Bugs Rule

The essential illustrated introduction to insects for nonscience majors Bugs Rule! provides a lively introduction to the biology and natural history of insects and their noninsect cousins, such as spiders, scorpions, and centipedes. This richly illustrated textbook features more than 830 color photos, a concise overview of the basics of entomology, and numerous sidebars that highlight and explain key points. Detailed chapters cover each of the major insect groups, describing their physiology, behaviors, feeding habits, reproduction, human interactions, and more. Ideal for nonscience majors and anyone seeking to learn more about insects and their arthropod relatives, Bugs Rule! offers a one-of-a-kind gateway into the world of these amazing creatures. Places a greater emphasis on natural history than standard textbooks on the subject Covers the biology and natural history of all the insect orders Provides a thorough review of the noninsect arthropods, such as spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and crustaceans Features more than 830 color photos Highlights the importance of insects and other arthropods, including their impact on human society An online illustration package is available to professors

"Creepy, beautiful, icky and amazing." —Penny Le Couteur, author of Napoleon's Button Insects have been shaping our ecological world and plant life for over 400 million years. In fact, our world is essentially run by bugs—there are 1.4 billion for every human on the planet. In Bugged, journalist David MacNeal takes us on an off-beat scientific journey that weaves together history, travel, and culture in order to define our relationship with these mini-monsters. MacNeal introduces a cast of bug-lovers—from a woman facilitating tarantula sex and an exterminator nursing bedbugs (on his own blood), to a kingpin of the black market insect trade and a “maggotologist”—who obsess over the crucial role insects play in our everyday lives. Just like bugs, this book is global in its scope, diversity, and intrigue. Hands-on with pet beetles in Japan, releasing lab-raised mosquitoes in Brazil, beekeeping on a Greek island, or using urine and antlers as means of ancient pest control, MacNeal’s quest appeals to the squeamish and brave alike. Demonstrating insects’ amazingly complex mechanics, he strings together varied interactions we humans have with them, like extermination, epidemics, and biomimicry. And, when the journey comes to an end, MacNeal examines their commercial role in our world in an effort to help us ultimately cherish (and maybe even eat) bugs.

The 2008 International Symposium on Rule Interchange and Applications (RuleML th 2008), collocated in Orlando, Florida, with the 11 International Business Rules - rum, was the premier place to meet and to exchange ideas from all fields of rules te- nologies. The aim of RuleML 2008 was both to present new and interesting research results and to show successfully deployed rule-based applications. This annual sym- sium is the flagship event of the Rule Markup and Modeling Initiative (RuleML). The RuleML Initiative (www.ruleml.org) is a non-profit umbrella organization of several technical groups organized by representatives from academia, industry and government working on rule technologies and applications. Its aim is to promote the study, research and application of rules in heterogeneous distributed environments such as the Web. RuleML maintains effective links with other major international societies and acts as intermediary between various ‘specialized’ rule vendors, appli- tions, industrial and academic research groups, as well as standardization efforts from, for example, W3C, OMG, and OASIS.

As children acquire arithmetic skills, they often develop 'bugs'--small, local misconceptions that cause systematic errors. Mind Bugs combines a novel cognitive simulation process with careful hypothesis testing to explore how mathematics students acquire procedural skills in instructional settings, focusing in particular on these procedural misconceptions and what they reveal about the learning process.

These essays explore cognitively oriented empirical trials that use AI programming as a modeling methodology and that can provide valuable insight into a variety of learning problems. New perspectives and techniques are shaping the field of computer-aided instruction. These essays explore cognitively oriented empirical trials that use AI programming as a modeling methodology and that can provide valuable insight into a variety of learning problems. Drawing on work in cognitive theory, plan-based program recognition, qualitative reasoning, and cognitive models of learning and teaching, this exciting research covers a wide range of alternatives to tutoring dialogues. Contents Artificial Intelligence and Learning Environments, William J. Clancey, Elliot Soloway * Cognitive Modeling and Intelligence Tutoring, John R. Anderson, C. Franklin Boyle, Albert T. Corbett, Matthew W. Lewis * Understanding and Debugging Novice Programs, W. Lewis Johnson * Causal Model Progressions as a Foundation for Intelligent Learning Environments, Barbara Y. White and John R. Frederiksen

Insects live all over the world and are food for many animals, including other insects! Children will be fascinated to learn about the many ways these tiny creatures defend themselves against predators. Well-written text, full-color photographs, and clearly labeled illustrations help children discover - The senses insects use to avoid predators - How insects bite and sting to defend themselves - How insects blend in with their surroundings in order to remain unnoticed - How the brightly colored bodies of some insects warn predators to stay away Teacher's guide available.