springer nature nov 2015 (414 risultati)

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book contains a history of real and complex analysis in the nineteenth century, from the work of Lagrange and Fourier to the origins of set theory and the modern foundations of analysis. It studies the works of many contributors including Gauss, Cauchy, Riemann, and Weierstrass.This book is unique owing to the treatment of real and complex analysis as overlapping, inter-related subjects, in keeping with how they were seen at the time. It is suitable as a course in the history of mathematics for students who have studied an introductory course in analysis, and will enrich any course in undergraduate real or complex analysis.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 368 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Dragon V2 is a futuristic vehicle that not only provides a means for NASA to transport its astronauts to the orbiting outpost but also advances SpaceX¿s core objective of reusability. A direct descendant of Dragon, Dragon V2 can be retrieved, refurbished and re-launched. It is a spacecraft with the potential to completely revolutionize the economics of an industry where equipment costing hundreds of millions of dollars is routinely discarded after a single use. It was presented by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in May 2014 as the spaceship that will carry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station as soon as 2016.SpaceX¿s Dragon ¿ Americäs Next Generation Spacecraft describes the extraordinary feats of engineering and human achievement that have placed this revolutionary spacecraft at the forefront of the launch industry and positioned it as the precursor for ultimately transporting humans to Mars. It describes the design and development of Dragon, provides mission highlights of the first six Commercial Resupply Missions, and explains how Musk hopes to eventually colonize Mars.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 208 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This unique volume by two renowned astrophotographers unveils the science and history behind 100 of the most significant astronomical images of all time. The authors have carefully selected their list of images from across time and technology to bring to the reader the most relevant photographic images spanning all eras of modern astronomical history. Based on scientific evidence today we have a basic notion of how Earth and the universe came to be. The road to this knowledge was paved with 175 years of astronomical images acquired by the coupling of two revolutionary technologies ¿ the camera and telescope. With ingenuity and determination humankind would quickly embrace these technologies to tell the story of the cosmos and unravel its mysteries. This book presents in pictures and words a photographic chronology of our aspiration to understand the universe. From the first fledgling attempts to photograph the Moon, planets, and stars to the marvels of orbiting observatories that record the cosmos at energies beyond the range of human vision, astronomers have always relied on images to 'break through' to the next level of understanding. A subset of these breakthrough images has profound significance in documenting some of the greatest milestones in modern astronomy.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 188 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book provides an introduction to the basic ideas and tools used in mathematical analysis. It is a hybrid cross between an advanced calculus and a more advanced analysis text and covers topics in both real and complex variables. Considerable space is given to developing Riemann integration theory in higher dimensions, including a rigorous treatment of Fubini's theorem, polar coordinates and the divergence theorem. These are used in the final chapter to derive Cauchy's formula, which is then applied to prove some of the basic properties of analytic functions.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 232 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book focuses on the Interkosmos program, whichwas formed in 1967, marking a fundamentally new era of cooperation by socialist countries, led by theSoviet Union,in the study and exploration of space. Thechapters shed light on the space program that was at that time a prime outlet forthe Soviet Union's aims at becoming a world power.Interkosmoswas a highly publicized Russian space programthat rapidly became a significant propaganda tool for the SovietUnion in the waning years of communism. Billed as an international¿research-cosmonaut¿ imperative, it was also a high-profile means ofdisplaying solidarity with the nine participating Eastern bloc countries.Those countries contributed pilots who were trained in Moscow forweek-long ¿guest¿ missions on orbiting Salyut stations. They did a littlesubsidiary science and were permitted only the most basic mechanicalmaneuvers.In this enthralling new book, and following extensive internationalresearch, the authors fully explore the background, accomplishmentsand political legacy of the Interkosmos program. Through personal andoften highly revealing interviews with many of the participants theyrelate the very human story behind this extraordinary but controversialspace venture.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 336 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book provides a systematic elaboration of Chinese Private International Law, reveals the general techniques concerning conflict of laws in China, explains the detailed Chinese conflict rules for different areas of law, and demonstrates how international civil litigation is pursued in China. Clearly structured and written by a native Chinese scholar specializing in the field, the book¿s easy-to-read style makes it accessible to a broad readership, while its content makes it a useful reference guide, especially for jurists and researchers.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 204 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Thisbook systematically presents a collection of entities, syndromes, and diseases that are diagnosed and treated by plastic surgeons, hand surgeons, otolaryngologists, oral surgeons, and dermatologists. The goal is to document an extensive array of signs and visual clues that are critical to the diagnostic process, thereby enhancing the clinician¿s ability to identify relevant diagnostic features and make correct diagnoses. Skill in recognizing deformities and disease processes by observation is of vital importance in plastic surgery, which is very much a visual surgical specialty. In drawing together key diagnostic signs, thisbook will spare readers the onerous task of searching through endless resources, books, and websites. A helpful appendix details the various classification systems used in thebook with the aid of appropriate diagrams. Clinical Diagnosis in Plastic Surgery is intended for students, residents, practicing physicians, and surgeons in all of the affiliated fields of plastic surgery.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 168 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book describes and illustrates the radiological findings that are characteristic of Crohn¿s disease and correlates these appearances with clinical and surgical findings in order to assist the reader in implementing an appropriate diagnostic approach in this complex disease, which often differs from patient to patient. All of the modern imaging modalities and techniques are covered, including ultrasound, multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and combinations of MDCT and MRI with enteroclysis and enterography. The current value of X-ray and the role of endoscopy are also examined. Care is taken to cover specific patient groups, including pediatric patients, those with perianal disease or anal fistulas, and patients who have undergone surgery. In addition to surgical approaches, including minimally invasive options, other new therapies are discussed. The book will be invaluable for diagnostic radiologists, gastroenterologists, and surgeons.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 188 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book introduces readers to the most advanced research results on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) with multiple patterning lithography (MPL) and electron beam lithography (EBL).The authors describe in detail a set of algorithms/methodologies to resolve issues in modern design for manufacturability problems with advanced lithography.Unlike books that discuss DFM from the product level or physical manufacturing level, this book describes DFM solutions from a circuit design level, such that most of the critical problems can be formulated and solved through combinatorial algorithms.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 176 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book presents multilingualism as a social phenomenon, which arises when speakers of a different language move to a new society and learn to speak the dominant language of the society. It offers case studies of Hokkien migrating families when they encounter new languages in Burma, Macao and San Francisco, showing how a family changes across generations from monolingual to bilingual/multilingual and back to monolingual. In the process language shift occurs as a result of transitional bilingualism. The dynamic status of Hokkien is also attested at the societal level in Singapore, Taiwan and south Fujian, the homeland of Hokkien.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 124 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Using survey data collected from 382 Chinese police officers training in a Chinese police university, this research is the first empirical study to describe Chinese police perceptions of subcultural topics, including the role of crime fighting and community service, cynicism, isolation, solidarity, receptivity to change and traditionalism. This book describes the research method adopted in this study and the findings together with comparisons with Western police cultural studies. In addition, it covers an extensive review of Chinese policing history and evolution of policing strategies, and a review of police subcultural themes and their potential determinants on the basis of Western studies, making it both beneficial and of interest for researchers and practitioners who would like to know more about contemporary policing in China. This book provides readers with insights into a little-investigated area of policing ¿ the perceptions of Chinese frontline police. It also makes it easy tocompare the similarities and differences between police perceptions in China and the West.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 204 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book presents an experimental simulation of sewage treatment, which is designed to evaluate the environmental and social-economic impacts of integrated sewage treatment policies. The author puts forward a comprehensive linear optimization simulation model that takes the environmental, energy and economic systems into consideration. Beijing was selected as a typical Chinese city for the purposes of simulation, and the comprehensive model employed realistically reflects the specific and unique characteristics of Beijing¿s social economy and environmental status. Given the importance of sewage treatment and the accurate assessment of its impacts, the book will be of interest to researchers and scholars of environmental economics.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 108 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book is a collection of work by migration scholars and researchers who are actively conducting fieldwork in Southeast Asia. It presents a wide variety of current research and approaches the field of international labor migration from a regional perspective, acknowledging that the migration process goes beyond local and national boundaries and is embedded in regional and global interconnections. The chapters capture the complexity and richness of the migration phenomenon and experience, which manifests itself in a multitude of ways in a region well known for its diversity. The collection highlights the continuities and discontinuities in the linkages that have been forged through the movement of people between sending and receiving societies. Such linkages are explained by distinguishing between migration that has been sustained by a colonial past and migration that has been precipitated by globalization in the last two decades. The diversity of issues in the region covered by this volume willencourage a rethink of some of the conventional views of migration scholarship and result in a more critical reflection of how we approach migration research.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 224 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -The book explores, for India and other developing countries, the potential role the organized manufacturing sector could play as an engine of growth.Alongside growth, can this sector generate adequate employment opportunities to facilitate the transfer of labour from the agriculture sector The book identifies the major constraints that result in limited demand for labour in the organised manufacturing sector.Beyond technological aspects, skill shortage is an important factor, resulting in sluggish labour absorption.Further, the labour market laws are not necessarily the root cause of sluggish employment growth in the organised manufacturing sector. The development of technologies that are appropriate for labour surplus countries like India is instrumental to employment creation.Though innovation is generally assumed to be capital-intensive in nature, the book argues that innovation nevertheless has a positive effect on employment in absolute terms.Lastly, the main policy issues are highlighted in terms ofthe priority that should be assigned to industries which can contribute to employment growth and skill formation for improving the employability of the available labour force, and to which innovations should bepursued, with a specific focus on pro-poor growth objectives.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 104 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book provides a systematic elaboration of Chinese Private International Law, reveals the general techniques concerning conflict of laws in China, explains the detailed Chinese conflict rules for different areas of law, and demonstrates how international civil litigation is pursued in China. Clearly structured and written by a native Chinese scholar specializing in the field, the book¿s easy-to-read style makes it accessible to a broad readership, while its content makes it a useful reference guide, especially for jurists and researchers.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 204 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book is an empirical study on the relationship between private enterprises, entrepreneurs and the government in P. R. China. The two authors conducted a detailed survey of enterprises and entrepreneurs in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Although it was only conducted in a medium sized city, the survey provides a rare source of information on matched entrepreneur-enterprise pairs. It provides detailed information on management, performance, enterprise-government relationship, as well as entrepreneurs' personal information and measurements of various psychological parameters. With this first-hand information, the authors analyzed several interesting issues concerning enterprise-entrepreneur-government relationships. Readers will gain an understanding of the following topics:Why and how does China have such special enterprise-entrepreneur-government relationships Do enterprises' political connections in the form of entrepreneurs' political status help improve the performances of these enterprises Which of the surveyed entrepreneurs could become members of the People's Congress and the People's Political Consulting Conference How do entrepreneurs feel when they are faced with greater government intervention How will China move ahead in the ongoing reform and development in the light of the enterprise-entrepreneur-government relationship This book examines the way in which China's enterprise-entrepreneur-government relationship helps enterprises develop in a transitional market. In the appendix to this book, one of the authors, Ming Lu, provides evidence, based on data from listed companies, that having political connections can help enterprises enter the markets of provinces other than their place of registration. However, this political connection also distorts the market by giving the entrepreneurs more opportunities to develop their business. At the same time, those entrepreneurs who face interventions from the government also shoulder greater costs in the form of loss of psychological happiness. The inference of this book is that at some point in the foreseeable future, China will gradually build its market system and integrate its domestic markets, sothat private enterprises will no longer rely so heavily on their political connections.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 176 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book brings together diverse perspectives from the newest generation of scholars from Canada and China to better understand China in the 21st century. It examines China's socio-political structure, its particular relationship with Canada, and interaction with the international community; and discusses how to overcome the ideological differences between the two countries to establish positive and sustainable Canada-China bilateral relations for the future. Importantly, the perspectives are from young authors, with a different relationship to China (and Canada) than more established authors. This compilation helps breathe new life into the study of Sino-Canada relations from both countries, and to reassess and re-frame issues related to China in the 21st century.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 292 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed papers of the 4th National Conference of Social Media Processing, SMP 2015, held in Guangzhou, China, in November 2015.The 14 revised full papers and 9 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 105 submissions. The papers address issues such as: mining social media and applications; natural language processing; data mining; information retrieval; emergent social media processing problems.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 256 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book focuses on the creation and development of polymeric platforms(different compositions) from a specific polymer system. This system can be used as an adaptive technique for producing sensitive analytical devicesor for simple integration intoexisting bioanalytical tools in order to enhance the detection signal.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 68 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Written by experts in the field, this book is based on recent research findings in dynamic spectrum access for cognitive radio networks. It establishes a game-theoretic framework and presents cutting-edge technologies for distributed interference coordination. With game-theoretic formulation and the designed distributed learning algorithms, it provides insights into the interactions between multiple decision-makers and the converging stable states. Researchers, scientists and engineers in the field of cognitive radio networks will benefit from the book, which provides valuable information, useful methods and practical algorithms for use in emerging 5G wireless communication.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 108 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed selected papers on the 4th Cyber Security and Privacy Innovation Forum, CSP Forum 2015, held in Brussels, Belgium, in April 2015.The 12 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from various submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections such as security and privacy in the cloud; security and privacy technologies; risk and trust; research and innovation in cyber security and privacy.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 168 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book reviews a number of spectacular advances that have been made in the study of supersymmetric quantum field theories in the last few years. Highlights include exact calculations of Wilson loop expectation values, and highly nontrivial quantitative checks of the long-standing electric-magnetic duality conjecturesThe book starts with an introductory article presenting a survey of recent advances, aimed at a wide audience with a background and interest in theoretical physics. The following articles are written for advanced students and researchers in quantum field theory, string theory and mathematical physics, our goal being to familiarize these readers with the forefront of current research.The topics covered include recent advances in the classification and vacuum structure of large families of N=2 supersymmetric field theories, followed by an extensive discussion of the localisation method, one of the most powerful tools for exact studies of supersymmetric field theories. The quantities that have been studied in this way are partition functions, expectation values of line operators, and supersymmetric indices.The book also reviews recently discovered connections between SUSY field theories in four dimensions and two-dimensional conformal field theory. These connections have a counterpart in relations between three-dimensional gauge theories and Chern-Simons theory; the book¿s closing chapters explore connections with string theory.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 476 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book describes new approaches to fabricate complementary organic electronics and focuses on the design of circuits and practical systems created using these manufacturing approaches. The authors describe two state-of-the-art, complementary organic technologies, characteristics and modeling of their transistors and their capability to implement circuits and systems on foil. Readers will benefit from the valuable overview of the challenges and opportunities that these extremely innovative technologies provide.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 144 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book presents theoretical and methodical discussions on local knowledge and indigenous knowledge. It examines educational attainment of ethnic minorities, race and politics in educational systems, and the problem of losing indigenous knowledge. It comprises a broad range of case studies about specifics of local knowledge from several regions of the world, reflecting the interdependence of norms, tradition, ethnic and cultural identities, and knowledge. The contributors explore gaps between knowledge and agency, address questions of the social distribution of knowledge, consider its relation to communal activities, and inquire into the relation and intersection of knowledge assemblages at local, national, and global scales. The book highlights the relevance of local and indigenous knowledge and discusses implications for educational and developmental politics. It provides ideas and a cross-disciplinary scientific background for scholars, students, and professionals including NGO activists, and policy-makers.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 316 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book provides in-depth information on clusterbean, its cultivation, genetic improvement, plant protection measures, management of abiotic stresses, molecular aspects etc. It is divided into seven chapters including an introduction to the crop, prospects, constraints, genetic improvement, variability, application of clusterbean gum and its byproducts, cultivation, plant protection, physiological and abiotic stress aspects, along with related genetic markers and biotechnological advances.Clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.), commonly known as ¿guar,¿ is an important leguminous crop grown for seed, green fodder, vegetable and green manuring in arid and semi-arid regions and has a special commercial role due to the gum content in its seeds. Indiäs arid environment provides ideal agro-climatic conditions for the successful cultivation of clusterbean, as the plant needs little surface water, long-duration sunshine and low relative humidity during the cropping season. India accounts for nearly 82 percent of global clusterbean seed production, making it an important export product.Based on essential industry and market data, the book offers a comprehensive overview of this unique crop, and will be of interest to researchers active in the field of clusterbean breeding.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 168 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This brief highlights advances in DNA technologies and their wider applications. DNA is the source of life and has been studied since a generation, but very little is known as yet. Several sophisticated technologies of the current era have laid their foundations on the principle of DNA based mechanisms. DNA based technologies are bringing a new revolution of Advanced Science and Technology. Forensic Investigation, Medical Diagnosis, Paternity Disputes, Individual Identity, Health insurance, Motor Insurance have incorporated the DNA testing and profiling technologies for settling the issues.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 152 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book presents the results of the Interdisciplinary Research Group 'Society ¿ Water ¿ Technology' of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.It describes interdisciplinary evaluation criteria for major water engineering projects(MWEPs)and portrays an application to the Lower Jordan Valley (Middle East) and the Fergana Valley (Central Asia). Both areas are characterised by transboundary conflicts, by challenges due to demographic and climate change and by political and societal pressures. Based on the findings, the book provides recommendations for science and political decisions makers as well as for international financing institutions. In addition, it outlines research gaps from an interdisciplinary perspective.In the past, MWEPs have been used as an instrument to cope with the demands of growing populations and to enhance development progress. Experiences with MWEPs have shown that a purely technical approach has not always brought about thedesired results. In many cases, MWEPs have even resulted in negative implications for society and environment. Therefore, improved management strategies and enhanced technologies for a sustainable water resource management system are a prerequisite to meet present and future challenges. And, moreover, the continuous evaluation and optimisation of these measures is, likewise, a must.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 316 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book introduces a new way of analyzing, measuring and thinking about mega-risks, a ¿paradigm shift¿ that moves from single-solutions to multiple competitive solutions and strategies. ¿Robust simulation¿ is a statistical approach that demonstrates future risk through simulation of a suite of possible answers.To arrive at this point, the book systematically walks through the historical statistical methods for evaluating risks. The first chapters deal with three theories of probability and statistics that have been dominant in the 20th century, along with key mathematical issues and dilemmas.The book then introduces ¿robust simulation¿ which solves the problem of measuring the stability of simulated losses, incorporates outliers, and simulates future risk through a suite of possible answers and stochastic modeling of unknown variables.This book discusses various analytical methods for utilizing divergent solutions in making pragmatic financial and risk-mitigation decisions.The book emphasizes the importance of flexibility and attempts to demonstrate that alternative credible approaches are helpful and required in understanding a great many phenomena.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 188 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This book examines how epistemology was reinvented byIbn S¿n¿, an influential philosopher-scientist of the classical Islamic world who was known to the West by the Latinised name Avicenna. It explains his theory of knowledge in which intentionality acts as an interaction between the mind and the world. This, in turn, led Ibn S¿n¿ to distinguish an operation of intentionality specific to the generation of numbers.The author argues that Ibn S¿n¿¿s transformation of philosophy is one of the major stages in the de-hellinisation movement of the Greek heritage that was set off by the advent of the Arabic-Islamic civilisation. Readers first learn about Ibn S¿n¿¿s unprecedented investigation into the concept of the number and his criticism of such Greek thought as Platös realism, Pythagoreans¿ empiricism, and Aristotle¿s conception of existence.Next, coverage sets out the basics of Ibn S¿n¿¿s theory of knowledge needed for the construction of numbers. It describes how intentionality turns out to be key in showing the ontological dependence of numbers as well as even more critical to their construction.In describing the various mental operations that make mathematical objects intentional entities, Ibn S¿n¿ developed powerful arguments and subtle analyses to show us the extent our mental life depends on intentionality. This monograph thoroughly explores the epistemic dimension of this concept, which, the author believes, can also explain the actual genesis and evolution of mathematics by the human mind.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 88 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This unique book explores school improvement policy ¿ from its translation into national contexts and school networks to its implementation in leader and teacher practices in individual schools and classrooms within this network of schools and its impact on students¿ learning. It draws on multiple conceptual and theoretical resources to explore the complexities attached to a school improvement process in a network of schools in Australia. These conceptual and theoretical resources include discourse, practice, representation and network, concepts common to both policy research as well as studies of leadership and classroom practice. They lead to a more detailed understanding of the intersections between educational policy and intervention processes, and the complex reality of school processes and teaching practices. In the book we trace the implementation of school improvement policies through its multiple phases, levels and contexts. Our data-collection and analysis methods draw on a variety of perspectives in the way different players perceive their roles and the nature of the initiative and the ways in which these intersect. The research findings are used to seek productive approaches to school improvement that combine policy integrity with local flexibility. The book contributes to the school improvement literature through its exploration of tensions between global and systemic settings and local practices and histories.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 160 pp. Englisch.