The first comprehensive synthesis on development and evolution: it applies to all aspects of development, at all levels of organization and in all organisms, taking advantage of modern findings on behavior, genetics, endocrinology, molecular biology, evolutionary theory and phylogenetics to show the connections between developmental mechanisms and evolutionary change. This book solves key problems that have impeded a definitive synthesis in the past. It uses new concepts and specific examples to show how to relate environmentally sensitive development to the genetic theory of adaptive evolution and to explain major patterns of change. In this book development includes not only embryology and the ontogeny of morphology, sometimes portrayed inadequately as governed by "regulatory genes," but also behavioral development and physiological adaptation, where plasticity is mediated by genetically complex mechanisms like hormones and learning. The book shows how the universal qualities of phenotypes--modular organization and plasticity--facilitate both integration and change. Here you will learn why it is wrong to describe organisms as genetically programmed; why environmental induction is likely to be more important in evolution than random mutation; and why it is crucial to consider both selection and developmental mechanism in explanations of adaptive evolution. This book satisfies the need for a truly general book on development, plasticity and evolution that applies to living organisms in all of their life stages and environments. Using an immense compendium of examples on many kinds of organisms, from viruses and bacteria to higher plants and animals, it shows how the phenotype is reorganized during evolution to produce novelties, and how alternative phenotypes occupy a pivotal role as a phase of evolution that fosters diversification and speeds change. The arguments of this book call for a new view of the major themes of evolutionary biology, as shown in chapters on gradualism, homology, environmental induction, speciation, radiation, macroevolution, punctuation, and the maintenance of sex. No other treatment of development and evolution since Darwin's offers such a comprehensive and critical discussion of the relevant issues. Developmental Plasticity and Evolution is designed for biologists interested in the development and evolution of behavior, life-history patterns, ecology, physiology, morphology and speciation. It will also appeal to evolutionary paleontologists, anthropologists, psychologists, and teachers of general biology.

What if you had the power to change your brain for the better? In Soft-Wired, Dr. Michael Merzenich--a world authority on brain plasticity--explains how the brain rewires itself across the lifespan, and how you can take control of that process to improve your life. In addition to fascinating descriptions of how your brain has produced your unique memories, skills, quirks, and emotions, Soft-Wired offers sound advice for evaluating your brain and gives clear, specific, scientifically proven guidance for how to rejuvenate, remodel, and reshape your brain to improve it at any age.

Plasticity is concerned with the mechanics of materials deformed beyond their elastic limit. A strong knowledge of plasticity is essential for engineers dealing with a wide range of engineering problems, such as those encountered in the forming of metals, the design of pressure vessels, the mechanics of impact, civil and structural engineering, as well as the understanding of fatigue and the economical design of structures. Theory of Plasticity is the most comprehensive reference on the subject as well as the most up to date -- no other significant Plasticity reference has been published recently, making this of great interest to academics and professionals. This new edition presents extensive new material on the use of computational methods, plus coverage of important developments in cyclic plasticity and soil plasticity. - A complete plasticity reference for graduate students, researchers and practicing engineers; no other book offers such an up to date or comprehensive reference on this key continuum mechanics subject - Updates with new material on computational analysis and applications, new end of chapter exercises - Plasticity is a key subject in all mechanical engineering disciplines, as well as in manufacturing engineering and civil engineering. Chakrabarty is one of the subject's leading figures.

There have been many excellent books written on the subject of plastic deformation in solids, but rarely can one find a textbook on this subject. “Plasticity Modeling & Computation” is a textbook written specifically for students who want to learn the theoretical, mathematical, and computational aspects of inelastic deformation in solids. It adopts a simple narrative style that is not mathematically overbearing, and has been written to emulate a professor giving a lecture on this subject inside a classroom. Each section is written to provide a balance between the relevant equations and the explanations behind them. Where relevant, sections end with one or more exercises designed to reinforce the understanding of the “lecture.” Color figures enhance the presentation and make the book very pleasant to read. For professors planning to use this textbook for their classes, the contents are sufficient for Parts A and B that can be taught in sequence over a period of two semesters or quarters.

Plasticity is concerned with understanding the behavior of metals and alloys when loaded beyond the elastic limit, whether as a result of being shaped or as they are employed for load bearing structures. Basic Engineering Plasticity delivers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the theories of plasticity. It draws upon numerical techniques and theoretical developments to support detailed examples of the application of plasticity theory. This blend of topics and supporting textbook features ensure that this introduction to the science of plasticity will be valuable for a wide range of mechanical and manufacturing engineering students and professionals. - Brings together the elements of the mechanics of plasticity most pertinent to engineers, at both the micro- and macro-levels - Covers the theory and application of topics such as Limit Analysis, Slip Line Field theory, Crystal Plasticity, Sheet and Bulk Metal Forming, as well as the use of Finite Element Analysis - Clear and well-organized with extensive worked engineering application examples, and end of chapter exercises

The aim of Plasticity Theory is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the contemporary state of knowledge in basic plasticity theory and to its applications. It treats several areas not commonly found between the covers of a single book: the physics of plasticity, constitutive theory, dynamic plasticity, large-deformation plasticity, and numerical methods, in addition to a representative survey of problems treated by classical methods, such as elastic-plastic problems, plane plastic flow, and limit analysis; the problem discussed come from areas of interest to mechanical, structural, and geotechnical engineers, metallurgists and others. The necessary mathematics and basic mechanics and thermodynamics are covered in an introductory chapter, making the book a self-contained text suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, as well as a reference for practitioners of solid mechanics.

The subject of computational plasticity encapsulates the numerical methods used for the finite element simulation of the behaviour of a wide range of engineering materials considered to be plastic – i.e. those that undergo a permanent change of shape in response to an applied force. Computational Methods for Plasticity: Theory and Applications describes the theory of the associated numerical methods for the simulation of a wide range of plastic engineering materials; from the simplest infinitesimal plasticity theory to more complex damage mechanics and finite strain crystal plasticity models. It is split into three parts - basic concepts, small strains and large strains. Beginning with elementary theory and progressing to advanced, complex theory and computer implementation, it is suitable for use at both introductory and advanced levels. The book: Offers a self-contained text that allows the reader to learn computational plasticity theory and its implementation from one volume. Includes many numerical examples that illustrate the application of the methodologies described. Provides introductory material on related disciplines and procedures such as tensor analysis, continuum mechanics and finite elements for non-linear solid mechanics. Is accompanied by purpose-developed finite element software that illustrates many of the techniques discussed in the text, downloadable from the book’s companion website. This comprehensive text will appeal to postgraduate and graduate students of civil, mechanical, aerospace and materials engineering as well as applied mathematics and courses with computational mechanics components. It will also be of interest to research engineers, scientists and software developers working in the field of computational solid mechanics.

"The author begins by defining phenotypic plasticity and detailing its history, including important experiments and methods of statistical and graphical analysis. He then provides extended examples and discussion of the molecular basis of plasticity, the plasticity of development, the ecology of plastic responses, and the role of costs and constraints in the evolution of plasticity. A brief epilogue looks at how plasticity studies shed light on the nature/nurture debate in the popular media.".

Cyclic Plasticity of Metals: Modeling Fundamentals and Applications provides an exhaustive overview of the fundamentals and applications of various cyclic plasticity models including forming and spring back, notch analysis, fatigue life prediction, and more. Covering metals with an array of different structures, such as hexagonal close packed (HCP), face centered cubic (FCC), and body centered cubic (BCC), the book starts with an introduction to experimental macroscopic and microscopic observations of cyclic plasticity and then segues into a discussion of the fundamentals of the different cyclic plasticity models, covering topics such as kinematics, stress and strain tensors, elasticity, plastic flow rule, and an array of other concepts. A review of the available models follows, and the book concludes with chapters covering finite element implementation and industrial applications of the various models. - Reviews constitutive cyclic plasticity models for various metals and alloys with different cell structures (cubic, hexagonal, and more), allowing for more accurate evaluation of a component's performance under loading - Provides real-world industrial context by demonstrating applications of cyclic plasticity models in the analysis of engineering components - Overview of latest models allows researchers to extend available models or develop new ones for analysis of an array of metals under more complex loading conditions

This book brings together some 20 chapters on state-of-the-art research in the broad field of computational plasticity with applications in civil and mechanical engineering, metal forming processes, geomechanics, nonlinear structural analysis, composites, biomechanics and multi-scale analysis of materials, among others. The chapters are written by world leaders in the different fields of computational plasticity.