I.S.B.S.

Apex; retracing the Egyptian pyramids.

The author is a Norwegian architect affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. In this slim volume (formatted horizontally and measuring 12x8.5 inches) he sets forth some provocative ideas about the Egyptian pyramids — not so much how they were constructed (a topic covered in detail by others) but instead about how they were planned. He focuses on the apex point, and he has created project drawings of 30 Egyptian pyramids from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th dynasties that illustrate his theories about the planning phases. Photos of the pyramids are also included. Distribution in the US is by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Armenian question in the Caucasus; Russian archive documents and publications; 3v.

The results of a project by The European Azerbaijan Society, this three-volume set comprises documents found in the Russian State Historical Archive and The Russian State Military History Archive. The general introduction explains the significance of the project and reviews the history of Armenians in Asia Minor. Each of the three volumes contains a roughly 30-page commentary in English pertaining to the content and context of the documents that follow. The documents themselves are presented in facsimile and when necessary for legibility, in a typeset format, thus preserving the integrity of the archival documents but making them legible to those who read Russian. The first volume relates to the years 1724-1904, the second volume follows chronologically, presenting documents and materials relating to the events of 1905-06, and the third continues with 1906-1914. Distribution in the US is by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The art of engagement; culture, collaboration, innovation.

Through nine essays, Lally (Centre for Cultural Research at the U. of Western Sydney) and other arts and communication scholars from Europe and Australia examine arts-business-community collaborations that move beyond conventional models of engagement to align business strategies with arts practices and involve communities. They explore the C3West experiment, a collaboration between Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art and three cultural institutions there, which commissioned Australian and international artists Craig Walsh, Sylvie Blocher and Campement Urbain, Ash Keating, and Jeanne can Heeswijk to produce art in partnership with businesses in Western Sydney, including a rugby league club and two environmental and waste management companies. They focus on the engagement process, its complexities, and different ways it occurs and is experienced, discussing how the artists used various approaches and ideas to produce different aesthetic and social effects. Essays in the last section discuss international efforts of collaborative and process-based contemporary art. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Bacterial pathogenesis; molecular and cellular mechanisms.

Scientists in a range of biomedical fields synthesize the current understanding of how bacteria make host organisms sick. They cover approaches to the study of bacterial pathogenesis, bacterial adhesion to the cell surface and extracellular matrix of host tissues, poisoning the host by toxins, cellular invasion by bacterial pathogens, and bacterial evasion of host defenses. Among the topics are genetic determinants of bacterial pathogenicity, fimbrial adhesins: adhesive molecules on a "stalk," whether toxins acting on intracellular targets can by friends as well as foes, the bacterial life in a vacuole, and bacterial resistance to antimicrobial peptides. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Brucella; molecular microbiology and genomics.

Microbiologists and other scientists examine bacteria in the genus Brucella, which cause disease in many domestic, semi-domestic, and wild animals, mostly mammals. The disease causes much economic loss, but is rarely fatal to humans. The topics include the comparative genomics and phylogenomics, recently developed molecular approaches to diagnostics and epidemiology, the biology and genetics of the outer membrane, novel targets for antibacterial agents, and molecular and chemical approaches to vaccine development. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Byzantine neumes; a new introduction to the middle Byzantine musical notation.

H.J.W. Tillyard's 1935 classic Handbook of the Middle Byzantine Musical Notation was the first publication in the Monumenta Musicae Byzantinae series, and the editorial board decided that the series itself had produced enough new material to warrant a replacement for it. Troelsgård (classical and medieval philology, U. of Copenhagen) updates and broadens the coverage, with chapters on the chant texts; preliminary remarks on the Byzantine notations; the varieties of Byzantine musical notations; transcribing the notation; the signs; modes, melody, and internal; and the Byzantine chant styles. The Middle Byzantine period is about 1100-1450. Facsimiles of 22 pages are included. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Collective violence and international criminal justice; an interdisciplinary approach.

In this valuable contribution, Smeulers (Amsterdam Centre of Interdisciplinary Research on International Crimes and Security, VU U.) introduces these 18 chapters with an overview of the emergence of international criminal law as a specialized field within international law which has gained the attention of multidisciplinary social scientists. Individually introduced sections treat the psychology of perpetrators of human rights violations and genocide in case studies (e.g., of Adolf Eichmann); challenges of attributing individual liability for collective crimes, the concept of Joint Criminal Enterprise and criteria for genocide; critiques of the International Criminal Court; and issues in collecting and presenting evidence. Distributed in North America by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The communitarian dimension of the European Union's common foreign and security policy.

This analysis of European Union foreign and security policy examines structural contradictions in the separate economic and international policy spheres of EU influence on its members states and presents a detailed discussion of the ways in which the practical interconnectedness of economic and security actions in modern foreign policy has provided de facto resolutions for these structural problems. The volume is well researched and provides detailed references to all relevant regulations and statutes. The book is based on Becker-Alon's doctoral thesis at the University of Saarland, Germany. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Diary of a spitfire pilot.

Flying Officer Allen Mawer's diary records the romantic escapades of the young flyer and his comrades as well as their combat adventures, in entries written between April 1941 and September 1943. A prologue gives background on his family, his education, and his military training. An epilogue gives details on his death in an aircraft test collision, and an afterword offers information on the fates of his family members. The book is illustrated with b&w historical photos from personal collections. It is distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Economic development in India; issues and challenges.

This collection describes structural changes in the Indian economy over the last 60 years, examines regional economic disparities, and explores current economic trends at the national and state level. The problems faced by farmers, rural underdevelopment, and water supply infrastructure receive considerable attention. Other topics of the 26 papers include the automobile industry, research and development behavior, municipal finance, inflation, chronic poverty, climate change, and the Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee program. Editor Mohanty is a retired professor of economics who taught at Gangadhar Meher College and Ravenshaw College. Distributed in North America by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Energy sources and policies in India.

This work reviews Indian policies related to the demand for energy, looking at policy in the context of recent economic trends such as economic liberalization and globalization. Information is presented in outline format. The first part of the book reviews the country's energy needs and describes the legal and institutional framework for energy management in India. Later chapters cover the history and current situation in different energy sectors, looking at aspects such as private enterprise, foreign collaboration, and reforms. Sectors covered include electricity, coal, petroleum and natural gas, renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydro), atomic energy, and energy conservation. About 130 pages of appendices offer recommendations and policies from various governmental committees. Dwivedi is secretary general of the Indian Wind Power Association. The book is distributed in North America by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

English legal terminology; legal concepts in language, 3d ed.

Writing particularly for those who have studied law in languages other than English, Gubby (law, Erasmus U. Rotterdam, the Netherlands) provides a survey of English legal terminology prevalent in core legal subjects, covering the terminology of the legal system, civil procedure, European Union law, tort, contract law, and company law. For each of these areas, she discusses the legal context in which the English terms are used, presents vocabulary lists with definitions, includes case discussions that prompt the reader to apply the terminology from the vocabulary lists, and presents "knowledge-based questions" designed to test the reader's comprehension. Distributed in North America by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Environmental status and policy in India.

Presenting information mainly in outline format, this book overviews environmental problems in India and describes policies and programs for mitigating and preventing environmental problems and encouraging sustainable development. A preface offers short summaries of the situation in each of the 13 chapter areas and describes the country's major environmental agencies and legislation. The book's 13 chapters cover aspects such as the environment and development, the legal and institutional framework for environmental protection, recent policy initiatives, biological diversity, disaster management, and global climate change. There are also chapters devoted to land and soil degradation, water resources, air and noise pollution, forest resources, and mineral exploration. About 70 pages of appendices present government guidelines, recommendations, and statements. Ganesamurthy heads the department of economics at Sri Vasavi College, Tamil Nadu, India. The book is distributed in North America by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Exhuming passions; the pressure of the past in Ireland and Australia.

Like the Capulets and Montagues or the Hatfields and McCoys, political feuds in Ireland and Australia are kept alive for hundreds of years as they are handed down through the generations. This collection of essays investigates the whys and wherefores of history used as a means of waging contemporary conflict in Ireland and Australia. Diagnosed as a population that seeks to build a country for their ancestors rather than for their children, they are imprisoned by the past and passionately engage in violence that bars the possibility of resolution. From the individual forces and symbols that fuel the fires of debate, these native scholars provide insight into the local political culture. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Getting a PhD in law.

Morris (U. of London) and Murphy (King's College London) explore points to consider when choosing a PhD law program and thesis topic, how to get the maximum benefit from doctoral supervisors, and preparation for the oral examination. The guide also describes the research and writing process, the different types of legal research methodologies, good legal writing technique, submission for publication, and career development. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Glendalough; city of God.

This historical and peaceful valley in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland was a monastery in medieval times and today is a destination for tourists, historians, peace-seekers, and photographers. This collection of eight essays travels the trail of time to shed light on this "City of God", investigating the lives of those who passed through — who they were, what they believed, how they lived and the culture they created along the way. Divided into themes, the first section addresses space and organization of the land and how it was used. The second section discusses archaeology and architecture, examining the lives that built the structures that are now remnants of their former selves. The final contributions focus on the present and future. Illustrations and little known drawings are included. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The high representative for the EU foreign and security policy; review and prospects.

Derived from a research project and subsequent conference at the University of Würtburg in January of 2010, this collection of papers on the European Union's office of the High Commissioner for Common Foreign and Security Policy examines the tenure of the first commissioner, Javier Solana, as well as the future of the office and new features of its jurisdiction under the Lisbon Treaty. The eleven articles discuss the success of Solana in taking a leading role in world foreign policy circles and analyze the expanded brief of the Commissioner going forward in a time of even more involvement by the EU in world security and military engagements. Contributors include academics in government and foreign policy from major European universities. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Human dignity in bioethics and law.

Foster (medical ethics and law, U. of Oxford, England) places the concept of human dignity at the heart of his approach to medical ethics and bioethics, arguing that every key issue should be approached through a transactional model that assesses whether proposed solutions maximize dignity for the patient, the clinician or researcher, and the wider community, with the meaning of dignity derived from an anthropological perspective on what makes human thrive. This elevation of dignity, he proposes, constitutes a bioethical "theory of everything" that can be applied to problems large and small. In order to support this argument, he explores the history and current construction of the understanding of dignity and then applies the insights from that discussion to consideration of the role of dignity in healthcare law; issues of consent, confidentiality, privacy, medical research, and resources; human enhancement and cloning technologies; reproductive choice and the unborn; the end of life; and the use and abuse of body parts. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

India and Iran; an assessment of contemporary relations.

Alam (Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India) compiles 19 articles that examine issues in contemporary Indo-Iran relations. Topics discussed include energy security, military and defense cooperation, the Iranian nuclear program, terrorism, and commerce. Political, economic, and cultural dimensions, are considered in addition to the impact of the US, China, Pakistan, Israel, Afghanistan, and Central Asia on Indo-Iran relations. Contributors specialize in these areas and are based in India, Malaysia, and the Middle East. The volume originated in an international conference on "India-Iran Relations in Contemporary Times (1979-2009)" at Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Distributed in North America by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Injury prevention in children; a primer for students and practitioners.

This is an introductory text on a relatively neglected branch of public health increasingly surfacing on political and research agendas. Following an overview of principles of injury prevention in children, Stone (pediatric epidemiology, U. of Glasgow) discusses combined public health-clinical approaches in the contexts of changing global patterns of health and ethical issues. The book includes conceptual models of injury prevention, debates in the field, World Health Organization criteria for injury surveillance, US core competencies for injury and violence prevention, UK rules for child restraints in vehicles, "practice nuggets," and a glossary. Distributed in the US by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Inter-agency training; a practical handbook.

Intended for training coordinators, this workbook describes the tasks involved in planning inter-agency training programs, identifies the benefits and challenges of running a training pool, and recommends a combined learning approach that caters to different learning styles, cultures, and stakeholder groups. The final chapter discusses evaluation strategies, quality assurance, verification of single agency courses, and statistical data. Reproducible forms are provided, but no index. Metal spiral binding. Distributed in the U.S. by ISBS. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)