Catalysis by Di- and Polynuclear Metal Cluster Complexes (The Chemistry of Metal Clusters)

Book Description

A pioneer work on catalysis of organic chemical reactions involving multinuclear metal complexes.

Catalysis by Di- and Polynuclear Metal Cluster Complexes surveys the latest developments at the frontier of this exciting field, combining theory with new and original examples of catalytic processes produced by polynuclear metal complexes. An invaluable resource for inorganic and organometallic chemists in industry and R&D, it contains chapters from world experts and scholars on:

Concepts and models for characterizing homogeneous reactions catalyzed by transition metal cluster complexes
Activation of ruthenium clusters for use in catalysis
Catalysis by mixed metal clusters containing gold phosphine groupings
Catalysis by sulfido bridged dimolybdenum complexes
Dimolybdenum and ditungsten complexes
Synthesis of organic compounds catalyzed by transition metal clusters
Catalysis with dirhodium (II) complexes
Catalytic synthesis of polythioether macrocycles
Catalysis of Rh, Rh-Co, and Ir-Co multinuclear complexes and its applications to organic syntheses
Bimetallic hydroformylation catalysis
Catalysis by colloids
Catalysis with palladium clusters
Heterometallic clusters for heterogeneous catalysis
Supported clusters in catalysis.

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For as long as humans have been telling stories about animals, ants have played the role of hard-working, slavish, mindless drudge, the kind of creature that busily prepares for the future without resting or reflecting. But at least one species, writes Stanford University professor Deborah Gordon in this engaging study, slips free of our stereotypes. The harvester ant, an abundant denizen of the Southwestern deserts, seems to live in a society that is based on something like mutual aid, far from the six-legged dictatorships of fable--and, indeed, far from the human models that storytellers and ethologists alike have imposed on ant congregations. Gordon wonders, "If the ants don't work like a miniature human society, how does a group of rather inept little creatures create a colony that gets things done?" She proposes a number of answers in her wide-ranging book, one of which is this: ants get things done by accident, by experimenting with and constantly testing their surroundings to see what there is to eat, and who else is trying to get at it. Gordon writes with good humor about the daily work of studying insects in the intense heat of the desert, noting, "Over the years I have evolved a costume that includes a long-sleeved shirt, a cap with a kind of curtain around its lower edge, and the largest sunglasses I can find. I look rather like an insect myself." Readers approaching her book will find that they learn a lot about ants in the process--and also a lot about how field scientists get things done themselves. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Individual ants manage their incredibly complex colonies with no one in charge--how do they do it? Ants have long been regarded as the most interesting of the social insects. With their queens and celibate workers, these intriguing creatures have captured the imaginations of scientists and children alike for generations. Yet until now, no one had studied intensely the life cycle of the ant colony as a whole. An ant colony has a life cycle of about fifteen years--it is born, matures, and dies. But the individual ants that inhabit the colony live only one year. So how does this system of tunnels and caves in the dirt become so much more than the sum of its parts? Leading ant researcher Deborah Gordon takes the reader to the Arizona desert to explore this question. The answer involves the emerging insights of the new science of complexity, and contributes to understanding the evolution of life itself.

Customer Reviews:

Learned More About People.......2007-05-29

This book I found in a used book store, under a table, in San Luis Obispo, CA. Somehow, it jumped out at me (like all good books do -- they seem to choose their own readers).

I found this to be fascinating! Ms. Gordon and her colleagues went to an enormous amount of work to gather the data, and she compliled it in a most interesting way. It was intriguing to me how ants mange their colony lives, with foraging and hunting, etc. Also how ants cooperate primarily by some sort of chemical process, one that can change as conditions vary.

The graph of colony population vs. age was especially interesting. It shows a real-life application of the Logistics Function. Who would ever have thought such a thing would apply to an Ant Colony, of all things???? But it does. Remarkable.

Mostly, though, the analysis of ant colonies seems to have many parallels to human organizations. Like, at a theme park, why do people go stand in long lines at McD's, when an equal-caliber establishment -- right next door -- has very few customers? Or how is it that organizations such as factories really work? And on and on.

I'm really glad I found this book. It will be in my collection permanently, and I will read it again in the future.

Ants Procrastinate??.......2005-06-30

Yes, sometimes ants work hard. They ALWAYS look like they work hard - until you look real closely - and maybe put up a few roadblocks.

Deborah Gordon spent 17 summers virtually memorizing the same 25 acres in Arizona with her students, fooling around with about 300 colonies of harvester ants. She chose them for the scientific reason that they were big enough to see without glasses.

They are efficient? On page 105, Gordon includes a delightful excerpt from Mark Twain about ants. "They pick up something too large, go over obstructions instead of around, when and if they finally drag the prize into the nest, half the time it's worthless and has to be dragged off by midden workers," - the garbage collectors of antdom.

They are subservient to the queen? "Look to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways and be wise: Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6. Gordon agrees with the good book...there is no guiding force. They just seem to know what to do and frequently change jobs as needed.

They have an elaborate means of communication? Not that we can see. Their eyesight is poor and they communicate by touching antennaes, and by sensing perhaps 12 different chemicals on each other.

At 4:30 AM Gordon et al get up, eat breakfast, and take a 20 minute trip out of the mountains to the site, where they set up the experiment they have agonized over, or analyze the one in progress. Before noon, as the heat sets in, they go back up the mountain and the ants go back into their mound - their foraging done, and the ant watchers' practical jokes accomplished and recorded. The rest of the day is spent tabulating and analyzing data and dreaming up new tricks in order to tease out more secrets of anthood.

Gordon's process is a good example of the tedious, meticulous work of science. As she developed her data of the mindless pseudo-efficiency of an ant colony, a correllation occured to me about the self organization of stem cells as they differentiate, specialize, and mindlessly create a living entity, guided by only partially known processes (admittedly not a perfect analogy).

This is a good read, an easy read and refreshingly out of the ordinary.

You should read this book if..........2002-07-13

I'm a bit surprised by some of the negative comments about this book, because they seem to have missed its point. This isn't a formal presentation of the author's research. It therefore lacks many details, does not review the full range of other relevant literature, and it has not been honed by a committee of reviewers. What it DOES do is to give the reader who doesn't know anything about ants a very readable narrative account of how one might go about finding out something about them. This book is as much about how to apply the scientific method to the messy world of animal behavior as it is about ants in particular. Gordon's account of how to do that seems to have been mistaken by some as self indulgence. If you're looking for a detailed account of ants, you should see Holldobler and Wilson's 700+ page "The Ants." If you want an introduction to what's interesting about ants and how people go about studying them, Gordon's book is a great read.

A whole world opens before your eyes.......2002-05-25

I LOVE this book. What a rare peek over the shoulder of a true scientist with an inquisitive mind and appreciation for the art and beauty of science, applied to these tiny but incredibly interesting creatures. Within the same nest reside 5 or more ant types based on function. In that nest, some live up to 20 years while others "don't live long enough to EVER eat." I will never look at ants the same. Thank you for an insightful and wonderful story that makes life worth living.

All Work and No Play...........2001-04-01

A book that reads like a thesis is never any fun. Ants at Work takes an interesting premise(Ant colonies are not run with any central organization but on a series of interactions within the society) and then proceeds to suck all the life out of it! Filled with graphs and the mind-numbing detail about how the experiments were laid out, Gordon describes a process that was as painful to read as it was to perform. The science seems valid and for that I commend the author, but where's the wit to lighten the burden of all this research. With few illustrations to break up the monotony, this book will be a bore for all but the most studious of entomologists.

Ants at Work: An Engaging Vacation from Scientific Reality.(Review): An article from: American Scientist

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Ants at Work: An Engaging Vacation from Scientific Reality.(Review): An article from: American Scientist

Manufacturer: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This is a book about a President named George who has a dream. In this dream, George becomes a little boy, and he meets a Truth Fairy who is trying to teach him lessons about How to not manipulate the Media, How to treat Veterans, How to be honest, How to be respectful with families who have lost soldiers in war, How to go to War only when necessary, How not to label people as Boogeymen, How not to invade countries, How to control greed, How to hold fair elections, and How to behave as a leader. Though there are political lessons and footnotes for people to learn more, the ultimate lesson in the 32 paged hard cover children's style 81/2" x 11" book is that we are all connected; we are all one. On his journey while playing the game of "Let's Imagine" with the Truth Fairy, the young boy George learns many other lessons, including the fact that it is up to each of us to create the person we are becoming.

Customer Reviews:

Conservatives Can't Recognize Satire!.......2006-05-12

The fact that people can read this book and think it's a children's book is sort of scary. This is satire folks. The book is using something called "irony" in an attempt to be "funny." I'm sure you've heard of satire. Now learn to recognize it. This book is a lampooning of the book "Help ! Mom! There are Liberals Under the Bed"...by the way, that book is designed to be a children's book. This one is intended to be funny.
If you're still struggling with satire and irony I'll give you another example. "Things sure are going great in America. Under the leadership of that genius George Bush, things couldn't be any better. We're winning the war in Iraq. If it weren't for those darn T.V. cameras that show all those bombs killing all those people everyone would know we're winning. Why doesn't the media show bombs NOT exploding? Where are those stories? We no longer have anything to fear because President Bush has got everything under control. God Bless the smartest, bestest President ever, George W. Bush."

0-STARS "Teach Your Children To Be Vicious Haters," or "How to ensure your children will end up in federal prison.".......2006-01-17

The vicious hatefest that is NO, George, NO! is typical ultra-left wing hateful propaganda, to be sure. But to teach such hate to children is only asking for trouble down the road. Remember, children become rebellious during their teenage years. This book will plant seeds that are best left unplanted.

But the most disgusting thing about this book is that it attempts to quash critical thinking skills on the way to forced indoctrination. Any parent who would teach their children to hate so venomously at an early age should be frog-marched to prison, because that's where their chldren will probably end up after being indoctrinated so. Kim Jung-Il is more open-minded than the author of this inexcusable drivel.

The pathetic losers who are about to serve hard time for slashing the tires of Republican vans the night before the 2004 Presidential Election are the vision you should have in mind prior to subjecting your children to such blindly hateful propaganda. You will be doing your children, this nation, and liberal causes no favors by encouraging your children to hate with the ferocity we have seen since Democrats lost the last three consecutive elections. Remember, thinking you are correct doesn't make it so.

NO, Kathy, NO!.......2005-12-22

This is just sad. If you're going to write a political book, at least do it in a mature way for an audience who cares. A mediocore children's book filled with sugar-coated lies is an absolutly pathetic way to make your opinions known.

Just plain bad........2005-12-01

First of all, I'm not a conservative, so don't discount the review on that basis. I also trashed "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!" Both books suffer from dogmatic stereotypes and are inappropriate for children. But beyond that, "No, George, No," is just plain bad. Poorly written and poorly illustrated, it's a crummy kids book. Period. Save your money and buy something by Eric Carle or Richard Scarry. In other words, by a good children's book.

Horrible.......2005-11-03

As a hardcore liberal I think this book is horrible. To read such political hack job to children is bad. This is as bad as "Help Mom there's a liberal under my bed." Teaching your children such garbage is a case for your reparenting. If you get it for yourself, than it's just another liberal book making fun of Bush.

The Age of Caricature: Satirical Prints in the Reign of George III (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)

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The Age of Caricature: Satirical Prints in the Reign of George III (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)
Diana Donald
Manufacturer: Paul Mellon Centre BA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0300071787

Amazon.com

William Pitt commissioned them. Alexander Pope collected them. The Prince of Wales bribed their makers to stop them from being produced. Not even the most respected and sharp-penned political cartoonist of our time wields the influences, or, it could be argued, possesses the artistic skills of the satirical engravers of England in the 18th century who elevated caricature to the level of high art. Diana Donald, a professor of art history at Manchester Metropolitan University in England, illuminates the art and meaning of more than 200 etchings by the top practitioners of the day (Rowlandson, Gillray, the Cruikshank brothers) as well as less-skilled amateurs and professionals who were popular once but are now mostly forgotten.

Book Description

The late eighteenth century in England was the first great age of cartooning, and English caricature prints of the period have long been enjoyed for their humor and vitality. Diana Donald presents the first major study of these caricatures, showing that they were a widely disseminated form of political expression and propaganda as subtle and elegant as the written word.

Defining John Bull: Political Caricature and National Identity in Late Georgian England

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Defining John Bull: Political Caricature and National Identity in Late Georgian England
Tamara L. Hunt
Manufacturer: Ashgate Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Hunting & Fishing | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1840142685

The Madness of King George: The Ingenious Insanity of Our Most "Misunderestimated" President

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The Madness of King George: The Ingenious Insanity of Our Most "Misunderestimated" President
Matt Wuerker , and Michael K. Smith
Manufacturer: Common Courage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Robbing Us Blind: The Return of the Bush Gang and the Mugging of America

ASIN: 1567512488

Book Description

Introduction by Monty Python member Terry Jones In a format of alternating text and cartoons, author Michael K. Smith (Portraits of Empire) and cartoonist Matt Wuerker deliver a comprehensive overview of the insane world of George W. Bush, and a close up of the -inmates at the White House Asylum-who run your country. You'll meet Duct Tape Tom, whose vision for Homeland Security would scare even J. Edgar Hoover. And then there is the economy. If you aren't rich, it -isn't for you. Smith and Wuerker reveal that wealth is poverty, explaining why the rich need more tax cuts. But there's something for everyone after all-we're entrusting your grandma's pension to the NASDAQ! The foreign policy section contains three parts: It's a Snap! Americanizing The Middle East in Three Easy Step, Evildoers For Dummies The Anti-Missile Shield-Transcending the Fear of Initiating Nuclear War In a wry defense of HMOs, Smith and Wuerker show that sick people are the medical profession's greatest threat. Special feature: "Heroes of Our Time: The Committee to Re-Select The President," with political profiles of: Richard Perle Paul Wolfowitz Dick Cheney Condoleezza Rice Colin Powell Donald Rumsfeld Karl Rove With incredible drawings by Matt Wuerker, this makes an ideal holiday gift from those who just can't put into words how they feel about George.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Foolhardiness, Folly, and Fraud in the Presidential Elections, from Andrew Jackson to George W. Bush

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Foolhardiness, Folly, and Fraud in the Presidential Elections, from Andrew Jackson to George W. Bush
David E. Johnson
Manufacturer: Taylor Trade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

This book profiles eighteen of our funniest elections, from 1828, the first election in which all states had electors, to the election from hell in 2000. The book also includes chapters on Watergate and impeachment, and a gallery of official photographs.

The Ancient Southwest & Other Dispatches From A Cruel Frontier

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The Ancient Southwest & Other Dispatches From A Cruel Frontier
Michael H. Price , and George E. Turner
Manufacturer: Texas Christian University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0875653065

A Caricature History of Canadian Politics. Events from the Union of 1841, as illustrated by cartoons from "Grip" and various other sources. [two volumes, complete]

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A Caricature History of Canadian Politics. Events from the Union of 1841, as illustrated by cartoons from "Grip" and various other sources. [two volumes, complete]
J. W. [George M. Grant, introduction] Bengough
Manufacturer: The Grip Printing and Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NKRX5C

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Caricature History of the Georges

Manufacturer: Ayer Co Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0405091060

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