The discovery of the ?rst case of superluminal radio jets in our galaxy in 1994 from the bright and peculiar X-ray source GRS 1915+105 has opened the way to a major shift in the direction of studies of stellar-mass accreting binaries. The past decade has seen an impressive increase in multi-wavelength studies. It is now known that all black hole binaries in our galaxy are radio sources and most likely their radio emission originates from a powerful jet. In addition to the spectacular events related to the ejection of superluminal jets, steady jets are known from many systems. Compared with their supermassive cousins, the nuclei of active galaxies, stellar-mass X-ray binaries have the advantage of varying on time scales accessible within a human life (sometimes even much shorter than a second). This has led to the ?rst detailed studies of the relation between accretion and ejection. It is even possible that, excluding their “soft” periods, the majority of the power in gal- tic sources lies in the jets and not in the accretion ?ows. This means that until a few years ago we were struggling with a physical problem, accretion onto compact objects, without considering one of the most important components of the system. Models that associate part of the high-energy emission and even the fast aperiodic variability to the jet itself are now being proposed and jets can no longer be ignored.

As a result of significant research over the past 20 years, black holes are now linked to some of the most spectacular and exciting phenomena in the Universe, ranging in size from those that have the same mass as stars to the super-massive objects that lie at the heart of most galaxies, including our own Milky Way. This book first introduces the properties of simple isolated holes, then adds in complications like rotation, accretion, radiation, and magnetic fields, finally arriving at a basic understanding of how these immense engines work. Black Hole Astrophysics • reviews our current knowledge of cosmic black holes and how they generate the most powerful observed pheonomena in the Universe; • highlights the latest, most up-to-date theories and discoveries in this very active area of astrophysical research; • demonstrates why we believe that black holes are responsible for important phenomena such as quasars, microquasars and gammaray bursts; • explains to the reader the nature of the violent and spectacular outfl ows (winds and jets) generated by black hole accretion.

In 2008, the European FP6 JETSET project ended. JETSET, for Jet, Simulations, Experiments, and Theory, was a joint research network of European expert teams on protostellar jets. The present proceedings are a collection of contributions presenting new results obtained by those groups since the end of the JETSET program. This is also the occasion to celebrate Kanaris Tsinganos’ important contributions to this network and for his enlightening insight in the subject that inspired us all. Some of the former JETSET students are now in the academic world and the subject has never been so alive. So we present here a collection of results of what has been done in the field of protostellar jets in the past ten years from the theoretical, numerical, observational and experimental point of view. We also present new challenges in the field of protostellar jets and what we should expect from the development of new instruments and new numerical codes in the near future. We also gather results on the impact of the study of protostellar jets on other jet studies in particular on relativistic jets. As a matter of fact, it is time for a new network.

Introduction to Paradigms is a generic look at the things that help to clear up the crippling reality-paradigm confusion, which we all are susceptible to just in growing up. It demonstrates that: A paradigm is a model of a portion of reality, with fewer dimensions and a manageable size, mass and energy. Paradigms are necessary because they are the solution to the problem of having insufficient human RAM and CPU to be omniscient and deal with reality on a direct perception/knowing basis. The human solution is to create paradigms that do fit our RAM and CPU, so we can change the undesirable elements of existence into desirable ones. Unfortunately, paradigms can be more true or less true, by accident or design, and that's where the rub is. Less true paradigms come about in two ways: Through the incompetence of well meaning paradigm designers or By the deliberate introduction of bias into a paradigm to give inequitable power and money to some who have not earned it. The bias is in the form of a lie in a paradigm or the miss- definition of a word. More money is made today by theft through paradigm bias than by the honest creation of wealth. It is not a victimless crime. The individual members of society as well as the society as a whole lose in wealth, a lowered pursuit of happiness and a lowered survival potential. Paradigm bias is a societal parasite and too many parasites kill the host. Purveyors of paradigm bias are the same as confidence men. One trick they use is to convince you, that what they are telling you is reality when it is a paradigm. Reality, one tends to accept as true, while one questions what is known to be a paradigm. How do you tell the difference and what if you don't? Example: My telling you about a tree gives you my paradigm of a tree, which can be more true or less true. On the other hand, the only way you get the reality of a tree is by seeing it for yourself; climbing it; feeling the trunk, bark and leaves; eating the fruit; chewing on a leaf, twig, bark; smelling the blossoms, cones, leaves, bark and roots; listening to the wind pass through the branches and leaves; standing under the tree when the sun is too hot or when it is raining. Example: The 9/11 suicide pilots believed that what they had been told since early childhood was reality: That they would go to a paradise which was a much nicer place than this world and that they would live forever with seven virgins and seven wives if they died committing a mass murder as they were told. They did what they were told because they did not know the difference between paradigm and reality. Reality is what you experience yourself. Paradigms are anything you received through a communication paradigm such as what some one told you or you read. We are all handicapped to the extent we are victims of the paradigm-reality confusion and prone to be taken advantage of through paradigm bias. More true paradigms require a paradigm designer well acquainted with reality. Is science the answer? Unfortunately, the scientific method applies only to explicate order phenomena that can be repeated and verified by the lowest common denominator of scientist. Science is still in denial of implicate order phenomena known for many centuries. Only a small fraction of the paradigms we need to function on a personal and societal level can be scientifically demonstrated. Peer review is another shortcoming and abuse. The scientific method assumes that those doing the peer review are selfless, high minded scientists, experts in the same domain, who judge according to their knowledge in the pursuit of truth for the good of mankind. Actually, many peers are egocentric and lie to ensure their careers. Example: Tobacco scientists disagree with conclusive studies linking smoki

A collection of edited review articles presented at a workshop at the Space Telescope Science Institute which gathered astrophysicists from the fields of extragalactic and galactic/stellar jets.

These proceedings are the result of a three-day meeting held in Oogliani (Italy), on October 2-4 2003, whose title was "VIrtual Astrophysical Jets 2003". Our goal in convening this meeting was to gather some of the scientists among the most active in the field of numerical simulations and modelling of astrophysi cal jets. For keeping the participants close to the "real world", we also invited a few observers to give up-to-date reviews outlining the state-of-the-art of jet observations. The principal aim of the meeting was thus to present and critically discuss the state-of-the-art numerical simulations, analytical models and laboratory ex periments for reproducing the main aspects of astrophysical jets and compar ing them with observations. The discussion has been focused on the following topics: • Observations and intepretions of jets from young stars and AGNs, comparisons of models with observations; • MHO accelerations of jets: steady self-similar models, MHO numerical simula tions of time-dependent accelerations mechanisms; • Jet stability and interaction with the ambient: formation of knots in YSO jets, jet survival to instabilities, deceleration of relativistic jets in FRI sources, simulations of jets-IGM interactions, jets propagation and galaxy formation; • Numerical codes and their validation: relativistic MHO codes, comparisons among different numerical schemes, jets in the laboratory and code validation. These topics have been discussed intensively during the meeting, and the out come of these discussions is presented in this volume. The contributions have been divided in five sections.

Textbook introducing the fundamentals of aircraft performance using industry standards and examples: bridging the gap between academia and industry Provides an extensive and detailed treatment of all segments of mission profile and overall aircraft performance Considers operating costs, safety, environmental and related systems issues Includes worked examples relating to current aircraft (Learjet 45, Tucano Turboprop Trainer, Advanced Jet Trainer and Airbus A320 types of aircraft) Suitable as a textbook for aircraft performance courses