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Books in Arts and humanities

Elsevier's Arts and Humanities titles encompass a rich spectrum of scholarship that explores human culture, history, philosophy, and creative expression. These works offer deep insights into language, literature, visual arts, and critical theory, supporting the academic community in understanding diverse perspectives and cultural legacies. Designed for scholars, educators, and students, this collection bridges classic studies with contemporary issues, fostering a deeper appreciation and knowledge of the human experience.

  • Culture and Political Economy in Western Sicily

    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • Jane Schneider + 1 more
    • English
    Culture and Political Economy in Western Sicily presents the relationship between the early colonial period, a time when Sicily exported wheat and animal products, and a later neocolonial period, during which manpower is the principal energy loss. The book discusses the rise and development of the Mafia; cultural codes that are important to contemporary social Sicilian organization; and the origins of these codes in early adaptations of the Sicilian people to externally generated political and economic forces. The text will be of value to sociologists, economists, historians, and people who want a deeper understanding of the Mafia.
  • Melatonin: Current Status and Perspectives

    Proceedings of an International Symposium on Melatonin, Held in Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany, September 28-30, 1980
    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • N. Birau + 1 more
    • English
    Advances in the Biosciences, Volume 29: Melatonin – Current Status and Perspectives is a compilation of papers by different authors presented in the Proceedings of an International Symposium on Melatonin, held in Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany on September 28-30, 1980. This volume is divided into six parts, wherein the first part covers the testing methods of melatonin; the use of the status of assay methods of melatonin; and related studies. Part 2 tracks the developments in melatonin histophysiology, with attempts to clarify cytological aspects of the indoleamine secretory process in the pineal gland; melatonin production by extra-pineal tissues; and other relationships with the pineal gland. Part 3 focuses on advances in melatonin physiology from hypothetical evolutionary function; the biochemistry and pharmacology of melatonin; to melatonin and pigment cell rhythmicity. Part 4 shows the progress made in molecular endocrinology, while Part 5 presents the results of human melatonin research and covers melatonin serum in humans. The last part is comprised of additional papers that are not classified in the former categories: studies of the effects of light on human plasma melatonin; the role of the environmental factors; and the histology melatonin localized in the salivary glands of the rat palate. This compilation of papers is intended for biochemists, neuroscientists, and researchers in the fields of endocrinology, human genetics, and pharmaceutical chemistry.
  • Arab-Israeli Military/Political Relations

    Arab Perceptions and the Politics of Escalation
    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • John W. Amos
    • English
    Arab-Israeli Military/Political Relations: Arab Perceptions and the Politics of Escalation examines the escalatory patterns of Israel's relations with Arab countries, paying particular attention to the preconditions, conditions, and ultimate precipitants of wars that have broken out with some repetitiveness in the Middle East. The impact of the October 1973 War (known as the Yom Kippur War in the West and the Ramadan War in Arab countries) on the United States interests in the Middle East is also assessed. This book is comprised of seven chapters and opens with an overview of the October War; those Arab states actually involved in the war, especially Egypt and Syria; and those Arab states having geographical access to either the Mediterranean or Indian Oceans, including the oil-producing states. The wider political and military implications of the war are discussed, with specific reference to super power interests. The following chapters discuss the perceptual context of Arab politics; the wars of 1967 and 1973 and the impact of Arab conflict imagery on an inherently escalatory situation; the consequences and lessons of the June 1967 war, or Six-Day War; and Arab coalition politics between 1970 and 1973. The final two chapters focus on the combined Egyptian-Syrian battle plan, code-named Operation Badr, and the historical and political implications of the 1973 war. This monograph will be of interest to diplomats, policymakers, and government officials concerned with the politics of war and in international relations more generally.
  • Knowledge and Inference

    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • Makoto Nagao
    • English
    Knowledge and Inference discusses an important problem for software systems: How do we treat knowledge and ideas on a computer and how do we use inference to solve problems on a computer? The book talks about the problems of knowledge and inference for the purpose of merging artificial intelligence and library science. The book begins by clarifying the concept of ""knowledge"" from many points of view, followed by a chapter on the current state of library science and the place of artificial intelligence in library science. Subsequent chapters cover central topics in the artificial intelligence: search and problem solving, methods of making proofs, and the use of knowledge in looking for a proof. There is also a discussion of how to use the knowledge system. The final chapter describes a popular expert system. It describes tools for building expert systems using an example based on Expert Systems—A Practical Introduction by P. Sell (Macmillian, 1985). This type of software is called an ""expert system shell."" This book was written as a textbook for undergraduate students covering only the basics but explaining as much detail as possible.
  • Nuclear Power Hazard Control Policy

    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • John C. Chicken
    • English
    Nuclear Power Hazard Control Policy presents an analysis of the factors that appear to have influenced the formation and form of nuclear power hazard control policy in Britain. Particular attention is directed to those political groups that have developed a special interest in the problems of nuclear power, and to the interplay between organized groupings and public opinion generally. The metamorphosis of these groupings is traced from the origins of the nuclear industry in World War II to their prominent role during the Windscale Inquiry. This volume is comprised of nine chapters and begins with a simple account of the technical nature of nuclear hazards and of the legal and administrative framework that has been developed to control them. The subsequent chapters concentrate primarily on the influence exerted by social and political factors. Throughout the study, emphasis is given to the policy constraint imposed by increased expectations in the form of demands for higher standards of living, as well as improvements in the quality of the environment. The final chapter describes a model of the policy-making system that takes account of the consequences of variation with time in the environment surrounding the system. Appendices are included to provide a chronology of the relevant events and a summary of the administrative arrangements that various countries have made to control the safety of nuclear reactors. This monograph will be of value to policymakers concerned with the hazards of nuclear power and how to control them.
  • Experimental Social Programs and Analytic Methods

    An Evaluation of the U.S. Income Maintenance Projects
    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • Alexander Basilevsky + 1 more
    • Peter H. Rossi
    • English
    Experimental Social Programs and Analytic Methods: An Evaluation of the U.S. Income Maintenance Projects examines the statistical and econometric research on work disincentive effects reported by a series of social experiments that explore the economic and social consequences of a guaranteed income program. This book provides a comparative description of the several experimental designs and labor supply results, including a general discussion of methodological issues common to the social experiments. The Conlisk-Watts model for sample assignment and labor supply findings from both an econometric and statistical perspective are also elaborated. This text likewise presents an updated survey of the work response findings from the American negative income tax experiments. This publication is intended for professionals and students in econometrics, labor economics, statistics, and quantitative research, but is also valuable to policy analysts and others concerned with social welfare reform and public administration.
  • Guide to Contemporary Politics

    The Commonwealth and International Library: Liberal Studies Division
    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • N. C. Dexter + 1 more
    • D. F. Bratchell + 1 more
    • English
    Guide to Contemporary Politics describes basic political ideas and some of the issues dividing the major parties in British politics. The book starts with basic descriptions of political theory, covering the foundations of democracy, the choice of government, and the machinery of political power found in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. The book then cites example of clichés and common misconception about politics between a communist and a socialist. This is followed by discussions and interviews on the politics, differences, qualities, and some perceptions on the Communist Party, the Conservative Party, the Labor Party, and the Liberal Party. The book then discusses any points of controversy or misunderstanding in an objective manner. The text gives an assessment of observations and notes of the different parties. The appendices also discuss the state of economy from 1945 to 1966, and how the newspapers saw the changing politics of the times. The book also discusses the use of opinion polls in political elections. Politicians, political candidates, campaign managers, and sociologists and historians will find this book informative and useful.
  • Critical Readings in Planning Theory

    Urban and Regional Planning Series
    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • Chris Paris
    • English
    Urban and Regional Planning Series, Volume 27: Critical Readings in Planning Theory presents a critical perspective on urban and regional planning. This book provides an understanding of various theoretical perspectives on planning. Organized into five parts encompassing 19 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the economic and social theory of planning. This text then examines the procedural planning theory, which deals with the making and implementing of plans. Other chapters consider the introduction of the systems approach to planning. This book discusses as well the theoretical respecification of the nature of town planning as it has developed under capitalism. The final chapter deals with the ideology of planning that is consistent with the view that town planning can be objectively useful. This book is a valuable resource for students of planning who want to understand planning as it is. Urban planners and engineers will also find this book useful.
  • Social Demography

    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • Karl E. Taeuber + 2 more
    • English
    Social Demography focuses on selected topics on social science research on population. The papers included in the book are compiled from a conference sponsored by the Center for Population Research, held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in June 1975. The book compiles various findings in social and behavioral research. Chapters explore topics on trend analysis; the sociological meaning of age, and the social-psychological processes of reproductive behavior; analysis of certain aspects of the spatial organization of metropolitan activities; the changing racial stratification; and the future of research in social demography. Demographers, sociologists, and political and economic policy makers will find the book as a good source of insights.
  • Urban Systems Models

    • 1st Edition
    • October 22, 2013
    • J. William Schmidt
    • English
    Urban Systems Models provides description, optimization, and analysis of the main features of highly urbanized areas. It details and shows many models intended to aid in the study of urban problems. The book focuses mainly on land use, public facility siting, population analysis, resource allocation in congested urban settings, and transportation networks. The text aims to bridge the gap between the use of applied mathematics and techniques on urban analysis. Civil and industrial engineers, transportation and urban planners, public administrators, researchers, and students in related fields will find the book very useful.