Irish rugby as you've never seen it before -- from the man who got the job every rugby lover would love to have. 'Rala has a gift for making people feel at ease and special at the same time' Paul O'Connell Patrick 'Rala' O'Reilly has been bagman for the Irish rugby team for over twenty years. In that time he's witnessed many highs and lows. But for him rugby has always been about the people, the places and the experiences. Here, with his own inimitable wit and humour, he shares with us his unique memories of his time spent at the very centre of Irish and Lions rugby. From his early days with Terenure RFC to touring with the Lions in 2009 and 2013, to pre-match traditions, pranks, iPod playlists and his love affair with Inishbofin, he tells a behind-the-scenes story of team spirit and friendship. With anecdotes from Keith Wood, Brian O'Driscoll, Donncha O'Callaghan, Jamie Heaslip, Peter Clohessy, Paul O'Connell and others, Rala: A Life in Rugby gives us an insight into the world of rugby - as never seen before. 'He's a gent, a role model ... but, most importantly, he's a great friend' Jamie Heaslip 'Even when I stopped being captain, I'd find my bags in my room when I arrived at the hotel, and my laundry hanging on the back of my door. He didn't have to do that, but then there's so much that he didn't have to do, but he still did' Brian O'Driscoll

The prospect of a weekend at her grandparents’ house seems painfully boring to eleven-year-old River Baker. Boring, that is, until she finds the key to the forbidden room of her Great Auntie Violet. Rebellious River dares to enter the room, closely followed by her goody-two-shoes twin sister, Kit. But while the girls are exploring, they unwittingly open a portal to the secret world of RALA. River and Kit enter RALA at a time of turmoil – a giant called Eleon has stolen a powerful crystal that allows those who possess it to travel between worlds. And when Eleon kidnaps Kit, River must spring into action to save her sister. River seeks help from the Warriors of RALA, who reveal that Great Auntie Violet was a Warrior Princess who had been travelling to RALA before her disappearance fifty-six years ago. With the help of the Warriors, River discovers she has a special power and that she too is a Warrior Princess just like her mysterious auntie. All she has to do is learn to trust and believe in herself and she can face the challenges that lie ahead. Will River be successful in her quest to stop Eleon, save RALA and return home?

The Impact of Nanoscience in the Food Industry, Volume 12 in The Handbook of Food Bioengineering series, explores how nanoscience applications in food engineering offer an alternative to satisfying current food needs that cannot be fulfilled by natural products. Nanotechnology enables the development of tailored food ingredients and structures to replace products that are difficult to obtain. The book discusses how specialized nano-preservatives, sensors and food degradation and contamination detectors were developed and how they can be introduced in food products without degrading quality or properties of the final product. A valuable resource for food engineering researchers and students alike. - Identifies common nanomaterials used in food preservation and food packaging - Provides industrial applications to increase food production - Describes analytical methods for assessing food safety - Identifies how nanoscience advances allow for new developments in functional foods and nutraceuticals - Discusses safety concerns, regulations and restricted use of nanomaterials in food bioengineering