Search results for ""World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd""

The Handbook on Computer Learning and Intelligence is a second edition which aims to be a one-stop-shop for the various aspects of the broad research area of computer learning and intelligence. This field of research evolved so much in the last five years that it necessitates this new edition of the earlier Handbook on Computational Intelligence.This two-volume handbook is divided into five parts. Volume 1 covers Explainable AI and Supervised Learning. Volume 2 covers three parts: Deep Learning, Intelligent Control, and Evolutionary Computation. The chapters detail the theory, methodology and applications of computer learning and intelligence, and are authored by some of the leading experts in the respective areas. The fifteen core chapters of the previous edition have been written and significantly refreshed by the same authors. Parts of the handbook have evolved to keep pace with the latest developments in computational intelligence in the areas that span across Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. The Handbook remains dedicated to applications and engineering-orientated aspects of these areas over abstract theories.Related Link(s)

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The is a specially curated selection of children's books that focus on discovering Asia and discovering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Under the guidance of Dr Ruth Y L Wong, these books aim to promote reading for pleasure, while exciting kids through discovery. With 51 books in this inaugural batch, and with more to come, the books are divided into three levels depending on the child's reading ability: A (Achieving), B (Blooming) and C (Confident). The Level A Set 1 features 12 titles, exploring themes of science, imagination, nature and global stories.Intended outcomes of Level A include teaching children to be able to:

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Poon Sing was about to go out and play soccer with his friends when his mother stopped him. What had Poon Sing forgotten to do before leaving? And why did it matter? Follow Poon Sing and his mother as they discover just how one little action from him could make a huge difference to the sustainability of our world.Every book in the I Can Change the World... collection contains a creative story that highlights the importance of individual action on environmental sustainability. Through engaging narratives and full-colour illustrations, the I'm a Little Scientist series introduces children to the exciting and ever-advancing world of science.

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Adventures with Reptiles and Amphibians is an immersive encounter with more than 20 representatives of some 14,000 cold-blooded species worldwide. How can you tell if a snake is venomous? How does the chameleon change its colours? Why is the Japanese giant salamander a rare sight in the wild? Lumber with the world's largest lizard, the komodo dragon. Discover the secrets of the Galapagos tortoise. And admire (but don't touch!) the brightly coloured poison dart frog. From leafy forests to muddy wetlands, and sandy deserts to fast-flowing rivers, experience the remarkable world of reptiles and amphibians as never before!The World of Science comics series engages, educates and entertains children, imparting scientific facts, while nurturing the love of Science through dynamic, full-colour comics. All topics covered are in line with the Singapore primary Science syllabus and the Cambridge primary Science curriculum, and also offer beyond-the-syllabus insights designed to stretch inquiring young minds.This book aligns with the following syllabi:

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Adventures with Natural Wondersis an immersive encounter with more than 20 natural phenomena that deserve special mention. Which is the world's largest living feline? Where are the most impressive waterfalls on Earth? What makes the oceans glow in the dark? Climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Follow the trail of a mythical Irish giant. And glide over Cappadocia in a hot-air balloon. From animal oddities to weird weather effects, and tiny grains of sand to towering geographical landforms, experience the breathtaking natural world as never before!The World of Science comics series engages, educates and entertains children, imparting scientific facts, while nurturing the love of Science through dynamic, full-colour comics. All topics covered are in line with the Singapore primary Science syllabus and the Cambridge primary Science curriculum, and also offer beyond-the-syllabus insights designed to stretch inquiring young minds.This book aligns with the following syllabi:

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Organic (opto)electronic materials have received considerable attention due to their applications in perovskite and flexible electronics, OPVs and OLEDs and many others. Reflecting the rapid growth in research and development of organic (opto)electronic materials over the last few decades, World Scientific Handbook of Organic Optoelectronic Devices provides a comprehensive coverage of the state-of-the-art in an accessible format. It presents the most widely recognized fundamentals, principles, and mechanisms along with representative examples, key experimental data, and over 200 illustrative figures.

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Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) are two-dimensional materials with unique physiochemical properties, which enable their use in a wide range of applications such as catalysis, biomaterials, energy, filler of polymeric composites, and water remediation.This book addresses basic aspects of LDH as the implementations in the methodologies based on density functional theory (DFT) to understand the properties and applications of LDHs, the synthetic methods to prepare LDHs and LDH based core-shell structures, and the swelling and exfoliation behaviors of LDH compounds. A relevant part of the book is devoted to consolidated and emerging applications of LDHs as catalysts in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and water oxidation processes, as biomaterials and as functional fillers in food packaging. New advances on LDH are described with a keen eye on the past research.

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Did you know that computation can be implemented with cytoskeleton networks, chemical reactions, liquid marbles, plants, polymers and dozens of other living and inanimate substrates? Do you know what is reversible computing or a DNA microscopy? Are you aware that randomness aids computation? Would you like to make logical circuits from enzymatic reactions? Have you ever tried to implement digital logic with Minecraft? Do you know that eroding sandstones can compute too?This volume reviews most of the key attempts in coming up with an alternative way of computation. In doing so, the authors show that we do not need computers to compute and we do not need computation to infer. It invites readers to rethink the computer and computing, and appeals to computer scientists, mathematicians, physicists and philosophers. The topics are presented in a lively and easily accessible manner and make for ideal supplementary reading across a broad range of subjects.Related Link(s)

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Some did not expect him to last long as Prime Minister. Few predicted he would succeed in the footsteps of Lee Kuan Yew. When Goh Chok Tong took over as the second Prime Minister of Singapore in 1990, many - from within and without the country - wondered aloud if the young country would survive Lee Kuan Yew.But Goh would confound the naysayers, leading Singapore for 14 years through recessions, terrorist attacks, electoral setbacks and even a mysterious virus. Standing Tall captures the transformation of a political leader, evolving from a Prime Minister with a touch of naivety to a hard-nosed strategist. He would introduce some of the country's most controversial policies, including the foreign talent scheme and formula for ministerial salaries, while advancing a kinder and gentler Singapore with the likes of MediFund and Edusave.The unchartered post-Cold War world which Goh stepped into posed challenges to the new leader, yet he not only cemented but also expanded Singapore's global space and stature. Along the way, he overcame hurdles from Bill Clinton's administration, exchanged quips with Nelson Mandela, and even saved Li Peng from a possibly severe heart attack.This sequel is written by author and journalist Peh Shing Huei, who also penned . Through interviews and access to People's Action Party documents and Goh's notes, this authorised biography uncovers rare insights into Singapore politics. Standing Tall tells the untold story of the Goh Chok Tong years, as he continues with Singapore's transformation into a global city.

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Marky Polo is a pangolin who comes from a family line of famous travelers and explorers. Unlike his family, Marky has never travelled and isn't sure if he likes adventures.Now, Marky is traveling overseas for the first time — to visit his cousin, Munchie Polo, in Tokyo! But when Marky lands in Narita Airport, his luggage bag is taken by another traveler. Will Marky Polo ever catch up with his luggage in his madcap chase across Tokyo?

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Covering more than seven-tenths of Earth's surface, the planet's freshwater bodies and oceans together host a diversity of aquatic life. What kind of stars inhabit the seas? What makes whales lose their way? Get ready to meet an ocean 'unicorn', swim with dugongs and investigate some of the weirdest looking residents of the deep. From the serpent-like oarfish to the giant Pacific octopus, here is our sampling of creatures that captivate scientists and storytellers alike!The World of Science comics series engages, educates and entertains children, imparting scientific facts, while nurturing the love of Science through dynamic, full-colour comics. All topics covered are in line with the Singapore primary Science syllabus and the Cambridge primary Science curriculum, and also offer beyond-the-syllabus insights designed to stretch inquiring young minds.This book aligns with the following syllabi:

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Are you ready for a journey you'll never forget?Join Tripitaka, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and many other friends on a great adventure! Sun Wukong might be mischievous, but he's fun to be with! Watch as Tripitaka faces a lot of problems and overcomes them, one step at a time. Be inspired by Zhu Bajie, who has a lot of weaknesses and tries very hard to cope with them. So, are you in?

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This little book describes the past, present and future of black holes through a funny and engaging story involving Grandpa Louie, his two grandchildren and two of their friends.During a beautiful sunny day on the beach, the children play, swim, enjoy their time, and ask a lot of questions to Grandpa Louie, a retired astronomy professor. Who better than him to tell all the secrets of black holes to a group of curious children? Who discovered them? What do 'black holes' mean? Are There different types of black holes? How does a black hole form? What is his fate? How did scientists manage to 'observe' these celestial bodies which, by definition, cannot be seen? At the end, we also bring up the subject of parallel universes, which could exist beyond the horizon of a black hole.This book is suitable for children from 6 to 12 years old.

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Covering more than seven-tenths of Earth's surface, the planet's freshwater bodies and oceans together host a diversity of aquatic life. What kind of stars inhabit the seas? What makes whales lose their way? Get ready to meet an ocean 'unicorn', swim with dugongs and investigate some of the weirdest looking residents of the deep. From the serpent-like oarfish to the giant Pacific octopus, here is our sampling of creatures that captivate scientists and storytellers alike!The World of Science comics series engages, educates and entertains children, imparting scientific facts, while nurturing the love of Science through dynamic, full-colour comics. All topics covered are in line with the Singapore primary Science syllabus and the Cambridge primary Science curriculum, and also offer beyond-the-syllabus insights designed to stretch inquiring young minds.This book aligns with the following syllabi:

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Here it is going to happen is the title of a painting memorialising Albert Winsemius' industrial survey mission to Singapore. The picture depicts the hilltop view of a pre-industrial Jurong.Besides being a biography of Albert Winsemius, the book examines Albert Winsemius' affinity with Singapore and his contributions to the nation's economic development. It also looks at his legacy and influence on past, current and future economic planners.

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My autobiography is a record of my life and interactions with many interesting people over the course of my work. This involved key industries and organisations like Keppel Corp, Wearnes, Natsteel, SPH, UOB, LTA, JTC, and SSO. Having the good fortune to meet many prominent Singaporeans such as Tan Chin Tuan, Wee Cho Yaw as well as Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Dr Toh Chin Chye, Mr Lim Kim San and SR Nathan, allowed me not only a good perspective of various industries and businesses but also how some of these eminent statesmen think. They moulded my view of life.I've also gone through a wide range of experiences from changes in governments, impact of technology on our daily lives, changes in entertainment media to various life-threatening crises.I hope this unique compendium would be of interest to younger readers, growing up in a new and different world, but knowing how we got here, and why.

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Magicians pull off fantastic feats: Levitating a meter above the ground, charming a snake with a flute, finding lost objects with the help of a pendulum, swallowing a sword or walking on embers ... But how do they do it? Is it magic or is it science? Learn to question and discover how science can explain most of the secrets surrounding these amazing wonders.Get ready to move to the other side of the mirror!This title is part of the set: Is it Science? (Set 1)

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This four-volume handbook gives a state-of-the-art overview of porous materials, from synthesis and characterization and simulation all the way to manufacturing and industrial applications. The editors, coming from academia and industry, are known for their didactic skills as well as their technical expertise. Coordinating the efforts of 37 expert authors in 14 chapters, they construct the story of porous carbons, ceramics, zeolites and polymers from varied viewpoints: surface and colloidal science, materials science, chemical engineering, and energy engineering. Volumes 1 and 2 cover the fundamentals of preparation, characterisation, and simulation of porous materials. Working from the fundamentals all the way to the practicalities of industrial production processes, the subjects include hierarchical materials, in situ and operando characterisation using NMR, X-Ray scattering and tomography, state-of-the-art molecular simulations of adsorption and diffusion in crystalline nanoporous materials, as well as the emerging areas of bio-artificing and drug delivery. Volume 3 focuses on porous materials in industrial separation applications, including adsorption separation, membrane separation, and osmotic distillation. Finally, and highly relevant to tomorrow's energy challenges, Volume 4 explains the energy engineering aspects of applying porous materials in supercapacitors, fuel cells, batteries, electrolysers and sub-surface energy applications.The text contains many high-quality colourful illustrations and examples, as well as thousands of up-to-date references to peer-reviewed articles, reports and websites for further reading. This comprehensive and well-written handbook is a must-have reference for universities, research groups and companies working with porous materials.Related Link(s)

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This is a reprint three volume set with a thematic organization of the articles of the four Women in Porphyrin Science special issues published in the Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines in 2019. All the articles were carefully arranged by the volume editors and Karl Kadish, the Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines Editor-in-Chief, in order to provide a comprehensive coverage of each topic. Volume 1 covers the biomedical aspects, applications and uses of BODIPY's, porphyrins, phthalocyanines and related derivatives, mainly for photodynamic therapy. Volume 2 covers the synthesis, characteristics and properties of these compounds, while Volume 3 is on topics related to materials, sensors, energy and catalysis. These state-of-the-art articles are contributed by women. This book will strongly contribute to the visibility of women in the field of porphyrin science.

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This book constitutes the second volume of interviews with prominent mathematicians and mathematical scientists invited to the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National University of Singapore. First published in the Institute's newsletter Imprints during the period 2010-2019, they offer glimpses of an esoteric universe as viewed and experienced by some of the world's most active and creative practitioners of the craft of mathematics.The topics covered in this volume are wide-ranging, running from pure mathematics (logic, number theory, algebraic geometry) to applied mathematics (mathematical modeling, fluid dynamics) through probability and statistics, mathematical physics, theoretical computer science and financial mathematics. This eclectic mix of the abstract and the concrete should interest those who are enthralled by the mystique and power of mathematics, whether they are students, researchers or the non-specialists.By briefly tracing the paths traveled by the pioneers of different national backgrounds, the interviews attempt to put a cultural face to an intellectual endeavor that is often perceived as dry and austere by the uninitiated. They should also interest those who are intrigued by the influence of the environment on the creative spirit, and, in particular, those who are interested in the psychology and history of ideas.

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SCMP's reporting team looks back at Hong Kong's most wrenching political crisis since its return to Chinese rule in 1997. Anti-extradition bill protests that morphed rapidly into a wider anti-government movement in 2019 left no aspect of the city untouched, from its social compact to its body politic to its open economy. The demonstrations which continued well into 2020 have tested every institution of the city, from the civil service to the police to the courts and even its rail transport operator, and from offices and businesses to universities and schools, and from churches to families and even friends.This book is for anyone seeking to understand not just what Hong Kong has gone through but also the global phenomenon of increasingly leaderless protest movements. Fueled by profound angst about the place of millennial youth in society, widening income inequality, and the speed of digital communications, Hong Kong was in retrospect ripe to be the laboratory for a new-age protest movement, nearly a decade after the Middle East's Arab spring.The essays in the book collectively compose a picture of a society in trauma, bent and broken, but showing signs of an uncanny ability to bounce back. What shape it will be in a few years from now, however, is much harder to predict.Related Link(s)

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Finding Places tells the story of the ground-breaking discovery of the cells that constitute the brain's positioning system — its GPS. The book takes you into the lab of neuroscientists May-Britt and Edvard Moser and lets you experience the work of the many researchers who revealed how certain incredible cells help rats and humans find their way. It details the discovery of the mind-boggling 'grid cells', which generate a hexagonal coordinate system and enable precise positioning and pathfinding. While giving a unique insight into the research process, the author also conveys what these insights mean for you and me. Have you ever wondered how your brain knows where you are, why your memories are tied to places, or why Alzheimer's disease causes people to lose their sense of place? These questions and many more are answered in this book.The author's goal is not only to document a fascinating scientific achievement that has revolutionized our understanding of the brain, but also to offer insight into the nature of science, and the imagination and creativity that lie behind topnotch research.Related Link(s)

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The G20 (or Group of Twenty) is an international body established to manage the global economy, and includes members from developing economies.This reference set examines the issues facing developing countries and studies the role that the G20 can play in light of continuing challenges and objectives to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).Volume 1 sets out the state of the world economy and the intricate functions of the G20 in policy coordination and economic cooperation. It also deals with the interests and strategies of some developing country members of the G20. These chapters answer questions such as what the country expects from the G20, the strategies adopted to achieve its ends, the extent to which it sees itself as a representative of developing countries in its region and how does it seek to represent them.The G20 has also centred its efforts around helping countries achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Volume 2 concentrates on trade issues and the prospects of achieving the SDGs. In this context, it examines whether the SDGs themselves are a desirable goal in terms of what the nature of development is which underlies these goals.

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The year 2019 marks Singapore's Bicentennial milestone since the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore in 1819. It was in anticipation of the arrival of the Bicentennial that this book, Beyond Bicentennial: Perspectives on Malays, was initiated. This book is a collection of articles from prominent individuals and academicians that touch not only on the 200 years since the arrival of Raffles, but goes back much earlier, 720 years earlier, when Sang Nila Utama first set foot on the island in 1299.This book hopes to heighten the readers' sense of history and to reflect upon how Singapore has journeyed over the last two centuries, witnessing the perseverance, trials, challenges, and efforts of Singaporeans, and to see how the nation has gone through a transformation from a feudal setting to a cosmopolitan and multi-racial society.Prior to this book, Majulah! 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore was published in 2016 when Singapore celebrated SG50 — an initiative launched to celebrate the nation's 50 years of independence. The book highlighted the progress, the contributions, and the challenges of the community for the past 50 years since Singapore's independence in 1965.Both books can be read hand-in-hand. While Majulah! 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore called on the community to reflect on the past and to look ahead, this book, Beyond Bicentennial: Perspectives on Malays, calls on readers to reflect and re-examine the position and contributions of the Malays to Singapore's history and its development, as Singapore commemorates its Bicentennial.Related Link(s)

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This book is a collection of essays in honour of Professor Wang Gungwu. Professor Wang is not only a great historian on Chinese history in general and the Chinese overseas in particular, but has much wider influence through remarkable domain crossing, namely spatial crossing characterised by geographical straddling between inside and outside of China, temporal crossing from the ancient past to the contemporary, inter-disciplinary crossing from history to the social sciences, and intellectual crossing from the academia to public activism. He has been a long-lasting source of inspiration for understanding some of the most pressing and complex issues in our times, including the nature of China's rise and its implications for the regional and world order. In a nutshell, this book presents Wang as a highly active educator-scholar who has achieved the highest academic standard as well as far-reaching influence over issues that concern all walks of life.By focusing on the theme of Chineseness and China's modernity, this book adds depth to the analysis of China's rise and its implications for the region and the world. It contains a chapter providing the most comprehensive and updated review of Wang's scholarship thus far. Another chapter demonstrates how Wang, based on his deep understanding of Chinese civilisation and history, articulates a distinct view of the world order that differs from either the thesis of 'Thucydides's trap' or the advocacy of mutual accommodation. Interestingly, this book also includes a chapter that highlights Wang's 'Southeast Asian-ness', suggesting that Wang's scholarship cautions against not only western-centric views towards China, but also Sino-centric views towards Southeast Asia. In short, this edited volume is both a reference book for understanding Wang's scholarship and an extension of his scholarship to the analysis of China's growing international influence and its implications for the world order.

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The Climate Change Encyclopedia responds to the outstanding risk, survival, and ethical issue of our time, requiring action and providing opportunity. Primary-source expert authors write in a unique case-study structure that enables the Encyclopedia to be approachable, informational, and motivational for the public. The key focus areas are Climate Change and Finance, Economics, and Policy, with many other related climate categories included. The over 100 case studies provide realistic and interesting views of climate change, based on authors' published papers, reports, and books, plus climate-related activities of organizations, and selected topics. This inspiring work can enhance optimism and courage to act urgently and persistently on climate change, with foresight for a livable future.For more information on the list of contributors, please refer to https://www.worldscientific.com/page/encyclopedia-of-climate-change.Related Link(s)

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The book provides updated knowledge on cerebrovascular imaging-related anatomy and topographic maps for neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and neurovascular researchers as well as medical or neuroscience students. It includes not only high-resolution cerebrovascular images but also topographic brain maps.The topographic brain maps will provide (a) 'recently-updated' knowledge on cerebrovascular territories, which are of key clinical importance in patients with stroke; (b) age-specific WMH maps that allows a 'tailored patient-specific' interpretation in stroke- and vascular dementia-related clinical practice; and (c) easy-to-use 'reference maps' that allow prompt and reliable visual estimation of cerebral infarct volumes. This pocket book will serve as the best format for these image datasets to be looked up and referenced by the vast majority of readers.Apart from being a handy reference for neurovascular or neuroscience researchers, this book can also be used as a supplementary text book in medical schools.

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In a frank contemplation as she nears the end of her shortened course of life, educator Sie Siok Hui reveals moments of epiphany while honing her craft and examines critical factors in the curriculum design process. With inimitable candour, she probes education issues and calls for compassionate awareness of the challenges Singapore students and teachers face.This is a must-read not only for teachers, curriculum designers and educational leaders, but also anyone who wishes to catch a glimpse of the heart and mind of an educator who was intentional in the choice of institutions to teach in because she always wanted to know more.Related Link(s)

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This book, Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir Munshi, is the most comprehensive, multi-disciplinary studies on Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir, widely known as Munshi Abdullah (1796-1854). He was a prominent literary figure and thinker in the Malay world in the 19th century and was also an early 'pioneer' of Singapore.The author, Professor Hadijah Rahmat, has spent more than 25 years studying Munshi Abdullah since her PhD studies in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, in 1992 to date. This book is covered in two volumes and is based on her research conducted using unexplored primary sources at several missionaries' archives at SOAS, London, Houghton Library, University Harvard, Library of Congress, Leiden University, KITVL, Holland, and the Perpustakaan Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta.The book consists of numerous academic papers presented at the regional and international seminars, and also published in international journals and as chapters of books. Besides academic papers, the excerpt of play titled Munsyi, sketches, poetry, and song, and interviews by the national media are also included.This book provides new insight into Abdullah's life, backgrounds, writings, his influences and legacies and the reactions and thought provoking views of the western and eastern scholars on Abdullah. The book is indeed the key reference for studies on Munshi Abdullah, Malay literature, and the history of Singapore, Malaysia, and colonialism in Southeast Asia.

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This book is an introduction to the theory and application of modes — structures that capture the common underlying algebra of convex sets, affine spaces and certain ordered sets. Modes appear in many branches of mathematics, particularly geometry and combinatorics, and have been used in computer science, economics, physics, and biology. The initial stage of the theory was set out in the authors' research monograph Modal Theory (published in 1985). The present book provides a more complete theory, the result of research conducted during the subsequent 15 years. It contains a clear introduction to selected topics from universal algebra, category theory and model theory, and the foundations of the theory of modes, as well as more advanced topics leading to the forefront of current research in the field.The authors have included a wide range of exercises, usually placed at the end of the section, and indexed alphabetically. Some exercises are simply designed to familiarize readers with the notation and concepts. Others are more difficult, extending the content of the sections in which they appear, and providing a foretaste of further research.

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A central problem in differential geometry is to relate algebraic properties of the Riemann curvature tensor to the underlying geometry of the manifold. The full curvature tensor is in general quite difficult to deal with. This book presents results about the geometric consequences that follow if various natural operators defined in terms of the Riemann curvature tensor (the Jacobi operator, the skew-symmetric curvature operator, the Szabo operator, and higher order generalizations) are assumed to have constant eigenvalues or constant Jordan normal form in the appropriate domains of definition.The book presents algebraic preliminaries and various Schur type problems; deals with the skew-symmetric curvature operator in the real and complex settings and provides the classification of algebraic curvature tensors whose skew-symmetric curvature has constant rank 2 and constant eigenvalues; discusses the Jacobi operator and a higher order generalization and gives a unified treatment of the Osserman conjecture and related questions; and establishes the results from algebraic topology that are necessary for controlling the eigenvalue structures. An extensive bibliography is provided. Results are described in the Riemannian, Lorentzian, and higher signature settings, and many families of examples are displayed.

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This book deals with continuous time dynamic neural networks theory applied to the solution of basic problems in robust control theory, including identification, state space estimation (based on neuro-observers) and trajectory tracking. The plants to be identified and controlled are assumed to be a priori unknown but belonging to a given class containing internal unmodelled dynamics and external perturbations as well. The error stability analysis and the corresponding error bounds for different problems are presented. The effectiveness of the suggested approach is illustrated by its application to various controlled physical systems (robotic, chaotic, chemical, etc.).

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Bioengineering is attracting many high quality students. This invaluable book has been written for beginning students of bioengineering, and is aimed at instilling a sense of engineering in them.Engineering is invention and designing things that do not exist in nature for the benefit of humanity. Invention can be taught by making inventive thinking a conscious part of our daily life. This is the approach taken by the authors of this book. Each author discusses an ongoing project, and gives a sample of a professional publication. Students are asked to work through a sequence of assignments and write a report. Almost everybody soon realizes that more scientific knowledge is needed, and a strong motivation for the study of science is generated. The teaching of inventive thinking is a new trend in engineering education. Bioengineering is a good field with which to begin this revolution in engineering education, because it is a youthful, developing interdisciplinary field.

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Originally published in 1986, this book consists of 100 problems in probability and statistics, together with solutions and, most importantly, extensive notes on the solutions. The level of sophistication of the problems is similar to that encountered in many introductory courses in probability and statistics. At this level, straightforward solutions to the problems are of limited value unless they contain informed discussion of the choice of technique used, and possible alternatives. The solutions in the book are therefore elaborated with extensive notes which add value to the solutions themselves. The notes enable the reader to discover relationships between various statistical techniques, and provide the confidence needed to tackle new problems.

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Texture analysis is an important generic research area of machine vision. The potential areas of application include biomedical image analysis, industrial inspection, analysis of satellite or aerial imagery, content-based retrieval from image databases, document analysis, biometric person authentication, scene analysis for robot navigation, texture synthesis for computer graphics and animation, and image coding. Texture analysis has been a topic of intensive research for over three decades, but the progress has been very slow.A workshop on “Texture Analysis in Machine Vision” was held at the University of Oulu, Finland, in 1999, providing a forum for presenting recent research results and for discussing how to make progress in order to increase the usefulness of texture in practical applications. This book contains extended and revised versions of the papers presented at the workshop. The first part of the book deals with texture analysis methodology, while the second part covers various applications. The book gives a unique view of different approaches and applications of texture analysis. It should be of great interest both to researchers of machine vision and to practitioners in various application areas.

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This is an elementary, up-to-date text and reference book in global finance. It has been especially designed for beginning students in economics and finance, and also for self-study by anyone with a knowledge of secondary school algebra and an interest in finance and financial markets. The subjects taken up in some details are stocks (shares), bonds, interest rates and derivatives, particularly futures, options, and swaps. There are also chapters on exchange rates and banking, and readers are provided with an elementary introduction to risk and uncertainty. The book is also an easily read supplement to more technical presentations, in that it introduces all categories of readers to real world financial markets.

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In recent years the world economy has been undergoing drastic changes, the East Asian miracle, the financial crisis, and today, globalization and the fundamental changes associated with the “new economy”. This book integrates these developments with macroeconomics for business managers and policymakers.Macroeconomics is essential background for the business manager and policymaker. Consequently macroeconomics is an integral part of the business curriculum in mature and developing countries alike. And well it should be. The economy affects decisions by investors, manufacturers, distributors, importers and exporters, etc. in all parts of the world. Often, it is the difference between growth and profitability on one hand, and stagnation or failure on the other. In recent years as the world economy has undergone overwhelming changes, especially in East Asia and now in the advanced countries, understanding what is going on in the local economy and “out there in the world” has become a particular challenge to managers. The new developments, of which the “new economy” is the most recent one, do not supercede the basic theoretical framework of macroeconomics. But they add greatly to the challenge of understanding the economic situation and to its uncertainty.This book was originally written to meet the needs of a business curriculum based on the program at the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in collaboration with the Wharton and Kellogg Business Schools in the United States. The book is intended for a broad audience — both domestic and international — that includes mature MBA business students, intermediate level undergraduates, and informed laypersons.

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Historically, the theory of stability is based on linear differential systems, which are simple and important systems in ordinary differential equations. The research on differential equations and on the theory of stability will, to a certain extent, be influenced by the research on linear differential systems. For differential linear equation systems, there are still many historical open questions attracting mathematicians. This book deals with the theory of linear differential systems developed around the notion of exponential dichotomies. The first author advanced the theory of stability through his research in this field.Several new important results on linear differential systems are presented. They concern exponential dichotomy and the structure of the sets of hyperbolic points. The book has five chapters: Chapter 1 introduces some necessary classical results on the linear differential systems, and the following chapters discuss exponential dichotomy, spectra of almost periodic linear systems, the Floquet theory for quasi periodic linear systems and the structure of sets of hyperbolic points. This book is a very useful reference in the area of the stability theory of ordinary differential equations and the theory of dynamic systems.

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Robots are being used in increasingly complicated and demanding tasks, often in environments that are complex or even hostile. Underwater, space and volcano exploration are just some of the activities that robots are taking part in, mainly because the environments that are being explored are dangerous for humans. Robots can also inhabit dynamic environments, for example to operate among humans, not just in factories, but also taking on more active roles. Recently, for instance, they have made their way into the home entertainment market. Given the variety of situations that robots will be placed in, learning becomes increasingly important.Robot learning is essentially about equipping robots with the capacity to improve their behaviour over time, based on their incoming experiences. The papers in this volume present a variety of techniques. Each paper provides a mini-introduction to a subfield of robot learning. Some also give a fine introduction to the field of robot learning as a whole. There is one unifying aspect to the work reported in the book, namely its interdisciplinary nature, especially in the combination of robotics, computer science and biology. This approach has two important benefits: first, the study of learning in biological systems can provide robot learning scientists and engineers with valuable insights into learning mechanisms of proven functionality and versatility; second, computational models of learning in biological systems, and their implementation in simulated agents and robots, can provide researchers of biological systems with a powerful platform for the development and testing of learning theories.

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The new millennium brings with it new challenges and possibilities. A globalised world in which education will be the key to cross-national relations necessitates a fundamental understanding of the way education is practised in different cultures across the world.The Reflective Spin is the first book of its kind — about university teachers, about professionals sharing their experiences in improving learning and teaching practices. The writers of the cases generously share their concerns, struggles, knowledge and insights as they examine the values, assumptions, presuppositions and perspectives about learning and teaching in higher education. Readers will benefit from this sharing of a new reflective experience in a multi-layered, multi-faceted and multi-perspective context.

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This book provides a thorough review of a class of powerful algorithms for the numerical analysis of complex time series data which were obtained from dynamical systems. These algorithms are based on the concept of state space representations of the underlying dynamics, as introduced by nonlinear dynamics. In particular, current algorithms for state space reconstruction, correlation dimension estimation, testing for determinism and surrogate data testing are presented — algorithms which have been playing a central role in the investigation of deterministic chaos and related phenomena since 1980. Special emphasis is given to the much-disputed issue whether these algorithms can be successfully employed for the analysis of the human electroencephalogram.

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In order to develop new types of information media and technology, it is essential to model complex and flexible information processing in living systems. This book presents a new approach to modeling complex information processing in living systems. Traditional information-theoretic methods in neural networks are unified in one framework, i.e. α-entropy. This new approach will enable information systems such as computers to imitate and simulate human complex behavior and to uncover the deepest secrets of the human mind.

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Spirals, vortices, crystalline lattices, and other attractive patterns are prevalent in Nature. How do such beautiful patterns appear from the initial chaos? What universal dynamical rules are responsible for their formation? What is the dynamical origin of spatial disorder in nonequilibrium media? Based on the many visual experiments in physics, hydrodynamics, chemistry, and biology, this invaluable book answers those and related intriguing questions. The mathematical models presented for the dynamical theory of pattern formation are nonlinear partial differential equations. The corresponding theory is not so accessible to a wide audience. Consequently, the authors have made every attempt to synthesize long and complex mathematical calculations to exhibit the underlying physics. The book will be useful for final year undergraduates, but is primarily aimed at graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and others interested in the puzzling phenomena of pattern formation.

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Scientific progress hinges on continual discovery and the extension of previous discoveries. The important series of volumes Discoveries in Plant Biology is specially compiled to provide a microcosmic atlas of the landmark discoveries that span the breadth of plant biology. Written by renowned plant biologists, the papers describe how classic discoveries were made and how they have served as the basis for subsequent breakthroughs.The 24 chapters in this third volume describe discoveries which contribute to the foundations of modern plant biology. The contributors, many of whom personally lit the way, bring readers back in time as if on a journey to retrace the paths and rethink the ideas they followed. These guided tours on how to decipher the natural laws will lead to an appreciation of the development of each field from simple concepts to an advanced multidisciplinary field of today. This volume will be of special interest to botanists, biochemists, plant physiologists and geneticists, and of general interest to those who are still fascinated by how discoveries are made.

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Graph grammars originated in the late 60s, motivated by considerations about pattern recognition and compiler construction. Since then, the list of areas which have interacted with the development of graph grammars has grown quite impressively. Besides the aforementioned areas, it includes software specification and development, VLSI layout schemes, database design, modeling of concurrent systems, massively parallel computer architectures, logic programming, computer animation, developmental biology, music composition, visual languages, and many others.The area of graph grammars and graph transformations generalizes formal language theory based on strings and the theory of term rewriting based on trees. As a matter of fact, within the area of graph grammars, graph transformation is considered as a fundamental computation paradigm where computation includes specification, programming, and implementation. Over the last three decades, graph grammars have developed at a steady pace into a theoretically attractive and important-for-applications research field.Volume 2 of the indispensable Handbook of Graph Grammars and Computing by Graph Transformations considers applications to functional languages, visual and object-oriented languages, software engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical process engineering, and images. It also presents implemented specification languages and tools, and structuring and modularization concepts for specification languages. The contributions have been written in a tutorial/survey style by the top experts in the corresponding areas. This volume is accompanied by a CD-Rom containing implementations of specification environments based on graph transformation systems, and tools whose implementation is based on the use of graph transformation systems.

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As the financial crisis swept the Asia-Pacific, China seemed to be the one economy in the region which had been left “largely unaffected” for various reasons, including its strong economic and financial fundamentals as well as its strong political will to defend the Renminbi, which had so far firmly stood the ground. However, China's economy ended 1998 with only 7.8% growth, slightly falling short of its officially pledged target of 8%. Though China in 1998 was still rated as the best-performing economy in the region, its economic growth momentum had visibly slowed down. The Asian contagion had finally caught up with China.It is not certain if the Chinese economy is entering a slower growth era though, in the short run, China can boost economic growth by expanding domestic demand. Slower economic growth for the country will have significant negative effects on its economic reform programmes and social stability.

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This book examines China's economic development since 1949, with special emphasis on the economic transition of the past two decades and the role of special economic zones in this gradually evolving process. Various issues concerning the formation of the zones are explored. The performance of the zones and their impacts on the Chinese economy and the transitional path are assessed in aspects such as economic growth, structural changes, investment financing, employment and wages, technology transfers and learning, productivity gains, standards of living, trade expansion and the changing pattern of foreign investment. The implications of the special economic zones as a policy instrument to facilitate the process of economic transition and development, as well as the relevant policy issues, are examined.

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