This inter-disciplinary guide to the thermodynamics of living organisms has been thoroughly revised and updated to provide a uniquely integrated overview of the subject. Retaining its highly readable style, it will serve as an introduction to the study of energy transformation in the life sciences and particularly as an accessible means for biology, biochemistry and bioengineering undergraduate students to acquaint themselves with the physical dimension of their subject. The emphasis throughout the text is on understanding basic concepts and developing problem-solving skills. The mathematical difficulty increases gradually by chapter, but no calculus is required. Topics covered include energy and its transformation, the First Law of Thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy, statistical thermodynamics, binding equilibria and reaction kinetics. Each chapter comprises numerous illustrative examples taken from different areas of biochemistry, as well as a broad range of exercises and references for further study.

Advanced Biomass Gasification: New Concepts for Efficiency Increase and Product Flexibility provides a thorough overview on new concepts in biomass gasification and consolidated information on advances for process integration and combination, which could otherwise only be gained by reading a high number of journal publications. Heidenreich, Muller and Foscolo, highly respected experts in this field, start their exploration with the compact UNIQUE reactor, gasification and pyrolysis, gasification and combustion, and catalysts and membranes. The authors then examine biomass pre-treatment processes, taking into account the energy balance of the overall conversion process, and look into oxygen-steam gasification and solutions for air separation, including new options for integration of O2-membranes into the gasifier. Several polygeneration strategies are covered, including combined heat and power (CHP) production with synthetic natural gas (SNG), biofuels and hydrogen, and new cutting-edge concepts, such as plasma gasification, supercritical water gasification, and catalytic gasification, which allows for insights on the future technological outlook of the area. This book is then a valuable resource for industry and academia-based researchers, as well as graduate students in the energy and chemical sectors with interest in biomass gasification, especially in areas of power engineering, bioenergy, chemical engineering, and catalysis.

Ronja Victoria Scholz assesses the performance of cellulose-based Cottonid for implementation as sustainable construction material. Quasi-static and fatigue tests are performed in varying hygrothermal test conditions using mechanical testing systems in combination with integrable climate chambers. To investigate humidity-driven actuation properties, customized specimen holders are designed. Accompanying microstructural in situ experiments in analytical devices enable a profound understanding of effective material-specific damage and failure mechanisms. The findings are transferred into strength-deformation diagrams as well as Woehler curves, which enable a comparative evaluation of several process-related and environmental influencing factors and can directly be used for dimensioning of Cottonid elements for structural applications. The interpretation of thermoelastic material reponse during loading is used as scientific value for lifetime prediction. Comprehensive investigations on industrial standard materials as well as structurally optimized Cottonid variants provide a scientific basis for categorizing material's structural and functional performance towards common technical plastics and wood.

This book provides in-depth coverage on the latest concepts, systems, and technologies that are being utilized in biorefineries for the production of biofuels and value-added commodities. Written by internationally recognized experts, the book provides a comprehensive overview of pretreatment technology for biorefineries and biofuels, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation technology for biofuel production, and lignin valorization for developing new products from waste lignin. The book will be a valuable resource for researchers and professionals working in process engineering, product engineering, material science, and systems and synthetic biology in the fields of biorefining, biofuel, biomaterials, environmental waste utilization, and biotechnology.

This is the second of two volumes that together provide an overview of the latest advances in the generation and application of digital twins in bioprocess design and optimization. Both processes have undergone significant changes over the past few decades, moving from data-driven approaches into the 21st-century digitalization of the bioprocess industry. Moreover, the high demand for biotechnological products calls for efficient methods during research and development, as well as during tech transfer and routine manufacturing. In this regard, one promising tool is the use of digital twins, which offer a virtual representation of the bioprocess. They reflect the mechanistics of the biological system and the interactions between process parameters, key performance indicators and product quality attributes in the form of a mathematical process model. Furthermore, digital twins allow us to use computer-aided methods to gain an improved process understanding, to test and plan novel bioprocesses, and to efficiently monitor them. This book focuses on the application of digital twins in various contexts, e.g. computer-aided experimental design, seed train prediction, and lifeline analysis. Covering fundamentals as well as applications, the two volumes offers the ideal introduction to the topic for researchers in academy and industry alike.

This book covers intentional design aspects for combinations of drugs, single-molecule hybrids with potential or actual multiple actions, pro-drugs which could yield multiple activity outcomes, and future possibilities. The approach of the book is interdisciplinary, and it provides greater understanding of the complex interplay of factors involved in the medicinal chemistry design and laboratory development of multiply active antibacterials. The scope of the book appeals to readers who are researching in the field of antibacterials using the approach of medicinal chemistry design and drug development.

This newly designed and enlarged edition offers an up-to-date presentation of biosensor development and modeling from both a chemical and a mathematical point of view. An entire new chapter in particular is dedicated to optimal design of biosensors. Two more new chapters discuss biosensors which utilize microbial cells and are based on carbon nanotubes respectively. All the other chapters have been revised and updated. The book contains unique modeling methods for amperometric, potentiometric and optical biosensors based mainly on biocatalysts . It examines processes that occur in the sensors' layers and at their interface, and it provides analytical and numerical methods to solve equations of conjugated enzymatic (chemical) and diffusion processes. The action of single enzyme as well as polyenzyme biosensors and biosensors based on chemically modified electrodes is studied. The modeling of biosensors that contain perforated membranes and multipart mass transport profiles is critically investigated. Furthermore, it is fully described how signals can be biochemically amplified, how cascades of enzymatic substrate conversion are triggered, and how signals are processed via a chemometric approach and artificial neuronal networks. The results of digital modeling are compared with both proximal analytical solutions and experimental data.

This book focuses on the development of stapled peptides, a novel molecular modality used to regulate aberrant intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The author designs and presents a novel helical peptide stabilization methodology by constructing a chiral cross-linker moiety, namely "chiral center induced peptide helicity (CIH)". The book demonstrates that a precisely positioned carbon chiral center on tether can decisively determine the secondary structure of a peptide, and that the R-configured peptide is helical, while the S-configured peptide is non-helical. Further, it reports that helicity-enhanced R isomer peptides displayed significantly enhanced cell permeability and target binding affinity, as well as tumor inhibition efficiency, in comparison to S isomer peptides. The book will not only advance readers' understanding of the basic principle of stapled peptides, but also accelerate the clinical transformation of stapled peptide drugs.

This is a concise book with comprehensive information on coal and biomass ash generated from their combustion in thermal power plants. It presents detailed studies on ash generated from contrasting coal and biomass feedstocks, and provides a comparative evaluation of these different ashes in terms of their origin, properties, environmental hazards. Potential utilizations with specific advantages and disadvantages of the respective ashes are elaborated in detail, including some innovative means of ash utilization for value addition purposes. By addressing both the theory and commercial exploitation of these products, this book will be helpful for industrialists, academicians and researchers alike.

This book provides an updated and detailed overview on the recent developments of bioethanol technology. It looks at the historical perspectives, chemistry, sources and production of ethanol and discusses biotechnology breakthroughs and promising developments, its uses, advantages, problems, environmental effects and characteristics. In addition, it presents information about ethanol in different parts of the world and also highlights the challenges and future of ethanol. The first edition of this book was published as a SpringerBriefs in 2013. Since then, many new developments have taken place in the last six years. This new edition will highlight the evolution in bioethanol development from first-generation production to the futuristic fourth-generation bioethanol production, the various constraints and challenges involved, and the scope for development. This book caters to the audience who are interested in alternative transportation fuels which are both biodegradable and sustainable to the environment.

This book is a manual for designing and operating a basic quality management program; a practical discussion of what is needed and how to fulfill those needs on a practical basis. It will be helpful to chemical engineers, plant laboratory managers and those interested in quality management.

This book presents the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the International Conference on Advances in Bioprocess Engineering and Technology (ICABET 2020). The book covers all aspects of bioprocesses, especially related to fermentation technology, food technology, environmental biotechnology, and sustainable energy. Along with this primary theme, the focus is on recent advances in bioprocessing research such as biosensors, micro-reactors, novel separation techniques, bioprocess control, bio-safety, advanced techniques for waste to wealth generation, and nanobiotechnology. This contents are divided according to the major themes of the conference: (i) Fermentation Technology and Bioreactor, (ii) Food Pharmaceuticals and Health care, (iii) Environment and Agriculture, and (iv) Sustainable Energy. This book is intended to help students, researchers, and industry professionals acquire knowledge on innovative technologies and recent advancements in the field of bioprocess engineering and technology.

This Volume presents a comprehensive series of generic protocols for the genetic and genomic analysis of prokaryotic isolates. Genetic methods for functional analyses employ the latest cloning vectors, gene fusion methods and transposon mutagenesis systems, as well as systems for introducing protease-cleavage sequences into permissive sites in proteins under investigation. Genomic methods described include protocols for transcriptomics, shotgun proteomics, interactomics, metabolic profiling, and lipidomics. Bioinformatic tools for genome annotation, transcriptome display and the integration of transcriptomic data into genome-scale metabolic reconstructions are described. Protocols for 13C-based metabolic flux determinations and analysis of the hierarchical and metabolic regulation of fluxes through pathways are included. The Volume thus enables investigators to functionally analyse an isolate over the entire cellular range spanning the gene, the genome, the transcript repertoire, the proteome, the interactome, the metabolic network with its nodes and their regulatory hierarchies, and the metabolic fluxes and their physiological controls. Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols There are tens of thousands of structurally different hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives and lipids, and a wide array of these molecules are required for cells to function. The global hydrocarbon cycle, which is largely driven by microorganisms, has a major impact on our environment and climate. Microbes are responsible for cleaning up the environmental pollution caused by the exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs and will also be pivotal in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels by providing biofuels, plastics and industrial chemicals. Gaining an understanding of the relevant functions of the wide range of microbes that produce, consume and modify hydrocarbons and related compounds will be key to responding to these challenges. This comprehensive collection of current and emerging protocols will facilitate acquisition of this understanding and exploitation of useful activities of such microbes.

This much-needed book is the first definitive volume on Euglena in twenty-fire years, offering information on its atypical biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and potential biotechnology applications. This volume gathers together contributions from well-known experts, who in many cases played major roles in elucidating the phenomenon discussed. Presented in three parts, the first section of this comprehensive book describes novel biochemical pathways which in some instances have an atypical subcellular localization. The second section details atypical cellular mechanisms of organelle protein import, organelle nuclear genome interdependence, gene regulation and expression that provides insights into the evolutionary origins of eukaryotic cells. The final section discusses how biotechnologists have capitalized on the novel cellular and biochemical features of Euglena to produce value added products. Euglena: Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology will provide essential reading for cell and molecular biologists with interests in evolution, novel biochemical pathways, organelle biogenesis and algal biotechnology. Readers will come away from this volume with a full understanding of the complexities of the Euglena as well as new realizations regarding the diversity of cellular processes yet to be discovered.

This book systematically explains the application principles and green processing technologies of industrial oil plant. Firstly, the industrial plant oil resources are elaborated as an independent discipline for systematic research. Secondly, it has laid a solid theoretical foundation for the utilization of industrial plant oil resources, and will greatly promote the development of industrialization and modernization of industrial plant oil resources worldwide. Thirdly, it constructs integrated technology system of oil plant cultivation, oil extraction technology and products application. Finally, it elaborates a series of environmental issues including the protection of biodiversity and the balance of the forest ecology during the industrial plant oil resources processing. The technological process for green conversion of industrial plant oil resources to the oil-based materials and high value products will be of particular interest to the readers among oil researchers, producers and managers.

The Pigments from Microalgae Handbook presents the current state of knowledge on pigment production using microalgae-based processes, and covers both the scientific fundamentals of this technology and its practical applications. It addresses biology, chemistry, biochemistry, analysis and engineering aspects, as well as applications of natural pigments in photosynthetic organisms. The book also describes the analytical procedures associated with the characterization of pigments and the engineering aspects of microalgal pigment production. It considers the three major classes of pigments(chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins) produced and surveys the main commercial applications of these chemicals. The book offers a valuable source of information for industrial researchers and practitioners in industrial biotechnology, as it covers various engineering aspects of microalgal pigment production, such as bioreactors and bioprocesses, industrial extraction processes, and the bioeconomy of production including life-cycle assessment. The book will also be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students of biochemistry, food chemistry, and industrial microbiology.

This book provides an overview of the fundamentals and reference values for Ca stable isotope research, as well as current analytical methodologies including detailed instructions for sample preparation and isotope analysis. As such, it introduces readers to the different fields of application, including low-temperature mineral precipitation and biomineralisation, Earth surface processes and global cycling, high-temperature processes and cosmochemistry, and lastly human studies and biomedical applications. The current state of the art in these major areas is discussed, and open questions and possible future directions are identified. In terms of its depth and coverage, the current work extends and complements the previous reviews of Ca stable isotope geochemistry, addressing the needs of graduate students and advanced researchers who want to familiarize themselves with Ca stable isotope research.

Here is a comprehensive introduction to the highly practical and diverse applications of surfactants within the petroleum industry, detailing their nature, occurrence, physical properties, propagation, and uses. The focus is on the knowledge and practices needed to successfully deal with surfactants in the petroleum production process: in reservoirs, in oil and gas wells, in surface processing operations, and in environmental, health and safety applications. Throughout, important applications of colloid and interface science principles are emphasized and real-world processes and problems are clearly illustrated. The book also includes a comprehensive glossary.

This book presents the most up-to-date technologies for the transformation of biomass into valuable fuels, chemicals, materials, and products. It provides comprehensive coverage of the characterization and fractionation of various types of biomass and details the many challenges that are currently encountered during this process. Divided into two sections, this book discusses timely topics such as the characterization of biomass feedstock, pretreatment and fractionation of biomass, and describes the process for conversion of biomass to value-added commodities. The authors bring biomass transformational strategies that are yet to be explored to the forefront, making this innovative book useful for graduate students and researchers in academia, government, and industry.

This book describes the evolving CBRN risk landscape and highlights advances in the "core" CBRN technologies, including when combined with (improvised) explosive devices (CBRNe threats). It analyses how associated technologies create new safety and security risks, challenging certain assumptions that underlie current control regimes. The book also shows how technologies can be enablers for more effective strategies to mitigate these risks. 21st-century safety and security risks emanating from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials - whether resulting from natural events, accidents or malevolent use - are increasingly shaped by technologies that enable their development, production or use in ways that differ from the past. Artificial intelligence, the use of cyberspace, the revolution in the life sciences, new manufacturing methods, new platforms and equipment for agent delivery, hypersonic weapons systems, information tools utilised in hybrid warfare - these and other technologies are reshaping the global security environment and CBRN landscape. They are leading to a growing potential for highly targeted violence, and they can lead to greater instability and vulnerability worldwide. At the same time, technology offers solutions to manage CBRN risks. Examples are faster detection, more accurate characterisation of the nature and origin of CBRN agents, new forensic investigation methods, or new medical treatments for victims of CBRN incidents. New educational concepts help to foster a culture of responsibility in science and technology and strengthen governance. New training methods help develop practical skills to manage CBRN risks more effectively. The book concludes that there is a growing need for a holistic framework towards CBRN risk mitigation. Traditional arms control mechanisms such as global, regional or bilateral treaties and export controls are still needed, as they provide a necessary legal and institutional framework. But laws and technology denial alone will not suffice, and institutional mechanisms can at times be weak. Given the pace of technological progress and the diffusion of critical knowledge, tools and materials, policymakers must accept that CBRN risks cannot be eliminated altogether. Instead, society has to learn to manage these risks and develop resilience against them. This requires a "softer", broadly based multi-stakeholder approach involving governments, industry, the research and development communities, educators, and civil society. Furthermore, educating policymakers that cutting-edge technologies may seriously affect global strategic stability could create incentives for developing a more creative and contemporary arms control strategy that fosters cooperation rather than incremental polarisation.

This book addresses the developing area of biomass for technological applications. Written by leading researchers in the field, the book differs from other literature available by providing a detailed, in-depth discussion of the characteristics of these materials. The use of biomass for technological applications is a rapidly growing area in materials engineering and green bioprocesses. In this approach, pre-treatments focus on the bioavailability of nutrients and facilitate the use of biomass for delivering byproducts (e.g. enzymes) and for bioenergy production, both of which are discussed at length in this book. In this regard, it explores various aspects of the structural complexity of residual biomass produced by agricultural, industrial and livestock activities for biotechnological purposes, and assesses both conventional and emerging pre-treatments (e.g. biological, enzymatic and physical-chemical). This book reveals the advantages of these techniques, both individually and in combination, making it an excellent resource for all readers interested in cutting-edge applications of biomass.

This volume provides an overview of the recent advances in the field of paper microfluidics, whose innumerable research domains have stimulated considerable efforts to the development of rapid, cost-effective and simplified point-of-care diagnostic systems. The book is divided into three parts viz. theoretical background of paper microfluidics, fabrication techniques for paper-based devices, and broad applications. Each chapter of the book is self-explanatory and focuses on a specific topic and its relation to paper microfluidics and starts with a brief description of the topic's physical background, essential definitions, and a short story of the recent progress in the relevant field. The book also covers the future outlook, remaining challenges, and emerging opportunities. This book shall be a tremendous up-to-date resource for researchers working in the area globally.

This brief covers case studies on Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) and its mitigation. After reviewing the basics of corrosion, it focuses on MIC. MIC is a special type of electrochemical corrosion in which the presence of microbes and bacteria alters the chemistry of liquid media so as to make them more corrosive. These changes are harmful to metallic equipment, processing machinery, marine vessels, etc. in an environment that is host to a wealth of microorganisms. A 2007 US survey estimated corrosion-related damages to cost $276 billion a year, roughly 50% of which are due to MIC. The industries most affected by MIC are power production, oil exploration, transportation and storage, water distribution and more generally all industries involving marine environments. However, means for effectively preventing and controlling MIC are poorly understood. As such, the book's later chapters address various mechanisms/processes that show promise with regard to MIC mitigation. Lastly, the book discusses the strategies currently being explored to mitigate MIC using green technologies.

This highly readable textbook serves as a concise and engaging primer to the emerging field of antibody engineering and its various applications. It introduces readers to the basic science and molecular structure of antibodies, and explores how to characterize and engineer them. Readers will find an overview of the latest methods in antibody identification, improvement and biochemical engineering. Furthermore, alternative antibody formats and bispecific antibodies are discussed. The book's content is based on lectures for the specializations "Protein Engineering" and "Medical Biotechnology" within the Master's curriculum in "Biotechnology." The lectures have been held at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna, since 2012 and are continuously adapted to reflect the latest developments in the field. The book addresses Master- and PhD students in biotechnology, molecular biology and immunology, and all those who are interested in antibody engineering.