Functional Analysis Methods for Reliability Models

Oracle system performance inefficiencies often go undetected for months or even years--even under intense scrutiny--because traditional Oracle performance analysis methods and tools are fundamentally

Constraints are everywhere: most computational problems can be described in terms of restrictions imposed on the set of possible solutions, and constraint programming is a problem-solving technique that works by incorporating those restrictions in a programming environment. It draws on methods from combinatorial optimisation and artificial intelligence, and has been successfully applied in a number of fields from scheduling, computational biology, finance, electrical engineering and operations research through to numerical analysis. This textbook for upper-division students provides a thorough and structured account of the main aspects of constraint programming. The author provides many worked examples that illustrate the usefulness and versatility of this approach to programming, as well as many exercises throughout the book that illustrate techniques, test skills and extend the text. Pointers to current research, extensive historical and bibliographic notes, and a comprehensive list

Semiparametric regression is concerned with the flexible incorporation of non-linear functional relationships in regression analyses. Any application area that benefits from regression analysis can also benefit from semiparametric regression. Assuming only a basic familiarity with ordinary parametric regression, this user-friendly book explains the techniques and benefits of semiparametric regression in a concise and modular fashion. The authors make liberal use of graphics and examples plus case studies taken from environmental, financial, and other applications. They include practical advice on implementation and pointers to relevant software. The 2003 book is suitable as a textbook for students with little background in regression as well as a reference book for statistically oriented scientists such as biostatisticians, econometricians, quantitative social scientists, epidemiologists, with a good working knowledge of regression and the desire to begin using more flexible semiparame

Semiparametric regression is concerned with the flexible incorporation of non-linear functional relationships in regression analyses. Any application area that benefits from regression analysis can also benefit from semiparametric regression. Assuming only a basic familiarity with ordinary parametric regression, this user-friendly book explains the techniques and benefits of semiparametric regression in a concise and modular fashion. The authors make liberal use of graphics and examples plus case studies taken from environmental, financial, and other applications. They include practical advice on implementation and pointers to relevant software. The 2003 book is suitable as a textbook for students with little background in regression as well as a reference book for statistically oriented scientists such as biostatisticians, econometricians, quantitative social scientists, epidemiologists, with a good working knowledge of regression and the desire to begin using more flexible semiparame

Statistics in Musicology offers an introduction to statistical and mathematical methods developed for use in music analysis, music theory, and performance theory.This unique book explores concrete met

The focus of this book is on algebro-geometric solutions of completely integrable nonlinear partial differential equations in (1+1)-dimensions, also known as soliton equations. Explicitly treated integrable models include the KdV, AKNS, sine-Gordon, and Camassa-Holm hierarchies as well as the classical massive Thirring system. An extensive treatment of the class of algebro-geometric solutions in the stationary as well as time-dependent contexts is provided. The formalism presented includes trace formulas, Dubrovin-type initial value problems, Baker-Akhiezer functions, and theta function representations of all relevant quantities involved. The book uses techniques from the theory of differential equations, spectral analysis, and elements of algebraic geometry (most notably, the theory of compact Riemann surfaces). The presentation is rigorous, detailed, and self-contained, with ample background material provided in various appendices. Detailed notes for each chapter together with an exh

An important problem that arises in many scientific and engineering applications is that of approximating limits of infinite sequences which in most instances converge very slowly. Thus, to approximate limits with reasonable accuracy, it is necessary to compute a large number of terms, and this is in general costly. These limits can be approximated economically and with high accuracy by applying suitable extrapolation (or convergence acceleration) methods to a small number of terms. This state-of-the art reference for mathematicians, scientists and engineers is concerned with the coherent treatment, including derivation, analysis, and applications, of the most useful scalar extrapolation methods. The methods discussed are geared toward common problems in scientific and engineering disciplines. It differs from existing books by concentrateing on the most powerful nonlinear methods, presenting in-depth treatments of them, and showing which methods are most effective for different classe

Software engineering is becoming more procedural and controlled, but the estimation of IT projects is still regarded as a 'black art'. IT Project Estimation shows why it doesn't have to be. In this concise, easy-to-read guide, author Paul Coombs provides practical, detailed advice on IT project estimation. He shows why accurate estimates are needed, what different estimating methods can be used, and how to analyse the risks in order to make appropriate contingency allowances. He also covers pricing and billing strategies, and how experience of previous projects can be leveraged. Central to the book is a template for a cost model that incorporates task estimates, schedules, staff roles and costs, risk analysis, fixed costs, billing, and cashflow. Template Excel spreadsheets are included on the accompanying CD-ROM. Putting everything into practice, the end of the book is a complete case study, showing exactly how a simple example can be scaled up to a real-life problem. If you are an IT

The world of intelligence has been completely transformed by the end of the Cold War and the onset of an age of information. Prior to the 1990s, US government intelligence had one principal target, the Soviet Union; a narrow set of 'customers', the political and military officials of the US government; and a limited set of information from the sources they owned, spy satellites and spies. Today, world intelligence has many targets, numerous consumers - not all of whom are American or in the government - and too much information, most of which is not owned by the U.S. government and is of widely varying reliability. In this bold and penetrating study, Gregory Treverton, former Vice Chair of the National Intelligence Council and Senate investigator, offers his insider's views on how intelligence gathering and analysis must change. He suggests why intelligence needs to be both contrarian, leaning against the conventional wisdom, and attentive to the longer term, leaning against the growin

Space-time coding is a technique that promises greatly improved performance in wireless networks by using multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver. Space-Time Block Coding for Wireless Communications, first published in 2003, is an introduction to the theory of this technology. The authors develop the topic using a unified framework and cover a variety of topics ranging from information theory to performance analysis and space-time coding methods for both flat and frequency-selective fading multiple-antenna channels. The authors concentrate on key principles rather than specific practical applications, and present the material in a concise and accessible manner. Their treatment reviews the fundamental aspects of multiple-input, multiple-output communication theory, and guides the reader through a number of topics at the forefront of research and development. The book includes homework exercises and is aimed at graduate students and researchers working on wireless communication

Hashimoto has been a solitary voice in the social stratification analysis of Japanese society for the last two decades presenting its class structure in Marxian terms. His models and findings have rec

In this book, first published in 2003, the reader is provided with a tour of the principal results and ideas in the theories of completely positive maps, completely bounded maps, dilation theory, operator spaces and operator algebras, together with some of their main applications. The author assumes only that the reader has a basic background in functional analysis, and the presentation is self-contained and paced appropriately for graduate students new to the subject. Experts will also want this book for their library since the author illustrates the power of methods he has developed with new and simpler proofs of some of the major results in the area, many of which have not appeared earlier in the literature. An indispensable introduction to the theory of operator spaces for all who want to know more.

* Presents theoretical models for interpreting and predicting solubilities in solutions.* Evaluates the collection techniques used to obtain solubility data and presents the most appropriate methods.*

This book discusses how citizens can participate more effectively in sustainability science and environmental policy debates. It discusses designs for participatory procedures, and experiences of their application to issues of global change. While the focus is on citizen participation, the involvement of specific stakeholders - including water managers and venture capitalists - is also addressed. The book describes how focus group methods were combined with the interactive use of computer models into new forms of participation, tested with six hundred citizens. The results are discussed in relation to other important topics, including greenhouse gas and water management. By combining this with an examination of issues of interactive governance and developing country participation, the book provides state-of-the-art, practical insights for students, researchers and policy makers alike.

This book discusses how citizens can participate more effectively in sustainability science and environmental policy debates. It discusses designs for participatory procedures, and experiences of their application to issues of global change. While the focus is on citizen participation, the involvement of specific stakeholders - including water managers and venture capitalists - is also addressed. The book describes how focus group methods were combined with the interactive use of computer models into new forms of participation, tested with six hundred citizens. The results are discussed in relation to other important topics, including greenhouse gas and water management. By combining this with an examination of issues of interactive governance and developing country participation, the book provides state-of-the-art, practical insights for students, researchers and policy makers alike.

This fully revised third edition introduces geostatistics by emphasising the multivariate aspects for scientists, engineers and statisticians. Geostatistics offers a variety of models, methods and tec

The volume describes analytical methods used in the analysis of macromolecular materials and elucidation of their structure. The techniques described reflect some of the recent advances which have bee

This book presents a systematic reassessment of the theoretical and empirical foundations of the democratic peace literature. Three distinct theoretical models of how domestic political institutions shape the foreign policy choices of state leaders are developed and Huth and Allee then test hypotheses from each model against an original data set of 348 territorial disputes from 1919–95. Each territorial dispute is divided into three separate but related phases for empirical analysis: Challenge the Status Quo Stage, Negotiation Stage and Military Escalation Stage. Their statistical results provide strong support for the importance of democratic accountability and norms in shaping decisions to negotiate and settle disputes as well as to threaten force and escalate to war. The findings of this book address central debates and provide many insights into understanding when and why democratic leaders engage in cooperative or confrontational foreign policies.

This book presents a systematic reassessment of the theoretical and empirical foundations of the democratic peace literature. Three distinct theoretical models of how domestic political institutions shape the foreign policy choices of state leaders are developed and Huth and Allee then test hypotheses from each model against an original data set of 348 territorial disputes from 1919–95. Each territorial dispute is divided into three separate but related phases for empirical analysis: Challenge the Status Quo Stage, Negotiation Stage and Military Escalation Stage. Their statistical results provide strong support for the importance of democratic accountability and norms in shaping decisions to negotiate and settle disputes as well as to threaten force and escalate to war. The findings of this book address central debates and provide many insights into understanding when and why democratic leaders engage in cooperative or confrontational foreign policies.

These lecture notes develop modern quantum field theory methods for the analysis of radiative states in a nonlinear quantum optical system having applications in electronics. Intended for graduate stu

The globular star clusters of the Milky Way contain hundreds of thousands of stars held together by gravitational interactions, and date from the time when the Milky Way was forming. This 2003 text describes the theory astronomers need for studying globular star clusters. The gravitational million-body problem is an idealised model for understanding the dynamics of a cluster with a million stars. After introducing the million-body problem from various view-points, the book systematically develops the tools needed for studying the million-body problems in nature, and introduces the most important theoretical models. Including a comprehensive treatment of few-body interactions, and developing an intuitive but quantitative understanding of the three-body problem, the book introduces numerical methods, relevant software, and current problems. Suitable for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics and astronomy, this text also has important applications in the fields of theoretica

The globular star clusters of the Milky Way contain hundreds of thousands of stars held together by gravitational interactions, and date from the time when the Milky Way was forming. This 2003 text describes the theory astronomers need for studying globular star clusters. The gravitational million-body problem is an idealised model for understanding the dynamics of a cluster with a million stars. After introducing the million-body problem from various view-points, the book systematically develops the tools needed for studying the million-body problems in nature, and introduces the most important theoretical models. Including a comprehensive treatment of few-body interactions, and developing an intuitive but quantitative understanding of the three-body problem, the book introduces numerical methods, relevant software, and current problems. Suitable for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics and astronomy, this text also has important applications in the fields of theoretica

In this short and very practical 2002 introduction to econometrics Philip Hans Franses guides the reader through the essential concepts of econometrics. Central to the book are practical questions in various economic disciplines, which can be answered using econometric methods and models. The book focuses on a limited number of the essential, most widely used methods, before going on to review the basics of econometrics. The book ends with a number of case studies drawn from recent empirical work to provide an intuitive illustration of what econometricians do when faced with practical questions. Throughout the book Franses emphasises the importance of specification, evaluation and implementation of models appropriate to the data. Assuming basic familiarity only with matrix algebra and calculus the book is designed to appeal as either a short stand-alone introduction for students embarking on an empirical research project or as a supplement to any standard introductory textbook.

Microanalysis of Parchment presents sampling techniques and non-destructive, microanalytical and semi-microanalytical methods for the analysis and testing of historic parchment based on visual, micros

This volume collects seven of Marc Nerlove's previously published, classic essays on panel data econometrics written over the past thirty-five years, together with a cogent essay on the history of the subject, which began with George Biddell Airey's monograph published in 1861. Since Professor Nerlove's 1966 Econometrica paper with Pietro Balestra, panel data and methods of econometric analysis appropriate to such data have become increasingly important in the discipline. The principal factors in the research environment affecting the future course of panel data econometrics are the phenomenal growth in the computational power available to the individual researcher at his or her desktop and the ready availability of data sets, both large and small, via the Internet. The best way to formulate statistical models for inference is motivated and shaped by substantive problems and understanding of the processes generating the data at hand to resolve them. The essays illustrate both the role

Cylindrical arrays lie at the heart of the antenna systems of most major radio communication systems, including broadcasting networks, cellular 'phone systems and radar. In this book, the authors present practical theoretical methods for determining current distributions, input admittances and field patterns of a wide variety of cylindrical antennas, including the isolated antenna, the two-element array, the circular array, curtain arrays, Yagi and log-periodic arrays, planar arrays and three-dimensional arrays. Coverage includes analysis of horizontal antennas over, on and in the earth and sea, large resonant arrays of electrically short dipoles and a chapter on the theory and techniques of experimental measurement. Written by three of the leading engineers in the field, and based on world-class research carried out at Harvard over the last forty years, Cylindrical Antennas and Arrays is destined to become established as the basic reference for practising engineers and advanced studen

This thoughtful and beautifully written book demonstrates compellingly that emotions are central to personality development across the lifespan. Carol Magai and Jeannette Haviland-Jones draw on a wealth of textual and film material to forge an original empirical and theoretical analysis of the dynamics of emotion in human development. For its content, the work examines the lives of three mid-century psychologists, Carl Rogers, Albert Ellis, and Fritz Perls. Each man adopted a unique stance on the question of emotion in personality and in therapeutic interventions and, tellingly, the therapeutic methods they developed necessarily reflected their own emotional dynamics. Drawing on the most important research in clinical, social, and personality psychology, the authors reveal the pervasive influence of emotional organization in the lives of these individuals. Having presented a new approach to personology, autobiography, autobiography, narrative studies, psychotherapy and the theory of em

This text, suitable for graduates and researchers in physiology and biophysics and medical students specializing in neurophysiology and related fields, provides a comprehensive discussion of biological mass transfer and bioelectrical phenomena. Emphasis has been given to the applicability of physics, physical chemistry and mathematics to the quantitative analysis of biological processes, with all the necessary mathematical grounding provided in Chapter 1. This book guides the student through the key stages needed for the formulation of biological models and interpretation of mathematical solutions, central to the understanding of cell membrane functions.

Coming at a time of profound change in the global conditions under which American organized labor exists, The Future of the American Labor Movement, first published in 2002, describes and analyzes labor's strategic alternatives. The analysis is broadly cast, taking into account ideas that range from the current European Social Dialogue to the methods of the nineteenth-century American Knights of Labor. There are a number of intriguing strategies that have potential for reviving the labor movement in the United States, of which worker ownership and labor capital strategies are examples. This book demonstrates the necessity for a number of diverse strategies to be pursued simultaneously. For this to work, one has to think in terms of a broad movement of labor, consisting of diverse parts, held together by a clear idea of its purpose and a new structure.

Finance provides a dramatic example of the successful application of advanced mathematical techniques to the practical problem of pricing financial derivatives. This self-contained 2002 text is designed for first courses in financial calculus aimed at students with a good background in mathematics. Key concepts such as martingales and change of measure are introduced in the discrete time framework, allowing an accessible account of Brownian motion and stochastic calculus: proofs in the continuous-time world follow naturally. The Black-Scholes pricing formula is first derived in the simplest financial context. The second half of the book is then devoted to increasing the financial sophistication of the models and instruments. The final chapter introduces more advanced topics including stock price models with jumps, and stochastic volatility. A valuable feature is the large number of exercises and examples, designed to test technique and illustrate how the methods and concepts can be app

Finance provides a dramatic example of the successful application of advanced mathematical techniques to the practical problem of pricing financial derivatives. This self-contained 2002 text is designed for first courses in financial calculus aimed at students with a good background in mathematics. Key concepts such as martingales and change of measure are introduced in the discrete time framework, allowing an accessible account of Brownian motion and stochastic calculus: proofs in the continuous-time world follow naturally. The Black-Scholes pricing formula is first derived in the simplest financial context. The second half of the book is then devoted to increasing the financial sophistication of the models and instruments. The final chapter introduces more advanced topics including stock price models with jumps, and stochastic volatility. A valuable feature is the large number of exercises and examples, designed to test technique and illustrate how the methods and concepts can be app

The second edition of this book is unique in that it focuses on methods for making formal statistical inference from all the models in an a priori set (Multi-Model Inference). A philosophy is presente

This book presents a model of computing and a measure of computational complexity which are intended to facilitate analysis of computations performed by people, machines, or a mixed system of people and machines. The model is designed to apply directly to models of economic theory, which typically involve continuous variables and smooth functions, without requiring analysis of approximations. The model permits analysis of the feasibility and complexity of the calculations required of economic agents in order for them to arrive at their decisions. The treatment contains applications of the model to game theory and economics, including comparison of the complexities of different solution concepts in certain bargaining games, and the trade-off between communication and computation in an example of an Edgeworth Box economy.

The author presents an accessible and self-contained introduction to harmonic map theory and its analytical aspects, covering recent developments in the regularity theory of weakly harmonic maps. The book begins by introducing these concepts, stressing the interplay between geometry, the role of symmetries and weak solutions. The reader is then presented with a guided tour into the theory of completely integrable systems for harmonic maps, followed by two chapters devoted to recent results on the regularity of weak solutions. A self-contained presentation of 'exotic' functional spaces from the theory of harmonic analysis is given and these tools are then used for proving regularity results. The importance of conservation laws is stressed and the concept of a 'Coulomb moving frame' is explained in detail. The book ends with further applications and illustrations of Coulomb moving frames to the theory of surfaces.

This book provides a thorough introduction to one of the most efficient approximation methods for the analysis and solution of problems in theoretical physics and applied mathematics. It is written with practical needs in mind and contains a discussion of 50 problems with solutions, of varying degrees of difficulty. The problems are taken from quantum mechanics, but the method has important applications in any field of science involving second order ordinary differential equations. The power of the asymptotic solution of second order differential equations is demonstrated, and in each case the authors clearly indicate which concepts and results of the general theory are needed to solve a particular problem. This book will be ideal as a manual for users of the phase-integral method, as well as a valuable reference text for experienced research workers and graduate students.

Much of ancient history can only be written thanks to evidence supplied by Plutarch. His historical methods and qualities were for long subjected to little systematic analysis. However, in recent deca

The only method of circuit analysis known to most engineers and students is nodal or loop analysis. Although this works well for obtaining numerical solutions, it is almost useless for obtaining analytical solutions in all but the simplest cases. In this unusual 2002 book, Vorpérian describes remarkable alternative techniques to solve, almost by inspection, complicated linear circuits in symbolic form and obtain meaningful analytical answers for any transfer function or impedance. Although not intended to replace traditional computer-based methods, these techniques provide engineers with a powerful set of tools for tackling circuit design problems. They also have great value in enhancing students' understanding of circuit operation, making this an ideal course book, and numerous problems and worked examples are included. Originally developed by Professor David Middlebrook and others at Caltech (California Institute of Technology), the techniques described here are now widely taught at

The mass entry of women into the labour market, the decline of the male breadwinner norm and the rise of the dual-earner family have all profoundly transformed the societies of the Western industrialised world. This book argues that childcare has become increasingly 'defamilised' or collectivised as mothers have joined the labour market, causing significant impact on welfare policies. As a result, the complex relationship between family change and policy reform calls for a rethinking of the relationship between the welfare state, labour markets and working parents. Rather than concentrating on the changing models of motherhood, Leira advocates the need to consider the effects of the gendered division of work and welfare on fathers' opportunities to be supported as carers for children. Her analysis incorporates important new empirical data from Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Hepatitis C infects 170 million people worldwide, and has been labelled the 'silent epidemic' as a result of its concealed attack on the liver. This multidisciplinary overview covers basic concepts related to the discovery of the virus, development of serological and nucleic acid tests to detect infection, the structure of the virus genome, generation of virus gene products, and proposed replication scheme. It then goes on to introduce the epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis of infection, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic virus infection, and current strategies for treatment. The book then discusses advances in cell culture systems, animal models of infection, and emerging treatments and vaccine development. Through its coverage of basic science, clinical consequences, and methods of research, this integrated and accessible account will be of immense value to biomedical scientists and clinicians alike, and a useful introduction for all those study

This book focuses on recent work in on-chip interconnects and other aspects of advanced metallization. In particular, the concentration for this year's volume is on the rapid advances in copper and low-K. The volume is divided into nine parts: Part I contains an invited perspective on the state of semiconductor research and development in Japan; Part II focuses on performance aspects of interconnect architectures; Part III includes some of the most significant recent advances in copper/low-K integration; Part IV is an in-depth collection of electrochemical and chemical processes, mainly pertaining to copper; Part V contains state-of-the-art papers on thin-film diffusion barriers, again mainly for copper wiring; Part VI covers reliability engineering and results; Part VII is a collection of alternative and novel processes and systems related to circuit interconnection; Part VIII contains papers on specific low-K dielectrics and their properties, and new methods for their characterizatio