Over the past two decades increasing interest has emerged in the contribu tions that the social sciences might make to the epidemiological study of patterns of health and disease. Several reasons can be cited for this increasing interest. Primary among these has been the rise of the chronic, non-infectious diseases as important causes of morbidity and mortality within Western populations during the 20th century. Generally speaking, the chronic, non infectious diseases are strongly influenced by lifestyle variables, which are themselves strongly influenced by social and cultural forces. The under standing of the effects of the behavioral factors in, say, hypertension, thus requires an understanding of the social and cultural factors which encourage obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, non-compliance with anti-hypertensive medica tions (or other prescribed regimens), and stress. Equally, there is a growing awareness that considerations of human behavior and its social and cultural determinants are important for understanding the distribution and control of infectious diseases. Related to this expansion of epidemiologic interest into the behavioral realm 'has been the development of etiological models which focus on the psychological, biological and socio-cultural characteristics of hosts, rather than exclusive concern with exposure to a particular agent or even behavioral risk. Also during this period advances in statistical and computing techniques have made accessible the ready testing of multivariate causal models, and so have encouraged the measurement of the effects of social and cultural factors on disease occurrence."

Group theory and topology are closely related. The region of their interaction, combining the logical clarity of algebra with the depths of geometric intuition, is the subject of Combinatorial Group Theory and Topology. The work includes papers from a conference held in July 1984 at Alta Lodge, Utah. Contributors to the book include Roger Alperin, Hyman Bass, Max Benson, Joan S. Birman, Andrew J. Casson, Marshall Cohen, Donald J. Collins, Robert Craggs, Michael Dyer, Beno Eckmann, Stephen M. Gersten, Jane Gilman, Robert H. Gilman, Narain D. Gupta, John Hempel, James Howie, Roger Lyndon, Martin Lustig, Lee P. Neuwirth, Andrew J. Nicas, N. Patterson, John G. Ratcliffe, Frank Rimlinger, Caroline Series, John R. Stallings, C. W. Stark, and A. Royce Wolf.

Throughout the postwar era a special relationship between France and Germany has often been the catalyst for European integration. The two countries have achieved jointly the leadership that neither could sustain alone. However, the Soviet collapse has presented them with a new agenda of problems. German unification has resurrected old geopolitical fears and has had disruptive economic consequences. Central European states are struggling to transform themselves into liberal democracies with market economies and clamoring to join the European Union, posing a formidable challenge to its practical cohesion, organizational patterns, and economic resources. Events in the former Yugoslavia have lent urgency to the need for decisive action on enlargement and exposed the fragility of Europe's capacity for collective military action. The Franco-German response has been to "deepen" the EU, while proceeding slowly on enlarging to the east. The partners have pursued their monetary goal with extraordinary fortitude and most observers believe they will achieve it in 1999. However, opinion is deeply divided over the wisdom or sustainability of such a course. This book explores how these issues are currently understood by French and German elites who have generated the current policies and are carrying them out. The essays--by three French, three German, and two American authors--reveal an impressive consensus, as well as widely differing views. They analyze the broad diplomatic, security, and economic dimensions of the bilateral relationship. The contributors are Gilles Andr?ani. Klaus-Peter Klaiber, Fran?ois Heisbourg, Michael St?rmer, Jean-Pierre Landau, Ernst Welteke, and Patrick McCarthy. SAIS European Studies