Ling Zhang

This book highlights processes, impacts and management practices of bamboo expansion occurring in areas where it is distributed around the world. Although not conceptually plant invasions, bamboo expansion has been considered an “invasion” based on its characteristics and the impacts it caused on adjacent ecosystems it expanded into, including altered element cycling, transformed soil microbial community compositions, decreased biodiversity, fluctuated primary productions, etc. However, the processes and impacts during or after complete expansion and the underlying mechanisms of successful expansion, are still unclear. The ecological effects of bamboo expansion are not given full consideration and are not thoroughly understood. Based on the latest studies, this book synthesizes research progress of bamboo expansion effects on the soil abiotic environment, soil microbial community compositions, plant characteristics, ecosystem biodiversity, element cycling process, and ecological effects of primary management practice, etc. This book will provide a thorough understanding of ecological changes following bamboo expansions, benefit the effective control of expanding bamboo with respect to decreased biodiversity and mitigation of global change, and accurate prediction and evaluation of bamboo expansion impacts currently and in the future occur around the world. This book presents critical points that need further investigation based on the latest findings, which will be helpful for ecological researchers, policymakers, forestry workers, or graduate and PhD students.

This book highlights processes, impacts and management practices of bamboo expansion occurring in areas where it is distributed around the world. Although not conceptually plant invasions, bamboo expansion has been considered an “invasion” based on its characteristics and the impacts it caused on adjacent ecosystems it expanded into, including altered element cycling, transformed soil microbial community compositions, decreased biodiversity, fluctuated primary productions, etc. However, the processes and impacts during or after complete expansion and the underlying mechanisms of successful expansion, are still unclear. The ecological effects of bamboo expansion are not given full consideration and are not thoroughly understood. Based on the latest studies, this book synthesizes research progress of bamboo expansion effects on the soil abiotic environment, soil microbial community compositions, plant characteristics, ecosystem biodiversity, element cycling process, and ecological effects of primary management practice, etc. This book will provide a thorough understanding of ecological changes following bamboo expansions, benefit the effective control of expanding bamboo with respect to decreased biodiversity and mitigation of global change, and accurate prediction and evaluation of bamboo expansion impacts currently and in the future occur around the world. This book presents critical points that need further investigation based on the latest findings, which will be helpful for ecological researchers, policymakers, forestry workers, or graduate and PhD students.

On July 19, 1048, the Yellow River breached its banks, drastically changing its course across the Hebei Plain and turning it into a delta where the river sought a path out to the ocean. This dramatic shift of forces in the natural world resulted from political deliberation and hydraulic engineering of the imperial state of the Northern Song Dynasty. It created eighty years of social suffering, economic downturn, political upheaval, and environmental changes, which reshaped the medieval North China Plain and challenged the state. Ling Zhang deftly applies textual analysis, theoretical provocation, and modern scientific data in her gripping analysis of how these momentous events altered China's physical and political landscapes and how its human communities adapted and survived. In so doing, she opens up an exciting new field of research by wedding environmental, political, economic, and social history in her examination of one of North China's most significant environmental changes.

Canada, 2004Amy Smith knows nothing of her family history until she is summoned to her ancestral home in China to collect the artifacts, papers and letters that have gathered over the years. Her mother has always shielded her from her Chinese heritage. Finally, Amy can unlock the door to her past... China, 1879In 1879, with the Opium wars at their height, 16-year-old Fong Tak-Fat boards a ship to Gold Mountain, in the Canadian rockies, determined to make a life for himself and support his family back home. He will blast rocks for the Pacific Railway, launder linens for his countrymen, and save every penny he makes to reunite his family - for his heart remains in China. Canada, 1907After twenty years, Fong's sons are finally able to escape the ruthless persecution of the Cultural Revolution - only to find that life in Canada is as second-class citizens in a country where racism is still endemic. While Fong's sons fall in love, have children and go away to war, his beloved wife must remain in China, sustaining herself only on her husband's letters. Along with the other women of the family, over the years, she will be humiliated, damaged, beaten down by fate, but - like her husband - will never lose her pride. Spanning from the 1860s to the present day, Gold Mountain Blues is an epic, richly detailed novel about family, hope and sacrifice.

On July 19, 1048, the Yellow River breached its banks, drastically changing its course across the Hebei Plain and turning it into a delta where the river sought a path out to the ocean. This dramatic shift of forces in the natural world resulted from political deliberation and hydraulic engineering of the imperial state of the Northern Song Dynasty. It created eighty years of social suffering, economic downturn, political upheaval, and environmental changes, which reshaped the medieval North China Plain and challenged the state. Ling Zhang deftly applies textual analysis, theoretical provocation, and modern scientific data in her gripping analysis of how these momentous events altered China's physical and political landscapes and how its human communities adapted and survived. In so doing, she opens up an exciting new field of research by wedding environmental, political, economic, and social history in her examination of one of North China's most significant environmental changes.

Quotient Space Based Problem Solving provides an in-depth treatment of hierarchical problem solving, computational complexity, and the principles and applications of multi-granular computing, including inference, information fusing, planning, and heuristic search.

This book aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the theory and applications of the mechanics of transversely isotropic elastic materials. There are many reasons why it should be written. First, the theory of transversely isotropic elastic materials is an important branch of applied mathematics and engineering science; but because of the difficulties caused by anisotropy, the mathematical treatments and descriptions of individual problems have been scattered throughout the technical literature. This often hinders further development and applications. Hence, a text that can present the theory and solution methodology uniformly is necessary. Secondly, with the rapid development of modern technologies, the theory of transversely isotropic elasticity has become increasingly important. In addition to the fields with which the theory has traditionally been associated, such as civil engineering and materials engineering, many emerging technologies have demanded the development of transversely isotropic elasticity. Some immediate examples are thin film technology, piezoelectric technology, functionally gradient materials technology and those involving transversely isotropic and layered microstructures, such as multi-layer systems and tribology mechanics of magnetic recording devices. Thus a unified mathematical treatment and presentation of solution methods for a wide range of mechanics models are of primary importance to both technological and economic progress.

This book aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the theory and applications of the mechanics of transversely isotropic elastic materials. There are many reasons why it should be written. First, the theory of transversely isotropic elastic materials is an important branch of applied mathematics and engineering science; but because of the difficulties caused by anisotropy, the mathematical treatments and descriptions of individual problems have been scattered throughout the technical literature. This often hinders further development and applications. Hence, a text that can present the theory and solution methodology uniformly is necessary. Secondly, with the rapid development of modern technologies, the theory of transversely isotropic elasticity has become increasingly important. In addition to the fields with which the theory has traditionally been associated, such as civil engineering and materials engineering, many emerging technologies have demanded the development of transversely isotropic elasticity. Some immediate examples are thin film technology, piezoelectric technology, functionally gradient materials technology and those involving transversely isotropic and layered microstructures, such as multi-layer systems and tribology mechanics of magnetic recording devices. Thus a unified mathematical treatment and presentation of solution methods for a wide range of mechanics models are of primary importance to both technological and economic progress.