In 1984 physicists discovered a monster in the world of crystallography, a structure that appeared to contain five-fold symmetry axes, which cannot exist in strictly periodic structures. Such quasi-periodic structures became known as quasicrystals. A previously formulated theory in terms of higher dimensional space groups was applied to them and new alloy phases were prepared which exhibited the properties expected from this model more closely. Thus many of the early controversies were dissolved. In 2011, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to Dan Shechtman for the discovery of quasicrystals. This primer provides a descriptive approach to the subject for those coming to it for the first time. The various practical, experimental, and theoretical topics are dealt with in an accessible style. The book is completed by problem sets and there is a computer program that generates a Penrose lattice.

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what goes right in life, from birth to death and at all stops in between. It is a newly-christened approach within psychology that takes seriously the examination of that which makes life most worth living. Everyone's life has peaks and valleys, and positive psychology does not deny the valleys. Its signature premise is more nuanced, but nonetheless important: what is good about life is as genuine as what is bad and, therefore, deserves equal attention from psychologists. Positive psychology as an explicit perspective has existed only since 1998, but enough relevant theory and research now exist to fill a textbook suitable for a semester-long college course. A Primer in Positive Psychology is thoroughly grounded in scientific research and covers major topics of concern to the field: positive experiences such as pleasure and flow; positive traits such as character strengths, values, and talents; and the social institutions that enable these subjects as well as what recent research might contribute to this knowledge. Every chapter contains exercises that illustrate positive psychology, a glossary, suggestions of articles and books for further reading, and lists of films, websites, and popular songs that embody chapter themes. A comprehensive overview of positive psychology by one of the acknowledged leaders in the field, this textbook provides students with a thorough introduction to an important area of psychology.

What is ethics? Where does it come from? Can we really hope to find any rational way of deciding how we ought to live? If we can, what would it be like, and how are we going to know when we have found it? To capture the essentials of what we know about the origins and nature of ethics, Peter Singer has drawn on anthropology, evolution, game theory, and works of fiction, in addition to the classic moral philosophy of such thinkers as Nietzsche, Kant, and Confucius. By choosing some of the finest pieces of writing, old and new, in and about ethics, he conveys the intellectual excitement of the search for answers to basic questions about how we ought to live. From the debates of Socrates and the profound writing of Rousseau to Jane Goodall's reflections on the ethics of chimpanzee kinship and Luther's commentary on the Sixth Commandment (thou shalt not kill), this engaging reader offers a complete and thorough introduction to the fascinating world of ethical debate.

Spontaneous 'resting-state' fluctuations in neuronal activity offer insights into the inherent organisation of the human brain, and may provide markers for diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to investigate intrinsic functional connectivity networks, which are identified based on similarities in the signal measured from different regions. From data acquisition to results interpretation, An Introduction to Resting State fMRI Functional Connectivity discusses a wide range of approaches without expecting previous knowledge of the reader, making it truly accessible to readers from a broad range of backgrounds. Supplemented with online examples to enable the reader to obtain hands-on experience working with data, the text also provides details to enhance learning for those already experienced in the field. The Oxford Neuroimaging Primers are written for new researchers or advanced undergraduates in neuroimaging to provide a thorough understanding of the ways in which neuroimaging data can be analysed and interpreted. Aimed at students without a background in mathematics or physics, this book is also important reading for those familiar with task fMRI but new to the field of resting state fMRI.

The book serves as a first introduction to computer programming of scientific applications, using the high-level Python language. The exposition is example and problem-oriented, where the applications are taken from mathematics, numerical calculus, statistics, physics, biology and finance. The book teaches "Matlab-style" and procedural programming as well as object-oriented programming. High school mathematics is a required background and it is advantageous to study classical and numerical one-variable calculus in parallel with reading this book. Besides learning how to program computers, the reader will also learn how to solve mathematical problems, arising in various branches of science and engineering, with the aid of numerical methods and programming. By blending programming, mathematics and scientific applications, the book lays a solid foundation for practicing computational science. From the reviews: Langtangen ... does an excellent job of introducing programming as a set of skills in problem solving. He guides the reader into thinking properly about producing program logic and data structures for modeling real-world problems using objects and functions and embracing the object-oriented paradigm. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. F. H. Wild III, Choice, Vol. 47 (8), April 2010 Those of us who have learned scientific programming in Python ‘on the streets’ could be a little jealous of students who have the opportunity to take a course out of Langtangen’s Primer.” John D. Cook, The Mathematical Association of America, September 2011 This book goes through Python in particular, and programming in general, via tasks that scientists will likely perform. It contains valuable information for students new to scientific computing and would be the perfect bridge between an introduction to programming and an advanced course on numerical methods or computational science. Alex Small, IEEE, CiSE Vol. 14 (2), March /April 2012 “This fourth edition is a wonderful, inclusive textbook that covers pretty much everything one needs to know to go from zero to fairly sophisticated scientific programming in Python...” Joan Horvath, Computing Reviews, March 2015

'I congratulate the authors for encompassing the four main branches of spectroscopy favoured by organic chemists in just 75 pages... At £6.99, this might become the compulsory text for my spectroscopic modules. If it does, all my carefully crafted hand-outs, all my well-honed problems and examples may have to go in the bin. Buy it!' Alan Dronsfield in Education in Chemistry, Sep. 2001This Primer covers the foundations of spectroscopy at a level suitable for first year chemistry undergraduates. Mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction, along with traditional spectroscopic techniques : i.r., n.m.r., and u.v. -visible spectroscopy are covered. The essential physical principles of each method are introduced, many examples of spectral analysis are provided, and some problems; further reading and practice is strongly encouraged.

A knowledge of spectroscopic methods is required to interpret the shape and structure of compounds - this informative book concentrates on their application to inorganic compounds. The emphasis is placed on obtaining and interpreting the data rather than concentrating on the theory. To this end, examples are given in the text and worked through to show the processes involved in assigning spectra and obtaining information from them. This essential text for all undergraduate chemists will also benefit postgraduate students researching in the field of inorganic chemistry.

Advanced school students and beginning undergraduates will find this book a readable and stimulating summary of the fundamentals of organic chemistry. The first three chapters introduce some basic physical chemistry, and lay the groundwork for the mechanistic organic chemistry covered later in the book. The importance of bonding and mechanism are stressed throughout, and students are encouraged to apply their chemical knowledge in new and unfamiliar situations in order to develop and sustain their interest. A wide range of examples including natural products and pharmaceuticals is included, with the final chapter exploring some new developments and providing an introduction to current research.