Factor

This is a very good functional decomposition of the major elements of the ATC system, focusing on the work structure and systemic tasks of the humans and the equipment that comprise the system. The later chapters introducing the concepts of automation and the attendant potential benefits and risks of different automation strategies are critical for understanding the follow-on book, "The Future of Air Traffic Control: Human Factors and Automation". Both these works serve as the major rationale for selecting the "human-centered" approach to automation.

This book is written for the "lay-man" interested in ATC and automation. There are a few over-simplifications, but I cannot imagine how better to describe the general functions without getting excessively technical.

One minor "ding": Boeing's former competition in airframe manufacture was not "McDonald Douglas" (Overview, page 28), but "McDonnell-Douglas".

This book analyses accidents from an aviation psychology standpoint. It is clearly and logically written with a good portion of humor. The concept of Cockpit Resource Management, CRM, is discussed in detail. Highly recommended for any pilot or anyone interested in aviation.

Melacha Rendell, the legendary Skyrider, gruff, unfeeling, unsentimental, ace pilot getting cuddly with a teddy bear? That would ruin her image! But, as we all know, there's more to the Skyrider than meets the eye. This novel takes up where Michael's last novel "Pirate Prince" leaves off. Melacha is enjoying a romantic interlude on her private asteroid hideaway with her lover, one of the best con men around, when some one leaves a "floater" infant squalling in Melacha's airlock. The Skyrider, who is not the motherly type to say the least, immediately attempts to wash her hands of all responsibility for this child but, almost as soon as the baby is removed from the airlock, someone tries to blow up Melacha's asteroid hideaway. After a pitched battle ensues, in which Melacha displays her legendary shoot-em-up skills, the assassins are dispatched, and Melacha is off on a galaxy quest to find out why someone would want this baby dead. Along for the novel is Melacha's wingman, Jamin, and Jamin's son, Colin, who are seeking to escape the fanatical and deadly prejudice that "Grounders" (people who can't tolerate free fall) have against "Fallers" (who can't tolerate gravity) and "Floaters" (people who are comfortable in either environment). If you enjoy rousing space adventure and strong women protagonists, you'll enjoy this and Michaels' other Skyrider novels. And, if you enjoy Elizabeth Moon's work, you'll doubtless find a kindred spirit here.

There are alot of very commonplace activities in this book (like "potluck lunch" and "the rev-up session"). But there are also sufficient gems that make it (particularly at this price) a good resource. Beginning and intermediate team motivators will find it particularly useful in providing creative ways to motivate their group. The format is easily understandable with the sub-headings they provide. Definitely worth looking at.

In the first sentence of "The Gorbachev Factor," Archie Brown tells his readers that his work "is neither a history of the Gorbachev era, nor a biography of Mikhail Gorbachev." On reading that, this "country boy" had to ask..."well what is it?" Well, by the end I knew: Brown's work is an outstanding analysis of Mikhail Gorbachev's influence on Soviet history in the 1980's. It is a well written, well researched and well documented account not just of Gorbachev's role during this time, the the myiad factors that influenced Gorbachev. Now, there "ain't" no doubt that Brown likes Gorbachev. While Brown points our more than ove of Gorbachev's faults, the lion's share of Brown's work tend to vindicate his actions and elevate his intent. But this is no simple apology for the leader of a regime that fell. Rather, it is an in-depth look at the incredable challenges and paradoxical results of Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership of the Soviet Union.

This book by John Heath provides an extremely useful, eye-friendly approach to the vast and fascinating field of growth factors. It is of great value for both junior and senior residents, because within a few easy-to-read chapters, browses through the most basic aspects. It starts with a simple review of the cell cycle. Then it goes through the very basic issues: what are growth factors, their receptors and the nuclear response. It is a must for anybody willing to get started in this topic. The format is very comfortable (handbag size).

The book consists of 34 cases in a problem-based (PBL) format. There are about 90 B&W photos and micrographs from post-mortem exams, an anatomy glossary, and laboratory normal values. The book chapters include practical cardiac anatomy, atherosclerotic heart disease and ischemia, diabetes, cardiomyopathies, valve disease, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, myocarditis, cardiac tumors, pericardial disese, aortic aneurysms, collagen vascular diseases and vasculitis, and medicolegal cases.

In reviewing the book, I must state I am biased. Autopsy pathology is being challenged with decreasing numbers of cases for a variety of reasons. This is unfortunate. Autopsy pathology remains an excellent opportunity for learning and clinicopathological correlation. There is simply not enough of this "classical" training in Medicine. The autopsy remains relevant to medical practice. The more one learns about disease, the better one will be able to treat the living.

The book details numerous cases, autopsy findings and discusses the clinical presentation, disease complications and manifestations. It succeeds admirably in this task. One can argue that the cases are a bit dated and some perhaps not reflective of recent medical care (not much in coronary interventions, which are now common place), but the authors do point this out in most cases. I do not feel this distracts from the goal of the book - to encourage active thought of disease pathology and its clinical consequences.

The book obviously focuses upon cardiovascular disease, but I particularly found the discussions of how generalized disorders, including diabetes and endocrine diseases such as thyroid disease, affect the body. In autopsy pathology, one must consider the whole patient and the disease interactions in multiple systems. This is of course also what one must do with the living we are assessing and treating. Dr. Factor is an internationally recognized expert in myocardial disease and thus these sections are particularly strong.

The case mix is generally well chosen. One can point out omissions and criticize inclusion of esoteric disease, but in general the book is well balanced, reflective of most important disease categories, and not meant to be all-inclusive.

Some of the illustrations are dark and a bit hard to interpret. I also personally would have like to see more illustrations, but this must be balanced with the cost of the book.

Who should read this book? The authors state "it is intended for use by medical students in problem-based curricula, but is presented with sufficient sophistication to be useful to residents in pathology and internal medicine, and to pathologists and cardiologists." I agree with this. I plan to use it with medical students and residents doing electives in Cardiovascular and Anatomical Pathology. It would be excellent to give to residents to study during their autopsy rotations. I think it could be valuable for trainees in pathology, cardiac surgery, and cardiology. For my own continuing medical education, I found it interesting and informative, and I plan to revisit my favorite parts.

Science has struggled for centuries to understand the universe. While theories have constantly been revised, great achievements in recent decades have enriched material life on Earth. However, author Avtar Singh notes mysterious and irresolvable paradoxes have plagued the otherwise successful theories of science. His new book, The Hidden Factor: An Approach for Resolving Paradoxes of Science, Cosmology and Universal Reality (now available through 1stBooks), attempts to explain these paradoxes and how they can be remedied.
The author believes that many of the great successful scientific theories are incomplete due to the missing physics of spontaneity in them. One of the most serious outcomes of existing and widely accepted theories is the meaninglessness of the universe and life in it, thus making science itself meaningless. The Hidden Factor attempts to return the meaning to both science and the universe. According to Singh, the paradoxes and ensuing meaninglessness are artifacts of modern theories not taking into account the "spontaneity or consciousness inherent in nature." These, he notes, can be observed in spontaneous motion in the universe, the spontaneous decay of particles and human consciousness.
"The focus of this work is to put forward a simple mathematical approach for inclusion of the observed spontaneity in nature into the scientific theories, specifically the specific theory of relativity, to resolve the paradoxes and questions that haunt modern science and cosmology," Singh says.
The Hidden Factor addresses these spontaneous phenomena in nature to restore credibility and dispel the existing paradoxes of science. He puts forward the Gravity Nullification Model that explains the inner workings of quantum mechanics and observed universe behavior "without resorting to the incredible scenario of inflation involving 'superluminal expansion' during the early evolution of the universe".
The Hidden Factor is an expansion on existing theories and an innovative step forward in science.

A current topic, "green" architecture has a broad, reasonable definition in this book. One often thinks of green house books as full of solar and straw bale houses of middling design (whatever the sensitivity of the construction). The book categorizes several ways buildings can be green, and shows a variety of houses with designs as (or more) innovative as their green techniques. The photographs are well done, and of (for the most part) really good-looking houses. I think the "Lakeside Residence," "Howard House," and "Low Compound" are especially memorable. A good book for those interested in current, contemporary architecture as well as green architecture.

If you didn't know otherwise going in, you'd probably think Rubinstein and Hersh had just written this book. Even though it's nearly 20 years old, this book has lessons and guidelines that still apply today. Sure our computers and programs are cheaper, more powerful, and more plentiful than they were when this book came out, but somehow those of us who make them still haven't picked up on the lessons this book has to offer.

A couple years back Alan Cooper very appropriately and effectively took those of us in the tech world to task with The Inmates are Running the Asylum. I recommend Cooper's book very highly, but it's clear that Rubinstein and Hersh had the subject nailed years ago and that we still don't get it. Pick this one up if you can.