Practical Pharmaceutical Laboratory Automation
Brian Bissett ’98
CRC Press, 2003

A step-by-step, how-to reference and guide, Practical Pharmaceutical Laboratory Automation explores the processes needed to automate the majority of tasks required in research today. The author discusses topics ranging from automated mathematical analysis to robotic automation of chemical processes, to combinations of these and other processes. The book presents a detailed discussion of high throughput screening and assay development and takes an in-depth look at Visual Basic as the primary programming language used in laboratories.

Brian Bissett, MBA ’98, M.S.E.E. ’01, is a scientist in the Molecular Properties Group at Pfizer Global Research & Development.

Java for Programmers
Douglas A. Lyon ’83
Prentice Hall, 2004

Douglas Lyon’s third book, Java for Programmers, is designed to help professionals rebuild their skills with an advanced understanding of Java programming. Readers can get started immediately, then move on to client-side and server-side Java and coverage of design patterns and style. Topics covered include class design, threads, and event handling.

Douglas Lyon ’83, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’91, is chair of the computer engineering department at Fairfield University and president of DocJava Inc. (www.docjava.com).

Threshold of Consciousness II
Joe Vojt ’83
PublishAmerica, 2004

Threshold of Consciousness II, the sequel, gives readers an opportunity to live through the quality of life in the manufacturing environment. The author has drawn from four decades of hands-on experience to write about what quality means to modern society. He writes, “Quality is never free, because we all end up paying the price for poor results.”

Edward Berlinski ’83 (aka Joe Vojt) has retired and continues writing in rural Connecticut.

Catalytic Air Pollution Control: Commercial Technology
Robert Farrauto ’68 and Ronald Heck
Wiley and Sons, 2002

The authors have expanded and updated the first edition’s four parts and added additional chapters while retaining the practical description of the catalysts and processes in clear and simple language. The first five chapters describe the fundamentals of catalysts and catalysis. Two new chapters have been added on the chemical and physical properties of monoliths, the support of choice for environmental applications. Included are chapters on fuel cells/fuel processing and novel approaches for purifying ambient air. The book also contains an extensive bibliography with simplified descriptions of key parameters for compliance with worldwide regulations.

Bob Farrauto, Ph.D. ’68, is a research fellow at Engelhard Corp. in Iselin, N.J.

Idea Makers and Idea Brokers in High-Technology Entrepreneurship
Elias Carayannis ’90 and Todd Juneau
Praeger Publishers, 2003

Among the most vexing challenges for entrepreneurs is how to avail themselves of the necessary services — intellectual venture capital — without burning through their seed money at a rate that makes further borrowing prohibitively expensive. Idea Makers and Idea Brokers outlines the potential risks and rewards of equity compensation, enabling both service providers and entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.

Elias Carayannis, MBA ’90, Ph.D. ’94, is associate professor of management science at George Washington University, where he is co-founder and co-director of the Global and Entrepreneurial Finance Research Institute.

Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines
Edward Boulter ’48, et al
Wiley-IEEE Computer Society Press, 2003

Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines covers all aspects of the design, deterioration, testing, and repair of the electrical insulation used in motors and generators. The text provides both historical background important to understanding machine insulation design and the most up-to-date information on new machines and how to select insulation systems for them. It includes details on more than 30 different rotor and stator winding failure processes and reviews almost 25 different tests and monitors used to assess winding insulation condition.

Edward Boulter ’48, Lt. Commander (Ret.), USN Reserves, is now a consulting engineer. Previously he spent nearly 40 years working as project/senior engineer and technical team leader designing machine insulation systems at General Electric.