Hess - Böcker

Heavy atoms and their compounds are important in many areas ofmodern technology. Their versatility in the reactions they undergois the reason that they can be found in most homogeneous andheterogeneous catalysts. Their magnetism is the decisive propertythat qualifies them as materials for modern storage devices.The phenomena observed in compounds of heavy atoms such asphosphorescence, magnetism or the tendency for high valency inchemical reactions can to a large extent be traced back torelativistic effects in their electronic structure. Thus, in manyaspects relativistic effects dominate the physics and chemistry ofheavy atoms and their compounds. Chemists are usually aware of these phenomena, however, the theorybehind them is not part of the standard chemistry curriculum andthus not widely known among experimentalists. Whilst therelativistic quantum theory of electronic structure is wellestablished in physics, applications of the theory to chemicalsystems and materials have been feasible only in the last decadeand their practical applications in connection with chemicalexperiment is somewhat out of sight of modern theoretical physics. Relativistic Effects in Heavy Element Chemistry and Physicsintends to bridge the gap between chemistry and physics on the onehand and between theory and experiment on the other. Topics covered include: A broad range from quantum electrodynamics to the phenomenology ofthe compounds of heavy and superheavy elementsA state-of-the-art survey of the most important theoreticaldevelopments and applications in the field of relativistic effectsin heavy-element chemistry and physics in the last decadeSpecial emphasis on the work of researchers in Europe and Germanyin the framework of research programmes of the European ScienceFoundation and the German Science Foundation

In 1984 the Getty Museum acquired a collection of Italian Renaissance majolica, or tin-glazed earthenware. This volume catalogues this collection of 45 objects spanning 400 years, including a pair of 18th-century candlesticks representing mythological scenes and a tabletop with hunting scenes.

Students and scholars of the Italian Renaissance easily fall under the spell of its achievements: its self-confident humanism, its groundbreaking scientific innovations, its ravishing artistic production. Yet many of the developments in Italian ceramics and glass were made possible by Italy's proximity to the Islamic world. The Arts of Fire underscores how central the Islamic influence was on this luxury art of the Italian Renaissance. Published to coincide with an exhibition at the Getty Museum on view from May 4 to August 5, 2004, The Arts of Fire demonstrates how many of the techniques of glass and ceramic production and ornamentation were first developed in the Islamic East between the eighth and twelfth centuries. These techniques - enamel and gilding on glass and tin-glaze and lustre on ceramics - produced brilliant and colourful decoration that was a source of awe and admiration, transforming these crafts, for the first time, into works of art and true luxury commodities. Essays by Catherine Hess, George Saliba, and Linda Komaroff demonstrate early modern Europe's debts to the Islamic world and help us better understand the interrelationships of cultures over time.

Engineering registration is accelerating at a pace unequalled since institution of registration laws in the 1920s and 1930s. This phenomenon is not due to an easing of entrance require­ ments, since only vestiges of "grand fathering" and eminence exist in most states. Nor is it due to a lessening in the difficulty of the registration examinations. In fact, it is generally agreed that the Engineering Fundamentals Examination has significantly increased in difficulty over the last fifteen years. Why then the increased interest in registration among practicing engineers? Historically the professional engineer has been in private practice offering consulting services directly to the public. Registration laws were passed to protect the public from incompetent, untrained practioners in any engineering area. However, the registration laws go beyond estab­ lishing an individual's credentials. One reason for the new interest in engineering registration is the proliferation of new activity areas such as pollution control and energy conservation where the public is keenly aware of and insistent upon quality technological inputs.