During this century we have experienced a shift in the leading causes of death from infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and influenza, to chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Whereas infectious diseases are often related to a single infectious agent, chronic diseases are often related to a combination of environmental (including occupational) chemical exposures and genetic factors. This valuable reference helps the reader to identify these chemical pollutants in environmental matrices such as air, water, food, and soil. It provides improved analytical methods to measure the pollutant, its metabolites, and its various possible adducts in humans. This book presents the latest work designed to assess potential exposure (environmental concentration and activity of pollutants), dose to humans, and a molecular basis for some of the affected biological mechanisms.

Up until the 1950s, waste disposal meant discharging it to the nearest river, burning it up or shipping it out to sea. Now we are paying the price. Current disposal and cleanup regulations have a different focus: correcting the problems caused by earlier misguided attitudes and maintaining a non-degrading environment. State and Federal clean air an

This book highlights the current state-of-the-art of environmental molecular microbiology. International experts have contributed chapters that describe the various technologies and their applications in environmental microbiology. The first half of the book focuses on the microbial diversity and phylogeny of microorganisms in the environment and describes the molecular toolbox currently available for the study of the composition and diversity of microbial communities and their functions. Topics include the use of the 16S rRNA gene as a phylogenetic marker, metagenomics, metaproteomics, microa.

Chemistry and chemical engineering have changed significantly in the last decade. They have broadened their scopeâ€"into biology, nanotechnology, materials science, computation, and advanced methods of process systems engineering and controlâ€"so much that the programs in most chemistry and chemical engineering departments now barely resemble the classical notion of chemistry. Beyond the Molecular Frontier brings together research, discovery, and invention across the entire spectrum of the chemical sciencesâ€"from fundamental, molecular-level chemistry to large-scale chemical processing technology. This reflects the way the field has evolved, the synergy at universities between research and education in chemistry and chemical engineering, and the way chemists and chemical engineers work together in industry. The astonishing developments in science and engineering during the 20th century have made it possible to dream of new goals that might previously have been considered unthinkable. This book identifies the key opportunities and challenges for the chemical sciences, from basic research to societal needs and from terrorism defense to environmental protection, and it looks at the ways in which chemists and chemical engineers can work together to contribute to an improved future.

Calculations for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: A Guide to Mathematics in the Laboratory, Second Edition, provides an introduction to the myriad of laboratory calculations used in molecular biology and biotechnology. The book begins by discussing the use of scientific notation and metric prefixes, which require the use of exponents and an understanding of significant digits. It explains the mathematics involved in making solutions; the characteristics of cell growth; the multiplicity of infection; and the quantification of nucleic acids. It includes chapters that deal with the mathematics involved in the use of radioisotopes in nucleic acid research; the synthesis of oligonucleotides; the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method; and the development of recombinant DNA technology. Protein quantification and the assessment of protein activity are also discussed, along with the centrifugation method and applications of PCR in forensics and paternity testing. - Topics range from basic scientific notations to complex subjects like nucleic acid chemistry and recombinant DNA technology - Each chapter includes a brief explanation of the concept and covers necessary definitions, theory and rationale for each type of calculation - Recent applications of the procedures and computations in clinical, academic, industrial and basic research laboratories are cited throughout the text New to this Edition: - Updated and increased coverage of real time PCR and the mathematics used to measure gene expression - More sample problems in every chapter for readers to practice concepts