"The Valhalla Protocol" is a thrilling science fiction novel that blends ancient Norse mythology with cutting-edge technology. When archaeologist Sarah Reeves uncovers an alien artifact in Antarctica, she's thrust into a world-spanning conspiracy that challenges everything we know about human history. As Sarah and her team race against time to decipher the secrets of the mysterious Valhalla Protocol, they must confront powerful enemies and forge unlikely alliances. With pulse-pounding action, mind-bending scientific concepts, and a deep dive into Norse legends, this book offers a unique twist on the alien contact genre. Readers will be captivated by the seamless integration of mythology and science, as Sarah unravels the truth about humanity's place in the cosmos. "The Valhalla Protocol" is a must-read for fans of Dan Brown, Arthur C. Clarke, and anyone who loves a good conspiracy theory with a sci-fi edge.

For fans of James Rollins and Matthew Reilly comes a heart-stopping, globe-spanning adventure in Andy McDermott’s explosive series featuring American archaeologist Nina Wilde and ex-SAS bodyguard Eddie Chase. MYSTERIOUS RUNESTONES. AN ANCIENT VIKING MYTH. AND A PROPHECY OF LIFE OR DEATH. In a Stockholm museum, thieves steal an enormous Norse runestone, but not before killing a security guard. When Nina Wilde, head of the International Heritage Agency (IHA), and her husband, ex-mercenary Eddie Chase, arrive to investigate, they are told a chilling story: A scholar has discovered that the stone may be one of two keys to finding the mythological site of Valhalla, where the Vikings predicted the world’s final battle would begin. The second stone lies at the bottom of a Norwegian lake. But when Nina and Eddie race to the scene, they’re hit with a shocking surprise. Covert agents from around the world, including a ruthless mole in the IHA, are drawn into a lethal game, . Then a disturbing secret surfaces from Eddie’s past, involving a mission in Vietnam and a woman he tried to save. Suddenly suspicious of her own husband, Nina cannot afford to stop the perilous search for the artifact. For somewhere in a remote wilderness, two forces are about to converge: one that could save the world . . . and one that could destroy it. Praise for the novels of Andy McDermott “Raises the bar to please adventure junkies who prefer to mainline their action.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review), on The Hunt for Atlantis “A fun, action-filled James Bond/Indiana Jones-esque story.”—Geek Speak Magazine, on Return to Atlantis “Adventure stories don’t get much more epic than this.”—Daily Mirror (U.K.)

Move over Jason Bourne. Here from Andy McDermott, the New York Times bestselling author who “raises the bar to please adventure junkies who prefer to mainline their action” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), is the high-octane start to a new series starring American agent Adam Gray. Filled with intrigue, adventure, and non-stop action, The Shadow Protocol is perfect for fans of Robert Ludlum and James Rollins. NO ONE CAN KNOW HIM. NO ONE SHOULD TRUST HIM. AND AMERICA WON’T SURVIVE WITHOUT HIM. Adam Gray is a cipher, a disciplined loner conditioned not to betray a single emotion. Part of an elite team spearheaded by a brilliant neuroscientist, Gray is a covert agent armed with PERSONA, a device that allows him to copy the brain patterns of the terrorists and operatives he meets in the field. For twenty-four hours he can recall their memories. He can know every detail of their plans. He can be America’s worst enemy—before he’s back to being Adam Gray again. Now Gray and his team are racing to stop a plot to release a radioactive isotope that could kill millions. And in a nerve-racking clandestine meeting, Gray senses that his cover is cracked and that the mission—not to mention his life—may be in grave danger. But as they fight this violent conspiracy around the globe, another threat has emerged. This one has the perfect cover, the most unlikely double agent, and the most terrifying power of all. For a beautiful young scientist has discovered an unforeseen weakness in PERSONA: Adam Gray’s own past. Praise for the novels of Andy McDermott “[McDermott] raises the bar . . . nonstop high-octane action.”—Publishers Weekly “Easily competes with the works of Dan Brown and James Rollins.”—Bookgasm “True Indiana Jones stuff with terrific pace.”—The Bookseller “Adventure stories don’t get much more epic than this.”—Daily Mirror (U.K.) “A writer of rare, almost cinematic talent. Where others’ action scenes limp along unconvincingly, his explode off the page in Technicolor.”—Daily Express (Scotland)

This practical resource is grounded in a simple but powerful premise: that school-based coaching programs can be designed in a way that more directly impacts student achievement. In a student-centered coaching relationship, the focus is on using data and student work to drive conversations between coaches and teachers to make informed decisions about instruction. In other words, coaches and teachers work collaboratively to support students. The book also underscores the critical role of the principal in developing systems and structures to support teacher learning and fostering a culture of learning. The book is suitable for use with both new and experienced coaches and the principals who support them.

For fans of James Rollins and Matthew Reilly comes a gripping, globe-spanning adventure in Andy McDermott’s thrilling series featuring American archaeologist Nina Wilde and ex-SAS bodyguard Eddie Chase. History’s most sought after treasure is now mankind’s worst fear. In Los Angeles, a desperate man seeks out renowned archaeologist Nina Wilde and her husband, ex–SAS soldier Eddie Chase—only to be gunned down in front of them. The assassin is soon identified as a ninety-year-old Nazi war criminal—with the body of a healthy forty-year-old. Following the victim’s final warnings, Nina and Eddie travel to Cairo to inspect the newly discovered tomb of Alexander the Great. But the real find is hidden in one of its treasures—a mechanical guide leading to one of antiquity’s most tantalizing myths: a spring of water said to give eternal life to those who drink it. Nina, Eddie, and a team of Mossad agents realize that the myth is real, and that a group of former SS men who have tasted this water are now hunting for its source. But before they can act, Nina is kidnapped and spirited away to a secret Nazi enclave in Argentina, igniting a fierce, fateful, globe-spanning struggle in which her life hangs in the balance. All the while a terrifying possibility emerges—that the world’s darkest evil could live on forever. Praise for the novels of Andy McDermott “Raises the bar to please adventure junkies who prefer to mainline their action.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review), on The Hunt for Atlantis “A fun, action-filled James Bond/Indiana Jones–esque story.”—Geek Speak Magazine, on Return to Atlantis “Adventure stories don’t get much more epic than this.”—Daily Mirror (U.K.) Praise for Kingdom of Darkness “When it comes to archaeological adventure thrillers, I’m not sure that there’s anyone writing in the genre today who is stronger, smarter, or more consistent than Andy McDermott. His Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series is like a mixture of Indiana Jones, James Bond, Dirk Pitt, and Jack Bauer. . . . Kingdom of Darkness is smart, clever, and exciting stuff. . . . If you’re looking for a solid archaeological adventure that is as committed to the history as to the thrills, then this is definitely worth a read.”—Beauty in Ruins “Nonstop, relentless extreme action . . . [McDermott’s] thrillers have become increasingly accomplished, confident and rounded. The characters of Nina and Eddie are so well developed they appear almost to have a life of their own and their story has become arguably the most important aspect of the books. The plots are always exciting, pacey and gobsmacking [and] the runaway train action is matched by heart, with many laugh-out-loud lines as well as other scenes of devastating sadness or cruelty. What a fantastic series!”—For Winter Nights “As ever, Andy McDermott mixes high-action car chases, gun battles and mysterious quests, then shakes them well to provide an explosive cocktail. A breakneck running battle on a speeding train is an absolute classic, reminiscent of Bond films at their best.”—Crime Review “An excellent thriller, exhausting, laugh-out-loud funny and gobsmackingly heartbreaking. If you like high octane thrillers then you cannot miss this book.”—Parmenion Books

The dentate gyrus is a part of the brain that has been a topic of intense interest since the beginning of neuroscience, and pioneering studies from the distant and recent past attest to this. One of the reasons for such interest is that this structure provides some of the most remarkable examples of plasticity within the nervous system. In addition, it is critical to normal cognitive function, although exactly how and when is still a question that eludes answers. Furthermore, abnormalities within the dentate gyrus appear to play a role in diverse clinical conditions, from depression to epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. The primary goal of this book is to provide a context, or background, upon which the detailed knowledge of the current era can be appreciated. A series of overviews are provided to clarify essentials related to structural organization and development, cellular components, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, plasticity, and clinical relevance. * Covers the topic comprehensively from anatomy to cellular and systems perspectives* Includes basic research and addresses translational implications, so it will be useful to both researchers in the laboratory and clinicians who conduct experiments in humans* Chapters provide fundamentals, but also details and ample references for further review of the topic

Learn to set up the latest CentOS Linux network services including DNS, DHCP, SSH and VNC, Web, FTP, Mail, Firewall, and LDAP, enabling you to provide these services on your own network. CentOS continues to be a popular Linux distribution choice, and setting up your own services is a key skill for anyone maintaining a CentOS network. You will learn how to install CentOS, and manage basic administration. You’ll then move onto understanding networking, and how to set up your required services. Each chapter is written in an easy-to-digest format and teaches you how set up, manage, and troubleshoot each service. You’ll be running your own network in no time at all. What You Will Learn Install and set up the latest version of CentOS Configure and manage a wide range of network services Solve problems remotely and manage your network efficiently Who This Book Is For Anyone who wants to learn how to set up and manage CentOS Linux network services. Some previous Linux experience is beneficial, but this book is designed to be used by beginners.

Understand the nitty-gritty of Cybersecurity with ease Key FeaturesAlign your security knowledge with industry leading concepts and toolsAcquire required skills and certifications to survive the ever changing market needsLearn from industry experts to analyse, implement, and maintain a robust environmentBook Description It's not a secret that there is a huge talent gap in the cybersecurity industry. Everyone is talking about it including the prestigious Forbes Magazine, Tech Republic, CSO Online, DarkReading, and SC Magazine, among many others. Additionally, Fortune CEO's like Satya Nadella, McAfee's CEO Chris Young, Cisco's CIO Colin Seward along with organizations like ISSA, research firms like Gartner too shine light on it from time to time. This book put together all the possible information with regards to cybersecurity, why you should choose it, the need for cyber security and how can you be part of it and fill the cybersecurity talent gap bit by bit. Starting with the essential understanding of security and its needs, we will move to security domain changes and how artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping to secure systems. Later, this book will walk you through all the skills and tools that everyone who wants to work as security personal need to be aware of. Then, this book will teach readers how to think like an attacker and explore some advanced security methodologies. Lastly, this book will deep dive into how to build practice labs, explore real-world use cases and get acquainted with various cybersecurity certifications. By the end of this book, readers will be well-versed with the security domain and will be capable of making the right choices in the cybersecurity field. What you will learnGet an overview of what cybersecurity is and learn about the various faces of cybersecurity as well as identify domain that suits you bestPlan your transition into cybersecurity in an efficient and effective wayLearn how to build upon your existing skills and experience in order to prepare for your career in cybersecurityWho this book is for This book is targeted to any IT professional who is looking to venture in to the world cyber attacks and threats. Anyone with some understanding or IT infrastructure workflow will benefit from this book. Cybersecurity experts interested in enhancing their skill set will also find this book useful.

Two people participating in the same events, yet on opposite sides, give an engrossing view of a struggle which engulfed a large community in northern Westchester County in New York State. It became the longest teachers strike in New York State's history. Even though they are personal memoirs, both authors try to give as full a picture of the personalities, institutions, and issues driving the struggle as each experienced it. The narrative is in two parts, side by side, and event by event. Both are impressionistic accounts that do not claim to be objective. Dr. Leon Bock's account is the viewpoint of a leader of a major institution, the Lakeland School District. In representing the district he had the heavy responsibility to merge the interests of students and parents, faculty, the taxpaying community, and the Board of Education. Mr. Thomas Kavunedus, a faculty member, served as a negotiator for the Lakeland Federation of Teachers. He saw his responsibilities as extending to the promotion of learning and teaching environment which would foster excellence. The contract with the school district, which Mr. Kavunedus had participated in promulgating years earlier, was a major step in raising teachers out of the dark ages of coffee in the boiler room, and hopefully greater professionalism. Both authors disagree with one another on many of the issues. Most of these issues bedevil our schools today. Yet, there is enough civility to recognize that partisanship need not be so all engulfing that it demonizes the other side and its objectives. No narrative of such a complex event can be totally accurate and objective. The authors try to focus on the interpersonal relationships, rather than serve as a textbook history of this series of complex events. There is no intention to discredit, or malign any of the personalities in the narrative; rather they are presented as the writers experienced them under conditions of stress.