Most adults take at least one prescription medication for example, for high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, depression, asthma, diabetes, COPD, or a variety of other reasons, but most people (and many healthcare providers) are totally unaware that medications can have direct negative effects on sexual functioning and performance. This informative and timely book written by three well-known medications experts explores the chemistry behind sexual arousal in men and women and clearly and authoritatively explains how the common categories of prescription and over-the-counter medications and abused substances might be the reason for their declining sexual performance or even interest.

The purpose of this book is to introduce Fourier descriptors as a method for measuring the shape of whole, or parts of, organisms. Fourier descriptors refers to the utilization of Fourier analysis, primarily the Fourier series as a curve fitting technique, that can numerically describe the shape of irregular structures such as are commonly found in living organisms. The quantitative characterization of irregular forms is often the first step toward elucidation of the underlying biological processes, whether they be genetic, evolutionary, or functional. The first five chapters discuss the theory behind the use of Fourier descriptors and the remaining chapters show case studies of how they can be used in various fields of biology such as anatomy, cell biology, medicine and dentistry. This is the first book solely devoted to this subject.

This book provides an extensive overview of the principles and methods of sample size calculation and recalculation in clinical trials. Appropriate calculation of the required sample size is crucial for the success of clinical trials. At the same time, a sample size that is too small or too large is problematic due to ethical, scientific, and economic reasons. Therefore, state-of-the art methods are required when planning clinical trials. Part I describes a general framework for deriving sample size calculation procedures. This enables an understanding of the common principles underlying the numerous methods presented in the following chapters. Part II addresses the fixed sample size design, where the required sample size is determined in the planning stage and is not changed afterwards. It covers sample size calculation methods for superiority, non-inferiority, and equivalence trials, as well as comparisons between two and more than two groups. A wide range of further topics is discussed, including sample size calculation for multiple comparisons, safety assessment, and multi-regional trials. There is often some uncertainty about the assumptions to be made when calculating the sample size upfront. Part III presents methods that allow to modify the initially specified sample size based on new information that becomes available during the ongoing trial. Blinded sample size recalculation procedures for internal pilot study designs are considered, as well as methods for sample size reassessment in adaptive designs that use unblinded data from interim analyses. The application is illustrated using numerous clinical trial examples, and software code implementing the methods is provided. The book offers theoretical background and practical advice for biostatisticians and clinicians from the pharmaceutical industry and academia who are involved in clinical trials. Covering basic as well as more advanced and recently developed methods, it is suitable for beginners, experienced applied statisticians, and practitioners. To gain maximum benefit, readers should be familiar with introductory statistics. The content of this book has been successfully used for courses on the topic.

Textiles and Their Use in Microbial Protection: Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viruses provides readers with vital information about disinfection mechanisms used in textile applications in the fight against dangerous microbes and viruses. KEY FEATURES: Introduces the basics of textile materials used for medical applications Features key information on virology, characterization, indication, and passivation of COVID-19 Describes UV, photocatalysis, photooxidation, application of TiO2, copper-based viral inhibition, and activated carbon Discusses antiviral finishes for the protection against SARS-CoV-2, particle penetration in dense cotton fabrics under swollen state, and the impact of moisture on face masks and their designs Aimed at textile and materials engineers as well as readers in medical fields, this text offers a comprehensive view of fundamentals and solutions in the use of textiles for microbial protection.

The book Theory and Practice of Contrast completes, corrects and integrates the foundations of science and humanities, which include: theory of art, philosophy (aesthetics, epistemology, ontology, axiology), cognitive science, theory of information, theory of complexity and physics. Through the integration of these distant disciplines, many unresolved issues in contemporary science have been clarified or better understood, among others: defining impact (contrast) and using this definition in different fields of knowledge; understanding what beauty/art is and what our aesthetic preferences depend on; deeper understanding of what complexity and information are in essence, and providing their general definitions. Complexity means integration, value and goodness - concepts that seem to be neglected today. The book also has a high degree of integration/complexity, although each chapter introduces a new issue. The last chapter: "Binary Model of the Universe" draws attention to the need for including in physics the analysis of our mind and the resulting new possibilities, which include the mentioned (digital) model of the universe. Despite the difficult issues raised here, this study is written in accessible language and may be interesting not only for scientists and academics.

Subcritical water is a green extraction solvent compared to conventional extraction solvents. While experimental results on subcritical water extraction (SWE) technology have been published piecemeal, there has been no comprehensive review of the state of the art. Green Extraction in Separation Technology fills that gap, serving to cover extracting with subcritical water as an environmentally friendly solvent. FEATURES Presents new technologies for extracting natural compounds from plants and compares the advantages and disadvantages versus SWE Explains research on SWE over the last 15 years Offers an overview of the solubility of different compounds in SWE and related theoretical content Discusses modeling of SWE and describes the development of a new model for this process This monograph is aimed at researchers and advanced students in chemical and biochemical engineering.

The development of nanomaterials plays a fundamental role in current and future technology applications, particularly nanomaterials that have multiple functionalities. This book provides a broad overview of the effect of nanostructuring in the multifunctionality of different widely studied nanomaterials. This book is divided into four sections constituting a road map that groups materials sharing certain types of nanostructuring, including nanoporous, nanoparticled, 2D laminar nanomaterials, and computational methods for characterizations of nanostructures. This structured approach in nanomaterials research will serve as a valuable reference material for chemists, (bio)engineers, physicists, nanotechnologists, undergraduates, and professors.

Emphasises a hands-on approach to modelling Strong emphasis on coding and software tools for systems biology Covers the entire spectrum of modelling, from static networks, to dynamic models Thoughtful exercises to test and enable student understanding of concepts Current chapters on exciting new developments like whole-cell modelling and community modelling

This book is a compilation of 17 information-packed chapters authored by working scientists in their respective discipline. In addition to the theoretical information, practical and applied aspects to boost the productivity and quality of crops are also given. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This title is co-published with NIPA.

This unique volume presents new understandings of the neurochemical nature of major depression, and how herbs and their constituent flavonoids and terpenes appear to address some of the mechanisms now thought to be involved. It explores how recent studies of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine inform neuroscientists about deep intracellular mechanisms of antidepressant action that have little to do with simple enhancement of monoaminergic activity. These mechanisms include actions on PI3K, Akt, mTOR, GSK3, BDNF, and other intracellular pathways. New theories of the pathophysiology underlying major depression, such as oxidative damage, inflammation, stress and insulin resistance are then explored. Key Features: Focuses on oxidative damage, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. Explains that a significant percentage of people treated for major depression obtain little if any relief from standard antidepressant medications. These facts lead to discussion of herbs that can be used to treat major depression, as well as consideration of the scientific basis for how these herbs act. The antidepressant properties of 66 herbs are discussed, along with dosing and safety information.

Technical and technological development demands the creation of new materials that are stronger, more reliable, and more durable-materials with new properties. This book skillfully blends and integrates polymer science, plastic technology, and rubber technology to highlight new developments and trends in advanced polyblends. The fundamentals of polymerization, polymer characteristics, rheology and morphology, as well as composition, technology, testing and evaluation of various plastics, rubbers, fibers, adhesives, coatings, and composites are comprehensively presented in this informative volume. The book presents the developments of advanced polyblends and the respective tools to characterize and predict the material properties and behavior. It provides important original and theoretical experimental results that use non-routine methodologies often unfamiliar to many readers. Furthermore chapters on novel applications of more familiar experimental techniques and analyses of composite problems are included, which indicate the need for the new experimental approaches that are presented. This new book: * Provides an up-to-date and thorough exposition of the present state of the art of polyblends and composites * Familiarizes the reader with new aspects of the techniques used in the examination of polymers, emphasizing plastic technology and rubber technology * Describes the types of techniques now available to the polymer chemist and technician and discusses their capabilities, limitations, and applications * Provides a balance between materials science and the mechanics aspects, basic and applied research, and high-technology and high-volume (low-cost) composite development Entrepreneurs and professionals engaged in production of as well as research and development in polymers will find the information presented here valuable and informative.

Advances in Kinetics and Mechanism of Chemical Reactions describes the chemical physics and/or chemistry of ten novel material or chemical systems. These ten novel material or chemical systems are examined in the context of various issues, including structure and bonding, reactivity, transport properties, polymer properties, or biological characteristics. This eclectic survey encompasses a special focus on the associated kinetics, reaction mechanism, or other chemical physics properties of these ten chosen material or chemical systems. The most contemporary chemical physics methods and principles are applied to the characterization of the these ten properties. The coverage is broad, ranging from the study of biopolymers to the analysis of antioxidant and medicinal chemical activity, on the one hand, to the determination of the chemical kinetics of not chemical systems and the characterization of elastic properties of novel nanometer scale material systems on the other. The chemical physics methods used to characterize these ten novel systems are state-of-the-art, and the results should be intriguing to those in the chemistry, physics, and nanoscience fields, include scientists engaged in chemical physics research and the polymer chemistry.

This book informs the reader about a fascinating class of materials referred to as skutterudites, the atomic lattice of which has large structural voids that can be filled by a variety of foreign species, spanning from alkali to alkaline to rare earth ions. The fillers, in their unique way, drastically modify the physical properties of the parent structure, giving rise to outstanding thermoelectric properties. This exciting material is of growing importance and is finding applications in a variety of different fields. This book will be of interest to researchers working in materials science, physics, and chemistry in addition to graduate students in these subjects. Features: * Gives a comprehensive account of all fundamental physical properties of skutterudites * Each major topic is accompanied by introductory sections and a further detailed theoretical treatment is provided in Appendices * Supported by many figures and a vast number of relevant references

Functionalized polymers are macromolecules to which chemically bound functional groups are attached which can be used as catalysts, reagents, protective groups, etc. Functionalized polymers have low cost, ease of processing and attractive features for functional organic molecules. Chemical reactions for the introduction of functional groups in polymers and the conversion of functional groups in polymers depend on different properties. Such properties are of great importance for functionalization reactions for possible applications of reactive polymers. This book deals with the synthesis and design of various functional polymers, the modification of preformed polymer backbones and their various applications.

Many new drugs on the market are chiral compounds, that is, they can exist in two non-superimposable mirror-image forms. Asymmetric catalysis encompasses a large variety of processes for obtaining such compounds. The performance of the catalyst in those processes largely depends on the ligand that makes up the catalyst. This book describes the most relevant ligand libraries for some key processes, including an overview of the state of art and the key mechanistic aspects that favor a high catalytic performance. Key Features: The book presents historical content from the time of discovery for each family of ligands. Provides a description of the synthetic route and the ligand library's application in various catalytic asymmetric reactions Suitable as supplementary reading for courses targeting the design, synthesis and application of chiral catalysts, asymmetric catalysis and sustainable production Edited by a distinguished scientist in the field, the book has a diverse audience including research groups in homogeneous catalysis, particularly asymmetric transformations

This book covers all important nomenclature, theories of bonding and stereochemistry of coordination complexes. The authors have made an effort to inscribe the ideas knowledge, clearly and in an interesting way to benefit the readers. The complexities of Molecular Orbital theory have been explained in a very simple and easy manner. It also deals with transition and inner transition metals. Conceptually, all transition and inner transition elements form complexes which have definite geometry and show interesting properties. General and specific methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties of each element has been discussed at length. Group wise study of elements in d-block series have been explained. Important compounds, complexes and organometallic compounds of metals in different oxidation states have been given explicitly. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

A decade after publication of the first edition, Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles responds to extensive changes in the field of toxinology to endure as the most comprehensive review of reptile venoms on the market. The six sections of this new edition, which has nearly doubled in size, complement the original handbook by presenting current information from many of the leading researchers and physicians in toxinology, with topics ranging from functional morphology, evolution and ecology to crystallography, -omics technologies, drug discovery and more. With the recent recognition by the World Health Organization of snakebite as a neglected tropical disease, the section on snakebite has been expanded and includes several chapters dealing with the problem broadly and with new technologies and the promises these new approaches may hold to counter the deleterious effects of envenomation. This greatly expanded handbook offers a unique resource for biologists, biochemists, toxicologists, physicians, clinicians, and epidemiologists, as well as informed laypersons interested in the biology of venomous reptiles, the biochemistry and molecular biology of venoms, and the effects and treatment of human envenomation.

The book describes the significant multidisciplinary research findings at the Universita Politecnica delle Marche and the expected future advances. It addresses some of the most dramatic challenges posed by today's fast-growing, global society and the changes it has caused. It also discusses solutions to improve the wellbeing of human beings. The book covers the main research achievements in the various disciplines of the life sciences, and includes chapters that highlight mechanisms relevant to all aspects of human diseases, the molecular, cellular, and functional basis of therapy, and its translation into the management of people's health needs. It also describes research on traditional and innovative foods to enhance quality, safety and functionality, and to develop bioactive/nutraceutical compounds. Further chapters address conservation and management of various environments, from the forests to the oceans, describing the studies on countermeasures against climate changes and terrestrial/aquatic pollutants, and on terrestrial/marine biodiversity, ecosystems and landscapes, erosion of genetic biodiversity, innovative aquaculture feed, sustainable crop production and management of forests. Lastly, the book reports the findings of research work on different classes of biomolecules, and on the molecular basis of antibiotic resistances and their diffusion.

Industrial Biotechnology offers a comprehensive overview of biochemical processes, technologies, and practical applications of industrial biotechnology. The work comprises of chapters that discuss medium preparation, inoculum preparation using industrial strain and upstream processing, various fermentation processes, and physico-chemical separation processes for the purification of products and packaging. Analyzes problems within biochemical processes Discusses stoichiometry of bioprocesses Covers upstream and downstream processing Offers a wealth of case studies of different biochemical production processes, including those in development of food products, vaccines and medicines, single cell proteins, amino acids, cheese, biodiesel, biopesticides, and more This book is aimed at advanced students, industrial practitioners, and researchers in biotechnology, food engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental engineering.

This is the first book to discuss the search for new physics in charged leptons, neutrons, and quarks in one coherent volume. The area of indirect searches for new physics is highly topical; though no new physics particles have yet been observed directly at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the methods described in this book will provide researchers with the necessary tools to keep searching for new physics. It describes the lines of research that attempt to identify quantum effects of new physics particles in low-energy experiments, in addition to detailing the mathematical basis and theoretical and phenomenological methods involved in the searches, whilst making a clear distinction between model-dependent and model-independent methods employed to make predictions. This book will be a valuable guide for graduate students and early-career researchers in particle and high energy physics who wish to learn about the techniques used in modern predictions of new physics effects at low energies, whilst also serving as a reference for researchers at other levels. Key features: * Takes an accessible, pedagogical approach suitable for graduate students and those seeking an overview of this new and fast-growing field * Illustrates common theoretical trends seen in different subfields of particle physics * Valuable both for researchers in the phenomenology of elementary particles and for experimentalists

Aluminum is increasingly replacing steel in automotive applications due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio, equal or better stiffness and toughness properties, durability, and manufacturability considerations. Primer on Automotive Lightweighting Technologies introduces basic ideas and principles of designing and engineering automotive components with aluminum. Topics include application of the knowledge to understand how automotive body and structures are designed, as well as other major and smaller automotive components, such as engine blocks and their components, chassis systems, and wheels. Features Discusses material considerations in engineering design Describes mechanical and physical properties of aluminum Covers manufacturing methods and automotive and industrial applications of aluminum products Offers information on design for functional performance and cost optimization Includes coverage of extruded and rolled products and car body structure This practical book is aimed at professionals in the fields of materials and mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, and metals and alloys, as well as advanced students and researchers.

Statistical Mechanics: Fundamentals and Model Solutions, Second Edition Fully updated throughout and with new chapters on the Mayer expansion for classical gases and on cluster expansion for lattice models, this new edition of Statistical Mechanics: Fundamentals and Model Solutions provides a comprehensive introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of mathematics and physics. The author presents a fresh approach to the subject, setting out the basic assumptions clearly and emphasizing the importance of the thermodynamic limit and the role of convexity. With problems and solutions, the book clearly explains the role of models for physical systems, and discusses and solves various models. An understanding of these models is of increasing importance as they have proved to have applications in many areas of mathematics and physics. Features Updated throughout with new content from the field An established and well-loved textbook Contains new problems and solutions for further learning opportunity Author Professor Teunis C. Dorlas is at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Ireland.

Now fully updated, the second edition of Modern Diagnostic X-Ray Sources: Technology, Manufacturing, Reliability gives an up-to-date summary of X-ray source technology and design for applications in modern diagnostic medical imaging. It lays a sound groundwork for education and advanced training in the physics of X-ray production, X-ray interactions with matter, and imaging modalities and assesses their prospects. The book begins with a comprehensive and easy-to-read historical overview of X-ray tube and generator development, including key achievements leading up to the current technological and economic state of the field. The book covers the physics of X-ray generation, including the process of constructing X-ray source devices. The stand-alone chapters can be read in order or in selections. They take you inside diagnostic X-ray tubes, illustrating their design, functions, metrics for validation, and interfaces. The detailed descriptions enable objective comparison and benchmarking. This detailed presentation of X-ray tube creation and functions enables you to understand how to optimize tube efficiency, particularly with consideration for economics and environmental care. It also simplifies faultfinding. Along with covering the past and current state of the field, the book assesses the future regarding developing new X-ray sources that can enhance performance and yield greater benefits to the scientific community and to the public. After heading international R&D, marketing and advanced development for X-ray sources with Philips, and working in the X-ray industry for more than four decades, Rolf Behling retired in 2020 and is now the owner of the consulting firm XtraininX, Germany. He holds numerous patents and is continuously publishing, consulting and training.

Fully updated throughout, with new journalistic boxes and recent applications Uses an accessible writing style and format, offering journalistic accounts of interesting research, worked examples, self-test questions, and a helpful glossary of frequently used terms Highlights various technological applications of physics, from locomotive lights to medical scanners to USB flash drives