This volume presents the recent developments on the biomedical applications of chitosan and its derivatives. Chitosan exhibits unique properties such as non-toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility. Since its chemical structure and properties can be easily modified, it can be an ideal candidate as a biomaterial. Consequently, chitosan and its derivatives are being developed in different forms such as nanoparticles, micelles, nanofibers, hydrogels, films and 3D porous materials for various biomedical applications, ranging from drug and gene delivery to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The chapters of this volume focus on the potential use of chitosan and its derivatives as a hemostatic agent, tissue sealants, tissue engineering scaffolds, delivery carriers for bioactive molecules in bone tissue engineering and wound dressings. Some chapter's deal with recent advancements of chitosan-based biomaterials as a drug, gene and transdermal drug delivery carrier. In addition, the volume focusses on the prospects of chitosan-based systems for the treatment of cancer, eye and other infectious diseases. The volume will be of interest to material scientists, chemists and biotechnologists by providing a better understanding of the physicochemical and biological characteristics of chitosan and its derivatives to develop more appropriate and innovative chitosan-based materials modified for unlimited practical applications in biomedical fields.

John Fetzer's "Career Management for Chemists" provides ample, common-sense guidance on the key topics such as: Resumes and CVs, Staying Driven & Current, Personal Skills & Traits Networking, Teamwork & Leadership, Speaking & Listening Writing Research Papers, Mentoring, Behavior & Rewards The practical coverage reflects not only his long professional experience but also his insight that, especially in today's changing workplace, expectations and strategies for career management require constant re-evaluation. Provides real, common-sense, and proven means to enrich and make more rewarding a technical career. Pre-publication comments from colleagues - "Not only the student who is taking his first steps in the scientific world would profit abundantly by mining this book for views and ideas on the different sides of his chosen career. Also the seasoned scientist will be stimulated to scrutinize his own habits and pick up new thoughts, thereby becoming a more skilled instructor of his younger colleagues." J. Andersson, University of Munster, Germany "As one of the international collaborators of Dr. John Fetzer, I want to warmly congratulate him. His efforts nicely summarize very important topics for all who work in scientific activities. But, at the same time, Career Management for Chemists also provides some real insights for many people who are not working in science. This is a nice guidebook on how to enrich our lives and help us to become more successful!! K. Jinno, Toyohashi University of Technology

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued.

The breadth of scientific and technological interests in the general topic of photochemistry is truly enormous and includes, for example, such diverse areas as microelectronics, atmospheric chemistry, organic synthesis, non-conventional photoimaging, photosynthesis, solar energy conversion, polymer technologies, and spectroscopy. This Specialist Periodical Report on Photochemistry aims to provide an annual review of photo-induced processes that have relevance to the above wide-ranging academic and commercial disciplines, and interests in chemistry, physics, biology and technology. In order to provide easy access to this vast and varied literature, each volume of Photochemistry comprises sections concerned with photophysical processes in condensed phases, organic aspects which are sub-divided by chromophore type, polymer photochemistry, and photochemical aspects of solar energy conversion. Volume 34 covers literature published from July 2001 to June 2002. Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.

This book, Philosophy of Chemistry, is dedicated to some of the general principles of philosophy of chemistry, the special branch of philosophy of science. Since the work is a collection of lectures that the Author gave at the University of Zagreb (Croatia) during the period of twenty years, the book could serve also as a university textbook in philosophy of chemistry. Philosophy of chemistry is represented through the discussion about some of the general philosophical problems such as, theory of complexity, autonomy of sciences, epistemology, falsificationism, emergence and unity of science, holism and reductionism, the problem of identity, and hierarchical structures, as well as the teleological aspects of science. The work consists from thirteen chapters where the main science-philosophical problems are represented and discussed within the historical context of the development of chemistry as a science. The book is aimed at wider academic audience interesting in the philosophy of science, and especially at university students of life sciences.

The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, since its inception, has been recognized as a cornerstone of heterocyclic chemistry. Each volume attempts to discuss all aspects - properties, synthesis, reactions, physiological and industrial significance - of a specific ring system. To keep the series up-to-date, supplementary volumes covering the recent literature on each individual ring system have been published. Many ring systems (such as pyridines and oxazoles) are treated in distinct books, each consisting of separate volumes or parts dealing with different individual topics. With all authors are recognized authorities, the Chemistry of Heterocyclic Chemistry is considered worldwide as the indispensable resource for organic, bioorganic, and medicinal chemists.

The "Gold Standard" in Biochemistry text books. Biochemistry 4e, is a modern classic that has been thoroughly revised. Don and Judy Voet explain biochemical concepts while offering a unified presentation of life and its variation through evolution. It incorporates both classical and current research to illustrate the historical source of much of our biochemical knowledge.

In September 2002, a NATO-ASI was held in Cetraro (CS), Italy on the theme of "Metal-Ligand Interactions in Molecular-, Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-systems in Complex Environments". This event has followed the previous ones held in the same place in 1991, 1994 and 1998. In the present and the previous schools a broad interdisciplinary cross-section of experimental and theoretical researchers, interested in a better understanding of metal-ligand interactions from different viewpoints, was linked together to exchange experience, to review the state-of-the-art, to indicate new techniques and methods, to explore new fields and perspectives. Particular emphasis was given to the problems related with the crossing from molecular systems to nano-, macro-and micro-scale materials and to the effects of the environment on the properties of the molecular systems. The school was organized around lectures and special research seminares given by leading experts in the following fields: * metal clusters * inorganic complexes and materials * surface phenomena * adsorption and catalysis * organic and bio-inorganic systems * ab initio theory * density functional theory * classical and quantum dynamics This volume contains the formal lectures and selected contributed papers and describes the main aspects and problems tackled during the 12 days of the event.

In the new edition the editors have preserved the basic concept and structure, with the involvement of some new authors - all recognized experts in laser spectroscopy. Each chapter addresses a different technique, providing a review and analysis of the current status, and reporting some of the latest achievements. With the key formulas and methods detailed in many sections, this text represents a practicable handbook of its subject. It will be a valuable tool both for specialists to keep abreast of developments and for newcomers to the field needing an accessible introduction to specific methods of laser spectroscopy - and also as a resource for primary references.