This book offers a comprehensive overview of emerging advancements in the management of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, providing crucial insights for clinicians and researchers alike. It explores the potential of probiotics in restoring oral microbiome balance and investigates the future applications of epigenetics and stem cell therapies in periodontal regeneration. The book highlights innovative technologies, such as three-dimensional printing and diode laser therapies, poised to enhance diagnostic precision and therapeutic outcomes.
This book aims to be an accessible and practical resource for all medical and paramedical staff within a bariatric center. However, it is also intended for general surgeons who are not specialists in bariatrics. In this volume, leading experts in the field discuss patient selection, preoperative management, various bariatric procedures (both surgical and endoscopic), emerging technologies, anesthetic considerations, and complication management. The reader will appreciate both the surgical intricacies of bariatric techniques and the author's dedicated focus throughout the book.
Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgery is a fascinating field of medicine and surgery due to the complexity of the physiology and anatomy of the organ systems involved in multiple disease processes. Medical and surgical consultants are often involved in the case of patients with UGI disorders in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment that contributes to improved patient care. This book, entitled Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery - Contemporary Techniques and Training , illustrates some of the most common diseases and challenges that clinicians and specialists must diagnose and treat to help their patients after extensive training and with the collective experience that arises from a team approach.
Etiology, Prevention and Management of Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disorder affecting cardiac muscle cells and negatively impacting the ability of the heart to perform its functions. The prevalence of cardiomyopathy varies according to the type of cardiomyopathy, but inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is very common because it affects about 1 in 500 people globally. Cardiomyopathy can affect any person irrespective of age, gender, or ethnicity. The severity of the symptoms of cardiomyopathy depends largely on the stage and gravity of the disease.
Yogic practice brings many health benefits at both physical and mental levels. Yoga has many therapeutic aspects and the research on yoga therapy is increasing day by day. It encompasses yoga therapy for lifestyle-related disorders like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, stress, anxiety, depression, and more. Yoga - Exploring the Health Benefits and Diverse Dimensions explores different dimensions of yoga, such as traditional knowledge, health impacts, and other aspects promoting mental, emotional, and physical health backed by scientific research.
Glucose and Insulin Homeostasis provides a thorough overview of the latest research efforts in endocrinology and opens new possible research paths for further novel developments. Chapters address such topics as hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients and those with type 1 diabetes, use of metformin in high-risk patients, the importance of continuous glucose monitoring, lifestyle interventions for managing insulin resistance, and much more.
Currently, there are many complicated health disorders with different etiologies and pathogeneses, including cancers, obesity, periodontitis, cardiovascular disease, liver, skin and renal disorders. It is now known that the causes and pathogenesis of many complex chronic diseases are usually polyfactorial: genetic, environmental, constitutive factors, or a combination of these. Recently, poly-target molecules containing enzymes capable of catalyzing several reactions have been efficiently used in the treatment of several metabolic disorders, and infectious and inflammatory diseases.
The Edited Volume, Diabetic Foot - Advanced Methods of Management , is a collection of peer-reviewed research chapters that offers a comprehensive overview of recent developments in endocrinology. The book comprises single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by experts active in this research area. All chapters are complete but united under a common research study topic. This publication aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research efforts by international authors in endocrinology, opening new avenues for further development.
Diabetic Foot Ulcers - Pathogenesis, Innovative Treatments, and AI Applications is a groundbreaking compilation that offers a comprehensive examination of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) from multiple perspectives. With contributions from leading experts in the field, this book explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and underlying pathophysiology of DFUs, providing valuable insights into the complexities of this debilitating complication of diabetes. Innovative treatments for DFUs are explored in depth, including the latest advancements in wound care, bioengineered skin substitutes, growth factors, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury, Susu M. Zughaier, et.al
Algae - Science and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of algae's versatility and promising applications in various fields. The book covers commercial and industrial uses, from biofuels and biodegradable products to valuable nutritional supplements. Readers will discover the critical role of algae in aquaculture, where seaweeds enhance environmental sustainability and productivity. It also presents solutions for mitigating climate change by growing microalgae in advanced photobioreactors designed to capture and convert carbon dioxide.
Best and Safe Practices in Different Contexts of Neonatal Care
The field of neonatal care has been a long-standing concern within the broader field of child health, given the crucial role the neonatal stage plays in the development of individuals. While many of the most effective practices in neonatal care have been widely disseminated across maternal and childcare units globally, cultural and social differences, as well as the availability of resources, necessitate the adaptation of these practices to the specific contexts of each place. This book discusses a range of crucial topics related to neonatal care over two sections.
Neuropediatrics is a branch of health care that involves the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems in children and adolescents. In history, as the medical care opportunities for severe neural injuries were minimal, children with brain damage were usually rejected and many of them died early from infections, inappropriate treatment, and neglect.
The rapid pace of advancements in technology and science continually reshapes the field of neonatology, making it increasingly challenging for healthcare professionals to stay abreast of the latest developments. Neonatal Care - Integrating Research with Clinical Practice is a guide designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and its practical application in neonatal care settings. Evidence-based nutritional strategies, research-informed clinical protocols for sepsis and neonatal endocrine disorders, and innovative tools powered by artificial intelligence in this book aim to improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of neonatal care.
Continuous improvement of approaches for dam design engineering and groundwater resource characterization is needed to respond to new environmental challenges brought upon by climate changes and population growth. The book is divided into two sections. The first section deals with dam designs’ technical, socio-economic, and sustainability aspects. The second section covers technical aspects of groundwater resource characterization. We believe the book will be a valuable resource for hydrology, civil engineering, and groundwater professionals.
Dermatology - The Latest Research on Common Skin Diseases provides a comprehensive and scholarly review of common skin diseases, incorporating the latest scientific advances. This volume offers important updates on the underlying pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and evolving treatment strategies related to these disorders. It also addresses atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, systemic scleroderma, and hidradenitis suppurativa, diseases that, despite their prevalence, remain diagnostically and therapeutically challenging.
Human Teeth - The Intersection of Science, Disease, and Clinical Practice is a dynamic exploration of oral health across clinical, technological, and public health domains. This expertly edited volume provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of dental care, from early prevention to global disease patterns, complex treatment challenges, and emerging technologies in restorative dentistry. With clear insights and a multidisciplinary lens, the book highlights how oral health connects to broader issues such as systemic disease, healthcare equity, digital innovation, and lifelong well-being.
Manal A. Ablal, Adejumoke Adeola Adeyemi
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Glaucoma is challenging to treat and poses a significant socioeconomic burden on society. New techniques and methods for both diagnosis and treatment are sorely needed. Glaucoma - Recent Advances and New Perspectives provides a comprehensive overview of glaucoma with chapters on topics ranging from diagnostic techniques to genetic testing and biomarkers.
Human Sustainability and Cognitive Overload at Work
This innovative book considers the cost of cognitive overload and psychological distress on human sustainability, and suggests ways to prevent employees from becoming a psychologically depleted workforce. Employee attentional processing capacity is maxed out, and psychological distress is at an all-time high. Alexander D. Stajkovic and Kayla S. Stajkovic explain how human cognitive ‘broadband’ is at the hunter-gatherer level and changes at an evolutionary snail’s pace. Yet the amount of information necessary to make a living now is incomparable to then, and the current relationship between workers and organizations is unsustainable.
Alexander D Stajkovic, Kayla S. Stajkovic
The Changing Landscape of Workplace and Workforce
Personnel Management Human resources management
This book represents a collaborative effort by a multinational group of scholars aiming to contribute to the evolving discourse on the nature of work and the workplace in the 21st century. Its chapters offer a blend of literature reviews, theoretical insights, and empirical findings drawn from diverse national contexts. Employing a range of research methods including case studies, interviews, surveys, and literature reviews, the book provides a comprehensive exploration of the changing landscape of the workplace and workforce.
Technostress and Organizational Sustainability
Personnel Management Human esources management Sociology
This in-depth book explores the growing challenge of technostress, a unique form of work-related stress caused by increasing dependence on technology and its impact on individuals, organizations, and society. By examining the sources, consequences, and management of technostress, the book bridges the gap between technology and organizational sustainability. It offers practical strategies for addressing discomfort, promoting well-being, and building healthier, more productive work environments in the digital age. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the negative effects of technostress on health, emotions, and organizational performance.
Vincenzo Auriemma, Caterina Galdiero, et.al
Shaping Inclusive Workplaces for Persons with Disabilities
Despite the increase in research about workplace inclusion, the current literature is dominated by a negative focus on the barriers managers face as they attempt to hire people from disadvantaged groups, including people with disabilities. This open access book offers a positive and practical guide to workplace inclusion that focuses on the opportunities and strategies for managers to succeed and to develop and capitalize on the strengths and resources of individuals.
This edited volume is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters that provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in maternal and child health. Written by experts, the book presents the latest research in the field and opens new possible research paths for further novel developments.
This book examines critical challenges in male reproductive health through five focused chapters addressing environmental threats, cellular protection, and clinical interventions. From microplastic contamination and antioxidant therapies to congenital urological conditions, reproductive aging, and post-surgical outcomes following testicular sperm extraction, each chapter provides evidence-based approaches for contemporary clinical practice.
This book debates the high impact modern societies have on the way we raise children. Although problems such as family dysfunction, work–family imbalance, and migration due to war, violence, and poverty are not new, their consequences for children’s well-being and mental health are aggravated by the lack of effective social support networks affecting many children and families living in contemporaneous urban areas. The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” is as valid now as it was in the early history of less complex communities.
Given the ongoing interest in dietary fibers, this book, New Insights in Dietary Fibers, aims to provide the most comprehensive presentation of current information in the literature, thereby improving existing knowledge. The chapters in this book have been divided into four sections.
Epidemiology and Medical statistics Medical administration Medical research
Providing a comparison between context in Europe and the US, this volume investigates the digital transformation of health systems, comparing strategies for digital development while identifying both key innovations and future challenges. The book covers a wide spectrum of topics, from explaining the nature of individual innovations to an analysis of demand-side and supply-side barriers, including funding issues and technological access. It also explores where digitalization is already playing an important role, for example, in clinical trials and disease modeling.
Marzenna Anna Weresa, Christina Ciecierski, Lidia ilus
Biopolymer-Based Nanosystem for Drug Delivery
Medicine and Nursing Manufacturing industries
This Special Issue of Pharmaceutics presents recent advances in the development and application of biopolymer-based nanosystems for drug delivery. The featured articles highlight innovative approaches to designing nanoscale carriers using natural and synthetic biopolymers, focusing on their ability to enhance bioavailability, control drug release, and achieve targeted delivery. Contributions explore a wide range of systems, including nanoparticles, micelles, hydrogels, and nanofibers, as well as their physicochemical characterization, biological performance, and potential clinical relevance.
MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Engineering and Characterisation of Novel Nanomedicine Formulations
Over the last few decades, nanomedicine has become a hot topic in formulation science regarding selectively delivering drugs to target tissues. Nanomedicines can modify drug release and encapsulate poorly soluble drugs, allowing for a selective targeting and minimizing adverse effects. This is of key importance in antitumoral and anti-infectious therapies, in which undesired drug release can lead to severe damage to healthy tissues. Moreover, they protect drugs from degradation, allowing for the the delivery of RNA.
Raquel Fernández García, Francisco Bolás-Fernández, Ana Isabel Fraguas-Sánchez
Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy of Antimicrobial Agents
In this Special Issue, our aim was to collect studies on clinical pharmacology and pharmacy of antimicrobial agents from both human and veterinary medicine as the complex problem of AMR requires actions taken within the One Health approach that involve both fields. Studies covered here are about new or optimized usage of already authorized antimicrobials, as well as discoveries about new agents, new combinations of drugs, and drug repositioning.
Modeling the Relationship and Capabilities of Digital Marketing Inhibitors in Marketing - A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Complexities of Digital Marketing
This book will help you unlock the secrets of digital marketing while it explores the complex relationships between digital marketing inhibitors and discovers how to overcome obstacles to achieve marketing success. This book provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the capabilities and limitations of digital marketing, covering topics such as service innovation, marketing technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainable branding.
Recent Progress and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics and New Medicine
Information technology Artificial Intelligence
This Reprint showcases cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), bioinformatics, and new medicine. It highlights recent advances and persistent challenges in leveraging AI to address complex biological and clinical problems, such as multi-omics integration, cancer discovery, single-cell analysis, and network modeling. Contributions include innovative deep learning methods, data mining approaches, and computational tools designed to decode disease mechanisms, identify risk factors, and accelerate translational medicine.
Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and Generative AI in Education
This Reprint explores the transformative influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI on education. It presents a collection of research studies examining how advanced algorithms, adaptive systems, and intelligent tutoring technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment. The contributions analyze both opportunities and challenges arising from AI integration, highlighting the potential of personalized and data-driven approaches to improve educational outcomes. Ethical considerations, innovative methodologies, and practical implementations are also discussed, offering a comprehensive perspective on how AI can support inclusive and engaging learning environments.
Antonio Sarasa Cabezuelo, María Estefanía Avilés Mariño
Artificial Intelligence and Blended Learning
This is a reprint of the Special Issue “Artificial Intelligence and Blended Learning: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions” in the Technology-Enhanced Education section of the Education Sciences journal. The call for papers was open from November 2024 through the end of December 2025. The issue comprises eight papers—six research articles and two systematic reviews—covering a broad range of topics, including AI adoption among college students, AI readiness of pre-service teachers, prediction of segment access frequency in lecture archives, frameworks for AI-driven metaverse technologies, evaluation of the accuracy of an educational AI model, and analyses of subject-specialized chatbots. The systematic reviews focus on cybersecurity curricula and on the use of ChatGPT in teaching and learning.
This reprint captures how functional connectivity research is revolutionizing brain science. The featured papers bridge fundamental discovery with tangible applications, uncovering the neural architecture of decision-making, social cognition, and clinical disorders. Integrating methods from electrophysiology to artificial intelligence, the contributions advance beyond correlation toward predictive modeling and mechanistic insight. This collection affirms that mapping brain networks is a foundational tool for progress in healthcare, neurotechnology, and our core understanding of the human mind.
Advances in Diagnostic Analysis, Strategic Management, and Proactive Maintenance of Electrical Equipment
The reliability and safety of modern power systems depend heavily on the optimal performance of electrical equipment. As energy networks become increasingly complex due to the integration of renewable sources and smart grid technologies, the strategies that are used to manage these assets must evolve. This Reprint compiles cutting-edge research and practical case studies dedicated to the lifecycle management of critical power infrastructure. The collected works explore sophisticated diagnostic techniques, including non-invasive sensing, signal processing, and AI-driven fault detection.
This reprint focuses on data-driven software solutions and their impact on research and development at the academic, industry, business, and government levels to exploit the hidden knowledge and big data that can be offered to cities and citizens in the future. Data-driven software solutions are different from “traditional” software development projects, as the focus of the main development core is on managing the data (e.g., data store and data quality) and designing behavioral models with the aid of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.
Computational Analysis and Conformational Modeling for Protein Structure and Interaction
Protein structure and interactions underpin the molecular logic of life, driving essential processes such as signal transduction, molecular recognition, and catalysis. Insights into this domain are pivotal for elucidating biological mechanisms, advancing therapeutic discovery, and enabling the rational design of engineered proteins. Experimental approaches notably X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and cryo-EM together with recent AI-driven tools such as AlphaFold3, ESMFold, and RoseTTAFold All-Atom, have transformed protein structure determination.
“Advancing Nonprofit Management: Innovations, Challenges and Best Practices” is a Reprint of a Special Issue in Administrative Sciences. It includes an introduction looking broadly at the field and eight articles examining specific innovations. Nonprofits operate in diverse environments, sometimes with clear boundaries and accountabilities and other times in ways that blur with other institutions’ goals, actions, and outcomes. Over the past decade, many nonprofits have implemented new practices, processes, and structures that raise questions about how management innovations emerge, diffuse, and shape performance.
Digital and information technologies Computer security
Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. What does it mean to live in a world where our most essential systems are digital—and vulnerable? This book takes readers beyond the technical aspects of cybersecurity to explore how the management of digital risk shapes politics, policy and everyday life. Drawing on case studies from corporate boardrooms to international affairs, it reveals the social and political logics driving the fast-growing cyber risk industry.
The contributions in this Reprint cover various aspects of application such as diagnosis, imaging, and assessing prognosis, collectively demonstrating the improvements in diagnostic accuracy and medical decision making that can be achieved by machine learning approaches
Advanced Research in Shipping Informatics and Communications
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide the reader with an overview of the technological revolution the shipping industry is experiencing through the integration of informatics and digitalization. Shipping 4.0 is leading the industry ahead, embracing new technologies, and, at the same time, facing an evolving cyber security threat landscape. In this Special Issue a number of leading academic and industry experts are providing their insight through published research covering areas including maritime cyber security, additive manufacturing, e-navigation technologies, telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence, and autonomous maritime systems and robotics.
Morphological Design and Synthesis of Nanoparticles
The aim of this reprint is to capture some of the current trends in nanoparticle research focused on the correlation between nanoparticle morphology and function. For instance, the asymmetry of Janus nanoparticles gives them amphiphilic properties and the ability to partition at interfaces, self-assemble into superstructures, emulsify, or act as unidirectional nanomotors, among other things. However, there are countless other examples of functionality that stem from the morphological design of the nanoparticles, such as in nanoparticle catalysis, in drug delivery systems, or for nanoparticles used as technology facilitators for designing nanostructured materials, interfaces, and composites.
Skin Sensitization Testing Using New Approach Methodologies
Skin sensitization, representing one of the regulatory toxicity endpoints, is seeing significant progress in the uptake of new approach methodologies, comprising non-animal evaluations, to provide regulatory and product development information on chemical and product hazard and potency.
This book discusses the state of the art of the human lymphatic system and its involvement in health and disease conditions. The modulation of lymphatic organs and their interplay could be valid strategies to prevent and treat different diseases, promoting a global healthy state. The authors emphasize the strict correlation between anatomic-morphological and functional changes and different pathophysiological states. This book is designed to encourage researchers to investigate the anatomic morphology of the lymphatic system and its correlation to different disease states.
Clinical Advances in Allergy and Asthma: Issues, Strategies, and Future Directions
This reprint aims to provide the reader with the latest clinical strategies and therapeutic innovations employed in managing asthma and allergies. This Special Issue seeks to unveil the potential and prospects of a multidisciplinary approach from traditional diagnostic methods to advanced functional monitoring techniques and the innovation of conventional and emerging therapies, including revolutionary monoclonal antibody-based biologic therapies. In this reprint, leading experts share their insights and cutting-edge visions for redefining the treatment of complex diseases, highlighting the path to increasingly personalized and effective management.
Damage and Failure Analysis of Polymer-Based Composites
A thorough understanding of the damage and failure mechanisms of composites is fundamental to improving the performance of composite structures and achieving optimized designs. In this Special Issue, we present the latest research findings on damage and failure analysis of polymer-based composites, covering a wide range of important topics from the damage mechanisms of composite materials and structures to the enhancement of durability in high-performance materials, utilizing various advanced analytical methods and testing technologies.
Xiaoquan Cheng, Wenjun Huang, Qian Zhang
Advances in Mine Backfilling Technology and Materials
Backfill mining has become a key sustainable solution for waste management and ground control in underground mines, valued for its efficiency and environmental benefits. Recent research has significantly advanced backfill methods, materials, and system performance, driving broader industry adoption. This Special Issue highlights innovative studies across multiple dimensions, from fundamental material properties under dynamic loads to practical applications like improved dewatering and optimized mining techniques.
New Advances in the Management of Voice Disorders
Despite recurring symptoms in voice disorder patterns, experience and know-how of clinicians—the practical knowledge acquired over the years on various medical or therapeutic methods of providers—the extent of the voice disorder, prognosis, and effective as well as efficient treatments for the individual patient remain unaffected. In order to optimize medical–therapeutic action, it is necessary to be regularly informed about the selection of appropriate treatment options for voice disorders based on new research evidence from, for example, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, in order to pursue better clinical reasoning and treatment success.
Cables, as the "arteries" and "nerves" of the national economy, are widely used in energy transmission, information transmission and various motor instruments. However, with the increasing demand for electricity and the energy infrastructure’s inevitable aging, cable and electrical fires have become the main cause of fire-related accidents. Our Special Issue, named “Cable and Electrical Fires”, compiles current research on cable and electrical fires, as well as present progress to the wider community and encourage further research in this area. Up to now, 11 high-quality articles have been included in this Special Issue.
Polymeric Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Recently, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention in biomedical applications. Due to their advantageous properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, natural and synthetic polymers are versatile materials that offer several advantages for the therapy and diagnosis of a vast range of diseases and health conditions.
Stephanie Andrade, Joana A. Loureiro, Maria João Ramalho
Advances in Polymer Blends and Composites
Polymer blends and composites are seen as valuable technical solutions to improve the mechanical and other properties of polymers. Hence, nowadays, these materials are used in a wide range of applications. The actual trends in research and development of these materials arise from two main requirements, which often need to be conciliated: i) increasing performance of polymer materials and extending their applications as advanced materials in various fields; ii) better fitting of new materials to sustainable development requirements that involve the improvement of the environmental behavior of polymer materials.
Eduard-Marius Lungulescu, Radu Setnescu, Cristina Stancu
Self-cleaning surfaces can be achieved using a variety of strategies, materials and technologies, and their applications are as wide as their production methods. The interdisciplinary topic “advanced self-cleaning surfaces” has collected a variety of approaches for self-cleaning, including theoretical approaches, as well as small-scale laboratory experiments and material validation in relevant environments, demonstrating how tailoring the surface for the nano- and micro-meter scale surface phenomena can affect the larger-scale phenomena.
Maria Vittoria Diamanti, Massimiliano D'Arienzo
This is one of the few books nurses wrote on their own professional and educational challenges. Therefore, the book is of great importance to nurses and nursing teachers. It covers various topics from standardized education to the professional pathology of nurses and the nurses' approach to different chapters of human pathology. We are proud to present you a true example of inclusivity, because our book benefits from a global perspective, including chapters written by specialists from four continents, each reflecting and sharing their own experience.
The Nursing Process as a Strategy for a (De-)Professionalization in Nursing
The nursing process generally is understood as key element of professional nursing care in Germany. This study follows this argument back to the introduction of the nursing process in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, the German healthcare system underwent dramatic changes and economic reorganization, which can be understood as the emergence of the neoliberal rationale in Germany. The argument of cost explosion was used to restructure hospitals into enterprises that were to operate based on the logic of the market. Its cybernetic logic made the nursing process an ideal instrument to restructure nursing care.
Hot Topics in Reproductive Medicine Research
This Special Issue titled "Hot Topics in Reproductive Medicine Research" tries to cover some of the most debated topics in this field from a scientific and clinical point of view. In particular, the quality of embryos using compared tools such as incubator time-lapse and aneuploidy detection, the endometrioma impact on embryo quality, the influence of paternal age on obstetrical and perinatal outcome in IVF, and the possibility of performing assisted reproductive technology (ART) without discarding or freezing embryos.
This is a reprint of the Special Issue “Urban-Rural-Partnerships: Sustainable and Resilient” in Land, which, based on the URP2020 objectives, invited original contributions dealing with interactions in regional systems, particularly between urban and rural actors, institutions and projects to tackle great societal challenges. The 16 contributions published included conceptual and methodological papers, as well as case studies dedicated to striking examples and providing transferable knowledge and solutions.
Application of Intelligent Techniques in Power System Stability, Control and Protection
The central objective of this reprint is to present the vital factors associated with smart grid systems, reliability assessment, protection methodologies, and design advancements through recent research findings to utility engineers, engineering students, research scholars, and power managers. This reprint includes ten chapters, covering all the prime critical aspects of modern power systems like uncertainty in electricity pricing due to solar or wind systems, distribution system coordination, frequency control challenges due to RE, and artificial intelligence-based protection methodologies.
Veerapandiyan Veerasamy, Shailendra Singh, Sunil Kumar Singh
The management of hydrocephalus is a complex and significant challenge in neurosurgical practice, with varied clinical presentations and multiple treatment options. The book Hydrocephalus - Surgical Treatment covers hydrocephalus secondary to subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhage, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, and post-traumatic hydrocephalus. The book presents the personal experiences of experts, as well as current evidence-based approaches for the diagnosis and surgical management of hydrocephalus.
Applications of Antenna Technology in Sensors
Antenna-based sensors have gained significant attention in recent years, particularly within wireless sensor networks (WSNs), due to their strong potential for current and near-future applications. These systems offer broad utility across a wide range of fields, including military operations, emergency response, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and entertainment. Depending on the application, operating frequencies can span from UHF to millimeter-wave bands.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in Mobile Crowdsensing
Mobile crowdsensing (MCS) has emerged as a pivotal element in contemporary communication technology, witnessing substantial growth recently. The advent of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and edge computing has propelled MCS researchers to achieve enhanced sensing efficiency and broaden its application spectrum across various domains such as environmental monitoring, traffic management, and healthcare. However, despite these advantages, MCS confronts significant security and privacy challenges due to its open and diverse nature. Critical concerns encompass data leakage, unauthorized access, data tampering, and cross-network attacks.
Antenna Design and Optimization for 5G, 6G, and IoT
In the ever-evolving landscape of wireless communication, antenna design and optimization play a crucial role in enabling next-generation networks. As we transition from 5G to 6G and expand the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for compact, efficient, and high-performance antennas continues to grow. Seamless connectivity, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) require innovative antenna solutions to meet diverse performance needs.
Advances in Medical Image Processing, Segmentation and Classification
Medical data typically include physiological signals, diagnostic images, and treatment histories, offering essential insights into patient conditions and outcomes. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems—used for detection, segmentation, and classification—are now key components of clinical workflows. These systems apply image processing techniques to ensure accurate analysis across CT, MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound scans. Artificial intelligence (AI), especially machine learning and deep learning, has further advanced CAD by enabling automated, accurate disease detection.
Technological and Experimental Advances in Microgrids and Renewable Energy Systems
Technology Engineering Electronics engineering
Research is underway to expedite the development of green and sustainable energy solutions, which is crucial for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Among these efforts, the integration of microgrids and renewable energy systems emerges as a pivotal area, enhancing the flexibility and autonomy of the power infrastructure. This Special Issue covers a broad spectrum of the most recent technological and experimental advancements to facilitate the global expansion of microgrids and renewable energy systems.
Maintenance 4.0 Technologies for Sustainable Manufacturing
Maintenance 4.0’s core objective is to revolutionize and improve maintenance processes, demonstrating the practical application of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing. While technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Big Data Analytics, and AI are the primary drivers of Industry 4.0, it is Maintenance 4.0 that brings them to life. The literature reveals that implementing I4.0 technologies offers numerous advantages. However, it is important to note that realizing these potential maintenance benefits requires more than just overcoming the technological challenges associated with Industry 4.0 integration.
Evaluation and Prevention of Mycotoxin Contamination and Toxicological Effects
Over the last few decades, mycotoxins, toxic fungal secondary metabolites that frequently contaminate foods and feeds, have attracted great interest at both scientific and industrial levels. The toxicity of these compounds has led to several regulations in many countries to control and quantify these contaminants for their subsequent risk assessment.
This book explores the types and processing of olives, olive oil, and its by-products, which are increasingly recognized as an important supply of bioactive compounds. By using unique biotechnological processing methods, the value of olive mill by-products can be upgraded, thus establishing a sustainable circular economy. Bioactive polyphenols such as oleuropein obtained from olive industry by-products can be applied to develop innovative products such as nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand
In the 21st century, global agriculture is facing two major competing issues, urgently calling for us to investigate the nexus of land–food–climate. First, food production will need to substantially increase to meet the growing demand of a larger and wealthier population. Moreover, climate change, urbanization, and several other drivers are posing challenges to food production. Farmers can increase food production either by expanding their land area or by raising existing agricultural land productivity.
Global Perspective on the Relationship Between Dietary Habits and Health
The relationship between lifestyle habits and health has always been and continues to be an important area of interest to public health professionals. Among the lifestyle factors, diet is considered to play a crucial role in managing physical and mental health, as well as reducing the risk of other diseases. Dietary habits and their patterns vary considerably around the globe, depending upon many factors, including cultural and religious beliefs, economic stability, technological development, and food security.
Akkinapally Venketeshwer Rao, Leticia Rao
Aflatoxins are among the most dangerous natural contaminants affecting global food and feed systems. This book offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of recent scientific and technological advances in detecting, controlling, and mitigating aflatoxin contamination. Addressing a wide range of multidisciplinary perspectives, from food safety and toxicology to biotechnology and regulatory science, this book explores innovative strategies for minimizing risks associated with aflatoxins in agriculture and food processing.
Antioxidant Activity of Fermented Foods and Food Microorganisms
This Special Issue focuses on the antioxidant activity of fermented foods, but also on biosynthesis and mass production of antioxidants from fermented foods and food microorganisms (e.g., lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fungi, bacteria, etc.) and the evaluation of their antioxidative functions.
Study on Physicochemical Properties of Food Protein
This reprint discusses the importance of studying the physicochemical properties of food proteins, which play crucial roles in providing essential amino acids and contributing to the overall quality of our foods. The demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources has led to a surge of interest in understanding and utilizing proteins derived from various sources. The studies in this reprint explore various aspects, including protein solubility, structural integrity, emulsifying properties, and allergenic epitopes, as well as the application of different processing techniques such as ultrasonication, high-pressure processing, and esterification.
Food Polysaccharides, Starch, and Protein
Natural macromolecular substances, such as polysaccharides, starch, and protein, are prevalent in the organs of plants and animals and are major types of biopolymer components in food. They not only provide people with energy and nutrition but are also used in food processing as natural additives due to their gelling, emulsifying, film-forming properties, etc. The food industry has been gaining increasing impetus recently to create desired nutritional profiles and to improve the quality of food products, and so we expect a greater emphasis will be placed on understanding the physicochemical characteristics of food polysaccharides, starch, and protein.
Emerging Non-Thermal Food Processing Technologies
There is a strong consumer trend towards high-quality and healthy foods with ‘fresh‐like’ characteristics. On the other hand, thermal processing technologies, especially conventional ones, negatively affect both the sensory and nutritional properties of foods. At the same time, limited shelf-life and safety concerns of fresh foods necessitate food processing. Therefore, scientists are exploring the possibility of using nonthermal technologies for various purposes such as shelf-life extension and safety improvement. However, their applicability and scalability are still under intensive investigation.
Asgar Farahnaky, Mahsa Majzoobi, Mohsen Gavahian
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Food Industry
With breakthroughs of artificial intelligence (AI) under the fourth industrial revolution, intelligent applications are providing innovative solutions for the food industry. AI is able to support the positive transformation and upgrading of food technologies alongside the digitization, automatization, and intelligence of the food industry in light of its powerful perceiving, reasoning, and decision-making capabilities. Novel applications based on AI are changing all activities in the food industry, ranging from production to processing and packaging, transporting and storing, and consuming and disposing, benefiting all actors in food industry.
Patient-focused Development of Biopharmaceutical Products
Biotechnology Medicinal chemistry Pharmacology
This open access book builds the case for the business motivation, techniques, and approaches to use in development of a medicinal product for human therapy, whether delivered via an oral dose form (“pill” or solution) or a delivery system (device). It shares the growing demands by patients and caregivers, as well as regulators, for designs which are most easily understood and usable, and which can ensure the medication can be consistently delivered and will, therefore, allow best outcomes.
Robert R. Nesbitt, Ramakrishna Venugopalan, Wolfgang Fraunhofer
Osteoporosis is defined as a systemic bone loss disease exemplified by the deterioration of bone tissues and low bone mineral density (BMD), subsequently leading to an enhanced risk of developing fragility-related fractures. It’s a chronic inflammatory condition and is the 4th most burdensome chronic disease after ischemic heart disease, dementia, and lung cancer, with a huge economic burden on the world economy. This skeletal disorder affects predominantly women compared to men, and the risk increases with age.
Coagulation is a crucial and essential defense mechanism that is typically well-balanced and effective under normal circumstances. However, since Virchow’s Triad was published in the mid-19th century, its elements have inspired an overwhelming amount of innovative and cutting-edge research, much of which was initiated at the bedside and later unraveled in the laboratory. These approaches have been multidisciplinary, driven by out-of-the-box thinking, keen observation, and problem-solving.
Emerging Strategies in Drug Development and Clinical Care in the Era of Personalized and Precision Medicine
In the dynamic realm of modern medicine, we stand at a pivotal juncture where the convergence of disease, drugs, and patient individuality is shaping a new paradigm. The field is transitioning from traditional drug development towards personalized therapeutic strategies tailored to the unique physiology of each person. Over past decades, significant progress in preventive measures, diagnostic techniques, and treatment approaches has greatly improved patient care.
Cristina Manuela Dragoi, Alina Crenguța Nicolae, Lon-Bogdan Dumitrescu
Medicinal Plants Alternative Medicine - Therapuetics
For centuries, plants have been humanity's most reliable and accessible source of healing. From ancient civilizations to modern herbal medicine, medicinal plants have provided remedies for countless ailments, both physical and mental. They hold within them the power to treat, prevent, and promote health naturally, making them an integral part of human survival and wellness. Medicinal Plants - Harnessing the Healing Power of Plants is a comprehensive exploration of the rich heritage of plant-based medicine.
Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) affects over six million Americans and is associated with changes in the mechanical properties of valve leaflets, resulting in impaired valvular blood flow. CAVD is a fibrocalcific disease with multifactorial risk factors that are related to the complex environment where the aortic valve (AV) resides. This special issue focuses on the field of heart disease, exploring the relationship between heart valve disease, arrhythmia, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, as well as research progress on new treatment strategies and risk prediction.
Oxidative stress (OS) is recognized as a pivotal contributor to the pathogenesis of various, chronic human ailments, including cardiovascular and renal diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, inflammatory conditions, and the aging process. It manifests as an imbalance between the generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) within cells and tissues. OS occurs when the production of these species surpasses the detoxification capacity of the biological system.
Periodontitis: Current Status and the Future
Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease, in which the composition of the oral biofilm and the individual immune response have significant impacts. Severe periodontitis is one of the most prevalent conditions in the world, leading to periodontitis being a public health concern. It is widely accepted that periodontitis may be a modifiable risk factor/modulator for several systemic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease.
The Special Issue “Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Cardiorenometabolic Syndrome and Its Components”, guest-edited by Dr. Andrej Belančić, Prof. Bojan Jelaković, and Dr. Martina Matovinović, explored the complex interrelationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the global burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This interdisciplinary collection examined how insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension—core components of MetS—converge to elevate the risk of T2DM and cardiovascular disease, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Andrej Belancic, Bojan Jelakovic, Martina Matovinović
Sympathetic Nerves and Cardiovascular Diseases
This Special Issue aims to assemble the latest perspectives and research findings to illuminate the role of altered sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis. It comprises one editorial article, five review articles, and six original research articles, which collectively emphasize the significance of SNA in the pathogenesis of various CVDs, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, diabetic wound healing, and chronic pain-associated CVDs.
Advancements in Cardiovascular and Antidiabetic Drug Therapy
The aim of this reprint is to immerse the reader in the transformative advancements in drug-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, two major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. From the groundbreaking use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure and diabetes management to the development of novel incretin therapies and innovative insulin delivery systems, this collection examines the potential and promise of these cutting-edge pharmacological strategies.
C-Reactive Protein and Cardiovascular Disease : Clinical Aspects
This Special Issue focuses on the clinical relevance of the C-reactive protein. Most physicians are familiar with it as a diagnostic biomarker. Only a few have realized that it can be a pathomolecule. After all, the biomarker is, of course, not a physiological function. The main task of CRP is to mark cells to be disposed of, which has been shown for decades in various animal models and has been broken down into molecular detail. The articles presented in this Special Issue reveal a broad spectrum of indications with CRP involvement.
Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Biology
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular Biology
The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in maintaining the salt and water balance of very diverse animal species under very diverse conditions. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a hormone with much more complex actions than is typical for other agonists with heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Its principal receptor, angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), is distributed in many cells of the body in diverse organs, controlling the water and salt balance, vascular contractility, and blood pressure.
Mária Szekeres, György L. Nádasy, András Balla
This book provides a comprehensive review of inflammatory myocardial diseases. It is organized into three sections: (1) Pathobiology of Myocardial Inflammatory Diseases; (2) Imaging for Inflammatory Myocardial Diseases; and (3) Interventions for Inflammatory Myocardial Diseases. Chapters address topics including inflammatory diseases in rheumatological patients; acute and recurrent pediatric pericarditis; clinical detection methods; imaging methods, including cardiac magnetic resonance in scleroderma; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for fulminant myocarditis complicated with cardiogenic shock and surgical interventions.
New Insights into Cardiovascular and Exercise Physiology
This reprint aims to provide insights into recent knowledge on the cardiovascular system and its adaptation to different diseases and exogenous conditions. Considering the increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases, a major cause of death worldwide, and the need to attain treatment strategies, knowledge of the physiological processes behind them remains the basis for future research and is a prerequisite for improved clinical studies. Physical exercise is increasingly being regarded as one of the potentially beneficial measures to improve cardiovascular health, interfering with numerous elements of the cardiovascular system and affecting a multitude of potential mechanisms.
Modern Pharmaceutics for Cardiovascular Diseases
Although various non-pharmaceutical strategies addressed to the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as tobacco control policies, reducing the consumption of harmful food, and increasing physical activity still represent a key strategy, often they are not sufficient. Moreover, despite the availability of a plethora of pharmaceutic approaches specifically targeting mechanisms involved in cardiovascular diseases over recent years, the burden of these pathologies has only been marginally alleviated.
Advances in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular System - Medicine
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a versatile and non-invasive imaging modality that accurately diagnoses and characterizes cardiovascular disease. CMR is widely accepted as the gold standard for the evaluation of cardiac function. CMR can also characterize various conditions affecting myocardial tissue such as inflammation, edema, necrosis, and fibrosis. Recently, new techniques including T1 mapping, extracellular volume fraction, myocardial strain, 4D flow, DWI/DTI, and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) have further expanded the role of CMR in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of cardiovascular diseases.
Nonlinear Dynamics in Cardiovascular Signals
The cardiovascular system involves many regulatory mechanisms that maintain the stability of blood pressure by interacting strongly with other vital systems (including the respiratory, endocrine, and autonomous nervous systems). Non-invasive measurements of cardiovascular signals have enhanced the study of the cardiovascular system, providing deeper insights into its physiological modulation, the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, and new methods to improve their diagnosis and prognosis.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Intervention Strategies for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular medicine
This reprint provides insights into the cardiovascular risk landscape, emphasizing the impact of major risk factors and their interaction with the cardiovascular system. In this Special Issue, the role of other less established risk factors such as uric acid, sleep disorders, or blood pressure variability has been taken into consideration. Evidence-based strategies to prevent the detrimental consequences of these risk factors have been focused on in this Special Issue, with particular emphasis on glycemic control, lipid management, hypertension diagnosis, blood pressure regulation, and implementation of lifestyle modifications. By implementing the most modern strategies and fostering collaboration across disciplines, we can reduce the cardiovascular risk, thereby avoiding adverse outcomes.
This Special Issue focuses on novel and scarcely investigated topics in relation to atrial fibrillation (AF), from the role of f-wave harmonic spectral structures in improving the preoperative prediction of catheter ablation outcomes in AF to the design of a study to investigate the effectiveness of a hand-held device in screening for AF when embedded into the handles of supermarket trolleys.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a common but complicated condition that is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This book is an essential resource for healthcare professionals, combining expert knowledge with practical strategies for managing the challenges of VTE in various clinical contexts.
The modern world is characterized by intense and increasing conditions of uncertainty, with the result that any economic turbulences and economic recessions create issues to be addressed for the entire world, regardless of the degree of development of each economy. This book presents the consequences of economic recessions, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the crises, their effects, the solutions, and how economies can be put on a more sustainable path in the future. Considering critical events in the global economy, the book describes how the turbulence from such crises affects economies in today’s complex world.
New Challenges in Marine Aquaculture Research
This Special Issue addresses the key challenges facing marine aquaculture, including species diversification, improving animal growth efficiency, adapting to climate change, developing alternative feed sources, conserving natural resources, and reducing environmental impact. The Special Issue brings together a diverse range of research studies that tackle these challenges, covering topics such as environmental and ecological assessments, innovative approaches to optimizing feed and growth performance, as well as technological advancements aimed at promoting sustainability in marine aquaculture.
Current Trends, Innovations and Issues in Nursing Practice and Education
The development of health sciences in recent years has made it necessary to implement changes in the training of health professionals from the undergraduate level. This training must include the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that ultimately improve patient safety and quality of care. Concurrently, the use of different tools to assess the level of knowledge in certain areas of the training of nurses and analysis of the different study plans allow training to be oriented to the specific needs of each reality.Nowadays, it is necessary to develop, plan, and utilize new teaching methodologies and tools that allow us to assess and measure the level of knowledge of professionals and students and evaluate the quality of training at the different levels of care.
Antonio Martinez-Sabater, Elena Chover-Sierra, Carles Saus-Ortega
Mechatronics System Design in Medical Engineering
As the healthcare sector adapts to the evolving standards of Industry 4.0, there is a pressing need for more intelligent, automated, and efficient solutions. This evolution demands cutting-edge research that meets the increasing technical and functional requirements of modern medical applications. The integration of advanced mechatronic systems is essential to create value-added products that are not only highly functional, but also seamlessly adaptable to dynamic healthcare environments.
Level Up! Exploring Gamification's Impact on Research and Innovation
Level Up! Exploring Gamification's Impact on Research and Innovation explores the transformative power of gamification in various fields. This edited book shows how game design elements, when integrated into non-gaming contexts, can revolutionize education, health care, luxury tourism, language learning, and more. Through a series of case studies and research, the book demonstrates the potential of gamification to enhance user engagement, improve knowledge retention, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
Innovative Technologies and Translational Therapies for Deafness
This reprint focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and technological innovations related to inner ear diseases. It encompasses cutting-edge areas, such as virtual reality training, to enhance hearing adaptation, gene therapy, microneedle drug delivery, and more.
Olivier Sterkers, Ghizlène Lahlou, Huan Jia
The Adaptability of Residential Planning and Design to World-Changing Events
The Special Issue, "The Adaptability of Residential Planning and Design to World-Changing Events," explores innovative approaches to residential design that can effectively respond to short-, medium-, and long-term challenges posed by recent extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, and devastating natural disasters. It provides a comprehensive guide to creating residential environments that are not only resilient to the immediate impact of these events but also adaptable to the ongoing challenges and shifts in society.
Carlos C. Duarte, Nuno D. Cortiços, et.al
Advances in the Experimentation and Numerical Modeling of Material Joining Processes
“Advances in the Experimentation and Numerical Modeling of Material Joining Processes" is an innovative compilation offering a comprehensive exploration of the latest developments in material-joining techniques. With 22 chapters, this MDPI scientific reprint addresses adhesive bonding, welding, friction stir welding, hybrid joining, and miscellaneous topics. The editorial (Chapter 1) provides the main limitations, possible improvements, active research lines, and prospects of material joining processes. Chapters 2 to 10 relate to adhesive bonded and welded joints.
Life-Cycle Performance of Green Cementitious Composites under Complex Environmental Conditions
Green composites aiming to find ecofriendly ingredients and save natural resources have been widely investigated for years using agricultural and industrial wastes and by-products, natural biomaterials, etc. Besides the basic mechanical performance of green composites, the life-cycle performance of green composites under single/multiple environmental conditions should also be worthy of attention, since green ingredients sometimes reduce the durability performance of green composites, especially under fire/high temperatures, freeze–thaw cycling, dry–wet cycling, and salt corrosion.
Reliability Analysis of Electrotechnical Devices
This is a book on the practical approaches of reliability to electrotechnical devices and systems. It includes the electromagnetic effect, radiation effect, environmental effect, and the impact of the manufacturing process on electronic materials, devices, and boards.
Occupational Health in the Construction Industry
The construction industry is a high-hazard industry that comprises a wide range of activities involving construction, alteration, and/or repair and has a significant impact on the health and safety of the workers. Construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocution, etc. To promote and maintain safety in the workplace, knowledge about the primary causes of accidents helps to assess the level of safety.
This Open Access textbook, endorsed by UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS), covers the effects impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cancer care and how health care professionals and people with a cancer diagnosis have been affected. It discusses current research covering COVID and Cancer and considers the different impacts on patients with solid tumours and those with a haematological malignancy. The authors critically appraise how technology has been used to combat the pandemic as well as impacts on patient management and their well-being, education of health care professionals as well as the delivery of oncology cancer treatments.
Mark Foulkes, Helen Roe, Andreas Charalambous
Smart Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Nondestructive Evaluation
Structural health monitoring (SHM) and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies can be used to identify defects or damage and evaluate the health status of components or systems to avoid structural failure. Sensors are widely used to collect information about the status of engineering components or systems, and their development and application are key research topics in SHM and NDE. This reprint focuses on the most recent original contributions relating to the use of smart sensors in structural health monitoring and nondestructive evaluation.
Ageing induces an increased prevalence of chronic skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration/herniation. Dietary nutrition is an essential factor for skeletal health, the level of which is relatively easy to modify. For certain kinds of nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D, adequate dietary intake helps to reduce the risk of bone diseases. That said, some other kinds of dietary constituents, like fat and carbohydrates, play a much more complex role in bone health.
The Future of Television and Video Industry
This Edited Volume is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the field of digital industry technologies and the future landscape of television. The book comprises single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by an expert active in the pioneering advancements in digital technologies, particularly in the future landscape of television, machine learning, VLSI, FPGA systems, cloud computing, cybersecurity, video processing algorithms and architectures, IoT, and wireless communication research area.
Sustainable and Green Technologies for Industrial Chemical Engineering
Today, industrial processes are subject to continuous review to minimize the emission of pollutants, as well as purify the effluents that are produced. Likewise, a continuous review of the raw materials used is necessary to make them more sustainable. This is the objective of this Special Issue; we set out to present examples of industrial processes adapted to these current requirements.
Efficient Intelligence with Applications in Embedded Sensing
This reprint delves into the realm of efficient intelligence, encompassing fundamental and applied research. It explores the applications of embedded sensing in a variety of embedded devices, including industrial robots, unmanned vehicles, elevator traction machines, fuel cells, and more. Special attention is given to collaborative autonomous navigation, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), target object tracking, LiDAR point cloud analysis, prognostic methods for fuel cells, fabric defect detection in manufacturing, elevator traction machine recognition, object detection, vision-based autonomous forklifts, among others.
Sensors and Advanced Sensing Techniques for Computer Vision Applications
Technology Information technology industries
This is a reprint of the Special Issue on “Sensors and Advanced Sensing Techniques for Computer Vision Applications” aims to address many topics related to the challenging problems of computer vision and pattern recognition in conjunction with the emerging field of deep learning and remote sensing. As a result of the open call for papers, papers related to deep learning, neural networks, and soft computing have been accepted after a rigorous peer review process and assessed for their technical merit and relevance.
Christos Nikolaos E. Anagnostopoulos, Stelios Krinidis
Application of Vision Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Smart Farming
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been gaining traction in smart agriculture. Machine learning (ML) can be used for environmental and production performance data analysis and prediction, and computer vision (CV) can monitor abnormal phenotypes in plants and animals. They have massive potential to enhance the overall functioning of smart farming and reduce manual labor.
Cloud Computing and High Performance Computing (HPC) Advances for Next Generation Internet
Cloud computing and high-performance computing have emerged as transformative paradigms reshaping the information and communication technology landscape. This reprint explores cutting-edge advancements and breakthrough research in the field to address critical challenges. Key topics include high-availability solutions in container platforms; AI-driven predictions for cloud pricing; dynamic redundancy models for balancing cost and reliability in clouds; IoT and edge computing for smarter building solutions; transparent performance debugging for microservices; game-theoretic pricing mechanisms for fair and efficient cloud resource allocation; innovative tools for GPU virtualization and optimization in HPC systems; real-time workload optimization for crowdsourced platforms; advanced genomic sequence alignment techniques using HPC; and automated resiliency enhancements for distributed applications.
Intelligent Point Cloud Processing, Sensing and Understanding
Point clouds are deemed to be one of the foundational pillars in representing the 3D digital world, despite irregular topologies among discrete points. Recently, advancements in sensor technologies that acquire point cloud data for flexible and scalable geometric representation have paved the way for the development of new ideas, methodologies, and solutions in countless remote sensing applications. State-of-the-art sensors are capable of capturing and describing objects in a scene by using dense point clouds from various platforms (satellites, aerial, UAVs, vehicle-borne, backpacks, handheld, and static terrestrial), perspectives (nadir, oblique, and side view), spectra (multispectral), and granularity (point density and completeness).
Miaohui Wang, Guanghui Yue, Jian Xiong, Sukun Tian
The demand for advanced materials precisely tailored to specific industrial applications is becoming increasingly complex and challenging. Meeting this need requires the adoption of emerging manufacturing and environmentally friendly technologies to produce high-performance materials, which will be essential in the coming years. The future of the emerging ceramics industry lies in developing flawless materials with exceptional properties that are carefully engineered to meet changing market demands.
Catalysts for Sustainable Hydrogen Production: Preparation, Applications and Process Integration
In this book, we propose a collection of scientific and review articles on the production of hydrogen. The articles focus on the controlled storage and release of hydrogen; on the production of hydrogen from reforming from renewable sources, water splitting, and biological and photonic methods; on the intensification of the water gas shift process; and on the integration with purification methods such as pressure swing adsorption.
Innovative Materials and Processes for Removal of Biopersistent Pollutants
Hazardous artificial contaminants are molecules of inorganic and organic nature (pharmaceuticals, food sources, heavy metals, dyes, personal care products, detergents, flame retardants, cosmetics, and pesticides) with potential toxicological effects on human health and the environment (air, water, and soil) due to their ubiquity at trace levels. These products could be bio-persistent during conventional treatment processes; accordingly, the adoption of proper and innovative technologies is necessary for the removal of these hazardous, persistent chemicals before their release into the environment.
Andrea Petrella, Marco Race, Danilo Spasiano
Catalytic Reforming and Hydrogen Production
This Special Issue explores cutting-edge advances in catalytic reforming processes for sustainable hydrogen production, presenting eight original research articles and two comprehensive reviews. Topics include the dry reforming of methane (DRM), methanol steam and aqueous-phase reforming, bio-oil reforming, and photocatalytic hydrogen production. The studies reveal innovative catalytic systems, such as Ni-Ag and Ni-Ga, that enhance stability and reduce carbon deposition, while platinum-based catalysts and carbon supports optimize methanol reforming.
Georgios Bampos Paraskevi Panagiotopoulou, Eleni A. Kyriakidou
Urban Forestry and Sustainable Environments
The planet is moving towards a complex future, under the pressure from climate change and rapid urbanization. According to the United Nations, there was an estimated average urbanization rate of ~80% and 55% in developed and developing countries, respectively, as of the end of 2021. Green infrastructure in urban areas provides people with a multitude of ecosystem benefits. However, the quality of urban green infrastructure varies among cities in the different countries/regions; key ecological processes, maintenance mechanisms, as well as policy-making routes remain unclear.
Nancai Pei, Qian Sun, Jiali Jin, Zezhou Hao
Environmental, Social, and Governance Ratings
In recent years, the world of finance and investments has changed, considering measures related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors for socially responsible investments. ESG scoring and ratings are used to estimate ESG risk. This book presents ESG ratings and scorings and their providers and lists problems with data quality, data sources, and unknown methodology, contributing to the green- and social-washing ESG rating phenomenon. The value of assets invested in green instruments relies on high-quality ESG ratings to measure green transition. Data greenwashing negatively impacts the financial market, especially the stock price, fund activities, and bond markets.
Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy: Ecology, Evolution, and Function
This book provides an ecology- and function-oriented approach to understanding the evolution of vertebrate structure. The text has a modular format, such that each module can be used as a stand-alone instructional tool, or grouped together as a comprehensive textbook, making the text versatile for use in courses with diverse structures. The text also includes human-specific modules for each anatomical system, as many small, liberal arts colleges teach comparative and human anatomy in a single course. Detailed, human-specific modules may be added or removed, as needed for individual courses, depending on the scope and learning objectives of the class.
Vanessa K Hilliard, Lisa Whitenack, Bill Ryerson, Amy Cheu
Sustainable Rural Development : Strategies, Good Practices, and Opportunities Ⅱ
In 2023, a Special Issue titled “Sustainable Rural Development: Strategies, Good Practices and Opportunities: Second Edition” was launched, in which 26 papers were published. It is a continuation of a previous Special Issue also published in Land in 2021, which included 16 papers with the same thematic structure. Inhabitants of rural areas are emigrating to urban areas due to the labour and service opportunities offered by the latter. This is causing a demographic decline in rural areas, with depopulation trends, high rates of ageing, masculinisation, and low demographic growth.
Ana Nieto Masot, José Luis Gurría Gascón
Agricultural Landscape Stability and Sustainable Land Management
This reprint focuses on the theme of agricultural landscape stability and sustainable land management, including the ecosystem service values of agricultural landscapes, the development of multifunctional agricultural landscapes, protection of agricultural landscapes, reform of rural land ownership, comprehensive rural development, and remote sensing monitoring of agricultural landscapes.
An Interdependent Approach to Happiness and Well-Being
Personnel & human resources management Sustainability
This open access book examines an interdependent approach to happiness and well-being, one that contrasts starkly with dominant approaches that have originated from Western culture(s). It highlights the diversity of potential pathways towards happiness and well-being globally, and answers calls - voiced in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals - for more socially and environmentally sustainable models.
Cerium - Chemistry, Technology, Geology, Soil Science and Economics illustrates the global interest in rare earth elements. The first section on potential new mining resources focuses on the global issues of rare earth element scarcity and procurement pollution because of rare earth element ion exchange deposits. The section on the technology and utilization of rare earth elements addresses research on the usage of rare earth elements in emerging technologies involving medicine, digital technology, and chemistry.
The year 2020 is considered by the World Health Organization to be the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. This book supports the visibility of the contribution of nurses to society. We have included 30 articles on high-quality original research or reviews that provide solid new discoveries that expand current knowledge.
Elena Fernández-Martínez, Lisa Alves Gomes, Cristina Liébana-Presa
Policies and Strategies in Sexual and Reproductive Health
The topics covered in the book cover different aspects of sexual and reproductive health. This book provides novel research results that may be essential as a basis for the development of health policies and strategies in sexual and reproductive health. These policies are necessary to achieve greater health protection. Among others, issues as important as the increase in STIs, their risk factors, vulnerable situations and populations, as well as the issue of priority in reproductive health, such as the care that must be provided during pregnancy and childbirth in order to guarantee healthy women and children, are developed in the book.
Juan Miguel Martínez Galiano, Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez
Successful breastfeeding has benefits for both mother and infant that extend the lifespan. Unfortunately, the health disparities in breastfeeding are striking, and the variable rate of breastfeeding across racial or ethnic groups and among individuals with different socioeconomic statuses is an under-appreciated public health crisis. Overall parity in breastfeeding rates through 6 months could substantially reduce the incidence of childhood infection and the devastation of sudden infant death syndrome.
Reproductive injustice is an urgent global problem. We are faced with the increased criminalization of abortion, higher maternal and neonatal mortality rates for people of color, and more and more research addressing the structural nature of obstetric violence. In this collection of essays, the cause of reproductive injustice is understood as the institutionalized isolation of (potentially) pregnant people, making them vulnerable for bio- and necropolitical disciplination and control.
Discover fresh insights and confront emerging challenges in the world of midwifery with Midwifery - New Perspectives and Challenges. This edited volume delves into the evolving landscape of midwifery, offering a comprehensive exploration of contemporary issues, practices, and perspectives shaping this vital field. From the latest advancements in maternal care to the evolving role of midwives in today’s healthcare system, this book brings together a diverse range of voices and expertise to illuminate the transformative potential of midwifery.
Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Healthcare
Effective healthcare is vital to prevent illnesses and injuries, to provide treatments and rehabilitation from illnesses and injuries, and to enhance physical, psychological, and social health and well-being. Twenty-first-century healthcare has become a “team sport” that requires multidisciplinary teams with diverse knowledge, skills, abilities, perspectives, and wisdom. Multidisciplinary healthcare teams include physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and other healthcare practitioners; healthcare researchers, scholars, and educators; healthcare administrators and policymakers; as well as patients and patients’ significant others.
Biomass Conversion and Organic Waste Utilization
Technology Engineering Environmental science
Due to the global shortage of energy and some natural resources, the recycling and reutilization of biomass and organic wastes has emerged as a critical strategy. Recently, biomass and organic wastes have begun to be produced in huge amounts. The inappropriate disposal of biomass and organic wastes can lead to serious environmental problems. In contrast, the effective treatment and refinery of biomass and organic wastes can produce biomaterials, biofuels, and biochemicals.
Disaster Mitigation, Risk Reduction, and Resilience Design of Engineering Structures
The disaster mitigation, risk reduction, and resilience design of engineering structures under natural hazards are topics of great interest, as well as being crucial for protecting human life and reducing economic losses. In recent decades, with the help of emerging knowledge regarding the mechanisms of natural hazards, new methods and facilities for disaster mitigation and risk reduction are being developed. Furthermore, resilience designs have been proposed for the improvement of post-disaster retrofits and repairs for modern engineering structures.
Advances in Intelligent Sensors and IoT Solutions
Technological progress has led to the prominence of sensors and the Internet of things (IoT) as crucial components in numerous monitoring environments. Sensors are devices capable of detecting and measuring a variety of phenomena, whether physical, structural, environmental, chemical, or biological. These sensors are supported by the IoT, a network that enables the gathering and sharing of data across connected devices. The integration of sensors with the IoT has driven significant transformations in industries such as healthcare, agriculture, transportation, construction, and urban management by facilitating real-time data collection and analysis.
Contract Farming in Developing Countries
Agricultural science Agribusiness Development economics
Contract farming is an institutional arrangement between farmers and businesses to produce and transact agricultural commodities at predetermined prices and conditions, and it has recently received a heightened amount of attention despite being a relatively old phenomenon. A new wave of agricultural industrialization and the emergence of large-scale food retailing in developing countries may be precipitating the unprecedented shift in favor of contract farming.
Extraction and Fractionation Processes of Functional Components in Food Engineering
This Special Issue on the "Extraction and Fractionation Processes of Functional Components in Food Engineering" aims to bring together novel advances in the development and application of innovative processing strategies to extract, isolate, and modify food compounds to produce ingredients and foods with improved nutritional, functional, and biological properties.
Juliana Maria Leite Nobrega De Moura Bell, Blanca Hernández-Ledesma, Roberta Claro da Silva
Fermentation and Bioprocess Engineering Processes
This is the Reprint of the Special Issue of Processes on “Fermentation and Bioprocess Engineering Processes”, contributing 11 interesting and high-quality papers in the broad field of research on fermentation and bioprocess engineering. This convergence of waste utilization and microbial synthesis demonstrates the potential for innovation in the field of biotechnology that promotes resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Ali Demirci, Irfan Turhan, Ehsan Mahdinia
Reinventing Processes for Sustainability via Process Intensification and Integration
In this Special Issue, readers will find selected works pertaining to the integration and intensification methods that are currently adopted for carbon capture, stemming from the generation of waste gasses. Novel optimization methods achieved through modeling as well as numerical studies are also reported in these papers in order to improve industries such as textile, and also to predict the onset of local diseases.
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus and Related Pestiviruses
The pestiviruses encompass some of the most economically important viral infections in the cattle, swine, and sheep industries worldwide. Discovered more than 70 years ago, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) were long the main concern, but many new pestiviruses have emerged in recent years, which may also present additional threats to biosecurity and food safety.
Recent Development in Novel Green Asphalt Materials for Pavement
With the continuous development of social civilization and the gradual improvement in the level of road engineering construction, there are more urgent requirements for road service functions, including green construction and safety guarantees. Asphalt is the world's most commonly used material in the construction of pavement engineering and coatings.
Qian Chen, Xiaolong Sun, Tao Wang, Guoqiang Sun
Performance and Safety Enhancement Strategies in Vehicle Dynamics and Ground Contact
Recent trends in vehicle engineering are testament to the great efforts that scientists and industries have made to seek solutions to enhance both the performance and safety of vehicular systems. This Special Issue aims to contribute to the study of modern vehicle dynamics, attracting recent experimental and in-simulation advances that are the basis for current technological growth and future mobility.
Flavio Farroni, Andrea Genovese, Aleksandr Sakhnevych.
Emerging Transportation Safety and Operations
This reprint reflects the collective expertise of contributors from diverse disciplines and regions, emphasizing the interconnected nature of transportation issues. It serves as a resource to inspire innovative thinking and collaboration in addressing pressing safety and operational concerns.As transportation systems face increasing demands for adaptability and resilience, this reprint aims to contribute to the dialogue shaping the future of transportation, ensuring it meets the needs of future generations.
Deogratias Eustace, Bhaven Naik, Heng Wei, Parth Bhavsar
Infrared Thermography as a Tool for Assessing Animal Welfare and Its Usefulness in Veterinary Research
This Special Issue, Infrared Thermography as a Tool for Assessing Animal Welfare and its Usefulness in Veterinary Research, presents leading research on the application of infrared thermography (IRT) and thermal imaging to analyze temperature variations in domestic and wild animals, encompassing both poikilothermic and homeothermic species. These variations reflect physiological responses to environmental stressors, including cold, heat, pain, fear, hunger, anxiety, and boredom, as well as natural processes such as illness, growth, aging, weight fluctuations, exercise, courtship, mating, imprinting, and stages like estrus, pregnancy, parturition, and lactation.
Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose
This book aims to highlight recent advances in the synthesis of nanocellulose and surface modifications for the design of functional nanocellulose, as well as its applications and potential biological impact. It features two review articles and four original research articles which targets a broad readership of chemists, materials scientists, biochemists, nanotechnologists and others with an interest in nanocellulose research.
Metals and their alloys are one of the oldest biomedical materials known to human beings. They still play an irreplaceable role in modern clinical treatment with excellent mechanical load-bearing properties, chemical stability, and good biocompatibility. In recent years, the R&D and design of metal implants and devices, the further exploration of their powerful functions, and the in-depth exploration of their interaction with the body microenvironment have made great progress.
Ultrasonic Modelling for Non-destructive Testing
Ultrasonic techniques are used for non-destructive purposes to assess the properties and state of structures designed for a wide range of applications (engineering, construction materials, medicine, etc.). Different types of material properties (mechanical, chemical, physical, biological, etc.) with different physical states/compositions (solid, liquid, heterogeneous, inhomogeneous, complex, moving, etc.) can be studied.
Structural Health Monitoring and Performance Evaluation of Bridges and Structural Elements
Bridges and critical infrastructure are vital to communities but are aging, leading to structural deficiencies. This necessitates robust methods for health monitoring and performance evaluation to ensure safety and prevent costly damage. Conventional monitoring techniques have proven insufficient, especially in disaster-prone areas where resilience is key. Therefore, the current research focuses on two areas: improving structural health monitoring (SHM) and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods for current infrastructure and developing durable, low-maintenance alternatives for new structures.
Armin Mehrabi, Seyed Saman Khedmatgozar Dolati
Strengthening, Corrosion and Protection of High Temperature Structural Materials
High-temperature structural materials are characterized by their high melting point, high-strength and high-temperature creep resistance, low thermal expansion coefficient, and excellent corrosion resistance. Such materials are widely used in metallurgy, chemical applications, aerospace, nuclear reactors, and other situations where extreme environments are encountered. During high-temperature service, high-temperature structural materials are exposed to extremely harsh high-temperature environments, bear mechanical and thermal loads, and are exposed to high-temperature oxidation, erosion, corrosion, etc.
Yingyi Zhang, Shahid Hussain, Awais Ahmad
Explore the complex field of corrosion engineering with this well-structured guide, a comprehensive resource designed to clarify the complexities of material deterioration. This expert book thoroughly explores the fundamental principles governing corrosion, emphasizing the key processes and critical factors that influence these phenomena. Discover advanced methods for managing corrosion, focusing on smart material selection, innovative design strategies, and creative use of protective coatings.
Artificial Intelligence in Fault Diagnosis and Signal Processing
The aim of this reprint is to immerse the reader in the latest technological approaches employed in the detection and diagnosis of faults in industrial processes. As the early detection of faults avoids damage that may be irreparable to machinery, reducing the performance of the control system and reducing the process efficiency, which would result in a decrease in production, new approaches to the detection and diagnosis of faults have become a compulsory task in any Industry 4.0 implementation.
Roque Alfredo Osornio-Rios, Athanasios Karlis, Andres Bustillo Iglesias
Feature Papers in Agriculture Technology
In the ever-changing world of agriculture, marked by the constant need to produce more food while balancing resource and sustainability demands, the creation of better farming equipment plays a crucial role. Embracing technology and innovation is key to tackling these challenges, and computer simulation stands out as a powerful tool in this endeavour. This Special Issue, titled "Using Computer Simulation for Agricultural Machinery Design and Development", explores the broad landscape of applying computer simulation techniques in agriculture.
New Energy Special Vehicle, Tractor and Agricultural Machinery
The main objective of this Special Issue is to compile recent research and development efforts contributing to the design and application of new energy technology on special vehicles, tractors, forestry and agricultural machinery, etc. High-quality papers that explore these areas and provide different solutions and fields for future research activities are published within it. New energy vehicles refer to vehicles that use new power systems, completely or mainly relying on new energy-driven technology.
Bio-Inspired Smart Machines : Structure, Mechanisms and Applications
By imitating certain characteristics of creatures in nature, such as grasp, twist, locomotion, or flying, etc., bio-inspired smart machines can engage in certain difficult tasks instead of human beings, such as medical surgery, rapid manufacture and assembly, disaster search and rescue, and scientific investigation, and this has become one of the most interesting areas in the robotics community. This reprint focuses on the latest theoretical and technological advances in bio-inspired smart machines and their structure, mechanisms, and applications. Generally, bio-inspired smart machines can be divided into two categories: rigid machines and soft machines.
Yanjie Wang, Xiaofeng Liu, Aihong Ji, et. al.
Medicine Information technology industries
Neuroimaging is a rapidly evolving field that involves the use of non-invasive imaging techniques to visualize and study the structure and function of the human brain. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the field of neuroimaging has seen significant breakthroughs in terms of accuracy, speed, and efficiency in identifying various brain disorders. AI models have been widely applied in the analysis and interpretation of neuroimaging data, aiding researchers and clinicians to diagnose, treat, and monitor patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Iman Beheshti, Daichi Sone, Carson K. Leung
This Special Issue (SI) focuses on a rare disease by the name of solitary fibrous tumor. This SI includes review articles and original reports. The original reports range from translational to cinical science and focus on gaining new treatment and management approaches for this rare disease. I want to thank all contributing authors for their efforts and hard work that made this SI possible.
In the evolving field of orthopedics, the shift towards personalized medicine heralds a new era of patient care—promising enhanced treatment accuracy and improved outcomes. This collection, derived from the Special Issue in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, showcases cutting-edge research and reviews focusing on tailoring orthopedic treatments to individual patient needs. Emphasizing innovation in surgical technologies, implant designs, and non-operative approaches, this SI critically addresses the challenges of standardization and the necessity for patient-specific treatment strategies.
In the orthopedic surgical field, knee surgeries, including articular cartilage repair procedures, meniscus surgery, ligament reconstruction surgery, osteotomy surgery, and partial/total knee arthroplasty surgery, have made great advances over the last few decades. This Special Issue highlights and focuses on the surgical concepts and techniques, decision-making processes, perioperative management protocols, and clinical outcomes of the recent various advanced knee surgery procedures. URI
Written by renowned neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons, Adult and Pediatric Spinal Deformities - Recent Advances and Evolution of Technologies provides insights into the latest development of technologies and their application in managing both adult and pediatric spinal deformities. The primary goal of this book is to help the spine surgeons navigate a daunting number of available devices and modern techniques and leverage the latest technologies to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Advances in Scoliosis, Spinal Deformity and Other Spinal Disorders
The present Special Issue focuses on the management of spinal deformity, including contributions from international experts. Points of discussion include nonoperative management, instrumentation level determination, and complication prediction (e.g., infection and durotomy). Though far from being all-encompassing, this Special Issue aims to highlight ongoing areas of investigation in the management of spine deformity and should be of interest to those practicing within this field.
Zach Pennington, Daniel M. Sciubba, Benjamin D. Elder
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with various degrees of disability affecting participation in activities of daily living (ADL) and the overall quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals. MSDs pose a significant burden to health systems, social care systems and caregivers. Such disorders encompass a diverse group of conditions affecting bones, muscles and joints, including degenerative conditions, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, fragility conditions and several types of bodily pain.
This Special Issue addresses the problem of treating neurodegenerative diseases from a variety of perspectives, from basic research into the molecular mechanisms responsible for a disease to reviews of the most advanced therapies available. This topic can provide exciting insights into new therapeutic approaches for various neurodegenerative disorders, expanding our knowledge on the biological basis and clinical research, as well as new challenges and future perspectives in neurodegeneration.
Effect of Long-Term Insomnia on Mental Health
The purpose of this reprint is to explain the health-related factors, mechanisms, and consequences of mental health problems associated with chronic sleep disorders. The reprint presents how insomnia and sleep disorders affect mental health across genders and high-risk groups, including populations such as university students, healthcare workers, firefighters, people with ADHD symptoms, people with chronic spinal pain, and patients of forensic hospitals suffering from chronic neuropsychiatric disorders.
Acute Trauma and Trauma Care in Orthopedics
Orthopedics and trauma surgery are clinically challenging areas involving the treatment of injuries and related diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which can be caused by trauma, accidents, sports injuries, degenerative and congenital diseases, infections, and tumors. We have witnessed developments in all aspects of orthopedic surgery, such as the use of both invasive procedures and non-invasive and non-surgical methods to correct and treat disease. Common orthopedic problems include knee osteoarthritis, spinal deformities, and a variety of different sports injuries.
Cropping Systems and Agronomic Management Practices of Field Crops
Agriculture is facing the challenge of the transition to sustainability under a changing climatic scenario. Understanding the complexity of the agroecosystems can favor research on innovative agronomic practices to guide this change. The optimization of the spatiotemporal combination among plants in farming systems (crop sequence and intercropping), the exploitation of the different forms of biodiversity at the soil and plant levels, the increase in the use efficiency of native resources (radiation and rainfall, N2, CO2, H2O, etc.), and the reduction in the dependence on external energy input (soil tillage, agrochemicals, and mineral fertilizers) represent the driving force behind this paradigmatic change.
Advances in Ecophysiology of Root Systems-Environment Interaction
Mathematics and Science Biology Environmental
Despite their significance, root physiology and root function remain relatively underexplored in plant science research. Soil microorganisms, including mycorrhizae and bacteria, exert profound effects on nutrient cycling, root development, soil health, and overall plant productivity. In addition, different propagation methods can significantly influence root system architecture, further highlighting the complexity of underground dynamics. Various factors, such as nutrient levels, organic matter content, and management practices, impact both root and soil health.
Responses of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics and GHG Fluxes in Forest Ecosystems to Climate Change and Human Activity
Forest soils are considered the largest carbon and nitrogen pools in soil organic matter among terrestrial ecosystems, and soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are normally affected by climate change and human activity. This Special Issue includes the effects of climate changes such as changes in throughfall, snow cover, and permafrost degradation; human activities such as nitrogen and/or phosphorus addition and the use of biochar; and soil–plant interactions on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics and GHG fluxes in forest ecosystems.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a (currently) incurable and irreversible lung condition with worldwide mortality rates similar to stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Treatments are limited to the removal of the underlying causes (e.g., exposure to smoke), easing some of the symptoms, and slowing the rate at which the disease worsens. As a consequence of smoking, it is less well known than lung cancer even though it has an equal or higher mortality rate.
Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are global problems that affect more than 2 billion people, accounting for significant mortality annually worldwide. Children, girls, and women of reproductive age are particularly vulnerable to ID and IDA due to their high physiological iron demands. The consequences of IDA include deleterious effects on cognition, mental function, work performance, and pregnancy outcomes.
Advances in Endodontics and Periodontics
This Special Issue of Applied Sciences, titled "Advances in Endodontics and Periodontics", aims to improve the state of the art in relation to the most relevant advances in Endodontics and Periodontics. Topics addressed in this Special Issue include alternative treatment strategies such as “green” antimicrobials, the relationship with systemic diseases, new devices and materials which enable a reduction in therapy failures, as well as updating evidence-based knowledge pertaining to endodontics and periodontics.
This reprint compiles thirty-two peer-reviewed articles that capture the broad landscape of COVID-19 research three years after the pandemic. Organized into six thematic sections—Epidemiology and Public Health Perspectives (7 papers: 1–7), Pathophysiology and Mechanistic Insights (9 papers: 8–16), Diagnostics and Detection Methods (7 papers: 17–23), Therapeutics and Clinical Management (5 papers: 24–28), Vaccines and Immunization Studies (2 papers: 29–30), and Long COVID and Future Directions (2 papers: 31–32)—these works address key scientific and clinical developments in viral evolution, host–pathogen interactions, and public health policies.
Dear Colleagues, this Special Issue presents a comprehensive collection of studies showcasing the latest innovations in dentistry, emphasizing the integration of multidisciplinary approaches and technological advancements. With a focus on improving patient outcomes and advancing oral health care, the contributions explore a range of topics, including the development of new biomaterials, minimally invasive techniques, and novel treatment protocols.
The Role of Natural Products on Diabetes Mellitus Treatment
The utilization of medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) holds significant promise due to their diverse bioactive compounds. These plants have been historically acknowledged for their potential in managing DM and its complications. They often contain secondary metabolites with inherent hypoglycemic properties, aiding in regulating blood glucose levels. Several plants and secondary metabolites have shown effectiveness in improving insulin sensitivity, enhancing glucose uptake, and mitigating the adverse effects associated with DM. For instance, bitter melon (Momordica charantia) contains charantin and polypeptide-p, both known for their hypoglycemic effects.
Diana Marcela Aragon Novoa, Fátima Regina Mena Barreto Silva
Advances in Clinical Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolic Diseases
This reprint is a collection of peer-reviewed articles originally published in the Special Issue "Advances in Clinical Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolic Diseases" in Medicina. It explores recent developments in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of metabolic disorders, highlighting the role of novel pharmacological agents, real-world data, and clinical strategies. This reprint serves as a valuable reference for endocrinologists, internists, clinical researchers, and healthcare professionals engaged in metabolic disease management.
Yuzuru Ohshiro, Kunimasa Yagi, Yasuhiro Maeno.
Sex and gender can affect the incidence, prevalence, symptoms, course and response to drug therapy in many illnesses, with sex (the biological side) and gender (the social‒cultural one) being variously interconnected. During the two days of the meeting "Gender Differences in Diabetic Disease" held in Olbia, Italy, on 4 and 5 December 2020, we discussed the various medical, social, ethnic, psychological and anthropological aspects of gender differences to build as broad a picture as possible of how these differences are present and evident in diabetic disease.
Diabetes, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease: Clinical Insights, Mechanisms, and Pharmacotherapies
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of mortality in patients with diabetes, and many factors, including hypertension, contribute to this high prevalence of CVD. The current evidence regarding these diseases is quickly expanding, especially in the vascular mechanisms that predispose someone to both conditions. Furthermore, several novel therapies, such as sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, have recently beenshown to have benefits against CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a leading global health problem. Long-term diabetes-associated complications include nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a disease that damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina and is a leading cause of blindness among diabetic adults worldwide. Despite extensive laboratory and clinical investigations, the fundamental root cause of vision loss due to diabetes remains uncertain.
New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in Diabetic Microvascular Complications
Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem globally, with an ascendant trend, and is expected to reach up to 700 million cases by 2045. The microvascular triad includes diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, unique in diabetes. Despite significant achievements in early diagnosis and therapy, diabetic retinopathy remains the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population, with a severe impact on patients' quality of life.
This Special Issue of Religions analyzes the concept of charisma in the Middle Ages based on St. Paul’s original use of the term in the first century, freeing it from its anachronistic Weberian and post-Weberian definitions. Though governed by medievalists, this collection comprises a solid interdisciplinary group of historians, art historians, classicists, literary critics, and political philosophers.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune condition characterized by various interacting susceptibility factors. Significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms that underlie its pathogenesis, as well as in identifying diagnostic markers. This advancement has led to the development of targeted therapies and alternative treatment options. The future management of SLE lies in molecular and personalized medicine, aiming to create high-quality treatments tailored to individual patients. This book on lupus offers a comprehensive analysis of the current status and future prospects of SLE diagnostics, along with recent developments in the field.
Ankylosing Spondylitis - Recent Concepts provides a comprehensive overview of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It includes five chapters organized into two sections. The first section is dedicated to the history of AS, the chronology of diagnostic/classification criteria across the years, and imaging in AS. The second section examines the molecular genetics, immunology, enteric microbiome, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment of AS.
This book offers remarkable coverage of innate immunity from its molecular basis to its crucial role in controlling infectious diseases, inflammation and cancer. It provides an updated and novel approach to innate immunity and how it controls infection, inflammation and cancer. To ensure the high quality of this book, important insights are included, and the book is rigorously and authentically discussed. This book discusses relevant immunological processes for establishing antibiotic resistance, inflammation, and cancer.
Biology of T Cells in Health and Disease
More than half a century of groundbreaking discoveries in the field of immunology have been made, and no cells have shown more potential than the lymphocytes known as T cells.This book aims to foster collaboration between world-class bench scientists and clinicians in the fields of immunology, pathology, and oncology as they come together to highlight the complexity and diversity of T cells as well as their contributions to our immune homeostasis and overall health and to discuss the revolutionary therapeutic applications of T cells in fighting infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and malignant neoplasms.
Climate change is reshaping our world with increasing intensity and frequency, resulting in devastating hurricanes, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and wildfires. As these extreme events become more frequent, the need for comprehensive strategies to manage risks and adapt to new realities is more urgent than ever.Climate Change and Risk Management - Strategies, Analysis, and Adaptation offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change.
Antonio Di Pietro, José R. Martí, Vinay Kumar
Healthy Eating in Relation to National Dietary Guidelines
National dietary guidelines provide a set of principles to guide decisions about healthy diet and lifestyle. They should be informed by scientific evidence and country-specific public health and nutrition priorities, as well as sociocultural and contextual factors. Dietary guidelines commonly propose a set of recommendations related to the consumption of individual foods and/or food groups in sufficient quantities to meet nutrient intake requirements based on life stage and sex, for both health promotion and chronic disease prevention.
Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture
Global climate change has resulted in significant changes in local weather conditions in many countries. Changes in rainfall and temperature threaten agricultural production and increase the vulnerability of individuals who are dependent on agriculture. In particular, water shortages in arid and semi-arid regions will become more prominent. In such regions, irregularly distributed rainfall will result in increased droughts as well as extreme rainfall events. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that aims to transform and reorient agricultural systems to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Michel Riksen, Coen Ritsema, Karrar Mahdi
Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and the Circular Economy
Water is fundamental to life, society, and ecological sustainability, yet its management remains one of the most pressing global challenges. "Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and the Circular Economy" addresses this critical issue, bringing together recent advancements in sustainable practices and innovative technological approaches. The book explores cutting-edge methodologies for wastewater treatment, pollution control, and circular economy applications, highlighting their significant roles in ensuring environmental sustainability.
Pathogen Detection and Identification in Wastewater
Our Special Issue reprint highlights the latest advancements in water safety and public health. This curated collection of articles delves into the critical challenges and innovative solutions associated with detecting and managing pathogens in wastewater systems worldwide. Featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, this reprint provides comprehensive insights into the mechanisms of pathogen survival, novel detection methodologies and applications in wastewater-based epidemiology.
Guangming Jiang, Ryo Honda, Sudipti Arora
Promising Research and Strategies in Wastewater Treatment, Sludge Management and Valorization
Technology History of engineering Environmental science
Rapid urbanization and industrialization, in addition to the presence of new pollutants, make it necessary to search for new wastewater treatment technologies to achieve future water quality requirements. Additionally, waste reduction and the reuse of treated wastewater seem to be excellent options to realize the concept of a circular economy.
Second Edition of Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater Treatment History of engineering
Water scarcity is a global issue. Municipal wastewater treatment aims to remove contaminants before releasing the effluent back into the environment. The treated effluent can be repurposed for water reuse and resource recovery initiatives. This reprint explores various aspects of wastewater treatment. Studies address the influence of salts on the photocatalytic degradation of formic acid, the impact of COD in toxic industrial wastewater on nitrification efficiency, and the efficiency of side stream nitrification in two-stage activated sludge plants.
Yung-Tse Hung, Hamidi Abdul Aziz, Issam A. Al-Khatib
Clinical Updates on the Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection
Aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections are potentially life-threatening conditions that require urgent attention. In recent years, a substantial amount of research has been conducted. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, there are significant treatment gaps that need to be addressed to save lives. One major gap is the early detection and diagnosis of aortic aneurysms, as they often present no symptoms until a catastrophic event occurs. Increased awareness and effective screening programs are crucial to identify at-risk individuals.
Advances in Intelligent Data Analysis and Its Applications, 2nd Edition
This Special Issue highlights the growing importance of intelligent data analysis and its profound applications in addressing the challenges of the big data era. As a key driver of innovation and progress across diverse sectors, intelligent data analysis requires robust research and implementation to derive actionable insights from vast, complex datasets. By fostering advancements in various industries, this field plays a vital role in meeting the dynamic demands of modern data-centric environments.
Plant Fungal Diseases and Crop Protection
Fungi are the largest group of plant pathogens, infecting hosts through leaves, seeds, and the soil. These pathogens inflict significant damage on crops through various methods of attack, leading to reduced global production and an ongoing need for new control strategies. The comprehensive approach to managing these crop diseases relies on a deep understanding of the fungi involved, the susceptible growth phases, and the environmental conditions that influence disease development.
Otoliths and Their Applications in Fishery Science
This reprint focuses on fish otoliths, as one of the most useful and important biological structures for fishery scientists and managers around the world. Collected papers cover several different research areas, from the otolith macro- to the microstructure and microchemistry, analyzing different types of otoliths and investigating various freshwater and marine species in their larval, juvenile and adult stages. Special attention is given to different approaches in otolith research and to many practical applications of such studies.
Meeting Challenges in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a progressive, multifactorial optic neurodegenerative disease that affects over 80 million patients worldwide. The disease’s insidious onset, combined with our reliance on subjective diagnostic tools, hinders early detection and timely intervention. Current treatments, while beneficial, often fail to provide consistent intraocular pressure control, and management is further complicated by variability in disease progression, non-adherence to therapy, socioeconomic challenges, complications from surgical interventions, and new risk factors.
Advances in Object and Activity Detection in Remote Sensing Imagery
The recent revolution in deep learning has enabled considerable development in the fields of object and activity detection. Visual object detection tries to find objects of target classes with precise localisation in an image and assign each object instance a corresponding class label. At the same time, activity recognition aims to determine the actions or activities of an agent or group of agents based on sensor or video observation data. It is a very important and challenging problem to detect, identify, track, and understand the behaviour of objects through images and videos taken by various cameras.
Anwaar Ulhaq, Douglas Pinto Sampaio Gomes
Innovative Approaches toward Healthy and Sustainable Environment
Sustainable solutions are urgently needed in a world facing environmental challenges such as air pollution, water scarcity, food insecurity, and waste management. This special issue “Innovative Approaches toward a Healthy and Sustainable Environment: Air, Water, Food, and Waste Treatment” explores groundbreaking strategies and technologies that address these critical issues. This volume unites leading experts, researchers, and practitioners worldwide.
Biomechanical Analysis in Physical Activity and Sports
This reprint, published by the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, presents a comprehensive collection of research focused on the role of biomechanics in athletic performance. Featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, this reprint explores advanced biomechanical analysis techniques and their practical applications in sports and physical activity.
Wellness, Fitness, Body Composition, Training and Performance Monitoring to Improve Athletes Life Quality
The present reprint presents information to update the state of the art in professional and recreational, male and female athletes of different sports (e.g., soccer, speed skating, triathlon, strength training, and pole dancing). Moreover, it addresses some gaps in the literature, such as immunological and hormonal responses, body composition effects, and well-being/wellness. Notwithstanding, this reprint contributes information to improve load monitoring practices (of training and competition) and quality of life through direct or indirect research.
In this book, leading experts in the field of exercise medicine reveal the transformative impact of exercise/physical activity on health and well-being. From historical perspectives to the latest research, this comprehensive guide covers: • The evolution of exercise medicine: from ancient practices to modern therapies • The science behind exercise: understanding its physiological and psychological benefits • Lifestyle intervention strategies: promoting physical activity for health and disease prevention
Intelligent Safety Monitoring and Prevention Process in Coal Mines
This Special Issue collects research papers relating to advances in intelligent safety monitoring and prevention in coal mines. The content covers the safety technology research of coal mine disaster mechanism and risk identification, coal mine disaster multi-information intelligent early warning, coal mine disaster prevention mechanisms, and their intelligent prevention and control. The findings highlight the critical role of technology in protecting workers' lives and ensuring the sustainability of coal mine operations.
Managing refuse-derived and solid recovered fuels
Waste treatment practices generate left-over materials, including refused-derived fuels, which need to be managed effectively to meet the European Union’s ambitious circular economy targets, especially regarding landfilling.This study identifies key considerations for the use of refuse-derived fuels and solid recovered fuels in energy-intensive industrial processes and shows that the use of these fuels could be a viable option for reducing landfilling in several EU countries.
Conservation Agricultural Practices for Improving Crop Production and Quality
In crop production, the conventional management of agroecosystems often leads to a reduction in soil quality and alters the soil processes involved in providing many ecosystem services. Intensive tillage, combined with high-mineral fertilization, increases the mineralization of organic carbon in the soil, thereby contributing to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Mariola Staniak, Ewa Szpunar-Krok, Małgorzata Szostek
Present and Future of E-Learning Technologies
This reprint, Present and Future of E-Learning Technologies, explores the evolving landscape of digital education, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge technologies into learning environments. As e-learning becomes increasingly embedded in both formal and informal educational contexts, this volume examines how innovations such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things are reshaping instructional design and learner engagement.
Antonio Sarasa Cabezuelo, Covadonga Rodrigo San Juan
Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, despite current traditional therapies (e.g., statins), significant residual risks for the onset of ASCVD remain, warranting the need to better understand newer therapeutic options for diminishing this prospect. This Special Issue will discuss state-of-the-art clinical trials and other research developments regarding newer and emerging therapies for the management of dyslipidemia to reduce the residual risks of ASCVD.
Sexuality, Family Planning, and Reproduction
The history of sexuality, family planning, and reproduction in Central and Eastern Europe sounds out the historical dimensions across a broad field where human biology, medicine, policy, and government social programmes intersect with fundamental conceptions of desired or feared social developments. From contraception to representations of motherhood, and controversies over reproductive rights, using the example of the historically changing political, social, cultural and scientific interconnections in Central and Eastern Europe, the contributors to this volume invite reflections on historical developments that open new perspectives for the 21st century.
Fritz Dross, Birgit Nemec, Igor Kąkolewski
This book presents the new advances and new perspectives of personalized medicine, emphasizing personalized, predictive medicine, personalized preventive medicine, personalized therapy, and personalized diagnosis/prognostic assessment. The research and practice of multiomics-based pattern biomarkers will significantly contribute to personalized medicine, including deeply addressing the accurate molecular mechanism, stratifying the patients, discovering effective biomarkers, and determining the effective therapeutic targets/drugs for patients to significantly benefit the patients and their families to reduce the medical cost and improve the life quality of patients.
Surgery Gastroenterology Family medicine
This open access book offers a comprehensive review of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a particular focus on the pathobiology and clinical aspects of the disease, including diagnosis and treatment. HCC is becoming one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. It is the fifth most common malignancy in men and the ninth in women, with an estimated 500,000 to 1 million new cases annually around the world. Independent of its cause, cirrhosis is considered a major clinical and histopathological risk factor for HCC development.
Global Challenges in Cardiovascular Prevention in Populations with Low Socioeconomic Status
Cardiovascular Systems - Medicine Family medicine
Cardiovascular Prevention (CVP) has included important technological advances and determined improvements in morbidity and mortality since the last 70 and 60 years. However, in populations with socioeconomic limited resources even basic health preserving tools such as access to a primary care provider and basic drug therapy for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are not within the reach of many. This book, in contrast, will go precisely in the opposite direction, defining the most basic and known effective CVP tools applied in the largest segment of the world’s population.
Tomás Romero, Carolina Nazzal Nazal, Fernando Lanas
Gender, Work and Family in Turbulent Times
This is an open access book. This book provides a distinctive perspective on the daily utilization and consumption of medicines and drugs. It seamlessly integrates the research traditions of the medical and pharmaceutical realms with the approach of fostering the relationship between users and products, a characteristic of design and user studies. By applying a diverse range of expertise, the authors endeavor to reestablish the interconnectedness of issues that place the drug and the indispensable information for its use directly into the hands of the patient.
Basic Health Care in Family Medicine and Public Health
Although shaped primarily according to the economic and social structures of countries, basic health services aim to provide equal and accessible health services to everyone. While the public health discipline is involved in the planning and supervising of basic health services, the family medicine discipline is directly responsible for ensuring the implementation of these services. These disciplines must cooperate and coordinate to provide organized and effective basic health services.
The Role of Religion in Marriage and Family Life
The creation of this reprint was prompted by the creation of a section in the journal Religions, entitled "The Role of Religion in the Life of Marriage and Family". It contains several peer reviewed articles. The authors are specialists in various fields and denominations. All of them, in different ways, show the value of religion for individuals and the relationships they establish. Religion accompanies people of different ages and in different life situations. It is support for engaged couples, spouses, and parents in preparing for marriage, in raising children, as well as in experiencing difficult moments, such as mourning the death of a loved one and preparing for one's own death.
Responsible Use of AI in Military Systems
Information technologies Environmental science Artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely used in society today. The (mis)use of biased data sets in machine learning applications is well‑known, resulting in discrimination and exclusion of citizens. Another example is the use of non‑transparent algorithms that can’t explain themselves to users, resulting in the AI not being trusted and therefore not being used when it might be beneficial to use it. Responsible Use of AI in Military Systems lays out what is required to develop and use AI in military systems in a responsible manner.
Transdisciplinarity in Financial Communication
This open access book identifies and analyses problems of text production in finance from three complementary perspectives: problem identification, problem analysis, and problem solution. By doing so, it explains why solving these problems in transdisciplinary collaboration benefits theory, practice, and society at large.
Accounting and Auditing Small and Medium-Sized Practices
Business strategy Management accounting Corporate finance
This book addresses the recent trends, developments, and future of accounting and auditing of small and medium-sized practices (AASMPs) in the public and private sectors. The book has three main objectives: firstly, to provide an analysis of how different societal trends, including digitalization, impact AASMPs and what role education and training play in proactive adaptation to those trends; secondly, to outline major scenarios for global AASMP development by 2035; and thirdly, to offer a conceptual framework for better understanding of AASMPs' dynamic and transformative capabilities that are necessary to create sustained competitive advantage in a rapidly changing society.
Anatoli Bourmistrov, Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk, et.al
Advances in Accounting & Auditing Research
This reprint collection features the complete set of articles from the Special Issue in the Journal of Risk and Financial Management, titled Advances in Accounting and Auditing Research, focusing on timely and emerging themes in various areas of accounting and auditing. The Special Issue is edited by Prof. Dr. Rania Mousa. It is a compilation that provides a comprehensive overview of current research on financial reporting, ESG reporting, earnings management, audit quality, and accounting standards integration.
Enhancing effective public sector governance
Audit committees are formed to provide impartial advice on matters of governance, risk management, internal controls and audits, performance management, compliance and financial reporting. It is alarming to see communities deteriorating due to poor municipal services, despite existing audit committees serving as independent advisory boards. This book examines the obstacles that hinder audit committees from effectively executing their duties, giving a thorough analysis and resolutions to the South African service delivery crisis.
Audrey H. Legodi, Legodi Coetzee, Lourens Erasmus.
Understanding and mitigating cyberfraud in Africa
The book covers the overview of cyberfraud and the associated global statistics. It demonstrates practicable techniques that financial institutions can employ to make effective decisions geared towards cyberfraud mitigation. Furthermore, the book contains some emerging technologies, such as information and communication technologies (ICT), forensic accounting, big data technologies, tools and analytics employed in fraud mitigation.
Oluwatoyin E Akinbowale, Mariann P Mashigo, Prof. Mulatu Zerihun
Accounting for Social and Environmental Sustainability
Business strategy Development studies Environmental economics
For a company, managing its social and environmental performance is no longer just a matter of reducing its impact; it must also be able to assess its contribution to resolving or aggravating social and environmental problems. This book argues that the current work on accounting for sustainability has not yet given organisations a tool to integrate their performance within the planetary and social framework that conveys actual "planetary and social budgets", and that business organisations lack the possibility to go beyond incremental performance measurement.
Breeding Strategies for Healthy and Sustainable Development of Animal Husbandry
Healthy and sustainable animal husbandry is the goal of animal breeding. This book provides a detailed overview of applications of post-genome era techniques for livestock genetics and breeding. It also describes techniques for genetically selecting highly productive animals without producing large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, community-based breeding programs for breeding rams and bucks, the response of bovine species to in vitro thermal stress stimulation, and the semen characteristics of wool-breed ram lamb-raised in conditions of high altitude. The book not only presents advanced animal genetic and breeding methods but also highlights useful, practical technology for animal breeding under specific climate, geographic, and environmental conditions.
This book examines the importance of DNA molecules as fundamental genomic elements in different types of organisms. In recent years, a wide range of tools and techniques have become available to investigate the versatility of genomic variabilities, exchanges, and differentiations. This book presents data and information from population genetics and evolutionary biology, making it a useful resource for scientists worldwide.
Advanced Materials Structures for Sound and Vibration Damping
This collection of cutting-edge research explores advances in vibration suppression, sound absorption, and materials optimization. Highlights include the optimization of thin-walled cylindrical shells using graded materials, innovative approaches to material damping simulation, and the integration of acoustic metamaterials for noise reduction.
Advanced Research on Biological Control of Plant Disease or Microbial Interactions
Plant diseases are caused by a large number of plant pathogens, with fungi, bacteria, and viruses being the main causes of the loss of crop yield and quality worldwide. Although several control strategies have been developed to reduce the negative effects of plant diseases, biological control remains an environmentally friendly and cost-effective green technique in environmental protection and agricultural production; it generally uses selected bioresources, including beneficial microorganisms.
Beibei Ge, Tomislav Cernava, Kyungseok Park
Agricultural Environment and Intelligent Plant Protection Equipment
The agricultural environment refers to the combination of various natural and artificially modified natural factors that affect the survival and development of agricultural organisms, including farmland, forest, grassland, irrigation water, air, light, the heat and chemical fertilizers applied to farmland, pesticides, and agricultural equipment. These factors constitute a comprehensive agricultural environment system, interacting with each other and affecting agricultural production together. As a vital component of the agricultural environment, plant protection equipment plays an indispensable role in agricultural production.
Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health
This compilation of twenty-three original articles and a communication underscores the urgency of using interdisciplinary approaches to safeguard bee health and ecosystem sustainability. The published articles explore complex factors affecting health, emphasizing the global honeybee and pollinator populations crisis.
Pesticides - Agronomic Application and Environmental Impact is a seminal work that navigates the delicate balance between the indispensable role of pesticides in modern agriculture and the critical need for environmental preservation. In an era where food security and ecological sustainability are paramount, this book emerges as a beacon of knowledge and understanding. This volume encapsulates a comprehensive exploration of the world of pesticides, shedding light on their vital function in ensuring crop health and abundance.
Chromatographic Analysis of Pesticide in Environmental and Food
Humans are constantly engaged in struggles against competitors and diseases. One way to gain an advantage in many of those ecological interactions is through the use of pesticides. These substances are used to protect crop plants, livestock, domestic animals and people from damage and diseases caused by microorganisms, fungi, insects, rodents and other "pests,'' and to defend crops from competition with unwanted but abundant "weeds".
Food Pesticide Residues Monitoring and Health Risk Assessment
Pesticide residue and food safety problems have become concerns that need to be addressed all over the world. This reprint presents recent developments in pesticide residue monitoring and risk assessment in food and contains studies and reviews involving the pre-treatment of pesticide residues in food and detection methods for and the risk assessment of these residues.
Advances in Textile Structural Composites
The direction of fiber orientation plays a crucial role in deciding the mechanical performance of textile structural composites. Unlike conventional composite materials, geometrically oriented textile structures, e.g., woven, knitted, and braided constructions, can be designed and developed for load bearing in a particular direction. Their properties can be enhanced by modifying the geometry and material composition.
Functional Polymer Composites : Synthesis, Characterization and Application
Functional polymer composites are showing increasing potential as materials in chemistry and materials science. Polymer composites, including nanocomposites, are made via the incorporation of fillers in polymer matrices and offer many advantages. The properties of polymer composites are further improved via the surface modification of fillers or the matrix phase. Currently, there is an increasing demand for smart materials based on eco-friendly polymers for a wide variety of applications.
Rheological Measurement Techniques and Analysis Methods
Rheological Measurement Techniques and Analysis Methods provides a comprehensive exploration of modern rheological analysis, offering key insights into the flow and deformation behaviors of complex materials across various industries. This edited volume brings together advanced techniques and methodologies, with a particular focus on real-time measurements, modeling of viscoelastic materials, and practical applications in fields such as plastics and petroleum.
Multiscale Simulation of Composite Structures
Technology History of engineering Mechanical engineering
Composites can be engineered to exhibit high strength, high stiffness, and high toughness. Composite structures have increasingly been used in various engineering applications. In recent decades, most fundamentals of science have expanded in length by many orders of magnitude. Nowadays, one of the primary goals of science and technology seems to be to develop reliable methods for linking the physical phenomena that occur over multiple length scales, particularly from a nano-/microscale to a macroscale.
This reprint provides a rich and varied collection of articles reflecting the landscape of contemporary research and scholarship on chronic pain and its management. The collection includes reviews and primary research that challenge established beliefs and open new avenues for exploration. The collection has been edited by Mark I. Johnson, PhD, Professor of Pain and Analgesia, and Director of the Centre for Pain Research at Leeds Beckett University.
The Future Health Workforce: Integrated Solutions and Models of Care
This edited collection brings together a diverse set of original research and review articles that contribute towards a unified objective of redesigning the future health workforce. Our fundamental premise is that the future health workforce needs to be more closely aligned to population needs and be able to address emerging challenges of the 21st century. • The collection includes 13 articles (11 original research; 2 review) from nine countries.
Computational and Mathematical Methods for Neuroscience
This reprint immerses readers in the latest advancements in the computational and mathematical modeling of neural systems, with a focus on brain functionality. It explores foundational principles, established models, and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of computational neuroscience. By integrating theoretical foundations with empirical data, the approaches presented not only enhance our understanding of neural dynamics but also pave the way for transformative applications in clinical practice and therapeutic innovation.
Antimicrobial Biomaterials: Recent Progress
Biomaterials can be used as implantable devices or drug delivery platforms with a significant influence on a patients’ quality of life. Indeed, every year a substantial number of new biomaterials and scaffolding systems are engineered and introduced in the biomedical field with increased potential for biomedical uses. However, their long-term use can be threatened by the adhesion and proliferation of microorganisms, which can interact and form biofilms, or the formation of fibrosis, with cytotoxic responses being very common.
Studies on the Real Estate Market and Property Management in the Post-pandemic Era
This reprint provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving landscape of real estate markets and property management in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how the global health crisis accelerated structural changes in housing demand and supply, housing affordability, and the rental market, as well as assessing the long-term implications for urban planning, investment strategies, and asset management practices.
NFTs, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Metaverse
The following Special Issue examines the rapid evolution of the NFT art market, tracing its trajectory from an experiment to a global phenomenon. The sale of Beeple’s “Everydays—The First 5000 Days” for over USD 69 million at Christie’s online auction in 2021 marked a watershed moment, catapulting NFT art into the mainstream.
Sustainable Marketing, Branding and CSR in the Digital Economy
Information technology industries Marketing
Sustainable marketing practice is essential for developing a more comprehensive understanding of consumers’ purchase decisions in dynamic digital marketing environments. Scholars and practitioners conceive sustainable marketing practices as episodic, predicated on temporal practices in response to emerging digital environments. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the ecological issues that their consumption creates in the marketplace.
The caesarean section is a widely accepted surgical procedure, that is mainly used in complex cases. However, the significant increase in caesarean section rates especially in developed countries, causes several medical and socio-economic problems. The main role of this book project is the presentation of recent advances in caesarean section surgical technique, most common perioperative complications and appropriate measures in order to reduce unnecessary caesarean section procedures.
This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date examination of appendicitis, a condition that continues to present challenges to medical professionals worldwide. It explores the latest developments in minimally invasive surgical techniques, non-surgical treatment options, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and treatment. Readers are offered global insights into disparities in healthcare access, particularly in rural areas of developing countries, with personal accounts that illustrate the real-life experiences of patients. The book also takes a holistic approach to the diagnosis and management of appendicitis in both children and adults, offering a complete overview of this common surgical condition.
Infections in surgery, commonly known as surgical site infections (SSIs), are complications that may occur after a surgical procedure. SSIs represent a serious problem leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, highlighting the need for continued efforts to improve surgical practices and reduce their incidence.
Stefano Bartoli, Francesco Cortese, et. all
Young pediatric surgeons usually look for a comprehensive textbook updating their surgical knowledge and skills in a simple way. This is the idea behind the project of this series regarding pediatric surgical procedures. We try to update theoretical information, clinical decision-making, and surgical steps via chapters with many illustrations and figures that could guide the surgeon’s decisions and pave the way for competent training and skills improvement. In this Volume I, six chapters are included, starting with a general section covering general anaesthesia background for pediatric laparoscopic surgery.
The aim of this reprint is to present current trends and future perspectives in wastewater and waste treatment methods, including economic and environmental assessments. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:Novel biological, advanced oxidation, and physicochemical wastewater and waste treatment methods;Current trends in wastewater and waste treatment systems;High-environmental-impact waste streams and treatment challenges;The environmental and economic impacts of wastewater and waste treatment methods.
This book, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, delivers the latest information on biotransformation and other pharmacokinetic parameters required to assess drug safety in drug discovery and development. Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) is considered a rational strategy for the design, optimization, and selection of successful drug candidates in the pre-clinical stages of drug discovery. The evaluation of various pharmacokinetic parameters such as aqueous solubility, lipophilicity, cell permeability, bioavailability, protein binding, and metabolism and elimination half-life, drug–drug interactions (DDIs), and toxicokinetics is essential for a candidate drug to become a successful therapeutic agent. This book discusses recent advances in in-silico tools and in vitro/in vivo experimental techniques applied in pharmacokinetic, metabolomic, and bioanalytical studies.
Recent Advances in the Health Benefits of Tea
Alternative medicine - Therapetics Tea - Food
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and the second most consumed after water. Based on evidence from cellular, animal, epidemiological, and clinical studies, tea consumption has been linked to several health benefits, including cancer chemoprevention, chronic inflammation, heart and liver diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. This book provides an up-to-date critical view of the health benefits of tea, including its phytochemistry, traditional usage, current applications, and future directions for the development of tea compounds as effective medicinal agents.
Interactions between animals and plants exist on a spectrum that ranges from completely antagonistic relationships to those of obligatory mutualism, as seen in the pollination of certain tropical orchid species. In fact, these relationships are highly conditional and can change radically depending on variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and fluctuations in the populations of other interacting species.
Medicine and Nursing Medical toxicology Drug Abuse
Over the last decades, interest in forensic toxicology has continually increased. Consequently, the discipline assumed a leading role, becoming one of the reference sciences for elucidating events of judicial importance. The need to reconcile analytical problems (e.g., relating to the qualitative/quantitative analysis of substances of abuse in complex biological matrices) with judicial requirements (i.e., providing data that can be used as documentary evidence in proceedings) makes the discipline unique among all "analytical" sciences.
2nd Edition of Integrated Human Exposure to Air Pollution
This reprint, entitled "Second Edition of Integrated Human Exposure to Air Pollution", presents new insights into key aspects of human exposure to air pollution. It compiles seventeen innovative studies, exploring five main areas: advanced methodologies for exposure assessment, citizen engagement in addressing pollution, outdoor air pollution, indoor air quality, and the health impacts of pollution
Nuno Canha Marta Almeida Evangelia Diapouli
Food Labeling: Analysis, Understanding, and Perception
This Special Issue includes original research and reviews of the literature focusing on food labels, which are a tool to promote public health that, at the same time, may represent a marketing tool and may influence consumers’ perception of food quality.
Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Value in Non-communicable Diseases
It is well known that the quality of human nutrition is fundamental to human health and affects the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The global food system has been dramatically changing in recent years, which results in negative consequences concerning the nutritional quality of foods, and consequently, the risk of NCDs. Therefore, the need for diagnostic tools to use in the evaluation of nutritional value and the improvement of nutrition counseling and disease prevention is more important than ever before.
Andriana Kaliora, Chara Tzavara, Charalampia Amerikanou
The field of infant nutrition and feeding has been a long-standing and permanent concern within the field of child health, given the crucial role it plays in the current and future health and development of individuals. Although optimal feeding practices are recognized to achieve greater well-being, growth, and child health, differences and gaps still persist. This book covers a variety of crucial topics related to infant nutrition and feeding, which have been grouped into four sections.
Genetic, Epigenetic, Environmental, and Pharmacological Models for Neuroscience, Neurologic Diseases, and Psychiatric Disorders: Advancement in Bench-to-Bedside Translational Research
The Special Issue, "Genetic, Epigenetic, Environmental, and Pharmacological Models for Neuroscience, Neurologic Diseases, and Psychiatric Disorders: Advancement in Bench-to-Bedside Translational Research," delves into the complexities of neurological and psychiatric disorders, which affect millions worldwide. Despite advances, the etiology and pathogenesis of these disorders remain largely unknown, and current treatments often fall short or have adverse effects.
Insights into Antibiotics in Human, Animal, and Agriculture: Resistance, Determinant, and Treatment
Mathematics and Science Biology Microbiology
This Special Issue assembles a set of fifteen articles, consisting of one review and fourteen research articles. The review by Liang S. and colleagues covers the application of bacteriophage therapy. The 14 research articles included (1) methodologies and techniques to detect AMR organisms, such as VRE by Saenhom N et al. and carbapenemase-producing Eterobacterales by Hatrongjit R. et al.; (2) characterization of AMR from patients, foods, and the environment, such as by Yinsai et al., Li R. et al., Kamal Hossain M., et al., Kansaen R., et al., Tabut et al., Lopes E.S. et al., and Kumar Rout A. et al., respectively; (3) antibiotics residue management approached, such as by Chokejaroenrat et al. and Sakulthaew et al., and (4) medical care of AMR patients and carriage, such as by Ngamprasertchai T et al.
Dermatology: Advances on Pathophysiology and Therapies
This reprint presents a meticulous compilation of 11 cutting-edge articles from leading authors in the field of dermatology, originally featured in our previous manuscript. This collection illustrates the significant advancements and innovations that have shaped dermatological science and practice in recent years. Each article within this compendium delves into various aspects of dermatological advancements, ranging from the development of novel therapeutic approaches and understanding the genetic underpinnings of skin diseases to the exploration of new diagnostic tools and the integration of technology in dermatological care.
Montserrat Fernández-Guarino, Asunción Ballester-Martinez
Diabetic Foot Complications: Current Challenges and Future Prospects—Part II
Diabetic foot is a growing complication due to the global increase in diabetes mellitus prevalence; this disease affects 9.1 to 26.1 million people annually, and between 19% and 34% of people develop diabetes at least once in their life. Diabetic foot is sometimes associated with lower limb amputations and higher rates of mortality than certain types of cancer, such as breast or prostate cancer. In recent years, research has focused on managing the main complications that lead to limb loss, such as diabetic foot infections or peripheral vascular disease.
José Luis Lázaro-Martínez, Luigi Uccioli
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Current State and Future Perspectives
Public health and preventive medicine Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI), which is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, is having a growing impact on healthcare. Via AI, researchers can provide new approaches to merge, analyze, and process complex “big data” and gain more actionable insights, understanding, and knowledge at an individual and population level. Medical staff can be helped by AI-assisted clinical decision support (CDS), i.e., machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models that analyze large medical datasets. They do this by summarizing radiology and pathology reports by means of natural language processing (NLP), automating repetitive but time-consuming tasks, and much more. Patients can talk to chatbots who have access to all medical knowledge in the world, including the patient’s medical history, and provide personalized advice. This Special Issue intends to show some examples of how AI impacts healthcare, with some discussion on potential future developments as well as challenges.
Focusing on the provision of gender-affirming care, Health Care Civil Rights analyzes the difficulties and potential of discrimination law in health care settings. The application of civil rights law could be a powerful response to health inequalities in the US, but conservative challenges and the complex and fragmented nature of our health care system have limited the real-world success of this strategy.
Public Health and International Economic Law
Public Health - Medicine Public International law
Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. Although non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancers, diabetes, and heart diseases are preventable, they have risen dramatically over the last 30 years. This is in part due to increased international trade and foreign direct investment in the tobacco, alcohol and food industries. As governments attempt to regulate these industries, this book raises important and timely questions about the relationship between public health and international trade and investment law.
Recent Trends on Cheese as Functional Food with Great Nutritive and Health Benefits
Cheese is a palatable and dense model food with great nutritional value. Cheese lovers all over the world have access to an almost overwhelming variety of cheeses. Cheese has many health benefits that go beyond its nutritional and flavor properties. The health benefits are due to the presence of unique bioactive peptides and fatty acids in cheese. Furthermore, cheese is an excellent tool for making functional foods because it can serve as an excellent delivery vehicle for bioactive peptides, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, and other novel bioactive substances. This book offers opportunities for cheese manufacturers, cheese researchers, nutritionists, and even cheese lovers to learn more about the hidden health and nutritive benefits of cheese. The book reflects the trends and innovations in the development of cheese as a functional food.
Food quality, including dietary quality and diversity, is as essential to human health as air is to human life. In addition, other healthy lifestyle factors, including a healthy body mass index, regular exercise, no smoking, and sufficient sleep duration, are associated with a lower incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases and longer life expectancy. More importantly, maternal healthy lifestyle factors are also associated with a substantially reduced risk of chronic diseases in their offspring.
Leadership and Governance in Primary Healthcare
Good leadership and governance at all levels of the healthcare system is necessary for better performance of the system and health outcomes. Lack of good leadership and governance practices can lead to misuse of health system inputs such as human resources, health commodities and financial resources hence lowering the quality of services delivered. Thus, this guide was developed through collaborative efforts envisioned to respond to the needs of improving good governance practices at the primary healthcare level in resource-limited healthcare systems.
Mackfallen G. Anasel, Ntuli A. Kapologwe, Albino Kalolo
Semantic Web Technology and Recommender Systems
In this book (Volume I), 13 papers have been published on different topics of the wide research areas of Semantic Web and Recommender systems. These papers have been carefully selected based on the peer review of several respectful reviewers organized by MDPI’s BDCC journal. This issue has attracted well-known international research teams, who we would like to thank for their work.
Konstantinos Kotis, Dimitris Spiliotopoulos
Shareholders, Strategy and Value Creation
The central task of contemporary strategic management is to look for sources of value and to achieve above- average firm performance. The effective implementation of a value creation strategy requires a comprehensive approach, including the creation of a systemic management structure aimed at increasing company value.
Wojciech Muras, Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna
This heavily revised open access edition provides a thorough overview of the technologies available to assemble, manage and assess the quality of health information systems. It details a variety of scenarios in the context of both health and heath care, including where prevention and wellness are related, such as the treatment of both acute and chronic diseases.
Alfred Winter, Elske Ammenwerth, Medical equipment and techniques
Information Theoretic Methods for Future Communication Systems
Information technology Information technology industries
This reprint focuses on information and coding theoretic metrics, analyses, and methods applied to future communication and computation systems. Analyses of learning algorithms and information security problems are studied in detail. The main themes addressed are multiple access channels, interference channels, and delay-Doppler domain analysis, as well as secure and private compression, matrix multiplication, and transmission methods.
Sustainability and Human Resources Management: Evaluating Challenges and Impacts for the Employee-Organization Relation
Although sustainability is hardly a new subject for research, recent years have moved the theme toward the perspective of human resource management (HRM). In effect, it has become a recent target of attention for HRM researchers in the search for valid ways to stimulate the area and be committed and resourceful regarding structural paths leading to overall sustainable development.
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
Natural resources are necessary for meeting simple human needs such as food, water, clothing, shelter, and air. They are part of humanity’s natural heritage or protected in nature reserves. Therefore, sustainable management of natural resources is crucial to ensure the stability of the ecosystem, prevent further damage to the environment, and avoid over-consumption of the resources.
Mohd Nazip Suratman, Engku Azlin Rahayu Engku Ariff
Human Resource Management - An Update deals with the major theoretical and practical issues of managing people in different kinds of businesses in different countries around the world. Chapters address such topics as theoretical bases for human resource management in the new work age, performance management and organizational management, leadership and job analysis, diversity, work–life balance, and sexual harassment, among others.
Medicine and Nursing Public health - Medicine
Digital pathology workflow implementation remains challenging. In laboratories worldwide, there are growing examples of successful implementation and pathologists acknowledging the advantages of this new model of practicing pathology. This Special Issue of Diagnostics is a collection of records of successful digital pathology implementation for primary diagnosis or secondary applications, that serve as an inspiration to those readers who are still skeptical about it.
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a broad view on the studies that focus on the anatomical field, and to stimulate a holistic and humanistic perspective, taking into account the innumerous connections between the history of anatomy and the recent advances of this discipline. Multidisciplinary approaches related to anatomy include historical aspects, morphological techniques, anatomical education, and comparative and veterinary anatomy.
Protection and Prevention Approaches in Occupational Health and Safety
Developments in working life have also brought about occupational health and safety (OHS) problems. While the development of technology and protective equipment has created a safer working environment over time, new risks that pose a danger have also emerged. OHS aims to prevent the deterioration of employees' health in all occupational groups, protect employees from the hazards and risks in the environment, and provide environments that will allow individuals to continue to work at the highest level physiologically and spiritually.
New Perspectives in Oral Health for Patients with Special Needs and Compromised Older Adults
This Special Issue was designed to provide a multifaceted look at the latest clinical and research findings in the field of geriatric dentistry, which has rapidly gained importance since the beginning of the 21st century. It covers oral frailty, rapid oral health deterioration (ROHD), and oral hypofunction syndrome as comprehensive disease concepts related to the oral health of older people, explains their causes, and introduces the latest technology for diagnosing the deterioration of the oral environment and of oral function.
Takahiro Ono, Leonardo Marchini, Anastassia E. Kossioni
Influence of Domestic Violence on Mental Health
Domestic violence (also referred to as family or intimate partner violence) is a public health problem that continues to affect the lives of individuals of all backgrounds, with women and children being the most common victims of acts of physical, psychological, and sexual violence. Longstanding research has recognized the mental health sequelae of domestic violence and the potential role of social, economic, and environmental factors.
Mining Technologies Innovative Development
The present book covers the main challenges, important for future prospects of subsoils extraction as a public effective and profitable business, as well as technologically advanced industry. In the near future, the mining industry must overcome the problems of structural changes in raw materials demand and raise the productivity up to the level of high-tech industries to maintain the profits.
Sustainable Energy Systems Planning, Integration and Management
Energy systems worldwide are undergoing major transformation as a consequence of the transition towards the widespread use of clean and sustainable energy sources. Basically, this involves massive changes in technical and organizational levels together with tremendous technological upgrades in different sectors ranging from energy generation and transmission systems down to distribution systems.
Behnam Mohammadi-ivatloo, Somayeh Asadi, et.all
Power System Dynamic and Stability Issues in Modern Power Systems Facing Energy Transition
Dynamic stability basically deals with the interactions between the system's components. Following a disturbance, the system's variables undergo transitions that can induce oscillations in active and reactive power generation, resulting in the occurrence of voltage oscillatory modes and frequency deviation in the system. Depending on the entity of the disturbance, the small- or large-signal stability of the system under consideration can be investigated.
Electronically Active Textiles (e-textiles) are a type of textile material that has some form of electronic functionality. This can be achieved by attaching electronics onto the surface of the textile, incorporating electronic components as part of the fabrication of the textile itself, or by integrating electronics into the yarns or fibers that comprises the textile. The addition of electronic components can give textiles a wide range of new functions from lighting or heating to advanced sensing capabilities.
Optical Technologies for Advancing Communication, Sensing, and Computing Systems
Applied optics Optical Communication - Engineering
Optical technology is a cornerstone in communication, computing, and sensing. This book aims to explore the dispersion, attenuation, and nonlinear effects that occur as light signals propagate through specialized fibers, while also investigating the emerging and enabling technologies such as optical fiber sensors, quantum computing, free-space optical communication, and photonic crystal-based optical devices.
Functional Biomaterials and Digital Technologies in Dentistry
The publication "Functional Biomaterials and Digital Technologies in Dentistry: From Bench to Bedside," featured in the Journal of Functional Biomaterials, signifies a pivotal advancement in dental and maxillofacial healthcare. It underscores groundbreaking innovations in the field of biomaterials, including the use of metals, polymers, and composites, alongside the revolutionary role of digital technologies such as computer-aided imaging (CAI), design (CAD), and manufacturing (CAM) in dentistry.
The continuous demand for electronic devices operating at increasing current and power levels has driven research into wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors in recent decades. In particular, the 4H hexagonal polytype of silicon carbide (4H-SiC) is the most promising for use in power electronic applications in the medium- to high-voltage range.
Remote Sensing Observations to Improve Knowledge of Lithosphere- Atmosphere- Ionosphere Coupling during the Preparatory Phase of Earthquakes
This Special Issue Reprint focuses on the study of the preparation phase of earthquakes, searching for possible coupling between the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere before their occurrences. The topic is afforded by investigating data from the lithosphere (earthquakes’ catalogs and seismic tomography), atmospheric parameters—especially from remote sensing satellites—and in situ ionospheric observations from China Seismo Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01) and Swarm constellations.
Advances in Environmental Remote Sensing
Atmospheric environmental issues are a common challenge of humankind in the 21st century, having received significant attention worldwide. Extensive and comprehensive atmospheric environment management practices have been carried out in countries around the world. At present, atmospheric environmental governance is entering a new stage of pollution reduction and carbon reduction.
Plasma Science and Engineering is a multidisciplinary area encompassing some of the most exciting fundamental applied research themes in today's scientific landscape, having an extraordinarily broad impact on science, technology and industry. The measurement of the parameters of plasmas, usually termed as plasma diagnostics, is a key challenge in all of these applications, both for understanding the basic principles and, in many cases, for the optimization and control of processes.
Data Processing and Modeling on Volcanic and Seismic Areas
This special volume aims to collecg new ideas and contributions at the frontier between the fields of data handling, processing and modeling for volcanic and seismic systems. Technological evolution, as well as the increasing availability of new sensors and platforms, and freely available data, pose a new challenge to the scientific community in the development new tools and methods that can integrate and process different information.
Auditory and Phonetic Processes in Speech Perception
In the past two decades, great advancements have been made in phonetic, auditory, and psycholinguistic research on speech perception. As the fields have advanced, there has been increasing interdisciplinary collaboration between them, which has, in turn, revealed their interdependence.
Sport Modalities, Performance and Health
Sport modalities are highly practiced in order to improve many aspects of human beings, including performance and health. The increasing interest in the quantitative and qualitative aspects of sport training is ascribable to the fact that several training systems and new methodologies are appearing in all sport modalities.
Diego Muñoz Marín José Alberto Frade Martins Parraca
Physical Activity, Exercise Testing and Clinical Assessment in Sports Medicine
Physical activity and exercise testing are two key points in sports medicine. Sports medicine is a field of medicine concerned with the prevention and treatment of injuries and disorders that are related to participation in sports. Clinical assessment in sports medicine can solve many questions about diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis related to health in sports.
Research and information Biology Microbiology
Antibiotic resistance represents one of the most important challenges in the world and involves humans, animals and the environment.For this reason, it is increasingly important to focus our attention on the present scenarios and the future prospects relating to this problem. The One Health approach helps us and can provide the tools to consider the problem from different points of view, also providing alternative solutions to the use of the antibiotic itself.
In the age of Apple Watches and Fitbits, the concept of “health” emerges through an embodied experience of a digital health device or platform, not simply through the biomedical data it provides. Sensing Health: Bodies, Data, and Digital Health Technologies analyzes popular digital health technologies as aesthetic experiences to understand how these devices and platforms have impacted the way individuals perceive their bodies, behaviors, health, and well-being.
Public Health Palliative Care and Public Palliative Care Education
The collection on “Public Health Palliative Care (PHPC) and Public Palliative Care Education (PPCE)” highlights recent advances and challenges in PHPC and PPCE. The articles demonstrate the breadth and diversity of local responses from across the globe, including Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly shows how collaboration between healthcare services and communities is an essential component of public health.
This open access book investigates how digitalization and service infusion are changing service provision and the customer experience. It highlights the central role of service management and service innovation in making these changes not only appear in theory but also implementing them in business practice. At the beginning of the 21st century, many manufacturing firms struggled to exploit the financial potential of service businesses, a phenomenon described as the service paradox.
Market-Oriented Disinformation Research explores the spread of false or misleading information online through the lens of marketing theory and consumer research. It examines how the business models of digital platforms and advertising technology firms (AdTech) generate digital markets that incentivize the circulation of harmful content for profit.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the essential topics in the field of management in marketing communication. These substantial topics are examined and addressed by scholars from the marketing and management discipline.
Fusion Bonding/Welding of Polymer Composites
This Special Issue reprint focuses on the latest advances and development of fusion bonding/welding of polymer composites. It contains research articles addressing materials, processing, modeling, monitoring, or performance issues with experimental or numerical approaches.
Patricia Krawczak André Chateau Akué Asséko
The replacement of the bridging H atom in H-bonds by a multitude of other, more electronegative, atoms has led to the rapidly growing study of related noncovalent bonds generally known as halogen, chalcogen, and pnicogen bonds. It has recently been recognized that elements of the tetrel family (C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) also engage in such bonds, wherein the tetrel atom serves as an electron acceptor to an incoming Lewis base, and that these bonds can be quite strong.
The development of health and social care policy is crucial for ensuring the welfare of individuals and communities. It involves a complex interplay of political, economic, social, and ethical factors. It addresses the social determinants that impact health outcomes and seeks to promote equity in healthcare delivery. Health and social care policy aims to address inequalities and improve access to quality care for all individuals.
Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Immigrant Health
This open access book analyses the ever-complex relationship between immigration and health in contemporary societies using the Spanish society as a case study. It addresses some of the main dimensions of migrant health in Spain, including migrant-specific vulnerability factors, health changes associated with time spent at the migratory destination, and differentiated problems of certain subpopulations of migrants.
This book focuses on health risks, a domain in which risk expansion has been particularly prolific. As a result of massive gains in scientific knowledge, made possible by statistical developments, data accumulation and computerisation over the last decades, more and more attention has been geared towards risks in the fields of public health and medicine.
Education, Parenting, and Mental Health Care in Europe
This edited collection investigates, from a sociological perspective, what it means to create an autonomous individual through a novel exploration of three central fields of sociology: education, mental health care, and parenting. By linking these three aspects through their contribution to the building of an autonomous child, the volume analyses the intersecting roles of parent, teacher, and caregiver as well as the transformations in identities of child, pupil, and patient to understand the construction and repair of autonomy
As we adopt a One Health philosophy to how we view the welfare of animals, specifically those housed in zoos and used in farming or production, our global views have undergone a significant change. Zoos have shifted their prime focus from entertainment to conservation of species, educating the public, and working to improve upon the animals’ welfare.
Intelligent Forecasting and Optimization in Electrical Power Systems
This reprint explores the latest developments and advancements in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for forecasting and optimization in the field of power engineering. In recent years, AI and ML methods have been gaining significant traction and are becoming two of the most important fields in computing.
The 2024 Special Issue of Inequality in Immunization collates 14 global research and review contributions that spotlight differences in the attainment of immunization coverage across population groups, capturing findings pertaining to various types of immunization (including COVID-19 and childhood immunization).
Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor, Devaki Nambiar, et. al
Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development
Agricultural land provides essential goods and services for human society, and it is the basis for ensuring food security and rural development. Under the background of rapid urbanization, population growth, and climate change, the use of agricultural land has intensified and changed on local, regional, and global scales.
Optimal Water Management and Sustainability in Irrigated Agriculture
As the global demand for food continues to rise, it is crucial to ensure that our agricultural practices are sustainable and efficient, especially when it comes to water management in irrigated agriculture. The sustainability of irrigated agriculture requires the efficient management of the available but limited water resources under the existing constraints.
Pantazis E. Georgiou Dimitrios K. Karpouzos
Advancement in Propagation, Breeding, Cultivation and Marketing of Ornamentals
The availability of new products has always been the driving force of the ornamental sector. Nevertheless, the sector is currently facing important challenges related to reducing production costs in order to cope with new climatic and phytopathological adversities, as well as to respond to sustainable production not only from an economic point of view but also from an environmental and social point of view. Moreover, new uses and new needs of end-consumers have led us to consider that it is important to envisage new organizational systems and new forms of propositions in the market.
In any engineering field (including manufacturing, construction, transportation, aerospace, food and agriculture, oil and gas, etc.), ensuring product quality is fundamental to achieving success. Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are integral components of managing quality. According to the American Society for Quality (ASQ), QA is defined as the part of quality management that focuses on instilling confidence in meeting quality requirements, while QC is concerned with fulfilling those requirements.
Separation Techniques and Circular Economy
Efficient separation techniques play an important role in the process of resource recovery, and these techniques include physical, chemical, physicochemical, and/or biological methods that are selected for their low cost and low energy consumption and for being free of secondary pollution. Additionally, the highest possible value added of the separated products is obtained to enhance the economy.
Impact of Climate and Socio-Economic on Irrigation Water Management and Agricultural Water Productivity
Agriculture accounts for 70% of global water consumption, underscoring the crucial role of efficient irrigation and sustainable water management in ensuring stable food production. Climate change, human activities, and socio-economic development are key factors influencing agricultural water management and agro-hydrological systems.
Digital Innovations in Agriculture—Series II
Research and information Biology Technology
The significantly increased world population and accelerated climate change are strongly affecting agricultural production. These aspects, as well as the latest socio-economic limitations caused by the standoff following the COVID-19 pandemic, are part of the ongoing economic crisis bringing new challenges to modern agriculture and the need to have high production efficiency combined with high-quality products in accordance with the principles of sustainable production.
New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential
Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health due to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities leading to beneficial effects on various non-communicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Extraction and Purification of Bioactive Compounds
Bioactive compounds, which are abundant in flora, fauna, and microorganisms, can potentially be used by various industries, including pharmaceuticals, functional foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. Their extraction and purification, however, pose significant challenges due to the presence of impurities, interference from other compounds, and the need to maintain their stability as well as activity.
Psycho-Educational Assessments: Theory and Practice
Psycho-educational assessments, such as intelligence tests, cognitive test batteries and behavioral measures, serve as invaluable tools for school psychologists and educators. They provide profound insights into children's learning and behavioral profiles, enhancing our understanding of their academic and cognitive capacities.
Healthcare Strategies for Patients with Chronic Diseases in an Ageing Society
The ageing of society has become a significant global issue, with over 30% of the population aged 65 and above in some developed countries. In this context, the required forms of healthcare and medical services are also evolving.
Effects of Physical Activity on Chronic Disease
This Special Issue focuses on the recent research on the effect of physical activity on chronic diseases, including COPD, other lung diseases, cognitive impairment, irritable bowel syndrome, and atherosclerosis . The associated factors, the evaluation methods, and the effective interventions were evaluated. Two review papers and eight original articles are included.
Since the concept of evidence-based medicine was introduced into medical practice, a paradigm shift from conventional empirical-based physical therapy to evidence-based physical therapy has been promoted. In order to practice evidence-based physical therapy, the elements of "using evidence," "creating evidence," and "communicating evidence" are essential.
Bayesian Filter Design for Computational Medicine
This book serves as a tutorial that explains how different state estimators (Bayesian filters) can be built when all or part of the observations are binary. The book begins by briefly motivating the need for point process state estimation followed by an introduction to the overall approach, as well as some basic background material in statistics that are necessary for the equation derivations that are utilized in subsequent chapters.
Dilranjan S. Wickramasuriya Rose T. Faghih
Business Fundamentals is an all-encompassing introductory textbook designed to introduce readers to the business world. Geared toward college and university students, especially those with little to no prior experience in business, this resource lays a strong foundation for individuals embarking on their academic journey with ambitions of pursuing a business career. The book delves into key functional areas of business, illustrating how departments within organizations work together to generate sales, boost revenue, manage finances, develop innovative products and services, attract and retain customers, manage resources, and make sound decisions.
Advances in Photoelectric Tracking Systems
The photoelectric tracking system, which is made up of optical, mechanical, electrical, and computer components, is in charge of tracking targets at extremely long distances. Tracking accuracy and stability accuracy are two of the system's most crucial performance metrics.
In this Special Issue, you will find new directions in the research on liquid crystal applications. To be honest, we were surprised to find 10 papers covering a variety of application areas, with no overlap between them. The only important application without a related article was “display”! This was exactly the situation we hoped for. In this Special Issue, you can find 10 articles discussing the applications of LC devices or LC materials.
Advanced Pulse Laser Machining Technology
This reprint is the printed edition of the Special Issue published in Materials. The reprint provides an overview on current international research activities in the field of advanced pulse laser machining technology.
Advances in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Technologies (CCUS)
CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) is the technology most commonly recognized globally as being capable of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.
Biomechanical Insights into Osteoporosis
Dive into the intricate realm of osteoporosis through the lens of biomechanics with Biomechanical Insights into Osteoporosis. This pioneering volume offers a comprehensive exploration of this debilitating condition, providing an in-depth understanding of its biomechanical foundations and implications.
Innovative Strategies for Solid Waste Minimisation in the Mining and Minerals Industry
The mining and minerals industry has witnessed a significant increase in the generation of solid waste (e.g., mine tailings, coal gangue, coal fly ash, slag) as the industry has evolved. Due to the substantial potential for environmental harm, the management of solid waste remains one of the most challenging issues facing the industry.
Advances in the Characterisation and Remediation of Sites Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons
This open access book synthesizes important advances in the assessment and management of soil and groundwater systems contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, especially in the form of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs). LNAPL characterization and remediation is challenging due to the multi-phase, multi-component nature of the problem and the various physical, chemical, and biological processes involved in a dynamic and heterogeneous hydrogeological setting. This book focuses on the current state of practice of LNAPL characterization and remediation and seeks to provide information and a framework that would allow some of these complexities to be better addressed by contaminated land practitioners, researchers, and regulators.
García-Rincón, Jonás (editor) Gatsios, Evangelos (editor) Lenhard, Robert J. (editor) Atekwana, Estella A. (editor) Naidu, Ravi (editor)
High-Pressure Physical and Chemical Behaviors of Minerals and Rocks
The Key Laboratory of High-temperature and High-pressure Study of the Earth’s Interior belongs to the Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. It is a unique and authoritative key laboratory at the provincial and ministerial levels.
Experimental, Theoretical, Numerical and Big-Data-Based Investigations on Characterizations for Geomaterials
Rock and rock-like materials such as concrete, soil, and underground backfilling materials are considered to be geomaterials. Geomaterials are essential for life due to human construct extraction, mining, storage, and transport areas in the Earth’s crust for raw material.
Microstructure, Characterization and Mechanical Properties of Coal and Coal-Like Materials
In view of the general trend that the development of the global energy industry is oriented toward green, low-carbon, and efficient utilization, scientific research teams in various fields dominated by the coal industry have conducted much research on coal and coal-like materials by borrowing the technologies and concepts of modern materials science and rock mass mechanics, hoping to explore new directions for the high value-added utilization of structural coal resources and the development of new coal-like materials.
Plasma Science and Engineering is a multidisciplinary area encompassing some of the most exciting fundamental applied research themes in today's scientific landscape, having an extraordinarily broad impact on science, technology and industry.
This Special Issue focuses on feeding and feed technology advances and challenges in aquaculture. These are of particular interest since aquaculture and fisheries are considered crucial sources of animal protein in human diets, providing around 17% of global edible animal protein.
Soil Mechanical Systems and Related Farming Machinery
The mechanization of agricultural works has greatly contributed to an improvement in agricultural productivity and a reduction in production costs. Since the beginning of mechanization, various kinds of agricultural machinery related to soil preparation, sowing, harvesting, post-harvesting, etc., have been developed. Moreover, customized agricultural machines that are suitable for the cultivation types and soil characteristics of each country and region have been developed.
Preharvest and Postharvest Factors Improving Horticultural Crops Quality and Shelf-Life
Mathematics and Science Biology Agriculture
The quality and safety of fresh horticultural products involves their own development, environmental factors, and interactions with postharvest pathogens. Effective pre- and post-harvest techniques play a key role in improving the quality of fresh horticultural products, and this reprint focuses on the understanding of the pre- and post-harvest factors that affect postharvest quality, disease, ripening and senescence, and the shelf life of horticultural crops.
Effects of Processing on Food Composition, Nutritional Value and Sensory Quality
Food is subjected to various treatments and processes before human consumption, which have an effect on the food’s shelf life, nutritional value, and sensory qualities. This Special Issue reprint contains studies regarding cold storage, refrigeration, freezing, fermentation, cold plasma, cooking, shaping, reforming, and packaging.
Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II
The following research articles provides insights into advanced fruit preservation and quality enhancement techniques. Mango Quality Enhancement: Studies show that treatments incorporating 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and melatonin significantly improve mango appearance, sugar content, and antioxidant activities, highlighting their potential to extend shelf life.
Coatings on Food Packaging and Shelf Life
Food packaging plays an important role in the preservation and transportation stages of food. In recent years, coating packaging has become a research hotspot. Coatings can inhibit the growth of microorganisms during food storage, control gas exchange, water penetration, and oxidation processes in food, thus improving food safety and extending the shelf life of food, which brings convenience to consumers.
Plant-Soil Interactions in Agricultural Systems
The goal of this Special Issue reprint is to introduce the reader to the latest insights into the improvement of water use efficiency under dryland farming systems and the identification of cases of plant–soil interactions and ecological damage under climate change conditions. The evolution of drought and crop ecology under dryland agricultural systems is used to describe agricultural practices that only depend on precipitation to obtain water.
This innovative, open access volume explores the core characteristics of the halal industry through case studies of five East and Southeast Asian countries—Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and China—representing both Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority societies. The contributors focus on some of the leading sectors of the Islamic economy, comprising food, finance, pharmaceuticals, and travel and tourism, in order to diagnose the challenges they face and the opportunities that present themselves.
Towards Sustainable Good Health and Well-being
The purpose of this open access book is threefold. The first is to shed light on patient participation and health literacy for Good Health and Well-being, which is one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Health literacy is considered a prerequisite for patients to be able to participate in shared decisions on their own treatment (WHO,1998).
Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Pregnancy Complications
This reprint focuses on emerging trials related to pregnancy complications, including new diagnostic approaches for hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes thresholds, and innovative management strategies for preterm birth and fetal growth restrictions.
Deep Learning for Pathology Detection and Diagnosis in Medical Imaging
Severe pathologies, such as the diffuse liver diseases or tumors, can lead to the significant degradation of the human health and sometimes to lethal stages. The most reliable methods for the diagnosis of these affections, such as the classical biopsy or surgery, are invasive and dangerous. Advanced computerized methods are urgently needed to reduce invasiveness and enhance the information derived from medical images as much as possible by unveiling their subtle aspects, conducting to a virtual biopsy.
Sergiu Nedevschi Delia-Alexandrina Mitrea
Advances in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing
Today, interventional treatment and clinical management of cardiac arrhythmias represent a continuous challenge. This is mainly due to the widening of indications for implantable electronic devices and for catheter ablation procedures as well as the continuous improvement of technologies and medical therapies.
In order to be able to analyze and give proper advice on sport techniques, it is important to understand the biomechanical and physiological demands of different sports. In a coaching situation, feedback to the athlete should be given without too much delay.
Current Status and Future Directions of Bone Trauma Surgery
The field of bone trauma surgery and bone regeneration is constantly evolving, driven by ongoing advancements in medical technology, surgical techniques, and a deeper understanding of the biological processes involved in bone healing and regeneration.
Recent Clinical and Basic Research on Endocrine Surgery
Endocrine surgery pertains to surgery for thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal diseases, and the role of surgical treatment is the most important aspect of patients’ care.
Implementation of Chemometrics and Other Techniques as Means of Authenticity and Traceability to Detect Adulteration in Foods for the Protection of Human Health
Authenticity and traceability are crucial in order to overcome frauds in the international food trade. Control measures are perceived as the greatest vulnerability in the food supply chain. In order to decrease contribution to the overall perceived fraud vulnerability, analytical approaches and chemometrics are usually employed.
Reconstructive Microsurgery: Challenges and New Perspectives
The subspecialty of reconstructive microsurgery utilizes microsurgical techniques to allow surgeons to operate on the smallest of structures, including vessels, lymphatics, and nerves. Traditionally, these procedures have been used by microsurgeons to reconstruct complex tissue defects through the use of free tissue transfer, which involves the transfer of tissue (free flaps) between distant anatomic sites on the body.
Artificial Intelligence Advances for Medical Computer-Aided Diagnosis
This Special Issue, "Artificial Intelligence Advances for Medical Computer-Aided Diagnosis," explores the transformative role of AI and ML in modern diagnostics. Featuring contributions from leading researchers, this collection highlights innovative algorithms, models, and applications that enhance diagnostic accuracy, speed, and predictive power across various medical fields, including radiology, pathology, genomics, and personalized medicine.
Environmental Toxicology and Human Health
Humans and animals may be exposed on a continuous daily basis to a mixture of environmental contaminants that may cause adverse consequences. This Topic focuses on environmental pollutants including heavy metals, pesticides, nanoparticles, micro-nanoplastics, indoor air pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and industrial toxicants with effects on human health, risk assessment, and the relationship between various diseases and environmental pollutants.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Environmental Health
Environmental Health Environmental economics
This reprint comprises 11 articles addressing diverse aspects of the environmental dimension of AMR. It provides a comprehensive update on antimicrobial resistance and environmental health. One article reviewed the impact of tetracycline pollution on AMR in the environment and its ripple effect on ecological and human health.
Environmental Health Environmental factors
Authored by contributors from diverse backgrounds, this book compiles new evidence, methodologies, and perspectives to redefine the environmental health literacy paradigm, aiming to enhance the well-being of current and future generations. Explore critical topics, from the impact of plastics on child health to the significance of environmental studies on microplastic pollution.
Health Inequality - A Comprehensive Exploration is an insightful and significant work delving into the complex realm of health disparities and their multifaceted impact on society. This book skillfully bridges the gap between theoretical understanding and practical realities, presenting a holistic view of health inequality from various global perspectives.
Advanced Structural Concrete Materials in Bridges
Many existing and newly constructed bridges are composed of reinforced and prestressed concrete. Advanced concrete materials play an increasingly important role in concrete bridges to facilitate the strengthening and repair of existing bridges, to facilitate a (fast) replacement solution for (part of) an existing bridge, and for the design of new challenging bridge projects.
Concrete cracking is a crucial factor that threatens the durability and strength of concrete. Especially for concrete building structures with complex working environments such as hydraulic structures and long-span building structures, concrete cracking seriously threatens the safe operation of engineering projects.
Paradigm Shifts in Management Theory is an illuminating exploration of the evolving landscape of management science. This book goes beyond the surface, delving into profound insights and perspectives that redefine traditional paradigms. Through rigorous analysis and reflective narratives, each chapter unveils the transformative shifts shaping organizational leadership, offering a comprehensive understanding of key concepts and methodologies.
Łukasz Sułkowski Regina Lenart-Gansiniec
Competitiveness in the New Era is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in business, management, and economics. The book is authored by various researchers and edited by an expert active in social sciences and humanities research. It provides a thorough overview of the latest research efforts by international authors on social sciences and humanities, opening new possible research paths for further novel developments.
Muhammad Mohiuddin (editor) Elahe Hossein1 (editor)
Morality Management and Situation Ethics
This book presents the philosophical assumptions of situation ethics to show the practice of morality management that follows from them. This research comprises theoretical and applied aspects: It is an investigation into metaethics that encompasses strategic and quality management problems.
Mal-Nutrition documents how maternal health interventions in Guatemala are complicit in reproducing poverty. Policy makers speak about how a critical window of biological growth around the time of pregnancy—called the ""first 1,000 days of life""—determines health and wealth across the life course. They argue that fetal development is the key to global development.
Food Environment and Its Effects on Human Nutrition and Health
In addition to the proportions of foods we include in our diet, there are other conditioning factors that can affect the effects of these foods on human health. Thus, food contributions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, food additives, residues of chemical substances, or exoxomes can have an important effect on human health.
Nutritional Value of Meat and Meat Products and Their Role in Human Health
Meat and meat products are among the most nutrient-dense food sources in the human diet. They fulfill most of our bodily requirements, acting as important sources of energy and a variety of essential nutrients needed for metabolic functions. Meat and meat products may also contain non-nutritive components, such as sodium, saturated fat, nitrites, heterocyclic aromatic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are associated with negative health-related outcomes.
Nutritional Status and Interventions for Patients with Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The World Cancer Research Fund determined that the diet and nutrition conditions of the individuals are modifiable risk factors in the development of several cancers and a predominant component in the recovery and effectiveness of the treatments. Nutritional intervention is critical, but nutritional support is not widely accessible to all individuals, leading to potential nutritional risk and nutrition wasting.
Annisa Triyanti (editor) Mochamad Indrawan (editor)
Welcome to the edited volume Weed Management - Global Strategies, which presents a unique exploration of weed management strategies. This book aims to highlight the relevance of weeds in modern farming systems because they have emerged as nature's most persistent invaders, posing enormous challenges for researchers, farmers, gardeners, and environmentalists alike.
There are at least 14,350 freshwater fish species in the world living in lakes and rivers with a salinity level of less than 1.05%. In 2021, it was estimated that one-third of the global freshwater fish species are at risk of extinction. Therefore, conservation issues are crucial as is the decision whether to allow alien species to improve the production or instead concentrate on the well-being of the native species. At the same time, it is necessary to remember that as food, fish are an important human resource.
Modern Technology and Traditional Husbandry of Broiler Farming
Modern Technology and Traditional Husbandry of Broiler Farming offers essential insights for thriving in today’s evolving poultry landscape by harmonizing cutting-edge technology with time-honored practices. Explore optimal nutrition strategies to enhance the health and growth rates of both broiler and indigenous slow-growing chickens while uncovering emerging trends and challenges that shape the future of the industry.
Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets
This book makes the case for an urgent move away from industrial agriculture towards regenerative farming and the promotion of plant-based diets. How we produce, distribute and consume food are critical issues for the health and well-being of humans, animals and the environment. In order to develop a sustainable food system, this book argues for a radical change in farming and food consumption.
Joyce D'Silva (editor) Carol McKenna (editor)
In this volume, the latest information on sheep farming concerning the effects of climate change is summarized in eight chapters. Climate change basically determines changes in the environment, which affect the keeping, feeding, animal health, and breeding conditions of sheep. These changes affect the sustainability of sheep farming, the sheep’s resilience, and based on this, the livelihood opportunities of the people who keep the sheep.
Climate Neutral and Resilient Farming Systems
This book presents evidence-based research on climate-neutral and resilient farming systems and further to provide innovative and practical solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change. Intensive farming systems are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to global warming and the acceleration of climate change. As paddy rice farming is one of the largest contributors, and most environmentally damaging farming systems, this will be a particular focus of the book.
Agricultural Food Consumption, Public Policy, and Farm Household Economics
Agricultural Product - Economics Applied mathematics
Family farms account for most of the farm population in many countries. Ensuring farm household well-being has been a longstanding objective of agricultural policies. The interaction between food consumption, public policy, and farm household well-being has been the heart of academic research for a long time. Over the past few decades, farm production practices and the objectives of agricultural policies have changed to cope with the changing world.
Hung-Hao Chang (editor) Pei-An Liao(editor)
The Fundamentals of Campaign Finance in the U.S
Before the U.S. campaign finance system can be fixed, we first have to understand why it has developed into the system as it exists today. The nature of democracy itself, the American capitalist economic system, the content of the U.S. Constitution and how it is interpreted, the structure of our governmental institutions, the competition for governmental power, and the behavior of campaign finance actors have all played a role in shaping the system.
Improving Health Literacy for People with Low Literacy
Health literacy and low health literacy have received increased attention due to their association with poor understanding of health information, and consequently negative health outcomes. Although much research discusses health literacy and its role; there are gaps in explaining the relationship between health literacy and low literacy; as well as various determinants of health (i.e., social, cultural, political, etc.).
Disparities in Health-Risk Behaviors and Health
As they have become inherently ingrained in our society and societies worldwide, the noxious disparities in health-risk behaviors and health require far-reaching investigation, supporting greater uniformity across groups. The deep-seated nature of discrimination, stigmatization, and marginalization in our social structure means that the human rights and health of too many individuals suffer, while social injustice and inequity persist.
Celia C. Lo (editor), William Ash-Houchen (editor)
Health and development require one another: there can be no development without a critical mass of people who are sufficiently healthy, and people cannot be healthy without societal developments. 11 case studies from 9 countries on 3 continents since the late 19th century show how different actors have struggled to reconcile the nature of health and development policies, and the subordination of these policies to a range of political objectives.
Iris Borowy (editor), Bernard Harris (editor)
This textbook is designed to serve as an additional resource for the course "Fundamentals of Finance." It provides an introduction to the field of finance, encompassing a broad range of key topics. These include the time value of money, bond and equity valuations, risk and returns, and various sources of capital. This book aims to enhance the learning experience by offering a thorough understanding of these fundamental financial principles.
Council of Australian University Librarians
Enabling and Optimising Recovery from COVID-19
This textbook provides readers with up to date knowledge about the assessment, management and support of people experiencing Long COVID. Learning activities draw upon personas co-authored with people with Long COVID.
Danielle Hitch, Genevieve Pepin, Kelli Nicola-Richmond, Valerie Watchorn,
The book provides a comprehensive overview of the up-to-date, practical knowledge in highway engineering. It highlights the latest industry standards and policies, such as the best-value award algorithms in the selection of design-builders, the urban logistics guidelines for the efficiency of goods distribution, and the adoption of a uniform increased service load based on vehicle characteristics.
Tertiary care requires highly specialized doctors, medical experts, and equipment to care for serious or life-threatening illnesses in tertiary-level hospitals or similar specific centers. This book provides a comprehensive overview of tertiary health care, including case examples. Chapters address such topics as tertiary care in India, psychosocial care, treatment services in tertiary care, and much more.
Printable study companion aligned with Medical Terminology, an open educational resource that focuses on breaking down medical terms into their word parts, pronouncing medical terms, and learning the meaning of medical terms. This resource is targeted for health services students in the first year of their college programs.
Pearls in Biological and Molecular Tissue Repair Pathways
The field of biological and molecular tissue repair, regeneration, and wound healing techniques and treatment strategies is a promising and continually developing area of advanced healthcare activities. There is an unmet need to treat complex pathological tissue conditions, like chronic wounds and traumatized and degenerative tissue structures, in a multidisciplinary fashion at the point of care.
Peter A. Everts (editor) Robert W. Alexander (editor)
Evolving Therapies and Technologies in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Over the past 20 years, coinciding with the global H1H1 influenza and COVID-19 pandemics, there has been an exponential increase in the application of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapies for acute cardiac and/or respiratory failure. Not only has the number of patients supported with ECMO increased substantially but so has the number of centers offering such technologies and the types of clinical problems successfully managed with ECMO.
A Literary History of Medicine by the Syrian physician Ibn Abī Uṣaybiʿah (d. 1270) is the earliest comprehensive history of medicine. It contains biographies of over 432 physicians, ranging from the ancient Greeks to the author’s contemporaries, describing their training and practice, often as court physicians, and listing their medical works; all this interlaced with poems and anecdotes.
Geert Jan Gelder (editor) Emilie Savage-Smith(editor)
Advanced Construction Technology and Research of Deep-Sea Tunnels
This open access book focuses on cutting-edge construction techniques for deep-sea tunnels. A world leader in construction technology for deep-sea tunnels and large undersea engineering structures, China has in these years completed several world-renowned undersea tunnel projects, such as the undersea tunnel connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan, and the Shantou Bay undersea tunnel. The nation also boasts mature technology and enviable scientific research achievements in large-scale shield technology and deep-sea soil hydrostatic surveying. This book intends to provide a review of relevant studies on deep-sea tunnel construction for civil engineers around the globe and equip scholars in related fields of research with a deeper insight into this domain through comprehensive analyses of real-world engineering cases and the most up-to-date research results.
Mei, Guoxiong (editor) Xu, Zengguang (editor) Zhang, Fei (editor)
A Pragmatic Approach to Conceptualization of Health and Disease
Schermer, Maartje (editor), Binney, Nicholas (editor)
Multimodal Transportation Planning introduces readers to the principles and practice of integrated land use and transportation planning. The primary focus of the textbook is on planning for the mobility needs of all transportation system users, with an emphasis on pedestrian, bicycle, automobile, and transit modes. A related focus is on reducing society’s dependence on the automobile for personal travel. Readers of the text will be able to gain knowledge that supports a variety of learning objectives. Key themes and objectives relate to conveying an understanding of the relationship between land use and transportation, the difference between traditional methods and multimodal planning best practices, and the importance of evaluating performance from an accessibility and quality of service perspective.
Peng Chen, Ph.D., Tia Boyd, Kristine Williams
Transportation Policies, Programs and History
This open text features ten chapters addressing leading topics in transportation planning, programs, policies, history and emerging transportation trends.
Ivonne Audirac, Amber Raley, Jenifer Reiner,
Community and Public Health Nursing: A Call to Action
Community and Public Health Nursing: A Call to Action is a primer exploring the diverse roles of community and public health nurses through a social justice lens. Students will gain the fundamental knowledge and skills to work with community members and other stakeholders to promote health and well-being and to prevent disease. This textbook examines key issues such as health disparities, access to care, cultural competence, and the impact of social determinants on public health outcomes. Students will gain knowledge, practical skills, and insight into how nurses can improve community health, advocate for health-related policies, and promote health equity at the individual through systemic levels. The textbook also maps the content to the AACN New Essentials for Baccalaureate Nursing Education.
Felisa Smith, Gretchen Wiersma, Jamela M. Martin, Judith Rogers Fruiterman, Roy Brown,
eep is undoubtedly one of the most intricate and abstruse issues in humans. Disturbances of sleep are widespread and can have a great impact on involved individuals as well as an economic influence on society. The COVID-19 pandemic forced predominant changes in recent years, such as the development of wearable devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) in telehealth. These are helpful for disease evaluation and treatment, however, they may not be adequate for dealing with the complexity of sleep medicine.
Methods of Teaching Agriculture - Third edition
Providing a clear and concise framework for teaching and problem solving in agricultural education, Methods of Teaching Agriculture, third edition is a necessary text for any teaching methods course. It includes a comprehensive examination of theory and research in guiding principles for how students learn best. Numerous illustrations and graphs clarify all concepts discussed within the text. Methods of Teaching Agriculture, third edition is a republished work. This text was originally published by Pearson Prentice Hall in 2004 (ISBN 0131134183). Rights to the book have been reverted to the authors. The book was reformatted and republished in its entirety in 2025.
L. H. Newcomb, J. David McCracken, J. Robert Warmbrod (1929-2022), M. Susie Whittington,
Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual: Understanding How Structure Determines Function
This lab manual introduces students to Human Anatomy and Physiology concepts. The laboratory exercises contain applied activities and experiments to help students visualize anatomical structures and relate them to specific functions and the complex physiological events that allow us to maintain homeostasis.
This book has three sections that discuss selected topics on foreign bodies in the ear, nose, and aerodigestive tract in children and adults, which may be organic or inorganic, highlighting recent updates in diagnosis, complications, and management. Organic foreign bodies, unlike inorganic or inert ones, present early due to the more inflammatory response at the site of impaction. For the aerodigestive foreign bodies, the cricopharyngeus is the narrowest part of the airway among the pediatric group with high risks of airway foreign body impaction.
Rational Use of Intravenous Fluids in Critically Ill Patients
This open access book, published by Springer under the Open Access CC BY 4.0 Licence in collaboration with the International Fluid Academy (IFA, www.fluidacademy.org), explores rationalized intravenous fluid therapy for critically ill patients. Despite being commonly prescribed in inpatient settings, intravenous fluids are often administered without evidence-based guidelines, neglecting essential considerations such as the fact they are drugs, that need proper dosing, duration, indications, contraindications, side effects, and de-escalation.
Manu L.N.G Malbrain. (editor) Adrian Wong (editor)
This book highlights heat-related illness, and its better management and prevention. Medicine is a continuously advancing and progressive science, and healthcare providers constantly enhance their knowledge and develop their clinical management skills.
The book Advances in Hematologic Malignancies presents new knowledge of cellular disease processes, molecular pathology, and cytogenetic, epigenetic, and genomic changes that have influenced the current outlook toward hematological malignancies.
Burnout is a relatively common yet poorly understood phenomenon that often results from relentlessly giving of oneself in the service of others. It has also been known to occur in non-human service work. When this giving of oneself becomes excessive, dysfunctional consequences can develop, such as emotional exhaustion, cynicism, depression, and withdrawal. A range of physical consequences can also develop, including high blood pressure, immune system depletion, and a wide range of physical ailments. This book details our evolving knowledge of burnout syndrome and addresses a variety of proposed interventions.
In the technological tide of the 21st century, acoustics—a discipline steeped in history yet bursting with vitality—is advancing at an unprecedented clip, showcasing the immense potential for application across various fields. The book Acoustical Engineering - The Intricate World of Sound Technology reviews and offers an in-depth analysis of the latest research breakthroughs and technological advancements in acoustic engineering over the past few years.
Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives
Veterinarians are valued and respected professional figures. Veterinary research transcends species boundaries and includes the study of both spontaneously occurring and experimentally induced models of both human and animal diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of the One Health program, and this adaptive and responsive approach should be implemented in veterinary medical education.
Simona Sacchini (editor) Ayoze Castro Alonso
This book includes eight chapters that focus on various important aspects of dental prosthetics and implantology, such as modern materials choices, prosthetic management of teeth malposition, and novel approaches to restoration design.
Lavinia Cosmina Ardelean (editor) Laura Cristina Rusu (editor)
This open access book presents technologies and methods of lightweight system design to support future low-emission aviation in achieving climate targets. It will be shown how reduction of weight and aerodynamic drag affects the energy consumption of commercial aircraft and what characterizes lightweight system design.
Antimicrobial Use across Different Healthcare Settings, Countries and Specific Populations
Antimicrobial use is one of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a crisis threatening modern medicine. To combat and reverse AMR, finding determinants of resistance development/antibiotic use, identifying the target points of interventions, and implementing antibiotic stewardship measures are crucial. This Special Issue disseminates a wide variety of research conducted by various study designs and diverse settings and populations.
Gyöngyvér Soós (editor) Ria Benkő (editor)
COVID-19 Pandemic as a Catalyst for Change – Consumer's Perspective
The COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered the functioning of modern societies and economies, causing a global crisis on an unprecedented scale. This book considers whether the end of the pandemic has marked a new beginning or a return to the pre-pandemic reality. It identifies diverse changes in consumer and organizational behavior during the pandemic, discussing both the negative and positive influences of the pandemic on consumers.
Barbara Kucharska Grzegorz Maciejewski et.al
Nursing - Trends and Developments brings together different, innovative, and challenging perspectives on the future of nursing. It includes eleven chapters that discuss innovation and technology, teaching and learning, and trends and development in nursing.
Women’s Health Problems - A Global Perspective demonstrates the outcome of a considerable evolutionary search for the improved human condition. This edited volume thoroughly examines fundamental aspects of women`s health focusing on environmental, social, and age factors. Esteemed contributors from various disciplines present critical analyses and evidence-based insights on topics such as reproductive and sexual health, menstruation, women’s and maternal diseases, healthcare access, gender-based violence, and systemic inequalities.
Despite enormous technical and scientific advances in medicine, neglected tropical diseases continue to be a major challenge in many regions of the world. As a result, the health systems of developing countries are overwhelmed by a double burden of disease, one represented by common health problems and another represented by these diseases.
The current book, Global Health Security - Contemporary Considerations and Developments, represents a collective work of multiple authors from around the world, with an ultimate goal of providing the reader with a comprehensive exploration of critical issues shaping modern global health security, especially in the post-COVID-19 reality of today.
Allincia Michaud (editor) Stanislaw P. Stawicki (editor)
Ensuring the delivery of quality, accessible, affordable, and safe healthcare presents an ongoing complex challenge crucial to the progression and advancement of modern healthcare systems. In addition to providing the highest quality health care to patients, healthcare leadership and systems must also provide for the safety and security of healthcare providers throughout the entire, complex healthcare conglomerate, including pre-hospital providers, pharmacists, patient care technicians, radiological technicians, nurses, physical therapists, physician extenders, and physicians.
Philip N. Salen (editor) Stanislaw P. Stawicki (editor)
Over the past many years, new and novel antibiotics have been developed against resistant bacterial species, but their increased clinical usage has led to reduced bacterial susceptibility and increased bacterial resistance to these novel agents. When a new antibiotic is developed, bacterial species initially show susceptibility to the agent, but with the passage of time, as the use of the antibiotic increases, the bacterial species acquire resistance against the drug or even the drug class.
Compliance and Initiative in the Production of Safety
This open access book addresses the idea that there are two ways to go about achieving a safe working environment. The text challenges the prevailing notion that compliance with a rule system, imposed from the top of an organization and designed to anticipate possible hazards in system operation, is really incompatible with the idea that the professional expertise of front-line workers is what promotes safe outcomes despite inevitable unanticipated perturbations.
Le Coze Jean Christophe (editor) Benoît Journé (editor)
Evaluating Sustainable Food System Innovations
This book presents Urbal, an approach that applies impact pathway mapping to understand how food system innovations in cities, and their territories, change and impact food system sustainability. Around the world, people are finding innovative ways to make their food systems more sustainable. However, documenting and understanding how these innovations impact the sustainability of food system can be a challenge.
Élodie Valette (editor) Alison Blay-Palmer (editor) et.al
Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses that have been grown as food sources for humans and animals since ancient times. These crops are highly nutritious and have a range of health benefits. They are also highly adaptable to different growing conditions, making them an important crop for farmers in arid and drought-prone regions.
The following research articles provides insights into advanced fruit preservation and quality enhancement techniques. Mango Quality Enhancement: Studies show that treatments incorporating 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and melatonin significantly improve mango appearance, sugar content, and antioxidant activities, highlighting their potential to extend shelf life. Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh-Cut Melons: Research demonstrates the effectiveness of passive modified atmospheres in extending the freshness of fresh-cut melons, especially non-climacteric types, by adjusting packaging perforation levels.
Yoshihiro Imahori (editor) Jinhe Bai (editor)
Corn Rootworm: Biology, Ecology, Behavior and Integrated Management
Mathematics and Science Biology, life sciences Agriculture and farming
Species of the beetle genus Diabrotica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are native to North and South America, with their greatest diversity occurring in neotropical areas. Little is known about the biology and ecology of many of the 400 described species, with current knowledge primarily limited to the small number of species that are pests in agricultural systems.
Lance J. Meinke (editor) Joseph L. Spencer (editor)
This edited volume Irrigation Systems and Applications will introduce the reader to new irrigation technology and its diverse applications in modern farming. This work is organized into two distinct sections on 'Irrigation Systems” and 'Irrigation Applications” each offering a unique view into the potential of smart farming practices. From the deployment of hybrid energy-powered systems for smallholder farmers to the revolutionary impact of advanced micro-irrigation techniques, this book presents the reader with the latest trends and innovations in sustainable agriculture.
Join the exciting world of functional foods with Functional Food - Upgrading Natural and Synthetic Sources. Exploring the link between diet and metabolic syndrome with attention to diets from Ibero-American countries this publication provides an overview of dietary patterns, components in functional foods, bioactive food compounds related to inflammation as well as clinical nutrition for specific health issues.
Ana Novo Barros (editor) Joana Campos (editor)
This textbook and OER material cover tools and basic knowledge required to prepare transportation engineers and planners to contribute towards a carbon-neutral mobility future. In addition, we will explore the potential for vehicle electrification, automation, connectivity, and ridesharing to reduce the carbon impacts of auto mobility. The textbook modules are intended to inform and teach students how to design streets for modes that have almost no carbon emissions. The goal of the textbook is to train engineering students on existing tools and policy levers that can be used to incorporate emerging transportation technologies in a sustainable, equitable, and efficient manner. The course is designed for graduate transportation engineering, and city and regional planning students.
This textbook equips advanced undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and multidisciplinary perspectives needed to understand how sustainable mobility and infrastructure can support climate change mitigation and transportation equity for low-income commuters. The textbook is organized into three sections: Sustainability, Transportation Equity, and Planning. Case Studies and Lessons from the North and South. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cities, and Mobility. It includes eleven chapters, each featuring discussion questions, reading materials, and in-class exercises designed to help students develop a research paper on transportation.
Ariadna Reyes, Soheil Sharif-Asl, Ladan Mozaffarian,
Optimizing Population Health: Strategies for Advanced Level Nurses
This resource provides an overview of population health concepts along with health promotion strategies utilized by advanced practice nurses. Resources are intended to be exemplary, but not exhaustive and introduce the reader to strategies that can be practiced while in graduate school as well as in healthcare settings.
Annals of Scientific Society for Assembly, Handling and Industrial Robotics 2021
This Open Access proceedings presents a good overview of the current research landscape of assembly, handling and industrial robotics. The objective of MHI Colloquium is the successful networking at both academic and management level. Thereby, the colloquium focuses an academic exchange at a high level in order to distribute the obtained research results, to determine synergy effects and trends, to connect the actors in person and in conclusion, to strengthen the research field as well as the MHI community. In addition, there is the possibility to become acquatined with the organizing institute. Primary audience is formed by members of the scientific society for assembly, handling and industrial robotics (WGMHI).
Schüppstuhl, Thorsten (editor), Tracht, Kirsten (editor), Raatz, Annika (editor)
Annals of Scientific Society for Assembly, Handling and Industrial Robotics 2022
Schüppstuhl, Thorsten (editor), Tracht, Kirsten (editor),Fleischer, Jürgen (editor)
Alternating Current Field Measurement Technique for Detection and Measurement of Cracks in Structures
This open access book serves as a comprehensive exploration of Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM), encompassing the foundational theory crucial for subsequent chapters, as well as the design and testing of ACFM probes, instruments, and software. Providing guidance and serving as a reference for ACFM instrument development, the text delves into visualization research in ACFM, offering valuable insights for technical engineering applications. Nondestructive testing (NDT) emerges as a pivotal method for detecting and assessing defects, offering support for safety pre-warning and maintenance decisions in industrial structures.
Botany and plant sciences Agricultural science
This open access book is an update of genome editing techniques applied to a range of plants. We discuss the latest techniques and applications to cereals, roots and tubers, oilseed crops, fruit and forest trees, vegetables, legumes and algae including resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improved quality, drug production, yield and adaptation to climate change.
Ricroch, Agnès, Eriksson, Dennis, Miladinović, Dragana, Sweet, Jeremy, Van Laere, Katrijn, Woźniak-Gientka, Ewa (editor)
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer during this year. Outcomes have steadily risen over the last several decades with the advent of newer therapies. As outcomes have improved, more and more cancer patients are developing critical illness. In the not-too-distant past, patients with active malignancy were thought not appropriate for critical care services as decreased longevity related to the cancer suggested poor prognosis for intensive care utilization. More recently, evidence supports rapid activation of critical care services leading to improved outcomes in cancer patients. Moreover, just as sub-subspecialty critical care experience in trauma and neurosciences has proved beneficial, the emerging field of oncology critical care warrants specific attention.
This book highlights heat-related illness, and its better management and prevention. Medicine is a continuously advancing and progressive science, and healthcare providers constantly enhance their knowledge and develop their clinical management skills. Written by leading and experienced authors, the book addresses the need for a ready reference for emergency and acute care physicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists, as well as intensive care teams. This book is written in a simplified, understandable language and hence is an equally useful resource for medical and paramedical healthcare providers.
Effective airway management is a cornerstone of emergency medicine, and timely intervention can be lifesaving. Healthcare providers must be prepared to assess, intervene, and manage the airway efficiently in a variety of emergency situations to optimize patient outcomes. This book provides valuable information about emergency airway management.
Aslanidis, Theodoros (editor), Darcy Alves Bersot, Carlos (editor)
The world is currently experiencing the advent of new information technologies with dynamic changes, which can be considered as one of the greatest business threats today. Accordingly, international business and academia have claimed to be working towards developing innovations in accounting and finance that are useful for all stakeholders. The recent accounting and finance scholarship has moved forward toward new innovations that advance professional practice. This book introduces and discusses new innovations in accounting and finance, including management accounting, blockchain, E-business models, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, bitcoin, digital assets, and associated risks.
Mechanisms of soil organic carbon sequestration and implications for management
Organic carbon sequestration is delineated from the different mechanisms underlying the storage of organic matter in mineral soils. The scene is set with definitions of the major terms within the complex of organic matter formation in soils, followed by describing the types of organic matter entering the soil and the major processes during turnover and the protective mechanisms leading to organic matter storage in soils. Detritusphere and rhizosphere are identified as soil compartments with high and specific organic matter input. From the process complex of OM degradation and binding, the potential of different soils for sequestering organic carbon is delineated and its limitations discussed with regard to the possibility of C saturation of mineral soils. In the light of these considerations, soil management options are deduced either by increasing organic carbon inputs to the soil by improved land use/management practices or by decreasing organic carbon outputs.
Kӧgel-Knabner, Ingrid ,- Wiesmeier, Martin, -Mayer, Stefanie
Management of organic soils to reduce soil organic carbon losses
Organic soils of intact peatlands store 1/4 of the global soil organic carbon (SOC). Despite being an important source of methane (CH4), they are climate coolers because they continuously accumulate new organic carbon. However, when these organic soils are drained for agriculture, the resulting aerobic conditions lead to fast decomposition of the peat and the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), turning them into net greenhouse gas (GHG) sources. Reducing the environmental footprint of managing these soils requires a good understanding of the processes during drainage of formerly anoxic soil horizons and eventual subsequent rewetting. We describe changes in soil properties and carbon dynamics following drainage of peatlands and discuss management strategies to reduce carbon loss from drained peatlands by raising the water table to either restore the peatland ecosystem, or to cultivate water-tolerant crops. In addition to rewetting, engineering approaches with continuous management at deeper water tables are evaluated in terms of SOC loss.
This book describes some recent advances in rice research in terms of crop breeding and improvement (Section 1), crop production and protection (Section 2), and crop quality control and food processing (Section 3). It contains fourteen chapters that cover such topics as two-line rice breeding in India, the different aspects of aromatic rice, bacterial diseases of rice, quality control and breeding strategies, and much more. This volume is a useful reference for professionals and graduate students working in all areas of rice science and technology.
In the early 20th century, coffee wilt disease (CWD) caused by the vascular wilt pathogen, Fusarium xylarioides, spread across Africa destroying coffee trees, reducing yields and significantly impacting producer livelihoods. Through systematic sanitation and establishment of breeding programmes in affected countries, CWD appeared to decline. However, the disease re-emerged and increased to epidemic proportions in the 1990s affecting robusta coffee in DRC, Uganda and Tanzania and arabica coffee in Ethiopia. In 1999, 14.5 million robusta coffee trees were estimated to have been destroyed in Uganda alone. This chapter discusses the history, impact, symptoms, cause and spread of CWD. A summary of the Regional Coffee Wilt Programme (RCWP) which examined many aspects of the disease and its management is also provided. Future research trends include host specificity, underlying resistance mechanisms and the role of alternative hosts. Investigation of pathogen ecology is needed to allow greater focus on agroecological management practices.
This edited volume Irrigation Systems and Applications will introduce the reader to new irrigation technology and its diverse applications in modern farming. This work is organized into two distinct sections on 'Irrigation Systems” and 'Irrigation Applications” each offering a unique view into the potential of smart farming practices. From the deployment of hybrid energy-powered systems for smallholder farmers to the revolutionary impact of advanced micro-irrigation techniques, this book presents the reader with the latest trends and innovations in sustainable agriculture. Explore the evolution of rice production in the face of climate change, the enhanced productivity achievable through hydroponics, and the application of geospatial techniques in agricultural resource management.
Sultan, Muhammad (editor), Imran, Muhammad (editor), Ahmad, Fiaz (editor)
Irrigation and Drainage : Recent Advances
Uneven distribution and depletion of good-quality water reserves significantly devastate the agriculture sector. In this scenario, water management as well as efficient irrigation and drainage strategies are primarily required to conserve water resources and enhance farm efficiency. Irrigation and Drainage – Recent Advances provides insights into irrigation methods, scheduling possibilities, and optimal irrigation frequencies. It also discusses management strategies including methods of groundwater recharging and rainwater harvesting, restoration, and modification of drainage networks for manifesting the cropping index. The book presents key aspects and examines the role of Agrovoltaic energy, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the development of smart irrigation systems for sustainable farming.
Sultan, Muhammad (editor), Ahmad, Fiaz (editor)
Intensive Animal Farming : A Cost-Effective Tactic
Livestock farming supports livelihood and provides food security. It is the fastest-growing sector of the agriculture economy. This book is about using modern technology to increase yields, income, and ultimately food security. It is organized into three sections on livestock and poultry farming, fish farming, and innovations and advances in technology.
Manzoor, Shumaila (editor), Abubakar, Muhammad (editor)
Food security and accessibility are being threatened by climate change, inadequate agricultural practices, and poor post-harvest techniques, among other factors. This book discusses sustainable approaches that can be utilized to ensure food security, such as fortification of bioactive components, genetic modification of food, and utilization of insects as food. It also describes practices to improve agricultural productivity and discusses the impact of natural disasters on food security.
Haseeb Ahmad, Muhammad (editor), Imran, Muhammad (editor), Kamran Khan, Muhammad (editor)
Best Crop Management and Processing Practices for Sustainable Cotton Production
Best Crop Management and Processing Practices for Sustainable Cotton Production presents current studies related to sustainable cotton production. It specifically addresses integrated pest management, natural coloured cotton production, water use efficiency, smart cotton precision farming schemes, and biotic and abiotic factors in cotton production. This book is a useful reference for students, teachers, professors, scientists and farmers working in all areas of cotton science and technology.
Gürsoy, Songül (editor), Akın, Songül (editor)
Understanding Acoustics : An Experimentalist’s View of Sound and Vibration
This open access textbook, like Rayleigh’s classic Theory of Sound, focuses on experiments and on approximation techniques rather than mathematical rigor. The second edition has benefited from comments and corrections provided by many acousticians, in particular those who have used the first edition in undergraduate and graduate courses. For example, phasor notation has been added to clearly distinguish complex variables, and there is a new section on radiation from an unbaffled piston. Drawing on over 40 years of teaching experience at UCLA, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Penn State, the author presents a uniform methodology, based on hydrodynamic fundamentals for analysis of lumped-element systems and wave propagation that can accommodate dissipative mechanisms and geometrically-complex media.
This manual is a guide for anatomy and physiology laboratory exercises. It includes dissection guidance with detailed images; instructions for physiology experiments including foundational content; and gross anatomy study guides for six body systems. Videos and tutorial links provide additional support.
Electromagnetics, volume 2 by Steven W. Ellingson is a 216-page peer-reviewed open textbook designed especially for electrical engineering students in the third year of a bachelor of science degree program. It is intended as the primary textbook for the second semester of a two-semester undergraduate engineering electromagnetics sequence. The book addresses magnetic force and the Biot-Savart law; general and lossy media; parallel plate and rectangular waveguides; parallel wire, microstrip, and coaxial transmission lines; AC current flow and skin depth; reflection and transmission at planar boundaries; fields in parallel plate, parallel wire, and microstrip transmission lines; optical fiber; and radiation and antennas.
The Fundamentals of Healthcare Administration: Navigating Challenges and Coordinating Care
This book is written for those interested in acquiring a thorough knowledge base relative to the intricacies of the organizational theories, customs, and insights significant to the management of health service organizations. It examines the foundational aspects of leadership and management as they relate to establishing and maintaining the principles and practices within healthcare organizations. The book opens with a discussion on the differences between health, healthcare, and health care while providing an overview of healthcare management and organizational trends. It culminates in discussions of leadership, management, motivation, organizational behavior, and management thinking.
Whitney N. Hamilton, Dorothy J. Howell, Melissa Jordan
Increasingly, the concept of marketing research is being replaced with the term ‘customer or consumer insights’. As decision-makers are bombarded with data, it is important to have an Insights Team or Department which can sift through it all and identify those nuggets of information that can meaningfully explain human behaviour. Such insights must translate into an informed business strategy for success. This book has been curated to ensure that the practice of data collection, analysis, and interpretation is presented from an industry perspective.
Aila Khan, Mohammad Munir Hossain, Sabreena Zoha Amin
Open Signals and Systems Laboratory Exercises - Second Edition
Open Signals and Systems Laboratory Exercises is a collection of lab assignments that have been used in EE 224: Signals and Systems I in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University. These lab exercises have been curated, edited, and presented in a consistent format to improve student learning. This second edition provides a thorough coverage of the MATLAB concepts needed to complete each exercise, and incorporates hardware descriptions and explanations into the exercises that had integrated new lab equipment. A ZIP file containing additional materials is also available.
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory Manual
This laboratory manual is meant to be used in a lab course that accompanies a college-level introductory human anatomy course. It covers the language of anatomy, cells and tissues, and the organ systems that comprise the human body. Multiple open textbooks were adapted to create this lab manual. Attribution for these sources are provided at the end of each chapter.
Quality Management and Accounting in Service Industries : A New Model of Quality Cost Calculation
The process of globalisation in world markets and the growing number of enterprises competing with one another in terms of the products and services they offer, naturally leads to the improved efficiency of management systems. Efficiency is required in order for these entities to maintain competitiveness. To assess the efficiency of their management systems, enterprises use quality cost calculation. This book fills the research gap concerned with the scientific study of the quality cost calculation, with regard to service companies. It offers the authors' concept of using the cost of quality calculation as a tool for assessing the efficiency of the management systems of service companies. The book consists of six chapters that present both a theoretical and an empirical part. In the theoretical part, the following issues are discussed: quality costs; the evolution of quality cost calculation; quality cost calculation models and their applications to date; and the specific way in which service companies operate.
Why has East Asia emerged as the global leader in green energy industries but—until recently—lagged on carbon emission reduction? What is new and distinctive about East Asia’s approach to the green energy transition? And what does this approach mean for the world? This book provides the first comprehensive account of East Asia’s green energy shift. Through an analysis of the ambitious national strategies of China and South Korea, the authors show how state actors have pursued a distinctively East Asian approach to transforming their energy systems, involving first the rapid creation of new green energy industries and then the coordinated destruction of fossil fuel incumbencies. This approach—described as ‘developmental environmentalism’—is aimed at establishing East Asian economies as leaders in the green industries of the future, while at the same time addressing the pressing environmental, social, and political problems associated with the carbon-intensive industries of the past.
Thurbon, Elizabeth, Kim, Sung-Young, Tan, Hao , Mathews, John A.
Health Security Intelligence : Managing Emerging Threats and Risks in a Post-Covid World
The book takes a multi-disciplinary approach to explore the role national security intelligence agencies played in supporting national governments’ response to COVID-19. Spanning the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), this book offers the first cross-comparative analysis of what intelligence agencies need to focus on in responding more effectively to future emerging health and biological security threats risks and hazards post-COVID-19. The volume addresses three principal issues. First, it investigates what roles the Five Eyes intelligence communities played (along with other key stakeholders, such as public health agencies) in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, it assesses the challenges of and lessons learnt from these intelligence communities’ engagement in managing aspects of the pandemic.
Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials Used to Improve the Environment and Human Health
The Special Issue of Crystals entitled “Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Materials Used to Improve the Environment and Human Health” resulted in the publication of 11 articles. This reprint focuses on theoretical and experimental research works providing new insights and practical findings on topics of real interest, such as catalytic processes, solar cells, and sensors. The interconnection between the two fields, environment and health, has led to original monographs on new ways and methods of reducing or monitoring pollution, which directly influences people's health. At the same time, organic–inorganic hybrid materials with luminescent properties with uses in various fields such as optical, medical, and food industry applications, which directly influence human health and condition, were addressed.
Fierascu, Radu Claudiu (editor), Raduly, Florentina Monica (editor)
Mastering Enterprise Networks, is a comprehensive guide to building, defending, and attacking enterprise networks. It covers a wide range of topics, from network fundamentals to advanced security concepts. The book is well-organized and easy to follow, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced network professionals. One of the strengths of this book is its focus on hands-on learning. The book includes 50 chapters of labs that allow readers to practice the concepts they have learned. These labs are a great way to reinforce your understanding of enterprise networks while developing practical skills.
This eBook was written as the third installment in the series that coincide with three engineering courses taught at the University of Oklahoma (ENGR 2431, ENGR 2531, and ENGR 3431). These courses were designed to provide non-major students – those not majoring in electrical or computer engineering (ECE) – a foundation in various ECE topics. ENGR 2431 is a prerequisite for both ENGR 2531 and ENGR 3431 and it is recommended that the DC Circuits book be studied prior to beginning the eBooks created for the other two courses.
Introduction to Mechanical Design and Manufacturing
This book is an introduction to product design and manufacturing, with a focus on the mechanical engineering aspects. It covers the principles, methods, tools and techniques that are used to create, analyze, optimize and manufacture products that meet the needs and wants of customers. The book is intended for students, educators, practitioners and researchers who are interested in learning about the theory and practice of product design and manufacturing. The book is open access, which means that it is freely available online for anyone to read, download, share and reuse. The book aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the current state of the art in product design and manufacturing, as well as to inspire new ideas and innovations.
Textbook prices for introductory accounting courses are typically very high and new editions are frequently introduced, limiting the resale value and use of older editions. Simply put, a free, open-source textbook increases accessibility by eliminating the cost barrier. Free is my favorite price! Second... Accounting textbooks also commonly seen as. This book is uniquely constructed to integrate reading, video tutorials, links and practice to make learning… dare I write it, maybe that’s overstating a bit, but this is not your typical accounting text.
Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability is a college-level Open Educational Resource (OER) that focuses on the most relevant environmental science issues and addresses ways to incorporate sustainable practices. The text is designed for an introductory-level college science course. Topics include the fundamentals of ecology, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, food production, human population growth, and incorporating sustainable approaches in our communities, economies, and environments. This resource is targeted at environmental science students.
A Decade of Research Activities at the Department of Industrial Engineering (UniNa-DII) : From Five Existing Departments to the Excellence in Research
This open access book celebrates the decennial of the Department of Industrial Engineering of Università di Napoli Federico II, Italy. It covers the main research achievements developed at the department in the fields of aerospace, marine, energy, statistical, mechanical and management engineering. Five pre-existing departments merged in 2013, and the research results are here summarized to certify how important it was to join skills, expertise, and projects. The industrial engineering area is huge, but it is now dominated by the need to conceive and analyze new solutions, human and climate oriented to face with the actual challenges which dictate the new paradigm, which evolved from “is it feasible?” to “is it compatible with the environment and the human beings?”. There is still a lot to do, but the contents of this book demonstrate that the first steps have been done.
A Circular Built Environment in the Digital Age
This open access book offers a comprehensive exploration of the digital innovations that have emerged in recent years for the circular built environment. Each chapter is meticulously crafted to ensure that both academic readers and industry practitioners can grasp the inner workings of each digital technology, understand its relevance to the circular built environment, examine real-life implementations, and appreciate the intriguing business models behind them. Our primary objective is to blend scholarly knowledge with practical inspiration by providing real-life case studies for each innovation. The authors, who possess extensive expertise in their respective fields, have contributed chapters dedicated to digital technologies within their areas of specialization. The book is organized into three distinct parts.
De Wolf, Catherine (editor) Çetin, Sultan (editor) Bocken, Nancy M. P. (editor)
4th International Conference "Coordinating Engineering for Sustainability and Resilience" & Midterm Conference of CircularB “Implementation of Circular Economy in the Built Environment”
This open access book gathers the proceedings of the 4th International Conference “Coordinating Engineering for Sustainability and Resilience” (CESARE) & Midterm Conference of CircularB “Implementation of Circular Economy in the Built Environment”, held in Timișoara, Romania, on May 29-31, 2024, as part of the COST Action CA21103. The volume represents the state of the art of sustainability and resilience in modern and future built environment, constructions, and infrastructure, and includes topics such as structural materials and robustness, fire engineering, risk assessment, impact of climate change on the built environment, sustainable resilience of systems in the built environment, smart cities, circular economy, design strategies for product design, integration of renewable energy at building and small urban area scales, restoration & rehabilitation of historical buildings, sustainable infrastructures, wind energy structures, façade engineering, green buildings, and waste management.
Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design
A collection of readings and exercises aligned with the course, ME 270, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design, at Iowa State University. This course provides an overview of mechanical engineering design with applications to thermal and mechanical systems, and an introduction to current design practices used in industry.
Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6C)
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of Safety Standards, Regulatory Support Division, Airman Testing Standards Branch, has published the Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (ACS) to communicate the aeronautical knowledge, risk management, and flight proficiency standards for private pilot certification in the airplane category, single-engine land and sea; and multiengine land and sea classes.
Electrolysers, Fuel Cells and Batteries: Analytical Modelling
Electrochemical engineering deals with electrochemical devices like electrolysers, fuel cells, and batteries. While several excellent books exist in this long-standing and still growing field, their focus is usually on chemistry or phenomenology. In this textbook, we focus on mathematical modelling of the physical phenomena involved. Instead of resorting to numerical modelling, the aim is to derive simplified analytical models that maximise understanding. Porous electrodes, ion mass transport, and multiphase flow are central themes in this book. Examples include modelling the water saturation in a fuel cell diffusion layer, the gas fraction and current distribution in an alkaline water electrolyser, the potential distribution in a binary electrolyte inside porous battery electrode, and the concentration distribution in the flow channel of a redox flow battery.
Ultrasound Physics and its Application in Medicine
Ultrasound has a wide range of medical applications. Some of these include obstetrics (monitoring the progress of pregnancy), oncology (monitoring the growth of tumors), cardiology (visualizing the heart function and physiology), biopsy (guiding needles in various procedures), and physiotherapy. For example, today, an estimated 60-70% of pregnant women in the United States undergo ultrasound examination during pregnancy. An estimated 250 million fetal ultrasound examinations are performed every year in the USA. In the last few decades, ultrasound technology has expanded to medical imaging in various other specialties: Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, General Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN), Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Physiatry, Sports Medicine, and Surgery.
This open access textbook focuses on the various aspects of radiobiology. The goal of radiobiological research is to better understand the effects of radiation exposure at the cellular and molecular levels in order to determine the impact on health. This book offers a unique perspective, by covering not only radiation biology but also radiation physics, radiation oncology, radiotherapy, radiochemistry, radiopharmacy, nuclear medicine, space radiation biology & physics, environmental and human radiation protection, nuclear emergency planning, molecular biology and bioinformatics, as well as the ethical, legal and social considerations related to radiobiology.
Introduction to Health (OER) - 2nd edition
The Introduction to Health OER Textbook provides a broad overview of information pertaining to human health and opportunities for improving health and wellness throughout life. The intended goal of the book is to equip the learners with important information needed to better understand their own health and how their daily choices may impact both their quantity and quality of life. Although this is a "health" textbook, it could actually be called a "life" textbook.
Chapter Artful care for self and others in daily design practice
This paper examines how arts- and nature-based interventions can support thriving and mental health as an integrated part of daily design practice for freelance designers and one-person companies in precarious working conditions. The research is conducted as a practice-based, explorative case study at The Royal Danish Academy in collaboration with The Union of Architects and Designers (FAOD) and Design denmark and financed by The Velliv Association. Thirty-two professional designers participate in a course of two full-day workshops and two coaching sessions. Data consists of preliminary questionnaires and questionnaires after each workshop, observations and registrations during the workshops and coaching sessions.
Friis, Silje Alberthe Kamille ,Mølhave, Annegrete
Chapter Applying human-centered system design to the development of a tool for service innovation
According to the 2019 Revision of World Population Prospects, by 2050, people aged 65 and above will account for 25% of the population in Europe and Northern America. The number of people aged 80 or above is estimated to triple to 426 million by this time. Global aging has widespread implications for our society. With the emergence of technological and biomedical advances, people now hold higher expectations for their physical and mental health throughout their longer lifespans. People expect to live not only longer, but also better, calling for improved quality of living and working environments to support later adulthood (Coughlin, 2017).
This open access book offers a comprehensive exploration of the digital innovations that have emerged in recent years for the circular built environment. Each chapter is meticulously crafted to ensure that both academic readers and industry practitioners can grasp the inner workings of each digital technology, understand its relevance to the circular built environment, examine real-life implementations, and appreciate the intriguing business models behind them. Our primary objective is to blend scholarly knowledge with practical inspiration by providing real-life case studies for each innovation. The authors, who possess extensive expertise in their respective fields, have contributed chapters dedicated to digital technologies within their areas of specialization. The book is organized into three distinct parts. The first part focuses on data-driven digital technologies and delves into how their capabilities can facilitate the transition to a circular built environment.
De Wolf, Catherine , Çetin, Sultan, Bocken, Nancy M. P.
This Open Textbook is a dynamic guide incorporating the essential skills needed to build a foundation in Financial Analysis. Students and readers will learn how to insightfully read a Financial Statement, utilize key financial ratios in order to derive forward-looking investment-related inferences from the accounting data, engage in elementary forecasting and modeling, master the theory of the Time Value of Money, and learn to price stocks and bonds in an environment in which interest rates constantly change. Ample problems and solutions, and review questions are provided to the student so that s/he can gauge his/her progress.
Unmanned Vehicle Systems & Operations on Air, Sea, Land
This is our fourth textbook in a series previously covering the world of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS). The authors have expanded our purview beyond UAS / CUAS systems. Our title shows our concern for growth and unique operations for all unmanned vehicles in all theaters: Air, Sea and Land.
Space Systems: Emerging Technologies and Operations
SPACE SYSTEMS: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND OPERATIONS (SSETO) is our seventh textbook in a series covering the world of UASs / CUAS / UUVs. SSETO takes on a new purview of SPACE. UASs (Drones) have a maximum altitude of about 33,000 ft (10 km) because rotating rotors become physically limiting. (Nichols R. et al., 2019) Between 400 ft and 33,000 ft is in the purview of DREAMERS. In the DREAMERS region, Space has its most interesting technological emergence. We see emerging technologies and operations that may have profound effects on humanity.
Cyber-Human Systems, Space Technologies, and Threats
CYBER-HUMAN SYSTEMS, SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, AND THREATS is our eighth textbook in a series covering the world of UASs / CUAS / UUVs / SPACE. We address the technological future of the merging of cyber-human systems (robots, cyborgs, AI/ML, computers) with humans and apply these innovations to space operations and defense against threats that are concomitant with their development. We look at artificial brains, legality of CHS sensors, AI /ML and Ag and food industry; Neurostrike and CHATGPT, biological threats and growth in space, space EW, modeling, deep space warfare, logistics and dominance; hypersonic missiles, cyber threats in space, machine parts, materials technologies, and economies of scale, quantum technologies impact and finally, innovative wireless power transfer for space applications.
Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technologies and Operations
Aircraft Systems Technologies and Operations
As the quarter-century mark in the 21st Century nears, new aviation-related equipment has come to the forefront, both to help us and to haunt us. (Coutu, 2020). This is particularly the case with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These vehicles have grown in popularity and accessible to everyone. Of different shapes and sizes, they are widely available for purchase at relatively low prices. They have moved from the backyard recreation status to important tools for the military, intelligence agencies, and corporate organizations. New practical applications such as military equipment and weaponry are announced on a regular basis – globally. (Coutu, 2020). Every country seems to be announcing steps forward in this bludgeoning field.
Foundations of Biomedical Science: Quantitative Literacy: Theory and Problems
Foundations of Biomedical Science: Quantitative Literacy Theory and Problems is designed to help students develop the fundamental mathematical and quantitative literacy required to navigate and interpret evidence-based Biomedical data. This will provide students with the skills and confidence to habitually question any quantitative data they come across and to use these skills to make informed judgements regarding their veracity
Urban Health: A Practical Application for Clinical Based Learning
Urban Health: A Practical Application for Clinical Based Learning is an openly licensed, peer-reviewed textbook for clinical-based nursing educators covering barriers in urban health and their impact on patient health outcomes. The authors explore perspectives of urban communities, urban patients, and urban healthcare providers to offer insight into how healthcare providers can address disparities in urban healthcare, provide meaningful care with the lived experiences of urban patients in mind, and improve patient-provider communication by moving towards a more solution-driven, team-based care approach. Features include learning activities, exemplars, and case studies.
Cynthera McNeill, Umeika Stephens, Tara Walker
Healthcare in the United States: Navigating the Basics of a Complex System
This book is a collaborative effort among three faculty members from the Darton College of Health Professions, Nursing Department, at Albany State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and part of the UniversitySystem of Georgia. The book idea originated from a grant-funded program to create open education resources (OER) for students learning in UniversitySystem of Georgia’s eMajor courses. The cost of education in the United States is remarkably expensive, and the added burden of purchasing textbooks for each course can be prohibitive. The opportunity to create free educational materials has been a rewarding experience. A free pdf form of this text is available for download.
Deanna L. Howe, Andrea L. Dozier,Sheree O. Dickenson
The United States has been at the forefront of globalized health care for many years by influencing international healthcare policy and establishing international healthcare agencies to address global health threats such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. It has also been a leader in medical innovation and technology over the past two decades, a time of many changes in the world of healthcare. Due to these changes, the rules, regulations, and legislation are also constantly changing, making healthcare compliance a challenge. This chapter will discuss the rise of U.S. healthcare on the global stage, define healthcare compliance, and discuss penalties for noncompliance.
The structure of the human body is usually considered in courses in gross anatomy. These courses typically consist of lectures by the faculty, readings in assigned textbooks and the study of photographs and illustrations in human anatomy atlases. However, as student’s progress through the curriculum and move into the more clinical or practice oriented phases, many discover that the anatomical knowledge they actually need is somewhat different from the kind they possess. What many encounter is difficulty in applying their knowledge to a clinical setting
This compilation gathers OER sources on body weight, nutrition, and movement, and it also problematizes the cultural meaning of these readings. Roughly, this anthology is divided into two parts--informational and theoretical--in depicting how medical research and journalism influence and are influenced by social stereotypes, constructed ideas about bodies, food, and individual choices within social systems.
Inclusive Approach to Anthropometric Body Measurement Assessments
Inclusive Approach to Anthropometric Body Measurement Assessments” is an open educational resource (OER) created for undergraduate nursing students at the introductory level. The resource introduces students to body measurements, but does so in an inclusive manner. This resource is a unique contribution to nursing education as content is theoretically informed by an inclusive approach to assessment that incorporates culturallyresponsive techniques related to race/ethnicity, gender/sex/ sexual orientation, body sizes/types, and ability/disability.
Shelly Philip LaForest, Michelle Hughes, Lisa Seto Nielsen
Principles of Strategic Management Accounting
This textbook explains the economic and sociological principles that underpin the use of strategic management accounting practices in organisations. Each chapter of the first part starts with a gentle, conversational introduction to the insights of one strand of academic literature and applies the insights to modern performance measurement and evaluation practices. The following parts apply the principles to specific accounting tools such as the budget, cost accounting, and the balanced scorecard. The textbook can be used in an advanced management accounting undergraduate unit or a post-graduate unit to give students a firm grounding to analyse measurement and evaluation practices in modern organisations.
Foundations in Digital Marketing is a textbook intended to introduce marketing students to the world of digital marketing. The book covers fundamental frameworks, practical applications, and online tools that can all be applied to build and execute a cohesive and engaging digital marketing strategy. The book covers the fundamental aspects of digital marketing
Fracture Mechanics: An Engineering Primer - 2nd Edition
In this second edition, which is the result of numerous revisions, updates and additions, the authors cover the basic concepts of fracture mechanics for both the linear elastic and elastic-plastic regimes. The fracture mechanics parameters K, G, J and CTOD are treated in a basic manner along with the test methods to determine critical values. The development of failure assessment based on elastic-plastic fracture mechanics is reflected in a comprehensive treatment.
Michael Janssen, Jan Zuidema, Russell Wanhill,
Handbook of Software Engineering Methods - 2nd Edition
Software engineering can help people create sustainable, extensible programs that solve problems people care about. I won’t tell you how to be a software engineer; you’ll learn that over time by doing it. Instead, this book is about software engineering methods: Ways people achieve specific objectives in software engineering—that can save your project. My hope is that, after reading this book (or parts of it), you’ll feel better equipped for software engineering.
An Introduction to Waste Management and Circular Economy
This introductory textbook provides an essential interdisciplinary guide to waste management and circular economy. It helps students to understand the drivers of waste, the environmental, social, and economic impacts of waste generation, and best practices and technologies for waste management, recycling, energy recovery and disposal. With helpful, full-colour diagrams throughout, each chapter includes learning objectives, introduction to concepts and themes, exercises and review sections, to guide students through the book. The textbook is ideal for teaching environmental engineering and science, as well as interdisciplinary environmental programmes.
Food Preservation and Waste Exploitation
One of the biggest challenges facing the food industry and society is the reduction of food waste. Annually, all over the world, millions of tons of agro-food waste are produced, and their efficient management and valorization represents one of the main objectives of EU actions towards sustainable development. The book compiles information on the possibilities of the recovery of valuable compounds from food waste and their valorization in different food and non-food applications, as well as new preservation methods for optimizing food waste reduction.
Socaci, Sonia A. (editor), F?rca?, Anca C. (editor), Aussenac, Thierry (editor), Laguerre, Jean-Claude (editor)
Food Processing and Packaging Technologies
Food processing, preservation, and packaging is a highly interdisciplinary science. Various techniques and technologies have been developed to extend food shelf life, minimize the risk of contamination, protect the environment, and improve foods’ functional, sensory, and nutritional properties. Some of the many benefits of food processing, preservation, and packaging include increased food safety, improved nutrition, longer shelf life, and increased economic opportunities. In addition, food processing and preservation help to reduce post-harvest losses. Developing novel food processing, preservation, and packaging technologies is critical to preserving food quality, improving sensory characteristics, and reducing losses. At present, there is a great emphasis on developing novel biobased and intelligent packaging technologies that are safe for food and reduce environmental pollution.
Given the rapid growth of engineering fields, namely the food industry with novel food process technologies, novel ingredients, advanced enzyme production and applications, and other complementary technologies, this book will disclose the latest trends in food engineering. This text is a compilation of selected research articles and reviews covering current efforts in research in and application of emerging technologies in the food industry. The chapters in this book are divided into three broad sections. Section 1 deals with introductory information about enzyme application, preserving treatments (such as thermal treatment, active packaging concepts) in a sustainable, cost-effective manner, inclusion in food processing of wild edible plants as a part of cultural and generic heritage, and the upscaling of extraction techniques to increase the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Section 2 provides data concerning the food industry's emerging technologies. Section 3 reveals the latest trends in food fortification. Overall, this book serves as an inspiring source for both scientific and industrial actors or anyone involved in any aspect related to the food industry
Agricultural robotics: part of the new deal?
Throughout the fifth edition of the International Forum of Agricultural Robots (FIRA) in December 2020, more than 1,500 farmers, manufacturers, advanced technology suppliers, innovators, investors, journalists and experts from 71 countries around the world gathered to ask questions, share stories and exchange ideas about agricultural robots. This book is a journey into the state of the art of this industry in 2020, and includes 27 agricultural robot information sheets. It is designed to provide a nuanced look at the industry’s most pressing topics, from the overarching impact of the global food crisis to the everyday influence of semi-autonomous tractors on a family-owned farm in France. The book achieves this goal by taking a deep dive into the perspectives shared by FIRA 2020 presenters and panelists
Lenain, Roland , Peyrache, Julie, Savary, Alain, Séverac, Gaëtan
Teaching the strategic management course can be a challenge for many professors. In most business schools, strategic management is a “capstone” course that requires students to draw on insights from various functional courses they have completed (such as marketing, finance, and accounting) in order to understand how top executives make the strategic decisions that drive whether organizations succeed or fail. Although students have taken these functional courses, many students have very little experience with major organizational choices. It is this inexperience that can undermine many students’ engagement in the course.
University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing
Drug Use and Misuse: A Community Health Perspective
Drug Use and Misuse: A Community Health Perspective provides students with an introduction to the biological, psychological, and legal aspects of drug use and misuse through the lens of community health and discusses the impact of drug use and misuse on community health. The book contains eight distinct chapters addressing the background of drug use and misuse, including key terms, as well as an introduction to different categories of drugs including gateway drugs, opioids, and prescription drugs, and a conclusion that describes evidence-based prevention and treatment models.
Radio Systems Engineering - Revised First Edition
Using a systems framework, this textbook provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the performance, analysis, and design of radio systems for students and practicing engineers. Presented within a consistent framework, the first part of the book describes the fundamentals of the subject: propagation, noise, antennas, and modulation. The analysis and design of radios including RF circuit design and signal processing is covered in the second half of the book.
This open textbook is designed to provide a deep understanding of the biological and biomedical aspects of human reproduction, covering a wide range of topics from basic reproductive biology to clinical applications. The book starts with foundational knowledge and progresses to more advanced topics while also including real-world clinical orientation for practical contexts.
Social Determinants of Health in Nursing Education: Integrating Into Curriculum and Practice
This workbook was established with nurse educators and nursing students in mind to provide knowledge, guidance, and support for integrating SDOH across the nursing education spectrum. Contents from this workbook are applicable to pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing programs, RN-to-BSN programs, and graduate education. A strategic approach for this workbook was purposefully designed to meet the structure of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Clinical Judgment Measure Model® with a combined focus on the four spheres of care supported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN®).
Stress is a feeling you get when faced with a challenge. In small doses, stress can be good for you because it makes you more alert and gives you a burst of energy. For instance, if you start to cross the street and see a car about to run you over, that jolt you feel helps you to jump out of the way before you get hit. But feeling stressed for a long time can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Even though it may seem hard to find ways to de-stress with all the things you have to do, it’s important to find those ways. Your health depends on it.
Epidemiology is an openly licensed text designed for medical degree–seeking clinical students without a prior background in public health. Using sports medicine and injury prevention examples and applications, it aims to provide students with the basics of epidemiology terms and concepts and is intended to guide medical school students as they prepare for the USMLE Step 1 Exam and to transition from student to clinician. It includes an introduction to general concepts and terminology of epidemiology, study designs and their relationship to clinical questions, and the use of epidemiology in clinical diagnosis and screening of disease. Concluding sections of the book present sources of errors in epidemiologic studies, including bias, confounding, and effect modification.
Advances in Automotive Production Technology – Towards Software-Defined Manufacturing and Resilient Supply Chains
This volume of the series ARENA2036 compiles the outcome of the 2nd Stuttgart Conference on Automotive Production (SCAP2022). The peer-reviewed contributions in this book are arranged thematically in three parts and cover a wide variety of topics: (A) Software-defined Manufacturing, (B) Data-driven Technologies, and (C) Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainability. SCAP2022 was organized by ARENA2036 in close collaboration with the Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units of the University of Stuttgart. The Conference took place on site from November 16 - 18, 2022 and provided the opportunity for national and international scientists to present their latest research results.
Kiefl, Niklas (editor) Wulle, Frederik (editor) Ackermann, Clemens (editor) Holder, Daniel (editor)
This open access book focuses on the practical application of Adaptive Dynamic Programming (ADP) in chemotherapy drug delivery, taking into account clinical variables and real-time data. ADP's ability to adapt to changing conditions and make optimal decisions in complex and uncertain situations makes it a valuable tool in addressing pressing challenges in healthcare and other fields. As optimization technology evolves, we can expect to see even more sophisticated and powerful solutions emerge
Sun, Jiayue Xu, Shun Liu, Yang Zhang, Huaguang
A Practical Guide for Pediatric Nuclear Medicine
This open access book will provide a foundation for the understanding of, and knowledge for a successful routine use of diagnostic Nuclear Medicine procedures in children through expertise and cases provided by representative busy pediatric nuclear medicine facilities. The book highlights important aspects of nuclear medicine in children and the differences between adult and pediatric practice where relevant. An introductory chapter provides general information detailing the advantages and limitations for performing nuclear medicine tests in children, as well as suggestions on how to approach and provide relevant data to the patients, their parents or next of kin. In the remaining 11 chapters, containing over 115 cases of children evaluated for various clinical indications, procedures are presented and subsequently detailed according to their clinical significance or prevalence based on the clinical experience of the contributors.
Bar-Sever, Zvi (editor) Giammarile, Francesco (editor) Israel, Ora (editor) Nadel, Helen (editor)
This open-access book aims to highlight the coming surge of 5G network-based applications and predicts that the centralized networks and their current capacity will be incapable of meeting the demands. The book emphasizes the benefits and challenges associated with the integration of 5G networks with varied applications. Further, the book gathers and investigates the most recent 5G-based research solutions that handle security and privacy threats while considering resource-constrained wireless devices. The information, applications, and recent advances discussed in this book will serve to be of immense help to practitioners, database professionals, and researchers.
Bhushan, Bharat (editor) Sharma, Sudhir Kumar (editor) Kumar, Raghvendra (editor) Priyadarshini, Ishaani (editor)
Case Studies for Health, Research and Practice in Australia and New Zealand
The OER includes case studies of 5 families from a variety of backgrounds in metropolitan and regional Queensland (QLD), New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria (VIC), Australia. Case studies have been popular in nursing to help students bring their learning to life and enhance their critical thinking. However, often case studies appear in one unit or one particular content area to aid students learning for a particular condition or point in time.
This textbook introduces readers to the basics of soil science, including the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils; soil formation, classification, and global distribution; soil health, soils and humanity, and sustainable land management.
Vacuum systems are critical to many industries. They are vital to establishing required process pressures, establishing a clean process environment, and removing reaction by-products from the process chamber. This text, a revision and expansion of David Hata’s Introduction to Vacuum Technology published in 2008, addresses basic topics in vacuum technology for individuals tasked with maintaining vacuum systems and instructors teaching technician-level courses. The topics are carefully curated to the needs of technicians in a production environment and the types of vacuum systems used, and the accompanying laboratory manual and instructor’s guide support the delivery of lecture-laboratory courses.
Finding Balance: Collaborative Workflows for Risk Management in Sharing Cultural Heritage Collections Online
Digitizing rare and unique historical documents so they can be shared online is mission-critical work for most cultural heritage institutions, but it can be difficult to complete this work, especially intellectual property rights management, at a scale that matches user demand. The authors of this open educational resource offer guidance for creating scalable, cross-functional workflows using a risk-management approach that increases efficiency and distributes responsibility for rights assessment work more equitably across stakeholders.
Community interventions in obesity-related chronic diseases
The rate of obesity continues to climb in the United States in all age groups. National reports, including the Trust for America’s Health annual report State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, highlight key findings and policy recommendations. The need to continue to work towards stabilization of the obesity epidemic could not be more important as consequences of this chronic disease can be dire, potentially affecting physical health with an increase in risk for chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer as well as potentially affecting behavioral health.
Sherri M. Cirignano, Sara A. Elnakib, Karen Ensle. et al
Creating a circular healthcare economy: Sustainable strategies for a circular healthcare
Our world is the only planet, as far as we know, which harbors life. The number of humans on our planet has grown tremendously in recent centuries. In 1800 one billion humans occupied our earth; on 15 November 2022, this number reached 8 billion. A result of this growth, the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities, drastically increased. The increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere foster the long-term increase of our earth’s temperatures, also referred to as global warming.
Bart van Straten, Letizia Alvino, Tim Horeman
Structured Electronics Design: A Conceptual Approach to Amplifier Design - 3rd ed.
Many people consider analog electronic circuit design complex. This is because designers can achieve the desired performance of a circuit in many ways. Together, theoretical concepts, circuit topologies, electronic devices, their operating conditions, and the system's physical construction constitute an enormous design space in which it is easy to get lost. For this reason, analog electronics often is regarded as an art rather than a solid discipline.
Essential Mechanics - Statics and Strength of Materials with MATLAB and Octave
Essential Mechanics - Statics and Strength of Materials with MATLAB and Octave combines two core engineering science courses - “Statics” and “Strength of Materials” - in mechanical, civil, and aerospace engineering. It weaves together various essential topics from Statics and Strength of Materials to allow discussing structural design from the very beginning. The traditional content of these courses are reordered to make it convenient to cover rigid body equilibrium and extend it to deformable body mechanics.The e-book covers the most useful topics from both courses with computational support through MATLAB/Octave.
Lost Without It: How GPS is more than just navigation
The navigation that we get from GPS is just a tiny component of how it impacts our lives - from banking to mapping to just knowing where stuff is, it's now a critical part of how humanity functions. This book takes you through all the basics of how GPS works, kind of like a how-to, just in case zombies take out all those smart scientists that keep it all running!
Chris McAlister, Deborah King, Samara Hoffmann
Developing Human Potential: A Personal Approach to Leadership
This Online Educational Resource (OER) textbook provides an overview and introduction to personal leadership through the lens of how students can develop and maximize their own interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills are crucial to navigating the professional world and can help us to better understand ourselves. This textbook approaches interpersonal skills from a personal level and allows the reader to immerse themselves into activities and scholarship across topical areas. Through the text, learners can create their own Personal Leadership Philosophy and expand this into a Civic Leadership Philosophy to help them understand the impact leaders can have on their communities and workplaces.
Gina S. Matkin, Jason Headrick, Hannah M. Sunderman
With the vast and varied technologies available to leaders, it is no doubt managing these technologies can be challenging. Yet, leaders must have a sense of which technologies will help the organization and its members to be successful. While an organizational leader does not need to be a technology expert, having an awareness of the impact technology has on an organization is important.
General Inpatient Management of Pediatric Diabetes Mellitus at University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
This eBook is a medical education resource intended to supplement the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of medical students and pediatric residents in furthering their own knowledge about the general inpatient management of pediatric diabetes mellitus. This book may be of further use to any physician, advanced practitioners, or nurses who may also encounter pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus in the inpatient hospital setting. This book is specific to protocols and preferences for pediatric diabetes management at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. However, it also contains overarching concepts that transcend location wherever pediatric diabetes may be managed.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – Powerplant (FAA-H-8083-32B)
The Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook–Powerplant (FAA-H-8083-32B) is one of a series of three handbooks for persons preparing for certification as a powerplant mechanic. It is intended that this handbook provide the basic information on principles, fundamentals, and technical procedures in the subject matter areas relating to the powerplant rating. It is designed to aid students enrolled in a formal course of instruction, as well as the individual who is studying on his or her own. Since the knowledge requirements for the airframe and powerplant ratings closely parallel each other in some subject areas, the chapters which discuss fire protection systems and electrical systems contain some material which is also duplicated in the Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook–Airframe (FAA-H-8083-31B).
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
Precision Nutrition and Advanced Culinary Medicine
This electronic textbook (eBook) accompanies NS801, Precision Nutrition and Advanced Culinary Medicine, a 1-credit, 8-week online medical elective course for the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Office of Medical Education. The eBook provides module-based background information including text, tables, and figures to support each module of the online course
Basic Scientific Food Preparation Lab Manual
This lab book is intended for use in both the lab and kitchen. Each section of the book contains learning objectives, lab problems to be solved, recipes, questions, and observation charts for the input of data.
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Biomedical Engineering Lab Manual Volume 1
The lab manual was written as the first installment that coincides with two lab courses taught at the University of Oklahoma (BME3171, BME3181). These courses are designed to provide Biomedical Engineering students with lab skills and experience in biomedical engineering research and clinical techniques. This manual is used with BME3171 Lab 1 and the following topics are covered in this lab manual; functional human models, musculoskeletal lever systems, bioimaging (ultrasound), bioelectricity (electromyography), & uni-axial testing
Biomedical Engineering Lab Manual Volume 2
The lab manual was written as the second installment that coincides with two lab courses taught at the University of Oklahoma (BME3171, BME3181). These courses are designed to provide Biomedical Engineering students with lab skills and experience in biomedical engineering research and clinical techniques. This manual is used with BME3181 Biomedical Engineering Lab 2 and the following wet lab topics are covered in this lab manual; bioimaging, cell culture, tissue engineering, live-dead and DNA assays.
Ageing in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic
This Open Access Book contains reports on the situation of people in the second half of life during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. The analyses are based on the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) and they provide insights on four main areas of life: income and work, subjective health and well-being, social support and loneliness as well as societal participation. This book is useful for scientists as well as political actors by directing attention to the risk groups that have been hard hit by the pandemic while also highlighting the resilience and adaptive capacities of many people in the second half of life.
Simonson, Julia (editor) Wünsche, Jenna (editor) Tesch-Römer, Clemens (editor)
Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos
This open access book is a collection of articles based on presentations from the 2020 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference that gives an overview of conference outcomes. The vision of the conference has been to unite researchers, scientists, physicians and other healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from across the world to discuss research advancements, identify gaps, and develop actionable goals to translate basic research findings into clinical best practices, effective community interventions, and professional training programs to decrease cancer risks and eliminate cancer disparities for Latinos.
Ramirez, Amelie G. (editor) Trapido, Edward J. (editor)
Advances in Frontier Research on Engineering Structures
This is an open access book. This book focuses on the research of advanced structures and anti-seismic in civil engineering. It features the most cutting-edge research directions and achievements related to civil and structural engineering. Subjects in this book include: ·Engineering Structure and Seismic Resistance ·Structural Mechanics Analysis ·Components and Materials ·Structural Seismic Design ·3D Printing Concrete ·Other Related Topics The works of this book promote development of civil and structural engineering, resource sharing, flexibility, and high efficiency. Thereby, it also promotes scientific information interchange between scholars from the top universities, research centers, and high-tech enterprises working all around the world.
In A history of Population Health Johan P. Mackenbach offers a comparative study of trends in 40 specific diseases in Europe and their explanation, focusing on the causes of the spectacular improvements in people’s health since the early 18th century. ; Readership: Health care professionals with an interest in medical history, students and scientists in public health, economics, sociology, and related disciplines, and anyone interested in the history of health and disease.
The population of the United Kingdom is projected to increase by 4.9 million from an estimated 62.3 million in 2010 to 67.2 million over the 10-year period to 2020. Projected natural increase (more births than deaths) will account for 56% of the projected increase over the next decade, resulting in an overall UK population increase to 73.2 million over the 25-year period to mid-2035. The population is also projected to continue ageing with the average (median) age rising from 39.7 years in 2010 to 39.9 years in 2020 and 42.2 by 2035 (Office for National Statistics 2011).
Faith Community Nursing ; An International Specialty Practice Changing the Understanding of Health
This book is the work of many. The contributors, each with their own rich experiences in the practice and ministry of faith community nursing, have generously taken the time to work with the editors in making this book a reality. The chapter authors have all practiced or continue to contribute to the specialty of faith community nursing.
P. Ann Solari-Twadell , Deborah Jean Ziebarth,. Editors
3rd International Conference on Thermal Issues in Machine Tools (ICTIMT2023)
This open access conference proceedings contains all the papers presented at the ICTIMT 2023, the 3rd International Conference on Thermal Issues in Machine Tools. The event takes place in Dresden, the capital of Saxony, from March 21-23 2023. The conference is organized by the Chair of Machine Tools Development and Adaptive Controls of the Technische Universität Dresden.
Annual Report on the Big Data of New Energy Vehicle in China (2021)
This open access book, based on static indicators and dynamic big data from local electric vehicles, is the first New-Energy Vehicles (NEVs) research report on the Big Data in China. Using the real-time big data collected by China's National Monitoring and Management Platform for NEVs, this book delves into the main annual technological progress of NEVs, the vehicle operating characteristics, it also anticipates the trend of NEVs industry. Various graphs&charts, detailed data this book offers will familiarize readers with the operation characteristics and practical application of China's NEVs industry and popularize the concept of automobile electrification.
Medicine Creek (Faulk County-Spink County, S.D.)
This open access book describes the latest advances in the anal incontinence diagnostic and therapeutic processes. Anal incontinence is a devastating condition heavily impacting on the patients’ lives. Those suffering from this disorder are generally very embarrassed and reluctant to undergo an appropriate clinical evaluation, thus becoming more isolated and worsening the quality of their life.
Docimo, Ludovico (editor), Brusciano, Luigi (editor)
All-Optical Methods to Study Neuronal Function
This open access volume provides an overview of the latest methods used to study neuronal function with all-optical experimental approaches, where light is used for both stimulation and monitoring of neuronal activity. The chapters in this book cover topics over a broad range, from fundamental background information in both physiology and optics in the context of all-optical neurophysiology experiments, to the design principles and hardware implementation of optical methods used for photoactivation and imaging. In the Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory.
Agricultural Development in Asia and Africa
This Open Access book explores the multifaceted nature of agricultural and rural development in Asia and examines the extent to which the Asian experience is being replicated in contemporary Africa. This volume compiles the works of top scholars who provided analyses and evidences from household-level surveys collected for many years in several parts of Asia and Africa. The most important finding presented in this book is that African agricultural development has evolved following the pathways of Asian agricultural development.
Estudillo, Jonna P. Kijima, Yoko, Sonobe, Tetsushi
Thumbnail Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos
A History of Genomics across Species, Communities and Projects
This open access book offers a comprehensive overview of the history of genomics across three different species and four decades, from the 1980s to the recent past. It takes an inclusive approach in order to capture not only the international initiatives to map and sequence the genomes of various organisms, but also the work of smaller-scale institutions engaged in the mapping and sequencing of yeast, human and pig DNA. In doing so, the authors expand the historiographical lens of genomics from a focus on large-scale projects to other forms of organisation.
21st Century Media and Female Mental Health
This open access book examines the conversations around gendered mental health in contemporary Western media culture. While early 21st century-media was marked by a distinct focus on happiness, productivity and success, during the 2010s negative feelings and discussions around mental health have become increasingly common in that same media landscape. This book traces this turn to sadness in women’s media culture and shows that it emerged indirectly as a result of a culture overtly focused on happiness.
A Guide to Sustainable Corporate Responsibility
This open access book discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by companies in an age that increasingly values sustainability and demands corporate responsibility. Beginning with the historical development of corporate responsibility, this book moves from academic theory to practical application. It points to ways in which companies can successfully manage their transition to a more responsible, sustainable way of doing business, common mistakes to avoid and how the UN Sustainable Development Goals are integral to any sustainability transformation.
This open access book gives both a theoretical and practical overview of several important aspects of additive manufacturing (AM). It is written in an educative style to enable the reader to understand and apply the material. It begins with an introduction to AM technologies and the general workflow, as well as an overview of the current standards within AM. In the following chapter, a more in-depth description is given of design optimization and simulation for AM in polymers and metals, including practical guidelines for topology optimization and the use of lattice structures. Special attention is also given to the economics of AM and when the technology offers a benefit compared to conventional manufacturing processes.
Godec, Damir, Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Joamin, Nordin, Axel .et al
This textbook is an open educational resource with CC-BY licensing developed specifically for prelicensure nursing students. The e-book and downloadable versions are free. Affordable print versions are published in collaboration with XanEdu and available on Amazon and in college bookstores. Content is based on the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) statewide nursing curriculum for the Nursing Advanced Skills course (543-112) and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan.
Nursing Management and Professional Concepts
This book introduces concepts related to nursing leadership and management, prioritization strategies, delegation and supervision, legal implications of nursing practice, ethical nursing practice, collaboration within the interprofessional team, health care economics, quality and evidencebased practice, advocacy, preparation for the RN role, and the avoidance of burnout with self-care. Several online, interactive learning activities are included in each chapter that encourage application of content to patientcare situations. Additionally, the Appendix includes a “suite of patients” with suggested prompts for classroom discussion to assist students in applying concepts from the book to real patient-care situations
Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual for Nursing and Allied Health
Authors’ Institution: Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, USA , Funding: Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) Course Redesign Grant, 2020 – 2023
Marz, Kamatchi, D'Silva, Prabhakaran, Chandra, and Isekeije
Leading Change in Health Systems: Strategies for RN-BSN Students
Leading Change in Health Systems: Strategies for RN-BSN Students is designed for practicing nurses pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This book is focused on building upon previous knowledge, skills and attitudes Registered Nurses (RNs) related to leadership in healthcare systems. Readers will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge gained from this course in their clinical practice environment.
The introduction of permanent cardiac pacing in the late 1950s began the era of cardiac electrotherapy. In the 1980s, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) were introduced. These advances created new challenges for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Right ventricular pacing was the primary breakthrough; however, over the years, it has become apparent that it can induce cardiac contraction dyssynchrony. Biventricular pacing allowed for the alleviation of dyssynchrony and improved the survival of patients with heart failure and bundle branch block. In recent decades, His bundle pacing has become a new strategy for physiological ventricular activation.
Lewicka, Ewa (editor) , Dąbrowska-Kugacka, Alicja (editor), Liżewska-Springer, Aleksandra
This open access book discusses the most modern approach to auditing complex digital systems and technologies. It combines proven auditing approaches, advanced programming techniques and complex application areas, and covers the latest findings on theory and practice in this rapidly developing field. Especially for those who want to learn more about novel approaches to testing complex information systems and related technologies, such as blockchain and self-learning systems, the book will be a valuable resource. It is aimed at students and practitioners who are interested in contemporary technology and managerial implications.
A Practical Guide on Behaviour Change Support for Self-Managing Chronic Disease
This open access book is a valuable resource for students in health and other professions and practicing professionals interested in supporting effective change in self-management behaviors in chronic disease, such as medication taking, physical activity and healthy eating. Developed under the auspices of the Train4Health project, funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, the book contains six chapters written by international contributors from different disciplines. Chapter one introduces the competencies necessary for delivering effective behavior change support, based on an established program of work, and related learning outcomes.
Guerreiro, Mara Pereira, Brito Félix, Isa . Moreira Marques, Marta
This open access book examines the conversations around gendered mental health in contemporary Western media culture. While early 21st century-media was marked by a distinct focus on happiness, productivity and success, during the 2010s negative feelings and discussions around mental health have become increasingly common in that same media landscape. This book traces this turn to sadness in women’s media culture and shows that it emerged indirectly as a result of a culture overtly focused on happiness. By tracing the coverage of mental health issues in magazines, among female celebrities, and on social media this book shows how an increasingly intimate media environment has made way for a profitable vulnerability, that takes the shape of marketable and brand-friendly mental illness awareness that strengthens the authenticity of those who embrace it.
This book provides an introduction to genetic concepts such as reproductive systems, recombination, mutation, segregation and linkage analysis, inbreeding, quantitative inheritance, fertility regulation, population genetics and polyploidy.
Principles of Marketing is designed to meet the scope and sequence for a one-semester marketing course for undergraduate business majors and minors. Principles of Marketing provides a solid grounding in the core concepts and frameworks of marketing theory and analysis so that business students interested in a major or minor in marketing will also be prepared for more rigorous, upper-level elective courses.
Maria Gomez Albrecht, Mark Green, Linda Hoffman
This textbook is an open educational resource (OER) with CC-BY licensing aligned with Wisconsin Technical College System’s Nursing Assistant program (30-543-300). The Nursing Assistant program prepares students for employment as nursing assistants as well as for entry to other health-related programs. It is recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a nurse aide training program. Upon successful completion of a Nursing Assistant program, the student is eligible to take the Wisconsin Nursing Assistant competency evaluation for inclusion on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry and employment in nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, community based residential facilities, assisted living centers, and homes for the developmentally disabled.
Mental Health is a Verb: A Pocket Guide to Mental Health for Nursing Students
MENTAL HEALTH IS A VERB is an Open Education Resource written by Jake Bush, Ph.D., RN, CNE and Jill Van Der Like, DNP, MSN, RNC through University of West Florida which addresses mental health nursing care. The book reviews the foundations of mental health, phsychopharmacology, and the most common mental health diagnoses.
Introduction to Neuroscience is designed for undergraduate students enrolled in introductory neuroscience courses. This book specifically targets students enrolled in Introduction to Neuroscience 1 and Introduction to Neuroscience 2 at Michigan State University and primarily contains topics covered in those courses. This first edition will guide students through the structure and function of nervous system cells and nervous system structures, signaling within the nervous system, and introduce various sensory systems.
Supporting Technology Integration for School Leaders
his Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook is written as the primary resource for a 3-hour graduate course delivered online by The Teachers College at Emporia State University. The course is designed to prepare school leaders (teachers, instructional coaches, administrators, etc.) for the integration and application of diverse educational technologies into classrooms and schools in ways that reflect a theoretical, research-based, and practical understanding of curriculum development and the effective uses of technology.
Health technology innovation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including countries in Africa, falls far short of meeting the healthcare needs of these settings. The result is a heavy reliance on products and technologies imported from industrialised countries that are often not suited to, or sustainable for, LMICs. Appropriate healthcare products for LMICs are best developed in these countries, where local knowledge and understanding of needs, context and available resources may be incorporated into designs and implementation plans. The objectives for enabling health technology development in LMICs include: 1) expanding the base of expertise through research training programmes with a problem-solving focus; 2) stimulating new knowledge, approaches and solutions by enabling innovation; and 3) integrating research communities within and across institutions to build critical mass.
Introduction to engineering mechanics: statics, for those who love to learn. Concepts include: particles and rigid body equilibrium equations, distributed loads, shear and moment diagrams, trusses, method of joints and sections, & inertia.
Elisabeth (Libby) Osgood, Gayla Cameron, Emma Christensen
Critical Perspectives on Technology and the Family
From the perspective of a long time family practitioner, researcher, and educator, and technology innovator, this textbook offers the first comprehensive view of technology in the family for college students, professionals and the public. Each chapter offers content and a complete reference list, learning activities, ideas for critical blog posting and additional readings. The beginning chapters cover foundational information about our societal use of information and communications technology, family theories and ways of understanding families, and how families differ in their use and access to ICT
Project Management: Navigating the Complexity with a Systematic Approach
The world has become more complicated with the introduction and development of new technologies and methods, and novel risks such as Covid-19 pandemic. Competition has been tougher than it used to be. Organizations strive to keep up with the changes in the internal and external environment. In the light of unprecedented changes, project managers must be prepared in response to the demands from their organizations and key stakeholders like clients, customers and government agencies. This book covers the fundamentals of project management, and aims to guide undergraduate and graduate students to acquire the building blocks of project management. This book also includes Microsoft Project tutorials for project scope, schedule, resources, and cost, and monitoring and controlling.
This open access book provides a clear holistic conceptual framework of CISS-F (competitiveness, inclusiveness, sustainability, scalability and access to finance) to analyse the efficiency of value chains of high value agricultural commodities in India. It is based on the understanding that agriculture is an integrated system that connects farming with logistics, processing and marketing. Farmer’s welfare being central to any agricultural policy makes it very pertinent to study how a value chain works and can be strengthened further to realize this policy goal.
Gulati, Ashok (editor), Ganguly, Kavery (editor),Wardhan, Harsh (editor)
Special Topics in Information Technology
This open access book presents thirteen outstanding doctoral dissertations in Information Technology from the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Information Technology has always been highly interdisciplinary, as many aspects have to be considered in IT systems. The doctoral studies program in IT at Politecnico di Milano emphasizes this interdisciplinary nature, which is becoming more and more important in recent technological advances, in collaborative projects, and in the education of young researchers.
Accounting and Statistical Analyses for Sustainable Development
In this Open Access publication Claudia Lemke develops a comprehensive Multi-Level Sustainable Development Index (MLSDI) that is applicable to micro, meso, and macro objects by conducting methodological and empirical research. Multi-level comparability is crucial because the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at macro level can only be achieved if micro and meso objects contribute. The author shows that a novel information-theoretic algorithm outperforms established multivariate statistical weighting methods such as the principal component analysis (PCA). Overcoming further methodological shortcomings of previous sustainable development indices, the MLSDI avoids misled managerial and political decision making.
This open access book is the outcome of a Global Forum on Innovation, Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines held in December 2019 at the Max Plank Instititute in Munich, organised by the South Centre and the Max Plank Institute. The academics and experts from international organisations participating have contributed chapters to this book. The book is for policy makers (in Ministries of Health, Ministries of Trade, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, patent offices), but also relevant for academics (law, trade, public health), on the flexibilities available in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization to promote access to medicines.
Correa, Carlos M. (editor) , Hilty, Reto M. (editor)
Most books about epidemiology are written for graduate students but this book is especially designed for undergraduates, who are taking an introductory course in epidemiology, and especially for those students who want to know more about epidemiology. But not because it is directed mainly to undergraduates and not to graduate students the course has less rigour and quality, it is because the concepts are introduced, and presented in an easier and simplified form, so, the study of epidemiology becomes less intimidating.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Opening Eyes onto Inclusion and Diversity
Susan Carter; Professor Lindy-Anne Abawi; Professor Jill Lawrence; Associate Professor Charlotte Brownlow; Renee Desmarchelier; Melissa Fanshawe; Kathryn Gilbey; Michelle Turner; and Jillian Guy
Susan Carter, Lindy Abawi, Jill Lawrence
Pulmonary Pathophysiology for Pre-Clinical Students
Pulmonary Pathophysiology for Pre-Clinical Students is an undergraduate medical-level resource for foundational knowledge of pulmonary pathophysiology. This text is designed for a course pre-clinical undergraduate medical curriculum and it is aligned to USMLE(r) (United States Medical Licensing Examination) content guidelines. The text is meant to provide the essential information in a concise format that would allow learner preparation to engage in an active classroom. Clinical correlates and additional application of content is intended to be provided in the classroom experience
This book fosters the recognition of options for making progress toward increased environmental conservation through an understanding of the underlying science and practice of a variety of conservation techniques. Today, there are expected benefits from integrated science and practice, and many people are promoting this as the way forward to improve our environment. Over time, trends emerge regarding the best way to conserve the environment, but so far an outstanding solution has not emerged. Each conservation technique has its foundational concepts, limitations, and implementation issues.
The Internet has transformed how businesses conduct their activities and how consumers go about buying products. This textbook aims to provide a way of conceptualizing how to do marketing online and a strategic framework to do so.
My purpose in writing this book is to give readers a view into the work of managing information technology in schools. IT professionals will notice differences (some nuanced and some significant) between the needs and expectations of IT users in business and IT in school. With the more complete and more accurate concept the nature of the computing environment necessary for successful schooling, which I intend to provide through this book, IT professionals will be better prepared to meet those needs. Educators will also benefit from this book by clarifying the nature of their IT needs and how these may be different from those that are familiar to IT professionals who are hired to work in your school.
Gary L Ackerman, Greenfield, Massachusetts
Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professions
Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professions is an Open Educational Resource (OER) that focuses on breaking down, pronouncing, and learning the meaning of medical terms within the context of anatomy and physiology. This resource is targeted for Healthcare Administration, Health Sciences, and Pre-Professional students.
Goals of preventive medicine are to protect, promote, and maintain health and well-being and to prevent disease, disability, and death. Veterinary preventive medicine is an important component of veterinary training not only to ensure animal health but also to help veterinary students learn necessary information and skills for participation in global animal and human health challenges and disease prevention
This book discusses what is currently known about software engineering, based on an analysis of all the publicly available data. This aim is not as ambitious as it sounds, because there is not a great deal of data publicly available. The intent is to provide material that is useful to professional developers working in industry; until recently researchers in software engineering have been more interested in vanity work, promoted by ego and bluster.
Intermediate Financial Accounting Volume 1
This text is intended for a first course in Intermediate Financial Accounting. It presumes that students have already completed one or two Introductory Financial Accounting courses. The book reflects current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), such as IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts With Customers. It focuses on more difficult intermediate accounting topics that match prerequisite requirements for students advancing to a second level Intermediate Financial Accounting course.
Intermediate Financial Accounting Volume 2
This new text by G. Arnold and S. Kyle, developed in collaboration by Athabasca University and Lyryx, is intended for the second of two in Intermediate Financial Accounting courses. It presumes that students have already completed the Introductory Financial Accounting, and the first Intermediate Financing Accounting course. The text reflects both current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and ASPE.
Introduction to Financial Accounting: U.S. GAAP Adaptation
This textbook is an adaptation by D. Marchand and Athabasca University of the original text written by D. Annand and H. Dauderis. It is intended for use in entry-level college and university courses in financial accounting. A corporate approach is utilized consistently throughout the book. The adapted textbook includes multiple ancillary student and instructor resources. Student aids include solutions to all end-of-chapter questions and problems, and randomly-generated spreadsheet problems that cover key concepts of each chapter.
David Annand, Donna Marchand, Henry Dauderis
This book has been created for students and all individuals who work with children and families (e.g., educators, parents, caregivers, direct support workers, etc.) in diverse contexts. It is imperative to understand how and what factors may influence child outcomes across the lifespan. Therefore, key concepts related to parenting, child-rearing, care-giving, and parenting education are outlined in this textbook to provide historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives across vast settings and developmental domains
Technology, Media Literacy, and the Human Subject: A Posthuman Approach
What does it mean to be media literate in today’s world? How are we transformed by the many media infrastructures around us? We are immersed in a world mediated by information and communication technologies (ICTs). From hardware like smartphones, smartwatches, and home assistants to software like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, our lives have become a complex, interconnected network of relations.
The discipline of Biosystems Engineering emerged in the 1990s from the traditional strongholds of agricultural engineering and food engineering. Biosystems engineering integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences.
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), Virginia Tech Publishing
Traffic Flow Theory: An introduction with exercises
Traffic processes cause several problems in the world. Traffic delay, pollution are some of it. They can be solved with the right road design or traffic management (control) measure. Before implementing these designs of measures, though, their effect could be tested. To this end, knowledge of traffic flow theory is needed.
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology - Australian Edition
ght in Australia, aiming to provide students with an increased access to free, high-quality learning materials. The material in this textbook is largely based on OpenStax’s Anatomy & Physiology textbook, however, has been modified for Australian course curriculum.
Basic Concepts of Structural Design for Architecture Students
This book aims to narrate fundamental concepts of structural design to architecture students such that they have minimum involvement with math problem-solving. Within this book, students learn about different types of loads, forces and vector addition, the concept of equilibrium, internal forces, geometrical and material properties of structural elements, and rules of thumb for estimating the proportion of some structural systems such as catenary cables and arches, trusses, and frame structures.
Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering covers an undergraduate, introductory course to aeronautical engineering and aims at combining theory and practice to provide a comprehensive, thorough introduction to the fascinating, yet complex discipline of aerospace engineering. This book is the ulterior result of three year of teaching a course called Aerospace Engineering in the first year of a degree in aerospace engineering (with a minor in air navigation) at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, in Madrid, Spain.
A practical how-to illustrating the process of developing a new food product from ideation and formulation to processing and lastly commercialization. This book highlights the overall process and gives instructions for each of the steps along the way
Engineering Statics: Open and Interactive
Engineering Statics is a free, open-source textbook appropriate for anyone who wishes to learn more about vectors, forces, moments, static equilibrium, and the properties of shapes. Specifically, it has been written to be the textbook for Engineering Mechanics: Statics, the first course in the Engineering Mechanics series offered in most university-level engineering programs.
Advances on Mechanics, Design Engineering and Manufacturing III
Engineering Design; Manufacturing, Machines, Tools, Processes; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD, CAE) and Design; Machines, Tools, Processes; Open Access; Additive Manufacturing; Virtual Prototyping; Eco-design; Generative design; Digitalization in Manufacturing; Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems; 3D Modeling; Human-machine Interaction; Sustainable redesign; Stress analysis and simulation; Robost design methods; Topological optimization; NES design; Geometric modelling; Smart tightening; Technical design; Production engineering; Computer-aided design (CAD)
Roucoules, Lionel (editor) Paredes, Manuel (editor) Eynard, Benoit (editor) Morer Camo, Paz (editor) Rizzi, Caterina (editor)
Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Mechanics, Design Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing, JCM 2020, June 2-4, 2020
Adhesive Bonding of Aircraft Composite Structures
Structural Materials; Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Manufacturing, Machines, Tools, Processes; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces, Thin Films; Ceramics, Glass, Composites, Natural Materials; Machines, Tools, Processes; Characterization and Analytical Technique; Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Film; Ceramics; NDT composites; NDT aircraft; CFRP NDT testing; innovative lightweight materials; aircraft lifecycle; adhesive bonding; adhesively bonded joints; surface cleaning; ComBoNDT; Open Access; Materials science; Structural engineering; Aerospace & aviation technology; Astronautics; Production engineering; Testing of materials; Surface chemistry & adsorption; Industrial chemistry & chemical engineering
This open access Nursing Skills textbook includes physical assessments routinely performed by entry-level registered nurses and basic nursing skills performed by licensed practical nurses. It is based on the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) statewide nursing curriculum for the Nursing Skills course (543-102), the 2019 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, the 2020 NCLEX-PN Test Plan, and the Wisconsin Nurse Practice Act. Learning activities are included to encourage the student to engage in critical thinking and apply the nursing process while analyzing assessment findings.
Kimberly Ernstmeyer, Elizabeth Christman
Inventory Analytics provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the theory and practice of inventory control – a significant research area central to supply chain planning. The book outlines the foundations of inventory systems and surveys prescriptive analytics models for deterministic inventory control. It further discusses predictive analytics techniques for demand forecasting in inventory control and also examines prescriptive analytics models for stochastic inventory control.
Foundations of Neuroscience is aimed at undergraduate students new to the field of neuroscience. The first edition specifically targets students enrolled in Neurobiology at Michigan State University and primarily contains topics covered in that course.
Large Animal Surgery – Supplemental Notes
This textbook includes basic principles of large animal surgery and anesthesia, how to apply those principles to cases and situations, and discover ways of finding answers when you don’t remember the information, are presented with cases that aren’t “textbook” and/or things don’t go as planned
This open access book explores the global challenges and experiences related to digital entrepreneurial activities, using carefully selected examples from leading companies and economies that shape world business today and tomorrow. Digital entrepreneurship and the companies steering it have an enormous global impact; they promise to transform the business world and change the way we communicate with each other. These companies use digitalization and artificial intelligence to enhance the quality of decisions and augment their business and customer operations.
Soltanifar, Mariusz --- Hughes, Mathew --- Göcke, Lutz --- Soltanifar, Mariusz --- et al.
This open access book provides worldwide examples demonstrating the importance of the interplay between demography and disasters in regions and spatially. It marks an advance in practical and theoretical insights for understanding the role of demography in planning for and mitigating impacts from disasters in developed nations. Both slow onset (like the of loss polar ice from climate change) and sudden disasters (such as cyclones and man-made disasters) have the capacity to fundamentally change the profiles of populations at local and regional levels.
Karácsonyi, Dávid --- Taylor, Andrew --- Bird, Deanne
Digital Transformation in Semiconductor Manufacturing
This open access book reports on cutting-edge electrical engineering and microelectronics solutions to foster and support digitalization in the semiconductor industry. Based on the outcomes of the European project iDev40, which were presented at the two first conference editions of the European Advances in Digital Transformation Conference (EADCT 2018 and EADTC 2019), the book covers different, multidisciplinary aspects related to digital transformation, including technological and industrial developments, as well as human factors research and applications.
Keil, Sophia --- Lasch, Rainer --- Lindner, Fabian --- Lohmer, Jacob
This Open Access book is for scientists and experts who work on urban food policies. It provides a conceptual framework for understanding the urban food system sustainability and how it can be tackled by local governments. Written by a collective of researchers, this book describes the existing conceptual frameworks for an analysis of urban food policies, at the crossroads of the concepts of food system and sustainable city. It provides a basis for identifying research questions related to urban local government initiatives in the North and South. It is the result of work carried out within Agropolis International within the framework of the Sustainable Urban Food Systems program and an action research carried out in support of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole for the construction of its agroecological and food policy.
Brand, Caroline --- Bricas, Nicolas --- Conaré, Damien --- Daviron, Benoit --- et al.
Craftspeople and Designer Makers in the Contemporary Creative Economy
This open access book explores the experience of working as a craftsperson or designer maker in the contemporary creative economy. The authors utilise evidence from the only major empirical study to explore the skills required and the challenges facing contemporary makers in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Drawing upon 180 interviews with peak organisations, established and emerging makers, and four years of fieldwork across Australia, this book offers a unique insight into the motivations informing those who seek to make an income from their craft or designer maker practice, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing them as they do so at this time of renewed interest internationally in the artisanal and handmade.
This open access book contributes to the creation of a cyber ecosystem supported by blockchain technology in which technology and people can coexist in harmony. Blockchains have shown that trusted records, or ledgers, of permanent data can be stored on the Internet in a decentralized manner. The decentralization of the recording process is expected to significantly economize the cost of transactions. Creating a ledger on data, a blockchain makes it possible to designate the owner of each piece of data, to trade data pieces, and to market them. This book examines the formation of markets for various types of data from the theory of market quality proposed and developed by M. Yano. Blockchains are expected to give data itself the status of a new production factor.
Yano, Makoto --- Dai, Chris --- Masuda, Kenichi --- Kishimoto, Yoshio
This open access volume is the first academic book on the controversial issue of including spiritual care in integrated electronic medical records (EMR). Based on an international study group comprising researchers from Europe (The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland), the United States, Canada, and Australia, this edited collection provides an overview of different charting practices and experiences in various countries and healthcare contexts. Encompassing case studies and analyses of theological, ethical, legal, healthcare policy, and practical issues, the volume is a groundbreaking reference for future discussion, research, and strategic planning for inter- or multi-faith healthcare chaplains and other spiritual care providers involved in the new field of documenting spiritual care in EMR.
A major objective of this open access book is to summarize the current status of Buruli Ulcer (BU) research for the first time. It will identify gaps in our knowledge, stimulate research and support control of the disease by providing insight into approaches for surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of Buruli Ulcer. Book chapters will cover the history, epidemiology diagnosis, treatment and disease burden of BU and provide insight into the microbiology, genomics, transmission and virulence of Mycobacterium ulcerans. ; Supports further investigation by summarizing state of the art in the field of Buruli ulcer research Enriches understanding of epidemiology of Buruli ulcer in different geographic regions Reviews exhaustively the characteristics of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease
This open access book describes modern applications of computational human modeling in an effort to advance neurology, cancer treatment, and radio-frequency studies including regulatory, safety, and wireless communication fields. Readers working on any application that may expose human subjects to electromagnetic radiation will benefit from this book’s coverage of the latest models and techniques available to assess a given technology’s safety and efficacy in a timely and efficient manner.
Makarov, Sergey N. --- Noetscher, Gregory M. --- Nummenmaa, Aapo
This open access book describes modern applications of computational human modeling with specific emphasis in the areas of neurology and neuroelectromagnetics, depression and cancer treatments, radio-frequency studies and wireless communications. Special consideration is also given to the use of human modeling to the computational assessment of relevant regulatory and safety requirements. Readers working on applications that may expose human subjects to electromagnetic radiation will benefit from this book’s coverage of the latest developments in computational modelling and human phantom development to assess a given technology’s safety and efficacy in a timely manner.
Makarov, Sergey --- Horner, Marc --- Noetscher, Gregory
The Discipline of Organizing: 4th Professional Edition
We organize things, we organize information, we organize information about things, and we organize information about information. But even though “organizing” is a fundamental and ubiquitous challenge, when we compare these activities their contrasts are more apparent than their commonalities. We propose to unify many perspectives about organizing with the concept of an Organizing System, defined as an intentionally arranged collection of resources and the interactions they support.
This Open Access textbook provides students and researchers in the life sciences with essential practical information on how to quantitatively analyze data images. It refrains from focusing on theory, and instead uses practical examples and step-by step protocols to familiarize readers with the most commonly used image processing and analysis platforms such as ImageJ, MatLab and Python. Besides gaining knowhow on algorithm usage, readers will learn how to create an analysis pipeline by scripting language; these skills are important in order to document reproducible image analysis workflows.
This open access book presents a comprehensive analysis of biofuel use strategies from an interdisciplinary perspective using sustainability science. This interdisciplinary perspective (social science-natural science) means that the strategies and policy options proposed will have significant impacts on the economy and society alike. Biofuels are expected to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, revitalizing economies in agricultural communities and alleviating poverty.
Takeuchi, Kazuhiko --- Shiroyama, Hideaki --- Saito, Osamu --- Matsuura, Masahiro
Belly-Rippers, Surgical Innovation and the Ovariotomy Controversy
This open access book looks at the dramatic history of ovariotomy, an operation to remove ovarian tumours first practiced in the early nineteenth century. Bold and daring, surgeons who performed it claimed to be initiating a new era of surgery by opening the abdomen. Ovariotomy soon occupied a complex position within medicine and society, as an operation which symbolised surgical progress, while also remaining at the boundaries of ethical acceptability. This book traces the operation’s innovation, from its roots in eighteenth-century pathology, through the denouncement of those who performed it as ‘belly-rippers’, to its rapid uptake in the 1880s, when ovariotomists were accused of over-operating.
This open access book revisits common notions on how to select and recruit the right employees. It reveals that the secret of successful individuals and teams lies in a combination of talent and four important performance indicators, offering an innovative approach that companies can fruitfully adopt. Bas Kodden has studied key performance indicators among over 1,100 executives, senior staff and professionals, including 50 CEOs from leading Dutch companies. His findings put the present recruitment and selection procedures used by many prominent companies in a new light.
Animals and the Shaping of Modern Medicine
This book breaks new ground by situating animals and their diseases at the very heart of modern medicine. In demonstrating their historical significance as subjects and shapers of medicine, it offers important insights into past animal lives, and reveals that what we think of as ‘human’ medicine was in fact deeply zoological. Each chapter analyses an important episode in which animals changed and were changed by medicine.
Woods, Abigail --- Bresalier, Michael --- Cassidy, Angela --- Mason Dentinger, Rachel
AiREAS: Sustainocracy for a Healthy City
Medicine (General) ---, Environmental Technology
This book describes the coming about and first results of the AiREAS "healthy city" cooperative in the city of Eindhoven and Province of North Brabant in the Netherlands. AiREAS is an initiative focused on the multidisciplinary co-creation of healthy cities using the core human value of human health and air quality as guiding principle for profound regional innovation. The unique group process that followed uses the complexity of the city of Eindhoven as living lab.
Agricultural Implications of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident (III)
This open access book presents the findings from on-site research into radioactive cesium contamination in various agricultural systems affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. This third volume in the series reports on studies undertaken at contaminated sites such as farmland, forests, and marine and freshwater environments, with a particular focus on livestock, wild plants and mushrooms, crops, and marine products in those environments. It also provides additional data collected in the subsequent years to show how the radioactivity levels in agricultural products and their growing environments have changed with time and the route by which radioactive materials entered agricultural products as well as their movement between different components (e.g., soil, water, and trees) within an environmental system (e.g., forests).
Nakanishi, Tomoko M. --- O`Brien, Martin --- Tanoi, Keitaro
Advancing Culture of Living with Landslides: Volume 1 ISDR-ICL Sendai Partnerships 2015-2025
This volume contains peer-reviewed papers from the Fourth World Landslide Forum organized by the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL), the Global Promotion Committee of the International Programme on Landslides (IPL), University of Ljubljana (UL) and Geological Survey of Slovenia in Ljubljana, Slovenia from May 29 to June 2, 2017. The complete collection of papers from the Forum is published in five full-color volumes.
Kyoji Sassa --- Matjaž Mikoš --- Yueping Yin
Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals
This open access book presents detailed pathways to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, globally and across ten geographical regions. Based on state-of-the-art scenario modelling, it provides the vital missing link between renewable energy targets and the measures needed to achieve them. Bringing together the latest research in climate science, renewable energy technology, employment and resource impacts, the book breaks new ground by covering all the elements essential to achieving the ambitious climate mitigation targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. For example, sectoral implementation pathways, with special emphasis on differences between developed and developing countries and regional conditions, provide tools to implement the scenarios globally and domestically
This open access book gives an overview of the sessions, panel discussions, and outcomes of the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference, held in February 2018 in San Antonio, Texas, USA, and hosted by the Mays Cancer Center and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. Latinos – the largest, youngest, and fastest-growing minority group in the United States – are expected to face a 142% rise in cancer cases in coming years. Although there has been substantial advancement in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment over the past few decades, addressing Latino cancer health disparities has not nearly kept pace with progress.
Ramirez, Amelie G. --- Trapido, Edward J.
Perspectives on European Earthquake Engineering and Seismology: Volume 1
General and Civil Engineering --- Materials
This book collects 5 keynote and 15 topic lectures presented at the 2nd European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (2ECEES), held in Istanbul, Turkey, from August 24 to 29, 2014. The conference was organized by the Turkish Earthquake Foundation - Earthquake Engineering Committee and Prime Ministry, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency under the auspices of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE) and European Seismological Commission (ESC). The book’s twenty state-of-the-art papers were written by the most prominent researchers in Europe and address a comprehensive collection of topics on earthquake engineering, as well as interdisciplinary subjects such as engineering seismology and seismic risk assessment and management.
This edited volume contains the selected papers presented at the scientific board meeting of the German Cluster of Excellence on “Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries”, held in November 2014. The topical structure of the book is clustered in six sessions: Integrative Production Technology, Individualised Production, Virtual Production Systems, Integrated Technologies, Self-Optimising Production Systems and Human Factors in Production Technology. The Aachen perspective on a holistic theory of production is complemented by conference papers from external leading researchers in the fields of production, materials science and bordering disciplines.
Advances in Pharma Business Management and Research
This open access book presents a unique collection of practical examples from the field of pharma business management and research. It covers a wide range of topics such as: 'Brexit and its Impact on pharmaceutical Law - Implications for Global Pharma Companies', 'Implementation of Measures and Sustainable Actions to Improve Employee's Engagement', 'Global Medical Clinical and Regulatory Affairs (GMCRA)', and 'A Quality Management System for R&D Project and Portfolio Management in a Pharmaceutical Company'. The chapters are summaries of master’s theses by "high potential" Pharma MBA students from the Goethe Business School, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, with 8-10 years of work experience and are based on scientific know-how and real-world experience.
Schweizer, Lars --- Dingermann, Theodor --- Russe, Otto Quintus --- Jansen, Christian
The papers presented in this open access book address diverse challenges in decarbonizing energy systems, ranging from operational to investment planning problems, from market economics to technical and environmental considerations, from distribution grids to transmission grids, and from theoretical considerations to data provision concerns and applied case studies. While most papers have a clear methodological focus, they address policy-relevant questions at the same time. The target audience therefore includes academics and experts in industry as well as policy makers, who are interested in state-of-the-art quantitative modelling of policy relevant problems in energy systems
Bertsch, Valentin --- Ardone, Armin --- Suriyah, Michael --- Fichtner, Wolf --- et al.
This open access book presents a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of knowledge on the state of crowdfunding research and practice. It considers crowdfunding models and their different manifestations across a variety of geographies and sectors, and explores the perspectives of fundraisers, backers, platforms, and regulators. Gathering insights from a wide range of influential researchers in the field, the book balances concepts, theory, and case studies. Going beyond previous research on crowdfunding, the contributors also investigate issues of community, sustainability, education, and ethics
Shneor, Rotem --- Zhao, Liang --- Flåten, Bjørn-Tore
This Open Access book, building on research initiated by scholars from the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Global Heritage and Development (CHGD) and ICOMOS Netherlands, presents multidisciplinary research that connects water to heritage. Through twenty-one chapters it explores landscapes, cities, engineering structures and buildings from around the world. It describes how people have actively shaped the course, form and function of water for human settlement and the development of civilizations, establishing socio-economic structures, policies and cultures; a rich world of narratives, laws and practices; and an extensive network of infrastructure, buildings and urban form.
Financial Management for Small Businesses: Financial Statements & Present Value Models
This book is for those whose financial management focus is on small businesses. For you, we adapt the traditional financial management themes emphasized in corporate financial management courses to meet the needs of small businesses. Many financial managers of small businesses come from farms or agribusinesses. Others are interested in working for or starting businesses in the food or retail sectors. In most cases, these businesses aren’t organized as C-corporations impacting things like taxes, depreciation, and legal requirements around compiling and reporting financial data. They are rarely publicly traded which creates unique constraints to raising debt and equity capital and calculating required risk-adjusted returns.
Lindon J. Robinson, Steven D. Hanson, J. Roy Black,
This book was created for an undergraduate Introduction to Industrial Engineering course at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). The chapters give an overview of the profession and an introduction to some of the tools used by industrial engineers in industry. There are interactive content exercises included at the end of most chapters. This interactive content aims to engage students in the content as they are reading. The book will continue to revised and updated with new information as it becomes necessary.
DC Electrical Circuit Analysis: A Practical Approach
elcome to DC Electrical Circuit Analysis, an open educational resource (OER). The goal of this text is to introduce the theory and practical application of analysis of DC electrical circuits. It is offered free of charge under a Creative Commons non-commercial, share-alike with attribution license. For your convenience, along with the free pdf and odt files, print copies are available at a very modest charge. Check my web sites for links. This text is based on the earlier Workbook for DC Electrical Circuits, which it replaces. The original expository text has been greatly expanded and includes many examples along with computer simulations. For the convenience of those who used the Workbook, many of the problem sets are the same, with some re-ordering depending on the chapter.
AC Electrical Circuit Analysis: A Practical Approach
theory and practical application of analysis of AC electrical circuits. It assumes familiarity with DC circuit analysis. If you have not studied DC circuit analysis, it is strongly recommended that you read the companion OER text, DC Electrical Circuit Analysis before continuing. Both texts are offered free of charge under a Creative Commons non-commercial, share-alike with attribution license. For your convenience, along with the free pdf and odt files, print copies are available at a very modest charge. Check my web sites for links. This text is based on the earlier Workbook for AC Electrical Circuits, which it replaces. The original expository text has been greatly expanded and includes many examples along with computer simulations. For the convenience of those who used the Workbook, many of the problem sets are the same, with some re-ordering depending on the chapter.
This open source textbook is derived from many sources, initially from the Principles of Management by Carpenter, Bauer, and Erdogan, but there is abundant new content as well. It is published under a Creative Commons license and as such there is no charge ever for this textbook. The most important change from 1e is that static content was removed to make room for student-generated dynamic content. Throughout the book look for the names of contributing students in the red colored example boxes. As the term progresses, you will see new examples appear as fellow students research and summarize topics for current events, all are curated by the instructor.
This open access Nursing Pharmacology textbook is designed for entry-level undergraduate nursing students. It explains basic concepts of pharmacology and describes common medication classes. This book is not intended to be used as a drug reference book, but direct links are provided to DailyMed, which provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States.
Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire, WI
Two-Dimensional Electronics - Prospects and Challenges
The first two-dimensional material studied in detail was graphene, and many groups explored its potential for electronic applications. Meanwhile, researchers have extended their work to two-dimensional materials beyond graphene. At present, several hundred of these materials are known and part of them is considered to be useful for electronic applications.
Turbulence in River and Maritime Hydraulics
Understanding of the role of turbulence in controlling transport processes is of paramount importance for the preservation and protection of aquatic ecosystems, the minimization of the deleterious consequences of anthropogenic activity, and the successful sustainable development of river and maritime areas. In this context, the present Special Issue collects 15 papers which provide a representation of the present understanding of turbulent processes and their effects in river and maritime environments.
Mossa, Michele --- Termini, Donatella --- Davies, Peter A.
The Tumor Microenvironment of High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
The Special Issue on high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and the contribution of the tumor microenviroment (TME) consists of reviews contributed by leaders in the OC field. As HGSOC metastases have a highly complex TME, there is an urgent need to better understand the TME in general, its distinct components in particular, and the role of the TME in the context of disease recurrence and development of chemoresistance.
M. Sharon Stack (Ed.) --- Kenneth P. Nephew (Ed.) --- Joanna E. Burdette (Ed.) --- Anirban K. Mitra (Ed.)
Almost 25 years ago, the first mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) channel was cloned and published. TRP channels now represent an extended family of 28 members fulfilling multiple roles in the living organism. Identified functions include control of body temperature, transmitter release, mineral homeostasis, chemical sensing, and survival mechanisms in a challenging environment.
The Special Issue on Tribology and Surface Engineering includes nine research articles and one review article. It concerns a very important problem of resistance to wear and shaping the properties of the surface layers of different materials by different methods and technologies. The topics of the presented research articles include reactive direct current magnetron sputtering of silicon nitrides on implants, laser surface modification of aeroengine turbine blades, laser micro-texturing of titanium alloy to increase the tribological characteristics, electroplating of Cu–Sn composite coatings incorporated with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and TiO2 particles, arc spraying of self-lubricous coatings, high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying and gas nitriding of stainless steel coatings, HVOF spraying composite WC-Co coatings, testing of coatings deposited by physical vapour deposition (PVD), and also analysis of material removal and surface creation in wood sanding. The special issue provides valuable knowledge based on theoretical and empirical study in the field of coating technologies, as well as characterization of coatings, and wear phenomena.
Tribological Performance of Artificial Joints
Joint replacement is a very successful medical treatment. However, the survivorship of the implants could be adversely affected due to the loss of materials in the form of particles or ions as the bearing surfaces articulate against earch other. The consequent tissue and immune response to the wear products, remain one of the key factors of their failure. Tribology has been defined as the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion and all related wear products (e.g., particles, ions, etc.).
Trends in Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation Processes
This book gives an overview of the state of the art in Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation research for the treatment of industrial and urban wastewaters and provides novel solutions to overcome the current challenges of this technology. These solutions include tailoring of the catalysts to exploit the use of additional energy sources and oxidants. The collected papers illustrate the high versatility of this low-cost technology, easily adaptable to any kind of wastewater, either polluted by high-loaded recalcitrant organics in industrial wastewaters or by emerging pollutants at microconcentration levels in urban waters.
Quintanilla, Asuncion --- Munoz, Macarena
This collection of papers describes the recent development of travel health and vaccination services delivered by pharmacists. It is the first dedicated collection of its type and provides a template for the continued growth of pharmacy practice in this area. The articles examine and report on aspects of such services in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and South Africa, which will provide useful insight for those in other countries developing such pharmacy-based services.
Transport of Fluids in Nanoporous Materials
Fluid transport in narrow pores is central to the design and optimization of nanoporous materials in industrial applications, such as catalysis, nanofluids, electrochemical batteries, and membrane separation. However, due to the strong potential field in nanopores, conventional models and methods have become inadequate for predicting the transport behavior of molecules confined in the pore space. In addition, the inherent complexity of the pore structure in nanomaterials requires consideration of local or nanoscale transport at the single pore level, and averaging over the macroscale, which further impedes the application and validation of the formulated mechanical models
Suresh K. Bhatia (Ed.) --- David Nicholson (Ed.) --- Xuechao Gao (Ed.) --- Guozhao Ji (Ed.)
Transmucosal Absorption Enhancers in the Drug Delivery Field
Development of strategies to assist the movement of poorly permeable molecules across biological barriers has long been the goal of drug delivery science. In the last three decades, there has been an exponential increase in advanced drug delivery systems that aim to address this issue. However, most proprietary delivery technologies that have progressed to clinical development are based on permeation enhancers (PEs) that have a history of safe use in man. This Special Issue entitled “Transmucosal Absorption Enhancers in the Drug Delivery Field” aims to present the current state-of-the-art in the application of PEs to improve drug absorption.
Casettari, Luca --- Maher, Sam --- Illum, Lisbeth
Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels in Drug Discovery: Old Concepts & New Thoughts
The year 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the molecular cloning of the long sought-after capsaicin receptor, now known as TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1). This seminal discovery has opened up a “hot” new field of basic research and launched drug discovery efforts into the large family (by the latest count, 28 mammalian members and 27 in humans) of TRP ion channels. Indeed, it took less than a decade for the first potent, small molecule TRPV1 antagonists to enter phase 1 clinical trials, closely followed by TRPA1 and TRPM8 antagonists. The literature on TRP channels is immense. TRPV1 alone is a keyword in over 5000 publications searchable in PubMed.
Arpad Szallasi (Ed.) --- Susan M. Huang (Ed.)
Traditional and Innovative Approaches in Seismic Design
This special issue collects selected papers about a wide range of innovative applications in earthquake engineering. These studies were presented during the 2nd Edition of the International Workshop “Traditional and Innovative Approaches in Seismic Engineering”, held in Pisa in March 2017. The topics refer to the investigation of traditional and innovative materials for earthquake engineering applications: masonry, reinforced concrete, steel, structural glass and timber. In particular, advanced analytical and numerical analyses are described for considering effects of strength and material irregularities and rocking behavior under seismic excitations on historic buildings and industrial facilities
Linda Giresini (ed.) --- Francesca Taddei
Toxins in Drug Discovery and Pharmacology
Venoms from marine and terrestrial animals (cone snails, scorpions, spiders, snakes, centipedes, cnidarian, etc.) can be seen as untapped cocktails of biologically active compounds that are being increasingly recognized as a new emerging source of peptide-based therapeutics. Venomous animals are considered to be specialized predators that have evolved the most sophisticated peptide chemistry and neuropharmacology for their own biological purposes by producing venoms that contain a structural and functional diversity of neurotoxins.
Towards Sustainable Global Food Systems. Conceptual and Policy Analysis of Agriculture, Food and Environment Linkages
One of the major knowledge challenges in the domain of Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems refers to the integration of perspectives on consumption, patterns that support public health, inclusive value chains, and environmentally sustainable food production. While there is a long record of the analysis of separate interventions, this special issue generates integrated insights, provides cross-cutting perspectives, and outlines practical and policy solutions that address these global challenges.<false,>
Toward a Sustainable Agriculture: Farming Practices and Water Use
Globally, the agri-food sector has a major role to play in ensuring food security and economic development, especially for lower income countries. In the increasingly demanding context of environmental risk, exacerbated by climate change, and of environmental degradation, agricultural producers are faced with the challenge to meet the demand of the agri-food sector to feed growing populations in a sustainable manner while still trying to make ends meet. Toward a Sustainable Agriculture: Farming Practices and Water Use
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Nanomedicine
This book focus on the most recent advances related to the design and processing methods of different nanobiomaterials, films, and fibers; surface functionalization strategies, including biological performance assessment and cytocompatibility; and their applications in tissue engineering strategies
Oliveira, Joaquim Miguel --- Reis, Rui L.
Thin Films for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage
Efficient clean energy harvesting, conversion, and storage technologies are of immense importance for the sustainable development of human society. To this end, scientists have made significant advances in recent years regarding new materials and devices for improving the energy conversion efficiency for photovoltaics, thermoelectric generation, photoelectrochemical/electrolytic hydrogen generation, and rechargeable metal ion batteries.
Chen, Zhong --- Tang, Yuxin --- Zhao, Xin
Thermal and Electro-thermal System Simulation
With increasing power levels and power densities in electronics systems, thermal issues are becoming more and more critical. The elevated temperatures result in changing electrical system parameters, changing the operation of devices, and sometimes even the destruction of devices. To prevent this, the thermal behavior has to be considered in the design phase. This can be done with thermal end electro-thermal design and simulation tools
Teenage Reproductive Health: Pregnancy, Contraception, Unsafe Abortion, Fertility
Maternal mortality is still globally high and reducing it is a top priority. Teenage pregnancies have more complications and are also unwanted in many cases. This contributes to the high maternal mortality with both obstetric complications and burden of unsafe abortion. Additionally, many teenagers live in areas with heavy pollution that affects the mother and the unborn child. Global public health is a very important issue that aims to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote physical, mental and social well-being.
This book presents interesting samples of theoretical and practical advances of symmetry in multidisciplinary engineering applications. It covers several applications, such as accessibility and traffic congestion management, path planning for mobile robots, analysis of shipment service networks, fault diagnosis methods in electrical circuits and electrical machines, geometrical issues in architecture, geometric modeling and virtual reconstruction, design of noise detectors, filters, and segmentation methods for image processing, and cyclic symmetric structures in turbomachinery applications, to name but a few.
Montoya, Francisco G. --- Baños Navarro, Raúl
Human development has made remarkable social and economic progress possible for most of us but has also entailed a range of serious impacts on natural resources, local communities and the economy at multiple scales. Thus, achieving sustainable territorial management that combines healthy and prosperous societies with the long-term maintenance of biodiversity and productive ecosystem services remains the biggest challenge of our modern world. This Special Issue seeks to collect a coherent set of studies on techniques and experiences (case studies) aimed at increasing the environmental, social, economic &/or institutional sustainability of landscapes and seascapes from a range of geographic and socioeconomic contexts.
David Rodr´ıguez-Rodr´ıguez (Ed.) --- Javier Mart´ınez-Vega (Ed.)
The concept of sustainability is important for companies both in the case of SMEs and worldwide multinational companies. Some key factors to help a company achieve its sustainability objectives are based on human resource management. Sustainable human resource management is a typical cross-functional task that becomes increasingly important at the strategic level of a company. Industry 4.0 technologies, Internet of Things, and competitive demands, as signs of globalization, have led to significant changes across the organizational structures and human resource strategies of companies.
This Special Issue of Sustainability reports on recent research aiming to make the freight transport sector more sustainable. The sector faces significant challenges in different domains of sustainability, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the management of health and safety impacts. In particular, the intention to decarbonise the sector’s activities has led to a strong increase in research efforts—this is also the main focus of the Special Issue. Sustainable freight transport operations represent a significant challenge with multiple technical, operational, and political aspects.
The dynamically changing world economy, in an era of intensive development and globalization, creates new needs in both the theoretical models of management and in the practical discussion related to the perception of business. Because of new economic phenomena related to the crisis, there is a need for the design and operationalization of innovative business models for companies. Due to the fact that in times of crisis, the principles of strategic balance are particularly important; these business models can be sustainable business models.
The dynamically changing world economy, in an era of intensive development and globalization, creates new needs in both the theoretical models of management and in the practical discussion related to the perception of business. Because of new economic phenomena related to the crisis, there is a need for the design and operationalization of innovative business models for companies. Due to the fact that in times of crisis, the principles of strategic balance are particularly important; these business models can be sustainable business models. Moreover, it is essential to skillfully use different methods and concepts of management to ensure the continuity of business.
Sustainable Agriculture–Beyond Organic Farming
The current conception of organic farming is the result of nearly a century of intellectual thought and dialogue, field observations and experiences, systematic experimentation, and codification of rules. Debates on the future viability of organic farming often focus on its capacity to produce sufficient food to meet the demands of a growing human population. Yet any thorough examination of the pros and cons of alternative farming approaches should consider much more—for example the side effects on soil, water and air; energy and land-use efficiency; global warming potential; conservation of biodiversity; waste generation and recycling; farmer and community well-being; animal welfare; and the capacity to function and meet demands long into the future.
Sustainability in Construction Engineering
The concept of sustainability has been expanding to all areas of economic activity, including construction. The Special Issue “Sustainability in Construction Engineering” provided a possibility for researchers to disseminate their new ideas and findings related to sustainable decisions in construction engineering as a complex discipline that involves designing, planning, construction and management of infrastructures. The topics raised interest of researchers all over the world and the current Special Issue received a great number of submissions from different institutions, countries and continents.
Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas (Ed.) --- Jonas Šaparauskas (Ed.) --- Jurgita Antuchevičienė (Ed.)
Structure and Mechanical Properties of Transition Group Metals, Alloys, and Intermetallic Compounds
The aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest theoretical and experimental achievements concerning the mechanisms of microstructural change in metallic materials subject to different processing methods, and their effect on mechanical properties. It is my pleasure to present a series of compelling scientific papers written by scientists from the community of transition group metals, alloys, and intermetallic compounds.
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures
Deficiencies in these areas may be remediated by advancements in structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies that provide sensing systems to automatically and economically diagnose structural integrity. In a sense, SHM technologies will help pave the way to intelligent structures that are able to detect damage by themselves and even warn occupants of any danger due to impending structural failure. Engineering sensors and developing smart algorithms for SHM often involves the close collaboration of a surprisingly large breadth of specialties.
Gangbing Song (Ed.) --- Chuji Wang (Ed.) --- Bo Wang (Ed.)
Solar Energy Applications in Houses, Smart Cities and Microgrids
Five papers were selected for this Special Issue, with three relating to solar energy applications in houses, smart cities, and microgrids; one studying the relationship between the smart city model and the concept of energy sustainability; and one addressing the following two topics: the lack of effectiveness of detection algorithms based on the voltage/frequency displacement concept under voltage-controlled inverters and the applicability limits of others based on the impedance measurement (IM).
Soil Water Conservation. Dynamics and Impact
Human needs like food and clean water are directly related to good maintenance of healthy and productive soils. A good understanding of human impact on the natural environment is therefore necessary to preserve and manage soil and water resources. This knowledge is particularly important in semi-arid and arid regions, where the increasing demands on limited water supplies require urgent efforts to improve water quality and water use efficiency. It is important to keep in mind that both soil and water are limited resources.
Keesstra, Saskia --- Di Prima, Simone --- Castellini, Mirko --- Pirastru, Mario
With the advent of disruptive digital technologies, companies are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Advanced manufacturing systems are of paramount importance in making key enabling technologies and new products more competitive, affordable, and accessible, as well as for fostering their economic and social impact. The manufacturing industry also serves as an innovator for sustainability since automation coupled with advanced manufacturing technologies have helped manufacturing practices transition into the circular economy
Smart Textiles Production: Overview of Materials, Sensor and Production Technologies for Industrial Smart Textiles
The research field of smart textiles is currently witnessing a rapidly growing number of applications integrating intelligent functions in textile substrates. With an increasing amount of new developed product prototypes, the number of materials used and that of specially designed production technologies are also growing. This book is intended to provide an overview of materials, production technologies, and product concepts to different groups concerned with smart textiles. It will help designers to understand the possibilities of smart textile production, so that they are enabled to design this type of products
Inga Gehrke, Vadim Tenner, Volker Lutz, David Schmelzeisen and Thomas Gries
Smart Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring
Smart sensors are technologies designed to facilitate the monitoring operations. For instance, power consumption can be minimized through on-board processing and smart interrogation algorithms, and state detection enhanced through collaboration between sensor nodes. Applied to structural health monitoring, smart sensors are key enablers of sparse and dense sensor networks capable of monitoring full-scale structures and components. They are also critical in empowering operators with decision making capabilities.
Ubertini, Filippo --- Laflamme, Simon --- Li, Jian
Smart machines, Remote Sensing, Precision Farming, Processes, Mechatronic, Materials and Policies for Safety and Health Aspects
The introduction of "smart machines" for agricultural operations will allow several advantages, such as an increase in their efficiencies, a reduction in environmental impacts and a reduction of work injuries. There are partially- and fully-automatic devices for most aspects of agricultural functions, from seeding and planting to harvesting and postharvesting, from spraying to livestock management, and so on The objectives of this book are: study of man–machine dialogue systems; analysis on towed or carried machines: forestry chippers, manure spreaders, round balers and others; safety and health management system design and engineering
Andrea Colantoni (Ed.) --- Danilo Monarca (Ed.) --- Massimo Cecchini (Ed.) --- Vincenzo Laurendi (Ed.) --- et al.
Silicon-Based Nanomaterials: Technology and Applications
Silicon has been proven to be remarkably resilient as a commercial electronic material. The microelectronics industry has harnessed nanotechnology to continually push the performance limits of silicon devices and integrated circuits. Rather than shrinking its market share, silicon is displacing “competitor” semiconductors in domains such as high-frequency electronics and integrated photonics. There are strong business drivers underlying these trends; however, an important contribution is also being made by research groups worldwide, who are developing new configurations, designs, and applications of silicon-based nanoscale and nanostructured materials.
Short Rotation Woody Crop Production Systems for Ecosystem Services and Phytotechnologies
While international efforts in the development of short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) have historically focused on the production of biomass for bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts, research and deployment over the past decade has expanded to include broader objectives of achieving multiple ecosystem services. In particular, silvicultural prescriptions developed for SRWCs have been refined to include woody crop production systems for environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, water quality and quantity, and soil health.
Zalesny, Jr., Ronald S. --- Headlee, William L. --- Soolanayakanahally, Raju --- Richardson, Jim
Agriculture requires technical solutions for increasing production while lessening environmental impact by reducing the application of agro-chemicals and increasing the use of environmentally friendly management practices. A benefit of this is the reduction of production costs. Sensor technologies produce tools to achieve the abovementioned goals. The explosive technological advances and developments in recent years have enormously facilitated the attainment of these objectives, removing many barriers for their implementation, including the reservations expressed by farmers.
Selected Problems in Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer
Fluid flow and heat transfer processes play an important role in many areas of science and engineering, from the planetary scale (e.g., influencing weather and climate) to the microscopic scales of enhancing heat transfer by the use of nanofluids; understood in the broadest possible sense, they also underpin the performance of many energy systems. This topical Special Issue of Energies is dedicated to the recent advances in this very broad field.
Roles of NF-κB in Cancer and Their Therapeutic Approaches
Although mortality rates have declined in recent years, the majority of cancers are still difficult to treat and the medical need for better cancer treatment is evident. The current anticancer armamentarium includes many active agents that are applied across tumor types. However, most of these broadly-active anticancer drugs have a small therapeutic index and barely discriminate between malignant and normal cells. In recent years the focus has shifted to the development of rationally designed, molecularly-targeted therapy for the treatment of a specific cancer, therefore offering the promise of greater specificity coupled with reduced systemic toxicity.
Polyamine Metabolism in Disease and Polyamine-Targeted Therapies
Polyamines are ubiquitous polycations essential for all cellular life. The most common polyamines in eukaryotes, spermine, spermidine, and putrescine, exist in millimolar intracellular concentrations that are tightly regulated through biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport. Polyamines interact with, and regulate, negatively charged macromolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and ion channels. Accordingly, alterations in polyamine metabolism affect cellular proliferation and survival through changes in gene expression and transcription, translation, autophagy, oxidative stress, and apoptosis
Polarimetric SAR Techniques and Applications
Polarimetry allows sensitivity to the structural and geometric properties of the scene, making it possible a more accurate identification and classification than non-polarimetric systems. Then, polarimetry makes possible new applications, especially in quantitative extraction of bio and geophysical variables. Also, the combination of polarimetry and interferometry allows also to explore the vertical structure of semi-transparent media, like crops and forests. SAR polarimetry is an active field of research in Earth observation. Besides the development of applications, researchers have also focused in theory or physical modelling to make SAR polarimetry an operational technique.
Carlos López-Martínez (Ed.) --- Juan Manuel Lopez-Sanchez (Ed.)
Plasmonics is a rapidly developing field that combines fundamental research and applications ranging from areas such as physics to engineering, chemistry, biology, medicine, food sciences, and the environmental sciences. Plasmonics appeared in the 1950s with the discovery of surface plasmon polaritons. Plasmonics then went through a novel propulsion in the mid-1970s, when surface-enhanced Raman scattering was discovered. Nevertheless, it is in this last decade that a very significant explosion of plasmonics and its applications has occurred. Thus, this book provides a snapshot of the current advances in these various areas of plasmonics and its applications, such as engineering, sensing, surface-enhanced fluorescence, catalysis, and photovoltaic devices.
Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies
The use of renewable energy is an effective solution for the prevention of global warming. On the other hand, environmental plasmas are one of powerful means to solve global environmental problems on nitrogen oxides, (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and carbon dioxides (CO2) in the atmosphere. By combining both technologies, we can develop an extremely effective environmental improvement technology. Based on this background, a Special Issue of the journal Energies on plasma processes for renewable energy technologies is planned.
Plasma catalysis is gaining increasing interest for various gas conversion applications, such as CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals and fuels, N2 fixation for the synthesis of NH3 or NOx, methane conversion into higher hydrocarbons or oxygenates. It is also widely used for air pollution control (e.g., VOC
Plant Nutrient Dynamics in Stressful Environments
The papers included in this special issue cover a broad range of aspects ranging from genetics and breeding to crop production in the field. Climate change, intensified agriculture, modifications of land use, or pollution are often accompanied by larger fluctuations including extreme events. The growing world’s population and nutrient deficiencies in agricultural products for human or animal nutrition, or pollutants in harvested products in some regions (quality of yield), are important points to be integrated in a comprehensive analysis aimed at supporting agriculture on the way into a challenging future.
Urs Feller (Ed.) --- Stanislav Kopriva (Ed.) --- Valya Vassileva (Ed.)
Plants have served mankind as an important source of foods and medicines. While we all consume plants and their products for nutritional support, a majority of the world population also rely on botanical remedies to meet their health needs, either as their own “traditional medicine” or as “complementary and alternative medicine”. From a pharmaceutical point of view, many compounds obtained from plant sources have long been known to possess bio/pharmacological activities, and historically, plants have yielded many important drugs for human use, from morphine discovered in the early nineteenth century to the more recent paclitaxel and artemisinin.
Plant medicines are the original medicines that humans have always used. Many people continue to use plant medicines today including teas, coffee, chocolate, ginger, and other medicines. Traditional medicine is based on plant medicines and is the primary form of medicine for many people throughout the world. The current volume discusses traditional medicines and presents various plant medicines that could be tested in clinical trials. Modern medicine continues to use many drugs that are derived from plants. The current work has much to teach modern medicine about the treatment of several diseases.
Planning, Development and Management of Sustainable Cities
The concept of ‘sustainable urban development’ has been pushed to the forefront of policymaking and politics as the world wakes up to the impacts of climate change and the destructive effects of the Anthropocene. Climate change has emerged to be one of the biggest challenges faced by our planet today, threatening both built and natural systems with long-term consequences, which may be irreversible. While there is a vast body of literature on sustainability and sustainable urban development, there is currently limited focus on how to cohesively bring together the vital issues of the planning, development, and management of sustainable cities.
Yigitcanlar, Tan --- Kamruzzaman, Md. (Liton)
Physiological Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stress in Forest Trees
As sessile organisms, plants have to cope with a multitude of natural and anthropogenic forms of stress in their environment. Due to their longevity, this is of particular significance for trees. As a consequence, trees develop an orchestra of resilience and resistance mechanisms to biotic and abiotic stresses in order to support their growth and development in a constantly changing atmospheric and pedospheric environment.
Physical Metallurgy of High Manganese Steels
The Special Issue ‘Physical Metallurgy of High Manganese Steels’ addresses the highly fascinating class of manganese-alloyed steels with manganese contents well above 3 mass%. The book gathers manuscripts from internationally recognized researchers with stimulating new ideas and original results. It consists of fifteen original research papers. Seven contributions focus on steels with manganese contents above 12 mass%. These contributions cover fundamental aspects of process-microstrcuture-properties relationships with processes ranging from cold and warm rolling over deep rolling to heat treatment.
Optimisation Models and Methods in Energy Systems
Challenging problems arise in all segments of energy industries—generation, transmission, distribution and consumption. Optimization models and methods play a key role in offering decision/policy makers better information to assist them in making sounder decisions at different levels, ranging from operational to strategic planning.
Optics and Spectroscopy for Fluid Characterization
All over the world, there is a huge and ever-increasing interest in the development and application of optical and spectroscopic techniques to characterize fluids in engineering and science. The large number of review articles that are frequently published in these areas is evidence of this. Recent examples have focused on applications of optical diagnostics to gas phase environments, liquids, and multiphase systems. A key feature of such light-based methods is that they are usually non-intrusive, and hence they do not notably affect the system under investigation.
Open-source electronics are becoming very popular, and are integrated with our daily educational and developmental activities. At present, the use open-source electronics for teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has become a global trend. Off-the-shelf embedded electronics such as Arduino- and Raspberry-compatible modules have been widely used for various applications, from do-it-yourself (DIY) to industrial projects. In addition to the growth of open-source software platforms, open-source electronics play an important role in narrowing the gap between prototyping and product development
The One Health concept recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and their ecosystems are interconnected, and that a coordinated, collaborative, multidisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approach is necessary to fully understand and respond to potential or existing risks that originate at the animal–human–ecosystems interfaces. Thus, the One Health concept represents a holistic vision for addressing some of the complex challenges that threaten human and animal health, food safety, and the environments in which diseases flourish.
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is of considerable interest to women, their partners and their health care professionals. In developing countries, maternal undernutrition is a major concern. However, with the increased prevalence of abundant high calorie diets, their impact upon pregnancy outcome is of concern. In addition to the amount of nutrition available and its macronutrient composition within a diet, there is emerging evidence highlighting important roles for the lesser studied micronutrients.
Janna L. Morrison --- Timothy R.H. Regnault
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is of considerable interest to women, their partners and their health care professionals. In developing countries, maternal undernutrition is a major concern. However, with the increased prevalence of abundant high calorie diets, their impact upon pregnancy outcome is of concern. In addition to the amount of nutrition available and its macronutrient composition within a diet, there is emerging evidence highlighting important roles for the lesser studied micronutrients. Added to this complexity is the distinction between maternal and fetal nutrition and the impact the placenta plays in nutrient metabolism and overall nutrient supply to the fetus.
Malnutrition in people with liver disease is a challenging issue due to its multifactorial nature, which includes hypermetabolism, increased energy needs, malabsorption, and anorexia. Despite advances in both assessment and management, correct nutritional support is still an often-unanswered need in the care of these patients to avoid poor outcomes. One of the central issues remains how to improve muscolar mass of sarcopenic chronically malnourished individuals with end stage liver diseases and cirrhosis, as only a correct nutritional assessment and subsequent nutritional handling may enhance quality of life and disease outcome.
Pietro Vajro (Ed.) --- Claudia Mandato (Ed.)
The development and treatment of cancer presents a complex interaction between tumor and host. Provision of nutrients not only enables the maintenance of nutritional status, but also provides substrates and signals for immunity, tumor metabolism and protection of the host from treatment toxicities. Fat is one dietary element that has been explored for its role in cancer development. While the bulk of these studies have been observational or experimental, the evidence assembled suggests that dietary lipids behave uniquely to prevent or promote cancers
The purpose of this Special Issue, “Nutrition and Allergic Diseases”, is to provide an overview of the role of nutrition in allergy. The prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and food allergy has increased tremendously over the last few decades. Is there a role for nutrition to help managing this global challenge? This Special Issue touches upon the many aspects that relate to nutrition and allergy and focuses on two fundamental questions: 1) Can nutrition play a role in allergy prevention and induction? 2) Can nutrition play a role in managing allergies?
Joost van Neerven (Ed.) --- Huub Savelkoul (Ed.)
Nutrients, Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases
Foodborne disease like salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis are amongst the most significant causes of hospitalization in the U.S. and globally. Gastrointestinal infections alter gut microbiomes and increase permeability to toxins. Various invasions by microbial, fungal, viral and parasitic agents stimulate inflammation, a defensive mechanism of the body’s immune system. Other stimuli include environmental stimuli, oxidative stress, aging and the physiological process. A long-lasting, persistent and excessive inflammatory response is a significant risk factor for developing various chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Infants are not just small adults; they have a complex set of nutrient requirements and interactions to account for the high metabolic rate, growth, immunological and cognitive development, etc. Each year there are 138 million births, including 30 million from the least developed countries, where health is most at risk. Nutrition during infancy establishes growth patterns and development which moderate short term and long term health and life expectancy. There is continuing progress in understanding the nutrient composition of breastmilk and the importance nutritious and timely complementary foods.
Colin Binns (Ed.) --- Mi Kyung Lee (Ed.) --- Masaharu Kagawa (Ed.)
Nutraceuticals and the Skin: Roles in Health and Disease
he skin is the largest organ of the body and serves as a barrier between the inner and external environments. As such, any problems in the skin can have serious effects on systemic health and well-being. Several studies have established that both nutritional and dietary factors play an important role in the maintenance of normal skin integrity, and can execute a causative, preventative and/or treatment role in a number of skin related conditions.
Jean Christopher Chamcheu (Ed.) --- Deeba Nadeem Syed (Ed.) --- G. Kerr Whitfield (Ed.)
This book was established after the 6th International Workshop on Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization (NEO), representing a collection of papers on the intersection of the two research areas covered at this workshop: numerical optimization and evolutionary search techniques. While focusing on the design of fast and reliable methods lying across these two paradigms, the resulting techniques are strongly applicable to a broad class of real-world problems, such as pattern recognition, routing, energy, lines of production, prediction, and modeling, among others.
Lara, Adriana --- Quiroz, Marcela --- Mezura-Montes, Efrén --- Schütze, Oliver
Novel Pharmacological Inhibitors for Bacterial Protein Toxins
Many medically relevant bacteria cause severe human and animal diseases because they produce and release protein toxins that target mammalian cells. Because the toxin-induced cell damage is the reason for the clinical symptoms, the targeted pharmacological inhibition of the cytotoxic mode of action of bacterial toxins should prevent or cure the respective toxin-associated disease. Toxin inhibitors might be beneficial when the toxin acts in the absence of the producing bacteria (e.g., food poisoning), but also in combination with antibiotics in infectious diseases when the toxin-producing bacteria are present.
Novel Insights into Orbital Angular Momentum Beams: From Fundamentals, Devices to Applications
It is well-known by now that the angular momentum carried by elementary particles can be categorized as spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM). In the early 1900s, Poynting recognized that a particle, such as a photon, can carry SAM, which has only two possible states, i.e., clockwise and anticlockwise circular polarization states. However, only fairly recently, in 1992, Allen et al. discovered that photons with helical phase fronts can carry OAM, which has infinite orthogonal states.
Yue, Yang --- Huang, Hao --- Ren, Yongxiong --- Pan, Zhongqi --- et al.
Novel Biocomposite Engineering and Bio-Applications
The engineering and utilization of biocomposites is a research field of major scientific and industrial interest worldwide. The biocomposite area is extensive and spans from structured and solid biocomposites (e.g., reinforced bioabsorbable polymers), films (e.g., antimicrobial barriers), to soft biocomposites (e.g., use of alginates, collagen and nanocellulose as components in bioinks for 3D bioprinting). Key aspects in this respect are the appropriate engineering and production of biomaterials, nanofibres, bioplastics, their functionalization enabling intelligent and active materials, processes for effective manufacturing of biocomposites and the corresponding characterization for understanding their properties.
Novel Advances in Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring in Ocean, Lakes and Rivers
In recent decades, there has been an increase in the development of strategies for water ecosystem mapping and monitoring. Overall, this is primarily due to legislative efforts to improve the quality of water bodies and oceans. Remote sensing has played a key role in the development of such approaches—from the use of drones for vegetation mapping to autonomous vessels for water quality monitoring. Within the specific context of vegetation characterization, the wide range of available observations—from satellite imagery to high-resolution drone aerial imagery—has enabled the development of monitoring and mapping strategies at multiple scales (e.g., micro- and mesoscales).
Non-destructive Testing of Materials in Civil Engineering
This book was proposed and organized as a means to present recent developments in the field of nondestructive testing of materials in civil engineering. For this reason, the articles highlighted in this editorial relate to different aspects of nondestructive testing of different materials in civil engineering—from building materials to building structures. The current trend in the development of nondestructive testing of materials in civil engineering is mainly concerned with the detection of flaws and defects in concrete elements and structures, and acoustic methods predominate in this field.
Noise and Vibration Control in the Built Environment
With global urbanization rapidly rising and the increasing need of high-quality built environments, the requirement of achieving improved sound quality, both for outdoor and indoor environments, has received a lot of attention. This Special Issue collection reflects the current state of the art, with 12 papers covering environmental acoustics; the influence of soundscapes on people’s behavior; soundscape pleasantness estimation; tranquility; perceived quality of sonic environments; sound and vibration-related health complaints concerning tramways; and the disturbance of construction machines; as well as in building and room acoustics, including natural ventilation-enabling façade noise control devices; the effect of external shading devices; rating method of airborne sound insulation; water supply and drainage noise, and the effect of diffusive surfaces in auditoria.
New Lipid Lowering Therapies for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Lessons from the Past and Future Challenges
This book illustrates some of the most recent research efforts that have been made in lowering plasma cholesterol levels in patients with CVD. Selected articles aimed to illuminate advances and urgent challenges in the management of CVD, including disease management using statin-combined therapeutic strategies.
Neglected and Emerging Tropical Diseases in South and Southeast Asia and Northern Australia
This Special Issue focuses on recent research on the important emerging and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in South and South East Asia and Northern Australia. This region stretches from Afghanistan in the west to Papua New Guinea in the east, and includes the Indian subcontinent, mainland South-East Asia (Indo China), maritime South East Asia, and the tropical regions of Australia. Many of these areas are highly endemic for important NTDs and emerging infectious diseases including lymphatic filariasis, leprosy, soil-transmitted helminthiases (hookworm, Trichuris, Ascaris, and Strongyloides), food-borne trematodiases, schistosomiasis, dengue/chikungunya/zika, leptospirosis, meloidosis, scabies, trachoma, and yaws. Several of these diseases are targeted for elimination or enhanced control by the World Health Organization in the next 5 to 10 years, although some have chronic lasting sequelae needing lifelong management.
Patricia Graves (Ed.) --- Thewarach Laha (Ed.) --- Peter A. Leggat (Ed.) --- Khin Saw Aye (Ed.)
Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy
This Special Issue book, “Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy”, is based on recent advances in natural products for cancer prevention and therapy. For this purpose, the authors of this book have been organizing a biennial international conference series. The first meeting (First International Conference on Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy) was held in Istanbul between 31 August and 2 September 2015, with the support and contribution of many valuable researchers in this field
Anupam Bishayee (Ed.) --- Mukerrem Betul Yerer-Aycan (Ed.)
Natural Compounds as New Cancer Treatments
Cancer remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although many pharmacological and clinical advances have been made, there is a constant need for new molecules to improve the overall options for treatment. Natural compounds from animal, microbial, vegetal, or fungal origin represent countless sources of new compounds that can be used as anticancer drugs, provided their activity, bioavailability, and toxicity are adequate. This book aims to compile both original articles and reviews that cover the most recent advances in the use of natural compounds for cancer treatment, and provide new objectives and advice for future research in the field of biological activity of natural compounds.
Nanostructure Based Sensors for Gas Sensing: from Devices to Systems
The development of solid state gas sensors based on microtransducers and nanostructured sensing materials is the key point in the design of portable measurement systems able to reach sensing and identification performance comparable with analytical ones. In such a context several efforts must be spent of course in the development of the sensing material, but also in the choice of the transducer mechanism and its structure, in the electrical characterization of the performance and in the design of suitable measurement setups.
Nanogrids, Microgrids, and the Internet of Things (IoT): Towards the Digital Energy Network
Driven by new regulations, new market structures, and new energy resources, the smart grid has been the trigger for profound changes in the way that electricity is generated, distributed, managed, and consumed. The smart grid has raised the traditional power grid by using a two-way electricity and information flow to create an advanced, automated power supply network. However, these pioneering smart grid technologies must grow to adapt to the demands of the current digital society. In today’s digital landscape, we can access feasible data and knowledge that were merely inconceivable.
Nanoelectronic Materials, Devices and Modeling
As CMOS scaling is approaching the fundamental physical limits, a wide range of new nanoelectronic materials and devices have been proposed and explored to extend and/or replace the current electronic devices and circuits so as to maintain progress with respect to speed and integration density. The major limitations, including low carrier mobility, degraded subthreshold slope, and heat dissipation, have become more challenging to address as the size of silicon-based metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) has decreased to nanometers, while device integration density has increased.
Multiscale and Innovative Kinetic Approaches in Heterogeneous Catalysis
Kinetics and reactor modeling for heterogeneous catalytic reactions are prominent tools for investigating and understanding catalyst functionalities at nanoscale and the related rates of complex reaction networks. This book illustrates some examples related to the transformation of simple to more complex feedstocks, including different types of reactor designs, i.e., steady-state, transient plug flow reactors, and TAP reactors for which there is sometimes a strong gap in the operating conditions from ultra-high-vacuum to high-pressure conditions.
Multifunctional Oxide-Based Materials: From Synthesis to Application
The book deals with novel aspects and perspectives in metal oxide and hybrid material fabrication.
Jesionowski, Teofil --- Ciesielczyk, Filip
Molecular Science for Drug Development and Biomedicine
With the avalanche of biological sequences generated in the postgenomic age, molecular science is facing an unprecedented challenge, i.e., how to timely utilize the huge amount of data to benefit human beings. Stimulated by such a challenge, a rapid development has taken place in molecular science, particularly in the areas associated with drug development and biomedicine, both experimental and theoretical. The current thematic issue was launched with the focus on the topic of “Molecular Science for Drug Development and Biomedicine”, in hopes to further stimulate more useful techniques and findings from various approaches of molecular science for drug development and biomedicine.
Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology of Strokes
Stroke, a progressively non-communicable disease, is the second leading cause of death after coronary heart disease in developed countries. The present treatment options for stroke are adapting lifestyle practices, diabetes treatment, drugs, and the management of other factors, but no cure is yet available, despite new insights into molecular and therapeutic targets. Discoveries related to explicating the molecular pharmacology in cerebrovascular function and thrombosis have led to significant advancements in the current treatment paradigm for patients with stroke.
Joen-Rong Sheu (Ed.) --- Howard Prentice (Ed.)
Molecular Magnetism of Lanthanides Complexes and Networks
Over the last ten years a fresh air has been blowing in the field of molecular magnetism with the re-introduction of lanthanides ions as spin carriers in magnetic molecules. The strong magnetic moment and huge magnetic anisotropy of lanthanide ions has enabled significant breakthroughs in magnetic blocking temperature and related phenomena. The chemical versatility of these ions is also a strong asset as easy substitution among the lanthanides series enables isotropic, anisotropic or solid-solutions of magnetic molecules. Additionally, their outstanding luminescent properties are key features in rationalizing the single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior and paving the way toward production of multifunctional materials.
Molecular Basis of Cardiovascular Diseases: Implications of Natriuretic Peptides
The natriuretic peptides (NPs) family includes a class of hormones and their receptors needed for the physiological control of cardiovascular functions. The discovery of NPs provided a fundamental contribution into our understanding of the physiological regulation of blood pressure, and of heart and kidney functions. NPs have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. A fine comprehension of the molecular mechanisms dependent from NPs and underlying the promotion of cardiovascular damage has contributed to improve our understanding of the molecular basis of all major CVDs.
The Molecular and Cellular Basis for Parkinson's Disease
The focus on dopamine-sensitive motor symptoms, in association with the improvement of motor complications in the heterogeneous disease entity Parkinson's disease, has led to a certain standstill in research. This Special Issue provides new concepts and new ideas on the pathogenesis, genetics, and clinical maintenance of Parkinson's disease and related disorders. Not only new experimental findings, but also clinical outcomes, case series, and research on alternative, non-pharmacological therapies are included. The objective is to bridge the currently increasing gap between experimental and clinical research on Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
This specialist edition features key innovations in the science and engineering of new grinding processes, abrasives, tools, machines, and systems for a range of important industrial applications. Topics written by invited, internationally recognized authors review the advances and present results of research over a range of well-known grinding processes. A significant introductory review chapter explores innovations to achieve high productivity and very high precision in grinding.
Modeling and Simulation of Energy Systems
Energy Systems Engineering is one of the most exciting and fastest growing fields in engineering. Modeling and simulation plays a key role in Energy Systems Engineering because it is the primary basis on which energy system design, control, optimization, and analysis are based. This book contains a specially curated collection of recent research articles on the modeling and simulation of energy systems written by top experts around the world from universities and research labs, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, National Energy Technology Laboratory of the US Department of Energy, University of Technology Sydney, McMaster University, Queens University, Purdue University, the University of Connecticut, Technical University of Denmark, the University of Toronto, Technische Universität Berlin, Texas A&M, the University of Pennsylvania, and many more.
Modeling and Practice of Erosion and Sediment Transport under Change
Climate and anthropogenic changes impact the conditions of erosion and sediment transport in rivers. Rainfall variability and, in many places, the increase of rainfall intensity have a direct impact on rainfall erosivity. Increasing changes in demography have led to the acceleration of land cover changes in natural areas, as well as in cultivated areas, and, sometimes, in degraded areas and desertified landscapes. These anthropogenized landscapes are more sensitive to erosion. On the other hand, the increase in the number of dams in watersheds traps a great portion of sediment fluxes, which do not reach the sea in the same amount, nor at the same quality, with consequences on coastal geomorphodynamics.
Mahé, Gil --- Aksoy, Hafzullah --- Meddi, Mohamed
Mobile Mapping technologies have seen a rapid growth of research activity and interest in the last years, due to the increased demand of accurate, dense and geo-referenced 3D data. Their main characteristic is the ability of acquiring 3D information of large areas dynamically. This versatility has expanded their application fields from the civil engineering to a broader range (industry, emergency response, cultural heritage...), which is constantly widening.
Rodríguez-Gonzálvez, Pablo --- Nocerino, Erica --- Toschi, Isabella --- Chiang, Kai-Wei
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Ageing and Diseases
The past decade has witnessed an explosion of knowledge regarding how mitochondrial dysfunction may translate into ageing and disease phenotypes, as well as how it is modulated by genetic and lifestyle factors. Impairment of the mitochondria may be caused by mutations or deletions in nuclear or mitochondrial DNA. Hallmarks of mitochondrial dysfunction include decreased ATP production, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, swollen mitochondria, damaged cristae, increased oxidative stress, and decreased mitochondrial DNA copy number.
Mineralogy of Quartz and Silica Minerals
The present book reports recent contributions from research in the field of quartz and other silica minerals. The various forms of silica (SiO2) represent important constituents of the Earth crust and play a central role in the composition of geological materials. In particular, quartz is widely used as a raw material in numerous industrial sectors. The knowledge of the formation and specific properties of SiO2 rocks and minerals is indispensable for the understanding and reconstruction of geological processes, as well as for specific technical applications.
Middleware Solutions for Wireless Internet of Things
Bellavista, Paolo --- Giannelli, Carlo --- Das , Sajal K. --- Cao, Jiannong
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Structural Metals and Alloys
The papers collected in this special issue clearly reflect the modern research trends in materials science. These fields of specific attention are high-Mn TWIP steels, high-Cr heat resistant steels, aluminum alloys, ultrafine grained materials including those developed by severe plastic deformation, and high-entropy alloys. The major portion of the collected papers is focused on the mechanisms of microstructure evolution and the mechanical properties of metallic materials subjected to various thermo-mechanical, deformation or heat treatments.
Microscale Surface Tension and Its Applications
Building on advances in miniaturization and soft matter, surface tension effects are a major key to the development of soft/fluidic microrobotics. Benefiting from scaling laws, surface tension and capillary effects can enable sensing, actuation, adhesion, confinement, compliance, and other structural and functional properties necessary in micro- and nanosystems. Various applications are under development: microfluidic and lab-on-chip devices, soft gripping and manipulation of particles, colloidal and interfacial assemblies, fluidic/droplet mechatronics. The capillary action is ubiquitous in drops, bubbles and menisci, opening a broad spectrum of technological solutions and scientific investigations.
Lambert, Pierre --- Mastrangeli, Massimo
Microfluidics for Cells and Other Organisms
Microfluidics-based devices play an important role in creating realistic microenvironments in which cell cultures can thrive. They can, for example, be used to monitor drug toxicity and perform medical diagnostics, and be in a static-, perfusion- or droplet-based device. They can also be used to study cell-cell, cell-matrix or cell-surface interactions. Cells can be either single cells, 3D cell cultures or co-cultures. Other organisms could include bacteria, zebra fish embryo, C. elegans, to name a few.
Microbial Community Modeling: Prediction of Microbial Interactions and Community Dynamics
It has the potential to resolve many issues in the realms of energy, food, human health, the environment, and biotechnology. Scientists are trying to understand, in a fundamental way, how microbes influence each other and how they organize into interaction networks. These are the keys to predicting and engineering community function and properties of the microbiome. In this regard, mathematical modeling and computational analysis play an increasing role. This book is a collection of contributions from lead scientists in the field.
Micro/nanofluidic chips have found increasing applications in the analysis of chemical and biological samples over the past two decades. Electrokinetics has become the method of choice in these micro/nano-chips for transporting, manipulating and sensing ions, (bio)molecules, fluids and (bio)particles, etc., due to the high maneuverability, scalability, sensitivity, and integrability.
Micro/Nano Materials for Clean Energy and Environment
The research center serves as a platform for researchers at both universities to conduct joint research in the targeted areas, and to meet regularly for information exchange, talent exchange, and knowledge mobilization, especially in the fields of micro/nano, energy, and environmental technologies. The center focuses on three main interests: micro/nano energy technology, micro/nano pollution control technology, and relevant fundamental research.
Methods and Concepts for Designing and Validating Smart Grid Systems
Energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies are key contributors to curtailing the emission of greenhouse gases that continue to cause global warming. The efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also strongly affect electrical power systems. Renewable sources, storage systems, and flexible loads provide new system controls, but power system operators and utilities have to deal with their fluctuating nature, limited storage capabilities, and typically higher infrastructure complexity with a growing number of heterogeneous components.
Strasser, Thomas --- Rohjans, Sebastian --- Burt, Graeme
How can the Web be made situation-aware? Event processing is a suitable technology for gaining the necessary real-time results. The Web, however, has many users and many application domains. Thus, we developed multi-schema friendly data models allowing the re-use and mix from diverse users and application domains. Furthermore, our methods describe protocols to exchange events on the Web, algorithms to execute the language and to calculate access rights.
Usage Policies for Decentralised Information Processing
Owners impose usage restrictions on their information, which can be based e.g. on privacy laws, copyright law or social conventions. Often, information is processed in complex constellations without central control. In this work, we introduce technologies to formally express usage restrictions in a machine-interpretable way as so-called policies that enable the creation of decentralised systems that provide, consume and process distributed information in compliance with their usage restrictions.
Uncertainty handling in multi-attribute decision support for industrial risk management
The complexity of today's industrial production networks constitutes a new challenge for industrial risk and safety management. In order to handle potential risks to and emanating from industry and their respective impact on mankind as well as the environment, an integrated approach to industrial risk management is needed, since complex decision situations need to be resolved requiring input from diverse scientific disciplines and the consideration of various often conflicting criteria.
Two-Scale Thermomechanical Simulation of Hot Stamping
Hot stamping is a hot drawing process which takes advantage of the polymorphic steel behavior to produce parts with a good strength-to-weight ratio. For the simulation of the hot stamping process, a nonlinear two-scale thermomechanical model is suggested and implemented into the FE tool ABAQUS. Phase transformation and transformation induced plasticity effects are taken into account. The simulation results regarding the final shape and residual stresses are compared to experimental findings
Turbulent open channel flow, sediment erosion and sediment transport
This thesis aims to contribute to a better understanding of turbulent open channel flow, sediment erosion and sediment transport. The thesis provides an analysis of high-fidelity data from direct numerical simulation of (i) open channel flow over an array of fixed spheres, (ii) open channel flow with mobile eroding spheres, (iii) open channel flow with sediment transport of many mobile spheres. An immersed boundary method is used to resolve the finite-size particles.
Tunable Diode-Laser Absorption Spectroscopy for Trace-Gas Measurements with High Sensitivity and Low Drift
This book discusses the mechanical and opto-electronic design of laser spectrometers for measuring two very important atmospheric gases, namely water vapor and its isotopic ratios, and formaldehyde. For measuring water vapor, shot-noise limited sensitivity has been achieved by a careful choice of system components and data processing. For measuring formaldehyde, a selective sample modulation exploiting the Stark effect has been used to greatly improve the sensitivity.
Transient behaviour of ITER poloidal field coils
Transient voltages occur on the terminals of superconducting coils and may lead to internal over-voltages. The main objective of this work was to calculate the transient electrical behaviour and internal voltage distribution within the ITER poloidal field (PF) coils at four scenarios and was made using the PF 3 and PF 6 coils as examples. The calculated maximum voltages will be used for definition of amplitudes and voltage waveforms for the tests of the high-voltage insulation of the coils.
Tracking Extended Objects in Noisy Point Clouds with Application in Telepresence Systems
We discuss theory and application of extended object tracking. This task is challenging as sensor noise prevents a correct association of the measurements to their sources on the object, the shape itself might be unknown a priori, and due to occlusion effects, only parts of the object are visible at a given time. We propose an approach to track the parameters of arbitrary objects, which provides new solutions to the above challenges, and marks a significant advance to the state of the art.
Timber Engineering - Principles for Design
This comprehensive book provides in-depth knowledge and understanding of design rules according to Eurocode 5. It is based on the first edition of the STEP (Structural Timber Education Programme) series, which was prepared in 1995 by about 50 authors from 14 European countries. The present work updates and extends the STEP compilation and is aimed at students, structural engineers and other timber structure professionals.
Surface wave driven molecular low pressure plasmas for general lighting
Nowadays, compact fluorescent lamps are widely-used in general lighting applications. However, they still struggle with acceptance problems due to the hazardous mercury, which serves as the radiant component inside the lamp. The presented work deals with the development of a mercury-free, electrodeless, low pressure plasma based on a molecular filling and driven by microwaves, which may represent a viable alternative to the conventional CFLs.
Sulfur-tolerant natural gas reforming for fuel-cell applications
An attractive simplification of PEM-FC systems operated with natural gas would be the use of a sulfur tolerant reforming catalyst, but such a catalyst has not been available thus far. In this work it is demonstrated that a tailor made rhodium catalyst retains useful activity for typical sulfur levels in the feed. A brief economic comparison showed however that this alternative process is still less economical than the traditional process employing removal of sulfur components by adsorption.
Stability of cooperation in the international climate negotiations - An analysis using cooperative game theory
International cooperation on greenhouse gas emission reductions is needed to avoid dangerous climate change. This work analyses the stability of global cooperation on climate change using cooperative game theory. Numerical and theoretical models are applied to evaluate the impact of several real-world properties. It is shown that the introduction of these properties into the game-theoretical model substantially affects the results and can make global climate cooperation unstable.
Soft Magnetic Composites in Novel Designs of Electrical Traction Machines
Nowadays, the manufacturing of electrical machines based on electrical steel laminations has been well established worldwide. Compared with the electrical steel, the soft magnetic composites (SMC) shows magnetic isotropy and lower eddy current losses. Thus, it becomes an important impulse promoting the development of new topologies of electrical machine. The application of SMC in the electrical traction machine for hybrid electrical vehicle or electrical vehicle has been researched in the work.
This book presents a process-oriented business modeling framework based on semantic technologies. The framework consists of modeling languages, methods, and tools that allow for semantic modeling of business motivation, business policies and rules, and business processes. Quality of the proposed modeling framework is evaluated based on the modeling content of SAP Solution Composer and several real-world business scenarios.
The role of indicators in decisions of technology innovation
There are thousands of indicators produced to understand and govern our societies. Studies about the way indicators are used in technological innovation are significantly rare, despite the centrality of these decisions to promote growth in our technology-intensive civilization. This book presents what is known and what was discovered in a doctoral research, which analysed innovative business leaders, policymakers and public researchers responsible for technological innovations.
Role and dynamics of 'Late-comers' in the global technology competition
Faster developing cycles and economic developments created many emerging economies in the 20th century. For sustainable economic growth, however, the construction and constant preservation of a profound knowledge base and technological pool is crucial. Brazil, China, India and Russia, experienced constant high economic growth rates and begun to evolve to solid economies which are challenging the established players. This book consists of a profound empirical analysis of these emerging economies.
Real-time Digital Signal Processing for Software-defined Optical Transmitters and Receivers
A software-defined optical Tx is designed and demonstrated generating signals with various formats and pulse-shapes in real-time. Special pulse-shapes such as OFDM or Nyquist signaling were utilized resulting in a highly efficient usage of the available fiber channel bandwidth. This was achieved by parallel data processing with high-end FPGAs. Furthermore, highly efficient Rx algorithms for carrier and timing recovery as well as for polarization demultiplexing were developed and investigated
Reactive Control of Turbulent Wall-Bounded Flows for Skin Friction Drag Reduction
The work presents an attempt to improve the understanding of reactive drag reducing control of near-wall turbulence with respect to limitations present in a realistic application scenario. The reference reactive control scheme of opposition control is studied using direct numerical simulation through the consideration of various application oriented restrictions, i.e. local control application, limited spatial and temporal resolution of the scheme, sensor noise and control elements arrangement.
Production process design using Multi-Criteria Analysis
Intra- and inter-company production networks have gained increased importance in developed and industrialising countries. By reusing waste of industrial sites as a valuable input within the production network, material cycles can be closed and resource efficiency can be improved.In order to improve the performance of a production process, a detailed mapping of the mass and energy flows is the basis to understand which process characteristics are the main drivers for resource efficiency.The objective of this book is to develop an integrated multi-criteria decision support model for production process design.
Production cost models with regard to liberalised electricity markets
This book makes a contribution to the formulation and implementation of production cost models for the modelling of liberalized electricity markets by addressing issues associated with the level of detail in the representation of the underlying power system, the accuracy of the results and the modelling effort. To this end a production cost model was formulated and applied to estimate the short-run marginal cost of the power systems of three important European electricity markets.
Process Simulation of Technical Precipitation Processes - The Influence of Mixing
This work develops and shows up methods to tackle multi-scale challenges in particle formation during precipitation crystallization. Firstly, molecular, micro- and meso-scale interactions in confined impinging jet mixers are investigated and simulatively predicted. Secondly, to build up on developed methods, macroscale as present for instance in stirred tank reactors is added to the considerations.
Planning the Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles in Cities and Regions
Planning the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) is a new challenging task. This book treats all involved aspects: charging technologies and norms, interactions with the electricity system, electrical installation, demand for charging infrastructure, economics of public infrastructure provision, policies in Germany and the EU, external effects, stakeholder cooperation, spatial planning on the regional and street level, operation and maintenance, and long term spatial planning.
Photonic crystal slabs for low-cost biosensors
Biosensors are devices that utilize biological recognition elements to selectively detect and analyze specific biological and chemical analyte substances. In this work a technology platform for label-free optical biosensors based on surface-functionalized photonic crystal slabs is proposed. Using this technology platform, low-cost solutions for three biotechnical questions are presented.
Organic Service-Level Management in Service-Oriented Environments
Dynamic service-oriented environments (SOEs) are characterised by a large number of heterogeneous service components that are expected to support the business as a whole. The present work provides a negotiation-based approach to facilitate automated and multi-level service-level management in an SOE, where each component autonomously arranges its contribution to the whole operational goals. Evaluation experiments have shown an increased responsiveness and stability of an SOE in case of changes.
Organic Semiconductor Lasers and Tailored Nanostructures for Raman Spectroscopy
This work presents the application of organic semiconductor distributed feedback laser as free-space excitation source in Raman spectroscopy. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect is exploited to improve the detection sensitivity. The SERS conditionis achiedved by using substrates consisting of gold-coated polymeric nanopillar arrays. The organic-laser-excited SERS measurements are applied to verify the concentration variation of biomolecule adenosine in aqueous solutions.
Optimization of Hot-Electron Bolometers for THz Radiation
Hot-electron bolometers are fast and low noise radiation detectors which can be used for many different applications. The aim of this work was to optimize the fabrication process of hot-electron bolometers and gain a deeper understanding of the underlying processes. To achieve this, the fabrication of the superconducting thin films was optimized and the superconducting properties of the films were analyzed. Detectors fabricated using the results showed a record value for the noise temperature.
Optically Powered Highly Energy-efficient Sensor Networks
In optically powered networks, both, communication signals and power for remotely located sensor nodes, are transmitted over an optical fiber. Key features of optically powered networks are node operation without local power supplies or batteries as well as operation with negligible susceptibility to electro-magnetic interference and to lightning. In this book, different kinds of optically powered devices and networks are investigated, and selected applications are demonstrated.
Optical antennas : linear and nonlinear excitation and emission
The linear and nonlinear resonance behaviour of optical antennas (metallic nanostructures showing resonance behaviour at optical frequencies) made of gold and aluminum using electron-beam lithography is investigated. Specifically, it is of interest how the emission behaviour is changed by the coupling of two antenna arms via a small gap. Experimental techniques applied include dark-field spectroscopy and two-photon luminescence.
Numerical Modeling of Stagnation Flows over Porous Catalytic Surfaces
In this book, stagnation flows on a catalytic porous plate is modeled one-dimensionally coupled with multi-step surface reaction mechanisms and molecular transport (diffusion and conduction) in the flow field and in the porous catalyst. Internal and external mass transfer limitations as well as possible reaction routes in the catalyst are investigated for CO oxidation, WGS reaction, partial and steam reforming of methane over Rh/Al?O?.
Numerical Haemodynamics in the Human Heart
The characteristic vortex formation in the ventricles is believed to be affected at an early stage of heart diseases. First, post-processing of patient-specific data has to be standardised. The chosen methods, a combination of Eulerian and Lagrangian techniques, are characterised by means of necessary spatial and temporal resolutions. Second, the goal is to find the best cost-benefit approach for modelling of the mitral valve, as it affects vortex formation and progression in the left ventricle.
Network Structures of Cargo Airlines - An Empirical and a Modelling Approach
The development of efficient air freight networks is an upcoming challenge. The present book approaches this problem for cargo airlines by characterising and classifying their network structures and by developing a model for an airline's strategic network design. The book provides results which are of value for airline professionals (network efficiency analysis), policy makers (policy impact assessment) and researchers (cargo airline network design model).
Modified mass-spring system for physically based deformation modeling
Mass-spring systems are considered the simplest and most intuitive of all deformable models. They are computationally efficient, and can handle large deformations with ease. But they suffer several intrinsic limitations. In this book a modified mass-spring system for physically based deformation modeling that addresses the limitations and solves them elegantly is presented. Several implementations in modeling breast mechanics, heart mechanics and for elastic images registration are presented.
Modelling the human cardiac fluid mechanics
We present a virtual heart model simulating the flow in the left human ventricle and in the aorta. Because of the lack of in vivo structure data of the human ventricle, the active ventricle movement is given by a time-dependent ventricle model that is derived from in vivo image data of a nuclear spin MRT tomograph of a healthy human heart.
Modeling of electrophysiology and tension development in the human heart
Comprehension of the beating of the human heart is important for cardiac research and will improve many clinical applications. Simulations based on models describing cardiac electro-mechanics can acquire insights into this behavior. This work focuses on the mathematical reconstruction of electrophysiology, excitation conduction, and tension development in the human heart on the cellular and the tissue level. The tissue models represent accurate anatomical shapes of the atria and the ventricles and incorporate electrophysiological heterogeneity and anisotropic conduction.
Micromechanical Modeling and Simulation of Forming Processes
The deep drawing of an aluminum alloy used in the packaging industry for the beverage can manufacturing process is investigated. In this work, the effective constitutive behavior is based on a crystal plasticity model in combination with a non-linear Hashin-Shtrikman type homogenization scheme in which a reference stiffness controls the stress and strain fluctuations. The simulation results are compared to experiments in terms of deep drawing earing profiles, texture evolution, and localization.
Market engineering. A structured design process for electronic markets
In this book, the author provides a complete process for electronic markets design together with the required en-gineering methods. As such the book is unique applying tech-niques from engineering design to modern Information Systems and Economics. Mr. Neumann succeeds in presenting a generic but coherent approach that is an indispensable aid in designing markets.
Mapping and Localization in Urban Environments Using Cameras
In this work we present a system to fully automatically create a highly accurate visual feature map from image data aquired from within a moving vehicle. Moreover, a system for high precision self localization is presented. Furthermore, we present a method to automatically learn a visual descriptor. The map relative self localization is centimeter accurate and allows autonomous driving.
Magnetization of High Temperature Superconducting Trapped-Field Magnets
High temperature superconducting (HTS) bulks and stacks of coated conductors can be magnetized to become trapped-field magnets that provide much stronger magnetic fields than those reachable with conventional permanent magnets. This work investigates the flux dynamics during the magnetization of HTS trapped-field magnets and proposes possible strategies to improve the trapped field produced by the pulsed field magnetization method that is promising for practical applications.
Intelligent Business Process Optimization for the Service Industry
The company's sustainable competitive advantage derives from its capacity to create value for customers and to adapt the operational practices to changing situations. Business processes are the heart of each company. Therefore process excellence has become a key issue. This book introduces a novel approach focusing on the autonomous optimization of business processes by applying sophisticated machine learning techniques such as Relational Reinforcement Learning and Particle Swarm Optimization.
Influence of fully miscible lubrication oil on flow boiling of CO? inside horizontal evaporator tubes
Flow boiling heat transfer, pressure drop and flow pattern of CO?-POE oil mixtures were experimentally investigated in smooth and micro-fin tubes. The POE oil used features full miscibility in the range of operation investigated. The experimental data was evaluated based on mixture properties, used to evaluate and improve established predictive methods. The knowledge obtained contributes to understanding the influence of oil, which is essential for achieving an efficient evaporator design.
Indicator-based Sustainability Assessment of the German Energy System and its Transition
The energy transition not only has an impact on technical infrastructures but also leads to socio-economic changes. To evaluate the sustainability aspects of the German Energiewende, the authors have developed a monitoring system which includes 45 indicators and their corresponding target values for 2020, 2030, and 2050 as well as a rating system for the year 2020 based on a distance-to-target approach and traffic color lights.
Rösch, ChristineBräutigam, Klaus-RainerKopfmüller, JürgenStelzer, VolkerLichtner, PatrickFricke, Annika
The impact of interfaces on the performance of organic photovoltaic cells
Organic photovoltaic is an attractive technology to solve future energy supply scenarios. To further increase the potential of this technology novel absorber materials and interface materials have to be developed. In this work the paramount importance of interface materials for efficient as well as stable organic photovoltaic cells and modules is demonstrated. The general requirements of interface materials are elaborated and properties of a novel interface material which meets the demands are investigated experimentally and by simulations.
In Western countries, cancer is among the most frequent causes of death. Despite striking advances in cancer therapy, especially by the so called “targeted agents”, there is still an urgent need for new drugs in oncology. Hope comes from the marine environment, which is a rich source of natural compounds showing anti-cancer activity. To date, four marine cytotoxic substances, namely cytarabine, trabectidine, eribulin, and monomethyl auristatin E (as a drug-antibody conjugate named vedotin) have made it into clinical routine. Many more are in all phases of clinical testing, and a plethora of substances has already been examined for in vitro and in vivo activity.
Friedemann Honecker (Ed.) --- Sergey A. Dyshlovoy (Ed.)
The desired properties of surface components include the improvement of different properties, such as aesthetic appearance, oxidation resistance, wear resistance, mechanical properties, electronic or electrical properties, thermal insulation, wear, triboemission and corrosion resistance through barriers. These properties can be enhanced using different methods, such as by adding a coating. Nevertheless, the bulk of the material or substrate cannot be considered independent of the surface treatment.
[Selective and quantitative detection of different kinds of biocomponents plays an important role in biomedical applications, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, toxicology, regenerative medicine and drug delivery. Therefore, multidisciplinary area of magnetic biosensing have been extensively developed in recent years, aiming to create compact analytical devices for non-expensive and low time consuming analysis provided at the point of care by non-skilled personnel.
Magnesium is universally recognized as an essential nutrient for human life and health. Indeed, magnesium plays an important physiologic role in every organ of the human body. Disturbances of Mg homeostasis have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several diseases, and Mg supplementation has been evaluated in numerous large-scale clinical trials. The World Health Organization has listed magnesium as among those essential nutrients that are consumed in suboptimal amounts by the general population.
Federica Wolf (Ed.) --- Valentina Trapani (Ed.)
Machining—Recent Advances, Applications and Challenges
The Special Issue Machining—Recent Advances, Applications and Challenges is intended as a humble collection of some of the hottest topics in machining. The manufacturing industry is a varying and challenging environment where new advances emerge from one day to another. In recent years, new manufacturing procedures have retained increasing attention from the industrial and scientific community. However, machining still remains the key operation to achieve high productivity and precision for high-added value parts.
López de Lacalle, Luis Norberto --- Urbicain, Gorka
Machine Learning Techniques Applied to Geoscience Information System and Remote Sensing
As computer and space technologies have been developed, geoscience information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies, which deal with the geospatial information, have been rapidly maturing. Moreover, over the last few decades, machine learning techniques including artificial neural network (ANN), deep learning, decision tree, and support vector machine (SVM) have been successfully applied to geospatial science and engineering research fields. The machine learning techniques have been widely applied to GIS and RS research fields and have recently produced valuable results in the areas of geoscience, environment, natural hazards, and natural resources.
Machine Learning and Embedded Computing in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
This book contains the latest research on machine learning and embedded computing in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It encompasses research in detection, tracking, LiDAR
Liquid Crystal on Silicon Devices: Modeling and Advanced Spatial Light Modulation Applications
Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) has become one of the most widespread technologies for spatial light modulation in optics and photonics applications. These reflective microdisplays are composed of a high-performance silicon complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) backplane, which controls the light-modulating properties of the liquid crystal layer. State-of-the-art LCoS microdisplays may exhibit a very small pixel pitch (below 4 ?m), a very large number of pixels (resolutions larger than 4K), and high fill factors (larger than 90%). They modulate illumination sources covering the UV, visible, and far IR. LCoS are used not only as displays but also as polarization, amplitude, and phase-only spatial light modulators, where they achieve full phase modulation.
Life Cycle Assessment on Green Building Implementation
Greenhouse-gas emissions have become one of the most impacting environmental issues in today’s society. A rapidly increasing trend in global CO2emissions particularly since the early nineties (23.64% since 1990) has led to the generation of about 50,000 million tons of CO2–equivalent (eqv) worldwide in 2010. According to mainstream climate experts, the increasing concentration of greenhouse-gases is having a warming effect on the world climate. To slow down global warming, there is a global focus on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions
Landscape Urbanism and Green Infrastructure
This volume examines the applicability of landscape urbanism theory in contemporary landscape architecture practice by bringing together ecology and architecture in the built environment. Using participatory planning of green infrastructure and application of nature-based solutions to address urban challenges, landscape urbanism seeks to reintroduce critical connections between natural and urban systems. In light of ongoing developments in landscape architecture, the goal is a paradigm shift towards a landscape that restores and rehabilitates urban ecosystems.
Kernel Methods and Hybrid Evolutionary Algorithms in Energy Forecasting
The development of kernel methods and hybrid evolutionary algorithms (HEAs) to support experts in energy forecasting is of great importance to improving the accuracy of the actions derived from an energy decision maker, and it is crucial that they are theoretically sound. In addition, more accurate or more precise energy demand forecasts are required when decisions are made in a competitive environment. Therefore, this is of special relevance in the Big Data era. These forecasts are usually based on a complex function combination. These models have resulted in over-reliance on the use of informal judgment and higher expense if lacking the ability to catch the data patterns.
Interface Circuits for Microsensor Integrated Systems
this text will present the book in all promotional forms (e.g. flyers). Please describe the book in straightforward and consumer-friendly terms. [Recent advances in sensing technologies, especially those for Microsensor Integrated Systems, have led to several new commercial applications. Among these, low voltage and low power circuit architectures have gained growing attention, being suitable for portable long battery life devices. The aim is to improve the performances of actual interface circuits and systems, both in terms of voltage mode and current mode, in order to overcome the potential problems due to technology scaling and different technology integrations.
Giuseppe Ferri (Ed.) --- Vincenzo Stornelli (Ed.)
Integration of 2D Materials for Electronics Applications
Two-dimensional (2D) materials and their vertical/lateral heterostructures are currently the subject of massive research interests, both for fundamental science and for technological applications in diverse fields, such as electronics, optoelectronics, quantum metrology, spintronics, membranes, energy conversion/storage, and sensing. Integration of 2D materials within real device structures currently represents the main challenge to move from the laboratory stage to industrial applications, especially in the fields of electronics/optoelectronics.
Filippo Giannazzo (Ed.) --- Samuel Lara Avila (Ed.) --- Jens Eriksson (Ed.) --- Sushant Sonde (Ed.)
Integrated Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health
As computer and space technologies have been developed, geoscience information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies, which deal with the geospatial information, have been rapidly maturing. Moreover, over the last few decades, machine learning techniques including artificial neural network (ANN), deep learning, decision tree, and support vector machine (SVM) have been successfully applied to geospatial science and engineering research fields.
Integral Transforms and Operational Calculus
Researches and investigations involving the theory and applications of integral transforms and operational calculus are remarkably wide-spread in many diverse areas of the mathematical, physical, chemical, engineering and statistical sciences.
The Insecticidal Bacterial Toxins in Modern Agriculture
Increased awareness about environmental adverse effects of human activities has prompted the use of insecticides with low impact on systems associated to agriculture. Currently, the most successful biological products are based on protein toxins from the bacterial species Bacillus thuringiensis. Because of the remarkable properties of these proteins, their encoding genes were introduced into farming species (the so called Bt-crops), in such a way, that these plants are self-protected against some key insect pests.
Juan Ferré (Ed.) --- Baltasar Escriche (Ed.)
Innovative Technologies and Services for Smart Cities
A smart city is a modern technology-driven urban area which uses sensing devices, information, and communication technology connected to the internet of things (IoTs) for the optimum and efficient utilization of infrastructures and services with the goal of improving the living conditions of citizens. Increasing populations, lower budgets, limited resources, and compatibility of the upgraded technologies are some of the few problems affecting the implementation of smart cities. Hence, there is continuous advancement regarding technologies for the implementation of smart cities.
Innovative Extraction Techniques and Hyphenated Instrument Configuration for Complex Matrices Analysis
The present Special Issue, “Innovative Extraction Techniques and Hyphenated Instrument Configuration for Complex Matrices Analysis”, aims to collect and to disseminate some of the most significant and recent contributions in the interdisciplinary area of innovative extraction procedures from complex matrices followed by validated analytical methods using hyphenated instrument configurations to support the optimization of the whole process and the scale-up possibility
Locatelli, Marcello --- Carradori, Simone --- Mocan, Andrei
Innovation Issues in Water, Agriculture and Food
In a worldwide context of ever-growing competition for water and land, climate change, droughts and man-made water scarcity, and less-participatory water governance, agriculture faces the great challenge of producing enough food for a continually increasing population. In this line, this book provides a broad overview of innovation issues in the complex water–agriculture–food nexus, thus also relative to their interconnections and dependences. Issues refer to different spatial scales, from the field or the farm to the irrigation system or the river basin.
Cameira, Maria do Rosario --- Pereira, Luis Santos
Impact of Bioactive Peptides on Human Health
Food-derived bioactive peptides or dietary peptides are increasingly becoming recognized as major food compounds for human health promotion, which prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases through their impacts on the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. Further bioactive peptide discoveries are essential for maintaining human health and commercial development in the area of functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Identification and Characterization of Antimicrobial Peptides with Therapeutic Potential
Antimicrobial peptides are key defense molecules adopted by all life forms to prevent infection. They also have other beneficial effects such as boosting immune response, anticancer, and wound healing. The antiviral effects of antimicrobial peptides have laid the foundations for developing new agents to combat seasonal Flu, HIV-1, RSV, Zika, and Ebola. This eBook is constructed to systematically deal with antimicrobial peptides from a variety of natural sources, including fungi, plants, and animals (insects, fish, amphibians, birds, and reptiles).
Craig M. Jensen --- Etsuo Akiba --- Hai-Wen Li
Humidity Sensors. Advances in Reliability, Calibration and Application
Humidity detection has deep significance for the scientific research surrounding medical care and human performance, and the industrial development of agriculture, geography and automated instruments. This special issue aims to showcase some of the advancements in humidity sensor design and calibration, and its applications. The selected papers cover a variety of humidity sensor-related topics including material science, chemistry and industrial engineering.
McCarthy, Peter W. --- Liu, Zhuofu --- Cascioli, Vincenzo
World Green Building Council suggests that health, well-being and productivity should be the next chapter for green building. There is an obvious shift of green building movement from technology-centric towards human-centric, which culminates in recent WELL Building Standard, focusing exclusively on human health and wellness. This special issue aims to push forward the research, discourse and practice of green building towards more human-oriented design solutions.
Human and Animal Sensitivity: How Stock-People and Consumer Perception Can Affect Animal Welfare
This book presents cross-discipline studies covering aspects ranging from animal science to social/consumer sciences and psychology, with the aim to collect and disseminate information promoting the continuous enhancement of animal welfare by improving stakeholders’ perception of animal welfare. Although animal welfare is about how the animals perceive the surrounding environment, the actual welfare of the animals is dependent on how the stakeholders perceive and weigh animal welfare.
Watershed hydrology is driven by climate forcing, near ground surface characteristics, and human activities, addressing a wide spectrum of environmental and water resource problems regarding both scientific-driven questions and practical engineering issues. This book collates watershed problems and solutions from around the world covering diverse climate types. These cases show complex interactions between hydrological processes and environmental conditions and scientific methods for understanding the hydrological regime and management of human activities.
Christopher J. Duffy (Ed.) --- Xuan Yu (Ed.)
Heat Transfer Processes in Oscillatory Flow Conditions
Heat exchange processes in steady flows have been studied extensively over the last two hundred years, and are now a part of undergraduate syllabi in most engineering courses. However, heat transfer processes in oscillatory flow conditions are still not very well understood. Their importance is well recognized in applications including Stirling machines, thermoacoustic engines, and refrigerators or pulsed-tube coolers in cryogenics.
Heat and Mass Transfer in Building Energy Performance Assessment
The building industry is influenced by many factors and trends reflecting the current situation and developments in social, economic, technical, and scientific fields. One of the most important trends seeks to minimize the energy demand. This can be achieved by promoting the construction of buildings with better thermal insulating capabilities of their envelopes and better efficiency in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Robert Černý Sciprofile link ,Ákos Lakatos Sciprofile link andVáclav Kočí Sciprofile link (Eds.)
Grain-based Foods: Processing, Properties, and Heath Attributes
The Special Issue aims to provide a complete exploration of the scientific principles related to processing, fermentation/malting, and nutrition of cereal grains. It also describes their physical and chemical characteristics and explains how these properties relate to health and nutritional value of the final grain-based products. Indeed, while grains remain the world’s largest food yield—with more than 2.4 billion metric tons produced annually—consumer demands are on the rise for grain products sustainable from an environmental, social and economic viewpoint, in order to meet the growing demand for healthy and nutritious foods.
Emanuele Zannini (Ed.) --- Raffaella di Cagno (Ed.)
In the last few years, an increasing number of individuals have adopted a gluten free diet (GFD). A significant proportion of that includes patients affected by celiac disease (CD), who have to follow a strict GFD for medical purposes. However, a high number of individuals are currently following a GFD without medical counseling and without a specific diagnosis needing a gluten withdrawal from the diet. This is due to the frequently incorrect information diffused on the Internet and mass media on the topic of GFD.
Gluten Related Disorders: People Shall not Live on Bread Alone
Once upon a time, gluten was not part of the human diet, and therefore, there were no gluten-related disorders. With the advent of agriculture 10,000 years ago, the introduction of gluten-containing grains in the human diet created conditions for human diseases related to gluten exposure. These diseases, including celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy, have distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, serological markers, and long-term treatments, but similar, often overlapping clinical presentations.
Global Indigeneities and the Environment
Global Indigeneities and the Environment—covering fields from American Indian Studies, anthropology, communications, ethnoecology, ethnomusicology, geography, global studies, history, and literature, the purpose of the Special Issue is to give new understandings of the concept of global indigeneities and to showcase some of the most promising work in the field to date.
Karen L. Thornber (Ed.) --- Tom Havens (Ed.)
Abstract Microtechnology has changed our world since the last century, when silicon microelectronics revolutionized sensor, control and communication areas, with applications extending from domotics to automotive, and from security to biomedicine. The present century, however, is also seeing an accelerating pace of innovation in glassy materials; as an example, glass-ceramics, which successfully combine the properties of an amorphous matrix with those of micro- or nano-crystals, offer a very high flexibility of design to chemists, physicists and engineers, who can conceive and implement advanced microdevices.
Righini, Giancarlo --- Righini, Nicoletta
Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential
After decades of being largely the preserve of countries in volcanic regions, the use of geothermal energy—for both heat and power applications—is now expanding worldwide. This reflects its excellent low-carbon credentials and its ability to offer baseload and dispatchable output - rare amongst the mainstream renewables. Yet uptake of geothermal still lags behind that of solar and wind, principally because of (i) uncertainties over resource availability in poorly-explored reservoirs and (ii) the concentration of full-lifetime costs into early-stage capital expenditure (capex).
Information Management and Market Engineering. [Vol. I]
The research program �Information Management and Market Engineering� focuses on the analysis and the design of electronic markets. Taking a holistic view of the conceptualization and realization of solutions, the research integrates the disciplines business administration, economics, computer science, and law. Topics of interest range from the implementation, quality assurance, and further development of electronic markets to their integration into business processes, innovative business models, and legal frameworks.
Dreier, ThomasStuder, RudiWeinhardt, Christof [Hrsg.]
Information Management and Market Engineering. Vol. II
The research program Information Management and Market Engineering focuses on the analysis and the design of electronic markets. Taking a holistic view of the conceptualization and realization of solutions, the research integrates the disciplines business administration, economics, computer science, and law. Topics of interest range from the implementation, quality assurance, and advancement of electronic markets to their integration into business processes and legal frameworks.
Dreier, Thomas Krämer, Jan Studer, Rudi Weinhardt, Christof [Hrsg.]
Improving the Spectral Bandwidth of Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs)
This work presents a comprehensive investigation of the influence of geometry-dependent factors on performance metrics of superconducting single-photon detectors. With fundamental knowledge, main investigations are focused to extend the spectral bandwidth and to enhance the detection efficiency, especially in infrared range. The developed technology of single-spiral detectors and unconventional electron-beam lithography allows to improve the performance of superconducting detectors.
High Temperature Superconductor Cable Concepts for Fusion Magnets
Three concepts of high temperature superconductor cables carrying kA currents (RACC, CORC and TSTC) are investigated, optimized and evaluated in the scope of their applicability as conductor in fusion magnets. The magnetic field and temperature dependence of the cables is measured; the thermal expansion and conductivity of structure, insulation and filling materials are investigated. High temperature superconductor winding packs for fusion magnets are calculated and compared with corresponding low temperature superconductor cases.
High Performance Light Water Reactor : Design and Analyses
The High Performance Light Water Reactor is a nuclear reactor concept of the 4th generation which is cooled and moderated with supercritical water. The concept has been worked out by a consortium of European partners, co-funded by the European Commission. It features a once through steam cycle, a pressure vessel type reactor, and a compact containment with pressure suppression pool. The conceptual design enables to assess its feasibility, its safety features and its economic potential.
Schulenberg, ThomasStarflinger, Jörg [Hrsg.]
Forward and inverse problems of electrocardiography : clinical investigations
The non-invasive reconstruction of cardiac activity can significantly improve the quality of cardiac diagnostics. Two major approaches are considered. The model-based method consists in the optimization of an electrophysiological cardiac model until the measured and simulated ECGs are similar. The inverse problem of electrocardiography is solved to compute the cardiac sources distributions from body surface potential maps. The results and their interpretation are shown for several patients.
The formation of patterns in subaqueous sediment
This book investigates the formation of subaqueous patterns by means of high-fidelity numerical simulations which resolve all the relevant scales of the flow and the sediment bed. This is required to provide a space- and time-resolved information on the flow field and the sediment bed. Secondly, detailed analysis of the generated data allows to address the different governing mechanisms involved in the formation of patterns as well as to access the validity of various existing models.
Formation of Intracardiac Electrograms under Physiological and Pathological Conditions
This work presents methods to advance electrophysiological simulations of intracardiac electrograms (IEGM). An experimental setup is introduced, which combines electrical measurements of extracellular potentials with a method for optical acquisition of the transmembrane voltage in-vitro. Thereby, intracardiac electrograms can be recorded under defined conditions. Using experimental and clinical signals, detailed simulations of IEGMs are parametrized, which can support clinical diagnosis.
Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in Cellular Solids
To determine the characteristics and properties of cellular solids for an application, and to allow a systematic practical use by means of correlations and modelling approaches, we perform experimental investigations and develop numerical methods. In view of coupled multi-physics simulations, we employ the phase-field method. Finally, the applicability is demonstrated exemplarily for open-cell metal foams, providing qualitative and quantitative comparison with experimental data.
Flow control : theoretical concept of absolute instability
At the 37th Prandtl memorial lecture on Regions of Viccous Flow, H.Oertel 1994 developed for the first time the stability theory of local perturbations in boundary layers and wake flows, as well as their practical application in the flow control of vehicle flows and the boundary layer of civil aircraft wings.This work presents how the stability theory concept of absolute instability has advanced and proven in practice in the last 15 years in terms of the efficient flow control.
Finite Element Method (FEM) Model and Performance Analysis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
This work presents a numerical FEM framework, capable of predicting SOFC performance under technically relevant, planar stack contacting conditions. A high level of confidence in the model predictions is supplied by using exclusively experimentally determined material/kinetic parameters and by a comprehensive validation. The presented model aids SOFC stack development by pre-evaluating possible material choices and design combinations for cells/interconnectors without any experimental effort.
Financial markets and public information
The last decades have seen dramatic changes in trading technology and the way that financial markets operate. As trading technology advances, news providers have kept pace and deliver news to market participants around the world within fractions of a second using electronic systems. Currently, most news is still interpreted by humans but news providers have started to offer newswire products with machine learning systems that specifically cater to algorithmic traders. In practice, newswire messagesmake up a major part of the public information set available to investors.
Electrofiltration of Biopolymers : Spatially Distributed Process Analysis
In biotechnology the current downstream processing trends are directed towards integrated, faster and more effective processes. Electrofiltration is a hybrid method which is a combination of membrane filtration and electrophoresis in a dead-end process. Spatially distributed process analysis together with the applicability of electrofiltration for technically important biopolymers such as PHB, chitosan and hyaluronic acid enables the implementation of the technology into industry.
Economics of Distributed Storage Systems : an economic analysis of arbitrage-maximizing storage systems at the end consumer level
Increasing the shares of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) is one of the most important levers in many countries to cope with the environmental, political, and economic challenges of future energy supply. The underlying research question of this thesis is whether Distributed Storage Systems (DSS) at the end consumer level can economically foster the integration of intermittent and non-dispatchable resources by providing demand-side flexibility.
ECG Based Analysis of the Ventricular Repolarisation in the Human Heart
ECG recordings provide diagnostic relevant information on the de- and repolarisation sequences of the heart. A modification of the repolarisation sequence is assumed to cause Torsades de Pointes. Especially drug induced effects on the repolarisation processes are in focus, since some non-cardiac drugs have been associated with sudden cardiac death in the 1990s. The analysis of the ventricular repolarisation using a set of parameters depicting the morphology of the T-wave is introduced in this work. Therefore, new methods of fully automatic patient-specific QRS detection, beat classification and precise T-wave delineation are presented.
ECG Imaging of Ventricular Activity in Clinical Applications
ECG imaging was performed in humans to reconstruct ventricular activation patterns and localize their excitation origins. The precision of the non-invasive reconstructions was evaluated against invasive measurements and found to be in line with the state-of-the-art literature. Statistics were produced for various excitation origins and reveal the beat-to-beat robustness of the imaging method.
Divertor Development for a Future Fusion Power Plant
Nuclear fusion is considered as a future source of sustainable energy supply. Since the H-mode discovery in ASDEX experiment ""Divertor I"" in 1982, the divertor has been an integral part of all modern tokamaks and stellarators. The major goal of this thesis is to develop a feasible divertor design for a fusion power plant to be built after ITER. The thesis describes the approach in the conceptual development of a helium-cooled divertor and the methods of verification and validation of the design.
Distributed Transformers for Broadband Monolithic Millimeter-Wave Integrated Power Amplifiers
This work presents methods and techniques to optimize and implement distributed magnetic transformers for their application in matching networks of Monolithic Millimeter-wave Integrated Circuits (MMICs). It describes strategies for the efficiency and bandwidth optimization of the transformers and demonstrates their potential based on an optimized transformer geometry as well as two MMIC power amplifiers.
Discrete Time Analysis of Multi-Server Queueing Systems in Material Handling and Service
In this doctoral thesis, performance parameters of multi-server queueing systems are estimated under general stochastic assumptions. We present an exact calculation method for the discrete time distribution of the number of customers in the queueing system at the arrival moment of an arbitrary customer. The waiting time distribution and the sojourn time distribution are estimated exactly, as well. For the calculation of the inter departure time distribution, we present an approximation method.
Discrete time analysis of batch processes in material flow systems
Scope of this work is the development of appropriate models for the evaluation of batch processes in material flow systems. The presented analytical methods support the long range planning in an early planning stage, in which capacities are determined to minimize the facility costs under the condition of cycle time targets.
Determining Cycle Times for Packing in Distribution Centres
Scope of this work is to determine cycle time formulas for packing in distribution centres. No such formulas exist today, even if it is the second most important process after picking. Based on examining packing, morphological boxes showing time influencing parameters are derived. The most significant parameters are identified using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cycle times are determined and applied to cases. These prove that the formulas can be used to calculate the time required for packing.
Design for Stability in Transport Logistics - Definition, Concepts and Evaluation
Lean management describes a set of methods combined with a management philosophy which aims at eliminating waste in logistics processes. In production logistics, lean is already widespread and applied successfully. Research has shown that lean also works in a warehousing environment. In transport logistics, lean is still at a low level of maturity in both research and practice. This work contributes to closing this gap by introducing Heijunka leveling to transport logistics.
Design and analysis of a content-based image retrieval system
The automatic retrieval of images according to the similarity of their content is a challenging task with many application fields. In this book the automatic retrieval of images according to human spontaneous perception without further effort or knowledge is considered. A system is therefore designed and analyzed. Methods for the detection and extraction of regions and for the extraction and comparison of color, shape, and texture features are also investigated.
Dietary intake in children is not only associated with current and future health, but also with behavior and learning. Especially during early childhood and throughout the school-age years, adequate food and nutrient intake to support brain development and function are critical. Data on the effect of sugar intake on children’s activity levels, or their ability to focus on cognitive tasks, are mixed. Overall, more research into nutrition and children’s behavior is needed to address the questions: How does behavior affect children’s nutrition and how does nutrition affect children’s behavior?
The purpose of these books is to have an updated systematic overview examining, in detail, the functional role of different diets and dietary components in maintaining glucose homeostasis and preventing long-term complications. The first book includes experimental evidence from preclinical research, whereas the second book provides studies in the clinical scenario.
Diagnosis of Neurogenetic Disorders: Contribution of Next Generation Sequencing and Deep Phenotyping
The contribution of genomic variants to the aetiopathogenesis of both paediatric and adult neurological disease is being increasingly recognized. The use of next-generation sequencing has led to the discovery of novel neurodevelopmental disorders, as exemplified by the deciphering developmental disorders (DDD) study, and provided insight into the aetiopathogenesis of common adult neurological diseases. Despite these advances, many challenges remain.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a spectrum of disorders resulting from the compression of the neurovascular structures within the thoracic outlet. The three main subtypes of TOS are defined by the anatomic structure affected by the extrinsic compression. In the most common subtype—neurogenic TOS—the brachial plexus is compressed and symptoms include pain, arm paresthesias, and sometimes weakness. Venous TOS is characterized by the compression of the subclavian vein and its resultant thrombosis. Arterial TOS is the least common and is distinguished by the compression of the subclavian artery and the development of aneurysms or stenoses with distal embolization.
Julie Ann Freischlag (Ed.) --- Natalia O. Glebova (Ed.)
Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Diseases
A screenshot of some the most rapidly evolving fields in Neonatology and Pediatrics with articles reviewing some metabolic dysregulations as well as non-oncologic diseases that may occur in infancy, childhood, youth. The illustrative material with original photographs and drawings highlighting some pathogenetic concepts are keystones of this book.
his Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled "DHA for Optimal Health", consists of evidence-based original research or reviews of the scientific literature. Manuscripts focus on the evidence that underpins dietary requirements throughout the lifespan (from in-utero to the elderly) for optimal brain function and/or prevention (or treatment) of disease.
Development and Application of Nonlinear Dissipative Device in Structural Vibration Control
This book entitled Development and Application of Nonlinear Dissipative Device in Structural Vibration Control contains contributions that focus on the development and application of innovative nonlinear dissipative systems that mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects of extreme loading by incorporating new materials or effective mechanical control technologies. Moreover, new nonlinear analytical methods for distinctive vibrating structures under different excitations are also highlighted in this book.
Zheng Lu (Ed.) --- Tony Yang (Ed.) --- Ying Zhou (Ed.) --- Angeliki Papalou (Ed.)
Development and Application of Herbal Medicine from Marine Origin
Marine herbal medicine generally refers to the use of marine plants as original materials to develop crude drugs, or for other medical purposes. The term ‘marine plants’ usually denotes macroalgae grown between intertidal and subintertidal zones, including Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta. Considerable progress has been made in the field of biomedical research into marine microalgae and microorganisms in the past decade.
Hwang, Tsong-Long --- Sung, Ping-Jyun --- Liaw, Chih-Chuang
Design and Applications of Coordinate Measuring Machines
Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) have been conventionally used in industry for 3-dimensional and form-error measurements of macro parts for many years. Ever since the first CMM, developed by Ferranti Co. in the late 1950s, they have been regarded as versatile measuring equipment, yet many CMMs on the market still have inherent systematic errors due to the violation of the Abbe Principle in its design. Current CMMs are only suitable for part tolerance above 10 μm. With the rapid advent of ultraprecision technology, multi-axis machining, and micro/nanotechnology over the past twenty years, new types of ultraprecision and micro/nao-CMMs are urgently needed in all aspects of society.
Current Strategies for the Biochemical Diagnosis and Monitoring of Mitochondrial Disease
Mitochondrial disease constitutes a complex and heterogeneous group of disorders resulting from a defect in mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) enzyme activity. In view of the dual regulation of the MRC, exercised by both the mitochondrial and nuclear genome, mutations in either mitochondrial or nuclear DNA can result in a MRC deficiency. Whilst a single organ can be affected, MRC disorders often result in a multi-organ system presentation with prominent neurological and myopathic features.
Control and Nonlinear Dynamics on Energy Conversion Systems
The ever-increasing need for higher efficiency, smaller size, and lower cost make the analysis, understanding, and design of energy conversion systems extremely important, interesting, and even imperative. One of the most neglected features in the study of such systems is the effect of the inherent nonlinearities on the stability of the system. Due to these nonlinearities, these devices may exhibit undesirable and complex dynamics, which are the focus of many researchers. Even though a lot of research has taken place in this area during the last 20 years, it is still an active research topic for mainstream power engineers.
Iu, Herbert Ho-Ching --- El Aroudi, Abdelali
Computational Methods of Multi-Physics Problems
This book offers a collection of six papers addressing problems associated with the computational modeling of multi-field problems. Some of the proposed contributions present novel computational techniques, while other topics focus on applying state-of-the-art techniques in order to solve coupled problems in various areas including the prediction of material failure during the lithiation process, which is of major importance in batteries; efficient models for flexoelectricity, which require higher-order continuity; the prediction of composite pipes under thermomechanical conditions; material failure in rock; and computational materials design.
The educational system leading up to the pharmacy degree, student training, and the continuing personal development of pharmacists are being more and more mapped to the competences pharmacists require to provide the relevant safe and efficient pharmaceutical services to meet the health needs of patients. This book draws on the experience of experts involved in the develoment of competence training for pharmacy education and training in Europe, North America, and Australia. It discusses the philosophy and implications of such an approach, as well as the production and development of models, and their application to existing courses.
This reprint book ‘Communication in Pharmacy Practice’ is launched to help improve communication practices by increasing knowledge of different aspects of communication in pharmacy practice. The book consists of recently published research articles and illustrates that pharmacy communication is a research subject that is investigated globally and from many perspectives. The overall pharmacy communicational themes investigated and discussed in this book are as follows: Communication between health care professionals; communication between pharmacists and patients in the context of both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines; and factors impacting communication
Sofia Kälvemark Sporrong (Ed.) --- Susanne Kaae (Ed.)
Climate Variability and Climate Change Impacts on Land Surface, Hydrological Processes and Water Management
During the last several decades, Earth´s climate has undergone significant changes due to anthropogenic global warming, and feedbacks to the water cycle. Therefore, persistent efforts are required to improve our understanding of hydrological processes and to engage in efficient water management strategies that explicitly consider changing environmental conditions. The twenty-four contributions in this book have broadly addressed topics across
Zhang, Yongqiang --- Li, Hongxia --- Reggiani, Paolo
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation—ZEMCH 2016
This book explores the current issues around sustainable design and energy efficiency within the construction industry in both developed and developing countries. Sustainable housing; thermal comfort; daylighting; low-income housing; green roofs; energy efficient retrofitting and photovoltaic façades are some of the subjects discussed in the book.
Clean Energy and Fuel (Hydrogen) Storage
Clean energy and fuel storage are often required for both stationary and automotive applications. Some of these clean energy and fuel storage technologies currently under extensive research and development include hydrogen storage, direct electric storage, mechanical energy storage, solar–thermal energy storage, electrochemical (batteries and supercapacitors), and thermochemical storage. The gravimetric and volumetric storage capacity, energy storage density, power output, operating temperature and pressure, cycle life, recyclability, and cost of clean energy or fuel storage are some of the factors that govern efficient energy and fuel storage technologies for potential deployment in energy harvesting (solar and wind farms) stations and onboard vehicular transportation
Chemical and Molecular Approach to Tumor Metastases
Dear Colleagues, Malignant tumors develop distant metastases, e.g., small clusters of cells that detach from the primitive site and colonize distant organs and tissues. Unlike the primary masses, metastases are often difficult to fully eradicate by surgery ablation and are almost always the primary object of chemo- and/or immune-therapies. The presence of metastases at tumor diagnosis is responsible for the unfavorable prognosis and of relapses even after initially successful tumor therapies.
Gianni Sava (Ed.) --- Alberta Bergamo (Ed.)
Catalysts Deactivation, Poisoning and Regeneration
Catalyst lifetime represents one of the most crucial economic aspects in industrial catalytic processes, due to costly shutdowns, catalyst replacements, and proper disposal of spent materials. Not surprisingly, there is considerable motivation to understand and treat catalyst deactivation, poisoning, and regeneration, which causes this research topic to continue to grow. The complexity of catalyst poisoning obviously increases along with the increasing use of biomass/waste-derived/residual feedstocks and with requirements for cleaner and novel sustainable processes.
Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycling in Forest Soils
The majority of carbon stored in the soils of the world is stored in forests. The refractory nature of some portions of forest soil organic matter also provides the slow, gradual release of organic nitrogen and phosphorus to sustain long term forest productivity. Contemporary and future disturbances, such as climatic warming, deforestation, short rotation sylviculture, the invasion of exotic species, and fire, all place strains on the integrity of this homeostatic system of C, N, and P cycling.
Climate change is one of the main threats to modern society. This phenomenon is associated with an increase in greenhouse gas (GHGs, mainly carbon dioxide—CO2) emissions due to anthropogenic activities. The main causes are the burning of fossil fuels and land use change (deforestation). Climate change impacts are associated with risks to basic needs (health, food security, and clean water), as well as risks to development (jobs, economic growth, and the cost of living).
Cancer Biomarkers and Targets in Digestive Organs
Identification and development of cancer biomarkers and targets have greatly accelerated progress towards precision medicine in oncology. Studies of tumor biology have not only provided insights into the mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis, but also led to discovery of molecules that have been developed into cancer biomarkers and targets. Multi-platforms for molecular characterization of tumors using next-generation genomic sequencing, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and blood-based biopsies have greatly expanded the portfolio of potential biomarkers and targets.
Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental toxicant of continuing public health concern worldwide, because total diet studies have shown that Cd is present in virtually all foodstuffs. Consequently, foods that are frequently consumed in large quantities, such as rice, potatoes, wheat, leafy salad vegetables, and other cereal crops, are the most significant dietary Cd sources. Moreover, Cd has chemical propensities that confer the potential to interfere with the physiological functions of calcium and zinc. Evidence of a wide range of diverse, toxic effects of Cd is increasingly apparent.
Biotechnological Applications of Phage and Phage-Derived Proteins
Phages have shown a high biotechnological potential with numerous applications. The advent of high-resolution microscopy techniques aligned with omic and molecular tools have revealed innovative phage features and enabled new processes that can be further exploited for biotechnological applications in a wide variety of fields. The high-quality original articles and reviews presented in this Special Issue demonstrate the incredible potential of phages and their derived proteins in a wide range of biotechnological applications for human benefit.
Biomass for Energy Country Specific Show Case Studies
In many domestic and industrial processes, vast percentages of primary energy are produced by the combustion of fossil fuels. Apart from diminishing the source of fossil fuels and the increasing risk of higher costs and energy security, the impact on the environment is worsening continually. Renewables are becoming very popular, but are, at present, more expensive than fossil fuels, especially photovoltaics and hydropower. Biomass is one of the most established and common sources of fuel known to mankind, and has been in continuous use for domestic heating and cooking over the years, especially in poorer communities.
The Biology and Treatment of Myeloid Leukaemias
There has been an observed decrease in the global mortality from cancer, mostly atributable to improved, particularly early, detection and prevention. For many carcinomas and leukaemias in adults, once the disease has reached a certain stage there are no therapies that are able to erradicate the cancer cells and cure patients. There has been progress in the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and remissions are achievable; however, the presence of chemoresistent blast cells leads to most patients relapsing, and relapse is difficult to treat and thus patients die due to their disease
Geoffrey Brown (Ed.) --- Ewa Marcinkowska (Ed.)
BioEnergy and BioChemicals Production from Biomass and Residual Resources
Research and technology developments in bioenergy and biochemical production systems are of the utmost importance for the development of next generation, highly efficient biomass conversion concepts, maximizing the total energy and chemical output. The utilization of non-conventional biomasses and unexploited residual resources (e.g., agriculture and agroindustry wastes), innovative solutions for online monitoring and process control, novel biochemical pathways, microbial platforms and reactor technologies are key issues to be addressed.
Dimitar Karakashev (Ed.) --- Yifeng Zhang (Ed.)
Biodiversity of Vegetable Crops, A Living Heritage
Intensive agriculture has generally resulted in higher productivity, but also in a trend towards decreasing levels of agro-biodiversity, which represents a key point in ensuring the adaptability and resilience of agro-ecosystems in the global challenge to produce more and better food in a sustainable way. The biodiversity of vegetable crops includes genetic diversity—both as species diversity (interspecific diversity) and as a diversity of genes within a species (intraspecific diversity) with regard to the vegetable varieties grown—and the diversity of agro-ecosystems (agro-biodiversity).
Renna, Massimiliano --- Santamaria, Pietro --- Signore, Angelo --- Montesano, Francesco Fabiano --- et al.
Biodiversity and Conservation in Forests
Global forest communities cover only about 30% of land areas, but they provide important ecosystem services, such as watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and oxygen production, as well as renewable forest products for human subsistence and markets. Forests also support the majority of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. Although land conversion for agriculture and pastureland has historically resulted in fragmentation and declining forested areas, forests worldwide are now experiencing change at an unprecedented rate due to various anthropogenic activities and growing human populations.
Compared to conventional chemical technologies and other similar industrial processes, bioprocesses represent a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative for the production of fuels and platform chemicals. In biorefineries, different kinds of feedstocks, such as biomass or lignocellulosic materials in general, can be used and fermented by microorganisms
Biocatalysis and Pharmaceuticals: A Smart Tool for Sustainable Development
Biocatalysis, that is, the use of biological catalysts (enzymes, cells, etc.) for the preparation of highly valuable compounds is undergoing a great development, being considered an extremely sustainable approach to undertaking environmental demands. In this scenario, this book illustrates the versatility of applied biocatalysis for the preparation of drugs and other bioactive compounds through the presentation of different research articles and reviews, in which several authors describe the most recent developments in this appealing scientific area.
Modern robotic technologies have enabled robots to operate in a variety of unstructured and dynamically-changing environments, in addition to traditional structured environments. Robots have, thus, become an important element in our everyday lives. One key approach to develop such intelligent and autonomous robots is to draw inspiration from biological systems. Biological structure, mechanisms, and underlying principles have the potential to provide new ideas to support the improvement of conventional robotic designs and control.
Toshio Fukuda (Ed.) --- Fei Chen (Ed.) --- Qing Shi (Ed)
Beverage Consumption Habits around the World: Association with Total Water and Energy Intakes
Fluid intake has barely been assessed, and hydration status has only rarely been measured in epidemiological studies. This hampers attempts to assess the adequacy of water intake at a population level. However, although guidelines have been established to determine how much water humans require to avoid dehydration and to optimize physical and psychological function, limited data are available on the total water and beverages intake.
Lluis Serra-Majem (Ed.) --- Mariela Nissensohn (Ed.)
This Special Issue is focused on breakthrough developments in the field of biosensors, as well as on the current scientific progress in biomedical signal processing. The papers address innovative solutions in assistance robotics based on bioelectrical signals, including the following: affordable biosensor technology, affordable assistive-robotics devices, new techniques in myoelectric control, and advances in brain–machine interfacing.
Fernando Torres (Ed.) --- Santiago Puente (Ed.) --- Andrés Ubeda (Ed.)
Applications of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
ca. 200 words; this text will present the book in all promotional forms (e.g. flyers). Please describe the book in straightforward and consumer-friendly terms. [Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are considered a key enabling technology for the design and implementation of photonic circuits, subsystems, and networks. Owing to the attractive features of low power consumption, compactness, broad gain bandwidth and ability for integration with affordable cost, SOAs enjoy continuous popularity as core versatile devices within the optical communications research and industrial sector for the accomplishment of critical and indispensable tasks at fundamental and system-oriented level.
Applications of Remote Sensing/ GIS in Water Resources and Flooding Risk Managements
Remote sensing and GIS play critical roles in water resource and flood inundation mapping and risk management. Remote sensing provides data sources for mapping water resources (snow and glaciers, water bodies, soil moisture and groundwater), measuring hydrological fluxes (ET, precipitation and river discharge), and monitoring drought and flooding inundation, while GIS provides the best tools for water resources, drought and flooding risk management and for setting up hydrologic models, inputting data processing and output analyses and visualizations
Hongjie Xie (Ed.) --- Xianwei Wang /Ed.)
Applications of Computational Intelligence to Power Systems
Electric power systems around the world are changing in terms of structure, operation, management and ownership due to technical, financial, and ideological reasons. Power systems keep on expanding in terms of geographical areas, asset additions, and the penetration of new technologies in generation, transmission, and distribution. The conventional methods for solving the power system design, planning, operation, and control problems have been extensively used for different applications, but these methods suffer from several difficulties, thus providing suboptimal solutions.
Application of Bioinformatics in Cancers
This collection of 25 research papers comprised of 22 original articles and 3 reviews is brought together from international leaders in bioinformatics and biostatistics. The collection highlights recent computational advances that improve the ability to analyze highly complex data sets to identify factors critical to cancer biology. Novel deep learning algorithms represent an emerging and highly valuable approach for collecting, characterizing and predicting clinical outcomes data. The collection highlights several of these approaches that are likely to become the foundation of research and clinical practice in the future.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks in Geoinformatics
Recently, a need has arisen for prediction techniques that can address a variety of problems by combining methods from the rapidly developing field of machine learning with geoinformation technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, and GPS. As a result, over the last few decades, one particular machine learning technology, known as artificial neural networks, has been successfully applied to a wide range of fields in science and engineering. In addition, the development of computational and spatial technologies has led to the rapid growth of geoinformatics, which specializes in the analysis of spatial information.
Advances in Multi-Sensor Information Fusion: Theory and Applications 2017
The information fusion technique can integrate a large amount of data and knowledge representing the same real-world object and obtain a consistent, accurate and useful representation of that object. The data may be independent or redundant, and can be obtained by different sensors at the same time or at different times. A suitable combination of investigative methods can substantially increase the profit of information in comparison with that from a single sensor. Multi-sensor information fusion has been a key issue in sensor research since the 1970s and it has been applied in many fields, such as geospatial information systems, business intelligence, oceanography, discovery science, intelligent transport systems, wireless sensor networks, etc.
Xue-Bo Jin (Ed.) --- Shuli Sun (Ed.) --- Hong Wei (Ed.) --- Feng-Bao Yang (Ed.)
Advances in Micro-Bioreactor Design for Organ Cell Studies
Micro-bioreactors offer unique opportunities to study biological systems under fluidic conditions. The concept of micro-bioreactors suggests that biological reaction conditions on a large scale can be scaled down to micro-volumes while maintaining performance and functionality. Models and operation principles can be simulated at a smaller scale, either by scaling down organs in the human body, or using bioreactors for the production of biologics. This book highlights these issues with a strong focus on new engineering design.
Advances in Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport: Pushing the Hidden Boundary
In recent decades, the study of groundwater flow and solute transport has advanced into new territories that are beyond conventional theories, such as Darcy’s law and Fick’s law. The studied media have changed from permeable porous and fractured ones to much less permeable ones, such as clay and shale. The studied pore sizes have also changed from millimetres to micro-meters or even nano-meters.
Zhan, Hongbin --- Wang, Quanrong --- Wen, Zhang
The book presents research papers addressing a wide range of environmental topics: water and wastewater treatment and management, soil degradation and conservation, sediment pollution control, environmental impacts of technologies, life cycle analysis (LCA), air quality and indoor environment, and advanced environmental materials. The contributions provide novel and significant scientific results and advanced applications in the field of environmental engineering and provide an integrated view of the trends in solving the problems associated with the achievement of sustainability.
Adriana Estokova (Ed.) --- Magdalena Balintova (Ed.)
Catalyst deactivation, the loss over time of catalytic activity and/or selectivity, is a problem of great and continuing concern in the practice of industrial catalytic processes. Costs to industry for catalyst replacement and process shutdown total tens of billions of dollars per year. While catalyst deactivation is inevitable for most processes, some of its immediate, drastic consequences may be avoided, postponed, or even reversed. Accordingly, there is considerable motivation to better understand catalyst decay and regeneration
Calvin H. Bartholomew (Ed.) --- Morris D. Argyle (Ed.)
Advances in Airborne Lidar Systems and Data Processing
Presented to audience as “Airborne Laser Systems and Data Processing”, this book collects the papers in the Remote Sensing special issue “ Airborne Laser Scanning” (November 2016) and several other papers selected from recent, previous Remote Sensing issues. We were approached by Remote Sensing late 2015 to edit a special issue on Lidar remote sensing. After some literature review and careful thinking, we selected the theme for the special issue as “Airborne Laser Scanning”. Having this focus in mind, we made a call for papers and spread it well over Internet and social media. In the meantime, a number of leading experts in their fields were reached out for contribution.
Advanced Memristor Modeling: Memristor Circuits and Networks
The investigation of new memory schemes, neural networks, computer systems, and many other improved electronic devices is very important for the future generation’s electronic circuits and for their widespread application in all the areas of industry. In this respect, the analysis of new efficient and advanced electronic elements and circuits is an essential field of highly developed electrical and electronic engineering. The resistance-switching phenomenon, observed in many amorphous oxides, has been investigated since 1970 and is a promising technology for constructing new electronic memories.
Advanced Hydroinformatic Techniques for the Simulation and Analysis of Water Supply and Distribution Systems
The overall objective of this Special Issue is to improve knowledge on developing and using advanced simulation tools in water supply and distribution systems. The final aim is to propose a suitable framework supporting insightful hydraulic mechanisms to help the decision-making processes of water utility managers and practitioners. Contributions to this Special Issue, exploring new research avenues on urban hydraulics and hydroinformatics, will be of great value for both Academia and those water utility stakeholders.
Manuel Herrera (Ed.) --- Silvia Meniconi (Ed.) --- Stefano Alvisi (Ed.) --- Joaquín Izquierdo (Ed.)
Advanced DSP Techniques for High-Capacity and Energy-Efficient Optical Fiber Communications
The rapid proliferation of the Internet has been driving communication networks closer and closer to their limits, while available bandwidth is disappearing due to an ever-increasing network load. Over the past decade, optical fiber communication technology has increased per fiber data rate from 10 Tb/s to exceeding 10 Pb/s. The major explosion came after the maturity of coherent detection and advanced digital signal processing (DSP).
Advanced Asphalt Materials and Paving Technologies
There has been significant research progress in the area of pavement materials and paving technologies in the past decade. This includes the use of warm mix asphalt technologies, rubber asphalt, bio asphalt, nanomaterial applications, new construction technologies, innovative concrete materials, as well as the application of mechanistic–empirical pavement design. With all these developments, a collection of peer-reviewed articles with the theme of advanced asphalt materials and paving technologies is necessary for industry, researchers, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Zhanping You (Ed.) --- Qingli Dai (Ed.) --- Feipeng Xiao (Ed.)
Advanced Applications for Smart Energy Systems Considering Grid-Interactive Demand Response
This book covers applied research on smart energy systems, smart grids, smart energy homes, smart energy products and services, and the advanced applications thereof, in the context of demand response and grid interactions. In particular, this book is focused on interdisciplinary research results that combine technical, social, environmental, and economic aspects of smart energy systems and smart energy products
Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Applications
The present Special Issue proposes articles in the area of Additive Manufacturing with particular attention to the different employed technologies and the several possible applications. The main investigated technologies are the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and the Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). These methodologies, combined with the Computer Aided Design (CAD), provide important advantages. Numerical, analytical and experimental knowledge and models are proposed to exploit the potential advantages given by 3D printing for the production of modern systems and structures in aerospace, mechanical, civil and biomedical engineering fields.
Salvatore Brischetto (Ed.) --- Paolo Maggiore (Ed.) --- Carlo Giovanni Ferro (Ed.)
Adaptive Catchment Management and Reservoir Operation
River catchments and reservoirs play a central role in water security, food supply, flood risk management, hydropower generation, and ecosystem services; however, they are now under increasing pressure from population growth, economic activities, and changing climate means and extremes in many parts of the world. Adaptive management of river catchments and reservoirs requires an in-depth understanding of the impacts of future uncertainties and thus the development of robust, sustainable solutions to meet the needs of various stakeholders and the environment.
Fu, Guangtao --- Ni, Guangheng --- Zhang, Chi
Acupuncture – Basic Research and Clinical Application
This book focuses on the investigation, development, and modernization of acupuncture in basic research settings as well as in clinical applications. The book contains 13 chapters reporting the latest evidence-based results of acupuncture research and exploring acupuncture in general. Altogether, 44 authors from all over the world contributed to this book.
Actuarial and Financial Risks in Life Insurance, Pensions and Household Finance
The recent regulatory changes, together with the increasing awareness of the variety of sources of uncertainty that affect the activities of insurance and pension funds, have generated increasing attention towards insurance risk management theory and practice. Against this background, this Special Issue collects relevant contributions on a variety of issues encompassing longevity risk modelling, solvency requirements, risk management, and risk sharing.
Acoustic and Elastic Waves: Recent Trends in Science and Engineering
The present Special Issue intends to explore new directions in the field of acoustics and ultrasonics. The interest includes, but is not limited to, the use of acoustic technology for condition monitoring of materials and structures. Topics of interest (among others): • Acoustic emission in materials and structures (without material limitation)
Dimitrios G. Aggelis (Ed.) --- Nathalie Godin (Ed.)
Abiotic Stress Effects on Performance of Horticultural Crops
Horticultural crop yield and quality depend on genotype, environmental conditions, and production management. In particular, adverse environmental conditions may greatly affect crop performance, reducing crop yield by 50%–70%. Abiotic stresses such as cold, heat, drought, flooding, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and ultraviolet radiation affect multiple physiological and biochemical mechanisms in plants as they attempt to cope with the stress conditions. However, different crop species can have different sensitivities or tolerances to specific abiotic stresses
Francini, Alessandra --- Sebastiani, Luca
Non-Equilibrium Social Science and Policy: Introduction and Essays on New and Changing Paradigms in Socio-Economic Thinking
The overall aim of this book, an outcome of the European FP7 FET Open NESS project, is to contribute to the ongoing effort to put the quantitative social sciences on a proper footing for the 21st century. A key focus is economics, and its implications on policy making, where the still dominant traditional approach increasingly struggles to capture the economic realities we observe in the world today - with vested interests getting too often in the way of real advances. Insights into behavioral economics and modern computing techniques have made possible both the integration of larger information sets and the exploration of disequilibrium behavior.
Jeffrey Johnson --- Andrzej Nowak --- Paul Ormerod --- Bridget Rosewell --- et al.
Resilience: A New Paradigm of Nuclear Safety: From Accident Mitigation to Resilient Society Facing Extreme Situations
This book summarizes presentations and discussions from the two-day international workshop held at UC Berkeley in March 2015, and derives questions to be addressed in multi-disciplinary research toward a new paradigm of nuclear safety. The consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011 have fuelled the debate on nuclear safety: while there were no casualties due to radiation, there was substantial damage to local communities.
Joonhong Ahn --- Franck Guarnieri --- Kazuo Furuta
This publication addresses the global challenges of food and water security in a rapidly changing and complex world. The essays highlight the links between bio-physical and socio-cultural processes, making connections between local and global scales, and focusing on the everyday practices of eating and drinking, essential for human survival. Written by international experts, each contribution is research-based but accessible to the general public.
Peter Jackson --- Walter E.L. Spiess --- Farhana Sultana
This book compares the lessons learned from a wetland-perspective approach to the changing climate and the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) with regard to environmental conservation. Examples from Germany and Poland are discussed due to the efficiency of their respective implementations of water conservation policies
The Impact of Food Bioactives on Health: In Vitro and Ex Vivo Models
Infogest' (Improving Health Properties of Food by Sharing our Knowledge on the Digestive Process) is an EU COST action/network in the domain of Food and Agriculture. Infogest aims at building an open international network of institutes undertaking multidisciplinary basic research on food digestion gathering scientists from different origins (including food scientists, gut physiologists and nutritionists). The network gathers 70 partners from academia, corresponding to a total of 29 countries.
Kitty Verhoeckx --- Paul Cotter --- Iván López-Expósito --- Charlotte Kleiveland --- et al.
This work contains updated and clinically relevant information about tuberculosis. It is aimed at providing a succinct overview of history and disease epidemiology, clinical presentation and the most recent scientific developments in the field of tuberculosis research, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment. It may serve as a practical resource for students, clinicians and researchers who work in the field of infectious diseases.
Caws, Maxine --- Marais, Ben --- Heemskerk, Dorothee --- Farrar, Jeremy
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling in Neuroprotection
This open access book presents the roles and mechanisms of signal transduction triggered by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) stimulation in neuroprotection against toxic effects of risk factors of neurodegenerative diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that nAChRs in the CNS play important roles not only in excitatory neurotransmission but also in neuronal survival and related functions. Neuroprotection mediated by nAChRs in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease is the major topic of this book.
Akinori Akaike --- Shun Shimohama --- Yoshimi Misu
Recent years have seen spectacular advances in the field of circadian biology. These have attracted the interest of researchers in many fields, including endocrinology, neurosciences, cancer, and behavior. By integrating a circadian view within the fields of endocrinology and metabolism, researchers will be able to reveal many, yet-unsuspected aspects of how organisms cope with changes in the environment and subsequent control of homeostasis. This field is opening new avenues in our understanding of metabolism and endocrinology. A panel of the most distinguished investigators in the field gathered together to discuss the present state and the future of the field.
Satellite Earth Observations and Their Impact on Society and Policy
he result of a workshop bringing together an international advisory board of experts in science, satellite technologies, industry innovations, and public policy, this book addresses the current and future roles of satellite Earth observations in solving large-scale environmental problems. The book showcases the results of engaging distinct communities to enhance our ability to identify emerging problems and to administer international regimes created to solve them. It also reviews the work of the Policy and Earth Observation Innovation Cycle (PEOIC) project, an effort aimed at assessing the impact of satellite observations on environmental policy and to propose a mission going forward that would launch an “innovation cycle”.
MARE-WINT: New Materials and Reliability in Offshore Wind Turbine Technology
This book provides a holistic, interdisciplinary overview of offshore wind energy, and is a must-read for advanced researchers. Topics, from the design and analysis of future turbines, to the decommissioning of wind farms, are covered. The scope of the work ranges from analytical, numerical and experimental advancements in structural and fluid mechanics, to novel developments in risk, safety & reliability engineering for offshore wind.The core objective of the current work is to make offshore wind energy more competitive, by improving the reliability, and operations and maintenance (O&M) strategies of wind turbines.
Wiesław Ostachowicz --- Malcolm McGugan --- Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs --- Marcin Luczak
Ecological Risk Assessment for Chlorpyrifos in Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems in North America
This book attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.
Cognitive Supervision for Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Laser Surgery
This thesis lays the groundwork for the automatic supervision of the laser incision process, which aims to complement surgeons’ perception of the state of tissues and enhance their control over laser incisions. The research problem is formulated as the estimation of variables that are representative of the state of tissues during laser cutting. Prior research in this area leveraged numerical computation methods that bear a high computational cost and are not straightforward to use in a surgical setting.
Clinical Text Mining: Secondary Use of Electronic Patient Records
This open access book describes the results of natural language processing and machine learning methods applied to clinical text from electronic patient records. It is divided into twelve chapters. Chapters 1-4 discuss the history and background of the original paper-based patient records, their purpose, and how they are written and structured. These initial chapters do not require any technical or medical background knowledge. The remaining eight chapters are more technical in nature and describe various medical classifications and terminologies such as ICD diagnosis codes, SNOMED CT, MeSH, UMLS, and ATC.
Self-Reported Population Health: An International Perspective based on EQ-5D
The EQ-5D instrument, as a standardized, cross-culturally validated measure of self-assessed health has a hugely important role in understanding population health within and across countries. Over the past two decades a wealth of international population health survey data have been accumulated by the EuroQol Group from research conducted in many countries across four continents. One of the success factors of the EQ-5D instruments has been the easy availability of national or international sets of EQ-5D data, as well as clear explanations and guidance for users.
Agota Szende --- Bas Janssen --- Juan Cabases
Plant Selection for Bioretention Systems and Stormwater Treatment Practices
As cities develop, more land is converted into impervious surfaces, which do not allow water to infiltrate. Careful urban planning is needed to ensure that the hydrologic cycle and water quality of the catchment areas are not affected. There are techniques that can attenuate peak flow during rain events and reduce the amount of metals, nutrients, and bacteria that enter the urban water cycle.
William F. Hunt --- Bill Lord --- Benjamin Loh --- Angelia Sia
Perspectives on European Earthquake Engineering and Seismology: Volume 2
This book collects 4 keynote and 15 theme lectures presented at the 2nd European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (2ECEES), held in Istanbul, Turkey, from August 24 to 29, 2014. The conference was organized by the Turkish Earthquake Foundation - Earthquake Engineering Committee and Prime Ministry, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency under the auspices of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE) and European Seismological Commission (ESC).
Hormones, Metabolism and the Benefits of Exercise
The world is faced with an epidemic of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is due to changes in dietary habits and the decrease in physical activity. Exercise is usually part of the prescription, the first line of defense, to prevent or treat metabolic disorders. However, we are still learning how and why exercise provides metabolic benefits in human health. This open access volume focuses on the cellular and molecular pathways that link exercise, muscle biology, hormones and metabolism.
This in-depth survey of salutogenesis shows the breadth and strengths of this innovative perspective on health promotion, health care, and wellness. Background and historical chapters trace the development of the salutogenic model of health, and flesh out the central concepts, most notably generalized resistance resources and the sense of coherence, that differentiate it from pathogenesis. From there, experts describe a range of real-world applications within and outside health contexts, from positive psychology to geriatrics, from small towns to corrections facilities, and from school and workplace to professional training.
Maurice B. Mittelmark --- Shifra Sagy --- Monica Eriksson --- Georg F. Bauer --- et al.
Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas: Linkages between Science, Policy and Practice
This book brings together research findings and experiences from science, policy and practice to highlight and debate the importance of nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas. Emphasis is given to the potential of nature-based approaches to create multiple-benefits for society. The expert contributions present recommendations for creating synergies between ongoing policy processes, scientific programmes and practical implementation of climate change and nature conservation measures in global urban areas.
Nadja Kabisch --- Horst Korn --- Jutta Stadler --- Aletta Bonn
Methods for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Balances and Evaluating Mitigation Options in Smallholder Agriculture
This book provides standards and guidelines for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals in smallholder agricultural systems and comparing options for climate change mitigation based on emission reductions and livelihood trade-offs. Globally, agriculture is directly responsible for about 11% of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and induces an additional 17% through land use change, mostly in developing countries. Farms in the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are predominately managed by smallholders, with 80% of land holdings smaller than ten hectares.
Todd S. Rosenstock --- Mariana C. Rufino --- Klaus Butterbach-Bahl --- Lini Wollenberg --- et al.
This volume starts with an elementary introduction covering stem cell methodologies used to produce specific types of neurons, possibilities for their therapeutic use, and warnings of technical problems. In addition the authors report successes in achieving the derivation of a specific type of neuron. The dopamine neuron offers an important example and is discussed in more detail. Additional chapters cover problems obviously approachable with cells derived from stem cells, including their need in surgeries for pituitary cancers
Biotechnologies for Plant Mutation Breeding: Protocols
This book offers 19 detailed protocols on the use of induced mutations in crop breeding and functional genomics studies, which cover topics including chemical and physical mutagenesis, phenotypic screening methods, traditional TILLING and TILLING by sequencing, doubled haploidy, targeted genome editing, and low-cost methods for the molecular characterization of mutant plants that are suitable for laboratories in developing countries
Joanna Jankowicz-Cieslak --- Thomas H. Tai --- Jochen Kumlehn --- Bradley J. Till
The aim of this book is to document for the first time the dimensions and requirements of effective integrated groundwater management (IGM). Groundwater management is a formidable challenge, one that remains one of humanity’s foremost priorities. It has become a largely non-renewable resource that is overexploited in many parts of the world. In the 21st century, the issue moves from how to simply obtain the water we need to how we manage it sustainably for future generations, future economies, and future ecosystems. The focus then becomes one of understanding the drivers and current state of the groundwater resource, and restoring equilibrium to at-risk aquifers.
Anthony J. Jakeman --- Olivier Barreteau --- Randall J. Hunt --- Jean-Daniel Rinaudo --- et al.
Innovative Medicine: Basic Research and Development
This book is devoted to innovative medicine, comprising the proceedings of the Uehara Memorial Foundation Symposium 2014. It remains extremely rare for the findings of basic research to be developed into clinical applications, and it takes a long time for the process to be achieved. The task of advancing the development of basic research into clinical reality lies with translational science, yet the field seems to struggle to find a way to move forward. To create innovative medical technology, many steps need to be taken: development and analysis of optimal animal models of human diseases, elucidation of genomic and epidemiological data, and establishment of “proof of concept”.
Kazuwa Nakao --- Nagahiro Minato --- Shinji Uemoto
Evolution, Monitoring and Predicting Models of Rockburst: Precursor Information for Rock Failure
This open access book focuses on investigating predicting precursor information and key points of rockburst in mining engineering through laboratory experiment, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and case studies. Understanding the evolution patterns for the microstructure instability of rock is a prerequisite for rockburst prediction. The book provides a guide for readers seeking to understand the evolution patterns for the microstrucure of rock failure, the predicting key point of rock failure and the rockburst predicting model.
High Mountain Conservation in a Changing World
This book aims to provide case studies and a general view of the main processes involved in the ecosystem shifts occurring in the high mountains, and to analyse the implications for nature conservation. Although case studies from the Pyrenees are preponderant, conclusions are aimed at any mountain range surrounded by highly populated lowland areas. The chapters give emphasis to approaches from environmental geography, functional ecology, biogeography, and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
Jordi Catalan --- Josep M Ninot --- M. Mercè Aniz
Governance for Drought Resilience: Land and Water Drought Management in Europe
This book presents the findings of a team of scientists and practitioners who have been working on the project “Benefits of Governance in Drought Adaptation” (in short: the DROP project), which is included in the European Union’s INTERREG IVB NWE programme. The DROP governance team developed a Governance Assessment Tool (GAT), which allows the governance setting of a given region for planning and realizing drought adaptation measures to be assessed
Hans Bressers --- Nanny Bressers --- Corinne Larrue
Managing the Complexity of Critical Infrastructures: A Modelling and Simulation Approach
This book summarizes work being pursued in the context of the CIPRNet (Critical Infrastructure Preparedness and Resilience Research Network) research project, co-funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The project is intended to provide concrete and on-going support to the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) research communities, enhancing their preparedness for CI-related emergencies, while also providing expertise and technologies for other stakeholders to promote their understanding and mitigation of the consequences of CI disruptions, leading to enhanced resilience.
Roberto Setola --- Vittorio Rosato --- Elias Kyriakides --- Erich Rome
Innovations in Derivatives Markets: Fixed Income Modeling, Valuation Adjustments, Risk Management, and Regulation
his book presents 20 peer-reviewed chapters on current aspects of derivatives markets and derivative pricing. The contributions, written by leading researchers in the field as well as experienced authors from the financial industry, present the state of the art in: • Modeling counterparty credit risk: credit valuation adjustment, debit valuation adjustment, funding valuation adjustment, and wrong way risk. • Pricing and hedging in fixed-income markets and multi-curve interest-rate modeling. •
Kathrin Glau --- Zorana Grbac --- Matthias Scherer --- Rudi Zagst
The dynamically changing world economy, in an era of intensive development and globalization, creates new needs in both the theoretical models of management and in the practical discussion related to the perception of business. Because of new economic phenomena related to the crisis, there is a need for the design and operationalization of innovative business models for companies. Due to the fact that in times of crisis, the principles of strategic balance are particularly important; these business models can be sustainable business models. Moreover, it is essential to skillfully use different methods and concepts of management to ensure the continuity of business. It seems that sustainable business models, in their essence, can support companies' effectiveness and contribute to their stable, sustainable functioning in the difficult, ever-changing market
Subject-Oriented Business Process Management
Activities performed in organizations are coordinated via communication between the people involved. The sentences used to communicate are naturally structured by subject, verb, and object. The subject describes the actor, the verb the action and the object what is affected by the action. Subject-oriented Business Process Management (S-BPM) as presented in this book is based on this simple structure which enables process-oriented thinking and process modeling. S-BPM puts the subject of a process at the center of attention and thus deals with business processes and their organizational environment from a new perspective, meeting organizational requirements in a much better way than traditional approaches.
Albert Fleischmann --- Werner Schmidt --- Christian Stary --- Stefan Obermeier --- et al.
Strategic power plant investment planning under fuel and carbon price uncertainty
The profitability of power plant investments depends strongly on uncertain fuel and carbon prices. In this doctoral thesis, we combine fundamental electricity market models with stochastic dynamic programming to evaluate power plant investments under uncertainty. The application of interpolation-based stochastic dynamic programming and approximate dynamic programming allows us to consider a greater variety of stochastic fuel and carbon price scenarios compared to other approaches
Stochastics of Environmental and Financial Economics
These Proceedings offer a selection of peer-reviewed research and survey papers by some of the foremost international researchers in the fields of finance, energy, stochastics and risk, who present their latest findings on topical problems. The papers cover the areas of stochastic modeling in energy and financial markets; risk management with environmental factors from a stochastic control perspective; and valuation and hedging of derivatives in markets dominated by renewables, all of which further develop the theory of stochastic analysis and mathematical finance.
Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics
Risk measures play a vital role in many subfields of economics and finance. It has been proposed that risk measures could be analysed in relation to the performance of variables extracted from empirical real-world data. For example, risk measures may help inform effective monetary and fiscal policies and, therefore, the further development of pricing models for financial assets such as equities, bonds, currencies, and derivative securities.A Special Issue of “Risk Measures with Applications in Finance and Economics” will be devoted to advancements in the mathematical and statistical development of risk measures with applications in finance and economics.
Financial Risk Measurement is a challenging task, because both the types of risk and the techniques evolve very quickly. This book collects a number of novel contributions to the measurement of financial risk, which address either non-fully explored risks or risk takers, and does so in a wide variety of empirical contexts.
Global Business Strategy: Multinational Corporations Venturing into Emerging Markets
This book presents theories and case studies for corporations in developed nations, including Japan, for designing strategies to maximize opportunities and minimize threats in business expansion into developing nations. The case studies featured here focus on Asia, including China and India, and use examples of Japanese manufacturers. Five case studies are provided, including Hitachi Construction Machinery and Shiseido in China and Maruti Suzuki in India. These cases facilitate the reader’s understanding of the business environments in emerging economies.
Quality in Design and Execution of Engineering Practice
Quality in Design and Execution of Engineering Practice is about quality management focused at fitness for purpose, rather than compliance with specifications, rules and regulations. The focus on getting execution in line with fitness for purpose is supported by a classification of seven different categories of quality, defined by their relevance for purpose, compliance with specifications, and actual execution. This classification facilitates decision making on desirable exemptions from specifications in the interest of both buyer and supplier. The author offers guidelines for quality management in different types of business units: License Giver, License Taker, Jobber and Consultant.
Promoting Social Dialogue in European Organizations: Human Resources Management and Constructive Conflict Management
This volume focuses on describing the social dialogue system in organizations from an Human Resources Management perspective. Based on the NEIRE model for industrial relations, key factors are determined contributing to creative social dialogue in European organizations. Actual data from surveys and interviews from more than 700 CEO and HR managers in eleven European countries give insights in the experiences with and expectations of employers of social dialogue. The volume offers a comprehensive introduction to the historical context and current situation in social dialogue in these countries.
Martin C Euwema --- Lourdes Munduate --- Patricia Elgoibar --- Erica Pender --- et al.
Process Measurement in Business Process Management : Theoretical Framework and Analysis of Several Aspects
Process measurement deals with the quantification of business process models using process model metrics. This book presents a theoretical framework for the prediction of external process model attributes (as, for example, error-proneness and understandabiltiy) based on internal (structural) attributes. The properties of proposed metrics are analyzed. A visualization technique for metric values is introduced and metrics for process model understandability and granularity are evaluated.
Poverty Reduction Policies and Practices in Developing Asia
This book looks at the major policy challenges facing developing Asia and how the region sustains rapid economic growth to reduce multidimensional poverty through socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable measures. Asia is facing many challenges arising from population growth, rapid urbanization, provision of services, climate change and the need to redress declining growth after the global financial crisis. This book examines poverty and related issues and aims to advance the development of new tools and measurement of multidimensional poverty and poverty reduction policy analysis.
Almas Heshmati --- Esfandiar Maasoumi --- Guanghua Wan
Performance and Behavior of Family Firms
Family involvement characterizes a large number of firms around the world and is thought to significantly impact their strategies, behavior, and performance. Family involvement occurs when a family exerts control over the firm through ownership and management. When family involvement leads to intentions to pursue particularistic goals and strategies, controlling families are more likely to exert a significant influence on firm strategies, behavior, and performance. Indeed, intentions imply that a firm’s strategic behaviors will be oriented toward preserving the economic and socioemotional value of the firm for the family in the long term.
Ontology Alignment using Biologically-inspired Optimisation Algorithms
It is investigated how biologically-inspired optimisation methods can be used to compute alignments between ontologies. Independent of particular similarity metrics, the developed techniques demonstrate anytime behaviour and high scalability. Due to the inherent parallelisability of these population-based algorithms it is possible to exploit dynamically scalable cloud infrastructures - a step towards the provisioning of Alignment-as-a-Service solutions for future semantic applications.
Moral Reasoning at Work: Rethinking Ethics in Organizations
Moral dilemmas are a pervasive feature of working life. Moral Reasoning at Work offers a fresh perspective on how to live with them. How do we cope with situations where no matter what we decide to do, something will be wrong? How do we live with the moral dissonance between what we are tempted to do and what is in line with our moral convictions? What can organizations do to establish a foundation for responsible decision-making and conduct? This book combines research streams from ethics and moral psychology using extensive experience of sessions of moral reasoning with leaders and employees in organizations.
Modeling and Selection of Software Service Variants
Providers and consumers have to deal with variants of software services, which are alternative instances of a services design, implementation, deployment, or operation. This work develops the service feature modeling language to represent software service variants and a suite of methods to select variants for development or delivery. An evaluation describes the systems implemented to make use of service feature modeling and its application to two real-world use cases.
Light and light based technologies have played an important role in transforming our lives via scientific contributions spanned over thousands of years. In this book we present a vast collection of articles on various aspects of light and its applications in the contemporary world at a popular or semi-popular level. These articles are written by the world authorities in their respective fields. This is therefore a rare volume where the world experts have come together to present the developments in this most important field of science in an almost pedagogical manner. This volume covers five aspects related to light.
Mohammad D. Al-Amri --- Mohamed El-Gomati --- M. Suhail Zubairy
Microfinance, EU Structural Funds and Capacity Building for Managing Authorities: A Comparative Analysis of European Convergence Regions
In recent years, the European Commission has attached increasing importance to the use of financial engineering instruments rather than traditional grant-based financing for the microcredit sector, considering these to be the most efficient option available.This book presents a study of capacity building and structural funds in public managing authorities for the microcredit sector. It presents two surveys to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the managing authorities' capacity building. The first survey investigates the authorities' need for and interests in capacity building activities, assessing the areas in which capacity building support is needed, and explores the different types of support offered.
Managing Elevated Risk: Global Liquidity, Capital Flows, and Macroprudential Policy - An Asian Perspective
This book discusses the risks and opportunities that arise in Emerging Asia given the context of a new environment in global liquidity and capital flows. It elaborates on the need to ensure financial and overall economic stability in the region through improved financial regulation and other policy measures to minimize the emergent risks. "Managing Elevated Risk: Global Liquidity, Capital Flows, and Macroprudential Policy - An Asian Perspective" also explores the range of policy options that may be deployed to address the impact of global liquidity on domestic financial and socio-economic conditions including income inequality.
Innovations in Quantitative Risk Management
Quantitative Finance; Game Theory, Economics, Social and Behav. Sciences; Finance/Investment/Banking; Actuarial Sciences
Kathrin Glau --- Matthias Scherer --- Rudi Zagst
Innovation in General Purpose Technologies : How Knowledge Gains when It Is Shared
This book tackles the different aspects of the creation and transmission of knowledge in the context of the characteristics of a general purpose technology. Nanotechnology is investigated as showcase example. Particular emphasis is put on the role of the composition of knowledge as well as the corresponding knowledge spillovers on the one hand and on the concrete impact of collaboration and knowledge sharing in innovator networks on the other hand.
Rösch, ChristineBräutigam, Klaus-RainerKopfmüller, JürgenStelzer,, et al
Since the 2008 financial crisis, modeling of the extreme values of financial risk has become important. Postgraduate programs and PhD research programs in mathematical finance are cropping up in nearly every university. Additionally, many conferences are being held annually on the topic of extreme financial risk. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a collection of papers from leading experts in the area of extreme financial risk
Saralees Nadarajah (Ed.) --- Stephen Chan (Ed.)
Fulfilling the Promise of Technology Transfer
Universities and research institutes are increasingly expected to contribute to society by creating innovation from the returns of their research results and the establishment of new technologies. Toward that goal, Keio University in Japan held an international symposium titled “Fulfilling the Promise of Technology Transfer: Fostering Innovation for the Benefit of Society.” From that symposium the following contents are included in the present volume: 1) A showcase of ideas and case studies to promote future creation of innovation by universities and research institutes worldwide, including information on the R&D value chain, licensing, income generation, start-ups and mechanisms to encourage entrepreneurship, and the changing role of universities in fostering innovation. 2) Introduction of active research projects that aim to productize successful research results on an international level.
This Special Issue is devoted to the econometric analysis of income inequality and income distributions. Given the recent surge of inequality research, this Special Issue seeks to combine both theoretical and applied contributions which advance the econometric analysis of income inequality and income distributions. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, statistical inference for inequality measurement, inequality measurement with complex survey data, parametric or nonparametric modeling of income distributions, statistical decomposition methodology, methods to investigate the determinants of distributional change, causal inference in inequality measurement, and applications of such methods to substantive research questions in different fields of economics.
Martin Biewen (Ed.) --- Emmanuel Flachaire (Ed.)
Dynamics of Long-Life Assets: From Technology Adaptation to Upgrading the Business Model
The editors present essential methods and tools to support a holistic approach to the challenge of system upgrades and innovation in the context of high-value products and services. The approach presented here is based on three main pillars: an adaptation mechanism based on a broad understanding of system dependencies; efficient use of system knowledge through involvement of actors throughout the process; and technological solutions to enable efficient actor communication and information handling.
Stefan N. Grösser --- Arcadio Reyes-Lecuona --- Göran Granholm
Dynamic Capacity Control in Air Cargo Revenue Management
This book studies air cargo capacity control problems. The focus is on analyzing decision models with intuitive optimal decisions as well as on developing efficient heuristics and bounds. Three different models are studied: First, a model for steering the availability of cargo space on single legs. Second, a model that simultaneously optimizes the availability of both seats and cargo capacity. Third, a decision model that controls the availability of cargo capacity on a network of flights.
High Density Lipoproteins: From Biological Understanding to Clinical Exploitation
this Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology on “High Density Lipoproteins – from biological understanding to clinical exploitation” contributing authors (members of COST Action BM0904/HDLnet) summarize in more than 20 chapters our current knowledge on the structure, function, metabolism and regulation of HDL in health and several diseases as well as the status of past and ongoing attempts of therapeutic exploitation.
Arnold von Eckardstein --- Dimitris Kardassis
Sustainable Living with Environmental Risks
We are not free from environmental risks that accompany the development of human societies. Modern economic development has accelerated environmental pollution, caused loss of natural habitats, and modified landscapes. These environmental changes have impacted natural systems: water and heat circulation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. These changes in natural systems degrade ecosystem services and subsequently increase environmental risks for humans.
Nobuhiro Kaneko --- Shinji Yoshiura --- Masanori Kobayashi
Ship and Offshore Structure Design in Climate Change Perspective
This book summarizes results of longstanding research and scientific contributions from many projects and relevant working groups. It collects and evaluates wind and wave climate projections under changing climate having design needs and marine safety in focus. Potential impact of projected climate change in met-ocean conditions on ships and offshore structures is discussed and illustrated by an example of the expected wave climate change on tanker design.
Elzbieta Maria Bitner-Gregersen --- Lars Ingolf Eide --- Torfinn Hørte --- Rolf Skjong
Science and Technology Governance and Ethics: A Global Perspective from Europe, India and China
This book analyzes the possibilities for effective global governance of science in Europe, India and China. Authors from the three regions join forces to explore how ethical concerns over new technologies can be incorporated into global science and technology policies. The first chapter introduces the topic, offering a global perspective on embedding ethics in science and technology policy. Chapter Two compares the institutionalization of ethical debates in science, technology and innovation policy in three important regions: Europe, India and China. The third chapter explores public perceptions of science and technology in these same three regions.
Miltos Ladikas --- Sachin Chaturvedi --- Yandong Zhao --- Dirk Stemerding
A Celebration of the Ties That Bind Us: Connections Between Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance
The articles in this volume are contributed by scholars who are not only experts in areas of Actuarial Science (AS) and Mathematical Finance (MF), but also those who present diverse perspectives from both industry and academia. Topics from multiple areas, such as Stochastic Modeling, Credit Risk, Monte Carlo Simulation, and Pension Valuation, among others, that were maybe thought to be the domain of one type of risk manager, are shown time and again to have deep value to other areas of risk management as well.
The rapidly growing world population and increasingly dense settlements demand ever-larger and more complex buildings from today's engineers. In comparison to this technological progress, a building's equipment for emergency evacuation has been hardly developed further. This work presents a concept for a building evacuation system based on mobile devices. Furthermore, various algorithms for route planning with mobile devices and for indoor localization of mobile devices are addressed.
Benchmarking Eventually Consistent Distributed Storage Systems
Cloud storage services and NoSQL systems typically offer only ""Eventual Consistency"", a rather weak guarantee covering a broad range of potential data consistency behavior. The degree of actual (in-)consistency, however, is unknown. This work presents novel solutions for determining the degree of (in-)consistency via simulation and benchmarking, as well as the necessary means to resolve inconsistencies leveraging this information.
This edited volume contains the selected papers presented at the scientific board meeting of the German Cluster of Excellence on “Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries”, held in November 2014. The topical structure of the book is clustered in six sessions: Integrative Production Technology, Individualised Production, Virtual Production Systems, Integrated Technologies, Self-Optimising Production Systems and Human Factors in Production Technology.
Interface Oral Health Science 2016: Innovative Research on Biosis–Abiosis Intelligent Interface
Keiichi Sasaki --- Osamu Suzuki --- Nobuhiro Takahashi
Responsible Innovation: Ethics, Safety and Technology
This textbook is based on the MOOC Responsible Innovation offered by the TU Delft. It provides a framework to reflect on the ethics and risks of new technologies. How can we make sure that innovations do justice to social and ethical values? How can we minimize (unknown)risks?
Pharmacy and materia medica --- Physiology
Infogest' (Improving Health Properties of Food by Sharing our Knowledge on the Digestive Process) is an EU COST action/network in the domain of Food and Agriculture. Infogest aims at building an open international network of institutes undertaking multidisciplinary basic research on food digestion gathering scientists from different origins (including food scientists, gut physiologists and nutritionists)
Kitty Verhoeckx --- Paul Cotter --- Iván López-Expósito --- Charlotte
The Sustainability of Agro-Food and Natural Resource Systems in the Mediterranean Basin
Pharmacy and materia medica --- Nutrition and Food Sciences --
This book is focused on the challenges to implement sustainability in diverse contexts such as agribusiness, natural resource systems and new technologies. The experiences made by the researchers of the School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Science (SAFE) of the University of Basilicata offer a wide and multidisciplinary approach to the identification and testing of different solutions tailored to the economic, social and environmental characteristics of the region and the surrounding areas.
Marginality: Addressing the Nexus of Poverty, Exclusion and Ecology
This book takes a new approach on understanding causes of extreme poverty and promising actions to address it. Its focus is on marginality being a root cause of poverty and deprivation. “Marginality” is the position of people on the edge, preventing their access to resources, freedom of choices, and the development of capabilities. The book is research based with original empirical analyses at local, national, and local scales; book contributors are leaders in their fields and have backgrounds in different disciplines.
Joachim von Braun --- Franz W. Gatzweiler
Universities and research institutes are increasingly expected to contribute to society by creating innovation from the returns of their research results and the establishment of new technologies. Toward that goal, Keio University in Japan held an international symposium titled “Fulfilling the Promise of Technology Transfer: Fostering Innovation for the Benefit of Society.” From that symposium the following contents are included in the present volume: 1)
urgical infections are caused by the breakdown of the equilibrium existing between organisms and the host. This may occur after a breach in a protective surface, as occurs after surgical trauma, changes in host resistance, or particular characteristics of the organism. The possible outcomes are abscess formation, local spread with/without tissue death, distant spread or resolution. A surgical infection is an infection requiring operative treatment (excision or drainage), and occupies an unvascularized space in tissue, or may occur in an operated site. Common examples of the former group are furuncles and carbuncles, hollow viscus inflammations, such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, and most abscesses. The latter group comprises all surgical site infections.
Evangelos P. Misiakos --- Konstantinos George Tsalis
Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants: A Concise Guide
Surgery --- Medicine (General) --- Biotechnology --- Therapeutics --- Cardiovascular
This book is an essential guide to the medical treatment of thrombosis and presents core principles of anticoagulant therapeutics as well as drug recommendations. Written by recognized experts in the field, this concise, accessible handbook provides a unique and valuable resource in the cardiovascular field, both for those currently in training, and for those already in clinical or research practice.
This is a lab manual for a college-level human anatomy course. Mastery of anatomy requires a fair amount of memorization and recall skills. The activities in this manual encourage students to engage with new vocabulary in many ways, including grouping key terms, matching terms to structures, recalling definitions, and written exercises. Most of the activities in this manual utilize anatomical models, and several dissections of animal tissues and histological examinations are also included. Each unit includes both pre- and post-lab questions and six lab exercises designed for a classroom where students move from station to station. The vocabulary terms used in each unit are listed at the end of the manual and serve as a checklist for practicals.
Freshwater Microplastics: Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
This volume focuses on microscopic plastic debris, also referred to as microplastics, which have been detected in aquatic environments around the globe and have accordingly raised serious concerns. The book explores whether microplastics represent emerging contaminants in freshwater systems, an area that remains underrepresented to date. Given the complexity of the issue, the book covers the current state-of-research on microplastics in rivers and lakes, including analytical aspects, environmental concentrations and sources, modelling approaches, interactions with biota, and ecological implications.
Business and Management --- Economics --- Manufactures
This book reflects the current state of discussion about agricultural and rural finance in developing and transition countries. It provides insight into specific themes, such as commodity value chains, farm banking and risk management in agricultural banking, structured finance, crop insurance, mobile banking and how to increase effectiveness in rural finance. Case studies illustrate various aspects of agricultural and rural finance in developing economies. The book is based on one of the yearly financial Sector Development Symposia held by the KfW Development Bank.
Innovations in molecular biology are allowing neuroscientists to study the brain with unprecedented resolution, from the level of single molecules to integrated gene circuits. Chief among these innovations is the CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology, which has the precision and scalability to tackle the complexity of the brain. This Colloque Médecine et Recherche has brought together experts from around the world that are applying genome editing to address important challenges in neuroscience, including basic biology in model organisms that has the power to reveal systems-level insight into how the nervous system develops and functions as well as research focused on understanding and treating human neurological disorders.
Rudolf Jaenisch --- Feng Zhang --- Fred Gage
Autonomous Driving: Technical, Legal and Social Aspects
This book takes a look at fully automated, autonomous vehicles and discusses many open questions: How can autonomous vehicles be integrated into the current transportation system with diverse users and human drivers? Where do automated vehicles fall under current legal frameworks? What risks are associated with automation and how will society respond to these risks? How will the marketplace react to automated vehicles and what changes may be necessary for companies? Experts from Germany and the United States define key societal, engineering, and mobility issues related to the automation of vehicles.
Markus Maurer --- J. Christian Gerdes --- Barbara Lenz --- Hermann Winner
Manufactures --- Electrical and Nuclear Engineering
this Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology on “High Density Lipoproteins – from biological understanding to clinical exploitation” contributing authors (members of COST Action BM0904/HDLnet) summarize in more than 20 chapters our current knowledge on the structure, function, metabolism and regulation of HDL in health and several diseases as well as the status of past and ongoing attempts of therapeutic exploitation. The book is of interest to researchers in academia and industry focusing on lipoprotein metabolism, cardiovascular diseases and immunology as well as clinical pharmacologists, cardiologists, diabetologists, nephrologists and other clinicians interested in metabolic or inflammatory diseases.
Contemporary Bioethics: Islamic Perspective
This book combines Islamic textual analysis with juridical methodology to engage dominant secular bioethics in the Muslim healthcare institutions. It integrates Islamic textual resources with medical information in order to provide careful analyses of the political, economic and cultural terrains that are necessary for bioethicists to effectively promote social justice
Mohammed Ali Al-Bar --- Hassan Chamsi-Pasha
Designing Sustainable Technologies, Products and Policies
This open access book provides insight into the implementation of Life Cycle approaches along the entire business value chain, supporting environmental, social and economic sustainability related to the development of industrial technologies, products, services and policies; and the development and management of smart agricultural systems, smart mobility systems, urban infrastructures and energy for the built environment.
Enrico Benetto --- Kilian Gericke --- Mélanie Guiton
Designing Sustainable Energy for All: Sustainable Product-Service System Design Applied to Distributed Renewable Energy
This open access book addresses the issue of diffusing sustainable energy access in low- and middle-income contexts. Access to energy is one of the greatest challenges for many people living in low-income and developing contexts, as around 1.4 billion people lack access to electricity. Distributed Renewable Energy systems (DRE) are considered a promising approach to address this challenge and provide energy access to all. However, even if promising, the implementation of DRE systems is not always straightforward. The book analyses, discusses and classifies the promising
Carlo Vezzoli --- Fabrizio Ceschin --- Lilac Osanjo --- Mugendi K. M’Rithaa --- et al.
General and Civil Engineering --- Materials -
We are not free from environmental risks that accompany the development of human societies. Modern economic development has accelerated environmental pollution, caused loss of natural habitats, and modified landscapes. These environmental changes have impacted natural systems: water and heat circulation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. These changes in natural systems degrade ecosystem services and subsequently increase environmental risks for humans. Environmental risks, therefore, are not only human health risks by pollution, climatic anomalies and natural disasters, but also degradation of ecosystem services on which most people are relying for their lives.
Counteracting Urban Heat Island Effects in a Global Climate Change Scenario
Urban heat islands are a new type of microclimatic phenomenon that causes a significant increase in the temperature of cities compared to surrounding areas. The phenomenon has been enforced by the current trend towards climate change. Although experts consider urban heat islands an urgent European Union public health concern, there are too few policies that address it. The EU carried out a project to learn more about this phenomenon through pilot initiatives. The pilots included feasibility studies and strategies for appropriately altering planning rules and governance to tackle the problem of urban heat islands.
Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing: Estimation of Agricultural Crop Biomass Water Equivalent
This open access book provides methods for the estimation of Biomass Water Equivalent (BEW), an essential step for improving the accuracy of area-wide soil moisture by cosmic-ray neutron sensors (CRNS). Three techniques are explained in detail: (i) traditional in-situ destructive sampling, (ii) satellite based remote sensing of plant surfaces, and (iii) biomass estimation via the use of the CRNS itself. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed along with step by step instructions on proper procedures and implementation.
Ammar Wahbi --- Lee Heng --- Gerd Dercon
Etiology and Morphogenesis of Congenital Heart Disease: From Gene Function and Cellular Interaction to Morphology
his volume focuses on the etiology and morphogenesis of congenital heart diseases. It reviews in detail the early development and differentiation of the heart, and later morphologic events of the cardiovascular system, covering a wide range of topics such as gene functions, growth factors, transcription factors and cellular interactions that are implicated in cardiac morphogenesis and congenital heart disease. This book also presents recent advances in stem cell and cell sheet tissue engineering technologies which have the potential to provide novel in vitro disease models and to generate regenerative paradigms for cardiac repair and regeneration
Toshio Nakanishi --- Roger R. Markwald --- H.Scott Baldwin --- Bradley B. Keller --- et al.
Public Health Ethics: Cases Spanning the Globe
Medicine (General) --- Pharmacy and materia medica
his Open Access book highlights the ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in the practice of public health. It is also a tool to support instruction, debate, and dialogue regarding public health ethics. Although the practice of public health has always included consideration of ethical issues, the field of public health ethics as a discipline is a relatively new and emerging area. There are few practical training resources for public health practitioners, especially resources which include discussion of realistic cases which are likely to arise in the practice of public health.
Barrett, D.H --- Ortmann, L.H --- Dawson, A --- Saenz, C --- et al.
Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions of Gases and Particles
Business and Management --- General and Civil Engineering --- Materials --- Geography
The oceans and atmosphere interact through various processes, including the transfer of momentum, heat, gases and particles. In this book leading international experts come together to provide a state-of-the-art account of these exchanges and their role in the Earth-system, with particular focus on gases and particles. Chapters in the book cover: i) the ocean-atmosphere exchange of short-lived trace gases; ii) mechanisms and models of interfacial exchange (including transfer velocity parameterisations); iii) ocean-atmosphere exchange of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide; iv) ocean atmosphere exchange of particles and v) current and future data collection and synthesis efforts.
X-Ray Contrast Media: Overview, Use and Pharmaceutical Aspects
his open access book is an overview on CT/X-ray contrast media designed for radiologists and other medical specialists who use contrast media in imaging and interventional procedures as well as related scientists on the use and pharmaceutical aspects of X-ray contrast media. The overall goal of this book is to provide a comprehensive overview relevant for the optimal use of x-ray contrast media covering next to the historic development, their structure and properties also practical information for handling of contrast media, and explanation of the relevant risks during use and measures for prevention and treatment of potential side effects
Compartment syndrome is a complex physiologic process with significant potential harm, and though an important clinical problem, the basic science and research surrounding this entity remains poorly understood. This unique open access book fills the gap in the knowledge of compartment syndrome, re-evaluating the current state of the art on this condition. The current clinical diagnostic criteria are presented, as well as the multiple dilemmas facing the surgeon. Pathophysiology, ischemic thresholds and pressure management techniques and limitations are discussed in detail.
Cyril Mauffrey --- David J. Hak --- Murphy P. Martin III
Protocols for Pre-Field Screening of Mutants for Salt Tolerance in Rice, Wheat and Barley
Agriculture (General) --- Plant Sciences
This book offers effective, low-cost and user-friendly protocols for the pre-field selection of salt-tolerant mutants in cereal crops. It presents simple methods for measuring soil salinity, including soil sampling and the analysis of water-soluble salts, and describes a detailed, but simple, screening test for salt tolerance in rice, wheat and barley seedlings, which uses hydroponics. The protocols are devised for use by plant breeders and can be easily accommodated into breeding practice.
Souleymane Bado --- Brian P. Forster --- Abdelbagi M.A. Ghanim --- Joanna Jankowicz-Cieslak --- et al.
Beyond Safety Training: Embedding Safety in Professional Skills
This book investigates why, despite more and more resources devoted to safety training, expectations are not entirely met, particularly in the industrial sectors that have already achieved a high safety level. It not only reflects the most precious viewpoints of experts from different disciplines, different countries, with experiences in various industrial fields at the cutting edge of theories and practices in terms of safety, professionalization and their relationships
Safer Healthcare: Strategies for the Real World
Pharmacy and materia medica --- Medicine (General) --- Biotechnology -
The authors of this book set out a system of safety strategies and interventions for managing patient safety on a day-to-day basis and improving safety over the long term. These strategies are applicable at all levels of the healthcare system from the frontline to the regulation and governance of the system. There have been many advances in patient safety, but we now need a new and broader vision that encompasses care throughout the patient’s journey. The authors argue that we need to see safety through the patient’s eyes, to consider how safety is managed in different contexts and to develop a wider strategic and practical vision in which patient safety is recast as the management of risk over time.
The Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry first introduced the concept of “Interface Oral Health Science”, designed to establish and maintain healthy oral cavities, which are home to a number of mixed systems. Included in those systems are: (1) host tissues such as teeth, mucosa, muscle and bone, (2) parasites and microorganisms cohabiting the surfaces of the oral cavity and (3) biomaterials that are used for the rehabilitation of oral functions. In addition, (4) these systems are subject to severe and complex mechanical forces.
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have special property of the shape memory effect. After thermal treatment above the martensitic transition temperature, the alloys come back to the original shape when the alloys heat again after having cooled it to the temperature that is lower than the martensitic transition temperature. By means of this property, many industrial parts and systems were produced. This Special Issue "Shape Memory Alloys 2017" is constructed articles reporting new and progressive research results, as well as reviews of particular classes of fundamental physics of the materials and their applications of SMAs.
Metals Challenged by Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation
Neutron and Synchrotron radiation methods have matured to become powerful techniques for the study of a vast range of materials, including metals. The characterization methods comprise the categories of diffraction, spectroscopy and imaging, which themselves can alter greatly in detail, to include hundreds of variants, problems and sample environments. In a similar way, their applications to metals and hard condensed matter materials cover disciplines spanning engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science and their derivatives such as geology, energy storage, etc
Hydrometallurgy, which involves the use of aqueous solutions for the recovery of metals from ores, concentrates, and recycled or residual material, plays an integral role in the multi-billion dollar minerals processing industry. There are numerous hydrometallurgical process technologies used for recovering metals, such as: agglomeration; leaching; solvent extraction/ion exchange; metal recovery; and remediation of tailings/waste. Modern hydrometallurgical routes to extract metals from their ores are faced with a number of issues related to both the chemistry and engineering aspects of the processes involved.
Suresh Bhargava --- Mark Pownceby --- Rahul Ram
First-Principles Approaches to Metals, Alloys, and Metallic Compounds
Mining and Metallurgy --- Chemistry (General)
Current fundamental electronic-structure theory allows for the accurate prediction and characterization of elemental metals adopting any allotropic structure, intermetallic compounds, and other metal-rich phases. From an engineering perspective, there is a need for structural materials that are suitable for mechanical and civil engineering as well as energy production and conversion. While different microstructural features influence the macroscopic behaviour, quantum-mechanical simulation may enormously accelerate and guide the entire development process since atomistic modelling allows for the generation of structural models and the calculation of enthalpies and other free energies as a function of pressure and temperature
Aluminium is the world’s most abundant metal and is the third most common element, comprising 8% of the Earth’s crust. The versatility of aluminium makes it the most widely used metal after steel. By utilising various combinations of their advantageous properties such as strength, lightness, corrosion resistance, recyclability, and formability, aluminium alloys are being employed in an ever-increasing number of applications. In the recent decade, a rapid new development has been made in production of aluminium alloys, and new techniques of casting, forming, welding, and surface modification, have been evolved to improve the structural integrity of aluminium alloys.
Advances in Welding Metal Alloys, Dissimilar Metals and Additively Manufactured Parts
General and Civil Engineering --- Materials --- Mining and Metallurgy
Welding technology has been taken for granted as a mature and established technology for too long. However, many new welding technologies have been included among the alternatives to joining materials. They come both from the areas of fusion and solid-state welding. Moreover, a recent approach has offered one more alternative. This is hybrid welding, which couples two or more welding sources in a cooperative or synergic welding mode.
Technology (General) --- General and Civil Engineering
Geomorphometry is the science of quantitative terrain characterization and analysis, and has traditionally focused on the investigation of terrestrial and planetary landscapes. However, applications of marine geomorphometry have now moved beyond the simple adoption of techniques developed for terrestrial studies, driven by the rise in the acquisition of high-resolution seafloor data and by the availability of user-friendly spatial analytical tools. Considering that the seafloor represents 71% of the surface of our planet, this is an important step towards understanding the Earth in its entirety
Consideration of Abiotic Natural Resources in Life Cycle Assessments
Development and Application of Optical Coherence Tomography (Oct)
This special feature issue has been initiated to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). In OCT, broad bandwidth light is used in order to produce cross sectional images of turbid and translucent samples with high axial resolution (in the order of a few µm). The imaging speed of OCT can be as high as several millions of depth scans (A-scans) per second which allows for various applications in different fields. This special feature issue consists of three overview papers covering OCT angiography, polarization-sensitive OCT and dental applications of OCT. Additional applications and the latest developments in OCT are covered in nine research papers.
The Delft Sand, Clay and Rock Cutting Model
Sand, clay and rock have to be excavated for a variety of purposes, such as dredging, trenching, mining (including deep sea mining), drilling, tunnel boring and many other applications. Many excavations take place on dry land, but they are also frequently required in completely saturated conditions, and the methods necessary to accomplish them consequently vary widely. This book provides an overview of cutting theories. It begins with a generic model, valid for all types of soil (sand, clay and rock), and continues with the specifics of dry sand, water-saturated sand, clay, atmospheric rock and hyperbaric rock
A topic of utmost importance in civil engineering is finding optimal solutions throughout the life cycle of buildings and infrastructural objects, including their design, manufacturing, use, and maintenance. Operational research, management science, and optimization methods provide a consistent and applicable groundwork for engineering decision-making. These topics have received the interest of researchers and, after a rigorous peer-review process, eight papers have been published in this Special Issue.
Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras --- Antuchevi?ien?, Jurgita --- Bausys,
The subject of this book is ""Biofuel and Bioenergy Technology"". It aims to publish high-quality review and research papers, addressing recent advances in biofuel and bioenergy. State-of-the-art studies of advanced techniques of biorefinery for biofuel production are also included. Research involving experimental studies, recent developments, and novel and emerging technologies in this field are covered.
Chen, Wei-Hsin --- Lee, Keat Teong --- Ong, Hwai
General and Civil Engineering --- Technology (General)
Power electronics technology is still an emerging technology, and it has found its way into many applications, from renewable energy generation (i.e., wind power and solar power) to electrical vehicles (EVs), biomedical devices, and small appliances, such as laptop chargers. In the near future, electrical energy will be provided and handled by power electronics and consumed through power electronics; this not only will intensify the role of power electronics technology in power conversion processes, but also implies that power systems are undergoing a paradigm shift, from centralized distribution to distributed generation.
Blaabjerg, Frede --- Dragicevic, Tomislav --- Davari, Pooya
Aeroacustic and Vibroacoustic Advancement in Aerospace and Automotive Systems
The purpose of this special issue is to highlight the latest advances in vibroacoustics and aeroacoustics applied to aerospace and automotive industries. In proposing this wide topic, we wanted to give scientists and engineers the opportunity to publish their studies of current interest, both in the theoretical and experimental fields of vibration, sound generation, and radiation; and passive and active noise control approaches, which can be of interest for assessing vibroacoustics characteristics of aerospace and automotive vehicles
Roberto Citarella (Ed.) --- Luigi Federico (Ed.)
Technology (General) --- General and Civil Engineering --- Environmental Engineering
The Special Issue on Advances in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) explores four important topics of research in the framework of WDNs, namely simulation and optimization modelling, topology and partitioning, water quality, and service effectiveness. With regard to the first topic, the following aspects are addressed: pressure-driven formulations, algorithms for the optimal location of control valves to minimize leakage, the benefits of water discharge prediction for the remote real time control of valves, and transients generated by pumps operating as turbines. In the context of the second topic, a topological taxonomy of WDNs is presented, and partitioning methods for the creation of district metered areas are compared.