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Synthesis of Pyrrol-based Bioconjugates: Perspectives and Applications
by Mariette M. Pereira Sara M.A. Pinto Lucas D. DiasIn recent years, the use of bioconjugation as strategy for development of more specific and directed drugs has been widely researched. Tetrapyrrolic macrocycles are one of the most common families of organic compounds applied in medicinal chemistry, specifically for diagnosis and therapy. For optimization of their efficiency as therapeutic molecules, it is relevant to promote their linking to biomolecules capable of targeting altered cells. This work brings a new dimension to the literature by combining structural modification of biomolecules and polymers with pyrrole-based compounds. It will be of great interest to academicians, industrialists, and undergraduate and graduate students of chemistry, biosciences, and pharmacy since, as apart from the theoretical aspects, it discusses experimental components.Features: Discusses methods for protein modification. Useful for academicians, industrialists and undergraduate and graduated students of chemistry, biosciences, and pharmacy. Explains the synthesis of pyrrole-based molecules.
Synthesizers and Subtractive Synthesis, Volume 2: Application and Practice
by Jean-Michel RéveillacSubtractive sound synthesis is one of the most widely used techniques in electronic music and in many analog synthesizers since the early 1960s. It is based on a simple principle, but its operation is complex, involving many parameters. It can be enhanced by a variety of effects that give the sound its authenticity, and does not simply imitate musical instruments, but can also transcribe noises present in natural soundscapes or generate entirely synthetic sounds. Synthesizers and Subtractive Sound Synthesis 2 presents practical exercises, ranging from the fundamentals to advanced functionalities. Most of the sound effects applicable to subtractive synthesis are covered: vibrato, phaser, reverb, etc. The final chapters deal with polyphony and arpeggiator-sequences.
The System: A Novel
by Ryan Gattis“Gripping, meticulously researched, and smartly plotted, I devoured this brilliant novel over the course of a weekend.” —Paula Hawkins, author of Into the Water “Fascinating, moving, and so very, very real. It grabbed me by the heart and mind from page one and never let me go.” —Marcia Clark, author of The Final JudgmentAn electrifying, multi-voiced thriller tackling our criminal justice system, from the writer Michael Connelly has called “one of our most gifted novelists.”On December 6, 1993, a drug dealer called Scrappy is shot and left for dead on the lawn outside her mother’s house in South Central Los Angeles. Augie, a heroin addict, witnesses the whole thing—before he steals all the drugs on her person, as well as the gun that was dropped at the scene. When Augie gets busted, he names local gang members Wizard and Dreamer the shooters.But only one of them is guilty.A search of Wizard and Dreamer’s premises uncovers the gun that was used in the shooting, and a warrant goes out for their arrest. They know it’s a frame-up, but the word from the gang is to keep their mouths shut and face the charges.With these two off the streets and headed for jail, Dreamer’s friend Little, the unlikeliest of new gang members, is given one job: discover how the gun got moved, and why.Played out in the streets, precincts, jails, and courtrooms of Los Angeles, Ryan Gattis's The System is the harrowing story of a crime—from moments before the bullets are fired, to the verdict and its violent aftershocks—told through the vivid chorus of those involved, guilty, the innocent, and everyone in between.
System Dependability - Theory and Applications: Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Conference on Dependability of Computer Systems DepCoS-RELCOMEX. July 1–5, 2024, Brunów, Poland (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1026)
by Janusz Kacprzyk Wojciech Zamojski Jacek Mazurkiewicz Jarosław Sugier Tomasz WalkowiakThis book presents a selection of papers about problems which arise in dependability studies of contemporary computer systems and networks. Their collection should be an interesting and inspiring source material for scientists, researchers, engineers, and students who must consider diverse dependability characteristics in design, analysis, or maintenance of computer systems and networks. The papers were presented during the 19th DepCoS-RELCOMEX conference which was the next event in a series organized annually since 2006. Originating as a scientific platform for discussions of reliability aspects in computer engineering, the topical scope of the conference has been constantly expanded to incorporate new dependability challenges brought by recent advances in systems and information technologies. Currently, dependable operation in the context of computer processing means obtaining reliable (true and timely) results in the conditions of processing both quantitative and qualitative data, using precise or fuzzy (often: imitating) models and algorithms. With increasing use of artificial intelligence algorithms and tools, dependability in contemporary information technology and computer engineering calls for methods based on cognitive systems and deep learning techniques. Topical variety of the papers included in these proceedings proves that almost all applications of modern computer systems and networks must take into account the aspect of dependability and also illustrates a wide diversity of multidisciplinary subjects which needs to be considered in this context.
System Dynamics and Control with Bond Graph Modeling
by Javier KypurosWritten by a professor with extensive teaching experience, System Dynamics and Control with Bond Graph Modeling treats system dynamics from a bond graph perspective. Using an approach that combines bond graph concepts and traditional approaches, the author presents an integrated approach to system dynamics and automatic controls. The textbook guide
The System of Comics
by Thierry GroensteenThis edition of Thierry Groensteen’s The System of Comics makes available in English a groundbreaking work on comics by one of the medium’s foremost scholars. In this book, originally published in France in 1999, Groensteen explains clearly the subtle, complex workings of the medium and its unique way of combining visual, verbal, spatial, and chronological expressions. The author explores the nineteenth-century pioneer Rodolphe Töpffer, contemporary Japanese creators, George Herriman’s Krazy Kat, and modern American autobiographical comics. The System of Comics uses examples from a wide variety of countries including the United States, England, Japan, France, and Argentina. It describes and analyzes the properties and functions of speech and thought balloons, panels, strips, and pages to examine methodically and insightfully the medium’s fundamental processes. From this, Groensteen develops his own coherent, overarching theory of comics, a “system” that both builds on existing studies of the “word and image” paradigm and adds innovative approaches of his own. Examining both meaning and appreciation, the book provides a wealth of ideas that will challenge the way scholars approach the study of comics. By emphasizing not simply “storytelling techniques” but also the qualities of the printed page and the reader’s engagement, the book’s approach is broadly applicable to all forms of interpreting this evolving art.
System Theory -- A Modern Approach, Volume 1: Linear Ordinary and Functional Differential Equations
by Henri BourlèsThe theory of dynamic systems is addressed in this book in accordance with the "modern" approach, heir to algebraic analysis, which has been implemented since the last decade of the 20th century. After a reminder of the evolution of the representation of systems based on transfer functions or matrices, the duality of controllability and observability is revisited, and new results are produced concerning time-varying discrete-time systems. To complete and improve the existing analyses, the poles and zeros of linear systems and their interconnections are presented in a new way, as well as the problem of systems governed by functional differential equations (of retarded or neutral type) and their stabilization. This book also proposes known and original mathematical complements.
Systematic Aesthetics (Routledge Revivals)
by Richard WinfieldFirst published in 1995, this book aims at rehabilitating systematic aesthetics. To this end, it attempts to show how metaphysical, transcendental, and systematic aesthetics comprise the fundamental options for the philosophy of art, how metaphysical and transcendental aesthetics internally undermine themselves, and, finally, how their dilemmas are overcome by systematic aestheticsIt discusses themes like critique of metaphysical aesthetics; impasse of transcendental aesthetics; individuality of beauty; the existence of beauty in the work of art; the extreme reality of the work of art and the reception of art. This is a must read for scholars and researchers of philosophy of art and philosophy in general.
A Systematic Approach to Strabismus (The Basic Bookshelf for Eyecare Professionals)
by Virginia KarlssonWritten for the true beginner, the updated and revised second edition of A Systematic Approach to Strabismus examines the basic types of strabismus, ocular motility, ocular examination of pediatric patients, and extraocular muscle anatomy and functions.Unique features inside the Second Edition: Uses practical and easy-to-follow “how to” instructions to offer fundamental education on the four parts of an eye exam: history, vision, sensory testing, and motor testing Includes necessary information to successfully complete pediatric and strabismus eye exams Highlights the order of testing in an effort to gather the most important information prior to a pediatric meltdown and to avoid "exam pollution" Having worked in both private practice and university settings, Virginia Karlsson brings over 30 years of experience with pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus to the pages of A Systematic Approach to Strabismus, Second Edition. Ophthalmic technologists, technicians, assistants, residents, and students will welcome this unique book into their education and career.
Systematic Strategic Planning: A Comprehensive Framework for Implementation, Control, and Evaluation
by Hakan ButunerThis book provides a complete set of practical strategic planning techniques and tools. Readers are guided in identifying how and in what circumstances they might use particular tools, and in targeting them directly at achieving effective results. Systematic Strategic Planning consists of a framework of phases through which each project passes, a pattern of procedures for straight-forward planning and the fundamentals involved in any strategic planning project. The book is designed to be simple to understand and easy to use.
Systematic Theology
by Paul TillichThis is the first part of Paul Tillich's three-volume Systematic Theology, one of the most profound statements of the Christian message ever composed and the summation and definitive presentation of the theology of the most influential and creative American theologian of the twentieth century. In this path-breaking volume Tillich presents the basic method and statement of his system—his famous "correlation" of man's deepest questions with theological answers. Here the focus is on the concepts of being and reason. Tillich shows how the quest for revelation is integral to reason itself. In the same way a description of the inner tensions of being leads to the recognition that the quest for God is implied in finite being. Here also Tillich defines his thought in relation to philosophy and the Bible and sets forth his famous doctrine of God as the "Ground of Being." Thus God is understood not as a being existing beside other beings, but as being-itself or the power of being in everything. God cannot be made into an object; religious knowledge is, therefore, necessarily symbolic.
Systematic Theology: Life and the Spirit History and the Kingdom of God
by Paul TillichIn this volume, the third and last of his Systematic Theology, Paul Tillich sets forth his ideas of the meaning of human life, the doctrine of the Spirit and the church, the trinitarian symbols, the relation of history to the Kingdom of God, and the eschatological symbols. He handles this subject matter with powerful conceptual ability and intellectual grace. The problem of life is ambiguity. Every process of life has its contrast within itself, thus driving man to the quest for unambiguous life or life under the impact of the Spritual Presence. The Spritual Presence conquers the negativities of religion, culture, and morality, and the symbols anticipating Eternal Life present the answer to the problem of life.
Systemic: How Racism Is Making Us Sick
by Layal LiverpoolIn the spirit of Medical Apartheid and Killing the Black Body; A science-based, data-driven, and global exploration of racial disparities in health care access by virologist, immunologist, and science journalist Layal Liverpool.Layal Liverpool spent years as a teen bouncing from doctor to doctor, each one failing to diagnose her dermatological complaint. Just when she&’d grown used to the idea that she had an extremely rare and untreatable skin condition, one dermatologist, after a quick exam, told her that she had a classic (and common) case of eczema and explained that it often appears differently on darker skin. Her experience stuck with her, making her wonder whether other medical conditions might be going undiagnosed in darker-skinned people and whether racism could, in fact, make people sick.The pandemic taught us that diseases like Covid disproportionately affect people of color. Here, Liverpool goes a step further to show that this disparity exists for all types of illness and that it is caused by racism. In Systemic, Liverpool shares her journey to show how racism, woven into our societies, as well as into the structures of medicine and science, is harmful to our health. Refuting the false belief that there are biological differences between races, Liverpool goes on to show that racism-related stress and trauma can however, lead to biological changes that make people of color more vulnerable to illness, debunking the myth of illness as the great equalizer.From the problem of racial bias in medicine where the default human subject is white, to the dangerous health consequences of systemic racism, from the physical and psychological effects of daily microaggressions to intergenerational trauma and data gaps, Liverpool reveals the fatal stereotypes that keep people of color undiagnosed, untreated, and unsafe, and tells us what we can do about it.
Systemic and Narrative Work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children: Stories of Relocation (The Systemic Thinking and Practice Series)
by Ana Draper Elisa Marcellino Samantha ThomsonSystemic and Narrative Work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children: Stories of Relocation provides a contextualised, research-based understanding of how to enhance and support the emotional health and well-being of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.The framework presented in this book is an innovative intervention that enhances the well-being of children who have experienced trauma by improving the therapeutic abilities for all who support and care for them. This book presents the evidence base for this new systemic and narrative trauma-informed framework of care, creates a wider understanding of working with trauma responses in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and offers coherence for practitioners wanting to use this approach. The authors provide a physiological view, as well as identify embodied aspects of trauma experience, and describe a narrative approach developed from a clinical understanding of trauma, as well as presenting the words of children who took part in the project. Creating a common multi-disciplinary language, this approach can be used to improve coherence, coordination, and excellence within the whole system.This book is essential reading for all practitioners working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. It will also be of interest to students and trainees of social work and other mental health disciplines, as well as other professionals seeking to understand the needs of this group.
Systemic Financial Risk: An Emerging Market Perspective
by Alexander Karminsky Mikhail StolbovThis book provides an analysis of various sources and forms of systemic financial risk. It focuses on the most pressing research questions for both advanced and emerging market economies, including green finance, ESG agenda and related risks, international financial connectivity across countries and financial institutions, and catastrophic risks modeling. Part 1 considers emerging research issues in risk assessment and management, including new approaches to measuring financial development, trends and prospects of green finance, and cross-country financial spillovers. Part 2 casts a more nuanced look at the quantitative models and methods adopted in risk assessment and risk management, putting such issues as measuring catastrophic risks, liquidity mismatches as well as modeling probabilities of default and the impact of macroeconomic fundamentals on capital adequacy ratios in the Russian banking sector in the spotlight. Finally, Part 3 discusses the new regulatory challenges dealingwith risk assessment and risk management, such as macroprudential policies which have proved efficient to mitigate systemic risk are investigated. The book offers a comprehensive picture of the challenges which emerging market economies are facing in the field of financial risk assessment and management. Specifically, the challenges are discussed in the context of elaborated models and policy responses, which are based on the up-to-date theoretical contributions and empirical evidence from various fields, making the book relevant to professors, researchers, graduate students, and practitioners of risk management, international finance, and financial services.
Systems Biology Approaches: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Understanding Mechanisms of Complex Diseases
by Sanket Joshi Rina Rani Ray Moupriya Nag Dibyajit LahiriThis book examines the development and applications of system biology approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and understanding of disease mechanisms. It explores the applications of system biology in infectious diseases, including host-pathogen interaction, and the identification of targets for new therapeutics and intervention strategies. It covers the use of system biology for understanding and treating metabolic disorders towards personalized and precision medicine. The book further discusses the systems biology approaches for understanding the mechanisms of tumor progression and designing more effective cancer therapies. The chapter also reviews the current strategies in autoimmune disease treatment and highlights the opportunity that systems biology represents for the development of better and safer treatments. Importantly, the book discusses the current state of the systems-level understanding of diseases and both the therapeutic and adverse mechanisms of drug actions usingsystem biology approaches. Cutting across the disciplines, this book is a valuable source for researchers in genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, and biomedical sciences.
Systems Engineering: Analysis, Modeling and Simulation of Systems
by Emmanuel HygounencThis book is intended for students, teachers, researchers, engineers and project managers wishing to understand and implement systems engineering into their work. Based on numerous bibliographical sources, it provides coherent and accessible information, complemented with numerous illustrations. Systems Engineering will enable the reader to not only understand but also master the development cycle of a system, as well as gain an in-depth understanding of the associated terminology. An introduction to systems theory is presented first, clarifying what is meant by a complex system. The book then outlines systems engineering and one of its components: requirements engineering. A detailed presentation of the downhill activities of the development cycle follows the definition of requirements and the design of systems. Finally, the book explores the upstream activities of the development cycle with the virtual and concrete integration of the system.
Systems Engineering and Safety: Building the Bridge
by Peter J. GlismannSystems engineering principles are currently being applied to system safety best practices in several industries, as well as state and local governments. This book covers the payoff in both dollars and goodwill to the investment made in merging those two important and often neglected disciplines. It can be read, understood, and acted upon by the Chief Executive Officer of a multinational corporation, right down to the line manager of systems engineering or the technical professional in the safety department. The value in terms of cost savings, be it in the form of financial, human, or social capital, is clearly illustrated with real world examples.
Systems Theory and Agile Brand Management: The Educative View of Branding (Systems Thinking)
by Jan LiesBrands started out as communication tools to influence the image of companies or products (inside-out thinking) but have developed into channels of social forces. Powerful brands impact not just customer decisions but also markets and social institutions, such as fashion trends, city life, or even social movements. This book explores the implications of Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social systems for the theory and practice of agile brand management, in particular highlighting the central role of brand aesthetics and of brands as channels for mutual education between companies and consumers.Since the rise of social media, “perfect” brands have become the mirror of community values as the communities themselves develop brand content. Brands themselves become “living systems” and evolve like systems do. The author introduces systems theory to provide a conceptual framework that integrates the different views of branding: inside-out and outside-in thinking. This Luhmannian theory of branding is discussed against the current background of (Western) societies, which are undergoing a broad shift from hard to soft selling in marketing, influenced by social media. The book is not about whether closed systems analysis and discussion can or should replace traditional management; moreover, it emphasizes the fruitful insights and demonstrates that the power of management is limited and should be extended by looking at the means of closed systems.This book will be of primary value to scholars with an interest in systems theory and thinking, brand theory, and management. The interdisciplinary approach also makes the book a valuable resource for those researching change management, agile management, and sociology.
Systems Thinking for Sustainability Education in Business Schools (SpringerBriefs in Complexity)
by Hassan Qudrat-UllahThis book delves into the current state and future prospects of systems thinking and sustainability education within business schools. It meticulously examines the trends and drivers shaping the demand and supply of such education, along with the implications and challenges it presents for various stakeholders and society at large. Strategic recommendations and suggestions are provided to elevate and propel systems thinking and sustainability education in business schools, outlining a visionary roadmap for the future. Furthermore, the book explores the intersectionality of sustainability and diversity in business education, offering examples and cases of visionary and innovative initiatives and projects in the field. Distinguished by special features such as illustrations, the book offers a comprehensive and integrative overview of the current landscape and future trajectories of systems thinking and sustainability education in business schools. The primary benefit for readers lies in gaining a deeper and broader understanding of systems thinking and sustainability education in business schools. It equips them with the knowledge to apply systems thinking and sustainability principles and tools to tackle the complex and wicked problems of the twenty-first century. Additionally, the book aims to inspire and inform business schools and their stakeholders to embrace and enhance systems thinking and sustainability education in their curricula and pedagogy, contributing to the advancement of sustainability and systems thinking in both business and society.
T-Shirt Swim Club: Stories from Being Fat in a World of Thin People
by Ian Karmel Alisa KarmelComedian Ian Karmel, with help from his sister, Dr. Alisa Karmel, opens up about the daily humiliations of being fat and why it&’s so hard to talk about something so visible.&“As charming and funny as it is poignant and thoughtful.&”—Roxane Gay, author of Hunger: A Memoir of (My) BodyIan Karmel has weighed eight pounds and he has weighed 420 pounds and right now he&’s almost exactly in between the two, but this book is not a weight-loss book. It&’s about being a fat person in a skinny world. It&’s about gym class and football practice, about chicken wings and juice cleanses, about airplane seats and roller coasters, about fat jokes and Jabba the Hutt, about crying in the Big and Tall section and the joys of being a sneakerhead, about prediabetes and gout, and about realizing that you actually don&’t want to eat yourself to death and hoping it&’s not too late.This book also includes a &“What Now?&” section from Ian&’s sister, Alisa, who herself cycled through so many fad diets that she eventually pursued a master&’s in nutrition and a doctorate in psychology with the goal of changing the contemporary narrative around fatness.Ian and Alisa Karmel grew up fat. As kids, they never talked about it. They were too busy fighting over the last SnackWell&’s Devil&’s Food cookie. Now, decades later, having both turned into fat adults who eventually figured out how to get their health under control, they are finally ready to unpack the impact that their weight has had on them.For them, the T-Shirt Swim Club is meant to be a place of support for anyone who struggles with weight issues. A place of care and candor, free of shame. A place to not deny or avoid the emotions you feel, the experiences you go through, the embarrassment, the anger, the resentment. T-Shirt Swim Club is about being a fat person and how the world treats fat people—but also an acknowledgment that maybe it doesn&’t always have to feel quite so lonely.
Table for Two: Fictions
by Amor TowlesAn Instant New York Times Bestseller&“A knockout collection. ... Sharp-edged satire deceptively wrapped like a box of Neuhaus chocolates, Table for Two is a winner.&” —The New York Times &“Superb ... This may be Towles&’ best book yet. Each tale is as satisfying as a master chef&’s main course, filled with drama, wit, erudition and, most of all, heart.&” —Los Angeles Times Millions of Amor Towles fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood. The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages. In Towles&’s novel Rules of Civility, the indomitable Evelyn Ross leaves New York City in September 1938 with the intention of returning home to Indiana. But as her train pulls into Chicago, where her parents are waiting, she instead extends her ticket to Los Angeles. Told from seven points of view, &“Eve in Hollywood&” describes how Eve crafts a new future for herself—and others—in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of Los Angeles. Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles&’s canon of stylish and transporting fiction.
Tables & Spreads: A Go-To Guide for Beautiful Snacks, Intimate Gatherings, and Inviting Feasts
by Shelly Westerhausen WorcelFrom the author of the bestselling Platters & Boards comes a beautifully photographed recipe collection and styling guide that shows you how to easily create lovely, abundant spreads for every occasion.Tables & Spreads is a must-have cookbook and resourceful styling guide from bestselling author Shelly Westerhausen. Here are more than 60 easy-to-prepare recipes plus behind-the-scenes insight into creating a beautiful, inviting table for every occasion, including tips on choosing a theme, styling your food in creative ways, and achieving that "wow factor" with linens, flowers, music, and more. There are 20 visually striking spreads that range from Ladies Night Lettuce Wraps to a Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party, Dips for Dinner, and a Boozy Bloody Mary Bar. Rich with gorgeous and instructive photography, Tables & Spreads is inspiring yet totally accessible, perfect for home cooks who like to host gatherings of all sizes, and those who loved Shelly's first book, Platters & Boards. Complete with timelines, shopping lists, diagrams, and more, this book includes all the tools you need to make every meal delicious and unforgettable.• NEXT LEVEL ENTERTAINING: Tables & Spreads takes easy entertaining to the next level with additional recipes and robust guidance on casual styling of beautiful platters and tables for any number of guests.• ON TREND: The simple but impactful guidelines in this book speak to the way people are eating and entertaining today—often casually, with beautiful presentation, and a "help yourself" mentality. This book teaches us how to do that elegantly and create gorgeous grazing tables whether you're preparing a "snack dinner" for one, a family brunch, or a large-scale wedding or holiday table.• FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Anyone can make successful, beautiful spreads with these easy-to-follow guidelines and visual inspiration. These grazing spreads offer low-effort, high-impact results with easily sourced ingredients to feed a crowd—perfect for anyone that loves to eat and entertain.Perfect for:• Fans of Shelly Westerhausen and of Platters & Boards• Ina Garten and Martha Stewart fans who are always looking for creative & tasty ideas• People who seek inspiration in tablescaping, arranging, menus, and party inspirations
Taiwan’s COVID-19 Experience: Governance, Governmentality, and the Global Pandemic (Routledge Research on Taiwan Series)
by Yu-Yueh Tsai Michael Shiyung LiuThis book explores and develops the ongoing conversation about how Taiwan navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic.Emphasizing the themes of governance and governmentality, it moves the foci of the discussion from COVID policies to the social and political orders undergirding the statecraft of pandemic management. Furthermore, it analyzes how the pandemic fostered a historical moment at which new forms of governance and governmentality were beginning to take root. It also situates Taiwan’s precarious nationhood in its global context, thereby challenging a prevalent methodological nationalism – the assumption that the nation is a natural unit of analysis whose borders are more or less unquestioned – and contributing to decolonizing Western theories with perspectives from the Global South.Presenting rich original materials on the legal and public debates, individual reflections, and grassroots campaigns during COVID, this book will be essential reading for students and scholars of Taiwan's governance and social health policy, as well as medical anthropology and sociology.
Take All of Us
by Natalie LeifA YA unbury-your-gays horror in which an undead teen must find the boy he loves before he loses his mind and body.Five years ago, a parasite poisoned the water of Ian&’s West Virginia hometown, turning dozens of locals into dark-eyed, oil-dripping shells of their former selves. With chronic migraines and seizures limiting his physical abilities, Ian relies on his best friend and secret love Eric to mercy-kill any infected people they come across.Until a new health report about the contamination triggers a mandatory government evacuation, and Ian cracks his head in the rush. Used to hospitals and health scares, Ian always thought he'd die young... but he wasn&’t planning on coming back. Much less face the slow, painful realization that Eric left him behind to die.Desperate to find Eric and the truth before the parasite takes over him, Ian along with two others left behind—his old childhood rival Monica and the jaded prepper Angel—journey to track down Eric. What they don't know is that Eric is also looking for Ian, and he's determined to mercy-kill him.