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In the evolving landscape of smart cities, the integration of technology and real-time data management presents a dual-edged challenge and opportunity for urban accessibility. The web of devices, from smartphones and connected cars to homes and citizens, forms the backbone of a smart city's infrastructure. As cities strive to become technologically enhanced hubs, the need for seamless accessibility becomes paramount. However, this ambitious transformation encounters hurdles such as traffic congestion, inefficient energy distribution, and concerns about air quality. Enter Blockchain-Based Solutions for Accessibility in Smart Cities, a groundbreaking exploration that addresses the issues hindering the optimal realization of smart city accessibility. This book delves into the emergence of blockchain technologies within smart city infrastructures and offers a compelling narrative on how blockchain-based solutions can be the catalyst for overcoming these challenges. At the core of the book is a singular objective: to revolutionize the management of smart city infrastructure and the ecosystem it supports. Blockchain-Based Solutions for Accessibility in Smart Cities endeavors to unravel the potential of blockchain-based IoT applications, which not only facilitates superior decision-making through real-time data analysis but also safeguards the smart city ecosystem from potential threats. As smart city administrators grapple with technical obstacles, the book offers original research that explores the transformative uses of blockchain technology. By scrutinizing the intersection of blockchain and urban smart city accessibility, the goal is to provide a comprehensive guide that charts a course towards a secure, efficient, and technologically advanced future. This innovative book is crafted with a specific audience in mind – researchers, faculty, and students committed to shaping a secure ecosystem for smart city infrastructure. By merging concepts of security, smart city infrastructure, and blockchain, this multidisciplinary approach ensures that readers gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges at hand. Whether immersed in academia or eager to contribute to the evolution of smart cities, Blockchain-Based Solutions for Accessibility in Smart Cities is a valuable resource that empowers readers to navigate the complexities and unlock the full potential of blockchain in urban accessibility.

With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought on by human activity and pollutants, toxicology and risk assessment of piscine species is becoming increasingly of interest to scientists involved in environmental research and connected disciplines. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in fish species from different zoogeographical regions of the world. Fish Species in Environmental Risk Assessment Strategies is an ideal companion to toxicologists and ecologists interested in risk assessment in the environments of ichthyic fauna, particularly those with an interest in the deleterious impact introduced by human activity. The book is also of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol, habitat management and related disciplines.

Foregrounding the work professional communicators do to support public health and social missions, this book examines how the principles and practices of public relations can be applied by nonprofit, government, and corporate entities working to understand and improve public health and social conditions.Many organizations attempt to influence prosocial behaviors, such as donating one's time, money, or talents; participating in advocacy or activism; or otherwise working to protect public health or inspire social change. This book explores research and practice related to communication and other factors involved in motivating such efforts. Each chapter focuses on a different topic, providing definitions, summarizing research, and explaining how it has been or can be applied to practice, and ends with discussion questions to consider and references for further reading.Ideally placed for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations, health communication, or strategic communication as well as for communications professionals looking to apply research to their practice.

Sustainable Protein Sources: Advances for a Healthier Tomorrow, Second Edition explores alternative proteins, including plant, fungal, algal and insect proteins that can take the place of meat as sustainable sources to satisfy human protein needs. This revised edition presents the benefits of plant and alternative protein consumption, including those that benefit the environment, population, and consumer trends and contains new chapters on potato protein, faba bean, chickpea, and coconut. Organized by protein, chapters also cover cereals and legumes, oilseeds, pseudocereals, fungi, algae, insects and fermentation-derived dairy and meat proteins paying particular attention to the nutrition, uses, functions, benefits, and challenges of each. The book also explores ways to improve utilization and addresses everything from consumer acceptability, methods of improving the taste of products containing these proteins and ways in which policies can affect the use of alternate proteins. In addition, the book addresses sustainable protein as a pathway to securing the food supply and considers regenerative versus extractive agriculture alongside new methods in farming and water usage. - Introduces the need to shift from animal-derived to plant-based protein and fermentation derived proteins - Discusses nutritive values of each protein source and compares each alternate protein to more complete proteins - Provides an overview of production, including processing, protein isolation, use cases and functionality

Food Safety: Contaminants and Risk Assessment is a state-of-art reference on food safety, which is the biggest challenge in the food supply chains worldwide. Despite advancements in hygiene, food treatment, and food processing, foodborne pathogens or food contaminants still represent a significant threat to human health. This book presents comprehensive information about the major food contaminants across food types. The text provides facts about setting up food safety initiatives and safety rules, foodborne pathogen detection, production and processing compliance issues, and safety education.Key Features Examines a diverse range of contaminants across food types Describes various food allergens and allergies Discusses contamination in drinking water and bottled water Reviews the international regulations for management of food hazards Throws light on the overall impact of food safety of global food supply chains This book is meant for postgraduate students, researchers, and food industry professionals.

The book presents a theoretical and technical background for applying MAS (Multi Agent Systems) in Architecture, Engineering and Construction. It focuses in the early design stage and makes use of domain specific data which relate to different design domains (structural, environmental, architectural design) to inform the agent behaviors. The proposed framework is applicable especially to design problems which traditionally require the close collaboration of engineers and architects.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern. Strains of pathogenic microorganisms that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, such as MRSA, are extremely difficult to treat, and alternative methods for tackling pathogenic microorganisms are in demand. One potential target for new therapeutics is inhibition of quorum sensing: how microorganisms communicate and form biofilms in a density-dependent manner. Inhibiting this system via ‘quorum quenching'(QQ) is a promising route to new pharmaceuticals and for controlling biofilm formation and growth. Quorum sensing also provides interesting possibilities in synthetic biology for producing novel products, biosensors, bioactive molecules, and so on. This book covers the biology of quorum sensing and quenching, and potential sources of QQ enzymes and other inhibitors, as well as an overview of their mechanism and potential biotech applications. The book also covers the potential for new drug development from QQ, covering a range of related topics including protein engineering, imaging and computational studies, and integrated systems. This book is an ideal companion to researchers in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, particularly those interested in biofilm formation, quorum sensing, novel antimicrobial development, synthetic biology and enzymology.

Tunnel Design Methods covers analytical, numerical, and empirical methods for the design of tunnels in soil and in rock. The material is intended for design engineers looking for detailed methods, for graduate students who are interested in tunnelling, and for researchers working on various aspects of ground-support interaction under static and seismic loading. The book is divided into seven chapters, covering fundamental concepts on ground and support behavior and on ground-excavation-support interaction and provides detailed information on analytical and numerical methods used for the design of tunnels, with applications, and on the latest developments on empirical methods. The principles and formulations included are used, throughout the book, to provide insight into the response of tunnels under both simple and complex loading conditions, thus providing the reader with fundamental understanding of tunnel behavior. Both authors have experience in tunnelling and have worked extensively in practice, designing tunnels both in the United States and abroad, and in research.

Nanomechanics for Coatings and Engineering Surfaces: Test Methods, Development Strategies, Modeling Approaches, and Applications provides readers with an array of best practices for nanoindentation measurements as well as related small-scale test methods and how to translate test results into the development of improved coatings. A core theme of the book is explaining to readers exactly how, when, and why the nanomechanical properties of engineered surfaces relate to their wear resistance. The book starts with chapters that introduce the development and importance of nanomechanical testing and linkages between wear resistance and the mechanical properties of coatings before moving into discussions of various experimental methods and techniques, such as nanoindentation, continuous stiffness measurements, nano-scratch methods, high-temperature testing, nano-impact testing, and more. Other sections discuss modeling approaches such as finite element analysis, atomistic and molecular dynamics, and analytical methods. Design strategies and industrial applications are covered next, with a final section looking at trends and future directions. - Provides best practices in nanoindentation measurements and related small-scale test methods - Demonstrates how to use test results to develop improved coatings - Outlines modeling approaches and numerical simulations - Highlights selected applications for metallic nanocomposites, tribological coatings, solid lubricants, and aerospace coatings - Shows future directions for simulation of complex wear scenarios

Comprehensive Chirality, Second Edition is the definitive ten-volume reference, offering a thorough exploration of chiral research and application. This extensively updated edition features 121 new chapters and 70 revised ones, focusing on the latest advancements in chiral research across synthesis, catalysis, analytical chemistry, and bioactive compound synthesis. Edited by a world-class editorial board, with contributions from leading experts, Comprehensive Chirality, Second Edition bridges theoretical principles with practical applications, making it an invaluable resource for advanced students, researchers, and professionals. Key highlights include:- Innovative Reactions and Methods: advanced diastereo- and enantioselective techniques for controlling stereogenic centers in complex natural products and pharmaceuticals.- Chiral Auxiliaries and Modern Reagents: transformative uses of chiral auxiliaries and cutting-edge reagents such as hypervalent iodide.- Catalytic Methodologies: comprehensive coverage of C-C bond formation, emphasizing transition metals, biocatalysis, and multicatalysis.- Asymmetric Photochemistry: light-induced asymmetric transformations.- Olefin Functionalization and Cycloaddition: asymmetric oxidation and reduction methods.- Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering: in-depth analysis of enzyme design and engineering as powerful synthesis catalysts.- Industrial Applications: practical insights into asymmetric synthesis for industrial applications, illustrated through recent case studies.- Spectroscopic Techniques: updated spectroscopic methods for separating and analyzing enantiomers. - Unites different areas of research and allows anyone working or researching in chiral chemistry to navigate through the most essential concepts - Includes different areas of research and deep foundational reviews - Helps users apply context to diverse journal literature, aiding them in identifying areas for further research and/or for solving problems - Serves as a valuable, critical tool for instructors, practicing experimentalists, and students of the field, as well as those curious to gain appreciation of the chirality landscape and its vast expanse

This open access book gives a systematic introduction into the spectral theory of differential operators on metric graphs. Main focus is on the fundamental relations between the spectrum and the geometry of the underlying graph.The book has two central themes: the trace formula and inverse problems.The trace formula is relating the spectrum to the set of periodic orbits and is comparable to the celebrated Selberg and Chazarain-Duistermaat-Guillemin-Melrose trace formulas. Unexpectedly this formula allows one to construct non-trivial crystalline measures and Fourier quasicrystals solving one of the long-standing problems in Fourier analysis. The remarkable story of this mathematical odyssey is presented in the first part of the book.To solve the inverse problem for Schrödinger operators on metric graphs the magnetic boundary control method is introduced. Spectral data depending on the magnetic flux allow one to solve the inverse problem in full generality, this means to reconstruct not only the potential on a given graph, but also the underlying graph itself and the vertex conditions.The book provides an excellent example of recent studies where the interplay between different fields like operator theory, algebraic geometry and number theory, leads to unexpected and sound mathematical results. The book is thought as a graduate course book where every chapter is suitable for a separate lecture and includes problems for home studies. Numerous illuminating examples make it easier to understand new concepts and develop the necessary intuition for further studies.

The integration of nanoparticles with classical drugs to create biocompatible delivery platforms for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases can make a major impact on patient welfare. Traditional drug delivery systems are not selective and induce severe collateral damage to surrounding non-diseased cells and tissues. Nanoparticles, however, can be bio-conjugated with antibodies to encapsulate cardiovascular drugs, gaseous molecules and biomolecules to selectively deliver them in a safe, targeted and cost-effective manner. This book provides in-depth and insightful discussion on the mechanistic, pre-clinical and clinical applications of nanomedicine in cardiovascular disease. It not only discusses core chemical concepts via the synthesis of novel nanotechnology-based drug formulations, but also covers the latest drug delivery advances including innovative therapeutic targets in cardiovascular lesions at an early, curable and reversible stage. Written by experts in the field, students and researchers will find this book equally useful for understanding the trends and challenges of the clinical translation of cardiovascular nanomedicine.

Este libro desarrollado por integrantes del Núcleo de Investigación sobre las Profesiones en las Sociedades Contemporáneas de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso da cuenta de la configuración de nuevas territorialidades en aquellas labores donde la presencialidad física e interacción directa son clave para un desempeño que exige la construcción de vínculos y redes que sustentan las interacciones humanas con las que construimos mundos y subjetividades. Los capítulos escritos desde el contexto brasileño, coreano, chino, chileno, español y mexicano se centran en dimensiones experienciales, emocionales y subjetividades, expresadas por quienes desarrollaron trabajos de intervención social antes y durante la pandemia. La idea central que los guía es que los procesos de desterritorialización/reterritorialización vivenciados durante tal periodo, por tener que acceder virtualmente al lugar de trabajo, abre tres preguntas imprescindibles: ¿cómo (re)hacer vínculos desde la desconstrucción territorial?, ¿cuáles son las disposiciones subjetivas frente a las formas de trabajo empleadas durante la pandemia? y ¿cómo se vislumbra el futuro de las profesiones de intervención social luego de la pandemia, en que pareciera haber indicios de una sociedad posprofesional?

'Various international organizations and individuals have made passionate appeals to governments to empower and draw in various partners in policy formulation and implementation, and activities concerning the climate change crisis. The logic is that learning institutions serve as convenient avenues of promoting climate change education. To confront the impacts of climate change and related environmental issues, individuals must not only be provided with requisite education, but also enhanced awareness to drive such change. Although some effort has been made to offer such knowledge, skills and values, there are existing challenges to realize the anticipated objectives. These include limited understanding of the weather change phenomenon, less effective pedagogical approaches and weak partnerships among the critical stakeholders'--

This handbook focuses on new threats to psychological security that are posed by the malicious use of AI and how it can be used to counteract such threats. Studies on the malicious use of AI through deepfakes, agenda setting, sentiment analysis and affective computing and so forth, provide a visual representation of the various forms and methods of malicious influence on the human psyche, and through this on the political, economic, cultural processes, the activities of state and non-state institutions. Separate chapters examine the malicious use of AI in geopolitical confrontation, political campaigns, strategic deception, damage to corporate reputation, and activities of extremist and terrorist organizations. This is a unique volume that brings together a multidisciplinary range of established scholars and upcoming new researchers from 11 countries. This handbook is an invaluable resource for students, researchers, and professionals interested in this new and developing field of social practice and knowledge.

This research level text documents the latest advances in odonate biology and relates these to a broader ecological and evolutionary research agenda. Despite being one of the smallest insect orders, dragonflies offer a number of advantages for both laboratory and field studies. In fact, they continue to make a crucial contribution to the advancement of our broader understanding of insect ecology and evolution. This new edition provides a critical summary of the major advances in these fields. The editors have carefully assembled a fresh set of contributions from a diverse geographic mix of both junior and senior researchers in dragonfly biology to offer new perspectives and paradigms as well as additional, unpublished data. These include theoretical and applied chapters (including those addressing conservation and monitoring) as well as a balance of emerging (e.g. molecular evolution) and established research topics, providing suggestions for future study in each case. This accessible text is not about dragonflies per se but is an essential source of knowledge that describes how different sets of evolutionary and ecological principles and ideas have been tested on a particular taxon. Dragonflies and Damselflies is suitable for graduate students and researchers in entomology, evolutionary biology, population and behavioural ecology, community ecology, and conservation biology. It will be of particular interest and use to those working on insects and an indispensable reference text for odonate biologists.

Electrochemical conversion process can be used to generate power, store energy and synthesize chemicals, which plays a key role in the development of sustainable energy resources. Electrochemical Transformation of Renewable Compounds presents the basic fundamentals of different electrochemical transformations for clean energy and places significant emphasis on the key developments of various electrochemical processes using state-of-the-art materials. Written by electrochemical energy scientists who have worked on the application of electrocatalysis in the environmental and energy area, this book provides comprehensive coverage of main electrochemical transformation processes, including oxygen evolution, hydrogen generation, oxygen reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen reduction, methanol oxidation, urea oxidation and ammonia oxidation.

GSP 347 contains 39 peer-reviewed papers on advances in modeling uncertainty and variability in geotechnical engineering presented at Geo-Risk 2023, held in Arlington, Virginia, July 23–26, 2023.

This new book provides valuable insight into the role of mushrooms in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Mushrooms are enriched with various bioactive constituents with antidiabetic efficacy such as polysaccharides, terpenes, sterols, etc. The extracts as well as bioactive constituents through different mechanisms exhibit antidiabetic action. Medicinal mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum, Innotus obliquus, Grifola frondosa, Phellinus species, etc. are considered in this volume for their beneficial qualities toward the mitigation of the disease. The volume considers mushroom powders, mushroom extracts, and their bioactive components for the management of diabetic syndrome. It presents various in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on lowering hyperglycemia and other diabetes associated with secondary abnormalities as well as provides information regarding mushroom-based antidiabetic market products.

Wound healing following trauma, illness, or surgery is a complex process and is comprised of a particularly fragile sequence of biochemical events that are susceptible to interruption or failure, which can lead to non-healing chronic wounds, scarring and other issues. Non-healing wounds are also commonly associated with diabetes, arterial disease, infection, and the metabolic deficiencies of aging. Treatment of dermal wounds can therefore be challenging, and as such the ability to localise the effect of drugs and treatments to promote healing through protective materials is an attractive area of research. This book introduces the essential areas of skin anatomy and the wound healing process, and how this can be disrupted by various pathologies, and proceeds to outline how biomaterials and devices for dermal drug delivery (including controlled delivery via stimuli-responsive devices) can be utilised in effective wound management. This book is an ideal companion for postgraduates and researchers in a variety of disciplines including biomedical engineering, biomaterials, drug development and delivery, formulation science and tissue engineering.

This new 2-volume set offers a comprehensive review of more than 80 medicinal plant species, providing information on the bioactives and pharmacology of these beneficial plants. It describes the structures of the secondary metabolites found in these plants, the functions of these compounds in human and plant biology, and the biosynthesis of these compounds.Each chapter begins with a brief introduction about the species. The chapters then delve into the bioactive phytochemicals from the plant along with its chemical structure. The published literature on pharmacological activities on that species is comprehensively reviewed. A wide array of the biological activities and potential health benefits of the medicinal plant (which include antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties as well as protective effects on liver, kidney, heart and nervous system) are given.Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacy of Medicinal Plants aims to be valuable source book for scientists, researchers, industry professionals, faculty and students for the development of new and effective drugs from medicinal plants.

This book, focuses on South and Southeast Asia, upgrades our understanding of the influence of multiple sociopolitical and governance factors on climate change and risks. Moving beyond science and technology-oriented discussions on climate change, it argues that the real solutions to climate change problems lie in societies, governance systems, non-state actors, and the power and politics underpinning these systems. It presents a range of detailed conceptual, empirical, and policy-oriented insights from different nations of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Maldives, and Bhutan. The chapters bring forth critical discussions of climate change, covering a diverse range of topics including livelihoods, gender, community perspectives, relocation, resilience, local politics, climate change communication, governance, and policy responses. By investigating climate change vulnerabilities and as well as offering feasible solutions to the states and other non-state actors in responding to climate change and risks, this book deepens our existing knowledge of the social and political dimensions of climate change.With interdisciplinary perspectives, this book will appeal to all students, researchers, and scholars of environmental studies, geography, disaster studies, sociology, policy studies, development studies, and political science. It provides valuable reading to practitioners, policymakers, and professionals working in related fields.

This book critically surveys a decade of disasters in Ōtautahi Christchurch. It brings together a diverse range of authors, disciplinary approaches and topics, to reckon with the events that commenced with the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. Each contribution tackles its subject matter through the frame of Critical Disaster Studies (CDS). The events and the subsequent recovery provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from a series of concatenating urban disasters in order to prepare us for our future on an urban planet facing unprecedented environmental pressures. The book focuses on the production of vulnerability, the human dimensions of disaster, the Indigenous response to disasters and the practical lessons that can be drawn from them.

This book presents100 cases covering all areas of reconstructive surgery. Divided into six parts (Head/Neck, Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Trunk, Breast and Lymphedema), it guides the reader through the difficult path of problem diagnosis, analysis and decision-making, presenting concrete steps and techniques for the successful management of patients with specific reconstructive needs. Each full-color case starts with a patient profile and continues with the diagnosis, key decisions, treatment plan, surgical procedure(s) and technical steps, postoperative management, outcome and case conclusion. Further, each case includes a discussion of pros and cons, comments, learning points and suggestions for further reading.This book will be useful for all surgeons actively involved or interested in Reconstructive Microsurgery and valuable for Senior Residents and Fellows in Plastic, Head and Neck, Breast Surgery and Orthopedics.

Selected peer-reviewed full text papers from the International Conference on Sustainable Engineering and Materials Development (ICSEMD 2021)Selected peer-reviewed full text papers from the International Conference on Sustainable Engineering and Materials Development (ICSEMD 2021), September, 22-24, 2021, virtual from Ontario, Canada

This book comprehensively discusses both gestational diabetes and diabetes that pre-exists pregnancy (type 1 or type 2), highlighting conditions and complications that are expected to occur during and after pregnancy. The book focuses on clinical problems encountered in everyday practice, but also covers topics that contribute to a better understanding of the clinical issues (genetics, epigenetics, pathophysiology). Written by leading experts in various disciplines, the chapters draw on the authors'experience to critically evaluate relevant data on diagnosing and treating the disease and provide guidance on the optimal approach in each specific situation as well as on how to decide between alternatives. A series of learning objectives, tables, figures, algorithms and illustrations increase the book's readability and help readers improve their understanding of the material. This book serves as a practical and useful tool for general obstetricians, fetal-maternal specialists, endocrinologists, diabetologists, neonatologists, midwives and for anyone involved in the management of pregnant women with this condition.

Quinoa and chia are recognized among consumers worldwide due to the wide variety of nutrients each crop provides for healthy living. These cereal crops contain bioactive compounds, are gluten-free proteins, and provide essential vitamins and minerals. Both quinoa and chia are extraordinarily adaptable to various agroecological zones and highly suited to climate change and harsh environments. Quinoa is expanding in underdeveloped countries as a superfood and its cultivation is spreading rapidly due to high global demand. Chia processing results in coproducts including noncommercial grains, partially deoiled flour, and rich fiber fraction allowing the crop to be reincorporated into the food chain. This book presents scientific, beneficial information on various aspects of chia and quinoa development. It discusses processing methods in quinoa and chia, their functional properties, and features analytical profiles of both crops. Information on quinoa and chia seeds for antioxidant properties and uses as superfoods is featured and effects of processing on nutritional properties, quinoa products, and chia seed products and recipes are included.Written for agribusiness planners, policy makers, researchers, industrialists, and farmers interested in cereal crops, this book boosts quinoa and chia production, addresses food and health security problems, increases farm outputs, and promotes food industries.

This volume explores how the city and the sea converse and converge in creating new forms of everyday urbanity in archipelagic and island Southeast Asia. Drawing inspiration from case studies spanning Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and New Caledonia, the volume rethinks the place of the sea in coastal cities, through a mobility-inspired understanding of urbanity itself. How might conceptualisations of contemporary coastal urbanisms be approached from the sea, in ways that complicate singularly terrestrial, fixed framings of the city? What connections, contradictions, and dissonances can be found between sea change and urban change? While addressing these questions, the authors re-centre more marginal voices of those who dwell and work in islanded metropoles, offering new insights on the futures and contested nature(s) of littoral urban transformation.

With chapters written by scientists from respected institutes and universities around the world, this book looks at the bioprospecting of medicinal plants for potential health uses and at the pharmacognosy of a selection of medicinal and aromatic plants.The book touches on a diverse selection of topics related to medicinal plants. Chapters look at the use of medicinal plants in healthcare and disease management, such as to treat inflammation, antihyperglycemia, and obesity and as immunity boosters. The authors also address the conservation, maintenance, and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants along with postharvest management issues. A chapter discusses the use of synthetic seeds in relation to cryopreservation, and a chapter is devoted to the use of microcomputed tomography and image processing tools in medicinal and aromatic plants. Other topics include consumption, supply chain, marketing, trade, and future directions of research.

With the increasing interest in sports and the prolongation of life expectancy, the frequency of musculoskeletal pain is increasing day by day. Musculoskeletal pain, which is included in the differential diagnosis of every physician regardless of branch, can cause serious problems in people's daily lives. People's unresolved pain disrupts their social lives and brings along various psychological problems. When this becomes a vicious cycle, it creates pain that cannot be solved. In this book, the possibilities of recognizing and understanding pain and taking an active role in the treatment process are presented. This book, which offers a deep examination of the physiology and genetics of pain, provides an approach to the causes and treatments of musculoskeletal pain that physicians frequently encounter in their daily clinics. We hope that this book, which we have prepared with the contributions of all relevant specialists, will be a book that our physicians will frequently benefit from.

The third decade of the 21st century brings new and expansive global sustainability challenges. Managers, policymakers, academics, citizens, and consumers will have to make seemingly contradictory decisions to accelerate demand, and at the same time promote savings. For this reason, it is necessary to clarify that it is not a process of recovery but of regeneration, adaptation and reprioritization. Regenerative and Sustainable Futures for Latin America and the Caribbean: Collective action for a region with a better tomorrow offers a systematic review of past efforts to recover from global crises providing an analysis of the sustainable development challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean. Featuring contributions from researchers in seven different Latin American and Caribbean countries, this volume reflects primary data perspectives from government, business, academe and civil society leaders in each specific country. Regenerative and Sustainable Futures for Latin America and the Caribbean explores how to build sustainable futures for Latin America and the Caribbean, presents recommendations for policy and decision-makers to thrive sustainable futures for Latin America and the Caribbean and reflects on the value of collective action for a region that deserves a better tomorrow.

Superfoods have come to the forefront of the public imagination due to a combination of presumed health benefits and cultural mystique. Much of the literature on these foods, however, is based upon rostrums and diet plans that accept the health claims of superfoods without subjecting them to rigorous scrutiny. Superfoods: Cultural and Scientific Perspectives examines these food products from a blended science and cultural viewpoint, presenting a balanced, evidence-based view of each food item. Following a discussion of “superfoods” as a category, the book's chapters examine individual superfoods, including but not limited to: avocados, chocolate, wine, berries, and fish oil. Presented in a systemic manner, each chapter provides a cultural history of the superfood; a survey of the current state of nutritional research on the food and its health claims; an exploration of related science topics to enhance understanding of the superfood, (i.e., a survey of the botany, biology, or chemistry studies); social issues associated with the superfood, such as sustainability, environmental health concerns, agricultural issues, fair trade and marketing issues; and one to three recipes featuring the superfood. This combination of scientific and cultural perspectives makes Superfoods an invaluable reference for academics, industry professionals, and lay-readers alike.

This volume presents selected papers presented during the 4th International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics. The papers address the geotechnical challenges in design, construction, maintenance, monitoring, and upgrading of roads, railways, airfields, and harbor facilities and other ground transportation infrastructure with the goal of providing safe, economic, environmental, reliable and sustainable infrastructures. This volume will be of interest to postgraduate students, academics, researchers, and consultants working in the field of civil and transport infrastructure.

This book offers a comprehensive review of reconstructive microsurgery with an emphasis on the recipient vasculature. Chapters describe the anatomy, exposure, and technical considerations of recipient vessels in reconstructive microsurgery. The book strives to fill that void of literature covering recipient vessels and their surgical exposure for microvascular anastomosis. Alongside nuanced description for each particular body structure, the chapters will provide illustrations and short video clips on how to prepare these essential vessels. The book is the accumulation of the editors'many years of experience in Asia, Europe, and the United States and also features contributions from world experts. Recipient Vessels in Reconstructive Microsurgery -- Anatomy and Technical Considerations is a must-have resource for trainees and residents as well as surgeons working in plastic surgery and microsurgery.

This edited monograph includes eight chapters, each discussing recent advancements in the fields of medicine and biology. Chapter One provides information on the mechanisms of polyurethane degradation. Chapter Two reviews the inhibitory effect of chlorogenic acid on metabolic syndrome-related vascular endothelial cell damage, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Chapter Three investigates the development of fatigue of rat skeletal muscle under the action of water-soluble pristine C60 fullerenes as powerful antioxidants. Chapter Four describes the targeted delivery of immunosuppressants. Chapter Five focuses on the in vitro degradation of biopolymers using enzymes and microorganisms. Chapter Six reviews the risk factors for hearing loss in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and the management of such patients detected with hearing loss. Finally, Chapter Seven describes recently developed methods and tools used in physiological studies of human sensory neurons induced from human pluripotent stem cells.

This book focuses on holistic approaches to sustainability in all sectors of building, infrastructure, and energy to achieve a best-balanced global energy, building, infrastructure, transportation, and water technology (EBITW) system using a series of innovative research and implementation solutions. The goal of this book is to define the context for proactive consideration of scientific theories and practical technical applications of sustainable development, following main seven themes: Renewable Energy Technology, Advanced Building Design Technology, Innovative Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering, Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Urban and Rural Development, Clean Environment, and Sustainable Planet; which are very much interconnected to secure the global equilibrium. The book is prepared for a wide audience including researchers, field engineers, and students.

Our goal is to produce a comprehensive handbook of the current state of the art of astronomical instrumentation with a forward view encompassing the next decade. The target audience is graduate students with an interest in astronomical instrumentation, as well as practitioners interested in learning about the state of the art in another wavelength band or field closely related to the one in which they currently work. We assume a working knowledge of the fundamental theory: optics, semiconductor physics, etc. The purpose of this handbook is to bring together some of the leading experts in the world to discuss the frontier of astronomical instrumentation across the electromagnetic spectrum and extending into multimessenger astronomy.

This collection of research articles and reviews covers the latest work in the design, delivery, dynamic abilities, and immune stimulation of RNA nanoparticles which have driven the utilization of their immunomodulatory properties. The unknown immune properties of nucleic acid nanoparticles have been a major hurdle in their adaptation until the works herein began assessing their structure-activity relationships. This collection chronologically follows the path of investigating the recognition of design components to implementing them into nucleic acid nanostructures. RNA nanotechnology is an emerging platform for therapeutics with increasing clinical relevance as this approach becomes more widely used and approved for the treatment of various diseases. The latest research aims to take advantage of RNA's modular nature for the design of nanostructures which can interact with their environments to communicate programmed messages with intracellular pathways. In doing so, nanoparticles can be used to elicit or elude responses by the immune system as desired in conjunction with their therapeutic applications.

Telemedicine, which involves electronic communications and software, provides the same clinical services to patients without the requirement of an in-person visit. Essentially, this is considered remote healthcare. Though telemedicine is not a new practice, it has become an increasingly popular form of healthcare delivery due to current events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only are visits being moved onto virtual platforms, but additional materials and correspondence can remain in the digital sphere. Virtual lab results, digital imaging, medical diagnosis, and video consultations are just a few examples that encompass how telemedicine can be used for increased accessibility in healthcare delivery. With telemedicine being used in both the diagnosis and treatment of patients, technology in healthcare can be implemented at almost any phase of the patient experience. As healthcare delivery follows the digital shift, it is important to understand the technologies, benefits and challenges, and overall impacts of the remote healthcare experience. The Research Anthology on Telemedicine Efficacy, Adoption, and Impact on Healthcare Delivery presents the latest research on best practices for adopting telehealth into medical practices and its efficacy and solutions for the improvement of telemedicine, as well as addresses emerging challenges and opportunities, including issues such as securing patient data and providing healthcare accessibility to rural populations. Covering important themes that include doctor-patient relationships, tele-wound monitoring, and telemedicine regulations, this book is essential for healthcare professionals, doctors, medical students, academic and medical libraries, medical technologists, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in the emerging technological developments and solutions within the field of telemedicine.

This book provides a practical guide to terahertz electronics, especially for readers with an electronics background. The author guides readers through the all the key concepts of terahertz electronics, including terahertz sources, detectors, and waveguides, together with reviews on key terahertz applications on spectroscopy, imaging, communication, and radar. This book will serve as a handy reference for graduate students and engineers in the field of terahertz with a viewpoint from electronics.Presents the topic of terahertz from electronics viewpoint;Designed to be particularly helpful for the readers familiar with semiconductor devices and circuits;Enables optics-based terahertz researchers to understand terahertz electronics;Based on the author's extensive experience from both industry and academia.

This book covers problems and their solution of a wide range of geotechnical topics. Every chapter starts with a summary of key concepts and theory, followed by worked-out examples, and ends with a short list of key references. It presents a unique collection of step by step solutions from basic to more complex problems in various topics of geotechnical engineering, including fundamental topics such as effective stress, permeability, elastic deformation, shear strength and critical state together with more applied topics such retaining structures and dams, excavation and tunnels, pavement infrastructure, unsaturated soil mechanics, marine works, ground monitoring. This book aims to provide students (undergraduates and postgraduates) and practitioners alike a reference guide on how to solve typical geotechnical problems. Features:Guide for solving typical geotechnical problems complementing geotechnical textbooks.Reference guide for practitioners to assist in determining solutions to complex geotechnical problems via simple methods.

Valorization of Agri-Food Wastes and By-Products: Recent Trends, Innovations and Sustainability Challenges addresses the waste and by-product valorization of fruits and vegetables, beverages, nuts and seeds, dairy and seafood. The book focuses its coverage on bioactive recovery, health benefits, biofuel production and environment issues, as well as recent technological developments surrounding state of the art of food waste management and innovation. The book also presents tools for value chain analysis and explores future sustainability challenges. In addition, the book offers theoretical and experimental information used to investigate different aspects of the valorization of agri-food wastes and by-products. Valorization of Agri-Food Wastes and By-Products: Recent Trends, Innovations and Sustainability Challenges will be a great resource for food researchers, including those working in food loss or waste, agricultural processing, and engineering, food scientists, technologists, agricultural engineers, and students and professionals working on sustainable food production and effective management of food loss, wastes and by-products. - Covers recent trends, innovations, and sustainability challenges related to food wastes and by-products valorization - Explores various recovery processes, the functionality of targeted bioactive compounds, and green processing technologies - Presents emerging technologies for the valorization of agri-food wastes and by-products - Highlights potential industrial applications of food wastes and by-products to support circular economy concepts

For six decades, scientists and researchers have relied on the Advances in Chromatography series for the most up-to date information on a wide range of developments in chromatographic methods and applications. The clear presentation of topics and vivid illustrations for which this series has become known makes the material accessible and engaging to analytical, biochemical, organic, polymer, and pharmaceutical chemists at all levels of technical skill.Key Features: Discusses the basic concepts of affinity chromatography and examines recent developments in this method and related supramolecular separation methods. Outlines the different types of gradient stationary phases and how they have been used in and benefited the field of separation science. Reviews recent trends in detectors for GC, focusing on those that are readily available and seeing wide usage. Addresses peak compression in GELC and offers the reader a plate height equation to work with that incorporates its effects.

This book illustrates the significance of nanotechnology in the delivery of anticancer and antimicrobial drugs, biomimetic technologies, tissue engineering, sensing, diagnostics, and artificial enzymes. It first briefly discusses the use of nanotechnology for the delivery of anticancer medications, and the concept and applications of catalytically active nanomaterial-based artificial enzymes for sensing and diagnostic applications. It then explores the use of silver nanoparticle-based novel antimicrobials, and comprehensively reviews the role of nanomaterials in developing biomedical implants and tissue engineering applications. Lastly, it offers a detailed description of nanotherapeutics for combating human protozoan parasitic infections. Cutting across the disciplines, this book serves as a guide for researchers and scientists in biotechnology, medical science and material science.

This 21st Century Nanoscience Handbook will be the most comprehensive, up-to-date large reference work for the field of nanoscience. Handbook of Nanophysics, by the same editor, published in the fall of 2010, was embraced as the first comprehensive reference to consider both fundamental and applied aspects of nanophysics. This follow-up project has been conceived as a necessary expansion and full update that considers the significant advances made in the field since 2010. It goes well beyond the physics as warranted by recent developments in the field. Key Features: Provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date large reference work for the field. Chapters written by international experts in the field. Emphasises presentation and real results and applications. This handbook distinguishes itself from other works by its breadth of coverage, readability and timely topics. The intended readership is very broad, from students and instructors to engineers, physicists, chemists, biologists, biomedical researchers, industry professionals, governmental scientists, and others whose work is impacted by nanotechnology. It will be an indispensable resource in academic, government, and industry libraries worldwide. The fields impacted by nanoscience extend from materials science and engineering to biotechnology, biomedical engineering, medicine, electrical engineering, pharmaceutical science, computer technology, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, food science, and beyond.

This book covers an up-to-date review of advances in the management strategies for patients with breast cancer and their co-morbidities. Oncoplasty has become the standard of care for breast conservation surgery and can lead to improving aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer surgery, without compromising oncological outcomes. The goal of the text is to increase the competencies and performance of healthcare professionals involved in treating this patient population, which will ultimately improve the aesthetic outcomes, quality of life and overall survival of patients with breast disease and breast cancer. Written by experts in the field, chapters address a wide range of breast surgery techniques that help the general surgeon provide improved oncologic and aesthetic results for patients. The authors have detailed not only best practice for conventional procedures but also new and evolving techniques. Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Techniques for the General Surgeon serves asa valuable resource not only for medical students but also for the general surgeon seeking to improve results in private practice and for professors learning and teaching new breast surgery techniques.

This up-to-date reference is the most comprehensive summary of the field of nanoscience and its applications. It begins with fundamental properties at the nanoscale and then goes well beyond into the practical aspects of the design, synthesis, and use of nanomaterials in various industries. It emphasizes the vast strides made in the field over the past decade – the chapters focus on new, promising directions as well as emerging theoretical and experimental methods. The contents incorporate experimental data and graphs where appropriate, as well as supporting tables and figures with a tutorial approach.

Target success in the new specification WJEC A2 Mathematics with this proven formula foreffective, structured revision; key content coverage is combined with full worked examples, diagnostic questions and exam-style questions to create a revision guide that students can rely on to review, strengthen and test their knowledge.- Help develop the key skills needed for success with skills-focused questions around problem-solving,proof, modelling and the use of ICT (spreadsheets, graphing software and graphing calculators).- Strategically target revision with diagnostic questions to establish which areas need focus.- Get assessment-ready with exam-style questions and advice on common examination pitfalls.- Develop students'understanding with full worked examples and accompanying solutions, offeringdetailed, instructive explanations.- Consolidate revision with summaries for each topic that focus on what to concentrate on in the buildupto exams, with special focus on common pitfalls such as how to show correct workings.- Enable independent learning with access to answers in the back of the book.

JAK-STAT pathway is one of the few signal transduction pathways that transduce signals involved in multiple homeostatic biological processes including cell differentiation and proliferation, cell death, hematopoiesis and immune responses. JAK-STAT is an elegant pathway that is relatively simple and evolutionary conserved as gene expression is regulated by external parameters. Activated by growth factors or cytokines, this signal transduction cascade regulates the transcription of genes at the nucleus. Mutations and polymorphisms in JAK-STAT pathway are associated with inflammatory diseases and cancers that could impede regular homeostasis. Features: Details activation and microRNA-mediated regulation of JAK-STAT pathway Provides exclusive information about the association of the pathway in various diseases including allergic inflammation, neuro-inflammatory disorder, atopic dermatitis hematopoietic malignancies, cardiovascular disorder, renal disorder, immunodeficiency, liver fibrosis, diabetes and obesity that affect individuals across the globe Clinical relevance of the signaling cascade has been discussed in context of novel class of therapeutics that targets this pathway. An overview of JAK-STAT signaling pathway and the structure-function relationship of different domains of the cascade are discussed. This book provides detailed information on various diseases that are associated with JAK-STAT pathway. It will act as a very good reference book for basic science researchers, academicians, industry professionals involved in translational research leading to product development. This book will excite future professionals towards better understanding of the regulation of this pathway, its association with other signaling cascades to design novel therapeutics.