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The Cybernetic Society: How Humans and Machines Will Shape the Future Together
by Amir Husain"An optimistic, shimmering image of a world where AI operates in service to humankind" (Kirkus) argues that both the major risk and opportunity of AI is that humans and computers have fused, giving AI the ability to shape the future of human affairs Artificial intelligence is inescapable: at home, at work, in politics, and on the battlefield. In The Cybernetic Society, technologist Amir Husain argues that AI hasn&’t simply encroached on everything we do. It has become part of us, and we, it. Humans and intelligent machines, he argues, are enmeshed in a symbiotic hybrid that he calls a &“cybernetic society.&” Husain describes a present and future where AI isn&’t a tool of humans but our equal partner, one where they can realize their own visions of the world. There is great potential and danger: Saudi Arabia&’s Neom—a &“cognitive city&” being built in inhospitable desert—shows how this symbiosis can make life possible where otherwise, it is not. But the profusion of intelligent military drones is making mass destruction possible where otherwise, it is not. As engrossing as it is urgent, The Cybernetic Society offers a new understanding of this revolutionary fusion of machine and mankind, and its profound implications for all our futures. The path ahead is challenging. But Husain shows why we can live harmoniously with our creations.
The Cybernetics Moment: Or Why We Call Our Age the Information Age (New Studies in American Intellectual and Cultural History)
by Ronald R. KlineHow did cybernetics and information theory arise, and how did they come to dominate fields as diverse as engineering, biology, and the social sciences?Winner of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title of the Choice ACRLOutstanding Academic Title, ChoiceCybernetics—the science of communication and control as it applies to machines and to humans—originates from efforts during World War II to build automatic antiaircraft systems. Following the war, this science extended beyond military needs to examine all systems that rely on information and feedback, from the level of the cell to that of society. In The Cybernetics Moment, Ronald R. Kline, a senior historian of technology, examines the intellectual and cultural history of cybernetics and information theory, whose language of "information," "feedback," and "control" transformed the idiom of the sciences, hastened the development of information technologies, and laid the conceptual foundation for what we now call the Information Age. Kline argues that, for about twenty years after 1950, the growth of cybernetics and information theory and ever-more-powerful computers produced a utopian information narrative—an enthusiasm for information science that influenced natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, humanists, policymakers, public intellectuals, and journalists, all of whom struggled to come to grips with new relationships between humans and intelligent machines.Kline traces the relationship between the invention of computers and communication systems and the rise, decline, and transformation of cybernetics by analyzing the lives and work of such notables as Norbert Wiener, Claude Shannon, Warren McCulloch, Margaret Mead, Gregory Bateson, and Herbert Simon. Ultimately, he reveals the crucial role played by the cybernetics moment—when cybernetics and information theory were seen as universal sciences—in setting the stage for our current preoccupation with information technologies.
The Cycad Botanists (Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden #123)
by Roy Osborne Dennis Wm. StevensonThis work provides short biographies of 50 historical figures in cycad biology. It covers those starting in the early 17th century through the 21st century. Each of the biographies covers a career including birth and death, schooling, places of employment, travel in field work, publications, place of their cycad type specimens, list of species described and list of species named for them. The latter two items are illustrated along with any honorific items such as currency, stamps, and so on. Additionally, each entry has a portrait. The purpose of this work is to bring together in one place treatments on the lives, work, publications, illustrations, and type specimens of the historic figures in cycad biology. It will be of interest to researchers in cycads but also to the large, amateur community of cycad enthusiasts and others interested in gymnosperms and the history of botany. The book will be featured at the triennial meetings on cycad biology at New York Botanical Garden.
The Cyclic Peptide Toxins of Amanita and Other Poisonous Mushrooms
by Jonathan WaltonPoisonous mushrooms have fascinated scientists and laypersons alike for thousands of years. Almost all mushroom fatalities are due to the genus Amanita, whose poetic common names (death cap, destroying angel) attest to their lethality. In his classic 1986 book, Theodor Wieland covered the state of our knowledge about the chemistry and biochemistry of the toxins of Amanita mushrooms up until that time, with a particular focus on the decades of chemical research by him and the Wieland dynasty (including his father, brother, brother-in-law, and cousin). Wieland’s book is now mainly of historical interest, with its exhaustive overview of the early chemical studies done without benefit of methods taken for granted by modern chemists. This book is a complete top-to-bottom revision of Wieland’s 1986 book. The material covers history, chemistry, and biology with equal thoroughness. It should be of interest to natural products chemists and biologists, professional and amateur mycologists, and toxicologists. The three scientific fields that are most relevant to the book are natural products chemistry, mycology, and fungal molecular genetics. Dr. Walton is an expert in all three. To maximize the broad utility and appeal of the book, care has been taken to define all technical terms specific to a particular discipline, so that, for example, mycologists will be able to understand the relevant chemistry, and chemists will be able to understand the relevant fungal biology.
The Cygnus Mystery: Unlocking the Ancient Secret of Life's Origins in the Cosmos
by Andrew CollinesThe Cygnus Constellation holds the key to proving that life originated in the heavens--and will ultimately return there. Best-selling author Andrew Collins has uncovered an astronomy that is about 17,000 years old, with standing stones, temples, and monuments across the globe oriented towards Cygnus's stars. He also found that the use of deep caves by Palaeolithic man led to the rise of religious thought and the belief in life's stellar origins. Now modern-day technology has confirmed that high-energy particles come from a binary star known as Cygnus X3. Ancient people knew what science is finally verifying: that the DNA of life came originally from deep space.
The Cytoskeleton
by Rolf DermietzelThe cerebral cytoskeleton, considered to be the working horse in brain tissues, becomes particularly important when degenerative diseases of the nervous system are considered. The Cytoskeleton: Imaging, Isolation, and Interaction assembles chapters on general aspects of the cytoskeleton, which are helpful for polishing knowledge of the cytoskeleton in a brief and informative way, and these pieces are flanked by a collection of detailed protocols on diverse emerging techniques including in vivo and in vitro imaging of the cytoskeleton at work as well as proteomics methodologies addressing preparative strategies for the isolation of cytoskeletal components of the central nervous system. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, this work contains the kind of meticulous descriptions and implementation advice to guarantee successful results. Authoritative and cutting-edge, The Cytoskeleton: Imaging, Isolation, and Interaction provides a compilation of papers written by a team of experts which aims to strengthen our efforts at overcoming at least some of the fatal outcomes of the diseased brain cytoskeleton.
The Cytoskeleton in Health and Disease
by Heide SchattenThis volume addresses the structural and functional roles of the cytoskeleton and its dysfunctions which often lead to disease. It provides thorough discussion of microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and cytoskeletal functions and dysfunctions in different organ systems. Comprehensive yet concise. The Cytoskeleton In Health And Disease presents cutting-edge discoveries balanced with background information and highlights the new aspects of the research and its impact on the design of new strategies or the identification of new targets for therapeutic intervention. There is a significant need for a book on this topic, as interest in the cytoskeleton continues to grow as causes and cures for cytoskeletal diseases are further explored in biomedical research. This book is essential reading for scientists, students, and teachers interested in expanding their knowledge related to the cytoskeleton. New researchers entering the field will find classic and well as contemporary information not easily found in the current literature or internet resources.
The Cytoskeleton of the Algae
by Diedrik MenzelThe Cytoskeleton of the Algae provides a comprehensive examination of the structural features of the cytoskeleton in phylogenetic branches of algae. The book also analyzes the possible functions of cytoskeletal components using structural, physiological, genetic, and molecular approaches. Many taxa are described in detail, mirroring the dramatic progress that has been made in recent years in this new research field. Many unique structural elements and motility phenomena are described for the first time, and other features common to all plant cells, such as cell polarity, cytoplasmic streaming, mitosis, cell wall deposition, and contractile events are analyzed using algae as experimental model systems. The Cytoskeleton of the Algae reflects the enormous impact that research on the algal cytoskeleton has on both phycology and plant cell biology, and it will serve as an excellent reference volume for researchers in this area.
The Cytoskeleton: Diverse Roles in a Plant’s Life (Plant Cell Monographs #24)
by František Baluška Vaidurya Pratap SahiThis book focuses on the plant cytoskeleton and its various cross-talks with other cellular components leading to its role in plant growth and development. It not only allows the geometric and signaling dimensions of cells, but is also very important in physiological processes. The book discusses the recent studies showing the role of actin and microtubule cytoskeleton interactions in cell-wall assembly and dynamics. The authors examine the role of both microtubules in the mechanics of plant cells, and actin filaments in the motility of chloroplasts. Based on recent advances in the study of the acto-myosin complex using high-resolution microscopy, they propose a new model for intracellular transport in plants. Exploring an almost-forgotten field of bioelectricity in the context of the cytoskeleton, the book highlights connections between the dynamic actin filaments and the bioelectricity of membranes and demonstrates that the plant cytoskeleton is involved in the distribution of plant hormones. Lastly, it addresses the role of endomembrane -cytoskeleton interactions to show the importance of the cytoskeleton in organelle morphogenesis and cellular functions. Studies in various plant models have shown how the actin filament and microtubules control and coordinate plant cell growth and development. This book summarizes the mechanisms underlying these functions.
The DNA Book (The Science Book Series)
by DKThis book introduces children ages 7-9 to the amazing science of DNA, genetics, and what makes you you.It's inside every living plant and animal, from the tiniest seed to the person standing next to you, but how much do you know about DNA? This book gives children an in-depth look at DNA and its role in all living things--from why we have different-colored eyes to why we age. Discover what DNA is, what it does, and how it shapes our lives, including inheritance and why we look like our parents; forensic science and how DNA evidence helps catch criminals; and genetic engineering and if we could bring dinosaurs back to life. With fun illustrated DNA characters, clear diagrams, and astonishing photographs, children will love learning about themselves and this all-important molecule.The DNA Book is packed with colorful illustrations and mind-boggling facts, perfect for curious young minds. It's a great addition to any STEAM library and decodes how DNA underpins life on Earth.
The DNA Mystique: The Gene as a Cultural Icon
by Nelkin Dorothy Lindee M. SusanThe DNA Mystique suggests that the gene in popular culture draws on scientific ideas but is not constrained by the technical definition of the gene as a section of DNA that codes for a protein. In highlighting DNA as it appears in soap operas, comic books, advertising, and other expressions of mass culture, the authors propose that these domains provide critical insights into science itself. With a new introduction and conclusion, this edition will continue to be an engaging, accessible, and provocative text for the sociology, anthropology, and bioethics classroom, as well as stimulating reading for those generally interested in science and culture.
The DNA Restart: Unlock Your Personal Genetic Code to Eat for Your Genes, Lose Weight, and Revers e Aging
by Sharon MoalemThe DNA Restart turns traditional dietary advice on its head with groundbreaking research that demonstrates that we all require different diets based on our genes. In The DNA Restart, Sharon Moalem, MD, PhD, provides a revolutionary step-by-step guide to the diet and lifestyle perfect for your individual genetic makeup. A physician, scientist, neurogeneticist, and New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Moalem has spent the last two decades researching and formulating how to reset your own genetic code using five essential pillars: eat for your genes; reverse aging; eat umami; drink oolong tea; and slow living. The DNA Restart plan utilizes decades of in-depth scientific research into genetics, epigenetics, nutrition, and longevity to explain the pivotal role genes play in the journey to ideal weight and health status. Dr. Moalem’s unique 28-day plan shows how to upgrade sleep, harness sensory awareness, and use exercise to reset your DNA; how to determine the right amounts of protein, carbs, and fats you need for your individual genetic make-up; and how to incorporate umami-rich recipes and oolong tea into your diet to genetically thrive. Delicious recipes with mix-and-match meal plans, inspiring testimonials, and genetic self-tests round out this paradigm shifting diet book.
The DNA, RNA, and Histone Methylomes (RNA Technologies)
by Jan Barciszewski Stefan JurgaThis book reviews the chemical, regulatory, and physiological mechanisms of protein arginine and lysine methyltransferases, as well as nucleic acid methylations and methylating enzymes. Protein and nucleic acid methylation play key and diverse roles in cellular signalling and regulating macromolecular cell functions.Protein arginine and lysine methyltransferases are the predominant enzymes that catalyse S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methylation of protein substrates. These enzymes catalyse a nucleophilic substitution of a methyl group to an arginine or lysine side chain nitrogen (N) atom. Cells also have additional protein methyltransferases, which target other amino acids in peptidyl side chains or N-termini and C-termini, such as glutamate, glutamine, and histidine. All these protein methyltransferases use a similar mechanism. In contrast, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are substrates for methylating enzymes, which employ various chemical mechanisms to methylate nucleosides at nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and carbon (C) atoms. This book illustrates how, thanks to there ability to expand their repertoire of functions to the modified substrates, protein and nucleic acid methylation processes play a key role in cells.
The DOs: Osteopathic Medicine in America
by Norman GevitzA comprehensive portrait of the osteopathic medical profession.Overcoming suspicion, ridicule, and outright opposition from the American Medical Association, the osteopathic medical profession today serves the health needs of more than thirty million Americans. Osteopathic medicine is now the fastest-growing segment of the US physician and surgeon population. In The DOs, historian Norman Gevitz chronicles the development of this controversial medical movement from its nineteenth-century origins in the American Midwest to the present day. He describes the philosophy and practice of osteopathy, as well as the impact of osteopathic medicine on health care.In print continuously since 1982, The DOs has now been thoroughly updated and expanded. From the theories underlying the use of spinal manipulation developed by osteopathy's founder, Andrew Taylor Still, Gevitz traces the movement's early success, despite attacks from the orthodox medical community. He also recounts the efforts of osteopathic medical colleges to achieve parity with institutions granting MD degrees and looks at the continuing effort by osteopathic physicians and surgeons to achieve greater recognition and visibility.Bringing additional light to the philosophical origins and practices of the osteopathic movement, as well as the historic debates about which degree to offer its graduates, this volume • chronicles the challenges the profession has faced in the early decades of the twenty-first century • addresses recent challenges to the osteopathic medical profession• explores efforts at preserving osteopathy's autonomy and distinctiveness• offers a new perspective on the future of osteopathic medicine Based on an extensive examination and evaluation of primary sources, as well as countless interviews with individuals both inside and outside osteopathic medicine, The DOs is the definitive history of the osteopathic medical profession.
The DV-Xα Molecular-Orbital Calculation Method
by Tomohiko Ishii Hisanobu Wakita Kazuyoshi Ogasawara Yang-Soo KimThis multi-author contributed volume contains chapters featuring the development of the DV-Xα method and its application to a variety of problems in Materials Science and Spectroscopy written by leaders of the respective fields. The volume contains a Foreword written by the Chairs of Japanese and Korea DV-X alpha Societies. This book is aimed at individuals working in Quantum Chemistry.
The Dance of Life: The New Science of How a Single Cell Becomes a Human Being
by Roger Highfield Magdalena Zernicka-GoetzA renowned biologist's cutting-edge and unconventional examination of human reproduction and embryo research Scientists have long struggled to make pregnancy easier, safer, and more successful. In The Dance of Life, developmental and stem-cell biologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz takes us to the front lines of efforts to understand the creation of a human life. She has spent two decades unraveling the mysteries of development, as a simple fertilized egg becomes a complex human being of forty trillion cells. Zernicka-Goetz's work is both incredibly practical and astonishingly vast: her groundbreaking experiments with mouse, human, and artificial embryo models give hope to how more women can sustain viable pregnancies. Set at the intersection of science's greatest powers and humanity's greatest concern, The Dance of Life is a revelatory account of the future of fertility -- and life itself.
The Dancing Bees: Karl von Frisch and the Discovery of the Honeybee Language
by Tania MunzWe think of bees as being among the busiest workers in the garden, admiring them for their productivity. But amid their buzzing, they are also great communicators--and unusual dancers. As Karl von Frisch (1886-1982) discovered during World War II, bees communicate the location of food sources to each other through complex circle and waggle dances. For centuries, beekeepers had observed these curious movements in hives, and others had speculated about the possibility of a bee language used to manage the work of the hive. But it took von Frisch to determine that the bees' dances communicated precise information about the distance and direction of food sources. As Tania Munz shows in this exploration of von Frisch's life and research, this important discovery came amid the tense circumstances of the Third Reich. The Dancing Bees draws on previously unexplored archival sources in order to reveal von Frisch's full story, including how the Nazi government in 1940 determined that he was one-quarter Jewish, revoked his teaching privileges, and sought to prevent him from working altogether until circumstances intervened. In the 1940s, bee populations throughout Europe were facing the devastating effects of a plague (just as they are today), and because the bees were essential to the pollination of crops, von Frisch's research was deemed critical to maintaining the food supply of a nation at war. The bees, as von Frisch put it years later, saved his life. Munz not only explores von Frisch's complicated career in the Third Reich, she looks closely at the legacy of his work and the later debates about the significance of the bee language and the science of animal communication. This first in-depth biography of von Frisch paints a complex and nuanced portrait of a scientist at work under Nazi rule. The Dancing Bees will be welcomed by anyone seeking to better understand not only this chapter of the history of science but also the peculiar waggles of our garden visitors.
The Dancing Universe: From Creation Myths to the Big Bang
by Marcelo GleiserMarcelo Gleiser refutes the notion that science and spirituality are irreconcilable. In The Dancing Universe, he traces mystical, philosophical, and scientific ideas about the cosmos through the past twenty-five centuries, from the ancient creation myths of numerous cultures to contemporary theories about an ever-expanding universe. He also explores the lives and ideas of history's greatest scientists, including Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein. By exploring how scientists have unlocked the secrets of gravity, matter, time, and space, Gleiser offers fresh perspective on the debate between science and faith.
The Dancing Wu Li Masters
by Gary ZukavWith its unique combination of depth, clarity, and humor that has enchanted millions, this beloved classic by bestselling author Gary Zukav opens the fascinating world of quantum physics to readers with no mathematical or technical background. "Wu Li" is the Chinese phrase for physics. It means "patterns of organic energy," but it also means "nonsense," "my way," "I clutch my ideas," and "enlightenment." These captivating ideas frame Zukav's evocative exploration of quantum mechanics and relativity theory. Delightfully easy to read, The Dancing Wu Li Masters illuminates the compelling powers at the core of all we know.
The Danger Within Us: America's Untested, Unregulated Medical Device Industry and One Man's Battle to Survive It
by Jeanne Lenzer"Before you get anything implanted in your body, read this book." - Shannon Brownlee, author of OvertreatedDid you know...- Medical interventions have become the third leading cause of death in America.- An estimated 10 percent of Americans are implanted with medical devices -- like pacemakers, artificial hips, cardiac stents, etc.- The overwhelming majority of high-risk implanted devices have never undergone a single clinical trial. In THE DANGER WITHIN US, award-winning journalist Jeanne Lenzer brings these horrifying statistics to life through the story of one working class man who, after his "cure" nearly kills him, ends up in a battle for justice against the medical establishment. His crusade leads Lenzer on a journey through the dark underbelly of the medical device industry, a fascinating and disturbing world that hasn't been written about before. What Lenzer exposes will shock readers: rampant corruption, elaborate cover-ups, shameless profiteering, and astonishing lack of oversight, all of which leads to dangerous devices (from artificial hips to pacemakers) going to market and into our bodies. In the vein of America's Bitter Pill and A Civil Action, THE DANGER WITHIN US is a stirring call for reform and a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of American healthcare. span
The Danube River Basin
by Igor LiskaThis volume offers a comprehensive review of the chemical, biological and hydromorphological quality of the Danube. The first part examines the chemical pollution of surface waters, focusing on organic compounds (with special emphasis given to EU WFD priority substances and Danube River Basin specific pollutants), heavy metals and nutrients. Attention is also given to pollution of groundwater and drinking water resources by hazardous substances and to radioactivity in the Danube. The second part highlights the biology and hydromorphology of the Danube. It focuses on benthic macroinvertebrates, phytobenthos, macrophytes, fish, phytoplankton as well as microbiology, with chapters dedicated to gaps and uncertainties in the ecological status assessment and to invasive alien species. Further chapters dealing with the hydromorphology, sediment management and isotope hydrology complete the overall picture of the status of the Danube.
The Danube River Basin (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry #39)
by Igor LiskaThis volume offers a comprehensive review of the chemical, biological and hydromorphological quality of the Danube. The first part examines the chemical pollution of surface waters, focusing on organic compounds (with special emphasis given to EU WFD priority substances and Danube River Basin specific pollutants), heavy metals and nutrients. Attention is also given to pollution of groundwater and drinking water resources by hazardous substances and to radioactivity in the Danube. The second part highlights the biology and hydromorphology of the Danube. It focuses on benthic macroinvertebrates, phytobenthos, macrophytes, fish, phytoplankton as well as microbiology, with chapters dedicated to gaps and uncertainties in the ecological status assessment and to invasive alien species. Further chapters dealing with the hydromorphology, sediment management and isotope hydrology complete the overall picture of the status of the Danube.
The Danube River Delta (Earth and Environmental Sciences Library)
by Abdelazim M. Negm Daniel Constantin DiaconuThis unique book presents for the first time the current status of the Danube River Delta, the challenges facing it, and proposed strategies to solve it. One of the biggest challenges is the human effects on the Danube Delta Environment and its lakes that work as sinks for natural and anthropogenic environmental changes, the water management and water flow variability and under climatic conditions including the extreme temperature and precipitation events based on RCMs output and the impact of sedimentation processes on the evolution of the Danube Delta. The book also contains the impact of wind and solar energy on the Delta. The book also presents the integrated approach for sustainable development of the Delta including the structural dynamics of the local economy, the role of tourism activities, integrated waste management in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, demographic dynamics in the Delta, and the population health state. Also, a unique chapter on the opportunities of content exploitation as Language Learning Experiences is applied to Danube Delta. The book will be of great scientific interest to help the graduate students, researchers, stakeholder professional engineers, policy planners, policymakers of three countries to implement their sustainable development plan.
The Dappled World
by Nancy CartwrightIn this book Nancy Cartwright argues against a vision of a uniform world completely ordered under a single elegant theory, and proposes instead a patchwork of laws of nature. Combining classic and newly written essays, The Dappled World offers important methodological lessons for both the natural and the social sciences, and will interest anyone who wants to understand how modern science works.
The Dare and the Doctor: Winner Takes All 3 (Winner Takes All)
by Kate NobleFrom Kate Noble, part of the sensational writing team behind The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, comes the third novel in a dazzling and superbly witty historical romance series that's part Trading Places, part Pride and Prejudice. Perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens and Tessa Dare.The best of friends might be the perfect match . . . What's the worst that can happen?Margaret Babcock had always been content with her quiet life in the country. But with her late mother's words 'What's the worst that could happen?' ringing in her ears, she longs to spread her wings. So when her long-time correspondent Dr Rhys Gray invites her to London, she eagerly accepts.Many happy hours are spent touring the wonders of the city - purely as friends, of course. But would friends miss each other so fiercely when they're apart? Or feel such a spark together? And matters are complicated even further when it transpires that Rhys may be promised to another. Will their 'friendship' survive?Be dazzled by Kate Noble's previous Winner Takes All books: The Game and the Governess and The Lie and the Lady.