Africa and Asia. Moreover, the global demand for avocado keeps on growing. The Avocado, 3rd edition is a unique and comprehensive source of information for avocado researchers, and covers everything from the history and distribution, novel agronomic practices, ecological and climatic requirements, and emerging diseases and pest problems. It compiles state-of-the-art information to promote more sustainable production systems and better preparedness to face the challenges that will shape the future of avocado production. This fully updated third edition includes many new international contributors especially from those regions with active and expanding avocado industries. Considering the expansion in avocado consumption, it also includes a new chapter on avocado uses and human nutrition. This is a valuable resource for avocado researchers, academicians and students of horticulture and botany, advisers, professional growers and practitioners in the industry.
The BCS-BEC Crossover and the Unitary Fermi Gas
by Wilhelm ZwergerRecent experimental and theoretical progress has elucidated the tunable crossover, in ultracold Fermi gases, from BCS-type superconductors to BEC-type superfluids. The BCS-BEC Crossover and the Unitary Fermi Gas is a collaborative effort by leading international experts to provide an up-to-date introduction and a comprehensive overview of current research in this fast-moving field. It is now understood that the unitary regime that lies right in the middle of the crossover has remarkable universal properties, arising from scale invariance, and has connections with fields as diverse as nuclear physics and string theory. This volume will serve as a first point of reference for active researchers in the field, and will benefit the many non-specialists and graduate students who require a self-contained, approachable exposition of the subject matter.
The BIM Manager's Handbook, Part 1: Best Practice BIM
by Dominik HolzerePart 1 Best Practice BIM: Seeking to get BIM right? This ePart provides a touchstone for good practice by introducing a number of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which represent benchmarks for successful BIM implementation. It explains what good BIM looks like and the pitfalls to avoid with ‘bad BIM’ and ‘pseudo BIM’. It highlights the part that the BIM Manager can play in achieving excellence by outlining the various responsibilities the BIM Manager’s role encompasses, while also emphasising how these responsibilities have changed over time and how they are set to evolve. By drawing on interviews with the top BIM Managers worldwide, it delivers up-to-date expert insights from the field. Obook ISBN: 9781118987780; ePub ISBN: 9781118987858; ePDF ISBN: 9781118985618; published April 2015
The BIM Manager's Handbook, Part 2: Change Management
by Dominik HolzerePart 2 Change Management: A BIM Manager might be hired for their technical skills, but their success relies heavily on their ability to be an agent of change within their organisation, facilitating transition to BIM processes and mentoring staff through the cultural and procedural shifts. This ePart outlines strategies to manage an organisation’s transition to BIM successfully and to master supporting its continuous evolution. Based on accounts from top practitioners, it highlights how the BIM manager might approach interfacing with their organisation’s leadership by successfully lobbying and leading on BIM from the inside, while overcoming change-resistance and managing teams’ expectations. It concludes with a ‘Tips and Tricks’ section that provides in-depth advice for running BIM audits and for setting up in-house BIM workshops, which are instrumental for any BIM Manager seeking a better understanding of their organisational context and to raise the level of awareness of the BIM knowledge of key decision-makers. Obook ISBN: 9781119092308; ePub ISBN: 9781118987797; ePDF ISBN: 9781119092292; published April 2015
The BIM Manager's Handbook, Part 3: Focus on Technology
by Dominik HolzerePart 3: Focus on Technology: How do you ensure your organisation gets the most out of the BIM technology available? Dedicated to the main technology-related aspects of a BIM Manager’s role, this ePart explains how to establish and manage an organisation’s BIM-related tool-ecology and how to use BIM in order to link from design to fabrication. What do BIM Managers need to do in order ensure their teams use the right tools for the various tasks in design, construction and beyond? How do they connect them and how do they keep up with updates in this rapidly changing environment. This ePart highlights the challenges BIM Managers need to overcome in software, hardware and network selection. It also brings into focus the opportunities BIM Managers face in the changing context of BIM in the Cloud. Extending beyond technical know-how, it also offers advice on how to create a successful interface between the BIM Manager and the IT specialist(s). Obook ISBN: 9781118987803; ePub ISBN: 9781118987773; ePDF ISBN:9781118987766; published August 2015
The BIM Manager's Handbook, Part 4: Building Up a BIM Support Infrastructure
by Dominik HolzerePart 4: Building up a BIM Support Infrastructure: Addressing the ‘back of house’ aspect of BIM Management, this ePart outlines how to go about developing a range of in-house BIM standards and guidelines. It highlights how BIM Managers go about establishing a training programme for staff and the setting up and management of an organisation’s BIM content library. It covers the support needed to move BIM information into the field and further into facilities and asset management. It emphasises the importance of internal messaging, and articulating how to nurture a culture of peer-to peer support and advancement of skills by individual staff members. Looking beyond a single firm’s or organisation’s requirements, the ePart positions BIM support infrastructure in the wider context of key global BIM policies and guidelines. Obook ISBN: 9781118987896; ePub ISBN: 9781118987919; ePDF ISBN:9781118987834; published August 2015
The BIM Manager's Handbook, Part 5: Day-to-Day BIM Management
by Dominik HolzerePart 5: Day-to-Day BIM Management: How do you go about mastering hands-on support BIM for your team? ePart 5 introduces the operational tasks a BIM Manager is expected to accomplish. Depending on an organisation’s size BIM Managers either supervise the rollout of BIM on various projects, or they actively get involved in mentoring those authoring or coordinating information in BIM. By providing a strong project focus, this ePart, firstly, addresses requirements for in-house BIM project support; secondly, it explains how to support the integration and coordination of BIM data across a multi-disciplinary project team. Leading BIM experts from the US, UK and Australia divulge their recipes for successful operational management. Obook ISBN: 9781118987902; ePub ISBN:9781118987919; ePDF ISBN: 9781118987926; published November 2015
The BIM Manager's Handbook, Part 6: Excelling your BIM Efforts
by Dominik HolzerePart 6: Excelling your BIM Efforts: In this final ePart, BIM is taken to the next level by outlining what is required to truly excel as a BIM Manager. It highlights how BIM Managers acquire the necessary communication skills to maximise an efficient information flow between the BIM Manager and others. It illustrates how BIM Managers tie their activities to cutting-edge BIM research and development globally. Lastly, the ePart will lay out how to promote BIM excellence both within an organisation and beyond. Obook ISBN: 9781118987971; ePub ISBN: 9781118987988; ePDF ISBN: 9781118987964; published November 2015
The BOXES Methodology
by David W. RussellRobust control mechanisms customarily require knowledge of the system's describing equations which may be of the high order differential type. In order to produce these equations, mathematical models can often be derived and correlated with measured dynamic behavior. There are two flaws in this approach one is the level of inexactness introduced by linearizations and the other when no model is apparent. Several years ago a new genre of control systems came to light that are much less dependent on differential models such as fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms. Both of these soft computing solutions require quite considerable a priori system knowledge to create a control scheme and sometimes complicated training program before they can be implemented in a real world dynamic system. Michie and Chambers' BOXES methodology created a black box system that was designed to control a mechanically unstable system with very little a priori system knowledge, linearization or approximation. All the method needed was some notion of maximum and minimum values for the state variables and a set of boundaries that divided each variable into an integer state number. The BOXES Methodology applies the method to a variety of systems including continuous and chaotic dynamic systems, and discusses how it may be possible to create a generic control method that is self organizing and adaptive that learns with the assistance of near neighbouring states. The BOXES Methodology introduces students at the undergraduate and master's level to black box dynamic system control , and gives lecturers access to background materials that can be used in their courses in support of student research and classroom presentations in novel control systems and real-time applications of artificial intelligence. Designers are provided with a novel method of optimization and controller design when the equations of a system are difficult or unknown. Researchers interested in artificial intelligence (AI) research and models of the brain and practitioners from other areas of biology and technology are given an insight into how AI software can be written and adapted to operate in real-time.
The BOXES Methodology Second Edition: Black Box Control of Ill-defined Systems
by David W. RussellThis book focuses on how the BOXES Methodology, which is based on the work of Donald Michie, is applied to ill-defined real-time control systems with minimal a priori knowledge of the system. The method is applied to a variety of systems including the familiar pole and cart. This second edition includes a new section that covers some further observations and thoughts, problems, and evolutionary extensions that the reader will find useful in their own implementation of the method. This second edition includes a new section on how to handle jittering about a system boundary which in turn causes replicated run times to become part of the learning mechanism. It also addresses the aging of data values using a forgetfulness factor that causes wrong values of merit to be calculated. Another question that is addressed is “Should a BOXES cell ever be considered fully trained and, if so, excluded from further dynamic updates”. Finally, it expands on how system boundaries may be shifted using data from many runs using an evolutionary paradigm.
The BPG Building Fabric Component Life Manual
by Building Performance Group Ltd,This manual provides a comprehensive source of building component life-span and maintenance data for commercial and industrial building components, following the same format as the ground-breaking HAPM Component Life Manual for domestic buildings. Each building component is allocated its own data sheet on which a number of generic descriptions are provided together with assessed life-spans and maintenance requirements. References to the relevant standards and codes of practice are also included.
The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety: A Guide to a Successful Audit
by Ron KillThis book will offer companies in the food industry a comprehensive guide to preparing for a British Retail Consortium Standard evaluation (Issue 6). It will enable them to ensure that the correct systems are in place to achieve the Standard, and also that they present themselves in the best possible light during the audit process. It will also recommend the correct steps to take following evaluation and how to correct non-conformities. The book will be of interest not only to suppliers who are seeking certification for the first time but also to those already in the scheme, and are seeking to improve their grades.
The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety: A Guide to a Successful Audit
by Ron Kill"This book offers companies in the food industry the first comprehensive guide to preparing for the Global Standard Audit." Beverage and Food World, May 2009 BASED ON ISSUE 5 OF THE BRC STANDARD The British Retail Consortium Global Standard for Food Safety was originally conceived to meet an increasing demand for a unified standard to be used by the major retailers in the UK for their suppliers of "own label" food products. The system has proved so successful that it is now used throughout the food industry, and over 7000 food manufacturers worldwide already have the Standard. Companies are often unsure about how to approach attaining certification—often a demanding process, especially at the first attempt. Not only are there over 300 clauses to satisfy, there are also general concerns such as how to correct non-conformities within very specific deadlines. Even when their operations are actually quite satisfactory, many suppliers find themselves poorly prepared for the audit and do not perform as well as they might. This book offers companies in the food industry the first comprehensive guide to preparing for the Global Standard audit. Using over 600 real life examples, it enables manufacturers to ensure that the correct systems are in place to achieve the Standard and present themselves in the best way during the audit process. It also recommends the steps to take following the audit and how to correct non-conformities. The book is an essential resource for suppliers wishing to attain certification for the first time and those already in the scheme seeking to improve their grades. It is also of interest to certification bodies and consultants to the food industry.
The BaSIC Topology: A Revolutionary Power Device Control Strategy
by B. Jayant Baliga Ajit KanaleThe BaSIC topology is a revolutionary method for controlling power semiconductor devices. It enables monitoring the current flow through the devices while providing a unique current limiting capability that enhances their short-circuit withstand capability. The book describes the BaSIC topology concept and contrasts it with previous approaches. It provides an extensive description of the application of the BaSIC topology to silicon IGBTs, silicon carbide power MOSFETs, and GaN HEMT devices. The ability to extend the short-circuit withstand time to over 10 ms for SiC power MOSFETs has been achieved for the first time with the BaSIC topology. The BaSIC topology is the only approach shown to eliminate the failure of these devices under repetitive short-circuit events. The sensing of current in paralleled devices is demonstrated, eliminating the need for external sensors. The BaSIC topology has utility for various power electronics applications, including electric vehicles and industrial motor drives. Introduces the BaSIC topology – a revolutionary new approach for the control of power devices; Describes the application of the BaSIC topology to silicon IGBTs, silicon carbide power MOSFETs, and GaN HEMT devices; Written by the inventor of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and the BaSIC topology concept.
The Baby Deal
by Kat CantrellIn this Billionaires & Babies novel, award-winning author Kat Cantrell presents an offer that can't be refused... When billionaire entrepreneur Michael "Shay" Shaylen becomes guardian to a baby boy, he knows there's only one woman who can teach him how to be a father-his ex-lover, child psychologist Juliana Cane. So he makes her a deal: if she gives him two months, he'll give her a boost in her career. She says yes. Suddenly, Juliana has everything she's ever wanted: a home, a child-Shay. But she knows this seductive situation is only temporary. Because even as desire burns between them-so do the reasons Juliana has to say goodbye....
The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden
by Kim FlottumThis complete honey bee resource contains general information on bees; a how-to guide to the art of bee keeping and how to set up, care for, and harvest honey from your own colonies; as well as tons of bee-related facts and projects.
The Backyard Chicken Bible: The Complete Guide to Raising Chickens
by Eric LofgrenYour Backyard is the New Farm! Whether you want two chickens or two hundred, this manual will guide you along your journey to successfully raising chickens. Growing a backyard chicken flock is an investment, and one of the most important factors in cultivating a happy, healthy poultry society is taking the time to learn everything you can about your birds. The Backyard Chicken Bible is filled with real-life solutions and expert advice on what to do in almost any scenario you may find yourself in while raising chickens. No matter if you're starting with eggs, chicks or adult birds, you'll find the guidance you need to succeed. Inside you'll find: step-by-step processes for preparing your yard for chickens, caring for chicks when they arrive, maintaining the health and behavior of your flock, and addressing common issues illustrated explanations of the anatomy of a chicken detailed treatment advice for poultry diseases and ailments ideas for building coops and nest boxes step-by-step instructions for bathing, grooming, clipping wings, and trimming toe nails and beaks advice for common flock problems including hens that stop laying, aggressive roosters, and changing flock dynamics Take the guesswork out of raising chickens, and start preparing yourself now to be the best chicken farmer in your neighborhood!
The Backyard Cow: An Introductory Guide to Keeping a Productive Family Cow
by Sue WeaverYou don’t need acres of land to keep a cow healthy, happy, and productive. You can raise one right in your own backyard, producing more than enough milk for a single family — up to six gallons per day! The Backyard Cow covers everything you need to know, from selecting the right breed to understanding your cow’s behavior. With helpful advice on daily maintenance, milking, and bovine health care, you’ll soon be enjoying the pleasures of fresh milk, yogurt, cheese, and much more.
The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats, from Feeding and Housing to Making Your Own Cheese
by Sue WeaverPulling carts around the farm or serving as loyal pack animals, goats are naturally hardworking and make for friendly companions. This straightforward guide teaches you how to choose, house, feed, train, and breed the best goats for your space and needs. Whether you want to churn out fresh dairy products, harvest soft cashmere for knitting, or keep goats as playful pets, The Backyard Goat makes it easy to enjoy the benefits of owning goats, with no experience necessary.
The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals: Choose the Best Breeds for Small-Space Farming, Produce Your Own Grass-Fed Meat, Gather Fresh Eggs, Collect Fresh Milk, Make Your Own Cheese, Keep Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Cattle, & Bees (Backyard Homestead)
by Gail Damerow Richard E. Bonney Nancy Searle Heather Smith Thomas Paula Simmons Malcolm T. Sanford Kelly Klober Darrell L. SalsburyEnjoy a weekend breakfast featuring eggs, bacon, and honey from your own chickens, pigs, and bees, or a holiday meal with your own heritage-breed turkey as the main attraction. Gail Damerow covers everything you need to successfully raise your own farm animals, from selecting the right breeds to producing delicious fresh milk, cheese, honey, eggs, and meat. Even with just a small plot of land, you can become more self-sufficient, save money, and enjoy healthy, delicious animal products. Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.
The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner: What to Do & When to Do It in the Garden, Orchard, Barn, Pasture & Equipment Shed (Backyard Homestead)
by Ann Larkin HansenThis hardworking addition to the best-selling Backyard Homestead series offers expert advice on what tasks to do around your farm and when to do them — no matter where on the planet you call home. Author Ann Larkin Hansen sets the priorities for each area of the farm, including the barn, garden, orchard, field, pasture, and woodlot. For every critical turn of the year (12 in all), Hansen provides an at-a-glance to-do list along with tips and a more in-depth discussion of key topics for the season. Easy-reference charts, checklists, and record-keeping sections help you keep track of it all.
The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! (Backyard Homestead)
by Carleen MadiganThis comprehensive guide to homesteading provides all the information you need to grow and preserve a sustainable harvest of grains and vegetables; raise animals for meat, eggs, and dairy; and keep honey bees for your sweeter days. With easy-to-follow instructions on canning, drying, and pickling, you’ll enjoy your backyard bounty all winter long.
The Backyard Sheep: An Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep
by Sue WeaverRaise a flock of sheep in your backyard. Even with a limited amount of space, you can enjoy homegrown fleece and fresh milk, as well as the endearing company of these family-friendly animals. Sue Weaver provides all the instructions you need for selecting a breed; housing and feeding; harvesting fleece; and milking. With simple recipes for making cheese and yogurt, and tips on processing fleece for wool, you&’ll enjoy the varied and numerous rewards of keeping sheep.
The Baffling Case of Battered Brain
by Pendred NoyceWith time travel and mysteries that need solving, the Galactic Academy of Science (G.A.S.) series instructs readers on how to think like scientists. Under the guidance of a Dude or Dudette from the future, the middle school characters are faced with treacherous, present-day crimes that require a historical knowledge of science in order to be solved. From investigating problems to analyzing data and constructing explanations and solutions, this series blends elements of sci-fi with educational methods that distill the key thinking habits of scientists and engineers. Medical science combines with mystery in this G.A.S. adventure about concussions Is the awkward stranger taking bribes to throw games? When Clinton hits his head in the championship soccer game, the stranger gets him benched, and Clinton's team loses. Determined to nail the bribe-taker, Clinton and Mae take on a new G.A.S. mission--a journey across three continents and 4,000 years to learn about concussion and the brain.