Monday, 14 February 2011

Hitlers War



Hitlers War
David Irving | 2001-01-01 00:00:00 | FOCAL POINT | 974 | Fiction
A new, fully-updated Millennium Edition (2001) has now been printed and simultaneously uploaded to the Internet. This fully-indexed book has over 1,000 pages, including 60 in-text illustrations and 40 pages of rare b/w and colour photos. First published in 1977.
The millennium edition of Hitler’s War brings the narrative up to date with the latest documents discovered, primarily in American and former Soviet archives, since the 1991 edition was published. David Irving was in 1992 - the first author permitted by the Russians to exploit the microfiched diaries of Dr Joseph Goebbels, which contain further vital information about Hitler’s role in the Rohm Purge, the Kristallnacht of 1938, the Final Solution, and other matters of high historical importance. From a Californian source obtained the original Gestapo interrogations of Rudolf Hess’s staff, conducted in the first few days after his flight to Scotland. The British secret
service has now released to the public domain the intercepts of top secret messages sent in code by Himmler and other SS commanders. These are just a few examples of the new materials woven into the fabric
of this story.
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Adhesives, Adhesion Science and Testing



Adhesives, Adhesion Science and Testing
ASTM International | 2005-01-01 00:00:00 | ASTM International | 144 | Engineering

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The Languages of Japan



The Languages of Japan
Masayoshi Shibatani | 1990-01-01 00:00:00 | Cambridge University Press | 428 | Languages (Other)
This book surveys the two main indigenous languages of Japan, Japanese and Ainu. No genetic relationship has been established between them, and structurally they differ significantly. Shibatani has therefore divided his study into two independent parts. The first is the most comprehensive study of the polysynthetic Ainu language yet to appear in English. The second part deals extensively with Japanese. It discusses topics from the evolution of the writing system and the differences between men's and women's speech, to issues of greater theoretical complexity, such as phonology, the lexicon and word formation, and the syntax of agglutinative morphology. As an American trained scholar in Japan, the author is in a unique position that affords him a dual perspective on language deriving from Western linguistic scholarship and the Japanese grammatical tradition.
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Vertebrate Palaeontology



Vertebrate Palaeontology
Michael J. Benton | 2004-12-16 00:00:00 | Wiley-Blackwell | 472 | Paleontology
Vertebrate Palaeontology is a complete, up-to-date history of the evolution of vertebrates. The third edition of this popular text has been extensively revised to incorporate the latest research, including new material from North and South America, Australia, Europe, China, Africa and Russia.
  • Highlights astonishing new discoveries including new dinosaurs and Mesozoic birds from China
  • features a new chapter on how to study fossil vertebrates
  • provides an increased emphasis on the cladistic framework with cladograms set apart from the body of the text and full lists of diagnostic characters
  • includes new molecular evidence on early mammal diversification
  • new features aid study including new functional and developmental feature spreads, key questions and extensive references to useful web sites
  • strong phylogenetic focus making it an up-to-date source of the latest broad-scale systematic data on vertebrate evolution

To access the artwork from the book, please visit: www.blackwellpublishing.com/benton.

An Instructor manual CD-ROM for this title is available. Please contact our Higher Education team at HigherEducation@wiley.com for more information.
Reviews
The book was in the condition advertised. Pleased and would order from this seller again.
Reviews
Benton does a fine job with the actual subject matter of vertebrate paleontology per se, but his introduction and analysis as to how fossils are formed, and under what conditions,leaves a lot to be desired. He oversells the evolutionary angle with rampant,unsupported speculation and theory, completely ignoring the more recent work of Behe, Dembski et al, as well as credible explanations for the Cambrian findings at the Cheng-jiang and Burgess Shale deposits. In short, this is really not an up-to-date scientific book. To see what I mean, read Clarkson's book on INVERTEBRATE paleontology -- a far better and more scholarly work.
Reviews
This book provides a readable, self-contained, description of the evolution of vertebrates. I think it's a great book.



The main purpose of the opening two chapters is to provide background material for the rest of the book. The first shows how vertebrates fit into the tree of life. Enough embryology is presented to define deutrostomes. The only phylum considered in any detail is, not surprisingly, chordata. Some other phyla are described, but this is done mainly to show how they relate to chordates. This chapter is brief but lucid. The following chapter presents material on fossil excavation, cladistics and the fossil record.



After this introductory material the book progresses to its main topic. The approach is roughly chronological. As usual the focus is, for the most part, on the animals that were dominat in that time. For instance amphibians aren't considered after rise of amniotes and reptiles aren't considered after the Mesozoic.



The first topic covered is fish from the Paleozoic, at least through the Devonian period. The material is pretty much what one would expect: jawless fish, the origin of jaws, armour-plated fish, early sharks, bony fish, lung fish and a mass extinction of fish that occurred in the late Devonian. There is a chapter later in the book that covers fish evolution from the end of the Paleozoic. It treats the evolution of sharks and bony fish in more detail.



An outline of the remaining content is: amphibians, early amniotes (my favorite chapter covering synapsids/diapsids/anapsids), dinosaurs and reptiles from the Mesozoic, birds, mammals and finally a chapter on human evolution.



Each chapter begins with a list of "key questions" that will be addressed. This was useful both in providing a preview of the material to come and in providing a review of what was covered. The coverage in each chapter went along the lines of describing important genera, descriptions of how the various species made their way in the world, cladograms (of varying granularity), anatomical diagrams, photos of fossils and descriptions of important finds. One very nice feature is that some important concepts were explained in great detail, like the digits that birds have lost or how reptilian jaw bones evolved into important parts of the mammalian inner ear. Another nice feature is that the author makes it clear where there are controversies among paleontologists and explain where the weight of the evidence leads.



Aside from the main text some other good aspects of the book are that if gives lots of references (including some available on-line), the bibliography references a lot of good books and there is an appendix that gives a reasonably detailed classification of the vertebrates.



The book covers quite a lot of material in a surprisingly small number of pages, slightly less than 400 pages in the main text. I think more than enough background material is included in the book for non-specialists. However prior exposure to natural selection would be useful, although any likely readers probably have more than sufficient knowledge. Obviously any of the individual topics, like dinosaur evolution or human evolution, are considered in more detail in specialized texts. Given the vast amount of potential material I thought the level of detail was very good.
Reviews
"Vertebrate Palaeontology" written by Michael J. Benton is a chronological narritive wriiten like a college text book about the subject of vertebrate palaenolology. There are a few diversions into related current subject matter throughout the text making for some interesting reading but the focus of the book is how the vertebrate palaeontologists obtain their information.



I found the book to be very informative and rather detailed in scope and breath in some areas where there is a lot of information on the subject and and rather enlightening in areas where there is less information. "Verterbrate Palaeontology" is designed for palaeontology courses in college given by either the biology, geology, or palaeontology departments within the university setting, but if you are an enthusiast you can still benefit from reading this book, and experience the "how" in how information is processed in a research setting.



"Vertebrate Palaeontology" is about the evolution of the vertebrate... that is, it is about all of the historical animals that have existed prior to man's evolution and about human evolution itself. The book makes for a fascinating read and I found that it is very logical in its progression and the information that the book imparts is quite valuable in its very nature as to how animals evolved as they did and for what purpose.



Like I've said, this book is not for the novice or a young reader, but for those that truly need to read about more detailed and structured information as to why things are as they are and happened for a particular reason. Reading "Vertebrate Palaeontogy" will give the reader a structured and discplined reading as to approaching the information at hand and you'll better understand the adaptations required for the move on to land and the relationships of the early amphibians and reptiles... orgins and biology of the dinosaurs and the role that extinction plays in the whole of evolution. Reading "Vertebrate Palaeontology" will train your mind in a logical train of thinking and gives the reader a leg up on what is found and how to interpret any evidence found and the approach to which and how to handle this information in a logical manner.



I gave "Vertebrate Palaeontology" a solid 5 stars for the reasons above and that there is a wealth of information contained within its pages that will definitely give you a more enlightened view of life on earth. The reading of "Vertebrate Palaeontology" will in some areas be very taxing and others the read is absolutely enlightening... this book is written for the specialist in mind. "Vertebrate Palaeontology" has plenty of illustrations and the book has an extensive bibliography and has the works of others in this field properly footnoted for further exploration into the topic.
Reviews
Benton manages to write a thorough text on various vertebrate groups and their evolutionary trends, mentioning specific important species and basic morphology without making the book as dry as a bone. As one can always state about books that are overviews, one could wish for more thorough coverage of personal groups of interest, but as an overview, this is a great book. The diagrams and phylogenetic charts are very helpful, and the case studies that are provided in offset boxes are very interesting.

One major complaint about the book is the number of typos and mislabeled diagrams...it can become rather confusing. I have taken a pen to the book and with careful reading, re-reading and cross referencing, have corrected the errors in my own copy to save me the brain strain...but on the whole, this book does what one would want from it.

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Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, An Issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics (The Clinics: Internal Medicine)



Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, An Issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics (The Clinics: Internal Medicine)
S. Paige Hertweck MD | 2009-04-22 00:00:00 | Saunders | 240 | Internal Medicine
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology is reviewed in this issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, guest edited by Dr. S. Paige Hertweck. Authorities in the field have come together to pen articles on Genital Trauma, Urologic Issues, Endometriosis in the Adolescent, Adolescent STIs, Intersex Disorders, Mullerian Anomalies, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in the Adolescent, Bleeding Disorders in Adolescents, Thrombophilial Conditions in the Adolescent, Adolescent Contraception, Management of Abnormal Cervical Cytology in the Adolescent, and Premature Ovarian Failure/Turner Syndrome in the Adolescent.

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The Imperial Russian Navy



The Imperial Russian Navy
Anthony J. Watts | 1900-01-01 00:00:00 | Arms & Armour | 192 | Military Science
An illustrated history of the Navy and its ships from the first steam warships of 1850 to the demise of the fleet at the Revolution in 1917. The history section, which describes the events, personnel and policies of the period, is followed by a reference sector which lists every vessel in detail and illustrates most of them by rare, mostly unpublished photographs. The illustrations of the almost circular "floating forts" should be of particular interest.

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If You're Clueless about Mutual Funds



If You're Clueless about Mutual Funds
Seth Godin | 1997-04-01 00:00:00 | Kaplan Business | 208 | Investing
With the new series, If You're Clueless About . . . And Want To Know More, Seth Godin launches a group of helpful, humorous, and easy-to-read guides to smart money management. In this title, Godin quickly brings people up to speed on more intelligent mutual fund investing. Beginning with a lively look at the history of mutual funds, the guide goes on to provide a worksheet for estimating the total cost of a fund, and lists ten questions to ask before investing.
Reviews
This is an excellent book for beginner's. It's very easy to understand and there is no dry reading. It helps you understand how mutual funds work and helps you decide what type of funds are best fitted for your individual goals. If you already have an extended knowledge of mutual funds this book may be a little boring.
Reviews
Clueless about mutual funds is a readable book for beginning interest in money management. This book starts with easy explainations on money talk. I have enjoyed reading it, and thats why I ordered it. My only critism is that it gets tougher to understand as you continue to read it.

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Day by Day



Day by Day
Delia Parr | 2007-01-01 00:00:00 | Steeple Hill | 400 | Fiction Other
I'm not going to talk about the plot, but simply tell you to get the book. Parr writes wonderful stories that captivate and hold you spellbound until you turn the last page. She has jumped to my five favorite authors list. If you love Deborah Raney, Robin Lee Hatcher, Sally John or Roxanne Henke, you'll love Delia Parr. This reviewer gives Day by Day a high recommendation.
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Defining the Atlantic Community: Culture, Intellectuals, and Policies in the Mid-Twentieth Century (Routledge Research in Atlantic Studies)



Defining the Atlantic Community: Culture, Intellectuals, and Policies in the Mid-Twentieth Century (Routledge Research in Atlantic Studies)
Marco Mariano | 2010-04-26 00:00:00 | Routledge | 226 | World

In this volume, essays by scholars from both sides of the Atlantic open new perspectives on the construction of the "Atlantic community" during World War II and the early Cold War years. Based on original approaches bringing together diplomatic history and the history of culture and ideas, the book shows how atlantism came to provide a solid ideological foundation for the security community of North American and European nations which took shape in the 1940s. The idea of a transatlantic community based on shared histories, values, and political and economic institutions was instrumental to the creation of the Atlantic Alliance, and partly accounts for the continuing existence of the Atlantic partnership after the Cold War. At the same time, this study breaks new ground by arguing that the emergence of the idea of "Atlantic community" also reflected deeper trends in transatlantic relations; in fact, it was the outcome of the re-definition of "the West" due to the rise of the US and the decline of Europe in the international arena during the first half of the Twentieth Century.



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Downsizing Your Home with Style: Living Well In a Smaller Space



Downsizing Your Home with Style: Living Well In a Smaller Space
Lauri Ward | 2008-11-01 00:00:00 | Harper Paperbacks | 208 | Architecture
Product Description:

When you're moving a lifetime's accumulation of belongings from a larger home into a jewel box, the task can seem overwhelming—and so can your emotions. How do you decide what to pack and what to part with? How can you use the things you have so that they function well and look right?

Downsizing Your Home with Style answers these questions and more. Learn how to:

*Create more storage

*Make your stuff look smaller and your space look bigger

*Update and modernize your favorite old pieces

*Multipurpose your rooms and furniture

*Find a new home for the stuff you no longer need


From the initial evaluation of your new home to one year after you have settled in, interior designer Lauri Ward takes you through every step with detailed tips, lists of good buys, tricks of the trade, photographs, and anecdotal examples, so that achieving spectacular results is simple and affordable, whatever your style or budget.
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Eric Johnson - Guitar Transcriptions



Eric Johnson - Guitar Transcriptions
Eric Johnson | 1990-11-01 00:00:00 | Hal Leonard Corporation | 112 | Songbooks
12 of his best, including: Trademark * Desert Rose * Bristol Shore * Zap * Cliffs Of Dover * East Wes * and more. Includes many photos.
Reviews
This book is a joke! Mistakes in every area-take the transcription of "Zap" for instance. An Ab chord in the standard notation, but the tab shows a Db chord! The opening run-how do you slur from an F on the D string to an Eb on the A string, then to Ab on the D string to Bb on the G string? A G5 chord symbol over a Ab5 in the notation and tab? A5 labeling a Bb5? What!? Plus, this should be notated in A, with instructions to tune down 1/2 step! Take the fourth bar of "Trademark"-E should be on the second fret, not the third. How do you play B on the second fret, then magically switch to the seventh fret while still holding the note?! You get the idea-this reminds me of the "authentic" Hendrix transcriptions, which are as equally screwed up. Think twice before wasting your money on this!

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SQL Functions Programmer's Reference



SQL Functions Programmer's Reference
| 2005-04-18 00:00:00 | | 790 | SQL


Gives programmers two-in-one coverage, with both a `how-to` on SQL functions and a complete SQL functions reference SQL is the standard language for database queries; this book's advanced coverage helps programmers write their own SQL functions Covers both the internationally standardized SQL 99 functions and the hundreds of additional functions introduced by vendors, including the subtle variations required to successfully migrate or interoperate between vendor products Covers the latest versions of the major relational database management system (RDMS) applications: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, and MySQL

User review
Good Basic Book on SQL Functions
This was good enough. It covered more DBMS than just MS SQL Server so it comes with a lot more than you want or need if you specialize in one vendor's product. I got it for free. On the other hand, it would be valuable for that very same reason if you ever find yourself trying to locate a similar function in another DBMS.


I certainly would caution anyone to remember that this is a reference book. Do not try to read through this from cover to cover. You may skim through a lot of the sections to see what is available but I would not flip through it more than that. It is best used for getting what you need and getting out and back to the keyboard.

I suppose it could be a book for anyone from beginner to expert since it is just a function reference. If you are not able to easily access the internet to look up a function quickly or do not have the BOL installed for some reason then this is an adequate alternative.


Yes, they even explain the `proper` way to pronounce SQL (SEE-kwuhl). Only recruiters, COOs, and Jr developers say Es-Queue-El. The only thing more annoying than that is someone using a GUID as a primary key. ;)




User review
Test review
More a book for consultants as looks at functions across differnet platforms. Bur clear coding examples. Would re-purchase for the right price.

User review
for the most part it does deliver
Like with every Wrox book there are many voices in the book. Unfortunately they do not comprise a choir,,.You will find a useful info scattered throughout the book; do not try to get a coherent picture out of it. I liked the idea of the book, and for the most part it does deliver.

There were small annoyances here and there:

For example, I find it strange that authors thought it necessary to give their version of pronunciation `:(otherwise known as SQL and pronounced `SEE-kwul`) ` for what is clearly not a beginner book; and I pronounce it `ess-que-ell` as many of my colleagues do)


Same goes for the first few chapters where authors have chosen to show examples of a basic queries, connect to database syntax etc. UNIX shell function example (p.14) was rather a dubious choice - why not C? VB? Java? Perl? Most database application developers are not familiar with the shell scripts, and could not care less.


It really would help me if the book covered creation of the user defined functions with Java and .NET (available in Oracle, DB2 UDB, PostgreSQL (Java), MSSQL Server, IBM DB2 UDB (.Net/C#); the book only covers Sybase where function created in Java 1.1,,. Reporting issues (chapter 19) seem torn out of some other book, and badly fitted into SQL Functions,,.The subject of Regular Expressions was hardly paid any attention, save for the fact that such thing does exist; MSSQL Server, for instance, provides access to OLE interface of its scripting engine Regex implementation. On the other hand, I was delighted to see PostgreSQL included.




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Cubase Five Tutorial DVD Level Two


Cubase Five Tutorial DVD Level Two
Steinberg | 2009-01-01 00:00:00 | Ask Video | 1 | Video (tutorials, how-to, etc.)
In Level 2 of this 4 part series we're going to dive right into the advanced features. Make sure you've seen level 1 so that you have a good foundation of the basics. We'll cover more of the new Cubase 5 features and really take a look at VariAudio and all it's possibilities.

If you're new to Cubase or want some help getting accustomed to the latest version, than this DVD is perfect. It's also great for those advanced users out there that haven't loaded up a project in a while and need a quick refresher. This DVD is perfect for all Cubase users!! It’s the next best thing to having the expert right there beside you.

With thousands of hours of seminar experience under his belt, Cubase Guru Steve Kostrey explains in a step by step, easy to follow style, how to get the most out of Cubase 5.

About Steve Kostrey: Product specialist and clinician at Steinberg Canada from 1995-2005, during which he has demonstrated every aspect and feature of Cubase at literally hundreds of clinics to thousands of musicians. Steve shares his wealth of knowledge and experience with you in this DVD.

# 44 Videos
# Over 3 hours of professional instruction
# Extremely high quality tutorial videos
# Easy to use interface
# Made for Cubase 5 but also great for users of Cubase LE, Cubase AI, Cubase SX3, Cubase 4 and Nuendo.
# Mac OS X & Windows compatible
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Stroke For Dummies



Stroke For Dummies
John R. Marler M.D. | 2005-09-09 00:00:00 | For Dummies | 384 | Nervous System
Features tons of advice for recovery and rehabilitation

Get the latest on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke

Have questions and concerns about strokes? This reassuring guide provides invaluable information for stroke victims and their loved ones, from what a stroke is and what it feels like to proven treatments and therapies. You'll see how to implement a plan for preventing stroke, treat the lingering effects of stroke, and maximize home caregiver effectiveness while minimizing fatigue.

Discover how to:

  • Understand what causes different types of stroke
  • Recognize warning signs
  • Get the most out of doctors and hospitals
  • Speed recovery with the best treatments
  • Help prevent future strokes
  • Decide the best living arrangements after stroke

Reviews
I had a stroke and wanted more information. This book is well written and easy to understand. I wish I had read it before I had a stroke. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about stroke and its causes.
Reviews
The whole "...for Dummies" series is great reference material, and this book is no exception. If you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of having to learn "ALL" about the subject of stroke, then buy this book! The information in it not only addressed many of my family's concerns, but also anticipated the struggles we fumbled towards. The chapters on what happens when the patient must leave the hospital were especially helpful.

At such an uncertain and overwhelming time, one needs reliable information which is easy to grasp. Reading Stroke for Dummies was like listening to a wise friend dispense trusted advice.
Reviews
My 82 year old mother had a stroke and I ordered this book for my dad to help him understand the process of what she is going through. He has raved repeatedly about the book. It is written in terms that anyone can understand. It's a great book! Thank you to the writers.
Reviews
I got this book late in the game. I wish I would of gotten this book when my husband's stroke first happened. it explains things pretty good. from when a stroke 1st happens to all the stuff afterwards. another good book is High Blood Pressure for Dummies. A site to go to for support is strokeboard.net - lots of great people to talk to.

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Proektirovanie i stroitel'stvo. Dom, kvartira, sad



Proektirovanie i stroitel'stvo. Dom, kvartira, sad
P. Nojfert | 2005-01-01 00:00:00 | Arkhitektura- S | 264 | Subjects

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The Renaissance (Greenhaven Encyclopedia Series)



The Renaissance (Greenhaven Encyclopedia Series)
Tom Streissguth | 2007-12-14 00:00:00 | Greenhaven | 353 | Reference

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The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder (General Military)



The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder (General Military)
Mark Harrison | 2006-06-27 00:00:00 | Osprey Publishing | 208 | Scandinavia
The history of the Vikings is bloody and eventful, and Viking warriors capture the popular imagination to this day. Viking raids reached from Norway to North Africa, they established the dukedom of Normandy, provided the Byzantine Emperor's bodyguard and landed on the shores of America 500 years before Columbus. The authors provide a detailed examination of the Viking Hersir, the raiding warrior of the Viking world, and the famed Viking longship that transported the Vikings through treacherous waters to their bloody raids. This beautifully illustrated book includes new material about the Vikings in North America and the lives the Viking led at home.
Reviews
This 3 in 1 collection is a great example of how good some of these Osprey books can be. For me the first two sections were a good review with great photos.The excellent illustrations have been a great help for a diorama I'm working on.The third section focuses on the ships and is both detailed and accessible. Again the illustrations are wonderful. One nice thing is that recent discoveries are included, which are not in some of the classic studies.Few people would need anything more than what is in this book.
Reviews
A good critique will illustrate the good and bad points of the book.



Good:

**Very good illustrations, nice captions, and in color.

**High quality paper

**Illustrations actually pertain to the text on the page

**Has information on a wide variety of Viking culture

**Easy to read

**Has a glossary (wish it was bigger)

**Bibliography is decent (although nothing cited)

**Top-Notch illustrators--Angus McBride is a legend



Bad:

**Wide-ranging topics doe not allow for complete analysis of any one topic

**No footnotes or citations (except in illustration captions)

**Lack of citations does not allow for easy follow on research

**Section of longships has too much word picture without a picture right next to the text (I had to refer to pge 190 too much)

**Not enough maps! Reading it with a Viking Atlas beside it would help; other illustrations make up for it though)



I would not recommend this book for graduate-level or serious research, but it does have good information. If you like footnotes, you might not like this book--try Gwyn Jones "A History of the Vikings," it is probably cheap enough and will make your head hurt by giving you plenty to look up. I'm still trying to digest it.



Oh, and shame on you if you don't leave a critique on any books you read from Amazon. It's a great tool, I use it a lot.
Reviews
"Vikings:Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder" originated as three separate volumes published by Osprey, the well-known source of highly-ilustrated military works, and this origin is evident in the triple focus of the present book. The first section provides a general history of the Vikings (who operated principally during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries), the second section examines the Viking "hersir" (the middle rank of Viking warriors), and the last gives a detailed look at Viking longshipss (and associated vessels). The volume is extremely well illustrated throughout, including contemporary works of art, modern drawings, and photographs of modern recreations (and in this regard, I cannot think of any human artifact that can surpass the Viking longships for their combination of utility with beauty). Even readers with numrous books about Vikings on their shelves will profit from adding this new volume to their collections.
Reviews
I picked up good information about Viking history from this book, but the book didn't flow well and was sometimes overly detailed in describing a subject, such as technical aspects in building long ships. However, it was well illustrated and appeared to be well researched.
Reviews

For the last couple years Osprey books have garnered my attention causing me to add many titles to the history items on my book shelves. As with the recently released The Normans by Osprey Publishing, this volume on the Vikings is also a true bell ringer.



Though the book contains new and added material, it represents a reprint in hardcover of the Osprey softcover books: Elite #3 The Vikings, Warrior #3 Viking Honor 793-1066, and New Vanguard #47 Viking Longship. As with The Normans, a chronology appears listing historical events from 350 BC through AD 1085. The book contains many pictures and illustrations which for the most part are all in color.



I don't know whose bright idea this was at Osprey, but they have hit upon a very good idea. Taking a series of previously published trade paperbacks and reissuing them as a new hardcover should find many history buffs willing and able to purchase them. Good thinking Osprey.



This volume will be a good one to introduce or reintroduce you to the good, solid history from these wonderful people at Osprey books. Cannot think of a better book to buy, unless it would be another newly published volume from Osprey: Soldiers of the Dragon, Chinese Armies 1500 BC-1840 AD. But whether you choose The Normans, The Vikings, or Soldiers of the Dragon you as a reader cannot possibly go wrong. Best in reading.



Semper Fi.

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E-Justice: Using Information Communication Technologies in the Court System



E-Justice: Using Information Communication Technologies in the Court System
Agusti Cerrillo | 2008-07-15 00:00:00 | Information Science Reference | 270 | Digital Law
Technology has had a prevalent impact on nearly all social domains, one being the judicial system. Advancements such as computer-generated demonstrations and electronic filing can enhance presentations and give a clearer, well-organized case.

E-Justice: Using Information Communication Technologies in the Court System presents the most relevant experiences and best practices concerning the use and impact of ICTs in the courtroom. This groundbreaking title draws upon the leading academic and practicing perspectives from around the globe to provide academics and professionals throughout the legal system with the most comprehensive overview of present developments in e-justice.

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Building the International Criminal Court



Building the International Criminal Court
Benjamin N. Schiff | 2008-05-05 00:00:00 | Cambridge University Press | 320 | Criminal Law
The ICC is the first and only standing international court capable of prosecuting humanity's worst crimes: genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It faces huge obstacles. It has no police force; it pursues investigations in areas of tremendous turmoil, conflict, and death; it is charged both with trying suspects and with aiding their victims; and it seeks to combine divergent legal traditions in an entirely new international legal mechanism. International law advocates sought to establish a standing international criminal court for more than 150 years. Other, temporary, single-purpose criminal tribunals, truth commissions, and special courts have come and gone, but the ICC is the only permanent inheritor of the Nuremberg legacy. In Building the International Criminal Court, Oberlin College Professor of Politics Ben Schiff analyzes the ICC, melding historical perspective, international relations theories, and observers' insights to explain the Court's origins, creation, innovations, dynamics, and operational challenges.

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Flash MX pour les nuls



Flash MX pour les nuls
Gurdy Leete,Ellen Finkelstein | 2002-06-12 00:00:00 | First | 391 | Subjects

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Professional Windows Workflow Foundation



Professional Windows Workflow Foundation
| 2007-03-26 00:00:00 | | 0 | Windows


If you want to gain the skills to build Windows Workflow Foundation solutions, then this is the book for you. It provides you with a clear, practical guide on how to develop workflow-based software and integrate it into existing technology landscapes. Throughout the pages, you'll also find numerous real-world examples and sample code that will help you to get started quickly.

Each major area of Windows Workflow Foundation is explored in depth along with some of the fundamentals operations related to generic workflow applications. You'll also find detailed coverage on how to develop workflow in Visual Studio(r), extend the framework with custom code, and utilize the framework with Microsoft(r) technologies such as SharePoint(r) 2007 and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF). You&'ll then be able to use Windows Workflow Foundation to create innovative business solutions that provide value to organizations.

What you will learn from this book
* The different areas of the Windows Workflow Foundation architecture
* Details about workflow hosting, execution, and communication
* How to build workflow-based solutions without constructing the underlying workflow logic
* Tips for developing solutions using the out-of-the-box functionality
* Techniques for extending the base APIs
* How to apply each piece of the Windows Workflow Foundation platform to real-world scenarios
* Best practices for debugging workflows

Who this book is for
This book is for developers and architects interested in learning more about Windows Workflow Foundation. You should have some familiarity with the .NET Framework.

User review
Good Book But
Some sections of the book might have been written better. But all together a good book to have.

User review
Good book for Visual Studio 2005/Framework 3.0
This book has a really good workflow introduction, and the author does a really good job with hosting workflows in ASP.NET and using the workflow for page flowing. However, like all .NET framework 3.0 books currently available, they do not include Visual Studio 2008 (Orcas beta 2) improvements in hosting and external communications with Framework 3.5 send and receive activities.


Update in March, 2008: The status of workflows for Microsoft is currently in transition between Framework 3.0 and 3.5. Framework 3.0 workflows are extremely complicated, and communications with a workflow host (e.g., WinForms, Webforms, or WCF services) and a client have dramatically changed with Framework 3.5. Unfortunately, even Microsoft MVPs admit that very little is known about the new methodology for local and remote communications and with the WF/WCF integrated send and receive activities.Currently, Microsoft has no consistent model for the amazing technology among the workflow implementations in BizTalk (Framework 3.0), SharePoint 3.0 (Framework 3.0), and Visual Studio 2008 (Framework 3.5).


Until there is a unified, consistent, and well-documented paradigm for incorporating workflows into applications, this reviewer will not implement workflows to a large extent in production applications, but sparingly will use workflows in a minor way to provide experience only.


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Parallel MATLAB for Multicore and Multinode Computers (Software, Environments and Tools)



Parallel MATLAB for Multicore and Multinode Computers (Software, Environments and Tools)
| 2009-06-18 00:00:00 | | 0 | MATLAB


This is the first book on parallel MATLAB and the first parallel computing book focused on the design, code, debug, and test techniques required to quickly produce well-performing parallel programs.

MATLAB is currently the dominant language of technical computing with one million users worldwide, many of whom can benefit from the increased power offered by inexpensive multicore and multinode parallel computers. MATLAB is an ideal environment for learning about parallel computing, allowing the user to focus on parallel algorithms instead of the details of implementation.

Parallel MATLAB for Multicore and Multinode Computers covers more parallel algorithms and parallel programming models than any other parallel programming book due to the succinctness of MATLAB. It presents a hands-on approach with numerous example programs; wherever possible, the examples are drawn from widely known and well-documented parallel benchmark codes that are representative of many real applications across the field of technical computing.

Audience: Intended for professional scientists and engineers, as well as undergraduate or graduate students, who use MATLAB. It is suitable as either the primary book in a parallel computing class or as a supplementary text in a numerical computing class or a computer science algorithms class.

Contents: List of Figures; List of Tables; List of Algorithms; Preface; Acknowledgments; Part I: Fundamentals: Chapter 1: Primer: Notation and Interfaces; Chapter 2: Introduction to pMatlab; Chapter 3: Interacting with Distributed Arrays; Part II: Advanced Techniques: Chapter 4: Parallel Programming Models; Chapter 5: Advanced Distributed Array Programming; Chapter 6: Performance Metrics and Software Architecture; Part III: Case Studies: Chapter 7: Parallel Application Analysis; Chapter 8: Stream; Chapter 9: RandomAccess; Chapter 10: Fast Fourier Transform; Chapter 11: High Performance Linpack; Appendix: Notation for Hierarchical Parallel Multicore Algorithms; Index


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Problems of Knowledge and Freedom (Bertrand Russell memorial lectures)



Problems of Knowledge and Freedom (Bertrand Russell memorial lectures)
Noam Chomsky | 1972-01-01 00:00:00 | Barrie & Jenkins | 96 | Philosophy
From interpreting the world to changing it, a synthesis of Chomsky's early work on philosophy, linguistics, and politics.

Originally delivered in 1971 as the first Cambridge lectures in memory of Bertrand Russell, Problems of Knowledge and Freedom is a masterful and cogent synthesis of Noam Chomsky's moral philosophy, linguistic analysis, and emergent political critique of America's war in Vietnam.

In the first half of this wide-ranging work, Chomsky takes up Russell's lifelong search for the empirical principles of human understanding, in a philosophical overview referencing Hume, Wittgenstein, von Humboldt, and others. In the following half, aptly titled "On Changing the World," Chomsky applies these concepts to the issues that would remain the focus of his increasingly political work of the period—his criticisms of the war in Indochina and the Cold War ideology that supported it, of the centralization of US decision-making in the Pentagon and the growing influence of multinational corporations in those circles, and of the politicization of American universities in the post- World War II years, as well as his analyses of the Cuban Missile Crisis and Nixon's foreign policies.
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Science Education Issues and Developments



Science Education Issues and Developments
Calvin L. Petroselli | 1900-01-01 00:00:00 | Nova Science Publishers | 297 | Education
This book presents significant new analyses in the field of science education. This is hardly another field in education which is more important for a country's future than science education. Yet more and more students elect to concentrate on other fields to the exclusion of science for a variety of reasons: the perception of degree of difficulty, the actual degree of difficulty, the lack of perceived prestige and earnings associated with the field, the dearth of good and easy to use texts, and, the lack of society in comprehending the significance of science and creating attractive incentives for those who enter the field.

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Our Little Secret



Our Little Secret
Starr Ambrose | 2009-01-01 00:00:00 | Pocket | 384 | Romance Novels
I loved this book. It kept me interested from start to finish. The plot was excellent, intricate without being overly detailed to where your attention wanders as with some books. The romance was perfect for me. It was sweet and slightly feisty without being overly annoying with stupid misunderstandings and neither hero nor heroine behaved in a way that frustrated me (as with some other romance books). I highly recommend it! I thought the book was another quality read from this author and I can't wait to read more books by her!!
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Fatigue of Structures and Materials



Fatigue of Structures and Materials
J. Schijve | 2009-01-01 00:00:00 | springer | 616 | Mechanical Engineering
This book is primarily a textbook written for people working on fatigue problems of engineering structures and materials associated with design, predictions, load spectra and experimental verifications. Many different fields of interest are involved, as the block diagram on the front cover indicates. It is of great importance that all these aspects are well recognized and understood. The author explains the various topics in a number of chapters. Understanding of thefatigue phenomena covering both crack initiation and crack growth is emphasized in view of possible influences of design variables, material selection, production technology and load spectra on thefatigue performance of a structure. Prediction methods for fatigue lives and fatigue crack growth are discussed as well as verification by experiments. Load spectra analysis and statistical aspects are also addressed.

The first edition of this book was well received and has been used extensively in various courses taught to staff members and students of universities and other technical colleges as well as in industries and at research institutes. Therefore it was considered time for a second edition. In general, the format of the first edition of the book has been maintained, but the whole text has been carefully revised. A major change is the CD which is now attached to the book. The CD contains exercises on all chapters which can be used in courses, but also for self-tuition and examinations. Secondly, the CD also includes more detailed information on design againstfatigue, prediction scenarios, fatigue experiments (how and why), fractography, and analysis of case histories. Two survey papers from the literature have also been added.

Summary: Review for: Fatigue of Structures and Materials
Rating: 5

Jaap is well know in the fatigue community and this book is a great reference for all that work with fatigue.
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Vietnam War



The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Vietnam War
Timothy P. Maga | 2000-01-01 00:00:00 | Alpha Books | 338 | Non-fiction
If you are too young to remember the Vietnam War, this book will give you a comprehensive view of the thirty-year conflict, a more complete story than you might get in your history textbook. It will satisfy the curiosity of those who want to know more about the history and culture of the United States during the sixites and seventies, and it will give older readers an unbiased reminder of their youth.
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Diseases and Disorders - Hemophilia



Diseases and Disorders - Hemophilia
Beverly Britton | 2003-01-01 00:00:00 | Lucent Books | 112 | Medicine
Charles Best, one of the pioneers in the search for a cure for diabetes, once explained what it is about medical research that intrigued him so. “It’s not just the gratification of knowing one is helping people,” he confided, “although that probably is a more heroic and selfless motivation. Those feelings may enter in, but truly, what I find best is the feeling of going toe to toe with nature, of trying to solve the most difficult puzzles ever devised. The answers are there somewhere, those keys that will solve the puzzle and make the patient well. But how will those keys be found?” Since the dawn of civilization, nothing has so puzzled people— and often frightened them, as well—as the onset of illness in a body or mind that had seemed healthy before. A seizure, the inability of a heart to pump, the sudden deterioration of muscle tone in a small child—being unable to reverse such conditions or even to understand why they occur was unspeakably frustrating to healers. Even before there were names for such conditions, even before they were understood at all, each was a reminder of how complex the human body was, and how vulnerable.
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The Fundamentals of Modern Statistical Genetics (Statistics for Biology and Health)



The Fundamentals of Modern Statistical Genetics (Statistics for Biology and Health)
Nan M. Laird | 2010-12-02 00:00:00 | Springer | 226 | Biology
Product Description:

This book covers the statistical models and methods that are used to understand human genetics, following the historical and recent developments of human genetics. Starting with Mendel’s first experiments to genome-wide association studies, the book describes how genetic information can be incorporated into statistical models to discover disease genes. All commonly used approaches in statistical genetics (e.g. aggregation analysis, segregation, linkage analysis, etc), are used, but the focus of the book is modern approaches to association analysis. Numerous examples illustrate key points throughout the text, both of Mendelian and complex genetic disorders.

The intended audience is statisticians, biostatisticians, epidemiologists and quantitatively- oriented geneticists and health scientists wanting to learn about statistical methods for genetic analysis, whether to better analyze genetic data, or to pursue research in methodology. A background in intermediate level statistical methods is required. The authors include few mathematical derivations, and the exercises provide problems for students with a broad range of skill levels. No background in genetics is assumed.
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The AHA Guidelines and Scientific Statements Handbook (Fuster, The AHA Guidelines And Scientific Statements Handbook)



The AHA Guidelines and Scientific Statements Handbook (Fuster, The AHA Guidelines And Scientific Statements Handbook)
Valentin Fuster MD PhD | 2009-01-09 00:00:00 | Wiley-Blackwell | 408 | Internal Medicine
Society-sanctioned guidelines on care are valuable tools, but accessing key information from the often complicated statements has been a daunting task. Now, practitioners and their institutions have a clear path to successful application of guidelines from the American Heart Association. This book outlines the key AHA guidelines, Statements, and Performance Measures and includes comparisons with the associated European guidelines. This book also has a strong online component, which will alert users who sign up to new updates to the guidelines and other relevant information. It will also have links through to the full guidelines and statements.

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Statistics II for Dummies 2009



Statistics II for Dummies 2009
Deborah J. Rumsey | 2009-01-01 00:00:00 | Wiley Publishing, Inc | 392 | Mathematics
This book is designed for those who have completed the basic concepts of statistics through confidence intervals and hypothesis testing (found in Statistics For Dummies) and are ready to plow ahead to get through the final part of Stats I, or to tackle Stats II. However, I do pepper in some brief overviews of Stats I as needed, just to remind you of what was covered and make sure you’re up to speed. For each new technique, you get an overview of when and why it’s used, how to know when you need it, step-by-step directions on how to do it, and tips and tricks from a seasoned data analyst (yours truly). Because it’s very important to be able to know which method to use when, I emphasize what makes each technique distinct and what the results say. You also see many applications of the techniques used in real life.
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Introduction to Syriac: Key to Exercises & English-Syriac Vocabulary



Introduction to Syriac: Key to Exercises & English-Syriac Vocabulary
Daniel M. Gurtner | 2006-07-01 00:00:00 | Ibex Publishers, Inc. | 124 | Arabic
Syriac is the Aramaic dialect of Edessa in Mesopotamia. Today, it is the classical tongue of the Nestorians and Chaldeans of Iran and Iraq and the liturgical language of the Jacobites of Eastern Anatolia and the Maronites of Greater Syria. Syriac is also the language of the Church of St. Thomas on the Malabar Coast of India. Syriac belongs to the Levantine group of the central branch of the West Semitic languages. Syriac literature flourished from the third century on and boasts of writers like Ephraem Syrus, Aphraates, Jacob of Sarug, John of Ephesus, Jacob of Edessa, and Barhebraeus. After the Arab conquests, Syriac became the language of a tolerated but disenfranchised and diminishing community and began a long, slow decline both as a spoken tongue and as a literary medium in favour of Arabic. Syriac played an important role as the intermediary through which Greek learning passed to the Islamic world. Syriac translations also preserve much Middle Iranian wisdom literature that has been lost in the original. Here, the language is presented both in the Syriac script and in transcription, which is given so that the pronunciation of individual words and the structure of the language may be represented as clearly as possible. The majority of the sentences in the exercises - and all of the readings in later lessons - are taken directly from the P'itta, the Syriac translation of the Bible. Most students learn Syriac as an adjunct to biblical or theological studies and will be interested primarily in this text. Biblical passages also have the advantage of being familiar, to some degree or other, to most English-speaking students. For many of those whose interest in Syriac stems from Biblical studies or from the history of Eastern Christianity, Syriac may be their first Semitic language. Every effort has been made in the presentation of the grammar to keep the Semitic structure of the language in the forefront and as clear as possible for those who have no previous experience with languages of that family. Syriac is structurally perhaps the simplest of all the Semitic languages. A chart of correspondences among Arabic, Hebrew, and Syriac is given.
Reviews
This book is very disappointing. Aside from many errors in the "Key" section, which have already been mentioned by other reviewers, the final page of the book contains two very brief listings of corrigenda and addenda. Each of _these_ contains errors too. The most egregious is the last one: "p. 220: sh-m-l-y, see sh-l-m." The root referred to should be m-l-' ("fill"). Many more words than those listed need to be added to the Syriac-English vocabulary.



One very annoying formatting issue pervades the entire "Key" section, the bulk of the book. It is that only italics are used throughout, whether for transcriptions or for translations. Plain, non-italic Roman type should be used for translations. As is, transcriptions and translations flow into one another instead of clearly standing out from each other. So this is yet another matter to be fixed in a hoped-for revision of this key.



Until this key is thoroughly revised and corrected, beginners should take nothing in it for granted. They should verify every transliteration and translation by comparing them with the rules given by Thackston in his textbook. The textbook has a few problems, but nothing too serious and certainly nothing like the quantity and quality of errors in this key.
Reviews
I'm independantly studying Syriac by working through Thackston's grammar, which, while it could use some improvements, does a decent enough job of providing the basics of Syriac grammar. In working through Thackston having a key against which I could check my answers was an entirely desireable thing, however, (and I'm not sure if this is due to a discrepancy in version or not)I found that many times throughout the translations either a section of text would not be translated or a different one not there would be inserted, this understandably caused me a fair amount of consternation. Also, there were moments in which from everything I can determine from Thackston that the answer key was just plain wrong. This was a bit of a problem when dealing with a sticky piece of grammar to not have it be answered correctly, but at the same time the answer key did usually provide the general sense of a translation which helped me at least get the right idea, also not being able to trust the key kept me on my toes when double checking my own work, which is not entirely a bad thing. On the whole I've found the answer key to be somewhat useful, as the main part of it is correct, but a revised edition would be a desireable thing.
Reviews
Many people who study a language like Syriac are self-taught. Hence, it would be great to be able to check your translations against someone else's translations. Unfortunately, this answer key contains many typographical errors. Most of these are easy to ignore. Yet, some are not.



For example, a student of Syriac must learn the "Begad Kepat" rules, which govern the spiritization of stops. Eventually, as the student progresses in Syriac, these spiritization rules become second nature. However, the beginning student will want to double check his work against a reliable source. Also, the beginning student of a Semetic language needs to learn how to correctly vocalize a text that has been written without any vowels. Again, this is a skill that will eventually become second nature. Yet, the beginning student could benefit greatly from a guide such as this one.



Unfortunately, this answer key is not the reliable guide that the beginning student needs. Hopefully, a revised edition will be published so that future students of Syriac can benefit from this much needed resource.



My recommendation:

Buy Thackston's Grammar (it is an excellent introduction to Syriac).

Do not buy the key to the exercises until a revised edition comes out.

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The Evolution of the Genome



The Evolution of the Genome
T. Ryan Gregory Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology & 2002 - Zoology from the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada | 2005-01-05 00:00:00 | Academic Press | 768 | Molecular Biology
The Evolution of the Genome provides a much needed overview of genomic study through clear, detailed, expert-authored discussions of the key areas in genome biology. This includes the evolution of genome size, genomic parasites, gene and ancient genome duplications, polypoidy, comparative genomics, and the implications of these genome-level phenomena for evolutionary theory. In addition to reviewing the current state of knowledge of these fields in an accessible way, the various chapters also provide historical and conceptual background information, highlight the ways in which the critical questions are actually being studied, indicate some important areas for future research, and build bridges across traditional professional and taxonomic boundaries.

The Evolution of the Genome will serve as a critical resource for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and established scientists alike who are interested in the issue of genome evolution in the broadest sense.

· Provides detailed, clearly written chapters authored by leading researchers in their respective fields
· Presents a much-needed overview of the historical and theoretical context of the various areas of genomic study
· Creates important links between topics in order to promote integration across subdisciplines, including descriptions of how each subject is actually studied
· Provides information specifically designed to be accessible to established researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students alike
Reviews
This book, edited by T. Ryan Gregory is fantastic.



At 740 pages, TEotG provides an extensive overview of current genome biology that, while technical, remains enjoyable. The book is aimed for the grad. student/post doctoral fellow, i.e. those who already have a very strong understanding of biology and genetics, but I (a biology undergrad) really did not find it overly technical. To be sure, this isn't a quick weekend read, but Gregory and the many other authors are able to synthesize a huge amount of material into a manageable and enjoyable read. This book cleared up many misconceptions I had, and of course everyone will learn something entirely new from it. Highly recommended.



Oh, and the pages are glossy, and the cover is very nice. It looks good on the coffee table!
Reviews
The book written by Gregory is a powerful tool for those interested in genome evolution. In particular, the book review an huge amount of published papers regarding the genome size and the nature and organization of DNA sequences that are generally involved in genome size increase during evolution. I strongly suggest this book to all readers interested in evolution at a molecular level since it introduce and guide the readers to the discovery of what happen to genome during evolution. The unique negative aspects is that is not consider at all the evolution of the cis-regulatory networks that represents an intriguing aspect of the genome evolution, but this is not surprising considering that other books are available on this topic.

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Creating Applications with Mozilla



Creating Applications with Mozilla
David Boswell,Brian King,Ian Oeschger,Pete Collins,Eric Murphy | 1900-01-01 00:00:00 | O'Reilly Media | 480 | Internet
Mozilla is not just a browser. Mozilla is also a framework that allows developers to create cross-platform applications. Creating Applications with Mozilla explains how applications are created with Mozilla and provides step-by-step information about how you can create your own programs using Mozilla's powerful cross-platform development framework. Working through the book, you are introduced to the Mozilla development environment and after installing Mozilla, you quickly learn to create simple applications. After the initial satisfaction of developing your own portable applications, the book branches into topics on modular development and packaging your application. In order to build more complex applications, coverage of XUL, JavaScript, and CSS allow you to discover how to customize and build out your application shell. The second half of the book explores more advanced topics including UI enhancement, localization, and remote distribution.
Reviews
I was always interested in creating my own apps for Mozilla. I had played around with some of the custom CSS files and peeked at the XUL files, and I wanted to learn more. I figured that buying this book would be a no-brainer because of the O'Reilly name and my good experiences with the ... Hacks series. This could of been a good book, but it seems like they were rushed to meet a publishing deadline. It starts out building a skeleton application (xFly) to explain the simpler concepts. One would expect that they would continue to flesh out the framework, and they would show how to add function to the various widgets. After Chapter 2, they abandon this idea. The examples they do provide don't work correctly. If you get the finished xFly demo program from mozdev.org, it does not work either. The site reads "This requires serious attention". I agree. This book is a good reference manual, but a poor tutorial. If you want a good tutorial on how to build Mozilla apps, try xulplanet.org instead. Co-incidentally, this entire book is available at the aforementioned site if you would like to preview this book for yourself before plunking down $40 to buy it.
Reviews
This was the first Mozilla XUL book that I read; I now have Nigel McFarlane's book as well. I find it useful to have more than one reference book as I can often find things in one that are not in the other.

I found this book quick and easy to read and a good introduction whilst also going into sufficent detail.

Importantly for me it contains information on how to go about creating a remote application to run over the Internet and using serverside PHP, neither of which have I seen mentioned elsewhere.

The book is not perfect but it is useful and I think some of the other reviewers have been unduly harsh; I am glad that I was not put off.
Reviews
I only just got the book, but the people who complained that it doesn't stand up to the usually high O'Reilly standards are spot on. The second chapter, which is all about "getting started" ought to explain basic concepts clearly. Instead it throws out all kinds of mumbo jumbo and forward references like "You could also define this style rule in an external stylesheet and make that stylesheet part of the package for your application, as we do later in this chapter ...." Why? Why should I keep reading to find out? Why does the first chapter of real content (chapter one understandably explains more background on mozilla and XPFE) seem to have a forward reference every third paragraph?

Clearly, the authors did not sit down and make a coherent plan of what the best way to introduce each topic to the neophyte. This stands in stark contrast to the various O'Reilly Perl books that always seem to give the overview in clear terms and then flesh it out, instead of diving into the middle and trying to explain it as you go.

The only reason right now to get this book is because it appears to be the only (or one of the only) ones on the topic at this time. Hopefully _Rapid Application Development with Mozilla_ due out in November this year will get it right.
Reviews
I happened to be experimenting with XUL and Mozilla at the time that I ran across this book, so I was very eager to get into it and see if it could help clarify some of the gaping holes in the existing XUL documentation within Mozilla. As an exhaustive reference to XUL and the associated technologies that are used to build Mozilla applications, it was very successful. As a higher level tutorial that explains the relationships between the different technologies and their uses, it was not quite as successful.

Chapters 1-6 lead the reader through the progressive steps required to build and package a Mozilla-based application. The authors create a demo application called xFly which is used as a test bed to show the different features of XUL, CSS, and JavaScript. By the end of Chapter 6, this application contains a tree control, a bunch of sample menus, and various other assorted UI widgets. But it doesn't really _do_ anything. Maybe I'm too picky, but I'd rather see an application that has some function, even if all it does is play tick-tack-toe. Then, to me at lease, it's much clearer how the different pieces would fit together in a "real-world" application.

Chapters 7-12 cover more exotic and difficult aspects of Mozilla
programming such as the Extensible Binding Language (XBL), XPCOM (Mozilla's component object model), and accessing web services from XUL applications. These chapters are very dense in technical details, with good references to online resources for further study. Overall, I found this book to be a very succinct source of accurate information about building applications with Mozilla. Its only weakness seems to be that it focuses too much on low-level implementation details without giving the reader (who may be new to the idea of XML-based GUI
application programming entirely) a good high-level overview of the benefits of this type of development and which technologies serve which purpose. Chapter 1 is the only chapter that explicitly addresses high-level application architecture, and it is only 8 pages long.

The bottom line is that this is a good reference book for people who already know how and why to build applications based on Mozilla, but a not-so-good introduction and tutorial for people who are completely new to the XUL-CSS-JavaScript paradigm of application development.
Reviews
This book gives a solid grounding in the principles involved and acts as a primer to the nitty gritty of producing a XUL application. In practice, XUL is pretty easy but it's easy to be caught unawares which is where a book like this comes in. If you've ever wondered how to extend Mozilla with a new button, or why your chrome doesn't work, or why Mozilla ignores it, or how to write a new chrome application then this is the book for you. Learn the principles of XUL and things fall into place very easily.

I am puzzled that other reviewers claim XUL and Mozilla are not ready for mainstream since the fact that an entire browser, mail, chat, editor, JS debugger and hundreds more third party extensions and apps have been written using it demonstrates it is. It certainly needs tools and add robustness, but it is already a viable and strong technology for producing platform neutral applications.

It is well worth the money, however it should be revised to reflect the latest Mozilla developments. As an added bonus, the source for this book is actually online so you can evaluate it yourself at books.mozdev.org before buying it.

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Conservation Medicine: Ecological Health in Practice



Conservation Medicine: Ecological Health in Practice
Carol House,Mary C. Pearl | 2002-09-26 00:00:00 | Oxford University Press, USA | 432 | Public Health
Conservation medicine is an emerging discipline, focussing on the intersection of ecosystem health, animal health, and human health. Work in the biomedical and veterinary sciences is now being folded into conservation biology; to explore the connections between animal and human health; trace the environmental sources of pathogens and pollutants; develop an understanding of the ecological causes of changes in human and animal health; and understand the consequences of diseases to populations and ecological communities. Conservation Medicine defines this new discipline. It examines ecological health issues from various standpoints, including the emergence and resurgence of infectious disease agents; the increasing impacts of toxic chemicals and hazardous substances; and the health implications of habitat fragmentation and degradation and loss of biodiversity. It will provide a framework to examine the connections between the health of the planet and the health of all species and challenge practitioners and students in the health sciences and natural sciences to think about new, collaborative ways to address ecological health concerns.

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Advances in Botanical Research, Vol. 29



Advances in Botanical Research, Vol. 29
J. A. Callow | 1998-11-19 00:00:00 | Academic Press | 207 | Social Sciences
Advances in Botanical Research is a multi-volume publication that brings together reviews by recognized experts on subjects of importance to those involved in botanical research. For more than thirty years, Advances in Botanical Research has earned a reputation for excellence in the field. For those working on plant pathology, Advances in Plant Pathology has also carved a niche in the plant sciences during its decade of publication.
Academic Press has merged Advances in Plant Pathology into Advances in Botanical Research. The plant science community will find that the merger of these two serials will provide one comprehensive resource for the field. To ensure complete coverage, John Andrews and Inez Tommerup, the editors of Advances in Plant Pathology, have joined the editorial board of the new series, which will include equal coverage of plant pathology and botany in both thematic and mixed volumes. The first few volumes of the new series will be slanted toward botany or plant pathology; however, future eclectic volumes will be fully integrated.
The resulting synergy of these two serials greatly benefits the plant science community by providing a more comprehensive resource under one roof. The joint aim is to continue to include the very best articles, thereby maintaining the status of a high impact factor review series.

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