Blackwell Publishing

Doubting Darwin?; creationist designs on evolution.

It cannot be said that Sarkar (integrative biology and philosophy, U. of Texas at Austin) has no use for the discipline of intelligent design. Here, for example, he finds it handy as a target and seeks to deflate it completely, precept by precept. Sarkar finds intelligent design to be inaccurate, misleading and repugnant, and explains why in great detail. He describes the central argument between evolutionary theory and intelligent design theory, explains the work of Darwin and Wallace and the reasons why some reject it, details the thinking behind intelligent design and its variants, and gives the most up-to-date ideas about evolution. He then finds evidence from biology and physics that refute the idea of intelligent design and explains creationist critiques of such evidence. He closes with a plea to ensure evolution is the acceptable theory taught in public schools. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Emergency care of children and young people.

Cleaver (family care and mental health and children's nursing, U. of Greenwich, UK) and Webb (child health and welfare, U. of Greenwich) provide, for practitioners, a reference for working with children in the emergency department setting. They compile 13 chapters by individuals who work in nursing, social care, and mental health from the UK. Following a chapter on the context of children's emergency services and childhood and family life in the UK, skills needed for effective care are detailed, as well as legal and ethical issues, the roles and responsibilities of practitioners, minor injuries, pain assessment and management, major trauma, pediatric resuscitation, acute respiratory illness, fever, sickle cell disease, and diabetic ketoacidosis. A chapter on the needs of young people in relation to substance abuse, alcohol, sexual health, and self-harm is included. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

EMQs and MCQs for medical finals.

For those preparing for Final Examinations, Bath (general surgery, John Hopkins Hospital, UK) et al. present five practice papers and detailed answers to 450 multiple choice questions (MCQs) and extended matching questions (EMQs) in 24 commonly tested areas of medicine, surgery, and subspecialities. They are presented in a similar format and style to the exams. The answers explain the correct choice and why others are incorrect. There is no index. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Equine injury, therapy and rehabilitation, 3d ed.

British chartered physiotherapist Bromiley updates her general guide for horse owners and professionals who treat and care for horses. She explains in simply language the interaction of a horse's body systems to one another and reliance on each other, the construction of the musculoskeletal system, the general effects of injury, and the repair processes of tissues following damage. Throughout, she emphasizes how horses are different from people. Earlier editions appeared in 1987 and 1993. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The essential guide to becoming a doctor, 2d ed.

The authors take aspiring doctors at all levels into account, including those just out of their undergraduate program or returning students who just cannot shake off the ambition. In brief, punchy and thoroughly practical chapters they describe the application process and admission tests, interviews, life at medical school from the first foot in the door to later years, finances, career options and training for specialization. Although written for those in the UK many of the suggestions also apply to students in the US. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Essential midwifery practice; public health.

Written primarily for midwives in the public health service in the UK and students intending to practice there, this collection of articles also makes sense in private and public health care in other systems. Contributors describe the role of the midwife within public health and particularly in equality of care, and what midwives can do about smoking during pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, sexual health, substance misuse, and domestic abuse. They also describe working in partnership in maternal mental health, supporting breast feeding, and maintaining normal birth and birth centers. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Essential reproduction, 6th ed.

Johnson (reproductive sciences, University of Cambridge) provides an integrated approach to reproduction in this text for medical, veterinary, and biological science students, students of physiology, and trainees in obstetrics and gynecology. Emphasis is on the general, fundamental points common to all or most species. Where the fundamentals differ, an explicit discussion is given in the text. This sixth edition has been revised to take into account recent advances in the understanding of assisted conception, HIV, pregnancy and the neonatal period, and the interaction of genes with environmental factors to influence complex behavioral phenotypes. This edition also reflects current social attitudes and legislation on sex, gender, and sexual behavior. The art program features b&w photos and images and color diagrams. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Evidence-based neurology; management of neurological disorders.

A team of international experts headed by Candelise (Cochrane Neurological Network, U. of Milan, Italy) addresses some 100 clinical questions about the treatment and management of neurological disorders ranging from migraines to muscle disorders. After explaining what defines evidence-based medicine in the context of the reality of practicing in the absence of randomized controlled trials (advice: "do not succumb to EBMitis"), contributors present information on neurological symptoms/ problems common to several disorders and major diseases. The 20 chapters typically include background information, a critical review of the evidence for answerable clinical questions, treatments/rehabilitation services, summary tables, and references. Some include clinical scenarios and health research and policy implications. Distributed in the US by Blackwell Publishers. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Evidence-based pediatric oncology, 2d ed.

Pinkerton (Mater Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia) provides summaries of the published results of the randomized trials which are the basis for many of the current treatment recommendations for childhood cancer. Material is in sections on solid tumors, leukemia, and supportive care in pediatric oncology. This second edition covers additional trials and offers new reviews and section commentaries from internationally recognized pediatric oncologists and hematologists. The section commentaries are written to focus on major conclusions from the studies presented and also on future research priorities. The book provides access to background information for those involved in trial design, and will also be of value to those early in their oncology careers. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Evidence-based sports medicine, 2d ed.

Best (family and sports medicine, Ohio State U.) and MacAuley (orthopedics and rehabilitation, U. of New Mexico) offer this updated reference for doctors on the treatment and prevention of athlete injuries and other conditions in sports medicine. Each of the 30 chapters summarizes evidence-based research and answers a specific question, and is organized under one of the following themes: prevention, acute injury, chronic conditions, injuries to the upper limb, injuries to the groin and knee, and injuries to the lower leg. Specifically, they address issues including: evidence-based preparticipation physical examination, the effect of core strength and stability on injury prevention, exercise and back pain prevention, treatment for tennis elbow, the optimal treatment of acute anterior cruciate ligament injury and how to manage plantar fasciitis. Chapters conclude with multiple choice and essay questions. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Flynn's parasites of laboratory animals, 2d ed.

Baker (director and professor, Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Louisiana State U. School of Veterinary Medicine) updates Flynn's 30- year-old reference documenting knowledge about the parasites of laboratory animals. It includes chapters on the biology of protozoa, trematodes and leeches, cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephalans, and arthropods. It describes the parasites of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rats and mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, dogs, cats, swine, sheep and goats, and non-human primates. Information is provided on the parasites' morphology, hosts, life cycle, pathological effects, treatment and prevention, and public health considerations. Black and white drawings are included to aid in the identification of parasites. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Geomorphology of upland peat; erosion, form, and landscape change.

Evans (geomorphology, U. of Manchester, UK) and Warburton (geomorphology, Durham U., UK) provide an overview of research on the geomorphology of upland peatlands and erosion processes and the long-term evolution of eroding upland systems. Writing for peatland geomorphologists and those involved in researching and managing their ecology, the authors aim to present an understanding of the geomorphology of upland peats and show the importance of this perspective for understanding and managing these upland systems. They focus on their own work on areas in northern Britain, particularly in the Pennine ranges, but also placing this research in a wider context. They describe a peat landsystem conceptual model, which includes the hydrology of upland mires, geomorphic processes operating in peatlands, the morphological expression of the combination of erosion processes in upland mires, the interaction of erosional and ecological processes and consequences, and the implications of widespread peat erosion. Both subject and name indexes are provided. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

GI epidemiology.

In a reference based on the GI Population Science course that they teach at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida, and Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Talley and his colleagues introduce 35 chapters on the under-recognized discipline of gastrointestinal (GI) epidemiology. Following a chapter on the importance of this distinct discipline to epidemiologists and gastroenterologists, international specialists review epidemiologic methods, their application to patient risk and clinical trial outcomes, healthcare utilization and cost analyses, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and the epidemiology — and gaps in such knowledge — of specific GI disorders. They also discuss career and funding opportunities in this field. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The gun that changed the world.

This is an "as-told-to" autobiography of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the Soviet weapons designer who invented arguably the most successful assault rifle in the world, the AK-47. Kalashnikov's narrative is straightforward and remarkably unreflective, describing his youthful escape from Siberia, where his family had been exiled while he was still a child; his military experiences as a soldier in a tank regiment; his invention of the AK-47; and his later life living through the turbulent decline and dissolution of the Soviet Union in a rather matter of fact manner. Distributed in the US by Blackwell Publishing. First published in France as Ma Vie en Rafales (2003). (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Handbook of industrial water soluble polymers.

Williams (polymer and colloid chemistry, North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, UK) presents an introduction to the functional characteristics of water-soluble polymers. His contributors cover natural thickeners, acrylic polymers as rheology modifiers for water- based systems, gelling agents, emulsification and encapsulation, polymeric flocculants, polymer micelles, water-soluble dendrimers, colloidal microgels, and industrial water-soluble polymers as packaging. Chapters often include discussion of specific applications. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Handbook of psychosocial rehabilitation.

King et al. (graduate mental health program and occupational therapy, U. of Queensland and The Park, Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Australia) provide a clinical handbook for multidisciplinary mental health practitioners that focuses on rehabilitation within the context of a commitment to recovery, a biopsychosocial framework, and evidence-based practice. They also give an overview of major severe mental health conditions and associated disabilities and factors that impact recovery, in addition to discussing the lived experiences of those in recovery. Other topics consider the therapeutic relationship, individual assessment and the development of a collaborative rehabilitation plan, working with families, case management, community participation, vocational rehabilitation, substance abuse, early intervention and relapse prevention, and service evaluation. Other contributors also work in mental health in Australia. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The health of men and women.

Does being female automatically mean receiving unequal health care? What is the difference between gender and sex in the delivery of health care across the world? Payne (social policy, U. of Bristol) comes up with some surprising answers, particularly the notion that research on the health of men and women tends to focus on narrow avenues of inquiry, such as reproductive health for women and risky behavior for men. She advocates a more comprehensive approach that takes into account the gender role and sex of the potential or present patient and the types of illnesses, diseases and conditions associated with that person's socioeconomic status, membership of a marginalized group, and culture. As a result, some of the things we think we know, such as most research on the topic being on the side of female care, may need to be re-assessed to better reflect reality. Distributed by Blackwell Publishing. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Heterocyclic chemistry at a glance.

This organic chemistry textbook explains the reaction of aromatic heterocycles with particular reagents. Separate chapters illustrate substitutions in pyridines, quinolines, diazines, pyryliums, pyrroles, indoles, furans, purines, and higher azoles. Joule is a retired professor of chemistry at the University of Manchester, and Mills worked 25 years at GlaxoSmithKline. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

How do we best employ animal models for type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis?

Part of The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, this volume is a result of a conference of the same name, sponsored by the New York Academy of Sciences and held in November of 2006 in San Francisco. It contains 23 papers that examine whether there are better ways to optimize existing animal models, the creation of new models, or exploring alternatives to describe and predict outcome efforts to treat human type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. They address controversies surrounding the use of animal models and new methods of discovery for questions of pathogenesis and therapy, such as in silico; humanized, transgenic, or congenic models; viral, antigen, or cell-induced models, and complications. The index lists contributors only, who are researchers from around the world. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Instant pathology.

For harried medical students, Borley (gastrointestinal surgery, Cheltenham General Hospital, UK) and Warren (gastrointestinal pathologist, U. of Oxford) summarize the principles and clinical relevance of cellular pathology. A dozen chapters written by histopathologists and clinicians covering key conditions in each of the major organ systems are organized by epidemiology/etiology, and microscopic and morphological features. Clinical management is purposely not addressed in this companion to other texts in the series (Instant Anatomy and Instant Physiology). (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

International Council of Nurses; nursing leadership.

Shaw, an international nurse consultant, describes the principles of effective leadership and effective leadership development programs in nursing. She focuses on how to obtain and sustain good outcomes for individuals and health services, with an emphasis on change. She uses examples and case studies from the International Council for Nurses' Leadership for Change program in about 50 countries around the world. Resource-limited health systems and settings are detailed in different cultures, socio-political systems, and economic environments, with discussion of theory and attitudes, skills, and behaviors. It is not a book about management but does explain the difference between management and leadership. It is also meant to be accessible to anyone who speaks English as a first or second language and can be applied to other fields. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Introduction to modelling in wildlife and resource conservation. (CD-ROM included)

Owen-Smith (African ecology, U. of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) has developed a textbook from his graduate course for conservation biologists who have little or no prior experience in modeling. His emphasis is not on the mathematical formulae, but on the fundamentals of using computers to explore, understand, and contribute to solving applied problems in wildlife conservation and resource management. He shows how dynamic equations generate patterns of change over time, subject to various influences, that can be viewed and comprehended in graphical output. The disk contains a trial version of the True BASIC programming language and an introduction to it. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Introduction to veterinary and comparative forensic medicine.

Cooper and Cooper, a specialist pathologist and lawyer respectively, take the term "forensic" seriously, because they take wildlife conservation, animal welfare, legal issues relating to animals and identification of live or dead species seriously. They give veterinarians, legal professionals and others practical tools and methods to determine if a crime has been committed that involves an animal in some way, how the evidence taken from that animal applies, and how to objectively represent that information in a legal setting. They concentrate on animal welfare and conservation as they describe clinical and field work, physical and laboratory examinations, collection of evidence, documentation, storage and presentation. They provide a wealth of resources and illustrations. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Involuntary memory.

Mace (psychology, U. of New Haven) assembles 10 essays reviewing the past decade of investigation and presenting new findings in the relatively new research area of involuntary memory. Contributors from the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry in the US and UK discuss involuntary memories that occur during recall, in everyday mental life, or as part of a psychiatric syndrome such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. They describe new experimental methods, naturalistic diary studies on the effects of age and cues, theories about activation and the functional nature of these memories, and global workspace theory. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)