Michael A. Smith - Böcker

The book is designed for those readers who have had previous experience of a high-level block-structured programming language; that is, all undergraduate and Higher National students who have studied the basic programming unit on any computing, engineering or science course. It is assumed that the student knows the principles or programming and the use of basic programming constructs and data types and the book concentrates on the structure of object-oriented software and the use of C++ facilities. The text approaches C++ as a language in its own right, rather than as a development of C. The text concentrates on the object-oriented features of the language and utilizes the mechanisms of C++ which allow the user to avoid having to use low-level features. Where such features are used they are encapsulated in a class to hide the complexity from the user. There are many examples and cases to illustrate the techniques of object-oriented design methods. Also, the book deals with a number of C++ compilers and the software has been tested on all of them.

Originating under the leadership of the late Burdett Loomis, Reform and Reaction tells the complex story of recent Kansas politics, beginning in the 1960s and concluding with the reversal of Governor Sam Brownback’s red-state policies in the 2016 and 2018 elections. The Kansas that emerged from the reapportionment decisions and the overhaul of state government in the 1960s and 1970s was one that found itself in a push-and-pull, reform-and-reaction pattern the authors refer to as the arc of Kansas politics.Reform-minded and policy-oriented politicians who tended toward a moderate, bipartisan approach pushed to modernize the state to better serve the needs of its citizens, following the maxim of Governor Robert Docking: “austere but adequate.” Because this approach avoided or rejected the narrow conservative interests of culture warriors, reformist administrations were followed by reactionary administrations that advanced a right-wing agenda. Brownback thus brought the era of “austere but adequate” to an abrupt end when he won the governorship in 2010. When voters became tired of this approach, a new set of reform politicians were elected—and so the arc continues.The only book tracing changes in Kansas government since the 1960s, including the loss of moderates in both parties, the Brownback era, and its aftermath, Reform and Reaction is the last book by the celebrated political scientist Burdett Loomis, who conceived the idea for the book and authored one of its chapters before his passing.Reform and Reaction not only illuminates the political history of Kansas but also sheds light on what may be in store for the future of the Sunflower State.

Multimodal Video Characterization and Summarization is a valuable research tool for both professionals and academicians working in the video field.This book describes the methodology for using multimodal audio, image, and text technology to characterize video content. This new and groundbreaking science has led to many advances in video understanding, such as the development of a video summary. Applications and methodology for creating video summaries are described, as well as user-studies for evaluation and testing.

Intensive look at restrictive new voting laws ostensibly designed to target voter fraud but criticized as being racially-based voter suppression.Since 2003, several US states have passed new laws that complicate the process of voter registration and voting. Framed as controls on voter fraud, the laws have spawned controversy in both the courts and public opinion, the latter falling along a sharp partisan divide. Much Sound and Fury, or the New Jim Crow? offers a scholarly analysis, not of the intent but rather the impact of these laws. Beginning with a historical overview of the expanding and contracting right to vote, particularly regarding its impact on African Americans, subsequent chapters use quantitative analysis to analyze the impact of identification requirement laws, proof-of-citizenship requirements, felony disenfranchisement, and gerrymandering. Before 2020, the impact of the laws leaned slightly negative but was mixed. More recent developments, however, point to a far more alarming implication-widespread belief in factually-baseless allegations of fraud, which undermines Americans' trust and faith in our constitutional democracy; these allegations reached a crescendo in 2021 as a violent mob seized the US Capitol. The book concludes with an afterword on the 2020 elections and their aftermath.

Intensive look at restrictive new voting laws ostensibly designed to target voter fraud but criticized as being racially-based voter suppression.Since 2003, several US states have passed new laws that complicate the process of voter registration and voting. Framed as controls on voter fraud, the laws have spawned controversy in both the courts and public opinion, the latter falling along a sharp partisan divide. Much Sound and Fury, or the New Jim Crow? offers a scholarly analysis, not of the intent but rather the impact of these laws. Beginning with a historical overview of the expanding and contracting right to vote, particularly regarding its impact on African Americans, subsequent chapters use quantitative analysis to analyze the impact of identification requirement laws, proof-of-citizenship requirements, felony disenfranchisement, and gerrymandering. Before 2020, the impact of the laws leaned slightly negative but was mixed. More recent developments, however, point to a far more alarming implication-widespread belief in factually-baseless allegations of fraud, which undermines Americans' trust and faith in our constitutional democracy; these allegations reached a crescendo in 2021 as a violent mob seized the US Capitol. The book concludes with an afterword on the 2020 elections and their aftermath.

Multimodal Video Characterization and Summarization is a valuable research tool for both professionals and academicians working in the video field.This book describes the methodology for using multimodal audio, image, and text technology to characterize video content. This new and groundbreaking science has led to many advances in video understanding, such as the development of a video summary. Applications and methodology for creating video summaries are described, as well as user-studies for evaluation and testing.

One of the most common questions Dr. Michael A. Smith hears from people is: "I eat a pretty healthy diet. Do I really need to take supplements?" His answer is always a resounding "Yes!" And there is a very good reason. In THE SUPPLEMENT PYRAMID, Dr. Smith covers the many reasons why even the healthiest diets fall short in terms of supplying the optimal amount of nutrients we need not just to survive, but, also, to thrive. However, with such a staggering amount of choices on the market, it's easy to become overwhelmed. That's where THE SUPPLEMENT PYRAMID enters the picture.Like traditional food pyramids that help us design and follow a healthy diet, THE SUPPLEMENT PYRAMID is an educational tool that can be personalised to meet anyone's specific nutritional needs. With its three-tiered plan-foundational, personalisation and optimisation levels-THE SUPPLEMENT PYRAMID helps readers design a nutritional regime that meets their unique needs. Step-by-step instructions and detailed medical quizzes, along with useful information about blood testing, help readers determine the most important nutritional supplements for their bodies-and this becomes an ideal personalised menu from which to choose.Knowing which supplements to take is only half the battle. Purchasing high-quality nutritional supplements in essential for success and, therefore, Dr. Smith covers all of the information readers need to know to be sure they are making the best investment in their health. Written in easy-to-understand language and providing a wealth of vital information, THE SUPPLEMENT PYRAMID will put all the questions to rest so we can each move toward an optimal personalised supplement regime.

Coiled beneath discarded trash or rocky slabs, basking along river edges, and tucked into rock cuts beside the highway, reptiles and amphibians constantly surround us. While many people go out of their way to avoid snakes or shudder at the thought of touching a toad, herpers take to the field armed with cameras, hooks, and notebooks hoping to come across a horned lizard, green tree frog, or even a diamondback rattlesnake.In Herping Texas: The Quest for Reptiles and Amphibians, Michael Smith and Clint King, expert naturalists and field herpers, take readers on their adventures across the state as they search for favorite herps and rare finds. Organized by ecoregion, Herping Texas describes some of the state's most spectacular natural places, from Big Bend to the Big Thicket. Each chapter contains photographs of the various snakes, lizards, toads, and turtles Smith and King have encountered on their trips.Part nature travel writing and part guide to field herping, Herping Texas also includes a section on getting started, where the authors give readers necessary background on best field herping practices. A glossary defines herping lingo and scientific terms for newcomers, and an appendix lists threatened and endangered species at the state and federal level.Herping Texas promotes experiencing natural places and wildlife equipped with solid information and a responsible conservation ethic. Throughout their decades tracking herps, Smith and King have collected humorous anecdotes and fascinating facts about reptiles and amphibians. By sharing those, they hope to dispel some of the stigma and false ideas people have about these misunderstood animals.

Whether they're considered cool or creepy, reptiles and amphibians spark curiosity in most people who come across them. This introductory guide-the book that author Michael A. Smith says he 'would have wanted at age thirteen or fourteen'-offers an educational and inspirational starting point to discovering reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats.The Wild Lives of Reptiles and Amphibians introduces readers to the exciting native species they can observe on a family nature trip or a walk through the local park. Smith takes readers through creeks, rivers, and bottomland forests and across woods, deserts, and plains, profiling the herps to be found along the way with vivid photographs and helpful descriptions. Species included focus on the variety of herps found in the field - such as the American bullfrog, the eel-like amphiuma, the western diamond-backed rattlesnake, and the ornate box turtle - instead of the typical zoo species. Along the way, readers learn about the lifecycle of a frog, the secret to slithering, and how a turtle is able to pull its head completely into its shell. Within these stories, readers learn how herps hunt, move, defend themselves, find mates, and adapt to the places in which they live.For readers who are ready to take the next step, tips are given on where and how to find these animals and whether to approach them, pick them up, or admire them from a distance as well as notes on exploring safely and responsibly.

There are a few remaining wild places in Texas, notes author and nature educator Michael A. Smith, and exposure to these locales—from the high deserts and mountains of the Big Bend to the prairies and grasslands across the center of the state and the Piney Woods and Big Thicket of East Texas—can be restorative, both emotionally and physically. In this thoughtful tour of Texas ecoregions, Smith—also a licensed psychological associate—weaves perceptive prose, prompts, and meditations with evocative nature photography by Meghan Cassidy to create a guide for readers that promotes both greater appreciation of Texas nature and greater mindfulness of our place in the natural environment and its holistic importance to our wellbeing. Mindfulness in Texas Nature briefly explores the history of seven Texas ecoregions and discusses the benefits to health and wellbeing that are gained by spending time in nature. Written for readers who may not have a technical background in biology but who want to understand and experience nature at a deeper level, this book models mindfulness—experiencing oneself and surroundings in a fully-present, attuned, and nonjudgmental way—as an ideal practice for experiencing the woods, mountains, or wetlands of Texas. Illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs of woodlands, prairies, streams, flowers, and animals, Mindfulness in Texas Nature encourages readers to experience for themselves what makes these places special, how to get the most out of the time spent there, and how to plan meaningful visits to the many beautiful and significant natural areas across Texas.

Sam Brownback was the first modern-day conservative to be elected governor of Kansas, the culmination of a rightward shift in the state's often-dominant Republican Party. This book is a detailed case study of the policies implemented over his two terms as governor, paying particular attention to the impact on state government and services, the economy, public education, and the business environment. The authors provide extensive background, historical evidence, and detailed references. The book's real-world relevance is grounded in a discussion of similar policies in other states as well as the US federal government.