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Visual novels (VNs), a ludic video game genre that pairs textual
fiction stories with anime-like images and varying degrees of
interactivity, have increased in popularity among Western audiences
in recent years. Despite originating in Japan, these stories have
made their way into global culture as a genre accessible for both
play and creation with wide-ranging themes from horror and
loneliness to sexuality. The History and Allure of Interactive
Visual Novels begins with a comprehensive overview of the visual
novel genre and the cultural evolution that led to its rise, then
explains the tropes and appeal of subgenres like bishojo (cute girl
games), detective games, horror, and eroge (erotic games). Finally,
the book explores the future of the genre in both user-generated
games and games from other genres that liberally borrow both
narrative and ludological themes from visual novels. Whether
you’re a long-standing fan of the genre or a newcomer looking for
a fresh experience, The History and Allure of Interactive Visual
Novels will provide an accessible and critically engaging overview
of a genre that is rich in storytelling yet often overlooked.
Many people in South Africa are concerned with ethical matters -
both as an academic pursuit and by religious conviction. The topics
discussed in this publication are of the utmost importance to South
Africans as they search for a new identity in a so-called secular
community. A reader for academics and lay-people alike, this study
empowers one to make up ones own mind with regard to ethical issues
and related Biblical guidelines.
This comprehensive work, aimed at both students and researchers
alike, systematically covers all aspects of prion diseases
(transmissible spongiform encephalopathies), from their history,
microbiology and pathology to their transmissibility and
prevention. The book describes diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease, kuru, mad cow disease (BSE), chronic wasting disease and
scrapie, highlighting their biochemical, molecular biological,
genetic, and clinical aspects. A detailed presentation of the
impact of prion diseases in fields such as pharmaceutics, blood
products, disinfection, surgical instruments and epidemiology
concludes with a discussion of preventive measures. A renowned
editorial team, representing the fields of medicine, veterinary
medicine and molecular biology, brought together 80 internationally
respected authors for this translation and new edition of the
successful German publication, not only from relevant research
fields, but also from industry and public health institutions. The
book includes chapters by, among many other notable scientists,
William J. Hadlow, who discovered the relationship between the
human and animal forms of prion diseases and Michael P. Alpers,
with 45 years of experience in Papua New Guinea investigating the
first known human epidemic form, kuru, transmitted by
endocannibalism. Further contributions from Gerald A. H. Wells, a
veterinary pathologist who described BSE and recognised its
similarity to scrapie, thus recording the first cases in 1986 of
the most important animal epidemic of modern times, and Robert G.
Will, a medical neurologist and epidemiologist who discovered the
emergence of the variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in 1996,
underscore the strength of this author team. Carefully edited with
numerous illustrations, this work offers a systematic approach
committed to a clear presentation of the current knowledge of prion
diseases. It aims to inspire and stimulate interdisciplinary
cooperation, innovative research ideas and effective prevention.
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Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems, Volume II - Epidemiology, Evolution and Ecology, Immunology, Neural Systems and the Brain, and Innovative Mathematical Methods (Hardcover, 2008 ed.)
Andreas Deutsch, Rafael Bravo de la Parra, Rob J. De Boer, Odo Diekmann, Peter Jagers, …
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Volume II of this two-volume, interdisciplinary work is a
unified presentation of a broad range of state-of-the-art topics in
the rapidly growing field of mathematical modeling in the
biological sciences. Highlighted throughout are mathematical and
computational apporaches to examine central problems in the life
sciences, ranging from the organization principles of individual
cells to the dynamics of large populations. The chapters are
thematically organized into the following main areas: epidemiology,
evolution and ecology, immunology, neural systems and the brain,
and innovative mathematical methods and education.
The work will be an excellent reference text for a broad
audience of researchers, practitioners, and advanced students in
this rapidly growing field at the intersection of applied
mathematics, experimental biology and medicine, computational
biology, biochemistry, computer science, and physics.
Hardly a day goes by without news headlines concerning
infectious disease threats. Currently the spectre of a pandemic of
influenza A-H1N1 is raising its head, and heated debates are taking
place about the pro s and con s of vaccinating young girls against
human papilloma virus. For an evidence-based and responsible
communication of infectious disease topics to avoid
misunderstandings and overreaction of the public, we need solid
scientific knowledge and an understanding of all aspects of
infectious diseases and their control.
The aim of our book is to present the reader with the general
picture and the main ideas of the subject. The book introduces the
reader to methodological aspects of epidemiology that are specific
for infectious diseases and provides insight into the epidemiology
of some classes of infectious diseases characterized by their main
modes of transmission. This choice of topics bridges the gap
between scientific research on the clinical, biological,
mathematical, social and economic aspects of infectious diseases
and their applications in public health.
The book will help the reader to understand the impact of
infectious diseases on modern society and the instruments that
policy makers have at their disposal to deal with these challenges.
It is written for students of the health sciences, both of curative
medicine and public health, and for experts that are active in
these and related domains, and it may be of interest for the
educated layman since the technical level is kept relatively
low."
This collection of essays focuses on current approaches to
variation and change in historical English grammar and lexicon. Of
the twelve papers in the collection, half are based on grammar and
syntax, half on lexical developments. The volume highlights the
contributions that strong empirical research can make to our
knowledge of the development of English grammar, especially as
realized in lexical development. In illustration of contemporary
research trends, the articles in the collection make strong use of
extralinguistic factors to discuss language change as well as argue
for internal and structural development. The authors are drawn from
nine different countries, and each article is followed by a
commentary and response that provide actual dialogue about the
issues in the field, thus representing world-wide discussion of
issues in the history of English. The essays recognize the
different audiences for historical variation and change - formal
linguists, sociolinguists, and lexicographers - and specifically
address the interests and discourse in those areas. The volume
shows how historical studies of English are increasingly engaged
with contemporary trends in linguistics, at the same time as
demonstrating how empirical and other methods can bring classical
philology fully into the sphere of contemporary linguistics without
abandoning its traditional concerns.
Over the past decade, conducting empirical research in linguistics
has become increasingly popular. The first of its kind, this book
provides an engaging and practical introduction to this exciting
versatile field, providing a comprehensive overview of research
aspects in general, and covering a broad range of
subdiscipline-specific methodological approaches. Subfields covered
include language documentation and descriptive linguistics,
language typology, corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics and
anthropological linguistics, cognitive linguistics and
psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics. The book reflects on the
strengths and weaknesses of each single approach and on how they
interact with one-another across the study of language in its many
diverse facets. It also includes exercises, example student
projects and recommendations for further reading, along with
additional online teaching materials. Providing hands-on
experience, and written in an engaging and accessible style, this
unique and comprehensive guide will give students the inspiration
they need to develop their own research projects in empirical
linguistics.
Exploring Linguistic Science introduces students to the basic
principles of complexity theory and then applies these principles
to the scientific study of language. It demonstrates how, at every
level of linguistic study, we find evidence of language as a
complex system. Designed for undergraduate courses in language and
linguistics, this essential textbook brings cutting-edge concepts
to bear on the traditional components of general introductions to
the study of language, such as phonetics, morphology and grammar.
The authors maintain a narrative thread throughout the book of
'interaction and emergence', both of which are key terms from the
study of complex systems, a new science currently useful in
physics, genetics, evolutionary biology, and economics, but also a
perfect fit for the humanities. The application of complexity to
language highlights the fact that language is an ever-changing,
ever-varied product of human behavior.
The soils are fundamental to our existence, delivering water and
nutrients to plants, that feed us. But they are in many ways in
danger and their conservation is therefore a most important focus
for science, governments and society as a whole. A team of world
recognised researchers have prepared this first English edition
based on the 16th European edition. * The precursors and the
processes of soil development * The physical, biological and
chemical properties of soils * Nutrients and Pollutants * The
various soil classifications with the main focus on the World
Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) * The most important soils
and soil landscapes of the world * Soil Evaluation Techniques *
Basic Principles of Soil Conservation Whoever works with soils
needs this book.
Over the past decade, conducting empirical research in linguistics
has become increasingly popular. The first of its kind, this book
provides an engaging and practical introduction to this exciting
versatile field, providing a comprehensive overview of research
aspects in general, and covering a broad range of
subdiscipline-specific methodological approaches. Subfields covered
include language documentation and descriptive linguistics,
language typology, corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics and
anthropological linguistics, cognitive linguistics and
psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics. The book reflects on the
strengths and weaknesses of each single approach and on how they
interact with one-another across the study of language in its many
diverse facets. It also includes exercises, example student
projects and recommendations for further reading, along with
additional online teaching materials. Providing hands-on
experience, and written in an engaging and accessible style, this
unique and comprehensive guide will give students the inspiration
they need to develop their own research projects in empirical
linguistics.
An understanding of language as a complex system helps us to think
differently about linguistics, and helps us to address the impact
of linguistic interaction. This book demonstrates how the science
of complex systems changes every area of linguistics: how to make a
grammar, how to think about the history of language, how language
works in the brain, and how it works in social settings.
Kretzschmar argues that to construct the best grammars of languages
it is necessary to understand the complex system of speech. Each
chapter makes specific recommendations for how linguists should
manage empirical data in order to form better generalizations about
a language and its varieties. The book will be welcomed by students
and scholars working in linguistics and English language,
especially the study of language variation and the historical
development of English.
Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not
used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad
quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are
images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to
keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the
original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain
imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made
available for future generations to enjoy.
Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not
used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad
quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are
images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to
keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the
original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain
imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made
available for future generations to enjoy.
Within the democratisation literature, opposition unity is widely
seen as an important requisite to successfully pressure
authoritarian rulers into liberalising reforms and in bringing
about democratic change. Taking up on this theme, this book
examines the myriad ways in which opposition groups across the Arab
world have sought to coalesce into broader reform coalitions at the
local, national and transnational levels to challenge authoritarian
incumbents and their policies. Drawing on original case studies
from the region, it sheds light on the diverse nature and
objectives of these reform coalitions, and explores the challenges
opposition groups face in Arab states in uniting behind a common
reform agenda and in driving this agenda forward. Be they electoral
pacts, local government coalitions, broader opposition alliances or
networks of resistance, this book demonstrates that, although
widespread, the record of collective opposition activism in the
Arab world is mixed, with many reform coalitions lacking the
necessary cohesion and mass appeal to effectively mobilise for
change. This book was originally published as a special issue of
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
Within the democratisation literature, opposition unity is widely
seen as an important requisite to successfully pressure
authoritarian rulers into liberalising reforms and in bringing
about democratic change. Taking up on this theme, this book
examines the myriad ways in which opposition groups across the Arab
world have sought to coalesce into broader reform coalitions at the
local, national and transnational levels to challenge authoritarian
incumbents and their policies. Drawing on original case studies
from the region, it sheds light on the diverse nature and
objectives of these reform coalitions, and explores the challenges
opposition groups face in Arab states in uniting behind a common
reform agenda and in driving this agenda forward. Be they electoral
pacts, local government coalitions, broader opposition alliances or
networks of resistance, this book demonstrates that, although
widespread, the record of collective opposition activism in the
Arab world is mixed, with many reform coalitions lacking the
necessary cohesion and mass appeal to effectively mobilise for
change. This book was originally published as a special issue of
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
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