Book Description
The next great revolution in science will undoubtedly be the emergence of a useful theory of consciousness--a theory based on our better understanding of molecules and brains and of the nature of science itself. Evolving the Mind broaches both of these themes, covering how ideas about the mind evolved in science and how the mind itself evolved in Nature. What Cairns-Smith does that is particularly compelling is to synthesize the contributions of a wide range of scientific disciplines (physics, molecular biology, brain science, and evolution) to bring science to the brink of a unified theory of consciousness. The author thoroughly explores this complex concept in a straightforward, conversational style. Few readers will be able to resist the exciting conclusion that we are closing in on a scientific theory of consciousness.
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Quantum Consciousness? - Not.......2006-04-19
A most thoughtful book indeed, the best parts being the impressive summaries he provides of cellular function - particularly the dynamic chemistry of proteins (he is a chemist). Subsequently, Cairns-Smith expands to neurology, advocating that the neuron has added nothing to the basic cell but the action potential and a few more exotic neurotransmitters.
Consciousness began to evolve when a pre-adaptive function of some sort of "feeling" arrived as the phenotype of a genetic mutation. Cairns-Smith's theme, however, is that basic synapses and neurochemistry need extra help to produce consciousness, and he injects a little mystery into the equation. The author is setting up a scenario in which he can explain consciousness on the basis of quantum phenomenon. He has no evidence, nothing to test - but is bursting with string theory-type speculations, complete with multiple universes, half dead cats, etc. Meanwhile, he lines up the basic science of quantum mechanics in as impressive a manner as he did proteins - complete with Feynman diagrams.
According to the author, origin of quantum consciousness is located in sub-atomic particles in white matter (axons, glial cells, and astrocytes) instantaneously communicating to the multiple parallel circuits in gray matter. The analogy is to a laser or a Bose-Einstein condensate in which - when a threshold of stimulation is reached - the signals become coherent and consciousness is reached.
My favorite definition of consciousness recognizes there is not a specific area of the brain where it can be said that consciousness resides. Instead, consciousness results when communication and integration of diverse and separate brain areas are coordinated in time. This definition, general as it is, functions quite nicely without resorting to the current quantum fadmeme, and I think I will keep it.
Regardless, the book is a wealth of advanced knowledge in biochemistry, neurology, and quantum physics - not appropriate for the casual reader - and well worth one's time.
Stands out from the crowd.......2005-03-29
"Evolving the Mind" is an excellent book about the material basis of consciousness from an unorthodox but thoroughly clear-headed and scientific point of view. The style is conversational, accessible, and entertaining. The discussion focuses on the essential concepts and questions, avoiding various philosophical "isms" (e.g. functionalism, dualism, etc.) that tend to inflame intellectual prejudices and cloud the real issues.
There are many recent books about scientific theories of consciousness (some very good), but frankly many of them are saying nearly the same thing: consciousness is to be identified or associated with some particular aspects of computation (e.g. planning, decision-making, self-representation, etc.) among neurons in the brain. In these theories, while random noise is understood to affect processes at the sub-cellular level, the brain at the functional level is assumed to operate as a deterministic computing machine. This assumption is present even in current sophisticated theories involving chaotic dynamics, parallel distributed processing, or feedback (a.k.a. "re-entrant connections").
Because Cairns-Smith's writing style is conversational, open-minded, and non-confrontational, some experts (e.g. neuroscientists, cognitive psychologists, computer scientists) are liable to miss the powerful challenge to mainstream approaches to a fundamental theory of consciousness running through his book. This main point has two parts. First, based on the correspondence between conscious experiences and evolutionary fitness (e.g. fire feels bad, food tastes good), consciousness must have evolved. If it evolved, that means (according to evolutionary theory) it must have some effect on the organism's physical body or behavior. Second, since in contemporary neuroscience models the dynamics of the brain are completely determined by the local "mechanical" action (by electro-chemical signals) of neurons, conscious feelings cannot have any effect on the brain's behavior. Various ways have been tried to wiggle out of this, but it's a real problem--conscious feelings aren't allowed to have any effects on the organism's structure or behavior, but that's inconsistent with their evolution by natural selection. As Cairns-Smith details, this problem was clearly spelled out by William James before the solution favored by Cairns-Smith, using 20th century physics, was even conceivable.
To arrive at his outline of a solution to his impasse, Cairns-Smith starts from a lovely historical introduction to relevant ideas from physics, chemistry and neurobiology. Another reviewer dismissed this approach as a mere bias due to Cairns-Smith's background in chemistry. That's an unfair conclusion, because Cairns-Smith builds a strong case that the physical composition of the brain, and not just its functional organization, is important for understanding consciousness. Ultimately Cairns-Smith proposes that large-scale quantum states may provide a substrate for consciousness in the brain together with a resolution to the problems faced by classical models. Again, another reviewer dismisses this as merely the latest in a line of "fad...metaphors" for the mind in terms of the latest technological device. I disagree; I don't think that reviewer fully engaged the arguments put forward in the book.
I somewhat agree with the reviewer who complained that the book lacked a conclusive final chapter. The last chapter is a dialogue between a proponent and a critic (said to be based on a conversation with Francis Crick) rather than a summary and conclusion. This is in line with the atmosphere of the book as a free inquiry into the possibilities, as opposed to a dogmatic adherence to a pre-determined conclusion. Also, the book ends just at the point where one would hope to find a detailed neurobiological model. That's probably as it should be, though, given the variety of possibilities and the lack of specific evidence. But again experts are liable to think that this openness and vagueness justifies their belief that the quantum mind hypothesis is implausible or already ruled out. (A technical example: many scientists consider that macroscopic quantum effects cannot occur at room temperature in the brain, a viewpoint buttressed with calculations by Tegmark. These calculations apply under equilibrium conditions, but not under conditions when energy is pumped into a system, such as the ATP energy continually pumped through biological cells. A rigorous model by Frohlich shows how the kind of quantum states proposed by Cairns-Smith can arise in biological tissue at room temperature. Cairns-Smith covers the Frohlich model, but does not bog down his discussion by emphasizing that the Frohlich model effectively answers the brain temperature objection.)
The reputation of quantum theories of consciousness often suffers from an association with new age philosophies or anti-scientific mystical attitudes. Among the more reputable proponents of a quantum mind model is Roger Penrose. However, the complexity and subtlety of his argument can leave his conclusions in doubt even for readers with an open mind and some relevant math, physics, or logic background. Like Penrose, Cairns-Smith never wavers from scientific rigor. This is especially remarkable since a major thrust of his book is to make a historical case for boldly imaginative thinking, highlighting the controversial additions of "spooky" concepts to the scientific world-view. Ultimately, testing the quantum mind hypothesis will require models that specify the interaction between putative quantum states and the well-established neural machinery of action potentials and synaptic transmission. "Evolving the Mind" provides an excellent background for evaluating such specific neurobiological models.
I highly recommend this book, whether to introduce the issues to a novice, or to loosen up an expert who thinks he already has it all figured out.
A good book, if you are interested in science........2001-11-30
Book selectively covers modern physics, protein and neuro-biology, evolution, and theories of consciousness. The hypothesis is that consciousness is the 3rd system to develop for organism control, the others being chemical transmitters, and the nervous system. Hypothesis is buttressed by evolutionary arguments, and a discussion of quantum physics, showing that quantum physics is every bit as strange as consciousness, in many respects is not understood any better, and could plausibly be linked to consciousness. I was not entirely happy with the discussion of quantum physics, but that is a tough subject. I know the chapter on the structure of the brain could have been done much better. And certainly you should not read this book if you aren't interested in the science for itself: had he wanted to, Cairns-Smith could have written a much smaller book to get his thoughts on consciousness (which are interesting) properly presented. For those who just enjoy reading about science, let me put in a plug for Life Matrix, Biography of Water by Philip Ball.
Cairns-Smith gets jiggy........2001-06-14
I must say I was let down with this book. Cairns-Smith is very cool when it comes to prebiotic chemistry. His clay hypothesis is fascinating and he is generous enough to share it with we unwashed masses. But this book, besides its general science appeal (I did give it 3 stars after all) falls flat. He starts out making valid references to cellular mechanisms. His description of bacterial flagellar mechanics is ripping. However, after he struts his prowess in the opening exposition of biochemistry, he heads straight away into nonsenical, outdated, metaphysics. This is not that old of a book (1996). Toward the end, where he babbles on about Schrodinger's equation and the quantum correlates of consciousness, one gets the feeling Cairns-Smith is making a big production, being coy about materialistic cause and effect neurology, because he sincely wants very badly for there to be some spooky chi substance hidden away deep in the cell's machinery that causes brains to be conscious. Schrodinger certainly made a sensible bridge between quantum mechanics and cellular biology in his 1944 book "What is Life?" Cairns-Smith doesn't even come close. In the end he really adds nothing, just taking us on a joy ride around the park. In this sense, this book (it's no synoptic pamphlet) is a bit of a waste of one's time because it leads to a blind ally. Having said all this I still enjoyed reading it to a degree. Cairns-Smith covers a wide array of theory, he just doesn't do a particularly good job of weaving it into a fabric that keeps us warm on those chill intellectual nights. For general science purposes this is a pretty decent read. The serious cognition hound will find better grazing in other pastures however.
Turn on the Gas and the Flame Burns Again.......2000-10-05
There was a joke about a student who summarized the knowledge of a course into a series of sentences such as "Read only your good books in vacation" (Colors of the light spectrum in order: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.) He then summarized these into words and continued this until one final word. It seems he got to final exams and forgot the word! Arrgh!
Well, I just finished reading this book and it managed to summarize and integrate all physics, evolution, chemistry and brain physiology into 300 pages without leaving out any detail however arcane. I will now reduce this to even less, so you will have something more convenient to forget.
The first 95% is background material starting with forces, fields, uncertainty, mass, etc. and leading up to electrons, atoms, water molecules, lipids, and arriving at life which, in the case of the E. coli, already has modest nerve-like capabilities so it can approach food and flee poisons. It goes on to show how nerve cells not much advanced from E. coli are constructed and act to assemble three dimensional images from eye signals, etc. This is to the painful detail of enumerating the parts of the brain and how they interact.
Now we are all familiar with nonsense philosophy where someone who has been exposed to little knowledge nevertheless comes to some fantastic conclusion such as "maybe the entire Universe is an electron in some larger scale Universe". Such speculation, although possibly true, is not interesting because it is not based on any evidence, however flawed and slight.
This book also proceeds to such a fantastic conclusion, but with evidence that is neither obviously flawed nor slight. The problem that it finally addresses is that there is no place in the brain which is connected to all others and which becomes significantly active during consciousness. Such a place would have a huge amount of computing to do to account for our feeling of awareness and would therefore be easily located.
The fantastic conclusion is that there is another kind of activity going on involving probably the white matter in the brain and the cell walls. This activity is at the sub-atomic level and, because of the fact that such activities (as shown by the first 95%) can act over large distances instantaneously, it has the potential of integrating all brain cells. The subconscious brain, i.e. the primitive part constructed of neurons using chemistry and electricity, does the work. It integrates the signals from our sensors and coordinates our movements. It wants food and revenge and fears predators. It spells words and remembers faces. But it has evolved in this environment of atomic forces and uses these for integration, just as the flower uses the bee for pollination. We perceive this as consciousness. This is required so we can plan, chose undesirable short-term actions for long-term gain, avoid the truck while riding the bike, etc.
The book then seems to end without a last chapter. I supply a possible summary of one here.
You can turn the gas off, and the flame will die. But when you turn it on again, the flame comes back to life. When the real brain feels the need for consciousness to resolve some fear, it can turn it on while suppressing input/output and benefit from having the dream engage in scenario evaluations. When it feels the need for more tangible results, all systems are go and we wake up. But to the consciousness this is not much different from the dream. Finally, all this takes energy and it becomes necessary to shut down to refuel and repair. You can't dream all the time.
Where does the consciousness go when it is off? The same place the flame goes. Out.
Where does the flame go when the stove is gone? Permanently out. (And it doesn't care.)
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Carbohydrates in Chemistry and Biology 4 Volume Set
Manufacturer: Wiley-VCH
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ASIN: 3527295119 |
Book Description
Carbohydrate Chemistry and Glycobiology have witnessed a rapid expansion during the last few years with the development of numerous new, imaginative and efficient syntheses which provide further insight into structures and biological interactions of glycoconjugates. Glycosylation reactions are widely used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and bio-active compounds. In biology and medicine oligosaccharides play a central role in immuno-stimulation, cancer or allergic responses. Glycoscience is a very instructive example of how one common topic of interest stimulates both chemistry and biology to collectively open scientific frontiers.
This synergy is made visible in this work. Three leading experts in the fields of Glycochemistry and Glycobiology have invited numerous renowned authors to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances and findings in Glycoscience. This four-volume handbook presents an integrated and cutting-edge view, and covers all chemical aspects, such as syntheses and analysis of carbohydrates and oligosaccharides, as well as the biological role and activity of oligosaccharides and carbohydrate/protein interactions.
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Comprehensive Glycoscience, Four-Volume Set, Volume 1-4: from Chemistry to Systems Biology
Manufacturer: Elsevier Science
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ASIN: 044452746X |
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Carbohydrates are an important part of life and are present in bacteria, fungi, viruses, yeast, plants, animals and humans.
The rapid expansion of chemistry and glycobiology over the last few years has provided many new, imaginative and efficient techniques which provide further insight into the structures and biological interactions of carbohydrates and glycostructures.
This work has a very broad scope and will appeal to a wide audience as it explores the interactions between biology, chemistry and molecular biology towards understanding, synthesising and developing glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglyans and polysaccharides, which are important molecules in nature for controlling health and disease and food and feed.
Glycocompounds reviewed include: oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycoconjugates, lectins, cellulose, pectins and starch.
Topics covered include: spectroscopy, nomenclature, structures, synthesis, biosynthesis, molecular interactions, degradation, biochemistry, glycobiology, glycotherapeutics and diseases.
· Combines multiple aspects of glycoscience in one comprehensive work
· Documents the new and rapid expansion of carbohydrate chemistry and glycobiology over the last few years
· Highlights the many new, imaginative and efficient techniques for providing insights into carbohydrates and glycostructures
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Plasticity and Geotechnics (Advances in Mechanics and Mathematics)
Hai-Sui Yu
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 0387335978 |
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Plasticity and Geotechnics is the first attempt to summarize and present, in one volume, the major developments achieved to date in the field of plasticity theory for geotechnical materials and its applications to geotechnical analysis and design. The author believes that there is an urgent need for the geotechnical and solid mechanics community to have a unified presentation of plasticity theory and its application to geotechnical engineering.
In its thorough, comprehensive treatment of the subject, the book covers classical, recent, and modern developments of appropriate constitutive theories of stress-strain relations for geomaterials and a wide range of analytical and computational techniques that are available for solving geotechnical design problems. The emphasis is on key concepts behind the most useful theoretical developments, the inter-relation of these concepts, and their implementation in numerical procedures for solving practical problems in geotechnical engineering.
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Computational studies of RNA and DNA (Challenges and Advances in Computational Chemistry and Physics)
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ASIN: 1402047940 |
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Computational Studies of RNA and DNA includes, in an integrated way, modern computational studies of nucleic acids, ranging from advanced electronic structure quantum chemical calculations through explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations up to mesoscopic modelling, with the main focus given to the MD field. It gives an equal emphasis to the leading methods and applications while successes as well as pitfalls of the computational techniques are discussed.
The systems and problems studied include:
- Accurate calculations of base pairing energies
- Electronic properties of nucleic acids and electron transfer, through various types of nucleic acid
- Calculating DNA elasticity
This book is ideally suited to academics and researchers in organic and computational chemistry as well as biochemistry and particularly those interested in the molecular modelling of nucleic acids.
Besides the state-of-the art science, the book also provides introductory information to non-specialists to enter and understand this field.
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Applications of Soft Computing: Recent Trends (Advances in Soft Computing)
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ASIN: 3540291237 |
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Soft Computing is a complex of methodologies that embraces approximate reasoning, imprecision, uncertainty and partial truth in order to mimic the remarkable human capability of making decisions in real-life, ambiguous environments. Soft Computing has therefore become popular in developing systems that encapsulate human expertise. Applications of Soft Computing: Recent Trends contains a collection of papers that were presented at the 10th Online World Conference on Soft Computing in Industrial Applications, held in September 2005. This carefully edited book provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the industrial applications of soft computing and covers a wide range of application areas, including optimisation, data analysis and data mining, computer graphics and vision, prediction and diagnosis, design, intelligent control, and traffic and transportation systems. The book is aimed at researchers and professional engineers who are engaged in developing and applying intelligent systems. It is also suitable as wider reading for science and engineering postgraduate students.
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Advances in Web Intelligence and Data Mining (Studies in Computational Intelligence)
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ASIN: 3540338799 |
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The Internet has become a major communication medium, where virtually any kind of content can be transferred instantly and reliably between individual users and entire organizations located in any part of the globe. Consequently, more effective and efficient methods and technologies are needed to make the most of the Web's nearly unlimited potential. The new Web-related research directions include intelligent methods usually associated with the fields of computational intelligence, soft computing, and data mining. This book presents state-of-the-art developments in the area of computationally intelligent methods applied to various aspects and ways of Web exploration and Web mining. Some novel data mining algorithms that can lead to more effective and intelligent Web-based systems are also described. Scientists, engineers, and research students are expected to find many inspiring ideas in this volume.
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Advances in Smart Technologies in Structural Engineering (Computational Methods in Applied Sciences)
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 3540223312 |
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This book collects invited lectures presented at the AMAS & ECCOMAS Workshop/Thematic Conference SMART’03 on Smart Materials and Structures. The conference was held in Jadwisin, Poland near Warsaw, 2-5 September 2003. It was organized by the Advanced Materials and Structures (AMAS) Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research (IFTR) in Warsaw and ECCOMAS – the European Community on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and SMART-TECH Centre at IFTR. The goal of the workshop was to bring together and consolidate the community of Smart Materials and Structures in Europe. The workshop program was grouped into the topics Structural Control, Vibration Control and Dynamics, Damage Identification, and Smart Materials.
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Recent Advances in Coupled-Cluster Methods (Recent Advances in Computational Chemistry, Vol. 3)
Manufacturer: World Scientific Publishing Company
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ASIN: 9810231121 |
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Today, coupled-cluster (CC) theory has emerged as the most accurate, widely applicable approach for the correlation problem in molecules. Furthermore, the correct scaling of the energy and wavefunction with size (i.e. extensivity) recommends it for studies of polymers and crystals as well as molecules. CC methods have also paid dividends for nuclei, and for certain strongly correlated systems of interest in field theory.
In order for CC methods to have achieved this distinction, it has been necessary to formulate new, theoretical approaches for the treatment of a variety of essential quantities. These include properties and, particularly, analytical first derivatives (gradients) that readily provide the forces on the atoms in a molecule to facilitate searching potential energy surfaces for structures and transition states; second derivatives (Hessians) which indicate the type of extremum point and provide vibrational frequencies and intensities; excited, ionized, and electron attached states including their properties; multi-configurational reference functions to add important non-dynamic correlation; and relativistic effects.
This book addresses very recent work in each of the above topics in ten chapters written by leading experts in molecular CC theory. This is NOT a collection of reviews, but is, instead, forefront research explained in an unusually clear exposition. Each chapter presents new results and formulations that offer another step toward providing the next generation of powerful CC solutions.
The gap that often exists between text books and research can be more of a chasm in highly technical fields like CC theory, but this volume helps to fill the void, as it provides a sequel to a graduate level course in CC theory and many-electron methods. Essentially all current directions for new research are well represented in the authoritative articles.
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Computational Analysis of Visual Motion (Advances in Computer Vision and Machine Intelligence)
Amar Mitiche
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
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Machine Vision
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ASIN: 030644786X |
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Image motion processing is important to machine vision systems because it can lead to the recovery of 3D structure and motion. Author Amar Mitiche offers a comprehensive mathematical treatment of this key subject in visual systems research. Mitiche examines the interpretation of point correspondences as well as the interpretation of straight line correspondences and optical flow. In addition, the author considers interpretation by knowledge-based systems and presents the relevant mathematical basis for 3D interpretation.
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Computational Modeling Of Tissue Surgery (Advances in Bioengineering)
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishers
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ASIN: 1853127493 |
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In recent decades, the evolution of computational modeling has been primarily determined by the increasing power and speed of data transfer, visualization and other technological tools. This positive impact has inspired a new approach to study the human body and its structures. Written by respected researchers from a range of disciplines, this book provides valuable information on different methods of modeling, simulation and analysis of hard and soft tissues. These techniques aim to develop tools that can offer a meaningful input to the medical practice. The applications of computational modeling in biomechanics are vast, with many different trends having been developed worldwide. This book reviews the latest research on a selection of key issues.
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Network Economics: A Variational Inequality Approach (Advances in Computational Economics)
A. Nagurney
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 0792383508 |
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The second and revised edition of Network Economics: A Variational Inequality Approach provides an updated treatment of network economics through the inclusion of new theoretical results and new applications, as well as problems for self-study purposes and/or for use in the classroom. This volume remains true to the first edition in that it provides a unified treatment of finite-dimensional variational inequalities, algorithms, and applications. Physical networks are pervasive in today's society in the form of transportation networks, telecommunication networks, energy networks, and financial networks, whereas mathematical networks provide a mechanism for studying a plethora of economic equilibrium problems through a common graphic structure. Network Economics establishes the connections among economic equilibrium problems through their network structure and demonstrates how the structure can then be used to address policy interventions, as well as to construct efficient numerical schemes for the computation of equilibria. The network framework provides not only a mechanism for the graphic representation of economic problems and a means for visualizing their similarities and differences, but, in addition, a novel theoretical approach. Problems treated include: congested transportation systems, oligopolistic market equilibrium problems, problems of human migration, and general financial and economic equilibrium problems. New applications covered in this second edition include environmental networks and knowledge networks.
Book Description
Richly exploited comic situations, effervescent wit, and intricate plots combine to make Sheridan's work among the best of of all English comedy. The School for Scandal (1777) is his masterpiece, a brilliantly crafted comedy of contrasts in which brothers Joseph and Charles Surface contend for Maria, with hilariously differing intentions and results. Also a work of acute comic irony, The Rivals satirizes the romantic posturing of Lydia Languish while her disguised suitor Captain Absolute's resourceful contrivances advance an ever inventive and skilfully wrought plot. Included in this edition are the opera play The Duenna and the rarely printed musical play A Trip to Scarborough, adapted from Vanbrugh's The Relapse. Sheridan's last play, The Critic, is an exuberant parody of the modish tragic drama of the day. Lampooning Sir Fretful Plagiary's absurdly bombastic historical drama during its confused stages of production, its satire never fails to delight. The texts of the plays have been newly edited by the General Editor of the Oxford World's Classics English Drama series. A fine introduction and notes on Sheridan's playhouses and critical inheritance make this an invaluable edition for study and performance alike.
Customer Reviews:
Hilarious!.......2000-05-18
This edition includes three of Sheridan's most famous works. "The Rivals" and "The Critic" are both fine plays, but the best by far is "The School for Scandal", a droll farce which lampoons gossip-mongers. The high point of the play is the famous "screen scene", in which one character after another takes refuge behind a screen to eavesdrop. The humor is sharp but never bitter, and the characters are wholly believable. It is easy to see why this play is still being performed after two hundred years.
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