Book Reviews
“To fully appreciate the meaning and the proper application of a continuous univariate distribution, one should be equipped to go through two scientific steps. First Step: One should know the true meaning of the distribution by various available means of characterizations. Second Step: One should know the underlying phenomenon for which the distribution is to be meaningfully approximated. These outstanding volumes prepared by Professor G.G. Hamedani are providing timely and most comprehensive mathematical/statistical tools for the First Step in applying and utilizing continuous univariate distributions.” – Samad Hedayat, UIC Distinguished Professor Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
“These volumes will be of great value to researches as they navigate thee burgeoning literature on generalized univariate distributions. It will enable them to ruminate on possible variations of exiting themes and to avoid rediscovering the wheel in some instances.” – Barry Charles Arnold, Distinguished Professor, Department of Statistics, University of California, California, USA
“Our statistics training in the mid-1969s was largely based on Versatile Teachers Lecture Notes and very few available Classical Textbooks. In the area of Statistical Distributions, much later, there came an Intellectual Gift from the joint efforts of Johnson-Kotz-Kemp-Balakrishnan. Several volumes were compiled and published in the Wiley Series. These are treasured collections in any statistical library. In the same vein, this book by Hamedani will soon attract attention of those of us who work in the areas of life distributions and reliability estimation in general. The author has put in tremendous intellectual efforts to come up with these compilations, and they undoubtedly serve as an Encyclopedia in this field of study. They are amazing compilations of so many basic and derived (life) distributions and their characterizations. As we know, characterization problems are themselves very intriguing and intellectually challenging. The author has mastered the subject matter so much so that he has ventured into this difficult area in presenting a vast material with the utmost technical competence. On behalf of the researchers in this area of life distributions and allied topics, I congratulate the author. Simply told, this is a masterpieces in any sense of the term!” – Bikas K. Sinha, Professor of Statistics (Retired) Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
“In recent years, numerous new probability distributions have been developed for more sophisticated statistical modeling in challenging areas of new applications. Advances in statistical computing and the availability of ever- increasing computing power have enabled us to fit highly complicated probability distributions in practice. The non-uniqueness of fitted distributions, however, raises the problem of determining the most appropriate distribution. This is why characterizations of probability distributions distributions are of fundamental importance. Hamedani has done a great service by collecting a huge number of characterizations in four volumes. These extremely useful reference books are notable contributions to distribution theory.” – Syed N.U. A. Kirmani, Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa, USA
“This book is a very useful resource written from the most up to date literature sources aimed towards improving understanding of more than 50 lysosomal diseases. Lysosomal diseases are caused by inherited gene mutations that lead to a deficiency in lysosomal enzymes or associated proteins, which in turn causes progressive and chronic somatic and neurological disorders. In this monograph, Dr. Luna Bennett has written 24 chapters providing information about the diseases, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment options. Research to develop treatments for lysosomal diseases continues to increase in the number of agents being studied and in the number of new biotechnology approaches, including novel administration routes and drug design aimed at improving bio-availability to affected tissues. This book provides information in a format and context that makes it useful for health care providers and research scientists, as well as patients with lysosomal diseases and their family members.” – Jeanine Jarnes PharmD BCOP BCPS, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Pharmacotherapy for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Advanced Therapies Department
“Renowned scholar, Brij Mohan, is yet again at the forefront of contemporary issues in shaping a new society. Known for his critical and provocative thinking and outspokenness against injustices, he challenges the status quo of dysfunctional societies and institutional collapse. He proposes a new social contract and enlightenment that restore hope for a post-pandemic society where people have rediscovered their purpose in life. His wealth of knowledge and expertise is evident in his authoritative speaking on a new social contract that will contribute to a more just and sustainable society.” – Antoinette Lombard, Department of Social Work & Criminology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
“I always expect the best from Brij Mohan, and he always delivers. His prescient critique of the Great Society is a riveting reminder of our hubris and heresies. Search for a utopian civil society is a product of Brij Mohan’s Chekhovian imagination, which he finds globally shattered by ugly realities.” – Nayan Kanwal, Professor & Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Social Sciences and Artistic Innovations (IJSSAI), Singapore
“Social work’s philosophical maestro leads us through a sobering symphony of “institutional meltdown” of our social contract. While debilitating institutional dysfunctions in concert hit their notes to synchronize a broken society in the author’s acute unpacking of the historical erosion of American promises, he brilliantly brings readers out of despair with the post-pandemic hope of the rediscovery and reconstruction of society through social praxis and transformation. This book is a must-read for all contemporary critical thinkers and doers of social-human development who will lead our society to the “rediscovered” land of social, economic, and political freedom for all.” – Philip Hong, Professor, Loyola University Chicago
“It is clear that a reckoning is underway. After writing over twenty books on the topic, it is evident to [sic] Mohan that the current path of global social development is approaching a dead end. This book-length critique of the status quo opens a dialogue about the viability of alternate paths to sustainable and democratic models of social development that restore Enlightenment values.” – Mark W. Lusk, Professor Emeritus, IFSW Human Rights Commissioner, Department of Social Work, The University of Texas at El Paso
“Almost all political and social philosophers from Plato to Marx and beyond have dealt with various problems emanating from society in various countries with varied situations over centuries. Brij Mohan, a social analyst, theorist, and scientist has based his empirical work on two premises—that democracy is dying and there is an urgent need for a new social contract since our social institutions are faltering. The author has also used a political-historical approach to prove his point. He has discussed a case study of American and Indian societies and related them to various variables—state’s delivery of goods is the largesse trickling down to the poorest of poor, citizens facing xenophobia, oppression of various types, alienation, and so on. It is because of “fractured democratic institutions” that the post-pandemic issues began to threaten human survival. This led to economic drain at individual and state levels, fear of inequality, injustice, and a fall of economic freedom…The book was a wonderful read.” Read more here >>> – Priti Nath, Associate Professor of Political Science, Government Post Graduate College, Panchkula (affiliated to Kurukshetra University), India
“The book is indeed a good piece of work which opens a dialogue about the possibility of alternate pathways to sustainable models of social development. In fact, this book is relevant and a ‘must read’ for all the educators, practitioners and scholars of social sciences who are interested to lead our society to bring about social change for social and human development in the post-pandemic situation.” Read more here >>> – Atul Pratap Singh, Professor, Department of Social Work, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
“Significant progress has been made in the past decade in sericulture research. Sericulture technique covering various aspects has also significantly advanced. Like agriculture, sericulture, as an industry, requires more incredible research and technology development to increase production. This book describes the complete range of subjects with current data relating to mulberry and silkworm. Overall this book emphasizes the fundamental aspects of the stable silkworm crop and various preventive measures against adverse factors. This book deserves 5 stars out of 5. In fact, I would give this book one more star on the rating scale. Highly recommend.” – Dr. E. Gayathiri, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Guru Nanak College (Autonomous), Chennai, India
“This book is a very useful resource written from the most up to date literature sources aimed towards improving understanding of more than 50 lysosomal diseases. Lysosomal diseases are caused by inherited gene mutations that lead to a deficiency in lysosomal enzymes or associated proteins, which in turn causes progressive and chronic somatic and neurological disorders. In this monograph, Dr. Luna Bennett has written 24 chapters providing information about the diseases, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment options. Research to develop treatments for lysosomal diseases continues to increase in the number of agents being studied and in the number of new biotechnology approaches, including novel administration routes and drug design aimed at improving bio-availability to affected tissues. This book provides information in a format and context that makes it useful for health care providers and research scientists, as well as patients with lysosomal diseases and their family members.” – Jeanine Jarnes PharmD BCOP BCPS, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Pharmacotherapy for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Advanced Therapies Department
“A core question about social entrepreneurship is how to socially organize in a way that people—who may be at core selfish—can find ways to express their best selves and care about others. After all, living in society is about some level of social mutuality balanced against some level of personal space, free will, self-dignity, and independence. How can the needs of the many be balanced against the needs of the individual, at scale? What method of government best enables people to thrive, with equity and inclusion and social justice? What are the best ways to set up incentives constructively? And in terms of a country’s leadership, how can they best lead and signal to enable a competitive nation? Olga Agatova’s Social Entrepreneurship: Perspectives, Management and Gender Differences (2022) captures various ways different nations and societies try to meet the needs of their peoples while competing in a zero-sum world. Leaders of countries balance a number of interests and aims…Read more at >>>” – Shalin Hai-Jew, Instructional Designer/Researcher, Kansas State University. Published in C2C Digital Magazine (Fall 2022 / Winter 2023)
“Mangesh M. Ghonge, Pradeep Nijalingappa, and Ahmed J. Obaid’s Understanding Pattern Analysis (2022) offers some refreshing cases of data analysis and ways to make meaning of images, structured data, and other data forms. It enriches traditional ideas of data patterns by including machine vision, machine learning algorithms, fresh engineering approaches to solving modern challenges, and richer data dimensionality through multimodal data. The space is evolving quickly and in real time, and it is hard to consider just where the current state-of-play is. For common readers and students, this work offers some refreshing reads about contemporaneous data patterns achieved computationally…Read more at >>>” – Shalin Hai-Jew, Instructional Designer/Researcher, Kansas State University. Published in C2C Digital Magazine (Fall 2022 / Winter 2023)
“Yuk Ming Tang, Ho Lun Ho, Ka Yin Chau, and Yan Wan’s A Beginner’s Guide to Virtual Reality (VR) Modeling in Healthcare Applications with Blender introduces a free and open-source technology that enables the building out of some sophisticated three-dimensional visuals that can be used in games, films, immersive virtual worlds, visual effects, animations, and other applications. The z-axis, the third dimension, and animation, the fourth dimension, help bring digital experiences (virtual and augmented) into the perception of real space…Read more at >>>” – Shalin Hai-Jew, Instructional Designer/Researcher, Kansas State University. Published in C2C Digital Magazine (Fall 2022 / Winter 2023)
“The general public may have seen news stories of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) delivering drugs and even human organs (for transplantation) across a hospital campus, monitoring the U.S.-Mexico border, delivering food, and providing security overflight. They may have seen creative light displays as new year celebrations, with smart drones flashing their brights. Others have been used for building-based art shows, alongside high-powered light projectors. Perhaps they have handled a commercial drone to shoot footage for their social media channels or films. They may have seen fleeting visuals of military-style UAVs in news stories of a hot war. Based on consumed information and experiences, people likely have various evocations in terms of “drones” and “UAVs”. Mohit Angurala and Vikas Khullar’s Revolutionary Applications of Intelligent Drones (2022) offers a look at various practical uses of these aircraft. Their edited collection may help situate understandings of such craft in a more systematized way. Indeed, drones have been used for “drug delivery, agricultural applications, vertical structure inspection, construction site survey” and other applications (n.p.). They have been applied in medicine, agriculture, disaster management, entertainment, and military applications. During the SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 pandemic, they were used for package deliveries. They may affect how people live, interact, share, war-fight, and otherwise engage…Read more at >>>” – Shalin Hai-Jew, Instructional Designer/Researcher, Kansas State University. Published in C2C Digital Magazine (Fall 2022 / Winter 2023)
“If one were to only read the title of the edited text, Economic Growth and Wellbeing: Evidence from the Belt and Road Initiative Countries, one could assume that the chapters in the edited text would be about BRI investments and infrastructure building and other endeavors for the particular target countries and regions. One would not expect there to just be statistical analyses of various public data at the national and regional levels to understand macro-level dynamics that promote economic development and well-being (with data from years prior to BRI’s advent). One would not expect patterned data analytics using high-level statistical analyses of particular variables, directly measured and proxied…This work does contribute insights to those working in global development, BRI or not. Perhaps this is a public conversation that needs to be had about the BRI and President Xi Jinping’s vision for an interconnected world brought together around development and trade…Read more at >>>” – Shalin Hai-Jew, Instructional Designer/Researcher, Kansas State University. Published in C2C Digital Magazine (Fall 2022 / Winter 2023)