L'inferno è diventato una terra di conquista. Lucifero è misteriosamente scomparso. I restanti Principi dell'Inferno desiderano il suo trono: fra di loro Astaroth - un tempo pupillo di Lucifero - è determinato ad avere la meglio, scatenando una battaglia fra i vari regni capace di scuotere le fondamenta dell'Inferno stesso. Una guerra totale per il predominio dagli esiti incerti, che porterà Astaroth a confrontarsi in primis con se stesso, in una sorta di 'conflitto nel conflitto' le cui conseguenze potrebbero essere devastanti... innanzitutto per lui.

Il quindicesimo giorno dell'ottavo mese lunare ricorre la Festa di Metà Autunno, una festività tradizionale cinese, e un giorno di luna piena. Per i cinesi, la Festa di Metà Autunno è un momento di unione familiare e le famiglie che non si possono riunire affidano i loro pensieri alla luna. La storia di questo libro è ambientata nel periodo della Festa di Metà Autunno, protagonista è la piccola Yueyue, che attende il ritorno a casa del padre previsto proprio per quel giorno. Il papà lontano, infatti, le aveva promesso che sarebbe tornato «il giorno in cui la luna fosse diventata più rotonda». Quel giorno, quindi, la bambina lo aspetta con impazienza. Ma si leva un'improvvisa raffica di vento, la luna si nasconde e Yueyue, in ansia, la cerca ovunque. Corre fino in cima alla collina gridando, chiama la luna, finalmente riappare e anche il papà fa ritorno.

This book starts with a description of the development of Chinese sociology since its re-establishment in 1979, and links it to the broad historical contexts of China's economic transitions. It then moves on to provide an introduction to Chinese sociological thinking, including the main theories and theoretical debates, empirical findings in selected areas, and some key ongoing projects and research issues.

Finally, in a historical section, the book documents a long history of modern sociology imported to China from the West since the early twentieth century, and the tension between indigenization and internationalization that contemporary Chinese sociologists continue to face. Statistical information about schools and research institutes, sociology journals and publication themes, research grants, number of students enrolled and job placement, etc is also provided.

Readers of this book would be able to gain an overview of sociology both as a discipline and as a profession in China.

Guides readers in understanding the concepts of optical design for LED lighting with industry-tested algorithms

• Presented in systematic and tutorial manner, rendering the text accessible by readers new to the areas
• The illumination industry is huge and there are many companies all over the world producing illumination optics. LEDs will become mainstream in the illumination industry in a few years and free-form optics will be a vital part of that development
• Includes codes of fundamental freeform optics algorithms. With these opened codes, readers will be able to generate points of freeform optics and construct lenses or reflectors much easier and more conveniently
• Cases studies, including designs of freeform optics LED bulb, LED spotlight, LED street light and LED BLU are also provided, enabling the reader to quicker learn and master the design skills of freeform optics

Heterocyclic chemistry constitutes the largest branch of chemistry, covering almost two-thirds of literature in the field. In addition, around 90% of naturally-occurring molecules have heterocycles as their core structure. Therefore, as a central part of organic chemistry, the discovery of new methodologies in synthesizing heterocyclic compounds is essential to their continued application and development. Transition metal catalysts offer a low cost and often low toxicity pathway for heterocycles synthesis, while the use of noble metals represents an alternative form of experimentation which is discussed in the book.Noble Metals, Noble Value provides the first comprehensive analysis of the applications of the noble metals of ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh) and palladium (Pd) catalysts in heterocycles synthesis. Pairs of chapters are dedicated to summarizing each of the metals when applied to either five- or six-membered heterocyclic syntheses. An introduction to the importance of heterocycles and possible procedures for the preparation of heterocyclic compounds is also given.With up to date research and findings, this review is excellently suited to academics and professionals in the field of chemistry, with a particular focus on the specialities of biological, catalytic and organic chemistry.