Norman MacLeod – författare

Generally, biologists and mathematicians who study the shape and form of organisms have largely been working in isolation from those who work on evolutionary relationships through the analysis of common characteristics. Increasingly however, dialogue between the two communities is beginning to develop - but other than a handful of journal papers, there has been no formal, published discussion on this subject. This timely book summarises the interdisciplinary work that has taken place and will stimulate additional research into these topics. Any scientist working on evolutionary relationships will find this volume invaluable.

Well structured training, based on sound theoretical principles, can transform the system in which high performance is essential and in turn, the organisation. Yet the strategic role of cost-effective training provision is often less well understood than it might be in all branches of aviation - whether civil or regional, general, business or military. This book analyzes the cycle of training design from the identification of requirement through to measurement of effectiveness. Key issues in training design and management are illustrated with examples and learning is consolidated through case studies. The book provides advice, tools, procedures and examples of best practice - both recent and well-established - to assist aviation training personnel who aim to guarantee cost-effective training. The approach is highly practical, but does not avoid covering the theory when needed. An informative guide to the process of training analysis and course design, the book examines each stage of the training design cycle in some depth. In addition, it looks at the application of quality management and of project management to training design. Each chapter contains advice and techniques, as well as examples drawn from the author's wealth of experience of training in aviation.

The automated identification of biological objects or groups has been a dream among taxonomists and systematists for centuries. However, progress in designing and implementing practical systems for fully automated taxon identification has been frustratingly slow. Regardless, the dream has never died. Recent developments in computer architectures and innovations in software design have placed the tools needed to realize this vision in the hands of the systematics community, not several years hence, but now. And not just for DNA barcodes or other molecular data, but for digital images of organisms, digital sounds, digitized chemical data - essentially any type of digital data.Based on evidence accumulated over the last decade and written by applied researchers, Automated Taxon Identification in Systematics explores contemporary applications of quantitative approaches to the problem of taxon recognition. The book begins by reviewing the current state of systematics and placing automated taxon identification in the context of contemporary trends, needs, and opportunities. The chapters present and evaluate different aspects of current automated system designs. They then provide descriptions of case studies in which different theoretical and practical aspects of the overall group-identification problem are identified, analyzed, and discussed.A recurring theme through the chapters is the relationship between taxonomic identification, automated group identification, and morphometrics. This collection provides a bridge between these communities and between them and the wider world of applied taxonomy. The only book-length treatment that explores automated group identification in systematic context, this text also includes introductions to basic aspects of the fields of contemporary artificial intelligence and mathematical group recognition for the entire biological community.

The book provides a data-driven approach to real-world crew resource management (CRM) applicable to commercial pilot performance. It addresses the shift to a systems-based resilience thinking that aims to understand how worker performance provides a buffer against failure. This book will be the first to bring these ideas together.Taking a competence-based approach offers a more coherent, relevant approach to CRM. The book presents relevant, real-world examples of the concepts and outlines a change in thinking around pilot performance and data interpretation that is overdue.Airlines, pilots and aviation industry professionals will benefit from the insights into organisational design and alternative approaches to training.FEATURES Approaches CRM from a competence-based perspective Uses a systems model to bring coherence to CRM Includes a chapter on using blended learning and virtual reality to deliver CRM Features research on work/life balance, morale, pilot fatigue and link to error Operationalises ‘resilience engineering’ in a crew context

The book provides a data-driven approach to real-world crew resource management (CRM) applicable to commercial pilot performance. It addresses the shift to a systems-based resilience thinking that aims to understand how worker performance provides a buffer against failure. This book will be the first to bring these ideas together.Taking a competence-based approach offers a more coherent, relevant approach to CRM. The book presents relevant, real-world examples of the concepts and outlines a change in thinking around pilot performance and data interpretation that is overdue.Airlines, pilots and aviation industry professionals will benefit from the insights into organisational design and alternative approaches to training.FEATURES Approaches CRM from a competence-based perspective Uses a systems model to bring coherence to CRM Includes a chapter on using blended learning and virtual reality to deliver CRM Features research on work/life balance, morale, pilot fatigue and link to error Operationalises ‘resilience engineering’ in a crew context

Generally, biologists and mathematicians who study the shape and form of organisms have largely been working in isolation from those who work on evolutionary relationships through the analysis of common characteristics. Increasingly however, dialogue between the two communities is beginning to develop - but other than a handful of journal papers, there has been no formal, published discussion on this subject. This timely book summarises the interdisciplinary work that has taken place to date and will stimulate additional research into these topics. Any scientist working on evolutionary relationships will find this volume invaluable.

PaleoBase represents a unique combination of up-to-date systematic information on an extensive collection of fossil genera, state-of-the-art color digital photographs of representative specimens from The Natural History Museum's unrivalled paleontological collections, and modern relational database technology.PaleoBase provides an important new tool for the teaching of life history in a wide variety of advanced secondary, undergraduate, and graduate courses (e.g., paleontology, historical geology, stratigraphy, paleoceanography, paleobiogeography). Instructors will find the database a rich resource for lecture presentations, discussions, and laboratory exercises. Students will find PaleoBase an invaluable addition to traditional textbooks, and a key reference source for basic systematic paleontology. High-quality zoomable digital imagesComplete systematic, life-habit and paleoecological descriptions by taxonomic specialists from The Natural History Museum, LondonChronostratigraphic and paleogeographic distributionGlossary of terms and bibliographyFull search either by name, age, chronostratigraphy, or morphologyMorphological keys and labelled imagesPaleoBase Macrofossils Part 3 contains over 350 records of Cnidaria, Echinoderms (incl. asteroids, blastoids, carpoids, crinoids, cyclocystoids, cystoids, echinoids, edrioasteroids, edrioblastoids, eocrinoids, helicoplacoids, holothurians, and ophiuroids), Sponges, and 'Problematica' (incl. early metazoans) fossil groups. These fossil genera are illustrated with over 1,500 color digital images of specimens. This fully relational database includes full genus descriptions, chronostratigraphy, paleoecology, of bibliography of over 500 references to the primary research literature, a glossary of over 600 morphological terms, and an interactive identification key.For an online demonstration and guided tour of PaleoBase: Macrofossils please visit: www.paleobase.com/For an information brochure, or for any queries, please e-mail paleobase.support@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com

An introduction to the application of quantitative methods for inferring the historical order of deep-time stratigraphic eventsMany earth scientists today collect data using methods that would have been familiar to their nineteenth-century predecessors. Modern quantitative-analysis methods, designed to promote data integration and explore patterns in the data, are available but remain underutilized in stratigraphic analysis. Moreover, few university-level instructional programs provide training in the use of these powerful tools. To fill this gap, this book offers an introduction to quantitative methods by which stratigraphic data can be integrated and the historical order of stratigraphic events inferred. Its emphasis is on providing a deep understanding of the concepts, data, and assumptions that underpin each procedure while also viewing these approaches in practical earth-science contexts.Features include:• A stand-alone overview that covers the history of using quantitative methods to analyze stratigraphic event orders, a classification of mathematical techniques used, and practical challenges• A background section for those not familiar with stratigraphic concepts and terms• Detailed discussions of theory, methods, and applications of linear deterministic, probabilistic, and optimization search-based approaches along with hybrid procedures• Dedicated discussion of two widely applied supplementary analyses: cyclostratigraphy and taxon richness analysis

An introduction to the application of quantitative methods for inferring the historical order of deep-time stratigraphic eventsMany earth scientists today collect data using methods that would have been familiar to their nineteenth-century predecessors. Modern quantitative-analysis methods, designed to promote data integration and explore patterns in the data, are available but remain underutilized in stratigraphic analysis. Moreover, few university-level instructional programs provide training in the use of these powerful tools. To fill this gap, this book offers an introduction to quantitative methods by which stratigraphic data can be integrated and the historical order of stratigraphic events inferred. Its emphasis is on providing a deep understanding of the concepts, data, and assumptions that underpin each procedure while also viewing these approaches in practical earth-science contexts.Features include:• A stand-alone overview that covers the history of using quantitative methods to analyze stratigraphic event orders, a classification of mathematical techniques used, and practical challenges• A background section for those not familiar with stratigraphic concepts and terms• Detailed discussions of theory, methods, and applications of linear deterministic, probabilistic, and optimization search-based approaches along with hybrid procedures• Dedicated discussion of two widely applied supplementary analyses: cyclostratigraphy and taxon richness analysis

Building Safe Systems in Aviation provides a single source for those who need to progress beyond current models of Crew Resource Management (CRM) to developing safe systems in critical industries. Although the primary focus is on airline pilots, the principles apply to all sectors of aviation, particularly maintenance and cabin crew, as well as other high-risk industries. It systematically sets out the context of CRM and safe systems, the conduct of training, the resources needed by the facilitator and the processes required for the measurement of outcomes. Part One reviews the development of the human factors/CRM domain and examines the concepts of risk and safety. Part Two, primarily for new instructors, gives a guide to training delivery and also considers non-classroom situations, the role of debriefing, facilitation and the design of human factors courses. Part Three examines the measurement of training effectiveness, the design and implementation of behavioural markers and standardizing assessors. It concludes by looking at some of the broader issues associated with the management of CRM. The book's readership includes those who design, deliver or manage CRM and safety-related training within airlines and other companies.

The book provides a data-driven approach to real-world crew resource management (CRM) applicable to commercial pilot performance. It addresses the shift to a systems-based resilience thinking that aims to understand how worker performance provides a buffer against failure. This book will be the first to bring these ideas together.

Taking a competence-based approach offers a more coherent, relevant approach to CRM. The book presents relevant, real-world examples of the concepts and outlines a change in thinking around pilot performance and data interpretation that is overdue.

Airlines, pilots and aviation industry professionals will benefit from the insights into organisational design and alternative approaches to training.

FEATURES

Approaches CRM from a competence-based perspective

Uses a systems model to bring coherence to CRM

Includes a chapter on using blended learning and virtual reality to deliver CRM

Features research on work/life balance, morale, pilot fatigue and link to error

Operationalises ‘resilience engineering’ in a crew context

The book provides a data-driven approach to real-world crew resource management (CRM) applicable to commercial pilot performance. It addresses the shift to a systems-based resilience thinking that aims to understand how worker performance provides a buffer against failure. This book will be the first to bring these ideas together.

Taking a competence-based approach offers a more coherent, relevant approach to CRM. The book presents relevant, real-world examples of the concepts and outlines a change in thinking around pilot performance and data interpretation that is overdue.

Airlines, pilots and aviation industry professionals will benefit from the insights into organisational design and alternative approaches to training.

FEATURES

Approaches CRM from a competence-based perspective

Uses a systems model to bring coherence to CRM

Includes a chapter on using blended learning and virtual reality to deliver CRM

Features research on work/life balance, morale, pilot fatigue and link to error

Operationalises ‘resilience engineering’ in a crew context