Santo, the largest island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, is an extraordinary geographical and cultural microcosm, combining reefs, caves, mountains, and satellite isles--with human history that dates back 3,000 years. Collecting contributions from more than one hundred authors, The Natural History of Santo is the result of a 2006 Santo expedition, which brought together scientists, volunteers, and students from twenty-five countries. This lavishly illustrated book pays homage to the biodiversity of this "planet-island" and bridges the gaps between scientific knowledge, conservation, and education.

Since the first ICM was held in Zürich in 1897, it has become the pinnacle of mathematical gatherings. It aims at giving an overview of the current state of different branches of mathematics and its applications as well as an insight into the treatment of special problems of exceptional importance. The proceedings of the ICMs have provided a rich chronology of mathematical development in all its branches and a unique documentation of contemporary research. They form an indispensable part of every mathematical library. The Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians 1994, held in Zürich from August 3rd to 11th, 1994, are published in two volumes. Volume I contains an account of the organization of the Congress, the list of ordinary members, the reports on the work of the Fields Medalists and the Nevanlinna Prize Winner, the plenary one-hour addresses, and the invited addresses presented at Section Meetings 1 - 6. Volume II contains the invited address for Section Meetings 7 - 19. A complete author index is included in both volumes. '...the content of these impressive two volumes sheds a certain light on the present state of mathematical sciences and anybody doing research in mathematics should look carefully at these Proceedings. For young people beginning research, this is even more important, so these are a must for any serious mathematics library. The graphical presentation is, as always with Birkhäuser, excellent....' (Revue Roumaine de Mathematiques pures et Appliquées)

Thinking of the text from the Dies frae (S. Matthew, XXV, 40). It is also probable that this other Saint Francis, partly out of admiration for his illustrious compatriot of Assisi and partly from a compelling urge to be superlative in all things, chose the title in opposition to the Franciscans, the Fratres Minori, l who had previously adopted this style taken from Saint Matthew, XXIII, 8. The title "Minim" was confirmed in these words" ... eosque Eremitos Ordinis Minimorum Fratrum Eremitarum F. Francesci de Paula in posterum nuncupari," taken from the Papal Bull, Meritis religiosae vitae, of 26 February, 1493. The earliest reference to the Order in France is in a fragment preserved in the Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal called, La regle et vie de Frere Franfois, pauvre et humble hermite de Paule, laquelle donne a tous ses 2 freres voulant entrer et vivre en son ordre. The dating of this manuscript should be accepted with considerable reserve; it bears a clearly legible "1474," although it seems most unlikely that any reference to an Order occurred before the Bull of 1493 or that any Rule appeared in French before the Founder's visit to Louis XI in 1483. 3 The fame of Francis and his reputation as a "guerisseur" had reached the French court where Louis XI was sick and dying; the King summoned him to the chateau of Le Plessis-Ies-Tours, but it required the intervention of the Pope to make the hermit undertake the journey

The International Hypoxia Symposium convenes biannually to bring together international experts from many fields to explore the state of the art in normal and pathophysiological responses to hypoxia. Representatives from five continents and 32 countries joined together in February 2003 for four days in the dramatic mountains of Banff, Alberta. As editors of the Proceedings of the International Hypoxia Symposia, we strive to maintain a 26 six year tradition of presenting a stimulating blend of clinical and basic science papers focused on hypoxia. Topics covered in 2003 include hibernation and hypoxia, hypoxia and fetal development and new advances in high altitude pathophysiology, oxidative stress and membrane damage, hypoxic regulation of blood flow, heat shock proteins in hypoxia, and future directions in hypoxia research. In 2003 we also had the privilege ofhonoring John W. Severinghaus as a friend, colleague, mentor and inspiration to many in the field. Tom Hornbein's personal tribute to John Severinghaus is the first chapter in this volume, followed by an entertaining update of the history of the discovery of oxygen written by John Severinghaus.

This overview of the development of continuum mechanics throughout the twentieth century is unique and ambitious. Utilizing a historical perspective, it combines an exposition on the technical progress made in the field and a marked interest in the role played by remarkable individuals and scientific schools and institutions on a rapidly evolving social background. It underlines the newly raised technical questions and their answers, and the ongoing reflections on the bases of continuum mechanics associated, or in competition, with other branches of the physical sciences, including thermodynamics. The emphasis is placed on the development of a more realistic modeling of deformable solids and the exploitation of new mathematical tools. The book presents a balanced appraisal of advances made in various parts of the world. The author contributes his technical expertise, personal recollections, and international experience to this general overview, which is very informative albeit concise.

A Civil Society explores the struggle to initiate women as full participants in the masonic brotherhood that shared in the rise of France's civil society and its "civic morality" on behalf of women's rights. As a vital component of the third sector during France's modernization, freemasonry empowered women in complex social networks, contributing to a more liberal republic, a more open society, and a more engaged public culture. James Smith Allen shows that although women initially met with stiff resistance, their induction into the brotherhood was a significant step in the development of French civil society and its "civic morality," including the promotion of women's rights in the late nineteenth century. Pulling together the many gendered facets of masonry, Allen draws from periodicals, memoirs, and archival material to account for the rise of women within the masonic brotherhood in the context of rapid historical change. Thanks to women's social networks and their attendant social capital, masonry came to play a leading role in French civil society and the rethinking of gender relations in the public sphere.