CRC Press

Orbital motion, 4th ed.

Roy (astronomy, emeritus, Glasgow University, UK) updates this fourth edition of an established text to include new research results produced since the third edition was published in 1988. There is a new chapter on the Caledonian symmetric N-body problem. The text requires no prior familiarity with astronomy or space science, but assumes knowledge of calculus and elementary vector analysis. Chapter problems and answers are included, as well as astronomical and mathematical reference appendices. While the text is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in disciplines ranging from astronomy and planetary science to aerospace and satellite engineering, its discussion of orbital computation will be of interest to serious amateur astronomers. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Organic light-emitting materials and devices.

Organic LEDs are brighter, more efficient, faster, lighter, and may even be cheaper to make someday. For the moment however, they suffer from a lack of suitable materials, short lifetimes, and technical hurdles in the mass production of devices using them. Academic and industry researchers present an overview of organic light-emitting materials, device physics, engineering, and other aspects, to help their fellow researchers overcome the difficulties. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Perchlorate; environmental problems and solutions.

Following the identification of widespread perchlorate contamination in the environment in the late 1990s, research into the environmental problems of perchlorate and potential solutions greatly expanded. In this work, the authors (affiliated with AMEC, a British construction and engineering firm that works with the oil and gas, petrochemical, nuclear, pharmaceutical, defense, chemical and water industries) summarize the state of the science and engineering relative to perchlorate and the environment. They discuss common sources of perchlorate, its behavior in the environment, methods for its analysis in environmental samples, the dangers of perchlorate for human health and the environment, regulatory standards and criteria, and techniques for remediation. Much of the information is presented in the form of case studies of sites in which perchlorate has contaminated soil, groundwater, and surface water. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Petroleum reservoir rock and fluid properties.

Dandekar (petroleum engineering, U. of Alaska Fairbanks) provides up- to-date coverage of various rock and fluid properties using mathematical expressions and various laboratory measurement techniques to illustrate the correlations and influence between the various properties. Focusing on achieving accurate and reliable data, he describes coring and sampling methods; handling samples for core analyses and PVT studies, including reservoir fluid sampling; assessing the validity of collected samples; compositional analysis; and TBP distillation. He also draws attention to core and phase behavior analyses, using laboratory results and calculations to elucidate a wide range of properties. The text, which is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, includes practical examples to illustrate significant concepts, solved examples in selected chapters, and practice problems in every chapter. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Phytochemicals; nutrient-gene interactions.

Meskin (dietetics, California State Polytechnic University) collects recent work in phytochemical-gene interactions and their implications for phytochemical research, health care, and research and development in the food, pharmaceutical, and supplement industries. Interactions between dietary factors and genes are explored in the context of inflammation, cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, and cancer. The book will appeal to nutritionists, food scientists, pharmacists, botanists, and other allied health professionals. These expanded and updated papers originated at the October 2004 Fifth International Phytochemical Conference. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Pneumatic actuating systems for automatic equipment; structure and design.

This work summarizes recent progress in pneumatic systems and in the integration of mechatronics, electronic control systems, and modern control algorithms with pneumatic actuating systems. After a discussion of various types of pneumatic actuators and electropneumatic control valves, the authors explain how to determine system state variables, and examine open-loop and closed-loop pneumatic actuating systems in detail. Exercises on mathematical models and methods of parameter calculation are included. The book is intended for engineers, system designers, and component manufacturers working in the field of pneumatics used in factory automation. Krivts is a mechanical engineer. Krejnin teaches mechanical engineering at the Russian Academy of Sciences. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Polyurethane and related foams; chemistry and technology.

A pioneer of polyisocyanurate foams, Ashida describes polyurethane and urethane linkage-modified polyisocyanurate foams for professionals and students at all stages from research and development to marketing and sales. He begins with the history of their development and the chemical fundamentals common to both, then focuses on each in turn to describe such aspects as different types, application methods, preparation methods, and properties. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Polymer fiber optics; materials, physics, and applications.

Recognizing that the science and technology of polymer fiber optics moves faster than printing presses, Kuzyk (physics, Washington State U.) sticks to fundamentals that he hopes will not be out of date soon. Much of the material is standard fare, he says, such as Bragg gratings and photonic crystals, but he has re-derived many of the common results. But there is new material here as well; at least he cannot remember seeing it anywhere else. The topics include fabricating fibers, the theory of refractive index and loss, optical switching, and smart fibers and materials. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Polymeric foams; science and technology.

This volume connects science and foaming technologies in a discussion of scientific principles and fundamental mechanisms, product applications, and recent developments in polymeric foams. Aimed at seniors in chemical and mechanical engineering and material science, or graduate students in polymer science and engineering, the book covers thermodynamics and kinetics, processing technologies, the relationship between structure and properties, wood composite foams, and biodegradable foams. Indexes are divided by author and subject. The authors work as engineers at corporations and the U. of Toronto. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Power semiconductors.

Power semiconductor devices, those with ratings exceeding 1 ampere, are playing an ever-expanding role in technology. While power semiconductors and integrated circuit chips are basically similar, power devices rated above 660 V are in a league of their own. E.g., they consist of such materials as silicon carbide, gallium nitride, or diamond rather than simply silicon. Following a crash course on the atomic model, Linder (ABB Switzerland Research & Development, near Zurich) overviews the most commonly used types of power semiconductors (e.g., the pin-diode, thyristor, Integrated Gate Bipolar Transitor); their characteristics; and behaviors under different operating conditions. The text includes derivations of equations and technical appendices. The Swiss publisher is EPFL Press; US distribution is by CRC. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Practical plant failure analysis; a guide to understanding machinery deterioration and improving equipment reliability.

Sachs (Sachs, Salavaterra & Associates, which provides technical support services directed toward improved plant and equipment reliability) presents an introduction to failure analysis aimed at practicing engineers and maintenance professionals working with machinery in industrial plants. After addressing basics, including materials and the sources of stress, he presents chapters describing the different types of material failures: overload, fatigue, corrosion, lubrication, and wear. He then turns to the specific types of failures found in machinery components, including belt drives, ball and roller bearings, gears, and fasteners and bolted joints. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Preparative layer chromatography.

Kowalska (chromatography, University of Silesia, Poland) and Sherma (chemistry, emeritus, Lafayette College) offer a broad review of preparative layer chromatography (PLC) applications and working procedures for microseparations involving organic, inorganic, and organometallic compounds. The book contains theoretical background, chemical principles, and material on a range of applications, particularly the study of pharmaceuticals and biochemistry. Techniques and procedures are described in detail, and internationally available bulk sorbents and precoated chromatographic plates are evaluated. Rather than adopting a uniform style, contributors have been given the freedom present topics in whatever way they consider most effective. Although the book is designed for scientists with experience in the separation sciences, most chapters include introductory and background information, making the book appropriate for those with less experience. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Producing biomolecular substances with fermenters, bioreactors, and biomolecular synthesizers.

For biochemical and biopharmaceutical engineers, technicians, scientists new to biotechnology, and others, veteran biochemist, immunologist, molecular biologist, and chemical engineer Hochfeld describes the substance, character, makeup, and quality of the raw materials, reagents, intermediates, and consumables used in the production and down-stream processing of biomolecular substances. He also looks at the design and operation of fermenters, bioreactors, and synthesizers. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Problem solving in diabetes.

Kennedy (James Cook University, Australia) identifies 53 problems and solutions in diabetes in this quick reference for health professionals. Each problem is covered with a case history, background information, a summary of recent developments, a conclusion and management plan, and suggestions for further reading. Material is in sections on prevention and diagnosis, acute diabetes, managing diabetes, reproductive complications, cardiovascular risk factors, microvascular and macrovascular complications, and diabetes in special groups of patients. The book is distributed in the US by CRC Press. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Radionuclide concentrations in food and the environment.

Issues concerning the relationship between natural and androcentric sources of environmental radioactivity and the subsequent radionuclide concentrations in foods are discussed at an academic level by researchers in physics, environmental health, and materials science from Europe, the US, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. They consider both the negative effects of environmental radioactivity on plants and animals, and the effects of radio-contaminated food on human health and ways for preventing such contamination. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Randomization, bootstrap and Monte Carlo methods in biology, 3d ed.

Manly presents a textbook on the three statistical methods of inference as they are practiced in the age of gonzo personal computers. Students are expected to be familiar with the methods that are usually covered in a first university course in statistics for majors in it. At times, a somewhat fuller knowledge of the analysis of variance, regressions, and multi-variate methods would be helpful. Earlier editions appeared about 1991 and 1997. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Reproductive biology and early life history of fishes in the Ohio River drainage; Aphredoderidae through Cottidae, Moronidae, and Sciaenidae; v.5.

Environmental regulations during the final third of the 20th century required counting and otherwise assessing the larvae and youngsters of economically or ecologically important fish species. There was an awkward silence, several years long perhaps, as scientists realized that almost no one had any idea what these creatures even looked like, that specialty having hitherto been so arcane as to attract funding only from senile members of wealth families. Wallus and Simon, who do not further introduce themselves, are making their way through a series of volumes compiling what those few specialists knew about the Ohio River Basin, along with the considerable more information that has been gathered during the past few decades. The project is financed primarily by utility companies this time. There is no index. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Scientific examination of questioned documents, 2d ed.

Since the 1982 edition was published, revolutionary changes have occurred in the equipment involved in producing documents and in analytic techniques for ferreting out forgeries and alterations. Kelly (a forensic document examiner, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) and Lindbloom (a Canadian forensic consultant/ developer of Write-On computer software) introduce 38 chapters by experts in the field discussing the latest qualifications for document examiners and methodologies used. They cite interesting cases of how signatures on historical documents and memorabilia were identified as bogus. This reference for forensic practitioners and aficionados includes images of tell-tale features, standards in the field, and a glossary. Published in association with the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Self-organization during friction; advanced surface-engineered materials and systems design.

Researchers from Europe, North America, and Japan concentrate on the self-organizing phenomenon, physico-chemical aspects of friction, and using advanced materials and surface-engineering techniques to control friction. They combine the fundamentals of thermodynamics and nano-tribological and other methods of material characterization, with studies of tribological behavior in a wide range of materials, to offer a novel approach to developing a new generation of surface-engineered self-adaptive materials. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Sensory-directed flavor analysis.

Now that it is possible to identify, extract, isolate, and concentrate potential flavor-important chemicals from complex food systems, sensory scientist only have to understand how their chemical data relates to flavor. That task has proven more difficult than the technical parts they have already accomplished. Here flavor scientist mostly from US companies but also a few US universities, offer advice to their colleagues, particularly on how to combine sensory and chemical analysis to obtain a taste and aroma that can be successfully advertised to sell a food product. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)