The proposition that innovation is critical in the cost-effective design and development of successful military aircraft is still subject to some debate. RAND research indicates that innovation is promoted by intense competition among three or more industry competitors. Given the critical policy importance of this issue in the current environment of drastic consolidation of the aerospace defense industry, the authors here examine the history of the major prime contractors in developing jet fighters since World War II. They make use of an extensive RAND database that includes nearly all jet fighters, fighter-attack aircraft, and bombers developed and flown by U.S. industry since 1945, as well as all related prototypes, modifications, upgrades, etc. The report concludes that (1) experience matters, because of the tendency to specialize and thus to develop system-specific expertise; (2) yet the most dramatic innovations and breakthroughs came from secondary or marginal players trying to compete with the industry leaders; and (3) dedicated military R&D conducted or directly funded by the U.S. government has been critical in the development of new higher-performance fighters and bombers.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” - Dr. Seuss After nearly three decades of working in Indian school environments, I realised that taking myself in an entirely unexplored direction may be the next best thing to do. Of course, I fulfilled the other two pre-requisites of Dr. Seuss! My first book, The Deccan Trailblazers – Education Icons of Hyderabad, got me hooked on to writing with a purpose. With The Cutting Edge – Iconic Schools, Noteworthy Curricula, Extraordinary Strategies I undertake one more journey as I look to dig deeper, delve into the important aspects of the different curricula, look at their implementation, the challenges faced from within and outside as educators make them work in the Indian scenario, examine proposed tactics, plans and suggestions as each examines the best strategies for our schools. My book has four sections: 1. THE BOARD GAME – a section decoding the jargon, vocabulary and understanding of educational curricula prevalent in our country. 2. CHECKMATE – a section dealing with the comparative lexicon and implementation techniques of the major boards of curricula. 3. ALPHA GAMER – a section which looks to understand through profiling of educators as to how they employ innovative teaching methodologies with their teams. 4. MAGICAL WHITE KNIGHTS – a section which tries to understand the curriculum from the point of view of those stakeholders for whom it has been designed and who learn through it, with it and along with it each day through several years. With conversations and dialogue, I attempt to unravel the mystery behind the official jargon, decrypt, decipher and reveal the processes involved, the game-changing techniques of the select learning centres/schools/leaders/teachers who break the glass ceiling with regards to understanding the pedagogical maze of this sector.

Bringing together leading scientists and professionals in tropical forest ecology and management, this book examines in detail the interplay between timber harvesting and wildlife, from invertebrates to large mammal species. Its contributors suggest modifications to existing practices that can ensure a better future for the tropics' valuable--and invaluable--resources.

Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs return to New York City to investigate a triple murder and confront a killer terrorizing couples at their happiest--and most vulnerable in this explosive New York Times bestseller. In the early hours of a quiet, weekend morning in Manhattan's Diamond District, a brutal triple murder shocks the city. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs quickly take the case. Curiously, the killer has left behind a half-million dollars' worth of gems at the murder scene, a jewelry store on 47th street. As more crimes follow, it becomes clear that the killer's target is not gems, but engaged couples themselves. The Promisor vows to take the lives of men and women during their most precious moments--midway through the purchase of an engagement ring, after a meeting with a wedding planner, trying on the perfect gown for a day that will never come. The Promisor arrives silently, armed with knife or gun, and a time of bliss is transformed, in an instant, to one of horror. Soon the Promiser makes a dangerous mistake: leaving behind an innocent witness, Vimal Lahori, a talented young diamond cutter, who can help Rhyme and Sachs blow the lid off the case. They must track down Vimal before the killer can correct his fatal error. Then disaster strikes, threatening to tear apart the very fabric of the city--and providing the perfect cover for the killer to slip through the cracks.

There are two primary goals that this book wishes to achieve; 1) Reliability through redundancy of design that is not dependent upon the capability of the rest of the system, and 2) the maximum security achievable for our highly classified facilities that we are dependent upon for our survival. In order for each chapter to be a stand-alone entity, in some cases repetitive material found in other chapters is included to facilitate continuity. Hence you won't have to go to other chapters and sub heading to keep you abreast of the current material. There are two chapters, 7 and 9, that have specific items identified for civilian government contractors who perform oversees work at our embassies, chancelleries, and military facilities.

The impressive young scholar Bert Mosselmans, analyzing the theory and policy of Jevons, a major figure in the field of the history of economics, has put together a volume with broad international appeal, particularly in Europe, North America and Japan, that offers a synthetic approach to Jevons’ economic theory, applied economics and economic policy. Adopting a relativist approach to his subject, Mosselmans focuses on all aspects of Jevons’ theory, tying the different strands together where appropriate and discriminating where necessary. Examining the relation between theory and practise he situates Jevons within the history of economic thought and in relation to his logic, ethics, religion and aesthetics. Ideal for scholars working in the fields of philosophy and history as well as economics, this ambitious and insightful work offers a comprehensive analysis of one of the founding fathers of modern economic thought, whose work marked a new chapter in its history, bridging the gap between classical and neo-classical economics.

Get readers excited to learn about the various technological innovations that have occurred throughout history--and what could be possible in the future! Through informational text, interesting and intriguing facts in conjunction with vivid images, diagrams, and charts, readers will learn about miraculous inventions such as holograms, 3D printing, virtual reality technology, personalized medicine, and bionic body parts. Throughout this nonfiction title, readers will be engaged and encouraged to imagine the next big technological innovation that could change the world! This 6-Pack includes six copies of this title and a lesson plan.

تفشى فساد السحر في كثير من المجتمعات ومع قلة الخبراء في إبطاله من الصالحين، يقصد كثير من الناس المفسدين المدعين فيغشون الناس ويبتزون اموالهم بل يزيدون في اضرارهم بالسحر والجن احيانا . وسبب ذلك الجهل بالشريعة وترك العبادات من الصلاة والذكرالتي هي الحصن الح

In this comprehensive analysis of Arabic poetry during the period of the crusades (sixth/twelfth-seventh/thirteenth centuries), Osman Latiff provides an insightful examination of the poets who inspired Muslims to unite in the jihād against the Franks. The Cutting Edge of the Poet’s Sword not only contributes to our understanding of literary history, it also illuminates a broad spectrum of religiosity and the role of political propaganda in the anti-Frankish Muslim struggle. Latiff shows how poets, often used by the ruling elite to promote their rule, emphasised the centrality of Islam’s holy sites to inspire the Muslim response to the occupation and later reconquest of Jerusalem, and expressed some surprising views of Frankish Christians.