Product Description

Uncertainty in the predictions of science when applied to the environment is an issue of great current relevance in relation to the impacts of climate change, protecting against natural and man-made disasters, pollutant transport and sustainable resource management. However, it is often ignored both by scientists and decision makers, or interpreted as a conflict or disagreement between scientists. This is not necessarily the case, the scientists might well agree, but their predictions would still be uncertain and knowledge of that uncertainty might be important in decision making.

Environmental Modelling: An Uncertain Future? introduces students, scientists and decision makers to:

• the different concepts and techniques of uncertainty estimation in environmental prediction
• the philosophical background to different concepts of uncertainty
• the constraint of uncertainties by the collection of observations and data assimilation in real-time forecasting
• techniques for decision making under uncertainty.

This book will be relevant to environmental modellers, practitioners and decision makers in hydrology, hydraulics, ecology, meteorology and oceanography, geomorphology, geochemistry, soil science, pollutant transport and climate change.

A companion website for the book can be found at www.uncertain-future.org.uk

Product Description
Given that a college level life science student will take only one additional calculus course after learning its very basics, what material should such a course cover? This book answers that question. It is based on a very successful one-semester course taught at Harvard and aims to teach students in the life sciences understanding the use of differential equations. It is enriched with illustrative examples from real papers.Necessary notions from linear algebra and partial differential equationsare introduced as and when needed, and in the context of applications. Drawing on a very successful one-semester course at Harvard, this text aims to teach students in the life sciences how to use differential equations. It is enriched with illustrative examples from real papers. Necessary notions from mathematics are introduced as and when needed, and in the context of applications. Aimed at biologists wishing to understand mathematical modelling rather than just learning math methods. ... Read more

Product Description
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 is regarded as one of the best fighters of World War II. Designed by Kurt Tank, it first saw combat in the summer of 1941 and went on to be produced in several variants. It remains a hugely popular subject for aviation scale-modellers. This book, the first of two to cover the Fw190, provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to modelling the Fw 190's A, F and G variants in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scale. Key aspects such as creating mottled camouflage patterns, undercarriage and cockpit detailing, final weathering and finishing, and diorama bases to display your models are covered. ... Read more

Product Description

This important new edition is for graduate students studying Molecular Modelling, Computational Chemistry within Chemistry,  Medicinal Chemistry and Biochemistry.   Postgraduates and researchers in academia and in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This new edition introduces background theory and techniques of molecular modelling, also illustrates applications in studying physical, chemical and biological phenomena.  It includes simple numerical examples and numerous explanatory figures and a colour plate section. 

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent survey book
This book is the gold standard survey of the fields of computational chemistry and molecular modeling.It is excellent for advanced undergraduates interested in the material, and also for graduate students working through rotations, course work, qualifying exams, and independent exploration.I also found it just plain interesting to read.

When the book was recommended to me, a colleague cautioned, "the only problem with the Leach book is how it communicates a superficial clarity--don't be mistaken in thinking you really understand the guts of the problem just because Leach communicates it so well."The advice was absolutely on point, and I think it serves to illustrate how well Leach has hit the target.

The black bible of molecular modeling
This book is the black bible of molecular modeling.

It covers all the topics in the field, starting from Quantum Chemistry, to Molecular Mechanics, Molecular Dynamics, Bioinformatics, Cheminformatics and Pharmainformatics in enough depth to provide an accurate view of the basic methods employed, how are they applied and what should they used for.

It will prove most valuable to people starting in Molecular Modeling and wanting to know which methods are available, when and how should they be used and why with just the bare knowledge needed to understand what goes behind.

If you want to get a quick and dirty introduction, then I find the work of Grant and Richards will provide an executive summary suitable for a one week course introduction. But if you really want to do anything useful analyzing data and performing molecular simulations spanning the whole range of the field then this is your book.

If instead you are only interested in one sub-field, e.g. performing quantum chemistry calculations you may be more interested in texts with a more limited scope, like Young's Computational Chemistry (great for understanding how and when to use quantum methods without understanding them).

clear narrative of concepts
Leach explains how to do serious molecular modelling. Naturally, this has to be done by computer simulations. The text is a blend of the physical principles and equations needed, and how to implement as code. For example, there is the Lennard-Jones potential for intermolecular attraction. But modelling using this often also involves a cutoff. The problem with the latter is that it can create discontinuities in both the potential and the force [which is the derivate of the former]. You can shown how to suitably modify matters to avoid these complications.

Another familiar potential is the Morse potential, used to model bond stretching. Empirical but very useful, and in general quite adequate for most simulations.

The text even has an example of modelling a high temperature superconductor. Partly to enhance the relevance of the narrative for practical applications.

Comprehensive and self-contained
In this book, Andrew Leach has done a great job in putting in almost every important concept, sundry as well as significant, from the field of computational chemistry and molecular modeling. From basic but very useful concepts like atom types, Z matrices, and force field parametrization, to advanced topics like Ewald Sums and Low Mode Monte Carlo conformational searching, Leach gives due importance to everything. The discussions on quantum mechanics in the first few chapters are moderate on the mathematics without shying away from it, and provide just the right amount of detail. Later chapters cover the whole gamut of computational techniques, from Molecular Dynamics and Molecular Mechanics, to Moelcular Similarity and QSAR. Examples that are relevant in chemistry and biology are scattered throughout the book and illustrate every key idea. There are many good books for Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling, and some are good for a few topics, others for other ones. However, if one wants to get a grip on ALL important topics in the area, I think this is the most comprehensive reference that one can look up.

An excellent overview
Good:
This book gives an excellent overview of molecular simulation techniques starting with quantum mechanics ab initio type calculations and going up through molecular dynamics and polymer simulation.It gives a good step up from your standard physical chemistry text (such as Atkins or Chang) to being able to read the literature on modern molecular modelling techniques.

Bad:
The treatment of many methods is somewhat superficial.
The book was first written in 1996 and updated in 2000 - it is starting to get a bit out of date.

Overall I would recommend this as a solid introduction and reference. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing from an exhaustive variety of mathematical subjects, including real and complex analysis, fluid mechanics and asymptotics, this book demonstrates how mathematics can be intelligently applied within the specific context to a wide range of industrial uses. The volume is directed to undergraduate and graduate students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

nifty

so the math is for, like, juniors (US/ugrad) who have had a smattering of mechanics/E&M/etc. it's lots of tiny tricks (ahem i mean techniques) and neat-o examples. i thouroughly enjoy it.each section is some cool useful technique applied to a fairly original problem like eggs or bombs or underwater cables.

Advanced, interesting, not always easy to follow...
Oliver Heaviside of operational calculus (i.e. Laplace transform) fame once said "Even Cambridge mathematicians deserve justice." However, the author of this Cambridge Press book is actually from Oxford, and so I did not bump up my rating of 3 stars. However, this rating may also be unjust. There are many very interesting examples from a wide range of subject areas, but unless you are studying that subject area, I think it will be hard for most to follow along. I would absolutely rate this book 5 stars if there was a substantial "hints" section in the back or a little more exposition in the text that would enable those with a less broad background to follow along more easily. When the author says in the preface he assumes you have a background in vector calculus, partial differential equations, fluid mechanics, linear algebra, etc., pay attention, he means it. The book is good for advanced students who want to get a taste of areas often not covered in undergraduate engineering coursework (e.g. Charpit's method for solving first order nonlinear PDEs, Buckingham-Pi theorem of dimensional analysis, "generalized" functions, asymptotics, perturbation theory, etc.). I think the order of presentation is questionable at times. As one example, in problem 2 of section 2.5, after giving the formula for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, the author asks us to estimate the electrical capacitance of an elephant by dimensional analysis. I like this as an unusual example, but I am not sure how the parallel plate capacitor formula helps. After another paragraph about how much charge a human body can store (still part of problem 2.5), he gives an outline of the derivation of a capacitance of an isolated sphere, which I know can be used to give an upper bound (if the sphere encloses the elephant) for both the above examples, but the author never points this out, leaving it just hanging there. He then continues on with an RC circuit example (while still in problem 2.5!!). Because the spherical capacitance formula comes well after the elephant question, and looks like it is leading into the next part of the question (which rambles on endlessly), I am torn between applauding the author for including an interesting example that makes one think about how to calculate a useful estimate when the elephant shape is too complex to handle exactly and complaining that he can give a few more hints so that someone not that familiar with electrostatics can follow the problem more easily. ... Read more

Product Description
The use of Bayesian statistics has grown significantly in recent years, and will undoubtedly continue to do so. Applied Bayesian Modelling is the follow-up to the author’s best selling book, Bayesian Statistical Modelling, and focuses on the potential applications of Bayesian techniques in a wide range of important topics in the social and health sciences. The applications are illustrated through many real-life examples and software implementation in WINBUGS – a popular software package that offers a simplified and flexible approach to statistical modelling. The book gives detailed explanations for each example – explaining fully the choice of model for each particular problem. The book

· Provides a broad and comprehensive account of applied Bayesian modelling.

· Describes a variety of model assessment methods and the flexibility of Bayesian prior specifications.

· Covers many application areas, including panel data models, structural equation and other multivariate structure models, spatial analysis, survival analysis and epidemiology.

· Provides detailed worked examples in WINBUGS to illustrate the practical application of the techniques described. All WINBUGS programs are available from an ftp site.

The book provides a good introduction to Bayesian modelling and data analysis for a wide range of people involved in applied statistical analysis, including researchers and students from statistics, and the health and social sciences. The wealth of examples makes this book an ideal reference for anyone involved in statistical modelling and analysis. ... Read more

Product Description
Edited and introduced by Alexander Lipton, the leading expert in the field of credit modelling, this collection of technical papers on this complex area of financial engineering is the first book in the new Cutting Edge series. Contributions have been gathered from 32 authors, including some of the most well known names in the field: Oldrich Vasicek, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Risk, and Leif Andersen, Michael Gordy, Alexander Lipton, Richard Martin, and Philip Schönbucher all of whom have received Quant of the Year Awards from Risk.The book is divided into three main sections: defaults of individual obligors, defaults in large portfolios, and defaults in medium and small portfolios, and will be of great interest to practitioners and academics alike. ... Read more

Product Description
New to marine modelling?Then this title will start you off in the right direction, no matter which type of radio controlled boat you want to build.Each section looks at a different facet of this varied hobby, from powerboats to steam, scale electric to scale sail, offering expert advice on choice of model, power and radio requirements. ... Read more

Product Description

With more and more interest in how components of biological systems interact, it is important to understand the various aspects of systems biology. Kinetic Modelling in Systems Biology focuses on one of the main pillars in the future development of systems biology. It explores both the methods and applications of kinetic modeling in this emerging field.

The book introduces the basic biological cellular network concepts in the context of cellular functioning, explains the main aspects of the Edinburgh Pathway Editor (EPE) software package, and discusses the process of constructing and verifying kinetic models. It presents the features, user interface, and examples of DBSolve as well as the principles of modeling individual enzymes and transporters. The authors describe how to construct kinetic models of intracellular systems on the basis of models of individual enzymes. They also illustrate how to apply the principles of kinetic modeling to collect all available information on the energy metabolism of whole organelles, construct a kinetic model, and predict the response of the organelle to changes in external conditions. The final chapter focuses on applications of kinetic modeling in biotechnology and biomedicine.

Encouraging readers to think about future challenges, this book will help them understand the kinetic modeling approach and how to apply it to solve real-life problems.

CD-ROM Features
Extensively used throughout the text for pathway visualization and illustration, the EPE software is available on the accompanying CD-ROM. The CD also includes pathway diagrams in several graphical formats, DBSolve installation with examples, and all models from the book with dynamic visualization of simulation results, allowing readers to perform in silico simulations and use the models as templates for further applications.

Product Description
This book is about using game theory in mathematical modelling. It is an introductory text, covering the basic ideas and methods of game theory as well as the necessary ideas from the vast spectrum of scientific study where the methods are applied.

It has by now become generally apparent that game theory is a fascinating branch of mathematics with both serious and recreational applications. Strategic behavior arises whenever the outcome of an individual's action depends on actions to be taken by other individuals--whether human, as in the Prisoners' Dilemma, or otherwise, as in the "duels of damselflies". As a result, game-theoretic mathematical models are applicable in both the social and natural sciences. In reading this book, you can learn not just about game theory, but also about how to model real situations so that they can be analyzed mathematically.

Mesterton-Gibbons includes the familiar game theory examples where they are needed for explaining the mathematics or when they provide a valuable application. There are also plenty of new examples, in particular from biology, such as competitions for territory or mates, games among kin versus games between kin, and cooperative wildlife management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you want to understand the concepts of game theory...
look no further than Prof. Mesterton-Gibbons text. Although there are several classic texts in game theory, most proceed as typical mathematical works do: definition, definition, theorem, theorem, etc. This deductive path is great for rigor, but often a "feel" for the subject is lacking. The author's goal here is to proceed inductively, starting from examples and buliding up to the general principles. You'll finally understand, for example, what Nash equilibria in noncooperative games or the core of cooperative games really represents, and you'll be offered plenty of examples to demonstrate the concepts.

Kudos to Prof. Mesterton-Gibbons for writing a great text that really gets the reader thinking in a game-theoretic way! ... Read more

Product Description

Predicting the future for financial gain is a difficult, sometimes profitable activity. The focus of this book is the application of biologically inspired algorithms (BIAs) to financial modelling.

In a detailed introduction, the authors explain computer trading on financial markets and the difficulties faced in financial market modelling. Then Part I provides a thorough guide to the various bioinspired methodologies – neural networks, evolutionary computing (particularly genetic algorithms and grammatical evolution), particle swarm and ant colony optimization, and immune systems. Part II brings the reader through the development of market trading systems. Finally, Part III examines real-world case studies where BIA methodologies are employed to construct trading systems in equity and foreign exchange markets, and for the prediction of corporate bond ratings and corporate failures.

The book was written for those in the finance community who want to apply BIAs in financial modelling, and for computer scientists who want an introduction to this growing application domain.

Customer Reviews (2)

Very nice book - provides a good overview
I usually don't spend time writing reviews, but I did want to comment on the very
negative review made in Dec 2009 because I found this review misleading.

I am interested in both Biologically Inspired Algorithms (BIA) and Financial Modelling (FM).
I have done a lot of research myself using Neural Networks, and I am currently working
on a project regarding Financial Modelling.

I have read only parts of the book yet, but I already found those chapters very
helpful. The fields of BIA and FM are very broad so, of course, no text book can
exhaustively cover both fields. Nevertheless, the authors explain very nicely the fundamental
steps that one needs to consider when building a system which uses BIA for FM.
The first parts of the book introduce the fundamental aspects (BIA and FM) whereas the
third part of the book provides case studies.

I liked the book (as far as I have read it yet) very much: It is well structured and
well written and it provides a good overview. For in depth information it provides a lot
of references.

So for everyone interested in getting an overview of the topic this book is a clear
recommendation. I would have given 5 stars, but I have to admit that at some points a bit
more detail would not have gone amiss.

interesting lateral applications
In the ceaseless search for better modelling of financial instruments and economic events, one approach is to look for methods from mathematical biology as inspiration. Here, the main approaches studied include neural networks, genetic algorithms and ant colony modelling. The first two are perhaps the most widely used.

The key inspiration is to look into the future. The later sections of the book involve predicting various events, like a corporate failure. The efficacy of the biological methods for doing predictions is unclear. The book's results are intriguing, though.

There appear to be 2 audiences for the book. One is biologists or programmers already using those methods in biology, and who are looking at applying these to finance. The other audience is mathematicians in finance wanting more tools. Consequently, each audience will find different portions of the book useful. The explanation of conventional financial modelling is for the biologist, for example. ... Read more

Product Description
This first volume is concerned with discrete systems - the study of which constitutes the cornerstone of all mechanical systems, linear or non-linear. It covers the formulation of equations of motion and the systematic study of free and forced vibrations. The book goes into detail about subjects such as generalized coordinates and kinematical conditions; Hamilton's principle and Lagrange equations; linear algebra in N-dimensional linear spaces and the orthogonal basis of natural modes of vibration of conservative systems. Also included are the Laplace transform and forced responses of linear dynamical systems, the Fourier transform and spectral analysis of excitation and response deterministic signals.

Forthcoming volumes in this series:
Vol II: Structural Elements; to be published in June 2005
Vol III: Fluid-structure Interactions; to be published in August 2006
Vol IV: Flow-induced Vibrations; to be published in August 2007

* Presents the general methods that provide a unified framework to model mathematically mechanical systems of interest to the engineer, analyzing the response of these systems
* Focuses on linear problems, but includes some aspects of non-linear configuration
* Comprehensive coverage of mathematical techniques used to perform computer-based analytical studies and numerical simulations
* Discusses the mathematical techniques used to perform analytical studies and numerical simulations on the computer ... Read more

Product Description

This unique book brings together a comprehensive set of papers on the background, theory, technical issues and applications of agent-based modelling (ABM) within geographical systems. ABM is starting to mature as a methodology in geography and across the social sciences, and this volume draws together the different strands and main issues of such research.

In this book a thorough background to the premise of ABM and other commonly used geo-computational techniques is presented. It will help to organise the diverse landscape of ABM by bringing together essays on theoretical and practical applications of ABM in spatial systems, thereby discussing in detail issues, pros and cons with realistically modelling the spatially influenced systems and linking to past modelling theory (for the first time tracing ABM evolution).

Part 1 presents an overview of the most commonly used geocomputational methods in geography. Part 2 examines the principles and concepts underlying ABM. Part 3 follows on from part 2 by providing an overview and guidance to many of the common and new technical issues that modellers face when creating an ABM. The final section draws together a wide range of applications from the micro to macro scale of geographical systems and sets out an agenda for future areas of promising ABM research.

Product Description

The commercial development of novel semiconductor devices requires that their properties be examined as thoroughly and rapidly as possible. These properties are investigated by obtaining numerical solutions of the highly nonlinear coupled set of equations which govern their behaviour. In particular, the existence of interfaces between different material layers in heterostructures means that quantum solutions must be found in the quantum wells which are formed at these interfaces.

This book presents some of the mathematical and numerical techniques associated with the investigation. It begins with introductions to quantum and statistical mechanics. Later chapters then cover finite differences; multigrids; upwinding techniques; simulated annealing; mesh generation; and the reading of computer code in C++; these chapters are self-contained, and do not rely on the reader having met these topics before. The author explains how the methods can be adapted to the specific needs of device modelling, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, the pitfalls to avoid, and practical hints and tips for successful implementation. Sections of computer code are included to illustrate the methods used.

Written for anyone who is interested in learning about, or refreshing their knowledge of, some of the basic mathematical and numerical methods involved in device modelling, this book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, lecturers and researchers working in the fields of electrical engineering and semiconductor device physics, and for students of other mathematical and physical disciplines starting out in device modelling.

Product Description
Undoubtedly one of the most recognizable fighter aircraft in history alongside the Supermarine Spitfire and the P-51 Mustang, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 is as popular in plastic as in real life. There are almost certainly more kits and accessories of the Bf 109 across the full range of popular scales than any other modeling subject.

This second Bf 109 title in the Osprey Modeling series focuses on the Messerschmitt Bf 109F and early G models, the workhorses of the German Luftwaffe during mid World War II.

The Bf 109 F, Friedrich, was introduced in late 1940 to counter the increasing dominance of the Spitfire, and formed the backbone of the Luftwaffe during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The Bf 109G, Gustav, was introduced in early 1942, and became the most numerous of all the 109 variants, as well as arguably the most streamlined.

Detailing six different builds across the scales from 1/44 to 1/24, and featuring aircraft in camouflage schemes and markings from the Western Desert to the Russian Steppes, this book is an excellent source of reference for both the beginner and expert modeler, on one of the most effective killing machines of World War II. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Modeling the the Messerschmitt bf-109F and early G series
It was a very informative book.However, the author did not review or included the old 1/32 scale Revell kit of the Messerschmitt bf-109f.I was hoping that he would had something to say about the kit or make any suggestions about improving the kit.

A 'must' for collections specializing in World War II models.
Brett Green's MODELING THE MESSERSCHMITT BF 109F AND EARLY G SERIES adds to Osprey's 'Modelling' series, this focusing on modeling one of the most recognizable fighter aircraft in history. Five different builds across the scales provide material for both beginning and expert modelers and is a 'must' for collections specializing in World War II models. ... Read more

Product Description
Galton used quantiles more than a hundred years ago in describing data. Tukey and Parzen used them in the 60s and 70s in describing populations. Since then, the authors of many papers, both theoretical and practical, have used various aspects of quantiles in their work. Until now, however, no one put all the ideas together to form what turns out to be a general approach to statistics.Statistical Modelling with Quantile Functions does just that. It systematically examines the entire process of statistical modelling, starting with using the quantile function to define continuous distributions. The author shows that by using this approach, it becomes possible to develop complex distributional models from simple components. A modelling kit can be developed that applies to the whole model - deterministic and stochastic components - and this kit operates by adding, multiplying, and transforming distributions rather than data.Statistical Modelling with Quantile Functions adds a new dimension to the practice of statistical modelling that will be of value to anyone faced with analyzing data. Not intended to replace classical approaches but to supplement them, it will make some of the traditional topics easier and clearer, and help readers build and investigate models for their own practical statistical problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Facinating concept, but errors in text and some murky statements
I actually took a short course in this subject from the author at one of the JSMs.I immediately thought of some research possibilities, but had too much other work to follow up on them.

I started to read this book a few years ago, but got bogged down with some examples, that I didn't have time to work through.Now that I am retired, I decided to go through the book again.I find the subject most interesting, and am now on page 66.However, I have found several errors in examples and some murky descriptions, which may be due to imprecise notation.(I'm still trying to figure one out.)

To the point with clarity
The trail that led me to this work started with "Fitting Statistical Distributions: The Generalized Lambda Distribution and Generalized Bootstrap Methods by Zaven A. Karian, Edward J. Dudewicz". Working through Karian & Dudewicz's tome recalled to mind the maddening effort I went through to switch my mental framework when first learning Object Oriented Programming. Some other "[Oldies]" might remember the transition difficulties from "Regular Programming" to OOP. Eventually it "just clicked" and I was left to wonder what in blazes was my problem. Well, thinking about probability distributions in terms of Quantile Functions rather than the "Regular Way" was sorta the same thing. Finally, it "just clicked". Gilchrist's book on Quantile Functions is very carefully written because I suspect he understands that Quantile Functions, for many, initially seem like a bass-ackward way of looking at PDFs. The Quantile approach allows, to my mind, a much more "algebraic" approach wherein Distributions can be multiplied, added, etc. resulting in something that resembles (loosely) a field. I have several books which list dozens and dozens of different distributions and their properties using "the old approach" - much like a cookbook. Via Quantile Function methodology that all seems rather primitive and disorganized. Now I KNOW from whence,how, and why the GLD came; as well as all the other Flora and Fauna in the "Distribution Zoo". To paraphrase "Morpheus" - "Nobody can tell you what the Quantile Function Approach is - you have to see it for yourself." ... Read more

Product Description
This is a thoroughly revised and updated edition of an authoritative introduction to ecological modelling. Sven Erik Jørgensen, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Ecological Modelling, and Giuseppe Bendoricchio, Professor of Environmental Modelling at the University of Padova, Italy, offer compelling insights into the subject. This volume explains the concepts and processes involved in ecological modelling, presents the latest developments in the field and provides readers with the tools to construct their own models.

The Third Edition features:

• A detailed discussion and step-by-step outline of the modelling procedure.

• An account of different model types including overview tables, examples and illustrations.

• A comprehensive presentation of the submodels and unit processes used in modelling.

• In-depth descriptions of the latest modelling techniques.

• Structured exercises at the end of each chapter.

• Three mathematical appendices and a subject index.

This practical and proven book very effectively combines the theory, methodology and applications of ecological modelling. The new edition is an essential, up-to-date guide to a rapidly growing field.

• Presents the most commonly used model types with a step-by-step outline of the modeling procedure used for each






• Shows readers through illustrated example how to use each model in research and management settings








• New edition is revised to include only essential theory with a focus on applications








• Includes case studies, illustrations, and exercises (case study of an ecological problem with full illustration on how to solve the problem)

Product Description

Modelling parasite transmission has made enormous strides since the seminal models of Ross for describing malaria transmission developed during the early 1900s. McDonald’s use of the early malaria models to show that killing adult mosquitoes would be particularly effective in reducing infection transmission was a major advance in demonstrating the usefulness of theoretical analysis and population dynamics modelling in particular for guiding parasite control programmes, and since then parasite transmission models have also been used to guide the onchocerciasis control programme in Africa, as well as for investigating best strategies for controlling a host of other parasites, including tuberculosis, trachoma and lately helminth infections, such as schistosomiasis and filariasis. The importance of this work is highlighted by greater understanding of threshold phenomena in transmission dynamics leading to the concept that natural “breakpoints” occur below which parasite systems will go extinct to the roles that worm mating behaviour and infection aggregation can play in both helminth transmission and control. The emerging trend from this work is thus the increasing use of understanding parasite transmission dynamics via the construction and analysis of mathematical models for use in guiding the development of informed parasite control strategies, so much so that this twin objective, viz improving understanding of parasite transmission dynamics and applying models to guide parasite control, has almost become a de facto goal of most recent work in parasite transmission modelling.
We have organized the material in the book into two major sections, the first presenting the state of the art in models aimed at capturing complex or detailed aspects of transmission dynamics beginning with a review of the evolution of modelling malaria transmission.  Part II of the book serves to highlight the current use of transmission models in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of parasite control programmes.

Customer Reviews (4)

Armour Modelling
Fantastic book.Well laid out, very precise and east to understand, even for a beginner. Great pics

Keep this one handy on the shelf close by, great reference book
I have just started building plastic model kits again and boy have they changed since I last put one together 40 years ago.I have stated purchasing books on this hobby to get me back up to speed.First off the book is well constructed with a heavy duty cover and the spiral binding lets the pages fall nice and flat for viewing while using it for reference during the building assembly of a model.The is a great book for armored vehicle models, lots of tips and details with, and this is important to me, color photos that follow the text in a step by step manner.Not like some books that just show the finished model. There are some pages on painting figures, but the main thrust is armored vehicles.This is by no means a complete reference book on the subject but I have found it to be very useful, I have already incorporated some of the things I learned in two of my latest models.It is a book I know I will find myself going back to over again many times as I progress with my skills.I highly recommend this book.

Brilliant reference
I am a modeller returning from a long 'leave' of some 25 odd years and I have to be truthful, with the amount of new 'stuff' out there, photo etch, acrylic paints, resin, white metal etc etc, it was pretty daunting to open a 'modern' kit and finish it to any standard! So this is where this book sells itself. Concise, very informative and 'recipe type' instructions are great for the likes of me. I like the authors writing style and his way of explaining things. The only thing I struggle with a little is the figure painting, particularly faces, as I could have done with a real step-by-step, almost infant teaching style with this, but that's just personal and something for me to work on.
Covers all those topics like photo etch and painting techniques that I needed to bring me up to the modern way of modelling.
Overall a great reference for plebes like me and a good refresher I'm sure for those who know a thing or two.
I gave it four stars as it covered the subjects I wanted to know now well but I would have to take his word for it over other subjects that I just haven't got to in my modelling experience to date! All round worth the money spent to get it here to NZ!

The best resource on scale modelling tanks and other armored vehicles...
If you want to learn more about scale modelling (armored vehicles specifically) than this book is "the" book to own. It's been put together almost like a cook book with an extremely sturdy reinforced external cover and then the book inside is spiral bound (sturdy plastic spiral) soit has been well designed to be placed open on your home workbench (without the pages flipping or book closing itself). The topics covered include everything you could or would need to know about building scale models of armored subjects. The chapters include: Tools/Materials/Paints, Example building tiger tank, painting and finishing, creating bases, working with photo-etched metal, working with resin and white metal, scratch building conversions, at least 3 more example model building instructions, a final chapter on reference and research. The pictures are color, very detailed and well chosen to provide reference for the written sub-sections. The overview of tools is current, and very complete going over photo-etch bending tools such as the hold-and-fold, the grab handler, the brass-assist tool, etc. The price of this book is absolutely worth it considering it really is like a school text book or a very detailed cook book for the scale model builder. If you are just getting into this hobby and like building armored subjects I would say this book is an absolute must own (even if you have been building models for a few years you will still find some very good info). I was hesitant at first since the price is a bit higher than most other how-to type books but once you have it in your hand you will understand that this isn't at all like most modelling books and that even paying 25% more, this book would still be an excellent value... 5 stars all the way. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first monograph to present a unified approach tousing mathematical models in the study of qualitative and quantitativeregularities of immune response dynamics in infectious diseases withinindividual organisms. These mathematical models are formulated assystems of delay- differential equations.
Simple mathematical models of infectious diseases, antiviral immuneresponse and antibacterial response were developed and applied to thestudy of hepatitis B, influenza A, infectious bacterial pneumonia, andmixed infections.
Particular attention was paid to the development of efficientcomputational procedures for solving the initial value problem forstiff delay-differential equations and to the parameter identificationproblem. Adjoint equations and the perturbation theory were used forthe sensitivity analysis.
Audience: This book will be of interest to a wide range ofmathematicians and specialists in immunology and infectious diseases.It can also be recommended as a textbook for postgraduate students,bridging the gap between mathematics, immunology and infectiousdiseases research. ... Read more