The finite - infinite interplay is central in human thinking, from ancient philosophers and mathematicians (Zeno, Pythagoras), to modern mathe­ matics (Cantor, Hilbert) and computer science (Turing, Godel). Recent developments in mathematics and computer science suggest a) radically new answers to classical questions (e. g. , does infinity exist?, where does infinity come from?, how to reconcile the finiteness of the human brain with the infinity of ideas it produces?), b) new questions of debate (e. g. , what is the role played by randomness?, are computers capable of handling the infinity through unconventional media of computation?, how can one approximate efficiently the finite by the infinite and, conversely, the infinite by finite?). Distinguished authors from around the world, many of them architects of the mathematics and computer science for the new century, contribute to the volume. Papers are as varied as Professor Marcus' activity, to whom this volume is dedicated. They range from real analysis to DNA com­ puting, from linguistics to logic, from combinatorics on words to symbolic dynamics, from automata theory to geography, and so on, plus an incursion into the old history of conceptions about infinity and a list of philosophical "open problems". They are mainly mathematical and theoretical computer science texts, but not all of them are purely mathematical.

This book focuses on information literacy in higher education from Asian countries. It explores the changing concepts, philosophies, learning environments, and technological environments of information literacy and discusses how information literacy education in universities should be carried out in the context of the information literacy framework. It also analyses the research focus and trends of information literacy education in universities in the past ten years worldwide and Asia by using the bibliometric method as well as the information literacy education models of universities in Asian countries. In addition, this book also explains the current status of information literacy education and related issues in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Linear algebra is one of the most important subjects in the study of science and engineering because of its widespread applications in social or natural science, computer science, physics, or economics. As one of the most useful courses in undergraduate mathematics, it has provided essential tools for industrial scientists.