Bücher veröffentlicht von Springer Netherlands

Polymers are normally thought of as insulators. In the last few years, however, a rapidly advancing and changing field has developed which exploits the ability of certain polymers to conduct charge, in some cases electronically and in others by means of ions. Certain electrochemical processes of major present-day industrial importance depend on the presence of polymeric materials for their efficient operation. The chlor-alkali industry is a prime example. Exciting new power sources, in which polymers replace conventional electrodes and/or electrolytes, are being intensively developed. Re- markable advances in the understanding of electrochemical processes and the development of a range of sophisticated sensors and other devices have been made possible by the use of polymer-coated electrodes. The impact of polymers on the electrochemical field is still in its initial growth phase. The results of a rapidly escalating volume of industrial and academic research are being applied in many contexts, especially in the information technology field. In certain areas, the use of polymers is only just beginning to show its impact. In the next year or so, the use of polymerised Langmuir-Blodgett films as a substitute for conventional E-beam resists in electronics can be anticipated. By the end of the decade, polymerised mono- and multi-layers may be incorporated in very large-scale integrated circuits.

The dicynodonts, an important group of permo-triassic reptiles, were the first really successful herbivorous tetrapods. Moreover they provided the bulk of the prey species for the ecosystem in which the mammals evolved, which makes them interesting in a wider context.

The possible benefits, the external characteristics, and the broad-range requirements of information infrastructure systems for intelligent manufacturing systems are widely known. However, it is recognised that various problems are impeding achievement in this area, including lack of understanding and agreement about techniques and methods for coordinating and systemizing the broad-range information processing requirements, and for synthesising these development of information infrastructures amalgamating the conceptual models and computing/communication/storage technologies, and the development of intelligent manufacturing systems amalgamating the information infrastructures with advanced machine tools and skillful people. This publication elaborates on these issues and affords a greater understanding of, and agreement about, methods, contributions, sourced from reknowned experts, are focussed on some of the most relevant reserach and development issues. The book will provide a useful foundation of information for further research and development on information infrastructure systems for manufacturing.

This volume presents recent and original research relating to the modeling and performance of high speed multimedia networks in general, and ATM networks in particular. It addresses problems encountered from the design of switch architectures to high performance protocol implementation. The contributions consist of state-of-the-art results in source modeling, ATM multiplexing, evaluation of congestion control schemes, optimization in ATM networks and queuing models for the analysis of ATM networks.

Combining a general introduction to Gaussian beams and quasioptical propagation with practical applications, Quasioptical Systems provides a state-of-the-art treatment of the design of low-loss, broadband systems at microwave to submillimeter wavelengths. The approach presented involves utilizing a beam with a Gaussian distribution of field strength perpendicular to its axis, which in turn propagates in a simple, predictable fashion.

This reader-friendly resource covers the broad spectrum of satellite principles and their associated technologies. While other books limit their coverage to specialized services or to satellite payloads such as communication satellites, Satellite Systems focuses upon the methodology of launching satellites, keeping them there, the environments under which they operate, and other facets particular to their operation. Pattan's detailed, elaborate approach does not assume that the reader is versed in esoteric mathematics. Satellite Systems is specific enough to be a valuable working-tool to scientists and engineers in related fields, yet general enough to be accessible to students and interested lay people. Pattan throughly explores the concepts and technologies of satellite systems in simple, direct terms. Satellite Systems includes precise coverage of: *various orbits and the services they provide *international launch of vehicles and launch sites *phased array antennas for satellite network applications *mobile satellite services from land vehicles, aircraft, and ships *low orbit satellites for telecommunication and position determination applications *international frequency allocations for satellite control, payload management, and status *geometric relationships between satellite and Earth stations used in interference analysis, orbit determination, and location *the hostile environments in which satellites operate and cope *and much more Satellite Systems is a self-contained, extensive introduction that offers professionals and advanced undergraduate and graduate students of satellite systems the tools they need for in-depth understanding of the complexities of the subject. It is ideal as both a reference and a training text for engineers, technicians, communication lawyers, weather professionals, telecommunications experts, students, and anyone interested insatellites and satellite technology.

This volume presents the proceedings of an international symposium co-sponsored by the History of Chemistry, Polymer, Material Science and Engineering, Polymer Chemistry and Cellulose, Paper and Textile Division of the American Chemical Society on the history of manmade fibres at its 201st national annual meeting in Atlanta in 1991. It contains chapters on a wide range of fibres both from an historical perspective and with a view to outlining new materials and novel uses.

This volume offers the most comprehensive coverage of probabilistic structural mechanics available. A vast array of analytical methods for structural reliability are explained in depth and their applications in every major industry are described using concrete examples. Thirty nine distinguished international contributors in industry and academia: - demonstrate the entire spectrum of structure reliability techniques, from simulation and first-order/second-order reliability methods to probabilistic finite-element/boundary element methods, enabling the reader to select the most appropriate method for all types of projects; - discuss special areas such as seismic risk assessment, extreme-wind assessment, and structural systems evaluation; - illustrate state-of-the-art applications and their results in a wide range of structures, including nuclear power plants and offshore structures;aircraft, ships, and bridges;and steel, concrete, timber, and ceramic structures; - cover topics seldom addressed in probabilistic structural mechanics books, such as human errors, nondestructive examination, expert opinions, and fuzzy probabilities; - provide 300 figures, graphs, charts and tables; over 1,000 references; and 30 industrial applications including results and conclusions. This encyclopedic reference details the latest developments in this rapidly expanding area of structural engineering. It will be an invaluable resource for all practitioners and graduate students in civil and mechanical engineering and material science.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the most important tools employed in contemporary environmental management. Presenting the component activities of EIA within a coherent methodological framework, Environmental Impact Assessment: A Methodological Approach provides students and practitioners alike with a rigorous grounding in EIA theory, including biophysical, social, strategic and cumulative assessment activities, and examines the crucial role, and limitations, of the science of EIA. Deliberately designed to be relevant world-wide, the author focuses on the common skills and generic aspects of EIA that underpin all impact assessment work, independent of country or jurisdiction, such as screening and scoping, impact identification, public involvement, prediction and monitoring, evaluation, and quality control. The variety of approaches are identified along with their associated strengths and weaknesses, enabling potential, new and experienced practitioners to make informed choices and to improve their working practices through a better understanding of EIA activity. The ultimate aim of this book is to move from the notion of EIA as a technical procedure towards a concept of EIA as a particular form of problem-solving with varied methodological requirements.

This text contains the Proceedings of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies Symposium held in Troia, Portugal, during 18-23 September 1988.

This book is the definitive reference on phase-transfer catalysis (PTC), written by the three foremost industrial and academic PTC experts in the world. Phase-Transfer Catalysis, the first practical guide to performing PTC in industry, includes key information and analyses found in no other publication. It will be a valuable resource for synthetic organic chemists, polymer chemists, process chemists, developmental chemists, and chemical engineers in academia and industry. Organic process chemists seeking greater process flexibility, reduced manufacturing costs and pollution, and easier compliance with environmental regulations will find it an indespensable reference. The book provides a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of PTC as a synthetic organic chemistry technique, including reaction mechanisms, selectivity, rates and kinetics. It gives specific guidelines on how to optimize catalyst, solvent, base, hydration, and more, based on reaction characteristics. The section on applications includes nucleophilic displacement reactions, oxidation and reduction reactions, and such special topics as insoluble PTC (triphase catalysis), polymerization, chiral catalysis, applications in environmental and analytical chemistry, and transition metal co-catalyzed PTC. Throughout the book, PTC applications in key industries are discussed--including organic chemicals, polymers, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, monomers, petrochemicals, flavors and fragrances, additives, dyes, and specialty chemicals.

Proceedings of a Round Table Seminar organized by the Commission of the European Communities, Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development Environment Research Programme, held in Metz, France, 21-23 May 1985.

This volume presents a practical and unified approach to categorical data analysis based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and the Akaike Bayesian Information Criterion (ABIC). Conventional procedures for categorical data analysis are often inappropriate because the classical test procedures employed are too closely related to specific models. The approach described in this volume enables actual problems encountered by data analysts to be handled much more successfully. Amongst various topics explicitly dealt with are the problem of variable selection for categorical data, a Bayesian binary regression, and a nonparametric density estimator and its application to nonparametric test problems. The practical utility of the procedure developed is demonstrated by considering its application to the analysis of various data. This volume complements the volume Akaike Information Criterion Statistics which has already appeared in this series. For statisticians working in mathematics, the social, behavioural, and medical sciences, and engineering.

Proceedings of IAU Symposium No. 41, held in München, Germany, August 10-14, 1970

Composite materials are being used in more and more engineering applications. This has recently extended to uses in civil engineering such as tendons, rebar rods or as patch pieces for repair. In the light of the recent surge in research activity, CANCOM 91 served as an international forum for composites specialists.

A graduate-level description of recent Japanese research on the chemistry of amorphous silicon film deposition associated with plasma CVD, a step in producing amorphous semiconductors. Reports on studies (of microscopic processes of gas-phase reaction as well as chemical reactions on the film growin

Microbial Growth Kinetics opens with a critical review of the history of microbial kinetics from the 19th century to the present day. The results of original investigations into the growth of soil microbes in both laboratory and natural environments are summarised. The book emphasises the analysis of complex dynamic behaviour of microorganism populations. Non-steady states and unbalanced growth, multiple limitation, survival under starvation, differentiation, morphological variability, colony and biofilm growth, mixed cultures and microbial population dynamics in soil are all examined. Mathematical models are proposed which give mechanistic explanations to many features of microbial growth. The book takes general kinetic principles and their ecological applications and presents them in a way specifically designed for the microbiologist. This in itself is unusual but taken with the book's fascinating historical overview and the many fresh and sometimes controversial ideas expressed, this book is a must for all advanced students of microbiology and researchers in microbial ecology and growth.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has sponsored a programme of intensive research into the primary productivity of grass ecosystems in both the tropics and subtropics, resulting in this book. It therefore represents the first internationally integrated study of bio-productivity since the International Biological Programme (IBP) of the early 1970s.

Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on the Results of EC Geothermal Energy Research and Demonstration, Florence, April 27-30, 1989