Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2006

Science & Technology Top

This Second Edition is a thorough revision and 20% expansion of the 1998 release, reflecting the continuing scientific advances in the field of human nutrition. Now a four-volume set, nearly 300 articles with concise, up-to-date information are complemented by an award-winning indexing system. Included is expanded coverage of epidemiology of diet-related diseases, functional foods, food safety, clinical nutrition and gastrointestinal disorders. The online Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition will be updated in 2005 to incorporate all new content included in the new print version. Virtually everyone will find the Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition an easy-to-use resource. It is an ideal reference choice for both the professional and the non-professional alike. * Now a four-volume set with over 250 articles * Expanded coverage of epidemiology of diet-related diseases, functional foods, food safety, and gastrointestinal disorders, among other topics

Moral teachings and ethical questions about the creation and use of science and technology have been a part of religious and philosophical traditions from the earliest periods. Today, the challenges are more global in scope. New fields of ethical reflection - computer ethics, environmental ethics, communication ethics, genethics - are emerging to deal with the world that science and technology have created. The Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics considers both the professional ethics of science and technology, and the ethical and political issues raised by science and technology in an increasingly complex and global society. This broad coverage supports the numerous courses in applied and professional ethics and policy related to the practice of science and technology in education. Additionally, it provides a practical introduction to useful knowledge and ideas for both professionals and general readers.

This authoritative reference volume emphasizes the importance and interrelationships of geological processes to the health and diseases of humans and animals. Its accessible format fosters better communication between the health and geoscience communities by elucidating the geologic origins and flow of toxic elements in the environment that lead to human exposure through the consumption of food and water. For example, problems of excess intake from drinking water have been encountered for several inorganic compounds, including fluoride in Africa and India; arsenic in certain areas of Argentina, Chile, and Taiwan; selenium in seleniferous areas in the U.S., Venezuela, and China; and nitrate in agricultural areas with heavy use of fertilizers. Environmental influences on vector borne diseases and stormflow water quality influences are also featured. Numerous examples of the environmental influences on human health from across the globe are also presented and discussed in this volume. * Covers recent advances and future research topics at the intersection of environmental science and public health * Developed by 60 experts from 20 countries and edited by professionals from the International Working Group on Medical Geology * Includes 200+ color photographs and illustrations * Organizes information in a highly structured format for easy reference * Written for a broad audience, ranging from students, researchers, and medical professionals to policymakers and the general public

From the macaws of South America to the cockatoos of Australia, parrots are among the most recognizable, and endangered, birds on earth. But until now, no easy-to-use guide existed for the identification of all species and subspecies of these colorful creatures.Enter Parrots of the World, the most comprehensive handbook for distinguishing some 350 species of parrots from throughout the world. Lavishly illustrated, with more than 120 color plates and additional illustrations, the book covers parrots in homes, zoos, and in the wild, providing detailed descriptions of their key identifying features.By allowing readers to easily narrow their search to specific geographic areas, the book will prove especially useful to those interested in parrots of a particular locale. Descriptive distribution maps show the geographic location of the different species, and an entire section is devoted to ecological and behavioral information relevant to identification. In addition, the guide differentiates Old World and New World species and points out significant sex or age differences in plumage coloration.Parrots of the World will provide enormous help to those engaged in gathering important field data and monitoring international trade, two initiatives that are of critical importance to the conservation of parrots worldwide.Clear, complete, and colorful, this is one guidebook that no museum, research institution, zoo, or bird enthusiast will want to be without.Key Features:Easy-to-use, geographic guideTreats some 350 speciesColor distribution maps for all speciesLavishly illustrated, with more than 120 color plates and additional illustrationsIncludes ecological and behavioral information

Beautifully illustrated complete evolutionary history of insects: their living diversity, relationships and 400 million years of fossils.

The past decade has seen huge advances in the application of microscopy in all areas of science. This welcome development in microscopy has been paralleled by an expansion of the vocabulary of technical terms used in microscopy: terms have been coined for new instruments and techniques and, as microscopes reach even higher resolution, the use of terms that relate to the optical and physical principles underpinning microscopy is now commonplace. The Dictionary of Microscopy was compiled to meet this challenge and provides concise definitions of over 2,500 terms used in the fields of light microscopy, electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, x-ray microscopy and related techniques. Written by Dr Julian P. Heath, Editor of Microscopy and Analysis ( http://www.microscopy-analysis.com ), the dictionary is intended to provide easy navigation through the microscopy terminology and to be a first point of reference for definitions of new and established terms. The Dictionary of Microscopy is an essential, accessible resource for: students who are new to the field and are learning about microscopes equipment purchasers who want an explanation of the terms used in manufacturers' literature scientists who are considering using a new microscopical technique experienced microscopists as an aide mémoire or quick source of reference librarians, the press and marketing personnel who require definitions for technical reports.

As computers have infiltrated virtually every facet of our lives, so has computer science influenced nearly every academic subject in science, engineering, medicine, social science, the arts and humanities. Michael Knee offers a selective guide to the major resources and tools central to the entire industry. A discussion of three commonly used subject classification systems precedes an annotated bibliography of over 500 items.

A comprehensive reference on insects featuring an easy identification guide using 28 picture keys, 4000 color photographs taken in the field, expert advice on observing insects and more. Details all insect orders and families of eastern North America.

Introduction / Preface List of Advisory Editors List of Contributors Thematic Index Guide to the Colour Illustrations Note to the Reader A-Z text Bibliography Select index Picture credits

Rivers of North America is an important reference for scientists, ecologists, and students studying rivers and their ecosystems. It brings together information from several regional specialists on the major river basins of North America, presented in a large-format, full-color book. The introduction covers general.phpects of geology, hydrology, ecology and human impacts on rivers. This is followed by 22 chapters on the major river basins. Each chapter begins with a full-page color photograph and includes several additional photographs within the text. These chapters feature three to five rivers of the basin/region, and cover several other rivers with one-page summaries. Rivers selected for coverage include the largest, the most natural, and the most affected by human impact. This one-of-a-kind resource is professionally illustrated with maps and color photographs of the key river basins. Readers can compare one river system to another in terms of its physiography, hydrology, ecology, biodiversity, and human impacts. * Extensive treatment provides a single source of information for North Americas major rivers * Regional specialists provide authoritative information on more than 200 rivers * Full-color photographs and topographical maps demonstrate the beauty, major features, and uniqueness of each river system * One-page summaries help readers quickly find key statistics and make comparisons among rivers