Pages Of References Research Articles

The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychosomatic Medicine: Psychiatric Care of the Medically Ill, 2nd editionedited by LevensonJames L., M.D. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing, 2011, 1200 pp., $219.00.

The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychosomatic Medicine: Psychiatric Care of the Medically Ill, 2nd editionedited by LevensonJames L., M.D. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing, 2011, 1200 pp., $219.00.

The Human Illnesses: Neuropsychiatric Disorders and the Nature of the Human Brainby WilliamsonPeter C., M.D., and AllmanJohn M., Ph.D. New York, Oxford University Press, 2011, 256 pp., $75.00.

The Human Illnesses: Neuropsychiatric Disorders and the Nature of the Human Brainby WilliamsonPeter C., M.D., and AllmanJohn M., Ph.D. New York, Oxford University Press, 2011, 256 pp., $75.00.

Protective Packaging for Distribution by Daniel Goodwin and Dennis Young. Published by DEStech Publications Inc, Lancaster PA, 2011 ISBN 978‐1‐60595‐001‐3: 232 pages.

This book is a welcome addition to packaging technology textbooks in that it fills a significant gap. It is all the more welcome for the wisdom, experience and knowledge of the two well-known authors: Daniel Goodwin is Professor of Packaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology and Dennis Young is a specialist teacher at Michigan State University School of Packaging. The book's preface tells us that they have a combined experience of almost 80 years in the field of packaging. The book deals with the science and principles of the design of packaging to protect product from the hazards of the distribution environment. It deals with fundamental science, materials, product fragility, hazards, design methods and testing. Not surprisingly, given the background of the authors, the book began as a compilation of class notes. However, the chapters have been prepared and enhanced with care such that their content, structure and presentation show little reflection of their origins. Mainly, the book caters for an international audience with use of metric units; however, there are a few sections where imperial units are used and some US focus appears. Nine pages of references are provided (not all refer to the original work, but all are of value). The preface indicates that the book is aimed at graduate and undergraduate packaging students; this becomes quickly apparent as the reader is somewhat ‘dropped in the deep end’ with the four chapters on dynamic theory. From Chapter 6 the style for the remainder of the book clearly develops. Concepts and methods are presented using clear efficient description. Two words are rarely used where one will do, but this efficiency with words does not compromise the content. Subtlety and detail abound such that topics are explored thoroughly; wisdom based on experience and illustrative case studies are both provided. For each topic current practice is presented and newer or advanced techniques introduced. Shock, vibration, cushioning, pack design and testing are all given thorough treatment. All key topics are referenced; references vary between those of the original work and those of more recent works. The aforementioned wisdom is evident throughout the book. Whilst reading the book many thoughts and opinions based on my own experiences came to mind – with only rare exceptions I found these presented and discussed as I continued to read. The book maintains a technical, rigorous approach but is much more accessible than the impression created by the first four chapters. Although anyone wishing to use and apply the methods presented in the book will need good skills in dynamics, there is much in the book for anyone interested to know more about the design and the performance of protective packaging. This is helped by clear description of principles and by short scene-setting chapters that provide context. Attention is also given to recent developments and research in dynamics methodologies. These are not treated in full, but sufficient detail is provided to allow a good feel for the topic, and references provide further reading. Overall the book is excellent in content, thorough and full of wisdom. It is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in packaging dynamics. It stands well as a ‘dip in’ reference text when a reminder or reinforcement of a specific topic or method is needed. I view the book as a valuable addition to my collection, and I commend it to anyone interested in the science and technology of product protection.

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:The Appearances of Memory: mnemonic practices of architecture and urban form in Indonesia By Abidin KusnoRe‐counting Knowledge in Song: Change Reflected in Kaulong Music By Birgit DrüppelCHEAP MEAT — Flap Food Nations In the Pacific Islands By Deborah Gewertz and Frederick Errington

Earth Surface Processes, Landforms, and Sediment Deposits

Earth Surface Processes, Landform, and Sediment Deposits is a massive compendium by Bridge and Demicco and a must-have book for the engineering geologist because it so completely covers the full spectrum of surficial geologic issues with which we contend on most projects. Earth surface processes include landslides, debris flows, river floods, storm and tsunami surges, erosion and weathering, subsidence and uplift, neotectonics, and volcanism. All of these, and more, are richly covered in this book. However, in addition to just introducing processes as effects, Bridge and Demicco show how to recognize them in the geologic environment of landforms and in the sedimentary environment. Composed of 815 pages broken into twenty chapters, this book contains 52 pages of references and over 1800 citations, a 20 page index, and 572 figures, many of which are composite figures, and many of which are also original. The book is priced at only £45.00, an excellent value for the content of the book. From chapter 1, “Definitions, Rationale and Scope of the Book,” it is clear that the authors understand that knowledge of the interconnection of earth systems is critical to the engineering geologist in terms of site characterization and prediction, and also in site remediation and restoration. The authors intend the book for the undergraduate- or beginning graduate-level student, but the book is invaluable as a reference for any professional geologist. In my opinion, the book's text is too “geological” for most geotechnical engineers, but the profusion of illustrations make for a good skim …

BOOK REVIEW: THERMAL CONVECTION: PATTERNS, EVOLUTION AND STABILITY

Despite the word “convection” appearing in the title, this excellent monograph is not a book on heat transfer. In fact, heat transfer is barely mentioned, with the only appearance of “heat transfer” in the index leading the reader to page 9 and the only graph involving the Nusselt number appearing on page 420. This is not a criticism of the book since its focus is on the fluid mechanics of flows resulting from temperature differences. In fact, the subtitle “Patterns, Evolution and Stability” exactly describes the intent and content of the monograph. As such this text is still a necessary part of the armory of anyone seriously interested in thermally driven convection. This book is not an introduction to convective flows caused by temperature differences, which is designed for a novice in the subject, but a rigorous voyage through the physics of many phenomena in thermal convection. As there are 49 pages of references, the information presented has been gleaned from a very thorough review of the theoretical, numerical, and experimental literature. The 13 chapters are organized in such a way that the reader is guided through the myriad of phenomena in an easily understood and mostly logical manner. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the particular phenomenon to be investigated, gradually introducing complexities (in particular, stability and possible multiple solutions, even chaos). The first two chapters form an introduction that covers the derivation of the basic equations, basic concepts, methods of analysis, characteristic numbers, and scaling, while the following chapters are devoted to in-depth discussions of various phenomena under a generic descrip-

The Gulf of California Biodiversity and Conservation (review)

Reviewed by: The Gulf of California Biodiversity and Conservation William W. Shaw The Gulf of California Biodiversity and Conservation. Richard C. Brusca (ed.). The University of Arizona Press and The Arizona.-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, 2010. xi and 354 pp., maps, diagrs., photos, and index. $75.00 cloth (ISBN 978-0-8165-2739-7). Over the past several decades, the Gulf of California has been the focus of a large and growing number of studies addressing the biological, physical, social, political and economic dimensions of this remarkable land and seascape. The attractions of this region to scientists are numerous and include extraordinary biological productivity and diversity, high levels of endemism, and dynamic geological and oceanographic processes. These factors, plus an extremely valuable fishing industry and the fact that the entire region falls within the jurisdiction of one nation, Mexico, create a situation in which the potentials for visionary stewardship and sustainable management are truly exciting. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, although the region has become a prolific laboratory for physical, biological and social scientists, too often the results of these studies remain isolated within disparate disciplines and have little influence over policy-makers. The editor for this volume, Richard Brusca, is academically renowned as an authority on marine invertebrates. He is also a passionate advocate for sustainable use and conservation of marine resources, especially in the Gulf of California region. In assembling the expert authors for this book, Brusca wears his conservation biologist hat and reaches beyond his own academic discipline to bring under one cover, a collection of authorities on topics that include geology, environmental history, biology, public policy, and oceanography. With decades of experiences with this sea in northwestern Mexico, Brusca was able to identify the leading experts to author each of these chapters. The result is an eclectic compendium of the state of knowledge about this region. One might question the logic of having chapters that focus upon single species (ospreys) or narrow taxonomic groups (turtles, algae, fishes, marine mammals) juxtaposed [End Page 255] among chapters that synthesize broad topics such as environmental history and conservation politics. Indeed, the sequencing of the chapters follows no obvious storyline and few readers will feel compelled to read this book from cover to cover. But this is the nature of conservation biology. The big picture can only be assembled by addressing complex issues at several levels and across multiple disciplines. In this volume, Brusca serves a diverse palate of chapters that share one unifying element --they all deal with the social and ecological characteristics of this remarkable region. Each chapter stands alone as a synopsis of a particular theme and each is also a crucial piece in the complex puzzle defining conservation of marine resources. This book is an essential reference for anyone who is interested in the Gulf of California and in its social, political, ecological and physical dynamics. With nearly eighty pages of references, the citations alone comprise a comprehensive resource for scholars interested in this region. But the utility of this book is not limited to scholars focused on this geographical area. The challenges of understanding marine and coastal ecosystems and of using this understanding to manage and conserve the precious and potentially renewable resources of these regions are universal. The chapter on fisheries of the Gulf of California describes the region as "an ecological and biological observatory" because of the impressive amount of publications that have emanated from research focused on this ecosystem. However, as is well illustrated by other chapters, the scope of this observatory in not limited to ecological and biological dimensions. In many ways, the Gulf of California has become a laboratory for testing the ambitious ideals of ecosystem-based sustainable co-management for conservation (the theme of one chapter). Central to this concept is the integration of physical, biological, social, and political sciences to conserve and sustain, natural resources of all types for the benefit of human society. This large-scale and synthetic approach to natural resource conservation is thoroughly addressed in two chapters that deal with fisheries management and ecological conservation. It is this comprehensive perspective that offers many lessons that will be useful for scholars and natural resource...

Society, Ethics, and Technology, 4th Edition (Winston, M.E. and Edelbach, R.D.; 2009) [Book Review

The book is one of a longstanding series of humanities anthologies issued by Wadsworth that I fi rst encountered a decade ago in Louis Pojman?s compilation of classic philosophy texts, The Quest for Truth. But in contrast to Plato and Aristotle, the fi elds of ethics and science and technology studies simply won?t stand still, so publishers are justifi ed in bringing out new editions in this area every few years. The mix of papers and essays in this collection strikes a good balance between relatively timeless and historical material on the one hand, and up-to-date topical discussions of current topics such as globalization, genetic engineering, and climate change on the other. This anthology began with a course the authors developed in 1993 at the College of New Jersey, assisted by NSF support for the fi eld of science and technology studies. The book is divided into two parts: Perspectives on Technology, which carries works on the history, politics, and ethics of technology in general; and Contemporary Technology and the Future, focused on five topical areas. The typography and layout of the book follow the pleasing well-established Wadsworth style. I detected a few signs of haste in copyediting: a typo here and there, and, most seriously, a place where apparently an entire page of references was left out. Considering that the office of proofreader was abolished by most publishers somewhere around 1995, this book is still better than average in its freedom from errors.

Review of Antarctic climate change and the environment, edited by John Turner, Robert Bindschadler, Pete Convey, Guido di Prisco, Eberhard Fahrbach, Julian Gutt, Dominic Hodgson, Paul Mayewski & Colin Summerhayes (2009).

This impressive report from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) covers nearly 400 pages of text with more than 100 additional pages of references. Under the clearly very able leadership of John Turner of the British Antarctic Survey, the nine editors have coordinated more than 100 contributors to produce a comprehensive review of our knowledge of Antarctica’s climate up to 2007. (Published: 21 February 2011) Citation: Polar Research 2011, 30, 5985, DOI: 10.3402/polar.v30i0.5985

Homo sapiens, an unlikely but effective model in Evo-Devo-a review of Quirks of Human Anatomy: an Evo-Devo Look at the Human Body, by Lewis I. Held, Jr.

What can we expect from an Evo-Devo look at the human body? The subject speciesFman rather than the worm or the fruitflyFis one toward which a lot of potential readers will be attracted. But is an Evo-Devo approach to our species really promising? How good canHomo sapiens be as a model species for Evo-Devo? The simple fact of restricting focus to only one species is likely to reduce to a very minimum any hope for a compelling evolutionary argument. In addition, the previous publication record of the author deals solely with pattern formation in Drosophila melanogaster: a model species quite distant from humans. A potential reader might envision a possibly popular but eventually less than academic exercise. All these quibbles, however, are destined to rapidly fade as soon as we start reading from this fascinating book. Held’s prose is brilliant, very often informal but always accurate, and the message it conveys is always clear and well documented, sometimes incredibly so. This is not the first time this author provides a list of references filling roughly one half of the whole book (cf. Held 1992, 2002). In Quirks of Human Anatomy, 152 pages of text and illustrations are followed by 86 pages of references, with 2924 entries, followed in turn by a 22-pages index. Moving into new territory, Held has obviously taken care to gather a very broad and sound background of published information. What, then, of the suitability of Homo sapiens as model species in Evo-Devo? If one is effective, as Held is, in mining the literature for potentially relevant data, there is indeed a lot of evidence to be found there, particularly from the perspective of comparative developmental genetics. To be sure, this comparative evidence differs qualitatively from the body of knowledge we are gathering with flies or worms, that is animals amenable to experimental manipulation. In the case of humans, the comparative dimension is obtained by studying intraspecific variation already present in human populations, in all kinds of pathological (if not monstrous) deviation from the ‘‘normal’’ phenotype. Held’s Evo-Devo approach to the anatomy of the human body, and its many oddities, is nonetheless rooted in a search for genes and gene expression cascades such as those involved, for example, in establishing the characteristic asymmetry of our viscera, the odd crossing of the body midline by optic nerves, or the more or less obvious morphological differences between males and females. A search for genes, of course, because body parts can diverge developmentallyFthat is, ‘‘dissociate’’Fto any great extent only if they have acquired distinct genetic identities. Held admirably also maintains an open eye toward those features, like our fingerprints, which are beyond the control of our genome. This adventurous path amidst the oddities of the human body includes a couple of pages on the presence of nipples in men, or men’s privilege, so to speak, to have a chance of getting bald. Held’s welljustified interest in monsters, for example humans affected by cyclopia, or with completely furry skin, inclusive of hands and feet, opens the door to a related, very intriguing question. How do we determine whether a given kind of monstrosity never observed in humans, but which is nonetheless imaginable, can ever evolve in our species? More precisely, why are some morphologies forbidden in humans, whereas EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT 12:6, 647–648 (2010)

Arctic doom, Arctic boom: the geopolitics of climate change in the Arctic

An expert examination of the way climate change is transforming the Arctic environmentally, economically, and geopolitically, and how the challenges of that transformation should be met. * Includes a lengthy bibliography of resources on the Arctic and its history including materials as current as September 2009 * Offers a helpful index of key terms as well as 59 pages of references and bibliographic details

Review of prolonged local anesthetic action

Importance of the field: Pain following surgery is often treated by local anesthetic agents. Duration of the analgesia can be extended safely following administration of encapsulated large doses of local anesthetic agents.Areas covered in this review: This review considers formulations used for encapsulation of local anesthetic agents for prolonged anesthesia effect. All studies describing encapsulation of a commercial local anesthetic agent for providing prolonged analgesia were considered using the NCBI Medline site. of local anesthetic, prolonged anesthesia, polymers and liposomes were entered in order to retrieve appropriate articles and reviews from 1966 to 2010, with emphasis on the last 10 years. Reference pages were searched manually for other relevant articles. The topics covered include an overview of local anesthetic agents and a review of local anesthetic carrier agents, with emphasis on liposomes and polymer carriers. Articles were limited to the English language.What the reader will gain: The current research areas for prolongation of local anesthetic effect are evaluated, along with their limitations. Each topic has been summarized, and the review has attempted to cover all current laboratory and clinical studies in a simple manner that should also be useful for readers without a pharmacology background. The direction of research is promising and exciting, and this review should be a useful up-to-date reference.Take home message: Many formulations including polymer and liposome carriers have facilitated prolonged local anesthetic action for several days, although few clinical studies have been performed. This field promises a safe way to deliver local anesthetics for effect far beyond that of commercially available agents, with potential cost and health benefits for patients suffering chronic or postoperative pain

VARIATIONS ON A THEME-THE ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF WITHIN-PLANT DIVERSITY

Review of: Herrera, C.M. 2009. Multiplicity in Unity: Plant Subindividual Variation and Interactions with Animals. University of Chicago Press. 437 Pages. ISBN 978-0-226-32794-5. Paper. $40. Biologists engage in a love–hate relation with variation. On one hand, interspecific diversity and differences among conspecifics motivate most biological hypotheses. On the other hand, variation that is peripheral to a hypothesis is typically dismissed as noise that confounds understanding. However, there is a fine line between love and hate, which is crossed repeatedly in one direction during the development of biology, as variation that was once ignored as mundane is recognized as interesting and so comes to stimulate its own hypotheses. In his recent book on variation within individual plants, Carlos Herrera strives to lead readers across this line, making the case that by influencing plant interactions with animals components of such variation can be adaptive and so warrant broader attention. As unitary organisms, we biologists tend to view the limited variation within our own bodies, such as between the sides of our faces, and those of other unitary organisms either as inconsequential or negatively as a sign of developmental instability (e.g., Moller 2006). This perspective is reinforced by recognition that a body’s cells share the same genome, so that stochastic withinindividual variation cannot be transmitted to offspring. Even if somatic mutation creates genetic variation within a body, its transmission is unlikely because of the independence of somatic and germinative cell lines within unitary organisms. In contrast, modular organisms, such as vascular plants, corals, and bryozoans grow by the reiterated production of somatic components, each of which has the capacity to make reproductive organs. This characteristic body plan creates opportunities for variation among reiterated organs within individuals that are not possible for unitary organisms. Such variation is readily observed by overlaying leaves from the nearest house or garden plant or ordering the grapes within a bunch from smallest to largest. Furthermore, to the extent that systematic patterns of phenotypic variation among organs are genetically determined, they represent traits that can be subject to selection. Thus, at least some aspects of the variation within modular organisms could represent adaptations to specific environments, including interactions with herbivores and agents of pollen and fruit dispersal. In his book, Herrera builds on an extensive, scholarly review of literature from Theophrastus to 2007 (supported by 78 pages of references) to argue that within-individual variation and its ecological and evolutionary implications deserve much more attention than they have received to date. After a largely historical introduction, Herrera develops his argument in four sections encompassing nine chapters. In the first section, Herrera devotes a quarter of his overall text to convincing doubting readers that the traits of leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds often vary extensively within plants. He achieves this objective through the weight of evidence drawn primarily from the ecological and agronomic literature. In this section, Herrera establishes that virtually all above-ground traits vary within plants (Chapter 2:

Margaret A Boden, Mind as machine: a history of cognitive science, 2 vols, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 2008, pp. xlviii, total pp. 1631, £50.00 (paperback 978-0-19-954564-3).

Margaret A Boden, Mind as machine: a history of cognitive science, 2 vols, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 2008, pp. xlviii, total pp. 1631, £50.00 (paperback 978-0-19-954564-3).

Andrzej Wajda: History, Politics, and Nostalgia in Polish Cinema by Janina Falkowska (review)

752 SEER, 87, 4, OCTOBER 2OO9 at Home), David MacFadyen[Carnival Night) and BirgitBeumers(TheNeedle and Brother) are informative and engaging, as are thoseon Moscow Doesn't Believe inTears (David Gillespie) and HouseofFools(MarciaLandy).Josephine Woll givesa usefulcontextto Balladofa Soldier, writing withfeeling, style and persuasiveness about the filmand script.Similarly, Natasha Synessios describes Ivan'sChildhood With lyricism, and encapsulates whatneedstobe said about thefilm'sstyle, narrative (and lack oí), putting it intothecontextof Tarkovskii's career as a whole. StephenHutchingsconvincingly presents ThePrisoner ofthe Mountains as ca dialoguewiththewarfilm'(p. 226),as well as discussing thework'srelationship toitsliterary origins, concepts ofimperialism ,and reporting a revealinganecdote fromthe makingof the film. Another multi-faceted, scholarly, engaging textualand contextual analysis is provided byIan Christie in hischapteron Russian Ark. The most originalchapters,fordifferent reasons,are those by Susan Larsen and Karla Oeler, on BriefEncounters and The ColourofPomegranates, respectively. LarsenshowshowMuratova'swonderful film is remarkable for itsnarrative innovations, and highlights thewayinwhichitconveys a distinctively femalesubjectivity through itsvisuals.She discusses all thekeyaspects ofthefilm and itshistory: technique, narrative, context and reception. Oeler, forherpart,contributes a thoroughly cinematic analysis, illuminating both in its arguments and its style.Her discussions of collage and framing are fascinating. This bookinforms thereadernotonlyaboutthefilms and film history of Russiaandtheformer SovietUnion,butalsoaboutthevarious waysinwhich one can approachthestudy ofcinemaand theanalysis ofindividual works. It shouldproveuseful to students and others inboththeserespects. London Milena Mighalski Falkowska,Janina. AndrzejWajda:History, Politics, andNostalgia inPolishCinema. BerghahnBooks,New Yorkand Oxford,2007.viii+ 340 pp. Illustrations .Notes.Bibliography. Filmography. Index.$90.00: £45.00; $34.95:¿I9-95This bookisoffered as a thorough treatment ofand reference resource tothe life's workoftheOscar-winning Polishfilm director AndrzejWajda, and toa largemeasureitsucceeds.Written byan unabashedadmire infects thereaderwithherenthusiasm, itmakesonewishtovi entireoeuvre from beginning to end. Once pasttheintroduc r ofWajda who ewthedirector's tion'sobligatory film-studies boilerplate, the book turnsintoa highlyreadable,jargon-free accountofWajda's life,education, formative experiences and,especially, his incredibly varied body of creativework,consisting of some thirty-seven feature-length films spanning morethanfivedecadesand stillcounting. One mightthinkit premature to put a period afterWaida's name as of 1999.Although he sloweddown in his 80s, he remainsactiveintothe present decade. No mention is made ofhison-going or future projects as of reviews 753 1999- odd, because theywere surelyno secretas thisbook was nearing completion. It is almosttimetowrite thechapterdevotedto theperiod2000 to 2009,whichwillof necessity includediscussion of his latestmasterpiece Katyn (2007),on thecaptureand individual executionof 15,000Polisharmy officers in 1940bytheSovietNKVD, a film thatexhibits as wellas anyother thedirector's ability to weave history, politics, nostalgia, thenationalcause and romanticlove intocomplex,highlypersonalized, multi-layered pieces (baroque,as theyare oftendescribed)whose striking imageshave staying powerlongafter theviewing is over. Despitehis long beingrecognizedas a nationaltreasure, the director is famously modest, accessibleand helpful to peopleinterested in hiswork.He maintains an extensive archivein Krakow,to whichhe providedtheauthor fullaccess. She claimsto have read everyone of thearchive'smillion-plus documents relating toWajda's directorial activities, and suchdiligence shows in themeticulously footnoted treatments of theindividual films. If thereis anything ofimportance notcoveredin thebodyofthebook,it is likely to be foundamong the some seventy pages of references, bibliography and filmography. Thereismuchofinterest hereconcerning Wajda's personallife, friendships, relationships withactorsand directorial method (saidtobe micromanagerial ). In general, theauthorseemstobe somewhat moreinterested in Wajda thepersonthansheis in placinghisworkin thecontext ofPolishor worldcinema,butthereadability ofthebookbyno meanssuffers. The films arediscussed inchapters devotedtothe1950s, 1960s,1970s, 1980s and 1990s,each consisting ofan introduction, a chronological treatment of thefilms producedin thatdecade,and a conclusion. After theplotofeach filmis summarized, oftenat considerable length,the authordiscussesthe critical responses to itbothin Poland(byno meansall positive) and abroad, to whichsheusuallyadds herownpersonalassessment ofthefilm's quality, importance and place intheoveralloeuvre. Filmsare categorized according to majorand minorthemes, allowing comparison from one film toanother, and thereaderis constantly reminded ofthevariousfilms inwhicha givenmotif (likea whitehorse,carousel,or askew crucifix) occurs.Wajda loves selfreferentiality , and hisworkisreplete withit.Becausethemajority ofhisfilms are based on literary works, whether 'classicsof Polishliterature' or lesserknownworks , theplotretellings often read likestories on theirown merits. One mighthave appreciatedmorediscussion ofwherefilmplotsdepartin important waysfrom theliterary prototypes, as often happens,sometimes for thebetter, and sometimes not. The factthatthefilm commentaries aimat a certain levelofcompleteness leavestheauthoropen to criticism fornotfully treating, forleavingout,or formisanalysing one thingor another.For example,thediscussion ofKanal (1957),in whicha band of fighters in the 1945Warsaw Uprisingwander through the trackless stinking sewersbeneaththe cityto variously perish, literalizing themetaphor cnoexit',managesnottomention thetraceofFrench existentialism. Ashes andDiamonds (1958)contains a description ofthepossible resonances oftheriderless...

EMedicineHealth

eMedicineHealth is the consumer Web site of WebMD. Through text, slideshows, and videos, it explores more than 850 topics. It contains a medical dictionary, medication reference, medical calculators, and downloadable pages for dealing with medical emergencies. Users can access all the sections from each page for ease in navigation. Photographs and some animated advertisements enhance the attractiveness of the site.

Book Review: Mellow, G. O., & Heelan, C. (2008). Minding the Dream: The Process and Practice of the American Community College. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield

Mellow, G. O., & Heelan, C. (2008). Minding the Dream: Process and Practice of the American College. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.DOI: 10.1177/0091552109332488Mellow and Heelan provide an excellent overview of the American community college. In their words, they write the book critical friends of the community college and as passionate practitioners (p. xvii). They point out that despite a good deal of negative press, America's postsecondary innovation opens doors and provides opportunities for many college hopefuls without other postsecondary options. Furthermore, community colleges are able to provide these opportunities under less-than-adequate funding structures. Although the reader can often sense the authors' positive bias toward community colleges, the book also points out the challenges and negatives of - and within these institutions. Written in a professional yet easy-to-read style, this book serves as an excellent text for an introductory graduate course on community colleges or as an information resource for anyone interested in the topic, including prospective community college faculty members, administrators, and policymakers.Beginning with a Forward written by George R. Boggs, the president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges, the premise of the book is made crystal clear: Community colleges are an essential element of America's democracy and economy (p. xiv). America's community colleges are the country's response to cries for accessibility, community development, and social justice. Yet these institutions are frequently misunderstood, often unfairly compared with 4-year colleges and universities, and few social advocates understand their role and importance. And above all, community colleges are asked to do it all with insufficient funding.The book is divided into two parts. first, titled Process, consists of eight chapters that provide an introductory overview of the American community colleges, examine the private and social benefits that community colleges generate, and discuss funding, the measurement of institutional effectiveness, governance, changing pedagogy, leadership, and community-college-like institutions internationally. second part, titled Practice, contains five chapters dealing with the educational components of the community college mission (developmental education, transfer education, economic and workforce development, and English as a second language) and with the challenges posed by the community college's diverse student population. All but the first two chapters and the concluding summary chapter follow a set structure. First, the chapter opens with an overview that is followed by a description of The Dream, a section that provides an ideal depiction of the topic in question as it relates to the community college mission. next section of each chapter, titled The Unfulfilled Dream, provides insight into the mismatch between the dream and the realities faced by community colleges. This is then followed by a section titled The Real Story that provides the reader with detailed contemporary information pertaining to the chapter topic. Each chapter ends with a section titled Challenges to the Field, which provides a list of charges to the colleges, their administrators, and policymakers. A Conclusions section acts as a chapter summary. book is 289 pages in length with an additional 30 pages of references followed by a full index.ProcessThe first part of the book emphasizes the unique mission of the American community college. reader is presented with the history of this higher sector, including the social movements that have helped to define these institutions. Also presented are emergent trends that will shape community colleges in the future. book weighs the who benefits from public education question by focusing on community colleges as a public good. …

The Handbook of information and computer ethics

The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics is not a handbook, but a voluminous twenty- seven piece anthology, which is devoted mostly to the intersection between ethics and computer ethics, rather than to their union. Indeed, infor - mation ethics is (re)defined strangely here, in a way quite different from that envisioned by the field's principal founder and guiding light, Robert Hauptman. This is confirmed, first, by the Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication data which has only one subject: Electronic Data Processing-Moral and ethical aspects, and, second, by the single most frequently occurring reference here being the journal Ethics and Information Technology.That having been noted, everything in the ethics of and communications technology is covered here-and comprehensively. But this may be too much of a good thing, depending on the purpose of the enterprise: This reviewer's eyes blurred repeatedly at the barrage of names, acronyms, references, points, and counterpoints in essays which are almost all way too long to be digested easily in a single sitting. Moreover, familiarity with the issues involved-despite long definitional preludes before any ethical analysis starts-is presupposed. These factors make it hard for me to see how this book could be usefully adopted in the classroom. Additionally, at a U.S. retail sticker price of $140 (Books in Print), while not unusual for a hardcover book of this length, something over which the editors had no control, Wiley declined to send this journal a review copy. Because of time and space considerations, I will give detailed remarks on just nine of these essays, chosen by their title (which, if the old adage is right, is much the same as randomly). These include three of the more general and six of the more topical essays.First, the more general essays.Luciano Floridi on Information Ethics. Floridi introduces a tripartite explanatory model, treating as a resource, a target, or a product of human and machine action, only to conclude correctly that the model is inadequate because it eliminates the complexity of interactions among these three intertwining roles of information. For example, when one lies to protect his privacy, one produces to protect as a resource and this may change others' targets.He then veers to a discussion of entropy1 and ecology in the infosphere and information objects, words taken from science and computing that, as I see it, contribute little to understanding the ethical issues. Floridi himself says that his discussion might be considered too philosophical in the worst sense; he may be right on that score, but I would characterize the final part of the discussion as scientistic2 in a way that good, precise analytic philosophy is not. If precision, logical analysis, and rigor aid in the understanding, well and good; if they obscure issues, the charge of scientism becomes palpable. The same is true of models and analogies, more generally. Whatever else it might be, the fourth law of IE-the flourishing of informational entities as of the whole infosphere ought to be promoted by preserving, cultivating, and enriching their properties-does little to add clarity to any moral issues.What can be said, though, is that there is no problem with Floridi's approach that he does not himself anticipate, which makes for an interesting inner tension in the piece. Moreover, Floridi's treatment of Greek and English literature in the context of ethics is delightful, and he has read very widely and published just as widely in the field. (There are over three pages of references, more than one page of which refers to his own work.)Jeroen van den Hoven on Moral Methodology and Information Technology. The author covers the usual ground in discussing moral methodology in the applied ethics context quite competently and explains what makes computer ethics distinctive. …

Hybrid multinary modulation codes for page-oriented holographic data storage

Hybrid multinary block codes for implementation in page-oriented holographic storage systems are proposed. The codes utilize combined phase and amplitude modulations to encode input data. In comparison to pure amplitude-or pure phase-modulated block code designs hybrid multinary modulation coding allows us to augment the storage density at an unchanged error rate. Two different hybrid modulation code designs are introduced. Experimental implementation is thoroughly discussed, especially concentrating on readout concepts. Phase-resolved readout is accomplished by optical addition and subtraction, using an unmodulated reference page. Experimental results indicate that the overall error rate is usually dominated by errors related to amplitude detection. The study suggests that capacity gains of up to 31% or 47% are reasonable when utilizing phase modulations in conjunction with binary or ternary amplitude modulation.

What Is Mental Retardation? Ideas for an Evolving Disability in the 21st Centuryedited by Harvey N. Switzky and Stephen Greenspan; Washington, D.C., American Association on Mental Retardation, 2006, 358 pages, $59.95

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Book ReviewFull AccessWhat Is Mental Retardation? Ideas for an Evolving Disability in the 21st CenturyLee Combrinck-Graham M.D.Lee Combrinck-Graham M.D.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:1 Nov 2007https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2007.58.11.1506AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail This book is both an elaboration of and debate about the 2002 update of the criteria for "diagnosing" mental retardation published by the American Association on Mental Retardation. Facing 358 pages of arguments, explanations, historical review, and references on the subject is truly daunting but fascinating, both because of the passion and erudition of the contributors and because naming and diagnosing are at the heart of how we work throughout the health and mental health fields.The condition now referred to as mental retardation has been called idiocy, feeblemindedness, and mental deficiency. In fact the previous name of the American Association on Mental Retardation used to be the American Association on Mental Deficiency. And the name, itself, is still in evolution: the term "intellectual disabilities" has recently come into common usage among professionals.The 1992 update of criteria claimed "a new paradigm," a focus on the adaptation of the individual in society rather than on "absolute" measures, such as IQ. The essence of changes in definition in the most recent publications is the increasing focus on functionality and service needs and decreasing reliance on IQ test measurements as determining the diagnosis. Some of the authors disdain this relativism as ignoring science and ultimately degrading the definition.As the many polemics in the book elucidate in one way or another, there is a significant tension between a definition that provides a platform for research—based on measurable parameters—and a definition that supports the individual's qualifications for services. An example that has always been frustrating for those of us who work in schools is that a child whose IQ is above 75 does not qualify for special education services, unless the child is identified as having a specific learning disability. If there were a proper classification for "mental retardation" with appropriate educational interventions associated with it, then such children might receive a more effective and relevant education.David Coulter, in his chapter on neighbors and friends, states, "Families are looking for help so that their child can become a valued, productive, and responsible member of the community." A definition that focuses on the interaction between the individual and society as the object of assessment and intervention seems most appropriate for furthering this objective. At the end of his chapter, Coulter describes a dream trip through his community populated with individuals with intellectual disability working along with others as students, teammates, waitresses, condominium owners, and even representatives in local government.DSM-III introduced five axes for diagnosis to identify general medical and psychosocial factors in psychiatric functioning, as well as to try to distinguish state and trait. A major problem in practice has been the emphasis on axis I and sometimes on axis II and a relative failure to use the information from axes III, IV, and V significantly in treatment planning. As for research, axes IV and V seem to be problematic. This has led to procrustean distortions of axis I diagnostic categories, forcing developmental, historical, and traumatic outcomes into disease states. The 2002 American Association on Mental Retardation classification is nowhere near perfect. But as this book illustrates, the effort to get minds around these challenges is heroic.Dr. Combrinck-Graham is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who consults for Family Service Agencies, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and is associate clinical professor at the Yale Child Study Center, New Haven. FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited ByNone Volume 58Issue 11 November, 2007Pages 1506-1507PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES November 2007 Volume 58 Number 11 Metrics PDF download History Published online 1 November 2007 Published in print 1 November 2007