Book Description
Everyone knows the small-world phenomenon: soon after meeting a stranger, we are surprised to discover that we have a mutual friend, or we are connected through a short chain of acquaintances. In his book, Duncan Watts uses this intriguing phenomenon--colloquially called "six degrees of separation"--as a prelude to a more general exploration: under what conditions can a small world arise in any kind of network?
The networks of this story are everywhere: the brain is a network of neurons; organisations are people networks; the global economy is a network of national economies, which are networks of markets, which are in turn networks of interacting producers and consumers. Food webs, ecosystems, and the Internet can all be represented as networks, as can strategies for solving a problem, topics in a conversation, and even words in a language. Many of these networks, the author claims, will turn out to be small worlds.
How do such networks matter? Simply put, local actions can have global consequences, and the relationship between local and global dynamics depends critically on the network's structure. Watts illustrates the subtleties of this relationship using a variety of simple models---the spread of infectious disease through a structured population; the evolution of cooperation in game theory; the computational capacity of cellular automata; and the sychronisation of coupled phase-oscillators.
Watts's novel approach is relevant to many problems that deal with network connectivity and complex systems' behaviour in general: How do diseases (or rumours) spread through social networks? How does cooperation evolve in large groups? How do cascading failures propagate through large power grids, or financial systems? What is the most efficient architecture for an organisation, or for a communications network? This fascinating exploration will be fruitful in a remarkable variety of fields, including physics and mathematics, as well as sociology, economics, and biology.
Customer Reviews:
All the details you need to know to understand Watts' and Strogatz' famous article.......2007-03-12
The book basically gives all the details needed to understand Watts and Strogatz famous Nature article 'Collective Dynamics of Complex Networks' in 1998. I think that it is basically Watts PhD-thesis and as such it is of course nicely written, but nothing for the laymen who is rather referred to Watts other, more story-telling book 'Six Degrees', Barabasi's book 'Linked', or to another book that I would recommend most, namely the one by Mark Buchanan titled 'Small Worlds'. Mark is a skillful scientific writer and his book has a broader scope that makes it more interesting than each of the two monographs that are a bit more focused on the scientists own contribution.
Not enough contents to be a good book.......2005-07-08
Networks are since a couple of years object of intense research in several different disciplines. One reason therefore is certainly the outstanding article by Watts and Strogatz, Collective dynamics of small world networks, Nature, 393:440--442, 1998. Unfortunatelly, this book can not continue the high level of this article. Actually, it does not really provide much more information than the article itself. I would suggest to read the article cited above and either decide for another book or to look directly in the literature and read the origninal articles.
To summarize, this book is not terribly weak, but one can clearly sees that it swims on the current 'complex networks' wave without providing enough justification for its existence. Of course, if you do not have access to the original literature and just what to have a general overview of complex networks and what be done with them, you may consider buying this book.
Good, but some typos.......2005-06-02
Mathematical level: Moderate; there's no calculus, and little high level math, but the book is quite mathematical in tone, and some of the arguments may be difficult to follow without a good "math sense". There are MANY equations and graphs.
Good points: Watts covers an area that will interest those who deal with mathematical models of social networks e.g. models of disease-spread, especially HIV. It might, however, cover other things that can spread through networks as well. He presents analysis of graphs (or networks) that are neither random nor highly structured; and begins to examine ways that the degree of structure v. randomness can be measured.
Bad points: There are more than the usual number of typos. The models presented are a "first step", only.
Inspiring.......2001-07-24
The author believes that human thought might be a small world, in the sense that one could reach any idea if he/she finds the right associations and "short-cut"s. The small-world theory is indeed one of those short cuts itself. It links many different domains and uncovers some interesting common behavior.
The theory is developed in a scientific manner with extensive numerical support. Rich literature reviews and many open questions make this book a good research reference. Complex observations are generally followed by qualitative explanations. However, some of the simpler derivations are not fully clear. I believe that adding a few lines here and there can turn this book into a textbook.
The book spans many different areas of science and a deep understanding of the related results may require some background. However, each chapter ends with a brief summary, allowing the reader to move forward if he/she finds the chapter difficult. In summary, as the author puts it, the book is simply the "end of the beginning" in an exciting new field.
Great scientific synthesis.......2000-07-12
The book takes a systematic look at the 'small world' graphs. These natural graphs have been discovered by graph theoretist as erly as 60's, but were not properly understood. The graphs are remarkable in their ability to cluster and scale lengths. There are fundumental connections between these graphs and complex systems, discrete dynamical systems, computation and information processing. Duncan has done a tremendous job in building experimetal and theoretical models trying to understand how these graphs come about and sustain themselves. Read this book.
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System Dynamics: Modeling and Simulation of Mechatronic Systems
Dean C. Karnopp
Manufacturer: Wiley
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Product Design
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Manufacturing Processes for Engineering Materials (5th Edition)
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Mechatronics: An Integrated Approach
ASIN: 0471709654 |
Book Description
A revision of the bestselling system dynamics book using the bond graph approach
System Dynamics is a cornerstone resource for engineers faced with the evermore-complex job of designing mechatronic systems involving any number of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and magnetic subsystems. This updated Fourth Edition offers the latest coverage on one of the most important design tools today-bond graph modeling-the powerful, unified graphic modeling language.
The only comprehensive guide to modeling, designing, simulating, and analyzing dynamic systems comprising a variety of technologies and energy domains, System Dynamics, Fourth Edition continues the previous edition's step-by-step approach to creating dynamic models. The first six chapters have been improved to make the material much more understandable for those unfamiliar with physical system modeling. The presentation starts with the basic elements and leads to sophisticated mathematical models suitable for automated computer simulation. The new edition incorporates the authors' vast experience in teaching the topics to undergraduate and graduate students over many years and features expanded coverage of topics including:
* New expositions of modeling methods for electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems
* New sections on mechanical systems in plane and three-dimensional motion
* New sections on hydraulic and acoustic systems
This Fourth Edition continues to stress all the essentials-from basic hand formulation of simple bond graph models to the automatic simulation of complex mechatronic systems. It offers updated examples of multi-energy domain systems as well as:
* Discussions of state-of-the-art simulation software for use with bond graph models
* Presentations of a multiport modeling philosophy based on power and energy interactions
* Methods for understanding system characteristics and predicting system behaviors
* The use of graphical depictions of dynamic systems that can be translated automatically into complex mathematical models for computer simulation
Customer Reviews:
Great book.......2006-03-21
This book goes into great depth on systems. You'll like it. It's considered one of the best systems books.
Book Description
The notion of six degrees of separation - that any two people on the planet can be connected by a short chain of people - inspired Strogatz and Watts to define the small world random graph, where each site is connected to close neighbours, but also has long range connections. At about the same time, it was observed in human social networks and on the internet that the number of neighbours of an individual has a power law distribution. This inspired Barabasi and Albert to define the preferential attachment model, which has these properties. These two papers led to an explosion of research, but much was nonrigorous and relied on simulations. This book uses mathematical arguments to obtain insights into these graphs. A unique feature of this book is the interest in the dynamics of process taking place on the graphs in addition to their geometric properties, like correctness and diameter.
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- A nice entry into a new trend in dynamics and limit sets.
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Graph Directed Markov Systems: Geometry and Dynamics of Limit Sets (Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics)
R. Daniel Mauldin , and
Mariusz Urbanski
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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ASIN: 0521825385 |
Book Description
The main focus of this book is on the development of the theory of Graph Directed Markov Systems. This far-reaching generalization of the theory of conformal iterated systems can be applied in many situations, including the theory of dynamical systems. Dan Mauldin and Mariusz Urbanski include much of the necessary background material to increase the appeal of this book to graduate students as well as researchers. They also include an extensive list of references for further reading.
Download Description
The main focus of this book is the exploration of the geometric and dynamic properties of a far reaching generalization of a conformal iterated function system - a Graph Directed Markov System. These systems are very robust in that they apply to many settings that do not fit into the scheme of conformal iterated systems. The basic theory is laid out here and the authors have touched on many natural questions arising in its context. However, they also emphasise the many issues and current research topics which can be found in original papers. For example the detailed analysis of the structure of harmonic measures of limit sets, the examination of the doubling property of conformal measures, the extensive study of generalized polynomial like mapping or multifractal analysis of geometrically finite Kleinian groups. This book leads readers onto frontier research in the field, making it ideal for both established researchers and graduate students.
Customer Reviews:
A nice entry into a new trend in dynamics and limit sets........2005-03-23
The geometry and dynamics of limit sets is one of the more exciting new trends in mathematics; a subject at the interface of analysis and discrete mathematics. The book is addressed to the beginning graduate level, but it will likely be useful to anyone who wishes to get a feeling for this active and new mathematical area. The examples include conformal measures, iteration of polynomial like mappings, Kleinian groups, multifractal analysis. The main topics are (by chapter) symbolic dynamics, families of functions and their conformal measures, graph and Markov systems, iterated function systems, and topics in dynamics, e.g., rigidity, parabolic systems, Hausdorff and packing measures.) Each subject is attractively presented and followed up to the level of current research.
The presentation is clear and concise, and the book can be used in the class room, or for self study. The topics progress logically, and the book represents a coherent unity of ideas, but it can also be used by anyone who wishes to learn just one part of the material, for example conformal iterated function systems.
Reviewed by Palle Jorgensen, March 2005.
Book Description
Addressing researchers and graduate students in the active meeting ground of analysis, geometry, and dynamics, this book presents a study of renormalization of quadratic polynomials and a rapid introduction to techniques in complex dynamics. Its central concern is the structure of an infinitely renormalizable quadratic polynomial f(z) = z2 + c. As discovered by Feigenbaum, such a mapping exhibits a repetition of form at infinitely many scales. Drawing on universal estimates in hyperbolic geometry, this work gives an analysis of the limiting forms that can occur and develops a rigidity criterion for the polynomial f. This criterion supports general conjectures about the behavior of rational maps and the structure of the Mandelbrot set.
The course of the main argument entails many facets of modern complex dynamics. Included are foundational results in geometric function theory, quasiconformal mappings, and hyperbolic geometry. Most of the tools are discussed in the setting of general polynomials and rational maps.
Product Description
The "infinite-dimensional groups" in the title refer to unitary groups of Hilbert spaces, the infinite symmetric group, groups of homeomorphisms of manifolds, groups of transformations of measure spaces, etc. The book presents an approach to the study of such groups based on ideas from geometric functional analysis and from exploring the interplay between dynamical properties of those groups, combinatorial Ramsey-type theorems, and the phenomenon of concentration of measure. The dynamics of infinite-dimensional groups is very much unlike that of locally compact groups. For instance, every locally compact group acts freely on a suitable compact space (Veech). By contrast, a 1983 result by Gromov and Milman states that whenever the unitary group of a separable Hilbert space continuously acts on a compact space, it has a common fixed point. In the book, this new fast-growing theory is built strictly from well-understood examples up. The book has no close counterpart and is based on recent research articles. At the same time, it is organized so as to be reasonably self-contained. The topic is essentially interdisciplinary and will be of interest to mathematicians working in geometric functional analysis, topological and ergodic dynamics, Ramsey theory, logic and descriptive set theory, representation theory, topological groups, and operator algebras.
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Combinatorial Dynamics and Entropy in Dimension One (Advanced Series in Nonlinear Dynamics, V. 5)
Lluis Alseda ,
Jaume Llibre , and
Michal Misiurewicz
Manufacturer: World Scientific Publishing Company
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- A very practical guide for Structural Design
- Formulas for Structural Dynamics
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Formulas for Structural Dynamics: Tables, Graphs and Solutions
Olga Lebed ,
Igor A. Karnovsky , and
Igor Karnovsky
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
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ASIN: 0071367128 |
Book Description
* This information-rich reference book provides solutions to the architectural problem of vibrations in beams, arches and frames in bridges, highways, buildings and tunnels
* A must-have for structural designers and civil engineers, especially those involved in the seismic design of buildings
* Well-organized into problem-specific chapters, and loaded with detailed charts, graphs, and necessary formulas
Download Description
This is the most complete up-to-date collection of frequency equations and forms of free vibrations for beams, arches, and frames that has ever been published!
Customer Reviews:
A very practical guide for Structural Design.......2001-02-01
This book has some very usefull tables, graphes and as a Professional Engineer working on design of complicated structures I found it very helpfull and practical. Congratulations to the author and I would like to see some more books by him.
Formulas for Structural Dynamics.......2001-01-30
Formulas for Structural Dynamics is a great book for engineers. Its really up to date, with all the latest formulas, tables and graphs. A must have for civil engineers.
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Engineering System Dynamics (CONTROL ENGINEERING)
Forbes T. Brown
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Control System Design: An Introduction to State-Space Methods (Dover Books on Engineering)
ASIN: 0824706161 |
Book Description
With over 1000 references, tables, equations, and illustrations, this reference covers design-motivated modeling and analysis of systems with mechanical, fluid, electrical, thermodynamic, or hybrid components. Creating effective models based on Paynterian bond graphs and constitutive characteristics, it provides case studies, guided problems, numbered and highlighted examples, and numerous assignable problems in every chapter. Offering extensive developments of conventional linear methods, an introduction to automatic control, and the approach of classical vibrations, the author employs a step-by-step pedagogy that makes advanced techniques accessible to introductory courses.
Customer Reviews:
Intuitive Modeling.......2001-10-05
I have used this text for 2 years as part of the author's engineering systems's courses at Lehigh University. I think it is an outstanding pedagogical approach to energy-based modeling. While the focus is on Bond Graph methodology,the author stresses the art of applying fundamental insight and intuition to the modeling process. An attentive reader can develop a logical and simple, yet powerful, framework for modeling a wide variety of engineering eystems. Now that I am in graduate school, I think that the mindset I developed from this text gives me a unique advantage.
There are many interesting dynamic modeling problems, including aircraft carrier landings, eardrum vibrations and even MEMS to name a few. In most cases, extracting the differential equations governing the dynamic behavior becomes a very direct procedure, following the construction of the bond graph models.
Book Description
This volume is devoted to the applications of techniques from statistical physics to the characterization and modeling of complex networks. The first two parts of the book concern theory and modeling of networks, the last two parts survey applications to a wide variety of natural and artificial networks. The tutorial reviews that form this book are aimed at students and newcomers to the field, and will also constitute a modern and comprehensive reference for experts. To this aim, all contributions have been carefully peer-reviewed not only for scientific content but also for self-consistency and readability.
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