This volume examines the theoretical and practical needs on the subject of multibody system dynamics with emphasis on flexible systems and engineering applications. lt focuses on developing an all purpose algorithm for the dynamic simulation of flexible tree-like systems making use of matrix representation at all levels. The book covers new theories with engineering applications involved in broad fields which include; civil engineering, aerospace and robotics, as well as general and mechanical engineering. The applications include high temperature conditions, time variant contact conditions, biosystem analysis, vibration minimization and control.
In recent years, U.S. colleges and universities have observed a rapid expansion of the enrollment of international students. Particularly Chinese students, the largest group of international students since 2010, have increased nearly threefold in just eight years (Institute of International Education, 2010-2018). Prior studies have investigated the friendship networks of international students (Rose-Redwood & Rose-Redwood, 2013) and the influence of peer relations on international students' cross-cultural adaptation (Hendrickson, Rosen, & Aune, 2011). However, the extant literature has largely neglected to examine international students' lived experiences of establishing friendship networks and the underlying mechanism of the associations between friendships and international student adaptation. Guided by social capital theory (Lin, 1999) and acculturation process framework (Ward, Bochner, & Furnham, 2001), the purpose of my dissertation is to examine Chinese students' peer interaction patterns and how friendships influence their psychological well-being and sociocultural adjustment.My dissertation consists of two studies. The first study drew upon two waves of surveys collected with 46 Chinese students (30 females, Mage = 18.89, SD = .80) and multiple in-depth interviews conducted with five students (three females, Mage = 18.40, SD = .89). The results yield three main findings. First, Chinese students of the present study nominated predominant Chinese friends, much more than domestic and other international student friends, in both waves. Second, Chinese students did not necessarily develop more diverse, integrated friendship networks over time. Specifically, more than half of the participants nominated Chinese friends only in both waves, possibly because of language barriers and prior discrimination experiences. Lastly, the interview findings illustrated that Chinese students' engagement in college settings shaped their experiences of building friendship networks, such that greater engagement in meaningful common experiences (such as club activities, religious groups, and experiences of working together) could facilitate cross-cultural interaction between Chinese students and domestic students.Guided by social capital theory (Lin, 1999) and acculturation process framework (Ward, Bochner, & Furnham, 2001), the second study examined: (1) how friendship networks, specifically the national backgrounds of nominated friends, the frequency of contact, and the intimacy of friendships, are associated with psychological and sociocultural adaptation among Chinese undergraduates (N = 273, Mage = 19.18, SD = .84) in U.S. higher education; and (2) the role of social connectedness as a mediator. Results indicated that compared to superficial relationships, high-quality peer interaction (for example, friendships involving both frequent contact and intimacy) might be a key to bolster Chinese students' ability to navigate cross-cultural challenges. Further, social connectedness mediated the associations between friendships and student adaptation, such that frequent and intimate interaction with domestic students was associated with greater social connectedness and, in turn, better psychological and sociocultural adaptation. The findings point to practical implications for the host institutions, especially for universities enrolling large numbers of international students. It is important for the host institutions to develop corresponding programs to facilitate social opportunities for different groups to mingle and establish sustained friendships.
This volume examines the theoretical and practical needs on the subject of multibody system dynamics with emphasis on flexible systems and engineering applications. lt focuses on developing an all purpose algorithm for the dynamic simulation of flexible tree-like systems making use of matrix representation at all levels. The book covers new theories with engineering applications involved in broad fields which include; civil engineering, aerospace and robotics, as well as general and mechanical engineering. The applications include high temperature conditions, time variant contact conditions, biosystem analysis, vibration minimization and control.
Chinese-Western Comparative Metaphysics and Epistemology: A Topical Approach features a comparative analysis of the fundamental metaphysical assumptions and their epistemological implications in Chinese and Western philosophy. Adopting the methodology of topical comparison that seeks to correlate two or multiple approaches to the same set of questions raised by a single topic or issue, Mingjun Lu argues for commensurability in Chinese and Western metaphysics of both Nature and the mind, and in the epistemology of knowledge dictated by these two fundamental hypotheses of the first principle or primary cause. Lu explores this philosophical commensurability through a comparative analysis of the canonical works written by Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Descartes, and Leibniz on the Western side, and by Confucius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Lu Jiuyuan, Zhu Xi, and Wang Yangming on the Chinese side. The parallels and analogues revealed by the comparative lens, Lu proposes, bring to light a coherent and well-developed Chinese metaphysical and epistemological system that corresponds closely to that in the West. By inventing such new categories as cosmo-substantial metaphysics, consonant epistemology, natural hermeneutics, and onto-mind reading to reconceptualize Chinese and Western philosophy, Lu suggests alternative and more commensurable grounds of comparison.
This book introduces the most inspiring progress in the production of ferronickel from laterite ores, from both theoretical and technological perspectives. Based on a detailed overview of nickel utilization from laterite ores, it provides the advances of four main methods for laterite ore processing, including the solid-sate reduction-magnetic separation process, the rotary kiln reduction-electric arc furnace smelting process, the Krupp-Renn process, and the sintering-blast furnace smelting process. Moreover, for mediating the adverse impacts of the byproducts in ferronickel and subsequent stainless-steel making, it presents pioneering technologies of utilization of ferronickel slag for producing value-added functional materials and recycling of stainless-steel pickling sludge for ferronickel making. This book is expected to offer the audiences a fascinating new insight into ferronickel making and related by-products valorization.
The book offers you a solid understanding of medical automation principles and the latest applications in the field. You discover how computers and devices can be used to schedule personnel and services, and help maintain a just-in-time, lean, and more affordable medical services. You learn how to automate your pharmacy and laboratory services for maximum profit and minimum turnaround time. Moreover, this forward-looking book helps you determine how nanotechnology is evolving to solve difficult medical challenges.
This book investigates the disagreement behavior analysis problems for signed networks in the presence of both cooperative and antagonistic interactions among agents. Owing to the existing antagonistic interactions, signed networks exhibit a variety of disagreement behaviors subject to different topology conditions, especially in comparison with commonly considered unsigned networks involving only cooperative interactions among agents. Since signed networks are generally adopted to describe the dynamics of some practical network systems, they have attracted much attention in many areas, such as biology, sociology, economics, and politics. By focusing on agents with the first-order linear dynamics, the book establishes the systematic behavior analysis frameworks for signed networks, under which diverse disagreement behaviors have been disclosed, including both convergence and fluctuation behaviors, regardless of static or dynamic network topologies. In particular, a class of dynamic signed networks has been introduced, together with the associated dynamic distributed controller design and disagreement behavior analysis of agents. This book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students, engineers, and researchers who are interested in control of network systems, multi-agent systems, social networks, and so on.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.