Based on comparative surveys, the author presents a study of social transformation in Central and Eastern Europe after 1989. Focusing on Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Slovakia, the author provides information relating to social structure, mobility, inequality, lifestyle and economic stratification. Applying the Erikson-Goldthorpe classification of class positions, Domanski effectively presents fully comparable data to enable political comparisons to be made with other countries, especially those with firmly established free market economies. As such, "On the Verge of Convergence" seeks to provide a clearer understanding of the on-going process of social transformation within developing capitalist societies.

How the Church can recover her original, apostolic ways and become a high-impact Jesus movement again in the West. The church is on the verge of massive, category shifting, change. Contemporary church growth, despite its many blessings, has failed to stem the decline of Christianity in the West, and we are now facing the fact that more of the same will not produce different results. We are already seeing this new form of the church emerge in our day—an apostolic, reproducing Movement that's driven by a desire to see Biblical Christianity reestablished. Alan Hirsch and Dave Ferguson call this the "apostolic movement" because it's more resonant with the form of church that we witness in the New Testament and in the great missional movements of history. And we are on the verge of a new apostolic movement... In this book, Christian thought-leaders Hirsch and Ferguson share a rich array of theology, theory, and best practices, along with inspiring stories about leaders who have rightly diagnosed their churches' failure to embrace a biblical model of mission and have moved toward a fuller expression of the gospel. On the Verge will help church leaders: Imagine the contemporary Church from the apostolic perspective—how we got from there to here. Shift our mindset from technique (how to "do church") to embodiment (how to live as Christ's Church) Learn how to value, approach, and understand innovation. Move whole-heartedly toward the apostolic, missional movement. Many of the best and brightest leaders in the contemporary church are now making shifts in the way they think, lead, and organize. On the Verge will help church leaders discover how these forerunners and their insights are launching a new apostolic movement?and how any church can get involved.

For almost four decades, Theories of Human Communication has offered readers an engaging and informative guide to the rich array of theories that influence our understanding of communication. The first edition broke new ground with its comprehensive discussion of theorizing by communication scholars. Since that time, the field has expanded tremendously from a small cluster of explanations and relatively unconnected theories to a huge body of work from numerous traditions or communities of scholarship. The tenth edition covers both classic and recent theories created by communication scholars and informed by scholars in other fields. Littlejohn and Foss organize communication theory around two intersecting elementscontexts and theoretical traditionsand emphasize the connections, trajectories, and relationships among the theories. They provide clear, accessible explanations that synthesize without oversimplifying. Their extensive use of examples presents theorizing as a natural process and invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and to become active participants in continuing the conversation. In addition to the authors lucid explanations of theories, the text includes From the Source boxes in which the theorists share their perspectives on communication. The extensive bibliography (almost 1,200 entries) and chapter citations are invaluable resources for more in-depth study.

A comprehensive and thorough analysis of concepts and results on uniform convergence Counterexamples on Uniform Convergence: Sequences, Series, Functions, and Integrals presents counterexamples to false statements typically found within the study of mathematical analysis and calculus, all of which are related to uniform convergence. The book includes the convergence of sequences, series and families of functions, and proper and improper integrals depending on a parameter. The exposition is restricted to the main definitions and theorems in order to explore different versions (wrong and correct) of the fundamental concepts and results. The goal of the book is threefold. First, the authors provide a brief survey and discussion of principal results of the theory of uniform convergence in real analysis. Second, the book aims to help readers master the presented concepts and theorems, which are traditionally challenging and are sources of misunderstanding and confusion. Finally, this book illustrates how important mathematical tools such as counterexamples can be used in different situations. The features of the book include: An overview of important concepts and theorems on uniform convergence Well-organized coverage of the majority of the topics on uniform convergence studied in analysis courses An original approach to the analysis of important results on uniform convergence based\ on counterexamples Additional exercises at varying levels of complexity for each topic covered in the book A supplementary Instructor’s Solutions Manual containing complete solutions to all exercises, which is available via a companion website Counterexamples on Uniform Convergence: Sequences, Series, Functions, and Integrals is an appropriate reference and/or supplementary reading for upper-undergraduate and graduate-level courses in mathematical analysis and advanced calculus for students majoring in mathematics, engineering, and other sciences. The book is also a valuable resource for instructors teaching mathematical analysis and calculus. ANDREI BOURCHTEIN, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Pelotas State University in Brazil. The author of more than 100 referred articles and five books, his research interests include numerical analysis, computational fluid dynamics, numerical weather prediction, and real analysis. Dr. Andrei Bourchtein received his PhD in Mathematics and Physics from the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia. LUDMILA BOURCHTEIN, PhD, is Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics at Pelotas State University in Brazil. The author of more than 80 referred articles and three books, her research interests include real and complex analysis, conformal mappings, and numerical analysis. Dr. Ludmila Bourchtein received her PhD in Mathematics from Saint Petersburg State University in Russia.

Dieser Leitfaden der Telekommunikationsdienste führt die Diskussion von Computernetzen und von Telekommunikationsnetzen erstmals zusammen. - gesammelt und systematisiert wurden vielfältige Informationen, die bislang nur verstreut in Zeitschriften, Spezifikationen und Standardunterlagen zu finden waren - bespricht die neuesten Technologien (JAIN, JTAPI, Parlay, IP, Multimedia-Networking, Active Networks, WAP, drahtlose LANs, agentenbasierte Dienste usw.) - praxisorientierter Ansatz; erklärt wird die Technologie nicht um ihrer selbst willen, sondern stets im Zusammenhang mit den entsprechenden Diensten - Beiträge von Autoren aus der universitären Forschung und der Industrie (Marconi, BT, Telcordia, Cisco, Analysys), Mischung aus theoretischen und praktischen Beiträgen

Today, a hurricane is forming, and businesses are headed straight into it. This hurricane is arising from the convergence of several enormous trends in information technology, including cloud, mobility, Software as a Service, and Big Data. In Inflection Point, Scott Stawski shows how to harness these fierce winds of change, put them at your back, and sail towards greater competitiveness and customer value. Stawski explains the strategic implications of today’s new technology paradigms, helping you reshape strategy to embrace and profit from them. You’ll discover how technology and other factors are driving a radical new round of disintermediation, reintermediation, and disruption–and what that means to you and your company. Stawski shows how to go beyond inadequate incremental improvements, dramatically reducing IT spend and virtually eliminating IT capital expenditures. One meaningful step at a time, you’ll learn how to transform Operational IT into both a utility and a true business enabler, bringing new speed, flexibility, and focus to what really matters: your true core competencies. BUILD A CONTINUAL TRANSFORMATION ENVIRONMENT THAT’S READY FOR ANYTHING Focus on high-value core competencies, not fixed assets or unchanging processes CONSUME IT THE WAY YOU CONSUME ELECTRICITY Stop running data centers, buying software, and managing applications–forever! LEVERAGE THE CLOUD’S SIMPLICITY WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OR SECURITY Use standards and governance to maximize cloud benefits with minimal risk HARNESS THE PRECIOUS ASSET YOU MUST ALWAYS KEEP CLOSE: DATA Build data-centric operations to deliver the right knowledge, right now, wherever it’s needed

Who are we? What is our place in this vast and ever-evolving universe? Where do science and spirituality meet? If you’ve pondered these questions, you’re not alone. Join some of the most spiritually curious and renowned minds of our time for an exploration into the mystery of being. From founders of the Science and Nonduality (SAND) conference, Maurizio and Zaya Benazzo, On the Mystery of Being brings together an array of visionary spiritual leaders, psychologists, philosophers, scientists, teachers, authors, and healers to celebrate and explore what it means to be human. This beautifully arranged collection of essays and insights highlight topics on the convergence of spirituality and science, weaving scientific theory and spiritual wisdom from some of the most influential thinkers of our time—including Deepak Chopra, Rupert Spira, Adyashanti, and many more—with pieces that get straight to the heart of the matter. As a powerful antidote to our chaotic and materialist modern world, this dazzling volume offers timeless wisdom and new insight into humanity’s age-old questions. On the Mystery of Being also reveals the cutting-edge explorations at the intersection of science and spirituality today. May it encourage your spirit, challenge your mind, and deepen your understanding of our interconnectedness.

The recent multilingual turn involves various different implicit and explicit language policies, urging pressure and resistance with regard to the spread of English and its dominant relationships with other national languages. As such, this book considers the social value of communication as the basis of multilingualism and of the evolution of language systems. The data presented here show English as being in the middle of the double “listening” of cultural mediation and the imperfect “magnifying” glass of translation, with worldwide Standard English being but one of the many other related varieties which enjoy prestige on a large scale. These varieties may be identified according to different features which make the plural “world Englishes” an umbrella term with blurred edges. New approaches to dialects study have been developed in recent decades, and cartographic mapping has overlapped with the emergence of a new dialectology which deals with the description of language phenomena as complex concepts, where “complexity” provides a challenging framework for investigation and research of languages as dynamic systems made up of variables which mutually influence each other. Thus, dialectometry, dialectology and standardization become interesting tools for measuring linguistic differences, establishing language typologies and endorsing the systemic characteristics which can be formalized. Comprehensive and well-informed, this volume will appeal to anyone interested in the spread of English, from researchers and teachers to students, providing them with a greater understanding of some examples of world Englishes analysed under the light of complexity as a product of global society.

Physiology of the Eye, Fourth Edition reviews major advances in the physiology of the eye, including improvements in photochemical and electrophysiological techniques. In particular, the successful application of modern microelectrode techniques to the recording of activity at all stages in the visual pathway is considered. This edition is organized into four sections encompassing 23 chapters and begins with an overview of the anatomy of the eye and its vegetative physiology and biochemistry, paying particular attention to the aqueous humor and the intraocular pressure, the vitreous body, the cornea, and the lens. The discussion then shifts to the mechanism of vision, including its photochemical aspects and muscular mechanisms, and the neurophysiology of visual perception. Advances in electrophysiology of the receptors, and of the central nervous pathways of vision and eye movement, are examined along with the remarkable developments in separative techniques of the lens crystallins and the biochemical aspects of lens transparency. This book is a valuable resource for students and researchers in fields ranging from ocular science to physiology and biochemistry.