Pattern Classification Using Ensemble Methods

Featuring twenty-two easy craft projects using natural and recycled materials, The Big Book of Nature Art is a fun and eco-friendly way for young children to connect creatively with nature.Featuring twenty-two easy craft projects using natural and recycled materials, The Big Book of Nature Art is a fun and eco way for young children to connect creatively with nature.From bestselling author Yuval Zommer, The Big Book of Nature Art is packed with twenty-two easy art activities inspired by nature. Each of the activities can be achieved in four simple steps using natural materials combined with recycled or found materials from around the home. Drawing on Zommer's years of experience running art workshops for children, The Big Book of Nature Art includes his tips for stress-free ways to get creative with kids.Each nature art activity requires no more than five minutes set-up and five minutes clean-up, making them easy to achieve and fun for everyone involved. The book also encourages childr

The introduction of elections to district advisory bodies during the early 1980s was expected to improve the public delivery of services. However, as time passed, electoral politics led to party politics, elite fragmentation and political struggles. Politicization and hyper-politicization in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has brought about a fluctuating pattern between administrative recentralization, the Tsang administration’s attempts at decentralization, and the post-2019 administrative recentralization.The purpose of this book is to study the intertwining relationship between district administration and electoral politics. It also examines the political transformation of District Councils after the promulgation of the National Security Law in late June 2020. Written by experts in the field, this book is a good reference source for readers interested in district elections, politics, and administration in Hong Kong.

Physics is intended for a two-semester college course in introductory physics using algebra and trigonometry.

傳送地圖在手，冒險無所不在！葛瑞絲與湯姆肩負守護任務，從山村的烏鴉異象到孤島竊案，從失控氣候到神祕女巫，他們用智慧與發明解開層層謎團。這是一段關於責任、勇氣與成長的旅程，結合奇幻冒險與推理元素，為小讀者帶來精彩又溫暖的閱讀體驗。9781781129432 The Griffin GateGrace's family are wardens of the Griffin Map, using its teleport technology to fight crime across Moreland. Although Grace is still too young, she longs to go on missions herself. After all, if her brother, Bren, can do it, why can't she?So when Grace finds herself alone with the map when a distress call comes in, she jumps at the chance to prove she's up to the task. But the map transports Grace to a remote village where nothing is quite as it seems ... Has she taken on more than she can handle?9781781129814 The Puffin PortalGrace's family are wardens of the incredible Griffin Map, using its teleport technology to fight crime across Moreland. Right now it's all systems go at Griffin HQ, where Grace, her mum and her brother have their hands full answering a huge number of calls for help. They could really do with another warden on the team - b

「DotNet聖殿祭司」以多年程式開發經驗，將業界的專業開發技巧融入於書中！ ASP.NET Core是跨平台的.NET框架，除了跨平台特性，整個框架底層更是高度重新大改寫，導入許多軟工Design Pattern與Principals原則，讓整個框架程式組織、運作與耦合度達到前所未有新高度。而ASP.NET Core中最重要的四大天王：Dependency Injection相依性注入、Configuration組態系統、Hosting與Middleware，更是貫穿整個應用程式設計與執行，可以說掌握此四者便掌握了ASP.NET Core核心精髓。無論新手與老手，本書皆能循序漸進地引導您，一步步深入ASP.NET Core精華的奧義殿堂。 精選章節，讓您Do Less, Get More，短時間內培養出即戰力！本書內容有： ＊ 介紹MVC架構如何三分天下，精解Model、View與Controller三者職責與運作 ＊ 以DI相依性注入設計抽象介面與實作，達成IoC控制反轉與鬆散耦合 ＊ Configuration組態與Options Pattern選項模式共舞 ＊ Model / Scaffolding CRUD / LINQ與Entity Framework Core資料庫存取 ＊ View / Partial View / Tag Helpers / HTML Helpers / View Component / Layout功能解析 ＊ 說明MVC中如何整合Bootstrap前端開發框架，有效建構RWD響應式網站 ＊ 全面掌握Razor語法，提升View頁面的智慧與判斷力 ＊ 用開源Chart.js及JSON製作HTML5互動式商業統計圖表 ＊ 以jQuery Ajax / Web API / JSON三劍客建立輕量級高效能網站 ＊ 用AJAX及MVC串接ChatGPT API製作AI聊天問答 ＊ 將ASP.NET Core應用程式部署至Microsoft Azure雲端平台

We have carefully selected a collection of 20 exquisite paintings and calligraphy by Prof. Jao Tsung-i, accompanied by 50 cherished photographs captured during his worldwide travels. These features Prof Jao’s interpretations of landscapes from different corners of the world, including his large-scale paintings depiction well-know sites in Hong Kong, China, and overseas. We can observe how he exceptionally reflected the distinct character of each place and represented it using the traditional Chinese medium of ink and brush as well as Western painting style. As the old saying goes, “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books”. While achieving one of these is already incredibly challenging, Prof. Jao not only traversed thousands of miles, surpassing the accomplishments of both ancient masters and numerous contemporary painters.

走進古今壁畫‧織品‧鋪磚的裝飾世界解開藝術大師艾雪、數學家潘洛斯的「重複」技法 最初的簡單圖樣，僅是透過重複，沒想到竟能成為這般瑰麗絢爛、難以別開視線的視覺饗宴。 打開世界藝術史，裝飾圖樣必然是人類文明史上的璀璨篇章。無需華麗的構成要件，單純的圖案即能有秩序地重複成美麗的裝飾圖樣，有如精密宇宙，深深吸引藝術家與科學家的投入，最具代表性的便是艾雪（M.C. Escher）和潘洛斯（Roger Penrose），留下許多豐富珍貴的作品。本書作者長期研究、創作、教學裝飾圖樣，以簡單的幾何學知識為線索，拆解重複性圖樣成形的軌跡，如何造型、鑲嵌、平鋪成面，一步步引領讀者發現裝飾圖樣的秩序與萬千變化。 一頭栽入圖樣創作的三大法則：移動規則與重複手法‧平移、鏡射、旋轉、位移鏡射4種基本移動‧鋪磚對稱群組的國際共通標記‧「重複」的2種基本方式 艾雪鋪磚法的拼合規則‧紙+剪刀練習7種變形移動入門‧線條類型與箭頭記號‧等面鋪磚的5種主要拼合法 潘洛斯鋪磚法的魅力世界‧從五角形到特定多角形組成非週期性圖樣‧有著黃金比例的「潘洛斯鋪磚法①」‧科學家熱愛的「潘洛斯鋪磚法②」

The first exhaustive English-language history and analysis of the Chinese opera genre, Kunqu. In Kunqu: A Classical Opera of Twenty-First-Century China, Joseph S. C. Lam offers a holistic and interdisciplinary view of Kunqu, a 600-year-old genre of Chinese opera that has been fashionably performed inside and outside of China. The first comprehensive and scholarly book on Kunqu written in English, this book explains how and why the genre charms and signifies Chinese culture, history, and personhood. Approaching the genre from several perspectives, ranging from those of performers and producers to those of casual audiences, dedicated connoisseurs, and scholarly critics, Lam also employs a judicious blend of Chinese and international theories and methods. Herein, he establishes the significance of Kunqu not only in the sphere of Chinese music but among the cultural heritage and performing arts at a global level as well.

Now a New York Times Bestselling series!Secret cults, strange talents, magical lenses -- and one unusual family at the center of it all. All six action-packed volumes of #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson's middle grade fantasy adventure have been collected together for the first time in this boxed set. Alcatraz Smedry and his family and friends must battle a cult of evil Librarians bent on taking over the world through misinformation and suppressing the truth. Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians -- On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry gets a bag of sand in the mail--his only inheritance from his father and mother. It is quickly stolen by the cult of Evil Librarians. Alcatraz must stop them, using the only weapon he has: an incredible talent for breaking things. The Scriveners Bones -- In his second skirmish against the Evil Librarians who rule the world, Alcatraz and his ragtag crew of freedom fighters track Grandpa Smedry to the ancient and myster

這本專為小學階段英語學習者編寫的《Collins COBUILD Primary Learner’s Dictionary》，提供清楚易懂的詞語解釋與豐富例句，讓孩子能夠在真實語境中掌握用法。新版收錄超過10,000詞彙，並包含課程及跨領域常用字彙，支持孩子在學術與日常溝通中的需要。辭典新增 CEFR 分級提示，幫助學習者鎖定關鍵詞彙；另配有數百幅插圖與16頁全彩補充主題頁，讓詞彙學習更具直觀效果。透過線上提供的音檔、影片與練習單，學生能更全面地強化聽說讀寫能力，是英語啟蒙與進階學習的理想工具。亮點：適合7歲以上學習者課程所需與跨科詞彙皆收錄圖像輔助，加強詞義記憶附線上多媒體資源，延伸學習The Collins COBUILD Primary Learner's Dictionary is an engaging illustrated dictionary aimed at learners of English aged 7 and over. The dictionary has been specially created for primary school students, whose first language is not English, but who attend English-language schools.Ideal for young learners of English and primary school students who are studying through the medium of English, the Collins COBUILD Primary Learner’s Dictionary has been extensively updated to cover all the essential words, phrases, and idioms that students need to learn. The definitions are written using simple language and the dictionary contains thousands of examples of real English, showing the learner how English

Fills a gap in Korean Wave studies by studying it through the lens of gender. Women We Love is an edited collection exploring femininities in and around the Korean Wave since 2000. While studies on the Korean Wave are abundant, there is a dearth of analysis about the female-identifying stars, characters, and fans who shape and lead this crucial cultural movement. Using "women" as an inclusive term extending to all those who self-define as women, this collection of essays examines the role of women in K-pop and K-drama industries and fandom spaces, encompassing crucial intersectional topics such as queering of gender, dissemination of media, and fan culture. The audience for Women We Love will reflect the contributors to this text; they are K-pop and K-drama fans, queer, international; they are also academics of Asian histories, sociology, gender and sexuality, art history, and visual culture. The chapters are playful, intersectional, and will be adapted well into syllabi for media stud

A gripping middle-grade history that offers a fresh look at the groundbreaking 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom by spotlighting the protest's radical roots and the underappreciated role of Black women--includes a wealth of contemporary black-and-white photos throughout. Six decades ago, on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom--a moment often revered as the culmination of this Black-led protest. But at its core, the March on Washington was not a beautiful dream of future integration; it was a mass outcry for jobs and freedom NOW--not at some undetermined point in the future. It was a revolutionary march with its own controversies and problems, the themes of which still resonate to this day. Without diminishing the words of Dr. King, More Than a Dream looks at the march through a wider lens, using Black newspaper reports as a primary resource, recognizing the overlooked wo

An examination of the Counter-Enlightenment movement in China. In Modern Chinese Counter-Enlightenment, Peng Hsiao-yen argues that a trend of Counter-Enlightenment had grown from the late Qing to the May Fourth era in the 1910s to the 1920s and continued to the 1940s. She demonstrates how Counter-Enlightenment was manifested with case studies such as Lu Xun's writings in the late 1900s, the Aesthetic Education movement from the 1910s to 1920s, and the Science and Lifeview debate in the 1920s. During the period, the life philosophy movement, highlighting the epistemic debate on affect and reason, is connected with its counterparts in Germany, France, and Japan. The movement had a widespread and long-term impact on Chinese philosophy and literature. Using the transcultural lexicon as methodology, this book traces how the German term Lebensanschauung (life view), a key concept in Rudolf Eucken's life philosophy, constituted a global tide of Counter-Enlightenment that influenced the though

In The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Edgar Award nominee Lamar Giles—now in paperback—two adventurous cousins accidentally freeze time on the last day of summer, and the secrets hidden between the seconds, minutes, and hours aren't quite the endless fun they expected!Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have.That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. Now, with the help of some very strange people and even stranger creatures, Otto and Sheed will have to put aside their differences to save their town—and each other—before time stops for good.

Focusing on Albert Sanguinetti from his early life to his retirement from the legal sector, including his tenures in Gibraltar, Kenya, and Hong Kong, this biography provides an in-depth view of the life of a prominent figure in the legal field in the late twentieth century. It is written from an objective, external viewpoint and paints a colourful and lively picture of Sanguinetti in a voice that could almost be his own. Using Sanguinetti’s life experiences, the biographer touches on various historical events, including the Mau Mau revolution in Kenya and the 1957 riots in Hong Kong, and details the social and political problems of the times, such as lingering colonialism, class structure issues, and human rights violations, among others. These glimpses of history through Sanguinetti’s eyes are accessible, thought-provoking, and truly representative of the man himself.Offering a well-rounded image of the eccentric subject, this book fulfils Sanguinetti’s common response to questions ab

How can questions lead to the biggest breakthroughs and successes? In the latest edition of the bestselling classic, Marilee Adams shares that great results begin with great questions. When we're looking for answers, we often forget to take the time to ask the right questions. But, as Marilee Adams shows, intentionally using questions helps us make wiser choices, find solutions, and transform our personal and professional lives. Change Your Questions, Change Your Life is an international bestseller with over 400,000 copies sold. The new edition has been revised and updated throughout with: new anecdotes, updates to the story, and fresh material on mindset, culture, change, and inquiring leadership. In addition, there will be a brand-new chapter that incorporates neuroscience, explaining why our brains can stay stuck in Judger mindsets and how we can switch to Learner mindsets. Drawing on decades of research and experience as a coach and consultant, Adams uses a highly interesting and e

這本實作講義，是為了避免同學在校，因排課時數不足，無法實作到應有的設計、構置、除錯等技巧，進而影響到就業。作者早年畢業於臺北工專，任教於母校凡十年。去國後先後任職於美國的 General Instruments 、 Texas Instruments 及 IBM 共三十年。2005年回國後曾在金門技術學院，擔任講座教授共五年，暸解工科教育的環境。 2017年美國Analog Devices Inc. 推出 M2K，它是一個「軟體定義的儀器」，在Scopy軟體和PC的配合下，可以完成二部Funtion generators、二部浮動式輸入的示波器、十六個Channels的Triggered Digital Analyzer和Pattern Generator，另外還有一個Network Analyer 、 一個 Spectrum Analyzer 和二個一正一負5 V/50 mA的電源。這個Module在台灣的售價約7,000元。 實作講義是基於教師引導。除了授課時間之外，完成課外實作部分，約須要4至8小時。這個實作課程，除了每週須繳驗類似工程師筆記之外，同時還有期中及期末考試，以瞭解課程被吸收的程度。 實作講義之所以取名為《M2K SCOPY：電路設計、模擬測試、硬體裝置與除錯》的原因，是對於每一件實作，如果用得到 C/C++ Program來幫助或加速計算，那麼就要把它拿來用；而LTspice 和 VHDL 是非常有用的模擬工具，因此當然要用。它在幫助暸解電路的特性後，加上了M2K所具備的各種儀器，便可以隨時隨地，有錯除錯，讓設計的電路。依照設計而工作。本實作講義共十二章。其中六章為類比電路，六章為數位電路，都包括了簡單的介紹或計算，還有LTspice或VHDL的模擬測試，最後才是實作。每章的例題、參考資料，還有修正等，都在網路上提供。

C# 最強入門邁向頂尖高手之路王者歸來內容簡介★★★★★【國內第1本最新 C# 語法】★★★★★★★★★★【最完整的 C# 基礎語法】、【最徹底物件導向觀念】★★★★★本書特色如下：1：國內第1本使用最新C#語法，完整介紹入門到物件導向程式設計。2：國內第1本依序介紹基礎語法、物件導向、視窗設計、LINQ、大型程式的多表單設計、高階應用的C#。3：國內第1名，C#內容最廣，功能介紹最完整，共有38個章節。4：國內第1名，程式實例最多，共有1025個程式實例。多次和資訊教育界閒談，大家公認C#是非常重要的程式語言，也是資訊科系的學生或是工程師必備的程式語言。閒聊中大家也一至獲得結論，C#不容易學習，許多人學習C#都感到很辛苦，原因如下：1：市面上的書籍沒有從C#基礎語法開始介紹。2：使用舊語法解說C#，C#已經進化到最上層語句觀念(Top-level statement)，幾乎沒有任何書籍介紹或說明。3：C#其實是物件導向語言，國內書籍書籍內容對於C#語言物件導向觀念講解太粗淺。4：C#是博大精深的程式語言，市面上書大多是在讀者尚未了解C#的觀念與精神時，就使用視窗程式做介紹，所造就的只是不紮實的結果。5：C#經過20年的發展，已經進化到10.0版，許多新的語法，書籍皆沒有介紹，買了一些書辛苦好幾個月閱讀，好像書中內容都會了，學完也無法進入C# 實戰世界，一到網路看專家所寫的程式通通不懂。 本書以約 1025 個程式實例，講解紮實的 C# 語法，讀者研讀完此書，相信可以學會下列知識：☆ 認識最新語法：最上層語句★ using指示詞與陳述式的用法☆ 實質資料與參照資料★ ?與null☆ ??與??=運算子★ var宣告☆ object、dynamic資料類型★ 裝箱(Boxing)與拆箱(Unboxing)的記憶體說明☆ 獨家解說C# 元組Tuple意義與應用★ 隱式(implicit)與顯示(explicit)強制轉換資料類型。☆ 匿名資料Anonymous Type、匿名陣列Anonymous、Array匿名方法 Anonymous Method★ 表達式主體方法Expression-bodied Method☆ 自行定義方法Extension Method★ 列舉(enum)、結構(struct)、類別(class)與物件☆ 靜態類別、靜態方法與靜態欄位★ 物件的

This new volume addresses the growing interest in and use of big data analytics in many industries and in many research fields around the globe; it is a comprehensive resource on the core concepts of big data analytics and the tools, techniques, and methodologies. The book gives the why and the how of big data analytics in an organized and straightforward manner, using both theoretical and practical approaches.The book's authors have organized the contents in a systematic manner, starting with an introduction and overview of big data analytics and then delving into pre-processing methods, feature selection methods and algorithms, big data streams, and big data classification. Such terms and methods as swarm intelligence, data mining, the bat algorithm and genetic algorithms, big data streams, and many more are discussed. The authors explain how deep learning and machine learning along with other methods and tools are applied in big data analytics. The last section of the book presents

Since the mid-2010s, virtual reality (VR) technology has advanced rapidly. This book explores the many opportunities that VR can offer for humanities and social sciences researchers. It provides a user-friendly, non-technical methods guide to using ready-made VR content and 360° video as well as creating custom materials.

An empirical study and analysis of heart disease prediction involves using data analysis techniques to identify patterns and risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. This approach utilizes machine learning algorithms to classify patients based on their likelihood of developing heart disease.The study involves collecting data on risk factors such as age, gender, family history, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking, and diabetes. Feature selection techniques are used to identify the most important risk factors, and a classification model is trained using these factors. The accuracy of the model is evaluated using metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, and AUC.This empirical study and analysis has several advantages, including the ability to identify new risk factors associated with heart disease, improved accuracy in predicting cardiovascular risk, and the potential to develop more personalized prevention and treatment strategies. This approach has the potential to

Have you found some exciting images that you want to explore but don’t know how to start your research or what methods to choose? Do you have a question about an aspect of visual culture that you want to answer?Whatever level of experience you have, this classic text will provide you with the key skills you need to complete a visual methods research project, understand the rationale behind each step, and engage with the contexts and power relations that shape our interpretation of visual images.With a clear step-by-step approach that is easy to dip in and out of, the book features:•Key examples in every methods chapter to demonstrate how the methods work in practice and with different visual materials•‘Focus’ and ‘Discussion’ features that help you practice your skills at specific parts of the methods and understand some of the method’s complexities•Guidance on researching using digital visual media, such as Instagram and TikTok, integrated throughout the book This bestselling critical

In recent years the development of new classification and regression algorithms based on deep learning has led to a revolution in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis. The development of a theoretical foundation to guarantee the success of these algorithms constitutes one of the most active and exciting research topics in applied mathematics. This book presents the current mathematical understanding of deep learning methods from the point of view of the leading experts in the field. It serves as both a starting point for researchers and graduate students in mathematics trying to get into the field, as well as an invaluable reference for future research.

Intended for researchers and practitioners in interaction design, this book shows how Bayesian models can be brought to bear on problems of interface design and user modelling. It introduces and motivates Bayesian modelling and illustrates how powerful these ideas can be in thinking about human-computer interaction, especially in representing and manipulating uncertainty. Bayesian methods are increasingly practical as computational tools to implement them become more widely available, and offer a principled foundation to reason about interaction design. The book opens with a self-contained tutorial on Bayesian concepts and their practical implementation, tailored for the background and needs of interaction designers. The contributed chapters cover the use of Bayesian probabilistic modelling in a diverse set of applications, including improving pointing-based interfaces; efficient text entry using modern language models; advanced interface design using cutting-edge techniques in Bayesia

This is the first full-scale discussion of English phonology since Chomsky and Halle's seminal The Sound Pattern of English (SPE). The book enphasizes the analysis using ordered rules and builds on SPE by incorporating lexical and metrical and prosodic analysis and the insights afforded by Lexical Phonology. It provides clear explanations and logical development throughout, introducing rules individually and then illustrating their interactions. These features make this influential theory accessible to students from a variety of backgrounds in linguistics and phonology. Rule-ordering diagrams summarize the crucial ordering of approximately 85 rules. Many of the interactions result in phonological opacity, where either the effect of a rule is not evident in the output or its conditions of application are not present in the output, due to the operation of later rules. This demonstrates the superiority of a rule-based account over output oriented approaches such as Optimality Theory or pr

This reference book provides updated information on the production and industrial significance of bacterial cellulose. Bacterial cellulose is a natural fiber produced by certain microbes, mainly bacteria which belong to the Acetobacter genera. The book discusses its applications in different industrial sectors like food, pharmaceutical, energy and wastewater treatment. It covers the production of cellulose from conventional and renewable feedstocks. It includes topics like downstream processing, characterization, and chemical modification of bacterial cellulose. Key features- Addresses the challenge on the production technologies of bacterial cellulose up to pilot-scale Discusses cost-effective, green processes using agri-processing residues and medium formulation Includes efficient preparation of nano-composite using in vitro and in vivo methods Provides latest applications of bacterial cellulose in food and pharmaceuticals fields Reviews the production of bacterial fro

This volume summarizes key methods and advancements in the field of henipavirus molecular biology. Chapters guide readers through protocols focusing on emerging bat-borne paramyxoviruses as well as pathogenicity caused by Nipah and Hendra viruses. Protocols are also included to help develop diagnostic tools, antiviral therapeutics, and vaccine creation. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Nipah Virus: Methods and Protocols aims to be a useful and practical guide to new researchers and experts looking to expand their knowledge.

This second edition details new and updated protocols for experimental approaches that are currently used to study the formation of flowers. Chapters guide readers on genetic methods, phenotypic analyses, genome-wide experiments, modeling, and system-wide approaches. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Flower Development: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition aims to be a useful and practical guide to new researchers and experts looking to expand their knowledge.

AOAC INTERNATIONAL has been publishing a robust set of methods for analytical scientists since 1884. Scientists from around the globe contribute their expertise to ensure the content remains reliable in terms of standards development, method development, and the systematic evaluation andreview of methods. As a result, the Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL is the most comprehensive collection of chemical and microbiological methods available in the world. Now in its twenty-second edition, this publication continues to be the most extensive and reliable collection ofchemical and microbiological methods and consensus standards. Many methods within the compendium have notation indicating their adoption as harmonized international reference methods by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Dairy Federation (IDF), the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), and the CodexAlimentarius Commission. This new edition includes

Why did Egyptian cults, especially those dedicated to the goddess Isis and god Sarapis, spread so successfully across the ancient Mediterranean after the death of Alexander the Great? How are we limited by the established methodological apparatus of historiography and which innovative methods from other disciplines can overcome these limits? In this book, Tomáš Glomb shows that while the interplay of different factors such as the economy, climate, and politics created favorable conditions for the early spread of the Isiac cults, the use of innovative quantitative methods can shed new light and help disentangle the complex interplay of individual factors. Using a combination of geospatial modeling, mathematical modeling, and network analysis, Glomb determines that, at least in the regions of the Hellenistic Aegean and western Asia Minor, the political channels created by the Ptolemaic dynasty were a dominant force in the local spread of the Isiac cults. An important contribution to th

A cognitive ethnography of how bioengineering scientists create innovative modeling methods.In this first full-scale, long-term cognitive ethnography by a philosopher of science, Nancy J. Nersessian offers an account of how scientists at the interdisciplinary frontiers of bioengineering create novel problem-solving methods. Bioengineering scientists model complex dynamical biological systems using concepts, methods, materials, and other resources drawn primarily from engineering. They aim to understand these systems sufficiently to control or intervene in them. What Nersessian examines here is how cutting-edge bioengineering scientists integrate the cognitive, social, material, and cultural dimensions of practice. Her findings and conclusions have broad implications for researchers in philosophy, science studies, cognitive science, and interdisciplinary studies, as well as scientists, educators, policy makers, and funding agencies. In studying the epistemic practices of scientists, Ner

The A to Z of Creative Writing Methods is an alphabetical collection of essays to prompt consideration of method within creative writing research and practice.Almost sixty contributors from a range of writing traditions and across multiple forms and genre are represented in this volume: from poets, essayists, novelists and performance writers, to graphic novelists, illustrators, and those engaged in multi-media writing or writing-related arts activism. Contributors bring to this collection their distinct and diverse literary and cultural contexts, defining, expanding and enacting the methods they describe, and providing new possibilities for creative writing practice.Accessible and provocative, A to Z of Creative Writing Methods lays bare new developments and directions in the field, making it an invaluable resource for the teachers, research students and scholar-practitioners in the field of creative writing studies.

The A to Z of Creative Writing Methods is an alphabetical collection of essays to prompt consideration of method within creative writing research and practice.Almost sixty contributors from a range of writing traditions and across multiple forms and genre are represented in this volume: from poets, essayists, novelists and performance writers, to graphic novelists, illustrators, and those engaged in multi-media writing or writing-related arts activism. Contributors bring to this collection their distinct and diverse literary and cultural contexts, defining, expanding and enacting the methods they describe, and providing new possibilities for creative writing practice.Accessible and provocative, A to Z of Creative Writing Methods lays bare new developments and directions in the field, making it an invaluable resource for the teachers, research students and scholar-practitioners in the field of creative writing studies.

Why do people run for office with opposition parties in electoral authoritarian regimes, where the risks of running are high, and the chances of victory are bleak? In Activist Origins of Political Ambition, Keith Weghorst offers a theory that candidacy decisions are set in motion in early life events and that civic activism experiences and careers in civil society organizations funnel aspirants towards opposition candidacy in electoral authoritarian regimes. The book also adapts existing explanations of candidacy decisions derived from leading democracies that can be applied to electoral authoritarian contexts. The mixed-methods research design features an in-depth study of Tanzania using original survey data, sequence methods, archival research, and qualitative data combined with an analysis of legislators across authoritarian and democratic regimes in Africa. A first-of-its kind study, the book's account of the origins of candidacy motivations offers contributions to its study in aut

Written by four leading experts, this book provides a comprehensive overview of sociolinguistic variation and linguistic change in Arabic. It introduces sociolinguistic theory, methods, and data step-by-step, using accessible language and extensive examples throughout. Topics covered include sociolinguistic methodology, social variables, language change, spatial variation, and contact and diffusion. Each topic is explained and illustrated using empirical data drawn from a wide array of Arabic-speaking communities in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as other parts of the world where Arabic is or was spoken, to provide a rich resource of individual dialects, as well as a comparative view of variation in Arabic. Each chapter also contains annotated suggestions for further reading and elaborate exercises. It is an essential resource for students studying Arabic in its social context, as well as anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of variation in Arabic.

Written by four leading experts, this book provides a comprehensive overview of sociolinguistic variation and linguistic change in Arabic. It introduces sociolinguistic theory, methods, and data step-by-step, using accessible language and extensive examples throughout. Topics covered include sociolinguistic methodology, social variables, language change, spatial variation, and contact and diffusion. Each topic is explained and illustrated using empirical data drawn from a wide array of Arabic-speaking communities in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as other parts of the world where Arabic is or was spoken, to provide a rich resource of individual dialects, as well as a comparative view of variation in Arabic. Each chapter also contains annotated suggestions for further reading and elaborate exercises. It is an essential resource for students studying Arabic in its social context, as well as anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of variation in Arabic.

This timely text covers the theory and practice of surface and nanostructure determination by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD): it is the first book on such quantitative structure analysis in over 30 years. It provides a detailed description of the theory, including cutting-edge developments and tested experimental methods. The focus is on quantitative techniques, while the qualitative interpretation of the LEED pattern without quantitative I(V) analysis is also included. Topics covered include the future study of nanoparticles, quasicrystals, thermal parameters, disorder and modulations of surfaces with LEED, with introductory sections enabling the non-specialist to follow all the concepts and applications discussed. With numerous colour figures throughout, this text is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students and researchers, whether experimentalists or theorists, in the fields of surface science, nanoscience and related technologies. I

Attitudes towards spoken, signed, and written language are of significant interest to researchers in sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, communication studies, and social psychology. This is the first interdisciplinary guide to traditional and cutting-edge methods for the investigation of language attitudes. Written by experts in the field, it provides an introduction to attitude theory, helps readers choose an appropriate method, and guides through research planning and design, data collection, and analysis. The chapters include step-by-step instructions to illustrate and facilitate the use of the different methods as well as case studies from a wide range of linguistic contexts. The book also goes beyond individual methods, offering guidance on how to research attitudes in multilingual communities and in signing communities, based on historical data, with the help of priming, and by means of mixed-methods approaches.