For Thomas, life just isn't as simple as it used to be. His parents have 'suggested' that he get married soon. He would prefer to join a priesthood somewhere and focus on developing spirituality. With his birthday fast approaching, and accepting that it's time to come to terms with his repressed feelings, he embarks on a personal pilgrimage to Japan. A change of scenery is good for clearing the mind, but Thomas is trying to make sense of his heart. There's someone he has to see again if he...

Globalization and Armed Conflict addresses one of the most important and controversial issues of our time: Does global economic integration foster or suppress violent disputes within and between states? Here, cutting-edge research by leading figures in international relations shows that expanding commercial ties between states pacifies some, but not necessarily all, political relationships. The authors demonstrate that the pacific effect of economic integration hinges on democratic structu...

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the physical properties of foods and the cutting-edge technologies employed to measure them. Delving into key topics such as optical, thermal, acoustic, rheological, and textural properties, it provides a detailed examination of principles, measurement methods, and applications in food quality evaluation. While it discusses advanced technologies such as near-infrared spectroscopy, computer vision, spectral imaging, acoustic resonance analysis,...

This edited volume focuses on the core aspects of sugarcane production-management under stressful environments as well as innovative strategies for augmenting crop growth & productivity through intrinsic and extrinsic manipulations. The various chapters aim at bringing out comprehensive and advance information on different aspects of sugarcane cultivation under stress environments and impact of climate change on the sustainability of sugarcane production. The book encompasses informati...