This ACS Symposium Series is the product of a symposium held at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, CA on March 27-31, 2011. It includes chapters on new biobased building blocks such as the furandicarboxylic acid, polyesters and polyamides from adipic, succinic and sebacic acids with aliphatic diols such as 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,12-dodecylenediol and isosorbide. The conversion of hydroxymethylfurfural, the dehydration product of hexose sugars, to succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol to produce poly(butylene succinate) is described in one chapter. Also the synthesis of new polymers from plant-derived olefinic monomers such as tulipalin A and studies of composites from cotton by-products are featured in other chapters. There is a strong emphasis on biocatalytic synthesis and polymerization within the book. Chapter topics include the synthesis of ?-hydroxyfatty acids and polymers therefrom, an interesting discussion on the structural differences of the products of the biocatalytic and chemical catalytic synthesis of polyesters from oleic diacid and glycerol and the ability to produce polylactic acid (PLA) and PLA-PHA copolyesters within a "microbial cell factory". Other areas of interest explored in other chapters include recent developments of biobased polymer fibers and oleate-based pressure sensitive adhesives and composites. One chapter describes a large increase in cold-drawn fiber tensile strength by the blending of a small amount of ultrahigh molecular weight (MW) poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with a much lower MW 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer. The addition of a rubber and inorganic fillers to normally brittle PLA was found to dramatically improve its ductility. Finally, there are several chapters on seed oil-based polyurethanes, one on fibers from soy proteins and composites from starch.

The "Nations" are the "seventy nations": a metaphor which, in the Talmudic idiom, designates the whole of humanity surrounding Israel. In this major collection of essays, Levinas considers Judaism's uncertain relationship to European culture since the Enlightenment, problems of distance and integration. It also includes essays on Franz Rosenzweig and Moses Mendelssohn, and a discussion of central importance to Jewish philosophy in the context of general philosophy. This work brings to the fore the vital encounter between philosophy and Judaism, a hallmark of Levinas's thought.

Journey back to the spring of 1775, when Bennington County, Vermont was no more than the wild frontier of the northern territory. It was from here that the first victory of the American Revolution was won, when Patriot Ethan Allen led the famed Green Mountain Boys to raid and capture towering Fort Ticonderoga from the British.

Two years later, the British were again defeated at the Battle of Bennington, sufferring two hundred casualties and the staggering capture of more than seven hundred soldiers by another Patriot, John Stark.

Dick Smith takes readers through the famed covered bridges, historic taverns and quaint villages of Bennington County that in another life played a vital role in leading our country toward independence.

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.

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.

This title introduces you to the exciting and most important world of basic business finance. The text endeavours to answer questions such as: How do I interpret the figures on a balance sheet and an income statement? What is the meaning of the concepts 'capital', 'income' and 'profit'? How do we know if the business is covering all its costs? What do we mean by the fundamental financial concept 'the time value of money'? The answers to all of these questions will ultimately affect the long-term survival and success of your business. In endeavouring to answer these questions the text covers either chapters, each commencing with learning outcomes to be addressed in that chapter. The aim of this title is to equip you with the knowledge of basic business finance principles and the skills required to practise these principles in your own business. Basic Business Finance follows an outcomes-based approach and is suitable for use either directly in your business or in any basic course on the principles of business finance. Each chapter concludes with self-test questions. After studying this title you should be able to - Interpret the financial effects of daily business activities; identify and source the capital requirements for ongoing and new business ventures; undertake break-even analysis in order to ensure the long-term profitability of the enterprise; compile a financial plan in the form of budgets to evaluate whether goals are being achieved; successfully manage cash, credit and inventories; calculate tax liability and apply insurance cover to your enterprise.

"A Crack in the Family" presents the story of author Sissy Smith's life, examining her role not only as narcotic abuser but also an enabler. It traces a journey through the tragic world of the crack cocaine epidemic in America, exploring family, sex, drugs, and love. Born in 1951, Sissy chronicles the important changes and events in her life set against the backdrop of historical events of the time. She was the fourth born of twelve children; she had three sisters and eight brothers. Shy and withdrawn as a child, she was slow to develop friendships. In 1971, she turned twenty and her life in the fast lane began; in that same year, "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel won Record of the Year and "All in the Family" debuted on CBS. The life story told in "A Crack in the Family" holds that determination and perseverance can overcome any roadblock in one's short lifetime, that everyone should face life's challenges one day at a time, and that the choices we make early in our lives determine the development of our outcomes down the road.

This work treats presidential leadership as persuasive communication. The major theories of presidential leadership found in the literature establish the central role of persuasion, and introduce the interpretive systems approach to political communication as a theoretical framework for the study of presidential leadership as persuasion. Case studies examine recent presidents' use of public persuasion to perform their leadership functions. Particular attention is devoted to coalitional constraints on presidential pardoning rhetoric, presidential leadership through the politics of division, the political significance of conflicting political narratives, the sermonic nature of much 20th-century presidential discourse, the difficulties inherent in persuading the public to make sacrifices, and the dangers of relying too heavily on public rhetoric. The concluding chapter considers the rhetoric that contributed to the demise of the Bush presidency, the election of Bill Clinton, and the challenges facing the Clinton presidency.