This book reviews the state of the art in the use of organic materals as physical, chemical and biomedical sensors in a variety of application settings. Topics covered include organic semiconductors for chemical and physical sensing; conducting polymers in sensor applications; chemically functionalized organic semiconductors for highly selective sensing; composite organic-inorganic sensors; artificial skin applications; organic thin film transistor strain gauges for biomedical applications; OTFT infrared sensors for touchless human-machine interaction; smart fabric sensors and e-textile technologie; image capture with organic sensors; organic gas sensors and electronic noses; electrolyte gated organic transistors for bio-chemical sensing; ion-selective organic electrochemical transistors; DNA biosensors; metabolic organic sensors; and conductive polymer based sensors for biomedical applications.

Multiferroics, materials with a coexistence of magnetic and ferroelectric order, provide an efficient route for the control of magnetism by electric fields. The authors cover multiferroic thin-film heterostructures, device architectures and domain/interface effects. They critically discuss achievements as well as limitations and assess opportunities for future applications.

"Damage on Pumps and Systems. The Handbook for the Operation of Centrifugal Pumps" offers a combination of the theoretical basics and practical experience for the operation of circulation pumps in the engineering industry.

Centrifugal pumps and systems are extremely vulnerable to damage from a variety of causes, but the resulting breakdown can be prevented by ensuring that these pumps and systems are operated properly. This book provides a total overview of operating centrifugal pumps, including condition monitoring, preventive maintenance, life cycle costs, energy savings and economic aspects. Extra emphasis is given to the potential damage to these pumps and systems, and what can be done to prevent breakdown.
Addresses specific issues about pumping of metal chips, sand, abrasive dust and other solids influidsEmphasis on economic and efficiency aspects of predictive maintenance and condition monitoring Uses life cycle costs (LCC) to evaluate and calculatethe costs of pumping systems "

Recent agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical research focuses attention on the development of delivery systems that can encapsulate, protect, and deliver natural compounds. Nanoemulsions are recognized as the best delivery systems for natural-origin nutraceuticals and phytochemicals, having many agri-food applications. Bio-based Nanoemulsions for Agri-Food Applications provides information on food-grade nanoemulsions and their application in agriculture and the food industry. This book covers concepts, techniques, current advances, and challenges in the formulation of the application of emerging food grade nanoemulsions. Particular attention is placed on food-grade nanoemulsion production methods and components used, such as plant/microbial products, biosurfactants, cosurfactants, emulsifiers, ligand targets, and bioactive/functional ingredients. This is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers and food scientists who are looking to understand how nanoemulsions are being used in the agri-food sector.

Research and developments in neuroprostheses are providing scientists with the potential to greatly improve the lives of individuals who have lost some function. Neuroprostheses can help restore or substitute motor and sensory functions which may have been damaged as a result of injury or disease. However, these minute implantable sensors also provide scientists with challenges. This important new book provides readers with a comprehensive review of neuroprostheses. Chapters in part one are concerned with the fundamentals of these devices. Part two looks at neuroprostheses for restoring sensory function whilst part three addresses neuroprostheses for restoring motor function. The final set of chapters discusses significant considerations concerning these sensors.

There is a major lack of fundamental knowledge and understanding on the interaction between a filler and the polymer matrix. When it comes to nanoscale fillers, such as layered silicates, carbon nanotubes, graphene or cellulose nanofibers it is even more important to know accurate structure-property relationships as well as identifying the parameters influencing material behavior.

The reason for the lack of knowledge on how to process nanocomposites and why there are so few applications is that several scientific fields are affected and a joint effort of those scientific communities involved is necessary - starting from the filler manufacturing or pre-processing over polymer chemistry to the polymer processing.

Within this book for the first time all involved scientific areas are viewed together providing an all-embracing coverage of all stages of polymer clay nanocomposites processing from lab scale to large scale / industry scale - stages from the raw material over manufacturing of polymer clay nanocomposites to characterization and the final products.

The reader of the book will gain insight in the physical/chemical pre-processing of layered silicates and their incorporation into a polymer matrix using sophisticated technologies (such as advanced compounding) as well as in real-time quality control of the nanocomposite production and future prospects. Finally nanotoxicological and nanosafety aspects will complete the book.
Covers the whole processing route with all aspects of the nanocomposites industry with particular focus on the processing of polymer clay nanocomposites.
Includes quality control and nanosafety
Multidisciplinary approach from an industrial perspective

Many physical properties of our universe, such as the relative strength of the fundamental interactions, the value of the cosmological constant, etc., appear to be fine-tuned for existence of human life. One possible explanation of this fine tuning assumes existence of a multiverse, which consists of a very large number of individual universes having different physical properties. Intelligent observers populate only a small subset of these universes, which are fine-tuned for life. In this book we will review several interesting metamaterial systems, which capture many features of important cosmological models and offer insights into the physics of many other non-trivial spacetime geometries, such as microscopic black holes, closed time-like curves (CTCs) and the Alcubierre warp drive.

Surface modification of magnesium and its alloys for biomedical applications: Biological interactions, mechanical properties and testing, the first of two volumes, is an essential guide on the use of magnesium as a degradable implant material. Due to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, magnesium based degradable implants provide a viable option for the permanent metallic implants. This volume focuses on the fundamental concepts of surface modification of magnesium, its biological interactions, mechanical properties and, in vitro and in vivo testing. The contents of volume 1 is organized and presented in three parts. Part 1 reviews the fundamental aspects of surface modification of magnesium, including surface design, opportunities, challenges and its role in revolutionizing biodegradable biomaterials. Part 2 addresses the biological and mechanical properties covering an in vivo approach to the bioabsorbable behavior of magnesium alloys, mechanical integrity and, the effects of amino acids and proteins on the performance of surface modified magnesium. Part 3 delves in to testing and characterization, exploring the biocompatibility and effects on fatigue life alongside the primary characteristics of surface modified magnesium. All chapters are written by experts, this two volume series provides systematic and thorough coverage of all major modification technologies and coating types of magnesium and its alloys for biomedical applications.

This book describes the fundamentals and potential applications of friction stir superplasticity for unitized structures . Conventional superplastic forming of sheets is limited to the thickness of 3 mm because the fine grained starting material is produced by rolling. Friction stir superplasticity has grown rapidly in the last decade because of the effectiveness of microstructural refinement. The thickness of the material remains almost constant, and that allows for forming of thick sheets/plates, which was not possible before. The field has reached a point where designers have opportunities to expand the extent of unitized structures, which are structures in which the traditional primary part and any supporting structures are fabricated as a single unit. With advanced optimization and material considerations, this class of structures can be lighter weight and more efficient, making them less costly, as well as mechanically less complex, reducing areas of possible failure.
Discusses how friction stir processing allows selective microstructural refinement without thickness changeDemonstrates how higher thickness sheets and plates can be superplastically formedExamples are presented for aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloysCovers the production of low-cost unitized structures by selectively processing cast sheets/plates "

Open microfluidics, the study of microflows having a boundary with surrounding air, encompasses different aspects such as paper or thread-based microfluidics, droplet microfluidics and open-channel microfluidics. Open-channel microflow is a flow at the micro-scale, guided by solid structures, and having at least a free boundary (with air or vapor) other than the advancing meniscus. This book is devoted to the study of open-channel microfluidics which (contrary to paper or thread or droplet microfluidics) is still very sparsely documented, but bears many new applications in biology, biotechnology, medicine, material and space sciences. Capillarity being the principal force triggering an open microflow, the principles of capillarity are first recalled. The onset of open-channel microflow is next analyzed and the fundamental notion of generalized Cassie angle (the apparent contact angle which accounts for the presence of air) is presented. The theory of the dynamics of open-channel microflows is then developed, using the notion of averaged friction length which accounts for the presence of air along the boundaries of the flow domain. Different channel morphologies are studied and geometrical features such as valves and capillary pumps are examined. An introduction to two-phase open-channel microflows is also presented showing that immiscible plugs can be transported by an open-channel flow. Finally, a selection of interesting applications in the domains of space, materials, medicine and biology is presented, showing the potentialities of open-channel microfluidics.

Volume 7 & 8
The device sizes in the semiconductor industries are shrinking, devices become more vulnerable to smaller contaminant particles, and most conventional cleaning techniques employed in the industry are not effective at smaller scales. New cleaning techniques will have to be considered and employed for contaminant removal. Similarly, new cleaning techniques for molecular contaminants will also have to be deployed.
The book series Developments in Surface Contamination and Cleaning as a whole will provide an excellent source of information on these alternative cleaning techniques as well as methods for characterization and validation of surface contamination. Each volume has a particular topical focus, covering the key techniques and recent developments in the area.
Volume 8: Wet and Dry Cleaning Methods
Several novel wet and dry surface cleaning methods are addressed in this Volume. Many of these methods have not been reviewed previously, or the previous reviews are dated. These methods are finding increasing commercial application and the information in this book will be of high value to the reader.
Volume 7 & 8
Edited by the leading experts in small-scale particle surface contamination, cleaning and cleaning control this book will be an invaluable reference for researchers and engineers in R&D, manufacturing, quality control and procurement specification situated in a multitude of industries such as: aerospace, automotive, biomedical, defense, energy, manufacturing, microelectronics, optics and xerography. Researchers in an academic setting will also find these volumes excellent source books.
This Volume complements other volumes in this series and:
provides a state-of-the-art survey and best-practice guidance for scientists and engineers engaged in surface cleaning or handling the consequences of surface contamination
addresses the continuing trends of shrinking device size and contamination vulnerability in a range of industries, spearheaded by the semiconductor industry and other
covers novel wet and dry surface cleaning methods of increasing commercial importance"

The field of Corrosion Modelling has evolved tremendously since the first work was published in the early 1980's. Its initial application in the offshore industry has expanded to the point where modelling is applied in practically all application areas and the software has been developed to fulfil these needs. This book presents contributions from the most influential researchers and developers of corrosion modelling tools and users who apply the technology in their industry. Providing an excellent introduction to the state-of-the-art in computer modelling of corrosion and related electrochemical processes, this book will be of value to corrosion engineers and physicists, model developers and researchers.

Chitosan in Biomedical Applications provides a thorough insight into the complete chitosan chemistry, collection, chemical modifications, characterization and applications of chitosan in biomedical applications and healthcare fields. Chitosan, a biopolymer of natural origin, has been explored for its variety of applications in biomedical research, medical diagnostic aids and material science. It is the second most abundant natural biopolymer after cellulose, and considered as an excellent excipient because of its non-toxic, stable, biodegradable properties. Several research innovations have been made on applications of chitosan in biomedical applications. The book explores key topics, such as molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, and molecular geometry, along with an emphasis on recent advances in the field written by academic, industry, and clinical researchers. Chitosan in Biomedical Applications will be of interest to those in biomedical fields including the biomaterials and tissue engineering community investigating and developing biomaterials for biomedical applications, particularly graduate students, young faculty and others exploring chitosan-based materials.

"Micro- and Nanoengineering of the Cell Surface"explores the direct engineering of cell surfaces, enabling materials scientists and chemists to manipulate or augment cell functions and phenotypes. The book is accessible for readers across industry, academia, and in clinical settings in multiple disciplines, including materials science, engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine. Written by leaders in the field, it covers numerous cell surface engineering methods along with their current and potential applications in cell therapy, tissue engineering, biosensing, and diagnosis.

The interface of chemistry, materials science, and biology presents many opportunities for developing innovative tools to diagnose and treat various diseases. However, cell surface engineering using chemistry and materials science approaches is a new and diverse field. This book provides a full coverage of the subject, introducing the fundamentals of cell membrane biology before exploring the key application areas.
Demystifies the direct engineering of cell surfaces, enabling materials scientists and chemists to manipulate or augment cell functions and phenotypesProvides a toolkit of micro- and nanoengineering approaches to the manipulation of the cell surfaceUnlocks the potential of cell surface manipulation for a range of new applications in the fields of in vitro research, cell therapy, tissue engineering, biosensing, and diagnostics"