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Studying Vibrational Communication
This volume explains the key ideas, questions and methods involved in studying the hidden world of vibrational communication in animals. The authors dispel the notion that this form of communication is difficult to study and show how vibrational signaling is a key to social interactions in species that live in contact with a substrate, whether it be a grassy lawn, a rippling stream or a tropical forest canopy. This ancient and widespread form of social exchange is also remarkably understudied. A frontier in animal behavior, it offers unparalleled opportunities for discovery and for addressing general questions in communication and social evolution. In addition to reviews of advances made in the study of several animal taxa, this volume also explores topics such as vibrational communication networks, the interaction of acoustic and vibrational communication, the history of the field, the evolution of signal production and reception and establishing a common vocabulary.
Democracy Without Politics in EU Citizen Participation
How does the dominant understanding(s) of the demo(i)cratic subject in the EU, and of democracy more broadly, shape the EU’s democratic innovations on ‘citizen participation’? What are the politically and normatively preferable alternatives, both in terms of the conceptualisation of the democratic subject in the EU and in the ensuing political practices? The book addresses these questions combining a political theory with a political sociology perspective, contrasting the ‘democracy without politics’ approach of the EU in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe with that of ongoing transnational activist processes. In doing so, it develops an agonistic alternative to ‘the people(s)’ as the political imaginary of democracy in the EU, which is based on the idea of the ‘decolonial multitude’. Thus, the book puts forward a diagnosis of current debates on EU democratic legitimacy as well as proposing an alternative.
Dikes and Revetments
Low-lying countries, such as the Netherlands, are strongly dependent on good and safe sea defences. In the past, the design of dikes and revetments was mostly based on vague experience, rather than on general valid calculation methods. The demand for reliable design methods for protective structures has, in the Netherlands, resulted in increased research in this field. These contributions have been prepared by Dutch experts participating in the study groups of the Technical Advisory Committee on Water Defences. The book opens with an outline of general strategy and methodology on sea defences, illustrated in the following chapters by technical information on specific items and Dutch experience, and it ends with more general aspects such as probabilistic approach, integral (multifunctional) design, management & safety assessment. Together, these chapters provide an almost complete technical overview of the items needed for the design and maintenance of dikes and revetments. The enclosed CRESS-program allows for an initial estimation of hydraulic loads and preliminary design.
The Influence of Turbulence on Soil Erosion
This publication outlines the relevance of turbulence on the initiation of motion of soil and explains the interaction between the load and the resistance against erosion or the strength of the bed material. The stability of stones, sand, clay and grass is discussed by using Newton's second law and a definition of the turbulence energy. Usually the equilibrium scour depth caused by jets and at piers/abutments is predicted by applying empirical relations. This publication discusses a scour approach which is based on two steps. First, a control volume that represents the scour hole is considered. Secondly, the relevant forces are determined. Newton's second law is applied, that is, the sum of forces equals zero since the scour hole is in equilibrium. This approach is discussed for different types of jet scour and scouring downstream of sills and near bridge piers and abutments.
Probabilistic Design Tools for Vertical Breakwaters
This work describes the key results of the European research project called PROVERBS to develop and implement probability-based methods for the design of monolithic coastal structures and breakwaters subject to sea wave attacks. The issues treated include the hydrodynamic, geotechnical and structural processes involved in the wave-structure-foundation interactions and in the associated failure mechanisms.
Intelligent Tutoring Systems
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Intelligent Tutoring Systems, ITS 2008, held in Montreal, Canada, in June 2008. The 63 revised full papers and 61 poster papers presented together with abstracts of 5 keynote talks were carefully reviewed and selected from 207 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on emotion and affect, tutor evaluation, student modeling, machine learning, authoring tools , tutor feedback and intervention, data mining, e-learning and Web-based ITS, natural language techniques and dialogue, narrative tutors and games, semantic Web and ontology, cognitive models, and collaboration.
Improving Transparency, Integrity, and Accountability in Water Supply and Sanitation
This volume will serve as a useful tool for those who wish to diagnose, analyze, and take action against systemic corruption in the water and sanitation sectors. On a global scale, more than 1 billion people live without access to safe, potable water, in part because of poor governance and corruption. Illegal connections and substantial losses caused by deferred maintenance have eroded the revenues of water utilities, leading to a downward spiral in performance. Embezzlement of funds, bribes for access to illegal water connections, manipulation of meter counters, and collusion in public contracts add to the litany of corrupt practices. This manual will serve as a practical guide for governments, civil society organizations, and citizens themselves in their quest for a model of service provision that responds to the pressing needs of people in the developing world.
Geosynthetics and Geosystems in Hydraulic and Coastal Engineering
A review of the existing applications of geosynthetics and geosystems in hydraulic and coastal engineering, with an overview on material specifications, structural components, relevant tools during conceptual and detail design, possible applications, and execution aspects. A more detailed description is given of new or lesser-known systems and applications. Additional basic information on design methodology and geosynthetics is included to provide a basic framework of information for design purposes.
Daisy to Rescue
With their love and companionship, animals of all species help to make human lives better every day. But sometimes, to our utter amazement and everlasting gratitude, animals literally save our lives. This heartwarming book collects over 50 real-life stories in which the actions of animals have meant the difference between life and death. Today, scientists vigorously debate questions regarding the sentience, intelligence, and emotions of animals. In particular, they want to know whether animals share with humans the highest emotions of empathy, compassion, and altruism. Daisy to the Rescue poses these questions for readers to consider, and examines these extreme life-saving situations for possible evidence. Gathered together, these stories make a compelling case for the presence of altruism in animals. Daisy to the Rescue provides dramatic, thrilling, and moving stories that convey a hopeful message about our world. But these stories also provide startling evidence of the mental and emotional capacities of animals, those beings we share the world with.
