- Table View
- List View
Sleep Disorders in Children: A Primer for Primary Care Providers
by Imran S. Khawaja Anna WaniThis book fills the need for an evidence-based guide with practical insights on identifying, diagnosing, and treating sleep disturbances in children. It serves as a comprehensive guide for healthcare providers in various clinical settings. The book is structured in four sections that cover the importance of sleep, impact of sleep through the years, common sleep disorders, and sleep in special populations. Authored by leaders in the field, many chapters feature cases and offer clinical pearls. Sleep Disorders in Children provides primary care practitioners with information on common sleep disorders, the evaluation process, primary treatment, and when to refer them to a sleep specialist for further testing and treatment.
Praktische verloskunde
by Jeroen van Dillen Ank de Jonge Corine Verhoeven Esther Feijen - de Jong Petra BakkerIn deze geheel herziene vijftiende editie vinden studenten en zorgverleners in de geboortezorg de nieuwste inzichten en praktische handvatten om zwangere vrouwen en pasgeborenen optimale zorg te bieden. De inhoud is aangepast aan de actuele ontwikkelingen in de Nederlandse geboortezorg, met een sterke focus op preventie van complicaties en een gezonde start van de zwangerschap. Na het bestuderen van dit boek ben je beter uitgerust om klinisch te redeneren en beleid te individualiseren, altijd in samenspraak met de cliënt. Deze editie bevat een nieuw hoofdstuk over prenatale screening en diagnostiek, en biedt dieper inzicht in respectvolle zorg en het belang van relationele zorg tijdens de bevalling. De code in het boek geeft toegang tot het online boek, de toetsvragen en de geraadpleegde referenties. Wat het boek Praktische verloskunde onderscheidt, is de combinatie van preventieve, ondersteunende zorg met up-to-date (patho)fysiologische kennis met specifieke aandacht voor de Nederlandse geboortezorg. Of je nu student bent of ervaren zorgprofessional, het leerboek Praktische verloskunde is het standaardwerk over normale zwangerschap en bevalling en ondersteunt je bij het maken van complexe beslissingen en het bieden van hoogwaardige, respectvolle zorg aan moeder en kind. De auteurs van dit boek zijn allen experts in het vakgebied en actief, in onderwijs, onderzoek, en/of de dagelijkse klinische praktijk.
Narrative SQL: Crafting Data Analysis Queries That Tell Stories
by Hamed TabrizchiThis book addresses an important gap in data analytics education: the interplay between complex query-making and storytelling. While many resources cover the fundamentals of SQL queries and the technical skills required to manipulate data, few also explore moving beyond the numbers and figures to tell stories that drive strategic business decisions. By weaving together both SQL and narrative mechanics, author Hamed Tabrizchi has assembled a powerful tool for data analysts, aspiring database professionals, and business intelligence specialists. A strong foundation is laid in the first part of the book, which examines the technical skills necessary to access and manipulate data. You&’ll explore foundational SQL commands, advanced querying techniques, data manipulation, data integrity, and optimization of queries for performance. The second half moves from the "how" of SQL to the "why," examining the meaning-making practices we can apply to data, and the stories data can tell. You'll learn how SQL queries can be interpreted, how to prepare data for visualization, and most importantly, how to convey the findings in a way that engages and informs the audience. In each chapter, practical exercises reinforce the techniques learned and help you apply them in real-world situations. In addition to strengthening technical skills, these exercises encourage readers to take a critical view of the data they are studying, considering the larger story it represents. Upon completing this book, you will not only be proficient in SQL, but also possess the key skill of converting data into narratives that can influence strategic direction and operational decisions in the modern workplace. What You Will Learn Advanced SQL Techniques: Master data manipulation and retrieval skills using advanced SQL queries Data Analysis Proficiency: Develop analytical skills to uncover key insights and understand significant data patterns Storytelling with Data: Learn to translate data analytics into compelling narratives for effective stakeholder communication Complex Querying Skills: Understand advanced SQL concepts such as common table expressions (CTEs), subqueries, and window functions Query Optimization: Optimize query execution time, resource usage, and scalability by mastering Indexes and Views Practical Application of Techniques: Gain hands-on experience with practical examples of advanced SQL techniques in real-world data analysis scenarios Effective Data Presentation: Discover strategies for visually presenting data stories to enhance engagement and understanding among diverse audiences Who This Book Is For Data analysts and business analysts, SQL developers, data-driven managers and executives and academics and students looking to enhance advanced querying and narrative building skills to better interpret and convey data.
Innovations in Communication Networks: Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Data Engineering and Communication Technology (ICDECT 2024), Volume 4 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1365)
by Ahmad Taher Azar Vikrant Bhateja Siba K. Udgata Vazeerudeen Abdul HameedThis book includes selected papers presented at the 5th International Conference on Data Engineering and Communication Technology (ICDECT 2024), held at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during 28–29 September 2024. It features advanced, multidisciplinary research towards the design of smart computing, information systems and electronic systems. It also focuses on various innovation paradigms in system knowledge, intelligence and sustainability which can be applied to provide viable solutions to diverse problems related to society, the environment and industry.
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Advances in Communication Technology and Computer Engineering: Transforming Industries: Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. Volume 1 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1312)
by Natalia Kryvinska Zakaria Boulouard Celestine IwendiThis proceedings book offers a refined and comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge advancements in communication networks, computational intelligence, and smart applications, seamlessly blending theoretical insights with practical solutions. Each paper outlines objectives, challenges, proposed solutions, and key findings, enabling swift comprehension of complex topics. By adopting a problem-solving approach and including case studies, the book effectively demonstrates the application of advanced techniques in domains such as industry, healthcare, and smart cities. Addressing the demands of an evolving digital landscape, it highlights emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and autonomous systems, ensuring its relevance to both current challenges and future innovations. Covering a wide spectrum of topics, including network security, AI applications, IoT ecosystems, and smart technologies, the book serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the innovations shaping the future of communication and computing. Targeted at graduate students, researchers, professors, and industry professionals, it functions as both an educational tool and a reference guide for those seeking to remain at the forefront of technological advancements. Featuring state-of-the-art research contributions, the book introduces new techniques, algorithms, and solutions to real-world challenges, complemented by structured insights into objectives, problems, and results. Practical applications are brought to life through successful case studies in key areas like smart cities and healthcare, illustrating the tangible impact of these innovations. With contributions reviewed by a distinguished editorial team of leading researchers, engineers, and academics, the book ensures credibility, academic rigor, and relevance. By blending theoretical depth, practical utility, and expert validation, this proceedings book is an indispensable resource for navigating the rapidly evolving fields of computing and communication technologies, equipping readers with the knowledge and tools to excel in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
India III: A Cross-Disciplinary Framework (Springer Climate)
by André Van Amstel Md Nazrul IslamThe major topics covered in this book include the climate vulnerability in Kolkata, urban agglomeration of resilience and adaptation strategies, climate change impact on western Himalayas, climate vulnerability in the north-eastern states of India, mitigation strategies of forest ecosystem, climate change impact on agricultural dynamics, suitability of potential zones (ALSPZs) as water bodies in semi-arid regions, extreme impacts of climate on coastal areas of the Indian Sundarbans, changes in the hydrology of the upper Indus Basin (Jhelum), climate change in inland fishery area, climate resilient agriculture (PoCRA) in achieving Sustainable Development Goals Maharashtra, climate change impact on land use in Alappuzha District, Kerala, climate change impact on biodiversity in the Sundarbans, modeling for rainfall prediction at Surat city in Gujarat, the impact of land surface temperature on the ecosystem, carbon footprint in India and south-east Asia in comparison to the world average.
Machine Learning and Knowledge Discovery in Databases. Research Track and Demo Track: European Conference, ECML PKDD 2024, Vilnius, Lithuania, September 9–13, 2024, Proceedings, Part VIII (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #14948)
by Jesse Davis Albert Bifet Eirini Ntoutsi Tomas Krilavičius Meelis Kull Indrė Žliobaitė Povilas Daniušis Kai PuolamäkiThis multi-volume set, LNAI 14941 to LNAI 14950, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the European Conference on Machine Learning and Knowledge Discovery in Databases, ECML PKDD 2024, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, in September 2024. The papers presented in these proceedings are from the following three conference tracks: - Research Track: The 202 full papers presented here, from this track, were carefully reviewed and selected from 826 submissions. These papers are present in the following volumes: Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII. Demo Track: The 14 papers presented here, from this track, were selected from 30 submissions. These papers are present in the following volume: Part VIII. Applied Data Science Track: The 56 full papers presented here, from this track, were carefully reviewed and selected from 224 submissions. These papers are present in the following volumes: Part IX and Part X.
TMS and Neuroethics (Advances in Neuroethics)
by Veljko Dubljević Jonathan R. YoungAs transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) continues to expand from a tool of neuroscience research into a growing array of clinical applications, it presents a number of open questions that both invite and complicate ethical evaluation. Empirically supported concerns remain regarding interactions between TMS and psychiatric medications or other interventions, the potential for adverse effects in stimulated brain regions, and whether modulation of brain activity—particularly via changes in oscillatory states—might affect aspects of personhood. This volume explores the ethical landscape surrounding TMS in both research and clinical settings. Prior neuroethics literature has largely focused on theoretical implications of neurostimulation technologies, including conceptual clarification (e.g., invasiveness) and normative questions regarding the alignment of these technologies with societal values. However, while some empirical work has captured perspectives from TMS patients, many key voices—such as those of family members, clinicians, and underrepresented communities—have remained absent from scholarly discussions. Spanning historical reflection, theoretical debate, empirical analysis, and clinical insight, this collection features contributions from scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of neuroethics, neuroscience, psychiatry, and biomedical engineering. Part I of the volume offers historical and theoretical reflections, including the origins and growth of TMS research, racial disparities in access and participation, caregiver perspectives, and emerging issues related to cognitive enhancement, non-clinical use, and applications in social neuroscience and creativity. Part II turns to new directions and ethical issues in clinical TMS research, addressing treatment subgrouping, adolescent and geriatric use, mood and substance use disorders, suicidality, and the evolving regulatory landscape. Together, these chapters provide an interdisciplinary examination of the ethical, clinical, and societal dimensions of TMS. Whether as an introduction to the neuroethics of brain stimulation or as a resource for neuroscientists, clinicians, engineers, and ethicists, this volume aims to foster greater understanding and dialogue around the responsible development and application of TMS.
Research- and Practice-Based Models for Advancing Social Work (SpringerBriefs in Advancing Social Work and Social Work Education)
by Ngoh Tiong TanThis book presents a wide array of innovative and cutting-edge practice models, research-based conceptualisations and theorisations as well as policy contributions which will serve as resource material for social work professionals across the globe. This volume is a unique presentation of rich epistemic and practice diversity and contributes to current and future demands of social work knowledge. Despite the diversity of the global context of social work – language, culture, philosophy, economic and social and political systems – the social work profession presents a cohesive voice that resonates among its professionals. Social workers uphold the values of dignity, rights and justice as well as share a strong belief in the inherent strength of individuals, groups and communities. Through this book, the authors bring together a variety of innovative, contemporary and forward-looking conceptualisations and practice models. Being the first volume in the Advancing Social Work Practice, Policy, and Research Series, the impressive coverage of the book includes research-based practice models from different country contexts that have global appeal and relevance to the international human and welfare sector. It also includes important conversations about the present and future of social work practice and prepares students as well as professional social workers for practice in an increasingly globalised, dynamic and culturally diverse environment. Contributions are authored by internationally recognised scholars and leaders writing about social work, as well as by social work professionals in countries and regions where their voices are seldom heard in the international community. Research- and Practice-Based Models for Advancing Social Work is a timely and important collection of international social work scholarship, work and ideas. The book is an essential resource for students, practitioners and educators alike. Policy makers, researchers and other professionals also would find the volume useful for their work.
Global Perspectives of Toxic Metals in Bio Environs: Volume 1: Environmental Impact, Ecotoxicology, Health Concerns, and Modelling
by Rouf Ahmad Bhat Mohammad Aneesul Mehmood Gowhar Hamid DarThis book explores recent advances in heavy metal contamination research in a global context, and focusses on the role of recent technologies like recombinant bioremediation, phytoremediation, DNA technology and nanotechnology to provide sustainable managing strategies to mitigate adverse environmental and health impacts. Many heavy metals are used in industrial and commercial sectors, including iron, zinc, tin, lead, copper, tungsten, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, thallium, and lead, which, when disposed in the natural environment, lead to serious threats to ecological balance in biotic systems and threaten vulnerable human populations. Currently, global scientific communities are very worried about the detrimental health effects of these heavy metals and their adverse effects on almost all biological systems. Scientific research has recorded some alarming adverse impacts of heavy metals on biota like carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, teratogenesis, allergic interactions, endocrine-disruption, bone marrow damage, osteoporosis. and immune system damage. This book is therefore timely, and will be of interest to researchers, students professors, and policymakers examining toxic heavy metals in the environment and their adverse health impacts.
Pushing Boundaries in Social Work Around the World, Vol. 2: Policy and Global Perspectives (SpringerBriefs in Advancing Social Work and Social Work Education)
by Mark Henrickson Darla Spence CoffeyThis book provides examples of how social workers have pushed back against neoliberalism, attempts to co-opt or silence social workers, and reproduce philosophical and ethical assumptions that divide humans from each other and from the natural world. This is the second book of a two-volume set that focuses on how authors have pushed boundaries in a particular field of practice, research or policy in social work. The books are culturally, gender-, and geographically inclusive, with contributors from every inhabited continent. It is future-focused, hopeful, and inspiring: it focuses on solutions rather than merely elaborating problems. The book includes chapters from a continuum of experienced practitioners and early career researchers; this provides a nuanced and accessible view of boundaries from both ends of the career path. The global definition of social work says that the discipline &‘promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people&’ but in many nations where social work exists, social workers are expected to act as agents of social control, ensuring that people—particularly &‘the poor&’—conform to established political and social norms. Most often social workers are initially attracted to the discipline because they want to empower and liberate vulnerabilised and marginalised people and communities. In order to accomplish these high-minded goals, social workers must occasionally push boundaries that confine their practice. This volume contains eight chapters from social workers who are challenging policy and the way social work is practiced in their national settings. Authors in this book interrogate the notion of national boundaries and contemporary populist self-interest. Not only are political boundaries considered, but the boundaries between humans and their natural environments are reconsidered. The book concludes by setting out key decisions that the global social work discipline must make in order to create its future, and identifies key markers on the path to that future. Pushing Boundaries in Social Work Around the World, Vol. 2: Policy and Global Perspectives invites social workers to reconsider their assumptions about policy practice and boundaries themselves. It encourages them to rediscover the spark that originally drew them to their work.
Nutrition, Fitness, and Mindfulness: An Evidence-Based Guide for Clinicians (Nutrition and Health)
by Jaime Uribarri Joseph A. VassalottiThis book presents an approach to the integration of healthy behaviors in clinical practice based on cutting edge science. It has been authored and edited by a select group of national and international experts in their respective fields who have developed these concepts for application in routine practice. This second edition of Nutrition, Fitness, and Mindfulness uses three major categories to discuss healthy behavior: healthy eating, active living, and mindfulness. All chapters are formatted to provide key learning points and summarized conclusions for easy reference. Eighteen chapters of the first edition have been updated in this new edition and cover such topics as the DASH diet, plant-based nutrition, the Mediterranean diet, beneficial herbs and spices, fitness, spirituality, meditation, healthy sleep, and disease prevention. 7 new chapters have been added, covering ultra-processed foods, food as medicine, integrating dietary patterns into the cultural preference, multicompartment exercise strategies for improving health in older adults with comorbidities, as well as chapters on evidence-based lifestyle interventions in risk of genitourinary cancer, diabetes, and barriers to a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition, Fitness, and Mindfulness: An Evidence-based Guide for Clinicians is a comprehensive guide aimed at all clinicians and healthcare professionals encouraging patients to make more thoughtful and healthy lifestyle choices.
Soziale Digitalisierung: Perspektiven zu den Schnittstellen von Technik und Gesellschaft (Perspektiven der Sozialpolitik)
by Christian Erfurth Michael OpielkaDieses Open-Access-Buch präsentiert innovative Ideen und Lösungsansätze, um die Potenziale Sozialer Digitalisierung gewinnbringend zu nutzen, insbesondere im Kontext der vier Dimensionen Housing, Working, Living und Caring/Supporting. Dabei werden nicht nur strategische Herausforderungen diskutiert, sondern auch neue Möglichkeiten der Zusammenarbeit innerhalb und außerhalb der Hochschulen erkundet und Best-Practice-Beispiele vorgestellt. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt auf der Schnittstelle zwischen Technologie und Gesellschaft. Auch konzeptionelle und organisatorische Herausforderungen wie Finanzierung, Lehre und Transfer stehen auf der Agenda. Weitere Themen umfassen Strategien zur transdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit mit verschiedenen gesellschaftlichen Akteuren sowie die Bewertung von Wirkungen und Erfolgskriterien.
The Bio-inspired X-Structure/Mechanism Approach for Exploring Nonlinear Benefits in Engineering: Part IV-Energy Harvesting and Sensors with X-Structures
by Xingjian JingThis book introduces a novel approach to designing and analyzing beneficial nonlinearity, which plays a crucial role in engineering systems and cannot be overlooked in structural design, dynamic response analysis, and parameter selection. It systematically addresses the key issue of how to analyze and design potential nonlinearities, whether introduced or inherent in a system under study. This task is essential in many practical applications, including vibration control, energy harvesting, sensor systems, and robotics. The book provides an up-to-date summary of the latest developments in a cutting-edge method for manipulating and employing nonlinearity, known as the X-shaped structure or mechanism approach. Inspired by animal leg/limb skeletons, this method offers passive, low-cost, high-efficiency adjustable beneficial nonlinear stiffness (high static & ultra-low dynamic), nonlinear damping (dependent on resonant frequency and vibration excitation amplitude), and nonlinear inertia (low static & high dynamic), either individually or simultaneously. The X-shaped structure or mechanism represents a class of beneficial geometric nonlinearity with flexible linkage mechanisms or structural designs in various forms (quadrilateral, diamond, polygon, K/Z/S/V-shape, or others). These forms share similar geometric nonlinearity and nonlinear stiffness/damping properties, making them flexible in design and easy to implement. The book series systematically review the research background, motivation, essential bio-inspired ideas, advantages of this novel method, beneficial nonlinear properties in stiffness, damping, and inertia, and potential applications developed since 2010, and particularly focuses in this book on innovative applications of the X-structure/mechanism method in energy harvesting and sensor systems.
The World of the Battleship: The Design & Careers of Capital Ships of the World's Navies, 1880–1990
by Bruce TaylorThis new volume is intended to present a global vision of the development of the world's battleships. In a collection of chapters by international, the design, building, and career of a significant battleship from each of the world's navies is explored that illuminates not just the ships but also the communities of officers and individuals that served in them and, more broadly, the societies and nations that built them. Each chapter explains the origins of a ship, her importance as a national symbol, and her place in the fleet. This is a highly original and significant book on the great capital ships of the world.
The Ability to Kill: True Tales of Bloody Murder
by Eric AmblerThe renowned thriller author turns his attention to true crime—while also taking shots at spies, Hollywood writers, and other subjects—in this collection of essays.Known for timeless thrillers including Epitaph for a Spy and Journey into Fear, Eric Ambler was a keen observer of rogues and rule-breakers of all kinds. In The Ability to Kill, he delves into some of the most intriguing and disturbing criminal cases of the last few hundred years. These include nineteenth-century Edinburgh’s Burke and Hare, who supplied a medical school with ill-gotten cadavers; Victorian London’s infamous Jack the Ripper; the Frenchman Henri Désiré Landru, an early twentieth-century serial killer; and the Californian doctor Bernard Finch and his lover Carole Tregoff, who conspired to murder his wife in 1961. Rounding out the collection are a few pieces on lighter topics such as spies and how to spot them, and novelists in Hollywood. Though his subjects are often grim, Ambler’s deft touch makes this examination of homicide and other matters a pure pleasure to read.
The French Fleet: Ships, Strategy and Operations 1870–1918
by Ruggero Stanglini Michele ConsentinoAt the end of the 1870-1 Franco-Prussian war, the French Navy began to reconstruct its fleet, replacing old generation warships with steam-powered and iron-hulled men-of-war. However, the process was slow and erratic since priority was initially given to the Army. Additionally, the establishment of the Third Republic led to a long period of political and economic instability which affected naval and shipbuilding policy. French naval yards and private shipyards were committed to build a fleet of ironclads, cruisers and minor vessels and led France to become the second European naval power, at least quantitatively. The rise of the ‘Jeune Ècole’ (Young School) strategic naval concept in the early 1880s then changed shipbuilding priorities, and emphasis was given to coastal torpedo boats and cruisers while the construction of battleships was slowed. As a consequence, the French Navy implemented the dreadnought concept later than other European naval powers, namely Great Britain and Germany. The 1904 Entente Cordiale contributed to yet further radical changes to foreign, naval and shipbuilding policies, so that at the outbreak of World War One the French fleet was populated with limited dreadnoughts, many obsolete armored cruisers, an impressive array of torpedo boats and a fleet of submarines whose efficiency was however questionable. The book provides a complete overview of the French Navy from the establishment of the Third Republic to the end of World War One. French foreign and naval policy, shipyards and industrial organization, technological innovations, operations and shipbuilding programs are all described in the first part of the volume, while the second and larger part is focused on the different categories of warships, including their qualitative and quantitative evolution during the period of 1871–1918 and their employment during the Great War. A chapter is also dedicated to naval aviation. Superbly illustrated with rare and carefully selected photographs, this major new reference book paints a clear and detailed overview of the French navy during this era and will stand as a vital companion to French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859–1914 published by Seaforth.
The Villa Golitsyn: A Novel
by Piers Paul ReadAn act of treason reverberates from Indonesia to the British Embassy in this thriller of political espionage from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Alive. After an appalling act of sedition results in the mass slaughter of Indonesian guerillas in the jungles of Borneo, suspicion of treason falls on charismatic Cambridge graduate Willy Ludley. A brilliant junior diplomat at the British Embassy in Jakarta, Ludley has disappeared to the South of France. Simon Milson, an old friend, is enlisted to find him and extract a confession. Not a formal investigation, he reasons. Perhaps more like a game. But when Milson arrives at Ludley&’s villa in Nice, he&’s startled to find more players than he anticipated, each with an unknowable agenda: Ludley&’s tormented but devoted wife; a closeted gay friend from Cambridge and his grossly flirtatious new American fiancée; and a teenage runaway who has mysteriously attached herself to all of them. Over the next couple of days, as loyalties shift, sexual temptations become a weapon, and betrayals are exposed, the truth behind a treasonous act will be just one more revelation at the Villa Golitsyn. &“As if a story dreamed up by Eugene O&’Neill had been dramatized by John le Carré,&” The Villa Golitsyn is part espionage novel, part thriller, and part tale of political and sexual intrigue (TheNew York Times). It delivers, above all, &“a tightly woven story of jealousy that holds the attention to the very end&” (The Sunday Times).
Theatre Shoes (Shoes #3)
by Noel StreatfeildThis captivating companion to Ballet Shoes tells the story of 3 orphans who become students at a famous theatre school After their father disappeared in the war, Sorrell, Holly, and Mark Forbes were sent to live with their grandfather. When he dies, the three orphans are on the move again—this time to London, where their maternal grandmother is a well-known actress. The city is a strange, bustling place that frightens young Holly, but the siblings&’ new home at 14 Ponsonby Square has a garden that instantly enchants them. Their grandmother enrols them at the Children&’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, where they&’ll carry on the tradition of their famous theatre family, which includes cousins they never knew they had. Stuck-up Miranda thinks she can act better than Sorrel; homesick Mark discovers he can sing; and Holly is a natural dancer. Will Sorrel, Holly, and Mark live up to their family legacy?
The Kaiser's Cruisers, 1871–1918
by Aidan DodsonWhile bookshelves groan with works on the capital ships of the German Third Reich, there is little in English devoted to their predecessors of the Second Reich, so this new book will fill a clear gap in its study of German cruisers of the period, from wooden-hulled corvettes, through the fusion of ‘overseas’ and ‘home’ vessels into the modern small cruisers that evolved and fought in the First World War. The book covers the full range of cruising vessels operated or ordered by the Imperial German Navy between 1871 and 1918, excluding the large cruisers, previously covered by the author’s companion volume The Kaiser’s Battlefleet. These include corvettes, avisos, sloops, torpedo cruisers, III- and IV-class cruisers and small cruisers, and are described and arranged in a chronological narrative. This includes both design and operational histories, the latter continuing down to the end of ships’ service after the fall of Imperial Germany, and it is accompanied by an extensive selection of many rare photographs. The ships’ technical details are tabulated in the second half of the book which also includes sketches of ships’ internal layouts and armour and changes in appearance over time. The authors have made extensive use of archival material, particularly relating to the political and technical background to design and procurement, and present a developmental history of this ship class which is unique in the English language. It will have huge appeal to all those with an interest in the German navy and to those who have been waiting avidly for the sequel to The Kaiser’s Battlefleet.
Indian Agriculture: Challenges, Priorities and Solutions
by Naveen K. Sharma Dinesh Chandra Rai Pradeep Kumar RaiThis edited volume examines the challenges and solutions in the intricate landscape of Indian agriculture and global trade. It explores the historical shifts from an industry-driven to agrarian economy, followed by rapid urbanization in the latter half of the 20th century. Modern agri-business is a global phenomenon not only affected by local and regional factors but also by global policies directed by global agencies. This book focuses on problems commonly associated with the advancement of agriculture in India, as well as issues arising out of global agricultural trade. The book contains chapters on associated problems, some priority issues, and approaches that could be used to overcome these limitations. Focused on rural India, the book underscores the critical role of agriculture, contributing a major part to the national income. The book highlights the economic opportunities arising from agriculture, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices given ecological, cultural, and socio-economic impacts. Addressing the complexities, the book advocates for diversification, adaptive varieties, and technological integration, including biotechnology and information technologies, to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. It also stresses the urgency of coherent national policies for soil and water resource use, marketing, business management, climate impacts, and more. It outlines key interventions and frameworks designed to guide actions on food security and nutrition, making a case for India's crucial role in global food production and supply chain systems. The book has been written and edited by leading researchers of the respective fields. It is a useful resource for students, researchers, academicians as well as farmers and policymakers.
The Essential Rebecca West: Uncollected Prose
by Rebecca WestA collection of Rebecca West&’s critical thought, essays, and reviews that sparkles with her wit and intelligence Throughout her life, West worked as a journalist and critic, and in this collection readers will discover her vibrant voice, which is at times frank and frequently humorous. Whether considering her escapades in Prohibition-era New York or her own path to writing fiction, West&’s essays offer captivating stories and apt reflections on human foibles—as well as her own personality. That same honesty is evident in her reviews, in which West tackles subjects such as Winston Churchill&’s memoir and Brave New World, but never shies away from either a critical or playful tone. A wonderful introduction to the author&’s nonfiction writing, and a veritable goldmine for fans, The Essential Rebecca West brings the writer, her voice, and her times to life.
Task Force 58: The US Navy's Fast Carrier Strike Force that Won the War in the Pacific
by Rod MacdonaldThe new breed of American fast aircraft carriers could make thirty-three knots, and each carried almost 100 strike aircraft. Brought together as Task Force 58, also known as the Fast Carrier Task Force, this awesome armada at times comprised more than 100 ships carrying more than 100,000 men afloat. By 1945, more than 1,000-combat aircraft, fighters, dive- and torpedo-bombers could be launched in under an hour. The fast carriers were a revolution in naval warfare – it was a time when naval power moved away from the big guns of the battleship to air power projected at sea. Battleships were eventually subordinated to supporting and protecting the fast carriers, of which, at its peak, Task Force 58 had a total of seventeen. This book covers the birth of naval aviation, the appearance of the first modern carriers in the 1920s, through to the famous surprise six-carrier _Kido Butai_ Japanese raid against Pearl Harbor on 8 December 1941 and then the early US successes of 1942 at the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. The fast carriers allowed America, in late 1942 and early 1943, to finally move from bitter defence against the Japanese expansionist onslaught, to mounting her own offensive to retake the Pacific. Task Force 58 swept west and north from the Solomon Islands to the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, neutralising Truk in Micronesia, and Palau in the Caroline islands, before the vital Mariana Islands operations, the Battle of Saipan, the first battle of the Philippine Sea and the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The strikes by Task Force 58 took Allied forces across the Pacific, to the controversial Battle of Leyte Gulf and to Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Task Force 58 had opened the door to the Japanese home islands themselves – allowing US bombers to finally get close enough to launch the devastating nuclear bombing raids on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Task Force 58 participated in virtually all the US Navy’s major battles in the Pacific theatre during the last two years of the war. Having spent many years investigating naval shipwrecks across the Pacific, many the result of the devastating effectiveness of Task Force 58, diver and shipwreck author Rod Macdonald has created the most detailed account to date of the fast carrier strike force, the force that brought Japan to its knees and brought the Second World War to its crashing conclusion.
The Levanter
by Eric AmblerA Syrian businessman is drawn into the deadly machinations of Palestinian terrorists in the acclaimed author’s Gold Dagger–winning thriller.Syria, 1970. As a self-described “Levantine mongrel,” Michael Howell is used to navigating the shifting sands of Middle East politics. Over the years, he has successfully maintained his business enterprise through war, revolutions, and takeovers, thanks in part to his office manager—and mistress—Teresa.Staunchly apolitical and programmed for survival, Howell enjoys the sweet life. But that all changes one fateful night in Damascus, when he finds men working overtime in his factory—secretly making bombs for the fanatical Palestinian Action Force. Suddenly, Howell is caught in the middle with nowhere to run.
Mina's Matchbox: A Novel
by Yoko OgawaTHE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE • A TIME BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the award-winning, psychologically astute author of The Memory Police, a hypnotic, introspective novel about an affluent Japanese family navigating buried secrets, and their young house guest who uncovers them.&“A story of first enchantments and last gasps…Effervescent." —New York Times Book Review&“Yoko Ogawa is a quiet wizard, casting her words like a spell, conjuring a world of curiosity and enchantment, secrets and loss. I read Mina&’s Matchbox like a besotted child, enraptured, never wanting it to end.&” —Ruth Ozeki, author of The Book of Form and EmptinessIn the spring of 1972, twelve-year-old Tomoko leaves her mother behind in Tokyo and boards a train alone for Ashiya, a coastal town in Japan, to stay with her aunt&’s family. Tomoko&’s aunt is an enigma and an outlier in her working-class family, and her magnificent home—and handsome foreign husband, the president of a soft drink company—are symbols of that status. The seventeen rooms are filled with German-made furnishings; there are sprawling gardens and even an old zoo where the family&’s pygmy hippopotamus resides. The family is just as beguiling as their mansion—Tomoko&’s dignified and devoted aunt, her German great-aunt, and her dashing, charming uncle, who confidently sits as the family&’s patriarch. At the center of the family is Tomoko&’s cousin Mina, a precocious, asthmatic girl of thirteen who draws Tomoko into an intoxicating world full of secret crushes and elaborate storytelling.In this elegant jewel box of a book, Yoko Ogawa invites us to witness a powerful and formative interlude in Tomoko&’s life. Behind the family's sophistication are complications that Tomoko struggles to understand—her uncle&’s mysterious absences, her great-aunt&’s experience of the Second World War, her aunt&’s misery. Rich with the magic and mystery of youthful experience, Mina&’s Matchbox is an evocative snapshot of a moment frozen in time—and a striking depiction of a family on the edge of collapse.