Oil Palm Biomass for Composite Panels: Fundamentals, Processing, and Applications explains the preparation and utilization of oil palm biomass for advanced composite panel products. It introduces the fundamentals of oil palm biomass and wood-based panel products, including basic properties, durability, deterioration, and adhesives. It also includes in-depth information on processing and treatments organized by biomass type, covering oil palm trunk and lumber, veneer, empty fruit bunches (EFBs), oil palm fronds, and other sources. Additionally, this book focuses on specific composite panel applications, explaining the utilization of oil palm biomass in specific products. Finally, current policy, economic and environmental factors, and supply considerations are discussed. The information contained in Oil Palm Biomass for Composite Panels will be of interest to researchers, scientists and advanced students in bio-based materials, polymer science, composites, wood science, forestry, and biomass, as well as industrial scientists and product designers working with oil palm biomass, wood-based products, and sustainable materials.

This book undertakes a general review on the major infectious diseases in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Secondly, it will set out the future directions for better preparedness in the fight against infectious diseases particularly the emerging new infections in the 21st Century. It also discusses the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), also called infectious atypical pneumonia in China, is an emerging infectious disease caused by a novel variant of coronavirus (SARS-associated coronavirus, SARS-CoV). It is mainly characterised by pulmonary infection with high infectivity and fatality. SARS swept across almost every continent of the globe, and has currently involved 32 countries and regions, including the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America and Europe. The condition is hard especially in China. Chinese scientists and healthcare workers co-operated closely with scientists around the world to fight with the disease. On April 16, 2003, World Health Organization (WHO) formally declared that SARS-CoV was an etiological agent of SARS. Currently, there is no specific and effective therapy and prevention method for SARS. However, this disease can be prevented, and it is also curable and controllable. The main treatments include corticosteroid therapy, anti-viral agents, anti-infection, mechanical ventilation and medical isolation. With the endeavour of the Chinese Government, medical staffs and other related professionals, SARS has been controlled in China. Scientists around the world, including Chinese scientists have made a great progress in SARS research from that time on. A review is presented of the history of SARS and the progress in SARS research, especially in China.