This book is a contribution to the International Year of Planet Earth arising from the 33rd International Geological Congress, held in Oslo, Norway during August 2008. The first section of the book considers aspects of geochemical processes which led to the development of the solid Earth as it is today. The second portion of the book shows how the rapidly-evolving analytical tools and approaches presently used by geochemists may be used to solve emerging environmental and other societal problems. This unique collection of reviews, with contributions from a range of internationally distinguished scientists, will be invaluable reading for advanced students and others interested in the central role geochemistry in the earth sciences.
A peptidomimetic is a small protein-like chain designed to mimic a peptide with adjusted molecular properties such as enhanced stability or biological activity. It is a very powerful approach for the generation of small-molecule-based drugs as enzyme inhibitors or receptor ligands. Peptidomimetics in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry outlines the concepts and synthetic strategies underlying the building of bioactive compounds of a peptidomimetic nature. Topics covered include the chemistry of unnatural amino acids, peptide- and scaffold-based peptidomimetics, amino acid-side chain isosteres, backbone isosteres, dipeptide isosteres, beta-turn peptidomimetics, proline-mimetics as turn inducers, cyclic scaffolds, amino acid surrogates, and scaffolds for combinatorial chemistry of peptidomimetics. Case studies in the hit-to-lead process, such as the development of integrin ligands and thrombin inhibitors, illustrate the successful application of peptidomimetics in drug discovery.
A Step-by-step guide to the synthesis and characterization of metal-polymer nanocomposites Polymer nanocomposites, polymers that are reinforced with nano-sized particles, provide enhanced mechanical, thermal, electrical, and barrier properties. Continued research and development of new polymer nanocomposites promises to provide enhanced materials to a broad range of industries, such as plastics, aerospace, automotive, electronics, packaging, and biomedical devices. Structured as a practical laboratory manual, this book enables readers to expertly synthesize and characterize metal-polymer nanocomposites by clearly setting forth the principles and techniques. Nanocomposites: In Situ Synthesis of Polymer-Embedded Nanostructures features contributions from an international team of materials science and nanotechnology experts. Chapters reflect the authors' critical review of the literature as well as their own laboratory experience working with polymer nanocomposites. The book begins with a detailed introduction to the science, properties, and applications of metal-polymer nanocomposites. Next, it covers such topics as: Morphological and topological concepts Phase separation and nanoparticle aggregation Methods for the synthesis of nanocomposites Morphological control Characterization techniques and data analysis methods Toxicity considerations High-resolution images of metal nanoparticles, created by transmission electron microscopy, are provided throughout the book. There are also plenty of process schemes and detailed drawings, helping readers better understand how to synthesize, characterize, and use these composite materials. A bibliography at the end of each chapter provides a gateway to original research papers and reviews in the field. With its focus on the practical steps of synthesis and characterization, Nanocomposites: In Situ Synthesis of Polymer-Embedded Nanostructures is recommended for both students and practitioners in nanotechnology, polymer science, and materials science and engineering.
A breakthrough guide employing knowledge that unites cheminformatics and bioinformatics as innovation for the future Bridging the gap between cheminformatics and bioinformatics for the first time, Computational Approaches in Cheminformatics and Bioinformatics provides insight on how to blend these two sciences for progressive research benefits. It describes the development and evolution of these fields, how chemical information may be used for biological relations and vice versa, the implications of these new connections, and foreseeable developments in the future. Using algorithms and domains as workflow tools, this revolutionary text drives bioinformaticians to consider chemical structure, and similarly, encourages cheminformaticians to consider large biological systems such as protein targets and networks. Computational Approaches in Cheminformatics and Bioinformatics covers: Data sources available for modelling and prediction purposes Developments of conventional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) Computational tools for manipulating chemical and biological data Novel ways of probing the interactions between small molecules and proteins Also including insight from public (NIH), academic, and industrial sources (Novartis, Pfizer), this book offers expert knowledge to aid scientists through industry and academic study. The invaluable applications for drug discovery, cellular and molecular biology, enzymology, and metabolism make Computational Approaches in Cheminformatics and Bioinformatics the essential guidebook for evolving drug discovery research and alleviating the issue of chemical control and manipulation of various systems.
The submersed cultivation of organisms in sterile containments or fermenters has become the standard manufacturing procedure, and will remain the gold standard for some time to come. This book thus addresses submersed cell culture and fermentation and its importance for the manufacturing industry. It goes beyond expression systems and integrally investigates all those factors relevant for manufacturing using suspension cultures. In so doing, the contributions cover all industrial cultivation methods in a comprehensive and comparative manner, with most of the authors coming from the industry itself. Depending on the maturity of the technology, the chapters address in turn the expression system, basic process design, key factors affecting process economics, plant and bioreactor design, and regulatory aspects.
How protein chaperones protect cells from neurodegenerative diseases Including contributions from leading experts, Protein Chaperones and Protection from Neurodegenerative Diseases provides an in-depth exploration of how protein chaperones are involved in shielding cells from toxic aggregated or misfolded protein states that cause ALS, Parkinson's, and related diseases. Examining how different protein chaperones ameliorate the toxicity of proteins that are known to cause neurodegenerative damage, the book addresses both research and clinical perspectives on chaperone and anti-chaperone properties. The intersection of molecular chaperones and neurodegeneration is an intensely studied area, partly because of the potential for manipulating the expression of molecular chaperones to thwart the progression of debilitating diseases, and partly because of the ever-aging global population. Discussing the potential to harness the power of protein chaperones, and future directions for research, discovery, and therapeutics, this book is essential reading for scientists working in the fields of biochemistry, molecular medicine, pharmacology and drug discovery, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, advanced students, and anyone interested in this cutting-edge topic.
This groundbreaking, multidisciplinary work is one of the first books to cover Nanotheragnostics, the new developmental edge of nanomedicine. Through a collection of authoritative chapters, the book reports on nanoscopic therapeutic systems that incorporate therapeutic agents, molecular targeting, and diagnostic imaging capabilities. An invaluable reference for researchers in materials science, bioengineering, pharmacy, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, this volume features four main parts on biomedical nanomaterials, advanced nanomedicine, nanotheragnostics, and nanoscaffolds technology.
Genetic and Evolutionary Computation: Medical Applications provides an overview of the range of GEC techniques being applied to medicine and healthcare in a context that is relevant not only for existing GEC practitioners but also those from other disciplines, particularly health professionals. There is rapidly increasing interest in applying evolutionary computation to problems in medicine, but to date no text that introduces evolutionary computation in a medical context. By explaining the basic introductory theory, typical application areas and detailed implementation in one coherent volume, this book will appeal to a wide audience from software developers to medical scientists. Centred around a set of nine case studies on the application of GEC to different areas of medicine, the book offers an overview of applications of GEC to medicine, describes applications in which GEC is used to analyse medical images and data sets, derive advanced models, and suggest diagnoses and treatments, finally providing hints about possible future advancements of genetic and evolutionary computation in medicine. Explores the rapidly growing area of genetic and evolutionary computation in context of its viable and exciting payoffs in the field of medical applications. Explains the underlying theory, typical applications and detailed implementation. Includes general sections about the applications of GEC to medicine and their expected future developments, as well as specific sections on applications of GEC to medical imaging, analysis of medical data sets, advanced modelling, diagnosis and treatment. Features a wide range of tables, illustrations diagrams and photographs.
The ability to culture cells is fundamental for mass propagation and as a baseline for the genetic manipulation of plant nuclei and organelles. The introduction to Plant Cell Culture: Essential Methods provides a general background to plant cell culture, including basic principles, technologies and laboratory practices that underpin the more detailed techniques described in subsequent chapters. Whilst each chapter provides a background to the topic area and methodology, a crucial aspect is the provision of detailed protocols with emphasis on trouble shooting, describing common problems and detailed advice for their avoidance. Plant Cell Culture: Essential Methods provides the reader with a concise overview of these techniques, including micropropagation, mutagenesis, cryopreservation, genetic and plastid transformation and somatic cell technologies. This book will be an essential addition to any plant science laboratory's bookshelf. Highlights the best and most up-to-date techniques for working on plant cell culture Explains clearly and precisely how to carry out selected techniques in addition to background information on the various approaches Chapters are written by leading international authorities in the field and cover both well-known and new, tried and tested, methods for working in plant cell culture An essential laboratory manual for students and early-career researchers.
Miniaturization and mass replications have begun to lead the optical industry in the transition from traditional analog to novel digital optics. As digital optics enter the realm of mainstream technology through the worldwide sale of consumer electronic devices, this timely book aims to present the topic of digital optics in a unified way. Ranging from micro-optics to nanophotonics, and design to fabrication through to integration in final products, it reviews the various physical implementations of digital optics in either micro-refractives, waveguide (planar lightwave chips), diffractive and hybrid optics or sub-wavelength structures (resonant gratings, surface plasmons, photonic crystals and metamaterials). Finally, it presents a comprehensive list of industrial and commercial applications that are taking advantage of the unique properties of digital optics. Applied Digital Optics is aimed primarily at optical engineers and product development and technical marketing managers; it is also of interest to graduate-level photonics students and micro-optic foundries. Helps optical engineers review and choose the appropriate software tools to design, model and generate fabrication files. Gives product managers access to an exhaustive list of applications available in today’s market for integrating such digital optics, as well as where the next potential application of digital optics might be. Provides a broad view for technical marketing managers in all aspects of digital optics, and how such optics can be classified. Explains the numerical implementation of optical design and modelling techniques. Enables micro-optics foundries to integrate the latest fabrication and replication techniques, and accordingly fine tune their own fabrication processes.