Springer springer jan 2005 (270 Ergebnisse)

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - An Annotated Timeline of Operations Research: An Informal History recounts the evolution of Operations Research (OR) as a new science - the science of decision making. Arising from the urgent operational issues of World War II, the philosophy and methodology of OR has permeated the resolution of decision problems in business, industry, and government. The Timeline chronicles the history of OR in the form of self-contained, expository entries. Each entry presents a concise explanation of the events and people under discussion, and provides key sources where further relevant information can be obtained. In addition, books and papers that have influenced the development of OR or helped to educate the first generations of OR academics and practitioners are cited throughout the book. Starting in 1564 with seminal ideas that form the precursors of OR, the Timeline traces the key ideas and events of OR through 2004. The Timeline should interest anyone involved in OR -researchers, practitioners, academics, and, especially, students - who wish to learn how OR came into being. Further, the scope and expository style of the Timeline should make it of value to the general reader interested in the development of science and technology in the last half of the twentieth century.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - This volume focuses on the cultural aspects of learning and cognitive processes, examining the theory, methods, findings, and applications in this area. The chapter authors cover such topics as family context, peer interaction and formal education.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - At the start of every school day, it s not an unfamiliar sight to see younger children bounding toward school, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to seize the day. In contrast, adolescents sometimes seem to sleepwalk toward their middle and high schools, often bleary-eyed, cantankerous, and less than enthusiastic to get down to work. Why the difference Recent developmental research has demonstrated a relationship between sleep/wake patterns and different kinds of problem behaviors, including social adjustment problems, family coercion, and disaffection from school. Adolescents who prefer staying up later in the evening and arising late in the morning (i.e., eveningness) have often been considered at greater risk of suffering from such problem behaviors as delinquency and negative relationships with parents and teachers. Those who tend to go to bed and arise earlier (i.e., morningness) have long been associated with more positive outcomes. In the majority of previous research, however, these concepts have never been adequately tested.In Sync with Adolescence: The Role of Morningness-Eveningness in Development examines the possible effects of adolescent preferences on problem behavior in different contexts. This volume presents a new way of looking at morningness-eveningness in relation to adolescent development in general and on problem behavior in particular. The study has produced results, the implications of which necessitate a reinterpretation of the current thinking about morningness-eveningness and adolescent adjustment.This volume should be of particular interest to developmental psychologists and researchers who are interested in examining the role of biological factors in psychological processes as well as to sleep researchers who are interested in both the clinical and behavioral aspects. In addition, it is a valuable resource for clinical child and school psychologists, medical staff, teachers, and anyone who works with adolescents.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The value of ultrasound contrast agents (USCA) in everyday clinical practice depends on the pharmacokinetics, the signal processing, and the contrast-specific imaging modalities.Second-generation USCA, are blood pool agents that do not leak into the organ tissue to be examined but remain in the intravascular compartment increasing the Doppler signal amplitude during their dynamic vascular phase. Taking advantage of the stability of their microbubbles, they can withstand the acoustic pressure of insonation much better than first-generation contrast media, which results in an increased half-life of the agent and, consequently, in a prolonged diagnostic window. Concomitant with the improvement of contrast agents, different contrast-specific imaging modalities have been developed which, used in combination with USCA and a low mechanical index, allow continuous real-time grey-scale imaging. These recent technical improvements have opened new possibilities in the use of USCA in a variety of indications. Written by internationally renowned experts, the contributions gathered in this book give an overview of current and possible future new applications of USCA in routine and clinical practice.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - It has long been recognized that advances in science contribute to economic growth. While it is one thing to argue that such a relationship exists, it is quite another to establish the extent to which knowledge spills over within and between sectors of the economy. Such a research agenda faces numerous challenges. Not only must one seek measures of inputs, but a measure of output is needed as well to estimate the knowledge production function. The identification of such a measure was a compelling goal for Zvi Griliches, if not the holy grail: 'The dream of getting hold of an output indicator of inventive activity is one of the strong motivating forces for economic research in this area.' (Griliches 1990, p. 1669). Jaffe (1989) made a significant contribution to estimating the knowledge production function when he established a relationship between patent activity and R&D activity at the state level. Feldman and coauthors (1994a, 1994b) added considerably to this line of research, focusing on innovation counts as the dependent variable instead of patent counts. This work was particularly important given that many innovations are never patented. Feldman's work also differentiated by firm size and showed that knowledge spillovers from universities play a key role as sources of knowledge for small firms.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The Tenth International Symposium on Gaseous Dielectrics was held at the Astir Palace Vouliagmeni Hotel, Athens, Greece, March 29-April 2, 2004. The symposium. continued the interdisciplinary character and comprehensive approach of the preceding nine symposia. Gaseous Dielectrics X is a detailed record of the symposium proceedings. It covers recent advances and developments in a wide range of basic, applied, and industrial areas of gaseous dielectrics. It is hoped that Gaseous Dielectrics X will aid future research and development in, and encourage wider industrial use of, gaseous dielectrics. The Organizing Committee of the Tenth International Symposium on Gaseous Dielectrics consisted of L. G. Christophorou (Chainnan, Greece), J. K. Olthoff (co-Chainnan, USA), A. Bulinski (Canada), A. H. Cookson (USA), C. T. Dervos (Greece), J. de Urquijo (Mexico), J. Blackman (USA), O. Farish (UK), M. E. Frechette (Canada), I. Gillimberti (Italy), A. Garscadden (USA), A. Gleizes (France), H. Hama (Japan), T. Kawamura (Japan), E. Marode (France), I. W. McAllister (Denmark), H. Morrison (Canada), A. H. Mufti (Saudi Arabia), L. Niemeyer (Switzerland), W. Pfeiffer (Germany), Y. Qiu (China), I. Sauers (USA), M. Schmidt (Germany), H.-H. Schramm (Germany), L. van der Zel (USA), S. Yanabu (Japan), Y. Wang (USA), and J. W. Wetzer (The Netherlands). The Local Arrangements Committee consisted of J. N. Avaritsiotis, P. Vassiliou, C. T. Dervos of The National Technical University of Athens, C. A. Stassinopoulos of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, and D.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A lot of economic problems can be formulated as constrained optimizations and equilibration of their solutions. Various mathematical theories have been supplying economists with indispensable machineries for these problems arising in economic theory. Conversely, mathematicians have been stimulated by various mathematical difficulties raised by economic theories. The series is designed to bring together those mathematicians who are seriously interested in getting new challenging stimuli from economic theories with those economists who are seekingeffective mathematical tools for their research. The editorial board of this series comprises the following prominent economists and mathematicians: Managing Editors: S. Kusuoka (Univ. Tokyo), T. Maruyama (Keio Univ.). Editors: R. Anderson (U.C. Berkeley), C. Castaing (Univ. Montpellier), F.H. Clarke (Univ. Lyon I), G. Debreu (U.C. Berkeley), E. Dierker (Univ. Vienna), D. Duffie (Stanford Univ.), L.C. Evans (U.C. Berkeley), T. Fujimoto (Okayama Univ.), J.-M. Grandmont (CREST-CNRS), N. Hirano (Yokohama National Univ.), L. Hurwicz (Univ. of Minnesota), T. Ichiishi (Ohio State Univ.), A. Ioffe (Israel Institute of Technology), S. Iwamoto (Kyushu Univ.), K. Kamiya (Univ. Tokyo), K. Kawamata (Keio Univ.), N. Kikuchi (Keio Univ.), H. Matano (Univ. Tokyo), K. Nishimura (Kyoto Univ.), M.K. Richter (Univ. Minnesota), Y. Takahashi (Kyoto Univ.), M. Valadier (Univ. Montpellier II), A. Yamaguti (Kyoto Univ./Ryukoku Univ.), M. Yano (Keio Univ.). …

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - For more than half of the 20\* century, psychologists sought to locate the causes of behaviour in individuals and tended to neglect the possibility of locating the psy chological in the social. In the late 1960s, a reaction to that neglect brought about a 'crisis' in social psychology. This 'crisis' did not affect all social psychologists; some remained seemingly oblivious to its presence; others dismissed its signifi cance and continued much as before. But, in certain quarters, the psychological was re-conceptualised as the social, and the social was taken to be sui generis. Moreover, the possibility of developing general laws and theories to describe and explain social interaction was rejected on the grounds that, as social beings, our actions vary from occasion to occasion, and are, for many reasons, unrepeatable. There is, so it was thought, an inherent instability in the phenomena of interest. The nomothetic ideal was said to rest on individualistic cause-effect positivism of the kind which (arguably) characterised the natural sciences, but social psychology (so it was said) is an historical inquiry, and its conclusions are necessarily historically relative (Gergen, 1973). Events outside psychology converged to give impetus to the 'crisis' within.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A sine qua non of control system development for modern sewer networks is the preservation of the water system around a network's outflow(s). Several approaches have been proposed for the optimisation of sewage control and Optimal Real-time Control of Sewer Networks provides a comparative synthesis of a central sewer network flow control based on two of these: nonlinear-optimal and multivariable-feedback control.Testing and comparison of these protocols are made on the basis of their control results for the large-scale sewer network located around the river Obere Iller in Bavaria. The control strategies implemented within this network are based on this study.From the selection of possible methods of control and moving to the implementation of those methods in a real sewer system, this monograph will be invaluable to control and civil engineers working in sewage flow and wastewater treatment and of interest to academics wishing to see how their ideas on optimal control work out when practically applied.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - This book examines the various competing interpretations of Kant's foundational Perpetual Peace since its initial publication in the late eighteenth-century. According to Easley's analysis, there are two patterns of interpretations: 1) the text endorses peace proposals above the state level, 2) the text is in favour of peace proposals at the state level. The principal explanation for these two patterns resides in the rise and fall of hopes for peace through international organizations. It can also be attributed to the rise in the number of liberal states over time. Eric Easley provides a comprehensive historical background and analytical framework for understanding Perpetual Peace, allowing scholars of international relations to better understand and appreciate its complex meaning and see beyond the conventionally accepted interpretations of the day.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Simulation Approaches in Transportation Analysis: Recent Advances and Challenges presents the latest developments in transport simulation, including dynamic network simulation and micro-simulation of people's movement in an urban area. It offers a collection of the major simulation models that are now in use throughout the world; it illustrates each model in detail, examines potential problems, and points to directions for future development. The reader will be able to understand the functioning, applicability, and usefulness of advanced transport simulation models. The material in this book will be of wide use to graduate students and practitioners as well as researchers in the transportation engineering and planning fields.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Fibrogenesis: Cellular and Molecular Basis is the first volume to provide a synopsis of the rapid progress that has been documented in fibrogenesis over last couple of years, which significantly enhanced our understanding of the pathomechanisms of fibrotic diseases. Knowledge on molecular and celluar basis of fibrotic diseases has provided opportunities to develop selective and effective gene-based therapeutic options.The chapters in this book have been selected to provide comprehensive information on fibrogenesis, which is not limited to any specific organ. Individual chapters present mechanisms of fibrotic diseases involving lung, liver, kidney, heart, blood vessels, and more. The relevance and significance of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, transcriptional factors, fibrogenic molecules, signaling cascade, and matrix remodeling in fibrogenesis are explained in depth, providing thereader withcurrent and updated information. …

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Provides a broad sample of current information processing applicationsIncludes examples of successful applications that will encourage practitioners to apply the techniques described in the book to real-life problems.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - In spite of important advances in asymmetric synthesis, chiral compounds cannot all be obtained in a pure state by asymmetric synthesis. As a result, enantiomer separation remains an important technique for obtaining optically active materials. Although asymmetric synthesis is a once-only procedure, an enantiomer separation process can be repeated until the optically pure sample is obtained. This book discusses several new enantiomer separation methods using modern techniques developed by experts in the field. These methods consist mainly of the following three types: 1) Enantiomer separation by inclusion complexation with a chiral host compound 2) Enantiomer separation using biological methods 3) Enantiomer separation by HPLC chromatography using a column containing a chiral stationary phase. Separation of a racemic compound has been called 'optical resolution' or simply 'resolution'. Nowadays, the descriptions 'enantiomer resolution' or 'enantiomer separation' are also commonly used. Accordingly, 'Enantiomer Separation' is used in the title of this book. The editor and all chapter contributors hope that this book is helpful for scientists and engineers working in this field.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Archaeological theory has gone through a great upheaval in the last 50 years - from the processual theory, which wanted to make archaeology more 'scientific' to post-processual theory, which understands that interpreting human behavior (even of past cultures) is a subjective study. This subjective approach incorporates a plurality of readings, thereby implying that different interpretations are always possible, allowing us to modify and change our ideas under the light of new information and/or interpretive frameworks. In this way, interpretations form a continuous flow of transformation and change, and thus archaeologists do not uncover a real past but rather construct a historical past or a narrative of the past.Post-processual theory also incorporates a conscious and explicit political interest on the past of the scholar and the subject. This includes fields and topics such as gender issues, ethnicity, class, landscapes, and consumption. This reflects a conscious attempt to also decentralize the discipline, from an imperialist point of view to an empowering one. Method and theory also means being politically aware and engaged to incorporate diverse critical approaches to improve understanding of the past and the present.This book focuses on the fundamental theoretical issues found in the discipline and thus both engages and represents the very rich plurality of the post-processual approach to archaeology. The book is divided into four sections: Issues in Archaeological Theory, Archaeological Theory and Method in Action, Space and Power in Material Culture, and Images as Material Discourse.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - This volume contains a collection of refereed articles on generalized convexity and generalized monotonicity. The first part of the book contains invited papers by leading experts (J.M. Borwein, R.E. Burkard, B.S. Mordukhovich and H. Tuy) with applications of (generalized) convexity to such diverse fields as algebraic dynamics of the Gamma function values, discrete optimization, Lipschitzian stability of parametric constraint systems, and monotonicity of functions. The second part contains contributions presenting the latest developments in generalized convexity and generalized monotonicity: its connections with discrete and with continuous optimization, multiobjective optimization, fractional programming, nonsmooth Aanalysis, variational inequalities, and its applications to concrete problems such as finding equilibrium prices in mathematical economics, or hydrothermal scheduling.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Phototherapy exemplifies scientific medicine. The major advances have resulted from effective collaborations between basic researchers and clinicians. This book is directed to clinicians and basic researchers who are interested in current and emerging implementations of phototherapy. It can serve as an introductory reference and a textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in medical physics and biomedical engineering. The emphasis is on the science underlying the various phototherapy procedures, which encompasses aspects of classical and molecular photophysics, biological photochemistry, photobiology and biophotonics. Topics that do not usually appear in other general sources include the theory and applications of tissue optics, Monte Carlo simulation, light dosimetry, and analytical modeling of laser surgery. Many illustrative problems with answers are provided to exemplify the more quantitative aspects of each topic.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Progress in Colorectal Surgery covers a variety of topics of current interest to the colorectal specialist. Recognizing that the surgeon does not work in isolation, the book integrates recent progress in imaging techniques for the anal canal and rectum, and will highlight medico-legal considerations. The book discusses key concepts that will assist general surgeons and colorectal consultants in their management of patients with a broad spectrum of anorectal and colonic disorders. It will be particularly useful to trainees approaching the final intercollegiate examination who have expressed a specialist interest in colorectal surgery. With a problem-oriented slant, this book is essential reading for all those with an interest in coloproctology.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Computer-Aided Design of User Interfaces IV gathers the latest research of experts, research teams and leading organisations involved in computer-aided design of user interactive applications supported by software, with specific attention for platform-independent user interfaces and context-sensitive or aware applications. This includes: innovative model-based and agent-based approaches, code-generators, model editors, task animators, translators, checkers, advice-giving systems and systems for graphical and multimodal user interfaces. It also addresses User Interface Description Languages.This books attempts to emphasize the software tool support for designing user interfaces and their underlying languages and methods, beyond traditional development environments offered by the market. It will be of interest to software development practitioners and researchers whose work involves human-computer interaction, design of user interfaces, frameworks for computer-aided design, formal and semi-formal methods, web services and multimedia systems, interactive applications, and graphical user and multi-user interfaces.…

Kombiprodukt. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Surface Science is understood as a relatively young scientific discipline, concerned with the physical and chemical properties of phenomena on clean and covered solid surfaces, studied under a variety of conditions. The adsorption of atoms and molecules on solid surfaces is, for example, such a condition, connected with more or less drastic changes of all surface properties. An adsorption event is frequently observed in nature and found to be of technical importance in many industrial processes. For this reason, Surface Science is interdisciplinary by its very nature, and as such an important intermediary between fundamental and applied research.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware -Die Vektoranalysis handelt, in klassischer Darstellung, von Vektorfeldern, den Operatoren Gradient, Divergenz und Rotation, von Linien-, Flächen- und Volumenintegralen und von den Integralsätzen von Gauß, Stokes und Green. In moderner Fassung ist es der Cartansche Kalkül mit dem Satz von Stokes. Das vorliegende Buch vertritt grundsätzlich die moderne Herangehensweise, geht aber auch sorgfältig auf die klassische Notation und Auffassung ein. Das Buch richtet sich an Mathematik- und Physikstudenten ab dem zweiten Studienjahr, die mit den Grundbegriffen der Differential- und Integralrechnung in einer und mehreren Variablen sowie der Topologie vertraut sind. Der sehr persönliche Stil des Autors und die aus anderen Büchern bereits bekannten Lernhilfen, wie: viele Figuren, mehr als 50 kommentierte Übungsaufgaben, über 100 Tests mit Antworten, machen auch diesen Text zum Selbststudium hervorragend geeignet. 288 pp. Deutsch.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware -Die Vektoranalysis handelt, in klassischer Darstellung, von Vektorfeldern, den Operatoren Gradient, Divergenz und Rotation, von Linien-, Flächen- und Volumenintegralen und von den Integralsätzen von Gauß, Stokes und Green. In moderner Fassung ist es der Cartansche Kalkül mit dem Satz von Stokes. Das vorliegende Buch vertritt grundsätzlich die moderne Herangehensweise, geht aber auch sorgfältig auf die klassische Notation und Auffassung ein. Das Buch richtet sich an Mathematik- und Physikstudenten ab dem zweiten Studienjahr, die mit den Grundbegriffen der Differential- und Integralrechnung in einer und mehreren Variablen sowie der Topologie vertraut sind. Der sehr persönliche Stil des Autors und die aus anderen Büchern bereits bekannten Lernhilfen, wie: viele Figuren, mehr als 50 kommentierte Übungsaufgaben, über 100 Tests mit Antworten, machen auch diesen Text zum Selbststudium hervorragend geeignet. 288 pp. Deutsch.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Traumatische Ereignisse können jedes Kind treffen. Dieser Ratgeber liefert sehr anschaulich fundiertes Wissen über die Bedeutung, Dynamik und die möglichen Folgen einer Traumatisierung sowie über aktuelle Behandlungsansätze. Zudem bietet er für TherapeutInnen, PädagogenInnen und alle Interessierte zahlreiche praktische Anregungen für den Umgang mit betroffenen Kindern, um konkret bei der Bewältigung des Traumas helfen zu können. Das Buch nimmt dabei Bezug auf das in der Reihe erschienene Bilderbuch'Wie Pippa wieder lachen lernte', in dem Pippa mit Hilfe des Löwen Leo-Rix ein traumatisches Erlebnis bewältigt. Zusätzlich werden Vorschläge für den Umgang mit Eltern und Angehörigen von betroffenen Kindern gegeben. Im Anhang finden sich umfassende Informationen über weiterführende Literatur, Webpages sowie über therapeutische Einrichtungen und Fortbildungsinstitute in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Nöstlinger, C. (illustrator).…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Die Vektoranalysis handelt, in klassischer Darstellung, von Vektorfeldern, den Operatoren Gradient, Divergenz und Rotation, von Linien-, Flächen- und Volumenintegralen und von den Integralsätzen von Gauß, Stokes und Green. In moderner Fassung ist es der Cartansche Kalkül mit dem Satz von Stokes. Das vorliegende Buch vertritt grundsätzlich die moderne Herangehensweise, geht aber auch sorgfältig auf die klassische Notation und Auffassung ein. Das Buch richtet sich an Mathematik- und Physikstudenten ab dem zweiten Studienjahr, die mit den Grundbegriffen der Differential- und Integralrechnung in einer und mehreren Variablen sowie der Topologie vertraut sind. Der sehr persönliche Stil des Autors und die aus anderen Büchern bereits bekannten Lernhilfen, wie: viele Figuren, mehr als 50 kommentierte Übungsaufgaben, über 100 Tests mit Antworten, machen auch diesen Text zum Selbststudium hervorragend geeignet.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Focusing on the manipulation and representation of geometrical objects, this book explores the application of geometry to computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD). Over 300 exercises are included, some new to this edition, and many of which encourage the reader to implement the techniques and algorithms discussed through the use of a computer package with graphing and computer algebra capabilities. A dedicated website also offers further resources and useful links. 368 pp. Englisch.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This new study of Tudor international relations is the first in nearly thirty years. Adopting a fresh approach to the subject, this lively collection presents the work of a team of established and younger scholars who discuss how the Tudor monarchs made sense of the world beyond England's shores. Taking account of recent developments in cultural, gender and institutional history, the contributors analyse the important changes and continuities in England's foreign policy during the Tudor age.Tudor England and its Neighbours addresses key questions such as:- Did Henry VII break with the past by pursuing peace with France - What was the impact of the break with Rome and the introduction of Protestantism on England's relations with other countries - Was war between Elizabethan England and Spain inevitable Using new evidence and reinterpreting traditional narratives, these essays illuminate the complexities and the sometimes surprising subtleties of England's international relations between 1485 and 1603. 296 pp. Englisch.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -There are many differences of opinion between sociologists about how best to investigate social issues and about the quality of the answers that different questions produce. This book looks at a range of sociological theories from the last two hundred years, taking a thematic approach that helps students to better integrate the material and to understand the significance of the individual theorists. With illustrations from the work of John Stuart Mill, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, Karl Marx, Karl Mannheim, Michel Foucault, Anthony Giddens and Erving Goffman, this book provides an accessible and comprehensive guide for introductory students of sociology and social theory. 208 pp. Englisch.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume addresses advanced DEA methodology and techniques developed for modeling unique new performance evaluation issues. Many numerical examples, real management cases and verbal descriptions make it very valuable for researchers and practitioners. 428 pp. Englisch.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Non-state threats and actors have become key topics in contemporary international security as since the end of the Cold War the notion that state is the primary unit of interest in international security has increasingly been challenged. Statistics show that today many more people are killed by ethnic conflicts, HIV/AIDS or the proliferation of small arms than by international war. Moreover, non-state actors, such as non-governmental organizations, private military companies and international regimes, are progressively complementing or even replacing states in the provision of security. Suggesting that such developments can be understood as part of a shift from government to governance in international security, this book examines both how private actors have become one of the main sources of insecurity in the contemporary world and how non-state actors play a growing role in combating these threats. 230 pp. Englisch.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book is about public education reform and the future of pubHc education funding. Given the many articles, books, and conferences that have focused on the issue of public education reform, it is reasonable to ask whether the world needs still another volume on this subject. In my defense, I would argue that, although there is a large literature on public education reform, there is precious little that tries to sketch the big picture. Too often, both in research and in practice, it is easy to lose sight of the forest, for all the focus on the individual trees. While such detailed analysis is of critical value, that value derives both from its specificity and from its ability to fit into a larger, coherent whole. Unfortunately, our understanding of the public education process is still incomplete and disconnected, particularly with regard to the connections between research, policy, and practice. This book is an attempt to step back for a moment to get one's bearings before jumping headlong back into the forest. It is my hope that this book will be of value to a wide variety of reader- researchers in departments of economics and schools of education, policy makers at all levels, and, of course, the practitioners slogging away in the trenches. 238 pp. Englisch.…