A Professional's Guide to Feline Behaviour
A Professional's Guide to Demystifying Feline Behaviour is ideal for veterinarians and other professionals to support their practice and recommend to clients. It features sections on how to fulfil species-specific needs, decipher body-language and make sense of other communication signalling.
A Professional's Guide to Feline Behaviour
A Professional's Guide to Demystifying Feline Behaviour is ideal for veterinarians and other professionals to support their practice and recommend to clients. It features sections on how to fulfil species-specific needs, decipher body-language and make sense of other communication signalling.
One-Dimensional Polymeric Nanocomposites
One-dimensional nanomaterials are emerging as promising materials for their many unique characteristics. This book covers their synthesis and applications in batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, solar cells, green energy production, flexible electronics, electrochemical sensors, and biomedicine.
The Power of Prions
The remarkable family of proteins that can make us very ill--but can also be linked to long-term memory, immunity, and the origin of life Over the last decade, scientists have discovered the importance and widespread presence in the body of a remarkable family of proteins known as prion proteins. Research links various types of prion proteins to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's--and this has fueled the search for new drugs that could halt the progression of these terrible disorders. Other discoveries have revealed the essential roles prion proteins play in memory and immunity, and--in an extraordinary finding--the part they may have played in the beginnings of life on our planet. In this engaging and accessible book, Michel Brahic tells the story of these amazing and versatile proteins. Brahic, a leading researcher on diseases of the central nervous system, first describes the discovery of prions and their role in infection, beginning with early work on the animal disease scrapie and a mysterious human illness in New Guinea, apparently transmitted by cannibalism. Prions were eventually identified and named by Stanley Prusiner in the 1980s. (Brahic tells us Prusiner's alternate name for prion was "piaf.") Prion proteins were then revealed as the cause of other illnesses, from "mad cow" disease and its human counterpart, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, to such noninfectious brain disorders as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. While the prion proteins responsible for diseases are definitively "bad," Brahic also explains that these abnormal prions are rare exceptions. Most of the time, prion proteins actually serve "good" and vital functions--and they may even have been present at the origin of life itself.
Inside the Dolphin Mind
Dive into the captivating world of dolphins with "Inside the Dolphin織s Mind." This groundbreaking exploration takes you beneath the waves to uncover the complex thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of one of the ocean's most intelligent creatures. Renowned dolphin therapist Branko Weitzmann invites you to journey alongside these remarkable beings as he unveils the intricate social structures, communication skills, and emotional depth that define dolphin society. Through compelling research, vivid narratives, and stunning imagery, you'll discover how dolphins perceive their environment, forge deep connections with one another, and exhibit behaviors that challenge our understanding of animal intelligence. Learn about their playful nature, intricate communication systems, and the profound bonds that often mirror human relationships. "Inside the Dolphin織s Mind" not only illuminates the rich inner lives of dolphins but also raises critical questions about our responsibilities toward their conservation. With marine ecosystems facing unprecedented threats, this book serves as both a mesmerizing window into dolphin consciousness and a call to action for their protection. Whether you're a marine enthusiast, a scientific mind, or simply curious about the wonders of the natural world, this book offers valuable insights into the emotional and cognitive capabilities of dolphins. Join Branko Weitzmann as he opens the door to a deeper understanding of these extraordinary mammals, revealing how much we can learn from the intelligence and empathy of the dolphin mind. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened in this unforgettable marine adventure!
Science Meets Philosophy
The book is an attempt to bring together what are often seen as incommensurable scientific and philosophical positions. Its core argument is that a main reason for the divisions about what constitutes scientific knowledge relates to disagreements on philosophical issues.
Failure Analysis of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion
The book serves as a complete guide to corrosion failure analysis with emphasis on diagnosis of MIC. It provides background information on the forensic process, types of data or evidence needed to perform the analysis, industrial case studies, details on the MIC failure analysis process, and protocols for field and lab use.
Archaeology of Logic
Logical competence is an ability to draw logically correct conclusions. It has its own historical forms and develops from elementary methods of logical reasoning to modern artificial intelligence systems.
Novel Applications of Carbon Based Nano-materials
The book Novel Applications of Carbon Based Nano-Materials summarizes state-of-the-art studies focusing on various applications of carbon allotropes, considering the energy and environmental benefits and the socio-economic impact of the developed systems, all at the same time
Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Structures
This textbook combines the theory of elasticity (advanced analytical treatment of stress analysis problems) and finite element methods (numerical details of finite element formulations) into one academic course derived from author's teaching, research, and applied work in automotive product development and civil structural analysis.
Plasma Gasification and Pyrolysis
This book provides a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the process of thermal plasma gasification and pyrolysis.
Natural Gas Installations and Networks in Buildings
This book covers theoretical foundations of the Natural Gas (NG) installations and networks illustrated with digital examples. It describes the NG oxidation phenomena and appropriate energy converting devices, usage of NG devices for various building systems including systems for thermal comfort control, building ventilation and so forth.
Dendrimers in Nanomedicine
The proposed book is edited by two well-known researchers in the area of nanomaterials, including dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots etc, based drug delivery applications and contribution of vivid chapters from renowned formulator, researcher and academician across the world.
Nanotechnological Approaches in Food Microbiology
This book provides a systematic introduction and comprehensive information about practical approaches and characteristic features related to the significant applications of nanotechnology in food microbiology, including, nano starch films, nanoemulsions, biogenic nanoparticles, nanocapsules etc.
Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment
Careful choice of nanoparticles as targets and in drug delivery routes enhances therapeutic efficacy in cancer. This book discusses nanotechnological developments of interfering RNA-based nanoparticles and delivery vehicles, validated therapeutic RNAi-molecular target interactions, and explains the results of clinical and preclinical trials.
Introduction to Modern Scientific Programming and Numerical Methods
This book introduces the reader not only to the mathematical foundation but also to the programming paradigms encountered in modern hybrid software-hardware scientific computing.
Conjunctive Explanations
Philosophers and psychologists are increasingly investigating the conditions under which multiple explanations are better in conjunction than they are individually. This book brings together leading scholars to provide an interdisciplinary and unified discussion of such "conjunctive explanations."
Biosecurity in the Age of Synthetic Biology
Biosecurity in the Age of Synthetic Biology is a comprehensive review of the biosecurity issues faced by the innovative and rapidly evolving field of synthetic biology. It is an indispensable resource for scientists, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of biotechnology and biosecurity.
Memory and Movies
How popular films from Memento to Slumdog Millionaire can help us understand how memory works. In the movie Slumdog Millionaire, the childhood memories of a young game show contestant trigger his correct answers. In Memento, the amnesiac hero uses tattoos as memory aids. In Away from Her, an older woman suffering from dementia no longer remembers who her husband is. These are compelling films that tell affecting stories about the human condition. But what can these movies teach us about memory? In this book, John Seamon shows how examining the treatment of memory in popular movies can shed new light on how human memory works. After explaining that memory is actually a diverse collection of independent systems, Seamon uses examples from movies to offer an accessible, nontechnical description of what science knows about memory function and dysfunction. In a series of lively encounters with numerous popular films, he draws on Life of Pi and Avatar, for example, to explain working memory, used for short-term retention. He describes the process of long-term memory with examples from such films as Cast Away and Groundhog Day; The Return of Martin Guerre, among other movies, informs his account of how we recognize people; the effect of emotion on autobiographical memory is illustrated by The Kite Runner, Titanic, and other films; movies including Born on the Fourth of July and Rachel Getting Married illustrate the complex pain of traumatic memories. Seamon shows us that movies rarely get amnesia right, often using strategically timed blows to the protagonist's head as a way to turn memory off and then on again (as in Desperately Seeking Susan). Finally, he uses movies including On Golden Pond and Amour to describe the memory loss that often accompanies aging, while highlighting effective ways to maintain memory function.
Westerfelt A Novel
Westerfelt: A Novel"" is a work by American author Will N. Harben, published in 1901. Will Nathaniel Harben (1858-1919) was known for his stories set in the Southern United States, particularly in the mountainous regions of Georgia, where he was born and raised. Harben's novels often focused on the lives and struggles of ordinary people, capturing the local color and dialect of the region. ""Westerfelt"" is a novel that tells the story of John Westerfelt, a man seeking to overcome his past and find a new beginning. The novel is set in the rural South, a common backdrop for Harben's works, and it explores themes of redemption, personal growth, and the impact of one's environment on their character. The central theme of the novel revolves around Westerfelt's journey towards redemption. He strives to overcome the mistakes and burdens of his past, seeking to transform himself and find peace. Harben vividly describes the Southern setting, emphasizing how the environment and community shape the lives and characters of the people living there. Will N. Harben was a popular author in his time, and his novels were well-received for their realistic portrayal of Southern life and their engaging storytelling. ""Westerfelt"" contributed to his reputation as a significant writer of regional fiction. While not as widely known today, Harben's works remain important for their historical and cultural insights into the American South at the turn of the 20th century. Overall, ""Westerfelt: A Novel"" is a testament to Harben's ability to create compelling narratives that delve into the human condition, set against the rich backdrop of Southern culture and landscapes.
Metal-Organic Framework Nanocomposites
This book assembles the latest advances in MOF nanocomposites, emphasizing their design, characterization, manufacturing, and application, and offers a wide-ranging view of these materials with exceptional physical and chemical properties.
Dr. Calhoun's Mousery
"Brilliant. . . . An absorbing read and a potent lesson in moral behavior--both of rodents and of humans."--Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Poison Squad - "A fascinating read about an immensely influential scientist."--Robert M. Sapolsky, author of the New York Times-bestseller Determined - "Stimulating scientific history. . . . Colorful accounts. . . . This fascinates."--Publishers Weekly A bizarre and compelling biography of a scientist and his work, using rodent cities to question the potential catastrophes of human overpopulation. It was the strangest of experiments. What began as a utopian environment, where mice had sumptuous accommodations, had all the food and water they could want, and were free from disease and predators, turned into a mouse hell. Science writer and animal behaviorist Lee Alan Dugatkin introduces readers to the peculiar work of rodent researcher John Bumpass Calhoun. In this enthralling tale, Dugatkin shows how an ecologist-turned-psychologist-turned-futurist became a science rock star embedded in the culture of the 1960s and 1970s. As interest grew in his rodent cities, Calhoun was courted by city planners and his work was reflected in everything from Tom Wolfe's hard-hitting writing to the children's book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. He was invited to meetings with the Royal Society and the pope and taken seriously when he proposed a worldwide cybernetic brain--a decade before others made the internet a reality. Readers see how Calhoun's experiments--rodent apartment complexes like "Mouse Universe 25"--led to his concept of "behavioral sinks" with real effects on public policy discussions. Overpopulation in Calhoun's mouse (and rat) complexes led to the loss of sex drive, the absence of maternal care, and a class of automatons that included "the beautiful ones," who spent their time grooming themselves while shunning socialization. Calhoun--and those who followed his work--saw the collapse of this mouse population as a harbinger of the ill effects of an overpopulated human world. Drawing on previously unpublished archival research and interviews with Calhoun's family and former colleagues, Dugatkin offers a riveting account of an intriguing scientific figure. Considering Dr. Calhoun's experiments, he explores the changing nature of scientific research and delves into what the study of animal behavior can teach us about ourselves.
Playing Possum
How animals conceive of death and dying--and what it can teach us about our own relationships with mortality When the opossum feels threatened, she becomes paralyzed. Her body temperature plummets, her breathing and heart rates drop to a minimum, and her glands simulate the smell of a putrefying corpse. Playing Possum explores what the opossum and other creatures can teach us about how we and other species understand mortality, and demonstrates that the concept of death, far from being a uniquely human attribute, is widespread in the animal kingdom. With humor and empathy, Susana Mons籀 tells the stories of ants who attend their own funerals, chimpanzees who clean the teeth of their dead, dogs who snack on their caregivers, crows who avoid the places where they saw a carcass, elephants obsessed with collecting ivory, and whales who carry their dead for weeks. Mons籀, one of today's leading experts on animal cognition and ethics, shows how there are more ways to conceive of mortality than the human way, and challenges the notion that the only emotional reactions to death worthy of our attention are ones that resemble our own. Blending philosophical insight with new evidence from behavioral science and comparative psychology, Playing Possum dispels the anthropocentric biases that cloud our understanding of the natural world, and reveals that, when it comes to death and dying, we are just another animal.
Globalizing Physics
This is an open access book available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read on the Oxford Academic platform and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. Following the centenary of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, this volume features contributions from leading science historians from around the world on the changing roles of the institution in international affairs from its foundation in 1922 to the present. The case studies presented in this volume show the multitude of functions that IUPAP had and how these were related to the changing international political contexts. The book is divided into three parts. The first discusses the interwar period demonstrating how the exclusion of communities of the Central Powers from international scientific institutions imposed by victorious allied countries made IUPAP ineffective until the end of World War II. The second part analyzes the changing roles assumed by IUPAP starting from its complete renovation after World War II. Case studies covering the role of IUPAP in physics education, in metrology, in joint commissions with other unions and in defining the complex relations between pure and applied physics provide examples of IUPAP's impact on the world of science. Part III squarely addresses the science diplomacy aspects of IUPAP during the Cold War highlighting the importance of IUPAP in furthering diplomatic goals and explaining the origin of the pursuit of the free circulation of scientists as the activity that characterized the main function of international unions during the Cold War. Highlighting how often scientific agendas and political imperatives were entangled in the activities of IUPAP, the book analyzes the work of the Union as exercises of science diplomacy, thus contributing to the current debate on the use of science and technology in international relations.
Star-Crossed Planet
Some books aren't what they seem at first, but this one is more devious than most in following up, in personal, episodic terms, what Mythic Worlds and Scanning and Sizing the Universe find true of natural history's powers and incredible extent.
Star-Crossed Planet
Some books aren't what they seem at first, but this one is more devious than most in following up, in personal, episodic terms, what Mythic Worlds and Scanning and Sizing the Universe find true of natural history's powers and incredible extent.
A Year on the Fosse
This book follows the 230 miles of the Fosse Way that spears straight through the heart of England, telling the history of the towns and cities that grew up along the Roman road, and describing the wildlife to be found in nature reserves and green spaces along the route as the seasons change. Month by month, we travel from the flatlands of Lincolnshire, through the East Midlands Wolds and Shakespeare's Warwickshire, to the golden Cotswolds and the sumptuous West Country. From bloody battles that changed the course of history, to ancient traditions still followed, this beautifully written book is full of fascinating information, folklore, philosophy, bird identification, and some unexpected tales, with the need to value and protect our natural environment shining through.
Every Brain Needs Music
Whenever a person engages with music--when a piano student practices a scale, a jazz saxophonist riffs on a melody, a teenager sobs to a sad song, or a wedding guest gets down on the dance floor--countless neurons are firing. Playing an instrument requires all of the resources of the nervous system, including cognitive, sensory, and motor functions. Composition and improvisation are remarkable demonstrations of the brain's capacity for creativity. Something as seemingly simple as listening to a tune involves mental faculties most of us don't even realize we have. Larry S. Sherman, a neuroscientist and lifelong musician, and Dennis Plies, a professional musician and teacher, collaborate to show how our brains and music work in harmony. They consider music in all the ways we encounter it--teaching, learning, practicing, listening, composing, improvising, and performing--in terms of neuroscience as well as music pedagogy, showing how the brain functions and even changes in the process. Every Brain Needs Music draws on leading behavioral, cellular, and molecular neuroscience research as well as surveys of more than a hundred musical people. It provides new perspectives on learning to play, teaching, how to practice and perform, the ways we react to music, and why the brain benefits from musical experiences. Written for both musical and nonmusical people, including newcomers to brain science, this book is a lively and easy-to-read exploration of the neuroscience of music and its significance in our lives.
Puppy Kindergarten
The New York Times bestselling authors of The Genius of Dogs take us into their "Puppy Kindergarten" at Duke University, a center to study how puppies develop, to show us what goes in to raising a great dog. Don't miss Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods in Netflix's film Inside the Mind of a Dog! "A firehose of knowledge suffused with levity and charm."--Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog What does it take to raise a great dog? This was the question that husband-and-wife team Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods hoped to answer when they enrolled one hundred and one puppies in the Duke Puppy Kindergarten. With the help of a retired service dog named Congo, Brian, Vanessa, and their team set out to understand the secrets of the puppy mind: What factors might predict whether a puppy will grow up to change someone's life? Never has cuteness been so cutting edge. Applying the same games that psychologists use when exploring the development of young children, Hare and Woods uncover what happens in a puppy's mind during their final stage of rapid brain development. Follow the adventures of Arthur, who makes friends with toy dinosaurs; Wisdom, the puppy genius; and Ying, who fails at cognitive games that even pigeons usually pass with flying colors. Along the way, learn about when puppies finally start to retain memories for longer than just a few seconds, or when they finally develop some self-control. Raising dozens of puppies on a college campus means you get pretty good at answering big questions, such as: When do puppies sleep through the night? How do you stop them from eating poop? How can we help our puppies grow up to be the best dogs they can possibly be? Whether you are a new puppy parent or a perennial puppy lover, Puppy Kindergarten will answer every question you've ever had about puppies--and some you never thought to ask.
The Ultimate Student's Guide to Scientific Research
A scientific career is a long and winding journey. Many factors assemble to determine the trajectory and products of scientific inquiry. This book addresses the scientific career path comprehensively, ranging from how to build a strong foundational knowledge and skill base, to training programs, composing winning research proposals and grants, conducting excellent research, writing papers and reports, collaborative research programs, bridging academia and industry, career advancement, and more. Guides where, how, and what to study in undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate training programs and addresses important crossroads throughout the continuum of training and beyond. Highlights best practices, techniques, and nuances for creating a successful scientific career. Provides critical insights for traversing major milestones and decision-points in a scientific career and serves as a resources for reference throughout stages of advancement. Discusses alternative career opportunities for individuals trained in sciences. Offers students, researchers, and other scientists across all stages of their careers with accessible, engaging, and useful insider tips.
Cultural Selection
Humans learn in ways that are influenced by others. As a result, cultural items of many types are elaborated over time in ways that build on the achievements of previous generations. Culture therefore shows a pattern of descent with modification reminiscent of Darwinian evolution. This raises the question of whether cultural selection-a mechanism akin to natural selection, albeit working when learned items are passed from demonstrators to observers-can explain how various practices are refined over time. This Element argues that cultural selection is not necessary for the explanation of cultural adaptation; it shows how to build hybrid explanations that draw on aspects of cultural selection and cultural attraction theory; it shows how cultural reproduction makes problems for highly formalised approaches to cultural selection; and it uses a case-study to demonstrate the importance of human agency for cumulative cultural adaptation.
Feminist Philosophy of Science
Feminist scholars have identified pervasive gender discrimination in science as an institution, as well as gender bias in the very content of many scientific theories. An ameliorative project at heart, feminist philosophy of science has inquired into the social and epistemological roots and consequences of these problems and into their potential solutions. Most feminist philosophers agree on a need for diversity in scientific communities to counter the detrimental effects of gender bias. Diversity could thus serve as a unifying concept for a potential consensus of the field. Yet there are substantial differences in the kinds and roles of diversity envisaged. This element argues that we need diversity, both in terms of social locations and of values, to overcome former biases and blind spots. Diversity as such, however, is insufficient. To reap its epistemic benefits, diversity also needs to be institutionalised in a way that counters various forms of epistemic injustice.
Cultural Selection
Humans learn in ways that are influenced by others. As a result, cultural items of many types are elaborated over time in ways that build on the achievements of previous generations. Culture therefore shows a pattern of descent with modification reminiscent of Darwinian evolution. This raises the question of whether cultural selection-a mechanism akin to natural selection, albeit working when learned items are passed from demonstrators to observers-can explain how various practices are refined over time. This Element argues that cultural selection is not necessary for the explanation of cultural adaptation; it shows how to build hybrid explanations that draw on aspects of cultural selection and cultural attraction theory; it shows how cultural reproduction makes problems for highly formalised approaches to cultural selection; and it uses a case-study to demonstrate the importance of human agency for cumulative cultural adaptation.
Feminist Philosophy of Science
Feminist scholars have identified pervasive gender discrimination in science as an institution, as well as gender bias in the very content of many scientific theories. An ameliorative project at heart, feminist philosophy of science has inquired into the social and epistemological roots and consequences of these problems and into their potential solutions. Most feminist philosophers agree on a need for diversity in scientific communities to counter the detrimental effects of gender bias. Diversity could thus serve as a unifying concept for a potential consensus of the field. Yet there are substantial differences in the kinds and roles of diversity envisaged. This element argues that we need diversity, both in terms of social locations and of values, to overcome former biases and blind spots. Diversity as such, however, is insufficient. To reap its epistemic benefits, diversity also needs to be institutionalised in a way that counters various forms of epistemic injustice.
Understanding Visuals in the Life Sciences
From photographs to micrographs, from the various types of graphs to fun, interactive visuals and games, there are many different forms in which science can be visualised. However, all of these forms of visualisation in the Life Sciences are susceptible to misunderstandings and misinformation. This accessible and concise book demonstrates the misconceptions surrounding the visuals used in popular life science communication. Richly illustrated in colour, this guide is packed with examples of commonly used visual types: photographs, micrographs, illustrations, graphs, interactive visuals, and infographics allowing visual creators to produce more effective visuals that aspire to being both attractive and informative for their target audience. It also encourages non-specialist readers to be more empowered and critical, to ask difficult questions, and to cultivate true engagement with science. This book is an invaluable resource for life scientists and science communicators, and anyone who creates visuals for public or non-specialist readers.
The Philosophy of Symmetry
This Element is a concise, high-level introduction to the philosophy of physical symmetry. It begins with the notion of 'physical representation' (the kind of empirical representation of nature that we effect in doing physics), and then lays out the historically and conceptually central case of physical symmetry that frequently falls under the rubric of 'the Relativity Principle, ' or 'Galileo's Ship.' This material is then used as a point of departure to explore the key hermeneutic challenge concerning physical symmetry in the past century, namely understanding the physical significance of the notion of 'local' gauge symmetry. The approach taken stresses both the continuity with historically important themes such as the Relativity Principle, as well as novel insights earned by working with contemporary representational media such as the covariant phase space formalism.
The Philosophy of Symmetry
This Element is a concise, high-level introduction to the philosophy of physical symmetry. It begins with the notion of 'physical representation' (the kind of empirical representation of nature that we effect in doing physics), and then lays out the historically and conceptually central case of physical symmetry that frequently falls under the rubric of 'the Relativity Principle, ' or 'Galileo's Ship.' This material is then used as a point of departure to explore the key hermeneutic challenge concerning physical symmetry in the past century, namely understanding the physical significance of the notion of 'local' gauge symmetry. The approach taken stresses both the continuity with historically important themes such as the Relativity Principle, as well as novel insights earned by working with contemporary representational media such as the covariant phase space formalism.
Carbon Nanotubes for a Green Environment
Carbon Nanotubes for a Green Environment: Balancing the Risks and Rewards describes the synthesis, characterization, and unique applications of undoped and doped carbon nanotubes as well as hybrids of them with grapheme or nanocomposites, focusing on green aspects of carbon nanotube applications. The volume shows new approaches used for tapping the potential and promise of key materials in isolation or combined with other materials.The research-oriented chapters highlight a spectrum of applications of carbon nanotubes as novel materials for energy storage as well as for environmental remediation, wastewater treatment, green health care products, and more. Chapters explore the use of carbon nanotubes for remediation methods for wastewater treatment such as by using graphene oxide-carbon nanotube composites and by applying undoped and doped carbon nanotubes for removing contaminates. The book also looks at the application of carbon nanotubes for enhanced oil recovery and for heavy metal separation. Other chapters look at the rheological behavior of carbon nanotubes-based materials and their role in processing for various products, the thermal and electrical transport in carbon nanotubes composites, carbon nanotubes-based composite materials for electromagnetic shielding applications. The biomedical applications of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials also explored, such as FTIR spectroscopy.
The Case for a Living Universe
We are composed of the same atoms as the rocks, soil, mountains and nothing more. They are apparently aware of nothing, whereas we are aware of the physical world, ourselves and much more besides. How is this possible?Science says our minds emerge from wholly unknowing matter. The idea that mind and matter are, in fact, one and the same has long been considered an elegant, although impractical answer to the question above.The Case for a Living Universe argues that we live in an aware, decision-making universe, and we should view consciousness as growing from the intelligence present throughout nature. Unlike most philosophy books, it gives the non-human world its proper status, by describing many recent studies into animal cognition and the intelligent behaviours of some non-animal life.It examines how Western culture, through religion, science and philosophy, have worked to separate us from nature, and argues the reason mind in nature is usually considered an eccentric or mystical idea, is because we humans have wrongly elevated ourselves above all other species.As Charles Darwin wrote: "He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke."
The Transcendent Brain
From the acclaimed author of Einstein's Dreams comes a rich, fascinating answer to the question, Can the scientifically inclined still hold space for spirituality? "Lightman...belongs to a noble tradition of science writers, including Oliver Sacks and Lewis Thomas, who can poke endlessly into a subject and...stir up fresh embers of wonder." --The Wall Street Journal Gazing at the stars, falling in love, or listening to music, we sometimes feel a transcendent connection with a cosmic unity and things larger than ourselves. But these experiences are not easily understood by science, which holds that all things can be explained in terms of atoms and molecules. Is there space in our scientific worldview for these spiritual experiences? According to acclaimed physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, there may be. Drawing on intellectual history and conversations with contemporary scientists, philosophers, and psychologists, Lightman asks a series of thought-provoking questions that illuminate our strange place between the world of particles and forces and the world of complex human experience. Can strict materialism explain our appreciation of beauty? Or our feelings of connection to nature and to other people? Is there a physical basis for consciousness, the most slippery of all scientific problems? Lightman weaves these investigations together to propose what he calls "spiritual materialism"-- the belief that we can embrace spiritual experiences without letting go of our scientific worldview. In his view, the breadth of the human condition is not only rooted in material atoms and molecules but can also be explained in terms of Darwinian evolution. What is revealed in this lyrical, enlightening book is that spirituality may not only be compatible with science, it also ought to remain at the core of what it means to be human.
Time, Beauty, and Grief
A woman turning 65 ends up with one of her hiking boots in the grave as she embarks on a Quest to complete five miles in all 50 Wisconsin State Parks in one year. Life is remarkably similar to taking a hike. You can prepare and have all the right gear yet still struggle on the journey. Part trail guide, part memoir, and part conversation on the adventure of becoming a senior citizen; this engaging collection of essays offers you fresh perspectives on the parks and new insights into your own coming-of-age. The first and only book to include every one of the 50 state parks, it is filled with love for Wisconsin's outdoors and culture. This life-affirming story will encourage you to reject ageist stereotypes, and live more fully and colorfully. With its central themes of hiking, reclaiming lost things, the fickle nature of time, and the liminality of growing old, it will inspire you to develop a Quest of your own!
The Teaching Assistant's Guide
"How should I prepare to teach a new topic?" "How do I balance my time between teaching, research, and my own classes?" "What if the students don't respect me?" New TAs--typically young graduate students--need answers to these and many other questions as they step into their roles as teachers. The Teaching Assistant's Guide offers advice to help first classes go smoothly, worksheets to help advance preparation, a teaching diary to record experiences and save time, guidance for maintaining boundaries, proven strategies to increase student participation, tips to make grading fast and fair, and steps to make a class inclusive and welcoming. Bringing together practical advice from experienced TAs and insights from education research, this handbook will help all new teachers get off to a great start. "TAing your first class as a graduate student can feel nerve-racking and overwhelming. It's hard to know what to expect. The Teaching Assistant's Guide is a terrific step by step guidebook to help set you up for success. I wish I had this resource when I was starting out!" --Shannon Odell, Neuroscientist and Science Communicator "The Teaching Assistant's Guide fills a gaping hole in the teaching literature. Himelblau creates a terrific road map for TAs with a mixture of cartoons, quotes from experienced TAs, and his own unique voice. This book is for anyone hoping to improve the classroom experience for TAs and their students." --Jo Handelsman, Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and author of Scientific Teaching and A World Without Soil
Botany for Everyone
In this book, you'll learn why some plants have cones, basic cone anatomy and function, the diversity in the four living phyla of gymnosperms, and about some of the most amazing plants on Earth, holding records in height, mass, and age. In the back of this book, the activity with an adult will show you how to make a pine cone bird feeder. The two-page glossary has definitions and IPA pronunciation guides for new terminology so you can feel confident when reading this book!
The Things We Make
"This book unravels the mysteries behind humanity's greatest masterpieces." -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think AgainDiscover the secret method used to build the world...For millennia, humans have used one simple method to solve problems. Whether it's planting crops, building skyscrapers, developing photographs, or designing the first microchip, all creators follow the same steps to engineer progress. But this powerful method, the "engineering method", is an all but hidden process that few of us have heard of--let alone understand--but that influences every aspect of our lives.Bill Hammack, a Carl Sagan award-winning professor of engineering and viral "The Engineer Guy" on Youtube, has a lifelong passion for the things we make, and how we make them. Now, for the first time, he reveals the invisible method behind every invention and takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world. Spanning centuries and cultures, Hammack offers a fascinating perspective on how humans engineer solutions in a world full of problems.Perfect for readers of Adam Grant and Simon Winchester, The Things We Make is a captivating examination of the method that keeps pushing humanity forward, a spotlight on the achievements of the past, and a celebration of the potential of our future that will change the way we see the world around us.
Returning Light
The Acclaimed International Bestseller "It is impossible to do justice to the beauty of Returning Light. The whole book is a poem." -- New York Times Book ReviewBy the lighthouse keeper on the remote, otherworldly Irish island of Skellig Michael, a "profound memoir about the importance of place and what it really means to belong" (Belfast Telegraph)"On Skellig Michael, thousands of birds appear and disappear, erecting towers, coming together in wings of movement which build and unravel over the empty sea. Often, no one else is there to stand beside me on the island. The mind wanders; links with the past are easily made; ancient ways of viewing things come alive."In 1987, Robert Harris happened upon an unusual job posting in the local paper--a new warden service was being set up on the island of Skellig Michael, and the deadline was imminent. Just weeks later he was on his way to set up camp in one of Ireland's most remote locations, unaware that he would be making that same journey every May for the next 30 years.Here he transports us to the otherworldly island, a place that is teeming with natural life, including curious puffins that like to visit his hut. From the precipice he has observed a coastline that is relatively unchanged for the last thousand years--a beacon of equilibrium in an ever-changing world.But the island can be fierce too. It's inhabitable for only five months of the year, and solitude can quickly become isolation as bad weather rolls in to create a veil between Skellig Michael and the rest of the world, when the dizzying terrain can become a very real threat to life.A beautiful and evocative work of nature writing, Returning Light is an extraordinary memoir about the profound effect a place can have on us, and how a remote location can bring with it a great sense of belonging.
Tracing the Domestic Pig
The appearance of the domestic pig today is shaped mainly by the economic expectations of us, humans. Today's pig has superior reproductive, fattening, and carcass traits compared to its ancient ancestors. This could not be achieved without the highly effective support of scientific research aimed at revealing the genetic basis underlying the important economic traits of pigs and the involvement of novel technologies in phenotyping these animals, both in vivo and post-mortem. Yet the research is spreading beyond the biological issues connected to the production of pigs and their products. The latest developments in computer science and informatics technology enable us to collect and store information from all stages in the production of food, leading back to its origin. Questions about the breed, the way the pigs were raised, how were they managed, and how they were processed into a wide palette of products can be answered by the use of methodologies developed by data scientists and those from the fields of different "omics." All this information can be passed along the chain to consumers in a repeatable manner. The producers can use these data to manage such complex issues as meat or product quality. And this closes the circle. Tracing the domestic pig is an attempt to present the current knowledge about this valuable animal-its origin, composition, and the food that it gives us-and to predict or foresee what can happen to this species in the time to come.
Molecular Mechanisms Determining Mammalian Oocyte Quality
As the age of childbearing increases, reduced female gamete (egg) quality has emerged as the primaery cause of infertility in women. This book addresses molecular mechanisms that regulate oocyte quality as well as intrinsic and extrinsic factors that compromise these mechanisms. Eggs are produced through a unique cell division called meiosis. Oocyte meiosis is initiated early in fetal life. Shortly before birth, the oocyte undergoes a prolonged arrest at prophase I until the age of puberty, at which selected oocytes resume meiosis I. Following meiotic resumption and during oocyte maturation, tight regulation of nuclear and DNA-related mechanisms ensures proper homologous chromosome segregation prior to another arrest at metaphase II. Any errors prior to completion of meiosis I can lead to chromosome segregation errors and aneuploidy, the most common genetic cause of miscarriage and congenital disorders such as Down syndrome. In addition to nuclear maturation, several cytoplasmic processes are orchestrated to support cell division and to generate developmentally competent eggs capable of supporting fertilization and early embryonic development. The interaction between these nuclear and cytoplasmic processes is critical for producing good-quality oocytes. This volume in the Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology book series presents current reviews by leading experts. It offers valuable insights for researchers, physicians and Ph.D. students interested in reproductive biology, particularly oocyte quality and meiosis.
