Kings, Wise Men, or Magi? Who were these mysterious men? Were they rulers, astronomers, philosophers, or something else? Though fictional, Following Yonder Star is based on the bible and ancient texts. It paints a vivid picture of the three kings as friends setting off into the desert to follow a star, and walking humbly into the spotlight of history. This is an adventure, a spiritual trek, and an extended prayer. The story inspires us to find deeper meaning in the search for Truth. Travel with the three kings as they journey across deserts, through a suffocating moor, over a towering mountain range, and into the chamber of Herod. Throughout, they are tested by the devil and themselves. The three kings gave away everything to follow a star. Did they make the ultimate sacrifice?
Sustainable development is capturing the attention of planners, politicians and business leaders. Within the academic sphere its study is increasingly breaching disciplinary boundaries to become a focus of attention for natural and social scientists alike. But in studying such a key concept, it is vital that there is a clear definition of what it means, how it is applied on the ground, and the influence it exerts upon people's perceptions of change in the physical environment, economic activity and society. Exploring Sustainable Development is a major new text which provides a multifaceted introduction to key areas of study in this field, examining sustainability at the full range of spatial scales from the local to the global. Building on existing theory it demonstrates the unique contributions that thinking geographically about space, place and human-environment relationships can bring to the analysis of sustainable development. This book explores different interpretations of sustainable development in both theory and practice, in developed and developing countries, and in rural and urban areas. It pays particular attention to the local, national and international politics of implementation, the future of climate and energy, the role of business, and different conceptions of agricultural sustainability. This wide-ranging text is ideal for undergraduates and postgraduates in geography, environmental science, development studies, and related social and political sciences.
Selected as a Doody's Core Title for 2022! Defining the field of immunology for 40 years, Paul’s Fundamental Immunology continues to provide detailed, authoritative, up-to-date information that uniquely bridges the gap between basic immunology and the disease process. The fully revised 8th edition maintains the excellence established by Dr. William E. Paul, who passed away in 2015, and is now under new editorial leadership of Drs. Martin F. Flajnik, Nevil J. Singh, and Steven M. Holland. It’s an ideal reference and gold standard text for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, basic and clinical immunologists, microbiologists and infectious disease physicians, and any physician treating diseases in which immunologic mechanisms play a role.
The fourth and final eBook in POLITICO’s Playbook 2012 series once again provides an unprecedented minute-by-minute account of the race for the presidency. The End of the Line follows President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney as their campaign teams go all-in to win in the critical final weeks of the 2012 election. From Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” video to Clint Eastwood’s speech to an empty chair, the 2012 presidential campaign did not lack for memorable moments. In The End of the Line, POLITICO senior White House reporter Glenn Thrush and senior political reporter Jonathan Martin chronicle every hairpin turn in a race that defied the predictions of pundits and prognosticators. While some political observers considered Barack Obama’s reelection far from a sure thing, the president and his team remained resolute in their belief that they would prevail. In Boston, Mitt Romney’s advisers were just as confident that their man was headed for a smashing victory. In the end, only one of those views would be validated by events. The outcome of this election was never foreordained, however, and would ultimately be determined by two candidates, three debates, and a thousand small but critical strategic decisions. With an eye toward writing a “first draft of history,” Thrush and Martin report on the intense internal debates over ad strategy that defined the parameters of the fall campaign—including a crucial late-May decision by the Obama campaign that may have tipped the scales in the president’s favor. They provide a behind-the-scenes look at the candidates’ debate preparation sessions, and they reveal why Romney’s campaign was so confident they were going to win. The action climaxes on election night, as the opposing camps huddle nervously in their hotel suites to await the verdict of the voters. The End of the Line reveals for the first time what the Obama brain trust really thought about the agonizingly long wait for Romney’s official concession—and what happened after Obama put the telephone to his ear and heard the words “Hello, Mr. President, it’s Mitt Romney.” No one could have predicted all the twists and turns of the 2012 election—and no one was better equipped to chronicle them than the POLITICO team. The End of the Line is frontline campaign reporting at its finest, meticulously reported and compulsively readable.
A unified introduction to a variety of computational algorithms for likelihood and Bayesian inference. This third edition expands the discussion of many of the techniques presented, and includes additional examples as well as exercise sets at the end of each chapter.
In a rare, over-the-shoulder perspective of a leading scientist's own breakthroughs, Clay Swelling and Colloid Stability puts emphasis on two significant paradigm shifts in colloid science that explain particle interactions for charged plates, stacks, suspensions, and pastes as well as spherical colloids. Martin Smalley first discusses th
Created for engineers and students working with pure polymers and polymer solutions, this handbook provides up-to-date, easy to use methods to obtain specific volumes and phase equilibrium data. A comprehensive database for the phase equilibria of a wide range of polymer-solvent systems, and PVT behavior of pure polymers are given, as are accurate predictive techniques using group contributions and readily available pure component data. Two computer programs on diskettes are included. POLYPROG implements procedures given for prediction and correlation for specific volume of pure polymer liquids and calculation of vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) of polymer solutions. POLYDATA provides an easy method of accessing the data contained in the many databases in the book. Both disks require a computer with a math coprocessor. This handbook is a valuable resource in the design and operation of many polymer processes, such as polymerization, devolatilization, drying, extrusion, and heat exchange. Special Details: Hardcover with Disks. Special offer: Purchase this book along with X-131, Handbook of Diffusion and Thermal Properties of Polymers and Polymer Solutions and receive a 20 percent discount off the list or member price.
Optimization for Learning and Control Comprehensive resource providing a masters’ level introduction to optimization theory and algorithms for learning and control Optimization for Learning and Control describes how optimization is used in these domains, giving a thorough introduction to both unsupervised learning, supervised learning, and reinforcement learning, with an emphasis on optimization methods for large-scale learning and control problems. Several applications areas are also discussed, including signal processing, system identification, optimal control, and machine learning. Today, most of the material on the optimization aspects of deep learning that is accessible for students at a Masters’ level is focused on surface-level computer programming; deeper knowledge about the optimization methods and the trade-offs that are behind these methods is not provided. The objective of this book is to make this scattered knowledge, currently mainly available in publications in academic journals, accessible for Masters’ students in a coherent way. The focus is on basic algorithmic principles and trade-offs. Optimization for Learning and Control covers sample topics such as: Optimization theory and optimization methods, covering classes of optimization problems like least squares problems, quadratic problems, conic optimization problems and rank optimization. First-order methods, second-order methods, variable metric methods, and methods for nonlinear least squares problems. Stochastic optimization methods, augmented Lagrangian methods, interior-point methods, and conic optimization methods. Dynamic programming for solving optimal control problems and its generalization to reinforcement learning. How optimization theory is used to develop theory and tools of statistics and learning, e.g., the maximum likelihood method, expectation maximization, k-means clustering, and support vector machines. How calculus of variations is used in optimal control and for deriving the family of exponential distributions. Optimization for Learning and Control is an ideal resource on the subject for scientists and engineers learning about which optimization methods are useful for learning and control problems; the text will also appeal to industry professionals using machine learning for different practical applications.
After thirty five years, Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 8th Edition is still the reference of choice for comprehensive, global guidance on diagnosing and treating the most challenging infectious diseases. Drs. John E. Bennett and Raphael Dolin along with new editorial team member Dr. Martin Blaser have meticulously updated this latest edition to save you time and to ensure you have the latest clinical and scientific knowledge at your fingertips. With new chapters, expanded and updated coverage, increased worldwide perspectives, and many new contributors, Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 8th Edition helps you identify and treat whatever infectious disease you see. Get the answers to any questions you have with more in-depth coverage of epidemiology, etiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, and treatment of infectious agents than you’ll find in any other ID resource. Apply the latest knowledge with updated diagnoses and treatments for currently recognized and newly emerging infectious diseases, such as those caused by avian and swine influenza viruses. Put the latest knowledge to work in your practice with new or completely revised chapters on Influenza (new pandemic strains); New Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Virus; Probiotics; Antibiotics for resistant bacteria; Antifungal drugs; New Antivirals for hepatitis B and C; Clostridium difficile treatment; Sepsis; Advances in HIV prevention and treatment; Viral gastroenteritis; Lyme Disease; Helicobacter pylori; Malaria; Infections in immunocompromised hosts; Immunization (new vaccines and new recommendations); and Microbiome. Benefit from fresh perspectives and expanded global insights from an expanded team of American and International contributors. Martin Blaser, MD, a leading expert and Muriel G. and George W. Singer Professional of Translational Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, joins veteran PPID editors John E. Bennett, MD, and Raphael Dolin, MD to continue a legacy of excellence. Find and grasp the information you need easily and rapidly with newly added chapter summaries.
After thirty five years, Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 8th Edition is still the reference of choice for comprehensive, global guidance on diagnosing and treating the most challenging infectious diseases. Drs. John E. Bennett and Raphael Dolin along with new editorial team member Dr. Martin Blaser have meticulously updated this latest edition to save you time and to ensure you have the latest clinical and scientific knowledge at your fingertips. With new chapters, expanded and updated coverage, increased worldwide perspectives, and many new contributors, Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 8th Edition helps you identify and treat whatever infectious disease you see. Get the answers to questions you have with more in-depth coverage of epidemiology, etiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, and treatment of infectious agents than you'll find in any other infectious disease resource. Find the latest diagnoses and treatments for currently recognized and newly emerging infectious diseases, such as those caused by avian and swine influenza viruses. Put the latest knowledge to work in your practice with new or completely revised chapters on influenza (new pandemic strains); new Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus; probiotics; antibiotics for resistant bacteria; antifungal drugs; new antivirals for hepatitis B and C; Clostridium difficile treatment; sepsis; advances in HIV prevention and treatment; viral gastroenteritis; Lyme disease; Helicobacter pylori; malaria; infections in immunocompromised hosts; immunization (new vaccines and new recommendations); and microbiome. Benefit from fresh perspectives and global insights from an expanded team of international contributors. Find and grasp the information you need easily and rapidly with newly added chapter summaries. These bulleted templates include diagnosis, therapy, and prevention and are designed as a quick summary of the chapter and to enhance relevancy in search and retrieval on Expert Consult. Stay current on Expert Consult with a thorough and regularly scheduled update program that ensures access to new developments in the field, advances in therapy, and timely information. Access the information you need easily and rapidly with new succinct chapter summaries that include diagnosis, therapy, and prevention. Experience clinical scenarios with vivid clarity through a richly illustrated, full-color format that includes 1500 photographs for enhanced visual guidance.
This book contributes to re cent developments on the statistical analysis of multiple time series in the presence of regime shifts. Markov-switching models have become popular for modelling non-linearities and regime shifts, mainly, in univariate eco nomic time series. This study is intended to provide a systematic and operational ap proach to the econometric modelling of dynamic systems subject to shifts in regime, based on the Markov-switching vector autoregressive model. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical properties of Markov-switching vector autoregressive processes and the related statistical methods. The statistical concepts are illustrated with applications to empirical business cyde research. This monograph is a revised version of my dissertation which has been accepted by the Economics Department of the Humboldt-University of Berlin in 1996. It con sists mainly of unpublished material which has been presented during the last years at conferences and in seminars. The major parts of this study were written while I was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschajt (DFG), Berliner Graduier tenkolleg Angewandte Mikroökonomik and Sondeiforschungsbereich 373 at the Free University and Humboldt-University of Berlin. Work was finally completed in the project The Econometrics of Macroeconomic Forecasting founded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) at the Institute of Economies and Statistics, University of Oxford. It is a pleasure to record my thanks to these institutions for their support of my research embodied in this study.
Leading the reader from the fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry, right through to cutting-edge research at the forefront of the subject, Inorganic Chemistry, Sixth Edition is the ideal course companion for the duration of a student's degree. The authors have drawn upon their extensive teaching and research experience in updating this established text; the sixth edition retains the much-praised clarity of style and layout from previous editions, while offering an enhanced Frontiers section. Exciting new applications of inorganic chemistry have been added to this section, in particular relating to materials chemistry and medicine. This edition also sees a greater use of learning features to provide students with all the support they need for their studies. Providing comprehensive coverage of inorganic chemistry, while placing it in context, this text will enable the reader to fully master this important subject. Online Resource Centre: For registered adopters of the text: · Figures, marginal structures, and tables of data ready to download · Test bank For students: · Answers to self-tests and exercises from the book · Videos of chemical reactions · Tables for group theory · Web links · Interactive structures and other resources on www.chemtube3D.com
This textbook presents the essential scientific principles of thermodynamics in a detailed and well-structured manner for practice-oriented teaching. It conveys analytically reliable knowledge with a view to engineering application and provides the key to a quick understanding of e.g. thermal machines, heat transfer, humid air and combustion. The present English edition - in comparison to earlier German editions - has been extended to include aspects of fluid mechanics, dynamics of ideal gases and chemical thermodynamics.
Analyse wireless network performance and improve design choices for future architectures and protocols with this rigorous introduction to stochastic geometry.
By the time of Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States, he had already developed an ambitious foreign policy vision. By his own account, he sought to bend the arc of history toward greater justice, freedom, and peace; within a year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, largely for that promise. In Bending History, Martin Indyk, Kenneth Lieberthal, and Michael O’Hanlon measure Obama not only against the record of his predecessors and the immediate challenges of the day, but also against his own soaring rhetoric and inspiring goals. Bending History assesses the considerable accomplishments as well as the failures and seeks to explain what has happened. Obama's best work has been on major and pressing foreign policy challenges—counterterrorism policy, including the daring raid that eliminated Osama bin Laden; the "reset" with Russia; managing the increasingly significant relationship with China; and handling the rogue states of Iran and North Korea. Policy on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, however, has reflected serious flaws in both strategy and execution. Afghanistan policy has been plagued by inconsistent messaging and teamwork. On important "softer" security issues—from energy and climate policy to problems in Africa and Mexico—the record is mixed. As for his early aspiration to reshape the international order, according greater roles and responsibilities to rising powers, Obama's efforts have been well-conceived but of limited effectiveness. On issues of secondary importance, Obama has been disciplined in avoiding fruitless disputes (as with Chavez in Venezuela and Castro in Cuba) and insisting that others take the lead (as with Qaddafi in Libya). Notwithstanding several missteps, he has generally managed well the complex challenges of the Arab awakenings, striving to strike the right balance between U.S. values and interests. The authors see Obama's foreign policy to date as a triumph of discipline and realism over ideology. He has been neither the transformative beacon his devotees have wanted, nor the weak apologist for America that his critics allege. They conclude that his grand strategy for promoting American interests in a tumultuous world may only now be emerging, and may yet be curtailed by conflict with Iran. Most of all, they argue that he or his successor will have to embrace U.S. economic renewal as the core foreign policy and national security challenge of the future.
A comprehensive textbook on petrochemical conversion processes for petroleum and natural gas fractions as produced by refinery operations This innovative textbook provides essential links between the chemical sciences and chemical technology, between petrochemistry and hydrocarbon technology. The book brings alive key concepts forming the basis of chemical technology and presents a solid background for innovative process development. In all chapters, the processes described are accompanied by simplified flow schemes, encouraging students to think in terms of conceptual process designs. Petrochemistry: Petrochemical Processing, Hydrocarbon Technology and Green Engineering introduces students to a variety of topics related to the petrochemical industry, hydrocarbon processing, fossil fuel resources, as well as fuels and chemicals conversion. The first chapter covers the fundamentals and principals for designing several of the processes in the book, including discussions on thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, reactor calculations, and industrial catalysts. The following chapters address recent advances in hydrocarbon technology, energy technology, and sources of hydrocarbons. The book then goes on to discuss the petrochemical industry based on four basic pillars, all derived from petroleum and natural gas: Production of lower alkenes; other sources of lower alkenes; petrochemicals from C2-C3 alkenes Production of BTX aromatics; chemicals from BTX aromatics C1 technology Diversification of petrochemicals The growing importance of sustainable technology, process intensification and addressing greenhouse gas emissions is reflected throughout the book. Written for advanced students working in the areas of petrochemistry, hydrocarbon technology, natural gas, energy materials and technologies, alternative fuels, and recycling technologies the book is also a valuable reference for industrial practitioners in the oil and gas industry.
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