A twisted take on a school for magic where the line between curse and survival is always shifting. Sebastian Wight is cursed. As a boy with the forbidden ability to traverse the lands of the dead, he must not only harness his newfound powers to fight the monster that stalks him, but also to navigate a creepy world of hunting ghosts and ghouls with his eccentric classmates. And there's also the tangled on a boy who barely looks at him twice... and the deadly family history that brought him to the halls of Gallowgate Academy in the first place. For Sebastian Wight, fighting the dead might be hard... but it's dealing with the living that may bring him down.

"The agricultural sky" is a dominant natural entity that has influenced, interacted with, and guided the evolution of crops, farming practices, and cropping systems. The sky—and all its components—above and near agricultural areas is an important aspect of an agricultural enterprise—as important as soils, water, and crop species. The blue sky above crops that is seemingly clear, tranquil or sometimes filled with clouds, is really a repository of a large number of gases, mineral or organic particulate matter, dust, mist, turbulent wind, innumerable species of micro-organisms, tiny biotic flora/fauna, seeds, insects, etc. The agrarian sky supports complex interactions of biotic and abiotic aspects with perhaps immediate and/or delayed influence on crops sown on the ground. This volume helps us to better understand the importance of the sky above crop fields, with the goal to encourage revolutionary agronomic procedures that lead to higher yield. It is a comprehensive treatise on the agriculture sky, covering basic definitions, limits, and explanations about atmospheric layers like troposphere, stratosphere, and the phyllosphere. The volume addresses the nutrient dynamics in the sky and their relevance to crop productivity. It looks at both natural biotic and manmade abiotic factors in the sky and how they affect what goes on below, such as from dust storms, at cloudy and/or windy locations, and from high-altitude jet streams. The author discusses wind and solar power generation in the agrarian sky and explores aeroponics to revolutionize crop production. The volume delves into several types of aerial robots, employing AI and other technology, to provide aerial spectral data that are capable of analyzing procedures, soil conditions, irrigation, insect pests, weed detection, herbicide application, soil fertility, and much more. The book includes examples from the North American Great Plains, Pampas of Argentina, Sahelian production zones of West Africa, Indo-Gangetic Plains, etc. This eye-opening book, The Agricultural Sky: A Concept to Revolutionize Farming, will be useful to students and professors in universities as well as to researchers in industry dealing with aerial aspects of farming.

This volume provides a selection of chapters on new developments in various areas of clinical medicine, including dental, surgery, and general practice. These scientific chapters analyze the diagnostic processes and inform of new and novel diagnostic techniques. This book is divided into two sections; the first section contains review papers and includes an overview of experimental and clinical medicine, explaining its history to modern times. The second section presents a selection of original research papers from respected authors on a variety of topics.

WESTWORLD meets CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY meets JURASSIC PARK, as kids win a chance to enter the place of their dreams -- and find that it quickly turns into a nightmare. It's all anyone talks about, and it's all Cody dreams about. It's the biggest adventure park in the world, and it's more than mere rides and rollercoasters: At ESCAPE, you can do anything you want, be anyone you want, and there are no adults to tell you no. Cody's a nobody, but for some reason he receives an invitation and the opportunity of a lifetime. At first, it's the most fun he's ever had. But after a few days, everything in the park starts to go haywire. One at a time, rides malfunction. Simulations turn deadly. His fantasy world glitches, and the games become races for survival. A voice comes over the intercoms, then-ESCAPE was never a theme park for the rich and famous. It was a place for punishment. They have less than a week to escape from the park before it floods. Only five kids will be allowed to leave. It started out as a fight to get to the coolest rides. Now, they have to fight to survive.

As well as being Scotland's longest river, the Tay also carries the largest volume of water of any river in the UK more than the Thames and Severn combined when it reaches the Firth of Tay. From its source high up the slopes of Ben Lui near Tyndrum, the Tay makes its way through Stirlingshire and Perthshire to meet the North Sea near Dundee. As one of the best salmon rivers in Europe, every year it lures anglers from around the world and countless more come to explore the glorious hills and glens it passes. There is no better way to discover the wildlife, architecture and history of this area of Scotland than to walk. Whatever your ability walking at high or low level, following tough terrain or level paths the 25 routes in this guide offer something for everyone.

This book examines the spiritual experiences of the first British Methodist lay people and the language used to describe those experiences. It reflects on physical manifestations such as shouting, weeping, groaning, visions, and out-of-body experiences and their role in the process of spiritual development. These experiences offer an intimate perspective on the surprisingly holistic origins of the evangelical revival. The study features autobiographical narratives and other first-hand manuscripts in which ‘ordinary’ lay people recount their first impressions of Methodism, their conflicted feelings throughout the conversion process, their approach toward death and dying, and their mixed attitudes toward the task of writing itself. The book will be relevant to scholars of Methodism, evangelicalism and religious history as well as those interested in emotions and religious experience.

The book titled "Applications of Computational Intelligence Techniques in Communications" is a one-stop platform for the researchers, academicians, and people from industry to get a thorough understanding of the latest research in the field of communication engineering. Over the past decade, a manyfold increase in the use of computational intelligence techniques has been identified for obtaining the most optimal and timely solution to a problem. The various aspects covering the significant contribution of numerous computational intelligence techniques have been discussed in detail in this book. Today’s era of machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT) is demanding as high as possible data rate which has resulted into tremendous increased speed of communication. To match-up the pace, the computational intelligence is posing to be the most efficient and favourite tool. The book aims to cover the current technological advancements in the field of communication engineering and give a detailed prospect of computational intelligence to its readers. This book will be a great support to the people working in the field of IoT, machine learning, healthcare, optimization, filter design, 5G and beyond, signal processing etc. The chapters included here will expose its audience to various newly introduced and advanced computational intelligence techniques applicable in communication domain. The readers will be exposed multiple interdisciplinary areas of research in communication and will get the motivation to work in collaboration with other professionals from both the academia and industry.

One of the world's great salmon rivers, the Tweed cuts through the heart of the Scottish Borders and, in part, forms the historic boundary between Scotland and England. Rising in the rolling hills near Moffat it weaves through a cherished landscape on its way to Berwick-upon-Tweed and the North Sea passing through the proud Border towns of Peebles, Galashiels, Melrose, Kelso and Coldstream on the way. There is no better way to discover the wildlife, architecture and history of this area of Scotland than to walk. Whatever your ability - walking at high or low level, following tough terrain or level paths - the 25 routes in this guide offer something for everyone.

Where the Waves Fall (1984) centres the stories of the Pacific Islanders and how they were affected by European explorers and colonisers in this unique account of human settlement and cultural interchange in the Pacific islands. It follows the fortunes of the seafarers who discovered island after island in the world’s largest ocean, traces the development of their civilisations and examines in depth the interaction between them and the newcomers – European explorers, traders, beachcombers, missionaries, merchants – who from the sixteenth century came in an increasing series of waves. The book’s framework enables the author to throw new light on hitherto isolated events. Novel suggestions are advanced as to why some islands became ‘kingdoms’ in the earlier years of European contact and why others did not, and of how and why missionaries were accepted on some islands but not on others. Nor does Professor Howe shrink from provocative and at times controversial arguments concerning the ambitions and strategies of island leaders and indeed the overall nature and extent of the initiatives taken by the islanders.

First published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

While the JPEG image standard was developed more than 25 years ago, it is still dominant in terms of image formation, manipulation and transmission over the internet and other media. As technology advances, new demands have arisen for the efficient transmission and storage of images causing other formats to emerge. Over the years, several extensions such as, JPEGLS, JPEG2K, JPEGXT, JPEGXR, JPEGXS and JPEG Pleno, have been added, constructing a series of standards for the compression and transmission of images. This book is the first to bring together most of the series of JPEG standards in a book. This book covers the descriptions of the JPEG standards and gives the reader an overview of the latest advances in the standards of the Joint Photographic Experts Group. Topics discussed include: * JEPG; * JPEG XR; * JPEG XT; * JPEG 2000; * JPEG XS; * JPEG Pleno; * JPEG AIC; * JPEG LS; * JPEG XL; * JPSearch; * JPEG Systems; * JBIG.

This important volume provides a plethora of information on aerial vehicles and their possible roles in revolutionizing agricultural procedures through spectral analysis of terrains, soils, crops, water resources, diseases, floods, drought, and farm activities. There are several semi-autonomous and autonomous (robotic) aerial vehicles that are examined for their efficiency in offering detailed spectral data about agrarian regions and individual farms. Among them, small drone aircrafts such as fixed-winged and copter models have already caught the imagination of farmers. They are spreading fast in every nook and corner of the farm world. However, there are many more aerial robots that are utilized in greater detail during farming. In this volume, the focus is on aerial vehicles such as parafoils, blimps, aerostats, and kites, and how they are being evaluated for use in experimental farms and fields. A few aerial vehicles, such as robotic parafoils, have been adopted to procure aerial spectral data and visual imagery to aid agronomic procedures. These and other aerial robots are expected to change and improve the use of the sky in agricultural endeavors and the way we conduct agronomic procedures in the very near future. This volume is a timely resource for agricultural researchers, professors and students, and the general public who are interested in aerial vehicles.

Agricultural drones are expected to revolutionize the way we conduct agronomic procedures and maintain natural vegetation on earth. This book explores the increasing importance of the role of aerial robots in managing agricultural farms and natural resources. Agricultural Drones: A Peaceful Pursuit provides a wealth of information on drone usage in agriculture. The book discusses the advanced sensors and imaging capabilities of drones that give farmers new ways to increase yields and reduce crop damage. An introductory chapter provides historical data, with details about various models of drones as well as the most recent and popular agricultural drones in usage. The book goes onto look at such topics as the use of drones for soil fertility, production agronomy, irrigation, weed control, pest and disease control, grain yield forecasting, and economic advantages from drone use. This timely and useful volume will be a valuable resource for faculty, agricultural extension officers, and farmers and farm consultancy agencies. This book would also serve as an excellent textbook for students in agriculture, engineering, geography, etc. Key features: * outlines the advantages of using drones in agriculture, such as for the management of soil fertility, the study of natural resources and vegetation, the maintenance of adequate irrigation, and the control of weeds and pests * covers the economic advantages of using drones in agriculture * examines the regulatory aspects of agricultural drones * provides actual examples of drone usage in agriculture

This book covers three main types of agricultural systems: the use of robotics, drones (unmanned aerial vehicles), and satellite-guided precision farming methods. Some of these are well refined and are currently in use, while others are in need of refinement and are yet to become popular. The book provides a valuable source of information on this developing field for those involved with agriculture and farming and agricultural engineering. The book is also applicable as a textbook for students and a reference for faculty.

This volume responds to the growing interest in adopting aerial robots (UAVs, or drones) for agricultural crop production, which are revolutionizing farming methods worldwide. The book provides a detailed review of 250 UAVs that examines their usefulness in enhancing profitability, yield, and quality of crop production. Recent trends indicate an increase in agricultural drone production and use. Millions of dollars have been invested in start-ups that produce agro-drones in the past several years. North America, Europe, China, and the Far East have excelled in offering a large number of UAV models. Some of them are versatile, a few are specific, and many of them are low cost. With so many drone models (over 1200) available, how do farmers and agricultural specialists choose the models best for them? This compendium examines the most useful drones and provides the pertinent details about each drone, its producer, cost incurred, and its pros and cons. It covers their technical specifications, suitability for various purposes, previous performances in farms, and possible benefits to farmers. It covers fixed-wing drones, fixed-winged (hybrid) VTOL helicopters, multi-copters, tilted-wing drones, etc. The book includes a few drones meant more for military or other purposes (e.g. recreation/fun) but that could be easily modified and adapted for the farming sector. The reviews compare activities among the UAVs, such aerial imagery of crops, ability to provide spectral analyses to collect useful data about a crop's growth patterns, and how they can be used to gauge crop canopy temperature (i.e. water stress index), determine grain maturity, and much more.

Maize is among the most widely spread and widely used crops of the world, used for cereals for over 4 billion humans, as food for farm animals, and as a source material for biofuel production. Yet there are relatively few books on the cropping system of this important crop. This book, Maize Agroecosystem, is a concise treatise dealing with agronomy, soil fertility, and productivity of maize. The information is global in nature and considers recent developments in all maize cropping belts. The "global maize agroecosystem" is a conglomerate of several "maize cropping belts" that flourish on different continents. The impact of nutrient management on the productivity of maize agroecosystems is the main focus of this book. The book includes the history of maize growing, the kinds of soil needed, nutrient dynamics, the use of soil organic matter, the physiology and genetics of maize, and integrated nutrient management. It presents comprehensive knowledge regarding the physicochemical dynamics of the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Also covered is how fertilizers impinge on soils of maize farms and their impact on soil and groundwater quality. The impact of crop genotype on soil nutrient dynamics and productivity is also highlighted. The information provided here will be highly useful to students at colleges and universities in the fields of agricultural sciences and environmental science and ecology, and the book also functions as valuable resource for researchers and professors in crop science. Several figures and tables are included that describe and summarize the impact of various agronomic/fertilizer management procedures on crop productivity.

This book is a comprehensive volume that brings together vast knowledge about agricultural prairies in one place, providing concise information and providing concise descriptions of natural resources and their influence on crop productivity. It provides detailed descriptions about natural settings as well as lucid discussions on soil fertility and crop production trends for various agricultural prairies distributed all across the earth. Chapters one through seven provide detailed descriptions on geologic aspects; physiography and agroclimate; natural vegetation and cropping history; human population, migration and development of settlements; natural resources such as soils, water, and crops; and environmental concerns. In particular, the first chapters cover the prairies of North and South America, namely, the Great Plains of North America, the Cerrado of South America, and the Pampas of South America. Chapter 4 deals with the steppes of Southern and Central Europe, Chapter 5 describes the savannahs of West Africa, Chapter 6 is concerned with Indo-Gangetic and Deccan plainsm, and Chapter 7 deals with prairies of Northeast China. The last chapter provides a comparative view of all agricultural prairies. Specifically, it compares the contrasting natural features, soil fertility, irrigation, and crop productivity. Agricultural prairies exist at levels of intensification. A few show subsistence or low input trends. Discussions pertaining to extent of intensification are included. Further, it includes interesting discussions on how the situation has grown into interdependence of man and prairies. It highlights the way prairies (crops) have influenced, naturally coaxed, and driven human activities to their own advantage.

Comprised of three sections, this covers the nutrient dynamics and productivity of global agroecosystems. It focuses on the major aspects that make up agroecosystems, such as soils, climate, crops, nutrient dynamics, and productivity. It introduces agroeocsystems and describes global soil types that support vast crop belts, then deals with the principles that drive crop growth, nutrient dynamics and ecosystematic functions within any agroecosystem. It also details the influence of agronomic practices and factors such as soil microbes, organic matter, crop genetic nature, irrigation, weeds, and cropping systems that affect productivity of agroecosystems.

This volume provides a selection of chapters on new developments in various areas of clinical medicine, including dental, surgery, and general practice. These scientific chapters analyze the diagnostic processes and inform of new and novel diagnostic techniques. This book is divided into two sections; the first section contains review papers and includes an overview of experimental and clinical medicine, explaining its history to modern times. The second section presents a selection of original research papers from respected authors on a variety of topics.

Precision farming involves soil fertility and crop growth monitoring, electronic equipment, remote sensing, global information and positioning systems, computer models, decision support systems, variable-rate technology, and accurate recordkeeping. This book on precision techniques provides valuable information on instrumentation and methodology. It discusses the impact of precision techniques on soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, and crop productivity and highlights the application of GPS techniques to regulate fertilizer supply based on soil nutrient distribution and yield goals set by farmers. The book considers advances and examples from different agroecosystems from all continents.

Das einzige evidenzbasierte Fachbuch zu viralen Lebererkrankungen, das sich ausschliesslich mit schwierigen Situationen beschaftigt, mit denen sich klinische Hepatologen und das medizinische Personal immer wieder auseinandersetzen mussen. Auch wenn die virale Hepatitis weltweit auf dem Vormarsch ist und eine wachsende Bedrohung im Gesundheitswesen darstellt, ist fur die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) die Ausrottung von Hepatitisinfektionen mittelfristig ein erreichbares Ziel. Wirksame Medikamente und Therapien stehen zwar zur Verfugung, das medizinische Personal, das Patienten mit viraler Hepatitis betreut, steht aber immer wieder vor der Herausforderung, in der heutigen medizinischen Literatur Antworten auf spezifische Fragen zu finden. Die 2. Auflage von Clinical Dilemmas in Viral Liver Disease ist ein evidenzbasierter Leitfaden fur medizinisches Personal in den Bereichen Diagnose, Behandlung und Management von Patienten mit viralen Lebererkrankungen. Das komplett uberarbeitete Referenzwerk zeigt neue Behandlungs- und Diagnoseansatze, die beitragen, die WHO-Ziele zu erreichen. Die einzelnen Kapitel untersuchen klar umrissene Themenfelder, gehen auf klinische Fragestellungen und Schwierigkeiten ein, vor denen Mediziner tagtaglich stehen. International renommierte Forscher und Kliniker beschaftigen sich in ihren Beitragen mit klinischen Fragen und Problemen, die anderen Standardwerken und Online-Datensammlungen vielfach unberucksichtigt bleiben. Dieses einzigartige Fachbuch bietet praktische Hilfestellung zu den spezifischen Herausforderungen und Kernfragen bei der Behandlung von Patienten mit viralen Lebererkrankungen: - Bietet praxisorientierte, evidenzbasierte Hilfestellung zu aktuellen und kontroversen Themen. - Beschaftigt sich mit Fragestellungen, die im Klinikalltag auftreten und bislang wenig untersucht wurden. - Eroertert die Herausforderungen rund um globale Programme zur Ausrottung von Hepatitisinfektionen. - Folgt einem zielgerichteten Ansatz und greift dabei auf aktuelle Literatur und Expertenmeinungen zuruck. Die 2. Auflage von Clinical Dilemmas in Viral Liver Disease ist ein Muss fur Hepatologen, Gastroenterologen, Transplantationschirurgen, Virologen und medizinisches Fachpersonal, das Patienten mit Lebererkrankungen betreut.

This important volume provides a plethora of information on aerial vehicles and their possible roles in revolutionizing agricultural procedures through spectral analysis of terrains, soils, crops, water resources, diseases, floods, drought, and farm activities. There are several semi-autonomous and autonomous (robotic) aerial vehicles that are examined for their efficiency in offering detailed spectral data about agrarian regions and individual farms. Among them, small drone aircrafts such as fixed-winged and copter models have already caught the imagination of farmers. They are spreading fast in every nook and corner of the farm world. However, there are many more aerial robots that are utilized in greater detail during farming. In this volume, the focus is on aerial vehicles such as parafoils, blimps, aerostats, and kites, and how they are being evaluated for use in experimental farms and fields. A few aerial vehicles, such as robotic parafoils, have been adopted to procure aerial spectral data and visual imagery to aid agronomic procedures. These and other aerial robots are expected to change and improve the use of the sky in agricultural endeavors and the way we conduct agronomic procedures in the very near future. This volume is a timely resource for agricultural researchers, professors and students, and the general public who are interested in aerial vehicles.