There are many applications of computer animation and simulation where it is necessary to model virtual crowds of autonomous agents. Some of these applications include site planning, education, entertainment, training, and human factors analysis for building evacuation. Other applications include simulations of scenarios where masses of people gather, flow, and disperse, such as transportation centers, sporting events, and concerts. Most crowd simulations include only basic locomotive behaviors possibly coupled with a few stochastic actions. Our goal in this survey is to establish a baseline of techniques and requirements for simulating large-scale virtual human populations. Sometimes, these populations might be mutually engaged in a common activity such as evacuation from a building or area; other times they may be going about their individual and personal agenda of work, play, leisure, travel, or spectator. Computational methods to model one set of requirements may not mesh well with good approaches to another. By including both crowd and individual goals and constraints into a comprehensive computational model, we expect to simulate the visual texture and contextual behaviors of groups of seemingly sentient beings. Table of Contents: Introduction / Crowd Simulation Methodology Survey / Individual Differences in Crowds / Framework (HiDAC + MACES + CAROSA) / HiDAC: Local Motion / MACES: Wayfinding with Communication and Roles / CAROSA: Functional Crowds / Initializing a Scenario / Evaluating Crowds

As online information grows dramatically, search engines such as Google are playing a more and more important role in our lives. Critical to all search engines is the problem of designing an effective retrieval model that can rank documents accurately for a given query. This has been a central research problem in information retrieval for several decades. In the past ten years, a new generation of retrieval models, often referred to as statistical language models, has been successfully applied to solve many different information retrieval problems. Compared with the traditional models such as the vector space model, these new models have a more sound statistical foundation and can leverage statistical estimation to optimize retrieval parameters. They can also be more easily adapted to model non-traditional and complex retrieval problems. Empirically, they tend to achieve comparable or better performance than a traditional model with less effort on parameter tuning. This book systematically reviews the large body of literature on applying statistical language models to information retrieval with an emphasis on the underlying principles, empirically effective language models, and language models developed for non-traditional retrieval tasks. All the relevant literature has been synthesized to make it easy for a reader to digest the research progress achieved so far and see the frontier of research in this area. The book also offers practitioners an informative introduction to a set of practically useful language models that can effectively solve a variety of retrieval problems. No prior knowledge about information retrieval is required, but some basic knowledge about probability and statistics would be useful for fully digesting all the details. Table of Contents: Introduction / Overview of Information Retrieval Models / Simple Query Likelihood Retrieval Model / Complex Query Likelihood Model / Probabilistic Distance Retrieval Model / Language Models for Special Retrieval Tasks / Language Models for Latent Topic Analysis / Conclusions

In this text we present a technical overview of the emerging field of quantum computation along with new research results by the authors. What distinguishes our presentation from that of others is our focus on the relationship between quantum computation and computer science. Specifically, our emphasis is on the computational model of quantum computing rather than on the engineering issues associated with its physical implementation. We adopt this approach for the same reason that a book on computer programming doesn't cover the theory and physical realization of semiconductors. Another distinguishing feature of this text is our detailed discussion of the circuit complexity of quantum algorithms. To the extent possible we have presented the material in a form that is accessible to the computer scientist, but in many cases we retain the conventional physics notation so that the reader will also be able to consult the relevant quantum computing literature. Although we expect the reader to have a solid understanding of linear algebra, we do not assume a background in physics. This text is based on lectures given as short courses and invited presentations around the world, and it has been used as the primary text for a graduate course at George Mason University. In all these cases our challenge has been the same: how to present to a general audience a concise introduction to the algorithmic structure and applications of quantum computing on an extremely short period of time. The feedback from these courses and presentations has greatly aided in making our exposition of challenging concepts more accessible to a general audience. Table of Contents: Introduction / The Algorithmic Structure of Quantum Computing / Advantages and Limitations of Quantum Computing / Amplitude Amplification / Case Study: Computational Geometry / The Quantum Fourier Transform / Case Study: The Hidden Subgroup / Circuit Complexity Analysis of Quantum Algorithms / Conclusions / Bibliography

For serious amateur photographers who already shoot perfectly focused, accurately exposed images but want to be more creative with a camera, here’s the book to consult. More than seventy techniques, both popular and less-familiar approaches, are covered in detail, including advanced exposure, bounced flash and candlelight, infrared, multiple images, soft-focus effects, unusual vantage points, zooming, and other carefully chosen ways to enhance photographs. The A-Z format make sit easy for readers to find a specific technique, and each one is explained in jargon-free language. Top Tips for each technique help readers achieve superb results, even on the first attempt.

About the Author

Bryan Peterson is the author of the best-selling Learning to See Creatively and writes a photography column "Picture Points," for Popular Photography Magazine. His many photographic awards include the Communication Arts Photography Annual (eight times), Print Magazine's Design Annual (four times), and the New York Art Directors Gold Award. He lives in Seattle and Lyon, France.

Here is philosophy of science the way it should be. In these pages some of the very best philosophers working today grapple with the big issues of metaphysics, language, and epistemology as they relate to science. This volume is a true introduction to a

This new edition is an introduction to design and graphic techniques aimed to help designers increase their understanding of buildings and places through drawing. For many people the camera has replaced the sketchbook, but the author argues that freehand drawing as a means of analysing and understanding buildings develops visual sensitivity and awareness of design. There is a balance of drawing techniques explained as well as guidance provided on how drawing interfaces with with photography, CAD and model making in the genesis of design projects. This second edition incorporates examples from architectural practice, including those of architects Lord Foster, Sir Terry Farrell, Edward Cullinan, Richard Murphy and Sir Nicholas Grimshaw.

About the Author

Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK

Forget reality TV stunts like eating bugs, the Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living provides in-depth instructions and step-by-step photos of real survival skills--exactly what one needs to stay alive in the woods. The book first covers immediate needs like starting a fire, erecting temporary shelter, and finding food. Then it goes beyond other survival books by explaining advanced techniques for long-term living in the wild -- using only those things found in nature. The authors show how to make tools by chipping stones, fashion a bow-and-arrow out of tree branches, weave baskets, fire primitive pots, build a semi-permanent shelter, and even tan hides. Finally, the authors explain how to bring all these skills together to live in the wilderness for days, weeks, months, or even years.

About the Author

John McPherson and Geri McPherson teach primitive wilderness living and survival skills to instructors in the U.S. Army's Special Warfare Command's survival school. They live on 46 acres of undeveloped land in the flinthills of Kansas.

The physical linkages responsible for carrying a company's data continue to be the most neglected components of the typical network-to the extent that nearly 70% of all network-related problems result from poor cabling.

In this the second edition of a much-needed and warmly welcomed book, three networking experts share their extensive experience, teaching you the cabling skills you need to build a reliable, efficient network cabling infrastructure. As you master these techniques, you'll learn to avoid common pitfalls and troubleshoot problems as quickly as they arise.

Coverage includes:
• Choosing the right cables for your network architecture and topology
• Understanding the current limitations of data communications and network cabling
• Understanding how laws and building codes constrain cabling
• Understanding the function and importance of universal cabling standards
• Selecting quality components
• Assembling a complete cabling toolkit
• Integrating voice and data on the same cable system
• Setting up an infrastructure in which desktops, printers, copiers, and other nodes share cabling
• Understanding issues of bandwidth, impedance, resistance, attenuation, crosstalk, capacitance, propagation, delay, and delay skew
• Working effectively with USB and Firewire
• Knowing when to discard legacy cabling and begin anew
• Documenting your cabling
• Creating an RFP and selecting a vendor

About the Author

David Groth, A+, Network+, CNE, and MCP, is President and Chief Consultant of Devarim, Inc., located in Fargo, ND. His other books include Network+ Study Guide and A+ Complete Study Guide, both from Sybex. Jim McBee MCSE+Internet and MCT, is a consultant and trainer based in Honolulu, HI. He specializes in Windows NT/2000 and Exchange Server. Jim is the author of Exchange Server 5.5 24Seven and contributed to Mastering Netware 5, both from Sybex. David Barnett, RCDD, has been in the wire and cable industry for nearly 20 years. The Director of Product Engineering for the Electrical Group of Superior Essex, he also writes for books and magazines, runs a cabling Web site (CablingCentral.com), and is co-owner of PnP Networks, Inc., which specializes in home and small business networking.

Until recently, the indigenous microbiota of humans has been a relatively neglected area of microbiology with most attention being focused on those microbes that cause disease in humans, rather than on those that co-exist with us in the disease-free state. However, in the past decade research has shown that not only is the indigenous microbiota involved in protecting humans from exogenous pathogens but it is also involved in our development and nutrition. Consequently, interest has grown substantially among health professionals and scientists in analyzing and understanding these microbial (largely bacterial) communities.

This comprehensive, yet accessible text provides an up-to-date guide to the development, composition and distribution of indigenous microbial communities of humans. With the aid of abundant colour figures, diagrams, tables and maps, it establishes links between the physicochemical factors prevailing at an anatomical site and the types of microbes to be found there. The book includes an introduction to the human-microbe symbiosis as well as an in-depth look at the main systems and organs of the human body that have an indigenous microbiota. Each chapter includes a list of references for further study.

This is an excellent and informative reference book that will be useful to anyone with an interest in microbiology, medical microbiology, microbial ecology, infectious diseases, immunology, human biology, medicine, dentistry, nursing, health sciences, biomedical sciences or pharmacy – it should be on the shelf of every major science and medical library.

About the Author

Michael Wilson is a Professor of Microbiology in the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at University College London and is Director of the Eastman Centre for Microbial Diseases within this university. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from University College Galway, Ireland, a Doctor of Science from the National University of Ireland and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. He has written and/or edited eight books and published more than 270 scientific papers in the fields of microbiology and infectious diseases.

Today our civilization is highly dependent upon software-intensive systems. Software-intensive systems are those systems that are highly dependent upon computing infrastructure and software for the basic functionality they provide and the properties they possess. Architecture design of software-intensive systems as a separate and distinct discipline within software engineering is about 15 years old, depending upon who you ask and how they define architecture design. System design dates back to around 1945 and formally emerged from the RAND laboratories building large government weapons and data systems. Much of this early work in systems design and engineering was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The design of large complex systems in those early years tended to focus on partitioning the system into electromechanical elements, and integrating the elements into a system. At that time data automation hardware was very large and expensive to buy and maintain. Software applications were relatively small and still insignificant in terms of complexity and cost compared to hardware. Early systems engineering approaches and techniques emerged from this domain and were deeply influenced by government, military, and large business organizations. The systems engineering community still retains much of the spirit of this domain to this day. As systems requirements became more demanding, and computer hardware became cheaper and smaller, the demand for software in these complex systems grew exponentially. Software applications grew in complexity, and the cost of software quickly rose exponentially. In many ways, traditional systems engineering approaches and methods did not, and arguably still do not, address systemic software design. Because of the role and importance of software in modern systems and the dramatic impact if poorly designed, a system must be designed holistically. Traditional systems engineering approaches emerged from the design of electromechanical systems, and systemic software design was left behind for many years by this community. What experience has shown is that the computer hardware, peripherals, software, and other electromechanical parts of the system cannot be designed and built in isolation without first designing the overall architecture of the system. This is true for embedded or IT-oriented software-intensive systems.

From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef to glorious, sophisticated cities like Sydney, this guide helps you find the Australian adventures and attractions that are right for you, whether you’d like to cuddle a koala, explore a shipwreck, swim with whale sharks, or climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It gives you the scoop on:

• The mysterious Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Red Center that has awed people for thousands of years
• Where to spot all kinds of wildlife, including kangaroos, platypuses, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, wombats, marsupials, and man-eating crocodiles
• The best places to take a beach walk or a bushwalk, where you’ll wind beneath dripping tree ferns and pounding cascades
• All kinds of activities, from boomerang- and spear-throwing instruction to hiking to snorkeling over dazzling reefs, fishing for coral trout, or discovering Australia’s best wines
• Great accommodations, ranging from luxury hotels to an African-style safari camp with air-conditioned tents to a motel with underground rooms reached by a maze of tunnels dug out of the rock
• The best places to experience Aboriginal culture and find Aboriginal arts and crafts

Like every For Dummies travel guide, Australia For Dummies includes:

• Down-to-earth trip-planning advice
• What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip
• The best hotels and restaurants for every budget
• Lots of detailed maps

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is concerned with the efficient numerical solution of the partial differential equations that describe fluid dynamics. CFD techniques are commonly used in the many areas of engineering where fluid behavior is an important factor. Traditional fields of application include aerospace and automotive design, and more recently, bioengineering and consumer and medical electronics. With Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics Techniques, 2nd edition, Rainald Löhner introduces the reader to the techniques required to achieve efficient CFD solvers, forming a bridge between basic theoretical and algorithmic aspects of the finite element method and its use in an industrial context where methods have to be both as simple but also as robust as possible.

This heavily revised second edition takes a practice-oriented approach with a strong emphasis on efficiency, and offers important new and updated material on;

• Overlapping and embedded grid methods
• Treatment of free surfaces
• Grid generation
• Optimal use of supercomputing hardware
• Optimal shape and process design

Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics Techniques, 2nd edition is a vital resource for engineers, researchers and designers working on CFD, aero and hydrodynamics simulations and bioengineering. Its unique practical approach will also appeal to graduate students of fluid mechanics and aero and hydrodynamics as well as biofluidics.