New Releases by Ines

Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease with a strong genetic predisposition. Formerly considered a purely skin disease, it is now recognised as a chronic systemic condition that may affect the nails and joints and can increase the risk of coexisting chronic conditions, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. The majority of patients experience mild to moderate severity of psoriasis, for which topical treatments are the first-line therapy. For more severe forms, ultraviolet therapy or systemic treatments, such as methotrexate and monoclonal antibodies, are available and can be highly effective. Despite these options, some patients experience insufficient results or adverse effects, and psoriasis is well established to significantly reduce health-related quality of life. In 2014, the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA 67.9 emphasised the need for new, widely accessible treatments for psoriasis. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to evaluate novel small-molecule treatment options for psoriasis within the field of redox medicine. In Study I, we investigated small-molecule MutT Homolog 1 (MTH1) inhibitors in preclinical models. The enzyme MTH1 is crucial for preventing oxidative damage to guanine, a nucleotide and building block of DNA. Cancer cells exhibit increased oxidative DNA damage and over-express MTH1 to protect their survival. Inhibition of MTH1, a strategy to disrupt this protective mechanism, is currently under clinical investigation by Prof. Helleday''s group at Karolinska Institutet (KI). Psoriasis shares pathological features with cancer, such as hyperproliferation, a pro-inflammatory environment, and angiogenesis, although malignant transformation generally does not occur in psoriatic cells. Psoriatic tissue also exhibits disrupted redox homeostasis, and we demonstrated in Study I that the enzyme MTH1 is upregulated in human psoriatic skin. MTH1 inhibition with subcutaneous injections reduced histological characteristics and inflammation in an in vivo mouse model of psoriasis. Our results of genetic analyses further support MTH1 inhibitors as a potential future treatment option for psoriasis. In Study II, we investigated the functional role of the gene nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), which has been identified as a susceptibility gene for psoriasis. It has also been suggested as a disease classifier, distinguishing it from different types of eczema, another common skin disease. The small molecule nitric oxide (NO) is produced by NOS2, and other isoforms of NOS. NO has been shown to exhibit pleiotropic effects depending on its concentration in cells, which can lead to opposite effects on various biological functions, such as promoting or inhibiting proliferation and inflammation. We demonstrated that NOS2 contributes significantly to the psoriatic phenotype in a mouse model of psoriasis. Additionally, we observed beneficial effects of an NO-donor cream in the imiquimod (IMQ) mouse model, with decreased keratinocyte proliferation and reduced inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis. The results of Study II highlight the therapeutical potential of an NO-donor cream as a novel topical treatment option for the majority of patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis. In Study III, we evaluated a topical formulation of an MTH1 inhibitor (MTH1i TH1579) and demonstrated a diminished psoriatic phenotype in an in vivo mouse model of psoriasis. We showed that the number of IL-17-producing T-cells, crucial immune cells involved in driving the inflammation, was significantly reduced in murine skin following short-term treatment. Additionally, we observed a near abolition of IL-17 gene expression, an effect that may play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. Furthermore, we explored an MTH1-S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2)-Enhancer of zeste homolog (EZH2) pathway potentially involved in the antiproliferative effects of topical MTH1 inhibition through its impact on the cell cycle. In conclusion, this thesis provides the foundation for the development of novel treatment options for psoriasis with the small-molecule substances MTH1i TH1579 and NO, the latter incorporated into an NO-donor cream, showing beneficial effects in a well-established mouse model of psoriasis. Psoriasis är en inflammatorisk och kronisk hudsjukdom som drabbar människor i alla åldrar världen över. Vanligtvis uppstår välavgränsade röda plack med silvriga eller grå fjäll på huden. Sjukdomen ansågs tidigare vara en ren hudsjukdom, men betraktas numera som en inflammatorisk systemsjukdom, vilket innebär att inflammationen också påverkar inre delar av kroppen. I detta sammanhang är det betydelsefullt att personer med hög sjukdomsbörda löper en ökad risk för samtidigt förekommande kroniska sjukdomar, såsom obesitas (fetma) och hjärt-kärlsjukdomar. Många patienter med psoriasis upplever också påverkan på naglar och leder. Det är välkänd att psoriasis har en betydande negativ inverkan på hälsorelaterad livskvalitet. Trots stora framsteg under de senaste decennierna i förståelsen av sjukdomens bakomliggande mekanismer och individens geners bidragande roll, finns det fortfarande ingen botande behandling. Ungefär två tredjedelar av patienterna med psoriasis har en mild till måttlig svårighetsgrad av sjukdomen. Mild psoriasis behandlas vanligtvis med mjukgörande medel och glukokortikoider (kortison), antingen ensamt eller i kombination med kolekalciferol (vitamin D3). Vid otillräcklig effekt tillämpas ljusbehandling som tillägg, följt av systemisk behandling med immunmodulerande läkemedel, där metotrexat är förstahandsvalet. Biologiska läkemedel utgör sista steget i behandlingstrappan. Dessa läkemedel är antikroppar i sprutform och anses för närvarande de mest effektiva behandlingsalternativen. Trots deras höga effektivitet finns det patienter med psoriasis som inte svarar på behandlingen eller som drabbas av allvarliga biverkningar. År 2014 betonade Världshälsoförsamlingen i resolution WHA 67.9 behovet av nya, allmänt tillgängliga behandlings-alternativ för psoriasis. I detta sammanhang är utvecklingen av nya terapier särskilt relevant för den majoritet av patienter med mild till måttlig psoriasis. De tre delarbetena i avhandlingen beskriver experimentella studier inom redoxmedicin för att utveckla nya behandlingar mot psoriasis som kan vara lämpliga för topikal behandling i salva- eller krämform på huden. Små-molekylära ämnen undersöktes, bestående av kemiska molekyler som har förmågan att påverka sjukdomsmekanismer i cellerna. Redoxmedicin är ett relativt nytt forskningsområde som fokuserar på kemiska processer som involverar oxidation- och reduktionsreaktioner (överföring av elektroner), ofta i samband med syre i kroppen. I den första studien undersöktes effekten av MTH1-hämmare i cellförsök och i en musmodell för psoriasis. MTH1-hämmarna utvecklades av en forskargrupp vid Karolinska Institutet, ledd av professor Helleday, som är verksam inom cancerforskning. MTH1-enzymet förhindrar att oxidativt skadade byggstenar (nukleotider) infogas i cellens DNA. Cancerceller utsätts för ökad oxidativ stress på grund av sin höga delningstakt. När enzymet hämmas ansamlas oxidativt skadade nukleotider, vilket leder till att cellerna drabbas av oxidativa DNA-skador och dör, en mekanism som här utnyttjas som behandlingsstrategi mot cancer. Psoriasisceller känne-tecknas också av en hög delningstakt och därmed förhöjd oxidativ stress, även om det sker i en godartad process. Detta inspirerade hypotesen att MTH1-hämmare även skulle kunna vara effektiva mot psoriasis. Eftersom positiva effekter av MTH1-hämmaren vid subkutan applikation (injektion) observerades på den psoriatriska inflammationen i musmodellen i studie I, fortsattes arbetet i studie III med att testa en krämformulering av MTH1-hämmaren. Även MTH1-krämen visade tydliga antiinflammatoriska effekter i mushud redan efter några få applikationer. En nyligen beskriven signalväg, som har betydelse för cellcykeln, undersöktes, vilket kan vara en förklaring varför den snabba delningen av hudceller bromsas och bidrar till att MTH1-hämmare verkar fungera som en innovativ behandlingsstrategi mot psoriasis. I studie II undersöktes en liten gasmolekyl, kväveoxid (NO), som bildas i alla däggdjur samt i vissa växter. Forskning under de senaste decennierna har visat att NO har olika funktioner beroende på dess koncentration. Den används bland annat av celler för att överföra signaler, eftersom den lätt diffunderar genom cellmembran. Vid infektioner med bakterier eller virus kan NO i höga koncentrationer användas för att eliminera dessa patogener. NO är en kraftfull vasodilatator, vilket innebär att det får blodkärlen att vidgas, vilket i sin tur leder till att blodtrycket sänks. En brist på NO i blodkärlen är en viktig mekanism bakom högt blodtryck. Genen för enzymet NOS2, som producerar NO i höga koncentrationer, har i studier visat sig vara betydelsefull i samband med psoriasis. I studie II undersöktes därför betydelsen av NOS2 för psoriasis i cell- och djurmodeller. I mus-försök analyserades effekten av ökad NO genom applicering av en NO-frisättande kräm. En förbättring av den psoriatriska inflammationen observerades, vilket indikerar att behandling med en NO-frisättande kräm kan vara en möjlig framtida behandlingsstrategi mot psoriasis. Sammanfattningsvis banar de tre studierna i avhandlingen väg för innovativa behandlingsalternativ för psoriasis inom redoxmedicin, med särskilt fokus på topikala behandlingar som kan nå en större patientgrupp, där nuvarande behandlingsalternativ är begränsade.

It was a bold, ambitious and wildly arrogant idea: extending the reach of communism into space. Spurred on by the defeat of Hitler and the competitive rivalry with the United States, the Soviet space programme saw a frenetic surge of scientific activity focused on the objective of demonstrating Communist mastery beyond the confines of the Earth. In order to create the optimally standardized bodies that cosmonauts would require, top secret military laboratories were set up in 1970s East Germany. The New Man – the modern colonist of space – was intensively trained for the purpose of surviving years of weightlessness in outer space. Experiments were carried out in prisons, hospitals and army barracks with the aim of creating the perfect body: self-sufficient and able to endure extreme conditions for as long as possible. In order to exert dominance over space, it was first necessary to exert total control over those who were being trained to conquer it. Ines Geipel unravels this largely unknown and extraordinary history by delving into East German military records and talking to those who bear the scars of this state-inflicted trauma. Some of the older scientists conducting experiments had already served under the Nazi regime; others threw themselves into collaborating with the Stasi via the military research programme in order to avoid dealing with the war’s emotional legacy. Written like a thriller and infused with empathy from someone who had herself experienced the debilitating effects of state-administered doping programmes in the former GDR, this book exposes some of the most disturbing episodes in Germany’s recent past.

This book introduces in a constructive manner a general framework for regression and fitting methods for many applications and tasks involving data on manifolds. The methodology has important and varied applications in machine learning, medicine, robotics, biology, computer vision, human biometrics, nanomanufacturing, signal processing, and image analysis, etc. The first chapter gives motivation examples, a wide range of applications, raised challenges, raised challenges, and some concerns. The second chapter gives a comprehensive exploration and step-by-step illustrations for Euclidean cases. Another dedicated chapter covers the geometric tools needed for each manifold and provides expressions and key notions for any application for manifold-valued data. All loss functions and optimization methods are given as algorithms and can be easily implemented. In particular, many popular manifolds are considered with derived and specific formulations. The same philosophy is used in all chapters and all novelties are illustrated with intuitive examples. Additionally, each chapter includes simulations and experiments on real-world problems for understanding and potential extensions for a wide range of applications.

Ines, Her Highness: Unbreakable is a story of an American girl raised in Cuba, who caught sight the end of WWII, the Fidel Castro Revolution, and returned to the USA at the start of the Vietnam War. Her upbringing prepared her to understand and overcome dangers, losses, and misunderstandings in cultural, spiritual, political, and personal ways. At the present time, Ines Beilke is much sought after to share her expertise with the youth of today, in giving practical and encouraging approaches to working, loving, and living, and helping others find their purpose in life. She is proud of being an American, the home of the free and the brave, the best country in the world, for having been grounded and built under the Judeo-Christian values and laws. She speaks on keeping America as the place to be, to work and find success, because “In God We Trust,” as we have stamped on the American money.

Germany, like many countries, has witnessed the rise of extremist far-right groups and parties in recent years, and no more so than in the eastern regions. Why have those parts of Germany that used to be part of the old GDR turned out to be so supportive of extremist groups and parties and such fertile ground for violence and hatred? To try to find answers to this question, Ines Geipel, the former East German Olympic athlete, returns to her past in order explore the matrix of fear and anxiety that shaped the lives of people in the GDR. Spurred on by conversations at the bedside of her brother as he lay dying of a brain tumour, she probes into her own family background and discovers a web of secrets and denial that reflected larger processes of East German society. She finds that her father had worked as a special agent for the Stasi until the service had no further use for him, and her grandfather had joined the Nazi party in 1933 and was stationed in Riga at a time when tens of thousands of Jews were murdered in the nearby forests. Silence and denial within her family was mirrored in the collective loss of history outside her home, and the repression of ideological non-conformity made it difficult for a traumatized population to grapple with and come to terms with a brutal past. Instead, a politics of forgetting emerged which served the ends of an authoritarian state and seeped into private lives of individuals with deep and lasting consequences. This powerful memoir, grippingly told, will appeal to anyone interested in the history of modern Germany, in the rise of far-right extremism and xenophobia and in the historical forces that shape the present.

The author, Ines Sachs, and her husband make the decision to live out the dream of life in the sunny south of France. In this book, she affectionately describes, with a large dose of humour, their emigration: how a dream becomes a plan (not for nothing is she married to a project manager), the minor difficulties and major hurdles that need to be overcome, and ultimately, the arrival in their new homeland, which doesn’t go nearly as smoothly as they had imagined.

Stell dir vor, du bist Single und wachst nach einer Partynacht plötzlich verheiratet auf … Ein humorvoller Weihnachtsroman über unerwartete Verbindungen und die Irrungen der Liebe Frisch getrennt genießt die lebensfrohe Skadi Baker Weihnachten in Las Vegas – glamourös und mit vollem Portemonnaie. Doch ihre Feierstimmung schlägt schnell um, als sie am ersten Weihnachtstag plötzlich verheiratet neben einem Fremden aufwacht: dem geheimnisvollen Jasper. Was wie ein böser Scherz beginnt, entpuppt sich als gewagte Wette ihrer wohlhabenden Freunde. Kann Skadi einen Monat mit dem Barsänger in Weihnachtsmann-Kluft verheiratet bleiben, winkt ein Tag, an dem ihre Freunde allem zustimmen müssen, was sie verlangt. Doch Alkohol und eine urplötzliche Ehe sind nur der Anfang. Zwischen Las Vegas und Honolulu eröffnet sich ein Monat voller Herausforderungen. Wird Skadis Ehrgeiz ausreichen, um mit Jasper diese skurrile Prüfung zu bestehen? Und welche Geheimnisse verbirgt der Mann, den sie niemals selbst gewählt hätte? Dies ist eine überarbeitete Neuausgabe des bereits erschienenen Titels Marry me, Santa. Erste Leser:innenstimmen „Eine herzerwärmende und humorvolle romantische Komödie. Ich konnte nicht aufhören zu lesen!“ „Skadi und Jasper sind so charismatische Charaktere, und ihre unerwartete Ehe sorgt für viele amüsante Momente. Absolute Empfehlung.“ „Ines Vitouladitis schreibt einen Weihnachtsroman über Liebe, Vertrauen und unerwartete Wendungen, der mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite gefesselt hat." „Las Vegas und Honululu – es gibt wohl kaum schönere Settings." „Die Beschreibungen sind so lebendig, dass ich das Gefühl hatte, selbst dort zu sein. Eine perfekte Lektüre für die weihnachtlichen Feiertage!“

Murder and Lies Bring Angie Closer to Truth in Words with Friends, a Murder Mystery by Ines Saint Secrets can be deadly, even among friends. When two old friends of Angie’s are found dead, Angie knows the murders are related to her parents’ case and that her friends knew more than they were letting on. If she solves their murders, she’ll finally learn who killed her parents. But first, she needs to figure out whether Lieutenant Mahoney is her friend or if she’s in for another betrayal. Unfortunately, her confused feelings for him keep getting in the way of her instincts, and nobody appears to be who they say they are. Angie needs every friend, along with her unique family power, to help her figure out who she can trust, decode new clues, and outrun spies, from Ohio to Puerto Rico. Publisher’s Note: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of humor, romance, and the paranormal will appreciate the Angie Gomez Murder Mystery series. Stories contain mild profanity and no explicit sex and can be enjoyed by readers 13 and up. “Abuela and her card reading...a delicious piece of the story.” ~Andra Maguran The Angie Gomez Murder Mystery Series are best enjoyed in order: Last Words Word Games Words with Friends Motive About the Author Ines Saint was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and grew up with one foot on an island of Puerto Rico and the other in the States. She’s bilingual and bicultural and has spent the last eighteen years raising her fun, inspiring boys and sharing her life with her husband/best friend/biggest fan. Her greatest joys are spending quality time with family and close friends, traveling, reading feel-good historical fiction, hiking, and snuggling next to her dog, Hobbit.

Globalizing the Soybean asks how the soybean conquered the West and analyzes why and how the crop gained entry into agriculture and industry in regions beyond Asia in the first half of the twentieth century. Historian Ines Prodöhl describes the soybean’s journey centered on three hubs: Northeast China, as the crop’s main growing area up to the Second World War; Germany, to where most of the beans in the interwar period were shipped; and the United States, which became the leading cultivator of soy worldwide during the 1940s. This book explores the German and U.S. adoption of the soybean being closely tied to global economic and political changes, such as the two world wars and the Great Depression. The attraction of the soybean to stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic was linked to a need for cheap alternatives to butter and lard and a desire for greater quantities of meat, which led to the soybean becoming a cheap resource for fat and fodder. Only occasionally was it also used as food. This volume is useful for anyone who is studying or interested in economic history and commodity trading in the twentieth century. It is also connected to the histories of capitalism, globalization, imperialism, and materiality. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license

As a fae, she’s meant for one of her own kind. But when she falls for a dragon, she will sacrifice it all to be with her forbidden love… Years ago, fairy princess Marigold fell in love with a dragon shifter—a forbidden affair which resulted in her being disowned and exiled. Doomed from the start, the budding relationship was shattered when a dragon consumes her true love. The beast adds insult to injury by stalking Mari day and night, taunting her by watching her with the eyes of her soulmate who she can no longer reach. Dragons need female sacrifices to tame their beasts. But those females are supposed to be human and not fae. Trapped in his animal form after falling for a fairy, dragon shifter Rhyol struggles daily with his beast to set him free to return to the fairy he loves. When trouble at home brings an unexpected invite for Mari to return to her people and her land, she’s finally ready to give up on any chance of Rhyol breaking free of his dragon. But when he learns of her decision, Rhyol will move between heaven and earth, crossing the veil between worlds to take back his life and the fairy he loves. If you love alpha male shifters, fated mates, and steamy romance with a touch of 80’s nostalgia, then you don’t want to miss The Last Dragons series!

Sarah, Samantha, Audrey, and Nathalie—four women with closely related destinies. Some suffer the torments of a tortuous marriage while the others dream of having a ring put on their finger. They hope to find happiness and their values in the man who shares their lives. Society, presenting marriage as a woman’s greatest achievement, and divorce as her greatest failure. So they delude themselves, cry and die in toxic relationships when the charming man who was supposed to protect their lives turns into an executioner, from one day to the next and sometimes just after the honeymoon—a choice that gradually turns into a way of the cross. A diamond ring rusted away from the beatings. A queen’s crown very quickly became a crown of thorns.

A New Murder Mystery and New Clues to Her Parents’ Deaths, Angie Gomez Discovers Truth is Stranger than Soap Operas in Word Games, a Murder Mystery by Ines Saint --Dayton, Ohio – Present Day-- When soccer-star Ronnie Martinez is found dead, it’s ruled a suicide. Ronnie’s mother isn''t convinced, she thinks he was murdered. But only Angie and her cohorts at Riverside Funeral Home are willing to investigate. Angie can hear a dead person’s last words, but she still has a lot to learn about sleuthing, spying, and magic. The threats on her life tell her she''s close to the truth as Angie lands in deep-trouble and meets a fowl rescuer. Publisher’s Note: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of humor, romance, and the paranormal will appreciate the Angie Gomez Murder Mystery series. Stories contain mild profanity and no explicit sex and can be enjoyed by readers 13 and up. "A deeply likeable story, Angie is the type of lead character a reader can fall in love with." -Andra Maguran The Angie Gomez Murder Mystery Series are best enjoyed in order: Last Words Word Games Words with Friends About the Author Ines Saint was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and grew up with one foot on an island of Puerto Rico and the other in the States. She’s bilingual and bicultural and has spent the last eighteen years raising her fun, inspiring boys and sharing her life with her husband/best friend/biggest fan. Her greatest joys are spending quality time with family and close friends, traveling, reading feel-good historical fiction, hiking, and snuggling next to her dog, Hobbit.

This book centers around a dialogue between Roger Penrose and Emanuele Severino about one of most intriguing topics of our times, the comparison of artificial intelligence and natural intelligence, as well as its extension to the notions of human and machine consciousness. Additional insightful essays by Mauro D''Ariano, Federico Faggin, Ines Testoni, Giuseppe Vitiello and an introduction of Fabio Scardigli complete the book and illuminate different aspects of the debate. Although from completely different points of view, all the authors seem to converge on the idea that it is almost impossible to have real "intelligence" without a form of "consciousness". In fact, consciousness, often conceived as an enigmatic "mirror" of reality (but is it really a mirror?), is a phenomenon under intense investigation by science and technology, particularly in recent decades. Where does this phenomenon originate from (in humans, and perhaps also in animals)? Is it reproducible on some "device"? Do we have a theory of consciousness today? Will we arrive to build thinking or conscious machines, as machine learning, or cognitive computing, seem to promise? These questions and other related issues are discussed in the pages of this work, which provides stimulating reading to both specialists and general readers. The Chapter "Hard Problem and Free Will: An Information-Theoretical Approach" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Prized for her willowy-thin form, she''d never hungered for life. But when she is sacrificed to a dragon, she becomes a glutton for his touch... After surviving years of catcalls and casting couches, model Lily Bishop suffers nightly from sleep paralysis. It takes the touch of the gentle dragon shifter Elek to free her from her night terrors. Though Elek does not want a mate, he agrees to place his mark on Lily which will keep her safe from other shifters in the Veil. Mated in name only, Lily is safe from being sought after by the other shifters looking for a mate and can now have the quiet life she always dreamed of. That is until she begins to yearn for more from her fake dragon mate than their easy friendship. An accident that sent his mother into a catatonic state has kept Elek''s dragon on lock down. That tight leash the man has on the dragon loosens when he reluctantly agrees to mate quiet, withdrawn Lily. At first Elek believes the two of them can have a quiet life together watching old sitcoms and 80s movies. But one whiff of Lily and Elek''s dragon wants to claim the comely model in the flesh. As man and beast struggle for control, other shifters learn that Elek''s claim on Lily is not complete which leaves Lily open to mating games. Now Lily is in danger of losing the safety she craves. But she''d throw caution to the wind with just one sign that the dragon she''s falling for wants to stake his claim for real. Elek has already lost his heart to Lily, but if he loses control of his dragon the man he is will succumb to the wiles of the beast and the past could repeat itself, causing him to lose the woman that he craves with his whole self. If you love alpha male shifters, fated mates, and steamy romance with a touch of 80’s nostalgia, then you don’t want to miss The Last Dragons series!

An all-new storybook, with over 30 stickers, Based on Netflix''s Waffles + Mochi, which is prodcued by President Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground! Before Waffles and Mochi can make a special meal for their friends, they need to learn about a very important ingredient—water. Follow them around the world as they learn how necessary water is and the different ways it can be used. Children ages 3 to 7 who love Netflix''s new show about friendship and fun-filled eating will enjoy this full-color storybook that includes over 30 stickers. Join Waffles and Mochi for global adventures that reveal the stories behind our food. Produced by President Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground and streaming on Netflix, Waffles + Mochi is an entertaining mix of puppetry, animation, celebrity chefs, and famous guest stars. This delightful new show introduces young children and their families to a world of cooking and fearless eating.

How do people in poverty and homelessness change their lives and get back on their feet? Homeless shelters across the world play a huge role in this process. Many of them are religious, but there is a lot of diversity in faith-based non-profits that assist people affected by poverty and homelessness. In this timely book, the authors look at three homeless shelters that take more or less intensive approaches to faith, community, and programming. In one shelter, for instance, residents are required to do a program of classes that includes group Bible study, worship, and self-evaluation. The other two examined are significantly less faith-based, but in different ways and with different structures. The authors show how the three shelters tackle homelessness differently, drawing on narrative biographical interviews and case studies with residents, interviews with staff, and case study research of the three shelters. Entering into significant debates in social theory over religion, agency, cognitive action, and culture, this book is important reading for scholars and students in religious studies, sociology and social work.

Reviews "In the book, Ines sets out the new path for businesses to follow to create workplaces of our future. She dives into the science behind each of these three business imperatives and follows this up with clear ABC’s and CBA’s on how to make the shift starting right now. Create real, sustainable change in their teams and organisations straight away." -- Sarah Metcalfe, Chief Happiness Officer & Co-Leader, Woohoo Unlimited "This book will challenge you to combine collaboration, sustainability and emotional intelligence to create a better business. Ines’ experience in innovation makes her the perfect to explore how thinking beyond profit alone can lead to more impact." -- Meggie Palmer, Founder PepTalkHer, Fortune 500 Executive Coach & Facilitator "It is a complex but mandatory path, full of challenges and in which, at the moment, we are all apprentices. Hence the importance of this work to help the fundamental efforts to achieve a sustainable happy profit." -- Wagner de Siqueira Pinto, ESG, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility Advisor About the Book What do a Brazilian bank, a Spanish clothing company and a British cosmetics company have in common? They are all proof that a business can be sustainable, happy and profitable. We’ll explore exactly how those areas are intertwined and how they serve to enhance and encourage each other by looking at plenty more real life examples across a range of sectors and organisations. Unlike other books, which simply tell you that you MUST be these things, this book will also tell you HOW to do it. Each section contains practical ideas you can implement immediately—whatever your role—realistically considered and fully resourced.

The first comprehensive analysis of the applicability of international trade law to digital services at multilateral and regional levels.

Puji syukur kepada Tuhan Yang Maha Esa karena buku kompilasi mata kuliah Discourse Analysis ini telah rampung disusun. Buku kompilasi ini berisi tulisan ilmiah dari mahasiswa yang mengambil mata kuliah Discourse Analysis di Program Studi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Inggris, Fakultas Bahasa dan Budaya, Universitas Darma Persada. Mahasiswa membahas fenomena penggunaan bahasa yang terjadi di dalam suatu wacana, baik tertulis maupun lisan. Oleh sebab itu, topik kajian dalam buku kompilasi ini pun beragam, sesuai dengan ketertarikan mahasiswa terkait suatu isu tertentu, yang dalam konteks ini, berkaitan erat dengan perilaku penggunaan bahasa dalam komunikasi di masyarakat. Tak lupa, tim penyusun menyampaikan terima kasih kepada mahasiswa yang telah menitipkan tulisan ilmiah mereka kepada kami sehingga kami dapat menyusun buku kompilasi ini. Ucapan terima kasih juga disampaikan ke pihak lain yang telah membantu menyelesaikan buku kompilasi ini. Akhir kata, semoga buku kompilasi ini dapat menjadi referensi bacaan bagi banyak orang, khususnya mahasiswa yang menekuni bidang linguistik dan sangat tertarik dengan bidang kajian Ilmu Analisis Wacana

Aim: The European Reference Networks (ERNs) provide clinicians and patients the opportunity to collaborate at EU level to improve diagnosis, care and treatment for people living with rare and complex conditions. However, building a partnership culture to systematically involve patients in ERN activities and decision-making structures is challenging, partly because the role of patient representatives and the value of this collaboration are not always understood. The objective of this project was to develop an evaluation framework to assess the impact of patient engagement in the ERNs and to provide evidence on the value of patient-clinician partnership. Methods: The evaluation was developed by EURORDIS and patient representatives involved in the ERNs (ePAG advocates) through a participatory and iterative process. The work was organised in three different phases: (1) clarify roles and identify common goals for ePAG advocates’ engagement in the ERNs; (2) define a set of measures; and (3) test the measures in three different ePAGs (European Patient Advocacy Groups). Results: The project allowed developing a common understanding among ePAG advocates of their role and goals in the ERNs and defining a patient-driven evaluation framework to assess their level of engagement in the ERNs’ activities and how effectively they were working to fulfil their role. Conclusion: Engaging with ERN clinicians to refine the framework would probably render it more relevant to the reality and priorities of the specific ERNs and more valuable as a tool to build a strong partnership culture. Such an evaluation framework could be integrated into the ERNs’ quality improvement system to ensure that the networks’ activities are driven by and remain responsive to patients’ needs.

In a world where she had no autonomy over her body, she refused to bend. But when she is sacrificed to a dragon, she’ll become eager to submit. When Rose Bishop and her twin sister go on the latest in an endless line of casting calls, neither dreams their next role will be that of real-life damsels in distress. Kidnapped and taken to another realm, they come face to face with men who turn into dragons. Dragon shifter Ilia has called dibs on the last couple of women that have come beyond the Veil. Unfortunately, none of his brothers have respected his dibs. When the latest arrivals are delivered, Ilia''s certain he’s finally found the perfect match. So why does his future mate’s sister make his beast feel consumed with a fiery heat of desire? When one of the shifters claims Rose''s sister is his mate, Rose is prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect her and her twin. But safeguarding her heart won’t be quite so easy when her new brother-to-be can’t seem to take his golden gaze, or his hands, off Rose? Though she can''t seem to form the words to give Ilia explicit consent, she also can''t seem to get enough of his delicious kisses and seductive touches. It takes Ilia only one encounter to realize the sister he truly wants is Rose. But why can''t she admit the fact of her desire for him as well? Lucky for Rose, Ilia is fluent in the language of safewords and knows exactly how to push her limits to get her to admit what she truly wants. Just when Ilia has everything he''s ever dreamed of within his grasp, a menace from his past threatens his chance at love as well as his humanity. If you love alpha male shifters, fated mates, and steamy romance with a touch of 80’s nostalgia, then you don’t want to miss The Last Dragons series!

What starts as a battle of wills soon turns carnal when an activist and a highborn young lady strike up an indecent proposal. In a matriarchal society where men are second class citizens, I’ve found my purpose advocating to increase my gender’s rights. Lady Alyss and I are on opposing sides of legislation that could improve the lot of men in our world—so why does my mouth get dry and my arguments falter whenever she’s around? But the lady is harboring a colorful secret, breaking the bonds of propriety and the expectations of her powerful family by serving as the muse to my artist bondmate. He finds inspiration in her sensuous body, and while I should hate her, I can’t stop myself from being drawn to her as well. With the fate of men everywhere in the balance, I stand to lose more than my husband and the woman we are both coming to crave. But he and I are in agreement—we have to make her ours, regardless of the consequences.

Murder Victims Are Telling Secrets in the Mortuary in Last Words, a Murder Mystery by Ines Saint Dayton, Ohio – Present Day When fortune-teller, Abuela Luci, informs her granddaughter, Angie, that “Many changes are coming your way,” no one is more skeptical than Angie herself. Addicted to telenovelas and proud of her Puerto Rican roots, Angie Gomez Gomez lives alone with her dog, Tito Bendito. While she ekes out a living sculpting busts of prominent people she seldom admires, Angie’s true passion is solving the decade-old mystery of her parents’ murder. But when the town mayor, and former client, dies, the family asks Angie to do the post-mortem makeup. With the support of Pappa, the funeral director, and his grandson, Anthony, Angie commences her work in the depths of the mortuary, where she’s startled to discover that she can hear the echo of the dead person’s last thoughts, and the mayor’s last words were: “Bonnie is dead.” After a few false starts and misadventures, the three of them use Angie’s newfound ability to solve the mayor’s murder without revealing to the police how they got the information. The funeral home starts offering discounts to murder victims’ families just so Angie can hear their last words and solve their murders, while Angie hopes her new ability leads to her parents’ murderer. With the police growing suspicious, Angie herself may be the next victim as someone doesn’t want their secrets told. Publisher’s Note: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of humor, romance, and the paranormal will appreciate the Angie Gomez Murder Mystery series. Stories contain mild profanity and no explicit sex and can be enjoyed by readers 13 and up. “Abuela and her card reading...a delicious piece of the story.” ~Andra Maguran The Angie Gomez Murder Mystery Series are best enjoyed in order: Last Words Word Games Words with Friends About the Author Ines Saint was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and grew up with one foot on an island of Puerto Rico and the other in the States. She’s bilingual and bicultural and has spent the last eighteen years raising her fun, inspiring boys and sharing her life with her husband/best friend/biggest fan. Her greatest joys are spending quality time with family and close friends, traveling, reading feel-good historical fiction, hiking, and snuggling next to her dog, Hobbit.

What starts as an uneasy truce, soon turns carnal when two rivals vie for the object of their desire. I’ve been in love with Lady Merlyn since we were children. But as a servant, I’ve always known she was beyond my reach. Her betrothed had me thrown out of her house in a fit of jealousy. Since then I’ve survived as a Pleasure Hound, selling my body to rich women just to keep food in my belly. But Merlyn has never left my heart. Now, all these years later, the same man who ruined my life comes to me with his hand out seeking my services in learning the art of pleasuring Merlyn. I want to refuse him, but the promise of pleasing her and ensuring her happiness is too great. What starts as an uneasy truce between me and my greatest enemy soon turns carnal when Merlyn learns of the secret lessons… and demands to be included. Two men want her heart, but what happens when what Merlyn wants is both of us—together? Once I have her in my arms, I vow I’ll never let her go. If that means holding on to him as well, it may not be the hardship I always thought.

What starts as a simple ritual soon turns carnal when a monk falls for a betrothed woman under his tutelage. Growing up in a world where men outnumber women ten to one, I escape a lonely existence and become a Pleasure Monk. When one of our precious, rare women chooses the men who will be her protectors and bondmates, I instruct them in the art of feminine pleasure. Though I can never find a love of my own, at least I have a purpose in teaching others to cater to a woman''s every sexual need. Or I had a purpose. My services were sought after by many bonded females. Until the day I screwed up. Literally. Now I have a final chance to redeem myself. If I fail again, the entire Order of Pleasure Monks is in jeopardy. However, when I meet my new charge, all my plans crumble into dust. Lady Chanyn is pure perfection, a blessing from the Goddess, who awakens my heart and my loins. I will risk anything to have her—my brothers, my vows, my future. I will not stop until she is mine.

"Binding: PB"--

When my marriage ended, I thought my life was over. I even tried to get the cheating bastard back. But being abducted by aliens really put things in perspective. I’m forced onto a ship with a pair of sexy twin brothers who were born to share a mate. One of them believes that I’m meant to belong to them and is ready to be a husband and father. The other wants nothing to do with a true mate -at first. After our first kiss, he can’t keep his hands off me. Together they open me up to a universe of pleasure I never dreamed possible. But as a bond forms between us, I realize they have no plans to take me back to Earth. Can my wounded heart take on not one but two alpha males? And is this really the family I’ve been looking for?

Dying’s actually not so bad. Almost immediately, I’m finding that the afterlife has its perks. Like the hot, blue-skinned angel of death who’s whisking my body away from the surface of the Earth. I don’t protest when he beams the two of us straight into his opulent bedroom and then makes me see stars. Then I see double...His equally sexy twin brother is hotter than a supernova and wants to probe me solely for my pleasure. Wait? Probe? That’s when I realize this is more than a fantasy. Because I’m not dead. I’ve been abducted by aliens! They say I’m their soulmate, their destiny, and they’re never letting me go.

A biography of Mother Teresa that pays close attention to how her childhood in Albania affected her spiritual and pastoral development.