Governing Extractive Industries : Politics, Histories, Ideas
The large-scale extraction of minerals, hydrocarbons, and other natural resources1has long been central to national economies and the global economy. This has been the case in colonial and post-colonial economies alike, and the harnessing of such resources continues to feature prominently in the economic development strategies of many countries. The economic significance of resource extraction can be quantified through data on percentage contribution of oil, gas, and mining to GDP, exports, foreign direct investment, and the public budget (Mosley, 2017). In contrast, the contributions of extractive industries to ‘development’ and ‘inclusive development’ are more uncertain, not least because definitions of these terms differ based on the degree to which analysts emphasize goals of poverty and income inequality, environmental justice, gender equity, or human and citizenship rights. Even those advocating for the role of extractives in economic development and poverty reduction recognize that results have often been ambiguous (Davis, 2009).
The Environmental Impact of Sieben Linden Ecovillage
Environmental impact assessment is widely taught and researched, but rarely covers both lifestyle and building construction in a town or neigh-bourhood. This book provides a broad assessment of the environmental impact of the ecovillage Sieben Linden in Germany. The ecovillage was founded in 1997 and has a population of over one hundred people. This book shows how raising the awareness of individuals and adopting a consistent way of community living can be environmentally friendly. This applies both to everyday practices and the way the houses in the ecovillage are built. The tools used to measure the impact are Ecological Footprint and Carbon Footprint methodologies, making use of indicators such as Primary Energy Intensity and Global Warming Potential. Despite the diffi culties encountered by using standardised methodologies, these research tools provide an overall assessment and have allowed comparisons with selected, similar cases and general values from statistic sources.
Bocco, Andrea; Gerace , Martina; Pollini, Susanna
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
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,
Our species has always used plants as medicines, during our 200,000 year existence. This is made obvious by the plant medicines found in mummy burials, around the world, dating back thousands of years. Human beings evolved using plant medicines to stay alive. This has resulted in a genetic selection in which those who were healed by plant medicines and survived were able to pass on their genes. Modern humans must continue to use plant medicines. When a Traditional Healer is asked how her people learned how to use a specific plant medicine, the answer is usually that God taught them. Each of us has a spiritual sense that can be used to seek answers [1]. Finding a new plant medicine involves fasting, praying, and spending as much as four days with the plant that will become a new medicine [2]. Traditional Healers are still the major or only source of healthcare for many regions of the world. The loss of Traditional Healers in some areas has resulted in major changes in healthcare, sometimes to the detriment of the people [3,4]. Since Traditional Healers may be religious leaders also, they provide moral direction for the community. The displacement of traditional religious beliefs has been detrimental in some regions
Migrating into Financial Markets : How Remittances Became a Development Tool
We understand very little about the billions of dollars that flow throughout the world from migrants back to their home countries. In this rigorous and illuminating work, Matt Bakker, an economic sociologist, examines how these migrant remittances—the resources of some of the world’s least affluent people—have come to be seen in recent years as a fundamental contributor to development in the migrant?sending states of the global south. This book analyzes how the connection between remittances and development was forged through the concrete political and intellectual practices of policy entrepreneurs within a variety of institutional settings, from national government agencies and international development organizations to nongovernmental policy foundations and think tanks.
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 Impact of Systems Medicine on Human Health and Disease
Complex diseases including diabetes, neurological disorders and cancer are results from a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, and development of new prognostic tools for the treatment of such diseases requires a deep understanding of the mechanisms underlying cell functions. With the advances in high throughput technologies, biological components of cells can be measured with a very high resolution and these data can be used for investigating whole systems properties using a network-based approach. Systems medicine provides an integrative platform for studying the interactions between the biological components of the cell using a holistic approach and generating mechanistic explanations for the emergent systems properties.
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.)
MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
Νear-Earth space is the region that extends from the middle atmosphere up to the outer radiation belts. This region is of significant interest because of its potentially undesired effects on human life and on technological systems, whose understanding, modeling and prediction require continuous scientific exploration and advances. Consequently, a number of observing systems have been set up to acquire observations from the near-Earth space, producing a wealth of diverse types of data which still need to be homogenized and organized in order to become widely accessible. The exploitation of multi-instrument data from a large number of distributed observing sites is the requirement for accurate predictions of the near-Earth space environment. As the near-Earth space is part of the complex Sun-Earth system, supporting data from the Sun, the interplanetary medium but also from the upper and lower layers of the atmosphere, are needed to drive near-Earth prediction models.
Galectins in Cancer and Translational Medicine
In the post-genomic era, many efforts have been devoted to better understanding the biological information encoded by the cell “glycome” in normal and pathologic conditions. The glycan signature of human cells plays a pivotal role in regulating fundamental biological processes, which are critical for cell physiology and for cancer as well.Galectins (also worded S-type lectins) are an evolutionarily conserved family of endogenous lectins, which bind carbohydrates with high specificity. These molecules, which can be found both intracellularly and in the extracellular milieu, are functionally active in converting glycan-containing information into cell biological programs.
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
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.
Perspectives on European Earthquake Engineering and Seismology: Volume 2
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Transcriptional Regulation of Memory
The formation of human memories involves a series of complicated biochemical processes many of which are not fully understood. However, recent data implicate several families of transcription factors that appear critically important in the regulation of memory. For example, CREB, NF-kB, AP-1, Egr, and C/EBP ...The formation of human memories involves a series of complicated biochemical processes many of which are not fully understood. However, recent data implicate several families of transcription factors that appear critically important in the regulation of memory. For example, CREB, NF-kB, AP-1, Egr, and C/EBP families are emerging as key transcriptional regulators of synaptic plasticity and long term memory.
Benedict C. Albensi , Jelena Djordjevic
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.
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.
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. Today, more than 1000 GW of renewable energy generation sources (photovoltaic (PV) and wind) have been installed, all of which are handled by power electronics technology.
Blaabjerg, Frede --- Dragicevic, Tomislav --- Davari, Pooya
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.
Animals and Medicine: The Contribution of Animal Experiments to the Control of Disease
The Research Defence Society (RDS) was founded in 1908 by Dr Stephen Paget, son of the eminent Victorian surgeon, Sir James Paget. Its role was to defend scientists conducting medical research using animals and to inform the public about the importance of animal experimentation. In its first year it attracted a membership of 2000 which included scientists in the pharmaceutical industry, in academia and in research institutes. Past presidents of the Society include such distinguished figures as Lord Perry of Walton and Sir William Paton.
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.
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.)
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).
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
Changing Land Use, Changing Livelihoods: Smallholders Today
his book brings together eleven works by scholars within and beyond geography, to argue the case for a continued engagement with smallholder agricultural studies. The research detailed is largely empirical and draws on a wide spectrum of mixed qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The case studies cover a range of geographic locations, including Brazil, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Madagascar, Vietnam, and the USA, with greatest emphasis in sub-Saharan Africa.
Claudia A. Radel (Ed.) --- Jacqueline M. Vadjunec (Ed.)
Craig M. Jensen --- Etsuo Akiba --- Hai-Wen Li
Electromagnetic Technologies for Medical Diagnostics. Fundamental Issues, Clinical Applications and Perspectives
The content of this Special Issue will highlight papers exploring non-commutative Fourier harmonic analysis, spectral properties of aperiodic order, the hypoelliptic heat equation, and the relativistic heat equation in the context of Information Theory and Geometric Science of Information
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.
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.)
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
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.
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.)
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.)
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
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.
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.
Hypothalamus and Limbic System - UBC Neuroanatomy - Season 1 - Ep 4
Dr. Claudia Krebs, Tamara Bodnar, Parker Holman, Dr. Joanne Weinberg
UBC Medicine - Educational Media published via YouTube.com
Creative Commons License
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs): Diversity and Vegetative Propagation-I
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.
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.)
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.
Model-Driven Development and Operation of Multi-Cloud Applications: The MODAClouds Approach
This book summarizes work being undertaken within the collaborative MODAClouds research project, which aims to facilitate interoperability between heterogeneous Cloud platforms and remove the constraints of deployment, portability, and reversibility for end users of Cloud services. Experts involved in the project provide a clear overview of the MODAClouds approach and explain how it operates in a variety of applications. While the wide spectrum of available Clouds constitutes a vibrant technical environment, many early-stage issues pose specific challenges from a software engineering perspective
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.)
UAV or Drones for Remote Sensing Applications
The rapid development and growth of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a remote sensing platform, as well as advances in the miniaturization of instrumentation and data systems, have resulted in an increasing uptake of this technology in the environmental and remote sensing science communities.Although tough regulations across the globe may still limit the broader use of UAVs, their use in precision agriculture, ecology, atmospheric research, disaster response biosecurity, ecological and reef monitoring, forestry, fire monitoring, quick response measurements for emergency disaster, Earth science research, volcanic gas sampling, monitoring of gas pipelines, mining plumes, humanitarian observations and biological/chemo-sensing tasks continues to increase.
Felipe Gonzalez Toro (Ed.) --- Antonios Tsourdos (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.)
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.)
Calcium Signaling in Human Health and Diseases
Intracellular Ca2+ signals regulate a myriad of cellular functions, ranging from short-term responses, such as excitation-contraction coupling and stimulus-secretion coupling, to long-term processes, such as proliferation, gene expression, differentiation, motility, synaptic plasticity, programmed cell death (or apoptosis), and metabolism. It is, therefore, not surprising that any derangement of the multifaceted Ca2+ toolkit that shapes the elevation in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) may lead to severe pathological disorders, including cancer, chronic heart failure, epileptic and neurodegenerative disorders, immunodeficiency, and developmental defects. An increase in [Ca2+]i is shaped by the concerted interaction among the components of an extremely versatile network of channels, transporters, pumps, and buffers that can be uniquely assembled by each cell type to generate intracellular Ca2+ signals with spatio-temporal properties precisely tailored to regulate specific functions.
Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals in Oncology and Neurology
Personalized medicine is presented as the future of patient care. Nuclear Medicine will play a major role in the selection of patients for targeted therapies and in early therapy assessment with the investigation of phenotypes and functions using sensitive and specific SPECT and PET imaging techniques and theranostic approaches. Nuclear Medicine is already a key in the development of new therapies and targeted radionuclide therapy provides efficacious treatment modalities against cancer. An incredible amount of innovation is related to the use of a variety of radionuclides, new or improved multimodality imaging devices, and numbers of recently marketed radiopharmaceuticals in all medical domains and particularly cardiology, neurology, and oncology.
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
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
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Mind-Body Medicine in Children and Adolescents
The field of mind-body medicine holds significant promise for children and adolescents. Growing recognition of the intricate connections between thought, emotion, and physiology highlights the need for new therapies that leverage inner resources and offer non-invasive treatment options. Modern imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have advanced our understanding and appreciation of how the mind-body therapies can benefit health, increasing confidence in their use and propelling them into the mainstream of medicine. Mind-body therapies have special value in addressing pain, fear, and stress that accompanies many pediatric medical encounters. Some of the mind-body therapies such as mindfulness, have their roots in ancient traditions and are now being used routinely in the practice of pediatric integrative medicine, an emerging field focused on preventive health that blends conventional and evidence-based complementary therapies
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.
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.)
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. As the most important source of fundamental products in the world, marine plants have a very important role in biomedical research.
In the modern world of ever-advancing technologies, actual tests of products and processes are more and more often preceded, if not replaced, by computer modeling. This saves the time and resources required for actual tests, and enables a better understanding of processes that occur in the course of tests. Preliminary computer modeling favors prudent planning of experiments. Calculations in thermal analysis are used everywhere, for example, in estimating the efficiency of thermal insulation of pipelines and in estimating the critical overheating conditions for some chemical substances under which their decomposition, self-heating, explosion, and so forth, occurs. This methodical manual focuses on a small aspect of calculations in thermal analysis dealing with constructing kinetic models from thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry experimental data.
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
Bioeconomy: Shaping the Transition to a Sustainable, Biobased Economy
This book defines the new field of "Bioeconomy" as the sustainable and innovative use of biomass and biological knowledge to provide food, feed, industrial products, bioenergy and ecological services. The chapters highlight the importance of bioeconomy-related concepts in public, scientific, and political discourse. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the authors outline the dimensions of the bioeconomy as a means of achieving sustainability.
Engineering Dielectric Liquid Applications
Dielectric liquids are used as impregnates of solid insulations or filling products in many kinds of equipment, such as transformers (power, rectifier, distribution, traction, furnace, potential, current), resistors, reactors, capacitors, cables, bushings, circuit breakers, tap changers, and thyristor cooling in power electronics, etc. Their role is paramount in the sense that their presence is one of the fundamental conditions for the proper functioning of such equipment. Similar to blood in the human body, dielectric liquids hold the responsibility of maintaining the entire equipment.
Issouf Fofana, Ph.D. ing. Chairholder (Ed.)
Power Transformer Diagnostics, Monitoring and Design Features
Power transformers are key components in electric power distribution and transmission systems, and it is essential that they function properly for many years. With increasing age, there are potential risks of extremely high monetary losses due to unexpected failures and outages. A simple solution would be to replace all aging and risky transformers at once with new ones. Such an approach is obviously not a fiscally realistic solution. The main objectives are to extend their service life and optimize their performance through increased availability.
Published in 1989 by Prentice-Hall, this book is a useful resource for educators and self-learners alike. The text is aimed at those who have seen Maxwell's equations in integral and differential form and who have been exposed to some integral theorems and differential operators. A hypertext version of this textbook can be found here. An accompanying set of video demonstrations is available below. These video demonstrations convey electromagnetism concepts. The demonstrations are related to topics covered in the textbook. They were prepared by Markus Zahn, James R. Melcher, and Manuel L. Silva and were produced by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The purpose of these demonstrations is to make mathematical analysis of electromagnetism take on physical meaning. Based on relatively simple configurations and arrangements of equipment, they make a direct connection between what has been analytically derived and what is observed. They permit the student to observe physically what has been described symbolically. Often presented with a plot of theoretical predictions that are compared to measured data, these demonstrations give the opportunity to test the range of validity of the theory and present a quantitative approach to dealing with the physical world. The short form of these videos contains the demonstrations only. The long form also presents theory, diagrams, and calculations in support of the demonstrations.
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.
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.
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.
Water Treatment and Plant Operation Processes II
The basic objective in the operation of drinking water treatment plants is to produce a drinking water that is safe and aesthetically pleasing at a reasonable cost with respect to capital as well as operation and maintenance. From a public health perspective, production of a safe drinking water is one that is free of harmful microorganisms and toxic materials, and this object is the first priority. It is also important to produce a high-quality, water that appeals to the consumer. Generally, the water must be clear, free of turbidity, colorless, and free of objectionable tastes and odors. Consumers also show a preference for water supplies that do not stain plumbing fixtures and clothes, do not corrode plumbing fixtures and piping, and do not leave scale deposits or spot glassware.
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.
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
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.
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.
Diseases of the Abdomen and Pelvis 2018-2021: Diagnostic Imaging - IDKD Book
his open access book deals with imaging of the abdomen and pelvis, an area that has seen considerable advances over the past several years, driven by clinical as well as technological developments. The respective chapters, written by internationally respected experts in their fields, focus on imaging diagnosis and interventional therapies in abdominal and pelvic disease; they cover all relevant imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. As such, the book offers a comprehensive review of the state of the art in imaging of the abdomen and pelvis. It will be of interest to general radiologists, radiology residents, interventional radiologists, and clinicians from other specialties who want to update their knowledge in this area.
Machine Learning with Radiation Oncology Big Data
Half of all cancer patients may receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment. With the wealth of diverse data generated every day in the clinic, the radiation oncology community possesses a unique advantage in harnessing these massive data with the predictive power of machine learning methods for the beneﬁt of millions of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy worldwide. In this Research Topic “Machine Learning with Radiation Oncology Big Data,” a wide range of clinical applications involving various machine learning algorithms have been described and demonstrated, with the hope of ushering in more widespread applications of artiﬁcial intelligence in medicine, particularly in cancer radiotherapy in order to achieve a truly individualized radiation oncology and an evidence-based learning healthcare system.
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
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.
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.
Anatomy Quizbook: for students studying or intending to study medicine
Anatomy Quizbook is an interactive learning book that will help students and tutors – indeed anyone interested in anatomy – learn, test and improve their knowledge of the human body.Readers are presented with carefully selected questions and diagrams addressing core learning in clinically-relevant anatomy. This selective rather than exhaustive approach will especially suit time-poor scholars. Regular self-testing will also ensure a robust and strategic understanding of the subject matter.In this first Volume, you can develop your knowledge of fundamental anatomy, including clinically-relevant terminology and the significant parts and operation of thethorax focusing on the heart, lungs, and associated bones, muscles, nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels.abdomen exploring the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen and their supporting structures (muscles, nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels).pelvis examining the bones, ligaments, vessels and nerves of the pelvic region, the features of male and female pelves, and the major digestive and excretory organs (colon, rectum, bladder and urethra).Whilst developed primarily for students who are studying, or intend to study, medicine, the Anatomy Quizbook will reward all readers who seek to explore and learn about the workings of the human body
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.
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
Manufactures --- Chemical Engineering --- Business and Management --- Political Science
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. For example, the book includes results of research on stem cell technologies and regenerative medicine as well as the realization and application of polymer photonics and the development of the core technology of polymer photonics. 3) Case studies from the U.K. in developing industry–academia collaboration with various business partners ranging from start-ups and spinout companies to large enterprises. 4) Reports of the achievements of the technological transfer activities at Keio University supported by the 5-year public fund, with suggestions for future prospects.
Appropriate mathematical tools and methodologies are critical for ensuring robust and reliable computational model predictions based on medical and healthcare data in the era of the digital health revolution (Duggal et al., 2018). Patient-speciﬁc approaches are being increasingly pursued, with simulations benchmarked by clinical data (e.g., brain activity recordings; Breakspear, 2017) obtained in non-invasive manner on individual level (e.g., resting state; Spetsieris et al., 2015). Precision Medicine, although not a new concept, is gaining momentum (Hodson, 2016) powered by the ever increasing volume of patients data (Colijn et al.). Quantifying patient similarity is an important challenge that is critical in predicting patients’ disease trajectories (Sharafoddini et al., 2017). In an opinion article (Brown) patient similarity concept has been introduced as a paradigm shift in optimizing personalisation of patient care.
Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova, Vanessa Diaz-Zuccarini
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.
The Google Earth Engine (GEE) is a cloud computing platform designed to store and process huge data sets (at petabyte-scale) for analysis and ultimate decision making [1]. Following the free availability of Landsat series in 2008, Google archived all the data sets and linked them to the cloud computing engine for open source use. The current archive of data includes those from other satellites, as well as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based vector data sets, social, demographic, weather, digital elevation models, and climate data layers.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.This volume is the first one dedicated to marine applications of geomorphometry.
Lucieer, Vanessa --- Dolan, Margaret --- Lecours, Vincent
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
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.
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.)
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
Micro/Nano Devices for Chemical Analysis
Since the concept of micro total analysis systems (µ-TAS) has been advocated, various kinds of micro/nano devices have been developed by researchers in many fields, such as in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electric engineering, biology, and medicine, among others. The analytical techniques for small sample volumes, using the micro/nano devices, heavily impacted the fields of biology, medicine and biotechnology, as well as analytical chemistry.
Manabu Tokeshi (Ed.) --- Kiichi Sato (Ed.)
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.)
Consideration of Abiotic Natural Resources in Life Cycle Assessments
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.
Anatomy and Plasticity in Large-Scale Brain Models
Supercomputing facilities are becoming increasingly available in neuroscience, predominantly for simulating the dynamics of electrical activity propagating through neuronal circuits. On today's most advanced supercomputers, large-scale models can be simulated with up to a billion of neurons. However, merely further increasing the number of neurons and synapses will not be sufficient to create biologically realistic full-scale brain models.
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.
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.
Flexible Electronics: Fabrication and Ubiquitous Integration
Flexible Electronics platforms are increasingly used in the fields of sensors, displays, and energy conversion with the ultimate goal of facilitating their ubiquitous integration in our daily lives. Some of the key advantages associated with flexible electronic platforms are: bendability, lightweight, elastic, conformally shaped, nonbreakable, roll-to-roll manufacturable, and large-area. To realize their full potential, however, it is necessary to develop new methods for the fabrication of multifunctional flexible electronics at a reduced cost and with an increased resistance to mechanical fatigue
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”.
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.
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.
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.
A water distribution system is nothing more than a network of components designed to deliver water from a source to a user. It can be thought of as an array of piping networks and various pieces of equipment taking water from one location and delivering it to another. As a comparison, the human body has a number of different “distribution” systems. The circulatory system for example distributes blood throughout the body through a series of organs. You can also look at our roadways as a “distribution system”. You leave your house and follow a path to a destination. In between are turns, signals, signs, etc. Understanding this general description of water distribution systems by no means undermines the complexity of delivering safe and reliable drinking water to consumers.
Sustainable Smart Cities and Smart Villages Research
a. 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.[There is ever more research on smart cities and new interdisciplinary approaches proposed on the study of smart cities. At the same time, problems pertinent to communities inhabiting rural areas are being addressed, as part of discussions in contigious fields of research, be it environmental studies, sociology, or agriculture. Even if rural areas and countryside communities have previously been a subject of concern for robust policy frameworks, such as the European Union’s Cohesion Policy and Common
Miltiadis D. Lytras (Ed.) --- Anna Visvizi (Ed.)
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
Handbook of Life Course Health Development
A critical mass of research linking early life events, experiences, and exposures with adult health conditions is delineating the developmental origins of many common chronic diseases. This emerging body of life course health development (LCHD) research specifies the complex adaptive processes by which both adversity and opportunity are integrated into developing biobehavioral systems. It is also challenging long-held views about origins and etiology of health and disease. There is a growing momentum among practitioners and policymakers to “connect the dots” between this rapidly expanding evidence base and the related practices and policies that are implemented within the fields of medicine, public health, nursing, mental health, education, urban planning, community development, social welfare, and others.
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.
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
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. 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.
Nobuhiro Kaneko --- Shinji Yoshiura --- Masanori Kobayashi
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.
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.
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.
Principles and Practice of Case-based Clinical Reasoning Education
Practice of Case-based Clinical Reasoning
This volume describes and explains the educational method of Case-Based Clinical Reasoning (CBCR) used successfully in medical schools to prepare students to think like doctors before they enter the clinical arena and become engaged in patient care. Although this approach poses the paradoxical problem of a lack of clinical experience that is so essential for building proficiency in clinical reasoning, CBCR is built on the premise that solving clinical problems involves the ability to reason about disease processes. This requires knowledge of anatomy and the working and pathology of organ systems, as well as the ability to regard patient problems as patterns and compare them with instances of illness scripts of patients the clinician has seen in the past and stored in memory
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.
Epigenetics of B Cells and Antibody Responses
Allergy and Immunology --- Medicine (General)
Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that are heritable but not caused by changes in the DNA sequence. By modulating gene activities, epigenetic changes regulate cell functions. They include DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications and gene silencing by the action of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs. It is now clear that epigenetic changes regulate B cell development. By acting in concert with networks of transcription factors, they modulate the activation of B cell lineage specific gene programs and repress inappropriate gene transcription in particular B cell differentiation states.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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
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
Understanding and Managing Emerald Ash Borer Impacts on Ash Forests
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is rapidly spreading throughout Eastern North America and devastating ecosystems where ash is a component tree. This rapid and sustained loss of ash trees has already resulted in ecological impacts on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and is projected to be even more severe as EAB invades ash dominated wetlands of the western Great Lakes region. We propose a Special Issue that will address current research documenting ecological impacts of EAB in forest ecosystems, as well as management approaches to mitigate those impacts.
Randall K. Kolka (Ed.) --- Anthony D’Amato (Ed.) --- Nam Jin Noh (Ed.) --- Brian J. Palik (Ed.) --- et al.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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,>
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
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.)
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.
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.
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).
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.]
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
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.
Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care
This peer reviewed e-book is a must-read for nurses and other health professionals who strive to teach with creativity and excellence in clinical settings. Each chapter presents current evidence informed educational practice knowledge. Each topic is also presented with text boxes describing ‘Creative Strategies’ that clinical teachers from across Canada have successfully implemented. For those who are interested in background knowledge, the authors provided a comprehensive literature base. And, for those interested mainly in 'what to do,' the text box summaries offer step-by-step directions for creative, challenging activities that both new and experienced instructors can begin using immediately.
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Technologies for Development: From Innovation to Social Impact
This open access book presents 18 case studies that explore current scientific and technological efforts to address global development issues, such as poverty, from a holistic and interdisciplinary point of view, putting actual impacts at the centre of its analysis. It illustrates the use of technologies for development in various fields of research, such as humanitarian action, medical and information and communication technology, disaster risk-reduction technologies, habitat and sustainable access to energy. The authors discuss how innovative technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles for disaster risk reduction, crowdsourcing humanitarian data, online education and ICT-based medical technologies can have significant social impact.
Protocols for Pre-Field Screening of Mutants for Salt Tolerance in Rice, Wheat and Barley
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.
Image analysis is playing a very essential role in numerous research areas in the fields of science and technology, ranging from medical imaging to the computer science of automatic vision. Being involved in several applications, which are mainly based on a constant innovation of technologies, image analysis always requires different approaches and new algorithms, including continual upgrades and improvements of existing methods. Accordingly, the range of the analyses in which it is engaged can be considered as wide as the prospective future technologies.
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
Environmental Sciences --- General and Civil Engineering --- Geology --
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. Although the general scientific interest in specific issues such as wetlands, climate change, nature conservation and the WFD enjoy a well established position in international environmental research, these four elements are rarely considered together due to the complexity of the processes, biased scenarios of global change and subjective policy background.
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
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.
You’re about to understand water demand and water supply more deeply. This understanding is going to change how you look at your water bill, grass in your yard and around town, and all those canals you see while driving around in California. Understanding the connection between demand and supply is critical to anyone working in the water industry today. Water demand is our need and use of water. Water supply refers to our sources of water. This textbook has three primary parts. In Part One, you will learn foundational concepts in water supply, including the water cycle, water management concepts, water rights and stakeholder concepts.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
Agricultural Implications of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Following the Fukushima nuclear accident, a large volume of monitoring data has been collected about the soil, air, dust, and seawater, along with data about an immense number of foods supplied to the market. Little is known, however, about the effect of radioactive fallout on agriculture, information about which is vital. Although more than 80% of the damaged area is related to agriculture, in situ information specifically for agriculture is scarce. This book provides data about the actual movement and accumulation of radioactivity in the ecological system—for example, whether debris deposited on mountains can be a cause of secondary contamination, under what conditions plants accumulate radioactive cesium in their edible parts, and how radioactivity is transferred from hay to milk.
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.
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.
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.
Breaking the cycle: Attacking the malaria parasite in the liver
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains one of the most serious health problems globally. Immunization with attenuated parasites elicits multiple cellular eﬀector mechanisms capable of eliminating Plasmodium from the liver. However, malaria liver stage immunity is complex. The anatomic site of priming of naive Plasmodium-speciﬁc CD8 T cells, be it in the lymph nodes draining the site of Plasmodium antigen deposition by the mosquito or in the liver, may in fact determine the speciﬁcity of the eﬀector CD8 T cells. The participation of particular antigenpresenting cells (Corradin and Levitskaya, 2014) and tissue signatures that inﬂuence the activation of intrahepatic CD8 T cells against malaria sporozoites (Morrot and Rodrigues, 2014) are still incompletely understood. Similarly, how eﬀector CD8 T cells detect the few infected hepatocytes in the large liver and the mechanisms they use to kill the intracellular parasites are unknown.
Ute Frevert, Urszula Krzych , Thomas L. Richie
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.
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
Water Treatment Plant Operation Processes I
A very finite amount of water on our planet (0.34%) is available to treat for human consumption. Knowing where the water comes from assists certified operators in treating raw source water to make it potable. Newer technology has been developed to treat salinized or salty water found in the ocean. These treatment methods are still extremely expensive and not widely accessible. Supplying water to the public is an extremely important function in society as water is the basic building block of life. Because water quality is of the utmost importance new regulations and water quality standards are continually changing and evolving to make sure the public has safe sources of drinking water. The first drinking water standards were signed into law by President Ford in 1974 and it was known as the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Throughout the text new concepts will be introduced and an acronym will be given and used subsequently. You are going to learn to love acronyms if you become a certified operator. We use them quite frequently!
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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,
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.
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.)
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.)
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.
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.
Introduction to Water Systems Technology
Water Systems and Technology is a program designed to provide the student with enough information to build a successful and lasting career in the water and wastewater industry. It is a program that has been developed by professionals within the industry and within academia. Upon successful completion of the program and after completing any required general education course work, the student can earn an Associate of Science degree in Water Systems Technology. In addition, each course provides supplemental course work hours required for renewal of existing certifications in the water and wastewater industries and many provide specialized training coursework to qualify students to take state certification exams. The program has several general topic course options, includes coursework related to waterworks mathematics, and has specialized courses covering water distribution, water treatment, and wastewater
Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach to Medication Withdrawal | Will Hall
Psychiatric medications can sometimes be very useful, but there is often little information or guidance when the risks and harm start to outweigh the benefits. Will Hall provides an introductory overview of how to come off psychiatric medication. Will Hall is a survivor of a schizophrenia diagnosis who today works as a therapist and teaches internationally on mental diversity, including psychiatric medication. This video provides some basic guidance for anyone considering reducing or coming off psychiatric medications and their supporters, and is discussed in greater detail in the Harm Reduction Guideto Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs.
Will Hall published via YouTube.com
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.
Business 211 Introduction to Business Law
Lawhas different meanings as well as differentfunctions. Philosophers have considered issues of justice and law for centuries, and several different approaches, or schools of legal thought, have emerged. In this chapter, we will look at those different meanings and approaches andwill consider howsocial and political dynamics interact with the ideas that animate the various schools of legal thought. We will also look at typical sources of“positive law” in the United States and how some of those sources have priority over others, and we will set out some basic differences between the US legal system and other legal systems.
Water Systems and Technology is a program designed to provide the student with enough information to build a successful and lasting career in the water and wastewater industry. It is a by professionals within the industry and within academia. Upon successful completion of the program and after completing any required general education course work, the student can earn an Associate of Science degree in Water Systems Technology. In addition, each course provides supplemental course work hours required for renewal of existing certifications in the water and wastewater industries and many provide specialized training coursework to qualify students to take state certification exams. The program has several general topic course options, includes coursework related to waterworks mathematics, and has specialized courses covering water distribution, water treatment, and wastewater.
https://www.canyons.edu/Offices/DistanceLearning/OER/Documents/Water%20020%20Text%20- 203rd%20Edition%20(2).pdf
Medical Geology: Impacts of the Natural Environment on Public Health
B. anthracis infections in wildlife and livestock have been recognized as a critically important disease in the United States for over 200 years. Historical data on environmental, weather/climate and geographical factors that influence the occurrence of these infections are well known and include; (1) warm seasons during dry periods that follow moderate to heavy precipitation events (weather/climate); (2) regions containing post-flood organic detritus and/or short dry grazing grasses (environmental); and (3) topological lows, such as waterholes or riverbanks, calcareous and alluvial soils with elevated nutrient content and pH values greater than 6.0 (geology). Other geological factors that may influence B. anthracis outbreak occurrence, as noted through in vivo or in vitro observations, are elevated phosphate (which results in higher protective antigen production), magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc (needed for lethal factor production) and manganese (typically found in very low concentrations in calcareous soils and needed for gene regulation of exotoxins and antibiotics) [1–5].
Two-Dimensional Electronics - Prospects and Challenges
During the past 10 years, two-dimensional materials have found incredible attention in the scientific community. 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.
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).
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Danger Signals Triggering Immune Response and Inflammation
The immune system detects "danger", through a series of what we now call damage associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs), working in concert with both positive and negative signals derived from other tissues. DAMPS also known as alarmins, are molecules released by stressed cells undergoing necrosis that act as endogenous danger signals to promote and exacerbate the immune and inflammatory response. DAMPs vary greatly depending on the type of cell (epithelial or mesenchymal) and injured tissue. Some endogenous danger signals are heat-shock proteins, HMGB1 (high-mobility group box 1), reactive oxygen intermediates, extracellular-matrix breakdown products such as hyaluronan fragments, neuromediators and cytokines like the interferons (IFNs).
Abdulraouf Ramadan --- Walter G. Land --- Sophie Paczesny
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.
Animals and the Shaping of Modern Medicine: One Health and its Histories
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. Ranging across the animal inhabitants of Britain’s zoos, sick sheep on Scottish farms, unproductive livestock in developing countries, and the tapeworms of California and Beirut, they illuminate the multi-species dimensions of modern medicine and its rich historical connections with biology, zoology, ag riculture and veterinary medicine. The modern movement for One Health – whose history is also analyzed – is therefore revealed as just the latest attempt to improve health by working across species and disciplines. This book will appeal to historians of animals, science and medicine, to those involved in the promotion and practice of One Health today.
Influence of elevated temperatures up to 100 °C on the mechanical properties of concrete
Experiments to characterize the effects of moisture content and temperature on the mechanical properties of concrete were conducted. Based on these experiments, a new overall material model capable of predicting the mechanical behaviour of concrete subject to elevated temperatures up to 100 °C was developed. The material model estimates the time, temperature and moisture dependency of the compressive and tensile strength, creep and shrinkage of concrete.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You are probably asking yourself the question, "When and where will I use statistics?" If you read any newspaper, watch television, or use the Internet, you will see statistical information. There are statistics about crime, sports, education, politics, and real estate. Typically, when you read a newspaper article or watch a television news program, you are given sample information. With this information, you may make a decision about the correctness of a statement, claim, or "fact." Statistical methods can help you make the "best educated guess." Since you will undoubtedly be given statistical information at some point in your life, you need to know some techniques for analyzing the information thoughtfully. Think about buying a house or managing a budget. Think about your chosen profession. The fields of economics, business, psychology, education, biology, law, computer science, police science, and early childhood development require at least one course in statistics
ALEXANDER HOLMES, BARBARA ILLOWSKY, SUSAN DEAN,
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.
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.
Building information - representationand management
Building information,, representationand management
This book is about the foundations and principles of building information, its representation and management. It does not tell you which software or policies to choose for representing buildings and managing the resulting information. In fact, the book argues that one should not start with practical steps before fully understanding the reasoning behind any such choice. The basis of this reasoning comprises the structure of information and of the representations that contain it, the purposes of managing information in the context of these representations and the processes in which the representations are used; in a nutshell, how information relates to a specific domain. Without adequate reasoning that takes into account all syntactic, semantic and pragmatic aspects, adopting one software or another, implementing one practical measure or another simply subjugates information processing to some prescriptive or proscriptive framework that may be unproductive, incompatible or inappropriate for the domain.
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
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.
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
A Guide to Veterinary Clinical Skills Laboratories
Clinical and practical skills are an essential part of the competences required of veterinary graduates (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) 2014, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) 2014 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 2014, North American Veterinary Medical Educators Consortium (NAVMEC) 2011) and clinical skills laboratories (CSLs) are playing an increasingly important role in veterinary curricula around the world. Clinical training used to rely entirely on an apprenticeship model, as described in medical education over 100 years ago (Halsted, 1904), where the trainee shadows a clinician, initially watching and then performing the procedure under the expert’s supervision. Although such teaching is still central to medical and veterinary training, recent changes in veterinary education, including increasing student numbers and an expectation that where possible, the use of animals in teaching should be reduced, mean that there is a need to find additional ways to support learning.
Cloud-Based Benchmarking of Medical Image Analysis
This book presents the VISCERAL project benchmarks for analysis and retrieval of 3D medical images (CT and MRI) on a large scale, which used an innovative cloud-based evaluation approach where the image data were stored centrally on a cloud infrastructure and participants placed their programs in virtual machines on the cloud. The book presents the points of view of both the organizers of the VISCERAL benchmarks and the participants.The book is divided into five parts. Part I presents the cloud-based benchmarking and Evaluation-as-a-Service paradigm that the VISCERAL benchmarks used. Part II focuses on the datasets of medical images annotated with ground truth created in VISCERAL that continue to be available for research.
Allan Hanbury , - Henning Müller , - Georg Langs
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Personnel Management Human resources management
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.
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.
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.
Natural Antibodies in Health and Disease
Natural antibodies (NAbs) are found in normal individuals in the absence of exogenous antigenic stimulation. Natural antibodies rapidly recognize and protect against pathogens that have not been previously encountered. NAbs also cross-react with several self-antigens, which, besides their role as a first line of defense against pathogens, affords them the ability to perform important housekeeping functions in healthy organisms. Such housekeeping functions include the clearance of oxidized damaged structures and/or apoptotic cells, which prevents the induction of pro-inflammatory effects. In addition,
Ana Maria Hernandez , Nichol E. Holodick
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
The Economics of Food and Agricultural Markets
The Economics of agriculture is important and interesting! Food and agricultural markets are in the news and on social media every day. Numerous fascinating and complex issues are the subject of this course: food prices, food safety, diet and nutrition, agricultural policy, globalization, obesity, use of antibiotics and hormones in meat production, hog confinement, and many more. As we work through the course material this semester, please find examples of the economics of food and agriculture in the news. You can earn extra credit by writing a report on a topic that is related to our course material!
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
Up to date review of theory and experience of agricultural input subsidies in low income countries, with new theoretical and empirical insights Detailed and comprehensive analysis of the Malawi Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme Strong emphasis on political as well as technical issues in policy and programme development and implementation Considers economy wide issues in agricultural input subsidies in low income countries Detailed analysis of the history and context of agricultural development and rural livelihoods in Malawi
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 emerging precision medicine approach aims to tailor disease prevention and treatment to each patient on the basis of individual variability, environmental factors and lifestyle. Fundamental achievements in the last few decades have converged to offer nowadays the compelling opportunity to move towards this innovative approach: i) unprecedented improvements in disease modeling in silico, in vitro and in vivo; ii) acquisition of a wide range of biomedical information combined with the development of computational toolsets for flexible and integrative analyses of multi-assay datasets.
Drug Development for Parasite-Induced Diarrheal Diseases
One of the top four contributors to the global burden of disease is diarrheal infections. Intestinal parasites are major causes of morbidity and mortality associated with diarrheal diseases in both the developed and developing world. Amebiasis is responsible for 50 million cases of invasive disease and 70,000 deaths annually in the world. Giardiasis has an estimated worldwide prevalence of 280 million cases annually. In developed countries, Giardia lamblia infects about 2% of adults and 6-8% of children. The prevalence of G. lamblia infection is generally higher in developing countries, ranging from 3% to 90%. Furthermore, giardial infections contribute substantially to the 2.5 million annual deaths from diarrheal disease
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.
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.
Naïve T cells get activated upon encounter with their cognate antigen and differentiate into a specific subset of effector cells. These T cells are themselves plastic and are able to re-differentiate into another subset, changing both phenotype and function. Differentiation into a specific subset depends on the nature of the antigen and of the environmental milieu. Notably, certain nutrients, such as vitamins A and D, sodium chloride, have been shown to modulate T cell responses and influence T cell differentiation.
Building Green . Environmental Architects and the Struggle for Sustainability in Mumbai
Building Green explores the experience of environmental architects in Mumbai, one of the world’s most populous and population-dense urban areas and a city iconic for its massive informal settlements, extreme wealth asymmetries, and ecological stresses. Under these conditions, what does it mean to learn, and try to practice, so-called green design? By tracing the training and professional experiences of environmental architects in India’s first graduate degree program in Environmental Architecture, Rademacher shows how environmental architects forged sustainability concepts and practices and sought to make them meaningful through engaged architectural practice. The book’s focus on practitioners offers insights into the many roles that converge to produce this emergent, critically important form of urban expertise. At once activists, scientists, and designers, the environmental architects profiled in Building Green act as key agents of urban change whose efforts in practice are shaped by a complex urban development economy, layered political power relations, and a calculus of when, and how, their expert skills might be operationalized in service of a global urban future.
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
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)
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.
Math, Numerics, & Programming (for Mechanical Engineers)
All readings are from the textbook: Masayuki Yano, et al. Math, Numerics, and Programming (for Mechanical Engineers). V2.1, August 2013. Files for each available unit are provided in the following table, courtesy of the authors. The entire textbook is available for download as a single file. Students should read all of the assignments for the unit before proceeding to the associated Problem Sets and the MATLAB® Tutorials. In general, students should skip the advanced material in the textbook. This advanced material is indicated either by blue shading or by blue "Advanced Material" bookends.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and Generative AI in Education
Information technology Artificial Intelligence
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
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.
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.)
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.
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
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 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,
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.
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
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.
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.
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.)
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
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)
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).
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.
Principles of Management is adapted from a work produced by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution. This adapted edition is produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing through the eLearning Support Initiative. Principles of Management teaches management principles to tomorrow’s business leaders by weaving three threads through every chapter: strategy, entrepreneurship and active leadership. Strategic — All business school teachings have some orientation toward performance and strategy and are concerned with making choices that lead to high performance. Principles of Management will frame performance using the notion of the triple bottom-line — the idea that economic performance allows individuals and organizations to perform positively in social and environmental ways as well. The triple bottom line is financial, social, and environmental performance. It is important for all students to understand the interdependence of these three facets of organizational performance.
Authors Removed At Requeest of Original Publisher
University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, 2015. This edition adapted from a work originally produced in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that it not receive attribution.
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.
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
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.
Leak Detection Technology and Implementation
Leak Detection: Technology and Implementation assists water utilities with the development and implementation of leak detection programs. Leak detection and repair is one of the components of controlling water loss. In addition, techniques are discussed within this book and relevant case studies are presented. The book provides useful and practical information on leakage issues.
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)
In this book we have set out to provide a practical guide to bone marrow diagnosis, based on an integrated assessment of peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate films, trephine biopsy sections and various supplementary investigations. We believe that a trephine biopsy specimen should not be examined and interpreted in isolation. We have therefore discussed the clinical context of bone marrow diagnosis and have given equal weight to cytological and histological features. Since bone marrow diagnosis is no longer based on morphological features alone we have also, in this edition, discussed in considerable detail the role of immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Meat Cutting and Processing for Food Service
This book is intended to give students a basic understanding of the various types of meat and poultry used in the food service industry, and how the terminology used by retail, wholesale, and food service customers varies. Meat cutting for restaurants and hotels differs slightly from meat cutting for retail. Restaurants and hotels sometimes use names of cuts on menus that are common in the kitchen vernacular or in other jurisdictions like Europe or the United States, while retail meat cutters are bound by Canadian regulations regarding labelling and marketing of meat products to consumers for retail. Meat Cutting and Processing for Food Service is one of a series of Culinary Arts books developed to support the training of students and apprentices in British Columbia’s food service and hospitality industry. Although created with the Professional Cook and Baker programs in mind, these have been designed as a modular series, and therefore can be used to support a wide variety of programs that offer training in food service skills.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Creative Clinical Teaching In The Health Professions
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)
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.
An introduction to solid state device including field effect and bipolar transistors. Properties of transmission lines and propagating E&M waves.
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.
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.
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.
Health and Safety in Canadian Workplaces
Workplace injuries happen every day and can profoundly affect workers, their families, and the communities they live in. This textbook provides workers with an introduction to effective injury prevention. The book pays particular attention to how issues of precarious employment, gender, and ill health can be better handled in Canadian occupational health and safety (OHS). This introduction to OHS differs from others because it contends that the practice of occupational health and safety can only be properly understood if we acknowledge that workers and employers have conflicting interests. Specifically, we investigate which workplace hazards are recognized and controlled, the manner in which these hazards are controlled, and who makes these decisions. These are all factors that reflect the broader political economy of employment and suggest that OHS is contested terrain.
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.
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
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.
Multi-agent systems (MAS) allow and promote the development of distributed and intelligent applications in complex and dynamic environments. Applications of this kind have a crucial role in our everyday life, as witnessed by the broad range of domains they are deployed to—such as manufacturing, management sciences, e-commerce, biotechnology, etc. Despite heterogeneity, those domains share common requirements such as autonomy, structured interaction, mobility, and openness—which are well suited for MAS. Therein, in fact, goal-oriented processes can enter and leave the system dynamically and interact with each other according to structured protocols
The goal of this book is to improve your logical-reasoning skills. These skills are also called "critical thinking skills." They are a complex weave of abilities that help you get someone's point, generate reasons for your own point, evaluate the reasons given by others, decide what or what not to do, decide what information to accept or reject, explain a complicated idea, apply conscious quality control as you think, and resist propaganda. Your most important critical thinking skill is your skill at making judgments─not snap judgments that occur in the blink of an eye, but those that require careful reasoning.
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.
Undergraduate Diagnostic Imaging Fundamentals
Diagnostic Imaging principles and concepts are augmented by the presentation of images for common clinical conditions. Guiding principles related to minimizing radiation exposure and requesting the most appropriate imaging examination are addressed.Static images are enhanced by the ability to access images stored and displayed on an Html-5 compatible, Dicom image viewer that simulates a simple Picture Archive and Communication system (PACS). Users can also access other imaging from the Dicom viewer (ODIN), beyond the basic curriculum provided, to further advance their experience with viewing diagnostic imaging pathologies.
The manual contains the following labs: Introduction Tissues Integument Introduction to the Skeleton Axial Skeleton: Skull Axial Skeleton: Vertebral Appendicular Skeleton: Introduction and Pectoral Girdle Appendicular Skeleton: Upper Limbs Appendicular Skeleton: Pelvis Appendicular Skeleton: Lower Limbs Articulations/Joints Body Movements Muscles: Head, Neck, and Back Muscles: Abdomen and Thorax Muscles: Upper Limbs Muscles: Lower Limbs Spinal Cord Brain Cranial Nerves Special Senses: Ear Special Senses: Eye
Kansas State University Human Nutrition Flexbook
The CK-12 foundation defines a flexbook as a “free and open source textbook platform where one can build and edit collaborative textbooks1 .” The FNDH 400 (formerly HN 400, department changed its name from Human Nutrition to Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health) Flexbook fits this definition, but I felt the name was particularly accurate due to the flexibility of Google Docs that it was built on. The flexbook is divided into 13 chapters with sections and subsections. These are numbered in such a way that the first number represents the chapter. A period separates the chapter from the section number, and another period is followed by the subsection number. The figures are non-copyrighted figures or I have made them myself in PowerPoint. The flexbook also contains links to articles, videos, and animations in Web Link boxes. These can be clicked to open the link, and urls for these resources are also provided at the end of the section or subsection.
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.
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.
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.
Habitats and Biota of the Gulf of Mexico: Before the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Volume 1: Water Quality, Sediments, Sediment Contaminants, Oil and Gas Seeps, Coastal Habitats, Offshore Plankton and Benthos, and Shellfish
The Gulf of Mexico is an open and dynamic marine ecosystem rich in natural resources but heavily impacted by human activities, including agricultural, industrial, commercial and coastal development. The Gulf of Mexico has been continuously exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons for millions of years from natural oil and gas seeps on the sea floor, and more recently from oil drilling and production activities located in the water near and far from shore. Major accidental oil spills in the Gulf are infrequent; two of the most significant include the Ixtoc I blowout in the Bay of Campeche in 1979 and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010. Unfortunately, baseline assessments of the status of habitats and biota in the Gulf of Mexico before these spills either were not available, or the data had not been systematically compiled in a way that would help scientists assess the potential short-term and long-term effects of such events
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Human Anatomy and Physiology Preparatory Course
The overall purpose of this preparatory course textbook is to help students familiarize with some terms and some basic concepts they will find later in the Human Anatomy and Physiology I course. The organization and functioning of the human organism generally is discussed in terms of different levels of increasing complexity, from the smallest building blocks to the entire body. This Anatomy and Physiology preparatory course covers the foundations on the chemical level, and a basic introduction to cellular level, organ level, and organ system levels. There is also an introduction to homeostasis at the beginning.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
This eBook was written as the sequel to the eBook titled DC Circuits, which was written in 2016 by Chad Davis. This eBook covers Alternating Current (AC) circuit theory as well as a brief introduction of electronics. It is broken up into seven modules. Module 1 covers the basic theory of AC signals. Since only DC sources are used in the first eBook, details of AC signals such as sinusoidal waveforms (or sine waves), square waves, and triangle waves are provided. Module 2, titled AC Circuits Math Background, covers the mathematics background needed for solving AC circuit problems. The background material in Modules 1 and 2 are combined in Module 3 to solve circuits with AC sources that include resistors, inductors, and capacitors (RLC circuits).
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.
This book covers Direct Current (DC) circuit theory and is broken up into three modules. Module 1 covers the basics for circuits that include DC sources (voltage or current) and resistors. Even though Module 1 is not very difficult, it forms the foundation for more complicated topics in Module 2 and 3 so it is important to have a firm grasp of all Module 1 topics before moving on. Module 2 covers more difficult problem solving techniques for circuits that include only DC sources and resistors. Module 3 introduces capacitors and inductors. These non-linear reactive components are analyzed in the transient and steady state regions in circuits with DC sources in Module 3. There are two follow-on eBooks in this 3-part series. They are AC Circuits (published in 2017) and Electromechanical Systems (Coming in 2018).
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.
Calibration/Validation of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometers and Applications
The success of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) brings us into a new era of global daily Earth observations, ranging from the faintest light of human settlements and air glows, to the dramatic events of hurricanes and forest fires, as well as the subtle changes in the planet Earth which we call home. At the heart of all satellite applications, calibration/validation of the instrument measurements and derived products is essential. Satellite product calibration and validation have become increasingly more important and challenging, in order to meet the stringent requirements for accurate and quantitative data for numerical weather prediction, climate change detection, and environmental intelligence. Validation is required not only for the satellite measurements, but also for all geophysical retrievals, including aerosols, cloud properties, radiation budget, sea surface temperature, ocean color, active fire, albedo, snow and ice, vegetation, as well as nightlights from human settlements
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.
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.
Rabies Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment
Rabies is an acute, progressive, incurable viral encephalitis found throughout the world. Despite being one of the oldest recognized pathogens, its impact remains substantial in public health, veterinary medicine, and conservation biology. Thus, it is Essential to apply existing tools and to seek new methods to improve upon prevention, control, selective variant elimination, and treatment efforts. Advances in diagnosis, vaccinology, pathobiology, and related research techniques continue to afford enhanced insights on rabies. Although rabies is not a candidate for eradication, the results of these innovative communications provide further knowledge to deﬁne a more optimal approach to understanding and managing this complex infectious disease of nature on a global basis in a One Health context.
Charles Rupprecht (Ed.), Bernhard Dietzschold (Ed.)
Beyond Lean: Simulation in Practice, Second Edition
Lean thinking, as well as associated processes and tools, have involved into a ubiquitous perspective for improving systems particularly in the manufacturing arena. With application experience has come an understanding of the boundaries of lean capabilities and the benefits of getting beyond these boundaries to further improve performance. Discrete event simulation is recognized as one beyond-the-boundaries of lean technique. Thus, the fundamental goal of this text is to show how discrete event simulation can be used in addition to lean thinking to achieve greater benefits in system improvement than with lean alone. Realizing this goal requires learning the problems that simulation solves as well as the methods required to solve them. The problems that simulation solves are captured in a collection of case studies. These studies serve as metaphors for industrial problems that are commonly addressed using lean and simulation.
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.
Digital Circuit Projects: An Overview of Digital Circuits Through Implementing Integrated Circuits - Second Edition
Digital circuits, often called Integrated Circuits or ICs, are the central building blocks of a Central Processing Unit (CPU). To understand how a computer works, it is essential to understand the digital circuits which make up the CPU. This text introduces the most important of these digital circuits; adders, decoders, multiplexers, D flip-flops, and simple state machines. What makes this textbook unique is that it puts the ability to understand these circuits into the hands of anyone, from hobbyists to students studying Computer Science. This text is designed to teach digital circuits using simple projects the reader can implement. But unlike most lab manuals used in classes in Digital Circuits or Computer Organization classes, this textbook is designed to remove the barrier of a laboratory infrastructure needed in a face-to-face environment at a college or university. This textbook is designed to be used by the reader to create the circuits in their own homes. The textbook is free. The cost of the kits needed to do the labs is reasonable.
Introduction To MIPS Assembly Language Programming
This book was written to introduce students to assembly language programming in MIPS. As with all assembly language programming texts, it covers basic operators and instructions, subprogram calling, loading and storing memory, program control, and the conversion of the assembly language program into machine code. However this book was not written simply as a book on assembly language programming. The larger purpose of this text is to show how concepts in Higher Level Languages (HLL), such as Java or C/C++, are represented in assembly. By showing how program constructs from these HLL map into assembly, the concepts will be easier to understand and use when the programmer implements programs in languages like Java or C/C++. Concepts such as references and variables, registers, binary and Boolean operations, subprogram execution, memory types (heap, stack, and static), and array processing are covered to clarify the decisions made when implementing HLL. Program control is presented using a mapping from structured programs in pseudo code to help students understand structured programming, and why it exists. Memory access in assembly is presented to high light the difference between references (pointers) and values, and how these impact HLL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Fundamentals of Infrastructure Management
The authors believe this free of charge book, Fundamentals of Infrastructure Management, will expand the impact of the material and help improve the practice of infrastructure management. By ‘free of charge,’ we mean that the material can be freely obtained, but readers should devote time and effort to mastering the material. We have provided problem assignments for various chapters, and we strongly urge readers to undertake the problems as a learning experience. This book grew out of a decade of co-teaching a course entitled ‘Infrastructure Management’ at Carnegie Mellon University. Our teaching philosophy was to prepare students for work in the field of infrastructure management. We believe that infrastructure management is a professional endeavor and an attractive professional career. The book is co-authored by two accomplished engineers - each representing professional practice, academic research and theoretical evaluation. Their collective strengths are presented throughout the text and serve to support both the practice of infrastructure management and a role for infrastructure management inquiry and search. Importantly, both co-authors have academic research interests (and a number of research publications) on various topics of infrastructure management. That said, the primary audience for this book is expected to be professionals intending to practice infrastructure management, and only secondarily individuals who intend to pursue a career of research in the area. The text draws examples and discusses a wide variety of infrastructure systems, including roadways, telecommunications, power generation, buildings and systems of infrastructure. We have found that some common fundamentals of asset management, analysis tools and informed decision-making are useful for a variety of such systems. Certainly, many infrastructure managers encounter a variety of infrastructure types during their professional careers. Moreover, due to the functional inter-dependencies of different infrastructure systems, it is certainly advantageous for managers of one infrastructure type to understand other types of infrastructure. For example, roadway managers rely upon the power grid for traffic signal operation.
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
Animal Metropolis brings a Canadian perspective to the growing field of animal history, ranging across species and cities, from the beavers who engineered Stanley Park to the carthorses who shaped the city of Montreal. Some essays consider animals as spectacle: orca captivity in Vancouver, polar bear tourism in Churchill, Manitoba, fish on display in the Dominion Fisheries Museum, and the racialized memory of Jumbo the elephant in St. Thomas, Ontario. Others examine the bodily intimacies of shared urban spaces: the regulation of rabid dogs in Banff, the maternal politics of pure milk in Hamilton and the circulation of tetanus bacilli from horse to human in Toronto. Another considers the marginalization of women in Canada’s animal welfare movement. The authors collectively push forward from a historiography that features nonhuman animals as objects within human-centered inquiries to a historiography that considers the eclectic contacts, exchanges, and cohabitation of human and nonhuman animals.
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.
Accounting may be defined as the process of analyzing, classifying, recording, summarizing, and interpreting business transactions. One of the key aspects of the process is keeping “running totals” of “things.” Examples of items a business might keep track of include the amount of cash the business currently has, what a company has paid for utilities for the month, the amount of money it owes, its income for the entire year, and the total cost of all the equipment it has purchased. You want to always have these running totals up to date so they are readily available to you when you need the information. It is similar to checking what your cash balance in the bank is when deciding if you have enough money to make a purchase with your debit card.
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.
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.)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Building Maintenance & Construction: Tools and Maintenance Tasks
Building Maintenance & Construction: Tools and Maintenance Tasks introduces and develops knowledge of basic building maintenance tools and materials, applied skills and techniques, industry health and safety tandards, and preventive maintenance and troubleshooting practices required by employers for entry-level positions in the building trades and facilities maintenance fields.
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.
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.)
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.
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
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)
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.
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
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
Cyril Mauffrey --- David J. Hak --- Murphy P. Martin III
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.
Small-signal stability, control and dynamic performance of power systems
The main purpose of this book is to introduce the graduate engineer to the concepts and applications of small-signal analysis and controller design for the enhancement of the dynamic performance of multi-machine power systems. To this end, the analyses of the control and dynamic performance are illustrated by examples based on an interconnected highvoltage system comprising fourteen generating stations and various types of FACTS devices. An emphasis in the book is on more recent theoretical developments and application to practical issues which are amenable to small-signal analysis using a comprehensive software package. In addition, the tools in - and features of - such a software package for analysis and controller design are illustrated.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
Introduction to Financial Accounting - First US Edition
Accounting is often called the language of business because it uses a unique vocabulary to communicate information to decision makers. In this chapter, we will discuss what financial accounting is and briefly introduce how financial information is communicated through financial statements. Then we will study how financial transactions are analyzed and reported on financial statements. Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, recording, and communicating an organization’s economic activities to users. Users need information for decision making. Internal users of accounting information work for the organization and are responsible for planning, organizing, and operating the entity. The area of accounting known as managerial accounting serves the decision‐making needs of internal users.
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 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.
Rangeland Systems: Processes, Management and Challenges
This book provides an unprecedented synthesis of the current status of scientific and management knowledge regarding global rangelands and the major challenges that confront them. It has been organized around three major themes. The first summarizes the conceptual advances that have occurred in the rangeland profession. The second addresses the implications of these conceptual advances to management and policy. The third assesses several major challenges confronting global rangelands in the 21st century.
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.
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.
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.
Principles of Management is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of the introductory course on management. This is a traditional approach to management using the leading, planning, organizing, and controlling approach. Management is a broad business discipline, and the Principles of Management course covers many management areas such as human resource management and strategic management, as well behavioral areas such as motivation. No one individual can be an expert in all areas of management, so an additional benefit of this text is that specialists in a variety of areas have authored individual chapters.
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).
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.
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®).
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. 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 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)
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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)
Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I
The text focuses on the creation, manipulation, transmission, and reception of information by electronic means. Contents: 1) Introduction. 2) Signals and Systems. 3) Analog Signal Processing. 4) Frequency Domain. 5) Digital Signal Processing. 6) Information Communication. 7) Appendices: Decibels; Permutations and Combinations, Frequency Allocations.
Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation
This research editorial is intended to establish the context and provide a broad overview for the Special Issue of Sustainability entitled “Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation” that was initiated in 2014 to document both the magnitude and global revalence of soil degradation. Our goals for the Special Issue were to: (1) help illustrate various factors contributing to the problem of soil degradation; (2) identify past and current impacts of soil degradation in countries around the world; and (3) suggest soil health strategies that could be used to protect our fragile soil resources. As our global population marches steadily toward projections of 9.5 billion in 2050, natural and human induced soil degradation, if not mitigated, will undoubtedly increase the potential for negative impacts such as disease and malnutrition.
Douglas L. Karlen (Ed.) ,- Charles W. Rice (Ed.)
This video shows the first stage of the production of a cast gold crown for a damaged tooth. The crown is made on the model (See Videos 2 and 3) using wax, which will be replaced by molten gold in the lost wax casting process. The technique of making the wax template and adjusting it to fit the model accurately is shown. Courtesy of Dr Christopher Stokes and Dr Duncan Wood
Dr Christopher Stokes and Dr Duncan Wood
School of Clinical Dentistry, The University of Sheffield.
Creative Commons
This video shows the second stage of the production of a cast gold crown for a damaged tooth. The wax template of the tooth is sprued using wax wire, then invested in a refractory investment material. The video shows the mould being heated to both expand it and prevent against thermal shock. A centrifugal casting process is shown, using an electrical furnace for melting the gold.
This video shows the final stage of the production of a cast gold crown for a damaged tooth. The gold casting is cooled and removed from the mould. Sand blasting, an acid bath and then a series of abrasive burs are used to trim and finish the casting before a final polish is applied.
Food as Medicine: Preventing and Treating the Most Common Diseases with Diet
This is Dr. Greger's 2015 live presentation. Dr. Greger has scoured the world's scholarly literature on clinical nutrition and developed this new presentation based on the latest in cutting-edge research exploring the role diet may play in preventing, arresting, and even reversing some of our leading causes of death and disability. Subscribe to Dr. Greger’s free nutrition newsletter and get the Evidence-Based Eating Guide: A Healthy Living Resource from Dr. Greger and NutritionFacts.org.
Nutrition Facts.org published via YouTube.com
Recent Advances in Microalgal Biotechnology
Dr. Jin Liu, Dr. Zheng Sun and Dr. Henri Gerken
Middle Mediastinum and Heart - Anatomy and Dissection Guide
The anatomy shown in this video is based off of the UBC MEDD 411 gross anatomy checklist.
Approaches of Antiviral Production in Tissue Culture of Medicinal Plants
Breast Cancer Eliminated Using Keshe Technologies - Demo by Dr.Rodrigo Vildosola
Dr. Rodrigo Vildosola explains his method for treating breast cancer using Keshe Plasma Technologies. He gives an example of how he used this with one of his patients with stunning results. Warning: The video contains graphic images of a medical nature.
Optical Methods in Sensing and Imaging for Medical and Biological Applications
General and Civil Engineering --- Medicine (General) --- Therapeutics
The recent advances in optical sources and detectors have opened up new opportunities for sensing and imaging techniques which can be successfully used in biomedical and healthcare applications. This book, entitled ‘Optical Methods in Sensing and Imaging for Medical and Biological Applications’, focuses on various aspects of the research and development related to these areas. The book will be a valuable source of information presenting the recent advances in optical methods and novel techniques, as well as their applications in the fields of biomedicine and healthcare, to anyone interested in this subject.
Dragan Indjin (Ed.) --- Željka Cvejić (Ed.) --- Małgorzata Jędrzejewska-Szczerska (Ed.)
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.]
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.]
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
Accounting Principles: A Business Perspective, Financial Accounting (Chapters 1 – 8)
Preface from the eight edition: Philosophy and purpose Imagine that you have graduated from college without taking an accounting course. You are employed by a company as a sales person, and you eventually become the sales manager of a territory. While attending a sales managers' meeting, financial results are reviewed by the Vice President of Sales and terms such as gross margin percentage, cash flows from operating activities, and LIFO inventory methods are being discussed. The Vice President eventually asks you to discuss these topics as they relate to your territory. You try to do so, but it is obvious to everyone in the meeting that you do not know what you are talking about.
Accounting Principles: Managerial Accounting
Process: Cost systems Learning objectives After studying this chapter, you should be able to: • Describe the types of operations that require a process cost system. • Distinguish between process and job costing systems. • Discuss the concept of equivalent units in a process cost system. • Compute equivalent units of production and unit costs under the average cost procedure. • Prepare a production cost report for a process cost system and discuss its relationship to the Work in Process Inventory account. • Distinguish between normal and abnormal spoilage. • Compute equivalent units of production and unit costs under the first-in first-out (FIFO) system (Appendix 19-A). • Discuss how joint costs are allocated to joint products (Appendix 19-B). This chapter continues the discussion of cost accumulation systems. In Chapter 18, we explained and illustrated job costing. The job cost system (job costing) accumulates costs incurred to produce a product according to individual jobs. For example, construction companies use job costing to keep track of the costs of each construction job.
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
Digital Scholarly Editing : Theories and Practices
"This volume presents the state of the art in digital scholarly editing. Drawing together the work of established and emerging researchers, it gives pause at a crucial moment in the history of technology in order to offer a sustained reflection on the practices involved in producing, editing and reading digital scholarly editions—and the theories that underpin them. The unrelenting progress of computer technology has changed the nature of textual scholarship at the most fundamental level: the way editors and scholars work, the tools they use to do such work and the research questions they attempt to answer have all been affected. Each of the essays in Digital Scholarly Editing approaches these changes with a different methodological consideration in mind. Together, they make a compelling case for re-evaluating the foundation of the discipline—one that tests its assertions against manuscripts and printed works from across literary history, and the globe. The sheer breadth of Digital Scholarly Editing, along with its successful integration of theory and practice, help redefine a rapidly-changing field, as its firm grounding and future-looking ambit ensure the work will be an indispensable starting point for further scholarship. This collection is essential reading for editors, scholars, students and readers who are invested in the future of textual scholarship and the digital humanities. "
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.
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
The core of the present study is an investigation on eighteenth-century medical writing, particularly concerning the elaboration and the communication of medicine in reference works such as universal dictionaries of arts and sciences, medical dictionaries, and handbooks. Most of the vernacular texts under scrutiny here were issued in the second half of the century, a period in which the advancements in medical research, medical education and medical practice1 , as well as a growing awareness of health issues (Pirohakul-Wallis 2014: 3-4), favoured the circulation of an expanding medical vocabulary and stimulated medical writing as a whole.
This study investigates eighteenth-century medical writing, particularly concerning the elaboration and the communication of medicine in such reference works as universal dictionaries of arts and sciences, medical dictionaries, and handbooks. Most of the vernacular texts under scrutiny here were issued in the second half of the century, a period in which the advancements in medical research, medical education and medical practice favoured the circulation of an expanding medical vocabulary and stimulated medical writing as a whole. A vast amount of reference works was produced for experts and non-experts alike: medical topics were common in social settings, in personal and communal letters, in specialised journals, in pamphlets and in magazines. All this unprecedented activity certainly contributed to the vernacularisation, and the dissemination of medicine in different kinds of works and different text types.
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.
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
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
Medical virology is always an interest to all healthcare disciplines, undergraduate and postgraduate students. These “Notes on Medical virology”, includes “what you really need to know”. The book comes in a new format, which places cases, keywords, facts and other considerations in colored tables and boxes only. As a result, extra spaces have been provided so that without expanding the length of the book the readers can enjoy a personal and practical learning experience.
NK Cell Subsets in Health and Disease: New Developments
Under physiological conditions, the distribution /intensity of the surface markers CD56 and CD16 (FcγRIII) defines two subsets of NK lymphocytes: the CD56bright/CD16neg-dim (generally referred to as CD56bright) population that make up about 10% of blood NK cells in adults and the CD56dim/CD16bright (generally referred to as CD56dim) cells that comprise for about 90% of circulating NK cells. CD56bright NK cells exert only marginal cytotoxic capacity but are higly proficient in production of cytokines such as interferon IFN-γ, TNF-α and GM-CSF. Because of this property, CD56bright NK cells have been generally referred to as regulatory NK cells.
Emanuela Marcenaro, - Luigi D. Notarangelo ,- Jordan S. Orange --- Eric Vivier
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.)
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Advances in Virtual Agents and Affective Computing for the Understanding and Remediation of Social Cognitive Disorders
Recent advances in computer technologies and research now enable to simulate realistic social interaction thanks to the use of increasingly complex computer models. Virtual agents reproducing both human appearance and expressive behaviors are now available for supporting affective interactions with users. Two deeply intertwined fields of knowledge already benefit from such innovations concerning virtual agents and affective computing: psychiatry and social neurosciences
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
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.
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
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.
So-called altered states of consciousness (ASC) are an intriguing, still under-researched topic, with profound neuropsychological and epistemological implications. In the last few decades there has been increasing multidisciplinary interest in consciousness and ASC, a term encompassing a wide range of pathological and non-pathological conditions, including dreaming, near-death experiences (NDEs), hypnagogic states, hallucinogenic experiences, epileptic seizures, psychotic symptoms, coma, and minimally conscious states
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.
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.
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.
Felipe Gonzalez Toro and Antonios Tsourdos (Eds.)
Active technological development has fuelled rapid growth in the number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms being deployed around the globe. Novel UAV platforms, UAV-based sensors, robotic sensing and imaging techniques, the development of processing workflows, as well as the capacity of ultra-high temporal and spatial resolution data, provide both opportunities and challenges that will allow engineers and scientists to address novel and important scientific questions in UAV and sensor design, remote sensing and environmental monitoring.T
ctive technological development has fuelled rapid growth in the number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms being deployed around the globe. Novel UAV platforms, UAV-based sensors, robotic sensing and imaging techniques, the development of processing workflows, as well as the capacity of ultra-high temporal and spatial resolution data, provide both opportunities and challenges that will allow engineers and scientists to address novel and important scientific questions in UAV and sensor design, remote sensing and environmental monitoring.
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,
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.
Presenting very high surface-to-volume ratio, relatively simple processability and low cost, graphene and graphene-related materials were soon identified as promising nanofillers for polymer matrixes. Reports have shown notorious property enhancements for graphene-polymer composites (GPC) at very low filler loadings. Uses of GPC in varied fields, such as energy, electronics, catalysis, separation and purification, biomedicine, aerospace, tribology, etc., have been demonstrated and, in some cases, put into industrial practice. However, challenges still exist
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)
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.
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.
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.
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 book bridges the gap between playing with robots in school and studying robotics at the upper undergraduate and graduate levels to prepare for careers in industry and research. Robotic algorithms are presented formally, but using only mathematics known by high-school and first-year college students, such as calculus, matrices and probability. Concepts and algorithms are explained through detailed diagrams and calculations. Elements of Robotics presents an overview of different types of robots and the components used to build robots, but focuses on robotic algorithms: simple algorithms like odometry and feedback control, as well as algorithms for advanced topics like localization, mapping, image processing, machine learning and swarm robotics. These algorithms are demonstrated in simplified contexts that enable detailed computations to be performed and feasible activities to be posed. Students who study these simplified demonstrations will be well prepared for advanced study of robotics. The algorithms are presented at a relatively abstract level, not tied to any specific robot. Instead a generic robot is defined that uses elements common to most educational robots: differential drive with two motors, proximity sensors and some method of displaying output to the user. The theory is supplemented with over 100 activities, most of which can be successfully implemented using inexpensive educational robots. Activities that require more computation can be programmed on a computer. Archives are available with suggested implementations for the Thymio robot and standalone programs in Python.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.)
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
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
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.
[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.
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures
At the current time of writing, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has awarded American infrastructure a grade of D+, meaning poor and at risk. Part of the reason for the low grade is due to the rapid deterioration of structural integrity and the inability of most places to safely meet future demands. 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.
Gangbing Song (Ed.) --- Chuji Wang (Ed.) --- Bo Wang (Ed.)
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
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.
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.)
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.
Physical anthropologists study human biological variation in the past and present. They are not only interested in the physical aspect of the body but also how biology, culture and environment interact to produce variation. Part of this variation is found in the bones and teeth. Since these are the hardest parts of the body, they have the greatest chance of being found in the archaeological record. Thus they form the bulk of direct information about the biological course of human evolution.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Advances in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular medicine
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.
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.
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
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Health Case Studies is composed of eight separate health case studies. Each case study includes the patient narrative or story that models the best practice (at the time of publishing) in healthcare settings. Associated with each case is a set of specific learning objectives to support learning and facilitate educational strategies and evaluation. The case studies can be used online in a learning management system, in a classroom discussion, in a printed course pack or as part of a textbook created by the instructor. This flexibility is intentional and allows the educator to choose how best to convey the concepts presented in each case to the learner. Because these case studies were primarily developed for an electronic healthcare system, they are based predominantly in an acute healthcare setting. Educators can augment each case study to include primary healthcare settings, outpatient clinics, assisted living environments, and other contexts as relevant.
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.
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
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.
Professional Web Accessibility Auditing Made Easy
Digital accessibility skills are in high demand, as the world becomes more aware of barriers in digital content that prevent some people from participating in a digital society. These are essential skills for web developers, and essential knowledge for organizations that want to ensure their web content is reaching the broadest audience possible.
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
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).
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.
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 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)
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)
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)
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.
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
White Paper on Joint Replacement: Status of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Care in Germany
This White Paper details the status of hip and knee arthroplasty care in Germany. Hip and knee replacements are amongst the most frequently performed procedures and usually become necessarily due to age-related wear of the joint, osteoarthritis and fractures of the femoral neck. In light of demographic change, demands with regard to standards of care and the procedures are likely to rise.This book addresses people involved in shaping and representing the healthcare system from a variety of fields including medical professions, health insurances and health sciences as well as journalists and patient representatives.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Carbon Fibers and Their Composite Materials
To achieve good mechanical properties of carbon ﬁbre-reinforced polycarbonate composites, the ﬁbre-matrix adhesion must be dialled to an optimum level. The electrolytic surface treatment of carbon ﬁbres during their production is one of the possible means of adapting the surface characteristics of the ﬁbres. The production of a range of tailored ﬁbres with varying surface treatments (adjusting the current, potential, and conductivity) was followed by contact angle, inverse gas chromatography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, which revealed a signiﬁcant increase in polarity and hydroxyl, carboxyl, and nitrile groups on the ﬁbre surface. Accordingly, an increase in the ﬁbre-matrix interaction indicated by a higher interfacial shear strength was observed with the single ﬁbre pull-out force-displacement curves
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.
Introduction to Financial Accounting Adapted for U.S. GAAP
AccounƟng involves a process of collecƟng, recording, and reporƟng a business’s economic acƟviƟes to users. It is oŌen called the language of business because it uses a unique vocabulary to communicate informaƟon to decision makers. To understand accounƟng, we first look at the basic forms of business organizaƟons. The concepts and principles that provide the foundaƟon for financial accounƟng are then discussed. With an emphasis on the corporate form of business organizaƟon, we will examine how we communicate to users of financial informaƟon using financial statements. Finally, we will review how financial transacƟons are analyzed and then reported on financial statements.
Henry Dauderis, David Annand, Donna L. Marchand
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Catalytic soot oxidation by platinum on sintered metal filters. Influence of the platinum quantity, particle size and location, and investigation of the platinum-soot contact
The great challenge for next years concerning the emission of diesel engines is to develop diesel particle filters (DPF) with catalytic regeneration systems. This work is focused on the global understanding of the diesel soot oxidation on sintered metal filters (SMF). Platinum is studied as reference catalyst. The first objective is to determine which of platinum quantity, platinum particle size, or platinum location exhibits the preponderant influence on the catalytic.
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.
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.
Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Southeast Asia: Innovations and Policies for Mountainous Areas
This book is based on the findings of a long-term (2000-2014) interdisciplinary research project of the University of Hohenheim in collaboration with several universities in Thailand and Vietnam. Titled Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountainous Areas in Southeast Asia, or the Uplands Program, the project aims to contribute through agricultural research to the conservation of natural resources and the improvement of living conditions of the rural population in the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1. A variety of different malignancies fall into the category of “Head and. Neck Cancers”. This chapter focuses on upper aerodigestive tract cancer. 2. Tobacco and alcohol use and human papillomavirus infection are common causes of head and neck cancers. 3. Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. 4. Treatment of head and neck cancers commonly requires some combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Close cooperation between otolaryngologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists is mandatory for successful treatment of these cancers. 5. Preservation of organ function in addition to cure of cancer, is an important goal of treatment. 6. Any patient with persistent symptoms of sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or an enlarged cervical lymph node should be evaluated for possible head and neck cancer.
James Liebmann, MD, Ali Akalin MD, PhD., Liana Puscas, MD, MHS., Andrew Chen MD., Richard S. Pieters, MD
Operational Amplifiers & Linear Integrated Circuits: Theory and Application / 3E
Operational Amplifiers , Linear Integrated Circuits
Before we can begin our study of the operational amplifier, it is very important that certain background elements be in place. The purpose of this chapter is to present the very useful analysis concepts and tools associated with the decibel measurement scheme and the frequency domain. We will also be examining the differential amplifier that serves as the heart of most operational amplifiers. With a thorough working knowledge of these items, you will find that circuit design and analysis will proceed at a much quicker and more efficient pace. Consider this chapter as an investment in time, and treat it appropriately.
Semiconductor Devices: Theory and Application
Just as the late eighteenth through nineteenth centuries are known as the industrial age due to the rise of mechanization, the twentieth century can be referred to as the beginning of the electronic age. The first half of the century was dominated by electronic vacuum tubes that made possible devices such as radio, television, radar and long distance telephone. The technology of the vacuum tube was displaced mid-century by the introduction of solid-state semiconductors. The first working prototype transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947 by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley. This device, properly referred to as a point contact transistor, was quickly superseded by the bipolar junction transistor, a major topic of this text.
Electrical Engineering Technology .Mohawk Valley Community College
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.
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.
Animal (De)liberation: Should the Consumption of Animal Products Be Banned?
In this book, Jan Deckers addresses the most crucial question that people must deliberate in relation to how we should treat other animals: whether we should eat animal products. Many people object to the consumption of animal products from the conviction that it inflicts pain, suffering, and death upon animals. This book argues that a convincing ethical theory cannot be based on these important concerns: rather, it must focus on our interest in human health. Tending to this interest demands not only that we extend speciesism—the attribution of special significance to members of our own species merely because they belong to the same species as ourself—towards nonhuman animals, but also that we safeguard the integrity of nature. In this light, projects that aim to engineer the genetic material of animals to reduce their capacities to feel pain and to suffer are morally suspect. The same applies to projects that aim to develop in-vitro flesh, even if the production of such flesh should be welcomed on other grounds. The theory proposed in this book is accompanied by a political goal, the ‘vegan project’, which strives for a qualified ban on the consumption of animal products. Deckers also provides empirical evidence that some support for this goal exists already, and his analysis of the views of others—including those of slaughterhouse workers—reveals that the vegan project stands firm in spite of public opposition. Many charges have been pressed against vegan diets, including: that they alienate human beings from nature; that they increase human food security concerns; and that they are unsustainable. Deckers argues that these charges are legitimate in some cases, but that, in many situations, vegan diets are actually superior. For those who remain doubtful, the book also contains an appendix that considers whether vegan diets might actually be nutritionally adequate.
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.
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.
Drug-Diagnostics Co-Development in Oncology
The idea of combining drugs and diagnostics in oncology is not new. When the selective estrogen-receptor modulator tamoxifen was developed in the 1970s for the treatment of breast cancer, data on estrogen-receptor status were correlated with the treatment outcome. Based on a phase II study performed in patients with advanced breast cancer, published in 1976, the investigators concluded:“a high degree of correlation between response and positive estrogen-receptor assay suggests the value of the diagnostic test as a means to select patients for tamoxifen treatment” (1). Despite the fact that this conclusion was drawn nearly 40 years ago, the adaptation of the drug-diagnostic co-development model has been relatively slowand it is only within the last decade that it has gained widespread acceptance.
eGirls, eCitizens is a landmark work that explores the many forces that shape girls’ and young women’s experiences of privacy, identity, and equality in our digitally networked society. Drawing on the multi-disciplinary expertise of a remarkable team of leading Canadian and international scholars, as well as Canada’s foremost digital literacy organization, MediaSmarts, this collection presents the complex realities of digitized communications for girls and young women as revealed through the findings of The eGirls Project (www.egirlsproject.ca) and other important research initiatives. Aimed at moving dialogues on scholarship and policy around girls and technology away from established binaries of good vs bad, or risk vs opportunity, these seminal contributions explore the interplay of factors that shape online environments characterized by a gendered gaze and too often punctuated by sexualized violence. Perhaps most importantly, this collection offers first-hand perspectives collected from girls and young women themselves, providing a unique window on what it is to be a girl in today’s digitized society.
University of Ottawa Press / Les Presses de l’Université d’Ottawa
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
Technical Project Management in Living and Geometric Order
Technical Project Management , Living, Geometric Order
This book is the result of a collaboration among the three instructors responsible for Technical Project Management, one of the ten required classes in the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Master of Engineering Management is a world-class online program, consistently ranked in the Top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. Unlike many self-paced, online degree programs, the Engineering Management program provides a collaborative learning opportunity in which students work together to complete actual projects from their workplaces, discuss weekly topics, and participate in weekly web conferences. All of the students in the MEM program are experienced engineers, working full-time as they complete their graduate studies. The course and this text are targeted to the interests and needs of such midcareer professionals, who value practical principles and guidance.
Jeffrey Russell, Wayne Pferdehirt, John Nelson
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
HYDRAULICS AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
Differentiate between fluid power systems and mechanical or electrical systems Differentiate between hydraulic and pneumatic systems with respect to the fluid medium employed, characteristics, capacity, performance, and cleanliness Describe a basic fluid power system in terms of power conversion. Describe the role of a prime mover like a motor or internal combustion engine in a fluid power system.Draw the schematic symbol for a motor and internal combustion engine. Describe the role of a pump in a fluid power system. Draw the schematic symbol for a pump and reservoir.Describe what properties pressure, flow rate, and valve position influence in a fluid power system. Describe Pascal’s Law and the formula used to relate force, pressure, and area.Describe the role of an actuator in a fluid power system. Draw the schematic symbol for a cylinder and hydraulic motor.
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.
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.
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
Forest Measurements: an Applied Approach
This is a forest measurements textbook written for field technicians. Silvicultural applications and illustrations are provided to demonstrate the relevance of the measurements. Special “technique tips” for each skill are intended to help increase data collection accuracy and confidence. These include how to avoid common pitfalls, effective short cuts and essentials for recording field data correctly. The emphasis is on elementary skills; it is not intended to be a timber cruising guide.
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 first human tumor virus was discovered in the middle of the last century by Anthony Epstein, Bert Achong and Yvonne Barr in African pediatric patients with Burkitt’s lymphoma. To date, seven viruses -EBV, KSHV, high-risk HPV, MCPV, HBV, HCV and HTLV1- have been consistently linked to different types of human cancer, and infections are estimated to account for up to 20% of all cancer cases worldwide. Viral oncogenic mechanisms generally include: generation of genomic instability, increase in the rate of cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, alterations in DNA repair mechanisms and cell polarity changes, which often coexist with evasion mechanisms of the antiviral immune response. Viral agents also indirectly contribute to the development of cancer mainly through immunosuppression or chronic inflammation, but also through chronic antigenic stimulation
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.
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.)
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.
Homeostasis and Allostasis of Thyroid Function
Alterations of thyroid function, especially hypothyroidism, are exceptionally common conditions. Studies from several developed countries revealed the prevalence of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism to be between 5 and 15 % and between 1 and 10%, respectively. Diagnosis and treatment of (overt or subclinical) hypothyroidism are considered to be easy tasks, since thyrotropin (TSH) concentration mirrors the supply with thyroid hormones and is therefore accepted as a biomarker for both diagnosis and dose calibration for substitution therapy.
Johannes W. Dietrich, John E. M. Midgley, Rudolf Hoermann
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.
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.
This chapter presents a brief introduction on the water sources that are available for potable supply; detailed information is presented in Water 032 (Water Supply). Understanding the water sources used for potable application is important to appreciate the variety of contaminants that can be present in water, and assess their characteristics.
Reflections on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident: Toward Social-Scientific Literacy and Engineering Resilience
This book focuses on nuclear engineering education in the post-Fukushima era. It was edited by the organizers of the summer school held in August 2011 in University of California, Berkeley, as part of a collaborative program between the University of Tokyo and UC Berkeley. Motivated by the particular relevance and importance of social-scientific approaches to various crucial aspects of nuclear technology, special emphasis was placed on integrating nuclear science and engineering with social science.
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?
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.)
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
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.
Drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions play a prominent role among adverse drug effects, and constitute a major health problem. It has been suggested that up to 6% of all hospital admissions are related to these reactions. Biomarkers, especially those based on pharmacogenomics testing, have proved to be extremely useful for type A adverse drug reactions. Clinical practice guidelines based on biomarker testing are presently being developed and updated for type A adverse drug reactions. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the potential use of biomarkers in type B adverse reactions, characterized by the occurrence of reactions not directly related to the pharmacological properties of the drug. Drug-induced hypersensitivity belongs to those type B reactions.
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
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.
Advances in Integrated Energy Systems Design, Control and Optimization
In the face of climate change and resource scarcity, energy supply systems are on the verge of a major transformation, which mainly includes the introduction of new components and their integration into the existing infrastructures, new network configurations and reliable topologies, optimal design and novel operation schemes, and new incentives and business models. This revolution is affecting the current paradigm and demanding that energy systems be integrated into multi-carrier energy hubs. It is highly increasing the interactions between today’s energy systems at various scales and future intelligent energy systems, which are able to incorporate an increasing amount renewable energy sources.
Josep M. Guerrero (Ed.) --- Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam (Ed.)
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.
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)
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.)
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
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.
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
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
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.)
Applications of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) tools in microbiology of infectious diseases
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) tools and approaches are expected to become a critical component for the prevention, control, and eradication of animal diseases at a global scale in the near future. In the last decades the amount of information that is being generated in all scientific disciplines, including microbiological studies applied to infectious diseases, has increased exponentially, becoming a problem in itself due to the lack of tools and expertise to analyze data. The formulation and parameterization of such a body of empirical knowledge combined with theoretical knowledge into mathematical models
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.
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.
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.).
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?.
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.
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.)
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Report
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.
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
Innovative Medicine : Basic Research and Development
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an intricate part of normal cellular physiology. In excess, however, ROS can damage all three major classes of acromolecules and compromise cell via bility. We briefl y discuss the physiology of ROS but focus on the mechanisms cells use to preserve redox homeostasis upon oxidative stress, with particular emphasis on glycolysis. ROS inhibits multiple glycolytic enzymes, including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase M2, and phosphofructokinase-1. Consistently, glycolytic inhibition promotes fl ux into the oxidative arm of the pentose phosphate pathway to generate NADPH. NADPH is critically important, as it provides the reducing power that fuels the protein-based antioxidant systems and recycles oxidized glutathione. The unique ability of pyruvate kinase M2 inhibition to promote serine synthesis in the context of oxidative stress is also discussed.
Kazuwa Nakao, Nagahiro Minato, Shinji Uemoto
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.
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
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.
Keiichi Sasaki --- Osamu Suzuki --- Nobuhiro Takahashi
Interface Oral Health Science 2016: Innovative Research on Biosis–Abiosis Intelligent Interface
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
Metastatic Extramammary Paget's Disease: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Approach
Metastatic Extramammary Paget's Disease, Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Approach
Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare, slow-growing, cutaneous adenocarcinoma that usually originates in the anogenital area and axillae outside the mammary glands. EMPD mostly progresses slowly and is often diagnosed as carcinoma in situ; however, upon becoming invasive, it promptly and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes, leading to subsequent distant metastasis. To date, several chemotherapy regimens have been used to treat metastatic EMPD; however, they present limited effect and patients with distant metastasis exhibit a poor prognosis. Recently, basic and translational investigative research has elucidated factors and molecular mechanisms underlying the promotion of metastasis, which can lead to targeted therapy-based emerging treatment strategies. Here, we aim to discuss current therapies and their limitations; advancements in illustrating mechanisms promoting invasion, migration, and proliferation of EMPD tumor cells; and future therapeutic approaches for metastatic EMPD that may enhance clinical outcomes.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
This is the first lecture in the Bioinformatics for Cancer Genomics 2017 workshop hosted by the Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops. This lecture is by Trevor Pugh from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. For tutorials and lecture slides for this workshop, please visit bioinformaticsdotca.github.io.
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
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 sequence provides a comprehensive introduction to diseases of the cardiovascular system, how they present, how they are diagnosed, how they are prevented, and how they are treated. Students learn to identify the integral links between anatomy, physiology, pathology, and basic sciences with clinical medicine and other essential aspects of patient care for ambulatory and hospitalized patients who have cardiovascular disorders.
Home health services are those which are provided within the comforts of the home setting to help people avoid hospitalization or skilled nursing facility placement while they recover from illness, injury, or disability. Home health care may also be provided to people who suffer from chronic illnesses, those who have cognitive or physical disabilities or those who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Home Health Aide and Personal Care Aide are two of the fastest growing occupations. This text will provide you with the background necessary to begin working toward a career in the home care field.
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
The Impact of Food Bioactives on Health: In Vitro and Ex Vivo Models
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
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.
Modern societies cannot function without information and communications technology (ICT) systems. When ICT systems such as electronic government (e-government) systems, e-payment infrastructures, and mobile phone networks fail,users can still access alternative systems based on older technologies, but these alternatives are rapidly disappearing. E-government services are introduced on the Web to improve services to citizens and to free up the human resources needed to tackle the increasing health care requirements of aging populations.
In the past one and a half decades, neutron and synchrotron radiation techniques have come to the forefront as an excellent set of tools for the wider investigation of material structures and properties [1,2], becoming available to a large user community. This holds especially true for metals, which are a fascinating class of materials with both structural and functional applications. With respect to these application classes, metals are used to engineer bridges and automotive engines as well as to exploit magnetic and electric properties in computer storage, optics, and electronics. Both neutron sources and synchrotrons are large user facilities of quantum-beam installations [3] with the implementation of a common accelerator or nuclear reactor-based source, often serving over 50 beamlines simultaneously and even more end stations. Up to a few thousand experiments are undertaken yearly, utilizing specialized beam conditions, sample environments, and detection systems. Their variations range across spectroscopy, diffraction, small-angle scattering, and inelastic scattering for sample sizes ranging from nanometers to meters. Examples of such installations can be found in the Topical Collection Facilities of Metals’ sister journal Quantum Beam Science [3].
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Answer: Financial accounting1 focuses on providing historical financial information to external users. External users are those outside the company, including owners (e.g., shareholders) and creditors (e.g., banks or bondholders). Financial accountants reporting to external users are required to follow U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP)2 , a set of accounting rules that requires consistency in recording and reporting financial information. This information typically summarizes overall company results and does not provide detailed information. Managerial accounting3 focuses on internal users—executives, product managers, sales managers, and any other personnel within the organization who use accounting information to make important decisions. Managerial accounting information need not conform with U.S. GAAP. In fact, conformance with U.S. GAAP may be a deterrent to getting useful information for internal decision-making purposes. For example, when establishing an inventory cost for one or more units of product (each jersey or hat produced at Sportswear Company), U.S. GAAP requires that production overhead costs, such as factory rent and factory utility costs, be included. However, for internal decision-making purposes, it might make more sense to include nonproduction costs that are directly linked to the product, such as sales commissions or administrative costs.
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
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
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.
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Introduction to Business covers the scope and sequence of most introductory business courses. The book provides detailed explanations in the context of core themes such as customer satisfaction, ethics, entrepreneurship, global business, and managing change. Introduction to Business includes hundreds of current business examples from a range of industries and geographic locations, which feature a variety of individuals. The outcome is a balanced approach to the theory and application of business concepts, with attention to the knowledge and skills necessary for student success in this course and beyond.
Lawrence Gitman ,Carl McDaniel, Amit Shah. Ad All
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)
Stigmatization, discrimination and illness
“She was given her own plate, her own cup, everything of her own, even when she just touched a cloth then nobody wanted to touch it again.” (Halima, HIV-seropositive) The book sheds light on the profound influence of an HIV-seropositive diagnosis on the lives of women and their social environment in the United Republic of Tanzania. The author, a medical doctor and social anthropologist, tells the story of six Tanzanian HIV-seropositive women, focusing on their negotiation and perception of illness and disease. Furthermore, the high levels of discrimination and stigmatization in the context of HIV-seropositivity that they experience are presented in detail, weaving together the impacts of an HIV-seropositive diagnosis with results analyzed both from a Medical Anthropology and Public Health perspective. Despite a new era of antiretroviral treatment, available in Tanzania free of cost, that has given cause for hope in a change in how the disease is perceived, the book impressively underlines that being HIV-seropositive remains a great challenge and heavy burden for women in Tanzania.
This textbook and its accompanying spreadsheet templates were designed with and for students wanting a practical and easy-to-follow guide for developing a business plan. It follows a unique format that both explains what to do and demonstrates how to do it.
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).
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Literature Reviews for Education and Nursing Graduate Students
Literature Reviews for Education and Nursing Graduate Students is an open textbook designed for students in graduate-level nursing and education programs. Its intent is to recognize the significant role the literature review plays in the research process and to prepare students for the work that goes into writing one. Developed for new graduate students and novice researchers just entering into the work of a chosen discipline, each of the eight chapters covers a component of the literature review process. Students will learn how to form a research question, search existing literature, synthesize results and write the review. The book contains examples, checklists, supplementary materials, and additional resources. Literature Reviews for Education and Nursing Graduate Students is written by two librarians with expertise guiding students through research and writing assignments, and is openly licensed.
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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
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.
Physiology/ Pathophysiology of Coronary Blood Flow
Myocardial Ischemia Supply Demand Coronary Flow Reserve Determinants of Coronary Blood Flow Neural (autonomic) Mechanisms Endothelial Factors (Mechanisms) NOS, NO and ADMA
A First Course in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Louis Scharf, Daniel Williamson, C. Sidney Burrus, Richard Baraniuk
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.
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
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
The Precision Medicine Initiative, which was instituted by President Barack Obama on January 20, 2015, highlighted the importance that advances in genomics and related “-omic” approaches have made to science and medicine, and it set the stage for their federally funded and mandated integration into the delivery of health care. Whether these advances comprise large-scale approaches, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas, which provides a modern classification of cancers based on molecular profiles, or genealogy initiatives, which seek to trace the movement of our early ancestors out of Africa, genomic technology has taken us closer to developing targeted therapies and a refined understanding of our evolutionary journey.
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.
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 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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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)
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 first general textbook An introduction to ontology engineering has as main aim to provide the reader with a comprehensive introductory overview of ontology engineering. A secondary aim is to provide hands-on experience in ontology development that illustrate the theory. The book is divided into three blocks: Block I: logic foundations for ontologies both regarding the languages (mainly First Order predicate Logic, Description Logics, and OWL) and automated reasoning. Block II: developing good ontologies with methods and methodologies, the top-down approach with foundational ontologies, and the bottom-up approach to extract as much useful content as possible from legacy material.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
The book contains a collection of articles dealing with how the extraction of mineral resources can be considered in environmental analyses such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The consumption of resources, e.g., metals, is increasing strongly worldwide. This is associated with more energy use; environmental pollution; and social, economic, and political consequences. An increase is also expected for the coming decades. At the same time, modern products and technologies, even in the field of renewable energies, require a large number of critical raw materials. A crucial question here is the exhaustibility of natural resources.
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
Dynamics of decision making: from evidence to preference and belief
At the core of the many debates throughout cognitive science concerning how decisions are made are the processes governing the time course of preference formation and decision. From perceptual choices, such as whether the signal on a radar screen indicates an enemy missile or a spot on a CT scan indicates a tumor, to cognitive value-based decisions, such as selecting an agreeable flatmate or deciding the guilt of a defendant, significant and everyday decisions are dynamic over time. Phenomena such as decoy effects, preference reversals and order effects are still puzzling researchers
Marius Usher -, Konstantinos Tsetsos -, Erica Yu -, David A. Lagnado
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.
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.
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
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 Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development
Thanks for your interest in developing applications for Android! Increasingly, people will access Internet-based services using so-called "non-traditional" means, such as mobile devices. The more we do in that space now, the more that people will help invest in that space to make it easier to build more powerful mobile applications in the future. Android is new – Android-powered devices appeared on the scene first in late 2008 – but it likely will rapidly grow in importance due to the size and scope of the Open Handset Alliance. And, most of all, thanks for your interest in this book! I sincerely hope you find it useful and at least occasionally entertaining.
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
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.
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.
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.)
Diseases of Children in the Subtropics and Tropics
Paediatrics is often thought of as following two main routes. One is that of ultra-technology and ever-narrower specialization. The other is recognition of child health in a community context, related to family circumstances (especially the health and welfare of mothers) and influenced by the environment, social stresses, economic limitations, cultural attitudes and practices, and policy decisions and priorities based on the political system. Neither is right, but rather a balance is needed. Thus, preventive programmes, such as immunization, depend on refined technology to produce appropriate vaccines and devise workable equipment for effective 'cold-chains'. Curative paediatrics, especially simplified methods in appropriate technology, has to be underpinned by science - both by necessity and to achieve acceptance by orthodox members of the Establishment. Examples include the work of gastroenterologists on the intestinal 'sodium pump' and how this can be 'primed' and made more effective by glucose. In this way, essential scientific credence has been given to the seemingly simple methods of oral rehydration, using prepared ORS packets or home-made mixtures of sugar and salt or dilute rice (or other staple) gruels. However, as always, it can be difficult to persuade physicians, including paediatricians, to acquire a community perspective, understanding and, still more, a truly active role. This is often in part because of their training which frequently remains predominantly clinical - 'we teach what we have been taught'. However, things are changing in some more enlightened training establishments, and the trend is certainly indicated in this Fourth Edition. Sound clinical work, as in a hospital environment, is vital and will always remain a major need. This approach alone cannot begin to touch the major issues of child health. Some of these may be beyond the scope of the paediatrician or of medical science. Nevertheless, an awareness of the need for an advocacy role has to be cultivated. In this way, advice and guidance may begin to move those in power towards policies which can improve community child health. The 'complete' paediatrician anywhere, but especially in less technically developed countries, often in tropical regions, needs to be much more than a blinkered 'vertical' /'horizontal' expert. Rather, there is a need for 'lateral' thinking, training and action. This implies realization of the wide range of factors needing consideration in child health work and also recognition of the value of a dove-tailed curative-preventive approach, as part of a team including paediatricians, nurses, community health workers and (importantly) parents, particularly mothers, in the community itself. The present edition of Diseases of Children in the Subtropics and Tropics moves in this direction and will most certainly be valuable not only as a clinical reference text. My hope is that it will also persuade its readers that a paediatrician should not only be clinically sound, but also able to recognize the wider community issues involved in the causation of problems and the need for imaginative interdisciplinary programes to improve the outlook for life and health of mothers and children in the Third World.
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.
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.
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.
The Poetics and Politics of Alzheimer’s Disease Life-Writing
The introduction gives an overview on sociopolitical and research-related developments regarding dementia, and attempts explanations for why the interest in dementia of critical scholarship continues to be very limited and particularly focused on caregiver accounts. It illustrates that an understanding of the obvious neglect of dementia patient narratives sheds some light onto the ethical implications and challenges of critically reading such narratives: these narratives seem least of all fit to match classical survivor illness literature, and serious impairment in the ability to tell or understand stories has been taken as motivation to neglect patient narratives.
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.
“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.
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
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.
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.
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.
As we get started on our journey into the world of health and nutrition, our first focus will be to demonstrate that nutritional science is an evolving field of study, continually being updated and supported by research, studies, and trials. Once we establish this, your confidence will be strengthened in nutritional science to help guide your eating habits. Let’s begin with the story of hurry, curry, and worry: the story of H. pylori. Peptic ulcers are painful sores in the gastrointestinal tract and can cause symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. The cure for this ailment took some time for scientists to figure out. If your grandfather complained to his doctor of symptoms of peptic ulcer, he was probably told to avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee, and to manage his stress.
Essentials of Nutrition: A Functional Approach! This book is written for students who are not majoring in nutrition, but want to learn about the fundamental aspects of nutrition and how it applies to their own lives. We have written this book with the assumption that you have little or no prior knowledge of college level chemistry, biology, or physiology. But that does not mean it’s not scientific! Nutrition is a science-based discipline, so all the material included is backed up by rigorous scientific research, but it is presented in a clear, easy-to-understand fashion without requiring a background in science.
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
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 converting (or cancelling) of units is the most important concept in waterworks mathematics. You may be working with million gallons, cubic feet, acre feet, feet per second, gallons per minute, milligrams per liter, pounds per gallon, yard, ounce, parts per billion, etc., etc., etc. Units are the “driver” for problem solving in many waterworks math questions. The reason for this has to do with how processes are measured. For example, many water meters measure usage in hundred cubic feet. However, when Utility Managers report total usage by a class of customers it is typically expressed as acre feet or million gallons. Another example can be when dosage calculations are performed. Many times flow rates are measured as gallons per minute, but dosage computations require million gallons per day. These are just a couple of examples demonstrating the common conversion between units. In an introductory water mathematics course unit conversion is typically explained in a “unit by unit” break down. Here we are converting from cfs (cubic feet per sec) to gpm (gallon per minute).
This is the first lecture in the Bioinformatics of Genomic Medicine 2017 workshop hosted by the Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops. This lecture is by Michael Brudno from the Hospital for Sick Children. For tutorials and lecture slides for this workshop, please visit bioinformaticsdotca.github.io.
Bioinformatics Dot Ca published via YouTube.com
Sensory Hair Cell Death and Regeneration
Sensory hair cells are the specialized mechanosensory receptors found in vertebrate auditory, vestibular, and lateral line organs that transduce vibratory and acoustic stimuli into the sensations of hearing and balance. Hair cells can be damaged due to such factors as agin g, ototoxic chemicals, acoustic trauma, infection, or genetic factors. Loss of hese hair cells lead to deficits in hearing and balance, and in ammals, such deficits are permanent. In contrast, non-mammalian vertebrates exhibit the capability to regenerate missing hair cells.
Michael E. Smith , Andrew K. Groves, Allison B. Coffin
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,
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.
Microwave and RF Design: Networks presents the tools and techniques required to analyze and design microwave and RF circuits. Because of the finite speed of light, microwave circuits must be considered to be spatially distributed and so there is not a single ground. As such metrics that can be used to describe power flow are of most use. The topics covered include scattering parameters, signal flow graphs, and Smith charts. Acquiring expertise in these is the biggest barriers to a successful career in microwave and RF engineering
North Carolina State University Libraries
Microwave and RF Design: Radio Systems is a circuits- and systems-oriented approach to modern microwave and RF systems. Sufficient details at the circuits and sub-system levels are provided to understand how modern radios are implemented. Design is emphasized throughout. The evolution of radio from what is now known as 0G, for early radio, through to 6G, for sixth generation cellular radio, is used to present modern microwave and RF engineering concepts. Two key themes unify the text: 1) how system-level decisions affect component, circuit and subsystem design; and 2) how the capabilities of technologies, components, and subsystems impact system design. This book is suitable as both an undergraduate and graduate textbook, as well as a career-long reference book.
Microwave and RF Design: Transmission Lines
Microwave and RF Design: Transmission Lines builds on the concepts of forward- and backward-traveling waves. Many examples are included of advanced techniques for analyzing and designing transmission line networks with microstrip lines primarily used in design examples. Coupled-lines are an important functional element in microwave circuits, and circuit equivalents of coupled lines are introduced as fundamental building blocks in design. The text and examples introduce the often hidden design requirements of mitigating parasitic effects and eliminating unwanted modes of operation.
Microwave and RF Design: Modules focuses on the design of systems based on microwave modules. The use of modules has become increasingly important in RF and microwave engineering for rapidly realizing high performance microwave systems. When integration is ultimately to be used, building a system up using modules provides a rapid means of prototyping and testing system concepts. A wide variety of RF modules including amplifiers, local oscillators, switches, circulators, isolators, phase detectors, frequency multipliers and dividers, phase-locked loops, and direct digital synthesizers are considered. Detailed design strategies for synthesizing filters based on parallel coupled lines are presented. The reader will gain an appreciation of design by synthesis.
Fundamentals of Microwave and RF Design enables mastery of the essential concepts required to cross the barriers to a successful career in microwave and RF design. Extensive treatment of scattering parameters, that naturally describe power flow, and of Smith-chart-based design procedures prepare the student for success. The emphasis is on design at the module level and on covering the whole range of microwave functions available. The orientation is towards using microstrip transmission line technologies and on gaining essential mathematical, graphical and design skills for module design proficiency. This book is derived from a multi volume comprehensive book series, Microwave and RF Design, Volumes 1-5, with the emphasis in this book being on presenting the fundamental materials required to gain entry to RF and microwave design.
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.
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
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.
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".
Role of health economic data in policy making and reimbursement of new medical technologies
An accelerated growth of health spending began in the 1960s exceeding the historical 4% GDP threshold. This phenomenon was noticed early on in mature market economies led by the US and during the following decades spread to many global regions. Health policy makers became increasingly exposed to new harsh challenges in the uneasy task to provide universal health coverage and decent equity of access to the medical services. Among the most prominent demand-side issues are population aging, rise of non-communicable diseases and growing patient expectations.
Mihajlo (Michael) Jakovljevic -, Tetsuji Yamada
Pipeline projects can be small jobs requiring only a few sticks of pipe. Or, they can be extensive jobs covering several miles or more. Regardless of the size of the job, it is important to properly plan. Preparing the pipe at the job site is an important aspect of job preparation. The pipe should be placed as close to the trench as possible. This makes it easier for the pipe to be accessed and placed into the trench. String the pipe on the opposite side of the trench as the dirt (spoils) that is being excavated and should be located away from traffic and heavy equipment. The bells should be located in the direction of installation and only enough pipe should be laid out for a days work. It is also important that the pipe is protected from rolling into the trench or away from the job site.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Secondary Analysis of Electronic Health Records
While wonderful new medical discoveries and innovations are in the news every day, healthcare providers continue to struggle with using information. Uncertainties and unanswered clinical questions are a daily reality for the decision makers who provide care. Perhaps the biggest limitation in making the best possible decisions for patients is that the information available is usually not focused on the specific individual or situation at hand. For example, there are general clinical guidelines that outline the ideal target blood pressure for a patient with a severe infection. However, the truly best blood pressure levels likely differ from patient to patient, and perhaps even change for an individual patient over the course of treatment. The ongoing computerization of health records presents an opportunity to overcome this limitation.
First published in 1968 by John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Electromechanical Dynamics discusses the interaction of electromagnetic fields with media in motion. The subject combines classical mechanics and electromagnetic theory and provides opportunities to develop physical intuition. The book uses examples that emphasize the connections between physical reality and analytical models. Types of electromechanical interactions covered include rotating machinery, plasma dynamics, the electromechanics of biological systems, and magnetoelasticity.
Principles of Accounting, Volume 2: Managerial Accounting
Principles of Accounting is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of a two-semester accounting course that covers the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting. This book is specifically designed to appeal to both accounting and non-accounting majors, exposing students to the core concepts of accounting in familiar ways to build a strong foundation that can be applied across business fields. Each chapter opens with a relatable real-life scenario for today’s college student. Thoughtfully designed examples are presented throughout each chapter, allowing students to build on emerging accounting knowledge. Concepts are further reinforced through applicable connections to more detailed business processes. Students are immersed in the “why” as well as the “how” aspects of accounting in order to reinforce concepts and promote comprehension over rote memorization.
MITCHELL FRANKLIN, PATTY GRAYBEAL, DIXON COOPER,
Principles of Accounting Volume 1 Financial Accounting
Principles of Accounting is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of a two-semester accounting course that covers the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting. Due to the comprehensive nature of the material, we are offering the book in two volumes. This book is specifically designed to appeal to both accounting and non-accounting majors, exposing students to the core concepts of accounting in familiar ways to build a strong foundation that can be applied across business fields. Each chapter opens with a relatable real-life scenario for today’s college student. Thoughtfully designed examples are presented throughout each chapter, allowing students to build on emerging accounting knowledge. Concepts are further reinforced through applicable connections to more detailed business processes. Students are immersed in the “why” as well as the “how” aspects of accounting in order to reinforce concepts and promote comprehension over rote memorization.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
This chapter in Cancer Concepts: A Guidebook for the Non-Oncologist presents an overview of esophageal cancer, including etiology, epidemiology, screening, pathology, staging, and treatment.
University of Massachusetts Medical School
As we get started on our journey into the world of health and nutrition, our first focus will be to demonstrate that nutritional science is an evolving field of study, continually being updated and supported by research, studies, and trials.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Antibody Repertoire and Graft Outcome Following Solid Organ Transplantation
In recent years, there has been vast improvement in the survival of solid organ grafts. Improved immunosuppression has resulted in efficient control of cell-mediated immune responses and has also mitigated the effects of HLA mismatching between the recipient and the grafted organ. ntibodymediated rejection (AMR) however still remains a clinical challenge and the identification of donorspecific HLA antibodies pretransplant are a mandatory requirement for successful grafting. Accurate and sensitive HLA antibody identification has been made possible by the introduction of solid phase assays such as the Luminex bead based platform for antibody testing. Despite this advancement in detecting and understanding the role of HLA antibodies in rejection, many questions still require answers in order to maximize the outcome in solid organ transplantation. Many of these aspects are dealt with efficiently in this excellent series of papers addressing the role of antibodies in solid organ rejection. This collection of reviews, some including new findings, by world leaders in their particular
Narinder K. Mehra --- Ajay Kumar Baranwal --- Brian D. Tait
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.
Animals & Ethics 101: Thinking Critically About Animal Rights
This book provides an overview of the current debates about the nature and extent of our moral obligations to animals. Which, if any, uses of animals are morally wrong, which are morally permissible (i.e., not wrong) and why? What, if any, moral obligations do we, individually and as a society (and a global community), have towards animals and why? How should animals be treated? Why? We will explore the most influential and most developed answers to these questions – given by philosophers, scientists, and animal advocates and their critics – to try to determine which positions are supported by the best moral reasons.
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.
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.
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. Indeed, the technological and social impacts of open-source electronics in teaching, research, and innovation have been widely recognized.
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 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
Proper wastewater treatment and disposal is essential for the vitality of a functioning society. Without it, a community’s environment can be severely polluted and the health of the public is at great risk. To better understand the relationship between wastewater treatment and water treatment and distribution, examine the urban water cycle (link). Like the typical hydrologic cycle, which shows the natural movement of water in the environment, the urban water cycle shows how water is moved in an urban environment. In some cases, as shown is FIG XX, (show detailed picture of typical community water/wastewater infrastructure) wastewater that has been treated by a wastewater treatment plant will be discharged back into a natural water body. Water from that water body will then be used by downstream communities as source water for their water treatment plants. If either of these two treatment facilities are not operating to current regulations and standards, public health is at risk. In addition, if the wastewater treatment facility is not operating properly there can also be additional environmental damage to the water body
The wastewater collection system is the network of pipes that convey the wastewater from households and business to a wastewater treatment facility. Each customer will have a lateral connected to the main sewer lines. In order to keep sediment from settling out in the collection system and causing a blockage the pipe is sloped to ensure a velocity of 2 ft/sec. A majority of the system will utilize the slope of the pipe and gravity so the water travels downhill. However, that is not always feasible and when needed a lift station will be installed. The lift station is comprised of a wet well where the wastewater is collected and pumps the water to a higher elevation where it can then resume to flow by gravity. The portion of the pressure pipe that is connected to the lift station is called a force main. The force main is always under pressure and the wastewater completely fills the pipe. Where a gravity sewer has minimal pressure and under normal conditions only about ⅓ of the pipe is filled with wastewater.
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.
Intimate Communities . Wartime Healthcare and the Birth of Modern China, 1937–1945
When China’s War of Resistance against Japan began in July 1937, it sparked an immediate health crisis throughout China. In the end, China not only survived the war but emerged from the trauma with a more cohesive population. Intimate Communities argues that women who worked as military and civilian nurses, doctors, and midwives during this turbulent period built the national community, one relationship at a time. In a country with a majority illiterate, agricultural population that could not relate to urban elites’ conceptualization of nationalism, these women used their work of healing to create emotional bonds with soldiers and civilians from across the country. These bonds transcended the divides of social class, region, gender, and language. “Nicole Elizabeth Barnes demonstrates remarkable insights into some of the most well-known figures in healthcare in wartime China—and introduces many previously unknown—providing pointed character analyses while also connecting individual experiences to larger sociopolitical trends across the tumultuous wartime landscape.” SONYA GRYPMA, PhD, RN, author of China Interrupted: Japanese Internment and the Reshaping of a Canadian Missionary Community “Not only a major contribution to the histories of medicine, gender, emotion, and nationalism, but even more importantly, it opens up exciting horizons by making visible and exploring the surprising entanglements between them all.” SEAN HSIANG-LIN LEI, author of Neither Donkey nor Horse: Medicine in the Struggle over China’s Modernity
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.
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.
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.).
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.
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
Ontogeny and Phylogeny of Brain Barrier Mechanisms
Norman R. Saunders , Helen B. Stolp, Shane A. Liddelow
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Platelets as immune cells in physiology and immunopathology
Are platelets cells? (Not everyone agrees, since they are non-nucleate). And if platelets are cells—which all specialists consider at the time being—are they immune cells? The issue that platelets participate in immunity is no longer debated; however, the issue that they are key cells in immunity is challenged. It has even been proposed a couple of years ago that platelets can present antigen to T-lymphocytes by using their HLA class I molecules. No one has the same functional definition of platelets. The ‘Frontiers Research Topic’- coordinators’ own view is that platelets are primarily repairing cells, what they do in deploying tools of physiological inflammation.
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
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
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.
The results of our investigation on the microbial community of the high-temperature Dagang oilfield (P.R. China) are summarized. Detailed experimental data are provided on syntrophic acetate degradation by thermophilic associations, on the isolation of pure cultures from these associations, their physiological characteristics, and reconstruction of microbial interactions during acetate degradation to methane. The microbial community of the high-temperature Dagang oilfield was investigated by culture-based, radioisotope, and 16S rRNA gene techniques. Cultivable microorganisms (aerobic oil-oxidizing, anaerobic fermentative, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic) were found in formation water. Methanogenic enrichments were obtained in media both with Н2+CO2 and acetate.
This book has been created to help you make decisions about practical conservation management by providing an assessment, from the available scientific evidence, of what works and what does not work in conservation. It also tells you if no evidence has been found about whether or not a conservation intervention is effective. This is the 2017 edition of What Works in Conservation, which was first published in 2015 and will be updated annually.
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
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.
Welcome to Human Anatomy and Physiology, an OpenStax College resource. We created this textbook with several goals in mind: accessibility, customization, and student engagement—helping students reach high levels of academic scholarship. Instructors and students alike will find that this textbook offers a thorough introduction to the content in an accessible format.
Business Ethics is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of the single-semester business ethics course. This title includes innovative features designed to enhance student learning, including case studies, application scenarios, and links to video interviews with executives, all of which help instill in students a sense of ethical awareness and responsibility.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Intervention Strategies for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
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.
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.
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.)
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
Information Technology and the Networked Economy
The beginning of the 21st century has seen a rapid change from the industrial economy to a networked economy built on computers, connectivity, and human knowledge. The networked economy is characterized by rapidly changing market conditions and methods of commerce. Instead of leveraging human strength with machines as was done in the industr ial economy, the networked economy leverages human knowledge with computers and connectivity to produce goods and services. The networked economy requires that organizations concentrate on improving their organizational productivity rather than worrying about personal productivity. To meet the needs of tomorrow's organizations, colleges and universities must immediately begin to prepare students to work in the networked economy. The sec­ond edition of Information Tech nology and the Ne tworked Economy is aimed at provid­ ing today's business students with the knowledge of the networked economy necessary to be successful employees and managers in the 21st century.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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
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.
Modern cities cannot be imagined without traffic lights controlling the road network. To handle the network's changing demands efficiently, the signal plan specification needs to be shifted from the design time to the run-time of a signal system. The generic observer/controller architecture proposed for Organic Computing facilitates this shift. A two-levelled learning mechanism optimises signal plans on-line while a distributed coordination mechanism establishes green waves in the road network.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sustainable Manufacturing: Challenges, Solutions and Implementation Perspectives
This edited volume presents the research results of the Collaborative Research Center 1026 “Sustainable manufacturing - shaping global value creation”. The book aims at providing a reference guide of sustainable manufacturing for researchers, describing methodologies for development of sustainable manufacturing solutions. The volume is structured in four chapters covering the following topics: sustainable manufacturing technology, sustainable product development, sustainable value creation networks and systematic change towards sustainable manufacturing. The target audience comprises both researchers and practitioners in the field of sustainable manufacturing, but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students.
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.
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.
Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos
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.
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)
Thumbnail Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Business Information Systems: Design an App for That
nformation systems are the combination of people, information technology, and business processes to accomplish a business objective. Every information system (IS) has people, processes, and information technology. In fact, many IS professionals add most of their value working with people and processes. They manage the programmers but typically avoid programming themselves. We can represent an information system as a triangle with people, processes, and information technology (computers) on the three vertices. The three parts of an information system are often referred to as theinformation systems triangle. Consider the popular trend of letting the TV audience vote on some talent shows such as Dancing with the Stars. The voting is managed by a sophisticated information system. The voters are the people involved with the system. Voters can cast the votes by phone, by text, or by online poll—three different information technologies. A central server at ABC records and tallies the votes. The business processes include the phone, texting, and online procedures—how and when to cast votes, and rules limiting the number of votes from each household.
Raymond Frost, Jacqueline Pike, Lauren Kenyo, Sarah Pels,
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
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). T
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.
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
This book places itself within the traditions and the ongoing activity of UCL’s Bartlett Development Planning Unit, and within its research cluster, Environmental Justice, Urbanisation & Resilience. It draws heavily upon my teaching for the Environment and Sustainable Development Masters. I owe an immense debt to all my fellow Development Planning Unit (DPU) staff, as well as past and present students, from whom I have learned much. In particular I am happy to acknowledge the contribution of Yves Cabannes: together we created a Masters module on Urban Agriculture, and explored the framework for a radical redefinition of the topic. My colleagues Zeremariam Fre and Michel Pimbert also played important roles in the module’s subsequent development and influenced my thinking in several ways. At the same time, I approach this topic as a food- growing practitioner and allotmentholder: the allotment movement and its working-class traditions of self- organisation continue to inspire me. This is a book about how people can feed themselves into the future, and also about major aspects of climate adaptation/ mitigation. I sought to approach these extremely serious topics in a spirit of responsibility. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has proposed the need for a ‘new paradigm’ premised on ‘sustainable intensification’ andI felt it was essential to engage with this constructively rather than merely critiquing its ‘discourse’. A core concern of DPU is to address environmental crisis through the lens of the interests of working and oppressed peoples; on this basis, we always seek win- win solutions to ecological- social problems. While such solutions are concrete, and thus specific to each case, they also suggest more general conceptual insights, which can in turn serve to guide new projects.
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.)
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.
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
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.
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.
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.)