On starting to write the preface it occured to the editors that it might be a good idea to incorporate so me organizational thoughts. First of all, why have. we organized this book on "Glycoprotein storage diseases", an unfamiliar area of pathology unlikely to be encountered in practice? In preparing such a volume we considered that in the past ten years there has been a large amount of intensive research activity on glycoproteinoses and no detailed review has been entirely devoted to this subject. This research has led to new information about hereditary mental retardation and progressive neurologie degeneration, and as clinicians we are impressed with its clinical importance. This volume is intended to represent for the uninitiated as weH as for the expert a summary of studies on dis orders of glycoprotein catabolism written by experts in each area. Each author has written with freedom about his particular experience, describing the establishment and development of his investigations, his methods, the utility and limitations of his work and eventual sources of problems. We are grateful for their many fundamental studies and for their having generously accepted to partecipate in this book. The Editors Acknowledgements We wish to express our gratitude to our friends and colleagues G. Romeo, W.S. Sly and G. Tettamanti whose criticism and suggestions have significantly improved the quality of particular chapters or sections.

Composite materials are engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties and which remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finished structure. Fibre Reinforced Polymers or FRPs include Wood comprising (cellulose fibers in a lignin and hemicellulose matrix), Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic or CFRP, Glass-fibre reinforced plastic or GFRP (also GRP). If classified by matrix then there are Thermoplastic Composites, short fiber thermoplastics, long fibre thermoplastics or long fibre reinforced thermoplastics There are numerous thermoset composites, but advanced systems usually incorporate aramid fibre and carbon fibre in an epoxy resin matrix. Composites can also utilise metal fibres reinforcing other metals, as in Metal matrix composites or MMC. Ceramic matrix composites include Bone (hydroxyapatite reinforced with collagen fibres), Cermet (ceramic and metal) and Concrete. Organic matrix/ceramic aggregate composites include Asphalt concrete, Mastic asphalt, Mastic roller hybrid, Dental composite, Syntactic foam and Mother of Pearl. Chobham armour is a special composite used in military applications. Engineered wood includes a wide variety of different products such as Plywood, Oriented strand board, Wood plastic composite (recycled wood fibre in polyethylene matrix), Pykrete (sawdust in ice matrix), Plastic-impregnated or laminated paper or textiles, Arborite, Formica (plastic) and Micarta. Composite materials have gained popularity (despite their generally high cost) in high-performance products such as aerospace components (tails, wings , fuselages, propellors), boat and scull hulls, and racing car bodies. More mundane uses include fishing rods and storage tanks. This new book presents the latest research from around the world.