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Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary
At a moment when the term "Democracy " is evoked to express inchoate aspirations for peace and social change or particular governmental systems that may or may not benefit more than a select minority of the population, this book examines attempts from ancient Mesopotemia to the democratic movements of the early twenty-first century to sustain and improve their own lives and those of outsiders who have migrated into territory they regard as their own. Democratic activists have formed organizations to regulate the distribution of water, to restore the environment, and to assure that they and their children will have a future. They have organized their relations with deities and those who held secular power, and they have created particular institutions that they hoped would help them shape a good, free, and creative life for themselves and those who follow. They have also created laws and representative bodies to serve their needs on a regular basis and have written about the difficulties those they have elected to office have maintaining their ties to those who brought them to power in the first place. Since early times, proponents of direct or participatory democracy have come into conflict with the leaders of representative institutions that claim singular power over democracy. Patriots of one form or another have tried to reclaim the initiative to define what democracy should mean and who should manage it. Frequently people in small communities, trade unions, repressed, exploited, or denigrated racial, religious, political, or sexual groups have marched forward using the language of democracy to find space for themselves and their ideas at the center of political life. Sometimes they have re-interpreted the old laws, and sometimes they have formulated new laws and institutions in order to gain greater opportunities to debate the major issues of their time. Whatever conclusions they come to, they are only temporary since changing times require new solutions, assuring that democracy can only survive as a continuous process. As such and as a system of beliefs, democracy has many flaws. But looking cross-culturally and trans-historically, it still seems like democracy still holds promise for improving the lives of all the world's people.
This book examines the following factors: sponsorship of research,
control of the dissemination of research, effects of dominant
research paradigms, financial interests of authors, publishers, and
editors, role of new technologies (for example, Web 2.0).
Initially branching out of the European contradance tradition, the
danzon first emerged as a distinct form of music and dance among
black performers in nineteenth-century Cuba. By the early
twentieth-century, it had exploded in popularity throughout the
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean basin. A fundamentally hybrid music
and dance complex, it reflects the fusion of European and African
elements and had a strong influence on the development of later
Latin dance traditions as well as early jazz in New Orleans.
Danzon: Circum-Caribbean Dialogues in Music and Dance studies the
emergence, hemisphere-wide influence, and historical and
contemporary significance of this music and dance phenomenon.
Method in the Madness is presented as a companion to researchers
investigating the complex world of work. Rather than a How to text
on performing research, this book presents a record of experiences.
Research so often evolves in the field or the planning stages and a
successful researcher need to be aware of serendipitous
opportunities as they arise and how to solve problems as they
occur. The book comprises an introduction written by the editors
followed by thirteen chapters written by different contributors.
The introduction draws together the disparate experiences that
follow and discusses the ways in which the contributors, all of
whom are respected researchers, dealt with and learned from the
research experience. In the following chapters, the contributors
describe and reflect on the research process, the challenges they
met during their research and the lessons learned. The style
varies, but includes narratives, anecdotes and descriptions of
individuals experiences as research was designed and carried out
and the results generated.
Why are some civic associations better than others at getting--and
keeping--people involved in activism? From MoveOn.org to the
National Rifle Association, Health Care for America Now to the
Sierra Club, membership-based civic associations constantly seek to
engage people in civic and political action. What makes some more
effective than others?
Virtual Research Environments examines making Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) usable by researchers working to
solve grand challenge problems in many disciplines from social
science to particle physics. It is driven by research the authors
have carried out to evaluate researchers requirements in using
information services via web portals and in adapting collaborative
learning tools to meet their more diverse needs, particularly in a
multidisciplinary study.
In the past few decades, and across disparate geographical
contexts, states have adopted policies and initiatives aimed at
institutionalizing relationships with "their" diasporas. These
practices, which range from creating new ministries to granting
dual citizenship, are aimed at integrating diasporas as part of a
larger "global" nation that is connected to, and has claims on the
institutional structures of the home state. Although links, both
formal and informal, between diasporas and their presumptive
homelands have existed in the past, the recent developments
constitute a far more widespread and qualitatively different
phenomenon.
Content Licensing is a wide-ranging and comprehensive guide to
providing content for dissemination electronically. It outlines a
step-by-step introduction to the why, how, and frequently asked
questions of digital content and how to license it. In addition, it
examines the context in which licensing takes place. What makes the
book unique is that it examines licensing from a range of
perspectives.
Reviews the current landscape of scholarly communications and
publishing and potential futures, outlining key aspects of
transition to best possible futures for libraries and librarians.
This book is an introduction to the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, written in a lively, personal style. Hannan emphasizes the peculiar inconsistencies and tensions in Schopenhauer's thought - he was torn between idealism and realism, and between denial and affirmation of the individual will. In addition to providing a useful summary of Schopenhauer's main ideas, Hannan connects Schopenhauer's thought with ongoing debates in philosophy. According to Hannan, Schopenhauer was struggling half-consciously to break altogether with Kant and transcendental idealism; the anti-Kantian features of Schopenhauer's thought possess the most lasting value. Hannan defends panpsychist metaphysics of will, comparing it with contemporary views according to which causal power is metaphysically basic. Hannan also defends Schopenhauer's ethics of compassion against Kant's ethics of pure reason, and offers friendly amendments to Schopenhauer's theories of art, music, and "salvation." She also illuminates the deep connection between Schopenhauer and the early Wittgenstein, as well as Schopenhauer's influence on existentialism and psychoanalytic thought.
User-Generated Content and its Impact on Web-Based Library Services
examines the impact of user-generated content on web-based library
services. It begins with an overview of Web 2.0 tools and
technologies and a brief look at the emerging semantic tools of Web
3.0 and their implications for libraries. The book investigates the
changing role of the end user as both a creator and consumer of web
content and what this means for society s perception and
understanding of information. The author addresses the advantages
and challenges of using these tools to bring community expertise
and opinion into the library, from reinvention of the library
website as a community rather than a collection to the issues of
moderating user-generated content. The book also explores the
notion of low-fidelity authority, understanding that by
acknowledging the value in content that does not necessarily meet
traditional definition of authority, it creates the potential to
achieve a much greater level of relevance and engagement with
users. Throughout the book, conceptual discussion is illustrated
with real-world examples and practical suggestions for library
practitioners.
People use online social forums for all sorts of reasons, including
political conversations, regardless of the site's main purpose. But
what leads some of these people to take their online political
activity into the offline world of activism?
Aimed at students and professionals within Library and Information
Services (LIS), this book is about the power and potential of
ontologies to enhance the electronic search process. The book will
compare search strategies and results in the current search
environment and demonstrate how these could be transformed using
ontologies and concept searching. Simple descriptions, visual
representations, and examples of ontologies will bring a full
understanding of how these concept maps are constructed to enhance
retrieval through natural language queries. Readers will gain a
sense of how ontologies are currently being used and how they could
be applied in the future, encouraging them to think about how their
own work and their users' search experiences could be enhanced by
the creation of a customized ontology.
New Publication! Based on years of experience and prior publications, the NEW two-volume book, STEM RESEARCH for STUDENTS, is a vital resource for K-12 teachers, higher education faculty, and their students. In Volume One, students acquire the fundamentals and apply them to their investigations: Conduct experiments and refine the design and procedures; Construct data tables and graphs, use descriptive statistics, and make sense of an experiment; Meet a human need by designing, building, and testing a model; Communicate findings through reports and interactions with peers; Apply mathematical concepts to data including ratio and proportional relationships, geometry and measurement, algebra, and statistics. STEM Research for Students, Volume 1, is: Student friendly! Chapters contain investigations with readily available materials, explanations of major concepts, practice sets, and formative assessment tools. Use as a sequence or as individual units of study for specific content. STEM encompassing! For each core experiment, students have multiple options for making connections to various scientific disciplines, engineering, and mathematics. Teacher enhanced! Each chapter contains learning objectives and assessment tools checklists or rubrics. Answers to the practice sets are available on a secure Kendall Hunt web site. Standards aligned! All chapters are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core Standards for Mathematics and Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects, and the International Standards for Technology in Education Standards for Students. Available in print and e-Book formats, STEM Research for Students, Volume 1, may be used: As a supplemental text in upper elementary, middle, and senior high classrooms; As a core text for introductory research courses and STEM research clubs; For pre-service and in-service teachers of science, mathematics, career and technical courses, and gifted students; As a resource for all teachers involved with experiments, engineering designs, mathematical investigations, and competitive STEM projects. The companion volume, STEM Research for Students, Volume 2 enables students to build upon this strong foundation and create effective science experiments, engineering designs, and mathematical investigations.
Targeted at Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals,
this book concentrates on usability evaluation methods used to
design usable and user-centered library websites. Aimed at the
practitioner, it is a practical guide to methods that are used to
gather information from potential users that shape the design of
the website based on an interactive design process. From planning
the study to writing the report, this book guides the reader
through the process of usability evaluation using examples from the
author s experience with usability evaluation of library
interfaces. It describes usability techniques, procedures, report
writing, and design changes that lead to a user-centered interface.
Digital Information Culture is an introduction to the cultural,
social and political impact of digital information and digital
resources. The book is organised around themes, rather than
theories and is arranged into three sections: culture, society and
the individual. Each explores key elements of the social, cultural
and political impact of digital information. The culture section
outlines the origins of cyber culture in fifties pulp-fiction
through to the modern day. It explores the issues of information
overload, the threat of a digital dark age, and the criminal
underbelly of digital culture. Section two, society, explores the
economic and social impact of digital information, outlining key
theories of the Information Age. Section three explores the impact
of digital information and digital resources on the individual,
exploring the changing nature of identity in a digital world.
Across the world, governments design and implement policies with the explicit goal of promoting social justice. But can such institutions change entrenched social norms? And what effects should we expect from differently designed policies? Francesca R. Jensenius' Social Justice through Inclusion is an empirically rich study of one of the most extensive electoral quota systems in the world: the reserved seats for the Scheduled Castes (SCs, the former "untouchables") in India's legislative assemblies. Combining evidence from quantitative datasets from the period 1969-2012, archival work, and in-depth interviews with politicians, civil servants, and voters across India, the book explores the long-term effects of electoral quotas for the political elite and the general population. It shows that the quota system has played an important role in reducing caste-based discrimination, particularly at the elite level. Interestingly, this is not because the system has led to more group representation - SC politicians working specifically for SC interests - but because it has made possible the creation and empowerment of a new SC elite who have gradually become integrated into mainstream politics. This is a study of India, but the findings and discussions have broader implications. Policies such as quotas are usually supported with arguments about various assumed positive long-term consequences. The nuanced discussions in this book shed light on how electoral quotas for SCs have shaped the incentives for politicians, parties, and voters, and indicate the trade-offs inherent in how such policies of group inclusion are designed.
This book is an easy-to-use resource for teens wanting to learn more about why nicotine and tobacco are bad for your health and how to quit using them. The information and guidance offered make it a valuable tool for young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately seven percent of middle school students and 20 percent of high school students use tobacco or nicotine products. Everyone knows smoking is bad for you, so why do so many teens still smoke? Are e-cigarettes, hookah, and smokeless tobacco safer alternatives? How can individuals stop smoking or support the quitting efforts of friends and family? Smoking: Your Questions Answered, a part of Greenwood's Q&A Health Guides series, answers these and other questions related to this high-interest topic. Each book in this series follows a reader-friendly question-and-answer format that anticipates readers' needs and concerns. Prevalent myths and misconceptions are identified and dispelled, and a collection of case studies illustrates key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. The book also includes a section on health literacy, equipping teens and young adults with practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the internet-important skills that contribute to a lifetime of healthy decision-making. Makes the subject accessible to readers by means of a simple Q&A format Helps readers hone their research and critical thinking skills in a Guide to Health Literacy section Provides real-world examples of concepts discussed in the book through case studies Dispels popular misconceptions in a Common Myths section and directs readers towards accurate information Points readers towards additional books, organizations, and websites for further study and research in an annotated directory of resources
Nuclear power has been a contentious issue in Japan since the 1950s, and in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, the conflict has only grown. Government agencies and the nuclear industry continue to push a nuclear agenda, while the mainstream media adheres to the official line that nuclear power is Japan's future. Public debate about nuclear energy is strongly discouraged. Nevertheless, antinuclear activism has swelled into one of the most popular and passionate movements in Japan, leading to a powerful wave of protest music. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Protest Music After Fukushima shows that music played a central role in expressing antinuclear sentiments and mobilizing political resistance in Japan. Combining musical analysis with ethnographic participation, author Noriko Manabe offers an innovative typology of the spaces central to the performance of protest music-cyberspace, demonstrations, festivals, and recordings. She argues that these four spaces encourage different modes of participation and methods of political messaging. The openness, mobile accessibility, and potential anonymity of cyberspace have allowed musicians to directly challenge the ethos of silence that permeated Japanese culture post-Fukushima. Moving from cyberspace to real space, Manabe shows how the performance and reception of music played at public demonstrations are shaped by the urban geographies of Japanese cities. While short on open public space, urban centers in Japan offer protesters a wide range of governmental and commercial spaces in which to demonstrate, with activist musicians tailoring their performances to the particular landscapes and soundscapes of each. Music festivals are a space apart from everyday life, encouraging musicians and audience members to freely engage in political expression through informative and immersive performances. Conversely, Japanese record companies and producers discourage major-label musicians from expressing political views in recordings, forcing antinuclear musicians to express dissent indirectly: through allegories, metaphors, and metonyms. The first book on Japan's antinuclear music, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised provides a compelling new perspective on the role of music in political movements.
The Atlas of X-Linked Intellectual Disability Syndromes is a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the clinically distinctive disorders caused by genes on the X chromosome. Clinical and laboratory data on 150 syndromes are presented in a concise and consistent manner. Each syndrome is defined and information is provided on somatic features, growth and development, neurological signs, cognitive performance, imaging and other laboratory findings, and when possible, the nature and localization of the responsible gene. Craniofacial and other somatic findings are extensively illustrated. A differential matrix accompanies each syndrome description to assist the reader in identifying other X-linked syndromes with overlapping features. Individual syndrome entries are supplemented with nineteen appendices that identify syndromes with common features and provide the location or mapping limits and function of the responsible genes. The authors have extensive experience in the clinical and laboratory delineation of X-linked intellectual disability. They have described new syndromes, regionally mapped disease loci on the X chromosome, and identified the genes responsible for X-linked syndromes.
New Publication! Based on years of experience and prior publications, the NEW two-volume book, STEM RESEARCH for STUDENTS, is a vital resource for K-12 teachers, higher education faculty, and their students. In Volume Two, students build upon a strong foundation to create original STEM projects: Brainstorm ideas for projects; Analyze and address the safety risks involved in a project; Use the library and Web to expand understanding and develop a valid idea; Conduct a group mini-project which involves readily-available materials in the classroom, on a field site, or at a community location. Use algebra to represent patterns and develop mathematical models; Use statistics to detect the significance of relationships; and Communicate project findings through formal papers, visual presentations, and interactions with peers or judges. STEM Research for Students, Volume 2 is: Student friendly! Each chapter is carefully sequenced and contains a variety of formative assessment tools. Key definitions are included in an appendix. Essential foundational knowledge from Volume 1 is clearly referenced. STEM encompassing! Students have multiple opportunities to make connections by applying information from the various chapters to original projects. Teacher enhanced! Each chapter contains learning objectives and assessment tools checklists or rubrics. Answers to the practice sets are available on a secure Kendall Hunt web site. Standards aligned! All chapters are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core Standards for Mathematics and Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects, and the International Standards for Technology in Education Standards for Students. Available in print and e-Book formats, STEM Research for Students, Volume 2, may be used: As a supplemental text in middle school, high school, and introductory college courses; As core text for research classes and STEM clubs where students are ready to engage in group or individual projects: For pre-service and in-service teachers of science, mathematics, career and technical courses, and gifted students; As a resource for all teachers involved with experiments, engineering designs, mathematical investigations, and competitive STEM projects. The companion volume, STEM Research for Students, Volume 1, is a resource for students to acquire or strengthen the foundational knowledge necessary to engage in an original project.
Since the advent of the cinema, Jesus has frequently appeared in
our movie houses and on our television screens. Indeed, it may well
be that more people worldwide know about Jesus and his life story
from the movies than from any other medium. Indeed, Jesus' story
has been adapted dozens of times throughout the history of
commercial cinema, from the 1912 silent From the Manger to the
Cross to Mel Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ. No doubt
there are more to come.
After centuries of neglect, the ethics of food are back with a vengeance. Justice for food workers and small farmers has joined the rising tide of concern over the impact of industrial agriculture on food animals and the broader environment, all while a global epidemic of obesity-related diseases threatens to overwhelm modern health systems. An emerging worldwide social movement has turned to local and organic foods, and struggles to exploit widespread concern over the next wave of genetic engineering or nanotechnologies applied to food. Paul B. Thompson's book applies the rigor of philosophy to key topics in the first comprehensive study explore interconnections hidden deep within this welter of issues. Bringing more than thirty years of experience working closely with farmers, agricultural researchers and food system activists to the topic, he explores the eclipse of food ethics during the rise of nutritional science, and examines the reasons for its sudden re-emergence in the era of diet-based disease. Thompson discusses social injustice in the food systems of developed economies and shows how we have missed the key insights for understanding food ethics in the developing world. His discussions of animal production and the environmental impact of agriculture breaks new ground where most philosophers would least expect it. By emphasizing the integration of these issues, Thompson not only brings a comprehensive philosophical approach to moral issues in the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food - he introduces a fresh way to think about practical ethics that will have implications in other areas of applied philosophy.
Risk model validation is an emerging and important area of
research, and has arisen because of Basel I and II. These
regulatory initiatives require trading institutions and lending
institutions to compute their reserve capital in a highly analytic
way, based on the use of internal risk models. It is part of the
regulatory structure that these risk models be validated both
internally and externally, and there is a great shortage of
information as to best practise. Editors Christodoulakis and
Satchell collect papers that are beginning to appear by regulators,
consultants, and academics, to provide the first collection that
focuses on the quantitative side of model validation. The book
covers the three main areas of risk: Credit Risk and Market and
Operational Risk.
A practical guide to current Institutional Repository (IR) issues,
focussing on content - both gaining and preserving it and what
cultural issues need to be addressed to make a successful IR.
Importantly, the book uses real-life experiences to address and
highlight issues raised in the book. |
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