Cheating Time: Science, Sex, and Aging

Book Description

The quest to prolong our youth has spurred numerous quack remedies and fraudulent claims. It has also inspired serious research efforts, where new technologies and crossdisciplinary investigations are starting to pry loose the secrets of the aging process. Researchers have recently announced that people may soon be able to live to be 150, or more.

In Cheating Time, acclaimed researcher Roger Gosden tells us what scientists have learned so far, particularly about the role of hormones in aging. Focusing on the link (and possible tradeoffs) between longevity and reproductive capacity, Gosden combines fascinating theories and findings with engaging anecdotes of life on the frontlines of this compelling area of scientific inquiry. He offers good reasons to be optimistic. While no one is patenting eternal youth just yet, science has made astonishing gains in understanding how we can live longer lives in better health. 12 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting.......2002-04-24

This book provides a non-technical overview of the role that sex hormones play in aging. The title led me to think that the book would address the entire field of aging; however, it mostly focuses on the relation of sex hormones to aging. The first five chapters actually do summarize the general subject of the science of aging, but the information contained in these chapters is covered in more detail in other books (see Steven Austadýs 1997 book, for instance). However, starting with chapter 6, Gosden hones his focus more specifically on the sex hormones and how they affect aging. He presents the story of the discovery of the sex hormones, starting with investigations by Brown-Séquard in 1889. In the remaining chapters, Gosden interweaves the history of sex hormones with recent discoveries about how they affect aging. The book is written for general audiences, so there are no in-text citations, although Gosden provides a chapter-by-chapter list of suggested readings at the end.

Book Description

Computational Geomechanics:

introduces the full theory of dynamic and static behaviour of porous media and shows how computation can predict the deformations of a structure, subject to an earthquake or consolidation.
introduces the use of numerical, finite element procedures for soil and rock mechanics problems which has increased rapidly throughout the last decade.
provides a comprehensive survey of major, constitutive models, which can simulate soil behaviour rationally.
explains practical procedures based on computational experience for real projects with particular emphasis on earthquake engineering.

Static problems which occupy a particular area of dynamics can also be solved by identical methods, making the book relevant to all researchers and engineers concerned with geomechanics. Earthquake Engineering is stressed throughout as it is in this field that the most difficult examples arise; however, other applications are also noted.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent text but cost too much.......2001-03-29

This is a good book in geomechanics, co-authored by pioneers like Pastor, Chan, Schrefler. The materials presented are very dense and compact, and is a good reference for researchers. However, as a poor researcher myself, I think it cost too much. I wonder why they never intend to publish it in paperback. An exploitation to researchers pocket, indeed, if they dont mind me saying so.

BTW,.... That will make your book famous. It is inappropriate to use Zienkiewicz name to sell yourself.

An open response to your questions.......2000-01-06

The audience of Amazon.com appears to be very large. Just in past two days, the dialogue between me and the reader from West Virginia USA has been seen by several thousand people around the globe. Many seem to have a few questions in common: What makes this book a definitive piece of work? Why did I stick in my own book here? Zienkiewicz is world known; was I trying to tag along? Have I gotten rich by doing so? May I please take a minute to explain my side?

I truly believe that to really understand the Zienkiewicz' book, you have to read my book. The reason is this. The two books are expressions of one talent--Zenon Mroz of Warsaw, Poland--a leading authority in constitutive modeling.

Zenon Mroz came to Virginia Tech as a visiting professor in 1984, then in 1987, and again in 1990. He delivered inspiring sermons on plasticity theory. I combined his wisdom with the work of American giants--D.C. Drucker, R.A. Schapery, K.C. Valanis and others.

Earlier, Zenon Mroz had graced the Department of Civil Enginering at the University of Wales, Swansea, headed by Zienkiewicz. The book Computational Geomechanics is again the result of seeds sown by Mroz at Swansea. The book extensively refers to the works of Mroz, just as mine does. Do you now see the connection between the two books?

"Computational Geomechanics" is a step in the direction of definitive works. Zienkiewicz has followed an American philosophy throughout his career: "Integrate and rule." And in this book he seems to be saying, "Hey you all! bring your models and test them in my backyard." There are weak-links in the book which you cannot unravel until you understand Zenon Mroz, R.A. Schapery and K.C. Valanis.

I am working on a commentary on the book, a portion of which I hope to incorporate in my planned keynote address to the European Congress on Computational Methods (ECCOMAS 2000) to be held in Barcelona, Spain this year.

Finally, I want to say, I am still a poor man. In engineering, seekers of truth seldom become rich.

Response to reader from WV USA.......2000-01-04

The Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary gives the meaning of "plug" as, "insistent advertisement or favorable publicity." I have had no such intentions. At times, an assertion demands credentials. An assertion without weight is an hollow speculation. For me to say that Zienkiewicz has been a major force in computational geomechanics, I thought a "plug" would be of help. In any case, the concern voiced is heeded. I do want to thank the reader from WV USA for a 5-star rating of the plug. It's an honor to be an author of a book someone thought was 5-starred.

This is not for the book, but for that plug.........1999-12-20

I wish to remind Mr. Jain that readers' review places are not for useless plugs for your own book. Why not put it up on auction, where it would get more publicity?

A definitive work.......1999-10-23

Zienkiewicz has been a major force in the development of the field of computational geomechanics. He is credited for implementing the critical state soil mechanics into the finite element method--a pioneering work that he and co-authors bring to a completion in this ground-breaking book.

"Computational Geomechanics" presents a balanced mix of firmly established, established, and barely established concepts of mathematical modelling in geotechnical engineering. Firmly established is the finite element modelling of Biot's theory of consolidation, presented so precisely in this book. Fairly well established are the plasticity models with yield surfaces included in the book. And, barely established are the models of plasticity without a yield surface. The endochronic theory will perhaps be needed to complete the foundations of such models.

What I like about the book most is that it makes a computer program available to the reader through World Wide Web. The program, for which a user's guide is included in the book, is named DIANA-SWANDYNE II. The program was developed at the University of Wales, Swansea. First I thought the program was named after Princess Diana--Oops! I was wrong. The name is the acronym of Dynamic Interaction And Nonlinear Analysis -SWANsea DYNamic version II. What a coincidence!

Book Description

Realistic prediction of the behaviour of soil masses can only be achieved when the model considers the interaction of the soil skeleton and the pore fluid. This book presents the basis of this computational approach, applied to earthquake engineering. This book presents a simple computer code with 1-D geometry but 2-D movement to aid the understanding of the theory.

This book is essentially for those academics and researchers who have limited experience of programming but who use computer modelling for their research into geomechanics, soil movement and earthquake engineering. Several different models are presented here together with a graphic post-processor to facilitate the development of new and modified constitutive models. Practical considerations in the application of the computer codes are given together with a detailed explanation of the numerical code developed.

Features include:

A workable computer code capable of analysing several types of problem and giving a clear explanation of 1-D geometry.
Clear and comprehensive explanations of complex modelling of soil behaviour.
Detailed step-by-step analysing procedure explained by analysts with 15 years of experience.

Earthquake and geomechanical engineers as well as academic researchers in earthquake engineering and postgraduate students in civil engineering departments will find this an invaluable resource.

Book Description

Here is a readable and intuitive quantum mechanics text that covers scattering theory, relativistic quantum mechanics, and field theory. This expanded and updated Second Edition - with five new chapters - emphasizes the concrete and calculable over the abstract and pure, and helps turn students into researchers without diminishing their sense of wonder at physics and nature.

As a one-year graduate-level course, Quantum Mechanics II: A Second Course in Quantum Theory leads from quantum basics to basic field theory, and lays the foundation for research-oriented specialty courses. Used selectively, the material can be tailored to create a one-semester course in advanced topics. In either case, it addresses a broad audience of students in the physical sciences, as well as independent readers - whether advanced undergraduates or practicing scientists.

Book Description

Rebecca Wells's wonderful third book in her Ya-Ya trilogy, which includes Little Altars Everywhere and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, is sure to provide reading that makes you laugh and cry, a book that will break your heart and mend it again.

Ya-Yas in Bloom reveals the roots of the Ya-Yas' friendship in the 1930s, following Vivi, Teensy, Caro and Necie through sixty years of marriage, child-raising, and hair-raising family secrets.

When four-year-old Teensy Whitman prisses one time too many and stuffs a big old pecan up her nose, she sets off the chain of events that lead Vivi, Teensy, Caro, and Necie to become true sister-friends. Using as narration the alternating voices of Vivi and the Petite Ya-Yas, Siddalee and Baylor Walker, as well as other denizens of Thornton, Louisiana, Wells show us the Ya-Yas in love and at war with convention. Through crises of faith and hilarious lapses of parenting skills, brushes with alcoholism and glimpses of the dark reality of racial bigotry, the Ya-Ya values of unconditional loyalty, high style, and Louisiana sass shine through.

But in the Ya-Yas' inimitable way, these four remarkable women also teach their children about the Mysteries: the wonder of snow in the deep South, the possibility that humans are made of stars, and the belief that miracles do happen. And they need a miracle when old grudges and wounded psyches lead to a heartbreaking crime...and the dynamic web of sisterhood is the only safety net strong enough to hold families together and endure.

After two bestsellers and a blockbuster movie, the Ya-Yas have become part of American culture -- icons for the power of women's friendship. Ya-Yas in Bloom continues the saga, giving us more Ya-Ya lore, spun out in the rich patois of the Louisiana bayou country and brim full of the Ya-Ya message to embrace life and each other with joy.

Customer Reviews:

TERRIBLE.......2007-07-17

I loved the first YaYa book, enjoyed the second, and hated this one. It had no story, it resembled a book of short stories but not enjoyable ones. Clearly the author just wanted to make some quick money or something, I can't think of another reason why she would have written this. I had liked and cared about the characters, and in this book I couldn't stand any of them.

Wilted..........2007-04-26

This is Louisiana native, Rebecca Wells' third installment into the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Saga. Wells, who is also an actor and playwright, has been riding high on the success of the bestseller Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood which has been translated into 23 languages since its release in 1996.

If you are not familiar with the Ya-Yas, they are four Louisiana women who've been friends since childhood (as young as 4) in the 1930s. Once a Ya-Ya, always a Ya-Ya. It even gets passed down through lineage producing Petite Ya-Yas (their children) and Tres Petites Ya-Yas (their grandchildren). Ya-Yas hold friendship and family at the top of their list of values along with "unconditional loyalty, high-style and southern sass".

Ya-Yas in Bloom starts off with family tree diagrams for each Ya-Ya, Vivi, Caro, Teensy and Necie. As I continued to read I found them to be a definite asset, having to refer to them numerous times. The following chapters are divided into four sections titled: Sowing Sisterhood Seeds, Tending Young Buds, Bruised Plantings, and A Bountiful Garden.

Ya-Yas in Bloom continues to languish on the emotional ties present amongst women and the bond of "true sister-friends". At page three I decided I was going to like this book because of the voice. The opening story was narrated by Vivi who's 68 going on 49. Unfortunately this feeling didn't hold until the end. More than half way through it began to feel like a bunch of leftover vignettes thrown together. There are just too many narrators: Vivi, Sidda, Baylor and even the occasional omnipresent voice take the reins. Ya-Yas in Bloom reads like the special features on a DVD giving some background on the well-loved characters.

What I enjoyed most about Bloom is the loyalty of the characters to one another and to one another's family. I enjoyed reading about Ya-Ya parties and how everyone prepared for the events; even the children who often hid watching in awe of their Ya-Ya parents. And comical moments which I could relate to, like the chapter on snow in the South when Little Shep was so excited about seeing snow for the first time he ran into the glass pane of a patio door and knocked himself unconscious.

While individually, some of these stories are heart warming as a whole they don't connect into a cohesive novel. If you're an obsessive Ya-Ya fan who just can't get enough or want more background then this book is for you. Otherwise, it's too flat for popular consumption. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.

cool stuff.......2007-03-27

Loved the story...very entertaining. The copy I purchased is in excellent condition. Thanks to my seller!

Reviewed by Diane Kasperski.......2007-02-10

Meet the Ya Ya Sisterhood in their younger days. Ya Yas in Bloom starts in 1930 with Teensy being taken to the doctor because she has shoved a pecan up her nose. She meets Vivi there and her pecan becomes immortalized for all patients to see in the years to come.

Then Teensy and Vivi plot to meet Necie because they are sure she is the famed Coco Robichaux that Genevieve, Teensy's mother, tells them about all the time. Caro is brought into the group and The Ya Ya Sisterhood is born and will remain true to each other through good times, some wild times and tough times for 60 some years.

The main focus is of the YaYa's as young mothers. The reader feels as if the author is reminiscing even though parts are from a third person's perspective rather than personal memory. However, there are parts that are Sidda's or Baylor's personal memories of events in their lives, too.

All-in-all even, though the telling through the years is somewhat disjointed - it all seems to gel into a charming, sometimes funny, sometimes sad story of life in Louisiana for the Ya Yas and their families. There are parts where the reader laughs out loud at the antics of Teensy and Vivi growing up and then gets amused at their handling of the nuns at the Catholic school when their children get into trouble.

Ms. Well's main characters are sharp witted, confident in themselves and have attitude. Throughout all, no matter what happens good or bad, they are all family and will stick together through thick and thin.

Ya, Ya, Yea, Yes!.......2007-01-07

Fun and easy reading. I have read all the "Ya Ya" books. The cover of this latest book looks like it is for or about children; it's not. The Ya Ya books follow a group of very Southern girls who are friends and relatives as they grow through the years. They tell about the fun things they do and the way they deal with each other and life in the South. They are crazy and loveable at the same time, crying, laughing, and doing outrageous things full of Southern comfort - life and drink. This latest book is about the Ya Ya's as mature women who continue to share the best times with family and each other. I smiled through every Ya Ya book, and look forward to reading more from Rebecca Wells.

Average customer rating:

They edited out my favorite part!

Ya-Yas in Bloom CD
Rebecca Wells
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder

ASIN: 069452574X
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Book Description

An emotionally charged addition to Rebecca Wells' award-winning bestseller Little Altars Everywhere and #1 New York Times bestseller Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Ya-Yas in Bloom reveals the roots of the Ya-Yas' friendship in the 1930s and roars through sixty years of marriage, children, and hair-raising family secrets.

When four-year-old Teensy Whitman prisses one time too many and stuffs a big old pecan up her nose, she sets off the chain of events that lead Vivi, Teensy, Caro, and Necie to become true sister-friends. Ya-Yas in Bloom shows us the Ya-Yas in love and at war with convention. Through crises of faith and hilarious lapses of parenting skills, brushes with alcoholism and glimpses of the dark reality of racial bigotry, the Ya-Ya values of unconditional loyalty, high style, and Cajun sass shine through at a time when the dynamic web of sisterhood is the only safety net strong enough to hold families together and endure.

Performed by Judith Ivey

Customer Reviews:

They edited out my favorite part!.......2007-04-10

I bought this because I loved the book so much, I wanted to be able to listen to it while traveling, but they left out the funniest part!

Average customer rating:

Ya Yas in Bloom
Rebecca Wells
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

ASIN: 0007201095

Average customer rating:

Pure entertainment

Ya-Yas in Bloom
Rebecca Wells
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Pure entertainment.......2007-05-27

Loved it! judith Ivey did a wonderful job.The story skipped around a bit,
but so what. I listened to it in the car while running errands. It made
the time fly. Very enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

Ya-Yas in Bloom CD: A Novel
Rebecca Wells , and Ivey Judith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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Average customer rating:

Ya Yas in Bloom
Rebecca Wells
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8QD7C

Ya-ya Sisterhood Trilogy By Rebecca Wells - Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, Ya-yas in Bloom

Average customer rating:

Ya-ya Sisterhood Trilogy By Rebecca Wells - Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, Ya-yas in Bloom
Rebecca Wells
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TQ5IG6

Product Description

Three large trade paperbacks - Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, Ya-yas in Bloom - Full Ya-Yas series.

Average customer rating:

Ya-Yas in Bloom

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0007201109

Average customer rating:

Vote for strange, not deranged.

Ya-Yas in Bloom
Rebecca Wells
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000GH2YTW

Customer Reviews:

Vote for strange, not deranged. .......2007-09-14

Not nearly as good as the first two in the series. There's a bit of feminist hogwash and gun politics at the end which is distracting from the story. I also didn't like the way she made the original YaYas seem a bit on the deranged side.

Average customer rating:

Ya-Yas in Bloom
Rebecca Wells
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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