"Physical Infrastructure Development" addresses the key challenges of balancing economic growth, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection in the development of major physical infrastructure, ranging from transport to energy. The contributions, reflecting the perspectives of economics, engineering, planning, political science, and urban design, examine the impact of alternative financing and pricing arrangements on the sharing of burdens and benefits, and the opportunities and risks of public-private partnerships. They also assess the emerging approaches for restoring ecosystems degraded by past infrastructure development, and the strategies for promoting farsighted infrastructure planning and protecting vulnerable people impacted by physical infrastructure expansion.

"Cultural Change and Persistence "addresses the complex challenge of pursuing development while safeguarding cherished aspects of deeply-rooted cultural practices and beliefs. Through cases from multiple world regions, the authors tackle the thorny problem of how to define and identify cultural aspects worthy of persistence. They document how leaders and activists use culture to shape development and vice versa, with examples ranging from the use of historical understandings to promote or critique economic development strategies, to efforts to modify cultural practices in order to prevent their decline. The cases provide penetrating insights into effective strategies for pursuing both cultural integrity and development.

The Economic Roots of Conflict and Cooperation in Africa explores how the development strategies of African nations shape the nature and dynamics of inter-group violence. The overview chapter assesses development doctrines, patterns of development, and levels and nature of violence in both North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Focusing on eleven countries, the case-study contributions explore the immediate and long-term impacts of development initiatives on reducing or increasing inter-group conflict and violence. They demonstrate the importance of evolving identities as economic roles and conditions change. These insights can guide policymakers, development professionals, and activists committed to conflict-sensitive development.

Economic Development Strategies and the Evolution of Violence in Latin America explores the links between Latin American governments' economic policies and the nature and dynamics of inter-group violence. Based on the patterns of ten countries, the contributions to this volume trace the remarkable transformation from open ideological conflict to the explosion of social (seemingly apolitical) violence, the upsurge of urban crime, and the confrontations over natural resources and drugs across the region spanning from Mexico to Argentina. The variations in economic success and in conflict prevention and transformation can guide policymakers, development professionals, and activists committed to conflict-sensitive development.

This text is about the ways that traditional cultural practices either change or persist in the face of social and economic development, whether the latter proceeds primarily from internal or external forces.

"Physical Infrastructure Development" addresses the key challenges of balancing economic growth, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection in the development of major physical infrastructure, ranging from transport to energy. The contributions, reflecting the perspectives of economics, engineering, planning, political science, and urban design, examine the impact of alternative financing and pricing arrangements on the sharing of burdens and benefits, and the opportunities and risks of public-private partnerships. They also assess the emerging approaches for restoring ecosystems degraded by past infrastructure development, and the strategies for promoting farsighted infrastructure planning and protecting vulnerable people impacted by physical infrastructure expansion.

These eight volumes, which developed out of the international congress "Update and Future Trends in Fibrin Sealing in Surgical and Nonsurgical Fields" held in November 1992, present the state of the art in fibrin sealing. In itially, fibrin sealant played an important role in surgery. During the past few years, it has been increasingly applied nonsurgically, and we can now say that it has become an integral component of medical treatment. The doubts which have been raised by nonusers about the efficacy of fibrin sealant are no longer valid. The correct indication and technique continue to be basic prerequisites for effective treatment. Even today - 20 years after fibrin sealant was first used - the three most prominent effects of fibrin sealant are still hemostasis, sealing of the wound, and support of wound healing. The problems posed by the transmission of viral infections have gained sub stantially in importance because of the potential transmission of AIDS via fi brin sealant. Fortunately, this is so unlikely today that it no longer represents a cause for concern, which does not mean, however, that research in this field can be discontinued.

With the exploding progress we are experiencing in the field of lasers in neurosurgery it was felt that a new volume devoted to lasers in neurosurgery is needed. As opposed to other early laser publications which were limited to North American contributors we have decided to publish Lasers in Neurosurgery which presents the findings of neurosurgeons from throughout the world. The decision to publish all contributions in English, regardless of the native language of the author, makes Lasers in Neurosurgery truly a forum for international neurosurgeons. Our intent is to make available the findings of international neurosurgeons, which are frequently published in less fa miliar languages, to neurosurgeons beyond the boundaries of the authors' countries. We hope that neurosurgeons not only in North America and Europe, but throughout the world, will profit by Lasers in Neurosurgery. November 1988 Edward F. Downing, M. D. , F. A. C. S. Contents FRANK, F. : Basic Physics and Biophysics 1 TEW JR. , J. M. , TOBLER, W. D. , ZUCCARELLO, M. : The Treatment of Arteriovenous Malformations of the Brain with the N- dymium: YAG Laser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 CLARK, W. C. , ROBERTSON, J. H. : Laser Resection of Meningiomas 49 ASCHER, P. W. : Tumours on and in the Pons and Medulla oblongata 69 NEBLETT, C. R. : Reconstructive Vascular Neurosurgery: Micros- gical CO Laser Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 2 CRONE, K. R. , BERGER, T. S. , TEW JR. , J. M. : Laser Applications in Pediatric Neurosurgery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Economic Development Strategies and the Evolution of Violence in Latin America explores the links between Latin American governments' economic policies and the nature and dynamics of inter-group violence. Based on the patterns of ten countries, the contributions to this volume trace the remarkable transformation from open ideological conflict to the explosion of social (seemingly apolitical) violence, the upsurge of urban crime, and the confrontations over natural resources and drugs across the region spanning from Mexico to Argentina. The variations in economic success and in conflict prevention and transformation can guide policymakers, development professionals, and activists committed to conflict-sensitive development.

This book combines overviews of the nature and causes of inter-group violence in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa with a collection of country case studies. Both the overview chapter and the case studies trace how economic policy initiatives, and consequent changes in the roles and statuses of various groups, shape conflict or cooperation.