This book collects and reports on the results of a study conducted on the Chinese Software and Services Outsourcing (SSO) industry, focusing on one of its main players as a key case study. Two sets of research findings are presented: first, the knowledge management and communication processes inherent within a highly collaborative software development project between the case study company and one of its long-term UK clients are explored and distilled into specific practices; second, at the organizational level, the strategies used by the company to build and exploit capabilities and to dynamically configure resources to promote specific value positions along its outsourced services value networks are identified and discussed. The significance of these findings for similar China-based global high-tech firms and the value of this organizational form in moving closer to the goals of the 2020 enterprise vision are both discussed, along with the implications of the findings for EU/UK businesses operating in similar digital domains.
This text introduces important aspects of the earliest writings on tongue diagnosis to assist the reader in understanding its development. It presents the first translations of two of the most influential and authoritative tongue diagnosis texts, the Golden Mirror Records and Tongue Reflections in Cold Damage. Both are key texts for practitioners.
Ch. 1. Introduction -- ch. 2. Basic knowledge on classical sets. 2.1. Classical sets and set inclusion. 2.2. Set operations. 2.3. Set sequences and set classes. 2.4. Set classes closed under set operations. 2.5. Relations, posets, and lattices. 2.6. The supremum and infimum of real number sets -- ch. 3. Fuzzy sets. 3.1. The membership functions of fuzzy sets. 3.2. Inclusion and operations of fuzzy sets. 3.3. [symbol]-cuts. 3.4. Convex fuzzy sets. 3.5. Decomposition theorems. 3.6. The extension principle. 3.7. Interval numbers. 3.8. Fuzzy numbers and linguistic attribute. 3.9. Binary operations for fuzzy numbers. 3.10. Fuzzy integers -- ch. 4. Set functions. 4.1. Weights and classical measures. 4.2. Extension of measures. 4.3. Monotone measures. 4.4. [symbol]-measures. 4.5. Quasi-measures. 4.6. Mobius and zeta transformations. 4.7. Belief measures and plausibility measures. 4.8. Necessity measures and possibility measures. 4.9. k-interactive measures. 4.10. Efficiency measures and signed efficiency measures -- ch. 5. Integrations. 5.1. Measurable functions. 5.2. The Riemann integral. 5.3. The Lebesgue-Like integral. 5.4. The Choquet integral. 5.5. Upper and lower integrals. 5.6. r-integrals on finite spaces -- ch. 6. Information fusion. 6.1. Information sources and observations. 6.2. Integrals used as aggregation tools. 6.3. Uncertainty associated with set functions. 6.4. The inverse problem of information fusion -- ch. 7. Optimization and soft computing. 7.1. Basic concepts of optimization. 7.2. Genetic algorithms. 7.3. Pseudo gradient search. 7.4. A hybrid search method -- ch. 8. Identification of set functions. 8.1. Identification of [symbol]-measures. 8.2. Identification of belief measures. 8.3. Identification of monotone measures. 8.4. Identification of signed efficiency measures by a genetic algorithm. 8.5. Identification of signed efficiency measures by the pseudo gradient. 8.6. Identification of signed efficiency measures based on the Choquet integral by an algebraic method. 8.7. Identification of monotone measures based on r-integrals by a genetic algorithm -- ch. 9. Multiregression based on nonlinear integrals. 9.1. Linear multiregression. 9.2. Nonlinear multiregression based on the Choquet integral. 9.3. A nonlinear multiregression model accommodating both categorical and numerical predictive attributes. 9.4. Advanced consideration on the multiregression involving nonlinear integrals -- ch. 10. Classifications based on nonlinear integrals. 10.1. Classification by an integral projection. 10.2. Nonlinear classification by weighted Choquet integrals. 10.3. An example of nonlinear classification in a three-dimensional sample space. 10.4. The uniqueness problem of the classification by the Choquet integral with a linear core. 10.5. Advanced consideration on the nonlinear classification involving the Choquet integral -- ch. 11. Data mining with fuzzy data. 11.1. Defuzzified Choquet Integral with Fuzzy-Valued Integrand (DCIFI). 11.2. Classification model based on the DCIFI. 11.3. Fuzzified Choquet Integral with Fuzzy-Valued Integrand (FCIFI). 11.4. Regression model based on the CIII
Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are a powerful tool in science, mathematics, economics and finance. This book will help the reader to master the basic theory and learn some applications of SDEs. In particular, the reader will be provided with the backward SDE technique for use in research when considering financial problems in the market, and with the reflecting SDE technique to enable study of optimal stochastic population control problems. These two techniques are powerful and efficient, and can also be applied to research in many other problems in nature, science and elsewhere.
This study takes Lamentations as an integrated unity of form and content and considers the mini-acrostic in Lam 5:19-20 as crucial for the interpretation of the whole book. It applies a holistic approach and a dialogic interpretation to the book of Lamentations. Examining first the extent to which an intrinsic connection exists between the acrostic structure and the content of the book, Rong reads Lamentations as a whole from the angle of the mini-acrostic in Lam 5:19-20. She explores whether and how this mini-acrostic underlines the main themes running through the book. Moreover, Rong explores the dialogic interaction among the voices within Lamentations and between Lamentations and other related communal laments in the Hebrew Bible on the subjects of mood change and the admission of guilt. Finally, this book examines the significance of Lamentations for contemporary suffering--individuals and communities.
The Silk Road and Cultural Exchanges Between East and West, originally written in Chinese by Rong Xinjiang and now translated into English, provides insights into previously unresolved issues concerning the interactions among the societies, economies, religions and cultures of the “Western Regions”, and beyond, during the first millennium.
This book describes the resilient navigation techniques under the background of collaboration in swarm. The significance of this work is that it focuses on the navigation enhancement by collaboration in swarm rather than ground infrastructure, which exploit potentialities of swarm in GNSS restricted environment. Although unmanned swarm is receiving greater attention, both through theoretical research and through increasing mention in the industrial developments, the navigation promotion by effective and efficient collaboration remains largely unexplored. While my scholarly work has explored some of the modeling, error characteristic, fusion algorithm, fault detection, and isolation aspects of the “adaptive navigation system” (such as the navigation system of robots and ground vehicles, aircrafts, aerospace vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles), the present book proposes the specialized investigation on the navigation with the resilient character, which could maintain the performance by essential collaboration with members in swarm in GNSS degradation environment. This book focused on the resilient navigation techniques under the background of collaboration in swarm. The key techniques of collaborative resilient navigation are proposed, including the collaboration framework, collaborative observation modeling, geometry optimization, integrity augmentation, and fault detection. The experiments are also carried out to validate the effectiveness of the corresponding techniques.
This book systematically presents the topological structure of solution sets and attractability for nonlinear evolution inclusions, together with its relevant applications in control problems and partial differential equations. It provides readers the background material needed to delve deeper into the subject and explore the rich research literature. In addition, the book addresses many of the basic techniques and results recently developed in connection with this theory, including the structure of solution sets for evolution inclusions with m-dissipative operators; quasi-autonomous and non-autonomous evolution inclusions and control systems; evolution inclusions with the Hille-Yosida operator; functional evolution inclusions; impulsive evolution inclusions; and stochastic evolution inclusions. Several applications of evolution inclusions and control systems are also discussed in detail. Based on extensive research work conducted by the authors and other experts over the past four years, the information presented is cutting-edge and comprehensive. As such, the book fills an important gap in the body of literature on the structure of evolution inclusions and its applications.
This book gives an outline of the developments of differential geometry and topology in the twentieth century, especially those which will be closely related to new discoveries in theoretical physics.
Many important physical variables satisfy certain dynamic evolution systems and can take only non-negative values. Therefore, one can study such variables by studying these dynamic systems. One can put some conditions on the coefficients to ensure non-negative values in deterministic cases. However, as a random process disturbs the system, the components of solutions to stochastic differential equations (SDE) can keep changing between arbitrary large positive and negative values-even in the simplest case. To overcome this difficulty, the author examines the reflecting stochastic differential equation (RSDE) with the coordinate planes as its boundary-or with a more general boundary. Reflecting Stochastic Differential Equations with Jumps and Applications systematically studies the general theory and applications of these equations. In particular, the author examines the existence, uniqueness, comparison, convergence, and stability of strong solutions to cases where the RSDE has discontinuous coefficients-with greater than linear growth-that may include jump reflection. He derives the nonlinear filtering and Zakai equations, the Maximum Principle for stochastic optimal control, and the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of optimal control. Most of the material presented in this book is new, including much new work by the author concerning SDEs both with and without reflection. Much of it appears here for the first time. With the application of RSDEs to various real-life problems, such as the stochastic population and neurophysiological control problems-both addressed in the text-scientists dealing with stochastic dynamic systems will find this an interesting and useful work.
Lacquer Chemistry and Applications explores the topic of lacquer, the only natural product polymerized by an enzyme that has been used for a coating material in Asian countries for thousands of years. Although the human-lacquer-culture, including cultivation of the lacquer tree, harvesting, and the use of lacquer sap, has a long history of more than thousand years, there is very little information available on the modern scientific methods to study lacquer chemistry. This book, based on the results of the authors' 30 years of research on lacquer chemistry, offers lacquer researchers a unique reference on the science and applications of this extremely important material. Covers the chemistry and properties of lacquer, including synthesis of its various components Provides up-to-date analytical techniques for lacquer identification and characterization Discusses possible toxicity effects Outlines new modification techniques for developing higher performance material Presents the history of this versatile coating material that has evolved from its origins in Asian countries over thousands of years
ENABLES READERS TO UNDERSTAND THE METHODS OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN TO SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCT LIFE TESTING TO IMPROVE PRODUCT RELIABILITY This book illustrates how experimental design and life testing can be used to understand product reliability in order to enable reliability improvements. The book is divided into four sections. The first section focuses on statistical distributions and methods for modeling reliability data. The second section provides an overview of design of experiments including response surface methodology and optimal designs. The third section describes regression models for reliability analysis focused on lifetime data. This section provides the methods for how data collected in a designed experiment can be properly analyzed. The final section of the book pulls together all of the prior sections with customized experiments that are uniquely suited for reliability testing. Throughout the text, there is a focus on reliability applications and methods. It addresses both optimal and robust design with censored data. To aid in reader comprehension, examples and case studies are included throughout the text to illustrate the key factors in designing experiments and emphasize how experiments involving life testing are inherently different. The book provides numerous state-of-the-art exercises and solutions to help readers better understand the real-world applications of experimental design and reliability. The authors utilize R and JMP® software throughout as appropriate, and a supplemental website contains the related data sets. Written by internationally known experts in the fields of experimental design methodology and reliability data analysis, sample topics covered in the book include: An introduction to reliability, lifetime distributions, censoring, and inference for parameter of lifetime distributions Design of experiments, optimal design, and robust design Lifetime regression, parametric regression models, and the Cox Proportional Hazard Model Design strategies for reliability achievement Accelerated testing, models for acceleration, and design of experiments for accelerated testing The text features an accessible approach to reliability for readers with various levels of technical expertise. This book is a key reference for statistical researchers, reliability engineers, quality engineers, and professionals in applied statistics and engineering. It is a comprehensive textbook for upper-undergraduate and graduate-level courses in statistics and engineering.
In Eighteen Lectures on Dunhuang, Rong Xinjiang provides an accessible overview of Dunhuang studies, an academic field that emerged following the discovery of a medieval monastic library at the Mogao caves near Dunhuang. The manuscripts were hidden in a cave at the beginning of the 11th century and remained unnoticed until 1900, when a Daoist monk accidentally found them and subsequently sold most of them to foreign explorers and scholars. The availability of this unprecedented amount of first-hand material from China’s middle period provided a stimulus for a number of scholarly fields both in China and the West. Rong Xinjiang’s book provides, for the first time in English, a convenient summary of the history of Dunhuang studies and its contribution to scholarship.
Climate change and its adverse impacts on nature and human society are clearly felt. Who should bear the responsibility? Should anyone be held liable for grave losses and damages related to climate change? In what way and to what extent can these issues be addressed in legal mechanisms both globally and locally? Will an international liability regime an ultimate solution? Are courts ready for and capable of resolving these disputes that find intricacy of law, policy and science? To shed light on these issues, this book is structured with four main themes on the discussions of climate change liability and related mechanisms. They are: 1) state liability and responsibility, 2) climate change litigation, 3) climate change liability and alternatives, and 4) dispute resolution and remedies. Reflections on the concepts of liability/responsibly/accountability have provided for nuanced understandings of their functional dynamics in climate change governance. Our findings also suggest that International and domestic courts have become a vital player in attribution or distribution of climate change liability. In addition to formalistic rights discourse and rigid liability regime, a few alternatives such as carbon market, insurance, mediation or soft law are also finding their ways to ensuring sustainability of climate change governance.
Phua focuses on applying the best of corporate strategy and innovation tools and praxis into the policy process with the aim of devising a coherent policy strategy–innovation framework and process. Government and business strategies differ in their operating assumptions and variables, but the strategy process is more similar than is often perceived. Phua debunks the government versus business dichotomy and demonstrates the potential for cross-learning between both domains. Readers will benefit the most by reading this book in tandem with Phua’s other works on strategy also featured in this series. This book is an essential primer for academics, practitioners and learners of public policy, strategy, innovation and applied problem-solving.
As one of the largest families within the Caridea, the Alpheidae have attracted much attention for its species richness, especially on coral reefs. The Alpheidae are one of the most abundant decapods in tropical and subtropical areas, with 48 genera and more than 700 known species. The Alpheidae present a particular challenge in terms of both taxonomy and systematics as they are difficult to identify (some species vary in their growth and there are often large differences between the sexes). Traditional, morphology-based research on the Alpheidae still plays an important role in identifying species, compared with new methods, such as the short gene sequences. Based on more than 2000 specimens collected from the China Seas, this book describes and clearly illustrates 146 species belonging to 16 genera of the Alpheidae. It also presents the key features of every genus and every species within every genus, to enable readers to easily identify the alphid shrimps of the China Seas.
A timely and comprehensive introduction to CO2 heat pump theory and usage A comprehensive introduction of CO2 application in heat pump, authored by leading scientists in the field CO2 is a hot topic due to concerns over global warming and the 'greenhouse effect'. Its disposal and application has attracted considerable research and governmental interest Explores the basic theories, devices, systems and cycles and real application designs for varying applications, ensuring comprehensive coverage of a current topic CO2 heat transfer has everyday applications including water heaters, air-conditioning systems, residential and commercial heating systems, and cooling systems
This book covers fundamental principles and numerical methods relevant to the modeling of the injection molding process. As injection molding processing is related to rheology, mechanical and chemical engineering, polymer science and computational methods, and is a rapidly growing field, the book provides a multidisciplinary and comprehensive introduction to the subjects required for an understanding of the complex process. It addresses the up-to-date status of fundamental understanding and simulation technologies, without losing sight of still useful classical approaches. The main chapters of the book are devoted to the currently active fields of flow-induced crystallization and orientation evolution of fiber suspensions, respectively, followed by detailed discussion of their effects on mechanical property, shrinkage and warpage of injection-molded products. The level of the proposed book will be suitable for interested scientists, R&D engineers, application engineers, and graduate students in engineering.
This is the first-ever book on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH)and its variations, covering the theoretical background, numericaltechniques, code implementation issues, and many novel and interestingapplications.
This extensive survey documents Tibetan society over five decades, including population structure in rural and urban areas, marriage and migration patterns, the maintenance of language and traditional culture, economic transitions relating to income and consumption habits, educational development, and the growth of civil society and social organizations. In addition to household surveys completed over twenty years, the book provides a systematic analysis of all available social and census data released by the Chinese government, and a thorough review of Western and Chinese literature on the topic. It is the first book on Tibetan society published in English by a mainland China scholar, and covers several sensitive issues in Tibetan studies, including population changes, Han migration into Tibetan areas, intermarriage patterns, and ethnic relations.--Ma Rong is a widely respected demographer and professor of sociology at Peking University. He spent five years in Inner Mongolia during the Cultural Revolution, and was one of the first Chinese students to study in the US after Deng Xiaoping's reforms, receiving his doctorate degree from Brown University.-- "The academic study of Tibet still suffers from a lack of accurate data and restrictions on access to Tibet for research. This very useful analysis will increase the quality of the discussion and help to correct many inaccurate Western impressions of Tibet." - Gerard Postiglione, University of Hong Kong-
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