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Elsevier Science

  • A Functional View of Smooth Muscle

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 8
    • L. Barr + 1 more
    • English
    The idea of this volume was to provide for advanced graduate students, medical students, and postdoctoral who are beginning to do research related to smooth muscle a sampling of the orienting ideas of the researchers working on problems in smooth muscle physiology and pathophysiology. Therefore, an essential goal of the volume is to identify the lines of investigation that are currently being pursued by investigators whose concerns are with smooth muscle or with organs with parenchumal tissues consisting of smooth muscle.Various types of smooth muscle constitute the parenchuma or characteristic tissues of a large number of organs or regions of organs. In each case, the phenotype is distinctly different and, while smooth muscles do not exhibit the diversity of epithelia, they nevertheless span a great range of physiological responsiveness. Undoubtedly, the variations in the characteristic responses of different smooth muscles result from the expression of sets of transduction subserving proteins. However, it is what the sets are and how they work and are regulated that fascinated the physiologist. In this book, the contrast between sameness and diversity recurs as a theme.
  • Permian-Triassic Evolution of Tethys and Western Circum-Pacific

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 18
    • Yin Yin Hongfu + 3 more
    • English
    Permian and Triassic are the interval known for the integration and separation of Pangea, the closure of the Palaeotethys and the opening of Mesotethys. They were associated with a series of worldwide events including the Late Palaeozoic glaciation and succeeding extensive evaporatic and reef formations, the end-Palaeozoic regression, strong orogenies and widespread volcanism and magmatism, and finally, the Permo-Triassic biotic macro-extinction. These events resulted in the formation of enormous reserves of coal, petroleum, evaporites, phosphorites and metal resources. The Permian and Triassic thus constitutes a time interval particularly important both for understanding the Earth's history and for exploration of mineral resources.The book aims to reconstruct the Permian-Triassic history of Pangea, Palaeo-Tethys and Palaeo-Pacific through stratigraphic, palaeogeographic and other interdisciplinary approaches. It consists of two parts. Part 1 deals with regional stratigraphy of Tethyan and western Circum-Pacific countries which is the basis for interregional correlation, and palaeogeography. Part 2 deals with the biotic evolution at the Permian-Triassic transition, focusing on the major invertebrate groups: foraminifers, radiolarians, brachiopods, ammonoids and conodonts.
  • Wavelets in Chemistry

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 22
    • Beata Walczak
    • English
    Wavelets seem to be the most efficient tool in signal denoising and compression. They can be used in an unlimited number of applications in all fields of chemistry where the instrumental signals are the source of information about the studied chemical systems or phenomena, and in all cases where these signals have to be archived. The quality of the instrumental signals determines the quality of answer to the basic analytical questions: how many components are in the studied systems, what are these components like and what are their concentrations? Efficient compression of the signal sets can drastically speed up further processing such as data visualization, modelling (calibration and pattern recognition) and library search. Exploration of the possible applications of wavelets in analytical chemistry has just started and this book will significantly speed up the process.The first part, concentrating on theoretical aspects, is written in a tutorial-like manner, with simple numerical examples. For the reader's convenience, all basic terms are explained in detail and all unique properties of wavelets are pinpointed and compared with the other types of basis function. The second part presents applications of wavelets from many branches of chemistry which will stimulate chemists to further exploration of this exciting subject.
  • European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering - 10

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 8
    • Sauro Pierucci
    • English
    This book includes papers presented at ESCAPE-10, the 10th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process -Engineering, held in Florence, Italy, 7-10th May, 2000. The scientific program reflected two complementary strategic objectives of the 'Computer Aided Process Engineering' (CAPE) Working Party: one checked the status of historically consolidated topics by means of their industrial application and their emerging issues, while the other was addressed to opening new windows to the CAPE audience by inviting adjacent Working Parties to co-operate in the creation of the technical program.The former CAPE strategic objective was covered by the topics: Numerical Methods, Process Design and Synthesis, Dynamics & Control, Process Modeling, Simulation and Optimization.The latter CAPE strategic objective derived from the European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE) promotion of scientific activities which autonomously and transversely work across the Working Parties' terms of references. These activities enhance the exchange of the know-how and knowledge acquired by different Working Parties in homologous fields. They also aim to discover complementary facets useful to the dissemination of tools and of novel procedures.As a consequence, the Working Parties 'Environmental Protection', 'Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion' and 'Multiphase Fluid Flow' were invited to assist in the organization of sessions in the area of: A Process Integrated Approach for: Environmental Benefit, Loss Prevention and Safety, Computational Fluid Dynamics. A total of 473 abstracts from all over the world were evaluated by the International Scientific Committee. Out of them 197 have been finally selected for the presentation and reported into this book. Their authors come from thirty different countries. The selection of the papers was carried out by twenty-eight international reviewers. These proceedings will be a major reference document to the scientific and industrial community and will contribute to the progress in Computer Aided Process Engineering.
  • Elsevier's Dictionary of Cybernyms

    Abbreviations and Acronyms used in Telecommunications, Electronics and Computer Science
    • 1st Edition
    • T.R. Pyper + 1 more
    • English
    This dictionary was produced in response to the rapidly increasing amount of quasi-industrial jargon in the field of information technology, compounded by the fact that these somewhat esoteric terms are often further reduced to acronyms and abbreviations that are seldom explained. Even when they are defined, individual interpretations continue to diverge.Until now the codes have been reproduced in separate (language) publications: there is no universal listing in alphabetical order that covers the English, French, Spanish and German languages. This dictionary sets out the English, French, Spanish and German alternatives as a single, merge-sorted whole. Today, most of the codes have passed into the public domain, simply because they exist in most of the telecommunications systems installed throughout the developed (and developing) world and are largely known to most of those who work in that particular area. However, foreign variants often defy even the most astute observer. This dictionary seeks to clarify this bewildering situation as much as possible. The 26,000 definitions set out here, drawn from some 16,000 individual cybernyms, cover computing, electronics, telecommunications (including intelligent networks and mobile telephony), together with satellite technology and Internet/Web terminology.Annex I lists some of the innumerable file types found in the filing systems of computers using powerful desktop managers and Annex II lists the abbreviations of country names found in universal resource locators (URL).Elsevier's Dictionary of Cybernyms is a useful tool for translators, students, universities and computer enthusiasts.
  • Colorants for Non-Textile Applications

    • 1st Edition
    • H.S. Freeman + 1 more
    • English
    This volume examines the chemistry of natural and synthetic dyes produced for non-textile markets, where much new basic research in color chemistry is now taking place.The first group of chapters covers the design, synthesis, properties and application technology pertaining to dyes for digital printing and photography. The reader will be pleased with the breadth and depth of information presented in each case. Of particular interest is the discussion of strategies for the design of dyes in these categories, with emphasis on enhancing technical properties. In view of certain new developments, the ink-jet chapter includes results from studies pertaining to dyes for textiles.The three chapters comprising Section II of this volume cover the broad subject of dyes for food, drug and cosmetic applications and then provide an in-depth look at dyes for biomedical applications and molecular recognition. The chapter on dyes for molecular recognition places emphasis on applications in the biological sciences, including sensory materials and artificial receptors. While the former two topics have been covered elsewhere in the past, the present chapters are unequalled in scope.Section III provides an in-depth review of the design of laser dyes and dye-based functional materials. In the first of the two chapters, the major principles of laser operation are summarized. This is followed by a discussion of spectroscopic properties, such as activation and deactivation of absorbed light by laser dyes. Approaches to the development of new laser dyes are presented. The second chapter pertains to the synthesis of dicyanopyrazine-base... multifunctional dyes. The visible and fluorescence spectra of these dyes in solution and the solid state are correlated with their three-dimensional molecular structures. Molecular stacking behavior and solid state properties of these "multifunctional" dye materials are presented.The final group of chapters pertains to natural dyes and dyes for natural substrates. In recent years, the impression among certain consumers that "natural" is better/safer has generated much interest in the use of natural dyes rather than synthetics. This has led to a few short discussion papers in which the environmental advantages to using natural dyes have been questioned. The initial chapter in this group provides both a historical look at natural dyes and a comprehensive compilation of natural dye structures and their sources. Though natural dyes are of interest as colorants for textiles, selected ones are used primarily in food and cosmetics.Chapter ten provides an update on the author's previous reviews of structure-color-rela... among precursors employed in the coloration of hair. Chemical constitutions characterizing hair dye structures are presented, along with a summary of available precursors and their environmental properties. Similarly, the chapter on leather dyes covers constitutions and nomenclature, in addition to providing interesting perspectives on the origin and use of leather, the dyeing of leather, and key environmental issues.This volume is concluded with another look at colors in nature. In this case, rather than revisiting colors in plant life, an interesting chapter dealing with color in the absence of colorants is presented. Chapter twelve covers basic concepts of color science and illustrates how 3-D assemblies leading to a plethora of colors are handled in nature. It is our hope that this atypical "color chemistry" chapter will invoke ideas that lead to the design of useful colorants.The chapters presented in this volume demonstrate that color chemistry still has much to offer individuals with inquiring minds who are searching for a career path. This work highlights the creativity of today's color chemists and the wide variety of interesting non-textile areas from which a career can be launched.
  • Extractive Metallurgy of Activated Minerals

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 10
    • P. Baláž
    • English
    Mechanical activation of solids is a part of mechanochemistry, the science with a sound theoretical foundation exhibiting a wide range of potential application. Mechanical activation itself is an innovative procedure where an improvement in technological processes can be attained via a combination of new surface area and defects formation in minerals.Mechanical activation is of exceptional importance in extractive metallurgy and mineral processing and this area forms the topic of this book and is the result of more than twenty years of research and graduate teaching in the field.In pyrometallurgy, the mechanical activation of minerals makes it possible to reduce their decomposition temperatures or causes such a degree of disordering that the thermal activation may be omitted entirely. The potential mitigation of environmental pollutants is becoming increasingly important in this context.The lowering of reaction temperatures, the increase of the rate and amount of solubility, preparation of water soluble compounds, the necessity for simpler and less expensive reactors and shorter reaction times are some of the advantages of mechanical activation in hydrometallurgy. The environmental aspects of these processes are particularly attractive.Several industrial processes are examined and their flowsheets are presented as succesful of activation. In these processes, the introduction of a mechanical activation step into the technological cycle significantly modifies the subsequent steps.The book is designed for researchers, teachers, operators and students in the areas of extractive metallurgy, mineral processing, mineralogy, solid state chemistry and materials science.It will encourage newcomers to the mechanochemistry to do useful research and discover novel applications in this field.
  • New Carbons - Control of Structure and Functions

    • 1st Edition
    • Michio Inagaki
    • English
    The discovery of fullerenes and nanotubes has greatly stimulated the interest of scientists and engineers in carbon materials, and has resulted in much scientific research. These materials have provided us with many interesting ideas and potential applications, some of them practical and some simply dreams for the future. In the early 1960s, carbon fibers, glass-like carbons and pyrolytic carbons were developed which were quite different from the carbon materials that had previously been used. Carbon fibers exhibited surprisingly good mechanical properties, glass-like carbons exhibited brittle fracture resulting in a conchoidal fracture surface similar to sodium glass, and giving no carbon dust, and pyrolytic carbons were produced by a new production process of chemical vapour deposition and showed very high anisotropy. These carbons materials made a great impact not only on the carbon community who had been working on carbon materials but also on people working in the fields of materials science and engineering. They were used to develop a variety of new applications in technological fields, such as semiconductors, microelectronics, aerospace and high temperature, etc. These newly developed carbon materials were called NEW CARBONS, in comparison with carbon materials such as artificial graphites represented by graphite electrodes, carbon blacks and activated carbons, which maybe thought of as CLASSICAL CARBONS. Later, other new carbons, such as activated carbons and those with novel functions, isotropic high-density graphites, intercalation compounds, various composites, etc., were developed. In 1994, Professor Michio Inagaki published a book entitled "New Carbon Materials — Structure and Functions" with his friend Professor Yoshihiro Hishiyama of Musashi Institute of Technology, published by Gihoudou Shuppan in Japanese. However, progress in the fields of these new carbons is so rapid that the previous book is already out of date. For this reason the author has decided to write an English text on New Carbons. The text focuses on New Carbons based on hexagonal networks of carbon-atoms, i.e. graphite-related materials. The fundamental concept underlying this book is that the structure and functions of these materials are principally governed by their texture. The aim is to give readers a comprehensive understanding of New Carbons through the description of their structure and texture, along with the properties that are largely dependent on them.
  • Nanoporous Materials II

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 129
    • T.J. Pinnavaia + 2 more
    • English
    The first symposium on Access in Nanoporous Materials was held in Lansing, Michigan on June 7-9, 1995. The five years that have passed since that initial meeting have brought remarkable advances in all aspects of this growing family of materials. In particular, impressive progress has been achieved in the area of novel self-assembled mesoporous materials, their synthesis, characterization and applications. The supramolecular self-assembly of various inorganic and organic species into ordered mesostructures became a powerful method for synthesis of mesoporous molecular sieves of tailored framework composition, pore structure, pore size and desired surface functionality for advanced applications in such areas as separation, adsorption, catalysis, environmental cleanup and nanotechnology.In addition to mesostructured metal oxide molecular sieves prepared through supramolecular assembly pathways, clays, carbon molecular sieves, porous polymers, sol-gel and imprinted materials, as well as self-assembled organic and other zeolite-like materials, have captured the attention of materials researchers around the globe.The contents of the current volume present a sampling of more than 150 oral and poster papers delivered at the Symposium on Access in Nanoporous Materials II held in Banff, Alberta on May 25-30, 2000. About 70% of the papers are devoted to the synthesis of siliceous mesoporous molecular sieves, their modification, characterization and applications, which represent the current research trend in nanoporous materials. The remaining contributions provide some indications on the future developments in the area of non-siliceous molecular sieves and related materials. This book reflects the current trends and advances in this area, which will certainly attract the attention of materials chemists in the 21st century.
  • Geochemical Remote Sensing of the Sub-Surface

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 7
    • M. Hale
    • English
    This volume documents the techniques for geochemical remote sensing of the subsurface, to present case-history evidence of their successes and limitations, and to consider their further potential. The chapters in Part I focus on the mechanisms and models of dispersion that give rise to the patterns we attempt to detect. Part II deals with the detection of dispersion patterns that owe their origins to processes, such as leakage, that are allied to resource emplacement. Part III describes the detection of dispersion patterns that are generated by processes, such as radiodecay and oxidation, taking place in deposits after their emplacement.Every chapter brings a fresh perspective. Radon has met with much success in uranium exploration, whilst thorough research studies on helium and mercury lead to conclusions that tend to discourage use of these gases in mineral exploration. The case for light hydrocarbons is one of compelling simplicity whilst elaborate mathematical and electrochemical models are advanced for metal migration.