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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.

    • Stellar Formation

      International Series in Natural Philosophy, Volume 97
      • 1st Edition
      • V C Reddish
      • English
      Stellar Formation brings together knowledge about the formation of stars. In seeking to determine the conditions necessary for star formation, this book examines questions such as how, where, and why stars form, and at what rate and with what properties. This text also considers whether the formation of a star is an accident or an integral part of the physical properties of matter. This book consists of 13 chapters divided into two sections and begins with an overview of theories that explain star formation as well as the state of knowledge of star formation in comparison to stellar structure and evolution. The places in which stars are forming are then analyzed by focusing on the distributions of very young stars, globules, and cloud fragments. The relationship between the distributions of stars and interstellar clouds is also considered. The chapters that follow explore the frequency distribution of stellar masses as well as the masses of aggregates of stars and interstellar clouds. The reader is also introduced to the rate and environment of star formation; the cloud-like structure of the interstellar gas; the ordering of interstellar clouds into spiral arms; and the conditions under which a cloud will contract until it is set inevitably on the route to becoming a star. The remaining chapters examine the fragmentation of clouds into protostars and the evolution of galaxies. This text will be of interest to students and practitioners of astronomy.
    • Hazard Control Policy in Britain

      • 1st Edition
      • John C. Chicken
      • English
      Hazard Control Policy in Britain examines the general nature of Britain's hazard control policy and the factors that appeared to influence its formation up to 1973, that is, prior to the implementation of the recommendations of the Robens' Committee on Safety and Health at work. Attention is directed mainly at identifying the apparent roles and goals of the various organizations associated with policy making. Comprised of five chapters, this book begins with an overview of the nature of hazards and their technical causes, as well as the risks to life that they pose. Hazard control policy is then considered and a model of the policy making process is postulated. The role of interest groups in the policy-making process is also analyzed. Case studies that give a clear indication of the general nature of the hazard control policy-making process are presented, covering road transport, air transport, factories, nuclear power reactors, and air contamination. This monograph should be of value to policymakers involved in hazard control.
    • European Security

      Nuclear or Conventional Defence?
      • 1st Edition
      • Michel de Perrot
      • English
      European Security: Nuclear or Conventional Defence? documents the proceedings of the IVth International Symposium held in Geneva on December 8-10, 1983. This book compiles papers on the INF negotiations on intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe and START talks on strategic nuclear arms, focusing on four themes— nuclear threats, public reactions, arms race and arms control, and alternative paths. The topics discussed include consequences in Europe of a nuclear conflict; expected impact of the use of nuclear weapons on battlefields, towns, and cities; peace movements in Europe; and Europe and non-violent defense. The aims, roles and prospects of arms control; problem of conventional defense; risk of nuclear war; and nuclear disarmament are also deliberated in this text. This publication is a good source for students and researchers aiming to acquire knowledge of the possible consequences of a nuclear conflict in Europe.
    • Patterns of Care for the Subnormal

      The Commonwealth and International Library: Mental Health and Social Medicine Division
      • 1st Edition
      • Michael Craft + 1 more
      • H. L. Freeman
      • English
      Patterns of Care for the Subnormal examines the pattern of care for the mentally subnormal in relation to medical, educational, and social services in England and Wales. Topics covered range from variations on the theme of subnormality to the prevalence of mental subnormality, hospital functions, and trends in hospital and community services. A comprehensive service for the subnormal is also considered. Comprised of 10 chapters, this book begins with an analysis of the term subnormal from the educational, legal, sociological, psychological, and administrative perspectives. The discussion then turns to variations on the theme of subnormality by presenting four case histories to illustrate the usage of the term subnormality. Subsequent chapters focus on the prevalence of mental subnormality; trends in a hospital service and in a community service; subnormality admissions to Welsh subnormality hospitals in 1964; and patients needing all types of subnormality hospital care in Wales in 1965. Patterns of subnormality care in other societies are also considered. The final chapter describes a comprehensive service for the subnormal that encompasses prevention and diagnosis as well as education and training, community social services, and full-time care. This monograph will be of interest to doctors, psychologists, educationalists, and administrators.
    • Bureaucratic Failure and Public Expenditure

      • 1st Edition
      • William Spangar Peirce
      • Peter H. Rossi
      • English
      Bureaucratic Failure and Public Expenditure was written to address the question: Once a law is passed, under what conditions will the bureaucracy fail to give the political leaders exactly what they ordered? The book deals explicitly with the federal government of the United States. Certain aspects of the theory could be applied to other large organizations or to other governments and times, but these are separate task. The book is organized into three parts. Part I is based on a literature survey that roams widely through economics, political science, sociology, public administration, and various related bodies of knowledge. Although much of this was unfamiliar terrain for an economist, the route was defined by the objective of identifying the conditions predisposing to failure. Part II contains 11 brief case studies that are based on reports by the United States General Accounting Office. Relying on this source permitted coverage of a broad selection of the nonmilitary activities of the government. Part III reexamines the hypotheses developed from the literature in the light of the cases and other studies of implementation. The final chapter consists of the author’s reflections on the implications of bureaucratic failure.
    • Dyslexia: Neuronal, Cognitive and Linguistic Aspects

      Proceedings of an International Symposium Held at the Wenner-Gren Center, Stockholm, June 3-4, 1980
      • 1st Edition
      • Yngve Zotterman
      • English
      Dyslexia: Neuronal, Cognitive & Linguistic Aspects focuses on the desire of scholars to identify the etiology of dyslexia and how it affects the ability of children to read and write. This book features the works of authors who have conducted extensive research on dyslexia. In the neuronal aspect of defining the origin of dyslexia, the selection commences by defining the neuroanatomical features of language and dyslexia. This discussion is followed by a tracking of the sections of the brain that are involved in this kind of deficiency. In the cognitive facet, the selection features discussion on how the right hemisphere functions relative to the ability to read. This topic is followed by several observations, which point out that the right hemisphere has no direct influence on a person’s ability to read; however, it is stressed that this part of the brain has visuo-spatial capabilities. The discussion is followed by a presentation of opthalmological findings among children with learning difficulties. The book then proceeds to the relationship of dyslexia with visual problems and linguistic awareness. In this regard, questions on the ability of children to be able to read prior and during their school years are raised. The selection ends with a discussion on how to treat dyslexia through the use of computers. This book is a great source of information for neurophysiologists, psychophysiologists, ophthalmologists, and teachers who are interested in helping children learn to read and write.
    • Theoretical Methods in Social History

      • 1st Edition
      • Arthur L. Stinchcombe
      • English
      Theoretical Methods in Social History examines how generality can be wrested from historical facts. The book explores the various aspects on the application of social theory to historical materials. Chapters delve on various historical issues such as the sociological bias of Trotsky and De Tocqueville; functional analysis of class relations in Smelser and Bendix; and the analogy between intellectual productions. Historians and philosophers will find the book interesting.
    • Policy Sciences

      Methodologies and Cases
      • 1st Edition
      • Arie Y. Lewin + 1 more
      • English
      Policy Sciences presents the framework of situational normativism, a descriptive-normativ... methodology by which the components of policy sciences may be pragmatically integrated and applied to real decision problems. The uniqueness of this approach derives from the integration of behavioral, political, and social considerations with a broad range of systems and quantitative methodologies. Furthermore, this approach encompasses specific considerations of implementation, political feasibility, and organization redesign. Organized into three parts, this book begins with an overview of policy sciences followed by a description of the adaptive analytical framework of situational normativism. Policy making is considered as a process of adaptation and a policy-making system generally composed of two or more coupled policy makers, each of whom is viewed as an adaptive purposeful system, is described. The last part consists of nine original cases that demonstrate the application of specific methodologies to real-world problems within the framework of situational normativism. Three of the case studies focus on the zoning decision process in the city of Pittsburgh; the use of a Delphi procedure to isolate and define the influential goals of an organization; and national policies toward foreign private investment. This monograph is intended for senior undergraduates and graduates taking a course in policy sciences and inter-organizational decision making and similar courses.
    • Modern Gear Production

      • 1st Edition
      • H J Watson
      • English
      Modern Gear Production focuses on the processes and methods in gear making. The book first gives information on the history of gear making and types of gears. Topics such as the classification of gears based on the disposition of their shafts; shafts lying in the same plane with axes intersecting; and shafts lying in parallel planes but with axes inclined to one another are then discussed. The text describes gear groups, tooth forms, and gear materials. Heat treatment of steels, casehardening, nitriding, induction hardening, sulfinuzing, and flame hardening are explained. The book takes a look at blank manufacture, gear milling, and gear shaping and planning. The text further examines gear hobbing. Topics include precision of hobbing machines, worm-wheel hobbing, hob setting, control of accuracy of gears, and hobbing gears for general purposes. The different kinds of hobs, profile grinding, and shaving and lapping are also discussed. The book also focuses on other manufacturing methods, such as thread whirling, broaching gear teeth, tooth rounding, work hardening, and electrochemical machining. The text is a vital source of data for readers interested in gear making.
    • Defense Manpower Planning

      Issues for the 1980s
      • 1st Edition
      • William J. Taylor + 2 more
      • English
      Defense Manpower Planning discusses the important set of national security issues related to defense manpower for the 1980s. The topics in the text focus on the problems of manpower acquisition and retention. The historical background and description of the military power during the 1970s and 1980s are given in detail. A military manpower chronology is provided. The book enumerates some of the manpower issues and debates. Such salient issues as the quantity, quality, socio-economic factors, and the issue of cost, combat effectiveness, and readiness factors are carefully considered. After listing the issues, solutions are then presented. The variants of the all-volunteer force, of conscription, and combining volunteers and conscripts are suggested. A part of the book focuses on active duty forces. The issue of employing women in the military is fully addressed. A description of combat is also tackled. A section of the text explains the relationship between precision guided munitions and the volunteer force. The book will provide useful information to defense military planners, historians, and students of history.