In a technology driven civilization the quest for new and smarter materials is everlasting. They are required as platforms for developing new technologies or for improving an already existing technology. The discovery of a new material is no longer chance driven or accidental, but is based on careful reasoning structured by deep understanding of the microconstituents of materials - the atoms and molecules in isolation or in an assembly. That requires fair amount of exposure to quantum and statistical mechanics. `Understanding Properties of Atoms, Molecules and Materials' is an effort (perhaps the first ever) to bring all the necessary theoretical ingredients and relevant physical information in a single volume. The book introduces the readers (first year graduates) or researchers in material chemistry/engineering to elementary quantum mechanics of atoms, molecules and solids and then goes on to make them acquainted with methods of statistical mechanics (classical as well as quantum) along with elementary principles of classical MD simulation. The basic concepts are introduced with clarity and illustrated with easy to grasp examples, thus preparing the readers for an exploration through the world of materials - the exotic and the mundane. The emphasis has been on the phenomena and what shapes them at the fundamental level. A comprehensive description of modern designing principles for materials with examples is a unique feature of the book. The highlights of the book are comprehensive introduction and analysis of Quantum states of atoms and molecules The translational symmetry and quantum states in periodic and amorphous solids Band structure and tuning Classical and quantum statistics with applications to ideal gases (photons, phonons and electrons, molecules) Quantum states in type-I and type-II superconductors (elementary theory included) Magnetic materials, materials with GMR and CMR Shape memory effects in alloys and materials 2D materials (graphene and graphene analogus) NLO and photovoltaic materials Hydrogen storage material for mitigating the looming energy crisis Quantum states in low and high band gap semiconductors Semimetals Designer materials, etc. The volume is designed and organized to create interest in the science of materials and the silent revolution that is redefining the goals and boundaries of materials science continuously.

Discover theoretical, methodological, and applied perspectives on electron density studies and density functional theory Electron density or the single particle density is a 3D function even for a many-electron system. Electron density contains all information regarding the ground state and also about some excited states of an atom or a molecule. All the properties can be written as functionals of electron density, and the energy attains its minimum value for the true density. It has been used as the basis for a quantum chemical computational method called Density Functional Theory, or DFT, which can be used to determine various properties of molecules. DFT brings out a drastic reduction in computational cost due to its reduced dimensionality. Thus, DFT is considered to be the workhorse for modern computational chemistry, physics as well as materials science. Electron Density: Concepts, Computation and DFT Applications offers an introduction to the foundations and applications of electron density studies and analysis. Beginning with an overview of major methodological and conceptual issues in electron density, it analyzes DFT and its major successful applications. The result is a state-of-the-art reference for a vital tool in a range of experimental sciences. Readers will also find: A balance of fundamentals and applications to facilitate use by both theoretical and computational scientists Detailed discussion of topics including the Levy-Perdew-Sahni equation, the Kohn Sham Inversion problem, and more Analysis of DFT applications including the determination of structural, magnetic, and electronic properties Electron Density: Concepts, Computation and DFT Applications is ideal for academic researchers in quantum, theoretical, and computational chemistry and physics.

What is science for a child? How do children learn about science and how to do science? Drawing on a vast array of work from neuroscience to classroom observation, Taking Science to School provides a comprehensive picture of what we know about teaching and learning science from kindergarten through eighth grade. By looking at a broad range of questions, this book provides a basic foundation for guiding science teaching and supporting students in their learning. Taking Science to School answers such questions as: When do children begin to learn about science? Are there critical stages in a child's development of such scientific concepts as mass or animate objects? What role does nonschool learning play in children's knowledge of science? How can science education capitalize on children's natural curiosity? What are the best tasks for books, lectures, and hands-on learning? How can teachers be taught to teach science? The book also provides a detailed examination of how we know what we know about children's learning of scienceâ€"about the role of research and evidence. This book will be an essential resource for everyone involved in K-8 science educationâ€"teachers, principals, boards of education, teacher education providers and accreditors, education researchers, federal education agencies, and state and federal policy makers. It will also be a useful guide for parents and others interested in how children learn.

The book bridges the gap between pharmaceutics and molecular modelling at the micro, meso and macro scale. It covers Lipinski's rule of five, nanoparticulate drug delivery, computational prediction of drug solubility and ability to cross blood brain barrier, computer-based simulation of pharmacokinetic parameters, virtual screening of mucoadhesive polymers, QSPR modelling, designing of 2D nanomaterials and role of principal component analysis.

Using a proven pedagogical organization, this updated Fifth Edition of Gladwin and Bagby’s market-leading title focuses on providing students with a dental materials background that emphasizes the clinical aspects of dental materials, while also introducing concepts of materials science. The book’s three-part structure addresses types of dental materials in the 22 chapters of Part I, includes laboratory and clinical applications (essentially a built-in lab manual) in Part II, and presents 11 case studies in Part III that serve as an overall review and help students strengthen their critical thinking skills when providing patient care. Up-to-date content that reflects the latest advances in dental materials, clinical photos, review questions, and online videos all combine to help students develop the understanding of dental materials they need for successful dental hygiene practice.

Nanotechnology Applications in Food: Flavor, Stability, Nutrition, and Safety is an up-to-date, practical, applications-based reference that discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each application to help researchers, scientists, and bioengineers know what and what not to do to improve and facilitate the production of food ingredients and monitor food safety. The book offers a broad spectrum of topics trending in the food industry, such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, and antimicrobial approaches in food, highlighting current concerns regarding safety, regulations, and the restricted use of nanomaterials. - Includes how nanobiosensors are useful for the detection of foodborne pathogens - Discusses applications of nanotechnology from flavor and nutrition, to stability and safety in packaging - Includes nano and microencapsulation, nanoemulsions, nanosensors, and nano delivery systems - Identifies practical applications of nanoscience for use in industry today

With the central importance of electric polarizability and hyperpolarizability for a wide spectrum of activities, this book charts the trends in the accurate theoretical determination of these properties in specialized fields. The contributions include reviews and original papers that extend from methodology to applications in specific areas of primary importance such as cluster science and organic synthesis of molecules with specific properties.

The study of conceptual change traces its heritage to the notions of paradigm (networks of shared beliefs, concepts, practices) and paradigm shift made famous by Thomas Kuhn in his book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn’s work was quickly linked to developmental psychology (how knowledge develops) and to science education (teaching big, new ideas). This book is the first comprehensive review of the conceptual change movement and of the impressive research it has spawned on how knowledge develops and can be taught in different content areas. Because of its interdisciplinary focus chapter authors were instructed to write in a manner comprehensible to researchers and students from different fields. The International Handbook of Research on Conceptual Change consists of twenty-seven chapters that clarify the nature of conceptual change research, describes its most important findings and demonstrates their importance for education. It is organized into six sections that include detailed discussions of key theoretical and methodological issues, the roots of conceptual change research in the philosophy and history of science, mechanisms of conceptual change, and learner characteristics. It also contains chapters that describe conceptual change research in the content areas such as physics, astronomy, biology, medicine and health, and history. A particular focus is given to students’ difficulties in learning more advanced and counter-intuitive concepts.