For thousands of years, forest biomass or wood has been among the main energy sources of humans around the world. Since the industrial revolution, fossil fuels have replaced wood and become the dominant source of energy. The use of fossil fuels has the disadvantage of increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), especially carbon dioxide (CO2), with the consequent warming of global climate and changes in precipitation. In this context, the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like forest biomass is among the ways to mitigate climate change. This book summarizes recent experiences on how to manage forest land to produce woody biomass for energy use and what are the potentials to mitigate climate change by substituting fossil fuels in energy production. In this context, the book addresses how management can affect the supply of energy biomass using short-rotation forestry and the conventional forestry applying long rotations. Furthermore, the book outlines the close interaction between the ecological systems and industrial systems, which controls the carbon cycle between the atmosphere and biosphere. In this context, sustainable forest management is a key to understand and control indirect carbon emissions due to the utilization of forest biomass (e.g. from management, harvesting and logistics, and ecosystem processes), which are often omitted in assessing the carbon neutrality of energy systems based on forest biomass. The focus in this book is on forests and forestry in the boreal and temperate zones, particularly in Northern Europe, where the woody biomass is widely used in the energy industry for producing energy.

For thousands of years, forest biomass or wood has been among the main energy sources of humans around the world. Since the industrial revolution, fossil fuels have replaced wood and become the dominant source of energy. The use of fossil fuels has the disadvantage of increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), especially carbon dioxide (CO2), with the consequent warming of global climate and changes in precipitation. In this context, the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like forest biomass is among the ways to mitigate climate change. This book summarizes recent experiences on how to manage forest land to produce woody biomass for energy use and what are the potentials to mitigate climate change by substituting fossil fuels in energy production. In this context, the book addresses how management can affect the supply of energy biomass using short-rotation forestry and the conventional forestry applying long rotations. Furthermore, the book outlines the close interaction between the ecological systems and industrial systems, which controls the carbon cycle between the atmosphere and biosphere. In this context, sustainable forest management is a key to understand and control indirect carbon emissions due to the utilization of forest biomass (e.g. from management, harvesting and logistics, and ecosystem processes), which are often omitted in assessing the carbon neutrality of energy systems based on forest biomass. The focus in this book is on forests and forestry in the boreal and temperate zones, particularly in Northern Europe, where the woody biomass is widely used in the energy industry for producing energy.

Arsenic was used more than 2400 years ago in Greek and Rome as a therapeutic agent and as a poison. In current therapeutics use of arsenic as a drug is limited. Recent studies indicate that people of different countries are at higher risk of arsenic toxicity as underground water in parts of the world is drained by deadly arsenic. This book deals with the effect of arsenic on binding of three common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; paracetamol, aspirin and diclofenac sodium to bovine serum albumin. A detailed literature review on arsenic contamination and health hazards related to arsenic toxicity has been documented for reader's convenience. Arsenic contamination in relation to Bangladesh was also reviewed in details as Bangladesh is thought to be at greatest risk of arsenic related negative health outcomes.

Premature plate end debonding failure is the main weakness of plate bonded strengthened beams which can be minimized by end anchors. The main objectives of this research were to study the behaviour of steel plate and CFRP laminate strengthened r.c. beams, the effects of U and L shape end anchors to prevent plate end debonding and the effects of L shape intermediate anchors to eliminate premature shear. Nine rectangular beams were tested. Design methods were proposed to obtain the dimensions of steel plate and CFRP laminate. U and L shape end anchors were used on steel plate and CFRP laminate strengthened beams. The length of end anchors was obtained from the proposed design theory. L shaped intermediate anchors were provided in the shear span of L shaped end anchored strengthened beams. Results exhibited that both U and L shaped end anchored strengthened beams showed ductile failure modes without premature end peeling with higher failure loads, less deflection and less cracks compared to the un-anchored beams. Intermediate anchors prevented premature shear failure.The proposed design methods were experimentally satisfied.