Methods

This 1996 book defends the prospects for a science of society. It argues that behind the diverse methods of the natural sciences lies a common core of scientific rationality that the social sciences can and sometimes do achieve. It also argues that good social science must be in part about large-scale social structures and processes and thus that methodological individualism is misguided. These theses are supported by a detailed discussion of actual social research, including theories of agrarian revolution, organizational ecology, social theories of depression, and supply-demand explanations in economics. Professor Kincaid provides a general picture of explanation and confirmation in the social sciences and discusses the nature of scientific rationality, functional explanation, optimality arguments, meaning and interpretation, the place of microfoundations in social explanation, the status of neo-classical economics, the role of idealizations and non-experimental evidence, and other s

Romulus founded Rome - but why does the myth give him a twin brother Remus, who is killed at the moment of the foundation? This mysterious legend has been oddly neglected. Roman historians ignore it as irrelevant to real history; students of myth concentrate on the more glamorous mythology of Greece. In this book, Professor Wiseman provides, for the first time, a detailed analysis of all the variants of the story, and a historical explanation for its origin and development. His conclusions offer important new insights, both into the history and ideology of pre-imperial Rome and into the methods and motives of myth-creation in a non-literate society. In the richly unfamiliar Rome of Pan, Hermes and Circe the witch-goddess, where a general grows miraculous horns and prophets demand human sacrifice, Remus stands for the unequal struggle of the many against the powerful few.

The continuing development of automated production methods, combined with increasing competition from low-wage developing economies, is likely to reduce yet further the scope for the employment of low-skilled and inexperienced personnel in advanced economies. Higher standards of schooling and of vocational training are now widely recognised as essential. Based on visits by expert teams over the last ten years to matched samples of manufacturing plants, as well as to schools and vocational colleges in Britain and the European Continent, this book provides a realistic analysis of what needs to be done. The emphasis is on the need to expand, not the proportion of the workforce with university qualifications, but those with craft and vocational qualifications. The findings of this research have been influential in the development of government policies, and the author explains why these policies need to move even further, and in which directions they must next move.

The second edition of this very successful and authoritative set of tables still benefits from clear typesetting, which makes the figures easy to read and use. It has, however, been improved by the addition of new tables that provide Bayesian confidence limits for the binomial and Poisson distributions, and for the square of the multiple correlation coefficient, which have not been previously available. The intervals are the shortest possible, consistent with the requirement on probability. Great care has been taken to ensure that it is clear just what is being tabulated and how the values may be used; the tables are generally capable of easy interpolation. The book contains all the tables likely to be required for elementary statistical methods in the social, business and natural sciences. It will be an essential aid for teachers, researchers and students in those subjects where statistical analysis is not wholly carried out by computers.

This book brings together two of the most exciting and widely studied subjects in modern physics: namely fractals and surfaces. To the community interested in the study of surfaces and interfaces, it brings the concept of fractals. To the community interested in the exciting field of fractals and their application, it demonstrates how these concepts may be used in the study of surfaces. The authors cover, in simple terms, the various methods and theories developed over the past ten years to study surface growth. They describe how one can use fractal concepts successfully to describe and predict the morphology resulting from various growth processes. Consequently, this book will appeal to physicists working in condensed matter physics and statistical mechanics, with an interest in fractals and their application. The first chapter of this important new text is available on the Cambridge Worldwide Web server: http://www.cup.cam.ac.uk/onlinepubs/Textbooks/textbookstop.html

This compelling book contains a comprehensive analytical treatment of the theory of production in a long-period framework. Although the authors take a 'Classical' approach to their subject, the scope of investigation and methods employed should interest all economic theorists. Professors Kurz and Salvadori explore economic systems that are characterised by a particular kind of primary input in the production process, such as different kinds of labour and natural resources. These systems and the corresponding prices can be understood to reflect characteristic features of a capitalist market economy in an ideal way: they express the pure logic of the relationship between value and distribution in an economic system. Specific chapters deal with prices and income distribution, economic growth, joint production, fixed capital, scarce natural resources (both renewable and exhaustible), and heterogeneous labour. The historical origins of the concepts used are also discussed in considerable de

This two-volume book contains selected papers from the international conference 'Groups 1993 Galway/St Andrews' which was held at University College, Galway in August 1993. The wealth and diversity of group theory is represented in these two volumes. Five main lecture courses were given at the conference. These were 'Geometry, Steinberg representations and complexity' by J. L. Alperin (Chicago), 'Rickard equivalences and block theory' by M. Broué (ENS, Paris), 'Cohomological finiteness conditions', by P. H. Kropholler (Queen Mary and Westfield College, London), 'Counting finite index subgroups', by A. Lubotzky (Hebrew University, Jerusalem), 'Lie methods in group theory' by E. I. Zel'manov (University of Wisconsin at Madison). Articles based on their lectures, in one case co-authored, form a substantial part of the Proceedings. Another main feature of the conference was a GAP workshop jointly run by J. Neubüser and M. Schönert (Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschole, Aachen). Two

How can you find new minor planets, comets and novae? How can you use photoelectric detectors to derive the temperatures of stars? And how can you predict future eclipses and occultations of stars by minor planets? The questions asked by serious amateur astronomers are answered in this authoritative and wide-ranging guide. For each topic, sound practical methods of observation and the scientific background are given to lead you to better observations. Guidelines also show you how to record and catalogue your observations using the recognised professional terminology and classification schemes. From the simplest pencil drawings of the moon to observations of the most distant galaxies with state-of-the-art CCD cameras and photoelectric photometers, this guide is packed with practical tips for all types of amateur observations. It will develop the observational skills of the keen novice and satisfy the more demanding needs of the experienced amateur astronomer.

The exploration and colonisation of the Pacific is a remarkable episode of human prehistory. Early sea-going explorers had no prior knowledge of Pacific geography, no documents to record their route, no metal, no instruments for measuring time and none for exploration. Forty years of modern archaeology, experimental voyages in rafts, and computer simulations of voyages have produced an enormous range of literature on this controversial and mysterious subject. This book represents a major advance in knowledge of the settlement of the Pacific by suggesting that exploration was rapid and purposeful, undertaken systematically, and that navigation methods progressively improved. Using an innovative model to establish a detailed theory of navigation, Geoffrey Irwin claims that rather than sailing randomly downwind in search of the unknown, Pacific Islanders expanded settlement by the cautious strategy of exploring upwind, so as to ease their safe return. The author has tested this hypothesis

Comparable worth, or pay equity, is now an established policy in some US states, such as Minnesota, and the UK and Australia. Yet Steven Rhoads's research on those jurisdictions indicates there is no consensus on how to compare the value of dissimilar jobs involving 'comparable' amounts of effort, skill and responsibility. Consultants whose job evaluation systems are used in states adopting comparable worth policies do not agree on the factors to be included or how they should be weighed and arbitrary results produced by comparable worth policies have led to inefficient functioning of the labour markets. These policies have generated ill will among the workers who lose pay-equity cases, with political as well as economic consequences. The book argues that jobs are truly incomparable using the methods comparable worth relies on, and that the principles of comparable worth are not reconcilable with those of a market economy.

This book is concerned with the bifurcation theory, the study of the changes in the structures of the solution of ordinary differential equations as parameters of the model vary. The theory has developed rapidly over the past two decades. Chapters 1 and 2 of the book introduce two systematic methods of simplifying equations: centre manifold theory and normal form theory, by which the dimension of equations may be reduced and the forms changed so that they are as simple as possible. Chapters 3–5 of the book study in considerable detail the bifurcation of those one- or two-dimensional equations with one, two or several parameters. This book is aimed at mathematicians and graduate students interested in dynamical systems, ordinary differential equations and/or bifurcation theory. The basic knowledge required by this book is advanced calculus, functional analysis and qualitative theory of ordinary differential equations.

This book develops quantum field theory starting from its foundation in quantum mechanics. Quantum field theory is the basic theory of elementary particle physics. In recent years, many techniques have been developed which extend and clarify this theory. This book incorporates these modern methods, giving a thoroughly modern pedagogic account which starts from first principles. The path integral formulation is introduced right at the beginning. The method of dimensional continuation is employed to regulate and renormalize the theory. This facilitates the introduction of the concepts of the renormalization group at an early stage. The notion of spontaneous symmetry breakdown is also introduced early on by the example of superfluid helium. Topics in quantum electrodynamics are described which have an analog in quantum chromodynamics. Some novel techniques are employed, such as the use of dimensional continuation to compute the Lamb shift. Many problems are included.

Is economics a science? Deidre McCloskey says 'Yes, but'. Yes, economics measures and predicts, but - like other sciences - it uses literary methods too. Economists use stories as geologists do, and metaphors as physicists do. The result is that the sciences, economics among them, must be read as 'rhetoric', in the sense of writing with intent. McCloskey's books, The Rhetoric of Economics(1985) and If You're So Smart(1990), have been widely discussed. In Knowledge and Persuasion in Economics he converses with his critics, suggesting that they too can gain from knowing their rhetoric. The humanistic and mathematical approaches to economics, says McCloskey, fit together in a new 'interpretive' economics. Along the way he places economics within the sciences, examines the role of mathematics in the field, replies to critics from the left, right and centre, and shows how economics can again take a leading place in the conversation of humankind.

Is economics a science? Deidre McCloskey says 'Yes, but'. Yes, economics measures and predicts, but - like other sciences - it uses literary methods too. Economists use stories as geologists do, and metaphors as physicists do. The result is that the sciences, economics among them, must be read as 'rhetoric', in the sense of writing with intent. McCloskey's books, The Rhetoric of Economics(1985) and If You're So Smart(1990), have been widely discussed. In Knowledge and Persuasion in Economics he converses with his critics, suggesting that they too can gain from knowing their rhetoric. The humanistic and mathematical approaches to economics, says McCloskey, fit together in a new 'interpretive' economics. Along the way he places economics within the sciences, examines the role of mathematics in the field, replies to critics from the left, right and centre, and shows how economics can again take a leading place in the conversation of humankind.

This is an extensively illustrated laboratory manual of transmission electron microscopy techniques for the technician, graduate student, or researcher. Chapters begin with a general discussion, move on to the chemicals and equipment required for the method being described and conclude with a step-by-step presentation of the method and instructions for the preparation of solutions. Notes at the end of each chapter warn of possible pitfalls and outline 'tricks of the trade'. The methods and techniques outlined have been tested for over ten years in clinical and research laboratory situations, and are entirely reliable. Practical Electron Microscopy covers fixation, dehydration and embedding, semi-thin and thin sectioning, the electron microscope, and photography. For this new edition, the chapters on photography and the electron microscope have been completely rewritten and two new chapters have been added, one on immuno electron microscopy using colloidal gold, and one dealing with suc

Comparable worth, or pay equity, is now an established policy in some US states, such as Minnesota, and the UK and Australia. Yet Steven Rhoads's research on those jurisdictions indicates there is no consensus on how to compare the value of dissimilar jobs involving 'comparable' amounts of effort, skill and responsibility. Consultants whose job evaluation systems are used in states adopting comparable worth policies do not agree on the factors to be included or how they should be weighed and arbitrary results produced by comparable worth policies have led to inefficient functioning of the labour markets. These policies have generated ill will among the workers who lose pay-equity cases, with political as well as economic consequences. The book argues that jobs are truly incomparable using the methods comparable worth relies on, and that the principles of comparable worth are not reconcilable with those of a market economy.

The compound optical microscope, in its various modern forms, is probably the most familiar of all laboratory instruments and the electron microscope, once an exotic rarity, has now become a standard tool in biological and materials research. Both instruments are often used effectively with little knowledge of the relevant theory, or even of how a particular type of microscope functions. Eventually however, proper use, interpretation of images and choices of specific applications demand an understanding of fundamental principles. This book describes the principles of operation of each type of microscope currently available and of use to biomedical and materials scientists. It explains the mechanisms of image formation, contrast and its enhancement, accounts for ultimate limits on the size of observable details (resolving power and resolution) and finally provides an account of Fourier optical theory. Principles behind the photographic methods used in microscopy are also described and t

The compound optical microscope, in its various modern forms, is probably the most familiar of all laboratory instruments and the electron microscope, once an exotic rarity, has now become a standard tool in biological and materials research. Both instruments are often used effectively with little knowledge of the relevant theory, or even of how a particular type of microscope functions. Eventually however, proper use, interpretation of images and choices of specific applications demand an understanding of fundamental principles. This book describes the principles of operation of each type of microscope currently available and of use to biomedical and materials scientists. It explains the mechanisms of image formation, contrast and its enhancement, accounts for ultimate limits on the size of observable details (resolving power and resolution) and finally provides an account of Fourier optical theory. Principles behind the photographic methods used in microscopy are also described and t

In this 1992 book Professor Peter Rutland analyses the role played by regional and local organs of the Soviet Communist Party in economic management from 1970 to 1990. Using a range of political and economic journals, newspapers and academic publications, he examines interventions in the construction industry, energy, transport, consumer goods and agriculture. Rutland argues that party interventions hindered rather than assisted the search for efficiency in the Soviet economy, and repeated attempts to introduce more economically rational management methods failed to alter these traditional patterns of party intervention. He further demonstrates how as the Soviet economy matured and grew more complex over the last three decades, party interventions became increasingly out of tune with the needs of the economy. Yet even the calls for radical reform of the economy since 1985 were not accompanied by any decisive changes in this pattern of party intervention; this, argues Peter Rutland, cas

This text is a beginning graduate-level introduction to neural networks, focussing on current theoretical models, examining what these models can reveal about how the brain functions, and discussing the ramifications for psychology, artificial intelligence and the construction of a new generation of intelligent computers. The book is divided into four parts. The first part gives an account of the anatomy of the central nervous system, followed by a brief introduction to neurophysiology. The second part is devoted to the dynamics of neuronal states, and demonstrates how very simple models may stimulate associative memory. The third part of the book discusses models of learning, including detailed discussions on the limits of memory storage, methods of learning and their associated models, associativity, and error correction. The final part reviews possible applications of neural networks in artificial intelligence, expert systems, optimization problems, and the construction of actual ne

This text is a beginning graduate-level introduction to neural networks, focussing on current theoretical models, examining what these models can reveal about how the brain functions, and discussing the ramifications for psychology, artificial intelligence and the construction of a new generation of intelligent computers. The book is divided into four parts. The first part gives an account of the anatomy of the central nervous system, followed by a brief introduction to neurophysiology. The second part is devoted to the dynamics of neuronal states, and demonstrates how very simple models may stimulate associative memory. The third part of the book discusses models of learning, including detailed discussions on the limits of memory storage, methods of learning and their associated models, associativity, and error correction. The final part reviews possible applications of neural networks in artificial intelligence, expert systems, optimization problems, and the construction of actual ne

The subject of mineralogy is moving away from the traditional systematic treatment of mineral groups toward the study of the behaviour of minerals in relation to geological processes. A knowledge of how minerals respond to a changing geological environment is fundamental to our understanding of many dynamic earth processes. By adopting a materials science approach, An Introduction to Mineral Sciences explains the principles underlying the modern study of minerals, discussing the behaviour of crystalline materials with changes in temperature, pressure and chemical environment. The concepts required to understand mineral behaviour are often complex, but are presented here in simple, non-mathematical terms for undergraduate mineralogy students. After introductory chapters describing the principles of diffraction, imaging and the spectroscopic methods used to study minerals, the structure and behaviour of the main groups of rock-forming minerals are covered, and the role of defects in the

Historically, naturalists who proposed theories of evolution, including Darwin and Wallace, did so in order to explain the apparent relationship of natural classification. This book begins by exploring the intimate historical relationship between patterns of classification and patterns of phylogeny. However, it is a circular argument to use the data for classification. Alec Panchen presents other evidence for evolution in the form of a historically based but rigorously logical argument. This is followed by a history of methods of classification and phylogeny reconstruction including current mathematical and molecular techniques. The author makes the important claim that if the hierarchical pattern of classification is a real phenomenon, then biology is unique as a science in making taxonomic statements. This conclusion is reached by way of historical reviews of theories of evolutionary mechanism and the philosophy of science as applied to biology. The book is addressed to biologists, p

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the structure, strategy and methods of assessment of orthodox theoretical economics. In Part I Professor Hausman explains how economists theorise, emphasising the essential underlying commitment of economists to a vision of economics as a separate science. In Part II he defends the view that the basic axioms of economics are 'inexact' since they deal only with the 'major' causes; unlike most writers on economic methodology, the author argues that it is the rules that economists espouse rather than their practice that is at fault. Part III links the conception of economics as a separate science to the fact that economic theories offer reasons and justifications for human actions, not just their causes. With its lengthy appendix introducing relevant issues in philosophy of science, this book is a major addition to philosophy of economics and of social science.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the structure, strategy and methods of assessment of orthodox theoretical economics. In Part I Professor Hausman explains how economists theorise, emphasising the essential underlying commitment of economists to a vision of economics as a separate science. In Part II he defends the view that the basic axioms of economics are 'inexact' since they deal only with the 'major' causes; unlike most writers on economic methodology, the author argues that it is the rules that economists espouse rather than their practice that is at fault. Part III links the conception of economics as a separate science to the fact that economic theories offer reasons and justifications for human actions, not just their causes. With its lengthy appendix introducing relevant issues in philosophy of science, this book is a major addition to philosophy of economics and of social science.

This textbook considers the methods used by governments to change the economic and social framework within which agricultural production takes place: by influencing the prices of farm inputs and outputs, by modifying agricultural institutions, and by promoting new technologies in agriculture. The book is organised around a central set of eight policy chapters, covering topics of price policy, marketing policy, input policy, credit policy, mechanisation policy, land reform policy, research policy and irrigation policy. These chapters are preceded by material covering the nature of policy, in the context of the market versus state debate, and the principles used by economists to undertake agricultural policy analysis. They are followed by chapters that examine the status of women in agricultural policy, and that summarise aspects of food policy not covered in the main chapters. This book is designed for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses related to agricultural policy, ag

The interactions of fungi with mankind are both beneficial and harmful and are deeply rooted in the history of human society and agriculture. Over the centuries humans have sought to manipulate the growth of fungi to their advantage; the methods used, though largely empirical, have often been highly successful. Since the initial development of recombinant DNA technology in bacteria in the early 1970s, biology has been undergoing a molecular revolution which is spreading to all organisms, including fungi. The approach and techniques of molecular biology enable us to ask and answer fundamental questions about many aspects of fungal biology, and open the way to the directed manipulation of fungal metabolism. This book highlights the rapid development of gene transfer and cloning techniques in fungi and the ways in which these are being exploited in species of economic importance either in biotechnology or as plant pathogens.

The author presents a theory of concurrent processes where three different semantic description methods that are usually studied in isolation are brought together. Petri nets describe processes as concurrent and interacting machines; algebraic process terms describe processes as abstract concurrent processes; and logical formulas specify the intended communication behaviour of processes. At the heart of this theory are two sets of transformation rules for the top-down design of concurrent processes. The first set can be used to transform stepwise logical formulas into process terms, whilst process terms can be transformed into Petri nets by the second set. These rules are based on novel techniques for the operational and denotational semantics of concurrent processes. Various results and relationships between nets, terms and formulas starting with formulas and illustrated by examples. The use of transformations is demonstrated in a series of case studies, and the author also identifies

The study of spatial processes and their applications is an important topic in statistics and finds wide application particularly in computer vision and image processing. This book is devoted to statistical inference in spatial statistics and is intended for specialists needing an introduction to the subject and to its applications. One of the themes of the book is the demonstration of how these techniques give new insights into classical procedures (including new examples in likelihood theory) and newer statistical paradigms such as Monte-Carlo inference and pseudo-likelihood. Professor Ripley also stresses the importance of edge effects and of lack of a unique asymptotic setting in spatial problems. Throughout, the author discusses the foundational issues posed and the difficulties, both computational and philosophical, which arise. The final chapters consider image restoration and segmentation methods and the averaging and summarising of images. Thus, the book will find wide appeal

Through channels both open and concealed, the Victorian economy continues to influence us powerfully. Much economic thinking today gains support from perceptions of how the nineteenth-century British economy worked and how well it satisfied wants. Contemporary oligopolistic industrial structure is contrasted with Victorian self-regulating competition; the gross inequalities of Victorian laissez-faire are compared with support for the needy provided by the modern welfare state; and some regard Victorian values as vital principles of social organisation which should be regained. By examining the behaviour of the British economy between 1865 and 1914, the present work casts light upon some of these views. It does so in a variety of ways. New methods or evidence are deployed to establish accepted conclusions more firmly; unwarrantedly neglected aspects of the economy are analysed with present day concerns in mind; and traditional conclusions are reassessed. The book focuses upon three cent

There are a number of important questions associated with statistical experiments: when does one given experiment yield more information than another; how can we measure the difference in information; how fast does information accumulate by repeating the experiment? The means of answering such questions has emerged from the work of Wald, Blackwell, LeCam and others and is based on the ideas of risk and deficiency. The present work which is devoted to the various methods of comparing statistical experiments, is essentially self-contained, requiring only some background in measure theory and functional analysis. Chapters introducing statistical experiments and the necessary convex analysis begin the book and are followed by others on game theory, decision theory and vector lattices. The notion of deficiency, which measures the difference in information between two experiments, is then introduced. The relation between it and other concepts, such as sufficiency, randomisation, distance, or

The aim of this study is to examine the speeches given to leading characters in the Books of Chronicles, including those which formed the basis of Gerhard von Rad's book The Levitical Sermon in the Books of Chronicles. These are compared with similar material in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah and in the post-exilic prophets. It is Dr Mason's contention that recurring themes and homiletical devices suggest that these 'addresses' (while not to be classified as 'Sermons') do reveal something of the exegetical and teaching methods employed in the Second Temple period, which are here echoed. By studying the contents and aims of this preaching, the author tries to clarify the process by which pre-exilic Davidic Yahwism became the living faith of the post-exilic community in the challenging circumstances of the Persian and Greek periods through the careful reinterpretation of earlier scriptural material.

The rapid development of the theories of Volterra integral and functional equations has been strongly promoted by their applications in physics, engineering and biology. This text shows that the theory of Volterra equations exhibits a rich variety of features not present in the theory of ordinary differential equations. The book is divided into three parts. The first considers linear theory and the second deals with quasilinear equations and existence problems for nonlinear equations, giving some general asymptotic results. Part III is devoted to frequency domain methods in the study of nonlinear equations. The entire text analyses n-dimensional rather than scalar equations, giving greater generality and wider applicability and facilitating generalizations to infinite-dimensional spaces. The book is generally self-contained and assumes only a basic knowledge of analysis. The many exercises illustrate the development of the theory and its applications, making this book accessible to res

This book presents a novel approach to the teaching of dynamic aspects of the operation of semiconductor and opto-electronic devices. Such dynamic aspects often determine the steady state conditions. Also, the dynamical operation of such devices is of increasing importance as modern methods of communicating data and information require electronic devices that switch electrical or optical signals at ever faster rates. The author discusses the rates at which electrons and holes can reach equilibrium, the rates at which transistors and diodes can switch, and the rates at which electrons and holes can interact with photons, and with protons. He also applies the rate equations in a unified way to models of light-emitting diodes, injection lasers and photodiodes. Finally, the author discusses more-advanced topics on the photon statistics of injection lasers, mode-locking and the application of rate equations and Maxwell's equations to opto-electronic devices.

The aim of this book is to develop the concepts and relations pertinent to the solution of many thermodynamic problems encountered in multi-phase, multi-component systems. In doing so, it emphasizes a comprehension and development of general expressions for solving such problems, rather than ready-made equations for particular applications. Throughout the book, the methods of Gibbs are used with emphasis on the chemical potential. Many topics omitted in more elementary texts are amply discussed defining the state of a thermodynamic system, particularly the indifferent systems; the use of the Gibbs-Duhem equation in single-phase and multi-phase component systems; the conditions of stability for single-phase and multi-phase component systems; and the graphical representation of the thermodynamic functions. Special attention is given to reference and standard states. The material is presented in a rigorous and mathematical manner, and SI units are used throughout. A detailed bibliography

This attractively illustrated book reviews the effects of agricultural development on bird populations in Britain. Examining modern farmland as a bird habitat, it explains the changes, both in habitat structure and in available resources, that have occurred as a result of mechanisation and use of agrochemicals. Farmland bird communities are described, and their composition related to farm structure and land use. Based extensively on empirical data extracted from the British Trust for Ornithology's Common Bird Census and from nest histories recorded in the BTO'S Nest Record Scheme, the book presents an important analysis of the position of agricultural bird populations under modern farming systems. Particular examination has been made of the impact of changing methods, rotations and crops, which have been underestimated in the past. Resulting from the co-operation between a professional ornithologist and a working cereal farmer, this book provides an objective and informed view of the i

The study of dynamical systems forms a vast and rapidly developing field even when one considers only activity whose methods derive mainly from measure theory and functional analysis. Karl Petersen has written a book which presents the fundamentals of the ergodic theory of point transformations and then several advanced topics which are currently undergoing intense research. By selecting one or more of these topics to focus on, the reader can quickly approach the specialized literature and indeed the frontier of the area of interest. Each of the four basic aspects of ergodic theory - examples, convergence theorems, recurrence properties, and entropy - receives first a basic and then a more advanced, particularized treatment. At the introductory level, the book provides clear and complete discussions of the standard examples, the mean and pointwise ergodic theorems, recurrence, ergodicity, weak mixing, strong mixing, and the fundamentals of entropy. Among the advanced topics are a thoro

This book discusses procedures for handling information derived from the fossil record, and the application of this information to solving problems in geological succession and earth history. The main purpose of the book is to analyse shortcomings of the existing procedures, and to propose in their place an alternative set of data-handling arrangements of much greater simplicity and efficiency. The author argues that the procedures in current use are cumbersome and inefficient, and that, partly as a consequence of these information-handling methods, palaeontology has failed to make advances commensurate with technological improvements. In this book he proposes a system which could make possible the integrated use of every detail of geological information taken from the rocks. This would achieve better resolution in sequence correlation, in paleoecologic interpretation and in logging the course of evolution. Compatibility of style with existing records has been maintained to avoid any d

The rational expectations revolution and other developments in economics (notably game theory) have fundamentally altered the application of optimal control theory to economic forecasting and planning. In particular, they have shown that economic systems cannot be modelled simplistically on physical systems. However, as the authors of this volume show, these developments have greatly enhanced our understanding of how an economy functions, and now make it possible for optimal control theory to be applied much more effectively to economic modelling and planning. This book is divided into two parts. The first presents the orthodox framework but extends it to allow for multiplicative uncertainty, risk and non-linearities in the econometric model. The second part looks explicitly at the question of expectations. It provides methods by which forward-looking expectations can be treated jointly with the determination of economic policy. It also examines game-theoretic considerations - where, f

The concern of these studies is with how the exercise of critical methods can be reconciled with the assumption that the Hebrew Bible is a Christian book. With Andrew of St Victor this concern is expressed as a robust, human and historical interest. William Fulke, influenced by Renaissance linguistic science, asserted that the quality of a translation from Hebrew into English is determined entirely by scholarly competence and integrity. Gregory Martin accepted the idea of an English translation with the greatest reluctance; he even rejected Fulke's demand for a return to the 'original' languages of Hebrew and Greek, and translated from the Latin Vulgate. McKane thus reviews the shifts in the Church's understanding of the nature and authority of its scriptures, particularly the Old Testament, and shows how the beginnings of the critical scholarship of modern times is connected with, and has grown out of, that change in understanding.