Surfactant research explores the forces responsible for surfactant assembly and the critical industrial, medical, and personal applications, including viscosity control, microelectronics, drug stabilization, drug delivery, cosmetics, enhanced oil recovery, and foods. Surfactant Science and Technology: Retrospects and Prospects, "a Festschrift in honor of Dr. Kash Mittal," provides a broad perspective with chapters contributed by leaders in the fields of surfactant-based physical, organic, and materials chemistries. Many of the authors participated in a special symposium in Melbourne, Australia, honoring Kash Mittal’s 100th edited book at the 18th Surfactants in Solution (SIS) meeting. Each chapter provides an overview of a specific research area, with discussions on past, present, and future directions. The book is divided into six parts. Part I reviews the evolution of theoretical models for surfactant self-assembly, and introduces a model for interpreting ion-specific effects on aggregate properties. Part II focuses on interactions of surfactant solutions with solid supports; uses contact angles to understand hydrophobic/hydrophilic changes in a lipid layer; uses surface tension to understand molecular arrangements at interfaces; reviews spreading phenomena; discusses pattern formation on solid surfaces; and applies tensiometry to probe flavor components of espresso. Part III discusses novel DNA-based materials, multifunctional poly(amino acid)s–based graft polymers for drug delivery, and polymeric surfactants for stabilizing suspensions and emulsions. Part IV introduces farm-based biosurfactants from natural products and "greener" biosurfactants from bacteria. Part V explores lyotropic liquid crystals and their applications in triggered drug release; microemulsion properties and controlled drug release; the role of hydrotopes in formulations and in enhancing solubilization in liquid crystals; the potential of ionic liquids to generate tunable and selective reaction media; and provides an overview of stimuli-responsive surfactants. Focusing on emulsions, Part VI reviews the design of emulsion properties for various commercial applications, the role of surfactants in the oil and gas industries, and surfactant mechanisms for soil removal via microemulsions and emulsification.

Reforming the African Public Sector: Retrospect and Prospectsis an in-depth and wide-ranging review of the available literature on African public sector reforms. It illustrates several differing country experiences to buttress the main observations and conclusions. It adopts a structural/institutional approach which underpins most of the reform efforts on the continent. To contextualize reform of the public sector and understand its processes, dynamics and intricacies, the book examines the state and state capacity building in Africa, especially when there can be no state without an efficient public sector. In addition, the book addresses a number of theories such as the new institutional economics, public choice and new public management, which have in one way or another influenced most of the initiatives implemented under public sector reform in Africa. There is also a survey of the three phases of public sector reform which have emerged and the balance sheet of reform strategies, namely, decentralization, privatization, deregulation, agencification, co-production and public-private partnerships. It concludes by identifying possible alternative approaches such as developing a vigorous public sector ethos and sustained capacity building to promote and enhance the renewal and reconstruction of the African public sector within the context of the New Partnerships for Africa's Development (NEPAD), good governance and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This book assembles 11 of the leading thinkers and researchers in the field of family psychology to create a compendium summarizing both what psychology researchers have learned about the family and where the field should be going next. It evolved after the volume's contributors met with other distinguished family scholars to discuss family influences on child development and to ponder how this knowledge could be used to benefit families and children. This volume includes approaches to the family that feature multiple levels and topics of focal interest to benefit anyone interested in the family. Central topics include mothering, fathering, marriages, family group processes, sibling relations, and families as systems. In addition, three senior authors offer road maps to detect, and suggest (a) challenges in research on parenting, (b) marital and family dynamics, and (c) family systems in the years ahead. In keeping with the theme of how research affects the lives of families outside the university lab settings, this volume includes a chapter on the interface between family research and law. This book closes with a "big picture" analysis and critique of what is known and not known. Psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists, and public policymakers interested in the family should especially find this volume of interest.

In recent times Biblical archaeology has been heavily criticised by some camp who maintain that it has little to offer Near Eastern archaeology. However, some scholars carry on the fight to change people's views and this collection of essays continues the trend towards reassessing and reemphasising the link between the Bible and archaeology.