Computational mechanics is a scientific discipline that marries physics, computers, and mathematics to emulate natural physical phenomena. It is a technology that allows scientists to study and predict the performance of various productsâ€"important for research and development in the industrialized world. This book describes current trends and future research directions in computational mechanics in areas where gaps exist in current knowledge and where major advances are crucial to continued technological developments in the United States.

Comparative studies in information and library science published in the past ten years have reflected a broad spectrum of backgrounds, interests, and issues, but until now services between different countries, Asian nations in particular, have never been gathered or organized into a single source. As demand from researchers, students, directors, and practitioners for pertinent literature continues to grow, there is a definite and increasing need for a focused guide to international and comparative librarianship. International and Comparative Studies in Information and Library Science: A Focus on the United States and Asian Countries consists of eighteen previously published articles divided into seven categories that address issues such as research methodologies; information policy; professional education; information organization; and school, academic, and public libraries. It also features a comprehensive bibliography of related articles, books, proceedings, and other publications in both English and Chinese and four appendixes that list curricula, journal titles, conferences, and websites relating to International and comparative librarianship available at the time of publication. With this important compilation, Yan Quan Liu and Xiaojun Cheng fill an important and previously unmet need. Book jacket.