Science & Nature Books
Oxford University Press, USA A Red Bird in a Brown Bag
Book SynopsisThis is an account of studies of the function and evolution of colorful plumage in the House Finch. It is also an engaging study on the evolution of sexual selection in birds and a lively portrait of the challenges and constraints of experimental design facing any field investigator working with animal behavior. Part I sets the stage for modern studies of the function of plumage coloration with a review of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. Part II focuses on the proximate control and present function of plumage coloration. Part III takes a more explicitly evolutionary approach to the study of plumage coloration using biogeography and phylogeny to test hypotheses for why specific forms of plumage color display have evolved. It concludes with an account of comparative studies that have been conducted in the House Finch and other cardueline finches and the insight these studies have provided on the evolution of carotenoid-based ornamental coloration.Trade ReviewHill's book is, thus far, probably the most complete study of the function and control of plumage pigmentation in a single bird species. It was an easy read because of Hill's ability to write clearly and creatively, and to present ideas in a logical order. * Bird Study *Geoff Hill shows just how valuable it is to tackle a topic from many directions and to stick at it: new research avenues always emerge ... in this book you will find him fairly open-minded and receptive to a multifactorial explanation. A very good read. * Ibis *Table of ContentsPart 1: Prelude ; 1. Darwinism and Wallacism: A Brief Account of the Long History of the Study of Plumage Coloration ; 2. A Red Bird in a Brown Bag: An Introduction to the House Finch ; 3. In the Eye of the Beholder: Color Vision and the Quantification of Colour ; Part 2: The Proximate Control and Function of Red Plumage ; 4. You Are What You Eat: Plumage Pigments and Carotenoid Physiology ; 5. A Matter of Condition: The Effect of Environment on Plumage Coloration ; 6. Darwin Vindicated: Female Choice and Sexual Selection in the House Finch ; 7. Fine Fathers and Good Genes: The Direct and Indirect benefits of female choice ; 8. Studs, Duds, and Studly Duds: Plumage Coloration, Hormones, and Dominance ; 9. The Feeling's Mutual: Female Plumage Coloration and Male Mate Choice ; Part 3: Biogeography and the Evolution of Colorful Plumage ; 10. From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli (New York): Populations, Subspecies, and Geographic Variation in Ornamental Coloration ; 11. Why Red?: The Evolution of Color Display ; Epilogue ; Glossary
£54.00
Oxford University Press Aldo Leopold and the Ecological Conscience
Book SynopsisIn Aldo Leopold and an Ecological Conscience ecologists, wildlife biologists, and other professional conservationists explore the ecological legacy of Aldo Leopold and his A Sand Country Almanac and his contributions to the environmental movement, the philosophy of science, and natural resource management. Twelve personal essays describe the enormous impact he has had on each author, from influencing the daily operations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the creation of a land-use ethics guide for Forest Service personnel, to much needed inspiration for continuing on in today''s large, complex and often problematic world of science. Here is Aldo Leopold as a mentor, friend, and companion and an affirmation of his hope that science will continue to be practiced in the cause of conservation.Trade Review... this attractive book is wonderfully put together. It would serve either as a helpful introduction to those who might not be familiar with Leopold's work or as enjoyable reading for those who already know the delights of the world of Aldo Leopold. * Environmental Conservation *Table of ContentsTHE EVOLUTION OF A CLASSIC ; A SENSE OF PLACE, A SENSE OF TIME ; THE COHESIVE VISION ; A LAND ETHIC IN PRACTICE
£22.32
Oxford University Press From Complexity to Life
Book SynopsisThis book brings together an impressive group of leading scholars in the sciences of complexity, and a few workers on the interface of science and religion, to explore the wider implications of complexity studies. It includes an introduction to complexity studies and explores the concept of information in physics and biology and various philosophical and religious perspectives. Chapter authors include Paul Davies, Greg Chaitin, Charles Bennett, Werner Loewenstein, Paul Dembski, Ian Stewart, Stuart Kauffman, Harold Morowitz, Arthur Peacocke, and Niels H. Gregersen.Trade ReviewMelanie Mitchell's book is most enjoyable, truly inspiring, skillfully written, and, above all, beautifully clear. The author's enthusiasm and passion for the field make the book fascinating to read. Her rigor, clarity, and healthy skepticism make the book sound and the field scientifically stronger. It is an excellent and rigorous account of the scientific field of complexity. She proves by example that it is possible to explain complex systems science with rigor, breadth, depth, and - above all - exquisite clarity * Artificial Life *Table of ContentsPart 1: Introduction ; 1. Towards an Emergentist Worldview ; Part 2: Defining Complexity ; 2. Randomness and Mathematical Proof ; 3. "How to define Complexity in Physics, and Why?" ; Part 3: The Concept of Information in Physics and Biology ; 4. The Emergence of Autonomous Agents ; 5. Complexity and The Arrow of Time ; 6. Can Evolutionary Algorithms Generate Specified Complexity? ; 7. The Second Law of Thermodynamics and the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics ; 8. Two Arrows from a Mighty Bow ; Part 4: Philosophical and Religious Perspectives ; 9. Emergence of Transcendence ; 10. Complexity, Emergence and Divine Creativity ; 11. From Anthropic Design to Self-Organized Complexity
£26.09
Oxford University Press, USA The Brain Takes Shape An Early History
Book SynopsisTells the story of how long-standing notions about the body as dominated by spirit-like humors were transformed into scientific descriptions of its solid tissues. This book shows how debates over investigative methods and models of body order influence biomedicine and the broader culture.Trade ReviewAdvance Praise for The Brain Takes Shape:Scholars often pay lip service to the important roles of theological and philosophical concepts in the making of modern science and medicine. Robert Martensen has taken the platitude seriously, and his book powerfully demonstrates how our modern beliefs about mind and body were first elaborated in the seventeenth century, when philosophy, theology and science were intertwined. The result is a cultural history of biomedicine at its very best. * W.F. Bynum, Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine, University College London *Table of ContentsSelected events and historical actors ; 1. Bodies, words, and images ; 2. Matter, spirit, and the heart ; 3. The human mind and "Gland H": Cartesian models of mind, brain, and nerves ; 4. When the brain came out of the skull ; 5. Body of witnesses ; 6. Toward a new physiology of human conduct ; 7. The transformation of Eve ; 8. Mind without brain: John Locke, Thomas Syndenham, and the constitutional body of the British enlightenment ; 9. On the persistence of the cerebral body and its alternatives
£61.20
Oxford University Press, USA A Means to an End
Book SynopsisWhy do we age? Is aging inevitable? Will advances in medical knowledge allow us to extend the human lifespan beyond its present limits? Because growing old has long been the one irreducible reality of human existence, these intriguing questions arise more often in the context of science fiction than science fact. But recent discoveries in the fields of cell biology and molecular genetics are seriously challenging the assumption that human lifespans are beyond our control. With such discoveries in mind, noted cell biologist William R. Clark clearly and skillfully describes how senescence begins at the level of individual cells and how cellular replication may be bound up with aging of the entire organism. He explores the evolutionary origin and function of aging, the cellular connections between aging and cancer, the parallels between cellular senescence and Alzheimer''s disease, and the insights gained through studying human genetic disorders--such as Werner''s syndrome--that mimic theTrade Review"Clark effortlessly takes readers from the simple to the complex, from a discussion of single-celled organisms to human beings.... He also does a nice job of exploring the causes of Alzheimer's disease, various forms of cancer and an array of genetic disorders that afflict the young by making them age prematurely.... Neatly informative."--Publishers Weekly"Why in spite of healthy, well-fed, well-watered lives do people age and die? The well-informed physician-researcher, William R. Clark, excitedly reveals new studies of progeric and normal mammals as he tracks the inevitable corollary to human life: the inexorable rhythmic march to human death."--Lynn Margulis, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and co-author of What is Life" and What is Sex""Fascinating and informative.... One of the book's most engaging elements is Clark's ability to show how scientists think about problems and approaches in the field."--BooklistTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION ; 1. Aging, Senescence, and Lifespan ; 2. The Nature of Cellular Senescence and Death ; 3. The Evolution of Senescence and Death ; 4. Of Embryos and Worms and Very Old Men: The Developmental Genetics of Senescence and Lifespan ; 5. Human Genetic Diseases that Mimic the Aging Process ; 6. Cycling to Senescence ; 7. Replicative Immortality: Cancer and Aging ; 8. Caloric Restriction and Maximum Lifespan ; 9. With Every Breath We Take: Oxidative Stress and Cellular Senescence ; 10. The Aging Brain ; 11. A Conditional Benefit
£24.74
Oxford University Press How the Laser Happened
Book SynopsisIn How the Laser Happened, Nobel laureate Charles Townes provides a highly personal look at some of the leading events in twentieth-century physics. Townes was inventor of the maser, of which the laser is one example; an originator of spectroscopy using microwaves; and a pioneer in the study of gas clouds in galaxies and around stars. Throughout his career he has also been deeply engaged with issues outside of academic research. He worked on applied research projects for Bell Labs; served on the board of directors for General Motors; and devoted extensive effort to advising the government on science, policy, and defense. This memoir traces his multifaceted career from its beginnings on the family farm in South Carolina. Spanning decades of ground-breaking research, the book provides a hands-on description of how working scientists and inventors get their ideas. It also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the scientific community, showing how scientists respond to new ideas and how they approach a variety of issues, from priority and patents to the social and political implications of their work. In addition, Townes touches on the sociology of science, uncovering some of the traditions and values that are invisible to an outsider. A towering and energetic figure, Townes has explored or pioneered most of the roles available to the modern scientist. In addition to fundamental research, he was actively involved in the practical uses of the laser and in the court cases to defend the patent rights. He was a founding member of the Jasons, an influential group of scientists that independently advises the government on defense policy, and he played an active part in scientific decisions and policies from the Truman through the Reagan administration. This lively memoir, packed with first-hand accounts and historical anecdotes, is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of science and an inspiring example for students considering scientific careers.Trade Review[Townes's] ability to blend past achievements with the present brings a freshness of view in which his obvious excitement with some very recent breakthroughs in science and technology shines through very clearly ... I would recommend the reading of this autobiographical account to non-scientists as well as budding or established scientists. * Wilson Sibbett CBE FRS, University of St Andrews - The Royal Society Notes and Records *Filled with personal anecdotes that provide insight into an immensely original thinker and scientist of enormous energy and prolific output....[Includes] a fascinating account of the patent disputes surrounding the maser and laser....[Provides] an inspiring case history of how an outstanding physicist got started and went on to do great science. * Steven Chu, cowinner of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Physics, in Physics Today *An engaging human story, intertwined with a first-hand account of some of the twentieth century's most significant inventions and discoveries. Fine reading for anyone interested in science, scientists, or the roles they play in our fast-changing world. * Arno Penzias, Nobel Laureate in Physics and former Chief Scientist of Bell Labs *It's rare that a scientist writes a book about his or her life that accurately reflects the highs and lows of scientific discovery. Such a book is How the Laser Happened by Nobel Laureate Charles Townes ... Townes did not invent the laser but, as a researcher, he certainly left his mark on twentieth century science. And the book certainly leaves the impression that Townes lived the life of a true scientist. Townes was the co-inventor of the maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) with James Gordon, then a post-doctoral student at Columbia University ... But the book is not entirely concerned with the science of maser and laser development. Townes devotes an intriguing chapter to the various battles that were fought over the patents for the maser and the laser ... The book is subtitled, Adventures of a Scientist. Charles Townes' adventures make for a fascinating story of a true scientist. * Laser Focus *Table of Contents1. The Light That Shines Straight ; 2. Physics, Furman, Molecules, and Me ; 3. Bell Labs and Radar, a (Fortunate) Detour from Physics ; 4. Columbia to Franklin Park and Beyond ; 5. Maser Excitement-And a Time for Reflection ; 6. From Maser to Laser ; 7. The Patent Game ; 8. On Moon Dust, and Other Science Advice ; 9. The Rains of Orion
£30.17
Oxford University Press, USA Alaskas Changing Boreal Forest The ALongTerm Ecological Research Network Series
Book SynopsisThe Boreal forest is the northern-most forest in the world, whose organisms and dynamics are shaped by low temperature and high latitude. The Alaskan Boreal forest is now warming as rapidly as any place on earth, providing an unprecedented opportunity to examine a biome as it adjusts to change.Table of ContentsPART I: Alaska's Past and Present Environment 1: The Conceptual Basis of LTER Studies in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 2: Regional Overview of Interior Alaska 3: State Factor Control of Soil Formation in Interior Alaska 4: Climate and Permafrost Dynamics of the Alaskan Boreal Forest 5: Holocene Development of the Alaskan Boreal Forest PART II: Forest Dynamics 6: Floristic Diversity and Distribution in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 7: Successional Processes in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 8: Mammalian Herbivore Population Dynamics in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 9: Dynamics of Phytophagous Insects and Their Pathogens in Alaskan Boreal Forests 10: Running Waters of the Alaskan Boreal Forest PART III: Ecosystem Dynamics 11: Controls over Forest Production in Interior Alaska 12: The Role of Fine Roots in the Functioning of Alaskan Boreal Forests 13: Mammalian Herbivory, Ecosystem Engineering and Ecological Cascades in Alaskan Boreal Forests 14: Microbial Processes in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 15: Patterns of Biogeochemistry in Alaskan Boreal Forests PART IV: Changing Regional Processes 16: Watershed Hydrology and Chemistry in the Alaskan Boreal Forest: The Central Role of Permafrost 17: Fire Trends in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 18: Timber Harvest in Interior Alaska 19: Climate Feedbacks in the Alaskan Boreal Forest 20: Communication of Alaskan Boreal Science with Broader Communities 21: Summary and Synthesis: Past and Future Changes in the Alaskan Boreal Forest
£90.00
Oxford University Press WinWin Ecology
Book SynopsisAs humanity presses down inexorably on the natural world, people debate the extent to which we can save the Earth''s millions of different species without sacrificing human economic welfare. But is this argument wise? Must the human and natural worlds be adversaries? In this book, ecologist Michael Rosenzweig finds that ecological science actually rejects such polarization. Instead it suggests that, to be successful, conservation must discover how we can blend a rich natural world into the world of economic activity. This revolutionary, common ground between development and conservation is called reconciliation ecology: creating and maintaining species-friendly habitats in the very places where people live, work, or play. The book offers many inspiring examples of the good results already achieved. The Nature Conservancy, for instance, has a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense, with more than 200 conservation projects taking place on more than 170 bases in 41 states. ITrade ReviewThis book seeks common ground between responsible forces for development, and conservationists, and gives a number of inspiring and empowering examples of what good ends can and have been achieved. * Ethology Ecology & Evolution *... a thoughtful discussion of how we can increase species diversity but using our settlements more effectively ... the easy writing style makes ideas accessible to a wide audience. * TEG News *This book is a stimulating 'wake-up' call to all of us. Read it but don't just weep, join in the crusade! * The International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology *
£23.74
Oxford University Press The World of Andrei Sakharov
Book SynopsisHow did Andrei Sakharov, a theoretical physicist and the acknowledged father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, become a human rights activist and the first Russian to win the Nobel Peace Prize? In his later years, Sakharov noted in his diary that he was simply a man with an unusual fate. To understand this deceptively straightforward statement by an extraordinary man, The World of Andrei Sakharov, the first authoritative study of Andrei Sakharov as a scientist as well as a public figure, relies on previously inaccessible documents, recently declassified archives, and personal accounts by Sakharov''s friends and colleagues to examine the real context of Sakharov''s life. In the course of doing so, Gennady Gorelik answers a fascinating question, whether the Soviet hydrogen bomb was really fathered by Sakharov, or whether it was based on stolen American secrets. Gorelik concludes that while espionage did initiate the Soviet effort, the Russian hydrogen bomb was invented independently. GorelikTrade ReviewWith its wider perspectives on the institutions and realities of Sakharov's age, this book should take a rightful place...among front displays of books about science, public policy and society...Through the example of the Soviet Union and its dissident hero Andrei Sakharov, Gorelik and Bouis have made an invaluable contribution to the universal conversation about morality and science. * The Moscow Times *Table of ContentsPart I: From Tsarist Russia to the Tsardom of Soviet Physics 1: The Emergence of Soviet Physics and the Birth of FIAN 2: Leonid Mandelshtam: The Teacher and His School 3: The Year 1937 Part II: Intra-Atomic, Nuclear, and Thermonuclear 4: The Moral Underpinnings of the Soviet Atomic Project 5: Andrei Sakharov, Tamm's Graduate Student 6: Sergei Vavilov: The President of the Academy of Science 7: Nuclear Physics under Beria's Command 8: Russian Physics at the height of Cosmopolitanism 9: The Hydrogen Bomb at FIAN Part III: In The Nuclear Archipelago 10: The Installation 11: The "Heroic" Work at the Installation 12: Theoretical Physicists in Soviet Practice 13: The Physics of Social Responsibility 14: From Military Physics to Peaceful Cosmology 15: World Peace and World Science 16: Reflections on Intellectual Freedom in 1968 Part IV: A humanitarian Physicist 17: Sakharov and Solzhenitsyn: The Physics and Geometry of Russian History 18: On the Other Side 19: Andrei and Lusya 20: Freedom and responsibility
£26.77
Oxford University Press, USA Science and Partial Truth A Unitary Approach to Models and Scientific Reasoning Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science
Book SynopsisDa Costa and French explore the consequences of adopting a pragmatic notion of truth in the philosophy of science--in other words, accepting a theory as valid when it may only be partially true rather than wholly true. Their framework sheds new light on issues dealing with belief, theory acceptance, and the realism-antirealism debate, as well as the nature of scientific models and their heuristic development.Trade ReviewThis is an important book. It summarizes and connects significant recent developments in several areas of philosophy, and develops a coherent approach to a well defined and important problem. * The Review of Metaphysics *
£71.10
Oxford University Press Wonders of Numbers
Book SynopsisWho were the five strangest mathematicians in history? What are the ten most interesting numbers? Jam-packed with thought-provoking mathematical mysteries, puzzles, and games, Wonders of Numbers will enchant even the most left-brained of readers. Hosted by the quirky Dr. Googol--who resides on a remote island and occasionally collaborates with Clifford Pickover--Wonders of Numbers focuses on creativity and the delight of discovery. Here is a potpourri of common and unusual number theory problems of varying difficulty--each presented in brief chapters that convey to readers the essence of the problem rather than its extraneous history. Peppered throughout with illustrations that clarify the problems, Wonders of Numbers also includes fascinating math gossip. How would we use numbers to communicate with aliens? Check out Chapter 30. Did you know that there is a Numerical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? You''ll find it in Chapter 45. From the beautiful formula of India''s most famous math
£20.24
Oxford University Press Inc On the Wings of Checkerspots A Model System for Population Biology
Book SynopsisCheckerspot butterflies have been used as an extraordinarily successful model system for more than four decades. This volume presents the first synthesis of the broad range of studies of that system as conducted in Ehrlich''s research group in Stanford, in Hanski''s research group in Helsinki and elsewhere. Ehrlich''s long - term research project on Edith''s checkerspot helped establish an intergrated disipline of population biology in the 1960s and ever since has contributed many fundamental insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations. Hanski''s and his associates'' work an the Glanville fritillary for the past 14 years has been instrumental in establishing the field of metapopulation biology and showing how theoretical and empirical work can be effectively combined in the same project.Trade Review"Checkerspot butterflies are rightly celebrated in this book as important model organisms for applied conservation, as well as for our basic understanding in population biology. This is a very nicely edited and professionally produced book that is an important and useful review of checkerspot work over the past 40 years." -- TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution "To cite the editors' ultimate purpose, the major intellectual challenge of population biology "is understanding the functioning of natural populations - how they are distributed and structured, how and why their sizes change, and how they evolove." In many respects, the book offers basic insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of insect populations generally, not just of checkerspots, and thus forms a classic of modern biology." -- Nature "The book is well written, well produced, and error free... Overall, this is an excellent book, even for those that do not have a strong interest in population dynamics. The history of the projects, the biology of the butterflies, and the philosophies promoted are worthy of anybody's time." -- BioScience "...although the book is an edited volume with 15 contributors, it was obviously well planned and reads more like the work of a single author. Its structure could be a model for anyone wanting to write an overview of their particular research system. I strongly recommend On the Wings of Checkerspots to anyone interested in evolution, ecology, or entertaining and interesting stories about butterflies." -- Science "This book should be required reading for all conservation biologists." -- Science "On the Wings of Checkerspots aims to review everything there is to know about checkerspots, and it fulfills that aim" -- TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution "This book should be required reading for all conservation biologists." -- Science "...although the book is an edited volume with 15 contributors, it was obviously well planned and reads more like the work of a single author. Its structure could be a model for anyone wanting to write an overview of their particular research system. I strongly recommend On the Wings of Checkerspots to anyone interested in evolution, ecology, or entertaining and interesting stories about butterflies." -- Science "Checkerspot butterflies are rightly celebrated in this book as important model organisms for applied conservation, as well as for our basic understanding in population biology. This is a very nicely edited and professionally produced book that is an important and useful review of checkerspot work over the past 40 years." -- TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution "The two editors and 13 Contributing researchers have sought to use their 40-plus years of intensive field and laboratory study "to create one population biological analogue to the well-known model systems in other biological disciplines..." The result is a collaborative overview of model systems in population studies." -- Nature "To cite the editors' ultimate purpose, the major intellectual challenge of population biology "is understanding the functioning of natural populations - how they are distributed and structured, how and why their sizes change, and how they evolove." In many respects, the book offers basic insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of insect populations generally, not just of checkerspots, and thus forms a classic of modern biology." -- Nature "The book is well written, well produced, and error free... Overall, this is an excellent book, even for those that do not have a strong interest in population dynamics. The history of the projects, the biology of the butterflies, and the philosophies promoted are worthy of anybody's time." -- BioScienceTable of ContentsPersonal Prefaces ; 1. Checkerspot Research: Background and Origins ; 2. Introducing Checkerspots: Taxonomy and Research ; 3. Structure and Dynamics of Euphydryas edith Populations ; 4. Structure and Dynamics of Melitea cinxia Metapopulations ; 5. Checkerspot Reproductive Biology ; 6. Oviposition Preference: Its Measurement, its Correlates and its Importance in the Life of Checkerspots ; 7. Larval Biology of Checkerspots ; 8. Natural Enemies of Checkerspots ; 9. Dispersal Behavior and Evolutionary Metapopulation Dynamics ; 10. Genetics of Checkerspot Populations ; 11. Bay Checkerspot and Glanville Fritillary Compared with Other Species ; 12. Checkerspots as a Model System in Population Biology ; 13. Checkerspots and Conservation Biology ; 14. What have we Learned? ; 15. Afterword: A Look to the Future ; Acknowledgements
£127.50
Oxford University Press Nanoscale Energy Transport and Conversion
Book SynopsisThis is a graduate level textbook in nanoscale heat transfer and energy conversion that can also be used as a reference for researchers in the developing field of nanoengineering. It provides a comprehensive overview of microscale heat transfer, focusing on thermal energy storage and transport. Chen broadens the readership by incorporating results from related disciplines, from the point of view of thermal energy storage and transport, and presents related topics on the transport of electrons, phonons, photons, and molecules. This book is part of the MIT-Pappalardo Series in Mechanical Engineering.Trade Review"This book is designed as a senior- or graduate-level course resource and will also serve as a reference for practicing engineers and researchers."--CHOICE "This book is designed as a senior- or graduate-level course resource and will also serve as a reference for practicing engineers and researchers."--CHOICETable of Contents1: Introduction 2: Material Waves and Energy Quantization 3: Energy States in Solids 4: Statistical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Storage 5: Energy Transfered by Waves 6: Particle Description of Transport Processes: Classical Laws 7: Classical Size Effects 8: Energy Conversion and Coupled Transport Processes 9: Liquids in Their Interfaces 10: Molecular Dynamics Simulation Appendix A: Homogeneous Semiconductors Appendix B: Semiconductor p-n Junctions Index Units and Their Conversions Physical Constants
£201.88
Oxford University Press The Synaptic Organization of the Brain 5th Edition
Book SynopsisIt is widely recognized that the neural basis of brain function can be fully understood only by integrating many disciplines at many levels. Studies os synaptic organization are bringing about a quiet revolution in achieving this goal, as documented by this unique book over the past 30 years. In this fifth edition, the results of the mouse and human genome projects are incorporated for the first time. Molecular biologists interested in functional genomics and proteomics of the brain will find answers here to the critical questions: what are the cell and circuit functions of gene products? Also for the first time, the reader is oriented to supporting neuroscience databases.Among the new advances covered are 2-photon confocal laser microscopy of dendrites and dendritic spines, biochemical analyses, and dual patch and multielectrode recordings, applied together with an increasing range of behavioural and gene-targeting methods. Leading experts in the best understood brain regions bring toTrade ReviewThis fifth edition of Shepherd's well-respected text is still worth having on the bookshelf . . . the regions covered are dealt with systematically and clearly. Each chapter has a similar structure, with sections on the neuronal elements present, their synaptic connections and basic circuits, their intrinsic membrane properties, synaptic actions and dendritic properties, and the functional properties of the circuits. This is all done clearly and thoroughly, packing a great deal of information into a small space . . . The synaptic organisation of the brain is a classic text, and still very much worth having and reading for anyone interested in the details of neuroscience. * Physiology News, Number 56 *Table of Contents1. Introduction to Synaptic Circuits ; 2. Membrane Properties and Neurotransmitter Actions ; 3. Spinal Cord: Ventral Horn ; 4. Cochlear Nucleus ; 5. Olfactory Bulb ; 6. Retina ; 7. Cerebellum ; 8. Thalamus ; 9. Basal Ganglia ; 10. Olfactory Cortex ; 11. Hippocampus ; 12. Neocortex
£81.60
Oxford University Press What is an Emotion Classic and Contemporary Readings
Book SynopsisWhat is an Emotion?, 2/e, draws together important selections from classical and contemporary theories and debates about emotion. Utilizing sources from a variety of subject areas including philosophy, psychology, and biology, editor Robert Solomon provides an illuminating look at the affective side of psychology and philosophy from the perspective of the world''s great thinkers. Part One of the book features five classic readings from Aristotle, the Stoics, Descartes, Spinoza, and Hume. Part Two offers classic and contemporary theories from the social sciences, presenting selections from such thinkers as Charles Darwin and Sigmund Freud alongside recent work from Paul Ekman, Catherine Lutz, and others. Part Three presents some of the extensive work on emotion that developed in Europe over the past century. Part Four includes essays representing the discussion of emotions among British and American analytic philosophers. The volume is enhanced by a comprehensive introduction by the editor and a multidisciplinary bibliography. What is an Emotion? is appropriate for any course in which the nature of emotion plays a major role, including philosophy of emotion, philosophy of mind, history of psychology, emotion and motivation, moral psychology, and history and psychology of consciousness courses. The second edition provides much more material on emotions in the sciences and more from recent philosophical theories, encompassing recent shifts in theorizing on three fronts: the wealth of new information on the central nervous system and the brain; new developments in cross-cultural research and anthropology; and the recent emphasis on cognition in emotion, both in philosophy and the social sciences. New selections include work by Antonio Damasio, Ronald De Sousa, Paul Ekman, Nico Frijda, Patricia Greenspan, Paul Griffiths, Richard Lazarus, Catherine Lutz, Martha Nussbaum, and Michael Stocker.Trade Review"An excellent addition to a course in History of Psychology. This volume's thematic consistency lets students see the changes that have occurred in psychological thought over the centuries."--Michael Nielsen, Georgia Southern UniversityTable of ContentsI. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND; ARISTOTLE; THE STOICS; RENE DESCARTES; BENEDICT SPINOZA; DAVID HUME; II. THE MEETING OF PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY; CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN; WILLIAM JAMES; WALTER B. CANNON; JOHN DEWEY; SIGMUND FREUD; STANLEY SCHACHTER AND JEROME E. SINGER; PAUL EKMAN; RICHARD LAZARUS; NICO FRIJDA; CATHERINE LUTZ; ANTONIO DAMASIO; III. THE CONTINENTAL TRADITION; FRANZ BRENTANO; MAX SCHELER; MARTIN HEIDEGGER; JEAN-PAUL SARTRE; IV. CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND EMOTION; GILBERT RYLE; ERROL BEDFORD; ANTHONY KENNY; ROBERT C. SOLOMON; CHESHIRE CALHOUN; RONALD DE SOUSA; MICHAEL STOCKER; PATRICIA GREENSPAN; PAUL GRIFFITHS
£65.99
Oxford University Press, USA Phenotypic Integration
Book SynopsisA new voice in the nature-nurture debate can be heard at the interface between evolution and development. Phenotypic integration--or, how large numbers of characteristics are related to make up the whole organism, and how these relationships evolve and change their function--is a major growth area in research, attracting the attention of evolutionary biologists, developmental biologists, and geneticists, as well as, more broadly, ecologists, physiologists, and paleontologists. This edited collection presents much of the best and most recent work the topic.Trade ReviewI think this volume will provide stimulating reading for most students, teachers and researchers in a variety of biological disciplines. HeredityTable of ContentsForeword: The diversity of complexity ; Phenotypic Integration: Studying the Ecology and Evolution of Complex Phenotypes ; SECTION I: ADAPTATION AND CONSTRAINTS ; 1. Floral integration, modularity, and accuracy: distinguishing complex adaptations from genetic constraints ; 2. Integration and modularity in the evolution of sexual ornaments: An overlooked perspective ; 3. the Evolution of allometry in modular organisms ; 4. Phenotypic integration as a constraint and adaptation ; 5. Evolvability, stabilizing selection, and the problem of stasis ; SECTION II: PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY AND INTEGRATION ; 6. Studying the plasticity of phenotypic integration in a model organism ; 7. Integrating phenotypic plasticity when death is on the line: Insights from predator-prey systems ; SECTION III: GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PHENOTYPIC INTEGRATION ; 8. QTL Mapping: a first step towards an understanding of molecular genetic mechanisms behind phenotypic complexity/integration ; 9. Integration, modules, and development: molecules to morphology to evolution ; 10. Studying mutational effects on G-matrices ; SECTION IV: MACROEVOLUTIONARY PATTERNS IN PHENOTYPIC INTEGRATION ; 11. the Macroevolution of phenotypic integration ; 12. Form, Function and Life-History: Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Integration ; 13. Morphological Integration in Primate Evolution ; SECTION V: THEORY AND ANALYSIS OF PHENOTYPIC INTEGRATION ; 14. Phylogenetic comparative analysis of multivariate data ; 15. The Evolution of genetic architecture ; 16. Multivariate phenotypic evolution in developmental hyperspace ; 17. the Relativism of constraints on phenotypic evolution ; 18. The Developmental Systems Perspective: Organism-environment systems as units of development and evolution ; Conclusion
£123.75
Oxford University Press Inc City of Light
Book SynopsisCity of Light tells the story of fiber optics, tracing its transformation from 19th-century parlor trick into the foundation of our global communications network. Written for a broad audience by a journalist who has covered the field for twenty years, the book is a lively account of both the people and the ideas behind this revolutionary technology. The basic concept underlying fiber optics was first explored in the 1840s when researchers used jets of water to guide light in laboratory demonstrations. The idea caught the public eye decades later when it was used to create stunning illuminated fountains at many of the great Victorian exhibitions. The modern version of fiber optics--using flexible glass fibers to transmit light--was discovered independently five times through the first half of the century, and one of its first key applications was the endoscope, which for the first time allowed physicians to look inside the body without surgery. Endoscopes became practical in 1956 when Trade Review"In this deft history, Hecht, a writer for the British weekly New Scientist, shows how the illuminated fountains that thrilled crowds at the great 19th-century exhibitions convinced scientists that light can be guided along narrow tubes. In our century, scientists used these tubes of light first to look inside the human body and then, as the physics of wave transmission were better understood, to transmit audio and optical information. Hecht explains which technological advances have made fiber optics the backbone of our telephone system in the last 10-15 years and how everyday applications should increase exponentially once fibers are connected directly to our homes. . .[g]eneral science buffs should enjoy his account of the development of the technology that will change our lives in many unexpected ways in the next century." --Publishers Weekly"Jeff Hecht brings to life the people, the competition, and the human drama behind this technological breakthrough. Prepare yourself for a delightful read as you discover what made the global village called the City of Light a reality whose potential for social change is still being fathomed." --Richard N. Zare, Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor in Natural Science, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University"This book is a revelation and ranks with the best popular writing on science and technology. Jeff Hecht's meticulous research proves that even our newest technologies have a long past. His book tells the enthralling story of fiber optics, used today in nearly every facet of life, from transmitting digitized data to peering into and even operating on the human body. With an eye for forceful personalities, innovators and visionaries, he takes us from the birth of fiber optics in Victorian light-guiding parlor tricks and illuminated fountains to the Information Age, with limitless quantities of pure information coruscating globally along beams of light in glass fibers. Hecht embraces the human drama of the inventors with all their successes and foibles and transforms the city of light into an entertaining and illuminating celebration." --Martin C. Carey, Harvard University Medical School, Senior Physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston"This is one of the best popular books on a technical subject I have ever seen. It is written in a lively style and it covers all parts of the optical fiber story, from the very beginning to the present days, and, amazingly, all over the world." --Laszlo Solymar, Professor of Applied Electromagnetism, University of Oxford"A marvelous chronicle of fiber optics technology which in large measure has created the Information Age. Jeff Hecht has not only presented the history of this remarkable technology--uncovering threads which I did not know--but captured the drama and human aspects which make this an interesting read for anyone. All the celebrities are here, each building on the other's foundation." --Donald B. Keck, Division Vice President, Director of Optics & Photonics, Corning, Inc"As research manager responsible for the teams at STL who pioneered the use of optical fibres for communications, I can say with confidence that this book is a most carefully researched, very comprehensive and balanced account of world-wide success and failure. It makes fascinating and delightful reading." --Charles Sandbank, Department of Trade and Industry, United Kingdom, and Visiting Professor of Information Systems Design, University of Bradford"An engineer by training, New Scientist correspondent Hecht explores the history of fiber optics in this interesting and far-reaching study. Beginning in Victorian Europe, his chronology traces the complex but fascinating drama of one of the key elements in today's global telecommunications explosion. . . . This readable, well-documented, and scholarly text includes an informative glossary of names and a concise reference to fiber-optic development. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries."--Library Journal"In his latest book, City of Light . . . , science writer Jeff Hecht expertly tells the story of the painstaking discovery, rapid development, and remarkable applications of optical fibers. Hecht, a veteran contributing editor to Laser Focus World, has covered fiberoptic technology for more than 20 years. His book, the latest addition to Oxford's splendid Sloan Technology Series, traces the story of fiberoptics from a Victorian parlor trick to the foundation of today's global communications network. I strongly recommend City of Light for your own bookshelf and for anyone with an interest in communications."--Laser Focus World"The technology of optical-fibre communications is arguably one of the most spectacular developments of the late 20th century. It touches all of our lives on a daily basis, and has created the worldwide communications that we all take for granted and that we expect to supply all our future needs. It is surprising, then, how little attention this remarkable story of fibre optics has received. This book makes an excellent start at redressing the balance. It provides for the first time a complete chronicle of the technology over the last 150 years, concentrating on the years to 1983. . . . This book will show you how this position has been achieved, who the main characters were, and how they were inspired by visions of the future that we now occupy. All in all, the author presents a wonderfully rich story that has been painstakingly researched and contains some excellent source notes."--Physics World"This is the story of fiber optics, tracing its transformation from nineteenth century parlor trick into the foundation of our global communications network. Written for a broad audience by Hecht, an engineer and the Boston correspondent for New Scientist, who has covered the field for twenty years. The book is a lively account of both the people and the ideas behind this revolutionary technology. The basic concept underlying fiber optics was first explored in the 1840s when researchers used jets of water to guide light in laboratory demonstrations. The idea caught the public eye decades later when it was used to create stunning illuminated fountains at many of the great Victorian exhibitions. . . . In 1988, the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable connected Europe with North America, and now fiber optics is the key element in global communications."--Science Writers"Jeff Hecht's fascinating account of this undersung technology goes back 150 years to find the origins of fiber optics. Then he chronicles the many ingenious and determined engineers who fashioned it into a technology that festoons the globe with cables carrying pulses of photons. It was harder than pioneering copper links because supplanting an existing technology needs more persuasion than establishing the first one. And there was competition from the satellite industry, as well as unexpected setbacks, such as sharks who ignored copper but chewed fiber optic cables. Hecht tells a good tale, combining a light journalistic touch with a scholarly knowledge of the industry he has covered for over two decades. The story is not over yet, but this is a rich account of how we got this far in a technology that really has fueled a revolution."--Jon Turney at Amazon.co.uk"The most powerful argument against monopoly is not that it inflates its owners' profit . . . , but rather that it retards innovation. . . . The decision of the British Post Office to pursue the new technology; the discoveries by Corning Glass of new pure fiber materials; the advent of the semiconductor laser as a source of light . . . ; the rapid progress of the late 1970s . . . ; the climactic decision in 1984 of MCI to install a transcontinental fiber network in North America--all these developments in some sense flowed out of half-a-dozen years of missionary zeal by [Charles] Kao . . . This is the story to be gleaned from 'City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics,' by Jeff Hecht . . . [I]t is clear . . . that he has written an authoritative history of an otherwise all-but-invisible industry. . . . The overwhelming moral here is that large numbers of persons are involved in the accomplishment of any significant innovation-not a solitary 'inventor' or two."--Chicago Tribune"Hecht's narrative is a model of the sort--exactly what might have been hoped from a writer who covered the industry for 25 years for trade publications, yet who retains both the detachment and perspective necessary to put a narrative construction on events. . . . Hecht now covers all manner of topics . . . for Britain's New Scientist magazine. . . . Trained as an engineer himself, Hecht has a gift for conveying the fog of uncertainty about the possibilities in which scientists, engineers and managers must make their choices about the approaches to pursue. . . . He begins with an account of the spectacular 'luminous fountains' that were centerpieces of the great electrical expositions in London, Paris and Chicago at the end of the 19th century, then traces the slow zigzag development of the idea from early applications . . . to theoretical investigation of the underlying principles of light transmission by glass by those involved in the telephone industry."--Boston Globe"Hecht offers a fascinating chronicle of people, events, and technological innovations that led to modern fiber optics. Though he traces this history to the use of glass in Egypt at least 4,500 years ago, to Romans drawing glass into fibers, and then to some pertinent events in the 1700s, his tale primarily covers relevant developments over the past century and a half. Among the earliest of these involves the ability of water to guide light and the subsequent use of this feature to create the luminous fountains for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. Hecht identifies the individuals and their contributions, some successful and others not, in the sequence of events that today makes possible enormous communication bandwidths. . . . Appendixes with annotated lists of people and organizations; chronology of developments; extensive notes. General readers; professionals; two-year technical program students."--Choice"This is a story of the technical advances in the telecommunications industry, brought about by the continuously increasing demands for greater capacity. (How we love to talk on the phone!) A recurring theme--that photons would be better than electrons for carrying signals--appears in each new generation, but at the time, glass (the obvious material for transmitting light) could not be fashioned into wires with an acceptably low attenuation rate. Finally, as in all good stories, the hero wins, and fiber-optic cables, become a technological reality. . . . Jeff Hecht has done an admirable job in delving into the personalities of many of the key contributors."--American Scientist"This latest entry by engineering-trained science journalist Jeff Hecht is a layperson's complete account of the history of fiber optics, from their pre-electric beginnings. Like someone actually working with fibers, Hecht weaves multiple threads into his story. Read the book, which is certainly worthwhile. It is written for the public, with the scientific principles simply explained and well-illustrated. The inclusion of a large number of photographs of the players and their apparatus adds to the appeal of the story, as do a timeline and "dramatis personae" included." - Newsletter No. 51Table of Contents1. Introduction: Building a City of Light ; 2. Guiding Light and Luminous Fountains (1841-1890) ; 3. Fibers of Glass ; 4. The Quest for Remote Viewing: Television and the Legacy of Sword Swallowers (1895-1940) ; 5. A Critical Insight: The Birth of the Clad Optical Fiber (1950-1955) ; 6. 99 Percent Perspiration: The Birth of an Industry (1954-1960) ; 7. A Vision of the Future: Communicating with Light (1880-1960) ; 8. The Laser Stimulates the Emission of New Ideas (1960-1969) ; 9. "The Only Thing Left Is Optical Fibers" (1960-1969) ; 10. Trying to Sell a Dream (1965-1970) ; 11. Breakthrough: The Clearest Glass in the World (1966-1972) ; 12. Recipes for Grains of Salt: The Semiconductor Laser (1962-1977) ; 13. A Demonstration for the Queen (1970-1975) ; 14. Three Generations in Five Years (1975-1983) ; 15. Submarine Cables: Covering the Ocean Floor with Glass (1970-1995) ; 16. The Last Mile: An Elusive Vision ; 17. Reflections on the City of Light ; Appendix A. Dramatis Personae: Cast of Characters ; Appendix B. A Fiber-Optic Chronology
£28.89
Oxford University Press, USA Perspectives on Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems
Book SynopsisThis title consists of 17 papers on the contributions of John Holland by a group of scholars from a wide range of fields, including the Nobel laureates Kenneth Arrow and Herbert Simon, and also Douglas Hofstadter, Brian Arthur, Robert Axelrod, and Melanie Mitchell.Table of ContentsLashon Booker, Stephanie Forrest, Melanie Mitchell, and Rick Riolo: Introduction: Adaptation, Evolution, and Intelligence PART 1: GENETIC ALGOROTHMS AND BEYOND 1: Kenneth DeJong: Genetic Algorithms: A 30 Year Perspective 2: John R. Koza: Human-Competitive Machine Intelligence by Means of Genetic Algorithms 3: David E. Goldberg: John Holland, Facetwise models, and Economy of Thought PART 2: COMPUTATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND BEYOND 4: Arthur W. Burks: An Early Graduate Program in Computers and Communications 5: Oliver G. Selfridge: Had We But World Enough and Time 6: Bernard P. Zeigler: Discrete Event Abstraction: An Emerging Paradigm for Modeling Complex Adaptive Systems 7: Herbert A. Simon: Good Old-Fashioned AI and Genetic Algorithms: An Exercise in Translation Scholarship 8: Douglad R. Hofstadter: Moore's Law, Artificial Evolutionm and the Fate of Humanity PART 3: THE NATURAL WORLD AND BEYOND 9: Julian Adams: Evolution of Complexity in Microbial Populations 10: Bobbi S. Low, Doug Finkbeiner, and Carl Simon: Favored Places in the Selfish Herd: Trading Off Food and Security 11: Rick Riolo, Robert Axelrod, and Michael D. Cohen: Tags, Interaction Patterns and the Evolution of Cooperation 12: Robert G. Reynolds and Salah Saleem: The Impact of Environmental Dynamics on Cultural Emergence 13: Kenneth J. Arrow: John Holland and the Evolution of Economics 14: W. Brian Arthur: Cognition: The Black Box of Economics Index
£90.00
Oxford University Press Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads
Book SynopsisThe natural history museum is a place where the line between "high" and "low" culture effectively vanishes - where our awe of nature, our taste for the bizarre and our thirst for knowledge all blend together. But, as this text shows, there is more going on in these institutions than just smart fun.Trade Review"In Stuffed Animals, the natural history museum is a dimly lit stage for scientific dreams. Inside its cabinet of wonder, the mysteries of the natural world are laid bare and the rupture between the scientific and the sublime is momentarily healed."--Voice Literary Supplement"Rich in detail, lucid explanation, telling anecdotes, and fascinating characters.... Asma has rendered a fascinating and credible account of how natural history museums are conceived and presented. It's the kind of book that will not only engage a wide and diverse readership, but it should, best of all, send them flocking to see how we look at nature and ourselves in those fabulous legacies of the curiosity cabinet."--Boston Herald"Asma has already established himself as one of the most creative minds working in cultural history and the history of science. Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads is an incredibly stimulating discussion of the role of natural history museums in culture and society. It should be read by all, both practicing scientists and philosophers, and the broadly curious general reader."--Michael Ruse, author of The Darwinian Revolution: Science Red in Tooth and Claw"Strap yourself into your seat and prepare for a thrilling ride back into history and natural history through Stephen Asma's time machine--two hundred years back into the history of natural history museums, and two million years back into natural history itself. The weird and the wonderful are on display and visually striking, as Asma traces our journey to understand our origins and evolution, and how we have struggled mightily to convey millions of years of time and change to a species whose chronology is set in decades. A gripping tale with great illustrations that are absolutely necessary--for we are the most visual of all the primates, and there is no greater theatre than evolution."--Michael Shermer, author of The Borderlands of Sciencehistoryh Asma's Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads surveys the presence and evolution of natural history museums around the world interviewing curators, scientists and exhibit designers and providing many observations of the history of these museums and how their contents and approaches have evolved. The result is an excellent and intriguing survey of the evolution of natural history collections."--The Bookwatch
£19.12
Oxford University Press Minding Animals
Trade ReviewIn Minding Animals...Marc Bekoff observes and describes animals as individuals at play, dreaming and grooming, in a book with both brains and a heart. * The Daily Telegraph *To find out about the rich emotional life of nonhuman species, read Minding Animals. * Natural History *Bekoff does a wonderful job showing the reader how learning and understanding and 'minding' animals and their behavior lead to recognition of their feelings as well. Using both his vast knowledge of animals and the observations made by other naturalists, Bekoff illustrates the minds, hearts, spirits and souls of the animal kingdom. * Biology Digest *Interweaving anecdotal stories, discussions of scientific research, and explorations into the philosophy and theology of our relationship with nature and other animals, Bekoff builds a case for the necessity of understanding animals and granting them mutual respect as 'other persons.' The conversational writing style makes for a highly accessible book. * Booklist *With this abundant narrative of Marc Bekoff a new age of intimacy between humans and animals has begun. The companionship, the play, the healing, the guidance, the protection provided by the animals, all these will be needed in the future as never before. Everyone should read Minding Animals, an amazingly thorough, delightful, and most important book. * Thomas Berry, author of The Dream of the Earth and The Great Work *For those of us who have immersed ourselves in the well being of life forms other than human, the fact that they communicate and have feelings is as natural and understandable as breathing. Through this lens we see clearly how their well being is intricately interconnected with our own. In Minding Animals Marc Bekoff has done a wonderful job of showing us how learning to understand and 'mind' animals and their behavior leads us to recognize their feelings as well. Through their layers, we find even more richness and joy of life as we glimpse into ever deeper parts of ourselves. This book is fun, inspiring, thought-provoking and educational! What a great mix! * Julia Butterfly Hill, author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods *Just as the best doctors attain detailed and compassionate knowledge of the uniqueness of each patient, so too do the best behavioral biologists * with Marc Bekoff prominently among themlearn to recognize each animal as a distinct individual with its own internal life and experiences. By minding animals, we obtain our best scientific understanding of their evolution and behavior.Stephen Jay Gould, author of The Structure of Evolutionary Theory *Except for relatively minor specializations that relate to whether we walk, run, fly or swim, all we vertebrate animals are physically stunningly similar. Most would also agree that the brain is an organ, as are stomachs, kidneys, and hearts, designed with functions and capacities useful for survival in often complex and indirect ways. There is no evidence, however, that what the brain does differs fundamentally across various species of vertebrates. Differences are in degree with respect to specific functions. In this readable, wide-ranging, and very stimulating book, Marc Bekoff takes this larger holistic view as a basis for a passionate exploration of how we should treat, and what we owe, our fellow-vertebrate creatures, who likely have many emotional and sensory survival mechanisms similar to our own. * Bernd Heinrich, University of Vermont, author of Mind of the Raven *Bekoff is an ethologist: a scientist who studies animal behavior. In this new look at the consciousness of animals, he shares his experiences along with the nitty-gritty details of how animal behaviorists make their living. But Bekoff goes beyond a mere description of the science of ethology. He also tackles bigger issues, such as the questions of animal cognition, intelligence, and their emotional lives. Bekoff has a talent for making his points by leading readers through the evidence for and against an issue and guiding them to a conclusion. Interweaving anecdotal stories, discussions of scientific research, and explorations into the philosophy and theology of our relationship with nature and other animals, Bekoff builds a case for the necessity of understanding animals and granting them mutual respect as 'other persons.' The conversational writing style makes for a highly accessible book. * SciTech Book News *
£15.19
Oxford University Press The Way of the Cell Molecules Organisms and the Order of Life
Book SynopsisWhat is life? Fifty years after physicist Erwin Schrodinger posed this question in his celebrated and inspiring book, the answer remains elusive. In The Way of the Cell, one of the world''s most respected microbiologists draws on his wide knowledge of contemporary science to provide fresh insight into this intriguing and all-important question. What is the relationship of living things to the inanimate realm of chemistry and physics? How do lifeless but special chemicals come together to form those intricate dynamic ensembles that we recognize as life? To shed light on these questions, Franklin Harold focuses here on microorganisms - in particular, the supremely well-researched bacterium E. coli - because the cell is the simplest level of organization that manifests all the features of the phenomenon of life. Harold shows that as simple as they appear when compared to ourselves, every cell displays a dynamic pattern in space and time, orders of magnitude richer than its elements. It integrates the writhings and couplings of billions of molecules into a coherent whole, draws matter and energy into itself, constructs and reproduces its own order, and persists in this manner for numberless generations while continuously adapting to a changing world. A cell constitutes a unitary whole, a unit of life, and in this volume one of the leading authorities on the cell gives us a vivid picture of what goes on within this minute precinct. The result is a richly detailed, meticulously crafted account of what modern science can tell us about life as well as one scientist''s personal attempt to wring understanding from the tide of knowledge.Trade Review"The work is like a breath of fresh air in a scientific world otherwise obsessed with excessive reductionism."--BioEssays"Witty and erudite, this scientific book hails as a literary achievement. Comprehensive and up to date, Franklin Harold traces the roots--historical, thermodynamic, and biochemical--of today's biological revolution."--Lynn Margulis, co-author (with Dorion Sagan) of both What is Life? and What is Sex?"This book helps us understand why the search for answers to the riddle 'What is life?' is a noble quest."--Howard C. Berg, author of Random Walks in Biology
£16.64
Oxford University Press, USA The Vestibular System
Book SynopsisThe Vestibular System is an integrative look at the vestibular system and the neurobiology of balance.Trade ReviewCompelling and timely, this book offers a comprehensive and authoritative survey of current vestibular science... an outstanding reference that will likely find its way into the offices of basic scientists and clinicians alike... The authors have done a wonderful job of consolidating a broad body of current knowledge into a readable book. I highly recommend this to anyone seeking to refine their knowledge of the vestibular system. * Doody's Notes, June 2013 *Table of ContentsI. Introduction ; Chapter 1- The Vestibular System in Everyday Life ; 1.1 Overview of the vestibular system ; 1.2 Visual acuity and the vestibulo-ocular reflex ; 1.3 Air-righting reflex in the cat ; 1.4 Post-rotational reactions ; 1.5 Positional alcohol nystagmus (PAN) ; 1.6 Motion sickness ; 1.7 Vection illusions ; 1.8 The subjective visual vertical ; 1.9 Adaptive plasticity ; 1.10 Path finding and spatial orientation ; 1.11 Postural control ; 1.12 Summary ; 1.13 Selected readings ; II. Peripheral Vestibular System ; Chapter 2 - Structure of the Vestibular Labyrinth ; 2.1 Gross and microscopic anatomy ; 2.2 Fine structure of the sensory regions ; Hair cells ; Supporting cells ; Transitional regions ; 2.3 Regional variations in cellular architecture and afferent innervation ; Cristae ampullares ; Utricular macula ; Saccular macula ; 2.4 Efferent innervation ; 2.5 Summary ; 2.6 Selected readings ; Chapter 3- Hair Cell Transduction ; 3.1 Mechanoelectric transduction ; 3.2 Basolateral currents ; 3.3 Neurotransmitter release and presynaptic calcium ; channels ; Calcium channels ; Neurotransmitter release. ; 3.4 Postsynaptic mechanisms ; 3.5 Synaptic transmission involving type I hair cells ; 3.6 Spike encoding ; 3.7 Efferent neurotransmission ; 3.8 Summary ; 3.9 Selected readings ; Chapter 4- Physiology of the Vestibular Organs ; 4.1 General features of the vestibular organs ; Vestibular organs are inertial sensors ; Resting discharge ; Discharge regularity ; Information transmission ; 4.2 Semicircular canals ; Directional properties ; Macromechanics and the torsion-pendulum model ; Interspecies variations and canal dimensions ; Afferent response dynamics ; Variations in gain and phase ; Afferent morphology and physiology ; Dynamic range of afferent discharge ; 4.3 Otolith organs ; Directional properties ; Macromechanics and the otoconial membrane ; Afferent response dynamics ; Dynamic range of afferent discharge ; Variations in gain and phase ; Afferent morphology and physiology ; 4.4 Summary ; 4.5 Selected readings ; Chapter 5- The Efferent Vestibular System ; 5.1 Comparative anatomy of central efferent pathways ; 5.2 Responses of afferents to electrical stimulation of ; EVS ; Mammals. ; Non-mammals ; 5.3 Responses of efferents to natural stimulation ; 5.4 Efferent-mediated responses of afferents ; 5.5 Possible functions of efferents in mammals ; 5.6 Summary ; III. Central Vestibular System ; Chapter 6 - Neuroanatomy of Central Vestibular Pathways ; 6.1 Introduction ; 6.2 The vestibular nuclei: subdivisions and anatomical ; organization ; Medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) ; Lateral vestibular nucleus (LVN) ; Superior vestibular nucleus (SVN) ; Descending vestibular nucleus (DVN) ; y group ; Interstitial nucleus of the vestibular nerve (INT8) ; Associated cell groups (z, x, f, l,m) ; Projection and intrinsic neurons ; Connections with the ipsilateral vestibular nerve ; Commissural pathways ; 6.3 Vestibulo-ocular and optokinetic systems ; Semicircular canal projections to oculomotor neurons ; Otolith projections to oculomotor neurons ; Nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (NPH) ; Interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) ; Reticular formation ; Optokinetic pathways ; 6.4 Vestibulospinal systems ; Medial vestibulospinal tract (MVST) ; Lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST) ; Vestibulo-ocular cervical pathways (VOC) ; Other vestibulospinal tracts ; Spinal projections to the vestibular nuclei ; 6.5 Vestibulocerebellar relations ; Basic circuitry ; Vestibular projections to the cerebellum ; Prepositus nucleus ; Projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei to the ; vestibular nuclei ; Projections from the cerebellar cortex to the vestibular ; nuclei ; Cerebellar cortical modules ; Lateral reticular nucleus ; Vestibulo-paramedian tract projections ; 6.6 Vestibulo-autonomic connections ; 6.7 Vestibular connections with the neocortex ; 6.8 Pathways involving the hippocampal formation ; 6.9 Summary ; 6.10 Selected readings ; 6.11 List of abbreviations ; Chapter 7 -Synaptic Mechanisms in the Vestibular Nuclei ; 7.1 Historical perspective ; 7.2 Basic circuitry of the vestibular nuclei ; Ipsilateral vestibular nerve inputs ; Commissural connections ; 7.3 Neurotransmitters in the vestibular nuclei ; Transmission between the vestibular nerve and secondary ; neurons ; Transmission within the vestibular nucleus ; Output pathways of the vestibular nuclei ; 7.4 Properties of individual neurons ; Resting discharge ; 7.5 Central projections of regular and irregular afferents ; Electrophysiological studies ; Functional ablation of irregular afferents ; 7.6 Convergence from separate vestibular organs ; Convergence from separate vestibular organs ; Canal-canal convergence ; Otolith-otolith convergence ; Spatio-temporal convergence ; Canal-otolith convergence ; Convergence from somatosensory receptors ; 7.7 Summary ; 7.8 Selected readings ; IV. Vestibulo-ocular and Vestibulopinal Mechanisms ; Chapter 8 - An Oculomotor Tutorial ; 8.1 Overview and classification of eye movement types ; 8.2 Ocular structure and functional implications ; The extraocular eye muscles. ; Mechanics of the oculomotor plant ; Oculomotor motoneuron discharge. ; Plant mechanics and premotor control. ; 8.3 Gaze Redirection ; Saccades ; Smooth pursuit ; Vergence ; 8.4 Gaze Stabilization ; Vestibulo-ocular reflexes. ; Optokinetic system. ; 8. 5 Interactions between eye and head movements ; 8.6 Summary ; 8.7 Selected readings ; Chapter 9 -Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes ; 9.1. Semicircular-canal related angular VOR (AVOR) ; General properties of the canal-related AVOR. ; AVOR during high frequency rotations. ; AVOR at low frequencies - velocity storage. ; AVOR-visual interactions: the optokinetic system. ; AVOR in three-dimensions. ; 9.2. Otolith-ocular reflexes ; Tilt VOR. ; Otolith influences on the AVOR during off-vertical axis ; rotations (OVAR). ; Otolith influences on the AVOR during canal/otolith ; conflict. ; Translational VOR (TVOR). ; Optic flow during translation. ; Visual mechanisms for short latency visual compensation ; during translation. ; Distinguishing tilts from translations. ; Differences between the AVOR and the TVOR. ; Functional differences: Foveal rather than full-field image ; stabilization. ; Dependence on viewing distance and eye position. ; Response latency and neural pathways. ; Comparative adaptation ; 9.3 Summary ; 9.4 Selected readings ; Chapter 10-The Vestibulospinal System and Postural Control ; 10.1. Reflexes versus multisensory strategies ; 10.2 Multisensory strategies ; 10.3. Vestibular reflexes: general considerations ; 10.4 Vestibulocollic reflexes ; The angular VCR. ; The linear VCR evoked by translation and tilts. ; The cervicocollic reflex ; 10.5. Control systems analysis of the head-neck plant. ; Head plant. ; Vestibulocollic reflex. ; The cervicocollic reflex ; Reflex interactions. ; Use of control systems models ; 10.6. Vestibulospinal and neck reflexes acting on the ; limbs ; Spatial and temporal properties of the reflexes. ; Afferent origin of the reflexes ; Neural substrate of the reflexes. ; Vestibulospinal actions on hindlimb motoneurons. ; Vestibulospinal actions on forelimb motoneurons. ; Tonic neck reflexes. ; 10.7 Summary ; 10.8 Selected readings ; V. Signal Processing in Alert Animals ; Chapter 11- Signal Processing in Vestibular Nuclei of Alert ; Animals During Natural Behaviors ; 11.1 Introduction ; 11.2 Classes of neurons in head-restrained, alert monkeys ; Position-vestibular-pause (PVP) neurons. ; Vestibular-only (VO) and vestibular-pause cells. ; Eye-head (EH) neurons. ; Burst-tonic (BT) neurons. ; 11.3 Dynamics of neuronal responses ; Frequency response during sinusoidal rotations ; Response linearity ; Velocity storage ; 11.4 Response to linear translations in alert ; head-restrained monkeys ; Distinguishing translational from tilt. ; 11.5 Interactions with the oculomotor pathways that control ; pursuit eye movements ; 11.6 Integration of inputs from vestibular and optokinetic ; pathways ; VN modulation during the OKR ; Optokinetic pathways to the VN. ; 11.7 Integration of vestibular and proprioceptive inputs ; 11.8 Differential processing of active versus passive head ; movements ; Neuronal responses during active versus passive head ; movement. ; Mechanisms for the differential processing of ; actively-generated versus passive head movement. ; 11.9 Vestibular processing depends on current gaze ; strategy. ; Vestibular processing during voluntary gaze shifts. ; Vestibular processing during visual tracking; VOR ; cancellation and eye-head pursuit. ; Vestibular processing during near versus far viewing. ; 11.10 Summary ; 11.11 Selected readings ; Chapter 12 - The Cerebellum and the Vestibular System ; 12. 1 Overview of signal processing in the cerebellum ; The basic cerebellar circuit ; Vestibular inputs are specific to localized regions of the ; cerebellum ; 12.2 Nodulus and Ventral Uvula ; Mossy fiber inputs. ; Climbing fiber inputs. ; Efferent connections. ; Neuronal responses ; Lesions and function. ; 12.3 Flocculus and ventral paraflocculus ; Mossy fiber inputs. ; Climbing fiber inputs ; Efferent projections of the flocculus. ; Differences between the flocculus and ventral ; paraflocculus ; Neuronal responses. ; Complex spikes: ; Simple spikes. ; Changes in neuronal responses following VOR learning ; Lesions and function ; Lesions studies emphasize the role of the flocculus in VOR ; Adaptation and motor learning ; 12.4 The Vermis of the Anterior and Posterior Lobes ; 12.5 The Deep Cerebellar Nuclei ; Fastigial Nucleus. ; Rostral fastigial nucleus ; Caudal fastigial nucleus ; The interposed nuclei. ; Dentate nuclei. ; 12.6 Summary ; 12.7 Selected Readings ; VI..Functional Considerations ; Chapter 13 - Learning and Compensation in the Vestibular ; System ; 13.1 Motor learning in the vestibulo-ocular reflex ; The adaptive capabilities of the VOR. ; Signal flow in the VOR network. ; Rules for the VOR and motor learning. ; Possible sites of motor learning: cerebellum versus brain ; stem ; Evidence for sites of learning and memory. ; Possible cellular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity ; Cerebellar mechanisms ; Brain stem mechanisms ; Consolidation of VOR motor memory ; Generalization: can learning be applied to new situations? ; 13.2. Compensation for vestibular damage ; Uninilateral labyrinthectomy ; Activity in the vestibular nuclei following ; labyrinthectomy ; Cellular mechanisms of compensation in the vestibular ; nuclei ; The role of the cerebellum in compensation ; 13.3 Summary ; 13.4 Selected readings ; Chapter 14-Cortical Representations of Vestibular ; Information ; 14.1. Introduction ; 14.2. Historical Perspective ; 14.3. Multiple representations of vestibular signals in the ; cerebral cortex. ; Visuomotor areas in frontal cortex. ; Extrastriate visual cortex (MSTd). ; Ventral intraparietal (VIP) area ; Parieto-insular vestibular cortex (PIVC), area 2v and area ; 3a ; 14.4. Ascending vestibular pathways through the thalamus ; 14.5 Descending cortical information affecting vestibular ; responsiveness in the vestibular nuclei ; 14.6. Vestibular influences in the head direction circuit of ; the limbic system ; 14.7 Summary ; 14.8 Selected readings ; Chapter 15-Reference Frames Used in the Coding Vestibular ; Information ; 15.1. Definitions of coordinate systems and reference ; frames ; 15.2. Head- versus body-centered reference frames: ; Vestibular/neck proprioceptive interactions ; 15.3. Head- versus eye-centered reference frames for ; self-motion perception: vestibular/visual interactions in ; extrastriate visual cortex ; 15.4. Head- versus world-centered reference frames: ; Canal/otolith convergence for inertial motion detection ; 15.5 Computational solution for the two ambiguities of peripheral ; vestibular sensors ; The rotation problem: allocentric coding of angular velocity ; The linear acceleration problem: evidence for segregation of ; tilt and translation ; Tilt-translation exceptions ; VII. Clinical Disorders ; Chapter 16- Clinical Manifestations of Vestibular ; Dysfunction ; 16.1 Prevalence and impact of vestibular disorders ; 16.2 Diagnosis of vestibular disorders ; 16.3 Planes of individual canals and direction of eye ; movements ; Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo ; Positional alcohol nystagmus ; Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome ; 16.4 Recovery of the horizontal VOR after unilateral ; labyrinthectomy ; 16.5 Multisensory control of posture ; 16.6 Disorders of otolith function ; 16.7 Clinical tests of vestibular function ; Caloric test ; Rotational chair tests ; Quantitative evaluation of the VOR evoked by rapid head ; movements ; Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) ; 16.7 Future directions ; Hair-cell regeneration ; Vestibular prosthesis ; 16.8 Summary ; 16.9 Selected readings
£148.00
Oxford University Press Making Magic
Book SynopsisSince the emergence of religious studies and the social sciences as academic disciplines, the idea of magic has played a major role in defining religion and in mediating the relation of religion to science. Across these disciplines, magic has regularly been configured as a definitively non-modern phenomenon, juxtaposed to the distinctly modern models of religion and science. As a category, however, magic has remained stubbornly amorphous. In Making Magic, Randall Styers seeks to account for the extraordinary vitality of scholarly discourse purporting to define and explain magic despite its failure to do just that. He argues that it can best be explained in light of the European and Euro-American drive to establish and secure their own identity as normative: rational-scientific, judicial-ethical, industrious, productive, and heterosexual. Magic has served to designate a form of alterity or deviance against which dominant Western notions of appropriate religious piety, legitimate scientiTrade ReviewMagic has always been a marginal, umbrageous subject. Despite numerous attempts, no philosopher, scientific observer, or cultural theoretician has managed to describe its essential nature or to circumscribe its proper boundaries-and no wonder. The virtue of Randall Styers compelling study is not that it finally succeeds in defining magic with clarity-an impossible and patently misguided objective. Instead, through a meticulous and incisive examination of the major and minor writers on the subject, Styers shows that the highly pliable, always shifty, devious, and problematic category of magic has been an extremely effective device with which to define and to empower that which it is not: religion proper, (real) science, rationality, modernity. The result, then, is far from marginal. * Tomoko Masuzawa, University of Michigan *
£32.39
Oxford University Press The Ethics of Killing
Book SynopsisThis magisterial work is the first comprehensive study of the ethics of killing, where the moral status of the individual killed is uncertain. Drawing on philosophical notions of personal identity and the immorality of killing, McMahan looks carefully at a host of practical issues, including abortion, infanticide, the killing of animals, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.Trade ReviewWith a careful application of metaphysics to ethics, McMahan has developed a field of argument that has been insufficiently explored, and in so doing, created a whole new structure for the debates surrounding abortion and euthanasia. This makes this a novel and, at times, exciting book. * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *McMahan's book is outstanding within the present literature in virtue of its breadth, succinctness, and argumentative erudition. The two dominant qualities of the book are, first, an extraordinary care for argumentative fairness and balance, and second, a new interest in bringing applied ethics into helpful contact with its so far neglected philosophical foundations. * Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Philosophie *McMahan is one of America's finest contemporary moral theorists...[His] long-awaited book combines a close attention to real-life moral issues with a solid insight into foundational matters of metaphysics and ethical theory. It is always well-argued, sophisticated and very interesting. The Ethics of Killing is an excellent book and deserves close study. I recommend it to anyone who, for professional or existential reasons, is interested in the topics it tackles. And who is not for the latter reasons? * Nordic Journal of Philosophy *An enormously rich contribution to personal identity theory, ethical theory, and applied ethics. [Each of the five hefty chapters] could be a short book of scholarly significance...Chapter 2 presents the most probing investigation of the harm of death of which I am aware. * David DeGrazia, Philosophy and Public Affairs *Publication of this book is a welcome event. McMahan's discussions involve analyses of more alternative views than, I suspect, anyone other than McMahan has ever imagined. The Ethics of Killing is detailed, careful, comprehensive, and innovative. [It] is an example of philosophy at the highest level. It is a genuine pleasure to have the opportunity to read such a probing, careful, analytical, honest, and utterly wonderful book. I recommend it highly. It would not be unreasonable to make it required reading for any graduate student (or anyone else) who needs to understand the nature of first-class philosophical thought. * Ethics *Wide range of issues ... richness in details ... an excellent book and deserves close study. I recommend it to anyone who, for professional or existential reasons, is interested in the topics it tackles. * Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen, University of Copenhagen, Sats: Nordic Journal of Philosopy *McMahan is one of America's finest contemporary moral theorists ... The book is well-argued, sophisticated and very interesting. * Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen, University of Copenhagen, Sats: Nordic Journal of Philosopy *The thoroughness and comprehensiveness with which he [McMahan] has worked out these ideas is deeply impressive. The presentation is throughout so lucid that non-specialists should be able to profit greatly from the book ... There could be no better proof of the vitality of the subject of death and killing than this monumental book. * Ingmar Persson, Times Literary SupplementIngmar Persson, Times Literary Supplement *The Ethics of Killing is applied ethics at its best. From now on, anyone who is serious about getting to the bottom of issues like abortion, infanticide, brain death, euthanasia and the killing of nonhuman animals will have to take account of the novel and ingenious theory presented in Jeff McMahan's lucidly-written, rigorously-argued book. * Peter Singer, Princeton University *McMahan is one of America's finest contemporary moral theorists... always well-argued, sophisticated and very interesting... it is an excellent book and deserves close study. I recommend it to anyone who, for professional or existential reasons, is interested in the topics it tackles. * Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen, Nordic Journal of Philosophy,Vol. 3, No. 2, 2002 *[McMahan's] language is clear and the arguments well presented ... recommended reading for anyone who wants to be informed about the arguments surrounding issues at the margins of life, whether they ultimately agree or disagree with what he has to say. * Bulletin of Medical Ethics *
£46.75
Oxford University Press Writing in the Life Sciences A Critical Thinking Approach
Book SynopsisPracticing scientists know that the quality of their livelihood is strongly connected to the quality of their writing, and critical thinking is the most necessary and valuable tool for effectively generating and communicating scientific information. Writing in the Life Sciences is an innovative, process-based text that gives beginning writers the tools to write about science skillfully by taking a critical thinking approach. Laurence Greene emphasizes writing as thinking as he takes beginning writers through the important stages of planning, drafting, and revising their work. Throughout, he uses focused and systematic critical reading and thinking activities to help scientific writers develop the skills to effectively communicate. Each chapter addresses a particular writing task rather than a specific type of document. The book makes clear which tasks are important for all writing projects (i.e., audience analysis, attending to instructions) and which are unique to a specific writing project (rhetorical goals for each type of document). Ideal for Scientific Writing courses and writing-intensive courses in various science departments (e.g., Biology, Environmental Studies, etc.), this innovative, process-based text goes beyond explaining what scientific writing is and gives students the tools to do it skillfully.Table of ContentsPreface An Introduction to Writing in the Life Sciences Intended Audiences The Culture of Science and Scientific Communication Our Approaches to Successful Scientific Writing A Critical Thinking Approach A Process-based Approach A Problem Solving Approach A Goal-directed Approach An Audience-centered Approach A Discipline-specific and Content-rich Approach Chapter 1: Defining Your Writing Project Chapter Introduction About the Process Analyzing Your Writing Task Attending to Instructions, Guidelines, and Evaluation Criteria Seeking Clarification of Problematic Assignments and Directions Selecting a Topic and Refining a Research Issue Brainstorm topics that inspire your interest and enthusiasm Ask knowledgeable experts for advice on hot research issues Learn about hot research issues from the scientific literature Learn about hot research issues on the Internet Use your task analysis to refine your research issue Add a novel twist to your selected research issue Check ahead for the availability of scientific literature on selected research issues Make sure that you have sufficient time and resources to learn the science on your research issue Learning about Scientific Discourse Conventions Research Papers Review Papers Research Proposals Analyzing Your Audiences Key Questions for Audience Analysis Taking Notes on Your Audience Analysis Searching for Scientific Literature Evaluating the Credibility of Published Scientific Literature Searching for Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Research Papers and Review Papers Searching for Scientific Books Searching for Scientific Literature on Web Sites Reading to Learn Science Solving Comprehension Problems Reading and Taking Notes on Published Research Papers Summing Up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 2: Developing a Goal-based Plan Chapter Introduction About the Process Setting the Framework for Your Goal-based Plan Distinguishing between Just-Okay Goals and Powerful Rhetorical Goals Devising Strategies for Accomplishing Rhetorical Goals The Structure of a Goal-based Plan Taking Goal-based Planning to Heart Relying Your Experience in Scientific Writing Adopting and Adapting Conventional Guidelines Using Model Papers Applying Your Task and Audience Analyses Using the Helicopter Thinking Method Starting to Draft Revising Your Goal-based Plan Check for whether your rhetorical goals are appropriate for the major sections in which you have placed them Check your rhetorical goals for their content-generating potential Check your rhetorical goals for their audience-affecting potential Check your strategies for their detail and depth Check your strategies for whether they are logically related to their rhetorical goals Summing Up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 3: Generating Content Chapter Introduction About the Process Solo and Collaborative Brainstorming Solo Brainstorming Collaborative Brainstorming Reading for Relevance Interpreting Study Data Interpreting the Statistical Significance of Study Data Interpreting the Practical Significance of Study Data Synthesizing Study Outcomes Focusing on Rhetorical Goals that Require Synthesis Creating a Summary Chart to Guide Synthesis Synthesizing Studies with Similar Conclusions Synthesizing Studies with Contrasting Conclusions Constructing Convincing Scientific Arguments Setting up the Structure of a Scientific Argument Evaluating Published Scientific Arguments Evaluating Research Methods Summing up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 4: Organizing Content and Writing a Draft Chapter Introduction About the Process: Organizing Content Choosing a Design for Your Organizing Plan Taking a Principled Approach to Organizing Content Organizing Your Paper's Major Sections Organizing Your Paper's Subsections Deciding Which Parts of Your Plan to Emphasize About the Process: Writing a Draft: Drafting Titles Drafting Abstracts Drafting Section Headings Drafting Paragraphs Drafting Sentences Drafting Graphics Citing References Avoiding Plagiarism Summing up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 5: Revising Document Design, Global Structure, and Content Chapter Introduction About the Process: Revising for Matters of Document Design About the Process: Revising for Matters of Global Structure Disordered Sections Weak Global Unity Mismatched Organizing Themes Redundancy of Content across Sections About the Process: Revising for Matters of Content Missing Content Ambiguous Content Inaccurate Content Content that Misses the Target on Key Rhetorical Goals Content that Fails to Adequately Address Concerns of Audience Saying Too Little or Too Much Logical Fallacies in Scientific Arguments Revising Graphics Excelling at Collegial Peer Review Apply key methods of independent revision to guide your peer review Take a goal-directed approach to generating feedback Make it constructive criticism Take on the role of writing teacher Encourage dialogue Avoid giving feedback based on personal preferences and pet peeves Summing Up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 6: Revising Paragraphs Chapter Introduction About the Process Revising for Unity Fractured Unity Faded Unity Frazzled Unity Revising Topic Sentences Missing Topic Sentences (when they're needed) Misplaced Topic Sentences Topic Sentences as Broken Promises Vague Topic Sentences Topic Sentences that are Too Specific Revising for Coherence Disordered Ideas Missing Knowledge Links (when they're needed) Oversights of Readers' Expectations Lack of Parallel Structure (when it's needed) Revising for Cohesion Missing Cohesion Cues Misplaced Cohesion Cues Unnecessary Cohesion Cues Revising for Sentence Variety Lack of Variety in Sentence Length Lack of Variety in Sentence Beginnings Lack of Variety in Grammatical Structure Lack of Variety in Tone Revising for Paragraph Design Summing Up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 7: Revising Sentences Chapter Introduction About the Process Revising for Logic and Clarity Illogical Expressions and Comparisons Anthropomorphism Dangling Modifiers Vagueness Unclear Pronoun Reference Illogical Tense Shifts Problematic Shifts in Point of View Misplaced and Awkward Phrasing Inappropriate Emphasis Revising for Style and Structure Weak Subjects and Verbs Misuses of Active Voice and Passive Voice Wordiness Unnecessary Jargon Excessive Separation of Subjects and Verbs Long Noun Trains Lack of Parallel Structure Revising Basic Grammar Errors Sentence Fragments Subject-Verb Disagreement Noun-Pronoun Disagreement Revising for Word Choice Affect, Effect As, Because, Since Amount, Number Compose, Comprise Gender, Sex Less, Few, Fewer, Study, Experiment That, Which Than, Then Who, Whom Revising Punctuation and Mechanics Problems Involving Commas Problems Involving Semicolons Problems Involving Apostrophes Problems Involving Colons Problems Involving Hyphens Problems Involving Quotation Marks Problems Involving Capitalization Revising for Biased and Inadvertently Offensive Language Sexist Language Age-Biased Language Biased Language Involving Ethnic and Racial Groups Summing Up and Stepping Ahead Chapter 8: Rhetorical Goals for Scientific Papers Chapter Introduction Rhetorical Goals for Introduction Sections Rhetorical Goal 1: Present your research issue and explain its unresolved status. Rhetorical Goal 2: Convince readers that your research issue is truly important and therefore worth resolving. Rhetorical Goal 3: State your hypotheses and explain their rationale. Rhetorical Goal 4: Introduce the novel and unique features of your research and writing project. Rhetorical Goal 5: Present the specific purposes of your research and writing project. Rhetorical Goal 6: Present your claims. Rhetorical Goal 7: Describe the methods that you used, or plan to use, in carrying out your study. Rhetorical Goal 8: Justify your use of selected methods. Rhetorical Goals for Results Sections Rhetorical Goal 9: Present the results that are essential for reaching and supporting your conclusions. Rhetorical Goals for Discussion Sections Rhetorical Goal 10: Briefly reintroduce the defining features of your study. Rhetorical Goal 11: State your conclusions and support them with your study's results. Rhetorical Goal 12: Relate your study's outcomes to those from previous studies on your research issue. Rhetorical Goal 13: Discuss the mechanisms that underlie your study's main results, and argue for the most plausible underlying mechanisms (when such an argument is warranted). Rhetorical Goal 14: Acknowledge significant methodological shortcomings to your study, and explain how they may have influenced its outcomes. Rhetorical Goal 15: Discuss the practical implications and applications of your study's results. Rhetorical Goal 16: Propose future studies on your research issue. Rhetorical Goals for the Body of Review Papers Rhetorical Goal 17: Provide essential background knowledge about the studies, critical evaluations, and arguments that are central to your review paper. Rhetorical Goal 18: Summarize the published studies on your topic or research issue. Rhetorical Goal 19: Synthesize the published studies on your topic or research issue. Rhetorical Goal 20: Explain and argue for the mechanisms underlying the results of the published studies you are reviewing. Rhetorical Goal 21: Convince readers to accept your original arguments. Rhetorical Goals for the Conclusion Section of Review Papers Rhetorical Goal 22: Briefly reiterate the key information, ideas, and arguments that were central to the body of your review paper. Rhetorical Goal 23: Suggest future directions and new studies on your paper's topic or research issue. Appendix A. Guidelines for Preparing and Delivering Oral Presentations and Poster Presentations Appendix B: Glossary of Sentence Grammar Terms References Index
£42.49
Oxford University Press Inc Inventing Temperature
Book SynopsisIn Inventing Temperature, Chang takes a historical and philosophical approach to examine how scientists were able to use scientific method to test the reliability of thermometers; how they measured temperature beyond the reach of thermometers; and how they came to measure the reliability and accuracy of these instruments without a circular reliance on the instruments themselves. Chang discusses simple epistemic and technical questions about these instruments, which in turn lead to more complex issues about the solutions that were developed.Trade Reviewthe most important book on this subject since Bridgman's classic work of 1927... Chang's book should become mandatory reading for anyone who wants to pursue the problem of measurement further. * Donald Gillies, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science *[A] fascinating study * David Knight, BJHS, Vol. 39/4 *Table of ContentsChronology: 1: Keeping the Fixed Points Fixed 2: Spirit, Air, and Quicksilver 3: To Go Beyond 4: Theory, Measurement, and Absolute Temperature 5: Measurement, Justification, and Scientific Progress
£116.88
Oxford University Press The Birth of Bioethics
Book SynopsisBioethics represents a dramatic revision of the centuries-old ethics that governed the behaviour of physicians and their relationships with patients. Those ethics were challenged in the years after World War II by remarkable advances in biomedical science and medicine that raised questions about the defintion of death, the use of life-support systems, organ transplantation, and reproductive manipulation. In response, philosophers and theologians, lawyers and social scientists joined with physicians and scientists to rethink and revise the old standards. Governments established commissions to recommend policies. Courts heard arguments and legislatures passed laws. This book is the first broad history of the growing field of bioethics. Covering the period 1947-1987, it examines the origin and evolution of the debates over human experimentation, genetic engineering, organ transplantation, termination of life-sustaining treatment, and new reproductive technologies. It assesses the contributions of philosophy, theology, law and the social sciences to the expanding discourse of bioethics. Written by one of the fields founders, it is based on extensive archival research into resources that are difficult to obtain and on interviews with many leading figures. A very readable account of the development of bioethics, the book stresses the history of ideas but does not neglect the social and cultural context and the people involved.Trade ReviewFrom reviews of the Hardback:Bioethics, Albert Jonsen observes in the introduction to his important, highly personal, and readable book, did not begin with a bang. But what becomes very clear as one reads his recollections of the origins of the field, is that it did not begin with people prone to emit whimpers... Jonsen brings an elephantine memory and a deft pen to telling the story of what happened when the first theologians, philosophers, and physicians found themselves out on these ethical frontiers of medicine without much in the way of intellectual tools to help them. * The Journal of the American Medical Association *In The Birth of Bioethics Jonsen has written an in-depth review of bioethics, including a historical analysis of the field... This material should inform even sophisticated readers... Jonsen's depictions of the pioneers in bioethics whom he knew and worked with are vivid... Jonsen's unique insights, infused by the compassion he obviously feels, recommend this book strongly. * The New England Journal of Medicine *An intensely interesting history that will provoke many critical and constructive responses... it is a singular success. * Medical Humanities Review *... the book rarely fails to be both informative and engaging. It surely must be read by anyone interested in the transformation of traditional medical ethics in the last half of this century into the wide-ranging, multidisciplinary enterprise of Bioethics. * Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy *Jonsen's richly detailed narrative in a valuable vantage point for understanding and welcoming these dialogues. * Bulletin of the History of Medicine *Table of ContentsPART I: BIOETHICAL BEGINNINGS: THE PEOPLE AND PLACES ; 1. Great Issues of Conscience: Medical Ethics before Bioethics ; 2. The Theologians: Rediscovering the Tradition ; 3. The Philosophers: Clarifying the Concepts ; 4. Commissioning Bioethics: The Government in Bioethics, 1974-1983 ; PART II: BIOETHICAL BEGINNINGS: THE PROBLEMS ; 5. Experiments Perilous: The Ethics of Research with Human Subjects ; 6. Splicing Life: Genetics and Ethics ; 7. The Miracle of Modern Medicine: The Ethics of Organ Transplantation and Artificial Organs ; 8. Who Should Live? Who Should Die? The Ethics of Death and Dying ; 9. O Brave New World! The Ethics of Human Reproduction ; PART III: DISCIPLINE, DISCOURSE AND ETHOS ; 10. Bioethics as a Discipline ; 11. Bioethics as a Discourse ; 12. Bioethics - American and Elsewhere
£55.80
Oxford University Press Mr. Bloomfields Orchard
Book SynopsisStinkhorns, puffballs, the corpse finder, deadly Galerina, Satan''s bolete, birch conks, black mold, the old man of the woods - the world of fungi is infinitely varied and not a little weird. Now, in Mr. Bloomfield''s Orchard, Nicholas Money introduces readers to a dazzling array of fungi, from brewer''s yeast and Penicillium to the highly lethal death cap. We learn of Madurella, which can erode bones until they look moth-eaten; Cordyceps, which wracks insects with convulsions, kills them, then sends a stalk out of the insect''s head to release more infectious spores; and Claviceps, the poisonous ergot fungus, which causes hallucinations. Money also showcases the lives of famed mycologists - including Reginald Buller who wore horse blinders as he walked to work, the better to study luminescent fungi in his dark lab, and Charles Tulasne, the Audubon of fungi, whose illustrations of specimens border on art. And he recounts his own childhood introduction to fungi in Mr. Bloomfield''s orchTrade ReviewA companionable foray into the realm of stinkhorns, black mold, yeast, and even Malassezia, the dandruff-related fungus that Head & Shoulders shampoo is designed to combat. Money is an English-born mycologist who has spent his life uncovering the secrets and lore of fungi, including varieties that thrive in solid granite, feed on human flesh, assist in crime-scene investigations, and, as in the case of a particular armillaria covering twenty-two hundred acres in Oregon, grow to become the largest organisms on earth. * The New Yorker *A forest carpeted with mushrooms; dandruff; athlete's foot; and killer diseases that attack the lungs and nervous system all come under Money's expert scrutiny as he reveals the realm of fungi in all its amazing diversity. Assuredly fascinating and highly entertaining, Money's chronicle boasts an inimitable style that mixes up factbased information and creative analogies. Stories of scientists such as A. H. R. Bullet, who recorded his discoveries in countless volumes, together with Money's curious observations * such as his attentive look at black mold growing on window frames and contemplation of the realities of flesh-penetrating organisms that do great bodily harmkeep things lively.... Definitely for science devotees who appreciate rollicking good humor.Booklist *Money's writing is accommodating and personal, with occasional chummy asides. Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard can be recommended to all nature lovers, regardless of background, who want to know more about fungi. * Nature *Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard drives home the fundamental lesson of biology: life is weird. Fungi and animals are kissing cousins on the tree of life, and yet it would be hard to imagine creatures more alien and bizarre than the mushrooms and molds that Nicholas Money introduces us to. Best of all, he introduces them with wit and insight, making his book a pleasure. * Carl Zimmer, author of Parasite Rex and Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea *A book for anyone who has ever marveled at a mushroom in the lawn, or shuddered at a tale of intractable fungal infection. Fungi are Nik Moneys passion, and he presents them with the empathy of the naturalist and the erudition of the scholar. At once informative and entertaining, he has produced a splendid read. * Franklin M. Harold, author of The Way of the Cell *Every major group of living organisms has its own fascination and enticement, although some of us reckon this to be particularly true for the fungi. Money's book substantiates this point with clarity, wisdom, and elegance. To be savored by beginners and experts alike, this book is a safe-conduct to the world of fungal biology and the manifold roles that fungi play in human affairs. * Elio Schaechter, Author, In the Company of Mushrooms *A witty and wonderful book. In lively prose, Nik Money tells of tramping through the woods in search of mold hermaphrodites, or to stick thermometers into wild mushrooms so as to measure their internal temperature. He also presents lurid descriptions of fungal diseases. The enzymatic vomit of one species can make your hair fall out; the cells of another species cement scalp grease into dandruff. Spores of a fungus that loves bird droppings can get into your lungs and turn your body into soup. I've never read better descriptions of the complicated sex lives and life cycles of fungal pathogens. This book should be required reading for anyone fascinated by the natural world. * Joan W. Bennett, Editor-in-Chief of Mycologia *Table of Contents1: Offensive Phalli and Frigid Caps 2: Insidious Killers 3: What Lies Beneath 4: Metamorphosis 5: The Odd Couple 6: Ingold's Jewels 7: Siren Songs 8: Angels of Death 9: Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard Notes Index
£17.99
Oxford University Press Inc The Oxford Guide to the History of Physics and
Book SynopsisWith over 150 alphabetically arranged entries about key scientists, concepts, discoveries, technological innovations, and learned institutions, the Oxford Guide to Physics and Astronomy traces the history of physics and astronomy from the Renaissance to the present. For students, teachers, historians, scientists, and readers of popular science books such as Galileo''s Daughter, this guide deciphers the methods and philosophies of physics and astronomy as well as the historical periods from which they emerged. Meant to serve the lay reader and the professional alike, this book can be turned to for the answer to how scientists learned to measure the speed of light, or consulted for neat, careful summaries of topics as complicated as quantum field theory and as vast as the universe. The entries, each written by a noted scholar and edited by J. L. Heilbron, Professor of History and Vice Chancellor, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, reflect the most up-to-date research and disc
£41.64
Oxford University Press Human Hand Function
Book SynopsisHands are miraculous tools that are used both for sensing and acting on the world. Although a great deal of research has been conducted on human hand function, there is no coherent presentation of it to guide those seeking to understand its current state. This volume surveys normal hand function in healthy individuals and presents a new conceptual framework for organising and analysing what is known about it. Jones and Lederman organise human-hand research on a continuum that ranges from activities that are essentially sensory to those with a strong motor component. They distinguish four broad categories along the continuum: tactile sensing, active haptic sensing, sensory-guided action, and non-prehensile skilled movements. These categories are used to consider critical aspects of the hand, including the sensory and motor basis of manual function, the role of different parts of the hand in perception and action, tasks the hand can perform, and the changes in manual function from birth Trade Review"...a work of impressive scholarship that combines the breadth of coverage normally found only in edited collections, with the conceptual integration and uniformity of style that characterize the best single-authored works...Human Hand Function deserves to be read and reread by anyone with a serious interest in the hand's sensory and motor functions and the cognitive processes that control them."--Mark Hollins, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "...a very well written and extensive compilation of a diverse literature on the hand as a perceptual organ."--Robert H. LaMotte, Yale University School of Medicine "...a comprehensive, thorough, and cohesive work by two noted authorities on haptic perception and control...while the scope is broad, the coverage is at the same time deep. The citations, which I didn't try to count, must run to well over 1000 in number-themselves worth the price of admission."--Lawrence E. Marks, John B. Pierce Laboratory "In Human Hand Function, Jones and Lederman have produced a work of impressive scholarship that combines the breadth of coverage normally found only in edited collections, with the conceptual integration and uniformity of style that characterize the best single-authored works. It is deeply informed and authoritative, yet clear and engaging, and does not require technical knowledge on the part of the reader. The organizational framework is logical and satisfying. Human Hand Function deserves to be read and reread by anyone with a serious interest in the hands sensory and motor functions and the cognitive processes that control them." --Mark Hollins, Professor of Psychology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "This is a very well written and extensive compilation of a diverse literature on the hand as a perceptual organ. It is not so much a critical evaluation or novel synthesis of scientific findings but rather a unique description, listing and bringing together of the literature--from tactile sensing and sensory neurophysiology to haptic processing, interfaces, and methods of evaluating hand function. In this regard it succeeds admirably and provides a valuable resource for both the novice and the specialist. Each will find a great deal that they will not have realized existed and gain insight into what remains to be discovered." --Robert H. LaMotte, Professor of Anesthesiology and Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine "At last, a book devoted to the functions of that marvelous instrument of evolution, the human hand! Human Hand Function is a comprehensive, thorough, and cohesive work by two noted authorities on haptic perception and control. The authors consider the functions of the human hand broadly, from multiple perspectives, including tactile and haptic perception, sensory physiology, motor function, cognitive control, and robotics. And while the scope is broad, the coverage is at the same time deep. The citations, which I didnt try to count, must run to well over 1000 in number--themselves worth the price of admission. Novices and professionals alike will find much to learn here. No doubt my copy will quickly show the signs of wear from repeatedly consulting it." --Lawrence E. Marks, Director of the John B. Pierce Laboratory and Professor of Epidemiology and Psychology, Yale University "...a work of impressive scholarship that combines the breadth of coverage normally found only in edited collections, with the conceptual integration and uniformity of style that characterize the best single-authored works...Human Hand Function deserves to be read and reread by anyone with a serious interest in the hand's sensory and motor functions and the cognitive processes that control them."--Mark Hollins, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "...a very well written and extensive compilation of a diverse literature on the hand as a perceptual organ."--Robert H. LaMotte, Yale University School of Medicine "...a comprehensive, thorough, and cohesive work by two noted authorities on haptic perception and control...while the scope is broad, the coverage is at the same time deep. The citations, which I didn't try to count, must run to well over 1000 in number-themselves worth the price of admission."--Lawrence E. Marks, John B. Pierce Laboratory "In Human Hand Function, Jones and Lederman have produced a work of impressive scholarship that combines the breadth of coverage normally found only in edited collections, with the conceptual integration and uniformity of style that characterize the best single-authored works. It is deeply informed and authoritative, yet clear and engaging, and does not require technical knowledge on the part of the reader. The organizational framework is logical and satisfying. Human Hand Function deserves to be read and reread by anyone with a serious interest in the hands sensory and motor functions and the cognitive processes that control them." --Mark Hollins, Professor of Psychology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "This is a very well written and extensive compilation of a diverse literature on the hand as a perceptual organ. It is not so much a critical evaluation or novel synthesis of scientific findings but rather a unique description, listing and bringing together of the literature--from tactile sensing and sensory neurophysiology to haptic processing, interfaces, and methods of evaluating hand function. In this regard it succeeds admirably and provides a valuable resource for both the novice and the specialist. Each will find a great deal that they will not have realized existed and gain insight into what remains to be discovered." --Robert H. LaMotte, Professor of Anesthesiology and Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine "At last, a book devoted to the functions of that marvelous instrument of evolution, the human hand! Human Hand Function is a comprehensive, thorough, and cohesive work by two noted authorities on haptic perception and control. The authors consider the functions of the human hand broadly, from multiple perspectives, including tactile and haptic perception, sensory physiology, motor function, cognitive control, and robotics. And while the scope is broad, the coverage is at the same time deep. The citations, which I didnt try to count, must run to well over 1000 in number--themselves worth the price of admission. Novices and professionals alike will find much to learn here. No doubt my copy will quickly show the signs of wear from repeatedly consulting it." --Lawrence E. Marks, Director of the John B. Pierce Laboratory and Professor of Epidemiology and Psychology, Yale UniversityTable of Contents1. Historical Overview and general introduction ; 2. Evolutionary development and anatomy of the hand ; 3. Sensory neurophysiology ; 4. Tactile sensing ; 5. Active haptic sensing ; 6. Prehension ; 7. Non-prehensile skilled movements ; 8. End-effector constraints ; 9. Hand function across the lifespan ; 10. Applications ; 11. Summary, conclusions and future directions
£84.60
Oxford University Press, USA Michael Polanyi Scientist and Philosopher
Book SynopsisMichael Polanyi was one of the great figures of European intellectual life in the 20th century. A highly acclaimed physical chemist in the first period of his career who became a celebrated philosopher after World War II, Polanyi taught in Germany, England, and the United States. This biography focuses on Polanyi and his work.Trade Reviewvery informative...The apparently objective description of Polanyi's relationship to religion is one of the special values of this book. * Istvan Hargittai, Structural Chemistry *The work is triply welcome: It is the first biographical book on Polanyi; its panoramic scope will make more scholars aware of the magnitude of his achievements; and - meticulously researched, most accessible, and replete with fascinating details - the text is of a particularly high standard. * Struan Jacobs, Sophia *This book will be found valuable both by scholars and by the general reader. scoherent, congenial, yet comprehensive and compelling * Derry Jones, Chemistry World *
£74.70
Oxford University Press Sustaining Life
Book SynopsisThe Earth''s biodiversity-the rich variety of life on our planet-is disappearing at an alarming rate. And while many books have focused on the expected ecological consequences, or on the aesthetic, ethical, sociological, or economic dimensions of this loss, Sustaining Life is the first book to examine the full range of potential threats that diminishing biodiversity poses to human health.Edited and written by Harvard Medical School physicians Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein, along with more than 100 leading scientists who contributed to writing and reviewing the book, Sustaining Life presents a comprehensive--and sobering--view of how human medicines, biomedical research, the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and the production of food, both on land and in the oceans, depend on biodiversity. The book''s ten chapters cover everything from what biodiversity is and how human activity threatens it to how we as individuals can help conserve the world''s richly varied biota. SeveTrade ReviewSustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity is a landmark book that lays out the case for the conservation of biodiversity and the multiple benefits it provides. The book is well organized, with beautiful supporting imagery. It is a much needed resource and a call to appreciate and take action to conserve our biological diversity at this critical time. * Integrative and Comparative Biology *...fabulous book...lavishly illustrated...both fascinating and frightening * Peter Elson Liverpool Daily Post *This book...reminds us of just how much we have to lose. * Geographical *This book represents a landmark addition to our understanding of our ecological heritage, and the importance of preserving it. * Publishers Weekly *A Powerhouse of information on a topic that concerns us all. Highly recommended. * Irwin weintraub, Library Journal *It is a new and comprehensive review of the latest tally of planetary profit and loss... * EducationGuardian.co.uk *Sustaining Life is the most complete and powerful argument I have seen for the importance of preserving biodiversity. * Al Gore, former Vice President, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate *It was an exhilarating moment when scientists broke the genome code and showed us the basic building blocks of the human being. Now scientists are showing us how biodiversity works and why it is crucial to saving our planet for our children's children and beyond. This important and compelling book is a blueprint for acting wisely and urgently. * Bill Moyers, former White House Press Secretary, *"There is probably no better way to convince anyone still uncertain about the urgent need to preserve biodiversity, which is rapidly diminishing as a result of human activities, than to document its importance to human health and medicine. The authors have done this with great thoroughness and from every possible angle, producing a volume that pairs authority with anecdote and scholarship with passion."--Harold Varmus, President, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1989 Nobel Prize Laureate, former Director of the National Institutes of Health"As a public health physician, I have been deeply involved for decades in helping political leaders, policy-makers, and the general public understand the relationship between human beings and the environment. Sustaining Life is the best and most comprehensive resource available demonstrating how human health depends on the health of the natural world."--Gro Brundtland, former Director-General of the World Health Organization, former Prime Minister of Norway"One of the main reasons the world faces a global environmental crisis is the belief that we human beings are somehow separate from the natural world in which we live, and that we can therefore alter its physical, chemical, and biological systems without these alterations having any effect on humanity. Sustaining Life challenges this widely held misconception by demonstrating definitively, with the best and most current scientific information available, that human health depends, to a larger extent than we might imagine, on the health of other species and on the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems."--Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, 2001 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, from the PrologueThis most readable and beautifully illustrated book, with contributions from more than 100 leading scientists from around the world, underlines that the health implications of the loss of biodiversity are every bit as great as those caused by global warming ... The book makes compelling reading for anyone interested in the natural world. * British Wildlife *"A powerhouse of information on a topic that concerns of us all. Highly recommended."--Irwin Weintraub, Library Journal ReviewsTable of ContentsForeword E. O. Wilson ; Prologue Kofi Annan ; Chapter 1What is Biodiversity? By Stuart Pimm, Maria Alice dos Santos Alves, Eric Chivian, and Aaron Bernstein ; Chapter 2How is Biodiversity Threatened by Human Activity? By Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein ; Chapter 3Ecosystem Services By Jerry Melillo and Osvaldo Sala ; Chapter 4Medicines from Nature By David J. Newman, John Kilama, Aaron Bernstein, and Eric Chivian ; Chapter 5Biodiversity and Biomedical Research By Eric Chivian, Aaron Bernstein, and Joshua P. Rosenthal ; Chapter 6Threatened Groups of Organisms Valuable to Medicine By Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein ; Chapter 7Ecosystem Disturbance, Biodiversity Loss, and Human Infectious Disease By David H. Molyneux, Richard S. Ostfeld, Aaron Bernstein, and Eric Chivian ; Chapter 8Biodiversity and Food Production By Daniel Hillel and Cynthia Rosenzweig ; Chapter 9Genetically Modified Foods and Organic Farming By Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein ; Chapter 10 What Individuals Can Do to Help Conserve Biodiversity By Jeffrey A. McNeely, Eleanor Sterling, and Kalemani Jo Mulongoy ; Appendix Agencies, Organizations, Treaties, Conventions, and NGOs Working to Conserve Biodiversity ; Part A: Co-sponsors ; Part B: Treaties, Conventions, and Intergovernmental Organizations ; Part C: Non-Governmental Organizations
£41.32
Oxford University Press, USA Science Religion and the Human Experience
Book SynopsisThe relationship between science and religion is generally depicted in one of two ways. In one view, they are locked in an inevitable, eternal conflict in which one must choose a side. In the other, they are separate spheres, in which the truth claims of one have little bearing on the other. This collection of provocative essays by leading thinkers offers a new way of looking at this problematic relationship. The authors begin from the premise that both science and religion operate in, yet seek to reach beyond, specific historical, political, ideological, and psychological contexts. How may we understand science and religion as arising from, yet somehow transcending, human experience? The volume is divided into four sections. The first takes a fresh look at the relationship between science and religion in broad terms: as spheres of knowledge or belief, realms of experience, and sources of authority. The other three sections take on topics that have been focal points of conflict between science and religion: the nature of the cosmos, the origin of life, and the workings of the mind. Ultimately, the authors argue, by seeing science and religion as irrevocably tied to human experience we can move beyond simple either/or definitions of reality and arrive at a more rich and complex view of both science and religion.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: Rethinking Science and Religion-James D. Proctor Part I: Theory Chapter 2: "Thou Shall Not Freeze-Frame"- Or How Not to Misunderstand the Science and Religion Debate-Bruno Latour Chapter 3: Modernity and the Mystical: Techno-Science, Religion, and Human Self-Creation-Thomas A. Carlson Chapter 4: The Depths and Shallows of Experience-Hilary Putnam Chapter 5: In ____ We Trust: Science, Religion, and Authority-James D. Proctor Part II: Cosmos Chapter 6: Science, Religion, Metaphor, And History-Jeffrey Burton Russell Chapter 7: Kabbalah and Contemporary Cosmology: Discovering the Resonances-Daniel C. Matt Chapter 8: The Complementarity of Science and Religion-Harold Oliver Part III: Life Chapter 9: Darwin, Design, and the Unification of Nature-John Hedley Brooke Chapter 10: Darwinism and Christianity: Must They Remain at War or is Peace Possible?-Michael Ruse Chapter 11: Experiencing Evolution: Varieties of Psychological Responses to the Claims of Science and Religion-Ronald L. Numbers Part IV: Mind Chapter 12: Gods and the Mental Instincts that Create Them-Pascal Boyer Chapter 13: Empathy and Human Experience-Evan Thompson Chapter 14: Uneasy Alliances: The "Faith Factor" in Medicine; the "Health Factor" in Religion-Anne Harrington Chapter 15: The Intersubjective Worlds of Science and Religion-B. Alan Wallace
£44.09
Oxford University Press What Are We A Study in Personal Ontology Philosophy of Mind
Book SynopsisFrom the time of Locke, discussions of personal identity have often ignored the question of our basic metaphysical nature: whether we human people are biological organisms, spatial or temporal parts of organisms, bundles of perceptions, or what have you. The result of this neglect has been centuries of wild proposals and clashing intuitions.What Are We? is the first general study of this important question. It beings by explaining what the question means and how it differs from others, such as questions of personal identity and the mind-body problem. It then examines in some depth the main possible accounts of our metaphysical nature, detailing both their theoretical virtues and the often grave difficulties they face.The book does not endorse any particular account of what we are, but argues that the matter turns on more general issues in the ontology of material things. If composition is universal--if any material things whatever make up something bigger--then we are temporal parts of organisms. If things never compose anything bigger, so that there are only mereological simples, then we too are simples--perhaps the immaterial substances of Descartes--or else we do not exist at all (a view Olson takes very seriously). The intermediate view that some things compose bigger things and others do not leads almost inevitably to the conclusion that we are organisms. So we can discover what we are by working out when composition occurs.Trade ReviewIn this invigorating new book, Eric Olsen investigates what we are, metaphysically speaking...The book is engagingly written in a conversational style...filled with many stimulating arguments. * Lynne Rudder Baker MIND *For anyone who wants to understand the question "What are we?"- and who wants to see how to begin to answer that question in a principled way- there is no better guide than Olson's book. * Trenton Merricks, Times Literary Supplement *Table of Contents1. The Question; 2. Animals; 3. Constitution; 4. Brains; 5. Temporal Parts; 6. Bundles; 7. Souls; 8. Nihilism; 9. What Now?
£61.20
Oxford University Press, USA Are We Hardwired The Role of Genes in Human Behavior
Book SynopsisThis edition of Are We Hardwired addresses the role of genes in governing behaviour. It explains the genetic and molecular basis of human behaviour within the broader context of animal behaviour generally. Behaviour is treated as a complex interaction of nature and nurture; to understand ourselves fully, neither can be dismissed out of hand.Trade ReviewThis book tells the story of how genes and other aspects of biology such as pheromones and neurotransmitters affect important behaviours such as aggression, eating disorders, drug use and abuse, sexual preference, learning and memory, and mental function. The story begins with the real stars of genetic research - sea slugs, roundworms, and fruit flies - and builds up to what we know about our own species. The story is told in a captivating way--exciting yet erudite. Excellent! * Robert Plomin, MRC Research Professor, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London and author of the upcoming fourth edition of Behaviour Genetics *Are we hardwired? Do billion-year old genes play an important role in human behaviour? Pick up this book. You won't be able to put it down. * Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr., Professor of Psychology, University of Minnesota *Table of Contents1. Mirror, mirror ; 2. In the beginning: the evolutionary origins of behaviour ; 3. The nose knows ; 4. As the worm turns: learning and memory in the roundworm C. elegans ; 5. About genes and behaviour ; 6. Life in the fourth dimension: the role of clocks in regulating behaviour ; 7. You must remember this: the evolution of learning and memory ; 8. The role of neurotransmitters in human behaviour ; 9. The genetics of aggression ; 10. The genetics of consumption, Part 1: eating disorders ; 11. The genetics of consumption, Part II: alcoholism and drug abuse ; 12. The genetics of human mental function ; 13. The genetics of human sexual preference ; 14. Genetics, the environment and free will ; Appendix 1: finding and identifying genes ; Appendix 2: a brief history of eugenics
£32.84
Oxford University Press In Gods We Trust The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion Evolution and Cognition Evolution and Cognition Series
Book SynopsisThis ambitious, interdisciplinary book seeks to explain the origins of religion using our knowledge of the evolution of cognition. A cognitive anthropologist and psychologist, Scott Atran argues that religion is a by-product of human evolution just as the cognitive intervention, cultural selection, and historical survival of religion is an accommodation of certain existential and moral elements that have evolved in the human condition.Trade ReviewWith almost 1000 references and discussions of most of human history and culture, from Neanderthal burials to suicide-bombers in the Palestinian anti-colonialist struggle, this book is consciously and truly encyclopedic in scope, and shows both breadth and depth of scholarship...the reader finds himself constantly challenged and provoked into an intellectual ping-pong game as he follows the arguments and the huge body of findings marshalled to buttress them...Atran managed to combine the old and the new by relating the automatic cognitive operations to existential anxieties. This combination will be a benchmark and a challenge to students od religion in all disciplines. * Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, in Human Nature Review *In Gods We Trust is by far the best exploration so far of the evolutionary basis of religious behavior. * James Fox, Prof of Anthropology, Stanford University *Scott Atran, a cognitive anthropologist and psychologist, presents in this volume a rich, nuanced cognitive-evolutionary account of religion... From this vantage, religion is not doctrine, or institutions, or even faith. Religion ensues from the ordinary workings of the human mind as it deals with emotionally compelling problems of human existence, such as birth, aging, death, unforeseen calamities, and love... I have little but praise for this marvelous book... It does not take long to realize that one is dealing with a formidable mind; Atran is not only a fine writer, his breadth of knowledge and intellectual depth are nothing short of inspiring. This book is one to read slowly and savor. Keep a post-it pad handy, to mark the pages: the scope of this book is so wide-ranging that whatever your research interest in evolutionary psychology, it is bound to be touched upon at some point in these 400 pages of informative analysis. * Human Nature Review *Table of Contents1: Introduction: An Evolutionary Riddle Part I: Evolutionary Sources 2: The Mindless Agent: Evolutionary Adaptations and By-products 3: God's Creation: Evolutionary Origins of the Supernatural Part II: Absurd Commitments 4: Counterintuitive Worlds: The Mostly Mundane Nature of Religious Belief 5: The Sense of Sacrifice: Culture, Communication, and Commitment Part III: Ritual Passions 6: Ritual and Revelation: The Emotional Mind 7: Waves of Passion: The Neuropsychology of Religion Part IV: Mindblind Theories 8: Culture without Mind: Sociobiology and Group Selection 9: The Trouble with Memes: Inference versus Imitation in Cultural Creation 10: Conclusion: Why Religion Seems Here to Stay
£35.09
Oxford University Press The Martians of Science
Book SynopsisIf science has the equivalent of a Bloomsbury group, it is the five men born at the turn of the 20th century in the same neighborhood in Budapest: Theodore von Karman, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, John von Neumann, and Edward Teller. Through immigration from Hungary to Germany to the United States, they remained friends and continued to work together and influence each other throughout their lives. As a result, their work was integral to some of the most important scientific and political developments of the 20th century.They were an extraordinary group of talents: Wigner won a Nobel Prize in theoretical physics without ever having taken a formal college-level physics course, Szilard was the first to see that a chain reaction based on neutrons was possible but left physics to try to restrict nuclear arms, von Neumann could solve problems in his head for which most people needed computers, von Karman became the first director of NASA''s Jet Propulsion Lab, and Teller was the father of thTrade ReviewThis is an important story that needs to be told, and Hargittai tells it well. Nature, November 2006.The similarities between character and fate with the Martians are not the only thing that makes Hargittai well suited to the job of writing their biographies; he also writes clearly and with dry humour. 3-2006, Lab Times, p55.Table of ContentsPreface ; Acknowledgements ; List of Plates ; Introduction ; 1. Arrival and Departure ; 1.1 Family Origin and Early Childhood ; 1.2 Gem and Less: Gimnazium Experience ; 1.3 Background in Hungary and First Transition ; 2 Turning Points in Germany ; 3 Second Transition: to the United States ; 4 "To Protect and Defend": World War II ; 5 To Deter: Cold War ; 6 Being Martian ; 6.1 Comparisons ; 6.1.1 Szilard and Fermi ; 6.1.2 Teller and Oppenheimer ; 6.2 Traits ; 6.3 Religion and Jewishness ; 6.4 Being Hungarian ; Epilogue ; Greatness in Science ; Had They Lived ; Conclusion ; Appendix: Quotable Martians ; Notes ; Select Bibliography ; Annotated Name Index ; Subject Index
£47.70
Oxford University Press Inc Determination of Complex Reaction Mechanisms
Book SynopsisIn a chemical system with many chemical species several questions can be asked: what species react with other species: in what temporal order: and with what results? These questions have been asked for over one hundred years about simple and complex chemical systems, and the answers constitute the macroscopic reaction mechanism. In Determination of Complex Reaction Mechanisms authors John Ross, Igor Schreiber, and Marcel Vlad present several systematic approaches for obtaining information on the causal connectivity of chemical species, on correlations of chemical species, on the reaction pathway, and on the reaction mechanism. Basic pulse theory is demonstrated and tested in an experiment on glycolysis. In a second approach, measurements on time series of concentrations are used to construct correlation functions and a theory is developed which shows that from these functions information may be inferred on the reaction pathway, the reaction mechanism, and the centers of control in thatTrade Review"The main value of this book is that it discusses experimental protocols and theoretical methods for the rational elucidation of reaction networks and their kinetic parameters by utilizing such techniques. In other words, it is a manual that describes nontraditional methodologies for the determination of reaction mechanisms from kinetic data sets."-- Angewandte Chemie "For readers who want a fresh view of one of the central challenges in reaction kinetics, this is the book for you. There's no other book like it on the market. It should be useful to a wide audience in many fields including chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, engineering, and genomics."-- Chemical & Engineering News "The main value of this book is that it discusses experimental protocols and theoretical methods for the rational elucidation of reaction networks and their kinetic parameters by utilizing such techniques. In other words, it is a manual that describes nontraditional methodologies for he determination of reaction mechanisms from kinetic data sets."-- Angewandte Chemie "For readers who want a fresh view of one of the central challenges in reaction kinetics, this is the book for you. There's no other book like it on the market. It should be useful to a wide audience in many fields including chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, engineering, and genomics."-- Chemical & Engineering NewsTable of Contents1.: Introduction 1.1: Some Basic Definitions 1.2: Introduction to Classical Identification 2.: Introduction to Chemical Kinetic Processes 2.1: Macroscopic, Deterministic Chemical Kinetics 2.2: Disordered Kinetics 2.3: Fluctuations 3.: A Brief Review of Methodology for the Analysis of Biochemical Reactions and Cells 3.1: Introduction 3.2: Measurement of Metabolite Concentrations 3.3: Principles and Applications of Mass Spectrometry 3.4: Genome-Wide Analyses of mRNA and Proteins 3.5: Fluorescent Imaging 3.6: Conclusions 4.: Computations by Means of Macroscopic Chemical Kinetics 4.1: Chemical Neurons and Logic Gates 4.2: Implementation of Computers by Macroscopic Chemical Kinetics 4.3: Computational Functions in Biochemical Reaction Systems 5.: Response of Systems to Pulse Perturbations 5.1: Theory 5.2: An Example: The Glycolytic Pathway 6.: Experimental Test of the Pulse Pertubation Method for Determining Casual Connectivities of Chemical Species in a Reaction Network 7.: Correlation Metric Construction: Theory of Statistical Construction of Reaction Mechanisms 8.: Experimental Test and Applications of Correlation Metric Construction 9.: Destiny Estimation 9.1: Entropy Metric Construction (EMC) 9.2: Entropy Reduction Method (ERM) 10.: Applications of Genetic Algorithms to the Determination of Reaction Mechanisms 10.1: A Shory Primer on Genetic Algorithms 10.2: Selection Regulation of Flux in a Metabolic Model 10.3: Evolutionary Development of Biochemical Oscillatory Reaction Mechanisms 10.4: Systematic Determination of Reaction Mechanism and Rate Coefficients 10.5: Summary 11.: Oscillatory Reactions 11.1: Introduction 11.2: Concepts and Theoretical Constructs 11.3: Experiments Leading to Information about the Oscillatory Reaction Mechanism 11.4: Examples of Deduction of Reaction Mechanism from Experiments 11.5: Limits of Stoichiometric Network Analysis 12.: Lifetime and Transit Time Distributions and Response Experiments in Chemical Kinetics 12.1: Lifetime Distributions of Chemical Species 12.2: Response Experiments and Lifetime Distributions 12.3: Transit Time Distributions, in Complex Chemical Systems 12.4: Transit Time Distributions, Linear Response, and Extracting Kinetic Information from Experimental Data 12.5: Errors in Response Experiments 12.6: Response Experiments for Reaction-Diffusion Systems 12.7: Conclusions 13.: Mini-Introduction to Bioinformatics 13.1: Clustering 13.2: Linearization in Various Forms 13.3: Modeling of Reaction Mechanisms 13.4: Boolean Networks 13.5: Correlation Metric Construction for Genetic Networks 13.6: Bayesian Networks 13.7: Some Other Illustrative Approaches Index
£61.00
Oxford University Press Minds Behind the Brain
Book SynopsisAttractively illustrated with over a hundred halftones and drawings, this volume presents a series of vibrant profiles that trace the evolution of our knowledge about the brain.Beginning almost 5000 years ago, with the ancient Egyptian study of the marrow of the skull, Stanley Finger takes us on a fascinating journey from the classical world of Hippocrates, to the time of Descartes and the era of Broca and Ramon y Cajal, to modern researchers such as Sperry. Here is a truly remarkable cast of characters. We meet Galen, a man of titanic ego and abrasive disposition, whose teachings dominated medicine for a thousand years; Vesalius, a contemporary of Copernicus, who pushed our understanding of human anatomy to new heights; Otto Loewi, pioneer in neurotransmitters, who gave the Nazis his Nobel prize money and fled Austria for England; and Rita Levi-Montalcini, discoverer of nerve growth factor, who in war-torn Italy was forced to do her research in her bedroom. For each individual, FingerTrade ReviewThis book is entertaining and informative with plenty of personal detail and insights into the working practices and conditions of some of the major contributors to what we now call neuroscience. * Advances in Clinical Neuroscience & Rehabilitation *Table of Contents1. Introduction: a voyage across time ; 2. An ancient Egyptian physician: the dawn of neurology ; 3. Hippocrates: the brain as the organ of mind ; 4. Galen: The birth of experimentation ; 5. Andreas Vesalius: the new 'human' neuroanatomy ; 6. Rene Descartes: the mind-body problem ; 7. Thomas Willis: the functional organization of the brain ; 8. Luigi Galvani: electricity and the nerves ; 9. Franz Joseph Gall: the cerebral organs of the mind ; 10. Paul Broca: Cortical localization and cerebral dominance ; 11. David Ferrier and Eduard Hitzig: the experimentalists map the cerebral cortex ; 12. Jean-Martin Charcot: clinical neurology comes of age ; 13. Santiago Ramon y Cajal: from nerve nets to neuron doctrine ; 14. Charles Scott Sherrington: the integrated nervous system ; 15. Edgar D. Adrian: coding in the nervous s#stem ; 16. Otto Loewi and Henry Dale: the discovery of neurotransmitters ; 17. Roger W. Sperry and Rita Levi-Montalcini: from neural growth to 'Split Brains' ; 18. Pioneers and discoveries in the brain sciences
£38.39
Oxford University Press Biophysics of Computation
Book SynopsisNeural network research often builds on the fiction that neurons are simple linear threshold units, completely neglecting the highly dynamic and complex nature of synapses, dendrites, and voltage-dependent ionic currents. Biophysics of Computation: Information processing in single neurons challenges this notion, using richly detailed experimental and theoretical findings from cellular biophysics to explain the repertoire of computational functions available to single neurons. The author shows how individual nerve cells can multiply, integrate, or delay synaptic inputs and how information can be encoded in the voltage across the membrane, in the intracellular calcium concentration, or in the timing of individual spikes.Key topics covered include the linear cable equation; cable theory as applied to passive dendritic trees and dendritic spines; chemical and electrical synapses and how to treat them from a computational point of view; nonlinear interactions of synaptic input in passive anTable of Contents1. The membrane equation ; 2. Linear cable theory ; 3. Passive dendritic trees ; 4. Synaptic input ; 5. Synaptic interactions in a passive dendritic tree ; 6. The Hodgkin-Huxley model of action-potential generation ; 7. Phase space analysis of neuronal excitability ; 8. Ionic channels ; 9. Beyond Hodgkin and Huxley: calcium, and calcium-dependent potassium currents ; 10. Linearizing voltage-dependent currents ; 11. Diffusion, buffering, and binding ; 12. Dendritic spines ; 13. Synaptic plasticity ; 14. Simplified models of individual neurons ; 15. Stochastic models of single cells ; 16. Bursting cells ; 17. Input resistance, time constants, and spike initiation ; 18. Synaptic input to a passive tree ; 19. Voltage-dependent events in the dendritic tree ; 20. Unconventional coupling ; 21. Computing with neurons - a summary
£81.60
Oxford University Press The Oxford Handbook of Memory
Book SynopsisWritten by the world''s leading memory scientists in a highly accessible language, this volume brings together facts and theories of cognitive psychology; memory development in childhood and old age; memory impairment in brain injury and disease; the emergence of memory functions from the brain; as well as reviews of current behavioral, neuroimaging, and computer simulation theories of memory. The last decades in particular have seen the emergence of a genuine science of memory, based first on behavioral studies and more recently on the new technologies of brain scanning. These recent studies have resulted in theories that are rich, complex, and far-reaching in their implications. The Oxford Handbook of Memory lays out these theories, and the evidence on which the theories are based. The important new discoveries of the last few years are described, along with their consequences for professionals in the areas of law, engineering, and clinical medicine.Endel Tulving and Fergus Craik, tTrade Review"Tulving and Craik's splendid handbook will be the standard source book in the field for years to come. This is for three reasons. The first is the thoroughness of the coverage of memory--experimental, theoretical, developmental, clinical, and brain-based approaches are all well covered. The second is that virtually all the eminent researchers in the field have been persuaded to contribute. The third consists in the thoroughness and depth of their contributions and of the way that they have been edited."--Tim Shallice, University College London"Everything in life is memory, save for the thin edge of the present. This incredible volume tackles what is both known and unknown about this crucial and sustaining mental function. It is the most important book on the subject ever published."--Michael S. Gazzaniga, Dartmouth University"A unique resource on human memory providing an exhaustive coverage of the current state of scientific study in this area, this handbook discusses theories and data primarily from experimental, cognitive, neuropsychological, and developmental perspectives. The editors organize the material in four parts: basic presuppositions, concepts, and methods in a historical context; critical discussion of what has been discovered; memory applied in the real world; and the neuroscience of memory, an area of research the editors refer to as holding the most promise for yielding new information through advancing technology. The applied section extends the experimental findings in the laboratory to the role of memory in everyday life and to areas such as the development of memory in children and the decline of memory in aging and pathological conditions. . . . Highly recommended for academic libraries at all levels."--Choice"Summarizes the research findings over the past decades that comprise the new science of memory, based first on behavioral studies and more recently on brain scanning. Contributors set out the various theories and the evidence they are based on, and explore the consequences for professionals in law, engineering, and clinical medicine. Among the topics are the development of memory, its contents, its use in the laboratory and in daily life, its decline, and its organization. Students and researchers in psychology or the neurosciences would probably find most interest."--SciTech Book News"This is an epic tome summarizing the general state of knowledge in the science of human memory. Sixty eminent contributors, all of whom have done extensive research in this vast field, contributed a total of 39 chapters which outline experimental results and theory in their areas of expertise. A brief epilogue provides thoughtful commentary on how the field has grown and changed over the past 60 years, form the views of Bartlett and Lashley to current views on neural nets, brain imaging, and the fast pace of current research which provides constant surprises and requires frequent updating. It is safe to say the editors and contributors have succeeded in producing a highly interesting book, remarkable in its breadth and thoroughness. As readers and fellow researchers, we can feel ourselves fortunate that such a diverse and interesting field has been treated so well." -- Psychological Reports, Vol 87, 2000"The OHM describes the growth of memory research from its nadir in the 1950s to the present and presents summaries of contemporary scientific knowledge about a variety of memory topics. The 60 authors constitute a "Who's Who" in the field of memory, virtually guaranteeing that the reports on memory are state of the art. Even specialists will benefit from the coverage of subjects in which they have expertise. All chapters are informative and of high caliber. There is no comprehensive advanced textbook of memory currently on the market nor has there been one since the middle 1970s. The reason is simple: no one could possibly write one, certainly not one with the scope and level of information present in the OHM. This volume, then fills a gap that has needed filling for years. For now, the OHM is the gold standard and all memory professionals are in debt of the editors and authors for its existence." -- Canadian Psychology, 42:2"...provides the reader with a sound and thorough grounding in current theoretical memory frameworks and the methodologies and empirical findings on which they are based...useful for advanced undergraduates, beginning graduate students, healthcare professionals such as physicians and other professionals who may have relevant work-related interests, such as lawyers and social workers. Informed laypeople may well also find sections of this text to be quite accessible and-without doubt-informative."--Brain A journal of neurologyFebruary 2002"This volume is a collection of 40 articles about memory mainly from the perspective of experimental psychology. This set of introductory articles should be quite valuable for beginning graduate students."--Journal of Mathematical Psychology"This is a monumental, 700-pages handbook on studies of memory, compiled by and directed to psychologists. Each "chapter" is actually an essay written by a luminary of the field. The early chapters introduce the terminology and the issues at stake. Then specialists survey work on short-term memory, memory encoding, learning, metamemory, memory at various life stages, memory disorders, etc. The book is obviously not for the casual reader. On the other hand, it is filled with valuable experimental data and references to technical literature that will help any psychologist and scholar conduct studies on memory." -- Piero Scaruffi, Thymos.com"...[T]his would appear to be the first dedicated handbook devoted to the cognitive science of memory....Certainly, the coverage in this book is extensive. Everything you wanted to know about the various leading-edge fields of human cognitive memory research is here, and written by eminent researches." Journal of the International Neuropsychological SocietyTable of ContentsPART I: STUDY OF MEMORY; PART II: MEMORY IN THE LABORATORY; MEMORY JUDGMENTS; PART III: MEMORY IN LIFE; PART IV: ORGANIZATION OF MEMORY
£75.60
Oxford University Press ThreeDimensional Electron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies
Book SynopsisCryoelectron microscopy of biological molecules is among the hottest growth areas in biophysics and structural biology at present, and Frank is arguably the most distinguished practitioner of this art. CryoEM is likely over the next few years to take over much of the structural approaches currently requiring X-ray crystallography, because one can now get good and finely detailed images of single molecules down to as little as 200,000 MW, covering a substantial share of the molecules of greatest biomedical research interest. This book, the successor to an earlier work published in 1996 with Academic Press, is a natural companion work to our forthcoming book on electron crystallography by Robert Glaeser, with contributions by six others, including Frank. A growing number of workers will employ CryoEM for structural studies in their own research, and a large proportion of biomedical researchers will have a growing interest in understanding what the capabilities and limits of this approachTable of Contents1: Introduction 2: Electron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies 3: Two-Dimensional Averaging Techniques 4: Multivariate Data Analysis and Classification of Images 5: Three-Dimensional Reconstruction 6: Interpretation of Three-Dimensional Images of Macromolecules Appendix 1: Some Important Definitions and Theorems Appendix 2: Profiles, Point-Spread Functions, and Effects of Commonly Used Low-Pass Filters Appendix 2: Bibliography of Methods Appendix 2: Bibliography of Structures Appendix 2: Special Journal Issues on Image Processing Techniques
£131.75
OUP USA A Brief History of the Mind
Book SynopsisThis book looks back at the simpler versions of mental life in apes, Neanderthals, and our ancestors, back before our burst of creativity started 50,000 years ago. When you can''t think about the future in much detail, you are trapped in a here-and-now existence with no What if? and Why me? William H. Calvin takes stock of what we have now and then explains why we are nearing a crossroads, where mind shifts gears again. The mind''s big bang came long after our brain size stopped enlarging. Calvin suggests that the development of long sentences--what modern children do in their third year--was the most likely trigger. To keep a half-dozen concepts from blending together like a summer drink, you need some mental structuring. In saying I think I saw him leave to go home, you are nesting three sentences inside a fourth. We also structure plans, play games with rules, create structured music and chains of logic, and have a fascination with discovering how things hang together. Our long traTrade ReviewCalvin's history will stretch your mind.... The Seattle scientist writes in a conversational style, often referring to 'stuff.' But it's high-level stuff with surprising insights. * Associated Press *Conversational and colorful, uncluttered by intimidating footnote references.... Calvin is a master both of how minds work in a cultural context, and how brains work on a neuron level. He's also a master at helping ordinary readers understand neurobiology. * Nashville Scene *As always, the author's erudition demands close attention but makes science entertaining and accessible for the layman. * Kirkus Reviews *As a work of writing, A Brief History of the Mind is not just a summary of Calvin's thoughts; it is full of eloquent quotes from other thinkers. It has a good bibliography for readers who wish to explore this subject.... It is hard to imagine a subject of more fundamental interest to human beings. If you've ever wondered why you are who you are, 'A Brief History of the Mind' is a good place to start. * Seattle Times *
£11.24
Oxford University Press A Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Palms and palm-like plants ; 2. Tall Trees: Woody plants growing to 10 m tall or more ; 3. Shrubs and small trees: Plants with woody stems less than 10 m tall ; 4. Woody Vines (Lianas): high-climbing plants with woody stems ; 5. Herbaceous vines: climbing or twining herbs ; 6. Herbs: Plants with non-woody stems ; 7. Grasses and grass-like plants: by family, genus, species, Alphabetically ; 8. Ferns and other flowerless plants: plants reproducing by spores ; Illustrated Glossary ; References ; Index
£34.67
Oxford University Press Inc Understanding Events From Perception to Action 4 Advances in Visual Cognition
Book SynopsisWe effortlessly remember all sorts of events - from simple events like people walking to complex events like leaves blowing in the wind. We can also remember and describe these events, and in general, react appropriately to them, for example, in avoiding an approaching object. Our phenomenal ease interacting with events belies the complexity of the underlying processes we use to deal with them. Driven by an interest in these complex processes, research on even perception has been growing rapidly. Events are the basis of all experience, so understanding how humans perceive, represent, and act on them will have a significant impact on many areas of psychology. Unfortunately, much of the research on event perception - in visual perception, motor control, linguistics, and computer science - has progressed without much interaction. This book is the first to bring together computational, neurological, and psychological research on how humans detect, classify, remember, and act on events. It Trade Review"Event knowledge lies at the heart of much of cognition and perception. But the very definition of an eventanything that happens, as Shipley and Zacks writeis so sweeping as to pose a challenge to our understanding of events. This collection meets that challenge with an extraordinarily comprehensive and in depth treatment of event knowledge. The most current work on the development, perception, representation, and memory of events is described by leading researchers in the field. This is an exciting and important book."--Jeffrey L. Elman, Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego "This book is courageous: it is a highly ambitious and successful exploration of what it means to acknowledge that humans perceive and produce events, rather than simply processing sensory snapshots and carrying out motor reactions. Understanding Events provides all the information necessary, with insightful and stimulating conceptual, behavioral, functional, and neuroscientific analyses, to resolve numerous unfruitful controversies, such as between nativists and empiricists or constructivists and ecologists."--Bernhard Hommel, Head of Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University "This wonderful book heralds the opening of a research frontier that is both fascinating and important. Chapter after chapter, the book lays out a largely unexplored research agenda, which many will want to make their own. The range of disciplines represented in the book--cognitive psychology, neuroscience, motor control, perception and memory research, computer science, philosophy and linguistics--gives a hint of the broad multi-disciplinary approach that will be required if we are to fulfill Shipley and Zacks' invitation to understand events."--Robert Sekuler, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brandeis University "The goals of this volume are both simple and audacious--to distill what is currently known about how people understand events, and by so doing provide a new framework for research on event perception (and cognition). These goals lead the editors to sample comprehensively across cognitive science, from philosophy, to linguistics, to experimental psychology, to development and cognitive neuroscience. Each chapter delivers innovative analyses from within one or more of these perspectives, and together they highlight broad points of convergence as well as deep debates. Readers from across these diverse fields will find fuel for new conceptualizations and new research in these pages."--Amanda Woodward, Professor of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park "Understanding events lies at the heart of conscious cognition. Understanding event understanding requires nothing short of a concerted multidisciplinary effort. This remarkable collection of essays represents such an effort, spanning an intellectual spectrum that ranges from motor control to language acquisition, while weaving an impressively tight conceptual web. The volume will prove to be a treasure trove for seasoned and novice researchers alike."-- Rolf A. Zwaan, Professor of Biological and Cognitive Psychology, Erasmus University, RotterdamTable of ContentsPART I FOUNDATIONS; PART II DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING OF EVENTS; PART III PERCEIVING AND SEGMENTING EVENTS; PART IV REPRESENTING AND REMEMBERING EVENTS
£96.00
Oxford University Press Making Things Happen
Book SynopsisWoodward''s long awaited book is an attempt to construct a comprehensive account of causation explanation that applies to a wide variety of causal and explanatory claims in different areas of science and everyday life. The book engages some of the relevant literature from other disciplines, as Woodward weaves together examples, counterexamples, criticisms, defenses, objections, and replies into a convincing defense of the core of his theory, which is that we can analyze causation by appeal to the notion of manipulation.Trade ReviewThe discussions are detailed and technical, but not such as to lead us to lose sight of the big picture; his treatment is illuminating... As other reviewers have stated, Woodward's book is outstanding. * James G. Murphy, Milltown Studies *this is a splendid book. It is beautifully and clearly written; and in countless ways sheds a flood of light on a range of topics to do with causation and explanation. It represents the most significant and substantial philosophical contribution to the study of these concepts in recent years. Reading and studying this book will be obligatory for everyone whose work bears directly or indirectly on the topics of causation and explanation. * Peter Menzies, Mind *Table of Contents1: Introduction and Preview 2: Causation and Manipulation 3: Interventions, Agency, and Counterfactuals 4: Causal Explanation: Background and Criticism 5: A Counterfactual Theory of Causal Explanation 6: Invariance 7: Causal Interpretation in Structural Models 8: The Causal Mechanical and Unificationist Models of Explanation
£33.14
Oxford University Press Six Days or Forever Tennessee V. John Thomas Scopes Galaxy Book 416
Trade ReviewI have used this book for years * it never fails to engage the students.Nan E. Woodruff, Pennsylvania State University *Excellent for collateral reading in my history and philosophy of education class. * D. Gough, Washington Bible College *An intriguing book well suited to stimulating discussion in an upper-level course. It addresses issues rented to the social and intellectual history of 20th century American. * Daniel B. Murphy, Hanover College *Very valuable in helping students understand the Scopes Trial and modern Creationists. * Lois N. Magner, Purdue University *Very good for supplemental reading in a survey course on religion in America. Lively and stimulating. The book provokes students to get involved. * W. Calvin Smith, University of South Carolina at Aiken *In his brilliant account of the Tennessee 'monkey trial' of 1925, Mr. Ginger gives us a book where history not only records the events of a time but illuminates their significance for all time. * The New Republic *This volume provides a clear, informative and interesting chronicle of the 1925 Scopes trial. It relates the trial to the Zeitgeist of the era. * William Simons, SUNY-Oneonta *
£12.99
Oxford University Press Isaac Newton
Book SynopsisQuarrelsome and quirky, a disheveled recluse who ate little, slept less, and yet had an iron constitution, Isaac Newton rose from a virtually illiterate family to become one of the towering intellects of science. Now, in this fast-paced, colorful biography, Gale E. Christianson paints an engaging portrait of Newton and the times in which he lived. We follow Newton from his childhood in rural England to his student days at Cambridge, where he devoured the works of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo, and taught himself mathematics. There ensued two miraculous years at home in Woolsthorpe Manor, where he fled when plague threatened Cambridge, a remarkably fertile period when Newton formulated his theory of gravity, a new theory of light, and calculus--all by his twenty-fourth birthday. Christianson describes Newton''s creation of the first working model of the reflecting telescope, which brought him to the attention of the Royal Society, and he illuminates the eighteen months of intense labTrade ReviewProf. Christianson has done a great service to the science community and many others including students and the educated public. He has written an easy to read, enjoyable short biography on Newton that will that will attract not only students of science but also many others. * Current Engineering Practice *
£16.19
