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Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood
by Oliver SacksLong before Oliver Sacks became a distinguished neurologist and bestselling writer, he was a small English boy fascinated by metals–also by chemical reactions (the louder and smellier the better), photography, squids and cuttlefish, H.G. Wells, and the periodic table. In this endlessly charming and eloquent memoir, the author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings chronicles his love affair with science and the magnificently odd and sometimes harrowing childhood in which that love affair unfolded.In Uncle Tungsten we meet Sacks’ extraordinary family, from his surgeon mother (who introduces the fourteen-year-old Oliver to the art of human dissection) and his father, a family doctor who imbues in his son an early enthusiasm for housecalls, to his “Uncle Tungsten,” whose factory produces tungsten-filament lightbulbs. We follow the young Oliver as he is exiled at the age of six to a grim, sadistic boarding school to escape the London Blitz, and later watch as he sets about passionately reliving the exploits of his chemical heroes–in his own home laboratory. Uncle Tungsten is a crystalline view of a brilliant young mind springing to life, a story of growing up which is by turns elegiac, comic, and wistful, full of the electrifying joy of discovery.
Uncoded Multimedia Transmission (Multimedia Computing, Communication and Intelligence)
by Feng Wu Chong Luo Hancheng LuAn uncoded multimedia transmission (UMT) system is one that skips quantization and entropy coding in compression and all subsequent binary operations, including channel coding and bit-to-symbol mapping of modulation. By directly transmitting non-binary symbols with amplitude modulation, the uncoded system avoids the annoying cliff effect observed in the coded transmission system. This advantage makes uncoded transmission more suited to both unicast in varying channel conditions and multicast to heterogeneous users. Particularly, in the first part of Uncoded Multimedia Transmission, we consider how to improve the efficiency of uncoded transmission and make it on par with coded transmission. We then address issues and challenges regarding how to better utilize temporal and spatial correlation of images and video in the uncoded transmission, to achieve the optimal transmission performance. Next, we investigate the resource allocation problem for uncoded transmission, including subchannel, bandwidth and power allocation. By properly allocating these resources, uncoded transmission can achieve higher efficiency and more robust performance. Subsequently, we consider the image and video delivery in MIMO broadcasting networks with diverse channel quality and varying numbers of antennas across receivers. Finally, we investigate the cases where uncoded transmission can be used in conjunction with digital transmission for a balanced efficiency and adaptation capability. This book is the very first monograph in the general area of uncoded multimedia transmission written in a self-contained format. It addresses both the fundamentals and the applications of uncoded transmission. It gives a systematic introduction to the fundamental theory and concepts in this field, and at the same time, also presents specific applications that reveal the great potential and impacts for the technologies generated from the research in this field. By concentrating several important studies and developments currently taking place in the field of uncoded transmission in a single source, this book can reduce the time and cost required to learn and improve skills and knowledge in the field. The authors have been actively working in this field for years, and this book is the final essence of their years of long research in this field. The book may be used as a collection of research notes for researchers in this field, a reference book for practitioners or engineers, as well as a textbook for a graduate advanced seminar in this field or any related fields. The references collected in this book may be used as further reading lists or references for the readers.
Unconventional Conflict: A Modeling Perspective (Understanding Complex Systems)
by Dean S. Hartley IIIThis book describes issues in modeling unconventional conflict and suggests a new way to do the modeling. It presents an ontology that describes the unconventional conflict domain, which allows for greater ease in modeling unconventional conflict. Supporting holistic modeling, which means that we can see the entire picture of what needs to be modeled, the ontology allows us to make informed decisions about what to model and what to omit. The unconventional conflict ontology also separates the things we understand best from the things we understand least. This separation means that we can perform verification, validation and accreditation (VV&A) more efficiently and can describe the competence of the model more accurately.However, before this message can be presented in its entirety the supporting body of knowledge has to be explored. For this reason, the book offers chapters that focus on the description of unconventional conflict and the analyses that have been performed, modeling, with a concentration on past efforts at modeling unconventional conflict, the precursors to the ontology, and VV&A. Unconventional conflict is a complex, messy thing. It normally involves multiple actors, with their own conflicting agendas and differing concepts of legitimate actions. This book will present a useful introduction for researchers and professionals within the field.
Unconventional Emergency Management Research (Reports of China’s Basic Research)
by Weicheng FanThis book mainly introduces the research overview, research results and follow-up prospects of “Unconventional Emergency Management Research”, a major research plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as the Plan). The Plan has carried out innovative research around major strategic fields and directions on emergency management. A total of 121 projects were funded by the Plan, including 92 Fostering Projects, 25 Key Projects and 4 Integrated Projects, with a total funding of 120 million RMB. From the perspective of major national needs and scientific discipline development, the book focuses on three key scientific issues: information processing and evolution modeling of unconventional emergencies, emergency decision-making theory of unconventional emergencies, and psychological and behavioral response laws of individuals and groups in emergency situations. The publication of this book aims to provide more powerful support for the research and exploration in public security and emergency management.
Unconventional Fossil-Based Fuels
by Joel Darmstadter Brian Shannon Aimee E. Curtright David S. Ortiz Michael TomanIn this report, RAND researchers assess the potential future production levels, production costs, greenhouse gases, and other environmental implications of synthetic crude oil from oil sands and fuels produced via coal liquefaction relative to conventional petroleum-based transportation fuels. The findings indicate the potential cost-competitiveness of these alternative fuels and potential economic-environmental trade-offs from their deployment.
Unconventional Hydrocarbon Reservoirs: Coal and Shale (Petroleum Engineering)
by Bodhisatwa Hazra Debanjan Chandra Vikram VishalThis informative book offers a comprehensive exploration of critical reservoir parameters, including quantification techniques and interpretations for evaluating these reservoirs. Readers will also gain insight into the fundamental principles of simulating gas production from coal and shale reservoirs, as well as the key input parameters for building the best-fit reservoir model. Additionally, the book explores various aspects of storing captured CO2 in these reservoirs and their potential role in preventing global temperature increases beyond pre-industrial levels.Energy from conventional petroleum reservoirs and coal has been the backbone of global energy needs for a long time. However, depletion of these fossil fuel reserves, as well as their contribution to rising greenhouse emissions, has prompted a shift to renewable energy sources. Natural gas found in unconventional coal and shale reservoirs is increasingly seen as a greener energy option, emitting approximately 45% less CO2 than conventional sources. Furthermore, due to their vast availability and capacity to sequester atmospheric CO2, unconventional coal and shale reservoirs can facilitate the transition to renewable energy resources.With a focus on achieving temperature stabilization at 1.5°C, this book offers a valuable resource for those interested in renewable energy and mitigating climate change.
Unconventional Methods for Oil & Gas Exploration in Cuba
by Osvaldo Rodríguez Morán Manuel E. Pardo EcharteThis book studies the "Redox Complex", a complex of unconventional geophysical-geochemical exploration techniques used for the indirect detection, characterization and evaluation of various metal targets, while also illustrating selected applications of unconventional geophysical-geochemical methods for oil exploration in Cuba. This complex is successfully applied in various fields: oil & gas and metal ores exploration; studies of oil and metal contaminants in soils; and the search for metallic archaeological burials. The use of these techniques is intended to complement the conventional prospecting complex by reducing areas and/or facilitating the selection of the most favorable targets, improving the economical-geological effectiveness of investigations in the process. Further, the Redox Complex can be implemented without physical or chemical damage to the environment. The book's primary goals are to: 1) outline the general features characterizing the processes of metal mobilization, transport and accumulation on surficial media; 2) outline the methodology, data interpretation and mathematical apparatus that support quantitative estimates of the Redox Complex; and 3) design a database and applications system (the Redox System) to address storage processes, reports, graphics and the corresponding interpretations of the Redox Complex in a quick and reliable way. To do so, it examines the regions of Havana-Matanzas (Varadero Oil Field, Cantel Oil Field and Madruga Prospect) and Ciego de Ávila (Pina Oil Field, Cristales Oil Field, Jatibonico Oil Field, Jatibonico Oeste Prospect and Cacahual Prospect). The methods covered include, in some cases, airborne gamma spectrometry (K/eTh ratio) beside ORP and, in others, the Redox Complex with reduced or standard attributes. In all cases, the anomalous complex of interest corresponds to the correlation of the minimum K/eTh ratio with minimum ORP and, in the case of the Redox Complex, Magnetic Susceptibility highs with ORP lows, Spectral Reflectance lows and maximum Content of Chemical Elements (V, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe).
Unconventional Optical Imaging for Biology
by Corinne Fournier Olivier HaeberléOptical imaging of biological systems has undergone spectacular development in recent years, producing a quantity and a quality of information that, just twenty years ago, could only be dreamed of by physicists, biologists and physicians. Unconventional imaging systems provide access to physical quantities – phase, absorption, optical index, the polarization property of a wave or the chemical composition of an object – not accessible to conventional measurement systems. To achieve this, these systems use special optical setups and specific digital image processing to reconstruct physical quantities. This field is also known as computational imaging. This book presents various non-conventional imaging modalities developed for the biomedical field: wave front analysis imaging, digital holography/tomography, optical nanoscopy, endoscopy and singlesensor imaging. Experimental setups and reconstruction algorithms are presented for each modality.
Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics: Shale Gas, Tight Oil, and Induced Seismicity
by Mark D. Zoback Arjun H. KohliSince the beginning of the US shale gas revolution in 2005, the development of unconventional oil and gas resources has gathered tremendous pace around the world. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the key geologic, geophysical, and engineering principles that govern the development of unconventional reservoirs. The book begins with a detailed characterization of unconventional reservoir rocks: their composition and microstructure, mechanical properties, and the processes controlling fault slip and fluid flow. A discussion of geomechanical principles follows, including the state of stress, pore pressure, and the importance of fractures and faults. After reviewing the fundamentals of horizontal drilling, multi-stage hydraulic fracturing, and stimulation of slip on pre-existing faults, the key factors impacting hydrocarbon production are explored. The final chapters cover environmental impacts and how to mitigate hazards associated with induced seismicity. This text provides an essential overview for students, researchers, and industry professionals interested in unconventional reservoirs.
Unconventional Reservoirs: A Reservoir Engineering Approach (SpringerBriefs in Petroleum Geoscience & Engineering)
by Amin Taghavinejad Mehdi Ostadhassan Reza DaneshfarThis book provides a succinct overview on the application of rate and pressure transient analysis in unconventional petroleum reservoirs. It begins by introducing unconventional reservoirs, including production challenges, and continues to explore the potential benefits of rate and pressure analysis methods. Rate transient analysis (RTA) and pressure transient analysis (PTA) are techniques for evaluating petroleum reservoir properties such as permeability, original hydrocarbon in-place, and hydrocarbon recovery using dynamic data. The brief introduces, describes and classifies both techniques, focusing on the application to shale and tight reservoirs. Authors have used illustrations, schematic views, and mathematical formulations and code programs to clearly explain application of RTA and PTA in complex petroleum systems. This brief is of an interest to academics, reservoir engineers and graduate students.
Unconventional Techniques for the Production of Light Alloys and Composites
by Jose Martin Herrera Ramirez Raul Perez Bustamante Cesar Augusto Isaza Merino Ana Maria Arizmendi MorquechoThis book addresses methods used in the synthesis of light alloys and composites for industrial applications. It begins with a broad introduction to virtually all aspects of the technology of light alloys and composite materials for aircraft and aerospace applications. The basic theory of fiber and particle reinforcements; light metallic material characteristics and composite systems; components forms, and manufacturing techniques and processes are discussed. The book then progresses to describe the production of alloys and composites by unconventional techniques, such as powder metallurgy, sandwich technique, severe plastic deformation, additive manufacturing, and thermal spray, making it appropriate for researchers in both academia and industry. It will be of special interest to aerospace engineers.Provides a broad introduction to the technology used in manufacturing light alloys and composite materials;Describes the current technologies employed in synthesizing light alloys made from advanced materials;Focuses on unconventional techniques used to produce light alloys and composites in aerospace applications.
Unconventional Tight Reservoir Simulation: Theory, Technology and Practice
by Qiquan RanThis book systematically introduces readers to the simulation theory and techniques of multiple media for unconventional tight reservoirs. It summarizes the macro/microscopic heterogeneities; the features of multiscale multiple media; the characteristics of complex fluid properties; the occurrence state of continental tight oil and gas reservoirs in China; and the complex flow characteristics and coupled production mechanism under unconventional development patterns. It also discusses the simulation theory of multiple media for unconventional tight oil and gas reservoirs; mathematic model of flow through discontinuous multiple media; geological modeling of discrete multiscale multiple media; and the simulation of multiscale, multiphase flow regimes and multiple media. In addition to the practical application of simulation and software for unconventional tight oil and gas, it also explores the development trends and prospects of simulation technology. The book is of interest to scientific researchers and technicians engaged in the development of oil and gas reservoirs, and serves as a reference resource for advanced graduate students in fields related to petroleum.
Unconventional Vehicles: Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER
by Michael HearstThink you know vehicles? Think again!Unconventional Vehicles is a nonfiction collection of 45 of the strangest, most unconventional vehicles that have ever existed.Vehicles include an underwater battery-powered scooter, a carriage pulled by ostriches, a hot air balloon shaped like the Cathedral of Saint Gall, and five different jet packs.• Filled with history, science, technology, engineering, and interesting bits of trivia, all in one kid-appealing package• Part of the Uncommon Compendiums series• Vehicles range from submersibles to dirigibles.Unconventional Vehicles explores very strange modes of transportation for vehicle fans, rocket inventors, budding space-and-aeronautics experts, and anyone who's ever thought, "Why can't I ride a motorized suitcase through the airport?" Brimming with fascinating facts and diagrams presented with wit and humor, this book is sure to enthrall vehicle enthusiasts of every age.• Ideal for children ages 8 to 12 years old, especially those interested in vehicles and engineering• Author Michael Hearst brings his signature verve and humor to this fascinating read.• Young readers will devour all the substantive and silly content in this book, proving definitively that nonfiction is anything but dry.• A great pick for teachers, parents, grandparents, and caregivers• You'll love this book if you love books like Cars, Trains, Ships, and Planes: A Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle by DK; Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections by Stephen Biesty; and Cool Cars by Quentin Willson.
Unconventional Water Resources
by Manzoor Qadir Vladimir Smakhtin Sasha Koo-Oshima Edeltraud GuentherThe world is faced with a growing number of complex and interconnected challenges. Water is among the top 5 global risks in terms of impacts, which would be far reaching beyond socio-economic challenges, impacting livelihoods and wellbeing of the people.As freshwater resources and population densities are unevenly distributed across the world, some regions and countries are already water scarce. Water scarcity is expected to intensify in regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which has 6% of the global population, but only 1% of the world’s freshwater resources. Climate change adds to this complexity as it is leading to rainfall uncertainty and extended droughts periods, mostly in arid areas.Increasing water scarcity is now recognized as a major cause of conflict, social unrest and migration and at the same time water is increasingly considered as an instrument for international cooperation to achieve sustainable development. Tapping and assessing sustainably every available option in water-scarce areas is needed as pressure continues to build on limited water resources.The stark fact is that conventional water provisioning approaches relying on snowfall, rainfall and river runoff are not enough to meet growing freshwater demand in water-scarce areas. Water-scarce countries need a radical re-think of water resource planning and management that includes the creative exploitation of a growing set of viable but unconventional water resources for food production, livelihoods, ecosystems, climate change adaption, and sustainable development. Unconventional water resources are generated as a by-product of specialized processes; need suitable pre-use treatment; require pertinent on-farm management when used for irrigation; or result from a special technology to collect/access water.
Uncovering Online Commenting Culture
by Renee BarnesIn today's digital world our social interactions often take place in the form of written comments. We chat, disagree, worship, vent, confess, and even attack in written form in public digital spaces. Drawing on scholarly literature from media and cultural studies, psychology and sociology, Uncovering Commenting Culture charts this commenting territory and outlines why we behave in these ways online. In this timely book, Renee Barnes provides a participatory model for understanding commenting culture that is based on the premise that our behaviours online-including those that cause us most the concern-are not so much an internet problem as a social problem. By looking at a wide variety of online commenting habitats, from the comment threads following news stories, through to specialist forums and social media platforms, the volume provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of online commenting in society and provides suggestions for how we might mitigate bad behaviours.
Undeniable (Nolan Kilkenny #6)
by Tom GraceEx-Navy SEAL Nolan Kilkenny receives a desperate plea for help from doctors frantic to save the life of a young boy with a deadly genetic disorder. The boy, who came to his parents through a blind adoption, has no known blood relatives. Nolan agrees to help, but as he is being prepped for surgery, the boy dies. Further genetic testing then reveals an astonishing truth: Nolan and the boy share the same biological father. Nolan must confront his own father to find out the truth behind the discovery, and uncovers a heinous blackmail plot and desperate victims and villains. <p><p> Undeniable, the sixth Nolan Kilkenny thriller from international bestselling author Tom Grace, takes Nolan into the brave new world of reproductive technology, where the building blocks of life are manipulated in a Petri dish, women lease their wombs like rental properties, and money trumps morality. In an age of rapid advances in human genetics, cloning and stem cell research, what seemed impossible just a few years ago is now a reality. DNA has been reduced from a miraculous molecule into a data storage device, and the information it contains is as easy to hack as any computer file. Undeniable is a novel that steps beyond the traditional parent-child relationship into a chilling new reproductive reality. Undeniable, the sixth Nolan Kilkenny thriller from international bestselling author Tom Grace, takes Nolan into the brave new world of reproductive technology, where the building blocks of life are manipulated in a Petri dish, women lease their wombs like rental properties, and money trumps morality. In an age of rapid advances in human genetics, cloning and stem cell research, what seemed impossible just a few years ago is now a reality. DNA has been reduced from a miraculous molecule into a data storage device, and the information it contains is as easy to hack as any computer file. Undeniable is a novel that steps beyond the traditional parent-child relationship into a chilling new reproductive reality.
Under Pressure
by Jennifer Peeples Peter K. Bsumek Steve Schwarze Jen SchneiderThis book examines five rhetorical strategies used by the US coal industry to advance its interests in the face of growing economic and environmental pressures: industrial apocalyptic, corporate ventriloquism, technological shell game, hypocrite's trap, and energy utopia. The authors argue that these strategies appeal to and reinforce neoliberalism, a discourse and set of practices that privilege market rationality and individual freedom and responsibility above all else. As the coal industry has become the leading target and leverage point for those seeking more aggressive action to mitigate climate change, their corporate advocacy may foreshadow rhetorical strategies available to other fossil fuel industries as they manage similar economic and cultural shifts. The authors' analysis of coal's corporate advocacy also identifies contradictions and points of vulnerability in the organized resistance to climate action as well as the larger ideological formation of neoliberalism.
Under The Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale
by Tom WilberRunning from southern West Virginia through eastern Ohio, across central and northeast Pennsylvania, and into New York through the Southern Tier and the Catskills, the Marcellus Shale formation underlies a sparsely populated region that features striking landscapes, critical watersheds, and a struggling economic base. It also contains one of the world's largest supplies of natural gas, a resource that has been dismissed as inaccessible-until recently. Technological developments that combine horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") have removed physical and economic barriers to extracting hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of gas from bedrock deep below the Appalachian basin. Beginning in 2006, the first successful Marcellus gas wells by Range Resources, combined with a spike in the value of natural gas, spurred a modern-day gold rush-a "gas rush"-with profound ramifications for environmental policy, energy markets, political dynamics, and the lives of the people living in the Marcellus region. Under the Surface is the first book-length journalistic overview of shale gas development and the controversies surrounding it. Control over drilling rights is at stake in the heart of Marcellus country-northeast Pennsylvania and central New York. The decisions by landowners to work with or against the companies-and the resulting environmental and economic consequences-are scrutinized by neighbors faced with similar decisions, by residents of cities whose water supply originates in the exploration area, and by those living across state lines with differing attitudes and policies concerning extraction industries. Wilber's evenhanded treatment gives a voice to all constituencies, including farmers and landowners tempted by the prospects of wealth but wary of the consequences, policymakers struggling with divisive issues, and activists coordinating campaigns based on their respective visions of economic salvation and environmental ruin. Wilber describes a landscape in which the battle over the Marcellus ranges from the very local-yard signs proclaiming landowners' allegiances for or against shale gas development-to often conflicting municipal, state, and federal legislation intended to accelerate, delay, or discourage exploration. For millions of people with a direct stake in shale gas exploration in the Marcellus or any number of other emerging shale resources in the United States and worldwide, or for those concerned about the global energy outlook, Under the Surface offers a worthwhile and engaging look at the issues.
Under the Radar
by Edward KendrickLife for Lou Travis changed drastically when, as Carlo Farro, he turned state's evidence on the two mobsters he worked for. He didn't know, when he was put into the WITSEC program, that he would end up falling in love with the marshal tasked with protecting him.Walter Brooks certainly didn't expect love to come into his life in the form of a small-time drug trafficker. But it did. Now, under the name Wayne Bourke, he, his adopted daughter Rae, and Lou own a protection business -- and have for the last seventeen years.Suddenly their lives change when Regotti, one of the mobsters Lou testified against, is released from prison. The man wants Lou dead. Can Lou, Wayne, and Rae stop him from finding them and putting his deadly plan into motion?
Under the Radar
by Richard Mcgee M GossThis is the biography of Ruby Payne-Scott (1912 to 1981). As the first female radio astronomer (and one of the first people in the world to consider radio astronomy), she made classic contributions to solar radio physics. She also played a major role in the design of the Australian government's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research radars, which were in turn of vital importance in the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II and were used by Australian, US and New Zealand personnel. From a sociological perspective, her career also offers many examples of the perils of being a female academic in the first half of the 20th century. Written in an engaging style and complemented by many historical photographs this book gives a fascinating insight into the beginning of radio astronomy and the role of a pioneering woman in astronomy.
Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale, Updated Edition
by Tom WilberRunning from southern West Virginia through eastern Ohio, across central and northeast Pennsylvania, and into New York through the Southern Tier and the Catskills, the Marcellus Shale formation underlies a sparsely populated region that features striking landscapes, critical watersheds, and a struggling economic base. It also contains one of the world's largest supplies of natural gas, a resource that has been dismissed as inaccessible—until recently. Technological developments that combine horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") have removed physical and economic barriers to extracting hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of gas from bedrock deep below the Appalachian basin. Beginning in 2006, the first successful Marcellus gas wells by Range Resources, combined with a spike in the value of natural gas, spurred a modern-day gold rush—a "gas rush"—with profound ramifications for environmental policy, energy markets, political dynamics, and the lives of the people living in the Marcellus region. Under the Surface is the first book-length journalistic overview of shale gas development and the controversies surrounding it. Control over drilling rights is at stake in the heart of Marcellus country—northeast Pennsylvania and central New York. The decisions by landowners to work with or against the companies—and the resulting environmental and economic consequences—are scrutinized by neighbors faced with similar decisions, by residents of cities whose water supply originates in the exploration area, and by those living across state lines with differing attitudes and policies concerning extraction industries. Wilber's evenhanded treatment gives a voice to all constituencies, including farmers and landowners tempted by the prospects of wealth but wary of the consequences, policymakers struggling with divisive issues, and activists coordinating campaigns based on their respective visions of economic salvation and environmental ruin. Wilber describes a landscape in which the battle over the Marcellus ranges from the very local—yard signs proclaiming landowners' allegiances for or against shale gas development—to often conflicting municipal, state, and federal legislation intended to accelerate, delay, or discourage exploration. For millions of people with a direct stake in shale gas exploration in the Marcellus or any number of other emerging shale resources in the United States and worldwide, or for those concerned about the global energy outlook, Under the Surface offers a worthwhile and engaging look at the issues.
Undercover Gamer: Book 3 (Marie Curious, Girl Genius #3)
by Chris Edison50% Girl + 50% Genius = 100% Awesome!A brilliant new series with a heroine who uses her smarts - and her girl squad - to save the world from evil, one invention at a time.Marie's apprenticeship with tech giant Sterling Vance has already been a crazy adventure, from saving the world from a deadly computer virus to rescuing a global pop star, Marie thought she'd seen it all. But now Marie must face her most difficult challenge yet - going undercover!When Vance invests in a multi-million dollar eSports tournament,Marie and her three best friends are sucked into the world of professional gaming. Glitzy parties, infinity pools and the latest tech are all at their fingertips but when Vance discovers that someone in the tournament is cheating, it's left to Marie to infiltrate the GAME House where all the top gamers live, and find the culprit.The third installment in the Marie Curious, Girl Genius series sees Marie and her brainiac friends travel to Beijing, China!
Undergraduate Research in Online, Virtual, and Hybrid Courses: Proactive Practices for Distant Students
by Jennifer G. Coleman Nancy H. Hensel Wm. E. CampbellCo-published with and With the growing interest in undergraduate research as a high-impact practice, and the recognition that college education is increasingly moving online, this book – the first to do so – provides a framework, guidance from pioneering practitioners, and a range of examples across disciplines on how to engage remote students in research.Two foundational chapters set the scene. For those new to incorporating undergraduate research in their courses, the opening chapter provides an introduction to its evolution and practice, and reviews the evidence of its benefits for students, faculty, and institutions. The second addresses the benefit that undergraduate research can bring to online learning and provides an overview of the ways research can be incorporated into online and virtual courses to meet the course and student learning objectives. The remaining chapters illustrate implementation of undergraduate research in courses across many disciplines. They address thematic issues related to the work and its effects on students, such as transitioning them from users of, to active participants in, research; and consideration of the technological tools needed to support students in a virtual environment. The contributors, some of whom have been implementing these practices for some years, offer important insights and expertise.While the examples range across the behavioral sciences, business, education, the health professions, the humanities, social sciences, and STEM, readers will find much of value and inspiration from reading the chapters beyond their disciplines.
Underground: The Secret Life of Videocassettes in Iran (Infrastructures)
by Blake AtwoodHow Iranians forged a vibrant, informal video distribution infrastructure when their government banned all home video technology in 1983.In 1983, the Iranian government banned the personal use of home video technology. In Underground, Blake Atwood recounts how in response to the ban, technology enthusiasts, cinephiles, entrepreneurs, and everyday citizens forged an illegal but complex underground system for video distribution. Atwood draws on archival sources including trade publications, newspapers, memoirs, films, and laws, but at the heart of the book lies a corpus of oral history interviews conducted with participants in the underground. He argues that videocassettes helped to institutionalize the broader underground within the Islamic Republic.As Atwood shows, the videocassette underground reveals a great deal about how people construct vibrant cultures beneath repressive institutions. It was not just that Iranians gained access to banned movies, but rather that they established routes, acquired technical knowledge, broke the law, and created rituals by passing and trading plastic videocassettes. As material objects, the videocassettes were a means of negotiating the power of the state and the agency of its citizens. By the time the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance lifted the ban in 1994, millions of videocassettes were circulating efficiently and widely throughout the country. The very presence of a video underground signaled the failure of state policy to regulate media. Embedded in the informal infrastructure--even in the videocassettes themselves--was the triumph of everyday people over the state.
Underground: El Subsuelo
by David MacaulayDavid Macaulay takes us on a visual journey through a city's various support systems by exposing a typical section of the underground network and explaining how it works. We see a network of walls, columns, cables, pipes and tunnels required to satisfy the basic needs of a city's inhabitants.