Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Future Space Problems and Their Solutions

“Today it is customary to speak of the Universe as a product of the Big Bang, which gave rise to the mystery of dark matter, expanding Universe and other tempting but badly comprehend realities. Joseph J. Smulsky gives the chance to feel harmony of the world, to see it in the image of reasonable classical simplicity peculiar to Isaak Newton’s mechanics. The elegance of simplicity and the complexity of the system appear in their mathematically comprehended unity.” – Vladislav V. Cheshev, Professor of the National Research Tomsk State University, Russia

“The problems of gravitational interaction of bodies are extremely diverse. The author considers the situations most significant for the space exploration and to the preservation of life conditions on the Earth-planet. The developed program Galactica can be of interest for professionals and students of the relevant specialties, as for as it allows to apply the received data for the analysis of various problems of celestial mechanics.” – Boris F. Boyarshinov, Doctor of technical sciences, Insitute of Thermophsics, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

“The book is very impressive. Joseph J. Smulsky considers grandiose projects: the optimal approach of the spacecraft to the Sun, the transformation of asteroids into satellites of the Earth, the creation of new planets like the Earth etc. Without doubt that the space agencies will use the solutions and soft, which are discussed and presented in the book. That will raise the computation culture in the area under consideration.” – Michael P. Anisimov, Dr.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Leading Research Scientist, Head of the Nanoaerosol Laboratory, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia; Research Professor, Clarkson University, NY USA

“Environment and human well-being are due to many factors, including the influence of movements of cosmic bodies both in the Solar system and beyond. The proposed monograph provides an excellent opportunity to predict the motion and rotation of planets, to optimize the flights of spaceships by means of a sufficiently simple to assimilate the program Galactica. A lot of worries are caused by possible collisions of comets and asteroids with the Earth. The examples of the most dangerous two asteroids show the capabilities of the Galactica program to calculate their evolution. These opportunities are wider than they are presented in the book. But even what is given impresses with its multifaceted tasks and their scale.” – Nicolay E. Shishkin, Doctor of technical sciences, Insitute of Thermophsics, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

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Methods and Instruments for Visual and Optical Diagnostics of Objects and Fast Processes

“The book presents the recent status of R&D in the field of laser projection microscopes and highpressure gas nanosecond high-voltage discharge, and their applications. Now-days R&D in that area is predominantly concentrated in Russia, especially, Siberia. There happened to form a consolidated and strong community of scientists working very persistently in projects on metal vapor lasers and high voltage nanosecond gas discharge for many decades. For sure, one of their achievements are the systems with laser brightness amplifier producing magnified images initially on big screens and lately, video recorders. The very principle of optical brightness amplifier based on single spectral line excludes strong background interference except of the operating line itself. Its advantage is lack of intermediate steps of transformation of signal from optical to electrical, and reversely to optical, again. Because of high pulse repetition frequencies of some metal vapor laser media, MHz frame rates are almost achievable and when equipped with modern fast cameras monitoring of very fast processes can be done frame by frame. In the First part of book the authors give R&D of high speed brightness CuBr amplifiers and the Second part (by different researchers) is devoted to plasma parameters of high-voltage nanosecond discharge initiated by a runaway electron beam. The latter deal with high-pressure gas nanosecond discharge accompanied by number of electrical, optical and gas-dynamic processes thereafter. Both parts of book have a lot of results (many are original) and they appear systematic and prolific contributions to different areas of science and applications. I conceive the book “Methods and Instruments for Visual and Optical Diagnostics of Objects and Fast Processes” by G.S. Evtushenko (Ed.), 2018, Nova Science Publishers, Inc. is a good R&D product that will be of interest of scientists, engineers and students.” – Dimo Astadjov, Assoc. Prof., Dr., Metal Vapor Lasers Dept., Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

“The book reveals the development of new technologies related to the object exposure to energy fluxes in active optical systems. This involves the surface modification for improving performance characteristics, producing new materials and nanostructures, welding and cutting processes, using high-temperature synthesis (SHS), etc. First of all, this happened because the impact of energy fluxes is always accompanied by the powerful background lighting which impedes the object visualization and control of technological processes.” READ MORE…Snezhana Gocheva-Ilieva, Professor, University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

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Biocomposites: Properties, Performance and Applications

“This book is a valuable up-to-date addition to the existing literature on the subject of biocomposites. Although many books have been recently published in this very active field of research, most of them focused mainly on just one aspect of the domain. We must keep in mind that biocomposites represent an interdisciplinary category of materials and a linear approach is rather theoretic. This book, on the other hand, focuses on various aspects like structure and properties, performance and applications of these materials, presenting these issues in a strong interdependency, as most of the factors affecting the level of performance of these materials are acting synergistically. Hence, this book addresses to the needs of scientists from universities, academia and industry R&D from multidisciplinary backgrounds.” – Dr. Carmen-Alice Teaca, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Romania

“Written by top experts in this field, this book is an excellent addition to the already expanding literature on biocomposites. This book offers up-to-date studies, as well as review articles, on biocomposites. This book is strongly recommended to students, academics and researchers working on biocomposites.” – Dr. Mohammad Jawaid, Department of Biocomposite Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

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Analytical Chemistry: Developments, Applications and Challenges in Food Analysis

Analytical Chemistry: Developments, Applications and Challenges in Food Analysis represents a collection of book chapters showing the fundament of validation and instrumental set up of analytical methods that are used to analyze foods and their ingredients. The different chapters include several topics discussing the validation of analytical methods, extraction procedures, and other multidisciplinary approaches for the analysis of foods, particularly supplements originated from raw plant materials.” READ MORE…Maria Carafa, Professor, Pharmacy and Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome

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New Developments in Liquid Crystals Research

“Cholesteric liquid crystals are historically the first liquid crystalline materials discovered by Friedrich Reinitzer in 1888. Since then, cholesteric liquid crystals are in the focus of scientists and engineers attracting their attention with the peculiar optical and electro-optical properties. Three of the book’s chapters are devoted to different techniques of preparation of microencapsulated polymeric particles and flakes and their electro-optical properties.” READ MORE…Lachezar Komitov, Professor, PhD, CEO Innovidis AB, Sweden, and Liquid Crystal Physics, Department of Physics, Göteborg University

“Liquid crystalline materials are an impressive class of condensed mater combining mobility and order, which gives rise to their unique properties and enables outstanding applications usually associated with liquid crystal displays that can be found in TV screens, computer monitors, tablets, mobile phones, but also in more advanced applications in photonics, telecommunications, medicine and other fields.” READ MORE…Vukoman Jokanovic, PhD, Laboratory of Atomic Physic, Institute of Nuclear Science Vinca, Belgrade, Serbia

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Ultra Low Frequency Fields of Moving Bodies

“Dr. Semenov is among few scientists who have drawn attention of colleagues interested in moving body detection to its ultra-low frequency oscillations and provided theoretical background to prediction of corresponding additional hydrodynamic ultra-low frequency fields in atmosphere and ocean. The text is rich in physical details and experimental data explaining limits of known moving body detection methods and providing their comparison to detection method proposed as well as endorsing validity and reality of achieved results. The book is essential for scientists or naval engineers taking a serious interest in moving body detection progress.” – Professor Sergey N. Kulichkov, Deputy Director, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Laureate of Russian Government prize in the field of physical sciences

“This book provides substantial contribution to solution of basic problem of hydroacoustics related to detection of underwater objects, for instance submarines, in their self-noise reduction environment. Major part of the book is related to description of natural and man-made ultra-low frequency field’s behavior in ocean and atmosphere. It is important that scattering evaluation methods developed in the book allow evaluation of sound field scattered by slowly oscillating moving body capable of generating ambient flow field including gravity waves and ordinary wake predict their decisive contribution to forward scattered sound signals. These results provide grounds for alternative method of submerged moving objects detection in ocean. Examples of practical detection results achieved with aid of various underwater arrays either stationary or installed on ship board published by a number of authors in the web during last decades are also adduced. These results achieved at distance ranges from several to hundred miles support theoretical predictions and provide recommending the book for acoustician and naval engineers developing acoustic systems for outdoor observations as well as for naval specialists responsible for ocean shipping situation control.” – Professor Alexander V. Evtushenko, Full Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Department in Moscow State Linguistic University, Moscow, Russia

“This book is written by an experienced specialist in acoustics of moving media and underwater hydroacoustics Dr. Andrew (Andrey) Semenov from Acoustics Institute in Moscow, Russia. It shows insufficiency of current state-of-the art in naval hydroacoustics and moving media acoustics related to detected objects self noise noticeable reduction. Main chapters of the book are related to the detailed description of ultra low frequency field structure and its origins in ocean and to sound scattering by moving bodies taking into account specifics of slowly oscillating moving body ambient flow including gravity waves and wake arguing their decisive contribution to observed sound signals. This approach developed by the author since the very beginning of 1980s presented in ”Acoustical Physics” journal and in “Acoustics of Moving Inhomogeneities” book published recently by Nova Science was realized in pioneer methods of moving body detection in ocean inhomogeneous media. Another impressive and informative chapter of the book is related to body detection experimental results achieved on various underwater hydroacoustics arrays either stationary or installed on ships board. These results are demonstrated in various ocean regions for wide enough target distances ranges from several miles to hundred miles. In general, book will be useful for acousticians and naval engineers developing acoustic systems for underwater or atmosphere observations, and also for marine officers involved in application of underwater naval hydroacoustics arrays for targets control in ocean.” – Professor Igor B. Esipov, Full Professor of Physics Department in I.M. Gubkin’s Oil and Gas University, Moscow, Russia, Vice Editor-in-Chief of “Acoustical Physics” journal, Russian Acoustical Society Executive Board member, Acoustical Society of America member

“This book provides substantial contribution to solution of actual naval hydroacoustics problems related to submarines self-noise reduction. Few chapters of the book are related to description of natural and artificial ultra-low frequency field sources in ocean and atmosphere. Moving bodies sound scattering evaluation methods taking into account ambient flow fields related to oscillating moving body including gravity waves and wake arguing their decisive contribution to observed sound signals, mainly, for submarines in ocean are developed in the book as well. It allows providing alternative method of submarine detection. Important portion of the book is devoted to submarine detection experimental results achieved with aid of various underwater hydroacoustics arrays. These results demonstrated for wide enough submarine distances ranges from several miles to hundred miles support theoretical predictions and allow recommending the book for acousticians and naval engineers developing acoustic observation systems as well as for specialists applying underwater hydroacoustics arrays for shipping control in ocean to provide dichotomy classification of the targets detected.” – Professor Victor D. Svet, Leading Research Scientist, academician N.N. Andreev’s Acoustics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

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Hydrogen Storage: Preparation, Applications and Technology

“Dr. Huaiyu Shao has been working in the hydrogen storage field for almost 15 years. I believe he just skillfully edited a must-read book for anyone in the hydrogen energy research community. Read it and get some fresh ideas from some of the most active contributors in the world.” – Xingguo Li, Professor and Director, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in Peking University, World Famous Scientist in the Field of Hydrogen Storage, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China

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The Lonely Ape that Told Himself Stories: The Necessity of Stories for Human Survival

“The author introduces new concepts that are relevant both to trauma researchers and to those who investigate culture, stories and our deepest need for narratives for our survival. The book is unquestionably innovative and well written, coherent and a pleasure to read…is full of hand-on exercises that are helping the reader to experiment with the topics of each chapter, thus making the book not only extremely interesting but also tangible.” – Daphna Slonim, M.D. Psychiatrist, Director of DSA Clinic Los Angeles

“The content of this book is extremely valuable and integrates theory and philosophy from several perspectives. This book would be new in the field and would pave the way forward n new ideas and concepts. It takes a novel approach to the subject and challenges us to think again, about what might be dismissed as ‘just a story’.” – Sue Jennings PhD, Professor, University of Derby, UK, Founder of Dramatherapy Federation, Social Anthropologist, Specialist in Neuro-Dramatic-Play

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Neanderthals in Plato’s Cave: A Relativistic Approach to Cultural Evolution

“Having read George Steiner’s monograph I can confirm that I find it a most impressive achievement. This volume is on the very cutting edge of research in the field it addresses. Its author is certainly one of the most innovative writers on the subject of cognitive human evolution. Here he proposes a volume dedicated to the role of neoteny in hominin evolution, particularly its cultural dimensions. What is from my perspective the most impressive aspect of the work is the exploration of the role exograms played in this. Exograms, ‘memory traces’ stored outside the brain, are the most significant factor in cognitive evolution, and yet they are arguably the most neglected. So far, only two authors have ever considered them in any detail since the late 1980s, despite their fundamental importance in the question of what makes us human, and how we managed to experience the world in a conscious format. Steiner corrects this imbalance, and for that reason alone his book holds great promise. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the generic subject and his most innovative patterns of reasoning have produced a truly worthwhile addition to the rather limited literature on the topic. An aspect I find particularly important is that Steiner did not approach this discipline from the evolutionary perspective initially, but from the direction of a desire to understand the products of human cognition, through his work with paleoart, specifically rock art. Therefore he is not stuck in a particular epistemological groove, but has cultivated the ability to see the issues in an inter-disciplinary perspective.” – Professor Robert G. Bednarik, Convener and Editor-in-Chief, IFRAO; Australian Rock Art Research Association (AURA), Australia

“I have read the manuscript of the proposed book by George Steiner entitled Neanderthals in Plato’s Cave: A Relativistic Approach to Cultural Evolution, and found it to be an extremely thought provoking piece of work. It is well written, clearly organized and well referenced. The author shows a good grasp of the relevant literature on cultural evolution and prehistory and offers a range of interesting and original ideas on the origin of culture in early humans.” – Dr. Liora Kolska Horwitz, Head of Research, Negev Rock Art Center and The National Natural History Collections, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus, Jerusalem, Israel

“Steiner begins with an exhaustive review of the literature on human cultural evolution and proceeds to lay out a paradigm for the study where the tenets of dual inheritance theory are viewed through non-synchronous temporal changes toward modernity in three distinct areas: Anatomical Modernity. The first area is anatomical where modernity is identified as a biologically, respectively, culturally-conditioned transition moving from robust to gracile with globular braincase development as its main signature and outcome.” READ MORE…Bonnye Matthews, Author of The Winds of Change, Alaska. Published in Midwest Book Reviews-October 2017

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My Patients Were Mummies

“Dr. Michael Zimmerman has written a fascinating account of his globe-trotting adventures in the field of paleopathology – the study of mummies and other ancient human remains and what they can teach us about modern-day human diseases. As he explains the process of unwrapping and analyzing mummies found everywhere from the deserts of Egypt to the frozen tundra of Alaska, this renowned pathologist and archaeologist proves himself a true Indiana Jones of the medical profession.” – Philip Shenon, former Washington correspondent for The New York Times for more than twenty years, bestselling author of The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation

“This autobiographical book chronicles the career of one of the world’s most respected mummy experts, but it is more than that. It is a mini-history of paleopathology, the study of disease in the ancient world. Dr. Zimmerman is doubly qualified for this task, he is a pathologist, specifically trained to detect disease, but also a physical anthropologist, qualified to examine skeletal material of the long dead and see what can be read from the bones.” READ MORE…Bob Brier, Senior Research Fellow, Long Island University, NY, USA

“Michael Zimmerman’s book consists of a series of essays recounting his research experiences with mummies. The book is not written for an academic audience; there are no in- text citations and the bibliography is limited. The book is generally a memoir, both in writing style and the presence of personal anecdotes. Given its construction, it appears intended for both general audiences and as a supplemental text for bioanthropology, paleopathology, or mummy studies courses.” READ MORE…Ken Nystrom, Department of Anthropology, State University of New York, New Paltz, USA. Published in the International Journal of Paleopathology

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