Deep within galaxies like the Milky Way, astronomers have found a fascinating legacy of Einstein's general theory of relativity: supermassive black holes. Connected to the evolution of the galaxies that contain these black holes, galactic nuclei are the sites of uniquely energetic events, including quasars, stellar tidal disruptions, and the generation of gravitational waves. This textbook is the first comprehensive introduction to dynamical processes occurring in the vicinity of supermassive black holes in their galactic environment. Filling a critical gap, it is an authoritative resource for astrophysics and physics graduate students, and researchers focusing on galactic nuclei, the astrophysics of massive black holes, galactic dynamics, and gravitational wave detection. It is an ideal text for an advanced graduate-level course on galactic nuclei and as supplementary reading in graduate-level courses on high-energy astrophysics and galactic dynamics. David Merritt summarizes the theoretical work of the last three decades on the evolution of galactic nuclei, the formation of massive black holes, and the interaction between black holes and stars. He explores in depth such important topics as observations of galactic nuclei, dynamical models, weighing black holes, motion near supermassive black holes, evolution of nuclei due to gravitational encounters, loss cone theory, and binary supermassive black holes. Self-contained and up-to-date, the textbook includes a summary of the current literature and previously unpublished work by the author. For researchers working on active galactic nuclei, galaxy evolution, and the generation of gravitational waves, this book will be an essential resource.

Outlining Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), this volume assesses its viability as the leading alternative to the standard cosmological model.

A complete guide to the collection, processing and storage of seeds collected in the wild describing procedures and protocols that are of international standard. Includes a comprehensive pictorial guide, in colour, of 1260 Australian seeds clearly showing their size and shape.

This is the first of several books that will chronicle one soldiers transition from private to lieutenant colonel but in no particular order. It will articulate many interesting storeies this soldier encountered as he moved through the ranks. This book tells true stories, but in some cases, the names have been changed to protect the guilty. This is a work of fiction for legal reasons only. Experiences are well documented and each chapter has a series of questions or discussion points based on content.

"Don't waste battalion command on this officer," would generally be a phrase army officers would prefer to be absent from their officer efficiency report, but in this case, it was a capture phrase in Chapter 5 - Mules and Doctors, and what follows will shock you.... Much like Georgia Hunter's New York Times Bestseller, "We Were the Lucky Ones", this book includes a series of questions that stimulate thought and reflection and, while a work of fiction, it is based on actual events in the life of a soldier as he transitions from Private to Lieutenant Colonel. Soldier Stories is about learning lessons about leadership, career management, risk-taking, ethics, dignity and respect, and a host of other values. Such learning, and enjoyable yet engaging reading is best done through true-life stories from an experienced leader and master storyteller. Such is the case with Soldier Stories by 27-year Army veteran and 15-year IBM manager, Dave Merritt. You will be hooked from the start as a young soldier makes career and ethical decisions about something as simple as wearing a mustache. There is a story about how to exercise leadership by addressing harassment (and getting arrested) and when it is right, moral, and ethical to stick your neck out. He addresses the training of a new lieutenant by an experienced sergeant and how that training set positive career accomplishments in motion. Merritt points out how to use the chain of command to correct ethical and regulatory improprieties and how to intervene on behalf of a colleague. In once chapter he illustrates through example a potential court-martial experience that should have been avoided and how important human dignity is to everyone. The chapter entitled, "Integrious" provides a humorous story regarding a simple but important word. After each chapter, there are questions, stimulating discussion points, and an opportunity to reflect on how you might handle a similar situation. This is teaching at its best, a worthwhile read, and an ideal classroom resource for military and civilian leadership, management and ethics classes wherever they are taught. Importantly, this is volume one of three from someone who rose from Private to Command of a huge battalion as an Army Lieutenant Colonel. Soldier Stories is captivating, educational, and funny, but it's also an easy and enjoyable read on a series of important topics. Buy it today. Once you start reading you will not want to put it down.