RSC Books Blog

Now Published in the RSC Drug Discovery Series

Polyamine Drug Discovery

Edited by Patrick M. Woster and Robert A. Casero Jr.

Polyamines are ubiquitous molecules that are involved in a number of important cellular processes and aberrations in their function or metabolism play a  role in diseases such as cancer and parasitic infections.

This comprehensive new volume covers all aspects of the design and development of potential therapeutics targeting polyamine biosynthesis, metabolism and function. The book details research progress from 1975 to the present date, followed by discussions of the design and use of polyamine metabolism inhibitors as therapeutic agents. Various polyamine-containing drugs are described that can be used in cancer chemotherapy and as treatments for parasitic infections including trypanosomiasis and malaria. Finally the roles of polyamine analogues in chemoprevention, polyamine-containing vectors for gene delivery and the design of polyamine-based epigenetic modulators are also discussed.

Written by a team of medicinal and biological chemists with particular expertise in developing agents that modulate polyamine metabolism or function, the book will increase the visibility of polyamine drug discovery among pharmaceutical researchers and provide a valuable reference for everyone working in this field.

http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849731904.asp

Recently in the news it was reported that Dyson are sponsoring a professorship at Cambridge in Engineering on Fluid Mechanics.  The RSC published Applied Thermodynamics in Fluids in conjunction with IUPAC on just this subject to address the needs of practitioners in the field and provide a book with greater emphasis on the application of the theory. 

Read more about the book at http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/ebook/978-1-84755-806-0

You are guaranteed to learn something new.

Looking to use polymer materials in your research, but new to the field of polymer chemistry?

Need something concise and readable that will give you an overall view of the area?

We have just the book for you.

Using practical applications this new edition of The Chemistry of Polymers will introduce you to the synthesis, structure and properties of polymers and bring you up-to-date with exciting recent developments such as using polymers in drug delivery and polymer LEDs.

It’ll put you and keep you in the know.

Click here for more information and to buy your copy today: http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849733915.asp

Recognising the contribution and putting the record straight.

One of the most important parts of British heavy industry today is our railway system.

Railway historians, enthusiasts and, may be, chemists themselves will be surprised to learn that chemistry  played an important part in the development of the railway industry in Britain.

From the analysis of water used in steam engines to improve boiler efficiency to the important differences between cast iron, steel and wrought iron impacting on the production of the rails.

 Written by Colin A Russell and John A Hudson, this is the first detailed study of this important interaction and covers the crucial role that chemistry played in the development of the railway industry.

 You are guaranteed to learn something new.

 For more information see the website at http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849733267.asp

This book is a practical, easy to use guide for readers with limited experience of molecular modelling. It will provide students at the undergraduate and early postgraduate chemistry level with a similar entry to modelling. The needs of independent readers are catered for by the inclusion of instructions for acquiring and setting up a suitable computer. To further the aims of the book, compact discs are included that provide a comprehensive suite of modelling software and datasets.  For further information see http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849733526.asp

Metal phosphonate chemistry is a highly interdisciplinary field that has acquired additional significance due to the increased interest in “Metal-Organic Frameworks”. This book aims to fill a gap in the literature by summarising in a concise way the latest developments  and their related applications in the field.  It uniquely provides a systematic and organised view of the subject – edited by two experts, Abraham Clearfield and Konstantisnos Demadis, and includes contributions from many experienced researchers. With an extensive bibliography, it is a great reference for academic and industrial researchers as well as students working in the field and will act as a starting point for further exploration of the literature.  For further information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849733564.asp

This book provides the latest information on polysaccharide gum research, particularly gum Arabic, as presented at the World conference on “New developments in Acacia Gums Research and Products”.  Coverage includes production, identification, classification and application of these important carbohydrate polymers.   Edited by John F Kennedy, Glyn O Philips and Peter A Williams and written by the world’s leading experts in the field, it will be an essential reference for researchers in industry and academia interested in the continued advances in this area.  For further information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849731935.asp

Wouldn’t it be great if windows cleaned themselves? Or even whole buildings? Clothes that stayed smelling fresh? Some of these dreams are already a reality, thanks to Titanium Dioxide (TiO2),

TiO2 is a widely-used semiconductor which gives rise to redox reactions under artificial or solar irradiation. This feature of TiO2 can be exploited in photocatalytic reactions, and is the main theme behind “Clean by Light Irradiation”.

The book opens with a comprehensive chapter on the fundamentals of semiconductors and heterogeneous photo catalysis, as well as their influence by artificial sources of light. The various physical forms of TiO2, and their respective properties are then discussed, along with the potential for supporting TiO2 on a variety of materials.

Subsequent chapters consider the application of TiO2 to glass and other construction materials. Paper, textiles and metal are also considered in a further chapter, as is the purification of air and water.

Throughout the book the authors provide clear information on the various applications of TiO2 and detailed citations to the primary literature are on hand for readers wishing to go into further details. Its forward-looking approach makes the volume essential for anyone wishing to become involved, or make the most of, this versatile material.

Written by Piero Zanello and Fabrizi de Biani both from University of Siena and Carlo Nervi, University of Torino, this second edition of a classic book has been fully revised and updated and is a straightforward, logical introduction to electrochemical investigations for inorganic chemists. Covering every feature of inorganic electrochemistry – the introduction is followed by chapters on the basic characteristics of electrochemistry followed by practical and applicative aspects and ends with full appendices.  It is probably the only publication with a simple approach to electrochemical aspects of the topics in inorganic chemistry. 

Bridging the gap between undergraduate and research-level electrochemistry books, this book will be a welcome addition to the literature of inorganic chemists. It will also be particularly useful to final year students in chemistry and as background reading for graduates and researchers without adequate electrochemical knowledge to become active in the discipline or who want to collaborate with electrochemists.  For more information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849730716.asp

An estimated 50% of the food produced worldwide is wasted. If the entire world had the same voracious appetite as Europeans, it would take three planets to produce the amount demanded. In Britain, 18 million tonnes (14 billion pounds worth) of perfectly edible household food is thrown away every year. Apart from the waste, overeating is becoming a serious public health issue in many countries. According to a U.S. study, Western countries are consuming an average daily surplus of 1400 calories per person.

Written by Andrea Segre and Silvia Gaiani, University of Bologna, this easy to read book on overproduction and overconsumption in contemporary society highlights some alarming global data. It discusses the origins and causes of food waste and its correlation with climate change, agriculture, population growth, and the need for a more ethical, ecological society. The complexity of the waste dynamic processes imposes a dire need to reconsider economic relationships and social values in the light of sustainability and eco-efficiency.

After a Foreword by Vandana Shiva , the first two chapters describe the current imbalanced global food market. The book then goes on to present projects from around the world that are aimed at finding practical and efficient solutions to food waste. Particular emphasis is placed on Last Minute Market. This initiative links shops and producers with unsold food to people, and charities, in need. Originated at the University of Bologna Faculty of Agriculture, the project offers economic, environmental and social benefits. Alongside other European initiatives, it has contributed to a greener economy and a more sustainable world. Based on the data, and on the initiatives presented, the conclusion is devoted to the idea of a “new intelligent ecology”.

Discover more at http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849732536.asp