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Hazardous Chemicals: Overview, Toxicological Profile, Challenges, and Future Perspectives offers comprehensive coverage of hazardous chemicals and their routes of exposures, mechanism of toxicity, hazard control measures, handling and storage, emergency guidelines, and safety measures. The book is organized into specific classifications of chemical hazards: pesticides, fertilizers, insecticides, automotive, paint and paint solvents, chemical manufacturing solvents, dyes, cleaning agents, pharmaceuticals, and radioactive products. It discusses the health risk and environmental impact of these toxic substances. It also provides management strategies including risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. Hazardous Chemicals is a practical resource for researchers, academics, industry professionals, graduate and postgraduate students in toxicology and environmental science engaged in the evaluation of toxic substances and human health concerns. - Covers exposure routes, health impacts, risk assessment and control measures of hazardous chemicals - Includes storage and handling information for personnel vulnerable to hazards and risks from the toxic substances - Provides case studies related to toxic substances that have resulted in a disastrous event - Examines recent research trends in the field of specific toxic substances

Gene expression in cells follows a prescribed pathway that conforms to the Central Dogma; where the genetic information stored in DNA is transcribed into RNA and then expressed into proteins, which influences most plant traits. Plant salt tolerance research is directed towards identifying nucleotide variants that could contribute to tolerant phenotypes. This book comprehensively presents the current state of knowledge on plant salt tolerance through meticulous analysis of the processes operating across the Central Dogma. It provides a detailed account of modulation of gene expression through genome editing systems to achieve crop improvement against salt stress. It also provides state-of-the-art information on advances in breeding technologies of genome selection and accelerated de novo domestication for rapidly improving the salt tolerance of plants for global food security. This book: 1.Provides a comprehensive coverage of plant salt tolerance mechanisms. 2.Spotlights various factors functioning along the Central Dogma pathway and their regulation in response to salinity. 3.Examines how these factors function to protect the plants from high salinity. 4.Highlights advances in cutting-edge breeding technologies for improving salt tolerance. The book will be of particular value to students and researchers of plant genetics, molecular biology and physiology and those with an interest in salinity and salt tolerance.

The effects of climate change on food safety and plant health represent a relatively new area of study. However, evidence from recent studies is clear: climate change contributes to increased and new food safety & plant health risks as one of several global change factors. This volume analyzes the scientific understanding of the relationship between climate change, food safety, plant pests, plant diseases, and trade. It identifies and discusses four key areas for future policy consideration: risk assessment, SPS capacity in developing countries, climate change resilience, and basic research challenges. We must effectively communicate the impacts of climate change on plant health and build the capacity of national plant protection organizations. More importantly, we need to mobilize resources that will help build stronger national phytosanitary systems that can prevent the spread of plant pests, thereby protecting our food sources and environment, and facilitating safe trade.The present volume is an asset for plant quarantine personnel working in the field, agricultural university students, plant health workers, farmers doing agriculture, plant & seed traders, and all those who use agricultural produce and products. The book is a useful resource for students and professional plant pathologists, entomologists, and plant breeders because it summarizes current knowledge and suggests new research directions. It is also suitable for ecologists & researchers working on crop protection, climate change, and pest control.

Hydrogen energy is the most versatile energy source: its advantages include the minimization of pollution and land use compared to traditional fossil fuels, high energy density, and the possibility of generation using renewable sources (such as water splitting). This book focuses on the main advances and challenges in the production, storage, transportation and commercialization of hydrogen energy.

Women in the United States experience a higher prevalence of many chronic conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, depression, and osteoporosis, than men; they also experience female-specific conditions, such as endometriosis and pelvic floor disorders. A lack of research into both the biological and social factors that influence these conditions greatly hinders diagnosis, treatment, and prevention efforts, thus contributing to poorer health outcomes for women and substantial costs to individuals and for society. The National Institutes of Health's Office of Research on Women's Health asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene an expert committee to identify gaps in the science on chronic conditions that are specific to or predominantly impact women, or affect women differently, and propose a research agenda. The committee's report presents their conclusions and recommendations.

This book is dedicated to all those interested in the application of artificial intelligence in engineering and project management. Most of the jobs are focused on achieving agile project development. New algorithms that combine various computational intelligence techniques are applied in different areas of knowledge in project management.In this book, computational intelligence is presented as the branch of AI that encompasses various techniques aimed at simulating human tolerance in decision-making processes in environments with uncertainty and imprecision. Among the precursor techniques of computational intelligence are: evolutionary algorithms, artificial neural networks, fuzzy set theory, and fuzzy systems. However, other areas such as the rough set, linguistic data summary, natural language processing, the conversational systems, fuzzy cognitive maps, collective intelligence, the neutrosophic theory, and other fuzzy logic extensions are contributing to the application and extension of computational intelligenceThe book is organized into three parts, as shown below. The first part constitutes a critical review of computational intelligence in project management. The second part presents new computational intelligence techniques and their applications in project planning, control, and monitoring processes. In particular, the use of conversational systems and their applicability in the agile management of portfolio programs and projects stand out. Part three of the book exemplifies the use of computing techniques with words and other computational intelligence techniques for organizational decision-making.The authors of the book stand out for their extensive experience in the development of basic and applied applications of computational intelligence. The authors Janusz Kacprzyk, Pedro Y. Piñero Pérez, Rafael E. Bello Pérez, and Iliana Pérez Pupo have published several books associated with artificial intelligence and computational intelligence applied to projects. They continue working on fundamental-oriented and applied research on different artificial intelligence techniques to help with decision-making in different areas of knowledge.Authors would like to thank all the engineers, professors, and researchers without whose efforts this book could not have been written.

Sustainable Cassava: Production, Processing, Trade, Consumption and Waste Management Strategies presents viable approaches to promote sustainability in this globally important crop, enabling future generations to benefit. Providing key insights to enhance production while limiting environmental impact, this book provides readers with foundational understanding of growing and utilizing Cassava. Cassava (Manihot Mill. species Euphorbiaceae) is a staple crop in tropical and subtropical regions of the world with diverse food and non-food value. It is a principal energy source but may be fortified to provide improved nutritional status for consumers as well as for the production of value-added products. With the growing human population, there is a need to increase global production and efficiency in trade, diversify and ensure safe consumption, maximize utilization of all cassava processing wastes, and add value to the cassava production chain through sustainable practices Presented in three parts, the first addresses cassava diversity and distribution, sustainable production and cultivation practices, and root processing innovations of the crop. Cassava trade policies and economic value chains, food safety and use of cassava, and agro-industrial cassava products are addressed in the second part. The third part focuses on bioeconomy aspects, cassava waste quality assessment, toxicology, sanitary practices, environmental risk assessment as well as sustainable management strategies for cassava waste using biotechnological and industrial advances. Addressing the need for a unified and standardized approach for the trade, management, and utilization of cassava genetic resources, finished products, and cassava processing wastes, the book also explores policy and governance structure for addressing environmental and economic issues emanating from their use. In the lens of globalization, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development, the contents of this book will promote the adoption of novel and advanced practices in cassava cultivation and production, harvest, use, and waste recovery or reduction and contribute to global cooling efforts. - Presents best practices and ideas from around the world, including technological advances for Cassava production and use - Focuses on sustainability throughout the lifecycle - Provides insights translatable to other tuber crops for further enhanced sustainable food security

Porous Coordination Polymers: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications brings together the latest advances in Porous Coordination Polymers (PCPs) for cutting-edge applications. The book begins by introducing PCPs, highlighting their structure, chemistry, basic properties and design approaches. This is followed by a chapter focusing on synthesis methods and mechanical properties. Subsequent chapters provide in-depth coverage of specific target applications, explaining the preparation of PCPs for areas including catalysis and photocatalysis, environmental remediation, gas storage and separation, energy storage and conversion, new generation magnets, nanocarriers in therapeutics, and biomedical imaging. Finally, current challenges and future developments are considered in detail. Porous Coordination Polymers are gaining increasing interest due to their attractive properties, such as structural flexibility, large surface area, tailorable pore size, and functional tunability, in turn enabling a wide range of possible applications which this book aims to highlight and to elucidate. This is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students across polymer science, inorganic chemistry, environmental science, and materials science and engineering, as well as engineers, scientists, and R&D professionals with an interest in porous coordination polymers (PCPs) and novel polymeric materials for advanced industrial applications. - Explores porous coordination polymers in detail while highlighting key ideas. - Provides in-depth discussion of the design and development of new porous coordination polymers. - Addresses present issues and looks at potential future developments in this innovative field.

Viral Diseases of Field and Horticultural Crops details the fundamental and applied aspects of the viral diseases of field and horticultural crops. The book opens with a historical introduction to plant virology, important plant virologists, and landmarks. It continues with systematic coverage of viral diseases, their economic significance, disease symptoms, host range, mode of transmission, diagnostic techniques, geographic distribution, epidemiology, yield losses, and control and management of the disease. Contributions from an international group of virologists with a wide range of academic, research, professional, and specialized backgrounds in plant virology makes Viral Diseases of Field and Horticultural Crops a comprehensive and must-have resource for those engaged in the study and research of plant virology, microbiology, and plant pathology particularly viral diseases and their impact on field and horticultural crops. - Provides virus characterization according to the disease pattern and symptoms they cause - Covers viral diseases of cereals, oil seeds, legumes, commercial crops, spices and condiments, medicinal and aromatic crops, forage crops, vegetable crops, fruit crops, tree nuts, among others - Discusses advances like applications in nanotechnology, molecular techniques for the detection and characterization of plant viruses, and the development of technologies for detecting plant viruses

This book presents a holistic picture of Nigeria's financial services landscape. This includes identifying service providers and regulatory bodies, understanding consumer behaviour, and examining the unique challenges faced by Nigerian financial institutions. The book presents up-to-date research on recent developments and regulatory changes within Nigeria's financial sector, as well as future considerations for how financial services and financial inclusion can play a crucial role in the country's sustainable economic growth. Combining academic analysis with practical insights, the book takes readers through Nigeria's key financial services providers, regulators, consumers, marketing strategies and challenges. A core focus throughout is on financial inclusion and the opportunities associated with reaching financially underserved or excluded populations, demonstrating how increasing financial access at a country-wide level aligns with global goals of reducing inequalities and promoting growth. It will have interdisciplinary appeal to scholars, students and professionals working in finance, economics, business, public policy and development studies.

This volume constitutes the refereed proceedings of Metaheuristics on 15th International Conference, MIC 2024, held in Lorient, France, during June 4–7, 2024. The 36 full papers presented together with 34 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 127 submissions. The conference focuses on artificial intelligence, combinatorial optimization, computer science, graph theory, evolutionary algorithms, genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, optimization, optimization problems.

This book explores the intricate mechanisms underlying the stress responses of phototrophs, which play a critical and foundational role in shaping and sustaining life on Earth.The photoautotrophic entities encounter a spectrum of natural and anthropogenic stresses, inducing a multitude of responses at the physiological, biochemical, genetic, and developmental levels. The comprehension of how these phototrophs adeptly counter stressors transcends mere scientific pursuit; it stands as an essential endeavor for predicting their adaptability in an ever-evolving world and, crucially, for conserving our delicate ecosystems. The book will shed light on the sophisticated interplay of stress signaling pathways and the nuanced engagement of stress-responsive hormones within these life forms. Furthermore, it unveils the cryptic genetic and epigenetic controls dictating stress-related gene expression, yielding profound insights into the enduring recollection of their responses to environmental challenges.This book is an essential read for researchers, educators, and students alike. It offers a comprehensive panorama of stress biology, unveiling the innermost mechanisms at play within photosynthetic organisms discussing their resilience and adaptation.

Transportation currently takes up around a third of overall energy usage, of which the majority is petroleum-based gasoline. Petroleum is both a finite resource and a big contributor to the carbon emissions that are causing climate change. To continue to benefit from transportation whilst mitigating climate change it is essential to find alternatives to petroleum-based gasoline. Although a lot of recent developments have focused on electrifying transport the infrastructure for large scale uptake of electric vehicles is still lacking and it may be less practical in some parts of the world than others. Biofuels, therefore, still have a role to play in improving the sustainability of our transportation systems. The term green gasoline refers to biofuels intended to be direct drop-in replacements for petroleum-based gasoline. Such products allow vehicles to run on biofuel without any engine modifications and, being made from biomass, they are both renewable and have a better carbon emission profile than petroleum-based gasoline. Green Gasoline covers a range of new technologies being used to produce these biofuels and compares them to petroleum-based fuels in terms of sustainability. It will be an interesting read for those working in fuel chemistry as well as green chemists and anyone with an interest in transport sustainability.

The informal manufacturing sector, characterized by activities such as handicrafts, cottage industries, micro-enterprises, and small-scale industries, contributes significantly to local economies. It provides livelihoods for millions, representing a substantial portion of the global workforce and GDP. Despite its economic importance, this sector often operates outside the formal regulatory framework and thus faces unique challenges, especially in terms of environmental sustainability. Informal Manufacturing and Environmental Sustainability is a timely and significant contribution to the understanding of the informal manufacturing sector, a crucial yet often overlooked component of the global economy. The chapters emerge against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global landscape, where the informal sector plays a pivotal role in employment, income generation, and economic development, particularly in developing and emerging countries. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary analysis draws on theories and empirical perspectives from economics, Environmental Studies, management, sociology, and engineering, among others, making it a valuable resource for a broad audience. It is an indispensable resource for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and students interested in the intersection of informal manufacturing, environmental sustainability, and global economic dynamics.

Special topic volume with invited peer-reviewed papers only

Selected peer-reviewed extended articles based on abstracts presented at the 2023 International Conference on Sustainable Engineering and Materials Development (ICSEMD 2023)Aggregated Book

Muscle Stem Cells, Volume 158 in the Current Topics of Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics surrounding Muscle stem cell dysfunction in rhabdomyosarcoma and muscular dystrophy, Model systems used to study MuSC function, MuSCs in the growth and maintenance of muscle, Molecular regulation of myocyte fusion, A self-made quiescent niche of muscle stem cells, Characterization of the muscle regenerative environment, Role of microenvironment on muscle stem cell function in health, adaptation, and disease, Vascular Niche for Muscle Stem Cells, Regulation of muscle stem cell polarity in health and disease, and more.Additional chatpers cover Circadian timing of satellite cell function and muscle regeneration, Muscle stem cell activity is regulated by translational control of gene expression, Biomechanical stress in modulating MuSC function, Cross talk between cell types in regenerating muscle, Effects of the immune system on muscle regeneration, Effects of diabetes on MuSC function, and other timely topics. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series - Updated release includes the latest information on the Muscle Stem Cells

Democracy should enable citizens to play an informed role in determining how power is exercised for their common wellbeing, but this only works if people have the understanding, skills and confidence to engage effectively in public affairs. Otherwise, any voting system can be subverted to serve the interests of propagandists and demagogues. This book brings together leading experts on learning for democracy to explore why and how the gap in civic competence should be bridged. Drawing on research findings and case examples from the UK, the US and elsewhere, it will set out why change is necessary, what could be taught differently to ensure effective political engagement, and how a lasting impact in improving citizens'learning for democratic participation can be made.

This edited book is based on the accepted papers for presentation at the 1st MedGU Annual Meeting, Istanbul 2021. With four parts spanning a large spectrum of geological, geochemical, geophysical and petroleum topics, this book presents a series of newest research studies that are nowadays relevant to Middle East, Mediterranean region, and Africa.The book covers various topics from the fields of (1) sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, (2) geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, volcanology, (3) structural geology, tectonics, geodynamics, and (4) petroleum and energy engineering, and petroleum geology. The content of these papers provides new scientific knowledge for further understanding new case studies and approaches in these various topics.

This book presents the latest cutting-edge research on phase separation. It discusses the benefits and risks of phase separation for living cells from the perspectives of physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.Phase separation is a physico-chemical process that induces a single solution of solvent and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) to separate into two phases, one phase containing only solvent and the other containing IDPs in the solvent. A key molecule in phase separation is the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) proteins (IDPs), mostly comprised of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). One of the major roles of phase separation is to generate condensates, membrane-less organelles including stress granule, Cajal body, and nucleolus.Biological actions of phase separation in various aspects of science have received increasing attention in recent years. The book consists of four parts; Part I on physics and chemistry includes topics on structural biology of RBP FUS/TLS and chaperone for phase separation, computational approach of phase separation, and chemistry of G-quadruplex of DNA and RNA. Part II on molecular biology presents molecular mechanism of IDR sequence phase separation and potential cellular function of these labile fibers, formation of membrane-less organelles, and roles of noncoding RNAs in phase separation. Part III on biology covers topics from nuclear pore complex, developmental biology regarding force-dependent remodeling, and neurobiology and higher order brain functions. Finally, Part IV on medicine presents condensates and cancer therapy, pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases based on IDPs, and responses of microglia to amyloid. The last chapter highlights the latest topic on how the SARS-Cov-2 virus takes advantage of phase separation for its infections.This book brings together the studies of phase separation in each area in a single volume. The comprehensive approach provides new insights to the research andwill benefit the readers by responding to the emerging needs for understanding phase separation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is once again in the news, with many major figures urging caution as developments in the technology accelerate. AI impacts all aspects of our lives, but perhaps the discipline of Biomedical Informatics is more affected than most, and is an area where the possible pitfalls of the technology might have particularly serious consequences. This book presents the papers delivered at ICIMTH 2023, the 21st International Conference on Informatics, Management, and Technology in Healthcare, held in Athens, Greece, from 1-3 July 2023. The ICIMTH conferences form a series of scientific events which offers a platform for scientists working in the field of biomedical and health informatics from all continents to gather and exchange research findings and experience. The title of the 2023 conference was Healthcare Transformation with Informatics and Artificial Intelligence, reflecting the importance of AI to healthcare informatics. A total of 252 submissions were received by the Program Committee, of which 149 were accepted as full papers, 13 as short communications, and 14 as poster papers after review. The papers cover a wide range of technologies, and topics include imaging, sensors, biomedical equipment, and management and organizational aspects, as well as legal and social issues. The book provides a timely overview of informatics and technology in healthcare during this time of extremely fast developments, and will be of interest to all those working in the field.

This book gathers a selection of peer-reviewed papers presented at the International Conference on Operations Research (OR 2022), which was held at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, on September 6-9, 2022. KIT's Institute for Operations Research (IOR) hosted the conference together with the Institute for Industrial Production (IIP), the Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), and the Institute for Material Handling and Logistics (IFL). The respective papers discuss classical mathematical optimization, statistics and simulation techniques. These are complemented by computer science methods, and by tools for processing data, designing and implementing information systems. The book also examines recent advances in information technology, which allow big data volumes to be processed and enable real-time predictive and prescriptive business analytics to drive decisions and actions. Lastly, it includes problems modeled and treated while taking into account uncertainty, risk management, behavioral issues, etc.

The five-volume set LNCS 14073-14077 constitutes the proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Computational Science, ICCS 2023, held in Prague, Czech Republic, during July 3-5, 2023. The total of 188 full papers and 94 short papers presented in this book set were carefully reviewed and selected from 530 submissions. 54 full and 37 short papers were accepted to the main track; 134 full and 57 short papers were accepted to the workshops/thematic tracks. The theme for 2023,'Computation at the Cutting Edge of Science', highlights the role of Computational Science in assisting multidisciplinary research. This conference was a unique event focusing on recent developments in scalable scientific algorithms, advanced software tools; computational grids; advanced numerical methods; and novel application areas. These innovative novel models, algorithms, and tools drive new science through efficient application in physical systems, computational andsystems biology, environmental systems, finance, and others.

Biomedicine and bioinformatics engineering are interdisciplinary fields combining expertise from biology, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering to develop technologies which will address major problems at the forefront of biomedical and bio-industrial research. This book presents the proceedings of ICBBE 2023, the 3rd International Conference on Biomedicine and Bioinformatics Engineering, held as a hybrid event from 16-18 June 2023 in Nanjing, China. The aim of the conference was to create a forum for the multi-disciplinary discussion of recent developments in biomedicine and bioinformatics engineering. A total of 253 submissions were received for the conference, of which 92 were accepted after a thorough double-blind peer review. The book is divided into 3 parts, covering biomedical material and imaging technology application; cell biology and medical signal processing; and biomechanical modeling and drug analysis, and topics addressed include biomedical signal processing; medical information; bioinformatics and computational biology; medical imaging technology and its application; molecular biology; chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. Addressing a number of highly relevant aspects of biomedicine and bioinformatics engineering and emphasizing the multi-disciplinary aspects of the field, the selected contributions in this book will provide valuable guidance for future interdisciplinary developments, and will be of interest to all those working in biomedicine and bioinformatics engineering.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase the speed and accuracy of financial decision-making, making it an increasingly important tool for financial professionals. One way that AI can improve efficiency in finance is by automating tasks and processes that are time-consuming and repetitive for humans. For example, AI algorithms can be used to analyze and process large amounts of data, such as financial statements and market data, in a fraction of the time that it would take a human to do so. This can allow financial professionals to focus on higher-value tasks, such as interpreting data and making strategic decisions, rather than being bogged down by mundane tasks. AI can also reduce costs in finance by increasing automation and eliminating the need for certain tasks to be performed manually. This can result in cost savings for financial institutions, which can then be passed on to customers in the form of lower fees or better services. AI can be used to identify unusual patterns of activity that may indicate fraudulent behavior. This can help financial institutions reduce losses from fraud and improve customer security. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can help financial institutions provide faster, more efficient customer service, particularly when it comes to answering common questions and handling routine tasks. Some financial institutions are using AI to analyze market data and make trades in real-time. AI-powered trading algorithms can potentially make faster and more accurate trading decisions than humans. In terms of speed and accuracy, AI algorithms can analyze data and make decisions much faster than humans, and can do so with a high degree of accuracy. This can be particularly useful in fast-moving financial markets, where quick and accurate decision-making can be the difference between success and failure.This book highlights how AI in finance can improve efficiency,reduce costs, and increase the speed and accuracy of financial decision-making. Moreover, the book also focuses on how to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI in finance.This book is a valuable resource for students, scholars, academicians, researchers, professionals, executives, government agencies, and policymakers interested in exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in finance. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research and knowledge in this area, and to stimulate further inquiry and exploration.

This book sheds light on how dysregulated organelle functions contribute to the pathology and progression of human diseases. To offer a broad perspective, they discuss basic, translational, and clinical aspects across scales, from molecules to cells, tissues and organisms. Rather than providing a comprehensive introduction to the field, the authors focus on recent advances in organelle research, with each chapter inviting readers to consider today's key questions in the respective field.This book reviews the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi Appartus, Lysosomes and other membrane-enclosed organelles, demonstrating how their dysregulated function contributes to various pathologies. The chapters not only offer a platform for new perspectives but also stimulate further investigations. Given the translational nature of this subject, this book is a valuable resource for physiologists and clinicians alike.Chapter'Lipid Droplets in Cancer'is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

The Covid-19 pandemic affected the daily lives of all of us on many levels. Epidemiology suddenly became a personal matter and general interest in many aspects of medical data science became much more widespread. And physical distance became the new normal. This book presents the full paper part of the proceedings of GMDS 2023, the 68th annual meeting of the German Association for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, held from 17 to 21 September 2023 in Heilbronn, Germany. The theme of the conference was, Science. Close to People, a particularly appropriate theme for the first of these annual conferences to be held face-to-face since 2019. A total of 227 scientific contributions were submitted to GMDS 2023, including 41 full papers for this volume in Studies in HTI. Of these, 30 papers are included here, following a rigorous two-stage review process, which represents an acceptance rate of 73%. The 30 papers in this book are grouped under 8 headings: FAIRification; research software engineering for research infrastructure & study data management; human factors; data quality; clinical decision support & artificial intelligence; evaluation of healthcare IT; biosignals; and interoperability. Providing a broad overview of current developments in the disciplines of medical informatics, biometry and epidemiology, the book will be of interest to all those working in these fields.

Caring about others and the future is part of what makes us human, and it can be argued that improving the lives of people with disabilities improves the lives of all human beings. Most of what we do as a society for people with disabilities also improves life for others, and if we consider a person's entire life, a disability of some kind will affect almost everybody at some point. This book, Assistive Technology: Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive World, presents the proceedings of AAATE 2023, the 17th International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe, held in Aubervilliers, France, from 30 August to 1 September 2023. For over 30 years, the biennial AAATE conference has focused on research aimed at improving the lives of people with a disability, and has become one of the main platforms for all stakeholders in the field. A total of 123 papers were submitted in the category intended for publication in these conference proceedings, and after a rigorous process involving review by at least three international reviewers, 74 were selected for inclusion here. Topics covered include service delivery of AT; AT for various groups such as older adults, children, and those with cognitive disabilities; mobility; privacy and security issues; and AT to promote inclusion and facilitate participation in education, culture, and work. Providing a comprehensive and current overview, the book will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, manufacturers, decision-makers and providers, users of AT, and anyone else working in the field.

Medicinal and aromatic crops (MACs) are high-value crops since the natural products obtained from them are low-volume high-value commodities that have numerous applications in various sectors such as the food, beverage, food supplement, flavor and fragrance, perfumery and cosmetics, pharmaceutical and aromatherapy industries. In addition, the plant biomass is used in the production of teas and medical applications in traditional and also modern medicines. MACs are important mainly because they contain plant secondary metabolites such as essential oils, alkaloids, glygosides, saponins, tannins, vitamins and other bioactives. Plant secondary metabolites are differentiated from plant primary metabolites of photosynthesis and respiration since they are directly involved in growth and development of plants. Some MACs are used as spices and culinary herbs since they contain mainly essential oils, and are used as tonic to the digestive system, appetite modification and othersystems and may facilitate nutrient uptake and utilization from various foods. A significant amount of MACs and their natural products have also demonstrated antimicrobial, antifungal and bactericidal activity and significant antioxidant capacity. In the past, MACs and their natural products have been used as a source for various medicines, in food and beverage production and in aroma products. Essentials of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops summarizes the current knowledge on medicinal and aromatic crops, including the agronomical practices of important MACs and their products, their beneficial effects and utilization of MAP and their products. The chapters provide a comprehensive guide to the most important and used medicinal and aromatic crops and their use in functional foods, nutraceuticals and as bioactives against various ailments, providing researchers, teachers, chemists, food scientists, agronomists and agroecologists in academia,industry and government a fully up to date singular source on this important topic.

The current volume focuses on all the major concerns associated with the biofungicides and provides comprehensive knowledge of microbial and phytochemical fungicides, bioformulations, regulation as well as limitation of biofungicides, and their role in disease management in plants. The use of biofungicides as eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic fungicides is likely to play a major role in organic farming in the future.

'The overall objective of this book is to determine how indigenous knowledge can be documented and digitally preserved to benefit indigenous knowledge owners and their communities, and be accessible for future generations. It aims to provide the best practices, innovative strategies, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and empirical research findings regarding digital preservation and documentation of indigenous knowledge systems, worldwide'--

This book focuses on the application of soft computing in materials and manufacturing sectors with the objective to offer an intelligent approach to improve the manufacturing process, material selection and characterization techniques for developing advanced new materials. It unveils different models and soft computing techniques applicable in the field of advanced materials and solves the problems to help the industry and scientists to develop sustainable materials for all purposes. The book focuses on the overall well-being of the environment for better sustenance and livelihood. Firstly, the authors discuss the implementation of soft computing in the various areas of engineering materials. They also review the latest intelligent technologies and algorithms related to the state-of-the-art methodologies of monitoring and effective implementation of sustainable engineering practices. Finally the authors examine the future generation of sustainable and intelligent monitoring techniques beneficial for manufacturing, and cover novel soft computing techniques for the purpose of effective manufacturing processes at par with the standards laid down by the International Standards of Organization (ISO). This book is intended for academics and researchers from all the fields of engineering interested in joining interdisciplinary initiatives on soft computing techniques for advanced materials and manufacturing.

Structure and Intrinsic Disorder in Enzymology offers a direct, yet comprehensive presentation of the fundamental concepts, characteristics and functions of intrinsically disordered enzymes, along with valuable notes and technical insights powering new research in this emerging field. Here, more than twenty international experts examine protein flexibility and cryo-enzymology, hierarchies of intrinsic disorder, methods for measurement of disorder in proteins, bioinformatics tools for predictions of structure, disorder and function, protein promiscuity, protein moonlighting, globular enzymes, intrinsic disorder and allosteric regulation, protein crowding, intrinsic disorder in post-translational, and much more. Chapters also review methods for study, as well as evolving technology to support new research across academic, industrial and pharmaceutical labs. - Unifies the roles of intrinsic disorder and structure in the functioning of enzymes and proteins - Examines a range of enzyme and protein characteristics, their relationship to intrinsic disorder, and methods for study - Features chapter contributions from international leaders in the field

This book consists of papers on the recent progresses in the state of the art in natural computation, fuzzy systems and knowledge discovery. The book can be useful for researchers, including professors, graduate students, as well as R & D staff in the industry, with a general interest in natural computation, fuzzy systems and knowledge discovery. The work printed in this book was presented at the 2021 17th International Conference on Natural Computation, Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery (ICNC-FSKD 2021, 24–26 July 2021, Guiyang, China). All papers were rigorously peer-reviewed by experts in the areas.

The unique leadership challenges organizations face throughout the world call for a renewed focus on what constitutes'authentic, inclusive, servant, transformational, principled, values-based, and mindful'leadership. Traditional approaches rarely provide a permeating or systematic framework to garner a sense of higher purpose or nurture deeper moral and spiritual dimensions of leaders. Learning to be an effective leader requires a deep personal transformation, which is not easy. This text provides guidelines in a variety of settings and contexts while presenting best practices in successfully leading the twenty-first century workforce and offering strategies and tools to lead change effectively in the present-day boundary-less work environment.Given the ever-growing, widespread importance of leadership and its role in initiating change, this will be a key reference work in the field of leadership and change management in business. The uniqueness of this book lies in its anchorage in the moral and spiritual dimension of leadership, an approach most relevant for contemporary times and organizations. It represents an important milestone in the perennial quest for discovering the best leadership models and change practices to suit the contemporary organizations.Designed to be a resource for scholars, practitioners, teachers and students seeking guidance in the art and science of leadership and change management, this will be an invaluable reference for libraries with collections in business, management, sports, history, politics, law, and psychology. It will present essential strategies for leading and transforming corporations, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and various nonprofit organizations. It brings the research on leadership and change management up to date, while mapping its terrain and extending the scope and boundaries of this field in an inclusive and egalitarian manner.

The book is a collection of analyses on country-specific and universal efforts, programmes and projects from Africa and beyond, aimed at realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the chapters focus on the achievements and challenges that can potentially aid countries of the world and the United Nations in achieving the 17 SDGs. The chapters focus more on the challenges, prospects and concrete steps taken in the Global South towards the attainment of these goals.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 22nd European Conference on Evolutionary Computation in Combinatorial Optimization, EvoCOP 2022, held as part of Evo•2022, in Madrid, Spain, during April 20-21, 2022, co-located with the Evo•2022 events: EvoMUSART, EvoApplications, and EuroGP.The 13 revised full papers presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 28 submissions. They present recent theoretical and experimental advances in combinatorial optimization, evolutionary algorithms, and related research fields.

Aggregates of the TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43), are hallmark features of the neurodegenerative diseases Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), with overlapping clinical, genetic and pathological features. TDP-43 and Neurodegeneration: From Bench to Bedside summarizes new findings in TDP-43 pathobiology and proteinopathies. The book summarizes TDP-43's structure, function, biology, misfolding, aggregation, pathogenesis and therapeutics. It includes autophagy-mediated therapy, role of stress granule, novel genetic, cell culture-based models, systems biology for precision medicine, development of stem cells and mechanism-based therapies that can target ALS and other related neurodegenerative diseases. This book is written for neuroscientists, neurologists, clinicians, advanced graduate students, drug discovery researchers, as well as cellular and molecular biologists involved in ALS, motor neuron disease (MND) and other neurodegenerative disorders. - Reviews TDP-43 structure, folding, function, and pathology - Identifies TDP-43 role in ALS, FTP, and other neurodegenerative diseases - Presents a systems and precision biology perspective of TDP-43 - Discusses therapeutics of TDP-43 proteinopathies - Translates bench research to application bedside

In the 61st volume of'International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa'are included the peer-reviewed manuscripts reflecting the research results in the fields of structural metals and composite materials, technologies of materials processing and synthesis, biomass gasification technology and numerical analysis processes of natural convection in the porous medium. Readers will also be interested in investigations in radio electronics, wind energy and energy management, building materials and geotechnics. The presented scientific articles will be appreciated by many engineers and technologists from the industrial sector, as well as academics and students majoring in engineering science.

This book presents new developments and advances in the theory, applications, and design methods of computational intelligence, integrated in various areas of project management and BIM environments. The chapters of the book span different soft computing techniques, such as: linguistic data summarization, fuzzy systems, evolutionary algorithms, estimation distribution algorithms, computing with words, augmented reality, and hybrid intelligence systems. In addition, different applications of the neutrosophic theory are presented for the treatment of uncertainty and indeterminacy in decision-making processes. Several chapters of the book constitute systematic reviews, useful for future investigations in the following topics: linguistic summarization of data, augmented reality, and the development of BIM technologies. It is a particularly interesting book for engineers, researchers, specialists, teachers, and students related to project management and the development of BIM technologies.

Droplets of Life: Membrane-Less Organelles, Biomolecular Condensates, and Biological Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation provides foundational information on the biophysics, biogenesis, structure, functions, and roles of membrane-less organelles. The study of liquid–liquid phase separation has attracted a lot of attention from disciplines such as cell biology, biophysics, biochemistry, and others trying to understand how, why, and what roles these condensates play in homeostasis and disease states in living organisms. This book's editor recruited a group of international experts to provide a current and authoritative overview of all aspects associated with this exciting area.Sections introduce membrane-less organelles (MLOs) and biomolecular condensates; MLOs in different sizes, shapes, and composition; and the formation of MLOs due to phase separation and how it can tune reactions, organize the intracellular environment, and provide a role in cellular fitness.. - Presents the first book to establish the foundations of this exciting research area - Combines biophysics, structural and cell biology, and biochemistry perspectives into a single volume - Edited and authored by world-leading scientists - Covers basic physical and biological principles and health and disease implications

Climate change is one of the major challenges of modern times. Its impacts are manifold and vary from sea level rise (especially relevant to those living in coastal areas), to the increased frequency of extreme events such as cyclones and storm surges, which not only poses problems to property and infrastructure, but also to human health. Climate change is also associated with damages to the physical and natural environment, as well as to biodiversity. According to the 5th Assessment Report produced by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), many geographical regions across the world are moderately or highly vulnerable to climate change, whose impacts may be further exacerbated by other human-induced pressures. The above state of affairs illustrates the need for a better and more holistic understanding of how climate change affects countries and regions on the one hand, but also on how the many problems itcauses may be managed on the other, vis-a-vis a better ability to adapt. There is also a perceived need to showcase successful examples of how to duly address and manage the many social, economic and political problems posed by climate change around the world, in order to replicate and even upscale the successful ones. It is against this background that the Handbook of Climate Change Management has been produced. It contains papers prepared by scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing climate change projects, and working with communities across all geographical regions. The Handbook focuses on'Research, Leadership, Transformation', meaning that it serves the purpose of showcasing the role these key areas play in respect of applied research, field projects and best practices to foster climate change adaptation worldwide.

The food industry has been significantly impacted by technological advancements, resulting in a heightened focus on food safety and quality. Ensuring the safety and quality of food products is an enormous undertaking that requires extensive expertise from food technologists and a strong commitment from the food industry as a whole. This book presents an innovative approach to addressing these issues by providing a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies used to guarantee the safety and quality of a wide range of food products. The chapters cover topics such as oil and water quality, sensory analysis using fuzzy logic, hazards and their detection in milk, meat, fish, and various agricultural products, and more. Additionally, the book highlights emerging technologies for non-destructive quality analysis and practical approaches to ensuring safety and quality in the milling and baking industries. The book also provides a detailed overview of the regulatory norms that promote export and features a comprehensive sketch of HACCP protocols relevant to different food industries. The authors, who have an enriching academic background and proven experience, have contributed significantly to the books promise of being a robust resource for promoting a healthy society.

Now in four convenient volumes, Field's Virology remains the most authoritative reference in this fast-changing field, providing definitive coverage of virology, including virus biology as well as replication and medical aspects of specific virus families. This volume of Field's Virology: Emerging Viruses, 7th Edition covers recent changes in emerging viruses, providing new or extensively revised chapters that reflect these advances in this dynamic field.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi in a wide range of foods (cereals, peanut, tree nuts, dried fruits, coffee, cocoa, grapes, spices…) both in the field and after harvest, particularly during storage. They can also be found in processed foods of plant origin, or by transfer, in food products of animal (milk, eggs, meat and offal). Mycotoxins are of major concern since they can cause acute or chronic intoxications in both humans and animals which are sometimes fatal. Many countries, particularly in Europe, have set maximum acceptable levels for mycotoxins in food and feed.The book reviews the latest literature and innovations on important aspects of mycotoxins, e.g. mycotoxin producing fungi and the related ecosystems, mycotoxin occurrence, toxicity, analysis and management. Quantitative estimations of impacts of climate change on mycotoxin occurrence have been made recently, using predictive modelling. There is also a growing interest in the occurrence and toxicity of multiple mycotoxins in food and feed, including emerging or modified forms of mycotoxins. Innovative tools were also developed to detect and quantify toxinogenic fungi and their toxins. In order to reduce the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment and health of consumers, alternative methods of prevention and decontamination of mycotoxins were tested in pre- and post-harvest, using microorganisms, natural substances or radiation treatments.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Applications of Evolutionary Computation, EvoApplications 2021, held as part of Evo•2021, as Virtual Event, in April 2021, co-located with the Evo•2021 events EuroGP, EvoCOP, and EvoMUSART. The 51 revised full papers presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 78 submissions. The papers cover a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from applications of evolutionary computation; applications of deep bioinspired algorithms; soft computing applied to games; machine learning and AI in digital healthcare and personalized medicine; evolutionary computation in image analysis, signal processing and pattern recognition; evolutionary machine learning; parallel and distributed systems; and applications of nature inspired computing for sustainability and development.​

This edited volume is a comprehensive account of plant diseases and insect pests, plant protection and management for various crops using microbial and biotechnological approaches. The book elucidates the role of biotechnology for the enhancement of crop productivity and management of bacterial and fungal diseases via eco-friendly methods. It discusses crop–pest⁄ pathogen interaction and utilizing this interaction in a beneficial and sustainable way. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, plant scientists and plant pathologists. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences.

This two-volume set, LNCS 12565 and 12566, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Machine Learning, Optimization, and Data Science, LOD 2020, held in Siena, Italy, in July 2020. The total of 116 full papers presented in this two-volume post-conference proceedings set was carefully reviewed and selected from 209 submissions. These research articles were written by leading scientists in the fields of machine learning, artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning, computational optimization, and data science presenting a substantial array of ideas, technologies, algorithms, methods, and applications.

Translational control in the nervous system is important. Many physiological processes in the nervous system depend on accurate control of the proteome that is mediated through protein synthetic mechanisms and thus, the nervous system is very sensitive to dysregulation of translational control. The Oxford Handbook of Neuronal Protein Synthesis reviews the mechanisms of translational control used by the nervous system, as well as how important nervous system functions, such as plasticity and homeostasis, depend on accurate translational control. The handbook extensively covers how dysregulation of protein synthesis can manifest itself in many distinct pathological processes including neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. The handbook is comprehensive in its coverage of translational control mechanisms with particular focus on how these general control mechanisms are specifically utilized in the context of the cell biological constraints of the nervous system from both a mechanistic and systems perspective.