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Afghanistan's Local War: Building Local Defense Forces
by Arturo Munoz Seth G. JonesIn Afghanistan, local communities have played a critical role in security, especially in rural areas. Afghan national security forces are important to the top-down strategy, but the Afghan government and NATO forces also need to leverage local communities to gain a complementary bottom-up strategy. This analysis discusses the viability of establishing local security forces in Afghanistan and addresses concerns about the wisdom of such policies.
Afghanistan's Political Stability: A Dream Unrealised
by Ahmad Shayeq QassemPolitical stability has been a central theme of policy for all governments and political systems in the history of modern Afghanistan. Since its inception in the mid-nineteenth century, the country experimented with a diverse succession of political systems and state ideologies matched by few other countries' political histories. In the span of less than nine decades since independence in 1919, the Afghan state was substantially restructured at least a dozen times. This volume looks at Afghanistan's historic relations with Central and South Asia, ethno-nationalism and development, Soviet occupation and transformation of relations with Pakistan, stability of the Islamic State and regional cooperation. It examines how Afghanistan's different political systems reformed and readjusted policies to make them more conducive to political stability. Yet political stability, at best, has remained a dream unrealized in Afghanistan.
The Afghans: Three lives through war, love and revolt - from the bestselling author of The Bookseller of Kabul
by Åsne Seierstad'Åsne Seierstad is the supreme non-fiction writer of her generation' Luke Harding'No other recent book on the subject comes close' CPW Gammell, author of The Pearl of KhorasanIn her international bestseller The Bookseller of Kabul, award-winning journalist Åsne Seierstad studied life in Afghanistan before and after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Now twenty years later, the Taliban is back in power, and Seierstad returns with The Afghans, a book to help us understand Afghanistan's past, present and future, told through the lives of three unforgettable people. In her compelling, intimate and thought-provoking new book, Seierstad introduces us to three people whose lives have been shaped by the fall and rise of the Taliban - Jamila, Bashir and Ariana - as well their families, friends, foes and co-fighters. Jamila is a women's rights activist; Bashir is a Taliban commander; Ariana is a law student who had one semester left when the Taliban came to power. The stories of these three Afghans encompass love, loss, revolt and war as well as the everyday rhythms of family life. Through them, we experience and come to understand the lead-up to the Taliban retaking power in 2021, how the first year of Taliban rule unfolded, and where this leaves Afghans today, and tomorrow.Praise for Åsne Seierstad:'An intimate portrait of Afghani people quite unlike any other' Sunday Times on The Bookseller of Kabul'Has the feel of a non-fiction novel - irresistible' New York Times on One of Us'Hauntingly written, this book is both a masterpiece and a masterclass in investigative journalism' Christina Lamb on Two Sisters'Meticulously documented, full of drama' Kate Adie on Two Sisters
Afia in the Land of Wonders
by Mia AraujoIn her stunning literary debut, Mia Araujo presents a gorgeous reimagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, spinning a new story that is accompanied by arresting, ethereal illustrations about twin sisters and how one must venture outside the safety of their home, into the wilderness, in order to find herself and true happiness.Afia has always felt like half of a whole. Her twin sister, Aya, is perfectly happy with fulfilling their family's expectations of them. But Afia dreams of exploring the world beyond her secluded cliffside home of Dafra. She dreams of adventure.When she meets a charming shape-shifter named Bakame, who dazzles her with promises of a magical land called Ijábù, Afia decides to take her destiny into her own hands. Although it will mean leaving everything she has ever known behind, including her beloved sister, Afia follows Bakame into the forbidden forests surrounding Dafra, from which no one has ever returned.Filled with magical sights, a charismatic Queen and her intriguing court, Ijábù is everything that Afia has ever dreamed of. But she soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and this fantasy world demands a terrible price. With the help of a mysterious trickster, Afia must evade the Queen's hunters and the lost dreamers of Ijábù, who wish to pull her deeper into their web.Now, Afia must find the courage to survive while standing on her own--or risking losing herself completely to the wonders of Ijábù.Debut author-illustrator Mia Araujo weaves an extraordinarily luminous and beautiful story, inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, about what it takes to find your true self, even if it means facing your deepest fears."Nothing short of an amazing adventure into a fantastic world, Mia Araujo has crafted a beautiful narrative, made all the more incredible by stunning visuals that overflow with heart and soul." -- David F. Walker, Eisner-award winning author of Bitter Root and The Second Chance of Darius Logan
The AFib Cure: Get Off Your Medications, Take Control of Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life
by John D. Day T. Jared Bunch Matthew LaPlanteMost doctors will tell you that there isn't much you can do to treat atrial fibrillation, aside from taking medications for the rest of your life. Cardiologists and a-fib specialists John D. Day and T. Jared Bunch disagree. Atrial fibrillation strikes one in four American adults. Not only do people suffering from this condition suffer from shortness of breath, fatigue, chest discomfort, decreased ability to exercise and do activities of daily living, arrhythmia, and palpitations, but their risk of a stroke, cognitive decline and dementia, heart failure, or premature death also shoots way up. Today, a whole new body of research—one most physicians are unaware of—shows that biomarker and lifestyle optimization may put half the cases of atrial fibrillation into remission without drugs or procedures. And for those in whom these remedies are insufficient or not tolerated, new procedures, in combination with biomarker and lifestyle optimization, may offer lifetime remission from atrial fibrillation and its devastating consequences. In clear, accessible, patient-centric language, Drs. Day and Bunch share their revolutionary approach to treating atrial fibrillation, developed through a combined 53 years working with a-fib patients. The effectiveness of their plan has been proven through countless medical studies. And now, in The AFib Cure: Get Off Your Medications, Take Control of Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life, they share that plan with you. If you're looking for a drug-free solution to your atrial fibrillation, or have a family history of atrial fibrillation and don't want to suffer the same fate, The AFib Cure is for you. Let The AFib Cure show you how to live longer, healthier, free from medications, and free from the fear of atrial fibrillation overshadowing your life.
The AFib Cure, Updated Ediiton: Get Off Your Medications, Take Control of Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life
by John D. Day T. Jared Brunch MDMost doctors will tell you that there isn't much you can do to treat atrial fibrillation, aside from taking medications for the rest of your life. Cardiologists and a-fib specialists John D. Day and T. Jared Bunch disagree.Atrial fibrillation strikes one in four American adults. Not only do people suffering from this condition suffer from shortness of breath, fatigue, chest discomfort, decreased ability to exercise and do activities of daily living, arrhythmia, and palpitations, but their risk of a stroke, cognitive decline and dementia, heart failure, or premature death also shoots way up. Today, a whole new body of research—one most physicians are unaware of—shows that biomarker and lifestyle optimization may put half the cases of atrial fibrillation into remission without drugs or procedures. And for those in whom these remedies are insufficient or not tolerated, new procedures, in combination with biomarker and lifestyle optimization, may offer lifetime remission from atrial fibrillation and its devastating consequences. In clear, accessible, patient-centric language, Drs. Day and Bunch share their revolutionary approach to treating atrial fibrillation, developed through a combined 53 years working with a-fib patients. The effectiveness of their plan has been proven through countless medical studies. And now, in The AFib Cure: Get Off Your Medications, Take Control of Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life, they share that plan with you. If you're looking for a drug-free solution to your atrial fibrillation, or have a family history of atrial fibrillation and don't want to suffer the same fate, The AFib Cure is for you. Let The AFib Cure show you how to live longer, healthier, free from medications, and free from the fear of atrial fibrillation overshadowing your life.
Afield: American Writers on Bird Dogs
by Robert Demott Dave Smith Richard FordThis marvelous collection features stories from some of America's finest and most respected writers about every outdoorsman's favorite and most loyal hunting partner: his dog. For the first time, the stories of acclaimed writers such as Richard Ford, Tom Brokaw, Howell Raines, Rick Bass, Sydney Lea, Jim Harrison, Tom McGuane, Phil Caputo, and Chris Camuto, come together in one collection. Hunters and non-hunters alike will recognize in these poignant tales the universal aspects of owning dogs: companionship, triumph, joy, forgiveness, and loss.The hunter's outdoor spirit meets the writer's passion for detail in these honest, fresh pieces of storytelling. Here are the days spent on the trail, shotgun in hand with Fido on point-the thrills and memories that fill the hearts of bird hunters. Here is the perfect gift for dog lovers, hunters, and bibliophiles of every makeup. This is a delightful, handsome volume that captures the wild spirit of dogs and those who love them.
Afield
by Richard Ford Dave Smith Robert DemottThis marvelous collection features stories from some of America's finest and most respected writers about every outdoorsman's favorite and most loyal hunting partner: his dog. For the first time, the stories of acclaimed writers such as Richard Ford, Tom Brokaw, Howell Raines, Rick Bass, Sydney Lea, Jim Harrison, Tom McGuane, Phil Caputo, and Chris Camuto, come together in one collection. Hunters and non-hunters alike will recognize in these poignant tales the universal aspects of owning dogs: companionship, triumph, joy, forgiveness, and loss. The hunter's outdoor spirit meets the writer's passion for detail in these honest, fresh pieces of storytelling. Here are the days spent on the trail, shotgun in hand with Fido on point-the thrills and memories that fill the hearts of bird hunters. Here is the perfect gift for dog lovers, hunters, and bibliophiles of every makeup. This is a delightful, handsome volume that captures the wild spirit of dogs and those who love them.
Afikoman, Where'd You Go?: A Passover Hide-and-Seek Adventure
by Rebecca Gardyn LevingtonHelp the children find the afikoman during their seder! It&’s a rambunctious Passover hide-and-seek story for fans of Where&’s Waldo? and The Gingerbread Man. This lively, funny picture book brings to life the Passover tradition of searching for the afikoman—literally. When the mischievous piece of matzoh runs and hides during the seder, all the kids in the family (and even the pet dog!) go hunting for it, through every room in the house. Readers can join the hunt and find the sneaky afikoman in each bright and busy scene while enjoying the playful rhyming text. And they&’re in for a surprise ending that&’s as delightful as this favorite part of Passover.
Afikomen
by Tziporah CohenIn this wordless time-travel adventure, three children at a Passover seder visit ancient Egypt to help baby Moses find his way safely to Pharaoh’s daughter. When a family settles at the table for Passover, their dog nabs the afikomen bag (containing matzah used for the seder) and dives under the tablecloth. The children follow him and find themselves transported to ancient Egypt. There, they see baby Moses’ mother and sister Miriam placing him in a reed basket. The baby’s journey down the Nile is hazardous — he encounters several obstacles along the way, including a wily crocodile. Thanks to the three children, he reaches his destination unharmed, with a piece of afikomen tucked into his basket. The children return to the seder table and, exhausted, fall asleep. But what are their parents to make of the grains of sand in the afikomen bag? Includes an author’s note about the meaning of the Passover holiday and about different afikomen traditions. Key Text Features author’s note explanation illustrations literary references panels sources wordless Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
AFL-CIO: Office of Investment and Home Depot
by Rakesh Khurana James WeberDescribes the AFL-CIO: Office of Investments activities in their campaign to improve governance at Home Depot by calling attention to Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli's compensation package and the company's poor performance. The AFL-CIO Office of Investments advocates for improved corporate governance at public companies, focusing on the problems of excessive chief executive compensation, improperly backdated stock options, insufficiently independent corporate board members, poor responsiveness to shareholders concerns, and a lack of transparency in the activities and decisions of boards. The AFL-CIO believes that such problems were indicators of underlying problems in corporate governance that could impact the long-term value of a public company. To advance its cause, the Office targeted Home Depot. In an effort to bring about change at the company, the AFL-CIO and AFSCME corresponded with Home Depot executives, staged public protests, appeared on talk shows, and maintained several Web sites. The trillion-dollar size of the union pension funds gave the Office a platform from which to work. The departure of Home Depot's CEO had been a significant step by Home Depot and the company had made other concessions as well. The AFL-CIO Office of Investment now needed to decide whether to continue to use its limited resources focusing on Home Depot or find a new target to forward their cause.
Aflame (Apotheosis #1)
by Krissy DanielsApotheosis, #1 To save her soul, he'll let her burn. Grayce has been on the run for years. Having escaped an abusive relationship with a violent psychopath, she is trying to rebuild her life one small step at a time. Things are going well until Zander crosses her path, badass and sexy as hell. His presence awakens heated desires she long ago buried. Last thing Grayce wants is a man, and the way her body reacts to Zander scares her more than the threat of being found. Tyr will do anything to get his little dove back. She is a Beacon, and her raw, burning energy gives him power and strength. More than the evil that already compels him. But a blond giant of a man hovers protectively around her. No matter. He'll play with him too. When Zander rescues Grayce from Tyr's first attempt to reclaim her, he reveals his superhuman abilities. Power that Grayce also has, but is yet to understand. As predestined soul mates in a race of fallen angels, Zander must help Grace control her rage before her fire threatens to destroy everyone and everything in her path. But his true challenge is more than that--to show her it's possible to trust and love again. CONTENT WARNING: Hot sex with a foul-mouthed firecracker.73,443 Words
Aflame: A Fall Away Novel (The Fall Away Series)
by Penelope DouglasFrom the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Bully, Until You, Rival, and Falling Away comes the sizzling conclusion to the Fall Away series. The tables have turned. Now I have the power--and it's his turn to beg... Everyone wants to be me. Maybe it's the sway of my skirt or the way I flip my hair, but I don't care. Even though their attention is the last thing I crave, I just can't stop. I dominate the track, the speed rattles my bones, and the wind and the crowd screams my name. I'm her. The girl driver. The queen of the race. And I'm surviving--something he thought I'd never do. They all talk about him. Did you see Jared Trent on T.V? What did you think of his last race, Tate? When is he coming back to town, Tate? But I refuse to care too much. Because when Jared does come home, I won't be here. Tatum Brandt is gone. I'm someone new. eling and intensity."--IndieReader Penelope Douglas is a writer and teacher in Las Vegas, and author of the Fall Away series, including Until You, Rival, Bully, and Falling Away. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, then a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans. She and her husband have one daughter.
Aflame: Learning from Silence
by Pico Iyer&“Reading Aflame may help many to lead lives of greater compassion and deeper peace of mind.&” —His Holiness the Dalai LamaFrom the bestselling author of The Art of Stillness, a revelatory exploration of the abiding clarity and calm to be found in quiet retreatPico Iyer has made more than one hundred retreats over the past three decades to a small Benedictine hermitage high above the sea in Big Sur, California. He&’s not a Christian—or a member of any religious group—but his life has been transformed by these periods of time spent in silence. That silence reminds him of what is essential and awakens a joy that nothing can efface. It&’s not just freedom from distraction and noise and rush: it&’s a reminder of some deeper truths he misplaced along the way.In Aflame, Iyer connects with inner stillness and joy in his many seasons at the monastery, even as his life is going through constant change: a house burns down, a parent dies, a daughter is diagnosed with cancer. He shares the revelations he experiences, alongside wisdom from other nonmonastics who have learned from adversity and inwardness. And most profoundly, he shows how solitude can be a training in community and companionship. In so doing, he offers a unique outsider&’s view of monastic life—and of a group of selfless souls who have dedicated their days to ensuring there&’s a space for quiet and recollection that&’s open to us all.Radiant, intimate, and gripping, Aflame offers ageless counsel about the power of silence and what it can teach us about how to live, how to love, and, ultimately, how to die.
Aflatoxin and Food Safety
by Hamed K. AbbasAflatoxins are responsible for damaging up to 25% of the world's food crops, resulting in large economic losses in developed countries and human and animal disease in under-developed ones. In addition to aflatoxins, the presence of other mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins, brings additional concerns about the safety of food and field supplies. The
Aflatoxins & Human Health
by Ivana DvorackovaThis up-to-date reference includes the most recent available data and detailed case studies concerning the potential health risks of aflatoxin in the human population. It covers everything from acute toxic effects of aflatoxin in men to original observations concerning occupational health hazards due to aflatoxin exposure via the respiratory tract.
Aflatoxins in Food: A Recent Perspective
by Khalid Rehman Hakeem Carlos A. F. Oliveira Amir IsmailMycotoxins are the metabolites of fungus and are reported to contaminate nearly 25% of the food produced worldwide. The mycotoxins of most significance are the aflatoxins due to their severe health implications and their prevalence in food commodities on a larger scale. Aflatoxins are produced by certain species of fungi the most prominent among which are Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nominous. Food commodities of African and South Asian countries are especially reported to have aflatoxins well beyond the allowable limits but due to the global trade of food commodities developed countries are also prone towards the perils of aflatoxins. Moreover, climate changes may have a substantial impact on the distribution and global prevalence of aflatoxins in the near future.The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the aflatoxins as group 1 category carcinogen. Aflatoxins are also reported as teratogenic, mutagenic, growth retardant, immunosuppressant and may also cause nervous system and reproductive system disorders. Preventive approaches involving good manufacturing from “farm to fork” are the major focus of the current food industry.The aim of our book is to provide readers with the most recent data and up-to-date studies from aflatoxins research, with specific focuses on (i) the impact of aflatoxins on human health, (ii) new approaches by the researchers from different parts of the world to degrade aflatoxins and (iii) potential preventive approaches that can significantly lessen the burden of aflatoxins in food products
Afloat
by Erin HealyDark waters are rising. Who will stay afloat?Architect Vance Nolan has crafted a marvel—shining apartments floating in the peaceful cove of a winding river. The project is partially occupied and about to make investors rich when a sinkhole gives way.Torrential rains quickly flood the cove, leaving a handful of builders, investors, and residents cut off from the rest of the world.The motley group is bitterly divided over how to survive.Vance insists they wait for rescue. Developer Tony Dean wants to strike out into the darkness. And single-mom Danielle Clement, obligated to each man and desperate to protect her young son, Simeon, isn’t sure which one is wiser.Power failure, an unnatural daytime darkness, explosions, and a murder expose hidden intentions and dark histories. Then Simeon spots something strange underwater—beautiful, shifting lights in the dark depths.In this watery world, everyone’s secrets will eventually come to light. And deliverance may mean more than just getting out alive.Another stunning exploration of the human spirit and supernatural possibilities from best-selling author Erin Healy.“Heart-pounding suspense and unrelenting hope that will steal your breath.” —Ted Dekker, New York Times best-selling author (for Never Let You Go)“[Afloat] is full of danger, intrigue, and compelling characters. Readers will enjoy the way she intersperses supernatural elements into this action-packed novel.” —CBA Retailers and Resources“[Afloat] is original and engrossing, with a unique plot and relatable characters.” —Romantic Times
Afloat
by John ReibetanzAfloat, John Reibetanz's eighth collection of poetry, focuses on water in many manifestations. The centerpiece, a sequence on the Three Gorges Dam and its cultural and environmental implications, brings ancient Chinese sources (Meng Chiao and the painter Dong Yuan) together with modern ones (Edward Burtynsky's photographs and violent video games) to create an elegy that is moving and meditative. Although water is everywhere present as a subject, it is song that provides the motivating power, the vehicle of longing that animates the book. "We thirst for song"—the closing words of the Lament for the Gorges sequence—could really serve as the book's epigraph. This is poetry exercising its full range of possible functions (to observe, to enquire, to elegize, to imagine, to think, to commemorate, to yearn and to feel), all in the service of that "thirst for song."
Afloat
by Kirli SaundersA powerful picture book story for our time of climate crisis interwoven with Indigenous wisdom.From multi-award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and Kate Greenaway Medal-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People’s knowledge and gathering community along the way. This uplifting and inspiring picture book uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honoring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive, and create a more hopeful future.
Afloat and Ashore: A Sea Tale (Classics To Go)
by James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. His historical romances of frontier and Indian life in the early American days created a unique form of American literature. First published in 1844, this narrative chronicles the adventures of Miles Wallingford, who runs away to sea to embark on a career as a merchant sailor. He runs the hazards of life at sea and intervals ashore involve him in the delights of romance and perils of legal and financial intrigue. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)
Afloat on the Flood
by Lawrence J. LeslieOriginally published in 1915, "Afloat on the Flood" is a classic children's adventure written by Lawrence J. Leslie.
Aflutter
by P. E. GrahamStuck in a never-ending corporate nightmare, Henry Byrdsall is trapped in a spiral of calls, meetings and demands that slowly erode the joy out of him. His work-life balance is further compromised when Henry and his half-brother, Evan, are informed of their estranged father’s unexpected passing, and the shared inheritance of their ancestral home, Birdsong Manor. The brothers find themselves at odds about whether to keep or sell the place, with Evan tentatively advocating for at least checking out the long-lost home they both fled from years ago, and Henry vehemently refusing to even consider the idea.While Evan heads to Birdsong Manor to evaluate the situation, Henry stays behind in London to clear his head. When a tumble in the night leaves him stranded alone and hurt in an empty park, an unlikely savior descends from night sky to sweep him off his feet.Falling in love with a mothman was never part of Henry’s agenda, and yet, it might just be the key to shocking his anxious heart back into a steady rhythm. It might also be the change he needs to reconsider his busy life in the city. Henry finds himself torn between protecting his heart from the shadow of his father’s ancient wrath, and finding a suitable home for the amazing, lonely creature that chose to trust him. Perhaps Birdsong Manor isn’t such a bad idea after all?
AFM-Based Observation and Robotic Nano-manipulation
by Lianqing Liu Ning Xi Shuai Yuan Zhidong WangThis book highlights the latest advances in AFM nano-manipulation research in the field of nanotechnology. There are numerous uncertainties in the AFM nano-manipulation environment, such as thermal drift, tip broadening effect, tip positioning errors and manipulation instability. This book proposes a method for estimating tip morphology using a blind modeling algorithm, which is the basis of the analysis of the influence of thermal drift on AFM scanning images, and also explains how the scanning image of AFM is reconstructed with better accuracy. Further, the book describes how the tip positioning errors caused by thermal drift and system nonlinearity can be corrected using the proposed landmark observation method, and also explores the tip path planning method in a complex environment. Lastly, it presents an AFM-based nano-manipulation platform to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method using theoretical research, such as tip positioning and virtual nano-hand.
Afonso I Mvemba a Nzinga, King of Kongo: His Life and Correspondence
by John K. Thornton"John K. Thornton&’s new book is another must-read. It contains both translations of the extant letters of the most significant king of Kongo&’s history, Afonso I (r. 1506–1542), and a powerful, learned, and highly readable analysis of what these letters tell us about the life and times of one of the most important rulers anywhere in the world during the sixteenth century. This book will be essential reading for scholars, teachers, and students engaged with the history of the Kingdom of Kongo." —Toby Green, King&’s College London