Acute and chronic viral hepatitis infections are serious public health threats around the world. The different infections have different epidemiology and natural his- ries, and children play important roles in each of these. For example, children are important reservoirs for acute hepatitis A, childhood infections are responsible for most of the global morbidity associated with chronic hepatitis B, and perinatal transmission of hepatitis C continues to occur, even as the overall incidence of new infections wanes. Some non-A through E viral hepatitis infections are seen p- dominantly in infants and young children, while others have specific implications for this population. Therapeutic options for children with chronic viral hepatitis are limited when compared to those available for adults, especially for hepatitis B, and considerations given to long-term therapy have dramatic implications when dealing with the long life expectancy of these young patients. With these issues in mind, this unique volume has been created to address the special considerations regarding viral hepatitis in children. It includes the latest information and recommendations specifically directed at the pediatric population, and highlights the knowledge gaps which will need to be filled to improve our understanding of these infections and treatment of this special group. Experienced practitioners from around the world have contributed these reviews, incorporating the latest studies, the current recommendations, and the distinctive pediatric issues that shape clinical care, and will determine the research agenda for this field going forward.

Ultrafast Phenomena XV presents the latest advances in ultrafast science, including both ultrafast optical technology and the study of ultrafast phenomena. It covers picosecond, femtosecond, and attosecond processes relevant to applications in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Ultrafast technology has a profound impact in a wide range of applications, among them biomedical imaging, chemical dynamics, frequency standards, materials processing, and ultrahigh-speed communications. This book summarizes the results presented at the 15th International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena and provides an up-to-date view of this important and rapidly advancing field.

Replete with fresh immediacy, rich spiritual content, innovation and occasional humour, these talks were given at a time when Rudolf Steiner was preparing for independence from the Theosophical Society. Alongside the much-loved lectures ‘Nervousness and Ego Development’ – in which Steiner shares practical exercises for coping with contemporary life’s challenges – and ‘Love and Its Significance in the World’, the collection finds a focal point in descriptions of the ‘Three Soul Paths to Christ’. The first of these is via the Gospels, the second through ‘Inner Experience’ and the third ‘Initiation’, which Steiner characterizes as a path transcending religion. He further elaborates these themes in a lecture entitled, ‘Mysteries of the Kingdoms of Heaven in Parables and in Real Form’. Elijah, John the Baptist, Raphael and Novalis form a golden thread throughout, appearing as a fourfold herald of a true Christianity of the future. A moving yet astringent tribute to the founder of Theosophy, H.P. Blavatsky, on the tenth anniversary of her death, adds the Christian verities not embraced by Blavatsky during her lifetime, and two stirring talks that set the mood for Christmastide – via St Matthew, Eudocia and St Luke – round off the volume with paeans to Novalis. The lectures are complemented with an introduction by Margaret Jonas, detailed notes and an index.

In Laughing and Learning, leadership consultant and university professor Peter M. Jonas explores the ways in which humor can enhance the learning environment. Drawing upon empirical research and brain-based concepts, Jonas presents a theoretical model of humor, along with practical examples for use in schools and classrooms. Jonas demonstrates that humor is a natural and fundamental activity that teachers and administrators need to utilize properly to maximize their effectiveness.

In Laughing and Learning, leadership consultant and university professor Peter M. Jonas explores the ways in which humor can enhance the learning environment. Drawing upon empirical research and brain-based concepts, Jonas presents a theoretical model of humor, along with practical examples for use in schools and classrooms. Jonas demonstrates that humor is a natural and fundamental activity that teachers and administrators need to utilize properly to maximize their effectiveness.

Here is a researched-based book in which author Peter Jonas explores how humor can enhance both leadership performance and improve the learning environment. Jonas attempts to use research and brain-based concepts to build a theoretical foundation and then provides practical components for connecting leadership, learning, and humor. Individuals need to understand the theoretical nature of leadership before they can translate the concepts into practice on a daily basis. The same is true for humor. The main theme of the book is that the proper use of humor will not only increase learning comprehension, but it can be used as an important tool for leaders to enhance their effectiveness. Throughout the book, Jonas has interjected humorous jokes, stories, puns, exercises, activities, expressions, etc. in order to show specific examples to provide the reader with material that can be used in leadership situations and the classroom. The materials in the book can be learned, saved for later, or copied for immediate use. Moreover, each chapter is fun to read and contains practical points and examples of how to integrate humor into daily leadership activities and lesson plans. For teachers and leaders, or anyone in the field of education.

Open labs provide spaces for interaction across organizational boundaries. They create a huge potential to advance innovation processes. Making use of this potential, however, is not an easy task. It requires diligence, sophistication and perseverance from everyone involved in the implementation and the management of the lab. This book brings together contributions from leading experts in engineering, design, strategy, foresight and marketing research as well as policy makers and practitioners from an open lab. It explores from different perspectives how open labs can be used to facilitate innovation and what needs to be done to make the operation of an open lab successful. The topics addressed in the book include: interaction patterns and mediation in open labs, innovation technology, resource management, ecosystem and platform design, cultural translation, productivity, multi-channel communication, and more. The first part of the book is dedicated to the study of JOSEPHS (R), an open lab in Germany. It gives insight in the practical challenges of running an open lab and its role in the local business ecosystem. The other parts of the book discuss the phenomenon of open labs in general and its significance in different contexts all around the world.

Julia M. Jonas examines stakeholder integration and its' dynamics in the setting of service innovation in IT and manufacturing firms. Applying a service-dominant logic theory approach, the multiple case study research describes the implementation of stakeholder integration with its' complexity and challenges. The case analysis provides evidence how stakeholder integration is embedded in service systems, how it is influenced by the surrounding service systems and how it can create effects going beyond the integrated stakeholders.

This book summarizes the results presented at the 15th International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena and provides an up-to-date view of this important field. It presents the latest advances in ultrafast science, including both ultrafast optical technology and the study of ultrafast phenomena. It covers picosecond, femtosecond, and attosecond processes relevant to applications in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.

Acute and chronic viral hepatitis infections are serious public health threats around the world. The different infections have different epidemiology and natural his- ries, and children play important roles in each of these. For example, children are important reservoirs for acute hepatitis A, childhood infections are responsible for most of the global morbidity associated with chronic hepatitis B, and perinatal transmission of hepatitis C continues to occur, even as the overall incidence of new infections wanes. Some non-A through E viral hepatitis infections are seen p- dominantly in infants and young children, while others have specific implications for this population. Therapeutic options for children with chronic viral hepatitis are limited when compared to those available for adults, especially for hepatitis B, and considerations given to long-term therapy have dramatic implications when dealing with the long life expectancy of these young patients. With these issues in mind, this unique volume has been created to address the special considerations regarding viral hepatitis in children. It includes the latest information and recommendations specifically directed at the pediatric population, and highlights the knowledge gaps which will need to be filled to improve our understanding of these infections and treatment of this special group. Experienced practitioners from around the world have contributed these reviews, incorporating the latest studies, the current recommendations, and the distinctive pediatric issues that shape clinical care, and will determine the research agenda for this field going forward.

Many authors have researched the connection between humor and education but as E .B. White said: “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it. However, Dr. Peter Jonas takes a broad and practical approach examining the connection between humor and learning. The book uses a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis to identify nine areas where humor significantly improves various aspects of the learning environment. This book provides practical examples, as well as research on how much of an effect (effect size) humor has on Leadership, Learning, Stress reduction, Job Satisfaction, Relationships, Creativity, Culture, Communication, and Engagement. Humor needs to be taken seriously, because when you get people laughing you can transform learning.

Many authors have researched the connection between humor and education but as E .B. White said: “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it. However, Dr. Peter Jonas takes a broad and practical approach examining the connection between humor and learning. The book uses a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis to identify nine areas where humor significantly improves various aspects of the learning environment. This book provides practical examples, as well as research on how much of an effect (effect size) humor has on Leadership, Learning, Stress reduction, Job Satisfaction, Relationships, Creativity, Culture, Communication, and Engagement. Humor needs to be taken seriously, because when you get people laughing you can transform learning.

`Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying: "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."' These words begin a story that will be familiar to many, whether from images on Christmas cards or school nativity plays, or more directly from Christian teaching. As often with images associated with Christmas, they have the power to evoke all kinds of feelings, from joy and hope to sorrow and doubt. But what do we really know of the birth of Jesus, and who were the mysterious wise men that are reported to have visited him? In this freshly-collated anthology of Rudolf Steiner's lectures, complemented with illuminating commentary by editor Margaret Jonas, we are offered solutions to the riddles surrounding Jesus's birth and the seemingly conflicting accounts within Christian scripture. Could there have been two different births - in other words, two infants, both named Jesus, born to two sets of parents? From the mystery of the birth, we are led to a study of the three wise men - who are mentioned in only one of the four Gospel accounts. Who were they, what was their teaching, and what was the meaning of the star they followed? And, why did they offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus? The Three Wise Men offers solutions to the enigma of the identity and spiritual backgrounds of these magisterial figures and also provides suggestions as to their possible future roles in the drama of human development. Featuring colour images, this original, thought-provoking book is a wonderful gift for anyone seeking to understand the birth of Jesus and the wise men from the East.