Biology, life sciences Books

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative and entertaining exploration of Australia's distinctive birds and their unheralded role in global evolutionTrade Review"A brilliantly readable book that not only gives Australian birds recognition long overdue, but allows for a fresh understanding of the way the world (and particularly our island continent) functions."—Sean Dooley, Sydney Morning Herald"Crammed with intriguing facts and ideas. . . . A serious feat of synthesis that few bird observers or natural historians, let alone few authors, would have the knowledge, experience, time or access to academic resources to pull together."—Bob Beale, Sunday Age"Where Song Began has been credited with turning the map upside down, dashing upon the rocks of our shores the orthodoxy that the world’s cleverest birds must have had their genesis in the northern hemisphere."—Wild magazine"This book is remarkable on many levels. . . . Low proves to be a master at translating new scientific breakthroughs into a compelling and eminently enjoyable read that will bring a new perspective on Australian birds to readers irrespective of their ornithological background."—Naomi Langmore, Emu"Where Song Began will be regarded as Tim Low's masterpiece. It is bewilderingly grand in ambition, rich in scientific detail and personal observations, and overflowing with ideas and, indeed, revelations."—Darryl Jones, Wildlife Australia"Biologist Tim Low is as much a natural with words as he is a scholar of the natural world. He is caught up in the circle of gifted scientists, ecologists and field workers engaged in reshaping our picture of the Australian environment and the creatures it enfolds. Birds are a particular focus of his work, and thought—and it turns out that birds may well hold the most telling clues to the record of the Australian biosphere."—Nicolas Rothwell, The Australian"Where Song Began is full of colourful accounts of bird behaviour, much of it observed first-hand, but it also offers a serious, scientific account of the origins of Australia’s birds and their peculiar characteristics . . . there are some fascinating snippets along the way."—Nigel Andrew, Literary Review"This book is written by a biologist with a gift for translating complex scientific research into riveting prose. . . . Encounters with Australia’s birdlife convinced me that it was special, but this account told me just how vital it is to understand its uniqueness."—Jonathan Elphick, BBC Wildlife"Both informative and provocative, Where Song Began will be enjoyed by all who are interested in birds. It is well written, engaging, and scholarly. A great read."—John M. Marzluff, author of Welcome to Subirdia"Low’s book weaves research with personal anecdote to unveil the uniqueness and richness of Australia's birds. A fascinating read that will alter how you think about birds and their world."—Craig W. Benkman, University of Wyoming"Low takes us on a sweeping exploration of the southern hemisphere to reveal where song birds evolved, how they started to sing, and why we should care."—Michael Webster, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology"It’s a great story Tim Low has pieced together, and he tells it beautifully. This is natural history at its best. Excellent stuff."—Colin Tudge, author of The Secret Life of Birds and founder of the College for Real Farming and Food Culture (www.collegeforrealfarming.org)"Tim Low masterfully tells a story not told before. He provides an elegant synthesis of the scientific literature and a panoramic view of how Australia's songbirds originated; the ecological and behavioral forces leading to their uniqueness; and ultimately their far-reaching impacts across the globe."—Scott Edwards, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA practical and engaging guide for anyone who wants to study the ecology of small mammals....This is an excellent book that should stand the test of time.—Quarterly Review of BiologyWith 15 chapters on topics ranging from trapping and marking through to behavioral and genetic studies, this book acts as a sort of super literature review of approaches to small mammal study.—Community EcologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Passive Methods of Small Mammal ResearchChapter 3. Active Detection TechniquesChapter 4. Lethal and Nonlethal Sampling for Genetics, Disease Studies, and Curatorial CollectionsChapter 5. Methods for MarkingChapter 6. Recording Anatomical and Reproductive FeaturesChapter 7. Design of Trapping StudiesChapter 8. Studying MovementsChapter 9. Estimating Population DemographicsChapter 10. Communities and the EnvironmentChapter 11. Dietary Studies on Small MammalsChapter 12. Small Mammal Behaviors: Personality, Activity, and FearChapter 13. Predator-Mediated Sampling of Small Mammal CommunitiesChapter 14. Ecological and Taxonomic Study of MorphologyChapter 15. Genetic Studies on Small MammalsAbout the AuthorsIndex

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Book SynopsisWhat would a plant do? It is an unusual question. But, as Beronda L. Montgomery shows, humans can learn a great deal from these organisms. Lessons from Plants unpacks the “senses” and skills of highly adaptive organisms that overcome immense challenges en route to flourishing.Trade ReviewAn accessible and, thankfully, jargon-free introduction to a science that has advanced a great deal recently—and has revolutionized the way that we look at our evolutionary predecessors…For the curious, Lessons from Plants is an excellent introduction to a world that most of us know too little about. -- Richard Schiffman * Christian Science Monitor *Offers a deep engagement with plant lives, showing how growing our plant awareness can benefit our understanding of human societies and relationships. * LSE Review of Books *An invitation to awareness, awe, and curiosity. Beronda Montgomery takes us deep into the sophisticated and life-giving behaviors and community lives of plants, giving us evergreen lessons about resilience and diversity along the way. -- David George Haskell, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist The Forest Unseen and John Burroughs Medal winner The Songs of TreesA fascinating look at the adaptive behavior of plants, how they respond to their environments and neighbors—and, ultimately, what we can learn from them. A brilliant read for gardeners. * Psychologies *Thoughtful, contemplative, factual, and philosophical; it’s quite different to any other plant biology-based book I’ve read. -- Nigel Chaffey * Botany One *The plant world is intriguing and endlessly fascinating, with its complexity and resourcefulness. This clearly written pocket-sized book takes a look at the adaptive behavior of plants, the way they act and what we can learn from them. The author demonstrates that, far from being static and predictable, plants are masters of adaptation. They can experience sensations without needing eyes and ears, distinguish family, friend or foe, and respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity for the fight-or-flight response. -- Carole Gridley * Gardening Australia *Regal[es] the reader with the latest botanical research. * Inquisitive Biologist *A comprehensive look into the world of everything green. This book explores the connection between plant behavior and how the same can be introduced into human life and living…An in-depth botanic experience and meditative study into what connects us to our leafy friends. * The Telegraph (India) *[Montgomery’s] knowledge and enthusiasm will have readers looking at plants in a new light. * Publishers Weekly *Lessons from Plants is an astonishing and luminously written work. By drawing surprising connections between the largely hidden world of plant behavior and the deep problems of human existence, Montgomery vividly illustrates the importance of paying close attention to the intentional behavior of stems, branches, and roots that often escapes our awareness. At once moving, accessible, and edifying, Lessons from Plants is a tour de force of science communication and a profound meditation on the nature of being. -- Crystal M. Fleming, author of How to Be Less Stupid about RaceA wonderful portrait of life as a plant. In an accessible style and fluid prose, Montgomery teaches us modern plant biology interwoven with personal stories and philosophy, and ultimately, how to live meaningful, sense-filled lives. -- Jo Handelsman, Director, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, and HHMI Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin–MadisonWhether you are a budding plant biologist, interested in the scientific process, or excited about learning more about the natural world, Lessons from Plants is a must-read. -- Pamela Ronald, coauthor of Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of FoodLessons from Plants brilliantly highlights principles of plant self-recognition, growth, resources, and adaptations to gift us a newfound level of awareness. These insights illuminate how we might help those around us thrive—I plan to put key lessons into practice. -- Prachee Avasthi, Geisel School of Medicine at DartmouthBeronda Montgomery studies the secret life of plants, and her findings might surprise us. Plants have communities and can identify and favor their genetic kin. They adapt to complicated conditions in their environments. They are also more productive in a diverse ecosystem. In a beguiling set of observations, Montgomery notes how humans are similar creatures—this book is a call not only to plant awareness, but to self-awareness. -- Teresa A. Sullivan, author of Census 2020: Understanding the IssuesA love letter to the natural world. This extraordinary, brave, and thoughtful meditation considers the connection between plants and mentoring, a link I’d never before contemplated. Through gorgeous storytelling and scholarship, Lessons from Plants will speak to scientists, naturalists, and everyone who has experienced the evocative relationship between a mentor and mentee. -- Mary Deane Sorcinelli, coauthor of Faculty Development in the Age of EvidenceRefreshing, transformative and rooted in the author’s personal and professional experience, the message of this little book could shift your world on its axis. Here are simple yet profound insights into an intrinsic ‘wisdom’ in the kingdom of plants, reflections on how that wisdom could apply to human living, and a vision of a different world in which these lessons are taken to heart. -- John Roff * African Journal of Range & Forage Science *

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Book SynopsisKnoll explores the deep history of life from its origins on a young planet to the incredible Cambrian explosion, with the very latest discoveries in paleontology integrated with emerging insights from molecular biology and earth system science. 100 illustrations.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2003 Book Award in Science, Phi Beta Kappa "A fascinating book... The catastrophic surface narrative of this impressive and intriguing book would surely have pleased Stephen Jay Gould; but I think its deterministic subtext would have pleased Charles Darwin still more."--Matt Cartmill, Times Literary Supplement "In a book so well written that nonspecialists and specialists alike will find much to savor, [Knoll] captures both the excitement of scientific discovery and the intricacies of scientific interpretation... Readers interested in substance will certainly not be disappointed."--Publishers Weekly "Andrew Knoll is an ideal guide through this early phase of life's history on the Earth... [O]ne of the strengths of Knoll's book is that it presents science as the open-ended endeavor that it is... Life on a Young Planet . .. expresses better than most the bumptious vitality and sheer fun of open-minded research."--Stefan Bengtson, Nature "Life on a Young Planet stands apart from it predecessors in two fundamental respects. First, Knoll is perhaps the most qualified person to write such an epic: a renaissance man whose text is filled with insightful quotes from authors ranging from Darwin to Dickins to Dyson... Second ... this book describes the coevolution of life on Earth as an integrated biochemical system that has profoundly and irrevocably changed over time."--Guy M. Narbonne, Science "A balanced, excellent account of current theories and discussions of the origin and early evolution of life... Knoll is able to convey difficult scientific issues with a minimum of jargon, using a brisk and witty prose... He is a gifted storyteller with a knack for choosing the right anecdote... A browse through Knoll's book will enlighten both the cognoscenti and those unfamiliar with the complexities of reading a fossil record... Knoll manages to present a multidisciplinary field in an interdisciplinary volume."--Antonio Lazcano, American Scientist "Knoll is well placed to tell this amazing story, and he does so with verve."--Douglas Palmer, New Scientist "A detective story to match the best crime fiction. It is told with verve."--Paul Nettleton, The Guardian "The author weaves a beautifully written, fascinating story of life's origin and development based on his extensive field studies and research in the most remote corners of the globe... This volume ... is a most valuable asset that should be read by scientists active in the field, by teachers and students who are interested in the most recent thoughts on the subject, and, in fact, by anyone who is interested in how life might have originated and evolved on this planet or on other similar planets in our Universe."--Nathan Dubowsky, Science Books & Films "This is not a textbook but rather a story, giving one person's view of how the jigsaw pieces fit together. It is written in flowing prose with many asides, personal anecdotes and explanations of what evidence there is and how it is used... [F]or ecologists the book has much to offer in putting the early evolution of life into perspective."--Bulletin of the British Ecological Society "[Knoll's] words have a poetic flavor and his deep interest in the study of life on earth flows out of them, carrying readers along whole maintaining a rigorous discourse. Knoll's book will appeal to anyone interested in the evolution of life on Earth."--Choice "In this wonderful book ... Knoll's extensive field experience and eagerness to share data and ideas with colleagues enable him to reconstruct responsibly the broad evolutionary scenario yet to remain close to the evidence."--Lynn Margulis, Times Higher Education SupplementTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Preface to the New Paperback Edition xi Prologue 1 Chapter 1. In the Beginning? 6 Chapter 2. The Tree of Life 16 Chapter 3. Life's Signature in Ancient Rocks 32 Chapter 4. The Earliest Glimmers of Life 50 Chapter 5. The Emergence of Life 72 Chapter 6. The Oxygen Revolution 89 Chapter 7. The Cyanobacteria, Life's Microbial Heroes 108 Chapter 8. The Origins of Eukaryotic Cells 122 Chapter 9. Fossils of Early Eukaryotes 139 Chapter 10. Animals Take the Stage 161 Chapter 11. Cambrian Redux 179 Chapter 12. Dynamic Earth, Permissive Ecology 206 Chapter 13. Paleontology ad Astra 225 Epilogue 243 Further Reading 247 Index 269

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsBrief Table of ContentsPreface1. The Vertebrate Story: An Overview2. Systematics and Vertebrate Evolution3. Early Chordates and Jawless Fishes4. Gnathostome Fishes5. Amphibians6. Evolution of Reptiles7. Morphology, Reproduction, and Development of Turtles, Tuataras, Lizards, and Snakes (Testudines and Lepidosauria)8. Morphology, Reproduction, and Development of Crocodilians and Birds (Archosaurs)9. Mammals10. Vertebrate Zoogeography11. Population Dynamics12. Movements13. Intraspecific Behavior and Ecology14. Interspecific Interactions15. Techniques for Ecological and Behavioral Studies16. Extinction and Extirpation: Natural and Human-Caused17. Restoration of Endangered Species18. Regulatory Legislation Affecting Vertebrates19. Wildlife in a Modern World: Threats and Conservation20. Climate Change21. Wildlife Management in a Modern WorldAppendixesGlossaryBibliographyCreditsTaxonomic IndexSubject Index

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel & Subject: AS BiologyFirst teaching: September 2015Next exams: June 2023AQA approvedWritten by our expert authors for the 2015 AQA specification, this Student Book covers AS and A-level Year 1. It combines the most comprehensive explanations with features that build skills in practical work, maths and evaluation. With a clear path of progression, it will prepare you for the demands of A-level and beyond.This Student Book will: prepare you for assessment with key ideas summaries and practice questions designed for the linear course build your confidence in tackling the mathematical requirement with worked examples, targeted assignments and a dedicated Maths Skills chapter strengthen your practical skills with comprehensive Required Practical sections featuring step-by-step instructions, and advice about how best to avoid common errors deepen your understanding of biology and equip you for further study using comprehensive explanations, skills-focused assignments andTrade ReviewReviews of previous edition: “I found this book to be really helpful. It starts each topic with interesting,real life situations and explains the work clearly. Good diagrams and photos too. The key facts summaries are really useful and the questions (with answers at the back!) check that you understand.” “I think this book is great. Being an A2 Biology student I have found the book to be the most helpful and very informative. It has all the relevant information and the sections are clear and it is very easy to find things as it is well set out. The pictures are clear with diagrams well labelled. The book is very colourful so makes you choose that one. The most important part for me is the key points after sections which is most helpful along with the questions throughout. Overall the book is very easy to understand, colourful and a great help.”

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Limber and lucid."--Barbara Kiser, Nature "[A] pleasure for the biologically and scientifically inclined."--Kirkus "Henrich draws on his far-flung ethnographic field studies and the work of colleagues to illustrate the adaptive power of human culture."--The Scientist "Joseph Henrich ... offers a compelling and comprehensive answer in his exceptional new book The Secret of Our Success: How Culture is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter. It is an intellectual tour-de-force that offers an overview for the field of cultural evolution."--Joe Brewer, This View of Life blog "A provocative alternative to the standard narrative about evolution... Henrich's book is immensely ambitious, informative, and important.--Glenn Altschuler, Psychology Today "Mind-stretching... Henrich's book will take you on a prodigious journey through human nature and society."--Alun Anderson, New Scientist "I thought I understood cultural evolution. But in his new book, The Secret of Our Success, Joseph Henrich schooled me. I felt like I learned more from his book than from the last dozen books I've read."--Robin Hanson, Overcoming Bias blog "Henrich posits a unique approach to understanding human behavior, not in purely evolutionary terms, but as a process of cultural evolution."--Library Journal "Human evolutionary biologist and psychologist, Joseph Henrich, a professor at both Harvard and the University of British Columbia has provided compelling insights into the ways that social, physical, scientific, agricultural, religious, and other human practices commonly termed 'culture' have honed man's skills and fostered survival strategies... The contents offer a very readable and riveting story of how culture--gene interaction must be examined when assaying human intelligence."--NSTA Recommends "A tour-de-force and a significant advancement of social science."--Darwinian Business "Culture sits upon a foundation of genetics and biology but is separate from it. Joseph Henrich wanted to upend this conventional narrative... The implications of this new, continuing narrative for the way we think about people, societies, and even companies are both subtle and significant."--David K. Hurst, Strategy + Business "This book synthesizes, in a format accessible to general readers, research from a variety of disciplines that address in varying ways, the evolutionary journey begun about 6 million years ago by our primate ancestors, forming humans in the process, into a unique species centered, according to Harvard evolutionary biologist Henrich, around social learning, cultural transmission, and cumulative culture."--Choice "A deep account of the relationship between culture and the human mind is now emerging, with The Secret of our Success by anthropologist Joseph Henrich blazing a trail in late 2015. Here Laland adds important layers to this new understanding."--New ScientistTable of ContentsPreface ix 1 A Puzzling Primate 1 2 It's Not Our Intelligence 8 3 Lost European Explorers 22 4 How to Make a Cultural Species 34 5 What Are Big Brains For? Or, How Culture Stole Our Guts 54 6 Why Some People Have Blue Eyes 83 7 On the Origin of Faith 97 8 Prestige, Dominance, and Menopause 117 9 In-Laws, Incest Taboos, and Rituals 140 10 Intergroup Competition Shapes Cultural Evolution 166 11 Self-Domestication 185 12 Our Collective Brains 211 13 Communicative Tools with Rules 231 14 Enculturated Brains and Honorable Hormones 260 15 When We Crossed the Rubicon 280 16 Why Us? 296 17 A New Kind of Animal 314 Notes 333 References 373 Illustration Credits 429 Index 431

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Book SynopsisIn his beautifully written prose, Dr Jonathan Reisman - physician, adventure traveller and naturalist - allows readers to navigate their insides like an explorer discovering a new world.Through his offbeat adventures in healthcare and travel, Reisman discovers new perspectives on the body: a trip to the Alaskan Arctic reveals that fat is not the enemy, but the hero; a stint in the Himalayas uncovers the boundary where the brain ends and the mind begins; and eating a sheep''s head in Iceland offers a lesson in empathy. By relating his experiences in far-flung lands and among unique cultures back to the body''s inner workings, he shows how our organs live inextricably intertwined lives in an internal ecosystem that reflects the natural world around us.Reisman''s unique perspective on the natural world and his expert wielding of wit ultimately helps us make sense of our lives, our bodies and our world in a way readers have never before imagined.''An elTrade ReviewA fascinating, lyrical book . . . Reisman's experiences in other cultures bring a richness and depth to The Unseen Body. The way he thinks about the body and medicine - the rivers and tributaries, the flowing and unclogging, the top-down organisation of the brain - is extraordinary! * Mary Roach, author of STIFF *A magnificent travelogue through the human body by a truly intrepid explorer. A genuine 'must' for anyone who is even remotely curious about their own body and how it works. I really loved it. * Professor Sue Black, author of WRITTEN IN BONE and ALL THAT REMAINS *An intelligent, innovative, eclectic and accessible book in which Reisman views the human body with a remarkable degree of lateral thinking. Sometimes funny, often gruesome but always entertaining and educational. * Samer Nashef, author of THE ANGINA MONOLOGUES *The author's literary approach to this complicated subject proved excellent bedside material. [Reisman] comes across as a generous and thoughtful physician . . . [who can] make sense out of it all. -- Ms. Bone * Wall Street Journal *If you are fascinated by the human body and how it works, or you are thinking about studying medicine, or you are just a curious person you will find this book a joy to read . . . This is a great and easy read which I heartily (excuse the pun) recommend. * Professor Alex Rodgers, author of THE DEEP *Terrific, memorable, original, and full of information that informs one's understanding not only of the body but what has stopped us from knowing more. There is palpable joy at learning in Reisman's writing and readers will know him as an individual whose humility and empathy are as impressive as his adventurous, travel-hungry spirit. * Kenneth S. Brecher, cultural anthropologist and author of TOO SAD TO SING *Through his acute and extensive observations of the seen world of nature and human nature, Reisman illuminates the analogous workings of our unseen bodies. An Alexander von Humboldt of the human body, Dr. Reisman's comparisons give us an ingenious perspective from which to understand the ways in which our internal organs function alone and together. I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in understanding and appreciating the marvels of the human body. * Warren Zapol. M.D., professor of anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School, Antarctic researcher, and inventor *THE UNSEEN BODY is an elegant, elegiac, and deeply enjoyable meander through human anatomy, by way of brain-tanned buckskin, blood as the last salty remnant of life's oceanic origins, and the World Testicle Cooking Championships. The images Reisman conjures will linger long after you've devoured his delightful prose. * Nicola Twilley, co-author of UNTIL PROVEN SAFE and co-host of GASTROPOD podcast *A remarkable travel narrative that documents the author's trip through a seemingly familiar place, the human body, and with a blend of science and personal experience renders that place both strange and fascinating, so much so that the reader will feel not only delighted, but also proud to be a lifelong inhabitant of it. * Lawrence Millman, award-winning author of FUNGIPEDIA *Quirky, never-dull popular science * Kirkus Reviews *An engaging book likely to pique the curiosity of readers interested in a wide range of medical conditions or naturalistic medicine * Library Journal *Dr Reisman engagingly relates provocative stories for the fifteen body parts uncovered in this treatise, and goads the reader to re-evaluate their perception of the body * City Book Review *Physician and naturalist Reisman offers a 'behind-the-scenes look at life itself' via an odyssey through the human body . . . deep curiosity driv[es] his narrative * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensively revised and updated 2nd Edition of the WJEC Biology for A2 Student Book. // Endorsed by WJEC, this new edition of the Student Book offers high quality support you can trust // Straightforward and concise coverage of the specification, so students can be confident they are covering what's needed for exam success // New Test Yourself section at the end of each chapter to reinforce knowledge with answers provided in the book // Now includes detailed explanations of the Assessment Objectives with examples of how the AOs are approached in exam questions // New section on Answering exam questions at the end of each unit gives guidance on command words and how to approach each question // New Exam Practice questions at the end of each unit are taken from actual Eduqas past papers with answers provided in the book // New Theory Check feature accompanies the practical tasks in the book and helps students check their understanding of biology in relation to practical tasks // Enhanced support for practical skills enable students to embed their understanding of practical work // Increased maths support with maths skills and techniques regularly tested throughout // Clear explanations and diagrams throughout

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Book SynopsisA concise and gripping account of eugenics from its origins in the twentieth century and beyond.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations Chapter 1: The World of Eugenics Chapter 2: Intelligence Chapter 3: Reproduction Chapter 4: Race, Class, and Gender Chapter 5: Eugenics after 1945 References Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe full story of how our relationship with light shapes our health, productivity and mood. 'A sparkling and illuminating study, one of those rare books that could genuinely improve your life' Sunday Times 'Life changing' Daily Mail 'Fascinating and readable ... Geddes's lovely book will fill you with longing!' The Times Since the dawn of time, humans have worshipped the sun. And with good reason. Our biology is set up to work in partnership with it. From our sleep cycles to our immune systems and our mental health, access to sunlight is crucial for living a happy and fulfilling life. New research suggests that our sun exposure over a lifetime - even before we were born - may shape our risk of developing a range of different illnesses, from depression to diabetes. Bursting with cutting-edge science and eye-opening advice, Chasing the Sun explores the extraordinary significance of sunlight, from ancient solstice celebrations to modern sleep labs, and from the unexpected health benefits of sun exposure to what the Amish know about sleep that the rest of us don't. As more of us move into light-polluted cities, spending our days in dim offices and our evenings watching brightly lit screens, we are in danger of losing something vital: our connection to the star that gave us life. It's a loss that could have far-reaching consequences that we're only just beginning to grasp.Trade ReviewLife-changing * Daily Mail *Readable and frequently fascinating ... Geddes's lovely book will fill you with longing for bright summer days, blue skies and a baking hot sun dispensing vitamin D and happiness to all who bask in its glow. Roll on, summer! -- James Marriott * The Times *A fascinating and deeply researched study into the surprising importance of sunlight for our health and wellbeing. Geddes will convince even the most committed sofa sloths to step outside into the sun. -- Gaia VinceWhat a BRILLIANT book! The antidote to anecdote, a great survey of current evidence. Just what the midwife ordered! -- Professor Alice RobertsThis sparkling study explains how sunlight is vital to our physical and mental health: a book that could genuinely improve your life. * Sunday Times *Illuminating -- Sam Kean * The Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisAlong with Francis Crick, James Watson was the discoverer of the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, realising both how it was able to reproduce itself and how, through its immense variety, it was able to pass on genetic instructions from one generation to the next. Their discovery paved the way for fifty years of explosive scientific achievement of extraordinary importance, both in strictly scientific terms and in its technological and social significance. From Dolly the sheep to GM foods to designer babies, science-related newspaper headlines have been dominated by the implications of their work. In DNA, now fully updated and revised to include new findings in gene editing, epigenetics and agricultural chemistry, as well as two entirely new chapters on personal genomics and cancer research, Watson tells the story of this pioneering research and its impact on the world in which we live, from its beginnings to the present day. This is the most comprehensive and authoritative exploration of DNA’s impact – practical, social, and ethical – on our society and our world.Trade ReviewAn immediate classic. -- E. O. WilsonMarvellous and comprehensive. * Nature *A wonderful book. * Sunday Telegraph *James Watson is one of the greatest living biologists. His new book is an important event, for he is a scintillating writer. * Sunday Times *James Watson has been an eyewitness to each revolution in molecular biology, from the double helix to the genome. He sees further and clearer than anybody else in the field. Give this fabulously good book to anybody who wants to understand what all the excitement is about. -- Matt Ridley

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive book explaining the backbone for digital construction methods: the Industry Foundation Classes schema. Interoperable data schemas are the prerequisite to advancing the use of digital methods in the architectural engineering and construction industry. However, the predominant Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are complex and have been focused on the representation of buildings only. With the extension for infrastructures, Interoperability aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the IFC structure as well as its application to infrastructure assets. Finally, buildingSMART specifications are presented and contextualized for their use in digital workflows. Table of Contents1. Introduction // 2. Digital representation of built assets: general concepts // 3. The IfcBuiltElement example // 4. Visual representation of the IFC structure // 5. Organization of IFC // 6. buildingSMART specifications for interoperability // 7. IFC for infrastructure // 8. Ifc for roads // 9. Ifc for bridges // Annexe 1: Complementary chapters // 10. Linking Representation and Geometric Modeling in IFC // 11. BIM – GIS integration // 12. Schema modelling of IFC // 13. Development of IFC // Annexe 2: General Matrix // Annexe 3: Partial hierarchical tree for IFC infrastructure objects // Bibliographie

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Book SynopsisBiological Science: Exploring the Science of Life responds to the key needs of lecturers and their students by placing a clear central narrative, carefully-structured active learning, and confidence with quantitative concepts and scientific enquiry central to its approach. Written by a team of dedicated and passionate academics, and shaped by feedback from over 55 institutions, its straightforward narrative, reinforced by key concept overview videos for every chapter, communicate key ideas clearly: the right information is provided at the right time, and at the right depth. Its pause and think features, self-check quizzes, and graded end of chapter questions, augmented by flashcards of key terms, directly support active learning. The combination of narrative text and learning features promote a rich, active learning experience: read, watch, and do.Its combination of Quantitative Toolkits, Scientific Process panels, and the Life and its Exploration chapters provide more insight and suppTrade ReviewThis is the most exciting and effective textbook for university-level biosciences that I have seen, and its impact on our students will be exceptional.It is rare for a textbook to consider the reader's need to test their understanding as they proceed. A major innovation in this book is regular 'Pause and think' boxes throughout the chapters, posing questions (often quite open questions) for the reader to answer (with the answer hidden below), to help reinforce concepts and test understanding in a supported way. There are additional test questions in the accompanying e-book. This is an integrated learning package, not just a textbook.Producing a 'general biology' book for undergraduate level is a challenge - to make it advanced enough for undergraduate study, but not too challenging as to be incomprehensible to year 1 students. This book manages that difficult balance perfectly. The language used is advanced enough to challenge the reader and provide sufficient detail, but still accessible to those at the start of their university career.More and more, the separate discipline areas of the biosciences are integrated together, and a key challenge for educators is empowering students to see these connections. This book has the teaching of core concepts at its heart, and encourages the reader to draw these connections throughout. Divided into a series of 'modules', each with a key theme for biology at its centre, this textbook shows how biological systems use diverse approaches to solve the same core challenges facing all organisms, structures and systems. * Professor Stephen Rutherford, National Teaching Fellow, Head of Education Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University *Table of ContentsLife and its Exploration: Foundational Principles Topic 1: Exploring the science of life Topic 2: The emergence of life on Earth Topic 3: Defining Life Topic 4: Evolutionary processes Topic 5: The diversity, organisation, and classification of life Quantitative Toolkits Quantitative Toolkit 1: Understanding data Quantitative Toolkit 2: Size and scale Quantitative Toolkit 3: Describing data Quantitative Toolkit 4: Ratio and proportion Quantitative Toolkit 5: Understanding samples Quantitative Toolkit 6: Designing experiments Quantitative Toolkit 7: Assessing patterns Quantitative Toolkit 8: Formulae and equations Quantitative Toolkit 9: Rates of change Module 1 LIFE AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL 1: Building blocks: molecules and macromolecules 2: Energy: powering biochemical processes 3: Information: genes and genomes 4: Mendelian genetics 5: Reading the genome: gene expression and protein synthesis 6: Proteins and proteomes 7: Metabolism: energy capture and release from food 8: Molecular tools and techniques Module 2 LIFE AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL 9: Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells 10: Cell division in prokaryotes and eukaryotes 11: Microbial diversity 12: The growth, measurement, and visualisation of cells 13: Microbes in life: harnessing their power 14: Microbes as agents of infectious disease 15: Viruses Module 3 THE HUMAN ORGANISM: TISSUES, ORGANS, AND SYSTEMS 16: Physiology overview 17: Communication and control 1: introducing the nervous and endocrine systems 18: Communication and control 2: sensory systems 19: Communication and control 3: controlling organ systems 20: Muscle and movement 21: Cardiovascular system 22: Respiratory system 23: Exercise physiology 24: Renal system 25: Digestive system 26: Reproductive system 27: Immune system Module 4 ORGANISMAL DIVERSITY: STRUCTURE, ADAPTATION, AND SURVIVAL 28: The structure of living organisms 29: Body plans 30: Interaction with the external environment 31: Movement, locomotion, and migration 32: Defence against predation and invasion 33: Reproduction and development Module 5 ORGANISMS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS 34: Fundamental concepts: ecology, evolution, species, and speciation 35: Genes: evolutionary change in alleles, genotypes, and phenotypes 36: Populations: quantifying demographics and modelling change 37: Communities: species interactions and biodiversity metrics 38: Ecosystems: abiotic interactions and environmental processes 39: Challenges: key threats to ecosystems 40: Solutions: managing, conserving, and restoring ecosystems

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Book SynopsisFOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY A foundation-level guide to chemistry for physical, life sciences and engineering students Foundations of Chemistry: An Introductory Course for Science Students fills a gap in the literature to provide a basic chemistry text aimed at physical sciences, life sciences and engineering students. The authors, noted experts on the topic, offer concise explanations of chemistry theory and the principles that are typically reviewed in most one year foundation chemistry courses and first year degree-level chemistry courses for non-chemists. The authors also include illustrative examples and information on the most recent applications in the field. Foundations of Chemistry is an important text that outlines the basic principles in each area of chemistry - physical, inorganic and organic - building on prior knowledge to quickly expand and develop a student''s knowledge and understanding. Key features include: Table of ContentsChapter 0: Fundamentals 0.1 Measurement in chemistry and science – SI units 0.2 Expressing large and small numbers using scientific notation 0.3 Using metric prefixes 0.4 Significant figures 0.5 Calculations using scientific notation 0.6 Writing chemical formulae and equations Quick Check Summary Chapter 1: Atomic Structure 1.1 Atomic Structure 1.2 Electronic Structure Quick Check Summary Chapter 2: Chemical Bonding 2.1 Bonding 2.2 Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR) 2.3 Polar bonds and polar molecules 2.4 Intermolecular forces Quick Check Summary Chapter 3 Masses of atoms, molecules and reacting substances 3.1 Masses of atoms and molecules 3.2 Amount of substance 3.3 Calculations with moles 3.4 Solutions; concentrations and dilutions 3.5 Titration calculations 3.6 Calculations with gas volumes Quick Check Summary Chapter 4: States of Matter Introduction 4.1 Solids 4.2 Liquids 4.3 Gases Quick Check Summary Chapter 5 Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions 5.1 Redox Reactions 5.2 Disproportionation Reactions 5.3 Redox titrations Quick Check Summary Chapter 6 Energy, Enthalpy and Entropy 6.1 Enthalpy Changes 6.2 Entropy and Gibbs Free Energy Quick Check Summary Chapter 7 Chemical Equilibrium and Acid-Base Equilibria Introduction 7.1 Equilibria and reversible reactions 7.2 Acid – base equilibria Quick Check Summary Chapter 8 Chemical Kinetics – The Rates of Chemical Reactions Introduction 8.1 The rate of reaction 8.2 Determining the rate of a chemical reaction 8.3 The rate expression 8.4 The half-life of a reaction 8.5 Reaction mechanisms 8.6 Effect of temperature on reaction rate Quick Check Summary Chapter 9 Electrochemistry Introduction 9.1 Redox reactions – a reminder 9.2 Redox reactions and electrochemical cells 9.3 Using redox reactions – Galvanic cells 9.4 Using redox reactions – Electrolytic cells Quick Check Summary Chapter 10: Group trends and periodicity 10.1 The Periodic Table: Periods, Groups and Periodicity 10.2 Trends in properties of elements in the same vertical group of the periodic table 10.3 Trends in properties of elements in the same horizontal period Quick Check Summary Chapter 11: The Periodic Table – chemistry of Groups 1, 2, 7 and transition elements Introduction 11.1 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals 11.2 Group 2 – The Alkaline Earth Metals 11.3 Group 7 (17) The Halogens 11.4 The Transition Elements Quick Check Summary Chapter 12: Core Concepts and Ideas Within Organic Chemistry 12.1 Types of molecular formula 12.2 Nomenclature of simple alkanes 12.3 Isomers 12.4 Drawing Reaction Mechanisms 12.5 Types of reaction Quick Check Summary Chapter 13: Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes 13.1 Alkanes: an outline 13.2 Alkenes: an outline 13.3 Alkynes: an outline Quick Check Summary Chapter 14: Reactivity of Selected Homologous Series 14.1 Alcohols 14.2 Aldehydes and ketones 14.3 Carboxylic acids 14.4 Esters 14.5 Amides 14.6 Amines 14.7 Nitriles Quick Check Summary Chapter 15: The Chemistry of Aromatic Compounds 15.1 Benzene 15.2 Reactions of benzene with electrophiles 15.3 Aniline Quick Check Summary Chapter 16: Substitution and elimination reactions 16.1 Substitution reactions 16.2 Elimination reactions 16.3 Comparison of substitution and elimination reactions Quick Check Summary Chapter 17: Bringing it all together 17.1 Functional group interconversion 17.2 Bringing it all together Chapter 18: Polymerisation 18.1 Polymerisation Quick Check Summary Chapter 19: Spectroscopy 19.1 Mass Spectrometry 19.2 Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) 19.3 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) 19.4 Bringing it all together Quick Check Summary

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of New Scientist's best science books to read in 2021""A New Scientist Book of the Year""A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Engrossing and novel. . . . [A] fascinating and fact-filled book."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"An eye-opening and mouth-watering new book."---Bill Thompson, Post and Courier"An engaging trip through time, science, and food."---Amy Halloran, Times Union"Dunn and Sanchez are indeed the perfect hosts, guiding readers, with humor and expertise, through a feast of entertaining anecdotes in fields such as ecology, agriculture, psychology, art and chemistry."---Grace Rajendran, Shelf Awareness"Our hosts at this empirical dinner party envision a new future for the study of flavor, with seats for the curious of every stripe. . . . A persuasive, entertaining argument about how our avid pursuit of deliciousness helped shape our evolutionary path." * Kirkus Reviews *"Fascinating, unusual and truly ‘delicious’ (in more than one sense)"---Vitali Vitaliev, Engineering and Technology"Dunn and Sanchez are scrupulous in the way they present their evidence and arguments. . . . a charming book."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"[Dunn and Sanchez] draw from anthropology, ecology, food science, chemistry, biology, and other fields to create a compelling perspective on how flavor has driven diets and food choices in the past and continues to do so now. . . . An insightful narrative spiced with witty asides and relatable notes."---M. H. Albro, Choice"Written with an entertaining mix of anecdotes from the authors’ culinary travels as well as findings from the latest research, Dunn and Sanchez stir together a rich variety of ingredients to create a highly satisfying and indeed flavoursome narrative."---P.D. Smith, The Guardian

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is an evolutionary thought experiment—untestable, informative and great fun. . . . A Dog’s World appears to have all four paws on secure scientific ground as Ms. Pierce and Mr. Bekoff start from basic evolutionary and ecological principles to develop powerful predictions and insights into dogs as we know them today."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"This thought-provoking book examines what the world would look like if all of us annoying, treat-wielding, doggie-day-care arranging grown-ups suddenly disappeared and dogs could run free. We might like to believe our dogs would be lost without us, but the reality might surprise you."---Zibby Owens, Washington Post"I love creative approaches to science writing and this book – an imagining of what would happen to dogs if humans disappeared – delivers it all: fresh perspectives, top-drawer science and an original thought-provoking hook."---Jules Howard, Big Issue

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Book SynopsisAn argument that we have a moral duty to explore other planets and solar systems--because human life on Earth has an expiration date.Inevitably, life on Earth will come to an end, whether by climate disaster, cataclysmic war, or the death of the sun in a few billion years. To avoid extinction, we will have to find a new home planet, perhaps even a new solar system, to inhabit. In this provocative and fascinating book, Christopher Mason argues that we have a moral duty to do just that. As the only species aware that life on Earth has an expiration date, we have a responsibility to act as the shepherd of life-forms--not only for our species but for all species on which we depend and for those still to come (by accidental or designed evolution). Mason argues that the same capacity for ingenuity that has enabled us to build rockets and land on other planets can be applied to redesigning biology so that we can sustainably inhabit those planets. And he lays out a 500-year plan

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Book SynopsisA classic work on farm buildings made by nineteenth-century New Englanders refreshed with a new introduction. Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn portrays the four essential components of the stately and beautiful connected farm buildings made by nineteenth-century New Englanders that stand today as a living expression of a rural culture, offering insights into the people who made them and their agricultural way of life. A visual delight as well as an engaging tribute to our nineteenth-century forebears, this book, first published nearly forty years ago, has become one of the standard works on regional farmsteads in America. This new edition features a new preface by the author.Trade ReviewPraise for the previous edition: "An unexpected small masterpiece that has some of the suspense of a detective story and, at times, the poignance of deeply felt, sympathetic social history."--Robert Campbell, Boston GlobePraise for the Previous Edition: "An important pioneering effort. The book commemorates both an unique indigenous architectural expression and a way of life that has become extinct . . . The style is economic and clear and Hubka's affection for architecture binds the buildings to their people and their times." * Maine Sunday Times *Praise for the previous edition: "An unexpected small masterpiece that has some of the suspense of a detective story and, at times, the poignance of deeply felt, sympathetic social history." * Boston Globe *Praise for the Previous Edition: "No matter where you live, you will want this book as a model of vernacular architecture scholarship." * Vernacular Architecture Newsletter *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction to the New EditionPrefacePreface to the Twentieth-Anniversary EditionI. CONNECTED FARM BUILDINGS1. Appearance and ActualityII. PATTERN IN CONNECTED FARM BUILDINGS2. The Buildings3. The Buildings and the Land4. Permanence and Change5. Pattern in Building and FarmingIII REASONS FOR MAKING CONNECTED FARM BUILDINGS6. Tobias Walker Moves His Shed7. Why Tobias Walker Moved His ShedNotesBibliographyGlossaryIndexFigure Credits

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Book SynopsisExam Board: SQALevel: HigherSubject: Human BiologyTwo books in one! Combining a revision guide and a full set of practice test papers, this fantastic resource is all you need to revise for the exam.The revision guide Covers all of the topics in the Higher Human Biology curriculum, broken down into manageable chunks for easy revision Clearly explains key concepts, research evidence and real-life applications Contains Quick Tests to let students check their knowledge and understanding as they go alongThe practice test papers Are in the format and the style of the SQA exam, giving students an opportunity to practice taking the Higher Human Biology examMarking instructions and sample answers are provided online, so students can check their progress.

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Book SynopsisTough Test Questions? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time?Fortunately for you, there's Schaum's.More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's to help them succeed in the classroom and on exams. Schaum's is the key to faster learning and higher grades in every subject. Each Outline presents all the essential course information in an easy-to-follow, topic-by-topic format. You also get hundreds of examples, solvedproblems, and practice exercises to test your skills.This Schaum's Outline gives you 450 fully solved problems Complete review of all course fundamentals Hundreds of examples with explanations of genetics concepts Exercises to help you test your mastery of genetics Fully compatible with your classroom text, Schaum's highlights all the important facts you need to know. Use Schaum's to shorten your study time--and get your best test scores!Topics include: The Physical Basis of Heredity; Patterns of InheritaTable of Contents Schaum's Outline of Genetics, 5ed 1. The Physical Basis of Heredity 2. Patterns of Inheritance 3. The Biochemical Casis of Heredity 4. Genetic Interactions 5. The Genetics of Sex 6. Linkage and Chromosome Mapping 7. Cytogenetics 8. Quantitative Genetics 9. Population Genetics and Evolution 10. Genetics of Bacteria 11. Viruses, Transposable Elements, and Cancer 12. Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 13. The Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes

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Book SynopsisAbout our authors William S. Klug is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) in Ewing, New Jersey, where he served as Chair of the Biology Department for 17 years. He received his B.A. degree in Biology from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Prior to coming to The College of New Jersey, he was on the faculty of Wabash College, where he first taught genetics, as well as general biology and electron microscopy. His research interests have involved ultrastructural and molecular genetic studies of development, utilizing oogenesis in Drosophila as a model system. He has taught the genetics course as well as the senior capstone seminar course in Human and Molecular Genetics to undergraduate biology majors for over four decades. He was the recipient in 2001 of the first annual teaching award given at The College of New Jersey, granted tTable of Contents1. Introduction to Genetics2. Mitosis and Meiosis3. Mendelian Genetics4. Modification of Mendelian Ratios5. Sex Determination and Sex Chromosomes6. Chromosome Mutations: Variation in Number and Arrangement7. Linkage and Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes8. Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages9. DNA Structure and Analysis10. DNA Replication11. Chromosome Structure and DNA Sequence Organization12. The Genetic Code and Transcription13. Translation and Proteins14. Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Transposition15. Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria16. Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes17. Recombinant DNA Technology18. Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Proteomics19. The Genetics of Cancer20. Quantitative Genetics and Multifactorial Traits21. Population and Evolutionary Genetics Special Topics in Modern Genetics1. Epigenetics2. Genetic Testing3. Gene Therapy4. Advances in Neurogenetics: The Study of Huntington Disease5. DNA Forensics6. Genetically Modified Foods7. Genomics and Precision Medicine

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Book SynopsisWorried about your maternal effect or biological clock? Need to know a rhizoid from a rhizome? Think you’re going to fail your zoology or botany exam? The Penguin Dictionary of Biology is your saviour, defining some 6000 terms relating to this rich, complex and constantly expanding subject - from amino acids, bacteria and the cell cycle to X-ray diffraction, Y chromosome and zygotes. Long established as the definitive single-volume source, this dictionary has sold over 200,000 copies and is extensively updated for its eleventh edition.Trade ReviewA marvelous compendium: accurate, clear and complete. (Matt Ridley, author of Genome)"

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