In the broad field of supramolecular chemistry, the design and hence the use of chemosensors for ion and molecule recognition have developed at an extroardinary rate. This imaginative and creative area which involves the interface of different disciplines, e.g. organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, is not only fundamental in nature. It is also clear that progress is most rewarding for several new sensor applications deriving from the specific signal delivered by the analyte-probe interaction. Indeed, if calcium sensing in real time for biological purposes is actually possible, owing to the emergence of efficient fluorescent receptors, other elements can also be specifically detected, identified and finally titrated using tailored chemosensors. Pollutants such as heavy metals or radionuclides are among the main targets since their detection and removal could be envisioned at very low concentrations with, in addition, sensors displaying specific and strong complexing abilities. Besides, various species of biological interest (or others, the list is large) including sugars and other micellaneous molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can be actually probed with optodes and similar devices. The present volume in which the key lectures of the workshop are collected gives a survey of the main developments in the field. The success of the workshop mainly came from the high quality of the lectures, the invited short talks, the two posters sessions and the many very lively discussions which without doubt will produce positive outcomes.

This text is the published version of many ofthe talks presented at two symposiums held as part of the Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) in Knoxville, TN in October, 1999. The Symposiums, entitled Solution Thermodynamics of Polymers and Computational Polymer Science and Nanotechnology, provided outlets to present and discuss problems of current interest to polymer scientists. It was, thus, decided to publish both proceedings in a single volume. The first part of this collection contains printed versions of six of the ten talks presented at the Symposium on Solution Thermodynamics of Polymers organized by Yuri B. Melnichenko and W. Alexander Van Hook. The two sessions, further described below, stimulated interesting and provocative discussions. Although not every author chose to contribute to the proceedings volume, the papers that are included faithfully represent the scope and quality of the symposium. The remaining two sections are based on the symposium on Computational Polymer Science and Nanotechnology organized by Mark D. Dadmun, Bobby G. Sumpter, and Don W. Noid. A diverse and distinguished group of polymer and materials scientists, biochemists, chemists and physicists met to discuss recent research in the broad field of computational polymer science and nanotechnology. The two-day oral session was also complemented by a number of poster presentations. The first article of this section is on the important subject of polymer blends. M. D.

Does perception provide us with direct and unmediated access to the world around us? The so-called 'argument from illusion ' has traditionally been supposed to show otherwise: from the subject's point of view, perceptual illusions are often indistinguishable from veridical perceptions; hence, perceptual experience, as such, cannot provide us with knowledge of the world, but only with knowledge of how things appear to us. Disjunctive accounts of perceptual experience, first proposed by John McDowell and Paul Snowdon in the early 1980s and at the centre of current debates in the philosophy of perception, have been proposed to block this argument. According to the traditional view, a case of perception and a subjectively indistinguishable illusion or hallucination can exemplify what is fundamentally the same kind of mental state even though they differ in how they relate to the non-mental environment. In contrast, according to the disjunctive account, the concept of perceptual experience should be seen as essentially disjunctive, encompassing (at least) two distinct kinds of mental states, namely genuinely world-involving perceptions and mere appearances. This book presents seven recent essays on disjunctivism first published in two special issues of Philosophical Explorations: An International Journal for the Philosophy of Mind and Action.

Extracellular MRI and X-ray contrast agents are characterized by their phar- cokinetic behaviour.After intravascular injection their plasma-level time curve is characeterized by two phases. The agents are rapidly distributed between plasma and interstitial spaces followed by renal elimination with a terminal half-live of approximatly 1-2 hours. They are excreted via the kidneys in unchanged form by glomerular filtration. Extracellular water-soluble contrast agents to be applied for X-ray imaging were introduced into clinical practice in 1923. Since that time they have proved to be most valuable tools in diagnostics.They contain iodine as the element of choice with a sufficiently high atomic weight difference to organic tissue. As positive contrast agents their attenuation of radiation is higher compared with the attenuation of the surrounding tissue. By this contrast enhancement X-ray diagnostics could be improved dramatically. In 2,4,6-triiodobenzoic acid derivatives iodine is firmly bound. Nowadays diamides of the 2,4,6-triiodo-5-acylamino-isophthalic acid like iopromide (Ultravist, Fig. 1) are used as non-ionic (neutral) X-ray contrast agents in most cases [1].

This book presents critical reviews of the present position and future trends in modern chemical research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. It contains short and concise reports, each written by the world's renowned experts. Still valid and useful after 5 or 10 years, more information as well as the electronic version of the whole content available at springerlink.com.

Organophosphorus Chemistry provides a comprehensive annual review of the literature. Coverage includes phosphines and their chalcogenides, phosphonium salts, low coordination number phosphorus compounds, penta- and hexa-coordinated compounds, tervalent phosphorus acids, nucleotides and nucleic acids, ylides and related compounds, and phosphazenes. The series will be of value to research workers in universities, government and industrial research organisations, whose work involves the use of organophosphorus compounds. It provides a concise but comprehensive survey of a vast field of study with a wide variety of applications, enabling the reader to rapidly keep abreast of the latest developments in their specialist areas. 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 current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

Resorcinol chemistry has been providing valuable properties and products in the development of advanced technologies in the areas of pharmaceuticals, rubber compounds, wood composites and plastics. Notable technologies include steel belted radial tires, resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex adhesives (RFL), a weather proof polycarbonate (Sollx), a super heat resistant polymer (PEN-RTM), the world's strongest fiber (Zylon), sun screens (UV absorbers), Intal (an asthma drug), Ostivone (an osteoporosis drug), Throat Plus (lozenges), Centron and Saheli (oral contraceptive pills), and many more. This new resorcinol book contains information on the chemistry and technologies developed for the usefulness of human needs. Scientists and researchers around the world working in the areas of pharmaceuticals, rubber compounds (tires, hoses, belts), polymers, polymer additives (UV absorbers, flame retardants), composites (polymers and wood), photoresists, or just simply organic chemistry will benefit from this key resorcinol reference.

By presenting novel methods for the efficient preparation of fluorinated compounds and their application in pharmaceutical and agrochemical chemistry as well as medicine, this is a valuable source of information for all researchers in academia and industry!

The Reports are published annually and are divided into three main sections. A:(I) metals and (II) inorganic compounds; and B: organic compounds (including opgano-metallic compounds). The format of information in individual reports is: names, formulae, papers reported, unit cell and space group data, details of analysis, atomic positions, inter-atomic distances and angles, description and discussion of the structure (with diagrams), and additional references. The subject index is based on the names of the substances as given in the headings of the individual indexes are published as separate volumes. The Reports make the search through hundreds of journals unnecessary, as each volume gives the essence of one year's worldwide literature on crystal structure determinations. The series thus forms an essential bank of information.

The series Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry presents critical reviews on present and future trends in the research of heterocyclic compounds. Overall the scope is to cover topics dealing with all areas within heterocyclic chemistry, both experimental and theoretical, of interest to the general heterocyclic chemistry community. The series consists of topic related volumes edited by renowned editors with contributions of experts in the field. All chapters from Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry are published Online First with an individual DOI. In references, Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry is abbreviated as Top Heterocycl Chem and cited as a journal.

This unique book, drawing on the author 's lifetime experience, critically evaluates the extensive literature on the field of Metal-Catalysed Reactions of Hydrocarbons. Emphasis is placed on reaction mechanisms involving hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, skeletal and positional isomerisation, and exchange reactions. The motivation for fundamental research in heterogeneous catalysis is to identify the physicochemical characteristics of active centres for the reaction being studied, to learn how these may be modified or manipulated to improve the desired behavior of the catalyst, and to recognize and control those aspects of the catalyst's structure that limit its overall performance. By restricting the subject of the book to hydrocarbons, Bond has progressively developed the subject matter to include areas of importance both to researchers and to those working in the industry.

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 current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Reisensburg/Ulm, Donau, Germany, June 16-22, 1985

This and its companion Volume 2 chronicle the proceedings of the First Technical Conference on Polyimides: Synthesis, Char acterization and Applications held under the auspices of the Mid Hudson Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers at Ellenville, New York, November 10-12, 1982. In the last decade or so there has been an accelerated interest in the use of polyimides for a variety of applications in a number of widely differing technologies. The applications of polyimides range from aerospace to microelectronics to medical field, and this is attributed to the fact that polyimides offer certain desirable traits, inter alia, high temperature stability. Polyimides are used as organic insulators, as adhesives, as coat ings, in composites, just to name a few of their uses. Even a casual search of the literature will underscore the importance of this class of materials and the high tempo of R&D activity taking place in the area of polyimides. So it was deemed that a conference on polyimides was both timely and needed. This conference was designed to provide a forum for discussion of various ramifications of polyimides, to bring together scientists and technologists interested in all aspects of polyimides and thus to provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas, and to highlight areas which needed further and intensi fied R&D efforts. If the comments from the attendees are a baro meter of the success of a conference, then this event was highly successful and fulfilled amply its stated objectives.

Recent advancements in the field of asymmetric synthesis have been triggered by the challenges this field has offered to synthetic organic chemists, and the importance of preparing optically active compounds of medical value. Newly developed asymmetric organic reactions combined with improvements and novel applications of previously known reactions have created the need for this current volume. Presenting findings reported in 1991, this book covers asymmetric oxidations, reductions, carbon-- carbon bond formations, carbon--heteroatom bond formations, enzymatic hydrolysis, resolution and transesterification and miscellaneous asymmetric reactions. This book will serve as a useful reference for all researchers, scientists and students working in the field of synthetic organic chemistry.

This book provides an overview of established 3D cell culture assays from leaders in the field. Their contributions cover a wide spectrum of techniques and approaches for 3D cell culture, from organoid cultures through organotypic models to microfluidic approaches and emerging 3D bioprinting techniques, which are used in developmental, stem cell, cancer, and pharmacological studies, among many others. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, 3D Cell Culture: Methods and Protocols aims to inspire researchers to develop novel 3D cell culture techniques according to their specific scientific needs and interests, leading to a new generation of physiologically relevant and realistic 3D cell cultures. Chapter 15 of this book is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Although in nature the vast majority of polymers are condensation polymers, much publicity has been focused on functionalized vinyl polymers. Functional Condensation Polymers fulfills the need to explore these polymers which form an increasingly important and diverse foundation in the search for new materials in the twentyfirst century. Some of the advantages condensation polymers hold over vinyl polymers include offering different kinds of binding sites, their ability to be made biodegradable, and their different reactivities with various reagents under diverse reaction conditions. They also offer better tailoring of end-products, different tendencies (such as fiber formation), and different physical and chemical properties. Some of the main areas emphasized include dendrimers, control release of drugs, nanostructure materials, controlled biomedical recognition, and controllable electrolyte and electrical properties.

B. R. Buckley and H. Heaney: Mechanistic Investigations of Copper(I)- Catalyzed Alkyne-Azide Cycloaddition Reactions.- J. D. Crowley and D. A. McMorran: "Click-Triazole" Coordination Chemistry: Exploiting 1,4-Disubstituted-1,2,3-Triazoles as Ligands.- S. Lee and A. H. Flood: Binding Anions in Rigid and Reconfigurable Triazole Receptors.- M. Watkinson: Click Triazoles as Chemosensors.- H.-F. Chow, C.-M. Lo and Y. Chen: Triazole-Based Polymer Gels.- T. Zheng, S. H. Rouhanifard, A. S. Jalloh, P. Wu: Click Triazoles for Bioconjugation.- S. Mignani, Y. Zhou, T. Lecourt and L. Micouin: Recent Developments in the Synthesis 1,4,5-Trisubstituted Triazoles.

This is the second volume of a two-volume work which summarizes in an edited format and in a fairly comprehensive manner many of the recent technical research accomplishments in the area of Elastomers. Advances in Elastomers discusses the various attempts reported on solving these problems from the point of view of the chemistry and the structure of elastomers, highlighting the drawbacks and advantages of each method. It summarize the importance of elastomers and their multiphase systems in human life and industry, and covers all the topics related to recent advances in elastomers, their blends, IPNs, composites and nanocomposites.

This second volume is deals with composites and nanocomposites of elastomers.

This thesis describes research into the mode of function, inhibition, and evolution of the ribosomal catalytic center, the Peptidyl Transferase Center (PTC)--research that has already led to attempts at improving PTC antibiotics. The PhD candidate carried out two parallel studies. One using a combination of X-ray crystallography, biochemistry, molecular biology, and theoretical studies to obtain crystal structures of ribosomal particles with antibiotics that target the PTC, revealing the modes of action, resistance, cross-resistance and discrimination between ribosomes of eubacterial pathogens and eukaryotic hosts. In the second parallel study, the candidate synthesized a ribosomal substructure--one that may represent the minimal entity capable of catalyzing peptide bond formation--shedding light on the origin of the ribosome itself. Content Level Research

This is the first broad treatment of carbohydrate chemistry in many years, and presents the structures, reactions, modifications, and properties of carbohydrates. Woven throughout the text are discussions of biological properties of carbohydrates, their industrial applications, and the history of the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Written for students as well as practising scientists, this textbook and handy reference will be of interest to a wide range of disciplines: biochemistry, chemistry, food and nutrition, microbiology, pharmacology, and medicine.

Masakatsu Shibasaki, Motomu Kanai, Shigeki Matsunaga, and Naoya Kumagai: Multimetallic Multifunctional Catalysts for Asymmetric Reactions.- Takao Ikariya: Bifunctional transition metal-based molecular catalysts for asymmetric syntheses.- Chidambaram Gunanathan and David Milstein: Bond Activation by Metal-Ligand Cooperation: Design of Green Catalytic Reactions Based on Aromatization-Dearomatization of Pincer Complexes.- Madeleine C. Warner, Charles P. Casey, and Jan-E. Backvall: Shvo s Catalyst in Hydrogen Transfer Reactions.- Noritaka Mizuno, Keigo Kamata, and Kazuya Yamaguchi: Liquid-Phase Selective Oxidation by Multimetallic Active Sites of Polyoxometalate-Based Molecular Catalysts.- Pingfan Li and Hisashi Yamamoto: Bifunctional Acid Catalysts for Organic Synthesis.- Jun-ichi Ito, Hisao Nishiyama: Bifunctional Phebox Complexes for Asymmetric Catalysis."

-Shear-Induced Transitions and Instabilities in Surfactant Wormlike Micelles By S. Lerouge, J.-F. Berret -Laser-Interferometric Creep Rate Spectroscopy of Polymers By V. A. Bershtein, P. N. Yakushev -Polymer Nanocomposites for Electro-Optics: Perspectives on Processing Technologies, Material Characterization, and Future Application K. Matras-Postolek, D. Bogdal

This review is focused on controlled/living radical polymerization methods for the preparation of various copolymers. A brief introduction to the subject of radical polymerization, and early attempts to control it, is followed by a detailed examination of the literautre on controlled/living radical copolymerizations from the mid-90's until 2001. The topics covered include statistical/gradient, block, graft, and star copolymers and the polymerization methods used to produce them. These copolymers were prepared using three major controlled radical methods (either nitroxide mediated polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization or degenerative transfer) and a combination of polymerization techniques, including transformation chemistry or the simultaneous/dual living polymerizations, to achieve the desired chain architecture or topology. An evaluation of the current state of the field is also presented.

This book has pedigree. It has developed from experience over 50 years in reading, writing, thinking, and working with lipids and fatty acids. The study of Lipids now involves many disciplines, all of which require a basic knowledge of the chemical nature and properties of these molecules. The book i s written particularly for those who, with some knowledge of chemistry or biochemistry, need to know more about the mature of lipids and of fatty acids. Much of the readership will be employed in the food industry since 80% of the world production of oils and fats is eaten by humans and another 6% goes into animal feed. They will need to understand the materials they handle; their origin and chemical nature, the effects of processing, and their physical, chemical, biochemical, and nutritional properties. Another group of readers will be employed in the oleochemical industry modifying the material produced by nature for the benefit of human kind. They will have to understand the constraints of production and of chemistry within which they work and to be aware of the present state of knowledge about these materials. Yet another group may consider themselves to be academic researchers; however there is no escape from the real world of market place availability and they will need to know something about sourcing, about the changes which occur when oils and fat are refined and how these materials can be modified on a commercial scale.