Microbial organisms occupy a peculiar place in the human view of life. Microorganisms represent the richest repertoire of molecular and chemical diversity in nature as they underlie basic ecosystem processes. Microorganisms are used for various purposes including food production and preservation, management of pests and pathogens, bioleaching of metals, increasing soil fertility, generating biofuels, monitoring pollutants, cleaning up of oil spills, waste water treatment, assaying of chemicals and serving as tools for medical research. Besides microorganisms are the major sources of antimicrobial agents and produce a wide range of other important medicinal compounds including enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, antihelminthics, antitumor agents, insecticides, vitamins, immunosuppressants and immunomodulatoThe study of microbial diversity is thus important to solve new and emerging disease problems and to advance biotechnology.

In modern days, crop improvement is a multidisciplinary division of agriculture. In this book, entitled, "Breeding, Biotechnology and Seed Production of Field Crops", emphasis has been given on principles, methods and practices in plant breeding, biotechnology in crop improvement and seed production of field crops. The book has been written for all sections of learners, educators and staff-members of seed industries. Particular importance has been underlined for postgraduate students who specialize in plant breeding and seed science. Each of the book has been designed as per the recommended of syllabus of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for the postgraduate students of various Agricultural Universities in our country. This book has been divided into two major parts- i) Principles of crop breeding and ii) Methods and practices of crop improvement and seed production of individual field crop. The book contains total of 18 chapteFirst three s are related to shed light on the basic-principles and remaining s deal with methods and practices of individual crop for improvement and seed production. We hope that the book will be ready to lend a hand to the advanced undergraduate students doing plant breeding in elective, postgraduate students who opted plant breeding, teachers, researchers and staff-members of private seed companies of this field of specialization.

Solar Energy Desalination Technology explains how to obtain clean water from sea water using solar energy. Special methods and types used in solar desalination are introduced, providing new thoughts, concepts, and feasible solutions in the desalination field, along with the thermal and economic efficiency relating to current technology. Many places in the world are suffering from fresh water shortage. However, those places are often rich with solar resources, sea water, and/or brackish water resources that could dramatically benefit from solar energy as a viable solution for the production of fresh water.

Marine Enzymes Biotechnology: Production and Industrial Applications, Part III, Application of Marine Enzymes provides a huge treasure trove of information on marine organisms and how they are not only good candidates for enzyme production, but also a rich source of biological molecules that are of potential interest to various industries. Marine enzymes such as amylases, carboxymethylcellulases, proteases, chitinases, keratinases, xylanases, agarases, lipases, peroxidase, and tyrosinases are widely used in the industry for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, foods, beverages, and confectioneries, as well as in textile and leather processing and waste water treatment. The majority of the enzymes used in the industry are of microbial origin because microbial enzymes are relatively more stable than the corresponding enzymes derived from plants and animals.

Advanced and Emerging Polybenzoxazine Science and Technology introduces advanced topics of benzoxazine resins and polybenzoxazines as presented through the collaboration of leading experts in the benzoxazine community, representing the authoritative introduction to the subjects. Broad topics covered include the recent development and improved understanding of the subjects, including low temperature cure, aerogels and carbon aerogels, smart chemistry in fire retarding materials and coatings, metal containing benzoxazines, rational design of advanced properties, and materials from natural renew. In the past twenty years, the number of papers on polybenzoxazine has continuously increased at an exponential rate. During the past three years, the number of papers published is more than the previous 17 years combined. The material is now part of only a few successfully commercialized polymers in the past 35 years. Therefore, interest in this material in both academia and industry is very strong.

Life-Cycle Assessment of Biorefineries, the sixth and last book in the series on biomass-biorefineries discusses the unprecedented growth and development in the emerging concept of a global bio-based economy in which biomass-based biorefineries have attained center stage for the production of fuels and chemicals. It is envisaged that by 2020 a majority of chemicals currently being produced through a chemical route will be produced via a bio-based route. Agro-industrial residues, municipal solid wastes, and forestry wastes have been considered as the most significant feedstocks for such bio-refineries. However, for the techno-economic success of such biorefineries, it is of prime and utmost importance to understand their lifecycle assessment for various aspects.

For courses in biotechnology. Introduction to Biotechnology brings the latest information students need to understand the science and business of biotechnology. The popular text emphasizes the future of biotechnology and the biotechnology student's role in that future with balanced coverage of basic cell and molecular biology, fundamental techniques, historical accounts, new advances, and hands-on applications. The 4th Edition features content updates in every chapter that reflect the most relevant, up-to-date changes in technology, applications, ethical issues, and regulations. Additionally, every chapter now includes an analytic Case Study that highlights current research and asks students to use what they've learned about key chapter concepts to answer questions. New Career Profiles, written by biotech professionals and available on the Companion Website along with additional career resources, highlight potential jobs in the biotech industry. The chapter on biotechnology regulations has been revised to include regulations involving international bodies.

Biotechnology has impacted the textiles industry through the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, as well as enabling the design of improved textile materials. This book will provide a thorough overview of current and future focuses of biotechnology in the fibre and textile industry. Part one of the book opens with a review of technologies involved in textile biotechnology. Chapters explore the design and engineering of novel enzymes for textile applications and developments in processes and equipment for enzymatic textile treatments. Part two investigates the modification of particular fibres through the use of biotechnology. Key topics include the treatment of wool and silk fibres and the enzymatic treatment versus conventional processing of cotton. With expert contributions from leaders in their fields, Advances in textile biotechnology is a comprehensive guide for those in the textile and fibre industry, as well as experts in the biology, chemical and environmental engineering industries.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. Thanks to major advances in circulatory biomaterials and medical devices over the past few decades, many complications of this prevalent disease can be managed with great success for prolonged periods. Biomaterials and devices for the circulatory system reviews the latest developments in this important field and how they can be used to improve the success and safety in this industry. Part one discusses physiological responses to biomaterials with chapters on tissue response, blood interface and biocompatibility. Part two then reviews clinical applications including developments in valve technology, percutaneous valve replacement, bypass technologies and cardiovascular stents. Part three covers future developments in the field with topics such as nanomedicine, cardiac restoration therapy, biosensor technology in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and vascular tissue engineering. With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors Biomaterials and devices for the circulatory system is a vital reference for those concerned with bioengineering, medical devices and clinicians within this critical field.

The surface modification of biomaterials plays a significant role in determining the outcome of biological-material interactions. With the appropriate modification a material's surface can be tailored to improve biocompatibility, adhesion and cell interactions. Consequently surface modification is vital in the development and design of new biomaterials and medical devices. Surface modification of biomaterials reviews both established surface modifications and those still in the early stages of research and discusses how they can be used to optimise biological interactions and enhance clinical performance. Part one begins with chapters looking at various types and techniques of surface modification including plasma polymerisation, covalent binding of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG), heparinisation, peptide functionalisation and calcium phosphate deposition before going on to examine metal surface oxidation and biomaterial surface topography to control cellular response with particular reference to technologies, cell behaviour and biomedical applications. Part two studies the analytical techniques and applications of surface modification with chapters on analysing biomaterial surface chemistry, surface structure, morphology and topography before moving onto discuss modifying biomaterial surfaces to optimise interactions with blood, control infection, optimise interactions with soft tissues, repair and regenerate nerve cells, control stem cell growth and differentiation and to optimise interactions with bone. The distinguished editor and international team of contributors to Surface modification of biomaterials have produced a unique overview and detailed chapters on a range of surface modification techniques which will provide an excellent resource for biomaterials researchers and scientists and engineers concerned with improving the properties of biomaterials. It will also be beneficial for academics researching surface modification.

Novel injectable materials for non-invasive surgical procedures are becoming increasingly popular. An advantage of these materials include easy deliverability into the body, however the suitability of their mechanical properties must also be carefully considered. Injectable biomaterials covers the materials, properties and biomedical applications of injectable materials, as well as novel developments in the technology. Part one focuses on materials and properties, with chapters covering the design of injectable biomaterials as well as their rheological properties and the mechanical properties of injectable polymers and composites. Part two covers the clinical applications of injectable biomaterials, including chapters on drug delivery, tissue engineering and orthopaedic applications as well as injectable materials for gene delivery systems. In part three, existing and developing technologies are discussed. Chapters in this part cover such topics as environmentally responsive biomaterials, injectable nanotechnology, injectable biodegradable materials and biocompatibility. There are also chapters focusing on troubleshooting and potential future applications of injectable biomaterials. With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Injectable biomaterials is a standard reference for materials scientists and researchers working in the biomaterials industry, as well as those with an academic interest in the subject. It will also be beneficial to clinicians.

Biomaterials and medical devices must be rigorously tested in the laboratory before they can be implanted. Testing requires the right analytical techniques. Characterization of biomaterials reviews the latest methods for analyzing the structure, properties and behaviour of biomaterials. Beginning with an introduction to microscopy techniques for analyzing the phase nature and morphology of biomaterials, Characterization of biomaterials goes on to discuss scattering techniques for structural analysis, quantitative assays for measuring cell adhesion, motility and differentiation, and the evaluation of cell infiltration and tissue formation using bioreactors. Further topics considered include studying molecular-scale protein-surface interactions in biomaterials, analysis of the cellular genome and abnormalities, and the use of microarrays to measure cellular changes induced by biomaterials. Finally, the book concludes by outlining standards and methods for assessing the safety and biocompatibility of biomaterials. With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Characterization of biomaterials is an authoritative reference tool for all those involved in the development, production and application of biomaterials.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Translational Pathways to Clinical Adoption provides the latest information on the necessary steps for successful production of stem cells for a clinical trial. Written by professionals with hands-on experience in bringing MSC therapies to the clinic, and building on the biology and mechanisms of action, this unique book covers the development and production of clinical-grade products that are suitable for use in humans. From design of a cell production facility, to obtaining regulatory approval and reimbursement issues, it is a useful guide for researchers and administrators across biomedical research.

Platform Chemical Biorefinery: Future Green Chemistry provides information on three different aspects of platform chemical biorefinery. The book first presents a basic introduction to the industry beneficial for university students, then provides engineering details of existing or potential platform chemical biorefinery processes helpful to technical staff of biorefineries. Finally, the book presents a critical review of the entire platform chemical biorefinery process, including extensive global biorefinery practices and their potential environmental and market-related consequences. Platform chemicals are building blocks of different valuable chemicals. The book evaluates the possibility of renewable feedstock-based platform chemical production and the fundamental challenges associated with this objective. Thus, the book is a useful reference for both academic readers and industry technical workers. The book guides the research community working in the field of platform chemical biorefinery to develop new pathways and technologies in combination with their market value and desirability.

Mechanochemical Organic Synthesis is a comprehensive reference that not only synthesizes the current literature but also offers practical protocols that industrial and academic scientists can immediately put to use in their daily work. Increasing interest in green chemistry has led to the development of numerous environmentally-friendly methodologies for the synthesis of organic molecules of interest. Amongst the green methodologies drawing attention, mechanochemistry is emerging as a promising method to circumvent the use of toxic solvents and reagents as well as to increase energy efficiency. The development of synthetic strategies that require less, or the minimal, amount of energy to carry out a specific reaction with optimum productivity is of vital importance for large-scale industrial production. Experimental procedures at room temperature are the mildest reaction conditions (essentially required for many temperature-sensitive organic substrates as a key step in multi-step sequence reactions) and are the core of mechanochemical organic synthesis. This green synthetic method is now emerging in a very progressive manner and until now, there is no book that reviews the recent developments in this area.