Science & Nature - Books

Recent Trends in Materials and Devices

Science & Nature

This book presents the proceedings of the International Conference on Recent Trends in Materials and Devices, which was conceived as a major contribution to large-scale efforts to foster Indian research and development in the field in close collaboration with the community of non-resident Indian researchers from all over the world. The research articles collected in this volume - selected from among the submissions for their intrinsic quality and originality, as well as for their potential value for further collaborations - document and report on a wide range of recent and significant results for various applications and scientific developments in the areas of Materials and Devices. The technical sessions covered include photovoltaics and energy storage, semiconductor materials and devices, sensors, smart and polymeric materials, optoelectronics, nanotechnology and nanomaterials, MEMS and NEMS, as well as emerging technologies.

La diversidad de la ciencia

Science & Nature

En esta obra póstuma, el brillante astrofísico y ganador del Premio Pulitzer Carl Sagan combina magistralmente astronomía, física, biología, filosofía, mitología y teología para explorar la relación entre religión y ciencia, y explicar el sentimiento casi místico que uno experimenta al admirar el universo.En 1985, Sagan fue invitado a las prestigiosas Conferencias Gifford y el resultado de ese encuentro es esta maravillosa y personal exposición de sus observaciones y opiniones sobre temas mayores de la historia de la humanidad. Con un estilo claro y directo, sin academicismos ni tecnicismos, el autor aborda los temas clave de su obra como el origen del universo, la posibilidad de vida inteligente en otros planetas, el peligro de la aniquilación nuclear, el creacionismo y la posible naturaleza química de la transcendencia.Las observaciones divertidas, sabias y a menudo asombrosamente proféticas de Sagan sobre algunos de los mayores misterios del universo tienen el efecto vigorizador de estimular el intelecto y la imaginación, así como de despertarnos a la grandeza de la vida en el cosmos.«Este libro es un tesoro de sabiduría, compasión y asombro científico. Debería ser el próximo libro que lea.» Sam Harris, autor de El fin de la fe«Un legado increíblemente valioso que nos deja una gran persona.» Kurt Vonnegut

Mathematical Modeling and Intelligent Control for Combating Pandemics

Science & Nature

The contributions in this carefully curated volume, present cutting-edge research in applied mathematical modeling for combating COVID-19 and other potential pandemics. Mathematical modeling and intelligent control have emerged as powerful computational models and have shown significant success in combating any pandemic. These models can be used to understand how COVID-19 or other pandemics can spread, analyze data on the incidence of infectious diseases, and predict possible future scenarios concerning pandemics. This book also discusses new models, practical solutions, and technological advances related to detecting and analyzing COVID-19 and other pandemics based on intelligent control systems that assist decision-makers, managers, professionals, and researchers. Much of the book focuses on preparing the scientific community for the next pandemic, particularly the application of mathematical modeling and intelligent control for combating the Monkeypox virus and Langya Henipavirus.

Re-Use and Recycling of Materials

Science & Nature

In recent years, a considerable amount of effort has been devoted, both in industry and academia, towards the recycling and reuse of materials. Most nations are now trying to reduce the amount of waste materials, through the proper recycling of materials.Re-Use and Recycling of Materials will help readers to understand the current status in the field of waste management, as well as what research is taking place to deal with such issues.Technical topics discussed in the book include: Municipal solid waste management Recycling of WEEE Waste to industrially important product like lignin and cellulose Recycling of agriculture waste Polymer and plastic recycling

Advanced Molecularly Imprinting Materials

Science & Nature

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are an important functional material because of their potential implications in diverse research fields. The materials have been developed for a range of uses including separation, environmental, biomedical and sensor applications. In this book, the chapters are clustered into two main sections: Strategies to be employed when using the affinity materials, and rational design of MIPs for advanced applications. In the first part, the book covers the recent advances in producing MIPs for sample design, preparation and characterizations. In the second part, the chapters demonstrate the importance and novelty of creation of recognition imprinted on the materials and surfaces for a range of microbial detection sensors in the biomedical, environmental and food safety fields as well as sensing human odor and virus monitoring systems. Part 1: Strategies of affinity materials Molecularly imprinted polymers MIP nanomaterials Micro- and nanotraps for solid phase extraction Carbonaceous affinity nanomaterials Fluorescent MIPs MIP-based fiber optic sensors Part 2: Rational design of MIP for advanced applications MIP-based biomedical and environmental sensors Affinity adsorbents for environmental biotechnology MIP in food safety MIP-based virus monitoring MIP-based drug delivery and controlled release Biorecognition imprints on the biosensor surfaces MIP-based sensing of volatile organic compounds in human body odour MIP-based microcantilever sensor system

Plant Abiotic Stress Physiology

Science & Nature

This two-volume set highlights the various innovative and emerging techniques and molecular applications that are currently being used in plant abiotic stress physiology. Volume 1: Responses and Adaptations focuses on the responses and adaptations of plants to stress factors at the cellular and molecular levels and offers a variety of advanced management strategies and technologies. Volume 2: Molecular Advancements introduces a range of state-of-the-art molecular advances for the mitigation of abiotic stress in plants.With contributions from specialists in the field, Volume 1 first discusses the physiology and defense mechanisms of plants and the various kinds of stress, such as from challenging environments, climate change, and nutritional deficiencies. It goes on to discuss trailblazing management techniques that include genetics approaches for improving abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants along with CRISPR/CAS-mediated genome editing technologies.Volume 2 discusses how plants have developed diverse physiological and molecular adjustments to safeguard themselves under challenging conditions and how emerging new technologies can utilize these plant adaptations to enhance plant resistance. These include using plant-environment interactions to develop crop species that are resilient to climate change, applying genomics and phenomics approaches from the study of abiotic stress tolerance and more.Agriculture today faces countless challenges to meet the rising need for sustainable food supplies and guarantees of high-quality nourishment for a quickly increasing population. To ensure sufficient food production, it is necessary to address the difficult environmental circumstances that are causing cellular oxidative stress in plants due to abiotic factors, which play a defining role in shaping yield of crop plants. These two volumes help to meet these challenges by providing a rich source of information on plant abiotic stress physiology and effective management techniques.

Green and Sustainable Advanced Materials, Volume 2

Science & Nature

Sustainable development is a very prevalent concept of modern society. This concept has appeared as a critical force in combining a special focus on development and growth by maintaining a balance of using human resources and the ecosystem in which we are living. The development of new and advanced materials is one of the powerful examples in establishing this concept. Green and sustainable advanced materials are the newly synthesized material or existing modified material having superior and special properties. These fulfil today’s growing demand for equipment, machines and devices with better quality for an extensive range of applications in various sectors such as paper, biomedical, textile, and much more.Volume 2, provides chapters on the valorization of green and sustainable advanced materials from a biomedical perspective as well as the applications in textile technology, optoelectronics, energy materials systems, and the food and agriculture industry.

Nanosensors in Healthcare Diagnostics

Science & Nature

Nanosensors in Healthcare Diagnostics examines the role of nanosensors in clinical microbiology, point-of-care sensing, clinical diagnostics, and therapy.This book addresses the concept of nanosensors and their utilization in healthcare diagnostics, and therapy. It covers the principles and mechanisms involved in nanosensor-based diagnostics platforms. It also discusses various approaches and techniques used in the preparation of nanosensors as well as the biomedical application of nanosensors in clinical diagnostics and their significance in the detection, treatment, and management of diseases. This book is a useful reference for researchers, graduate students, and industry professionals studying nanosensors in biological and medical sciences.• Brings together multiple perspectives, in-depth analyses, and insights on nanosensors and its application in disease diagnostics and therapy• Covers the basic aspects of functioning principles and discusses the technologies and challenges of present and future analytical sensing approaches for diagnosis and treatment• Outlines the significant types of nanosensor platforms explored and developed for efficient detection

Explorer demain

Science & Nature

Qui seront les explorateurs du futur et que signifie encore " explorer " au XXIesiècle ? Les explorateurs qui partaient à la conquête de terres sauvages, mettant leur vie en péril pour découvrir des territoires inviolés et apporter de nouvelles connaissances, semblent appartenir à une époque révolue. Au XXIe siècle, notre monde paraît avoir été inventorié de fond en comble et tout le savoir être à portée du moindre clic sur Internet. Est-ce pour autant la fin de l'exploration et de l'explorateur ?Non, car personne ne peut avec certitude déterminer ce que seront les réalités et les sociétés futures et de nouveaux pionniers auront à défricher des voies inconnues. Nous allons devoir changer et nous adapter. Il ne s'agit plus de se demander s'il reste quelque chose à explorer mais de trouver comment nous allons, toutes et tous, devenir des explorateurs de ce monde en mutation. Comment nous allons éviter de reproduire les erreurs du passé pour ne pas conduire notre humanité, mais aussi l'ensemble du vivant, à sa perte. Et comment nous allons explorer demain pour mieux le construire.

Nanobiotechnology in Diagnosis, Drug Delivery and Treatment

Science & Nature

Presents nanobiotechnology in drug delivery and disease managementFeaturing contributions from noted experts in the field, this book highlights recent advances in the nano-based drug delivery systems. It also covers the diagnosis and role of various nanomaterials in the management of infectious diseases and non-infectious disorders, such as cancers and other malignancies and their role in future medicine.Nanobiotechnology in Diagnosis, Drug Delivery and Treatment starts by introducing how nanotechnology has revolutionized drug delivery, diagnosis, and treatments of diseases. It then focuses on the role of various nanocomposites in diagnosis, drug delivery, and treatment of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and many others. Next, it discusses the application of a variety of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal tract disorders. The book explains the concept of nanotheranostics in detail and its role in effective monitoring of drug response, targeted drug delivery, enhanced drug accumulation in the target tissues, sustained as well as triggered release of drugs, and reduction in adverse effects. Other chapters cover aptamer-incorporated nanoparticle systems; magnetic nanoparticles; theranostics and vaccines; toxicological concerns of nanomaterials used in nanomedicine; and more. Provides a concise overview of state-of-the-art nanomaterials and their application like drug delivery in infectious diseases and non-infectious disorders Highlights recent advances in the nano-based drug delivery systems and role of various nanomaterials Introduces nano-based sensors which detect various pathogens Covers the use of nanodevices in diagnostics and theranostics Nanobiotechnology in Diagnosis, Drug Delivery and Treatment is an ideal book for researchers and scientists working in various disciplines such as microbiology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and nanomedicine.

Digital Education for the 21st Century

Science & Nature

This new volume highlights the evolution of digital education related issues by reporting on effective IoT-based technologies for the teaching-learning process. It brings together a selection of leading academic policymakers, researchers, educationalists, and education scholars to share their experiences and research on many aspects of digital pedagogy in the Education of Things. The volume discusses recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as the practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of digital pedagogies and educational design.The chapters cover the concepts of IoT-based digital technologies regarding teacher and teaching education, IoT-based education, flipped learning, assessment process, and more. Key features: Introduces the integration of technology with digital education Explains the functional framework workflow in the Education of Things and networked learning Explores basic and high-level concepts of teaching-learning pedagogy in IoT-based education Covers the major challenges, issues, and advances in flipped and blended learning based on IoT technologies Looks at digital education pedagogy collaborations with organizations outside academia Explores teaching education and the process of assessment, testing, and evaluationDigital Education for the 21st Century: Technologies and Protocols provides a rich resource for academic and administrative policymakers, academicians, researchers, educationalists and experts who are concerned with educational research.

Kreativität

Science & Nature

Wie entsteht das Neue? Durch Biegen, Brechen und Verbinden!Wir Menschen wollen ständig Neues erschaffen - was aber macht unser Gehirn dabei so besonders? Warum erfinden Krokodile keine Speedboats?Der Neurowissenschaftler David Eagleman und der Komponist Anthony Brandt schildern, wie in unseren Köpfen Innovation entsteht. Sie erzählen Geschichten neuer Ideen von Picasso bis zur Raumfahrt und zeigen uns, dass wir die Herausforderungen der Zukunft nur meistern können, wenn wir die kreative Software unseres Gehirns verstehen lernen.Ein faszinierendes Duett von Naturwissenschaft und Kunst: Der weltbekannte Hirnforscher David Eagleman und sein Freund, der Komponist Anthony Brandt, widmen sich in ihrem Buch der Frage, wie das Neue entsteht. Dabei blicken sie auf die kreative Software des Gehirns: Wie funktioniert sie? Was machen wir damit? Wohin führt sie uns? Es erweist sich, dass der kreative Prozess vor allem von drei Fähigkeiten des Gehirns abhängt: Biegung, Brechung und Verbindung.An vielen Beispielen, von der Raumfahrt über die Wirtschaft und die Kunst bis zum Sport, demonstrieren die Autoren, wie unser Denken die Welt immer wieder neu erschafft.

Great Minds Don’t Think Alike

Science & Nature

Does technology change who we are, and if so, in what ways? Can humanity transcend physical bodies and spaces? Will AI and genetic engineering help us reach new heights or will they unleash dystopias? How do we face mortality, our own and that of our warming planet? Questions like these—which are only growing more urgent—can be answered only by drawing on different kinds of knowledge and ways of knowing. They challenge us to bridge the divide between the sciences and the humanities and bring together perspectives that are too often kept apart.Great Minds Don’t Think Alike presents conversations among leading scientists, philosophers, historians, and public intellectuals that exemplify openness to diverse viewpoints and the productive exchange of ideas. Pulitzer and Templeton Prize winners, MacArthur “genius” grant awardees, and other acclaimed writers and thinkers debate the big questions: who we are, the nature of reality, science and religion, consciousness and materialism, and the mysteries of time. In so doing, they also inquire into how uniting experts from different areas of study to consider these topics might help us address the existential risks we face today. Convened and moderated by the physicist and author Marcelo Gleiser, these public dialogues model constructive engagement between the sciences and the humanities—and show why intellectual cooperation is necessary to shape our collective future.Contributors include David Chalmers and Antonio Damasio; Sean Carroll and B. Alan Wallace; Patricia Churchland and Jill Tarter; Rebecca Goldstein and Alan Lightman; Jimena Canales and Paul Davies; Ed Boyden and Mark O’Connell; Elizabeth Kolbert and Siddhartha Mukherjee; Jeremy DeSilva, David Grinspoon, and Tasneem Zehra Husain.

Nanomaterials in Drug Delivery, Imaging, and Tissue Engineering

Science & Nature

This comprehensive volume provides the reader valuable insight into the major areas of biomedical nanomaterials, advanced nanomedicine, nanotheragnostics, and cutting-edge nanoscaffolds.The ability to control the structure of materials allows scientists to accomplish what once appeared impossible before the advent of nanotechnology. It is now possible to generate nanoscopic self-assembled and self-destructive robots for effective utilization in therapeutics, diagnostics, and biomedical implants. Nanoscopic therapeutic systems incorporate therapeutic agents, molecular targeting, and diagnostic imaging capabilities and they have emerged as the next generation of multifarious nanomedicine to improve the therapeutic outcome including chemo and translational therapy.Nanomaterials in Drug Delivery, Imaging, and Tissue Engineering comprises fifteen chapters authored by senior scientists, and is one of the first books to cover nanotheragnostics, which is the new developmental edge of nanomedicine combining both diagnostic and therapeutic elements at the nano level. This large multidisciplinary reference work has four main parts: biomedical nanomaterials; advanced nanomedicine; nanotheragnostics; and nanoscaffolds technology.This groundbreaking volume also covers: Multifunctional polymeric nanostructures for therapy and diagnosis Metalla-assemblies acting as drug carriers Nanomaterials for management of lung disorders and drug delivery Responsive polymer-inorganic hybrid nanogels for optical sensing, imaging, and drug delivery Core/shell nanoparticles for drug delivery and diagnosis Theranostic nanoparticles for cancer imaging and therapy Magnetic nanoparticles in tissue regeneration Core-sheath fibers for regenerative medicine

La natura dello spazio e del tempo

Science & Nature

Come elaborare un modello teorico generale in grado di descrivere l'universo in modo unitario e coerente? È questa la domanda cruciale che accompagna la ricerca scientifica ormai da un secolo, da quando nel primo Novecento la teoria della relatività generale e la meccanica quantistica rivoluzionarono il nostro modo di concepire i meccanismi della natura: entrambe assolutamente efficaci e capaci di spiegare fenomeni fisici fondamentali, le due teorie rispondono in modo diverso a questioni decisive ma ancora irrisolte, suscitando controversie anche tra i maggiori fisici al mondo. Ieri Bohr ed Einstein, oggi Hawking e Penrose, che in questo libro partono da posizioni differenti per confrontarsi sui punti fondanti della natura dell'universo: dal big bang allo spazio-tempo, fino ai buchi neri, il loro incontro è un'occasione unica per assistere al dibattito scientifico contemporaneo al suo massimo livello, osservare passo dopo passo il farsi – e disfarsi – delle teorie più visionarie, e andare al cuore delle questioni matematiche e concettuali più sfidanti per la comprensione della realtà. Un incontro straordinario tra due protagonisti assoluti della fisica mondiale, un dialogo sorprendente che illustra in modo esemplare il fascino e la meraviglia delle leggi che regolano la natura e l'universo.

Stephen Hawking

Science & Nature

„Leonard Mlodinow a înfăptuit imposibilul. A alcătuit cu măiestrie un portret pătrunzător, intim și emoționant al lui Stephen Hawking, una dintre cele mai mari minți ale timpului nostru, tratând totodată perfect riguros aspectele ținând de fizică. Hawking ar fi fost mândru de această carte.“ — MICHIO KAKU Puțini oameni de știință sunt atât de cunoscuți marelui public ca Stephen Hawking. La făurirea imaginii sale, devenită arhetipală la fel ca a lui Einstein, au contribuit, pe lângă cercetările revoluționare din cosmologie, cărțile de popularizare vândute în zeci de milioane de exemplare, dar și curajul și tenacitatea cu care Hawking și-a înfruntat boala – imobilizat în scaunul cu rotile, incapabil să vorbească, păstrând legătura cu cei din jur doar prin mișcarea ochilor, mimică și vocea unui computer. Prieten cu Hawking vreme de cincisprezece ani, coautor împreună cu el la două cărți, fizicianul american Leonard Mlodinow povestește amintirile colaborării lor dezvăluind firea intimă a unui personaj fragil și în același timp robust, stoic, dar și plin de vitalitate, uneori sarcastic, dar în fond tandru, profitând de izolarea adusă de boală, dar căutând mereu relațiile umane. În paralel, Mlodinow reconstituie în termeni simpli și intuitivi evoluția spectaculoasă, timp de cinci decenii, a ideilor cosmologice ale lui Hawking concentrate asupra întrebărilor fundamentale: Cum a început universul? De ce există un univers? De ce legile naturii sunt așa cum sunt? „Celor care l-au cunoscut de la distanță pe Stephen li s-ar putea părea că, pentru el, simplul fapt de a trăi era ca şi cum ar fi urcat Everestul. După ce am ajuns să-l cunosc, mi-am dat seama că el era Everestul. Un uriaş nemişcat, imun la trecerea timpului şi în stare să reziste chiar şi celor mai violente furtuni pe care natura le dezlănțuia asupra lui.“ — LEONARD MLODINOW

Biofuels and Bioenergy

Science & Nature

Biofuels and Bioenergy: Opportunities and Challenges is the first of two volumes that address the technological developments and challenges in the production of a broad range of biofuels and bioenergy products from renewable feedstock. The book emphasizes the opportunities and challenges involved in various processes including fermentation, transesterification, microbial fuels cells, liquefaction, gasification, and pyrolysis. These are also considered from a biorefinery perspective and discuss all common biomass feedstocks. In addition, the book presents new research on microalgae from waste water treatment, large scale production of microalgae, microbial biooil production, biogas production, computational tools for manipulation of metabolic pathway for enhanced biogas production, production of biofuel from genetically modified microalgal biomass, techno-economic analysis, environmental impact and life cycle analysis.Biofuels and Bioenergy is an ideal reference on the latest research for researchers and students working in the area of biofuels and renewable energy. Addresses biological and chemical methods of biofuel and bioenergy production Provides industry case studies alongside in-depth techno-economic analysis, environmental impact, and life cycle assessment of biofuels production Focuses on the commercial viability of production processes

Decoding Darkness

Science & Nature

Working from the intriguing hypothesis that Alzheimer's dementia is the result of a renegade protein-beta amyloid-Tanzi and others set out to find the gene responsible for its production. Decoding Darkness takes us deep into the minds and far-flung labs of many a prominent researcher, offering an intimate view of the high stakes of molecular genetics, the revolution that propels it, the obstacles that threaten to derail it, and the families whose lives are so dependent upon it. Tanzi and Parson ultimately reveal that Alzheimer's, like heart disease, may be effectively treated-even prevented.

El cisne negro

Science & Nature

Durante años, Nassim Nicholas Taleb ha estudiado cómo nos engañamos al pensar que creemos saber más de lo que realmente sabemos, y por qué perdemos el tiempo con lo irrelevante e intrascendente, cuando en realidad nuestro mundo gira alrededor de los grandes acontecimientos que nos sorprenden.En este fascinante ensayo, el autor nos explica lo que sabemos y lo que ignoramos, nos dibuja las fronteras entre realidad y percepción, y nos abre las puertas del increíble mundo de los «cisnes negros», esos sucesos impredecibles pero con un impacto inabarcable. Para intentar entenderlos, elaboramos explicaciones que no tienen en cuenta el azar y que solo buscan encajar lo imprevisible en un modelo perfecto.Estas partes integrantes de nuestro mundo, que incluyen desde el auge de las religiones hasta los acontecimientos de nuestra vida personal, el éxito de Google y YouTube o incluso el 11S, son imposibles de identificar hasta después de que haya sucedido. Según Taleb, esto se debe a que los humanos aprendemos a centrarnos en los hechos específicos, más que en los generales. Nos empeñamos en investigar las cosas ya sabidas, obviando lo que desconocemos, lo que nos impide reconocer nuevas oportunidades.En El cisne negro, un ensayo elegante, sorprendente y con reflexiones de alcance universal, Taleb nos enseña cómo dejar de intentar de predecirlo todo y aprovecharnos de la incertidumbre. Esta obra, un cisne negro en sí mismo, transformará nuestra manera de mirar el mundo.

Random Walks and Diffusions on Graphs and Databases

Science & Nature

Most networks and databases that humans have to deal with contain large, albeit finite number of units. Their structure, for maintaining functional consistency of the components, is essentially not random and calls for a precise quantitative description of relations between nodes (or data units) and all network components. This book is an introduction, for both graduate students and newcomers to the field, to the theory of graphs and random walks on such graphs. The methods based on random walks and diffusions for exploring the structure of finite connected graphs and databases are reviewed (Markov chain analysis). This provides the necessary basis for consistently discussing a number of applications such diverse as electric resistance networks, estimation of land prices, urban planning, linguistic databases, music, and gene expression regulatory networks.

Science & Nature Books