Concise Textbook Research Articles

A Bay State of Mind: Massachusetts's Innovation Continuum [From the Guest Editor's Desk

Massachusetts has a singular place in microwave history, from Vannevar Bush's start-up Raytheon to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Radiation Laboratory. It is safe to say that nearly every microwave engineer has the concise textbook Microwave Engineering, by David Pozar of the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst, in her or his library.

Enhanced Recovery for Major Abdominopelvic Surgery, 1st Edition

Enhanced Recovery for Major Abdominopelvic Surgery, 1st Edition

Mexico's Once and Future Revolution: Social Upheaval and the Challenge of Rule Since the Late Nineteenth Century - by Joseph, Gilbert M. and Buchenau, Jürgen

Mexico's Once and Future Revolution: Social Upheaval and the Challenge of Rule Since the Late Nineteenth Century - by Joseph, Gilbert M. and Buchenau, Jürgen

Europe on Trial: The Story of Collaboration, Resistance, and Retribution during World War II by Istvan Deak

EUROPE ON TRIAL: THE STORY OF COLLABORATION, RESISTANCE, AND RETRIBUTION DURING WORLD WAR II By Istvan Deak. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2015. 288 pp.Prolific scholar Istvan Deak examines the spectrum of collaboration and resistance across Europe during the Second World War in Europe on Trial: Story of Collaboration, Resistance, and Retribution during World War II. For Hungarian-born Deak, these themes have a deep personal resonance; he begins his account with the story of Bela Stollar, the fiance of his sister and close friend from his youth who died resisting fascism in Hungary. Throughout the autobiographical account that opens this text, Deak recounts his life in war-time Hungary, followed by his refugee status in early Cold War Paris and his academic career at Columbia University.In this concise textbook, Deak stresses that collaboration with the Nazi regime remained endemic in Europe until the tide of the war turned against Germany at the battles of Stalingrad and El Alamein. For Deak, European collaboration proved essential to furthering Nazi war aims, especially in implementing the phases of the Holocaust. Collaboration took different forms. In some cases independent nations aligned themselves with Nazi Germany in order to further their own national interests. For instance, Hungary sought to regain territories lost as a result of the Treaty of Trianon. For conquered nations, collaboration was indicative of self-preservation, especially if the German authorities permitted a modicum of autonomy. By supplying the German war effort and eschewing armed resistance, the Danes managed to preserve their parliamentary system throughout much of the war. Other nations, especially Poland, possessed fewer avenues of collaboration, but the widespread embrace of antisemitism led some Poles to aid the Nazis in ferreting out Jews.What is the line between collaboration and resistance? How does one consider the question of fear and intimidation? Drawing upon Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men, Deak observes that even those involved in the actual murder of Jews had a remarkable range of options and could opt out from serving as executioners. But do we swing too far in the other direction and fail to stress the primacy of the Nazis as perpetrators of the Holocaust? How much autonomy did Hungary's ruler, Admiral Horthy, have in chartering a foreign policy that challenged Nazi Germany? Even in 1944, with the Wehrmacht losing the war on both fronts, Horthy tilted away from the Nazis, only to be toppled by German troops with the support of Hungarian fascists. In the Netherlands in 1941, Dutch Jews resorted to violence, and Dutch workers waged sympathy strikes on their behalf. Deak observes that these actions were unique for occupied Europe, but also acknowledges how quickly they were suppressed by German forces.How much weight should Deak give to the question of intention? surrender of France in 1940 and the creation of the Vichy regime suggest a level of collaboration of the highest order. Many other governments, most notably those of Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Greece, refused to surrender when facing military defeat, continuing the struggle in exile.Considering Europe on Trial made me reflect on my own encounters with the Second World War in my college textbooks in the late 1970s and ponder shifts in historiographical focus. During the Cold War the lines between good and evil seemed more rigid. In my introductory class, The Atlantic Community and Contemporary World 1914-1945, my professors at Drew University assigned Robert Edwin Herzstein's Adolf Hitler and the German Trauma, 1913-1945 (1974) as the main text dealing with the Second World War. …

Teaching practice and thinking of cell biology experiments for oversea medical students

The teaching practice of cell biology experiments for oversea medical students in School of Medicine of Tongji University was reported in the present article, and the teaching principles of careful plan, clear contents, concise textbook, flexible scheme, full preparation, earnest triallecture, orderly implementation and formative assessment were put forward. Based on the different teaching object, the paper mainly explained the differences and the basis of the experimental teaching process of the foreign students and the domestic medical students to provide experience for improving the teaching mode of this kind of course. Key words: Oversea students; Bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery (MBBS); Cell biology experiments

Perspectives in Medical Geography: Theory and Applications for Librarians, Cardiac Drugs: An Evidence-Based Approach and Atlanta's Living Legacy: A History of Grady Memorial Hospital and Its People

The editors are Kanu Chatterjee, clinical professor of medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, and emeritus professor of medicine, University of California–San Francisco; and Eric J. Topol, professor of translational genomics, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Scripps Research Institute, California. Chatterjee and Topol have recruited contributing authors, sixteen cardiologists and one pharmacist, from academic medical centers in Iowa, California, Ohio, and Minnesota. The editors intend to provide an evidence-based approach to the drugs used to treat specified clinical conditions in cardiovascular medicine. Heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, and pulmonary hypertension receive the strongest emphasis. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blocking medications, positive-inotropic agents, diuretics, and antihypertensive drugs are discussed in extensive detail, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, indications, contraindications, and dosages. Drugs in development are noted. The editors assert that the unique feature of the book is the detailed discussion of the guidelines of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association for the use of pharmacologic agents in various clinical conditions. An appendix with the full text of those guidelines and related book sections could have strengthened that focus. The first chapter, “Angiotensin, Aldosterone, and Renin Inhibition in Cardiovascular Disease,” provides a sound foundation with a discussion of the relevant pathophysiology and the validity of inclusive key studies. Chapter 2 proceeds with an in-depth analysis of “Positive Inotropic Drugs: A Limited but Important Role.” The chapter on antihypertensive drugs, coauthored by Chatterjee, includes highly detailed charts and a comprehensive literature review. This particular chapter includes a multitude of tables and more than eighty pages of text. Diuretics are covered separately in the next chapter. Chapters 5 through 11 focus on drugs for the most common cardiac conditions: dyslipidemias, diabetes and cardiodysmetabolic syndrome, acute coronary syndromes, dysrhythmia, heart failure, stable angina, and pulmonary hypertension. The text continues with a valuable chapter on cardiac drugs in pregnancy and lactation, noting that cardiac disease in pregnancy involves unique challenges and solutions. The last chapter by Topol on “Future Directions: The Role of Genetics in Drug Therapy” is disappointingly a two-page commentary with no references. Designed to provide easy-to-follow information with practical therapeutic guidance for clinicians, the book succeeds in presenting full-color illustrations, layout, and numerous tables. The literature reviews in general do not reflect an emphasis on the most current studies. The chapters lack consistency in depth of coverage, although that might not deter their usefulness. The index does not include abbreviations or cross-references but does helpfully distinguish figures and tables for quicker reference. Most of the figures and diagrams complement the ease of use as a handbook. The strength of this publication is in its visual presentations and in the chapters that succeed in presenting the more recent evidence in a convenient format for busy clinicians. This title is recommended for health sciences libraries serving medical and pharmacy schools, for hospital libraries, and for graduate schools educating advanced practice nurses and physician assistants. It is not recommended as a first purchase selection. Libraries and learners would find other concise clinical handbooks more useful, such as the eighth edition of Drugs for the Heart by Lionel H. Opie and Bernard J. Gersh (Saunders; 2013. ISBN: 978-1-4557-3322-4). As a secondary purchase, this title would also complement the more extensive Manual of Cardiovascular Medicine by Brian P. Griffin (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. ISBN: 978-1-4511-3160-4) and Mayo Clinic Cardiology: Concise Textbook by Joseph G. Murphy and Margaret A. Lloyd (Oxford University Press; 2012. ISBN: 978-0-1999-1571-2).

Essentials of igneous and metamorphic petrology

All Earth Science students need to understand the origins, environments, and basic processes that produce igneous and metamorphic rocks. This concise introductory textbook provides students with the essential knowledge needed to understand how petrology relates to other topics in the geologic sciences, and has been written specifically for one-semester courses. Throughout, the emphasis is on interpreting the mineralogy and petrology of rock suites in terms of origin and environment, with the first half of the book concentrating on igneous rocks, and the second half on metamorphic rocks. This Second Edition has been thoroughly revised and brought completely up-to-date. It now includes a new chapter on the application of stable and radiogenic isotopes in petrology, introducing students to the concept of isotopic fractionation and describing the process of radioactive decay. The discussions of phase diagrams, connections between igneous and metamorphic rock suites, and convergent margin magmatism have also been expanded. There is a new glossary of terms, updated end-of-chapter exercises, and updated further readings.

Three views of logic: mathematics, philosophy, and computer science

Demonstrating the different roles that logic plays in the disciplines of computer science, mathematics, and philosophy, this concise undergraduate textbook covers select topics from three different areas of logic: proof theory, computability theory, and nonclassical logic. The book balances accessibility, breadth, and rigor, and is designed so that its materials will fit into a single semester. Its distinctive presentation of traditional logic material will enhance readers' capabilities and mathematical maturity. The proof theory portion presents classical propositional logic and first-order logic using a computer-oriented (resolution) formal system. Linear resolution and its connection to the programming language Prolog are also treated. The computability component offers a machine model and mathematical model for computation, proves the equivalence of the two approaches, and includes famous decision problems unsolvable by an algorithm. The section on nonclassical logic discusses the shortcomings of classical logic in its treatment of implication and an alternate approach that improves upon it: Anderson and Belnap's relevance logic. Applications are included in each section. The material on a four-valued semantics for relevance logic is presented in textbook form for the first time. Aimed at upper-level undergraduates of moderate analytical background, Three Views of Logic will be useful in a variety of classroom settings. Gives an exceptionally broad view of logic Treats traditional logic in a modern format Presents relevance logic with applications Provides an ideal text for a variety of one-semester upper-level undergraduate courses

Tips for GP trainees working in haematology

Blood: the fluid carrying oxygen and nutrients to, and waste materials from, all tissues in the body. For most medical postgraduates however, this topic is poorly understood and considered rather complicated. A rotation through haematology can feel daunting: patients can be complex, suffer multiple comorbidities, and rapidly deteriorate; the registrar’s bleep goes off continuously; and, not only do you have the haematology ward to contend with, there is the haematology day unit and referrals from other specialties. It is busy. Prepare for the rotation by rereading (or even reading) a concise textbook such as Essential Haematology .1 Remember you are surrounded by a wealth of knowledge. Use the team (especially the patients); they want to help you. Make the most of your induction and be aware of key policies and where to find them; you’ll be grateful of this later. Haematology is not only about malignancy; you may also become familiar with screening for, and clinical presentations of, sickle cell disease and thalassaemia or how to use the diagnostic haematology service for investigating anaemia. You will learn a lot, while developing leadership and communication skills.

Introduction to epidemiology

A mathematical epidemiologist working on transmission networks of infectious diseases and a genetic epidemiologist searching for genes linked to predisposition to cancer might have few, or possibly even no, interests in common except the hope that their work will help reduce disease burden. The vastness of the discipline makes it a daunting task to write an up-to-date, attractive, and concise introductory textbook and imposes difficult choices on what material to include and exclude.

Neuromuscular Disorders: Treatment and ManagementNeuromuscular Disorders: Treatment and Managementby BertoriniTulio E., 472 pp., Elsevier, 2011, $199

Neuromuscular Disorders: Treatment and Management by Tulio E. Bertorini , 472 pp., Elsevier, 2011, $199 Neuromuscular Disorders: Treatment and Management is a practical, concise, and readable textbook for clinicians who treat patients with neuromuscular disease. I appreciated the evidence-based approach that is taken throughout the text that clearly highlights therapies that have demonstrated a proven benefit. For example, in the discussion of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), IV …

Basic electronics for scientists and engineers

Ideal for a one-semester course, this concise textbook covers basic electronics for undergraduate students in science and engineering. Beginning with the basics of general circuit laws and resistor circuits to ease students into the subject, the textbook then covers a wide range of topics, from passive circuits through to semiconductor-based analog circuits and basic digital circuits. Using a balance of thorough analysis and insight, readers are shown how to work with electronic circuits and apply the techniques they have learnt. The textbook's structure makes it useful as a self-study introduction to the subject. All mathematics is kept to a suitable level, and there are several exercises throughout the book. Password-protected solutions for instructors, together with eight laboratory exercises that parallel the text, are available online at www.cambridge.org/Eggleston.

Perioperative Anesthetic Care of the Obese Patient

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. mcglinch.brian@mayo.eduEdited by Vilma E. Ortiz, M.D., and Jeanine Wiener-Kronish, M.D. New York, Informa Healthcare USA, Inc., 2010. Pages: 234. Price: $300.00.Obesity affects all aspects of perioperative care in all age groups. Obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery typically have thorough preoperative evaluations and preconditioning preparations, making their anesthetic management routine. The clinical anesthesia challenge is that most morbidly obese patients having surgery do not undergo bariatric procedures. As a result, anesthesia providers are faced with both technical and clinical challenges in managing morbidly obese patients for procedures not involving weight loss, often without sufficient experience or insight into mitigating risk beyond those related to airway management.Perioperative Anesthetic Care of the Obese Patient provides an extraordinary amount of relevant information regarding obesity that is easily digested and applied in most perioperative settings. This informative and concise textbook is divided into sections (Preoperative, Intraoperative, Postoperative, and Special Situations), with each section addressing important clinical and physiologic aspects of care encountered in that venue. The editing is exceptional in that very little repetition or conflicting information is presented, and the information is well organized and thoughtfully presented.In the Preoperative section, each organ system is represented from the perspective of basic physiology and the organic dysfunction resulting from obesity. The information presented emphasizes observations reported from recent, obesity-related human studies relevant to a particular organ system. This section effectively balances basic science background and clinical studies, allowing the clinician an unbiased presentation of information relevant to obesity and anesthetic management. A busy clinician can reference a particular chapter and quickly access useful information, making this a valuable reference tool in clinical practice.The Intraoperative section is as useful and relevant as the preceding one. Obesity creates a challenging environment for anesthesia personnel, not only because of the need for appropriate drug dosing but also for issues related to positioning, monitoring, and regional anesthesia procedures. These topics are concisely and thoroughly presented. Much like the Preoperative chapters, the Intraoperative chapters emphasize clinical studies without becoming a “How To” atlas. I believe the great beauty of this book is that the reader is given the information necessary to understand the relevant challenges of intraoperative management of the obese patient without being distracted by authors advocating their point of view. The important issues are distilled, presented to the reader without bias, and can be readily referenced if intraoperative issues arise in clinical practice.The Postoperative section reaffirms the fact that obese patients present unique challenges (respiratory, infection, analgesia, and thromboembolic) after surgery but not necessarily greater morbidity or mortality. Postoperative management (e.g. , oxygen therapy, ambulation, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, and analgesia) of the obese patient is certainly more difficult than in the physically fit patient. However, in terms of morbidity and mortality of the obese patient after surgery, there are no overwhelming data suggesting the obese patient is at higher risk than the nonobese patient. This section carefully presents clinical data addressing common issues during both the early and late postoperative periods for the obese surgical patient. The section on critical care is an honest appraisal of clinical care for the critically ill obese patient and common obesity-related management challenges in the intensive care setting. With emphasis on clinical studies, the information is unbiased, honest, and clearly presented to the reader.The Special Situations section presents the implications for anesthetic management of the obese patient in the labor and delivery ward, pediatric anesthesia practice, and trauma care. As in the other sections, each topic is focused on relevant recent clinical studies without author bias endorsing one approach or technique over another. The authors avoid stating obvious and basic information, instead focusing on key concepts and observations made in cited references.I strongly recommend this book for not only anesthesia providers but also departmental libraries. The information is certainly not as extensive as that provided by the major anesthesiology textbooks, but the focused review of current clinical information regarding the effect of obesity on organ function and anesthetic management makes this book invaluable. Congratulations to the authors and editors for producing this much-needed, high-quality text.

Elements of computer security

As our society grows ever more reliant on computers, so it also becomes more vulnerable to computer crime. Cyber attacks have been plaguing computer users since the 1980s, and computer security experts are predicting that smart telephones and other mobile devices will also become the targets of cyber security threats in the future. Developed from the author's successful Springer guide to Foundations of Computer Security, this accessible textbook/reference is fully updated and enhanced with resources for students and tutors. Topics and features: examines the physical security of computer hardware, networks, and digital data; introduces the different forms of rogue software (or malware), discusses methods for preventing and defending against malware, and describes a selection of viruses, worms and Trojans in detail; investigates the important threats to network security, and explores the subjects of authentication, spyware, and identity theft; discusses issues of privacy and trust in the online world, including children's privacy and safety; includes appendices which discuss the definition, meaning, and history of the term hacker, introduce the language of l33t Speak, and provide a detailed virus timeline; provides numerous exercises and examples throughout the text, in addition to a Glossary of terms used in the book; supplies additional resources at the associated website, http://www.DavidSalomon.name/, including an introduction to cryptography, and answers to the exercises. Clearly and engagingly written, this concise textbook is an ideal resource for undergraduate classes on computer security. The book is mostly non-mathematical, and is suitable for anyone familiar with the basic concepts of computers and computations.

Geological Field Techniques

Angela L. Coe, Editor, Tom W. Argles, David A. Rothery, and Robert A. Spicer. 2010. Wiley-Blackwell and The Open University. 336 Pp. ISBN 978-1-4443-3062-5, Paperback, $59.95. ISBN 978-1-4443-3061-8, Hardcover, $150. Geological Field Techniques is a concise textbook, aimed primarily at undergraduates studying geology and earth sciences, that assumes a basic understanding of the main concepts and theory in geology. The authors are professors at the Open University, and they provide examples of work by themselves and their students. The geologic approach is broad, with a British emphasis. The writing and organization are excellent, and the format is that of a modern textbook with a single, wide column of text with an adjacent smaller column with photos, notes, and explanations. The book is profusely illustrated with photos of rock exposures, diagrams, worked examples, and examples of field notes and geologic maps both constructed in the field and redrafted. The illustrations are generally clear, but the field notebook examples are reproductions of actual professor and student notes that range from neatly organized and executed to somewhat cryptic, incomplete, and somewhat illegible; the reader can compare some of these low-contrast copies of pencil-written notes with the beautifully executed engineering-style lettering of Compton’s (1985) text. Nonetheless, one of the main strengths of this textbook is to …

From Liber versuum to Poetria nova: The Evolution of Geoffrey of Vinsauf’s Masterpiece

Geoffrey of Vinsauf’s early thirteenth-century Poetria nova was the preeminent textbook on rhetorical composition in prose and verse for nearly three centuries. Before he created his masterpiece Geoffrey had taught for some twenty-five years and written two textbooks in prose. The popularity of the poem that Geoffrey wrote in response to King Richard Lionheart’s sudden death in 1199 seems to have instilled a new sense of his poetic powers that sparked a creative re-engagement with his pedagogy and its sources. The immediate result was an anthology of rhetorical poems, as suggested by references to it as a “book of verses” in the anonymous Tria sunt; but within a few years this had evolved into a concise and memorable textbook in hexameter verse that came to be regarded as the legitimate heir to Horace’s Ars poetica.

Introducing Islam

Introducing Islam is the result of the author’s more than thirty years of teachingand research about Islam within the context of religious studies. Thiscomprehensive and concise textbook is an ideal introduction to Islam thatseeks to present it and its culture, as found within different Muslim countries,in a sympathetic way.From its early environment and origins in the life and career ofMuhammad (pbuh), it traces the history of Islam through its classicalexpressions and up to its contemporary interactions with the West. Devotinga chapter to each important topic (e.g., the Qur’an, Islamic law, Islamic theologyand philosophy, and Sufism) and to studies of Islam in individualcountries (e.g., Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia), it explores Islamiccivilization through discussions of Islamic art and culture as well as communityrituals. Consisting of a preface, an introduction, and three parts(divided into nineteen chapters [2-20]), the book is illustrated with ten mapsand twenty-eight figures, text boxes, summary charts (key points), a glossaryof key Arabic terms, and a list of further reading to aid students/readers’understanding ...

Handbook of orthodontics (2010)

Handbook of orthodontics (2010) Authors: Martyn T. Cobourne, and Andrew T. DiBiase. Publisher: Mosby Elsevier, Kidlington, Oxford, UK Price: £42.99 ISBN: 978-0-7234-3450-4 There are many virtues of this book authored by two colleagues from the UK. It is indeed a concise textbook that is presented in a format that is easy to read and consult. At the …

Hatch and Sumner’s Textbook of Paediatric Anaesthesia

Hatch and Sumner's Paediatric Anaesthesia is a thorough revision and update of the extremely popular 'Paediatric Anaesthesia' by Edward Sumner and David Hatch. A new editorial team has carefully revised the text and developed it into a concise textbook that provides all the information that a trainee or practising paediatric anaesthetist should know. Thoroughly comprehensive, yet concise and manageable in size, this book is entirely practical and relevant, presenting all the newest information on the conditions and potential problems seen in every day practice. Each chapter has been thoroughly revisited by existing and new contributors from a global community of experts and the result is an invaluable reference work that will be a continual source of information for any paediatric anaesthetist.

Histology. An Illustrated Colour Text

Histology. An Illustrated Colour Text By B. S. Mitchell and S. Peels . ( ISBN 978-0-443-06853-9 pp139+vi, £23.99 ) Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone Elsevier . 2009 . In many courses the reduction in the amount of histology being taught means that there is a need for a concise histology textbook covering all the key topics in an appropriate level of detail. This book is the latest in the Illustrated Colour Text series in which a brief and relevant text on a topic is accompanied by ample illustration in full colour. It can be recommended as a readable and approachable introductory textbook covering all the major topics. For many courses it will be found to be all that is required but inevitably in some areas detail is lacking and it may need to be supplemented by additional reading. Nonetheless it is ideal as an introductory book for students on medical, dental and science courses. The format of the book is the standard one adopted by the majority of histology textbooks. Chapters on the cell and the primary tissues are followed by chapters dealing with each body system in turn, starting with skin, blood and the immune system and bone and cartilage, and moving on to the other major systems of the body. There is an introductory chapter describing the processes of preparing tissues and interpreting images and a useful glossary at the end. Each chapter is completed by a summary of key points. At appropriate points in each chapter there are clinical notes. The book is well illustrated throughout with many light microscope photomicrographs of tissue sections stained by a variety of methods. Some electron micrographs are also included. These illustrations are supplemented by numerous, simple high-quality interpretive diagrams. The overall format of the book is attractive and the text itself is highly readable; not always the case when a concise format is adopted. The descriptions and explanations of structure are clear and easy to follow throughout. If a reader wanted to gain a quick impression of the approach adopted, I might direct them to start with the chapter on bone, which gives an introductory account of bone structure as good as one might wish for. For another example of the clarity of the writing, readers new to the book should look at the section on the structure of the heart. There is always a balance to be struck in a histology text between the space devoted to descriptions of structure and that devoted to the physiology of the tissues being described. This is especially acute in a concise text. Generally the chapters on body systems do provide good links between histology, physiology and gross anatomy. The chapters on digestive, endocrine and immune systems, where functions are less easy to summarize concisely, are less successful in this regard, reflecting the compromises inevitable when the length of the text is constrained. The clinical notes were useful, although the reasons for the choice of particular clinical examples were not always apparent and, to this reader, some very obvious clinical correlations were not included. The number and range of illustrations are features to be commended and consequently this book could also serve as a laboratory manual. Generally the standard of reproduction was high, although occasionally the figures did not appear as crisp as they might be and in some cases label lines were hard to see. Legends were rather sparse and I would urge the authors to include, in any future edition, information on the stains employed, noting which structures they are displaying, and to give actual magnifications used and calibration bars on the photomicrographs themselves. The interpretive diagrams supplement the text well. In summary, the appearance of this concise and readable histology textbook is to be welcomed and it can be warmly recommended as providing a good introduction to the subject in a format that I am sure students will appreciate.