Book Reviews
“Woodrow (Woody) Clark II, PhD and I have known and worked together for over two decades, from the late 1990s on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which went on to share the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Woody gave lectures in my courses at Berkeley; and got involved when I launched the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at UC Berkeley.
We have stayed in touch since then; and will continue to do so. Woody’s work to develop “Qualitative Economics” reflects an important conversation in the evolution of disciplines.” – Daniel Kammen, PhD, Professor and Chair, Energy and Resources Group, Professor in the Goldman School of Public Policy, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Founding Director, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
“Whether one agrees or not with the thesis this is a book well worth reading. It provides a new perspective on the traditional view that dominates the field of economics. For anyone willing to be challenged, I highly recommend this book.” – James Barth, PhD., Lowder Eminent Scholar in Finance, Harbert College of Business, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA, and Senior Finance Fellow, Milken Institute, Fellow of the Wharton Financial Institutions Center, Co-Editor of Journal of Financial Economic Policy
“I have known Woody for more than two decades, when he was first teaching in the business school at what is now Cal State East Bay. Woody has a long and admirable history in bringing social, environmental and economic issues to light across a range of media and topics. He has been a pioneer in energy and environmental issues, including serving as the first Manager of Technology Transfer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, before moving to Denmark (after being a Fulbright Fellow in the early 1990s) to be a fulltime Professor in Business Economics at Aalborg University. When Woody was asked by California Governor Gray Davis to return to California to be one of his five energy advisors, he predicted the statewide energy crisis months before it happened. Now, he has turned to another critical issue — the Circular Economy — which he helped establish in the EU and China. He brings intellect, vision and passion to everything he does, always in service of the greater good.” – Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group Inc., Oakland, California, USA
“Dr. Woodrow “Woody” Clark and I have worked together for more than two decades on solutions to global sustainability and climate change challenges. Above all, Woody understands the economics, costs, financing and ROI (both economically and environmentally) that are needed to turn vision into reality
His work in creating qualitative economics has done a lot to change economics from a “field of study” into a science, especially as it relates to our energy needs and uses. What does “clean” energy mean, for example? He demonstrates that there is no “clean coal” and that natural gas is not truly clean either. These words, terms and numbers must be defined, examined and used to reverse the destruction of the earth, water and air.
That is what this book is about and what Woody has brought into the mainstream conversation with his work on Circular Economics. This book provides cases and ways to make our planet, and its economy, green and sustainable for the long term. Our lives and our children’s lives depend upon learning new ways to see the world and taking action based on this knowledge NOW.” – Terry Tamminen, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Executive Director of the Foundation, Beverly Hills, CA, USA
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“This is an important resource for anyone teaching/ mentoring/ coaching want-to-be inventors or entrepreneurs ……high school students and even undergraduate and graduate students can gain so much from understanding this basic information. This is must read and must understand information that will protect the intellectual property of these budding inventors and entrepreneurs, and make them much better prepared for real life and to protect their own interests.” – RADM Richard W. Schneider, Ph.D, USCGR, President, Norwich University, Northfield, VT, USA
“I recently read Neal Orkin’s e-book, IP Basics. The content is presented in such a way as to capture my students’ interest and imagination, and in a format that makes it easy for them to quickly learn key concepts. This would be a terrific addition to our STEAM Program. Students without any knowledge of IP will find Mr. Orkin’s book both entertaining and extremely informative.” – Lee Marcus, AP Statistics Teacher, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
“Making IP understandable and accessible to first time entrepreneurs is not easy. These publications help demystify and aid this process.” – David Bradbury, President, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Inc (VCET)
“Professor Neal Orkin’s new book, “IP Basics,” stimulates curiosity and delivers vitally-important information to students and teachers alike. Orkin’s decades of IP expertise and his passion for the topic make “IP Basics” a must-read.” – Donald L. Haskin, Senior Vice President, Citibank, Member, Board of Directors, Philadelphia Education Fund
“With their natural inquisitiveness and creativity, but lack of business experience, young people can be most susceptible to opening new businesses without proper preparation, increasing their probability of failure.
With this book, Neal Orkin has taken an important step in helping students and others new to entrepreneurship enhance their chances of success. While today’s self-help guides, one day seminars and academic curriculum devoted to entrepreneurship may focus on the important disciplines of marketing, sales, finance, and operations, what is often missing from them is how business creators can protect what they create in the present and for the long term. This book on IP provides essential background information on how this can be done. Its clear, concise style is perfect for those interested in a short, but practical guide to this essential information for those with aspirations of creating a business. I highly recommend Neal’s work.” – Francis Linnehan, Ph.D, Dean Emeritus, LeBow College of Business, Drexel University
“Understanding and appreciating intellectual property has never been more important. Professor Orkin makes it simple but not simplistic, precise but concise. The basics made clear and useful.” – M. Kelly Tillery, Esquire, Senior Partner, Intellectual Property Department, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia, PA, USA
“Professor Neal Orkin provides us with a concise and clear introduction to the basic issues of Intellectual Property that we all need. Based on his years of teaching Legal Studies at the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, he shows us the sources and concerns that interest so many of us who deal with ideas and discovery, the ABCs of ownership, protection of ideas to which we are emotionally connected, and aspects of software, trademarks, patents, and copyrights that we are generating. As a researcher and teacher of molecular biology and sociolinguistics, I, together with my students and colleagues, am indebted to Neal Orkin for this most useful gift.” – Rakhmiel Peltz, Ph.D., Professor of Sociolinguistics, Founding Director of Judaic Studies, Drexel University
For more information about this book, please click here.
“The monograph “Intelligence and Security Challenges of European Migrant Crisis: An Insight into an Innovative Forecasting Model”, written by my respected colleagues Theodora Ivanuša, Dejan Dragan, Iztok Podbregar, Gašper Hribar, and Janez Žirovnik, resulted from their successfully conducted theoretical and empirical research on important and current topic: migrant crisis in Europe 2015 – 2016, with the emphasis on its security and intelligence aspects. A unique methodological approach to researching the phenomenon resulted in testing and presenting Innovative Forecasting Model, applicable in short-term and mid-term anticipation of occurrences and development of similar crises in the future.
“The reasons behind increased attention to illegal migration today in the world are not only implications of refugee waves on political, economic, and demographic situations for the transit and host countries of asylum seekers. Namely, in the masses of refugees and migrants, the presence of undercover terrorist and transnational criminal organizations is highly expected, that may affect the national security of the country they encounter with. Noticeable example of this claim is the peak of migrant crisis in 2015, when over one million persons from the Middle East arrived in the Member States of the European Union via transiting Balkan route from Turkey. Many asylum seekers who have entered the EU on the refugee wave, have been later identified as perpetrators or accomplices of terrorist acts done in several European cities.
In introductory chapter (pg. 1-44) the authors have provided a comprehensive overview of the background, causes, trends, features, including security and geopolitical consequences of European migrant crisis, on transit countries on the Balkan and Mediterranean route, as well as on the European Union and its Member States. In this regard, it was pointed out that the migrant crisis contributed to long-term breach of the values of the EU, weakening the internal cohesion and questioning the future of the European Union, boosting populism and xenophobia in many European countries, as well as worsening inter-state relations between fragile area of the Balkans.
Studying the activities of the intelligence institutions of European countries during the migrant crisis, the authors point out the lack of attentiveness, thus incompleteness and ineffectiveness of measures for the systematic collection of relevant data and information, mismatch between national databases, failure in applying corresponding methods of analyzing and modeling, therefore, the absence of an anticipating component. The monograph states that from the intelligence community in transit and reception countries it was not realistic to expect that these countries could keep the situation completely keep under control, given the lack of inter-state and multilateral cooperation, especially in terms of the possible political influence of the intelligence-security institutions, as well as the existence of different national interests in regards to this issue. In this context, the authors are questioning whether the migrant crisis imposed the need of establishing a new specific intelligence and counterintelligence methods?
Second chapter (pg. 45-122) offers the results of analysis of the migrant wave flow across Turkey and Greece into Europe during the period October 2015 to June 2016. For the purposes of research, conducted on the basis of statistical and other open source data, the authors have used a combined Monte Carlo Scenario-Playing Simulation-Based Mechanism, in addition to designing integrated ARIMA-Intervention Model. Researchers have, in the basic of ARIMA Model, added a component of intervention due to the fact that the European migrant crisis was greatly provoked and then stopped, by the unexpected effects of external factors.
In analyzing and modeling, daily frequencies of the movement of refugees on the Balkan route during 250 days of observations were tracked and recorded, periodic trends related to the activities of the network of human traffickers (approximately weekly cycles until February 2016), and effects of external factors; situation changing on the migrant route, after the signing of the EU-Turkey Agreement on March 20, 2016, sudden changes in policy of the participating countries towards migrants in the period before the Agreement (procedure stop-start), and other unexpected external events, in terms of its effect on the magnitude expression, i.e. increase and/or decrease of migrant wave intensity. All this have constituted a framework to the authors to generate future trends of situation development in similar circumstances, using the Monte Carlo Scenario-Playing Mechanism.
On the grounds of the results of analyzing and modeling, the readers and intelligence community in European countries, were presented with possibilities of applying the Innovative Forecasting Model – for the purpose of reaching a short-term and med-term anticipation of likelihood of the future migrant wave occurrence towards Europe, i.e. the establishment of an appropriate system of early warning. In this regard, it is important to point out that the quantitative modeling, testing of various generators of uncertainty and randomness, and predictive approach of this type by now was very rarely used in research related to security issues and terrorism battling.
The obtained results could be significantly important for the relevant institutions of the European Union and its Member States, as well as, for transit states, to plan appropriate measures of border protection, battling terrorism, and improvement of the asylum policy. Also, the proposed Innovative Forecasting Model can contribute to the improvement of the methodology of analyzing data within the intelligence community and be useful to researchers focused on security issues.
That being said, the monograph „Intelligence and Security Challenges of European Migrant Crisis: An Insight into an Innovative Forecasting Model” represents a valuable and innovative scientific achievement and its publication should be wholeheartedly supported.” – Dragan Trivan, PhD, Associate Professor, University “UNION – NIKOLA TESLA,” Belgrade, Serbia
For more information about this book, please click here.
“Dr. Beckford must be commended for this work in which scholars from English-Speaking Caribbean interrogate issues including energy sources, ethnicity and politics, climate change, the tourism industry, male academic underachievement, ecosystem management, among others. This text demands our attention because not only are these issues current and relevant and go to the very heart of the survival of these societies, they are dissected by some of the region’s most engaging minds.” – Livingston Smith, PhD, Professor, University College of the Cayman Islands
“This book provides a multidisciplinary look at some pressing Caribbean issues. The editor, and contributors are Caribbean experts and nationals whose authentic voices come through in their discussions. The Caribbean is an understudied region relatively speaking. This volume adds to the expanding literature about this fascinating and enigmatic world region. The perspectives presented in the ten chapters, will be of great interest to a wide cross-section of readers, both regionally and internationally. It is a timely discussion of aspects of contemporary Caribbean life and will be sought after by Caribbeanists. I look forward to using it in my own teaching and research.” – Dr. Donovan Campbell, Lecturer, Department of Geography and Geology, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
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“This book explains why the European debt crisis, which started in 2009, continues until today. It argues, among others, that national identity and the large cultural differences among the European countries, do not allow them to work together for the common good. Dr. Kallianiotis presents the historical background of the European Union and explains the causes of the European debt crisis. The debate about the European debt crisis is a very interesting one and this book is an important contribution to this debate, useful for all social scientists (economists, political scientists, historians, and others).” – Dr. Christos Pargianas, Associate Professor of Economics, Economics/Finance Department, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA
“European Union and its Debt Crises: Deception of Greeks offers a thought-provoking heterodox view on the modern-day economic and debt crises in Europe with an emphasis on its implications for the Greeks. As an academic economist who has a strong interest in history, I found this volume particularly interesting as it offers a serious account of most important historical developments that starting from the Holy Roman Empire led up to the formation, evolution, and modern-day peril of the European Union. This is definitely a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the topic and who is also open to new ideas and opinions.” – Dr. Aram Balagyozyan, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, Kania School of Management, The University of Scranton
“This book is an important contribution to the vast and growing literature on the debt crises that have been occurring in the European Union (EU), and especially in the Euro-Zone which represents the EU’s approximation to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Dr. Kallianiotis carefully and efficiently points out that what appears to be a singular debt crisis in the EU that has been in existence over the past several years is actually linked to several other crises, debt and otherwise, that have their basis not just in failure to recognize and understand basic concepts in economics and economic policy-making but, on a deeper level, in a lack of ethics and social responsibility. He pointedly and successfully argues that the various debt crises are tied to economic, financial, political, and social problems, issues, and inequities that the EU, the EMU, and the IMF all either ignored or took for granted. In that vein, his book makes valid, solid, and pertinent contributions to the political economy of the EU and the EMU and how the economic, political, and social systems in these organizations and their various institutions were tied together and how all were factors in the recent and current malaise that has inflicted and continues to inflict negative consequences on the citizens of the EU and EMU. I recommend his book highly for not just college and university courses related to international economics and finance, as well as the EU and EMU, but also for professionals who study and conduct research on the EU and EMU and all the consequences and issues and problems within each.” – Dr. Richard J. Torz, Associate Professor of Economics, St. Joseph’s College New York
“History helps the reader better understand the present and plan for the future. This book does just that. The author pays tremendous attention to historical detail. Economic analysis relates to public policy, calling attention to the potential that Greece would have sans EU and EMU. The last chapter draws worthy conclusions suggesting a strong position that needs to be taken for the country to thrive. This is the moment of truth for the author and his country. Readers will be enlightened by the plethora of examples of sovereign decisions making as parallels to use and abuse of corporate power for specific gain. The book can be used by economists and business educators as well as practitioners. I recommend this book to my colleagues, business contemporaries and students. Let us learn from the Greek experience.” – Cathyann D. Tully, Professor of Finance, Nicolais School of Business, Wagner College, NY, USA
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“The establishment of the euro area has been one of the most important events in the economic history of Europe. Almost 20-year lifetime of the Economic and Monetary Union leads to an in-depth reflection on the effects in practice of its mechanisms. Such reflection is found in this book, which is the result of the work of the international research team under the direction of Prof. Sławomir Bukowski. The book provides an original and valuable contribution to the researches and literature.
The starting point for analysis is characteristic of theoretical bases of functioning of Monetary Union and occurring within the adjustment mechanisms. Then in question is the issue of the functioning of the Monetary Union without fiscal Union, the ECB’s monetary policy and its consequences, and the importance of the process of real convergence of Member States ‘ economies. An important area of analysis are the problems of the European Banking Union, structural imbalances and the flow of capital in the euro area, as well as the financial market as a source of capital for companies.
The authors have presented the complex issues of monetary integration in such a way that allows the political and economic conditions and the implications of the monetary union in Europe to be understood by a wide range of readers.
This book can be an important reading not only for scientists, economists and students, but also for a wide range of people interested in the future of the European Union and especially euro area.” – Professor Leokadia Oręziak, Head of the Department of International Finance, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
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“A well reasoned and timely study on burning security issues and policies of countries in East and Southeast Asia by political realist and military strategist from the region. The analysis includes assessment of capabilities and potential of rising China, declining America, struggling but fragmented ASEAN, and binding India, Japan, and other regional sea powers.” – Professor Radomir Compel, Nagasaki University
“General Aminul Karim’s new study, Geopolitics of the South China Sea in the Coming Decades, comes on the heels of his earlier work, 21st Century High Politics in the Indo-Pacific and the Bay of Bengal, is an attempt to understand the complex and complicated security issues confronting the region. With his masterly grasp, unrivaled understanding of the geopolitical dynamic of the area, and his inimitable ability to view the problems from a practical perspective, General Karim has made an invaluable contribution to the subject. Anyone interested in the region and the threats that it portends will find this book quite invaluable.” – Professor Gowher Rizvi, Former Director, Ash Institute, Kennedy School, Harvard University, Author of South Asia in the New Global Order
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“Occurrences, Structure, Biosynthesis, and Health Benefits Based on Their Evidences of Medicinal Phytochemicals in Vegetables and Fruits” is the outcome of the editor’s imperative desire to bring the collective information on the health benefits and nutritional values of super foods. Diminutive effects of aging, loss of vision, arthritis, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson, cardiovascular functions and diabetic complications, physically and mentally debilitate the affected aged. However, consumption of health foods supports in reducing the complications of some disorders. Health foods are rich sources of antioxidants, vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Antioxidants shield DNA damage, caused by free radicles generated in the course of metabolism, through the scavenging activity of free radicles. In the series 6 authors focuses on antioxidant effects of phenolics and their biological activities besides known essential proteins, amino acids, fats, lipids, starch and fibers, important as nutritional supplements. The authors have justified in describing various aspects of health benefits in their reviews.
The first chapter narrated the health benefits of Adanosiana digatata (Baobab) native to Madagascar and Africa. The fruit pulp exhibited anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic activities. Furthermore, the authors described phytochemicals and medicinal applications present in Baobab. The fruits and leaves are rich source of vitamins and minerals. The polyphenols like tannins present in baobab protect in peroxidation and ROS defeating effects.
The second chapter described about vision decline, diabetic retinopathy, chronic oxidative stress, tissue hypoxia, hyperglycemia, inflammation, angiogenesis common among elderly population. Phytochemicals in health foods diminishes the progression of above mentioned complications. The authors enumerated dietary advantages of turmeric, saffron, cloves, ginger, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, dark grapes, green tea etc. The molecular mechanisms of action were also presented in detail.
The third chapter rated the health values of black sesame seeds. Besides, the putative effects of black pigment present in the black sesame seed were disclosed. The pigment diminished the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases.
The forth chapter illustrated how the violet anthocyanin in bilberry fruit protected the skin damage caused by solar UV radiation. The original observations of their clinical studies were described in detail.
The fifth chapter exemplified the health benefits of antioxidant activity associated with polyphenols. The different electrochemical methods used to evaluate the antioxidant activities of these polyphenols were presented. Some of these original observations were disclosed by the authors.
The book answers the question about what to eat to keep one healthy focusing on nutrient rich foods. Furthermore, the book inspires those who want to achieve energy and health through health foods. This book provides innovative approach in the selection of health foods. The book’s true value is its abundant information content making it a good reference for researchers.” – Rao Gollapudi, Ph.D., Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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“This book is an important contribution to the current knowledge on corn and coconut oil, covering important topics such as use, chemical characteristics, health benefits and antioxidant properties of corn, which are less known by the scientific community and by people around the world. Its aspects are rigorously presented, well-argued and based on relevant literature. The correlation between chemical composition, properties and applications is well-balanced and focused on relevant aspects such as antioxidants, microbiology, technology and health. The book is based on studies carried out by scientists from all over the world and may be very useful to students, PhD students, researchers and teachers.” – Professor Jose Antonio de Saja, University of Valladolid, Spain
This book is a valuable information source about Corn and Coconut Oil, providing a comprehensive and timely overview of the current state of knowledge of the main uses and applications, nutritional properties and health benefits of Corn and Coconut Oil. This book covers the biological, chemical and technical basis of the technology as well as the latest up-to-date research, and production advances. All of this makes this book a must-have read for students, researchers, industry and users alike.” – Professor Jesús Lozano, University of Extremadura, Spain
ˮThis book provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art for scientists and students interested in Corn and Coconut oil. Biological, chemical and technological issues are well addressed and extensively reviewed. Most chapters present interesting general introduction to their particular topic that make the book very useful for researchers dedicated to other oils and plant parts. The book is useful to students, PhD students, researchers and faculty and every library should have a copy.” – Paula C. Castilho, Associate Professor, Chemistry department, Madeira University, Portugal
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“This book presents important and useful insights pertaining to organic food marketing. In a market where both consumer interest in as well as confusion about these products is high, this book provides perspectives and guidance to scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and consumers on how to make more informed decisions and, consequently, enhanced choices about organic foods. This compilation of views weaves together the divergent and sometimes competing themes that exist about these products such as despite consumer beliefs that organic foods are better for them, consumers also dismiss as marketing hype the information on organic food labels. The result of this book’s assembling of organic food marketing viewpoints is an interesting, compelling, and needed synthesis of this divergent topical area.” – Les Carlson and Nathan J. Gold, Distinguished Professorship in Marketing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
“This book offers an expansive primer into the growing and rapidly evolving world of organic food production, marketing and consumption. It presents a cross-cultural, multi-method view of various issues facing the organic food market, including labeling issues, willingness-to-pay and market trends. It offers a broad introduction with valuable practical recommendations that would be of use to students and practitioners alike.” – Lucy Atkinson, Associate Professor, Stan Richards School of Advertising, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
For more information about this book, please click here.