The Resurrection Plate, a Late Classic Maya dish, is decorated with an arresting scene. The Maize God, assisted by two other deities, emerges reborn from a turtle shell. At the center of the plate, in the middle of the god’s body and aligned with the point of emergence, there is a curious sight: a small, neatly drilled hole. Art historian Andrew Finegold explores the meanings attributed to this and other holes in Mesoamerican material culture, arguing that such spaces were broadly understood as conduits of vital forces and material abundance, prerequisites for the emergence of life. Beginning with, and repeatedly returning to, the Resurrection Plate, this study explores the generative potential attributed to a wide variety of cavities and holes in Mesoamerica, ranging from the perforated dishes placed in Classic Maya burials, to caves and architectural voids, to the piercing of human flesh. Holes are also discussed in relation to fire, based on the common means through which both were produced: drilling. Ultimately, by attending to what is not there, Vital Voids offers a fascinating approach to Mesoamerican cosmology and material culture.

Neo-Confucianism is a philosophically sophisticated tradition weaving classical Confucianism together with themes from Buddhism and Daoism. It began in China around the eleventh century CE, played a leading role in East Asian cultures over the last millennium, and has had a profound influence on modern Chinese society. Based on the latest scholarship but presented in accessible language, Neo-Confucianism: A Philosophical Introduction is organized around themes that are central in Neo-Confucian philosophy, including the structure of the cosmos, human nature, ways of knowing, personal cultivation, and approaches to governance. The authors thus accomplish two things at once: they present the Neo-Confucians in their own, distinctive terms; and they enable contemporary readers to grasp what is at stake in the great Neo-Confucian debates. This novel structure gives both students and scholars in philosophy, religion, history, and cultural studies a new window into one of the world's most important philosophical traditions.

FULLY ILLUSTRATED, UPDATED GUIDE TO THE STRATEGIC DESIGN OF GREEN BUILDINGS In the tradition of Building Construction Illustrated, Francis D.K. Ching and Ian M. Shapiro offer a fully illustrated guide to the theory and practice of sustainable design. This guide provides architects, designers, and builders in the green design professional community a framework and detailed strategies for designing substantively green buildings. With a focus on sustainable sites, approaching and reaching net-zero energy, low and zero-water usage, minimum-impact materials and superior indoor environmental quality, this guide explains why we need to build green, as well as green building theory and advancements in the industry. This Second Edition includes: All-new case studies featuring geographically diverse buildings with proven zero energy performance Expanded coverage of zero energy building design, as well as zero water and zero waste buildings Practical guidance for the schematic design of high-performance buildings, heating and hot water system selection, building envelope details, and integrating renewable energy Advanced strategies, such as the concept of shape efficiency, and the optimal location for stairwells in buildings Additional strategies for affordability in green design and construction Updated references to the latest codes and standards This Second Edition of Green Building Illustrated is an excellent resource for professionals, students and those interested in the design and construction of sustainable buildings.

Since its inception, criminology has had trouble answering the question of what it is about. But although many consider the answer to this question to be self-evident, this book pursues the provocative possibility that criminology does not know what the object of its study is; it merely knows what it is called. Aiming to foster dissent among those who claim to know what criminology is about – and those who don’t – writers from different schools of thought come together in this collection to answer the question "what is criminology about?" Building on a resurgence of interest in the nature of the object of criminology, their responses aim to deepen, and to expand, the current debate. This book will, then, be of considerable interest to contemporary proponents and students of criminology and law.

Near Holy Cross Abbey, Virginia, a beautiful tablet-like stone has been found by the Shenandoah River. Under its brown-orange patina, peck-marked shapes reveal a crystalline heartstone and intriguing designs. While a variety of opinions have been offered by experts on the origin of the designs, the author takes you on a tour so you can make your own judgement. Findings reveal aesthetic proportions and intriguing gestalts which resonate with Eastern Woodland cosmology of early America. These include archetypes of the avian-man, skeletal and twinned shaman, earth mother, and a cosmology which shows a three-layered and four-cornered world. With an abundance of imagery supported by commentary, this "mystery stone" illustrates the Indigenous way of viewing the universe, and one that can enrich our lives.

Bioactive materials play an increasingly important role in the biomaterials industry, and are used for a range of applications, including artificial organs, drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, and biosensors. Bioactive materials in medicine reviews the current status and ongoing development of bioactive materials for medical applications.Following an introduction to bioactive materials in medicine, part one covers the process of designing bioactive materials, including chapters on molecular design, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering. Part two focuses on the different applications of bioactive materials in medicine, with chapters discussing applications in orthopaedics, in the circulatory system,and as antibacterials. The final chapters focus on the uses of these materials in gene therapy, plastic surgery and body reconstruction, and in drug delivery systems.With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Bioactive materials in medicine is an essential reference for researchers and designers in industry, as well as those with an academic interest in the subject. - Discusses the current status and ongoing development of bioactive materials for medical applications - Explores the process of designing bioactive materials, including molecular design, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering - Assesses different applications of bioactive materials in medicine featuring applications in orthopaedics, in the circulatory system,and as antibacterials