Many important phenomena in fluid motion are evident in vortex flow, i.e., flows in which vortical structures are significant in determining the whole flow. This book, which consists of lectures given at a NATO ARW held in Grenoble (France) in June 1992, provides an up-to-date account of current research in the study of these phenomena by means of numerical methods and mathematical modelling. Such methods include Eulerian methods (finite difference, spectral and wavelet methods) as well as Lagrangian methods (contour dynamics, vortex methods) and are used to study such topics as 2- or 3-dimensional turbulence, vorticity generation by solid bodies, shear layers and vortex sheets, and vortex reconnection. For researchers and graduate students in computational fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, and applied mathematics.
There is little doubt that Asia- stretching from the Eurasian landmass to the maritime reaches of Australia and the South Pacific-is experiencing a major shift in the global balance of power. A power shift from the West to the East is well under way. But what is not understood is how this global re-distribution of political, economic and military power will impact global and regional geopolitical order.
This paper provides an extensive review of different aspects of five shellfish-poisoning syndromes (paralytic, diarrhoeic, amnesic, neurologic and azapiracid), as well as one fish-poisoning syndrome (ciguatera fish poisoning), and discusses in detail the causative toxins produced by marine organisms, chemical structures and analytical methods of the toxins, habitat and occurrence of the toxin-producing organisms, case studies and existing regulations. Based on this analysis, risk assessments are carried out for each of the toxins, and recommendations are elaborated to improve the management of these risks in order to reduce the harmful effect of these toxins on public health.
This book focuses on food, non-food, and industrial packaging applications of polymers, blends, nanostructured materials, macro, micro and nanocomposites, and renewable and biodegradable materials. It details physical, thermal, and barrier properties as well as sustainability, recycling, and regulatory issues. The book emphasizes interdis
The book describes how plant biomass can be used as renewable feedstock for producing and further processing various products. Particular attention is given to microbial processes both for the digestion of biomass and the synthesis of platform chemicals, biofuels and secondary products. Topics covered include: new metabolic pathways of microbes living on green plants and in silage; using lignocellulosic hydrolysates for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates; fungi such as Penicillium as host for the production of heterologous proteins and enzymes; bioconversion of sugar hydrolysates into lipids; production of succinic acid, lactones, lactic acid and organic lactates using different bacteria species; cellulose hydrolyzing bacteria in the production of biogas from plant biomass; and isoprenoid compounds in engineered microbes.
This book explores vegetable fiber composite as an eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable material that has many potential industrial applications. The use of vegetable fiber composite supports the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to utilize more sustainable and greener composite materials, which are also easy to handle and locally easily available with economical production costs. This book presents various types of vegetable fiber composite and its processing methods and treatments to obtain desirable properties for certain applications. The book caters to researchers and students who are working in the field of bio-composites and green materials.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates: Biosynthesis, Chemical Structures and Applications opens with an exposé on employing extremophiles as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producers. The authors suggest that extremophiles may be easily subjected to a long-term continuous cultivation processes, which considerably enhances overall productivity while reducing the energy demand in biopolymer production. Conversely, a range of challenges remain, including improving the metabolic capability of extremophiles, recycling of fermentation broth, various process engineering aspects, and adaptation of bioreactor materials and process controlling devices to conditions shortening their life span. Following this, the enzymes, regulators and genes involved in PHA biosynthesis are analyzed for their potential as an alternative to synthetic polymers. They are synthesized as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds from over 300 species in the presence of excess carbon and under oxygen, nitrogen or phosphorus limitation, or after pH shifts. This collection goes on to suggest PHA as a promising alternative for petrochemical compounds. The challenges of increasing economic feasibility in the global market, minimizing costs, and improving the polymer yield are reviewed. Additionally, recent research on structural variations of PHAs has been centered on the design, biosynthesis, and properties of biodegradable and biocompatible materials, which can be used for bioengineering. This collection also includes a focus on the roles of polyhydroxyesters and PHAs in the construction of tissue engineering scaffolds, which are used in bone, cartilage, ligament, skin, vascular tissues, neural tissues and skeletal muscles. Their exceptional properties, such as high surface-to-volume ratio, high porosity with very small pore size, and biodegradation have made them gain a lot of attention in this field. The biomedical applications of PHAs are explored, including in-vivo implants, tissue engineering, anticancer agents, drug delivery, biocontrol agents and memory enhancers, as their low acidity allows for minimal risk in usage. In order to enhance its applicability in various fields, the blends and nanocomposites of PHAs are studied and their potential challenges, applications and opportunities are addressed. After which, the industrial and agricultural applications are described, with specific focus on potential applications of PHAs in packaging. Other applications include moulded goods, paper coatings, non-woven fabrics, adhesives, films and performance additives. Recent advances in this area, by means of peer-reviewed literature and patents, are introduced and discussed. Moreover, innovative strategies for the synthesis of novel polymer blends, adequate for food contact applications, are presented.
This book provides a systematic overview of the processing and applications of sustainable polymers. The volume covers recent advances in biomedical, food packaging, fuel cell, membrane, and other emerging applications. The book begins by addressing different sections of biomedical application including use of carbohydrate-based therapeutics, nanohybrids, nanohydrogels, bioresorbable polymers and their composites, polymer-grafted nanobiomaterials for biomedical devices and implants, nanofibres, and others. The second part of this book discusses various processing and packaging materials for food packaging applications. The last section discusses other emerging applications, including using microbial fuel cells for waste water treatment, microfluidic fuel cells for low power applications, among others. This volume will be relevant to researchers working to improve the properties of bio-based materials for their advanced application and wide commercialization.
This book considers all aspects of bioprospecting in 14 succinct chapters and a forward by David Hawksworth. The organisms addressed include plants, insects, fungi, bacteria and phages. Bioprospecting has never been more relevant and is of renewed interest, because of the extremely worrying rise in novel, resistant pathogenic microorganisms. The practices in pharmaceutical companies have failed to deliver novel antibiotics to control these infections. We need to look for new sources of drugs from the environment on a massive scale as drug discovery is “too important to fail”. Furthermore, the field can add great value to ecosystems in terms of economics, while providing additional reasons for maintaining associated services, such as food provision, benign climate, effective nutrient cycling and cultural practices. Bioprospecting provides another reason why climate change must be reduced in order to preserve relevant environments. Previous bioprospecting projects should be re-visited and established biodiversity centres have a major role. Many different ecosystems exist which contain unique organisms with the potential to supply novel antibiotics, enzymes, food, and cosmetics, or they may simply have aesthetic value. The book stresses the difficulties in obtaining successful products and yet describes why natural products should be investigated over combinatorial chemistry. Personal experience of bioprospecting projects are given significance. Issues such as how to share the benefits equitably with local communities are described and why pharmaceutical companies can be reluctant to be involved. Legal issues are discussed. Finally, there has never been a better time for a new book on bioprospecting, because of the need to preserve ecosystems, and from the emergence of resistant pathogenic microorganisms.
