In the RSC Polymer Chemistry Series:

Healable Polymer Systems edited by Wayne Hayes and Barnaby Greenland, University of Reading, UK

With contributions from leading experts, the book provides a reference text on self-healing polymers from a chemist’s perspective.

In the RSC Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Series:

Carbon Nanotube-Polymer Composites edited by Dimitrios Tasis, University of Patras, Greece

Summarizes the basic chemical aspects for obtaining multifunctional carbon nanotube-based polymer composites and highlights recent advances in the field.

Coming Soon: 

• Fundamentals of Controlled/Living Radical Polymerizaion edited by Nicolay V. Tsarevsky, Southern Methodist University, USA and Brent S. Sumerlin, University of Florida, USA.
• Functional Polymers for Nanomedicine edited by Youqing Shen, Zhejiang University, China
• Smart Materials for Drug Delivery edited by Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo and Angel Concheiro, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Don’t forget you can freely access the table of contents, preface, front matter and first chapter of every eBook via the RSC Publishing Website.

If you have an idea for a book or would like more information about our materials titles please contact the Materials Books Commissioning Editor, Leanne Marle

                  

We’ve hand-picked recently published volumes including Soils and Food Security, Environmental Impacts of Modern Agriculture and Ecosystem Services to feature at the forthcoming Global Change and Biosphere Interactions scientific meeting. 

On 8-9 April 2013 the British Ecological Society (BES) and the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) will be hosting a major international scientific meeting, Global Change and Biosphere Interactions as part of our centenary and celebrating the launch of YESI. 

Focused on sustainable solutions to global environmental change, the conference will feature major international speakers covering current advances in our understanding of the past, present and future consequences of human impacts on the earth system. Contributions will reach across disciplines, spanning physical, natural, social sciences and humanities to address the causes and consequences of global change and the implications for policy. There will be extensive opportunities for discussing the role of interdisciplinary research in understanding the impacts of global change and identifying new research which will allow us to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.  For details of the programme and speaker please see the BES website. 

The Monday afternoon’s programme is followed by a public lecture Professor Georgina Mace and wine reception (please indicate attendance at these when registering). 

Early bird registration is now open until Friday 8 March at £75 for BES and YESI members and £95 for non-members, which includes all sessions, lunch and refreshments over the two days.  Accommodation and dinner can be booked on top of this.  We are now also offering a day rate of £50. 

For further information please contact Amy Everard. 

British Ecological Society

                  

Voted by the international judging panel, including Edouard Cointreau, Alcohol and its Role in the Evolution of Human Society (by Ian Hornsey, ISBN 9781849731614) was chosen Best in the World in the ‘Drink History’ category beating titles from China, New Zealand, France and USA.  Edouard commented what an ‘outstanding’ contribution to the literature this book is and everyone in the business has a duty to read it.

The ‘Chocolate’ category was hotly contested and Chocolate as Medicine (by Philip Wilson and William J Hurst, ISBN 9781849734110) was voted Best in the UK, 2^nd Best in the World against six strong titles from Belgium, Brazil, China, Cuba, Hong Kong and Italy.

The authors of these books are to be congratulated for their original, inspiring and thought provoking works and for making it possible for RSC Publishing to reach a wider audience.

 You can obtain your copy of either of these titles by using the following links:

 Alcohol and its Role in the Evolution of Human Society: http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2012/9781849731614.asp

Chocolate as Medicine: http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2012/9781849734110.asp

                  

Covering the most recent developments in the generation of graphene nanocomposites synthesis it assimilates, in one place, all the necessary information required to provide the reader with in-depth insights into the various aspects of the subject. The concluding chapter provides a summary on the current status and future challenges associated with the subject.

Edited by Vikas Mittal, Polymer-Graphene Nanocomposites is a comprehensive handbook providing essential, highly toical, methods and strategies to the researcher.

Find out more – access the content.

Want to know more about different nanomaterials? Find out about our other titles in the RSC Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Series.

                  

Examining adverse drug effects reported to regulatory agencies, including the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine and the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the chapters focus on occupational saftety and consumer issues, but also focus on circumstances in which exposure may occur and the background of adverse health effects from alternative sources in the veterinary and farming professions.

This professional reference text will provide an essential resource for medical practioners working in hospitals, poisons information centres, veterinarians, regulators and risk managers and those working in industry and academia.

Find out more here.

                  

Molecular Logic-based Computation looks at the way molecules can be used in computation by performing a logical operation based on one or more physical or chemical inputs and a single output.

This well-organised book starts by introducing the history and basic concepts of the subject followed by examples of different systems from single input–single output logic gates to more complex ones, as well as applications in sensing and medical diagnostics.

This book provides an authoritative guide for scientists, academics and postgraduate students.

Stands to reason you’ll want to read more – access the content now.

Find out more about our other titles in the Monographs in Supramolecular Chemistry Book Series.

                  

Books Review:

Edited by Syed A. M. Tofail

RSC Publishing | 2012 | 276pp | £121.99 (HB) | ISBN 9781849731850

Reviewed by Eiichi Fukada, Kobayasi Institute of Physical Research, Tokyo, Japan and Emeritus Scientist, RIKEN, Wako, Japan

The book originates from the activity of a BioElectricSurface consortium, funded by the European Commission under the FP-7 Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies (NMP) program and discusses the crucial role surface charge plays in the interaction between materials in biological and medical applications. The first part of the book covers new findings in biology, e.g. bone growth by charged hydroxyapatite and photocatalytic effect in doped titania and includes useful explanations of the many modern techniques used to create and measure electric charges at surfaces and intersurfaces.

The first part of the book contains some very useful information, such as discussion of the polarization of hydroxyapatite, which increased bone growth on the negative surface while no growth was observed on the positive surface, and commentary on the increased photocatalytic activity of doped titania . This section also concisely, but thoroughly, analyses thermally stimulated depolarization current methods,  the laser intensity modulation method of charge measurements, scanning probe, Kelvin probe force and electrostatic force microscopy, and the streaming potential measurement techniques used for wet cases. The techniques utilized for interfacial measurements, such as confocal laser scanning microscopy, are also covered in chapter 4.

Part 2 describes many practical examples in which the surface interactions play an essential role. For example, chapter 5 discusses immobilized enzymes on porous surfaces in biocatalysts, drug delivery, and biosensors, while chapter 6 goes on to describe improvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by the interactions of host tissue cells with the implant surface  Chapters 7, 8 and 9  discuss antibody immobilization on solid surfaces, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of bone-forming cells with electrostatic charge at biomaterials surfaces and interactions of biofilm-forming bacteria with abiotic surfaces. Endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells on the biomaterials surfaces, interactions of bacteria and fungi on biofilms in hospital acquired infections and immunological response of electrostatic charge at the surface of biomaterials are covered in chapters 10, 11 and 12. Such elaborate discussions show the relevance of surface charge in biological interactions at and with non-biological surfaces and, I strongly believe, will provide a solid foundation for interested readers who are willing to bring innovative ideas of surface modifications to generate or control a specific biological response on implantable therapeutic devices.

Part 3 of the book is a logical progression from parts 1 and 2, and describes some of the important applications where surface charge is believed to play a significant role. These include: Community and hospital acquired infections of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MRSA-resistant textiles, inhibition of encrustation in urological devices and the reduction of restenosis in cardiovascular stents.

The book finishes with a general overview of a new class of materials, named as vector materials, where the interfaces between biomaterial and biological environment can be manipulated by the application of vectorial effects induced by electrical polarization.

Surface charges are frequently experienced by the frictional electricity in textiles. The infection of bacteria and the restenosis of implanted stenosis are broadly concerned matters in the society. As a basic research, it is noteworthy that negatively charged hydroxyapatite induces new bone. The book shows that the study of electric charge in surfaces is important to understand the basic mechanism of all these matters. The many topics introduced in this book promises more rapid progress in future research.

The abbreviation of technical words sometime hinders the understanding of sentences, but the subject index at the end of the book helps greatly to solve this difficulty. The arrangement of chapters is also well ordered. The Editor’s kind efforts are appreciated.

                  

The new book, Polymeric and Self Assembled Hydrogels, provides an essential overview of hydrogel research from basic fundamental research to applied and platform technologies, and commercially viable applications.

Experts in the field discuss the cutting-edge developments in the field of hydrogels including supramolecular approaches to the formation of hydrogels, ‘slide-ring’’ hydrogels based on cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, peptide hydrogels, thermogelling polymers and applications in chemo-sensing and biomedical fields.

Read the latest on hydrogel research – read the book today.

Find out more about our other titles in the Monographs in Supramolecular Chemistry Book Series.

                  

Interested in Nanotechnology? Read more about the RSC Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Series.

                  

Visit our online shop for festive inspiration.

Live near Cambridge, UK? Visit our Books Winter Wonderland on Tuesday 4^th December, 1 – 3 pm, Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF.

This is your chance to fill your Christmas stockings and find out more about book publishing with a festive twist. Learn about the lifecycle of a book, how to publish a book and even pitch your ideas to one of our Commissioning Editors!

Join us for Christmas gift inspiration, festive treats and fun as well as games, competitions and prizes – contact us to book your place!