The evolution of China's market economy is one of the most important developments in the world economy in the twenty-first century. The diverse contributors to this book provide a unique set of essays that evaluate legal, regulatory, and economic aspects of China's transition from planned to market economy. While market-oriented policy reform in China has led to substantial growth and progress since the onset of the reform period in 1979, many challenges remain. This study begins with a general survey of China's transition to a market economy and is followed by more elaborate analyses of specific sectors. The authors consider China's changing regulatory structure and the relationships of this structure to Chinese markets, developments in markets for goods, services, and production factors, changing trade patterns, and the determinants of foreign direct investment and its role in overall capital formation. They provide a comprehensive assessment of market reforms in China. In-depth yet accessible, the book will be of great value to policy makers, business planners, students and researchers concerned with China, as well as those interested in the world economy at large.

Market Development in China presents the analysis of leading specialists on the causes, benefits and problems resulting from China's transition to a market economy. As the authors illustrate, it is generally recognized that in the last 25 years China has achieved a rate of economic growth unmatched in any of the world's major countries. However, this growth has been unequally shared, so that by the year 2000, China also exhibited what to many observers was an alarming degree of income inequality at individual, sectoral, and regional levels. This books deals with several facets of China's spectacular economic growth and its rising income inequality. It is shown that geographical and sectoral distribution of social services has increased the degree of inequality among Chinese households. On the positive side though, there is evidence that regionalization of commodity markets has decreased, promoting pricing equality, which is surely a cornerstone of income equality. Analysis is also presented on regional technology spillovers, rural-urban labor migration, and the relationship between FDI and the ability of state-owned enterprises to cope with the pressures of hard budget constraints. The book provides updated evidence on China's social and economic inequalities and their causes. The contributions make up a cohesive and valuable study that will appeal to scholars and researchers at many levels of academe in the fields of economics, Asian studies - and Chinese studies in particular - as well as development economists.

Chosen for their clear, direct relevance to scholars and practitioners in the volatile field of competitive intelligence, the 24 issues evaluated here represent the cutting edge of CI's most pressing concerns. Current, scholarly, pragmatic, and among the first of its kind, this book presents the heart of the field in a way that even the relatively uninitiated can grasp and quickly apply.

The authors cover the latest technological advances and their relation to the tools most valued by CI professionals. They also show that despite its enormous range of possibilities, CI has limits. Navigating the ever-changing organizational and marketplace environments is difficult. A key debate involves what should and shouldn't be done to maximize the beneficial power of CI. Fleisher, Blenkhorn, and the book's contributors present the crucial points of this debate. This book is perfect for practitioners seeking guidance, but also as a supplemental text for students in such courses as marketing strategy and planning, business-to-business marketing, and competitive intelligence itself.

Competitive intelligence (CI) is the practice of gathering and analyzing information about competitors in order to gain an edge in the marketplace or by shoring up one's own company's defenses prior to an anticipated assault. The stakes are even higher in a global environment, where the potential risks and rewards are amplified. This volume explores emerging trends that affect and influence CI today, such as the impact of digital commerce, the effects of interest groups, and new laws governing the practice of CI across borders. This book illustrates how CI is conducted around the world and highlights the ways in which practicing CI globally is fundamentally different from doing so in a static, one-country context. The authors offer fresh insights and recommendations for CI specialists, strategic planners and executives, marketers and product developers, and anyone studying competition and strategy. Competitive intelligence (CI) is the practice of gathering and analyzing information about competitors in order to gain an edge in the marketplace (for example, by anticipating their next moves and beating them to the punch) or by shoring up one's own company's defenses prior to an anticipated assault. The stakes are even higher in a global environment, where the potential risks and rewards are amplified. This volume explores emerging trends that affect and influence CI today, such as the impact of digital commerce (which enhances the speed with which products and services can be delivered around the world, as well as the speed with which competitors can surprise you), the effects of interest groups (such as those advocating environmental protections, which can tilt the playing fields), and new laws governing the practice of CI across borders. In this book, contributions from researchers, scholars, and practitioners specializing in competitive intelligence reveal the most current practices in the field. In-depth analysis of emerging approaches to CI in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and in industries across the spectrum from pharmaceuticals to automotive supply chains, highlight the ways in which practicing CI globally is fundamentally different from doing so in a static, one-country context. The authors offer fresh insights and recommendations for CI specialists, strategic planners and executives, marketers and product developers, and anyone studying competition and strategy.

Recent efforts to engage more explicitly with the interpretation of emotions in archaeology have sought new approaches and terminology to encourage archaeologists to take emotions seriously. This is part of a growing awareness of the importance of senses-what we see, smell, hear, and feel-in the constitution and reconstitution of past social and cultural lives. Yet research on emotion in archaeology remains limited, despite the fact that such states underpin many studies of socio-cultural transformation. The Archaeology of Anxiety draws together papers that examine the local complexities of anxiety as well as the variable stimuli-class or factional struggle, warfare, community construction and maintenance, personal turmoil, and responsibilities to (and relationships with) the dead-that may generate emotional responses of fear, anxiousness, worry, and concern. The goal of this timely volume is to present fresh research that addresses the material dimension of rites and performances related to the mitigation and negotiation of anxiety as well as the role of material culture and landscapes in constituting and even creating periods or episodes of anxiety.

In MARRIAGE: THE SEXLESS ALTERNATIVE AND HOW TO FIX IT, the authors shine a bright light into this normally dark corner of marriage. They start by presenting the big picture and proceed to outline and detail specific problem areas - the many, varied stumbling blocks, physical and emotional - while providing integrative solutions in clear, forthright language that can even delve into humour. The authors make no bones about the fact that resolving issues responsible for a decline in the nature and frequency of sexual relations - be they personal, behavioural, physical (including hormonal), psychological or a combination of any of these -requires the full participation of the couple if the relationship is to grow. Marriage is for grownups, say Fleisher and Foss-Morgan and if the couple understands this and is aware of all the potential causes for the dysfunctions, they can effectively work through the problems to achieve appropriate solutions that will lead to the ultimate reward: restored harmonious feelings and intimacy. Throughout this whole process, the authors are on hand to help make this happen. Each aspect of the declining attraction to the mate is discussed in its own section, including separate chapters on male and female sexuality and alternative remedial actions are individually proposed. In this manner, the overgrown elephant dominating the room is brought down to a manageable size. While the authors frankly state that some situations cannot be salvaged and they discuss the best courses of action in these instances, their primary focus is on bringing light and lustre back to a fading marriage. Readers who are in search of such advice would be well served to hear what the book's creators have to say - they have nothing to lose but their despair.

"When the next generation of public affairs practitioners look back to the beginning of the twenty first century they will recognise the 'Handbook of Public Affairs' as the cornerstone text on which global practice came to be based" - Tom Spencer, Executive Director, European Centre for Public Affairs "Excelling in the practice of corporate public affairs in the 21st Century will necessitate bringing together two competencies: possessing a solid professional foundation base don time-tested principles, and having the ability to reach beyond the basics by adapting the best current thinking, practices, and models available. Professionals can enhance both competencies by reading the Handbook of Public Affairs"- Brian Hawkinson, Director Center for Public Affairs Management/Public Affairs Council Washington "Understanding the imperatives of stakeholders and special interest groups in the public domain is of increasing importance to leaders in both business and politics. However, knowing how to influence these imperatives, and design communications to proactively affect change, is a well sought-after commodity. Public affairs professionals not only understand these dynamics, but constantly strive to ensure continuous improvement in the counsel they provide and in the results they deliver. As more and more people in business, government, NGO and not-for-profit sectors are seeking out the services of public affairs practitioners, this Handbook will help readers gain a better appreciation for strategies and tactics that comprise successful public affairs campaigns'"- Chris Benedetti, President, Public Affairs Association of Canada "The Handbook is a landmark development in the field of Public Affairs, bringing together in a single volume contributions from key academics and practitioners in the field. It offers a comprehensive overview of the field for the first time and is an essential reference book to underpin practice, teaching and research in the discipline'"- Professor Andrew Lock, Leeds University Business School 'The Handbook of Public Affairs is a comprehensive guide to best knowledge and practices in the field. Everyone from business school deans to chief executive officers to seasoned public affairs executives can find information in the Handbook of Public Affairs to help them achieve their reputation- and public policy-related goals'"- Douglas G. Pinkham, President, Public Affairs Council "For years, there has been a glaring lack of substantive academic literature to underpin the development of the public affairs profession. Throughout his distinguished career, Craig Fleisher has made a vast contribution to filling that void. In the Handbook of Public Affairs, Craig and his co-editor Phil Harris, have brought together the best minds in the field from around the globe to create a text that will surely support the development of new programs and new careers for the public affairs practitioners of tomorrow'"-Randall Pearce, General Manager Ipsos Mackay Public Affairs, Sydney"The Handbook of Public Affairs will be a valuable resource for the growing number of public affairs practitioners who seek to balance an appreciation of the global evolution of their profession with the hands-on reality of applying core concepts and theories to their organisation s management practices"- Alexis Lindsay, Director, The Centre for Corporate Public Affairs (Australia) Public Affairs and particularly government relations//lobbying, have evolved in recent years from a tactic adopted by organizations to amend occasional legislation to become a managerial strategy to achieve competitive advantage. At the fore-front of research and practice in Public Affairs, this Handbook draws upon the expertise of leading figures in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of a huge growth area in organisations' strategic thinking. Articles evoke pan-national experience and are organised into four sections to help readers navigate issues and draw comparisons. Sections cover: - investigation into the development and meaning of Public Affairs - the management and practice of Public Affairs within organisations - global case studies - an overview of scholarly developments."

Quality improvement (QI) principles are increasingly important in every area of today's healthcare, encompassing efforts to make healthcare delivery safer, more effective, patient-centered, timely, equitable, and efficient. Perioperative Quality Improvement provides up-to-date, easy-to-read guidance for perioperative clinicians on this critical topic. Each chapter covers a pertinent area of QI in the perioperative setting, focusing on both concepts and implementation. Written and edited by key opinion leaders in the field, this text is a relevant, concise resource for anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurse anesthetists, and hospitalists-anyone involved in perioperative medicine regardless of specialty area. Explains concepts related to understanding the tools and techniques used in improving the quality of care, establishing a culture of quality, prioritizing areas of improvement, collecting and analyzing data, communicating, motivating people to change, and performing ongoing evaluations. Covers key topics such as patient-centered care, equity, shared decision making, process mapping, and sustainability. Addresses the critical areas of structure, process and outcome with a focus on perioperative care and relevant case studies. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

The Sexless Marriage Fix, by doctors Robert Fleisher and Roberta Foss-Morgan, is the book that gets everyone talking about a problem no one is talking about: sexless marriage. Unfortunately, it’s an intimate problem that is nearing epidemic proportions. But what many don’t realize is that there are real solutions, and it all begins with a blood test! In this eye-opening book, the authors reveal: • ?the true causes of the decline in the nature and frequency of sexual relations, including personal, behavioral, physical (including hormonal), psychological, or combined factors. • ??an intimate and straightforward discussion on male and female sexuality, including a frank exploration of aspects related to a decline in attraction unique to each gender. • ??how to work through virtually any problem with a comprehensive program designed to restore harmonious feelings and increase intimacy.

For specialists and nonspecialists alike, this perceptive selection of the newest and up and coming tools and techniques of competitive intelligence, offering a well balanced combination of theory and practice. It shows how advances in computers and technology have accelerated progress in CI management, and the ways in which CI has affected (and been affected by) all major business functions and processes. It explores applications to organizations of various sizes and types, in both the public and private sectors. Editors Fleisher and Blenkhorn link leading-edge research in CI to advances in current practice, and balance pragmatic against conceptual concerns. Analysts, strategists and organizational decision makers at higher levels will find the book especially valuable, as they seek to make sense of the business environment and assess their organizations' evolving, dynamic places in it.

The pace of change in today's global, competitive economy is greater than at any time in recorded history. Thus, as never before, companies need better tools for business and competitive analysis. The book surveys applications of CI that are critical to business processes, such as mergers and acquisitions, and to evolving industries, such as biotechnology. They focus on how push and pull Internet technologies affect data gathering and analysis and how CI can be managerially assessed using multiple evaluative approaches, unavailable until now in the public domain. They then turn to the future, and lay out some startling yet plausible viewpoints on what the next frontiers of competitive intelligence will be and how organizations can and must ready themselves for them.

Covering everything from historical and international perspectives to basic science and current clinical practice, Miller's Anesthesia, 9th Edition, remains the preeminent reference in the field. Dr. Michael Gropper leads a team of global experts who bring you the most up-to-date information available on the technical, scientific, and clinical issues you face each day - whether you're preparing for the boards, studying for recertification, or managing a challenging patient care situation in your practice. Contains fully revised and updated content throughout, including numerous new videos online. Includes four new chapters: Clinical Care in Extreme Environments: High Pressure, Immersion, and Hypo- and Hyperthermia; Immediate and Long-Term Complications; Clinical Research; and Interpreting the Medical Literature. Addresses timely topics such as neurotoxicity, palliation, and sleep/wake disorders. Streamlines several topics into single chapters with fresh perspectives from new authors, making the material more readable and actionable. Features the knowledge and expertise of former lead editor Dr. Ronald Miller, as well as new editor Dr. Kate Leslie of the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital. Provides state-of-the-art coverage of anesthetic drugs, guidelines for anesthetic practice and patient safety, new techniques, step-by-step instructions for patient management, the unique needs of pediatric patients, and much more - all highlighted by more than 1,500 full-color illustrations for enhanced visual clarity. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices, in addition to accessing regular updates, related websites, and an expanded collection of procedural videos. The initial printing of Miller's Anesthesia, 9e contained a dosage error in chapter 26, "Intravenous Drug Delivery Systems," on page 771, Table 26.5 (Manual Infusion Schemes). A maintenance infusion of Dexmedetomidine was mistakenly reported as 0.3 - 0.7 mcg/kg/min instead of 0.3 - 0.7 mcg/kg/hr (or 0.005-0.015 mcg/kg/min). As of October 2, 2020 all stock has been corrected. If you find that you have a book with this error please contact publisher for correction sticker.

Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory explores the place of Africa in archaeological theory, and the place of theory in African archaeology. The centrality of Africa to global archaeological thinking is highlighted, with a particular focus on materiality and agency in contemporary interpretation. As a means to explore the nature of theory itself, the volume also addresses differences between how African models are used in western theoretical discourse and the use of that theory within Africa. Providing a key contribution to theoretical discourse through a focus on the context of theory-building, this volume explores how African modes of thought have shaped our approaches to a meaningful past outside of Africa. A timely intervention into archaeological thought, Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory deconstructs the conventional ways we approach the past, positioning the continent within a global theoretical discourse and blending Western and African scholarship. This volume will be a valuable resource for those interested in the archaeology of Africa, as well as providing fresh perspectives to those interested in archaeological theory more generally.

Based on the most current evidence and best practices, Perioperative Medicine: Managing for Outcome, 2nd Edition, is an easy-to-follow, authoritative guide to achieving optimal outcomes in perioperative care. Written and edited by recognized authorities in anesthesiology and surgical critical care, this fully updated edition helps you think critically about complex, long-term issues surrounding the care of the surgical patient, providing decision trees that define strategies to enhance the medical outcome of care. Focuses on what anesthesiologists, surgeons, and intensivists need to know in order to improve outcomes through evidence- and outcome-based approaches. Provides practical guidance on potential risks to all major organ systems, the etiology of particular organ dysfunctions, preoperative and intraoperative risk factors, and perioperative protection strategies to minimize potential complications. Features a consistent chapter format - with even more color-coded algorithms, summary tables, and boxes - that enables you to quickly explore and determine the best management approaches. Includes six all-new chapters: Perioperative Fluid Management; Delirium and POCD; Role of Palliative Care/ICU; Value-Based Care: The UK Model; CFO Perspective on Value; Hospital to Home (Perioperative Transitions of Care) Discusses timely topics such as quality improvement, pay-for-performance, preexisting disease and comorbid conditions in anesthesiology, and the team-based model of care. Features two new editors, surgeon Clifford Ko, MD, and Perioperative Summit leader, Michael (Monty) Mythen, MD. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

A gorgeous hardcover time capsule of the emo music scene as it was from 1996 to 2006, featuring never-before-seen photographs and never-before-told stories from key emo musicians, photographers, and icons. While the term emo has become a familiar label, there was a time when that wasn't the case. Many bands of the mid-to-late '90s would never have classified themselves as such - back then, the term was not only inaccurate but often used derogatorily. With the advent of the 2000s, the previously underground emo scene was put on the map, and the term and sound of the genre morphed into something new. A musical renaissance was happening, but bands didn't give much thought to the label in the long term. Nothing mattered, as long as the kids came out to shows. Today, the musical and cultural impact of this movement is alive and well, responsible for some of the biggest and most influential acts of the 21st century, from Jimmy Eat World to My Chemical Romance, and the emo label has been reclaimed by those who can't imagine life without it. Through rare and never-before-seen photographs Amy Fleisher Madden, founder of Fiddler Records (Dashboard Confessional, New Found Glory, Recover, and more), thoughtfully and lovingly puts together this moving archive of the second and third waves of emo. With a foreword by Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) and revealing essays from Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), Geoff Rickly (Thursday), Norman Brannon (Texas Is the Reason), and Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids), as well as insights and bite-sized narratives from photographers and other musicians of the era, this heartwarming time capsule expounds an extraordinary moment in music history - a scene that gave life to not only numerous big names but also to a powerful sound and even more powerful friendships. Featuring over 80 bands, including: Jimmy Eat World Dashboard Confessional My Chemical Romance Texas Is the Reason Taking Back Sunday The Get Up Kids Thursday The Promise Ring American Football Saosin From basements and VFW halls to dive bars and hole-in-the-walls, during long overnight drives through the middle of nowhere and stolen moments of sleep in carbon-copy motels, Negatives captures the heart of what made up this tight-knit community, an official archive of life as it was, taking you on stage, behind the curtain, and on the road.

Highly regarded by anesthesiologists, residents, and nurse anesthetists, Essence of Anesthesia Practice, 4th Edition by Drs. Lee A. Fleisher, Michael F. Roizen, and Jeffrey Roizen, is a trusted resource for point-of-care anesthesia management. Concise, easy-to-find summaries cover a single clinical topic for both common and rare conditions. A renewed focus on diseases and drugs makes this edition even more useful when formulating anesthesia plans and mastering the core knowledge of anesthesia practice. Features a unique, easy-to-follow, consistent format that covers a single clinical topic on each page, with a review of its problems, causes, comorbidities, and anesthesia implications. Helps you understand the interactions of common drugs and alternative medicine so that you can develop effective anesthesia plans. Includes more than 105 new disease topics (with more coverage of rarer diseases) and new drug information featuring 20 new drugs that patients take on an outpatient basis. Offers fresh insights on nearly 550 topics - many authored by new contributors to this edition. Keeps you current with the latest perioperative anesthetic implications including anticipated problems, drug interactions, and special concerns. Expert Consult eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience allows you to search all of the text, figures, images, videos (including video updates), glossary, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

Be the one to make a difference in your students' thinking With more than 100 games to choose from, "Brain Food" is your one-stop source for exploring the fun in learning. This compilation is filled with new, as well as traditional, brain games, and most need little more than paper and pencil to get you started. Each game is classroom tested and tailored to encourage cooperation and teamwork, as well as deductive logic. The book includesword games, math games, logic games, memory games, andmuch more One exciting aspect of this book is that it has a bit of an international flavor. It is filled with fun games from around the world that challenge and stimulate young minds. From the Japanese strategy game Hasami Shogi, to the traditional African game Wari, to the deductive game Witch Hunt, to the word challenge Wordbuilder, these mind-stretching tools encourage complex thinking skills.
Games by their very nature require thinking. With "Brain Food" you'll get teaching tools such as Alphamazement--a game of strategy that challenges both visual and verbal skills by having players connect letters of the alphabet in a zigzagging maze. Or, try the traditional Maori game Mu-Torere to enhance visual and mathematical skills.
Grades 4--12

Recent efforts to engage more explicitly with the interpretation of emotions in archaeology have sought new approaches and terminology to encourage archaeologists to take emotions seriously. This is part of a growing awareness of the importance of senses-what we see, smell, hear, and feel-in the constitution and reconstitution of past social and cultural lives. Yet research on emotion in archaeology remains limited, despite the fact that such states underpin many studies of socio-cultural transformation. The Archaeology of Anxiety draws together papers that examine the local complexities of anxiety as well as the variable stimuli-class or factional struggle, warfare, community construction and maintenance, personal turmoil, and responsibilities to (and relationships with) the dead-that may generate emotional responses of fear, anxiousness, worry, and concern. The goal of this timely volume is to present fresh research that addresses the material dimension of rites and performances related to the mitigation and negotiation of anxiety as well as the role of material culture and landscapes in constituting and even creating periods or episodes of anxiety.

This Pocket Reference offer a multifaceted guide on various aspects of Alzheimer's disease. This thorough review discusses the challenges of diagnosis, different stages of the disease, testing, and current treatment methods, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of cognitive decline and symptoms due to Alzheimer's disease. The book also has specific chapters on care issues for patients with Alzheimer's disease, which describes what clinician's and caregivers should expect and how to manage the disease at its various stages. Additionally, the book provides helpful guides, tables, and tips for clinicians and caregivers to help care for the patient and the caregiver themselves.

Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory explores the place of Africa in archaeological theory, and the place of theory in African archaeology. The centrality of Africa to global archaeological thinking is highlighted, with a particular focus on materiality and agency in contemporary interpretation. As a means to explore the nature of theory itself, the volume also addresses differences between how African models are used in western theoretical discourse and the use of that theory within Africa. Providing a key contribution to theoretical discourse through a focus on the context of theory-building, this volume explores how African modes of thought have shaped our approaches to a meaningful past outside of Africa. A timely intervention into archaeological thought, Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory deconstructs the conventional ways we approach the past, positioning the continent within a global theoretical discourse and blending Western and African scholarship. This volume will be a valuable resource for those interested in the archaeology of Africa, as well as providing fresh perspectives to those interested in archaeological theory more generally.

Offering unique, comprehensive coverage of both basic science and clinical scenarios, Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice, 6th Edition, brings you up to date with every aspect of this fast-changing field. It examines the molecular, cellular, and immunologic bases of immunologic diseases and their broader systemic implications; it also includes complete coverage of common and uncommon immunologic disorders. Updated with all the latest immunologic research and clinical implications, including breakthrough immunotherapies and molecular-based treatment protocols, this fully revised edition provides authoritative guidance from some of the most respected global leaders in immunology in one complete, well-illustrated volume. Includes extensive revisions that reflect rapidly expanding research and clinical advances, including breakthrough drug and immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapies for cancer, precision medicine, and transfusion medicine. Contains new chapters on COVID-19, immune responses, and the role of the immune system; immunoregulatory deficiencies; immune checkpoints; CAR T cells, including new cellular-based immunotherapy; gene therapy, including CRISPR and gene selection; and a clinically focused chapter on asthma. Provides new genetics content focused on data applications. Addresses notable advances in key areas such as the importance of the microbiota to normal immune system development and to the pathogenesis of immunologic and inflammatory diseases; relationships between the innate and adaptive immune systems; progress in rapid and cost-effective genomics; cell signaling pathways and the structure of cell-surface molecules; and many more. Covers hot topics such as the role of genetics and genomics in immune response and immunologic disease, atherosclerosis, recurrent fever syndromes, aging and deficiencies of innate immunity, the role of microbiota in normal immune system development and in the pathogenesis of immunologic and inflammatory diseases, and novel therapeutics. Features a user-friendly format with color-coded boxes highlighting critical information on Key Concepts, Clinical Pearls, Clinical Relevance, and Therapeutic Principles. Summarizes promising research and development anticipated over the next 5-10 years with "On the Horizon" boxes and discussions of translational research. An eBook version is included with purchase. The eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud.

The last decade has seen a remarkable increase in the application of geomorphology for numerous projects and investigations. Geomor phology is now viewed as an indispensable partner of engineering and geology in the world of applied science. For a discipline with few independent theories of its own, geomorphology has become a cosmopolitan science, drawing on many topics from allied sciences. To compile a list of successful and viable applications and contribu tions would be an arduous chore, if not an impossible task. Instead we have compiled a set of invited papers that represent some of the practical developments and uses of geomorphology over the past de cade. Such a compilation of papers will reflect our own back grounds, biases, associations, and personal and professional expe riences. We make no apologies for the topics omitted, but recognize that this volume could be prohibitively large if all the subdivisions of geomorphology were equally and fully covered. Our goal in assembling the papers for this volume was to empha size the concepts, principles, and applications of geomorphology. While techniques, procedures and practical applications are stressed, the reason for each investigation is as important as the method em ployed. This book, therefore, represents the methods used and reasons for applying geomorphology. Where case studies are used, they serve as examples that can be applied in related situations, similar settings and other locations. The authors have successfully addressed this goal in a broad selection of chapter topics."

This volume emerged out of the Adolescent Reproductive Health Network (ARHNe), a European Union-funded concerted action project which developed the competence and capacity of researchers in East and Southern Africa to engage in health promotion activities (particularly in the area of reproductive health). The main objectives of the ARHNe were to: strengthen and further develop research and practice related to the design and delivery of sexual and reproductive health-related services and programs targeting adolescents; foster the development and application of trans-disciplinary theories, conceptual models and research methods relevant to the study of adolescent health, and ultimately develop culturally appropriate intervention programs to modify adolescent health-related behaviors; facilitate technical co-operations among African researchers and between African researchers and their European colleagues in order to stimulate a productive scientific context for ongoing programs and to reduce the risk of costly, uncoordinated duplication of research.This book ultimately represents a tool that may be utilized not only by academics in the field, but also by practitioners, governments, policy makers and students interested in the future research agenda, priorities and challenges of sexual and reproductive health in the wake of several international commitments.