A guide to using the power of design flexibility to improve the performance of complex technological projects, for designers, managers, users, and analysts. Project teams can improve results by recognizing that the future is inevitably uncertain and that by creating flexible designs they can adapt to eventualities. This approach enables them to take advantage of new opportunities and avoid harmful losses. Designers of complex, long-lasting projects—such as communication networks, power plants, or hospitals—must learn to abandon fixed specifications and narrow forecasts. They need to avoid the “flaw of averages,” the conceptual pitfall that traps so many designs in underperformance. Failure to allow for changing circumstances risks leaving significant value untapped. This book is a guide for creating and implementing value-enhancing flexibility in design. It will be an essential resource for all participants in the development and operation of technological systems: designers, managers, financial analysts, investors, regulators, and academics. The book provides a high-level overview of why flexibility in design is needed to deliver significantly increased value. It describes in detail methods to identify, select, and implement useful flexibility. The book is unique in that it explicitly recognizes that future outcomes are uncertain. It thus presents forecasting, analysis, and evaluation tools especially suited to this reality. Appendixes provide expanded explanations of concepts and analytic tools.
This brief provides an elementary introduction to the theory of piecewise differentiable functions with an emphasis on differentiable equations. In the first chapter, two sample problems are used to motivate the study of this theory. The presentation is then developed using two basic tools for the analysis of piecewise differentiable functions: the Bouligand derivative as the nonsmooth analogue of the classical derivative concept and the theory of piecewise affine functions as the combinatorial tool for the study of this approximation function. In the end, the results are combined to develop inverse and implicit function theorems for piecewise differentiable equations. This Introduction to Piecewise Differentiable Equations will serve graduate students and researchers alike. The reader is assumed to be familiar with basic mathematical analysis and to have some familiarity with polyhedral theory.
A guide to using the power of design flexibility to improve the performance of complex technological projects, for designers, managers, users, and analysts. Project teams can improve results by recognizing that the future is inevitably uncertain and that by creating flexible designs they can adapt to eventualities. This approach enables them to take advantage of new opportunities and avoid harmful losses. Designers of complex, long-lasting projects—such as communication networks, power plants, or hospitals—must learn to abandon fixed specifications and narrow forecasts. They need to avoid the “flaw of averages,” the conceptual pitfall that traps so many designs in underperformance. Failure to allow for changing circumstances risks leaving significant value untapped. This book is a guide for creating and implementing value-enhancing flexibility in design. It will be an essential resource for all participants in the development and operation of technological systems: designers, managers, financial analysts, investors, regulators, and academics. The book provides a high-level overview of why flexibility in design is needed to deliver significantly increased value. It describes in detail methods to identify, select, and implement useful flexibility. The book is unique in that it explicitly recognizes that future outcomes are uncertain. It thus presents forecasting, analysis, and evaluation tools especially suited to this reality. Appendixes provide expanded explanations of concepts and analytic tools.
This brief provides an elementary introduction to the theory of piecewise differentiable functions with an emphasis on differentiable equations. In the first chapter, two sample problems are used to motivate the study of this theory. The presentation is then developed using two basic tools for the analysis of piecewise differentiable functions: the Bouligand derivative as the nonsmooth analogue of the classical derivative concept and the theory of piecewise affine functions as the combinatorial tool for the study of this approximation function. In the end, the results are combined to develop inverse and implicit function theorems for piecewise differentiable equations. This Introduction to Piecewise Differentiable Equations will serve graduate students and researchers alike. The reader is assumed to be familiar with basic mathematical analysis and to have some familiarity with polyhedral theory.
Many books on optimization consider only finite dimensional spaces. This volume is unique in its emphasis: the first three chapters develop optimization in spaces without linear structure, and the analog of convex analysis is constructed for this case. Many new results have been proved specially for this publication. In the following chapters optimization in infinite topological and normed vector spaces is considered. The novelty consists in using the drop property for weak well-posedness of linear problems in Banach spaces and in a unified approach (by means of the Dolecki approximation) to necessary conditions of optimality. The method of reduction of constraints for sufficient conditions of optimality is presented. The book contains an introduction to non-differentiable and vector optimization. Audience: This volume will be of interest to mathematicians, engineers, and economists working in mathematical optimization.
Reducing the variation in process outputs is a key part of process improvement. For mass produced components and assemblies, reducing variation can simultaneously reduce overall cost, improve function and increase customer satisfaction with the product. The authors have structured this book around an algorithm for reducing process variation that they call "Statistical Engineering." The algorithm is designed to solve chronic problems on existing high to medium volume manufacturing and assembly processes. The fundamental basis for the algorithm is the belief that we will discover cost effective changes to the process that will reduce variation if we increase our knowledge of how and why a process behaves as it does. A key way to increase process knowledge is to learn empirically, that is, to learn by observation and experimentation. The authors discuss in detail a framework for planning and analyzing empirical investigations, known by its acronym QPDAC (Question, Plan, Data, Analysis, Conclusion). They classify all effective ways to reduce variation into seven approaches. A unique aspect of the algorithm forces early consideration of the feasibility of each of the approaches. Also includes case studies, chapter exercises, chapter supplements, and six appendices. PRAISE FOR Statistical Engineering "I found this book uniquely refreshing. Don't let the title fool you. The methods described in this book are statistically sound but require very little statistics. If you have ever wanted to solve a problem with statistical certainty (without being a statistician) then this book is for you. - A reader in Dayton, OH "This is the most comprehensive treatment of variation reduction methods and insights I’ve ever seen."- Gary M. Hazard Tellabs "Throughout the text emphasis has been placed on teamwork, fixing the obvious before jumping to advanced studies, and cost of implementation. All this makes the manuscript !attractive for real-life application of complex techniques." - Guru Chadhabr Comcast IP Services COMMENTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS Average Customer Rating (5 of 5 based on 1 review) "This is NOT a typical book on statistical tools. It is a strategy book on how to search for cost-effective changes to reduce variation using empirical means (i.e. observation and experiment). The uniqueness of this book: Summarizes the seven ways to reduce variation so we know the goal of the data gathering and analysis, present analysis results using graphs instead of P-value, and integrates Taguchi, Shainin methods, and classical statistical approach. It is a must read for those who are in the business of reducing variation using data, in particular for the Six Sigma Black Belts and Master Black Belts. Don't forget to read the solutions to exercises and supplementary materials to each chapter on the enclosed CD-ROM." - A. Wong, Canada
Globalization is the first volume which systematically encompasses the debates and the results of research of political scientists on all core aspects of the interrelation between politics and economics in the process of globalization. This volume shows how research on globalization has reached a degree of differentiation and depth that makes it necessary and attractive to assess the state-of-the-art and perspectives for further research. With contributions from international experts including Andreas Busch, Nadine Haase and Edgar Grande.
Written and edited by an international team of renowned authorities, MacSween's Pathology of the Liver, 8th Edition, remains the field’s definitive reference on liver pathology. This must-have text is ideal for surgical pathologists in practice and in training who examine liver specimens on a day-to-day basis. It provides invaluable assistance in recognizing the huge variety of appearances of the liver that result from infections, tumors, and tumor-like lesions, as well as organ damage caused by drugs and toxins. With expert, comprehensive coverage of all malignant and benign hepatobiliary disorders, MacSween’s is a convenient, one-stop resource for use in the reporting room as well as in personal study. Shares the knowledge and experience of a “who’s who list of experts in the field of hepatobiliary pathology, led by editors Alastair D. Burt, Linda D. Ferrell, and Stefan G. Hübscher. Features more than 1,000 high-quality, full color illustrations, providing a complete visual guide to each tumor or tumor-like lesion. Discusses advances in molecular diagnostic testing, its capabilities, and its limitations, including targeted/personalized medicine. Incorporates the latest TNM staging and WHO classification systems, as well as new diagnostic biomarkers and their utility in differential diagnosis, newly described variants, and new histologic entities. Includes relevant data from ancillary techniques (immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics), giving you the necessary tools required to master the latest breakthroughs in diagnostic technology. Provides you with all of the necessary diagnostic tools to make a complete and accurate pathologic report, including clinicopathologic background throughout. Directs you to the most recent and authoritative sources for further reading with a comprehensive reference list that highlights key articles and up-to-date citations.
Solving optimization problems subject to constraints given in terms of partial d- ferential equations (PDEs) with additional constraints on the controls and/or states is one of the most challenging problems in the context of industrial, medical and economical applications, where the transition from model-based numerical si- lations to model-based design and optimal control is crucial. For the treatment of such optimization problems the interaction of optimization techniques and num- ical simulation plays a central role. After proper discretization, the number of op- 3 10 timization variables varies between 10 and 10 . It is only very recently that the enormous advances in computing power have made it possible to attack problems of this size. However, in order to accomplish this task it is crucial to utilize and f- ther explore the speci?c mathematical structure of optimization problems with PDE constraints, and to develop new mathematical approaches concerning mathematical analysis, structure exploiting algorithms, and discretization, with a special focus on prototype applications. The present book provides a modern introduction to the rapidly developing ma- ematical ?eld of optimization with PDE constraints. The ?rst chapter introduces to the analytical background and optimality theory for optimization problems with PDEs. Optimization problems with PDE-constraints are posed in in?nite dim- sional spaces. Therefore, functional analytic techniques, function space theory, as well as existence- and uniqueness results for the underlying PDE are essential to study the existence of optimal solutions and to derive optimality conditions.
This atlas offers a comprehensive overview of neuromuscular diseases. It discusses all aspects of neuromuscular disorders, including general tools, the cranial and spinal nerves, the nerve plexus, peripheral nerves, mono- and polyneuropathies, entrapment syndromes, the neuromuscular junction, motor neuron diseases, muscle disease, and autonomic involvement. Each chapter is structured into the following sections: anatomy, symptoms, signs, pathogenesis, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. The diagnostic tools used for neuromuscular disease are explained, and the therapeutic options for each disease are described. This updated third edition includes new chapters addressing a range of topics: from histology to molecular mechanisms, genetic aspects, the mechanisms of emerging new therapies, neuroimaging, neuromuscular disease, and new pathogenic mechanisms. The book aims to be a useful companion for neuromuscular disease. The homogenous structure, illustrations with figures, and representative images makes the atlas easy to read and helpful in understanding neuromuscular problems.
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