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Optical Polymer Waveguides: From the Design to the Final 3D-Opto Mechatronic Integrated Device
by Stefan Kaierle Jörg Franke Ludger Overmeyer Klaus-Jürgen Wolter Norbert Lindlein Karlheinz Bock Oliver SuttmannLight signals in optical waveguides can be used to transmit very large amounts of data quickly and largely without interference. In the industrial and infrastructural sectors, e.g. in the automotive and aerospace industries, the demand to further exploit this potential is therefore increasing. Which technologies can be used to effectively integrate systems that transmit data by means of light into existing components? This is a central question for current research. So far, there have been some technical limitations in this regard. For example, it is difficult to couple the signal of an optical waveguide to other optical waveguides without interruption. There is also a lack of suitable fabrication technologies for three-dimensional waveguides, as well as design and simulation environments for 3D opto-MID. This book addresses these and other challenges.
Optical and SAR Remote Sensing of Urban Areas: A Practical Guide (Springer Geography)
by Courage KamusokoThis book introduces remotely sensed image processing for urban areas using optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and assists students, researchers, and remote sensing practitioners who are interested in land cover mapping using such data. There are many introductory and advanced books on optical and SAR remote sensing image processing, but most of them do not serve as good practical guides. However, this book is designed as a practical guide and a hands-on workbook, where users can explore data and methods to improve their land cover mapping skills for urban areas. Although there are many freely available earth observation data, the focus is on land cover mapping using Sentinel-1 C-band SAR and Sentinel-2 data. All remotely sensed image processing and classification procedures are based on open-source software applications such QGIS and R as well as cloud-based platforms such as Google Earth Engine (GEE). The book is organized into six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces geospatial machine learning, and Chapter 2 covers exploratory image analysis and transformation. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on mapping urban land cover using multi-seasonal Sentinel-2 imagery and multi-seasonal Sentinel-1 imagery, respectively. Chapter 5 discusses mapping urban land cover using multi-seasonal Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery as well as other derived data such as spectral and texture indices. Chapter 6 concludes the book with land cover classification accuracy assessment.
Optically Trapped Microspheres as Sensors of Mass and Sound: Brownian Motion as Both Signal and Noise (Springer Theses)
by Logan Edward HillberryThis thesis makes significant advances in the use of microspheres in optical traps as highly precise sensing platforms. While optically trapped microspheres have recently proven their dominance in aqueous and vacuum environments, achieving state-of-the-art measurements of miniscule forces and torques, their sensitivity to perturbations in air has remained relatively unexplored. This thesis shows that, by uniquely operating in air and measuring its thermally-fluctuating instantaneous velocity, an optically trapped microsphere is an ultra-sensitive probe of both mass and sound. The mass of the microsphere is determined with similar accuracy to competitive methods but in a fraction of the measurement time and all while maintaining thermal equilibrium, unlike alternative methods. As an acoustic transducer, the air-based microsphere is uniquely sensitive to the velocity of sound, as opposed to the pressure measured by a traditional microphone. By comparison to state-of-the-art commercially-available velocity and pressure sensors, including the world’s smallest measurement microphone, the microsphere sensing modality is shown to be both accurate and to have superior sensitivity at high frequencies. Applications for such high-frequency acoustic sensing include dosage monitoring in proton therapy for cancer and event discrimination in bubble chamber searches for dark matter. In addition to reporting these scientific results, the thesis is pedagogically organized to present the relevant history, theory, and technology in a straightforward way.
Optik und ihre Phänomene: Lichtspiele in der Natur: von Luftspiegelungen und Himmelsfarben bis in die Weiten des Alls
by Michael VollmerDieses Lehr-, Lern-, Fach- und Sachbuch präsentiert die Grundlagen der Optik in Theorie und ausführlich beschriebenem Experiment sowie vielfältige faszinierende optische Phänomene. Ob in Vorlesungen, Seminaren, für Projektarbeiten, Schulunterricht oder Selbststudium - dieses Buch ist eine wertvolle Ressource für alle, die sich für Optik interessieren. Durch die große Zahl zitierter Originalarbeiten schlägt es nicht nur die Brücke zur Lehre sondern auch zur Forschung. Besonderheiten: Das Buch besticht durch seine über 1000 Abbildungen, darunter über 200 qualitativ hochwertige Farbfotos optischer Naturphänomene sowie einer großen Zahl an wissenschaftlichen und physikdidaktischen Literaturangaben für weiterführende Studien. Die Kapitel sind jeweils auch einzeln lesbar, aber zusammen ist es eine einmalige Kombination aus einführendem Lehrbuch der klassischen Optik und detaillierter up-to-date Zusammenstellung von Anwendungen im Bereich optischer Naturphänomene. Thematisch spannt es einen sehr weiten Bogen: von geometrischer, Wellen- und Quantenoptik, Radiometrie und Photometrie über Farbtheorien und technische Anwendungen wie Spektroskopie bis hin zu Naturphänomenen oder der Frage warum der Himmel nachts dunkel ist. Die Grundlagen werden vertieft durch zahlreiche Verständnisfragen und Übungsaufgaben zusätzlich zu vielen Anwendungsbeispielen, die von Fensterreflexionen über Lichtwellenleiter und Smartphoneobjektive bis hin zu modernen Beamern reichen. Inhalt: 1. Einleitung .- 2. Geometrische Optik .- 3. Wellenoptik .- 4. Wechselwirkung von Strahlung mit Materie: Quantenoptik .- 5. Detektoren und Lichtquellen .- 6. Visuelle Wahrnehmung .- 7. Die Atmosphäre der Erde .- 8. Luftspiegelungen.- 9. Regenbögen .- 10. Koronen, Glorien und verwandte Erscheinungen .- 11. Haloerscheinungen am Himmel.- 12. Lichtstreuung und Himmelsfarben .- 13. Weitere Phänomene aufgrund von Lichtstreuung .- 14. Bis in die Stratosphäre und darüber hinaus Neuerungen (zur 2.Aufl.): Der erste Lehrbuchteil zu den Grundlagen ist komplett neu hinzugefügt. Der zweite Teil zu den Anwendungen und Naturphänomenen wurde komplett überarbeitet und aktualisiert. Zudem illustrieren nun über 200 Farbfotos die Phänomene. Die Zielgruppe: Sowohl interessierte Laien - mit und ohne Vorwissen - und Lehrkräfte an Schulen als auch Studierende diverser Fachrichtungen sowie deren Lehrende profitieren von dieser umfangreichen Zusammenstellung. Optik wird nicht nur im Bachelor bzw. Master in Physik u. Astronomie bzw. Astrophysik sowie in den Naturwissenschaften thematisiert, sondern auch in Studiengängen mit Schwerpunkten wie Licht- und Beleuchtungstechnik, Lasertechnik, optische Technologien, Optoelektronik und Photonik, Augenoptik, Meteorologie, uvm. Vorkenntnisse: Erforderlich ist kein besonderes Vorwissen, allerdings ermöglichen manche der angegebenen Querbezüge ein tieferes Verständnis, welches sich erst mit Vorkenntnissen aus einigen Grundlagenfächern der Physik, insbesondere des Elektromagnetismus, der Festkörperphysik sowie der Quantenphysik vollständig erschließt.
Optimal Control of Age-structured Populations in Economy, Demography, and the Environment (Routledge Explorations In Environmental Economics Ser. #29)
by Natali Hritonenko Yuri Yatsenko Raouf BoucekkineThis book covers a wide range of topics within mathematical modelling and the optimization of economic, demographic, technological and environmental phenomena. Each chapter is written by experts in their field and represents new advances in modelling theory and practice. These essays are exemplary of the fruitful interaction between theory and practice when exploring global and local changes. The unifying theme of the book is the use of mathematical models and optimization methods to describe age-structured populations in economy, demography, technological change, and the environment. Emphasis is placed on deterministic dynamic models that take age or size structures, delay effects, and non-standard decision variables into account. In addition, the contributions deal with the age structure of assets, resources, and populations under study. Interdisciplinary modelling has enormous potential for discovering new insights in global and regional development. Optimal Control of Age-structured Populations in Economy, Demography, and the Environment is a rich and excellent source of information on state-of-the-art modelling expertise and references. The book provides the necessary mathematical background for readers from different areas, such as applied sciences, management sciences and operations research, which helps guide the development of practical models. As well as this the book also surveys the current practice in applied modelling and looks at new research areas for a general mathematical audience. This book will be of interest primarily to researchers, postgraduate students, as well as a wider scientific community, including those focussing on the subjects of applied mathematics, environmental sciences, economics, demography, management, and operations research.
Optimal Economic Growth with Exhaustible Resources (Routledge Library Editions: Environmental and Natural Resource Economics)
by Prem C. GargOriginally published in 1979. For decades conservationists have argued that increasing population will eventually out-strip the limited natural resources of the earth. Economists have responded by saying that any resource scarcity will be forestalled by changes in tastes and technology, induced by the appropriate price signals. This study is an attempt to develop a theoretical framework for analysing some of the issues related to this debate. Using an optimal growth theory framework, the author analyses the problem of optimally allocating a finite stock of the resource over time. In the process the author points out the crucial parameters and value judgments relevant to the various issues. This title will be of interest to students of environmental economics.
Optimal Mobile Sensing and Actuation Policies in Cyber-physical Systems
by Yangquan Chen Christophe TricaudA successful cyber-physical system, a complex interweaving of hardware and software with some part of the physical environment, depends on proper identification of the, often pre-existing, physical element. A bespoke "cyber" part of the system may then be designed from scratch. Optimal Mobile Sensing and Actuation Strategies in Cyber-physical Systems focuses on distributed-parameter systems the dynamics of which can be modelled with partial differential equations. These are very challenging to observe, their states and inputs being distributed throughout a spatial domain. Consequently, systematic approaches to the optimization of sensor location have to be devised for parameter estimation. The text begins by reviewing the field of cyber-physical systems and introducing background notions of distributed parameter systems and optimal observation theory. New research problems are then defined within this framework. Two important problems considered are optimal mobile sensor trajectory planning and the accuracy effects and allocation of remote sensors. These are followed up with a solution to the problem of optimal robust estimation. Actuation policies are then introduced into the framework with the purpose of improving estimation and optimizing the trajectories of both sensors and actuators simultaneously. The large number of illustrations within the text will assist the reader to visualize the application of the methods proposed. A group of similar examples are used throughout the book to help the reader assimilate the material more easily. The monograph concentrates on the use of methods for which a cyber-physical-systems infrastructure is required. The methods are computationally heavy and require mobile sensors and actuators with communications abilities. Application examples cover fields from environmental science to national security so that readers are encouraged to link the ideas of cyber-physical systems with their own research.
Optimal Reliability-Based Design of Structures Against Several Natural Hazards
by Alfredo H-S Ang David de Escobedo Wenliang FanInterest in the topic of structural reliability and optimal design has been rapidly growing in recent years. Besides, the field of numerical methods and artificial intelligence is experiencing a surge of new methods and the refinement of existing ones to expand opportunities to apply robust formulations to complex engineering problems. Today, more than ever, the field is receiving fresh ideas on how to face the challenges of finding a balance between cost and benefits that may lead towards the optimal design of systems. Recently, the probability density evolution method (PDEM) was proposed by Prof. Jie Li as an alternative way to obtain the stochastic and dynamic solution of the safety level of engineering systems under any kind of hazard. This work deals with the application of this powerful method to derive optimal design recommendations for large engineering systems under natural hazards. The three case studies illustrate to engineers and academic specialists how to strike a cost-effective balance in designing such systems.
Optimal Surface Fitting of Point Clouds Using Local Refinement: Application to GIS Data (SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences)
by Tor Dokken Gaël Kermarrec Vibeke SkyttThis open access book provides insights into the novel Locally Refined B-spline (LR B-spline) surface format, which is suited for representing terrain and seabed data in a compact way. It provides an alternative to the well know raster and triangulated surface representations. An LR B-spline surface has an overall smooth behavior and allows the modeling of local details with only a limited growth in data volume. In regions where many data points belong to the same smooth area, LR B-splines allow a very lean representation of the shape by locally adapting the resolution of the spline space to the size and local shape variations of the region. The iterative method can be modified to improve the accuracy in particular domains of a point cloud. The use of statistical information criterion can help determining the optimal threshold, the number of iterations to perform as well as some parameters of the underlying mathematical functions (degree of the splines, parameter representation). The resulting surfaces are well suited for analysis and computing secondary information such as contour curves and minimum and maximum points. Also deformation analysis are potential applications of fitting point clouds with LR B-splines.
Optimal Transport for Applied Mathematicians
by Filippo SantambrogioThis monograph presents a rigorous mathematical introduction to optimal transport as a variational problem, its use in modeling various phenomena, and its connections with partial differential equations. Its main goal is to provide the reader with the techniques necessary to understand the current research in optimal transport and the tools which are most useful for its applications. Full proofs are used to illustrate mathematical concepts and each chapter includes a section that discusses applications of optimal transport to various areas, such as economics, finance, potential games, image processing and fluid dynamics. Several topics are covered that have never been previously in books on this subject, such as the Knothe transport, the properties of functionals on measures, the Dacorogna-Moser flow, the formulation through minimal flows with prescribed divergence formulation, the case of the supremal cost, and the most classical numerical methods. Graduate students and researchers in both pure and applied mathematics interested in the problems and applications of optimal transport will find this to be an invaluable resource.
Optimised Projections for the Ab Initio Simulation of Large and Strongly Correlated Systems
by David D. O'ReganDensity functional theory (DFT) has become the standard workhorse for quantum mechanical simulations as it offers a good compromise between accuracy and computational cost. However, there are many important systems for which DFT performs very poorly, most notably strongly-correlated materials, resulting in a significant recent growth in interest in 'beyond DFT' methods. The widely used DFT+U technique, in particular, involves the addition of explicit Coulomb repulsion terms to reproduce the physics of spatially-localised electronic subspaces. The magnitude of these corrective terms, measured by the famous Hubbard U parameter, has received much attention but less so for the projections used to delineate these subspaces. The dependence on the choice of these projections is studied in detail here and a method to overcome this ambiguity in DFT+U, by self-consistently determining the projections, is introduced. The author shows how nonorthogonal representations for electronic states may be used to construct these projections and, furthermore, how DFT+U may be implemented with a linearly increasing cost with respect to system size. The use of nonorthogonal functions in the context of electronic structure calculations is extensively discussed and clarified, with new interpretations and results, and, on this topic, this work may serve as a reference for future workers in the field.
Optimization Techniques and their Applications to Mine Systems
by Amit Kumar Gorai Snehamoy ChatterjeeThis book describes the fundamental and theoretical concepts of optimization algorithms in a systematic manner, along with their potential applications and implementation strategies in mining engineering. It explains basics of systems engineering, linear programming, and integer linear programming, transportation and assignment algorithms, network analysis, dynamic programming, queuing theory and their applications to mine systems. Reliability analysis of mine systems, inventory management in mines, and applications of non-linear optimization in mines are discussed as well. All the optimization algorithms are explained with suitable examples and numerical problems in each of the chapters. Features include:• Integrates operations research, reliability, and novel computerized technologies in single volume, with a modern vision of continuous improvement of mining systems.• Systematically reviews optimization methods and algorithms applied to mining systems including reliability analysis.• Gives out software-based solutions such as MATLAB®, AMPL, LINDO for the optimization problems.• All discussed algorithms are supported by examples in each chapter.• Includes case studies for performance improvement of the mine systems. This book is aimed primarily at professionals, graduate students, and researchers in mining engineering.
Optimization Techniques for Sustainable Environment Under Uncertainty (Engineering Optimization: Methods and Applications)
by Ritu Arora Shalini AroraThe book's objective is to develop mathematical structures that can be applied to real-life problems with sustainable goals. It focuses on the impact of sustainable living on social, economic, and environmental aspects, aiming to create optimization techniques that minimize emissions and maximize green energy. These optimization problems may include sustainable transport, cities, economic development, living, and tourism. The book brings together researchers, academics, and professionals from various fields to find optimal or satisfactory solutions for various environmentally friendly sustainable problems. It aims to achieve this not only with existing optimization techniques, but also with novel approaches such as lexicographic optimization, heuristic approaches, DEA, and genetic algorithms. The goal is to develop practical algorithms and methods applicable to these problems under uncertain circumstances and explore the potential for improving the efficiency of existing algorithms.
Optimization of the Characterization of the Thermal Properties of the Building Envelope: Analysis of the Characterization of the Façades using Artificial Intelligence (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Carlos Rubio-Bellido David Bienvenido-HuertasThis book is about the optimization of the characterization of the thermal properties of building envelopes, through experimental tests and the use of artificial intelligence. It analyses periodic and stationary thermal properties using measurement approaches based on the heat flow meter method and the thermometric method. These measurements are then analysed using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms.The book is structured in four parts, beginning with a discussion of the importance of thermal properties in the energy performance of buildings. Secondly, theoretical and experimental methods for characterizing thermal properties are analysed. Then, the methodology is developed, and the characteristics and properties of the algorithms used are explored. Finally, the results obtained with the algorithms are analysed and the most appropriate approaches are determined.This book is of interest to researchers, civil and industrial engineers, energy auditors and architects, by providing a resource which improves energy audit tasks in existing buildings.
Optimizing Construction Management: Sustainable Technologies, Waste Reduction, and Solutions for Wood-based Agricultural Structures
by Jozef Švajlenka Terézia PošivákováThis book examines the persistent global problem of low productivity of systems in the construction industry and how it mobilizes research and social efforts to find more efficient procedures and processes associated with production, construction, and operation. The authors discuss increasing the efficiency of construction sites and off-site technologies that present particularly challenging problems in the areas of implementation of lean principles in production procedures, reduction of waste, and improvement of quality and predictability of construction projects. Finally, the book considers the innovation potential for ecological and sustainable construction technologies based on wood and the use of digital tools. It further explores the innovation potential for transforming traditional structural solutions of agricultural buildings using modern, efficient, sustainable, and ecologically sound construction technologies based on wood.
Options to Ensure the Climate Record from the NPOESS and GOES-R Spacecraft: A Workshop Report
by National Research Council of the National AcademiesIn 2000, the nation’s next-generation National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program anticipated purchasing six satellites for $6.5 billion, with a first launch in 2008. By November 2005, however, it became apparent that NPOESS would overrun its cost estimates by at least 25 percent. In June 2006, the planned acquisition of six spacecraft was reduced to four, the launch of the first spacecraft was delayed until 2013, and several sensors were canceled or descoped in capability. To examine the impacts of these changes, particularly those associated with climate research, and ways to mitigate those impacts, NASA and NOAA asked the NRC to add this task to its ongoing "decadal survey," Earth Science and Applications from Space. The sponsors and the NRC agreed to address this task separately and to base its analysis on a major workshop. This book presents summaries of discussions at the workshop, which included sessions on the measurements and sensors originally planned for NPOESS and GOES-R; generation of climate data records; mitigation options, including the role of international partners; and cross-cutting issues.
Oranges
by John McpheeA classic of reportage, Oranges was first conceived as a short magazine article about oranges and orange juice, but the author kept encountering so much irresistible information that he eventually found that he had in fact written a book. It contains sketches of orange growers, orange botanists, orange pickers, orange packers, early settlers on Florida’s Indian River, the first orange barons, modern concentrate makers, and a fascinating profile of Ben Hill Griffin of Frostproof, Florida who may be the last of the individual orange barons. McPhee’s astonishing book has an almost narrative progression, is immensely readable, and is frequently amusing. Louis XIV hung tapestries of oranges in the halls of Versailles, because oranges and orange trees were the symbols of his nature and his reign. This book, in a sense, is a tapestry of oranges, too--with elements in it that range from the great orangeries of European monarchs to a custom of people in the modern Caribbean who split oranges and clean floors with them, one half in each hand.
Orbital Relative Motion and Terminal Rendezvous: Analytic and Numerical Methods for Spaceflight Guidance Applications (Space Technology Library #39)
by Jean Albert KéchichianThis book provides a comprehensive analysis of time-fixed terminal rendezvous around the Earth using chemical propulsion.The book has two main objectives. The first is to derive the mathematics of relative motion in near-circular orbit when subjected to perturbations emanating from the oblateness of the Earth, third-body gravity, and atmospheric drag. The mathematics are suitable for quick trajectory prediction and the creation of computer codes and efficient software to solve impulsive maneuvers and fly rendezvous missions.The second objective of this book is to show how the relative motion theory is applied to the exact precision-integrated, long-duration, time-fixed terminal rendezvous problem around the oblate Earth for the general elliptic orbit case.The contents are both theoretical and applied, with long-lasting value for aerospace engineers, trajectory designers, professors of orbital mechanics, and students at the graduate level and above.
Orbits
by Guochang Xu Jia XuThe development of the orbits theory lags behind the development of satellite technology. This book provides, for the first time in the history of human satellite development, the complete third order solution of the orbits under all possible disturbances. It describes the theory of satellite orbits, derives the complete solutions of the orbital disturbances, describes the algorithms of orbits determination based on the theory, describes the applications of the theory to the phenomenon of the satellite formation physically. The subjects include: Orbits Motion Equations, Disturbance theory, Solutions of the differential Equations, Algorithms of Orbits determinations, Applications of the theory to the satellite formation.
Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home
by Lynda MapesOrca whale J35, also known as "Tahlequah," gave birth in July of 2018 in the waters off British Columbia, but her calf died soon after, leading its mother to carry her for 17 days across 1000 miles before finally releasing the calf and rejoining her pod. This extraordinary and caring behavior sparked not only worldwide sympathy, but also a revival of our awareness of the critical need to preserve orcas, the chinook salmon they feed on, and their habitat that together make up the core of Pacific Northwest identity. In Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home journalist Lynda V. Mapes explores the natural history of the orca and the unique challenges for survival of the Southern Resident group that frequents Puget Sound. These whales are among the most urban in the world, a focus of researchers, tourists, and politicians alike. Once referred to as "blackfish" and still known as "killer whales," orcas were for generations regarded as vermin to be avoided or exterminated, then later were captured live for aquariums all over the world. With greater exposure, scientists realized how intelligent the mammal is and are learning about their matriarchal family groups, vocalizations, behavior, and different subspecies. Today only 74 Southern Resident whales are left, and they are threatened by habitat degradation, lack of chinook salmon (their primary food source), relentless growth, and climate change. Can we reverse the trend? This special project, co-published with the Pulitzer Prize winning Seattle Times newspaper, features stunning imagery by Times photographer Steve Ringman, as well as from partner organizations including The Whale Museum, NOAA, and Center for Whale Research.
Orcas Everywhere: The History and Mystery of Killer Whales (Orca Wild #1)
by Mark Leiren-YoungOrcas are found in every ocean on the planet. But can they survive their relationship with humans? Orcas Everywhere looks at how humans around the world (Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike) related to orcas in the past, how we relate to them now and what we can do to keep cetacean communities alive and thriving. The book deals with science, philosophy, environmentalism and ethics in a kid-friendly and accessible way. Writer, filmmaker and orca activist Mark Leiren-Young takes us back to when killer whales were considered monsters and examines how humans went from using orcas for target practice to nearly loving them to death. If you know a young person who loves Free Willy or Finding Nemo, they will fall in love with these whales.
Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 1 (A - E)
by Eng Soon TeohA presentation of 491 popular orchid species with 13 varieties and 3 natural hybrids in 51 genera with names beginning with A to E carefully detailed with beautiful photographs and concise descriptions of the plants, their distribution and habitats by a well-known author and photographer. Each genus is assigned a separate chapter. Coverage of the most commonly cultivated Asian species including their varieties and cultivars (e.g. in Bulbophyllum 82 species; Coelogyne 37 species; Dendrobium 210 species) is exhaustive. The orchids are photographed from their best perspective as individual blooms or entire inflorescences. Many species are also shown growing in their natural habitat. Representative hybrids are included to illustrate how some species have contributed to show-worthiness of various genera, their adaptation to a wider climate range, and easy cultivation. This book is a pleasure to view; simultaneously, an easy reference for the identification of orchid species and it provides a guide on how best to grow them. Nowhere else will one find so many popular species beautifully illustrated in a single volume.Volume 1 is the first of a 3 Volume series that will showcase over 900 species plus varieties in 117 genera. A must for everyone fascinated by orchids or simply with a love for nature.
Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 2 (G - P)
by Eng Soon TeohA presentation of over 700 popular orchid species in 104 genera carefully detailed with beautiful photographs and concise descriptions of plants, their distribution and habitats by a well-known author and photographer. Each genus is assigned a separate chapter. Coverage of the most commonly cultivated Asian species including their varieties and cultivars (e.g. in Bulbophyllum 72 species; Coelogyne 33 species; Dendrobium 161 species; Paphiopedilum 58 species; Phalaenopsis 60 species; Vanda 44 species) is exhaustive. The orchids are photographed from their best perspective, individual blooms and entire inflorescence: additionally, many species are also shown growing in their natural habitat. Representative hybrids are included to illustrate how some species have contributed to show-worthiness of various genera, their adaptation to a wider climate range, and easy cultivation. This book is a pleasure to view; simultaneously, an easy reference for the identification of orchid species and it provides a guide on how best to grow them. Nowhere else will one find so many popular species beautifully illustrated in a single volume.A must for everyone fascinated by orchids or with a love for nature.
Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 3 (R - Z)
by Eng Soon TeohA presentation of over 700 popular orchid species in 104 genera carefully detailed with beautiful photographs and concise descriptions of plants, their distribution and habitats by a well-known author and photographer. Each genus is assigned a separate chapter. Coverage of the most commonly cultivated Asian species including their varieties and cultivars (e.g. in Bulbophyllum 72 species; Coelogyne 33 species; Dendrobium 161 species; Paphiopedilum 58 species; Phalaenopsis 60 species; Vanda 44 species) is exhaustive. The orchids are photographed from their best perspective, individual blooms and entire inflorescence: additionally, many species are also shown growing in their natural habitat. Representative hybrids are included to illustrate how some species have contributed to show-worthiness of various genera, their adaptation to a wider climate range, and easy cultivation. This book is a pleasure to view; simultaneously, an easy reference for the identification of orchid species and it provides a guide on how best to grow them. Nowhere else will one find so many popular species beautifully illustrated in a single volume.A must for everyone fascinated by orchids or with a love for nature.
Order Out of Chaos
by Ilya Prigogine Isabelle StengersA pioneering book that shows how the two great themes of classic science, order and chaos, are being reconciled in a new and unexpected synthesis.Order Out of Chaos is a sweeping critique of the discordant landscape of modern scientific knowledge. In this landmark book, Nobel Laureate Ilya Prigogine and acclaimed philosopher Isabelle Stengers offer an exciting and accessible account of the philosophical implications of thermodynamics. Prigogine and Stengers bring contradictory philosophies of time and chance into a novel and ambitious synthesis. Since its first publication in France in 1978, this book has sparked debate among physicists, philosophers, literary critics and historians.