This ACS Symposium Series is the product of a symposium held at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, CA on March 27-31, 2011. It includes chapters on new biobased building blocks such as the furandicarboxylic acid, polyesters and polyamides from adipic, succinic and sebacic acids with aliphatic diols such as 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,12-dodecylenediol and isosorbide. The conversion of hydroxymethylfurfural, the dehydration product of hexose sugars, to succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol to produce poly(butylene succinate) is described in one chapter. Also the synthesis of new polymers from plant-derived olefinic monomers such as tulipalin A and studies of composites from cotton by-products are featured in other chapters. There is a strong emphasis on biocatalytic synthesis and polymerization within the book. Chapter topics include the synthesis of ?-hydroxyfatty acids and polymers therefrom, an interesting discussion on the structural differences of the products of the biocatalytic and chemical catalytic synthesis of polyesters from oleic diacid and glycerol and the ability to produce polylactic acid (PLA) and PLA-PHA copolyesters within a "microbial cell factory". Other areas of interest explored in other chapters include recent developments of biobased polymer fibers and oleate-based pressure sensitive adhesives and composites. One chapter describes a large increase in cold-drawn fiber tensile strength by the blending of a small amount of ultrahigh molecular weight (MW) poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with a much lower MW 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer. The addition of a rubber and inorganic fillers to normally brittle PLA was found to dramatically improve its ductility. Finally, there are several chapters on seed oil-based polyurethanes, one on fibers from soy proteins and composites from starch.

From International Number One Bestseller Andrew Gross, The Last Brother is the thrilling historical novel about three brothers and the Mafia in 1930s New York.

1930s New York City. Three brothers grow up poor on the Lower East Side, until the death of their father forces them to find work to support their family. Each brother takes a different path.

Twelve-year-old Morris Rabishevsky apprentices himself to a garment manufacturer with the aim of running the business. Sol, six years older, heads to accounting school but is forced to drop out. Scarred by a family tragedy, Harry falls under the spell of the charismatic Louis Buchalter, who in a few short years becomes the most ruthless mobster in town. Morris convinces Sol to go into business with him, but Harry can't be lured away from the glamour, power and money of the mob.

As their business grows, Buchalter sets his sights on the unions that control the garment maker's factories, setting up a fatal showdown that could bring them together or shatter their family forever.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.